Predictable Attacks Against Sotomayor Begin from Daily Kos

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/5/26/735544/-Predictable-Attacks-Against-Sotomayor-Begin

The predictable attacks against Supreme Court nominee Sotomayor are rolling in:

• Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee called Sotomayor's appointment "the clearest indication yet that President Obama's campaign promises to be a centrist and think in a bipartisan way were mere rhetoric."
• Charmaine Yoest, the president of Americans United for Life, blasted Sotomayor as "a radical pick that divides America."
• The Judicial Confirmation Network circulated a memo from its counsel, Wendy Long, calling Sotomayor a "favorite of far-left special interest groups" who will "indulge ... left-wing policy preferences instead of neutrally applying the law."
• Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele released a restrained statement, declaring: "Republicans will reserve judgment on Sonia Sotomayor until there has been a thorough and thoughtful examination of her legal views."
• Mitt Romney called the pick "troubling."
• Then there's the .02 from the titular head of the Republican Party, Rush Limbaugh: Do I want her to fail? Yeah. Do I want her to fail to get on the court? Yes! She'd be a disaster on the court. Do I still want Obama to fail as President? Yeah. AP you getting this? He's going to fail anyway, but the sooner the better.

And from some Republicans who will have a vote on the nomination, a common theme:

• John Cornyn: She must prove her commitment to impartially deciding cases based on the law, rather than based on her own personal politics, feelings, and preferences.
• John Thune: It will be important to determine if Judge Sotomayor will decide cases based on her own personal feelings and political views, or the bedrock rule of law."
• Chuck Grassley: The Judiciary Committee should take time to ensure that the nominee will be true to the Constitution and apply the law, not personal politics, feelings or preferences.
• Jeff Sessions: Of primary importance, we must determine if Ms. Sotomayor understands that the proper role of a judge is to act as a neutral umpire of the law, calling balls and strikes fairly without regard to one's own personal preferences or political views.

The empathy attack is on and the parrots are out in force.

More to follow ...