Sen. John McCain, pictured with President Obama in June, criticized the president
Tuesday over Samuel Alito's Supreme Court confirmation process as a vote on Sonia Sotomayor approaches this week. (Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
As the full Senate began debate on Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, NationalJournal.com's Amy Harder spoke briefly with Arizona Republican John McCain, who announced his intent to vote no on Monday. He said he isn't concerned about alienating Hispanic voters, despite warnings from his more moderate colleagues that that's exactly what he and other Republicans are doing with their "no" votes.
McCain also denounced the politicization of the Supreme Court confirmation process -- and took a jab at his 2008 presidential opponent, Barack Obama, for being "one of the major contributors to that."
NJ: Are you concerned about alienating Hispanic voters in opposing Sotomayor?
McCain: My concern is that we appoint the most qualified people to the United States Supreme Court that I feel will act in accordance with the Constitution. I have no other considerations.
NJ: Hispanics have been increasingly identifying themselves with the Democratic Party; that doesn't raise any concerns with you?
McCain: I have always believed that I needed to do what's right, just as I believed that I had to what's right on immigration reform, just as I believed I had to do what's right on most every other issue.
NJ: In your official remarks Monday, you hearkened back to the Democrats' successful filibuster of appellate nominee Miguel Estrada in 2001. Throughout this nomination, Hispanic groups have said that Republicans should be supporting this nomination, just as Hispanics supported Estrada back then.
McCain: I didn't see any advocacy for Judge Estrada at that time, but maybe I didn't detect it.
NJ: What's your comment about Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., voting in favor of Sotomayor's confirmation?
McCain: I respect him. I respect all the views of all my fellow senators.
NJ: Do you think the process has become more politicized?
McCain: I think it became politicized a long time ago when then-Senator Obama vowed to filibuster Judge [Samuel] Alito and came back and tried to mount a filibuster against Judge Alito. I think it became politicized a long time ago, and then-Senator Obama was one of the major contributors to that.
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Responded on August 5, 2009 11:14 AM
Tom H
McCain is clueless on race. The first black Navy admiral was named in 1971. Between 1872 and 1937, five blacks attended the Academy, but none graduated. The first black to graduate was in the class of 1949. During the two decades following his graduation, 54 blacks entered the Academy, and
35 graduated. It is safe to say that when McCain graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958, he had not dealt with peers or superiors who were black. He retired in 1981, long before minorities and women had a significant role in the leadership of the Navy. His perspective on the Supreme Court and its long tradition of white males is completely ignorant. He should sit down and shut up.