Sotomayor Vote Tests GOP

AUGUST 5, 2009

Sotomayor Vote Tests GOP
Candidates, Wooing Hispanics, Aim to Isolate Confirmation Stance From Broader Views

By MIGUEL BUSTILLO and TOM BENNING
WSJ

HOUSTON -- Jesus Muniz recently turned 18 and strongly opposes abortion, just the kind of swing voter political strategists say Republicans need to attract a larger share of the fast-growing U.S. Latino population. But the GOP's handling of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic to be picked for the high court, has given Mr. Muniz pause. "I am open to Republicans, but what I am hearing so far doesn't sound open to me," said Mr. Muniz, a cashier at a Houston school supplies store.

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Opposition by some Republican senators to Judge Sotomayor's nomination as the first Hispanic woman to the Supreme Court risks alienating Latino voters, say political experts. Republican lawmakers considering whether to support Judge Sotomayor are weighing that risk with constituents who believe both that she is too liberal and that Republicans should oppose her nomination. That balancing act can be seen in states with booming Latino populations such as Texas.

Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is seeking to become governor of Texas, may pay a price for coming out against Judge Sotomayor. But she won't lose the vote of Evangelina Esther Gonzalez, the 65-year-old matriarch of a family business called Pueblo Leasing Insurance. "She's got nothing to lose and she tells it like it is," said Ms. Gonzalez, who has voted for both parties. Republicans have always meant more business, Ms. Gonzalez added, and Democrats have "always meant a nicer welfare line." Others, including Edward Rincon, president of a Dallas multicultural market-research firm, called Sen. Hutchison's position a mistake. "This will not be taken as business as usual," he said.

Hispanics, as well as African-Americans, back Judge Sotomayor more strongly than the overall electorate, according to a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll last month that found that 58% of Hispanics strongly or somewhat support her nomination, compared with 44% of all those polled. Asked their feelings about the Republican Party, a fifth of Hispanics gave positive views, versus 27% of all adults, according to the poll.

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Sen. Hutchison, who has been popular with a cross-section of Texans, including Latinos, is counting on support from middle-of-the-road voters as she attempts to unseat Gov. Rick Perry, a fellow Republican. James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas in Austin, said Sen. Hutchison might have been able to take a different view if she were not squaring off in a primary against Gov. Perry, who enjoys strong support within the Texas GOP's socially conservative base.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124942927068006175.html (subscription)

Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page A3

how can a just turned 18 year boy/man strongly oppose abortion?

Makes me think about "What's the Matter with Kansas" where people are against something that does not affect in the least!

We as Dems and WOMEN need to show them that they can personally be against it, but should not limit that choice for somebody who may agree with it.

strongly he opposes it.

I would imagine has to do with that opposition. But does he oppose the pastors of that religion molesting children? Does he condone the hiding of those molestations by the heads of that religion - I would hope he does oppose that, but would/does he let that affect his vote in any way?