July 31st, 2009:

via Baucus: “No Idea” How I’ll Vote On Sotomayor.

Senator Max Baucus, possible "Birther"

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), already under scrutiny by progressive Democrats, has created new cause for apprehension by saying he’s not sure he will vote for the president’s Supreme Court nominee.

Asked by The Hill whether he would support Judge Sonia Sotomayor, Baucus twice said he was still undecided.

“I have no idea,” Baucus said. “I haven’t paid any attention and I haven’t announced … I’ve been so busy with healthcare. It’s under consideration. I’ll certainly know when I vote, but right now I can’t tell you.”

This is the exact same kind of answers that Republican congresspersons are spouting when asked about the birth certificate. The Hill should have asked him at the same time if he thought Obama was a U.S. citizen. His answer might have been, “I’m not sure. I haven’t personally seen a birth certificate. The President should produce a birth certificate to put this to rest.” Baucus should be included in Bill Posey’s nine-member Birther Caucus.

The article goes on to explain that Baucus and other Republicrats (confused Republicans that run for office as a Democrats) like Ben Nelson of Nebraska issued wishy-washy statements about their votes for Sotomayor after the National Rifle Association gave Sotomayor a bad report card on gun legislation. Her decisions were clearly followed precedence and concurred with other Republican-appointed judges.

The National Rifle Association has very little to do with rifles. Its primary purpose is to get Republicans elected/reelected using gun control as a wedge issue.

Baucus and others should be honest with themselves and announce that they are Republicans. That would be better for the Democratic Party, even if it means losing control of the Senate. The Democratic Party gets much bad press when these Republicrats waffle on President Obama’s appointees. It is very embarrassing.

My message to Senator Baucus? If you are a Democrat, then vote like one.

UPDATE, 07/31/09, 2:30 PM

Sen. Baucus, after saying he didn’t know how he would vote, has now committed to supporting Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

“I have long said that to be a Supreme Court Justice a person must meet three main criteria: personal integrity, professional competence, and a view of important issues that is within the mainstream of contemporary judicial thought,” Baucus said in a statement. “After personally meeting Judge Sotomayor, thoroughly analyzing her judicial record, and reviewing her nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Sotomayor unquestionably meets each of these criteria. Thus, I am proud to support her nomination and will vote to confirm her as a Justice to the United States Supreme Court.”

He has changed his mind since this morning. His first instinct was to doubt President Obama’s nomination, but later decided it was not politically advantageous to oppose her. He could have said this in the first place and avoided all the scrutiny.