Reply #38: Yeah but he could have picked more liberal people, and I think Obama picked Sotomayor too soon

[ShadowLiberal]

Personally I think Obama made a mistake nominating Sotomayor when he did, Reagan made this exact same mistake.

Reagan got a court opening when republicans controlled congress and nominated Scalia, he was the first Italian American ever nominated for the court. That put pressure on democrats to vote for him, it would give them bad headlines saying that they voted overwhelmingly against the first Italian American nominated for the supreme court. Scalia was unanimously confirmed by the senate, and senator Byrd (D) even asked him to appear at a campaign event with him in West Virginia.

A few years later democrats take control of the senate, and another seat opens up on the Supreme Court. Reagan nominates Bork for the post, a radical conservative, and the democrats reject it. Had Reagan nominated Bork before Scalia when his party controlled the senate we'd probably have a justice Bork on the court today,, and Scalia would have probably been confirmed anyway seeing as no democrats voted against him when Reagan nominated him. Instead conservatives had to settle for Justice Kennedy, a moderate conservative who votes to keep abortion legal among other things that they despise.

I think Obama should have gone for a young (as in 40ish) radical liberal the first time, and nominated a Hispanic, Sotomayor or some other liberal Hispanic, when his next court opening came. He might end up repeating Reagan's mistake, or more likely he'll feel he has to nominate someone more to the right then Sotomayor if he's to stand a chance at getting them confirmed.