GOP Girds for Supreme Court Battle

Research team seeks 'crazy opinions' to hurt Dems in 2010
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted May 1, 2009 8:00 PM CDT
GOP Girds for Supreme Court Battle
In this July 9, 2008 file photo, Supreme Court Justice David Souter speaks during a dedication ceremony at the State Supreme Courthouse in Concord, N.H.

Lacking the votes to block President Obama's Supreme Court pick, Republicans have a gang of researchers digging up prospective candidates' "crazy opinions" to hurt Dems in the 2010 midterm elections, a GOP aide tells Politico. But knowing that Obama's pick will likely be a woman or Latino or both—Judge Sonia Sotomayor currently tops the short list—Republicans "have to be careful not to f—- up and overreach," the aide said.

Especially prickly for the GOP is the fact that a white man—likely Sen. Jeff Sessions—will lead questioning on the Senate Judiciary Committee. For now, Republicans are warning that the selection process may force lawmakers to sideline the Democrats' agenda. "This came unexpectedly," Sen. John Cornyn said. “Regulatory reform, patent reform, health care reform ... I'm not sure if we can do all of it at the same time." (More US Supreme Court stories.)

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