Here's a roundup of some of the media coverage from "Day Two" of the Sotomayor hearings...
(I think the bottom line so far is that the GOP still hasn't taken this one as far as they should, despite the fact that she is likely to be confirmed.)
The Politico: PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN: The Communications Center of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has set up a rapid-response operation that fired off seven documents yesterday in real time as the hearing. Amanda Henneberg has booked 25 TV interviews with GOP senators in the first couple of days of hearings. (Playbook, Politico 7/14/09) [6]
The Politico: PLAN OF ATTACK: A Republican Senate source lays out the GOP game plan for Day 2 of Sotomayor, saying they’ve set up a rapid response plan with multiple releases, GOP senator interviews and questions about Sotomayor’s “incomplete or unsatisfactory answers” Today’s focus will be pushback on her “fidelity to the law” remark from her opening statement, GOP sources say. Regardless, it’s going to be hard to bloody Sotomayor unless there’s a smoking gun. (The Huddle, Politico, 7/14/09) [7]
ABC News: That was seven rapid-response documents from the Senate Republican Communications Center Monday -- putting out a few times’ more text than Sotomayor herself spoke. (The Note: Benefits of Boring -- Sotomayor on track -- Michigan’s economy, not so much, ABC, 7/14/09)
Congress Daily: The Senate Republican Communications Center, overseen by McConnell, also today sent seven e-mails as part of what aides said will be a hearing-long "rapid-response" effort aimed at making confirmation "a tough vote for moderates." (McConnell, GOP Seek Two Goals In Opposing Sotomayor, Congress Daily, 7/14/09) [8]
Roll Call: Republicans are expected to ramp up a rapid response operation this afternoon. According to GOP aides, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) is expected to focus the Conference’s messaging efforts on the Sotomayor hearings throughout the week and will send out counter statements in an instant response e-mail system during her opening statement and any answers she gives to questions. (Sotomayor Hearing Enters Phase Two; Fireworks Kept to a Minimum, Roll Call, 7/13/09) [9]
AP: Outside the hearing room, GOP strategists were more aggressive in making the point. Republican Senate officials sent out e-mail blasts — headlined "Confirmation Conversion" — that accused Sotomayor of flip-flopping on issues such as impartiality, the effect her experiences have had on her judging, and adherence to the law. (Analysis: Republican Party uses Sotomayor hearings to define itself _ but treads carefully, Associated Press, 7/13/09) [10]
NYT: Of course, Republicans have their interpretation as well. In a missive from the Republican leader’s office, party communications aides say that Senator Herb Kohl, Democrat of Wisconsin, understated the number of times Judge Sotomayor was reversed by the Supreme Court.
The Hill: “Behind the scenes, both Democratic and Republican “war rooms” churned out multiple press releases as Sotomayor spoke. A GOP press office distributed nine separate releases in two and a half hours, aiming to highlight contradictions and inconsistencies in her testimony.” (Sotomayor gets GOP grilling at hearing, The Hill, 7/14/09) [11]
The Washington Post: The Senate Republican Communication Center put out a statement contrasting Sotomayor's focus on judicial restraint to her controversial 2005 comment that the "Court of Appeals is where policy is made. And I know, I know this is on tape. And I should never say that because we don't make law." (Sotomayor Faces Questions on Day Two of Hearings, Washington Post, 7/14/09) [12]
Congress Daily: Senate Republican leadership aides quickly noted Sotomayor during that 2001 speech said she was "not so sure that I agree with [O'Connor]." (Sotomayor Explains 'Wise Latina,' Objectivity, Congress Daily, 7/14/09) [13]
*** TAKE ACTION: Contact your senators and tell them "NO" to more liberal judges..."NO" to Sotomayor [14]
