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New Jersey Democratic Chairman Joseph Cryan Monday criticized Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie for what the political leader described as the candidate's "indefensible remarks'' that he would not support U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor, because she is "not my kind of judge."
As Sotomayor's confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee began Monday, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told the nominee, "Unless you have a complete meltdown, you're going to get confirmed.''
"Judge Sotomayor has received the highest praise from well-respected members of the legal community, civic groups and political leaders on both sides of the aisle, withstanding intense scrutiny since being nominated by President Obama in May," Cryan said.
"It is appalling that despite her vast experience and unquestionable qualifications – qualifications that his own honorary campaign chairman recognizes – Christie would align himself with right wing conservatives like Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich in rejecting Judge Sotomayor, the first Latina nominated to the highest court in the nation, without as much as an explanation beyond tersely dismissing her as ‘not my kind of judge.'"During a Republican primary debate on WOR 710 AM radio May 27th, Christie was asked his outlook toward Sotomayor. "She wouldn't have been my choice, no," he replied.
When asked to elaborate, Christie said, "Well, no, I mean listen, that's the question. She wouldn't have been my choice. Absolutely not. Not my kind of judge.''
Cryan said Christie's position is opposite his own honorary campaign chairman, former Gov. Thomas Kean who has said in a newspaper article, "Yes and yes. She's a liberal, but Obama said he was going to nominate a liberal. She's a great American story. Isn't America great?"
"Christie's comments are a desperate attempt to score political points in line with those on the radical right dishonestly distorting the record of President Obama's historic nominee, Judge Sotomayor,'' Cryan said.
Christie is campaigning with national Republican chairman Michael Steele in South Jersey and his campaign did not have an immediate response to Cryan's criticism.
– TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
If you're going to cover politics, especially in NJ, you owe it to your audience to not be a mouthpiece for one party or the other. Unless you prefer it that way.