With the selection of Judge Sonia Sotomayor as President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, the GOP has to decide how much opposition it should present.

Sotomayor is a woman from a working-class background and moderate-left politics. If nominated, she will replace another left-leaning justice, forcing the Republican Party to decide how much of a fight it should put up. ...



Do not be surprised if the GOP doesn't say much unless there are surprising revelations yet to be uncovered about Sotomayor.

There is not a whole lot to gain in this situation, from the GOP side. The party is unlikely to swing enough votes to change the tide away from the nomination any way.

Furthermore, it is a fight that perhaps is not worth taking on from a pragmatic perspective. Trying to keep a Democratic president from replacing left-leaning Justice Souter with a nonconservative judge only risks further damage to the Republican brand. Standing against a judge from a working-class background (unquestionably fitting the bill of possessing "empathy for everyday Americans" as requested by President Obama) who represents several voting demographics simultaneously (i.e., Hispanic, female and urban) puts the GOP in a bind.

The Republican Party will have plenty of opportunities to battle President Obama, but the Sotomayor nomination isn't one of them. It's important to know when to hold your cards; it's even more important to know when to fold them. This is the time for the GOP to focus on rebuilding its influence in Washington and its affluence with American voters. Fighting the Sotomayor nomination will prevent it from accomplishing both.
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Lenny McAllister is a regular on-air personality for Fox Charlotte's 'Fox News Rising' and XM Radio's 'The Power Table.' LennyMcAllister.com includes McAllister's weekly video commentary, courtesy of 'Fox News' - Charlotte.