FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Elena Kagan's confirmation hearings to be the nation's next Supreme Cort justice begin next Monday. But the number of people who think she belongs on the high court is declining.
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A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows 44 percent of Americans want the Senate to confirm Kagan which is down 10 points since may.
39 percent oppose Kagan's confirmation - that's up three points.
And 17 percent now say they're unsure or undecided... up from 11 percent in May.
Not surprising since people probably don't know a whole lot about Kagan.
Opinion on her has changed the most among women and Democrats. These are people who initially supported the nomination because Kagan is a woman or because Mr. Obama chose her; but now that they're getting some information on her views - they're not so sure.
It will be interesting to see how much information the senators can get out of Kagan... with lawmakers complaining in recent years how difficult it is to get substantive answers out of nominees.
15 years ago - Kagan herself complained about Senate confirmation hearings... calling them a "hollow charade" and a "ritual dance."
One issue that will likely dominate the hearings is Kagan's banning of military recruiters from Harvard law school due to the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
Another hot topic could be Kagan's lack of judicial experience - she has none.
Meanwhile - a group of nearly 900 orthodox rabbis are opposed to Kagan's nomination. they say she is "not kosher" and unfit to serve on the high court. The rabbis take issue with Kagan's views on homosexuality and abortion.
Here’s my question to you: Why has support been declining for Elena Kagan to be the next Supreme Court justice?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Mark in Voorhees, New Jersey writes:
Support has been declining for Kagan for the same reasons that there was opposition to the health care bill (and why it wound up so toothless), for the same reasons why there is any question that BP was massively negligent in the Gulf Oil disaster, or for that matter why Sarah Palin is qualified to be anything but a greedy housewife: Unrelenting and hugely funded campaigns of misinformation, orchestrated talking points and weapons of mass distraction.
Ken writes:
People are learning more and more about her. As they find out she is one who speaks her mind and it's not always what they want to hear, they begin not to like her. Once people find you do not agree with their every position, they begin to think less of you. There is also the fact that she is President Obama's choice and "NO" is the agreed upon response to anything he wants.
Steve in Virginia Beach writes:
I don't know but I hope it's because we've finally woken up to the importance of learning something about people before supporting them for positions of public trust.
James in Florida writes:
The dilemma of the Supreme Court nominations is easily solved, Jack, by bringing the court itself into the modern era. Nine justices were probably fine in 1820, but this is 2010. The U.S. Congress, I believe, has the power to expand the number of justices. Thirty or forty would be good. The era in which a small coterie of like minded ideologues can make socio-political decisions MUST come to an end.
Al in New Jersey writes:
The public is losing faith in the Obama administration primarily because of the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe and the failure to help Americans on the Gulf. Kagan's chief credential is administration support. So, as the administration goes, so goes public support for Kagan.