Another new post of mine at NewMajority:
Against [her] profoundly meritocratic backdrop, what some people seem to think is most compelling about her is the fact that her skin is a little bit brown. Rush Limbaugh and Pat Buchanan have both remarked that Sotomayor was clearly only chosen for her skin color, while Politico featured an article remarking upon the ‘amazing diversity’ of Obama, Sotomayor, and Biden surrounding each other.
This is the awful tragedy of affirmative action. No matter how hard a racial minority works, no matter what odds she overcomes, no matter how distinguished she may become, her achievements will always be tainted by that big question mark she knows will always hover over her head.
Her life story has a profoundly conservative, meritocratic backdrop. In a classic case of missing the forest for the trees, the fact that she’s Hispanic has become the main focus.
Another NewMajority piece that I didn’t mention yesterday discusses why we fight Sotomayor.
Certainly, we oppose Judge Sotomayor on the merits of the argument: she is a down-the-line judicial activist who seems to harbor some troubling racial grievances. But she’s not the real target, here: This is ultimately about sapping President Obama’s precious political capital. It’s about finally, unequivocally putting the left on defense. It’s about forcing the Democratic Party to answer tough questions in front of the American people about the role of the judiciary in American government. It’s about uniting a fractured party and reaching out to those who have seen nothing but incoherency in the right’s response to economic issues. This is an issue that the Republican Party has historically performed strongly on, and still can win the trust of the American people with. Republicans of all stripes can rally behind following the Constitution to the letter — in fact, there is quite likely no better test of whether one is a Republican or a Democrat than their legal philosophy. So this is an opportunity that cannot be wasted.
Sotomayor’s near-certain appointment will have few legal consequences: In all likelihood, she’ll be another David Souter. At the end of all this, the left gains nothing from a policy standpoint. But we on the right have much to gain politically by seizing this moment.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Republicans, Let’s Play Grown-Up
Sotomayor’s hearings are an opportunity for serious debate.
by Peggy Noonan
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124354585930464037.html#printMode
At Yale, Sotomayor won apology from law firm
In 1978, she complained of bias during her job interview process. And a university panel backed her stance. The complaint resulted from a dinner conversation between Sotomayor and a Shaw Pittman partner, Martin Krall. According to news reports at the time, Krall asked her whether she would have been admitted to law school if she were not Puerto Rican and whether law firms did a disservice by hiring minority students with inferior credentials and then firing them a few years later.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-sotomayor-apology28-2009may28,0,3647178,print.story
Sotomayor’s Jewish ties
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1243346494831&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter
Sotomayor Sides With the Cops
And persuades a Republican judge to go along with her.
http://www.slate.com/toolbar.aspx?action=print&id=2219251
Obama’s Anti-Roberts
By E.J. Dionne
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/27/AR2009052702906_pf.html
May 29th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Good stuff Alex.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Fight this nomination and conservatives will lose what’s left of their own political capital. Not that there is any to speak of.
May 29th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
” This is ultimately about sapping President Obama’s precious political capital.”
Please don’t throw me into that briar patch.
May 29th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
‘she is a down-the-line judicial activist…’
Based on what proof? What ruling supports this? It’s a waste of GOP capital…
May 29th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
White House Says Judge Sotomayor Would ‘Say Her Word Choice Was Poor’ in Controversial 2001 Speech
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/05/white-house-says-judge-sotomayor-would-say-her-word-choice-was-poor-in-controversial-2001-speech.html
May 29th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I don’t think we can stop Sotomayor, but Republicans can ask a long line of questions that will make Democrats pay a big political price for appointing her. They need to ask her to explain her racist comments without letting her get away with changing the meaning of what she said. They also need to make her commit to being blind to race as she makes judgments. If she can’t make that commitment, then by all means they should try and stop her appointment by any means possible. If she makes that commitment, then they can point to what a liar she is when she breaks it-which she would. I would also pressure her about what’s wrong with a white-male’s life experiences and make her commit to not being a judicial activist.
May 30th, 2009 at 12:17 am
Steele: No ‘slammin and rammin’ Sotomayor
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/29/steele-no-slamming-and-rammin-sotomayor/
Some Republicans rebuke Limbaugh, Gingrich on Sotomayor criticism
Accusations that the Latina Supreme Court nominee is racist can only hurt the party, say GOP members who advocate a more civil debate.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-sotomayor30-2009may30,0,2014583.story
Republican Split Widens Over Handling Sotomayor Nomination As Polls Show Nomination Support
http://themoderatevoice.com/33621/republican-split-widens-over-handling-sotomayor-nomination-as-polls-show-nomination-support/
Quinnipiac Poll: Majority Of Americans Approve Of Sotomayor
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/05/29/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5049329.shtml
Obama nomination would boost ranks of Catholics on court
Shift called sign of tolerance
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/05/30/obama_nomination_would_boost_ranks_of_catholics_on_court?mode=PF
Obama seeks to quell Sotomayor dust-up
Says high court nominee was misinterpreted
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2009/05/30/obama_seeks_to_quell_sotomayor_dust_up?mode=PF
May 30th, 2009 at 12:41 am
“They need to ask her to explain her racist comments”
Funny how conservatives got all concerned about racism only when they saw a chance to make political hay by stirring up white resentment. Sonia Sotomayor is about as racist as Martin Luther King.
May 31st, 2009 at 12:05 am
Latinos for Impartiality
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NGRhMWE4N2E1N2UyZGU4NmM5NGQ3ZTUxNmUzNTdlYmY=
May 31st, 2009 at 11:52 am
‘Context’ Makes Sotomayor Look Worse
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/printpage/?url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/05/31/sotomayors_aversion_to_impartiality_96737.html