From the Cafferty File:
Republicans are in yet another tough spot – this one when it comes to the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States. Chalk up another brilliant bit of political strategy to our new president.
President Obama’s nominee would be the first Hispanic justice — and only the third woman justice — in the history of the nation’s highest court.
Conservative critics are branding her as a liberal activist judge, and are pointing to her past comments. In 2001, Sotomayor said, “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”
Rush Limbaugh calls Sotomayor a “reverse racist” and “an affirmative action case extraordinaire” who puts down white men in favor of Latina women.
But the White House is defending the judge’s comments, saying taken in context, what she says is “very much common sense in terms of different experiences, different people.”
Another comment getting attention came in 2005 when Sotomayor said, “a court of appeals is where policy is made.”
Republican senators say she will need to prove her commitment to impartiality, but RNC Chairman Michael Steele warns that if his party hopes to include more Hispanics, they have to be careful about how they approach Sotomayor.
The bottom line here is barring some unforeseen scandal, Sotomayor’s confirmation will likely sail through the Senate with Republicans afraid to challenge it for fear of alienating Hispanic voters.
Here’s my question to you: Will Republicans dare to vote against the first Hispanic woman nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court?
Nat writes:
Jack, Republicans have no choice but to confirm this exceptional jurist as the next U.S. Supreme Court justice. If for some insane reason they choose to follow their leader Limbaugh into the wing-nut world of the conservative base, they can assume a permanent minority status.
Allison from Vancouver writes:
This is going to be fun to watch! Although I believe that Obama has recommended Sotomayor for the right reasons, as of course he would, it was a brilliant move. How can the Republicans oppose her without alienating yet more Hispanic voters? Yet if they don’t, they could lose much of the only support they have left, the far right. Which will they choose? Checkmate!
John writes:
Yep, the ol’ political correctness bug bites again. It has gotten to the point where one can’t even have an honest disagreement without race or gender being brought into play and then risk being labeled a racist. Obama says she’s qualified. We should take his word for it? Did she attain her position based on merit and qualifications or was she simply another product of an affirmative action quota system?
Paul from Hurst, Texas writes:
Unfortunately, they will and it will further alienate the GOP from the mainstream. It has already started with the accusations of racism. As a Republican, I am disheartened. My party is dying, right before my eyes.
Sarah writes:
Identity politics isn’t “brilliant,” Jack. It is a divisive step backward. It is no wonder that the race situation is perpetuated in America. It seems to be helping one political party tremendously.
Tom from Avon, Maine writes:
They dare to go out in public without aliases, without plastic surgery, without apologies for the past 8 years. They have often raised stupidity to an art form. They dare, Jack, believe me they dare.
