The nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court comes at a critical time for the Republicans..
The Republican Party continues to search for a strategy to recover from last November’s defeat. So far, the path has simply been to oppose the avalanche of proposals articulated by the White House; Sotomayor’s nomination was received in precisely the same way.
There are reasons a conservative could be dissatisfied with the nomination of a judge who does not represent his or her ideas. The Senate confirmation hearings are designed to clear up doubts. Nevertheless, in this case, the immediate criticism has become a tsunami mercilessly attacking the judge.
How else the repeated accusation that Sotomayor is a "racist" be explained?
The charge leveled by Newt Gingrich, among others, is based on a lenghty comment the judge made years ago. The text has been maliciously edited to give a skewed impression and justify the assault.
There are also questions about Sotomayor’s ability to make fair and impartial decisions given her life experience as a Latina woman of humble origins. It is ironic that being African-American helped Justice Clarence Thomas in his confirmation, while today, Sotomayor’s ethnicity is hurting her.
The debate over Sotomayor’s nomination should take place around the legal issues and for that we have 18 years of judicial opinions issued from the bench. Everything else is a personal attack.
The Republican’s negative strategy reinforces the image of a Party antagonistic toward Latinos. It has already lost much of its popularity among Hispanic voters. Racism is too serious an accusation—and too familiar among racial minorities—to be tossed out lightly and with such malice.
Sotomayor’s background shows a moderate judge with some liberal positions. This is the sort of nomination one would expect from a pragmatic Democractic administration like that of President Obama.
We hope the opposition considers Sotomayor’s nomination on its own merits. Reducing the legal debate to insulting personal attacks will harm Republicans more than it will help them. Particularly with Latino voters.
The nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court comes at a critical time for the Republicans..
The Republican Party continues to search for a strategy to recover from last November’s defeat. So far, the path has simply been to oppose the avalanche of proposals articulated by the White House; Sotomayor’s nomination was received in precisely the same way.
There are reasons a conservative could be dissatisfied with the nomination of a judge who does not represent his or her ideas. The Senate confirmation hearings are designed to clear up doubts. Nevertheless, in this case, the immediate criticism has become a tsunami mercilessly attacking the judge.
How else the repeated accusation that Sotomayor is a "racist" be explained?
The charge leveled by Newt Gingrich, among others, is based on a lenghty comment the judge made years ago. The text has been maliciously edited to give a skewed impression and justify the assault.
There are also questions about Sotomayor’s ability to make fair and impartial decisions given her life experience as a Latina woman of humble origins. It is ironic that being African-American helped Justice Clarence Thomas in his confirmation, while today, Sotomayor’s ethnicity is hurting her.
The debate over Sotomayor’s nomination should take place around the legal issues and for that we have 18 years of judicial opinions issued from the bench. Everything else is a personal attack.
The Republican’s negative strategy reinforces the image of a Party antagonistic toward Latinos. It has already lost much of its popularity among Hispanic voters. Racism is too serious an accusation—and too familiar among racial minorities—to be tossed out lightly and with such malice.
