Leahy Rips GOP For Blocking Sotomayor -- In 1998 (VIDEO)

The conservative effort to keep Sonia Sotomayor off the U.S. Supreme Court is more than a decade old.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, ripped Senate Republicans for blocking Sonia Sotomayor's nomination back in 1998, when President Bill Clinton promoted her to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

"Judge Sonia Sotomayor is just such a qualified nominee, and she is one being held up by the Republican majority, apparently because some on the other side of the aisle believe she might one day be considered by President Clinton for nomination to the United States Supreme Court, should a vacancy arise," said Leahy.

Vermont's Leahy called for an up or down vote on Sotomayor, who had been originally nominated to the federal bench by President George H.W. Bush. Leahy, in his floor speech, also references a Wall Street Journal editorial discussing the strategy to keep Sotomayor off the Supreme Court.

"Last week, a lead editorial in the Wall Street Journal discussed this secret basis for the Republican hold against this fine judge. The Journal reveals that these delays are intended to ensure that Sonia Sotomayor not be nominated to the Supreme Court, although it is hard to figure out just how that is logical or sensible," he said. "In fact, how disturbing, how petty, and how shameful: Trying to disqualify an outstanding Hispanic woman judge by an anonymous hold."

Leahy had even stronger words for the New York Times about his GOP colleagues. ''What they are saying is that they have a brilliant judge who also happens to be a woman and Hispanic, and they haven't the guts to stand up and argue publicly against her on the floor,'' Leahy said. ''They just want to hide in their cloakrooms and do her in quietly.''

The clip was unearthed by the C-SPAN Video Library. WATCH:

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[DJ23]

http://www.dailykostv.com/w/001783/

Alito: "My family’s immigrant experience shaped judicial outlook"

Via Glenn Greenwald (and one of his readers) comes a moment from Samuel Alito’s confirmation hearings that will either silence Sonia Sotomayor’s conservative critics or expose their hypocrisy for what it is.

In an exchange with Sen. Tom Coburn, who had asked Alito to discuss how his personal experiences shows that "he cared for the little guy," Alito said that his family’s experience as immigrants influenced his outlook on immigration cases.

Alito:

"And that’s why I went into that in my opening statement. Because when a case comes before me involving, let’s say, someone who is an immigrant — and we get an awful lot of immigration cases and naturalization cases — I can’t help but think of my own ancestors, because it wasn’t that long ago when they were in that position…

When I get a case about discrimination, I have to think about people in my own family who suffered discrimination because of their ethnic background or because of religion or because of gender. And I do take that into account."

Watch:

http://www.dailykostv.com/w/001783/

[DJ23]

http://www.dailykostv.com/w/001783/

Alito: "My family’s immigrant experience shaped judicial outlook"

Via Glenn Greenwald (and one of his readers) comes a moment from Samuel Alito’s confirmation hearings that will either silence Sonia Sotomayor’s conservative critics or expose their hypocrisy for what it is.

In an exchange with Sen. Tom Coburn, who had asked Alito to discuss how his personal experiences shows that "he cared for the little guy," Alito said that his family’s experience as immigrants influenced his outlook on immigration cases.

And that’s why I went into that in my opening statement. Because when a case comes before me involving, let’s say, someone who is an immigrant — and we get an awful lot of immigration cases and naturalization cases — I can’t help but think of my own ancestors, because it wasn’t that long ago when they were in that position…

When I get a case about discrimination, I have to think about people in my own family who suffered discrimination because of their ethnic background or because of religion or because of gender. And I do take that into account.

Watch:

http://www.dailykostv.com/w/001783/


So when Sam Alito said his family’s immigrant experience influenced his outlook, it was okay, but now that Sonia Sotomayor (who, like Alito, is an appeleta judge) has been nominated to the Supreme Court, she’s a "racist?"

Puhlease. The real issue for these guys isn’t what she said. They’re just pissed off about who said it.

[moxieme]

How do we keep electing these idiots. Do they really believe the American public is impressed with their pettiness. They cloak themselves in the Rules of the Senate and destroy the morale of the majority of the country. Understandably, it is the "job" of the party out of power to unseat the party in power, but c'mon, the hold the whole nation hostage. The only acceptable choice for the GOP is a nominee of their choice. As an independent, I am absolutely keeping score. If they believe they independents don't make a difference, they are dreaming. They have descended into an abyss of lunacy and they will not get my vote!!!

[rhondadavis28]

I REALLY HATE THIS GUY.

I HAVE TO SAY I HAVE NEVER HATED ANYONE.

WHY?

HE HIMSELF SPREADS...

HATE SPEECH......
HATE IDEAS.....
AND
HATE DEM AND MINORITY GROUP AMERICAN'S ...

The Republican party is a joke.

[Kiki1kat]

Leahy is a Democrat. He is jaming up the Republicans.

[Weirdwriter]

Hate builds up an unnecessary amount of lactic acid in one's body and has a deleterious effect on the brain resulting in incoherent posts.

[levee]

Harry Reid? why isn't this guy the senate majority leader?

[timberdoodle]

I repeat Obama has delivered 40 brand new shovels to the Republican Senators and they will continue to dig themselves deeper into that proverbial hole that will sooner or later consume them entirely until they cease to exist as a party.

The majority of the GOP have put their KKK sheets and hats on for this one and it just might be the river of no return as they find themselves up it without a paddle.

[Taz2]

Great find!! Hope the DNC cuts a good ad!

[justoverit333]

An anonymous hold? What the heck is that?
Could someone explain that one to me?

[mediamarv]

Great job of unearthing this footage.

Well done, who ever you are....

[ladycubsfan]

I'm starting to think this has everything to do with immigration and the right-wing's fear of Hispanics taking over the U.S. Crazy? Oh, yeah!
Poor widdle wepubs are so fwightened.

[Moxo]

Isn't disturbing, petty, and shameful required qualifications for membership in "The Big Tent"?

[Shawn0965]

No those are requirements for membership in "The PupTent", of more accurately "The Pole Barn" or "The Lean Too".

[joycehelene]

Those stupid Republicans just will never learn, well perhaps they will learn now as Leahy heads the committee and won't have any difficulty getting the nomination through and the Senate will easily confirm our next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

[martymartymarty]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[barackobama4prez]

which isn't bad...unless the status quo is in the wrong...which they have been for a long time!

[newsmctado]

Good reporting, Ryan. Good use of the archives and historical record. Again, good reporting. Keep it up.

[Rangergirl]

How are they going to defend their opposition now????????????? They are so rediculous....A Republican president nominates this lady for a Court position........Now they are going to fight it..Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.