Sotomayor Choice Widely Popular, But A Quarter of Hispanics Disapprove

Judge Sonia Sotomayor enjoys wide popularity as her confirmation for Supreme Court enters its early stages. But among the groups registering a small amount of skepticism is Sotomayor's own -- Hispanics.

President Barack Obama's choice for the Court is approved by 55 percent of all voters surveyed, compared to 25 percent who disapprove, according a new Quinnipiac University National Poll of 3,000 voters nationwide.

Broken down by party, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals judge earns almost unanimously positive reviews among Democrats -- 80 percent of whom support her nomination, only five percent of whom oppose. Among independent voters, 53 percent support Sotomayor and 26 percent oppose. Republicans oppose the Sotomayor nomination 47 percent to 30 percent.

Parsing the numbers according to religious or ethnic background, the results are a bit more surprising. Sotomayor has a 58 percent approval rating among Hispanic voters and a 24 percent disapproval rating. By comparison, among black voters, 85 percent said they supported her nomination to the Supreme court, while only two percent were opposed. Sixty-six percent of Jewish voters back Sotomayor, while 18 percent were opposed.

One of the factors behind these numbers may be that Hispanics are more conservative than widely believed. When asked whether Sotomayor "is more liberal than you would like" for a Supreme Court justice, a quarter of Hispanic respondents responded, "yes." Only 11 percent said that Sotomayor is "not liberal enough," while 46 percent said that her position on the political spectrum is "about right."

In addition, according to the same survey, Hispanics were more prone than and other group -- Whites, Blacks, Evangelicals, Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Woman, Men, even McCain supporters -- to say that they approved of the way Republicans in Congress were handling their jobs.

That said, Obama's Supreme Court nominee does have popular support among the vast majority of ethnic, religious and even ideological groups, paving the way for what should be a smooth confirmation.

"To a considerable degree, feelings about the wisdom of Judge Sotomayor's selection match attitudes about President Barack Obama. Those who are most supportive of the President - Democrats, racial minorities, Jews and liberals - are the most in her corner," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Those who are least happy with the president - Republicans, conservatives and white evangelical Christians -- are more likely to oppose her nomination."

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Comments

[GlenRast]

05:41 PM on 06/07/2009

Why is this a surprise? A good portion of the Hispanic population are devote Catholics. Of course they'd oppose a pro choice judge. After all they belong to a religion that recently opposed an abortion for a young girl pregnant as a result of rape by her step father.

[thepoliticalcat]

06:08 PM on 06/04/2009

In other words, three out of every four people who identify as "Hispanic" approve of Judge Sotomayor. I hope they will remember the GOP attacks against her and, by extension, against them, when they head for the voting booth next November.

[aLittle2theLeft]

05:51 PM on 06/04/2009

So 75% are for Sotomayor and 25 are not !

What is the point of this article again?

[rain33]

01:46 PM on 06/04/2009

these hispanics who disapprove her are majority republicans with a smaller percentage points. it's time to stop the hatred and prejudices among blacks and hispanics as well other ethnic groups.people need to get a life or get some real professional help!

[DonCosenza]

01:30 PM on 06/04/2009

"President Barack Obama's choice for the Court is approved by 55 percent of all voters surveyed, compared to 25 percent who disapprove... Parsing the numbers according to religious or ethnic background, the results are a bit more surprising. Sotomayor has a 58 percent approval rating among Hispanic voters and a 24 percent disapproval rating."

Which... would put Hispanic voters right in the mainstream of all voters surveyed.

Great headline!

[Horus45]

01:11 PM on 06/04/2009

Sheesh, there are Republican Hispanics after all!

[Bronxdude]

12:45 PM on 06/04/2009

As a Puerto Rican, Judge Sotomayor represents the sum of her unique experiences and, as such, would certainly know better than someone White what it means politically, sociologically, economically, and culturally to grow-up and live life as a Latina in America. Similarly, as a White Southerner, Senator Jeff Sessions represents the sum of his unique experiences and, as such, would certainly know better than a Puerto Rican what it means politically, sociologically, economically, and culturally to grow-up and live life as a Caucasian male in America. Differences in ethnicity, cultural heritage, and life experiences from person to person do not automatically render someone incapable of being able to objectively assess a particular situation, respond impartially, do the right thing, and offer a fair and unbiased opinion. Because she is Puerto Rican does not mean Judge Sotomayor will behave as an automaton and allow her life experiences (good or bad) to subjectively influence how she interprets the law and renders judgments involving people of Hispanic origin. Conversely, just because he is the product of a segregated and Klan controlled Alabama that forged racist attitudes and beliefs specifically designed to brutalized, subjugate, and denigrated Black Americans does not mean Senator Sessions will behave as an automaton and allow his Southern heritage, childhood beliefs, and unique life experiences to interfere with and taint his ability to make objective and race-neutral decisions involving Hispanics and Blacks. If this is not the case, both Judge Sotomayor and Senator Sessions should resign immediately.

[GlenRast]

05:47 PM on 06/07/2009

Imagine having the way you look at the world colored by your life experiences. I think that's called being human. No wonder Republicans have trouble with that.

[sicova]

12:26 PM on 06/04/2009

We are missing a couple of issues here. Beside the conservative and liberal labels. Hispanics could be divided by something more tribal. Hispanics are sometimes divided by identities. Mexicans, Cubans, and people from Puerto Rico. The people from PR. are hardly immigrants in the US. They are US born citizens, most of them born in us soil. Being born in PR is being born in the US. Moving to the mainland is just that, a move. Mexicans have to deal with the hard reality of earning their way to citizenship, risking deportation and abuses. Cubans, once they touch U.S. soil they are protected as political ref.
What they have in common? More or less language. They all speak different accents and have a set of different vocabulary other might not understand. In summary is like telling the Scottish and the English to be proud of the Australian chosen to the court.
One thing PR people have in common with other immigrants, they where used to come poor, without an education looking for a better future for their children. Now the PR people who move to the Main Land comes with a degree and because of job offers in, engineering, medicine, education and many more. Is a different generation. But Sotomayor's parents generation, dit it the old way.
So when thinking about this topic, broad your minds.

[eden4barack08]

12:49 PM on 06/04/2009

So, considering the diversity within Hispanics, a 75% approval is pretty darned good, wouldn't you say?

I only see good news here, despite the headline choosing to highlight the "quarter" disapproval, as if that was the news.

[PazMundial]

01:07 PM on 06/04/2009

The idea to bunch up all Latinos/Hispanics in one group is idiotic at its best. We come in different colors, sizes and ideologies. Some of us were lucky to enjoy the privilege of a very fine education in our countries (nothing to thank the USA) and others came here to make it. Two different realities. What unite us basically is that we were conquered by the same ignorant bastards (The Spaniards) who raped the continent and destroyed advanced cultures like the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas to impose their morals, values and religion (sounds familiar?). Another common factor is religion, Catholicism is the official religion in most Latin American countries, alas the high birth rate and their opposition to abortion and most progressive ideas.
To make matters worst: The Mexicans think they are better than their counterparts in Central America. The Cubans (mainly Republicans) feel they are special because of Castro and deserve everything (still living in the 60s) and the South Americans (Argentinians/Chileans mainly) feel superior to everybody else.
Sad to say but The racism that exist within the Hispanic community is amazing. The worst insult is calling somebody INDIO. There is a total lack of identity, plus those who "made it" here have the tendency to agree with everything Americans do so they are perceived as part of mainstream America, but unfortunately not informed enough to realize that they are not accepted.
We have our own idiosyncrasies, but when attacked we are together, at least 75%.

[roudy]

12:09 PM on 06/04/2009

For a Latino to support the republicans is the same as a chicken being a fan of Col. Sanders.

[Beka13]

12:27 PM on 06/04/2009

What is the percentage of the Total Hispanic Population is brain washed Exiles in Miami? 25%?

[POLINUT]

12:29 PM on 06/04/2009

Co-signed.

It's amazing how they don't realize this...

[tomasedison]

12:08 PM on 06/04/2009

Let me make a guess.....the disapproving Hispanics watch FOXNEWS and listen to rightwing talk radio. In other words, they hate themselves.

[soisay]

04:00 PM on 06/04/2009

The same with right wing non-union laborers, and unemployed plumbers. Ditto-heads all.

[AZterritory]

12:06 PM on 06/04/2009

And how many of that 25% of oh-so-interested individuals can name 7 out of 9 of the sitting Supremes on the court right now? I mean, if they have such strong feelings about the court, certainly they are following its every move, right?

[MathIsTruth]

12:20 PM on 06/04/2009

I think you misread the poll.

There is nothing that says that ANY of the people polled necessarily had an interest in the court and/or could name and of the current justices.

[RightWingMarine]

11:58 AM on 06/04/2009

it's almost as if each group is composed of individuals and no amount of wishing by both parties will turn a group of individuals into mindless automatons. McCain picked Palin to try and steal women voters as though they weren't smart enough to see through the ploy. Obama picked Sotomayor to appeal to Hispanics as though the individuals that comprise that group would base their support solely on her skin color.

[montecarlo408]

12:27 PM on 06/04/2009

That's what the GOP does. It's 89% white, so you tell me what's their criteria. Republicans put Bachman and Palin in office for crying out loud.

[DonCosenza]

01:34 PM on 06/04/2009

Had Obama picked a white male, would you have suggested that he picked him only to appeal to whites and men? Or does that formula only take effect when a non-white male is chosen?

[PiscesPrincess]

11:45 AM on 06/04/2009

A Quarter of Hispanics are Republicans. duh.

[Zambrarmy]

11:02 AM on 06/04/2009

Why do people say Hispanics are conservatives.. NOT TRUE.. Maybe the older generation. If you poll today’s generation and the upcoming g they are more in the middle to liberal. People still have the idea that Latinos are all conservative and Catholics. Not true!!!

[azriel]

11:32 AM on 06/04/2009

A great deal of Cubans in Florida traditionally vote heavily republican/conservative, also the heavy prevalence of Catholicism found in Hispanic communities among its different ethnicities lends credibility to the belief that Hispanics are mostly conservative.

[PiscesPrincess]

11:46 AM on 06/04/2009

thanks. I live in FL too and you are right about that.

[montecarlo408]

10:52 AM on 06/04/2009

Anybody want to bet that the 25% consists mostly of Cuban-Americans, who are overwhelmingly Republican.

[HarlemNYC]

11:39 AM on 06/04/2009

Exactly, older Cubans in Florida are republican "revenge" for Kennedy's failed Bay of Pigs.

But really people how many different nationalities make up "Hispanics" Think about it.

Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, all of the central American countries etc.

[PiscesPrincess]

11:47 AM on 06/04/2009

Peru Chili Columbia Venezuela. Argentina. look at the map.

[eden4barack08]

12:55 PM on 06/04/2009

Definitely. Add to that the few misguided TX Mexicans ( friends of Gonzo), and unfortunately there's the 25% of "Hispanic conservatives"......which in the real world should be an oxymoron.