National Review Perplexingly Depicts Sotomayor As Asian

Good gravy, have you all seen the cover that the good people from the Journal of Lowered Expectations known as the National Review have put together? Courtesy of Talking Points Memo's Brian Beutler, BEHOLD!

Yes. It seems that the National Review has confused their ethnic stereotypes, or their religions, or maybe they just wanted some sort of two-fer, because their "Wise Latina" cover story presents Sotomayor as an Asian, in some sort of Buddhist pose.

Anyway, the good news is this will surely provide a excellent P.R. opportunity to Puerto Rico's little talked-about Buddhist community.

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Comments

[Uvula]

Ugh...I understand that "political correctness" is a thing of the past with the right-wing media, but to blatantly throw multiple tasteless racial stereotypes like this onto the cover of a quasi-major publication is ghastly. The rebirth of ethnocentric racism from the right is truly unfortunate.

[macintoshsauce]

Don't forget... The Left has emasculated men for the longest time.

[IDIOTA]

Bill Buckley, if you're listening, have you asked Him to send a lightning bolt?

[therblig]

Soy Buddhinquen, perhaps?

[claypoint2]

LOL!!!

[Clayton139]

This is sad !

Probably Fox Noise - GOP wingnuts !

[byla]

I'm guessing the Asian aspect of this cover was meant to depict "wise" probably in a sarcastic manner. Unfortunately, if meant as tongue in cheek satire it's not funny and not even close to clever.

[lioness39]

My guess is that the right wing doesn't know clever.

[Budokan]

Depiction of Asians as always "wise" is itself Race Fail and to be expected from conservatives.

[whitenoise007]

in the rush to dismiss the critics as "overly sensitive," there's a notion behind this that is not only part of the current race-baiting drumbeat from the right, it's a large part of white American perception: "a 'wise latina?' isn't that an oxymoron?" and on the liberal side the outrage over her independent thinking; she doesn't follow the liberal script, therefore, "she's cut from the same 'uncle tom' cloth as alberto gonzales and clarence thomas."

after experiencing a lot of racism when i was a kid, i went to a very liberal fine arts college where i started hearing, "you only got that because you're hispanic. you're not really qualified.­" now, years later, we have a half-black president, and dozens of latino politicians all over the u.s., and there are almost as many hispanic characters on television as there are openly gay ones. but that message, from both the right and the left, in various forms, persists, "you're only getting that because of affirmative action. you're not really qualified.­" on the other hand, we're to accept without debate that every successful white person out there is qualified, or at least something other than race got them there; ignore the man behind the curtain.

sotomayor is qualified; on her own hard work and merits. this whole "wise latina" mockery--this single comment taken out of context and making it into legitimate issue--is just the same ole same old.

[andyg]

She said it multiple times over years, problem his nobody knows what it means, any idea.

[johnthesavage]

The cover lampoons Sotomayor exquisitely, while calling attention to a major commentary within, on a very important current political event. As political magazine covers go, it was quite well done in the grand tradition of political cartooning. Buddha, by the way, was from India.

As Sotomayor is no doubt learning, anyone that puts themselves up as being particularly wise, is liable to attract the attention of those that crack wise.

[coco51]

And there I thought National Review was a thought provoking serious conservative magazine not a comic strip. You live and you learn or should I say, Republicans continue to educate me about their disregard for truth, respect, and pride in our country and it's citizens.

[marley22]

Not that you might have noticed, being closed-minded and all, but National Review often has caricature covers.

[sauravfromnepal]

Buddha was from Nepal.

[aliceautumn]

Nepal, which is in Asia.

[Trueheart]

I think India is part of the Near East as opposed to Far East.

[FGDinVA]

I have to point out that Sotomayor wasn't speaking about herself specifically. The full lecture is available here (with typos) if you want to take the time to read it: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/us/politics/15judge.text.html?pagewanted=5&_r=1

[MrWampler]

Reminds me of when Madonna went through her "enlightment" phase:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3285871937_1690ce339e.jpg

[triplbee]

Conservative means prudent and cautious. We should stop using this word to describe the right wing in this country. They are bigots. They are most assuredly not cautious or prudent. I must say it is heartening, however, to watch them self-destruct. What strategy do they have in mind when they insult the two fastest growing ethnic groups (Latinos and Asians) in the United States?

[JessWonderin]

and let's not FORGET women . . . . seems they figure only old rich white bigots VOTE . . . . or at least CONTROL the voting machines . . .

[MrJoyboy]

What's next, a picture of Nancy Pelosi belly dancing for bin Laden?

[IDIOTA]

Fascinating. But the best Colbert dressing up as Michelle Obama. That was hot.

[ladybastet]

OMG! I can't believe I missed that one! Tell me you've got a link to a pic.

[BannedInBoston]

Shhhhhhh..­..

[AlteSoldier]

I still think that Latinos can really send a message to the GOP by voting out any GOP elected officials that do not support Judge Sotomayor. That action will send a message of “respect us” to the GOP.

[marley22]

You can't not vote for someone twice.

[coco51]

wow marley, you are quite the educator today!! to what do we owe this privilege?

[dancucich]

True, You can't not vote for someone twice. But, a large plurality
of the 30% of Hispanics that voted republican in 2008, sure could change their vote in the next election. The democrats should send the National review covers to evrey state in the union with a large Hispanic (or Asian) population.

[Chaimirija]

Hmmm, so latins ought to support he based on ethnic background alone...?

[SeeJaneRunning]

Any time any conservative publication dares to touch on the subject of race, the liberals come out hair on fire while spewing "Only we may invoke race for political gain!"

[cobobs]

Conservatives have always used race for political gain–fear of the other race, you know (wink wink)

[SeeJaneRunning]

Yep, Lincoln did that beautifully now didn't he?

[chaselv413]

Exactly right...re­member the Southern Strategy during the Nixon years to drive a wedge between the black and white voters?

[Chaimirija]

"those people"

[beckpod1]

The term profession­als......h­as lost it's meaning. And this goes for most media!

[Happylib]

I think the cover is cute and I cannot stand this conservative toilet paper. What the articles "says" is another matter....­I will not be reading it by the way. I have better things to do like clean my cats litter box.

[BannedInBoston]

Kind of similar activities actually..­..

[rich3324]

So the National Review is saying Sotomayor is wise like Buddha. That means she will make a great judge on the SC. Thanks for the endorsement National Review.