Sotomayor Creates Problems For GOP Gubernatorial Candidates

The Supreme Court nomination of a Latina judge, Sonia Sotomayor, is forcing some Republicans to weigh the benefits of appealing to Hispanic voters against the cost of alienating the conservative base.

The struggle has manifested itself most clearly among Republicans currently running for office. Gubernatorial candidates Chris Christie of New Jersey and Bob McDonnell of Virginia have found President Barack Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court a political topic best avoided.

In McDonnell's case, the Virginia Attorney General has not actually weighed in on the debate over Sotomayor's confirmation at all. "We have not been asked or put out a statement," said McDonnell spokesperson, Taylor Thornley. Asked if she could provide one, Thornley said she would "see if we can get something put together for you." Subsequent requests for that information went unreturned.

Perhaps non-engagement is better than saying anything at all. Christie found himself on the receiving end of a critical editorial for playing politics with the nomination, which he first criticized, then described as "historic."

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 6.6 percent of Virginia's population is of Hispanic origin, corresponding to a population of roughly 513,000. In New Jersey the percentage is much higher. Nearly 16 percent of the state is of Hispanic origin, corresponding to a population of more than 1,380,500.

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Comments

[damilitantone]

Sotomayor isn't a problem unless folks want her to be. She appears to be a decent lady and a very good jurist. I don't expect to agree with her 100% of the time, but I have no doubt that she will try to be a fair and impartial judge. Some white folks are absolutely losing their minds over nonsense.

[the964kid]

This is what they deserve after years of playing into the right wing's lowest common denominator.

[CalDemo]

Where is the Christian Coalition on this nomination? Republicans owe their allegiance to conservative evangelicals who must be passing their instructions in silent communications. Surely if they protest the President giving a speech at a Catholic university they must be in a dither about this nomination to the Supreme Court. Then again, they haven't come out in support of the first female hispanic on the Court either, maybe this one is too hot to handle publicly for them.

[demimckingwoodtx]

Give the h3//!

[Promote]

ALL YOU POOR CRY, CRY BABIES , PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA , will Appoint a QUALIFIED, NATIVE AMERICAN & ASIAN ! On the SUPREME COURT !
So get over it . CHANGE YOU CAN BELIVIEVE IN ! YES WE CAN !
PEACE & BLESSING !

[Rangergirl]

No kidding they have a problem over her....They vote against her and the Southwest, and Florida will be blue next elections....Tx, NM, AZ Fl. for sure.l....The party will be microscopic if they keep it up.

[PlanoBlue]

Then hopefully they will keep it up!!!

[Horus45]

AZ is a little funny to call yet because, believe it or not, a lot of the Hispanics here are/were Republican and have voted for Republicans in the past.
But who knows how they will vote over this, I know Kyl will probably have some trouble for opposing her, but Kyl is not up for re-election in 2010, John McCain is.

[bipolarbear]

Whether one agrees ideologically or not with our President, one cannot help but admire the fact that he's playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers.

To coin a Bush word: Obama has excellent "strategery"!

"forcing some Republicans to weigh the benefits of appealing to Hispanic voters against the cost of alienating the conservative base."

[IconoclasticYouth]

That's a pretty solid analogy

[Horus45]

Imagine how they will react when his next pick is an African American Woman?

[BigAl72]

The GOP will be taking a beating in the Southwest and Florida in 2010.

[Bloggerrogr]

"Sotomayor Creates Problems For GOP Gubernatorial Candidates"

should read:

Sotomayor Creates Problems For GOP Goober-natorial Candidates"

much better.

[jukesgrrl]

Conservative = fear.

[Donnat]

Here's a thought....why don't you vote for her based on her merits and not on whether you can use it to your advantage next election?

Haw haw, what am I saying?

[Greygolla]

I used to think that this was a country of law and that everyone was equal under the law. This I see now was rather naive and idealistic as a fact, but is more accurate as a goal. There is time and distance between where we start and were we are going, it is a transition. There is a school of thought called "narrative law" that uses stories to illustrate the discrepancies and differences that are often the root of injustice. It is probably true that one who has lived such a narrative and is yet a champion of the law is better qualified by reason of experience to make wise decisions. This should be no surprise. Race is a non issue here as prominent Justices have shown in various ways: Marshal was a constitutionalist, Holmes a historian, Brandeis a sociolgist, Carozo a liberal, and Warren a humanist. Considering this diversity Sotomayor seems a wise discision.

[Peter007]

Yes, but the judges vote on issues based on politics. The court is a political institution as is congress.
We know how Sotomayor will vote already. She will vote for the liberal agenda.
If you are a conservative you must vote against her based on on principles.

[MikeHermit]

To what end? if the conservatives are successful Barack will just apoint someone else that the conservatives object to. A lot more danger in trying to find wrong with the new appointee, weeks of news headlines, a week or two of hearings.

They cannot keep an apointee by Obama out. And by doing so more and more they will alienate more and more, leaving a much smaller base.

In that case I hope Sotomayor is not sworn in.

Wait, now I am acting like one of them. Forget that, swear her in already. This is about the good of the country, not how long you can play political games.

Why I am so against the right, they prefer lies, scare tactics, and the panderings and money of corporate lobbyists over honesty and the concern of the nation as a whole. Dems fail this as well from time to time, but not to such an extent.

And if a Dem decried that Health Care Reform was a government plan to kill old people I would call them out on it too.

[Horus45]

"Yes, but the judges vote on issues based on politics"

Yep, they made that perfectly clear when they voted to stop the Florida recount.
What happened with "States Rights" in that instance?

[Bronxdude]

Judge Sotomayor represents the sum of her unique life 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 (Alabama) 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 as a Caucasian male in America. Differences in ethnicity, cultural heritage, and life experiences does 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 experiences (good or bad) to subjectively influence how she interprets the law and renders judgments involving Hispanic people. Conversely, just because he hails from a confederate and segregationist stronghold that championed George Wallace, celebrated Bull Conner, and pioneered racist policies specifically designed to brutalized and subjugate Black Americans does not mean Senator Sessions will embrace and seek to advance the racist ideology of his forefathers, behave as a preprogrammed automaton, and allow his deep-south roots and correlated experiences to prejudice or interfere with his ability to make objective, race-neutral decisions. Based on her confirmation hearings, the Republican Party has become the party of bitter, angry Southern White men.

[ctapbts]

Being racist is the "in thing" as long as it's directed towards white people.. The New Haven firefighters case shows how EOE has pretty much turned against itself... It seems these days it's doing exactlly opposite of what it was intended to.. It seems like people of color have been feeling to comfortable and feeling they may soon lose the "race card" want to make otherwise non-racist white people resent them so they can keep it in their pocket..

[ZombyWoof]

Her decision in the New Haven Fire fighters case was a matter of upholding an existing law (a State's rights issue). In overturning this decision SCOTUS engaged in legislation from the bench.

And as I stated in a previous post, she has made judgements against minorities claiming discrimination.

[johnr49]

A perfect description of the case. Fanned (and not just for the FZ reference!)

Per Justice Kennedy:
"Certain white and Hispanic firefighters who likely would have been promoted based on their good test performance sued the City and some of its officials. Theirs is the suit now before us."

Judge Sotomayor's "strict constructionist" decision affected Hispanics as well as whites - some racist!

[Horus45]

In the future the whites decrying EOE will be singing it's praises when Whites become the minority in this country.

[ZombyWoof]

Found just two paragraphs below Sotomayor’s Wise old Latina remark in the same speech.

“I, like Professor Carter, believe that we should not be so myopic as to believe that others of different experiences or backgrounds are incapable of understanding the values and needs of people from a different group. Many are so capable. As Judge Cedarbaum pointed out to me, nine white men on the Supreme Court in the past have done so on many occasions and on many issues including Brown.”

Wow what a dangerous racist (sarcasm)

PS. Before you mention the New Haven Fire Fighters know that she has also made decisions against minority complainants bringing discrimination lawsuits.