Key Latino Groups Launch Effort to Protect Sotomayor Nomination From Vicious Attacks

As the rhetoric around Judge Sotomayor's nomination heats up, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) in partnership with the broad Hispanics for a Fair Judiciary coalition has launched a website, Sotomayor For Justice, to counter the misinformation and backwards logic behind opposition to this historic nomination. The website comes at a perfect time; the right has thus far done a solid job of poisoning what should be a well-informed discussion on the importance of the judiciary, and the role it plays in all of our lives.

While some Senate leaders appear to be preparing for a thorough and respectful examination of Sotomayor's extensive federal judicial career, extremist commentators and elected officials on the right continue to try and derail the nomination with accusations of racism and comparisons to the KKK, and claims that she would bring bias into her decision-making in favor of Latinos. What is worse, notwithstanding the hateful remarks they make, many in the media continue to provide these individuals the platform to spread their ignorance. Never mind that Judge Sotomayor is a brilliant, qualified jurist with great respect for the rule of law and firm commitment to upholding the values enshrined in our Constitution. Never mind that she the most experienced judge to ever be nominated for the nation's high court. And never mind that among the federal circuit courts' 179 judicial positions, only 12 are occupied by Latinos.

Whether its to fill their coffers, or simply to foment greater hostility to the current administration, the right-wing talking heads and elected officials are using this moment to trash a well-respected and intelligent woman, and the country's fastest growing voter base. Hispanics for a Fair Judiciary has put together a strong coalition but has a lot of work to do to set the record straight. To see how bad things have gotten one need only look at the recent cartoon in the Oklahoman depicting Judge Sotomayor strung up like a piñata at a lynching. I only hope that the media and others start paying attention to the real issues at stake in this nomination.

And when this is all done, those that have viciously attacked and ridiculed Judge Sotomayor should be held accountable, both at the voting booth and through pulled corporate sponsorships for their hate speech on TV, print and radio.

Comments

[GinnyW]

Latinos are people who come from a Latin speaking ancestry, while Hispanics are a much narrower slice, speaking Spanish. Italian and Portuguese are other Latin linguistic related groups. The primary point that I think is absurd is that those who identify themselves as Latino (or latina), whose family comes from Puerto Rico, are NOT American are definitely ignorant of the fact that Puerto Ricans and others born in American territories and Washington, DC ARE American citizens, can vote in elections (but not have Congressional representation) and could rightfully be offended that they don't believe in the laws of the US, especially a law school graduate, professor, lawyer, and a judge with an impressive history of decisions about US law.

[LMPE]

The good thing about the right-wing smear campaign is that it further destroys the Grand Oil Party.

[aLittle2theLeft]

The right wing cannot scuttle Sotomayor's nomination, they dont have the votes, conservatives in general are so weakened and castrated, that they cannot even muster a filibuster.

The only thing they can do and seems very likely if their recent behavior is any indication, is to attempt to damage her in the public eye.

And their reason they want to smear this nomination is Completely out of "SPITE" and "HATRED" !!

[corwin]

The commenter above is technically correct-but only in the way,a Palestinian is a "Semite".While geographically correct, the term Anti Semite (And therefore Semite-refers to Jews . Latino is generally used for a member of a predominantly Spanish speaking ethnic group. SO calling Judge S> A "Latina" as people do is no more incorrect than calling Royall gelatin "Jello".
And Sotomayer isn't being pummeled by a lack of respect that's pro forma. She has very evident deficits that may doom her nomination. Certainly her repeated use of her Latina derived wisdom gives the opinion she has a special link to wisdom others don't .(Well, maybe some other ethnic groups.) Also, the number of times she's used this, coupled with her problems remembering it make her sound-tom me at least -as dishonest. Let me clarify this a little. On a scale of 1, Joe Biden's boasting of finishing in the top half of his law school when he finished near the bottom -- to 10 SOS CLinton telling lies about being under fire at Bosnia, would give it a 3. It's relatively harmless; playing to the audience and
no one is likely to take it seriously.
But, given her New haven decision, and the fact it's unsigned hints strongly she really does want special gov't sponsored privileges for certain groups. The public is more and more against this. I think it's a huge stumbling block. Will it trip her up? Don't know.

[Benton]

Clearly any intelligent person who has read the Judge's speeches, read her writings, and has looked at her decisions would find it absolutely impossible to characterize her as any thing but a moderate, technically minded legal scholar. All reasonable people agree that she is an expert of the highest order and integrity.

With all do respect the American people have taken Judge Sotomayor's measure and found her to be more credible then the extremist engage in flinging easily refuted sophomoric, hateful, spurious attacks.
Reliability in telling the truth when it comes to the serious issues of politics and economics is critical if the American people are to be properly positioned to informed decisions leading to what they consider a good life.

Every time the Republicans lie, Americans will argue on one side or the other. After tempers calm down they tell each other to look it up on the Internet. You can see the speeches, read the quotes, and make a decision for yourself. They find out in most cases the Republicans are lying in order to sow discord and confusion to gain power. After all they need power so that they may further the interest of those who back them financially. Its not that they are bad people they are just acting in the interest of their real constituency. People are stating to see through the game. Republicans are simply going to have to change.

[dancucich]

I hope they also reproduce the national review online
"picture" of Judge Sotomayor in mass,
'and circulate it to Hispanics nationwide.

Both Hispanic, and Asian Americans need to see
how poliitcal convservatives enjoy ridiculing and scorning
Asians and Hispanics.

That National Review online
caricature of Judge Sotomayor as an Asian Guru is even
more demeaning than the pinata cartoon.
imho...

[ZIPCODE]

"viciously attacked and ridiculed Judge Sotomayor "

Cabron!

[roshni]

I'm glad the Latino community is speaking out against this. It is disgraceful what the rethugs are doing and I hope they realize that the GOP will never accept minorities as equals.
Rooting for Justice Sotomayor. She is a well respected and experiences judge who has followed precedent and showed that she understands the process.
May this backfire on the GOP BIG TIME!

[wayicit]

The way i see it.
Echo that!! There needs to be more speaking out in favor of Justice Sotomayor on our part. What the Far Right is saying about her, has not gone unnoticed . They will soon realize, they have lost most of the Latino community. They will regret it.

[middleoftheroad]

SHE is the one who has pretty much said that her ethnic background, gender and life experience is brought into her decision making process. Why is it hateful to ask where she is on say Amnesty? Open borders? Giving drivers licenses to illegal aliens? SHE IS ON THE COUNCIL OF LA RAZA. I am not spouting hate speech, I am asking...as the Senate from both parties should ask these things. On a side note, I will ask...IS SHE THE BEST? She has been over turned a LOT! She will pretty much be over turned in Ricci AS SHE TAKES A SEAT ON THE BENCH!

AND, it's a joke to watch Dems wear this false anger considering how they act and the things they say when the GOP puts up a nom. How could Obama not back Robert and Alito...Roberts especially, based on advise and consent?

[Benton]

Given Alito's judicial temperament I would say Obama made a great decision.

[HispanicDidi]

Why is being a supporter of La Raza a problem? Do you even know what they do? Maybe you're not spouting hate, but you are spouting ignorance and intolerance. Before you claim that you know exactly what Sotomayor meant in her much maligned quote, try to give it some context and perspective. That quote is taken out of speech where she was actually questioned about a gender discrimination case, and yes I believe a woman who knows what it's like to be discriminated against knows more about that subject than someone who most likely has never been discriminated against based on sex or race.

I think the more perspective a judge has, the better off everyone is. All the critics that claim "she said race first!" are really reflecting their own prejudices and racism. She's an incredibly accomplished woman no matter her ethnicity, and people are not giving her the respect her current position deserves.

[hdj8501]

Well, I was wondering when the Puerto Rico/Latin community would step up to support/defend Sotomayer. She actually deserves very American's support!

[HispanicDidi]

You mention briefly that the media does little to challenge those who spew the racial remarks. I believe this is were the most damage is done. Old elected officials and political commentators gave their uneducated personal opinions and perpetuated dangerous myths about minorities and not many in the media disputed their remarks. It was better for ratings, I guess.

The complete lack of respect shown toward Sotomayor by her critics and the media, that allows the circus to continue, has made me question my identity in this country. As an American citizen having lived in a metropolitan area that welcomed all nationalities and cultures, the treatment of Sotomayor came almost as a cultural shock and a definite rude awakening. Most of all, it showed how ignorant and dangerous the loudest voices are.

[roshni]

It makes you wonder who these people are. My friends are diverse and respect all cultures. The MSM is controlled by rethugs and corporations and they have always been a mouthpiece for the rethugs. Thankfully, I don't interact with many people who are so ignorant and racist.

[dontmakemelaugh]

It kills me that the media and Caucasians can never get this right....people from Puerto Rico, myself included are not Latinos. We are not from Latin America.

[wayicit]

The way i see it.
Are you for real? If the Puerto Rican people are not Latinos. Then what are they? That means that the Cubans, and Dominicans are not Latinos. The fact that they speak Spanish there, and that it's in the Caribbean. might give you an indication. As a 3rd generation Mexican-American born and raised here. As an proud American, I am still Latin. We have Cubanos, Puertorriquenos, and Dominicanos married into the family. And they all consider themselves Latino.

So, you being from Puerto Rico. Tell me then, what the Puerto Rican people are?
And please don't just say "Puertorriqueno" that's obvious.

[Benton]

He is not making sense to me. I think he is confusing the Latino cultural linguistic group with the fact that Puerto Ricans are citizens. Its like, Watusis are Watusis whether they are self-governed, colonized, or re-colonized.