Judge Sonia Sotomayor's Nomination: Obama Gives the Nation Another Teaching Moment

President Barack Obama has done a symbolically extraordinary thing by nominating for the first time in U.S. history a person of Latino descent to the Supreme Court. The president has stayed true to the theme of his long campaign when he adopted "Si Se Puede" from the legendary Latina leader, Dolores Huerta. Right-wing talk show hosts have been bludgeoning Judge Sonia Sotomayor, (first appointed to the federal bench by a Republican president), as if she were a kingpin in a Mexican drug cartel. This toxic soil has been well fertilized by the anti-immigrant rants of CNN's Lou Dobbs, by the high-profile "border patrol" work of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and by the paramilitary activities of the "Minutemen." Add to this context the unwarranted venom of the hate-radio crowd and we can see that President Obama, like his Philadelphia speech on race during the 2008 campaign, has given the nation yet another teaching moment.

Glen Beck calls Judge Sotomayor "Hispanic chick lady"; G. Gordon Liddy says she speaks a language called "Illegal Alien" and frets about her "menstruating" in office; Newt Gingrich and Tom Tancredo label her a "racist," (Tancredo even called La Raza a "Latino KKK"); Karl Rove calls her "not distinguished," "emotional," and claims Sotomayor is "combative, opinionated, argumentative"; Rush Limbaugh compares her to the Ku Klux Klansman David Duke and calls her every other coded and not-so-coded anti-Latino slur in the book. Others have piled on calling her a "bigot" and a "radical" and an "activist" and a "socialist" and a "Marxist" and an "anti-constitutionalist" and an "affirmative action" nominee. They say "empathy" is a "liberal code word" for an "activist judge." They call her "not too bright" and "an angry woman." Mark Krikorian of the National Review even took issue with the pronunciation of her name, writing, "it sticks in my craw." Politico's Mike Allen and Jonathan Martin reported that Sotomayor was "a Latina single mother" despite the fact she has no children. Sean Hannity said that President Obama has "turned his back on Mainstream America" by nominating "the most divisive nominee possible." And so on, and on, and on.

One thing is clear: President Obama's choice of a Latina woman has sparked the ugliest reaction from the Republican Right we've seen in years.

These right-wing white men who are right now unleashing their inner racists all over the public airwaves are happy to see a 54-year-old Latina woman changing the sheets of their beds in their luxury hotel suites, or cleaning the bathrooms of their offices at night inside their high-rises, or washing the dishes in the kitchens of the fancy restaurants they frequent, but a Latina woman on the Supreme Court -- the first ever -- has really gotten under their alabaster skins. I can't help but think of Stephen Colbert, who says he "doesn't see race," when I hear these multimillionaire white men screaming "racism" at Sonia Sotomayor. Is this a joke? Is this satire?

Lost in the din is Sotomayor's own compelling Horatio Alger story. Her accomplishments rising from a disadvantaged background are every bit as impressive as Clarence Thomas's or Alberto Gonzalez's. When he testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee Attorney General Gonzalez, trying to save his job, fell back on his compelling life story: immigrant parents who knew the virtues of backbreaking agricultural labor. But what we've learned with the whole Sotomayor saga is that the only "compelling" personal stories of public officials that matter are those who belong to conservative Republicans -- liberal Democrats need not apply -- they're all just "affirmative action" cases.

What President Obama has exposed with his choice of Judge Sotomayor is the seamy underbelly of latent American racism and misogyny. These hate-filled white men are on TV whining about Sotomayor's "racism." The whole sordid set of talking points the Right is pushing in hope of derailing her confirmation as a Supreme Court Justice shows that no matter what Sotomayor's accomplishments -- second in her class at Princeton, editor of the Yale Law Review, seventeen years as a federal judge -- the Right judges her solely on her race and on her gender. Obama, once again, has forced America to look at its ugly side and the predictably vicious response of the Right has driven home the message with its astonishing hatred.

There was a time when George W. Bush pandered to Latino voters on the campaign trail by mouthing a few sentences in Spanish. Well, no amount of pandering to Latinos is ever going to help the Republicans win another election if they insist on keeping this deeply offensive burlesque going against Judge Sotomayor.

Comments

[Joseph A. Palermo - Huffpost Blogger]

I find it interesting that a Republican president can appoint someone like Alito or Roberts or Scalia or Thomas who are all so far to the Right they're really off the map -- plus they're arrogant and privileged and everything else -- but a Democratic president has no right to appoint anyone to the left of Souter -- I mean, come on, be honest you folks who are commenting negatively -- for Obama to appoint a Justice who is as far left as Scalia is right he'd have to go find someone from the Center for Constitutional Rights or the head of the ACLU or something -- man, can you believe what the Republicans would be saying if he really appointed someone like a Thurgood Marshall? Wow! It just goes to show you that the "center" in American politics is way off in Right field and that's still not good enough for the Right -- I mean what do they want? A Karl Rove one-party state? Like the one we had from 2003 to 2007 -- and look what they did to the country in that time -- war profiteering, housing bubble, financial rip off, even the oil companies couldn't contain themselves and pushed prices at the pump to about $5 a gallon, man that was a huge swindle -- and now they complain?

[Beth Borzone - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you making us aware of the horrible racist tactics the right wing is using to try to hurt Judge Sotomayor's confirmation. It's all about power! If only Americans would wake up to the ways racism is used to consolidate the wealth of the nation into the hands of the few!

[apexfork]

It's a shame that GWB never nominated a hispanic to the supreme court.

Oh wait, he did, Miguel Estrada. Subsequently filibustered by the non-racist dems.

[johnwinner]

Estrada was not only judicially inexperienced, he was a member of the professedly subversive ideologically strict Federalist Society - a 'judicial activist' by his own admission.

[Fintwain]

It is a sad day when we, as Americans, must listen to other Americans who are unable to accept that we are all individuals, that we all come from different backgrounds, different ethnic groups, different religions, different cultures. That we have to listen to other Americans who know "better", who believe that they know "best" for the rest of us. Who dis-respect our ELECTED President, and even more, the voters who elected him specifically for the changes in our society that are happening now. What are they so afraid of ? They are afraid that we, the people, will all realize that their past, present and future scenario and hopes for America are only a bullshit front to protect their own interests, their own values at the expense of everyone else's. Don't worry boys, we'll make sure that you'll be taken care of in your dotage. We must have a civil discussion about issues and not this ranting and raving by self realized and identified "demigods". Our founding fathers, so rational and so literate, are turning over in their graves right now!

[losangelian1]

Great article... Dead on..

Obama has been a master at exposing the dark underbelly of the GOP. They make is so easy.

[Lilybart]

If Sotomayor was sympathetic to Republican ideology in her rulings in the past, I wonder if this treatment by them will push her to the left?

I know she is a professional and will rule on merit, but I sure would want to be just a flaming liberal to make these a-holes have agita.

[SarahKent]

That's why you are not in a position of power.

[eschiesser]

Recognize that Lilybart never said just "would" but "would want to." Its very important to recognize your own feelings and desires, especially sadistic and vengeful ones, but even more important to recognize your inaction as per those feelings.

That being said, I doubt many of us could muster the self control if we were sitting on that bench.

[nuced]

"No where is there love to be found
among those afraid of losing their ground..."
Byrds "Eight Miles High"

[dontpanic1]

Great post.

[DiogenesOfAlaska]

With all the nonsense that one has to gloss over to even make homeopathic doses of sense of these right-wing media people and politicians, it's easy to forget the obvious:

as you point out, even if you don't even take the race or identity politics issue, the mere fact that multi-millionaires pretend to be worried about the qualifications of this woman already speaks volumes.

Is it not possible to simply pass a law which imposes a higher standard on what counts as offensive depending on your bank account? As in: for those who have the choice to retire comfortably without having to work, there appears to be a need to impose some limitations on the freedom of speech.

I'm all for it.

[DiogenesOfAlaska]

I was exaggerating on purpose.

What I claim without exaggeration is this: it is quite important to make sure the weight of a person's opinions is gauged with their bank accounts and retirement options in the back of your mind.

It's makes close to no sense to even listen to Rush Limbaugh already for this very simple reason. If only 20 million listeners would realize that one day.

For the same reason, the very idea that CEOs with golden parachutes worth millions (or a lot more) will do what's best for the shareholders is a joke. It's ridiculous. The only reason they don't retire is because they are in the position to gamble for free, at no cost and at no risk.

[dontpanic1]

So true.

[apexfork]

So you think I should get less justice than you just because I have more money than you?

Why bother having a legal system at all then?

[AnnfromCA]

No worse than the left did when Bush presented a Hispanic for the Court. They made up stories about secret memos.

Remember?

Neither Dems nor GOP can claim the high moral ground on this one.

[cactusgal]

It's difficult to remember unless you're more specific. Which "Court?" What "made up stories? " Which "Hispanic?"

[ladycubsfan]

My daughter converted to Catholicism prior to marriage and I have observed bigotry while attending her church (my granddaughter's first communion, for example). I have witnessed white Catholics who speak disparagingly of Hispanic members of their congregation. I have heard Hispanics slur Blacks. I have also heard black people rant and rave against gays. My point is that there is prejudice across the board and until we as a society stand up and refuse to let our differences divide us (gender, race, creed, etc.), we will continue to fall victim to hate mongers like the Republican Party. The GOP knows how to turn us against each other. They know a house divided cannot stand. All of us need to stand up for each other, especially the minorities among us, because we know how it feels. I'm only a minority if left-handed women are declared to be so. I don't have the numbers, but I'm not aware of too many of us. :)
Speaking of being left-handed, Obama is and I find it funny that a Republican relative of mine (speaking from his military experience) claimed there were no left-handed Muslims (he said it was taboo - something about which hand is used for what in their culture). I guess the GOP forgot that little tidbit when they were screaming that Obama was a Muslim. Oh, well, it's not like they can be bothered with facts.

[johnie2xs]

Ain't religion wonderful?

You know, I have had a warm spot, in the memories of my youth, having been brought up Catholic. They have suffered mightily, as I've grown to the advanced age of 60, but those same misgivings have now included ALL religions.

I think, looking back, the warm and fuzzies I felt for Catholicism had less to do with the Religion itself, than it had to do with growing up in a strong Italian heritage, a multi-cultural neighborhood, the general ambiance of upward mobility provided by the happenings of the '50's and '60's, and the seemingly constancy of all factors of life, at least from the standpoint of an adolescent, with all that that entails.

Reality never entered into my life, as a child, until November 22nd, 1963. But even then, with the striking down of Kennedy, it was a President we lost, not a "Catholic" President.

With the poisoned atmosphere of religiosity now, I can only imagine how the assassination would have played out, in today's media. Now add to that, all and, every conceivable difference that exist in our multi-cultural society combined with the irrational conflation of fundamentalist religions into the political fabric, and we have the drawing and quartering of an Hispanic female, during her vetting process for the highest court in the land.

Her confirmation, if successful, will have less to do with her qualifications, than it has to do with who can be placated more successfully.

What a shame.

[cactusgal]

LOVE all your comments!
Fanned & Favorited

[Julie Phillips-Minor]

Amen sister!

[Databyter]

The only reason race is brought up is because the Democrats brought it up when they Nominated her, and She brings it up as an influence in her decesions (which of course it SHOULDNT be.

The Constitution is the constitution, the Law is the Law. Empathy and Race or sex should not come into play.

The fact that she feels that it does come into play should disqualify her from the outset.

This isn't about racism aimed at her, but racism coming from her.

Racism does not necesarily mean mean despicable people berating and belittling minorities, It can also be minorities who base their decisions about people and and policy on race.

Based on all the comments I see on this board about old white men, I find it strange that these same people don't find their own comments racist. They are, look up the definition in the dictionary if you don't believe it.

The Republican party has nominated more latinos to the court than anyone. They spearheaded the anti-slavery movement, won Blacks the vote, after initial resentment by BOTH parties they were the original home of the women who won the right to vote, they fought the democratic racists in the 60's and 70's. It's beyond me how people believe that somehow the Republican party is the party of racists.

If you want to find some look to the party that is obsessed with race and sex, not the party who defends it.

[chlllfactor]

Alito said the same thing during his confirmation hearing. Were you jumping up and down then? Your hypocrisy is priceless.

[johnie2xs]

Laws are made to govern people, so EMPATHY is applicable. We're not car parts.

You don't use empathy in the technical guidelines of punching out a car part in a punch press, 'cause it doesn't apply.

The Supreme Court is made of people, not bumpers, so every emotion in the panoply of said same, are involved (nay required) by those who sit in judgment.

If you suggest less, I suggest that North Korea is your paradigm of choice.

[apexfork]

Maybe you need to do some research on what the supreme court actually does.

[Langston Hughes]

Hispanics are not a "race." Not that hard to understand. Democrats did not "bring it up."

The GOP is packed to the rafters with outright racists, white supremacists, and ethnocentrists. If they keep up at this rate they won't even hold the South after a few generations.

[SarahKent]

Stop generalizi­ng...it makes yo look stupid.

[auroranorth]

The fatc is is that we are supposed to have a representative government, I see no representation for White racialists, according to homeland security there are several millions of Us 3 cheers for democracy, we get lip service minorities and the rich get bailed out.Idiot democrats want to tax chocolate milk, yeah that ought to pay for the 268 billion for AIG, AS Clueless as the Repubicans

[BMS]

Please define "white racialist.­" I've never heard that term before.

[rchazr]

The selection of Sotomayor is indeed an instructive act on several levels. Many Americans stepped into a new mindset with a leap of faith in electing Obama. In the process, we have learned that we can change the world for the better. It is refreshing to see an American President working in this way to help us live up to the promise of America.

The Sotomayor nomination has also taught us is that there is still a lot of Americans suffering from fear and uncertainty. Perhaps more importantly, there are still elements in our society who will attempt to translate that fear into hate, prejudice and bigotry for political gain. The most instructive aspect of this response is that her credentials and her life story speak for themselves--as does their misguided attempts to discredit her.

We, as a country, are learning to do the work and evaluate the complete person. We no longer have a mindset that allows anyone--not even elected officials--tell us who to hate. The selection is demonstrating that the numbers of Americans susceptible to this type of sound byte manipulation has diminished to the point where those that attempt it diminish their own political viability. This is indeed illuminating. Well done.

Rchazr

[GraceNeeded]

Thank-you Professor Palermo. I guess Sotormayor's nomination is just another chance for the Republican Party to use character assassination tactics on an innocent victim. As Independents, we are so tired of these attacks and ads that appeal to the worst in our nature as humans, instead of what former President Lincoln called on those 'angels of our better nature'. We are all hoping that she doesn't take these vicious attacks personally and realizes it is part of the politics of the less, increasingly becoming fewer. America is done with these kind of tactics! If the Republicans have any hope for the future, they better start coming up with plans and ideas of their own that show 'empathy' for the vast majority of Americans including the increasing Hispanic population. We NEED judges like Sotormayor and she will represent NY well, as Sandra Day O'Connor did Arizona. What a role model for Latina girls, too!

[Marcospinelli]

Joseph A. Palermo:

Is Sotomayor more likely to please the right or the left from the bench?

This noise from the GOP keeps obscuring that central question.

Of course the GOP is making the most outrageous noise. But look at what it accomplishes -- Democratic and Independent voters flocking to support her, without knowing a thing about her. She's no liberal. Her rulings, from what I've seen of them, are anti-populist.

I don't care what the gender or ethnicity of a SC justice is; I care that a SC justice interprets the laws from a populist's perspective of what's in the Constitution. A man could do it, an Asian could do it, anyone could do it.

[Bitsko]

"Barack 0bama is a very bright man; he's thought about this matter for some time and had in his mind narrowed down the choices months ago. I'd say with this appointment he has a 'fiver' -- a woman, a Hispanic, a liberal, a friend and an easy confirmati­on."

-- University of Maryland law professor Larry Gibson, quoted in The Baltimore Afro American.

[dontpanic1]

Ha! you feel the need to quote the Afro American..­. are you black? paranoid? trying to understand black people? rehashing? just curios...

[Joseph A. Palermo - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for the thoughtful comments -- what I was getting at I think about the Latino vote is that Judge Sotomayor (who is definitely a moderate by all counts) is now really the highest profile Latino in public office -- she is now a symbol of success and accomplishment for millions of Americans of Latino descent, just as Barack Obama is to African Americans -- it's what makes this country great -- and now the Right is just urinating and defecating all over this person -- that does not bode well for winning the Southwest or Nevada in the future for the Republicans, possibly also North Carolina and Virginia if demographic trends continue -- this could be the self-inflicted wound that cripples the GOP for many years -- the sooner the better. Let the racists go -- and all those whining rich white males like Buchanan and Gingrich and Hannity -- wow! These men are bigots and bigots eventually lose in America, just ask George Wallace.

[Katzencats]

This is true. Of course, Wallace did eventually come to his senses & apologized to blacks for what he'd said & done over the years. However, I doubt the entire Right Wing will have a mass mental health breakthough any time soon.

The one thing I haven't seen or heard yet is the accusation (for lack of a better word) that electing "one of "them" has opened the floodgates, & now the entire country will be overrun by "them". You just know that's what they're thinking. After all, we got us our first darkie President and lookie thar, he's bringing in a MEXICAN! to the Supreme Court!!! They're taking over!!!

Note to anyone offended, I am a middle aged, working class white woman, who is originally from NW of Chicago, been a Democrat since the age of 12 (Bobby Kennedy is still my political hero), who has lived in the South for 30 years. Trust me, the above isn't MY sentiment, it's what I hear around me all the time. And yes, I know Sotomayor was born in NY of Puerto Rican parents.

[GoldenAgeMaster]

I do not speak for the GOP or it's members, but I do speak for millions of Conservatives when I state categorically that we are NOT racists!

Don’t forget to take the pledge.... http://iamnotaracist.wordpress.com/

[tilted windmill]

You said, " ... and now the Right is just urinating and defecating all over this person -- that does not bode well for winning the Southwest or Nevada in the future for the Republicans, possibly also North Carolina and Virginia if demographic trends continue -- this could be the self-inflicted wound that cripples the GOP for many years -- the sooner the better. Let the racists go ... "

The frightened name-calling and screaming is the death rattle of the Right, and losing control of bodily function is just another part of the process.

[realpolitic]

i think President Obama should nominate a second Hispanic Justice to the Supreme Court if another seat opens. Then the right will really go nuts. They will not only secede, like Texas wants to do, but will probably go north and become citizens of Canada or Iceland.

[Cil]

Why oh why, are you trying to corrupt Canada?

Canadians love President Obama, do you really think they will
accept these right wing nut cases? Sorry but I think you are stuck
with them!

[HesDanTheMan]

Oh they won't want to go to Canada because of the rights that gays are afforded there. There really aren't many countries that would want them I don't think.

[HesDanTheMan]

May I just say what a great article! In your last line above; "These men are bigots and bigots eventually lose in America,"

All I can say is from your mouth to God's ears. I hope that America does in fact wake up and see how ugly it is on the Right!

We have the Right Extremists killing an OBGYN doctor, we have Right Extremists hurling horrific comments about Ms. Sotomayor and don't even get me started on the abuse my community has to endure regarding equal rights for all GLBT.

Thank Joseph, thank you very much for your article.