My Conversation with Cesar Perales on Sonia Sotomayor

There has been so much talk about Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, much of it from people who know very little about her. This afternoon, I spoke with someone who not only knows Judge Sotomayor well, but who worked closely with her at the civil rights organization, Latino Justice PRLDEF. Cesar Perales is the President and General Counsel of Latino Justice PRLDEF and I began our conversation with the claims by some that Judge Sotomayor is a racist. Here's a clip:

The full conversation airs tonight on PBS.

Comments

[Flavor]

The statement she made was not racist, and I'm begining to think we don't know what racist is. We all are (human) and not one is perfect if I must say there were a lot of non latino's who were racist and carried out the duty of a racist and were in leadership. We live in a country that has had it's past of sho-nuf racist, although the land of the beautiful talked about freedom in this beautiful country when one land here not all the time were they greeted to freedom. They soon learned about second and third class ect... I am proud of President Obama's choice and know this american woman Mrs. Sotomayor will be sworn in and will be able to interpret the laws of the land and carry out her duties for all people. This beautiful lady, went to school, went to college, and became a judge and she was a very good choice to pick, I believe. She did not grow up with a golden spoon in her mouth but her mom made sure her daughter knew the importance of education and this great american latino, did what was required to do to go to the next level. Children will be able to look at this woman and say if she can do it so can I. She will be sworn in.

[OdinsEye]

The statement she made was clearly racist.

[Flavor]

It was not.

[OdinsEye]

In the humble opinion of this half-Latino, half-Asian, I think that Sotomayor's statement was indeed racist. It was also arrogant and condescending.

Additionally, IMHO, anyone who touts themself as wise, isn't.

[sdskelton03]

http://townhall.com/columnists/MonaCharen/2009/06/02/its_not_fair_to_casually_call_people_racist

I know Mona bats from the wrong side for this website, but she is dead right on this.

[BlueFloyd]

either limbaugh and newt are vampires, sitting shiva with the mirrors draped, or they wouldn't know a racist if one stared them in the face!!!

[Flavor]

Mrs. Sotomayor is clearly not racist, but the one's who are calling her that bares watching. People these are the attacks that come when your a sore looser. I've said this many times we have had people in seats that made decisions for the people but did not help all the people. We need people who can interpret the law and make right decisions for all people Wake Up! America is a country filled with diversity. Yes, it is a great country but this country also has had it's share of injustice to a class of people, although there were laws put in place for (all) people the injustice still happened. We have a way of sweeping dirty laundry under a clean rug, but eventually it will stink. The land of the beautiful, had a certain people who thought they were superior and they also ran the USA, had it not been for people saying enough is enough, we have toiled this land in 100degree + weather to be told we are less than another human, I don't think so. Mrs. Sotomayor to myself need not to apologize for that statement but she will answer it, and this lady is no joke she is smart and capable of defending and explaining her statement. She will be sworn in.

[PPatt]

Thanks for that. I frequently enjoy your show.

So the GOP wants to be more inclusive yet they seek to diminish and slander this jewel of the Hispanic community.

This sounds not only hypocritical but stupid as well. They are headed in the direction of the dodo bird and show no inclination to put on the brakes.

Bring it on! ...onward to the confirmation hearings!

[jemiltd]

Funny, I completely understood her 2001 statement when I first heard it. Didn't need anyone to interpret it for me. The Republicans and the overpaid microphone empowered hatemongerers need to be very careful about tossing the word racist around. It could easily blow back into their faces.

[InfosolutionWiz]

WELL SAID!