Home > Opinion > Bonnie Erbe > Republican Attacks on Sotomayor Could Alienate Women As Well as Hispanics

Republican Attacks on Sotomayor Could Alienate Women As Well as Hispanics

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In the old days, racism meant lynchings, murder and terror. But the 'new racism' practiced by judges like Sotomayor means the color of your skin is more important than qualifications.
Somewhat better perhaps, but this racism is still ugly.

Larry of CA 11:59PM July 15, 2009

Apparently it's just fine and dandy to promote homogeneity when it benefits the (previously) dominant political and one's own social view, but it's "racism" if one openly advocates equal treatment for all under the law. Your accusations of racism are all the evidence we need to conclude that you are, yourself, racist. You are threatened by a woman of Puerto Rican descent because you think she does not share your views. And if she does not share your views, she must be (a) wrong and (b) biased in favor of others who share her ethnicity. As a white man I find this offensive, and the nature of many of the accusations being gratuitously slung by Sotomayor's opponents is starting to look like a cat fight. Very unattractive. Sotomayor's track record, if you care to actually familiarize yourself with the facts, is solid. She is tough on crime and criminals, equally applies precendent (you know, that holy grail of Republican Supreme Court nominees Roberts and Alito, not to mention Scalia and Thomas), and maintains a healthy skepticism in the purity of corporations (like the ones that created our current ecomonic situation). I'll take an honest, intelligent, hard-working Hispanic woman any day.

John Smith of WA 1:24PM July 09, 2009

Justice was intended to be blind, unfortunately Sotomayor is not. She is a racist by word and deed and has no place on the Nations highest court. Her Biased decisions will affect the entire US population including women and Hispanics and we do not all see the world like she does... The rubber stamping of Judicial nominees must be stopped and qualified “impartial” judges need to be selected. We and our children have to live with their decisions good or bad.

INDIAN AND PROUD OF IT!! of OR 4:58AM July 08, 2009

Maybe stupid women. Justice is blind, but Sotomayer is a racist. She does not represent me.
6 of her judicial decisions have been overturned by the Supreme Court. I'm a woman who would prefer not to be "represented" by someone who uses her opinion to wield her power of justice, and only sees skin color and race. And what does being Hispanic have to do with justice? America is a melting pot--I would like to be represented by someone who wants justice for ALL Americans, not just to promote Hispanics, or women. Justice is blind--does a brain have a gender or a skin color? Someone that is fair and just represents me, regardless of race or gender.

Noelle of NY 5:27PM July 07, 2009

Judge Sotomayor has unanimously received the "well qualified" rating from the American Bar Association. After all this time of frantic digging, the GOP has yet to find anything of importance to disqualify her. She was appointed to the bench by Republican George HW Bush and has more judicial experience than those currently serving on the Supreme Court. Her judicial record is of a moderate to conservative judge; it's hard to see why Republicans are attacking her at all since this candidate is more likely to rule their way than any subsequent nominee will be. The real "problem" seems to be that she is Hispanic and a woman, therefore the conservative base is "energized" to seek any flimsy reason to try to derail her nomination. In this case, the Republican leaders are right that to "win" this would be a Pyrrhic victory.

Kennet of FL 12:10PM July 07, 2009

is going to be confirmed. With her, the only question you should worry about is whether she is really liberal enough.
As for the GOP guys, they are not as likely to offend women and hispanics because of gender and race as they are to offend most everyone because of what they express that they would prefer in the temperament of a judge.

Muser of NM 3:37PM July 06, 2009

the real issue here is that the left machine now realizes Sotomayor isn't a sure thing.
and like clockwork they have regressed to their tried and true methods of political rebuttal: race-baiting and class-warfare.
good thing barry is in DC to change things up...

emily of KS 3:15PM July 06, 2009

If your a white guy your held to a higher standard of accountability when speaking.

Cabaret Voltaire of NY 3:14PM July 06, 2009

the real issue here is that the Left machine now realizes Sotomayor isn't a sure thing.
and like clockwork they have regressed to their tried and true methods of political rebuttal: Race-baiting and Class-warfare.
good thing BHO is in town to change things up...

emily of HI 3:11PM July 06, 2009

you are degrading women and hispanics by assuming they will vote Dem because the GOP has problems with a rascist latina judge. sad that liberalism is so jaded.

heather of NY 3:06PM July 06, 2009