Today's Wall Street Journal has a very good op-ed piece about the rules the White House has put in place for the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayer. The President's first rule is that the discussion should be about her biography--growing up poor, child of a single mom, getting into Princeton and Yale, etc. The article points out that her background is very similar to that of Justice Clarence Thomas, but somehow the left has treated his story differently. The article reminds us:
"By the president's measure, the nation couldn't find a more empathetic referee than Justice Thomas. And yet here's what Mr. Obama had to say last year when Pastor Rick Warren asked him about the Supreme Court: "I would not have nominated Clarence Thomas. I don't think that he was a strong enough jurist or legal thinker at the time for that elevation.""
Hmmm. The double standard has reared its ugly head again.
Rule Number 2 is that the Republicans are not allowed to criticize Judge Sotomayer. She is the first Latina women to be nominated for the Supreme Court and is thus above reproach. The article mentions:
"The Beltway media also dutifully latched on to this White House talking point, reporting threats from leading Democrats, including New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, who intoned that Republicans "oppose her at their peril.""
Where was this idea when Miguel Estrada was nominated to the Court? Mr. Estrada withdrew, after the Democrats waged seven filibusters against a confirmation vote (holding up his nomination for two years).
I would hate to see the Republicans become as petty as the Democrats were in dealing with Supreme Court nominations, but there are some valid questions about this nominee. Hopefully they can be asked in a civil manner. I don't believe the Republicans in the Senate can stop her appointment, but I do believe they have an obligation to make clear what her stand is on discrimination and other issues. There is an article out on the internet today that she is a member of the group La Raza, which is somewhat radical in its beliefs. I don't know if that is true or not, but if it is, it is troubling--she needs to be asked about it. Again, I believe she will be confirmed, but we need to make sure the voters of America understand who she is.
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