On Tuesday morning, President Obama announced his nominee to replace Justice David Souter on the Supreme Court -- U.S. Circuit Judge Sonia Sotomayor of New York State, who would be the first Hispanic to serve on the nation's highest court.
New York Times chief political reporter Adam Nagourney played the ethnicity card in a Tuesday afternoon post on the paper's "Caucus" blog, suggesting Republican opposition would be risky considering the party's low status among Hispanics.
President Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court has put the Republican Party in a bind, as it weighs the cost of aggressively opposing Mr. Obama's attempt to put the first Hispanic on the high court at a time when the party has struggled with sharp setbacks in its effort to appeal to Hispanic voters.
The Republican Party has been embroiled in a public argument over whether to tend to the ideological interests of its conservative base or to expand its appeal to a wider variety of voters in order to regain its strength following the defeats of 2008. Many conservatives came out fiercely against Ms. Sotomayor as soon her name was announced, denouncing her as liberal and promising Mr. Obama a tough nomination fight.
....
But some Republicans warned that the image of Republicans throwing a roadblock before an historic nomination could prove politically devastating. Republicans saw a dip in Hispanic support in 2008, after eight years in which former President George. W. Bush and his political aides had made a concerted effort to increase the Republican appeal to Hispanics, the nation's fastest-growing group of voters.
"If Republicans make a big deal of opposing Sotomayor, we will be hurling ourselves off a cliff," said Mark McKinnon, a senior adviser to Mr. Bush and a long-time advocate of expanding the party's appeal. "Death will not be assured. But major injury will be."
Nagourney cited former Bush adviser Matthew Dowd telling the party to roll over for the nomination and not even think about opposition. In Nagourney's paraphrase, Dowd warned "Republicans could doom themselves to long-term minority status if they are perceived as preventing Ms. Sotomayor from becoming a judge. He argued that the party could not even be seen as threatening a filibuster."
Isn't Sotomayor already a judge?
—Clay Waters is the director of Times Watch, an MRC project tracking the New York Times.
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→ Stupid NYT
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 14:46 ET by Cool ArrowMany conservatives came out fiercely against Ms. Sotomayor as soon her name was announced, denouncing her as liberal
There's the problem. As a Liberal, she's a shoo-in. As a racist bigot, well, she's a shoo-in there too, but that's the important issue.
OMG they called her a
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:08 ET by motherbeltOMG they called her a LIBERAL?????
I guess that's the new "code word" for Hispanic ?
You know that's coming.....every dissent will be played as a cover for either racism, or sexism, or both.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
even worse, the "slippery slope" has arrived
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 19:08 ET by UndercoverConservativeso called "Hate Speech" laws will be used to criminalize dissent and criticism of self-labeled "minority" politicians and the policies they support. It's been tried as a defense of criticism against corrupt "minority" politicians before but failed-this time. Soon, you'll see political rallies broken up and people arrested, charged not just with "tresspassing" and "disturbing the peace", but with *felonies* based on Hate Speech laws.
BTW, how the h3ll is Hispanic a "minority" anymore? the illegal component of the Hispanic population ALONE dwarfs our entire active standing military (all branches), and that's not even a worst case estimate. Add the legal ones, and you've got a h3ll of a lot more "minority" Hispanic descended folks than you do of most any other gerrymandered "ethnic origin". But of course we lump all "white" folks as anything European (all the way across Russia and south to Northern Africa. What about Indian or Middle Eastern descent? Now, they're all "Asian". Cram in those Vietnamese and Japanese and Chinese into one ethnic lump so they can't "out minority" the poor Hispanics now.
When they actually were a "minority" the "Hispanic Community" demanded more outreach, more attention and better representation because they were "being left behind" and demanded "equality" in services and representation with all other peoples disproportionate to their actual population. Now, that they're (in most CA counties) a majority, they demand the lion's share because they're bigger. it wasn't okay for "whites" to be represented more when they were bigger, nor was it okay for "Asians" to get more because they were smaller.
"por la raza y para la raza"-By the Race, for The Race. The People, with a capital P. This would be cause for Federal intervention had this been chanted or published as a motto by anyone remotely "white". Reconquista, New Azatlan, it goes on and on.
If this were truly about racial equality, instead of Obama trying to buy that "hispanic vote", then this: I demand Obama recommend a Hindu of Indian descent, or a pure blood Cherokee. Some *real* minority status on that last one there.
WWW.GS2AC.COM. 2nd Amendment Grass Roots Action in the Bay Area, CA. We're not all "Breakfast Cereal" folks here! :)
To present the factual
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 14:51 ET by Dan The Man 2To present the factual record of a canditate is not partisan or racist; it is making sure the public and the Senate know who and what they are voting for. More importantly make the record known how the Senate voted and the record they were presented with.
it is now.
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 19:11 ET by UndercoverConservative"To present the factual record of a canditate is not partisan or racist"
didn't used to be, it is now. Look at the last two years of Obama's creation..err..campaign, and the response to all legitimate criticism. Look at the response to rallies now.
WWW.GS2AC.COM. 2nd Amendment Grass Roots Action in the Bay Area, CA. We're not all "Breakfast Cereal" folks here! :)
The shot across the bow...not that it's needed!
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 14:52 ET by motherbeltNew York Times chief political reporter Adam Nagourney played the ethnicity card in
a Tuesday afternoon post on the paper's "Caucus" blog, suggesting
Republican opposition would be risky considering the party's low status
among Hispanics.
And so it begins.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
I suppose Alberto Gonzales,
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:02 ET by Chris NormanI suppose Alberto Gonzales, Mel Martinez, Carlos Gutierrez, and Miguel Estrada were "bad" Hispanics since they were nominated by Republican George W Bush and, as such, they don't count.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
thought the same thing
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:07 ET by CarlosSChris,
I thought the exact same thing..., see below
the party's "low status"
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:17 ET by TruthMongerthe party's "low status" among hispanics?
hispanics: Catholic, pro-life, anti-gay...
Palin/Prejean 2012
another "geek moment"
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 19:12 ET by UndercoverConservativeand another B5 flashback..
"there's a hole..in your mind!"
WWW.GS2AC.COM. 2nd Amendment Grass Roots Action in the Bay Area, CA. We're not all "Breakfast Cereal" folks here! :)
Aggressively oppposing...Hispanic on the high court
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:00 ET by CarlosSOne name..., Alberto Gonzalez. Dems had no problems skewering him as savagely as I've ever seen.
At least Gonzalez got a job,....
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:42 ET by Prester John...Miguel Estrada, who has just as an inspiring "story" as Sotomayor was left hanging and hanging and hanging.
And I don't recall anyone in the MSM "warning" the Dems not to oppose him.
This whole situation is a disgrace and an embarassment for all concerned.
"The truth is treason in the Empire of Lies"
www.campaignforliberty.com
Carlos, I suppose the
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 16:05 ET by Chris NormanCarlos,
I suppose the republican label negates all ethnicity. As such, I would think that would make us the party of fairness and equality. The equality that makes anyone in it subject to skewering and withering criticism by the left.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
But some Republicans warned
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:19 ET by MidAmericaBut some Republicans warned that the image of Republicans throwing a roadblock before an historic nomination could prove politically devastating.
Republicans needn't worry too much about opposing this nomination based on principle. The party that is currently hurting the Hispanics is obama and the democrats. If there's one thing that voting bloc wants its jobs. They will vote for the party that will improve their prospects for work. Patience for obama to get this economy moving is going to wear very thin very soon.
an "up or down vote"
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:43 ET by kgHow many times did Bush ask them for an "up or down vote"? That was almost everybody Bush nominated. He wasn't trying to influence them, just vote. And isn't it ironic the Democrats call the Republicans the "NO-party".
"DumbAssity of Dope"
and once again Obama pulls out the race card
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:22 ET by dark_dsand once again Obama pulls out the race card from his deck of playing cards
_______ Him and the Unicorn he rode in on
The race card...
Wed, 05/27/2009 - 00:58 ET by talkradio55...is the only card in his deck. What a sick, twisted racist Obama is.
Sadly, this move by Obama
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:30 ET by Clear thinkerSadly, this move by Obama has two purposes.
One is to mis-direct us away from the Cap and Trade being pushed over the next few weeks. And secondly, always keep this in mind, with Obama, it's all about race!
Take the 'I am not a racist' pledge http://iamnotaracist.wordpress.com/
Race card employed
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:32 ET by Jake6The race card darn near beat the nomination out the door. Who knew?
her sarcasm about "white men"
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 16:05 ET by sevenI wonder if she can defend a constitution written by white men. Rush Limbaugh noted her insult and was called racist for noticing her racist comment.
Good education, tough
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 16:50 ET by EdhenryGood education, tough background. But seems to be intemperant and quick to insert personal bias to make policy instead of law.
But this is irrelevant, of course.
I'm sure the Repubs will listen to the NYT
Tue, 05/26/2009 - 22:04 ET by jefflebowskiUnfortunately, the wussypants Republicans will probably listen to the NYT. After all, they wouldn't want to be called racists. That would be bad and they might lose power in Washington.
Angry White Dude
www.angrywhitedude.com
White is Right!
Wed, 05/27/2009 - 04:54 ET by Sergeant ROCKYou are correct. From what I've seen thus far, the Republicans are more concerned about how oppossing this nomination affects them rather than how seating such a person on the Supreme Court affects the country.
It was also pointed out that Bush 41 put her on the appeals court from where she was picked from. Good job, GH. Nevermind the number of Republicans that supported that nomination - some of which are still there. Nice. Yet another example of how appeasing the left comes back to bite you in the ass.
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
NYT liberalism
Wed, 05/27/2009 - 08:19 ET by trhugT.R. Huggins
If the NYtimes , printed it, then I am against it. My bias runs anti - progressive.
"Patience, hell, I'm going to kill something"- Vultures poster circa 1965-1970
To the NYT
Wed, 05/27/2009 - 10:20 ET by UtherpendI have one word for the NYT "Fillibuster", get used to it.
And here's one for their puzzle page, guess which finger I am holding up to show my support of this new token that PEBO has submitted?
"For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security."