Back in the 2006 nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court , Barack Obama criticized the philosphy on confirming Supreme Court Justices stating the Senate should "only examine whether or not the Justice is intellectually capable and is nice to his wife." He further objected that, "once you get beyond intellect and personal character there shouldn't be further question to whether the justice should be confirmed. Meaningful advice and consent includes an examination of a judge's philosophy, ideology, and record."
I agree with his objection, and find it very curious as to why Obama has focused on his nominee's empathy and "personal story" of how she was born in the Bronx, diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 8, her father's death, and how she overcame so many obstacles. It is also interesting to note how the media latched on to the sympathetic success story. Of course, it isn't surprising how quickly the media played on the heart strings of this narrative. However, as Obama advises, let's get beyond personal character and examine the judge's philosphies, ideologies, and record."
One statement made by Sotomayor is very disturbing in the realm of judicial philosophy. This month…a video surfaced of Judge Sotomayor asserting in 2005 [during a panel discussion for law students] that a ‘court of appeals is where policy is made.’ She then adds:
‘And I know — I know this is on tape, and I should never say that because we don’t make law. I know. Okay. I know. I’m not promoting it. I’m not advocating it. I’m — you know.’
This statement has been largely ignored by the main stream media yet the need for clarification is extremely important if the Senate is to approve this woman to one of the most powerful positions in America.
If we are to look at judge Sotomayor's personal ideologies it would be reckless to ignore her feelings on race and sex. One statement the media has been forced to cover, thanks to people like Rush Limbaugh, is quite alarming.
I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.
I imagine this is the kind of "empathy" Obama was looking for in a nominee, however the benefit of the doubt could rule she mispoke. Similar statements, however, seem to make clear exactly how she feels her sex and race influence her judgement:
"Our experience as women and people of color affect our decisions. Whether born from experience or physiological or cultural differences...our gender and national origins may and WILL make a difference in our judging. Personal experiences affect the facts judges CHOOSE to see."
That statement is pretty clear cut, and as far as I know completely unreported by the media. Just looking at Sotomayor's record, we can already see how she is prone to rule in race cases. We also shouldn't ignore what we ended up with the last time a nominee mentioned race and gender influencing decisions. However, the most disturbing reflection of Sotomayor's character is the company she keeps. According the American Bar Association, Sotomayor is a member of the NCLR, otherwise known as "La Raza".
As President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee comes under heavy fire for allegedly being a “racist,” Judge Sonia Sotomayor is listed as a member of the National Council of La Raza, a group that’s promoted driver’s licenses for illegal aliens, amnesty programs, and no immigration law enforcement by local and state police.
According the American Bar Association, Sotomayor is a member of the NCLR, which bills itself as the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S.
Meaning “the Race,” La Raza also has connections to groups that advocate the separation of several southwestern states from the rest of America.
.... La Raza was condemned in 2007 by former U.S. Rep. Charles Norwood, R-Ga., as a radical “pro-illegal immigration lobbying organization that supports racist groups calling for the secession of the western United States as a Hispanic-only homeland.”
Norwood urged La Raza to renounce its support of the Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan – which sees “the Race” as part of an ethnic group that one day will reclaim Aztlan, the mythical birthplace of the Aztecs. In Chicano folklore, Aztlan includes California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and parts of Colorado and Texas.
La Raza is a known radical pro-illegal immigration group that should be bringing up many, many questions. However, the media hasn't reported a peep on Sotomayor's association with the group. Don't expect much either.
In summary, I advise the Senate to take the Presiden't advice. Look past the personal stories and look at the nominee's beliefs, philosophies, and record. We know the media won't.
—John Stephenson is editor of Stop The ACLU.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
That was then....
May 29, 2009 - 20:12 ET by motherbeltThis is now.
Didn't a bunch of liberals have their collective jockeys in a wad because Antonin Scalia had connections to Opus Dei even though he wasn't officially a member?
I'm sure those same liberals will say that what organizations Judge Sotomayor belongs to is nobody's business.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
The definition of
May 29, 2009 - 20:16 ET by SRPwrdThe definition of change...
"I believe in American Exceptionalism, just like Brits believe in British Exceptionalism and Greeks believe in Greek Exceptionalism." - PreBO, 4/4/09
I was trying to edit for
May 29, 2009 - 20:25 ET by motherbeltI was trying to edit for the purpose of clarifying:
Ideology was important to Senator Obama back then, when it might be conservative
ideology that was possibly influenced by a "far-right Catholic" group
(Opus Dei, quotes mine).
And since ideology equally important now, I'm sure the President will say that what organizations Judge Sotomayor belongs to is nobody's business and immaterial.
PS: Mr. Stephenson, you might want to correct the word "organization" in the headline.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Thank You
May 29, 2009 - 20:35 ET by John Stephensonthank you very much, the correction is done. I'm a terrible speller.
The Race
May 29, 2009 - 20:22 ET by Sergeant ROCKMaybe white folks should start a similiar organization and call it 'The Race' too?
"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
The Hispanic KKK
May 29, 2009 - 21:39 ET by slickwillie2001I've not seen a description of La Raza as innocuous as the one quoted in this article. Using this kind of language I might describe the KKK as a men's outdoor woodworking organization.
La Raza is a racist and secessionist movement that calls for the takeover of six to eight US states from Texas to Oregon, and the creation of a new country, followed by the ethnic cleansing of all of European descent from those areas. This organization is no less than a Hispanic Ku Klux Klan.
Could a Republican nominee to the Supreme Court today be a member of the Ku Klux Klan, and that not be considered news by the liberal media?
Note: There was a Justice on the Supreme Court that was a member of the KKK, Associate Justice Hugo Black, but he was a democratic appointed by FDR in 1937.
The Leftist Spin
May 30, 2009 - 10:25 ET by GalvanicYesterday on MSNBC, former Congressman Tom Tancredo reminded host David Shuster that La Raza is Spanish for "The Race."
Shuster replied that he (or more likely his staff) had contacted a representative of La Raza and asked them about the name. The rep told him that to the members of the organization, La Raza means "The Community." Shuster seemed to accept that nonsense.
Tancredo replied again (a little louder) that the La Raza means "The Race."
Let's not forget that not long ago, La Raza was one of the principal special interest organizations behind the pro-illegal-immigation rallies that backfired. While participants showed up in significant numbers, they had brought their Mexican flags with them -- did anyone see any American flags? Even the liberal media noted the fact. Later, a second day of demonstrations was declared, and La Raza distributed American flags and told participants to leave their Mexican flags home. The media was visibly relieved.
La Raza
June 3, 2009 - 12:50 ET by Sergeant ROCKTranslates to 'The Race' on freetranslation.com. But, when you translate 'The Race' from English to Spanish it translates to 'La Carrera'.
"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
'La Carrera' refers to a
June 3, 2009 - 13:28 ET by NL207'La Carrera' refers to a contest of speed, which is one of the alternate definitions of the English word, 'race'.
Tan Klan
June 3, 2009 - 21:32 ET by Sergeant ROCKAhh.. that makes sense. So then, it's accurate La Raza does mean 'The Race'. Case closed.
"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
La Raza's Lady
May 29, 2009 - 22:48 ET by trhugI find that there are no God-Fearing leftists. Lefties have no sense of absolutes. All their "standards" are the result of training in situational ethics. For any given situation, the judgement of a liberal will produce a variety of opinions, non of which will be just , good, or appropriate for humankind. A leftie can have an argument with an inanimate object and swear that he won the argument. Closed minded they aren't. Any new idealistic dogma is readily absorbed by a lib, but also the unpalatible portion of same is ingested. The ideal liberal would be a "Trekkie",i.e. no God, no creation, only logic and human knowledge. This supreme court nominee will fit the PC traits required by Obama. She will nevertheless be a stone in the gall bladder of Americans that are god-fearing Christians. Therefore I assume that Obama is ,as some of my acquaintenances feared, a progressive individual similar to his known background of friends. He knows politics as an art form and should be a member of the ACLU, a group who wishes to destroy my country with the court system. Sotomayer will fit in quite well.
T.R. Huggins
Judge Sonia Sotomayor's LaRaza membership is slowly
May 29, 2009 - 23:15 ET by Rush Fangetting out. I noted in a post yesterday that Drudge and WorldnetDaily were reporting her LaRaza membership.
WorldnetDaily is also reporting that both CNN and MSNBC are finally discussing her LaRaza connection.
Time/CNN's Swampland blog published the email that Newt Gingrich's Renewing American Leadership sent out to its supporters today that mentions Judge Sotomayor's LaRaza membership.
The leftist media is already fighting back. Glenn Thrush at Politico writes:
"La Raza is not well-liked by conservatives for its stances on immigration — and has been accused of Hispanic separatism over the years.
But it is also one of the nation's oldest mainstream Hispanic advocacy groups, with 300 neighborhood affiliates and corporate sponsorship that includes Citigroup.
And it has not been implicated in a 150-year history of lynchings, night rides, voter registration obstruction or enforcement — at the barrel of a gun — of Jim Crow segregation laws."
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“Nobody believes what the mainstream media says now anyway. Except the uneducated, the illiterate, and the uninformed -- which, sadly, is a fairly large number” ~ Rush Limbaugh
You forget
May 29, 2009 - 23:13 ET by well99Dems arent racist.Ask them.It is ok for them to make racist statements.They are allowed.So the judge was in a racist group like LA Raza.That is ok since Byrd was in the KKK.There are rules for Dems and rules for the rest of us.They know better than us.So they dont have to meet the same standards.
Similar statements, however,
May 29, 2009 - 23:34 ET by TN MomSimilar statements, however, seem to make clear exactly how she feels her sex and race influence her judgement:
I am familiar with La Raza,
May 30, 2009 - 06:05 ET by FranksamI am familiar with La Raza, and have engaged members in discussion over the years. The best way to shut them up is to ask them about their own heritage. For the most part, they are Hispanic, which means that if they are successful in ridding North America of European influence, they will be among the first to be renditioned, to borrow a phrase.
Mexico has pretty much failed as a state and culture. Great natural resources, including miles of ocean coastline, abundant human capital, and not much to show for it. How long would it take the corrupt Mexican government to drag Texas and California down to the same level of failure?
Re Failed States
May 30, 2009 - 12:03 ET by slickwillie2001The question of why Mexico is a failed state and just across an imaginary border there is the wealth and affluence of California and Texas, seems to be off-limits for public discussion. There has to be reasons, and a big one is Mexico's far-left socialism. The radical La Raza types blame the failure of Mexico on Western imperialism, trade policies, etc, all the usual BS excuses.
I suspect that the average non-radical hispanic understands this or is at least open to the topic. That's a way that Republicans can win over the hispanic vote, but it has to be done delicately.
Where is the USA going?
May 30, 2009 - 08:33 ET by armedcitizenTo crap, that's where it's going.
I was born a US citizen in Puerto Rico. My heritage is hispanic Puerto Rican. I moved to the mainland US around the mid 80's. I had an interesting time adjusting, and I'm sure my story is the same or similar to other hispanics. That being said, I believe I have a point of reference to speak about this, but I'm also sure I'm not an authority of any sort and this is of course just my opinion.
I moved here and yeah, had a heck of a time with racists and such, but I was young. All young people are idiots and they will pick on anyone for any reason. We all grew up eventually. I've fit in to this society and haven't had any issues, in fact, I find that my experiences have helped me in seeing how other minorities make fools of themselves by living a life of "oh poor me, I've had it rough, you will and must change your ways so that I feel better". Well, that just is not the way it works, or should work.
I became a member of a totally different society than where I originally came from, and I had to change if I wanted to fit in. I didn't want to be dragging the very society I moved from every where I go.
If I wanted to do that, I would have stayed or I would move back. But guess what, there is no way in hell I would do that. I've lived there, I know what it is like. I spent an additional year in PR recently and that was not by choice. Man was it awful. I won't write a book about it here, but it should be enough to say that I don't want to see where I live here turn into that.
If minorities don't like what they see or experience here, please change to fit in, or get out, or go to Europe, where it seems to be easier to do that apparently.
You can stand out for positive and productive things, but it doesn't help those of us who have worked hard to fit in to this culture, when minority extremists try to make the US into something it is not. Yes it it a melting pot, go right ahead and melt already damit. Don't stand out with ignorance, stand out with US pride and hard work.
As for this Sotomayor person, well, let me tell you, I've experienced the horrors of Puerto Rican politics. I'd rather have smart white people than ignorant racist hispanic people any day. And La Raza, well, again, should the US turn into Mexico? I don't think so.
Oh, and if any minority considers me a sell out, well thats like your opinion. A big F U to those who think that.
I've melted and fit in with the same redneck hicks white folk who used to cause me problems when I first got here. I don't mind it one bit. I'm pretty successful and I love it here, I don't want to change it to fit me, it is (at least for now) a very good place to live.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
John...I'm sure glad you
May 30, 2009 - 17:26 ET by bigtimerJohn...I'm sure glad you have this here.
I had a couple of links a bit back now on her involvement with La Raza...unfortunatley, the msm may mention this, but the majority of them like La Raza in my opinion...and a heck of a lot of dem politicians do too....along with some RINOs.
Her still being a member should wave a flag of some sort.
The hearings will be interesting....I'm sure her bases will be covered with talking points from the big boys in the administration...with O leading the way like he did with Williams interview and abc last night.
You talk about hypocrisy when it comes to all of this bull regarding picks for SC judges....she should have already withdrawn her name, let alone never been considered in the first place by the powers that be.
...and I won't even get into the 2nd Amendment and her views on that....posted a lot on that already too.
For me this is simply amazing what she is and will get away with to be confirmed...it's O's will...he has spoken, it will be.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
ac...Hey thanks for
May 30, 2009 - 17:35 ET by bigtimerac...
Hey thanks for sharing your sentiments and life story here...bet there are tons that share your views too...
The msm just don't want voices like yours out there...doesn't fit their agenda....nor the leftist politicians...of course they're both arm in arm anyway.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
If this woman really is a
May 31, 2009 - 14:43 ET by TexasteacherIf this woman really is a member of la raza, then she can take a short trip straight to hell. And that ignorant a**hole that nominated her. What's next, someone from the black panthers?
obama's notion of bi-partisanship is telling conservatives to shut up and do what he wants.