David Souter Retiring, Obama gets to make first SCOTUS pick

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by a.e.B.O.T.

My opinion of Sotomayor will lie within in her response in defending her comment that a latino woman is more fit to make judgement than a white male. This comment baffles me, and if a white male had made the comment their nod for the Supreme Court would seem like a long shot. I think race will be the big issue here, as it already is coming to the foreground of discussion. I am not in the mind that Sotomayor is a racist, and I applaud use of empathy to a certain degree as the Supreme Court is to be the protector of the underdogs, but I am weary to the degree in which Sotomayor practices it. The Republicans who approach this angle as part of the defense against the nomination should tread likely. It is difficult for rich white republicans to discuss race in this country, and it could easily come off as smear and spectacle that will wash back in their face... If they approach the issue fairly with cool headed debate, it could be their only way of overturning the nomination. With that said, I am an avid supporter of Obama and her record itself looks great, so unless Sotomayor produces a satisfying reason for her comment, I am in favor of her nomination.

Did you read the excerpt that MysticCat posted? If you read it in the context of the rest of her speech, she's not really saying that Latino woman is "more fit." As MC pointed out, it almost looks like she was trying to be humorous with the statement. As I said earlier, she probably should have chosen her words a bit more carefully, but I think the statement is harmless.

Unless it comes out that she's a child molester or something like that, there's no way the Republicans are overturning this nomination. As a Republican, I don't really think it's worth the fight anyway - she's smart and qualified, and her judicial philosophy overall seems pretty solid.

I'll leave the empathy thing alone...I'll just say that empathy/sympathy/etc. are really only considerations on the trial level (where the judges are dealing with probation, sentencing, etc.), and on the appellate level it doesn't (and really shouldn't) play a part.

[a.e.B.O.T.]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Did you read the excerpt that MysticCat posted? If you read it in the context of the rest of her speech, she's not really saying that Latino woman is "more fit." As MC pointed out, it almost looks like she was trying to be humorous with the statement. As I said earlier, she probably should have chosen her words a bit more carefully, but I think the statement is harmless.

Unless it comes out that she's a child molester or something like that, there's no way the Republicans are overturning this nomination. As a Republican, I don't really think it's worth the fight anyway - she's smart and qualified, and her judicial philosophy overall seems pretty solid.

I'll leave the empathy thing alone...I'll just say that empathy/sympathy/etc. are really only considerations on the trial level (where the judges are dealing with probation, sentencing, etc.), and on the appellate level it doesn't (and really shouldn't) play a part.

Yes, I read the entire speech. What I am interested in is how it will be explained, because you know it will not be let go. Today, she actually said she misspoke, and Obama backed that up in an interview. I don't find what she said to be in a means of humor, but I was not there and do not find it as her declaration against the white race. I also am not using this as a stone to throw at her. The fact remains that if a white man said that, joke or no joke, his nomination would be highly unlikely. She did, indeed, misspeak. To error is to be human. I am just curious how it will be handled. Some conservatives are crying racism, how the republican party handles those claims are key. They need to separate themselves from those conservatives, while convincing the American public that Sotomayor's comment was unethical and a judge of her character. I don't think it will work, but it is indeed a window. I am pretty confident Sotomayor will be confirmed, and from what I know about her, I support it. I just want to see how it will all be handled, and how Sotomayor will address it when directly asked about it in trial...