Opposition to Sotomayor – Too Little, Too Late?
- Friday, July 17, 2009, 6:37
- Battleground Iowa
- 636 views
- 37 comments
By Emily Geiger
Deace had an interesting post on his WHO blog yesterday. Essentially, the gist of it is that Chuck Grassley and his fellow Republicans in the U.S. Senate had better be prepared to be called racists if they stand up and oppose Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
The rationale for this position is that, given that Grassley and his GOP cohorts didn’t stand up to previous (arguably suspect) nominees (like Souter and Ginsberg), it’s going to appear that the only reason they are standing up to Sotomayor is because of her race.
I think he’s probably right about that. Of course, there are lots of people, several of them with big platforms and bigger voices, who will absolutely sling mud at any Republicans who dare question the great Obama and his chosen one.
The irony of the whole thing is that these Republicans will probably be called racist for pointing out the fact that this particular nominee has said some pretty racist things herself.
But I think the question that Deace doesn’t necessarily answer is whether the racism accusation is a big enough concern to affect the Senate Republicans’ course of action.
Here’s the thing. Republicans are called racist everyday anyways. If this plays out the way Deace predicts, it will pretty much be just another day that ends in “y.”
I think the more important thing is to take a stand for what is right. Yes, as Deace points out, it’s true that there have been nominees in the past that the Republicans should not have given a pass. But I would also point out that, until relatively recently, proper and polite Senate decorum mandated that, if a president’s nominee was reasonably well qualified and not a child molester, everyone said yes.
That changed with Bork, Thomas, and also with several of George W. Bush’s nominees (particularly to lower federal courts). Unfortunately, it took the Republicans a bit longer break from decorum than it did Democrats.
Have the Republicans been perfect in regard to judicial nominees in the past? Absolutely not. But they are trying to do better now. Will it make a difference? Unfortunately not.
But, I’m glad they’re trying.
About the Author
Battleground Iowa has written 182 stories on this site.
Emily Geiger writes from a conservative perspective on everything from politics to religion to pop culture. Like the original Emily of Revolutionary War era, this Emily is delivering important messages crucial to winning the raging war of the time, but today, this is a culture war rather than a traditional one. And, like the original Emily, sometimes it takes a woman to do (or say) that which lesser men lack the courage and tenacity to do.
37 Comments on “Opposition to Sotomayor – Too Little, Too Late?”
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Emily the provocateur. Thank you for another insightful article. Actually, if you take the time to read Sotomayer’s opinions, you will see that she is a law and order MODERATE. The smart Repubs in the Senate recognize this and are ready to move on. Oh, by the way, it might be worth considering that Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group in the country. They are ripe for the picking as they are a hard working, God fearing and family oriented people. So what do we do? We scare them into the welcoming arms of the dems by focusing on dimwitted immigration policies. Good job outta us.
Mod: Do you advocate ignoring the law? If one person, (or group) can ignore the law, why can’t all of us?
Deace–not at all. We are a country of laws, not men. I think we have squandered a great opportunity to grow our party by pursuing nutty immigration policies. I believe in the free market and admire the wonderful characteristics of the Hispanic community. The Postville debacle is one example of using a club when a carrot and stick would have worked.
So you want to see the law changed? That’s ok by me but it is not ok to violate present law. If they can, so can I.
Deace–I don’t advocate violating the law at all. I advocate changing the law and changing our image from that of a sullen group of anti-immigrant white men to a party that welcomes Hispanics with open arms. I have daily contact with the Hispanic community and find them to be instinctively conservative. Let’s capitalize on this and grow the party. Bush made huge inroads into the Hispanic community when he was governor of Texas so I know we can do it if we set our mind to it.
If Hispanics are instinctively conservative, why do they vote Democrat?
Deace–because they attribute anti-immigrant policies to Repubs. We are even losing the once reliable Cuban ex-pat community.
dvfO inquisits: “If Hispanics are instinctively conservative, why do they vote Democrat?”
Maybe because the loud face of the Republican Party sounds so much like dvfO.
Con Dem: Do you advocate ignoring the law?
MIE,
Please don’t ever pretend to be a Republican again. If you think this woman is acceptable, you are nuts, and certainly liberal through and through.
Her one paragraph dismissal of the firefighters’ case was an abomination. Certainly not the work of a thoughtful jurist, and certainly biased.
Lydia the pamphlet reader. Take time and read her opinions. Once you do you will conclude as others of OUR party have that she is acceptable. By the way, I want my Party back from the likes of you. You and your ilk have relegated us to obscurity. Go back to Waco from whence you came. I’ll help you load your pickup.
Good thing it won’t take me long to read her one paragraph ruling on the firefighters (that was wrong).
Oh, and good job at stereotyping. I can pretty much guarantee I’m far more educated than you are or are ever capable of being.
Lydia–you are incapable of independent thought. Perhaps you should review some of the comments of Repub senators have made about her. The bottom line Lydia is that when you view her work as a whole, she is a law and order Moderate. Now go back to your pamphlets and soak up the daily slop served by your Branch Davidians.
Wow, your comments are almost as informed as Sotomayor’s ONE PARAGRAPH ruling the the firefighter discrimination case.
Mod: Specifically, what would you like to see Republicans do to attract Hispanic voters? Are we supposed to compete with Dimocrats for the illegal vote?
Personally, I have no problem with changing the law to make it easier for those who are needed to enter this country LEGALLY and perhaps it’s even necessary to do that in come cases, but it is never right to be rewarded for breaking the law and that is what Democrats want to do. How do we compete with that?
MIE,
Maybe we could join with ACORN and get some of their voters too!!!
And since you brought up pamplets, let’s discuss what I observed (yes, I actually listened/watched the entirety of the confirmation hearings). I didn’t hear her give a mainstream answer to abortion rights, 2nd Amendment rights, property rights, or equal protection. She didn’t do such a fine job on addressing judicial philosophy (i.e. foreign law as precedent, living Constitution). So before you quote CNN’s headline about her opinions in the mainstream, why don’t you actually read through them. By the way, how many of her opinions have you personally sifted through? Now, I know I just belong in Waco with Lydia, but you’re full of trash. Great job uniting the party…big tent, but get out!
Thinking–yes, I have read a number of Sotomayer’s opinions, specially those regarding criminal law. In fact, if you only read her criminal law opinions you would readily conclude as I have that she is conservative. Your comment about ACORN leads me to believe that you don’t care a whit about attracting Hispanics to the conservative cause. Have at it and continue to live in the minority. Sorry, I don’t watch TV much save for some sports events and the weather channel so I don’t know what you mean about CNN’s headline. As far a Waco, you and your fellow gum smackers should move there also. I actually remember a time when our party was run by clear headed moderates such as Bob Ray who would have never tolerated the foolishness that now passes for mainstream conservatism. People like you and Lydia have taken over the Party. I want it back.
Mod: You have not said specifically what you want Republicans to do to attract Hispanics.
Deace–I agree with you. The law is the law. It is to be obeyed. What I suggest is we revisit the punishment meted out in immigration cases. Perhaps we adopt law similar to those in Europe where some countries have relaxed laws for temporary workers allowing them to send their children to state schools and providing benefits for them. I would forget the Berlin Wall stuff and vigilantism. Hispanics are natural conservatives with their close family structure and strong work ethic.
The way I see it the punishment for breaking the law at worst is to get shipped back home at taxpayer expense. They have nothing to lose to break the law.
Governments already mandate benefits for illegal workers which only further complicates the issue.
Actually, you just want to look the other way and hope this goes away but how does that get any Hispanic to vote Republican? They won’t. They vote Dumbocrat for the same reason everyone else does–because they think the RATS are their best chance for freebies. There is no other reason and I hope we never see the day when Republicans stand there are proclaim to Hispanics that if you only vote for us, we will give you more than the Dumbocrats.
I see no way Republicans will ever get the Hispanic vote as long as we have a welfare state.
The problem MIE is that Obama and the liberals get their way…..this is what’s going to happen.
Any illegals that are here now..not only will they get amnesty..they’ll get put on the “fast track” to citizenship. No waiting at the back of the line..no paying of any fines.
As soon as that gets announced…you’re going to see a massive wave of illegal immigration from the south..rushing to get across the border in order to take advantage of “amnesty”.
Do you REALLY think that Obama is going to get serious on border security then?? Think critically about this for a moment.. You’re a Mexican citizen..living in near abject poverty across the border in Ciudad Juarez.
Then one day…the US announces hey..if you’re an illegal in this country..no harm, no foul..and we’ll put you on the fast track to being a US citizen…
You’d be finding any way you could to sneak across the US border in a heartbeat…
Then voila…you have tens if not hundreds of thousands of “new” citizens….instantly ready to pledge their allegiance to the person who gave them citizenship…Barack Obama..
Hawk–the problem is that I have a hard time getting people to frame houses. The Hispanics are willing to do work that Anglos won’t do. What’s a farmer or home builder to do?
Deace–I work with Hispanics every day. What you describe simply is not the way it is. Hispanics are hard working people.
Deace–moreover the California experience is a good lesson. Gov Davis won elections until he alienated the Hispanic voting block by going wonkers on immigration.
I actually do believe that many Hispanics are very hard working people and I also agree there needs to be a way to bring them here LEGALLY and with more haste, if need be.
I also believe there is an element that are here to milk the system and why not? They’re given every incentive to do so.
Are you really having a difficult time finding someone to do home building in this environment? I didn’t know there was any home building occurring.
Not as much as there used to be that’s for sure. In fact, many of the Hispanic crews have left Iowa because of the economy. The Hispanics that have worked for me have NOT milked the system as far as I know. They show up for work, work hard and go home.
MIE…
Hmm..Iowa’s unemployment rate just went up to 6.0%….seems to me that there are plenty of people out there in our own state that are looking for work…
Not that kind of work. Most of the road and bridge crews are Hispanic now.
MIE – That line of Americans not willing to do the work is BS! Americans have always been willing to do the work at the right price but when illegals (note, “illegals” not immigrants) come in and do it at 1/2 the price that American’s used to do it, there’s a problem. Without the constant flow of illegals into Iowa or any other state, our wages would be higher for those types of jobs and Americans would be back to doing them like we have for hundreds of years.
Con Daily, AMEN!!!
CD-Timmy–let the market decide. I want to pay the lowest wages to those who will do good work so that I can make more of a profit. Hispanics fit the bill. You guys sound like socialists.
MIE – do you want a global workforce where the world’s most desperate will be knocking on your door for work? That’s what you are advocating.
The market will decide once we return the illegals to where they came from. Then you can pay Americans what they should be paid. Just like what was done for over two centuries.
CD–frankly, I don’t care where my workers come from. I want to pay the lowest wage possible for the best work. Desperation is a great motivator.
MIE, I’m all for the free market deciding but how can we justify letting that be the sole criteria if there are others cheating so to speak under-cutting the rest of us. What I mean is, their labor is being subsidised by passing their social costs on to the rest of us. One example is healthcare, I & most citizens must pay for our own insurance or become part of a group plan thru work. We are responsible for our co-pay, etc., but many illegals show up at the ER demanding treatment, but if they are unable to pay what happens then? Most likely they are judgement proof and if the situation gets sticky, they split the scene and are no where to be found. I’m using this as one example and in no way am I trying to implicate you personally as I have no idea what your situation is. It’s kinda like retailer A sells his product for X, because he followed all the rules his fixed costs are higher than say retailer B, who cuts every corner and his “fixed” costs are lower by his cheating so he can undercut retailer A who played by the rules.
I agree that we cannot lump Hispanics into one category. There are many who are hard-working & family oriented who can be a great asset to our society. I do believe there should be a fairer way for them to come into this country, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of those that are playing by the rules.
I don’t think you are thinking of this correctly. If the borders were closed off and the illegals sent home, your employee wages would go up but so would everyone elses. You would still pay the lowest price possible for the best work but the wages, as a whole, would be much higher – so would the wages your competitors would pay. Does that make sense?
The other road, that you are seemingly very willing to go down, is to allow the worlds most desperate come here for the sake of cheap labor. There are billions more desperate than the average Mexican. Wages would be forever very low and continue the shift from a large middle class to a extremely large lower class. That can’t be good for our country and your stance is hostile toward a strong, long-lasting economy.
Timmy: I agree with you. We all must pay by the rules. I am compelled by law to review the immigrant status of my workers. I withhold, I pay workers comp insurance and unemployment insurance. However, to compete I must pay the lowest wage possible and still get quality work. I find as a group, hispanics tend to fit the bill the best.
Timmy sorry I meant to say we must all “play” by the rules. Freudian slip.