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July 14th, 2009
11:59 AM ET

The Supreme Court and race

"...Wise Latina woman..." – Republicans have seized on those words from Judge Sonia Sotomayor to question whether she would use race to play favorites on the high court. But Sotomayor is hardly the first Supreme Court hopeful who was once outspoken on the subject of race. CNN's Jim Acosta reports.

Watch: Sotomayor explains 'wise Latina' remark
Filed under: Supreme Court
soundoff (6 Responses)
  1. eliz wolfgang

    NAACP is still revelant. All you have to do is look at what happened to the children at the pool in PA. The "Devil" is truly walking and a lot of people are walking side by side with him. My heart is breaking.

    July 16, 2009 at 6:59 am |
  2. Michael Stanford

    American history is filled with examples of racist and sexiest laws,policies, and court decisions directed against people of color and women, .The laws of the land ,in most instances have been devised to preserve a privileged position for white males.To this day nearly every professional career in this country;education, medicine ,finance,politics is dominated by white males, not by accident , but by design. As a result ,I believe the country has suffered by not having the benefit of the talent and energy of thousands qualified but excluded "Americans".The nomination of judge Sotomayor , like the election of President Obama, is an opportunity for America to move in new ,progressive direction away from the exclusion ,racism and sexism of the past, toward inclusion,diversity,and most importantly competence.

    July 15, 2009 at 1:15 pm |
  3. Carlos Chapa

    I think mr Vernon and Mr. Sessions are one and the same

    July 15, 2009 at 7:21 am |
  4. Vernon

    Rascism still exists in America but not only against Blacks & Hispanics but WHITES. Everytime a Black or Hispanic gets preferential treatment – a White person is discrimated against. Just look to the Firemen Supreme Court case to see that reverse Rascism exists in America.

    July 15, 2009 at 6:51 am |
  5. eliz wolfgang

    The "Devil" is truly walking the Earth during this time in America. Sessions is the "racist" and always will be. I detect a little jealousy of Sonia. He can't touch her. His credibility has gone down the drain and those that follows his lead might as well vote now b cause we know what their vote will be. He, being a white man who has been in charge for a very long time, can not change his spots. He is never going to believe that the world is changing and he is a "dinosaur". KEEP LIVING IN THE DARK AGES, SESSIONS. The world is passing you by. Your way of thinking and doing is stale and rancid, "move over and let someone else breathe a new light into the world.

    July 15, 2009 at 6:19 am |
  6. Joane Johnson

    You cannot compare the two. Just about everything Marshall encountered was racist including a lot of the courts decisions. Start with Dred Scott and work forward and count how many cases were decided against people of color due to racism that had nothing to do with the law. Spare me. It never ceases to amaze me how white people suffer from selective memory loss when it comes to crimes against others in this country by whining about possible retribution. Most minorities are not as small minded as you. That is what the hornorable judge meant. We've been there. I, as a black woman and she as a latina. I judge on character, content, the person. Not the race. That has been done too many times to me.

    July 14, 2009 at 12:14 pm |
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