American Morning
Sotomayor back on the hot seat today
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Sonia Sotomayor faced tough questioning Tuesday on political issues and controversial statements from her past, with both Democrats and Republicans saying she responded well and appeared certain to win confirmation as the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice.
The 55-year-old federal appeals judge conceded she made a bad play on words in saying in 2001 that a "wise Latina woman" could reach a better conclusion than a white man.
Otherwise, her calm answers to questions by the Senate Judiciary Committee on a wide range of issues - abortion, gun control, presidential powers, the death penalty - displayed a command of legal concepts that impressed her harshest interrogators.
Do you accept Sotomayor's "wise Latina" explanation? Tell us your thoughts.
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Well,Its finally over.
I was really embarrassed by those firefighters. What were they trying to do? And to allow themselves to be used like they were. Especially when they acknowledged that they were not lawyers and did not know the law.
And if they were so smart, they would have taken the test again, and would have passed again, except there may have more minorities to pass, thereby legitimizing the results and guaranteeing all promotions.
What a shame.
“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,” said Judge Sotomayor
This is the entire quote. I believe Judge Sotomayor was very fair and honest in her comment. As a minority who has experienced a myriad of challenges to get where they are today in life, they would have a much better insight than an average white male who has not lived, or experienced, the same things in life. There is so much that minorities deal with, and YES, still dealing with, in today's society. That shouldn't be BUT, YES it definitely is still prevalent.
Personally, I feel that whites have been groomed to believe that they are superior over minorities and let's face it when minorities rise up and exceed where they are, it's hard for them to accept that a minority is better than them in a particular subject or situation.
It's unfortunate, but, my husband and I were forced to groom our daughter to believe that she's just smart, if not smarter, than any white person. This was important being from the Mid-West and raising her in the South where blacks walked around as if they were subservient and where whites treated you as if you were beneath them. I’m proud to say, it has worked. My daughter does not accept mess from anyone and understands if she studies and applies herself the field is wide open to success and greatness.
On the NAACP:
The NAACP has only completed phase one of its mission. Now is the time to root out the openly hidden agendas that all people of color are facing. I'm not just alluding to the 1 in 15 blacks incarcerated or the adjustable rate mortgage loans or the children destined to failure from ghetto areas and their less than adequate educational facilities; I'm refering to all people of color now being crushed by this less than subtle racism. The NAACP could almost be retitled the National Association for the Advacement of all People of Color – NAAPC.
Catfish Booker
The Blues Man
AAAH, Alex Castellanos, born in Cuba, probably of the "privileged" class who had to leave Cuba, thinks perhaps he did not experienced Affirmative Action? Give me a break. These Republicans, how they forget. Many of them did not earn their way! But from Alex Castellanos, the Cuban Clarence Thomas! The Justice deserves better.
THIS from a black 74 year old U.S. Army Veteran
hi there
i just wanted to say that those firemen showing up today in court in front of the judge is dispicable and childish,is it to say nanananana or we got or way and now we rub it in your face, it makes a mickey mouse court out of these whole proceedings ,this is something that 7 year old children would do in the playground not grown men or us senators at that ,to allow this to happen is sick and shameful ,you should be ashamed of yourselves ,this is a joke,
nigel
Come on CNN. You can do better job of analysis than you're doing. Those republicans on the committee are grasping at straws. Your reporting is NOT reflective of comments you're getting on your blog. The republicans are falling flat on their faces and you know it. Don't have your viewers lose respect for you as well because of your failure to accurately(truthfully) report the hearings.
Come on! You can do better than this.
As I watch the continuing hearings covering the same old, "out of context, wise latina". remarks, I 'm amazed to see them take her prior answers to the question "out of context" .
If these committee members cannot understand her speech in it's entire context, perhaps their worthiness to perform their duties should be in question.
Isn't it about time we grew up as a nation and quit squabbling over every little "semantic soundbite" like grade schoolers. It's almost embarrassing to admit these people are our political leaders.
We must admit that Judge Sotomayor`s "wise latina" comment has been purposely misinterpreted and used to discredit her competence in an unfaithful manner.
But, the issue on whether she will apply personal feelings to decide legal manners can be supported by what is known to be called JUSTICE, what I mean is that when the law goes against or enters into conflict with Justice, then we must advocate for Justice, and I believe that to accomplish this principle we must apply common sense, equity, and therefore a personal and social interpretation towards the matter becomes necessary.
The role of judges in our system is to interpret the law. The notion that a human being can do that without recourse tohis or her own experiences, be they racial, gender, socioeconimic, political, is just ridiculous. Impartiality is a goal that each judge strives for, but it is a goal that can never be fully achieved. Republican Senators attacking our next associate justice are setting up a strawman and then punching away. One could argue that this is just a political tactic, but what is more likely from this group of fundamentalist absolutists is that they don't understand their arguments are based on a false premise. The belief by these individuals, much like fundamentalists everywhere in the world, that there is an "Absolute Truth" , be it religious, political or otherwise, and which always tends to coincide with their own opinion, is the true strawman. Their questioning displays their own lack of understanding of human nature, of thought and reason. The sooner we remove all of these clowns from positions of public office the better.
I watched the Sotomayor hearings yesterday until I just got sick to my stomach over the way the republicans questioned the judge. Every time I see and hear these guys, the less respect I have for them. My Gosh! These are supposed to be educated respectable people but they act like uneducated dummies! Having nothing else to challenge her on, they all just latched on to an 8 year old speech and, like dogs with a bone, chewed on it all day long! It's rediculous and makes me ashamed but glad to be a democrat – at least they act like gentlemen.
Question: Why do the republicans rave on and on about the first part of her speech? Why don't they tell us the rest of the speech? They take a small amount and run off across the woods rying to make something negative out of it. Buffoons!!!!
there's no such of a thing of reverse racism! that's like being mad at the rabbit because it hates the fox. america has been eating minorities for centuries.
i understand why the good ole boys are having heart attacks right now and trying to discredit sotomayor. they are the minority now an endangered species. their way of life, their thought process and everything the republican party stands for is confined to seven southern states. what's wrong with alittle color in the whitehouse? what's wrong with alittle flavor in the bland supreme court!? i mean, the conservative white republicans have beem making giagantic decisions that effect me as a black man and every minority for the next 30yrs. can we have a turn to play? can we make laws regarding us? it's about time! and they can't do nothing to stop it....the big 60 says so!
CNN, You and the rest of the Media have taken her words out of context. Put up the entire quote, and stop being dishonest! Any fair-minded person knows exactly what she meant. And then your viewers will see the hypocrisy of her critics.
It's a shame that no-one seems to have the time to show the actual speech and the context of the "remark". In a world of sound bites and small minds we tend to loose our grip on reality, and accept the daily drivel as fact. Read the speech before making a decision. You can find it here. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124404782092281817.html
Can you imagine if it was a proud wise white male that made this same comment about Latino woman. I don't understand why people can't see that if the role was reversed that white males reputation and career would be shot!
I believe that one of the comments addressed to her did explain why some people are upset over the comments. Our culture is still embracing the fact that any derogatory made towards the white community is not a racists comments and that only white people can be racist. I do believe that her goal for her comment is commendable but her choice of words was poor. I believe that from now on if we want to determine if a comment is racist, we need to see if a white person could get away with saying the same thing towards an ethnicity. As the one particular comment went, to paraphrase, 'if I were to have made that comment about a latino, they would have my head on platter.' Didn't MLK say that we need to reach for a day when men (and women) are no longer judged by the color of their skin but by their actions?
Would some one remind the senators who are planning on spending the entire week working on a fore gone conclusion that we are still in a recession, and perhaps they should devote their attention to the economy instead of re-asking and re-asking the same question time and time again.
It is ridiculous
a latina woman who has been through poverty and rubbed elbows with those who struggle everyday as minorites, would make way -way -way better judgements in a case associated with those things than any whiteman who knows nothing of those things. she should of never backed down from her statements. it's the truth, and sometimes the truth hurts!
Yes, I agree with the woman – I am amazed at how "threatened" all those questioning males seem to be of her.
Yes, yes ,yes, when one reads the entire exchange leading up to and after that one sentence it is very clear that the speech was specifically discussing the importance of judicial diversity in determining race and sex discrimination cases. Even the sentence got cropped by far-right news services and the conservative echo chamber ran with it. Its all about context, and in the sound bites in news today, news departments do not want to have to add a 20 paragraph speech to adequately explain it.
Are you listening CNN?
ALL THIS RACIST STUFF IS ACT TO GET AMERICA TO TAKE THERE EYES OF THE BALL OF OUR FAILING ECONAMY THE WOMAN IS DEFINITLY ANOTHER BAD CHOICE MADE BY OBAMA.
"Wise Latina women" is an exact literal statement. If diversity is to be embraced, the words obviously stand on their own. Judge Sotomayor is not racist should not be attacked because of her choice of words.
The irony in this situation is having white men questioning Judge Sotomayours cultural and ethnic experience as invalid. Deja vu...Remember Reverend Wright and the Presidential Campaign.
Same game...different day.
Yes, I do accept her explanation. I believe that there is little doubt that she will be confirmed.
I respect and greatly appreciate Judge Sotomayor. This is a great country and it will continue to be a great country.
My best wishes and she moves forward to become one of our new judges on the supreme courts.
God bless Judge Sotomayor.
Her "wise Latina" comment is just another case of reverse prejudice. Naturally she is going back on her statement to obviously save her wise Latina rear end.
I watched Sonia Sotomayor hearings yesterday. This hearing is beginning to appear to me and perhaps to many Americans who are looking on, the republicans are beating up on Judge Sostomayor regarding a statement she said years ago.
Maybe that is all they can dig up on such a good judge who has proven herself over the 17years she was on the bench. Senators need to move on, because the more time they spend on that one subject of the Latina statement, the worse they look.
I don't believe Sen. Graham is right that his head would be on a platter, because from where I sit in Maine, after seeing what is happening to Sen. Grahams neighbors next door with all the cartoons, jingles and the like against minorities, especially that awful cartoon of our President, I'm inclined to believe Sen. Graham's State isn't much different!
They can't stand to see any minority rise through the ranks. At least that is what is preceived by watching senators during this hearing.
The republic party has always been known to be the party of few minorities.
Judge Sotomayer: As a training consultant with 30 tears of experience in the corporate, college, education and all public sectors environment and I always instructed that your race, age, gender, culture and socialization influences everything you do. To ignore how those factors will influence the quality of all you do could lead one to exhibit poor quality interaction and engagement . There is a concept called Implicit Assocition or Unconscious Inference that states all you do is predicated on your past lifes experiences. There are years of research to support that concept. In situations dealing with Hispanic females, Hispanics in general, and even relative "minorities" , a wise Hispanic female could make a decision better than a white male. Most white males have not had that experience thus could lack the insight or empathy needed to make a sound and/or quality decision. Now this concept also applies to all people relative to their life experiencs. White males have experiences that Hispanics don't have that could position them to make better a decision that is better that non white male. That is why Empathy, Emotional Intelligence and valuing diversity is a key for making quality decisions. Republicans needs to get pass that issue. It is not worth the time or effort. There are more critical issues to deal with. I think the reason so much time is beimg invested on this topic is because some white males egoes have been brusied. "This is a teachable moment. " CNN could have an open discussion on this topic. That would be a great contribution to the society as a whole.
Thanks for all you folks do. I really enjoy your open and equtiable reporting of the news. Jim
I think the Republicans are continuing to show what jerks they are by beating the "Wise Latino Woman" phrase to death. Judge Sotomayor is more qualified than anyone already sitiing on the Supreme Court but the Republicans only want old right wing conservative white guys in those positions. Instead of trying to help the country and President Obama get out of the mess their party got us into they just continue to be the idiot party of "NO". I think we need a third party to jump in and really stir up the status quo. Sandy
Republicans like SESSIONS and GRAHAM are truly a JOKE. They did nothing but focus on her ethnicity and her gender, NO FOCUS ON HER 18+ YEAR RECORD!!!
Sen. Sessions was made to look like a fool when he tried to call her out regarding another FEMALE judge, who was actually SITTING in the hearing room. BAM! Don't you look stupid Sessions! Sessions was NOT confirmed himself for being making DIRECT racists comments to other minorities. So isn't this the POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK.
It's truly no wonder Republicans are becoming the laughing stock of Washington, they continue to prove their blatant racists mentality and obstructionists theatrics over and over and over. It's almost predictable and laughable ALL at the same time.
What a bunch of COWARDS. They know Sotomayor has an STELLAR records as a Judge. But they would rather focus on her GENDER and RACE.
I accept her explanation. As humans we maake remarks that are taken out of context all the time. However she meant the remark to be interpreted I do not take offense even though I am a black, Jamaican, female. I am willing to bet she never expected her remark to gain national attention. It is because of the scrutiny applied to such remarks that people in society feel compelled to disguise their true feelings on many issues. If she were as biased as her remarks are intended to portray then surely she would have made more sever missteps during an illustrous career.
I'm embarrassed to be White Patricia! Prejudice is still rampant! Maybe I'm more embarrassed to be an American. If the Southern Senators spoke to my wife like that...no telling what I WOULD do! They have No respect!
just want to say Jeff Tubin ROCKS !!!
wow.. is cnn still siding with the republicans? John Roberts only looked at the negative comments represented by the old white man's club. You could see Jeffrey Tobin's discomfort at the stupid questions re: Sotomayer.
A number of White Judges all over this country, notable in the south have made decisions all my life over sentencing African Americans especially our Black men based on bias. I have brothers, friends, cousins, people I do not know of minority background who have been given sentencing that do not fit the crime. Tell me what is that? For example, 30 years imprisoment for aggrevated assult with the weapon being a locked door? Come on America, when will you face the truth, the days of in control white judges with biases who have ruled by the color of the skin is coming to an abrupt change, maybe halt. I am not a racist, but by all sence and puposes, change is needed desperately in the judicial system. Save the voiceless and unrepresented from the white man who has for the last 400 years who have ruled the courts so unfairly based on race. like no tommorrow, for crimes that would have been committed by whites a "slap on the hand". What are these old white Republicans guys talking about? They are threatened that this country is moving toward a level playing field. Latino Judges, African American Judges what ever ethnic group can have empathy. Judge Sotomayor, I hate you have to defend a statement that is so true to save your people just to be nominated. I am pushing for you 100%. We need someone on the bench to defend the constitution. . "All men are created equal". We all know that this law of this land does not live up to this stated fact..Why is everyone being so shocked over Judge Sotomayor statement!!!!!! As if they don't see that the justice system in this country, majority white and so, so, unfair. We need change, how about Justice Clarence Thomas retiring.
The focus on the phrase is much to do about nothing. Seemingly in this historically "white/male" dominate culture, for another individual (of different race/gender) to support, encourage, praise themselves it is considered bias. In instances when Senator Sessions uses the "Puerto Rican to support his view is this not a measurement of double standard once again?
As a Southerner, Graham and Session's commentary takes me back to the late 40's and 50's. Their point of contention is not about professional qualification, intellectual abilities, or global awareness but merely to throw "racial paint balls".
Thomas Jefferson, a WHITE man who wrote most of the Constitution, must be so proud of us!! A Black/White President, Secretary of State a Woman, a Brown and Black Judge on the High court..it's all coming 2gether!! Cut anyone ones finger and what color are we? We all bleed red- Mark Twain from Huckleberry Finn. HA!!
i am, and always have been, a registered independent, but the more I watch the sanctimonius hypocritical Republicans who cannot seem to see past the "party line", twist and distort facts to the point of making them lies, the more I doubt that I will ever again vote for any Republican for any office.
Why subject her to a bunch of lame duck Republicans who have lost their political clout. That's all these hearings have been reduced to. Take a vote and approve her. She's obviously well qualified.
The questioning of Judge Sotomayor seemed more like an initiation than a quest for knowledge about her views. I was shocked at the tone of Senator Graham's questioning and he even admitted that she'd be approved as the next justice, but he said he wanted her to see things his way. Too bad Lindsay can't see the thousands of years of injustice that women have suffered in a brutal male dominated society. Of course, today it doesn't seem so bad in America, unless you are female and have aspirations of your own. Then you are branded as an aggressive women, a liberal, or whatever the nom de jour is. I agree with many of the comments that others have made.
Racism IS Racism, it doesn't matter where it comes from. If the same statement was made by a "white male" about a "Wise Latina" , heads would roll. Why is there a double standard? We do not need this racist in our Supreme Court "judging" others with her lack of impartiality.
I believe the playing field has finally levelled and it is about time. We really do not need this person or any other racists of ANY race, sex or religious belief in ANY position of authority.
And what's wrong with having a Liberal being appointed to the Court? We have Conservatives there appointed by Republicans. don't we? In the order of checks and balances, shouldn't a Liberal now be appointed to the court? OOOOH NOOOO!! Super scary for the Consevatives! Welcome to our world... the conservatives have been scaring the crud out of us for 8 yrs!!
On the confirmation process I believe Sotomayor's comments from 8 years ago were honest and what she was probably referring to was that the white male dominated establishment in this country has a history of being one sided just like Mr. Sessions who clearly belongs in the 1960'
s before the civil movement. and the desperate white male establishment trying to cling to power and keeping hispanics and minorities out of important political offices clearly what She was trying to say was that she would really be impartial no matter what race, creed or color you were when you walked into her courtroom
I continue to wonder why the news media, and certainly the questioners of Judge Sotomayor do not give the entire line of the comment she made about a "wise Latina woman" which was " a white male who had not had the same life experiences" or certainly something to that effect. That changes the harsh tone of the comment, or at least the conceived harsh tone. Why is it not being included?
Regarding the controversy over the comment made by Sotomayor in which she states that she would hope that a wise Latina would make better decisions than a white male, EVERYONE IS MISSING THE POINT. A white man never has had to say that white males are more capable because IT HAS BEEN UNDERSTOOD and a given by the boy’s club and the oppressed women of the fifties and their mothers and grandmothers, which has run America from the beginning of its history. In fact, history screams that fact. Actions and results speak more loudly than any statement by anyone. White MEN have had all the power, diluted somewhat after the women’s liberation movement in the 1970’s. Still, today, it is a battle for any woman to be recognized as a viable candidate for any thing. Political correctness today has shut many a mouth, and there has been progress made, but why does Sotomayor have to answer to Senator Sessions when he most likely has never been challenged on anything except perhaps what he brings to the table? Racial/ethic bias? Gender bias? Ask those self righteous boys about that stuff.
Her "wise Latina" remark has to be seen in context of President Obama saying "empathy" was a criteria for him in choosing a Supreme Court Justice nominee. Sotomayor's empathy is based. on class and ethnicity.
CNN as well as other media sources are touting Sotomayor's life experience as a Latina growing up in the projects. What are we supposed to deduce from that in terms of qualifications for Supreme Court Justice other than she will bring a prejudice in favor of one class over another or non-whites over whites?
Oddly, I do not hear anyone in the media pointing out that Sotomayor has disqualified herself in the eyes of our President by insisting nothing but the letter of the law will influence her. Because we all know she is lying. She is a liberal who will twist the law until it says what she wants it to say in keeping with her "empathy", i.e., prejudice.
LMAO!! I am a white/male, Irish/Scottish American married to a Mexican/ German American. To me it seems quite simple Judge Sotomayor's point. It is about time people of color/ethnicity start to rise to lofty heights as they are as good as anyone to help run this country!! In the words of Flip Wilson..."Here comes the Judge!!"
Yes and to be quite frank she wouldn't have to be that wise or smart to make better decisions than the majority of the people we have in congress at this time. I think this is just another case where the fat, old white republican men are afraid they're going to lose some control, and the fact is that they will lose more and more control as the makeup of the population changes in the United States. I'm a 68 year old white who believes that all people should have the same chance in life, and should be limited by their own desire. Why don't they read the entire comment and see what is says and then make a decision on exactly what it says.
The over-reaction to Judge Sotomayor's "wise Latina" comments & the references to her as a bully on the bench were consdescending & sexist. Senator Graham can coat his questioning style in Southern bonhomie all he wants - he still comes off as rudely interrupting before the nominee can evem get his previous question answered & then he makes passive/agreesive comments disguised as his next question. I found him shocking and I wonder why his incivility is not being questioned. Senator Sessions just displayed ignorance & spite.
How many times have inherently "anti-abortion" judges denied any preconceived notions as to how they'd rule on anti-abortion cases that might come before them? Yet somehow, they are given the benefit of the doubt in their confirmation.
In their "liberal-bashing," the conservatives are grasping at straws. It's not only a waste of time, it's insulting to thinking people everywhere.
Of course she's going to make up an excuse for her comments. Her fate is being determined by a bunch of old white men that don't realize that a latina women is going to have more life enriching experiences than a white male. I accept her explanation because I know why she gave it.
Sotomayor is being picked on by a group from the "good ol' boys" network that doesn't like to let anyone not like them in their clubhouse. If that comment is the worst they got on her they need to go ahead and confirm Judge Sotomayor and stop wasting tax payer money. Go Sonia! Be a proud wise Latina woman.
SotoMayor is from her comments in her speaches is a bigot. I would be afraid how her rulings will affect my young son!