"When I get a case about discrimination, I have to think about people in my own family who suffered discrimination because of their ethnic background or because of religion or because of gender. And I do take that into account."
No, those are not the words of Sonia Sotomayor. Sam Alito said that during his confirmation hearing. Not before, not after. Of course the right is totally disorganized. They shoot their mouths first, then do some fact checking. This will either silence them or expose their hypocrisy. Wait, we all know they can't shut up and we knew they were hypocrites.
The full quote:
"Because when a case comes before me involving, let's say, someone who is an immigrant - and we get an awful lot of immigration cases and naturalization cases - I can't help but think of my own ancestors, because it wasn't that long ago when they were in that position... When I get a case about discrimination, I have to think about people in my own family who suffered discrimination because of their ethnic background or because of religion or because of gender. And I do take that into account."
So, Justice Alito thinks about his OWN ANCESTORS when deciding a case. That's what he told the Republicans who voted to confirm him, with many democrats voting for him by the way. That did not bother anybody, from the left or the right, at the time.
When Alito said his family's immigrant experience influenced the way he rules on cases before him, that's okay. But Sonia Sotomayor (who, like Alito, is an appellate judge and a child of immigrants) has also been nominated to the Supreme Court, so she's a RACIST for saying the same thing.
At the end of the day, they will shut up and she will be a Supreme Court Justice. They are simply exposing themselves and confirming what many think of them: hypocrites. Any time they start fuming you present them with some contradictory statements/positions and their go back to their holes waiting for the next thing to scream about.
NEXT!!! HEALTHCARE.
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Comments: 29
The quotes from these two are quite different. Hers said that her ethnicity gave her a better world view, not a different one. And she specifically bashed white males, not just anyone different than she is.
Actually, She said that she hoped that the RICHNESS of her experience would enable her to make a better decision then a white male WHO HAD NOT HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. People are constantly comparing minorities to White's, yet when they try to respond to such stuff, their words are twisted and made to look like they are racist. She was not bashing white males, but highlighting her experiences that add to her qualifications.
So again we have someone saying that personal experience/empathy trumps judicial blindness?
I hate all the naysaying. The fact is that she will be seated.
I don't know about Alito's court record, but Sotomayer's statement and court record (for example the Ricci vs. DeStefano case) clearly show her to be racistly and sexistly biased against whites and males (@ 90% of the population).
The more relevant quote of Sotomayer is the one that said : ""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".
For a more focused look at this quote, see my article "Sotomayer does NOT qualify".
You're arguing with perfection in mind. It doesn't exist. She does qualify as any of those serving today.
Keep saying it Robert , some people are just "slow" thinkers and need lots of repetition.
Spencer, your reverse prejudice is showing! I guess it's okay to be a bigot against whites. hmmm
here's a 10 for you Alan. it is what it is. None of us are able to TOTALLY ignore every bit of our life experience when making a decision. why should we?
I saw the entire Sotomayor quote, concerning her Latina xperience, and she was saying she works to keep that experience, and influence, in check, when she is dealing with cases, and the law. She said, being aware of such infkluences, helps her to keep them, "in Check" This is parapraded, of course as I don't have the entire quote before me. But yea, the Republicans, The extreme right wing are being manipulative, and misleading, and quite deliberatley so.
you are exactly right about her quote but they don't care. Hey, democrats do this stuff too. Alito was extremely qualified and they wanted to look at his membership at "concerned alumni of Princeton."
This is the game republicans and democrats play year after year, administration after administration instead of solving problems.
I can't wait for her to start.
They'd complain about anyone who was chosen
Justice Who's What???........
It is time for us to get our pound of flesh from the old repressors of the US of KKK of A. If nothing else we will get our pound from their children.
from their children for you and your children?
"But yea, the Republicans, The extreme right wing are being manipulative, and misleading, and quite deliberatley so." "you are exactly right about her quote but they don't care".
First of all, I am not a Republican and have voted Democrat for president in every election since 1968, except 1996 and 2000 when I voted for Nader. All of the preceding 8 commenters need to get one thing straight. That is is NOT OK to discriminate on the basis of race and sex (Civili Rights Act 1964). That includes ALL Americans, not just women & minorities.
You all seem to be unaware of the sleeping giant you might be awakening (and not a good giant either). If you claim it's OK to discriminate against Frank Ricci and the other whites (and Hispanics), who were victimized in the New York 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, by Sotomayer's racist indifference, THEN you set a precedent that it's OK to discriminate against blacks too. So why don't you go and set the cause of black advancement back 50 years by making the ridiculous statements you're making here ?
Answer : Because the 1964 Civil Right Act should be properly upheld, as it likely will be by the Supreme Court very soon, reversing Sotomayer's outrageous decision, and showing her to be the racistly unqualified candidate that she is.
Also : If any of you took the time to read the outrageous story of how the New Haven white firefighters had their test scores (and thereby, their promotions) tossed out, by corruption involving a bunch of disgraceful black firefighters, a black minister frien of theirs, who was cozy with the New Haven mayor (DeStefano), and his power over the New Haven Civil Service Board, you'd know how ashamed of them and yourselves you ought to be.
"and showing her to be the racistly unqualified candidate that she is"
As I've said before on another post: Sotomayor was not the only judge on that decision. There were two others, Judge Rosemary Poole and Judge Robert Sack, both white. If the decision makes Sotomayor racist, one can only conclude that Poole and Sack are race traitors, right? Can't have it both ways!
Robert you must've have not walked a 1,000 miles in her shoes or minority shoes...to know what it is to truly be a minority people....until then don't tell other minority how their life is. Also reading the story without looking at the actual case doesn't do the firefighters black or white....check the actual court papers instead....
It was about her perspective as a woman and her ethnic background.
Insert past experience as a cop, priest,suicide hotline answerer, or even a pow, it's called life experience. Only some body with their own agenda would interpret it differently!!!!
Well, at least the above quote made the rounds of the Sunday morning shows. To which the Republicans did not even bother getting into. They know full well what Alito said during his own CONFIRMATION, is today not acceptable to republicans. Before Sotomayor was nominated, they made it full clear that empathy and one's life experience should not factor in his/her ruling on the court. As if that was possible. Presented with what Alito said, they can do nothing but sputter.
"Robert you must've have not walked a 1,000 miles in her shoes or minority shoes...to know what it is to truly be a minority people....until then don't tell other minority how their life"
Brian W.,
First of all, I AM a minority (50% Hispanic - same % as Obama), and second of all, I have been discriminated against as a white male in affirmative action, and my entire work life since the 1970s has been ruined by it. If you read my article entitled "Sotomayer Does NOT Qualify", you would have known that. It isn't necesary to be a minority to have experienced racial discrimination. Minoritites now get preference and jump to the front of the line because of their race. It is white males who are being victimized by discrimination, as in the Ricci vs, DeStefano case (one among thousands).
"Presented with what Alito said, they can do nothing but sputter."
Nonsense. Who cares what Alito said ? The Sotomayer nomination is about one thing. That she is a racist who openly proclaims that a minority woman is "better" than a white male, and who has demonstrated her bias and bigotry in her court decisions, the latest of which is soon to be overturned by the Supreme Court (keep watching). To then put her on that very same court, whould make a laughingstock of our judicial system at its highest level.
"Who cares what Alito said?" That comment is exactly why no one should take you seriously. Like most die-hard bigots, you cannot face an opposing view that may somehow belie what you so strongly cling to. She NEVER said she was better than a white man. She said her experiences as a Latina would help her make better choices than one who had grown up with the US version of the proverbial silver spoon: White and Male. Your arguments are weak and biased to the point of laughability.
Brian W.
There is another answer to your statement : "Robert you must've have not walked a 1,000 miles in her shoes or minority shoes...to know what it is to truly be a minority people....until then don't tell other minority how their life"
It is that, although I am a minority person, in over 40 years, I have never lowered myself to check the Hispanic box in an affirmative action form. I'd rather be dead than wear the dishonor of getting a job through affirmative action, knowing full well that someone was discriminated against, for it to happen.
All those who participate in affirmative action racism/sexism ought to be ashamed of themselves, especially those who have benefitted from it.
Altio was dead wrong to say such a thing and if it colored any of his decisions, it's doubly damning. It's a good point Alan.
Sotomayor has a below average record of decisions being upheld, stands on issues like the 2d Amendment that clearly are not in line with recent decisions, and a skimpy written record of opinions. She is as qualified as most American citizens but there are no indications she is the spectacular legal beagle some on the left are making her out to be. For those on the right, be thankful she is not far worse as she will get confirmed though hopefully not without some serious grilling on her various comments and decisions.
You and I agree a lot on this. At least you recognize that Alito's statements are nin direct contradictions with the noise the right was making, most of it before Sotomayor was nominated, way back when Obama used the E word.
Sotomayor is no Scalia as far as legal mind is concerned. I disagree with Scalia on, say 50-70% of the issues, but the guy clearly knows how to interpret the law. From what I have heard so farof Sotomayor, she is no "spectacular beagle." Too be fair, there are only three of them on the court right now.
I think that Scalia votes according to his own bias almost all the time. I respect him and Thomas (who always mimics Scalia) less than any of the others. I almost always know how they will vote.
Robert F: "Minoritites now get preference and jump to the front of the line because of their race. It is white males who are being victimized by discrimination, as in the Ricci vs, DeStefano case (one among thousands)."
Who are you trying to fool? Yourself? Do you actually SEE this happening? Tomorrow, when you go about your daily business in town, wherever you live, try to find this White American Male Downsizing you speak of. Find any place that isn't currently having its floors cleaned or trash emptied but seems to pay a really good salary, and let us know what/where it is and explain how the White Presence is now woefully underrepresented as opposed to BEFORE. We want to see this phenomenon for ourselves!
To paraphrase the Bible- "Show me just ONE, and I'll believe it."
The Supreme Court overturning the firefighters' ruling: Although they did so correctly, you are so very wrong in your diatribe. Stop spewing bile and throw out a few facts. I'm willing to match you if you are willing to tell the truth.