Minority Whip Jon Kyl returned to the "Wise Latina" comment this afternoon, launching a persistent line of questioning about Sotomayor's commitment to impartiality from the bench. Sotomayor had offered an explanation about the comment at the morning session.
Jon Kyl (Getty Images/Mark Wilson)
Kyl's inquiries eventually prompted a concession - at least to the extent that the nominee said she could have chosen her words better (more wisely even?).
"The words I chose, taking the rhetorical flourish, it was a bad idea," Sotomayor said. "I do understand that there are some who have read this differently, and I understand why they might have concern."
"But I have repeated -- more than once -- and I will repeat throughout, if you look at my history on the bench, you will know that I do not believe that any ethnic, gender or race group has an advantage in sound judging ... and I also believe that every person, regardless of their background and life experiences, can be good and wise judges."
Sotomayor also drew a line between her judicial philosophy and comments made by President Obama, assuring Judiciary Committee members that the law - not "what's in her heart" would guide her decisions as a Supreme Court justice.
"I don't -- I wouldn't approach the issue of judging in the way the president does," she said. "He has to explain what he meant by judging. I can only explain what I think judges should do, which is judges can't rely on what's in their heart. They don't determine the law. Congress makes the laws. The job of a judge is to apply the law. And so it's not the heart that compels conclusions in cases. It's the law. The judge applies the law to the facts before that judge."
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Comments
As the monopoly on power enjoyed by Caucasian-Christian males over the last several centuries of Western Civiliation continues to fade, it's inevitable that many of them will not willingly give up "the good old days." It's therefore necessary that those in the forefront of the change to a more representative society need to be very "clean" (Biden's misspeak on Obama during the campaign actually spoke volumes), "nice", suitably respectful and unthreatening to the degree possible (of course their appearance alone makes them a threat).
Sodomayor has had to deal with this her entire career (like Obama), so she's of course going to come across as appealing and likeable a personality as possible. The GOP Caucasian males sitting in judgment of her won't confirm her on merit alone, she's still got to play the game and dance to their tune.
Posted by: billp
| July 14, 2009 10:12 PM
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