Do Overs

The President's choice to fill the vacant Supreme Court position, Sonia Sotomayor, made a comment in 2001 that many now consider to be a racist statement. To paraphrase she said that an older Latina woman because of her fuller life experiences would always make a better decision than an older white male. This comment was made in a panel discussion that she was a part of at U of C Berkeley. At first look it really doesn't seem that bad, a bit ill conceived perhaps but not bad. Of course Rush Limbaugh and other even more inarticulate Republicans have latched onto this as a reason to deny her the appointment. To make the matter even worse, in my belief, the President and his spokespeople are now saying that she misspoke that this is not part of her core belief in judicial matters. I'm not so sure now. In 2001 she was not a Supreme Court nominee and perhaps didn't see herself as a future nominee. Because of this I believe that she didn't feel constrained in anyway and rather clearly spoke her mind. In that context it is a very racist remark. A remark that is not fitting for anyone in the judicial system let alone a Supreme Court judge.

This country was founded and started by old white men. These old white men wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Until this year this country's presidents have been old white men. The majority of the Congress over the years have been old white men. While many people of many races, colors and religions have willing and unwilling made this country what it is today they were able to do it because of the work of those old white men. Ms. Sotomayor is intitled to her belief that old Latina women could have done it better but I think she should do it as a private citizen rather than a Supreme Court Justice.