Unit D - Blog #22

Sonia Sotomayor has been critiqued from the beginning of her induction into the media realm. Because she is a woman and a Latina, the press deemed those traits as having effect on her personality as a judge. In news stations, cable programs, radio talk shows, and newspapers critics raved about her as being a "reverse" racist. Conservative outlets believed her race would effect her decisions as a judge because she would advocate for minorities simply because of their background. They also attacked her for the following statement: "All of the legal defense funds out there, they are looking for people with court of appeals experience because the court of appeals is where policy is made," she said, laughing a bit through the next part: "And I know this is on tape and I should never say that because we don't make law. I know. Okay, I know. I'm not promoting it. I'm not advocating it. I know." Conservatives ranted that nominating Sotomayor would be allowing a woman to make her own policy as she saw fit since that was her view on judgeship. Many liberals backed her up claiming it is actually true since Congress may make laws, but courts interpret it, hence making policy. Liberal media hailed her as refreshing and showed evidence that minority groups outside of Latinos were also excited for her nomination. An AUL gay activist said, ""Nobody wanted to talk to the queer person at that time," said Ettelbrick, who represented Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. "She was the only one [on the advisory committee] who made a point to come over and introduce herself. She was totally interested [in gay civil rights issues] and supportive." The liberal media even used her race to support her though saying, "To Hispanics, the nomination would be an absolutely historic landmark. It really is impossible to overstate its significance. The achievement of a lifetime appointment at the absolute highest levels of the government is a profound event for that community, which in turn is a vital electoral group now and in the future." For conservatives,Sotomayors race and gender were binding problems, but to liberals she was a marketable minority.
SOURCE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/01/sonia-sotomayor-supreme-c_n_194470.html