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After all, these very same naysayers blindly supported Sarah Palin for the nation's second highest office. Where was their microscopic scrutiny at the time? Where were the hard questions? As I recall there was little if any vetting done whatsoever of Palin as a viable candidate for the Vice Presidency. Her accomplishments are at best mediocre, her work experience is far from consistent (she recently walked away from her governor's job) and her academic record is merely average. Despite it all, however, Republicans deemed Sarah Palin qualified and fit for the Vice Presidency if not the Presidency itself.Racism is obviously alive, well and humming along as usual within the GOP. I know, I know. What else is new?
Today the Republicans vilify and rail against the notion of empathy where Sotomayor is concerned. And yet during Justice Alito's confirmation hearing these very same Republicans extolled the virtues of empathy. So, there are two definitions of empathy? One for white guys and another for non guys and non whites?
Rush Limbaugh is viewed as one of the most influential leaders of the Republican Party.
Do all Republicans agree with Rush? If not, say so. Stand up. Tell Rush to shut up.
The sound of silence is rather drop dead deafening.
Conservative pundits in the media have grossly misrepresented some of Ms. Sotomayor's statements as well. Does John Cornyn agree with the pundits' misrepresentations?
Since President Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court; numerous conservative media figures have smeared her as a racist and a bigot. In doing so, these media figures have frequently cited -- and misrepresented -- remarks she made during a speech at the University of California-Berkeley School of Law, in which she asserted, "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."
Specifically, Rush Limbaugh claimed Soto mayor is a "reverse racist"; radio host Mark Levin called her a "bigot"; and Glenn Beck claimed Soto mayor made "one of the most outrageous racist remarks I've heard. ... She sure sounds like a racist."
As Media Matters for America has documented, media figures have misrepresented Sotomayor's Berkeley remarks. For example, Fox News host Megyn Kelly said that Soto mayor was claiming "that Latina judges are obviously better than white male judges." In fact, Soto mayor was specifically discussing the importance of diversity in adjudicating race and sex discrimination cases.
Senator Sessions (R-AL) has been using the usual southern racist code words to demonize Ms. Sotomayor. He said she is "out of the mainstream." His remarks about Sotomayor's nomination reveal his life long crusade against Civil Rights.
Conservatives have chosen a strange leader to spearhead their charge against Judge Sotomayor - Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL). With only days remaining until Sotomayor's confirmation hearings begin, Sessions has focused his attacks on Sotomayor's past service on the board of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF), a leading civil rights organization that Sessions calls "extreme" because it "brought several race discrimination lawsuits for minorities" while Sotomayor sat on its board.
In 1986 the Senate Judiciary Committee rejected Sessions own federal judicial nomination precisely because of racism. It seems that Sessions had/has a problem with the NAACP and ACLU. He vilified both as "un-American" and "communist inspired."
Race should no longer be an issue but it most certainly continues to be one in the southern regions of the U.S.
There is no place for any of this in a 21st century America. There should have never been a place for it prior to now but history is history and we cannot escape it. This does not mean we cannot move forward, upward and we can work hard to undo past racial and social injustices.
History should teach us never to go down those evil roads again.
Apparently Republicans, led by Rush and Sarah, prefer to remain mired in our ugly past. Indeed, according to an op-ed piece in the New York Times She Broke the GOP and Now She Owns It" Palin's Party will remain mired in the deep and ugly past for a very long time.
