It's the Supreme Court stupid! One cry heard over and over again in 2004, and 2008. We lost 2004 and got Alito and Roberts. Now that we won, what do we do?
The recent call is for a "practical political person" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...
That is a bad idea.
Most political appointments have for good or bad disappointed the President. Earl Warren was a huge disappointment to Eisenhower. Byron White a huge disappointment to JFK's followers.
Obama has the advantage of having been a law professor, and knowing his colleagues well. He should pick someone who will reliably protect individual rights, and Obama's vision of hope.
I don't know Kagan or Sunstein that well, but Obama does.
Maybe he knows Amy Klobuchar and Claire McCaskill well. I doubt that he knows as much about how they will vote. My little exposure to them suggests that the former prosecutor Klobuchar will continue to erode the rights of individuals accused of crimes and will continue the explosion of prison growth populated overwhelmingly by minorities. I can't forsee McCaskill being much different.
Demographics should be secondary, perhaps for a second SCOTUS pick or a secondary consideration to someone whose views on the constitution reflect Obama's views.
Certainly, women, Asians, Latinos, gays all deserve representation on the Supreme Court. But we have seen that demographics (Thomas, O'Connor) don't insure protecting individual rights.
There are great candidates who are women, gay or minority. Certainly Kathleen Sullivan and Pam Karlan who both identify with LGBT community would be great additions to the Court.
But Obama should pick someone he trusts. That's why we elected him.