Republican Senators are concerned. They're troubled. And they've introduced their game plan for the confirmation hearing of Sonia Sotomayor: she made a speech where she had the gall to say that her background and life experiences have an impact on her thinking. Just as Clarence Thomas did in 1991:
I believe, Senator, that I can make a contribution, that I can bring something different to the Court, that I can walk in the shoes of the people who are affected by what the Court does.
... and Samuel Alito did in
2006:
When I get a case about discrimination, I have to think about people in my own family who suffered discrimination because of their ethnic background or because of religion or because of gender. And I do take that into account.
... and just as any thinking person will acknowledge, no matter what their profession.
And while the Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee will hammer on the Ricci case, and whine that she wants to take away everyone's guns, judging by the emphasis in lead hit man Jeff Sessions' (R-AL) opening statement:
I will not vote for — no senator should vote for — an individual nominated by any president who is not fully committed to fairness and impartiality towards every person who appears before them ... who believes it is acceptable for a judge to allow their own personal background, gender, prejudices or sympathies to sway their decision in favor of, or against, parties before the court.
... and in the remarks by each ensuing Republican member, the "wise Latina" is what they'll be hanging their hats on over the next few days.
Not that they think they're going to derail her nomination, but what better way to pander to the base than to regurgitate the racists attacks made against Sotomayor for the past seven weeks ... although this time veiled in concerns about "activism" and "empathy."
