Thread: GOP Senators Bring Race Issue to Forefront of Sotomayor Nom.

GOP senators bring race issue to forefront of Sotomayor nomination

Republican lawmakers, toning down their initial criticisms of Limbaugh and Gingrich, who called the high court pick a racist, now question her ability to make fair decisions.

By Peter Wallsten
June 1, 2009

Reporting from Washington -- Since the introduction last week of Sonia Sotomayor, Republican senators wary of attacking the first Latino Supreme Court nominee have lashed out at conservatives in their party who branded the would-be justice a racist and have even predicted a smooth confirmation.

But several of those same GOP senators said Sunday that they would now make race a focus of the Sotomayor nomination fight -- and they were far less eager to criticize conservatives such as Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich for their racially tinged critiques.

Fanning out across network television talk shows, the senators in essence pledged to ask a fundamental question: Can a woman who says her views are shaped by her Puerto Rican heritage and humble beginnings make fair decisions when it comes to all races and social classes?

"We need to know, for example, whether she's going to be a justice for all of us or just a justice for a few of us," said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a member of the Judiciary Committee, speaking on ABC’s “This Week With George Stephanopoulos.â€

for Obama, who as the country's first black president

If Obama is half white , why is he black ? I think "whack" or "blite" seems appropriate .

GOP senators bring race issue to forefront of Sotomayor nomination

No, Obama brought race to the forefront by continuously referring to Sotomayor as Latina.

But the GOP senators' new tone underscored a sense in the party that Sotomayor's history of speaking about her Puerto Rican heritage had emerged as a surprisingly effective line of attack -- particularly as President Obama and other Democrats try to shore up their support among working-class white voters.

Ha ha ha, good luck "shoring up support among working class white voters", those are the ones Sonia ruled against in the Connecticut firefighter case!