Sonia Sotomayor Confirmed As U.S. Supreme Court Justice By Senate

Judge Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed, 68-31, by the United States Senate to become the first Latina justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s a marvelous achievement for a well-qualified judge who has had her name smeared by a number of conservative Republicans willing to stop at nothing to derail her nomination. Personally, I had no problem with people who wanted to vote against her based on qualifications, but for right wingers to try and paint her as a racist by using some out-of-context comments (while ignoring prior Supreme Court nominees who have made similar statements) was appalling.

This is from Think Progress:

By a 68-31 margin, the Senate has confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the first Latina Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Sotomayor’s swearing-in ceremony could take place as soon as tomorrow. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) released a statement praising the confirmation:

The confirmation of this immensely qualified individual, with her long history of public service, is an historic moment for the Senate, the judiciary, the Hispanic community, and each and every American. Her life story is the essence of the American dream. Regardless of our differences, this is a moment in which we can all celebrate the belief that in America, all things are possible. History will recall this time when we crossed paths with the quintessentially American journey of Sonia Sotomayor, and when the country took yet another step forward in fulfilling the promise of our great Nation.

The Republicans certainly did damage to themselves in the eyes of many Latinos. Now, only time will tell if those wounds can be healed.

Far-Right Nuts Try To Smear Sonia Sotomayor By Invoking Bill Ayers

These extremists on the far right of the political spectrum (so far away from the mainstream they would need to take a plane flight to get to the rest of us) are at it again with a nasty attack ad (from the Committee for Justice, a far-right organization) against Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. And, the far-right nuts bring back the name Bill Ayers and of course mix in President Obama to round out the dumb attack. It just shows the hatred coming from the far right and the fear that some try to spark in others.

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/14/sotomayor-cfj/

Rush Limbaugh Cheap Shots Injured Judge Sonia Sotomayor And Plays Race Card In The Process

As we know, right-wing commentator Rush Limbaugh is never above using race as a weapon to attack minorities. Today, Limbaugh proved that he is not above using race to attack minorities … even when they were injured and suffered a fractured ankle (as Judge Sonia Sotomayor, a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court).

LIMBAUGH: I hope (Sotomayor) can find a wise Latina doctor to set that ankle as opposed to an average white doctor.

I hope that his network can find a wise person of any race, gender or sexual orientation to replace Rush Limbaugh.

Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200906080031

Right-Wing Hater Pat Buchanan Continues To Attack Sonia Sotomayor

Far-right commentator Pat Buchanan is continuing his Sonia Sotomayor Attack Tour. Here is the latest attack by Buchanan against Sotomayor, who would be the first Hispanic woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court if she is confirmed after being nominated by President Barack Obama. Instead of saluting the historic nature of this appointment, Buchanan continues to attack the way she allegedly learned to speak English.

What a classy guy.

BUCHANAN: Well I, again in that Saturday piece, she went to Princeton. She graduated first in her class it said. But she herself said she read, basically classic children’s books to read and learn the language and she read basic English grammars and she got help from tutors. I think that, I mean if you’re, frankly if you’re in college and you’re working on Pinocchio or on the troll under the bridge, I don’t think that’s college work.

Buchanan, of course, is not above unprovoked attacks against minorities or women. In this case, he gets the best of both of his worlds by attacking a woman minority. Buchanan is a left-over man who is troubled by seeing an increase in minority populations. He seems to see something slipping away from him and he is choosing to fade angrily and loudly into the night.

Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/06/01/buchanan-sotomayor-english/

Great Blog By Crooks And Liars On Republicans Calling Sonia Sotomayor Racist

Crooks and Liars has a story about some of the far right wingers laughably trying to portray Sonia Sotomayor as a racist – if not calling her one outright. It’s the usual far-right individuals talking up that aspect. It all begins, as one might expect, from individuals like current Republican leader Rush Limbaugh and former conservative leaders like Pat Buchanan.

Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/look-whos-calling-sonia-sotomayor-ra