This post is not really so much about a woman in power as about the power of so many men making decisions about a potential Supreme Court nominee, who happens to be a woman.
According to the New York Times today, “even as Democrats were disciplined in sticking to their main talking point — that Judge Sotomayor would put the rule of law above all else — Republicans began drawing battle lines for a long and potentially confrontational confirmation process that would focus on the extent to which the judge will let her personal background and experiences influence her opinions from the bench.
“The Democratic majority in the Senate totals 59 of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster, and seven Republican senators voted to confirm Judge Sotomayor to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 1998. Given those numbers, the Republican strategy seems to be to play for time, creating an opportunity for something unexpected to threaten her nomination.
“We don’t have enough Republicans to filibuster even if we wanted to, which I don’t think we do,” said Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas and a member of the Judiciary Committee.
The battle is over a remark she made suggesting that “a Latina judge like herself might have better judgment than a white male.” Now it’s your turn. You be the judge! Keep in mind something rather interesting. Those leading the charge against her are not elected officials but rather Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich.
Am I off target here? A blog about love or money? I’m putting my money on loving the fact that a woman has been named as nominee to the Supreme Court with sterling credentials. Am I prejudiced because she too is a Yalie? In the words of Sarah Palin, “You betcha.” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/us/politics/03judge.html?hp
Copyright 2009 Rita Watson