EDHS Contemporary World Affairs

The Republican Party risks further alienation from Hispanics by challenging the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, who would become the first Hispanic, and third woman, on the Supreme Court.

The barbed comments about Sotomayor began almost as soon as the announcement was made at the White House on Tuesday.

Conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh called Sotomayor a "reverse racist" on his show. Limbaugh, who is known for stirring up controversy, said he hopes Obama's nominee fails.

"Do I want her to fail? Yeah. Do I want her to fail to get on the court? Yes. She'd be a disaster on the court," he said. "Do I still want to Obama to fail as president? Yeah. ... He's going to fail anyway, but the sooner the better here so that as little damage can be done to the country."

Limbaugh's attacks aside, many influential Hispanic leaders were optimistic and warned the GOP against rushing to conclusions before she pleads her case before the Senate, which must confirm her.

"I do think Republicans have to be very careful and not oppose this nomination just for the sake of it," said Brent Wilkes, executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens. "Because when you think about that the length of time the Latino community has waited for this nomination, it's been a long time."

Ruben Navarrette, a syndicated columnist and CNN contributor, said Latinos are simply "running out of patience."
"For 20 years I've been hearing the drumbeat from Latinos they been waiting for a Latino on the Supreme Court. ... They're ready and they're due -- not because of what happened in the last election but because what's been going in the past 50 years and what will happen in the next 50," he said, referring to the projected rise in the Latino population.

Republican strategist Leslie Sanchez, who is also a CNN contributor, said senators shouldn't feel obligated to vote for Sotomayor because of the potential for Hispanic outreach, but rather on her qualifications.

I think many in the Hispanic community are excited about this nomination. There's no doubt about that. As a Latina and as someone who was raised by a single mom I get that," she said. "I think, with all due respect to this confirmation and this process, the fairer we are, the better it is for all people."

Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez, a Mexican- American agrees.

"I don't think any gender group or ethnic group is entitled to representation on our courts," he said.

Alex Castellanos, a GOP strategist and CNN contributor, said Obama may be taking the country back to the era of identity politics.

"He didn't play that card in the campaign, he fought against that. And he said we're now at a new place," he said. "And now the question is ... is he taking us back to identity politics saying that someone is a better judge because of their race or their gender or their ethnicity?

My question is the same as this, above: Do you think that Obama's contradicting his former stance by nominating a Hispanic woman?