by James Oliphant
The opening statement prepared by Judge Sotomayor, with input, no doubt, from the White House attempted to achieve several things in a bid to solidfy support and defuse expected GOP attacks. Here's a breakdown
1) That she has a compelling life story. "The progression of my life has been uniquely American."
2) That she has a wide variety of professional experience. "I have seen our judicial system from a number of different perspectives--as a big city prosecutor, a corporate litigator, a trial judge and an appellate judge."
3) That she can be tough on crime while being empathetic. "I felt the suffering of victims' families torn apart by a loved one's needless death. And I leanred the tough job law enforcement has protecting the public safety."
4) That she was first appointed to the federal district court by a Republican--George H.W. Bush.
5) That she likes baseball (and by implication, hot dogs, apple pie) -- she helped settle the baseball strike on 1994-95.
6) That she cares about the "little guy"--again a variation on "empathy:" "I have witnessed the human consequences of my decisions..."
7) . . . but that empathy doesn't mean she puts her thumb on the scale: "Those decisions have not been made to serve the interests of any one litigant, but to serve the larger interest of impartial justice."
8) Look at her record, not her speeches: "my record in two courts refelects my rigorous commitment to interpreting the Constitution."
9) That she's even handed, even dogmatic, in the way she writes opinions and this helps her be impartial."That is how I seek to strengthen both the rule of law and faithj and the impartiality of our justice system."
10) That this is a history-making appointment. (Are you listening, Republicans?) "Since President Obama announced my nomination in May, I have received letters from people all over this country, Many tell a unique story of hope in spite of struggles."
The Judiciary Committee just recessed until tomorrow. Why not keep going? Consider it a carefully planned product roll-out. Sotomayor's remarks end the day and will lead any news story about the hearings. A tough question-and-answer sequence might have resulted in a different result.
That, of course, will all come tomorrow. The fur starts flying at 10 a.m. ET.
Comments
Deconstructing the Swamp coverage of this event: The sectioned off spread of this live blogging is worse than the coverage of Anna Nicole's Funeral. Did anything else happen today? I don't know, maybe the secret (but not operating so there) prisons..... Do we know how to update one Sotomayor thread instead of creating a bunch of lil Sotomayor ones...? CANT WAIT FOR TOMORROW'S ALL SOTOMAYOR ALL THE TIME TEDIOUS DECONSTRUCTION!!!!
Posted by: there goes Africa... | July 13, 2009 6:20 PM
Looks as if the White House Propaganda Machine has made her or picked the Perfect Justice for the Obama Program
Posted by: Inky | July 13, 2009 7:33 PM
Thanks for the quickie summary, but it's neither analysis nor deconstruction.
Posted by: Matthew | July 13, 2009 9:31 PM
What a great choice by President Obama. Judge Sotomayor will bring to the Supreme Court a very different perspective. One, in which, I welcome and one that has been missing, for far too long. The Latino-American experience is a long and honorable one. One that should be celebrated and encouraged to succeed, in all avenues of American life, including high office, elected or otherwise. She will make a great Supreme Court justice. Thanks, again, President Obama for the change you promised, during your campaign. Changing the make-up of the Supreme Court is just the beginning, America. Before we know it, we will have a changed America, a better America, a fairer America !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | July 15, 2009 9:27 AM
http://blogs.trb.com/news/opinion/chanlowe/blog/2009/07/sotomayor_sotomayor_hearings_u.html
Posted by: Chan Lowe | July 15, 2009 1:37 PM
I wonder why everyone is making such a big deal of this, as well. There are much more pressing issues, and I've heard nothing but Sotomayor bashing all week!
Posted by: Ares Vista | July 16, 2009 10:31 AM
The fact that she would say things leaving her wide open to attack from Republicans worries me a little. They had to find some weakness and exploit it, and she really stuck her foot in her mouth with her choice of words.
Posted by: download music | July 16, 2009 10:34 AM
I think the Republicans need to check themselves! They continue to fear the "Browning of America" and what better way to keep us down and out of the political system than to continue harping on aspects of her life that are completely irrelevant to her amazing competencies as a judge. This country is VERY lucky to have her and the Republicans continue to be fools in their attempts - They should just say thank you to her and move aside!
Posted by: Nina Roberts | July 18, 2009 12:35 PM
For whom the bell tolls? It tolls for thee, oh white American male. The dirty deeds of the Democratic Party, quotas, affirmative action, and every other racist scheme, continues.
Posted by: Bobby | August 6, 2009 7:30 PM
If anyone's interested in a quick refresher of her life history and major achievements, go to http://timelines.com/topics/sonia-sotomayor. Actually, it's a project I've been contributing to, but anyone is free to add, fill in some blanks, and let your point of view be known. You can add video, images, text, pretty much anything you want.
Posted by: Robert | August 10, 2009 12:02 AM