THE SOTOMAYOR NOMINATION

When President Obama made history (once again) by choosing the first hispanic as his pick for the U.S. Supreme Court, many Republican conservatives collectively cried “DRATS….FOILED AGAIN!”  After weeks of fixing for a fight, overplaying their hand, and preparing to oppose WHOEVER the President selected, Mr. Obama coolly came along, yanked the rug right out from under them, and prevented the boxing blood-bath the GOP craved before it could even begin!

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Sonia Sotomayor is an excellent choice to be nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court simply because her record and resume speaks for itself.  But Ms. Sotomayor is also a very shrewdly calculated and highly intelligent political choice for the President and his advisers.  As the electoral map continues to evolve, hispanics are the fastest growing voting block in America and their vote is said to be up for grabs between the two major political parties.   Just as Mr. Obama made history by becoming the first African-American President in U.S. history, Judge Sotomayor also stands to make history by becoming the first Hispanic-American Supreme Court Justice in U.S. history.  Hispanics from coast to coast were said to be in utter jubilation at the news due to the historic relevance of her nomination.  Here was a Puerto Rican girl from humble beginnings who grew up in a housing project in the South Bronx,  but was able to graduate with honors from Princeton University and Yale Law School, then go on to become one of the highest ranking judges in the nation.  She’s hispanic, she’s a woman, and she’s highly qualified.  No one can question that.  So without the votes or the principle, how then can Republicans fight her nomination?  They can’t!

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Republicans must walk a political tight-rope here.  If they are seen attempting any shenanigans, they not only run the risk of being labeled obstructionists, but they also run the even greater risk of totally and permanently alienating the growing hispanic vote.  For a party that’s bleeding supporters and dying a slow death, the GOP simply cannot afford a fight with Hispanic-American voters, particularly when a popular President has made such a popular nomination, potentially locking up hispanic support for years to come.  And Republicans surely can’t be recorded in history as blocking the very first hispanic to the Supreme Court, especially when the nominee is so incredibly qualified.  Their hands are virtually tied.  Sure, they’re already pulling at straws trying to label her as an “activist” or a “racist.”  But the writing is already on the wall.  Even Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) admitted on C-SPAN Wednesday morning that Judge Sotomayor will be confirmed.

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So, what’s a conservative GOP’er to do?  They’ve been looking for any opportunity to fight the extremely popular President, land a punch, and finally win a battle.  But once again Mr. Obama has outsmarted the opposition.  The fight they were looking for will now likely be a dud, and Sonia Sotomayor will likely sail through her nomination proceedings all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.  “DRATS….FOILED AGAIN!”