"Wise Latina" May Still Be A Problem For Sotomayor

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Sonia Sotomayor

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

While the White House has insisted President Obama's Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor simply chose her words poorly when she said in a 2001 speech that a "wise Latina woman" would make "better" judicial decisions than a white male, records of her past show that her language on the subject has been consistent throughout the years.

The White House on Thursday turned in boxes of Sotomayor's speeches and other materials, along with a 172-page questionnaire she filled out, to the Senate. The documentation of the judge's remarks may prolong the debate over her take on "identity politics." Sotomayor made a number of similar statements to her now well-known comment from a 2001 commencement speech between 1994 and 2003, Congressional Quarterly reports.

Some senators have said this week they are still questioning Sotomayor's judicial approach to race, even as some of her strongest detractors have backed down from their harshest criticisms of her.

After meeting with Sotomayor on Thursday, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said he hopes to hold respectful confirmation hearings for her, though he could not rule out a filibuster of her nomination, according to the Dallas Morning News.

"My own view is that I hope that will not be necessary, but we won't know that until we get farther into the process," he said.

Cornyn told the Dallas Morning News he was still concerned with her "wise Latina" comments, as well as her 2008 ruling against a group of white firefighters from New Haven, Conn. who were denied a promotion.

"That begins to concern me and that raises legitimate concerns about identity politics and whether justice is truly colorblind, or whether people really do believe that judges – based on their sex or ethnicity or their race – can render better decisions than others," Cornyn said. "There will be more questions about that."

Concerns about Sotomayor's comments are coming from the left side of the aisle as well. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday said he "dared" any of his fellow Democrats to vote against Sotomayor's nomination, Roll Call reported; moderate Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) recently said her comments are "troubling."

"What I want to do is have her explain to me what she meant by that and give her an opportunity to satisfy me that she doesn't intend to take an agenda to the bench," Nelson said.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by Quiana50 June 12, 2009 10:40 PM EDT: Sotomayor never flat out and said she was better or wiser than white men! Out of fear and hate, the twisted minds of her critics misinterpreted and misconstrued her statement. Some probably lived relatively normal lives and didn't have to struggle and sacrifice and therefore don't fully understand and appreciate different people or feel their pain and suffering. Because of their lack of empathy, they should only be looking at her education and experience on the bench and not be ignorantly stereotyping her gender and race. But I must say, her being a double minority should add a fresh perspective and more insightfulness (wisdom) to the U.S. Supreme Court. It's only natural that our challenging experiences affect our lives and decisions and shape our uniqueness. Even though I find her somewhat conservative, I will be happy to finally see a brown face on this high court! President Obama did promise us diversity (and fairness), didn't he?; Reply to this comment


by number1GI June 8, 2009 5:29 PM EDT: I dont like anybody very much; Reply to this comment


by jedi0849 June 7, 2009 4:38 AM EDT: God I love Reverse Racism. Thats how we ended up electing Obama's teleprompter. Now were stuck with it for the next four years.; Reply to this comment


by erb0087 June 6, 2009 9:44 PM EDT: If Latinos / Latinas are so wise, how come all the countries they are in charge of are such sheeyitholes?
Posted by johnb8888 at 4:08 PM : Jun 6, 2009
============================

Not all the countries.

Spain is doing fairly well.; Reply to this comment


by ralpherus June 6, 2009 7:14 PM EDT: With all the fuss about needing to appoint latinos or blacks, or women- of any race but white- to the bench- I have to ask- do you all think that a latina will pass judgments on cases thus: You are innocent! You are not white! GO free Amigo! Or: you, being white, cannot prove a damned thing to this court that would justify being compensated for the alleged crime against you...???? Really- if that is your mindset, you need to sober up! That, even if tried, would not last long.; Reply to this comment


by funslideds June 6, 2009 7:06 PM EDT: They've stricken the phrase "wise Latina woman."

Grammatical shame on Sonia Sotomayor for employing such a redundancy.

"Latina" is the female counterpart of "Latino."
Posted by erb0087 at 2:05 PM : Jun 6, 2009

-----------------------------------

If this comment, whatever the exact words were, is the worst thing about her, then she doesn't seem too bad to me.; Reply to this comment


by ramos1129 June 6, 2009 7:05 PM EDT: OK.....so she made the remark. Never mind that the remark is mischaracterized when a rational person reads the entire speech. If this is the worse, she has done, then she is a soo in for confirmation.

Now for a shocker......I am very very pleasantly surprised as to the position of the GOP Senators. Each one of them has committed to a fair hearing for Judge Sotomayer. None of them have been listening to the wishes of Rush/Hannity/Nwet/ other right wring nut cases.

Bravo.....; Reply to this comment


by erb0087 June 6, 2009 5:09 PM EDT: "Wise Latina woman"...

That's like saying, "I hope the male man brings my package today."; Reply to this comment


by erb0087 June 6, 2009 5:05 PM EDT: "Wise Latina" May Still Be A Problem For Sotomayor
================================

They've stricken the phrase "wise Latina woman."

Grammatical shame on Sonia Sotomayor for employing such a redundancy.

"Latina" is the female counterpart of "Latino."; Reply to this comment


by funslideds June 6, 2009 4:56 PM EDT: It's better that if she was an "UN-wise Latina"!
Posted by funslideds at 1:14 PM : Jun 6, 2009

Maybe she isn't so wise?
Posted by alanrobisch at 1:32 PM : Jun 6, 2009

My point, yes, point, is that the whole "Wise-Latina" REmark is like, who cares?? It's kinda funny, I think.; Reply to this comment