She probably wishes she had said "different" instead of "better", but I have no problem with either word. It seems reasonable to assume that a latina judge will have better insight into some human situations, particularly the ones that she was discussing in that speech, and that a white male will have better insight into other human situations. To call her comment racist is most unfortunate. It places way too much emphasis on one poorly chosen word and encourages people to disrespect this soon-to-be justice of the Supreme Court.

I see this as nothing more than right-wing political correctness.

She's supposed to think she's better. Otherwise she shouldn't have the job.

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1984 300TD

I would say after eight years of watching GOP white boys wage two unfinished and badly managed wars, as they drove the economy into a ditch while they destroyed our world wide reputation for fairness and justice, she might have a point.

Yes, it is so horrible when we have an Emperor and a Vice Emperor, isn't it? Maybe we should have a congressional/presidential system. One where they get to submit bills to the Prez for signature into law. That might be much better.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
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11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Those "GOP white boys " were elected, and subject to being unelected. They were subsequently unelected, and have no say in governmental decisions, or policy.
How different from a lifetime appointment.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

When and where did she say this ?

Lord have mercy, what a tempest in a teapot. This is the modern right, America. So convinced that they are correct in all matters, they grab any sort of out of context, deliberately misunderstood snippet and try to pummel the dreaded liberal with it.

She was saying that an experienced, older and wiser judge should be able to come to better conclusions than say, just any white male. This is not exactly what she said but the context makes it clear that this is what she meant.

Referring to former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's saying that "a wise old man and wise old woman will reach the same conclusion in deciding cases," Sotomayor said, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

Diversity helps. Duhh. The recent case before the SCOTUS about the young girl strip searched on suspicion of holding extra strength Ibuprofin (shudder) is a good example of why the old boys club exclusively of aging white males so beloved by the right is not the best way to go. The boneheaded reactions by some of the men as opposed to female justice Ginsberg were sorta telling.

Get used to it folks. Espanish speaking Americans are on the increase, big time. Myself, I'm learning Spanish as fast as I can.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

It's not just the right that do this. I had NPR on the radio on the way home yesterday. Their report on this provided no more context than Hannity did on his show last night. NPR had a commentator who said that the statement didn't show that she is a racist, but they provided no context to explain why that was the case.

Her statement is true and completely reasonable, except to a listener who is looking for ways to attack her.

I'm certainly grateful for what NPR brings to the table but I agree that they can often put out a sort of saccharine sweet neutrality that ends up being just not too enlightening.

And while I appreciate Olbermann and Maddow for the good research and generally informed opinions they offer up, too often they grab some unpersuasive bit of dirt on oppenents and run it into the ground.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Oh, I don't know. I am an old white male, and I would have been quite disturbed about a strip search for ibuprofin.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

The story is just incredible. People were too worried about covering their arses to use common sense. Good Lord, call the parents before you strip search a 13 year old. And on the basis of an allegation by a classmate with a less than stellar track record for veracity. The men of SCOTUS were not prominent in that case, IMO:

http://articles.latimes.com/2009/apr/22/nation/na-scotus-stripsearch22

http://cbs2.com/national/teen.strip.search.2.989131.html

Interpretation of the law is not something that can be done with the latest generation Big Blue computer, adapted from the chess playing program. Law is law but nuances and unexpected situations are many.

Obama said that he voted against Roberts because his opinons struck him as invariably favoring the powerful over the weak. This is one downside of our system. The richest players have much control over the lawmaking process, and as a result, oddly enough, strict enforcement of those laws can often tend to favor money and power over all else for little rhyme or reason.

The judge is there in part to prevent the law from becoming an ass, which can easily happen. Empathy is a word with broad meaning -- conservative critics leap to the assumption that it means favoring the poor in all matters. But then, foes of Obama have been leaping willy-nilly regarding Sotomayor.

Same crowd were going on back when about all the racists who opposed A. Gonzales for AG.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I guess you can't have a proper Banana Republic without the Spanish.

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1983 300D

Imagine the poor wonk that had to go through all those speeches to find one sentence.

Seriously, this is the new republican tactic.

Racism, and new racism.

I wondered why this and another thread turned to this topic.

Now I know, its the latest talking point released by the right wing megaphones.

And its based on an out of context sentence that was made in a speech 8 years ago.

Well this just might be the death nell of the right wing.

Screaming racist is not gonna get you anywhere anymore.

In fact all of the grunting and pissing is not flying anymore.
(the gays are gonna destroy marriage, the forigners are going to hurt you, hes a baby killer)

All fear mongering bull.

Trying to trigger some sort of selfricheous rage.

This is not 5th grade recess.

And this little jewel is gonna backfire.

The great white north amerikan male is no longer the majority.

Most people are sick to death of this kind of stupidity.

Do you remember the democrat tactics used against previous supreme court nominees? Are they shining examples of how the left's tactics are superior?
You guys are as dirty as you claim the repos are.

Wake up----our rights are under attack. Our country is bankrupt.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags