Sotomayor nomination splits GOP [GOP "strategists" say opposition to Sotomayor racist]

The Los Angeles Times ^ | 2009-05-27

[rabscuttle385]

Conservative activists are outspoken in their opposition. But Republican senators who will actually vote on her nomination offer muted responses. Some think the party has a chance to reach Latino vote.

BY PETER WALLSTEN and RICHARD SIMON

Reporting from Washington -- Rush Limbaugh called her a "reverse racist." The conservative Judicial Confirmation Network said she was an activist with a "personal political agenda" and should be blocked from the Supreme Court.

. . . . .

The Republican senators who will actually vote on her were not following the activists' script.

Instead, GOP senators offered muted, sometimes admiring, responses, and seemed to be taking their cues from a quieter group of voices within the party cautioning that to oppose the country's first Latina Supreme Court nominee would amount to political suicide.

Moreover, some party strategists are telling GOP senators that to attack Sotomayor is to waste an opportunity for Republicans to appear welcoming and repair damage from recent policy debates in which conservative support for restricting immigration turned off many Latino voters.

"A lot of Republicans are worried that [fighting the Sotomayor nomination] could be the last straw when it comes to the party's ability to reach the Hispanic community," said Robert de Posada, a Latino GOP strategist who said he was advising Republican staffers on the Senate Judiciary Committee. "Republicans are in a very awkward position."

Lionel Sosa, a Texas-based Republican ad maker who designed Latino outreach for Presidents Reagan and George W. Bush, said that opposing Sotomayor "would be one more nail in the Republicans' image coffin in terms of Latino voters."

. . . . .

"As a Republican, I would take it that these people are anti-Latino. The worst thing the Republicans can do is oppose her."

[Cheerio]

Go ahead GOP, destroy yourself, just roll over. Are you really that afraid of the Political Correctness Mafia? America has been destroyed, we are just watching the corps being put into the coffin under Barry, the boy President.

The population voted for CHANGE and by God they are getting it. I read and post on my local paper's forum most every day and the vitriol towards the GOP is beyond amazing. Here is a sample from today ( a letter to the editor) ---

Of course - I'll add my two cents worth. This last election - it's not that the democrats had a better plan - it's that they were different and voted in as such. When you're gasping for fresh air you'll tend to follow where its coming from - regardless of if it leads you to a wall. Obama is not the messiah - but he could appeal to a younger more connected audience - thus the rock star image that helped him get elected. People felt a connection to him, that he understood our realities, not McCain - his wife worth millions, he's from an older generation, etc. Meanwhile - the face of the GOP is mostly older white men that have no clue about today's realities, For example - the majority of us all use computers, google, etc - and here is McCain that has no idea on how to turn one on yet Obama has a blackberry - it's a connection with real world that the majority have seen. I do believe the GOP could gain power back and that would actually be a good thing, especially on fiscal policy. However, the GOP needs to remake it's image and appeal to a younger demographic and rethink it's stance on social issues. For example - we'll use gay people - while you may or may not be in favor of gay marriage - the fact is most of us and especially younger generations - being gay is more main stream. So - when the GOP wants to appeal to that block of voters - they need to realize that their base has friends and acquaintances that are gay - so pandering how its a choice and we should return to 1950's america will not bode well for their cause. The same is true with woman's rights, etc. With all these handouts and incentives - you're not helping us - you're medicating us into submission. It's hunger, drive, and passion that made this country great and if we hope to compete and excel in the 21st centruy - we need to come up with new ideas and have a drive to see these ideas to fruition - not sitting around waiting for our next welfare check. Just my two cents worth.

Here is another one-----

We still do wish death on Bush and Cheney, but not before they have suffered greatly. And I'm proud to be a "left wing nut job" and furthermore I'm estatic that we finally got the majority of the "right wing knobjobs" out of the Whitehouse and Congress. Get over it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!!

More - - -

I represent nobody but myself, thanks anyway. Enjoy the next 8 years of Socialsim that is coming. Like I blogged the other day you fine Republicans can make your way to Mexico, reverse immigration. I would pay good money to watch what happens to you when you get there!

Still more - -

"This may come as a shock to many of you but MOST Americans don't hate their country and sure don't want to see freedom, liberty and security taxed away. They don't want another "Ground Zero" with thousands of dead Americans the result and they don't want their kids to live a lesser lifestyle than themselves. I believe these CONSERVATIVE Democrats see, hear and understand that." If you don't want to see another ground zero don't let your religous right elect another Republican moron for President.... problem solved.

I just wish they would hurry up and start CW II.

[RebelTXRose]

what panty-waists they are! If they can’t say that they object to Montamayor because she has no idea what the Constitution is all about (AND that pledge she would take), then they need to remember WHY they call themselves GOP!

I just pray that some democrats can break with the party line and vote against her as FAR too radical!

[taillightchaser]

And so the liberal LA Times takes the next step down the road of destroying our country.
The MSM is the reason why we have this commie president and they are totally to blame.
They refused to tell the sheeple who this guy was before he was elected.

[saganite]

“Some think the party has a chance to reach Latino vote.”

Republicans have less than zero chance of reaching the Latino vote. None. Zip. Zero. Nada. But they have an opportunity to lose whatever conservative vote that still holds out hope they may show some courage. I think they lose all the way around. No Hispanics, fewer conservatives.

[Zhang Fei]

These aren’t GOP strategists - they’re Hispanic racialists who’ve latched on to the GOP label so they can feed off us.

[c-b 1]

Time for conservatives to leave the GOP. No sense staying with a dead weight that won’t even fight for the United States and led us to the point of no return and still won’t stand up to the forces of evil. To hell with all of them.

Just Curious, where are you going? To the Libertarian Party who hasn't won a national election since their founding over 35 years ago? To the Constitution Party who isn't yet on the ballot in all 50 states, 15 years after it's foundation? Best of luck.

I think I'll stay where I'm at. I'm off to my County Republican Central Committee meeting, to stir the moderates up again.

[Miss Didi]

Sen. Hatch was just blasting her to Hannity listing many examples of her statements...he said he won’t vote for her if she proves to be an activist.

[windsorknot]

We are now governed by a one-party political system with little or no meaningful opposition.

[YellowRoseofTx]

The GOP has "strategists"? Who knew?

With these strategists, no wonder we can't make headway

[mort56]

Can anyone imagine a judge nominated by a Republican who states gender and race makes he/she more qualified than those of other races getting a pass? The fix is in. The media in this country has now proven itself to be a sole owned subsidiary of the Democrat Party. god pray for this country as we are circling the drain.

[dandiegirl]

The dems didn’t like Miguel Estrada one bit. The mexicans voted for them anyway. Why do we have such a scared, wimpy Republican party?

[dandiegirl]

It will be time to call and pressure the Senators not to vote for her. Pound the wimps into the ground.

[AuntB]

“I’ll tell you what the problem is, we have far too many Democrats claiming they are Republicans.”

Exatamundo!!

[PLKIng]

You know, thankfully, I can not even think as these people do. I think it would be a depressing life to constantly bend any so-called principle or belief for identity politics or any perceived political gains. It is a sickness with them, and I refuse to be come down with it. Can anyone in the GOP stand for any firm conservative principle any more? Obviously a few can but so few. We need new blood and need it now. It says a a lot about how little these people think of Hispanics that they assume that all Hispanics will automatically support her in some mind-numbed, robotic way.

[4Speed]

Republicans are NOT Racist.

Two Reasons why....

Clarence Thomas
Alberto Gonzales

There is more but we will start here.
Go forth and Kick Reverse Racist butt.

[meyer]

Seriously, wtf is wrong with the GOP?!

They've been bought. Traded their soul for a few pieces of gold. Or silver. Or just plain old fiat money.

Regardless, the party is in the process of destroying itself.

[Altura Ct.]

Seriously, wtf is wrong with the GOP?!

GuttingOurProgeny

[bushfamfan]

And just where do you think the GOP is going in its current dysfunction where there is more fighting each other than 0bama and the radicals that control our government?? It’s a futile effort and SOMEONE has to oppose what’s going on, but if that sad slate of characters known as ‘Republicans’ is supposed to be in opposition I’d like to know how you think it’s any better keeping it that way? You are only empowering the stupid party that does nothing to voice opposition and enables the death of our country to these fascists. They are scared of their own shadows!

[calcowgirl]

How come I never heard any cries of racism about Miguel Estrada?

[raisetheroof]

Some think the party has a chance to reach Latino vote.

By supporting Sotomayor in order to pander to Latinos, there is a bigger chance of losing support from everyone else. And by the same token, in opposing her, the GOP stands to gain more support from others.