Sotomayor nomination- genuine or political?

[myp]

President Obama recently nominated his choice- hispanic judge Sonia Sotomayor- for the opening Supreme Court seat. There is a lot of debate currently about whether or not she is a good choice because some of her past rulings are iffy and some see her as openly "reverse racist."

Do you think that Obama nominated her genuinely based on the fact that she would do a good job or do you think it was more of a political move? He knew that the GOP wouldn't like her, but he also knows that if they say things against her, they may alienate the hispanic vote- which they desperetely need. So do you think Obama was playing the politics game, being genuine, or a combo of both? And what do you personally think about the nomination?

 

[deanhills]

President Obama recently nominated his choice- hispanic judge Sonia Sotomayor- for the opening Supreme Court seat. There is a lot of debate currently about whether or not she is a good choice because some of her past rulings are iffy and some see her as openly "reverse racist."

Do you think that Obama nominated her genuinely based on the fact that she would do a good job or do you think it was more of a political move? He knew that the GOP wouldn't like her, but he also knows that if they say things against her, they may alienate the hispanic vote- which they desperetely need. So do you think Obama was playing the politics game, being genuine, or a combo of both? And what do you personally think about the nomination?

For me her appointment is completely political. Fits in with the theme of Obama being appointed as the first black President to have candidates that are from different groupings, i.e. hispanic. She is a good choice in that category, apparently comes with good credentials, but I am certain there are many better qualified appointments among Americans than her. Perhaps her elevation to higher positions as she was climbing the career ladder has always come from the position of her being an able hispanic, rather than an able American. And yes, that does smack of reverse discrimination.

 

[DodgeFB]

Political without a doubt! But that is what this so called "president" is all about.

 

[omej]

I think he chose a balance. He picked his nominee after his first and only interview with her and as you mentioned, likely also did it because he figured it would be a relatively easy nomination.

At the same time she was a liberal judge who apparently had the "empathy" he wanted but ill save that for another thread.

 

[The Parakeet]

Definitely political. Not bad...just political. The cynic in me has to point out the fact that he found a Hispanic woman. Killed two birds with one stone on that one.

That said...she seems decent. A basic liberal. I personally feel that she's not going to be anything special on the bench, but her decisions seem to be standard free speech support (not perfect though). Could have been worse.

 

[McSwift]

It is just another political move by the most political president ever. And then he will call for bipartisanship and wonder why the GOP is wary. This man plays political games like I have never seen before and he his blind followers don't understand or see it, which only helps his cause. Really sad time for this country...

 

[deanhills]

It is just another political move by the most political president ever. And then he will call for bipartisanship and wonder why the GOP is wary. This man plays political games like I have never seen before and he his blind followers don't understand or see it, which only helps his cause. Really sad time for this country...

Agreed. I read that she is considered to be a really "nice person" greeting the doorman and everyone etc etc and from what I've seen the Obamas are similarly "nice" "being nice", so perhaps she fits the "nice" mould as well Personally I'm more into "effective" than "nice" and have found many a time "nice" coming at the expense of effective.

 

[DodgeFB]

Agreed. I read that she is considered to be a really "nice person" greeting the doorman and everyone etc etc and from what I've seen the Obamas are similarly "nice" "being nice", so perhaps she fits the "nice" mould as well Personally I'm more into "effective" than "nice" and have found many a time "nice" coming at the expense of effective.

I used to think Jimmy Carter was just too nice to be president. But as it seems to me looking back on it, he is not so nice. And a bad president to boot.

 

[deanhills]

I used to think Jimmy Carter was just too nice to be president. But as it seems to me looking back on it, he is not so nice. And a bad president to boot.

Agreed. That was not a good choice of a President. Off topic, wonder how Nixon would have turned out if he had not made the big mistake he got impeached for. Pity that happened as I thought he was a good choice.

 

[Telstar]