Activist Criticism of Sotomayor Distinctly Unironic, Part III

The politics of National Appoint a Hispanic to the Supreme Court Week have been…well interesting if not a tad static.

This is a mixed, lose, win week, in my book.

First up, Congressional Republicans. This week has been and continues to be an excellent opportunity to untether the elected party from Rush and Formers (Gingrich, Tancredo, Rove, etc…). The silence from House Republicans on the issue and cautious statements of concern and denouncement by Senate Republicans should be a bonus for the party. It gives them greater freedom of range in redefining the party nationally and avoiding contributing more damage to the party’s image.

Why it’s almost lose?  Their sound byte for the week is weak. “We’re concerned about her views on race, but we’re open minded.” They’re trying too hard to focus on her and not stepping away from the cries of “bigot and racist” from the Republican peanut gallery, squandering an opportunity to escape the imaging trap the Democrats are laying for them.

They only have two wins from the Sotomayor pick, pushing back her confirmation until after the August recess and not screwing up. They’re only marginally handling the latter well. Judging from the Senate Democrats up today, even though Leahy isn’t committed to the President’s timetable, he’s mightly uncomfortable with letting her sit quiet and pretty under fire. I doubt Republicans can push this confirmation through the recess and I also don’t think they realize that they don’t want this pushed back till then either.

So for this week, the win would be divorcing Rush, the lose would be embracing him. They haven’t monumentally screwed this up yet, which should be a win but it’s not, because they haven’t really gained.

Congressional Democrats get a lose. Their messaging on this is looking scattered. Some Senators are embracing the timetable, some look gracious, others blithely opportunistic. It’s a problem when everytime someone opens their mouth about Judge Sotomayor, it starts with a dramatic retelling of her hard knock life. Yes, it’s a compelling story of the American Dream, but – and maybe this is just me – it’s starting become really irritating. Her accomplishments are often given the standard, “accomplished Jurist, smart cookie” treatment.

I don’t think it’s doing Democrats any favors for a bunch of wealthy, white, people to go “oooh and ahhh” over her compellingly tragic life story without incorporating a specific example of particularly good work she’s done.  That isn’t to say that all she has is her personal narrative but as a minority, I think it sells her short, I also find it grating to hear her childhood being hoisted as though it were some collective triumph. It’s her story, let her tell it.

Anyway, it doesn’t seem like the Senate Democrats are getting anything out of this deal, praise has been heaped on the nominee, the White House is getting props for choosing her. I don’t think their messaging is horrible, but I think it’s uncoordinated and lackluster. I also think their strategy of painting Rush & Co as leaders of the Republican party (an assertion made by Sen. Leahy twice on MTP) is also contributing to the great national debate on whether Sotomayor is a racist or not.

So while most of the fault of subjecting this woman to hours of unflattering coverage and discussion is primarily the fault of media, I think part of the blame lies with Democrats. They want to debate him. They want him to be the Republican standard bearer in the eyes of the media/country and that encouragement isn’t doing the country any favors.

Congressional Dems should probably get a mixed this week but I’m failing them because they’re right on track for being the millennial GOP version 2.

Finally, the White House. They made a fantastic pick. The response of the rabid Right couldn’t be better. They’re probably on track for an early mid-summer confirmation and a comfortable margin of votes – barring any unforeseen foul ups. They’ve been ahead of the media on GM and the economy. It’s been a good week.

The one complaint I have is on the almost 180 change in position the President’s taken on senate judicial confirmation hearings. Both This Week and Meet The Press showed clips of then Senator Obama voting to filibuster/against President Bush’s nominees primarily on ideological grounds. Apparently, his current position of greater deference to the executive on this issue is closer to his original position but he was persuaded by his Senate staff to vote against Roberts and Alito for political reasons.

This isn’t shocking but it’s a thing.

~ by Kyle on May 31, 2009.