Well, that didn’t take long. President Obama nominated federal judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court this morning and you’d have thought he’d named Osama bin Laden, judging from the frenzied reaction by some on the conservative side. Rush Limbaugh, the Republicans’ titular party head, led the charge, saying Obama was practicing “reverse racism.”
Reverse racism, in Limbaugh terms, I suppose, would be the practice of selecting someone on the basis of race who isn’t white. Because, if you selected a white person, that wouldn’t be racism, ever? Right? I’m so confused. On the other hand, in Limbaugh-land, the reverse of racism would be selecting a person solely on merit, who is white? Or selecting a person of color who he agreed with — like Clarence Thomas? Was that reverse racism, or can this RR only be perpetuated by someone who is not white? This is so stupid. Either Sotomayor is qualified or she isn’t. Bringing in race is a straw man that can only backfire.
The bottom line is, Obama’s choice will be confirmed eventually, unless there are REAL issues with Sotomayor beyond her race. The Republicans fight this losing battle at their own peril. Alienating the growing Hispanic vote without offering real, fact-based reasons (beyond alleged reverse racism), will only serve to further shrink the GOP’s already shrinking base. Hailey Barbour in 2012, anyone?
