I wish Sotomayor's name was Jones or something like that.

[dkf]

Then I could hear a serious discussion of her judicial rulings and where she stands instead of hearing crowing about how the GOP can't block a hispanic female because it is a political loser.

It seems identity politica is the end all and be all nowadays.

[Cant trust em]

1. I don't.

I agree with your sentiment, but I love the diversity.

I'd prefer that we'd have better media, or a more curious citizenry.

[Cha]

13. There ya go!

How about both?:)

[dkf]

24. Stupid media can't walk and chew gum at the same time.

[BlooInBloo]

2. (facepalm)

[BzaDem]

35. Do you ever get tired of typing "(facepalm)"?

Even in this case (where I agree with you), it gets a little old after awhile.

[AlexanderProgressive]

3. Her judicial rulings have been discussed

It's just a matter of googling.

[dkf]

8. The judicial rulings I've seen discussed aren't for the layman.

I really have no opinion on her yet, so I'm a little frustrated here.

Being a minority myself, I don't place much on stereotypes so I need more from the media than she is a hispanic woman.

[jenmito]

12. Do you think if her name wasn't Sotomayor they wouldn't be talking about how she's Hispanic?

Or are you saying you wish she wasn't Hispanic?

[dkf]

23. Her name. Like Bill Richardson.

[jenmito]

26. So you DO think if her name wasn't Sotomayor they wouldn't be talking about how she's Hispanic?

[dkf]

28. Not as much.

I swear its the only thing I hear about her on TV and on the radio.

I just remember that Bill Richardson didn't get nearly so much emphasis on his race.

This is mostly a complaint about the media mind you. They are one track minded.

[jenmito]

36. It has nothing at all to do with her last name and everything to do with the

out-of-context soundbites and words. If "Sonia Richardson" had the same exact history as Sonia Sotomayor, there'd be NO difference in her treatment by the media and RWers.

[firedupdem]

4. I'm glad her name is what it is....

The racist/sexist pigs that wish to only discuss her ethnicity and gender are the real problem.

[David Zephyr]

5. On the other hand: A guy named 'Barack Hussein Obama' slew a white guy named 'John' in November.

Spanish surnames are very common in the Southwest. Here in California nearly every street and city have Spanish names. My family is mixed anglo/latino and I'm happy to see the ascent of Latinos in American politics from the near powerless position of their historic under-representation for eons now. This is a good thing.

Her name is a good one. Her views on a woman's right to control her own reproductive rights concern this pro-choice advocate.

[BlooInBloo]

6. To some people, having a not-a-true-American name is per se identity politics.

[Raine1967]

30. What is a *true American Name*?

I get what you are saying -- and I think this is a very important point--

It seems as tho, 'some people' think only real American names are actually of european dissent.

Shameful.

[Cha]

15. And, I use to live all over San Diego

County for 15 years back in the '70's & 80's so it's like Good Times.

This info is from a thread yesterday on what Gibbs said about Sotomayor and Pro Choice..

flpoljunkie (1000+ posts) Thu May-28-09 03:11 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. Politico: What Gibbs said on Sotomayor's views on abortion...

- "Gibbs was pressed repeatedly on Sotomayor’s views on abortion. His firm line: Obama and the judge had a “general discussion about constitutional interpretation” and Obama felt “very comfortable” that she shares his view of the document. Insisted Obama didn't ask point-blank about Roe, and had "no reason to believe" anyone else did."

http://www.politico.com/politico44/

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8437548#8437587

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

7. I'm hoping that we get as much of it out of our system now as humanly possible.

The more "firsts" we can get out of the way, and the more "normal" it becomes to have people from underrepresented groups in places of prominence, the less of a story it becomes in the future. So far as I can tell, we've got a few more biggies to get out of the way - the first female president, the first Hispanic president, and the first openly gay... anything, pretty much. Then, not only will we be in a far better world where everyone's point of view is considered, but we'll also be able to get back to fully discussing important things, such as credentials... or physical appearances. :facepalm:

[dkf]

9. We can't even have a gay American Idol.

Its disgusting.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

10. I'd rather not have an American Idol at all, but that's another talk.

Realistically speaking, it very well be that we may never have a gay POTUS. GLBTers are, at best, 10% of the population, and unlike ethnic minorities, those figures are somewhat unlikely to shift. I am very confident that we'll see acceptance and full-rights within my lifetime, but I'm not sure the numbers will ever really work.

Then again, people said the same thing about having a black president, and look where we are now. You never know when you're going to have a once-in-a-lifetime type of candidate.

[Sebastian Doyle]

19. What does "10% of the population" have to do with it?

Jews are about 5% of the population, yet there are 2 Jewish Supreme Court Justices right now. And that's probably just as unlikely to shift.

And as I mentioned yesterday, Catholics do not make up 67% of the US population, but they will (assuming Sotomayor is confirmed) make up 67% of the Supreme Court.

So clearly proportional representation has nothing at all to do with selection for the court, and I'm not saying it should. Hell, I think it's good that 2 of them are Jewish, since it's probably the only non-Christian belief that would ever pass Senate confirmation.

But I'd be willing to bet that there has already been a gay man or lesbian on the Supreme Court. There may be one there right now, and ironically enough, he might have been appointed by the Bush Crime Family (considering they appointed 7 of the current 9, those are easy odds)

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

20. My statement was with regards to a GLBT American becoming POTUS.

You're right though on all other counts - just wrong on interpreting what I wrote.

And I'd be shocked if we didn't already have a gay president, too. Openly gay is a much different ball of wax though, wouldn't you agree?

[11 Bravo]

11. This will probably not end well.

[Uzybone]

14. Diversity; its overrated

why cant all the SCOTUS picks be called Jones or Roberts and be men? That way we would only discuss policy.

[CTyankee]

22. Things would be so much simpler.

Once they start with this diversity thing, no telling where it will go. :sarcasm:

[omega minimo]

16. "identity politica"? You've been infected with the Bilingual spore!!!

:yoiks:

[Bucky]

17. This post reminds me of a film critic who attacked Benjamin Bratt for hiding his ethnicity.

Nevermind that none of us except for Mr T chooses our last name.

[omega minimo]

18. It reminds me of all the immigrants at Ellis Island who had their names changed by intake clerks.

[EquallyExhausted]

21. um no

so if we all had white sounding names, then we could all finally be evaluated on our merits? there are so many things wrong with that notion, i won't even begin to list them.
her name isn't the problem; the problem is with the people who can't look past their ignorant view of the world, and what it posits her ethnicity must "mean." if her name was jones, she'd still be a latina; and they'd still have a problem.

[Number23]

25. Ummm...what??

[BlooInBloo]

27. If I had a nickel everytime I wished all brown people had white names...

I'd have precisely $0.00 .

[depakid]

33. LOL

Oh come on, ya gotta love "Bobby" Jindal.

[Raine1967]

29. Yeah? I wish Obama's name was Smith or something like that

:sarcasm:

Seriously, I can't believe this discussion is happening here. It isn't that different from saying I wish her name was a little less ethnic sounding.

[dkf]

31. The problem is that to most of America her name is all she is.

So far, she's coming across like a female version of Alberto Gonzales. I'm sure there is so much more to her than that. They say she is brilliant, but that doesn't mean anything to me.

I'm sick of hearing the same things over and over...hispanic...woman...Princeton...Yale...and then nothing more. Argh.

[Raine1967]

32. Alberto Gonzales? Are you kidding me? OK wait -- America thinks what?

Alberto NEVER had a juried case in his life-- he was NEVER a judge!!!

I would suggest not to assume what most of America thinks.

I do not know of these people who say she is brilliant. What I know, based on my research is that she is QUALIFIED. Her name should have nothing to do with her qualifications for the SC.

Would you be more comfortable if her name was Jones? If yes ( and I am assuming it i, . based on your OP) Why? Does Jones sound more American? More White? More Neutral ?

Also, I would suggest not to assume what most of America thinks. This woman is so far from Alberto it isn't even funny.

Not all hispanics are the same. Stop falling for the RWBS.

[dkf]

34. Alberto Gonzales = First Hispanic Attorney General.

Came from humble background, etc. That was all we knew about him too.