Judge Sonia Sotomayor Says Roe vs. Wade is "Settled Law"

And they are off! Senator Jeff Sessions came out swinging against Judge Sonia Sotomayor during his heated questioning of her positions. But his actions ring hollow to me because of his own questionable racist past. One thing is clear in this confirmation hearing, is the fact that Judge Sotomayor said Roe vs. Wade is settled law. She didn't dance around the issue, she was blatantly clear in her position. True to form, Senator Sessions proved once again, loud and clear, that he is a hypocrite. Considering his questionable racist past, he had the nerve to imply that Judge Sotomayor was less than honorable because of two positions she maintained in a stellar judicial career. He has essentially admitted that it is okay for a white man to harbor doubts, but problematic for anyone else. We have biases and prejudices, but it is A-okay for a white man like him to have them. He spent 30 minutes dancing around two issues, rather than looking at her entire career.

Twenty minutes into the second day of Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings and the hot button political issues have already been addressed.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, (D-Vt.), offered the Supreme Court nominee an open forum to explain the most controversial remarks in her resume: That a wise Latina judge would come to a different -- perhaps better -- judgments than their white male counterparts.

Sotomayor, obviously ready for the query, stated "up front, unequivocally and without a doubt" that she did "not believe that any ethnic, racial or gender has an advantage in sound judging."

"I do believe every person has an equal opportunity to be a good and wise judge," she added, "regardless of their background or life experience."

From there, she made a strategic political move by referencing similar remarks from retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who likewise noted how gender affected her approach from the bench.

"The words I used, I used them agreeing with the sentiment that Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was trying to convey... that both men and women were equally capable of being wise and fair judges," said Sotomayor. "That has to be what she meant, because judges disagree about legal outcomes all of the time. I shouldn't say all of the time, at least in close cases they do. Judges on the Supreme Court come to different conclusions. It can't mean that one of them is unwise despite the fact that people think that."

For the record, Senate Republicans weren't convinced. The committee's ranking member, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), pushed Sotomayor to explain her comments further, and the Senate Republican Communications Center sent out an alert to reporters that Sotomayor had made the wise Latina comments on multiple occasions, dating back to 1994. -- Sam Stein Source: Huffington Post

Of course, Fox News Chris Wallace and his panelists applauded Senator Sessions, but did you expect any less from them? All I have to say is that Senator Sessions is the same attorney who referred to a black attorney as a "boy." He is not credible in my opinion. Just a hypocrite and a "closet racist."

Michael Steele, RNC Chief, Says Abortion "is An Individual Choice," Will Unnerve GOP Establishment

For once I agree with something Republican National Committee leader Michael Steele has said. In an interview with GQ's Lisa DePaulo, he stated that abortion is an "individual choice. The problem for him is that isn't likely to go over very well with the GOP. Of course, Steele is on the verge of a no-confidence vote, so some may wave it off as further ignorance on his part of his new role.

The key passage:

L: How much of your pro-life stance, for you, is informed not just by your catholic faith, but by the fact that you were adopted?

M: Oh, a lot. Absolutely. I see the power of life in that. I mean, and the power of choice! The thing to keep in mind about it, uh, you know, I think as a country we get off on these misguided conversations that throw around terms that really misrepresent truth.

L: Explain that.

M: The choice issue cuts two ways. You can choose life or you can choose abortion. You know, my mother chose life. So, you know, I think the power of the argument of choice boils down to stating a case for one or the other.

L: Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?

M: Yeah. I mean, again, I think that's an individual choice.

L: You do?

M: Yeah. Absolutely.

L: Are you saying you don't want to overturn Roe v. Wade?

M: I think Roe v. Wade--as a legal matter, Roe v. Wade was a wrongly decided matter.

L: Okay, but if you overturn Roe v. Wade, how do women have the choice you just said they should have?

M: The states should make that choice: that's what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide.

Hmmm. I have one question, since he considers abortion an "individual choice," specifically who counts as an individual in his mind? Goodness, you thought President Bush could mince words or completely befuddle one with his sentences. Eureka, we have found a the heir apparent to Bushisms -- Michael Steele. I believe abortion is a personal issue that the government has no business trying to legislate. Though I share some views of the Republican Party on the matter, it is an individual choice and should be treated by all as such.

Michael Steele, RNC Chief, Says Abortion "is An Individual Choice," Will Unnerve GOP Establishment

For once I agree with something Republican National Committee leader Michael Steele has said. In an interview with GQ's Lisa DePaulo, he stated that abortion is an "individual choice. The problem for him is that isn't likely to go over very well with the GOP. Of course, Steele is on the verge of a no-confidence vote, so some may wave it off as further ignorance on his part of his new role.

The key passage:

L: How much of your pro-life stance, for you, is informed not just by your catholic faith, but by the fact that you were adopted?

M: Oh, a lot. Absolutely. I see the power of life in that. I mean, and the power of choice! The thing to keep in mind about it, uh, you know, I think as a country we get off on these misguided conversations that throw around terms that really misrepresent truth.

L: Explain that.

M: The choice issue cuts two ways. You can choose life or you can choose abortion. You know, my mother chose life. So, you know, I think the power of the argument of choice boils down to stating a case for one or the other.

L: Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?

M: Yeah. I mean, again, I think that's an individual choice.

L: You do?

M: Yeah. Absolutely.

L: Are you saying you don't want to overturn Roe v. Wade?

M: I think Roe v. Wade--as a legal matter, Roe v. Wade was a wrongly decided matter.

L: Okay, but if you overturn Roe v. Wade, how do women have the choice you just said they should have?

M: The states should make that choice: that's what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide.

Hmmm. I have one question, since he considers abortion an "individual choice," specifically who counts as an individual in his mind? Goodness, you thought President Bush could mince words or completely befuddle one with his sentences. Eureka, we have found a the heir apparent to Bushisms -- Michael Steele. I believe abortion is a personal issue that the government has no business trying to legislate. Though I share some views of the Republican Party on the matter, it is an individual choice and should be treated by all as such.