Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Is Opposing Sotomayor Anti-Hispanic?   [Mark Krikorian]

I look forward to Richard Nadler’s upcoming piece arguing that if Republican Senators don’t vote for Judge Sotomayor’s confirmation, they’ll lose Colorado and New Mexico in 2012. (Or, as Ben Smith at Politico puts it, “Fierce opposition from the right could push Florida and the West out of reach.”) Which goes to a core question regarding political outreach to new groups: How much do you shape your principles for political advantage? Jack Kemp opposed tough immigration enforcement because he feared it would complicate his efforts at outreach, just as he was against efforts at limiting affirmative action because blacks would object. But if the Republican establishment doesn’t support American sovereignty and equality before the law (and if it doesn’t oppose Sotomayor vigorously), then what’s the point to the Republican party?

I predicted three weeks ago that Sotomayor was guaranteed to get the nod — as a consolation prize for Hispanic pressure groups, since there isn’t going to be an amnesty. As First Read put it, “Latino groups have been grumbling somewhat about their representation (or lack thereof) in the Obama administration, as well as the fact that immigration reform doesn’t appear to be on the White House’s front-burner. But this pick buys Obama A LOT of time with Hispanics.”

05/26 10:40 AMShare