Tuesday, May 26, 2009

A Brief Thought about the SCOTUS Nominee

While pundits everywhere are trying to learn to spell the name of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, a couple of thoughts might be kept in mind.

I suspect that there will be a great deal about Judge Sotomayor for conservative and Republican commentators to dislike. Of course, Barack Obama won the presidency and has the right to select, within certain parameters, whosoever he will. It is doubtful that Mr. Obama would be inclined to select anyone for this position that I would find ideal, or perhaps even favorable, but by virtue of his position he has the right to select a nominee as he sees fit, as long as said nominee meets basic requirements regarding qualifications and competency for the office.

With that in mind, conservatives would do well to remember that the kinds of underhanded and dishonest tactics at times employed by leftist groups opposing Republican nominations are still underhanded and dishonest if employed by the other side. There may be cause for principled and nuanced opposition to the candidacy of Judge Sotomayor, and her nomination, as would any nomination for such a position, certainly deserves careful scrutiny. However, conservatism encompasses means as well as ends. Smear tactics and innuendo should have no part in a conservative campaign against a judicial nomination. Those things should remain the weapons of the unprincipled left.

3 Comments:

Blogger Norma said...

There's enough in her legal decisions to sink her if the Repubs decide to bring it up, but I don't think they will. The present group is the "get-along" guys, and that's exactly what the Dems say, "Oh, get along out of here." No need for the nastiness the last minority judge faced from the Dems.

5:26 AM  
Blogger MCO said...

Norma, thanks for the comment.

I don't doubt that much in her record is objectionable about her legal decisions, and all of that merits public scrutiny. However, I have my doubts that there is enough to sink her, given the present legal environment. Furthermore, given the views of the President and the current makeup of Congress, I am not sure that any other nominee would be any better.

12:33 PM  
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