Racism, Gun Rights and Sotomayor

Get ready, shes on her way!

President Obama's Supreme Court pick Sonia Sotomayor is on her way to becoming the newest member of the nations highest court.

Sotomayor who comes from a very humble background, is the daughter of Puerto Rican parents. She grew up in the Bronx and later attended Princeton University and Yale Law School. Sotomayor has received rave reviews from former co-workers and government higher ups, on the surface she seems to be the perfect fit.

However, you can't judge a book by its cover. Despite her qualifications for the office, it is Sotomayors liberal views on gun rights that should concern freedom loving Americans. Sotomayor, who will more than likely get the nomination, has been accused of being a "bully on the bench." In fact one former Second Circuit clerk for another judge put it this way. "She has an inflated opinion of herself, and is domineering during oral arguments, but her questions aren't penetrating and don't get to the heart of the issue."

The real concern over Sotomayor, however, should not be her egotistical character flaws, but rather her perception of two issues, gun rights and race. Concerning gun rights, she believes and has stated that only military personnel should have the right to own a gun, in fact Sotomayor has went on record stating that individuals have not had the right to own a gun since the adoption of the Bill of Rights. This position itself proves that she has no understanding of the founding fathers intent and that she is progressive in her view of the constitution of the United States. In 2004, in U.S. v. Sanchez-Villar, a three-judge panel that included Sotomayor wrote that “the right to possess a gun is clearly not a fundamental right.” In another case, Sotomayor ruled that it is illegal for citizens to keep nunchakus in their homes. For anyone who appreciates and respects the right to own a gun, this nomination should be of great concern.

Secondly, a huge controversy surrounding Sotomayor is a comment she made during a speech at the University of California-Berkeley School of Law in October 2001.
In that speech, she said, “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.” Needless, to say this comment has raised some eyebrows and it has brought some to even mention the "R" word.......Racism!

Now, I personally do not want to jump up and immediately accuse Sotomayor of being racist. I can see, however, where others might think that her comments insinuate such. It is common among progressives to believe that most social problems are generated by the white christian male. In defense of what is right, Sotomayor should clarify exactly what she meant by her statement and then allow us to decide whether or not the "R" word is appropriate.

Interestingly enough, I have to ask the question, would a conservative supreme court nominee have been given the opportunity to explain such comments had he or she made them? Of course not! The liberals would have crucified the nominee and they would have declared them an open and avowed racist without any further explanation. Which brings me to another question, why isn't the liberal media holding Sotomayor to the same standards?