ISSUE OF JUDGE SONIA SOTOMAYOR IS A NON SEQUITUR

Non sequitur - It does not follow, the argument by Republicans that nominee for the United States Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor, is a racist. Starved for attention and relevancy, Republican strategist and pundits have grabbed on to a statement made by Judge Sotomayor, and have taken it out of context to paint this nominee as a racist. Clearly, these "macaca" crowd have began a smear campaign against this eminent judge, solely for the purpose of derailing the nomination process. What's more, these aggrieved "white-male" Republicans are not only beating the war drums, but are also vent on character assassination of the nominee. Further, while they can only muster a charge of a perceived racist statement, these Republicans have prominently shown their cross and stars. One prominent Republican stated that Judge Sonia Sotomayor's name is too hard to pronounce and that she should change her name. Perhaps, he did not like the foreign sounding name. Another leading Republican and former candidate for the presidency even called the nominee by the wrong name and called her "Maria." Ooops! But one pundit stooped so low, that he called Judge Sotomayor an "affirmative pick."

So, while these Republicans can not attack Judge Sotomayor's eminent academic credentials or her skillful jurist temperament, they are acting like the crowd that they are; a group of grumpy white-males whose elephant emblem is fast transforming into a soon to be an extinct mammoth. Further, it is apparent by their actions, that usage of race innuendo and/or reference to her ethnicity is by all accounts - race baiting. Thus their argument that Judge Sotomayor's statements were racist, is simply a non sequitur (does not follow).

Further, it should be noted that Judge Sotomayor does not deny she ever made such a statement which included the term "white-male." However, she made such reference only in the context of wanting to distinguish her perspective as a Latina, as opposed to that of a "white male." Conversely, one would not infer or conclude that by using the phrase- "as a white-male, my perspective would be different from that of a Latina"- that such statement could be construed as derogatory against a white male making such statement. Therefore, it follows, that Judge Sonia Sotomayor's statement should not be construed as racist, for she is not known to be of such fabric. Thus, a legal maxims states: an act does not make a person guilty unless his mind (or intention) is guilty.

It does follow however, that nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor, an American, is eminently qualified to be a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. She brings to the Court eminent academic credentials, experience from the bench, proven intellect, a jurist temperament, but also brings a unique perspective to the Court that is lacking.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, ...bienvenida.

Joseph Chez