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Sotomayor Shows Democrats' True Face

Confirm her, but make sure the country sees what it voted for

By Gabriel Winant, Newser User

Posted May 29, 2009 9:38 AM CDT

(Newser) – The people voted for Democrats, and Sonia Sotomayor reflects the views of the winning party. For that, writes Charles Krauthammer in the Washington Post, she deserves confirmation. But Republicans should seize the moment to illustrate what liberalism leads to. They should call Frank Ricci, the firefighter Sotomayor denied promotion. “Let Ricci tell his story, and let the American people judge whether his promotion should have been denied because of his skin color,” writes Krauthammer.

Sotomayor’s supposed to have empathy, and that’s why she ruled against Ricci. Empathy’s nice in private life, and even in writing laws, but it has nothing to do with interpreting them, says Krauthammer. “Figuratively and literally, justice wears a blindfold. It cannot be a respecter of persons. Everyone must stand equally before the law, black or white, rich or poor, advantaged or not."

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (2)]

The Supreme Court in Washington, Thursday, May 28, 2009. Earlier this week, President Barack nominated Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, replacing the retiring Justice David Souter. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Supreme Court choice Sonia Sotomayor speaks to President Barack Obama during an announcement, Tuesday, May 26, 2009, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama's choice for the Supreme Court, speaks in the East Room of the White House. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

President Obama and Vice President Biden applaud federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor, after the president announced her as his nominee. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Since the 2008 election, people have been asking what conservatism stands for. Well, if nothing else, it stands unequivocally against justice as empathy -- and unequivocally for the principle of blind justice. - Charles Krauthammer

Vote Democratic and you get mainstream liberalism: a judicially mandated racial spoils system and a jurisprudence of empathy that hinges on which litigant is less 'advantaged.' A teaching moment, as liberals like to say. - Charles Krauthammer

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Sotomayor Shows Democrats' True Face