Obama Defines Empathy In Justice Roberts Remarks

At least this guy tells us what he is really thinking; it's just that people aren't paying attention to what all the pretty words mean. We've gotten so used to hearing lies from politicians that we don't hear it when they tell the truth either.

The Wall Street Journal published then-Senator Obama's remarks on why he voted against Justice Roberts' confirmation to the Supreme Court. Short version: he doesn't share my political philosophy in 5% of the cases.

[WSJ] In those 5% of hard cases, ... your decisions about whether affirmative action is an appropriate response to the history of discrimination in this country, or whether a general right of privacy encompasses a more specific right of women to control their reproductive decisions, or whether the Commerce Clause empowers Congress to speak on those issues of broad national concern ..., the critical ingredient is supplied by what is in the judge's heart.

So this illuminates his decision making process for nominating Sotomayer to the Supreme Court as well. The translation of empathy is: support for affirmative action, abortion, and broad Federal powers.

Habemus SCOTUS

Today, President Obama announced his nominee for the Supreme Court Of The United States: a Latina woman. Anyone who is surprised please raise your hand. No takers? Didn't think so.

WASHINGTON – Reaching for history, President Barack Obama on Tuesday chose federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor to be the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court, championing her as a compassionate, seasoned jurist whose against-the-odds life journey affirms the American dream.

It is as yawn-inducing as it was predictable. The criteria these days are for something "historic" rather than good or great. Is she good or great? I honestly don't know, but the usual bloodletting is under way.