Watching Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings this week, still in the lingering jetwash of Sarah Palin’s flameout, I couldn’t help noticing the
contrasting images of Sotomayor and Palin and the crossroads at which the Republican party finds itself. Facing a confirmation process that even her opponents suggest will be relatively easy, Sotomayor was nevertheless extremely impressive this week. Compared with the formulaic sound-bite prattle that passes for debate and discussion on cable news or talk radio, judicial nomination hearings are fun to listen to. The topics can be complex, and the precise and high-minded language employed by questioning Senators and the nominee is refreshing.
Judge Sotomayor’s testimony clearly reflected an extraordinary amount of preparation. As with prior Supreme Court nominees, the testimony required her to discuss a host of decisions from her own career, recalling the facts and relevant laws and precedents that were brought to bear on those decisions. She also confidently discussed or cited cases and decisions from a variety of jurisdictions across 200 years of American history in order to respond to questions. In short, her work ethic practically jumps out of the TV at you.
Sotomayor faced several questions (fair questions, in my view) about her past speeches and writings, as Republican senators sought reassurance that she would apply the law impartially. But as many GOP senators acknowledged prior to the hearings, her professional qualifications are above reproach, and her distinguished career and personal narrative have made her an inspiring figure.
Meanwhile, we have Sarah Palin who, ironically, is the GOP’s most clumsy and transparent foray into the very kinds of identity politics that they fear from
Sotomayor. She has been elevated to prominence on the basis of her sex appeal and a specific, politically-crafted, and made-for-TV (if not ready-for-primetime) image. The basis for her support stems solely from her having successfully branded herself as the target of the media and Washington DC chattering classes. And while she sits next to Sotomayor in this week’s headlines, I wonder if Republicans have noticed the irony in the fact that their brightest star’s primary qualification for leadership is her self-ascribed victim status.
This contrast has implications that go beyond these two women and the fact that their opposing career trajectories have intersected this week. Politics is in large part an exercise in cultivating and maintaining an image – for a party, for a candidate, and for a platform. The Republican party needs to understand this: voters (not to mention tomorrow’s voters) have the images of these two women before their eyes this week. One is an intellectually formidable constitutional scholar who has relied on a strong work ethic to rise to the top of her profession. The other continuously plays the victim card and can not name a newspaper that she reads.
The GOP should feel free to oppose Sotomayor’s nomination – or at least accept Sotomayor with certain reservations. But the long-term health of the party will be dependent on their ability to reject the image of Sarah Palin and identify serious, respectable figures who embrace authentic conservative principles.
-MN
