WASHINGTON (CNN) - The political response to the Supreme Court's overturning a ruling by the woman who could be its newest member was sharply divided, with Republicans supporting the ruling while Democrats criticized it.
In its last day in session this term, justices ruled by a 5-4 majority that the city of New Haven, Connecticut, improperly threw out the results of promotional exams that officials said left too few minorities qualified. A group of 20 mostly white firefighters sued, claiming "reverse discrimination."
Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who President Obama nominated last month to replace retiring Justice David Souter, and two other judges heard the case on their federal appeals court last year and sided with the city.
"I applaud the Supreme Court's decision to uphold equal rights for all and to strike down government decisions based on race," said Texas Rep. Lamar Smith, the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee.
"No individual should be denied a promotion simply based on the color of their skin. ... The Supreme Court today reminded all courts and governments that equal justice under the law means refusing to tip the scale in favor of one race over another."
From CNN Politics
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You people talk about the party of no. Read your own posts sounds like the party of no is liberals against anyone who doesn't go along with their far left views. This woman does need to be rejected with her far left views but she won't be. Another loss for common sense people.
Also, this just in. When you apply for your next job, we might not be able to hire if we are not able to also hire another person of a different race than you. Just to be fair!
Our standards in this country should be high. I have lost job promotions in my life time because I have failed the tests. But I tried harder the next time. Set your goals higher and you can achieve them. Makes no difference what color your shin is. Don't depend on the government to give you anything!!!
God, Democrats are just pathetic.......Even when they are wrong , they just dig in deeper and can not admit mistakes.....Republicans really dont need to do anything , democrats always run themselves out of power, give them 2 yrs.
To "Kevin from Co"
Nice comment. Idiot.
@Jefe June 29th, 2009 5:04 pm ET
This Democrat applauds the decision. I don't want my children to have to worry about their race (caucasian) being the thing keeping them from succeeding in life
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Jefe,
I am a black conservative and I fully agree with this decision too! Enough is enough! Discrimination to make up for discrimination is still discrimination! You're concern for your children is the same i have for mine! Your becoming a little more conseravtive, eh???
I know my nearly 60 yr old brother in Ohio is thrilled with decision after facing discrimination numerous times because of his white race...
Frankly, I think we are at a point in this country that hiring should be based on merit/qualifications/ambition...perhaps the way to overcome the race issue is to put blinders on during an interview(for the interviewer and interviewee)...just a thought.
it seems her racist decisions have been shown her racist tendecies... No Se Puede La Raza.
Maybe some of you should read the entire article. The public (that means us and includes dems and repubs) overwhelmingly feel that the Supreme Court decision was correct. The dems who don't agree are politicians.
I don't feel she should have even been considered based on her statement that the Circuit Court of Appeals is where "policy" is made. That one statement should have taken any person out of contention.
By the way, the 5-4 decision is a bigger "landslide" than Obama was elected by.
@Derka Derr June 29th, 2009 5:16 pm ET
God Republicans are so jelous. Make it a little more obvious.
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Jealous of???? This is not political! Not left nor right! It is just!
Like an irresponsible teenager running wild with the nation's credit card, Obama sorely needs discipline, someone with the wisdom to say "NO". The Republican party naturally finds itself in that parental position of responsibility. They have no choice but to say "NO" to Obama's immature spendthrift ways.
Congrats to the Firefighters. You finally got what you deserved. I'm sure it was a battle and many sleepless nights, but in the end justice was served no thanks to Sonia Sotomayor!
Sotomayor's ruling is Right and Correct.
Supreme Court’s ruling is Wrong and Politically Motivated.
Because:
1. City of New Haven, Connecticut, Properly, Rightly and Correctly threw out the results of Promotional Exams that left too few African-Americans qualified.
2. This Exam was based only upon "A Written Test".
3. This Exam was not based upon "A Physical Abilities Test".
4. African-Americans would have scored better than Whites if it was based upon a Physical Abilities Test rather than a Mere Written Test.
5. It would have been more appropriate if the selection would have been based on a Balanced Test which had a Physical Test as well as a Written Test.
Despite what this administration says, the Supreme Court made a common sense decision against the illegal, unconstitutional, Quota system-inspired decision of this inept judge! She in certainly NOT worthy of the Supreme Court and, as a matter of fact and for this ruling alone, she should be disbarred! What a piece of garbage!
Well said Dwight.
This needed to be overturned. Goes to show that Sotomayor is a racist like the President. He wants to destroy this country and continues to bring people into his administration who are either theives, racists or nitwits! 2010 a year of reckoning! Bye bye you lefty haters of the Constitution!!!
most qualified gets the job?? clearly some right wing craziness
I am a black independent. This is good, no one should be limited because of race. Yes, there will be times blacks are treated wrong but my friends two wrongs don't make a right.
BK
60% of her rulings have been overturned. She is a bad judge.
I voted for Obama, and now reluctantly think Sotomayor should not be confirmed to the Court. The only way we get past race in the Obama era is to get past race. No more excuses for failure to perform on objective, standardized measures already screened for adverse impact.
It just goes to show us that the Supreme Court today, doesn't rule correctly based on the opinions(on the interpretation of the law) of a majority of people I know. The GOP shop watch, and understand the American landscape before they begin clucking victory in front of the farmer who holds the axe (in the voting booth of course).
Um, the problem is when we GIVE promotions based upon race – that is what this test did. The clear racial bias in the results show it was a biased test. Among modern people, this is under the heading "DUH!"
Mr. Dwight Frye ~ I wish the Republican Party would have "NATRUALLY FOUND THEMSELVES IN THE POSITION OF THE RESPONSIBLE PARENT" during the past 8 years under George Bush! You people make me sick...take the blinders off honey...look around and see the damage 8 years of the GOP like a teenager with a credit card did to our nation. Of course when the Republicans were spending like mad...it was OK, right?
As a former democrat (now independent) I applaud the Supreme Courts decision. Affirmation Action is a put down to all blacks & minorities (says they are not quite good enough & need help.) They didn't pass the test about FIREFIGHTING-not a test of "Little House on the Prairie".
I am surrounded by Democrats from all walks of life in my immediate community. I have yet to hear one Democrat side with Sotomayer on this issue. The ones that I have talked to today are extremely pleased with the Supreme Court ruling.