Here's a look at what some pro-life groups are saying about Judge Sotomayor. The common thread here is that Youtube video where the Judge acknowldges that the U.S. Court of Appeals "is where policy is made. While pro-life forces don't have specific cases to use against her on abortion, they are taking that Youtube comment and making it the lynchpin of their argument against her. Statements below:
Wendy Wright
President, Concerned Women for America
“A necessary quality for a Supreme Court justice is to be committed to equal treatment of the law, regardless of ethnicity or sex. Sonia Sotomayor has an extensive record and several troubling opinions where she seems willing to expand certain ‘rights’ beyond what the Constitution establishes and the appropriate Supreme Court precedent. Revealing her immodest bias, she stated that a 'Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life.' Congress needs to thoroughly vet Judge Sotomayor and Americans deserve enough time to evaluate her record and her announced bias for certain people. Her high reversal rate alone should be enough for us to pause and take a good look at her record. Frankly, it is the Senate’s duty to do so.”
Mario Diaz, Esq.
Policy Director for Legal Issues, Concerned Women for America
“Much has been made in the media about a Hispanic woman being nominated, but the truth is that none of that should matter as the Senate fulfills its ‘advise and consent’ role. What matters are the judge’s judicial temperament and her view of the Constitution. We must determine if Judge Sotomayor will respect the Constitution as written or legislate from the bench. She has made some disconcerting statements that should require everyone to examine her record with an open mind and reach some conclusions. For example, she said once that ‘policy was made at the appellate level,’ a very dangerous way of looking at the role of a judge for those of us who value our freedoms as guaranteed in the Constitution.”
Dr. Charmaine Yoest,
President, Americans United for Life
“For all the President’s talk of finding ‘common ground,’ this appointment completely contradicts that hollow promise. Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s judicial philosophy undermines common ground. She is a radical pick that divides America. She believes the role of the Court is to set policy which is exactly the philosophy that led to the Supreme Court turning into the National Abortion Control Board denying the American people to right to be heard on this critical issue. This appointment would provide a pedestal for an avowed judicial activist to impose her personal policy and beliefs onto others from the bench at a time when the Courts are at a crossroad and critical abortion regulations – supported by the vast majority of Americans – like partial-birth abortion and informed consent laws lie in the balance.”
Kristan Hawkins
President, Students for Life of America
“SFLA is saddened by the President's choice to nominate Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. This nomination contradicts the President's often moderate rhetoric on abortion and even his speech last Sunday at the University of Notre Dame. Judge Sotomayor is not moderate on her abortion views but extreme, which are even against the majority of Americans. President Obama is not nominating a judge that will serve the American people but his own ideological views.”
Jenn Giroux
President, Women Influencing the Nation
"President Obama continues to insult America with his double talk. As he speaks of 'common ground' he insults with his actions of consistent left radical appointments. Judge Sonia Sotomayor will only further contribute to the abortion on demand advocacy from the bench which in turn allows Planned Parenthood to continue its proven targeting of minority Latino neighborhoods to abort their young. Women across America call upon all Republican Senators to vote against the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor and to reject all nominees until someone is sent up for confirmation that adheres to the constitution. It is time for the era of judicial activism to end".
Kay Daly
President, Coalition for a Fair Judiciary
"Sonia Sotomayor is the poster child for judicial activism. Indeed, she bragged that the Circuit Court of Appeals, rather than elected legislators, 'makes policy.' Although Justice dons a blindfold when weighing the scales of justice, Sotomayor admits that she lifts that blindfold so as to peek at her own complexion and the skin color of the parties before her. That might explain why she held it was constitutional for white firefighters to be denied promotion based on their skin color. Sotomayor's own words should be her nomination's undoing."