A Double Standard

Yesterday I watched a portion of the Senate Judiciary hearing on the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor. I have no doubt that she will be confirmed, but the interchange between the Judge and Republican senators in particular was interesting. One of my state senators Lindsey Graham , in my opinion, did the most effective questioning of Ms Sotomayor. I was especially interested in his remarks regarding her temperament. He quoted comments from attorneys who have appeared before her circuit court and the ones that he qouted were negative. He even advised her to take an inventory of her demeanor if she becomes a Supreme Court Justice. Would he have done so with a male candidate ? He never did quote any of the favorable comments by other attorneys although he recognized them in his comments . Whether she is a nice person or not is less important to me than her competence to sit on the court! Make no mistake about it - there is a double standard when it comes to how we view wmen in higly placed positions of power. A strong man gets a pat on the back and a strong woman (in some cases) gets called a bitch. I will not sugar coat it.

Comments

[Rain]

Thank you for saying that, and I agree. It was most egregious to me to hear Graham question her having a temper when he heavily supported John McCain for president, a position which seems to me far worse to have a person who was a bully or bad tempered (which everyone including his friends agrees McCain is). Sotomayor being a tough questioner is only offensive to them because she's a woman. They can't argue with her decisions and so they attack her as a bitch when in a man it'd be a Scalia who they adore.

To me, the right wing senators showed themselves up for what they are and that is only probably admirable to another right winger. :(

[Paul]

What does such behavior by (dare I say it) white men indicate ?

[Rain]

They have had the power and don't want to lose it, and it's not just white men. *s*

I just finished 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' by Khaled Hosseini though; so might not be as generous about this as at other times. Great read but talk about abusive conditions (Afghanistan from before the Soviet occupation to current times) for women. :( Do some men just plain hate women? Or only like them in their proper place which those men decide?

[Ingineer66]

Of course women should be in their proper place. We should have never let you guys have the vote. :-)

[Tiffany]

It also bothered me to hear Fox commentators discussing what she was wearing. It's just a hunch, but I don't think that happened with the male nominees.

[west_rhino]

Tiffany, we don't often hear any commentators quipping about any men's attire (outside trendsetting), though I recall from Jackie Kennedy forward (too young to recall comments on Mamie Eishenower) women in the public spotlight were wearing being ad minima a footnote. Granted, the hearing is not to decide Judge Sotomayor's fitness as a fashion model, I suspect though her wardrobe has been mentioned by more than Fox News.

PS Suppose anyone would notice if Senator Kyl walked in in Bozo shoes or Lindsey Graham arrived in an orange Zoot suit, replete with tiger paw appliques (besides a bearded blogging Clemson fan)?

[Paul]

All I will say is GO TIGERS! And just so you know I would vote for Judge Sotomayor based on what I know at this time...:-)

[west_rhino]

I'm left to wonder if, as a quid pro quo for an Obama precedent, instead of voting "NO" some might well answer a roll call vote as "present"

[Paul]

Is that really equal w-r ?

[Tully]

Suppose anyone would notice if Senator Kyl walked in in Bozo shoes or Lindsey Graham arrived in an orange Zoot suit, replete with tiger paw appliques (besides a bearded blogging Clemson fan)?

I'd pay money to see that....

[Paul]

I wouldn't care Tully ... They could wear Garnet and Black if they like...Go TIGERS !!