Good point. This thread is centering on the "race" aspect, because that is what the article is about. But that is only a small part of the Estrada story. And the Democrats have made that small part into a big part, by saying that Estrada is "not Hispanic enough."
There is plenty of other information available on Estrada, for anyone who cares to read it (or to listen to Republican Senators on C-Span.)
Right here, on Free Republic there is a trove of information, ....(almost all taken from published sources that almost anyone can read)
For example:Democrats Have No Good Reason for Blocking Estrada’s Confirmation
Estrada is the 42-year-old whom President Bush has selected for a spot on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.An Ugly StallThe nominee was scrutinized by the American Bar Association and came out with the ABA’s highest possible grade—a unanimous rating of “well qualified.”
He is a former federal government attorney whose colleagues from that office have testified to Congress that Estrada would be an honest and fair judge.
On the personal side, Estrada has demonstrated a stunning ability to work hard and succeed. He came to the United States from Honduras at the age of 17, and later graduated with honors from Harvard Law School.
He clerked with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, then served as a federal prosecutor and eventually as an assistant to the solicitor general under Presidents Clinton and Bush.
In other words, this guy knows a thing or two about the law.
Then Estrada becomes a partner in a prestigious private law practice - yet finds the time to perform significant pro bono service, including some four hundred hours representing a death row inmate before the Supreme Court....Estrada delay just politicalAlso supporting him are numerous prominent Democrats, including President Clinton's solicitor general and Vice President Gore's counselor and chief of Staff.
Estrada immigrated to the United States at age 15 from Honduras. Jesuit educated, he was soon admitted to New York's Columbia College. Graduating with honors, he was accepted to Harvard Law School where he became the editor of the Law Review and again graduated with honors.A Fine Judicial Nominee
Estrada's litigation record is not that of a conservative ideologue. From 1992 to 1997 (three of those years during the first Clinton administration), Estrada was assistant to the U.S. solicitor general. For several years he represented the positions of a Democratic administration before the U.S. Supreme Court (including the United Mine Workers vs. Bagwell case, for which Acuña attempts to crucify him). During that time, Estrada also filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Clinton administration's siding with the National Organization for Women in NOW vs. Scheidler where the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the government's position that a law prohibiting the use of violence to deny individuals their civil rights could be applied to anti-abortion protesters.CONFIRM ESTRADA (Detailing his excellent qualifications)
During Estrada's subsequent career as a partner in one of the nation's preeminent law firms, he has built a reputation as one of the best appellate lawyers in the country.There really is a lot of information out there on Estrada. Here is his resume, as posted at the Department of Justice. It has been posted on FR, too.
| Birth: | September 25, 1961 | Tegucigalpa, Honduras |
| Legal Residence: | Virginia | |
| Education: | 1979 - 1980 | State University of New York |
| 1980 - 1983 | Columbia College | |
| A.B. degree | ||
| 1983 - 1986 | Harvard Law School | |
| J.D. degree | ||
| Bar Admittance: | 1987 | New York |
| 1998 | District of Columbia | |
| Experience: | 1986 - 1987 | Law Clerk to Hon. Amalya L. Kearse |
| United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit | ||
| 1987 - 1988 | Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | |
| Associate | ||
| 1988 - 1989 | Law Clerk to Hon. Anthony M. Kennedy | |
| Supreme Court of the United States | ||
| 1989 - 1990 | Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | |
| 1992 | Associate | |
| 1990 - 1992 | United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York | |
| Assistant U.S. Attorney | ||
| 1992 - 1997 | U.S. Department of Justice Solicitor General’s Office | |
| Assistant to the Solicitor General | ||
| 1997 - present | Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP | |
| Of Counsel Attorney, 1997-99 | ||
| Partner, 2000-present |
When reading posts on this board and quotes from party spokespersons - all I see is that he is a poor little Hispanic boy who came here and made good and now the dastardly democrats won't confirm him because he isn't liberal enough - and therefore they are racists. Another - The President is nominating the first Hispanic judge to the bench and the dastardly Democrats won't confirm him and therefore they are racists. Another -The nomination of this HIspanic will show the monorities that President Bush will put them in high places (Powell, Rice). Another - The nomination of this Hispanic will bring the Hispanics to the Republican party.
Now I haven't made those up - I haven't - the Republicans are playing racial politics.
They did also with Trent Lott. They are using it when it suits them and that is wrong - just plain wrong. It is wrong when the Democrats do it - it is worse for me when the Republicans do it. It takes away the last hope this country has of ever getting out of the quagmire of racial politics in this country. If we can't be above it, there is no one left to carry the banner of just how horrible it is.
Now attack me all you want - tell me what a wonderful man Mr. Estrada is (I have no doubt) - send me reams of his greatness - but you cannot disprove what I am saying. The Republicans are not above using racial politics and that is a very, very sad thing.
Now truly I am wondering why you are attacking me so. Do you not mind that if this continues, there will be no one left who has any credibility to point out the damage of racial politics? That doesn't bother you? It bothers me - but then of course, my primary aim is not keeping George Bush in office, or any Republican - my aim is in a better country. Republicans come and go and all they leave behind is what that have done or not done to this country - I don't like the latest tactics of racial politics - it's stench will linger for a long time.