You're right. This is confusing.
I agree that chosing a candidate based on race is (probably) wrong (in any situations I can think of, anyway). I may change my mind someday, but right now I think affirmative action, where one group is favored over another, is wrong.
I'm sure affirmative action was responsible for the insufficient student aid my older girls got when they attended college. Students from objectively much better-off families than ours, who happened to belong to "minorities," got more student aid at two different all-women colleges. (My kids were best friends with "minority" students and knew their friends' backgrounds.) I'm glad this unfair policy, based on race rather than need, seems to be changing now.
I can't see where anyone is being hurt by Estrada's nomination, unlike the cases of affirmative-action, where non-minority candidates are hurt.
I think you and I have two different definitions of what type of behavior toward an individual is racist and what isn't. I say it's unrealistic to totally ignore people's affiliations and backgrounds. (Maybe I have some prejudice here, because biographies are my favorite books to read. I love to hear people's life stories). You seem to say it is realistic.
I certainly can't read Bush's mind to see if he has the totally pure motivations in nominating Estrada that you would like him to have.
If I had heard Bush say, "I have nominated Miguel Angel Estrada because he is latino, I might begin to think there is a problem. But I haven't heard Bush say that. If Bush were only nominating Latinos, and shutting out other qualified candidates, I would definitely begin to worry.
I've think I've heard other people saying Bush chose Estrada because he is Hispanic. And, if memory serves me right, those people have been liberals who are against the Estrada nomination. (I've got no interest in finding any documentation on this)
Anyway, I can't see why Estrada should be punished for Bush's imperfections, if it is true Bush has bad motivations.
Personally, I cannot conceive of a reason to prefer one of any race over another. That is just two wrongs - and I remember what my Granny said about that. It has created more problems than it has solved.
My complaint has never had anything to do with Mr. Estrada himself. Although, many have tried to deflect it. My problem has always been the way the Republicans have handled it and Pres. Bush's willingness to indulge in this kind of politics. But now, I don't think Pres. Bush has publicly announced he has nominated Mr. Estrada because he is Hispanic - but you know, I know and most everyone else knows that is one of his qualifications, as far as Pres. Bush is concerned. He wanted someone Hispanic - now he may have been very fortunate to be able to find the best man in the world for the job and that man is Hispanic also.
But you cannot deny much of the defense on this site and I personally believe WH spin has been they are blocking the man because he is Hispanic. President Bush is actively seeking the Hispanic vote - that is also a given. No one can say otherwise - that is my problem.
Now of course, I am being unrealistic to think that race WILL never play a part in politics - but it SHOULD never play a part. The defense of the Estrada nomination and the Trent Lott silliness were both endulging in racial politics and that is bad.
Racial politics is devisive and destructive - to this country and to human beings as a whole. It should never be tolerated - there is no reason good enough to tolerate it. We know the Democrats use this often - but I really had hoped the Republicans were above it. I do hold them to a higher standard. If the Republicans don't hold the line on this vile behavior - who is left? No one. It will continue to grow, to fester, to divide and to destroy this country.
We just shouldn't accept it from anyone - but we should hold our own to a high standard and just because we like them, admire them, whatever, we should not give them a pass to do something just because it is expedient.
There is just no excuse for it. None.
Now other than the harm it has done the country, I don't know of an instance it has harmed my family as a family. So I don't have an axe to grind personally, just for the sake of this country and the good people in it of all kinds. We deserve better.