Richard Cohen, an Op-Ed columnist with the Washington Post had some rather interesting, if not entirely typical things to say regarding the racism involved in Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination.  While the vast majority of his column was the typical liberal backwash that we have unfortunately come to expect, there were a few particular lines that I found myself agreeing with.  I will display those before I go on to address the rest of the article.

[Speaking of the numerous successful people to come out of the projects] Inevitably, what these people have in common are one or two dedicated parents or guardians who knew that housing, public or otherwise, is where your body spends its time. Your mind can live anywhere.

I do not agree with Sotomayor on the New Haven affirmative-action case and have written a column saying why. But if it can be said she sided with minorities over white men, recognize that two of the New Haven firefighters unjustly affected on the basis of race are Hispanic.

…coming out of the projects is no miracle. The tragedy is that we think it is.

One minor interjection here.  “The tragedy is that we think it is.”  By “we” I sincerely hope that Cohen is speaking of his fellow liberals.  Conservatives do not consider it a miracle.  We consider it hard work and dedication.  Just sayin’.

Aside from those few statements the rest is the typical liberal hogwash.  Or white wash, as it were.  You see, according to Mr. Cohen, the racism isn’t in Sotomayor’s own words, deeds or beliefs.  No, everyone else is racist for thinking it… And for thinking it implausible for a poor kid from the projects to make it in life.  Of course, we conservatives do not think that way.  That type of “victim” mentality is the sole province of the Democrats.

With the nose of a trained columnist, I detect the whiff of elitism-cum-racism emanating from the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. The whiff does not come — Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich notwithstanding — from Sotomayor’s own statements; nor does it come from her controversial decision upholding race-based affirmative action.

There you have it folks.  Typical liberal “can’t see the forest for the trees” mind set.  None of her clearly racist or discriminatory comments, deeds or ideals bring the “whiff of elitism-cum-racism.”  Naturally, Rush and Newt’s comments do, though.  How dare they call a bigot a bigot!!  For shame, right?

It comes, instead, from the general expression of wow about her background. Imagine, someone from the projects is a success!

As previously stated, that type of victim mentality is the sole province of the leftists.

It was generally recognized that being poor was not necessarily destiny. This was the gift of liberalism, especially New York City-style liberalism. The city would provide housing — about 400,000 now live in public housing — and it would provide good schools, and later, with good grades and the proper attitude, it would offer an excellent higher education: City College, Brooklyn College, Queens College and my own beloved Hunter College. The vast poor were the city’s oil fields. Any kid could be a gusher.

That liberalism sure is a gift isn’t it? How bout that, Cali?  Jersey? New York?  All of which are completely broke and living off of the tax dollars from other states.  The productive people in those states are taxed nearly to death… and there is still never enough money.  The wonder that is New York liberalism is that, like every other form of liberalism, with it comes the leeches, the dregs and the lazy.  Why bother working for a living when the state gives you a nice apartment, food, electricity, water, trash collection, etc for free?

Having 400,000 people, in one city, living off of the public dole like that is NOT something to be proud of.  The vast poor aren’t the city’s oil fields.  They’re guaranteed Democrat voter fields.  They also remain vast and growing in population because of the welfare programs… not in spite of them.

Franklin D. Roosevelt was a true American aristocrat, rich and landed, yet the poor never had a greater champion. The man who preceded him in the presidency, Herbert Hoover, was raised in poverty yet forgot who he had been. He feared government welfare programs would sap the poor of their industry. It’s always dangerous to generalize. It is impossible to predict.

FDR was a true liberal elitist that extended the depression by at least a decade.  He also created more poverty than wealth destroyed – and that’s saying something.  Hoover was right to fear government welfare… Again, look at NY, NJ, CA, and soon a host more.  However, there are numerous people that work their way out of poverty and to them I say thank you and congratulations.  However, there are vast numbers more that choose to remain on the dole.

But I agree with what Sotomayor meant when she said in her famous 2001 speech, “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.” Yes, in some cases. That is the virtue of diversity. You’re instructed by your own life.

First off, if a white male had said that it would be racism.  Leave it to a liberal to think that since a Hispanic woman said it.. it isn’t.  On top of that Cohen is endorsing judicial activism… and racially motivated jurism.  Isn’t that precisely the antithesis of the entire equal rights movement?  To end that type of thought and action?  The fact of the matter is that Limbaugh and Gingrich called it right… It is bigotry.  If Sontomayor shows deference to one race over another, then she is a bigot.

Sotomayor’s life instructs her that the projects are chock-full of people like her. They are propelled by the greenest of fuels, their indomitable parents, and they are nourished by wonderful teachers, determined principals — and the opportunities provided by a generous government. Sotomayor’s coming out of the projects is no miracle. The tragedy is that we think it is.

Here we have the epitome of liberal idiocy.  While I am certain that there are a plethora of people in the projects that can and will rise to greatness… It isn’t the “generous” government that made it happen, or even possible.  It is their own hard work and dedication.  It is their own blood, sweat and tears.  It is liberty that is to credit, not the government’s largess.  Leave it to a liberal to believe otherwise.  Not only that, but he is saying that Sotomayor – whom he just credited with hard work and good parenting – owes her success to the government.

The real tragedy is that the liberal media hacks believe that a person’s rise from the projects is a miracle… and made possible only through the help of the benevolent government.  Yet liberals, like Cohen, remain convinced that they’re right, even as they watch in dismay as the states and societies they run fall apart.