SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Clara Kansas City, MO — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:15:23 GMT

Let the Sotomayor bashing commence in 3-2-1.

^^^^^^^^^

She was one of a three judge panel; but let's don't let FACTS get in the way of a radical pant and rant.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

no joe, no bo, nj — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:16:25 GMT

So now, she's six for six.

Overturned rulings, that is.

I'm still more interested in her explanation for why some amendments to the constitution do not apply to states. Does that mean that New Jersey can deny women and minorities the right to vote in state elections, because the 19th only applies to federal elections?

Does her ruling in eminent domain cases mean that the state can take my house to put up a drugstore, anytime, because it would increase the town's ratables?

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

BoBo the Prex — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:16:31 GMT

and Rules that Sotomayer is a Bigot Racist.

This is just one of many WRONG dicisions she has made!!!

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Larry Nickles, Chicago — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:17:35 GMT

I guess we're all equal, except some people are more equal then others, at least according to the hispanic woman Sotomayoer, who claims she is smarter then the white men.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Nashville_fan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:18:22 GMT

I think this post from the "First Thoughts" blog said everything I want to say better than I ever could . . . KUDOS Cub Reporter! :)

"Here's the Sotomayor deal, for today at least. The SC will reverse the ruling she helped make and for 24 hours the media will hash and re-hash the idea, spawned by her opponents, that she's not ready for prime time because her side of the ruling was struck down.

And yet, several members of the Supreme Court will vote to support Sotomayor's ruling. This idea will reeive little or no mention. The fallacy the media will love to hype, today at least, is that a federal judge must rule in compliance with the majority of the SC in order to be considered for that august body.
Clearly this is wrong-headed, but to place that idea onto the scales of the argument in favor of Sotomayor's confirmation doesn't make for 'sexy' reporting.

If Michael Jackson's death can banish Iran, Energy, and Health Reform from the nightly news (nice work, NBC--not), then the travesty of reporting on Sotomayor should come as no surprise to anyone. By the way, Repubs and other opponents of Sotomayor: if you'd like a trancript or interpretation of this post, don't hesitate to ask. "

- Cub Reporter, Portland, ME

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Eric, Salinas, CA — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:18:52 GMT

This pathetic decision by the bushwhacked Supreme Court just shows that the majority of repugnant one white men ofcourse only had empathy for their fellow white men. Just goes to show how much Sotomayor is needed on the Supreme Court to give it more racial and gender balance. It's very obvious that the test the firefighters took was biased towards white men and Sotomayor's panel decision with two other judges was correct. We can only hope that Thomas or Scalia will be the next ones to be replaced by President Obama so we get a better balanced SC.

In Sotomayor We Trust!

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Anna Molly — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:20:13 GMT

Let me count the votes: Scalia, Thomas, Kennedy, Alito, and Roberts are the 5; Breyer, Souter, Stevens, and Ginsberg are the 4. I'm not even that sure of the issue, but the vote breakdown is pretty predictable. Whether Sotomayor's panel was right or wrong, it really made no difference whatsoever to those five results-oriented justices who would be horrified if anyone suggested their positions were affected by their backgrounds. No, not much.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Mary Lewis — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:20:18 GMT

This is what happens when you have laws, Affirmitive Action laws, that don't provide people with the opportunity to succeed, but actaully determine the outcome, in this case by gender and race.

And Sotomayor is all for this system. How sad America has become.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

LB, Virginia — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:20:33 GMT

The whole group of firefighters they interviewed were not the brightest bulbs in the lamp, so now my concern--our local firefighters are mostly men, white and of color, and are as bright as can be-- is what's going on with the education system there? I know norhern VA has the best public schools in the country, but no reason why these can't be replicated in all states.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Sara, Lockport NY — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:21:50 GMT

I'm so glad the Supremes did the right thing by those firefighters. Nice to see justice prevail and for Ricci to get his promotion.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

jesse St Paul MN — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:21:55 GMT

This is not a story,this has been happening for decades.Seems fire fighters exams have had a problem with giving test that are fair to all who take them.First the test was so hard that woman could not pass it,so they made it easier for them to pass.And when colored folks pass it, the white guys scream about it.And Fr, please write the whole story,Soto was not the only person to rule against the test,two white judges also voted with her.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Nicholas: Minnesota — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:22:11 GMT

1) How can this ruling come before Frankin-Coleman (different S.C., but still).

2) I wish there would be some discussion of the actual law in the media instead of sensationalism. The actually law that was followed originally said that if a group of minorities were denied promotion, it had to be the only way to test for that promotion. Per the LAW (as my lay mind understands it), the ruling should have been the other way. I guess that makes 5 activist conservative justices?

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Fortunate Son — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:22:30 GMT

More reason for the white guy to really get pissed.

And the black guy to be looked down on in America.
You people are doing it to yourselves.

How can a black man gain respect from whites or others when he is given a job he didn't earn and doesn't deserve?

Instead of saying "I didn't earn this. This isn't fair to the white guy," the answer is "yeah, I'll take it." And Sharpton and Jackson will agree with the latter.

ALL of this adds to more racial tension.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Pat, Boston, MA — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:23:05 GMT

People will be cheering this decision. Little do they realize that discrimination is wrong, whether it be against blacks or whites.

Looks like right now the whites are playing the victim. It's all they care about. White v. black.

This decision was expected.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

DC Petterson, Boston — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:23:11 GMT

Word from the White House is that Barack Obama is deeply concerned.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Bill, Fairfax, VA — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:24:11 GMT

Good. Sanity -- and justice -- prevails.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Juan,Ft Lauderdale, Fl — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:24:53 GMT

Big shocker that the five votes are 4 white males and 1 black appeaser of the white agenda appointed by white Republican presidents who's agenda is to get rid of afirmative action. Thomas the biggest hyprocrit who had no problems w/ affirmative action when it applied to him. Just wait about 20 years when Hispanic's are the majority in this country and the anglo saxon's will be demanding it back.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Nicholas: Minnesota — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:25:57 GMT

[This, of course, overturns a ruling by a 2nd Circuit panel that included Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.]
--This was a unanimous ruling, right? Not the 5-4 that seems to mark every SCOTUS case. Were the other justices on that appealate court white-hating like Sotomayor (that's sarcasm)?

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

kreed — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:26:41 GMT

This was the correct decision, she was wrong on this one, the justices did the right thing. Now...move on.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Beverly in Chicago — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:26:57 GMT

What a ludicrous decision. Should we rewrite the briefs in a language unaccustomed to the Justices next time in all fairness to the people?

Justice do prefer Oranges or kumquats on your tests? Kumquats are strange fruit indeed for commoners!

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Nashville_fan — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:27:17 GMT

Let the intellectually dishonest, race baiting comments begin.

And that's just from "the media".

Obviously, this was a difficult case . . . as many of the problems that we face are.

The tendency of the media to boil everything down to a color coded sound bite is a big factor in the dumbing down of America . . . thank God the internet allows us to easily access information for ourselves these days . . . otherwise, the media would "spin" us into 24 hour chaos based on half truths, phone "experts", and fake polls.

I look forward to the day when the American generation who are now children can lead this country forward without so much baggage remaining from the HORRIBLE RACIAL INJUSTICES that crippled a generation of black Americans.

Perhaps affirmative action is not the best way to deal with this injustice, but pretending that the effects of that era have magically disappeared because we don't want to deal with it is not realistic either.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Cicero — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:27:32 GMT

You guys just picking up the Ricci case? I was aware of this minutes after she was nominated.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

gingerbread mamma, jupiter, fl — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:30:03 GMT

That was expected considering this court.

Please make sure you make it known, that there were 2 White Males on that panel with Judge Sotomayor. Stop trying to make it read it was her sole decision.

We have have had enough of Stupid White Male antics in the world today. They are not exceptional, they do not have any right to lord it over women and minorities of all shades and stripes. They are certainly not entitled to have the best seat in the house or demand we live our lives according to their so called values. Time to move over guys you had your day and you blew it.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Alan, NJ — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:31:57 GMT

Just wait about 20 years when Hispanic's are the majority in this country and the anglo saxon's will be demanding it back.

Juan,Ft Lauderdale, Fl

Demanding what back? Your contempt for white people is showing.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Tired of whiny white folks — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:32:22 GMT

Dear Fortunate Son,

Something tells me you were destined to be bitter right from the start.

So please, don't try to blame it on "you people" . . . the problem is "your people" . . . always starting sh!t . . . then wanna whine when you reap EXACTLY what you sowed.

Slavery . . . segregation . . . lynchings . . . housing discrimiation . . . those aren't fairy tales son . . . that's your legacy

And we never got that 40 acres and a mule you promised . . .

So STFU.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Jimmy, TX. — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:34:25 GMT

This was justice served!!

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Beverly in Chicago — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:37:25 GMT

kreed (Sent Monday, June 29, 2009 10:26 AM)

This was the correct decision, she was wrong on this one, the justices did the right thing. Now...move on.

<><><><<><>
kreed
How can you believe this is justice? The test clearly revealed it was written to favor a particular slice only in our societey.

Are you that same s those elite 5.
Do you prefer Oranges or kumquats?

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Proud to be an American today — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:38:19 GMT

All reverse discrimination should be stamped out of our lives. If it was wrong to discriminate against people of color it makes no sense to 'make up' for it by picking some other class of people to discriminate against.

By the way, why is at that some seem to need protection from discrimination in areas where intelligence and education are at a premium but no one asks where is the balance in the NBA where it is physical attritutes? Hmmmm?

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Dave, Tn — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:40:05 GMT

Is the test they took posted online some where?

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

MO Attorney — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:43:42 GMT

"Just goes to show how much Sotomayor is needed on the Supreme Court to give it more racial and gender balance."

"We can only hope that Thomas or Scalia will be the next ones to be replaced by President Obama so we get a better balanced SC."

@ Eric: the sentiment that removing Thomas from the SC would result in a more "racially balanced Supreme Court" generally belongs at Klan meetings, not First Read's comments section.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Pete - Albany, NY — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:45:22 GMT

So, the G-NO-P will crow that she's racist and sexist and that she was wrong for her decision...

...never mind that the ruling by the 2nd Court was a unanimous decision by a 3-judge panel and that the other two judges were white and one was a male.

Don't let facts get in the way of your talking points.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

The - Democrat Soldier — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:47:02 GMT

And because Sotomayor had a role in the previous decision - this recent decision had nothing to do with justice - but politics.

A damn shame in how the highest court in our land, play with justice for political points, some things never change, until we force them too.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Mo — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:47:53 GMT

I'm not so concerned with the decision, it's that our SC seems to be as political as the rest of the country, that's not what the SC is supposed to be. 5 conservative judges voted to over turn and 4 Liberal judges voted to up hold. get the SC back to ruling on the law not on ideology.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Nicholas: Minnesota — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:48:04 GMT

[Little do they realize that discrimination is wrong, whether it be against blacks or whites.
Looks like right now the whites are playing the victim. It's all they care about. White v. black.
Pat, Boston, MA]
--I'm somewhat confused about your statement. Throwing the consideration of the actual law out, discrimination against both whites and blacks is wrong (I agree with you there). But to say 'whites' are playing victim, because they were denied an advancement? It is unfair to be denied a promotion when merited. Let's reverse the situation, had all blacks and 1 latino passed while all the whites did not. Would there be outrage over the blacks and latinos being denied advancement? Yes, and rightfully.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

jawillie Philadelphia, PA — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:51:27 GMT

So I guess in this case, "empathy" for the "poor oppressed white male" is ok. Let's keep two things in perspective as the debating/arguing/bashing commences.

1 - It was not just White firefighters, but HISPANIC firefighters as well who were denied (and ultimately vindicated).
2 - There were two other WHITE MEN on the original panel who ruled against them.

These are the two parts of the story that never seem to get reported. Of course none of this matters as long as the right-wing gets to bask in its new role as "victim", which they will no doubt play to the hilt for the entire Obama administration. I guess we can look forward to the "Million White Guy March" next.

Oh, wait. We already had that...the "teabagging" protests, only not quite a million.

http://jawillie.blog.com

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Sean, Atlanta, Ga. — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:54:38 GMT

You stupid fools act as if this was a unanimous decision. 4 WHITE MEN and a black man (who has never voted in favor of his own people and who thinks he's white) voted to overturn this CORRECT ruling by a three judge panel. Everyone in America and around the world for that matter knows that white men will always rule for white men regardless of the circumstances or the evidence provided during trial. To me, this is no suprise. This is why the supreme court need to favor the make up of the country. 8 white individual and 1 person of color is currently the makeup of the high court. White people will soon understand in about 25 to 30 years from now when they are no longer the majority race in this country and we will see the reactions from them when the rulings don't come out in their favor.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Joe Don, Topeka, KS. — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:55:48 GMT

Sotomayor, as was her proper role, observed precedent in this case. The Supremes just made new law, and we can assume all lower courts will now follow it – as they're supposed to do.
It's funny how this "judicial activism" stuff seems to depend primarily on which side of the case you're on. Rule against you, and the court is "activist;" rule for you, and it's evidence of "proper judicial restraint."

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Patrick, KY — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:59:17 GMT

Thank goodness for this ruling. I’m so sick of affirmative action.

Lets look at it a different way. Say you needed major surgery and the best doctor was denied the job (no matter what his color) because a minority hiring quota had to be filled, so you wind up with a doctor
that had much lower scores in med school and while board training just because he/she got the job due to being a minority......

Would you rather have the best doctor to remove that tumor or the politically correct doctor?

And to all you crying liberals out there - Sonia Sotomayor, by her own voting record is not only a racist – she is just one more nutball liberal
socialist who will expedite the downfall of this country.

She doesn’t deserve to hold a position in any court –never the less the most powerful court in the land.....

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

MSierra, SF — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:00:14 GMT

Larry Nickles, Chicago: '... guess we're all equal, except some people are more equal then others, at least according to the hispanic woman Sotomayoer, who claims she is smarter then the white men...'

She was probably thinking of George Bush, Dich Cheney, Mitch McConnell and the Boner when she said that

So, it's a VERY UNDERSTANDABLE Statement

PS Four current Supreme Court Justices AGREED with Sotomayor's ruling
Four out of Nine

Close but no cigar

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Clarence Darrow — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:00:56 GMT

The test clearly revealed it was written to favor a particular slice only in our societey.

Actually Beverly, that's not true. The test was examined before it was administered to ensure it didn't favor one race over another and found to be fair. The gentleman involved, Ricci, was dyslexic and had to pay a tutor to prepare for the exam. He ended up scoring the highest. Should he have been denied promotion, Beverly?

If Ricci was an African American, wouldn't he have been promoted by now? So how is that just?

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

A.Brocco,Albuquerque,NM — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:07:22 GMT

This is nothing compared to what the rightwing nuts would be howling about had one of the right wingnuts on the SC voted against the white firefighters.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Jonathan Flint, MI — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:11:31 GMT

Eric,

Thomas is an Afican-American, but your reasoning is he is a dumb white "Bushy" because he votes strictly along the lines of Constitution? Perhaps its because he leaves the legislation to the legislators?
Also, where do you get your liberal Hyperbole message board templates? Wherever it is you shold write and ask that they update it I'm getting kind of bored by them.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Spouting Horn, Asheville, NC — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:13:43 GMT

Such racist comments from the so-called liberals posting on this website!

Oh, that's right, it's politically correct to bash white folks.

(Can white folks help it if a disproportionate amount of black folks cannot pass a competency test? Why should whites be punished for that?)

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Dave, Tn — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:14:10 GMT

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, June 29, 2009 10:27 AM)

That's two things I've seen you post that agree with totally. So why do you think New York works so hard to keep the rest of the country divided? bahahhahaha

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

John B, Des Moines, IA — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:15:23 GMT

This case was decided according to the law and accepted by the court for the express purpose of overturning existing law. Now who's "legislating from the bench"?

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

James Orleans — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:16:18 GMT

There was no evidence put forth that the test was biased. If I give an exam asking: "What is 2+2?" and only the white examinees answer the question correctly, it doesn't make the test racist. What evidence besides outcome has been presented that the test is biased in favor of whites?

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

You get my drift — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:16:55 GMT

I guess we can look forward to the "Million White Guy March" next.

I can just hear the howls of racism if there ever were a million white guy march. Or a Congressional White Caucus. Or a United Caucasian College Fund.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Just askin' — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:18:43 GMT

4 WHITE MEN and a black man (who has never voted in favor of his own people
----------------------------------------------------
Is he there to be a jurist or to rule in favor of his own people? As a SC Justice, aren't his 'own people' Americans?

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

GRIM REALITY — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:19:05 GMT

Yet another ruling by Sotomayor that shows exactly why she's not qualified to be on the SC. Obama better start looking at Plan B as the American people are not liking on what they're seeing.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

pat huntington ny — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:19:16 GMT

Good decision from the Supreme Court. If the black firefighters didn't score well enough to get promoted, then why should those who did score well, be penalized? That is, assuming that the test was not overtly biased. Seems to me, those who didn't score well on the test just didn't prepare well enough.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Richard, San Antonio, Texas — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:20:54 GMT

Only 3 justices,and not the full contingent of 13 justices, ruled in the appeals case brought before the Second Circuit. Sotomayor's mentor, a Puerto Rican named Jose Cabranes, did not agree with her ruling with the other two male justices. Interesting how a Hispanic male sees it differently. No telling how the full panel would have voted. Possibly a close ruling would have prevailed as was the Supreme Court ruling.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

cincinnati girl — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:22:26 GMT

What is troubling about this case is the lack of clarity the media has shared in summarizing all the important aspects of the case. I think the SCOTUS ruling is correct in indicating that, when racially skewed results are unintentionally created, we cannot then change the rules and say we won't use the process that led to those results. However, what is important to note is that we must validate the tests/assessments/judgement criteria that we use to ensure it has the highest levels of objectivity to reduce the chances of unintentional bias impeding on the results.

SCOTUS rules for white firefighters

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:23:40 GMT

From NBC's Mark Murray
Breaking news from the AP: U.S. Supreme Court rules for white firefighters
---------
Good Morning...this ruling doesn't necessarily mean that this has actually been struck down. There was a new provision added that Judge Sotomayor wasn't privy to prior to her ruling. This issue isn't quite a victory for the firefighter. It will go back before the court.

One more thing...This isn't just an issue of black vs white in employment fairness...it is a matter of rairness in general, can anyone say Lilly Ledbetter...