Do you think that Republicans would run ads calling Sotomayor "not that bright," a "recipient of preferential treatment most of her life," and "racist" on Spanish language radio?
I seriously doubt it. But we should.
This is a perfect branding moment when the uglier side of the conservative movement and Republican activist base is coming out in the open. As such, we need to take the smears Republicans are currently throwing at Sotomayor and run them as paid advertisements on Spanish language radio and television from now through Sotomayor's confirmation. This is an opportunity to push Republican numbers among Latinos below 30% for a generation, and we need to jump on it.
Here is a rough draft of an ad campaign (it would need to be translated into Spanish, obviously):
Judge Sonia Sotomayor grew up in a housing project. Her mother was a nurse, and her father, a tool and dye worker, died when Sonia was only nine. And yet Republicans think she has been given preferential treatment all her life.
She graduated second in her class at Princeton University, and is a member of the American Philosophical Society. And yet, Republicans have said Sonia Sotomayor isn't very smart.
She has served as a judge longer than anyone currently on the Supreme Court did before they were nominated, and yet Republicans argue Sotomayor was only chosen because her family was Puerto Rican.
Why do Republicans really oppose Sonia Sotomayor? Call Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and tell him to support her historic nomination.
No one is better at hurting Republican chances among minority groups than Republicans themselves. We need to take their own anti-Sotomayor message directly to the Latino community for them, and let the community decide what it thinks about the Republican Party as a result. I also want Mitch McConnell to have to answer for the attacks on Sotomayor from conservative media. It is a nice opportunity to forge a wedge between the Republican Senate and conservative media.
I'd like to see Republicans complain about these ads, too. If they really thought their attacking Sotomayor in such racially charged ways was a good idea, they should have nothing to complain about.
Republicans really need to pay a heavy, long-term political price for these attacks. Let's make sure that they do. |
