COVERITLIVE.COM

12:01

[Comment From Ruben Navarrette]
Hey, I'm here. Welcome to the chat.

12:06

[Comment From Dennis]
Hello, Ruben. On a recent 'Hardball' show on MSNBC you replied to Chris matthews question about appointing a latino to the Supreme Court by saying "We're due!"

12:08

Ruben Navarrette - Hi Dennis, Yep. That was me. Very few Latino syndicated columnists out there. Must have been me.

12:08

[Comment From Dennis]
Do you really believe that government positons should be apportioned according to ethinicity, gender, or race in today's world?

12:10

Ruben Navarrette - I do. That is, I think the position should go to a very qualified individual and that -- lo and behold in 2009 - we can find qualified individuals who are women and minorities and bring a different perspective.

12:11

Ruben Navarrette - Matthews seemed to be ok with a "Jewish seat" and "Catholic seat" but, suddenly, when the talk turned to a Latino, he yelled: "identity politics!"

With liberals like that, who needs conservatives?

12:11

[Comment From Dennis]
Alan Dershowitz, Harvard Law, says that President Obama should refrain from what he calls "representational pressure" an obvious oposite position than you seem to espouse.

12:12

Ruben Navarrette - I know Dersh. Met him at Harvard. And, as I recall, he felt differently when it came to putting Jewish members on the court -- Frankfurter, Fortas, Brandeis - as a way to breaking barriers. Ain't that interesting?

12:13

Ruben Navarrette - Besides, Dersh also thinks we should torture terror suspects if we get a judge to sign a warrant ok'ing it. You ok with that?

12:14

[Comment From Dennis]
Sounds like an affirmative action plan for Supreme Court Justices is in order?

12:15

Ruben Navarrette - Well, if Obama takes Sonia Sotomayor, Yale Law, Princeton undergrad - sitting federal appeals court judge -- it won't be affirmative action. It'll be acknowleding excellence. Unless you think "excellence" is the sole province of white males.

12:16

Ruben Navarrette - Now that I think about it, I'd say that Roberts and Alito benefited from affirmative action -- for conservatives.

12:16

[Comment From Dennis]
As Old Bill C. would say..."it depends on what torture is..is...." but yes , I have little empathy towards those who were respnsible for 9 - 11 when it comes to obtaining vital info which may save American lives....

12:16

Ruben Navarrette - With you on that. Not for vengeance. But as an information gathering tool. Sure.

12:20

Ruben Navarrette -

The Supreme Court thing is interesting. Today, the WH warned those on the left: No more lobbying? What? From a Democratic administration? All they did for eight years was lobby Bush whenever openings came up. Now they flip-flop.

12:20

[Comment From Dennis]
That's a stretch....and no, I am not set on just white amles being selected, nor am I into an 'afformative action' plan for government positons...Can't agree w yr claim "We're due!"

12:21

Ruben Navarrette - That's ok. I'm a columnist, not a politician. You don't have to agree with anything I say or write. Just think it through, and I'm happy.

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