Cardin lobs softballs, yanks Ripken into Sotomayor hearing
As the Senate hearing for Judge Sonia Sotomayor drags into the late innings, the national pastime has again been pulled into the proceedings.
Let's start with the breaking news: In a revelation that can only come as a disturbing development to many in Baltimore, the likely Supreme Court justice revealed today that she is among the countless New York Yankee fans who have made themselves at home at Oriole Park over the years.
Ever since Sotomayor first took the Hill this week, well-worn comparisons between umpires and judges have featured repeatedly at her confirmation hearing.
On Monday, in her opening statement, she made a blatant pitch for support from the fans at home by boasting of her involvement in the 1995 major league baseball strike case.
Today, mere hours after Orioles outfielder Adam Jones drove in the winning run for the American League in the 2009 All-Star game, the judge took another swing at a baseball question, courtesy of Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland.
Those who have watched every pitch may have noticed that friendly Democratic senators frequently offer President Barack Obama's nominee a chance to recover between rounds of hostile questioning from Republicans.
Like a pitching coach or a catcher or infielder visiting the mound, the Dems try to give their star pitcher a few minutes to gather her composure before the next Republican batter steps up.
When it was Cardin's turn this morning, he opened with a little infield chatter.
"I just want you to know that the baseball fans of Baltimore knew there was a judge somewhere that changed in a very favorable way the reputation of Baltimore forever," he said. "You are a hero, and they now know it's Judge Sotomayor. You're a hero to the Baltimore baseball fans."
The judge listened attentively, and the Democratic senator explained.
"The Major League Baseball strike," Cardin said. "You allowed the season to continue so Cal Ripken could become the iron man of baseball in September, 1995."
After a brief ripple of laughter subsided, the senator asked Sotomayor to visit Camden Yards. "And we promise it will not be when the Yankees are playing so you can root for the Baltimore Orioles."
That's when Sotomayor, who has carefully concealed her personal views on hot-stove topics like abortion, may have let her guard down.
The judge, whose likely new office at the Supreme Court is within walking distance of Nationals Park, called the offer to visit Baltimore "a great invitation." Then she revealed that she is one more Yankee fan who found her way to Eutaw Street.
"You can assure your Baltimore fans that I have been to Camden Yards," said Sotomayor, all but certain to become the first Latina Yankee fan to sit on the nation's highest bench.
If this information shook Cardin, and his plan to vote in favor of her confirmation, he didn't let it show. But a few moments later, he committed a clear error, even as he was attempting to toss softballs in her direction on topics like the importance of diversity in the judicial system and the value of pro bono work for lawyers.
"We would all do well," said the normally sure-fingered Cardin, "to remember the advice given to us by our colleague, Senator Edward Kennedy, the former chairman of this committee, as he talks about the civil rights struggle, when he says, and I quote: 'The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die.'"
Perhaps Cardin forgot that Kennedy spoke those words, in the most famous speech of his career, to the 1980 Democratic National Convention in Sotomayor's own New York City. But Kennedy was referring to his own, just-ended presidential campaign, not civil rights.
It was an obvious miscue by Cardin, the veteran lawmaker from Maryland, and also a reference that his senior Senate colleague from Baltimore would not have booted. Barbara A. Mikulski, as trivia buffs know, introduced Kennedy to the crowd in Madison Square Garden as he waited in the on-deck circle on that memorable night.
Comments
Kennedy, no matter what you think of him, was NOT referring to his own campaign. Even if you hate his guts, you would have to admit that he's not so dumb as to use such lofty language about his own political aspirations. He ain't Michelle Obama (who is now proud of her country, I hear). Kennedy was referring to the causes that he said he was fighting for.
Posted by: BigO | July 15, 2009 2:22 PM
"For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."
As Big O said, I think it's pretty clear that he was not talking about his own campaign.
Posted by: Peter | July 15, 2009 3:09 PM
When Senator Kennedy closed his speech at the 1980 Democratic Convention by saying, "The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die," he was not referring to his candidacy for President.
Those words would not have endured had that been the case. Nor would the Senator have paraphrased them when he concluded his speech to the Democratic Convention last summer with these words:
"The work begins anew. The hope rises again. And the dream lives on."
Posted by: Sandy Rosenberg | July 15, 2009 3:11 PM
Did Kennedy then propose a toast as well? Seems it would be quite appropriate of him to do just that.
I also wonder who wrote that line for him.
Posted by: Gus Smegma | July 15, 2009 5:23 PM
The dream may never die but Mary Jo Kopechne sure did. It's time for Ted Kennedy to meet his maker and burn in hell for depriving young Mary Jo her life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.
Posted by: Eli | July 15, 2009 5:24 PM
Hey, Gus-- glad you asked who wrote the speech for Kennedy-- it was Bob Schrum-- cut his teeth on NYC Mayor John Lindsay, before working for Ed Muskie, George McGovern and in 1976, Jimmy Carter. He has also managed at least one campaign for BAM that I am aware of. He's a political campaign sharp shooter with many dead bodies notched on his pen-
Posted by: Old Timer | July 15, 2009 8:05 PM
It was supposed to be a proud moment to see our state senator ask questions on such an important committee but instead it became a groveling embarrassment. As a senator, he was supposed to represent Maryland by helping us understand the nominee by asking important questions, but instead became a sickening cheerleader. According to him, the justics is supposed to be there to defend minorities, not support the Constitution. Everyone who saw this should call his office and than him for wasting valuable time at such an important hearing.
Posted by: livewiremd | July 16, 2009 6:34 AM
I see that some people think senate hearings are places where there must never be any humor or friendliness.
Ever.
To such angry folk, to show humanity is to show weakness. Who knew being on the losing side in November would make a few folk so bitter they must whine about the littlest of things
Posted by: simone | July 16, 2009 9:33 AM
As other comments have noted, Laura Smitherman and Paul West make a clear error in accusing Senator Cardin of doing the same. They say that "Kennedy was referring to his own, just-ended presidential campaign, not civil rights." But his campaign--and his political career overall--was all about civil rights. Kennedy was not talking about his campaign in the narrow sense, but the broader causes that it stood for. Senator Cardin--who has been on the democratic political scene for many years--was certainly aware of the context of Kennedy's remarks, and was making an appropriate reference to their well-known political significance. As the first response notes, "Kennedy was NOT referring to his own campaign,” but rather “to the causes that he said he was fighting for." This article should be re-edited or taken down.
Posted by: David Lenehan | July 16, 2009 11:30 AM
One more reason not to like this liberal racist judge.
Posted by: leon | July 16, 2009 12:39 PM
Leon,
You meant to say the judge with a fine record on the bench that the Republicans now say is mainstream, level headed and accomplished?
The one who graduated from high school, college and law school with honors?
Are you saying that to Republicans, being a racist is mainstream? Is that what the Southern startegy was all about?
Are they hoping to try that again?
Posted by: Simone | July 17, 2009 9:02 AM
A Yankee fan?!?! If Cardin votes for her, we'll know what kind of O's fan he is!! But would she uphold a class-action suit against Angelos for negligence, incompetence, and breach of fiduciary duty. Res ipsa loquitur and quod erat demonstrandum to you, Judge Sotomayor!
Posted by: rockvillejake | July 17, 2009 11:48 AM