Discriminations

OOPS! - The Congressional Hispanic Caucus, which has just announced its opposition to Miguel Estrada, as of this writing has forgotten to update its web site, which lists its past support of ... Miguel Estrada.

This is the "Statement of Purpose on the Recruitment and Support of Judicial Nominees" of their "Hispanic Judiciary Initiative":

Political leadership, particularly in the federal government, benefits from a diversity of thought and action. In an effort to promote this diversity, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus promotes and encourages Hispanic representation at all levels and in every branch of government. In order to ensure that the Judicial branch more accurately reflects the communities that it serves, the CHC will actively work to identify and recommend qualified Hispanic candidates to fill federal court vacancies. As with all positions, the CHC strives to find judicial candidates who are qualified, experienced, have a demonstrated commitment to the Hispanic community and who will enhance diversity on our courts by contributing under-represented perspectives.

Judicial Candidates of Interest to the CHC

• Jose Martinez, nominated to the U.S. District Court, Southern Florida District. Link to CHC letter to the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

• Miguel Estrada, nominated to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit

According to today's Washington Post,

Rep. Robert Menendez (N.J.) said that during an interview with caucus members in June, Estrada appeared to have "a very short fuse. . . . I don't think he has the judicial temperament that is necessary to be a judge."

Perhaps, but that conclusion never reached the Home Page of the CHC, which says that its site was last updated August 15, 2002.

UPDATE - The Board of Directors of The Latino Coalition issued a news release today condemning the decision of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (all of whose 18 members are Democrats) to oppose Miguel Estrada as "a slap in the face of U.S. Latinos."

"Today is a sad day in Hispanic America. Our Latino political leaders have decided to put partisan politics over the benefit of our community simply to satisfy the needs of their party bosses," said TLC President Robert Deposada. "Sacrificing the nomination of the first Latino to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, just to lend credibility to an obviously partisan lynching of an extremely well qualified and decent Latino, like Miguel Estrada, is an act of betrayal and corruption to millions of Latinos across this country."

"It's so sad that the only Latinos opposing Estrada's nomination are those who are controlled by partisan bosses who are looking to score political points at the expense of our community," Deposada added. "Not a single Hispanic organization has opposed Mr. Estrada's nomination. So what other reason other than partisan obligation, would they have for doing this? The members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus need to make a simple decision, whether they are partisan leaders or community leaders? And after this decision, we are convinced they already chose party over community."