Sure. The Sonia Sotomayor Hearings airing on a C-Span or CNN near you is not exactly must-see TV. But hey, 'til they start the new season of Ugly Betty or resurrect the addictive reality show "Viva Hollywood," it's one of the best Hispanic shows on TV (next to telenovelas, of course). And it has all the makings of a typical American sitcom.

You've got the lead Latina who is smart, educated and determined, being scrutinized and almost ridiculed by the supporting cast of mostly White male senators. A sticking point from the moment President Obama announced Sotomayor's nomination is a 2001 speech where she said, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman, with the richness of her experiences, would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

It seems to me that these elected statesmen are making no attempt to understand the background and circumstances that shaped this speech and others that they are ripping Judge Sotomayor apart for. Wanna talk facts? Her record shows she has more experience and qualifications than any justice sitting on the Supreme Court bench right now. Yes, every justice nominee is grilled for their speeches in addition to their rulings, but the hooks conservatives are hanging their hats on seem to all stem from comments centered around race, which, being privileged white men, they are probably not experts on. What did the firefighter case in Connecticut have to deal with? Race - another sticking point in the hearings.

In all fairness, several Republican senators noted that race isn't the issue because if it were conservative Hispanic attorney Miguel Estrada up for nomination, Republicans would be voting for him. But he's not in the hot seat right now.

Until we can work together to eradicate, or at least make a dent in, the racial roots of our many injustices in the United States, Senators, the grandstanding really isn't necessary.

In the end, I believe the first self-identified African American president will be congratulating the first Latina on making it through the "Nielsen ratings" or the senate confirmation hearings.

Boricuas, stand up! 'Til the next episode...


Shanida Smith Carter is a television producer and writer in New York City. She also teaches college courses on the Latin American and Caribbean Diaspora. She lives in New Jersey with her husband. BBN looks forward to her coverage and perspective. .

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