If you're one of the few remaining dissenters who doesn't think Sonia Sotormayor is qualified to serve on the nation's highest ranking court, don't blame President Obama. Don't blame any of her law professors or mentors. Don't even blame the left wing media. Blame Perry Mason.
The Supreme Court nominee said before the Senate and the Judiciary Committee that the old Perry Mason show inspired her to seek a life in upholding the law.
Since she's such a fan, just how much does she know about TV's most famous attorney? Newly elected (or appointed, depending on who's propaganda you regularly read/watch) Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota quizzed the nominee on her love for the show, the inspiration it provided her and her knowledge of the prosecutor's litany of legal precedents.
She could not name one of Mason's most memorable and career-defining cases and as usual, she dodged the question.
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For the record, the only case Perry Mason ever lost was "The Case of the Deadly Verdict" in which his client lies about her whereabouts on the stand and condemns herself to the gas chamber, leaving Mason to find the real killer.
This factoid sparked a debate among political wonks looking for haymakers to throw in the other side's face. A Politico reporter received an email from a GOP staffer shortly after the hearing to say, "[The] Obama people are wrong. He (Mason) lost two cases..." The staffer is referring to "The Case of the Terrified Typist" in which Mason represents a man whom he learns is guilty of the crime of which he is accused, but the case ends in a mistrial and gets reassigned to another defender. Tomorrow, the Judiciary Committee will open the third day of testimony by playing a round of "Trivial Pursuit: The SNL DVD Edition."
Just think of the power your television wields. Right now, there is some kid watching CSI and dreaming of being a criminal investigator or watching Wipeout and dreaming of a career in structural engineering or watching The Hills, which inspires him to grow up and be a total douchebag.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-16-2009 @ 1:45PM
PB said...
"... or watching The Hills, which inspires him to grow up and be a total douchebag."
OK, good thing I wasn't drinking anything because that line made me burst out laughing!
Reply
7-16-2009 @ 2:37PM
0megapart!cle said...
Unfortunately, among the American populace, Sotomayor really isn't doing that well. Most recent polls show her either even in favorability or slightly unfavorable, and similarly she is usually even in the decision of confirmation or slightly negative. The Republican attack machine has been very effective.
I am personally concerned that she will be another turncoat (ending up being moderately conservative or even conservative). She doesn't have as much of a history as I would like in key areas (or her history is somewhat conservative). And I am frankly flabbergasted that Obama didn't ask her about abortion, since she doesn't have any kind of record in that respect. I hope he knew what he was doing when he picked her.
But certainly all the arguments against her that Republicans are making are patently absurd. Unfortunately, it seems to be striking a tone with the American people.
Reply
7-17-2009 @ 8:04PM
Stone hunter said...
While I don't remember the second case they refer to, in the article there IS another one that he sorta lost
it was by proving his client( in another case) was guilty
(a traffic violation ) that he proved that he wasn't guilty of murder.
PETERH
Reply
7-21-2009 @ 8:01PM
Nathanael B said...
"But certainly all the arguments against her that Republicans are making are patently absurd."
How so?
Reply