Sotomayor backers target firefighter

[Play The Man]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/71660.html

WASHINGTON — Supporters of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor are quietly targeting the Connecticut firefighter who's at the center of Sotomayor's most controversial ruling.

On the eve of Sotomayor's Senate confirmation hearing, her advocates have been urging journalists to scrutinize what one called the "troubled and litigious work history" of firefighter Frank Ricci.

This is opposition research: a constant shadow on Capitol Hill.

"The whole business of getting Supreme Court nominees through the process has become bloodsport," said Gary Rose, a government and politics professor at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.

On Friday, citing in an e-mail "Frank Ricci's troubled and litigious work history," the liberal advocacy group People for the American Way drew reporters' attention to Ricci's past. Other advocates for Sotomayor have discreetly urged journalists to pursue similar story lines.

With his awards for bravery, some 17 years of fire department service and history of overcoming dyslexia, Ricci has become a compelling human character in the Sotomayor confirmation drama. Senate Republicans have summoned him, along with Lt. Ben Vargas of the New Haven Fire Department, as two of their 14 witnesses next week.

Though even Republicans concede Sotomayor appears poised to win confirmation, the hearing — and Ricci's part in them — could be exploited politically. The case is symbolic of race-based preferences, which conservatives have long rejected.

"Affirmative action remains a potentially useful issue for the GOP," Rose noted, and "this case has the potential of perhaps mobilizing the Republican party again."

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina added that many Americans can identify with Ricci, making him an especially attractive witness for the GOP and potentially dangerous for Democrats.

"He took on a second job and worked hard, but was denied due to the same legal concepts" that were designed to protect people's rights, Graham said.

How low can they go? This is an average guy that is trying to get a deserved promotion and they are out to ruin him. It reminds me of "Joe the Plumber" and the media going after him. This is further proof that the media is biased. I wish the media spent half this much effort trying to vet our current president.

[J.B.]

Originally Posted by Play The Man

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/71660.html





How low can they go? This is an average guy that is trying to get a deserved promotion and they are out to ruin him. It reminds me of "Joe the Plumber" and the media going after him. This is further proof that the media is biased. I wish the media spent half this much effort trying to vet our current president.

Oh, "they" can go a lot lower than this...

The media is MORE than just biased...it's the epitome of soul-less greed and lies in our society. Joe the Plumber seemed like a decent guy, but he was asking for it by getting so involved. That's how it works when you step in the public eye.

[rockdawg21]

This is crazy, it's only a matter of time before he starts receiving threats.

Look at it from the lefts point of view. How dare anyone ask for fairness,justice or oppose Obama!

[NateR]

Don't you all know that this is America? Which means that anyone who disagrees with a Liberal MUST be destroyed.

The left-wing is kind of like the Nazi Gestapo that way:

We have Freedom of Speech, as long as you never disagree with the liberal talking points.

We have Freedom of Choice, as long our choices line up with liberal values.

We have Freedom of Religion, as long as our chosen religion takes a back seat to secular humanism and the liberal power elite.

We have a right to a fair trial, unless you're rich, or a Christian, or a man; then you must be punished for your crimes to the fullest extent of the law.

You can be patriotic and love your country, as long as you agree that America is pure evil and is solely responsible for all the ills of the world (The world was a perfect utopia, before our evil, greedy country came along).

Those are just a few pre-requisites if you are to be allowed freedom in liberal America..... just like our Founding Fathers described.

[Tyburn]

American Dream promises the persuit of...the ability to...opportunity...and chance.

It says nothing about Guarenteed success, nothing about results.

This is what work place politics is all about. He should be doing the same to her. That is how you get into office. Morality has nothing to do with it. You cover your own skelletons and you expose the skelletons of others.

Persuit of YOUR life, YOUR Happiness, YOUR Freedom, YOUR Liberty. Not His. Not your Competitors, Not the person who strives, but doesnt quite make it. Nor, incidently should they be helpped back to their feet.

This is what Capitalism is all about. Selfishness....and before you say they are Government, and not buying or selling...the principles are the same. Money and Power...thats what makes Fortune...everyone has the chance to obtain both and thus complete there dream.

Nietzsche...would say that you should only be in persuit of your becoming IF it doesnt have an adverse effect on Others. Capitalism says...use your opponent and your competition to further and advance your own becoming.

She is not acting outside of the Norm. THATS the travisty.

[NateR]

Originally Posted by Tyburn

American Dream promises the persuit of...the ability to...opportunity...and chance.

It says nothing about Guarenteed success, nothing about results.

This is what work place politics is all about. He should be doing the same to her. That is how you get into office. Morality has nothing to do with it. You cover your own skelletons and you expose the skelletons of others.

Persuit of YOUR life, YOUR Happiness, YOUR Freedom, YOUR Liberty. Not His. Not your Competitors, Not the person who strives, but doesnt quite make it. Nor, incidently should they be helpped back to their feet.

This is what Capitalism is all about. Selfishness....and before you say they are Government, and not buying or selling...the principles are the same. Money and Power...thats what makes Fortune...everyone has the chance to obtain both and thus complete there dream.

Nietzsche...would say that you should only be in persuit of your becoming IF it doesnt have an adverse effect on Others. Capitalism says...use your opponent and your competition to further and advance your own becoming.

She is not acting outside of the Norm. THATS the travisty.

If you think capitalism is about greed, then you really don't understand capitalism at all. Capitalism is destroyed by greed, which is why the Founding Fathers knew that our nation NEEDS a firm foundation in Christian values of charity and mercy. It's when we abandoned those Christian values that greed took over.

[Tyburn]

Originally Posted by NateR

If you think capitalism is about greed, then you really don't understand capitalism at all. Capitalism is destroyed by greed, which is why the Founding Fathers knew that our nation NEEDS a firm foundation in Christian values of charity and mercy. It's when we abandoned those Christian values that greed took over.

No, Capitalism isnt distroyed by Greed...the problem is, its enhanced by Greed...thats the problem. They say "its just business". The Morality brings boundaries to Capitalism, drop those boundaries and Capital gains can go further...Further then intended by your forefathers...its holding to that saying, "give a centimetre and they'll take an inch" its about abusing the Freedom.

Greed has taken over. Now you see what this lady has done with missuse of the Freedom she has been given.

How do we start to...re-address the ballence Nathan How do we put the charity, mercy, and morality BACK into capitalism

[NateR]

Originally Posted by Tyburn

No, Capitalism isnt distroyed by Greed...the problem is, its enhanced by Greed...thats the problem. They say "its just business". The Morality brings boundaries to Capitalism, drop those boundaries and Capital gains can go further...Further then intended by your forefathers...its holding to that saying, "give a centimetre and they'll take an inch" its about abusing the Freedom.

Greed has taken over. Now you see what this lady has done with missuse of the Freedom she has been given.

How do we start to...re-address the ballence Nathan How do we put the charity, mercy, and morality BACK into capitalism

Wrong, that's like saying that Christianity is "enhanced" by greed because men like Jim Baker and Benny Hinn swindle people out of money by claiming that it is going to GOD.

Like Christianity, people can manipulate capitalism to suit their selfish ambitions, but it doesn't mean that capitalism is inherently about greed.

You're assuming that the goal of capitalism is to get rich. That's not necessarily the case. Many people just have the wish to be able to make a living doing something that they love. Only a free-market, capitalist society provides the freedom to do that. Not everyone desires to be rich.

What you are seeing a corrupted version of capitalism in America today, not what was originally intended by our founders.

[Tyburn]

Originally Posted by NateR

Wrong, that's like saying that Christianity is "enhanced" by greed because men like Jim Baker and Benny Hinn swindle people out of money by claiming that it is going to GOD.

Like Christianity, people can manipulate capitalism to suit their selfish ambitions, but it doesn't mean that capitalism is inherently about greed.

You're assuming that the goal of capitalism is to get rich. That's not necessarily the case. Many people just have the wish to be able to make a living doing something that they love. Only a free-market, capitalist society provides the freedom to do that. Not everyone desires to be rich.

What you are seeing a corrupted version of capitalism in America today, not what was originally intended by our founders.

By "enhanced" I meant...that some people could persue their freedoms even more then intended...not that the persuit of those freedoms beyond those which first considered was actually good.

Nathan, the vast majority of people in buisness are out to make AS MUCH money as possible...and this isnt an Americanism...this is everywhere. The Goal of Capitalism is to make as much money as possible

Most people do work to pay the bills, VERY few people love what they do for money. Most people would not go to work if they had the money to survive without it.

It is in Mans fallen nature to be selfish Nathan. Greed its one of the most prevelent sins IMHO.

You can have moralist Capitalism...but its few and far between. Thus Far I have only really found one insitution in Mixed Martial Arts whose goal is to make money...be exceptionally Moral....I've found others who are willing to be moral when it suits their own persuit.

its a nasty world out there Nathan it makes me sad and depressed...and fearful