Many Americans, including Hispanics all across the country and elsewhere are gearing up to celebrate the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court.
In a Senate vote of 68 to 31 Thursday, Sotomayor will be the first Hispanic and only the third woman to join the court in its 220 year old history.
Not unexpected, the Senate vote was largely along party lines and could be considered a significant victory for President Obama as he battles to obtain bi-partisianship for his healthcare reform.
Among the Republicans voting to confirm Sotomayor on the Court were: Maine’s two female senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, as well as Sens. Lamar Alexander, Lindsey Graham, George Voinovich, Judd Gregg, Richard Lugar, Mel Martinez and Kit Bond. Two Democrats, Sens. Robert Byrd and Ted Kennedy, were not presend for the vote.
Sotomayor, 55, is expected to have a long run and only time will tell how she might influence the Court. During her confirmation hearings she face tough questioning and kicked off a nationwide debate over her use of “wise Latinas” in an previous speech.
Democrats perceive Sotomayor as fair minded, while Republicans feel she is biased.
