Miranda's Still Not Right

You might remember that I blogged about the strategy, or lack thereof, of Manuel Miranda in using the Sonia Sotomayor confirmation hearings to go after Sen. Mitch McConnell and an absurd statement saying "[Hispanics] are not like African-Americans. We think just like everybody else." I doubt I would find any Republican who would look at that statement as anything but absurd. Apparently, this commentary has caused Miranda some angst as he emailed me this afternoon with the following comment:

From: Manuel Miranda
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2009 12:17 PM
To: Dwayne Horner
Subject: Now I understand

....a Kentucky connection.

I came across your post. I was surprised by the ad hominem attack. I have to assume you are young or were occupied over the past 6 years. Or are just running interference for the Leader's misguided staff.

Unlike other advocates, I do not get paid a dime to engage on this issue and it distracts me from my work. I have done it for 6 years now and expect nothing from it personally, except grief and distraction.

In any case, you apparently either did not read our letter, or are just a hack for Don Stewart. Which is it?

M. Miranda

One should expect "grief" for making inflammatory statements that do the cause a disservice. One should expect "grief" for giving Democrats ammunition during a process when comments by the nominee are equally inflammatory. One should expect "grief" when you are causing respected conservative leaders to distance themselves from you.

As I noted in my blog post, this is not about self-promotion but examining a nominees record over time and giving the American people an alternative to the air of inevibility the Democrats want to create. We must demonstrate to the American people that this person is ill qualified, which she is, on her judicial philosophy rather than just attacking a latino ala Miguel Estrada v. Democrats.