In discussing Judge Sotomayor yesterday, Jay noted that the judge had said something to the effect of “I am an affirmative action baby. My test scores were not good enough to get me into the Ivy League schools I attended because the tests were culturally biased.” Jay then asked what would happen if a radio announcer or some other white male had said “I bet Sotomayor’s test scores weren’t very good and that she only got into those Ivy League schools because of affirmative action.” Jay perceived a double-standard. He imagined that the commentator would get excoriated for his remarks whereas the judge’s own remarks would be met with a positive reaction (if any) from the left.
Jay, do you really not see the difference between a personal account of one’s own experience and the assumptions made by an outsider about events not personally known to them? The former is an expression of fact, whereas the latter is an expression of prejudice: “the judge is Hispanic/female; therefore it is reasonable to assume that she had poor test scores.”
Had a white male commentator said “I have a copy of Sotomayor’s school applications and they clearly indicate that her test scores were well below those of her fellow classmates,” no one would have accused the commentator of prejudice or bias.
4 Comments
Jay hates affirmative action and thereby anyone who has ever benefitted from it. I have also noticed his various “what if” scenarios since he has been back, which he thinks deflect his criticism from himself. It must be very difficult for Jay to couch so many of his strong opinions in “what ifs” and not let his targets feel the full force of those opinions. It is now up to his callers to do this for him. How long can this last?
Jay thinks any successful, black, hispanic, or woman, got there through affirmative action. Not hard work, just affirmative action. As for his callers, they love hate, they thrive off it, particully his women callers. Which I do not understand, because he degrades women on the daily basis.
Herb,
Do you actually listen?
i wish Jay would let go of the white firefighter case he seems to cling too to drive his point home about Sotomayor. He should mention the case where she was in favor of a white sepremesist cops freddom of speech.