Thursday the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the 111th justice to server on the U.S. Supreme Court.  The vote will forever be remembered for its historical significance but now also its partisanship.

Much has been written in more reputable publications than this about this being a Jackie Robinson moment for Hispanics.  However all that became overshadowed by the inexplicable 20 hours of debate over Sotomayor’s qualifications, and the fact that 31 Republicans ultimately voted voted against her, making her nomination marred by divisive party politics.

The vote (68-31) in which 57 Democrats, nine Republicans and two independents voted “yes” was the closest confirmation vote since the highly controversial Clarence Thomas was confirmed 52-48 in 1991.  A shocking reality despite the fact the woman carries a resume with more judicial experience than any single nominee in the last 100 YEARS and had no such Anita Hill scandal.  What seemed at first a no-brainer when we first reported it was curiously made a political debate at the expense of the tax payers and at risk of the sanctity of our beloved Constitution.  While I’ve been criticized very recently with being too conservative with pulling the race card I’ll have to admit I’m looking at this “coincidence” with race colored glasses.

In the end, the noticeable lack of Republican support was a not so secret ploy by the GOP to influence future Obama nominations throughout the federal judiciary, including the Supreme Court if vacancies arise.  While Democrats, though a majority, helped in the 2005 vote (78-22) to confirm Judge Roberts, the fairness and honesty was not reciprocated this time around.

However, what goes around, comes around.  The political bag-o-tricks may make the President reconsider his judicial appointments and create challenges for future confirmations, unfortunately many of those same sly Senators may not be around to see it.  By refusing to support the more than qualified Sotomayor the already reeling GOP has further alienated itself from the ever growing U.S. Hispanic population.  This is the same group that was reluctant to support then Senator Obama’s campaign, and was looking for a home in the GOP.  However their “Jackie Robinson moment” was scarred by the political agendas of a few.  Those Republican Senators who recklessly stood in her way will pay with their jobs come election time while Justice Sotomayor sits in her black robe and comfy seat in the high court despite them.