Certain members of the right are concerned Sonia Sotomayor's fringhteningly Puerto Rican diet may affect her decisions. This is chilling stuff from The Hill:
Sotomayor also claimed: “For me, a very special part of my being Latina is the mucho platos de arroz, gandoles y pernir — rice, beans and pork — that I have eaten at countless family holidays and special events.”
This has prompted some Republicans to muse privately about whether Sotomayor is suggesting that distinctive Puerto Rican cuisine such as patitas de cerdo con garbanzo — pigs’ feet with chickpeas — would somehow, in some small way influence her verdicts from the bench.
I don't know enough yet about Sotomayor to have a strong opinion one way or the other about her jurisprudence, but as a native Texan for whom "comfort food" means enchiladas Suizas and chiles rellenos, I can say without question that my steady diet of jalapenos has disproportionately affected my support of the chile lobby. This has so far not encouraged them to offer me money for pro-jalapeno copy in the Advocate, but I want to assure my readers that if and when the Jose Jalapeno League comes calling, I will not–you have my solemn word–be unduly swayed. I will still call a serrano a serrano without blanching. I only hope Ms. Sotomayor can promise to remain similarly aloof.
PS–I cannot make similar promises regarding chipotles, but I will try my best.
Above: A plate of liberal activism, as seen from the bench.
