Sotomayor said in 2001, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life." The LA Times asked several Latinas for their reactions — below, a few excerpts.

Rossana Rosado, Publisher of El Diario:

I think most women in this country embrace the concept that you bring something as a woman that you don't bring as a man. "Better" in the context of that speech was fine. I think surely that if you knew something you said today was going on the record for something very important you were going to do years from now, surely you would say it very differently. But as we have watched a panel of predominantly white men questioning her, it's no surprise that they might be put off by that description.

Maria Elena Durazo, Executive secretary-treasurer, L.A. County Federation of Labor:

For me, a wise Latina means diversity. I think she brings the experiences of people of color, the experiences of families struggling from lower socioecon backgrounds. She brings the experience of overcoming enormous obstacles to go to an Ivy League school and graduate cum laude. It's a very good experience to bring to the judiciary because her background represents more people in this country than the background of those members of the court who come from well-to-do families.

Antonia Hernandez, President and CEO of the California Community Foundation:

Many years ago, one of the first times I went to court, the bailiff stopped me and said, "Excuse me, you belong on the other side with the interpreters." At least he didn't think I was the defendant. You learn survival skills from this kind of experience. You learn how to bridge; you learn how to be entrepreneurial. It's a cliche, but we are framed by our experiences.

Josefina Lopez, Author of Real Women Have Curves and Hungry Woman in Paris:

Many people seem to assume that because Sonia Sotomayor's an ethnic woman, or because of the wise Latina comment, she's going to be biased. That's racist. They're assuming they aren't biased and that she is because she's an ethnic person. All these white men who were on the Supreme Court for the first 200 years were supposed to be impartial and unbiased, but for 200 years they upheld laws that supported segregation and discrimination. You kind of have to laugh.

So when most people in the government are white, relatively well-to-do men, and most people in the country are not, it might be nice to have a Supreme Court justice who has shared some of the struggles of people without much political power? And sharing these struggles doesn't cloud her wisdom, as some Senators seem to suggest, but enhance it? What a concept.

On Sonia Sotomayor: Words From 'Wise Latinas' [LA Times]

"You'd say, 'You want an accent?' And they'd say, 'Yes, we prefer for you to have an accent.' And the thicker and more waddly it is, the more they like it," the actress, born in Texas, says. She's been in The Goonies, Charlie's Angels and Who's The Boss?. She says: "I long to play a judge. I long to play a lesbian woman. I long to play a councilman, someone with some chutzpah." [NPR]

The Times notes that only 26 percent of Latinos favor John McCain at the moment, a sharp decline from the 44 percent who voted for Bush in 2004. This is despite some racism among Latinos towards African-Americans, as picked up by the Washington Post:

Geronimo Cruz, a retired factory worker living in Mora County, worries aloud that "blacks are for blacks," and that in the White House, Obama would care for his racial brethren in the inner cities before looking out for the white and Hispanic rural lands. He cites hip-hop videos as proof that confident, aloof African Americans are more interested in a good time than hard work.

He, like many others, refers to Obama as "El Negrito," a diminutive that can be affectionate when referring to one's grandfather, as in "abuelito," or condescending when referring to the potential President of the United States.

The Post, by the way, calls describes those comments as indicative of "subtle racial concerns." I guess compared to "Traitor" and "Kill him!," maybe they are!

So what's the problem with McCain for Latinos, who, as Laura Ramírez Drain tells the Washington Post, used to kind of dig Republicans? Janet Murguía, executive director of the National Council of La Raza has an answer:

"The Republican brand has been tarnished as result of the immigration debate and the extreme rhetoric that came out of that debate. We think McCain remains an advocate of a comprehensive approach, but his standing has been undermined by those within his own party and the tough immigration plank in the 2008 Republican platform."

Many Latinas agree, while others cite the need for health care reform and the poor economy as reasons they are backing Barack Obama this time. In fact, the Latinas who are supporting McCain tend to gloss over those issues and instead talk about how the need to criminalize abortion and eliminate same sex marriage are reasons to back him (in addition to the fact that some of them really like Sarah Palin). The WaPo:

Why McCain? The Latinas for McCain cite moral values. He is antiabortion and for "the sanctity of marriage."

A couple of small businesswomen also parrot McCain's line that Obama's tax plan will kill their businesses. Roxana Cazares Olivas, a small businesswoman herself, former Bush backer and a founder of Latinas Unidas por Obama sees plenty of reasons to back Obama:

"Immigration, the war, the economy, Katrina," she says. "We just need a change. . . . He not only captured me in his actions but also captured my heart." She doubts McCain's continued commitment to immigration reform, and says she has never forgotten Obama addressing a huge march for immigrant rights in Chicago in 2006....
Values matter, too. Sanctity of marriage? Olivas asks which candidate left his first wife and broke up his family. Abortion is tough. She balances it with immigration reform, which she sees as a moral issue, as well. "Yes, we're not for abortion, but immigration is a deal-breaker," she says.

It is a little funny, actually, that the campaign that accused Democrats of holding women hostage on abortion earlier this year is benefiting in some small way from women tied to the abortion issue — and that Latina women like Olivas, who opposes it, are choosing the Democratic candidate despite it.

Photo: Barack Obama Speaks At The La Raza Conference
SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 13: L, Isabel and Francisco Flores wait outside before hearing Presumptive Demcoratic presidential nominee Barack Obama at the National Council of La Raza Annual Meeting on July 13, 2008 in San Diego, California. The NCLR is the largest Hispanic Civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States and works to opportunities for Hispanic Americans.(Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images)

McCain Is Faltering Among Hispanic Voters [New York Times]
Will Race Deter the Hillary Hispanics? [Washington Post]
Democrats or Republicans, Latinas Are Swaying the Vote [Washington Post]

Earlier: Hey Carly Fiorina, Who Exactly Is Holding My Uterus Hostage?