Mike Martinez makes some good points about the politics of race and judicial appointments:

When minority candidates are dissected, qualifications are always secondary to ethnicity, race and gender. Selectors point fingers that a minority is either too minority or not minority enough. There is argument over whether he/she is really qualified; after all, affirmative action might have played a role. And, inevitably, community groups take benefactor sides.

Estrada's credentials aren't discussed because they are impeccable, so subterfuge, filibuster and talk of Hispanicness delay a worthy nominee. Democrats should forward Estrada's nomination and then emulate the party of Lincoln. But they won't because they know what is best for the Latino community, as the condescending mumbo-jumbo goes, regardless of what Latinos want or need, or their qualifications.

His piece is nuanced and accurate. He's a Democrat, so I think he can't just call them racists, but that makes his analysis more worth reading.