Supremely Civil Ads ... So Far

Summary
Both the Coalition for Constitutional Values, a liberal group supporting Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court, and the Judicial Confirmation Network, a conservative organization that opposes President Obama's choice, have ads up attempting to enhance or undermine her confirmation prospects.

The ads are accurate and civil. JCN's spot, which is running only on the Internet at this point, quotes extensively from Sotomayor's own remarks about how she hoped that a "wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion" than a white male without those experiences. The entire soundtrack of the Coalition for Constitutional Values ad is from Obama's May 1 remarks about Justice David Souter's departure; biographical bullet points and photos of Sotomayor appear on the screen.

So far, so good. Of course, the average number of days from the announcement of a Supreme Court nominee until his or her confirmation, for the last four justices, has been 72 – plenty of time for mischief to materialize. We'll be watching.

Analysis
These early ads lack the vitriol of some that have run against previous nominees to the high court. In 2005, for instance, we wrote about one that falsely implied nominee John Roberts had supported abortion clinic bombers. Then again, it's likely that at least two months will pass before Sotomayor's nomination comes up for a vote in the full Senate – plenty of time for these and other groups to cut more ads. We'll keep readers posted on any new spots, but meanwhile, here's our take on the current crop.

The Judicial Confirmation Network has been in operation for several years, while the Coalition for Constitutional Values is populated by several well-known organizations normally active on the liberal side of judicial nominations, including the Alliance for Justice.

Biographical Bits
Coalition for Constitutional Values Ad: "Justice"

President Obama: I will seek somebody with a sharp and independent mind. Someone who understands that justice isn't about some abstract legal theory, it is also about how our laws affect the daily realities of peoples' lives, whether they can make a living, and care for their families, whether they feel safe in their homes. I will seek somebody who is dedicated to the rule of law, who shares my respect for constitutional values on which this nation was founded.

The remarks by President Barack Obama that play in the Coalition for Constitutional Values' ad date from May 1, when he made a surprise appearance in the White House press room after speaking with retiring Justice David Souter by phone. Interrupting Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' regular daily session with reporters, Obama talked about what kind of person he would seek to fill the slot.

The quotes used in the ad are a fair representation of what he said, although the group chose to leave out Obama's mention of "empathy," which we quote here:

Obama, May 1: I view that quality of empathy, of understanding and identifying with people's hopes and struggles as an essential ingredient for arriving at just decisions and outcomes.