You can't be Hispanic, if you don't vote Democratic - the saga continues
(Via Kathryn Jean Lopez at The Corner) Ruben Navarrette Jr. in the Boston Globe - Hispanic nominee terrifies Democrats:

The truth is that Democrats want to make an example of Miguel Estrada, whose appointment to the bench could make Hispanic voters look more favorably on the Bush administration. They also want to send a message to the White House that when it comes to confirming federal judges, there are some things they simply will not tolerate. Apparently at the top of the list: Independent-minded Hispanic hotshots who don't go around thanking liberals for everything that the nominees have accomplished on their own.
...
Of course, Democrats insist their opposition to Estrada has nothing to do with the fact that he is Hispanic. But that claim has nothing to do with reality. While it may not be fair to suggest Democrats are opposing Estrada just because he is Hispanic, it would be naive to think that they would oppose him as aggressively as they have if he were not Hispanic.

Democrats would not be fighting this hard, holding out this long, and spending this much capital trying to defeat a nominee who didn't pack the emotional punch that Miguel Estrada does -- and a lot of the muscle behind the punch comes from the fact that this nominee is Hispanic.
...
And yet, the Honduran immigrant still packs a wallop. If Estrada makes it onto the appellate court -- despite the best efforts of Senate Democrats to prevent it -- Hispanics might ask what the party of Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy has done for them lately.

Hey Ruben, no fair! The only answer is supposed to be "more government programs"!