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I've always been wary of the way the city of New Haven handled the results of its now infamous firefighter promotion test. It never made sense to me. When test results came back, and no black firefighters had scores high enough for immediate promotion, New Haven decided to throw out the results of the test on the grounds that the test itself may have been discriminatory and that the black firefighters might sue the city for discrimination. New Haven was not being altruistic in its concerns about "racial fairness."
The city was afraid of getting sued and so they made an unappealing judgment to simply disregard all of the test results. That's not fair. ...
And the American public, for the most part, stands with the firefighters:"Not surprisingly, most Republicans think that the firefighters were victims of discrimination, but a majority of Democrats join in that view," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Fifty-seven percent of Democrats say the white firefighters were discriminated against. Two-thirds of Independents and three-quarters of Republicans agree." Source: CNN Poll: Two-thirds think firefighters were discriminated against
But now back to how this ruling my impact the confirmation of Judge Sotomayor. In a nutshell, I don't believe it will.
Other Supreme Court judges have been reversed before taking a seat on the bench. My bet is that Sotomayor will be challenged much more vigorously on her notions of the importance of being "a wise Latina woman."
Community Discussion: Reverse Discrimination Firefighter Case
+ High Court Reverses Sotomayor's White Racism Ruling
Latest Photos From Iran
Iranian Mohsen Kadivar (R) leads demonstrators in prayer during a vigil to remember those killed following protests in Iran, outside the Iranian embassy in New York June 19, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES POLITICS CONFLICT)
Reuters
A demonstrator gestures during a vigil to remember those killed following protests in Iran, outside the Iranian embassy in New York June 19, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES POLITICS CONFLICT)
Reuters
Demonstrators pray during a vigil to remember those killed following protests in Iran, outside the Iranian embassy in New York June 19, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES POLITICS CONFLICT)
Reuters
Demonstrators listen to a speaker during a peaceful gathering to protest the election results in Iran, outside the Iranian embassy in New York June 19, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES POLITICS CONFLICT)
Reuters
Demonstrators listen to a speaker during a peaceful gathering to protest the election results in Iran, outside the Iranian embassy in New York June 19, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES POLITICS CONFLICT)
Reuters
A demonstrator holds a banner during a demonstration to protest human rights abuses in Iran, outside Iranian Embassy in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, June 19, 2009. (AP Photo)
AP
A demonstrator holds a banner during a rally to protest the outcome of the presidential election in Iran, outside the Iranian Embassy in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, June 19, 2009. (AP Photo)
AP
A demonstrator holds his baby near a banner, during a rally to protest the outcome of the presidential election in Iran, outside the Iranian Embassy in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, June 19, 2009. (AP Photo)
AP
Demonstrators pray during a vigil to remember those killed following protests in Iran, outside the Iranian embassy in New York June 19, 2009. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES POLITICS CONFLICT)
Reuters
Demonstrators organized by several groups, including Reporters Without Borders, hold banners during a demonstration to protest human rights abuses in Iran, outside Spain's Foreign Ministry in central Madrid, Friday, June 19, 2009. Protesters carried banners reading, 'Where is my vote?' and 'For a secular Iran' and 'Human rights for Iran'.(AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
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Comments: (28)
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By: Joel on 6/30/2009 8:09PM
you're an idiot.
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By: wwwtish4lin on 6/30/2009 8:20PM
I agree whole heartly. They act as if history was made. I also deal with the public color is what I don't see. As a cashier I watch how they give me their money, there is still that one percent of nut jobs and I just smile and say thanks for the green, that keeps America working.
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By: OANAMA KID on 7/01/2009 2:09AM
THIS IS MY OPINION ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT RULING IN FAVOR OF THE WHITE FIRE MENS THEY TOOK THE TEST AND PAST IT THE BLSCKS FAIL IT SO THE WHITES HAVE ALL RIGHTS TO THE JOBS BECASUE THEY PAST THE TEST BUT WAS THE THEST ALL ABOUT PUTTING FIRE OUT OR WAS THE TEST ABOUT EXTENDING LADDERS OR CLEANING TRUCK IT WAS JUST A FEW YEARS BACK I COULD REMEMBER VIET NAN SOME OF THOSE SAME WHITES WASN RUNNING TO CANADA JUST NOT TO GO TO WAR THEY DID NOT STAY AND FIGHT BUT THEY HAVE STRENTH TO FIGHT FOR MONEY BLACK FIRE FITERS EDUCATES YOUR SELF SO THAT NO ONE COULD TAKE ANY THING AND DONT LEAVE YOUR FUTURES TO SOME A-- H--E WHO SITS ON A CHAIR IN A COURT ROOM AND MAKE DECISIONS FOR YOU OK.
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By: Commonsense Domination on 7/01/2009 8:44AM
Where the hell have you neophytes of understanding been? All you need to do is roll back the curtains of the history pertinent to America and everything will become quite conspicuous. Turn to the annals of educational history in America and you will quickly underscore one thing: that every test, despite of its degree of difficulty, was designed to KEEP OUT people of color...particularly BLACKS. Cultural biasness was the dertermining factor AGAINST Blacks/Colored and the KEY to ascertain the success of WHITES in general. Every test was designed based on what a White candidate was likely to have known. That was the very foundation of institutionalized racism in America. SONIA SOTOMAYOR was a 100% correct. Her decision to discard that fire-fighters test demonstrated both courage and socio-political acumen. The fact that the ruling is reversed does NOT mean that her decision was wrong! Do you remember wha happened in 2,000? Judge Bush was GIVEN the presidency, a gift from the Supreme court justices APPOINTED BY REPUBLICANS. Again, it was based on "idealogical lines". However, hundreds of thousands of votes in Florida were excusably discarded with intent/purpose viz to secure the presidency for another Bush, thereby securing a history page, the father-son presidency. At that point, democracy was sabotaged. There was no serious outrage by Democrats in general, who, at sometimes lack a political spinal cord. This reverse of ruling at this particular moment ...prior to the commencement of the process pertinent to her nomination, is a highly visible political move. Ask yourselves this question: Who are the supreme court judges who reversed the ruling "on idealogical lines"? DO NOT BE A DRUNKEN DOG, A DERRANGED DONDKEY OR A MULE SUFFERING FROM DEMENTIA. Just read. The FACTS are waving their hands for recognition...calling out "I am the TRUTH; pick me...Pick me"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By: uncle tom on 7/02/2009 10:27AM
as a black man we must not forget, we can be racist also. we must look at things objectively and not think everyone is out to get us. we must never forget the white people that gave their lives for our freedoms.
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By: Nishsa on 7/06/2009 10:09PM
Okay, it's sad but the vast majority of people who commented on this article clearly did not read it properly: The whole point is that there WAS no racial discrimination! The black firefighters who took the test for possible promotion FAILED it. The non-black firefighters decided to throw ALL of the test scores out in fear that people would say the black firefighters weren't promoted because of racism. So basically, they were afraid of people pulling the race card and didn't want to be bothered. Everything isn't about race, maybe those black firefighters should have STUDIED. Period, point blank. (I'm black, btw).
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By: shay love on 7/22/2009 10:47PM
I think that the black firefighters need to sue too because how did all of the white maen passes the test and non of the black or hispanic men passes it should be up to all people standards not just one race the only reason they crying race is because they want money and trying to make some kind of point actually in my view i think they making themselves look foolish and it just the start because of people going to sue to the test was unfair and the other men i pray sue and lets see do they get there case heard. I think they should of made the test fair in the first place then they would have to throw it out. minorities always have the short in of the stick and just because we growing it not fair to try to punished us i love everybody just hate some people ways and until some white people start being honest and fair and not thinking that there race is better then eveybody else this will never be a whole world it will be divide forever
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By: Jamal on 7/23/2010 9:18PM
I'm a black firefighter for the city of Seattle. We administer a similar test. These tests are not racist. They test for knowledge of fire science and department SOPS. Everyone is given the same material to study in order to prepare for the test. These testing procedures are set in place to make sure the best person is promoted. This is a very dangerous job. If your son was a firefighter would you want him going into a burning building with a Captain that failed the written exam?
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