Most are now convinced that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor will be confirmed, including Senate Republicans. Still, they are readying their opposition speeches, which should begin Tuesday with Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), the Senate Judiciary Committee's ranking Republican, leading the charge. Sessions was once himself a nominee for a federal judgeship. He was accused of racism, and his nomination was voted down.

Sotomayor has faced similar accusations of sexism and racism due to her involvement with women's and ethnic organizations. Can we expect this issue to be set aside as not germane? If Sessions sticks to discussing Sotomayor's merits and qualifications rather than racism or sexism red herrings, it will be a far cry from the rest of the criticism Sotomayor has faced from many such as Gingrich and Limbaugh, who many consider the voice of the GOP, and who called Sotomayor a "Latina woman racist."

Why do they say woman as if it's a bad thing?

Many women running for office find themselves facing their gender in a negative way. Women watching this who might consider running for office must take it into account -- and the price they may have to pay to either avoid or defend themselves from similar accusations. Sotomayor paid one price when she resigned from the all-women's club Belizean Grove rather than face accusations of discrimination. The federal judiciary adopted a code of conduct that requires all federal judges to not join any organization that discriminates by race, sex, religion or nationality. But is an all-women's club really discrimination? Sotomayor didn't believe so:

"In a letter to Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the federal appeals court judge said she is convinced that the club does not practice "invidious discrimination" and that her membership in it did not violate judicial ethics.
But she said she didn't want questions about it to "distract anyone from my qualifications and record."

That's fair enough, but it also serves as a discouragement to other women with high aspirations who might benefit from clubs that bolster women. Belizean grove, for example, was formed as the women's answer to a similar all-male club. How crucial are clubs like these---these focused networking groups of successful people---to success for women?
Very.

The Belizean Grove's web site states:

"Having observed the power of the Bohemian Grove, a 130-year-old, elite old boys' network of former presidents, businessmen, military, musicians, academics, and non-profit leaders, and realizing that women didn't have a similar organization, Susan Stautberg and 26 other founding members created the Belizean Grove, a constellation of influential women who are key decision makers in the profit, non-profit and social sectors; who build long term mutually beneficial relationships in order to both take charge of their own destinies and help others to do the same."

Former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor defended her membership in all-women groups during her Senate confirmation hearings in 1981. These groups can truly support women and assist them in fulfilling their ambitions (and I'm saying that like it's a good thing because it is, even in women, especially for women).

To be fair, male nominees have faced the same question about their involvement in all male clubs, but isn't this a bit like comparing apples and oranges?

When you consider the disproportionate statistics of elected women to elected men, it's clear women need every advantage they can get. When we tackle women and other minorities for seizing opportunity through exclusive groups designed to enable them to succeed to their highest potential, it's not a reasonable criticism. These people don't face the same opportunity. Organizations such as WomenCount, EMILY'S List, She Should Run, as well as member networking groups are crucial to providing avenues to women who aspire to the highest positions.

All things aren't equal, not for women and especially not for women running for office, therefore it can't really be called discrimination if a woman such as Sotomayor employs women or cultural groups to help her rise to her goals.