“The yeas are 68 and the nays are 31. The nomination of Sonia Sotomayor of New York to be a Supreme Court Justice of the United States, is confirmed.” (KTVU)

Reactions from Hispanics regarding the confirmation of the nation’s first Latina Supreme Court justice are as expected. (Footage from the Miami Herald)

But what are their feelings toward the Republican Party when the Democrats were the ones who made it happen? Our research reveals the media have mixed opinions on the Republican reputation in the eyes of America’s fastest-growing ethnic group--Hispanics.

Politico writer Roger Simon gives his take on the 31 “no” votes on MSNBC, claiming it was a smart move for the Republicans.
 
“A no vote is much easier. If you cast a yes vote on her, if you break with the party and cast a yes vote, and she issues some ruling, even if it’s just one vote and 8 against that says all guns should be banned in America, well, you’re going to face a lot of trouble. If you vote no on her and she does something great, nobody’s going to come to you and say, she’s the greatest justice of all time.”

However, political strategist Lionel Sosa disagrees the vote will help Republicans. As a Latino, he tells the Washington Post of the larger implications this partisanship may have.

“Latinos see her as a symbol of Hispanic leadership in America… If they vote against Sotomayor, it’s a vote against Hispanic leadership in America. That’s the way Latino voters will see it.”

Ralph Reed, Chairman of the Faith and Freedom organization takes a completely different perspective. Speaking with FOX News, he says this confirmation may actually harm Democrats.

“The republicans obviously want to connect with that Hispanic constituency, but if they oppose her on the merits, and make it clear that any red state democrat who votes for Sotomayor is voting for these extremist views, I believe it will hurt those red state Democrats in 2010 and 2012.”

But in the New York Times’ Room for Debate blog, Stanley Greenberg argues Republicans are just contributing to the clout Democrats have already established.

“They looked like a party consumed by race, just as the country elected its first African-American president and handed control of the Congress to a Democratic Party that was winning in all regions and piling up landslide majorities among the young and every racial minority, including Hispanics.”

How do you think the Republican’s “no” votes for Judge Sotomayor will play out with the Hispanic population?