Democrats Walk a Fine Line on Ricci Attacks

Awhile back, I noted that the only chance Republicans had of stopping Sonia Sotomayor was to juxtapose her story next to that of Frank Ricci. By now, you know Ricci was at the center of a reverse discrimination lawsuit brought by 20 firefighters in New Haven, Conn. Ricci is also dyslexic -- and spent more than $1,000 on books and for payment to a friend who recorded the books for him -- to study for a promotions test.


Ricci is slated to be a key witness in the confirmation hearings. The liberal group People for the American Way sent out an e-mail late last week, accusing Ricci of having a "troubled and litigious work history," and of being a serial plaintiff. The goal, of course, is to undermine his credibility.

It occurs to me that while Republicans have been warned that harsh interrogation of Sotomayor might lead to a Hispanic backlash, Democrats should fear a backlash from those who care about learning disabilities. It is estimated that between 20 and 40 percent of Americans have reading problems. What is more, this comes on the heels of President Obama's "joke" about the Special Olympics.

Democrats should be sensitive to the concerns of Americans with learning disabilities. They should also recognize the contributions made by Americans with dyslexia. Presidents Thomas Jefferson and John F. Kennedy were reportedly dyslexic. It is said that Woodrow Wilson didn't read until the age of 12. Sen. Al Franken's hero, the late Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.), is also included on lists of famous people with dyslexia.

To be sure, one can disagree with Frank Ricci without being insensitive to those with learning disabilities, just as one can oppose Sonia Sotomayor without being a racist. Still, as liberal groups and Democrats seek to confirm the first Latina, they should be careful not to offend a large number of American families whose lives are impacted by various types of learning disabilities and reading problems.