So, nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court is just 'identity politics?'

No one will ever be good enough for Republicans. But appointing a Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court? That’s apparently the ultimate insult.

Conservatives went ballistic over the idea of replacing Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer with a Black woman – something President Biden pledged to do if given the chance.

It’s wrong to pick a nominee “based solely on race, gender and identity politics,” went the narrative among conservatives after Breyer on Wednesday announced his plans to retire.

Breyer’s departure gives Biden the first chance to shape the court, which his predecessor packed with ultra conservatives.

Identity politics? You bet.

200 years in control of the court is not long enough?

Conservatives themselves proved that point by hailing former president Trump’s three appointed justices – Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett – to do their bidding on ending abortions and everything else they deem unacceptable.

Race and gender are factors? You bet.

The U.S. Supreme Court was comprised of white men from its inception in 1789 until 1967 when then President Johnson appointed Thurgood Marshall, who came the first Black Supreme Court justice.

The court remained all male until 1981 when Sandra Day O’Connor of Arizona became the first female justice. In 2009, Sonia Sotomayor became the first Hispanic justice.

Conservatives in general and white Americans in particular have no business lecturing the rest of us about identity politics or that it’s wrong to pick a minority to serve on the nation’s Supreme Court.

White justices held the court for 178 years and men for nearly 200 years, and now they are balking about the idea of selecting a Black woman?

It’s pure hypocrisy. But they have no shame.

Expect an all-out assault against anyone Biden nominates, which as White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki indicated on Wednesday, is likely to be a Black woman.

Conservatives will also say that a Black woman isn’t qualified. That her nomination is nothing more than racial and identity politics. All that from mostly white people who have controlled the highest court of the land.

Who’s really playing identity and racial politics here?

Elvia Díaz is an editorial columnist for The Republic and azcentral. Reach her at 602-444-8606 or elvia.diaz@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter, @elviadiaz1.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: A Black woman Supreme Court nominee is 'identity politics'?