October 24, 2007 5:39 PM

Did your senator nominate a bigot for a lifetime appointment today?

Mine did. I can't remember the last time I was so disappointed with Senator Dianne Feinstein. I was 16 when I first helped Senator Feinstein get elected in 1992. I walked door to door for her in Orange County to turn out voters even though I wasn't able to vote myself. I respected her and believed she would truly represent all women in California. She not only failed Californians today, but she failed the rest of the country when she openly supported and helped confirm Justice Leslie Southwick for a lifetime appointment to the 5th Circuit Court.

Judge Southwick's written record is not very extensive, but what is on the record is deeply troubling. He apparently believes that homosexuality is a "choice" -- and that same-sex parents can and should lose their children as a result of this "choice." He ruled to re-hire, and even give back pay to, a woman who was fired from her job for using the "n-word" racial epithet.

Senator Feinstein wasn't the only senator that voted wrong today. Senators Akaka, Carper, Inouye, Lieberman, Lincoln, Johnson, Conrad, Byrd, Pryor, Dorgan, Salazar and Ben Nelson all made the wrong choice when they decided to appoint Southwick and the Fifth Circuit Court will suffer for decades, because of the vote today. I called Senator Feinstein's office to express my disappointment. She claimed she didn't hear from her constituents, but nearly 7,000 Working Assets members sent in letters opposing the nomination of Southwick. If your senator voted wrong, I encourage you to contact them too at 202/224-3121 and if you are a Working Assets customer, the call is free.

Today, Dianne not only failed Californians, but more importantly, she lost my vote and support when she next runs for political office again.