At today's White House Press Briefing, Press secretary Robert Gibbs had strong words for former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and his Twitter accusations of racism against SCOTUS nominee Sonia Sotomayor:
"I think it is probably important for anyone involved in this debate to be exceedingly careful with the way in which they've decided to describe aspects of this impending nomination," said Gibbs. "I think when the people of America and the Senate get a chance to look at more than just the blog of a former lawmaker that they will come to the same conclusion as the president did. ... I feel certain that partisan politics will take a back seat to common sense and open-minded decisions based on a full examination of the record, and I think that that's what every Supreme Court and judicial nominee deserves."
Gingrich's attack parroted the words of Rush Limbaugh, who yesterday called Sotomayor and President Obama, alternately, "racist" and "reverse racist."
If Gingrich really wants to lead the Republicans in attacking Sotomayor as a racist, who am I to stop them? Rather, I will ask what standing they have to do so, when despite her superb qualifications, they almost unanimously attack her as an "affirmative action" pick.
I am now totally convinced that the Republican party, and those who speak for the so-called Conservatives, lack one of the most important elements to ever stage a comeback: strategy.
Do they only listen to FOX News and Rush, and think that they are doing a good job? Do they blindly feel that the majority of the American people are solidly behind them? Were they sleeping on November 4th? Are they still sleeping? Questions, questions, questions.
Such a shame--as a believer in our need for a two-party system, this is just sad. Time for Gingrich, Cheney, Rove, and even Rush to scurry away and shut the hell up.
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-2)
Master
5:31PM May 27th 2009
To PCL:
Uneducated (or misleading) people, such as yourself, are the reason this country has no real choice at the polls. Please tell me where in our Constitution is a "two party system" described? It isn't. Acts like yours of spreading this misinformation is the reason most Americans believe we have a two party system. Our political arena is supposed to be open to all. Unfortunately, the "two party system" denies any competitors. Neither Rep or Dem parties bring necessary CHANGE to our country. Neither party is significantly different than the other. So that's why we get to choose between BAD and WORSE in our most important duty as a citizens. The system is broke and locked down. By the way, where do you think the "two party system" label originated? Go ahead, take a wild guess. Try using some Common Sense at dancarlin*dot*com.
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PCL
5:52PM May 27th 2009
You mean to tell me that little ol' me managed to do all that, simply by hitting the 'Add Comment' on a blog? Why shit, then why do you call yourself 'master'? I should have taken that moniker.
I never said it was in the Constitution, but real common sense (whether you and/or I like it or not) does tell me that we basically have a two-party system right now--though it seems to be getting nearer and nearer to a one-party system.
I agree totally with your remarks about those two parties, which is why I am an 'undeclared', I prefer to NOT belong to any political party.
Next time you disagree with what someone posts, you just might want to THINK about that term 'common sense'. Ass.
AND NOT SO BRIGHT: She Failed New York State Bar Exam five times.
*In a recent case, Ricci v. DeStefano, Sotomayor sided with the City of New Haven that used racially discriminatory practices to deny promotions to firefighters. She dismissed the case in a one-paragraph statement that, in the opinion of one dissenting judge, ignored the evidence and did not even address the constitutional issues raised by the case. The percuriam opinion Sotomayor joined went so far out of its way to bury the firefighters' important claims of unfair treatment that her colleague, Judge Jose Cabranes, a Clinton appointee, chastised her. This case is currently before SCOTUS.
*Sotomayor's thinking is representative of the Democratic Party’s powerful identity-politics wing. She readily admits that she applies her feelings and personal politics when deciding cases. In a 2002 speech at Berkeley, she stated that she believes it is appropriate for a judge to consider their "experiences as women and people of color," which she believes should "affect our decisions." She went on to make this blatantly racist comment in that same speech -- "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life." She reiterated her commitment to that lawless judicial philosophy at Duke Law School in 2005 when she stated that the "Court of Appeals is where policy is made."
*Judge Sotomayor ruled that a prospective lawyer must be given special consideration in taking the New York state bar exam because her dyslexia qualified as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, despite the fact that she had failed the exam five times.
*In another recent decision, U.S.A. v. Marcus, Sotomayor sent the case of a convicted violent sex trafficker back to a lower court because a lower court judge had not specifically told the jury that some, though not all, of the sex trafficking had taken place before it was specifically outlawed.
*As a district court judge, Sotomayor also allowed a racial discrimination claim to continue when the plaintiff, a black nurse, sued Bellevue Hospital Corp. because other nurses spoke mainly in Filipino, their native tongue, which she claimed made her feel harassed and isolated.
*In 1994, Judge Sotomayor ruled in favor of two prisoners who claimed to practice Santeria, a Caribbean religion that involves animal sacrifice and voodoo, saying that "distinctions between 'traditional' and 'non-traditional' religions" are "intolerable."
*Substantial questions also persist regarding Judge Sotomayor’s temperament and disposition to be a Supreme Court justice. Lawyers who have appeared before her have described her as a "bully" who "does not have a very good temperament," and who "abuses lawyers" with "inappropriate outbursts."
+Some former clerks and prosecutors expressed concerns about her command of technical legal details: In 2001, for example, a conservative colleague, Ralph Winter, included an unusual footnote in a case suggesting that an earlier opinion by Sotomayor might have misstated the law in a way that misled litigants.
*Sotomayor also referred to the cardinal duty of judges to be impartial as a mere "aspiration because it denies the fact that we are by our experiences making different choices than others." And she suggested that "inherent physiological or cultural differences" may help explain why "our gender and national origins may and will make a difference in our judging."
*The poor quality of Sotomayor's decisions is reflected in her terrible record of her 60% reversals by the Supreme Court.
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PCL
6:03PM May 27th 2009
WADE honey, you know I don't read any of your shit unless it's short--the rest reads like blah, blah, blah. And are you considering going on Cube's show anytime soon? Seriously, it would be fun.
AND NOT SO BRIGHT: She Failed New York State Bar Exam five times.
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WADE....
6:08PM May 27th 2009
She Failed New York State Bar Exam five times.
*In a recent case, Ricci v. DeStefano, Sotomayor sided with the City of New Haven that used racially discriminatory practices to deny promotions to firefighters. She dismissed the case in a one-paragraph statement that, in the opinion of one dissenting judge, ignored the evidence and did not even address the constitutional issues raised by the case. The percuriam opinion Sotomayor joined went so far out of its way to bury the firefighters' important claims of unfair treatment that her colleague, Judge Jose Cabranes, a Clinton appointee, chastised her. This case is currently before SCOTUS.
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PCL
6:12PM May 27th 2009
LMAO!! Now that's funny WADE! Seriously, you are funny and you should come on Cube's show on Saturday.
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WADE....
6:12PM May 27th 2009
She Failed New York State Bar Exam five times.
*Sotomayor's thinking is representative of the Democratic Party’s powerful identity-politics wing. She readily admits that she applies her feelings and personal politics when deciding cases. In a 2002 speech at Berkeley, she stated that she believes it is appropriate for a judge to consider their "experiences as women and people of color," which she believes should "affect our decisions." She went on to make this blatantly racist comment in that same speech -- "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life." She reiterated her commitment to that lawless judicial philosophy at Duke Law School in 2005 when she stated that the "Court of Appeals is where policy is made."
RATE THIS COMMENT: (3)
IwantmyMSNBC
7:56PM May 27th 2009
I agree wholeheartedly. The Republicans continue to self-destruct, just like they did during the Presidential campaign. It's fun to watch.
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starz
9:17AM Jun 10th 2009
Does PCL stand for politically correct loser?
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Karl Hammerle
3:48PM May 27th 2009
Newt tells the truth and gets attacked. The White House needs someone from an eighth grade grammar class to tell them about how the English language really works, not the liberal lawyer community organizer version. Her words were flat out racist and offensive to many of us.
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melsrocks
4:27PM May 27th 2009
It doesn't matter what the conservatives or republicains say, it will be smeered by the left and the liberal news media, why do they not admit the truth that if a white man had made that comment about a latino woman he would have been rail roaded out of the country. Are we afraid to stand up to save AMERICA from those who are trying to take all our freedoms from us? God save the USA, until we can vote the snakes out of Washington!
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wyolaw53
3:51PM May 27th 2009
Cheers for Newt Gingrinch!!!! Hate to say it, but if a WASP was to have said the things that the potential Justice said, that person would be run out of office or denied the same quickly. Can you say Trent Lott? What about Jesse Helms? Come on, you stinking hypocites, gather your thoughts, remember how proud you were of that elementary school diploma you received, and be fair, just, and blind, kinda like 'Justice' is supposed to be, eh?
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terrymacone
4:04PM May 27th 2009
I'am sure all working democrats would love to pass up a promotion or a raise so a minority could get it,, that's right,thats who they support,,,fine people these dems,,,,,,
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mindportal1
4:09PM May 27th 2009
If Justice Alito said before his nomination that white males had a better perspective and made better decisions than Latinas, he would have been disqualified as sexist and racist.
Well Sonia reversed the statement but she still said it........and should be disqualified. I don't care if she is Latino, so was Miguel Estrada, and Democrats vilfied him.
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Linda
5:38PM May 27th 2009
You're absolutely right. There can't be any more double standards. If one person can't say it, then no one should be able to say it. Racism works both ways.
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Gary Armstrong
4:10PM May 27th 2009
Newt should know a little about racism, since he hails from a state with a sordid history of it. One of it's former governors, Lester Maddox used to chase blacks from his store with axe handles as recently as 40 years ago. Perhaps Newt is looking to secure his face on Stone Mountain with Robert E. Lee and the others. Fortunately, most Georgians are over this sort of lunacy.
Gary Armstrong
RATE THIS COMMENT: (-5)
victorlazlo58
10:06PM May 28th 2009
Kinda like your dem hero Robert Byrd, a Grand Dragon in the KKK? Hypocrite.
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smd5987
4:12PM May 27th 2009
I agree with Newt. If a white man had made such a statement he would be Pilloried. Both in the press and on the air. There is absolutely nothing about this woman that impresses me. Obviously Mr.Obama is just sweetening the pot to thank all his Latino electorate who helped put him in office. If current events are his definition of "change" I have had enough of it already!