Gingrich backs off 'racist' label for Sotomayor

[Old Coot]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Wednesday he shouldn't have called Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor a racist, but said he was still concerned that she would bring bias to her decisions.

In a letter to supporters, the Georgia Republican said that his words had been "perhaps too strong and direct" last week when he called Sotomayor a reverse "racist," based on a 2001 speech in which she said she hoped the rulings of a "wise Latina" would be better than those of a white male without similar experiences. Gingrich's remarks created a furor among Sotomayor's backers and caused problems for GOP figures who have been pushing to bring more diversity to the party.

Gingrich conceded that Sotomayor's rulings have "shown more caution and moderation" than her speeches and writings, but he said the 2001 comments "reveal a betrayal of a fundamental principle of the American system — that everyone is equal before the law."

Sotomayor, 54, would be the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the high court.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090603/ap_on_go_su_co/us_sotomayor_supreme_court

[drm604]

1. Limbaugh also seems to be backing off, in his own begrudging way.

It's interesting that they're both doing so at the same time. I think this is strong evidence that they both get orders from the same source.

[TheCowsCameHome]

15. Limbaugh is?

I don't think so. He's as adamant as ever that he's the only one not apologizing, and others are afraid to speak up.

[drm604]

20. He has said

that since she is Catholic, she may be pro-life so she may not be such a bad choice after all. I'm paraphrasing since I don't recall the exact quote but they played it on MSNBC.

On edit: Here it is. You have to watch the entire thing since it's towards the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPdAMeQqS-A

It's like he's begrudgingly trying to find a way to possibly support her. That's what makes me think that he and Gingrich may have been told to ease off by somebody.

[TheCowsCameHome]

21. I'd believe the devil before I'd believe him.

[drm604]

22. Exactly.

Why is he going out of his way to begrudgingly say something that he considers positive about Sotomayor? If you believe, like I do, that most, if not all, that he says is dictated by his paymasters, then it's easy to conclude that he and others are being told to back off at least a little.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Dog forbid we have a bias on the court that is not white and male. nt

[PatSeg]

3. Yeah, good thing there is no bias on the court now

[Captain Hilts]

7. Whew!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

12. well stated

[xultar]

4. Now, the WH needs to come out and say if Newt can misspeak so can she...

why is it different for her than it is for them...

[OHdem10]

5. The Damage( if there was any) is done. A little late, don't you think.

[peace frog]

9. Not only too late

but if that is backing off then I'm Mother Teresa. Typical GOPer non-apology apology.

[yellowcanine]

6. I guess those internal GOP polls on this were pretty horrifying. It is the only explanation for

this. You know Gingrich would not be backing off if this had been playing well.

[kirby]

8. I think Leahy is getting the word out...

He has threatened several times that if the 'leaders' of the Repub party continue to slander Sotomayor, he will be force to start the confirmations hearing at the earliest possible moment because that is the only venue she has to defend herself. She obviously has been told not to speak to the press right now, so he knows the Repubs are taking advantage of her silence to get all these cheap shots in while she cannot respond.

[WriteDown]

11. Not likely...

More likely that they are convinced that Sotomayor is going to overturn Roe vs. Wade which is a very distinct possibility.

[onehandle]

10. Ed Schultz said that Newt's approval rating is 6%.

Seems that people don't like assholes.

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. OK, who voted 6 times?

Come clean.

[Soylent Brice]

13. backpedaling is always amusing to watch...

[chelsea0011]

14. All part of procedure. Throw out the "she's a racist". Get it out there and back off later.

[Plaid Adder]

17. Great. Let's hope this signals the end of this bullshit.

I heard this story going around, and I thought, "Oh, not that bullshit again. Well, it's a new world out there, so let them give their old crap a try and see how far they get with it." And the answer is: not very far!

So, apparently pulling the "unfair to straight white men" card is no longer as politically effective as it used to be. Hooray! Good luck learning some new tricks, you very very very old dogs!

I like this new world,

The Plaid Adder

[tanyev]

18. Oh jeez. "I was too strong" "I was too direct"

That's quite an apology, Newt.

[RedCloud]

19. Too late! Hispanics will remember how you referred to her! Bye bye Texas!

[AlphaCentauri]

26. if he runs for presidents he will not get the latino or hispanic vote for sure.

[Hugabear]

23. Too late, you fucking asshole - you've already shown your true racist colors

Every one of these asshole GOP idiots who knee-jerk opposed Sotomayor have only further exposed themselves for the racist misogynists they are.

[Doctor_J]

24. Nice try, fatso, but the videos remain

can't wait until you and Miss Dumbass Alaska run against Obama in 2012.

[goclark]

25. Somebody must have sent them a memo ~

Don't know who.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

27. it wouldn't surprise me if the GOP did some internal polling

and found out the issue is hurting them.