Gingrich Calls Sotomayor “Racist”

“I think it is probably important for anybody involved in this debate to be exceedingly careful with the way in which they’ve decided to describe different aspects of this impending confirmation
====================
Somewhere, Ari Fleisher thanks his lucky stars and whispers, “It’s your turn, Gibbs”

Skip Calls Gingrich “Disingenuous”
“Imagine a judicial nominee said ‘my experience as a white man makes me better than a latina woman,’” former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., blogged today.
Except that she didn’t say her experience AS a wise Latina woman. But you know that very well don’t you Newt?

Maybe, finally, a confirmation hearing that gets beyond c-span coverage.. if Tiny Tim non-Taxpayer can get confirmed..the sky is the limit…

May-be just may-be this will be the wake up call the Republicans so desperately need. They need to shed the anchor of the far right wing the likes of Newt, Cheney, Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, etc. and allow the opportunity for decency and dignity to be restored to the party. It can not be as long as they continue to be the Republican Mouthpieces.

give it a rest, Newt…you are done, finished. take a walk around your block. this isn’t a white-protestant-right-wing-conservative-male nation anymore. you are a racist, Gingrich, pure and simple.

“give it a rest, Newt…you are done, finished.”
Actually I think this signals a run in 2012.
The aggrieved white male is Newt’s bread and butter.

What a sleazy thing to say, Newt.
But you know that the dittoheads are gonna guzzle this vomit down like a fratboy with a beerbong full of Keystone.

I love all the chastising of Newt here and ignoring racism
“Second, I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”
Were Justice Roberts to have ever said
“I would hope that a wise White Man with the richness of his experiences, shared by the majority of the people would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a minority who hasn’t lived that life.”
Jessie Jackson would have broken the sound barrier, on foot, getting to DC to protest.
But yea, Newts a jerk so lets ignore the racism.

“Newt said that had the tables been reversed a white man would have been labeled a racist for saying the exact same thing she said.”
Actually Next had to butcher the quote and remove context to make it seem racist.
Just another day for the dishonest right wing.

“I would hope that a wise White Man with the richness of his experiences, shared by the majority of the people would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a minority who hasn’t lived that life.”
Jessie Jackson would have broken the sound barrier, on foot, getting to DC to protest.
Again, right wingers need to embellish and lie to make their case of racism.

Thanks Newt. What a delight to read the blather of upset leftists.
Sotomayer is an overt racist. Fortunately she is fielded by the antisemitic, racist party.

Dave:”How is her statement not racist and sexist? There shouldn’t even be debate over this! ”
It was a rhetorical device that was used during a detailed exposition using herself as the example about how she would hope that life experiences made for a better judge. The full essay is linked – why don’t you read it? It is pretty structurally complex, but you should be able to get a general feel for the gist of it.
And mindlessly calling her a racist in light of her documented record is really pretty stupid. For example, check out her dissent on Pappas v. Giuliani, 290 F.3d 143 (2d Cir. 2002), involving an employee of the New York City Police Department who was terminated from his desk job because, when he received mailings requesting that he make charitable contributions, he responded by mailing back racist and bigoted materials:
“To be sure, I find the speech in this case patently offensive, hateful, and insulting. The Court should not, however, gloss over three decades of jurisprudence and the centrality of First Amendment freedoms in our lives because it is confronted with speech it does not like and because a government employer fears a potential public response that it alone precipitated.”

MN Moderate – Did you read her entire talk from Berkley or are you just pulling out the lines to best serve your pre-determined extremist position?
I can go ahead and answer for you. You did not read her entire talk because if you had, you would not have posted such rubbish.

Asked about the comments, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said, “I think it is probably important for anybody involved in this debate to be exceedingly careful with the way in which they’ve decided to describe different aspects of this impending confirmation.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Once again this White House, and in particular Gibbs, uses thinly veiled threats to those who have may have difference of opinion and dare voice it.

Well, what if the tables were turned? Is Gingrich off base with his comments?

“Fortunately she is fielded by the antisemitic, racist party.”
Exit Polls 2008:
Obama/McCain
African Americans: 96/4
Hispanic Americans: 67/31
Asian Americans: 62/35
Jewish Americans: 78/21

jhw539—Oh good, you brought up Pappas vs. Guiliani again–you didn’t answer my questions about the case on the other thread, so I’ll ask again.
Were either the defendant or the plaintiff a minority and/or female? Did her dissenting opinion support a person having the protection under the 1st Amendment to make racist comments outside of performing their work duties? In other words, was she of the opinion this person was wrongfully terminated from his position with the NYPD because his racists comments were made outside of work? Did she make mention if her decision would have been different had this police officer had direct contact with minorities in the community through his duties with the NYPD.

NoNo | May 27, 2009 5:39:03 PM—i’m a white male and i’m not at all offended by what she said. i am much more offended by the racism of the radical right (epitomized by Gingrich, Limbaugh, Hannity, O’Reilly) which is vile and putrid and has lasted for centuries.

Likewise, a beat officer patrolling Harlem who showed up in the NYTimes wearing a KKK robe would have impaired their ability to do their job.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hmmmm, ok….how about if a white man being accused of sexual harrassment by a latino woman is having his case heard by Ms. Sotomayor. Given her statements listed here, although not made while performing her duties as a judge,…could that pose a potential problem? Might her beliefs impair her ability to perform her duties as granted by the constitution and which she is sworn to uphold?

jennifert7:”Might her beliefs impair her ability to perform her duties as granted by the constitution and which she is sworn to uphold? ”
It has never been seen to in her 17 years on the bench.

jennifert7 wrote ” Might her beliefs impair her ability to perform her duties as granted by the constitution and which she is sworn to uphold?” might you ask that of Alito, Thomas or Scalia?

Jake, is Sotomayor a member of La Raza (“The Race”)?

Newt Gingrich is a toad. Either that or he isn’t able to understand English.
The context of Judge Sotomayor’s remarks are quite clear, and her insights are far from racist statements.
Have these toads even examined her record, or just jumped on the racist bandwagon and one quote taken out of context?
Forgive me for calling Gingrich a toad, but what a pathetic lot the slop heap remains of the Republican right have become.

might you ask that of Alito, Thomas or Scalia?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Absolutely. Did they make similar comments as the ones Ms. Sotomayor has made in regards to making judicial decisions based life experiences, gender and ethnicity?

We are about to become a three party government. The Democratic Party, The Grand Old Party, and the Nutball Party led by the drug addict Rush, Hannity Insanity, Nutjob Beck, and the other 21% of racist Americans.

Giggles | May 27, 2009 6:04:03 PM, i do not live sir, or madame, according to radical-right wings “truisms” (an oxymoron). i am indeed a white male. and i am not ashamed of that. and i would not respect someone who disliked me because of my race alone. perhaps you should endeavor to read the entirety of Judge Sotomayor’s speech, something i doubt you, or Gingrich or Limbaugh have done. too much like work. you’d think these “gentlemen”, so sensitive to race issues (when it happens to be sensitive white men who make their living off of being racists) would want to live up to the stereotype of doing hard academic work. unfortunately they, like you, have not read the entire speech which is available above. it looks like some white men are lazy and cannot or will not read.

“new RNC of Rush, ‘Newt’ & and Coulter crying racist..”
Something for everyone
Rush: He came over three or four times, had Ron Burkle with him and the mayor of Los Angeles, who I thought was either the shoe shine guy or a Secret Service agent.
Newt: “The American people believe English should be the official language of the government. … We should replace bilingual education with immersion in English so people learn the common language of the country and they learn the language of prosperity, not the language of living in a ghetto,” Gingrich said to cheers from the crowd of more than 100.
Ann: In her new book she defends the Council of Conservative Citizens as unfairly maligned as racist just because their founders and boards members were segregationists.
This is a group that CPAC banned….CPAC!
What nothing from the Queen of Racism Michele Malkin?

Of course she is a racist. But if she think’s she is going to run the court, she has a big surprise coming. Remember this Obama pick in 2012. I think alot of people who wanted ” change ” will have had there fill of these people.

my pologies the link Jake has above goes to another article which provides more quotes from her speech. in that article there is a link to to her full speech.

I wonder which GOP leader can get to the bottom, first.

She is a racist bigot who has NO PLACE on our highest court.
EVERY Dem Senator needs to understand that bigotry against whites IS NOT ACCEPTABLE EITHER!
And we will remember any senator who votes a racist onto the Supreme Court.

“I think alot of people who wanted ” change ” will have had there fill of these people.”
These people?
What do you mean these people?

Jake, is Sotomayor a member of La Raza (“The Race” “The People” “The Community”)?
Anyone? I’ve found conflicting information.

“Labeling someone right wing just to dismiss what they say is getting old.”
Nope its just getting started.
The right wing should be called out for their lies and hatred every time they utter them.
The aggrieved white man as exemplified by Joe the Imposter is perfect analogy to the right wing.
A complete fraud given the spotlight as the GOP desperately tried to relive 1994.

RNC stars
Rush Limbaugh …no military service, but expert on all things military
Newt Gingrich …no military service, but expert on all things military
Cheney…no military service, but expert on all things military
Rush Limbaugh …overweight middle aged white guy, but an expert on racism
Newt Gingrich …overweight middle aged white guy, but an expert on racism
Cheney …overweight middle aged white guy, but an expert on racism
Real
Nut
Charmers

“Are Newt, Rush or Ann up for a SCJ position? Are any of them in office or running for office?”
Look for Newt in 2012.
And my reference to those three was because those 3 have all cynically called Soon to be Associate Justice Sotomayor a racist, ironically (in a ad way) ignoring their own racism.
These chuckle heads actually think this is some sort of payback for the years they got called out on their racist crap.
But all its going to do is cost the Republican party votes.
“from Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, etc. on the far left side”
If you can find racist comments by either feel free to post them.

“Where’s the current bottom? Bork or Thomas?”
Thank god Bork was turned away.
His writings since have revealed a disturbingly authoritarian view when it comes to government.

“Like General Betrayus was.”
Feel free to disagree with MoveOn’s tactic.
That is what freedom of speech is all about.
Unfortunately Republicans (and far too many Democrats) felt the need put forth a resolution condemning the ad.

“On second thought, maybe that’s not a fair comparison because Newt, Rush and Ann all have very large followings and/or are repeatedly on the best sellers list”
Hate sells and the right wing is buying.
BTW, Ann Coulter’s book sales are down tremendously.
Guess too many right wing men noticed the adam’s apple.

“Running an advertising campaign accusing a general of betraying his country is a tactic? Never mind that it was hateful and dead wrong…”
What did you think of Swiftboat Veterans for Truth?

Giggles | May 27, 2009 6:59:18 PM—ma’am or sir, how is labeling someone “liberal” in a dismissive fashion differ from calling someone right-wing? moderate republicans will be voting for this Judge Sotomayor. right-wing senators will not. Limbaugh and Gingrich ( and Hannity, Voulter, O’Reilly) will foment xenophobia as they always do.
as to autophobia and other such psychobabble. some people can objectively look at their race, the history of their race and their fellow man. i am a white male and not at all ashamed of that. i love myself and get along with many people of both genders of my own race. just because i can see gross racism in white males from the inception of our republic to the present moment does not at all make me autophobic. you are accusing me,as Ryan_C predicted, of being a self-loathing race-traitor. call me whatever you want, Giggles, i would rather hang out in the “ghetto” (Gingrich’s word) than with some uneducated, white, racist, bigoted, xenophobic fool like Limbaugh.
the “phobia”, that loathing and hatred is coming from, as always, bigoted white males. that a perspective different from Gingrich’s might be coming to the Court is refreshing.
you may be suffering from a hystrionic disorder of some sort, perhaps a narcissism that makes you so sensitive, perhaps pathologically so about issues regarding your own race.
white males have done some very bad things Giggles, throughout history. just in the US—slavery, racism, lynching…need i go on. the radical right, and i’m not saying you are from the radical right, endorse this history fondly. there’s something not quite right about that.

jennifert7 and jennifert8? do you write for each other?

I agree with what he said. If a white person was to say something like that he would have been tarred and feathered. But instead the “left” has twisted this idea of what racism is and who is allowed to say racist remarks. People who dislike the right, dislike and hate it for no other reason than jus because the left says to.
Also, wisdom does not come from race or gender or status, and to think that it does is racist.

“Condemning right wing lies and haters while giving moveon a pass is simply hypocritical”
*chuckle* I love this “if you don’t criticize them all, you can’t criticize anyone” cowardice embraced by the right wing whenever they are getting their butts handed to them.
Posted by: Ryan C |
——————-
Did it take a willful suspension of your reading comprehension skills to make that response?

“My family’s immigrant experience shaped my judicial outlook.” (Family’s experience as immigrants influenced [this person’s] outlook on immigration cases.)
“…. when a case comes before me involving, let’s say, someone who is an immigrant ” and we get an awful lot of immigration cases and naturalization cases ” I can’t help but think of my own ancestors, because it wasn’t that long ago when they were in that position.”
“When I get a case about discrimination, I have to think about people in my own family who suffered discrimination because of their ethnic background or because of religion or because of gender. And I do take that
into account.”
Words by Sonia Sotomayor? No words spoken by Alito during his confirmation hearing.

This really is a brazen pick by Obama:
He has chosen someone that is on record as stating that the appellate court is where “policy is made”. And no: she was not saying it in jest – listen to the audio recording.
He has chosen some someone that is on record as believing in racial/ethnic/gender superiority of a “Latina women” over “white male”. And, no: this was not “taken out of context”. In fact, putting it in context makes it far worse. The context: she was speaking before an organization that calls itself “The Race” (La Raza) specifically about the qualifications of a justice and then went on to profess a belief in inherit philological differences in race to support her claims.
She is on record as ruling (Ricci vs. DeStefano) that a person meeting objective qualifications for a civil service position may be denied that position solely on the basis of race.
Her record is an affront to the principles of the Constitution. Fortunately for her though, she is not a “white male” – and as such will not be held to the same standards of decency that would have otherwise disqualified her based on any one of the three points outlined above.
And I haven’t heard one liberal answer the charge that Gingrich (or others) have levied. Would a “white male” be cast as a racist for making the same statements? We all know the answer – but all we will hear is how “outrageous” and “divisive” that the charge is.
More “change we can believe in” from the teleprompter of Americas first “post-racial” President…

Is Sam Alito a racist, too? I doubt Newt would say so, b/c Alito is conservative. Nevertheless, Alito had this to say:
“Because when a case comes before me involving, let’s say, someone who is an immigrant — and we get an awful lot of immigration cases and naturalization cases — I can’t help but think of my own ancestors, because it wasn’t that long ago when they were in that position.
[…]
“When I get a case about discrimination, I have to think about people in my own family who suffered discrimination because of their ethnic background or because of religion or because of gender. And I do take that into account.’

Why did Obama choose Sotomayor? What does his choice tell us about him? What message is he sending?
Most of us believe the Constitution should be interpreted as a colorblind document. Recently the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Ricci v. Destefano, which centered on charges of reverse discrimination at the New Haven, Connecticut fire department.
The Supreme Court is likely to side with Ricci and his fellow plaintiffs, Sotomayor’s silent endorsement of New Haven’s reverse discrimination is certain to come back to haunt her during her confirmation hearings.
Read up on this case and try to understand a president who would nominate someone integrally involved in this case presently before the Court.
It is a bold tell by President Obama.

She’s a straight up RACIST. So this is the “change” we were promised? Known racists on the Supreme Court and the great new “Indefinite Detention” program — all in addition to continuation of the Bush era spying on American citizens.
Amazing.

Paul:
another in a long list of drivel that you post, but,
go ahead and prove she’s a racist……

Parallax
if you don’t understand the following and how it relates to your ‘quote’ there’s no discussing the issue with you
“each day on the bench I learn something new about the judicial process and about being a professional Latina woman in a world that sometimes looks at me with suspicion. I am reminded each day that I render decisions that affect people concretely and that I owe them constant and complete vigilance in checking my assumptions, presumptions and perspectives and ensuring that to the extent that my limited abilities and capabilities permit me,
that I reevaluate them and change as circumstances and cases before me requires.
I can and do aspire to be greater than the sum total of my experiences but I accept my limitations.
I willingly accept that we who judge must not deny the differences resulting from experience and heritage but attempt, as the Supreme Court suggests, continuously to judge when those opinions, sympathies and prejudices are appropriate.”

oh yeah..A racist is a racist is a racist..doesn’t matter if your white black brown whatever there is no justification for singling out one group over another..so stop trying to justify racism with racism itself or else that makes you just as bad as the very people you are accusing of past or present wrongs…Makes it very difficult to take your views seriously…….

as with the election of Pres. Obama you boys are going to be disappointed when her nomination is approved, you can make all the false comparisons you want to, but in the end reason will win out and she will be on the supreme court..with any luck Pres. Obama will get to make many more picks for the court.

How about some intellectual honesty yourself Voice of Reason. Judge Sotomayor did not make “a broad sweeping statement that white males are inherently inferior”.
She said, “I would hope that . .. ”
“I would hope that. . . “.
Not even an “I think that” – she was aspiring to hope the breadth of her experience and circumstances might bring a more full understanding, a type of wisdom and a fuller perspective to the process – a perspective that might be missed by a white male steeped in his own type of limited experiences.
She did not say latino women are wiser than white men, nor that white men are inferior. Don’t misquote and demean her with that trash.

“I am reminded each day that I render decisions that affect people concretely and that I owe them constant and complete vigilance in checking my assumptions, presumptions and perspectives and ensuring that to the extent that my limited abilities and capabilities permit me, that I reevaluate them and change as circumstances and cases before me requires. I can and do aspire to be greater than the sum total of my experiences but I accept my limitations. I willingly accept that we who judge must not deny the differences resulting from experience and heritage but attempt, as the Supreme Court suggests, continuously to judge when those opinions, sympathies and prejudices are appropriate.”

Gingrich’s mistake here is attempting to hold her to the “white male” standard. I.e. would a “white male” who said the following be forced to withdraw:
“I WOULD HOPE THAT a wise white male with the richness of his experiences would MORE OFTEN THAN NOT reach a better conclusion than a Latina woman who hasn’t lived that life.”
- commenting on judicial qualifications before all-white group calling itself “The Race”

I can’t say for sure whether Sonia Sotomayor is a racist, but I think she needs to go to a diversity-training workshop after this.

“another in a long list of drivel that you post, but,
go ahead and prove she’s a racist” Posted by: Oh Yeah | May 27, 2009 11:53:05 PM
No need. She’s doing it herself.
Problem is most of America has it’s collective hands over it’s eyes, ears, or mouths.

Vanessa: “this is a non-event.. not even worth an argument.”
Hmm? I wonder who you voted for. In addition, I’d guess you belong to a minority race then. Maybe even Latina? I say this because only heavily biased people can’t see racism and discrimination when it is plainly exposed for all to observe.
Not only is this worth an argument, it’s worth a Supreme Court justice. Justice is suppose to be blind, but Obama and Sotomayor insist justice take a peak and let cases be influenced by gender and race. They are both a disgrace to our constitution and true justice.
Vanessa: “If I never heard anything else about Newt or Sonia.. I would be ok with it..”
If there are any fair-minded, principled individuals left in the Senate, you will get your wish, Vanessa, and never hear about Judge Sotomayor again.

Anonymous | May 28, 2009 11:17:32 AM—you quoted someone else’s post: “Paul Wall: “I can’t say for sure whether Sonia Sotomayor is a racist . . . I think she needs to go to a diversity-training workshop after this.”
i never would write that. i know Judge Sotomayor is not a racist and whoever you quoted has it twisted and needs the training themselves.

Why does everyone think negatively when someone brings up racism? Why don’t we all be proud of where we came from, and actually believe that “My roots,” which are directly related to my heritage, culture and race, are better than “the other guys?” This correlates to being the best you can be, and once you have acheived a goal in that journey of life, then you have the right to be proud of it! There is nothing wrong with “Cheering on” your own race. Everyone is a racist, whether they admit it or not. Why do we root for the USA in the Olympics and not China? Because that’s where our roots are. So the question is…does the Judge(who will have a preference on race whoever they are) have the ability to interpret the consitution without having race sway him/her?

I just love it, with every issue we all become ‘experts’… I include myself….
law, security, morals, medical…etc.
I guess it’s good that at least most of us here do some reading on the issues of the day and try to have a somewhat reasonable chat about it….

what’s an amazing thing is that everyone seems to forget that in the age of the internet that all ‘facts’ & claims can be checked and verified somewhere for accuracy…. and politicians seem to forget that somewhere there is audio or video on what they’ve said and done.
it’s one thing to have some fun with ‘politics’ but making up stuff and claiming it’s true is dumb. This applies to both sides.

Sotomayor is a racist and Obama is just another cynical, manipulative politician who picked her based on her demographics.

Anonymous
Justice Alito further suggested that his observing the struggles and difficulties society places on the disabled would also ‘affect’ his decision making process..

Gingrich.. and you are a womanizer. Could not even remain loyal to your wife while she was going through breast cancer. I think I can deal with a racist because that is a sign of ignorance….what is your excuse..not able to keep commitments. You cheated on the second wife also and I think there is a third one who I feel is brave to go with you in the first place.
You had to resign from your position also and had some financial problems to sstraighten out re book deal so people who live in glass houses should not be calling anyone, anything. By the way, your disrespect for Colin Powell shows your ignorance.

Oh Yeah: “I don’t think Sotomayor’s expalnation is any different then when Justice Alito suggested that his heritage, and family history would no doubt influence his decisions . . .”
If Justice Alito said what Judge Sotomayor said, then I would disagree with both of them and find them both unqualified to serve in the Supreme Court. Of course, Justice Alito didn’t say the same thing, therefore I have no problem with him. It’s one thing to acknowledge one’s experiences in life inevitably affect one as a person, but it is quite another to act as if someone would be a better judge of the law based on a specific race and/or gender. That’s where you, Obama, Sotomayor, and the rest of you liberals fail to see a distinction and fail at nominating Supreme Court justices.
I suggest you stop blindly following your left-wing sites like HuffPo and do some independent research on the full context and full quotes of what both Alito and Scalia said before you continue to bandy about what you think is a political-gotcha. You liberals are classic for taking conservatives out of context as well as redirecting criticism. Neither are valid defenses, and neither will the American people care about. However, they will care about some of Judge Sotomayor’s choice racist and sexist quotes.
Scalia and Alito already went through their confirmation process and have been sitting on the court for years now. Now is Sotomayor’s time for confirmation, and the American people have every right to criticize and question her — especially in light of her racist and sexist comments. I will be very disappointed if she does indeed get confirmed. Although, I am already plenty used to disappointment with Obama in office.

So anonymous, is this statement racist?
“The American people believe English should be the official language of the government. … We should replace bilingual education with immersion in English so people learn the common language of the country and they learn the language of prosperity, not the language of living in a ghetto,”

“Another liberal taking a conservative out of context. Who would of thunk it? Further, Newt already apologized for the misunderstanding in Spanish and clarified his position.”
So he doesn’t think Spanish is the language of the ghetto, he just said so by accident?
The right wing is really too cute by half thinking that they have been unfairly maligned for saying racist things that somehow justifies their calling Sotomayor a racist.
2010 is gonna be fun.

“logical and conscious people know that has no bearing on her confirmation.”
She will be confirmed because she is highly qualified.
The right wing racist base will be angry that an uppity Latino woman dared say she was better than a white man (regardless of the truth) and their sure to be public hatred will blow what little Hispanic support the GOP has left.

Anonymous wrote “She alone will determine her qualifications for the Supreme Court. To this point she has proven unqualified.” if it’s her determination wouldn’t she be qualified. if it’s your or my determination isn’t that a matter of opinion and politics. ultimately it is up to the US Senate. i hope she is approved. i believe she is correct in her assertion that someone with her background and life experiences would make better decisions (especially issues of equality and social justice as she asserts) than many white men. it is a fact that white men in this nation have been historically privileged and continue to be so. most have no idea what it is like to endure racism. there are legends on the court, like Justice William J. Brennan, who would be exceptional. i feel her perspective and views are valid and relevant. her education and judicial experience only add to that.

“He called Spanish the language of the ghetto.”
Spanish is a language of a ghetto if you are in an English speaking country and that is the only language you speak. How successful do you think people who live in Spanish-only neighborhoods in this country? Or in Brazil? Or Quebec?
How successful do you think I will be in China speaking only English? I will have two choices — learn to speak Chinese and function and succeed in their society — or refuse to learn Chinese and isolate myself into a small enclave of people who speak only English and try to get by.
Again, you know this is true, but you are arguing merely for the sake of defending your partisan position.

“everyone, including Gingrich, knows what he meant by calling Spanish a “language of the ghetto.” it has nothing to do with political views. it’s racist pure and simple and disingenuous to imply otherwise.”
I believe you may be projecting your own views, however repressed, onto others. A language is not a race. A language is a tool to communicate with the people of a given time or place. If you don’t have that tool, you will not succeed in that time or place, and you will be ghettoized. That’s a fact.
I say this based on the assumption that you actually know the definition and history of the “ghetto”, rather than familiarity with it only from an American rap song. Ghettos exist in every country and culture of the world, and race is only one of many determinants of becoming ghettoized. Language barriers are another.

cool, Paul. i challenge you to go to ask Latinos how they feel. yeah language is a tool but people use tools and Gingrich was talking about people not tools. i live in an Hispanic community in a large american city and predict a fat lip to anyone who uttered any such foolish drivel as Gingrich did. it’s only not racist when you say such things to special groups on university campuses or AM radio. Gingrich would never make those comments to certain audiences and not because he would be misunderstood but that he would be understood.

Paul, you will have to forgive many of us who have listened and read over the years to people like Limbaugh, Hannity, O’Reilly, Gingrich and Savage and come to the conclusion that these men are racists. Gingrich because of his comments (not just his recent ones) has lost credibility. Limbaugh never had any. to hear Limbaugh talk about other people being racists is pathetic. some people will never be taken seriously. those who take them seriously are white, mostly uneducated, males who do nothing but make Judge Sotomayor’s point.

Paul Wall: “. . . are white, mostly uneducated, males who do nothing but make Judge Sotomayor’s point.”
What is it that makes Judge Sotomayor’s point? Being male, being white, or being uneducated.
According to Judge Sotomayor, just being male and white makes you a lesser judge than your average Latina. Apparently, one’s level of education is completely irrelevant. After all, Latina’s are naturally smarter, according to Judge Sotomayor. Obama and Democrats should be ashamed of their racist, sexist, nominee.

some rather ‘easy’ usage of the word racism here, I’m sure many here are not trying to equate what Sotomayor said to the KKK or Aryan Nation.
it’s easy to understand why Obama chose her just by reading some of the posts here, she will bring common sense with her as Justice.
Is there a political calculation to the nomination,.. of course.., does that mean she is somehow unqualified,.. no.., historically, is she an ‘activist’ judge, …no… are there some who disagree with some of her opinions ,, of course…….is what she said ‘racist’… of course not and if you bother to read or watch all of it you could not come to the conclusion that she was ‘racist’ unless you are interested in playing semantic games.

So many people are looking to scuttle the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor by talking about little things she may have said. However, they are all looking in the wrong place. Sonia Sotomayor either buried or ignored the complaint (and evidence) of very serious judicial misconduct by one of the judges she was supervising. No one should be on the Supreme Court who does that.

Paul Wall: “you know very well she did not say “smarter.”"
She didn’t need to as it was implied when she said: “. . . a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male . . .” To say a “wise” Latina will reach “better conclusions” is the same as saying Latinas are smarter. Just read what she said for what she said.
Paul Wall: “she said that minority judges bring to the table experiences that (most) white males don’t have.”
No she didn’t. Read the quote I provided above. She said Latinas and their “rich experience” will frequently reach a “better conclusion” than white males without that rich Latina experience. Again, she asserts that Latinas are inherently capable of better judgments.
Paul Wall: “not what Rush said, not what O’Reilly said . . . Limbaugh, O’Reilly, Hannity, and the whole laundry list of radical-right hate spinners”
For your information, I have come to my own conclusions on Judge Sotomayor without the aid of any outside conservative influence. Think of it this way — great minds think alike. In any case, the conclusion is the correct one — Judge Sotomayor is a racist and a sexist.
Paul Wall: “. . . have no idea of what it is like to live as a minority in this nation”
This is very similar to Judge Sotomayor’s views on race. One cannot properly or fairly “judge” a situation without having been a minority. I disagree and thankfully, so does our Constitution. Which brings us to what this is really about. This isn’t about minority experiences or the experiences of anyone. Instead, this is about nominating a supreme court justice who believes justice is blind and that our Constitution is the strict law of the land.
Paul Wall: “she is no racist, no by a long shot. just read or listen to HER words . . .”
That’s the problem — I have listened to here words, and have found her to be racist, by definition. Not only is Judge Sotomayor a racist, but she’s sexist too. If you don’t like it, I suggest you lobby your liberal representatives for a new nominee that is actually qualified.

I really did not think the Republicans would go there. But they did!