Gingrich Backtracks on Sotomayor – In Part
EmailABC News' Rick Klein reports: The former House speaker’s latest newsletter for Human Events concedes that he should not have called Judge Sotomayor a “racist.” “With these critics who want to have an honest conversation, I agree. The word 'racist' should not have been applied to Judge Sotomayor as a person, even if her words themselves are unacceptable (a fact which both President Obama and his Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, have since admitted),” he writes. And while he’s hardly offering support for her nomination to the Supreme Court, he acknowledges: “In fairness to the judge, many of her rulings as a court of appeals judge do not match the radicalism of her speeches and statements. She has shown more caution and moderation in her rulings than in her words.” “So the question we need to ask ourselves in considering Judge Sotomayor's confirmation is this: Which judge will show up on the Supreme Court, the radical from her speeches or the convention liberal from her rulings?” Last week, Gingrich blasted Obama's Supreme Court nominee on his Twitter page, writing: "Imagine a judicial nominee said 'my experience as a white man makes me better than a Latina woman' new racism is no better than old racism." "White man racist nominee would be forced to withdraw. Latina woman racist should also withdraw." No GOP senators have joined his labeling of her as a racist, or Gingrich's call for her to withdraw her nomination.
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Too late Newt. You and your racist friends already fanned the flames of divisiveness and bigotry you are famous for. Now you will pay for it next election. AGAIN!
Posted by: V. Brame | June 3, 2009, 7:21 am 7:21 am
white men who have alienated every minority from their group calling the judge a rascist in sort of the pot calling the kettle black……
Posted by: dk | June 3, 2009, 7:52 am 7:52 am
Why is what Newt thinks even important or relevant? How long has he been out of office and out of power within the GOP? Who listens to this hypocrite? Now, when Boss Limbaugh apologizes (probably right after hell freezes over) THEN the GOP might listen…..
Posted by: SearamblerOne | June 3, 2009, 7:58 am 7:58 am
Now, you see why this guy can’t be elected to anything where his policy can have real consequences? Imagine if this guy was the president! He would bomb a country then think about it? Such extremist shouldn’t even be a senator let alone a president. I hope America is wise enough to keep people like away. He belongs to Fox News and talk radio where his lemmings group to vent or feed on their hatred.
Posted by: D. | June 3, 2009, 8:05 am 8:05 am
“Attention Republicans”, you all will be lucky, on the next Elections, if you win any seats.
Posted by: Demo Rules | June 3, 2009, 8:13 am 8:13 am
Just out of curiosity–how many speeches and how many comments?
I continue to wonder why the “wise Latina woman” comment is consistently presented without the full context. If I recall correctly, the comment seemed “softer” in context.
Posted by: Joel | June 3, 2009, 8:37 am 8:37 am
If a white man would have said something similar he would have been forced out of the judicial system and certainly would not have a chance of being confirmed as a Supreme Court justice.
Until the minorities of this nation decide that they want the same rules to apply across all people of all backgrounds and cultures, I’m through listening to their complaints about racism.
MLK is turning over in his grave. His movement has been hijacked by those who lust for power and care little for equality or understanding.
Posted by: Brett L | June 3, 2009, 8:38 am 8:38 am
Newt, so your another Repub the shoots first and thinks last! We had 8 years of that, see where it got us! You have made it harder for you and yours in the coming elections. Good job!
Posted by: Try the truth | June 3, 2009, 8:39 am 8:39 am
Brett L – But a white man pretty much said the same thing and he was confirmed! MLK is probably turning over in his grave, that one phrase, taken out of context from an 8 page essay was used in this way. He believed in fairness. Your trying to negate 17 years on the federal bench, a life of achievement and vilify a woman for a sentence taken out of context. Shame on you!
Posted by: Try the truth | June 3, 2009, 8:46 am 8:46 am
A.)Great of him to apologize. B)Great to accept the apology graciously and move on.
Posted by: disgusted | June 3, 2009, 8:51 am 8:51 am
You have to wonder if this is some grand plan of the GOP to lull us into thinking we can just sit back and watch them self-destruct, but that there’s really some evil plan up the road.
Posted by: briella | June 3, 2009, 9:19 am 9:19 am
Come on people, this Rove politics 101, take an opponents strength and try to make it a weakness. Sotomayer adds diversity so you scream racist.
Posted by: SugRDaddy | June 3, 2009, 9:24 am 9:24 am
We all need to accept the fact that there is a double standard in this country. The US Govt actively discriminates against Whites.
Posted by: Steve-O | June 3, 2009, 9:24 am 9:24 am
briella – ok, now I won’t sleep tonight! LOL! Seriously, they haven’t had a plan in the 8 years of the Bush Admin, well ok, the plan to make their friends richer, but I don’t think they have a clue how to plan anything that doesn’t profit them financially!
Posted by: Try the truth | June 3, 2009, 9:26 am 9:26 am
Steve-O – Please show specific examples of the US Govt actively discriminating against whites! Just one, or is it the fact that a minority is up for this placement, it’s discrimination, because, what, a white male wasn’t the first pick? Funny how whenever I was slapped in the face with blatant discrimination, I was told I was being “sensitive”. I have spoken with people on the phone, shown up for interviews and heard, gee, I didn’t know you were black! Huh? I have been required to produce 3, yes 3 forms of ID when using my credit card, when my friend who is white didn’t have to produce any, but was told that’s the policy! So, a woman makes a comment taken out of context from an 8 page essay says pretty much the same thing as Justice Alito, and in your mind there is a double standard! A bit thin skinned wouldn’t you say?
Posted by: Try the truth | June 3, 2009, 9:33 am 9:33 am
Steve-O Are you serious? The govt’ discriminates against whites? I’m a white male, and recognize that we STILL get privileges that minorities don’t. We enslaved the black race for over 100 years, then didn’t give them equal rights and treated them like animals for another 100 years. You think everything should be hunky-dory now, just 40 years after the Civil Rights Movement? Tell you what – let’s enslave the white race for the same amount of time, give them no access to education, not allow them to vote, and treat them like animals for 200 years. Bet you’d be singing a different tune then, chief.
Posted by: Roger | June 3, 2009, 9:35 am 9:35 am
Why are people surprised that the disgraced former Republican Speaker of the House would further disgrace his party with his race-baiting?
Posted by: What a surprise | June 3, 2009, 9:42 am 9:42 am
Newt sank himself… His moronic Twittering will haunt him for a long time to come (particularly if he ever seeks elected office again). Mental note, Newt, the word “twit” is in there for a reason…
Posted by: MIguy | June 3, 2009, 9:49 am 9:49 am
If you look at the context of what Sotomayor said in her speech, she choose some poor words in one sentence but overall was not really that bad. If that is the worst they can come up with, a 8 year old quote, the cherry picking of statements came up remarkably empty. The fact of that matter is that Sotomayor has one of the most impressive resumes out of any Court nominee over the last few President’s. The repubs have little to attack her on there as she is a middle of the road liberal, so instead they are focusing on attacking her any other way they can, a strategy that might play to there hardcore base but certainly not beyond that.
Posted by: Ordermonger | June 3, 2009, 10:03 am 10:03 am
Oh and if Newt is gonna twitter about someone being a racist he really should send it out from Auschwitz, Germany. That takes it to a whole new level of classless petty name calling.
Posted by: Ordermonger | June 3, 2009, 10:06 am 10:06 am
Every Republican from Cheney to Limbaugh are so ticked off that they were beaten in every which way (and fairly we are proud to say) in 2008 that they will do or say anything to try to pull the Dems into a worthless battle just as their leader did to us in Iraq. I have never in my life seen such a bunch of poor-loser-rat-finks. I just wish they all would shut up and accept that we finally have a good president and administraiton in D.C., thank God.
Posted by: Ron | June 3, 2009, 10:20 am 10:20 am
I guess his shoe didn’t taste as good as he thought it would. More republicans are sticking their foots in their mouths lately. He pretty much has ruined his reputation by commenting the same as Rush Limbaugh. I’ll bet they lunch together alot.
Posted by: Chuck | June 3, 2009, 10:32 am 10:32 am
Y’all just love to take every opportunity to bash any ‘right-from-center’ statement – - Newt Gingrich is a brilliant man….. and he too may have chosen a few words that did not sit well with some – - Just as Sotomayor did. Every excuse is being made for her, but will pound the daylights out of Newt.
Also noticed no word by ABC or CBS about the “muslim” killing an innocent new recruit at the Army recruitment center. No bias ???????????????
Posted by: Reeba | June 3, 2009, 11:34 am 11:34 am
Not just one article to bash Mr. Gingrich – - but two !! But nothing about the “muslim” that shot and killed a new Army recruit in Arkansas.
Posted by: Reeba | June 3, 2009, 11:54 am 11:54 am
Roger | Jun 3, 2009 9:35:41 AM
… “Bet you’d be singing a different tune then, chief.”
_______________________
Roger, HOW DARE YOU? You have eloquently addressed a truth. And you did so with intellect and sensitivity.
If history is a “true indicator”, you won’t get overwhelming arguments from those who would be in Opposition to your thesis. (Bigotry is best suited to “Shadows and Silence.”)
Posted by: bobj72 | June 3, 2009, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
Newtie never apologized for calling his own gay sister a “half sister”. His mama had to get on the news and straighten out the fact that though they had different fathers, they had the same mother and grew up together. Why would we think any apology from him would be sincere?
Posted by: Rhonda | June 3, 2009, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
I am not sure why anyone cares what Newt thinks. He’s a has been if ever there was one.
Posted by: Bob Martin | June 3, 2009, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
To any and everyone who believes that there is anyone in congress,the senate or any part of our government will honor their pledges, lower our taxes, reduce government, help Americans!
Wake Up! Please read if you haven’t John Stossel’s New York Times best seller 2006 ” Get out the Shovel”.
This is a must read about our false beliefs about our government, the lies they tell. the misleading abuse used by the media and regurgitated by our leaders without looking at any proof.
Posted by: Clyde | June 3, 2009, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
“We” don’t need to ask ourselves ANY questions. Who gave that has-been unfaithful husband Gingrich ANY vote in this issue? Let’s judge the judge by her actions, not her politics.
Posted by: carolB | June 3, 2009, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
Newt from Auschwitz?! It is pelosi who wants men to be sterilized and obama who wants euthanasia as an option for third trimester babies. Sotomayor is a roman catholic who will make seven of nine roman catholics on the supreme court. In order to user in amnesty for illegals.
Posted by: Wayword1 | June 3, 2009, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
politics is all about republican sotomayor is one of the best pick for that job but because she is Latina why lock he culture and not her determination on were she is know is about time unite state go for a change.
Posted by: Luis Santiago | June 4, 2009, 12:38 am 12:38 am
Newt did a 180 on TARP within a week. That was back in the fall. Now he’s doing the same thing with Sotomayor. I sick of politicians’ reversals. If you didn’t think it through the first time, then say nothing. If you have thought your position through, then for God’s sake, have the courage to stand by your conviction and be prepared to defend it.
Posted by: LlightSaber | June 4, 2009, 10:18 am 10:18 am
When a person is nominated for a postion or elected into a position of power, that person is NOT selected for their RACE or heritage – they are elected to represent all people regardless of race – that’s what is the basic premise anyway – why is it that Latinos feel they have the right to tell anyone that “they will be looking for signs of abuse” in this Sotomayor questioning ? Every judge sitting on the Supreme Court benches have ALL gone through this same questioning but I saw no one “watching for signs of abuse” during questioning .
It’s time to stop looking at people and putting them into sections by race – we are all people and we should be recognized for our skills and how well we do our jobs – not by the color of our skin or our ethnic background.
I am disgusted by the racist remarks aimed at whites by other ethnic groups who feel they have the right to do so and not be judged. Reverse discrimination has been in existence for a long time yet you don’t see whites gathering in the street yelling discrimination – whites are above all that – other races take note and become part of the human race – the human race does not see color – they see people. Eradicate the word “racism” once and for all.
Posted by: Elle | July 21, 2009, 5:23 am 5:23 am