WASHINGTON (CNN) – The head of the Republican Party wants his forces to watch their steps when it comes to Supreme Court hopeful Sonia Sotomayor.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele told CNN Radio Tuesday the party that he hopes will include more Hispanics must be cautious in how it scrutinizes a groundbreaking Latina judge.
"You want to be careful," he said when asked about juggling Hispanic outreach with potential opposition to Sotomayor, "You don't want to be perceived as a bully."
Indeed, Steele was mild in his initial jabs, calling Sotomayor an "interesting pick" with "overwhelming political overtones to it." The RNC chairman listed classic conservative question marks. "We do have some reservations and concerns about her views on the second amendment, her views on abortion, her views on property rights," he said.
Listen: Steele on Sotomayor:
On abortion, Steele said his is concern is that "we don't know much about her," since Sotomayor has had relatively few abortion rulings.
But overall, the new Republican leader is calling for the GOP to avoid the explosive rhetoric attached to many Supreme Court fights.
"I think our party right now will avoid the partisan knee-jerk judgements that typically come with these things," Steele said.
The chairman followed his own advice. When asked if he agrees with some conservatives that Sotomayor is a so-called "activist judge," Steele replied: "Based on what I know, it's hard to say with a high degree of certainty."
From CNN Politics
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He needs to tell Russ and the other GOP Leaders
Steele, Rush did not get the memo.
he must not have gotten the message to lush in time.....
Who is that talking? That's not Michael Steele!? I DON'T KNOW WHAT PLANET YOU'RE FROM, BUT BRING BACK MICHAEL STEELE. There are dozens of comedians and half-witted commentators lost without our Chairman of the Bored. It's a down economy with the most popular President in history. They need the work. My God, you People or Things or Whatever, have you no Mercy? SEND MICHAEL STEELE HOME!
This a totally phony dog and pony show. The Republicans can't and won't stop this nomination, and they know it.
Sorry Michael steele its way toooo late, Latinos in America know better! They will never support the party of NO!
"her views on abortion"
Right. It's important that we uphold the Constitution when it comes to the 2nd Amendment, but the separation of church and state codified in the First Amendment and the "penumbra of rights" created by the first FIVE Amendments...that can all go fornicate itself.
Apparently, Rush didn't get the message...look at the next story up on this ticker...Rush calls her a Racist! That's going to bring a lot of Latinos into the republican party!
I guess only the democats would select an "activist" judge. Just what do the rethuglican'ts call the jurists who selected the 43rd president, if not activist??????
I am sure that anybody who is not white is a racist in his eyes. If in fact he had his way ALL people of color would be screwd, not to mention all the other people who do not fit into the "repuclican" mold. Good thing most of Americans today are not as stupid as the old guard.
I agree with Rush. Sotomayor is a bad choice to seat in the high court.
No Mr. Steele! Please don't stop now. Let America know how the GOP feels about minorities. Certainly you represent less than .003 percent of GOP African Americans in the country.
I would anticipate the majority of Latinos and African Americans will remain Progressives (not Democrat Socialist Party members) until the change of this millineum.
I honestly believe that Trip Palin will be Govenor of Alaska the next time a Republican President is elected to the White House. But wouldn't bet on it though
I think you need to do a better job Mr. Steele of silencing the rhetoric that is coming out of your side of the media, for instance today have Rush Limbaugh saying he wants her to fail and claiming reverse discrimination in the pick ... do you think most voters are going to look favorably on such remarks? Let's put it this way, right now Rush is the voice of the party and You, Dick Cheney, and Karl Rove have basically legitimizing him by siding with him on several occasions, and never once have you criticized him.
"I think our party right now will avoid the partisan knee-jerk judgements that typically come with these things," Steele said.
I will go out on a limb and say that within the week some offensive remark will come out of the Republican Party. I enjoy watching these losers sabotage themselves.
I like the direction our nation is taking.
Viva America!
Wow. Now that Limbaugh has spoken out, how much do you want to bet that Steele will be backpedalling within 24 hours?.....
You forget to check with the party leader on that one Steel?I Believe he is saying somthing differnt.
ah, yes . . . the Clarence Thomas effect . . .
I'm sure Steele will come around to Rush Limbaugh's point of view. LOL.
"I think our party right now will avoid the partisan knee-jerk judgements that typically come with these things," Steele said.
flying in the face of 50 years of gop history.
Too late Steele... the racists in the GOP have already pretty much exposed their feelings today... Looks like Limbaugh, Huckabee and Romney didn't get your memo today! LOL...
I didn't know that the GOP was in danger of being perceived as a bully.
The Republicans don't have the votes to stop the confirmation and shouldn’t waste a lot of money running ads against her.. What they need to do is have some very pointed questions to be asked during the confirmation process to point out what they see as weaknesses. Save the money for a battle they can win.
Limbaugh has a serious problem with diversity. No way he would accept Sonia Sotomayor. It's laughable that Limbauhgh is calling another person "racist". Wow!!! surely, sonia can't be as bad as Limbaugh. Hispanics need to pay attention to what the republicans have to say about their candidate. They can respond with their votes...I hope they do in the coming elections. Her comments were clear. She was absolutely right.
how many times can different jerky Republicans be quoted saying "knee-jerk" today? Was it approved wording on the list of talking points in response to the practically done-deal nomination?
Will he reverse his stance tomorrow because of what Limbo stated? Stay tuned.
use tactics used on Justice Thomas LYNCH HER!!1
What are we thinking?
Are we thinking?
My "party" is so exclusive, i'm not invited!
Intelligent comment from Steele, thus guaranteed to be ignored by the Republican Party...
Looks like Steele is getting smarter. He's thinking that if the GOP backs this pick they might someday before too long make some inroads with Hispanic voters. Whereas if they oppose her they push a major voting block deeper into the Democratic camp. But the fact is GOP opposition to a non-white choice who isn't rabid (cf. Justice Thomas) is a foregone conclusion!
Mr. Steele.....don't soft-step it because she is a Latina or a woman. Just give it a fair hearing. Is that too much to ask? If the Republicans have significant issues with the choice, it will come out in the hearings.
And before the right wingers bray...yeah, Alito is an ideologue and Thomas is not Supreme Court material.
Keep talking Rush, keep talking. The more you spit out all that hatred, the more republicans the party looses. Democrats love you!
Of course, he's got no problem with her insulting White men, who apparently don't have "rich lives."
White GOP-ers, is this really your party?
And what was his pick to be head of the RNC. I hate to give what it was. Political posturing was one of them tho.
I think GOP is in a jam now. They do want to oppose the nomination as they oppose everything Obama proposes. However, by opposing this nomination, they have to kiss goodbye to latino votes that they desperstely need in the next election.
If it looks like a pig, says racist comments like a pig, and MAKES law instead of applying law like a pig, then it must be a pig. Time to call a pig a pig. Remember all the lipstick on a pig comments from the liberal nuts?
What is this.. good cop, bad cop. All of the Republican hacks are out in full force today tearing into Sotomayer, yet he wants people to believe that it's not the Republican Party. Get real!
The GOP is in a good position for SCOTUS selections. All the younger Justices (Scalia, Thomas, Alito, Roberts) are right-wingers, so Obama will only ever nominate to replace left-wingers, never actually gain any ground. The GOP cannot lose, no matter what the outcome of the battles are.
Too late Steele, that train has already left the station. From the GOP's leader, Rush Limbaugh, all the way down to their regular Joe six-pack.
The Republican party is the party of racism.
what sane person listens to Steele?
With the nomination of Sotomayor, how long will the repubs take to trot out the Taco Bell's chihuahua as the new face of the Party of No?
They weren't careful about picking Michael Steele as chairman, so why does the GOPbrains have to be careful now? They don't, they can just continue to be their racist selves and the world will leave them shouting in the dust. Moving on...
The fight is not worth it for the republicans, she will most likely be confirmed anyways. They can only hurt themselves here by alienated a huge population. Steele makes a logical conclusion.
This black token is really a big joke. One day he is all over President and the next day he is agree with him until he get that call from Rush and he will be saying he was misquoted. HEY BLACK TOKEN YOU ARE NO OBAMA!
Yes Steele...Obama backed the GOP tail up against a wall. You cant say much here, because you will definately irritate your swing voters if you show any opposition to Sonia. If the GOP piss of the Hispanics they can forget about winning any election for decades. LOL...Tables turn now baby.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele told CNN Radio Tuesday the party that he hopes will include more Hispanics must be cautious in how it scrutinizes a groundbreaking Latina judge.
Steele get ready for Rush to call you out on your comments and I be waiting for yu to apolozise to your boss Rush.
That's OK, Michael. No one in their right mind would ever confuse you with a bully...
Why? You know Steele, you are really killing me. It's okay to lynch Pres. Obama, but any other non-black we have to step carefully.
best thing steele can do is admit he isn't a republican
and move on over to the party of change
his own self ego is what blinds him from seeing what the republicans are using him for
and he can't come up with any thing better than abortion
wooo what a joke ..
Your party has been bullying for decades, Mr. Steele. Grow a spine and stop being a token. Don't let them use you like they did the Hispanics for votes only. Now you give them instructions so your party can continue to use them. You are a joke if you Think for a second that the American people, yes, American hispanics are Stupid!
Brilliant pick, smart, strong woman. Now this will cover your grave, as it has already been dug.
As a black man though, I wonder sometimes about Steele.We don't know much about Obama- He wasn't scrutinized enough because he was black. I know that you have to pander to the white part of the party but OH Lord, have some independent though for once. You do have a brain. Do not let the party use you.Ponder your words before uttering them.
but you are psychological bullies but more & more are seeing the repugnants for what they really are !
Steele is about as clueless as they come, their leader Limbutt has already called Sotomayor a racist and Huckabee has called Steele the same.
It's pretty funny that Steele comments on the "political overtones" when he, himself was chosen as an effort on the part of the RNC to have their own Barack Obama. The laughs just keep coming.
He's "Steele" out of touch with reality!!! I'll give him until tomorrow to change his tune after Rush Limpballs kicks Steele to the curb for not checking with him before making a statement. Rove – oveR
Sotomayor voted out qualified applicants in the fire dept because there wasnt enough minorities that scored well.
You know the same principal where she just got her job!!
Too Late - we already know republicants are schoolyard bullies at their very worst.
"I think our party right now will avoid the partisan knee-jerk judgements that typically come with these things," Steele said.
Umm — he didn't get the call from Rush?
Of course the GOP has to be careful. She is a Hispanic woman which means that any criticism, no matter how legitimate, will be seen as a racist and/or sexist attack on her and the Obama administration.
Be quiet Steele...Limbaugh is out there speaking for the GOP already. What a joke! A party without a leader, a body with a soul. Just watch, GOP goes regional in less than 10 years...
Mr.Steele may have to lie prostate again when limbaugh see's these comments.
Perceived as a "bully?" It's a little late for that, don't ya' think GOP?
Your racist, sexist party is unable to toe the line. I'm waiting for the offensive Latina song to follow "Puff the Magic Negro." It will be quite entertaining to hear you'll complain about how unqualified Sotomayor is considering her resume and intellect compared to Thomas, Harriet Miers, Palin, Bush, and you Michael Steele to name a few. Your party put the bar sooo low.
If Steele careful about what he says he is going to have to apologize to Boss Limbaugh again.
This may be the smartest thing Steele has ever said since becoming head of the RNC. Unfortunately, like the "boy" who cried wolf, no one in his party is listening.......ANY attack, real or peceived, WOULD, not could, WOULD cost "the party of NO" elections in 2009, 2010, & 2012........Remember where you heard it first.....
Thankfully I'm sure Limbaugh won't listen and will end up blowing it for The Republicans. After all, Rush does whatever Rush wants to do. He answers to no one except himself.
On abortion, Steele said his is concern is that "we don't know much about her," since Sotomayor has had relatively few abortion rulings.
Do they really think that Obama would nominate someone who didn't agree with him? The Republicans are going to get a pro-life nominee, so why are they spouting off about this?? I guess they're upset, because they didn't get their way. Oh boo hoo hoo. Cry me a freakin river.
Preach that to your bigotted high priest,Rush Limbaugh. He needs to know by continuing to drive a wedge between communities(i.e. whites against Hispanics),hes actually hurting the Republican party.
I think steele is right this time in history. Tell your boys in the GOP to try to listen to you at least once in a blue moon because they do not regard as their leader. They have to accept it or leave it to the rest of the NNNNOOOOO GOP.
the republicans and the GOP's suck there i said it
Go ahead Repubs.... I darrrrrrre!!!!!! you to block her nomination.... You've already lost blacks, latinos, and women. Were just waiting for you to put the last nail in your coffin.
""You want to be careful," he said when asked about juggling Hispanic outreach with potential opposition to Sotomayor, "You don't want to be perceived as a bully." "
Once again, Mikey, you're a day late and a dollar short.
Steele might want to tell Rush to back off a little ...... Rush is coming out very strong against this women calling her a racists.......someone in this GOP better rein in their Leader.......he's running everyone away from your Party....
WHo in the devil is Michael Steele and why is it so important to report on his sayings on CNN every day???
Hey, Michael......Rush didn't get the memo.
You don't want to be perceived to be versus we don't want to be.
Mike: GOP picked you so they would look like a aprty of color .. wake up brother .. get real
pandering, no genuine respect or positive feelings for others, just pandering.
Oh c'mon...do you think the party is going to take direction from "Master Gaffe" aka Michael Steele.
It's guaranteed that he'll spew something stupid – he can't help himself. And...if he can't come up with anything original, he'll rehash an oldie but goodie like the old "he hasn't been vetted" schtick.
It's not IF he'll say something stupid – it's only a matter of WHEN.
Heed your own advice Mr. Steele, just zip it.
Repubs are incapable of seperating their prejudices from their decision making. They show their true colors every time. They don't call them the "Grand Old" Party for nothing, that's all they are is a bunch of codgy, grumpy old men who are unable to change in their ways to keep up with the times.
Why does he even have to say "they" have to be careful?
They are bullies – they just don't want to be perceived as bullies
oops . . .
"You want to be careful," he said when asked about juggling Hispanic outreach with potential opposition to Sotomayor, "You don't want to be perceived as a bully."
Michael, did you check with Rush, before saying this. I'm thinking Rush doesn't have issues with being a bully. The not-so-subtle message the Republican party is sending is that minorities need not apply. You were kept on as a house pet, but everyone else gets it.
I guess i can admit that Steele has his moments. But he is still a Token in the end
This is truly revolutionary! The head of the Republican Party (the one that's not Rush Limbaugh...) says "you don't want to be perceived as a bully"? Republicans have been bullies for the past eight years both at home and abroad.
I wonder how long before Steele has to apologize to Rush again....:(
I guess Chairman Steele didn't listen in on his boss Rush's program for the day's talking points.
I see the shuckin' and jivin' has started already. Word to yo MaMa Steele!
Sorry Mr. Steele...no more bs politics from you. Tuning you out. Not gonna work this time. Bye bye Mr. Michael devil Steeles.