CNN

[...] When Rush Limbaugh labeled that as "reverse racism" there was a collective gasp heard in media news rooms throughout the country.  How dare he (and the GOP) attack this nominee – a certain someone at CNN actually asks this as a poll question. [...]

How quickly we forget the nomination of Harriet Miers? Her highest accomplishment at the time was a clerk!?!? for the US Chief Judge of a district court of Texas.This is the (Cronyism) affirmitive action that I am familiar with by the GOP.
You object to sheer qualifications? Sotomayor graduated from Princeton University summa cum laude and from Yale Law School. She has spent 17 years on the federal bench, longer than either John Roberts or Samuel Alito had served before they ascended to the Supreme Court.
HIspanic, woman or whatever. She is more than qualified.

Gingrich needs to stop all of this. Republican Party is in trouble!!! Party just needs to start doing business. Stop these same ole' vicious attacks.

Judge Sotomayoer is a good choice, I feel. She also has bi-partisan support. And she was first chose by first President Bush, then appointed higher by President Clinton. Now President Obama has chosen her for higher position.

I am Republican, but getting very tired of the actions of my party.

Gingrich spreading hate speech. Needs to shut up. Sit down. Go away. Apologize for hatefulness. When are the old white men in politics going to get over themselves. Spreading hate, lies, arrogance is no way to win and influrence intelligent people. Now Buchanan is acting like an ass just like newt, rush, mike h., hannity, cheney, and such hate speeck ilk.

Stop taking these quotes out of context! This isn't a racist remark, it is a remark on the striking socio-economic disparities in life experience.

Perhaps if CNN could stop regurgitating sound bites and talking points and actually provide objective and thoughtful reporting and analysis like a responsible news organization should, we would all be better informed and make more educated decisions.

Republicans' isn't the constitution built with the racist and sexist mentality of its authors. I guess someone had to be an activist to change the constitution and that is why there are a huge number of amendments in the constitution.

Inspite her race, she's still a qualified nominee who was first nominated by a republican, then second by a democrat and now another democrat! Meaning she's well respected for her work by both parties...looks like a shoe in to me! The only possible problem now is, Obama is nominating so there may be problem because it's him....strange but that's how the "Party of No" has been doing it...therefore Cafferty is definitely right!

Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich should give it up move to Vermont and have their marriage legalized. They should run for office… put out or shut up.....

This two morons calling Sonia Sotomayor a racist is so laughable that borderlines in the absurd.

Does anyone have any duck tape big enough for their mouths…This is what the GOP have? this is the best they can do? It’s ridiculous….

RE: Dreamer

Given your inability to spell, perhaps your struggle is as great as hers!

Good luck to you.

Ethnicity is not the basis on which to choose a Supreme Court nominee. In fact, the choice of Sotomayor is a political choice, meant to solidify Hispanic support for Democrats in future elections. That is transparent, and on that basis, it is worthy of criticism.

The best and most qualified candidate with the strongest judgment and reasoning powers should be chosen for the highest court. Both parties have been guilty of politicizing the bench, thereby downgrading the level of justices and overall of the Supreme Court as an institution.

Sotomayor may stand on her credentials or not. If not, then she should not be approved.

Don't republicans ever get tired of the hate, narrow mindedness, intolerance and evilness? I sure did, that is why i will NEVER be a republican again! I thank God every day he opened my eyes. I am now a PROUD DEMOCRAT.

Now, report back to Boss Limbaugh all you right-wing, torture loving war mongers. You are the racists and you know it. What a bunch of phoney hypocrites. You scum destroyed the world the past 8 years. Now, you're foolish enough to pull this stunt.

Just out of curiosity, why aren't some of you flag waving right-wing water carriers in Iraq right now fight Bush and Cheney's lie of a war? Well? Answer me?

@Mark in Vegas:

Judges don't "enforce" the law, that's the job of the executive branch. The supreme court interprets the law. There's a large difference there, which may be why you claim judicial activism where it doesn't exist.

I get kick out of all the naive libs posting in support of this radical woman. Should she be confirmed, ( I pray she is not), it will be ironic to see the those who support her react when her rulings prevent their more qualified kids from getting that job that ends up going to a less qualified minority. Be careful what you wish for.

@Kevin in Ohio:

You use Bork as a symbol of Democrats being foot draggers? Bork was the biggest quack that we could have had on the supreme court. He believed (and changed his story in the hearings) that free speech only appllied to political speech, equal protection didn't apply to women...etc.....

Talk about an "activist" judge..

"Siince when does personal experience overrule the constitution?"

When you are a liberal Democrat who is void of ever being honest, fair and objective.

Keep in mind these are the same people who believe tolerance is telling someone that becuase their skin is a certain shade that they are not allowed to form their own views, beliefs, and ideology, just refer to their comments about Clarence Thomas, Condi Rice, and Micheal Steele.

They should absolutely challenge her. While you note her two comments in 2001 and 2003, you (and the ENTIRE confirmation committee) should pay more attention to the handling of the New Haven fireman case. That is racism and activism straight from the bench that doesn't require additional context to plainly see.

Every notice when Jack walks he leans way to the left? Jack, your a liberal propagandist. No wonder you work at CNN.

Typical that you would let Sotomoyar get away with blantantly racist statements. This woman is a disaster. She has not right to be on the Supreme Court of the US with her understanding of the role of the judicary.

Newt is right, she should withdraw with that racist comment about a white man's life experiences compared to a Latino. BTW, what does life experiences have anything to do with being a judge? You inforce the law, you don't legislate from the bench, i.e. liberal activism.
Racism comes in all colors folks, but it seems the MSM won't call a spade a spade when it happens to one of their own.
Mark

You can't be a "reverse" racist; you can only be a racist. It can either be for or against a race. That race can either be a minority, or in the majority. Regardless, it's still racism – nothing "reverse" about it. Sheesh.

But sure, they can oppose her. I expect them to. Partially because they're the other party, and that's what you reflexively do. Partly because they probably have a point, at least as far as questioning her .. as they are supposed to question any nominee.

Whats with all the Angry White Men chiming in calling Ms Sotermayor a racist? Rush and Gingrich really should get a grip. An adulter and a pillhead....really!! Who are they to cast stones?

Where is John McCain? Surely he wont let this opportunity slide by, to pipe up with his two cents worth in the fine company of these two GOP intellectuals... Hannity and Billy Boy wont be far behind, I'm sure, to jump on this racist bandwagon.

Siince when does personal experience overrule the constitution?

The media is pushing the fact that if the Republicans oppose Sotomayor that the Latin will not vote for Republican, which would indicate that they think that congress should vote for whoever will generate the most votes and ignore the issues envolved or to do what is right no matter the consequence. That is the way the government has been operated for years and now the congressmen and women will do anything for a vote. That is true with both parties.

good it would balance out somewhat the tilt to the right that the confederate judes thats sitting on the high court has. lets level the field. definition; confederate judge= a judge that dons a black robe but has his hood in the closet. more or less a closet klan member. aka good ol boy, of the sorts. a member of the secret order the "brotherhood". skull and the bone.

@Dreamer, judging from you post, you didn't do much studying.

Let's put it this way – would most Americans dare to vote against the first African-American nominee for president?

To fed up:
Osama bin Obama ... You are really an idiotic fool . From your comment you definitely must be one of these right wing nut jobs just like your buddies Rush the Druggster, Lying Newt and Cheney, " the new and improved RNC"

Jack,

Your comments are dead wrong. The Democrats opposed Miguel Estrada and Alberto Gonzales. This opposition in all likelihood had nothing to do with race and neither does potential opposition to Sotomayor at the Senate level have anything to do with race.

All I can say is I HOPE that the GOP is stupid enough to go for broke on this. I dare you so-called "conservatives" to try to stop this nomination. If you do, you'll just help make sure we beat you like a drum in the next election too. The GOP has got NOTHING to offer the country other than NO NO NO.

Oh yeah – by the way – when Senator Franken takes his seat in the Senate, the deal will be done no matter what. So go ahead GOP – do what you're best at. FLAIL IN THE WIND!

I love it that you right wingers have to rely on failed politicians like Newt the Hoot and Cheney (wasn't his approval 9% when he left office?) as your messengers.

What a joke.

Why are Republicans constantly branded the "Party of No" when that is ALL the democrats did for years and years and years? Remember Bork? Remember Gonzalez? Why is it that one set of rules applies to the left, and another applies to the right? The double standard is alive and well.

Let's see how the Dems would try to make that a racism thing. I doubt you will here any white republican leaders talking about how they could make better decisions than a hispanic female. Many people make mistakes with what they say. However, to help the administration she ought to withdraw. Her perception by her statements and recent rulings as a racist are not helping the president.

The GOP received its marching orders from Rush Limbaugh and will oppose the nomination. Alienating Hispanic voters will hur the GOP for many years to come. When the GOP lose forseeable elections, Limbaugh will wash his hands of any responsibility saying that everyone knows he is just a radio/TV entertainer.

I've seen that comment she made in 2001 reported everywhere, but no one has provided the context in which it was made. Please do so, CNN.

GEM48......get a grip. Judge Sotomayor is not of Mexican decent nor is she an "illegal." She is of Puerto Rican decent......and guess what genius, Puerto Ricans can enter our country, at any time, legally! Prior to spouting, spewing, and frothing, you might try reading, researching, and, educating yourself.

GEM 8..you sound like a racist yourself "just what we need another
Mexican" check yourself..before you wreck yourself
'

Hey learn to spell dreamer

GOP dare vote against first Hispanic SCOTUS nominee?

Only if there are men left in the GOP.

gem48: – are you serious? Why don't you check yourself before you wreck yourself? This is so typical of conservatives, talking from their butt instead of their mouth. But guess what? This nominne is more qualified than the white man Judge Roberts, and even so than Alberto Gonzales (who we know was a big failure).

Bravisimo !!

Is it me, or does she kinda look like Rosanne Barr?

Huh? The democrats successfully filibustered George Bush's nomination of what would have been the first Hispanic supreme court judge. Wasn't that the same thing? Why would the Republicans be branded as racists if the Democrats weren't? Double standard again?

The gutless repukes are using unelected blowhards like Limbaugh and Gingrich to do the heavy lifting of calling Sotomayor a racist.

Even though I fully support Obama and his nominee, I sure hope they do! Anyone should be able to bring up the weaknesses they see in a nominee (or presidential candidate!) without being called a bigot, a racist or a sexist.. and if they think she is not fit for the position, let them prove it. We’ve got nothing to worry about and I do hope they put up a good fight. Democracy in action!

Unbelievable!!!!!
Dare to vote??? this is EXACTLY what Osama bin OBAMA wanted... Obama needs to look at what country he is from (supposedly)and stop all this !!! He chooses liars ,tax cheaters, and Now someone that by her own admittance makes her own laws according to her gender race and life story...GIVE ME A BREAK!!!

By the way OBAMA do you think you could go to work more than one day!!! and fixed one issue??? you start a bunch and have NO idea or clue of what to do...

Know the facts: Sotomayor was born an American from American parents. She has as much qualification if not more than Chief Justice Robers. 89 republicans voted against her Bush nomination to the appellet court. Maybe that was because the appellet court is a stepping stone for the U.S. Supreme Court. Wouldn't want to give a minority that chance? Who's racist? I think the GOP.

If you read her comments in context, she is right on. Newt and his party need to shut up.

For the GOP to oppose this nomination is just senseless. They supported her when she was nominated by George HW Bush in 1991. Orrin Hatch and 6 other republicans voted in favor of her in 1998. To oppose her now that a democratic president nominated her is just hypocritical. And all of the name calling and accusations toward the Hispanic community will do nothing to win new votes.

The Repubs calling someone racist. Hahahahaha now thats funny.
Well, I guess Limbaugh is an angel. A very big one at that! Give me a break. THe whole Repubs party are basically racist. At least 90% of them.

Her being a Latina has as little or as much to do with her qualifications for being a supreme court judge as Roberts' or Alito's race have with theirs.

Now that we have established that everyone (not just minorities) have a race, let's quit obsessing about it. Judge Sotomayor has had a distinguished career in law and a stellar academic record. Her race and gender are just icing on the cake.

Viva America! Viva Obama! la culpa es tuya republicanos!

Dallas Independent, sorry pal – you don't sound independent to me at all. As a matter of fact, you sound just like a Limbaugh dittohead.

And by the way, it's spelled "KOWTOW".

I am so tired of Republican behavior. They're like a bunch of whiny five year olds stamping their feet. They're just protesting to protest and are behaving like brats.

Well said, Caffety!!!

The GOP is the party of NO. What do you think? They DON'T want to get on board with the rest of the Nation. Why would they vote for her? They are out of ideas and out of directions.
Obama's job is twice as hard putting this country back on track with the GOP w/ their heads in the sand.

I cannot believe the current justices on the Supreme Court put their gender or their ethnicity or their life experiences in a closet when they put on their robes and make decisions that impact the whole nation. If that is true, why would the republicans expect this candidate to do so?

There is no way this woman should have been nominated. She is racist all the way. Just want we need, another mexican to cater to all the mexicans, legal and illegal, who have taken over our country.

Ummm jack,what makes her life any tuffer then mine?i'm white and i have busted my butt over the years and she thinks she can make a better desision then me based on her life expiriance?Maybie we should rethink this appointment seems she favoirs race and gender over law and is more then willing to have that dictate her votes and that is plane wrong.I
'm all for free speach and all but i keep my views to myself apperntly her gender and race makes her spieceally able to use that for her pupulses and not our consitution.I also believe the best man should get the job and agianst affermitive action as a whole but in some instances it should be applied to those situations where blatent discrimation is accuring and not because someone studdied harder for a promotion test then the rest.

Isn't that why rahm emmanuel suggested her? (in response to your title)

Jack,

Some conservatives also said she was a affirmative action pick aside from her qualifications. How many appointees and nominees has the GOP tried to block of President Obamas?

Seems to me this was predictable.

If, as Her Honor has said, Appellate Judges and Justices make policy, and if she believes that Latinos are more likely than not to reach a "better" decision on some cases in view of their "experience", then there is a rational basis for voting against her as potentially biased and lacking in judicial temperament.

cafferty ....hello.....she is not king soloman with all the wisdom...... give me a break,,,, jack....

Jack,

Your comments are right on. Thank you.

Maybe she can counterbalance the GOP's misogynistic creep Thomas. The main problem the GOP has with her is that she doesn't make decisions based on her investment portfolio like Scalia.

Chicago and the state of Illinois have always been as crooked as a dogs hind leg. Time for them to clean up their act!

larry, fyi – illegals can't vote... are you trying to sound uninformed?

I would hop GOP would stand up and vote agains this bad nomination. Remember the Dems voting against Clarence Thomas? where was the outrage then?

Jack Don't be silly. There are 25 million legal hispanic votes at stake here and 20 million illegal potential hispanic votes on the way. This nomination is bought and paid for. And next time you go before the Supreme Court, press # 1 for a decision in English.

I just can't wait to see how the Republicans who have voted for her confirmation in the past will vote this time! Flip-flop anyone???

Yes, they must vote againt this nominee, if they are sincere in their opposition to abortion. Many Catholics who oppose abortion nonetheless voted for Obama and, hence, this pro-abortion nominee. They are by no means sincere in their beliefs.

Where does idiot Cafferty come off with another Nobama brilliant bit of political.... Cafferty's nose is so far up Nobama's you-know-what, he should be embarassed! Sonia Sotomayor is a reverse racist and there is no other way to look at the situation but with truthful eyes! Although liberal democrats aren't able to do that, neither are they able to take criticism. The GOP and everyone else in between is supposed to cowtow to the dems' and their idiocracy – I think not. I belong to neither party and am quite thankful at this moment that I don't. Both are embarassing!! Sonia should withdraw but, being the racist female she is, I doubt she will do the right thing.

Cafferty – why not change the article to read:

"Obama dare to nominate mediocre judge as payback for voting favors?"

Why try to put the GOP on the spot? Obama's again, causing controversy with yet another questionable pick. Daschle, Geithner, you name it...all with immoral backgrounds. Had this person been a white male, she wouldn't be considered. Why not print that Cafferty?
The core issue here is are we as citizens of the United States, going to get a fair, and impartial judge? The answer is obviously no, since the pool of applicants were tainted worse than a CNN Research Poll.

The GOP is the party of "NO", its what they do because its all they have to offer. Of coarse they'll vote against her!!

Who Cares what this former speaker of the house demands.
Gingrich tweeted: "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."
Let's try it out – it worked well for all the racist biggots like Newt.
Lets Finally balance this court.

Cafferty, if there is such a thing as catering to the lowest common denominator, then you have just done so.

You are pathetic.