May 29, 2009
Posted: May 29th, 2009 11:23 AM ET

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Cornyn on Thursday said statements calling Sotomayor a racist are 'terrible.'
Cornyn on Thursday said statements calling Sotomayor a racist are 'terrible.'

(CNN) - A top Senate Republican is taking aim at recent statements from conservative commentators Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich suggesting Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is a "racist."

"I think it's terrible," Sen. John Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told NPR's "All Things Considered" Thursday. "This is not the kind of tone any of us want to set when it comes to performing our constitutional responsibilities of advise and consent.”

Both the popular radio host and former GOP House Speaker have suggested Obama's pick for the high court is a racist while referencing a 2001 speech at Berkeley during which Sotomayor said, "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."

Related: In her own words: Sotomayor's 'Latina' speech

"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," Gingrich wrote on Twitter Wednesday.

"Here you have a racist – you might want to soften that, and you might want to say a reverse racist," Limbaugh said the day before on his radio program.

Senate Republicans meanwhile have largely withheld judgment on Sotomayor, though many - including Cornyn - have taken issue with some of her past statements and rulings.

"We are all a product of our upbringing and who we are and I think it’s a fact people do have different backgrounds, but I don't think those background ought to determine what the law is," Cornyn said to NPR of Sotomayor's Berkeley comments.

The NRSC chief also brushed off the Limbaugh and Gingrich statements while noting neither man holds an elected office.

"Neither one of these men are elected Republican officials. I just don't think it’s appropriate. I certainly don't endorse it. I think it’s wrong," he said.

Filed under: John Cornyn • Newt Gingrich • Popular Posts • Rush Limbaugh • Sonia Sotomayor • Supreme Court


Push Back | Yeah, well, whatever.   August 9th, 2009 9:48 am ET

[...] I don’t know what does.  These special type of crazies might want to listen to the WSJ — and Senator John Cornyn, too. “I think it’s terrible,” Sen. John Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican [...]

Top Republican calls Limbaugh, Gingrich comments 'terrible' - Page 4 - The Political Asylum - Forums for Intelligent Discussion & Debate   June 1st, 2009 2:51 pm ET

[...] Posted by patriotsblade CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive – Top Republican calls Limbaugh, Gingr... John is up for re-election and is pandering to a large hispanic population. He does not [...]

Econocracy » The divide within the GOP   June 1st, 2009 1:20 pm ET

[...] Gringrich and Limbaugh made the comments on the basis of her comments in a speech in 2001, in which she said that "I would hope that a wise Latina woman, with the richness of her experiences, would more often... [...]

The Political Fish » A spineless GOP is dangerous for America   June 1st, 2009 9:06 am ET

[...] admitted that Judge Sotomayor will be confirmed.  Senator John Cornyn has all but disavowed any criticism from "non-elected" officials and has withheld any statements against the Judge. Does it make sense to have such a strong [...]

Weekend Opinionator: Sotomayor, Race and the Right - The Opinionator Blog - NYTimes.com   May 29th, 2009 10:02 pm ET

[...] Republican Senatorial Committee, said he thought the comments from Limbaugh and Gingrich were "terrible": "This is not the kind of tone any of us want to set when it comes to performing our [...]

Sen. Cornyn: Limbaugh and Gingrich Comments ‘Terrible’ | Weblogs   May 29th, 2009 4:00 pm ET

[...] is criticizing Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich for labeling Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor a “racist.” (CNN) — A top Senate Republican is taking aim at recent statements from conservative [...]

Sotomayor, racist? - SLUniverse Forums   May 29th, 2009 11:45 am ET

[...] CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive – Top Republican calls Limbaugh, Gingr... Quote: [...]

Cornyn: Racial Attacks on Sotomayor “Terrible” • CrazyDrumGuy   May 29th, 2009 11:04 am ET

[...] head Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) responds to the parade of Republicans who have blatantly called Sonia Sotomayor a racist: "I think [...]

Anderson Cooper 360: Blog Archive - Top Republican calls Limbaugh, Gingrich comments ‘terrible’ « - Blogs from CNN.com   May 29th, 2009 11:03 am ET

[...] Read more... More about: 360° Radar •  Sonia Sotomayor [...]

Top Republican calls Limbaugh, Gingrich comments 'terrible' - The Political Asylum - Forums for Intelligent Discussion & Debate   May 29th, 2009 10:40 am ET

[...] Republican calls Limbaugh, Gingrich comments 'terrible' CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive – Top Republican calls Limbaugh, Gingr... [...]

WSJ: Republican Attackers of Sotomayor are ‘Idiots’ | TaylorMarsh.com   May 29th, 2009 10:30 am ET

[...] it took them all week, but a lonely few in the Republican Party, including the WSJ and Senator Cornyn, have decided they've got more to lose than gain if they keep up the attack on Judge [...]

Balloon Juice » Blog Archive » Unpure of Heart and Weak in the Knees   May 29th, 2009 10:11 am ET

[...] Time to fire up operation leper and throw John Cornyn out of the party: [...]

Good for You, John Cornyn « Cadillac Tight   May 29th, 2009 8:51 am ET

[...] While saying that he has some serious reservations about things that Judge Sotomayor has said, Sen. Cornyn said the accusations by Gingrich and Limbaugh are "terrible." "This is not the kind of tone any of us want to set when it comes to performing our [...]

Posts about Rush Limbaugh as of May 29, 2009 » The Daily Parr   May 29th, 2009 7:39 am ET

[...] Limbaugh … PRESIDENT OBAMA IS SUCCEEDING – islamiswar.org 05/29/2009 RUSH LIMBAUGH : Ladies Top Republican calls Limbaugh, Gingrich comments 'terrible' – politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com 05/29/2009 FromCNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney Cornyn on [...]

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