(CNN) - A week after calling Sonia Sotomayor a "racist" in reference to her 2001 "wise Latina" remarks, conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh said Wednesday he's now open to supporting President Obama's Supreme Court nominee.
"I can see a possibility of supporting this nomination if I can be convinced that she does have a sensibility toward life in a legal sense," Limbaugh said on his radio program.
Limbaugh's statement comes the same day former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who himself derided Sotomayor as a "racist" last week, wrote in an op-ed that he regretted his choice of words.
On his show Wednesday, Limbaugh said his potential support of Sotomayor stems from the nominee's unclear stance on abortion coupled with the fact that she is a Catholic.
"I don't know that it will ever happen, but if you know, the opportunity to get somebody like her, she's a Catholic, she's a devout Catholic, she's a Hispanic Catholic, Puerto Rican, they tend to be devout, she hasn't got a record on this. Normally liberals do have a record," Limbaugh said.
But, unlike Gingrich, the conservative talker did not back away from his contention Sotomayor is a racist.
I didn't know why he retracted it," Limabaugh said of Gingrich. "What is it? It's racism, reverse racism, whatever, but it's still racism, and she would bring a form of racism and bigotry to the court. But as I said yesterday, folks, I'm - I'm - I may look past that.
Meanwhile, Obama officials have said the president has not directly asked Sotomayor how she might rule in abortion rights cases, but California Democrat Dianne Feinstein - who met with Sotomayor Tuesday - said that the judge believes strongly in legal precedent.
"I believe she has a real respect for precedent and … if that is really true then I will agree with her, and I believe it is," said Feinstein, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
From CNN Politics
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Gingrich withdrawing the "racist" label, and now on the same day even Rush Limbaugh is softening his rhetoric about Sotomayor? Don't tell me there's actually someone sane who still has some influence in the Republican party, who's managed to rein some of these clowns in. Could this be evidence of an effort to keep their party from going the way of the Whigs?
I'm betting that Rush was told by quite a few Republicans to shut up and quit the racist nonsense, since it was / is hurting them... They probably told him that no more Republicans would show up on his show anymore if he didn't listen... and we all know the best way to scare a Republican is to go after the only thing that matters to a Republican – MONEY!
None of the GOP sheep (21%ers) would take him seriously anymore if fellow Republicans refuse to talk to him again! Thus killing his show...
Rush flip flopping? Say it ain't so.
Actually, today he's off his meds so he could say anything.
You almost have to admire Rush for being able to look past the fact that he thinks she is a racist . . . I wonder if he considers himself a racist when he says things like, "I don't know that it will ever happen, but if you know, the opportunity to get somebody like her, she's a Catholic, she's a devout Catholic, she's a Hispanic Catholic, Puerto Rican, they tend to be devout, she hasn't got a record on this."
What? The Republicans have just now figured out that Sotomayor can and will be confirmed without a single vote from any of them?
They have spent the last 2 weeks with hateful attacks that have only further alienated intelligent Americans away from their Party and now at the last second they pretend to support her?
Wake up the last 10 of you stil calling yourself Republicans – your leaders lie as easily as they breathe. Limbaugh and the rest of the bashing Republicans just figured out they are going to lose the confirmation battle in a huge, embarrassing way so now they are lying and pretending to support Sotomayor to try to save face and do damage control.
Too late – we know Republican tactics and games all too well at this point. In 2010 America will speak even louder to rid ourselves of all of them up for re-election.The days of the constantly negative do-nothings are OVER.
Gary's comment is:
Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, and Sean Hannity make up what I
call the "Three Stooges" , no matter what the subject or cause, they
are not for it, they will go out of there way to spread hate ill will not
only about the President but the country as well.
I think these men have done more than any other factor brought down
the Republican Party to its knees, and cannot stop doing there thing to'
put them selves somehow in a position of power in the press.
They all need to get a real life and do something to help the President
mend the country and make America great again, and not pull it down
further. If any of these guys had a position of real power, God Help us
All!!!
Republicans are back pedaling because they know that they need the Hispanic vote to win elections. Now we minorities know how Republicans feel about us.
Limbaugh is an under-smart, over-paid windbag. He will say anything to keep his 400 million a year paycheck. He's been the voice of the radical right for a few years now, but now that that segment of our population has shrunk to Limbaugh, his mom, and a few nutcases, he's changing his tune. His radio shows have become more and more shrill and desperate over the last weeks, as he realizes the solid base upon which he once stood has turned to goo. Sadly, we will never be free of this man until he passes on to his great reward, but it is entertaining to see him squirm and whine. The emperor has no clothes.
@ V. Clausewitz......... Liberals, and ALL thinking free people should be very afraid of Limbaugh, because his rhetoric can and does incite hate, division, fear and...... the lies he tells are all too often believed!
Just like the Nazis who told the same lies over and over and over, until the German people believed!
We may make fun of Limbaugh, but he is a danger to our Freedom and Democracy!
I think this sort of proves the argument that has been made before of Rush Limbaugh being "pure entertainment" because no one with any amount of common sense should take this guy seriously at all.It may be true that he has 20 million listeners but if he has 20 million FOLLOWERS that live and die with every word he says then our country has some serious ills. Rush probably chuckles to himself when he signs off and counts his money saying "well that should hold them until tomorrow!"
Rush's flip-flop could disguise a new Republican political maneuver to raise skepticism among far left Democrats on the issue of abortion. By highlighting her lack of judicial decisions with regard to abortion and by noting her Roman Catholic faith at a time when abortion is front and center in the news media could indicate that he wants the Democrats to derail a almost certain nomination. This is just a thought to consider.
I don't know that it will ever happen, but if you know, the opportunity to get somebody like her, she's a Catholic, she's a devout Catholic, she's a Hispanic Catholic, Puerto Rican, they tend to be devout
But she was the racist 1??? How can anyone take this guy seriously after his initial tirade. Now he's looking like Michael Steele.
worriedmom June 3rd, 2009 4:10 pm ET
Hmmm maybe it will make Obama wonder why everyone is being so apologetic all of a sudden. Look I didnt have anything against this woman, because i dont know enough about her to judge. sure wish the LIberals could think that way. I have never in my life seen such hatred and venom from the Left…… Have you people been so miserable all these years? Maybe you need to get a life and enjoy the good things that we do have in life and stop trying to be so hateful to others. You may find if you do that , that you may actually like yourself!
-----------------------
You are either willfully ignorant or truly don't know what's going on in the political world if you are seeing hatred and venom from the Left. Have you not been reading these blogs? Newt Gingrich, Rush Limebah, Hannity, and almost ALL the Republican senators? I think you need to change that word Left to Neo-Con Right sweetie and stop watching and believing that joke of a station Faux Noise.
@ Fred the Moderate..... Well said, Fred! Kudos! You are right. The GOP's got 21% of America claiming to be GOP........ wont win any election in 2010 or 2012!
GOP= Grumpy Old Punks
Thump!! One shoe has fallen...but I am waiting for the other one to fall...!
I'm waiting.......................I'm waiting.........................
"she would bring racism and bigotry to the court but he may look past that?!" – (a) Rush again proves he is an idiot; and (b) he doesn't get a vote.
Poor Rush.
On the sidelines, retaining water apparently, while history passes him by.
Boss Hog, the gift that keeps on giving. Hey Rush, put down the cheeseburgers and fries and just walk away!
@rich, and Obama picking a Hispanic had nothing to do with wanting to keep the Hispanic vote? Face it, it was 100% political. He got a two-fer, a woman and Hispanic at once to please to voting blocks.
"Your services are no longer required."
Gotta love how he and the GOPers are speaking out of both sides of their mouth here:
1. She must follow the rule of law, which includes the "penumbra of rights" created by the Bill of Rights know as the right to privacy and the precedential case law known as Roe v. Wade. Stare decisis. And let's not forget the 14th Amendment and the hotbutton issue of same-sex marriage.
2. She hopefully, because she's a "devout Catholic," will help them overturn Roe v. Wade and prevent same-sex marriage by basing her decision not on the rule of law (see above), but on a desire to force all Americans to adhere to Catholic/Christian dogma and the tenets set forth by the church.
See what they're doing? That's right, continuing their hypocrisy streak. Don't miss a day guys...we've got Guiness waiting in the wings.
Just go away, you fat, hate-filled buffoon.
........This clown wouldn't last for ten minutes if he didn't see his name somewhere in the media. It's the only thing that keeps him alive.
Something is rotten in Denmark, first Gingrich backed off, now Boss Limbaugh is backing off? They have something up their sleeves.. What?
I totally agree with Ben. Shame on you CNN for covering Rush Limbaugh!!! I just want to puke when I see his face on my TV.
Wonder what is up his sleeve. Hmmmmm. I put nothing past the old Rush.