(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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well, it appears someone from the great beyond has visited gindrich and limbaugh with words like, "don't worry, be happy", or some other don't mess with the lady thing..wonder who made the call?
And experience, life experience - does not form you, your personality and your opinions? Of course it does. If you're white, family well-to-do, everything going your way - you won't understand the hardship of others - incl. poor whites, as well as others not fortunate to have all the good things from family.
If you've struggled and worked all your life, a self-made person - you will have a particular view on life. This is not racist, not elitist, not classist - it's just the way it is.
The rethuglican idol – an admitted druggie, racists, narrowminded bigot who is rich and cares nothing for the middle class.
Limbaugh and Ginrich are both racists!
So let's see: Rush has a religious litmus test for supporting people on the SCOTUS, and he hopes such people will go against established law and legislate from the bench to do away with abortion. Wow, now that's 'conservatism' we can believe in!!!!
The level of hypocrisy and delusion it talkes to be a [R] true-beliver these days is just absolutely stunning!
Not that it matters, because he doesn't vote on her, but he has not flip-flopped on calling her a racist. She still made a racist comment no matter how you spin it. She should withdraw her nomination, if liberals want to stick to their own standards for what racism is. However, Democrats feel it is okay for them to make such racist comments since most liberals on this site support her comments. Of course this comes from the same people who voted in a President based solely on race.
Is he wearing an earing in his left ear?
Anyone got any oxycontin or percoset, maybe we can shut this bag of wind off with his favorite narcotic.
Looks like the Grand Ole Party can't figure out whether to be naughty or nice. It'll take more than that to make themselves credible again. Oh, and about those new ideas?
Limbaugh and Newt are not serious about giving anyone a fair hearing. They are only stepping back because it is becoming clear to almost everyone how out of touch they are with their views.
This is what Forest Gump would say to Rush regarding his new-found support of Judge Sotomayor,
"But you don't get to vote for her confirmation, Lt Dan!!"
What does it say about all those rabid, foaming-at-the-mouth supporters of Rush Limbaugh that they follow a man who only graduated high school and according to his own mother, failed every college class he took before he QUIT ...his second semister wasn't it?
As if this man is qualified to evaluate – much less condemn – ANYONE with Sotomayer's education and experience...speaks volumes about the intellect and blind partisianship of those who hang on every word from this bigot's mouth!
So there you have it, the defacto head of the GOP saying that just so long as someone agrees with his positions it's OK if they are racist.
This isn't exactly news, but I don't think it's been openly stated before.
Is there really anyone with an IQ of more than 12 who cares what Rush says? I sincerely doubt it....
Stop covering Rush Limbaugh!!!
He is not a politician
He does not have anything to do with the real world...
Shame on you CNN.
proud republican, while I didn't go around calling Rush the leader of the GOP ( I DID find that funny, I must admit..
you know, in a circus-atmosphere kind of way), your POV is noted.
I am curious as to your opinion on Pawlenty, who appears to have a much more moderate take on issues than many of the conservative guys the media is focusing on at the moment (Limbaugh, Cheney, Gingrich, etc)
The only prereq for writing for CNN is being liberal. No training needed.
No wonder you hate Rush, when you don't get the facts. It's so said you can't see you're a being dupped.
Of course he would look past racism, he is a racist after all. Abortion should be legal point blank. For people like him it should be mandatory.
The Great Omnipotent Rush has spoken,so pay attention all ye Cowardly Lions, Brainless Scarecrows & Heartless Tinmen,
These guys have no Idea what they think. In fact, they can't think at all. Obama is as down the middle of the road as they come. He loves his family and he tries to treat everybody with respect. This galls these people, in fact most of the GOP. It is unfortunate that guys like this have nearly ended the party.
A word to the wise. A non-inclusive party won't do anything in 3 years or 30! You want to grow instead of srink? Think big tent. If you do, at least all the American people win!
NOW… … …
This is a Proof and a Live Example of how big an Idiot it this Guy.
This Jerk has been Yelling for the past few days on his Radio Talk Show…."Sotomayor a "Racist"".
Now he says he want to Support her… This really proves the following:
1. He always speaks without thinking, off the hat, under his drug influence and he speaks under emotions, anger, anxiety and lack of knowledge and information.
2. He speaks all Junk, Lies and Garbage.
3. He speaks of what he is not Qualified of.
4. He speaks under someone's instigation.
5. He is just a relentless speaker without brain.
How pathetic is the Republican party now when the only members that get any air time aren't even elected officials. The GOP is void of actual leadership because to be a leader takes intelligence, and no one that has any is a Republican anymore. All that remains are entertainers who make $ of the 21% of this country that is still dull enough to pull the letter for the GOP.
I'm a total Obama supporter & I trust that he has made another good decision here. Sotomayor will be confirmed, & this after a thorough vetting by the Senate...as it should be.
Fellow libs...let's keep the name calling & negative rhetoric to a minimum, what do you say???? It just puts us in a negative light & detracts from the real issues that we all need to discuss calmly & peacefully.
Peace to ALL
Doesn't this FAT BLOWHARD know that HIS support is absolutely not needed and means nothing? He is merely a radio host with NO power except over a bunch of die-hard right-winged whackos who have nothing better to do with their time than to listen to him so they can find out what they are supposed to think! She was a shoe-in the moment Obama chose her because she is a highly qualitfied candidate ... and that only fools to their own peril will vote against her.
What's that saying? If you can't beat them – join them. Something's fishy.