Gingrich: Sotomayor 'racist,' should withdraw nomination
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/04/06/art.newt.jpg caption="Gingrich tweeted that Sotomayor is a 'latina woman racist.'"]WASHINGTON (CNN) - Rush Limbaugh isn't the only one calling Sonia Sotomayor a racist. Newt Gingrich is, too - and he's demanding that Obama's pick to the Supreme Court withdraw her nomination.
On Twitter, Gingrich pointed to a line in Sotomayor's 2001 speech to a Hispanic group in Berkeley that has drawn fire from some conservatives.
"I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life," Sotomayor said in that speech, describing how life experience can inform judicial opinions.
On Wednesday, 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."
Moments later, he followed up with the message: "White man racist nominee would be forced to withdraw. Latina woman racist should also withdraw."
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs responded to Gingrich's criticism at Wednesday's briefing.
"I think it is probably important for anybody involved in this debate to be exceedingly careful with the way in which they've decided to describe different aspects of this impending confirmation," Gibbs said.
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Leave it to Gingrich – a man found guilty of ethics violations – to be our beacon of morality.
Sotomayor WILL be confirmed.
Kick and scream all the way to extinction, Repubs.
Let the circus begin. It is not lost on any of us in this Country, that Rush and Newt would be the the first in line to begin this process of name calling and racism. Hang on for the ride.
On Wednesday, 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."
The context of Sotomayor's comment was certainly different than Newt's quote. Obviously what she meant was that someone who has experienced racism is going to make better decisions dealing with its consequences than someone who has not. What Newt said, if he actually meant it, was racist. I hope someday Newt will make a failed run for office and someone will use his quote completely out-of-context to paint him as a racist.
This is just yet another pathetic attempt from the party of no. Get out of the way and let this country repair itself from 8 years of GOP "leadership".
A white man calling a latino woman racist ...... Thats a joke
Regardless of how one feels about him, or his comments, they are true.
And just imagine the audacity of this hypocrite, calling Sotomeyor a "racist" when he's a member of the Bohemian Club an attends the annual summer encampments in N. California that exclude women, entirely. He's calling her a what?
Great point, Newt. How can anyone conclude any differently?
As usual, Newt lies by distorting the truth. Typical repug tactic. There is nothing cultural about her quote. She's defending life's experiences on a judge decision, compared to a hypothetical view of justice as something divine, celestial and totally objective.
This being said, what a idiot this guy is.
I never, ever, EVER thought I'd agree with Newt Gingrich.
She *is* racist. Welcome to the new age of Affirmative Action; where merits don't matter, only color and creed.
I see nothing racist in the comment quoted. I see a latino woman saying that she knows from her experience as a latino better than a white man who has not grown up with the same experiences.
We all know the Repuiblicans will try to find a way to shut this whole thing down. They better watch how they do it, America is already fed up with their tactics!
Whoa is Newt really trying to go there? Tell him to stick to writing historical novels.
Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh are pigs and anyone who listens to them is an idiot.
Let the process work as it was intended. The GOP will have every opportunity to question her just as the dems had opportunities to question GW's.
She NEVER said a Latina woman is better than a white male. What she said was that a Latina woman with her experience would reach a better conclusion than a white male. Is Gingrich saying that a white man's experience doesn't affect the conclusions he draws? Why should it be any different for a Latina woman?
This is the same old Republican trick.. scare.. fear.. scare.. fear.. scary!!! Newt will then call on any opposition to resign or withdraw nominations.. as will his buddy Rush! Desperate and it shows!!
Your not allowed to pretend you don't know or understand the context of her statements. I will NOT let you play dumb. It is in the context of a PANEL of judges dealing with LATINO issues that her statement is directed and completely valid.
If you don't have the balls to stick up for the right thing even when it's not what you wanted......... you don't have any balls at all.
It's clear Newt drank the Koolaid and read the GOP talking points too. It's amusing that the party leaders who have devoted their lives to disenfranchising minority voters could call anybody "racist."
Is he on drugs or what? Her remarks were true, she does have a greater diversity and therefore a different perspective than a white male in our culture.
Yep, I guess Gingrich thinks calling Sonia Sotomayor a racist will cause a flood of Latinos to become Republicans.
gingrich is calling someone else a racist?????????????????????
WOW>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
That's not what she said. Gingrich claims that the judge said "my experience as a white man makes me better than a latina woman," when in reality, she explained that she hopes that a minority with experience can better reach a conclusion than a white male who was not as qualified, in terms of experience.
There's nothing overtly racial about what she said. Rather, she's drawing comparisons based on experience more than on race.
Newtasaurus and Rushasaurus–too aging, angry white albino dinos whose party is in the tar pits.
Would someone please tell Newt that his day has come and gone. He is not the "new" voice of the RNC, just some old white man wanting to go out and play again.
Jeez, these guys are just flailing about at anything, aren't they? Limbaugh, now Gingrich.
Reminds me of what David Letterman asked Limbaugh in an interview in the '90s:
"Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night and just think to yourself, 'Am I just full of hot gas?'"
Newt calling someone racist if just plain funny.
Figures.....poor repubs, still trying the same ole lies of talking things out of context.....it didn't work before and it won't work now. Go away newt, just go away.