Steele: No 'slammin and rammin' Sotomayor
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/05/13/republicans.family.feud/art.michaelsteelemd.gi.jpg caption="RNC Chairman Michael Steele said Friday that the GOP should recognize the 'historic aspect' of Sonia Sotomayor's nomination."]WASHINGTON (CNN) - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele suggested Friday that Republicans hold off on "slammin' and rammin'" Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor and instead recognize the "historic aspect" of her nomination.
While guest hosting the Bill Bennett radio show on Friday morning, Steele said he was "excited" to see a Hispanic woman in this position.
"The trap here for the GOP I think is enormous," Steele said. "And I know that a lot of folks want to do the knee jerk you know let's start slammin' and rammin', but I think we really need to take a step back from this and deal with two things, one, the historic aspect of it, acknowledge it, but then move on to the substance of the conversation about what this woman believes."
Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh took an opposite turn from the party chairman, saying that the "way get promoted in the Barack Obama administration" is "by hating white people." Limbaugh also suggested that her nomination would be like picking former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke for the position.
"I think she's disqualified herself. Not only does she lack the often-discussed appropriate judicial temperament, it's worse than that. She brings a form of bigotry or racism to the court," Limbaugh said. He added, "How can a president nominate such a candidate? And how can a party get behind such a candidate? That's what would be asked if somebody were foolish enough to nominate David Duke or pick somebody even less offensive."
During his daily briefing, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs called Limbaugh's comments "offensive."
Mr.Limbaugh is a WEALTHY ,WHITE,,MALE who just happens to belong to the Rebublican Party ( I think !) ! I guess my saying that makes me a racist ! As if any body cares !
First intelligent thing I've heard this man say ...
First thing I need to say is that it's clear that Steele is the wrong choice for the Republicans to say such an idiotic thing as he's saying. What the heck does the "historic aspect" have to do with her? I agree with Limbaugh 100% that she is a bigot that hates whites and doesn't belong on the Supreme Court.
But I will say that her choice is typical of our racist president who also hates whites!
Bias:? Sick Bias! Blacks saving Blacks. We must keep power, say the underdogs. The African American, wh is sick with control. Whatever party they come from... Remember 1961? Those were the days my friend, I hoped they'd never end. We'd sing and dance forever and a day. Then came CNN, and all aof a sudden the world stopped dancing. I wonder why??
Steele = moron
OH Come on Michael! Let Rush, Newt, Karl and Tom be the non-elected spokesmen for the GOP!
They'll take the GOP to a new LOW-Level – how low can the GOP go?
It might be better said that one should question the nominee as to what her motivation could possibly be for making a statement like she made in 2001. If in fact we are all one people, and in God's eyes I believe we are, these types of statements should get the press they deserve. Should we not ask the nominee the question of motivation and find out what is truly in her heart?? Surely we all have differing backgrounds and life experiences, how does that make us so different? ONLY and I mean ONLY if we choose to be so. This is still the greatest country in the world and possibly it is time for us to stop focussing and proclaiming our differences and pay attention to what our creator intended for our lives: Love, Peace, Relationships and helping our fellow man. So if this humble opinion means anything I expect the nominee should be asked and respond in a manner that assures us she will perform the duty at hand with all the professonalism and dedication befitting a Supreme Court Justice.
Wow, Steele is showing to finaly have some insight... I thought that he was all knee-jerk myself. Finally, the GOP may start to provide constructive criticisms instead of being the party of NO.
It looks like CNN is going to censor everyone on this topic! Way to go CNN – we just love how you give us our Free Speech on your ticker!
The same guy who a week ago boasted the President Obama "wasn't vetted because he's black" now says that there should be focus on recognizing the "historic aspect" of nominating a Hispanic to the Supreme Court? He can't have it both ways. Does this guy have any clue what he's doing?
Steele seems to recognize the hole the Republicans are trying their best to jump into. You cannot give him much credit though because he doesn't condemn his boss Gasbag.
Sleezebags like Rush Limbaugh do not qualify to be a member of the human race. This drug addled, uneducated moron is a fitting leader of the Republican party.
I am unsure why CNN continues to publish everything Limbag spouts. I guess CNN is trying to out fox FOX to become the mouthpiece for the Republican wingnuts.
Why did they elect this clown as chairman?
This might be the smartest thing I've seen out of the GOP ever. To bad they are mostly a bunch of crazy radical idealists and will never hold off on obstructing President Obama's choice. The have shown themselves to be the worst losers of a shift in power. Only the ones who are not currently holding an electable office open their mouths. Who does this party represent? Not me, not America.
Historically bad decisions aren't necessarily vital to our welfare as a nation. She is racist...plain and simple. She said she is better suited to judge than a white man. So Steele is saying...hey racism is okay...as long as it is against whites.
Rush can't be serious with those comments. That's the pot calling the kettle black !
If THESE comments don't do Rush Limbaugh in...this nation is, intellectually, in worse shape than ever.
Tell you what: I'm going to tape his show on Monday...play back every commercial...then boycott each and every sponsor.
OK, most people have it's time for you to catch up.............
America measures everything by gender and race?
I don't think Republicans take you seriously, Michael Steele. Although it's a good advice. Let's see if they listen.
Of COURSE Robert Gibbs would call Limbaugh's comments offensive – Gibbs is simply trying to turn the tables on the offensive comments made by Sotomayor! As a white person, I find Sotomayor's words about white men offensive. I'm sick and tired of black, Hispanics, and other minorities being able to get away with hate speech against white people! Are white people supposed to just sit around and take it, these racist hate speech comments by people like Sotomayor, Reverend Wright, and others? Why can't we just move PAST race and gender?!
In addition, there is another issue going on here that is just NOTcool. Republians are fighting among themselves – but don't they get? Liberals are watering at their mouths for just this sort of falling apart – a split in the Republican party. Listen up my conservative friends – united we stand but divided we fall! Don't fall into the trap. The Republican Party needs a REAL leader right now more than ever! We need a uniter, We need a very special someone who can defeat Obama in 3 and 1/2 years!
At the end of the word "sponsor" I forgot the word "forever."
Does this man have a position? I guess its on his knees, kissing the hind flavor the day.
rush limbaugh calling someone racist is just about as stupid as him calling someone a fat drug addict. And, by saying things like "slammin and rammin", Mike Steele isn't making himself look any smarter.
Steele is being very reasonable here. Limbaugh is just continuing to make a fool of himself. Limmbaugh is buffoonery incarnate!
Yeah, David Duke ran as a republican for public offlce. Rush needs to take a bottle and go to bed !
So which republican will be he first to come out to say everything Steele said is wrong, wrong, wrong?
You know someone will. They always do.