Oh my: Sotomayor made nearly identical “wise Latina” comment in 1994, too
posted at 4:05 pm on June 3, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Leave it to Greg Sargent to conclude that the big scoop here is that no GOP senators pressed her on the earlier remark at her ‘98 appellate confirmation hearing, where the scrutiny’s normally a fraction as intense as it is for a SCOTUS appointment. The real significance, of course, is that it puts the lie to the White House’s feeble spin about how Sotomayor supposedly misspoke in 2001, a position the nominee herself has been forced to adopt even though people on her own side admit it’s nonsense. Evidently, the idea that her biology makes her a superior judge has been with her for decades. The only wrinkle: In 1994 she insisted it was her gender that made her “better” and by 2001 that notion had evolved to include race as well. Nice to know that her progressivism became more “sophisticated” over time.
Here’s what she said in the 1994 speech:
“Justice O’Connor has often been cited as saying that “a wise old man and a wise old woman reach the same conclusion in dueling cases. I am not so sure Justice O’Connor is the author of that line since Professor Resnik attributes the line to Supreme Court Justice Coyle. I am not so sure that I agree with the statement. First, if Prof. Martha Minnow is correct, there can never be a universal definition of ‘wise.’ Second, I would hope that a wise woman with the richness of her experience would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion.”
Lindsey Graham met with her today and all but declared afterwards that he won’t vote for her, in full accordance with the precedent set by The One’s ideological jackassery when he voted to torpedo Roberts and Alito. As gratifying as that sort of payback is, though, the racial politics here are a lot different for Graham than they were for Obama. Prudence or principle? Exit question: Was Rush serious today when he said he’d support her if he had reason to believe she was pro-life? What possible reason aside from her faith (one that’s shared by countless of pro-choice Democrats) would we have to think that? Surely someone as invested in gender politics as our “wise woman” nominee isn’t going to disappoint NARAL.
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Ok so Soto “misspoke” using the same exact words four years apart, what’s the big deal? She’s LATINO, so shut yer yaps.
Bishop on June 3, 2009 at 4:08 PM
This is why it’s important to press her. Keep looking, keep digging, know she will probably be confirmed but make her defend these statements.
If we just say “They’ve got the votes!” and roll over, we’ll never know if a truly disqualifying issue slipped by, and they’ll know next time we’ll roll over.
Fight, but “wisely.”
cs89 on June 3, 2009 at 4:09 PM
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck….
Huckabye-Romney on June 3, 2009 at 4:09 PM
So? She’s a serial misspeaker. She’s addicted to misspeaking. She misspeaks for fun. Can’t a wise Latina girl have a hobby?
progressoverpeace on June 3, 2009 at 4:10 PM
LOL. Rush was playing with the enemy’s minds. I don’t know anyone who does it better.
JiangxiDad on June 3, 2009 at 4:10 PM
Give it a few years….then it’ll “a wise, androgynous, latina woman, with Excesso Buttocksin Syndrome, etc…”
BobMbx on June 3, 2009 at 4:11 PM
you racialist.
redrock on June 3, 2009 at 4:11 PM
A racist AND a sexist??? :D
Daggett on June 3, 2009 at 4:12 PM
That’s incredible that they found it twice. Spin that Obama.
therightscoop on June 3, 2009 at 4:12 PM
Please, who calls themselves “wise”? I can’t think of too many that do it seriously…okay, one.
E9RET on June 3, 2009 at 4:13 PM
I wonder if there will be more examples of Sotomayor saying this kind of thing. She repeated it once, she probably repeated it more than that.
myrenovations on June 3, 2009 at 4:13 PM
She misspoke and could have worded it better, er both times.
/gibbs
Joe Caps on June 3, 2009 at 4:13 PM
I bet Newt feels like a real moron, right about now. There you go, Newt, sell the bottom!
progressoverpeace on June 3, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Actually, he stated it yesterday. He simply repeated it today.
Michael in MI on June 3, 2009 at 4:14 PM
It’s a bluff. He’s, rightly, picked up on the fact that she IS pro-life (note the leftist blog hand wringing), but she would never ever say that because she’s a political appointee and it would destroy her chances of getting appointed.
Skywise on June 3, 2009 at 4:14 PM
Psy-ops, I think. Her record’s spotty on abortion. Rush knows it, he knows the Dems know it, and he knows that FATAL Pro-Death America will go absolutely ape on the Dems if she tilts toward the pro-life position.
Or as Politico’s fond of stating it, “opposing abortion rights.” Damned pack o’lefties.
KingGold on June 3, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Newt walked back too soon. One poorly thought out comment could be an oopsie, but multiple indicates an ideology.
BadgerHawk on June 3, 2009 at 4:15 PM
This was a simple case of a translation problem.
A Sapiens Latina est melior quam a Niveus vir.
Nobody speaks Latin anyways.
portlandon on June 3, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Yep. Now he’s got them looking over their shoulder at Roe Wade. Well played, sir.
a capella on June 3, 2009 at 4:16 PM
When the digging is over, we might very well discover that Soto has a long, sordid history of “misspeaking” and not wording things correctly. Not the ‘rats will care, they are still swooning over her ethnic name.
Bishop on June 3, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Newtered Gingrich should apologize … again.
OhEssYouCowboys on June 3, 2009 at 4:16 PM
Looks like Newt saying her words should be examined was right on target. No need to call her a racist if her own words do it for you.
As for Rush, I heard him and was thinking somewhat the same thing. She may not be the hard core liberal obama thinks she is. She’s Catholic and has ruled more than once in favor of pro-life stance. Bottom line, obama actually could have picked someone worse and she may be a net plus for a more conservative court. In this climate she may be the best we can get.
Keyser-Soze on June 3, 2009 at 4:16 PM
…and now that I think of it, who routinely refers to themselves in third person??? Maybe royality? ..oh, never mind.
E9RET on June 3, 2009 at 4:16 PM
much better
Scrappy on June 3, 2009 at 4:16 PM
There’s an old saying: “A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
Vic on June 3, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Joe does not like it when people make fun of the way Joe talks…
Joe Caps on June 3, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Michael in MI on June 3, 2009 at 4:14 PM
A little more:
Michael in MI on June 3, 2009 at 4:17 PM
Even less need to step back from it if it’s obviously true.
progressoverpeace on June 3, 2009 at 4:18 PM
My guess is that we’ll see a lot more of this “judging-by-skin color/gender-approach” by the Judge. As law professor Ann Althouse noted – while defending the Judge – this type of worldview is dominant in the liberal/left academic world.
This could get nasty. The bloody crossroads of race, sex and the law.
SteveMG on June 3, 2009 at 4:18 PM
I don’t think Newt needs to regret his walk back yet.
This statement shows her obvious sexist nature, not her racist nature.
myrenovations on June 3, 2009 at 4:18 PM
This chick has a seriously inflated opinion of herself with really no good reason for it other than she is who she is. No wonder he chose her…she is just like him.
JAM on June 3, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Gibbs: I feel the proper response and well thought out argument defending Sotomayor after this recent discovery is shut up. I assume there are no further questions? Thank you.
DrAllecon on June 3, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Ah, the idle wise.
Reminds me of a song, somehow.
How do we solve a problem like… Sonia?
profitsbeard on June 3, 2009 at 4:19 PM
Abortion is the single most important issue re SCOTUS. This is true for both the left and the right. If she turns out to be pro-life, the left will hate and villify her no matter what her other positions are. She will then grow in office by moving right, after having seen the venom of her own side.
All this is dreamland of course. If she was pro-life Obama wouldn’t be nominating her.
Gaunilon on June 3, 2009 at 4:20 PM
We will make an exception for Joe, he may sit in our presence…..
E9RET on June 3, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Considering “firsts” for minority’s in any position – would Jackie Robinson be celebrated today if he was a .198 batter???
I am confident there are plenty of qualified Latino’s, women, blacks or purple people to fill the SCOTUS position.
Odie1941 on June 3, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Channeling a bit of Andrew Klavan there, Alle?
KingGold on June 3, 2009 at 4:20 PM
What types of things can I do to gain “rich” experiences so that one day I can consider myself “wise?”
One thing I have learned though my years of PC schooling is that if something touchy-feely cannot be described in plain terms then it is B/S.
Joe Caps on June 3, 2009 at 4:20 PM
It’s a gift.
LibTired (KO) on June 3, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Like I said when I saw two maxi-dresses on the street:
“I sense a trend!!”
tree hugging sister on June 3, 2009 at 4:21 PM
I think Rush is trying to make abortion front and center, get her to admit she would indeed never disappoint NARAL.
changer1701 on June 3, 2009 at 4:21 PM
I want to see this moron, SOtomayor, be forced to present actual evidence to back her thesis, including IQ test scores for all races/ethnic groups, and with gender splits. Even if she walks back on her idiotic claim, I still want to see all available evidence presented at the hearing.
I’m sick and tired of the idiots’ claims. It’s time to put an end to this. Show the scores. Then she can explain them.
And she also must tell us which latin country we are supposed to emulate (forgetting that we are copying Venezuela, as it is). Nail her down and stop the idiocy, once and for all.
progressoverpeace on June 3, 2009 at 4:22 PM
But apparently no old white guys..
E9RET on June 3, 2009 at 4:22 PM
She also apparently believes that funds shouldn’t go to fund abortions or organizations that promote abortions overseas. So who knows…
amerpundit on June 3, 2009 at 4:22 PM
Remember when comparing the sexes and races on different metrics (such as IQ) was totally verboten to the screechy left? Yeah, me too.
LibTired (KO) on June 3, 2009 at 4:23 PM
I’m half latina.
Let me be a SCJ
blatantblue on June 3, 2009 at 4:23 PM
I respectively disagree. If your opponent is walking off a cliff, putting head in noose, jumping up and down on thin ice, just step back and watch. Newt helped light a fuse and now that bomb may just blow up. He’ll be back on the sunday shows and can now point to her additional record. That way he can just nudge her a little more. More effective than trying to push her off the cliff in my opinion.
Keyser-Soze on June 3, 2009 at 4:24 PM
she’s been a jurist for 17 years and yet has been a wise latina woman rich with experiences since 1994? It only took her 2 years to become wise – awesome.
Ris4victory on June 3, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Well, hey when you’ve got a great line, what’s wrong with using it over and over and over again.
It’s sort of a mantra with her. It’s not like she “believes” it or anything.
Larry Farr on June 3, 2009 at 4:24 PM
It is nice to know that Rush finally came around to my way of thinking! Maybe he reads me! I am so very wise as you all know! Not Latina, but wise and female so hey!
Well they say the ones who have shifted did so after the political pressure was taken away by the lifetime appointment.
I’m certain that Sotomayer gives lip service to Roe. Now. None of us know the future and she at least has the upbringing to make the right choice.
And she apparently is not really a very intelligent woman. At least not from those stupid statements. Women like that can be dominated by smarter males. They just want to be loved.
petunia on June 3, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Yup, I intentionally left “those people” out, for obvious reasons… they aren’t being considered.
Odie1941 on June 3, 2009 at 4:24 PM
It’s tough to know, because in today’s world, his batter’s box would be on the pitcher’s mound.
progressoverpeace on June 3, 2009 at 4:24 PM
How about lizard people? You uninclusive bigot…
Joe Caps on June 3, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Groan, ANOTHER minority????
E9RET on June 3, 2009 at 4:25 PM
Perhaps she just suffers from a mild case of Turrets.
txag92 on June 3, 2009 at 4:26 PM
1994 doesn’t count since there was no World Series that year.
LibTired (KO) on June 3, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Perception is reality.
Joe Caps on June 3, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Allah doesn’t “get” Rush.
csdeven on June 3, 2009 at 4:26 PM
I understand your point, but the walkback is almost never a good tactic, and it leaves allies hanging in the wind.
progressoverpeace on June 3, 2009 at 4:26 PM
Hehe, and I imagine it would be 1 ball and 14 strikes to boot…
Odie1941 on June 3, 2009 at 4:27 PM
Conservatism would trump your Latina status … arithmetically.
I believe that the formula is L + C = R.
Latina + Conservative = Racist.
Yes, this is the formula that the Democrats would apply at your confirmation hearing.
OhEssYouCowboys on June 3, 2009 at 4:27 PM
okay, but I draw the line at Zombies, gotta have some standards!!
E9RET on June 3, 2009 at 4:27 PM
It may be ok for a judge to have some of these views. At least the appeals process will hopefully strike these down at some point. If she is allowed to become a member of the Supreme Court, her crazy ideas of justice will become the law of the land by precedent. Based on her dumb statements, she would qualify for Speaker of the House, where stupidity reigns.
hillbilly on June 3, 2009 at 4:28 PM
You just left out all the Daily Kos.
petunia on June 3, 2009 at 4:28 PM
That too!
progressoverpeace on June 3, 2009 at 4:28 PM
I’m sure she is an EXCELLENT choice, who simply is always choosing her words poorly.
Star20 on June 3, 2009 at 4:29 PM
They’re in Congress.
OhEssYouCowboys on June 3, 2009 at 4:29 PM
…and your point is?
E9RET on June 3, 2009 at 4:29 PM
She sure is gonna need her clerk, for those opinions.
OhEssYouCowboys on June 3, 2009 at 4:31 PM
I omitted them due to an MSNBC poll exposing lizards conservative bent. Like 72/28 or something…
Odie1941 on June 3, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Obviosly not ‘wise’, how about that openly racist statement? Take the mask off, go all in!
daesleeper on June 3, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Of course. Obama chose her. He’s never made a bad appointment before… so she must be great.
petunia on June 3, 2009 at 4:31 PM
Edison just stole all of his ideas from the Latina down the street. Everyone knows that.
progressoverpeace on June 3, 2009 at 4:31 PM
She is a sexist.
WisCon on June 3, 2009 at 4:31 PM
That is so true. I did state in a different post about Newt that I had no idea if this was intentional on Newt’s part. My thought in that post was that is was sneaky as hell if intentional. That’s always a risk when you’re being clever. Others may not recognize it and jump on a bandwagon that’s not going where they think it is. The whole thing is fascinating to watch and scary as hell at the same time.
Keyser-Soze on June 3, 2009 at 4:31 PM
You mean like the Jimmy episode of Seinfeld?
“OH yeah…. Jimmy played pretty good.”
UltimateBob on June 3, 2009 at 4:32 PM
If you pray, start praying that SCOTUS issues its decision in Ricci right in the middle of her hearings. The GOP doesn’t have the votes to stop or even to filisbuster. But having a nice 6-3 or more reversal on an extremely important issue of our day–going right to the heart of the notion of “equal opportunity” in this country–tatooed to her forehead will mark her as an unserious liberal hack.
Who, but the very shrill on the hard left, would be as unfair as Sotomayor was to Ricci?
BuckeyeSam on June 3, 2009 at 4:32 PM
I believe that the formula is L + C = R.
Latina + Conservative = Racist.
OhEssYouCowboys on June 3, 2009 at 4:27 PM
C is the only constant that will cause all equations to = R for the liberals.
Scrappy on June 3, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Well, at least she is consistent. That’s more than can be said for Obama or any of his other appointments.
UltimateBob on June 3, 2009 at 4:33 PM
rush is already driving them batty with his comment about supporting her if she’s pro-life.
3-D chess vs tictactoe
notagool on June 3, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Obviously, having been a neighborhood organizer is the only real qualification for any government position.
OhEssYouCowboys on June 3, 2009 at 4:34 PM
Yep!
Actually
I’m half latina
half man
half pony
a Muslim Judeo-Christianist
Vegan
hermaphrodite!
diversity heaven!
blatantblue on June 3, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Any relation to the “original Bad Bob” or just the “dirty bad bob”??
E9RET on June 3, 2009 at 4:35 PM
Yes, an awesome segment he did. Now I wish I had the link to toss up, but I figure most people here saw it anyway.
DrAllecon on June 3, 2009 at 4:36 PM
My dog is yipping in her sleep … I bet she’s dreaming about the future of her country.
OhEssYouCowboys on June 3, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Hopefully he was speaking along the lines of, “And if I had wings I could fly”. If not someone had better check his medicine cabinet.
MB4 on June 3, 2009 at 4:36 PM
“Scary” is right. But this fight has to be waaged, eventually. It should have been done against Holder with his moronic “nation of cowards” statement. Aloowing that to get by, with that racist POS still in office, boded very ill. So, we have an opportunity to handle it, now. If it isn’t engaged on this very reasonable situation, it will just be tons worse when it is finally forced to resolution.
Affirmative Action is a huge problem, but when the recipients start thinking that they are actually better, then we have gone so far off the reservation that the truth of the issue must be presented.
progressoverpeace on June 3, 2009 at 4:37 PM
If Lindsey Graham isn’t going to support her she must’ve been a really dim bulb in that interview.
SouthernGent on June 3, 2009 at 4:37 PM
I suppose Ogabe could lend her a prompter.
Bishop on June 3, 2009 at 4:37 PM
Don’t you mean latino?
BadgerHawk on June 3, 2009 at 4:37 PM
..or being pursued by an incredibly large cat…
E9RET on June 3, 2009 at 4:37 PM
She will not only bring empathy for hispanics and women, but she will serve as an advocate and inspiration for dumpy people, everywhere.
Star20 on June 3, 2009 at 4:38 PM
A bit off in the Equation L + C = SS (Stockholm Syndrome RedEye via Allahptweets
canditaylor68 on June 3, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Oh my: this is huge!
benny shakar on June 3, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Ugly fat people have been ignored too long in this country!!!
E9RET on June 3, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Let’s stop using the term Latino or Latina to describe an ethnologically diverse people who happen to have Spanish surnames. It’s just dumb. The Latins were a fierce group of tribes around the Tiber handy with the pilum and with a knack for community organization — after they conquered and enslaved them, that is…
tommylotto on June 3, 2009 at 4:39 PM
“Latin” = “Latina”
29Victor on June 3, 2009 at 4:40 PM
She is a deceiver, she is a dissembler
So much so her bloomers are alight
From what pole or banner
Shall they dangle in the night?
What infernal serpent
Has lent her his forked tongue?
From what pit of foul deceitful bent
Are all her whoppers sprung?
What red devil of mendacity
Grips her soul with such tenacity?
Will not those who she fragrantly showers with lies
Put a filibuster between her eyes?
PercyB on June 3, 2009 at 4:41 PM
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