Gingrich: Sotomayor Comments Racist

Newt Gingrich, twittering from Europe, was the latest public figure to decry what many considered Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor's racist comments in a 2001 speech. Gingrich was direct about Sotomayor's racist comments.

According to Jake Tapper at ABC News, Newt Gingrich stated:

"Imagine a judicial nominee said 'my experience as a white man makes me better than a latina woman' Wouldn't they have to withdraw? New racism is no better than old racism.

"A white man racist nominee would be forced to withdraw. Latina woman racist should also withdraw."

Pundits Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter have made similar observations.

The comments in question were made in 2001. "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

Other pundits, such as Fox News' Bill Sammon, have suggested that pointing out the racism of these comments would be accurate, it may be "politically unwise." If conservatives criticize Sonia Sotomayer too much, even for sentiments that would sink the nomination of a white male, the risk of angering Hispanic voters would be too great. Others point out that Democrats felt free to attack Hispanic judicial nominees such as Miguel Estrada and Alberta Gonzalez, not to mention an African American, Clarence Thomas, without fear of political consequences.

The criticism of Sonia Sotomayor's racist comments have struck a nerve, however. Both Senate Charles Schumer and Obama Press Secretary Robert Gibbs have warned Republicans not to go "too far" in their criticism of Sonia Sotomayor and her racist comments. Clearly there is a nagging fear that the controversy would take off and, if not entirely sink Sonia Sotomayor's nomination, damage her and people who vote to confirm her.

So far, though, Republican office holders, especially Senators who will vote on Sonia Sotomayor's nomination, have been muted in their comments about her. Also no Democrat has said anything but fulsome praise of Sonia Sotomayor and her nomination. Oddly enough, however, there has been so far little or no reaction from Hispanic leaders one way or another.

Sonia Sotomayor's nomination would need opposition from Democrats to be derailed, even for comments that are demonstrably racist and would sink a white male were he so incautious to utter them. The kind of identity politics that Sonia Sotomayor's comments represent are very useful for maintaining the power of the Democratic Party.

The only thing that might sink Sonia Sotomayor would be a revolt from the grass roots, because of the racist comments, or because of some other issue so far not prominent in the public consciousness. It is certain though that the nomination process is going to make an interesting summer of 2009.

Source: Gingrich Calls Sotomayor "Racist", Jake Tapper, ABC News, May 27th, 2009