Gingrich Takes Back Sotomayor "Racism" Comment

Newt Gingrich is not known for his verbal self-restraint. But even he thinks he went too far when he called Judge Sonia Sotomayor a racist in a Twitter post. In a Human Events column, the former Republican House Leader wrote:

My initial reaction was strong and direct -- perhaps too strong and too direct. The sentiment struck me as racist and I said so. Since then, some who want to have an open and honest consideration of Judge Sotomayor's fitness to serve on the nation's highest court have been critical of my word choice.

With these critics who want to have an honest conversation, I agree. The word "racist" should not have been applied to Judge Sotomayor as a person, even if her words themselves are unacceptable (a fact which both President Obama and his Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, have since admitted).

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, praised Gingrich's move. "I'm very glad he backed off," Sessions told CNN. "I think that's unusual, that commentators do that, and I think it was very good that he did. I think that will help -- help us."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs swatted Gingrich last week for his "racist" comment. Asked about the accusation at a briefing, he said, "I think it is probably important for anyone involved in this debate to be exceedingly careful with the way in which they've decided to describe different aspects of this impending confirmation."

Gingrich's concession could put pressure on Rush Limbaugh to back off his own assertions of Sotomayor's racism, which are already controversial in the GOP. Or it could open up another rift between these two conservative heavyweights.

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Comments

[sej100]

Newt stated what he did to rally his base. He is the ultimate hypocrite and totally lacking in ethics.

Such ethically challenged men should never again be given leadership posts.

[Solja]

You better believe that neocon will be running against the POTUS in 2012. That's why his face is all over the news these days, trying to make himself relevant. We have to listen to that fool spew his hatred for the next 4 years.

[SN365]

It is obvious that those who had been calling Judge Sotomayor a racist, are the ones who are the real racists. They decided to retract their venoumous rheroric only after they learned about Sotomayor's opinion regarding racists' right to express their opinion. How pathetic and dishonest of them!

[emiliob6]

Newt Gingrich King of Hypocrisy,
1.Constantly espousing family values even while he carried on an affair during Clinton's impeachment.
2.Gingrich married his second wife, Marianne Ginther, months after he divorced Battley in 1981. According to Battley, Gingrich discussed divorce terms with her while she was in the hospital recovering from cancer surgery. "There are things in my own life that I have gotten on my knees and turned to God and prayed about," Gingrich said.

[mikebythesun]

flip flop! flip flop! flip flop!

silly? yes
not the best term to describe his retraction? yes
but is it fun? yes!!

[Loki11467]

He saw his unfavorable ratings soar and he back tracked.

[Solja]

You are assuming he has favorable ratings. lol

[Stone Rider]

Who is newt?

[PCMinistry]

The word "racist" should not have been applied to Judge Sotomayor as a person, even if her words themselves are unacceptable (a fact which both President Obama and his Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, have since admitted).

Is this true?? Did Obama and Gibbs both say that Sotomayer's statement was unacceptable? Unacceptable how? Unacceptable racist? Just a little bit thought, right? Not so bad.

[iblog]

Sorry, Newt.

You can't unbreak wind.

[profounddogs]

LMAO

[iblog]

Sessions told CNN. "I think that's unusual, that commentators do that, and I think it was very good that he did. I think that will help -- help us. Help! HALP!"

[Cacaoatl]

Nuts to what Newt Gingrich thinks. He's irrelevant. He hasn't even been the Speaker of the House or a member of Congress for 10 years. His opinions don't amount to a hill of beans. Ignore the old duffer.

[mh01]

Webster defines racism as "a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race"

Sotomayors comment was: "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."

in other words, a wise latina woman would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male, because of her rich experience as a latina woman.

That certainly sounds a lot like, (at least part of) the definition of racism, "....racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race".

Now, I certainly don't think that Sotomayor is a Racist, as a person, but her comment, it seems to me borders on being racism, as defined, meaning her comment suggests a superiority in ability to make decisions BECAUSE she is Latina.

For newt to call her a racist is innaccurate. For him to call her comment "racism" would have been closer to being accurate.

I would call newt's calling her a "racist" distasteful because its innaccurate. I would call Sotomayors comment distasteful because it appears to me to fit within the definition of "racism". (and sexism, but that's a story for another post)

[zitlight73]

"Hey, lady knock it off with the racist bit, you're working our side of the street." screamed Grinch the Newt.

[talkitreal]

WHAT TOOK HIM SO LONG TO COME POUT WITH THAT LAME EXCUSE! HOW MANY DAYS HAS IT BEEN NEWT, AND ONLY TODAY YOU REALIZE THAT YOU WENT TOO FAR --- NOT BUYING IT!

[davispty5]

So sorry Newt, but a disingenuous retraction does not "get you off the hook."

[NickConrad]

So he's sorry because his words were too strong and direct, not because they were misleading and hateful. Then he goes on to repeat what he is "apologizing" for, just explicitly leaving the word 'racism' out of it. This is a Mel Gibson apology if Mel had practiced his for a decade out of the spotlight.

[namechallenged]

who cares what Newt thinks... he is neither an elected official, radio talk show host nor a leader in the Republican party.

His opinions are meaningless.

Thank God for Rush Limbaugh... this man is going to alienate the farthest of the right.