Cornyn: Sotomayor Must Explain 'Latina' Remark

WASHINGTON — A top Senate Republican says Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor will have to explain statements suggesting that judges can't be neutral, but he also acknowledges that her confirmation as the high court's first Hispanic justice won't be blocked.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn tells "Fox News Sunday" that he and other Republicans on the Judiciary Committee plan to ask Sotomayor about her comment in 2001 that she hoped a "wise Latina" would often reach better conclusions than a white male without similar experiences.

Cornyn says the statement "was not an isolated comment" and that it is "antithetical to the whole idea of the rule of law."

In the end, though, he says, the 40 Senate Republicans are not going to block her confirmation.

Comments

[kathy001]

12:58 PM on 07/13/2009

Well, coming from an inept, corrupt GOPer who couldn't bother to read the entire transcript of Sotomayor's comment, that probably seems like a logical question. It's also a sign of how desperate the GOP is to find something they can use against her.

[Agent420]

12:28 PM on 07/13/2009

She should have to explain that remark, but only if he explains why he is such a M.0.R.0.N.

[jsgaetano]

12:25 PM on 07/13/2009

Actually, I think Cornyn needs to explain his connection to "The Family" and their corrupt, extremist, and quite frankly anti-American teachings.

[yoli647]

12:25 PM on 07/13/2009

Please Cornyn don't forget that you "white Old Men" were and still are the racists politicians. You'll Can't stand the idea that the country is changing and you are losing your "power". As a Hispanic woman, I Love my President, and I'am proud of Ms. Sotomayor and so on. I have always been a registered Indpendent and have vote democrat, republican and Indepedent but now I will never vote for a Republican ever again.

[tempest624]

12:12 PM on 07/13/2009

How many time must she explain her remark?

[HAL2]

11:36 AM on 07/13/2009

Cornyn must explain his stupidity.

[LetsGetToWork]

11:04 AM on 07/13/2009

No one is a blank slate - you bring your experiences to the table.

Cornyn, Party of NO.

[MyNameIsJames]

10:10 AM on 07/13/2009

She should explain the remark by reminding the Senators of the history of exclusion that many in this nation has faced in the past - PARTICULARY in the states that her most fierece opposition comes from, Alabama and Texas.

She should tell them that her sensitivity to inclusion is a virture that is supported by the United States Constitution, and that advocating for inclusion is keeping with the best traditions of the nation.

[Okieborn]

09:53 AM on 07/13/2009

American citizens: Cornyn must explain Latino remark !!

[zanzig]

09:30 AM on 07/13/2009

Given the comments in another post about the appointments to the Texas State Board of Education I am not in the least bit surprised that Cornyn requires an explanation. Judge Sotomayor's statement was in English.

[medici]

01:08 PM on 07/13/2009

Good point. Cornyn might be able to understand it if her statement were translated into Texican.

[skippypicasso]

09:18 AM on 07/13/2009

Cornyn: We are going to go out of our way to alienate a couple of groups who have no effect on elections, Latinos and women.

(Whispers, a few concerned nods).

Cornyn: Well, we'll score some points with angry white men anyway.

[PaxEterna]

07:31 AM on 07/13/2009

Explain how you got here, Mr. White Male Supremacist, member of the species that has given us the Hitlers of the world, the pollution of the planet we now enjoy and will pass to our kids, the forever profits on Wall St at the expense of the people's well being, the wars of aggression against poor people for their natural resources like oil, etc.

Exactly WHAT qualifies you to question another's basic identity?

Let me guess, SHE IS NOT LIKE YOU, and therefore suspect. This is what males do to intimidate women. It is doubly toxic across racial lines.

[1differentdrummer]

06:15 AM on 07/13/2009

John, please explain what you mean by "antithetical to the whole idea of the rule of law." Isn't this just more blather?

[nico89]

03:26 AM on 07/13/2009

omg. just get over it already.

[dididangerlove]

02:55 AM on 07/13/2009

Whatever. Can we stop pretending that she is in danger of not being confirmed?