Gingrich Steps Back From "Racist" Comment

By: Sean Alfano
Topics: Sonia Sotomayor

A week after labeling Supreme Court Justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor as racist, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has retreated from that comment.

In an e-mail to supporters, the Washington Bureau Chief for Cox Radio News, Gingrich says his stinging rebuke of President Barack Obama's pick was flawed.

"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," Gingrich wrote.

He is referring to comments Sotomayor made in 2001 to a Berkeley conference on law and diversity, where she said, "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."

To read the rest of Gingrich's e-mail, click here.

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by edarden1 June 7, 2009 6:48 PM EDT: The kind of corrosive thinking that "oftencensord" displays, regarding physical characteristics afflicted then so-called Negroes or colored people for generations, until the Black is Beautiful movement came about. Recovering from racist indoctrination takes a profound toll on individuals and communities. One must first breakdown old concept then turn toward self-realization until a new consciousness begins to develop. Your complaint about being told you are not Hispanic enough, Native American enough, or not white enough, suggests that you are in need of the first phase in which you must break through stereotype created by others and break through their crust until you begin to trust yourself for a definition of who you are. If you can do this, the distinctions you talk about will fall away and become less and less important.; Reply to this comment


by edarden1 June 7, 2009 6:32 PM EDT: Why you give Gingrich national air time is beyond my understanding. Is it because he and other odd balls yell "liberal media" and networks behave as though they are guilty as charged?

When someone like Gingrich or Dick Chaney's daughter grace our airwaves with easily checked untruths or epithets like "racist" without rational basis for the label, it is CBS that looks more foolish. Your claim to be news analysts suffers when interview time goes to someone whose only contemporary involvement in events is their invitations to sit for interviews or making outrageous blowhards.

Wake up! President Obama is not a meteoric figure. No, he connected of several years with a hunger within the American people for genuine government to replace the so-called conservative revolution that had so ruined the country. His personal genius is a plus but the American people were ready for someone like him. The fact is that the pendulum has swung. Conservative Republican ideology no longer captivates main stream voters, if it ever did. Continuing to present the ilk of Gingrich is CBS reaching for straws to create opposing viewpoints. No, they do not represent engagement in the middle over issues. The middle has moved. Turing to Gingrich simply says that CBS does not recognize where the new middle resides politically. As such, your show looses creditability as one engaged in really current developments.

Don't be lazy and simply pull in who ever has already been covered. Be thoughtful and craft a program that reflects your understanding of important matters. Once a week is not too much to suspend the gossip mentality and instead deal in ideas rather than personality.; Reply to this comment


by ozilot June 4, 2009 7:19 AM EDT: Rush still has balls thankfully.
Posted by mike_huntTheThird at 9:43 PM : Jun 3, 2009

Maybe not...Rush said that he could resolve himself to supporting Sotomayor!

The GOP can't even stand by its tired old conviction!

And could somebody tell that tired old queen of Senator, Lindsay Graham his side lost and if any should apologize it should be the GOP -- for being soooo stoopid!; Reply to this comment


by dastib June 4, 2009 12:45 AM EDT: Jesus is coming back''' there is just to much bad thing's going on!!!!!!!! If the other Countries was to leave us alone'' we still would be in a world of trouble'''''' we are destroying our selves' the American Dream is gone for ever'' we are in the Last Day's!!!!! No Body talk's about Jesus'' But you can understand this'' if you are White Black Green or Purple'''''' Judgement day iscoming soon'''''''' Don't Die with out Jesus'' America is in trouble with God!!!!!!!!! the intire World is'''''' The Leader's of this Country Don't have a blame clue what is going on!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by grayfrier June 3, 2009 7:49 PM EDT: Quote:"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."
I find nothing wrong it is a statement that could almost apply to anyone else She is to be appointed to the Highest court in the land and she will be among the minority as she is female and Hispanic who better to understand Women and Hispanics than a Female Hispanic
As a White Male I wouldn't can anyone not a Female or Hispanic say the same ?; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage June 3, 2009 6:43 PM EDT: Rush, Newt, O'Reilly and Hannity are no more repugnant than say an Olbermann, Bagala, Reid, Pelosi, Williams, Wright, Ayers, Dohrn, Pfleger, Sharpton, Jackson, Franken, Franks, Farrakhan, and host of other left-wingers. Let's call it like it is - the right is always wrong according to the left and the left is never wrong about anything. The right has just as much authority in criticizing, questioning and challenging the left, as the left has with the right. If one can't grasp that then they're nincompoops.
Posted by credibility2 at 2:07 PM : Jun 3, 2009
===================================
First, your lists of personalities you cite as perceived to be offensive by respective segments of the public---left and right---is heavily skewed (conveniently) to the LEFT!

In it, you include media people, political advisors, religious leaders, politicians; yet, you include ONLY FOUR from the "right"!? That's a laugh!! Where's Coulter, Crystal, Brooks, Krauthammer, Stevens, Sessions, Graham, Cornyn, Madelin,
McConnell, Boehner, Hatch, the Cheneys, and numerous Christian coalition preachers?! All of these people "offend" on a regular basis! Point: More right-leaning jerks!

Second, your message is wrong, too! It ISN'T ONLY a case of who is 'right or wrong' ! The GOP pushes ideas, agendas that promote a few over the vast majority while lending only lip-service to American values of equality, freedom, and opportunity! Point: the difference is huge between someone who restricts opportunity (GOP)---a grievious error; and someone who might extend it too far---a forgivable error (of the heart---sometimes called love, Christianity).

Finally, few question that the right-wing has the "right" to challenge the "left"; what they do question is the tactics employed---lack of honesty, distortion, obscurance, obstruction, and deceit!; Reply to this comment


by stn_sage June 3, 2009 5:54 PM EDT: After launching a scathing, unfair, typical Republican attack on Sonia Sotomayor---calling her a "racist", saying her nomination was "troubling", and questioning her fitness to be on the court---most of her detractors are in furious, headlong RETREAT!

This---no doubt---after getting feedback from calls and polling---that shows more and more people are leaving the GOP at a heightened pace!

Because NO ONE likes to belong to a party whose leaders are perceived to be irresponsible criminal idiots, liars, buffoons, degenerates, alarmists, and professional troublemakers!

Yes, the last couple of weeks have been good for AMERICA,
the GOP has made itself mostly irrelevant on the political landscape---at least in the minds' of the public!; Reply to this comment


by credibility2 June 3, 2009 5:07 PM EDT: Rush, Newt, O'Reilly and Hannity are no more repugnant than say an Olbermann, Bagala, Reid, Pelosi, Williams, Wright, Ayers, Dohrn, Pfleger, Sharpton, Jackson, Franken, Franks, Farrakhan, and host of other left-wingers. Let's call it like it is - the right is always wrong according to the left and the left is never wrong about anything. The right has just as much authority in criticizing, questioning and challenging the left, as the left has with the right. If one can't grasp that then they're nincompoops.; Reply to this comment


by oftencensord June 3, 2009 5:06 PM EDT: I want to vent about racial activist groups dismissing mixed heritage citizens, and discriminating against them !

Obama claims to be half-white, though his appearance is all black and he is welcomed as a black to the "blacks".... this would not be the case if his appearance was white, or marginally black, would it ?

Most people in America are of mixed heritage, yet racial activists discount that fact, citing that being a mixture of differing ethnic European backgrounds is somehow different than being a latina, even when you may have an Hispanic heritage too... just don't look it. Would the Hispanic organizations be applauding Sotomayor if she were a blond latina ?

At the gathering of Nations Pow Wow, one of the speakers singled out and ridiculed the "white Cherokees" as if they were less Native American than he was !

Again and again I keep hearing I am not Hispanic enough, I'm not Native American enough , I'm not "white" enough !

What a bunch of BS this country is full of!; Reply to this comment


by stupa1 June 3, 2009 4:40 PM EDT: Somebody needs to road trip Rush to the middle of the Sahara..; Reply to this comment