Republicans Aren't Sold on "Wise Latina" Explanation

By: Andrew Cohen
Topics: Sonia Sotomayor

(AP)

The best exchange of the day occurred between Senator Kyl and the judge in talking about his concerns about her Wise Latina comment. Remember, he's a Senator from Arizona with a large Hispanic population and I think he got about the best explanation we can hope to expect from her about why she said what she said.

It's clear that the Republican members aren't sold on the nominee's explanation of her now famous "Wise Latina" comment—you can hear the skepticism in their voices and see it in her faces. But she has kept to her story—which is that she was encouraging young lawyers to be proud of their heritage but wasn't telling them to put background above impartiality.

The judge repeatedly refused to answer any of Senator Feingold's questions about terror law issues and he accepted her demurrals over and over again. He took a very different stance when he got similar answers from Republican nominees Roberts and Alito. Then it was GOP Senators who politely accepted non-answers as answers from nominees.

Sotomayor Explains "Wise Latina" Comment

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click here to watch a live vide feed and analysis of Sotomayor's hearing.

(CBS)
Andrew Cohen is CBS News' Chief Legal Analyst and Legal Editor. CourtWatch is his new blog with analysis and commentary on breaking legal news and events. For columns on legal issues before the beginning of this blog, click here. You can also follow him on Twitter.

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by noloyalisti July 16, 2009 1:30 AM EDT: That's a great point: does anyone really care what a bunch of ignorant racist, corporation loving Republi CONS think. They were wrong about EVERYTHING. They supported torture, spying, illegal invasions for our corporations and corporate welfare for the rich.

They could care a rat's behind about anyone but their own greedy selves. This is an obsolete party who should NEVER have any power again. They are even worse than corporate Democrats.; Reply to this comment


by actornaught July 15, 2009 12:23 PM EDT: Sessions is totally out of place. He's almost completely scripted, not listening to any of the thoughtful answers, but plowing ahead and playing to his KKKonstituents.

How this misanthrope ever got to such a position in congress is a huge disappointment in the southern voter.; Reply to this comment


by gravyboat4000 July 15, 2009 10:52 AM EDT: "Republicans Aren't Sold on "Wise Latina" Explanation"

The wheels on the bus go round and round...; Reply to this comment


by mec6951 July 15, 2009 7:39 AM EDT: What a bunch of BS by the Republicans. Every person regardless of race, creed, education, etc. judges things that happen to them by their own personal life experiences. Do you really believe that the Supreme court justices we have now never take into account their own life experience when making their rulings? Of course they do, and so does everyone else. She has the credentials, confirm her and move on.; Reply to this comment


by missionmom1 July 15, 2009 7:14 AM EDT: Can't believe you would actually call people "retarded little chickens."
no matter how you feel about someone or a comment, you shouldn't use the word retarded. You're not in 7th grade anymore so stop acting like it.; Reply to this comment


by joetheplumer July 14, 2009 7:34 PM EDT: To me this is ridiculus. From her 18 years experience in law All the GOP got to talk about is the Wise latina. This demonstrate the level of sutpidity of these people.
Grow up people.; Reply to this comment


by hungry1968-16 July 14, 2009 7:15 PM EDT: by jgg00000008 July 14, 2009 7:12 PM EDT
sotomayor would swear she was a swedish bikini model if she thought it would get her nominated

Rush could convince you that you're a Swedish bikini model, by just broadcasting it on his show.; Reply to this comment

by hungry1968-16 July 14, 2009 7:04 PM EDT

by Mr-Man_007 July 14, 2009 6:34 PM EDT
Sotomayor said she thinks the 2nd amendment is not a fundamental rigth.

It's NOT a "fundamental right". Being an American citizen DOES NOT give you the automatic privilege to own a weapon.

Reply to this comment


by actornaught July 15, 2009 12:30 PM EDT: A "fundamental right" simply means that the states can deal with in a manner that's suitable. If you're not on board with States Rights, than i suppose you could have a problem with that. Otherwise, and more likely, you're just a troublemaker.


by actornaught July 15, 2009 12:32 PM EDT: Oops, i mean when it's NOT a "fundamental right", the states can manipulate it, within some bounds.

sorry about that, chief...

by GovernmentControl July 14, 2009 7:03 PM EDT

When will the obama/media complex stop functioning as a propaganda mouthpiece for sotomayors nomination?

Reply to this comment


by gravyboat4000 July 14, 2009 7:20 PM EDT: Rush Limbaugh groupie.


by thusspokezara July 14, 2009 6:56 PM EDT: "Socrates was ugly"-Nietzsche
"Sotomayor is ugly"-Sara

That explains it all. Let's move on.; Reply to this comment