AUDIO: Cornyn says Limbaugh and Gingrich’s attacks on Sotomayor are ‘terrible.’
AUDIO: Cornyn says Limbaugh and Gingrich’s attacks on Sotomayor are ‘terrible.’
Soon after President Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace Justice David Souter on the Supreme Court, right-wing luminaries like Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh attacked her as a “racist.” But some Republican lawmakers are trying to distance themselves from that argument. On NPR’s All Things Considered yesterday, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) called that attacks “terrible.” “Neither one of these men are elected Republican officials. I just don’t think it’s appropriate and I certainly don’t endorse it. I think it’s wrong,” said Cornyn. Listen here:
After criticizing Sotomayor for saying that her life experience affects how she approaches the law, Cornyn was stumped when confronted with Justice Samuel Alito’s statement that he takes his immigrant background “into account” on the bench. “I had not remembered that,” said Cornyn. “I think it is a fact that people do have different backgrounds, but I don’t think those backgrounds ought to determine what the law is.”
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Attack by proxy: A time-honored political tradition, on both sides.
Too bad for the racists that she’s going to be confirmed, eh, Senator Box Turtle?
May 29th, 2009 at 10:38 amLast night, Rachel Maddow completely destroyed the three main arguments the right wing zealots are putting up against Judge Sotomayor. They are saying that she would take her immigrant background into account, that she says that appellate court judges make policy, and that she is empathetic.
Justice Alito testified at his confirmation that he takes his immigrant background into account.
Justice Scalia said in an interview that of course appellate judges make policy.
And Justice Thomas was introduced by President GHW Bush as “A man of great empathy.”
If they want to oppose Judge Sotomayor on those grounds, they would have to oppose their three favorite Justices, too.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:40 amIt must really stick in your gullet, Cornyn. I mean…a beaner, on the Supreme Court? Appointed by…a Negro?
A liberal beaner? Divorced? Lapsed Catholic?
A woman? Hell–via handbasket!
ha ha
May 29th, 2009 at 10:41 amCornyn. “I think it is a fact that people do have different backgrounds…”
– - Today’s GOP Deep Thought brought to you by Sen. Cornyn (R-eally?)
May 29th, 2009 at 10:42 amSo…if I become a Republican, do I automatically get Select Memory software installed?
May 29th, 2009 at 10:43 amLooks like the Spector Strategy. If you are about to loose a big, in this case the Hispanic voting block then try to look like a good guy, at the expense of your “leaders.” Did he get advice from other Republi-cons?
May 29th, 2009 at 10:46 amCornyn must be facing reelection soon and is concerned with his party’s implosion. The fact that they have no elected official standing as a spokesperson allows the big-mouth, attention-grabbing bigoted windbags on radio and TV to fill the void.
What part of the public is going to believe their claim that the judge is a racist? Especially, with that charge coming from such defenders of human rights as Limbaugh, Hannity, Buchanan, Savage, Coulter et. al.!
May 29th, 2009 at 10:50 amFlagging jeffy the spammer, for spamming every thread.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:50 amI have to give Cornyn credit for at least admitting that he had not recalled Alito’s statement, instead of completely spinning that statement out of control and trying to distinguish it apart from Sotomayor’s comment.
I think I may try to listen to more of that NPR segment. I used to listen to All Things Considered a few years ago all summer. And…you know…the heck with it, AM sports radio is officially banned from my household.
NPR, I missed you so much. Let’s never fight again.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:53 amCornyn: “I think it is a fact that people do have different backgrounds, but I don’t think those backgrounds ought to determine what the law is.”
Who said it determines a decision? One’s background informs, adds perspective, suggests avenues of inquiry, and generally bolsters the thoughtful consideration that is or should be, at least, the basis for determining judicial decisions.
BTW, how much does Cornyn’s background as a white male, a Texan, and Republican determine his decision making in executing his duty to advise and provide consent for SCOTUS nominations?
May 29th, 2009 at 10:53 amPrepare to be waddled by El Rushbo, Senator Cornyn (DemLib-TX)!
May 29th, 2009 at 10:53 amNeither one of these men are elected Republican officials.
And therein lies the problem for the Republics. No one that is out there talking for the party is an elected official. They are either talking heads or “has-been” Republics.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:55 amJeffboste Says:
Is racial identity for a judge a value added quality or a form of racism?
May 29th, 2009 at 10:47 am
____________
What kind of shit question is that? How is racial identity either a “value-added quality” or a “form of racism.” You mean it’s racist to be a member of a race?
May 29th, 2009 at 10:55 amPLC, you beat me to it.
I was gonna point out that apparently only those nominated by Democratic presidents use their background to “determine what the law is”.
Republicans are so prone to hysteria, aren’t they?
May 29th, 2009 at 10:57 amCTH, I assume jeffboste is simply a trollbot, trolling for traffic to some web poll site
May 29th, 2009 at 10:58 amGreat post, PLC!!
May 29th, 2009 at 10:58 am…which means that they are accountable to no one and can spew whatever crap they think will stick to the wall.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:59 am“I think it is a fact that people do have different backgrounds, but I don’t think those backgrounds ought to determine what the law is.”
___________________________________________________________
“The law” is what’s written in the constitution. Not even the SCOTUS has the power to change that. What the Supremes are tasked with is INTERPRETING the law that’s written. And perhaps that’s what Cornyn meant. Hopefully he understands the difference between making the law and interpreting it.
That said — I believe there is a reason why our laws are interpreted by human beings instead of machines, computers, and robots. The law requires a human interpretation that can’t be duplicated any other way. And all humans — even SCOTUS justices — are going to be influenced by their backgrounds and their life experiences no matter who they are.
Perhaps this is why we have nine justices. If we found a jurist who was truly impartial, coldly objective, and 100% neutral on every issue, we would only need one.
Perhaps Cornyn would care to explain the many 5-4 court decisions and how the 5-4 split is always the same justices. Does he truly want us to believe that backgrounds and personal ideologies don’t play a factor?
May 29th, 2009 at 10:59 ambarracks9 Says:
So…if I become a Republican, do I automatically get Select Memory software installed?
I don’t know about that, but before you can become a Republic, you do have to sign an oath promising to be both a hypocrite and a liar.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:00 amJohn Cornyn comes from Texas, a state with a large population of Hispanics. Expect to hear moderate voices out of Florida also. The GOP in those two states can’t afford to lose the entire Hispanic voting block.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:02 amPurple State / Lavender Boy Says:
NPR, I missed you so much. Let’s never fight again.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:53 am
_____________
Welcome back. Tom and Ray Magliozzi are lighting a broken timing belt in your honor.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:04 ammisscoleopteramolly Says:
“The law” is what’s written in the constitution. Not even the SCOTUS has the power to change that. What the Supremes are tasked with is INTERPRETING the law that’s written. And perhaps that’s what Cornyn meant. Hopefully he understands the difference between making the law and interpreting it.
Thom Hartmann did a good piece on his show about how the framers of the Constitution wrote it in a way expecting it to be a template that would change as times change. I believe it was Thomas Jefferson who proposed holding a Constitutional Convention every 19 years to review and revise the Constitution. It’s too bad they didn’t go along with that plan. It would have done away with a lot of the problems we are running into today.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:06 amI suspect that missmolly was already the first to land on Mars but didn’t tell anyone. She doesn’t like to brag.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:08 amNotice the growing split between Republican elected officials who have to be responsible to a voting constituency, and all the un- or ex- elected Republican blowhards stirring up trouble and fomenting race war? I think there’s at least two parties in that party. And they seem to be trying to kill each other about now. That is, the success strategy of one necessitates the failure of the other, and they don’t seem to mind.
When Sotomayor’s nomination sails through, it’s going to show just how irrelevant the wingnuts are; and the elected R’s are going to be pissed that they had their name dragged through the mud for nothing.
.
chiroptera toasterhead Says:
You mean it’s racist to be a member of a race?
… provided you exclude white from the definition of “race,” I think that’s what they’re getting at.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:08 ammisscoleopteramolly Says:
Perhaps Cornyn would care to explain the many 5-4 court decisions and how the 5-4 split is always the same justices. Does he truly want us to believe that backgrounds and personal ideologies don’t play a factor?
Excellent point. I suspect wingnuts believe that interpreting the Constitution is merely a pass/fail proposition.
.
Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
John Cornyn comes from Texas, a state with a large population of Hispanics. Expect to hear moderate voices out of Florida also. The GOP in those two states can’t afford to lose the entire Hispanic voting block.
I’m very much looking forward to a Blue Texas. They can’t live off of outrageous gerrymandering forever…
May 29th, 2009 at 11:10 amoilforillegals Says:
More divisiveness from the party of “unity.” Hypocrites? Indeed.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:09 am
___________
Who is this party of “unity” you refer to – Republicans? Yeah, they’re definitely hypocrites.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:16 ambarracks9 Says:
So…if I become a Republican, do I automatically get Select Memory software installed?
______________
No… you get sent to a psychoproctologist for a lobotomy…
For an extra $25, he’ll throw in a nose job, seeing as he’s so close to it anyways…
May 29th, 2009 at 11:20 amDoes anyone remember this jerk off threatening judges with violence if they disagreed with him? Who the hell cares what Cornyn says especially when he is sucking up? As a Texan I want to see his sorry ass kicked out of the Senate.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:21 ambarracks9 Says:
So…if I become a Republican, do I automatically get Select Memory software installed?
May 29th, 2009 at 11:23 am““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““
LOL! Yes, yes you do. You also get the ignorant, intolerant and hateful software suite free of charge.
Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock….
How long will it take for Cornyn to grovel back to Oxybreath with an apology??????
May 29th, 2009 at 11:24 amoilforillegals, would you please provide me some clarification of your last post? Specifically,
More divisiveness What is the devisiveness to which you are referring? What actions, behaviors, policies, etc. are you labelling divisive?
from the party of “unity.” Why are you putting “unity” in quotes?
Hypocrites? Where is the hypocrisy?
May 29th, 2009 at 11:28 amoilforillegals Says:
More divisiveness from the party of “unity.” Hypocrites? Indeed.
***
fell out of bed again, eh?
:)
remember it’s feet first.
good luck with your headache.
:|
May 29th, 2009 at 11:30 amPatrioticLiberalChristianMantisReligiosa Says:
oilforillegals, would you please provide me some clarification of your last post? Specifically,
More divisiveness What is the devisiveness to which you are referring? What actions, behaviors, policies, etc. are you labelling divisive?
from the party of “unity.” Why are you putting “unity” in quotes?
Hypocrites? Where is the hypocrisy?
****
he’s not going to answer you.
he only listens to the little voice in his head.
….
May 29th, 2009 at 11:33 amOh, looky, kiddies! The Fascist Teabaggers are playing “good cop, bad cop” again!
Ain’t they just the cutest?????
/snark
May 29th, 2009 at 11:33 amPLC, do you really want oily to clarify whatever snot he just blew into his shirttail?
It’s snot. That’s all.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:35 amoilforillegals Says:
More divisiveness from the party of “unity.” Hypocrites? Indeed.
Was that supposed to be a coherent thought? Or is your computer just putting random phrases and words together to spout moronic statements?
May 29th, 2009 at 11:54 amIt might be said that our whole system of government has been based on the experiences of the people that founded the government. The founders – Adams, Madison, Jefferson, Franklin— experienced the tyranny of the majority and strove in every way to make our country into something outside the norm of the times. They created our system of governments based on a more EQUITABLE system.
If the system is not fair for one person, then it isn’t fair for any of us; the rule of law should reflect that, as well.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:58 amOn a side note, I find it interesting that they are not focusing on her being a female… just her ethnicity.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:59 amLibertyLover Says:
On a side note, I find it interesting that they are not focusing on her being a female… just her ethnicity.
Maybe they would rather risk losing the Latino vote rather than the Women vote?
May 29th, 2009 at 12:01 pmoilforillegals Says:
obama “We are the party of unity!”
tp-driving the wedge deeper even in their own party…tp minions…drinking it up like good little gobblets.
****
making up words?
you’re off your meds again.
“)
May 29th, 2009 at 12:01 pmSee what I mean?
It’s just snot. Mucousy boogers blown into his own shirttail. It would be funny watching him trying to wipe it off his hand if it weren’t so gross.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:07 pmoilforillegals Says:
joe cantwell Says
Do you realize how idiotic you look running from thread to thread pointing out typos and posting pictures of larry craig? More proof olbyloons live pathetic lives. Sad.
It’s not just a typo, buffoon. Even if you had spelled “goblet” correctly, the sentence would make zero sense.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:11 pmoilforillegals Says:
joe cantwell Says
Do you realize how idiotic you look running from thread to thread pointing out typos and posting pictures of larry craig? More proof olbyloons live pathetic lives. Sad.
***
stop hurting yourself.
is larry a friend of yours?
:)
May 29th, 2009 at 12:11 pmoilforillegals Says:
I find it interesting that they are not focusing on her being a female… just her ethnicity.
You mean like you loons did with Condi Rice? Liberal hypocrisy front and center, again.
***
you really like that phrase,
“front and center”
don’t you?
:)
May 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pmOnce again, oily’s Irony Deficiency rears its ugly head.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:15 pmoilforillegals Says:
It’s not just a typo, buffoon. Even if you had spelled “goblet” correctly, the sentence would make zero sense.
Good little olbyloon….
***
does your mommy give you
a nickel every time you say that word?
:)
May 29th, 2009 at 12:15 pmoilforillegals Says:
More divisiveness from the party of “unity.” Hypocrites? Indeed.
…
tp-driving the wedge deeper even in their own party…tp minions…drinking it up like good little gobblets.
Um – this is awkward – just to clue you in, this topic is about Republicans disagreeing on something.
.
oilforillegals Says:
I find it interesting that they are not focusing on her being a female… just her ethnicity.
You mean like you loons did with Condi Rice? Liberal hypocrisy front and center, again.
Citation, please? Link? Anything? I have no idea what you’re referring to.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:15 pmOily also likes the phrase “olbyloon”.
It makes him giggle.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:17 pmoilforillegals Says:
joe cantwell Says
If you took the baseball bat from where things aren’t supposed to be inserted maybe you could put together an actual argument.
***
it’s up your a$$.
…
and i didn’t put it there.
*
(good argument, eh?)
*..*
May 29th, 2009 at 12:17 pmralph the wonder locust Says:
joe cantwell Says:
oilforillegals Says:
I find it interesting that they are not focusing on her being a female… just her ethnicity.
You mean like you loons did with Condi Rice? Liberal hypocrisy front and center, again.
***
you really like that phrase,
“front and center”
don’t you?
Oily also likes the phrase “olbyloon”.
It makes him giggle.
:::
he has a limited vocabulary.
:)
May 29th, 2009 at 12:19 pmoilforillegals Says:
I have no idea what you’re referring to.
Playing dumb come natural?
***
“come” is a poor choice of words
for you.
…
:\
May 29th, 2009 at 12:21 pmoilforillegals Says:
More proof olbyloons live pathetic lives. Sad.
Said the pathetic little troll who just shows up to insult us and post moronic comments void of any intellect or social worth.
And what’s with the cape? Are we going to the opera? I don’t think so.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:22 pm….
oil.
thinking. thinking.
***
thinking….
;|
May 29th, 2009 at 12:22 pmOily also likes the phrase “olbyloon”.
It makes him giggle.
:::
he has a limited vocabulary.
Limited to the words he makes up, I guess. ;)
May 29th, 2009 at 12:23 pm,,,,
oil.
panic.
words.
need new words.
:0
May 29th, 2009 at 12:23 pmWayne, good eye spotting that cape. I thought oily had a snot-filled tissue stuck to his collar.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:24 pm….
wayne,
let’s help him.
“olbyloonagobblet”
:)
May 29th, 2009 at 12:25 pmoilforillegals Says:
Said the pathetic little troll who just shows up to insult us and post moronic comments void of any intellect or social worth.
does your mommy give you
a nickel every time you say that word?
***
cut and paste…
need a band-aid?
;|
May 29th, 2009 at 12:27 pmoilforillegals Says:
Said the pathetic little troll who just shows up to insult us and post moronic comments void of any intellect or social worth.
ralph the wonder locust Says:
——————————————————————————–
Wayne, good eye spotting that cape. I thought oily had a snot-filled tissue stuck to his collar.
,,,
he’s lost his voice.
:(
May 29th, 2009 at 12:28 pmralph,
I guess oily likes our comments so much he repeated them for us. ;)
May 29th, 2009 at 12:28 pm,,,
oil don’t forget to change your depends this morning.
your mom tells me it really stinks up the basement
when you forget.
:(
May 29th, 2009 at 12:29 pmWayne Ant Schneider Says:
ralph,
I guess oily likes our comments so much he repeated them for us. ;)
***
wayne and ralph,
oil’s kind of like an inbred dog.
they like to chase their own tails
and run head long into fire hydrants.
:)
May 29th, 2009 at 12:31 pmoilforillegals Says:
It’s not just a typo, buffoon. Even if you had spelled “goblet” correctly, the sentence would make zero sense.
Good little olbyloon….
Well at least you didn’t attempt to justify your failure to make sense — rather you compounded it by continuing not to make sense.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:31 pmWell, oily’s nothing if not consistent.
Check that — I’d say even when he’s not consistent, he is still inane,
May 29th, 2009 at 12:34 pm…
oil,
this would be a good spot
for another cut and past.
….
just a suggestion.
;|
May 29th, 2009 at 12:34 pm…
ralph,
you’re right he’s not inconsistent
but he is incontinent.
and it’s really kind of sad when you
think about it.
***
so i don’t.
:|
May 29th, 2009 at 12:37 pmI respectfully asked oil to clarify a post – which is fundamental to having an actual discussion or debate. Notice how oil totally ignored my request, not even bothering to acknowledge its existence, even with an “olbyloon” comment. This is exactly what I expected to happen and oil demonstrates that he is here at TP only to disrupt.
I’m only going to post about, not to, oil from now on. Anything else is pointless.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:48 pmSoooooo, excuse me, oily dearest, what exactly *IS* a “gobblet” anyway…?
Enquiring minds want to know.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:53 pmoilforillegals Says
May 29th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
You mean like you loons did with Condi Rice? Liberal hypocrisy front and center, again.
_____________________________________________________________
Please give some evidence that any widespread criticism of Rice’s race from “liberals” ever existed. I suspect that remark is pure projection on your part.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:56 pmLeftside Annie Says:
Soooooo, excuse me, oily dearest, what exactly *IS* a “gobblet” anyway…?
Enquiring minds want to know.
***
annie,
i tried to find out
and i got a really mean answer.
were my feelings hurt? no.
but i was disappointed.
:(
May 29th, 2009 at 12:59 pmEveryone brings their life experiences with them, whether they admit to it or not.
The “life experiences” these racist mysoginists object to are the non-male, non-white, non-moneyed-upper-class-upbringing kind.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:07 pmCornyn is trying to “pass” for not being a racist sexist pig. He is in state with a lot of hispanics, he is afraid of losing his job. Singing “Mammy” in blackface doesn’t mean you are not a racist, in fact it probably does.
Or how about: ” I’m not really a racist, I just play one on TV.”
Or how about: “I’m not intolerant, I just try to pretend I am.”
Or how about: “If I pretend I am not a racist, will you reelect me?”
Or how about: “What the heck do I care, I am losing my job when Texas secceeds anyway. Gosh I’m glad I bought that house in Virginia, so I don’t have to go back to Houston.”
Or how about: “Can these Republicans please shut up about the Supreme Court, I not tired of the torture debate yet.”
May 29th, 2009 at 4:39 pmright-wing luminaries like Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh
“Luminaries”? These men are black holes.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:57 pmoilforillegals Says:
More divisiveness from the party of “unity.” Hypocrites? Indeed.
No, no, OFI, you misunderstood: “unity” means “the ONE right way,” and that one right way is whatever the necon flavor of the day happens to be. Not EXACTLY hypocrisy. . . more like “evolving truth.” Or perhaps REvolving truth. . . . but they’re VERY sincere at the time!
May 29th, 2009 at 9:16 pmScrape and scratch for that hispanic vote Mr. Cornyn…your colleagues don’t make it easy, do they?
May 30th, 2009 at 10:17 amI’m guessing this has less to do with his fine ethics and more to do with the Hispanic vote in Texas. Nonetheless, gotta give him some credit for his statement.
May 30th, 2009 at 12:35 pmI guess the “big tent” is only big enough for bigots. Sorry, Cornyn–who’s the minority now?
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:31 amThank You
June 5th, 2009 at 9:24 amseslisohbet seslichat sesli sohbet sesli chat