Pat Leahy: Sotomayor Stands By "Wise Latina" Remark Update: Not So Much

Above the post update:

MSNBC took down the original article I linked to and has replaced it with this one. The new post changes the context of the "None whatsoever" quote.

Leahy told reporters he's usually reluctant to discuss his private conversations with the press, but got clearance from Sotomayor to talk about her answer to the question, which has sparked controversy.

"I asked her if she had any problem with me referring to her answer. And she said, 'None whatsoever," Leahy told reporters.

Leahy said her answer to the Latina statement was this: "What she said was, of course, one's life experience shapes who you are. But ultimately and completely -- she used those words -- ultimately and completely as a judge you follow the law. There's not one law for one race or another. There's not one law for one color or another."

This is still a bit of a non-sequitor. The problem is she said Latina's can reach better decisions than white men, not whether or not there's "one law for one color or another".

That idea should be explored during the confirmation hearing.

As for MSNBC.com, mistakes happen but trying to hide them with no acknowledgment is pretty crappy. It is however par for the course for an organization that employs Keith Olbermann.

I didn't screen grab the original MSNBC post but I did grab the Google News search. You can see them here.

Original Post

Well, this certainly is getting interesting.

In a news conference moments ago with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy (D-VT), he told reporters that he asked Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor whether she had any problems with her statement about a Latina woman reaching better conclusions than a white male.

"She said, 'None whatsoever,'" Leahy recounted to reporters. "What she said was of course one's life experience shapes who you are. But ultimately and completely -- she used those words -- ultimately and completely as a judge, you follow the law."

This will likely come as news to Obama.

President Barack Obama on Friday personally sought to deflect criticism of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, who finds herself under intensifying scrutiny for saying in 2001 that a female Hispanic judge would often reach a better decision than a white male judge. "I'm sure she would have restated it," Obama flatly told NBC News, without indicating how he knew that.

This is the great thing about judicial nominees, they aren't political pros and yet they are suddenly thrown into one of the most political processes our country has. She didn't take the hint Obama and Gibbs offered about toning down this remark. Hopefully she will be just as candid in her confirmation hearing.

posted by DrewM. at 12:38 PM

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