More Media Bias?

"GOP senators sidestep harsh criticism of Sotomayor

By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer Philip Elliott, Associated Press Writer – 18 mins ago

WASHINGTON – Leading GOP senators on Sunday offered more subtle criticism of the first Hispanic nominated to the Supreme Court, but passed up the chance to stifle racially charged critiques of Sonia Sotomayor by some fellow Republicans.

The party out of power in Washington is struggling to develop a unified political strategy to oppose the Supreme Court nominee. "

But further in the article the following quotes are reported:

"I definitely think we need to have the respectful tone and we need to look at the record," said Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Republican from Hispanic-heavy Texas. "We need to have the responsibilities that have been put on us by the Constitution taken very seriously."

"She brings a form of bigotry or racism to the court," Limbaugh said on his radio program last week.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Sunday refused to criticize that remark, although he said it doesn't represent his view.

"I think that she is a person who believes that her background can influence her decision. That's what troubles me," said Sessions, R-Ala. Although he would prefer that they not call Sotomayor a racist, he said, "people have a free right to speak and say what they want and make the analogies that they want."

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also a member of the Judiciary Committee, said that he doesn't think Sotomayor is a racist. However, Graham, who is white, said she should apologize for comments that suggest "all the hardship she has gone through makes her better than me."

Sen. Jon Kyl, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate and a Judiciary member, declined to call Sotomayor a racist.

"I'm not going to get drawn into characterizations before I have even met her," Kyl said.

Short of saying that anyone that uses the word racist when describing Judge Sotomayor should be arrested what more can five Republican Senators do 'to stifle racially charged critiques'?

Should the Senators even be trying to stifle free speech?

With 59 Democrat votes in the Senate (60 if the Minnesota election is settled in favor of Al Franken) I don't think there is any doubt that Judge Sotomayor will be the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. To suggest that the Republican party is trying to oppose the nomination as stated in the second paragraph is ridiculous. President Obama will have his nominee confirmed, but it is the role of the Senate to 'advise and consent' not just roll over and say 'Yes, Sir'.