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.Obama didn't admit that her words were unacceptable. Obama said that the sentence taken out of context could've been worded better.
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 (a fact which both President Obama and his Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, have since admitted).
But fear not, with Newt's apology out of the way, he gets back to what he really meant to say:
So it is to her words -- the ones quoted above and others -- to which we should turn, for they show that the issue here is not racial identity politics. Sotomayor’s words reveal a betrayal of a fundamental principle of the American system -- that everyone is equal before the law.You see Newt, there is no such thing as "blind justice." That's the ideal. But the hope for blind justice only improves when there is a more diverse group of judges making decisions. That's tough for a party that's largely white to understand.
The Central Question: Is American Justice No Longer Blindfolded? HE
