WASHINGTON — The White House dispatched first lady Michelle Obama to defend Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Wednesday, part of a broad offensive to humanize the judge that came as former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich backed off his harsh criticism of her as a racist.
Michelle Obama told students at a high school graduation that Sotomayor is "more than ready” to be a justice and compared the judge’s life story of humble beginnings and high achievement to the paths taken by her husband and herself.
Sotomayor, who grew up in a New York City housing project and went on to Princeton and Yale universities, "says she still looks over her shoulder and wonders if she measures up,” the first lady said at Howard University.
Hours earlier, Gingrich told supporters in a letter that he shouldn’t have called Sotomayor a racist, adding that the word had been "perhaps too strong and direct.” But he said the 2001 speech that prompted his remark, in which Sotomayor said she hoped the rulings of a "wise Latina” would be better than those of a white male without similar experiences, was still unacceptable.
Gingrich conceded her rulings have "shown more caution and moderation” than her speeches and writings, but he said the 2001 comments "reveal a betrayal of a fundamental principle of the American system — that everyone is equal before the law.”
Battle heats up
Hispanic groups began a political push to force Republicans to denounce harshly worded criticism of Sotomayor, warning that their votes could depend on it.
"These gross mischaracterizations of Judge Sotomayor coupled with the deafening silence of the Republican leadership are leaving many within our community with a disturbing picture of the Republican Party. Much hangs in the balance, including our votes,” said Janet Murguia, the president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza.
The White House, working with Democratic senators, hit back at GOP charges that Sotomayor would be an activist who legislates from the bench or a justice who allows her personal bias to interfere in legal decisions. Officials circulated talking points calling Sotomayor "a nonideological and restrained judge,” citing conservatives who have praised her approach.
by the associated press
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