Newt backtracks on 'racist' remark

Posted: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:16 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Courts, Republicans, Pete Williams

From NBC's Pete Williams

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich now says he should not have used the word "racist" to describe Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

Writing in the conservative "Human Events," he said, "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)."

"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. With these critics who want to have an honest conversation, I agree," Gingrich added.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Wow, just wow. A right wing conservative nut retracting and almost apologizing? Now THAT is change we can believe in!!!!

Newt - once an idiot, always an idiot. He better watch out though. I am sure he's really pissed off Limpballs now!

Lisa B in FL (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:22 AM)

I don't buy it Newtie! Who are you pandering to? Afraid when you decide to run for CIC this one will bite you in the a**? Me thinks so.

cindy, las vegas, nv (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:23 AM)

Great job Newt! So now the right wing nuts can:

Attack him as weak for apologizing.
Attack him as a flip-flopper for changing his mind.
Attack him for not being a true conservative.

Chris - IL (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:25 AM)

From NBC's Pete Williams
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich now says he should not have used the word "racist" to describe Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

No s*** sherlock. Now explain why envoked the name of Dr. King that was such a disgusting misuseful lie to scolicite funds for you continue to spew your "Racist Retheroic".

"Do not let your mouth speak, before your brain dead mind have a chance to think".

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:26 AM)

Seems like "a poor choice of words" is contagious!

ujw, ny (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:26 AM)

Ironic yes? The Newt saying he may have mispoke when jumping up and down about Sotomeyer saying she may have mispoke. Please forgive me, I am not a bad newt.

Pacheck, Huntington Beach, Ca. (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:28 AM)

The"Human Events", isn't that the website that has called our President...,Marxist, Fascist, Racist, Anti-Christ Communist etc in other words everything but a child of God? LOL What a hypocrite.

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:28 AM)

What a phoney!

Brian, Cedar Hill, TX (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:29 AM)

Great job Newt! So now the right wing nuts can:

Attack him as weak for apologizing.
Attack him as a flip-flopper for changing his mind.
Attack him for not being a true conservative.
---------------------------------------------------
And left wing nuts can attack him for something they presumably agree with.

Mr. Peanut (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:29 AM)

So there you have it, from the reptile's mouth to your ears. People CAN say things other than what they might actually mean, and they should be given a bit of space for occasionally mispeaking. Case closed

Teopa (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:30 AM)

Today
Newt to Sotomayor: I'm sorry.

Tomorrow
Newt to Rush: I,m so very sorry! I was wrong!

Sub Sailor (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:30 AM)

She never should have been accused of being a racist. So I'm glad Newt apologized. These Supreme Court appointments have a history of becoming really ugly, on both sides. It's really too bad.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:32 AM)

Bigmouths have to retract alot especially when they have inserted their foot in that pie hole as ol' Newt seems to want to do. Gee I wonder what Boss Rush will have to say about this. It should be interesting and fun.

eagle1776 (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:33 AM)

* After months of exposure I essentially know nothing about you.
Bad Chihuahua (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:18 AM)

Because you little mutt… YOU ARE willfully ignorant!

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:34 AM)

"now the right wing nuts can:

Attack him as weak for apologizing.
Attack him as a flip-flopper for changing his mind.
Attack him for not being a true conservative."
Chris - IL

right on Chris, the script is now written....lol

teopa (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:36 AM)

Lose cannon--Fire! Reload...Fire again. The sad part is Newt is one of the smarter conservatives. Well ahead of Boehner, McConnell, Cantor, Bush/Cheney, and Limbaugh.

Ron Indiana (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:36 AM)

Huh - "F" Newt Gingrich.

Really - Piss off.

He's just another Neo- Con clown.

Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA

The - Democrat Soldier (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:37 AM)

Boy, did someone read his tea leaves wrong...

So Newt thought he would get out in front with the outrage; then realized that the majority of Americans weren't following him. Then when the actual OFFICE-HOLDING Republicans didn't take the bait, he knew he had to backpedal. He and Tancredo look even more tone-deaf than usual- serves them right.

Note to Newt: It ain't 1994 anymore. Your "leadership" tactics won't play well in THIS century, baby. Also.

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:37 AM)

Newt just had a senior moment. He is well past his prim if he ever had one!

Ed, FW, TX (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:42 AM)

Thanks Newt. I wonder if Romney thinks Newt's apology went too far? It must be a sign of weakness. He may be presenting a weakened view of the party.
Actually, I am sincere in thanking Newt. It is a real step in the direction of civilized dialog.

mexed, san antonio,texas (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:42 AM)

Me thinks Newt is wanting to run for president, so with his postering he "supposedly" ruffled some right wingers. That is a joke as they secretly and not so secretly are behind anyone who makes racist, outlandish statements about anything the democrats propose or want. When they bow to someone like Limbaugh they show their true colors.
Newt, forget it. You do not have a chance of ever being president of our great country.

katiec (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:45 AM)

Gingrich is a fool alays has been always will be. don't be fooled by this fool.wait until that boucing ball of a fool Limbaughhears about this.

pepper (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:46 AM)

He got called out. He still has those thoughts! He will not change!

Terry, Disabled Vet, Des Moines, IA (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:46 AM)

cindy, las vegas, nv (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:23 AM)

You win the bonus round today with your response. That is ALL Newton is thinking about, "How this will loop in campaign ads?"

Once a snake, always a snake. Or as my grandma used to tell this story:

A snake was in the grass and a little girl was skipping past. The snake said, "Little girl, I am stuck please help me." The little girl replied, "No, you are a snake you will bite me." The snake said, "No, I won't, I need your help." So the little girl picked him up to free him. He immediately bit her. She said, "You told me you wouldn't bite me!" And the snake said, "You knew what I was when you picked me up."

This 'moral' plays over and over when I see the phony outrage over politicians going back on campaign promises, etc. They simply can't help themselves. Until the public demands better - the politicians will not change their stripes.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:47 AM)

Wow, an apology from Newt!

I never thought I'd....

...hang on, Tom Tancredo is on Line 2!

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:50 AM)

If Newt can say he "mis-spoke" and rectract what he said about Sotomayor, then Sotomayor can say she "mis-spoke" and retract what she said about wife latinas and white males!

pat huntington ny (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:51 AM)

katiec (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:52 AM)

How many of you liberals criticized your boy John Murtha (D-PA) during last election when he accused parts of PA of being racist because they didn't vote for him? How many of you have criticized the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, for being a blatant racist eugenicist (wants only a "pure" race) and wanting to limit the population of blacks? How many of you know that Obama lied to us about his knowing about Rev Wright's racist beliefs so he could get elected? (He called him a "father figure" and sat under his preaching for many years and yet amazingly he never heard him say anything inflamatory during that time....do you believe it?)

Do you criticize ALL racism? (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:52 AM)

Glad to see some adults in the Republican party are trying to rein in the unhelpful outlyers. Newt, we got a big hole to climb out of so stop with the bomb throwing. Let the chips fall where they may during the hearings. And since the Dems have the votes to confirm anyway, what's the point of bringing out the long knives? It just turns people off.

FR: I hope this material was inoffensive enough to be posted. Please let me know if I can water my thoughts down even more since I grow weary of the arbitrary application of the standards you apply in determining what is an 'acceptable' post. Can anyone say 'censorship'?

Joe T, Alexandria, VA (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:53 AM)

Hey Domineco, what's with the censorship? Why aren't my posts being shown? The criteria for what constitutes an 'acceptable' post seems to be a moving target. I haven't said anything in the material I've tried to post today that the liberal loonies haven't said on countless occasions in the past. You betray your leftie leanings, my friend.
Joe T, Alexandria, VA (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:36 AM)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Booo Hooo! Could it be that they’re as fed up with your ranting & raving racist remarks like the rest of us? Hmmm… something to think about…

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:53 AM)

Gingrich's statement concludes with this:
" Has President Obama nominated a conventionally liberal judge to a lifetime tenure on our highest court? Or a radical liberal activist who will cast aside the rule of law in favor of the narrow, divisive politics of race and gender identity?"

So now he only wants to IMPLY that she's a racist, instead of saying so directly. His initial direct extremism has been replaced by hypocritical obfuscation.

Joe Don, Topeka, KS (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:53 AM)

so newt admits to opening mouth before engaging brain..except that we all know the apology is political cover..and his racist comment was what he really felt..

newt is a proven ethically and morally challenged man..with a failed agenda and ideology that's despicable..just get out newt..we've suffered enough with your kind..

wayne agoura hills ca (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:57 AM)

I Guess Newt Missed the Press Conference so he might want to pick up the phone and give Ed Henery Call so he call get caught up on things but here is a fresh reminder:

"I like to know what I am talking about before I speak" Is a good start.

PBrown (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:58 AM)

Newt didn't bank on republican push back reguarding his racist remarks. The talking points that Lushy Rushy gave him that they were fond of using weren't met with the same reguards from other party members.

He has still further damged the party because he spoke it and it was indulged in and tolerated by the the republican Senators, that by the way didn't speak out against it.

I am going to constanlty remind them of it every chance I get. They seem to think that we for get...out of sight, out of mind....election time is coming....

Anita, Birmingham, Alabama (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:58 AM)

Sotomayer is pulling back from a line in a public speech.
"I used a poor choice of words" acceptable

Gingrich made a personal attack "she is a racist"
Gingrich needs to apologize directly to Sotomayer, not yet acceptable.

watching (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:01 AM)

If that had been a rich white male judge speaking about a black female judge, about how his upbringing would have more understanding than the black judge would the lefty's say "Oh well, he just mispoke??

Grandma from MN (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:02 AM)

newt is a proven ethically and morally challenged man
---------------------------------------------------
No kidding about the morally challenged man comment! He's so morally bankrupt he'd probably drive a car off a bridge and leave a woman to die. Oh, wait...

That doesn't matter! (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:04 AM)

Thanks Clara ....SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS, replied the snake! I can see the ticket now Newtie/Tancredo 2012. I say bring it on!!

cindy, las vegas, nv (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:09 AM)

Does this mean Newt is going to return all of the political donations he rounded up when he called her a racist?

Just wondering (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:20 AM)

Do you criticize ALL racism? (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:52 AM)

Seriously! You want people to jump up and criticize Margaret Sanger? Are you aware of the fact that she died in 1966?!?! Yes, she made racist remarks way back in the 1930s. It was wrong. I hope that makes you feel better. I'm not sure what it has to do with newt or Sotomayor, or anything else that is going on today.

While we're at it, I'm going to come out now and confess that I had a grandfather and a grandmother that were racists. I still loved them, but struggled mightily with their beliefs.

Perhaps you can use that fact to attack us "lefties" for having family that has made racist remarks. I'm not sure what it will prove, but I'm sure you will think of something!

Chris - IL (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:24 AM)

Anita:
"I am going to constantly remind them of it every chance I get. They seem to think that we for get...out of sight, out of mind....election time is coming...."
__________
We all know Newt well. He's not going to win anything in 2012. But I agree with you - keep it out front just how far behind the rest of the country he really is. It's the only way he is going to get the message. We as a country are no longer patient with this kind of talk.

We are not a far right country. And never will be.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:31 AM)

Poor Newt,
I think Mr. Gingrich has been working hard these past few months to carve out a spot for himself as the "grownup" Republican—one who hadn't participated in all the bomb-throwing, partisan stuntery of the last few years. Then he made that ridiculous comment just to keep his name in the headlines. Suddenly he finds himself alone, with no one in his camp but Rush Limbaugh, Pat Buchanan, and Tom Tancredo. And those three accusing someone of racism is like Jeffrey Dahmer telling you that you have an unhealthy diet.

S. L. Austin, TX (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:37 AM)

I find it laughable for these older white men like Newt, Rush, and Pat Buchannan calling anyone a racist. You have got to be kidding me. Isn't this the pot calling the kettle black. I don't have enough time to go over the racist behavior and comments said by these three. My question for all supporters of those gentlemen who believe the judge is a racist for ruling against the firefighters. Does that mean that the white judge Rosemary Pooler who also ruled against the firefighters is also a racist. Keep in mind that all three judges on the panel ruled against the firefighters. They also upheld a previous ruling. They were following the rule of law which many on the right have criticized her for not doing. So if you are going to continue to call her a racist please include the white judge who was also part of this decision. Don't have selective outrage.

jon , owings mill,md (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:42 AM)

Knock me over with a feather...

BamaBoy (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:43 AM)

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:53 AM)

"Booo Hooo! Could it be that they’re as fed up with your ranting & raving racist remarks like the rest of us? Hmmm… something to think about…"

I'll accept the point about ranting, but hey we all do it. That's part of what makes coming here fun. But I take strong exception to being called a 'racist'. I challenge you to go through my posts and point out statements that are 'racist.' It's one thing to disagree with my political point of view which you and others so obviously do. But it's quite another to inappropriately defame me, which you have done.

You owe me an apology Feisty, think about it...

And to FR, are you going to keep this blog open long enough so that I can respond to this garbage from Feisty Redhead? Or are you going to shut it down early like you often do and let Feisty's lies go unanswered, like you often do as well? You certainly won't let me respond tomorrow because that would be yesterday's news. Lots of liberals around here are in the habit of taking gratuitous shots at conservatives. Either you guys run a blog that gives people opportunity to defend themselves, or you stop posting criticsm of other posters, or you just 'fess up and acknowledge your leftie leanings. Cheers.

Joe T, Alexandria, VA (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:43 AM)

If I had not admired Sonia Sotomayor before, and I was "judging" her for the first time, I admire the restraint she showed to this date not answering all the crazies out there who called her racist. I do not know if I could have held my tongue this long on that subject.

Barbara C. - Fort Lauderdale FL (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:49 AM)

Here is the rest of his so called apology:

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.

This was no apology. He was basically calling out his critics and stating that she is still racist in his mind. Nothing has changed. If anyone thought that a guy with a big an ego as Newt (after all this is the same guy who left his wife while she was battling cancer for the bimbo - so much for family values) was going to admit that he was wrong that person or persons were seriously delusional. Newt wouldn't know humble if it hit him in the face.

Dave (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:52 AM)

Lose cannon--Fire! Reload...Fire again. The sad part is Newt is one of the smarter conservatives. Well ahead of Boehner, McConnell, Cantor, Bush/Cheney, and Limbaugh.
Ron Indiana (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:36 AM)
_________

Being the smartest conservative is like being the best Uwe Boll movie.

Jackson, Seattle (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 11:56 AM)

Racism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

Are people thinking about the true meaning of these words before they throw them around? Based on the meaning is Sotomayor really racist? Is Obama racist because he hired a diverse group of people with extraordinary qualifications and backgrounds that perhaps ordinarily wouldn't be given a second glance. Perhaps it's because he is a minority, the issue of a person's race doesn't serve as a hinderance to employing them.

This is just becoming too much for me. And people that like to assume all African Americans are ignorant and on welfare, just stop. Every race has different facets, groups that are more priveleged and/ or even more motivated than others... Every race!

CB Brooklyn, NY (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 12:17 PM)

Grandma from MN (Sent Wednesday, June 3, 2009

***********************************************

Sorry, but you cannot connect those dots. A white judge (rich or poor) represents the majority race in this country and a majority on the Supreme Court so the "diversity" angle that Judge Sotomayor was angling for in her speech about judges and empathy won't compute.

Newt came across as a racist in this debate and now he wants to recant. Well, he can but I am not pursuaded. I think his original rantings is how he actually feels and he is now backing away because he may want to court the Latino vote in 2012.

Can you spell h-y-p-o-c-r-i-t-e?

Sheila, Pikesville, MD (Sent Wednesday, June 03, 2009 12:33 PM)

Next >>

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1951559