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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Sotomayor: Questionnaire questions

Posted: Thursday, June 11, 2009 9:19 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under:

"GOP senators on the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday tried a new strategy in the battle over Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, writing directly to ask her to 'revisit' her 'incomplete' candidate questionnaire," The Hill reports. "The letter, addressed to Sotomayor through the White House, says the 173-page questionnaire the nominee submitted last week has too many 'apparent omissions.' ... The letter was signed by ranking member Jeff Sessions (Ala.), Chuck Grassley (Iowa), John Cornyn (Texas), Jon Kyl (Ariz.), Tom Coburn (Okla.), Orrin Hatch (Utah) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.)." 

But it should be pointed out that these senators appear to be taking their talking points from conservative advocates, like Wendy Long, who wrote a letter to the senators on the Judiciary Committee Friday urging them to mark her "incomplete and unreliable" questionnaire "return to sender." "It must be sent back to her and to the White House, marked 'Return to Sender,'" she wrote, "with instructions that it is not to be redelivered to the Senate without complete answers and all required documents."  
 

Video: Senate Republicans say they are going to delay the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, claiming it’s a double standard. They are demanding more time to review her record.

"Juan Sotomayor is furious over charges of racism being lobbed at his big sis, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor," the New York Daily News writes. "In an interview on ABC's 'Good Morning America,' Dr. Juan Sotomayor, a physician who practices in Syracuse, said 'angry is just the beginning' of his reaction to critics who have rebuked his sister and labeled her a 'racist.'" On his sister's "wise Latina" remark, he said, "I'm not going to pretend I know what she was talking about, and I'm sure it was done in a context that was meant totally different than it was taken out of," he said. "And it's not my place to say that. But if she said it, and the way it was said, I'm not sure that even the word [racist] even applies to that statement. It's an overreaction."

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Who cares what her brother thinks?  A racist is a racist.  She said it over and over and over again.  Not just one out-of-context moment.  She needs to complete the questionnaire, and soon.  No stalling until the last minute.  She is NOT above the law.
Ofcourse the repugnant one politicians are taking their whining points from their limprwristed conservative talking heads because they can't think for themselves.  What a bunch of crybabies whining about her incomeplete questionnaire, just another stalling tactic.

I hope that not only her brother Juan is angry about how she's being labeled a racist by a bunch of white supremacists but the whole Latino population gets incensed by this race baiting hatred.

In Sotomayor We Trust!
Go Lakers!
But it should be pointed out that these senators appear to be taking their talking points from conservative advocates, like Wendy Long, who wrote a letter to the senators on the Judiciary Committee Friday urging them to mark her "incomplete and unreliable" questionnaire "return to sender." "It must be sent back to her and to the White House, marked 'Return to Sender,'" she wrote, "with instructions that it is not to be redelivered to the Senate without complete answers and all required documents."

And they are trying to find themselves right? These are a bunch of idiots that are sending their party further in the wilderness. What happened to the ststesmen?
The shoe's on the other foot.  When Obama was Senator, he had the opportunity to vote to confirm two Bush nominees to the Supreme Court.  He voted no on both.  He never questioned their intelligence, their ethics, or their qualifications.  He voted no on Roberts and Alito, because he disapproved of their politics.

Now, Obama is President, and he has made his first choice for the Supreme Court.  The Republicans should use any tool at their disposal, including filibuster, to delay or derail this confirmation.  The double standard is getting old.  If Obama can vote no on judicial confirmations for strictly political reasons, than the Republicans in the Senate should do the same.
These GOP Senators are patently pathetic and transparent to a tee. Can you say hypocrits. They first complain about the so-called rush to comfirm in 48 days and now they come up w/ "apparent omissions" considering they blasted Democrats when they complained about Alito/Roberts. I guess it now comes down to politicians acting less mature then kids in a playground. It's what this country's elective representatives have resorted to which is so sad and we the people keep electing them. I guess we love this masochism whereby we derive pleasure from being dominated or mistreated. Lets throw all these self rightous bumbs out of office.
The double standard is getting old.  If Obama can vote no on judicial confirmations for strictly political reasons, than the Republicans in the Senate should do the same.

Mike in Woodridge, IL (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 9:42 AM)
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This is exactly we never do the right thing for The People because we are always trying to get back at the other party (he started it). It will never end and the country will suffer and fail. History tells us what happens when self interest are put ahead of country.
SOTOMAYOR PROMOTES "RACIAL, GENDER AND CLASS" DIVISION IN OUR COUNTRY.

READ HER "LATINA WOMEN SUPERIORITY" COMMENTS CAREFULLY.

SOTOMAYOR PROMOTES DIFFERENTIATION BASED UPON "RACE, GENDER & CLASS."

THIS IS JUST WHAT WE DON'T NEED MORE OF!
Yes, but Roberts & Alito were ultra conservative jurists and Sotomayor is from all accounts a moderate.  Bush and the GOP would never have considered a moderate and personally I don't think Obama should have.
So, the GzeroP would have us believe that the US Senate cannot vet a USSC nominee in the 48 days between her nomination and scheduled hearing.  A nominee who has already been through the Senate vetting process a couple of times.

What do they hope to discover with extra time?  If the GzeroP marketing apparatus cannot come up with the clever slogan or campaign they need make the nominee a political liability to the POTUS, how many more tries do they need?

To hear the GzeroP talk, one would think that, when they ran the Senate, the minority party ALWAYS got to make the schedule, because they were such nice, bipartisan guys.

LMAO.  
A typical confirmation question to Sotomayor.

"How exactly did you break your foot?"

"I wasn't looking where I was going and caught my heel on the rug, I won't sue."

"Great answer ... OK, you're confirmed."
This is the point,the republicans take there orders from conservative extremist.Just some of these hate groups take there's from the likes of Rush,Sean,Sarha,Moran Joe,Pat B,Newt,Dead eye Dick.All the time they are trying to stall her appointment in a attempt to find some dirt on her,making her earn every inch they give up.These sick bastards are not american's and should be run out of town and required to return the pay they receive, along with the radio wackos,who should be sent to the lake of fire for there un=american deeds.
Mike--
 If you want to call Obama on a double standard, you can't advocate the Republicans doing the exact same thing! If it's wrong for one, it's wrong for both.
Who cares what her brother thinks?  A racist is a racist.  She said it over and over and over again.  Not just one out-of-context moment.  She needs to complete the questionnaire, and soon.  No stalling until the last minute.  She is NOT above the law.
Linda K. (Sent Thursday, June 11, 2009 9:32 AM)
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Who cares what you think? A racist is a racist just like you, right?  Why don't you stfu and stop writing crap.
PROUD WISE LATINA IN MIAMI
Of course we can only dream about the abuse a Supreme nominee by a Republican president would be subjected to if that nominee made the very same statement that Sotomayor has made several times. The press would eviscerate the nominee or so embarass him/her that he/she would drop out. Liberals would be swallowing their tongues enraged and screeming for a Bork job. In reality, Judge Sotomayor will most likely be seated and we will have a left leaning judge on the high court. Then all will once again be well with the left and the puppy dog press.
But it should be pointed out that these senators appear to be taking their talking points from conservative advocates, like Wendy Long, who wrote a letter to the senators on the Judiciary Committee Friday urging them to mark her "incomplete and unreliable" questionnaire "return to sender

When will you Republicans learn to read and stop having some one like Wendy Long and other right wing nuts tell you what to say. Come on Republicans elect literate candidates to you party, OH literate means they can read and think for them selves.


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