Senators Expect More "'Splaining" From Sotomayor Today

Photograph of Sonia Sotomayor listening to Sen. Jeff Sessions' questions by Charles Dharapak/AP

Today is expected to be the final day of confirmation hearings for federal judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama's first nominee to the Supreme Court. Yesterday, Sotomayor was questioned about her views on abortion and the Second Amendment, and the Washington Post notes, "Like nominees of both parties before her, she declined to be forthcoming about a host of legal issues. Her demeanor was more relaxed, yet she took no chances, joking openly with Judiciary Committee members while increasingly avoiding their questions. By midafternoon yesterday, even two Democrats on the panel sounded frustrated by her long, legally detailed and often evasive replies."

The NY Post says she's "dodged" the abortion question: When Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) asked if state legislature can determine "what is death," Sotomayor responded, "Depends on what they're applying that definition to, and so there are situations in which they might and situations where the definition would or would not have applicability to the dispute before the court." There was also, as the NY Times put it, a "comical if awkward exchange with Mr. Coburn, on whether Americans had a right to self-defense" where "Judge Sotomayor broke with her resistance to hypotheticals to invoke one, imagining an instance in which, threatened with imminent harm, she went home, got a gun and came back to shoot him." To which Corburn responded by using Ricky Ricardo's line on I Love Lucy, "You’d have lots of ’splaining to do."

The Daily News' Juan Gonzalez called that exchange "one of the most hilarious moments of a boring and repetitive third day of her Senate confirmation hearing"; the Times' Gail Collins sums up the past three days in her op-ed: "SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM: Judge, before I read a string of anonymous comments about your temperament problem, I’d like to make you repeat that wise Latina remark again just for the heck of it." Politico breaks down how Sotomayor has defended herself. And of course, Tuesday's Daily Show segment about the hearings is good for some fun.

Sotomayor will be questioned about the New Haven firefighter case today.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on July 16, 2009 10:46 AM

Comments [rss]

DOLPHIN

What a waste of time and money. Why go thorugh this if the the nominee is elected dispite not answering any of the questions?

Just declare the president king for 4 or 8 years and we will save alot of time and money.

SP

Posting under multiple screen names doesn't give the impression of consensus among the masses, like you are trying to do. It just undermines your efforts, and makes you look dishonest and stupid (your spelling mistakes and improper terminology betrayed you, moron.)

dreamking

Desi Arnaz used to travel for his performances, sometimes in fear he'd be arrested for violating miscegenation laws. Seriously, WTF? Coburn is not the person to be throwing around Mr. Babalu quotes at one of the most successful and learned American Latinas.

Maybe he was hoping to get a rise out of her. What as ass.

Proof your work

Jen - Hartford or New Haven?

Proof your work.

Dirk

Ouch. Coburn's joke is terrible. He does know that Ricky Ricardo is Cuban and Sonia Sotomayor is Puerto Rican, right?

longacre

He totally should have used some Rosie Perez quotes from White Men Can't Jump.

Jen S

These people are so fucking racist. Some of the comments would be funny among friends, but they're on tv representing the country. Sotomayor should tear them to pieces.

contro

"I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life".

There's def nothing racist about that remark...ok...

SP

No, actually, there isn't. Especially if you bother to read the rest of the speech and understand the context it was given in. But you won't and can't, because your prejudice prevents you from doing so, and you are so thoroughly brainwashed by right wing propaganda that you are incapable of rational thought.

S.D.

And actually put the quote in it's proper context?

Now what sort of Crack pot would he be if he started to do that?

The GOP is officially the party of "Nope" and trying their best to stay irrelevant.

contro

So is Sotomayor, wtf is your problem, also she's avoiding the questions she's not ansering them wtf kind of judge will she be if she gets nominated?

Politburo

Sotomayor is following the Ginsburg precedent, which was also used by Roberts and Alito and will pretty much be the standard for all future nominees.

SP

Uh, she already has been nominated.

contro

I meant elected....

SP

You meant nothing at all. You are an idiot.

contro

what is this kindergarten for you?

SP

haha, that's funny coming from someone who uses "wtf" as punctuation.

Bottomless Chips

Coburn just seems unfunny to me. When unfunny people try to make jokes with even a slight racial bent, it comes off as "racist." Whereas, a professional comic who can time and deliver the jokes comes off as racial satire.

Stick to the questions, Coburn.

Jen S

As "professional" white middle-aged men, they should know better. Intentions aside, it's offensive.

Bottomless Chips

Is Bruno (Cohen) offensive? Is Chris Rock? Is Carlos Mencia? Is Bobby Lee? Is Sarah Silverman?

Are they fucking racists? Or just better at joke telling (though I'm sure many think these comedians are unfunny)?

SP

Yes, each and every one of them are offensive. That's their particular style of comedy.

theboneranger

comedians job is to attempt to be funny

that's not these guys' job

Bottomless Chips

Exactly. Which was my point. Just ask questions.

S.D.

It's a joke, right? You're holding Senators to the same standard as a raunchy comedian?

Hmmm, now that I think about it: It may be a valid Comparison!

Bottomless Chips

Yeah, I am actually. It will a just a poor joke. I think Americans mix up poor humor with tasteless humor too often.

It reminds me of Michael Scott doing the Chris Rock bit on Diversity Day. Same material, just poor delivery.

Coburn used bad judgment. Just ask questions, please.