Right-wing radio personality Rush Limbaugh’s recent comment calling Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor a “racist” and lacking “intellectual depth” is sparking new movements in several places around the country.
In Florida, TV ads are being aired in the Republican races of U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam and U.S. Rep. John Mica. Both are being called on to distance themselves from Limbaugh’s statements.
Run by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and by Berkley-based Presente.org, the ads have been aired on Spanish language radio and TV in central Florida, according to the Miami Herald. Florida has a large population of Latino voters.
In addition, Credoaction.com is calling on people around the country to demand that Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee “renounce the garbage that Limbaugh is spouting.”
To join the national campaign .
Adding to the atmosphere surrounding the hearings were remarks by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S. Carolina, distorting Sotomayor’s “wise Latina” comment. Graham said that if he had said that he would make better decisions because he is a ‘white male’ it would have been the end of his career.
Reacting to Lindsey’s remark, political commentator, Joel Wendland said, “But Sen. Graham has never been the victim of discrimination. Women, African Americans, Latinos and all other racially and nationally oppressed people were systematically excluded from the federal bench for more than 200 years.’
Sotomayor is testifying for the third day before the Senate Judiciary Committee. All observers expect her ultimate confirmation.
After a spate of serious legal and Constitutional questions on privacy issues, voting rights and a woman’s right to choose, Sen. Al Franken, D, Minn., asked Judge Sotomayor if she recalled her favorite Perry Mason episode.
When she could not immediately recall the specific episode that was her favorite, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D, Vt., promised not to hold it against her.
Tim Wheeler contributed to this article.
Comments