WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe described as “racist’’ Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor’s much-publicized comments that a “wise Latina woman’’ would reach a better conclusion than a “white man.’’
Commenting on the Senate floor late Tuesday, the Oklahoma Republican reaffirmed his previously announced opposition to Sotomayor’s nomination.
Inhofe, however, used his comments to go beyond what he has said earlier in explaining his reasons for opposing her confirmation and to revisit remarks made by some outside Congress after her nomination was announced.
Since then, other Republican senators have avoided using the term racist to express their opposition.
During her confirmation hearing, Sotomayor expressed regret that her comments offended people.
“I believe that my life demonstrates that that was not my intent to leave the impression that some have taken from my words,’’ she said.
That clearly was not enough for Inhofe, who said she made her comments repeatedly over a period of time.
“She has on several occasions conveyed the same idea,’’ he said.
“It is not a slip of the tongue once. This is a statement that has been reaffirmed and reaffirmed.’’
Inhofe said there is no other way to interpret Sotomayor’s comments.
“To me, I consider that racist,’’ he said.
Inhofe conceded Sotomayor’s nomination will be confirmed by the Senate this week.
On Wednesday, her nomination continued to draw comments from both opponents and supporters, and it appeared confirmation was all but certain.
Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., who has said he will vote to confirm Sotomayor’s nomination to the nation’s highest court, urged others to make their decision based on the 17 years she has served on the federal bench.
Martinez said that service and her qualifications are the more relevant factors, not the personal views she expressed in speeches.
“They can talk about her speeches, but they cannot talk about a single, solitary opinion in 17 years on the bench where that type of view has been given life,’’ he said. “Those who oppose Judge Sotomayor have yet to produce any objective evidence that she has allowed her personal bias to influence her judicial decision-making.’’
So far, Democrats appear to be headed toward a unified vote for confirmation, while most but not all Republicans are lining up against it.
Oklahoma’s other senator, Republican Tom Coburn, repeated his opposition Wednesday to confirming Sotomayor’s nomination.
Coburn said Sotomayor was not qualified to serve on the Supreme Court, citing her answers to questions concerning Americans’ fundamental right to self-defense, property rights and whether judges should use foreign law in deciding U.S. cases.
Coburn, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who questioned the nominee during her confirmation hearing and also met with her privately, said he was disturbed by some of their exchanges.
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