Ex-House speaker and possible presidential candidate Newt Gingrich referred to Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor as a "racist" and called for her withdrawal in a tweet today, a sentiment shared by Rush Limbaugh and former congressman Tom Tancredo. Why? Because she once said, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion [as a judge] than a white male who hasn't lived that life." Defenders say the statement has to be understood within the context in which it was spoken. Either way, it's clear that, after some thoughtful deliberation, some major Republicans have decided that the Hispanic vote isn't so important after all.

Gingrich: Sotomayor 'racist,' should withdraw nomination [Political Ticker/CNN]