Drudge ---> SENATOR Hatch "Alito Critics May Be Racist "

[underpants]

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/10/31/hatch-alito-italians/

Earlier today on Fox News, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), a member of the Judiciary Committee, followed Matt Drudge’s lead and implied that opponents of Samuel Alito’s nomination may be motivated by Alito’s ethnicity. He warned senators “to be very careful here,” because a vote against Alito would be “held against them” by Italian-Americans:

think they own the Italian-American vote all up and down the East Coast. They don’t, but they think they do. If they become offensive against somebody with the qualifications of Sam Alito, Judge Alito, then I think it’s going to be held against them. They’re going to have to be very careful how they handle this, and frankly what bothers me if 22 — in other words, half of the Democrats in the Senate — could vote against John Roberts, can you imagine what this nomination is going to be like? There’s no reason they should have voted against Roberts. And I think Alito’s going to be just fine but we’re all going to have to work really hard to make sure that’s so.

[spanone]

1. Hatch should change his name to Hack. STFU Orrin.

[Montauk6]

51. There's only ONE true Hack... may he rest in peace.

Col. David H. Hackworth (1931-2005)

[Nikki Stone 1]

2. Sounds like Hatch is the one playing the ethnicity card

And from the bottom of the deck.

[hobo_baggins]

3. Didn't they already use the excuse up with Miers?

substitute sexism for racism.

[Loonman]

4. Borin' Orrin and his gang of idiots

Pull the race card out more often than anybody.

[nolabels]

13. Somebody or organization should do a survey on Orrin's hired aids

I would be willing to bet it is not very racially diversified

Mostly bigots open their mouths before they think

[wtmusic]

5. Hatch's comments ARE racist

Assuming Italian-Americans aren't smart enough to judge a candidate apart from his ethnicity.

What a pig.

[glitch]

9. Indeed. I guess we aren't surprised, considering the source. nt

[tk2kewl]

6. I didn't know that Italians were their own race.

:shrug:

[underpants]

14. Where have you been?

:rofl:

Of course they aren't but oh god is that funny.

[tk2kewl]

23. The fact that Hatch thinks it is shows that *he* is the bigot.

Fuggedabouddit!

[underpants]

30. Mamma mia that's a some racist meathead

I hope everyone knows that that is a joke on a joke meant towards stupid stereotypes.

YEs he doth project too much.

[Burried News]

29. Is that also true of EyeTalians? Hatch Urine some deep stuff

here. You really ought to focus on how to dig yourself out of the slander of Wilson during the Senate Intelligence Committee meetings rather than get yourself stuck in more muck with the next SCOTUS nominee.

[LSparkle]

7. Aren't we all just AMERICANS for Pete's sake?

I am SO sick of all the hyphenates -- they only get trotted out when people want to paint a particular group as victims (which I thought the Thugs were DECIDEDLY against, as evidenced by their rejection of affirmative action).

[eyesroll]

8. "Italian" is not a race.

Did Hatch actually use the word "racist," or is that a bad headline?

[underpants]

12. LOL not it isn't. Actually Drudge used it Hatch just sort of repeated it

MEDIA/DNC NICKNAME 'SCALITO' SEEN AS ETHNICALLY INSENSITIVE

Before Judge Samuel Alito was even officially announced as President Bush’s next Supreme Court nominee, he met a wave of racial discrimination from numerous corners of the mainstream media and the Democrat Party.

http://www.drudgereport.com/flash9.htm

[maxsolomon]

10. beyond boston, where is there bigotry against italians?

utah?

hatch is talking out his ass.

[yellowcanine]

11. But Oral Hatchet says judges deserve an "upperdown" vote. But now he

appears to be saying Senators don't have the right to vote no. You can't have it both ways, Hatchet.

[underpants]

16. Meirs didn't get an "upperdown" vote

I know I know that is just a political talking point but I love that one.

[yellowcanine]

35. The pubbie counter is that she was "headed for one" when she withdrew. I

don't believe that- I don't think she was going to make it out of committee - but that is what they are saying vis a vis the lack of an "upperdown" vote. Actually the word "upperdown" doesn't even appear in the constitution so I think that Fristy and Hatchet should STFU but that is just my opinion.

[jobycom]

15. Oh come on. Some of my best friends are Italian. Heck, I even

ate a pizza once! How can they call me racist?


Geeze, that's as stupid a comment as any I've ever heard.

[underpants]

19. Was it on the East Coast?

'cause if it wasn't then it doesn't apply. Hatch was ONLY talking about Dems thinking they own the EYEtalian vote up and down the East coast.......okay I wonder if Hatch really thinks that there is no one of Italian descent anywhere other than NYC or if he is just repeating a talking point (from Matt Drudge no less).

SENATOR yes US SENATOR Hatch might try checking out St.Louis or Des Moines (HUGE Italian-American political machine there)

[jobycom]

33. New York

I ate a pizza in New York once. Best damn pizza...

It's still a stupid comment, even if he narrowed it down to an Irish city in New England.

[stopbush]

17. Takes one to know one.

[napi21]

18. Where the hell did THAT come from?

I know there was discrimination against Italians, but that was 40-50 years ago! I was sure that kind of talk was buried in dark history!

Too bad Hatch can't come up with some REAL arguments!

[underpants]

Yeah that was the "HUH?" part of this to me

I guess they aren't scared of openly playing on stereotypes with their followers. Don't think this isn't meant towards Italian American Republicans....in a hamfisted "but we like you anyway" type of thing that wasn't too well thought out.

[MemphisTiger]

20. What a freak

It's not like anyone is saying keep that woop(sp?) off my court. It's not like Scalia's ethnicity is an issue. They will grasp at anything.

[July]

37. They do that with any of their favorites.

If they're Catholic, we're anti-Catholic, if they're Hispanic, we're anti-Hispanic, if they're African-American . . . you get my drift. A really feeble attempt to inoculate themselves and their candidates from any criticism. They don't even know how to be politically correct correctly.

[asjr]

21. Sen Ornery Hatchett is just a typical

Republican. They themselves spew racism like water from a faucet.

[neebob]

31. His correct name is Boring Snatch. n/t

[UTUSN]

22. Same Thing He Did with the Latinos on the ESTRADA Thing

He puts on his Shirley TEMPLE face and says, "How can the Democrats claim to represent minorities if they oppose (insert name here)?!"


News for Shirley HATCH: It's about the WINGNUTTINESS, *not* the race/ethnicity/sexuality.

[underpants]

24. Hatch seems to be saying "They are all alike" and that...

"they travel in packs" or something like that.

This is too funny. Sad but funny.

This also reaks of the "you know they really protect their own"
really really racist "They are comin' for our white women" kinda thing.

WOW! an US SENATOR in the 21st century.

[GrpCaptMandrake]

25. And this from a man

whose religion performed "ethnic cleansing" in Utah less than 200 years ago.

STFU, Orin, and go wash your sacred undies or marry another wife or something, and leave us normal people ALONE!

[beyurslf]

26. So they would be racist against white people? I don't understand.

[last_texas_dem]

64. I know

A group of (mostly) white (mostly) males opposing another white male indicates racism on their part?

The 'pugs are willing to reeeaaallly stretch things when they decide to play the race card.

[onenote]

27. Mario Cuomo, Nancy Pelosi, Pat Leahy, Frank Pallone

Peter DeFazio and the other Democrats that are part of the Italian AMerican Congressional Delegation ought to pay a visit to Hatch and tell him to shut his fuckin' mouth.

onenote

[FreedomAngel82]

28. Oh good grief

What losers. If anyone votes against him it's because of his rightwing ideologue views. :eyes: They're doing this so they can try to ram him through. What are they hiding with him?

[SillyGoose]

32. Speaking as an Italian-American, I say that's just patently ridiculous.

[fooj]

41. I'm an Italian-American, too. It's not just ridiculous. It's a LIE!!!!

We must hold the bastards accountable for this.

Peace.

[SillyGoose]

60. No way are they going to brown nose me and my heritage for this nominee.

I agree with you, Fooj, we have got to hold them accountable.

[calico1]

34. I am Hispanic and I am not one

bit offended if people say what a jerk Gonzales is. I know a number of Black people who can't stand Clarence Thomas or Condi Rice. And I seriously doubt all Italians love Antonin Scalia. He is making a very bigoted comment. Are we all suppsed to have a pack mentality? I think not. Indirectly I think this is his way of saying if you are agood Italian you should support this guy. THAT is a bigoted comment. And coming from a guy who lives in a virtually all White state....:eyes:

[Old and In the Way]

36. Interesting precedent. So no one will ever be able to criticize any

nominee because we could offend his/her ethnic heritage? Please Orrin, are your arguments to defend Alioto that shallow that you need to scrap the bottom of the barrel with this red herring?

Moral Relativist Hypocrite of the highest magnitude....

[0007]

38. What else could be expected from thee the great Orin Hatch?

The Utah fed, the Utah loved idiot.

[tsuki]

39. Bull Shit.

[fooj]

40. You know what? I say we blow the Repubs BS out of the water.

Time to go after the SOB'S! Now. We need to demand a full retraction from Tweety or we should threaten a lawsuit from the DNC!!! I'm not kidding. I am beyond pissed.

Peace.

[second edition]

42. Hatch, what an idiot. As an Italian American and one from the

NJ, PA area, I won't feel at all offended if the Democrat's oppose this judge. His heritage has nothing to do with it.

[alcibiades_mystery]

43. LOL

Oh, wait a second...

No, :rofl:

:rofl:
:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Racist against Italian-Americans! Oh, if that don't beat all.

[Jane Austin]

44. OK, we all agree that this is a despicable dirty trick and that Hatch is

a jerk who puts his party line above both decency and his country.

Now, who has written MSNBC asking for either proof or a retraction?

Who has written Tweety?

Who has called or written Hatch?

Who has asked Harry Reid to respond?

Who has asked Howard Dean to respond?

Who has aksed Nancy Pelosi to respond?

That's just six emails or phone calls, and you can cut and paste most of it.

Let's get busy out there and have an effect beyond making each other feel like we're not along in this.

[underpants]

46. Here you go

[e-mail]


http://reid.senate.gov/email_form.cfm

http://www.democrats.org/page/s/contact

http://hatch.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Offices.Contact

http://www.house.gov/pelosi/contact/contact.html

Senator Hatch needs to apologize for this statement (taken from of all places the Drudge report) not only to Italian-Americans but to the entire country for such an ignorance.

Italians aren't a race and they aren't solely on the East coast.

Senator Hatch you never held much weight with me anyway but now you have actually surpassed the image of being a clown that you held before. Let me tell you that is no small accomplishment.

Chris Mathews continues to exhibit himself (as does as the mainstream media) as nothing but mouthpieces for the Republicans.His clown status is holding steady (not a compliment).

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/10/31/hatch-alito-italians/

[Jane Austin]

50. Thanks for the addresses.

n/t

[kevinbgoode]

45. What a load of crap. . .!

I'm laughing my butt off at this blatant attempt to frame complaints about a racist candidate as the other party being "racist". . .this is once again an example of how morally and ethically bankrupt the Right is in this country.

We should answer this charge with peals of laughter, and then find every little racist and sexist quote that Sen. Hatch has ever used (and I'm quite certain there are plenty of them) to ask him if his remarks are framed from personal experience.

For once and for all, it's time to stick these projecting crappers into the trash bin - and remind Republicans that they have a moral problem projecting their own mindset onto others. Scalito's little record will certainly speak for itself . . .

[onenote]

47. Again, I say the Dems should have Mario Cuomo go on the attack

He should slam Hatch for having the audacity to speak to what Italian Americans think and to suggest that they will view Democrats as being prejudiced against Italian Americans.

onenote

[triguy46]

48. Oh my word. This is so frickin silly. They really do think we're idiots.

[Strawman]

49. someone should slap this guy just for having no f'ing imagination

he plays this card with every nominee for everything.

If you're going to be a stupid, cynical, dishonest bastard, at least mix it up a bit.

[Sleepless In NY]

52. Geraldine Ferraro..1st Woman Dem VP candidate

You can tell Hatch to stick it..nice try but that dog don't hunt.

[Jersey Devil]

53. Umm, isn't Alito Hispanic?

I am from NJ and that's what I've always read about him.

[Montauk6]

54. OK, to be TOTALLY fair, let's call Thomas "Scalarence"?

Whatever!

I note with amusement how Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) sounds a bit like Sen. Pat Geary of the state of Nevada?


"For years now, a growing number of my constituents have been of Italian descent and I've come to know them well. They have honored me with their support and with their friendship. Indeed I can proudly say that some of my very best friends are Italian Americans...These hearings on the Mafia are in no way whatsoever a slur upon the great Italian people. Because I can state from my own knowledge and experience that Italian Americans are among the most loyal, most law-abiding, patriotic, hard-working American citizens in this land. And it would be a shame, Mr. Chairman, if we allowed a few rotten apples to give a bad name to the whole barrel. Because from the time of the great Christopher Columbus up through the time of Enrico Fermi, right up until the present day, Italian Americans have been pioneers in building and defending our great nation. They are the salt of the earth, and they're one of the backbones of this country."

[Starbucks Anarchist]

55. LOL. Great scene!

Of course, the "you and your whole fucking family" scene shortly thereafter sums it up pretty well.

[Montauk6]

56. No the "oily hair" scene was long before, remember?

That's when he was Mr. Badass.

Then he got set up and framed for the dead hooker at one of Fredo's brothels and after that he was the meek little puppy dog at the Senate hearing.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

57. I'm pretty sure it went like this chronologically:

"Italian-Americans are cool." -- "Oily hair." -- Dead hooker -- Meek puppy.

EDIT: Sorry, I was thinking of the first time we see Geary, but the Italian-American speech was at the Senate hearing. My bad. :hi:

[Nikki Stone 1]

58. This is about cutting off an effective propaganda term for the Dems

Scalito is a great term because it combines Scalia's nuttiness with Alito's own extreme opinions. The Repugs can have that, so--bingo. Racism.

[mitchum]

59. Well, Hatch is a crazyass Mormon, so how can you believe anything out of..

his mouth?
Holy underwear, Batman!

[Sandpiper]

62. Self Delte

[ignatius 2]

61. For a party that wants to unite America, these guys do a piss poor job.

As a matter of fact,dividing America is the one thing in which they excel.

[wiley]

63. If you can't blind them with your brilliance

baffle them with your Bullshirt.

I apologize on behalf of all Italians for Anal Patch's statement.We're just fine with Antonin,thanks.

:puke:

:puke: :puke: :puke:

:puke: :puke: :puke:

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Elidor]

65. Orrin's wading pretty deep into the hypocrisy pool with this one

Orrin Hatch casting aspersions of racism is rather like a coyote claiming to be a vegetarian during daylight hours.

[philosophie_en_rose]

66. Oh please.

Scalito's supporters are really pushing it. Republicans crying racism is like a chicken factory complaining about mcnuggets.

[nuxvomica]

67. Who the hell is he to speak for Italian-Americans?

And does he really believe the stereotype that Italian-Americans are so tribal in their loyality that they would see any resistence to Alito as a personal affront to them? What an insult!