Gibbs: Sotomayor words in describing backgrounds a poor choice

Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s word choice in a speech talking about the role of her background in making decisions was “poor,” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday.

Still, Gibbs defended the Supreme Court nominee from conservative attacks calling her racist, in particular an attack from Rush Limbaugh likening her to former KKK member David Duke.

“Look, I have not talked specifically with her about this, but I think that she’d say that her word choice in 2001 was poor,” Gibbs told reporters, “that she was simply making the point that personal experiences are relevant to the process of judging.”

Still, Gibbs went after two of his favorite targets in Limbaugh and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

“I don’t think you have to be the nominee to find what was said today offensive,” Gibbs said. “And I think maybe the best example of that is to look at any number of conservative and Republican leaders who over the past 24 hours have specifically addressed the comments of people like Newt Gingrich and Rush Limbaugh.”