FOX44NOW.COM - Burlington/Plattsburgh News, Weather and SportsLeahy wants confirmation hearings soonest
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Associated Press - June 1, 2009 1:05 PM ET
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy is unhappy with attacks on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor and says he wants confirmation hearings held sooner rather than later.
Leahy says it's unfair that radio host Rush Limbaugh and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich have branded Sotomayor a racist because of a 2001 remark in which she said her experience as a Latina would lead her to make better decisions than a white man would.
The Vermont Democrat says the only way Sotomayor can respond to the criticism is via her confirmation hearing, which hasn't been scheduled yet.
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