Leahy asks Sotomayor for her reaction to the Supreme Court decision on New Haven firefighter case.

Sotomayor emphasizes her decision was made “on basis of established precedent . . .

The issue was not what we would or what we wouldn’t do, because we were following established precedent. The issue was what the city did, or could do when it was presented with a challenge to one of its tests. This was not a quota case, or an affirmative action case

. . . Was the decision of the city based on race, or based on its understanding of what the law required it to do? The panel concluded that the city’s decision in that particular situation was lawful under established law. The Supreme Court applied a new standard. It applied a standard from a different area of law. It explained to employers how to look at it in the future.”

Twice in the first 20 minutes or so, Leahy has referred to Sotomayor being called “racist,” declaring it outrageous. Newt Gingrich’s argument is too nuanced to be well summarized on Twitter, but his infamous message has made the Democrats’ job easier, because it’s being used to paint the criticism of Sotomayor as personal, reflexive, and hyperbolic.