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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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 CONFIRMATION HEARINGS 
6

Firefighters Drop In on Sotomayor

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(Newser) – The New Haven Fire Department arrived in uniform on Capitol Hill today to watch the third day of Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings, the New York Times reports. So far talk has swirled around abortion, with Sotomayor refuting reports that the Obama administration had given her a “litmus test” on the issue, and gun control.

Pressed by Tom Coburn over whether a person had a right to self-defense, Sotomayor explained that, if faced with an immediate threat, it would be legal to use force to defend oneself. But if someone, say Coburn, were to threaten her, and she went home, got a gun, and shot him, that "might not be legal." The room burst out laughing, with Coburn quipping, “You’d have lots of ‘splaining to do.”

Members of the New Haven, Conn., Fire Department sit in the hearing room on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, July 15, 2009, as Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Members of the New Haven, Conn., Fire Department sit in the hearing room on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, July 15, 2009, as Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor greets mother Celina Sotomayor on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, July 15, 2009, before the start of her confirmation hearing. Brother Juan Luis Sotomayor looks on.
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor greets mother Celina Sotomayor on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, July 15, 2009, before the start of her confirmation hearing. Brother Juan Luis Sotomayor looks on.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday July 15, 2009, before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday July 15, 2009, before the Senate Judiciary Committee.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., questions Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday July 15, 2009, during her confirmation hearing before the committee.
Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Md., questions Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday July 15, 2009, during her confirmation hearing before the committee.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
John Cornyn questions Sonia Sotomayor on Capitol Hill, July 15, 2009, during her confirmation hearing before the committee.
John Cornyn questions Sonia Sotomayor on Capitol Hill, July 15, 2009, during her confirmation hearing before the committee.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor turns to talk to her brother Juan Luis Sotomayor on Capitol Hill, July 15, 2009.
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor turns to talk to her brother Juan Luis Sotomayor on Capitol Hill, July 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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6 comments
VIEWING:
 
Nwambe
Jul 15, 09 11:12 AM CDT
Whoa... That's awful racist there, Coburn. Reply
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+1
IN RESPONSE:
Snarfeh
Jul 15, 09 11:38 AM CDT
But no one would ever be able to... 'splain to him why....go figure. He's a rebumblican...
Vote up! Vote down!
+1
DJM420
Jul 15, 09 11:29 AM CDT
yeah, splaining? what a dick...its as if he just couldnt resist the the temptation to say the 'joke' that had been running through his mind...maybe he said it on a dare... Reply
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+3
doingtherightthing
Jul 15, 09 12:23 PM CDT
yo bro, yous bes takin smack jack........yous splaining bitch...... Reply
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+5
kokuaguy
Jul 15, 09 1:47 PM CDT
I'll reserve judgment till I see the video-- it may have been one of those "you had to be there" moments. Anyway, she's a shoo-in. Have the GOP will end up voting for her. Even Larry the Cable Guy is saying... Geet 'er Done !!! done" Reply
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