When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We’re proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over the years, either.
Then Jesse Jackson called Lott "racist." After that, Lott had to resign as senate R leader, even after he apologized. Was that a dumb thing to say? No more than Sotomayor's remarks, I would argue, but Sotomayor is not going to withdraw, at least not for the remarks we are discussing.
I would say it's likely that those who don't find Sotomayor's comments offensive are not going to vote for conservatives.
Still, perhaps we should accept the double standard as a political reality. It's hard to forsee whether she will always be a plus for the left.
Yes, it’s a double standard but it’s always harder to fight a stereotype than confirm it. For better or worse, the stereotype of the right is “racist white guys” so that anything anyone on the right does that could possibly seen as racist is going to be seen that way because it confirms the stereotype. It’s not fair but that’s the way it is, an unless conservatives like wearing that stereotype and can write off non-white votes, it’s in our best interest to avoid anything that could possibly be interpreted as racist. There is enough to complain about and attack with the Obamas and Sotomayor without fitting the stereotype. And that comment she made about white men is certainly fair game, but let her hang herself by asking her about it rather than telling people what to think about it.