Was it inappropriate for Sen. Tom Coburn to reference "I love Lucy" during the confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor?

If anyone else had made a "joke" of this sort, they would be taken to task. He's from Oklahoma so that probably explains his redneck sense of humor. I live in Oklahoma also and he just lost my respect as well as my vote. Shame on you Coburn!

I was listening to the proceedings in progress.  Both Coburn and Sotomayor were making light in that moment, as she made an effort to describe why she couldn't universally say that people have an inherent right to defend themselves, i.e., under New York statutes where she sat as justice there were terms under which circumstances would be considered self-defense and which would not.  She was using an example involving herself and Sen. Coburn that she did not want misconstrued and *both* of them were laughing.  Desi Arnaz was a pioneer of Television, bringing Cuban-American 'Ricky Ricardo' into US homes at a time when many people had not had personal connections to someone of his heritage before.  In hindsight, could Coburn's comment be misconstrued when taken out of context?  Yes, but no more so than the one Judge Sotomayor sought to self-correct.

If they are going to rake her over the coals about the "wise Latina" comment, he should expect to get heat for his comments. Turn about is fair play!

It was a little too "cute" a remark for a white man to make to a Latina woman in a formal hearing. But in context, it appears that Sotomayor took it in stride and had no problem with it.

It did seem a little "familiar" for him to joke like that with her, but how about what she said to him about getting a gun? No one has commented on that one....... Maybe they are friends outside this arena and were just letting off steam.

Coburn is a jerk. 

I usually don't comment on stuff like this, but people are becoming way too whiny about really minor things (and "minor" is magnifying this too much). It was meant as a joke. Get over it. There are much more important things in life to deal with.

As for the judge, I'm not sure of her true beliefs, but if she sticks to the constitution and doesn't insert her own agenda, I'm all for her. If not, then Obama has hurt this country and should be voted out next time.

As a Bleeding Heart Liberal Democrat, I can only say get over it. We have better things to roast them on than using a phrase which has become part of the American lexicon.

pick em  coburns remark or the vote with the other judge of cuban ancestry comment.the trpublican just cant see inside themselves and recognize that they are sublimally race baiting

You just have to excuse this moronic republiKan along with the rest of his ilk. They don't have the foggiest notion of what diversity means and how it is changing our country day by day. We might as well tell them now that it's too late for them to close the doors of imigration. Hey, fellas, it's not your country anymore, ( "your", meaning the white anglo saxon European flat asses). America now belongs to a whole new and beautiful group of people speaking different languages and eating different foods and outlearning your dumb kids in school. Look at the ladies' fashion mags for example. You can't tell the origins of  more than half the pretty people who grace their pages.What a wonderful thrill it is to see. And I'm speaking as a Taoist/Bhuddist/Jew, half of who's family never made it out of the camps, A pox on all of you. Here's to a newer, and better America, one that we can spell with a "c" instead of a "KKK".

Senator Coburn fished for her sensativities or "empathatic" pespectives, given her public speeches to targeted audiences. She kept her professional demeanor. HOWEVER, let us not assume the total disappearance of stereotyping behaviors. This inherited recession provides an open door of opportunity to rely on condescending humor when addressing historically disenfranchised and most vulnerable populations.

Lighten up, America. Husbands say this to wives, wives to husbands, parents to children, colleages to colleges. etc.

What makes you so special? It is not personal.

Coburn belongs to "the family" and he has been selected by God.... so he and his fellow GOPers (ensign, sanford, vitters) can do anything! How come we (Justice Department)aren't investigating this "the family" group these senators/gov. take oaths to the U.S. Const. not to some religious organization that wants to take over the United States. Americans get the government and life they asked for. How is everybody doing out there. Got jobs/retirement funds ok? Keeping making things easy for the wack Os and see what else you have in life.

I'm so sick of the double-standard that's surfaced post-election. As much as I disagree with most Democrat principles and think their policies are wrongheaded, I don't recall resorting to calling them names. (Ok, Pres. Clinton was maybe too easy a target). But how ironic that people can say Coburn's remark was insensitive, bigoted, and racist, and in the very same breath call him a racist, redneck, and any other spiteful name in the book. What a bunch of hypocrites we have become, drunk on this perceived power we think we have with the Democratic Party in control and the Republican Party in shambles. Get over your childish selves. Coburn's comment was no worse than the multiple gaffes Biden has become known for. And where's the outrage over Sotomayor's overtly feminist and supremacist remark?

The debate in this country has degenerated from a debate on ideas and ideals, into a bunch of name-calling and labeling of people. We're moving in the wrong direction.

Cheney ... Well we can see who was really Pres for 8 years! I love all this it makes Bush look like the boob he is and always was! Keep the Cheney stories coming. Oh yeah I hope that kid of his does run for office just so we can hear about this family some more!

What a stupid response ! Making something out of nothing at all. As someone on the left, it is incredible that people make something out of such an insignificant comment. No wonder people think leftists are stupid. What about the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq ? What about our support of Israeli genocide ? Isn't that more important ? As a Ralph Nader supporter, is it OK for me to make racist and sexist comments about horrible people such as Michelle Malkin ? Well, alot of "leftists" do just that. In my high school in New England people used the "N" word against black people all of the time, I'll never forget some of the language they used. People are talking about southerners ?! Why not try to end racism, instead of getting upset about small insignificant stuff.

This is the biggest bunch of bologna I have ever heard. Whats the matter MSNBC, have nothing better to write about? I'm going to start being offended by every dang thing that is said and by george I want an apology every single time or I'm going to sue! Anybody who is offended by that remark has to have the THINNEST skin in history, whether it be black, yellow, white, brown or purple skin! It was an idiotic thing to write a column about

If not insulting it was totally inappropriate and unprofessional.

As for the people debating Coburn who "live in Oklahoma"--so do I. Sadly, his views are broadly representative of the populace here in Oklahoma, and he is likely to get re-elected for a long time yet to come. While this means he is doing a "great job" in the eyes of his constituents, he is still a clueless, mindless, hypocritical jerk.

The one comment was tasteless, but that's about all I think it was. Far more tasteless are his participation in "The Family," his embracing of theocratic politics, his misunderstanding of the Constitution and . . . so much more. I don't know that this particular comment is worth any hullabaloo--but it is emblematic of Oklahoma in general with its assertion of "family values" though we were the first to legalize no-fault divorce and have more of them than virtually any other state, its flagwaving for "democracy" though anyone with views other than those of the vocal majority are squelched, its high teenage pregnancy rate, its harsh treatment of anyone of Hispanic descent (citizen or non-citizen), etc.

Let me give you an example--people in Oklahoma love to get bent out of shape when there is any even minor gun control law. But, they think that it is no big deal that habeas corpus was eliminated under Bush II. Try to explain to them that their right to bear arms is pretty meaningless without habeas corpus--since they could be thrown in jail for anything the government wants to throw them in jail for (including having "arms" the government doesn't want them to have)--and they just laugh because anyone who is worried about habeas corpus is being infantile. We are at war, you know!

Will someone please explain to these morons that the reason the right-wing bloggers are going wacko about martial law being declared has to do with the fact that habeas corpus was eliminated under Bush II, setting a really bad precedent? That is a lot more important to me than Coburn and his foot-in-mouth disease. It's a widespread affliction around here. Remember Keating? Seriously, there are more important things to talk about.

Gosh... those who proclaim "Tolerence" from the roof tops are might intolerent.... It's a reference to a classic. Get over it.