The confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor was assured yesterday when White House Press Secretary Gibbs claimed that the Judge said she used a "poor" word choice by suggesting Latinas might have some experience worth bringing to the Supreme Court. Update: Obama called much of the criticism "nonsense," but then added, in an interview with NBC:

“I’m sure she would have restated it,” the president said. “But if you look in the entire sweep of the essay that she wrote, what’s clear is that she was simply saying that her life experiences will give her information about the struggles and hardships that people are going through.

“That will make her a good judge,” Obama said in the interview, which will air in its entirety next week in a two-part NBC News special on life in the White House.

The news came as a relief to Lanny Davis, who had urged just such a clarification. And it was welcomed by all who feared that such non-anglo experiences might actually enter into internal Court discussions with Sam Alito or even affect future decisions. The six remaining white guys were particularly relieved.

As readers here recall, this scarecrow foolishly argued that Lanny Davis’ advice to the White House, to clarify that Sotomayor was not a racist, was silly. Fortunately, the White House rejected this strawman argument and followed the wiser Davis. A number of benefits will naturally flow from this wise decision:

1. It admits she said something wrong, even though she didn’t, thus removing that dispute from the discussion of her qualifications;

2. It concedes that the most racist jerks on the right were correct, when they weren’t, thus liberating them to speak out more so that we can have a more robust debate with no charges out of bounds;

3. It concedes that diversity viewpoints on the bench are not a good idea but rather a front for racism against the dominant race, even though it isn’t, thus avoiding a contentious debate with morons;

4. It tells the Left that whenever Lanny Davis becomes frightened, the WH will cave, so that we know what to expect;

5. It sends a big SCREW YOU to all of us who have been speaking up for their nominee against vicious attacks that were splintering [the other] party, thus ensuring the survival of a two party system — one fearful, the other crazy, and together incapable of governing the country;

6. It gives cover to Republican Senators who want to pursue the phony point in confirmation hearings, without fear of being identified with their most outrageous supporters;

7. It gives cover to the media for continuing to cover this phony Republican talking point, so they don’t have to feel ashamed for not doing their jobs;

8. It undercuts the last two or three sensible Republicans who were trying to distance themselves from the crazies, thus making everyone have to get along;

9. Almost forgot, it will strengthen democracy, by helping the crazies – uh, loyal opposition — raise funds, by proving their attacks are effective and should be expanded.

I don’t know what I was thinking.

Update: What digby says.