About us Login Get email updates
County Fair
Print

About Sonia Sotomayor's "summer reading"

June 16, 2009 11:39 am ET by Jamison Foser

Pat Buchanan has (at least) twice mocked Sonia Sotomayor for her "summer reading":

BUCHANAN, June 12: Two weeks ago, The New York Times reported that, to get up to speed on her English skills at Princeton, Sotomayor was advised to read children's classics and study basic grammar books during her summers.  How do you graduate first in your class at Princeton if your summer reading consists of "Chicken Little" and "The Troll Under the Bridge"?
BUCHANAN, May 31: Well I, again in that Saturday piece, she went to Princeton. She graduated first in her class it said. But she herself said she read, basically classic children's books to read and learn the language and she read basic English grammars and she got help from tutors. I think that, I mean if you're, frankly if you're in college and you're working on Pinocchio or on the troll under the bridge, I don't think that's college work.

As I have previously explained, Buchanan is distorting the New York Times article, which does not indicate that Sotomayor's reading consisted of "Chicken Little."

Here's proof that Buchanan's mockery is unfounded. In a November 7, 1996 speech (PDF) at Princeton, Sotomayor listed specific books:

I spent my summers at Princeton doing things most of my other classmates took for granted. I spent one summer vacation reading children's classics that I had missed in my prior education -- books like Alice in Wonderland, Huckleberry Finn, and Pride and Prejudice. My parents spoke Spanish, they didn't know about these books.

Pride and Prejudice isn't exactly Chicken Little.  Let's see if Pat Buchanan drops this inaccurate talking point.

Expand All Expand 1st Level Collapse All Add Comment
    • Author by headrushdesign4235 (June 16, 2009 12:01 pm ET)
         
      Isn't it "Three Billy Goats Gruff" instead of "The Troll Under the Bridge"? I mean, it's idiotic from start to finish!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by bullwinkle (June 16, 2009 12:05 pm ET)
         
      Victor Borge often proudly recounted how he learned English as a new immigrant to the U.S.: He spent hours watching all kinds of movies...maybe even a few classics. Think how much poorer we would be if he hadn't learned our language.....and showed us the humor in it.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by YellowDogDem (June 16, 2009 12:32 pm ET)
         
      It's an experiential thing for Patsy (graduate of the Chevy Chase Thugs). He has absolutely no idea what might be involved in graduating first in his class (unless it's an advanced degree in demagoguery and shanty-Irish prejudice).

      (Irony - I come from shanty Irish stock myself)
      Report Abuse
    • Author by HoneyBearKelly (June 16, 2009 2:31 pm ET)
         
      Would Unka Pat preferred "My Pet Goat"?
      Report Abuse
    • Author by nabwcm1904 (June 16, 2009 2:39 pm ET)
         
      How can one at once insist that all immigrants learn English and mock someone for learning English? The hypocrisy and intellectual dishonesty are appalling.
      Report Abuse