BREAKING: Sen. Lautenberg blasts Buchanan's complaint about Jews on the Supreme Court

Earlier today, Media Matters highlighted Pat Buchanan's complaint that if Elena Kagan is confirmed, the Supreme Court would have too many Jewish members. Buchanan wrote:

Indeed, of the last seven justices nominated by Democrats JFK, LBJ, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, one was black, Marshall; one was Puerto Rican, Sonia Sotomayor. The other five were Jews: Arthur Goldberg, Abe Fortas, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan.

If Kagan is confirmed, Jews, who represent less than 2 percent of the U.S. population, will have 33 percent of the Supreme Court seats.

Is this the Democrats' idea of diversity?

This afternoon, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) released the following statement in response:

LAUTENBERG RESPONDS TO BUCHANAN REMARKS ABOUT SUPREME COURT NOMINEE ELENA KAGAN'S RELIGION

NEWARK- U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) responded to commentator and former Republican Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan's complaint today that “if Kagan is confirmed, Jews, who represent less than 2 percent of the U.S. population, will have 33 percent of the Supreme Court seats”:

“It is outrageous that Mr. Buchanan is using Elena Kagan's religion as kindling to enflame opposition to her nomination to the Supreme Court,” stated Lautenberg. “Elena Kagan was chosen by President Obama because of her ability and knowledge, and Mr. Buchanan's comments undermine her significant legal achievements. It sounds like Mr. Buchanan longs for the days when religious quotas kept people out of high-ranking positions in government.”