White House press secretary Robert Gibbs sought to explain Sonia Sotomayor's comment Tuesday in response to a question about judicial empathy that she "wouldn't approach the issue of judging the way the president does.... Judges can't rely on what's in their heart."

Sotomayor was responding to a question by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., who asked her whether she agreed with the empathy standard President Obama has put forth.

"The president picked the person that he believed was the best possible nominee to fill a very important vacancy on the court," Gibbs said in Wednesday's White House press briefing. "I'm pretty sure that over in the White House residence there's not complete agreement on everything that's discussed."

When a reporter pressed him on exactly what those disagreements would be, Gibbs said, "I appreciate the opportunity to expand. But the president is not troubled."