On Sotomayor's nomination: "I feel great that I don't have to be the lone woman around this place."

On whether criticism of Sotomayor is gender-based: "I can't say that it was just that she was a woman. There are some people in Congress who would criticize severely anyone President Obama nominated. They'll seize on any handle."

On the "wise Latina woman" comment: "I thought it was ridiculous for them to make a big deal out of that. Think of how many times you've said something that you didn't get out quite right, and you would edit your statement if you could. I'm sure she meant no more than what I mean when I say: Yes, women bring a different life experience to the table. All of our differences make the conference better. That I'm a woman, that's part of it, that I'm Jewish, that's part of it, that I grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and I went to summer camp in the Adirondacks, all these things are part of me."

On Sotomayor's acknowledgment that she is a product of affirmative action: "So am I. I was the first tenured woman at Columbia."

(Hat tip: Hotline On Call)