Cornyn Defends East Texas Judge Pick Who Called President Obama an ‘un-American Impostor'

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John Cornyn on Wednesday defended a newly confirmed East Texas judge who called Barack Obama an "un-American impostor" while he was president--a comment that offended Utah Sen. Mitt Romney enough to side with Democrats trying to block the nominee.The Senate confirmed Beaumont lawyer Michael Truncale on Tuesday on a 49-46 vote to the lifetime post on the federal bench.Cornyn and Sen. Ted Cruz had recommended him to the White House.Truncale made the comment during a speech to a Republican women's group in Beaumont in June 2011, two months before he formally launched a bid for a U.S. House seat. Obama was president at the time."I've known Michael Truncale for maybe 30 years. He's a very good man. He's an outstanding lawyer," Cornyn said. "He made clear that he's not a member of the birther movement. He doesn't believe in that.""Mr. Truncale told me personally that the comments that he made in the context of a congressional race... would be completely inappropriate coming from a judge, and he understands the difference in that role," the senator added.  Continue reading...