White House Reception for Newly Appointed Justice Sonia Sotomayor
COLLINS: We've been watching a lot of these town hall meetings taking place on health care reform all across the country. In fact, right now, just letting you know things have started in Iowa, Senator Chuck Grassley there that you see, Winterset, Iowa to be exact. This is just the first of four different forums that he will be holding in his state. Since he holds a key position on Capitol Hill, things could get heated. Of course, we're going to keep an eye on it. In fact, let's go ahead and listen in right now. They moved this town hall outside to accommodate more people. Let's listen.</s>SEN. CHARLES GRASSLEY (D), IOWA: I'm one half of the process of government and you folks are the most important process, half of the process for representing a government. All of our constituents and so you talked to me and you talked to your congressman and your other senators and everything and what you do is you try, you try to, -- you try to take what you receive at the grassroots and take it back to Washington to do good things. So, we're here to listen. We're here to answer questions and we're here at a time when I sense that people are scared for our country.</s>COLLINS: All right. So we just wanted to give you a little bit of flavor. We will continue to monitor this for you as things get under way in Winterset, Iowa, as the cameras begin to steady because Senator Chuck Grassley there getting ready to take up quite a few questions, we believe. Meanwhile, to this happening right now. Live pictures for you. President Barack Obama and Supreme Court Justice, newly appointed, Sonia Sotomayor. This is a reception for her that is being held in the East Room and we know that the president will speak and then she will be making some brief comments after he is finished. Let's go ahead and listen in right now.</s>BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: All right. Good morning, everybody.</s>UNIDENTIFIED VOICES: Good morning.</s>OBAMA: And welcome to the White House. I am glad all of you could be with us today as we honor the newest member of our highest court, who I'm proud to address for the very first time as Justice Sonia Sotomayor. We are also honored to be joined by Justice Sonia Sotomayor's new colleagues. We have Justice Ginsburg who is here, as well as Justice Steven Stevens. So, I just want to thank Justice Stevens and Justice Ginsburg not only for being here today, but for your extraordinary service on the court and I know you'll be giving Justice Sotomayor some good tips. I also want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to bring us to this day. I want to thank, especially, our Judiciary Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy as well as our Senate majority leader Harry Reid for their outstanding work - for their outstanding work to complete this process before the August recess. I want to thank Senator Schumer, Senator Gillbrand, both of whom are Justice Sotomayor's home state senators for their extraordinary work on their behalf. I want to thank all the members of Congress who've taken the time to join us here at the White House event. And I want to acknowledge all the advocates and groups who organized and mobilized and supported these efforts from the very beginning. Your work was absolutely critical to our success and I appreciate all that you've done. So, pat yourselves on the back. Congratulations. Two members of Congress that I just especially want to acknowledge, Senator Bob Menendez who worked so hard on the Senate side. And Congresswoman Nydia Vazquez who is our chair of Congressional Hispanic Caucus. And I think we all want to take a moment to recognize the woman who in so many ways truly made this day possible, Justice Sotomayor's mother, Celina Sotomayor. Mrs. Sotomayor is here with her husband, Omar, and Justice Sotomayor's brother, Juan, and other members of their family and we're thrilled that they could join us here today. And, by the way, I don't normally do this, but let me also just thank my extraordinary White House staff who helped usher this stuff in. We're very proud of them. Thank you very much. Of course, we're here not just to celebrate our extraordinary new Supreme Court justice and all those who've been a part of her journey to this day, we're here, as well, to celebrate an extraordinary moment for our nation. And we celebrate the impact that Justice Sotomayor has already had on people across america who have been inspired by her exceptional life story. We celebrate the greatness of a country in which such a story is possible. And we celebrate how with their overwhelming vote to confirm Justice Sotomayor, the United States Senate, Republicans and Democrats tore down one more barrier and affirmed our belief that in America the doors of opportunity must be opened to all. With that vote, the Senate looked beyond the old divisions and they embraced excellence. They recognize Justice Sotomayor's intellect, her integrity and her independence of money. Her respect for the proper role of each branch of government and her fidelity to the law in each case she hears and her devotion to protecting our core constitutional rights and liberties. As Justice</s>SONIA SOTOMAYOR, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: No words cannot equally express what I'm feeling. No speech can fully capture my joy in this moment. Nothing can convey the depth of gratitude I feel to the countless family members starting with mom and my brother and the many friends and colleagues so many of you who are here with me today and the others who aren't, who have helped me to reach this moment. None of this would have happened without all of you. Mr. President, I have the most heartfelt appreciation for the trust that you've placed in me by nominating me. And I want to convey my thanks to the Judiciary Committee led by Chairperson Leahy for conducting a respectful and timely hearing. And to all members of the Senate for approving the president's selection. I am so grateful to all of you for this extraordinary opportunity. I am most grateful to this country. I stand here today knowing that my confirmation as an associate justice of the Supreme Court would never have been possible without the opportunities presented to me by this nation. More than two centuries ago in a constitution that contained fewer than 5,000 words, our founders set forth their vision for this new land. Their self- proclaimed task was to form a more perfect union, to establish justice and to secure the blessings of liberty for themselves and their posterity. Over the years, the ideals at the heart of that document have endured as subsequent generations have expanded those blessings. These rights and freedoms to more and more Americans. Our constitution has survived domestic and international tumult, including a civil war, two world wars and the catastrophe of September 11th. It draws together people of all races, faiths and backgrounds from all across this country, who carry its words and values in our heart. It is this nation's faith in a more perfect union that allows a Puerto Rican girl from the Bronx to stand here now.</s>SOTOMAYOR: I am struck again today by the wonder of my own life. And the life we in America are so privileged to lead. In reflecting on my life experiences, I am thinking also today of the judicial oath of office that I first took almost two decades ago and that I reiterated this past weekend. "To judge without respect to what a person looks like, where they come from or whether they are rich or poor, and to treat all persons as equal under the law." That is what our system of justice requires, and it is the foundation of the American people's faith in the rule of law, and it is why I am so passionate about the law. I am deeply humbled by the sacred responsibility of upholding our laws and safeguarding the rights and freedoms set forth in our Constitution. I ask not just my family and friends, but I ask all Americans to wish me divine guidance and wisdom in administering my new office. I thank you all again for the love and support you have shown me, and I thank President Obama and the United States Senate for the tremendous honor and privilege they have granted me. Thank you.</s>BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you. Thank you. You're going to be great. Best of luck.</s>COLLINS: So, President Barack Obama and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at reception that he and the first lady holding for the newly confirmed justice you see there in the East Room today. We saw her get a little emotional there, and I believe that is her mother that she is hugging. Very nice, once again, coming from the East Room this morning. Meanwhile, we are continuing to watch a number of live events happening on this busy morning. To Winterset, Iowa, where Senator Chuck Grassley is holding one of four town hall meetings on the health care reform today. We are watching this and will continue to check on that throughout the morning for you, bringing any sound and questions from the large crowd that has gathered. They had to move things outside in order to accommodate everybody that is there. Just as soon as we are able to do that. Also looking that Dow, bottom of your screen there, look at that. Up triple digits for the Dow Jones Industrial averages by 112 points. Resting now at 9,354. We'll watch that, as well. Back right here in a moment in the CNN NEWSROOM.