Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, has just put out this statement on The Hill's report that the Senate GOP leadership has privately encouraged conservative activists to attack Sonia Sotomayor, at the same time as they've publicly distanced themselves from the attacks:

"This is the exact type of a Washington political game that offends Americans. When you try to appear thoughtful and open-minded in front of the cameras, but behind closed doors wink to your right-wing friends to keep up the vicious attacks, it is a strategy that is not only disingenuous, but it also does a disservice to the confirmation process. Sonia Sotomayor deserves a fair and thorough assessment by the Senate, not name-calling, and not political posturing. The American people expect nothing less."