If you're wondering why the left hates Clarence Thomas so much, the answer can be given in one sentence: here is a black man who has left the liberal plantation. This is not supposed to happen. Those of us who are "persons of color" are supposed to march in liberal lockstep, spinning out elaborate tales of victimization and dutifully voting for the Democrats on election day. If we don't, we're accused of selling out to the white man.
It is a mark of Thomas' independence of spirit, and also his moral and personal courage, that he decided early on to become his own man. For him conservatism doesn't just mean tax cuts or free markets: it means personal emancipation from the imprisoning categories of race that, even today, keep African Americans and other minorities "in our place." In breaking with liberal expectations, Thomas betrayed no one because he never owed these self-styled benefactors anything in the first place. His new book "My Grandfather's Son" makes it clear that his real debt and allegiance is to his grandfather, who taught him to think for himself and act on those convictions.
When Thomas was nominated to the Supreme Court, the left could not defeat him on ideological grounds. So they hauled in Anita Hill, who in the tradition of Southern slaveowners and segregationists sought to bring this black man down by hurling at him the age-old accusation of being a sexual predator. In his memoir Thomas draws a poignant analogy to the classic novel and film, To Kill a Mockingbird, in which a black male is falsely accused of rape. In retrospect it's incredible that so many aspersions could be cast on Thomas based on not a single piece of strong corroborating evidence. Even so, senators and media pundits engaged in lengthy disputations about pubic hairs allegedly discovered on coke cans. By my recollection, the most exotic theory was advanced by sociologist Orlando Patterson, who speculated that perhaps Thomas had engaged in some Southern lower-class down-home courtship techniques, complete with taunts and lascivious jokes, and that Hill, while understanding Thomas' stylized overtures perfectly well, was manipulating them in order to play the feminist heroine.
Thomas has proved to be an excellent justice, unusually taciturn during oral arguments before the court, but unfailingly principled and passionate in his opinions. No clone of Scalia, Thomas has developd his own approach to constitutional interpretation, emphasizing not literal allegiance to the text but rather a dedication to the central constitutional principles of individual liberty and local self-government over centralized control. Meanwhile Anita Hill has vanished into obscurity since the left no longer seems to have any political use for her. But I expect she'll be trotted out again to "refute" Thomas' memoir. Can we expect outlandish new accusations or a replay of the old ones? I hope she hasn't been saving those pubic hairs.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 5)
16. The good book nails it again. The mouth speaks from that which fills the heart.
T. A, Green at 9:35AM on Oct 2nd 2007
17. Don't even respond to Manny. Just from reading these posts for a couple of weeks, his name sticks out as one of the most ignorant posters on AOL. Like Ventrue previously stated, the Southern slave owning Democrats left the Democratic party over 100 years ago. Where did they go....hmmmm....That's a tough one. Maybe you can tell us Manny.
Thomas is the worst kind of hypocrite. He climbed to the top with the help of social programs and then pulled up the ladder. What a piece of dung.
Tony at 9:37AM on Oct 2nd 2007
18. My father was a missionary/teacher in Abeokuta, Nigeria,in Africa...I think all people should go to a third world country. It would change one's life! He would appreciate the opportunities here in America, and take advantage of the educational systems here...education is truely a door opener for ALL... Whether people are black or white,society need judges, lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers, presidents...The state offers many opportunities for single moms to go to college, while paying for daycare too. If one wants to stay where he is in life, it is his decision, but there are a lot of opportunities if one really wants to seek them out and take advantage of a higher education...Anyone can do it. He just needs to start with a purpose in his heart, and a burning passion and motivation to do it, and not let what other people think about him, or life's events stop him from moving forward and accomplising it...Remember the story of the Turtle and the Hare? Kudos for this judge!
Bridget at 9:38AM on Oct 2nd 2007
19. I will start by saying that your final sentence, while it is wryly amusing, it is also nauseating.
It is unfortunate that some people condemn the ability of all Americans to choose their own beliefs and follow them accordingly. Clarence Thomas is a very conservative American of African descent, and personally I see no problem or contradiction here whatsoever. We as Americans really need to let go of the Uncle Tom archetype (and many others) and accept that black people too can choose their own destinies, political and religious beliefs even though they may be contradictory to the history of their ethnic group.
If I were to base my political beliefs on those of my Irish ancestors, I would be a devout Jacobite in favor of ousting Queen Elizabeth II in favor of the rightful heir to James II. If my political beliefs were influenced by those of my Polish ancestors, I would be ardent Anti-Semite gladly welcoming the pogroms led by the Russian Empire. But ever since my ancestors came to the United States, they were able to conform to our liberal society by gradually abandoning the political associations of their ancestors in favor of their own personal political beliefs.
Ever since the success of the Civil Rights Movement, the descendants of the oppressed such as Clarence Thomas should also be allowed to choose their own political beliefs without scorn as we all do.
In the past, Dinesh has given praise to the Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor (not the Liberian dictator), who is white, devoutly Christian and moderately socialist. Dennis Kucinich, a fringe-left Democrat, is also a devout Catholic who without a doubt more religious than any of the numerous Catholics running for president right now. But nobody complains about this.
It's almost as if Americans think that White + Christian + Liberal = Perfectly Acceptable, Black + Christian + Conservative = Incomprehensible.
For all I care, Clarence Thomas could be either a Marxist or a Fascist and I'd still wish him the best in life. People need to really get over the myth of race having something to do with political identity.
Tony Messinger at 10:09AM on Oct 2nd 2007
20. Thomas incessantly whimpers about what other people think of him. He is the leader and most paramount voice of the "Black Conservative Victim Society" where black conservatives whimper to their racist white conservative masters incessantly about the just approbation by 95% of the black community.
BT at 10:02AM on Oct 2nd 2007
21. One of the things so sweet about Thomas is that he started out like most black men, as left-leaning, but he allowed his intellect to speak to him. Intelligent, scholarly men in matters of public policy and economic policy will become conservatives. It is the intelligent pathway. The man who sees public policy as a means to control other men will be a leftist. It has always been this way.
kdm98 at 10:06AM on Oct 2nd 2007
22. Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States is an extremely important position. These individuals are in this position for life. I do not care if the individual was a republican or democrat, black or white, male or female. Any allegations of misconduct of any sort should be investigated. When as a nation we blindly accept politicians based solely on their political affiliations we are doing America a great injustice.
rebelblue88 at 10:53AM on Oct 2nd 2007
23. Uhhhhh.... Messinger...
Thanks for the patronizing spiel - but No Thanks.
I am old enough to remember the Civil Rights Movement of the 50's and 60's - as well as to have participated in the Integration of schools and other facilities. The people that Thomas and his conservative Massa's hate, are the very people who had the courage of conviction to stand up for their equality - despite the likleyhood of verbal and physical assault by the very people Thomas sucks up to.
Thomas is no hero.
And until the day he dies, or leaves the Court - will be the fundamental schism between you on the right...
And the vast majority of black Americans.
Thomas was selected to the court because he was black...
Not because he was the best qualified.
BT at 11:01AM on Oct 2nd 2007
24. The Thomas nomination and comfirmation process in now and will always be viewed through a partisan lens. The fact is that the nomination was blatantly political, and the confirmation process turned out the same way. So what's new about all that? I would like to see more comments on what seem to be some hard conclusions.
First, only a tiny handfull of people consider Thomas anything other than an utterly mediocre justice. There is no shortage of black legal scholars who tower over this midget. So why did Bush I have to settle on this guy? The answer, of course, is that he was that perfect tool, an extreme right wing black man. Competence wasn't a problem. They would sell him any way they could.
Second, in spite of all this right wing blather about "rising above" affirmative action, and the suffocating and cynical manipulation of Blacks by the Democrats, why does the republican party remain so dismally low in the Black community? Why are the major republican Pres. candidates so dismissive of the Black community that they don't
even answer invitations to forums? You right wingers are astounded that Blacks don't understand how good your politics are for them. We know that when Liberals in general disagree with you they are written off as America-hating, cowardly, delusional, homosexual, and (choose your own slur.)
How then do you address Blacks who haven't yet figured out yet how marvelous and humanitarian your policies are? Do you think they are too stupid to understand your greatness?
Forget Thomas. We're stuck with him. Lets talk about the real stuff.
Charlie at 11:16AM on Oct 2nd 2007
25. The white right loves these traitors to their race. The Condi Rices, the Clarence Thomas,Just as the early Americans found Indians to help exterminate their own kind, these people are always there.
Rick at 11:20AM on Oct 2nd 2007
26. First of all, the dems who once were slave ownders and who started the KKK later became the party we know of today as the Republican Party. second, everyone has the power of choice, so good for Thomas for being who he is and that he made it to the Supreme Court. How he got there is no different than any other black man or woman who became a Senator, Representative, Mayor, or any other high position in society, though most of them being liberal. There is always a little racism in everyone that is embedded deep. But to make an argument that since this particular Black Man is smart because he chose to be conservatives is ignorant, closed-minded, hateful, politically motivated, and just stupid. Conservatives base every argument through demeaning, dividing, alienating, and closing the scope of people to keep their illusion they have created that they are the "good ones." The disappointing thing about liberals now is that they lowered themselves to play this same game. They are all starting to look the same.
And Dinesh, How can you put a word like plantation to describe the life of Justice Clarence Thomas? Don't you think that is a bit racist and totally ignorant way to use that word.
Do you think that if Abraham Lincoln was not as liberal a presient that he was that he would be assinated for freeing slaves. Be careful how you throw aroung the word "liberal," this is the root word for liberty, our freedom, and yes our freedom to choose the path we so desire in life.
peace
David McCool at 12:44PM on Oct 2nd 2007
27. Justice Thomas -
You are making comments under the name of Fred Grant - #9. The low brow grammer almost had me fooled.
Jimmy Hoffa at 1:11PM on Oct 2nd 2007
28. Mr. Dinesh,
I don't understand how you come up with this kind of argument. You may think that you can read the liberals, but it isn't that simple. The fact is you inclusive and all the republicans are very arrogant, abnoxious people. And you think that only republicans are white, FYI even many Democrats are white. Go and learn bfore passing judgement. I don't understand who could have hire you to give this kind of opinions.
Vivek at 1:34PM on Oct 2nd 2007
29. Dinesh,
Your comments are alway so interesting. All the liberals come out to talk badly about the Republicans and then as an afterthought accuse the Republicans of being divisive. The fact is if you're not a moderate independent you are divisive. Don't blame the Republicans (black or otherwise). Don't blame the Democrats (black or otherwise). If you are this partisan YOU are divisive. Clarence Thomas can be whatever he wants to be, it's the reaction of both parties (especially the Democrats in this case) that is poisonous. In the case of Clinton it was the Republicans that were poisonous.
Mel at 2:03PM on Oct 2nd 2007
30. I notice Dinesh said nothing about the "60 Minutes" interview Thomas gave on Sunday. The whole interview was just bizarre. This man has a serious chip on his shoulder and much hatred. First he trashed his Yale Law School Degree (saying it was worth "15 cents." HUH?!)
Then he goes on to say the only reason the Democrats did not want him on the Supereme Court because of abortion. Sure, that plays a part in it, but some also felt Justice Thomas did not have enough judicial experience to sit on the highest court in the land.
Why Thomas even gave this interview is puzzling. Supreme Court justices rarely speak to journalists at all. I guess he wants to hawk his book.
I think the man needs to get into some counseling. He is too old to be harbering silly grudges over what happened 16 years ago.
David S. at 2:28PM on Oct 2nd 2007