Justice Thomas Lashes Out in Memoir: Book Attacks Liberals, Media, Breaks Near-Silence on Anita Hill

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: Washington Post, Page One

By Robert Barnes, Michael A. Fletcher and Kevin Merida
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, September 29, 2007; Page A01

Justice Clarence Thomas settles scores in an angry and vivid forthcoming memoir, scathingly condemning the media, the Democratic senators who opposed his nomination to the Supreme Court, and the "mob" of liberal elites and activist groups that he says desecrated his life. "My Grandfather's Son," for which Thomas has received a reported $1.5 million, is a 289-page memoir of his life in rural Georgia, his reliance on religious faith and his rise to the high court. His book ends with the day he was sworn in and contains only fleeting mentions of his time on the bench.

Thomas lovingly describes the iron-willed grandfather who raised him after his own father abandoned him as a toddler, praises the Roman Catholic Church for providing him with an education but criticizes it for not being as "adamant about ending racism then as it is about ending abortion now," and gives a detailed description of the confirmation hearings that electrified the nation in 1991 and the sexual harassment allegations by Anita Hill that he said destroyed his reputation.

They are the most extensive comments Thomas has made about Hill since his confirmation. Though he has given numerous speeches since he has been on the court, he has rarely mentioned Hill or spoken in detail about the nomination fight. In the book, Thomas writes that Hill was the tool of liberal activist groups "obsessed" with abortion and outraged because he did not fit their idea of what an African American should believe. "The mob I now faced carried no ropes or guns," Thomas writes of his hearings. "Its weapons were smooth-tongued lies spoken into microphones and printed on the front pages of America's newspapers. . . . But it was a mob all the same, and its purpose -- to keep the black man in his place -- was unchanged."

Thomas, 59, says in the foreword to the book, due to go on sale Monday, that he wrote it to "leave behind an accurate record of my own life as I remember it" rather than leave it to those "with careless hands or malicious hearts." He indicates he wrote it himself, with editing help from three others. It has been eagerly awaited, especially in the conservative community, which is playing an active role in promoting it. The Heritage Foundation, the Federalist Society and the National Center for Policy Analysis are sponsoring a six-city book tour, in which patrons will pay $30 to attend events in Thomas's honor....

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/28/AR2007092801634.html?nav=hcmodule

[Kurovski]

1. Have another Coke, Clarence.

[Lilith Velkor]

67. Yeah, have a Coke and a smile and STFU.

[madeline_con]

2. Dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1936563&mesg_id=1936563

[Cha]

3. So ol' clarence has opened

the gate and invited everybody he's attacked to attack him back with the truth on his sorry ass life.

[Kurovski]

5. Amen.

Let us not hesitate for one moment on that count.

I want to see Colbert and Stewart ride his thick porny-hide 'round the block.

[Cha]

44. Can you believe this

Vise Shit, the neoCON Fascist, reign of Terror has us in?

[regnaD kciN]

9. And when they have...

...we need to take the next step, and impeach his ass off the court.

Until then, remember: this vicious, hypocritical, self-righteous asshole holds the power of life and death over our liberties. Not only while he's on the court, but (thanks to precedent) forever after as well.

:scared:

[Cha]

45. Yeah, ol clarence caters to the

hate-filled minority who just love hypocrites. I wish we could impeach a supreme court justice..that can happen, right? As in full on dementia which clarence seems to exhibit more than a few traits.

[rwheeler31]

4. I hope only 30 people attend,

what a tool.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted sub-thread

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[olddad56]

7. he sleeps every day on the bench, I'm surprised he could stay awak long enough to write.

[DeepModem Mom]

8. And now TALK! Isn't he completely silent on the bench, asking no questions? nt

[olddad56]

10. he hasn't spoken in a couple of years...

I have an attorney friend who had an argument heard before the Supreme Court a couple of years ago. He came away dismayed. Thomas slept the whole time and Sanda Day O'Conner was so senile that she thought he was representing the his opponent. True story.

[DeepModem Mom]

14. I thought Thomas didn't talk, but I didn't know he slept! And I didn't know...

O'Conner was as described.

[KansDem]

72. Maybe if Thomas talked in his sleep...

...he would say more during these Supreme Court sessions.

[NJCher]

52. sounds like a republican wet dream

Meanwhile, Tony "The Fixer" Scalia takes care of the real bidness.



Cher

[Carrieyazel]

31. Yes, he is a mute. Its like his mouth is wired shut when he's on the bench

[The Icon Painter]

35. Why are you surprised?

There is no reason for the man to lose valuable sleeping time listening to those boring oral arguments. Scalia will listen and tell him how to vote like he always does.

[reality based]

11. Judicial temperament

Thanks, Poppy

[Jacobin]

50. That was my first thought

He's just a bitter man who blames others for his own conduct and problems.

[Javaman]

70. That was my first thought. bitter.

go figure, I had always thought that living well was the best revenge, but I guess for the repuke tools, it's about living in denial and pointing figures.

Me thinks he protest to much.

[DURHAM D]

12. 1984 - EEOC

While in graduate school in 1983-84 I was researching/writing a paper on the EEOC. Fortunately I had good contacts and was able to interview several women with considerable knowledge of gender/sexual discrimination and all taught at various law schools around the country.

To a person they volunteered the information that the Reagan appointment to the head of the EEOC (Clarence Thomas) was a known serial sexual harasser and would no doubt destroy the agency. They all felt it was a cruel joke being played on women by the Reagan White House and Republican Party and no good would come of it. I also had friends who worked in D.C. (Dems and Repubs) and it was common knowledge in those years about Clarence's problem.

In 1986 I became acquainted with Anita Hill - we lived within three blocks of each other for three years. We never discussed Clarence.

When Clarence was appointed to the SC in 1991 it was assumed that at least 20 women would come forward. Many others in addition to Anita did interview with Senate staff and provide information. They were all scared off from giving testimony. After what happened to Anita I am sure they are glad they backed from telling the truth. Senator Biden turned the hearings into a circus, a cruel and unfair circus for Anita, and I will never forgive him. When I watched him help confirm Gonzo and Condi I was once again reminded of what a poor judge of character he really is.

[aquart]

28. Thanks for the reminder about Biden.

Unfit to be president ever.

[Evergreen Emerald]

43. that is why I cannot support Biden.

I remember those hearings. I was young, still in High School. I was sick when I realized that Anita Hill could come forward and endure such ugliness--for what? Anita Hill did not destroy his reputation--HE destroyed his reputation.

[jaybeat]

56. Me, too.

Biden led the circus. If he had been a good Democrat--hell, a decent Human Being--he would have ripped Clarence a new one. Instead, he and the rest of the boys chuckled, confirmed his sorry ass, and now look at the SCOTUS we've got. I've remembered (and loathed) him ever since for that.

[Javaman]

71. the self serving biden has quite a history of very bad decisions and choices.

he laughs off womens complaints and screws the poor.

if he wasn't a dem, I'd swear he was from a morons* "heck of a guy" school.

[bemildred]

55. Yep, that is why Biden can kiss my ass forever, and Specter too. nt

[Cameron27]

61. I remember that.

I was so furious I think I cried. I still don't know why Biden pulled that shit.

[ismnotwasm]

65. Thank you for that

Thomas has left me speechless except for a long string of cuss words.

[defendandprotect]

75. Wait -- there was a line up of female witnesses waiting to testify but Biden betrayed them and . ..

ended the hearing at about 4:30 in the a.m. after spending hours with a rambling guy trying to prove that Hill was romantically interested in him!!!

These were women from the EEOC -- one a speech writer for Thomas, as I recall -- as I recall near a dozen of them and they were waiting to testify. One was in the hospital but was willing to appear.

[fairfaxvadem]

13. Jane and Jill need to reissue their book

Jane Mayer and Jill Abramson, think they were with the NY Times back in the day, wrote Strange Justice, about that whole mess. He's an ass. They need to come back out swinging against this. It's really quite simple: was Clarence Thomas qualified to be on the Supreme Court? No. He was purely a political appointee. Nothing more, nothing less. We know damn well there were any number of minorities, both men and women, who were eminently qualified (if appointing a non-white male was the main goal, which is fine with me), that were overlooked simply because they were, in all probability, considered "liberal." Instead, we get a man who suffers/suffered from a form of Stockholm syndrome; identifying with THE MAN who kept anyone who was not a white, ivy-league educated male, out in the cold.

Sorry if I sound harsh.

[DURHAM D]

16. Agree - he is an evil mouth breather for the Right. n/t

[pretzel4gore]

27. very good book...

i still jump though when i read the last paragraph: thomas was talking to his aides and said he was never going to grow in the office of SC justice, never going to 'evolve' or change because he said 'it going to take 43 years to get even' (he was 43 at the time he confirmed) with america....
xsimple fact is that the youngster bush is not an unusual political animal in washington- having the morals of ted bundy, with the appetite of candy crowley says 'success' in gorgebushameka...
maybe thomas's book will allow that promise (to get even) to get some airtime(?)

[MadMaddie]

66. Nothing to apologize for...

People like Thomas, the Log Cabin Repulicans, Ari Fleischer all have the same mentality....they all have sold their soul to the devil.

They are the most dangerous kind of people to their own race and or group.

[defendandprotect]

76. Well said -- and "Strange Justice" is a fantastic book --

in fact I thought I owned a copy, but can't find it right now --

[Hawaii Hiker]

15. I think it was 9-10 Democratic senators (mostly southern) that helped

confirm this asshole to the Supreme Court, the total vote was 52-48 (link below)....Shame on any Democrat who voted for a piece of s*it like Clarence Thomas, :banghead:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=102&session=1&vote=00220

[Seabiscuit]

17. Clarence and Condi should get together and harass each others' asses.

Fuckin' lying right-wing hypocritical asswipes.

Anita Hill told the truth. 48 Senators believed her. And for that he lashes out at them 16 years later like this? What a bastard.

[scarface2004]

18. hey clarence...there s a pubic hair on your chin!!!

you stupid effing asshole!!!!

[Cobalt-60]

19. More firebooks!

Winter's coming and I was running low on Coulter and Limbaugh.
These should be down to a buck by Christmass!

[Gman]

20. So 'ol Clarence thinks The Man is always trying to keep the Black man down

[beltanefauve]

47. He denounces Affirmative Action

and also admits that he benefited from it. Typical Right Wing hypocrisy; government is evil unless it benefits ME,ME,ME!!!!

[rusty quoin]

21. I read that he got a million plus advance on this book.

He makes more on books than any of the other justices.

[onehandle]

22. Nothing about Long Dong Silver?

I guess his puppetmaster Scalia didn't approve that for the book.

[2Design]

23. dirty old man - who is a slease and got power anyway - what a farce n/t

[Carrieyazel]

30. And what really burns me up, is that we had this creep taken down

and we could've Borked him, but we let him barely scrape through because a few Democrats did not listen and refused to vote against him. All we needed was 3 more votes against and he was gone.

[madrchsod]

24. a very dangerous man

roberts and thomas are the most dangerous judges on the court. tony is close but these two are even worse. any one here who thinks voting third party is insane...

[Mojambo]

25. "He indicates he wrote it himself"

That sounds a whole lot like the writer is thinking the same thing as everyone else,

Riiiiiiiight.

[jaysunb]

26. delete

[Carrieyazel]

29. Didn't they used to call him Pornoman? As well as a harraser.

Sorry Clarence, but you committed perjury before the Senate. And you were totally unqualified to serve on the high court.

Why this disaster was ever confirmed is beyond me. 52-48 was the final tally, right? Thanks a lot Chuck Robb (Va) and Alan Dixon (IL) for voting for this creep. You did a disservice to America, and we're still paying the price.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted sub-thread

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[City Lights]

33. A mob of liberal elites and activist groups "desecrated" his life?

Wow. Good one, Clarence! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: Who knew Mr. Saynothing could be so humorous?

[rodeodance]

37. He assumes his life is more sacred than others

[DrDan]

34. only a fleeting mention of his time on the bench . . . could that be because

he has slept through most of it?

[Skittles]

69. writing the words, "I am Scalia's bitch" not enough for a chapter

yeah, I said it

[Maribelle]

36. Justice Thomas shows off what a corrupt republican hack he is.

It doesn't take an understanding of rocket science to see this book is aimed at the right wing base.

With a Democratic President looming, potential vacancies could see the court swing back to the center.

Many, many would love to see an amendment to the constitution to impeach this republican prostitute and his bench pressing cohorts.

[Ian David]

38. Is that a pubic hair in my copy of the Justice Thomas book? n/t

[Autobot77]

42. I'd say yes....

I wouldn't be surprised if Thomas put some pubic hair on every copy of his book.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

39. damn. that's a fast response, Mr. Justice. Been stewing for a while, have we?

And now, by voting with the neocons, you are taking it out on the whole world. gee, thanks.

[Solly Mack]

40. why now?

why write a book now?

hmmm....

[bemildred]

63. Elections coming, conservative chances circling the drain.

Gee who could predict that someone would bring up "leftist racism"?
And who better to do that than Slappy?

[allisonthegreat]

41. no surprises there eh? n/t

[ProudDad]

46. Does he explain why he's the ONLY justice

on the court who got a rating of "unqualified" from the Bar Association???

Might explain the naps...

[rodeodance]

48. "lots of anger"----bk ends with his confirmation says nbc eve news. Anita Hill will

be interviewed for tomorrow's eve. news.

[JohnLocke]

49. He's an idiot and an embarrassment to the Court.

Gotta love the $30 charge to see him speak at his book tour.

[Le Taz Hot]

51. And THIS is what replaced

the great Thurgood Marshall. I think I'm going to be sick.

[calimary]

53. Well, consider the source: ghwb. An all-time champion talent-spotter

for sure! The man who also gave us dan quayle. And dubya. And I think I remember reading somewhere that he chose the sadly thick quayle as his VP because quayle reminded him of his son george. :eyes:

Yep, you really know how to pick 'em, pops. LOVE your missus, too...

[Up2Late]

54. Yeah, RIGHT! One question I'd like answered. Did Thomas REALLY write this book...

...or was it Ghost written by someone at the Heritage Foundation or Opus Dei?

From the way it was described on NPR today, it sounds to me like one of those RW campaign season hit piece books, that you can get 5 for a Dollar at RW websites a few weeks after they are published.

Here's the link:
<http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14834306>

Oh, Boo F*cking Hoo.:nopity:

[ronnie624]

57. I can't imagine how it would sell, otherwise.

Your typical conservative voter doesn't read, and no liberal would ever pay money for this tripe.

From your link:

Thomas received a $1.5 million advance for the memoir, which is being promoted by conservative interest groups.

I believe I've read about how these interest groups buy books such as this one in bulk, so as to drive the sales figures into the 'best seller' category.

[ProudDad]

78. The far right big money buys all the copies

makes it a "best seller" and gives the copies that they don't repulp away to christianist churches and other like-minded wing-nuts...

Same game they play with coulter's crap, etc.

[Blue_Tires]

58. what a lowlife piece of shit

i remember when i was in grad school he came to speak to one of our legal classes...one of the conditions of his arriving was that the student newspaper (one of the best in the country at the time) be shut out of the event, with the exception of a photographer...

please kill yourself, clarence

[Binka]

64. Your Closing Sentence Just Had Me Laughing Out Loud

BTW you are adorable, I just checked out your my space link. I hope you have found some work suited for your brilliant mind. Maybe Clarence should give you his seat? I'm SERIOUS. :hi:

[Blue_Tires]

68. thanks...

I sometimes forget about my page, and let it rot sometimes by not updating it...

you can see most of my friends are DUers from the lounge (which reminds me i need to add some more!) send me an add if you use myspace as well...

[samsingh]

59. thomas is a waste

[earth mom]

60. Sounds like more egotisical drivel and lies from another one of the powers that be in DC.

:puke:

[LostinVA]

62. I personally don't think a sitting SCOTUS Justice should eb allowed to write something like this

Any more than a sitting President, etc. should be allowed to.

[rodeodance]

74. neither do I. And he will make millions of it also (1M upfront)

[AnneD]

73. I believe Anita.....

always have, always will. Just like I think OJ is guilty, Scott Pederson killed his wife, and Oswald had some help. I am still pondering the WTC....And I am not a conspiracy theorist.

[Thor_MN]

77. Identity crises? I I wrote "My Grandfather's son" it would be about my dad or my uncle...

Certainly it wouldn't be an autobiography. Maybe he's used the phrase "Who's your daddy?" so often that "I am" stuck in his mind and "I'm my daddy" was his first choice for a title.