Democrats mobilize over Clarence Thomas ethics investigation

[defendandprotect]

Source: The Ticket

Democrats mobilize over Clarence Thomas ethics investigation


Forty-six House Democrats have joined forces this week to ask the chamber's Judiciary Committee to investigate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for ethics violations. The Democratic lawmakers' complaint argues that reports of Thomas' actions--including those related to the high-profile political activism of his wife, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas--have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

"Public records clearly demonstrate that Justice Thomas has failed to accurately disclose information concerning the income and employment status of his wife, as required by law," Democrats led by Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) wrote in a letter (pdf) Wednesday to leaders of the Judiciary Committee. The Democrats also question whether Thomas accurately reported gifts and inappropriately solicited donations.

Blumenauer's office confirmed to The Ticket Thursday afternoon that 46 lawmakers have signed on.

Liberal watchdog group Common Cause recently reported that Thomas' wife earned around $1.6 million between 1997 and 2011--and that Justice Thomas did not report her income over the same time span. Thomas said he "inadvertently" failed to file information on wife's employment "due to a misunderstanding of the filing instructions."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/democrats-mobilize-over-clarence-thomas-ethics-investigation-213436978.html

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YAHOO HEADLINE IS -- 'DEMOCRATS TARGET THOMAS' --


TODAY - October 06, 2011


Democrats target Clarence Thomas Forty-six House members want to investigate the Supreme Court justice for ethics violations

[midnight]

1. Pleased to read that the Dems. are working together...

[russspeakeasy]

3. And Clarence will play the race card and it will all be over.

[McCamy Taylor]

9. He can't, not with Obama president. It will be seen as one Black man vs. another.

[No Elephants]

20. Sure he can. Thomas has no shame, especially when it comes to his reputation or advancement.

Anyone who compares a SCOTUS nomination hearing to a lynching has no shame.

And then, there's waht he did to Anita Hill in his book.

[russspeakeasy]

23. Thomas is willing to go in the gutter. He is a self serving

political hack and will go to any lengths to shift the blame.

[SpiralHawk]

26. "Everybody is picking on me. Whine." - Coke Can Thomas (R - Family Values)

What an amoral whackjob Republicon.

[No Elephants]

19. They seem to manage that when they are in the minority

[DavidDvorkin]

2. It's great that they're doing this, but

presumably nothing will come of it, given Republican control of the House.

Still, I hope they keep this issue alive. Maybe the press will finally start giving them good coverage.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. "Make no mistake: IOKIYAR"

For the parody-challenged: that's not an actual quote.

[Kingofalldems]

5. Look for another diversion tomorrow

Bad things about Democrats will be the order of the day.

[Poll_Blind]

6. Suuuure. This story broke over 256 days ago and nothing has been done. This, such as it is, is...

...very little more than a half-lit stick of We're Doing Something incense which will be waved around the room just long enough to flavor the air, then extinguished.

PB

[FreeBillClinton]

18. I concur

They don't have the votes to do anything about it.

[No Elephants]

21. They WAITED until they were in the minority? I had not realized it's been that long.

I am so tired of kabuki.

[bbgrunt]

7. only 46? this is a no-brainer. Get on board NOW dems.

[cosmicone]

8. If Thomas wasn't black, he would be gone by now.

His African-Americanness is what made Democrats support his nomination even though he was a ultra-conservative uncle Tom.

Also Joe Lieberfuck was the first democrat to support his nomination back then.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

10. Doubt it. The corrupt in power in our society tend to stay in power.

In part because Republicans in positions to do anything tend to protect (and celebrate) this sort of behavior and the few Democrats who actually care and in positions to do anything about it don't have two balls among them. But, IMO, that group is a very small number within the Dem party anymore. Too many are R-lite, simply watching out for themselves, their masters and whoever their masters tell them to care about. At least at the federal level, IMO.

[lbrtbell]

17. Joe-mentum needs to have Thomas' pubes put on HIS Coke can

Motherfucker! :mad:

[red dog 1]

11. Who put this pubic hair on my Coke?

[MADem]

12. Gooooooooooood!!!! About damn time! nt

[tblue]

13. If Clarence can lie on his tax return, can we do it too?

He must pay for this! Should be run out of town.

[Hulk]

14. Bang those pots and pans....

...and get their attention!! This is bigger than the media wants to let on. It's up to US to make it public!

[RandySF]

15. File Articles of Impeachment

We have more on Thomas than the Republicans had on Clinton.

[lbrtbell]

16. Reminds me of an old Steve Martin routine

Remember when he did that bit about how to get out of paying income tax by saying, "I forgot"?

I guess Justice Pubic Hair thought that was genuine advice.

[callous taoboy]

22. They have about a year to get the bastard, IMHO.

[PurityOfEssence]

24. Can you imagine what the Republicans would have done if this had been done by a liberal justice?

We have to learn to call them out for what they are and stop playing nice.

[buckrogers1965]

25. Impeach and disbar him

He is guilty of knowingly violating the law. And if he didn't know he was breaking the law, then that is an even better reason to get rid of him.

He is either corrupt, or incompetent.

In either case, he needs to resign, or be fired.