DC Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton: Clarence Thomas "proposes" to be African-American

[alp227]

Jonathan Turley reports:

D.C. Democratic Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton made a shocking comment about Associate Justice Clarence Thomas this week, stating that ” We’ve got someone who proposes to be African-American on the court.” It is a shocking insult directed at Thomas and it is unworthy of Norton. It also seems to suggest that someone cannot be a true African-American if they are conservative.

The comment came in response to a question on whether President Obama would select a black nominee to replace Justice Stevens. Norton reportedly responded “We’re not sure this president is ever going to nominate another African-American to the court. ‘s African-American. We’ve got someone who proposes to be African-American on the court.”

Although Turley's given commentary on Countdown with Keith Olbermann several times in the past, he lectures liberals once again on double standards:

One can only imagine the response if a white member said about Stevens that “we got someone who proposes to be white on the court.” There is no question that Thomas is a lightning rod for liberals, but this comment should be roundly condemned by liberals and immediately retracted by Norton. One can certainly disagree with Thomas’ writing, as I do, while preserving civility and, yes, respect in the debate. Thomas is a person with an amazing personal story. Clarence Thomas was raised in Pin Point, Georgia — a poor black town without a sewage system or paved roads. His father was a farm worker and his mother was a domestic worker who spoke Gullah as a first language. While liberals were quick to celebrate the life of Justice Sotomayor for growing up in the projects and achieving so much in her life, they appear unwilling to credit Thomas with his own amazing and difficult life, including being left homeless as a child.

Turley sourced: Russell Berman, "D.C. delegate: Obama unlikely to pick African-American for Court". The Hill: April 28, 2010

[ShortnFiery]

1. Turley is an unfeeling intellectual egg-head. If you refuse to embrace the INSULTS to the

African American culture, then, based on a purely sterile and intellectual analysis, he's right. However, if you choose to remember all the discrimination one's ancestors had to overcome, it has an effect. And "feeling" that effect brings our SOCIETY a sense of humanity that should not be discounted.

p.s. I get the distinct impression that Justice Thomas thinks he EARNED his position all by himself. He does not show empathy for other African Americans who were not as "fortunate" to often be in the right place at the right time. He doesn't realize how blessed he is and that other people of color continue to be discriminated against. It still occurs but it's practiced in a much more covert sense.

[flpoljunkie]

2. I'm with Eleanor Holmes Norton on this. Thomas is a disgrace to the court and his race.

[Hepburn]

4. He is a total disgrace to the bench...

...gender, race, ethnicity, age, etc., aside ~~ he fucking sucks as a justice.

[SpiralHawk]

3. "JustUs T. has as much cred as, um, me." - Steeley Mike (R - Corporatist)

"We both have our head up the, um, corporate republicon elephant, um, whatever..."

- Steeley Mike (R - Corporatist)

[DURHAM D]

5. Go Eleanor !

[Peregrine Took]

6. I think she meant to say he "purports" to be an African American....

It just makes more sense.

[alp227]

8. So you agree with Norton that black Americans can't be conservative?

I believe that anyone can choose to believe any political ideology they want regardless of race but yes sometimes there can be hypocrisy such as Michelle Malkin (an Asian-American) defending the WWII internment camps of Japanese-Americans or opposing illegal immigrants despite her parents being (illegal?) immigrants from the Philippines. And yes I know that Justice Thomas opposes affirmative action despite the possibility he got through college and law school b/c of it. In 2007 Thomas joined the majority in striking down a public school desegregation plan in Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle SD No. 1. And then there are the kooky ones like the Rev. Gregory Daniels, who once said "If the KKK opposes gay marriage, I would ride with them."

Conservatism ain't just about race, it's about limited government/personal responsibility too. In fact, I listened to NPR's Talk of the Nation yesterday and heard black conservative activist Mychal Massie, chair of the group Project 21, defend his association of the Tea Party by asserting it's not all racist.

[ShortnFiery]

9. IMO, Conservatism = I've got mine, f**k everybody else! eom

[woolldog]

17. Agreed

Eleanor's comments are disappointing and perpetuate the racist assumption that "being black" means having certain political views, beliefs, etc. Ultimately a harmful way of thinking that is self-defeating....as much as I dislike Thomas's views

[ecstatic]

18. odd word choice, but

one of the definitions of purport - aim: propose or intend; "I aim to arrive at noon"

[political_Dem]

7. Benedict Thomas has never claimed to be Black, just like his comrade Michael Steele.

Ms. Holmes-Norton is spot on. Thomas has done nothing but the bidding of his RNC handlers. He deserves whatever he gets--especially after the Anita Hill debacle.

Have folks forgotten that his wife is also tied to the Teabaggers?

[Uzybone]

10. Thomas and Turley are both idiots

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. The word should be 'purports' to be, not 'proposes' to be.

And it is quite accurate a judgment. He has been running away from being black his entire life - refuses to acknowledge that affirmative action helped clear the way for him, has taken no pro-civil rights stands, and holds to the party of racism and bigotry. He is a third-rate intellect and Republican co-dependent. He is not a Democrat because among Democrats he would have to compete on a level playing field - amongst Republicans he's the guy who gets the seat by the door that they can point to, so people will overlook the sea of white faces behind him.

[qazplm]

12. I think Thomas may be the worst justice ever

I think he is a horrible, petty, small-minded man.

Having said that, it's pretty silly to say he proposes to be black.

He is black, he doesn't really have a choice in the matter. I think it was the wrong thing to say although I understand why it was said, Thomas does seem to have a complex of the highest order about being black, but nevertheless, he is black.

[monmouth]

13. To link Thomas and Sotomayor in the same sentence is illogical..LOL...n/t

[quiet.american]

14. You're absolutely right, Eleanor - and you were being kind in your choice of words. nt

[elleng]

15. Oh shut up, Turley,

and take it as a 'joke' if you don't want to accept the truth in the comment, that is, thomas has not 'walked in the shoes' of most African-Americans. This is demonstrated by his jurisprudence. simple enough.

[old mark]

16. To me, Thomas is living proof that you can be a real asshole no matter

what your ethnicity.

m