NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!
In July 1991, President George H.W. Bush nominated Clarence Thomas, a relatively unknown D.C. Circuit judge, to replace Thurgood Marshall on the United States Supreme Court. However, Thomas soon realized that replacing a liberal with a conservative is a perilous task.
Despite becoming an icon for conservatives and a staunch defender of textualism and conservative jurisprudence, liberals are more concerned with Thomas’ race than his rigid beliefs. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison recently made openly racist remarks about Thomas, comparing him to the character “Stephen” from the film “Django Unchained.” Surprisingly, no Democrats condemned Ellison’s comments or his call for Thomas’ impeachment based on disagreements over his conservative opinions.
Constitutionally, Ellison’s claims are nonsensical. However, the lack of condemnation from Democrats is what raises eyebrows. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and even President Joe Biden, who have all spoken out against racism and bigotry in the past, remain silent on this matter.
DEMOCRAT COMPARES JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS TO HOUSE SLAVE CHARACTER
While Ellison’s racist attack on Thomas received no criticism from Democrats, the same cannot be said for other incidents. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre promptly denounced statements made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. alleging the engineering of COVID-19 to favor specific ethnic groups. Jean-Pierre emphasized the importance of speaking out against such racist and anti-Semitic comments. Yet, she failed to mention Ellison’s racist attack on Thomas.
From the very beginning, Thomas knew that being a conservative black jurist would not be easy. He faced similar attacks during his confirmation process and his entire tenure on the Court. Liberals constantly made references to his race, with one Georgia legislator even calling him an “Uncle Tom.” The African American museum in Washington, D.C., initially excluded Thomas from its selection of great African Americans despite being the second African American appointed to the Supreme Court. Only after public outcry was he included.
The media has also contributed to the hostility Thomas faces. While they publish glowing profiles of liberal justices, there is a noticeable lack of coverage on Thomas’ inspirational life story. Born in Pin Point, Georgia, he overcame extreme poverty, segregation, and prejudice to attend prestigious universities and rise to prominent positions in the legal field.
The attacks on Thomas serve as a deterrent to other black conservatives or libertarians, aiming to silence their voices. Ellison has a history of using intimidation as a political weapon, endorsing violence by Antifa to strike fear in the hearts of Trump supporters and Republicans. Instead of yielding to others’ demands based on his race, Thomas has always stood firm, refusing to conform to expectations.
Ellison may have chosen the movie “Django Unchained” as a reference, but he chose the wrong character. Thomas is the antithesis of the submissive “Stephen” character and continues to be an advocate for individual thought and independence.
Editor’s note: This essay first appeared on the author’s blog Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM JONATHAN TURLEY
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
