Clarence Thomas was not the best qualified person for the job at the time he was appointed, and he was appointed under pressure to appoint a black justice to replace Thurgood Marshall, a man who towered above Thomas intellectually.

However, the rest of the items cited seem quite racist to me. I count two “Uncle Toms.” “Rapist” historically was the charge most often leveled at black men prior to lynchings and the stereotype of black men as rapists is both a historical and continuing trope of racism. Check out the website of the Council of Conservative Citizens (to whom Lott looked for support until it got too embarrassing) to see the persistence of the trope. Tied to “dominating people” and “stealing” it is even worse. “Crack” has a racial charge. While Thomas was a mediocre appointment, it really isn’t true that he’s a pawn.

These attacks certainly are hypocritical and raise the rather ugly specter of “progressives” who get a secret prurient thrill out of racist expressions.

We can do better.

But Gordon Smith is still a double-faced snake making political hay from being an apolgist for racism.

Comment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — December 20, 2007 @ 7:29 pm

Kinda ’splains why he’s a GOOPer, huh?

Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — December 20, 2007 @ 10:10 pm

That seems to fit the profile, and unfortunately it fits some of the Democrats currently in Congress right now too.
Good people on either side of the aisle are damn hard to find right now. Too *%^*&(%)* many Bush lapdogs are still in office and they still roll over on queue like circus dogs.

Comment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — December 20, 2007 @ 7:29 pm

Kinda ’splains why he’s a GOOPer, huh?

Comment by CaptainMantastic — December 20, 2007 @ 8:21 pm

You mean, if I think about it long enough that my eyes start to get blurry and I get light-headed?

The charge that Thomas only got the position because he is black has a lot of merit. He was replacing the first black Justice in American history. Do you think he was the most capable candidate at the time? If so, why wasn’t he nominated when Bork was voted down?

It’s very likely that Thomas, as a black conservative (not exactly a big group), was just the right guy, in the eyes of the Right, to fill the shoes of Justice Marshall. That’s simple, straightforward analysis. Nothing racist about it. Sure, it acknowledges that there are racial elements to the question. It would be dishonest to deny it. the first black Justice, a legendary liberal force on the bench, was replaced by the second black Justice, an avowed conservative. Is there not a racial element to that transfer?

Again, I say, you must have a different definition of racism than I do. I say racism is the policy of judging a man first, and possibly strictly, by the color of his skin.

How do you define it?

chuck if you endorse affirmative action then i feel we’re building a bridge here.

(this would a wonderful opportunity for you to apologize.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOSnmA7hlyc

‘Progressive’ racists quotes just from this thread: 6 (and counting)

Otherwise, smoke some crack and get on with your REAL life!

“who accurately view him only as an ignorant pawn”

Only one of those — the “Uncle Thomas” quote could be accurately described as “racist”.

The “smoke some crack” is offensive and uses “code words” familiar to racists, sure. Trolls are frequently accused of smoking crack, but in a thread about a black Justice, its racial implication is clear.

But the rest are simply criticisms of action or character. The “raping women” line recalls the charges of sexual harassment that nearly derailed his nomination.

And the “ignorant pawn”? How is that racist? Is the Cap’n saying that “ignorant pawns” are exclusive to the black community? If so, that’s far more racist than anything else posted here today.