Congressman says Thomas abandoned his principles to become an extremist, hard-right member of bench

The senior Democratic congressman James Clyburn said his decision to support Clarence Thomas for a US supreme court seat “was a mistake” and called for the expansion of the nation’s highest legal panel to 13 justices.

Clyburn, of South Carolina, spoke up for Thomas at his fiery 1991 confirmation hearings, calling him “a personal and professional friend” who would use their shared experiences lifting minorities and advancing civil rights to become a respected and accomplished jurist.

Instead, Clyburn told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Thomas abandoned his principles to become an extremist, hard-right member of a bench that has delivered some stunning legal reversals in recent years, including the overturning of federal protections for abortion and ending affirmative action in higher education.

Asked by host Kristen Welker if he regretted standing up for Thomas, Clyburn replied: “I have made mistakes in my life, and that’s one that I made. And I will own up to that mistake.

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  • SippyCup@lemmy.world
    9·
    1 day ago

    Fuck you Clyburn. The signs were there, you fucking knew. You don’t get to clear your conscience when Death is knocking. I hope you regret the harm you’ve caused with your dying breath.

  • ayyy@sh.itjust.works
    6·
    1 day ago

    You wanted to cash the bribe checks, but you don’t want to live with the consequences? Pathetic selfish loser.

  • frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io
    122·
    2 days ago

    Motherfucker, Anita Hill was there and you ignored her. Any regrets you have that don’t involve apologies to her and resigning are meaningless.

    • kreskin@lemmy.world
      11·
      2 days ago

      Biden was the one who promised Hill she would have a chance to speak and then didnt let her. He led Thomas’s confirmation hearing.

      • SippyCup@lemmy.world
        2·
        1 day ago

        Biden was the one who promised Hill she would have a chance to speak and then didnt let her. He led Thomas’s confirmation hearing.

        Bent over backwards to bury the accusations and get Thomas confirmed. FTFY

  • bitjunkie@lemmy.world
    3·
    1 day ago

    Took the money when it mattered, then had a crisis of conscience late in life. Typical. Fuck this guy, too.

  • Malica@lemmy.zip
    42·
    2 days ago

    He never had principles, as evidenced by testimony about how he’s a rapist during his confirmation. They all fucking knew exactly what he was.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.worldEnglish
    291·
    2 days ago

    A lot of neoliberals are suddenly going to start “supporting” what they used to call too extreme, but it’s just because they’re hoping to retain their seats and toss out enough breadcrumbs the movement doesn’t have enough momentum for real change.

    Leave the current SC on the bench for 40 years and adding a couple to balance them out isn’t the solution.

    We need a way to remove the rot, not just throw more apples on top of the rot.

  • Lasherz@lemmy.worldM
    27·
    2 days ago

    I have no doubt they share a meaning of what uplifting minorities means, even today. Fuck them both

  • Enkrod@feddit.org
    7·
    2 days ago

    “It was a mistake.” In this case translates to “I knew what I was doing, but I don’t want to be held responsible.”

    • osanna@lemmy.vgEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      Should not be for life, either. It should be a set amount of time. e.g. 4 years, or whatever. No one should get a job for the rest of their life, with next to no way to remove them.