Virginia Thomas, wife of Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, forms tea party group. Virginia Thomas told a recent panel “I am an ordinary citizen from Omaha, Neb., who just may have the chance to preserve liberty along with you and other people like you.” She specifically went on to say that she was going to work against Obama’s “hard-left agenda.” It is an association that will likely add to a further patina of politics surrounding the Court, which just ruled in favor of conservative groups in the Citizens United case. I will be discussing this story tonight on Countdown.
There is, of course, no limitation on the spouses of justices in terms of political activities. However, historically spouses have avoided such entanglements in deference to the neutral role that their spouses are expected to perform on the Court. The involvement in such a raw political organization is, well, injudicious.
I did not share the outrage of some when Virginia Thomas worked for Heritage Foundation. Working for an conservative legal group is a bit different from working in a political organization committed to fighting the President’s policies. Once again, she is well within her rights to do so, but most spouses have avoided such a high-profile political role. This why it is so rare to ever hear of a controversy involving a justice’s spouse.
Worse yet, her group will be scoring members of Congress and accepting donations from corporations. This could raise recusal issues in future cases for Clarence Thomas, but he is unlikely to see his wife’s involvement as a recusal matter unless her group is directly involved in a case.
Ironically, Thomas said he does not attend the State of the Union because it is to “partisan.” He will not be married to one such partisan whose group will actively seek to oppose the President and democratic members.
For the Thomas story, click here.
No, BLouise, it was a long john, and silver in color, I think:
http://joepastry.com/pics/Eclairs.jpg
Is that a pubic hair in my tea?
Lady Liberty:
“For the life of me, I cannot see a conflict.”
*********************
Are you sure you’re not really Lady Justice? She was blind by design.
So the USSC is supposed to uphold the Constitution, and Virginia Thomas has started a group that supports the principles of the Constitution. For the life of me, I cannot see a conflict.
Whew … that peddler is hawking some mighty derogatory goods … making fun of the death of someone’s father indicates a seriously miscreated being deeply sunk in the abyss of hate.
Anonymously Yours
March 15, 2010 at 5:02 pm
This is bull shit.
————
Ditto. You simply cannot tell me that his wife does not influence him, and vice versa. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of something like this from the spouse of SCOTUS justice.
packman – uh, how old are you?
packman:
“Go have another drink with your loser buddies at MSNBC. I hear Olbermann’s old man died; he probably needs a drink.”
*************
It was probably pointless endeavor all along in trying to help you separate in your narrow cortex the difference between the right to do something and the propriety of doing that same thing. (Hint: Think protesting the actions of the deceased at their funerals). But before I could even try, you had to ridicule the passing of someone’s parent.
We certainly will heed the savvy advice of such a scholarly humanitarian as yourself. Perhaps, you could while away your time replacing those wings you so meticulously removed from the flies.
“who just may have the chance to preserve liberty along with you and other people like you…”
Huh?
“the chance to PRESERVE LIBERTY”?
What in DOG’S name is THAT supposed to mean?
Whoa… packman…
I’m out recruiting for the Republic…
And YOU… my man… are a PRIMO candidate!!!
Welcome aboard!!!
“In an opinion article for USA Today last week, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley questioned whether military imposters should be treated as criminals. He suggested that while their conduct was offensive, they might be engaging in constitutionally protected free speech.”
Turley, sorry you need to LOSE YOUR JOB for the above mountain of stupidity.
Hey Turley you never HEARD of the 1st Amendment?
Aren’t you are the same stupid clod that said it shouldn’t be a crime for a person to IMPERSONATE a decorated military person!
So it is wrong for a judges wife to have a politcal opinion but not wrong for some bastard to impersonate a decorated war hero?
You are unbelievable.
Go have another drink with your loser buddies at MSNBC. I hear Olbermann’s old man died; he probably needs a drink.
… perhaps Virginia Thomas should spend more time jetting around the globe on Air Force Nine like a proper public sector spouse.
I hear she’s a birther, maybe that’s why he voted to discuss a birther suit in conference.
This just further strips away the illusion that the Supreme Court is non partisan.
I am curious as to why an individual should be barred from engaging in the political process because of a spouse in government service? It seems to me there are some individual rights issues that are raised. The exclusion of an individual from a free exercise of their rights for whatever reason smacks of paternalism at the very least.
And the idea that a Justice could not be impartial because his wife is a member of a conservative group is prejudicial. If this is going to be the new standard then bring it on and a number of liberal spouses can cease and desist as well.
While Tom Daschle was a US senator his wife was a paid lobbyist, while Alan Greenspan was Fed Chairman his wife was a liberal anchor for CBS (maybe he took her advice) and on and on.
Lets just do this across the board and make a law stating that if you are part of the government your wife/husband cannot be involved in any activity that may adversely influence government.
Another freedom down the tubes in the name of freedom.
Not if Cheney and the other PFLAG politicians have anything to say about it.
Puzzling:
Ruth Bader Ginsburg?
Who is Mary Matalin married to?
I admit that unless Thomas is an unusually unbiased critical and fair thinker, appearances are that the basis of his decisions might forever be clouded by his wife’s affiliations.
This is bull shit.