Bizarre, Politics, Society

Wife of Clarence Thomas Organizes Tea Party Group

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.

118 thoughts on “Wife of Clarence Thomas Organizes Tea Party Group”

  1. Buddha–

    Here’s a double dactyl I wrote last April. I now dedicate it to you:

    Higgledy-piggledy
    Sean (Moron) Hannity
    Proves he’s an idiot
    Nightly on FOX…

    Talks about teabagging
    Parties and taxes. He’s
    Totally (scrotally)
    Dumb as an ox.

  2. Buddha–

    I hope you get some medical care for that persistent cough of yours. Maybe Dick Armey and Freedomworks can help you find a good doctor! 🙂

  3. Duh,

    “Do you think she should have organized her Party while the case was before the Court?”

    Of course not! Much better to wait and announce the establishment of the organization once she found out that it would be able to solicit and use unlimited funds to use for lobbying purposes.

    BTW, you don’t suppose her tea party organization was in the planning stages while the case was before the court, do you?

  5. Elaine M. said “I find the timing of the founding of Mrs’ Thomas’s tea party organization most interesting.”

    The Tea Party Movement got started in 2008, in response to the “Bailouts”. Citizens United was appealed from a July 2008 decision of the District Court of the District of Columbia. SCOTUS heard oral argument on the case in March of 2009. The opinion was handed down on Jan 21st 2010.

    Do you think she should have organized her Party while the case was before the Court?

  6. AY–

    Byron wrote: “what do you think about euthanasia of the elderly when they become a burden to “society”? They do it in countries in Europe.”

    I thought Byron was talking about “involuntary” euthanasia.

  7. Elaine M.,

    These are where it is legal:

    As of 2009, some forms of voluntary euthanasia are legal in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington.

    I am surprised that the Swiss allow this.

  9. Byron–

    As I said previously–I find the timing of the founding of Mrs’ Thomas’s tea party organization most interesting.

    Professor Turley wrote:”Working for an conservative legal group is a bit different from working in a political organization committed to fighting the President’s policies.”

    I’d add that I think there IS a difference between Ginni being a member of or working for a conservative group and being the founder and CEO of a tea party group that can solicit and use unlimited funds to lobby Congress and to defeat policies championed by the executive branch of the government.

    You may not believe me–but I’d feel the same way about the spouse of a liberal justice involved in founding a liberal “coffee party” lobbying group.

  10. Elaine:

    what do you think about euthanasia of the elderly when they become a burden to “society”? They do it in countries in Europe.

  11. From what I can see from Thomas’s voting record he would have supported Citizens United regardless of his wife’s activities.

    And why do you think it makes any difference if his wife is involved in a conservative org. or not? If she is she is conservative and influencing him in any event whether involved or not.

    Don’t think the other justices are influenced by their partners, think again, it is called being human.

    F. . . it lets just make them sit in a sound proof room with no outside influence at all for their term.

  13. Byron–

    “Personally I think the conservatives are against it because they think God owns your body and the progressives are for it because they think the state owns your body.”

    I’m a progressive–and I think that I own my body!

  14. I have to say I find it VERY interesting that Virginia Thomas founded Liberty Central, an organization that is soliciting funds that will probably be used to lobby members of Congress, around the same time that the Supreme Court came down with their ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

    So…call me suspicious!

    **********

    Just visited the Liberty Central Web site.

    I love this:
    “By providing tailored information, encouraging civil discourse, and inspiring activism, Liberty Central brings people together to protect the core founding principles.”

    Gee, I wonder what the term “tailored information” means????

    Donald Rumsfeld has given this group his endorsement!

    Ginni’s bio posted at the Web site:
    “Ginni is excited about launching LibertyCentral.org and finds the new citizen activists inspirational! She brings passion, enthusiasm and principled participation to the public square. With 30 years of experience within the Washington beltway working alongside esteemed politicians like Dick Armey and for institutions like Hillsdale College, the Heritage Foundation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Ginni is committed to serving as a clearinghouse for new and more effective online activism. Ginni, the ‘proud’ Nebraskan, is a fan of Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin and Laura Ingraham and other talk radio hosts. She is intrigued by Glenn Beck and listening carefully. She also enjoys motor homing and watching ’24’.”

    http://libertycentral.org/bio.html

    Don Rumsfeld, Dick Armey, Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Glenn Beck–all my heroes! I’ll have to join this tea party, doncha know! 🙂

    Need I say more?

  15. Did you hear the one about the pathologist whose patient walked out on him? 🙂

  16. Duh,

    If they are still kicking by the time the pathologist gets them somebody has some issues. Mengele I do not presume Dr. Jack is….

  17. Well Byron, if Dr. Jack was a member of the Hemlock society would his license to practice medicine have been pulled? Would that not have the appearance of impropriety?

    Does not Thomas’ wife or even for that matter Thomas himself have the appearance of making the decision that benefited his wife. Some decisions are make and then the fact are written in such a way to justify the result.

  18. You’re right, AY. It does present a problem when the Pathologist’s patient lives. 🙂

  19. AY:

    what does that have to do with Mrs. Thomas?

    Personally I think the conservatives are against it because they think God owns your body and the progressives are for it because they think the state owns your body.

  20. Well he was a Pathologist and he did take an oath to do no harm and to assist those that suffer.

    Did Thomas ever read the part about the Judicial Canon that talk about the appearance of impropriety or not being involved in a case where a family member may have an interest in. But then again we selectively choose to up hold those laws that benefit us the most. Especially when they are closest to our hearts, pocket book tooooo

Comments are closed.