Justice Thomas Says Court Should Have Gutted Affirmative Action

[Judi Lynn]

Source: NPR

Justice Thomas Says Court Should Have Gutted Affirmative Action
by Eyder Peralta
June 24, 201312:26 PM

In a fiery concurring opinion (pdf), Justice Clarence Thomas made it clear that the Supreme Court did not go far enough, when it decided Fisher v. University of Texas this morning.

As Mark reported, in a 7-1 ruling, the court skirted the big issues and decided to send the case back to a lower court, asking it to give more scrutiny to UT's race-conscious admissions program.

Thomas argued a very basic case: The government should only consider race when there is a "pressing public necessity." In Thomas' view that means the state can only consider race "to provide a bulwark against anarchy, or to prevent violence."

Affirmative action, he argued, hardly meets those standards. What's more, he said, just as the court decided that discrimination was unconstitutional when the country set up "separate-but-equal" schools, it should also conclude that it is wrong when universities include race in their admissions decisions.


Read more: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/24/195182864/justice-thomas-says-court-should-have-gutted-affirmative-action?ft=1&f=1001

[geek tragedy]

1. He said without a shred of self-awareness nt

[jonthebru]

3. I'm in, so slam that door!

[Zoeisright]

2. Yet another example of a

fucking hypocrite who uses the ladder and pulls it up behind him. I think the only person who loathes that piece of shit more than me is Thomas himself.

[MurrayDelph]

36. "What ladder?"

He wants to destroy the ladder so he can pretend he made it on his own.

[graham4anything]

4. Thanks to all those Ronald Reagan/Bush41/Nader/Bush43 voters we have this court

Because Al Gore, John Kerry, Jimmy Carter wouldn't have given us the 5
and we know which two Barack Obama has given us

Thanks Ralph again yea, both parties are the same

I can't wait for a good replacement for Thurgood Marshall. I am hoping that shall be Barack Obama in 2018.

[mikeysnot]

25. Still blaming Nader

The guy who affirmed not one SC justice... No Congress is not to Blame, just Nader.

[maxrandb]

27. Didn't you hear the news..."there's no difference between the parties" n/t

[hlthe2b]

5. There is not a big enough hell for the likes of Thomas

and others who barrel through the doors others have opened for them and without even the slightest twinge of conscience, wish for nothing more than to slam it shut on others.

[madrchsod]

7. lots of people died so he could get that job....

[Boomerproud]

35. He doesn't remember those heroes and doesn't want us to remember them either.

Sorry, Clarence Thomas, but you can't rewrite history as much as you'd like to. Also, his statement makes no sense whatsoever.

[RobinA]

8. Bulwark Against Anarchy???

That's the oddest argument I ever heard. "If it will forestall anarchy, you can consider race in college admissions." I can't even imagine what that would look like in the real world. That man has lost it.

[Renew Deal]

12. Does that mean that if the mob supports racism we should then consider race?

And do we appease the mob for the goal of peace?

[Mickju]

20. He never had it!

[Greybnk48]

9. What galls me about Thomas is that

he should never have been seated after Anita Hill came forward and revealed his true character. How

many countless other minorities were as qualified or MORE qualified than that horrid, sexist asshole?

So many who not pawns; who are free thinkers and have decent character. It has ALWAYS pissed me off.

[Chakab]

14. Thomas' nomination to replace Marshall is also one of the reasons

that I refuse to give H.W. Bush any respect as one of the purportedly "sane" Republicans like many so-called liberals and Democrats are wont to do.

The fact that this incompetent, know nothing political hack has been on the court for so long is a farce of epic proportions.

[mikeysnot]

26. GHWB only looked sane compared to his son.

[Chakab]

30. True, but I've seen a baffling amount of deference

paid to him by people on the left (or rather people who claim to be on the left).

[Ash_F]

22. Yeah but only a pawn was acceptable. /nt

[VA_Jill]

10. Sez the beneficiary of it....

"I got mine, F*** the rest of you all!""

[Renew Deal]

11. Couldn't that standard cut both ways?

"to provide a bulwark against anarchy, or to prevent violence."

That sounds like mob rule.

[blkmusclmachine]

13. Of course he did, no surprise there.

[summerschild]

15. In Thomas' view that means the state can only consider race "to provide a bulwark against anarchy,

or to prevent violence".

What the hell does that mean?

I guess Martin Luther King's peaceful protests would have had to be bloody riots.

I have no words for this despicable man.

[Wolf Frankula]

16. Slappy, Shut you Mouf

and bring Marse Tony his julep.

Wolf

[kirby]

17. From the former chairman of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission n/t

[KamaAina]

18. Uncle Thomas strikes again

Pam from Pam's House Blend went there (on her FB page, which I follow, and you should too ). Sadly, she's closing the Blend at the end of the month , so following her will be the only way to get your daily requirement of Vitamin P.

[rug]

19. He's clueless.

As should be obvious, there is nothing “pressing” or “necessary” about obtaining whatever educational benefits may flow from racial diversity.

[hamsterjill]

21. The arrogance never ceases to amaze me.

This man is a pig - my apologies to pigs everywhere.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

23. Many of us in the black community believe Clarence Thomas to be an "Uncle Tom"...

I think this proves our point.

[Katashi_itto]

29. Agree. Just amazing that this creature replaced Marshall

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

32. It is absolutely DEVASTATING to me. I live in Maryland and used to work for the state legislature.

Marshall is from Maryland, and for many years, state legislators tried to get a Marshall statue in front of the state house. Resistance came from every direction, but once people understood how transformative of a figure he was, there was resounding agreement.

This "Uncle 'Clarence' Thomas" creature is detestible.

The ultimate irony: He is the least qualified to sit on that court and yet, he wants to destroy affirmative action programs. Without it, he wouldn't be sitting there, but that would make the false assumption that beneficiaries of affirmative action (especially WHITE WOMEN) are unqualified. That is simply not true. He is a what affirmative action when it is misused and malappropriated.

[Katashi_itto]

33. Well Spoken!

[Le Taz Hot]

24. And this is who replace

Thurgood Marshall. Makes your stomach turn. A big "thanks" to Joe Biden for his tireless efforts to get this pos on the Court.

[Javaman]

28. one of the rare times he actually speaks and he places his foot square in his mouth. nt

[Hubert Flottz]

31. Did you say TOM-ass?

No law East or West of the Pecos with the filthy five on the highest bench in the land.

[DFW]

34. Without Reagan's affirmative action

Thomas would never have gotten nominated to the Court. But he doesn't want us remembering that, does he?