Clarence Thomas at Baltimore Book Party
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was at the Baltimore County home of Sincalir Broadcast Group president David D. Smith on Saturday night to promote his new book, "My Grandfather's Son: A Memoir." He told the audience of lawyers and others that his book tour has reinforced his belief that hardship is no excuse to "whine," or be angry about life.
Former Maryland governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson, and Robert M. Bell, chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, were among those in the backyard nibbling on tiny BLT's and shrimp creole. Smith introduced Thomas by saying, "Tonight we are not Republicans or Democrats, we are all Americans."
Thomas, standing on Smith's concrete fence, talked about his grandparents and other people in his life who were inspirations for the book, such as an old friend from Omaha who was stricken with polio at 15.
"He never allowed that wheelchair define him or the immobility in his limbs to define him," Thomas told the gathering. "Looking at him, he is not bitter, he is not mean, he never gave up. How could I whine?"
One of those in the audience, Baltimore City State's Attorney Patricia Jessamy, said that even though she has a different perception of Thomas after seeing him in person, she remains concerned about his views on affirmative action.
"He talks about those things that most black people that I know believe in, which are hard work, dedication and persistence," Jessamy said. "I think that racism has done us a lot of damage and I don't know if he really understands that we don't all respond to that the same way. "
Carson, a longtime Thomas friend, said it was good that he ventured beyond the court to talk with people. "I have been encouraging him for a long time to come out and tell his story because he has wonderful American story,'' Carson said.
-- Hamil R. Harris
By Anne Bartlett |
October 29, 2007; 1:09 PM ET
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Posted by: Donny | October 29, 2007 3:32 PM
A whiny book from a whiny person. Get over it, Clarence!
Posted by: clevelandparker | October 29, 2007 3:43 PM
Has anyone asked him what effect his drinking binges had on his thinking. He said up until 1982, he was hitting the bottle regularly.
Posted by: Ted | October 29, 2007 3:51 PM
Is there no shame in this guy, peddling his book to make some money. What's the difference between him and a begger at a street corner with a tin cup in his hand?
Posted by: Nadeem Tahir | October 29, 2007 3:53 PM
Justice Thomas is a consistent constructionist in his rulings. He has not allowed his personal life to affect his rulings as a judge. I think this does the nation a great service.
The constuctionist themselves wrote doctrine for a nation that they themselves did not comply with in their personal lives. If the doctrine had been codified based on the personal preferences of the day slavery, sexual discrimination, and a one-religion policy would have been codified into the bill of rights.
I am very interested in reading about Mr. Thomas' personal life. I hope that it has no bearing on Justice Thomas' ability to do his job.
Posted by: ProfWrightBSU | October 29, 2007 3:58 PM
Thomas' statements are completely hypocritical and untrue.
He is an angry man who continues to ruminate, as he has for decades, about all who have done him wrong.
He is an inveterate whiner. He carries long time grudges that all seem to grow out of other peoples failures to see his true talents and abilities or programs, such as saffirmative action, that have tarnished or diminished his achievements.
Recall his saying in the book and elsewhere how he stuck a 15 cent cigar sticker on his Yale diploma because affirmative action had so devalued it.
He has allowed himself to be defined by the slights and slurs he perceives from many others.
Most would think he has done alright for himself -- but he is consumed with resentments.
Not the type of temperment one wishes to see on the Supreme Court.
Posted by: ponderer | October 29, 2007 4:46 PM
There's a pubic hair in my coke.
Posted by: suttree | October 29, 2007 8:14 PM
I am sure there was a "sell out" crowd there.
Posted by: C-dog | October 29, 2007 9:17 PM
ProfWrightBSU--Go back and read the Constitution. Sex discrimination and slavery WERE MOST CERTAINLY CODIFIED in the Consitution. That's why it had to be amended to abolish slavery, recognize that African-Americans were citizens and to allow women to vote. People who espouse strict constructionism are either revisionists, ignorant or desire to be slave owners.
Posted by: C-dog | October 29, 2007 9:21 PM
Of course, C-dog, those amendments could also be strictly construed, since they're also part of the Constitution, which would read your criticisms right out of the document itself. ProfWright referred to the "bill of rights."
Posted by: anonymous | October 30, 2007 12:12 PM
Leftists hate African Americans who refuse to stay on their plantation. Witness the comments above, no substance, just hatred.
Posted by: Rufus | October 31, 2007 8:31 AM
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Gee, he's all alone in the photo. Why won't anyone talk to him?