In answer to the closing question, yes. And if Thomas' response felt rhetorically overblown, I'm sure it was only to those who did not feel already somewhat guilty about the line of questioning up to that point - what it implied to everyone, regardless of racist sentiments. Surely no liberal university educated person could have missed the implications of what it would mean to others.

And all of this clouding the central fact that the desire to nominate a black person in the first place had led to the nomination of the man who has consistently been perhaps the most dedicatedly conservative, anti-progressive Justice since his eventual confirmation (for whatever reasons) all those years ago.

The liberal desire to be liberal had not only forced the Republicans (or Bush sr.) to choose from a far narrower field, but had also given them a 100% walk card to send a true walk-the-line believer to the court. That is, until the sex allegations surfaced...and the righteousness and guilt briefly retreated to the closet.

I wonder what all those people clamoring for a black justice back then really thought would happen once they got their nominee. Did they really believe that an African American candidate would ultimately fulfill liberal demands for a more progressive set of rulings simply by default of his "ethnic experience," and regardless of whatever larger ideologies he might subscribe to as an individual? First black, then whatever else, so long as the "values" don't contradict?

In our quest to recognize and validate the inherent cultural value racial identities, we establish new categories of identity into which we further compartmentalize each other and ourselves. When the individual, like Thomas, with all his ...um...individuality comes along, it's the same guessing game we play with everyone - regardless of who they are. We don't ever really know what's in anyone's mind except our own. Pretty basic embodiment problem.

So what happens? Thomas shows us who he sees himself to be in the only way that should matter to us - through his rulings. When deciding the laws that govern all of us collectively, Thomas has shown us consistently that he sees himself as a walk-the-line conservative first and foremost. The only black identity he's ever expressed much interest in has been his own, the one inside his head. Everything else seems to be a wash...

why should Thomas show what you call a black identity? If you don't agree with his view, okay. But why should he have to think one thing because he is black. you show that No matter how liberal we think we are, we can't help forcing people into racial boxes.

I dunno. His rulings kinda reminds me of Larry Craig and his gay bashing.

Isn't it quite revealing--the incessant criticism of a black man (Clarence Thomas) simply because he does not tow the "I'm down with the struggle" line. Strangely and not so strangely, the most venomous slander comes from other Black men.

These are the same Victocrats who don't want the facts about Black on Black crime to be talked about. Hush-hush, on that. Hush-hush on the out of wedlock birthrates, the fathers who decide to have nothing to do with their children, the children having children, older black men turning their backs and pretending that those bellicose, black gang bangers are just misguided little kids with AKs.

No, I'm not white . . . I'm black, too, and one of the few black men I know brave enough to take on these gangsters, to stand up against them and try to make a difference in our communities. There are only a few of us. Most hide under their beds at night when the shooting starts, are they live in their posh neighborhoods and pretend that the violence doesn't exist--flip the news channel when it's reported, so their white liberal friends don't see!

Strangely, most of the men I know who are brave enough to combat this plauge of problems that infect our communities are conservative--not Republican--but conservative. And so is Judge Thomas. In him you should see a man who is trying to bring us back to our roots--a people who just want an equal chance--no special treatment--just an equal chance. But most of us are so busy playing the victim that we cut off our noses to spite our faces. Meanwhile, our problems don't get any better. If affirmative action was so important to the Democrats--whom most Black believe are their new keepers--Hillary Clinton would automatically give Barrack Obama 200,000 votes just so he could be on a level playing field. Instead, however, the true colors of Dems (liberals) come out in situations like this, and to hell with the Black man!

I will start by saying, I don't like Thomas's record or character (I am sorry but certain character defects are ok for politicians but not justices). However, I do think he has the right to have opinions/values that are against "mainstream" Black politics. Black unity is a defective concept. Every black person, every any-color person, has unique perspective and we can disagree with someone's views without resorting to ad hominem attacks. Sell-out, tom, race traitor and such terms need to go. It is the same song playing in skin head meetings with a single word change.

Y'know, I would kind of like it if we could move beyond race. I am not saying race is a non-issue but class is a more powerful limiter when it comes to opportunity. And let us not forget personal responsibility. Race is card played by leaders who want to assure you that your lot in life is not your fault while asking for your vote, your money, your pressence at a parade. Race baiting (by anyone) is a distraction tactic.