In a newly released book about his life, archconservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas seems confused as to why he was selected to serve on the court.
Isn’t that precious?
It is the justice’s willful performance of ignorance that appeals to conservatives.
Thomas, according to an excerpt reported by Business Insider, is quoted as saying, “I have no idea why or how I got nominated. All I know is that Justice Marshall retired, and that was a shock.”
“My reaction was, ‘Oh no, this is going to be bad,” he said. “People will go on a rumor that I’m one of the nominees.”
If only I could speak to Thomas then. I’d tell him 1) you have far worse allegations to worry about, and 2) the reason you’re being chosen is because you’re a bigoted mascot for a white nationalist party.
If that sounds harsh to you, know this: The idea isn’t novel. In fact, there were reports at the time about the pressure on then-President George H.W. Bush to name a Black, right-wing justice to replace liberal Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first Black person to sit on the court.
Thomas was on the top of that list.
Once Thomas was seated and showed conservatives he would eagerly defend their wishes, the right’s praise for him became all the more cringeworthy. And you don’t have to take my word for it.








