The senior Democratic congressman James Clyburn said his decision to support Clarence Thomas for a US supreme court seat “was a mistake” and called for the expansion of the nation’s highest legal panel to 13 justices.
Clyburn, of South Carolina, spoke up for Thomas at his fiery 1991 confirmation hearings, calling him “a personal and professional friend” who would use their shared experiences lifting minorities and advancing civil rights to become a respected and accomplished jurist.
Instead, Clyburn told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Thomas abandoned his principles to become an extremist, hard-right member of a bench that has delivered some stunning legal reversals in recent years, including the overturning of federal protections for abortion and ending affirmative action in higher education.
Asked by host Kristen Welker if he regretted standing up for Thomas, Clyburn replied: “I have made mistakes in my life, and that’s one that I made. And I will own up to that mistake.
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26 Comments
frustrated_phagocytosis@fedia.io · 122 pts · 23d
Motherfucker, Anita Hill was there and you ignored her. Any regrets you have that don't involve apologies to her and resigning are meaningless.
kreskin@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 23d
Biden was the one who promised Hill she would have a chance to speak and then didnt let her. He led Thomas's confirmation hearing.
SippyCup@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 22d
Bent over backwards to bury the accusations and get Thomas confirmed. FTFY
goferking0@lemmy.sdf.org · 8 pts · 23d
He even supported Biden who was also happy to throw anything negative of Thomas away
Malica@lemmy.zip · 42 pts · 23d
He never had principles, as evidenced by testimony about how he's a rapist during his confirmation. They all fucking knew exactly what he was.
arotrios@lemmy.world · 32 pts · 23d
givesomefucks@lemmy.world · 29 pts · 23d
A lot of neoliberals are suddenly going to start "supporting" what they used to call too extreme, but it's just because they're hoping to retain their seats and toss out enough breadcrumbs the movement doesn't have enough momentum for real change.
Leave the current SC on the bench for 40 years and adding a couple to balance them out isn't the solution.
We need a way to remove the rot, not just throw more apples on top of the rot.
Lasherz12@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 23d
I have no doubt they share a meaning of what uplifting minorities means, even today. Fuck them both
kreskin@lemmy.world · 20 pts · 23d
Clyburn has always been a "third way" centrist hack who judges bills by how "bipartisan" they are. If he had a chance to do the same vote over again today he'd still vote to install Thomas.
He's just campaigning right now. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/south-carolina-rep-jim-clyburn-will-run-for-an-18th-term
I'm sure after he said that he phoned Thomas and apologized on the downlow.
ilickfrogs@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 23d
Should be age limits too. Every other country figured that out....
osanna@lemmy.vg · 2 pts · 23d
limonfiesta@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 23d
Clyburn has always been a gigantic piece of shit.
Same then as he is now.
SippyCup@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 22d
Fuck you Clyburn. The signs were there, you fucking knew. You don't get to clear your conscience when Death is knocking. I hope you regret the harm you've caused with your dying breath.
Blackfeathr@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 23d
Nawww, really?
ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 23d
Yeah he got his and got his kids theirs. What's he want? A mulligan? Little late for a do-over.
CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 23d
Too bad that shithead is there for life.
ClassStruggle@lemmy.ml · 7 pts · 23d
He also backed pro life POS Cuellar in Texas
ayyy@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 22d
You wanted to cash the bribe checks, but you don’t want to live with the consequences? Pathetic selfish loser.
Enkrod@feddit.org · 7 pts · 23d
"It was a mistake." In this case translates to "I knew what I was doing, but I don't want to be held responsible."
SaltyAmerican@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 23d
Thats only 1 of 3 current Republican SCOTUS justices given to us by the DNC
resipsaloquitur@lemmy.cafe · 3 pts · 23d
They tried to make it 4 with Merrick Garland.
the_riviera_kid@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 23d
Also water is wet
bitjunkie@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 22d
Took the money when it mattered, then had a crisis of conscience late in life. Typical. Fuck this guy, too.
some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org · 3 pts · 23d
The man who has been the most wrong on every case?! No, you're being too hard on yourself.
daannii@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 23d
Another justice right now is just another trump appointed lacky
bedwyr@piefed.ca · -5 pts · 23d
He should apologize for his support of biden and harris, and clinton surely before.
Fuck you James, sorry, but you are the fucking problem here.
ClassStruggle@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 23d
Something about birds of a feather.