Clarence Thomas says critics are pushing 'nastiness' and calls Washington a 'hideous place'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News/AP

May 10, 2024, 9:58 PM EDT


FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas told attendees at a judicial conference Friday that he and his wife have faced “nastiness” and “lies” over the last several years and decried Washington, D.C., as a “hideous place.”

Thomas spoke at a conference attended by judges, attorneys and other court personnel in the 11th Circuit Judicial Conference, which hears federal cases from Alabama, Florida and Georgia. He made the comments pushing back on his critics in response to a question about working in a world that seems meanspirited.

“I think there’s challenges to that. We’re in a world and we — certainly my wife and I the last two or three years it’s been — just the nastiness and the lies, it’s just incredible,” Thomas said. “But you have some choices. You don’t get to prevent people from doing horrible things or saying horrible things. But one you have to understand and accept the fact that they can’t change you unless you permit that,” Thomas said.

Thomas has faced criticisms that he took accepted luxury trips from a GOP donor without reporting them. Thomas last year maintained that he didn’t have to report the trips paid for by one of “our dearest friends.” His wife, conservative activist Ginni Thomas has faced criticism for using her Facebook page to amplify unsubstantiated claims of corruption by President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/justice-clarence-thomas-calls-washington-hideous-place-rcna151782

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Don't like it? Resign.

[Irish_Dem]

1. They're furious people have noticed they are corrupt traitors.

It's everyone else's fault.

No remorse and will never stop their crimes.

[Think. Again.]

2. I've quit jobs over far less...

...so it makes me wonder what benefit he really is getting from putting up with an employment situation he clearly dispises.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Exactly. They commit crimes with impunity.

No consequences so they must be making a great deal of money and perks.

[BlueKota]

4. He's hideous and so is his wife

Plus the majority of what has been said aren't lies.

[KS Toronado]

29. Yes truth is now lies,

up is down, light is darkness, and this guy is on the Supreme Court. Sure hope our new congress after the
upcoming election can find a way to deal with the lawlessness going on in their ranks.

[COL Mustard]

41. It's like the old Harry Truman quote

Where somebody said "Give 'em Hell, Harry" and his response was "I just tell the truth and they think it's Hell!"........

[Docreed2003]

5. Oh my...the classic conservative deflection

"When faced with scrutiny for your actions, play the victim"

[jaxexpat]

31. Self-pity over well-deserved condemnation. It's the absolute rage in all the best circles.

[Pototan]

6. Can't stand the heat?

Get out of the kitchen.

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.

[mitch96]

18. +1 Exactly what I was thinking.. They can just leave and that solves their victimhood problem...nt

[mahina]

63. They should really follow their passion and camp out in Walmart parking lots

With all the regular people. Because surely he wasn’t lying when he said he loved doing that

[lastlib]

71. GMTA. Clarence, if you don't like it, leave.....

(And if you DO like it--LEAVE anyway.) Easy-peasy.

[unblock]

7. So if you meet me, have some courtesy. Have some sympathy and some taste

Woo woo!

[gordianot]

8. I hope this lurker realizes that he was nicknamed "the creep" in the early 1970's.

This was before he moved to DC or was on the Supreme Court. He would constantly hit on women and everyone knew he was married.

[multigraincracker]

9. Nice motor home.you drive.

Must have cost a fortune.

[The Wizard]

10. It's time for Judge Long Dong to go (NT)

[Deminpenn]

11. Does Thomas know there's an alternative?

Just because he has a lifetime appointment to the bench, it doesn't mean he has to stay there for a lifetime. He can resign. Then he and Ginny can lead their stress-free dream life of traveling the country in their lavish motor home funded with a nice federal pension and lifetime health insurance through FEHB.

[COL Mustard]

43. I wish he would stay there for a lifetime....

Today would be fine!

[tanyev]

12. Then retire. Quit. Leave.

Adios.

[Sneederbunk]

13. Corrupt Clarence no likey.

[Oopsie Daisy]

14. Awww! Poor thing.

[Midnight Writer]

15. How many of his rich "friends" would Clarence have left if he stepped down as a Justice?

[AZ8theist]

64. I have a guess: ZERO

[surfered]

16. If you don't like it, why don't you leave?

[niyad]

17. Do us all a favour, you f'n traitor, and stop wasting oxygen.

[nuxvomica]

19. His wife Ginni faces a lot of lies and nastiness

Then she hits "send".

[orleans]

20. he can't even fucking talk

which might explain why he mostly keeps his mouth shut on the job

“I think there’s challenges to that. We’re in a world and we — certainly my wife and I the last two or three years it’s been — just the nastiness and the lies, it’s just incredible,” Thomas said. “But you have some choices. You don’t get to prevent people from doing horrible things or saying horrible things. But one you have to understand and accept the fact that they can’t change you unless you permit that,” Thomas said.

[Ponietz]

25. Schlumpspeak

[Orrex]

21. My neighbor has been friends with a local judge since childhood

He and the judge (now retired) went to lunch a few years back, and afterward, while the judge was using the restroom, my neighbor paid the checks.

The judge was rather upset upon his return because of the appearance of impropriety or of currying favor, so they had the manager refund my neighbor so that the judge could pay his own tab.

And that was for a $6 lunch at a local greasy spoon.

Why doesn't Clarence feel any similar qualms about impropriety?

[2naSalit]

22. Clarence...

You have a choice, you CAN RESIGN!

[70sEraVet]

23. Somehow, I missed hearing a tone of remorse in his words?

[Ponietz]

24. When money is the only speech you listen to and corporations the only people you serve

where are the voices you hear coming from? Get a clue.

[claudette]

26. Simple solution, Clarence

Resign from the SCROTUS and leave DC. Good riddance!

[tavernier]

27. Clarence and Miss Piggy would be first to be locked out

of a Trump administration. He is a racist and a misogynist, and really hates ugly women.

[Icanthinkformyself]

28. If DC is hideous

it's because of Republican's and conservative's negative, anti-democratic, un-American policies, such that they have policies, that are destructive. As many have said, Uncle Tom, leave!

[DFW]

30. Clarence Thomas is more like Clarence Boddicker

With a robe.

[jvill]

32. "Oh the TEMERITY of those critics to point out I'm a purchased judge! Where'va is my fainting couch!?" -- Clancy Thomas

...

[poozwah]

33. nasty

what’s that on my can of coke?

[aocommunalpunch]

34. Stroke out you miserable fucking ghoul.

Take that hag pos you call a wife with you.

[Lulu KC]

35. Don't like it?

Get out of Dodge, Clarence.

[dalton99a]

36. "No Supreme Court justice in history has been treated worse or more unfairly than Clarence Thomas"

[Walleye]

38. Has he never heard of Abe Fortas? Republicans are all whiny babies

[sindri]

37. Boundaries can seem like an attack

to people who not self-aware enough to realize their actions are wrong. I think Trump, Thomas, Ginny and all people like them genuinely believe that they have done nothing wrong - rules are for other people. This is because they have never been held accountable before in life - privileged people often get away with things for a long time and then believe they are being persecuted when they finally do get any kind of push back.

[area51]

39. "... decried Washington, D.C., as a 'hideous place.'"

THEN QUIT!

[D23MIURG23]

40. Then go work for Exxon, Thomas.

You wouldn't be missed.

[twodogsbarking]

42. Helena Bonham Carter says..........

[Bucky]

44. Democracy ain't always pretty.

But oligarchy has beautiful palaces and uniforms and fully accoutremented luxury RVs

[myohmy2]

45. wow...

...uncle thomas, someone's hurt your feelings...?

...you shouldn't get caught with your fingers in the cookie jar...

...but I feel your pain, somewhat

...

[modrepub]

46. Glad He And His Wife Are Not Enjoying Themselves

Stay longer and be miserable for all I care. I have little to no sympathy for anyone who stays in uncomfortable situations by their own choosing. He could retire, write books, do guest speaking, travel to his heart's content but he's convinced himself of his importance and that "things will fall apart" if he were to leave.

Guess what folks, we can't stay here forever. Better to indulge yourself with your interests and pleasures while you still have a chance rather than to chain yourself to drudgery. Hearing him (and other right-wing politicians) complain about how unpleasant their jobs are makes me happy.

Stay, be miserable for all I care. We'll undo your damage when you're six feet under.

[LiberalFighter]

47. Tar and feather the creep and his wife.

[bluestarone]

48. Their typical answer

Blame OTHERS for their CRIMES!! I hope they get what they deserve in the end.

[DBoon]

49. Thy want to rule like a 17th century monarch

with loyal retainers and a subservient lower class

[JustAnotherGen]

50. He has free will

He doesn't have to stay there. SCOTUS is at will employment from the employees side. You don't HAVE to stay at that job.

[LiberalFighter]

51. He doesn't like Washington? Then leave.

[republianmushroom]

52. Clarence, you and your lack of ethics are one of the reasons

Washington has become a hideous place. IMO

[TBF]

53. Typical republican - does not recognize his own role in creating the problem. nt

[Beowulf42]

54. Subject Noted

Then retire. Problem solved.

[dlk]

55. Thomas is disturbed his (and his wife's) deep corruption has come to light

It is an affront to their extreme entitlement. How dare we…

If Washington has become so completely unbearable for the Thomases, perhaps it’s time for him to step down. As Harry Truman said, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

[Jilly_in_VA]

56. So telling the truth

is now "lies and nastiness"? Sure, Brudda Clarence, sure. Only in the world of the Orange Turd.

Why, oh why didn't people believe Anita Hill? I did then and still do.

[LudwigPastorius]

57. You don't like it, Slappy?

You can absolutely get the fuck out of there.

[sakabatou]

58. Need some cheese to go with your whine, Clarence?

[BWdem4life]

59. He's stuck with it for life

There will not be another Republican president in his lifetime so there will never be a good time for him to resign. I'm assuming the craven politicians in Congress will never impeach him. So, we wait.

[Marthe48]

60. Get in your luxurious RV and disappear into the abyss

wishing it was as a disgraced, impeached, traitor criminal, but just go and take your traitor wife with you.

[Dulcinea]

61. Well, Clarence, you could always retire & leave D.C.

Get in the RV with the "traitorous she-beast" (thank you, Steven Van Zandt) & ride away forever.

[CousinIT]

62. Well feel free to leave it asshole. PERMANENTLY. n/t

[Warpy]

65. Well, poor baby

I hope he listed all those luxury vacations and other lavish gifts from Mr. Crow as income. We'd hate like hell to see the bill the IRS will eventually hand him if he didn't.

I think the IRS compounds interest by the nanosecond.

[TomSlick]

66. As Cromwell might have said to the Rump Parliament.

"You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go.”

[Sessuch]

67. Thomas is at the top of the list of nasties

[Evolve Dammit]

68. Good enough for your sweet ass for the last three decades Long Dong Silver. FU

[AZLD4Candidate]

69. Then resign. Problem solved, Justice Oops.

[ArkansasDemocrat1]

70. Then retire, fuckwit n/t

[prodigitalson]

72. quit then

[zanana1]

73. "WAH"

[appleannie1]

74. He can always retire and move somewhere else.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

75. The biggest flaw in Justice Clarence Thomas' newest complaints

Justice Clarence Thomas wants the public to believe the serious accusations he’s faced are “lies.” He’s going to have to be far more specific.

Link to tweet

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/biggest-flaw-justice-clarence-thomas-newest-complaints-rcna151935

And yet, while Thomas is likely satisfied with the direction of the judiciary, he’s apparently far less happy about the ethics allegations he’s faced. The Associated Press reported:

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas told attendees at a judicial conference Friday that he and his wife have faced “nastiness” and “lies” over the last several years and decried Washington, D.C., as a “hideous place.” Thomas spoke at a conference attended by judges, attorneys and other court personnel in the 11th Circuit Judicial Conference, which hears federal cases from Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

When the far-right jurist was asked specifically about a world that seems meanspirited, Thomas replied, “I think there’s challenges to that. We’re in a world and we — certainly my wife and I the last two or three years it’s been — just the nastiness and the lies, it’s just incredible.”

A New York Times report on the justice’s remarks noted, “It amounted to some of the most extensive public remarks he has made since revelations that he failed to disclose years of lavish trips from wealthy conservatives, like the Texas real estate magnate Harlan Crow, including on private jets and a superyacht.”.....

In each instance, the far-right jurist’s luxurious benefits “have been underwritten by benefactors who share the ideology that drives his jurisprudence.” Though the precise value of the trips is difficult to measure, ProPublica described it as “likely in the millions” of dollars.

It’s an impossible dynamic to defend: Thomas has lived the life of a wealthy man, thanks to the generosity of his rich, likeminded friends.......

Because on the one hand we have a great many compelling, well-sourced, award-winning reports written and published by respected journalists. On the other hand, we have a controversial Supreme Court justice, burdened by decades of controversies, who apparently hopes the public takes his vague assertions at face value, despite his lack of credibility.

This doesn’t seem like an especially tough call.

[Torchlight]

76. I guess he dislikes being judged on the content of his character.

You're correct, Mr. thomas, you "can’t change you unless you permit" it; and until that time arrives, I fear your aversion to mirrors of the soul will only strengthen.

[LakeArenal]

77. Said the Supreme Nasty.

[mahina]

78. Says the nastiest slug that ever slimed

Apology to slugs