I would like to believe that if Clarence Thomas came under attack

[Tom Rinaldo]

by people who were employing racist stereotyping, terms with racist connotations, and/or anything that smacked of a double standard associated with race, that Democrats of all stripes would be willing and able to deplore that type of treatment, and speak out against it, regardless of our strong negative feelings about the positions that Clarence Thomas takes on some issues that are important to us. Do any of us truly believe that American society is so rid of racism that even a black man who undeniably does represent the entrenched status quo is protected against all instances of separate and unequal treatment based on the color of his skin alone?

Who got the right to vote first in America? Black male slaves or any women?

[KennedyGuy]

1. I would defend any republican if he, or she, were attacked on Racial grounds

[Adelante]

2. I wouldn't lift a finger for Clarence Thomas

No, I wouldn't.

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. I wouldn't lift a finger for him. I would lift a fist against racist attacks. n/t

[Marrah_G]

4. Some folks can't get past the rage to understand the difference.

[no name no slogan]

5. but would you piss on him if he were on fire?

[Adelante]

6. Probably I would do that much nt

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. That is a much more difficult question to answer

My inner Ghandi vs my inner Bakunin. Maybe my inner Ghandi would win the debate too late, lol.

[Fresh_Start]

8. black males got vote before any females

more than 50 years before.

Blacks got vote following civil war.
Women got vote 1920.

[tritsofme]

10. Theoretically they did.

Reality was much different.

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. Agreed

But given the depth of extreme racial prejudice that always existed in this nation (and what can be more extreme than slavery) that makes it all the more remarkable that our legal system was able to even theoretically give the vote to black men 50 years sooner than white (and by extension all races) women won that right. That has to tell you something.

[IndianaJones]

9. I went to school with Thomas' son and met him a couple of times.

He seems like an ok guy. Racism is widespread in America. When the opportunity comes to engage in it with impunity, or sit by and watch it happen without comment, most Americans are game.

[Sparkly]

11. Think about when black men got the vote...

They were considered 3/5 of a person, and yet they got the vote.

What does that say about what women were considered? Pretty mind-blowing, isn't it?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. If Thomas Was Attacked Because Of His Race I Would Hope I Have The Courage To Defend Him

But there's so much real stuff to attack him with...

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. That there is

and for those who feel there is much real stuff to attack a woman candidate on, that too is fair game.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

14. Sexism is still okay because it's considered "natural"

That is no longer the case with racism, thus it's not acceptable in polite society to express it. Sexism is still fine because the status quo demands that males and females assume their assigned roles. These stereotypes are considered innate, just as Blacks were widely considered "naturally" inferior 100 years ago. It does go to show deeply entrenched sexism that Black males got the vote before any women did. Nothing will change until people stop believing that sexism is "natural" and stop romanticizing it. That's not likely to happen anytime soon.

[Tom Rinaldo]

16. Excellent concise analysis

And from the looks of things around even leftists boards this election season, I have to agree with you on your bottom line.

[LiberalFighter]

17. Thomas is not fit to be a black man let alone a human being.

Thomas doesn't care about civil rights of anyone.

Thomas only cares about what others call him. If blacks are called n* he could care less because it isn't him.

[Tom Rinaldo]

18. If I agree do you think my OP must be wrong? n/t

[Bluerthanblue]

19. the responses to this thread depress and

shame me.

I hope they don't represent honest beliefs- but are the rantings of people who speak fast and foolishly.



If not, then i hope this country folds fast-

[Tom Rinaldo]

22. When it comes to idealism...

Prospects are rarely as positive as we hope or as negative as they look.

[maximusveritas]

20. The problem with that, especially the "double standard"

is that it requires some kind of proof that there is indeed a double standard. If Thomas was just using his race as an excuse to beat back honest criticism, which would probably be the case, then I wouldn't defend him.

[Tom Rinaldo]

21. If I wasn't clear enough in the OP

I was NOT talking about throwing a race card back in his face if he tried to play one opportunistically. I was talking about a theoretic scenario where people who do not like him for one or more valid or invalid reasons decide that they can attack him by tapping into America's racism to wound Thomas politically.