A rare display of bipartisan agreement emerged in the Senate Judiciary Committee over condemning racially charged attacks against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
According to Fox News, Democrats joined Republicans in unanimously approving a measure that formally condemns racist rhetoric recently used by progressive pundits and elected Democratic officials against the Black conservative justice.
The amendment, introduced by Senator John Kennedy, R-La., specifically addresses inflammatory remarks comparing Thomas to an "Uncle Tom" figure and a house slave character from the movie "Django Unchained." This unprecedented show of unity comes amid increasing racial attacks against Thomas following recent Supreme Court decisions.
The bipartisan measure specifically calls out Minnesota Democrat Attorney General Keith Ellison for his racially charged comparison of Thomas to a house slave character. Georgia state Senator Emanuel Jones also faced criticism for characterizing Thomas as an "Uncle Tom" figure during a February statement.
Senator Kennedy pressed for immediate action during the committee meeting, challenging his colleagues to take a clear stance against the discriminatory rhetoric. The Louisiana Republican emphasized that the amendment's purpose was straightforward – to condemn racist and degrading statements targeting Thomas.
MSNBC host Joy Reid was also mentioned in the amendment for her continued use of racially offensive language when discussing Thomas's jurisprudence over several years.
Initial resistance from Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse centered on concerns about executive branch involvement in Justice Department decisions. The original amendment included a provision calling for Biden administration enforcement of federal codes protecting Supreme Court justices.
Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, worked together to modify the amendment's language. They broadened its scope to include all past and future justices while removing controversial provisions about executive branch enforcement.
The negotiated compromise led to unanimous committee approval, demonstrating rare cross-party cooperation on a sensitive issue.
The amendment is attached to the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act, which cleared the committee along party lines. This broader legislation aims to implement a code of conduct for Supreme Court justices.
Republican committee members argued that existing ethics rules, governed by a separate body, already provide sufficient oversight. These rules were recently updated to enhance disclosure requirements.
Senator Kennedy expressed skepticism about the bill's prospects, stating that it lacks the necessary 60 votes for Senate passage. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has not yet indicated when or if the legislation will receive a full vote.
The Senate Judiciary Committee's unanimous condemnation of racial attacks against Justice Thomas represents a significant moment of bipartisan cooperation. The amendment specifically addresses recent inflammatory rhetoric from progressive pundits and Democratic officials comparing Thomas to racist stereotypes and demeaning characters. While the broader Supreme Court ethics bill faces an uncertain future, this show of unity against discriminatory attacks marks an important stand against the use of racial rhetoric in political discourse.
