Election 2020 From a Different Angle Part II: Clarence Thomas and Joe Biden

This is the second part of a small series intended to expand the intellectual and historical scope of my high school senior class.

They have a lot of exposure to the Corporate Media and Social Media narrative, and practically none to the prior stories that are ignored or spun.  Because it is difficult for many of them to understand why anyone in their right mind would think of backing the Trump ticket, this is my way of expanding their frame of reference.  The wretched Corporate Media tells them that the DJT supporters and campaign are 'racists!', and nothing more.  That rhetoric is intellectually hollow.  I have filled in some of the empty spaces, and my students are appreciative, even when they disagree.

-------------------

Clarence Thomas was nominated to the Supreme Court in 1991, but not after a difficult and scandal ridden nominating process, masterminded by Sen. Joe Biden. Thomas is fiercely independent, and grew up under difficult circumstances. In a normal world, his story would be talked about all the time. It is my opinion that you should wonder why it isn't. It is in your interest to read his biography here.


When the hearings were over, Thomas spoke directly to Sen. Biden and the committee. In what is now a famous, short monologue, he chastised the committe for its wretched behavior, and accusing him of things he didn't do.

This is one of those things that, in the background, with people my age, couldn't be forgotten. It was national news. I was 19 years old in 1991, and I remember it well. The fact that the National Corporate Press saw fit to ignore this aspect of the Biden campaign is something that couldn't be put aside. Biden's treatment of one of the accusers, Anita Hill, also couldn't be overlooked by people from my generation.

I would like you to:

1. Look over the linked biography of Clarence Thomas.
2. Watch his short presentation / speech. What did he say, how did he say it, and, in your opinion, does he have a case? Was he credible? Listen carefully to the word choices and rhetoric, and explain what you saw / heard.