In another bizarre chapter in the ongoing controversy that surrounds her, Virginia Thomas, Tea Party activist and wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, indicated recently that she may step down from her position as head of Liberty Central. Thomas’s involvement in the group, intended to support conservative activists and Tea Party campaigns, drew concern as to whether it could cause conflicts of interest for her husband.
In fact, about a month ago I used this very example to illustrate how the Court does not safeguard enough against such conflicts of interest. But now that Virginia Thomas is stepping down, I find myself slightly saddened. I don’t agree with her politics, and I certainly don’t agree with her bizarre call to Anita Hill for an apology, but I do lament the fact that she feels obligated to put her husband’s work ahead of her own.
Here is the point at which you realize that this post is less about the Supreme Court and more about women in politics. Virginia Thomas’s choice is ultimately good in the sense that it should reduce potential problems for her husband on the bench. But I wonder if she could have found a way to alleviate the concerns of possible conflicts for her husband without removing herself from the political arena. After all, this is the age of “Mama Grizzlies,” Hillary Clinton, and Justices Kagan and Sotomayor.
I won’t go into a lengthy rant on the issue, but I do believe Thomas’s decision gives a lot to think about. Can spouses of major political figures be successful in their own right like Hillary Clinton, or is she the exception to the rule? Where should the spouses of judges draw the line in their political involvement? Do women in politics have to play by different rules than men? And was Virginia Thomas right in stepping down from Liberty Central? I’m going to go ponder the questions a bit myself, but if anyone has an opinion, don’t hesitate to weigh in.
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