Salazar: Thomas an 'abomination'
High court justice no Thurgood Marshall, Colo. senator says
Ann Imse, Rocky Mountain News
Published January 26, 2006 at midnight
Colorado Sen. Ken Salazar on Wednesday called U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas an "abomination" compared with the late Justice Thurgood Marshall.
Marshall, the first black appointed to the Supreme Court, was the lead litigator in the historic 1954 school desegregation case and, as a justice, a champion of civil rights. He died in 1993.
Thomas, the second black appointed to the Supreme Court, succeeded the retiring Marshall in 1991 after being nominated by the first President Bush.
Thomas' televised confirmation hearings captured the nation's attention when law professor Anita Hill accused him of sexual harassment, a charge he denied.
As a justice, Thomas has been a staunch conservative, supporting states' rights and opposing abortion and affirmative action.
Salazar's comment about Thomas came during a telephone news conference Wednesday in which he said he would not be part of any possible Democratic filibuster to stop a vote on the confirmation of Samuel Alito as a member of the court.
Salazar was asked whether he would have filibustered any of the current Supreme Court justices. He replied that he hadn't subjected any of them to the kind of in-depth analysis he did with Alito. Then he continued:
"There are members of the U.S. Supreme Court that I very much disagree with. Clarence Thomas, for example, I think is an abomination when you contrast him to the leadership and principles of someone like Thurgood Marshall. I've been in front of the court and I know the justices."
Asked about prospects of a filibuster attempt by other Democrats on the Alito nomination, Salazar said, "I don't know whether that will happen. That's not in my hands."
But, he added, "I do not intend to join in any filibuster against a vote on Judge Alito."
Salazar has said he will vote against Alito, especially because of his decisions favoring a strong executive branch.
Meanwhile, Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., in a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday, urged his colleagues to confirm Alito.
"Judge Alito has the experience, intellect, temperament, and integrity required of a Supreme Court justice," Allard said.
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