![]() ― Jeffrey Toobin, quote from The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court ![]() Like the contemporary Republican Party as a whole, Bush and Thomas opposed preferential treatment on account of race-and Bush had chosen Thomas in large part because of his race. ![]() Worse, Bush's endorsement raised themes that would haunt not only Thomas's confirmation hearings but also his tenure as a justice. For example, he had never argued a single case in any federal appeals court, much less in the Supreme Court he had never written a book, an article, or even a legal brief of any consequence. "He is the best qualified at this time." The statement was self-evidently preposterous Thomas had served as a judge for only a year and, before that, displayed few of the customary signs of professional distinction that are the rule for future justices. ![]() "The fact that he is black and a minority has nothing to do with this," Bush said. … There was awkwardness about the selection from the start. The list of plausible candidates who fit both qualifications pretty much began and ended with Clarence Thomas. ![]() If Marshall left, they could not leave the Supreme Court an all-white institution at the same time, they had to choose a nominee who would stay true to the conservative cause. “The dilemma facing Bush and the Republicans was clear. ![]()
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