Conflicted Clarence Thomas Countdown to Clarity
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Does Justice Clarence Thomas have a conflict of interest?
It may not please the court, but it sure looks that way. Permit me to present the evidence.
Thomas's wife earned $700,000 from uber-conservative groups that opposed health care reform. He neglected to disclose her income for 13 years -- until he got caught and submitted a slew of amended filings.
What's the honorable justice's defense? Deny and deflect. First he said his critics were "undermining" the Supreme Court. Now, apparently we're suffering from "a disease of illiteracy or laziness."
We have been waiting for 10 days to find out what conflicts Justice Thomas is bringing to our Supreme Court every day. He MUST make the financial disclosure forms he filed over a week ago public immediately. Hundreds of thousands have already joined me in calling out Conflicted Clarence Thomas, but I need your help to make sure he hears us loud and clear.
Clearly it's getting to him. At a speech last week in Augusta, he went so far as to call us "cynics" who are "drunk on their own opinions." The nerve of us, questioning a U.S. Supreme Court justice who has been featured in Koch promotional material -- alongside such bastions of impartiality as Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh -- for conservative political events and causes.
I expected more out of someone who sits on the most distinguished court in the land.
This "impartial" member hid $700,000 of his household income for over a decade and won't recuse himself from health care reform cases even though his wife has made boatloads of money lobbying against it. What's he hiding in his financial disclosure forms now?
I know I won't let up until he stops dodging the question. I hope I can count on having you with me.
Because it's not our behavior that's undermining the Supreme Court -- it's Justice Thomas's.
Thanks for your continued support,
Anthony
Clarence Thomas
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Clarence Thomas wants a fight about his lying to the American people. So let's give it to him.
Here are the facts. Thomas' wife earned $700,000 from half the radical right-wing ideologues in Washington. Opposing health care reform was her specialty.
For 13 years, Clarence Thomas didn't disclose a penny of that income, even though he was legally and ethically obligated.
Thomas is trying to conceal a blatant conflict of interest. His family is getting rich off an issue that's very likely to come before the Supreme Court.
So 250,000 of us demanded he recuse himself from cases about health care. We must have struck a nerve because Thomas went apoplectic, accusing you and me of "undermining" the Supreme Court because we dare question a single justice's impartiality.
This week was another big financial disclosure deadline -- and the beginning of the next round of our fight.
These financial forms are a matter of public record, typically made available within 30 days of the filing deadline. But when a Supreme Court justice has broken the public trust repeatedly for over a decade, we deserve to know right away what conflict he has.
Stand with me to force Clarence Thomas to release his disclosure ASAP. We need to know how big a conflict Thomas is bringing every day to our Supreme Court.
There's clearly something fishy going on when a U.S. Supreme Court justice claims his wife's income was "inadvertently omitted due to a misunderstanding of the filing instructions" -- especially when those instructions are, "Spouse's Non-Investment Income -- If you were married during any portion of the reporting year, complete this section."
Already there are questions about Mrs. Thomas' 2010 earnings at Liberty Central, a right-wing action group she founded in 2009. She claims she had no salary -- the COO of the organization says otherwise.
Clarence Thomas shouldn't hide the truth behind stalling tactics. Stand with me today and demand he publicly release his financial disclosure immediately.
Thanks again to the 250,000 people who are already standing with me to hold Clarence Thomas accountable. Our work has been a great success so far.
But Thomas is gearing up for a fight. And, as a guy from Brooklyn, there's no way I'm backing down. I need you in my corner one more time.
Anthony
Disgusting
Friday, 06 May 2011
The outright Republican assault on women just keeps getting worse. They're using their majority to push their rigid ideology, and that's why you need to stand with me. Here's the latest.
First, they tried that bill to change the very definition of "rape." The massive public outrage made them back off -- or so we thought.
Then, this week, radical House Republicans passed a bill that goes further than ever. It's called the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act," and it's the biggest attack on a woman's right to choose in a generation.
It's shocking how extreme -- how over the top -- this legislation is. It's disgusting how central destroying women's rights is to the hard right vision of America.
Democrats like us have to fight back. If we don't stand together, who knows what else they might try.
Not only does this bill resurrect the ridiculous "forcible rape" idea, it takes direct aim at women's rights and women's equality.
This bill would authorize the IRS to audit victims of sexual assault -- seriously. It would raise taxes on small businesses who offer health insurance that covers reproductive health -- seriously. It would make permanent the DC abortion ban -- a real and serious rollback of women's rights.
It would prevent American women looking for health insurance in state exchanges from spending their own money on insurance for essential reproductive care -- seriously.
Fighting Democrats everywhere are springing to action to stop this outrage. I need your help right away.
Anthony
a great nation
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Thanks so much to all who've joined me in taking a stand against the GOP's outrageous assault on our seniors' health and well-being.
Thousands have already called on Republicans to keep their hands off Medicare, but we're going to need to be a whole lot louder to be heard over the Tea Party ruckus. So I'm asking you to spread the word to your friends, family, coworkers, friends of friends -- because this fight is bigger than you and me.
Here are some ideas on how you can ask people to join us right now:
Here's a sample message for the social networks:
Republican budget math is all wrong: Twice the cost for half the care? No way! Tell them to keep their hands off Medicare at democratswhofight.com.
Our commitment to our senior citizens is one of the things that makes America a great nation, and we can't let any party -- Tea or otherwise -- dismantle it.
Thanks for all you do,
Anthony
Ds support Medicare. Rs don't.
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
The GOP is trying to break a promise we made to seniors almost 50 years ago. That promise is simple: we'll make sure you have the basic medical care you need.
Apparently, that's too much for the GOP. Last Wednesday, I was proud to hear President Obama vow that he wouldn't let that happen on his watch. He took on Rep. Paul Ryan's budget, which ends Medicare as a guaranteed program for seniors. Instead, it takes that money and gives the wealthiest Americans still more tax cuts.
I don't buy into the Republican myth that our country can't afford to take care of its citizens.
Our President laid out a budget plan that reduces the deficit and protects the commitments we make to our seniors. This is an inspiring vision, but having seen the Tea Party in action I know he's going to need all of us in his corner. I want to keep the promise of Medicare for every future generation, which is why I need fighting Democrats all across America to stand up and join me.
Thanks for your continued support,
Anthony
The end of Medicare as we know it
Friday, 15 April 2011
On Wednesday, President Obama fought back against the GOP's budget proposal -- which would end Medicare as a guaranteed program for seniors, while also helping out the wealthiest Americans with more tax cuts -- when he outlined his plan for both cutting the deficit and protecting our commitment to seniors.
Congressman Weiner picked up where the president left off, taking the fight to cable news to show the right wing that Democrats won’t back down from defending Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. The Republicans did their usual song and dance about spending -- talking about “transforming” the programs you rely on. The Congressman made sure to call them out by stating what this really means: ending Medicare as we know it.
On The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Rep. Weiner went up against Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) and made it clear that this fight is about our ideals – do we want to be a country that takes from the poor to give to the rich, or do we want to be a nation that takes care of its people.
Later, on The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell, Congressman Weiner debated Jack Kingston (R-GA) about the president’s budget plan.
He drove the point home: Democrats created and support Medicare. Republicans don’t.
Have a look.
