The Talk in Orange County

Though the confirmation of U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Clarence Thomas as a Supreme Court justice was completed Tuesday, the debate continues. It is a debate that has so divided and captivated the public that officials predict that its results will influence the future of our political process and behavior in the workplace for years to come. The following is a sampling of how some leaders in Orange County viewed Tuesday’s Senate action.

“There was something bigger than whether he (Judge Thomas) was confirmed or not: The whole incident has been an indictment of the politicization of the process. . . . For all the people who have questioned her (Anita Faye Hill), I have one question: What did she have to gain by putting herself on the line like this? . . . I think this case is closed, but for the issue of sexual harassment, the door is open.”

--Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder, the only woman ever elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors

“We need to change the system for picking Supreme Court nominees. What has happened is a travesty. To have televised questionings by the legislative branch of a judiciary candidate represents a serious intrusion. Some sort of questioning is in order, but it is unfortunate it has fallen into a play to the public whim, which I think is inappropriate.”

--Andrew Gilford, president of the Orange County Bar Assn.

“This has been the talk of everywhere I have been for days. Even our 12-year-old son knew every prominent aspect of this event. . . . I’m pleased that he was confirmed, and I’m also glad it’s over. . . . I think we’ve seen that there needs to be an adherence to the process. I don’t think this can ever be allowed to happen again. If the process doesn’t change, I would submit that any young man or woman who wanted a presidential appointment should take careful note of what happened here.”

--Board of Supervisors Chairman Gaddi H. Vasquez

“Judge Thomas’ views reflect a more median age group in this country. You don’t have to be 70 or 80 to have all the wisdom. Let’s hope everyone learns a lesson from this. That lesson is that the process (for confirming a nominee to the Supreme Court) should be changed. I think the charges were blown all out of proportion.”

--Anaheim Mayor Fred Hunter

“I don’t know Judge Thomas, but apparently a number of people think he is qualified. The whole process was a disgrace, and I believe it was harmful to this country. I am encouraged that a great number of people have expressed a need to change things. This was a Roman circus.”

--Bishop Norman F. McFarland, Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange

“I think the man was not telling the truth and he should have left the door open and said yes, he is human and he may have intimated to Ms. Hill that he liked her and things like that. We are not getting the best we could have, but what else can we expect from (President) Bush?”

--Amin David, Latino rights activist

“It was certainly the biggest drama going on, that’s for sure. We would like a serious and thorough look at harassment. The way some members on the (Senate Judiciary) committee tried to discredit her, all that kind of crap has been used to discredit women in the past.”

--Stanlee Phelps, president of Women in Business in Orange County

“I wish I knew the truth. Hopefully, he will, with this challenge, just be in check with what is going on and know for certain that someone is watching. We just have to remember that no matter who we are and no matter how high we get, there will always be someone trying to do something positive or negative for them.”

--Audrey Ella Whitehead, poet

“We will come away with a better definition of sexual harassment because of this. Maybe all of this will mean we will have more respect for each other in the workplace.”

--State Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach)