Thomas and affirmative action

Re “Who’s the hypocrite?” Opinion, Oct. 15

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas cannot be considered an “affirmative action hire.” Affirmative action takes past discrimination into account in order to level the current field for minorities. The goal is to help those who were mistreated in the past. Thomas was not selected as part of an affirmative action policy, and certainly not to help minorities achieve equality, but rather in a cynical attempt to place a hard-right conservative on the bench.

It’s obvious that he was selected for two reasons: because he would be a reliable far-right vote, and he could win confirmation. Being black made it easier for him to be confirmed because liberals would be hesitant to vote against him for fear of appearing racist. This is not affirmative action, this is cynical and manipulative politics.

Randall Gellens

San Diego

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James Kirchick’s simplistic view of liberal resentment over Thomas’ Supreme Court appointment misses the point. Thomas used the system to advance himself and succeed, at which point he did an about-face and used anti-affirmative action opinions to pull up the ladder from behind himself, leaving other minorities to suffer the effects of past discrimination. He turned his back on programs that encourage public institutions to be more representative of the population. Then Thomas has the audacity to write a partisan book while currently sitting on the highest judicial body in the United States.

Dennis Snyder

Long Beach

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Affirmative action was not created to reward the disadvantaged but to eliminate discrimination against qualified people of color. Quotas are not specified. Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said he got his opportunity in part because of affirmative action. Others did too, I’m sure.

Of course the first President Bush did not select Thomas because of affirmative action. He had two reasons: He wanted a conservative on the court, and he wanted the black vote. Why isn’t that perfectly obvious?

Martin Rich

Encino

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I’m a pragmatist. Thomas is a Supreme Court justice. We’re stuck with him. His stand on affirmative action is valid even if some people believe it is hypocritical, a feeling that does not matter. What I don’t like about Thomas is that he and Justice Antonin Scalia think that the Constitution must be interpreted according to 18th century beliefs. I hope that nonsensical stand is gutted by a smart attorney.

David Burkenroad

Los Angeles

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Most blacks have been promoted because they earned it. But there is no denying that some promotions were made at the expense of competence to correct imbalances in racial makeup at corporations, departments and institutions. Even without affirmative action, political appointments would be made with an eye on ethnicity and gender. A Supreme Court without a black or a woman? Unthinkable!

Joseph Sterling

Temecula