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Virginia and Clarence Thomas married in 1987.<ref name="an inside look">{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zeMNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2nQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4970,127440|title=10 years later, an inside look at Clarence Thomas|author=Ken Foskett|agency=Cox News Service|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|date=July 6, 2001}}</ref> They live in [[Virginia]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Julia|coauthors=Bob Dart| title=Judge Thomas: Tough, but `down to earth' Court nominee called comfortable with self|work=The Atlanta Journal|page=A1|date=July 4, 1991}}</ref>
Virginia and Clarence Thomas married in 1987.<ref name="an inside look">{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zeMNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2nQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4970,127440|title=10 years later, an inside look at Clarence Thomas|author=Ken Foskett|agency=Cox News Service|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|date=July 6, 2001}}</ref> They live in [[Virginia]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Julia|coauthors=Bob Dart| title=Judge Thomas: Tough, but `down to earth' Court nominee called comfortable with self|work=The Atlanta Journal|page=A1|date=July 4, 1991}}</ref>


Multiple news organizations reported that on October 9, 2010, Virginia Thomas left a [[voicemail]] message for [[Anita Hill]], whose accusations of [[sexual harassment]] complicated her husband's Supreme Court confirmation hearing 19 years earlier.<ref name="wife asks">{{cite news|title=Clarence Thomas’s Wife Asks Anita Hill for Apology|work=New York Times|date=2010-10-19|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/us/politics/20thomas.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Virginia Thomas seeks apology from Anita Hill|work=Washington Post|date=2010-10-19|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102001551.html}}</ref>
Multiple news organizations reported that on October 9, 2010, Virginia Thomas left a [[voicemail]] message for [[Anita Hill]], whose accusations of [[sexual harassment]] complicated her husband's Supreme Court confirmation hearing 19 years earlier.<ref name="wife asks">{{cite news|title=Clarence Thomas’s Wife Asks Anita Hill for Apology|work=New York Times|date=2010-10-19|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/us/politics/20thomas.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Virginia Thomas seeks apology from Anita Hill|work=Washington Post|date=2010-10-19|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102001551.html}}</ref> In the voice mail, Thomas asked Hill to apologize and give a "full explanation of why you did what you did with my husband".<ref name="wife asks"/> Virginia Thomas later described the message as an attempt at "reaching out". Hill responded that she had nothing to apologize for, and that her 1991 testimony about her interactions with Clarence Thomas was truthful.<ref name="wife asks"/>

In the voice mail, Thomas said that Hill should apologize to Thomas's husband.<ref name="wife asks"/> Virginia Thomas later described the message as an attempt at "reaching out". Hill responded that she had nothing to apologize for, and that her 1991 testimony about her interactions with Clarence Thomas was truthful.<ref name="wife asks"/>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 14:08, 25 October 2010

Virginia Lamp Thomas
Virginia Thomas at her husband's swearing in as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
Born
Virginia Lamp

(1957-02-23) February 23, 1957 (age 67)
United States
Other namesGinni
Alma materCreighton University, B.A.
Creighton University School of Law, J.D.
Occupation(s)Attorney, public policy analyst, political activist
EmployerHeritage Foundation
Liberty Central
Political partyRepublican
SpouseClarence Thomas

Virginia "Ginni" Lamp Thomas (born February 23, 1957) is an American attorney who is presently serving as a consultant to the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and as the founder and president of the Tea party associated advocacy group, Liberty Central. She is the wife of U. S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas.

Early life and education

Thomas grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, the youngest of four children born to Donald Lamp, a successful engineer who owned his own firm, and Marjorie Lamp, a stay-at-home mother.[1][2][3] Her parents were described by The Washington Post as "upper middle class Republican party insiders who stressed family and religion at home", and who wintered in Florida.[2]

Thomas attended Westside High School in Omaha, where she was a member of the student government, the debate club and the Republican club.[2] While she was still in high school, her ambition was to be a member of Congress.[3] She enrolled in a woman's college in Virginia because of its proximity to Washington D.C., then transferred to the University of Nebraska, then to Creighton University to be closer to a boyfriend.[3] She received a B.A. in political science and business communication from Creighton University in 1979, then attended Creighton University School of Law, earning her J.D. from there in 1983, after a hiatus to work as a legislative aide for Representative Hal Daub.[3][2][4]

Career

1981-1991

During her first year of law school, Thomas did campaign work for Hal Daub, an Omaha Republican who was running for Congress. When Daub was took office in 1981, Thomas moved to Washington D.C. and worked in his office for 18 months.[3][1][2] She returned to Creighton to complete law school, then worked one more year for Daub in Washington, this time as his legislative director.[3]

From 1985 to 1989 she was employed as an attorney and labor relations specialist at the private, non-profit United States Chamber of Commerce,[2][5][6] attending congressional hearings where she lobbied on behalf of the interests of the business community.[2] Her advocacy included arguing against the passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act — legislation that requires larger employers to provide temporary unpaid leave to employees to care for a new child or during a serious personal or family illness.[7] In 1989, she became manager of employee relations at the Chamber of Commerce.[8]

1991-2009

In 1991, Thomas returned to government service, working in the legislative affairs office of U. S. Department of Labor,[9][10][11] where she argued against comparable-worth legislation that would have mandated equal pay for women and men in jobs deemed to be "comparable".[12][13] That year, her husband was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to fill the open position on the U. S. Supreme Court left by the retirement of Justice Thurgood Marshall.[14] She attended the contentious Senate confirmation hearings and stood by her husband as he was accused of sexual harassment.[15] During the confirmation hearings, several Democratic senators claimed that her job with the Labor Department might create a conflict of interest for her husband if he was seated on the Supreme Court.[16] After her husband was narrowly confirmed by a majority vote of 52 to 48,[17] Thomas called the televised scrutiny and confirmation process a "trial by fire" for her husband.[18][19] Thomas's next job was as a policy analyst for U. S. Congressman Dick Armey, who was then the Republican House Conference Chairman. The issue of a possible conflict of interest was raised again in 1994 while Thomas was working for Armey.[20][21] By the year 2000 she was working for the Heritage Foundation, and claims of conflict of interest were again raised because she was collecting résumés for potential presidential appointments in the George W. Bush Administration at a time when the U.S. Supreme Court was deciding the case of Bush v. Gore.[22][23] She continued to work at the Heritage Foundation during the administration of George W. Bush, serving as the think tank's White House liaison.[24] She serves on the Alumni Advisory Board of her alma mater, Creighton University School of Law.[4]

2009-present

In late 2009, Thomas started a nonprofit tea-party affiliated lobbying group, Liberty Central, to organize conservative activists, issue score cards for Congress members, and be involved in elections.[25] The group is aimed at opposing what Thomas has called the leftist "tyranny" of President Obama and Congressional Democrats and “protecting the core founding principles” of the nation.[26] Thomas was interviewed by Sean Hannity on his Fox News show in June 2010. When asked about potential conflicts between her Liberty Central activities and her husband's position, Thomas replied "there's a lot of judicial wives and husbands out there causing trouble. I'm just one of many."[27]

Anti-cult advocacy

Thomas took training with the self awareness program Lifespring while working as a congressional aide in the 1980s.[28] In 1987, she related to Marc Fisher of the Washington Post that during her training several years earlier, she had been "confused and troubled" by lessons such as one where trainees were told to disrobe to bikinis and bathing suits then "made fun of fat people's bodies and riddled one another with sexual questions."[28] After realizing that membership in her Lifespring group was separating her from her family, friends and co-workers, Thomas began what proved to be a difficult and months-long process of breaking away.[28] At one point, she hid in another part of the U. S. to avoid a constant barrage of high-pressure phone calls from Lifespring members, who felt they had a duty to keep her in the organization.[28][2][29][30]

Thomas ultimately came to believe that Lifespring was a cult.[2] After leaving the group in 1985 she sought counseling and joined the Cult Awareness Network.[2][31] She became an anti-cult advocate speaking on panels and organizing anti-cult workshops for congressional staffers in 1986 and 1988.[2] In a 1991 interview, Thomas remarked, "I was once in a group that used mind control techniques" and she called its members "pretty scary people."[32]

Personal life

Virginia and Clarence Thomas married in 1987.[33] They live in Virginia.[34]

Multiple news organizations reported that on October 9, 2010, Virginia Thomas left a voicemail message for Anita Hill, whose accusations of sexual harassment complicated her husband's Supreme Court confirmation hearing 19 years earlier.[35][36] In the voice mail, Thomas asked Hill to apologize and give a "full explanation of why you did what you did with my husband".[35] Virginia Thomas later described the message as an attempt at "reaching out". Hill responded that she had nothing to apologize for, and that her 1991 testimony about her interactions with Clarence Thomas was truthful.[35]

References

  1. ^ a b Paul Richter (October 13, 1991). "Virginia Thomas: A Wife Shares Husband's Ordeal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Blumenfeld, Laura (September 10, 1991). "The Nominee's Soul Mate". The Washington Post. pp. F01.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Ken Foskett (August 3, 2004). Judging Thomas: The Life and Times of Clarence Thomas. William Morrow. ISBN 0060527218. {{cite book}}: Text "pages 194-198" ignored (help)
  4. ^ a b Alumni Advisory Board
  5. ^ Frank Swoboda (February 11, 1988). "Chamber of Commerce Backs Concept of Child Care Bill". The Washington Post.
  6. ^ "INS Ready to crack down on firms that hire illegal aliens". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. May 31, 1988. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
  7. ^ Stanton, Betsy (December 10, 1987). "Big business: Family and Medical Leave Act is a bitter pill". Daily News Record.
  8. ^ Staff (September 14, 1989). "Help wanted: skilled workers for the '90s". Purchasing. Reed Business Information, Inc.
  9. ^ John Mashek and Ethan Bronner (July 2, 1991). "Thomas, a Conservative, Nominated to High Court Confirmation Fight". The Boston Globe.
  10. ^ Ruth Marcus (July 2, 1991). "Self-Made Conservative; Nominee Insists He Be Judged on Merits". The Washington Post. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  11. ^ Staff (September 30, 1989). "Drug Abuse Among Women Expected to be Major Issue". Lexington Herald Leader.
  12. ^ Margaret Carlson; Joseph J. Kane annd Staci D. Kramer (July 15, 1991). "The Supreme Court: Marching to a Different Drummer". Time Magazine. p. 5.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Claire Andre. "Comparable Worth". Santa Clara University. Retrieved March 19, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Margaret Carlson and Joseph J. Kane (July 15, 1991). "The Supreme Court: Marching to a Different Drummer". TIME. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  15. ^ Maureen Dowd (October 12, 1991). "The Thomas Nomination; In An Ugly Atmosphere, the Accusations Fly". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  16. ^ Toner, Robin (December 13, 2000). "Contesting the vote: Political memo; Day-to-Day Duels on Political Issues Have Grown Increasingly Personal". The New York Times.
  17. ^ Ann Gearan (September 4, 2001). "Decade after bitter confirmation, Thomas marches to his own tune". New London, Connecticut: The Day. Associated Press. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  18. ^ Smitherman, Geneva (1995). African American Women Speak Out on Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas. Wayne State University Press. p. Page 191. ISBN 0814325300.
  19. ^ Corn, David (December 9, 1991). "Beltway Bandits". The Nation.
  20. ^ Swenson, Michele (2005). Democracy Under Assault. Sol Ventures Press. p. Page 98. ISBN 0976678802.
  21. ^ Staff (November 24, 1994). "Congress: Dole Won't Block Helms". Rocky Mountain News.
  22. ^ Dee, John (January 2001). "Supreme Court (In)Justice". Lumpen. pp. Coup 2K.
  23. ^ Marquis, Christopher (December 12, 2000). "Job of Clarence Thomas's Wife Raises Conflict-of-Interest Questions". The New York Times.
  24. ^ Staff (September 4, 2001). "After 10 years on Supreme Court, Thomas finds a comfortable routine". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  25. ^ Hennessey, Kathleen (March 14, 2010). "Justice's wife launches 'tea party' group". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  26. ^ Jackie Calmes (2010-10-09). "Activism of Thomas's Wife Could Raise Judicial Issues". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
  27. ^ Vogel, Kenneth P. Secret donors make Thomas's wife's group tea party player. Politico. July 6, 2010.
  28. ^ a b c d Fisher, Marc (October 25, 1987). "I Cried Enough to Fill a Glass: In One Lifespring Session, Trainees May Find Themselves Crawling on their Hands and Knees, Wailing Like Infants and Tightly Hugging 200 Total Strangers - All to Get Control of Their Lives. Does it Work? Sometimes". The Washington Post.
  29. ^ Marcum, Kirsten (November 7, 2001). "Cult Status: In which the author struggles to escape the psychological shackles of a self-help seminar". Minneapolis City Pages. pp. Volume 22, Issue 1092, cover story. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)[dead link]
  30. ^ Staff (July 18, 1991). "Thomas' Wife Raps Lifespring". San Antonio Express-News.
  31. ^ Phelps, Timothy M. (1993). Capitol Games: The Inside Story of Clarence Thomas, Anita Hill and a Supreme Court Nomination. HarperPerennial. pp. 115–116. ISBN 0060975539. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ Staff (July 6, 1991). "Thomas' Wife Was Victim of Cult". The Buffalo News. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ {cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zeMNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2nQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4970,127440%7Ctitle=10 years later, an inside look at Clarence Thomas|author=Ken Foskett|agency=Cox News Service|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|date=July 6, 2001}}
  34. ^ Malone, Julia (July 4, 1991). "Judge Thomas: Tough, but `down to earth' Court nominee called comfortable with self". The Atlanta Journal. p. A1. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ a b c "Clarence Thomas's Wife Asks Anita Hill for Apology". New York Times. 2010-10-19.
  36. ^ "Virginia Thomas seeks apology from Anita Hill". Washington Post. 2010-10-19.

Further reading

  • Fletcher, Michael A. (2007). Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas. Doubleday. ISBN 0385510802. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Gerber, Scott Douglas (1999). First Principles: The Jurisprudence of Clarence Thomas. NYU Press. ISBN 0814731007.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ginni_Thomas&oldid=392789536"