Clarence Thomas's Courage in the Face of Leftist Attacks, Per Ted Cruz's 'Going Further'
Source: Shawn Fleetwood. "Leftists Failed To Stop Clarence Thomas From 'Going Further'." September 2, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
This article argues that Clarence Thomas is a courageous, principled Supreme Court justice who has faced down decades of unfair attacks from the political left, from his 1991 confirmation hearings to today, without ever compromising his beliefs. Drawing on Ted Cruz's new book, the author claims that Thomas's story shows a man devoted to truth and the Constitution who has triumphed over his critics.
Conclusion
Clarence Thomas is a man of exceptional courage and integrity who has consistently stood by his principles and pursuit of truth despite decades of relentless attacks from the left, and their efforts to destroy him have failed.
Premises
- Thomas overcame a childhood of poverty and adversity in the segregated South, developing a strong work ethic instilled by his grandfather.
- Thomas rejected the left-wing radicalism of his youth after intellectually reexamining race-based policies like affirmative action and concluding they harmed black Americans.
- Thomas developed a deep reverence for the Constitution and originalist judicial philosophy through serious study of founding documents and political philosophy.
- Thomas withstood a brutal Supreme Court confirmation process, including what he called a 'high-tech lynching,' and was ultimately confirmed and believed by the American public over his accuser Anita Hill.
- Thomas has endured decades of continued attacks, including claims he is a puppet of Justice Scalia, racist 'Uncle Tom' smears, and ethics accusations.
- Despite these attacks, Thomas has consistently ruled according to his understanding of the Constitution's original meaning, even when it meant standing alone, and has been central to major originalist rulings on religious freedom, gun rights, and free speech.
Assumptions
- Originalism is the correct and honest approach to constitutional interpretation.
- Attacks on Thomas from the left were motivated by dishonest political opposition rather than legitimate concerns about his rulings or conduct.
- Standing firm against criticism is itself evidence of moral courage and correctness, rather than potentially reflecting stubbornness or error.
- Anita Hill's allegations were false or unsupported, and public opinion polls at the time are a reliable indicator of the truth of those allegations.
- The book 'Going Further' by Ted Cruz provides an accurate and unbiased account of Thomas's life and motivations.
- Race-based policies like affirmative action are broadly harmful to black Americans, justifying Thomas's political shift.