Two For Tea?

Six weeks ago, President Obama prominently chastised the court for a recent ruling while the judges bristled in their seats (Alito, visibly), being constrained by decorum during the State of the Union.  Last week, Chief Justice Roberts openly wondered, “Why we are there”, and referred to the State of the Union as a “political pep rally.”

So tensions are already running a little bit high among the micro-culture devoted to such political subtleties.  But something a little bit more interesting happened this week.

Clarence Thomas is known for many things, but for the last two decades it has been his silence.  As other members of the Supreme Court ask biting questions of the lawyers before them, Justice Thomas remains silent… as if so deep in thought, and so observant, that to speak would be superfluous.  Astonishingly, it’s been over 4 years since Thomas has said anything during oral arguments.

His wife, it seems, is not really the silent type.  In fact, she’s started up a local tea party group in her area to the consternation of… those prone to consternation.  But she plays it pretty cool:

“I am an ordinary citizen from Omaha, Neb., who just may have the chance to preserve liberty along with you and other people like you,” she said at a recent panel discussion with tea party leaders in Washington. Thomas went on to count herself among those energized into action by President Obama’s “hard-left agenda.”

LA Times

No doubt she also sees her husband as working to preserve liberty against Obama’s “hard-left agenda” as well.  She said she felt called to the “front lines” and has formed Liberty Central to help spread her ideas.

The Tea Party movement, which is still seen as radical by a large portion of America (despite being far less radical than most of the population), has yet to truly find its place in politics.  It has been making waves – to be sure, but politics tends to be a dirty rather than idealistic business, and it’s not entirely clear how the movement will pan out politically.

Still, although the silence of Justice Thomas is deafening to some, and the implications of his wife’s political involvement egregious to others, it’s a pretty solid bet that the tea party has one of nine votes on the Supreme Court.  And hey, all things considered, one out of nine ain’t bad.