Virginia Lamp Thomas

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Virginia Lamp Thomas

Virginia Lamp Thomas looks on as her husband Clarence is sworn in as Supreme Court Justice
Born Flag of the United States United States
Residence Alexandria, Virginia
Other names Ginni
Occupation Director, Executive Branch relations
Employers Heritage Foundation
Political party Republican
Religious beliefs Episcopalian[1]
Spouse Clarence Thomas
Website
Heritage Foundation

Virginia Lamp Thomas (born February 23, 1941) is the wife of United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, and a consultant at the conservative public policy Washington, D.C. based research institute, the Heritage Foundation. She had previously participated in the controversial Lifespring training, but later became a critic of the organization.

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[edit] Family

Virginia grew up in Omaha, Nebraska.[1] Virginia and Clarence Thomas married in 1987.[2] They live in Alexandria, Virginia.[3]

[edit] Career

Virginia Thomas received her law degree in 1983 from Creighton University School of Law and served on its Law Advisory Board from 2006 to 2007.[4] Thomas had worked as an attorney in Omaha, Nebraska.[5] She first gained federal political experience as a congressional aide[1] and later worked as an attorney and labor relations specialist for the United States Chamber of Commerce in 1988.[6][7] While at the Chamber of Commerce, Thomas helped to lobby against the Family and Medical Leave Act, arguing that it intruded into the private sector.[8] In 1989, she served as manager of employee relations at the Chamber of Commerce.[9] In 1991, Thomas was employed by the United States Department of Labor,[10] and worked in the legislative affairs office.[11][12] While at the Department of Labor, Thomas argued against comparable-worth legislation which would have mandated equal pay for men and women in the workplace.[13]

Virginia Thomas was with her husband during his Senate confirmation hearings for the Supreme Court of the United States,[14] and stood by his side when he officially thanked all his supporters after being confirmed 52 to 48 to succeed Justice Thurgood Marshall.[15] During the confirmation hearings, some Democratic Senators had complained about Virginia Thomas' work and brought up claims of conflict of interest.[16] She later was interviewed by People Magazine, where she described the difficult process her husband had faced while under the scrutiny of the Senate Confirmation hearings.[17] She referred to the confirmation process as a "trial by fire" for her husband.[18]

In 1994, Thomas worked for Representative Dick Armey, as a policy analyst.[19][20] Conflict of interest issues were also raised in 2000, when Thomas worked for the Heritage Foundation, collecting résumés for potential presidential appointments in the George W. Bush Administration.[21][22] Thomas later served as White House liaison to the Heritage Foundation.[23][2]

[edit] Critic of Lifespring

Virginia Thomas has been a prominent critic of the controversial self awareness group called Lifespring. Mrs. Thomas asserted in an interview with The Washington Post that she had to seek counseling after her decision to break away from Lifespring.[24] She had first taken the Lifespring training while working as a congressional aide.[1]

Thomas left Lifespring in 1985, and joined the Cult Awareness Network.[25] She ultimately had to hide in another part of the country in order to avoid a constant barrage of phone calls from Lifespring members, urging her to remain in the organization.[26][24][27] Thomas has spoken on panels and organized anti-cult workshops for congressional staffers in 1986 and 1988.[24] In a 1991 interview, Thomas commented on Lifespring, stating "they are pretty scary people." She also asserted: "I was once in a group that used mind control techniques."[28]

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Fisher, Marc. "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, October 25, 1987. 
  2. ^ a b Staff. "The Clarence Thomas you don't know", Atlanta Journal, July 1, 2001. 
  3. ^ Malone, Julia; Bob Dart. "Judge Thomas: Tough, but `down to earth' Court nominee called comfortable with self", The Atlanta Journal, July 4, 1991, pp. Page A1. 
  4. ^ Law Advisory Board, Creighton University, Law School Advisory Board 2006-07, Virginia Lamp Thomas.
  5. ^ Staff. "Wife Who Shares His Views Now Sharing Thomas' Pain", Roanoke Times, October 13, 1991. 
  6. ^ Staff. "Chamber of Commerce Backs Concept of Child Care Bill", The Washington Post, February 11, 1988. 
  7. ^ Staff. "No More Warnings on Illegal Workers", Beacon Journal, June 1, 1988. 
  8. ^ Stanton, Betsy. "Big business: Family and Medical Leave Act is a bitter pill", Daily News Record, December 10, 1987. 
  9. ^ Staff. "Help wanted: skilled workers for the '90s", Purchasing, Reed Business Information, Inc., September 14, 1989. 
  10. ^ Staff. "Thomas, a Conservative, Nominated to High Court Confirmation Fight", The Boston Globe, July 2, 1991. 
  11. ^ Staff. "Self-Made Conservative; Nominee Insists He Be Judged on Merits", The Washington Post, July 2, 1991. 
  12. ^ Staff. "Drug Abuse Among Women Expected to be Major Issue", Lexington Herald Leader, September 30, 1989. 
  13. ^ Carlson, Margaret; Joseph J. Kane, Staci D. Kramer. "The Supreme Court: Marching to a Different Drummer", Time Magazine, July 15, 1991, pp. Page 5 of 5. 
  14. ^ Staff. "Thomas Concludes Testimony", The Washington Post, September 17, 1991. 
  15. ^ Staff. "Senate Confirms Thomas by 52 to 48 To Succeed Marshall on Supreme Court", The Washington Post, October 16, 1991. 
  16. ^ Toner, Robin. "CONTESTING THE VOTE: POLITICAL MEMO; Day-to-Day Duels on Political Issues Have Grown Increasingly Personal", The New York Times, The New York Times Company, December 13, 2000, pp. Late Edition, Final, Section A, Page 26, Column 1. 
  17. ^ Corn, David. "Beltway Bandits", The Nation, December 9, 1991. 
  18. ^ Smitherman, Geneva (1995). African American Women Speak Out on Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas. Wayne State University Press, Page 191. ISBN 0814325300. 
  19. ^ Swenson, Michele (2005). Democracy Under Assault. Sol Ventures Press, Page 98. ISBN 0976678802. 
  20. ^ Staff. "Congress: Dole Won't Block Helms", Rocky Mountain News, November 24, 1994. 
  21. ^ Dee, John. "Supreme Court (In)Justice", Lumpen, January 2001, pp. Coup 2K. 
  22. ^ Marquis, Christopher. "Job of Clarence Thomas's Wife Raises Conflict-of-Interest Questions", The New York Times, The New York Times Company, December 12, 2000. 
  23. ^ Staff. "After 10 years on Supreme Court, Thomas finds a comfortable routine", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 4, 2001. 
  24. ^ a b c Blumenfeld, Laura. "The Nominee's Soul Mate", The Washington Post, September 10, 1991, pp. Page F01. 
  25. ^ Phelps, Timothy M.; Helen Winternitz (1993). Capitol Games: The Inside Story of Clarence Thomas, Anita Hill and a Supreme Court Nomination. HarperPerennial, Pp. 115, 116. ISBN 0060975539. 
  26. ^ Marcum, Kirsten; Adam Larson, Illustrations. "Cult Status: In which the author struggles to escape the psychological shackles of a self-help seminar", Minneapolis City Pages, November 7, 2001, pp. Volume 22, Issue 1092, COVER STORY. 
  27. ^ Staff. "Thomas' Wife Raps Lifespring", San Antonio Express-News, July 18, 1991. 
  28. ^ Staff; The Washington Post. "Thomas' Wife Was Victim of Cult", The Buffalo News, July 6, 1991. 

[edit] Further reading

  • Fletcher, Michael A.; Kevin Merida (2007). Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas. Doubleday Publishing. ISBN 0385510802. 
  • Gerber, Scott Douglas (1999). First Principles: The Jurisprudence of Clarence Thomas. NYU Press. ISBN 0814731007.