I recall the hearings well. Thomas threw his own sister under the bus, agreeing that welfare promotes dependency because she, evidently receiving AFDC, "worried" when the check was late. All of these asshole senators nodding profoundly, none seeming to realize that anyone who lives check to check, regardless of paycheck, welfare, SSI or whatever, worries when the check is late.

Thomas's complete phrase, when throwing down the race card, was a "high-tech lynching for an uppity black". I thought the last two words were particularly cynical, because in what way could any white person regard Thomas as "uppity"? Wasn't he, per say Strom Thurmond (who sat on the committee) or any old time racist, more a "credit to his race"? Sure. He worked hard at being that. And he knew it.