Monday, September 7, 2020

Anita Hill

Lot of my American readers may have forgotten this name.  Almost all the non-American readers have never heard this name.

Anita Hill in 1991

Anita Hill is an American lawyer and academic.  She is a professor at Brandeis University. In 1991, every newspaper and TV media in USA were talking about her every day.  Here is the background

In 1991, President Bush nominated Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court.  All Supreme Court nominees must be confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Democrats were in majority in the Senate at that time.  Joe Biden was the Judiciary Committee Chairman.

Anita Hill came to testify against nominating Clarence Thomas as a Supreme Court Judge.  She previously worked for Clarence Thomas.  She alleged sexual harassment while she was working for him.  The Republican Senators, who were in the minority in the Senate, asked Anita Hill lot of embarrassing questions.  They even suggested that she has a loose character and  is a slut.

Joe Biden, Chairman of the Committee, was in control of the testimony.   He could have stopped the Republican Senators asking Anita Hill embarrassing questions.  But he did not.

There were 4 other witnesses waiting to testify and support Anita Hill’s credibility.  Joe Biden never called them to testify.

Finally, Clarence Thomas was confirmed by a margin of 52-48, the narrowest margin for any Supreme Court Judge.

A few years later, Joe Biden called Anita Hill to talk it over and express regret. He said Anita Hill did not get a fair hearing and was not treated  well and he took full responsibility.

Did Anita Hill forgive Joe Biden.  NO.  She said she is ready to move on.  Also, ready to hold Joe Biden accountable.

Latest News:  Last week, Anita Hill announced she will be voting for Joe Biden in the coming Presidential election.

16 comments:

  1. Interesting....maybe
    1. She hates the current president that much to choose JB
    2. Or she did have some benefit in announcing that she would vote for him

    (Politics is dirty business no one truly knows what's going on)

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    1. Thanks for your comments Dee. Anita Hill is extremely intelligent. I think she is able to keep two different issues (Bad treatment she received from Biden and the Presidential election) separately and not combine them.

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  2. I don't believe a word she said.
    Trust no woman!

    Regards,
    Brett Kavanaugh

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    1. Thanks for your comments Brett. You are comparing apples and oranges. Your accuser, Christine Ford, said she had 3 eye witnesses. All those 3 said they never heard of such incident. She also got one million dollars through national crowd funding set up by her democratic friends. But BIden never called the 4 witnesses willing to testify and support Anita Hill's credibility. And, she never got a single dollar.

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  3. Clarence Thomas:
    Nominated to the Supreme Court by a Republican president.
    A woman (university professor) comes out of nowhere to accuse him of sexual misconduct.

    Brett Kavanaugh:
    Nominated to the Supreme Court by a Republican president.
    A woman (university professor) comes out of nowhere to accuse him of sexual misconduct.

    You say this is an 'Apples and Oranges' comparison?
    Because of some testifying differences?

    Regards,
    BK

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    1. Christine Ford is a university professor? Which university? University of California behind Mervyns? She was set up by democrats. Her 3 alibi (eye witness) said they never heard of such incident. She got one million dollars thru dubious means for her testimony. Anita Hill came to testify voluntarily. Her corroborating witnesses (4 of them) were prevented from testifying. After a few years “sleepy Joe” called her and apologized.

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  4. The time frame is too long to have an impact now. The current decision seems to have been motivated by current circumstances.

    Destination Infinity

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    1. Thanks for your comments Rajesh. You may be right. Anita Hill's decision may have been motivated by current circumstances. But she never forgave Joe Biden.

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  5. Comparison must have been in her mind. Biden must be a better candidate, she must have felt. But what Biden did then, was not right.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Sandhya. Long time no see. Hope you and your family are doing fine. Anita Hill is able to keep two different issues separately and not combine them. I agree with you. What Biden did then was not right.

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  6. So, time is a panacea for many a problem. It seems that her heart is wide enough to keep aside her bitters. Nice post indeed,SG.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Sarala. As you said she is able to keep aside her bitters.

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  7. Sorry, coming to blogs after a while. Was caught up with some official as well as personal work.
    I do remember Anita Hill. That was the time I was beginning my career, and those days this was big news.
    They say in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies. And Hill now backing Biden only proves that.

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    1. Thanks for your comments Pradeep. I am glad you remember Anita Hill. She is able to keep the issues separately. If Biden wins, hope he offers her some assignment in his administration.

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