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Should black liberals get a pass on making racist accusations?

On a Nation of Islam radio show last weekend, Rep. Bennie Thompson a Mississippi Democrat and member of the Congressional Black Caucus called Justice Clarence Thomas an Uncle Tom for his part in recent Supreme Court decisions, such as last years finding of a portion of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional.

For the uninitiated, this is one of the most vile terms that can be directed at an African-American. It has come to mean a servile black person in league with white power interests.

Days later, Thompson refused to apologize: If you look at his decisions on the court, they have been adverse to the minority community, and the people I represent have a real issue with an African-American notsensible to those issues.

A CNN reporter noted that Uncle Tom is inappropriate if said by a white person. But Im black, Thompson responded.

So that makes it right, Congressman?

We note this is not the first time Justice Thomas has been slurred in this fashion. A few years back, members of the Hawaii branch of the ACLU also called him an Uncle Tom when they objected to inviting him to a conference on the First Amendment. Thomas isnt alone: Other black conservatives have been likewise smeared simply for having convictions that deviate from proscribed liberal orthodoxy.

People are free to disagree with Justice Thomass decisions and his views on life. But hurling a slave term at a black man of singular achievement is racist no matter what the race of the person saying it.

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When liberals cry uncle