Senate Democrats today pledged to examine the views of Senate nominee Clarence Thomas on abortion and other divisive issues while Republicans supported the nominee and defended his right to remain silent on issues that might come before the court. 1982-'90: chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; (box) Civil rights groups raised questions about Thomas 's record as chairman of The Senate Judiciary Committee and said the fact that he was Republicans should not be an excuse for ignoring his civil rights record. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to begin confirmation hearings in today . Thomas , an unabashed conservative, would succeed the court's leading liberal and first and only black justice.
Senate Democrats today pledged to examine the views of Senate nominee Clarence Thomas on abortion and other divisive issues while Republicans supported the nominee and defended his right to remain silent on issues that might come before the court. Civil rights groups raised questions about Thomas 's record as chairman of The Senate Judiciary Committee and said the fact that he was Republicans should not be an excuse for ignoring his civil rights record. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to begin confirmation hearings in today . Thomas , an unabashed conservative, would succeed the court's leading liberal and first and only black justice.