RHETORIC AND POLITICAL-PROCESS IN THE HILL-THOMAS HEARINGS

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on Clarence Thomas' nomination to the Supreme Court in October 1991 provided Thomas and other Americ ans with something to criticize: the political process. At a time when the Judiciary Committee and the nation might have focused on the gene ral issue of sexual harassment and the specific issue of whether Profe ssor Anita Hill was harassed by Clarence Thomas, proceduralist rhetori c served to divert attention elsewhere. The process proved a convenien t object for criticism; it functioned as scape-goat for American frust ration.