This spring, Thomas started her own grass-roots organization, Liberty Central, to “inspire and activate ordinary citizens to preserve the blessings of liberty.” Thomas is the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and a native Nebraskan.
What’s the story behind getting Liberty Central started?
I was involved with Hillsdale College on a more long-term mission of teaching the Constitution to people who work and live in the Washington area, and I realized I needed to get closer to the front lines, that there was a more short-term crisis — and that unless we have a big impact in November and again in 2012, we wouldn’t recognize the country we’re living in.
What’s the difference between Liberty Central and other grass-roots political organizations?
I think our focus on civic education is unique. … The truth is, we’re coming into this political square in an effort to collaborate with other organizations, and collaboration is not something typically done well in the center right.
What are the main issues Liberty Central would like to put up a fight about?
We are using the lens of our five founding principles to look at what’s happening in Washington … limited government, individual liberty, free enterprise, national security, and personal responsibility. We just [recently] made our first political endorsement for the runoff in Utah.
You’ve been active around the Beltway for 30 years but are still often identified as “Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife.” How do you handle that? My favorite times are when people who have worked for me for over 10 years come to understand only later that I am the wife of Justice Thomas. There are wonderful blessings of being married to my best friend, and there are challenges when we’re trying to work in separate professional fields. – Liz Essley
