Clarence Thomas wouldn't even be on the SC if Joe Biden, then a Senator, hadn't tried to appear "fair to both sides" and appease his "GOP colleagues." That sort of waffling - and his recent lukewarm attempt to "take responsibility" - has made it near-impossible not to view Biden as simply the current leader of what labor organizer Jane McAlevey terms "the inequality party" when referring to both sides of the duopoly.
For the record, Biden voted against confirming Thomas.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/what-joe-biden-hasnt-owned-up-to-about-anita-hill