Kavanaugh and Trump may see eye-to-eye for a reason. Photo–Flickr.
The Republican Party, the self-appointed champions of “family values,” are about to place a probable sexual assault perp on the Supreme Court, with the full support of Republican voters—including a vitally important sub-sect of the party base: so-called evangelical Christians.
Apparently, getting another lifetime Supreme Court appointee on the Court is so important that Republicans don’t care if the current Supreme Court nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, may’ve committed the crime of attempted rape, as is being accused by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.
The same Republican Party, that extols the virtues of “small government,” wants Judge Kavanaugh confirmed so Republican voters can criminalize abortion—and restrict the personal choice of what women do with their bodies. Apparently, conservatives don’t understand individual independent control, of one’s mind and body, is the essence of freedom.
Why are they always trying to legislate their value judgments on everyone else?
Over the last week, information has emerged strongly suggesting the current Republican Party pick for the Supreme Court, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, may’ve committed criminal attempted rape, sometime “in the early 1980’s,” along with his friend, writer Mark Judge.
In a letter, delivered to California Senator Dianne Feinstein, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who teaches at Stanford University, said Judge Kavanaugh “physically and sexually assaulted me during high school in the early 1980’s.” Dr. Ford says Judge “Kavanaugh physically pushed me into a bedroom as I was headed for a bathroom up a short stair well from the living room. They locked the door and played loud music precluding any successful attempt to yell for help. Kavanaugh was on top of me while laughing… They both laughed as Kavanaugh tried to disrobe me in their highly inebriated state. With Kavanaugh’s hand over my mouth I feared he may inadvertently kill me.”
In the face of such serious allegations, the Republican Party has largely been dismissive of Dr. Ford, in their tone and temperament. How can a party that loves talking about the importance of the “rule of law,” treat a sex assault accuser, in the time of the #Me-Too Movement, this way?
Utah Senator Orrin Hatch said there was “lots of reasons” not to believe Dr. Ford, and that she might be “mixed up,” about the alleged assault. Interestingly, enough, another one of Judge Kavanaugh’s friends, Ed Whelan, the current president of the conservative Ethics and Public Policy Center, accused another person of committing the assault.
Some have noted that there seems to be a certain level of coordination between the White House, Mr. Whelan, and Republicans, like Senator Hatch, with this latest “she’s mistaken” narrative. This mistaken identity charge may very well be the primary line of defense Republicans will use to attack Dr. Ford.
Judge Kavanaugh’s friend Mr. Whelan reportedly provided an illustration of the house, where the alleged assault occurred. What information was Whelan privy to when he made his illustration of where the alleged attack occurred? Where would he have gotten these specifics—since, the date, or, location has not been revealed by Dr. Ford?
Mr. Whelan’s attempt to smear someone else, to save Judge Kavanaugh, has only increased suspicions. He has since deleted his tweets and taken a leave of absence from the Ethics and Public Policy Center. He may have taken a leave of absence from his mind judging by the accusations he made.
Judge Kavanaugh has absolutely denied the allegations, saying he wasn’t even present at the party. Why is he so certain of this, when the specific date of the party hasn’t been given yet?
Nowhere, in Dr. Ford’s letter does it give a specific time, or place of the alleged assault. Dr. Ford only gave a vague hinting, regarding time or place, of the incident only saying it happened “during high school in the early 1980’s,” at “a suburban Maryland area home at a gathering that included me and four others.”
Besides Mr. Whelan’s failed attempt to blame someone else for the alleged attempt on Dr. Ford, Republicans swiftly produced a letter by women vouching for Kavanaugh. This letter’s prompt production is suspicious. Did Republicans have possible foreknowledge about Dr. Ford’s allegations?
The Republican response to Dr. Ford’s accusations against Judge Kavanaugh has revealed their nakedly perverse political principle of getting what they want—no matter the cost. Last week, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, once thought to be a principled Republican, said “I’ll listen to the lady, but we’re going to bring this to a close.” Apparently, even if there is evidence pointing to Judge Kavanaugh’s guilt, Republicans intend to confirm Kavanaugh.
Sadly, the Republican base, especially the so-called evangelical Christians, would gladly elect Jack the Ripper, or, and ax-murderer, to the Supreme Court if, that person votes against abortion. Consider this: evangelist Franklin Graham—son of Pastor Billy Graham—recently said the alleged assault is now “not relevant.”
On a CNBC News interview, Mr. Graham said “it’s just a shame that a person like Judge Kavanaugh who has a stellar record–that somebody can bring something up that he did as a teenager close to 40 years ago. That’s not relevant…Regardless if it was true.” Even Graham, unwittingly, seems to be conceding that Judge Kavanaugh is probably guilty of attempting to rape Dr. Ford. Graham also said, “I hope the Senate is smarter than this and they’re not going to let this stop the process from moving forward and confirming this man.”
Here we see conservative Christians, and those on the so-called “moral majority,” pressuring Republicans to confirm Judge Kavanaugh, so they can make their views, on abortion, the law of the land. What the rest of us think is inconsequential.
Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc Connell made this clear, when he assured a summit of social conservatives, that “In the very near future, Judge Kavanaugh will be on the U.S. Supreme Court. So, my friends, keep the faith. Don’t get rattled by all this. We’re going to plow right through it and do our job.”
So, who cares if Judge Kavanaugh possibly committed the crime of attempted rape—when he is about to help Republicans overturn Roe v Wade.
Why have Republicans refused to entertain the idea of an FBI investigation, as was requested by Dr. Ford? By refusing to do so, Republicans, and Judge Kavanaugh, look far less credible than Dr. Ford. Of course, any real investigation would expose the involvement of the third witness of this alleged crime: Mr. Mark Judge.
Mr. Judge is not the best character witness for Judge Kavanaugh.
Reportedly, when he first heard of the allegation, Judge said “I never saw Brett act in the manner Dr. Ford describes.” Isn’t this a strange response, when you are also accused of the crime of sexual assault as well? Judge vouches for Judge Kavanaugh’s conduct—but, not his own?
In examining Judge’s writings, we see why he didn’t deny that he himself might’ve engaged in sexual assault. We also see one reason why Republicans don’t want a real investigation. As the third witness, Mr. Judge makes both himself, and Judge Kavanaugh, look guilty.
Mr. Judge wrote a couple memoirs, including his 1997 book “Wasted,” about heavy boozing, drug using, and the kind of debauched behavior peculiarly found among White men of privilege. When Judge was told of Dr. Ford’s allegation he also said, “I have no memory of the alleged incident.” Judge, in his writings, has documented the fact that he was mostly highly inebriated during his high school years—often blacking out from hardcore boozing and partying.
Judge’s non-denial of the possibility that he may’ve engaged in criminal sexual assault is telling.
In a 2015 article, Judge said “Of course, a man must be able to read a woman’s signals, and it’s a good thing that feminism is teaching young men that no means no and yes means yes…But there’s also that ambiguous middle ground, where the woman seems interested and indicates, whether verbally or not, that the man needs to prove himself to her. And if that man is any kind of man, he’ll allow himself to feel the awesome power, the wonderful beauty, of uncontrollable male passion.”
Did “uncontrollable male passion” lead Mark Judge and Judge Brett Kavanaugh to commit criminal sexual assault on Dr, Christine Blasey Ford? Republicans, and conservative Christians, are telling us they couldn’t care less.
