There's a very detailed, interesting article in the Washington Post about the letter and charges on Judge Brett Kavanaugh, and it includes an interview with the women, Christine Blasey Ford, who is a research psychologist in Northern California. There are a few difficult things in the story for Mr. Kavanaugh. Among them: she’s highly regarded in her profession. She did talk about it in therapy years ago, and to her husband. She brought it up back in July, not last minute, contacting the Washington Post on their tip line, which is anonymous. And…perhaps most importantly, the other guy in the room -- Kavanaugh's friend -- has a history of alcoholism which he has been public about in the past.
The issue though is less what the public thinks than how Republicans on the committee deal with it – or not. Anita Hill was well-regarded, too. However, this can't be positioned as a disgruntled former-employee reacting to her boss. And unlike Ms. Hill, she’s white. Without going into any details, it turns out that I discovered yesterday I have a distant overlap with someone who is longtime friends with Christine Ford. They talk often, and he is absolutely sure she is telling the truth. There's more, but it's not my place to make it public without asking first. You can believe me or not, dealer's choice. I have no idea what will come from the letter, but oddly enough I do think that if anything about this scuttles Kavanaugh, it’s not the story but – as is so often the case – the cover-up. If Kavanaugh had said upfront in a simple, almost-dismissive manner that he and some friends were at a party in high school and he tried to kiss a girl, but it went nowhere, and his memory of the situation is totally different from hers, then it all would have been embarrassing, but I suspect Republicans would have accept it as a “youthful indiscretion.” And his word against hers. But categorically denying it and lying is another matter entirely when going for a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court. Not that all the Republicans would be bothered by the story, they won’t be. And I suspect he will be confirmed. But if he isn’t, it will be because he tried to cover it up and it got out of hand.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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