It’s likely only Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Ford know if the sexual allegations about his behavior are true. Before we can evaluate the validity of Dr. Ford’s allegations (and other victims coming forward), we must all agree that her description is of an unacceptable physical sexual assault. Instead, Republicans are attempting to whitewash this alleged violent criminal behavior. They are calling it “rough horse play,” “just teenage behavior” and “boys will be boys.”
This alleged behavior must be condemned in the most powerful terms. Holding a woman down, climbing on top of her, using his hand to hold her mouth shut and attempting to take off her swimsuit is a criminal act.
This is not consensual sexual activity. We must all agree that the described act is totally unacceptable and we must speak with one voice to end this type of violence against women. It’s disgusting that many Republican leaders are talking like the #MeToo women’s movement never happened.
We have seen many once respected and powerful men like Bill Cosby, Charlie Rose and Matt Lauer have their careers and reputations destroyed by their past actions and revelations about their assaults on women. That should remind us that they were allowed to practice their predatory behavior for so long because allegations were dismissed, downplayed or deemed acceptable. Republican leaders must be reminded to never again dismiss sexual assaults on women.
Condemning this alleged assault should be the focus of Senator Grassley’s judicial hearing with Dr. Ford. For Republicans and their supporters to characterize this alleged criminal act as “horse play” is a repudiation of all the progress made by the #MeToo movement. Senator Grassley’s refusal to hold comprehensive hearings on these allegations is an affront to all women. Republican leaders who refuse to investigate these serious allegations are living in the past. We must demand that Senator Grassley conduct a thorough investigation by calling all the appropriate witnesses.
This statement from James Roche, Kavanaugh’s Yale roommate, in 1983 should provide significant concern.
“It is from this experience that I concluded that although Brett was normally reserved, he was a notably heavy drinker, even by the standards of the time, and that he became aggressive and belligerent when he was very drunk,” Roche said. “I did not observe the specific incident in question, but I do remember Brett frequently drinking excessively and becoming incoherently drunk,” he said.
This statement suggests additional hearings are required. How can Kavanaugh’s credibility be established if his memory was blurred by excessive drinking?
Insulter and Chief President Trump initially held off on attacking Dr. Ford, the first woman to come forward accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kevanaugh of sexual assault. However, Trump finally let loose saying the 15-year-old should have called the police.
“I have no doubt that, if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says, charges would have been immediately filed with local Law Enforcement Authorities by either her or her loving parents. I ask that she bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place,” Trump tweeted.
Trump as the leader of the Republican Party is once again blaming the victim, Dr. Ford. One in six American women will experience rape or attempted rape in their lifetime and one in four college women will suffer an unwanted sexual contact. Failing to properly investigate Dr. Ford’s allegations will simply embolden men to continue the assaults on women.
Recall last December, Trump endorsed Alabama U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore, who had been abandoned by most Republicans after he was accused of sexual misconduct with underage girls. Now he has endorsed Kavanaugh with the same unquestioning loyalty.
Republican Senator Orrin Hatch said Ford must be “mixed up” about the alleged assault. He made that statement before hearing the evidence and testimony of Dr. Ford. Hatch’s comment insults Dr. Ford’s credibility with no proof.
Evangelical leader Franklin Graham called Dr. Ford’s allegations irrelevant and dismissed the severity of the allegations.
“Well, there wasn’t a crime committed. These are two teenagers and it’s obvious that she said no and he respected it and walked away, “said Graham.
Where is Graham’s moral outrage for an attack on a 15-year-old teenage girl? The sexual scandal within the Catholic Church should awaken every religious leader to defend our children from seemingly respectable men.
The #MeToo movement has brought to light this culture of sexual assault. Yet Republicans and their supporters are intentionally dismissing the serious sexual assaults by not thoroughly investigating the latest victims’ accusations. Failure to defend the victims of sexual of assault suggests Republican leadership is only interested in political expediency.
by Rick Smith
Posted 9/26/18
8 Comments on "Republican Men Don’t Have Time To Listen To Sexual Assault Victims"
The republicans on the committee have bent over backwards to allow her to come and testify. After delaying bringing her accusations to the committee for several months, democrats want to delay it even further. Most Iowans see this for what it is. Dragging her into this as a political pawn is just wrong and an insult to real victims. The committee should go ahead and vote to spare the democrats any more embarrassment.
The Republicans know what they are doing and they know that they are wrong. America does not need another lying sexual predator sitting on the United States Supreme Court. America is better than this. Vote Blue.
I have no doubt that the Republicans will proceed with a vote on Judge Kavanaugh as they are intent on elevating him to the Supreme Court. This will then place two Justices on the highest court in the land who have questionable backgrounds that were not completely vetted with comprehensive investigations. In Justice Thomas case only Anita Hill was allowed to testify although there were others who might have been called to testify. Anita Hill was vilified by the Judiciary Committee as if she was on trial.
The Supreme Court will carry this taint going forward and the partisan appointments will call to question the independence of the Judiciary as the third branch of government.
Seems they “don’t have time” to listen because their Evangelical (now, THERE’S a misnomer!) base is pushing them hard to get Kavanaugh confirmed. It seems they literally do not care whether the judge is a sexual abuser or not; he just comforms to their agenda. Doesn’t matter the “precedent” already set by McConnell, GrASSley & co. to not even hear court nominations close to an election (remember Merrick Garland?), but this has got to be a “Just Do It!”, esp. since Judge Kavanaugh is the one with the, shale we say “expansive” view on persidential power and authority. So he engaged in a little youthful indiscretion; as Franklin Graham says, “It’s not like he completed the job. I mean, really!” So, as he says, no harm; no foul.
Prof. Blasey Ford SHOULD be able to face her alleged abuser with her documentation; he should be able to the same, if he has anything credible.
I don’t know why that is SO hard to understand.
In 1991 all of the Republicans and Democrats saw fit to have an FBI investigation over these same type of allegations under a Republican president. The same men are there now but yes times are apparently the same as I, a woman tax-paying citizen of Iowa are paying off a sexual harassment lawsuit for same behavior in 2018. So no the learning gap still appears to be there and an FBI investigation would bring sunlight either way.
Where is Trump’s presidential library going to be built? Are all his tweets stored in the “cloud?” Presidential funerals involve a big parade. Is that called “killing two birds with one stone?”
Concerned about the “this type of sexual assault” language in the article. Sexual assault is never acceptable. Ever. No matter who’s doing it and who the victim is. Qualifying language like that leaves gray areas where there are none.
Having just concluded watching the entire hearing regarding Judge Kavanaugh and listening to his refusing to answer questions without a diatribe only reinforces my feelings outlined by his previous judicial rulings. The Republicans did not help their image in either behavior or speech. The emotional outrageous accusations from Judge Kavanaugh own voice are beyond the pale–speaks volumes.