At a time when women have finally stood up, together, to demand equality, you would think that our government would take notice, & attempt to change their ways. You would think, after the Debacle of the Clarence Thomas/ Anita Hill hearing, and the criticism about the way a woman who was claiming to be a victim was treated, the Republican Party would have managed to change their attitudes towards women. After all, they've had 27 years to get it right!!
November, last year, Al Franken was accused of touching a woman outside her clothes, in a picture that was disputed by many. However, Mr Franken immediately did the "right thing". He requested an investigation by Congress, explained his actions, but still apologized to the woman. Most voters were willing to accept the outcome of the Congressional investigation, however, the Democratic Party felt that it was "too much" to allow someone with these allegations to effectively continue in his position. Al Franken, for the good of the Party AND the Country, stepped down. He never once denigrated the women, or called them liars. He acknowledged their feelings, admitted there might have been a misunderstanding, but NEVER attempted to state that they were "confused" or lying.
Unfortunately, this appears to be a "party" thing. The Republicans will rally around their "man" if he's been accused of sexual misconduct, harassment, rape, etc. They will work overtime to discredit the women, encourage the man to stick around, and ignore, or denigrate the woman. They rant on and on about how they are "hurting this man's career" and FAIL to acknowledge that the woman's whole LIFE changed after the event.
Brett Kavanaugh is following typical GOP "talking points" and actions. He has
"categorically denied" many things that sound absurd coming from his mouth. He has "categorically denied" the very things HE placed on his personal page in his high school yearbook. But, we are supposed to believe him??
This was a test for Kavanaugh, and he failed miserably. He didn't get a C or D, he FAILED.
First: When the first accusation came out, he quickly jumped on denying, denying, denying, without acknowledging the woman's pain. What could he have done? He was 17!! He finally admitted on Fox that "all the kids drank" and drank more than healthy, it appears. Had he not been so intent on maintaining the image of a self righteous man, he could have said something similar to: "I admit, during high school, I got drunk a few times. I do not remember the incident. In fact, had I remembered, it, I would have apologized to Cristine. I would like to extend my apology if I did what she said, & am grateful that it did not go further. I am sorry for the pain I caused her, and I would like to apologize, personally to her". Had Brett Kavanaugh done such a thing, the American People might have forgiven him, just like nearly everyone has done for Al Franken.
The next thing he should have done was encourage a new investigation to make it clear it was a "one time" event, fueled by alcohol, and that he was just a "stupid kid" and got over his childish drinking episodes. He should have asked Congress to slow down, and help him clear his name. He could have asked the FBI to give him a lie detector test.
Instead of doing the "right thing", Brett Kavanaugh did the "Right Thing" - he denied, he denigrated, he "categorically denied", and it appears he and friends attempted to accuse an INNOCENT MAN of the crime. Each time he opens his mouth, he releases more smoke and mirrors, rather than clearing up anything.
Then, he appears on Fox News (right wing media) with his wife as a prop (typical GOP tactic) to once again deny. Why do men accused of sexual impropriety feel the need to USE their wife to back up their "honesty & integrity"? It is not by accident we have the adage: "the wife is the last to know" when a husband cheats.
Before any other allegations came out, Kavanaugh had already failed the test. He continued, daily, to make things worse. And during this time, the best test of his ability to be an honest, objective member of the Supreme Court of the United States, he showed us that he is incapable of doing so.
1. He showed us what little respect he has for women
2. He has shown us that he (and the GOP) will always side with the man in a rape case.
3. He has contradicted himself, opening up reason to believe he is not honest.
4. He disrespected his wife by dragging her in as a "prop" on TV to boost his image, and yet, when she was asked a question, he made sure HE answered it instead (if what he said was really an answer)
5. He went on TV (totally unprecedented) as if he was a candidate being voted on by the citizens of the U.S. and sidestepped, avoided, and changed the topic on nearly EVERY question. He fed us "canned" statements that were obviously rehearsed, because he repeated them word for word far too many times to be believable.
6. He has made contradictory statements to his very own words on his high school yearbook page.
7. His "partner in crime" according to accusations made a statement and then went into hiding. Who does this???
Added to all of what Brett Kavanaugh has done, the GOP has failed the Women of the United States. They have repeatedly refused to even listen to women who make claims of sexual abuse, assault, harassment, etc. They denigrate women who came forward with accusations, calling them Liars, Mistaken, Confused, etc. On the VERY SAME DAY that Bill Cosby was sentenced to 3-10 years in prison for raping women (a man who everything thought of as a wholesome Father Figure) the GOP chose to refuse to work with women who came forward. They denied the right to witnesses on their behalf. They refused them the right to be questioned by the very men who will decide whether they are telling the truth (will they even be listening? Or will these old men sleep through her testimony - I hope the cameras are watching them) They rushed everything to prevent the witness from having a better chance to gather her courage, while she jumps through their hoops and their "fake timelines". These cowards won't question her themselves because they KNOW they cannot cover their disdain for a woman who has the courage to come forward and testify against one of their "side".
The GOP has not only done what they could to prevent Dr. Ford from testifying, they have also used this for political purposes by not JUST calling her a liar, but clearly stating that Democrats put her up to LYING in front of Congress. The GOP has made it clear they do NOT stand behind women who have been raped. They do NOT consider women equal. Some of the comments coming from Republicans (and Evangelicals) has been horrifying!! According to them, it isn't "rape" if he doesn't complete the act; he's respectful if he doesn't complete the act because the girl got away; women ruin men's lives when men rape women! According to the GOP, apparently, women are just supposed to "get over it & keep quiet". Sorry, that is NOT going to happen!! In the past, rape did not affect a man at all. However, a woman had to suffer the consequences forever. "Boys will be boys" is the excuse for a guy to rape a girl. However, the same people who say that think that women should not be allowed to have an abortion, so the boy moves on, while the woman could be forced to carry a child for 9 months & then raise it for 18 years? And yet, the GOP is concerned because a man might not get a promotion?? Seriously? Do you know how many women dropped out of college because of pregnancy before Roe v Wade? Oh, but THAT is the very reason the GOP is against Roe. They don't WANT women to be educated. "Barefoot & pregnant" is the GOP ideal woman.
If you check the news daily, you will find that most politicians being arrested for rape, incest, sexual harassment, child trafficking, child molestation, hate crimes, campaign finance law violations, misuse of power, misuse of government funds/assets, etc, are 99% of the time REPUBLICANS. Democrats still believe in the "Rule of Law". Sadly, the GOP has walked away from it, in favor of "let boys be boys".
The GOP claims these women should have gone to the police. Maybe they're right. These women are not trying to destroy his life, they just want people to understand that he is NOT the right person for SCOTUS. Being deprived of a Justice position is not the "end of the world" and it does NOT destroy his life. However, since they insist these women should have gone to the police, maybe that's what the women should do. Maybe they should file charges. Now THAT could ruin his life, because as I understand it, a life sentence is possible.
Since the GOP doesn't want to accept that these women were taking the most humane "fair" way to deal with this by simply denying him the Justice seat (which he seems to think he's "entitled to"), the Sheriff is willing to investigate these claims if one of them decides to press charges. Ladies, if they don't want to listen, MAKE THEM LISTEN!! Ask Bill Cosby how well that turned out!!
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