It is absurd to suggest that what someone does when they are a teenager should not be held against them when they are up for a job like Supreme Court justice. If someone robbed a bank, would that count against them? Could a teen member of MS-13 get on the court?
We, like any good society,should have a different standard for young people and we should offer them, like adults, a path to redeem themselves. But, redemption does not imply a right to sit on the nation's highest court.That is a special privilege for people of special character.
Further, let's be real, decision we make as teenagers regularly impact future life choices. For example, what if you got Cs in Math or English or History and didn't get into a good college. Do you think that would influence whether you ended up on the Supreme Court?
If Kavanaugh did this, and it must be investigated and this woman's serious allegations deserve serious investigation, he should be disqualified from the court. In much the same way that by lying under oath multiple he should be disqualified.
Indeed, he should be disqualified on the basis of his extreme views and the degree to which the president who has nominated him is legally, ethically and morally compromised. That said, this new allegation demands our respectful attention and inquiry.
Later we can decide which of the many reasons Kavanaugh should not be confirmed carries the most weight.
