Thread by @KemberleeKaye

A bit irked by those using Ford as an anecdote for the whole “this is why women don’t speak up when they’ve been harassed,” thing.

Given how this whole ordeal has played out thus far, it’s dishonest to suggest the Ford/Kavanaugh hubbub is a microcosm for how instances of sexual assault and harassment are handled.

Ford did not take her complaint to law enforcement with the jurisdiction to investigate her claims.

She is willing to make accusations of events on a national stage, willing to leak select pieces of private medical records, but unwilling to corroborate her story or answer questions about the events she claims occurred.

I think it’s very possible Ford genuinely believes it was Kavanaugh who allegedly assaulted her.

However, (and this is a *big* however) rather than address her claims through local law enforcement, Ford, for whatever reason, chose to be used as a political pawn.

It’s difficult to look at how this entire story has been rolled out and played and see Ford as someone legitimately interested in justice and redress for alleged wrongs.

In fact, it looks *exactly* the opposite.

Sexual assault is incredibly difficult to discuss, process, and heal from.

The emotions involved are complicated, shame-inducing, and affect victims to the core.

I’m sympathetic to Ford being hesitant to discuss something so awful and painful publicly.

BUT, regardless of what Ford claims happened to her some 30 years ago, alleged wrongs do not give *anyone* license to levy heavy accusations that could ruin a man and his family and then choose to keep mum.

That’s not how any of this works.

Everyone gets their day in court. Even the accused. And Even when the accused is a white privileged male.

The only one being exploited here is Ford.

Feinstein knew about these allegations and did nothing. Grassley (a Republican) acted immediately as soon as the allegations were made public.

Even after Ford’s allegations were made public, Feinstein was *still* gaming it all, saying she had more intel on Kavanaugh, but declining to say what.

I genuinely feel for Ford who I believe likely suffered some kind of assault and who’s trauma is now being exploited, used, and manipulated by a political party to destroy a man and his reputation for purely political reasons.

So back to my original point — no, the Ford/Kavanaugh circus is *not* why victims of assault refuse to speak up.

Ford has been given every opportunity to share her story and to make Kavanaugh, who she alleges assaulted her, account for his supposed wrong doings.

Ford has not been unfairly maligned. She’s choosing not to participate in the claims she’s made.

Were she to take her complaints to local law enforcement, they wouldn’t be so generous or entertained with someone making claims of which they refuse to answer to.

And all of that aside, Democrats have severely overplayed their hand on this one. Even in the #MeToo age, most real Americans (outside of the Imperial City, Coastal bubbles, and Hollywood), see the Ford/Kavanaugh kerfuffle for what it is — politics.