If Kavanaugh were of the highest judicial caliber that's been insisted by the Republican Party, he would call for a thorough investigation to clear his name before this nomination proceeds. He would demand a special counsel or the FBI or even state police investigate. (thread)
But instead, we've witnessed the same exact posture he's displayed with everything else in his nomination process: a refusal to answer basic questions, silence over the release of his records, demurring over transparency in general, and obfuscating anything remotely unfavorable.
Brett Kavanaugh, who we've been told prioritizes judicial discretion and nuance, hasn't even spoken out over Ed Whelan's bizarre and creepy knowledge of Dr. Blasey Ford before even the public knew her name nor his slanderous thread implicating another man to save Kavanaugh.
Kavanaugh, who supposedly respects the role of precedent, didn't even have the guts to publicly support an FBI investigation similar to what was conducted by the Senate Judiciary over Anita Hill's claim against Clarence Thomas, a process that took only a few days.
For many reasons, I believe Dr. Blasey Ford, but even if I carried reasonable doubt regarding her claim, the way Brett Kavanaugh has acted throughout this entire process--the silence, the cowardice, the duplicity--is surely at odds with what we'd expect of a SCOTUS justice.
And even if we're looking at this in political terms rather than the the purely ethical, just imagine if Kavanaugh, even a week ago, had announced a press conference and stated: "I want my daughters raised in a country where the rule of law and due process are most cherished..."
"...by those charged with ensuring their preservation. To continue my confirmation without ensuring that standard has been met would be doing my daughters a disservice. An investigation must be completed first, and I am eager to fully comply with law enforcement. And once..."
"...it has been completed on terms equitable to Dr. Blasey Ford and myself, I look forward to completing the confirmation process. In the meantime, Dr. Blasey Ford should be treated with the highest respect for her courage in speaking up." And that's it. And I guarantee you...
...that if Kavanaugh were not guilty and investigators found as such--probably within a few weeks at most--he would march into a confirmation vote with one of the highest approval ratings ever recorded for a nominee. A triumph for him, Trump, and the GOP. But guess what...
...instead of what should have been an easy victory for someone who claims innocence, the Republican Party initiated the slimiest and most nonsensical "cover up" and smear campaign against Dr. Blasey Ford, intensifying the critique of their disrespect toward women in general.
Doppelgängers? A libelous Twitter thread guided by a conservative PR firm that hinges on Zillow floor layouts? Leaking Dr. Blasey Ford's name to conservative circles for oppo research before the public knows?
Kavanaugh is meekly deferring to clowns and charlatans.
Kavanaugh is meekly deferring to clowns and charlatans.
This is not a strong man of character whose faith is firmly placed in the health of our legal system. This is a coward literally running away from a legal system he seeks to lead and shape for generations to come. /thread
