The process for filling vacancies on the US Supreme Court reflects our pathetically partisan dysfunction. It’s clear that the Republicans only want to “win” the fight to put “their” judge on the Court, so they can get “their” results in Supreme Court decisions. The Democrats take the opposite view for the same reason.
Neither party seems to care about the truth of questions swirling around Trump nominee Brett Kavanaugh and his accuser Christine Blasey Ford. Both political parties would take opposite positions, if the nominee were a Democratic nominee.
Lost in the fight are two people involved, and the decades leading up to their adult lives. This is so much more than the misconduct of youth.
If Kavanaugh did what his accuser says, and he confessed it then, or even years later, that would be bad, but nothing like what the accusations mean now that he is an adult.
Every year, every decade since his misconduct, he showed the moral failure to step up and do the right thing. Much worse would be his conduct in the current nomination process, lying about the past misconduct. Clearly, that current moral failure would be disqualifying for the highest court, no matter what your opinion on the past misconduct.
As disgusting as Kavanaugh’s conduct might be, the conduct of Republican leadership, and their efforts to throw Ford under the bus, is worse. Their condemnation of Ford, even before they have heard her testimony, speaks volumes about the character of her critics.
I don’t need to hear Ford, to know there is good reason to believe her. Why would she lie? I don’t need to know Kavanaugh to know there is good reason to doubt him. It’s obvious why he would lie.
Before this accusation, I found Kavanaugh qualified for the Supreme Court, no matter how awful the partisan circumstances involved in the appointment process. Now, everything has changed… except the partisan dysfunction that has plagued the process.
Decades ago Anita Hill reluctantly brought her accusations against nominee Clarence Thomas. There is no doubt in my mind that Thomas was lying, and he is on the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh’s conduct is worse, and if he ends up on the court… the Republicans win again. But, at what price to “Truth and Justice for all.”