By Barbara Falconer Newhall
Twenty-seven years ago Jon and I were glued to the radio on our way to Yosemite, listening to the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Yesterday we were glued to our television set. This time it was Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh who were testifying.
And at the end of the day, Thursday, Jon and I were as demoralized as we were on the day so long ago when it became clear that Clarence Thomas’s nomination would be confirmed by the Senate, and a powerful man who was clearly guilty of sexual harassment would be sitting on the highest court in the land.
And there he sits, 27 years later.
I’ve already stated my objections to Brett Kavanaugh. I believe he bullied a pregnant teen last year when he denied her timely access to an abortion. I also object to him on the grounds that he is
likely to hand down decisions that will threaten the environment, subvert voting rights, erode government’s power to regulate big money interests, and deny women the right to be in charge of their own bodies.
I’m married to a great guy. He was as outraged as I was at the outcome of the Clarence Thomas Senate hearings back in 1991. And he was as outraged as I was yesterday as we watched Republican Senators proceed to ramrod through Kavanaugh’s confirmation.
Check out the story I wrote about the Hill-Thomas hearings back in 1991, when I was a columnist at the Oakland Tribune, our kids were small, and I had a husband I could count on.
Find it at “Office Romance in the #MeToo Era — Is It Worth the Risk?”
The Confirmation Hearings — The Morning After
NOTE: I wrote the post above before I went to bed on Thursday, the day of the Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh hearings, and I scheduled it to be posted on Friday. It’s now 1:30 p.m. PST Friday as I write. and I’m still in my pajamas. Couldn’t tear myself away from the little TV in our kitchen to brush my teeth and put on some clothes.
Things are looking better for the future of comity and cooperation in the Judiciary Committee, and maybe even in the Senate, and maybe even in Washington, D.C., because the heroic Republican Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona (channeling John McCain?) has forced the issue.
Right now, thanks to Flake, it looks like an FBI investigation of Brett Kavanaugh’s beery past will take place. Hopefully the seasoned investigators at the FBI will be able to get to the bottom of the many allegations against Kavanaugh.
My thoughts — Kavanaugh’s bullying performance in the Committee yesterday was consistent with the behavior Ford describes from 1982. Did it show him to be guilty? Maybe. Did it show him to be unqualified for the Supreme Court? Definitely.
Can the FBI come up with evidence demonstrating Kavanaugh’s guilt (or exonerating him completely) in seven short days? Let’s hope so.
FOLLOW UP: Jeff Flake was not such a big hero after all. It didn’t take much — a flimsy FBI investigation — to give him enough cover to confirm Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination. Now Kavanaugh has been sworn in and I’m sad, sad, sad.
I’ve been glued to these proceedings and the news, too. Having been the victim of sexual harassment many times, in college and on the job, I’m devastated by the possibility that Kavanaugh still could end up winning. Watching him testify, I found several MORE reasons (aside from the alleged sexual assault) that he is NOT fit for the SCOTUS appointment. He was belligerent, rude, and seemingly unhinged. Is this how he acts under any sort of pressure? In a professional office or otherwise? I found his demeanor extremely worrisome (if not totally guilty). For starters, he lied about several key issues, dodged several reasonable questions, and blatantly insulted those who asked him questions. (Again, guilty?) I wonder: Is this what we’ve come to expect from a potential Supreme Court Justice? I once had faith that our country could do better than this …
Cynthia, My response exactly. Kavanaugh’s behavior before the committee showed a personal character and temperament that is consistent with the behavior Ford described. That he attempted rape back in 1992 might be impossible to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” in a court of law. But his rude, irrational testimony pretty much disqualifies him for the Supreme Court.
From the depths of despair to a modicum of hope — at least an investigation, although one week is probably not enough time. Keep up the good work, Barbara.
Jan
Yes. And for me the hope comes from a single man having the guts to stand up and do what’s right. (Apparently with the support of a couple of female Senators!)
Unfortunately, Flake & Collins let us all down.
Barb- you are so on target! Thank you for clearly writing about what we all are feeling. My daughter was an alumn of Holton Arms -10 years after Dr Ford.. The “culture”of drinking, partying and privileged, entitled teenage boys from Georgetown Day, St Albans – trying to get in the pants of Holton Arms girls continued. As a single parent I tried to keep an eye on her social life and be present always – it wasn’t easy and I know there was a lot she didn’t share with me – even today whether anything was done to her or any of her friends is kept close to the chest or shared as an defeated acceptance. “of course, Mom, that’s the way it was”. Maybe the #Me2 movement will change that -maybe Christine Ford’s bravery will change that.
Oh, my goodness. All this is kind of unbelievable to me. I went to high school in the 1950s in a Midwestern suburb. Sex was pretty tempting to one and all. But the boys I knew were super respectful. This was before the birth control pill and the sexual revolution of the 1960s, of course. But I can’t imagine any of the boys I knew — even the so-called “wild” ones — consciously manipulating or coercing girls into anything . . . Good for you for keeping a close eye on your daughter.
Oh Barb, I have been doing the same thing and am now watching the process towards sending this nomination to the entire Senate. I am about to start emailing and calling Senators, especially Jeff Flake.. I hope you do the same!! Lynn
Thanks, Lynn. Yes. An email to Flake, good idea.