My Take on Brett Kavanaugh, Christine Blasey Ford, and The Supreme Court
* * * WARNING: This blog contains my personal opinions. If you do not wish to hear them, please do not read this. Thank you. * * *
Is anyone out there as distraught over the circus of the Supreme Court/Senate Judiciary Committee hearing as I am?
I believe Dr. Ford is telling the truth.
I also believe Brett Kavanaugh is telling the truth. And therein lies the absolute tragedy of yesterday’s testimony. He honestly doesn’t think he did anything wrong. He does not consider what he did to Dr. Ford to be sexual assault; nor does he consider the other sexual misconduct allegations against him to be sexual misconduct. He believes he had a right to do what he did and that anyone who suggests otherwise is a national disgrace.
Totally aside from the issue of whether his combative and partisan behavior is fitting for a nominee to the Supreme Court, consider this gender problem. Brett Kavanaugh is furious that a woman has dared try to take from him the one thing he wants most in life.
Well, what about Dr. Ford’s mental health? What about the way Brett Kavanaugh’s behavior years ago so brutally shaped her life? What about all the other victims of sexual assault who feel they’re being discarded right along with her? Will the new pain Dr. Ford and those others suffer now accomplish anything?
Certainly not in getting Brett Kavanaugh to take responsibility for what he did. He will not own his own behavior, much less acknowledge an injustice toward women that has been going on forever. Nor will any of the other men who vote for him in the full Senate. As for the women who vote to have him confirmed? I simply, simply, simply do not understand.
Let me be clear: I had doubts about Brett Kavanaugh before the sexual charges surfaced. I thought statements he made earlier in his career to be angry, certainly not the measured and thoughtful approach of a Supreme Court Justice. I sensed he was playing with words in many of his denials, for instance, with regard to upholding Roe v. Wade. Put bluntly, I wondered if he was lying. I heard arrogance and partisanship. And I disliked the way he paraded his wife and daughters as props.
Yesterday’s spectacle has turned this into a male-female issue. Senators Grassley and Graham made it quite clear, prior to yesterday’s hearing, that Brett Kavanaugh was their man regardless of what Dr. Ford said. Her words, thoughts, feelings didn’t matter. Donald Trump implied the same. Nothing matters more to him than the victory of getting his nominee confirmed. But hey, our president doesn’t think he did anything wrong in any of the many allegations of sexual misconduct against him, either.
She lied. How many times have we heard this refrain from men like Kavanaugh, like Trump, who dismiss charges of sexual assault by dismissing the accuser? Empirical research shows that only 2-10% of these charges are false. Which leaves 90-98% that are true. And that’s not counting the women who suffer sexual assault and never report it.
An FBI investigation was surely called for here. And we do have one coming, albeit of “limited” scope, says our president, which means whatever he decides it does. But why the initial pushback by the Republicans? The circumstances of this case are unique; the Supreme Court is the highest court of the land, and an appointment to it is for life. Given the charges against this nominee, an FBI investigation is totally appropriate.
I would have thought Kavanaugh would have wanted it from the get-go, solely to clear his name. But he didn’t want the FBI involved. What is he hiding? Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee refused to release tens of thousands of pages of information on him. What are they hiding?
I do believe that this man will be quickly confirmed as a Justice of the United States Supreme Court. I also believe that his appointment will tarnish the reputation of the court for years to come.
Worst of all, his appointment leaves women in the mud, trampled on once again. How do we get out? Is there no leader out there brave enough to speak up? Please. Name that person. Give me cause for hope.
Well, here is one. THE VOTE.
If you take anything from this blog, it is the importance of voting in the mid-terms. An argument can be made that if fewer registered voters had sat on their hands in November 2016, the fiasco of Donald Trump would have been nipped in the bud. But it wasn’t. And we now have three branches of government that are staunchly Republican.
This is not healthy, certainly not what the Founding Fathers wanted when they talked about checks and balances. One of these branches must be Democratic. With the extreme partisanship of the president and, now, the politicization of the Supreme Court, Congress is our only option.
Please know this: I’m not advocating a blind vote for any female on the ballot. I’m the mother of three grown sons, any of whom would lead this country in a more caring, intelligent, and inclusive way than what we see now. None of my three are interested. They work in health care, education, and law, each doing his part to benefit society in a more hands-on way.
Nationally speaking, though, I beg you to go to the polls this November and vote for the sanest, most sensitive, and most insightful person, be that person female or male.
- We need someone who champions women’s rights, common sense gun control, and the importance of immigrants to the American soul.
- We need someone who believes that government should be the safety net for people in need, someone who believes that every American has a right to the same health care as members of Congress.
- We need someone who will fight for term limits for Supreme Court Justices, term limits for those in Congress, term limits for membership in Congressional committees.
- We need someone to spearhead a move to Abolish the Electoral College, which negates the votes of millions of Americans.
- We need someone to sponsor making Election Day a Federal holiday and, if not penalizing eligible voters who do not vote, certainly rewarding those who do vote.
These are steps in the right direction. I’m sure there are many, many others. Who will fight for them?
One last thought, actually an addendum to the warning I posted at the start of this blog. I didn’t go into writing for the sake of having a soapbox. My books aren’t about politics. The last thing I wanted was to inject it so bluntly into this page today. But America is at a tipping point such as I’ve never seen in my life. Sitting on the sidelines is no longer acceptable.
I don’t discuss politics in my books because I respect those of you with differing opinions enough to appreciate that you pay for my books. This is my personal website. I pay for it. Please respect me for expressing my own opinions here, even if they differ from yours.
We all need to speak out. I can do that on a blog. I will also do it at the ballot box. You may do that, too.
Please vote!
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Well all I can say it I will be voting total REPUBLICAN as the Democratic party has become an embarrassment to the country!
Oh my. I totally agree. This political scene is a nightmare. I have lived through presidents since 1942. Both parties, not all I agreed with but nothing like this farce of a president
and government. It has to stop.
VOTE
Thank you Miss Delinsky for your sincerest thoughts. I am a huge book fan of yours! But your statements run deep. It’s time for us to finally be heard and respected. #METOO
Your words sound lke mine.
I knew I loved your books having read all but the last two which I need to do. I stale because I hate when the book ends! I just love good writing.
Amen!! Wow that was wonderfully written, and so darn true. All of it. I have already absentee voted since I work in the election board!! My 3 sons will be voting as well as my husband. We need a change for sure.
Wonderfully stated. Privileged old white men that think they have the right to disrespect, disregard and abuse women need to know we are taking our power back. Make sure you are registered and vote. This needs to change.
Well I got one do not believe her and that is my right. I will be voting Republican and I have bought my last book of yours. I guess you thought Obama was a good president also
Thank you! My take away is basically the same. My concern is Mr. Kavanaugh’s bias against democrats. How can he be unbiased as a Supreme court justice? I feel sorry for any known democratic lawyer.
Absolutely agree wholeheartedly! I can’t believe my eyes or ears these days. People are blindly following this president like he’s some kind of pied piper. No one seems to think for themselves. They only listen and believe Faux news. We are definitely living in perilous times. I implore everyone to please vote!
Totally agree! I already voted by mail. I was wondering when you were going to voice your opinion. So glad you did.
YES. The actions of Brett Kavanaugh at these hearings and before, are not the actions of an innocent man. If you are innocent, why would you refuse to take a polygraph test as Kavanaugh refused? Dr. Ford willingly took and passed a polygraph test. How will we change the direction this country is headed in???? Yes we do need people to get out and vote. We need people to thoughtfully research candidates and VOTE. For this reason, I have been involved with Postcards to Voters since its inception in March 2017. http://www.PostcardstoVoters.org. I have written more than 950 postcards to voters all over the country reminding them to get their butts to the polls (in a nice way!) And giving them information about their local Democratic candidates in the process. Fun, personal, handwritten election reminders. I love writing these! If I have nudged just a few people to the polls, it has been worth my time and effort (I make the postcards I send, and I also pay for the postage). We need to get this country back on the right track. We have the power–it is called a ballot. Use it! 😊
Thank you for this very thoughtful and eloquent commentary on the Brett Kavanaugh, Christine Ford, Supreme Court scenario. I am in my late 70s and have a limited time here on this earth and may not live to see the consequences the decisions made by mostly arrogant old white men will have on people of this country and the world. I’m very concerned what the future holds for younger and future generations based on recent actions taken by President Trump and members of Congress and the Senate. I with many other women in my community are becoming more active politically in getting out the vote. I live in Arizona and you can be sure I was on the phone urging Senator Flake to not vote in favor of Kavanaugh!
America is at a crossroads in our Democracy. I agree we all have a right and an obligation to vote. American women have more freedom and rights than at any time in history. Women have fought long and hard for equality, but It is my hope they don’t go too far in demeaning men. Men, after all, are our fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons. We as humans have evolved through the ages. Decades before, society deemed men to be the provider and protector, while women stayed home to be the nurturer. Women demanded that they wanted to be equal, to provide and protect as well as nurture and society’s viewpoint changed. Now women are demanding that men cannot and will not sexually abuse them. Women have found their voice, and now they must find the courage to speak up, and take legal action as soon as the offense occurs, it is my hope that with the #me too movement that those who want their abuse known will have an opportunity to do so and that they can find some peace and comfort. Women can no longer wait decades to accuse someone of a crime, no matter the consequences. Most modern men have become equal partners, sharing work, household chores, and being an involved parent. Modern men are listening to women, and most know that “no means no.” Morals cannot be legislated. Only Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh know what happened decades ago. Our opinions will not change that fact. Judge Kavanaugh is innocent until proven guilty. That is how our judicial system works. I think any man or woman accused of a crime that can destroy their career and cause harm to their family has a right to be angry and belligerent when they are innocent. His mother, wife and children were not paraded out, but were there to offer him moral support. They don’t know the young man of thirty some years ago, they just know him as son, husband and father that they love.
I am very disappointed with your sharing of your opinion. It will color my desire to read your books. I really did not want to know this. From reading your books I thought we were of a like mind. Your reasoning tells me the probable source of your information.. Please expand your research if you want to influence your readers..
I’ve been appalled at this weeks events but not for the reasons you are. I believe she was used by the Dems and paraded rather than protected. Everyone deserves to be innocent until proven guilty. No one should know this better than those who we elect to public office. Those who spoke up for Kavanaugh have known him his whole life, personally and professionally. Those who spoke up for her had not met her and many believed her story before even hearing it. At 16 years of age I was the victim of someone exposing himself to me while masterbating. I am the mother of daughters and sons, and one of my daughters was raped in college. I’m not saying that Dr. Ford was never sexually assaulted or that she doesn’t have issues. I just don’t believe that it was because of Brett Kavanaugh. I love your book and you are probably my favorite author. You are entitled to your own opinion, as we all are, and while I respectfully disagree, I will continue to be a fan of your books.
This was a fantastic post. Thank you for sharing it. I couldn’t agree with you more.
I disagree with all that you said! I will never read or buy another book of yours. You live in a fantasy world. I will be voting for and supporting all Republicans from now on!
I feel sad that someone would stop reading your books because of your view.
I certainly agree. All of us need to speak up.
I would love to take some of your thoughts to paraphrase in a post without indicating your name. I stand with you in your thoughts as they are mine as well. May God bless you for having the courage to speak up. I agree as this is your timeline that you have a right to your opinion. Those who have disagreed with you should have read your warning in the beginning and remained silent or not read this at all..
The job of a Supreme Court Justice is the most important in the US and in the world. We should have no doubt that persons with that responsibility are always truthful about themselves and have always respected others. If we take politics out of the equation, I believe we see where truth was in the testimonies last Thursday. The FBI hopefully will reveal more facts in their investigation this week for all of us to consider. We cannot have a person on the Supreme Court for whom we have doubts of his honesty and character!
Yes because her taking 2 hours to answer 2 questions that are yes or no answers, while blubbering like a baby doesn’t effect the outcome a polygraph. Just a little research will tell ya crying gives false positives. Pyschology PhD by the way. Not licensed. Committed perjury.
I’m sure that’s the norm for a polygraph, 2 questions per hour.
Not.
But you know Brett K has been under FBI investigation what is it 6 times in his past for different positions his held.
I don’t want to live in a socialist country. It seems that is the road we are on now if many get their way. It makes me sad that people expect things to be given to them, instead of earning it. It makes me sad that communication is dead. There is a double standard in politics today. I read, and hear, about me too, and I believe women, but history is full of examples where that is only true if it fits the current narrative.
Do research. Read. Don’t assume that what you read in the mainstream media is 100% accurate. In Texas, there is a candidate who not only drove drunk, but ran away from the scene. I guess in today’s environment, that is okay. It’s okay to say that we must believe all women-even if there isn’t any proof, yet yesterday a victim’s accusations were dismissed because there wasn’t enough “proof”. How can you believe a woman in one example, yet not the other? How can voters continually re-elect someone who left a woman to drown to death, yet think the politicians in question today are evil? How can women today be believed, yet a former President was accused of rape, and the same people who #believeher, didn’t believe his victim 40 years ago?
Everyone is entitled to their opinions. All I ask is that people stop having such a double standard, and demanding that all we have to full in line with their thought.
Thank you Ms. Delinsky and bravo! It is not easy to speak openly anymore. Democracy depends on all citizens to vote.
If a person stops reading your books because you wrote an educated statement about the goings on in his country, that is a closed minded person and probably didn’t read that many anyway. One reason we read is to learn varied opinions. If there is a woman in America today that can uphold what is going on that is sad sad. Our country has never in modern times been so looked down upon and in such disgrace that a leader can’t attend a funeral. We are not respected anymore and the problem is that one party has tunnel vision. Ignore these negative comments. I admire you for standing up for your beliefs. Your education is apparent!! I don’t think I have ever admired you more …
It does not take research or fake news to observe how a man acted on the stand!! No one can deny his actions were not what they should be.
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I totally agree!!! You are wonderful! I love reading your books~like a chocolate cookie, I just have to have another! I finish one book and have to read another!