Imagine if a male United States Senator declared that women just need to “shut up.” It would be a grossly sexist and disturbing statement that lead to calls for censure. However, there apparently is no such concern in the inverse. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) told men to “shut up and step up” when asked about the allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Hirono further insists that accused Dr. Christine Blasey Ford “need to be believed” and not just heard.
Hirono stated:
SEN. MAZIE HIRONO (D-HI): I think we all know when something is not fair, when something smells. This is so patently not fair to her and what really bothers me and gets me so angry that the White House is victimizing this person. Why don’t we get that out there? Why should we participate in the victimization of someone who has the courage to come forward? And she is under no obligation to participate in a smearing of her and her family. That is why I am very clear about what needs to happen. But at the same time if the Republicans go forward with their plan to railroad this fast-track as they have so many other nominations, I expect the members of the press to talk about how unfair that is. I don’t think that is editorializing, that is laying out the facts. I expect that from you guys…
HIRONO: I expect the men in this country and the men in this committee because we all signed on to this letter to demand an FBI investigation. But really guess who is perpetuating all of these kinds of actions? It’s the men in this country. And I just want to say to the men in this country: just shut up and step up, do the right thing for a change.
Hirono is clearly right that Ford must be treated fairly and not punished for coming forward with her allegation. That includes not having to testify next to Kavanaugh, as her counsel suggested was the plan for Monday. However, the calling of the hearing is not a form of victimization. Her allegation was made shortly before the vote on Kavanaugh and the vote has been delayed. A hearing has been scheduled for Monday but Ford is now saying that she will not testify unless the FBI launched an investigation.
On the issue of believing Ford, do you believe that she has a right to be believed or to be heard?
Guess I’m going to have to vote Republican for the first time in my life (I’m 53). Never thought I would see the day when the Democrats would tell me in their own words that they don’t want me to be a part of their party.
At most, she has a right to present her story as it relates to Judge Kavanaugh. She should present her story, and be subject to questioning in an attempt to reach the truth.
Subsequent to this article’s publication, I have heard of additional demands that her lawyer has made of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Those additional demands should be ignored, since they are not conducive to the concept of presumed innocence, which is a bedrock of our system of justice.
Kavanagh is not on trial in a court of law. This is a proceeding regarding Advice and Consent. In particular, there is no “presumption of innocence”.
You keep making this irrelevant statement. No serious person would take the allegations against him at face value or suggest that it was his job to prove them false. It is Blasey’s job to provide the evidence, and she cannot do it, which is why she and her seedy lawyer have been playing hide the ball. Now we learn that she took that risible polygraph in a hotel proximate to the BWI Airport. Inneresting place for Chistine Blasey Fear-of-Flying to be.
Again, you need to get to first base: provide evidence that Kavanaugh and Judge were actually acquainted with Blasey and spent time with her. They didn’t attend the same schools and the Blasey home in Potomac was about 8 miles from the Kavanaugh home in Bethesda.
Same deal with Swetnick. She’s two years older than Judge and Kavanaugh, her family lived 20 miles away from the Kavanaughs, and the community college she attended had two campuses – one 15 miles from the Kavanaugh’s home and one 22 miles away.
Rasmussen 49% total approval of Trump.
There are numerous reasons why Ford’s claim can be wrong. There can be a mixture. I’ll provide 4.
1) Pure lie. I think there is likely more so I don’t think #1 is the reason and if it is it is not pure.
2) Mental incapacity. That is always a possibility.
3) Flase memory. This happens all too many times.
4) misidentification: https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2018/09/former-scalia-law-clerk-drops-pictures-and-evidence-that-blows-christine-fords-case-wide-open/
There are more reasons, but the animals on the left want to impugn the integrity of anyone wishing to get in their way. They have no concern for the truth and they have no integrity. Take a look at those two pictures at the address in #4, for a possible answer, but now another man might be implicated and he might be totally innocent as well. One after another. Character assasination of innocent people. You guys on the left should be ashamed of yourselves.
You clearly understand nothing about sexual assault cases.
David Benson is the King of Making Stuff Up and owes me eleven citations (one from the OED) and the source of a quotation, after seventeen weeks, and needs to cite all his work from now on. – you have been involved in a lot of sexual assault cases have you? Were you the assaultee or the assaultor?
“You clearly understand nothing about sexual assault cases.”
You have made your accusation with no substance attached. That means you have no understanding behind your thinking process. I listed 4 reasons why Ford’s accusation could be wrong and that was just a partial list.
Only stupid people think misidentification doesn’t occur. Only stupid people think that mental incapacity doesn’t enter into this type of claim. Only stupid people think no one lies. Only stupid people don’t recognize false memories as a problem in such cases.
David, are you stupid? Your response indicates yes.
Blasey and Swetnick are almost certainly lying. The smart money says Swetnick’s allegations are an unadulterated fabrication and Blasey is repurposing and embellishing an incident in her past and inserting Judge and Kavanaugh in place of the chaps who were actually present.
DSS, I agree both are lying though Blasey is likely embellishing as I metioned in earlier comments. However, I think she may also be faced with some mental issues.