For Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation, GOP needs to start acting like the majority

by Kimberly Ross

On Sunday, while waiting for Thursday's scheduled hearing featuring Judge Brett Kavanaugh and his accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, another sexual misconduct allegation surfaced.

On second thought, "surfaced" is too generous a term to describe the flimsy, 11th-hour claim revealed as news by The New Yorker. In it, Deborah Ramirez, who attended Yale University with Kavanaugh, describes an incident during a party where the eventual Supreme Court nominee supposedly exposed himself and encouraged Ramirez to touch him. But her assertion contains many noticeable flaws: not only is it decades-old, but any eyewitness testimony is entirely lacking – as stated in the piece itself, although conveniently mentioned well below the headline. 

"The New Yorker has not confirmed with other eyewitnesses that Kavanaugh was present at the party. The magazine contacted several dozen classmates of Ramirez and Kavanaugh regarding the incident. Many did not respond to interview requests; others declined to comment, or said they did not attend or remember the party."

In fact, "One of the male classmates who Ramirez said egged on Kavanaugh denied any memory of the party." Additionally, other Yale classmates neither saw nor heard of the alleged incident, and still more attest to Kavanaugh's upstanding character.

Now the confirmation process as a whole is on even shakier ground.

While the Democrats, and especially ranking member Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., are the ones to thank for the initial delay of the nomination process, this does not adequately render the entire picture. The daily continuation of this twisted, never-ending saga says one main thing: it's time for the GOP to act like the majority party. Enough of the charades and misguided calls for FBI investigations. Enough of discussing whether the nominee, who has been thoroughly vetted by the FBI in the past, is a sexual predator. Enough of entertaining claims and treating the opposition with patience it does not deserve.

[Also read: Trump dismisses allegations against Brett Kavanaugh as 'totally political']

The moment for the Republican Party leaders to usher the way through the swamp is now. If they don't seize upon this opportunity, they'll irreparably damage themselves ahead of the approaching midterms and well into the foreseeable future.

Electoral concerns are second to more personal ones, though. While some scoff at the idea of Brett Kavanaugh and his family experiencing hardship as a result of these allegations, it is a defensible concern. To many, Kavanaugh is nothing but a prep school, Ivy League-educated white male whose history is filled with privilege and increasing power. Should he really be given consideration?

The answer is a resounding "yes." In the eyes of those who see patriarchal domination around every corner, Brett Kavanaugh is the unlikely representative of a group they love to hate. They welcome his destruction at the hands of accusing women. But no matter how such a takedown would feel for the #MeToo movement, the search for and upholding of the truth should always be the ultimate goal. False allegations of sexual abuse/harassment stay with a person, tainting their reputation and damaging not only future professional prospects but personal relationships.

To be sure, sexual assault/harassment should never be taken lightly. However, there is nothing of evidentiary significance with either of these allegations against Kavanaugh. Aside from present-day statements and media-driven narratives, there is no evidence whatsoever. On the heels of this new allegation, Stormy Daniels' lawyer and possible presidential contender, Michael Avenatti, madeeven more shocking claims: He says Kavanaugh and a high school friend "would participate in the targeting of women with alcohol/drugs" in order to gang rape them.

Kavanaugh's fall from a man and jurist of strong moral character to one targeted as an accomplice for gang rape has been swift, stomach-churning – and from what evidence we've seen, entirely political. His good name is smeared for the sake of a seat on the Supreme Court. The party desperate to protect abortion at any cost is showing us that they'll do just that. This doesn't only hurt the nominee, his family, and the confirmation process; it also hurts our country.

Right now, the Democrats are in complete control of the situation. They remain unconcerned with how the current intentional circus may derail a man's life. They're not aching for facts and proof so much as the opportunity to further an agenda. They welcome claims from anyone so long as they cast doubt on Kavanaugh. They are happy to corrupt the process. Meanwhile, their more numerous opponents are letting them get away with it.

Republicans, it's time to act like the majority. Enough of letting Democrats control the narrative. Take control of the process.

Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog and a senior contributor at RedState.com.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/for-brett-kavanaughs-confirmation-gop-needs-to-start-acting-like-the-majority