In response to Senator Susan Collins’ announcement that she would vote in favor of confirming Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, People For the American Way President Michael Keegan issued the following statement:
“In choosing to vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Senator Susan Collins has chosen to vote against sexual assault survivors, against women, against people with preexisting conditions and against the institutional integrity of the Senate and the Supreme Court. She ignored clear evidence that Brett Kavanaugh will do exactly what Donald Trump promised he’d do: undermine Roe v. Wade and dismantle the Affordable Care Act. She also brushed aside the credible testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and the partisan diatribe delivered by Brett Kavanaugh. She didn’t even bother to mention the clear evidence that Brett Kavanaugh has repeatedly lied to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“This shameful vote will be Susan Collins’ legacy. If he’s confirmed, Brett Kavanagh will likely serve for decades, and Senator Collins will need to answer for every future decision that her vote makes possible. She’ll be responsible for the decisions chipping away at Roe; she’ll be responsible for decisions eroding LGBT people’s right to equal treatment; she’ll be responsible for decisions taking away healthcare; she’ll be responsible for decisions making it harder for workers to stand up for themselves when they’re discriminated against and easier for wealthy donors to buy elections.
“Senator Collins has made it official: if she was ever a moderate voice in the Senate, she isn’t anymore. Voters will remember this confirmation fight in November—and they’ll remember this vote when Susan Collins asks for their support in 2020.”
People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and defend constitutional values including free expression, religious liberty, equal justice under the law, and the right to meaningfully participate in our democracy. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.
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