In response to the Senate’s vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, People For the American Way President Michael Keegan issued the following statement:
“The process that led to this confirmation has been a sham ever since the moment Donald Trump said that instead of seeking bipartisan consultation he would outsource his choice of a Supreme Court nominee to two right-wing advocacy organizations. Every single step since that time has only underscored that this has been about nothing more than exercising raw political power to install a Supreme Court Justice who will empower corporations and the wealthy while undermining the rights that protect all Americans. Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell and Chuck Grassley and nearly all senate Republicans showed complete disregard for the integrity of the Senate and the Supreme Court, to say nothing of the lives of sexual assault survivors or the millions of other Americans who will be affected by this decision.
“Brett Kavanaugh represents a crisis in our democracy not just because he was confirmed but by how he was confirmed. Republicans ignored Brett Kavanaugh’s dishonesty and his partisan tirades. They dismissed credible allegations of sexual assault with the absurd claim that they believed everything about Dr. Blasey Ford’s testimony except for all the important parts they found politically inconvenient. They lined up behind Donald Trump as he attacked sexual assault survivors and smeared deeply concerned people from all across the country who stood up to oppose this nomination. The idea that Brett Kavanaugh could be considered a fair minded arbiter of Americans’ rights is a sick joke. Republicans have done with the Supreme Court what they’ve done with Congress and the White House: dragged it into the sewer.
“I am deeply grateful for the courage and patriotism of Dr. Blasey Ford and the many other women and survivors of sexual assault who told their stories and demanded to be heard. Millions of activists and ordinary people were inspired and moved by their bravery. We owe it to them not to forget what they’ve said, now or on Election Day, next month or in 2020. November is a critical opportunity to show Donald Trump and his allies that we refuse to be dissuaded by their dishonesty and disrespect for our constitutional system. We will be working harder than ever to send that message loud and clear.”
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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