Accusation illustrates death of bipartisanship

Ahhh … 1982. Great year. Michael Jackson released “Thriller.” The Dodge K-Car was in full production. Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” was “The Computer,” EPCOT opened, and Ronald Reagan was in the White House.

Oh, and apparently just as noteworthy, a high school teenager was rebuffed after allegedly trying to force himself on a girl at a party.

Those events were all harbingers of great things: superstardom; Chrysler being saved from bankruptcy; the tech world exploding beyond imagination; Disney becoming the unsurpassed entertainment leader; and The Gipper winning the Cold War.

Perhaps most impactful, the boy learned humility (if the story is true, and that’s a big “if”) — a valuable lesson, given that he is on track to become a United States Supreme Court Justice.

But the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh has hit a roadblock, courtesy of that decades old allegation. Now, for him to be confirmed, he must successfully navigate a minefield of unprecedented political correctness, and a destroy-at-all-costs partisanship that makes modern-day America look increasingly like 1936 Berlin. The potential silver lining is that when Kavanaugh is finally confirmed, perhaps we can begin to tear down the wall of massive intolerance that has been erected across our land.

I have always had an affinity for California’s Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

A centrist, she has always been her own person, prioritizing principle over party. Granted, I disagree with her on most issues, but she always commanded respect by carrying herself with dignity, unlike some of her more strident and showboating colleagues.

But after caving to Senate Democrats by releasing an 11thhour hit on Mr. Kavanaugh, her reputation tanked, forever tarnishing her legacy.

Sen. Feinstein, as ranking Minority member of the Judiciary Committee, received information in July concerning a woman’s claim that Kavanaugh attempted to force himself on her at a party. In 1982 — yes, 1982. According to the account, she resisted his advances and left the room.

Using her common sense and inherent decency, Feinstein chose not to release the information, since nothing could be proven one way or the other. But after news of the information leaked, her Democratic colleagues put on the full-court press, and Sen. Feinstein uncharacteristically relented.

Why are we discussing something that allegedly occurred 36 years ago? That’s over a third of a century! People can’t remember what they did last week, and we’re expecting crystal-clear recollections of a high school party from an individual — Christine Blasey Ford — who doesn’t go public with her claim until the last minute, and then only after it is leaked?

Should Ford have her day? Yes. But only that — a day. By definition, there really isn’t much to say except what we already know. And Mr. Kavanaugh should be afforded just as much time to tell his side. But in all honesty, both of those things should take no more than an hour.

After that, Mr. Kavanaugh’s nomination should be voted upon. No more delays.

And for the record, this author isn’t proclaiming Mr. Kavanaugh’s innocence, nor stating that inappropriate behavior did not occur. But the time gap is so long, and discrepancies so numerous, that there is no way to declare the nominee unfit, and thus, no reason to derail the vote.

The Democrats’ ploy is unethical, immoral, and — dare we say it — un-American, not to mention devious. If they can sink Kavanaugh, the Left believes it can buy enough time to delay another Trump pick until the elections. And if not, they think impugning his reputation with a sexual harassment charge will give “political cover” to the D’s in tight Senate races who vote against the nominee.

No matter what, Brett Kavanaugh’s reputation will forever be tarnished, all to serve a political agenda.

This ploy will backfire. Most Americans, even those who disagree with President Trump and the Republicans, will be offended by such unfair piling-on. And more so, they realize that if a Supreme Court nominee can be taken down on such a flimsy charge, so can the average citizen.

Ironically, the Kavanaugh hit job hurts women who truly have been victimized, and shows exactly why much-ballyhooed “bipartisanship” will never work in this environment of intolerance.

It’s time to confirm Brett Kavanaugh and begin the long road back to civility. Nothing could be more supreme.