How would adding stories of those scared silent shift rape numbers?

Days ago, I shared the story of my unremarkable attempted rape on Facebook. Unremarkable because, after posting, I learned that almost every woman I know has a similar story. In my case, I was 24 and my diving buddy carried my scuba tanks into my apartment, made a move on me and, when rejected, threw me down, climbed on top of me and tried to rape me. “You aren’t the only one who decides,” he growled. I remember kicking him off and running outside, screaming. No neighbors came out. He left.

I never reported what happened. No evidence. No witnesses. Who would believe me?

But, it happened. After I shared that story and my reasons for wanting a thorough hearing for Christine Ford, more than 60 women posted or messaged me with their stories of rape or attempted rape. Eight women wrote me about being gang raped. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that one in four women is raped, but there is no accounting of the attempted rapes, and I wonder: If we added in the attempted rapes, would that number double? Triple? Every single woman I know seems to have at least one story of rape or attempted rape — if not three. Almost every story is he said / she said. Few remember precise details like dates. I don’t.

I have no idea what happened that night with Ford, and neither do you. What we know is that she says there was a witness, and our U.S. Senate refuses to put him under oath. It refuses to order an investigation.

What if I were in Ford’s situation? Why would I testify when the President of the United States condemns my story as “hard to believe” and the Senate president says (before I even testify) that the vote will happen in Kavanaugh’s favor? The fix is in.

Time magazine laid out Trump’s six arguments every time a man he knows has been accused of harassment or worse. 1. He is a good person. 2. His accusers are lying. 3. The allegations are untrue. 4. The claims are politically motivated 5. The process is unfair and 6. The guy is the real victim.

That’s exactly how he has shielded himself from his 19 sexual assault or sexual harassment allegations. In at least one instance he said the victim was not attractive enough to assault. It is the strategy he used for Roger Allies, Bill O’Reilly, Rob Porter and — let’s not forget — alleged pedophile Roy Moore.

It is what he and his ilk are doing right now in the allegations against Bret Kavanaugh in his quest for our highest court.

Trump tweeted that, if Ford’s story were true, she’d have immediately filed something with police and said she needs to “bring those filings forward so that we can learn date, time, and place!”

Well, neither I nor most of the women who wrote me went to police. I don’t know the date or time of my incident, but I know this: It happened. No amount of partisan snarling can erase it. I wish it could.

Kavanaugh is not just applying for a job. He is up for an exalted, lifelong position that will affect every American citizen. He will impact women’s rights in historic ways.

Fifty-two percent of our electorate is female. We have the voting power to change things like this. The only way this victim shaming and persecution continues is if those who condone it are allowed to divide us. Rape and attempted rape is not a partisan problem. It is every woman’s greatest fear.

Once I became a women’s leadership speaker and author, I was always saddened to see blank gazes when I stressed how it was for us to actively protect women’s rights. I was told more than once, “Our contribution to the women’s movement now is being successful in our jobs.”

So many of us didn’t know what we had to protect, and didn’t think we had anything to lose. Well, we know now.

We have got to elect people who treat women like human beings.

I have heard from so many women who are angry, in tears and/or experiencing PTSD because of this. This moment is bigger than Trump or McConnell will ever realize.

This is the second wave of “Me Too,” and it is a tsunami.

Fawn Germer is a best-selling Oprah Book Author and International Leadership Speaker. Germer is ranked 23rd on the Prestigious Global Gurus List of the Best Leadership Speakers Worldwide.