Party politics in court

Re Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court: It was evident that Professor Ford was not playing politics, but compelled, not willingly, to stand within her own character against an earlier alleged action of the nominee.

I had not planned to watch the hearings but a telephone call changed my entire day. After ignoring all the “break comments,” I sat watching his wife and Judge Kavanaugh as he took the seat. Within minutes of his angry indignation, I was having reactions—what was shock became disgust, which became tragic. I felt I was watching a man broken and desperately clawing himself back into his deserved place, established in terms of academics, sports, law, judging and society, and he seemed to believe that this is what life’s all about. That is neither the definition of character nor of integrity when extended only to matters on a resume. Good character comes from within and involves the whole being’s actions.

Consensual sex, whatever form it takes, has been rampart in the last decades. Forced sex, accepting that the term sex is not limited to intercourse, is not acceptable. Kellyanne Conway believes sexual assault should be confronted between victim and the assailant. Certainly courage is needed to do so. S.E. Cupp wrote that Kavanaugh felt betrayed and reflected “a deep and growing anger among average Americans over what they have seen as a political hatchet job.” Indeed, that thinking was shouted to the universe by Sen. Lindsey Graham at the closing of the day.

This increasingly present warfare between Republicans and Democrats, fueled by great sums of money, is anti-American at best and disastrous for the USA. The president will appoint another nominee, if he must. It will be a Republican. Perhaps a woman. But let us make it clear that we do not want party politics operating through the highest court in our land.

JUDITH BAUM North Little Rock