Shocker: Brett Kavanaugh showed his humanity (rescind his nomination now)

0
20
Brett Kavanaugh
President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee. [Photo Credit: AP Photo | Andrew Harnik]

Today, I want to talk about the anger and frustration directed toward Brett Kavanaugh for showing emotion during the Senate hearing. Yes, I realize that judicial temperament is important especially when you’re talking about a nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, but at the same time Kavanaugh didn’t lose his cool in an ordinary professional setting, he lost his cool as a result of a full-on character assassination attempt including accusations that, if true, would make him a monster. He was facing this playing out minute-by-minute across the nation.

On Thursday, Kavanaugh did something unprecedented which is write an op-ed and acknowledge that he went too far in letting his feeling show at the hearing. While I applaud him for taking responsibility and for apologizing I have to wonder if anyone on the left will ever do the same for him and his family?

Against that backdrop, I testified before the Judiciary Committee last Thursday to defend my family, my good name and my lifetime of public service. My hearing testimony was forceful and passionate. That is because I forcefully and passionately denied the allegation against me.

…I was very emotional last Thursday, more so than I have ever been. I might have been too emotional at times. I know that my tone was sharp, and I said a few things I should not have said. I hope everyone can understand that I was there as a son, husband and dad. I testified with five people foremost in my mind: my mom, my dad, my wife, and most of all my daughters.

The sexual assault accusations against him have ranged from questionable (did he or didn’t he) to delusional (no way in the world that’s true) with the FBI not being able to find a single witness or piece of evidence to back up  any of the claims. That hasn’t stopped liberals in the U.S. Senate from their smear campaign or outside groups from rallying to oppose his nomination louder than ever (because the tone in which they were screaming about his experience and background wasn’t effective they are now grasping at straws).

Here’s where I have to shake my head and wonder what people are thinking. The people saying he shouldn’t have lost his cool realize that he’s human and that this wasn’t an attack on his resume, his background, or his fairness on the bench? This was a full-on assault on who he is as a person and the kind of life he’s led to date. Can you name anyone who wouldn’t be emotional about this? I would have been more concerned for his character had he remained stoic and just regurgitated talking points and practiced lines while faced with accusations of a near rape and gang rapes.
I frequently see progressives/liberals talk about how we should raise our boys and our children without gender roles allowing them to embrace who they are. It’s been said that we as a society should not raise or encourage our boys to be tough but instead should let encourage them to be in touch with their feelings in the same way girls are (genetics and hormones be damned); the ideas of “boys will be boys” and other traditional societal norms of men being the protectors is wrong and dated they say. “Gender conforming stereotypes” are wrong. But just let a man show his true feelings. Let him cry. Let him get angry. Let him be defensive when attacked and BAM he should be disqualified from consideration for a job he’s more than qualified for.
In this case we’re not talking about just any man. We’re not talking about a man who maybe has a history of not being able to control his emotions. No, here we have a man with a reputation that’s been well documented for his entire adult life. Here we have a man who’s been under tremendous scrutiny before and has never shown a hint to cause concern. Here we have someone who has a history of being more than fair going out of his way to help women succeed and thrive. We’re talking about someone with hundreds of witnesses who have gone on record to talk about how much he respects women, whose career is exemplary and who was never given a moments fair shake once the allegations came out and when he gets on the stand and shows some frustration, hurt and disappointment at a process that’s been completely unfair to him he’s a monster.
I will tell you, I would hope that any man in my life from friends to family would feel strongly about being attacked the way Kavanaugh has been. I’d hope anyone male or female faced with the way in which senate democrats and the media has portrayed accusations as being equal to a conviction would feel and express dismay. This isn’t something that was happening in a vacuum to Kavanaugh this circus played out on the worlds stage in front of his wife and children.
Feminist who call for the end of gender stereotypes should be ashamed of themselves for mocking and criticizing his display of emotion because it was appropriate and measured. I would imagine most people would be far more upset, far more emotional and far more angry and frustrated if dealing with what Kavanaugh and his family has had to deal with understanding the long-term consequences of what’s happening.
So in today’s episode “make up your darn minds” I once again call into question those who say we shouldn’t conform to gender norms and be able to express emotions, and then mock him for doing so. You need to take a look at your lives and realize that yes, conservative, Christian men should be able to display emotions. A nominee for the Supreme Court doesn’t stop being human, doesn’t stop being a father simply because of their nomination.
It looks like we’re just a day or two away from the senate voting on Kavanaugh’s confirmation. I hope any senator who is still undecided puts what has happened into perspective and imagines being in his shoes and votes to confirm him. Democrats have gotten everything they’ve asked for, now it’s time to put this ugly saga behind us and move forward.