President Donald Trump was handed a second appointment to the Supreme Court. With justices serving life appointments to the Supreme Court, some presidents never even get the chance to nominate one.
Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh has a record of ruling in favor for conservatives. If appointed, Kavanaugh could help shape the law in this country for the next generation.

This could spell bad news for LGBT and women rights. Stating in 2000, Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that made abortion legal in the United States, did not settle the debate.

During hearings before the senate judiciary committee, allegations of sexual assault surfaced against Kavanaugh. Christine Blasey Ford has accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in the 1980’s when they were in high school together. Ford stated Kavanaugh held her down, groped her and held her mouth shut with such force she was scared he would suffocate her.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has invited both Kavanaugh and Ford to testify in front of the committee under-oath next Monday. I don’t know how this would help prove whether the assault took place or not. It would become a he-said she-said in front of a committee that republicans would treat Ford the same way they did against Anita Hill in 1991.

Anita Hill came forward in 1991 when she accused Justice Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. No other witnesses were allowed to testify other than Hill. It became a he-said she-said and Thomas was confirmed to the Supreme Court. No good came out of the way the committee conducted their hearing except that their guy was appointed. And it seems Grassley, who was on that committee, learned all the wrong lessons, and is trying to do the same here.

Ford says another person was in the room that night, a friend of Kavanaugh, Mark Judge. Judge has already told the committee he will not testify, but was never formally invited.

A letter signed by over 600 Alumnae gives support to Ford and tell of a atmosphere at the school that supports Ford’s claim. Many entries from Kavanaugh’s senior yearbook allude to a heavy drinking atmosphere at Georgetown Prep. One of the pages in the yearbook titled “Those Funny Guys” has a bunch of questionable captions under pictures. “Prep parties raise questions of legality,” “100 kegs or bust” and “do these guys beat their wives?” In 2015, Kavanaugh said during an interview, “What happens at Georgetown Prep stays at Georgetown Prep. That’s been good for all of us.”

Democrats have called for the FBI to look into the allegations and for the committee to reopen Kavanaugh’s background check. President Donald Trump has weighed in saying the FBI should not get involved. And Republicans are trying to assure the best course of action is a public hearing for Ford. Some Republicans have gone on record to say if Ford doesn’t show up, it would be very telling and the allegations should be thrown out.

They are trying to use scare tactics to keep Ford away from testifying or to testify and have an Anita Hill situation all over again.

It seems Republicans have not learned their lesson from not only the way they treated Anita Hill, but from the #MeToo movement. Many Republicans went after more liberal celebrities who were accused of sexual harassment. But when it benefits them, they question the victim.
All victims should be taken seriously and be allowed to come forward, not be intimidated by, in most cases, powerful men.