Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified Thursday that Brett Kavanuagh sexually assaulted her in high school. Here is a link to the full hearing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQfPAotpoOo
Given that you likely don’t have four hours to watch, here are some of the key moments from both sides:
1. “I am terrified.”
“I am here today not because I want to be. I am terrified. I am here because I believe it is my civic duty to tell you what happened to me while Brett Kavanaugh and I were in high school.”
Dr. Ford begins her testimony with these words. One of the reasons she may be terrified is the backlash and negativity from the public. Later in her opening statement, she talks about how she had to move out of her home and separate from her family due to death threats.
2. “I am not anyone’s pawn.”
Because, well, she’s not.
Blasey Ford is responding directly to Kavanaugh’s claim that her coming forward is an “orchestrated political hit.” If this were a political hit, she would gain more than potentially stopping her attacker being on the Supreme Court. Through her opening statement alone, you can tell she isn’t gaining anything, as she has to relive her attack multiple times a day and is receiving death threats and has to keep changing her living arrangements.
3. “You’re asking about college? I got into Yale Law School.”
This doesn’t answer the question, but thanks for telling us!
This was Kavanaugh’s response to being asked if he was ever blackout drunk during college. One of his college roommates testified Kavanaugh had a heavy drinking problem, and this was his response in attempt to maintain his superiority over this whole case. However, he is the one on trial rather than serving as the judge like he usually is.
4. “You want to destroy this guy’s life.” —Lindsey Graham
I don’t even know where to begin with this…how about no. The only thing that’s happened to him since this assault is the elevation of his status as a white man because that’s the system that you uphold, Senator Graham. Dr. Ford has had to relive these events every day of her life, but yet his life is more important than hers – says who?
Senator Graham said this when he was supposed to be questioning Kavanaugh, but instead he started defending him.
In my humble opinion, Brett Kavanaugh is NOT someone I want making decisions for the United States, and certainly not about women’s rights.