November 18, 2018 // November 2, 2018
Help us understand the coverage of these stories.
We're trying. God knows we're trying so let's try to trace where we've been and where we are now:
For several weeks prior to his confirmation as a Supreme Court Justice, Brett Kavanaugh faced and addressed several accusations regarding this behavior as a young man, including allegations that included sexual assault and rape. Everyone knows how it all turned out so we're not going down that road here.
What we DON'T UNDERSTAND are the reactions - should you characterize them that way - to the following bits of news, subsequent to the Justice Kavanaugh's confirmation:
Judy-Nuro Leighton admitted she fabricated (lied about) her allegations against Brett Kavanaugh in a letter she sent to Senator Kamala Harris from California.
Julie Swetnick accused Kavanaugh of drunken behavior (including "spiking the punch" except she didn't really see him do that) and sexual assault, although she didn't witness that either.
(If readers wonder why the links are not to NPR, or WashPO, of the NYT, it's because these particular stories weren't to be found on the first few pages of a goole search. Imagine. And you should know we don't have hours and hours (damn that day job!) or Lexis Nexis to find this stuff. Imagine.)
And finally, we have media darling, Attorney Michael Avenatti, who represented Stormy Daniels in her suit against President Trump and Julie Swetnick as well. He was arrested for alleged domestic abuse. He denies the charges. His formal response follows: "I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night. Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated."
Sounds painfully familiar: From the Indianapolis Star: “This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describes — to her or to anyone,” Kavanaugh said in a statement released Sept. 17.“ I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the Committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity.”
The point of this is not who lied, who is committed to ruining reputations (and lives) and who is seeking media attention and the spotlight. What confounds us is the lack of outraged women, who should be vehemently dismissing women like Leighton and Swetnick who - through their actions - will make it more difficult for women with legitimate and painful sexual assaults and trauma in their pasts to come forward and make their accusations. They fully supported them while they were lying. They should just as vociferously denounce them, now that they have been revealed to be liars. WHERE is the outrage?
Men like Avanatti - what's left to say about him? Opportunist is too mundane. And sure, are we judging without proof? Yes, we are! That's the American way.
Women shouted long, loud, and relentlessly during the confirmation hearings for Kavanaugh. Understandably. What did he do; what do we know about him; how will this impact his conduct over the next 30 or 40 years? Irrespective of those answers, he is sitting on the Supreme Court. (His primary accuser, Ms. Blasey-Ford, has chosen to end her pursuit of justice. )
So where are the women who supported the sisterhood throughout this whole sordid story?
Crickets.
Help us understand the coverage of these stories.
We're trying. God knows we're trying so let's try to trace where we've been and where we are now:
For several weeks prior to his confirmation as a Supreme Court Justice, Brett Kavanaugh faced and addressed several accusations regarding this behavior as a young man, including allegations that included sexual assault and rape. Everyone knows how it all turned out so we're not going down that road here.
What we DON'T UNDERSTAND are the reactions - should you characterize them that way - to the following bits of news, subsequent to the Justice Kavanaugh's confirmation:
Judy-Nuro Leighton admitted she fabricated (lied about) her allegations against Brett Kavanaugh in a letter she sent to Senator Kamala Harris from California.
Julie Swetnick accused Kavanaugh of drunken behavior (including "spiking the punch" except she didn't really see him do that) and sexual assault, although she didn't witness that either.
(If readers wonder why the links are not to NPR, or WashPO, of the NYT, it's because these particular stories weren't to be found on the first few pages of a goole search. Imagine. And you should know we don't have hours and hours (damn that day job!) or Lexis Nexis to find this stuff. Imagine.)
And finally, we have media darling, Attorney Michael Avenatti, who represented Stormy Daniels in her suit against President Trump and Julie Swetnick as well. He was arrested for alleged domestic abuse. He denies the charges. His formal response follows: "I have never been physically abusive in my life nor was I last night. Any accusations to the contrary are fabricated and meant to do harm to my reputation. I look forward to being fully exonerated."
Sounds painfully familiar: From the Indianapolis Star: “This is a completely false allegation. I have never done anything like what the accuser describes — to her or to anyone,” Kavanaugh said in a statement released Sept. 17.“ I am willing to talk to the Senate Judiciary Committee in any way the Committee deems appropriate to refute this false allegation, from 36 years ago, and defend my integrity.”
The point of this is not who lied, who is committed to ruining reputations (and lives) and who is seeking media attention and the spotlight. What confounds us is the lack of outraged women, who should be vehemently dismissing women like Leighton and Swetnick who - through their actions - will make it more difficult for women with legitimate and painful sexual assaults and trauma in their pasts to come forward and make their accusations. They fully supported them while they were lying. They should just as vociferously denounce them, now that they have been revealed to be liars. WHERE is the outrage?
Men like Avanatti - what's left to say about him? Opportunist is too mundane. And sure, are we judging without proof? Yes, we are! That's the American way.
Women shouted long, loud, and relentlessly during the confirmation hearings for Kavanaugh. Understandably. What did he do; what do we know about him; how will this impact his conduct over the next 30 or 40 years? Irrespective of those answers, he is sitting on the Supreme Court. (His primary accuser, Ms. Blasey-Ford, has chosen to end her pursuit of justice. )
So where are the women who supported the sisterhood throughout this whole sordid story?
Crickets.