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appalachiablue

(41,053 posts)
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 03:21 PM Sep 2018

65 Women Send Pro-Kavanaugh Support Letter to Senate

Politico, 'Sexual assault allegation roils Kavanaugh confirmation fight. Republicans rushed to defend the Supreme Court nominee with a letter from women who've known him since high school.' Friday, Sept. 14, '18.

Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans on Friday released a letter from 65 women who knew Brett Kavanaugh during his high school years calling him "a good person"- escalating their defense of the Supreme Court nominee as a decades-old sexual misconduct allegation surfaced. Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley's (R-Iowa) office circulated the pro-Kavanaugh letter less than 48 hours after the committee's top Democrat, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, referred the allegation against the nominee to the FBI.

Feinstein, who declined to say when she first became aware of the accusation, said she had "honored [a] decision" by the woman making the charges to maintain confidentiality. But the senator's handling of the matter has stoked already-fierce partisan tensions over a confirmation the GOP is still pushing to wind up by the end of this month.

The woman leveling the charge against Kavanaugh attended a nearby high school at the same time as the nominee. She, Kavanaugh, and another high-school male were alone in a room together when the alleged misconduct took place, according to two sources. The New Yorker reported Friday that the woman alleged Kavanaugh had attempted to force himself on her while physically restraining her.

The flaring controversy has not shaken Republican plans to bring Kavanaugh's nomination to the Senate floor before the Supreme Court's new term begins in first week of October. The Judiciary panel is still scheduled to vote on the nomination on Thursday, Grassley's office said. The Senate has received an updated FBI background report on Kavanaugh that includes the letter, which means that senators will have access to the letter if they want to view it. https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/14/gop-kavanaugh-sexual-assault-allegation-824699

- MORE, Washington Examiner,
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/65-women-defend-kavanaugh-after-sexual-misconduct-allegation/ar-BBNkVtj
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday released a letter from the women, who said they have known Kavanaugh for more than 35 years, including during his years at Georgetown Preparatory School, an all-boys school in North Bethesda, Md.
“For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect,” the women wrote in the letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. “We strongly believe it is important to convey this information to the Committee at this time.”

The 65 signatories said they knew Kavanaugh through various activities and have remained close to him and his family.
“Through the more than 35 years we have known him, Brett has stood out for his friendship, character, and integrity,” the women wrote. “In particular, he has always treated women with decency and respect. That was true when he was in high school, and it has remained true to this day.”

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65 Women Send Pro-Kavanaugh Support Letter to Senate (Original Post) appalachiablue Sep 2018 OP
At an all-boys high school torius Sep 2018 #1
What a crock, huh? John Fante Sep 2018 #2
And the letter was ready before any of them knew about the other letter gratuitous Sep 2018 #3
Not a good point TexasProgresive Sep 2018 #6
I went to an all boy catholic high school. Pretty sure I knew 65 girls. Hangingon Sep 2018 #37
There you go. TexasProgresive Sep 2018 #39
Blazer and tie. Hangingon Sep 2018 #42
There's often an affiliated all-girls school nearby. WillowTree Sep 2018 #9
No doubt he knew SOME girls. torius Sep 2018 #16
Long ago in a generation far away, I went to an all boy catholic school. Hangingon Sep 2018 #38
They got those letters way to fast for them to be genuine MiniMe Sep 2018 #4
They were prepared for this. They had it ready in case it got out that... Garrett78 Sep 2018 #10
Bingo. They had it ready as it probably came up in vetting. The repugs of course would never mention brush Sep 2018 #24
Here is my raging paranoia about all this: Squinch Sep 2018 #5
So far the accuser is not "coming forward". WillowTree Sep 2018 #11
A scary but possible scenario unfortunately, from pro-strategist MM. appalachiablue Sep 2018 #12
These women claim they knew him in high school! torius Sep 2018 #20
Where does it say the women were the same age, or in school like BK? appalachiablue Sep 2018 #27
The 65 women are not necessarily PEERS- Neighbors, Parents' Friends, appalachiablue Sep 2018 #23
I don't buy that at all. Getting 65 women from 30-some years ago to sigh on to that letter in 3 days brush Sep 2018 #25
#27. A list already existed, & likely a ltr. just in case. Mitch knew appalachiablue Sep 2018 #30
You're agreeing with me, right, that the repugs had the letter ready in case the Dems found out... brush Sep 2018 #31
I said 'likely a ltr.', esp. w/ earlier comments here noting it, #3, at 3:28 appalachiablue Sep 2018 #32
Something very fishy about all this. smirkymonkey Sep 2018 #34
You nailed it. Horrible strategic blunder. VOX Sep 2018 #13
So if 65 females all wrote nice things about Charles Manson, that would prove....??? n/t dixiegrrrrl Sep 2018 #40
No, no, I'm thinking that the tactic simply gives R's a new pivot-point. VOX Sep 2018 #41
Never hurts to see things from their point of view. dixiegrrrrl Sep 2018 #44
So a 17yo indiscretion is supposed to quell investigations into PK's ideology/money problems? erronis Sep 2018 #17
And did DF review this first with K. Harris, other Dems., I hope- appalachiablue Sep 2018 #18
Was it mentioned how much each was paid to "sign the letter" CatMor Sep 2018 #7
One is Brit Hume's daughter torius Sep 2018 #26
Not necessarily paid. They're all from the same social strata - the same club. haele Sep 2018 #29
How telling that they felt the need to be prepared to do this. Garrett78 Sep 2018 #8
No Guy (esp a Kreep like Kavanaugh) has been "close", friends w 65 women since (boys) high school stuffmatters Sep 2018 #14
the letter is unadulterated BULLSHIT. spanone Sep 2018 #15
Since Kavenut is now a "victim" of an accusation torius Sep 2018 #19
Yeah, and Butterflylady Sep 2018 #21
I'm with you, Butterfly! Tucker08087 Sep 2018 #28
Evolving into another Clarence Thomas fiasco. Laffy Kat Sep 2018 #22
A slam piece on DF already; John Heileman just said 'Dems. in disarray appalachiablue Sep 2018 #33
Maybe some are a little annoyed, but it's hardly DeminPennswoods Sep 2018 #35
Yeah, too much & why he said it quietly and at the end. appalachiablue Sep 2018 #36
Apparently the 65 women were students from 5 different high schools. That is strange. LiberalFighter Sep 2018 #43
Republicans claim this is a desperate, last second attempt to smear Kavanaugh. And yet... Garrett78 Sep 2018 #45
And it's not likely to be reported truthfully or explored by next Thurs. appalachiablue Sep 2018 #46

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
3. And the letter was ready before any of them knew about the other letter
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 03:28 PM
Sep 2018

An amazing coincidence! "Hey girls! Brett might get accused of doing something rapey. What say we all get together and sign a letter about how he was never rapey around us? You know, just in case."

TexasProgresive

(12,148 posts)
6. Not a good point
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 03:34 PM
Sep 2018

I went to an all boys high school and I had lots of female friends. They went to co-ed or all girls schools.

WillowTree

(5,325 posts)
9. There's often an affiliated all-girls school nearby.
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 03:40 PM
Sep 2018

And my niece's girls went to a Catholic school (co-ed) and also dated boys from the public school. Kids aren't necessarily cloistered at these private schools.

torius

(1,652 posts)
16. No doubt he knew SOME girls.
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 04:05 PM
Sep 2018

But 65, all of whom knew him so well that they could vouch for his character? Who even knows that many people that well?

Hangingon

(3,071 posts)
38. Long ago in a generation far away, I went to an all boy catholic school.
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 06:21 PM
Sep 2018

It was the only catholic boys school in town. There were 3 catholic girls schools. Lots of mixers and lots of activities in common. Many of the kids were related. It would not have been difficult to know 65 girls.

Garrett78

(10,721 posts)
10. They were prepared for this. They had it ready in case it got out that...
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 03:40 PM
Sep 2018

...the good Christian Kavanaugh had once tried raping someone.

brush

(53,471 posts)
24. Bingo. They had it ready as it probably came up in vetting. The repugs of course would never mention
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 04:27 PM
Sep 2018

it, only prepared a response if needed.

No one could get in touch with 65 women from all over the country and perhaps the world in 3 days and get them to sign on to a letter.

They had the letter sitting there waiting just in case it was needed.

Squinch

(50,773 posts)
5. Here is my raging paranoia about all this:
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 03:30 PM
Sep 2018

Kavanaugh had already been proven to have lied to Congress under oath. We have video of him doing it and a paper trail that proves it. That should be the end of him.

Now we get this accusation. All of my appreciation and respect goes out to the accuser, because she knows the mountain of shit that is about to fall on her and she's coming forward anyway because it's the right thing to do. But in the end it looks like it might be he said/she said, and she might not be able to prove what she is saying.

Now, Kavanaugh has been vetted umpteen times before. There are vetting bodies that must already have this information. Could they have sent it to Feinstein and then Feinstein talked to the victim? The victim seems very reluctant to go public.

Did they push it forward NOW to distract from the perjury, for which we have proof, on the assumption that it would dominate the news and then not be provable?

I wouldn't put it past them. Seems McConnell-ish to me.

WillowTree

(5,325 posts)
11. So far the accuser is not "coming forward".
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 03:43 PM
Sep 2018

All she's done is write a letter at this point and has said that that's all she wants to do. That almost makes it less than he said/she said.

appalachiablue

(41,053 posts)
12. A scary but possible scenario unfortunately, from pro-strategist MM.
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 03:44 PM
Sep 2018

Nothing like a sex scandal to blitz the media, foil the impt. issues, and the GOP is hell bent on his confirmation. I hope this won't be how it goes down..
---------
65 women pulling together this fast is not difficult; he and his family lived in Bethesda lifelong, and there are neighbors, associations and networks over years. The way it is, esp. with persons with established connections. And if elaborated, who's going to make the women 'verify'? There's less than a week until the vote on him..

torius

(1,652 posts)
20. These women claim they knew him in high school!
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 04:18 PM
Sep 2018

It was worded that way, using weasel words. They knew him, "including" in high school. Even at a co-ed high school, 65 close female friends is not believable. I hope journalists are looking up their names.

appalachiablue

(41,053 posts)
27. Where does it say the women were the same age, or in school like BK?
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 04:39 PM
Sep 2018

At age 52, there were many women (& men) who knew me when I was in HS, neighbors, friends' mothers, teachers, parents' friends.
---
- "65 women who knew Brett Kavanaugh during his high school years calling him "a good person" (Politico).

- "The Senate Judiciary Committee on Friday released a letter from the women, who said they have known Kavanaugh for more than 35 years, including during his years at Georgetown Preparatory School, an all-boys school in North Bethesda, Md.

“For the entire time we have known Brett Kavanaugh, he has behaved honorably and treated women with respect,” the women wrote in the letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. “We strongly believe it is important to convey this information to the Committee at this time.”

* The 65 signatories said they knew Kavanaugh through various activities and have remained close to him and his family." (Wash. Examiner) https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/65-women-defend-kavanaugh-after-sexual-misconduct-allegation/ar-BBNkVtj

appalachiablue

(41,053 posts)
23. The 65 women are not necessarily PEERS- Neighbors, Parents' Friends,
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 04:21 PM
Sep 2018

Teachers, Women at Church, more, could know him since HIS HS Days which are in question.
_____

CHECK, and CHECKMATE?

brush

(53,471 posts)
25. I don't buy that at all. Getting 65 women from 30-some years ago to sigh on to that letter in 3 days
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 04:31 PM
Sep 2018

is highly unlikely. Those women are in different parts of the country and perhaps the world. Who can even gather the names and contact info in 3 days and contact them all and get them to agree to sigh that letter.

Nah. Not buying it at all.

That letter was pre-prepared in case this incident came out, which means they knew about and were ready for it in case the Dems found out about it.

They sure weren't going to bring it up that their perjurer nominee was also a sexual assaulter.

appalachiablue

(41,053 posts)
30. #27. A list already existed, & likely a ltr. just in case. Mitch knew
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 04:51 PM
Sep 2018

about BK and urged the Reps. Not to nominate him months ago.

brush

(53,471 posts)
31. You're agreeing with me, right, that the repugs had the letter ready in case the Dems found out...
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 05:00 PM
Sep 2018

about this sexual assault allegation?

appalachiablue

(41,053 posts)
32. I said 'likely a ltr.', esp. w/ earlier comments here noting it, #3, at 3:28
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 05:10 PM
Sep 2018

and on another thread. I never claimed there wasn't a letter ready.

Assuming that the 65 women are 52ish, the same age as BK, and also in HS school at the same time is impt. to me.

 

smirkymonkey

(63,221 posts)
34. Something very fishy about all this.
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 05:28 PM
Sep 2018

This man is slime. I knew it the first moment I saw him. Just keep digging, they will find more on him.

VOX

(22,976 posts)
13. You nailed it. Horrible strategic blunder.
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 03:47 PM
Sep 2018

Whether it came from McConnell or not (and it does smell funny), putting that damned letter into the mix now, with the back-and-forth tussle it generates, will seriously muffle and displace the valuable noise from the bigger, more corrosive issue of lying under oath. And Republicans will seize on this gift, and blather non-stop about letters, and adolescent hijinks, etc., and allow the lying-under-oath business to melt and evaporate.

No one ever said being a Democrat was easy, but damn, it’d sure be nice if everyone rowed in the same direction once in awhile.

VOX

(22,976 posts)
41. No, no, I'm thinking that the tactic simply gives R's a new pivot-point.
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 11:26 PM
Sep 2018

Don’t get me wrong— Brett Kavanaugh is a horrible person, through and through. A smarmy, lying, right-wing weasel who is unfit for any judgeship, let alone the SCOTUS.

I’m just thinking about strategy. As reprehensible as his behavior toward women was as a youth (and his current thinking on women is likely still twisted), the damned Republicans are protecting and enabling their monstrous #45 figurehead, who’s also a serial molester, and probably worse. The entire Republican Party’s attitude toward women is abominable. We’ve seen them trot out candidates like Roy Moore, and the defunding of Planned Parenthood, etc. As usual, women and POC are suffering the most under this near-dictatorship.

Which is why, again, just thinking in cold strategic terms, that Kavanaugh’s abuse is probably no big deal to most Republicans, especially their authoritarian, hyper-religious men. You and I, and any other sentient beings are appalled, but what we feel makes no difference here, when the R’s are holding the high cards. They can just pivot to their fresh batch of women’s letters of support (regardless of how disgustingly disingenuous that maneuver is), and blunt the angle of attack. And it gives them a pivot-point, a smokescreen, to retreat to, when the lying-under-oath issue comes up.

Lying under oath, though, is exactly what they harpooned Bill Clinton with, although he lied once about a blow job, and Kavanaugh’s been lying repeatedly, denying that he *knowingly* used info from stolen opposition-party documents (when and for a prospective SCOTUS judge, that should be Kryptonite. Because of Democrats’ sheer lack of numbers, any effort to derail Kavanaugh is, out of necessity, entirely based upon moving some Republicans to reject him. (That’s no easy feat.)

Just saying that if I were a strategist, that’s the point I would go all-in on: “Do the people of the United States deserve a justice who’s so overtly partisan that he lies repeatedly under oath?” (And his emails document that he’s lying his rump off.) Not guaranteeing that would sink Kavanaugh in a world where Donald Trump is president and truthfulness is devalued, but a lying-under-oath judge is pretty indefensible, if Republicans had any sense of shame.

Just my devalued nickel’s worth. If there were genuine justice, Merrick Garland would be on the SCOTUS today, and #45 would be facing impeachment in bipartisan fashion, and then doing some serious prison time. One can still dream.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
44. Never hurts to see things from their point of view.
Sat Sep 15, 2018, 12:38 AM
Sep 2018

esp. helpful when we are stuck playing defense all the damn time.

erronis

(14,952 posts)
17. So a 17yo indiscretion is supposed to quell investigations into PK's ideology/money problems?
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 04:08 PM
Sep 2018

This is a good deflection. Why did DF fall for it?

haele

(12,581 posts)
29. Not necessarily paid. They're all from the same social strata - the same club.
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 04:50 PM
Sep 2018

So there's all sorts of weasel definitions of "acquaintance since High School" that can be used here. Sort of like a Venn diagram stretched out to make a total of 64 women who could sign.
Here's one possibility. At that level of social status, Kavanaugh's network of business and legal acquaintances began at Georgetown Prep - in High School. I can easily believe that a good 30 - 50 of the signatories had/have husbands (present or ex) who went to Georgetown Prep with him (whether they were in the same year or not) and had both met Kavanaugh and heard "stories" about that time with their husbands, so they could eeehhh...maybe claim they knew the type of guy he was during High School through their husbands, as a political or social favor for someone who is otherwise acceptable to their particular circle..
After that, the few college network acquaintances from his Freshman year - also a "since High School" period, typically being the same year as the one he graduated. Like "The Roommate", or a fellow frat member when they rushed together. That, or wives/ex-wives of said college network acquaintances who heard stories about him "during that period since/right out of High School". There's perhaps another 10 women there.
After that, any long-term acquaintances through Church. Perhaps some co-ed function while he was an Alter Boy, or a nun/laywoman who handled some church organization. The wives/ex-wives of fellow alter Boys (see above). Another 5 or so.
After that, any date, friend's date, etc. who may have met him or heard stories of him while in high school - if they really remembered them.

So, yeah, stretching the definitions, they might have been able to find 64 GOP women who would sign such a letter.
After all, they're all one Family.

Haele

Garrett78

(10,721 posts)
8. How telling that they felt the need to be prepared to do this.
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 03:35 PM
Sep 2018

Even if this is legit, and I have major doubts, women saying nice things doesn't cancel out an attempted rape accusation. This isn't some numbers game. Imagine if Ted Bundy's defense was that he didn't kill 99.9% of the women in the world.

torius

(1,652 posts)
19. Since Kavenut is now a "victim" of an accusation
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 04:15 PM
Sep 2018

he should recuse himself from all cases involving abuse of women. You get rejected from jury selection if the case is about robbery and your house has been robbed.

Butterflylady

(3,523 posts)
21. Yeah, and
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 04:19 PM
Sep 2018

My first husband was a super great guy to everyone, but behind closed doors he wasn't such a great guy and I have the scars to prove it.

appalachiablue

(41,053 posts)
36. Yeah, too much & why he said it quietly and at the end.
Fri Sep 14, 2018, 05:43 PM
Sep 2018

But still tried to plant that seed...'Conflict' brings viewers & ratings!

Garrett78

(10,721 posts)
45. Republicans claim this is a desperate, last second attempt to smear Kavanaugh. And yet...
Sat Sep 15, 2018, 12:42 AM
Sep 2018

...they were fully prepared to trot out a letter designed to suggest Kavanaugh is not someone who would engage in sexual misconduct.

They knew this particular accusation might come up.

appalachiablue

(41,053 posts)
46. And it's not likely to be reported truthfully or explored by next Thurs.
Sat Sep 15, 2018, 12:40 PM
Sep 2018

'Within half an hour of the New Yorker publishing its story, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) — chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee — released a statement signed by 65 women who knew Kavanaugh around the time of sexual assault allegation.'https://thinkprogress.org/kavanaugh-sexual-assault-accusation-grassley-letter-9be166300b7a/



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