the new kind of fury unleashed by the kavanaugh fight

So, in the end, we have the same result as 1991 when Anita Hill testified about Clarence Thomas. That was the final view from Susan Collins of Maine when she made that speech yesterday ensuring Kavanaugh would be appointed - confirmed to the court - that there were no corroborating accounts, more questions than not. They said they believed that something happened to her, but either that they didn't believe that Brett Kavanaugh was the one who assaulted her or that they just didn't see any evidence backing Ford up on that claim. Republican after Republican was making that same argument, often in strikingly similar wording - almost the exact same phrasing - that Ford was sincere. Did they talk about that?ĭETROW: They did. Let's talk about the Republican view for a minute, Scott, because many senators have said all along that they found Christine Blasey Ford sincere and credible, and yet they effectively discounted their testimony. MARTIN: Well, let's talk about that for a minute. JOHN CORNYN: I am disappointed more than I can say at those who have unleashed these unjustified attacks on the judge and his family and disappointed in their lack of any empathy or remorse for what they have put them through. Ford tried to tell us.ĭETROW: And Republicans feel like this has been character assassination from day one.

President - anger, fury, disgust at a process that could not see the truth of what Dr. MAZIE HIRONO: That's what I am left with, Mr. Mazie Hirono, Democrat from Hawaii, says this is another case of a woman being ignored. And just listen to some of today's concluding speeches. Senators from both parties are incredibly angry for very different reasons. But, even accounting for the theatricality that people sometimes bring to politics, Scott, do you have a sense that this anger will linger in the Senate?ĭETROW: I think so. MARTIN: This has all been so partisan and divisive. And I think that sums up this whole story in one scene - the Senate struggling with its formal responsibilities amid hyper-partisanship, an emotional set of circumstances and both parties retreating to their tribal bases. Another man yelled at Jeff Flake that he was a coward, and all 13 people were removed from the gallery during the vote. The sergeant-at-arms will restore order in the gallery.ĭETROW: So that's a woman yelling at Joe Manchin that she was an assault survivor, that he's putting his personal politics ahead of her experience.

So as that was happening, person after person in the gallery interrupted with visceral personal protests. Senators sit at their desk and vote one by one while the vice president presides.

MARTIN: So, first of all, set the scene for us for people who were not able to watch it.ĭETROW: You know, these votes are one of the most formal moments that ever happen in the Senate. NPR congressional correspondent Scott Detrow was in the Senate for the final vote, and he's with us now from Capitol Hill. Minutes later, the White House announced that he would be sworn in during a private ceremony later today. This afternoon, the Senate confirmed Kavanaugh on a vote of 50-48, one of the closest margins ever. Brett Kavanaugh is headed to the United States Supreme Court.

The new kind of fury unleashed by the kavanaugh fight