Much has been said and no doubt much more will be said, yet I can’t hold back and do need to point out the rather glaring elephant that sits in the room. The Dr Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh hearings are generating quite a lot of Alternative Facts, we can see this happing in real-time right before our eyes.
For the essence of the hearing itself, Dr Ford was a wholly credible honest reliable witness. Brett Kavanaugh, when not channeling the angry spirit of Trump, was mostly very evasive and also rather blatantly lying under oath. The other point that the Democrat senators drove home very well was the complete lack of interest by the majority of their GOP colleagues in actually finding out the truth.
One highlight was the rather blatant piece of Political Theatre by Franklin Graham that specifically targeted Trump and the Trump base.
The “Devils Triangle” Lie
A rather glaring, in-you-face manufacture of alternative facts was Kavanaugh’s claim that the Devil’s Triangle was just a drinking game and not what it actually is …
Right after he made that claim, as he was still speaking, Wikipedia was edited by a Republican IP address to fit his claim …
https://twitter.com/congressedits/status/1045422483082551302
His description was quite literally a pure unadulterated in-your-face lie. Just lookup the term in any urban phrase dictionary. Sadly the GOP base will buy it because they desperately need such alternative facts to deem him to be “credible”.
I googled it, and wiki has a really different definition for it. It's a 3-way [sex]. Although, not so much anymore. https://t.co/Rss7ewruvf
— AstroCait.com (@SqueekyPepper) September 28, 2018
For those who aren't aware: Devils Triangle is not a drinking game. Kavanaugh is full of shit. pic.twitter.com/qwouc6RjSH
— Caroline Orr (@RVAwonk) September 27, 2018
Swirling around this maelstrom are many other fake facts that are designed to manipulate.
Demonising Dr Christine Blasey Ford
There has been a desperate desire to smear Dr Ford with utterly false allegations …
Claim: Photograph of Christine Blasey Ford Holding a ‘Not My President’ Sign?
This was a conservative Facebook page’s attempt to smear Christine Blasey Ford. They used a stock photograph of an entirely different woman.
Claim: Photograph of Semi-Naked Topless Christine Blasey Ford Partying?
Also fake. Apparently any photograph of a woman semi-clothed and drinking can be used to smear the credibility of someone who reported a sexual assault.
Conspiracy Claim: Judge Martha Kavanaugh ruled against Ralph and Paula Blasey
This claim that she is motivated by an inter-generational desire for revenge is also wholly fake.
What is true is that Martha Kavanaugh did preside for certain parts of a 1996 foreclosure case involving Ralph and Paula Blasey, who are indeed Christine Blasey Ford’s parents. However, Kavanaugh actually ruled favorably toward the Blaseys, who ended up keeping their home.
Claim: Christine Blasey Ford Make a Sexual Assault Accusation Against Neil Gorsuch
Again nope, also wholly fake.
Claim: Photograph of Christine Blasey Ford with George Soros
Nope, it is not her.
Claim: Photograph of Christine Blasey Ford’s Lawyer with Hillary Clinton
Nope, not her, and not a recent photograph.
Kavanaugh
Flip that coin over and you find a desperate need to drum up the virtues and mythological grassroots support for Kavanaugh …
Claim: Video of Bikers on Their Way to Washington to Support Brett Kavanaugh
Nope, its is actually a years-old video showing a large number of motorcyclists driving down a highway in Paris.
Observation
Are similar myths being manufactured to demonise Brett Kavanaugh? – No.
Are similar myths being manufactured to claim support for Dr Ford? – No.
Those two facts alone should tell you a great deal about who actually holds all the credibility here and who has none. Sadly the GOP base don’t generally give a toss about facts, but instead prefer to embrace myths.
If you do care about what is actually true, then please do remember that when you make a choice on whom to vote for in November.
Tweets
#BeettKavanaugh calendar – rushed questioning, belligerent witness & #GOp Senators intent on supporting nominee meant this wasn’t made clear: “one entry shows that [Kavamaugh] went ‘to Timmy’s for skis w/Judge, Tom, PJ, Bernie, Squi.’” #KavanaughHearings https://t.co/c5rYORplr7
— Maya Wiley (@mayawiley) September 28, 2018
If Brett Kavanaugh can be this angry on national TV, imagine what he's like when he gets inebriated.#KavanaughHearings https://t.co/jqszfqb8Fq
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) September 27, 2018
He's crying because his whiteness, his maleness, his PRIVILEGE, his "promised" perfect future is being questioned, and society never prepared him for failure or for facing the consequences of his actions #KavanaughHearings
— Xorje Olivares (@XorjeO) September 27, 2018
Can you imagine if a woman was nominated for the SCOTUS and in her statement cried about how much she loved her dad, how much she played sports, how much she loves her kids, and how much she loves beer, and then YELLED at everyone? #KavanaughHearings
— Heather Whaley (@HeatherWhaley) September 28, 2018
This iconic photo of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford was taken by Erin Schaff of the @nytimes. As one of the few photographers at the hearing, Schaff captured the silent side of the day’s intensity. #KavanaughHearings https://t.co/AuEqmG8dqe pic.twitter.com/Ut3pkRIMjS
— WIRED (@WIRED) September 28, 2018
Sen. Harris to Dr. Ford: "I want to thank you for your courage and I want to tell you, I believe you. I believe you. And I believe many Americans across this country believe you." https://t.co/bD9aIFVrtU #KavanaughHearings pic.twitter.com/vtlTAbIRoD
— ABC News (@ABC) September 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/AwardsDaily/status/1045485463824289799
At times blubbering, at other times full of partisan vitriol, and always filibustering, is THIS really the best Republicans have for a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land?
Like the unhinged traitor who picked him, Kavanaugh is UNFIT.#KavanaughHearings pic.twitter.com/3dABH00JRN
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) September 28, 2018