Red state Democrats like Sens. Joe Donnelly, Claire McCaskill and John Tester have found their backbones and voiced their opposition to Brett Kavanaugh, but not Sens. Heidi Heitkamp or Joe Manchin.1
Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's brave, credible testimony and Kavanaugh's unhinged denials should be enough for any senator to vote no, but Sens. Heitkamp and Manchin are trying to hedge their bets and avoid angering Trump supporters in their states by refusing to oppose Kavanaugh. It's unacceptable.
Any Democrat who helps Republicans advance Kavanaugh's nomination would be betraying survivors and all of us who refuse to institutionalize Trump's extremism on the Supreme Court for a generation. With Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pushing for a final vote by as soon as Saturday, it's time for massive pressure demanding that Sens. Heitkamp and Manchin join every other senator in their party and oppose Kavanaugh now.2
Earlier this week, nine West Virginians were arrested for sitting in at one of Manchin's campaign offices after he said that he would wait for the completion of the FBI investigation before deciding how to vote.3
It's an outrageous stance. The FBI failed to interview more than 24 potential witnesses, including Dr. Blasey Ford and others who sought to provide their stories.4 Its report, which Senators now have, clearly lets Kavanaugh off the hook and gives cover to Senators who will vote to confirm him.5 It is crucial that we pressure undecided senators – especially Democrats – to rely on what we already know about Kavanaugh and not only on what the FBI produced.
Even without an investigation, Kavanaugh's false statements, his evasions, vile rants and partisan threats, and his record on women, workers, the environment and executive power disqualify him. And beyond the national stakes, there are state-level risks as well. If Sen. Manchin joins Republicans to confirm Kavanaugh and Kavanaugh overturns the ACA, West Virginia would be the most adversely affected state.6 North Dakota would also be hard hit if Kavanaugh were confirmed. Sen. Heitkamp has been quick to criticize her Senate challenger Kevin Cramer for demeaning Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, but she still has not said she opposes Kavanaugh. It's time for her to step up, too.7
Tell Sens. Heitkamp and Manchin: Publicly commit to vote no on Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court. Click here to sign the petition.
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References:
- Alexander Bolten, "Red-state Dems face nightmare scenario on Kavanaugh," The Hill, Oct. 1, 2018.
- Heather Timmons, "As promised, Mitch McConnell is “plowing” ahead with Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court vote," Quartz, Oct. 4, 2018.
- Liam Stack, "Anti-Kavanaugh Protesters Arrested at Joe Manchin’s Office," The New York Times, Oct. 2, 2018.
- Amanda Arnold, "https://act.credoaction.com/go/25014?t=14&akid=30287%2E3130208%2EymVvGN," The Cut, Oct. 4, 2018.
- Greg Sargent, "Another Trump coverup? Former FBI agents question limits on probe of Kavanaugh.," The Washington Post, Oct. 1, 2018.
- Kim Soffen, "See which states would be hit hardest by the Senate’s Obamacare repeal bill," The Washington Post, June 30, 2017.
- Tal Axelrod, "Heitkamp knocks GOP challenger for 'disturbing' comments on Kavanaugh allegations," The Hill, Sept. 22, 2018.
More Information:
VOX: The Senate bloc that could decide Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation |
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