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Judge Brett Kavanaugh

Done deal

Regarding “Senate to hear judge, accuser” (Front Page, Sept. 18), it really does not matter whether Judge Brett Kavanaugh assaulted Professor Christine Blasey Ford and lied about it. Why would voters not accept this from a Supreme Court Justice when we accept a sitting president who brags about his sexual assaults, is an alleged serial adulterer and who has spouted untruths over five thousand times in the last two years?

Furthermore, the veracity of Ford will not be determined by facts or testimony. That would require a Senate with integrity. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has essentially already declared Kavanaugh confirmed before even hearing Ford’s testimony. Her veracity will be determined by each senator’s tribal affiliation. The upcoming hearing is for optics only.

Doug Verret, Sugar Land

Pushing back

Regarding “Kavanaugh vows to stand up against ‘smears’” (Front page, Tuesday), thank God that friends and people who know Judge Brett Kavanaugh are standing up for him and fighting the fight. Otherwise, the rabble-rousers win.

If one is innocent, one must actively and publicly defend oneself in order to overcome mob mentality.

Carole Wakefield, Houston

Youthful indiscretions

Is it a little too much to ask that common sense prevail in the Christine Ford accusation against Brett Kavanaugh? What allegedly happened, if it did happen, occurred when they were teenagers at a drinking party. Teenagers sometimes make poor choices and mistakes. It’s called growing up. How can we so vehemently define either person because of a poor choice made as a teen? Also, why are we asked to believe that any candidate, especially this one, be wholly pure without any flaw or having committed any sin before being considered to serve a certainly flawed American citizenry?

I am pretty sure that the other eight court Justices serving on the U.S. Supreme have at one time or another made a poor choice and, if held to the scrutiny that Kavanaugh is under, would surely fail the litmus test that Kavanaugh is being measured by. I do not condone aggression, but I also do not believe in condemning an individual who made a mistake in youth yet has otherwise proven to have spent an entire life in acceptable public service.

Julia Purtill, Richmond

Not a trial

Regarding “American ideals take a hit in judge saga,” (Opinion, Monday), columnist Jonah Goldberg decries the fact that many supporters of Christine Blasey Ford believe her because this kind of activity is common among young boys and men. Ironically this is the same argument used by supporters of Judge Brett Kavanaugh. A panel of five women on CNN in Florida defended Kavanaugh last week using the old argument that, “boys will be boys.” The women stated that they would support Kavanaugh even if the allegations were true and one of them summed it up when she asked, “Tell me, what boy hasn’t done this in high school?”

Goldberg further states that as a man, he takes offense at the presumption of guilt based on collective guilt, and he makes references to rights of the accused. This is not a trial; it is an investigation into the character and integrity of a man seeking a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land. If it were a trial, Ford’s attorney would have the right to subpoena witnesses to testify under oath.

Kenneth Meyers, Houston

