Many people are saying “I believe her,” but because of the political climate very few will say “I believe him.” I believe them both.
I honestly believe that Ford sincerely believes she was sexually assaulted by Kavanaugh, AND I honestly believe Kavanaugh sincerely believes he did not sexually assault Ford. Both can be true.
Based on the limited evidence, it is very likely that there was an encounter between the two, but after 30 years, we will never know the truth. There is possibility that either one or the other is lying; that is, a dichotomy of Ford was sexually assaulted by Kavanaugh, or Kavanaugh had never met Ford. The scientist in me believes the actual truth is someplace in between. I remember drinking as a teenager in the early Eighties, but there are many of those nights for which I have no recollection; it was simply a rite of passage in those years for high school students.
A probable scenario could have been that they were both at a party, and Ford being a few years younger may have had a crush on Kavanaugh, and he may not have even known she was alive. But, infuse heavy drinking, a school crush, and the teenage brain, and the two probably met, hormones were hormones, and they ended up in a bedroom. She may not have indulged in as much alcohol, so she has some recollection, and he may have been staggering drunk, and therefore has no recollection.
Whether it was “sexual assault” or over eager advances we will never know, for we lived in an era without the ever present cameras of today. Further, what was the actual legal definition of sexual assault in the early Eighties where the event occurred? But either way, what difference does it make 30 years later, when even if it was a crime, the statutes of limitations have long since expired?
Both parties seem to have survived and lived productive lives without serious repercussions. There is no evidence that this is a pattern of behavior – quite the contrary, actually. Even if it had been a crime at the time it happened, he was caught, and he was found guilty, his records probably would have been sealed due to both parties being minors. Does one youthful indiscretion prohibit a person from succeeding in life more than 30 years later? I hope not, for I know of stuff that I did as a teenager that I’m not proud of doing, and I am fairly confident that I may have done more stuff that I do not recall.
Kavanaugh has been through the nomination process previously. So why bring it up now? It should certainly make one wonder…
So now what? Allow the Senators to “advise and consent,” which is generally done by a vote, but it can also be done by refusing to vote. And, the Media should move on to more important issues… For the rest of us, we need to remember that we are not perfect, we all make mistakes, and we should be judged on “what we have done lately” – not on a single incident in our lives. From the movie Sully:
“Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger: I’ve delivered a million passengers over forty years, but in the end I’m going to be judged by two hundred and eight seconds.”