A common pattern of manipulation played out in Senate testimony.
On September 28th, when Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh delivered their testimony, a powerful and pervasive dynamic played out that is not unusual between men and women. The Brett Kavanaugh who showed up at the judicial hearing wasn’t the one many of his female supporters described. His angry demeanor and aggressive reactions to Senators’ questions raised doubts about his temperament and whether he’s as honest as he made himself appear.
The Accusation
In her testimony, Dr. Ford identified feeling terrified, yet went on to describe her sexual assault by Brett Kavanaugh with candor, showing heartfelt emotions and a trembling voice at times. The overall response to her testimony was that she was believable and compelling.
The Response
In his testimony, Judge Kavanaugh behaved in a way that perpetrators act when confronted with an accusation. For example, when Senator Amy Klobuchar questioned him about drinking and blackouts, Kavanaugh responded with clear irritation and defensively came back at her with, “Have you?” Have you ever blacked out?” He never answered her question and perhaps avoided lying under oath. Was this a glimpse of disrespect of women?