Seems like they've settled on a defense strategy of raising identity for purposes of reasonable doubt, as opposed to attacking Dr. Ford as lying about whether the incident happened. They may have calculated that all they need is reasonable doubt to get Kav over the hump.
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I think that's a miscalculation to believe that raising doubt as to identity will be enough to insulate Senate Republicans from the wrath of women and men voters who will see this strategy for what it is.
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Indeed, assuming Dr. Ford and the committee agree on the ground rules for her to testify next week, I'd think it more likely that Kavanaugh withdraws than McConnell puts his R Senators through a public committee hearing with Dr. Ford.
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It is kind of amazing that Whelan apparently couldn't even get a place like the Daily Caller or Breitbart to run his "story" about mistaken identity.
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Rick Hasen Retweeted Jesse Lee
So despite my initial view that such a boneheaded thing couldn't be centrally planned, it appears that it was....centrally planned by Senate Rs and the White House.https://twitter.com/JesseCharlesLee/status/1042965916248694791 …
Rick Hasen added,
Jesse LeeVerified account @JesseCharlesLeeWow, via@ScottCLandis, here’s a now-deleted tweet from@OrrinHatch’s deputy CoS@mattdizwhitlock previewing the Whelan hit job. Hatch has been in close contact with Kavanaugh, already floated odd “Kavanaugh says he wasn’t even there” defense. (Also fiercely defended Rob Porter.) pic.twitter.com/ro15sVJBz9Show this thread14 replies 110 retweets 171 likesShow this thread -
Rick Hasen Retweeted Ed Whelan
Ed Whelan’s trial balloon burst this morning (for which he still faces a serious potential tort case for defamation) and his (faux?) contrition is very satisfying for those of us who have long argued that Ed does not operate in good faith.https://twitter.com/EdWhelanEPPC/status/1043117304152817664 …
Rick Hasen added,
Ed Whelan @EdWhelan123I made an appalling and inexcusable mistake of judgment in posting the tweet thread in a way that identified Kavanaugh's Georgetown Prep classmate. I take full responsibility for that mistake, and I deeply apologize for it. I realize that does not undo the mistake.Show this thread6 replies 24 retweets 69 likesShow this thread -
I hope people remember this when considering including Ed in symposia and events where people with diverse views come together for reasoned discussion. Appropriate that the first response to his pseudo-apology is from Louise Menschpic.twitter.com/X0CgnhRHJv
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And let’s not miss for a second that Ed is *only* apologizing for *naming* the classmate, and not for raising a false claim based on no credible evidence in order to undermine the testimony of Dr. Ford for purely political reasons.
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He did not even give the poor guy a chance to deny the false charges. A breach of basic journalistic ethics (ed writes for
@NRO)1 reply 7 retweets 31 likesShow this thread -
And for those journalists writing about Ed’s “apology,” you should note he did not apologize for falsely accusing another man of attempted rape, only for naming him. Still accomplishing his purpose to try to buck up nomination with unsupported mistaken identity theory
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Rick Hasen Retweeted Rick Hasen
Rick Hasen added,
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