I don’t watch Meet The Press much since Chuck Todd took over. I do occasionally watch a bit of MTP Daily* as it is between Nicole Wallace and Ari Melber, though I often soon change to a rerun of Perry Mason or something on my DVR. This is to say that though I have seen Danielle Pletka before I really didn’t know much about her other than she was a conservative think tank type (American Enterprise Institute, as it turns out).
She was on MTP Daily this afternoon, discussing the accusation against Kavanaugh. She got me so riled up I had to look her up and send the following e-mail. Will she read it? Maybe. Will it change her mind? I’ll probably be booking my first porcine flight before that happens. But it made me feel better to write and send it because I tried to sum up the other important issue here, besides the wide-ranging awfulness of Kavanaugh as a SCOTUS nominee. (The link with her name takes you to her AEI page if you feel the same.)
Dear Ms. Pletka,
I saw your appearance on "MTP Daily" today, Tuesday, September 18. I know you are trying to be fair and apply the standard of "innocent until proven guilty".
But there is a problem with your insistence about proof in a sexual harassment or assault accusation. Sexual predators commit these acts without witnesses. And there is usually not much in the way of physical evidence that can be produced. Even if there is sperm, that is not proof of a non-consensual act. Bruises might occur with strong force but the most notable men recently accused of multiple incidents used drugs, intimidation, extortion, etc. instead of force.
So I want to know exactly what kind of proof do you need to feel there is enough proof? Apparently, one person's word is not enough. Would a second person be enough? Or do you need 5, 20, 47 victims with similar stories to believe that the man is guilty? (Remember, a predator is not going to open his trousers and pull out his penis in front of an objective observer.)
And you wonder why Dr. Blasey Ford waited so long to speak up? If you were an expert on victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault you would know that Dr. Blasey Ford is typical of women (and men) who experience this. Because there is rarely evidence that will support their claim, they are reluctant to tell anyone. Because they often feel shame and guilt from a society that tells women they put themselves into a situation where "boys will be boys", especially if it happens when they are girls.
But they never forget. For someone who experiences this it doesn't matter if it happened 40 years ago or yesterday, and that is why it shouldn't be dismissed so blithely as no longer relevant. And many never come forward, perhaps confiding only in a close friend or therapist to provide some healing. A few, like the victims of Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein, Anita Hill or Christine Blasey Ford come forward, once they have the confidence that often comes with age for women, to take a big step in their healing, or to address a wrong that is even more significant than the desire to maintain their privacy. For example, appointing someone who has so little regard for the individual rights of half the population of this country to the Supreme Court of the United States.
What can substantiate a claim is did the accuser make this claim to others over the years? Does the accuser have a motive other than getting out the truth? Does the story match known behavior of the accused, e.g. blackout drinking. A simple denial on the part of the accused is to be expected, whether innocent or guilty, so that is not proof of their innocence. And character testimonials has limited weight. Many people said Ted Bundy, the serial killer with at least 30 victims, was smart and charming, including the judge at his trial before sentencing him to death.
You said that one person has too much power if they can make a accusation like this and ruin a career. The real problem here is that society has yet to acknowledge that coming so strongly to the defense of persons accused of these acts gives them the power to commit these acts. They know that there will be great reluctance and little proof to hold them accountable. And again, this is why women who have had their bodies, dignity, and self-worth assaulted are reluctant to have the same done to their character and integrity. That is the real shame here.
Sincerely,
(Belle Ame)
PS. I am also a bit confused as to why an expert on foreign and defense policy was chosen to be on a panel about a SCOTUS nominee accused of sexual assault. Am I correct in my suspicion that you were chosen as a well spoken conservative woman to speak on Judge Kavanaugh's behalf?
* I use it as my way to keep updated on conservative talking points. I only need a clip or two from Faux News to know what they are saying. I refuse to sully my TV with even a brief stop on their channel.