A little-noticed interview took place Friday afternoon that illustrates exactly why Republicans are doing everything possible to discourage Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s accuser from testifying next week.
The clearly camera-shy sister-in-law of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford answered questions on MSNBC, and while Sandra Ford Mendler didn't deliver any bombshells worthy of flashy headlines, she gave us a window into exactly why Dr. Blasey Ford's testimony could shred Republicans with a demographic they can't afford to enrage just weeks before the midterms: college-educated women.
First off, Mendler, serving as a surrogate for Dr. Blasey Ford, was very relatable. She was poised but not overly polished, and specific about what she said but not guarded or evasive in any sense. In essence, as she was beamed into living rooms across America, Mendler was the anti-Kavanaugh. She did her best to provide the information that was asked of her in what was clearly an unfortunate situation all the way around. In some cases, Mendler didn’t have answers about, for instance, what Dr. Blasey Ford might ultimately decide to do. But she didn’t equivocate or dodge the way Kavanaugh did throughout his confirmation hearing. Any college-educated woman watching Mendler could imagine the discomfort of being put in that spot, but stepping up to give the interview anyway out of sheer loyalty to a family member while not necessarily liking any minute of it.
Second, Mendler made clear that Dr. Blasey Ford is a scientist and, as such, a very precise and measured person.
"Her expertise is statistics," explained Mendler. "She's very careful about information and never exaggerating results. She's a very serious and thoughtful and generous person and I think she—as a serious and thoughtful person—wants the process to be fair. And I don't think that's too much to ask."
No, it's not too much to ask. Mendler herself came across as a thoughtful and serious person too. And the difference between listening to someone like her relay clear, concise, and honest observations versus hearing from grandstanding politicians and political operators is striking. If Dr. Blasey Ford decides to testify and presents anywhere close to Mendler's understated TV appearance, by comparison Kavanaugh will come across like a slick creature of Washington, hobnobbing with the GOP boys club at another insidery hearing.
It will not be a good look, and Republicans should be exactly as terrified of it as they are acting.