Jimmy Carter claims Brett Kavanaugh is ‘unfit’ to serve on the Supreme Court
The former president has spoken out against the controversial decision. He called Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation "a very serious mistake."
Jimmy Carter, 94, serves as an Emory University Distinguished Professor. On Wednesday, he spoke to the Georgia Civil Rights Cold Cases Project class. An attendee posted part of the lecture on Facebook.
The 39th president addressed the recent accusations made by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. She testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee late September. She alleged that Kavanaugh assaulted her at a party back when the two were in high school.
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Jimmy Carter Says Brett Kavanaugh Is ‘Unfit’ to Serve on the Supreme Court https://t.co/2v5qvK5309
— People (@people) October 18, 2018
The school's newspaper, The Emory Wheel, reported the full details of Carter's speech. He spoke with Professor of Practice Hank Klibanoff's class.
Former President Jimmy Carter calls Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court a "very serious mistake" https://t.co/zoGh3wHSlS
— CNN (@CNN) October 18, 2018
Klibanoff posed a question inviting Carter to give his opinion of Kavanaugh. The accused received a vote of 50-45 in confirmation after being cleared of the charges.
“Judging by his previous legal career, he was very qualified. But, I think he did attack her sexually and I know that I saw him lose his cool,” said the former @POTUS https://t.co/oRlJRHri4y #BelieveSurvivors
— Democratic Coalition (@TheDemCoalition) October 19, 2018
“Whether or not [Kavanaugh] attempted to rape [Christine Blasey Ford], I thought he was temperamentally unfit to serve on the Supreme Court because of his outburst during the hearing.”
The Georgia Democrat was referring to Kavanaugh's emotional display as he gave his testimony during the hearing. The occurrence led to a frenzy of comments from Twitter users at the time.
Can you imagine serving on the court with this guy? He seems wildly entitled and emotionally intimidating. (Also, no way could a woman get this angry giving any kind of testimony.)
— Emily Nussbaum (@emilynussbaum) September 27, 2018
Carter said, "I saw him lose his cool." He went on to claim that Kavanaugh was only on the nation's highest legal body for one reason:
"Most of the American people were not in favor of his being on the Supreme Court. But he's there now because the Senate is quite subservient to Donald Trump and afraid of his displeasure."
Jimmy Carter: Kavanaugh confirmation was a 'very serious mistake' https://t.co/uXFpfy2Gme
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) October 19, 2018
The Nobel Prize winner wrapped up his thoughts by labeling Kavanaugh partison and stating simply: "I was not in favor of his [confirmation]."
If Ford cried like this she’d have been seen as possibly confused and irrational. Her emotionality turned against her as a dent in her reasoning. Kavanaugh? He has the benefit of intrinsic rationality and so is a sensitive man deserving of sympathy. #himpathy #doublestandards
— Soraya Chemaly (@schemaly) September 27, 2018
Arguably, Kavanaugh's behavior throughout the hearing could have serious implications for his position.
Jimmy Carter: Kavanaugh is "unfit" to be a Supreme Court justice https://t.co/FZUcU5Fyg9 pic.twitter.com/qgeQulr8Tq
— The Hill (@thehill) October 18, 2018
But "Saturday Night Live" made light of the event in the opening episode of their 44th season. Matt Damon played Kavanaugh in a hilarious skit.
When Judge Diane Feinstein (Cecily Strong) asked Kavanaugh if he had the "temperament to be a Supreme Court Justice," Damon responded:
"I went to Yale! ... I lifted weights!"
Just one final question for Judge Kavanaugh. #SNLPremiere pic.twitter.com/C01pUG7JlU
— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) September 30, 2018
Later on, Damon screamed "I like beer!" in reference to Kavanaugh's admittedly poor drinking habits. Particularly those he practiced around the time of the alleged assault.
