Prior to the confrontation, Flake walked the Republican line and was clear that he would be voting to confirm Kavanaugh without any investigation. Klein analysis\u2026<\/b>
\nPrior to the confrontation, Flake walked the Republican line and was clear that he would be voting to confirm Kavanaugh without any investigation. Klein analysis of the hearing emphasizes that this is a part of today\u2019s political climate and unlikely to be broken without a confrontational style of protest.
The main play by the Republicans involved in the hearing was to move the focus away from Blasey Ford\u2019s testimony and toward an analysis of the Democrats\u2019 behavior in pushing for her hearing. The tone became more of an indictment on the Democratic Party rather than on Kavanaugh.
There was no debate regarding Blasey Ford\u2019s claims, and many Republican politicians and pundits expressed that they believed her. Instead of discrediting Blasey Ford, the debate was removed from the purpose of the hearing into the realm of party division.
Klein voiced that this is the mantra of the Trump era. By leaning into the base and making every debate an \u201cus vs them\u201d style discussion, the choice of whether to believe Kavanaugh was removed in favor of a question of party loyalty and Klein believes that it worked for the Republicans.
Women confront Sen. Jeff Flake after he says he’ll vote yes to Kavanuagh: \u201cThat\u2019s what you\u2019re telling all women in America, that they don\u2019t matter. They should just keep it to themselves because if they have told the truth you\u2019re just going to help that man to power anyway.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/T7fSpyT69E
\u2014 CNN (@CNN) September 28,2018
Examples cited include Republican Senator Chuck Grassley\u2019s opening statement, in which he said, \u201cI lament the way this hearing has come about,\u201d in reference to the Democrats efforts to hold the hearing, while never mentioning the allegations against Kavanaugh.
Kavanaugh took the same strategy during his testimony, saying, \u201cThis whole two-week effort has been a calculated and orchestrated political hit, fueled with apparent pent-up anger about President Trump and the 2016 election, fear that has been unfairly stoked about my judicial record. Revenge on behalf of the Clintons and millions of dollars in money from outside left-wing opposition groups. This is a circus.\u201d
These statements were not intended to swing the neutrals. Instead, they forced Republicans who had their doubts about Kavanaugh to understand that by abandoning him they let the Democrats win.
None were more clear in their agenda than Senator Lindsey Graham, who interrupted the chosen prosecutor to add his comments about the Democrats, saying, \u201cBoy, you all want power. God, I hope you never get it. I hope the American people can see through this sham.\u201d
Later Graham addressed Republicans directly, saying, \u201cTo my Republican colleagues, if you vote no, you\u2019re legitimizing the most despicable thing I have seen in my time in politics.\u201d Graham then turned his focus to the Democrats on the committee, saying, \u201cYou want this seat, I hope you never get it.\u201d
This style of refusing to compromise and standing by your party would have been successful, according to Klein, if only Flake had not been confronted by the two women in that elevator. Their passionate anger at the issue of sexual assault forced Flake to remove his party identity from his interpretation and take a clear look at the case before him.
Klein is adamant that while this may have proven successful on Thursday, Republicans have become savvy in taking the strategy of Trump and any chance of a shift in course is unlikely.<\/p>\n

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