Kavanaugh Controversy Illustrates Identity Politics At Its Worst

I've been consistent on my show:  I have stated that Democrat Al Franken should NOT have resigned and Iowa Senator Nate Boulton (also a Democrat) should NOT resign until receiving due process after being accused in media reports of sexual misconduct.

That's because I recognize the difference between a cultural movement and a political movement.

 The #MeToo movement is an important cultural movement meant to improve respect between men and women.  But when the political tribes politicize a cultural movement, the only principle that matters is attaining power.  And how the way we practice justice and fairness is under threat.

The Wall Street Journal is now noting this phenomenon:  the accusation of sexual misconduct against a political opponent should now be recognized as true.

And Jonah Goldberg of National Review is now connecting this behavior to the worst impulses of identity politics (defined by me as dividing people into groups based on gender, religious belief, or skin color and assigning them grievances):  we are trampling over the concept of individual rights and acting as a collective.

This USA Today article perfectly illustrates Goldberg's fear:  because "prep school culture" encourages the behavior of which Kavanaugh is accused, he probably did it.

Much like Anita Hill's accusation against Clarence Thomas, we have no corroborating evidence that the alleged behavior actually occurred.   We are told to simply accept it is true because men sometimes act badly toward women therefore making an individual accusation likely true.

But that's not how this works.  That's not how any of this works.

This saga, of course, is ultimately meant to be used by progressives to get women to vote against Republicans this fall.  But because I don't believe in identity politics, I believe women will note the bigger issues at stake here.  And there's evidence that is actually happening.



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