Self evidently, this is a laudable sentiment, but it neglects the obvious fact that not all people, male or female, always speak the truth.
X is human.
Humans sometimes lie.
Ergo it is possible X is lying.
This is all pretty simple. This is why we evolved formal methods of inquiry, why we grant the accused the right to confront their accusers, and why we demand evidence if we are to be persuaded of a claim which calls for punishment.
“Always believe survivors” is sentimental nonsense. Yes, of course we can and should do a better job of creating the emotional space for women to speak of things which terrify them. But this does not require abdicating the duty to protect the innocent.
Why did Ford delete her social media history?
Why won’t she release her polygraph or her therapists notes? She wants to enter them into evidence, which is her choice, but wants to enter them into evidence based on her DESCRIPTION of them. That is not evidence.
Why did she, apparently, lie both about her experience with polygraphs, and when why she built her second door?
Does she REALLY use that little girl voice all the time. Many women doubt it.
Why can’t she find one corroborating witness, when Kavanaugh has 70 women vouching for his character?
And I was watching her testimony, a small fraction, when she was talking about the door. The man with the beard next to her was smiling–really, suppressing a smile, ineffrctivrly–and there was a period his eyes went up and he seemed to be reciting the story they had rehearsed with her.
This whole thing was traumatizing for a lot of people, and I really hope it wakes a lot of people up to the clear and present danger Democrats represent to the rule of law, to civility, and to ALL aspects of American progress.
Everything Trump has accomplished has een done despite the opposition of Democrats, who would be HAPPY to see a major downturn or war, if it meant they could get.back in control.