Senator Joe Kennedy (R-LA) is known for grabbing headlines with a colorful turn of phrase here and there. He did not disappoint when he took to the airwaves to discuss the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. While speaking with Bloomberg on Tuesday, Senator Kennedy said:
“You know what these proceedings look to me like right now? They look like the Kavanaugh hearing without the vagina hats. This is going to be the most partisan — no, strike that — this will be the only partisan impeachment proceeding in the history of the United States.”
Senator Kennedy sits on the Judiciary Committee, which will be the first committee to take up the proceedings should they move into the territory of formal, official impeachment on the floor of the House of Representatives. While the inquiry is still in the investigative phase, the House Intelligence Committee presides, since the main focus has to do with foreign affairs. Chairman Adam Schiff (R-CA) is there. Kennedy called the proceedings in the Democratic-controlled House a “gross violation of due process.” He went on to say:
“All Speaker Pelosi and her team are doing is weaponizing impeachment as a political weapon,When we get it in the Senate, we’ll do it right.”
Here is a clip of Senator Kennedy’s remarks, via Twitter:
Senator John Kennedy says Democrats "are weaponizing impeachment as a political weapon" in the House's inquiry into whether Trump held up Ukraine aid for a political advantage pic.twitter.com/FwSJjIcTnF
— Bloomberg TicToc (@tictoc) November 19, 2019
Now, of course this entire impeachment inquiry is the perfect time and place for people of many political stripes to shine. Someone like Joe Kennedy, whose accomplishments in Congress tend to be making headlines with these kinds of statements and little else, would of course take advantage of the current environment. He does have a bit of a point, though – both Trump and Kavanaugh are grossly unqualified for the offices they hold, and both are credibly accused of sexual assault. That is likely not the sort of point Senator Kennedy was attempting to make, though.
Senator Kennedy’s comparison just highlights the rank misogyny of the GOP, though. They are more than willing to look the other way when straight, white, rich, Christian, conservative, cisgender men are accused of heinous acts and put them in charge of our government and defend them to the political death. The double standard and hypocrisy is astounding, and this is coming from the so-called party of “family values.” Values, indeed – everything is just fine, just since the judges rule the way we want and the president appoints said judges.
This is the sad state of affairs of the Republican Party at the moment, and the way this impeachment inquiry is being treated on the right is just more proof of that. Impeachment is a legitimate legal proceeding, and there is more than enough evidence to suggest that Trump should be impeached, or, at the very least, that an inquiry should be conducted. But, the GOP cannot stand the idea of one of their own being caught in the political crosshairs. They are the epitome of putting country over party right now. But who can be surprised? It is what they do.
