The Patriot Post® · Kavanaugh Cleared

By Gary Bauer ·
https://patriotpost.us/opinion/59294-kavanaugh-cleared-2018-11-06

Saturday night, the Senate Judiciary Committee released a 400-plus page report on the various investigations involving claims of sexual misconduct against then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Those investigations produced no evidence to back up the charges against him.

Sen. Charles Grassley, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said:

“This was a serious and thorough investigation that left no stone unturned in our pursuit of the facts. In the end, there was no credible evidence to support the allegations against the nominee.”

The release of this report came on the heels of news Friday night that Chairman Grassley had referred another accuser, Judy Munro-Leighton, to the Justice Department for a criminal investigation after she admitted to fabricating claims against Kavanaugh.

Munro-Leighton admitted that her charge was just a “ploy” designed “to grab attention” and derail Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Grassley has also referred Julie Swetnick and Michael Avenatti for a criminal investigation.

I am pleased that Chairman Grassley is serious about holding people responsible for lying to Congress and smearing a good man and his family. This would not be happening if Democrats were in charge of the Senate.

It is telling that whenever one of these women came forward, reporters rushed to be the first one to break the news of the latest charge. They attempted to use the cumulative weight of all the charges to cover up the weaknesses in Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations.

It also shows why Kavanaugh was correct to forcefully deny the charges and point out the absurdity of the accusations coming from seemingly everywhere — from Maryland to Rhode Island to Colorado.

The entire Democrat caucus, with the exception of Joe Manchin, was eager to go along with these unproven charges. 

I have been watching the news closely over the weekend. I have yet to see one Democrat senator apologize to Justice Kavanaugh, his wife, and his young daughters. Not one Democrat has had the character and courage to admit that they were wrong about these smears against an innocent man.

America cannot afford to have these hacks in charge of confirming the judges who sit on our federal courts, including the Supreme Court. 

Just one more reason why you must vote for conservative candidates today!

The Dynamic Duo

In all the decades I have been in Washington, I have never seen a president and vice president so tirelessly fighting for their party as Donald Trump and Mike Pence. It culminated yesterday with President Trump holding rallies in three states. 

According to Politico, the president has held 30 rallies since Labor Day. Axios writes that Mike Pence has held “11 campaign events in 9 different states over the final 6 days” of the campaign. 

My friends, you have to watch this. Whatever happens today, no one has seen anything like this in a midterm election.

While neither Trump’s name or Pence’s name is on the ballot, it remains to be seen if their voters will turn out. Barack Obama was great at turning out his base when he was on the ballot, but he couldn’t replicate that success in midterm elections. So we will see what happens.

But we know this much: Turnout in early voting has shattered records. Many areas are experiencing near presidential-level turnout. In Texas the number of ballots cast in early voting has exceeded the total of all ballots cast in 2014.

If the election goes badly for conservatives in the House, the media and #NeverTrumpers will blame it all on the president. But he can say with some authority that he did everything he could to help his party, more than any president in recent memory.

Don’t Believe the Polls

Three polls released yesterday show just how greatly they can diverge. For example:

  • CNN finds the Democrats up 13 points.

  • Politico has the Democrats up three points.

  • Rasmussen has the GOP up one point.

Obviously they all cannot be right. 

Famed political analyst Nate Silver said that his modeling shows “a really wide” range of possible outcomes. Silver added that “no one should be surprised” if Democrats fall short of winning the House. On the other hand, he suggested a blue wave could wipe out as many as 51 GOP incumbents.

Here’s the bottom line: The only poll that matters is the one taken today when YOU cast your ballot in the voting booth. 

Will Trump and the GOP defy the polls again as they did in 2016? As a general rule, a president’s party tends to lose seats during midterm elections.

But if there’s one thing we’ve learned in recent years, it’s that the old political rules don’t always apply to President Trump. Read more in my latest opinion piece at the Washington Examiner.

The Radical Left Goes Quiet

Have you noticed the dog that stopped barking? 

Up until six weeks ago, the Left was on a rampage in the streets and on college campuses across America. Conservative groups were being disrupted. Protestors were interrupting Trump rallies. Thousands of left-wing demonstrators descended on Washington for the Kavanaugh hearings.  

In recent weeks, the GOP started promoting the theme of “jobs versus mobs.” And as if someone flipped a switch, the mobs suddenly disappeared.

A few groups didn’t get the memo. Antifa took over the streets of Portland last month, while the New Black Panthers, armed with “assault weapons,” took to the streets in Atlanta campaigning for gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who wants to ban so-called “assault weapons.”

But I can’t help wondering whether these spontaneous left-wing mobs really aren’t so spontaneous after all. Perhaps the people behind them decided they didn’t want to scare voters too much right before a big election.

Dirty Tricks

Sadly, this election has seen its share of dirty tricks. There are illegal mailings going out attempting to confuse conservatives into backing third-party candidates. Just a percentage point or two can make all the difference in a close race.

The FBI is seeking information on a Democrat Party volunteer after someone tried to hack Georgia’s database of registered voters.

Meanwhile, on “Saturday Night Live” this weekend, comedian Pete Davidson mocked Dan Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL and congressional candidate who lost an eye while serving in Afghanistan. Davidson said:

“You may be surprised to hear he’s a congressional candidate in Texas and not a hitman in a porno movie. I’m sorry, I know he lost his eye in war, or whatever.”

It is shocking where the cultural and political Left has gone. I can’t imagine how the family members of wounded soldiers must have felt. 

If a Republican makes a statement mocking someone, liberal reporters rush to force every conservative to condemn it on the record. But no Democrat will be asked today to condemn Davidson’s outrageous comments. 

So it’s up to you. 

Vote today. 

Vote against the radical, mean-spirited Left.

Sanctions Kick In

Earlier this year, President Trump withdrew from Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran and began reimposing sanctions against that radical regime. Yesterday, some of the toughest sanctions against Iran’s energy and financial sectors were reinstated.

As many of you know, I also serve as Washington Director of CUFI Action Fund, the legislative arm of Christians United for Israel. Reversing the disastrous Iranian nuclear deal has been a key priority for Christians United for Israel and CUFI Action Fund.

Responding to the news, Pastor John Hagee, founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel, issued the following statement:

“The Iran deal was so deeply flawed that it would’ve enabled the very thing it was intended to prevent. We applauded President Trump’s decision to exit the agreement and we now welcome the latest re-imposition of sanctions against Tehran.

"Until Iran abandons its illicit activities, they will not have a seat at the international table. The Mullahs of Tehran are the enemies of all freedom loving people in the world, including the people of Iran. They must be stopped.”