Historically Unpopular Kavanaugh Nomination Puts Pressure on Collins

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Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court is the most unpopular with American voters since the nomination of Robert Bork, according to a new poll.

In the meantime, supposedly pro-choice Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine is indicating she is likely to vote for confirmation of the anti-abortion rights Kavanaugh. As a result, many pro-choice activists and other progressives have already started funding a campaign to defeat her when she is up for re-election in 2020.

A new CNN poll released yesterday shows that barely one-third — or just 38 percent — of American voters believe Kavanaugh should be confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The poll also said that 39 percent do not want him confirmed while 23 percent of respondents do not have an opinion.

Kavanaugh’s support represents the lowest for a Supreme Court nominee since Bork in 1987, whose nomination the Senate ultimately rejected.

Support for the confirmation of Trump‘s second nominee to the Supreme Court differs greatly between the two parties. Surprisingly, just 74 percent of Republicans say they want to see put on the Supreme Court, which is lower than might be expected. But only 33 percent of Independents and just 15 percent of Democrats want to see him confirmed.

Meanwhile, progressive groups are greatly increasing the pressure on Senator Collins. They have sent over 3,000 coat hangers to her offices and have been organizing rallies along with campaigns against her on social media, telephone and email.

And on top of that, these anti-Collins groups have already raised over $1.1 million for a future opponent if she does ultimately vote to confirm Kavanaugh.

These groups set up a crowdfunding page at the CrowdPac website. On this page they wrote:

“We, the People of Maine are joining Ady Barkan and thousands of others to demand that Senator Collins votes “no” on Trump‘s Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh” – Marie Follayttar, Co-Director of MFAL said, “We’re excited to once again join with Ady to promote and amplify Maine voices.”

“There are two scenarios:

Senator Collins votes NO on Kavanaugh and you will not be charged, and no money will go to fund her future opponent.
Senator Collins votes YES on Kavanaugh and your pledge will go to her opponent’s campaign, once that opponent has been identified.”

“The pending nomination of Brett Kavanaugh for Supreme Court Justice is a threat to everyday Mainers like us. Kavanaugh is committed to ending healthcare for people with pre-existing conditions. He is committed to overturning Roe v. Wade. Kavanaugh cannot be nominated – he would mean bankruptcy and danger for millions of families in Maine and America.”

Desperate times require desperate measures, and that is what we are seeing right now in the fight against Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Donald Trump has already been allowed to appoint one right-wing justice to the Supreme Court, and he should not be allowed to appoint another one.

There are too many problems and red flags that have come up concerning Kavanaugh’s background, prior rulings, and his lying under oath. The new poll shows that this nominee is extremely unpopular, and this is being confirmed with the actions against Collins.

Apparently Susan Collins, like many other GOP senators, is not following the wishes of her constituents, but is doing what her big-money bosses tell her to do. She has been given the warning, which applies to many other members of Congress who think their seats are secure: If you go against the wishes of the people in 2018, that will not be forgotten in 2020,and ultimately you will pay the price.

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Leo Vidal

I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.