Sen. Kaine and Stewart talk Kavanaugh implications at Liberty Town Hall Sept. 20
At a U.S. Senate Town Hall meeting Sept. 20 at Liberty University’s Concert Hall, Sen. Tim Kaine (D) and candidate Corey Stewart (R) discussed the Brett Kavanaugh sexual allegation scandal, judicial precedent and the future of abortion rights.
Kaine led in the polls all summer and continues to grip a 16-point lead over Stewart, according to the University of Mary Washington.
Sen. Kaine spoke about his Catholic faith and abortion policy Thursday Sept. 20. Photo by Ryan Klinker.
The commonwealth’s town hall came at a pause in the turbulent supreme court nomination hearings. Kavanaugh’s time in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee had elapsed, and a date to vote him in was on the horizon when Dr. Christine Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of attempting to sexually assault her when she was 15 — Kavanaugh would have been 17 at the time. Ford and Kavanaugh will testify Thursday Sept. 27 in front of a modified Senate committee.
Democrats are demanding a full-fledged FBI investigation. Republicans, who currently have a majority in the Senate, want a vote as soon as possible, as the mid-term elections are quickly approaching. If the Kavanaugh vote comes after the mid-term election when Congressional seats are exchanged, the vote may swing unfavorably for the Trump SCOTUS pick.
Corey Stewart told the Richmond Times-Dispatch last week that the sexual assault attempt allegations concerning Brett Kavanaugh and Ford were “a bunch of crap.”
“I find the timing highly suspect,” Stewart said at the town hall.
Stewart said Sen. Dianne Feinstein knew about these allegations weeks ago and never alerted governing authorities like the FBI.
Stewart called for a vote as soon as possible, but Kaine thinks differently.
Stewart said he can work with Congressional leaders whose idea’s differ from his. Photo by Ryan Klinker.
“There is no reason to rush a supreme court,” Kaine said.
Kaine called for hearing from Kavanaugh, Ford and witnesses as well as a full FBI investigation.
“If we care about sexual assault and if we think it is serious, then we should do everything to get to the bottom of this,” Kaine said.
Kaine said America cannot minimize the charge from Ford.
The initial vetting process for United States Supreme Court nominees is to have a basic FBI investigation done. The FBI did not find this attempted sexual assault allegation on Kavanaugh’s record.
The attempted sexual assault scandal is not the only issue Democrats have with Kavanaugh’s nomination.
“I am concerned about (Kavanaugh potentially overturning Roe v. Wade) and other precedents as well,” Kaine said.
Kaine laid out what he thought overturning Roe v. Wade would mean for the American people.
“It would mean we would go back to what the law was before,” Kaine said. “The state could use the criminal law to criminalize, prosecute and jail women for making their own reproduction health care decisions.”
Sen. Kaine addressed Liberty students directly at the town hall. Photo by Ryan Klinker.
Kaine, who claimed to be a part of a pro-life Catholic church, was later asked by a Liberty student why Virginians who are pro-life should vote for him in November.
“I don’t think the job of an elected official is to legislate my Catholic church’s doctrine for everybody to follow, even those who aren’t Catholic or have different points of view,” Kaine said. “So, you live your faith, and I’ve certainly lived mine.”
Stewart claimed that Kaine supported the idea of late-term abortion noting Kaine’s vote against the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would criminalize abortions after 20-weeks with some exceptions.
“I find that morally reprehensible,” Stewart said. “The most important jobs that we have … is to protect the lives and the rights of the citizens we serve.”
Kaine said the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, also known as Micah’s Law, is unconstitutional, as it violates Roe v. Wade.
“I take an oath … I swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States. I don’t swear to a president. I don’t swear to a flag. I uphold the constitution of the United States,” Kaine said.
Micah’s Law has passed in the House of Representatives multiple times and has yet to be passed in the Senate.
“I think using the criminal law to criminalize, prosecute and even jail women and doctors for making this decision is exactly the wrong thing to do,” Kaine said.
On Sept. 20, Stewart said it is the governments responsibility to protect its citizens. Photo by Ryan Klinker.
Stewart and Sen. Kaine expressed their opinions on other pertinent issues for their constituents during the U.S. Senate Town Hall. More coverage of the meeting will be available in the Liberty Champion’s Oct. 2 issue.
The next U.S. Senate Town Hall will be at Hampton University Oct. 3.