Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.) said Tuesday that Brett Kavanaugh’s temperament disqualifies him from the Supreme Court and that Democrats should teach Americans to think likewise.
Blumenthal announced his opposition to Kavanaugh early on in the confirmation process and has said he believes Christine Blasey Ford’s accusation that Kavanaugh attempted to sexually assault her while they were in high school.
The senator said Democrats simply need to show the American people their reasons for opposing the nominee.
"I would continue to urge my colleagues to vote against him, and we need to educate the American people about the reasons for those decisions so that, in fact, they will be on the side of my colleagues," he said.
Blumenthal said this is the most important vote he can cast as a senator, and in the interview with MSNBC’s Katy Tur, he explained his ideological opposition to Kavanaugh. The senator said Kavanaugh would vote to overturn abortion and gay marriage rights.
"I think he'd be a fifth vote to overturn Roe v. Wade," Blumenthal said about Kavanaugh. "He'd be a fifth vote that would eliminate people's right to marry the person they love, for women to decide when they want to become pregnant, for workers' rights and other rights."
Preventing Kavanaugh from getting onto the Court is a question of "core principles," according to Blumenthal.
"I think our core principles and values would be violated," Blumenthal said.
Ford’s accusation against Kavanaugh was followed days later by two others. Deborah Ramirez alleges Kavanaugh exposed himself at a Yale Party, and Julie Swetnick implicated Kavanaugh in "gang rape"s at parties while he was in high school. The latter accusation in particular has received deep skepticism from legal and political analysts.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) accused Democrats of trying to delay and obstruct the confirmation process, and he guaranteed Kavanaugh would have a vote this week.