The current Republican party are amoral on women’s rights
A storm has surrounded the supreme court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, and the sexual assault allegations that have circled his confirmation hearings. President Trump’s pick for the highest court in the United States was already a highly-controversial decision. Kavanaugh is a staunch conservative that Americans predict will overturn any laws on abortion rights.
The Republican Senate are hellbent on pushing the nomination hearing through so the appointment of a conservative judge is confirmed. What’s the rush? Why can’t they delay the vote so a formal investigation into the sexual assault claim is conducted?
The answer is simple. The midterms are approaching and the polls show a blue wave overriding Republican-held branches of government. The Republican party would not muster the votes needed for Kavanaugh if the Democrats controlled the Senate. They are willing to sell their souls and avoid any concerns from women just so the Supreme Court’s axis turns to conservative.
Kavanaugh, the sexual assault accusations against him and the predominantly white male Republican party who back him are all models of grotesque behaviour towards women. Under Trump, women’s voices are overlooked whilst his administration continue to slate any policy that is advantageous to them. For example, Trump has consistently rebuked Planned Parenthood and has threatened to defund it in the past. Furthermore, in one of his first acts as president, he withdrew financial aid for women in developing countries that was crucial for them to access healthcare.
This is shocking and undeniably insulting to the #MeToo movement that has resonated across the globe. But the American right does not care and they haven’t since Trump took office. A man who openly boasted about grabbing women by their genitalia, who has made tawdry remarks about his own daughter and who himself has faced sexual misconduct claims from sixteen women was elected to sit in the Oval Office. Trump voters are recusing themselves from the president’s rogue tactics by blaming the moral compromise game. They have turned a blind eye to his violent and hateful narrative. Whether it’s for a break on their taxes or their personal issues with the establishment, the attacks on women so unjustified are continuous and are not being prevented by his base. The anti-female agenda is therefore an embodiment of his presidency.
Just look at the Senate special election in Alabama last December. Although unsuccessful, the Republican nominee for the seat was an accused child molester who only lost by a slim minority. During a rally just prior to Alabama’s election day, Trump asked the crowd to “get out and vote Roy Moore”. Roy Moore was accused of heinous crimes against young girls, but it seemed likely he would still win. His ardent backers in a state where the conservative vote was strong believed the women who alleged these crimes were being paid by liberals. The Democratic candidate, Doug Jones, won by a margin.
Women’s rights in America today are being suppressed as this administration carries on. The midterms are approaching in November and a record number of women have ran for office. Women are fed up and their voices are more critical than ever. Doug Jones won in Alabama due to the surge in support from the African American female voter. Although Hillary Clinton failed in her presidential bid, she has influenced the women she stood by to run on their own. America was not prepared for a female president and misogyny was a definitive factor in this. If the U.S voter believed in equal rights for women, why would they be content with voting for a chauvinist?
The Republican party’s stance on women’s issues under Trump may see a revolt in November. Women make up half of the American electorate, therefore they have every right to be angry in this current political climate.
