On Tuesday’s CBS This Morning, co-host and Democratic donor Gayle King brought on Supreme Court nominee smear artist Anita Hill to demand that the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the high court be blocked. The partisan pair also discussed Hill’s endorsement of Joe Biden for president, supposedly because he would combat sexual harassment. Tara Reade might disagree with that rationale.
During the softball exchange, King requested “to talk to private citizen Anita Hill” about various political topics, starting with the Court: “...you’re absolutely not convinced that a thorough Supreme Court confirmation can happen before the election. Why do you think that?” Apparently worried that Democrats would not have enough time to tear down Barrett, Hill argued:
...let’s think about what a confirmation hearing is there for. It’s there for the Senate to understand the nominee and the nominee’s positions and qualifications and character. It’s there for the American public to understand the nominee and what they bring to the court in terms of their judicial positions. And the public really needs time to absorb all of this, especially in middle of where we are right now with the – with so many thing, including the election, that has captured everybody’s imagination.
King then turned to the presidential campaign, noting: “You know, Joe Biden was very tough on you during those 1991 confirmation hearings. Yet you have announced that you are going to endorse him. What did it take for you to get past that?”
In her response, Hill never actually mentioned Biden’s name or made the case for why he should be president. Instead, she just talked generally about sexual harassment, implying she thought Biden would focus on addressing the issue:
Well, I announced that I would vote for him because really at this point I understand that the problems of harassment, whether they are in Hollywood or in your local restaurant, are severe. And it’s not just harassment, you know, there’s a whole range of gender-based violence that people are experiencing. And again, the question of accountability comes up over and over again. We, as a country, need to do something about those problems. We’re working at the commission to do it. And I know that organizations throughout this country are working. But I think it’s really time that the government really looked at this problem as a huge public problem and develops an agenda.
During an exclusive interview with NewsBusters in August, former Biden staffer Tara Reade reiterated her sexual assault claims against the former Vice President and declared: “The Democratic Party has become an enabler to sexual predators.”
Of course King refused to press Hill on Reade’s accusation, instead concluding the segment by touting: “I’m sure Joe Biden was glad to hear you’re going to endorse him.”
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Here is a transcript of the September 29 exchange:
8:20 AM ET
(...)
GAYLE KING: I wanted to talk now to private citizen Anita Hill. Is she available. Maybe she’s wearing different glass. Is she there?
ANITA HILL: Should I change my glasses to private?
KING: Yes, I would like to talk to private citizen Anita Hill if you don't mind, because she said that you’re absolutely not convinced that a thorough Supreme Court confirmation can happen before the election. Why do you think that?
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Supreme Court Controversy; Antia Hill on SCOTUS Confirmation & Loss of Justice Ginsburg]
HILL: People are concerned about so many things that are going on. But to start with, just let’s think about what a confirmation hearing is there for. It’s there for the Senate to understand the nominee and the nominee’s positions and qualifications and character. It’s there for the American public to understand the nominee and what they bring to the court in terms of their judicial positions. And the public really needs time to absorb all of this, especially in middle of where we are right now with the – with so many thing, including the election, that has captured everybody’s imagination.
KING: Yeah, let’s talk about where we are right now. You know, Joe Biden was very tough on you during those 1991 confirmation hearings. Yet you have announced that you are going to endorse him. What did it take for you to get past that?
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Backing Biden; Anita Hill on Endorsing Fmr. VP & 2020 Election]
HILL: Well, I announced that I would vote for him because really at this point I understand that the problems of harassment, whether they are in Hollywood or in your local restaurant, are severe. And it’s not just harassment, you know, there’s a whole range of gender-based violence that people are experiencing. And again, the question of accountability comes up over and over again. We, as a country, need to do something about those problems. We’re working at the commission to do it. And I know that organizations throughout this country are working. But I think it’s really time that the government really looked at this problem as a huge public problem and develops an agenda.
KING: Alright, Anita Hill, I’m sorry, we’ve got less than five seconds. I’m sure Joe Biden was glad to hear you’re going to endorse him.
(...)
