All three morning shows on Wednesday skipped a Democratic Senator sliming Amy Coney Barrett, asking if the Supreme Court Nominee is a rapist. Hawaii’s Mazie Hirono on Tuesday demanded, “Since you became a legal adult, have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors, or committed any physical or verbal harassment or assault of a sexual nature?”
After Barrett replied, “No, Senator Hirono,” the liberal politician tried again: “Have you ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to this kind of conduct?” The judge again replied, "No, Senator." ABC’s Good Morning America, CBS This Morning and NBC’s Today all overlooked this question.
Fox and Friends played the video of the question:
CBS, by contrast did play another question from Hirono. Rather then wonder if Barrett is a rapist, she lectured on the inappropriate use of the term “sexual preference.” Here’s Hirono: “Sexual preference is an offensive and outdated term. It is used by anti-LGBTQ activists to suggest that sexual orientation is a choice.”
Kudos, however, to CBS This Morning’s Jan Crawford. In the 8 AM hour, she actually noted the "historic" nature of Barret who could be the first truly “conservative woman” on the court.
[Barrett on the court] could be a historic first for the nomination.... [Barrett] could be the first conservative woman with that strong overarching judicial philosophy the Supreme Court has ever had. It’s only ever had one conservative woman, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. But she was more of a pragmatist and she voted with liberals quite often, certainly in the back half of career.
ABC and CBS skipping Hirono’s question was sponsored by Toyota. NBC’s coverage was sponsored by Kia. Click on the links to let them know what you think.
A partial transcript of Jan Crawford’s comments can be found below:
CBS This Morning
10/14/2020
8:05 AM ETJAN CRAWFORD: She flat out said, “Look I see the law. I would interpret the law a lot
like my old boss Justice Antonin Scalia” who, of course, was one of the most conservative justices on the Supreme Court. She emphasized she wouldn't be justice Scalia. She would be justice Barrett and she even pointed out that Justice Scalia and Justice Clarence Thomas have disagreements but Scalia and Thomas are really conservative so most people wouldn't see lot of daylight between there. That was really different and in some ways tees what I could be an historic first for the nomination. She could be the first conservative woman with that strong overarching judicial philosophy the Supreme Court has ever had. It’s only ever had one conservative woman, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. But she was more of a pragmatist and she voted with liberals quite often, certainly in the back half of career.
