Michael Steele on GOP’s Political Fallout Surrounding Ford Accusations: ‘This Sucks’

Dr. Christine Ford’s lawyers announced yesterday that the woman who alleged sexual assault by Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh did not plan to testify before Senate until the FBI completed a thorough investigation. As a result, Republicans find themselves in a political jam, which was presented for comment by former RNC chair Michael Steele.

On one hand, the Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee — all of whom self-identify as male — risk looking insensitive to independent women voters critical to a successful midterm if they are dismissive of Forde’s testimony or request for an investigation. On the other hand, if they cede her request and allow the FBI to reopen another background check (as was the case in the Justice Thomas hearing involving Anita Hill’s charges) they risk delaying confirmation until after midterms, which will theoretically make it inexpedient politically for the Republican party. ‘Tis a puzzlement!

Or as Michael Steele put in plain words, “This Sucks!”

He went on to explain:

This is not good. I think that the key in the list that you gave us, Joe, the key element is the white female vote. Educated, uneducated, doesn’t matter. The fact is that vote has mobilized and is mobilizing itself and is mobilizing away from Republicans and so the question for individual Senate candidates and congressional candidates is how do I stem that in my own backyard? I can’t worry about the guy the next state over, I’ve now got to focus on my own backyard.

This scenario with these allegations and the Kavanaugh hearing does not help that because it adds one more layer on top of the abortion question, on top of the immigration question, on top of many other questions that have been already put into the political mix for voters that makes this much more difficult for those candidates. That’s why you’re seeing the tightening in some races of the spread increase between Democrats and Republicans on generic ballots. So there is a lot going on here that the party has to reconcile in very short order and that’s going to be hard to do.

Watch the clip above, courtesy of MSNBC.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!