Republican senators have been conspicuously silent during today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, ceding their time to prosecutor Rachel Mitchell to question Christine Blasey Ford over her claims Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in 1982.
But during a lunch break, some addressed reporters, and in a brief few moments, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) made an apparent gaffe, reportedly saying that Ford is an “attractive witness” who is “pleasing.”
Hatch just called Ford an “attractive witness.” Asked to elaborate what he meant, he said “she’s pleasing.”
— Kate Irby (@kateirby) September 27, 2018
Almost immediately, people were upset because a male senator commented on the appearance of an alleged sexual assault victim.
“This is so inappropriate and tone-deaf,” user Archiving Girl wrote.
What is wrong with Orrin Hatch? https://t.co/Eo9lg5rQbq
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) September 27, 2018
Holy hell — is every Republican man in the Senate just grotesquely sexist? https://t.co/hpuVEeeWHN
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) September 27, 2018
That's so inappropriate and tone-deaf #KavanaughHearings https://t.co/ekyF8BVipl
— Kayla 🎃🦇👻💀 (@goofiegoobr) September 27, 2018
But fret not, in swooped Hatch’s spokesperson, Matt Whitlock, to assure the reporter it was perfectly normal phrasing from the senator, who uses it to describe both men and women.
https://twitter.com/mattdizwhitlock/status/1045356775153815554
And then to assure other reporters.
https://twitter.com/mattdizwhitlock/status/1045356837745438721
And others.
https://twitter.com/mattdizwhitlock/status/1045357077231792128
And others.
https://twitter.com/mattdizwhitlock/status/1045357229594103810
And others.
https://twitter.com/mattdizwhitlock/status/1045357464919715840
And others.
https://twitter.com/mattdizwhitlock/status/1045358089396998145
And others.
https://twitter.com/mattdizwhitlock/status/1045358255336296448
And others.
https://twitter.com/mattdizwhitlock/status/1045360323354611712
Hatch’s team maintains that the senator’s remarks were not about the witness’ looks. But as noted by another reporter, in a hearing that largely revolves around how the past behavior and accepted norms of men are abominable and need to change, saying, essentially, “that’s how he’s always done things” is a curious defense.