The Swamp Is More Like a Sewer [OPINION]

The behavior by Democrats as the Senate Judiciary Committee attempted to get down to the business of conducting a hearing on the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh was simply appalling. Chairman Chuck Grassley's inability to control the proceedings was every bit as frustrating.

Once the hearing began on Tuesday, it was quickly evident that something was amiss. Democrat Senators created a den of confusion with attempt after attempt to delay or postpone the hearing. It was an effort carefully choreographed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer during a conference call on Sunday. Some of the more radical Democrat members of the committee wanted to walk out on the hearing, but were persuaded to use Schumer's game plan instead.

The Democrats' main complaint appears to be that they want access to documents pertaining to Kavanaugh's time at the White House. Information that is not relevant to the confirmation, and is protected by President Trump's executive privilege due to the sensitive nature of the materials. It's a stalling tactic that will not work.

The behavior of the Democrats, many auditioning for the voters in November or for 2020, was childish and transparent. While it may help with the base, I am not sure it wins over many new converts when so many people are sick to death of politics and politicians already.

We have reduced our confirmation process to a debate over abortion rights. Some will pretend it also involves concerns about LGBTQ rights or black civil rights, but that's where the gay and black communities are being hustled. Make no mistake about it: this is about abortion.

It is also about power. Both the right and the left want to control the judiciary in order to advance their political agendas. The left believes that if Judge Kavanaugh is confirmed, it will be harder to influence public policy going forward. That may be true. But elections have consequences, and those consequences are generally political.

The left was unable to convince voters in 2016 that their candidate or their platform was best for the country. They will get another shot at it in two years. But the disruptive and unruly behavior by many on the left will make it difficult to convince the voters that anything much has changed.

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.