go, but sit back for a second. Because I don't have questions right
away. I actually have
A number of things I just want to say, because this has been, uh,
not a surprise.
Given the history that we all know not a surprise, but perhaps a
little bit of a disappointment. Some of the things have been said
in in this hearing.
The way you have dealt with some of these things. Um, that's why
you are a judge and I am a politician because you have sat with grit
and grace and have shown us
Just extraordinary
demeanor. During the ties where people were saying things to you
that are actually out of the norm. I had to go up diets to ask him
in my more senior colleagues.
About that. What I feel like is a dangerous precedent.
People are taking 1000 cases You've been over. Is that right? I'm
sorry. Said you wouldn't ask you questions. But just give me something
like that. Something like that. And from what I understand is that
these cases
Or too often takes take days, weeks, sometimes months, right?
Two. Yes, there's a trial sometimes, and the folks are taking any
of those cases and just trying to pick pieces out. And so my my colleague,
Senator Holy has been doing this all into the lead up and saying
things tweeting things.
That I think that a lot of us when I was just trying to get some
advice here is this is what the new standards going to be.
That any judge coming before us that has ever chosen outside of the
sentencing guidelines below the sentencing guidelines were creating
this environment now where I could make myself that hero.
Of people who have been victims of some horrible crime and suddenly
put whatever judge I want on the defensive.
By trying to drag out little bits when they have no context to the
case.
None of the facts.
They're seeking to exploit.
The complexities.
Of a criminal justice system. The reason why we have a third branch
of government
I feel bad that there was a judge mentioned by name in this hearing
that's
from Senator Haleigh's state.
What is that judge going to think? Next time they have a complicated
sexual abuse case that comes before them.
And they know that they could possibly be called out if they go below
the sentencing guidelines, which I showed you yesterday in my lack
of chart If you remember I was uncharted, um
But that you are deciding completely in the norm.
70 plus percent in many states or people are doing just like you
did.
But I'm a Democratic senator.
I have never quoted from this
Very well respected conservative.
Periodical. This is the national Review.
Very well respected and not not necessarily something. I agree with
all the time.
But here's what the national Review This is the title senator. Holies
disingenuous attack against Judge Jackson's record on child pornography
Just read the first paragraph.
I would oppose Judge Cogent Catan G. Brown Jackson because of her
judicial philosophy for the reasons I outlined last week.
I addressed that in a separate post for now, I want to discuss the
claim.
By Senator Josh Holly.
That Judge Jackson is appallingly soft on child pornography offenders.
This is the kicker here, the allegations appear meritless to the
point of demagoguery.
I
I got letters from leaders.
Victims rights groups.
Survivors.
Of assault.
All.
Saying, sort of the same thing with the national Review. Feel proud
about yourself. You brought together right and left in this in this
in this
Calling out of people that will sit up here.
And try to pull out from cases.
And try to put themselves in a position where the defenders of our
Children
To a person who has Children.
To a person whose family
Goes out in streets and defends Children.
I mean, this is a new new low and especially surprising about this
is it didn't happen last year.
You were put on a court that I'm told this is
Considered like the second most powerful court in our land.
And you were passed with bipartisan support.
Nobody brought it up, then.
Did they not do their homework?
Where they lacks that they make a mistake. I wonder as they ask you
the question. Do you regret? I wonder if they regret that?
But they didn't bring that out. No. Why? Because it was an allegation
that is meritless to the point.
Of demagoguery.
You are. I don't mean this in any way, because if anybody called
the average, I would
I would be upset, but you are a a mainstream judge.
You're sentencing. I've looked at the data falls in the mainstream
on everything from child sexual assault to all the other issues that
people are trying to bring up.
Some of these things are being cast at you that you called George
Bush a war criminal. Come on, that is painful.
Especially because as you said that brief change. These are names
that you have to put in and we're talking about a real issue that
goes to the core of our values Torture.
Barack Obama was named once he was Bush left office.
There is an absurdity to this. That is
It is almost comical if it was not so dangerous.
Because the next time a judge comes before us on the right or the
left that has a body of work like you do. Gosh, one of the awesome
performance artists on our side.
Could pull out.
One of the cases where they were below. The sentencing guidelines
say, for example, was on something like as horrific as rape that
we all agree is horrific.
And they can suddenly put themselves to defend. How dare we put someone
who soft on crime? Well, are you soft on crime? God bless America.
I got this great text. I've become really good friends with the folks
at the F o p from my negotiations, And this was my favorite text.
You all got to get this. I think my brother Kennedy might get a kick
out of this. He goes.
Things that are
Uncountable stars in the sky.
Grains of sand on the beach.
And the number of times Democrats will mention that the F O P. Endorsed
Judge Jackson in this hearing. But let me mention it again.
Just in case my people say you're rough on crime folks really want
to try to make that stick.
You were endorsed by the largest organization of rank and file police
officers.
You were in endorsed by the bosses, the largest organization of chiefs
of police.
And you were endorsed by noble who I hope people find out more about
that organization.
You got uncles that are officers. You've got a brother, not just
an officer who went to serve
After 9 11.
Your family is not soft on terrorism. He went out there to capture
and kill and defend this country from terrorists.
I actually sitting back here and finding this astonishing but then
I do my homework.
I love that my colleague brought up Constance Baker Motley.
Do you know when when, when she was getting to the floor of the Senate.
They were trying to stop her with outrageous accusations. You know
what the accusation was back then?
She was a communist.
Dragging up stories trying to throw anything that they might stick.
But this is what you and I know.
Any one of us senators could yell as loud as we want that Venus
Can't return to serve. We could yell as loud as we want that Beyonce.
Can't sing. We could yell as much as we wanted. Astronaut Mae Jamison
didn't go all that high.
But you know what?
They got nothing to prove.
As it says in the Bible. Let the work I've done speak for me.
Or you have spoken.
You start speaking as a little girl.
Watching that man right there.
Try to raise a family and study law.
While your mama supported everybody.
You spoke in high school when you started distinguishing yourself.
And you know what you said What they told you. You couldn't go to
Harvard.
Watch me.
I went to law school. I didn't serve on the law review you did.
I didn't clerk at every level of the federal court clerk for a Supreme
Court justice, one widely respected on both sides, which really shaped
you.
You left there and you went to private practice. And you know what
you found. This is what you told me.
You had those tough choices that working moms have to make the demands
of a private law firm Raising your kids just didn't add up.
You went before the Senate three times in a bipartisan manner. God
bless America. We don't do that much stuff bipartisan around here.
You went to became a public defender, because you wanted to understand
all aspects of the law. Who does that?
We live in a society that's very materialistic, sometimes very, very
consumerist IQ. You went to people become public defenders for the
money.
No.
Your family and you speak to service service service.
And I'm telling you right now, I'm not letting anybody in the Senate
steal my joy.
I told you this at the beginning. I have. I'm embarrassed. It happened
earlier today. I just look at you and I started getting full of emotion.
I'm jogging this morning.
And at the end of the block I live on.
And I get tired because I put my music on loud when I'm jogging,
trying to block out the noise of the of the heart attack. I'm having
And this woman comes up on me practically tackles me, an African
American woman.
And the look on her eyes. She just wanted to touch me because I think
because I'm sitting so close to you.
And tell me what it meant to her to watch you sitting where you're
sitting.
And you did not get there.
Because of some left wing agenda.
He didn't get here because of some dark money groups.
You got here How every black woman in America has gotten anywhere.
Has done
By being
like Ginger, Rogers said.
I did everything Fred Astaire did but backwards in heels.
And and so I I'm just sitting here saying nobody's stealing my joint.
Nobody's going to make the angry, especially not people that are
called that a conservative magazine.
Demagogic for what they're bringing up. That just doesn't hold water.
I'm not going to let my joy be stolen because I know you and I
We appreciate something that we get that a lot of my colleagues.
Don't I know Tim Scott does
When I first came to this place, I was the fourth black person ever
popularly elected to the United States Senate and I still remember
Lot of mixed people. White folks, black folks work here, but at night
when people are in line to come in to clean this place
The percentage of minorities shift a lot. And so I'm walking here
first week. I'm here and somebody who's been here for decades doing
the urgent work of the Senate, but the unglamorous work that goes
on no matter who's in offices.
The guy comes up to me. All he wants to say I can tell is I'm so
happy you're here, but he comes up and he can't get the words out.
And this man, my elder starts crying.
And I just hugged him and he just kept telling me it is so good to
see you here. So good to see you here. Thank you. Thank you. Thank
you.
I love my brother, Tim Scott. We can write a dissertation on our
disagreements. He gave the best speech on race. I wish I could have
given a speech of his speech.
But talking to the challenges and indignities that are still faced.
And you're here.
I was in the White House of my Democratic colleagues and I'm again.
I'm in my joy. I can't help it and and the president's asking her
advice. Who should we nominate or whatever.
And I look at Camilla and we have a knowing glance, which we've had
for years when she and I used to sit on this end of this committee
at times.
And then I try to get out to the president what it means.
What it means.
And I want to tell you what I look at you. This is why I get emotional.
I'm sorry. You're you're a person that is so much more than your
race and gender. You are a Christian. Your mom, Your intellect, Your
loved books, but for me, I'm sorry. I
It's hard for me not to look at you and not see my mom.
Not to see my
My cousins, one of them who had to come here and sit behind you.
She had to be. She had to have your back.
I see my ancestors and yours.
Nobody's going to steal the joy of that woman in the street or the
calls, and I'm getting more the texts. Nobody's going to steal that
joy.
You have earned this spot You are worthy. You are a great American.
Your hero is constant. Baker Motley mind She has sat on my desk.
For my offices that I've held. She's my icon of America.
Her name is Harriet Tubman.
There is a love in this country that is extraordinary.
You admitted it about your parents.
They loved this nation, even though there were laws preventing them.
From getting together when they were loving. There were laws in this
country that would have prevented you from marrying your husband.
It wasn't that long ago was last generation.
But they didn't stop loving this country even though this country
Didn't love them back.
And what were the words of your heroes in mind? What did Constance
Baker Motley do?
Could she this country that she saw insults and injuries when she
came out of law school offers went even higher because she was a
woman.
Did she become bitter?
Did she try to create a revolution? No, she used the very constitution
of this nation.
She loved it so much. She wanted America to be America as lengths
and useless wrote. Oh, let America be America again.
The land that never has been yet but yet must be the land where everyone
is free. Oh, yes, I say it. Playing America never was America to
me, But I swear this oath, America will be
That is the story of how you got to this desk.
You and I and everyone here generations of folk who came here instead.
America I'm Irish. You may say no Irish or dogs need apply, but I'm
going to show this country
That I can be free here. I can make this country loved me as much
as I love it.
Chinese Americans first voice into mere
Slave labor building our railroads connecting our country.
So the ugliest of America but they were going to build their home
here to America. You may not love me yet, but I'm going to make this
nation live up to its promise and hope.
LGBTQ Americans.
From Stonewall women to Seneca.
Hidden figures who didn't even get their play until some Hollywood
movie finally talked about them and how they were critical for us
to find gravity. All of these people loved America.
And so you faced insults here that were shocking to me. Well, actually
not shocking.
For you are here because of that kind of love.
And nobody's taking this away from me.
So you got five more folks to go through five more of us.
And then you can sit back and let us have all the debates. I'm going
to tell you it's going to be a well charted Senate floor because
it's not going to stop.
They're going to accuse you of this and that heck, in honor of your
person Who shares your birthday, you might be called the Communist
But don't worry.
My sister. Don't worry.
God has got you.
And how do I know that?
Cause you're here.
And I know what it's taken for you to sit in that seat.
Harry Tubman.
It's one of my heroes because
The more I read about this person, the more
I mean, she was viciously beaten.
Her whole life she used to fall into spells cracked skull.
She faced starvation chased by dogs. And when she got to freedom,
what does she do? Did she rest? No, she went back.
Again and again and again.
The star was the sky was full of stars.
But she found one that was a harbinger of hope.
For better days, not just for her and those people that were enslaved
but a harbinger of hope for this country, and she never gave up on
America.
She fought in that
Led troops in the civil war.
She was involved in the suffrage movement.
And as I came back from my run
After being near assaulted by by someone on the street.
I thought about her.
And how she looked up. She kept looking up, no matter what they did
to her. She never stopped looking up.
And that star.
It was a harbinger of hope.
Today. You're my star.
You are my harbinger of hope.
This country is getting better and better and better.
And when that final vote happens.
And you were sent on to the
Onto the highest court in the land.
I'm going to rejoice.
And I'm going to tell you right now.
The greatest country in the world, the United States of America.
Will be better.
Because of you.