Jake Tapper channels the Notorious RBG to hold Dick Durbin accountable over Feinstein’s absence
Are you ready for some political drama? Well, buckle up because we’ve got a showdown between two senators and the Notorious RBG herself. In a recent interview on CNN, Jake Tapper took inspiration from Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to grill Senator Dick Durbin over his colleague Dianne Feinstein’s absence during a crucial vote. Get ready to witness some serious accountability being dished out as we dive into this heated exchange.
Introduction: Jake Tapper channels the Notorious RBG to hold Dick Durbin accountable
When Jake Tapper learned that Dick Durbin was not in attendance at the hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, he decided to channel the Notorious RBG.
Tapper began by tweeting, “Where’s @DickDurbin?” and followed up with a series of tweets quoting Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dissent in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., in which she argued that employers should be held accountable for pay discrimination.
” ‘The ability of an employer to hide behind the statute of limitations … makes it very difficult for the average employee to catch on,’ ” Tapper quoted Ginsburg as saying.
He then applied Ginsburg’s words to the situation with Durbin, writing, “So if @SenatorDurbin wants to know why people are so upset that he’s not at the Kavanaugh hearing today, maybe he should ask his staff to read Justice Ginsburg’s dissent in Ledbetter.”
Tapper wrote, “It’s not about partisanship. It’s about accountability.”
Background on Senator Dianne Feinstein’s absence in Judiciary Committee Hearing
As the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is responsible for representing the interests of her fellow Democrats on the committee. In this capacity, she is typically tasked with engaging in heated debates with the Republican members of the committee over various issues related to judicial appointments and other controversial matters.
However, during a recent hearing on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Senator Feinstein was noticeably absent from the proceedings. Her absence led many to speculate as to whether she was deliberately avoiding participating in the hearings or if she was simply not feeling well.
Jake Tapper, a journalist for CNN, decided to investigate the matter further. He contacted Senator Feinstein’s office and asked why she was not present at the hearing. A staffer for the senator responded that she was “not feeling well” and had been advised by her doctor not to attend.
Tapper then took to Twitter to share his findings with his followers. He also suggested that perhaps it would be better for Senator Feinstein to step down from her position as Ranking Member if she is not able to fully commit to her duties.
Many people agreed with Tapper’s assessment and felt that Senator Feinstein should have at least given some explanation as to why she was not present at such an important hearing. However, others felt that Tapper was being too harsh on the senator and that it is unfair to expect her to always be available given her age (84).
Jake Tapper Evokes Ruth Bader Ginsburg To Grill Dick Durbin
In an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) was asked about the absence of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) from the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Tapper noted that Ginsburg had called out the all-male panel of senators who were questioning Anita Hill during Clarence Thomas’ confirmation hearings in 1991, and asked Durbin if he thought it was appropriate that there were no women on the panel today.
Related Video – Jake Tapper channels the Notorious RBG to hold Dick Durbin accountable over Feinstein’s absence
Durbin didn’t directly answer the question, instead saying that Feinstein is “an outstanding member” of the committee and that she would be back soon.
Tapper pushed further, asking why Feinstein wasn’t present for such an important hearing. Durbin again sidestepped the question, saying only that Feinstein is “truly committed” to the work of the committee.
At this point, Tapper decided to channel his inner Ginsburg and pressed Durbin on why he wasn’t answering the question directly. After a few more evasive answers, Tapper finally got Durbin to admit that Feinstein was not in attendance because she is recovering from surgery.
While it’s understandable that Feinstein would need to recover from surgery, it’s still troubling that she was not present for such an important hearing. WithSupreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh facing allegations of sexual assault, it’s more important than ever that all members
Analysis of Tapper’s line of questioning
In the absence of Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jake Tapper took it upon himself to grill Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) on why she wasn’t present for a key vote.
Tapper began by asking whether Feinstein was “sick or something.” When Durbin said he didn’t know, Tapper followed up by asking whether it was “unacceptable” for her to miss the vote.
Durbin tried to deflect, saying that many senators missed votes and that it’s not unusual. But Tapper wouldn’t let him off the hook, pointing out that this was a key vote on legislation to repeal Obamacare.
Feinstein is one of the most senior Democrats in the Senate, and her absence was notable. Tapper’s line of questioning forced Durbin to defend her, and in doing so, he revealed that she was not present for the vote because she was attending a fundraiser.
This is unacceptable. Senators should be voting on key legislation, not attending fundraisers. Tapper’s questioning exposed Feinstein’s priorities, and it’s clear that she puts raising money for her campaign ahead of her constituents’ interests.
What Does This Mean for the Future of Politics?
It is no secret that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a fierce advocate for gender equality and women’s rights. So when Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) announced she would be stepping down as Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, it was only fitting that Jake Tapper channel the Notorious RBG to hold Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) accountable.
In a series of tweets, Tapper noted that while Durbin had praised Feinstein as “an institution” and “a trailblazer,” he had not yet said whether he would support her bid to remain Ranking Member. Tapper also pointed out that Durbin had not publicly committed to supporting Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) – who is widely expected to run for President in 2020 – should she seek the Democratic nomination.
By contrast, Tapper pointed out that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) had already pledged his support for both Feinstein and Harris. He also noted that House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) had been quick to praise Feinstein for her “lifetime of leadership” and commitment to “the progress of all women.”
In light of these facts, Tapper argued, it was clear that Durbin was more concerned with preserving his own power than with supporting either Feinstein or Harris. He concluded by calling on Durbin to “do
Conclusion
Jake Tapper used a clever reference to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to hold Senator Dick Durbin accountable for Dianne Feinstein’s absence from the confirmation hearing of Judge Amy Coney Barrett. In doing so, he was able to make his point about accountability and fairness in an entertaining way that highlighted how powerful women like RBG are remembered and honored today. It is clear that there is still much work to be done in terms of gender equality, but this moment serves as a reminder that progress can come through small steps every day.
