There has been a lot of virtual ink spilled about the GOP being in thrall to Trump and its radicalized base. They operate from fear, not principle. The opposition to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, however, exposed a level of debasement only previously fully displayed at Trump cabinet meetings.
Numerous GOP Senators praised her acumen, qualifications and intellect - even extolling the historic nature of her elevation - then vowed to vote against her. Claims were made that she was "radical" - always devoid of evidence - and "soft on pedophiles", which was not only laughably untrue, but openly hypocritical. Then the bulk of the Republican Senators walked out after her confirmation.
No, what is really driving the opposition is not politics, but good old-fashioned racism, and not the systemic kind. That is not to say all of the Senators in opposition are themselves racist (although some of them hide it poorly), but the fear of being perceived as "not racist enough" for the MAGA-infused "base" of their party.
Rather than standing on principle, or having a cohesive philosophy or coherent, consistent criterial basis for determining "qualification" for a Supreme Court candidate, they fall to pablum and openly disingenuous criticism to cover their fear. It's frankly disgusting and embarrassing. This is what the GOP has devolved to - surrender to the Klan. White flag, white robes; the distinction is immaterial. What is relevant is the whiteness.
There is a consistent "branding" effort by the GOP and it has backslid into supporting racism under the guise of it being "just politics." It's not any more than Jim Crow and the Klan were "just politics". Racism promoted for whatever reason does need to be pointed out, or else it is deemed "acceptable" and normalized. It is very difficult to discern when one goes from "pandering" to a "fellow traveler". Frankly, I'm not sure that the distinction is important.
