‘I’m embarrassed for this country’: Internet disgusted by Rachel Mitchell’s cross-examination of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford
Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell went down in flames trying to cross-examine Dr. Christine Blasey Ford making Republicans look even worse when contrasted with sympathetic Democratic senators.
The internet responded to the line of questioning and the differences between the two sides with their own attacks of Mitchell calling her everything from a bad prosecutor to heartless.
One attorney and blogger noted it was an “atrocious examination,” watching Mitchell argue that Dr. Ford isn’t credible because she flies even though she doesn’t like to.
JFC, Mitchell arguing that Ford not credible because she occasionally flies even though she hates doing so. This is just atrocious examination.
— bmaz (@bmaz) September 27, 2018
Businesswoman and podcaster Aminatou Sow noted that she too is similarly fearful of flying, but noted she’s approaching a high level in her frequent flyer program.
I have a fear of flying. I am also on track for delta diamond medallion benefits. Thank you rachel mitchell, useless prosecutor from maricopa country
— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) September 27, 2018
She agreed it was making the GOP look even worse.
The prosecutor is insufferable. She’s methodically trying to pick apart her story but it’s not working and also makes the R Senators look ineffective. Any time Grassley interjects it’s a reminder these old guys are just lurking and afraid to question Dr Ford themselves.
— Aminatou Sow (@aminatou) September 27, 2018
ProPublica reporter Pamela Colloff noted that the questioning surrounding Dr. Ford’s mental health was “ugly” and “shameful.”
Rachel Mitchell questioning Christine Blasey Ford about her mental health is one of the ugliest and most shameful things I've ever seen. Women deserve better, crime victims deserve better, and a prosecutor should know better.
— Pamela Colloff (@pamelacolloff) September 27, 2018
Freelance reporter and editor Kaz Weida agreed, calling the attempt to undermine Dr. Ford’s mental health “insulting.”
Rachel Mitchell questioning Dr. Blasey Ford about her mental health is not okay here. And trying to undermine that she experiences real anxiety becasue she was finally able to fly is insulting.
I hate small spaces. I have anxiety. I also find it difficult to fly.
I do it anyway.— Kaz Weida (@kazweida) September 27, 2018
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Members of Congress similarly commented, noting Mitchell came off as unsympathetic.
I feel like Rachel Mitchell is trying to catch Dr. Blasey Ford in some contradiction and to make it a technical conversation, rather than admit to the deep emotion of a sexual assault. #KavanaughHearings
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) September 27, 2018
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Mitchell is doing a good job of cross examining gently, but it is still disgusting. The witness is NOT on trial. #KavanaughConfirmationHearing #KanavaughHearings
— Jackie Speier (@RepSpeier) September 27, 2018
Why are any of Rachel Mitchell’s questions relevant? She just wants to poke holes in testimony. She is not really interested in the actual assault. #kavanaughHearings
— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) September 27, 2018
Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell is asking questions to verify statements and establish facts — like where #DrChristineBlaseyFord lived — that the #FBI wld have, if the #WhiteHouse had asked them to reopen the background check.
ADVERTISEMENT— Maya Wiley (@mayawiley) September 27, 2018
You can read other tweets below:
Is Mitchell…trying to establish that a person afraid of airplanes do occasionally get on airplanes?
ADVERTISEMENT— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) September 27, 2018
Increasingly, it’s clear that Republican leadership simply does not believe that anyone matters outside of their base. And getting Kavanaugh confirmed, so gerrymandering holds up in court, is part of making sure of that.
— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) September 27, 2018
My quick take at this #KavanaughHearings break. Mitchell is taking her time in laying the groundwork…for what? To get new facts? Format so far seems only to serve to protect Republican male senators from saying something foolish they will regret. pic.twitter.com/qw2nBKLa66
— Lynn Sweet (@lynnsweet) September 27, 2018
Rachel Mitchell is now directing questions to Dr. Ford that don't directly relate to the sexual assault.
Why can't Republicans ask these questions in regards to recent timelines?
— Red T Raccoon (@RedTRaccoon) September 27, 2018
I JUST PREDICTED THIS LINE OF QUESTIONING. “You’ve flown before, haven’t you?” This is INSANE. Rachel Mitchell should be ashamed of herself. #KavanaughHearing #IBelieveDrChristineBlaseyFord
— Eliza Orlins (@eorlins) September 27, 2018
Mitchell is clearly being careful with her tone — trying to keep things conversational and soft when possible. But it is impossible to ignore the very problematic optics Mitchell is creating > https://t.co/y9Dm0XbqdR
— MJ Lee (@mj_lee) September 27, 2018
It is starting to appear as if Rachel Mitchell is trying to cross-examine Professor Ford, but none of this is very effective thus far. If she is trying to undercut Ford, it isn’t working.
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) September 27, 2018
Wow the prosecutor is trying to find out if Dr Ford had other traumas in her life that contributed to her PTSD… then Ms Mitchell proceeds to undermine whether Dr Ford is really suffering PTSD because she has an aversion to flying but she has gone on vacation! What is happening?
— Ayman Mohyeldin (@AymanM) September 27, 2018
My mother is afraid of flying and used to drive and once took a train from Maryland to Illinois for a funeral, but forced herself on a plane to visit her son in Alaska, go to Europe with me and to go on a cruise. This is not unusual. Rachel Mitchell is grasping.
— Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) September 27, 2018
Prosecutor Mitchell: Are you lying about not wanting to fly?
Ford: I don't like flying.
Prosecutor Mitchell: Look at all these places you've gone.
Ford: I take vacations.… Are these the questions you have for me, son? Phone calls and footlockers?
— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) September 27, 2018
The fact that Dr. Ford didn't try to defend her fear of flying or justify it is very telling. She stuck to answering Rachel Mitchell's questions, knowing full well where they were pointed, and she focused on just answering directly and truthfully-very telling. #KavanaughHearings
— Amee KavaNOPE Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) September 27, 2018
Mitchell now suggesting there are other things that contributed to Ford's anxiety and PTSD.
Ford gets all scientific, calls it a predictor. Mitchell may be an expert sex crimes prosecutor, but unlikely she has worked w/Psych PhD.
— emptywheel (@emptywheel) September 27, 2018
Live footage of Rachel Mitchell cross examining Dr. Blasey Ford.#KavanaughHearings pic.twitter.com/dpeCCkR4gr
— Kaz Weida (@kazweida) September 27, 2018
The moment that Dr. Ford calmly informs prosecutor Rachel Mitchell that she took the polygraph right after her grandmother's funeral… is a moment Republicans will never be able to take back.
— Polly Sigh (@dcpoll) September 27, 2018
Is it me or did the @SenateGOP pick Arizona prosecutor Rachel Mitchell out of central casting? #KavanaughHearings pic.twitter.com/n3zLUWG0Uw
— Fernand R. Amandi (@AmandiOnAir) September 27, 2018
Rachel Mitchell – the GOP's very own Aunt Lydia pic.twitter.com/bZZQn5149D
— Claudia Lamb (@ClaudiaLamb) September 27, 2018
It’s fitting that the Republican members of the committee have hired the The Church Lady to do their questioning. Ms. Mitchell also appears to be losing the friendly demeanor she displayed early in the hearing. pic.twitter.com/U9ojNyCpDw
— Joey Jo Jo (@JoeyJoJo10) September 27, 2018
Guys, I don’t think Rachel Mitchell is going to get confirmed.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) September 27, 2018
Rachel Mitchell is striking out repeatedly.
— Cheri Jacobus (@CheriJacobus) September 27, 2018
Mitchell questioning Ford if she was coached on her polygraph.
A polygraph that Kavanaugh has not taken
and has never offered to take— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) September 27, 2018
GOP might want to get their money back
Mitchell is only humanizing Dr. Ford with her failed interrogation
This is actually going way better than I thought it would
And the main event is yet to come:
Kamala vs Kavanaugh
— #WithdrawKavanaugh 🚫👨⚖️ (@CaptainsLog2O18) September 27, 2018
Mitchell is well past her time
Grassley was heard in the background saying "stop the clock please"
I bet you won't hear him say that during a Dem's time
Mitchell: Did anyone help you write the letter?
Dr. Ford: No
(that was a very dumb question imo)
— #WithdrawKavanaugh 🚫👨⚖️ (@CaptainsLog2O18) September 27, 2018
Holy shit the question about the location about the polygraph backfired in ways no one saw coming.
Please end this for both Dr. Ford's sake and for the career suicide Rachel Mitchell is committing right before us. #KavenaughHearings
— Benjamin Dixon🌹 (@BenjaminPDixon) September 27, 2018
If Rachel Mitchell had any decency, during this lunch break, she'd pack up and leave the Capitol
— Joe Sudbay (@JoeSudbay) September 27, 2018
#KavanaughHearings
Rachel Mitchell is pulling out the maps. I’m so embarrassed for this country… pic.twitter.com/L8WHCFYi9i— Jean Podrasky 🐾 (@JeanPodrasky) September 27, 2018
Mitchell is cross-examining Dr. Ford about her fear of flying and Mitchell is an incompetent monster. She just tried to catch Dr Ford in a lie by noting she's consulted for an Australian company. Dr Ford tells Mitchell they have a cali office and she's never been to Australia. pic.twitter.com/3MTXahxsKI
— Medicaid Matthew Cortland, Esq. ⚖ (@mattbc) September 27, 2018
Omg from Prosecutor Rachel Mitchell: “the word contributed, does that mean that there are also things that have happened to contribute to PTSD and anxiety?” Dr. Ford “Let me eviscerate your question with my inimitable 🧠 and my ACTUAL PhD IN PSYCHOLOGY” #DrFord
— Sara El-Amine (@sara_ela) September 27, 2018
Person close to Trump says Trump is raging at how bad this has been for Republicans so far. Trump told people Ford “seems credible,” per source
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) September 27, 2018
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