Melissa Joskow / Media Matters
President Donald Trump said during Wednesday’s press conference that he planned to watch professor Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony during the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing and that he could “be convinced” Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had attempted to rape her when they were in high school in the early 1980s.
If the president has been watching the hearing on Fox News, the conservative network that frequently influences his behavior, this is some of the commentary he’s been seeing amid the testimony.
Fox News' Chris Wallace at the first break in Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's testimony: Her testimony is “extremely emotional, extremely raw, and extremely credible,” while cross-examination format “is a disaster for the Republicans.” pic.twitter.com/fHy0rcwAV2
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
During that same segment, Brit Hume says the “old white guy” GOP senators questioning would have been even worse because Ford is such a “very sympathetic witness.”
Baier points out that they haven't heard from Kavanaugh yet, who will presumably deny everything. pic.twitter.com/CjEG5HsDrq— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
Hume thinks that even if Ford is challenged by Mitchell on factual points, and all that would do is put into the record criticisms that have already been made without “shaking her credibility as a witness.” pic.twitter.com/KoSgWdNmIq
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
Hume after the second break: “I'm not sure how much damage that did to her credibility, and I would say this about her credibility -- the more hesitant, the more fragile she has seemed, the more powerful and credible I think she comes across to the audience.” pic.twitter.com/WmZmhrwu4X
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
WALLACE: “The implication here is that somehow she's a Dem operative or an anti-Kav operative. The fact is, she did send this letter in July before Brett Kavanaugh was even nominated ... it doesn't sound like a Dem operative.” pic.twitter.com/ZOZhf80VSy
— Lis Power (@LisPower1) September 27, 2018
The crew does not have high hopes for Kavanaugh.
Hume: “the ultimate mild mannered man”
Baier: “pretty robotic” in interview
Wallace: “In his own way, he's got to do a Clarence Thomas bit.” pic.twitter.com/OQTYiEPCZi— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
Judge Nap: Ford “is extremely credible,” Mitchell is actually “helping her credibility... the president cannot be happy with this.” Adds Kavanaugh must come out outraged, “only that will save him at this point” pic.twitter.com/6QMDbDl4Rz
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
Martha MacCallum says senators will have to think about whether something from this “long ago” should matter.
Hume replies that “that would be a more important factor if Kavanaugh had not emphatically” denied, because you can't “forgive him for lying about it.” pic.twitter.com/MffoENYIfs— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
MacCallum and Wallace suggest that Kavanaugh mimic Clarence Thomas by portraying himself as a victim, attacked for being a white man. pic.twitter.com/PzG2CUUFsX
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
Ford is done.
Wallace goes in on Mitchell, the counsel: Ford wasn't “grilled,” it was “more of a light sauteeing. It was pretty mild and gentle, and frankly seemed pointless in a lot of places... She really never shook her basic argument.” pic.twitter.com/1o0669dFxs— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
John Roberts at the White House: Because Ford came across as “very credible,” “Judge Kavanaugh has to probably have the interview of his life if he wants to get confirmed.” pic.twitter.com/X0lZBqyouS
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
Judge Nap: “I say at this point, Chris Wallace is right, we have to wait until all the testimony is in. But in the middle of the afternoon, it's a disaster for the White House.” pic.twitter.com/3BNnkLm236
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
On Fox just now:
Bret Baier: “Right now, does he have the votes to get through?”
Brit Hume: “No. I would think he does not.” pic.twitter.com/keH8BinC9J— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
Fox News' Chris Wallace at the first break in Kavanaugh's testimony: “It was exactly what a lot of people were hoping for, wondering, waiting for.” pic.twitter.com/pH75NQ08Od
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
Judge Nap: “This was a clear and almost ferocious defense of himself, which rivaled in its emotional impact the brilliantly executed defense of Justice Thomas in a similar situation.” pic.twitter.com/am610UkUYa
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
Fox loves the Graham speech.
MacCallum: “You have to say that the moment we watched unfold from Lindsey Graham is one of the most powerful moments we've seen on the Senate floor in this kind of hearing.” pic.twitter.com/lROqkvBsie— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
Brit Hume: “I think we are probably at the moment back to where we were before the hearing started.” pic.twitter.com/MvtCyVbAyg
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
After what I assume is the last break of the night, Hume says that Graham and Kavanaugh have given Senate Republicans enough reason to support him unless they are predisposed to oppose him. pic.twitter.com/uZgkXkn6Uc
— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) September 27, 2018
This post will be updated throughout the day.