While watching her political support crumble, Sen. Susan Collins plunged a fresh knife into the backs of American women.

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Transcript via CNN’s State Of The Union:

BASH: I want to ask you — and you know this because you’re witnessing this happening at your home, at your offices, in Washington and in Maine — women saying that you betrayed women all across the country.

Planned Parenthood gave you an award last November for your work on protecting reproductive rights.

Here’s what their political arm had to say about your vote: “This isn’t just another vote. Senator Collins has made it clear that she can no longer call herself a woman’s rights champion. She has sided with those who disbelieve, disrespect and even mock survivors. We deserve better. Women won’t forget.”

COLLINS: Well, first of all, I had never disregarded, disrespected or mocked survivors. That is just plain untrue.

And I would note that Planned Parenthood opposed three pro-choice justices just because they were nominated by Republican presidents, David Souter, Sandra Day O’Connor and Justice Kennedy. They said the same thing: Women will die.

BASH: Yes.

COLLINS: And this is just outrageous.

I have worked to preserve funding for Planned Parenthood over and over again, and I’m going to continue to do so.

BASH: And I understand that you’re upset — I can see that — about Planned Parenthood.

But just generally to women who are saying this, who have no connection to Planned Parenthood, that feel that you betrayed them, what do you say to them?

COLLINS: I have met with so many groups of survivors.

I’ve talked to friends that, with one exception who confided in me years ago, I had no idea that they have been sexually assaulted. So, I have learned how pervasive this terrible problem is in our society.

And, clearly, we need to step up and do something about it, and every survivor deserves to be heard and respected.

This is a case where there is an incident that happened allegedly 36 years ago where there is no corroborating evidence. And it is not fair to Brett Kavanaugh for this to be disqualifying, in the absence of evidence. But that does mean that I don’t believe that Dr. Ford was not a victim of sexual assault. I think she is a survivor.

Susan Collins Has Got To Go

Sen. Collins has completely lost touch with the will of the people that she is supposed to be representing. While trying to defend her vote, Collins launched another attack on sexual assault survivors. By the Collins threshold of “corroborating evidence,” Catholic priests are innocent of abusing children. Sen. Collins doesn’t get that she is attacking and disbelieving survivors.
The moderate mask has been ripped off, and Sen. Susan Collins has got to go.

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Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association