Time names both Christine Blasey Ford and SCOTUS Justice Brett Kavanaugh to '100 Most Influential People' list — and some people aren't happy
Both Christine Blasey Ford and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh made Time's annual "100 Most Influential People" list, and the reactions on the internet are split.
What are the details?
On Wednesday, Time revealed its "100 Most Influential People," either empowering or enraging many people with its choice to feature both Kavanaugh and the woman who accused him of sexual misconduct.
Blasey Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct in an incident that she claimed occurred while the two were in high school in the '80s. She testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee during Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings, but ultimately, the committee found no evidence to support her allegations against Kavanaugh. The full Senate confirmedhim to the Supreme Court in October.
Presidential candidate and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) wrote Blasey Ford's guest contribution, which said:
Her story, spoken while holding back tears, shook Washington and the country. Her courage, in the face of those who wished to silence her, galvanized Americans. And her unfathomable sacrifice, out of a sense of civic duty, shined a spotlight on the way we treat survivors of sexual violence.
Christine Blasey Ford's ambition wasn't to become a household name or make it onto this list. She had a good life and a successful career—and risked everything to send a warning in a moment of grave consequence.
At her core, she is a teacher. And through her courage, she forced the country to reckon with an issue that has too often been ignored and kept in the dark.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) wrote Kavanaugh's guest contribution, which read:
When Brett Kavanaugh was named the President's choice to succeed Justice Anthony Kennedy, he was one of the most qualified Supreme Court nominees in modern history. He had a sterling academic record, impeccable legal credentials and a prolific record of thoughtful and impartial jurisprudence over more than a decade on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.
But when unhinged partisanship and special interests sought to distract the Senate from considering those qualifications, we saw other facets of Justice Kavanaugh's character shine forth as well. The country saw his resilience and commitment to public service. We saw his loyal devotion to family and friends. We saw his undeterred reverence for the law, for precedents and for our nation's highest traditions.
It is all these qualities combined that make Justice Kavanaugh exactly the kind of jurist whom the American people deserve on our Supreme Court. I look forward to many years of brilliant, distinguished public service.
Blasey Ford was featured under the magazine's "Icons" list, while Kavanaugh was featured under the magazine's "Leaders" list. Others featured on the "Icons" list include former first lady Michelle Obama and activist and filmmaker Spike Lee. Others featured on the "Leaders" list include people like freshman lawmaker Sen. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and President Donald Trump.
Edward Felsenthal, Time's editor-in-chief, described in a Wednesday article how the magazine chose its 100.
"We all have teachers, some we know intimately, others who inspire from the page or the screen," Felsenthal wrote. "This holds true even for the most accomplished people on earth. Our annual TIME 100 issue is filled with tributes from teachers to students; in many cases, the surprise is who is playing which role today."
"In many ways, these connections — forged across and among industries — are the heart of the TIME 100, which now, in its 16th year, is far more than a list. It is a community of hundreds of global leaders, many of whom support and challenge one another. And at a time when so many of our problems require cross-disciplinary solutions, they are also uniquely positioned to effect change."
What are people on social media saying about this?
Social media users are — naturally — starkly divided on the two entries on the list.
One social media user tweeted, "What was @TIME thinking? What were those meetings like? To put the courageous #ChristineBlaseyFord along Brett Kavanaugh and herald him as 'resilient'? Disgusting."
Another added, "I'm still furious over that charade of hearing—placing another credibly accused sex offender on the highest court was unconscionable. I will be voting with #ChristineBlaseyFord in mind for a very long time."
Yet another user wrote, "Instead of reading Mitch McConnell's sickening praise of Brett Kavanaugh, read @KamalaHarris's profile of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford."
"TIME magazine profiling Christine Blasey Ford alongside the man who sexually assaulted her is peak 'both sides' and I'm so tired," another user wrote.
Actress Jessica Chastain also weighed in on the list, writing, "You put her on the same list as the man she said assaulted her. So disappointing @TIME."
On the other side of the issue, one user tweeted, "If you are putting politically motivated false accusers on #TIME100, where is #JessieSmollett? #ChristineBlaseyFord."
Another user wrote, "Says it all when #TIME names #ChristineBlaseyForda false accuser, liar, political prostitute that fabricated a false allegation against an honorable man to score points for the corrupt #DemocraticParty agenda absent consideration of who her crimes victimized. She's the abuser!"
Mediate's John Ziegler added, "Remember when we were all constantly told that Christine Blasey Ford had absolutely nothing to gain by coming forward to make an extremely old, totally uncorroborated & highly politically charged allegation against Brett Kavanaugh? Yeah, that was total bullcrap..."
Another user added, "It's a shame that Brett Kavanaugh and Donald Trump need to share the honor on the #TIME100 list with that poser Christine Blasey Ford. But then again, who even reads Time?"
