Peck as Atticus Finch
Tuesday
As someone who applies literature to politics on a regular basis, I pay attention when someone famous does so in a particularly bad way. Such was the case with Texas senator John Cornyn, who regards the GOP as Atticus Finch defending Tom Robinson-like Brett Kavanaugh:
Some commentators have called this our Atticus Finch moment, recalling the famous novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. We all remember that Atticus Finch was a lawyer who did not believe that a mere accusation was synonymous with guilt. He represented an unpopular person who many people presumed was guilty of a heinous crime because of his race and his race alone. We could learn from Atticus Finch now, during this time when there has been such a vicious and unrelenting attack on the integrity and good name of this nominee.
First, let’s celebrate that people turn to literature in pressure situations. On the other hand, there’s something really wrong with a Texas Republican senator appropriating the suffering of African Americans to defend a justice who has lived a life of privilege. Given that, based on his conservative credentials, Kavanaugh will probably vote to further undermine minority voting protections, the comment rubs more salt in the wounds of those upset by conservative court packing.
Were I to apply Harper Lee’s novel, it would be to point out a dramatic contrast, not a similarity: Tom Robinson is victimized by a sham trial while Kavanaugh was exonerated by a sham investigation. That Tom is innocent is obvious to any neutral observer whereas Kavanaugh’s innocence is by no means clear. In fact, The White House ordered the FBI to ignore many of those willing to testify that Kavanaugh did have drinking issues at the time he was alleged to have assaulted women.
If we want to find comparisons, how about between GOP senators and Tom’s all-white jury. Republicans chose to disbelieve Christine Ford, who has more in common with Tom than Kavanaugh. Of course, according to Cornyn’s analogy, Ford would be Mayella Ewell, bringing false testimony against an innocent man because–well, the Republicans are unclear as to why.
But okay, I’ll go along with the Atticus Finch comparison—but only if I can add Go Set a Watchman to the discussion. It becomes clear, from Mockingbird’s sequel, that Finch defends Tom, not out of a belief in racial equality, but in order to maintain a system where people like him remain in charge. Tom knows his place and so is no threat to Atticus’s view of the world. If harmony is to prevail in this society, “white trash” like the Ewells can’t be allowed to victimize docile blacks.
Watchman shows that, once African Americans start demanding their rights, Atticus panics and joins the White Citizens Council, an upper class version of the KKK. He’s fine when blacks stand up to honor him (even though he’s just lost the case). He’s less fine when he’s no longer regarded as a benevolent patriarch.
Congressmen (emphasis on men) were willing to let the little lady have her say as long as she didn’t pose a threat. Once Dr. Ford came across as credible and threatened to derail the nomination, however, they threw temper tantrums. In the end, they prevailed and Ford was exiled to her version of Robinson’s prison. The many death threats she is receiving prevent her from returning home.
Meanwhile Scout has grown up and she no longer worships her dad. In fact, she’s mad as hell, especially when Sen. Orrin Hatch tells her to grow up and Sen. Mitch McConnell calls her a clown. She’s learning what it’s like to be sidelined and is making common cause with Calpurnia. History hangs in the balance.
Further thought – It didn’t require a great prognosticator to call this one, but the fact that the GOP is referring to protesting women as “an angry mob” shows once again how well Euripides understood the male psyche. Last week’s post about Republicans’ Pentheus-like hysteria can be found here.