Social media posters had a field day as the two Republicans seated behind the Maine senator -- Shelley Moore Capito, of West Virginia and Cindy Hyde-Smith, of Mississippi -- tried to stay alert during the speech. Both senators have expressed their support for Kavanaugh.
"Who are these two ladies behind Collins," one Twitter user wrote. "They both look bored to tears."
The looks on the women sitting behind Collins.
— Maureen C. Berry (@MaureenCBerry) October 5, 2018
We are all Shelley Moore Capito right now pic.twitter.com/miCQexhmCQ
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) October 5, 2018
Some posters believed that placing the two women behind Collins was a symbolic gesture orchestrated by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Sitting behind Susan Collins as she gives her Kavanaugh decision speech are two other Republican female senators: Shelley Moore Capito and Cindy Hyde-Smith. This was NOT an accident, I suspect. Optics. pic.twitter.com/PpIshhGRX0
— Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) October 5, 2018
There is perhaps some credence to the notion that leaving this decision to a respected woman was a well-thought out political calculus. If Collins was, in fact, always a "yes," then this image (with 2 other women in the background) is the highest form of GOP damage control. https://t.co/25oVAOO9wW
— Brian Taff (@briantaff6abc) October 5, 2018
Others speculated that Collins’ decision was already telegraphed, because it would be unlikely for her colleagues to sit behind her if she was going to oppose Kavanaugh.
Are Shelly Moore Capito and Cindy Hyde-Smith really behind Collins for a no vote?
— Domenico Montanaro (@DomenicoNPR) October 5, 2018
Kavanaugh’s nomination has grown into a contentious battle since Christine Blasey Ford alleged that the judge sexually assaulted her during the 1980s when both attended high school in Maryland. Ford’s testimony led to a delay in the confirmation hearings.
“We live in a time of such great disunity, as the bitter fight over this nomination — both in the Senate and among the public — demonstrates,” Collins said Friday. “It is a case of people bearing extreme ill will towards those who disagree with them.”
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