Critics on Twitter are piling on Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) over her past strident defense of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh against what she seemed to characterize as a preposterous idea that he would overturn or undermine Roe v. Wade.
Now the conservatives on the high court have voted 5-4 to not take any immediate action to block the most restrictive and intimidating anti-abortion law in the nation, which just went into effect in Texas.
The new law criminalizes all abortions — even in cases of rape or incest — after six weeks of pregnancy, before many individuals would know they’re pregnant. In effect, the law bans abortions for most women who can’t afford to travel to another state have access to the procedure elsewhere.
“Remember when Susan Collins said she was convinced that Brett Kavanaugh believed a woman’s right to choose was ‘settled law?’” asked horror author Stephen King on Twitter on Thursday. “She was wrong. Women in Texas must pay the price for her gullibility.”
Remember when Susan Collins said she was convinced that Brett Kavanaugh believed a woman’s right to choose was “settled law?” She was wrong. Women in Texas must pay the price for her gullibility. — Stephen King (@StephenKing) September 2, 2021
Collins — who claims she supports reproductive freedom for women — said three years ago, after a face-to-face meeting with the then-Supreme Court nominee, that Kavanaugh had absolutely assured her he considered Roe v. Wade “settled law.”
She later boasted on the House floor of his record of “judicial independence” and backed his rise to the Supreme Court in an extremely tight 50-48 Senate confirmation vote.
Collins almost seemed to find it amusing that women would be concerned about threats to their reproductive rights as more conservative justices like Kavanaugh — who was accused in testimony at his 2018 confirmation hearings of sexual assault during high school — joined the Supreme Court.
Now that Brett Kavanaugh just voted to virtually end Roe v. Wade, here are all of the times that Susan Collins said Brett Kavanaugh won’t overturn Roe v. Wade. pic.twitter.com/ShHiEn7Hcm — No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) September 2, 2021
Then on Thursday, Collins issued a statement about how upset she was about the Texas law — and how disappointed she was in the Supreme Court’s decision not to take any immediate action, essentially supporting a law that on its face appears blatantly unconstitutional.
“The Texas law is extreme and harmful,” she said in a statement. “I oppose the Court’s decision to allow the law to remain in effect for now while ... underlying constitutional and procedural questions are litigated.”
Now Collins’s actions “have led us to the point where our bodily autonomy and foundational rights are at risk, and where pregnant Texans risk a gun-toting bounty hunter coming after them and their families for having an abortion,” Marie Follayttar, director and co-founder of Mainers for Accountable Leadership, told The Washington Post.
Under the Texas law, anti-abortion vigilantes can sue doctors, nurses, even friends who drive someone to an appointment for “aiding or abetting” abortion care — and be rewarded with at least $10,000 if they win their case.
“I told you so” concerning Kavanaugh was cold comfort to Collins’s critics.
Susan Collins was wrong about Kavanaugh and Gorsuch. She sold women out, and Maine voters should never forget that. — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) September 2, 2021
Susan Collins had concerns. Now, she has serious questions. She may soon develop “real doubts” about the continued viability of Roe v. Wade and women’s right to choose. — SomethingIsFischy 🧦👈🏼 (@edfischman) September 2, 2021
what an appalling insult to our intelligence — Jennifer 'pro-voting' Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) September 2, 2021
"I am shocked and appalled at the inevitable consequences of my actions" — Ezra Levin (@ezralevin) September 2, 2021
I'm sure the SCOTUS has learned its lesson after her deep disappointment. https://t.co/imWnfnMwbM — Craig Gary “CA VOTE NO ON RECALL” Phillips (@craigary) September 2, 2021
whoopsie doodle I did a boo boo and confirmed some arch conservatives to lifetime seats — rutherford b. gayes ♀️ (@dommedeluise) September 2, 2021
She said that trump was “chastened by impeachment”.
That Kavanaugh would “lessen divisions in the Supreme Court”.
She said that Roe was “settled law”.
So Susan Collins can take her “disappointment” and shove it. — Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) September 3, 2021
The legal reasoning and political posturing around the Texas abortion law is confounding. 70% of Americans oppose overturning Roe v. Wade. Less than 3 in 10 want the half century precedent reversed. That number has been stuck in the 20s for decades. https://t.co/wqHw0wox5F — Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) September 2, 2021
Hey, voters in Maine: Thanks for believing Collins' bullshit. Signed, #AmericanTaliban — Jonathan Greenberg (@JournalistJG) September 2, 2021
Susan Collins is concerned! Thank God for that!
Go get them, Mrs Collins! pic.twitter.com/swRFnk8Xlx — Sole survivor of a group that went full MAGA/Q! (@Lint4P) September 2, 2021
llahlahkje on September 3rd, 2021 at 14:39 UTC »
She lied. She's a liar.
She lied about only staying in office for 2 terms.
She lied about her thinking Trump learned her lesson.
She is every bit as extreme as every other member of the GOP, she just couches her extremity in the guise of moderateness.
brig0U812 on September 3rd, 2021 at 14:29 UTC »
Will Maine ever actively remove that calcified idiot from government? nah
Thewallmachine on September 3rd, 2021 at 14:22 UTC »
I'm sure she's learned a lesson.