Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey did something on Wednesday that no one has been able to do in recent memory: he brought the US Senate to tears.
Politics
As the Senate continued its grilling of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to become the first Black female to sit on the US Supreme Court, Republicans remained in rare form — spouting tense and combative questions about her handling of child pornography cases, her views on teaching racist history in schools, her faith, and even questioning her definition of what it means to be a woman. Being the qualified jurist, the intelligent Harvard graduate, and the strong Black woman that she is, Judge Jackson took it all in stride and never blinked an eye. However, Sen. Cory Booker used his time to break through the terse questioning and acknowledged the weight of this emotional and historic moment, moving Judge Jackson and the entire room to tears.
“You faced insults here that were shocking to me,” Sen. Booker said while looking directly at the judge. “Nobody’s taking this away from me,” he continued, choking up as he spoke. Republicans are “gonna accuse you of this and that. But don’t worry, my sister. Don’t worry. God has got you. And how do I know that? Because you’re here, and I know what it’s taken for you to sit in that seat.”
It was at that moment that Judge Jackson, who had been sitting silently with her hands clasped, unlocked her fingers to grab a tissue and wipe away tears streaming down her cheeks.
However, Sen. Cory Booker was not done and continued with remarks meant to ground Jackson’s elevation to the Supreme Court in a significance beyond divisive questions. Interestingly, each Republican in the room sat in total silence and gave him their undivided attention.
“I want to tell you — when I look at you, this is why I get emotional,” Sen. Booker said. “I’m sorry [but] you’re a person that is so much more than your race and gender. You’re a Christian. You’re a mom. It’s hard for me not to look at you and not see my mom. I see my ancestors and yours.”
Sen. Booker then said Judge Jackson’s accomplishments reminded him of a quote from the late actress/dancer Ginger Rogers, who proclaimed: “I did everything Fred Astaire did, except backward and in high heels.”
He added: “You have earned this spot. You are worthy. You are a great American.”
Aside from a few sniffles, the room was frozen in silence.
Next, Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California asked Judge Jackson how it felt to be such an inspiration to young Americans — particularly other Black and female Americans.
Judge Jackson choked up as she told the story of walking around campus during her first days at Harvard University and feeling as if she didn’t belong. She said she walked past another Black woman who she did not know who seemed to understand what she was feeling.
“Persevere,” she said the woman told her.
“I hope to inspire people to try to follow this path, because I love this country, because I love the law, because I think it is important that we all invest in our future,” Judge Jackson said. “And the young people are the future.”
During the Senate committee recess, a line of people, including Judge Jackson’s father, approached Sen. Cory Booker to hug him.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
OK WASSUP! discusses Politics:
Sen. Cory Booker brings Senate to tears.
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey did something on Wednesday that no one has been able to do in recent memory: he brought the US Senate to tears. […]- DJ
Yes he did! And had me crying too. In fact, I began to see the man in a whole new light as I watched him pay homage to Judge Jackson. His words were SO moving and SO true.
Yes, she is worthy! And yes, God’s got her back!