Just as Texans had their “Remember the Alamo!”, Republicans have long used “Remember Robert Bork!” as a rallying cry to remind the faithful on how poorly liberals treat conservatives. Bork’s ouster as a Supreme Court nominee was long ago however, his value as a mythological symbol of conservative persecution has faded. It’s time for a new hero on the right to symbolize those unfairly martyred for the cause. Brett Kavanaugh presents this opportunity.
Robert Bork, a controversial figure at the center the Watergate scandal, was nominated by Ronald Reagan in 1987 to sit on the Suprem Court. His confirmation was defeated 58-42 by Democratic Majority in he Senate.
Bork is best remembered for his firing of Special Procescutor Archibald Cox, the lead investigator in charge of the possible involvement of President Richard Nixon in the Watergate break-in. In what has become to be known as the “Saturday Night Massacre” on October 20,1973, Solicitor General Bork was next in line to dismiss Cox following the resignation of the sitting Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General. He didn’t demure from the task and pulled the trigger, firing Cox.
Vilified by Democrats for his opportunistic cowardice and raised up as a hero by some Republicans, Bork was later appointed by Reagan to the Federal Bench then elevated to be the nominee to the Supreme Court. Reagan understood that his confirmation would be difficult yet he received considerable pressure from the conservative base to place an far right originalist justice on the court. Bork was seen as part of remedy to the liberal courts of Marshall and Warren. He was soundly defeated following a contentious confirmation process. He was mythologized in the aftermath of the failed appointment and became a fallen hero for the conservative cause.
The defeat of his nomination so incensed millions of Republicans that he was used to rally their base for decades. His name was turned in to a verb and to this day the mistreatment of a conservative judge in nomination is referred to as being “Borked”. That term has come up frequently surrounding the confirmation process of Judge Brett Kavanaugh.
Republicans see parallels between Bork and Kavanagh, not only in terms of his treatment but in his potential political value should the nomination fail. A new generation of voters to be rallied around a conservative champion was sacrificed on the alter of liberalism. A revived anger serves the Republicans right now as we approach to the 2018 midterm elections with them trailing Democrats badly.. They could also benefit long term given the example of Robert Bork, one that can possibly be mined for the next 30 years. A mythology to be built around a man wrongly accused of heinous acts and robbed of his rightful place on the Supreme Court. The strategy is already in play.