Feminism for many decades presented a false choice to women between career and family. Yet the pending ascension of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court is evidence that women do not have to decide between a career and a family. We simply must decide to pursue both.
In her Supreme Court hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, we viewed the testimony of a compassionate, deeply religious, accomplished mother of young children speak confidently about her legal career. Barrett respects the Constitution and fully understands that her role as a judge is to interpret laws rather than make it for the rest of the nation.
She stated, “Judges cannot wake up one day and say, ‘I have an agenda. I like guns. I hate guns. Or I like abortion. I hate abortion,’ and walk in like a royal queen and impose their will on the world.” Barrett will undoubtedly respect our separation of powers and leave the legislating for Congress. This gives me hope for women and the future of our country.
Unfortunately, many on the Senate Judiciary Committee revealed what all conservatives have known for years that the left views the Supreme Court as an institution that makes policy. Kamala Harris, the running mate of Joe Biden, spent most of her time talking about health insurance and climate change hoping to secure some specific policy commitment.
It is this misunderstanding of the judiciary that makes the confirmation of Barrett all the more important to conservatives. Her success would bring about a fundamental shift to the Supreme Court by moving it away from partisan policy and back to its purpose of interpreting laws.
The hearing also showed another side of the left as Barrett had to bear additional scrutiny because of her commitment for life and Christianity. Before she even had the opportunity to testify, Newsweek was forced to retract false claims about her faith, which painted her as extreme, while the Washington Post had also portrayed her beliefs unfairly.
In the confirmation hearing for Barrett three years ago for the appellate court, Dianne Feinstein proclaimed, “The dogma lives loudly within you,” instituting an unconstitutional and deeply offensive religious test on the nominee. Thankfully, women all across America are publicly supporting Barrett and will turn out on Election Day to refute liberal stories. Women believe we should be able to live out our personal and professional lives without numerous political smears or insulting caricatures.
A Morning Consult survey shows support for the judge rose over 10 points since her nomination, and a plurality of respondents believe she should be confirmed before Election Day. The grassroots support for Barrett is based on the desire to have an originalist with the Supreme Court.
But the story for conservative women is all the more compelling. Women like myself view the judge as our role model, and we are willing to fight to ensure attacks from the left do not derail her confirmation.
Jessica Anderson is the executive director of Heritage Action for America.