PAST PERFORMANCE IS NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE RESULTS: “My gut says that what Reade alleges did not happen. My head instructs that it is within the realm of possibility…”

“…and fairness requires acknowledging that. And there is another point to bear in mind: Double standards work in both directions. Those who disbelieved and diminished Christine Blasey Ford face the challenge of explaining why they seem so much more eager to credit Tara Reade’s account.”

Writes Ruth Marcus in “Assessing Tara Reade’s allegations” (WaPo). Marcus wrote a book about Christine Blasey Ford and concluded that she was telling the truth. This column is (or purports to be) Marcus’s effort to not be a hypocrite.

Outrage over misbehavior only by those with whom we have ideological differences is not righteous — it is hypocritical. Skepticism about accusations only when they are made against someone with whom we are ideologically aligned is not high-minded — it is intellectually dishonest.

And yet. Reflexive acceptance of any and all allegations of sexual misconduct against any man is not staunch feminism — it is dangerous credulity that risks doing terrible injustice to the accused. #BelieveAllWomen was a dumb hashtag and a dumber approach to inevitably complex, fact-bound situations.

Flashback: WaPo Concealed Kavanaugh Party Claim From Public After Coordinating With Accuser: Strassel.