'Clutching pearls': Critics savagely mock Brett Kavanaugh's sneaky steakhouse 'skitter'

08 July 2022

United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh was escorted out the back end of Morton's Steakhouse in Washington, DC on Wednesday night after pro-choice protesters learned of his location and demanded his removal from the bougie restaurant.

The demonstrators "got a tip that Justice Brett Kavanaugh was dining at Morton’s downtown D.C. location," according to the Politico Playbook's Friday morning rundown. "Protesters soon showed up out front, called the manager to tell him to kick Kavanaugh out."

Kavanaugh and his entourage were unperturbed and able to finish dining, Politico noted.

Given Kavanaugh's recent vote in the Supreme Court's majority ruling striking down Roe versus Wade, which eliminated the constitutional right to have an abortion, social media erupted in a fury of scorn and derision toward the right-wing jurist. And the statement that Morton's spokesperson provided only made people angrier.

"Honorable Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh and all of our other patrons at the restaurant were unduly harassed by unruly protestors while eating dinner at our Morton’s restaurant," the individual said. "Politics, regardless of your side or views, should not trample the freedom at play of the right to congregate and eat dinner. There is a time and place for everything. Disturbing the dinner of all of our customers was an act of selfishness and void of decency.”

Andy Campbell, a senior editor at The Huffington Post, brutally ridiculed Kavanaugh's shielding.

"Politico clutching pearls today after a handful of 'unruly' protesters 'targeted' Brett Kavanaugh by standing outside during his steak dinner. Just an absolutely terrifying night for Kavanaugh, who 'did not hear or see the protesters and ate a full meal but left before dessert,'" he tweeted.

"If only these protesters had the DECENCY to allow Brett Kavanaugh the FREEDOM to finish his lobster salad," Campbell continued, stressing that "we have so vilified regular old protesters in this country that our institutions will bend over backward to defend fascist street gangs as protected demonstrators, but fill their diapers as soon as a crusty white politician feels uncomfortable (or in this case, his comms person?)"

Comedian Jay Black highlighted the hypocrisy underlying the entire situation.

"I feel terribly for Justice Kavanaugh. He tried to make a choice, namely where his body should be and what should be inside of it," wrote Black. "Then a small group of people unrelated to him showed up and made it impossible for him to make that choice. …hey wait a minute!"

He then joked, "I wonder what PJ, Tobin & Squee did after Kavanaugh skittered out of Morton’s?"

Elie Mystal of The Nation joined the chorus of observers who pointed out that the Constitution does not contain the right to eat at a restaurant. This is the logic that the Court employed to reverse Roe.

“The right of white men to eat dinner in peace without being interrupted by mouthy women complaining about ‘politics’ or ‘who has access to their bodies’ was well established at the founding of this nation,' — Neil Gorsuch soon, joined by Kavanaugh," Mystal quipped.

Mystal followed that with a parody headline: “'I was a lifelong Democrat until protesters interrupted my chocolate mousse. Now they will reap the whirlwind.' — Brett Kavanaugh, Sunday New York Times."

Mystal also served food for thought.

"$5 bucks says Morton’s comped his meal but would make whatever death row inmate Kavanaugh orders to be executed next pay full price for their *last* meal," he said.

Author and activist Mona Eltaway asked plainly, "how about the right to control my uterus?"

Former Democratic Ohio State Senator Nina Turner tweeted that "your right to bodily autonomy is less important than Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s right to a peaceful dinner out.''

Meanwhile, journalist Judd Leggum dryly knocked Morton's for claiming that "protesters violated Kavanaugh's 'right to... eat dinner.'"

Kavanaugh's experience was ruined, suggested Molly Jong-Fast of The Atlantic, because he "had to leave before dessert."

Additional reactions are located here.

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