Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh gives his opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Michael Reynolds/Pool Image via AP)

The day-long Thursday hearing for Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh was utterly exhausting, and we were just the ones in the audience.

When all the questions and answers were over, the conclusions reached by many did not differ from their pre-hearing opinions. Those in Dr. Ford’s corner found her credible. Those in Judge Kavanaugh’s corner found him absolutely believable, too. Since the testimonies conflicted with one another, all that was left to review was the evidence on hand.

That is where Dr. Ford’s assertions fall apart.

Individuals named by the accuser as having been at/aware of the incident, PJ Smyth, Mark Judge, and Leland Keyser, have all submitted sworn statements to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Each of them cannot recall the alleged party. In addition, Ms. Keyser also does not know Brett Kavanaugh. Add to that Christine Ford’s gaps in memory, inaccuracies, and even the accused’s personal calendar from 1982, complete with diary-like notes and no mention of the gathering in question, and the allegations simply cannot stand on their own.

It is for these reasons that I, and many others, believe Judge Kavanaugh to be innocent in the face of the claims. Do I believe that Dr. Ford has suffered non-consensual, sexual trauma in her life? Yes, and it is heartbreaking. However, I don’t believe that Kavanaugh is in any way responsible for it.

Throughout the hearing, emotions were high. This was expected from both participants. But many in the media, as well as left-leaning onlookers, excoriated the accused for daring to make his feelings known.

“How dare he?” they wondered.

Striking contrast between Kavanaugh's consistently respectful and polite attitude toward Democratic senators at his initial hearing and the open disdain he's showing them today.

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) September 27, 2018

Quite the contrast to see how Ford, who says she was sexually assaulted, was calm, composed, polite, accommodating, almost apologetic. And Kavanaugh, the alleged perpetrator, came out fiery, angry, indignant. A woman could never get away with such a display of anger.

— Nisha Chittal (@NishaChittal) September 27, 2018

This is white privilege and anger on trial. Brett Kavanaugh is done. He shouldn’t even be a federal judge. #KavanaughHearings

— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) September 27, 2018

Republicans who confirm Kavanaugh aren't just ok with alleged sexual assault. They're ok with a strong partisan who has anger issues, shows blatant disrespect, lies regularly, believes he is entitled, and clearly does not have the temperament to serve as a Supreme Court Justice.

— JackiSchechner (@JackiSchechner) September 28, 2018

Dr. Ford was calm and composed throughout a very tough testimony, just as Feinstein, Harris, Hirono and Klobuchar were during questioning, even in the face of anger and dismissiveness.

Contrast that with the derision and rage on display from Kavanaugh, Graham, Hatch and others.

— Christina Reynolds (@creynoldsnc) September 27, 2018

.@TerryMoran on Brett Kavanaugh: "I think we just saw a man struggling to keep himself from disintegrating, from falling apart on national TV. He warred with anger, unjudicious raw anger and then wept" https://t.co/BRseyAR0CG #KavanaughHearings pic.twitter.com/ELyPiGje5C

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) September 27, 2018

Yes, how dare he.

Brett Kavanaugh is a man who has been accused of sexual assault, exposing himself, and the orchestration of and participation in gang rape. He’s served admirably for twelve years on the federal bench. He’s undergone six FBI background investigations. He is blessed with plenty of friends, male and female, from all decades, who can vouch for his character. His loving family has been harassed, ridiculed, and threatened. Why wouldn’t he be the least bit bothered by the state of things?!

It’s truly remarkable that an individual accused of being monstrous and lacking humanity is mocked for merely possessing it.

You see, Brett Kavanaugh is just supposed to grin and bear the onslaught. As an esteemed member of The Patriarchy, his mere existence is a threat to the female way of life, whether he’s a predator or not. His gender and background bestow a privilege that automatically reduces his worth in the eyes of the opposition. He is not equal, he’s the enemy, and he has been from day one. His charmed position means he should sit silently by while women grieve. He should take one “for the team” since he represents those who have been dominating women for centuries.

But in his opening statement on Thursday afternoon, Brett Kavanaugh didn’t cower. He didn’t back down from the assaults on his character. In fact, he fought loudly, and proudly, as a man who has been egregiously wronged by politicians who are so concerned with the “right” to kill an unborn child that they don’t care who or what they have to demolish along the way.

This confirmation process has become a national disgrace. The Constitution gives the Senate an important role in the confirmation process, but you have replaced advise and consent with search and destroy.

There has been a frenzy on the left to come up with something, anything, to block my confirmation.

I understand the passions of the moment, but I would say to those senators, your words have meaning. Millions of Americans listened carefully to you. Given comments like those, is it any surprise that people have been willing to do anything, to make any physical threat against my family, to send any violent email to my wife, to make any kind of allegation against me and against my friends, to blow me up and take me down?

You sowed the wind for decades to come. I fear that the whole country will reap the whirlwind.

…when it looked like I might actually get confirmed, a new tactic was needed. Some of you were lying in wait and had it ready. When it was needed, this allegation was unleashed and publicly deployed over Dr. Ford’s wishes. And then as no doubt was expected, if not planned, came a long series of last-minute smears designed to scare me and drive me out of the process before any hearing occurred. Crazy stuff. Gangs, illegitimate children, fights on boats on Rhode Island, all nonsense, reported breathlessly and often uncritically by the media.

As a female in this #MeToo era, I’m not supposed to cheer on such strength and determination, but I gladly did.

I applaud Judge Kavanaugh’s emotional, fiery tone because as my human equal, he has every right to be heard when others accuse him of wrongdoing. That other, lesser men have stolen the innocence and safety of millions of females through sexual domination does not make him their accomplice. He is allowed to be angry at injustice whether directed at women or at himself.

The only way to combat the predatory behavior that we see in the entertainment industry, religious institutions, schools, and our own communities is to join with good men, of which there are plenty. We do not make a safer, more respectful society by looking at men and disallowing their heartfelt and pained response to uncorroborated allegations of sexual misconduct. If so, we’re doing nothing more than rejecting an ally.

I am glad that a privileged poster boy got mad on the national stage in front of those who have an agenda. He defied their poisoned narrative and most importantly, the evidence is on his side.

Brett Kavanaugh’s display of raw humanity reminds us of something we’ve forgotten: men are people, too.

Kimberly Ross is a senior contributor at RedState and a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook.