Tucker Carlson: We’ve been overtaken by ‘mass hysteria’

Fox News host Tucker Carlson says opposition to President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is the result of “mass hysteria” and political tribalism.

In remarks on “The Five” Tuesday afternoon, Carlson ripped members of the news media and Senate Democrats for focusing on allegations of sexual assault and Kavanaugh’s alleged activities as a student involving alcohol.

{mosads}”This is one of those moments, I’ve seen a couple in 49 years, where mass hysteria overtakes us all,” Carlson told the co-hosts.

“I keep thinking as I watch these news reports done by a lot of people I know, these are decent smart people…this is going to be like waking up with that tattoo 15 years from now and you’re like ‘I don’t even understand what these tribal signs stand for,'” the Fox host continued.

Carlson went on to attack Senate Democrats on the Judiciary panel for what he called “ludicrous” inquisitions into Kavanaugh’s school yearbook rather than his numerous legal opinions.

Democrats questioned Kavanaugh on his drinking habits during last week’s hearing, after which some Yale classmates of the nominee came forward to rebuke Kavanaugh’s sworn testimony about his alcohol use.

“People are saying things and attaching significance to things that are ludicrous,” Carlson added. This is a guy who has written over 300 opinions as a federal judge, none of them are under debate. Instead we’re just talking about his yearbook page, and ice cubes, and totally unfounded allegations. It’s just embarrassing.”

Carlson’s statements come a day after one of Kavanaugh’s former classmates, Chad Ludington, told The New York Times that Trump’s Supreme Court nominee was often a “belligerent and aggressive” drunk when the two were students, explaining that Kavanaugh’s own testimony had convinced him to come forward.

“It is truth that is at stake, and I believe that the ability to speak the truth, even when it does not reflect well upon oneself, is a paramount quality we seek in our nation’s most powerful judges,” Ludington said, according to the Times.

Kavanaugh’s nomination was sent to the full Senate floor last Friday, where it is expected to be brought up for a vote within a week amid a restarted FBI investigation into the allegations against him.