Judge Amy Coney Barrett did well on Tuesday, her second day in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Republicans focused on her qualifications. Democrats focused on ancillary issues, President Trump, and nitpicked her past language.

Before we continue, two standout moments: First, when Republican Senator Cornyn of Texas asked Barrett if she was using notes, her answers were so detailed, she held up her notepad. There was nothing on it. Ka-Ching!

Second, idiot Democrat Senator Hirono of Hawaii asked her if she had ever sexually assaulted anyone. No, really. Hirono did that. I mean, what the ****? Back to the story…

Some Democrats actually asked Barrett no questions, preferring to concentrate on loony conspiracy theories.

Other senators also strayed far afield. One noted Barrett once used the term “sexual preference” as opposed to sexual orientation. Senator Mazie Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii, called it a “offensive and outdated term.”

Judge Barrett responded, “I didn’t mean and would never mean to use a term that would cause any offense in the LGBTQ community. So if I did, I greatly apologize for that…I fully respect the rights of the LGBT community.”

When asked about spousal benefits for gay couples she said that “the question of what are the implications of that for benefits would be something that would come up before a court later. I can’t opine on how cases would be resolved.”

An attorney who worked with Judge Barrett on the U.S. Court of Appeals said he has never seen her show any bias, “I happen to be gay and I told her that during the clerkship,” said Matthew Berry. “She treated me as she would treat anyone. She never treated me any differently, contrary to some stereotypes about some people who are more socially conservative.”

Barrett was asked about an election controversy, “That seems to me to be pulling in a little into this question of whether the president has said he would not peacefully leave office. To the extent that this is a political controversy right now, as a judge I want to stay out of it…One of the beauties of America from the beginning of the republic is that we have had peaceful transfers of power.”

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Judge Barrett responded to another question on the upcoming election. “In keeping with my obligation not to give hints, previews or forecasts of how I would resolve the case, that’s not one that I can answer.”

Judge Barrett responded to questions on her personal views before she was on the bench and if she had signed a prolife petition, “I did. That was almost 15 years ago. At the back of church, there was a table set up for people on their way out of mass to sign a statement, you know, validating their commitment to the position of the Catholic Church on life issues. The ad that was next to it…The statement I signed, it was, you know, affirming the protection of life from conception to natural death.”

Senator Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, asked her why she would have signed the statement. “That is the position of the Catholic Church, you know, on abortion. I feel like I should emphasize here, as I emphasized to others asking me the question, that I do see as distinct my personal moral religious views and my task of applying the law as a judge…So, what I would like to say about that is, I signed that almost 15 years ago in my personal capacity when I was still a private citizen, and now I’m a public official. And so while I was free to express my private views, at that time, I don’t feel like it is appropriate for me anymore because of the canons of conduct, to express an affirmative view, at this point in time.”

She replied to Democrats who said she would target Obamacare for destruction, “I’m not here on a mission to destroy the Affordable Care Act. I’m just here to apply the law and adhere to the rule of law.”

Back to the election. Barrett said, “I certainly hope all members of the committee have more confidence in my integrity than to think I would allow myself to be used as a pawn to decide this election.”

On the appearance of conservative bias, she said: “What I will commit to every member of this committee, to the rest of the senate and to the American people is that I will consider all factors that are relevant to that question. … And so I promise you that if I were confirmed, and if an election dispute arises, you know, both of which are ifs, that I would very seriously undertake that process and I would consider every relevant factor.” Score another successful day for Judge Amy Coney Barrett.