The subhead to a story (Sept. 13) in the Sun Journal about abusive phone calls to Sen. Susan Collins’ office states that “profanity and anger mark Kavanaugh vote messages.” Later in the story, Collins describes a criminally threatening call that her staff plans to turn over to the police.

Although the person behind the call is unknown, and that person’s motivation could be anything from mental disturbance to right-wing trolling, the message is clear — those people who call her office asking her to vote against confirming Judge Brett Kavanaugh are characterized as full of “vitriol” — even though the vast majority of the callers are respectful.

Sen. Collins’ accusations of “bribery” and “quid pro quo,” directed at a crowd-funding effort to prevent Kavanaugh’s confirmation, are certainly ironic. The lobbyists who parade through congressional offices may not use any magic words, but their campaign contributions are not given without an expectation of access or more.

Judge Kavanaugh, who advertised his expansive views of executive power in speeches that Donald Trump was surely well aware of and evaded questions on those views in his confirmation hearing, had his own quid pro quo in mind, again without the magic words.

The 40,000 small-dollar donors who want representation from a senator who votes according to her stated principles and to protect the interests of Maine citizens are not “bribing” Sen. Collins.

It’s unfortunate that several disturbed callers have given Collins a way to discredit a groundswell of opposition to a Supreme Court nominee with a troubling record.

Renee Cote, Auburn