. >> reporter: a softball question that now seems weirdly on point, ap toic he'll likely face again during >> do you wear spo tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you god. >> i do. >> reporter: for many this brings back echoes of the anita hill hearings claiming the judge harassed her when they worked together in the 1980s. thomas denies the claimed and he went on to be confirmed. >> the dismissive and even mocking tone that a lot of committee members took towards anita hill was one of the things most people remembered about those hearings. >> are you a scorned woman? >> no. >> do you have a militant attitude relevant to the area of civil rights? >> no, i don't have a militant attitude. >> i think as much as the witnesses, everyone will be watching, i'll certainly be watching, both the questions and the demeanor of the members of the committee. >> right now the biggest problem republicans have in holding on to the congress is among women. the president's approval ratings are terrible among women, and suburban women are turning off the republican party. the rep