crooksandliars--2020-09-29--People Still Like The Postal Service—And See Through Trump's Attacks On It

Americans are definitely not on board with Donald Trump and Louis DeJoy ’ s sabotage campaign against the U.S .
Postal Service ( USPS ) , a new poll finds .
The big public rationale for installing DeJoy as postmaster general was that he was an experienced businessman who would introduce business-style efficiencies to the Postal Service .
But 66 % of people told the Washington Post-University of Maryland poll that the Postal Service “ should be run like a public service , even if that costs the government money , ” while just 32 % said : “ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if that limits the services it provides.
” The Postal Service still gets high marks , with 72 % giving it a positive rating for the job it does and 67 % saying they were confident it would deliver mail-in ballots “ in a timely manner.
” And people are noticing Trump ’ s campaign against vote-by-mail and the USPS : 53 % said they were very or somewhat concerned “ that President Trump will try to prevent eligible voters from casting ballots in this fall ’ s presidential election , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticisms of mail-in voting were “ mainly trying to stop people from voting against him.
” Just over half of people polled said their mail is taking longer to arrive in recent months—i.e.
, since DeJoy took over—and 83 % said the USPS should continue to prioritize delivering ballots over other types of mail .
As you ’ d expect , there was a partisan split in answers to many of the questions about the Postal Service and voting , but not on that last point .
And even 49 % of Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a public service , not like a business .
The Trump-DeJoy attacks on the USPS are not what Americans want .
They ’ re what Trump thinks he needs to “ win , ” or at least to muddy the waters about his loss in November .
Now we need to make sure that voters take it to the next step and see and understand what Trump is doing when the direct sabotage isn ’ t enough and he moves on to trying to delegitimize or overturn election results .

Americans are definitely not on board with Donald Trump and Louis DeJoy’s sabotage campaign against the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), a new poll finds. The big public rationale for installing DeJoy as postmaster general was that he was an experienced businessman who would introduce business-style efficiencies to the Postal Service. But 66% of people told the Washington Post-University of Maryland poll that the Postal Service “should be run like a public service, even if that costs the government money,” while just 32% said: “It should be run like a business, even if that limits the services it provides.”
The Postal Service still gets high marks, with 72% giving it a positive rating for the job it does and 67% saying they were confident it would deliver mail-in ballots “in a timely manner.” And people are noticing Trump’s campaign against vote-by-mail and the USPS: 53% said they were very or somewhat concerned “that President Trump will try to prevent eligible voters from casting ballots in this fall’s presidential election,” and 57% said Trump’s criticisms of mail-in voting were “mainly trying to stop people from voting against him.”
Just over half of people polled said their mail is taking longer to arrive in recent months—i.e., since DeJoy took over—and 83% said the USPS should continue to prioritize delivering ballots over other types of mail. As you’d expect, there was a partisan split in answers to many of the questions about the Postal Service and voting, but not on that last point. And even 49% of Republicans said the Postal Service should be run as a public service, not like a business.
The Trump-DeJoy attacks on the USPS are not what Americans want. They’re what Trump thinks he needs to “win,” or at least to muddy the waters about his loss in November. Now we need to make sure that voters take it to the next step and see and understand what Trump is doing when the direct sabotage isn’t enough and he moves on to trying to delegitimize or overturn election results.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-09-29--Rudy Giuliani Goes Off The Rails On Fox News To Spread Dementia Lies

On Fox and Friends this morning , Rudy Giuliani was almost foaming at the mouth .
Sad !
Rudy was there to call into question Joe Biden 's mental acuity while claiming Biden 's on drugs .
Projection much ?
Rudy had no proof for any of his charges , of course , and the three Fox News hosts stared at their laps , visibly embarrassed , while Rudy ranted .
There are despicable people that defend Donald Trump ... and then there 's Rudy Giuliani .
Rudy is the one true hatchet man of the Trump cult .
Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , he 's doing now -- spreading unconscionable lies about a Democrat 's medical conditions during an election campaign .
Bug-eyed Giuliani said , `` Look , the man has dementia .
There is no doubt about it , '' he cackled .
Rudy continued , `` I have talked to doctors .
I have them look at 100 different tapings of his .
Five years ago and today.
” Co-host Steve Doocy interrupted with “ The Biden people say he is fine.
” Listen you asshole , everybody has seen Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the many debates and his many speeches and townhalls up until today , and there is nothing wrong .
Doocy , if he was an honest person .
would have said as much instead of throwing out a generality .
Giuliani then began to do a disgusting imitation of a person that has dementia and how he believes they talk .
Rudy garbled , `` Whahahha , What ?
He can ’ t recite the Pledge of Allegiance , and he is fine ?
” Then like a mentally-challenged person himself Rudy lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own words .
Giuliani then claimed two doctors have told him Biden displays evidence of dementia and Kilmeade softly said , `` Right . ''
Rudy again stumbled on his words about the Pledge of Allegiance and Ainsley Earhardt also softly said , `` Right . ''
Giuliani claimed Joe has 8 out of 10 symptoms of dementia , but then he said Biden can get through the debate because he 's taking Adderall .
Doocy finally jumped in repeating Trump 's call for drug testing and then finally said `` None @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just your opinion . ''
No , Rudy has talked to doctors so he knows it is true .
The only person displaying mental deficiencies was Rudy .
If the Fox and Friends hosts had any sense of morality they would 've stopped Giuliani in his tracks and cut him off when he started to do a disgusting imitation of a person that has dementia .
Much of the media is saying how uncomfortable the hosts looked as if that 's something to be proud of .
Fox brass clearly instructed them not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forget : It was Giuliani who conspired with Trump to demand that Ukraine promote phony evidence against Joe Biden and his son -- which led to Trump 's impeachment .
Who are these doctors that Giuliani is raving about ?
Are they Putin 's personal physicians ?
How offensive it must be for families that have to deal with someone that actually has dementia to watch and hear what this babbling fool did on Fox this morning .
Shame on him and shame on Fox News .

On Fox and Friends this morning, Rudy Giuliani was almost foaming at the mouth. Sad!
Rudy was there to call into question Joe Biden's mental acuity while claiming Biden's on drugs. Projection much?
Rudy had no proof for any of his charges, of course, and the three Fox News hosts stared at their laps, visibly embarrassed, while Rudy ranted.
That is called state-sponsored propaganda.
There are despicable people that defend Donald Trump... and then there's Rudy Giuliani.
Rudy is the one true hatchet man of the Trump cult.
Just as he did to Hillary Clinton in 2016, he's doing now --spreading unconscionable lies about a Democrat's medical conditions during an election campaign.
Bug-eyed Giuliani said, "Look, the man has dementia. There is no doubt about it," he cackled.
Rudy continued, "I have talked to doctors. I have them look at 100 different tapings of his. Five years ago and today.”
Co-host Steve Doocy interrupted with “The Biden people say he is fine.”
Listen you asshole, everybody has seen Joe Biden perform from the Democratic primaries and the many debates and his many speeches and townhalls up until today, and there is nothing wrong.
Doocy, if he was an honest person. would have said as much instead of throwing out a generality.
Giuliani then began to do a disgusting imitation of a person that has dementia and how he believes they talk.
Rudy garbled, "Whahahha, What? He can’t recite the Pledge of Allegiance, and he is fine?”
Then like a mentally-challenged person himself Rudy lost his train of thought and stumbled on his own words.
The Fox hosts remained silent.
Giuliani then claimed two doctors have told him Biden displays evidence of dementia and Kilmeade softly said, "Right."
Rudy again stumbled on his words about the Pledge of Allegiance and Ainsley Earhardt also softly said, "Right."
Giuliani claimed Joe has 8 out of 10 symptoms of dementia, but then he said Biden can get through the debate because he's taking Adderall.
Doocy finally jumped in repeating Trump's call for drug testing and then finally said "None of us are doctors--this is just your opinion."
No, Rudy has talked to doctors so he knows it is true.
The only person displaying mental deficiencies was Rudy.
If the Fox and Friends hosts had any sense of morality they would've stopped Giuliani in his tracks and cut him off when he started to do a disgusting imitation of a person that has dementia.
Much of the media is saying how uncomfortable the hosts looked as if that's something to be proud of. Fox brass clearly instructed them not to contradict Trump's spokesman.
Never forget: It was Giuliani who conspired with Trump to demand that Ukraine promote phony evidence against Joe Biden and his son -- which led to Trump's impeachment.
Who are these doctors that Giuliani is raving about? Are they Putin's personal physicians?
How offensive it must be for families that have to deal with someone that actually has dementia to watch and hear what this babbling fool did on Fox this morning.
Shame on him and shame on Fox News.


crooksandliars--2020-09-29--Trump Campaign Accused In FEC Complaint: $170 Million In Money Laundering

Forbes reported yesterday that The Campaign Legal Center , a nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog group , filed a complaint with the FEC accusing the Trump campaign of “ laundering ” $ 170 million through numerous companies .
Some of them are related to former campaign manager Brad Pascale .
Via Raw Story : The complaint accuses the campaign and the Trump Make America Great Again Committee of disguising nearly $ 170 million in campaign spending .
“ It adds that the firms are ‘ headed by Trump ’ s recent campaign manager , Brad Parscale , and/or created by Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump campaign paid millions of dollars to campaign-connected vendors without reporting those payments to the FEC , specifically homing in on American Made Media Consultants ( AMMC ) , a firm created by Parscale , which has been paid over $ 106 million , making it the campaigns largest vendor , ” the magazine noted .
No wonder Brad 's so despondent .
Even though the complaint was filed in July , the Forbes story this week raises it to a whole new level of scrutiny .
He probably assumed that Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though the campaign lawyers were involved .
In case you needed a reminder , campaign money laundering is just one of the things that put Paul Manafort in prison .

Forbes reported yesterday that The Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog group, filed a complaint with the FEC accusing the Trump campaign of “laundering” $170 million through numerous companies. Some of them are related to former campaign manager Brad Pascale. Via Raw Story:
The complaint accuses the campaign and the Trump Make America Great Again Committee of disguising nearly $170 million in campaign spending. “It adds that the firms are ‘headed by Trump’s recent campaign manager, Brad Parscale, and/or created by Trump campaign lawyers.’ The complaint alleges that the Trump campaign paid millions of dollars to campaign-connected vendors without reporting those payments to the FEC, specifically homing in on American Made Media Consultants (AMMC), a firm created by Parscale, which has been paid over $106 million, making it the campaigns largest vendor,” the magazine noted.
No wonder Brad's so despondent. Even though the complaint was filed in July, the Forbes story this week raises it to a whole new level of scrutiny. He probably assumed that Trump would pin it all on him, even though the campaign lawyers were involved.
In case you needed a reminder, campaign money laundering is just one of the things that put Paul Manafort in prison.


crooksandliars--2020-09-29--New Project Lincoln Ad Features Sully Sullenberger: 'Vote Him Out'

Project Lincoln's/VoteVets partnered for this new ad which features hero pilot Sully Sullenberger in a pointed attack at Donald Trump 's lack of leadership .
Leadership is not just about sitting in the pilot seat .
It 's about knowing what you 're doing and taking responsibility for it .
Being prepared , ready , and able to handle anything that might come your way .
I 've been flying over this country for 53 years -- 53 years of flights you 'd never heard about and one that you 've heard everything about .
They 're calling it 'Miracle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board , 155 people make it out alive .
My whole life prepared me for that moment .
From my father , a Naval officer in World War II , I learned the awesome responsibility of command .
From my service as an Air Force officer and a fighter pilot , I knew that serving a cause greater than oneself is the highest calling .
And it 's in that highest calling of leadership that Donald Trump has failed us so miserably , now it 's up to us to overcome his attacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarter million Americans wo n't have a voice , casualties of his lethal lies and incompetence .
Eleven years ago , I was called to my moment .
Now we are all called to this moment .
When you look down at our beautiful , boundless country , you do n't see political divisions .
It reminds us of who we are and what we can be .
That we are in control of this nation 's destiny .
All we have to do is vote him out .

Project Lincoln's/VoteVets partnered for this new ad which features hero pilot Sully Sullenberger in a pointed attack at Donald Trump's lack of leadership.
TRANSCRIPT:
Leadership is not just about sitting in the pilot seat. It's about knowing what you're doing and taking responsibility for it. Being prepared, ready, and able to handle anything that might come your way.
I've been flying over this country for 53 years -- 53 years of flights you'd never heard about and one that you've heard everything about. They're calling it 'Miracle On The Hudson.' Everyone on board, 155 people make it out alive.
My whole life prepared me for that moment. From my father, a Naval officer in World War II, I learned the awesome
responsibility of command. From my service as an Air Force officer and a fighter pilot, I knew that serving a cause greater than oneself is the highest calling.
And it's in that highest calling of leadership that Donald Trump has failed us so miserably, now it's up to us to overcome his attacks on our very democracy knowing nearly a quarter million Americans won't have a voice, casualties of his lethal lies and incompetence.
Eleven years ago, I was called to my moment. Now we are all called to this moment. When you look down at our beautiful, boundless country, you don't see political divisions. It reminds us of who we are and what we can be.
That we are in control of this nation's destiny.
All we have to do is vote him out.


crooksandliars--2020-09-30--Chris Wallace Had One Job And He Failed

Chris Wallace Had One Job And He Failed

Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace told the viewers of his show that he thought he 'd be doing a good job as a moderator if the public considered him to be `` invisible '' during this first farce of a presidential `` debate '' -- and I use that term loosely after what we all just witnessed this Tuesday .
It was n't a `` debate . ''
It was one side flagrantly ignoring the rules while the other side looked completely exasperated , like most of the public is right now with this corrupt clown show of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complicit Republican party refused to rid us of when they ignored his criminality following the impeachment trial held earlier this year .
I do think Biden held his own , but I 'm not sure how anyone manages to deal with someone who interrupts them constantly , who lies every time their lips are moving , has a case of diarrhea of the mouth that is well known , and who has had lots of practice from being allowed to come on Fox and have his stream of consciousness go on for what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes an appearance on his favorite morning show on his propaganda network .
The one person who could have made a difference was Chris Wallace , but he apparently was more worried about looking biased against Trump than in actually doing his job .
Twitter had thoughts on Wallace 's performance and the debate in general : I 'm not sure what needs to be done to prevent a repeat of this , but putting Trump in a soundproof box where his mic can be cut every time he tries to interrupt or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be a good start .
Just not wasting everyone 's time with this liar and pretending there 's any way someone can `` debate '' someone who has this little regard for the truth and who wo n't shut up is probably a better option .

Fox News Sunday anchor Chris Wallace told the viewers of his show that he thought he'd be doing a good job as a moderator if the public considered him to be "invisible" during this first farce of a presidential "debate" -- and I use that term loosely after what we all just witnessed this Tuesday. It wasn't a "debate."
It was one side flagrantly ignoring the rules while the other side looked completely exasperated, like most of the public is right now with this corrupt clown show of an administration inhabiting 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue that our complicit Republican party refused to rid us of when they ignored his criminality following the impeachment trial held earlier this year.
I do think Biden held his own, but I'm not sure how anyone manages to deal with someone who interrupts them constantly, who lies every time their lips are moving, has a case of diarrhea of the mouth that is well known, and who has had lots of practice from being allowed to come on Fox and have his stream of consciousness go on for what feels like an eternity every time he makes an appearance on his favorite morning show on his propaganda network.
The one person who could have made a difference was Chris Wallace, but he apparently was more worried about looking biased against Trump than in actually doing his job.
Twitter had thoughts on Wallace's performance and the debate in general:
Wallace has lost control and is disgracefully weak. — Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) September 30, 2020
This is a waste of everybody’s time. I don’t know if it’s possible to control this but Wallace can’t do it. I wonder if anyone can? — Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) September 30, 2020
i love that chris wallace didn’t follow up on trump ignoring herman cain’s death or playing footsie with white supremacists but went IN on biden about the cost of fighting climate change — David Mack (@davidmackau) September 30, 2020
Chris Wallace who couldn't face the truth about the atomic bombings tonight could not stand up to a bullying president and now will be known as worst moderator ever. — Greg Mitchell (@GregMitch) September 30, 2020
Trump steamrolls moderator Chris Wallace in horrifying mess of a debate https://t.co/CQwhDZLdqR — Daily Kos (@dailykos) September 30, 2020
I'm back - -
The verbal diarrhea that spewed from Trump's mouth was incredible.
Chris Wallace lost control early on and never really got control back.
What we witnessed tonight was the gaslighting of a coutry#PresidentialDebate #AuntieTweetsTheDebates — 🖕🏻Aunt Crabby calls Bullshit 🖕🏻 (@DearAuntCrabby) September 30, 2020
Debate moderator Chris Wallace “agreed” with Trump’s lie that he didn’t hold indoor rallies. He did -- in Nevada and in Tulsa. https://t.co/E790gReraj — Media Matters (@mmfa) September 30, 2020
.@NicolleDWallace: President Trump acted as the abuser tonight, and Chris Wallace was among the abused. — MSNBC (@MSNBC) September 30, 2020
"I hope none of you will interrupt the other." - Chris Wallace, acting as if the rude interrupting during the debate is a both sides thing. #Debates2020 — Frank Conniff (@FrankConniff) September 30, 2020
I'm not sure what needs to be done to prevent a repeat of this, but putting Trump in a soundproof box where his mic can be cut every time he tries to interrupt or talk when it's not his turn might be a good start. Just not wasting everyone's time with this liar and pretending there's any way someone can "debate" someone who has this little regard for the truth and who won't shut up is probably a better option.


crooksandliars--2020-09-30--Trump AGAIN Refuses To Condemn White Supremacists: 'Stand Back And Stand By!'

When someone asks you if you condemn white supremacists , your ' e supposed to say , `` Yes , '' right ?
Unless , of course , you 're a white supremacist .
That 's the position Trump found himself in during the debate , when enabler Chris Wallace asked , `` Are you willing to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and say they need to stand down and not add to the violence in a number of these cities as we saw in Kenosha and as we 've seen in Portland ? ''
Remember , though , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fine People '' Trump , so he sort of tried , but he could n't really land the plane .
`` Sure , I 'm willing to do that , '' he said , but continued , `` I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing , not from the right wing . ''
`` So , What are you saying ? ''
asked the enabler , and the abuser blathered , `` I 'm willing to do -- I want to see peace . ''
`` Then do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' At this point , Trump decides he wants to be very precise in his terminology , and thinks this is an effective stalling technique .
`` Do you want to call them -- what do you want to call them ?
Give me a name .
Give me a name .
Go ahead . ''
he stumbles .
`` White supremacists , '' said the enabler , with surprising surety .
`` Who would you like me to condemn ? ''
At this point , Joe Biden said , `` The Proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` White supremacists and right wing militia . ''
`` Proud boys , stand back and stand by .
But I 'll tell you what .
I 'll tell you what .
Somebody 's got to do something about antifa and the left .
Because this is not a right wing problem , '' said the current alleged president of the United States .
Did that sound like a condemnation to you ?
It did n't sound like one to me .
It sounded like he was telling them to look to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why ?
Because Trump is a white supremacist .
And as David Plouffe said after the debate in his analysis on MSNBC : Guaranteed , the t-shirts with `` Stand back and stand by '' are already being sold .

When someone asks you if you condemn white supremacists, your'e supposed to say, "Yes," right? Unless, of course, you're a white supremacist.
That's the position Trump found himself in during the debate, when moderator enabler Chris Wallace asked, "Are you willing to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and say they need to stand down and not add to the violence in a number of these cities as we saw in Kenosha and as we've seen in Portland?"
Remember, though, this is Donald "Nazis Are Very Fine People" Trump, so he sort of tried, but he couldn't really land the plane. "Sure, I'm willing to do that," he said, but continued, "I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing."
Oh.
"So, What are you saying?" asked the enabler, and the abuser blathered, "I'm willing to do -- I want to see peace."
"Then do it, Sir. Say it."
At this point, Trump decides he wants to be very precise in his terminology, and thinks this is an effective stalling technique. "Do you want to call them -- what do you want to call them? Give me a name. Give me a name. Go ahead." he stumbles.
"White supremacists," said the enabler, with surprising surety.
"Who would you like me to condemn?"
At this point, Joe Biden said, "The Proud Boys," and the enabler said, "White supremacists and right wing militia."
"Proud boys, stand back and stand by. But I'll tell you what. I'll tell you what. Somebody's got to do something about antifa and the left. Because this is not a right wing problem," said the current alleged president of the United States.
Did that sound like a condemnation to you? It didn't sound like one to me. It sounded like he was telling them to look to the skies for the bat signal. Why? Because Trump is a white supremacist. And as David Plouffe said after the debate in his analysis on MSNBC:
And this Proud Boys moment, it wasn't that he refused to denounce them. He basically gave them a rallying cry. And they're running with it right now.
Guaranteed, the t-shirts with "Stand back and stand by" are already being sold.
YEP.
The Proud Boys updated their logo to include Trump’s remarks. Trump empowers the radical right and encourages violence in our streets. pic.twitter.com/PlL5xWsqQp — MeidasTouch.com (@MeidasTouch) September 30, 2020
Today's cartoon in the Montreal Gazette.


crooksandliars--2020-09-30--Drudge Report Correctly Frames Debate As A 'Circus'

Drudge Report looks like this .
Matt Drudge is 100 percent right .
It was a ridiculous circus with Trump @ @ @ @ @ ridiculous cock .
While the Proud Boys celebrate Trump legitimizing them in a national debate @ @ @ @ @ has ever been abused relives their trauma , all I can say is that Nancy @ @ @ @ @ should be no debates , but now that we 've endured this 90 minutes , @ @ @ @ @ further debates .
There is no reason for any of us to endure this any @ @ @ @ @ very little to say about the `` debate '' other than to resent the fact @ @ @ @ @ that ridiculous waste of time .
It 's not really worth saying much more than @ @

Drudge Report looks like this. Matt Drudge is 100 percent right. It was a ridiculous circus with Trump stomping through it like a ridiculous cock.
While the Proud Boys celebrate Trump legitimizing them in a national debate, and anyone else who has ever been abused relives their trauma, all I can say is that Nancy Pelosi was right. There should be no debates, but now that we've endured this 90 minutes, Joe Biden should refuse any further debates.
There is no reason for any of us to endure this any longer. I really have very little to say about the "debate" other than to resent the fact that I was subjected to that ridiculous waste of time. It's not really worth saying much more than that.


crooksandliars--2020-09-30--Biden Tells Trump What We Are All Thinking: 'Will You Shut Up, Man?"

Joe Biden finally said what we all are thinking : `` Will you shut up , man '' I so @ @ @ @ @ because I ’ m positive she wanted to say that and couldn ’ t .
@ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump ?
Joe Biden just said `` will you shut up man '' to @ @ @ @ @ will score points because of it .
Somebody needs to sell a T-shirt that says @ @ @ @ @ up man ” on it cause that was some iconic shit UPDATE : Here 's @ @ @ @ @ that :

Just how widely despised is Donald Trump? Joe Biden just said "will you shut up man" to his face, and Biden will score points because of it.
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) September 30, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-09-30--Trump Advisors Worry Parscale Will Turn On Them Over Campaign Finances

The Trump campaign may be hoping to give former campaign manager Brad Parscale the “ coffee boy ” treatment now that he ’ s under investigation over campaign finances and the Trump family is reportedly worried he ’ ll start talking .
Parscale , you probably recall , was taken into custody by police on Sunday after his wife reported that he was armed and threatening suicide .
That was just hours after the New York Times dropped its bombshell about Donald Trump ’ s taxes .
On Sunday , the Trump campaign issued a statement , “ Brad Parscale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we love him .
We are ready to support him and his family in any way possible.
” Now , that “ member of the family ” – who is also reportedly under investigation for stealing up to $ 50 million from the Trump campaign and the RNC – is being quietly disappeared from the campaign website .
President Donald Trump ’ s campaign still won ’ t clarify the status of its erstwhile campaign manager Brad Parscale , who was taken into custody by police outside of his Florida home over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purging its website of Parscale ’ s visage .
Since Tuesday , the campaign has removed a video of Parscale from the homepage of its “ Army for Trump ” election monitoring operation .
It also deleted a page on the main campaign website featuring a video of Parscale and Lara Trump , the president ’ s daughter-in-law and senior campaign adviser .
The video of their discussion , billed as a Q & A on the state of the campaign , has also been removed from YouTube .
Those deletions were first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bier .
In the wake of his detention over the weekend , the Daily Mail reported that Parscale was “ under investigation ” for pocketing as much as $ 50 million from the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee .
But the story did not specify who exactly was doing the investigating , and the campaign and the RNC both denied the report .
That investigation may be related or in addition to a complaint filed Tuesday with the Federal Elections Commission by the Campaign Legal Center , a nonpartisan campaign finance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported , the complaint accuses the Trump campaign of laundering $ 170 million through numerous companies , some of them connected to Parscale .
C & L ’ s Susie Madrak also reminded us that campaign money laundering is one of the crimes that sent Paul Manafort to jail .
Today , Gabriel Sherman reported this nugget : “ According to the source close to the campaign , the Trump family is worried that Parscale could turn on them and cooperate with law enforcement about possible campaign finance violations .
‘ The family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ the source said.
” Something tells me the family will need to do more than wipe Parscale from the campaign website to distance themselves from any campaign crimes committed by their own campaign manager .
Also , I haven ’ t forgotten that the woman Melania Trump tried to blame for spending improprieties by the inaugural committee has said she ’ s working with three criminal investigations .

The Trump campaign may be hoping to give former campaign manager Brad Parscale the “coffee boy” treatment now that he’s under investigation over campaign finances and the Trump family is reportedly worried he’ll start talking.
Parscale, you probably recall, was taken into custody by police on Sunday after his wife reported that he was armed and threatening suicide. That was just hours after the New York Times dropped its bombshell about Donald Trump’s taxes.
On Sunday, the Trump campaign issued a statement, “Brad Parscale is a member of our family and we love him. We are ready to support him and his family in any way possible.”
Now, that “member of the family” – who is also reportedly under investigation for stealing up to $50 million from the Trump campaign and the RNC – is being quietly disappeared from the campaign website.
From The Daily Beast:
President Donald Trump’s campaign still won’t clarify the status of its erstwhile campaign manager Brad Parscale, who was taken into custody by police outside of his Florida home over the weekend. But the campaign is quietly purging its website of Parscale’s visage. Since Tuesday, the campaign has removed a video of Parscale from the homepage of its “Army for Trump” election monitoring operation. It also deleted a page on the main campaign website featuring a video of Parscale and Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law and senior campaign adviser. The video of their discussion, billed as a Q&A on the state of the campaign, has also been removed from YouTube. Those deletions were first flagged on Twitter by the writer Jeryl Bier. … In the wake of his detention over the weekend, the Daily Mail reported that Parscale was “under investigation” for pocketing as much as $50 million from the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee. But the story did not specify who exactly was doing the investigating, and the campaign and the RNC both denied the report.
That investigation may be related or in addition to a complaint filed Tuesday with the Federal Elections Commission by the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog group. As C&L reported, the complaint accuses the Trump campaign of laundering $170 million through numerous companies, some of them connected to Parscale. C&L’s Susie Madrak also reminded us that campaign money laundering is one of the crimes that sent Paul Manafort to jail.
Today, Gabriel Sherman reported this nugget: “According to the source close to the campaign, the Trump family is worried that Parscale could turn on them and cooperate with law enforcement about possible campaign finance violations. ‘The family is worried Brad will start talking,’ the source said.”
Something tells me the family will need to do more than wipe Parscale from the campaign website to distance themselves from any campaign crimes committed by their own campaign manager.
Also, I haven’t forgotten that the woman Melania Trump tried to blame for spending improprieties by the inaugural committee has said she’s working with three criminal investigations.


crooksandliars--2020-09-30--Debate Fact-Checks Show Trump Lied And Lied, But One Group Of Lies Is By Far The Most Damaging

Amazingly enough , Donald Trump ’ s lies were not the main story coming out of Tuesday night ’ s debate .
But that ’ s only because Trump ’ s constant interruptions and personal insults sucked up more attention .
The fact-checkers had a lot to work with , but , as CNN ’ s stellar fact-checker Daniel Dale pointed out , “ Most of [ Trump ’ s ] false claims were ones he 's made before and which have been repeatedly fact-checked and found to be false , rather than one-time slips or gaffes.
” So a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least somewhat plug and play using existing content .
To be clear : Fact-checkers did include former Vice President Joe Biden in their work , but while he made a few statements that registered as not quite right , he was well within the norm of accuracy for 90 minutes of speaking without notes .
Trump , on the other hand , was off the charts .
According to Dale , “ There were times , particularly during the conclusion of the debate , when almost every comment from Trump was inaccurate.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working for media organizations but in real time , directly from the person Trump lied about : Beyond that , things Trump lied about , misrepresented , made false statements on , exaggerated , or misled on include Biden ’ s position on health care , veterans ’ health care , coronavirus and masks , Biden ’ s position on coronavirus shutdowns , his own manufacturing jobs creation record , Black Lives Matter protests , his own former adviser Kellyanne Conway ’ s words , Biden ’ s advocacy of the 1994 crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rallies , the Green New Deal , his own environmental record , the causes of wildfires in California , the number of people in the U.S. with preexisting conditions , the price of insulin , Hunter Biden , Hunter Biden , and basically everything he said about voting and election fraud .
That last part is important , because a key part of Trump ’ s plan for this debate was to disrupt and drag down the elections .
His interruptions and insults were part of that , intended to make people loathe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the candidates .
But the content of what he said about elections was also intended to delegitimize the elections—because he believes he is going to lose , and rather than accept that loss he is trying to create distrust in the whole process .
So : Trump claimed fraud is widespread in mail-in voting , which it is not—in fact , it ’ s less than 0.0001 % .
He claimed his poll watchers in Philadelphia had been turned away Tuesday “ Because bad things happen in Philadelphia .
Bad things.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed to observe in-person voting on Election Day in Philadelphia .
He falsely claimed that postal workers in West Virginia are selling ballots , apparently based on a case in which a single postal worker in the state altered some ballot applications—Democrats ’ ballot applications , by the way—and claimed it had been done as a joke .
He exaggerated a case in which a small number of ballots were mistakenly thrown out by an inexperienced worker .
The mistake was caught , but Trump ’ s Justice Department is seeking to politicize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking point—which took the politicized Justice Department story and distorted it further .
It was a barrage of lies about election security designed to undermine confidence in November ’ s elections , combined with an invitation to his supporters to turn out to engage in voter intimidation , combined with an invitation to white supremacists to “ stand by.
” Over the years we ’ ve seen that many of Trump ’ s lies are intended to gain a fleeting moment ’ s advantage , to make him feel like a big man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday night was different .
Both his attempts to rattle Joe Biden by attacking his son Hunter and his lies about voting had more sustained intention behind them .
But the lies about the integrity of November ’ s elections were far more serious , because they were intentional , sustained assaults on those elections , and on U.S. democracy .

Amazingly enough, Donald Trump’s lies were not the main story coming out of Tuesday night’s debate. But that’s only because Trump’s constant interruptions and personal insults sucked up more attention. The fact-checkers had a lot to work with, but, as CNN’s stellar fact-checker Daniel Dale pointed out, “Most of [Trump’s] false claims were ones he's made before and which have been repeatedly fact-checked and found to be false, rather than one-time slips or gaffes.” So a lot of the fact-checks could be at least somewhat plug and play using existing content.
To be clear: Fact-checkers did include former Vice President Joe Biden in their work, but while he made a few statements that registered as not quite right, he was well within the norm of accuracy for 90 minutes of speaking without notes. Trump, on the other hand, was off the charts. According to Dale, “There were times, particularly during the conclusion of the debate, when almost every comment from Trump was inaccurate.”
One fact check came not from people working for media organizations but in real time, directly from the person Trump lied about:
In tonight’s presidential debate the President said the “Portland Sheriff” supports him. As the Multnomah County Sheriff I have never supported Donald Trump and will never support him. — Mike Reese (@SheriffReese) September 30, 2020
Beyond that, things Trump lied about, misrepresented, made false statements on, exaggerated, or misled on include Biden’s position on health care, veterans’ health care, coronavirus and masks, Biden’s position on coronavirus shutdowns, his own manufacturing jobs creation record, Black Lives Matter protests, his own former adviser Kellyanne Conway’s words, Biden’s advocacy of the 1994 crime bill, the size of his campaign rallies, the Green New Deal, his own environmental record, the causes of wildfires in California, the number of people in the U.S. with preexisting conditions, the price of insulin, Hunter Biden, Hunter Biden, and basically everything he said about voting and election fraud.
That last part is important, because a key part of Trump’s plan for this debate was to disrupt and drag down the elections. His interruptions and insults were part of that, intended to make people loathe the whole idea of voting for either of the candidates. But the content of what he said about elections was also intended to delegitimize the elections—because he believes he is going to lose, and rather than accept that loss he is trying to create distrust in the whole process.
So: Trump claimed fraud is widespread in mail-in voting, which it is not—in fact, it’s less than 0.0001%. He claimed his poll watchers in Philadelphia had been turned away Tuesday “Because bad things happen in Philadelphia. Bad things.” In reality, poll watchers are only allowed to observe in-person voting on Election Day in Philadelphia. He falsely claimed that postal workers in West Virginia are selling ballots, apparently based on a case in which a single postal worker in the state altered some ballot applications—Democrats’ ballot applications, by the way—and claimed it had been done as a joke. He exaggerated a case in which a small number of ballots were mistakenly thrown out by an inexperienced worker. The mistake was caught, but Trump’s Justice Department is seeking to politicize it so that he has a debate talking point—which took the politicized Justice Department story and distorted it further.
It was a barrage of lies about election security designed to undermine confidence in November’s elections, combined with an invitation to his supporters to turn out to engage in voter intimidation, combined with an invitation to white supremacists to “stand by.” Over the years we’ve seen that many of Trump’s lies are intended to gain a fleeting moment’s advantage, to make him feel like a big man who won a single conversational exchange. Tuesday night was different. Both his attempts to rattle Joe Biden by attacking his son Hunter and his lies about voting had more sustained intention behind them. But the lies about the integrity of November’s elections were far more serious, because they were intentional, sustained assaults on those elections, and on U.S. democracy.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-09-30--Rep. Katie Porter Rakes Big Pharma CEO Over The Coals

Rep. Katie Porter demanded to know why Celgene had increased the prices of a cancer drug over 300 % in the past decade or so from the then CEO Mark Alles .
His compensation increased as revenue increased .
Celgene was aquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2019 for $ 95 billion , including debt .
At the time , this was the largest pharmaceutical company acquisition ever .
A handful of newly elected Democrats , including Rashida Tlaib of Michigan , Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Katie Porter of California put drug industry CEOs on the defensive Wednesday like they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trio of freshman lawmakers used an Oversight Committee hearing to press the CEOs of Teva , Celgene and Bristol-Myers Squibb — painfully and directly — on the results of an 18-month investigation into the pricing of two drugs : Teva ’ s Multiple Sclerosis drug copaxone and Bristol-Myers Squibb ’ s multiple myeloma drug revlimid .
Porter , a former consumer protection attorney who has made a name for herself by embarrassing CEOs with prosecutorial questions and a white board , lived up to her reputation .
She used that white board to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for revlimid , which now costs $ 763 per dose , up from $ 215 in 2005 , and demanded that Mark Alles , who served as Celgene ’ s CEO until Bristol Myers Squibb acquired the company in 2019 , on explain whether the drug had improved over the same time period .
When Alles tried to insist that the drug was approved for new indications , Porter pressed harder .
“ Did the drug start to work faster ?
Were there fewer side effects ?
How did you change the formula @ @ @ @ @ @ @ price increase ?
” Porter said .
“ To recap here : The drug didn ’ t get any better , the cancer patients didn ’ t get any better , you just got better at making money , you just refined your skills at price gouging .
”

Rep. Katie Porter demanded to know why Celgene had increased the prices of a cancer drug over 300% in the past decade or so from the then CEO Mark Alles. His compensation increased as revenue increased.
Celgene was aquired by Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2019 for $95 billion, including debt. At the time, this was the largest pharmaceutical company acquisition ever.
Source: StatNews
A handful of newly elected Democrats, including Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Katie Porter of California put drug industry CEOs on the defensive Wednesday like they’ve never been before. The trio of freshman lawmakers used an Oversight Committee hearing to press the CEOs of Teva, Celgene and Bristol-Myers Squibb — painfully and directly — on the results of an 18-month investigation into the pricing of two drugs: Teva’s Multiple Sclerosis drug copaxone and Bristol-Myers Squibb’s multiple myeloma drug revlimid. Porter, a former consumer protection attorney who has made a name for herself by embarrassing CEOs with prosecutorial questions and a white board, lived up to her reputation. She used that white board to display Celgene’s repeated price hikes for revlimid, which now costs $763 per dose, up from $215 in 2005, and demanded that Mark Alles, who served as Celgene’s CEO until Bristol Myers Squibb acquired the company in 2019, on explain whether the drug had improved over the same time period. When Alles tried to insist that the drug was approved for new indications, Porter pressed harder. “Did the drug start to work faster? Were there fewer side effects? How did you change the formula or production of Revlimid to justify this price increase?” Porter said. “To recap here: The drug didn’t get any better, the cancer patients didn’t get any better, you just got better at making money, you just refined your skills at price gouging.”
Oh my god, Katie Porter. pic.twitter.com/tO6B7xCx3G — Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) September 30, 2020
And some reactions.
Katie Porter is the Megan Rapinoe of congressional hearings. https://t.co/7vdI2lQvfZ — Charlotte Clymer 🏳🌈 (@cmclymer) September 30, 2020
It’s fucking beautiful to watch someone do the thing they were meant to do. Michael Phelps’ butterfly stroke. Serena Williams’ backhand. Meryl Streep delivering a one-liner. Katie Porter making a ghoulish pharma crook shit himself. https://t.co/TnHNVlYj4j — Lauren Hough (@laurenthehough) September 30, 2020
There’s literally nothing more satisfying than watching pharma execs squirm when Katie Porter brings out the white board.pic.twitter.com/1tksM3EAi5 — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) September 30, 2020
Nothing puts fear in the heart of men than Katie Porter, a whiteboard and then the kicker, she puts on her eyeglasses.
When that happens; checkmate. Your ass is grass.pic.twitter.com/7U2DaK6vDa — YS (@NYinLA2121) September 30, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-09-30--Trump Pretends He Doesn't Know Who The Proud Boys Are

Trump went into full damage control mode Wednesday afternoon after he once again refused to condemn white supremacists at the s**t show of a `` debate '' last night .
Someone on his staff must have told him that he needed to respond to Sen. Tim Scott who said this about Trump 's racist blow horn that his out-and-proud racist followers understood perfectly : His `` correction '' this afternoon was to pretend he 's never heard of the Proud Boys .
TRUMP : I do n't know who the Proud Boys are .
I mean , you 'll have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I really do n't know who they are .
I can only say they have to stand down , let law enforcement do their work .
Remember back in 2016 when Trump said almost the exact same thing about David Duke ?
TRUMP : Well , just so you understand , I do n't know anything about David Duke , okay ?
I do n't know anything about what you 're even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists .
So , I do n't know , I mean , I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or what 's going on ?
Because , you know , I know nothing about David Duke .
I know nothing about white supremacists and so you 're asking me a question that I 'm supposed to be talking about people that I know nothing about .
He conveniently always seems to get a case of selective amnesia when it comes to these white supremacists that love him so much .

Trump went into full damage control mode Wednesday afternoon after he once again refused to condemn white supremacists at the s**t show of a "debate" last night.
Someone on his staff must have told him that he needed to respond to Sen. Tim Scott who said this about Trump's racist blow horn that his out-and-proud racist followers understood perfectly:
Reporter: “Do you find that concerning, the president's refusal last night during the debate to condemn white supremacist groups?"
Sen. Tim Scott: “I think he misspoke. I think he should correct it. If he doesn't correct it, I guess he didn't misspeak." pic.twitter.com/qxDTrg7ulT — NBC News (@NBCNews) September 30, 2020
His "correction" this afternoon was to pretend he's never heard of the Proud Boys.
TRUMP: I don't know who the Proud Boys are. I mean, you'll have to give me a definition, because I really don't know who they are. I can only say they have to stand down, let law enforcement do their work.
Remember back in 2016 when Trump said almost the exact same thing about David Duke?
TRUMP: Well, just so you understand, I don't know anything about David Duke, okay? I don't know anything about what you're even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists. So, I don't know, I mean, I don't know. Did he endorse me or what's going on? Because, you know, I know nothing about David Duke. I know nothing about white supremacists and so you're asking me a question that I'm supposed to be talking about people that I know nothing about.
He conveniently always seems to get a case of selective amnesia when it comes to these white supremacists that love him so much.
Twitter had thoughts.
Last night Trump was straight up telling neo-Nazi “Proud Boys” to "stand by".
And the neo-Nazis heard him loud and clear.
Here are “Proud Boys”, who Trump still refuses to denounce, in their own words on what they are about... pic.twitter.com/TQk3dWKRie — Mitchell Gore 🇺🇸 (@lestatdelc) September 30, 2020
Lol.
Trump also has NO IDEA how his hair got this way. pic.twitter.com/eDi4WOUduh — Impeachments* Are Forever (@OK_Dumbass) September 30, 2020
Trump knows the Proud Boys because of the Roger Stone scandal involving them.
Also, the chairman of Proud Boys is the Florida State Director of Latinos for Trump. Enrique Tarrio. Same Proud Boy who organized the Portland rally a few days ago. — kersti Text JOE to 30330 (@FeistyOldHag) September 30, 2020
Trump’s DENIAL playbook:
1) innocence: proclaim having no knowledge
2) give vague remark around the matter by dancing around it
3) praise the subject (‘nice guy’)
4) deny any involvement (‘never heard of it,’ ‘I don’t do that,’ ‘I don’t know him’)
5) walk away in blank face 😐 — CK14 (@palazzo214) September 30, 2020
Um, here’s Roger Stone with the Proud Boys. Does Trump remember Roger Stone? pic.twitter.com/j8ZiDvmm5E — Emily A. (@emzorbit) September 30, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-09-30--Republicans Are 'Jeniuses': Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith Edition

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith is n't very bright , is she ?
Normally we should n't punch down on people whose @ @ @ @ @ flea 's pygidium but this person in particular is seeking a seat of substantial power @ @ @ @ @ .
Senator from Mississippi .
Therefore , she is all but asking for it when @ @ @ @ @ a party seeking to increase the suffering of millions of Americans , and runs a @ @ @ @ @ all Mississippians , using footage of not one single American , let alone a Mississipian @ @ @ @ @ are they so BAD at this ?
Meanwhile , her Democratic opponent , Mike Espy @ @ @ @ @ ad , in which he assured people in the introductory tweet that he , at @ @ @ @ @ in his ad .
Bonus : they 're even from Mississippi !
Normally , it @ @ @ @ @ the reputation for winning the messaging war , but in this case , I 'm @ @ @ @ @ and the Dems .

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith isn't very bright, is she? Normally we shouldn't punch down on people whose intellect is smaller than a flea's pygidium but this person in particular is seeking a seat of substantial power — re-election as a U.S. Senator from Mississippi. Therefore, she is all but asking for it when she is a member of a party seeking to increase the suffering of millions of Americans, and runs a campaign ad claiming to represent all Mississippians, using footage of not one single American, let alone a Mississipian.
NEW: Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith's first TV ad highlights her work to bring jobs and growth "for all Mississippians."
But the people who appear in the ad are not Mississippians nor even Americans. Instead, they're Russian, Ukrainian, South African and Canadian.https://t.co/0cGYSP29RL — Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) September 29, 2020
The "Mississippians" appearing in Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith's ad include a South African woman on a laptop; a Canadian man in a warehouse; a Ukrainian farmer; and a woman in a Russian café.
Anyone can buy & use these foreign production companies' 10-second clips online for $79-$179. pic.twitter.com/KCWKTDAS0K — Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) September 29, 2020
Isn't that adorable?
I mean, why are they so BAD at this?
Meanwhile, her Democratic opponent, Mike Espy, released his third campaign ad, in which he assured people in the introductory tweet that he, at least, used actual Americans in his ad. Bonus: they're even from Mississippi!
Who are Dr. Quinn, Ms. Killebrew, Dr. Kelleher, and Cliff?
They are all real Mississippians, and they are all-in to support #TeamEspy.
Today, I am proud to launch our third television ad all across the state of Mississippi. Help me out by throwing our new ad a retweet. pic.twitter.com/Yfkvg9hdL9 — Mike Espy (@MikeEspyMS) September 29, 2020
Normally, it's the GOP that has the reputation for winning the messaging war, but in this case, I'm calling it for Mike Espy and the Dems.


crooksandliars--2020-09-30--White House Making Zero Attempt To Spin His Proud Boys Comment

The latest spokesmodel for the Trump administration gave away the game today on Fox News : Donald Trump refusing to denounce the Proud Boys / White Nationalist terrorists during last night 's debate is part of the plan .
Fox 's Sandra Smith gave the latest WH Comms Director ( how many of THOSE has Trump had ?
I 've literally lost count . )
an opportunity to spin Trump 's comment that the Proud Boys need to `` stand back and stand by . ''
`` The president saying , 'Proud Boys , stand back and stand by ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president want to clarify or explain what he meant by that , because they 're celebrating it , the group . ''
said Smith .
Alyssa Farah replied : `` I do n't think that there 's anything to clarify . ''
And she 's not alone .
If you think the bullshit is over my friend in 7 hours Peter Navarro , Kayleigh McEnany , Hogan Gidley , Jason Miller , Mike Pence and a dozen more white supremacists slide into those warm morning show seats and joyfully say `` thanks for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unifier-in-chief '' — Matt Negrin , HOST OF HARDBALL AT 7PM ON MSNBC ( @ MattNegrin ) September 30 , 2020 Imagine how bad you have to have been if Peter Navarro , Hogan Gidley , & Rudy Guliani are the people you send on TV to clean up the mess you made last night when 1/3 of the world watched you make a fool out of yourself & your whole country while you were high.
# PresidentialDebate

The latest spokesmodel for the Trump administration gave away the game today on Fox News: Donald Trump refusing to denounce the Proud Boys / White Nationalist terrorists during last night's debate is part of the plan.
Fox's Sandra Smith gave the latest WH Comms Director (how many of THOSE has Trump had? I've literally lost count.) an opportunity to spin Trump's comment that the Proud Boys need to "stand back and stand by."
"The president saying, 'Proud Boys, stand back and stand by', does the White House or the president want to clarify or explain what he meant by that, because they're celebrating it, the group." said Smith.
Alyssa Farah replied: "I don't think that there's anything to clarify."
Well alrighty then!
There has to be a more dignified way to make a living, Alyssa. I mean.... $750. — Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) September 28, 2020
And she's not alone.
If you think the bullshit is over my friend in 7 hours Peter Navarro, Kayleigh McEnany, Hogan Gidley, Jason Miller, Mike Pence and a dozen more white supremacists slide into those warm morning show seats and joyfully say "thanks for having me, the president is a unifier-in-chief" — Matt Negrin, HOST OF HARDBALL AT 7PM ON MSNBC (@MattNegrin) September 30, 2020
Imagine how bad you have to have been if Peter Navarro, Hogan Gidley, & Rudy Guliani are the people you send on TV to clean up the mess you made last night when 1/3 of the world watched you make a fool out of yourself & your whole country while you were high.#PresidentialDebate — Dr. Jack Brown (@DrGJackBrown) September 30, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-09-30--CNN Takes A Look At Trump's Pals, The Proud Boys

CNN correspondent Elle Reeve , who covers the Proud Boys , did a segment about them for New Day today .
`` There 's at least 300 people , although they 've hyped up to 3,000 .
And the ratio of Proud Boys to journalists is very high .
Are you here to get in fights with Antifa ? ''
she asked .
`` But you are drenched in the aesthetics of political violence , '' she said .
`` Aesthetics and who we are two different things . ''
`` It just seems like every time there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some people getting beat up . ''
`` We 're not afraid to defend ourselves . ''
`` The Proud Boys all tell us they 're just here to drink beer and barbecue , but there have already been a couple of incidents that have teetered on the edge of violence , including our own crew being threatened . ''
`` The sheriff 's department estimated that about a thousand people came throughout the day and about a thousand counter-protesters gathered about a mile away , '' Reeve said .
`` What do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' `` Fear .
Fear of losing power .
They feel like they 're just losing everything they fought .
That they 're the superior race . ''
`` We call them the 'Proud Little Penis boys . ''
She asked Portland protesters why it was important to have a counter rally to the Proud Boys .
`` Why not just ignore them ? ''
`` We 're out here to show that we 're not afraid and we 're not going to back down in the face of tyranny , especially when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation . ''
`` People waited warily for the Proud Boys to show up , but they never came .
Instead , the only clashes that occurred were the same ones between police and protesters that have happened nearly every night since May .
In the end , it was just another night in Portland . ''

CNN correspondent Elle Reeve, who covers the Proud Boys, did a segment about them for New Day today.
"There's at least 300 people, although they've hyped up to 3,000. And the ratio of Proud Boys to journalists is very high. Are you here to get in fights with Antifa?" she asked.
"Absolutely not," a Proud Boy responded.
"But you are drenched in the aesthetics of political violence," she said.
"Aesthetics and who we are two different things."
"It just seems like every time there is a Proud Boys event, it ends with some people getting beat up."
"We're not afraid to defend ourselves."
"The Proud Boys all tell us they're just here to drink beer and barbecue, but there have already been a couple of incidents that have teetered on the edge of violence, including our own crew being threatened."
"The sheriff's department estimated that about a thousand people came throughout the day and about a thousand counter-protesters gathered about a mile away," Reeve said.
"What do you think the Proud Boys represent?"
"Fear. Fear of losing power. They feel like they're just losing everything they fought. That they're the superior race."
"We call them the 'Proud Little Penis boys."
She asked Portland protesters why it was important to have a counter rally to the Proud Boys. "Why not just ignore them?"
"We're out here to show that we're not afraid and we're not going to back down in the face of tyranny, especially when our president is amping up this whole situation."
"People waited warily for the Proud Boys to show up, but they never came. Instead, the only clashes that occurred were the same ones between police and protesters that have happened nearly every night since May. In the end, it was just another night in Portland."


crooksandliars--2020-09-30--FINALLY? A New Stimulus Proposal Might Be Finalized This Week

Nancy Pelosi and Mark Meadows both said yesterday they ’ re hopeful they can reach a new economic stimulus agreement this week , despite failures to date .
Via the Washington Post : Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol an agreement could come this week , which is supposed to be Congress ’ s final one in session before recessing through the election .
She spoke by phone for about 50 minutes Tuesday morning with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , with whom she negotiated four relief bills in March and April totaling about $ 3 trillion .
Pelosi and Mnuchin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at which point Mnuchin is expected to come back with a more detailed response , according to two people with knowledge of the talks who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss them .
Congress hasn ’ t acted to pass any new aid since the spring , and prospects for a bipartisan deal ahead of the election were looking increasingly grim .
But on Monday , House Democrats released a new , $ 2.2 trillion bill — a slimmed-down version of the $ 3.4 trillion Heroes Act they passed in May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that had collapsed in August .
Even though they have reengaged in talks , Democrats are preparing to move forward without a White House deal if necessary .
They could vote as soon as Wednesday on their new $ 2.2 trillion plan , or they could hold off if the talks with Mnuchin pick up speed .

Nancy Pelosi and Mark Meadows both said yesterday they’re hopeful they can reach a new economic stimulus agreement this week, despite failures to date. Via the Washington Post:
Pelosi told reporters at the Capitol an agreement could come this week, which is supposed to be Congress’s final one in session before recessing through the election. She spoke by phone for about 50 minutes Tuesday morning with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, with whom she negotiated four relief bills in March and April totaling about $3 trillion.
Pelosi and Mnuchin are set to talk again Wednesday, at which point Mnuchin is expected to come back with a more detailed response, according to two people with knowledge of the talks who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss them.
Congress hasn’t acted to pass any new aid since the spring, and prospects for a bipartisan deal ahead of the election were looking increasingly grim. But on Monday, House Democrats released a new, $2.2 trillion bill — a slimmed-down version of the $3.4 trillion Heroes Act they passed in May — and Pelosi and Mnuchin resumed negotiations that had collapsed in August.
Even though they have reengaged in talks, Democrats are preparing to move forward without a White House deal if necessary. They could vote as soon as Wednesday on their new $2.2 trillion plan, or they could hold off if the talks with Mnuchin pick up speed.


crooksandliars--2020-09-30--Late Night Hosts Have Some Thoughts On That Batsh*t Crazy Debate

It 's hard to be funny when you 're flat-out appalled , but late night hosts did their best after last night 's sh*tshow .
Their most common reaction : `` What was that ? ''
Via the Washington Post : “ Chris Wallace felt like a kindergarten teacher running a class on Zoom , ” Fallon said of the Fox News anchor .
Kimmel also tied his performance back to grade school , saying that “ Trump treated Chris Wallace like he was Eric asking for more allowance money , ” referring to Trump ’ s son .
Noah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderators to find some way to keep Trump from bulldozing over Biden ’ s answers .
“ Give the next moderator a spray bottle just to spritz them any time they interrupt , ” Noah said .
“ I promise you , Trump will be quiet because his hair turns into a gremlin if it gets wet.
” Among the most shocking moments of the night came when Trump refused to denounce white supremacists , instead suggesting that the far-right Proud Boys “ stand back and stand by ” — a statement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was knowingly egging them on .
Trump refused to condemn white supremacists and militia members in presidential debate marked by disputes over race “ I don ’ t support white supremacists , ” Colbert said , impersonating Trump .
“ I just command them like a dog .
That ’ s why I ’ ve got this shiny dog whistle .
‘ Proud Boys !
Proud Boys , stand back !
Sit !
Who ’ s a proud boy ?
You ’ re a proud boy .
’ ”

It's hard to be funny when you're flat-out appalled, but late night hosts did their best after last night's sh*tshow. Their most common reaction: "What was that?" Via the Washington Post:
“Chris Wallace felt like a kindergarten teacher running a class on Zoom,” Fallon said of the Fox News anchor.
Kimmel also tied his performance back to grade school, saying that “Trump treated Chris Wallace like he was Eric asking for more allowance money,” referring to Trump’s son.
Noah pleaded for the next debate’s moderators to find some way to keep Trump from bulldozing over Biden’s answers.
“Give the next moderator a spray bottle just to spritz them any time they interrupt,” Noah said. “I promise you, Trump will be quiet because his hair turns into a gremlin if it gets wet.”
Among the most shocking moments of the night came when Trump refused to denounce white supremacists, instead suggesting that the far-right Proud Boys “stand back and stand by” — a statement that Colbert seized on to suggest the president was knowingly egging them on.
Trump refused to condemn white supremacists and militia members in presidential debate marked by disputes over race
“I don’t support white supremacists,” Colbert said, impersonating Trump. “I just command them like a dog. That’s why I’ve got this shiny dog whistle. ‘Proud Boys! Proud Boys, stand back! Sit! Who’s a proud boy? You’re a proud boy.’”


crooksandliars--2020-10-01--Jacob Wohl And Jack Burkman Hit With Felony Charges In Voter Suppression Scheme

Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman , the pair of conmen , grifters and liars of the right wing conspiracy theory machine may finally have done something that will land them in prison .
In late August , Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl were reportedly behind voter supression robocalls in Michigan .
Michigan 's Attorney General , Dana Nessel , investigated and determined that there was enough of a basis to file numerous charges against the pair - all carrying hefty prison sentences if they are convicted .
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that she has filed charges today against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of robocalls aimed at suppressing the vote in the November general election . ''
They are each charged with : • One count of conspiracy to commit an election law violation , a five-year felony ; • One count of using a computer to commit the crime of election law – intimidating voters , a seven-year felony ; and • Using a computer to commit the crime of conspiracy , a seven-year felony .
It is unclear if they will be extradited to Michigan for arraignment or if they will come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residence as Arlington , Virginia and Jacob Wohl lives under his rock in Los Angeles .
According to Nessel , the messages `` attempted to discourage voters from participating in the general election by creating and funding a robocall targeted at certain urban areas , including Detroit .
The calls were made in late August and went out to nearly 12,000 residents with phone numbers from the 313 area code . ''
Nessel 's office communicated with other state AG '' s in New York , Pennsylvania , Ohio and Illinois , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by their residents in areas with large minority populations .
In total , it is believed that over 85,000 similar calls were made .
Nessel 's office put out the following statement : “ Any effort to interfere with , intimidate or intentionally mislead Michigan voters will be met with swift and severe consequences .
This effort specifically targeted minority voters in an attempt to deter them from voting in the November election .
We ’ re all well aware of the frustrations caused by the millions of nuisance robocalls flooding our cell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this particular message poses grave consequences for our democracy and the principles upon which it was built .
Michigan voters are entitled to a full , free and fair election in November and my office will not hesitate to pursue those who jeopardize that.
” The Michican Secretary of State , Jocelyn Benson , released this statement in August after reports of the robocalls came to her attention : '' I have zero tolerance for anyone who would seek to deceive citizens about their right to vote .
I am grateful to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation , putting anyone else who would seek to undermine citizens ’ fundamental rights on notice that we will use every tool at our disposal to dispel false rhetoric and seek justice on behalf of every voter who is targeted and harmed by any attempt to suppress their vote.
” So what was on the robocall ?
It was a multi-prong voter suppression tool .
It warned that voting by mail `` gives your provate information to the man '' and tells people that voting by mail allows the police to track you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credit card companies come after voters for old debts .
It also said that the database will be used by the CDC to track people down for MANDATORY VACCINES .
So ... to wrap this up .
Wohl and Burkman assume that minorities are all deadbeats with warrants who only vote Democrat .
Do you want to listen to the robocall ?
Click here !
In total , they each face a maximum of 24 years on the 4 charges .
The wheels of justice turn slowly , but grind exceedingly fine .

Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, the pair of conmen, grifters and liars of the right wing conspiracy theory machine may finally have done something that will land them in prison. In late August, Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl were reportedly behind voter supression robocalls in Michigan. Michigan's Attorney General, Dana Nessel, investigated and determined that there was enough of a basis to file numerous charges against the pair - all carrying hefty prison sentences if they are convicted.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that she has filed charges today against both Wohl and Burkman for "orchestrating a series of robocalls aimed at suppressing the vote in the November general election."
They are each charged with:
One violation of election law – intimidating voters, a five-year felony;
One count of conspiracy to commit an election law violation, a five-year felony;
One count of using a computer to commit the crime of election law – intimidating voters, a seven-year felony; and
Using a computer to commit the crime of conspiracy, a seven-year felony.
It is unclear if they will be extradited to Michigan for arraignment or if they will come voluntarily. Jack Burkman lists his official residence as Arlington, Virginia and Jacob Wohl lives under his rock in Los Angeles.
According to Nessel, the messages "attempted to discourage voters from participating in the general election by creating and funding a robocall targeted at certain urban areas, including Detroit. The calls were made in late August and went out to nearly 12,000 residents with phone numbers from the 313 area code."
Nessel's office communicated with other state AG"s in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, all of which reportedly had similar robocalls received by their residents in areas with large minority populations. In total, it is believed that over 85,000 similar calls were made.
Nessel's office put out the following statement:
“Any effort to interfere with, intimidate or intentionally mislead Michigan voters will be met with swift and severe consequences. This effort specifically targeted minority voters in an attempt to deter them from voting in the November election. We’re all well aware of the frustrations caused by the millions of nuisance robocalls flooding our cell phones and landlines each day, but this particular message poses grave consequences for our democracy and the principles upon which it was built. Michigan voters are entitled to a full, free and fair election in November and my office will not hesitate to pursue those who jeopardize that.”
The Michican Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, released this statement in August after reports of the robocalls came to her attention:
"I have zero tolerance for anyone who would seek to deceive citizens about their right to vote. I am grateful to the Attorney General for her swift and thorough investigation, putting anyone else who would seek to undermine citizens’ fundamental rights on notice that we will use every tool at our disposal to dispel false rhetoric and seek justice on behalf of every voter who is targeted and harmed by any attempt to suppress their vote.”
So what was on the robocall? It was a multi-prong voter suppression tool. It warned that voting by mail "gives your provate information to the man" and tells people that voting by mail allows the police to track you down for old warrants and will help credit card companies come after voters for old debts. It also said that the database will be used by the CDC to track people down for MANDATORY VACCINES.
So...to wrap this up. Wohl and Burkman assume that minorities are all deadbeats with warrants who only vote Democrat.
Do you want to listen to the robocall? Click here!
Charging documents? Click here.
In total, they each face a maximum of 24 years on the 4 charges. The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine.


crooksandliars--2020-10-01--It's Time To Awaken The Pro-Choice Religious Majority

We are living in time of awakenings .
The breadth of multi-racial support for Black Lives Matter was the clearest example this year , following the youth-led shift in gun politics and climate activism in the years before .
None have reached political fruition , but all have dramatically changed the conversation , fundamentally altering guiding assumptions , so that looking backwards just a moment ago , in historical terms , it seems as if we , as a culture , had been locked in a Rip Van Winkle-style sleep .
And we seem to be nearing a similar shift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as once-radical ideas about court-restructuring are widely being discussed .
But closely related to that is another long-overdue awakening : to the awareness of the pro-choice religious community , a hidden majority opposed to the key motivational engine that ’ s used to establish minority control over the Supreme Court .
As shown in the graphic below , based on the 2014 Pew Religious Landscape Study , there are “ prochoice majorities or near majorities in every category measured—except for evangelicals and Mormons , which also have significant prochoice minorities.
” That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frederick Clarkson , Senior Research Analyst at Political Research Associates , in just-published paper , “ The Prochoice Religious Community May Be the Future of Reproductive Rights , Access , and Justice ” .
Clarkson ’ s paper is part of package that includes a `` Directory of Prochoice Religious Organizations in the United States , '' along with the proceedings of an online colloquium organized by Political Research Associates , and response papers by researcher Rachel Tabachnick , and Patti Miller , author of Good Catholics : The Battle Over Abortion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just a passive assessment of a possibility .
It 's actively planting the seeds for what could come .
I wrote about Clarkson ’ s paper and the colloquium for Salon in June , the month after it was held , and the week after Trump ’ s invasion of St. John ’ s Church for his up-side-down Bible photo-op .
I noted Trump ’ s blasphemy and the pushback it received .
I then wrote : There could not be a more clear-cut example of anti-democratic minority rule than the multi-decade process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal of overturning Roe v. Wade Now , with Trump ’ s appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to replace Ruth Bader Ginsberg , that once-distant goal seems easily within reach .
And the disconnect of minority power shown in the above chart lies at the very heart of the larger phenomena of minority rule that pervades America today—not just in the minority-rule packing of the Court by a electoral vote loser and a Senate majority representing a minority of voters , but the gerrymandering of Congress and state legislatures , the proliferation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While it ’ s true that a majority of Americans are pro-choice and support Roe v. Wade , it ’ s generally assumed that the anti-choice side has “ all the religion ” , setting up a framework of moral “ values voters ” vs. a secular , immoral mob .
At least that ’ s how the religious right would frame it .
But the mainstream media isn ’ t all that different—and even Democrats themselves often seem to have internalized this view .
In a just-published article at Religion Dispatches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Democratic National Convention , “ there was nothing from an explicitly prochoice religious perspective , ” indeed : This was hardly an isolated incident .
Clarkson says , “ While the GOP has sought to solidify its base , the Democrats chase antiabortion religious voters on the margins , and both parties ignore the vast prochoice religious community in the United States.
” The fact that so many religious Americans are pro-choice is something that needs far more recognition—and more than that , activation : The mere existence of this community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The Power Is Not in the Polls ; It ’ s in the Organizing '' Clarkson argues in one section of his paper , and the key to organizing can be found in `` The Parachurch View .
`` “ To politically empower itself , the prochoice religious community needs to create organizations outside of traditional religious institutions , ” just as the Christian Right has done : There are multiple reasons why progressives can ’ t and shouldn ’ t want to simply copy rightwing parachurch organizing .
As Clarkson writes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the prochoice community makes organizing generally more complicated than for the Christian Right.
” But we can and should take a similar approach that ’ s compatible with our democratic , egalitarian values and much more diverse faith foundations : For the reasons cited above , “ creating one big national organization may be an unworkable goal , at least in the near term , ” Clarkson writes : They could range from being specific to one faith tradition , such as Roman Catholicism , to being ecumenical or multi-faith .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some may be more oriented to a choice point of view , others with a justice point of view , ” and they could be multi-issue , “ in the manner of what Religious Left organizations might be like if reproductive choice , access , and justice were part of the agenda.
” There is no one right approach , he argues .
“ All should be considered , encouraged , supported , and understood to be part of a greater whole with a common mission.
” One important option I stressed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ framework , “ defined by the group SisterSong as 'the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy , have children , not have children , and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities . '
'' As I wrote : All the above applies to what are basically issue-oriented groups .
A second kind of parachurch organization is specifically political , “ organizations , whether state , regional , or national , that are able to develop an electoral constituency not only as a voter base but also as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates , and officeholders.
” This , in turn requires a third kind : “ a clearinghouse , and a strategy and training center , to create or to point people to appropriate resources and to conduct ongoing organizer , campaign , and candidate schools.
” There ’ s another way of thinking about parachurch organizations , as I described in my Salon story : All this may sound extremely ambitious .
And it certainly is .
But this is about organizing an already-existing majority view , which , by definition , makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historic struggles of the past , for the abolition of slavery , for women ’ s right to vote , for LGBTQ rights , etc .
The hardest part may well be just getting started—getting people to take the work seriously , and committing to it .
The failure to do that is how we ’ ve gotten here in the first place—just weeks away from a possible deciding vote being placed on the Supreme Court to strike down Roe v. Wade .
If ever the words “ Don ’ t mourn , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time .
And this is the shape and scope of the organizing needed .

We are living in time of awakenings. The breadth of multi-racial support for Black Lives Matter was the clearest example this year, following the youth-led shift in gun politics and climate activism in the years before. None have reached political fruition, but all have dramatically changed the conversation, fundamentally altering guiding assumptions, so that looking backwards just a moment ago, in historical terms, it seems as if we, as a culture, had been locked in a Rip Van Winkle-style sleep. And we seem to be nearing a similar shift when it comes to the Supreme Court, as once-radical ideas about court-restructuring are widely being discussed.
But closely related to that is another long-overdue awakening: to the awareness of the pro-choice religious community, a hidden majority opposed to the key motivational engine that’s used to establish minority control over the Supreme Court. As shown in the graphic below, based on the 2014 Pew Religious Landscape Study, there are “prochoice majorities or near majorities in every category measured—except for evangelicals and Mormons, which also have significant prochoice minorities.” That’s a key point made by Frederick Clarkson, Senior Research Analyst at Political Research Associates, in just-published paper, “The Prochoice Religious Community May Be the Future of Reproductive Rights, Access, and Justice”.
Clarkson’s paper is part of package that includes a "Directory of Prochoice Religious Organizations in the United States," along with the proceedings of an online colloquium organized by Political Research Associates, and response papers by researcher Rachel Tabachnick, and Patti Miller, author of Good Catholics: The Battle Over Abortion in the Catholic Church. It's not just a passive assessment of a possibility. It's actively planting the seeds for what could come.
I wrote about Clarkson’s paper and the colloquium for Salon in June, the month after it was held, and the week after Trump’s invasion of St. John’s Church for his up-side-down Bible photo-op. I noted Trump’s blasphemy and the pushback it received. I then wrote:
But as McKay Coppins writes at The Atlantic, "most white conservative Christians don't want piety from this president; they want power." In particular, they want the power of his judicial appointments, with the goal of overturning Roe v. Wade, writing their minority views into law for generations to come, even as their share of the population (though not the electorate) plummets.” As Clarkson’s report shows, support for legal abortion is at a 25-year high, while, as I went on to note, “the main voting bloc opposed to legal abortion — white evangelical Protestants — is shrinking as a share of the population, even as it holds steady as a share of the electorate:”
There could not be a more clear-cut example of anti-democratic minority rule than the multi-decade process of eroding abortion access, with ultimate goal of overturning Roe v. Wade
Now, with Trump’s appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to replace Ruth Bader Ginsberg, that once-distant goal seems easily within reach. And the disconnect of minority power shown in the above chart lies at the very heart of the larger phenomena of minority rule that pervades America today—not just in the minority-rule packing of the Court by a electoral vote loser and a Senate majority representing a minority of voters, but the gerrymandering of Congress and state legislatures, the proliferation of voter-suppression laws and practices, and more.
While it’s true that a majority of Americans are pro-choice and support Roe v. Wade, it’s generally assumed that the anti-choice side has “all the religion”, setting up a framework of moral “values voters” vs. a secular, immoral mob. At least that’s how the religious right would frame it. But the mainstream media isn’t all that different—and even Democrats themselves often seem to have internalized this view. In a just-published article at Religion Dispatches introducing his work, Clarkson notes that at the Democratic National Convention, “there was nothing from an explicitly prochoice religious perspective,” indeed:
Fr. James Martin, a liberal Jesuit priest, closed the convention with a prayer in which he asked God to “Open our hearts to those most in need.” On his list was “The unborn child in the womb.”
This was hardly an isolated incident. Clarkson says, “While the GOP has sought to solidify its base, the Democrats chase antiabortion religious voters on the margins, and both parties ignore the vast prochoice religious community in the United States.” The fact that so many religious Americans are pro-choice is something that needs far more recognition—and more than that, activation:
There is a vast prochoice religious community in the United States that could provide the moral, cultural, and political clout to reverse current antiabortion policy trends in the United States…. Taken together, they have vast resources, institutional capacity, historic and central roles in many towns and cities, and cadres of well-educated leaders at every level—from national denominational offices to local congregational leaders, current and retired.
The mere existence of this community isn’t enough, obviously. "The Power Is Not in the Polls; It’s in the Organizing" Clarkson argues in one section of his paper, and the key to organizing can be found in "The Parachurch View."“To politically empower itself, the prochoice religious community needs to create organizations outside of traditional religious institutions,” just as the Christian Right has done:
Parachurch ministries within modern evangelicalism helped make what we now know as the Christian Right possible, and there are lessons to be learned from them. These are trans-denominational organizations with a religious mission that operate outside of, but not necessarily in conflict with, and often in cooperation with denominations…. Parachurch organizations evangelized, recruited, and trained people in theologies, skills, and ecumenical organizing activities that denominations could or would not. They paved the way for the more aggressive political operations that have emerged, matured, and gained real political power in recent decades.
There are multiple reasons why progressives can’t and shouldn’t want to simply copy rightwing parachurch organizing. As Clarkson writes, “the multi-faith and multiracial nature of the prochoice community makes organizing generally more complicated than for the Christian Right.” But we can and should take a similar approach that’s compatible with our democratic, egalitarian values and much more diverse faith foundations:
A prospective Religious Left, or sectors of a Religious Left with unambiguous views on reproductive rights, access, and justice, need not ape the structure and methods of the Christian Right—although it could probably take some lessons from it.48 Whatever organizations it might develop would need to be consistent with its own values in its organization and methods.
There’s even a good fledgling example Clarkson cites:
The multi-faith, multiracial Poor People’s Campaign led by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, has the stirrings of a possible political movement outside of traditional religious denominations….
There may be much to be learned from this initiative even though reproductive rights, access, and justice are not a formal focus. Instead (as discussed below), the Campaign argues that the Christian Right and the antiabortion movement use the issue to mask a racial and economic agenda that they say is inconsistent with Christian teaching and is undermining democracy.
For the reasons cited above, “creating one big national organization may be an unworkable goal, at least in the near term,” Clarkson writes:
A more promising series of possibilities would be the creation of trans-denominational groups as state, local, or regional entities—at least as pilot projects to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Although such groups would be separate, they would all need to have some common understandings about their mission at the outset. They would need to be dedicated to finding people who share a vision of creating a politically strong prochoice religious community.
They could range from being specific to one faith tradition, such as Roman Catholicism, to being ecumenical or multi-faith. They could take diverse ideological approaches: “some may be more oriented to a choice point of view, others with a justice point of view,” and they could be multi-issue, “in the manner of what Religious Left organizations might be like if reproductive choice, access, and justice were part of the agenda.” There is no one right approach, he argues. “All should be considered, encouraged, supported, and understood to be part of a greater whole with a common mission.”
One important option I stressed in my Salon story was the reproductive justice framework, “defined by the group SisterSong as 'the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities.'" As I wrote:
This definition resonates with the comments of a CCS client who had chosen to have an abortion, interviewed by Gillian Frank and quoted in Frederickson's report: Later I had two healthy beautiful children and a marriage that's been excellent, and I always felt that this fetus was a potential life, but I had, every month, the potential for life. And if I had gone forward with that pregnancy, the children I have now would not have come to be. And so this was a choice that I needed and deserved.
All the above applies to what are basically issue-oriented groups. A second kind of parachurch organization is specifically political, “organizations, whether state, regional, or national, that are able to develop an electoral constituency not only as a voter base but also as a permanent source of skilled political workers, candidates, and officeholders.” This, in turn requires a third kind: “a clearinghouse, and a strategy and training center, to create or to point people to appropriate resources and to conduct ongoing organizer, campaign, and candidate schools.”
There’s another way of thinking about parachurch organizations, as I described in my Salon story:
Another way of understanding parachurch organizations came from researcher Rachel Tabachnick in a response paper. She introduced a simplified organizational structure tree describing how they function: "First, the branches of the tree represent the deliverable products and services.... policy guidelines, education, media, get-out-the-vote efforts, etc." Second, "The trunk of the tree represents the tangible resources," which she describes in shorthand as "Fixers, Funders and Fellows." The fixers are the architects who create the organizations. Third are the roots, the intangible resources: "These are often the least visible assets, but they are the foundations on which the rest of the organization depends. These include knowledge, vision, values and ideas."
All this may sound extremely ambitious. And it certainly is. But this is about organizing an already-existing majority view, which, by definition, makes this a much easier task than more historic struggles of the past, for the abolition of slavery, for women’s right to vote, for LGBTQ rights, etc. The hardest part may well be just getting started—getting people to take the work seriously, and committing to it. The failure to do that is how we’ve gotten here in the first place—just weeks away from a possible deciding vote being placed on the Supreme Court to strike down Roe v. Wade. If ever the words “Don’t mourn, organize” had meaning, now is the time. And this is the shape and scope of the organizing needed.