thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Coronavirus Is A Global Threat. Mike Pompeo Won't Say Whether He Thinks It's A Hoax.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to say that the coronavirus is not a hoax , as President Donald Trump and his allies increasingly try to manage the public health crisis in a way that benefits the president and his public image .
“ It ’ s a gotcha moment .
It ’ s not useful , ” Pompeo said when Rep. Ted Lieu ( D-Calif. ) asked him whether he believed the coronavirus is the “ hoax of the day ” during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Friday .
Mulvaney played down the disease that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ It ’ s not a death sentence , it ’ s not the same as the Ebola crisis.
” He also accused the press of ignoring the crisis because it was too focused on covering the impeachment “ hoax.
” “ The press was covering their hoax of the day because they thought it would bring down the president , ” Mulvaney said .
“ The reason you ’ re seeing so much attention to [ coronavirus ] today is that they think this is going to be the thing that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
“ That ’ s what this is all about it.
” “ The State Department is doing everything it can to protect American citizens around the world .
I ’ m not going to comment on what others are saying .
...
I ’ m just telling you what the secretary of state is doing , ” he said , repeatedly refusing to deny that the disease is a “ hoax.
” The coronavirus was discovered late last year ( and the press has been widely covering it since then ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan , a city of 11 million people in central China .
Experts say these so-called “ wet markets , ” where wild animals are butchered and sold and which are common in China and throughout Southeast Asia , create conditions that are ideal for spawning new diseases .
The new coronavirus , officially named COVID-19 , is particularly concerning for scientists as it has not been previously seen in humans .
So far it has killed more than 2,800 people and infected more than 83,000 globally .
Trump dismantled the pandemic response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place , meaning that the White House is now having to create a new system from scratch .
Much of the administration response so far has been trying to reassure the public that it has the situation under control and focusing on the falling stock market .
The White House has contradicted what experts in the government ― like Dr. Anthony S. Fauci , one of the country ’ s leading virus experts and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease ― say about the disease and has told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speak publicly without approval .
Trump put Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the administration response .
When Pence was governor of Indiana in 2014 , when the state faced its worst HIV outbreak in state history , he refused to implement clean needle exchanges until the virus had already spread widely in one Indiana county .

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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to say that the coronavirus is not a hoax, as President Donald Trump and his allies increasingly try to manage the public health crisis in a way that benefits the president and his public image.
“It’s a gotcha moment. It’s not useful,” Pompeo said when Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) asked him whether he believed the coronavirus is the “hoax of the day” during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Friday.
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Lieu’s question centered around comments made by acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney at a gathering of conservative activists on Friday morning.
Mulvaney played down the disease that is spreading around the world, saying, “It’s not a death sentence, it’s not the same as the Ebola crisis.”
He also accused the press of ignoring the crisis because it was too focused on covering the impeachment “hoax.”
“The press was covering their hoax of the day because they thought it would bring down the president,” Mulvaney said.
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“The reason you’re seeing so much attention to [coronavirus] today is that they think this is going to be the thing that brings down the president,” he added. “That’s what this is all about it.”
Mulvaney didn’t actually call the coronavirus a “hoax,” despite Lieu’s question, but Pompeo still wouldn’t simply assert that it wasn’t one.
“The State Department is doing everything it can to protect American citizens around the world. I’m not going to comment on what others are saying. ... I’m just telling you what the secretary of state is doing,” he said, repeatedly refusing to deny that the disease is a “hoax.”
.@RepTedLieu asks Mike Pompeo if he will rebuke Trump chief of staff's Mick Mulvaney's description of the coronavirus as a "hoax." Pompeo won't answer. Lieu tries again and again to get Pompeo to give a simple response. Pompeo refuses to answer the question. pic.twitter.com/wX3ThCcuNj — Oliver Willis (@owillis) February 28, 2020
The coronavirus was discovered late last year (and the press has been widely covering it since then) and traced to a seafood market in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in central China. Experts say these so-called “wet markets,” where wild animals are butchered and sold and which are common in China and throughout Southeast Asia, create conditions that are ideal for spawning new diseases.
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The new coronavirus, officially named COVID-19, is particularly concerning for scientists as it has not been previously seen in humans. So far it has killed more than 2,800 people and infected more than 83,000 globally.
The United States is among nearly 40 countries that have reported infections, according to the World Health Organization.
Trump dismantled the pandemic response team that President Barack Obama put in place, meaning that the White House is now having to create a new system from scratch.
Much of the administration response so far has been trying to reassure the public that it has the situation under control and focusing on the falling stock market.
“Because of all we’ve done, the risk to the American people remains very low,” Trump said at a press conference Wednesday.
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The White House has contradicted what experts in the government ― like Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, one of the country’s leading virus experts and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease ― say about the disease and has told them that they are not allowed to speak publicly without approval.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Jerry Nadler Tells William Barr He Wants Prosecutors To Testify On Roger Stone Case

Michael Brochstein/Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images Attorney General William Barr has been asked to make 15 current and former Justice Department officials available for testimony or interviews The head of the House Judiciary Committee told Attorney General William Barr on Friday that committee Democrats want interviews or testimony from four career Justice Department prosecutors who quit the case of Trump political associate Roger Stone after Barr overruled their sentencing recommendation .
Chairman Jerrold Nadler ( D-N.Y. ) , who as a House impeachment manager unsuccessfully urged the Senate to remove President Donald Trump from office , requested that Barr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Justice Department officials available for testimony or interviews on four topics , including the handling of the Stone case .
Barr holds expansive views of executive power , and the Trump administration has generally resisted oversight from House Democrats ever since they took power following the 2018 midterm elections .
It is unusual for the Justice Department ’ s line prosecutors , who are not politically appointed , to testify before Congress .
The attorney general himself is scheduled to testify before the committee on March 31 .
Nadler ’ s letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 about other officials testifying .
A Justice Department spokeswoman did not immediately respond to HuffPost ’ s request for comment .
In a related statement on Friday , Nadler said that the Judiciary Committee “ needs to examine a range of recent actions that smack of political interference ” and that “ strict adherence to the rule of law ” is what separates the United States from other countries .
“ Attorneys General have supported this principle on a bipartisan basis throughout our history , but that principle is now under assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also a long history of Attorneys General cooperating in oversight inquiries led by both Democrats as well as Republicans , and given the stakes for our nation , we expect Attorney General Barr ’ s full cooperation here.
” Nadler ’ s letter notes that a number of former Justice Department officials have called on Barr to resign and points to Barr ’ s recently remarking that Trump ’ s tweets about Justice Department cases “ make it impossible for me to do my job.
” Nadler ’ s effort was announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked the Justice Department ’ s inspector general to investigate political interference within the department .

Attorney General William Barr has been asked to make 15 current and former Justice Department officials available for testimony or interviews Michael Brochstein/Echoes Wire/Barcroft Media via Getty Images
The head of the House Judiciary Committee told Attorney General William Barr on Friday that committee Democrats want interviews or testimony from four career Justice Department prosecutors who quit the case of Trump political associate Roger Stone after Barr overruled their sentencing recommendation.
Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), who as a House impeachment manager unsuccessfully urged the Senate to remove President Donald Trump from office, requested that Barr make a total of 15 current and former Justice Department officials available for testimony or interviews on four topics, including the handling of the Stone case.
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Barr holds expansive views of executive power, and the Trump administration has generally resisted oversight from House Democrats ever since they took power following the 2018 midterm elections. It is unusual for the Justice Department’s line prosecutors, who are not politically appointed, to testify before Congress.
The attorney general himself is scheduled to testify before the committee on March 31. Nadler’s letter requests a reply from Barr by March 13 about other officials testifying. A Justice Department spokeswoman did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
In a related statement on Friday, Nadler said that the Judiciary Committee “needs to examine a range of recent actions that smack of political interference” and that “strict adherence to the rule of law” is what separates the United States from other countries.
“Attorneys General have supported this principle on a bipartisan basis throughout our history, but that principle is now under assault,” Nadler said. “There is also a long history of Attorneys General cooperating in oversight inquiries led by both Democrats as well as Republicans, and given the stakes for our nation, we expect Attorney General Barr’s full cooperation here.”
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Nadler’s letter notes that a number of former Justice Department officials have called on Barr to resign and points to Barr’s recently remarking that Trump’s tweets about Justice Department cases “make it impossible for me to do my job.”
Nadler’s effort was announced a day after Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats asked the Justice Department’s inspector general to investigate political interference within the department.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Elizabeth Warren Now Has The Largest Super PAC In The Democratic Field

SAN ANTONIO , Texas — Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who spent much of her presidential campaign condemning super PACs as part of a corrupt campaign finance system that favors the wealthy and powerful , now appears to be the single biggest beneficiary of super PACs in the 2020 Democratic presidential field .
Persist PAC , the super PAC backing Warren ’ s candidacy , announced on Thursday night it would spend an additional $ 9 million helping Warren with television and digital advertising in some of the most expensive media markets in the country — including Los Angeles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boston — ahead of so-called Super Tuesday , when voters will award roughly one-third of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention .
The cash infusion could help Warren rack up a significant number of delegates on the most important day of the 2020 Democratic primary so far .
But a spokesman for Persist PAC said the group would stick to the legally required March 20 deadline to report its donors to the Federal Election Commission , after roughly three-fifths of the delegates to the convention will have been awarded .
( One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already known : EMILY ’ s List , which backs Democratic women who support abortion rights , said they provided $ 250,000 to the group . )
Most of the candidates in the 2020 Democratic presidential field originally shunned super PACs , which can raise and spend unlimited sums but are not allowed to coordinate directly with candidates and campaigns .
Warren led the charge on the issue , challenging other candidates to swear off outside spending and running television ads highlighting her stance .
But starting with a reversal by former Vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their position on the issue , and a field-wide stance against outside groups crumbled .
Warren , who first accepted the help of a super PAC in the run-up to the Nevada caucuses earlier this month , said she would call for Persist PAC to stop operations if the other candidates in the field request the same of super PACs supporting them .
“ I haven ’ t changed my position at all , ” she told reporters after a rally in San Antonio .
“ My position continues to be that all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do super PACs .
But it ’ s gon na take all of us , because that ’ s the only way that one will work.
” There has been little evidence of Warren paying a political price for her reversal so far : Neither the moderators nor her opponents pressed her on the issue at either of the last two Democratic debates .
Persist PAC ’ s investment in Texas , California and Massachusetts is one of the single biggest ad buys of the 2020 contest so far — save for those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Bloomberg — and makes the group likely the single-biggest outside spender in the race so far .
By comparison , Unite The Country , a super PAC backing Biden , has announced plans to spend less than $ 1 million in the Super Tuesday states .
The group is also embracing practices the Warren campaign has eschewed , hiring traditional consultants and pollsters .
Eric Adelstein and Ann Liston of Chicago-based AL Media are making the group ’ s ads , which so far have focused on Warren ’ s biography , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her to help lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau .
“ When you don ’ t grow up rich , you learn how to work .
When you take on Wall Street , you learn how to fight , ” a female narrator says at the start of the 30-second ad the group is airing in Super Tuesday states .

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SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who spent much of her presidential campaign condemning super PACs as part of a corrupt campaign finance system that favors the wealthy and powerful, now appears to be the single biggest beneficiary of super PACs in the 2020 Democratic presidential field.
Persist PAC, the super PAC backing Warren’s candidacy, announced on Thursday night it would spend an additional $9 million helping Warren with television and digital advertising in some of the most expensive media markets in the country — including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas and Boston — ahead of so-called Super Tuesday, when voters will award roughly one-third of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention. The cash infusion could help Warren rack up a significant number of delegates on the most important day of the 2020 Democratic primary so far.
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On Friday morning, the Warren campaign called for the PAC to reveal its donors before Tuesday’s crucial elections.
“Warren believes Persist PAC and all other super PACs should disclose their donors before Super Tuesday,” campaign spokesman Chris Hayden said.
But a spokesman for Persist PAC said the group would stick to the legally required March 20 deadline to report its donors to the Federal Election Commission, after roughly three-fifths of the delegates to the convention will have been awarded. (One of the group’s donors is already known: EMILY’s List, which backs Democratic women who support abortion rights, said they provided $250,000 to the group.)
Democratic 2020 U.S. presidential candidate and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) speaks at a campaign Get Out the Vote Event in Charleston, South Carolina, Feb. 26, 2020. Brian Snyder / Reuters
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Most of the candidates in the 2020 Democratic presidential field originally shunned super PACs, which can raise and spend unlimited sums but are not allowed to coordinate directly with candidates and campaigns. Warren led the charge on the issue, challenging other candidates to swear off outside spending and running television ads highlighting her stance. But starting with a reversal by former Vice President Joe Biden, candidates began changing their position on the issue, and a field-wide stance against outside groups crumbled.
Warren, who first accepted the help of a super PAC in the run-up to the Nevada caucuses earlier this month, said she would call for Persist PAC to stop operations if the other candidates in the field request the same of super PACs supporting them.
“I haven’t changed my position at all,” she told reporters after a rally in San Antonio. “My position continues to be that all of the candidates should agree not to do super PACs. But it’s gonna take all of us, because that’s the only way that one will work.”
There has been little evidence of Warren paying a political price for her reversal so far: Neither the moderators nor her opponents pressed her on the issue at either of the last two Democratic debates.
Persist PAC’s investment in Texas, California and Massachusetts is one of the single biggest ad buys of the 2020 contest so far — save for those made by self-funding billionaires Tom Steyer and Michael Bloomberg — and makes the group likely the single-biggest outside spender in the race so far. By comparison, Unite The Country, a super PAC backing Biden, has announced plans to spend less than $1 million in the Super Tuesday states.
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The group is also embracing practices the Warren campaign has eschewed, hiring traditional consultants and pollsters. Eric Adelstein and Ann Liston of Chicago-based AL Media are making the group’s ads, which so far have focused on Warren’s biography, including President Barack Obama’s selection of her to help lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--'Anti-Greta' Activist Naomi Seibt Praises White Nationalist At CPAC

NATIONAL HARBOR , Maryland — Naomi Seibt , the 19-year-old German climate science denier being marketed as the right ’ s answer to activist Greta Thunberg , praised a white nationalist while speaking on a panel at the Conservative Political Action Conference ( CPAC ) on Friday .
During a question-and-answer session at the end of the panel entitled “ Energy , Costs and Defeating the Climate Delusion , ” a Business Insider reporter asked Seibt if she is still a fan of white nationalist Stefan Molyneux , a Canadian vlogger .
Just an hour earlier , The Guardian had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past praise for Molyneux , whom she called one of her “ inspirations.
” Molyneux has for years peddled racist “ white genocide ” conspiracy theories in videos posted to YouTube .
At the CPAC panel Friday , Seibt was asked specifically about 2018 comments Molyneux made in which he explicitly praised white nationalism , claiming Poland was “ peaceful , free , easy , civilized and safe ” because it is “ essentially an all-white country.
” “ He ’ s not comparing other races , not at all , ” Seibt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just describing his experience in Western countries and I know that to the extent , for example , if I was in a country where Sharia was present , I know that I would not be able to speak as freely as in Western countries .
… It ’ s not that we are better in any way in Western countries .
We still have freedom of speech and I ’ m very happy that ’ s the case.
” The Heartland Institute , a right-wing organization with a long history of peddling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its effort to discredit near-universally accepted climate science .
In a press release , the group said she would “ work on communicating the climate realism message to her generation — which has marinated in apocalyptic nonsense their whole lives.
” That effort got a boost Feb. 24 when The Washington Post ran a front-page story profiling Seibt , calling her the “ anti-Greta.
” The newspaper drew fire for raising her platform and Heartland ’ s anti-science message .
Seibt insists she is not a “ climate denier , ” but rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interview with Fox News on Thursday , she parroted denialist talking points , falsely claiming that “ CO2 emissions are not actually harmful to the planet ” and that humans “ might contribute slightly ” to current warming , but that “ it is so insignificant that we shouldn ’ t focus on that.
” Seibt ’ s rising star has brought her other comments about race and religion under scrutiny .
Her praise for Molyneux , however , is particularly notable .
Molyneux is a bigot with ties to a who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Richard Spencer and Jared Taylor .
Molyneux also once stated in a YouTube video that has since been removed that “ you can not run a high IQ [ white ] society with low IQ [ non-white ] people … these [ non-white ] immigrants are going to fail ... and they ’ re not just going to fail a little , they are going to fail hard … they ’ re not staying on welfare because they ’ re lazy ... they ’ re doing what is economically the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gene set that is incompatible with success in a free-market economy .
”

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NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland — Naomi Seibt, the 19-year-old German climate science denier being marketed as the right’s answer to activist Greta Thunberg, praised a white nationalist while speaking on a panel at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Friday.
During a question-and-answer session at the end of the panel entitled “Energy, Costs and Defeating the Climate Delusion,” a Business Insider reporter asked Seibt if she is still a fan of white nationalist Stefan Molyneux, a Canadian vlogger.
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“I am still a fan, absolutely,” Seibt responded.
Just an hour earlier, The Guardian had published an article unearthing Seibt’s past praise for Molyneux, whom she called one of her “inspirations.”
Molyneux has for years peddled racist “white genocide” conspiracy theories in videos posted to YouTube. At the CPAC panel Friday, Seibt was asked specifically about 2018 comments Molyneux made in which he explicitly praised white nationalism, claiming Poland was “peaceful, free, easy, civilized and safe” because it is “essentially an all-white country.”
Seibt claimed these comments by Molyneux only sound racist when “taken out of context.”
“He’s not comparing other races, not at all,” Seibt said of Molyneux. “He is just describing his experience in Western countries and I know that to the extent, for example, if I was in a country where Sharia was present, I know that I would not be able to speak as freely as in Western countries. … It’s not that we are better in any way in Western countries. We still have freedom of speech and I’m very happy that’s the case.”
The Heartland Institute, a right-wing organization with a long history of peddling industry misinformation, recently hired Seibt in its effort to discredit near-universally accepted climate science. In a press release, the group said she would “work on communicating the climate realism message to her generation — which has marinated in apocalyptic nonsense their whole lives.” That effort got a boost Feb. 24 when The Washington Post ran a front-page story profiling Seibt, calling her the “anti-Greta.” The newspaper drew fire for raising her platform and Heartland’s anti-science message.
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Seibt insists she is not a “climate denier,” but rather a “climate realist.” But in an interview with Fox News on Thursday, she parroted denialist talking points, falsely claiming that “CO2 emissions are not actually harmful to the planet” and that humans “might contribute slightly” to current warming, but that “it is so insignificant that we shouldn’t focus on that.”
Heartland has since produced videos questioning the legitimacy of Thunberg’s activism, as seen below.
Seibt’s rising star has brought her other comments about race and religion under scrutiny. Her praise for Molyneux, however, is particularly notable. Molyneux is a bigot with ties to a who’s-who of neo-Nazis and white supremacists, including Richard Spencer and Jared Taylor.
He once argued that Black people are “collectively less intelligent.”
Molyneux also once stated in a YouTube video that has since been removed that “you cannot run a high IQ [white] society with low IQ [non-white] people … these [non-white] immigrants are going to fail ... and they’re not just going to fail a little, they are going to fail hard … they’re not staying on welfare because they’re lazy ... they’re doing what is economically the best option for them ... you are importing a gene set that is incompatible with success in a free-market economy.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Bernie Sanders Is Already Looking Beyond South Carolina

But there is an understanding that South Carolina may be the first night of the 2020 presidential cycle when Sanders has to cede the victory speech to another candidate : former Vice President Joe Biden .
Even in Iowa , where Pete Buttigieg won the state delegate count , Sanders had thousands more individual votes to his name than the former South Bend , Indiana , mayor .
Going into Saturday ’ s primary , every poll shows Biden winning South Carolina — and seemingly by a wide margin .
The most recent , a poll from Monmouth University conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has Biden leading Sanders by 20 percentage points , but Sanders still polled at 16 % — above the 15 % threshold to leave the state with delegates .
Last week , two polls from NBC/Marist College showed Sanders in a statistical tie with Biden .
Another , from Public Policy Polling , had Sanders behind Biden by 15 percentage points .
“ We are very confident in our supporters , we are very confident in what we have built in states like California , ” Rabin-Havt said , adding that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Carolina .
“ We are the only campaigns that I think can make thresholds everywhere , and that says something.
” That ’ s reflected in how Sanders has spent the last week strategically between Texas , North Carolina , Virginia and California .
Biden needs South Carolina to prove he is capable of winning races .
Sanders has already proven that .
For him , the bigger prize is the one-third of the national delegates that are up for grabs three days after the South Carolina primary .
“ I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Carolina , but he has to be competitive , ” said Joel Payne , a Democratic strategist who did African American voter outreach for Hillary Clinton ’ s 2016 campaign .
“ I don ’ t think the reverse of what happened with him and Biden in Nevada can happen in South Carolina without that taking some momentum away from Bernie.
” The test for Sanders in Saturday ’ s primary is about his campaign ’ s organizing ability .
Sanders may be a known entity in the Democratic field , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advantage in South Carolina , where he lost to Clinton by nearly 50 points in 2016 .
South Carolina will be the first time Black Americans , who make up roughly 60 % of the Democratic electorate in the state , will have the majority say in an election .
Building An Operation From The Ground Up But he doesn ’ t have the deep ties to South Carolina like Biden ; the former vice president has been coming to the state for years .
He has a vacation home in the low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most coveted endorsement in the state : Rep. Jim Clyburn ( D-S.C. ) the oldest , most senior Black elected official in Congress .
And he can claim to be Barack Obama ’ s right-hand man .
In a state where trust and familiarity carry politicians a long way , Sanders had a lot of ground to make up .
It ’ s what has made support from people like Myers so important , and why the Sanders campaign has put the most emphasis on face to face organizing .
The campaign is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message from groups like Medicare For All Now , which isn ’ t affiliated with any candidate , but has paid canvassers in the state going door to door to help get voters comfortable with a government-run health care system ― which also happens to be Sanders ’ signature policy issue .
“ I have people in my family that are very ill and sometimes they can ’ t get to the doctor because of no insurance and I ’ m really trying to help them and to help my grandchildren as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 68 , of Lexington , at Sanders ’ North Charleston rally .
“ Initially I was a Joe Biden supporter , ” she says , looking directly at the camera .
“ I switched from the Biden campaign to the Sanders campaign because I want to see the kind of lines around the building that we saw in 2008 I want to see people motivated to get out and vote for a candidate that they believe in.
” Can Sanders Keep Up Momentum ?
An hour into door-knocking , Cameron McManus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of rejections : a Republican , one man who hadn ’ t registered to vote in time and a young woman who told him “ don ’ t worry about it ” when he asked who she was voting for .
At the same time , he had signed up two volunteers , seemed to convince a voter teetering between Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
to pick Sanders , and got a Buttigieg supporter to say he ’ d look into Sanders ’ platform .

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CHARLESTON, S.C. ― Bernie Sanders’ campaign co-chair Nina Turner took the stage at the North Charleston convention center Wednesday with a simple rallying cry before the senator’s speech: Sanders has been winning.
“Hello Iowa! Hello New Hampshire! Hello Nevada!” said Turner, a former Ohio state senator, rattling off Sanders’ primary victories. Then, to roaring applause, Turner added one more to the list: “And hello South Carolina!”
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In the week before the South Carolina primary, Sanders scheduled four rallies in the state, interspersed with stops in North Carolina and Virginia — states that are among the 14 voting on Super Tuesday next week.
But there is an understanding that South Carolina may be the first night of the 2020 presidential cycle when Sanders has to cede the victory speech to another candidate: former Vice President Joe Biden. Even in Iowa, where Pete Buttigieg won the state delegate count, Sanders had thousands more individual votes to his name than the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor.
“We are going to go to Super Tuesday regardless and win,” Ari Rabin-Havt, Sanders’ deputy campaign manager, said as candidate prepared to take the stage in Virginia.
Going into Saturday’s primary, every poll shows Biden winning South Carolina — and seemingly by a wide margin. The most recent, a poll from Monmouth University conducted less than a week from the primary, has Biden leading Sanders by 20 percentage points, but Sanders still polled at 16% — above the 15% threshold to leave the state with delegates. Last week, two polls from NBC/Marist College showed Sanders in a statistical tie with Biden. Another, from Public Policy Polling, had Sanders behind Biden by 15 percentage points.
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Biden is resting his entire campaign on a win in South Carolina, which he says will be his springboard to victories across the country. But he has invested in Super Tuesday far less than some competitors who have more money in their campaign coffers.
For Sanders, South Carolina isn’t the only priority. The priority, one campaign aide said, is South Carolina and the Super Tuesday states that are voting in less than a week. The goal is to keep up momentum — and that doesn’t necessitate a win.
“We are very confident in our supporters, we are very confident in what we have built in states like California,” Rabin-Havt said, adding that he believes the campaign will do well in South Carolina. “We are the only campaigns that I think can make thresholds everywhere, and that says something.”
That’s reflected in how Sanders has spent the last week strategically between Texas, North Carolina, Virginia and California. Biden needs South Carolina to prove he is capable of winning races. Sanders has already proven that. For him, the bigger prize is the one-third of the national delegates that are up for grabs three days after the South Carolina primary.
“I don’t think he has to win South Carolina, but he has to be competitive,” said Joel Payne, a Democratic strategist who did African American voter outreach for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign. “I don’t think the reverse of what happened with him and Biden in Nevada can happen in South Carolina without that taking some momentum away from Bernie.”
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The test for Sanders in Saturday’s primary is about his campaign’s organizing ability. Sanders may be a known entity in the Democratic field, but that may not have been the biggest advantage in South Carolina, where he lost to Clinton by nearly 50 points in 2016. South Carolina will be the first time Black Americans, who make up roughly 60% of the Democratic electorate in the state, will have the majority say in an election.
“We have come a long, long way,” Sanders said of his position in the state at the North Charleston rally, touting his campaign’s grassroots organizing. His workers have knocked on more than 200,000 doors in the state, he said.
Building An Operation From The Ground Up
The Rev. Al Sharpton listens to Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders at the National Action Network South Carolina Ministers' Breakfast on Feb. 26, 2020, in North Charleston, S.C. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dalhi Myers, a 51-year-old Richland County council member, knows how to disarm the residents of Eastover, South Carolina — a small low-income African American community of roughly 800 people that is still struggling to recover from flooding in 2015. There are stretches of roads lined with abandoned homes. Those that are occupied are visibly in need of repair.
To get elected in 2016, Myers had to win a special election, with two runoffs in a matter of months. She’s knocked on these doors. And she has another connection.
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The first thing Myers says is, “I’m Ted Myers’ daughter.” Doors then open, skeptical expressions turn into hugs and the conversation flows ― from local town gossip to what Myers came to talk about: why she is voting for Sanders.
Ted Myers, Dalhi’s father, is the pastor of a prominent Black church with a congregation of more than 2,000 people less than 10 miles down the road. He’s a Tom Steyer supporter. And Dalhi Myers used to be a Biden supporter. But in late January, she changed her mind.
“I have met Joe Biden, I have an affinity for Joe Biden,” Myers said, as she walked through an overgrown yard to knock on another door. The neighbors all have Joe Biden signs up. “We need wholesale rethinking, and I came down on Bernie Sanders. Because incremental change isn’t working. It’s not helping.”
Sanders is “exciting in the way that Obama was exciting,” Myers said, adding that Biden isn’t.
Sanders’ message and organizing has begun to resonate with African American voters — especially among younger Black voters, where one national poll showed him three times more popular than Biden was.
But he doesn’t have the deep ties to South Carolina like Biden; the former vice president has been coming to the state for years. He has a vacation home in the low country. He’s won the most coveted endorsement in the state: Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) the oldest, most senior Black elected official in Congress. And he can claim to be Barack Obama’s right-hand man.
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In a state where trust and familiarity carry politicians a long way, Sanders had a lot of ground to make up. It’s what has made support from people like Myers so important, and why the Sanders campaign has put the most emphasis on face to face organizing. The campaign is also getting some indirect help on his message from groups like Medicare For All Now, which isn’t affiliated with any candidate, but has paid canvassers in the state going door to door to help get voters comfortable with a government-run health care system ― which also happens to be Sanders’ signature policy issue.
The message is getting through.
“I have people in my family that are very ill and sometimes they can’t get to the doctor because of no insurance and I’m really trying to help them and to help my grandchildren as they grow up,” said Martha Richardson, 68, of Lexington, at Sanders’ North Charleston rally.
Another voter, Al Townsend, 59, of North Charleston, said he was still undecided between Sanders and Steyer. But enough young people around him that he trusts were talking to him about Sanders that he’s leaning toward the senator.
“I got some nieces and some friends they are more Bernie swingers this time” and they are convincing, Townsend said, noting that affordable housing and climate change are the most important issues for him.
The Sanders campaign launched its first TV ad in South Carolina 10 days before the primary; it featured Myers.
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“Initially I was a Joe Biden supporter,” she says, looking directly at the camera. “I switched from the Biden campaign to the Sanders campaign because I want to see the kind of lines around the building that we saw in 2008 I want to see people motivated to get out and vote for a candidate that they believe in.”
Can Sanders Keep Up Momentum?
Bernie Sanders greets supporters after speaking at a campaign event, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, in North Charleston, S.C. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Five days ahead of the primary in South Carolina ― the fourth state to vote in the Democratic presidential primary ― downtown Charleston was teeming with Sanders volunteers, both locals and out of towners. The campaign has canvassers going out in three shifts every day across the state.
An hour into door-knocking, Cameron McManus, 24, had only experienced a handful of rejections: a Republican, one man who hadn’t registered to vote in time and a young woman who told him “don’t worry about it” when he asked who she was voting for. At the same time, he had signed up two volunteers, seemed to convince a voter teetering between Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to pick Sanders, and got a Buttigieg supporter to say he’d look into Sanders’ platform.
“We’re fighting against apathy,” McManus told a young woman, whose father had advised her to vote for Sanders.
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It will come down to margins on Saturday. Biden is looking poised to deliver on his promised win in South Carolina. But what Biden doesn’t have is the momentum. Sanders won the popular vote in Iowa, was triumphant in the New Hampshire primary and walked away from Nevada with a blowout victory. Biden says the primary doesn’t really start until South Carolina. Sanders wants South Carolina to prove he can be competitive everywhere.
McManus was about to knock on the door of a Colonial house downtown, ready to make his pitch for Sanders, when someone shouted at him from the street.
“No,” a man yelled out from his car. “We don’t want that,” pointing at the Sanders pamphlets that McManus was holding.
Undeterred, McManus moved on to the next house on his list when the same man shouted back at him, this time apologetic.
“Yesterday, you guys came through,” he said. “You’ve been covering it pretty well.”
Bernie Sanders waves during a campaign event, Feb. 27, 2020, in Spartanburg, S.C. ASSOCIATED PRESS


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--New York Democrats Battled Bloomberg As Mayor. Now Some Back His 2020 Blitz.

A year later , Meeks ’ name was floated as a potential Democrat to run against Bloomberg .
He didn ’ t end up running , but his supporters may have wished he did .
Bloomberg trounced his Democratic opponent and went on to serve a legally dubious three terms , during which he donated millions to maintain Republican control of New York ’ s state Senate , escalated racist policing of Black and Hispanic neighborhoods , and oversaw the most extensive rezoning in the city ’ s modern history , resulting in what critics called the “ racialized displacement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just before leaving office , Bloomberg attempted to sway the 2013 Democratic primary for mayor , putting his finger on the scale for former Council Speaker Christine Quinn , his chosen heir .
So it may be surprising that , when Meeks appeared on CNN earlier this month , it was to bash Bloomberg ’ s top rival for the Democratic presidential nomination for not showing enough fealty to the party .
It was perhaps even more surprising when the congressman from Queens expressed his full-throated support for Bloomberg ’ s run , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Democrat in October 2018 , one of his biggest endorsements to date .
As the world ’ s eighth-richest man deploys his gargantuan fortune in a bid for the Democratic nod to take on President Donald Trump , Bloomberg seems to have persuaded many of his erstwhile foes in New York to openly embrace his candidacy , or , at the very least , hold their tongues .
Corey Johnson , the City Council speaker , hewed the closest to Bloomberg , whom he endorsed in 2009 before entering public office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for criticizing Bloomberg .
When WNYC host Brian Lehrer probed Johnson this week for questions moderators should ask Bloomberg , the legislator framed queries on homelessness and criminal justice as issues that “ predated his time as mayor ” and urged listeners to keep the focus on Trump .
“ I have enthusiastically endorsed Elizabeth Warren as our best candidate to beat Donald Trump and deliver the bold , progressive change we need , ” Stringer said .
“ The magic of the Warren campaign is that they are powered by low dollar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future of the Democratic Party that we need.
” During his 12 years as mayor , Bloomberg gave away $ 2.8 billion that , as HuffPost previously reported , seemed to have convinced some of the mayor ’ s most vocal critics to fall in line with his administration .
Bloomberg ’ s total spending on charitable and political pursuits has since topped $ 10 billion , according to a New York Times estimate .
Yet it ’ s the self-financed campaign war chest that boosted Bloomberg to the top tier of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race was too late to barnstorm in early-voting states .
Since the former mayor started campaigning in November , he has spent at least $ 400 million on ads .
He hired so many operatives in states from Wisconsin to Connecticut that state and local campaigns are struggling to recruit staffers , The Intercept reported .
“ There is a special narcissism to billionaires .
They can ’ t see like the rest of us , ” de Blasio tweeted on Wednesday night , roughly six months after ending his own failed presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually happened , @ MikeBloomberg : I called for an end to your broken policies , got elected + changed them .
None of us needed to ‘ learn ’ what we already knew .
The people had told us .
”

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On a surprisingly warm day in 2004, Mike Bloomberg, then the GOP mayor of New York City, took the stage at the Republican National Convention in Madison Square Garden to urge his fellow Republicans to nominate George W. Bush for another four years as president.
Across town, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) partied with the city’s top Democrats at what they called the “Mission Not Accomplished Masquerade Ball,” a jab at Bush’s unpopular war in Iraq.
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“We’re telling the truth about those people over there,” Meeks told a CNN reporter at the event, referring to the Republican National Convention where the billionaire mayor spoke. “There’s no champagne and caviar over here.”
A year later, Meeks’ name was floated as a potential Democrat to run against Bloomberg. He didn’t end up running, but his supporters may have wished he did. Bloomberg trounced his Democratic opponent and went on to serve a legally dubious three terms, during which he donated millions to maintain Republican control of New York’s state Senate, escalated racist policing of Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, and oversaw the most extensive rezoning in the city’s modern history, resulting in what critics called the “racialized displacement” of working-class minorities. Then, just before leaving office, Bloomberg attempted to sway the 2013 Democratic primary for mayor, putting his finger on the scale for former Council Speaker Christine Quinn, his chosen heir.
So it may be surprising that, when Meeks appeared on CNN earlier this month, it was to bash Bloomberg’s top rival for the Democratic presidential nomination for not showing enough fealty to the party. It was perhaps even more surprising when the congressman from Queens expressed his full-throated support for Bloomberg’s run, giving the billionaire, who registered as a Democrat in October 2018, one of his biggest endorsements to date.
“Sometimes, where a person spends their money tells you where they are,” Meeks said during a recent CNN interview, crediting Bloomberg with putting “his money where his mouth is” by donating millions to liberal causes.
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Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg speaks during a rally in Oklahoma. Joe Raedle via Getty Images
As the world’s eighth-richest man deploys his gargantuan fortune in a bid for the Democratic nod to take on President Donald Trump, Bloomberg seems to have persuaded many of his erstwhile foes in New York to openly embrace his candidacy, or, at the very least, hold their tongues.
In his own endorsement, Rep. Max Rose, a Staten Island Democrat who unseated a Republican in a high-profile 2018 race, called Bloomberg, who donated to his opponent, “even keeled and visionary” at a time when “partisanship and hyper-vitriol” had “overtaken Washington.”
Even after Bloomberg’s humiliating debut on the debate stage in Las Vegas earlier this month, he managed to pick up a new endorsement from Rep. Nita Lowey, a Democrat who represents the tony suburbs north of New York City.
‘A Track Record To Run On’
Others have stopped short of endorsing the former mayor, but praised his entry into the race.
“The more the merrier,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who once led the fight against stop and frisk, told the New York Daily News editorial board in November. “His entry into the race, from my standpoint, is a welcome development, because he’s got a track record to run on.”
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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, told The New York Post he had a “very fine relationship” with Bloomberg.
“Joe Biden is not doing well. Michael Bloomberg, who I also know and have worked with, he has spent a fortune,” Cuomo said. “Money, still very important in this, as we just learned again.”
None of the three Democratic front-runners for the 2021 New York City mayoral race have exhibited any appetite for attacking Bloomberg.
Corey Johnson, the City Council speaker, hewed the closest to Bloomberg, whom he endorsed in 2009 before entering public office. In November, Johnson lashed de Blasio for criticizing Bloomberg. When WNYC host Brian Lehrer probed Johnson this week for questions moderators should ask Bloomberg, the legislator framed queries on homelessness and criminal justice as issues that “predated his time as mayor” and urged listeners to keep the focus on Trump.
“Let’s keep our eye on the big prize, which is this autocratic, racist ― I would say, sociopathic ― president who is literally destroying our country and the world every single day,” Johnson said.
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Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, another top mayoral contender, offered Bloomberg forgiveness following a sit-down meeting in November.
“It’s important we learn from our past and move toward a more just future,” Adams, who once battled Bloomberg’s stop-and-frisk policies as a police captain, tweeted.
Police face protesters outside Madison Square Garden as then-President George W. Bush delivers his speech on the last day of the Republican National Convention in New York City. Photo by Todd Maisel/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, also a mayoral hopeful, campaigned for Bloomberg’s Democratic rivals during Bloomberg’s years as mayor. But in a statement to HuffPost, Stringer made no mention of the former mayor, instead emphasizing his support for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
“I have enthusiastically endorsed Elizabeth Warren as our best candidate to beat Donald Trump and deliver the bold, progressive change we need,” Stringer said. “The magic of the Warren campaign is that they are powered by low dollar contributions from working people. That is the future of the Democratic Party that we need.”
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New York Attorney General Tish James, who in 2014 raised eyebrows for lashing Bloomberg in a fiery speech, did not respond to a request for comment. But even the barb she threw at a gathering of state leaders in Puerto Rico last November was muted.
“We’ll see if this country has an appetite for another billionaire,” she told Spectrum News.
Buying Silence As Progressive Critics Mount
Before Bloomberg burst into the 2020 race with an unprecedented bid to ― as one adviser put it ― “spend Trump out of office,” he built a sprawling network of influential charitable giving.
During his 12 years as mayor, Bloomberg gave away $2.8 billion that, as HuffPost previously reported, seemed to have convinced some of the mayor’s most vocal critics to fall in line with his administration. Bloomberg’s total spending on charitable and political pursuits has since topped $10 billion, according to a New York Times estimate.
That investment is already paying dividends for the former mayor’s late-entry campaign. By late February, Bloomberg raked in more than 100 endorsements from mayors, particularly those who benefited from his city-focused philanthropic initiatives.
Yet it’s the self-financed campaign war chest that boosted Bloomberg to the top tier of candidates even though his entry into the race was too late to barnstorm in early-voting states. Since the former mayor started campaigning in November, he has spent at least $400 million on ads. He hired so many operatives in states from Wisconsin to Connecticut that state and local campaigns are struggling to recruit staffers, The Intercept reported.
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Still, as Bloomberg’s campaign looks to stymie the ascendance of the national Democratic Party’s left wing, a growing cadre of New York progressives is unleashing some of the fiercest criticism of the former mayor.
The highest-ranking among them: Bloomberg’s successor. Mayor Bill de Blasio, who in 2013 defeated Bloomberg’s heir apparent, endorsed Sanders and expressed open disgust for Bloomberg’s 2020 spending spree and his attempt to gloss over his conservative record in City Hall.
“There is a special narcissism to billionaires. They can’t see like the rest of us,” de Blasio tweeted on Wednesday night, roughly six months after ending his own failed presidential bid. “Here’s what actually happened, @MikeBloomberg: I called for an end to your broken policies, got elected + changed them. None of us needed to ‘learn’ what we already knew. The people had told us.”
The Bloomberg campaign declined to comment to HuffPost.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), one of the progressive wing’s most visible national figures, has also spoken out against Bloomberg, and so has Brad Lander, a councilman representing de Blasio’s Park Slope home district and a top candidate for comptroller next year.
This week, a group of 90 New Yorkers of color ― including state Sen. Julia Salazar, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and city Councilman Antonio Reynoso ― signed a letter imploring voters to reject Bloomberg.
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Its amazing what happens when you can't hide behind Billions of dollars and glossy ads.
Looks like the real @MikeBloomberg started coming through last night.
Sometimes sunlight truly is the best dissinfected.https://t.co/PdqTIle4Pv — Jumaane Williams (@JumaaneWilliams) February 20, 2020
“No amount of half-baked apologies will repair the thousands of lives he ruined and generational trauma he caused,” Tiffany Cabán, the progressive public defender who nearly clinched the Democratic nod for last summer’s high-profile Queens district attorney race, told HuffPost in an email. “Bloomberg’s candidacy is a threat to democracy and a threat to Black and brown lives.”
For state Sen. Jessica Ramos, a progressive who ousted a conservative Democrat in 2018, Bloomberg’s bid for the nomination was even more personal. As a teenager growing up near Corona in central Queens, she said she was “stopped and frisked and humiliated with my friends.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Trump Nominates John Ratcliffe For Intelligence Chief Months After Withdrawing His Name

President Donald Trump nominated Rep. John Ratcliffe ( R-Texas ) as the director of national intelligence — again — months after first nominating him to the role and then withdrawing his nomination .
In a tweet Friday , Trump announced his nomination of the Texas congressman to be director of national intelligence , saying the White House “ would have completed process earlier , but John wanted to wait ” until after the inspector general ’ s report was finished .
In August , Trump had withdrawn Ratcliffe as his pick for director of national intelligence to replace Dan Coats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defender of Trump , had faced criticism from lawmakers for his lack of experience in national security .
The president tweeted at the time that he had persuaded Ratcliffe to withdraw in order to avoid “ months of slander and libel , ” adding that Ratcliffe had been “ treated very unfairly by the LameStream Media.
” When Trump first nominated Ratcliffe in July , The Washington Post reported that current and former intelligence officials deemed Ratcliffe “ the least-qualified person ever nominated.
” Among lawmakers , Sen. Ron Wyden ( D-Ore. ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee , called Ratcliffe in a July news release “ the most partisan and least qualified individual ever nominated to serve as Director of National Intelligence.
” “ The sum total of his qualifications appears to be his record of promoting Donald Trump ’ s conspiracy theories about the investigation into Russian interference and calling for prosecution of Trump ’ s political enemies , ” Wyden said .

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President Donald Trump nominated Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) as the director of national intelligence — again — months after first nominating him to the role and then withdrawing his nomination.
In a tweet Friday, Trump announced his nomination of the Texas congressman to be director of national intelligence, saying the White House “would have completed process earlier, but John wanted to wait” until after the inspector general’s report was finished.
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In August, Trump had withdrawn Ratcliffe as his pick for director of national intelligence to replace Dan Coats. The Texas congressman, a fierce defender of Trump, had faced criticism from lawmakers for his lack of experience in national security.
The president tweeted at the time that he had persuaded Ratcliffe to withdraw in order to avoid “months of slander and libel,” adding that Ratcliffe had been “treated very unfairly by the LameStream Media.”
When Trump first nominated Ratcliffe in July, The Washington Post reported that current and former intelligence officials deemed Ratcliffe “the least-qualified person ever nominated.”
Among lawmakers, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who is on the Senate Intelligence Committee, called Ratcliffe in a July news release “the most partisan and least qualified individual ever nominated to serve as Director of National Intelligence.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Trump Administration Sides With Kentucky Photographer Who Won't Shoot Same-Sex Weddings

LOUISVILLE , Ky. ( AP ) — The U.S. Department of Justice has weighed in on a lawsuit filed by a Kentucky wedding photographer who is challenging a city ordinance banning businesses from discriminating against gay customers .
The Justice Department filed a “ statement of interest ” this week in federal court saying that the photographer , Chelsey Nelson , is likely to succeed on her claim .
Nelson sued Louisville city officials in November , arguing that the city ’ s ordinance violated the First Amendment .
She has written about her business that she “ can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religious conviction that marriage is a covenant relationship before God between one man and one woman , ” according to court records .
Nelson is asking the court to block enforcement of the law , known as a fairness ordinance , because she does not want to photograph same-sex weddings .
“ Forcing a photographer , against her conscience , to express her support for a wedding that her faith opposes violates the Constitution , ” a release from the Justice Department said Thursday .
Nelson has not , according to court records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wedding .
City of Louisville officials have responded to the lawsuit by arguing that Nelson has no cause to challenge the ordinance .
Lawyers defending the city government have asked the judge to dismiss the suit .
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a brief defending the city , arguing that the Nelson ’ s intent to offer wedding photography only to heterosexual couples violates the city law .
“ Nelson Photography must know who a prospective customer is before deciding whether it will refuse to serve that person , ” the ACLU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The suit echoes a 2018 ruling by the Supreme Court that said Colorado violated the rights of a baker to exercise his religion when it sanctioned him for declining to bake a wedding cake for a gay couple .

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Justice has weighed in on a lawsuit filed by a Kentucky wedding photographer who is challenging a city ordinance banning businesses from discriminating against gay customers.
The Justice Department filed a “statement of interest” this week in federal court saying that the photographer, Chelsey Nelson, is likely to succeed on her claim.
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Nelson sued Louisville city officials in November, arguing that the city’s ordinance violated the First Amendment. She has written about her business that she “can’t photograph anything that conflicts with my religious conviction that marriage is a covenant relationship before God between one man and one woman,” according to court records.
Nelson is asking the court to block enforcement of the law, known as a fairness ordinance, because she does not want to photograph same-sex weddings.
“Forcing a photographer, against her conscience, to express her support for a wedding that her faith opposes violates the Constitution,” a release from the Justice Department said Thursday.
Nelson has not, according to court records, been forced to photograph a same-sex wedding.
City of Louisville officials have responded to the lawsuit by arguing that Nelson has no cause to challenge the ordinance. Lawyers defending the city government have asked the judge to dismiss the suit.
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The American Civil Liberties Union filed a brief defending the city, arguing that the Nelson’s intent to offer wedding photography only to heterosexual couples violates the city law.
“Nelson Photography must know who a prospective customer is before deciding whether it will refuse to serve that person,” the ACLU brief said, calling it identity-based discrimination.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear Defends Photo With Drag Queens After Criticism

Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear defended a photograph of him posing with drag queens at a gay rights rally and accused a Republican lawmaker of using homophobic tactics by displaying the photo at a recent campaign rally while accusing Democrats of corrupting traditional values .
Beshear , a Democrat , told reporters Thursday that he would pose for the photo again , saying he was practicing his faith to treat everyone with respect .
The Republican lawmaker who denounced the photo at the rally owes an apology to everyone appearing in the picture , the governor said .
At the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , state Sen. Phillip Wheeler accused Beshear and the Democratic Party of corrupting the values of children , the Lexington Herald-Leader reported .
“ They were absolutely homophobic , ” the governor said of the lawmaker ’ s remarks .
“ I don ’ t think he is the fashion police for the Capitol .
I believe he owes each and every one of them an apology .
They are as much Kentuckians as anybody else.
” “ My problem is not with the gay movement , ” he said in a phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say anything about the ‘ Pride Celebration.
’ ” Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear greets members of the Kentucky Order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence , an LGBTQ charity group , following a rally at the Capitol building in Frankfort .
Wheeler said he objected to what the drag queens wore .
One of them donned a KFC bucket crafted to look like a nun ’ s habit while another posing behind Beshear was wearing horns .
“ What I thought indecent was the fact that they wore outfits that mocked the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Wheeler said .
“ That ’ s what I ’ ve got a problem with , is the mockery and the fact that the governor would pose and support that.
” The Republican candidate won this week ’ s special election for an eastern Kentucky House seat that had been held by a Democrat for decades .
The Appalachian region is a stronghold for Republican President Donald Trump .
Beshear said Thursday he didn ’ t think the photo influenced the outcome .
At the campaign event , Wheeler said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the soul of America , ” the Lexington newspaper reported .
“ It is a fight against evil , for just the forces of decency.
” Beshear recently became Kentucky ’ s first sitting governor to attend the gay rights rally in the state Capitol Rotunda , a few steps from the governor ’ s office .
The rallies by gay-rights supporters date back to the 1990s , activists said .
“ It ’ s time to move beyond the hatred and the division and treat everyone the way that they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ For me , it ’ s a matter of faith , morals and doing what ’ s right.
” “ I would absolutely take that picture again because those are Kentuckians that were here at their Capitol , ” the governor added .
In 2004 , Kentucky voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman .
But in June 2015 , the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees same-sex couples have the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bans nationwide .
A county clerk in Kentucky , Kim Davis , made international news when she was jailed in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses after gay weddings became legal .
She cited her religious beliefs and said she was acting under “ God ’ s authority.
” Davis was released only after her staff issued the licenses on her behalf but removed her name from the form .
The state legislature later passed a law removing the names of all county clerks from state marriage licenses .

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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear defended a photograph of him posing with drag queens at a gay rights rally and accused a Republican lawmaker of using homophobic tactics by displaying the photo at a recent campaign rally while accusing Democrats of corrupting traditional values.
Beshear, a Democrat, told reporters Thursday that he would pose for the photo again, saying he was practicing his faith to treat everyone with respect.
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The Republican lawmaker who denounced the photo at the rally owes an apology to everyone appearing in the picture, the governor said. At the weekend rally for a Republican legislative candidate, state Sen. Phillip Wheeler accused Beshear and the Democratic Party of corrupting the values of children, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
“They were absolutely homophobic,” the governor said of the lawmaker’s remarks. “I don’t think he is the fashion police for the Capitol. I believe he owes each and every one of them an apology. They are as much Kentuckians as anybody else.”
Wheeler defended his comments Thursday, saying they were not directed toward homosexuals.
“My problem is not with the gay movement,” he said in a phone interview. “I didn’t say anything about the ‘Pride Celebration.’”
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear greets members of the Kentucky Order of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an LGBTQ charity group, following a rally at the Capitol building in Frankfort. ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Wheeler said he objected to what the drag queens wore. One of them donned a KFC bucket crafted to look like a nun’s habit while another posing behind Beshear was wearing horns.
“What I thought indecent was the fact that they wore outfits that mocked the Christian religion and mocked traditional values,” Wheeler said. “That’s what I’ve got a problem with, is the mockery and the fact that the governor would pose and support that.”
The Republican candidate won this week’s special election for an eastern Kentucky House seat that had been held by a Democrat for decades. The Appalachian region is a stronghold for Republican President Donald Trump. Beshear said Thursday he didn’t think the photo influenced the outcome.
At the campaign event, Wheeler said: “This is not only a fight for the soul of America,” the Lexington newspaper reported. “It is a fight against evil, for just the forces of decency.”
Beshear recently became Kentucky’s first sitting governor to attend the gay rights rally in the state Capitol Rotunda, a few steps from the governor’s office. The rallies by gay-rights supporters date back to the 1990s, activists said.
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The governor spoke against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and supported a ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth during the rally.
Beshear said Thursday that he was proud to make history with his appearance.
“It’s time to move beyond the hatred and the division and treat everyone the way that they’re supposed to be treated,” he said. “For me, it’s a matter of faith, morals and doing what’s right.”
“I would absolutely take that picture again because those are Kentuckians that were here at their Capitol,” the governor added.
Beshear defeated Republican incumbent Matt Bevin, a staunch social conservative, to win the governorship in last year’s election.
Political opposition to gay rights has some deep roots in Kentucky.
In 2004, Kentucky voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the state Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. But in June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees same-sex couples have the right to marry. The ruling overturned same-sex marriage bans nationwide.
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A county clerk in Kentucky, Kim Davis, made international news when she was jailed in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses after gay weddings became legal. She cited her religious beliefs and said she was acting under “God’s authority.”
Davis was released only after her staff issued the licenses on her behalf but removed her name from the form. The state legislature later passed a law removing the names of all county clerks from state marriage licenses.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--These Are The Victims Of The Milwaukee Brewery Mass Shooting

An employee of Molson Coors shot and killed five people on Wednesday at a brewing facility in Milwaukee before killing himself .
The 51-year-old shooter , identified as Anthony Ferrill , took the lives of five fellow workers : Jesus Valle Jr. , 33 ; Trevor Wetselaar , 33 ; Dana Walk , 57 ; Dale Hudson , 60 ; and Gennady Levshetz , 61 .
Law enforcement officers are investigating the attack and have not released the shooter ’ s motive .
Molson Coors CEO Gavin Hattersley told reporters at a press conference on Thursday that the victims worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But more importantly , they were husbands , they were fathers , and they were friends , ” he said .
Wisconsin Lt. Gov .
Mandela Barnes ( D ) called the mass shooting “ another senseless American tragedy , ” speaking at the site on Wednesday night .
“ We should not accept this , ” Barnes said .
“ We should never grow comfortable in the face of these repeated tragedies across America.
” Rep. Gwen Moore ( D ) led a moment of silence for the victims in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a speech on the House floor Thursday that she had known one of the victims “ very well , ” since 1992 .
“ There ’ s nowhere to run , nowhere to hide , ” the congresswoman said , listing off mass shootings in recent years , including the 2018 high school shooting in Parkland , Florida , and the 2015 massacre at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston , South Carolina .
Moore noted that some people point to mental illness as a reason .
“ There ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but there are not these shootings , ” Moore said .
People attend a prayer vigil for victims of the Molson Coors brewery shooting at the Ridge Community Church on Feb. 27 , 2020 , in Milwaukee .
“ Gene will be remembered as the best husband , dad , and dede , ” read his funeral notice .
“ He was a kind , caring , and giving person who always put his family ’ s needs before his own.
” Wetselaar , 33 , had worked as an engine room operator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his LinkedIn page .
Previously he was a nuclear reactor operator with the U.S. Navy for six years .
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2009 with a degree in political science , per a post from the chancellor .
Walk , 57 , left behind three children and his wife of 35 years , Dori , according to a funeral notice .
The avid fisherman and music fan liked to spend time on the lake and to work on home projects .
Hudson , 60 , grew up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Milwaukee Area Technical College , according to his Facebook page .
He was married and appeared to enjoy hunting and ice fishing , posting several photos of those activities on social media .

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An employee of Molson Coors shot and killed five people on Wednesday at a brewing facility in Milwaukee before killing himself.
The 51-year-old shooter, identified as Anthony Ferrill, took the lives of five fellow workers: Jesus Valle Jr., 33; Trevor Wetselaar, 33; Dana Walk, 57; Dale Hudson, 60; and Gennady Levshetz, 61. Law enforcement officers are investigating the attack and have not released the shooter’s motive.
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Molson Coors CEO Gavin Hattersley told reporters at a press conference on Thursday that the victims worked as powerhouse operators, machinists and electricians. “But more importantly, they were husbands, they were fathers, and they were friends,” he said.
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (D) called the mass shooting “another senseless American tragedy,” speaking at the site on Wednesday night. “We should not accept this,” Barnes said. “We should never grow comfortable in the face of these repeated tragedies across America.”
Rep. Gwen Moore (D) led a moment of silence for the victims in the U.S. House on Friday. She said in a speech on the House floor Thursday that she had known one of the victims “very well,” since 1992.
“There’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide,” the congresswoman said, listing off mass shootings in recent years, including the 2018 high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, and the 2015 massacre at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Moore noted that some people point to mental illness as a reason.
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“There’s mental illness all over the world — but there are not these shootings,” Moore said.
Here are the sons, husbands and fathers who lost their lives in Wednesday’s shooting:
People attend a prayer vigil for victims of the Molson Coors brewery shooting at the Ridge Community Church on Feb. 27, 2020, in Milwaukee. Kamil Krzaczynski via Getty Images
Jesus Valle Jr.
Valle, 33, left behind a wife and two children, his sister in tears told the Associated Press.
Gennady Levshetz
Levshetz, 61, left behind his wife Alina, two children and two grandchildren.
“Gene will be remembered as the best husband, dad, and dede,” read his funeral notice. “He was a kind, caring, and giving person who always put his family’s needs before his own.”
Trevor Wetselaar LinkedIn
Trevor Wetselaar
Wetselaar, 33, had worked as an engine room operator at Molson Coors since 2018, according to his LinkedIn page. Previously he was a nuclear reactor operator with the U.S. Navy for six years. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2009 with a degree in political science, per a post from the chancellor.
Dana Walk Krause Funeral Home
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Dana Walk
Walk, 57, left behind three children and his wife of 35 years, Dori, according to a funeral notice. The avid fisherman and music fan liked to spend time on the lake and to work on home projects.
“His family will miss Dana’s backseat coaching of the Packers to another Super Bowl,” the notice read.
Dale Hudson


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Even Among White Evangelicals, Women Are Less Likely To Favor Trump

The gender gap for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ― another staunchly Republican religious group ― was even more stark .
Female members of the church , widely known as the Mormon church , were much less likely than men to hold favorable views of Trump ( 45 % compared to 64 % ) .
About 71 % of non-Christian religious women , including those who identify as Jewish , Buddhist , Muslim , Hindu , Unitarian Universalist , and other smaller non-Christian religions , said they held an unfavorable view of Trump .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than non-Christian religious men to hold unfavorable views of the president .
The existence of a gender gap in voting preferences is well-documented ― women have been more likely than men to identify as Democrats for decades .
The gender gap for the 2016 presidential election was unusually large , according to exit poll analysis from the Center for the American Women and Politics at Rutgers University .
There was an 11 percentage point difference between women and men that year .
White evangelicals are a key part of Trump ’ s base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of white evangelicals interviewed for the study viewed Trump favorably , higher than any other major nonpolitical demographic group .
PRRI found that Trump ’ s favorability ratings among this group did not decline after the announcement of the impeachment inquiry ― instead , favorable ratings increased over the course of 2019 .
Trump is white evangelicals ’ “ ultimate fighting champion ” because he isn ’ t constrained by traditional Christian virtue , said Kristin Kobes Du Mez , a history professor at Calvin University and the author of an upcoming book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s actions ― his lies , crass and bombastic behavior , and his treatment of women ― make white evangelical women uncomfortable .
“ Trump aligns with a more militant ideal of Christian masculinity that is common in white evangelical circles .
But I think more women than men are wary of this kind of power , ” she said .
“ They may be more familiar with abuses of power , and more reluctant to see this sort of militancy as compatible with their faith.
” Karen Swallow Prior , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Liberty University , said she thinks women are more likely than men to see what some characterize as “ strong leadership ” to be “ simply bullying and bluster.
” Within white evangelicalism in particular , she said there have been numerous recent scandals that reveal examples of individual and systemic abuses of power .
“ Women — who are most often the victims of these abuses — are more likely to see such behaviors for what they are , ” Prior said .
At the same time , Trump ’ s strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conflict ” for white evangelical women who are opposed to abortion , Prior said .
They may not want to support the president , but they see the benefits of keeping a Republican in the White House .
“ It ’ s requiring some of us to really think through a more holistic life ethic , ” she said .
“ Is a vote for Trump a vote for life — or is it a Faustian bargain that will destroy our movement in the end ?
This is the question I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women I know.
” Mormon women ’ s chilly view of Trump is very different from how this group has felt toward previous Republican presidents , according to Jana Riess , senior columnist for Religion News Service and author of “ The Next Mormons : How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church.
” Nevertheless , Riess doesn ’ t believe Mormon women ’ s distaste for Trump will ultimately result in them switching parties in November .
Instead , she said Trump ’ s relative unpopularity among Mormons is more likely to result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Utah , where the faith is headquartered .

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President Donald Trump has long had trouble appealing to female voters ― and that gender gap exists even among some of the president’s most loyal religious supporters, a new study suggests.
About 59% of white evangelical Protestant women said they had a favorable impression of the president, compared to 69% of white evangelical men, according to a Public Religion Research Institute study published Wednesday.
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The gender gap for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ― another staunchly Republican religious group ― was even more stark. Female members of the church, widely known as the Mormon church, were much less likely than men to hold favorable views of Trump (45% compared to 64%).
About 71% of non-Christian religious women, including those who identify as Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Unitarian Universalist, and other smaller non-Christian religions, said they held an unfavorable view of Trump. These women were 18 percentage points more likely than non-Christian religious men to hold unfavorable views of the president.
Overall, PRRI found that men are 1.5 times more likely than women to be very favorable to Trump.
The existence of a gender gap in voting preferences is well-documented ― women have been more likely than men to identify as Democrats for decades. The gender gap for the 2016 presidential election was unusually large, according to exit poll analysis from the Center for the American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. There was an 11 percentage point difference between women and men that year.
Supporters bow their heads in prayer at a Women for Trump bus tour stop in Sioux City, Iowa, on Jan. 16. Brenna Norman / Reuters
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White evangelicals are a key part of Trump’s base. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of white evangelicals interviewed for the study viewed Trump favorably, higher than any other major nonpolitical demographic group. PRRI found that Trump’s favorability ratings among this group did not decline after the announcement of the impeachment inquiry ― instead, favorable ratings increased over the course of 2019.
Trump is white evangelicals’ “ultimate fighting champion” because he isn’t constrained by traditional Christian virtue, said Kristin Kobes Du Mez, a history professor at Calvin University and the author of an upcoming book on white evangelical masculinity. But the president’s actions ― his lies, crass and bombastic behavior, and his treatment of women ― make white evangelical women uncomfortable.
“Trump aligns with a more militant ideal of Christian masculinity that is common in white evangelical circles. But I think more women than men are wary of this kind of power,” she said. “They may be more familiar with abuses of power, and more reluctant to see this sort of militancy as compatible with their faith.”
Supporters at the Women for Trump event in Sioux City. Brenna Norman / Reuters
Karen Swallow Prior, a professor of English at the evangelical Liberty University, said she thinks women are more likely than men to see what some characterize as “strong leadership” to be “simply bullying and bluster.” Within white evangelicalism in particular, she said there have been numerous recent scandals that reveal examples of individual and systemic abuses of power.
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“Women — who are most often the victims of these abuses — are more likely to see such behaviors for what they are,” Prior said.
At the same time, Trump’s strong anti-abortion agenda has created a “tremendous conflict” for white evangelical women who are opposed to abortion, Prior said. They may not want to support the president, but they see the benefits of keeping a Republican in the White House.
“It’s requiring some of us to really think through a more holistic life ethic,” she said. “Is a vote for Trump a vote for life — or is it a Faustian bargain that will destroy our movement in the end? This is the question I’m asking along with many other evangelical pro-life women I know.”
President Donald Trump speaks after signing the Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act on Nov. 25, 2019. Loren Elliott / Reuters
Mormon women’s chilly view of Trump is very different from how this group has felt toward previous Republican presidents, according to Jana Riess, senior columnist for Religion News Service and author of “The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church.”
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That’s partly because many Mormon women don’t think Trump upholds family values, even if they agree with his political and economic policies, Riess said.
“He is a serial adulterer whose flagrant disregard for what most Latter-day Saints would consider to be moral behavior is a turnoff,” she said.
Mormon women may also feel strongly opposed to Trump’s immigration agenda. Unlike other white Republicans, Mormons tend to see immigration as contributing to the country in a positive way, Riess said.
Nevertheless, Riess doesn’t believe Mormon women’s distaste for Trump will ultimately result in them switching parties in November. Instead, she said Trump’s relative unpopularity among Mormons is more likely to result in a depressed turnout among Republicans in Utah, where the faith is headquartered.
Prior said she suspects white evangelical women’s affinity for the Republican Party will be hard to shake.
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“I think it’s too early to tell, but I suspect that when the time comes, evangelicals have been trained for generations to put their hopes in Supreme Court appointments,” Prior said. “The president is viewed simply as a means to that end.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-28--Despite Funding Anti-Abortion Candidates, Bloomberg Still Lauded By Pro-Choice Groups

But despite his substantial donations to Republican senators like Lindsey Graham , Pat Toomey and Scott Brown ( Warren ’ s opponent in her first Senate race ) , the billionaire is now seeking the Democratic nomination — and , according to polling averages , sitting comfortably in third place in a crowded field .
That is at least in part because national pro-choice groups have heaped praise upon Bloomberg for his substantial philanthropic contributions , blurring the details of his donation record and contributing to the perception of the former mayor as a staunch social liberal .
In 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s office , Bloomberg received Planned Parenthood ’ s Global Citizen Award , after Bloomberg Philanthropies pledged $ 50 million for Planned Parenthood Global , the international arm of Planned Parenthood that seeks to expand sexual and reproductive health care in developing countries .
On top of the Planned Parenthood donation , the Bloomberg Family Foundation has given nearly $ 14 million to the health care provider as well .
“ To say he ’ s one of the biggest champions for women in this country and all over the world would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former national chairwoman of Planned Parenthood , told The New York Times last November .
Lafer presented Bloomberg with the Global Citizen Award back in 2014 .
By that metric , then , Bloomberg has often been “ against ” the pro-choice movement .
As far back as 2004 and as recently as 2016 , Bloomberg was supporting Republicans whose opinion on abortion access differed greatly from his own .
He supported former President George W. Bush , and even spoke at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first term , including a controversial ban on so-called “ partial birth ” abortions .
At a presidential debate with then-Sen. John Kerry , Bush compared abortion to slavery .
Bloomberg also donated $ 4,000 to Sen. Richard Shelby ( R-Ala. ) in the early 2000s , despite Shelby identifying himself as “ resolutely pro-life ” and touting his long record of trying to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding .
Similarly , Bloomberg donated $ 2,000 to former New York Rep. Vito Fossella , a Republican with a 0 % rating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-abortion bills — and was chairman of Bloomberg ’ s mayoral campaign at the time .
Bloomberg also threw his weight behind another New York Republican , former Rep. Dan Donovan who , like King , voted to defund Planned Parenthood and also supported a ban on late term abortions .
( Donovan lost to Democrat Max Rose in a stunning upset in 2018 . )
The billionaire ’ s support for Toomey , a Pennsylvania Republican , in 2016 has arguably haunted Bloomberg the most .
Toomey has said in the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wade , and has consistently voted to defund Planned Parenthood .
( The campaign donations to Toomey were in support of his record of pushing bipartisan gun control , another issue upon which Bloomberg has focused his philanthropic efforts . )
And it ’ s not just campaign contributions — Bloomberg ’ s record as mayor wasn ’ t always on the side of reproductive rights .
As HuffPost reported this month , in 2003 , Bloomberg vetoed an emergency contraception bill over objections from advocates .
“ The vast majority of Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access to safe , legal abortion .
That ’ s more support than for any political party or candidate .
The way 2020 candidates can win widespread support is to lift up people ’ s health and rights , and treat them as non-negotiable , ” Robinson said .
“ It stuns me that groups that claim to believe in reproductive rights or any tenets of the reproductive justice framework can support a man who has such a history of racism , xenophobia and misogyny , ” Calla Hales , executive director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Georgia , told HuffPost .
The Charlotte branch of A Preferred Women ’ s Health Center , which Hales oversees , is a frequent target of anti-abortion harassment and threats of violence .

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Mike Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City, has spent millions of dollars to support “anti-choice, right-wing” politicians, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told viewers during the primary debate earlier this week.
But despite his substantial donations to Republican senators like Lindsey Graham, Pat Toomey and Scott Brown (Warren’s opponent in her first Senate race), the billionaire is now seeking the Democratic nomination — and, according to polling averages, sitting comfortably in third place in a crowded field.
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That is at least in part because national pro-choice groups have heaped praise upon Bloomberg for his substantial philanthropic contributions, blurring the details of his donation record and contributing to the perception of the former mayor as a staunch social liberal.
Jill Lafer presents former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg with the Global Citizen Award at the Planned Parenthood Federation Of America's 2014 Gala Awards Dinner in March 2014. Paul Morigi via Getty Images
In 2014, after he left the mayor’s office, Bloomberg received Planned Parenthood’s Global Citizen Award, after Bloomberg Philanthropies pledged $50 million for Planned Parenthood Global, the international arm of Planned Parenthood that seeks to expand sexual and reproductive health care in developing countries. On top of the Planned Parenthood donation, the Bloomberg Family Foundation has given nearly $14 million to the health care provider as well.
It's an honor to be recognized with the Global Citizen Award by Planned Parenthood. I'm proud to support their work. pic.twitter.com/vqM98WihQm — Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) March 28, 2014
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“To say he’s one of the biggest champions for women in this country and all over the world would be an understatement,” Jill Lafer, a former national chairwoman of Planned Parenthood, told The New York Times last November. Lafer presented Bloomberg with the Global Citizen Award back in 2014.
NARAL Pro-Choice America has also spoken highly of Bloomberg, throwing its support behind him during his reelection race in 2005 — despite the fact that he was a registered Republican.
Bloomberg’s stance on abortion access was “unparalleled in the city,” said then-NARAL NYC director Kelli Conlin in 2005. (Conlin was later sued by New York City for misusing charitable funds.)
“Reproductive choice is a fundamental human right, and we can never take it for granted,” Bloomberg told abortion rights advocates in New York in 2006.
He also condemned pro-choice politicians who support those who are anti-choice: “On this issue, you’re either with us or against us,” he said.
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By that metric, then, Bloomberg has often been “against” the pro-choice movement. As far back as 2004 and as recently as 2016, Bloomberg was supporting Republicans whose opinion on abortion access differed greatly from his own.
He supported former President George W. Bush, and even spoke at the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City. Bush signed extreme anti-abortion bills in his first term, including a controversial ban on so-called “partial birth” abortions. At a presidential debate with then-Sen. John Kerry, Bush compared abortion to slavery.
Bloomberg also donated $4,000 to Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) in the early 2000s, despite Shelby identifying himself as “resolutely pro-life” and touting his long record of trying to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving federal funding. Similarly, Bloomberg donated $2,000 to former New York Rep. Vito Fossella, a Republican with a 0% rating from NARAL who supported a host of anti-abortion bills — and was chairman of Bloomberg’s mayoral campaign at the time.
More recently, Bloomberg supported an anti-choice Republican instead of a progressive, pro-choice candidate in 2018, when Democrat Liuba Grechen Shirley ran in New York’s 2nd Congressional District against incumbent Republican Rep. Peter King.
She asked for Bloomberg’s support, but he refused to give it — and instead hosted a private fundraiser where he helped raise $10,000 for King’s campaign.
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In 2012, King told Democracy Now that he thinks doctors who provide abortions should be put in jail, and he has consistently voted to defund Planned Parenthood.
Michael Bloomberg — a week after pledging $80 million to help Dems win the House (https://t.co/6wcxSNDm20) — held a fundraiser at his home last night for Republican Rep. Peter King.
Co-hosts asked to raise $10k for King. pic.twitter.com/4DbJu8Te72 — Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) June 29, 2018
Bloomberg also threw his weight behind another New York Republican, former Rep. Dan Donovan who, like King, voted to defund Planned Parenthood and also supported a ban on late term abortions. (Donovan lost to Democrat Max Rose in a stunning upset in 2018.)
The billionaire’s support for Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, in 2016 has arguably haunted Bloomberg the most. Toomey has said in the past that he would support overturning Roe v. Wade, and has consistently voted to defund Planned Parenthood. (The campaign donations to Toomey were in support of his record of pushing bipartisan gun control, another issue upon which Bloomberg has focused his philanthropic efforts.)
And it’s not just campaign contributions — Bloomberg’s record as mayor wasn’t always on the side of reproductive rights. As HuffPost reported this month, in 2003, Bloomberg vetoed an emergency contraception bill over objections from advocates.
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But that didn’t stop the awards from coming in.
Abortion access is “non-negotiable,” Planned Parenthood Action Fund executive director Kelley Robinson told HuffPost in a statement this week ― while not commenting on Bloomberg’s accolades.
“The vast majority of Americans ― nearly eight in 10 ― support access to safe, legal abortion. That’s more support than for any political party or candidate. The way 2020 candidates can win widespread support is to lift up people’s health and rights, and treat them as non-negotiable,” Robinson said.
But not every group is eager to overlook Bloomberg’s past, whether it’s his donations to anti-choice candidates or the many allegations of sexism against him.
“It stuns me that groups that claim to believe in reproductive rights or any tenets of the reproductive justice framework can support a man who has such a history of racism, xenophobia and misogyny,” Calla Hales, executive director of four independent abortion clinics in North Carolina and Georgia, told HuffPost. The Charlotte branch of A Preferred Women’s Health Center, which Hales oversees, is a frequent target of anti-abortion harassment and threats of violence.
“Any pro-choice group that’s supportive of him after reading any of the documentation about Bloomberg’s settlement with former employee Sekiko Sakai Garrison would give me serious hesitation about their organizational ideals,” Hales said.
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In 1995, Garrison filed a lawsuit against Bloomberg for sexist and misogynist comments. Upon finding out that Garrison was pregnant, Bloomberg reportedly told her to “kill it!”
His “with us or against us” rhetoric aside, Bloomberg has minimized the importance of anti-choice politicians’ abortion stances when it comes to campaign contributions.
“If you cut out donations to everybody who disagreed with you on any one issue, you would support nobody,” Bloomberg said in 2005 when asked about his support for anti-choice candidates. “The people I agree with are people that are clearly pro-choice, but there are times there are other issues.”