wnd--2020-02-18--Brokered convention for Dems? Blame early voting

A contested or brokered convention is the worst nightmare for the Democratic or Republican parties , because it fractures the base and alienates the supporters of candidates not picked .
Neither major party has had a protracted , contested nominating convention since 1952 , and neither party wants one .
The modern presidential primary system has made a brokered convention unlikely .
While some candidates establish themselves as front-runners for a nomination , other candidates drop out and voters then coalesce around a few candidates , and ultimately the nominee .
The staggering of the primaries should have a salutary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the more popular candidates become clear , and eventually one of them secures enough delegates to ride into his party 's convention as the nominee and the flag bearer for the party in the general election .
But pervasive `` early voting '' undermines this process , leaving a hodgepodge of too many candidates continuing to win votes after they ceased being serious contenders .
By mailing thousands of ballots weeks before primary day in a particular state , its voters then choose among many candidates who will drop out prior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , the biggest prize of all , lists about a half-dozen people on its ballot who have already dropped out of the race .
Yet California Democrats have been mailing their ballots in early , well before the primary election day in that state .
Half of the Democrat primary voters in California are expected to vote early by filling out ballots listing candidates who have or will soon lose any chance of winning .
These ballots fail to guide the nomination process toward a successful conclusion .
Political commentators act as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrow by the time Californians cast their ballot , but early voting frustrates that helpful process of elimination .
It is unclear whom the early voters would have preferred among a narrower field of candidates .
The results from California will not be known immediately , either , thanks again to this disastrous early voting .
It takes time to tally mail-in votes , and in a general election the votes from California continue to be counted for weeks after Election Day .
Some Democrats , recognizing the self-inflicted harm caused by this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other not to cast ballots early in primaries .
Democratic leadership does not want a brokered convention or a repeat of their fiasco in Iowa when results were delayed .
`` Sure , I 'd wait , '' said Darry Sragow , an experienced California campaign manager , in explaining why he prefers not to vote early in a primary .
`` If one of the candidates trips up three days before the primary and I already cast my vote , I 'm gon na regret it . ''
Regret it indeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one voted drops out , or changes his position in an unacceptable way , or commits an unforgivable gaffe .
In each of those situations the early voter who cast his ballot for that candidate is stuck .
It is cost-prohibitive to allow early voters to change their ballots prior to the election , and yet voting rights would seem to require that .
After all , a juror can change his vote before a verdict is rendered , and the change will be recognized .
A traditional election , without thousands or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results on the night of the election .
But time for delivering and opening mail causes weeks to go by before final results can be tallied and announced for early voting in a high-turnout election , causing chaos and a loss in public confidence .
Despite this , some political consultants tell people to vote early .
One argument is that people should vote early in case they die before Election Day , which is not an issue for most voters , and such ballots are not even counted in some states .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , further interferes with the goal of coalescing around a winning nominee .
Democratic primaries typically award delegates based on the proportion of votes received , rather than the winner-takes-all system preferred by Republicans , but proportional voting makes it harder to win a majority .
The left-leaning FiveThirtyEight blog , which does extensive statistical analysis to predict election outcomes , declared last week that the likelihood of a contested Democrat convention `` is high and increasing . ''
The socialist Bernie Sanders is considered the most likely nominee , but he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winning a majority of pledged delegates prior to the convention .
A floor fight at the convention would be an unmitigated disaster for Democrats , but one for which they would have only themselves to blame .
By promoting early voting and insisting on proportional voting , the Democrat Party has created a system whereby it is more difficult for any candidate to win prior to its convention .

A contested or brokered convention is the worst nightmare for the Democratic or Republican parties, because it fractures the base and alienates the supporters of candidates not picked. Neither major party has had a protracted, contested nominating convention since 1952, and neither party wants one.
The modern presidential primary system has made a brokered convention unlikely. While some candidates establish themselves as front-runners for a nomination, other candidates drop out and voters then coalesce around a few candidates, and ultimately the nominee.
The staggering of the primaries should have a salutary winnowing effect. After a few primaries, the more popular candidates become clear, and eventually one of them secures enough delegates to ride into his party's convention as the nominee and the flag bearer for the party in the general election.
But pervasive "early voting" undermines this process, leaving a hodgepodge of too many candidates continuing to win votes after they ceased being serious contenders. By mailing thousands of ballots weeks before primary day in a particular state, its voters then choose among many candidates who will drop out prior to the primary day in that state.
California, the biggest prize of all, lists about a half-dozen people on its ballot who have already dropped out of the race. Yet California Democrats have been mailing their ballots in early, well before the primary election day in that state.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Half of the Democrat primary voters in California are expected to vote early by filling out ballots listing candidates who have or will soon lose any chance of winning. These ballots fail to guide the nomination process toward a successful conclusion.
Political commentators act as though the race among the Democrats will narrow by the time Californians cast their ballot, but early voting frustrates that helpful process of elimination. It is unclear whom the early voters would have preferred among a narrower field of candidates.
The results from California will not be known immediately, either, thanks again to this disastrous early voting. It takes time to tally mail-in votes, and in a general election the votes from California continue to be counted for weeks after Election Day.
Some Democrats, recognizing the self-inflicted harm caused by this process of early voting, are telling each other not to cast ballots early in primaries. Democratic leadership does not want a brokered convention or a repeat of their fiasco in Iowa when results were delayed.
"Sure, I'd wait," said Darry Sragow, an experienced California campaign manager, in explaining why he prefers not to vote early in a primary. "If one of the candidates trips up three days before the primary and I already cast my vote, I'm gonna regret it."
Regret it indeed, particularly if the candidate for whom one voted drops out, or changes his position in an unacceptable way, or commits an unforgivable gaffe. In each of those situations the early voter who cast his ballot for that candidate is stuck.
It is cost-prohibitive to allow early voters to change their ballots prior to the election, and yet voting rights would seem to require that. After all, a juror can change his vote before a verdict is rendered, and the change will be recognized.
A traditional election, without thousands or millions of mailed-in early ballots, yields results on the night of the election. But time for delivering and opening mail causes weeks to go by before final results can be tallied and announced for early voting in a high-turnout election, causing chaos and a loss in public confidence.
Despite this, some political consultants tell people to vote early. One argument is that people should vote early in case they die before Election Day, which is not an issue for most voters, and such ballots are not even counted in some states.
Proportional voting, also fashionable among Democrats, further interferes with the goal of coalescing around a winning nominee. Democratic primaries typically award delegates based on the proportion of votes received, rather than the winner-takes-all system preferred by Republicans, but proportional voting makes it harder to win a majority.
The left-leaning FiveThirtyEight blog, which does extensive statistical analysis to predict election outcomes, declared last week that the likelihood of a contested Democrat convention "is high and increasing." The socialist Bernie Sanders is considered the most likely nominee, but he has only a 38% chance now of winning a majority of pledged delegates prior to the convention.
A floor fight at the convention would be an unmitigated disaster for Democrats, but one for which they would have only themselves to blame. By promoting early voting and insisting on proportional voting, the Democrat Party has created a system whereby it is more difficult for any candidate to win prior to its convention.


wnd--2020-02-18--Victim of bloody police beating fights to hold attackers accountable

A team of legal experts from the Institute for Justice is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to leave alone a lower court 's decision that could allow an innocent college student to hold accountable police officers for the beating they gave him .
It was the 6th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals that decided in favor of James King in his fight with members of state-federal police task force .
They had `` misidentified '' him as a suspect in a petty theft , and the IJ has posed online a video explaining what happened .
In 2014 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was walking between his two summer jobs in Grand Rapids , Michigan when he came upon two men in t-shirts and jeans , leaning against a black SUV .
Although James had no idea who they were , these men were a local police detective and an FBI agent working as part of a task force and looking for a fugitive wanted for stealing a box of empty cans and several bottles of liquor from his former boss ’ apartment .
Without identifying themselves as police , the men began asking James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicle .
When one of the men took James ’ wallet , James believed he was being mugged .
But when he tried to escape , the men tackled James , choked him unconscious , and severely beat him .
While he was being beaten , James screamed for help , and passersby—who also did not recognize the men as police—called 911 pleading for help for James .
The IJ said when uniformed officers arrived , police just added to the injury .
They shielded the attackers from accountability , charged him – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fugitive – and prosecuted him .
He was acquitted by a jury , and sued the officers .
The government has used that strategy to `` ensure '' those officers are not held accountable .
Authorities have argued that the officers are immune from prosecution .
IJ Attorney Patrick Jaicomo explained , `` The Fourth Amendment prevents the government from undertaking unreasonable searches and seizures .
Here , at every step of the way , the officers were unreasonable in searching and seizing James , including when they beat him .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s now 2020 and the government still hasn ’ t even filed an answer addressing all the claims that we ’ ve raised .
Instead , they ’ ve spent the past four years filing different motions with courts , arguing under technicalities why they shouldn ’ t be held accountable rather than explaining why what they did actually wasn ’ t wrong . ''
`` James is asking to have the appeals court ruling corrected so he and others whose rights have been violated by state/federal task force members can hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law , '' said IJ Senior Attorney Bob McNamara .
“ The government wants to maintain a system where it ’ s heads , they win , tails , you lose .
That ’ s unfair and unlawful , and we are fighting to change it . ''
The original trial court dismissed the case but the 6th Circuit reversed .
`` If an officer has both state and federal powers , he should be more—not less—accountable to the Constitution , ” said IJ President & General Counsel Scott Bullock .

A team of legal experts from the Institute for Justice is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to leave alone a lower court's decision that could allow an innocent college student to hold accountable police officers for the beating they gave him.
It was the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that decided in favor of James King in his fight with members of state-federal police task force.
They had "misidentified" him as a suspect in a petty theft, and the IJ has posed online a video explaining what happened.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The IJ explained:
In 2014, King, then a 21-year-old college student, was walking between his two summer jobs in Grand Rapids, Michigan when he came upon two men in t-shirts and jeans, leaning against a black SUV. Although James had no idea who they were, these men were a local police detective and an FBI agent working as part of a task force and looking for a fugitive wanted for stealing a box of empty cans and several bottles of liquor from his former boss’ apartment. Without identifying themselves as police, the men began asking James questions and ultimately pinned him against their vehicle. When one of the men took James’ wallet, James believed he was being mugged. But when he tried to escape, the men tackled James, choked him unconscious, and severely beat him. While he was being beaten, James screamed for help, and passersby—who also did not recognize the men as police—called 911 pleading for help for James.
The IJ said when uniformed officers arrived, police just added to the injury.
They shielded the attackers from accountability, charged him – even though they knew he was not the fugitive – and prosecuted him.
He was acquitted by a jury, and sued the officers.
Then the "shell game" started, IJ reported.
The government has used that strategy to "ensure" those officers are not held accountable.
Authorities have argued that the officers are immune from prosecution.
IJ Attorney Patrick Jaicomo explained, "The Fourth Amendment prevents the government from undertaking unreasonable searches and seizures. Here, at every step of the way, the officers were unreasonable in searching and seizing James, including when they beat him. We filed this lawsuit in 2016. It’s now 2020 and the government still hasn’t even filed an answer addressing all the claims that we’ve raised. Instead, they’ve spent the past four years filing different motions with courts, arguing under technicalities why they shouldn’t be held accountable rather than explaining why what they did actually wasn’t wrong."
"James is asking to have the appeals court ruling corrected so he and others whose rights have been violated by state/federal task force members can hold officers accountable under both state and federal law," said IJ Senior Attorney Bob McNamara. “The government wants to maintain a system where it’s heads, they win, tails, you lose. That’s unfair and unlawful, and we are fighting to change it."
The original trial court dismissed the case but the 6th Circuit reversed.
"If an officer has both state and federal powers, he should be more—not less—accountable to the Constitution,” said IJ President & General Counsel Scott Bullock.


wnd--2020-02-18--Professors that pose a threat to the well-being of America

A recent Pew Research Center survey finds that only half of American adults think colleges and universities are having a positive effect on our nation .
The leftward political bias , held by faculty members affiliated with the Democratic Party , at most institutions of higher education explains a lot of that disappointment .
Professors Mitchell Langbert and Sean Stevens document this bias in `` Partisan Registration and Contributions of Faculty in Flagship Colleges . ''
Langbert and Stevens conducted a new study of the political affiliation of 12,372 professors in the two leading private and two leading public colleges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they found a Democratic to Republican ( D : R ) ratio of 8.5:1 , which varied by rank of institution and region .
For donations to political candidates ( using the Federal Election Commission database ) , they found a D : R ratio of 95:1 , with only 22 Republican donors , compared with 2,081 Democratic donors .
Several consistent findings have emerged from Langbert and Stevens ' study .
The ratio of faculty who identify as or are registered as Democratic versus Republican almost always favors the Democratic Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most in the humanities and social sciences , compared with the natural sciences and engineering .
The ratio is 42:1 in anthropology , 27:1 in sociology and 27:1 in English .
In the social sciences , Democratic registered faculty outnumber their Republican counterparts the least in economics 3:1 .
The partisan political slant is most extreme at the most highly rated institutions .
The leftist bias at our colleges and universities has many harmful effects .
Let 's look at a few .
At University of California , Davis , last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her opposition to the requirement for faculty `` diversity statements . ''
University of California , San Diego , requires job applicants to admit to the `` barriers '' preventing women and minorities from full participation in campus life .
At American University , a history professor recently wrote a book in which he advocates repealing the Second Amendment .
A Rutgers University professor said , `` Watching the Iowa Caucus is a sickening display of the over-representation of whiteness . ''
University of California , Berkeley , professor and former Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` Think about this : Iowa is 90.7 % white .
Iowa is now the only state with a lifetime voting ban for people with a felony conviction .
Black people make up 4 % of Iowa 's population but 26 % of the prison population .
How is this representative of our electorate ? ''
A Williams College professor said he would advocate for social justice to be included in math textbooks .
Students at Wayne State University no longer have to take a single math course to graduate ; however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a diversity course .
Then there 's a question about loyalty to our nation .
Charles Lieber , former chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard , was arrested earlier this year on accusations that he made a materially false , fictitious and fraudulent statement about work he did for a program run by the Chinese government that seeks to lure American talent to China .
He was paid $ 50,000 a month and up to $ 158,000 in living expenses for his work , which involved cultivating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court documents .
According to the Department of Justice , Lieber helped China `` cultivate high-level scientific talent in furtherance of China 's scientific development , economic prosperity and national security . ''
It 's not just Harvard professors .
Newly found court records reveal that Emory University neuroscientist Li Xiao-Jiang was fired in late 2019 after being charged with lying about his own ties to China .
Li was part of the same Chinese program as Lieber .
A jury found a University of California , Los Angeles , professor guilty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Newsweek reported that he was convicted June 26 on 18 federal charges .
Meanwhile , NBC reported that federal prosecutors say that University of Texas professor Bo Mao attempted to steal U.S. technology by using his position as a professor to obtain access to protected circuitry and then handing it over to the Chinese telecommunications giant , Huawei .
The true tragedy is that so many Americans are blind to the fact that today 's colleges and universities pose a threat on several fronts to the well-being of our nation .

A recent Pew Research Center survey finds that only half of American adults think colleges and universities are having a positive effect on our nation. The leftward political bias, held by faculty members affiliated with the Democratic Party, at most institutions of higher education explains a lot of that disappointment. Professors Mitchell Langbert and Sean Stevens document this bias in "Partisan Registration and Contributions of Faculty in Flagship Colleges."
Langbert and Stevens conducted a new study of the political affiliation of 12,372 professors in the two leading private and two leading public colleges in 31 states. For party registration, they found a Democratic to Republican (D:R) ratio of 8.5:1, which varied by rank of institution and region. For donations to political candidates (using the Federal Election Commission database), they found a D:R ratio of 95:1, with only 22 Republican donors, compared with 2,081 Democratic donors.
Several consistent findings have emerged from Langbert and Stevens' study. The ratio of faculty who identify as or are registered as Democratic versus Republican almost always favors the Democratic Party. Democratic professors outnumber their Republican counterparts most in the humanities and social sciences, compared with the natural sciences and engineering. The ratio is 42:1 in anthropology, 27:1 in sociology and 27:1 in English. In the social sciences, Democratic registered faculty outnumber their Republican counterparts the least in economics 3:1. The partisan political slant is most extreme at the most highly rated institutions.
The leftist bias at our colleges and universities has many harmful effects. Let's look at a few. At University of California, Davis, last month, a mathematics professor faced considerable backlash over her opposition to the requirement for faculty "diversity statements." University of California, San Diego, requires job applicants to admit to the "barriers" preventing women and minorities from full participation in campus life. At American University, a history professor recently wrote a book in which he advocates repealing the Second Amendment. A Rutgers University professor said, "Watching the Iowa Caucus is a sickening display of the over-representation of whiteness." University of California, Berkeley, professor and former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich chimed in to say: "Think about this: Iowa is 90.7% white. Iowa is now the only state with a lifetime voting ban for people with a felony conviction. Black people make up 4% of Iowa's population but 26% of the prison population. How is this representative of our electorate?" A Williams College professor said he would advocate for social justice to be included in math textbooks. Students at Wayne State University no longer have to take a single math course to graduate; however, they may soon be required to take a diversity course.
Then there's a question about loyalty to our nation. Charles Lieber, former chairman of the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard, was arrested earlier this year on accusations that he made a materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statement about work he did for a program run by the Chinese government that seeks to lure American talent to China. He was paid $50,000 a month and up to $158,000 in living expenses for his work, which involved cultivating young teachers and students, according to court documents. According to the Department of Justice, Lieber helped China "cultivate high-level scientific talent in furtherance of China's scientific development, economic prosperity and national security."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
It's not just Harvard professors. Newly found court records reveal that Emory University neuroscientist Li Xiao-Jiang was fired in late 2019 after being charged with lying about his own ties to China. Li was part of the same Chinese program as Lieber. A jury found a University of California, Los Angeles, professor guilty of exporting stolen U.S. military technology to China. Newsweek reported that he was convicted June 26 on 18 federal charges. Meanwhile, NBC reported that federal prosecutors say that University of Texas professor Bo Mao attempted to steal U.S. technology by using his position as a professor to obtain access to protected circuitry and then handing it over to the Chinese telecommunications giant, Huawei.
The true tragedy is that so many Americans are blind to the fact that today's colleges and universities pose a threat on several fronts to the well-being of our nation.


Bernie the revolutionary

Bernie Sanders leads the race for the Democratic nomination .
He may become America 's first self-described `` democratic socialist '' president .
What does that mean ?
Today , when Sanders talks about socialism , he says : `` I 'm not looking at Cuba .
I 'm looking at countries like Denmark and Sweden . ''
But Denmark and Sweden are not socialist .
Denmark 's prime minister even came to America to refute Sanders ' claims , pointing out that `` Denmark is far from a socialist planned economy . ''
Both Denmark and Sweden do give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welfare programs than America has .
However , recently , they 've moved away from socialism .
Because their socialist policies killed economic growth , they cut regulations and ended government control of many industries .
Sanders probably does n't know that .
He , like many young people , just loves the idea of socialism .
For my new video this week , Stossel TV producer Maxim Lott went through hours of Sanders ' old speeches .
What he found reveals a lot about what Sanders believes .
When Sanders was mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of his way to defend Fidel Castro .
`` He educated the kids , gave them health care , totally transformed the society ! ''
Fortunately , Sanders added , `` Not to say Fidel Castro or Cuba are perfect . ''
No , they are not perfect .
Castro 's government tortured and murdered thousands .
By confiscating private property , they destroyed the island 's economy .
Life got bad enough that thousands died trying to escape .
Even now in Cuba , most people try to live on less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focuses on other things , like : `` They did a lot to eliminate illiteracy ! ''
Sanders has long had a soft spot for socialist countries .
He chose to honeymoon in Communist Russia , where he said people `` seem reasonably happy and content . ''
He was `` extremely impressed by their public transportation system … cleanest , most effective mass transit system I 've ever seen in my life ! ''
He praised Soviet youth programs : `` Cultural programs go far beyond what we do in this country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his support , calling the Soviet government `` authoritarian . ''
But Sanders made no such criticism after Nicaragua 's socialist revolution .
He praised the Sandinistas ' land `` reform '' because they were `` giving , for the first time in their lives , real land to farmers so that they can have something that they grow .
Nobody denies that they are making significant progress . ''
Former landowners sure denied it .
They 'd had their land stolen .
Sanders suggested that was OK because landowners are rich .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a good life there , are not terribly happy , '' he said .
`` As a socialist , the word socialism does not frighten me .
… ( P ) oor people respect that . ''
What about the hunger and poverty socialism creates ?
Bernie had an odd take on that .
`` American journalists talk about how bad a country is because people are lining up for food .
That 's a good thing !
In other countries people do n't line up for food ; the rich get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' After he said he was `` impressed '' by Sandinista leaders , Sanders added , `` Obviously I will be attacked by every editorial writer in the free press for being a dumb dupe . ''
Bernie Sanders is indeed a `` dumb dupe '' about economics .
Or as the Soviet Communists used to put it , `` a useful idiot . ''
Under Ortega 's rule , Nicaragua quickly fell further into poverty , and the socialists were voted out in 1990 .
Ortega later returned as a violent dictator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cuba and other centrally planned economies , life is hell .
Once Sanders was elected to Congress , he mostly stopped praising violent socialist revolutions .
At that time , Communist governments in Europe were collapsing .
It was convenient for embarrassed former supporters of those governments to rebrand themselves .
In Congress , Sanders would call himself an independent and , in the estimation of his fellow Vermonter , former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean , he `` votes with the Democrats 98 % of the time . ''
But Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he gave to socialist regimes .

Bernie Sanders leads the race for the Democratic nomination.
He may become America's first self-described "democratic socialist" president.
What does that mean?
Today, when Sanders talks about socialism, he says: "I'm not looking at Cuba. I'm looking at countries like Denmark and Sweden."
But Denmark and Sweden are not socialist. Denmark's prime minister even came to America to refute Sanders' claims, pointing out that "Denmark is far from a socialist planned economy."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Both Denmark and Sweden do give citizens government-run health care and have bigger welfare programs than America has. However, recently, they've moved away from socialism. Because their socialist policies killed economic growth, they cut regulations and ended government control of many industries.
Sanders probably doesn't know that. He, like many young people, just loves the idea of socialism.
For my new video this week, Stossel TV producer Maxim Lott went through hours of Sanders' old speeches. What he found reveals a lot about what Sanders believes.
When Sanders was mayor of Burlington, Vermont, he went out of his way to defend Fidel Castro. "He educated the kids, gave them health care, totally transformed the society!" Fortunately, Sanders added, "Not to say Fidel Castro or Cuba are perfect."
No, they are not perfect. Castro's government tortured and murdered thousands. By confiscating private property, they destroyed the island's economy. Life got bad enough that thousands died trying to escape.
Even now in Cuba, most people try to live on less than $2 a day.
Sanders focuses on other things, like: "They did a lot to eliminate illiteracy!"
Sanders has long had a soft spot for socialist countries. He chose to honeymoon in Communist Russia, where he said people "seem reasonably happy and content." He was "extremely impressed by their public transportation system … cleanest, most effective mass transit system I've ever seen in my life!"
He praised Soviet youth programs: "Cultural programs go far beyond what we do in this country."
He did at least qualify his support, calling the Soviet government "authoritarian."
But Sanders made no such criticism after Nicaragua's socialist revolution. He praised the Sandinistas' land "reform" because they were "giving, for the first time in their lives, real land to farmers so that they can have something that they grow. Nobody denies that they are making significant progress."
Former landowners sure denied it. They'd had their land stolen. Sanders suggested that was OK because landowners are rich.
"Rich people, who used to have a good life there, are not terribly happy," he said. "As a socialist, the word socialism does not frighten me. … (P)oor people respect that."
What about the hunger and poverty socialism creates? Bernie had an odd take on that.
"American journalists talk about how bad a country is because people are lining up for food. That's a good thing! In other countries people don't line up for food; the rich get the food and the poor starve."
After he said he was "impressed" by Sandinista leaders, Sanders added, "Obviously I will be attacked by every editorial writer in the free press for being a dumb dupe."
I join them.
Bernie Sanders is indeed a "dumb dupe" about economics. Or as the Soviet Communists used to put it, "a useful idiot."
Under Ortega's rule, Nicaragua quickly fell further into poverty, and the socialists were voted out in 1990. Ortega later returned as a violent dictator. For most people in Nicaragua, Cuba and other centrally planned economies, life is hell.
Once Sanders was elected to Congress, he mostly stopped praising violent socialist revolutions.
At that time, Communist governments in Europe were collapsing. It was convenient for embarrassed former supporters of those governments to rebrand themselves.
In Congress, Sanders would call himself an independent and, in the estimation of his fellow Vermonter, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, he "votes with the Democrats 98% of the time."
But Sanders has never taken back the enthusiastic praise he gave to socialist regimes.


Liberty's face mask

Biden snaps after interviewer pulls out photo of child Obama admin put in cage

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wnd--2020-02-18--How much more should the feds be spending on you?

( REASON ) -- Last week , The New York Times published an eye-opening tally of how much more the federal government is spending on each of us since Donald Trump was elected president .
`` Total federal spending has increased by $ 1,441 per person since 2016 , '' reported Alicia Parlapiano and Quoctrung Bui , to a grand total of $ 14,652 per person per year .
They came to their numbers by looking at actual federal outlays `` for the 2016 fiscal year , adjusting for inflation and population changes '' and comparing them to the budgeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which ends on September 30 .
This revelation—which has generated a scant 45 comments as of this writing on five days after publication—should discomfit both Republicans and Democrats and conservatives and liberals/progressives .
And it should absolutely enrage libertarians who believe in smaller government and the 42 percent of Americans who identify as politically independent and thus are less likely to buy into partisan spin .
What exactly do we have to show for the $ 1,441 increase in spending per person since 2016 ?
As important , given the massive amounts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agrees is rampant in government , do we really need to be shelling out $ 14,652 per person , per year ?
That figure will almost certainly go up next year .

(REASON) -- Last week, The New York Times published an eye-opening tally of how much more the federal government is spending on each of us since Donald Trump was elected president. "Total federal spending has increased by $1,441 per person since 2016," reported Alicia Parlapiano and Quoctrung Bui, to a grand total of $14,652 per person per year. They came to their numbers by looking at actual federal outlays "for the 2016 fiscal year, adjusting for inflation and population changes" and comparing them to the budgeted amounts for the current fiscal year, which ends on September 30.
This revelation—which has generated a scant 45 comments as of this writing on five days after publication—should discomfit both Republicans and Democrats and conservatives and liberals/progressives. And it should absolutely enrage libertarians who believe in smaller government and the 42 percent of Americans who identify as politically independent and thus are less likely to buy into partisan spin. What exactly do we have to show for the $1,441 increase in spending per person since 2016? As important, given the massive amounts of waste, fraud, and abuse everyone agrees is rampant in government, do we really need to be shelling out $14,652 per person, per year? That figure will almost certainly go up next year.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-02-18--Most sinful states in America revealed. Does No. 1 surprise you?

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation . ]
Nevada is apparently the most sinful state in America .
According to a study from WalletHub based on anger and hatred , jealousy , excess and vices and greed , the state of Sin City came in at number one .
Texas , Florida , California and Georgia rounded out the top five .
Vermont was ranked last for the most sinful states .
Is anybody surprised at all that Nevada came in number one ?
They damn sure shouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re fooling yourself if you didn ’ t think the state that holds Sin City wouldn ’ t win these rankings .
Las Vegas is absolutely lit , and it shouldn ’ t apologize for that fact .
The city is full of booze , gambling sports and women .
If you don ’ t enjoy that , then go back to the cave you crawled out of .
We didn ’ t win World War II so that we couldn ’ t enjoy that stuff .
We won WWII so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-freedom activities .
WalletHub also had Wisconsin at number three for most excessive drinking .
Apparently , my guys back home are slacking .
This is Wisconsin we ’ re talking about .
This is the home of the Badgers .
We tip them back in away that nobody can compete with .
Sound off in the comments with whether or not you ’ re surprised with Nevada being at the top .
You most certainly shouldn ’ t be .
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact [ email protected ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.]
By David Hookstead
Daily Caller News Foundation
Nevada is apparently the most sinful state in America.
According to a study from WalletHub based on anger and hatred, jealousy, excess and vices and greed, the state of Sin City came in at number one. Texas, Florida, California and Georgia rounded out the top five.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Vermont was ranked last for the most sinful states.
Is anybody surprised at all that Nevada came in number one? They damn sure shouldn’t be. I love Nevada, but you’re fooling yourself if you didn’t think the state that holds Sin City wouldn’t win these rankings.
Las Vegas is absolutely lit, and it shouldn’t apologize for that fact.
The city is full of booze, gambling sports and women. If you don’t enjoy that, then go back to the cave you crawled out of.
We didn’t win World War II so that we couldn’t enjoy that stuff. We won WWII so we can partake in all those great pro-freedom activities.
WalletHub also had Wisconsin at number three for most excessive drinking. Apparently, my guys back home are slacking.
This is Wisconsin we’re talking about. This is the home of the Badgers. We tip them back in away that nobody can compete with.
Sound off in the comments with whether or not you’re surprised with Nevada being at the top. You most certainly shouldn’t be.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.]
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


wnd--2020-02-18--Jesus 'found me in my dirt and pulled me out,' Justin Bieber says

( CHRISTIAN HEADLINES ) -- Singer Justin Bieber in a new interview credits his Christian faith for saving him from @ @ @ @ @ s “ grateful ” to have friends in his life who live for Jesus .
@ @ @ @ @ a new album , Changes , told Apple Music 's Zane Lowe his faith saved @ @ @ @ @ the way he views life .
“ I was just living in this shame , @ @ @ @ @ of stuff in my past and I was n't able to move on , ” @ @ @ @ @ [ Now ] the way I look at my relationship with God and with Jesus @ @ @ @ @ to earn God 's love by doing good things .
God has already loved me @ @ @ @ @ before I did anything to earn and deserve it .
It 's a free gift @ @ @ @ @ giving your life to Him .

(CHRISTIAN HEADLINES) -- Singer Justin Bieber in a new interview credits his Christian faith for saving him from self-destruction, saying he’s “grateful” to have friends in his life who live for Jesus.
Bieber, who recently released a new album, Changes, told Apple Music's Zane Lowe his faith saved him from darkness and transformed the way he views life.
“I was just living in this shame, living in all this sort of stuff in my past and I wasn't able to move on,” he said. “... [Now] the way I look at my relationship with God and with Jesus is I'm not trying to earn God's love by doing good things. God has already loved me for who I am, before I did anything to earn and deserve it. It's a free gift by accepting Jesus and just giving your life to Him.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-02-19--Parents' anti-drag queen hour resistance rises

The Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy this week amid a deluge of sex-abuse lawsuits .
The Catholic clergy 's pedophilia conspiracies have cost the church more than $ 3 billion and countless followers .
Scandal after scandal shows how cunning child predators have exploited trusted civic institutions under cover of `` diversity , '' `` inclusion '' and `` progressivism . ''
Now more than ever , parents across the country are rising up to protect their local public schools and public libraries from turning into the next pedo playgrounds that will steal innocence , ruin lives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxpayers .
It 's a grassroots movement whose leaders have been demonized by both left-wing smear merchants at the Southern Poverty Law Center ( which likens resistant parents to `` neo-Nazis '' ) and marginalized by GOP Beltway elitists who run the annual Conservative Political Action Conference ( which banned the top anti-drag queen hour activist group in 2018 for fully embracing a true `` culture war '' against transvestite and transsexual forces hijacking the schools ) .
`` MassResistance.org has been on the forefront of fighting back and stopping Drag Queen Story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the group 's director , Arthur Schaper , told me this week .
`` Our activists have uncovered the lurid sites and social media they promote , and we have exposed that a number of them have criminal backgrounds , including two sex offenders who had assaulted minors !
These are hardly role models , contrary to what the Drag Queen Story Hour website claims . ''
Through local community organizing , investigative work and social media leveraging , MassResistance is making a difference .
Here 's what you must understand : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the metastasis of Drag Queen Story Hours in public schools and libraries on their own .
Capitulationist `` conservatives '' and libertarians , who prioritize virtue signaling over safety , joined forces with trans militants to promote blind acceptance of sexual perversity masquerading as `` diversity '' and marketed to toddlers and elementary school students .
Turning Point USA , the leading youth conservative organization , features drag queens and rainbow advocates at campus events .
National Review writer David French , now a featured speaker on the Young America 's Foundation campus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The fact that a person can get a room in a library and hold a Drag Queen Story Hour and get people to come ?
That 's one of the blessings of liberty . ''
Unlike the DQL ( Drag Queen Lobby ) on both sides of the political spectrum , parental sovereignty soldiers in the heartland have all the right enemies because they answer to only one special interest : our kids .
In Columbus , Ohio , this week , protesters shut down a planned `` Disney-themed '' drag queen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Chula Vista , California , vigilant parents filed public information requests revealing deception by City Councilmember Steve Padilla and Mayor Mary Salas , who falsely asserted at a council meeting that drag queens in the schools are subjected to full vetting and background checks .
MassResistance released documents this week from the city clerk admitting that no criminal background checks were conducted by police on two drag queens , `` Raquelita '' and `` Barbie Q , '' before they performed at a public library in front of 300 schoolchildren last September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ City does not require background checks for any of its performers as they only work with staff for less than twenty hours and the city has a standing policy that they are considered episodic volunteers and do not require a background check . ''
During their day jobs , the two performers defended by Salas and Padilla call themselves `` The Hottest Exxotics '' and promote gay bar hookups with young-looking men called `` twinks . ''
In Missouri , state Republican legislator Ben Baker has introduced a bill to bar drag queens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids at public libraries .
In Texas , MassResistance chapter chair Tracy Shannon and other parents helped uncover two registered sex offenders performing as drag queens in the Houston public library system last year .
One had been convicted of assaulting an 8-year-old boy .
The other , a transgender porn star , had been convicted of multiple sexual assaults against four young children ( ages 4 , 5 , 6 and 8 ) .
Texas MassResistance parents also exposed a third registered sex offender last summer operating in Austin elementary schools as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been convicted of male prostitution .
The local government-subsidized librarian had been warned in advance by the drag queen that he would fail a criminal background check .
The event was scheduled anyway with reckless disregard for the children 's safety .
Parent resisters were maligned as bigots by Texas officials , who mocked their faith and concerns .
Gay Houston city councilman Mike Laster sneered : `` What are you afraid of ? ''
Ask the families suing the Boy Scouts and Catholic dioceses across the country and around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regret when it 's too late .

The Boy Scouts of America filed for bankruptcy this week amid a deluge of sex-abuse lawsuits. The Catholic clergy's pedophilia conspiracies have cost the church more than $3 billion and countless followers. Scandal after scandal shows how cunning child predators have exploited trusted civic institutions under cover of "diversity," "inclusion" and "progressivism."
Now more than ever, parents across the country are rising up to protect their local public schools and public libraries from turning into the next pedo playgrounds that will steal innocence, ruin lives, ravage communities and impose mind-boggling costs on taxpayers. It's a grassroots movement whose leaders have been demonized by both left-wing smear merchants at the Southern Poverty Law Center (which likens resistant parents to "neo-Nazis") and marginalized by GOP Beltway elitists who run the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (which banned the top anti-drag queen hour activist group in 2018 for fully embracing a true "culture war" against transvestite and transsexual forces hijacking the schools).
"MassResistance.org has been on the forefront of fighting back and stopping Drag Queen Story Hour programs all over the country," the group's director, Arthur Schaper, told me this week. "Our activists have uncovered the lurid sites and social media they promote, and we have exposed that a number of them have criminal backgrounds, including two sex offenders who had assaulted minors! These are hardly role models, contrary to what the Drag Queen Story Hour website claims." Through local community organizing, investigative work and social media leveraging, MassResistance is making a difference.
Here's what you must understand: Social justice rainbow warriors didn't accomplish the metastasis of Drag Queen Story Hours in public schools and libraries on their own. Capitulationist "conservatives" and libertarians, who prioritize virtue signaling over safety, joined forces with trans militants to promote blind acceptance of sexual perversity masquerading as "diversity" and marketed to toddlers and elementary school students. Turning Point USA, the leading youth conservative organization, features drag queens and rainbow advocates at campus events. National Review writer David French, now a featured speaker on the Young America's Foundation campus circuit, told the New Yorker: "The fact that a person can get a room in a library and hold a Drag Queen Story Hour and get people to come? That's one of the blessings of liberty."
Insanity.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Unlike the DQL (Drag Queen Lobby) on both sides of the political spectrum, parental sovereignty soldiers in the heartland have all the right enemies because they answer to only one special interest: our kids.
In Columbus, Ohio, this week, protesters shut down a planned "Disney-themed" drag queen story hour at Clinton Elementary School.
In Chula Vista, California, vigilant parents filed public information requests revealing deception by City Councilmember Steve Padilla and Mayor Mary Salas, who falsely asserted at a council meeting that drag queens in the schools are subjected to full vetting and background checks. MassResistance released documents this week from the city clerk admitting that no criminal background checks were conducted by police on two drag queens, "Raquelita" and "Barbie Q," before they performed at a public library in front of 300 schoolchildren last September. The records exposed that "the City does not require background checks for any of its performers as they only work with staff for less than twenty hours and the city has a standing policy that they are considered episodic volunteers and do not require a background check."
During their day jobs, the two performers defended by Salas and Padilla call themselves "The Hottest Exxotics" and promote gay bar hookups with young-looking men called "twinks."
In Missouri, state Republican legislator Ben Baker has introduced a bill to bar drag queens from presenting age-inappropriate sexual material to young kids at public libraries.
In Texas, MassResistance chapter chair Tracy Shannon and other parents helped uncover two registered sex offenders performing as drag queens in the Houston public library system last year. One had been convicted of assaulting an 8-year-old boy. The other, a transgender porn star, had been convicted of multiple sexual assaults against four young children (ages 4, 5, 6 and 8). Texas MassResistance parents also exposed a third registered sex offender last summer operating in Austin elementary schools as "Miss Kitty Litter," who had been convicted of male prostitution. The local government-subsidized librarian had been warned in advance by the drag queen that he would fail a criminal background check. The event was scheduled anyway with reckless disregard for the children's safety.
Parent resisters were maligned as bigots by Texas officials, who mocked their faith and concerns. Gay Houston city councilman Mike Laster sneered: "What are you afraid of?"
Ask the families suing the Boy Scouts and Catholic dioceses across the country and around the world. Resist now, parents, or regret when it's too late.


wnd--2020-02-19--Comedian Drew Carey responds to murder of ex-fiancée: 'I am overcome with grief'

Entertainer Drew Carey is grieving the death of his former fiancée Amie Harwick , who police say was murdered at her home over the weekend .
Harwick , 38 , a prominent family and sex therapist in the West Hollywood area , was allegedly killed by ex-boyfriend Gareth Pursehouse , according to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department .
Police reported that Harwick was found on the ground beneath a third-story balcony in her Hollywood Hills area home , `` gravely injured '' and with `` significant injuries consistent with a fall . ''
According to the LAPD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Pursehouse , which had recently expired .
In addition , Harwick had `` recently expressed fear '' about Pursehouse 's behavior .
Pursehouse was arrested for murder on Saturday around 4:30 p.m. , the LAPD reported .
According to jail records , his bail has been set at $ 2 million dollars .
Those who loved Harwick are devastated over her death , including Carey , who was engaged to Harwick in 2018 before their relationship ended later that same year .
Carey posted a video on Twitter of him and Harwick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 're lucky enough to have someone in your life that loves as much as she did . ''
Carey , 61 , issued an additional statement to People , saying , “ Amie and I had a love that people are lucky to have once in a lifetime . ''
“ She was positive force in the world , a tireless and unapologetic champion for women , and passionate about her work as a therapist .
I am overcome with grief , '' Carey continued .
`` I would like to thank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone who loved Amie privacy while we try to work through this tragic situation . ''
Rudy Torres , a friend of Harwick 's , told KABC that Pursehouse was `` a stalker . ''
`` When they broke up he did n't take it well at all , '' Torres said .
`` He 'd do stupid stuff and say stupid stuff .
You 'd tell him , 'Move on dude , leave her alone . '
And he would n't . ''
Harwick reportedly saw Pursehouse approximately two weeks before his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time when his restraining order had expired , according to the LAPD .
`` I just feel like we failed her , '' Torres said .
`` The system has failed her . ''
According to Vulture , television 's famous game show `` The Price Is Right , '' which Carey hosts , has postponed filming for the week in light of Harwick 's death .
Our thoughts are with Harwick 's loved ones during this time .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Entertainer Drew Carey is grieving the death of his former fiancée Amie Harwick, who police say was murdered at her home over the weekend.
Harwick, 38, a prominent family and sex therapist in the West Hollywood area, was allegedly killed by ex-boyfriend Gareth Pursehouse, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police reported that Harwick was found on the ground beneath a third-story balcony in her Hollywood Hills area home, "gravely injured" and with "significant injuries consistent with a fall."
According to the LAPD, Hawick previously had a restraining order against Pursehouse, which had recently expired.
In addition, Harwick had "recently expressed fear" about Pursehouse's behavior.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Pursehouse was arrested for murder on Saturday around 4:30 p.m., the LAPD reported.
According to jail records, his bail has been set at $2 million dollars.
Those who loved Harwick are devastated over her death, including Carey, who was engaged to Harwick in 2018 before their relationship ended later that same year.
Carey posted a video on Twitter of him and Harwick together, writing, "I hope you're lucky enough to have someone in your life that loves as much as she did."
I hope you’re lucky enough to have someone in your life that loves as much as she did. pic.twitter.com/xMkQIwR6d6 — 🅳🆁🅴🆆 🅲🅰🆁🅴🆈 (@DrewFromTV) February 17, 2020
Carey, 61, issued an additional statement to People, saying, “Amie and I had a love that people are lucky to have once in a lifetime."
“She was positive force in the world, a tireless and unapologetic champion for women, and passionate about her work as a therapist. I am overcome with grief," Carey continued.
"I would like to thank you in advance for giving myself and everyone who loved Amie privacy while we try to work through this tragic situation."
Rudy Torres, a friend of Harwick's, told KABC that Pursehouse was "a stalker."
"When they broke up he didn't take it well at all," Torres said.
"He'd do stupid stuff and say stupid stuff. You'd tell him, 'Move on dude, leave her alone.' And he wouldn't."
Harwick reportedly saw Pursehouse approximately two weeks before his forced entry into her home, around the time when his restraining order had expired, according to the LAPD.
"I just feel like we failed her," Torres said.
"The system has failed her."
According to Vulture, television's famous game show "The Price Is Right," which Carey hosts, has postponed filming for the week in light of Harwick's death.
Our thoughts are with Harwick's loved ones during this time.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-02-19--'Ring' door cameras 'packed with 3rd-party trackers'

The Ring doorbell product and application is `` packed with third-party trackers '' and creates a `` fingerprint '' of customers of the company , which is owned by Amazon , warns a new report from a privacy organization .
`` Ring is n't just a product that allows users to surveil their neighbors .
The company also uses it to surveil its customers , '' said the Electronic Frontier Foundation .
The organization discovered in its investigation that the product is filled with trackers `` sending out a plethora of customers ' personally identifiable information . ''
The personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mobile network carriers , persistent identifiers and sensor data , '' went primarily to four `` analytics and marketing companies . ''
EFF said Ring `` claims to prioritize the security and privacy of its customers , yet time and again we ’ ve seen these claims not only fall short , but harm the customers and community members who engage with Ring ’ s surveillance system . ''
`` In the past , we 've illuminated the mismanagement of user information which has led to data breaches , and the attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the customers ' feet , '' EFF said .
`` This goes a step beyond that , by simply delivering sensitive data to third parties not accountable to Ring or bound by the trust placed in the customer-vendor relationship .
As we 've mentioned , this includes information about your device and carrier , unique identifiers that allow these companies to track you across apps , real-time interaction data with the app , and information about your home network .
In the case of MixPanel , it even includes your name and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to parties either only mentioned briefly , buried on an internal page users are unlikely to ever see , or not listed at all . ''
EFF said the danger is that `` analytics and tracking companies are able to combine these bits together to form a unique picture of the user 's device .
This cohesive whole represents a fingerprint that follows the user as they interact with other apps and use their device , in essence providing trackers the ability to spy on what a user is doing in their digital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
While this all is transpiring , there is no `` meaningful user notification or consent and , in most cases , no way to mitigate the damage done . ''
EFF undercuts the Ring reputation of helping provide `` the secure home , while profiting from a surveillance network which facilitates police departments ' unprecedented access into the private lives of citizens , as we have previously covered .
For consumers , this image has cultivated a sense of trust in Ring that should be shaken by the reality of how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ring mismanage consumer data , but it also intentionally hands over that data to trackers and data miners . ''
The foundation said its investigation revealed that Facebook , one of the companies receiving the personal details , is `` alerted when the app is opened and upon device actions such as app deactivation after screen lock due to inactivity . ''
Other companies receiving the details are Branch , MixPanel and AppsFlyer By the way , the report said , that information goes to Facebook `` even if you do n't have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , during the investigation , was able to install on the foundation 's test device a magnetometer , gyroscope and accelerometer .
MixPanel obtains users ' full names , email addresses , device information such as OS version and model , whether bluetooth is enabled , and app settings such as the number of locations a user has Ring devices installed in , are all collected and reported to MixPanel , '' EFF said .

The Ring doorbell product and application is "packed with third-party trackers" and creates a "fingerprint" of customers of the company, which is owned by Amazon, warns a new report from a privacy organization.
"Ring isn't just a product that allows users to surveil their neighbors. The company also uses it to surveil its customers," said the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
The organization discovered in its investigation that the product is filled with trackers "sending out a plethora of customers' personally identifiable information."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The personal details, including "private IP addresses, mobile network carriers, persistent identifiers and sensor data," went primarily to four "analytics and marketing companies."
EFF said Ring "claims to prioritize the security and privacy of its customers, yet time and again we’ve seen these claims not only fall short, but harm the customers and community members who engage with Ring’s surveillance system."
"In the past, we've illuminated the mismanagement of user information which has led to data breaches, and the attempt to place the blame for such blunders at the customers' feet," EFF said.
"This goes a step beyond that, by simply delivering sensitive data to third parties not accountable to Ring or bound by the trust placed in the customer-vendor relationship. As we've mentioned, this includes information about your device and carrier, unique identifiers that allow these companies to track you across apps, real-time interaction data with the app, and information about your home network. In the case of MixPanel, it even includes your name and email address. This data is given to parties either only mentioned briefly, buried on an internal page users are unlikely to ever see, or not listed at all."
EFF said the danger is that "analytics and tracking companies are able to combine these bits together to form a unique picture of the user's device. This cohesive whole represents a fingerprint that follows the user as they interact with other apps and use their device, in essence providing trackers the ability to spy on what a user is doing in their digital lives and when they are doing it."
While this all is transpiring, there is no "meaningful user notification or consent and, in most cases, no way to mitigate the damage done."
EFF undercuts the Ring reputation of helping provide "the secure home, while profiting from a surveillance network which facilitates police departments' unprecedented access into the private lives of citizens, as we have previously covered. For consumers, this image has cultivated a sense of trust in Ring that should be shaken by the reality of how the app functions: not only does Ring mismanage consumer data, but it also intentionally hands over that data to trackers and data miners."
The foundation said its investigation revealed that Facebook, one of the companies receiving the personal details, is "alerted when the app is opened and upon device actions such as app deactivation after screen lock due to inactivity."
Other companies receiving the details are Branch, MixPanel and AppsFlyer
By the way, the report said, that information goes to Facebook "even if you don't have a Facebook account."
And AppsFlyer, during the investigation, was able to install on the foundation's test device a magnetometer, gyroscope and accelerometer.
MixPanel obtains users' full names, email addresses, device information such as OS version and model, whether bluetooth is enabled, and app settings such as the number of locations a user has Ring devices installed in, are all collected and reported to MixPanel," EFF said.


wnd--2020-02-19--Forget China! War on baby girls documented in United States

For years , China has imposed abortion on women who have more children than mandated by the communist regime .
The consequences have been horrific .
In a society in which male children are valued more highly , unborn girls have been targeted with abortion .
Millions of men now will never marry because of a shortage of women .
The `` gendercide '' also has triggered unprecedented levels of trafficking of women .
Now , there 's evidence of that phenomena in the United States , according to a study by the Institute for Family Studies .
The report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against baby girls ' come to America ? ''
-- concludes that as many as 8,400 girls may be missing due to sex-selection abortion for the years 2014-2018 alone .
`` These new data are worrisome , if not alarming – for they demonstrate that large-scale female feticide has been taking place among certain U.S. sub-populations over the past decade , '' said authors Nicholas Eberstadt and Evan Abramsky .
The president of the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List , Marjorie Dannenfelser , said that Democratic Party leaders `` purport to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are silent about lethal discrimination against baby girls in the womb . ''
`` In contrast to the strong pro-life leadership of President Trump , '' she said , `` every Democratic candidate for president in 2020 supports abortion on demand through birth , paid for by taxpayers , and even infanticide – but they do not state , and have not been asked , whether this includes a license to discriminate against our most vulnerable little sisters .
Forty-four percent of rank-and-file Democrats say they are most likely to vote for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Eberstadt previously documented `` troubling evidence that new and biologically unnatural imbalances in sex ratios at birth were emerging in Eastern Asia , Southeastern Asia , South Asia , Western Asia , and elsewhere . ''
He found `` demographic data were registering a surfeit of male infants—excesses far above what would have been expected from the universal norm of roughly 103-105 baby boys for every 100 baby girls observed in large human populations throughout history . ''
The consequence was `` mass female feticide : a phenomenon driven by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low fertility levels ( whereby the gender outcome of each birth took on added import for parents ) , and the advent of widespread and inexpensive prenatal gender determination technology in the context of easily available or unconditional abortion . ''
For decades , about 105 boys have been born for every 100 girls .
Many sub-populations are in that range .
`` Asian-American SRBs are another story altogether .
For one thing , variations in SRBs are higher for this group than for other ethnicities in America .
Most important , SRBs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2010s—averaging 106.6 boys per 100 girls .
This is a curiously elevated level—and with over two million births to Asian-American mothers over those nine years , the finding can not be dismissed as an artefact of small sample size .
It merits further scrutiny and deeper analysis , '' the report said .
`` If we posit a hypothetical 'norm ' of 105 for the 'natural ' SRB for foreign-born mothers , the data … would imply over 1,700 'missing ' births of newborn girls between 2014 and 2018 among third and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethnicity .
By the same token : such calculations would hypothesize over 6,700 'missing ' newborn American girls to foreign-born , Chinese mothers between 2014 and 2018 ( summing all birth orders ) .
By such an illustrative reckoning , the scale of the 'missing female newborn ' group in these two sub-populations would have been on the order of 8,400 for 2014 to 2018 alone , '' the report said .
It said that `` regardless of whether one identifies as pro-life or pro-choice , readers may be highly unsettled by these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all but incontrovertibly that the 'global war against baby girls ' has opened a front in the United States of America . ''

For years, China has imposed abortion on women who have more children than mandated by the communist regime.
The consequences have been horrific. In a society in which male children are valued more highly, unborn girls have been targeted with abortion. Millions of men now will never marry because of a shortage of women.
The "gendercide" also has triggered unprecedented levels of trafficking of women.
Now, there's evidence of that phenomena in the United States, according to a study by the Institute for Family Studies.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The report -- titled "Has the 'Global war against baby girls' come to America?" -- concludes that as many as 8,400 girls may be missing due to sex-selection abortion for the years 2014-2018 alone.
"These new data are worrisome, if not alarming – for they demonstrate that large-scale female feticide has been taking place among certain U.S. sub-populations over the past decade," said authors Nicholas Eberstadt and Evan Abramsky.
The president of the pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List, Marjorie Dannenfelser, said that Democratic Party leaders "purport to be champions of women’s rights but are silent about lethal discrimination against baby girls in the womb."
"In contrast to the strong pro-life leadership of President Trump," she said, "every Democratic candidate for president in 2020 supports abortion on demand through birth, paid for by taxpayers, and even infanticide – but they do not state, and have not been asked, whether this includes a license to discriminate against our most vulnerable little sisters. Forty-four percent of rank-and-file Democrats say they are most likely to vote for a candidate who supports common-ground limits on abortion."
Eberstadt previously documented "troubling evidence that new and biologically unnatural imbalances in sex ratios at birth were emerging in Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, South Asia, Western Asia, and elsewhere."
He found "demographic data were registering a surfeit of male infants—excesses far above what would have been expected from the universal norm of roughly 103-105 baby boys for every 100 baby girls observed in large human populations throughout history."
The consequence was "mass female feticide: a phenomenon driven by the collision of ruthless parental son preference, low fertility levels (whereby the gender outcome of each birth took on added import for parents), and the advent of widespread and inexpensive prenatal gender determination technology in the context of easily available or unconditional abortion."
For decades, about 105 boys have been born for every 100 girls.
Many sub-populations are in that range.
"Asian-American SRBs are another story altogether. For one thing, variations in SRBs are higher for this group than for other ethnicities in America. Most important, SRBs for Asian-American mothers were strangely high in the 2010s—averaging 106.6 boys per 100 girls. This is a curiously elevated level—and with over two million births to Asian-American mothers over those nine years, the finding cannot be dismissed as an artefact of small sample size. It merits further scrutiny and deeper analysis," the report said.
"If we posit a hypothetical 'norm' of 105 for the 'natural' SRB for foreign-born mothers, the data … would imply over 1,700 'missing' births of newborn girls between 2014 and 2018 among third and higher-parity deliveries for foreign-born mothers of Indian ethnicity. By the same token: such calculations would hypothesize over 6,700 'missing' newborn American girls to foreign-born, Chinese mothers between 2014 and 2018 (summing all birth orders). By such an illustrative reckoning, the scale of the 'missing female newborn' group in these two sub-populations would have been on the order of 8,400 for 2014 to 2018 alone," the report said.
It said that "regardless of whether one identifies as pro-life or pro-choice, readers may be highly unsettled by these findings."
"Our figures suggest all but incontrovertibly that the 'global war against baby girls' has opened a front in the United States of America."


wnd--2020-02-19--Expert warns 'quarantine process failed' as China stands ready to crash world economy

China 's rush to reopen factories and markets in the midst of a poorly understood outbreak may backfire , a failure that could result in one of the worst depressions the world has ever seen .
It 's no secret that the COVID-19 virus has dealt a punishing blow to the Chinese economy since its emergence months ago .
With over 700 million now under some form of lockdown to control the coronavirus , work has ground to a halt .
Seeing a slowdown of new cases has prompted the ruling communist party to urge work to resume , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` we must be resolute in resuming economic activity . ''
Considering how little is known about the novel coronavirus , pushing workers to return to factories , markets and sales floors en masse does not look like a good decision .
Fortunately for virologists , a closed system with the virus exists on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship .
Unfortunately for the people on the massive boat , their role as a large-scale petri dish shows just how contagious this bug really is .
Despite officials ' best efforts to contain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially small number of infected soon soared to 454 .
`` The quarantine process failed , '' National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci told USA Today .
`` I 'd like to sugarcoat it and try to be diplomatic about it , but it failed .
People were getting infected on that ship . ''
It 's unclear why the quarantine failed and transmission occurred , but it may be because the virus is more easily spread through the air than previously thought .
Although it 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still recommends airborne procedures and protective gear .
If COVID-19 is able to spread through the air , the cruise ship 's ventilation system may be a major factor in the baffling infection rates .
Once that possibility is applied to China , where hundreds of millions are holed up in high-rise apartments designed according to loose Chinese standards , the potential of this disaster becomes clear .
Although the Chinese government claims to have a handle on the epidemic , changes in the diagnosis criteria have seen confirmed cases spike by over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also remain unconvinced that the country 's communist regime is being honest .
The predicament of the Chinese worker is apparent : The government appears close to giving the all-clear for many .
Those voicing skepticism on Chinese social media are swiftly silenced .
China 's social credit system likely also puts pressure on citizens to return to work .
While those with symptoms may stay home , the virus can hitch a ride on clothing and other materials .
There is even evidence that infected individuals may be able to spread COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world 's second-largest economy , would be absolutely devastated if this virus made a strong resurgence .
The impact on other countries would be downright horrifying .
China 's exports would grind to a halt , depriving the United States of $ 480 billion worth of goods .
Take a look at some of the things around you right now .
Many of these items ( including the phone or computer you 're reading this on ) likely originated in a Chinese factory .
The effect on American retailers would be disastrous .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated 80 percent of its products from Chinese suppliers , according to the Alliance for American Manufacturing .
Japan , Germany and the United Kingdom , three of the largest economies in the world , also rely on Chinese exports worth billions .
Needless to say , all of these exports grinding to a halt virtually overnight would not be pleasant for the world economy .
Even the U.S. economy , at an all-time high thanks to President Donald Trump , would not escape without a major beating .
If the quarantines in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Diamond Princess , we could be headed for the biggest economic gut punch since the Great Depression .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

China's rush to reopen factories and markets in the midst of a poorly understood outbreak may backfire, a failure that could result in one of the worst depressions the world has ever seen.
It's no secret that the COVID-19 virus has dealt a punishing blow to the Chinese economy since its emergence months ago. With over 700 million now under some form of lockdown to control the coronavirus, work has ground to a halt.
Seeing a slowdown of new cases has prompted the ruling communist party to urge work to resume, with the party's Global Times mouthpiece proclaiming "we must be resolute in resuming economic activity."
Considering how little is known about the novel coronavirus, pushing workers to return to factories, markets and sales floors en masse does not look like a good decision.
Fortunately for virologists, a closed system with the virus exists on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Unfortunately for the people on the massive boat, their role as a large-scale petri dish shows just how contagious this bug really is.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Despite officials' best efforts to contain the virus on the ship, the initially small number of infected soon soared to 454.
"The quarantine process failed," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci told USA Today.
"I'd like to sugarcoat it and try to be diplomatic about it, but it failed. People were getting infected on that ship."
It's unclear why the quarantine failed and transmission occurred, but it may be because the virus is more easily spread through the air than previously thought. Although it's not thought to be airborne, the CDC still recommends airborne procedures and protective gear.
If COVID-19 is able to spread through the air, the cruise ship's ventilation system may be a major factor in the baffling infection rates.
Once that possibility is applied to China, where hundreds of millions are holed up in high-rise apartments designed according to loose Chinese standards, the potential of this disaster becomes clear.
Although the Chinese government claims to have a handle on the epidemic, changes in the diagnosis criteria have seen confirmed cases spike by over 14,000 in a single day. Skeptics also remain unconvinced that the country's communist regime is being honest.
The predicament of the Chinese worker is apparent: The government appears close to giving the all-clear for many. Those voicing skepticism on Chinese social media are swiftly silenced. China's social credit system likely also puts pressure on citizens to return to work.
While those with symptoms may stay home, the virus can hitch a ride on clothing and other materials. There is even evidence that infected individuals may be able to spread COVID-19 without showing symptoms.
China, the world's second-largest economy, would be absolutely devastated if this virus made a strong resurgence. The impact on other countries would be downright horrifying.
China's exports would grind to a halt, depriving the United States of $480 billion worth of goods. Take a look at some of the things around you right now. Many of these items (including the phone or computer you're reading this on) likely originated in a Chinese factory.
The effect on American retailers would be disastrous. Walmart, for example, imports an estimated 80 percent of its products from Chinese suppliers, according to the Alliance for American Manufacturing.
Japan, Germany and the United Kingdom, three of the largest economies in the world, also rely on Chinese exports worth billions.
Needless to say, all of these exports grinding to a halt virtually overnight would not be pleasant for the world economy. Even the U.S. economy, at an all-time high thanks to President Donald Trump, would not escape without a major beating.
If the quarantines in China are failing just as they are on the Diamond Princess, we could be headed for the biggest economic gut punch since the Great Depression.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-02-19--George Zimmerman sues Buttigieg and Warren for defamation

A lawyer for George Zimmerman , the man who fatally shot teen Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012 and was acquitted of all charges , has sued Democrat presidential hopefuls Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren .
The claim alleges the two `` maliciously defamed '' Zimmerman , using Martin 's death `` as a pretext to demagogue and falsely brand Zimmerman as a white supremacist and racist to their millions of Twitter followers . ''
Lawyer Larry Klayman filed the action in Circuit Court for the 10th Judicial Circuit in Polk County , Florida .
`` The obvious intent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race baiting , in an attempt to draw African American votes during this Democrat presidential primary season , '' Klayman 's announcement said .
`` Both defendants , Buttigieg and Warren , are alleged in the complaint to have acted with actual malice , as it is widely known that Zimmerman was acquitted of murder based on self-defense , '' the announcement said .
`` It is high time that the cheap and harmful use of the race card by politicians of all stripes be made to cease and desist , '' commented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' are not only causing great harm to persons such as my client George Zimmerman , but also are damaging relations between black and white Americans who are all brothers .
The nation should applaud Mr. Zimmerman for taking a strong stand and pushing back against hack politicians like Buttigieg and Warren , who know no bounds of decency and frankly could obviously care less about whom they hurt in their quest to dishonesty use and manipulate black voters to win the 2020 Democrat presidential primary , '' his announcement said .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The Trayvon Hoax : Unmasking the Witness Fraud that Divided America , '' it was `` Hispanic George Zimmerman was a minority advocate who was active in mentoring black youth before the tragic encounter with Trayvon .
In the well-publicized film , Zimmerman recounts how he was stalked by Martin and badly beaten before he eventually used a lawful firearm in self-defense . ''
Klayman explained , `` The film and a companion book also provide incontrovertible evidence that Zimmerman was allegedly framed by the fake witness , and that witness fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in December 2019 . ''
The complaint itself explains the case is being brought against Buttigieg and Warren `` for defamation with actual malice or at a minimum a reckless disregard for the truth . ''
It explains Buttigieg posted a statement `` to his 1,600,000 Twitter followers … 'Trayvon Martin would have been 25 today .
How many 25th birthdays have been stolen from us by white supremacy , gun violence , prejudice , and fear ? ''
Warren 's was , `` My heart goes out to @ SybrinaFulton and Trayvon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still be with us today .
We need to end gun violence and racism .
And we need to build a world where all of our children – especially young Black boys – can grow up safe and free . ''
Zimmerman , the complaint states , joined a neighborhood watch program after a series of robberies and home invasions .
At that time Martin was `` often getting into fights at Michael Krop High School and was suspended 3 times .
In text messages to a friend , Trayvon lamented only breaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had fought because 'he snitched on me ' and insisted he would fight the student again because 'he ai n't bleed enough for me . '
'' Text messages suggest he was dealing handguns and was a heavy marijuana user . ''
The physical confrontation happened when Zimmerman noticed Martin hanging around his neighborhood , then lost him .
Then Martin sucker-punched Zimmerman and broke his nose , then straddled him on the ground , the complaint states .
Martin then started `` slamming Zimmerman 's head onto the concrete sidewalk . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the continued bashing of his head onto the concrete sidewalk , he reached for his legal firearm and discharged a single shot to stop the assault , '' the complaint states .
He eventually was charged and then acquitted .
The defendants are accused of knowing the facts about the shooting , but condemning Zimmerman in their comments anyway .
The case cites defamation and defamation by implication , as well as defamation per se .
The complaint seeks `` in excess of $ 265,000,000.00 million U.S .
Dollars for loss of good @ @ @ @ @

A lawyer for George Zimmerman, the man who fatally shot teen Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012 and was acquitted of all charges, has sued Democrat presidential hopefuls Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren.
The claim alleges the two "maliciously defamed" Zimmerman, using Martin's death "as a pretext to demagogue and falsely brand Zimmerman as a white supremacist and racist to their millions of Twitter followers."
Lawyer Larry Klayman filed the action in Circuit Court for the 10th Judicial Circuit in Polk County, Florida.
"The obvious intent of Buttigieg and Warren's Tweets is alleged race baiting, in an attempt to draw African American votes during this Democrat presidential primary season," Klayman's announcement said.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"Both defendants, Buttigieg and Warren, are alleged in the complaint to have acted with actual malice, as it is widely known that Zimmerman was acquitted of murder based on self-defense," the announcement said.
"It is high time that the cheap and harmful use of the race card by politicians of all stripes be made to cease and desist," commented Klayman.
"Their despicable 'race tactics' are not only causing great harm to persons such as my client George Zimmerman, but also are damaging relations between black and white Americans who are all brothers. The nation should applaud Mr. Zimmerman for taking a strong stand and pushing back against hack politicians like Buttigieg and Warren, who know no bounds of decency and frankly could obviously care less about whom they hurt in their quest to dishonesty use and manipulate black voters to win the 2020 Democrat presidential primary," his announcement said.
He pointed out that a recent documentary, "The Trayvon Hoax: Unmasking the Witness Fraud that Divided America," it was "Hispanic George Zimmerman was a minority advocate who was active in mentoring black youth before the tragic encounter with Trayvon. In the well-publicized film, Zimmerman recounts how he was stalked by Martin and badly beaten before he eventually used a lawful firearm in self-defense."
Klayman explained, "The film and a companion book also provide incontrovertible evidence that Zimmerman was allegedly framed by the fake witness, and that witness fraud is the subject of a lawsuit filed in December 2019."
The complaint itself explains the case is being brought against Buttigieg and Warren "for defamation with actual malice or at a minimum a reckless disregard for the truth."
It explains Buttigieg posted a statement "to his 1,600,000 Twitter followers … 'Trayvon Martin would have been 25 today. How many 25th birthdays have been stolen from us by white supremacy, gun violence, prejudice, and fear?"
Warren's was, "My heart goes out to @SybrinaFulton and Trayvon's family and friends. He should still be with us today. We need to end gun violence and racism. And we need to build a world where all of our children – especially young Black boys – can grow up safe and free."
Zimmerman, the complaint states, joined a neighborhood watch program after a series of robberies and home invasions.
At that time Martin was "often getting into fights at Michael Krop High School and was suspended 3 times. In text messages to a friend, Trayvon lamented only breaking the nose of a student whom he had fought because 'he snitched on me' and insisted he would fight the student again because 'he ain't bleed enough for me.'"
Text messages suggest he was dealing handguns and was a heavy marijuana user."
The physical confrontation happened when Zimmerman noticed Martin hanging around his neighborhood, then lost him. Then Martin sucker-punched Zimmerman and broke his nose, then straddled him on the ground, the complaint states.
Martin then started "slamming Zimmerman's head onto the concrete sidewalk."
"Fearing he would go unconscious from the continued bashing of his head onto the concrete sidewalk, he reached for his legal firearm and discharged a single shot to stop the assault," the complaint states.
He eventually was charged and then acquitted.
The defendants are accused of knowing the facts about the shooting, but condemning Zimmerman in their comments anyway.
The case cites defamation and defamation by implication, as well as defamation per se.
The complaint seeks "in excess of $265,000,000.00 million U.S. Dollars for loss of good will and reputation."
.


wnd--2020-02-19--'Queer' activists disrupt Buttigieg event, accuse Pete of ignoring LGBT 'oppression'

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg faced protests Friday at a fundraiser in San Francisco , where a number of gay and gender-identity activists complained he is apparently not diverse enough for them .
The former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , who is openly gay , was speaking to supporters at a $ 250-per-person event when he was disrupted by shouting from a number of attendees described as `` queer . ''
The activists were escorted out of the building and interviewed by a reporter for The Guardian .
Their biggest complaint ?
Despite being gay and married to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough of the overall LGBT community and he ’ s too white and too male .
Prior to the fundraiser , one of the activists told The Guardian , “ I ’ m definitely proud of the fact that a gay candidate has made it thus far , but it ’ s hard to enjoy or appreciate when his stances are so middle-of-the-road and speak to a predominantly white , upper-class audience.
” After shouting at Buttigieg and being escorted out of the event , the activists got into a shouting match with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argument , supporters of Buttigieg accused the queer activists of being “ homophobes ” and “ deplorable.
” The queer activists responded , telling the candidate 's supporters they were `` horrible . ''
`` We ’ re allowed to want the gay candidate who is running to do better and be better for queer communities of color .
There ’ s nothing homophobic about that , '' one activist told the paper .
“ Pete Buttigieg represents a very small percentage of the experiences of queer and trans people in this country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being a man , being someone who is highly educated .
“ We know queer and trans folks of color , especially black queer and trans folks , live at the intersection of so many systems of oppression in this country .
This run for president could have been a really unique opportunity to lift up those experiences and talk about all the different ways we are criminalized and our safety is constantly threatened and we are shut out of institutions on the regular .
But this campaign has not been about that.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the event , saying , “ I respect your activism , but this is a gathering for supporters of our campaign and I just got a question about my husband and I ’ m really excited to answer it.
” All of the infighting within the alphabet community raises a question : What do they want at this point ?
The LBGT movement traditionally fought for issues such as same-sex marriage .
Now , with that battle in the past , the movement seems to be cannibalizing itself with no clear direction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of victimhood .
The overall climate seems to award victimhood points to people based on traits such as gender , race and sexual orientation .
While Buttigieg might be awarded points for being gay , young and a Democrat , he is penalized for being white , male and educated .
Mirroring the current state of the Democratic Party , which is obsessed with identity politics , the alphabet movement puts people such as Buttigieg , who at one point would have been a dream candidate for the LGBT community , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics of identity has created warring tribes within the same movement , and as a result , has become itself discriminatory .
It is an example of inclusion gone too far .
This is not the first time Buttigieg has been attacked by activists in the LGBT movement .
In an article for BET , activist Ernest Owens wrote that as a gay black voter , he is frustrated by Buttigieg because , “ white gay men who share one part of my identity , still don ’ t share my experience -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” While many in the LGBT community might feel that Buttigieg is not gay enough for them , at least one Democrat is still grappling with the candidate ’ s sexuality .
A Democratic voter in rural Iowa was caught on video earlier this month at the Iowa caucuses asking if she could change her vote after she learned that Buttigieg was not only gay but married to another man .
“ Are you saying that he has the same-sex partner ?
” the woman asked a precinct captain .
“ Are you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want anybody like that in the White House .
So can I have my card back ?
” While the alphabet movement fights over Buttigieg ’ s degree of wokeness in regards to their issues , they have not even won over some Democrats who remain cold to the idea of voting for a gay candidate .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg faced protests Friday at a fundraiser in San Francisco, where a number of gay and gender-identity activists complained he is apparently not diverse enough for them.
The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who is openly gay, was speaking to supporters at a $250-per-person event when he was disrupted by shouting from a number of attendees described as "queer."
The activists were escorted out of the building and interviewed by a reporter for The Guardian. Their biggest complaint? Despite being gay and married to another man, Buttigieg is not representative enough of the overall LGBT community and he’s too white and too male.
Prior to the fundraiser, one of the activists told The Guardian, “I’m definitely proud of the fact that a gay candidate has made it thus far, but it’s hard to enjoy or appreciate when his stances are so middle-of-the-road and speak to a predominantly white, upper-class audience.”
After shouting at Buttigieg and being escorted out of the event, the activists got into a shouting match with supporters of the candidate. During the argument, supporters of Buttigieg accused the queer activists of being “homophobes” and “deplorable.” The queer activists responded, telling the candidate's supporters they were "horrible."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"We’re allowed to want the gay candidate who is running to do better and be better for queer communities of color. There’s nothing homophobic about that," one activist told the paper.
“Pete Buttigieg represents a very small percentage of the experiences of queer and trans people in this country, being white and being cisgender and being a man, being someone who is highly educated.
“We know queer and trans folks of color, especially black queer and trans folks, live at the intersection of so many systems of oppression in this country. This run for president could have been a really unique opportunity to lift up those experiences and talk about all the different ways we are criminalized and our safety is constantly threatened and we are shut out of institutions on the regular. But this campaign has not been about that.”
Buttigieg reportedly responded to the drama during the event, saying, “I respect your activism, but this is a gathering for supporters of our campaign and I just got a question about my husband and I’m really excited to answer it.”
All of the infighting within the alphabet community raises a question: What do they want at this point? The LBGT movement traditionally fought for issues such as same-sex marriage.
Now, with that battle in the past, the movement seems to be cannibalizing itself with no clear direction or agenda other than embracing a culture of victimhood.
The overall climate seems to award victimhood points to people based on traits such as gender, race and sexual orientation. While Buttigieg might be awarded points for being gay, young and a Democrat, he is penalized for being white, male and educated.
Mirroring the current state of the Democratic Party, which is obsessed with identity politics, the alphabet movement puts people such as Buttigieg, who at one point would have been a dream candidate for the LGBT community, in a no-win situation.
The obsession with the politics of identity has created warring tribes within the same movement, and as a result, has become itself discriminatory. It is an example of inclusion gone too far.
This is not the first time Buttigieg has been attacked by activists in the LGBT movement.
In an article for BET, activist Ernest Owens wrote that as a gay black voter, he is frustrated by Buttigieg because, “white gay men who share one part of my identity, still don’t share my experience -- and shouldn’t pretend they can.”
While many in the LGBT community might feel that Buttigieg is not gay enough for them, at least one Democrat is still grappling with the candidate’s sexuality.
A Democratic voter in rural Iowa was caught on video earlier this month at the Iowa caucuses asking if she could change her vote after she learned that Buttigieg was not only gay but married to another man.
“Are you saying that he has the same-sex partner?” the woman asked a precinct captain. “Are you kidding? Then I don’t want anybody like that in the White House. So can I have my card back?”
#PeteButtigieg precinct captain in rural Iowa responds to a caucus-goer flipping out upon learning that he has a same-sex partner. It’s a masterclass in patience, persistence, and love. Bravo @nikkiheever #IowaCaucuses #cresco #howardcountyiowa pic.twitter.com/PhX7vRFh8X — Annabel Park (@annabelpark) February 4, 2020
While the alphabet movement fights over Buttigieg’s degree of wokeness in regards to their issues, they have not even won over some Democrats who remain cold to the idea of voting for a gay candidate.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.