thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-11--Trump says he will address the nation on coronavirus crisis

President Trump plans to deliver a statement on Wednesday night about his administration 's response to coronavirus as the number of cases grows .
“ I ’ ll be making a statement later tonight , '' he said during a meeting with banking executives .
Trump said it would probably be at 9 p.m. amid speculation he would use the Oval Office for the statement , which may include further travel restrictions .
His administration has been working on a stimulus package to reassure plunging markets and an executive order designed to return production of medicines and medical equipment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have accused Trump of bungling the response by playing down the risk for fear that drastic measures would cause economic disruption .
Aides presented the president with a range of options for mitigating the crisis on Monday .
“ We ’ re taking care of the American public and we will be taking care of the American public , ” he told reporters .
Meanwhile , the virus continues to spread .
On Wednesday , Washington Gov .
Jay Inslee banned gatherings of more than 250 people in the Seattle area and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he battles the country 's deadliest outbreak .
At least 32 people are reported to have died from the disease in the U.S .

President Trump plans to deliver a statement on Wednesday night about his administration's response to coronavirus as the number of cases grows.
“I’ll be making a statement later tonight," he said during a meeting with banking executives.
Trump said it would probably be at 9 p.m. amid speculation he would use the Oval Office for the statement, which may include further travel restrictions.
His administration has been working on a stimulus package to reassure plunging markets and an executive order designed to return production of medicines and medical equipment to the United States from offshore.
Critics have accused Trump of bungling the response by playing down the risk for fear that drastic measures would cause economic disruption.
Aides presented the president with a range of options for mitigating the crisis on Monday.
“We’re taking care of the American public and we will be taking care of the American public,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, the virus continues to spread. On Wednesday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee banned gatherings of more than 250 people in the Seattle area and said he was considering closing all schools as he battles the country's deadliest outbreak.
At least 32 people are reported to have died from the disease in the U.S.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-11--'It’s about our very national defense': Trump to slash use of foreign medical supplies, Navarro says

The Trump administration is preparing an executive order in response to the coronavirus to reduce American reliance on foreign-made medicine and supplies , according to the top White House trade adviser .
“ This is not just about public health and safety .
It ’ s about our very national defense , ” Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Peter Navarro told the Washington Examiner .
The “ Buy American ” push is a central part of the Trump economic agenda , and the latest move would ensure that federal agencies buy American-made medical supplies and pharmaceuticals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to antibiotics .
At the same time , officials are working on ways to streamline the approval process for domestic products .
Navarro said , “ We ’ re trying to move quickly in Trump time , which in this case should be in a matter of weeks . ''
The administration is considering declaring a national disaster to free up sources of funding and is drafting stimulus measures to immunize the economy against the sudden shock .
Navarro said the lessons of the “ China virus ” included mobilizing industry for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Obama administration , which failed to mobilize domestic medical supply sources after H1N1 , MERS , and Zika revealed America ’ s dependence on foreign suppliers .
“ In terms of tackling the problem , it ’ s a three-pronged Trumpian strategy consistent with everything the president has done — a synergistic combo of ‘ Buy American , ’ regulatory streamlining at the FDA and EPA , and competitive advanced manufacturing supremacy through technological innovation , ” he said .
The aim is to increase domestic demand and incentivize the production of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 'Buy American ' piece , the most critical principle is to establish a source of strong and stable long-term domestic demand that reduces risk and thereby attracts investment to American soil , ” he said .
`` The only way to do that is to make sure that every dollar of government procurement for our essential medicines and medical countermeasures is a dollar spent on 'Buy American . '
'' China hawks in the administration believe the coronavirus is an opportunity to highlight American dependence on foreign supply chains .
And Navarro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into “ stark relief.
” “ In implementing the new policy , the most important rule is to ensure that nothing will interfere with the ability to buy whatever we need from wherever we need as soon as we need , '' he said .
`` This is a strategy for the long term — but the actions envisioned will also help right now.
” Sen. Marco Rubio said he welcomed the plans .
“ The coronavirus outbreak has been a wake-up call that we must combat America ’ s supply chain vulnerabilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our economy , ” the Florida Republican said a day after discussing the issue with President Trump .
“ The Trump administration ’ s forthcoming executive order is a very strong first step toward increasing domestic production by enforcing ‘ Buy American ’ requirements for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies , as well as fast-tracking FDA approval of critical products impacted by the coronavirus outbreak ’ s strain on the supply chain , ” he said .

The Trump administration is preparing an executive order in response to the coronavirus to reduce American reliance on foreign-made medicine and supplies, according to the top White House trade adviser.
“This is not just about public health and safety. It’s about our very national defense,” Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Peter Navarro told the Washington Examiner.
The “Buy American” push is a central part of the Trump economic agenda, and the latest move would ensure that federal agencies buy American-made medical supplies and pharmaceuticals — everything from face masks and ventilators to antibiotics.
At the same time, officials are working on ways to streamline the approval process for domestic products.
Navarro said, “We’re trying to move quickly in Trump time, which in this case should be in a matter of weeks."
The administration is considering declaring a national disaster to free up sources of funding and is drafting stimulus measures to immunize the economy against the sudden shock.
Navarro said the lessons of the “China virus” included mobilizing industry for the long term, avoiding the errors of the Obama administration, which failed to mobilize domestic medical supply sources after H1N1, MERS, and Zika revealed America’s dependence on foreign suppliers.
“In terms of tackling the problem, it’s a three-pronged Trumpian strategy consistent with everything the president has done — a synergistic combo of ‘Buy American,’ regulatory streamlining at the FDA and EPA, and competitive advanced manufacturing supremacy through technological innovation,” he said.
The aim is to increase domestic demand and incentivize the production of medical products at home.
“For the 'Buy American' piece, the most critical principle is to establish a source of strong and stable long-term domestic demand that reduces risk and thereby attracts investment to American soil,” he said. "The only way to do that is to make sure that every dollar of government procurement for our essential medicines and medical countermeasures is a dollar spent on 'Buy American.'"
China hawks in the administration believe the coronavirus is an opportunity to highlight American dependence on foreign supply chains. And Navarro said the outbreak had thrown the issue into “stark relief.”
“In implementing the new policy, the most important rule is to ensure that nothing will interfere with the ability to buy whatever we need from wherever we need as soon as we need," he said. "This is a strategy for the long term — but the actions envisioned will also help right now.”
Sen. Marco Rubio said he welcomed the plans.
“The coronavirus outbreak has been a wake-up call that we must combat America’s supply chain vulnerabilities and dependence on China in critical sectors of our economy,” the Florida Republican said a day after discussing the issue with President Trump.
“The Trump administration’s forthcoming executive order is a very strong first step toward increasing domestic production by enforcing ‘Buy American’ requirements for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, as well as fast-tracking FDA approval of critical products impacted by the coronavirus outbreak’s strain on the supply chain,” he said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--Anthony Fauci admits US 'failing' on coronavirus testing

A top infectious disease expert in the Trump administration told Congress on Thursday the U.S. healthcare system is failing to test any person who needs it quickly as the COVID-19 virus spreads across the country .
Anthony Fauci , the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a leader on the White House Coronavirus Task Force , told the House Oversight Committee on Thursday the United States is not as well prepared for mass testing as other countries .
“ The system does not — is not really geared to what we need right now — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a failing .
It is a failing .
Let ’ s admit it , ” Fauci told lawmakers .
He was responded to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz , who grilled another panelist , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield , about who specifically was in charge of ensuring any person who needed a test could get one .
“ The fact is , the way the system was set up is that the public health component that Dr. Redfield was talking about was a system where you put it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a physician asks for it , and you get it , ” Fauci testified .
“ The idea of anybody getting it easily the way people in other countries are doing it — we ’ re not set up for that .
Do I think we should be ?
Yes .
But we ’ re not.
” The Atlantic ’ s rolling tracker estimates there have been 9,000 coronavirus tests conducted in the U.S. thus far .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s website says there are 1,215 confirmed coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths , although the interactive map run by Johns Hopkins University states that there are 1,323 cases in the U.S. with at least 38 confirmed deaths so far .
South Korea tested more than 220,000 people , and Italy has conducted more than 73,000 tests .
The World Health Organization says that South Korea has confirmed 7,983 cases with at least 66 deaths , and Italy has confirmed 12,462 cases and 827 deaths .
Wassermann Schultz tried pushing Redfield for answers on testing for healthcare workers , pointing to a March letter from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus testing by the CDC .
“ The public county officer called me and verified my symptoms and agreed with testing .
But the National CDC would not initiate testing , ” the nurse said , adding , “ Delaying this test puts the whole community at risk.
” Redfield testified in a different hearing on Wednesday that “ this is a misunderstanding if it did occur.
” On Thursday , Wassermann Schultz shared a letter from the National Nurses United union , which claimed that `` there have been far too many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused testing for this to be a 'misunderstanding . '
'' “ We need to have someone in charge of making sure that as many people as possible across this country have access to getting tested as soon as possible , ” Wassermann Schultz said .
“ Can you give us the name of the person who can guarantee that anyone — but especially healthcare workers — that needs to be tested can be ?
” Redfield replied , “ I was trying to say that the responsibility that I have at CDC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health labs have it , and they can make the judgment on how they want to use it.
” He turned to Fauci for assistance as Wassermann Schultz kept pressing him for a name , and Fauci conceded the U.S. wasn ’ t up to the task .
Hospitals and labs in the U.S. have been ramping up their testing capacity over the past few days .
The Cleveland Clinic announced Wednesday it would soon have new on-site testing abilities with results produced within eight hours instead of the two-to-seven day time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The American Enterprise Institute ’ s COVID-19 Test Capacity tracker estimates the U.S. has a current testing capacity of 20,695 tests per day , an increase from the 7,840 estimated daily testing capacity earlier this week .
The WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a “ pandemic ” on Wednesday .
The coronavirus is believed to have originated in the city of Wuhan , the capital of China ’ s Hubei province .
Both China and Russia have been spreading disinformation about it .
Public events across the U.S. have been canceled in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dozens of schools have been closed , and the U.S. Capitol complex was closed to the general public on Thursday .
The stock market plunged this week amid concerns about the coronavirus ’ s effect on the global economy .

A top infectious disease expert in the Trump administration told Congress on Thursday the U.S. healthcare system is failing to test any person who needs it quickly as the COVID-19 virus spreads across the country.
Anthony Fauci, the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a leader on the White House Coronavirus Task Force, told the House Oversight Committee on Thursday the United States is not as well prepared for mass testing as other countries.
“The system does not — is not really geared to what we need right now — what you are asking for. That is a failing. It is a failing. Let’s admit it,” Fauci told lawmakers.
He was responded to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who grilled another panelist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield, about who specifically was in charge of ensuring any person who needed a test could get one.
“The fact is, the way the system was set up is that the public health component that Dr. Redfield was talking about was a system where you put it out there in the public, and a physician asks for it, and you get it,” Fauci testified. “The idea of anybody getting it easily the way people in other countries are doing it — we’re not set up for that. Do I think we should be? Yes. But we’re not.”
The Atlantic’s rolling tracker estimates there have been 9,000 coronavirus tests conducted in the U.S. thus far. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website says there are 1,215 confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. resulting in 36 deaths, although the interactive map run by Johns Hopkins University states that there are 1,323 cases in the U.S. with at least 38 confirmed deaths so far.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
South Korea tested more than 220,000 people, and Italy has conducted more than 73,000 tests. The World Health Organization says that South Korea has confirmed 7,983 cases with at least 66 deaths, and Italy has confirmed 12,462 cases and 827 deaths.
Wassermann Schultz tried pushing Redfield for answers on testing for healthcare workers, pointing to a March letter from a nurse who said she was denied coronavirus testing by the CDC.
“The public county officer called me and verified my symptoms and agreed with testing. But the National CDC would not initiate testing,” the nurse said, adding, “Delaying this test puts the whole community at risk.”
Redfield testified in a different hearing on Wednesday that “this is a misunderstanding if it did occur.”
On Thursday, Wassermann Schultz shared a letter from the National Nurses United union, which claimed that "there have been far too many cases where exposed healthcare workers have been refused testing for this to be a 'misunderstanding.'"
“We need to have someone in charge of making sure that as many people as possible across this country have access to getting tested as soon as possible,” Wassermann Schultz said. “Can you give us the name of the person who can guarantee that anyone — but especially healthcare workers — that needs to be tested can be?”
Redfield replied, “I was trying to say that the responsibility that I have at CDC is to make sure that all the public health labs have it, and they can make the judgment on how they want to use it.”
He turned to Fauci for assistance as Wassermann Schultz kept pressing him for a name, and Fauci conceded the U.S. wasn’t up to the task.
Hospitals and labs in the U.S. have been ramping up their testing capacity over the past few days. The Cleveland Clinic announced Wednesday it would soon have new on-site testing abilities with results produced within eight hours instead of the two-to-seven day time frame typically taken by outside labs.
The American Enterprise Institute’s COVID-19 Test Capacity tracker estimates the U.S. has a current testing capacity of 20,695 tests per day, an increase from the 7,840 estimated daily testing capacity earlier this week.
The WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a “pandemic” on Wednesday.
The coronavirus is believed to have originated in the city of Wuhan, the capital of China’s Hubei province. Both China and Russia have been spreading disinformation about it.
Public events across the U.S. have been canceled in response to the spread of the virus, dozens of schools have been closed, and the U.S. Capitol complex was closed to the general public on Thursday. The stock market plunged this week amid concerns about the coronavirus’s effect on the global economy.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--Trump could have been exposed to the coronavirus and should be quarantined

President Trump should go into a modified self-quarantine for his own safety and that of the entire senior ranks of the U.S. government .
He should do so because earlier this week he was standing immediately adjacent to a man who now has tested positive for the coronavirus .
The man , Fabio Wajngarten , is the press secretary for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro , who had dinner with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort .
In adopting some sort of quarantine , Trump would be following the lead of fellow Republicans — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Reps. Paul Gosar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Matt Gaetz of Florida — each of whom self-isolated after learning they had close contact with a man who soon thereafter was diagnosed with the virus .
It also would track the response of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , who is in a form of voluntary self-isolation because his wife is exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms after a trip to the United Kingdom .
While it may not be practical to completely isolate the president , he should be tested for the virus , he should meet in person ( rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few people as practicable , and he should be kept physically as far as possible from those with whom he must meet in person .
The modified quarantine should extend at least to the outer extent of the known incubation period for the COVID-19 virus .
The presidential quarantine is advisable both for Trump ’ s own safety and for the good of the U.S. government and people .
For Trump , the consideration is this : If he has indeed contracted the virus , his health and very survival as a 73-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthy as he can be .
If his system is compromised by the virus , it could be more vulnerable than usual to any other pathogens .
So-called secondary infections are common with viruses , and if the coronavirus pandemic behaves like the great flu pandemic in 1918-1920 , the risk of death from secondary infections may be even greater than from the virus itself .
The world ’ s leading representative democracy can not afford to be hobbled by the lack of a healthy president during a crisis of the sort we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other high officials safe is equally strong .
No matter how confident Trump feels in his own health , the fact is that this is a highly contagious virus , and it can be spread even before its victims are symptomatic .
It is not a sign of machismo , but of folly , for Trump to refuse to be tested and to continue interacting directly with the vice president , Cabinet members , top staff , and members of Congress .
The current crisis could grow to massive proportions if the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president , are in sick beds , perhaps fighting for their lives .
With no healthy top officials and uncertain lines of authority below them , chaos could ensue .
Right now , this nation doesn ’ t need a president who is tough ; it needs a chief executive who is humble , selfless , and wise .
Trump may chafe at a modified quarantine , but the good of the nation requires it .

President Trump should go into a modified self-quarantine for his own safety and that of the entire senior ranks of the U.S. government.
He should do so because earlier this week he was standing immediately adjacent to a man who now has tested positive for the coronavirus. The man, Fabio Wajngarten, is the press secretary for Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who had dinner with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
In adopting some sort of quarantine, Trump would be following the lead of fellow Republicans — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Reps. Paul Gosar of Arizona, Doug Collins of Georgia, and Matt Gaetz of Florida — each of whom self-isolated after learning they had close contact with a man who soon thereafter was diagnosed with the virus. It also would track the response of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is in a form of voluntary self-isolation because his wife is exhibiting mild flu-like symptoms after a trip to the United Kingdom.
While it may not be practical to completely isolate the president, he should be tested for the virus, he should meet in person (rather than by electronic means) with as few people as practicable, and he should be kept physically as far as possible from those with whom he must meet in person. The modified quarantine should extend at least to the outer extent of the known incubation period for the COVID-19 virus.
The presidential quarantine is advisable both for Trump’s own safety and for the good of the U.S. government and people. For Trump, the consideration is this: If he has indeed contracted the virus, his health and very survival as a 73-year-old depend on him being kept as otherwise healthy as he can be. If his system is compromised by the virus, it could be more vulnerable than usual to any other pathogens. So-called secondary infections are common with viruses, and if the coronavirus pandemic behaves like the great flu pandemic in 1918-1920, the risk of death from secondary infections may be even greater than from the virus itself.
The world’s leading representative democracy cannot afford to be hobbled by the lack of a healthy president during a crisis of the sort we now face.
The need to keep other high officials safe is equally strong. No matter how confident Trump feels in his own health, the fact is that this is a highly contagious virus, and it can be spread even before its victims are symptomatic. It is not a sign of machismo, but of folly, for Trump to refuse to be tested and to continue interacting directly with the vice president, Cabinet members, top staff, and members of Congress. The current crisis could grow to massive proportions if the entire top ranks of government, along with the president, are in sick beds, perhaps fighting for their lives. With no healthy top officials and uncertain lines of authority below them, chaos could ensue.
Right now, this nation doesn’t need a president who is tough; it needs a chief executive who is humble, selfless, and wise. Trump may chafe at a modified quarantine, but the good of the nation requires it.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--Biden bragged he wrote the Patriot Act. Trump should kill it

In 2003 , then-Senate candidate Barack Obama the Patriot Act , “ shoddy , ” and “ dangerous.
” He went on to win the presidency running it .
What was his running mate Joe Biden ’ s position on the Patriot Act ?
He bragged that he basically wrote it !
This is worth remembering this week as Washington wrestles with Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act reform and privacy protection .
The Patriot Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2001 .
Its purpose was to give intelligence officials broader power to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Its critics said it went too far in eroding citizens ’ constitutional privacy rights .
But Biden was completely in support of trampling over these rights .
In 2015 , reporter Andrew Kaczynski a number of examples of Biden claiming he essentially wrote the legislation : So in addition to Biden , the probable 2020 Democratic presidential nominee , having an illiberal record on , the and , he also bragged about authoring the Patriot Act , legislation that liberals nationwide to oppose in 2003 .
None of this is a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current Republican side , on the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq , President Trump was about that war , long before he entered politics , and he proudly insists today that America into that quagmire .
While not known for being a civil libertarian , Trump has taken a keener interest in protecting privacy rights once it was that the FBI had apparently on his campaign in 2016 .
In February , when Attorney General William Barr asked Republicans for a clean , reform-free extension of FISA , Sen. Rand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported that Trump , in fact , agreed with him that the federal government should be “ ” from spying on U.S. citizens .
The Washington Examiner two weeks ago that , “ Paul 's comments on Thursday cast doubt on whether Congress will agree to renew key features of the Patriot Act .
Three FISA provisions are set to expire on March 15.
” At a time when Biden worries Bernie Sanders ’ s supporters might not vote for him out of spite , and when those liberals can rightly point to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — why not emphasize Biden ’ s constant enthusiasm for the Patriot Act and the role he admittedly played in creating it ?
In 2001 , the Patriot Act was meant to be an extraconstitutional tool to take on the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 .
This hasn ’ t been the case for a very long time .
It has since been used overwhelmingly more to target drug dealers , not al Qaeda .
The Washington Post in 2011 that a decade after its enactment , the Patriot Act “ ha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug cases and only 15 terrorism cases.
” From a liberal view , Trump is already better on than Biden thanks to the president signing the .
Trump ’ s foreign policy may be , but he ’ s superior to Biden on the Iraq litmus test , and he ’ s also been to than the .
On multiple issues , Trump has already proved to be a more “ progressive ” president than Biden was as a senator or vice president — so why not throw ditching the Patriot Act into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patriot Act on the debate stage .
If he dodges , throw his words back in his face , while the president takes the more position .
If Trump chooses to add this issue to his 2020 campaign arsenal , there are who would — and perhaps even more liberals and independents who might find it harder to vote for Biden in November .
Jack Hunter ( @ jackhunter74 ) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner 's Beltway Confidential blog .
He is the former political editor of Rare.us and co-authored the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington with Sen. Rand Paul .

In 2003, then-Senate candidate Barack Obama called the Patriot Act unconstitutional , “shoddy,” and “dangerous.” He went on to win the presidency running against it.
What was his running mate Joe Biden’s position on the Patriot Act? He bragged that he basically wrote it! This is worth remembering this week as Washington wrestles with Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act reform and privacy protection.
The Patriot Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2001. Its purpose was to give intelligence officials broader power to monitor terrorists in the wake of 9/11. Its critics said it went too far in eroding citizens’ constitutional privacy rights. But Biden was completely in support of trampling over these rights.
In 2015, reporter Andrew Kaczynski compiled a number of examples of Biden claiming he essentially wrote the legislation:
On another occasion in 2002, when the FBI director was testifying before Congress, Biden said not only that he wrote the 1994 act, but Attorney General John Ashcroft called him to say it was basically the same as the bill they were introducing,” Kaczynski reported.
‘Civil libertarians were opposed to it,’ Biden said. ‘Right after 1994, and you can ask the attorney general this, because I got a call when he introduced the Patriot Act. He said, 'Joe, I'm introducing the act basically as you wrote it in 1994.' ‘I drafted a terrorism bill after the Oklahoma City bombing,’ Biden was quoted as saying by the New Republic in 2001. ‘And the bill (former George W. Bush Attorney General) John Ashcroft sent up was my bill,’ Biden continued, referring to the Patriot Act.On another occasion in 2002, when the FBI director was testifying before Congress, Biden said not only that he wrote the 1994 act, but Attorney General John Ashcroft called him to say it was basically the same as the bill they were introducing,” Kaczynski reported.‘Civil libertarians were opposed to it,’ Biden said. ‘Right after 1994, and you can ask the attorney general this, because I got a call when he introduced the Patriot Act. He said, 'Joe, I'm introducing the act basically as you wrote it in 1994.'
There are more examples .
So in addition to Biden, the probable 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, having an illiberal record on mandatory minimum sentencing , the Iraq War, and marijuana legalization , he also bragged about authoring the Patriot Act, legislation that liberals nationwide marched in the streets to oppose in 2003.
None of this is a good look for Biden right now.
On the current Republican side, on the eve of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, President Trump was at least hesitant about that war, long before he entered politics, and he proudly insists today that Bush lied America into that quagmire.
While not known for being a civil libertarian, Trump has taken a keener interest in protecting privacy rights once it was revealed that the FBI had apparently spied on his campaign in 2016 .
They spied on my campaign! https://t.co/LpIc3cNBnr — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 27, 2020
In February, when Attorney General William Barr asked Republicans for a clean, reform-free extension of FISA, Sen. Rand Paul sought counsel with the president and reported that Trump, in fact, agreed with him that the federal government should be “ forbidden ” from spying on U.S. citizens.
The Washington Examiner reported two weeks ago that, “Paul's comments on Thursday cast doubt on whether Congress will agree to renew key features of the Patriot Act. Three FISA provisions are set to expire on March 15.”
At a time when Biden worries Bernie Sanders’s supporters might not vote for him out of spite, and when those liberals can rightly point to Biden’s rotten record on their primary issues — why not emphasize Biden’s constant enthusiasm for the Patriot Act and the role he admittedly played in creating it?
In 2001, the Patriot Act was meant to be an extraconstitutional tool to take on the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11. This hasn’t been the case for a very long time. It has since been used overwhelmingly more to target drug dealers, not al Qaeda. The Washington Post reported in 2011 that a decade after its enactment, the Patriot Act “ha[d] been used in 1,618 drug cases and only 15 terrorism cases.”
From a liberal view, Trump is already better on criminal justice reform than Biden thanks to the president signing the First Step Act . Trump’s foreign policy may be mixed , but he’s superior to Biden on the Iraq litmus test, and he’s also been more favorable to marijuana legalization than the former vice president .
On multiple issues, Trump has already proved to be a more “progressive” president than Biden was as a senator or vice president — so why not throw ditching the Patriot Act into that mix? Let Biden defend the Patriot Act on the debate stage. If he dodges, throw his words back in his face, while the president takes the more constitutionally conservative position.
If Trump chooses to add this issue to his 2020 campaign arsenal, there are many conservatives who would have his back — and perhaps even more liberals and independents who might find it harder to vote for Biden in November.
Jack Hunter (@jackhunter74) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog. He is the former political editor of Rare.us and co-authored the 2011 book The Tea Party Goes to Washington with Sen. Rand Paul.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--House Democrats reject GOP amendment adding antifa to domestic terrorism prevention bill

The House Judiciary Committee passed a bill on Wednesday that would establish offices in the Justice and Homeland Security Departments dedicated to rooting out domestic terrorist threats but rejected a Republican amendment that would have added language about antifa .
The bill , introduced by Democrats , aims to bolster the federal government 's response to a rise in white supremacist and far-right-wing extremist activity in the United States .
“ These are reasonable , measured policies to help focus the federal government ’ s resources on the threats that continue to terrorize and kill Americans , ” said Chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times .
Rep. Ken Buck , a Republican , called the bill `` one-sided '' as he introduced an amendment that would add antifa and other far-left extremist groups to the bill .
“ There is at least an equal level of hate , violence , and terror coming from the political left directed at conservatives and people who support the president , '' Buck said .
`` At its core , the people perpetrating these acts are using the same tactics as white supremacists.
” Buck introduced an amendment that listed more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antifa and other left-wing extremists and warned Democrats the Republican-controlled Senate would not pass the domestic terrorism bill without his amendment attached .
`` If we are serious about attacking about white supremacism , which I absolutely want to do , and did as a prosecutor , let ’ s make this a bipartisan bill , '' he said .
Rep. Veronica Escobar , a Democrat , said equating antifa to white supremacists is inappropriate and irrelevant .
“ [ This amendment ] blurs the lines between the targeted attacks the likes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence is violence .
It diminishes the suffering that generations of Americans have lived through , ” she said .
Buck 's amendment failed on a party-line vote , and the bill will now go before the House floor for a full vote .

The House Judiciary Committee passed a bill on Wednesday that would establish offices in the Justice and Homeland Security Departments dedicated to rooting out domestic terrorist threats but rejected a Republican amendment that would have added language about antifa.
The bill, introduced by Democrats, aims to bolster the federal government's response to a rise in white supremacist and far-right-wing extremist activity in the United States.
“These are reasonable, measured policies to help focus the federal government’s resources on the threats that continue to terrorize and kill Americans,” said Chairman Jerry Nadler, according to the Washington Times.
Rep. Ken Buck, a Republican, called the bill "one-sided" as he introduced an amendment that would add antifa and other far-left extremist groups to the bill.
“There is at least an equal level of hate, violence, and terror coming from the political left directed at conservatives and people who support the president," Buck said. "At its core, the people perpetrating these acts are using the same tactics as white supremacists.”
Buck introduced an amendment that listed more than 80 incidents of violence tied to antifa and other left-wing extremists and warned Democrats the Republican-controlled Senate would not pass the domestic terrorism bill without his amendment attached.
"If we are serious about attacking about white supremacism, which I absolutely want to do, and did as a prosecutor, let’s make this a bipartisan bill," he said.
Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat, said equating antifa to white supremacists is inappropriate and irrelevant.
“[This amendment] blurs the lines between the targeted attacks the likes of which my community has seen and saying violence is violence. It diminishes the suffering that generations of Americans have lived through,” she said.
Buck's amendment failed on a party-line vote, and the bill will now go before the House floor for a full vote.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--McConnell says Senate will skip recess next week to address coronavirus legislation

The Senate nixed a recess scheduled for next week to act on coronavirus legislation , Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on Thursday .
“ Notwithstanding the scheduled state work period , the Senate will be in session next week .
I am glad talks are ongoing between the Administration and Speaker Pelosi , ” the Kentucky Republican wrote .
“ I hope Congress can pass bipartisan legislation to continue combating the coronavirus and keep our economy strong.
” The Senate was scheduled to be on recess next week to allow members to attend to matters in their home district , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precedence .
Earlier in the day , Sen. Lamar Alexander , a Tennessee Republican , said the upper chamber would not consider the coronavirus legislation until after next week 's recess .
“ The Senate will act when we come back , and we have a clearer idea of what extra steps we need to take , '' he told CNN .
The House is preparing to vote Thursday on the legislative package meant to respond to the economic fallout from the coronavirus threat .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has so far resisted Minority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House cancel its scheduled recess next week to hash out their differences in the legislation .
`` We do n't need 48 hours .
We need to just make a decision to help families right now , '' Pelosi said during her weekly news conference on Thursday .
`` We are responding to their concerns , we do n't want them moving the goalposts , and that 's it . ''
The California Democrat added , `` I 'm not sticking around because they do n't want to agree to language . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Steven Mnuchin and the Trump administration for `` engaging in bipartisan talks '' with Pelosi .
`` Following the billions in health funding we approved last week , the Senate is ready and eager to consider bipartisan policies to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus , '' McConnell said in a tweet thread .
`` Unfortunately , Speaker Pelosi ’ s first draft from late last night was off-base .
It does not focus immediate relief on affected Americans .
It proposes new bureaucracy that would only delay assistance .
It wanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the pressing issues at hand , '' the Kentucky Republican added .
Fortunately , we do not need to choose between Speaker Pelosi ’ s first draft and doing nothing .
I am glad the Administration is continuing talks .
The Senate is ready to consider a bipartisan , bicameral package if House Democrats return to the table & work with the President 's team . ''
The U.S. Capitol and its associated office buildings are being closed to the general public until April 1 , and several senators have implemented work-from-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not cast votes from home , though there is legislation in the works to change that policy .

The Senate nixed a recess scheduled for next week to act on coronavirus legislation, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on Thursday.
“Notwithstanding the scheduled state work period, the Senate will be in session next week. I am glad talks are ongoing between the Administration and Speaker Pelosi,” the Kentucky Republican wrote. “I hope Congress can pass bipartisan legislation to continue combating the coronavirus and keep our economy strong.”
Notwithstanding the scheduled state work period, the Senate will be in session next week. I am glad talks are ongoing between the Administration and Speaker Pelosi. I hope Congress can pass bipartisan legislation to continue combating the coronavirus and keep our economy strong. — Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) March 12, 2020
The Senate was scheduled to be on recess next week to allow members to attend to matters in their home district, but McConnell stressed coronavirus legislation would take precedence.
Earlier in the day, Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, said the upper chamber would not consider the coronavirus legislation until after next week's recess. “The Senate will act when we come back, and we have a clearer idea of what extra steps we need to take," he told CNN.
The House is preparing to vote Thursday on the legislative package meant to respond to the economic fallout from the coronavirus threat. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has so far resisted Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's suggestion that the House cancel its scheduled recess next week to hash out their differences in the legislation.
"We don't need 48 hours. We need to just make a decision to help families right now," Pelosi said during her weekly news conference on Thursday. "We are responding to their concerns, we don't want them moving the goalposts, and that's it."
The California Democrat added, "I'm not sticking around because they don't want to agree to language."
Earlier Thursday, McConnell applauded Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and the Trump administration for "engaging in bipartisan talks" with Pelosi.
"Following the billions in health funding we approved last week, the Senate is ready and eager to consider bipartisan policies to mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus," McConnell said in a tweet thread.
"Unfortunately, Speaker Pelosi’s first draft from late last night was off-base. It does not focus immediate relief on affected Americans. It proposes new bureaucracy that would only delay assistance. It wanders into policy areas that are not related to the pressing issues at hand," the Kentucky Republican added. Fortunately, we do not need to choose between Speaker Pelosi’s first draft and doing nothing. I am glad the Administration is continuing talks. The Senate is ready to consider a bipartisan, bicameral package if House Democrats return to the table & work with the President's team."
The U.S. Capitol and its associated office buildings are being closed to the general public until April 1, and several senators have implemented work-from-home policies for their staff members.
Senators cannot cast votes from home, though there is legislation in the works to change that policy.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--Rick Scott self-quarantining after exposure to Brazilian official who tested positive for coronaviru

Rick Scott self-quarantining after exposure to Brazilian official who tested positive for coronavirus

Florida Sen. Rick Scott will self-quarantine after being in contact with the member of the Brazilian government who tested positive for the coronavirus .
Scott , a 67-year-old GOP senator , was notified by the Brazilian Embassy on Thursday that a member of President Jair Bolsonaro 's delegation tested positive for COVID-19 , according to a statement .
The senator met with President Trump on Monday , along with the delegation .
However , Scott noted he did not interact with the infected person , but they were in the same room .
The Florida senator said both the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told him that his chance to contract the virus is `` low , '' and he does not need to get tested for it , nor does he need to quarantine himself .
However , he plans on doing so out of `` an abundance of caution '' despite `` feeling healthy and not experiencing any symptoms at this time . ''
The infected member of Bolsonaro 's delegation was Fabio Wajngarten , the president 's communications secretary .
On Saturday , Wajngarten was at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach , Florida , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visited with President Trump as well as Vice President Mike Pence .
Neither of them were as of Monday evening .
The two also had recent contact with several prominent Republicans who had been in contact with Alan Berger , a New Jersey doctor for the coronavirus after attending the Conservative Political Action Conference in February .
Scott became the second senator to self-quarantine after being exposed to the virus , which has infected more than 1,300 people in the United States and led to more than three dozen deaths .

Florida Sen. Rick Scott will self-quarantine after being in contact with the member of the Brazilian government who tested positive for the coronavirus.
Scott, a 67-year-old GOP senator, was notified by the Brazilian Embassy on Thursday that a member of President Jair Bolsonaro's delegation tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement. The senator met with President Trump on Monday, along with the delegation. However, Scott noted he did not interact with the infected person, but they were in the same room.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
The Florida senator said both the Senate's attending physician and his personal doctor told him that his chance to contract the virus is "low," and he does not need to get tested for it, nor does he need to quarantine himself. However, he plans on doing so out of "an abundance of caution" despite "feeling healthy and not experiencing any symptoms at this time."
The infected member of Bolsonaro's delegation was Fabio Wajngarten, the president's communications secretary. On Saturday, Wajngarten was at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, with the rest of the Brazilian delegation and visited with President Trump as well as Vice President Mike Pence. Neither of them were tested for coronavirus as of Monday evening. The two also had recent contact with several prominent Republicans who had been in contact with Alan Berger, a New Jersey doctor who had tested positive for the coronavirus after attending the Conservative Political Action Conference in February.
Scott became the second senator to self-quarantine after being exposed to the virus, which has infected more than 1,300 people in the United States and led to more than three dozen deaths.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--Senate will wait more than a week to act on coronavirus bill, Lamar Alexander says

The Senate wo n't act on legislation to address the coronavirus outbreak until after a scheduled recess next week , according to a Republican senator .
“ The Senate will act when we come back , and we have a clearer idea of what extra steps we need to take , '' Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander told reporters .
Both chambers of Congress are expected to go on recess after Thursday , as they are scheduled to be off next week .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi planned to hold a vote on the coronavirus legislation before the end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will ultimately decide what legislation is considered in the upper chamber , and on the Senate floor , he said on Thursday that `` Congress will continue to do our work . ''
At least one Republican senator , Ben Sasse of Nebraska , called on the Senate to cancel the recess .
`` Nursing home operators in Nebraska are telling me they ’ re worried because they have patients who might have coronavirus , but they don ’ t have enough testing kits to find out .
Instead of going into recess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep working on the people ’ s business — both addressing the obvious deficiencies in our diagnostic testing pipeline , and debating the President ’ s call last night for economic legislation .
The Senate has work to do , let ’ s get to it , '' he said in a statement Thursday .
The U.S. Capitol and its associated office buildings are being closed to the general public until April 1 , and several senators have implemented work-from-home policies for their staff members .
Senators can not cast votes from home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works to change that policy .
UPDATE : Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday afternoon that the upper chamber canceled next week 's recess to act on coronavirus legislation .

The Senate won't act on legislation to address the coronavirus outbreak until after a scheduled recess next week, according to a Republican senator.
“The Senate will act when we come back, and we have a clearer idea of what extra steps we need to take," Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander told reporters.
Both chambers of Congress are expected to go on recess after Thursday, as they are scheduled to be off next week.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
McConnell ally says Senate won't take up House #coronavirus bill until after recess. “The Senate will act when we come back and we have a clearer idea of what extra steps we need to take,” Sen. Lamar Alexander told reporters. — Ana Cabrera (@AnaCabrera) March 12, 2020
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi planned to hold a vote on the coronavirus legislation before the end of the week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will ultimately decide what legislation is considered in the upper chamber, and on the Senate floor, he said on Thursday that "Congress will continue to do our work."
At least one Republican senator, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, called on the Senate to cancel the recess.
"Nursing home operators in Nebraska are telling me they’re worried because they have patients who might have coronavirus, but they don’t have enough testing kits to find out. Instead of going into recess next week, the Senate ought to keep working on the people’s business — both addressing the obvious deficiencies in our diagnostic testing pipeline, and debating the President’s call last night for economic legislation. The Senate has work to do, let’s get to it," he said in a statement Thursday.
The U.S. Capitol and its associated office buildings are being closed to the general public until April 1, and several senators have implemented work-from-home policies for their staff members.
Senators cannot cast votes from home, though there is legislation in the works to change that policy.
UPDATE: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday afternoon that the upper chamber canceled next week's recess to act on coronavirus legislation.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--Swamp surveillance ‘reform’ bill gives special protections to politicians over citizens

If President Trump wants to drain the swamp , he absolutely must veto the atrocious surveillance “ reform ” bill the House of Representatives Wednesday night .
Politicians don ’ t deserve special protections that aren ’ t granted to everyday citizens — but that ’ s what this would do .
Right now , the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act , created after 9/11 to allow for the surveillance of foreign nationals suspected of possible terrorism , has created a rubber-stamp process whereby the federal government can spy on Americans essentially at will .
The House FISA reextension bill reauthorizes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the penalties for abuses , bringing advocates against surveillance into the process in more instances — how every judge signing off on warrants to spy on Americans aren ’ t already presented with arguments against spying is beyond me — and imposing modest limits on what types of data the government can access .
But perhaps the most objectionable part of this bill is the special protection it adds for federal elected officials and candidates for federal offices .
It mandates that if the government seeks to spy on either an official or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the attorney general , the highest level of our justice system .
This is , at first glance , well-warranted , given that an inspector general report showed highly improper surveillance of the Trump campaign during the 2016 election through the FISA system .
( Of course , it 's far from clear that this added step would actually prevent the awarding of improper FISA warrants : Obama-era attorney general Eric Holder `` signed a lot of them '' during his tenure . )
Yet politicians deserve no special protections not afforded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s protections for due process and respect for privacy aren ’ t good enough for our politicians , then they aren ’ t good enough for any of us .
We all have Fourth Amendment rights to privacy , from the lowest in our society to our highest elected officials .
It 's absolutely nauseating that establishment leaders from both parties think members of Congress deserve special bonus protections for their civil liberties and privacy , as if they 're too good to play by the rules they would impose on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was quickly noted by constitutional conservatives and libertarian-leaning Republicans such as Sen. Rand Paul , Sen. Mike Lee , and Rep. Chip Roy : Trump should veto this bill and demand real reform to the FISA system that respects the rights of all citizens and authorizes surveillance against U.S. citizens only when a very high standard is met , if at all .
If Trump acquiesces to a reauthorization of the surveillance system that privileges the Washington elite , the president will be preserving the same swamp he promised the public he would @ @

If President Trump wants to drain the swamp, he absolutely must veto the atrocious surveillance “reform” bill the House of Representatives passed Wednesday night. Politicians don’t deserve special protections that aren’t granted to everyday citizens — but that’s what this swampy bill would do.
Right now, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, created after 9/11 to allow for the surveillance of foreign nationals suspected of possible terrorism, has created a rubber-stamp process whereby the federal government can spy on Americans essentially at will.
The House FISA reextension bill reauthorizes this surveillance with only some meager reforms , such as raising the penalties for abuses, bringing advocates against surveillance into the process in more instances — how every judge signing off on warrants to spy on Americans aren’t already presented with arguments against spying is beyond me — and imposing modest limits on what types of data the government can access.
But perhaps the most objectionable part of this bill is the special protection it adds for federal elected officials and candidates for federal offices.
It mandates that if the government seeks to spy on either an official or candidate, it must first get approval from the attorney general, the highest level of our justice system. This is, at first glance, well-warranted, given that an inspector general report showed highly improper surveillance of the Trump campaign during the 2016 election through the FISA system. (Of course, it's far from clear that this added step would actually prevent the awarding of improper FISA warrants: Obama-era attorney general Eric Holder "signed a lot of them" during his tenure.)
Yet politicians deserve no special protections not afforded to everyday Americans. If the system’s protections for due process and respect for privacy aren’t good enough for our politicians, then they aren’t good enough for any of us.
We all have Fourth Amendment rights to privacy, from the lowest in our society to our highest elected officials. It's absolutely nauseating that establishment leaders from both parties think members of Congress deserve special bonus protections for their civil liberties and privacy, as if they're too good to play by the rules they would impose on the rest of us.
This glaring hypocrisy was quickly noted by constitutional conservatives and libertarian-leaning Republicans such as Sen. Rand Paul, Sen. Mike Lee, and Rep. Chip Roy:
Weak sauce reform requires Attorney General to sign off on political FISA warrants. Obama AG Holder signed them all the time. Do you really think he wouldn’t do it again @realDonaldTrump? This doesn’t fix the problem! Let’s do real reform now! https://t.co/EjnC8atwh0 — Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 11, 2020
The FISA draft is more than disappointing... it provides protections for politicians but not citizens. @realDonaldTrump should veto rather than perpetuating the very deep state swamp he went to DC to drain. #FISAReform — Chip Roy (@chiproytx) March 10, 2020
Even where the House FISA / PATRIOT Act deal claims to offer modest protection for political candidates and elected officials, it doesn’t provide the same protection for the American people! @realDonaldTrump has asked for real FISA reforms, not fake ones. Sad! — Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) March 11, 2020
Trump should veto this bill and demand real reform to the FISA system that respects the rights of all citizens and authorizes surveillance against U.S. citizens only when a very high standard is met, if at all. If Trump acquiesces to a reauthorization of the surveillance system that privileges the Washington elite, the president will be preserving the same swamp he promised the public he would drain.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--Pelosi: Stay in, Bernie

Pelosi: Stay in, Bernie

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she did not want Sen. Bernie Sanders to drop his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination , despite calls from other party officials for him to exit the race .
“ No , I don ’ t think Bernie Sanders should get out of the race , ” Pelosi told reporters Thursday .
Pelosi described herself as “ a grassroots person ” and said she understood “ the enthusiasm of supporters for the candidates , and they want to see it play out for the ideas , the causes that the candidates advance , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support.
” Sanders was declared the official winner of the California primary on Thursday .
Some top party lawmakers want Sanders to drop out , among them one of Pelosi ’ s top lieutenants , Majority Whip James Clyburn , a South Carolina Democrat , who called for an end to the primaries and debates now that former Vice President Joe Biden has secured a strong delegate lead .
But Pelosi said she was not in favor of ending the contest .
“ I congratulate both of the candidates as they go into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both well , and I 'm very pleased that was we 're getting a chance now in a narrower field , to be able to come close to having a standard-bearer for the party , ” Pelosi said .
“ But , either one of them , whoever is the one who emerges , the other one is the standard party-bearer for their point of view .
In our party , that is very important .
”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she did not want Sen. Bernie Sanders to drop his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, despite calls from other party officials for him to exit the race.
“No, I don’t think Bernie Sanders should get out of the race,” Pelosi told reporters Thursday.
Pelosi described herself as “a grassroots person” and said she understood “the enthusiasm of supporters for the candidates, and they want to see it play out for the ideas, the causes that the candidates advance, for the opportunity for people to show their support.”
Sanders was declared the official winner of the California primary on Thursday.
Some top party lawmakers want Sanders to drop out, among them one of Pelosi’s top lieutenants, Majority Whip James Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, who called for an end to the primaries and debates now that former Vice President Joe Biden has secured a strong delegate lead.
But Pelosi said she was not in favor of ending the contest.
“I congratulate both of the candidates as they go into the debate on Sunday, wish them both well, and I'm very pleased that was we're getting a chance now in a narrower field, to be able to come close to having a standard-bearer for the party,” Pelosi said. “But, either one of them, whoever is the one who emerges, the other one is the standard party-bearer for their point of view. In our party, that is very important.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--‘No Cash for Crooks’: GOP senator aims to bar lawmakers convicted of felonies from receiving pension

‘No Cash for Crooks’: GOP senator aims to bar lawmakers convicted of felonies from receiving pensions

Sen. Thom Tillis , a North Carolina Republican , introduced a bill that would bar members of Congress from cashing in on their retirement pension if they commit a felony .
The bill , which Tillis will introduce on Thursday , follows from the Los Angeles Times that said former Rep. Duncan Hunter would collect a congressional pension after pleading guilty to felony charges .
Hunter , a California Republican , after pleading guilty to spending more than $ 250,000 illegally in campaign donations to cover personal expenses , including $ 704 worth of tickets to see How the Grinch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in San Diego and $ 1,528 on video game purchases .
He could rake in as much as $ 32,538 per year from his congressional pension , according to estimates from the Los Angeles Times .
Tillis ’ s bill ensures that members of Congress who commit similar crimes will not have access to the pension Hunter is expected to take home .
In a statement , Tillis explained , “ Members of Congress who violate the public trust and commit felonies do not deserve to further cheat their constituents by receiving taxpayer-funded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that a disgraced Congressman was recently able to move back his resignation date so he could qualify for another year of eligibility for his pension shows how broken the system is.
” As Tillis noted , Hunter refused to resign until January , to the felony charges in December .
The move allowed him to qualify for an additional year of eligibility .
Tillis ’ s bill , which is called the `` No Cash for Crooks Act , '' would only apply to felonies committed while in office and would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member ’ s time in office .
The legislation adjusts ethics rules to ensure those who conspire to misuse campaign funds , like Hunter , do not take a pension after leaving office .
Hunter , who was also found to be having several affairs with lobbyists and members of his staff , will be sentenced for his crimes on March 17 .
He faces up to five years in prison .

A new bill targets "crooks" in Congress.
Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, introduced a bill that would bar members of Congress from cashing in on their retirement pension if they commit a felony. The bill, which Tillis will introduce on Thursday, follows a report from the Los Angeles Times that said former Rep. Duncan Hunter would collect a congressional pension after pleading guilty to felony charges.
Hunter, a California Republican, resigned this year after pleading guilty to spending more than $250,000 illegally in campaign donations to cover personal expenses, including $704 worth of tickets to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and $1,528 on video game purchases. He could rake in as much as $32,538 per year from his congressional pension, according to estimates from the Los Angeles Times.
Tillis’s bill ensures that members of Congress who commit similar crimes will not have access to the pension Hunter is expected to take home. In a statement, Tillis explained, “Members of Congress who violate the public trust and commit felonies do not deserve to further cheat their constituents by receiving taxpayer-funded pensions.”
He added, “The fact that a disgraced Congressman was recently able to move back his resignation date so he could qualify for another year of eligibility for his pension shows how broken the system is.”
As Tillis noted, Hunter refused to resign until January, despite pleading guilty to the felony charges in December. The move allowed him to qualify for an additional year of eligibility.
Tillis’s bill, which is called the "No Cash for Crooks Act," would only apply to felonies committed while in office and would not apply to crimes committed before or after a member’s time in office. The legislation adjusts ethics rules to ensure those who conspire to misuse campaign funds, like Hunter, do not take a pension after leaving office.
Hunter, who was also found to be having several affairs with lobbyists and members of his staff, will be sentenced for his crimes on March 17. He faces up to five years in prison.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--Even Trump’s name divides US, sours Democrats, cheers Republicans

The division in America over President Trump has reached a new stage : People can ’ t even agree on his name .
According to a unique new survey shared with Secrets , Democrats dislike Trump so much that just mentioning his name turns their mood from happy to sour , calm to anxious .
When asked about life since 2016 , 33 % of Democrats reported a “ negative mood , ” said the survey of 2,000 for MedicareAdvantage.com .
But when Trump ’ s name was thrown in , it more than doubled to 68 % .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Republicans reported an overall positive mood since 2016 .
That increased to 57 % when Trump ’ s name was mentioned .
In the online survey , half were asked about their health and outlook “ since 2016 , ” and the other half were asked about their health “ since Trump was elected.
” Their perceptions changed when Trump ’ s name was added .
The poll analysis said , “ Including the name ‘ Trump ’ created a notable change in responses , exposing a potential for inherent tribalism and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Trump trigger effect.
’ ” Overall , those who reported a worsened overall mood and mental health increased 54 % when Trump 's name was mentioned .
But the partisan differences were stark , especially on the upcoming 2020 presidential election .
Asked about election , 45 % of Democrats said they are on edge .
For Republicans , it ’ s just 16 % .
Trump ’ s name also appears to impact health .
“ Election anxiety is very real , ” said Dr. Steven Rosenberg , a psychotherapist and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can cause a variety of extremes in behavior from overeating , excessive smoking or drinking , sleep disturbances and more.
” Mention Trump ’ s name to Republicans , and they reported drinking less alcohol and being in better shape .
Mention Trump to Democrats , and 66 % reported increased anxiety .
For Republicans , it dropped to just 21 % .
“ Knowing that we have some sense of control in life is critical in our overall well-being , and essential in the management of stress , ” said Jodi De @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Colorado .
“ Our control over the current political climate is seemingly limited , and in many ways , this lack of control inhibits our ability to manage politically related stress .
”

The division in America over President Trump has reached a new stage: People can’t even agree on his name.
According to a unique new survey shared with Secrets, Democrats dislike Trump so much that just mentioning his name turns their mood from happy to sour, calm to anxious.
When asked about life since 2016, 33% of Democrats reported a “negative mood,” said the survey of 2,000 for MedicareAdvantage.com. But when Trump’s name was thrown in, it more than doubled to 68%.
Not so for Republicans. Some 51% of Republicans reported an overall positive mood since 2016. That increased to 57% when Trump’s name was mentioned.
In the online survey, half were asked about their health and outlook “since 2016,” and the other half were asked about their health “since Trump was elected.” Their perceptions changed when Trump’s name was added.
The poll analysis said, “Including the name ‘Trump’ created a notable change in responses, exposing a potential for inherent tribalism and confirmation bias around what we call the ‘Trump trigger effect.’”
Overall, those who reported a worsened overall mood and mental health increased 54% when Trump's name was mentioned.
But the partisan differences were stark, especially on the upcoming 2020 presidential election.
Asked about election, 45% of Democrats said they are on edge. For Republicans, it’s just 16%.
Trump’s name also appears to impact health. “Election anxiety is very real,” said Dr. Steven Rosenberg, a psychotherapist and behavioral specialist in Philadelphia. “Anxiety can cause a variety of extremes in behavior from overeating, excessive smoking or drinking, sleep disturbances and more.”
Mention Trump’s name to Republicans, and they reported drinking less alcohol and being in better shape.
Mention Trump to Democrats, and 66% reported increased anxiety. For Republicans, it dropped to just 21%.
“Knowing that we have some sense of control in life is critical in our overall well-being, and essential in the management of stress,” said Jodi De Luca, a licensed clinical psychologist in Colorado. “Our control over the current political climate is seemingly limited, and in many ways, this lack of control inhibits our ability to manage politically related stress.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-11--150,000 immigrants from 72 nations with coronavirus stopped at border

Some 150,000 illegal immigrants from 72 nations with cases of the coronavirus have been apprehended or deemed inadmissible from entering the United States since November , raising the ongoing border crisis to a potential public health threat , according to officials .
New figures provided to Secrets show that over half of the nearly 300,000 illegal immigrants apprehended or deemed “ inadmissible ” this fiscal year came from nations with cases of the coronavirus , including China , Italy , Iran , and South Korea .
The administration has been bracing for a federal court decision that would junk its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open the doors on the southwest border .
But the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday put that on hold as legal arguments on both sides continue in the liberal 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals , which oversees Arizona and California .
“ The border/immigration situation has taken on a whole new dynamic ; it ’ s a public health threat , ” said an official .
Secrets recently reported that 328 Chinese immigrants had been seized illegally crossing the border since the virus outbreak began in China .
So far , 150,958 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been stopped at the border .
DHS has sought to return , repatriate , and remove as many as possible .
What 's more , another 43,000 from Latin nations including Venezuela , El Salvador , Guatemala , Haiti and Nicaragua -- nations that have n't reported the virus -- have been turned away to wait .
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said last week none of the immigrants stopped by agents showed signs of the virus .
The administration has been making the case that continuing the so-called Migrant Protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval to come into the U.S. to seek asylum is both an important national security and health security issue .
“ MPP is all the more critical to keep Americans safe and healthy , which can only be accomplished through lawful and orderly migration , ” said an official .
Another said , “ We have a unique public health threat posed by individuals arriving unlawfully at the border , where migrants , law enforcement officials , frontline personnel , and the American public are put at risk .
All it would take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the detained migrant community within DHS facilities .
Without proper precautions , which can only happen through orderly , lawful migration , the virus threatens to spread rapidly .
Any halting of MPP would exacerbate this threat.
” Should the policy be lifted , holding stations run by the Department of Homeland Security would immediately fill up , and , there is the potential that the spillover would have to be shipped to facilities around the country .
“ Overcrowding at DHS facilities can lead to increased cases of easily communicable diseases other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mumps , chicken pox , and the flu , ” warned an official .
The department also said that there are several factors raising the potential of a virus crisis at the border : • Nationalities represented at the border from coronavirus-affected countries .
• Unique health dangers of journey to the border .

Some 150,000 illegal immigrants from 72 nations with cases of the coronavirus have been apprehended or deemed inadmissible from entering the United States since November, raising the ongoing border crisis to a potential public health threat, according to officials.
New figures provided to Secrets show that over half of the nearly 300,000 illegal immigrants apprehended or deemed “inadmissible” this fiscal year came from nations with cases of the coronavirus, including China, Italy, Iran, and South Korea.
DHS figures.
The administration has been bracing for a federal court decision that would junk its “remain in Mexico” policy and open the doors on the southwest border. But the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday put that on hold as legal arguments on both sides continue in the liberal 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which oversees Arizona and California.
“The border/immigration situation has taken on a whole new dynamic; it’s a public health threat,” said an official.
Secrets recently reported that 328 Chinese immigrants had been seized illegally crossing the border since the virus outbreak began in China.
So far, 150,958 immigrants from 72 nations with the virus have been stopped at the border. DHS has sought to return, repatriate, and remove as many as possible.
What's more, another 43,000 from Latin nations including Venezuela, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Nicaragua -- nations that haven't reported the virus -- have been turned away to wait.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said last week none of the immigrants stopped by agents showed signs of the virus.
The administration has been making the case that continuing the so-called Migrant Protection Protocols that keep immigrants in Mexico pending approval to come into the U.S. to seek asylum is both an important national security and health security issue.
“MPP is all the more critical to keep Americans safe and healthy, which can only be accomplished through lawful and orderly migration,” said an official.
Another said, “We have a unique public health threat posed by individuals arriving unlawfully at the border, where migrants, law enforcement officials, frontline personnel, and the American public are put at risk. All it would take is a single infected individual to impact the detained migrant community within DHS facilities. Without proper precautions, which can only happen through orderly, lawful migration, the virus threatens to spread rapidly. Any halting of MPP would exacerbate this threat.”
Should the policy be lifted, holding stations run by the Department of Homeland Security would immediately fill up, and, there is the potential that the spillover would have to be shipped to facilities around the country.
“Overcrowding at DHS facilities can lead to increased cases of easily communicable diseases other than COVID-19, such as measles, mumps, chicken pox, and the flu,” warned an official.
The department also said that there are several factors raising the potential of a virus crisis at the border:


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-11--GOP expands battle to stop Democrat attacks on ballot security laws

Republicans are escalating their $ 10 million war on Democratic efforts to challenge voting ballot laws in several states that could lead to election rigging for Democrats in states key to President Trump ’ s reelection .
Late Tuesday , the Republican National Committee and Minnesota Republican Party moved to “ intervene as defendants ” in a Minnesota case to help fend off a suit brought by the ACLU , the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee , and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee .
It came after the RNC and Michigan Republican Party went to bat for two Michigan laws challenged by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in ways that Republicans believe will open the door to ballot manipulation .
“ The RNC is aggressively fighting back against the Democrats ’ attempts to sue their way to victory in 2020 , ” Ronna McDaniel , chairman of the Republican National Committee , told Secrets .
“ Democrats know they can ’ t beat President Trump at the ballot box , so they are trying to use our courts for partisan political gain , ” she added .
The RNC , backed by the Trump campaign , is also involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Florida .
Both have set aside $ 10 million to fight the Democratic ballot law challenges leading up to the 2020 elections and to build an “ Election Day ” team to protect Republican voters and ballots .
McDaniel said , “ These Democrat lawsuits aren ’ t about making it easier to vote , but rather are an attempt to score cheap political points while watering down common sense laws that bring order to our elections process .
As Chair , I vow to protect the sanctity of the ballot against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republicans have moved to intervene in court to protect two laws , Minnesota ’ s ballot harvesting ban and the state 's voter protection law .
Ballot harvesting laws generally forbid anyone from collecting absentee ballots .
Concerns have been raised that those who do could direct who those filling them out should vote for .
Democrats have claimed that easing the laws will make it easier for people to vote and boost voter turnout .
In addition to fighting in the courts , Republicans are also building a huge legal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting to catch any voter intimidation efforts .
The RNC provided these highlights of that program : Our efforts will ensure that no legally eligible voters are disenfranchised , that all votes are accurately and legally tabulated , and that voters are not confused about laws and procedures .
• Thousands of lawyers and tens of thousands of other volunteers will be trained to participate in EDO programs in all battleground states during early voting , on Election Day , post-election canvassing , and during any potential recount .
• Activities of state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure they follow the law .
• Work closely with other GOP party committees , including the NRSC , NRCC , and state parties on Election Day Operations and voting litigation matters .

Republicans are escalating their $10 million war on Democratic efforts to challenge voting ballot laws in several states that could lead to election rigging for Democrats in states key to President Trump’s reelection.
Late Tuesday, the Republican National Committee and Minnesota Republican Party moved to “intervene as defendants” in a Minnesota case to help fend off a suit brought by the ACLU, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
It came after the RNC and Michigan Republican Party went to bat for two Michigan laws challenged by Democrats in a bid to ease voting in ways that Republicans believe will open the door to ballot manipulation.
“The RNC is aggressively fighting back against the Democrats’ attempts to sue their way to victory in 2020,” Ronna McDaniel, chairman of the Republican National Committee, told Secrets.
“Democrats know they can’t beat President Trump at the ballot box, so they are trying to use our courts for partisan political gain,” she added.
Democrats are trying to rig the game with frivolous lawsuits that create electoral chaos, waste money, and distract election officials.
It's an attempt to advance the Democrats' voter suppression myth because they know they can’t beat @realDonaldTrump.https://t.co/mlOfhNJ5hW — Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) February 20, 2020
The RNC, backed by the Trump campaign, is also involved in similar efforts in California, Arizona, and Florida.
Both have set aside $10 million to fight the Democratic ballot law challenges leading up to the 2020 elections and to build an “Election Day” team to protect Republican voters and ballots.
McDaniel said, “These Democrat lawsuits aren’t about making it easier to vote, but rather are an attempt to score cheap political points while watering down common sense laws that bring order to our elections process. As Chair, I vow to protect the sanctity of the ballot against these frivolous efforts.”
In Minnesota, the Republicans have moved to intervene in court to protect two laws, Minnesota’s ballot harvesting ban and the state's voter protection law.
Ballot harvesting laws generally forbid anyone from collecting absentee ballots. Concerns have been raised that those who do could direct who those filling them out should vote for.
Democrats have claimed that easing the laws will make it easier for people to vote and boost voter turnout.
In addition to fighting in the courts, Republicans are also building a huge legal and volunteer team to watch over Election Day voting to catch any voter intimidation efforts. The RNC provided these highlights of that program:
Our efforts will ensure that no legally eligible voters are disenfranchised, that all votes are accurately and legally tabulated, and that voters are not confused about laws and procedures.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--Biden Michigan primary romp should make GOP nervous

President Trump 's strength in a state that helped him narrowly win the White House in 2016 is showing signs of erosion , based on Joe Biden 's Democratic primary performance .
The former vice president on Tuesday won the Michigan Democratic primary 53-36 % over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders .
Biden came in far ahead in most demographics , including white men , a crucial voting group in the state , among others .
That 's a big difference from Sanders 's Michigan primary win in 2016 over eventual nominee Hillary Clinton .
It 's also an upward swing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss to Trump .
Michigan , which Trump won narrowly along with Wisconsin and Pennsylvania , was enough to give him an Electoral College majority in the biggest political upset in decades .
`` Two positive signs for Biden in Michigan on Tuesday were his strength with white blue-collar workers and his performance with African American voters .
Biden won Macomb County in suburban Detroit , which is the ancestral homeland of Reagan Democrats , '' said Democratic strategist Brad Bannon .
`` Clinton lost there to Sanders in 2016 .
In November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Wayne County was a factor in her loss to Trump there .
Tuesday , black primary turnout in Michigan was higher than it was in the 2016 primary . ''
Biden won union voters in Michigan and Missouri , in some districts by double-digits .
Sanders 's attacks on Biden 's record over free trade agreements such as NAFTA did little to persuade voters over who best represented their interests .
In districts Trump won by 30 points in 2016 , such as Livingston County , voter turnout in the Democratic primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was overwhelmingly for Biden .
`` In 2016 , just over 2.5 million voters participated in the March presidential primary , with 1.3 million voting in the Republican primary and 1.2 million voting in the Democratic primary , which in many ways predicted the close 10,000-plus vote victory by Trump in November , '' said Michigan pollster Bernie Porn .
`` In March of 2020 , about 700,000 voted in a Republican primary with little competition , but participation grew in the Democratic primary to more than 1.5 million votes , with Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union member households , suburban women and even more rural areas to defeat Bernie Sanders . ''
Biden 's pattern of trouncing Sanders continued throughout the state , with him winning every single county .
In Oakland County , a wealthy Detroit suburb and must-win for Trump in 2020 , turnout increased around 45 % .
Biden beat Sanders there by 22 points ; Clinton beat him by 4 points in 2016 .
GOP strategists often look at Michigan as a bellwether for other Midwestern states such as Wisconsin .
The demographics of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of Michigan also paints a poor picture for Trump , showing him losing to Biden in a number of theoretical matchups .
A RealClearPolitics average of polls shows Biden leading Trump by 4.8 points , with some recent polls showing that lead as large as 7 points .
`` Our previous statewide general election polls have shown Biden leading Trump by a low of 6 points to a high of 10 points , and with the results of the primary and a vote to reelect of only 34 percent for Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a blue voting state in November , '' Porn said .

President Trump's strength in a state that helped him narrowly win the White House in 2016 is showing signs of erosion, based on Joe Biden's Democratic primary performance.
The former vice president on Tuesday won the Michigan Democratic primary 53-36% over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Biden came in far ahead in most demographics, including white men, a crucial voting group in the state, among others. That's a big difference from Sanders's Michigan primary win in 2016 over eventual nominee Hillary Clinton.
It's also an upward swing from Clinton's 2016 general election Michigan loss to Trump. Michigan, which Trump won narrowly along with Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, was enough to give him an Electoral College majority in the biggest political upset in decades.
"Two positive signs for Biden in Michigan on Tuesday were his strength with white blue-collar workers and his performance with African American voters. Biden won Macomb County in suburban Detroit, which is the ancestral homeland of Reagan Democrats," said Democratic strategist Brad Bannon. "Clinton lost there to Sanders in 2016. In November 2016, turnout among African American voters in Wayne County was a factor in her loss to Trump there. Tuesday, black primary turnout in Michigan was higher than it was in the 2016 primary."
Biden won union voters in Michigan and Missouri, in some districts by double-digits. Sanders's attacks on Biden's record over free trade agreements such as NAFTA did little to persuade voters over who best represented their interests.
In districts Trump won by 30 points in 2016, such as Livingston County, voter turnout in the Democratic primary increased by a staggering 56% and was overwhelmingly for Biden.
"In 2016, just over 2.5 million voters participated in the March presidential primary, with 1.3 million voting in the Republican primary and 1.2 million voting in the Democratic primary, which in many ways predicted the close 10,000-plus vote victory by Trump in November," said Michigan pollster Bernie Porn. "In March of 2020, about 700,000 voted in a Republican primary with little competition, but participation grew in the Democratic primary to more than 1.5 million votes, with Biden solidly winning among many groups, including union member households, suburban women and even more rural areas to defeat Bernie Sanders."
Biden's pattern of trouncing Sanders continued throughout the state, with him winning every single county. In Oakland County, a wealthy Detroit suburb and must-win for Trump in 2020, turnout increased around 45%. Biden beat Sanders there by 22 points; Clinton beat him by 4 points in 2016.
GOP strategists often look at Michigan as a bellwether for other Midwestern states such as Wisconsin. The demographics of Michigan also closely mirror Pennsylvania.
Polling out of Michigan also paints a poor picture for Trump, showing him losing to Biden in a number of theoretical matchups. A RealClearPolitics average of polls shows Biden leading Trump by 4.8 points, with some recent polls showing that lead as large as 7 points.
"Our previous statewide general election polls have shown Biden leading Trump by a low of 6 points to a high of 10 points, and with the results of the primary and a vote to reelect of only 34 percent for Trump, Michigan has to be favored to be a blue voting state in November," Porn said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--Sanders will leave campaign trail and return to Senate next week

Bernie Sanders will return to the Senate from the presidential campaign trail next week as the coronavirus derails normal campaign activities .
Jane O'Meara Sanders , the wife of the Vermont senator , told reporters Thursday that Sanders will return to the Senate after Sunday 's Democratic presidential debate with former Vice President Joe Biden in Washington .
She added that he is still continuing his presidential campaign .
The debate was originally scheduled to take place in Arizona .
In hopes of reducing the risk of transmitting the coronavirus , CNN and the Democratic National Committee eliminated its live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hold the debate in its Washington studio .
Coronavirus disruptions have prevented Sanders from holding his traditional large campaign rallies ahead of the next four major primaries in Arizona , Florida , Illinois , and Ohio .
On Tuesday , Sanders and his rival Biden each canceled campaign rallies in Ohio after the state 's governor declared a state of emergency due to the virus and discouraged large gatherings .
Sanders and Biden have not held any other in-person campaign events since Tuesday .
Sanders on Thursday gave an address on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` on the scale of a major war . ''

Bernie Sanders will return to the Senate from the presidential campaign trail next week as the coronavirus derails normal campaign activities.
Jane O'Meara Sanders, the wife of the Vermont senator, told reporters Thursday that Sanders will return to the Senate after Sunday's Democratic presidential debate with former Vice President Joe Biden in Washington. She added that he is still continuing his presidential campaign.
The debate was originally scheduled to take place in Arizona. In hopes of reducing the risk of transmitting the coronavirus, CNN and the Democratic National Committee eliminated its live audience and spin room before eventually deciding to hold the debate in its Washington studio.
Coronavirus disruptions have prevented Sanders from holding his traditional large campaign rallies ahead of the next four major primaries in Arizona, Florida, Illinois, and Ohio.
On Tuesday, Sanders and his rival Biden each canceled campaign rallies in Ohio after the state's governor declared a state of emergency due to the virus and discouraged large gatherings. Sanders and Biden have not held any other in-person campaign events since Tuesday.
Sanders on Thursday gave an address on the coronavirus and warned that the pandemic is "on the scale of a major war."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-12--'I’ll always tell you the truth': Biden tears into Trump 'xenophobia' and honesty in coronavirus add

'I’ll always tell you the truth': Biden tears into Trump 'xenophobia' and honesty in coronavirus address

Joe Biden tore into President Trump 's handling of the coronavirus outbreak , accusing him of xenophobia , dishonesty , and mismanaging testing for the virus .
`` This virus laid bare the severe shortcomings of the current administration .
Public fears are being compounded by a pervasive lack of trust in this president , fueled by adversarial relationship with the truth , '' the former vice president said in an address on Thursday .
He suggested that Trump is hiding the `` true number of infections in hope of protecting political interests or the stock market . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office about the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday night and announced a 30-day travel restriction from Europe .
Biden criticized Trump for calling the virus , which originated in China , a `` foreign virus . ''
`` Neither should we panic or fall back on xenophobia .
Labeling COVID-19 a 'foreign virus ' does not displace accountability for the misjudgments that have been taken , thus far , by the Trump administration , '' Biden said .
“ Let me be crystal clear , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affiliation .
It will not discriminate on national origin , race , or ZIP code .
It will touch people in positions of power and the most vulnerable.
” Biden 's campaign debuted a public plan to combat coronavirus , which called on the White House to provide a daily report of completed coronavirus tests , establish at least 10 mobile testing sites in each state , and increase coordination between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and private labs , among other actions .
He called for anyone needing a coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and when available , a vaccine for the virus should also be free of charge .
Lack of a national paid sick leave policy is a `` national disgrace , '' he added .
“ President Trump is welcome to adopt all of it today , ” Biden said of his plan .
`` By next week , the number of tests should be in the millions , not the thousands , '' Biden said .
“ The administration ’ s failure on testing is colossal , and it ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ execution . ''
Biden ended with a campaign promise to be better prepared for a health crisis should he win the White House .
“ No president can promise to prevent future outbreaks , but I can promise you this : When I ’ m president , we will be better prepared , respond better , and recover better .
We will lead with science , ” he said .
`` I ’ ll always tell you the truth . ''
In response to Biden 's address , the Trump campaign shot back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health crisis .
“ In the past , Joe Biden has shown terrible judgment and incompetence in the face of public health issues .
The Obama White House had to publicly apologize for and clean up after Biden when his irresponsible remarks caused panic during the swine flu outbreak in 2009 , '' said Tim Murtaugh , Trump 2020 communications director .
`` Just weeks ago , he was openly critical of President Trump ’ s early move to restrict travel from China to the United States in response to the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped impede the spread of the virus to this country . ''

Joe Biden tore into President Trump's handling of the coronavirus outbreak, accusing him of xenophobia, dishonesty, and mismanaging testing for the virus.
"This virus laid bare the severe shortcomings of the current administration. Public fears are being compounded by a pervasive lack of trust in this president, fueled by adversarial relationship with the truth," the former vice president said in an address on Thursday. He suggested that Trump is hiding the "true number of infections in hope of protecting political interests or the stock market."
The Democratic presidential front-runner's address came the day after Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office about the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday night and announced a 30-day travel restriction from Europe.
Biden criticized Trump for calling the virus, which originated in China, a "foreign virus."
"Neither should we panic or fall back on xenophobia. Labeling COVID-19 a 'foreign virus' does not displace accountability for the misjudgments that have been taken, thus far, by the Trump administration," Biden said. “Let me be crystal clear, the coronavirus does not have a political affiliation. It will not discriminate on national origin, race, or ZIP code. It will touch people in positions of power and the most vulnerable.”
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
Biden's campaign debuted a public plan to combat coronavirus, which called on the White House to provide a daily report of completed coronavirus tests, establish at least 10 mobile testing sites in each state, and increase coordination between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and private labs, among other actions. He called for anyone needing a coronavirus test to receive one at no charge, and when available, a vaccine for the virus should also be free of charge. Lack of a national paid sick leave policy is a "national disgrace," he added.
“President Trump is welcome to adopt all of it today,” Biden said of his plan.
"By next week, the number of tests should be in the millions, not the thousands," Biden said. “The administration’s failure on testing is colossal, and it’s a failure of leadership, planning, and execution."
Biden ended with a campaign promise to be better prepared for a health crisis should he win the White House.
“No president can promise to prevent future outbreaks, but I can promise you this: When I’m president, we will be better prepared, respond better, and recover better. We will lead with science,” he said. "I’ll always tell you the truth."
In response to Biden's address, the Trump campaign shot back at Biden's past handling of a public health crisis.
“In the past, Joe Biden has shown terrible judgment and incompetence in the face of public health issues. The Obama White House had to publicly apologize for and clean up after Biden when his irresponsible remarks caused panic during the swine flu outbreak in 2009," said Tim Murtaugh, Trump 2020 communications director. "Just weeks ago, he was openly critical of President Trump’s early move to restrict travel from China to the United States in response to the coronavirus — a decision which medical experts agree helped impede the spread of the virus to this country."