thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Pompeo rips UN ‘so-called Human Rights Council’ as ‘anti-Semitic’

The Trump administration , already warning that it wants to slash its payments to the United Nations , this week fired a direct shot at the group 's anti-Israel and “ anti-Semitic ” trend led by an agency that has put U.S. firms that do business with the Jewish state on a hit list .
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is leading the effort and announced a new policy to defend those firms against the “ U.N. ’ s so-called ‘ Human Rights Council ' and the high commissioner , Michelle Bachelet.
” In his Monday night address to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urged American companies to tell the State Department when they are targeted so that the administration can take action and keep U.S. investments to Israel flowing .
“ Don ’ t be intimidated .
If you are being subjected to intimidation or harassment because of this database , let America know .
And the United States will respond to take actions against members of our business community that are being threatened by this release that was so sorely mistaken , ” he said to cheers .
He was blunt in slamming the Human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of companies doing business with Israel an arm of the so-called BDS movement , the Palestinian-backed “ Boycott , Divestment , Sanctions ” effort .
“ For those of you who are watching , the council recently released a database of companies doing business in East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank .
That release from the United Nations only serves to facilitate the BDS movement and delegitimize Israel , ” he said .
Pompeo added , “ How sad .
I remember reading it after its release .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that no people ever again faced horrors like the Jews faced during the Holocaust , and it is now anti-Semitic.
” The U.N. has been on Pompeo ’ s list for a while , and this year , the administration proposed substantial funding cuts , though it ’ s unclear if Congress will go along .
In his support for investing in Israel , the secretary said that “ we share your frustration.
” But , he added , there will be no wavering of support .
“ We will stand for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and prosperous Middle East and a prosperous Israel at the heart of that Middle East .
The more the Middle East embraces Israel , the brighter the future will be .
It ’ s really quite simple , ” he said .

The Trump administration, already warning that it wants to slash its payments to the United Nations, this week fired a direct shot at the group's anti-Israel and “anti-Semitic” trend led by an agency that has put U.S. firms that do business with the Jewish state on a hit list.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is leading the effort and announced a new policy to defend those firms against the “U.N.’s so-called ‘Human Rights Council' and the high commissioner, Michelle Bachelet.”
In his Monday night address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Pompeo urged American companies to tell the State Department when they are targeted so that the administration can take action and keep U.S. investments to Israel flowing.
“Don’t be intimidated. If you are being subjected to intimidation or harassment because of this database, let America know. And the United States will respond to take actions against members of our business community that are being threatened by this release that was so sorely mistaken,” he said to cheers.
He was blunt in slamming the Human Rights Council, calling its new database of companies doing business with Israel an arm of the so-called BDS movement, the Palestinian-backed “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions” effort.
“For those of you who are watching, the council recently released a database of companies doing business in East Jerusalem and Israeli settlements in the West Bank. That release from the United Nations only serves to facilitate the BDS movement and delegitimize Israel,” he said.
Pompeo added, “How sad. I remember reading it after its release. This is an organization that was set up to ensure that no people ever again faced horrors like the Jews faced during the Holocaust, and it is now anti-Semitic.”
The U.N. has been on Pompeo’s list for a while, and this year, the administration proposed substantial funding cuts, though it’s unclear if Congress will go along.
In his support for investing in Israel, the secretary said that “we share your frustration.”
But, he added, there will be no wavering of support. “We will stand for a strong, free, democratic, and prosperous Middle East and a prosperous Israel at the heart of that Middle East. The more the Middle East embraces Israel, the brighter the future will be. It’s really quite simple,” he said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Boom: FBI gun checks surge 30% amid Biden, Bloomberg gun grab threats

FBI gun background checks required in most weapon sales have jumped 30 % as consumers have rushed in to gun stores and shows to load up amid threats from Democratic presidential candidates to end sales and safety concerns as the coronavirus spreads .
Background checks in January and February recorded the highest number ever for the period , said the FBI .
In just two months , there have been 5,505,169 checks .
Last year , there were 4,218,980 background checks in January and February .
If the trend continues the way arms industry officials expect , 2020 will record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Criminal Background Check System , at over 30 million .
`` Sales are in record territory for both January and February for us .
Along with political pressure , coronavirus fears are also driving sales .
In particular , entry-level AR-15s are selling extremely well , and thankfully , unlike the Obama years , there ’ s enough inventory in the pipeline to satisfy demand .
It should be an interesting year , '' said Justin Anderson , the director of marketing for Hyatt Guns of Charlotte , North Carolina , one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number is a key barometer on gun sales .
The system is used for sales from federal firearm license holders , such as gun shows , but misses private sales and sales in a handful of states where it is not used .
Checks are also made for concealed carry permits and other security needs .
Sales saw a similar surge in 2016 when Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton was polling ahead of Donald Trump for president .
She had promised to enact an assault weapons ban like her husband did .
At a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines to get in stretched blocks .
Secrets witnessed long lines inside as people bought multiple guns , including so-called `` ghost guns '' that do not carry a serial number .
And sales of pro-Trump goods like MAGA hats and flags were brisk .
This year , Michael Bloomberg , who funds several anti-gun groups and politicians , is spending heavily to win the nomination .
And surging Joe Biden has teamed up with gun-banner Beto O ’ Rourke .
Bloomberg yesterday said during a Fox town hall , “ The whole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guns.
” He added during a discussion of his controversial “ stop and frisk ” policy he ’ s since apologized for , “ You just have to make sure there 's no guns.
” Biden , at a Texas rally , said that O ’ Rourke will be his gun czar .
During his short presidential campaign , O ’ Rourke promised to take every sporting rifle in America .
“ Hell , yes , we 're going to take your AR-15 , your AK-47 , ” he said of the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden has promised a new ban and wants to buy back every AR and AK in the country .
He told a CNN debate , `` The fact of the matter is they should be illegal , period .
Look , the Second Amendment does n't say you ca n't restrict the kinds of weapon people can own .
You ca n't buy a bazooka , you ca n't have a flame thrower . ''
Trump , meanwhile , is expected to win a second endorsement from the National Rifle Association this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grab .
At last week ’ s Conservative Political Action Conference , he mocked O ’ Rourke ’ s gun plan and Biden ’ s erroneous claim that 150 million people have been killed by guns .

FBI gun background checks required in most weapon sales have jumped 30% as consumers have rushed in to gun stores and shows to load up amid threats from Democratic presidential candidates to end sales and safety concerns as the coronavirus spreads.
Background checks in January and February recorded the highest number ever for the period, said the FBI. In just two months, there have been 5,505,169 checks. Last year, there were 4,218,980 background checks in January and February.
If the trend continues the way arms industry officials expect, 2020 will record the most-ever checks through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, at over 30 million.
"Sales are in record territory for both January and February for us. Along with political pressure, coronavirus fears are also driving sales. In particular, entry-level AR-15s are selling extremely well, and thankfully, unlike the Obama years, there’s enough inventory in the pipeline to satisfy demand. It should be an interesting year," said Justin Anderson, the director of marketing for Hyatt Guns of Charlotte, North Carolina, one of the nation's biggest.
The NICS number is a key barometer on gun sales. The system is used for sales from federal firearm license holders, such as gun shows, but misses private sales and sales in a handful of states where it is not used. Checks are also made for concealed carry permits and other security needs.
Sales saw a similar surge in 2016 when Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton was polling ahead of Donald Trump for president. She had promised to enact an assault weapons ban like her husband did.
Joe Biden tells Beto, of "hell yes, we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47," fame that "you're going to take care of the gun problem with me. You're gonna to be the one who leads this effort." pic.twitter.com/rKNlkyHWYA — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) March 3, 2020
At a recent gun show in northern Virginia, lines to get in stretched blocks. Secrets witnessed long lines inside as people bought multiple guns, including so-called "ghost guns" that do not carry a serial number. And sales of pro-Trump goods like MAGA hats and flags were brisk.
This year, Michael Bloomberg, who funds several anti-gun groups and politicians, is spending heavily to win the nomination. And surging Joe Biden has teamed up with gun-banner Beto O’Rourke.
When he ran for president, Beto O'Rourke sold these t-shirts.
Bloomberg yesterday said during a Fox town hall, “The whole idea is to keep people from carrying guns.” He added during a discussion of his controversial “stop and frisk” policy he’s since apologized for, “You just have to make sure there's no guns.”
Biden, at a Texas rally, said that O’Rourke will be his gun czar. During his short presidential campaign, O’Rourke promised to take every sporting rifle in America. “Hell, yes, we're going to take your AR-15, your AK-47,” he said of the two most popular rifles in the world.
Biden has promised a new ban and wants to buy back every AR and AK in the country. He told a CNN debate, "The fact of the matter is they should be illegal, period. Look, the Second Amendment doesn't say you can't restrict the kinds of weapon people can own. You can't buy a bazooka, you can't have a flame thrower."
Trump, meanwhile, is expected to win a second endorsement from the National Rifle Association this year and has pledged to fight any gun grab.
At last week’s Conservative Political Action Conference, he mocked O’Rourke’s gun plan and Biden’s erroneous claim that 150 million people have been killed by guns.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--AI: Endorsements boost Biden, now to win Minnesota, North Carolina, tied in Texas

The overnight endorsements of former Vice President Joe Biden by two of his center-left rivals has boosted his chances in today ’ s Super Tuesday election and vaulted him over Sen. Bernie Sanders in two key states , according to an accurate artificial intelligence model tracked by Secrets .
In addition to indicating that Biden will now win Minnesota and North Carolina , the AI system called Polly has pushed Biden and Sanders into a virtual tie in Texas .
The changes in the race come after Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden in a move interpreted as the Democratic Party ’ s bid to stop the Sanders surge .
The AI tool powered by Advanced Symbolics Inc. was updated late yesterday after the two withdrew .
The new results are also a blow to Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who falls behind Biden in some states , notably her own home of Massachusetts .
The new results and analysis from ASI chief scientist Kenton White in the states the company tested : • In California , there was little change , with Sanders picking up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beat Biden 39.2 % -24.3 % .
White said , “ Sanders is still forecast to win the state .
Biden is now a clear second place.
” • In Maine , Biden ’ s victory will be even bigger than previously predicted .
The current gap is 32.7 % for Biden to 23.9 % for Sanders and Warren .
“ With these developments , Biden ’ s victory is even stronger , ” said White .
• In Massachusetts , Sanders is expected to embarrass Warren , who drops to third behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders at 35.1 % , Biden at 27.7 % , and Warren at 21.5 % .
• In North Carolina , Biden is now the favorite , jumping over Sanders due to the endorsements .
The race is now 34.3 % for Biden to 29.8 % for Sanders .
Previously , it was 29.1 % for Sanders to 26.6 % for Biden .
“ This is the biggest change .
Previously , Sanders was forecast to win .
Now , Biden is the favorite , ” said White .
• In Texas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of error .
The AI model has Sanders at 31.7 % and Biden at 30.6 % .
Said White , “ Sanders is still forecast to win Texas , but Biden is within the margin of error .
Texas could go to Biden in a close race.
” • In Colorado : Sanders is still forecast to win .
There is now a three-way race between Biden , Michael Bloomberg , and Warren for second place .
• And in Minnesota , which Klobuchar was winning , Biden is now the leader over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The overnight endorsements of former Vice President Joe Biden by two of his center-left rivals has boosted his chances in today’s Super Tuesday election and vaulted him over Sen. Bernie Sanders in two key states, according to an accurate artificial intelligence model tracked by Secrets.
In addition to indicating that Biden will now win Minnesota and North Carolina, the AI system called Polly has pushed Biden and Sanders into a virtual tie in Texas.
The changes in the race come after Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg withdrew from the race and endorsed Biden in a move interpreted as the Democratic Party’s bid to stop the Sanders surge.
The AI tool powered by Advanced Symbolics Inc. was updated late yesterday after the two withdrew.
The new results are also a blow to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who falls behind Biden in some states, notably her own home of Massachusetts.
The before-and-after AI Super Tuesday predictions are seen, accounting for Amy Klobuchar's and Pete Buttigieg's endorsements of presidential candidate Joe Biden. (Image from Advanced Symbolics Inc.)
The new results and analysis from ASI chief scientist Kenton White in the states the company tested:
In California, there was little change, with Sanders picking up three points and is now expected to beat Biden 39.2%-24.3%. White said, “Sanders is still forecast to win the state. Biden is now a clear second place.”
In Maine, Biden’s victory will be even bigger than previously predicted. The current gap is 32.7% for Biden to 23.9% for Sanders and Warren. “With these developments, Biden’s victory is even stronger,” said White.
In Massachusetts, Sanders is expected to embarrass Warren, who drops to third behind Biden. The current AI numbers are Sanders at 35.1%, Biden at 27.7%, and Warren at 21.5%.
In North Carolina, Biden is now the favorite, jumping over Sanders due to the endorsements. The race is now 34.3% for Biden to 29.8% for Sanders. Previously, it was 29.1% for Sanders to 26.6% for Biden. “This is the biggest change. Previously, Sanders was forecast to win. Now, Biden is the favorite,” said White.
In Texas, the endorsements boosted Biden into the margin of error. The AI model has Sanders at 31.7% and Biden at 30.6%. Said White, “Sanders is still forecast to win Texas, but Biden is within the margin of error. Texas could go to Biden in a close race.”
In Colorado: Sanders is still forecast to win. There is now a three-way race between Biden, Michael Bloomberg, and Warren for second place.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Bloomberg on Elizabeth Warren: 'I didn't realize she's still in. Is she?'

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg claims to have forgotten Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts was still in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination .
Ahead of the Super Tuesday elections , the billionaire was questioned by a reporter who asked him he 'd be satisfied with a third-place finish , dismissing the threat Warren posed to his campaign .
`` Would a third-place finish be good ? ''
the reporter asked .
`` If there 's only three candidates , you ca n't do worse than that , '' Bloomberg responded .
`` Well , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corrected him .
He responded , `` I did n't realize she 's still in .
Is she ? ''
The billionaire ex-mayor was campaigning in Florida ahead of its March 17 primary , which offers Democratic candidates 219 pledged delegates .
The latest poll shows increased momentum for Bloomberg and declining support for former Vice President Joe Biden in the state .
Recent endorsements for Biden from former presidential contenders such as former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg , Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar , and Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tulsi Gabbard also remains in the presidential primary race , though she polls last in most surveys , according to the RealClearPolitics average .

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg claims to have forgotten Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts was still in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Ahead of the Super Tuesday elections, the billionaire was questioned by a reporter who asked him he'd be satisfied with a third-place finish, dismissing the threat Warren posed to his campaign.
"Would a third-place finish be good?" the reporter asked. "If there's only three candidates, you can't do worse than that," Bloomberg responded. "Well, there is Elizabeth Warren also," the reporter corrected him. He responded, "I didn't realize she's still in. Is she?"
The billionaire ex-mayor was campaigning in Florida ahead of its March 17 primary, which offers Democratic candidates 219 pledged delegates. The latest poll shows increased momentum for Bloomberg and declining support for former Vice President Joe Biden in the state. Recent endorsements for Biden from former presidential contenders such as former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke leave the outcome uncertain.
Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also remains in the presidential primary race, though she polls last in most surveys, according to the RealClearPolitics average.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Bernie Sanders risks antagonizing critical Democratic bloc by promising to end their healthcare plan

Bernie Sanders risks antagonizing critical Democratic bloc by promising to end their healthcare plans

When Bernie Sanders stumps for `` Medicare for all , '' his plan to enroll everyone in government healthcare plans instead of private plans , he claims people wo n't miss their private health insurance because they do n't like the plans to begin with .
But polling among people with private coverage , particularly among those who get their coverage through work , shows the opposite .
Not only do numerous surveys show that most people with employer plans are happy with them — they also show that the public balks at the idea of gutting private insurance or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Those facts indicate that Sanders and the Democratic Party would be taking an enormous risk in campaigning on a platform that would end private plans .
Such a platform plank would endanger the votes of a bloc that is now critical to the party 's coalition , namely middle-class and professional , suburban voters who get coverage through their employers .
Those demographics have trended toward Democrats during the Trump era , but the prospect of `` Medicare for all '' could mean a reversal .
A `` Medicare for all '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Elizabeth Warren , could also undercut Democratic efforts to punish President Trump for his record on healthcare .
The party has an opportunity to run against a lawsuit supported by Trump that would throw out all of Obamacare and that threatens coverage for 20 million people — as well as protections for the sick .
By running on `` Medicare for all '' rather than merely defending Obamacare , though , Democrats would give Trump the chance to accuse them of trying to take away employer health insurance from 160 million people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling locations in prosperous northern Virginia , many voters were skeptical of `` Medicare for all . ''
`` We have great health insurance .
I would n't want to give it up , '' said Rose , 58 , who lives in Fairfax County , Virginia , and voted for Joe Biden , who favors letting people buy into a government plan .
`` I do n't want to give up the relationship with doctors '' built up over decades , said Rose .
Rose and others asked for their last names @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online and to keep their voting preferences private .
`` I do n't think I 'd want to give it up , '' said Brian , 50 , who works in software IT and lives in Falls Church , Virginia .
Despite that stance , he voted for Warren , who favors `` Medicare for all . ''
He explained that he does n't think that a `` Medicare for all '' plan would get through Congress but does think Democrats would still be able to boost coverage .
Brian had planned on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on healthcare was `` Medicare for all who want it '' before he dropped out .
`` I like my plan , but I want more people to have insurance , '' Brian said .
There 's recent history to suggest that taking away private insurance is politically toxic .
After Obamacare shut down plans that did n't fit the law 's requirements in late 2013 , voter anger over healthcare helped propel Republicans to majorities in the House and Senate under President Barack Obama .
Republicans still frequently remind people that Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ healthcare law would allow people to keep their plans if they liked them .
Even many Democrats understand the political difficulty of going after people 's private healthcare plans .
As Sanders and Warren have pushed `` Medicare for all , '' more centrist rivals Biden and Michael Bloomberg have stressed that their healthcare ideas , for the most part , would give people the option of buying into a government plan rather than forcing them into one .
`` I think there should just be options for people , '' said Nam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses .
Nam purchases her plan directly but has been on her husband 's work plan in the past and thought it worked well .
`` I just do n't know if the quality of the coverage will be there the way they are now , '' she said .
`` Right now , people can choose .
If they want more coverage , they can pay for it .
If they want less coverage , they can go with the cheaper plan .
For those that ca n't afford it , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Yet defending private insurance plans is n't totally safe either , given the flaws with the status quo .
There are a lot of reasons that Sanders claims that people `` do not love their health insurance companies '' and that Warren declares confidently that she has `` never actually met anybody who likes their health insurance . ''
For one , the cost of employer coverage is rising faster than wages , now costing to insure a family of four .
On top of that , more and more workers have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sizable medical bills .
`` It ’ s been happening gradually , and people had n't been paying attention to a large extent and just were n't aware of how much they and their employers were paying .
And they also did n't realize that ’ s their money we ’ re talking about , '' said Wendell Potter , the president of Business for Medicare for All , which aims to persuade companies to back a fully government-financed healthcare system .
He added , however , that there appeared to be growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people were `` seeing the value of their coverage decline . ''
Additional complications come with people getting health insurance through work .
If people get laid off , change jobs , or quit , their coverage does n't follow them to where they go next .
Plus , nothing keeps employers from switching plans year to year , a disruption that can cause people to lose their doctors .
`` If you were designing a system from scratch , tying insurance to employment would n't make a lot of sense , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation .
`` But employer-based insurance is a way for businesses to attract a quality workforce .
It 's what people are accustomed to . ''
The practice dates back to World War II .
At the time , the federal government froze wages to avoid inflation during a labor shortage , so businesses started offering health insurance as a benefit instead .
By 1943 , the IRS decided the coverage should be exempt from taxation .
More than 75 years later , those tax breaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the Treasury , repealing the employer tax exclusion could reduce the federal budget deficit by as much as $ 3 trillion over a decade .
For a lot of these reasons , calls to ditch employer coverage have come not only from the Left but also from the Right .
If conservatives could remake the healthcare system , they would want workers to shop for their own plans .
When they considered doing so during the Obamacare repeal and replace efforts , however , they learned again how politically perilous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House in 2018 in part by running against GOP healthcare plans .
The struggles of both parties with healthcare politics have underscored how running against a plan is easier than running for one .
Voters are wary about major changes to private plans — even though employers have dealt with rising prices by shifting more responsibility onto workers in the form of deductibles .
Still , only a small sliver of the population in any given year faces high costs .
For instance , data shows that only 5 % of the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` For most of us who do n't go to the doctor much , which is the majority of people , insurance is working very well , '' said Melissa Thomasson , an economist and health insurance expert at Miami University in Ohio .
Even surprise medical bills , meaning unexpected charges from seeing a provider out of network , hit a minority of patients — about 1 in 6 .
While there 's more awareness about the problem , many people with employer plans do get a large chunk of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` It 's still not happening to enough people enough of the time to swing the majority of sentiment [ against private health insurance ] , '' Thomasson said about surprise bills .
She predicted , however , that surprise bills would become even more widespread absent legislative changes .
There is some polling to suggest that workers are n't totally unaware of the problems with employer coverage .
For instance , the Commonwealth Fund found that people are overall satisfied with their current plans but also found that 29 % of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to afford the care they needed if they were to become seriously ill. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that , for 24 % of Republicans , costs ranked at the top of their concerns when it came to healthcare , even ahead of opposition to `` Medicare for all . ''
These fears , however , do n't necessarily translate to voters being willing to let the government step in to be the only healthcare payer .
Dawn , 50 , who gets coverage through her husband 's work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help .
While she sees how well Medicare works for her mother , she said it still has its own problems with long-term funding .
That 's mainly why she 's skeptical about `` Medicare for all . ''
`` What will it look like ?
It sounds great on paper , but how is it going to work ? ''
she said .
`` The government is n't always efficient , '' said Michael , 48 , a government employee voting in Fairfax , Virginia , who is in favor of universal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operate .
`` There has got to be a blend , '' he said , referring to a possible expansion of government coverage that involves the private industry maintaining a role .
Sanders and Warren promise big changes .
They vow to go much further than other countries that have universal coverage by having the government pay for nearly every type of medical care .
Even though some voters might see problems with their employer plans , many have n't bought into the idea that the government can do better than their employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like what politicians promise .
`` On paper , there ’ s no one that has insurance that ’ s as good as 'Medicare for all , ' '' said Levitt from the Kaiser Family Foundation .
`` I think the question is whether people believe that 's what the coverage would actually look like once it got through the meat grinder of Congress . ''

When Bernie Sanders stumps for "Medicare for all," his plan to enroll everyone in government healthcare plans instead of private plans, he claims people won't miss their private health insurance because they don't like the plans to begin with.
But polling among people with private coverage, particularly among those who get their coverage through work, shows the opposite. Not only do numerous surveys show that most people with employer plans are happy with them — they also show that the public balks at the idea of gutting private insurance or the government becoming more involved in healthcare.
Those facts indicate that Sanders and the Democratic Party would be taking an enormous risk in campaigning on a platform that would end private plans. Such a platform plank would endanger the votes of a bloc that is now critical to the party's coalition, namely middle-class and professional, suburban voters who get coverage through their employers. Those demographics have trended toward Democrats during the Trump era, but the prospect of "Medicare for all" could mean a reversal.
A "Medicare for all" platform, as favored by Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, could also undercut Democratic efforts to punish President Trump for his record on healthcare. The party has an opportunity to run against a lawsuit supported by Trump that would throw out all of Obamacare and that threatens coverage for 20 million people — as well as protections for the sick. By running on "Medicare for all" rather than merely defending Obamacare, though, Democrats would give Trump the chance to accuse them of trying to take away employer health insurance from 160 million people and causing massive disruptions.
At Super Tuesday polling locations in prosperous northern Virginia, many voters were skeptical of "Medicare for all."
"We have great health insurance. I wouldn't want to give it up," said Rose, 58, who lives in Fairfax County, Virginia, and voted for Joe Biden, who favors letting people buy into a government plan. "I don't want to give up the relationship with doctors" built up over decades, said Rose. Rose and others asked for their last names to be withheld for fear of retribution online and to keep their voting preferences private.
"I don't think I'd want to give it up," said Brian, 50, who works in software IT and lives in Falls Church, Virginia. Despite that stance, he voted for Warren, who favors "Medicare for all." He explained that he doesn't think that a "Medicare for all" plan would get through Congress but does think Democrats would still be able to boost coverage. Brian had planned on voting for Pete Buttigieg, whose tagline on healthcare was "Medicare for all who want it" before he dropped out.
"I like my plan, but I want more people to have insurance," Brian said.
There's recent history to suggest that taking away private insurance is politically toxic. After Obamacare shut down plans that didn't fit the law's requirements in late 2013, voter anger over healthcare helped propel Republicans to majorities in the House and Senate under President Barack Obama. Republicans still frequently remind people that Obama once said, falsely, that his healthcare law would allow people to keep their plans if they liked them.
Even many Democrats understand the political difficulty of going after people's private healthcare plans. As Sanders and Warren have pushed "Medicare for all," more centrist rivals Biden and Michael Bloomberg have stressed that their healthcare ideas, for the most part, would give people the option of buying into a government plan rather than forcing them into one.
"I think there should just be options for people," said Nam, 49, a CFO for entrepreneurial businesses. Nam purchases her plan directly but has been on her husband's work plan in the past and thought it worked well.
"I just don't know if the quality of the coverage will be there the way they are now," she said. "Right now, people can choose. If they want more coverage, they can pay for it. If they want less coverage, they can go with the cheaper plan. For those that can't afford it, there should be public programs for them."
Yet defending private insurance plans isn't totally safe either, given the flaws with the status quo. There are a lot of reasons that Sanders claims that people "do not love their health insurance companies" and that Warren declares confidently that she has "never actually met anybody who likes their health insurance."
For one, the cost of employer coverage is rising faster than wages, now costing more than $20,500 to insure a family of four. On top of that, more and more workers have coverage that won't protect them from sizable medical bills.
Created by Kimberly Leonard, Washington Examiner. Data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
"It’s been happening gradually, and people hadn't been paying attention to a large extent and just weren't aware of how much they and their employers were paying. And they also didn't realize that’s their money we’re talking about," said Wendell Potter, the president of Business for Medicare for All, which aims to persuade companies to back a fully government-financed healthcare system. He added, however, that there appeared to be growing awareness about paying higher costs and that people were "seeing the value of their coverage decline."
Additional complications come with people getting health insurance through work. If people get laid off, change jobs, or quit, their coverage doesn't follow them to where they go next. Plus, nothing keeps employers from switching plans year to year, a disruption that can cause people to lose their doctors.
"If you were designing a system from scratch, tying insurance to employment wouldn't make a lot of sense," said Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation. "But employer-based insurance is a way for businesses to attract a quality workforce. It's what people are accustomed to."
The practice dates back to World War II. At the time, the federal government froze wages to avoid inflation during a labor shortage, so businesses started offering health insurance as a benefit instead. By 1943, the IRS decided the coverage should be exempt from taxation.
More than 75 years later, those tax breaks have become expensive to the federal government. According to the Treasury, repealing the employer tax exclusion could reduce the federal budget deficit by as much as $3 trillion over a decade.
For a lot of these reasons, calls to ditch employer coverage have come not only from the Left but also from the Right. If conservatives could remake the healthcare system, they would want workers to shop for their own plans. When they considered doing so during the Obamacare repeal and replace efforts, however, they learned again how politically perilous it would be. Democrats won the House in 2018 in part by running against GOP healthcare plans.
The struggles of both parties with healthcare politics have underscored how running against a plan is easier than running for one.
Voters are wary about major changes to private plans — even though employers have dealt with rising prices by shifting more responsibility onto workers in the form of deductibles.
Still, only a small sliver of the population in any given year faces high costs. For instance, data shows that only 5% of the public is responsible for half of healthcare spending.
"For most of us who don't go to the doctor much, which is the majority of people, insurance is working very well," said Melissa Thomasson, an economist and health insurance expert at Miami University in Ohio.
Even surprise medical bills, meaning unexpected charges from seeing a provider out of network, hit a minority of patients — about 1 in 6. While there's more awareness about the problem, many people with employer plans do get a large chunk of their medical care paid for by insurance.
"It's still not happening to enough people enough of the time to swing the majority of sentiment [against private health insurance]," Thomasson said about surprise bills. She predicted, however, that surprise bills would become even more widespread absent legislative changes.
There is some polling to suggest that workers aren't totally unaware of the problems with employer coverage. For instance, the Commonwealth Fund found that people are overall satisfied with their current plans but also found that 29% of people with employer coverage thought they wouldn't be able to afford the care they needed if they were to become seriously ill. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that, for 24% of Republicans, costs ranked at the top of their concerns when it came to healthcare, even ahead of opposition to "Medicare for all."
These fears, however, don't necessarily translate to voters being willing to let the government step in to be the only healthcare payer.
Dawn, 50, who gets coverage through her husband's work, said the coverage is a huge help. While she sees how well Medicare works for her mother, she said it still has its own problems with long-term funding. That's mainly why she's skeptical about "Medicare for all."
"What will it look like? It sounds great on paper, but how is it going to work?" she said.
"The government isn't always efficient," said Michael, 48, a government employee voting in Fairfax, Virginia, who is in favor of universal healthcare while still allowing private insurance to operate.
"There has got to be a blend," he said, referring to a possible expansion of government coverage that involves the private industry maintaining a role.
Sanders and Warren promise big changes. They vow to go much further than other countries that have universal coverage by having the government pay for nearly every type of medical care. Even though some voters might see problems with their employer plans, many haven't bought into the idea that the government can do better than their employers or that the final product will look like what politicians promise.
"On paper, there’s no one that has insurance that’s as good as 'Medicare for all,'" said Levitt from the Kaiser Family Foundation. "I think the question is whether people believe that's what the coverage would actually look like once it got through the meat grinder of Congress."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Biden has the party but Bernie Sanders has its most vicious voters, so he'll probably win

The Democratic establishment wants to put its full weight into the task of crushing Bernie Sanders like a paper cup .
But I ’ m willing to bet that the party is too far gone to the social justice mob for it to work .
As intimidating as Pete Buttigieg ’ s army of supporters is , Sanders knows that the bloodthirsty social justice people are vicious , and they ’ re not going lose the nomination to the establishment without a very , very nasty fight .
Joe Biden may now have the backing of former rivals Buttigieg , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rourke ( ha ha ! )
, but Sanders sees what the party ’ s most energetic voters want , and he ’ s giving it to them in spades .
As described in my new book , Privileged Victims , what they want is a complete reordering of the United States , thrusting grievance , oppression , and victimhood to the center of all public debate .
Though we won ’ t much be able to call it “ debate ” anymore if Sanders becomes the nominee .
There is no debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is calling the other side racist , sexist , and homophobic .
That ’ s what Sanders is calling President Trump , and by extension , Trump ’ s supporters , every single day .
Sanders , in January , said Trump “ is a racist , sexist , a homophobe , a xenophobe , and a religious bigot.
” Onstage at the Democratic debate last month , he declared the country “ a racist society from top to bottom.
” His campaign website says that “ in order to transform this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value of its people of color , we must address the five central types of violence waged against black , brown and indigenous Americans : physical , political , legal , economic and environmental.
” This is the stuff that has earned Sanders the support of his natural heirs , Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar .
Conservatives think this is about free healthcare and socialism .
It ’ s not .
It ’ s about “ privilege-checking '' and social justice .
Some of the other Democrats who have since exited the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party , too .
But none of them embraced it like Sanders .
And that ’ s why Biden and the establishment will probably fail to stop him .

The Democratic establishment wants to put its full weight into the task of crushing Bernie Sanders like a paper cup. But I’m willing to bet that the party is too far gone to the social justice mob for it to work.
As intimidating as Pete Buttigieg’s army of supporters is, Sanders knows that the bloodthirsty social justice people are vicious, and they’re not going lose the nomination to the establishment without a very, very nasty fight.
Joe Biden may now have the backing of former rivals Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Beto O’Rourke (ha ha!), but Sanders sees what the party’s most energetic voters want, and he’s giving it to them in spades.
As described in my new book, Privileged Victims, what they want is a complete reordering of the United States, thrusting grievance, oppression, and victimhood to the center of all public debate.
Though we won’t much be able to call it “debate” anymore if Sanders becomes the nominee. There is no debate when one side, the Democratic side, is calling the other side racist, sexist, and homophobic.
That’s what Sanders is calling President Trump, and by extension, Trump’s supporters, every single day.
Sanders, in January, said Trump “is a racist, sexist, a homophobe, a xenophobe, and a religious bigot.”
Onstage at the Democratic debate last month, he declared the country “a racist society from top to bottom.”
His campaign website says that “in order to transform this country into a nation that affirms the value of its people of color, we must address the five central types of violence waged against black, brown and indigenous Americans: physical, political, legal, economic and environmental.”
This is the stuff that has earned Sanders the support of his natural heirs, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar.
Conservatives think this is about free healthcare and socialism. It’s not. It’s about “privilege-checking" and social justice.
Some of the other Democrats who have since exited the primary knew this was happening to their party, too. But none of them embraced it like Sanders.
And that’s why Biden and the establishment will probably fail to stop him.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Bloomberg once blamed government salaries on poor public service outcomes

Michael Bloomberg this weekend stopped in northern Virginia , fertile ground for a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate hoping to pick up his first delegates on Super Tuesday .
But the billionaire former New York City mayor , who will be judged by voters for the first time as people in 14 states and one U.S. territory head to the polls Tuesday , once suggested it was a `` problem '' for government employees , a dominant occupation of residents in Virginia and nearby Washington , D.C. , to oversee private industry because of the caliber of talent willing to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He argued it created a lopsidedness in `` skill sets and experience . ''
`` You always have this problem when the government deals with the private sector , '' Bloomberg , 78 , said at Georgetown University in 2008 .
He explained , using banking regulators as an example : `` In the public area , you can ’ t pay people the way you could pay them in the private sector .
It looks unseemly .
And so you have a Nobel Prize-winning economist who probably was working at Long-Term Capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nevertheless , you have somebody who is very smart and very well paid being regulated by somebody who is working on a civil-service salary . ''
But Bloomberg was careful not to disparage the government sector as a whole , having managed the country 's largest municipal budget during his three mayoral terms , which ended on Dec. 31 , 2013 .
`` I can just tell you of the 300,000 employees New York City has , if there ’ s anything that ’ s amazed me and that my friends don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality of the people we can get to work for a dollar a year or civil-service salaries where they could make an awful lot more in the private sector is really quite amazing , and that ’ s why the city has done so well .
But it is still a mismatch , '' the information services entrepreneur and philanthropist said .
He added : `` You wonder why your public projects are always over budget and delayed in construction things .
Well , who 's managing the project from the government 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again in terms of skill sets and experience because of the mismatch in compensation . ''
Bloomberg 's comments resurfaced as he campaigned in Florida , which does n't vote on Super Tuesday , a signal he intends to continue his White House bid no matter what results Super Tuesday yields .
During a Fox News town hall in Virginia late Monday , he said a presidential hopeful who was n't `` one of the two leading candidates , '' Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders , could rack up a plurality of delegates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this summer .
[ Also read : 'Exactly how coronavirus gets spread ' : Michael Bloomberg 's finger-licking pizza clip goes viral ] When asked in Miami on Tuesday whether his path to the nomination ran through a contested convention , he told reporters he did n't think he could `` win in any other ways.
” The former mayor , who served as a Republican and an independent before registering as a Democrat in 2018 , is banking his candidacy on his managerial record , slamming Biden for lacking executive experience , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president and 36 years as a Delaware senator .
Bloomberg was poised to perform respectably on Super Tuesday .
He was over the 15 % vote share threshold required to earn delegates in states such as Texas , according to polling averages compiled by RealClearPolitics .
He 's also proved to be popular in individual public opinion surveys of more conservative states such as Oklahoma , which have n't received as much attention by a cash-strapped field of contenders .
Yet it remains to be seen whether Bloomberg will be hurt by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his win in South Carolina .

Michael Bloomberg this weekend stopped in northern Virginia, fertile ground for a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate hoping to pick up his first delegates on Super Tuesday.
But the billionaire former New York City mayor, who will be judged by voters for the first time as people in 14 states and one U.S. territory head to the polls Tuesday, once suggested it was a "problem" for government employees, a dominant occupation of residents in Virginia and nearby Washington, D.C., to oversee private industry because of the caliber of talent willing to work for "a civil-service salary." He argued it created a lopsidedness in "skill sets and experience."
"You always have this problem when the government deals with the private sector," Bloomberg, 78, said at Georgetown University in 2008.
He explained, using banking regulators as an example: "In the public area, you can’t pay people the way you could pay them in the private sector. It looks unseemly. And so you have a Nobel Prize-winning economist who probably was working at Long-Term Capital when they went belly up. But, nevertheless, you have somebody who is very smart and very well paid being regulated by somebody who is working on a civil-service salary."
But Bloomberg was careful not to disparage the government sector as a whole, having managed the country's largest municipal budget during his three mayoral terms, which ended on Dec. 31, 2013.
"I can just tell you of the 300,000 employees New York City has, if there’s anything that’s amazed me and that my friends don’t understand is just how the quality of the people we can get to work for a dollar a year or civil-service salaries where they could make an awful lot more in the private sector is really quite amazing, and that’s why the city has done so well. But it is still a mismatch," the information services entrepreneur and philanthropist said.
He added: "You wonder why your public projects are always over budget and delayed in construction things. Well, who's managing the project from the government's side? It is a mismatch once again in terms of skill sets and experience because of the mismatch in compensation."
Bloomberg's comments resurfaced as he campaigned in Florida, which doesn't vote on Super Tuesday, a signal he intends to continue his White House bid no matter what results Super Tuesday yields.
During a Fox News town hall in Virginia late Monday, he said a presidential hopeful who wasn't "one of the two leading candidates," Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders, could rack up a plurality of delegates before the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee this summer.
[Also read: 'Exactly how coronavirus gets spread': Michael Bloomberg's finger-licking pizza clip goes viral]
When asked in Miami on Tuesday whether his path to the nomination ran through a contested convention, he told reporters he didn't think he could "win in any other ways.”
The former mayor, who served as a Republican and an independent before registering as a Democrat in 2018, is banking his candidacy on his managerial record, slamming Biden for lacking executive experience, despite his two terms as a vice president and 36 years as a Delaware senator.
Bloomberg was poised to perform respectably on Super Tuesday. He was over the 15% vote share threshold required to earn delegates in states such as Texas, according to polling averages compiled by RealClearPolitics. He's also proved to be popular in individual public opinion surveys of more conservative states such as Oklahoma, which haven't received as much attention by a cash-strapped field of contenders. Yet it remains to be seen whether Bloomberg will be hurt by the late coalescing of support behind Biden after his win in South Carolina.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--James Comey endorses Joe Biden for president

One of the most controversial figures of the 2016 presidential election threw his support behind former Vice President Joe Biden on Super Tuesday .
Former FBI Director James Comey said President Trump fears Biden the most in a tweet posted the day that 14 states and American Samoa vote in primary elections and caucuses .
`` Voted in first Dem primary to support party dedicated to restoring values in WH , '' Comey tweeted .
`` I agree with @ amyklobuchar : We need candidate who cares about all Americans and will restore decency , dignity to the office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ joebiden and roots for Bernie .
# Biden2020 . ''
Biden received a number of high-profile endorsements on Monday , including Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg , who both dropped out of the race the same day .
In April 2019 , Comey gave $ 2,700 to then-candidate Klobuchar , whom he called `` amazingly smart . ''
Trump has repeatedly said that the Democratic National Committee is working to undermine the campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders and has slammed Biden 's age and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

One of the most controversial figures of the 2016 presidential election threw his support behind former Vice President Joe Biden on Super Tuesday.
Former FBI Director James Comey said President Trump fears Biden the most in a tweet posted the day that 14 states and American Samoa vote in primary elections and caucuses.
"Voted in first Dem primary to support party dedicated to restoring values in WH," Comey tweeted. "I agree with @amyklobuchar: We need candidate who cares about all Americans and will restore decency, dignity to the office. There is a reason Trump fears @joebiden and roots for Bernie. #Biden2020."
Comey lives in Northern Virginia.
[LIST: Major 2020 Democratic primary endorsements]
Voted in first Dem primary to support party dedicated to restoring values in WH. I agree with @amyklobuchar: We need candidate who cares about all Americans and will restore decency, dignity to the office. There is a reason Trump fears @joebiden and roots for Bernie. #Biden2020 — James Comey (@Comey) March 3, 2020
Biden received a number of high-profile endorsements on Monday, including Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who both dropped out of the race the same day.
In April 2019, Comey gave $2,700 to then-candidate Klobuchar, whom he called "amazingly smart."
Trump has repeatedly said that the Democratic National Committee is working to undermine the campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders and has slammed Biden's age and mental health ahead of the general election.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--'Exactly how coronavirus gets spread': Michael Bloomberg's finger-licking pizza clip goes viral

Michael Bloomberg 's closing argument to Democrats before Super Tuesday highlighted his managerial record , pitching his crisis management experience amid fears about the coronavirus , but a last-minute food faux pas is proving to be a distraction .
“ At times like this , it is the job of the president to reassure the public that he or she is taking all the steps necessary to protect the health and well-being of every citizen , ” Bloomberg , 78 , said during a three-minute public address his campaign paid to broadcast on CBS and NBC over the weekend .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ leader is trained , informed , and respected .
When a problem arises , they want someone in charge who can marshal facts and expertise to confront the problem , '' the billionaire former New York City mayor added .
But conservatives with large Twitter followings lit into Bloomberg on Tuesday after a video of him eating pizza at a Virginia stop the day before went viral .
In the video , he can be seen taking a bite and quickly licking the sauce off his thumb before using the same hand to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's not clear whether anyone ate part of the same pizza after Bloomberg .
`` Mike Bloomberg licking his fingers and touching food and putting it back in the box then touching the coffee box is exactly how Coronavirus gets spread , '' said Turning Point USA 's Benny Johnson .
Though a lighthearted dig at Bloomberg , the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have been heavily critical of President Trump 's response to the threat of the COVID-19 virus , particularly his assertion Democratic scrutiny was part of a `` new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big day for Bloomberg , who entered the race late and skipped the early voting contests .
He will appear on ballots in 14 states and one U.S. territory for the first time this primary cycle .
He was poised to do well in a slew of delegate-rich states , but it 's unclear whether the eleventh-hour coalescing of support behind chief center-left rival Joe Biden will siphon away votes .

Michael Bloomberg's closing argument to Democrats before Super Tuesday highlighted his managerial record, pitching his crisis management experience amid fears about the coronavirus, but a last-minute food faux pas is proving to be a distraction.
“At times like this, it is the job of the president to reassure the public that he or she is taking all the steps necessary to protect the health and well-being of every citizen,” Bloomberg, 78, said during a three-minute public address his campaign paid to broadcast on CBS and NBC over the weekend.
“The public wants to know their leader is trained, informed, and respected. When a problem arises, they want someone in charge who can marshal facts and expertise to confront the problem," the billionaire former New York City mayor added.
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
But conservatives with large Twitter followings lit into Bloomberg on Tuesday after a video of him eating pizza at a Virginia stop the day before went viral. In the video, he can be seen taking a bite and quickly licking the sauce off his thumb before using the same hand to push away another slice in the box. It's not clear whether anyone ate part of the same pizza after Bloomberg.
"Mike Bloomberg licking his fingers and touching food and putting it back in the box then touching the coffee box is exactly how Coronavirus gets spread," said Turning Point USA's Benny Johnson.
Mike Bloomberg licking his fingers and touching food and putting it back in the box then touching the coffee box is exactly how Coronavirus gets spread: pic.twitter.com/bq8eXMUR6d — Benny (@bennyjohnson) March 3, 2020
Mike Bloomberg should be the Czar of stopping the Coronavirus.
😷#SuperTuesday pic.twitter.com/D77fyYNxRO — #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) March 3, 2020
Mike Bloomberg demonstrates how to help spread the coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/kcuQjSGzL5 — ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) March 3, 2020
Though a lighthearted dig at Bloomberg, the 2020 Democratic presidential candidates have been heavily critical of President Trump's response to the threat of the COVID-19 virus, particularly his assertion Democratic scrutiny was part of a "new hoax."
Super Tuesday is a big day for Bloomberg, who entered the race late and skipped the early voting contests. He will appear on ballots in 14 states and one U.S. territory for the first time this primary cycle. He was poised to do well in a slew of delegate-rich states, but it's unclear whether the eleventh-hour coalescing of support behind chief center-left rival Joe Biden will siphon away votes.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--Donna Brazile wrote a book about the rigging of the 2016 race. Now she says it's a 'Russian’ talking

Donna Brazile wrote a book about the rigging of the 2016 race. Now she says it's a 'Russian’ talking point to think the process is rigged

Donna Brazile is shocked — shocked !
— that anyone would suggest that a brokered Democratic convention is going to be “ rigged ” against Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont .
She has apparently never met the 2017 version of herself .
“ First of all , ” the former interim chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee said Tuesday during an appearance on Fox News , “ I want to talk to my Republicans .
First of all : Stay the hell out of our race !
Stay the hell out of our race !
I get sick and tired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Democrats about our process.
” Brazile ’ s remarks are a response specifically to Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel , who alleged recently that a brokered Democratic convention will almost certainly be “ rigged ” against the 2020 Democratic primary front-runner , especially if the superdelegates who oppose him “ have their way.
” “ And for people to use Russian talking points to sow division among Americans , '' Brazile added .
`` That is stupid .
So , Ronna , go to hell !
Go to hell !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone from becoming the nominee.
” Brazile did not leave it at just that .
She continued , protesting maybe a little too much the idea that the Democratic establishment will rob Sanders of the nomination .
“ This notion that , somehow or another , Democrats are out there trying to put hurdles or roadblocks before one candidate — that ’ s stupid !
” Brazile said .
“ I know what ’ s going on .
They ’ re scared of Democrats coming together to defeat Donald Trump .
They need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re focusing on , the Democratic Party , and that is preventing foreign interference in our elections .
Stop using Russian talking points , Madame Chairwoman !
” Worth mentioning at this point is the fact that McDaniel is not just fabricating talking points from thin air .
The New York Times reported on Thursday that there is “ overwhelming opposition , '' including from some 93 superdelegates , `` to handing Mr. Sanders the nomination if he fell short of a majority of delegates . ''
More important , however , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be shocked and appalled that anyone would accuse the DNC of doing to Sanders what Donna Brazile and the DNC did to him in 2016 .
She claimed in her postelection “ tell-all ” that , as the interim chairwoman of the DNC , she “ stumbled onto ” the Clinton campaign ’ s “ secret takeover ” of the Democrats ’ formal governing body .
Brazile alleged the DNC agreed in 2015 to a fundraising scheme with the Clinton camp wherein the former secretary of state was supposedly awarded an overwhelming advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confession even included a line about her calling Sanders to tell him she believed the Clinton campaign had acted unethically .
Naturally , Brazile ’ s 2017 account omits mentions of her own attempts to tilt the Democratic primary in Hillary Clinton ’ s favor .
There are no mentions of her brazen lies after it was revealed she fed debate questions to the former secretary of state .
There are no mentions of the fact that Brazile herself spent much of 2016 lying about her efforts to secure Clinton the nomination .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was merely a witness to the Clintons ’ and former DNC Chairwoman and Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz ’ s unethical behavior .
I guess we were supposed to forget about all of this because Brazile , now a Fox News contributor , is acting like her own book never happened .
She is pretending now to be disgusted that anyone would accuse the DNC of conspiring to do exactly what she accused it of doing in 2016 .
And that is one of the problems with being a liar .
You tend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not too long ago .

Donna Brazile is shocked — shocked! — that anyone would suggest that a brokered Democratic convention is going to be “rigged” against Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.
She has apparently never met the 2017 version of herself.
“First of all,” the former interim chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee said Tuesday during an appearance on Fox News, “I want to talk to my Republicans. First of all: Stay the hell out of our race! Stay the hell out of our race! I get sick and tired … of listening to Republicans tell me and the Democrats about our process.”
Brazile’s remarks are a response specifically to Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, who alleged recently that a brokered Democratic convention will almost certainly be “rigged” against the 2020 Democratic primary front-runner, especially if the superdelegates who oppose him “have their way.”
“And for people to use Russian talking points to sow division among Americans," Brazile added. "That is stupid. So, Ronna, go to hell! Go to hell! … We are not trying to prevent anyone from becoming the nominee.”
Brazile did not leave it at just that. She continued, protesting maybe a little too much the idea that the Democratic establishment will rob Sanders of the nomination.
“This notion that, somehow or another, Democrats are out there trying to put hurdles or roadblocks before one candidate — that’s stupid!” Brazile said. “I know what’s going on. They’re scared of Democrats coming together to defeat Donald Trump. They need to be focusing on what we’re focusing on, the Democratic Party, and that is preventing foreign interference in our elections. Stop using Russian talking points, Madame Chairwoman!”
Worth mentioning at this point is the fact that McDaniel is not just fabricating talking points from thin air. The New York Times reported on Thursday that there is “overwhelming opposition," including from some 93 superdelegates, "to handing Mr. Sanders the nomination if he fell short of a majority of delegates."
More important, however, is the fact that Brazile is pretending to be shocked and appalled that anyone would accuse the DNC of doing to Sanders what Donna Brazile and the DNC did to him in 2016. She claimed in her postelection “tell-all” that, as the interim chairwoman of the DNC, she “stumbled onto” the Clinton campaign’s “secret takeover” of the Democrats’ formal governing body. Brazile alleged the DNC agreed in 2015 to a fundraising scheme with the Clinton camp wherein the former secretary of state was supposedly awarded an overwhelming advantage in the primary. Her stupid postelection confession even included a line about her calling Sanders to tell him she believed the Clinton campaign had acted unethically.
Naturally, Brazile’s 2017 account omits mentions of her own attempts to tilt the Democratic primary in Hillary Clinton’s favor. There are no mentions of her brazen lies after it was revealed she fed debate questions to the former secretary of state. There are no mentions of the fact that Brazile herself spent much of 2016 lying about her efforts to secure Clinton the nomination. The way she tells it, she was merely a witness to the Clintons’ and former DNC Chairwoman and Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s unethical behavior.
I guess we were supposed to forget about all of this because Brazile, now a Fox News contributor, is acting like her own book never happened. She is pretending now to be disgusted that anyone would accuse the DNC of conspiring to do exactly what she accused it of doing in 2016.
And that is one of the problems with being a liar. You tend to lose track of what you said not too long ago.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--'Does your life matter more than mine?': Town hall audience member confronts Bloomberg on gun contro

'Does your life matter more than mine?': Town hall audience member confronts Bloomberg on gun control

2020 Democrat Michael Bloomberg was put on the spot when a town hall audience member asked him how he can call for more gun control when his security detail is armed .
“ How do you justify pushing for more gun control when you have an armed security detail that ’ s likely equipped with the same firearms and magazines that you seek to ban the common citizen from owning ?
” the man asked during Monday 's Fox News town hall .
“ Does your life matter more than mine or my family ’ s or these peoples ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ probably ” gets death threats at least “ 40 or 50 times a week.
” “ That just happens when you are the mayor of New York City or you are very wealthy , and if you are campaigning for president of the United States , you get lots of threats , ” he said .
The former New York City mayor added that his security detail includes retired police officers who are “ very well trained in firearms.
” '' Nobody suggests that we ’ re going to change the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t think you ’ d get it done .
So nobody ’ s going take your right to bear arms .
The Supreme Court said you can have reasonable restrictions .
The only restrictions which I ’ m in favor of is to prevent us from selling guns to people with psychiatric problems , criminals , or people that are minors , ” he continued .
That ’ s when protesters took issue with his response .
Several audience members stood up and began yelling , `` Stop and frisk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NDAs , ” forcing the network to cut to commercial .

2020 Democrat Michael Bloomberg was put on the spot when a town hall audience member asked him how he can call for more gun control when his security detail is armed.
“How do you justify pushing for more gun control when you have an armed security detail that’s likely equipped with the same firearms and magazines that you seek to ban the common citizen from owning?” the man asked during Monday's Fox News town hall. “Does your life matter more than mine or my family’s or these peoples’?”
Bloomberg responded by saying he “probably” gets death threats at least “40 or 50 times a week.”
“That just happens when you are the mayor of New York City or you are very wealthy, and if you are campaigning for president of the United States, you get lots of threats,” he said.
The former New York City mayor added that his security detail includes retired police officers who are “very well trained in firearms.”
"Nobody suggests that we’re going to change the Constitution. Even if you wanted to, I don’t think you’d get it done. So nobody’s going take your right to bear arms. The Supreme Court said you can have reasonable restrictions. The only restrictions which I’m in favor of is to prevent us from selling guns to people with psychiatric problems, criminals, or people that are minors,” he continued.
That’s when protesters took issue with his response. Several audience members stood up and began yelling, "Stop and frisk is wrong!" and "Release the NDAs,” forcing the network to cut to commercial.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-03--'My authentic opinion': Hillary Clinton defends calling the Bernie Sanders campaign 'baloney'

Hillary Clinton called Sen. Bernie Sanders 's presidential campaign a load of `` baloney '' on Super Tuesday .
The former secretary of state criticized her 2016 rival during an appearance on ABC 's Good Morning America to promote her new documentary series .
Linsey Davis , the interviewer , asked Clinton to respond to Sanders 's call for the candidate who arrives at the Democratic National Convention with a plurality of delegates to be given the nomination .
In asking for a reaction , Davis noted the senator 's stance has changed `` quite a bit '' from 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ My reaction is , let ’ s follow the rules .
We ’ ve got rules .
We had rules last time , and we have rules this time .
I think it 's always a good idea to follow the rules , '' said Clinton , who beat Sanders out for the nomination in 2016 .
The interviewer referenced the documentary in which Clinton called Sanders 's 2016 presidential campaign `` just baloney '' and that she felt “ so bad people got sucked into it . ''
Davis asked if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sure , yeah , ” Clinton said .
“ That was my authentic opinion then .
It ’ s my authentic opinion now . ''
Clinton has so far declined to endorse any of the remaining presidential candidates in the 2020 race .

Hillary Clinton called Sen. Bernie Sanders's presidential campaign a load of "baloney" on Super Tuesday.
The former secretary of state criticized her 2016 rival during an appearance on ABC's Good Morning America to promote her new documentary series.
Linsey Davis, the interviewer, asked Clinton to respond to Sanders's call for the candidate who arrives at the Democratic National Convention with a plurality of delegates to be given the nomination.
In asking for a reaction, Davis noted the senator's stance has changed "quite a bit" from 2016, eliciting a laugh from Clinton.
Watch: Hillary Clinton Mocks Bernie Sanders In Super Tuesday Shot, Saying His Campaign is “Just Baloney”
pic.twitter.com/5G5ad0oRus — TV News HQ (@TVNewsHQ) March 3, 2020
“My reaction is, let’s follow the rules. We’ve got rules. We had rules last time, and we have rules this time. I think it's always a good idea to follow the rules," said Clinton, who beat Sanders out for the nomination in 2016.
The interviewer referenced the documentary in which Clinton called Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign "just baloney" and that she felt “so bad people got sucked into it." Davis asked if she stands by the comments.
“Sure, yeah,” Clinton said. “That was my authentic opinion then. It’s my authentic opinion now."
Clinton has so far declined to endorse any of the remaining presidential candidates in the 2020 race.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-04--Ilhan Omar: 'A united progressive movement' would defeat Biden

Rep. Ilhan Omar urged liberals to rally together to stop Joe Biden as the former vice president ran away with several Super Tuesday contests .
Tweeting at the end of Super Tuesday , the Minnesota Democrat who endorsed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders appeared to call on the other left-wing candidate in the race , Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , to rally to their cause to counter the rising centrist tide .
`` Imagine if the progressives consolidated last night like the moderates consolidated , who would have won ?
That ’ s what we should be analyzing .
I feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed for us to # BuildTogether and win MN and other states we narrowly lost , '' said Omar , who rallied with Sanders on Monday evening in St. Paul , Minnesota .
Biden received a wave of high-profile endorsements in the days leading up to Super Tuesday .
Rep. Jim Clyburn helped boost him to victory in South Carolina on Saturday , and former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar then dropped out of the 2020 contest and endorsed Biden .
Biden swept several key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegate-rich California .
In a foreboding sign for Warren , the senator from Massachusetts got third place in Tuesday 's contest in her home state , trailing Biden and Sanders .
She trails the two by hundreds of delegates , according to estimates .
Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang said he was surprised by Warren 's struggles on CNN , where he is now a contributor , and noted that it comes at a time when `` Elizabeth seems to be heightening her contrast with Bernie instead of trying to consolidate . ''

Rep. Ilhan Omar urged liberals to rally together to stop Joe Biden as the former vice president ran away with several Super Tuesday contests.
Tweeting at the end of Super Tuesday, the Minnesota Democrat who endorsed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders appeared to call on the other left-wing candidate in the race, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, to rally to their cause to counter the rising centrist tide.
"Imagine if the progressives consolidated last night like the moderates consolidated, who would have won? That’s what we should be analyzing. I feel confident a united progressive movement would have allowed for us to #BuildTogether and win MN and other states we narrowly lost," said Omar, who rallied with Sanders on Monday evening in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Imagine if the progressives consolidated last night like the moderates consolidated, who would have won?
That’s what we should be analyzing. I feel confident a united progressive movement would have allowed for us to #BuildTogether and win MN and other states we narrowly lost. https://t.co/lAj2mhI3GR — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 4, 2020
Biden received a wave of high-profile endorsements in the days leading up to Super Tuesday. Rep. Jim Clyburn helped boost him to victory in South Carolina on Saturday, and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar then dropped out of the 2020 contest and endorsed Biden.
Biden swept several key Super Tuesday states, while Sanders snagged delegate-rich California. In a foreboding sign for Warren, the senator from Massachusetts got third place in Tuesday's contest in her home state, trailing Biden and Sanders. She trails the two by hundreds of delegates, according to estimates.
Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang said he was surprised by Warren's struggles on CNN, where he is now a contributor, and noted that it comes at a time when "Elizabeth seems to be heightening her contrast with Bernie instead of trying to consolidate."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-04--Obama press secretary says Biden and Sanders need Secret Service protection after dairy protest

Former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders need Secret Service protection after a “ genuinely scary ” moment when protesters disrupted the former vice president ’ s speech .
Gibbs , who was President Barack Obama ’ s press secretary from 2009 to 2011 , said Tuesday night on MSNBC that the two leading candidates vying to beat President Trump should be afforded the security .
The remarks came after two protesters shouting “ Let dairy die !
” stormed the stage as Biden spoke after his Super Tuesday victories .
“ I hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden need Secret Service protection , ” Gibbs said .
“ What happened tonight was nothing short of genuinely scary.
” “ Those two candidates are the likely Democratic nominee .
They should have Secret Service protection in the next 24 to 48 hours , ” he added .
MSNBC host Brian Williams agreed with the assessment and said he also thought the two should receive extra security .
The protest came during Biden ’ s speech at a campaign event in Los Angeles .
He won the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one U.S. territory in play .
There have been a number of protests during campaign events during the primaries .
Topless dairy industry protesters also interrupted a Sanders campaign event in Nevada last month .

Former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders need Secret Service protection after a “genuinely scary” moment when protesters disrupted the former vice president’s speech.
Gibbs, who was President Barack Obama’s press secretary from 2009 to 2011, said Tuesday night on MSNBC that the two leading candidates vying to beat President Trump should be afforded the security. The remarks came after two protesters shouting “Let dairy die!” stormed the stage as Biden spoke after his Super Tuesday victories.
“I hope a conversation happens in Washington tomorrow. Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden need Secret Service protection,” Gibbs said. “What happened tonight was nothing short of genuinely scary.”
“Those two candidates are the likely Democratic nominee. They should have Secret Service protection in the next 24 to 48 hours,” he added.
MSNBC host Brian Williams agreed with the assessment and said he also thought the two should receive extra security.
The protest came during Biden’s speech at a campaign event in Los Angeles. He won the majority of Tuesday’s 14 states and one U.S. territory in play. There have been a number of protests during campaign events during the primaries. Topless dairy industry protesters also interrupted a Sanders campaign event in Nevada last month.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-04--'Let dairy die!': Anti-dairy industry protesters dragged from stage during Biden victory speech

Two protesters shouting “ Let dairy die !
” stormed the stage as Joe Biden spoke after his Super Tuesday victories .
The first demonstrator was quickly intercepted and removed from the stage — only to be followed by a second protester that jumped up , waved a sign , and was blocked by Biden ’ s wife .
Biden ’ s senior adviser Symone Sanders rushed up to grab the second protester , who was then escorted away .
The two were drowned out by loud booing that soon transformed into chants of support for the former vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech .
The protests came during Biden ’ s speech at a campaign event in Los Angeles .
After securing the endorsements of Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar , Biden surged to victory in a majority of the 14 states and one U.S. territory up for grabs .
It is n't the first time Jill Biden intercepted a protester during one of her husband 's events .
In New Hampshire last month , she crossed behind the podium and intercepted a heckler , helping security and others at the event remove him from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also interrupted a Bernie Sanders event in Nevada rally last month .
The two women poured milk on themselves and shouted until security escorted them away .
Following the Tuesday incident , former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Biden and Sanders need Secret Service protection after Tuesday 's “ genuinely scary ” moment .
Sanders addressed the incident on Twitter with a dose of humor .
`` I broke a nail , '' she quipped .

Two protesters shouting “Let dairy die!” stormed the stage as Joe Biden spoke after his Super Tuesday victories.
The first demonstrator was quickly intercepted and removed from the stage — only to be followed by a second protester that jumped up, waved a sign, and was blocked by Biden’s wife. Biden’s senior adviser Symone Sanders rushed up to grab the second protester, who was then escorted away.
The two were drowned out by loud booing that soon transformed into chants of support for the former vice president, who went right back into his speech.
The protests came during Biden’s speech at a campaign event in Los Angeles. After securing the endorsements of Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, Biden surged to victory in a majority of the 14 states and one U.S. territory up for grabs.
It isn't the first time Jill Biden intercepted a protester during one of her husband's events. In New Hampshire last month, she crossed behind the podium and intercepted a heckler, helping security and others at the event remove him from the crowd.
Topless dairy industry protesters also interrupted a Bernie Sanders event in Nevada rally last month. The two women poured milk on themselves and shouted until security escorted them away.
Following the Tuesday incident, former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Biden and Sanders need Secret Service protection after Tuesday's “genuinely scary” moment.
Y’all see Symone Sanders come off the line like a pro bowl linebacker. Geesh. pic.twitter.com/2Fib5ZqLoN — Billy Michael Honor (@BillyMHonor) March 4, 2020
Sanders addressed the incident on Twitter with a dose of humor. "I broke a nail," she quipped.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-04--'You switched on me!': Biden opens Super Tuesday victory speech by confusing wife for sister

Joe Biden opened up his victory speech on Super Tuesday by confusing his wife for his younger sister .
`` It ’ s a good night .
It ’ s a good night , and it seems to be getting even better , '' the former vice president said Tuesday .
`` They don ’ t call it Super Tuesday for nothing . ''
`` This is my little sister Valerie , '' Biden said , pointing to his wife .
He quickly realized his mistake and said , `` You switched on me ! ''
Valerie Biden Owens is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surrogate for his campaign .
The former vice president often refers to her as his best friend .
Biden 's onstage gaffe came as he led Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Super Tuesday race .
He was projected to win seven states while the Vermont independent was only projected to win two at the time the former vice president gave his speech .
Biden overperformed during Super Tuesday , surging in the last couple of days after former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar endorsed him @ @ @ @

Joe Biden opened up his victory speech on Super Tuesday by confusing his wife for his younger sister.
"It’s a good night. It’s a good night, and it seems to be getting even better," the former vice president said Tuesday. "They don’t call it Super Tuesday for nothing."
"This is my little sister Valerie," Biden said, pointing to his wife. He quickly realized his mistake and said, "You switched on me!"
Valerie Biden Owens is Biden's younger sister and a frequent surrogate for his campaign. The former vice president often refers to her as his best friend.
Biden's onstage gaffe came as he led Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Super Tuesday race. He was projected to win seven states while the Vermont independent was only projected to win two at the time the former vice president gave his speech. Biden overperformed during Super Tuesday, surging in the last couple of days after former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar endorsed him after dropping out.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-04--'Not who the voters like': Meghan McCain slams media for 'elevating socialism'

The View host Meghan McCain ripped the media during Super Tuesday primary results for promoting socialists in the lead up to the election .
`` It ’ s incredible how little the media has learned since 2016 , '' the conservative commentator said Tuesday on Twitter .
`` Never leaving their bubbles .
Covering who they want and who THEY like , not who the voters like .
All the while putting the squad and elevating socialism on every cover of every magazine , documentaries . ''
`` America ain ’ t gon na truck with socialism .
Not now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in another tweet .
The comments come as Joe Biden performed well in Super Tuesday states after Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg endorsed him after dropping out of the race .
McCain 's tweets were directed at Sen. Bernie Sanders and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar , both of whom appeared on several magazine covers .
The conservative commentator has been critical of Sanders and his supporters , whom she has called thugs .
`` I stand by the fact that it ’ s going to be a cage match .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said about Sanders on The View ahead of Super Tuesday .
`` This is his absolute last chance to become president .
Him and his supporters are the dirtiest thugs I have ever seen on all of social media . ''
`` The argument between the AOCs of the party and the more traditional Democrats , I think it ’ s going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better , '' she added .

The View host Meghan McCain ripped the media during Super Tuesday primary results for promoting socialists in the lead up to the election.
"It’s incredible how little the media has learned since 2016," the conservative commentator said Tuesday on Twitter. "Never leaving their bubbles. Covering who they want and who THEY like, not who the voters like. All the while putting the squad and elevating socialism on every cover of every magazine, documentaries."
It’s incredible how little the media has learned since 2016. Never leaving their bubbles. Covering who they want and who THEY like, not who the voters like. All the while putting the squad and elevating socialism on every cover of every magazine, documentaries. — Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 4, 2020
"America ain’t gonna truck with socialism. Not now, not ever," McCain said in another tweet.
America ain’t gonna truck with socialism. Not now, not ever. pic.twitter.com/0ZGqYHaupW — Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) March 4, 2020
The comments come as Joe Biden performed well in Super Tuesday states after Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg endorsed him after dropping out of the race.
McCain's tweets were directed at Sen. Bernie Sanders and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar, both of whom appeared on several magazine covers.
The conservative commentator has been critical of Sanders and his supporters, whom she has called thugs.
"I stand by the fact that it’s going to be a cage match. This is his Alamo," McCain said about Sanders on The View ahead of Super Tuesday. "This is his absolute last chance to become president. Him and his supporters are the dirtiest thugs I have ever seen on all of social media."
"The argument between the AOCs of the party and the more traditional Democrats, I think it’s going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better," she added.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-04--Bloomberg buying $7M in ads following Super Tuesday failure

Michael Bloomberg has purchased another $ 7 million in ads that will go up following his lackluster performance during the @ @ @ @ @ former New York City mayor will run the ads in 15 different states including , @ @ @ @ @ , Illinois , Ohio , and Pennsylvania , according to the Washington Post .
The @ @ @ @ @ unknown , but the former mayor is planning on continuing his campaign .
Bloomberg took @ @ @ @ @ Beach , Florida , to say he would not be dropping out of the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ here because winning in November starts with Florida , '' he said .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ in Florida and swing states around the country . ''
“ I have no intention @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg told a reporter before Super Tuesday .
“ We 're in it to win @ @ @ @ @ understand why you would not ask other candidates that . ''
The former mayor won @ @ @ @ @ , where he received only four delegates .

Michael Bloomberg has purchased another $7 million in ads that will go up following his lackluster performance during the Super Tuesday primaries.
The former New York City mayor will run the ads in 15 different states including, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, according to the Washington Post.
The substance of the ads remain unknown, but the former mayor is planning on continuing his campaign.
Bloomberg took the stage in West Palm Beach, Florida, to say he would not be dropping out of the 2020 race. "I came here because winning in November starts with Florida," he said. "We will beat Donald Trump here in Florida and swing states around the country."
“I have no intention of dropping out,” Bloomberg told a reporter before Super Tuesday. “We're in it to win it. I don't understand why you would not ask other candidates that."
The former mayor won American Samoa on Super Tuesday, where he received only four delegates.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-04--Bernie Sanders to Trump: 'Stay out of the Democratic primary'

Sen. Bernie Sanders has a message for President Trump : “ Stay out of the Democratic primary.
” The president tweeted out apparent support for the Vermont senator in recent days , which Republican insiders told the Washington Examiner is because Trump and his aides believe Sanders presents an easier general election challenge than if Joe Biden , who is more centrist , becomes the nominee .
Sanders , who was one of the front-runners in the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination heading into Super Tuesday , said he would have no part of Trump 's games .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic primary , ” Sanders said in CNN interview on Monday .
“ Why don ’ t you do your job for a change as president ?
Stop lying , stop running a corrupt administration , pay attention to the American people , not just your own political aims.
” Sanders told ABC host George Stephanopoulos on Sunday he would not accept assistance from Trump .
“ No , I don ’ t accept his help .
I 'm gon na do everything I can to defeat Donald Trump , ” Sanders responded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amy Klobuchar for dropping out of the race and endorsing Biden .
He said they were “ taking Bernie out of play ” and predicted they did so for their own political careers .

Sen. Bernie Sanders has a message for President Trump: “Stay out of the Democratic primary.”
The president tweeted out apparent support for the Vermont senator in recent days, which Republican insiders told the Washington Examiner is because Trump and his aides believe Sanders presents an easier general election challenge than if Joe Biden, who is more centrist, becomes the nominee.
Sanders, who was one of the front-runners in the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination heading into Super Tuesday, said he would have no part of Trump's games.
“President Trump, stay out of the Democratic primary,” Sanders said in CNN interview on Monday. “Why don’t you do your job for a change as president? Stop lying, stop running a corrupt administration, pay attention to the American people, not just your own political aims.”
Sanders told ABC host George Stephanopoulos on Sunday he would not accept assistance from Trump.
“No, I don’t accept his help. I'm gonna do everything I can to defeat Donald Trump,” Sanders responded.
Trump also bashed Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar for dropping out of the race and endorsing Biden. He said they were “taking Bernie out of play” and predicted they did so for their own political careers.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-04--'A really, really bad sign': CNN's Dana Bash blasts Warren over performance in home state

CNN political correspondent Dana Bash took aim at Sen. Elizabeth Warren for not performing better in Massachusetts during the Super Tuesday primary .
`` The fact that Elizabeth Warren , the senior senator from Massachusetts , can not be declared the victor at all and , not only her , but Bernie Sanders , who is the neighboring senator who has campaigned hard there , also can not be declared the victor , is very , very telling that Joe Biden is still in the game there , '' the host said Tuesday as initial results came out from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know what ’ s going to happen there .
That is a bad sign for Elizabeth Warren . ''
`` A really , really bad sign , '' she added .
After the release of early results , Sanders is expected to win Massachusetts , which would likely mean that Warren would not win a single Super Tuesday state .
The Massachusetts Democrat has pushed back against calls for her to drop out of the presidential race as she has not registered a top-three finish before Super Tuesday .
“ I persist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dropping out .
Competitor Michael Bloomberg told a reporter he `` did n't realize she 's still in '' the race .

CNN political correspondent Dana Bash took aim at Sen. Elizabeth Warren for not performing better in Massachusetts during the Super Tuesday primary.
"The fact that Elizabeth Warren, the senior senator from Massachusetts, cannot be declared the victor at all and, not only her, but Bernie Sanders, who is the neighboring senator who has campaigned hard there, also cannot be declared the victor, is very, very telling that Joe Biden is still in the game there," the host said Tuesday as initial results came out from the state. "We really don’t know what’s going to happen there. That is a bad sign for Elizabeth Warren."
"A really, really bad sign," she added.
After the release of early results, Sanders is expected to win Massachusetts, which would likely mean that Warren would not win a single Super Tuesday state.
The Massachusetts Democrat has pushed back against calls for her to drop out of the presidential race as she has not registered a top-three finish before Super Tuesday. “I persist,” she said when asked about dropping out.
Competitor Michael Bloomberg told a reporter he "didn't realize she's still in" the race.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-03-04--Trump scolds 'Mini Mike' Bloomberg for licking 'dirty fingers' amid coronavirus fears

President Trump chastised Michael Bloomberg for licking his “ dirty fingers ” amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Trump , who referred to Bloomberg as “ Mini Mike , ” tweeted a video on Tuesday , sourced from the messaging app Snapchat , that shows the former New York City mayor licking his fingers , tearing off a small piece of pizza and tossing the rest back into the box , and eating the small piece before he again licks his fingers .
“ Mini Mike , don ’ t lick your dirty fingers .
Both unsanitary and dangerous to others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The tweet came just as polls closed in the first states on Super Tuesday , Bloomberg ’ s first time on the ballot .
Bloomberg , who has self-funded his campaign to the tune of more than $ 500 million , entered the 2020 race late and skipped early voting contests in states such as Iowa , New Hampshire , and South Carolina .
The coronavirus has sickened at least 122 people in the United States .
The death toll associated with the COVID-19 virus rose to nine on Tuesday .
Globally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed at least 3,162 .

President Trump chastised Michael Bloomberg for licking his “dirty fingers” amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Trump, who referred to Bloomberg as “Mini Mike,” tweeted a video on Tuesday, sourced from the messaging app Snapchat, that shows the former New York City mayor licking his fingers, tearing off a small piece of pizza and tossing the rest back into the box, and eating the small piece before he again licks his fingers.
“Mini Mike, don’t lick your dirty fingers. Both unsanitary and dangerous to others and yourself!” Trump said.
Mini Mike, don’t lick your dirty fingers. Both unsanitary and dangerous to others and yourself! pic.twitter.com/LsKLZNeZL9 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 4, 2020
The tweet came just as polls closed in the first states on Super Tuesday, Bloomberg’s first time on the ballot. Bloomberg, who has self-funded his campaign to the tune of more than $500 million, entered the 2020 race late and skipped early voting contests in states such as Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.
The coronavirus has sickened at least 122 people in the United States. The death toll associated with the COVID-19 virus rose to nine on Tuesday. Globally, it has infected more than 92,000 and killed at least 3,162.