thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-11--Transcript of Washington Examiner interview with Vice President Mike Pence

Transcript of Washington Examiner interview with Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday aboard the Trump-Pence campaign bus as it traveled through Pennsylvania .
Washington Examiner : What 's your role in this campaign ?
Vice President Mike Pence : Well , I do n't see it as different than the last campaign except that we have our official duties that we have to attend to [ and ] continue to play the role that the president 's tasked me to play , whatever it be .
Washington Examiner : And what role is that , from a campaign standpoint ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he either does n't do as well or just ca n't do because he 's got other things to do ?
Pence : I think , back in 2016 , David , I 'll never forget one of our first conversations .
He told me , `` You go north ; I 'll go south .
You go east ; I 'll go west .
In the last campaign , we tried ... because we were getting to know each other .
So , we tried to campaign together about once a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the winning strategy in 2016 was we just outworked them , and we 're going to outwork them again .
And so , I think , for our part , we 're going to be getting on the bus as soon as we can , get back to more and more of the retail politics .
Washington Examiner : You 're the retail guy .
He 's the show guy , right ?
And you 're the retail guy ?
Pence : Well , nobody commands the stage like President Donald Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy that I am .
It 's just , I think for us , the fact that our footprint 's a little smaller , we can move around a little easier , we 'll get us into different places in the country .
I think it 's just going to be a strategy of being out there , talking about the record , telling the story .
Also , elections are about choices , and I do n't think that the choice has ever been clearer or the stakes have ever been higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Let me ask you about the state of the campaign right now .
In every poll that I have seen , and then in polls that are n't public , you guys are having a tough time .
You 're having a tough time in Georgia .
The numbers in Texas are n't as good as they used to be .
The numbers in Arizona are n't as good as they used to be .
So , I know what your prediction is going to be , but can you talk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a tough time right now and how you feel about that ?
Pence : Well , I do n't put a lot of stock in the polls .
In the last election , somebody told me that between Labor Day and Election Day , there were over a hundred different polls that were taken in the states or nationwide , and the president only led in a handful of them , and then we saw an incredible victory , historic victory , on Election Day .
I sense people are more enthusiastic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just because four years ago , it was about a candidate saying what he was going to do .
He said he was going to rebuild the military , he was going to stand up for law and order , he was going to revive the economy with tax cuts , deregulation , and more American energy and better trade deals .
He was going to appoint conservatives to our federal courts at every level .
Now , we 're running on what President Trump , not just what more he 's going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in fact , done .
I mean , this is a `` promises made , promises kept '' campaign .
Washington Examiner : I think the question is not whether your voters are enthusiastic , because I would n't disagree with you .
It 's whether you have enough of them .
Do you have enough of them ?
Your ticket , the president 's ticket with you on it , won suburban voters last time .
Now , [ given what happened ] in 2018 and the fact that the polling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking good and that was part of your strength last time , do you have enough ?
Pence : I do n't think there 's any question that when this campaign fully engages and we start to talk about the choice that the American people would face when they asked the question , `` Who can revive this economy ? ''
Is it President Trump , whose policies created more than 7 million jobs in our first three years of cutting taxes , rolling back regulation , unleashing energy , and fighting for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , who , a week ago , while our nation is beginning to recover from the worst pandemic in a hundred years , said that he was going to raise taxes by $ 4 trillion , that he 's going to restart the war on American energy , he 's going to embrace an avalanche of regulations and everything from healthcare to aspects of the Green New Deal , and I just think when people face that choice , people in the suburbs and in the cities and out in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four more years of a job creator in the White House .
But I also believe public safety is going to continue to live large in this election .
Washington Examiner : Let me ask you about that .
The president has definitely said that if Joe Biden is elected , they 're going to be tearing down statutes .
He has said things could get very bad from the standpoint of public safety and mobs tearing down statues .
The question I have is : That 's exactly what 's happening right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge .
I 'm not necessarily blaming you , but I 'm asking the question if you 're telling voters , `` Beware , this bad thing could happen if you elect this other guy , '' could n't some voters look around and say , `` Not that I 'm blaming you , Mr. President , but it 's happening right now .
So , I do n't see what the difference is '' ?
Pence : Well , the difference is right now , we have hundreds of investigations , dozens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property and engaged in rioting , including the tearing down of statues .
When rioters were setting fire to one of the oldest churches in America and defacing our national monuments , Joe Biden sent out a press release .
President Trump sent in the National Guard .
We quelled the violence .
We secured our nation 's capital and called on governors around the country to do the same .
And they 've been responding .
You 've seen one governor after another , from Minnesota to other states around the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we fully supported that .
The contrast is , with Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi , this is a president who understands our commitment is to uphold the rule of law — law and order .
And Nancy Pelosi said today in a press conference when she was asked about rioters pulling down a statue in her hometown of Baltimore something to the effect of , `` They will do what they will do . ''
Washington Examiner : Yes : `` People will do what people will do . ''
Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States takes an oath to see that the laws are faithfully executed , not to say that `` people that break the law will do what they will do . ''
And I think when the American people face this choice , they 're going to know that whether it 's jobs , whether it 's our national security , whether it 's commitment to conservative principles , conservative judges , and a commitment to law and order that President Donald Trump is the right choice for the American people .
Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I wanted to ask you : Do you think it 's a mistake , or has been a mistake , to equate the removal and tearing down of Confederate figures who tried to rip the Union asunder to the founders who , however flawed , laid the foundation for the kind of country that we are and are trying to be ?
In other words , you can complain about Jefferson , but he wrote the Declaration that we all aspire to be .
Confederates and those honored tried to rip that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you think it 's a mistake to conflate the two , even though mob violence tearing down any statutes is not how things should be done .
Pence : I think tearing down statues is not a protest .
Engaging in public debate in your community about what appropriate displays are is the American way , and I would n't begrudge any community or any state to determine what people ought to be remembered and memorialized .
Washington Examiner : Do you , personally , see a difference ?
Pence : What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history is a steady march toward a more perfect union .
From the founding of the country , we articulated a set of ideals that were not real at the time , but they were aspirational , and I think those high ideals by God 's grace have resulted in the American people moving ever forward through a bloody Civil War that ended slavery on the continent , through two world wars , through a civil rights movement , that we celebrate the incredible progress to the present [ inaudible . ]
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ greatest nation on Earth and that what the president said at Mount Rushmore was about , `` We are going to celebrate our history as a steady march for the fulfillment of the ideals that Americans cherish . ''
Washington Examiner : Let me ask you about the coronavirus .
Obviously , this has been a major project of yours .
Who 's in charge ?
Now , I know that the administration and you and the president are in charge .
But how much of this is reliant on governors to follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can give with all of your experts ?
And how much of it is on you , so that when people look at what 's happening in Texas and Florida and Arizona and Mississippi , states that initially were much better off but are now having a big problem , should people look to you and the president ?
Or should they be pointing fingers at their governors ?
Pence : Well , first , President Trump has been the man in charge of America 's response to the coronavirus .
But from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me to lead the White House coronavirus task force that he set up before January was over , he made it clear that he wanted a whole-of-government approach , that we wanted to bring the full resources of the federal government .
But I actually think one of the reasons he tapped me to do this , David , was not just because I was just his vice president but because I was a governor , because I had been through some health issues , significant health issues , in the state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we worked with federal officials , and we were able to deal with it .
And so , right out of the gate , pulling the governors together , working with them under what the president envisioned .
And it was manifested when he put FEMA in the lead of our national response was that we would have a federally supported , state-managed , locally executed response to the coronavirus so that we used the vast resources of the federal government to reinvent testing — now , nearly 40 million tests — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies , masks , gowns , and PPE , to transform factory lines , to the production of ventilators , so that no American that needed a ventilator was ever denied a ventilator .
And from early on , having the pharmaceutical companies in this country begin immediately to work , beginning in February , on therapeutics and vaccines , and that 's the strength of the federal government .
And then giving the guidance through the 45 days to slow the spread , marshaling bipartisan support in Congress for our rescue packages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 've implemented this in such a way as to make sure that states have what they need or are empowered to have what they need because one of the things that I think most Americans recognize is that while many in the media like to put one big curve up , the reality is the coronavirus pandemic emerged in the northeast , and we responded to it there .
Then it emerged in the northwest ; we responded to it there , and it emerged in the greater New York City area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded to it there .
Then New Orleans , then Michigan .
And now , as we 've seen cases emerging in the Sun Belt , again , we 're focusing the resources empowering governors because each area is unique .
Washington Examiner : Why do you think it happened ?
Was it because of the mass protests , even a peaceful protest , with people gathering ?
Was it young people in bars ?
Was it a combination ?
Do you think it 's something you could have avoided ?
Pence : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the `` something happened . ''
Early in the pandemic , we were actually only testing people who were of a certain age , usually elderly with symptoms , and healthcare workers and first responders .
We set up the new testing system that focused on the most vulnerable and focused on people that were caring for people dealing with the coronavirus .
But because of the public-private partnership that the president created , by the springtime , we had achieved a place where , literally — I heard in Florida in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told me then that they had significantly more testing capacity than they had demand .
So , we were able to test a significant amount more people who were asymptomatic .
There were people that were going back to work .
Their employer said , simply , `` Go get a test . ''
I was told that in Texas , as they were starting up football practices in the summer again , the teams were being tested .
And one of the different things about what we 're seeing today in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the greater New York area or in other areas of the country is now , roughly half of the people that are being diagnosed with the coronavirus are under the age of 35 .
Washington Examiner : So , is it the administration 's position that this really is n't a spike in so much as it 's really the fact that because we 're testing more people , we 're aware of more people having this , even though many Americans are interpreting it as a spike , as a resurgence ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 're able to do , we have found more cases .
It is inarguable that our testing system has contributed to the number of asymptomatic cases that we 've been able to identify .
But that 's a good thing because when you identify as someone who has coronavirus and does n't have symptoms , you can prevent them inadvertently exposing others , and you can slow the spread .
But make no mistake about it : There 's been a rise in positivity and a rise of cases in the Sun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason why we 've been working very closely with governors .
As to the why it happened : Something changed somewhere in the middle of June .
Frankly , Georgia , Florida , Texas , Arizona , were all reopened .
They all started reopening early May .
We did n't see a rise in cases .
We did n't see a rise in positivity .
Everything was very solid .
And so , we actually think it was a combination of factors .
The protests may have played a role .
Memorial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role .
But one of the theories is that in the southern states with a very warm summer underway , younger people congregating indoors in air conditioning .
And that 's the reason why I think you 've seen governors , with our full support , take steps to close bars , to close spaces where younger people congregate .
And I do n't know if you heard yesterday , but through this morning , we are beginning to see early indications in Arizona and in Florida that the positivity rate is leveling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people need to keep doing what they 're doing , keep wearing the mask , social distancing , wash their hands , avoiding those settings where they congregate , and we 'll get through this .
Washington Examiner : Do you have any concerns about the Republican convention in Jacksonville going off as planned ?
Do you think that some things may need to be reconsidered in terms of how delegates gathered , what venues you use , and what kinds of events you hold ?
Pence : I 'm going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , supporters of the convention .
We 're very excited about going to Jacksonville .
But I think the president said just a couple of days ago we 'll be flexible , and I must tell you that I 've been very impressed .
It seems some of the planning that 's underway to make sure that the environment is a safe and healthy environment for all of the participants and for everybody that would be there in any capacity .
So , we 'll put the health of all of our delegates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the convention , but we continue to remain hopeful that as we see strong leadership across the Sun Belt dealing with this that we 'll be able to gather in Jacksonville .
Washington Examiner : I wanted to ask you one healthcare question .
Can your administration make the case that you 're going to protect preexisting conditions and a couple of these other things that were implemented in Obamacare if you are trying to undo Obamacare through the courts without an immediate placement plan that 's going to exist ?
So that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it goes away , the preexisting conditions protection goes away , and even though your position is , of course , that you support these things without an immediate plan in place that 's legislated immediately , people would be without those protections .
So , how do you make that case to voters that are concerned ?
Pence : From the campaign in 2016 , the president made it clear that we were going to repeal and replace Obamacare with healthcare reform that lowers the cost of health insurance without growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a disaster , and it is striking to me that Joe Biden and their platform have embraced expanding Obamacare .
We see premiums going up , huge deductibles .
It is expensive coverage .
It 's bad coverage .
The American people know it .
What the president and I are determined to do is take the case to the American people this fall and lay out a vision , not just for growing the economy , not just for merit-based immigration , but for healthcare reform that 's built on free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and counseling , the kind of measures that really empower people to buy health insurance across state lines .
But to the point of your question , which is a very good question : We really believe the first objective is to sweep away Obamacare because it 's unconstitutional .
I believe the day that I voted against it , the day that the Supreme Court upheld it , you can never believe the federal government had the authority to order people to buy something on the private market place .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the heart of Obamacare .
But sweeping that away , we believe , creates the opportunity to then do real healthcare reform and pass legislation deals with preexisting conditions , and the president 's made it very clear .
Washington Examiner : But you realize there will be a gap there , right ?
Pence : Not necessarily , not necessarily .
We actually think there 's a real opportunity to literally bring together divergent voices in the Congress and say , `` We all agree .
We 're going to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formulate healthcare policies and reforms that will close the gap and give people better healthcare than Obamacare , '' which wo n't be hard .
Washington Examiner : Voting by mail .
If somebody in America this November is afraid to go to the polls or if there are fewer polls in some states — polling places — and people therefore prefer to vote by mail , does the administration , does the campaign , have a problem with that ?
And does the message about voter fraud make it harder for your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in these votes , vote absentee , vote by mail ?
Pence : Absentee ballots are a time-honored tradition , and I voted by absentee .
Millions of Americans vote by absentee ballot , and we fully support that .
[ What ] the president raises is the issue of unsolicited mass distribution of ballots and the potential for voter fraud , particularly in states that allow … ballot harvesting ?
There 's literally states — California 's one of them — that allows people to go and accumulate ballots that are completed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if you mail out 20 million ballots , the potential for fraud — we had a case in 2012 — you can look it up — in the state of Indiana where a group of Democrat operatives were prosecuted after the election because they were found to have been filling out , falsifying , absentee ballots .
So , we 're all for voter integrity .
We believe in [ an ] absentee ballot system where people will request a ballot and give a basis for why they will not be participating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue to oppose efforts around the country for a mass distribution of mailed ballots because we think it 's a potential for tremendous voter fraud .
Washington Examiner : If a state wants to mass send out applications for absentee ballots , is that something that you oppose ?
Pence : Well , it may be a distinction without a difference .
I think virtually every state in the Union has an absentee ballot system where you can apply for an absentee ballot mailed to your home , and we 're going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our campaign and urge people who choose to request a ballot to do so , but we 'll also continue to stand for the time-honored principle .
One person , one vote .
Washington Examiner : Your predecessor , Joe Biden , was in Pennsylvania today unveiling his economic recovery plan focused on buying American , manufacturing in America .
Washington Examiner : Maybe they 're going to try and compete on more favorable ground than [ Hillary ] Clinton did .
I mean , do you think that Joe Biden can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least he 's speaking the right language in the right places , which the last Democratic nominee failed to do ?
Pence : Look , under the Obama-Biden administration , it was an era of economic surrender to China .
But when we took office , half of our international trade deficit was with China .
And I remember seeing Joe Biden at one point scoff at the idea that China was a competitor of the United States .
The NAFTA agreement 's another example .
I mean , one of the great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump was elected to office and was able to dismantle and renegotiate the trading agreement with Canada and Mexico that finally took out the incentive of shipping jobs south of the border .
And yet , those are all the policies — I mean , [ the ] Joe Biden-Obama administration supported TPP , Trans-Pacific Partnership , with this candidate ...
I think it was a candidate who turned to the president , who was the one that stepped up and said , `` We 're not doing the Trans-Pacific Partnership . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the Obama-Biden administration were all championing another massive international trade agreement .
I think it 's going to be very difficult for Joe Biden to make the case that he 's going to fight for American jobs when you look at the record of the Obama-Biden administration , as well as 40 years in public service .
Washington Examiner : Do you think TPP might have helped you box China in , economically ?
Pence : Let me tell you something .
I was on a learning curve with all of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I supported virtually every trade agreement that ever kind of came before the Congress .
In one of our very early conversations , one of the things that the president said to me during the campaign was that these multinational trading agreements are not in America 's interest because you lose leverage .
And what the American people have seen is the president has pulled out of that , but then , we 've been in trade negotiations with Japan .
We renegotiated our trade agreement with South Korea .
We 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiate a trade agreement with the U.K. We 're even talking to the EU about a second trade agreement with them , and , of course , the USMCA is the largest trade deal in American history .
So , I really do believe that the economic record of this president is going to sell the American people .
But I think it 's a bigger distinction .
Look , we 've just gone through the worst pandemic in a hundred years .
The American economy , showing the strength of the foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three years and the resilience and character of the American people .
The American economy 's already added back 7 million jobs out of the 22 million jobs that we 've lost .
In two short months , 7 million jobs [ have been ] created .
The American economy is coming back , and President Trump , we 're going to be working with the Congress in another relief bill for families and businesses , support for states and healthcare workers .
But the president , he also wants a payroll tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is continue to build on the pro-growth policies that created 7 million jobs in our first three years .
We know that 's the prescription for bringing the economy all the way back and laying a foundation for unparalleled prosperity in the next four years .
Contrast that with Joe Biden .
He talks about raising taxes by $ 4 trillion .
He talks about a massive avalanche of regulation .
He talks about ending fracking , starting a war on coal all over again , and wants to go back to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs overseas .
I think when the American people go into that voting booth , in November of this year , as we continue , every day , to make progress on this pandemic , and they ask the question : “ Who 's going to be able to rebuild this economy , stand with our military , stand with law enforcement , protect the liberties enshrined in our Constitution ?
” They 're going to vote for four more years of President Donald Trump .


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-12--A loss in November doesn't necessarily mean Trump won't be president again

For those imagining that a November defeat will expunge President Trump , think again .
Nothing prevents him from running in 2024 , and no clear evidence exists that there is a Republican capable of beating him .
Recent poll numbers have not been promising for Trump .
Gallup ’ s latest results showed his approval rating down to 38 % , which is 11 points below his Gallup personal high in early May .
Considering his improbable 2016 win , in which he lost the popular vote but handily won the electoral vote by virtually sweeping all the close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error .
These factors have raised hopes in establishment Republican circles that Trump could be bounced from the White House and their lives .
To paraphrase Gerald Ford , their long national nightmare would be over , and the party would be returned to their control .
The problem is that the Republican establishment is thinking as establishments always do : conventionally .
If there is one thing that Trump is not , and never will be , it is conventional .
So , projecting forward on a conventional trajectory , even following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistake .
Trump easily could return in 2024 and retain his de facto party leader position in the interim .
Such a scenario is hardly impossible .
Trump is not constitutionally barred from seeking the presidency a third time — the Constitution only prohibits someone from holding the office for three terms .
Historically , several candidates have been renominated following defeats .
Grover Cleveland even won the presidency again after losing it .
The usual reasons why presidential candidates retire relate to age , support , and relevance .
However , current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profile , could nullify all three .
Regarding age , 2020 has widened the window for Washington leaders .
Trump would be the same age at a 2025 inauguration as former Vice President Joe Biden would be in a 2021 inauguration .
He would be the same age as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is now .
Trump also still retains much support within the party .
Gallup ’ s poll showed 91 % of Republicans supporting him now despite his low overall support numbers .
As for relevance , Trump is a media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact with tens of millions via social media .
Should Biden win , his presidency will be extremely difficult .
Having consigned his agenda to the Left in order to win the nomination and motivate the Democratic base in November , he will be forced to govern from that direction .
The electorate has given short shrift to Democratic predecessors far less progressive than Biden now professes to be .
Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were drubbed in their first midterm elections , both losing Congress during their presidencies .
Regardless , chances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again in 2024 .
Democrats are likely to stick with Biden because they are largely stuck with him .
The last incumbent foregoing reelection was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 , and regardless of overall popularity , parties do not deny incumbents renomination — both Jimmy Carter and Herbert Hoover also received them .
Nor do Democrats have anywhere else to turn .
They chose Biden because they lacked establishment alternatives .
On the Republican side , Trump ’ s odds are even better if he comes back in 2024 .
He already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His enormous public following makes 2022 midterm candidates likely to seek his support , thus earning him political credibility as Republicans likely do well .
Additionally , any 2024 challengers will only serve to split the anti-Trump wing , thus bolstering Trump .
Regardless of Trump ’ s shortcomings , he effectively short-circuited the Republican establishment .
He also showed an ability to expand Republicans ’ presidential reach geographically , something the party must replicate .
The takeaway for establishment Republicans should not be that 2020 defeat will take Trump away from them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who they were and win back either the party or the White House .
J.T .
Young served under President George W. Bush as the director of communications in the Office of Management and Budget and as deputy assistant secretary in legislative affairs for tax and budget at the Treasury Department .
He served as a congressional staffer from 1987 to 2000 .

For those imagining that a November defeat will expunge President Trump, think again. Nothing prevents him from running in 2024, and no clear evidence exists that there is a Republican capable of beating him.
Recent poll numbers have not been promising for Trump. Gallup’s latest results showed his approval rating down to 38%, which is 11 points below his Gallup personal high in early May. Considering his improbable 2016 win, in which he lost the popular vote but handily won the electoral vote by virtually sweeping all the close contests, Trump has little margin for error.
These factors have raised hopes in establishment Republican circles that Trump could be bounced from the White House and their lives. To paraphrase Gerald Ford, their long national nightmare would be over, and the party would be returned to their control.
The problem is that the Republican establishment is thinking as establishments always do: conventionally. If there is one thing that Trump is not, and never will be, it is conventional. So, projecting forward on a conventional trajectory, even following a 2020 defeat, is a major mistake. Trump easily could return in 2024 and retain his de facto party leader position in the interim.
Such a scenario is hardly impossible. Trump is not constitutionally barred from seeking the presidency a third time — the Constitution only prohibits someone from holding the office for three terms. Historically, several candidates have been renominated following defeats. Grover Cleveland even won the presidency again after losing it.
The usual reasons why presidential candidates retire relate to age, support, and relevance. However, current circumstances, and Trump’s unconventional profile, could nullify all three. Regarding age, 2020 has widened the window for Washington leaders. Trump would be the same age at a 2025 inauguration as former Vice President Joe Biden would be in a 2021 inauguration. He would be the same age as Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is now.
Trump also still retains much support within the party. Gallup’s poll showed 91% of Republicans supporting him now despite his low overall support numbers. As for relevance, Trump is a media monster, generating coverage and self-generating direct contact with tens of millions via social media.
Should Biden win, his presidency will be extremely difficult. Having consigned his agenda to the Left in order to win the nomination and motivate the Democratic base in November, he will be forced to govern from that direction. The electorate has given short shrift to Democratic predecessors far less progressive than Biden now professes to be. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were drubbed in their first midterm elections, both losing Congress during their presidencies.
Regardless, chances are Biden would be on the ballot again in 2024. Democrats are likely to stick with Biden because they are largely stuck with him. The last incumbent foregoing reelection was Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, and regardless of overall popularity, parties do not deny incumbents renomination — both Jimmy Carter and Herbert Hoover also received them. Nor do Democrats have anywhere else to turn. They chose Biden because they lacked establishment alternatives.
On the Republican side, Trump’s odds are even better if he comes back in 2024. He already demolished the Republican establishment in 2016. His enormous public following makes 2022 midterm candidates likely to seek his support, thus earning him political credibility as Republicans likely do well. Additionally, any 2024 challengers will only serve to split the anti-Trump wing, thus bolstering Trump.
Regardless of Trump’s shortcomings, he effectively short-circuited the Republican establishment. He also showed an ability to expand Republicans’ presidential reach geographically, something the party must replicate. The takeaway for establishment Republicans should not be that 2020 defeat will take Trump away from them, but that they cannot remain who they were and win back either the party or the White House.
J.T. Young served under President George W. Bush as the director of communications in the Office of Management and Budget and as deputy assistant secretary in legislative affairs for tax and budget at the Treasury Department. He served as a congressional staffer from 1987 to 2000.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-12--Sessions primary tests Trump influence with the GOP base

President Trump faces a test of his influence over the Republican base on Tuesday when former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville faces off with ex-Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a GOP primary runoff for Senate in Alabama .
While Trump canceled a planned rally with Tuberville in Sessions ’ s hometown , reportedly due to coronavirus concerns , he has left no ambiguity about where he stands : against his former attorney general returning to Washington .
The Senate race splits passionate Trump supporters across the country .
Some , like the president , disapprove of Sessions ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credit Sessions with shaping the Trump immigration agenda as an adviser to the 2016 presidential campaign and doing more to implement it once in office than any other Cabinet official .
They view Tuberville as antithetical to the more populist , nationalist variant of conservatism .
This includes Tucker Carlson , who has boosted Sessions on his influential prime-time Fox News show , and syndicated columnist Ann Coulter , the In Trump We Trust author who has since soured on the president because she does not believe he has done enough to fulfill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Back when the leadership of the Republican Party pushed in secret to give amnesty to illegal immigrants , and they did , Sen. Jeff Sessions stood almost alone in opposing it , ” Carlson said .
“ He opposed intervening in Syria against a president who saved that country ’ s Christians .
He opposed expanding our totally pointless presence in Afghanistan.
” Carlson called Sessions “ one of the very few politicians I do respect.
” But Republican voters in Alabama will decide .
An Auburn University at Montgomery poll released on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 31.3 % , with 22.2 % undecided .
Tuberville finished ahead of Sessions by a slim margin in the first round of voting in May , taking 33.4 % to the former attorney general ’ s 31.6 % .
“ I think it shows the same trend that our poll showed from May , which is that Tuberville is going to win by double digits , ” said Brent Buchanan , a local Republican strategist .
The Republican National Committee credited Trump with an 82-1 record of successful endorsements in primaries and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of June 29 .
That does not appear to count Trump-endorsed Rep. Denver Riggleman ’ s defeat at a Virginia GOP convention or Rep. Thomas Massie ’ s primary victory .
Trump did not endorse Massie ’ s opponent , and the RNC says he did not rescind his support for the congressman , despite publicly calling for him to be thrown out of the Republican Party earlier this year .
Since then , Trump-endorsed , five-term Rep. Scott Tipton lost a primary in Colorado to Lauren Boebert .
Lynda Bennett , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina primary to replace Mark Meadows , now his White House chief of staff , was defeated by Madison Cawthorn .
`` President Trump ’ s influence in Republican primaries is as strong as ever , '' an RNC spokesman said in a statement .
“ Both Sessions and Tuberville have strongly endorsed Trump , so it ’ s more personal than anything for the president , ” said Republican strategist John Feehery .
“ He blames Sessions for the whole Mueller fiasco .
And what we have seen lately is that Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisive than support of Trumpism .
Supporting the president ’ s agenda is far more important than having the president support you.
” Sessions supporters say that he championed Trumpism before Trump did .
The veteran Alabama politician was the first sitting senator to endorse Trump in the primaries .
Top Trump immigration adviser Stephen Miller came from Sessions ’ s Senate staff .
But the continued unraveling of the Trump-Russia investigation , now itself being scrutinized by Sessions ’ s Justice Department successor Attorney General William Barr , has not helped his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his chance and failed , so Alabama Republicans should give Tuberville a shot .
When Sessions last ran for this Senate seat , he did not draw a Democratic opponent and received 97.5 % of the vote in the general election .
Since he resigned from Congress for his stint as attorney general , Trump has had bad luck with his endorsements despite his popularity in the state .
Trump supported interim Sen. Luther Strange in the 2017 primary , who went on to lose to Roy Moore .
Trump then backed Moore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remainder of Sessions ’ s term , but the controversial Republican was defeated by Democrat Doug Jones .
The winner of the Sessions-Tuberville runoff will take on Jones this fall .
It is considered the best Republican pickup opportunity as the GOP fights to defend its 53-47 Senate majority in a tough election cycle .
Trump is heavily favored in Alabama in November .

President Trump faces a test of his influence over the Republican base on Tuesday when former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville faces off with ex-Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a GOP primary runoff for Senate in Alabama.
While Trump canceled a planned rally with Tuberville in Sessions’s hometown, reportedly due to coronavirus concerns, he has left no ambiguity about where he stands: against his former attorney general returning to Washington.
The Senate race splits passionate Trump supporters across the country. Some, like the president, disapprove of Sessions’s recusal in the Trump-Russia investigation. Others credit Sessions with shaping the Trump immigration agenda as an adviser to the 2016 presidential campaign and doing more to implement it once in office than any other Cabinet official. They view Tuberville as antithetical to the more populist, nationalist variant of conservatism.
This includes Tucker Carlson, who has boosted Sessions on his influential prime-time Fox News show, and syndicated columnist Ann Coulter, the In Trump We Trust author who has since soured on the president because she does not believe he has done enough to fulfill his campaign promises on immigration.
“Back when the leadership of the Republican Party pushed in secret to give amnesty to illegal immigrants, and they did, Sen. Jeff Sessions stood almost alone in opposing it,” Carlson said. “He opposed intervening in Syria against a president who saved that country’s Christians. He opposed expanding our totally pointless presence in Afghanistan.” Carlson called Sessions “one of the very few politicians I do respect.”
But Republican voters in Alabama will decide. An Auburn University at Montgomery poll released on Friday found Tuberville leading Sessions 46.5% to 31.3%, with 22.2% undecided. Tuberville finished ahead of Sessions by a slim margin in the first round of voting in May, taking 33.4% to the former attorney general’s 31.6%.
“I think it shows the same trend that our poll showed from May, which is that Tuberville is going to win by double digits,” said Brent Buchanan, a Republican strategist with knowledge of local politics.
The Republican National Committee credited Trump with an 82-1 record of successful endorsements in primaries and special elections during the 2020 cycle as of June 29. That does not appear to count Trump-endorsed Rep. Denver Riggleman’s defeat at a Virginia GOP convention or Rep. Thomas Massie’s primary victory. Trump did not endorse Massie’s opponent, and the RNC says he did not rescind his support for the congressman, despite publicly calling for him to be thrown out of the Republican Party earlier this year.
Since then, Trump-endorsed, five-term Rep. Scott Tipton lost a primary in Colorado to Lauren Boebert. Lynda Bennett, Trump’s endorsed candidate in the North Carolina primary to replace Mark Meadows, now his White House chief of staff, was defeated by Madison Cawthorn.
"President Trump’s influence in Republican primaries is as strong as ever," an RNC spokesman said in a statement.
“Both Sessions and Tuberville have strongly endorsed Trump, so it’s more personal than anything for the president,” said Republican strategist John Feehery. “He blames Sessions for the whole Mueller fiasco. And what we have seen lately is that Trump’s personal endorsement is far less decisive than support of Trumpism. Supporting the president’s agenda is far more important than having the president support you.”
Sessions supporters say that he championed Trumpism before Trump did. The veteran Alabama politician was the first sitting senator to endorse Trump in the primaries. Top Trump immigration adviser Stephen Miller came from Sessions’s Senate staff.
But the continued unraveling of the Trump-Russia investigation, now itself being scrutinized by Sessions’s Justice Department successor Attorney General William Barr, has not helped his cause. Trump has argued Sessions had his chance and failed, so Alabama Republicans should give Tuberville a shot.
When Sessions last ran for this Senate seat, he did not draw a Democratic opponent and received 97.5% of the vote in the general election. Since he resigned from Congress for his stint as attorney general, Trump has had bad luck with his endorsements despite his popularity in the state. Trump supported interim Sen. Luther Strange in the 2017 primary, who went on to lose to Roy Moore. Trump then backed Moore in the special election to fill the remainder of Sessions’s term, but the controversial Republican was defeated by Democrat Doug Jones.
The winner of the Sessions-Tuberville runoff will take on Jones this fall. It is considered the best Republican pickup opportunity as the GOP fights to defend its 53-47 Senate majority in a tough election cycle. Trump is heavily favored in Alabama in November.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-13--AOC militants target senior Democrat who slow-walked investigation into Trump tax returns

Liberal activists aligned with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are pushing to oust a House committee chairman who they say needlessly delayed Democrats ' push to gain access to President Trump 's tax returns .
Rep. Richard Neal , chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee , faces a Sept. 1 Democratic primary challenge from Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse , in his Springfield , Massachusetts-based district .
Morse is aligned with the far-left Justice Democrats , most famous for helping Ocasio-Cortez beat a member of the House Democratic leadership in her 2018 primary for a Bronx- and Queen-based New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send a message to party leaders about the perils of tacking too far to the center and ignoring its activist liberal base .
Justice Democrats already on the cusp of a major victory for 2020 in New York 's 16th District , taking in the northern tier of the Bronx and parts of Westchester County .
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel , first elected in 1988 , is behind in the Democratic primary against middle school principal , Jamaal Bowman .
The June 23 race has not been called yet due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots , but Engel would have to win an overwhelming amount to claw his way back .
In Neal 's race , liberals ' anger stems not only from what they call his ideological impurity but tactical errors in dealing with Trump .
Justice Democrats and allies on the Left fault Neal for failing to move more swiftly to obtain access to Trump 's financial records after he became Ways and Means Committee chairman in January 2019 , following the Democratic wave election two months earlier that gave the party its first majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to public view on Thursday with a pair of Supreme Court decisions regarding efforts to compel disclosure of Trump 's financial information .
The court cleared the way for New York City prosecutors to seek the documents .
But in a separate decision , it ruled Congress could not , at least for now , see many of the same records .
The ruling means that it will be likely months , if not years , before Democrats can release those documents to the public .
The president and his allies saw the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , the rulings were basically starting all over again , sending everything back down to the lower courts , and you start all over again .
So , from a certain point , I ’ m satisfied .
From another point , I 'm not satisfied because , frankly , this is a political witch hunt , the likes of which nobody has ever seen before , '' Trump said in his first reaction to the ruling .
`` It 's a pure witch hunt .
It 's a hoax , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I won .
And this is another hoax .
This is purely political . ''
It 's that sort of reaction that grates on liberals about Neal 's efforts to seek the Trump financial documents , as head of the House 's tax-writing committee .
Neal 's decision to wait months before eventually suing the federal government for the documents has some on the Left wondering if that allowed the court to easily duck responsibility on ruling for either side definitively so close to an election .
Investigative journalist Zach Everson in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's feet , particularly his legal tactics against Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , would Democrats say is required under law to produce Trump 's tax returns if Congress requests .
`` 1 .
@ RepRichardNeal waited 4 months to request @ realDonaldTrump 's tax returns , '' Everson wrote .
`` 2 .
When Treasury missed deadline , Neal gave an extension .
3 .
After Mnuchin refused to comply with a subpoena , Neal waited 5 weeks to sue . ''
Many on the Left have long been suspicious of Neal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other left-wing policies .
Following the Supreme Court 's decision , Morse blasted Neal 's handling of the case .
`` What good is Richie Neal 's power in Congress if even Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch are doing more work to hold Trump accountable than he is , '' Morse said at a press conference .
`` A real Democrat would have subpoenaed Trump 's taxes on day one , instead of delaying because he was more focused on cozying up to his Republican colleagues for votes on a bill to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heat from liberals , Neal is still favored to win reelection in the fall .
According to last quarter 's FEC filings , Neal has $ 4.5 million on hand compared to Morse 's $ 139,718 .

Liberal activists aligned with New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are pushing to oust a House committee chairman who they say needlessly delayed Democrats' push to gain access to President Trump's tax returns.
Rep. Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, faces a Sept. 1 Democratic primary challenge from Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse in his Springfield, Massachusetts-based district. Morse is aligned with the far-left Justice Democrats, most famous for helping Ocasio-Cortez beat a member of the House Democratic leadership in her 2018 primary for a Bronx- and Queen-based New York seat.
Justice Democrats aim to send a message to party leaders about the perils of tacking too far to the center and ignoring its activist liberal base.
Justice Democrats already on the cusp of a major victory for 2020 in New York's 16th District, taking in the northern tier of the Bronx and parts of Westchester County. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, first elected in 1988, is behind in the Democratic primary against middle school principal, Jamaal Bowman. The June 23 race has not been called yet due to swaths of outstanding absentee and mail-in ballots, but Engel would have to win an overwhelming amount to claw his way back.
In Neal's race, liberals' anger stems not only from what they call his ideological impurity but tactical errors in dealing with Trump. Justice Democrats and allies on the Left fault Neal for failing to move more swiftly to obtain access to Trump's financial records after he became Ways and Means Committee chairman in January 2019, following the Democratic wave election two months earlier that gave the party its first majority in eight years.
The issue returned to public view on Thursday with a pair of Supreme Court decisions regarding efforts to compel disclosure of Trump's financial information. The court cleared the way for New York City prosecutors to seek the documents. But in a separate decision, it ruled Congress could not, at least for now, see many of the same records. The ruling means that it will be likely months, if not years, before Democrats can release those documents to the public.
The president and his allies saw the ruling as a major victory.
"Well, the rulings were basically starting all over again, sending everything back down to the lower courts, and you start all over again. So, from a certain point, I’m satisfied. From another point, I'm not satisfied because, frankly, this is a political witch hunt, the likes of which nobody has ever seen before," Trump said in his first reaction to the ruling. "It's a pure witch hunt. It's a hoax, just like the Mueller investigation was a hoax that I won. And this is another hoax. This is purely political."
It's that sort of reaction that grates on liberals about Neal's efforts to seek the Trump financial documents, as head of the House's tax-writing committee. Neal's decision to wait months before eventually suing the federal government for the documents has some on the Left wondering if that allowed the court to easily duck responsibility on ruling for either side definitively so close to an election.
Investigative journalist Zach Everson in a tweet laid the blame at Neal's feet, particularly his legal tactics against Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, would Democrats say is required under law to produce Trump's tax returns if Congress requests.
"1. @RepRichardNeal waited 4 months to request @realDonaldTrump's tax returns," Everson wrote. "2. When Treasury missed deadline, Neal gave an extension. 3. After Mnuchin refused to comply with a subpoena, Neal waited 5 weeks to sue."
Many on the Left have long been suspicious of Neal, who opposes "Medicare for all" and other left-wing policies. Following the Supreme Court's decision, Morse blasted Neal's handling of the case.
"What good is Richie Neal's power in Congress if even Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch are doing more work to hold Trump accountable than he is," Morse said at a press conference. "A real Democrat would have subpoenaed Trump's taxes on day one, instead of delaying because he was more focused on cozying up to his Republican colleagues for votes on a bill to help his corporate donors."
Despite the heat from liberals, Neal is still favored to win reelection in the fall. According to last quarter's FEC filings, Neal has $4.5 million on hand compared to Morse's $139,718.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-13--Republicans hang on and hope to surprise in House races

One indication of how well House Republican members and hopefuls will fare in November lies in one of the seats that may flip in the House : Oklahoma ’ s 5th District , where Democratic Rep. Kendra Horn won in an upset during the 2018 “ blue wave.
” Republicans have held the seat for decades , and President Trump won the Oklahoma City-based district by nearly 14 points in 2016 .
If the GOP ca n't unseat her , it ’ s a troubling indication for the party 's chances in House races across the country .
Horn has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t be decided until an Aug. 25 runoff primary election , forcing GOP rivals to spend money on campaigning against each other , rather than her , for another month .
All the while , she has a $ 2.4 million campaign war chest to deploy .
The two remaining Republican candidates vying to take her on are businesswoman Terry Neese , who won 36.5 % in the state 's June 30 primary , and state Sen. Stephanie Bice , who won 25.4 % .
As of June 10 , Neese had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had $ 229,000 , making either heavily dependent on help on outside political groups to match Horn ’ s spending .
While the path for Republicans taking back the House is not impossible , it is narrow .
Republicans would need a net gain of about 18 seats to win back the House majority they lost in 2018 after eight years .
And their chances are narrowing more , according to various analyst ratings of key House races .
Republican leaders and consultants hold out hope that the party won ’ t take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with President Trump trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden in a series of swing-state and national polls .
A year ago , the rated 17 Democratic-held seats as toss-ups and 5 Republican-held seats as toss-ups .
In February , the number of Democratic-held seats that were toss-ups increased to 19 , a good sign for Republicans .
But in its most recent rating , following the coronavirus pandemic and mass protests on racism in policing , the picture is looking less rosy for Republicans : 16 Democratic-held seats are toss-ups compared to 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar pattern .
It had nine seats , seven Democratic-held and two Republican-held , rated as toss-ups on Feb. 21 , along with nine that tilt Democratic and seven that tilt Republican .
In its June 2 ratings , the number of Democratic-held toss-up seats decreased to four as more Democratic-held seats became safer bets for the party to keep .
Republican operatives downplay the ratings , believing they are more based on personal bias than on reality .
Cook Political Report , for instance , rates dozens of districts as “ lean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it also analyzes as having stronger voter preferences toward Republicans than the few seats it rates as toss-ups .
But largely , down-ballot House candidates must campaign in the shadow of President Trump , whose approval rating is ticking down .
It is difficult for candidates in individual House races to outperform the president in their districts by a significant enough percentage to win if he performs poorly in those areas .
Part of the party ’ s trouble is that it did not recruit high-level candidates to run in all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats in districts where Trump won a majority of the vote .
The obscure Republican nominee to take on first-term Democratic Rep. Antonio Delgado in New York ’ s 19th District , , had just over $ 2,000 in cash on hand at the start of June and had raised just under $ 15,000 over the course of his whole campaign .
Delgado , meanwhile , has $ 2.7 million in the bank .
Republicans , though , are hopeful that the economy will pick up and unemployment will tick down in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And there are often surprises in House elections , in which a scandal can quickly sink a vulnerable candidate .

One indication of how well House Republican members and hopefuls will fare in November lies in one of the seats that may flip in the House: Oklahoma’s 5th District, where Democratic Rep. Kendra Horn won in an upset during the 2018 “blue wave.”
Republicans had held the seat for decades, and President Trump won the Oklahoma City-based district by nearly 14 points in 2016. If the GOP can't unseat her, it’s a troubling indication for the party's chances in House races across the country.
Horn has structural advantages — her Republican challenger won’t be decided until an Aug. 25 runoff primary election, forcing GOP rivals to spend money on campaigning against each other, rather than her, for another month. All the while, she has a $2.4 million campaign war chest to deploy.
The two remaining Republican candidates vying to take her on are businesswoman Terry Neese, who won 36.5% in the state's June 30 primary, and state Sen. Stephanie Bice, who won 25.4%. As of June 10, Neese had $353,000 in her account and Bice had $229,000, making either heavily dependent on help on outside political groups to match Horn’s spending.
While the path for Republicans taking back the House is not impossible, it is narrow. Republicans would need a net gain of about 18 seats to win back the House majority they lost in 2018 after eight years.
And their chances are narrowing more, according to various analyst ratings of key House races. Republican leaders and consultants hold out hope that the party won’t take too much a beating in November, with President Trump trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden in a series of swing-state and national polls.
A year ago, the Cook Political Report rated 17 Democratic-held seats as toss-ups and 5 Republican-held seats as toss-ups. In February, the number of Democratic-held seats that were toss-ups increased to 19, a good sign for Republicans. But in its most recent rating, following the coronavirus pandemic and mass protests on racism in policing, the picture is looking less rosy for Republicans: 16 Democratic-held seats are toss-ups compared to 6 for Republicans.
Ratings from Inside Elections show a similar pattern. It had nine seats, seven Democratic-held and two Republican-held, rated as toss-ups on Feb. 21, along with nine that tilt Democratic and seven that tilt Republican. In its June 2 ratings, the number of Democratic-held toss-up seats decreased to four as more Democratic-held seats became safer bets for the party to keep.
Republican operatives downplay the ratings, believing they are more based on personal bias than on reality. Cook Political Report, for instance, rates dozens of districts as “lean Democratic” or “likely Democratic” that it also analyzes as having stronger voter preferences toward Republicans than the few seats it rates as toss-ups.
But largely, down-ballot House candidates must campaign in the shadow of President Trump, whose approval rating is ticking down. It is difficult for candidates in individual House races to outperform the president in their districts by a significant enough percentage to win if he performs poorly in those areas.
Part of the party’s trouble is that it did not recruit high-level candidates to run in all the districts that they hoped to target first-term Democrats in districts where Trump won a majority of the vote. The obscure Republican nominee to take on first-term Democratic Rep. Antonio Delgado in New York’s 19th District, Kyle Van De Water , had just over $2,000 in cash on hand at the start of June and had raised just under $15,000 over the course of his whole campaign. Delgado, meanwhile, has $2.7 million in the bank.
Republicans, though, are hopeful that the economy will pick up and unemployment will tick down in the next few months before the election. And there are often surprises in House elections, in which a scandal can quickly sink a vulnerable candidate.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-14--Biden cites quote made famous by Mao Zedong during fundraiser

Joe Biden cited a quote made famous by Chinese communist dictator Mao Zedong during a digital fundraising speech with former Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett .
`` We ’ ve got to get real economic relief into women ’ s hands now , ” Biden said on Monday evening to the 14 wealthy donors who attended the digital fundraising session .
According to the pool reporter who watched the event , Biden then cited the Chinese proverb , `` Women hold up half the sky . ''
The phrase comes from a proclamation by Mao in the mid-20th century that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China .
The phrase became commonplace in China at the time , often appearing on pieces of propaganda in factories or other industrial areas .
Biden 's remarks came as he championed women entering the labor force , citing the high percentage of college valedictorians who are women .
“ Unless you take advantage of half or more of your brain power , you are never going to be in the position where you ’ re going to be able to compete internationally , ” he said .
“ Women .
Women .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jarrett and John and Marcia Goldman , two wealthy financiers .

Joe Biden cited a quote made famous by Chinese communist dictator Mao Zedong during a digital fundraising speech with former Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett.
"We’ve got to get real economic relief into women’s hands now,” Biden said on Monday evening to the 14 wealthy donors who attended the digital fundraising session.
According to the pool reporter who watched the event, Biden then cited the Chinese proverb, "Women hold up half the sky."
The phrase comes from a proclamation by Mao in the mid-20th century that helped grant certain rights to women in China. The phrase became commonplace in China at the time, often appearing on pieces of propaganda in factories or other industrial areas.
Biden's remarks came as he championed women entering the labor force, citing the high percentage of college valedictorians who are women.
“Unless you take advantage of half or more of your brain power, you are never going to be in the position where you’re going to be able to compete internationally,” he said. “Women. Women. Women.”
The fundraiser was co-hosted by Jarrett and John and Marcia Goldman, two wealthy financiers.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-13--'Desperate': Republican spokesman mocked for Biden family Redskins tweet

A Republican aide was skewered on Twitter after misfiring criticism at Joe Biden following the Washington Redskins ' announcement that the NFL franchise would change its name and logo .
Steve Guest , a Republican National Committee spokesman , tweeted a photo of the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee with his sons , the late Beau Biden and surviving Hunter Biden , when they were children .
Hunter Biden is wearing a Redskins beanie in the image .
`` Hey Joe Biden , are you still a Redskins fan ? ''
Guest wrote Monday in the now-deleted post .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats for depicting the two-term vice president and Delaware 's 36-year senator looking after his sons shortly following the loss of his first wife , Neilia , then 30 , and 1-year-old daughter Naomi in a 1972 car crash .
`` Oh no , a photo of @ JoeBiden as a loving and caring father , you guys really nailed us this time , '' Biden spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield wrote back .
University of Southern California Center for the Political Future director Robert Shrum weighed in too .
`` What an obscene and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategist wrote .
`` @ JoeBiden is taking his surviving sons to a football game after their mother and sister were killed .
The team name was no big issue back then .
History moves on , but Guest and GOP rapid response just shot themselves in the foot . ''
Tom Nichols , the former Republican national security academic who now advises the `` Never Trump '' PAC the Lincoln Project , piled on .
`` This is serious campaign excellence , in which the GOP rapid response team reminds us that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dad , realizes how dumb a move that is , and then deletes it , '' he wrote .
Redskins team owner Dan Snyder and head coach Ron Rivera revealed Monday they were `` working closely to develop a new name and design '' after using the current one since the 1930s .
Critics have long called the name racist and insensitive toward Native Americans , but the campaign against it gained substantial traction after George Floyd 's death reignited a discussion around race relations .
Though Joe Biden and his second wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live in Delaware , the pair were born in Pennsylvania .
The Bidens have been snapped a number of times supporting the Philadelphia Eagles , including after Super Bowl LII , when the team beat the New England Patriots .
`` This team never gave up .
No matter the injuries , no matter the odds .
They showed incredible heart .
What a great win tonight , @ Eagles .
# FlyEaglesFly , '' Joe Biden tweeted .

A Republican aide was skewered on Twitter after misfiring criticism at Joe Biden following the Washington Redskins' announcement that the NFL franchise would change its name and logo.
Steve Guest, a Republican National Committee spokesman, tweeted a photo of the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee with his sons, the late Beau Biden and surviving Hunter Biden, when they were children. Hunter Biden is wearing a Redskins beanie in the image.
"Hey Joe Biden, are you still a Redskins fan?" Guest wrote Monday in the now-deleted post.
The missive was quickly latched on to by Democrats for depicting the two-term vice president and Delaware's 36-year senator looking after his sons shortly following the loss of his first wife, Neilia, then 30, and 1-year-old daughter Naomi in a 1972 car crash.
"Oh no, a photo of @JoeBiden as a loving and caring father, you guys really nailed us this time," Biden spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield wrote back.
Oh no, a photo of @JoeBiden as a loving and caring father, you guys really nailed us this time https://t.co/s6tWSj0VuT — Kate Bedingfield (@KBeds) July 13, 2020
University of Southern California Center for the Political Future director Robert Shrum weighed in too.
"What an obscene and desperate tweet," the longtime Democratic strategist wrote. "@JoeBiden is taking his surviving sons to a football game after their mother and sister were killed. The team name was no big issue back then. History moves on, but Guest and GOP rapid response just shot themselves in the foot."
What an obscene and desperate tweet. @JoeBiden is taking his surviving sons to a football game after their mother and sister were killed. The team name was no big issue back then. History moves on, but Guest and GOP rapid response just shot themselves in the foot. https://t.co/iP4Btxq62V — Robert Shrum (@BobShrum) July 13, 2020
Tom Nichols, the former Republican national security academic who now advises the "Never Trump" PAC the Lincoln Project, piled on.
"This is serious campaign excellence, in which the GOP rapid response team reminds us that Joe Biden was a widower and single dad, realizes how dumb a move that is, and then deletes it," he wrote.
This is serious campaign excellence, in which the GOP rapid response team reminds us that Joe Biden was a widower and single dad, realizes how dumb a move that is, and then deletes it. https://t.co/XPaoRpTNnz — Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 13, 2020
Redskins team owner Dan Snyder and head coach Ron Rivera revealed Monday they were "working closely to develop a new name and design" after using the current one since the 1930s. Critics have long called the name racist and insensitive toward Native Americans, but the campaign against it gained substantial traction after George Floyd's death reignited a discussion around race relations.
Though Joe Biden and his second wife, former second lady Jill Biden, live in Delaware, the pair were born in Pennsylvania. The Bidens have been snapped a number of times supporting the Philadelphia Eagles, including after Super Bowl LII, when the team beat the New England Patriots.
"This team never gave up. No matter the injuries, no matter the odds. They showed incredible heart. What a great win tonight, @Eagles. #FlyEaglesFly," Joe Biden tweeted.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-13--Twitter mob comes for Chance the Rapper after pro-Kanye West 2020 tweets

One of the most prolific rappers in the world found himself in hot water after implying support for Kanye West 's 2020 presidential run .
Chicago-born Chance the Rapper asked his supporters on Monday if they were for the two-party political system and why they believed Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , would be a better choice than voting for West .
`` Are u more pro biden or anti ye and why ?
I get that you ’ ll want to reply that you ’ re just tryna 'get trump out ' but in this hypothetical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , can someone explain why Joe Biden would be better ?
? ''
he asked .
Chance , who is 27 years old and has won several Grammy Awards for his music , said he trusted West more than Biden and shared a video that West tweeted Sunday night , writing , `` Yall out here tryna convince me to vote for Biden .
Smfh . ''
Chance was met with derision and outrage as many users on Twitter accused him of not faithfully participating in the political process .
`` Ye made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , directly impacting the lives of Black and Brown women , '' wrote Abortion Stories founder Renee Bracey Sherman .
`` He is casting doubt on the medical system and vaccinations *during a pandemic* .
This isn ’ t a game , Chance .
Our healthcare isn ’ t a rapper ’ s social experiment . ''
The Libertarian Party , whose presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen has voiced support for Black Lives Matter , simply wrote , `` Hell No . ''
`` The POTUS is attacking Dr. Fauci , Cruella Betsy DeVos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans are banned from everywhere I 'd want to go , Chance the Rapper is promoting Kanye for POTUS because he loves his mother , and I literally ca n't take anymore , '' wrote Randi Mayem Singer , who wrote Mrs. Doubtfire .
`` Twitter break redux .
See ya . ''
West announced his intention to run for president under the new `` Birthday Party '' last week .

One of the most prolific rappers in the world found himself in hot water after implying support for Kanye West's 2020 presidential run.
Chicago-born Chance the Rapper asked his supporters on Monday if they were for the two-party political system and why they believed Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, would be a better choice than voting for West.
"Are u more pro biden or anti ye and why? I get that you’ll want to reply that you’re just tryna 'get trump out' but in this hypothetical scenario where you’re replacing Trump, can someone explain why Joe Biden would be better??" he asked.
Are u more pro biden or anti ye and why? I get that you’ll want to reply that you’re just tryna “get trump out” but in this hypothetical scenario where you’re replacing Trump, can someone explain why Joe Biden would be better?? — Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) July 13, 2020
Chance, who is 27 years old and has won several Grammy Awards for his music, said he trusted West more than Biden and shared a video that West tweeted Sunday night, writing, "Yall out here tryna convince me to vote for Biden. Smfh."
I finally got the answer now. I understand. Yall trust Biden more than yall trust Ye. I think I understand why, I just don’t feel the same way. — Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) July 13, 2020
And yall out here tryna convince me to vote for Biden. Smfh https://t.co/JgbGBmPQk5 — Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) July 13, 2020
Chance was met with derision and outrage as many users on Twitter accused him of not faithfully participating in the political process.
"Ye made headlines spreading white supremacist lies about abortion, directly impacting the lives of Black and Brown women," wrote Abortion Stories founder Renee Bracey Sherman. "He is casting doubt on the medical system and vaccinations *during a pandemic*. This isn’t a game, Chance. Our healthcare isn’t a rapper’s social experiment."
The Libertarian Party, whose presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen has voiced support for Black Lives Matter, simply wrote, "Hell No."
"The POTUS is attacking Dr. Fauci, Cruella Betsy DeVos is in charge of our kids, Americans are banned from everywhere I'd want to go, Chance the Rapper is promoting Kanye for POTUS because he loves his mother, and I literally can't take anymore," wrote Randi Mayem Singer, who wrote Mrs. Doubtfire. "Twitter break redux. See ya."
West announced his intention to run for president under the new "Birthday Party" last week.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-13--More than 100,000 mail-in ballots voided in California primary

California rejected 1.5 % of all mail-in ballots in its primary , raising questions about the accuracy and effectiveness of the voting system that has grown in popularity amid the coronavirus pandemic .
That percentage translates to more than 100,000 votes that election officials voided for the March 3 primary , according to data from the Associated Press .
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won the Super Tuesday contest with 35.97 % of the vote .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , now the presumptive Democratic nominee , came in second with 27.90 % .
The figure will surely give ammunition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the integrity of mail-in ballots , particularly as more and more states dramatically expand voter access due to concerns over spreading the coronavirus .
Nearly 7 million votes were cast in California 's Democratic primary , and 102,428 of those were rejected .
That made for the highest proportional amount in any state primary since 2014 and the highest in California since 2010 .
State officials say most of the ballots were rejected because they were received too late .
In order for a vote to be counted , it must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received within three days , according to California law .
According to state data , 70,330 ballots failed to be received in time .
Republicans have largely rejected calls to expand mail-in voting , citing instances of fraud or concerns about so-called `` ballot harvesting , '' the practice of when third-party volunteers collect ballots from voters .
Last month , Trump claimed that `` millions '' of mail-in ballots would be `` rigged '' because of interference by `` foreign countries . ''
A study from the Public Interest Legal Foundation released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million mail-in ballots have gone missing in the last decade , with `` absentee ballot fraud '' being the most common , according to the organization 's president , J. Christian Adams .
Earlier this month , an Atlanta family received a voter application for the family cat , which died 12 years ago .
Democrats at both the state level and Congress have put forward bills that would virtually allow all voters to participate in November 's election by absentee ballots .
Last week , Massachusetts Gov .
Charlie Baker , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow all eligible residents to vote in the fall with absentee ballots .
Some states , such as Washington , Oregon , and Colorado , already conduct their elections entirely through mail-in ballots .
Vice President Mike Pence told the Washington Examiner last week that the White House will `` continue to oppose efforts for a mass distribution of mailed ballots because we think it 's a potential for tremendous voter fraud . ''
`` I think virtually every state in the Union has an absentee ballot system where you can apply for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
`` And we 're going to have a great absentee ballot program in our campaign and urge people who choose to request a ballot to do so , but we 'll also continue to stand for the time-honored principle — one person , one vote .

California rejected 1.5% of all mail-in ballots in its primary, raising questions about the accuracy and effectiveness of the voting system that has grown in popularity amid the coronavirus pandemic.
That percentage translates to more than 100,000 votes that election officials voided for the March 3 primary, according to data from the Associated Press. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won the Super Tuesday contest with 35.97% of the vote. Former Vice President Joe Biden, now the presumptive Democratic nominee, came in second with 27.90%.
The figure will surely give ammunition to President Trump and GOP's concerns about the integrity of mail-in ballots, particularly as more and more states dramatically expand voter access due to concerns over spreading the coronavirus.
Nearly 7 million votes were cast in California's Democratic primary, and 102,428 of those were rejected. That made for the highest proportional amount in any state primary since 2014 and the highest in California since 2010.
State officials say most of the ballots were rejected because they were received too late. In order for a vote to be counted, it must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received within three days, according to California law. According to state data, 70,330 ballots failed to be received in time.
Republicans have largely rejected calls to expand mail-in voting, citing instances of fraud or concerns about so-called "ballot harvesting," the practice of when third-party volunteers collect ballots from voters.
Last month, Trump claimed that "millions" of mail-in ballots would be "rigged" because of interference by "foreign countries."
A study from the Public Interest Legal Foundation released in April found that more than 28 million mail-in ballots have gone missing in the last decade, with "absentee ballot fraud" being the most common, according to the organization's president, J. Christian Adams. Earlier this month, an Atlanta family received a voter application for the family cat, which died 12 years ago.
Democrats at both the state level and Congress have put forward bills that would virtually allow all voters to participate in November's election by absentee ballots. Last week, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed a law that will allow all eligible residents to vote in the fall with absentee ballots.
Some states, such as Washington, Oregon, and Colorado, already conduct their elections entirely through mail-in ballots.
Vice President Mike Pence told the Washington Examiner last week that the White House will "continue to oppose efforts for a mass distribution of mailed ballots because we think it's a potential for tremendous voter fraud."
"I think virtually every state in the Union has an absentee ballot system where you can apply for an absentee ballot mailed to your home," he said. "And we're going to have a great absentee ballot program in our campaign and urge people who choose to request a ballot to do so, but we'll also continue to stand for the time-honored principle — one person, one vote.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-13--Biden leads in race for Nebraska’s prized split electoral vote: Poll

Joe Biden is beating President Trump in Nebraska 's 2nd Congressional District , according to a new internal poll .
Biden , the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee , leads the White House incumbent in the district that covers Omaha , 51 % to 44 % , internal polling by GQR released Monday found .
Biden 's 7-percentage-point advantage puts him in a good stead to pick up at least one of Nebraska 's five electoral votes in November .
Nebraska and Maine are the only states in the Electoral College that are n't `` winner takes all . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ single electoral vote can make a difference in getting to a majority of 270 out of 538 .
In Nebraska , two votes are awarded to the statewide popular vote winner , while another three are apportioned to the winner of its respective congressional districts .
Trump swept the state in 2016 , as did 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney .
But four years earlier , eventual President Barack Obama was able to take one vote from 2008 GOP standard-bearer John McCain .
GQR conducted the poll for 2nd Congressional District Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberal nonprofit organization consultant who , for instance , endorses Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders 's `` Medicare for all '' proposal and has highlighted her own healthcare industry experience in her bids .
Last cycle , she lost her initial race against sitting Republican Rep. Don Bacon , a retired Air Force brigadier general first elected in 2016 , by only 2 points or about 5,000 votes .
She achieved that result without the full-throated support of House Democrats ' campaign arm .
Two years later , she 'll have their backing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Trump , Eastman 's trailing the incumbent in the fundraising stakes .
Bacon has $ 764,883 cash on hand to her $ 98,817 , financial documents disclosed in May reveal .
GQR surveyed 502 likely Nebraska voters between June 30 and July 5 for the poll .
Its findings have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.37 points .

Joe Biden is beating President Trump in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District, according to a new internal poll.
Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee, leads the White House incumbent in the district that covers Omaha, 51% to 44%, internal polling by GQR released Monday found.
Biden's 7-percentage-point advantage puts him in a good stead to pick up at least one of Nebraska's five electoral votes in November.
Nebraska and Maine are the only states in the Electoral College that aren't "winner takes all." And in a close election even a single electoral vote can make a difference in getting to a majority of 270 out of 538.
In Nebraska, two votes are awarded to the statewide popular vote winner, while another three are apportioned to the winner of its respective congressional districts. Trump swept the state in 2016, as did 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. But four years earlier, eventual President Barack Obama was able to take one vote from 2008 GOP standard-bearer John McCain.
GQR conducted the poll for 2nd Congressional District Democratic candidate Kara Eastman. She is a liberal nonprofit organization consultant who, for instance, endorses Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders's "Medicare for all" proposal and has highlighted her own healthcare industry experience in her bids.
Last cycle, she lost her initial race against sitting Republican Rep. Don Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general first elected in 2016, by only 2 points or about 5,000 votes. She achieved that result without the full-throated support of House Democrats' campaign arm. Two years later, she'll have their backing.
But despite spending the primary criticizing Bacon and Trump, Eastman's trailing the incumbent in the fundraising stakes. Bacon has $764,883 cash on hand to her $98,817, financial documents disclosed in May reveal.
GQR surveyed 502 likely Nebraska voters between June 30 and July 5 for the poll. Its findings have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.37 points.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-13--Trump super PAC to unleash $23M in Biden attacks ads

President Trump 's designated super PAC is planning a $ 23 million summer advertising buy in key 2020 battlegrounds to put a dent in the rising voter support for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
Biden leads Trump by 9 percentage points nationally in the RealClearPolitics average of recent polls , and he has built leads in the approximately dozen states that will determine the outcome in November .
To help the president reverse that trend , America First Action has purchased television time in four states — Arizona , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin — with plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vice president 's shortcomings .
The super PAC also plans to invest some of the $ 23 million in digital and direct mail .
The advertising is set to begin July 24 and run through Labor Day .
The states chosen for America First Action 's summer buy are a good indicator of where pro-Trump forces believe the president needs the most help as the election draws near .
“ The Trump campaign has done a terrific job of laying down their advertising strategy for the fall , so we are stepping up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ summer , ” America First Action President Brian O. Walsh said in a statement .
“ Hopefully , this provides some clarity on our next steps , gives the campaign the flexibility to deploy their extensive financial resources as they see fit , and helps define the choice in this election by keeping the focus on Joe Biden.
” The president 's super PAC plans to spend $ 7.5 million of the $ 23 million buy in Pennsylvania , with $ 5.6 million going to Wisconsin , $ 5.6 million deployed to Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in North Carolina .
Fifty-two percent of the funds are going to broadcast television , 18 % to cable television , 14 % to digital , and 14 % to direct mail and other advertising .
Direct mail has had an increased response rate during the coronavirus pandemic , GOP insiders say .

President Trump's designated super PAC is planning a $23 million summer advertising buy in key 2020 battlegrounds to put a dent in the rising voter support for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Biden leads Trump by 9 percentage points nationally in the RealClearPolitics average of recent polls, and he has built leads in the approximately dozen states that will determine the outcome in November. To help the president reverse that trend, America First Action has purchased television time in four states — Arizona, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — with plans to run spots focused on the former vice president's shortcomings. The super PAC also plans to invest some of the $23 million in digital and direct mail.
The advertising is set to begin July 24 and run through Labor Day. The states chosen for America First Action's summer buy are a good indicator of where pro-Trump forces believe the president needs the most help as the election draws near.
“The Trump campaign has done a terrific job of laying down their advertising strategy for the fall, so we are stepping up to help fill the gap in the summer,” America First Action President Brian O. Walsh said in a statement. “Hopefully, this provides some clarity on our next steps, gives the campaign the flexibility to deploy their extensive financial resources as they see fit, and helps define the choice in this election by keeping the focus on Joe Biden.”
The president's super PAC plans to spend $7.5 million of the $23 million buy in Pennsylvania, with $5.6 million going to Wisconsin, $5.6 million deployed to Arizona, and $4.5 million being invested in North Carolina. Fifty-two percent of the funds are going to broadcast television, 18% to cable television, 14% to digital, and 14% to direct mail and other advertising.
Direct mail has had an increased response rate during the coronavirus pandemic, GOP insiders say.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-14--Burn it all down: 'Never Trump' Lincoln Project wants to knock off Senate Republicans too

The Lincoln Project is defending a multimillion-dollar campaign to deliver Senate control to the Democrats , arguing that rebuilding the Republican Party is impossible without ditching President Trump ’ s “ enablers ” in Congress .
Installing a Democratic majority in the Senate , especially with Joe Biden in the White House , could lead to elimination of the legislative filibuster , facilitating enactment of a litany of long-sought-after liberal priorities .
But GOP insiders and former Republicans behind the Lincoln Project , a Never Trump group , say the rewards outweigh the risks , insisting that cleansing “ Trumpism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message that any affiliation with the president is a losing proposition .
“ We ’ ve always been clear about our mission : Removing Trump , Trumpism and his enablers , ” Lincoln Project spokesman Keith Edwards said Monday .
“ These people have violated every letter of their oaths , every iota of their consciences.
” But other Never Trump Republicans are critical of this effort .
They describe the Lincoln Project ’ s strategy as a “ burned to the ground ” approach that appears disinterested in the Republican Party ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group for being cavalier about the ramifications of putting Democrats in charge of the House , White House , the Senate , and by extension , Supreme Court nominations .
“ I sharply part with Lincoln going after GOP Senators , ” said Rob Stutzman , a Republican strategist in California who opposes the president .
“ I applaud their opposition to Trump , I think they ’ re in his head .
But they ’ re not really about trying to create a center-right GOP.
” The Lincoln Project is targeting at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ads and other campaign activities aiming to boost their Democratic challengers — more than enough to upend the GOP ’ s three-seat majority .
Among them are Republicans such as Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado who , philosophically and temperamentally , are the antithesis of Trump and represent the sort of conservative politician that Lincoln Project operatives claim they want back in charge of the party .
One veteran Republican operative supportive of the Lincoln Project ’ s efforts acknowledged the “ paradox ” of seeking the ouster of GOP senators who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ principles .
“ But unless you have a resounding defeat and prove that others can be affected by being on the Trump train , then I ’ m not sure there ’ s going to be a true opportunity to rebuild the Republican Party , ” this operative said .
A second Republican insider who backs the Lincoln Project ’ s bid to flip the Senate conceded Democrats might pass a laundry list of troubling legislation — nationalized healthcare , strict climate regulations , and tax increases , to name a few possibilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not punished for supporting Trump , this Republican insider worried , the 2024 GOP presidential primary might produce a slate of candidates who compete to be the next Trump .
“ We can never again let candidates believe that taking the Trump path will get him or her the Republican nomination , ” the Republican insider said .
The Lincoln Project was founded by a collection of prominent Republican operatives — some who have since left the party — including Rick Wilson , a GOP strategist in Florida ; Steve Schmidt , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2008 presidential campaign ; and George Conway , husband of Kellyanne Conway , a senior White House adviser .
The campaign to take down Senate Republicans launched after Trump was acquitted on two articles of impeachment approved by House Democrats .
Except for an “ aye ” vote from Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah , every Republican sided with Trump , prompting the Lincoln Project to move against the GOP Senate .
Only through the severe punishment of losing reelection , say the group and its supporters , will the consequences of supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unforgivable hit home and change the behavior of other Republican lawmakers moving forward .
But Republicans occasionally critical of the president and otherwise sympathetic to the Never Trump movement say the effort has exposed the Lincoln Project as a fraud .
“ Some of these groups are actually real Republicans and conservatives who are worried about the direction of the party , ” a GOP strategist said .
“ The Lincoln Project is just a phony storefront for Democrats.
” Jim Dornan , a veteran Republican operative , said there is a difference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capitulation ” to the Democrats proposed by the Lincoln Project .
“ It doesn ’ t square at all with being a conservative or a Republican at all , ” he said .
“ It sounds like the haters are not only determined to beat Trump , but they have completely lost their political and moral compasses and gone full-out loony liberal .
”

The Lincoln Project is defending a multimillion-dollar campaign to deliver Senate control to the Democrats, arguing that rebuilding the Republican Party is impossible without ditching President Trump’s “enablers” in Congress.
Installing a Democratic majority in the Senate, especially with Joe Biden in the White House, could lead to the elimination of the legislative filibuster, facilitating enactment of a litany of long-sought-after liberal priorities. But GOP insiders and former Republicans behind the Lincoln Project, a Never Trump group, say the rewards outweigh the risks, insisting that cleansing “Trumpism” from the party requires an unambiguous message that any affiliation with the president is a losing proposition.
“We’ve always been clear about our mission: Removing Trump, Trumpism and his enablers,” Lincoln Project spokesman Keith Edwards said Monday. “These people have violated every letter of their oaths, every iota of their consciences.”
But other Never Trump Republicans are critical of this effort. They describe the Lincoln Project’s strategy as a “burned to the ground” approach that appears disinterested in the Republican Party’s future. And they admonish the group for being cavalier about the ramifications of putting Democrats in charge of the House, White House, the Senate, and by extension, Supreme Court nominations.
“I sharply part with Lincoln going after GOP Senators,” said Rob Stutzman, a Republican strategist in California who opposes the president. “I applaud their opposition to Trump, I think they’re in his head. But they’re not really about trying to create a center-right GOP.”
The Lincoln Project is targeting at least six Republican Senate incumbents with attack ads and other campaign activities aiming to boost their Democratic challengers — more than enough to upend the GOP’s three-seat majority. Among them are Republicans such as Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado who, philosophically and temperamentally, are the antithesis of Trump and represent the sort of conservative politician that Lincoln Project operatives claim they want back in charge of the party.
One veteran Republican operative supportive of the Lincoln Project’s efforts acknowledged the “paradox” of seeking the ouster of GOP senators who have governed pragmatically and hewed to Reagan-era conservative principles. “But unless you have a resounding defeat and prove that others can be affected by being on the Trump train, then I’m not sure there’s going to be a true opportunity to rebuild the Republican Party,” this operative said.
A second Republican insider who backs the Lincoln Project’s bid to flip the Senate conceded Democrats might pass a laundry list of troubling legislation — nationalized healthcare, strict climate regulations, and tax increases, to name a few possibilities. But if Republicans in Congress are not punished for supporting Trump, this Republican insider worried, the 2024 GOP presidential primary might produce a slate of candidates who compete to be the next Trump.
“We can never again let candidates believe that taking the Trump path will get him or her the Republican nomination,” the Republican insider said.
The Lincoln Project was founded by a collection of prominent Republican operatives — some who have since left the party — including Rick Wilson, a GOP strategist in Florida; Steve Schmidt, the campaign manager for John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign; and George Conway, husband of Kellyanne Conway, a senior White House adviser.
The campaign to take down Senate Republicans launched after Trump was acquitted on two articles of impeachment approved by House Democrats.
Except for an “aye” vote from Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, every Republican sided with Trump, prompting the Lincoln Project to move against the GOP Senate. Only through the severe punishment of losing reelection, say the group and its supporters, will the consequences of supporting Trump through other myriad controversies deemed equally unforgivable hit home and change the behavior of other Republican lawmakers moving forward.
But Republicans occasionally critical of the president and otherwise sympathetic to the Never Trump movement say the effort has exposed the Lincoln Project as a fraud. “Some of these groups are actually real Republicans and conservatives who are worried about the direction of the party,” a GOP strategist said. “The Lincoln Project is just a phony storefront for Democrats.”
[OPINION: Republicans who try to defeat Senate Republicans aren’t really Republicans at all]
Jim Dornan, a veteran Republican operative, said there is a difference between opposing Trump and the “total capitulation” to the Democrats proposed by the Lincoln Project.
“It doesn’t square at all with being a conservative or a Republican at all,” he said. “It sounds like the haters are not only determined to beat Trump, but they have completely lost their political and moral compasses and gone full-out loony liberal.”