thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-21--New Trump ad seeks to scare seniors away from Joe Biden

President Trump is warning seniors their lives would be jeopardized with Joe Biden in the White House , claiming in a vivid campaign advertisement that criminals would commit home invasions with impunity because the presumptive Democratic nominee supports `` defunding '' the police .
The television spot , now airing nationally and in key battleground states , opens with an elderly white woman watching Fox News as host Sean Hannity accuses Biden of supporting liberal efforts to slash taxpayer funding for local law enforcement .
She then hears a noise at the door , and the camera shifts to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The visibly terrified woman dials 911 , only to hear a recording apologizing that `` there is no one here to answer your emergency call '' as the home invader physically attacks her .
“ Joe Biden has clearly stated that he would ‘ Yes !
Absolutely !
’ redirect funding away from police to other budget areas .
This is cutting , or defunding , the police by any definition , ” Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said in a statement .
Biden claims he opposes defunding the police or otherwise significantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted on Tuesday , Biden spokesman Andrew Bates flagged a CNN report that explained the former vice president 's position this way : He `` has repeatedly and explicitly opposed the idea of 'defunding the police , ' and he has proposed a $ 300 million increase in federal funding for community policing .
... Trump has himself proposed cuts to federal funding for community policing . ''
However , in interviews , Biden has suggested support for taking funds from local law enforcement , with the money funneled to social programs to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the responsibility for public safety .
The Trump campaign argues that this amounts to support for defunding the police .
The Trump campaign is in the middle of a major summer advertising buy across several critical states .
The president is fighting to come from behind against Biden , who has built a sizable lead nationally and substantial advantage in key battlegrounds .
This new ad , titled `` Break In , '' is the latest in a series seeking to puncture the growing support for Biden , who has been performing well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-propensity voters who often support Republicans .
The advertisement recalls a spot run by a Democratic group in 2011 that criticized former House Speaker Paul Ryan , then a rising Wisconsin Republican congressman , for proposing to overhaul Medicare .
In the ad , an actor representing Ryan pushes a smiling elderly woman in a wheelchair up a bucolic hill before throwing her off of a cliff as she tries to resist .

President Trump is warning seniors their lives would be jeopardized with Joe Biden in the White House, claiming in a vivid campaign advertisement that criminals would commit home invasions with impunity because the presumptive Democratic nominee supports "defunding" the police.
The television spot, now airing nationally and in key battleground states, opens with an elderly white woman watching Fox News as host Sean Hannity accuses Biden of supporting liberal efforts to slash taxpayer funding for local law enforcement. She then hears a noise at the door, and the camera shifts to a man dressed in black breaking in. The visibly terrified woman dials 911, only to hear a recording apologizing that "there is no one here to answer your emergency call" as the home invader physically attacks her.
“Joe Biden has clearly stated that he would ‘Yes! Absolutely!’ redirect funding away from police to other budget areas. This is cutting, or defunding, the police by any definition,” Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said in a statement.
Biden claims he opposes defunding the police or otherwise significantly reducing their funding. In a tweet posted on Tuesday, Biden spokesman Andrew Bates flagged a CNN report that explained the former vice president's position this way: He "has repeatedly and explicitly opposed the idea of 'defunding the police,' and he has proposed a $300 million increase in federal funding for community policing. ... Trump has himself proposed cuts to federal funding for community policing."
However, in interviews, Biden has suggested support for taking funds from local law enforcement, with the money funneled to social programs to enable other government agencies to share in the responsibility for public safety. The Trump campaign argues that this amounts to support for defunding the police.
The Trump campaign is in the middle of a major summer advertising buy across several critical states.
The president is fighting to come from behind against Biden, who has built a sizable lead nationally and substantial advantage in key battlegrounds. This new ad, titled "Break In," is the latest in a series seeking to puncture the growing support for Biden, who has been performing well in public opinion polls with seniors, high-propensity voters who often support Republicans.
The advertisement recalls a spot run by a Democratic group in 2011 that criticized former House Speaker Paul Ryan, then a rising Wisconsin Republican congressman, for proposing to overhaul Medicare. In the ad, an actor representing Ryan pushes a smiling elderly woman in a wheelchair up a bucolic hill before throwing her off of a cliff as she tries to resist.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-21--Kanye West submits signatures to appear on Illinois presidential ballot

Kanye West 's on-and-off-again presidential bid received a jolt of good news on Monday when campaign representatives filed more than 412 pages of signatures with the Illinois State Board of Elections .
The Chicago-born rapper , who has been mocked and maligned for his outside-the-box approach to campaigning , is attempting to file enough signatures required to appear on the ballot in a number of states ahead of the 2020 general election .
West , who has already qualified for ballot access in Oklahoma but failed to garner enough signatures to qualify in South Carolina , needs 2,500 signatures validated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if his name is going to appear on the state 's ballot in November .
The 412 sheets , which usually contain 10 signatures per page , should put him far past the amount required if all of the signatures are confirmed .
West is running an independent bid under the `` Birthday Party '' affiliation , and his outsider comments on abortion , slavery , and the Second Amendment have created a mixed response from voters , who are still unsure just how serious he is about the bid .
After a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused his wife , Kim Kardashian , of trying to get him committed to a mental institution after he openly discussed the birth of their daughter North at a campaign event in South Carolina , comedian Dave Chappelle and other friends flew out to West 's ranch in Wyoming to show support on Tuesday .

Kanye West's on-and-off-again presidential bid received a jolt of good news on Monday when campaign representatives filed more than 412 pages of signatures with the Illinois State Board of Elections.
The Chicago-born rapper, who has been mocked and maligned for his outside-the-box approach to campaigning, is attempting to file enough signatures required to appear on the ballot in a number of states ahead of the 2020 general election.
West, who has already qualified for ballot access in Oklahoma but failed to garner enough signatures to qualify in South Carolina, needs 2,500 signatures validated by the Illinois State Board of Elections if his name is going to appear on the state's ballot in November. The 412 sheets, which usually contain 10 signatures per page, should put him far past the amount required if all of the signatures are confirmed.
West is running an independent bid under the "Birthday Party" affiliation, and his outsider comments on abortion, slavery, and the Second Amendment have created a mixed response from voters, who are still unsure just how serious he is about the bid.
After a Monday night Twitter thread in which West accused his wife, Kim Kardashian, of trying to get him committed to a mental institution after he openly discussed the birth of their daughter North at a campaign event in South Carolina, comedian Dave Chappelle and other friends flew out to West's ranch in Wyoming to show support on Tuesday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-21--'He's quit on you': Biden ramps up attacks on Trump coronavirus response

Joe Biden elaborated on his economic plan to deal with the country 's rising unemployment through a new federal child care program in the wake of the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus .
The proposal came in between jabs at the Trump administration 's response to the pandemic .
“ The president is supposed to care .
To lead .
To take responsibility .
To never give up .
That ’ s what presidents are supposed to do , '' Biden said during his Tuesday afternoon remarks at an auditorium in New Castle , Delaware .
`` For all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy , he ’ s unable to explain how he ’ ll actually help working families hit the hardest . ''
Biden addressed the financial strain that individuals and families are facing in the wake of the economic damage caused by a dramatic reduction in employment and demand due to the coronavirus , outlining his plans to get millions of people back to work .
`` We 're in a child care emergency , and it did n't have to be this way .
That 's why I 'm calling on the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the equipment that are needed and get it to them now , '' he said , saying families need assistance in child care should employees start returning to work , even while many schools remain closed for the 2020-2021 academic year .
Biden said his plan , announced Tuesday with an estimated cost of $ 775 billion , would add 5 million jobs , with many in the caregiver and early education areas .
Other jobs would come from construction projects to fix and maintain public infrastructure .
`` The workers are ready @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These jobs can be filled now , allowing millions of workers , primarily women , to get back to work now , increasing the growth in GDP and family income . ''

Joe Biden elaborated on his economic plan to deal with the country's rising unemployment through a new federal child care program in the wake of the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus. The proposal came in between jabs at the Trump administration's response to the pandemic.
“The president is supposed to care. To lead. To take responsibility. To never give up. That’s what presidents are supposed to do," Biden said during his Tuesday afternoon remarks at an auditorium in New Castle, Delaware. "For all his bluster about his expertise on the economy, he’s unable to explain how he’ll actually help working families hit the hardest."
Biden addressed the financial strain that individuals and families are facing in the wake of the economic damage caused by a dramatic reduction in employment and demand due to the coronavirus, outlining his plans to get millions of people back to work.
"We're in a child care emergency, and it didn't have to be this way. That's why I'm calling on the president to get the facilities and resources and the equipment that are needed and get it to them now," he said, saying families need assistance in child care should employees start returning to work, even while many schools remain closed for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Biden said his plan, announced Tuesday with an estimated cost of $775 billion, would add 5 million jobs, with many in the caregiver and early education areas. Other jobs would come from construction projects to fix and maintain public infrastructure.
"The workers are ready now," Biden said. "These jobs can be filled now, allowing millions of workers, primarily women, to get back to work now, increasing the growth in GDP and family income."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-21--Two largest federal employee unions back Biden

Two of the largest federal public unions announced their endorsement of Joe Biden .
“ For AFGE members who are concerned about providing for themselves and their families , protecting their rights at work , being able to perform their job without undue political influence , and ensuring the security of their pay , benefits , and retirement , Joe Biden is the clear choice , '' the American Federation of Government Employees said in a statement Tuesday .
`` And for these reasons , AFGE is proud to endorse Joe Biden for president of the United States . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an endorsement from the National Treasury Employees Union , citing Biden 's support for public sector labor groups .
“ Federal employees are some of the most talented , hard-working and inspiring people I have ever met , worthy of the utmost dignity and respect , ” Biden said in a statement that thanked NTEU for its endorsement .
“ As president , I ’ ll ensure the federal government serves as a model for employers to treat their workers fairly .
I ’ ll restore worker ’ s rights to organize and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a voice in the workplace , work to provide consistent and regular pay increases and hold the line to protect their benefits.
” Both unions count roughly 900,000 members who work in Washington , D.C .
Neither group 's pledge of support to the former vice president comes as a surprise , given their longstanding ties to the Democratic Party .
Both unions were also involved in a 2018 lawsuit against the Trump administration 's executive order over efforts to hinder their collective bargaining ability .
A federal judge upheld the new rule @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden 's liberal climate policies feared by unions in Pennsylvania ]

Two of the largest federal public unions announced their endorsement of Joe Biden.
“For AFGE members who are concerned about providing for themselves and their families, protecting their rights at work, being able to perform their job without undue political influence, and ensuring the security of their pay, benefits, and retirement, Joe Biden is the clear choice," the American Federation of Government Employees said in a statement Tuesday. "And for these reasons, AFGE is proud to endorse Joe Biden for president of the United States."
That official mark of support coincided with an endorsement from the National Treasury Employees Union, citing Biden's support for public sector labor groups.
“Federal employees are some of the most talented, hard-working and inspiring people I have ever met, worthy of the utmost dignity and respect,” Biden said in a statement that thanked NTEU for its endorsement. “As president, I’ll ensure the federal government serves as a model for employers to treat their workers fairly. I’ll restore worker’s rights to organize and bargain collectively, making sure they have a voice in the workplace, work to provide consistent and regular pay increases and hold the line to protect their benefits.”
Both unions count roughly 900,000 members who work in Washington, D.C.
Neither group's pledge of support to the former vice president comes as a surprise, given their longstanding ties to the Democratic Party. Both unions were also involved in a 2018 lawsuit against the Trump administration's executive order over efforts to hinder their collective bargaining ability. A federal judge upheld the new rule in 2019.
[Also read: Biden's liberal climate policies feared by unions in Pennsylvania]


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-21--Biden to unveil $775B plan for child and elder care

Joe Biden will unveil a proposal Tuesday for $ 775 billion in federal spending to improve the caregiver workforce , with a focus on early childhood education and elder care .
Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , is slated to announce the plan at an event Tuesday afternoon in New Castle , Delaware .
The Biden campaign said the plan would lead to 3 million new caregiving and education jobs over the next 10 years .
The campaign offered few details about where the funding would come from , but it told reporters that Biden would roll back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than $ 400,000 annually and enforce tax compliance .
The plan also includes sending emergency funding for states and tribal governments to keep child care and elder care centers fully operational .
Affordable child care has become harder to find as so many centers have been made to shut down due to the economic restrictions placed on businesses earlier in the pandemic .
An April of more than 5,000 child care providers conducted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children found that nearly half of all child care facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strains brought about by the pandemic .
The Center for American Progress , a left-leaning public policy research organization , in April that the pandemic could cause about 4.5 million child care slots to be lost for good .
Essential workers , such as healthcare providers in hospitals who could not work from home , have faced difficulty finding childcare as countless centers have shut down .
As businesses begin to reopen , the difficulty of accessing child care services may keep parents from being able to return to work .
Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elder care system , which has come under fire as new reporting comes out about widespread coronavirus transmission in nursing homes .
His plan would allocate $ 450 billion to be devoted to elderly care and to creating about 1.5 million jobs in caregiving and community healthcare .
Biden also plans to eliminate the waiting list of about 800,000 people seeking community- and home-based care .
The remaining $ 325 billion included in Biden ’ s plan is intended to make child care more affordable for families by providing access to free pre-kindergarten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommendation generated from a with Sen. Bernie Sanders and his allies .
An increase in the number of available child care slots would create 1.5 million new child care and early childhood education jobs , according to the campaign .
Child care workers would get boosts in pay and benefits .
Biden ’ s plan would also expand subsidies to give kids better access to after-school programs and summer activities .
It would also provide avenues that parents studying at community colleges could take to access affordable child care .
Low- and middle-income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 8,000 in tax credits per child to help pay for child care .
Higher-income families would be eligible for partial credit .

Joe Biden will unveil a proposal Tuesday for $775 billion in federal spending to improve the caregiver workforce, with a focus on early childhood education and elder care.
Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is slated to announce the plan at an event Tuesday afternoon in New Castle, Delaware. The Biden campaign said the plan would lead to 3 million new caregiving and education jobs over the next 10 years.
The campaign offered few details about where the funding would come from, but it told reporters that Biden would roll back tax breaks for real estate investors making more than $400,000 annually and enforce tax compliance.
The plan also includes sending emergency funding for states and tribal governments to keep child care and elder care centers fully operational. Affordable child care has become harder to find as so many centers have been made to shut down due to the economic restrictions placed on businesses earlier in the pandemic.
An April survey of more than 5,000 child care providers conducted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children found that nearly half of all child care facilities have completely shut down due to economic strains brought about by the pandemic. The Center for American Progress, a left-leaning public policy research organization, reported in April that the pandemic could cause about 4.5 million child care slots to be lost for good.
Essential workers, such as healthcare providers in hospitals who could not work from home, have faced difficulty finding childcare as countless centers have shut down. As businesses begin to reopen, the difficulty of accessing child care services may keep parents from being able to return to work.
Biden’s proposal also seeks to reform the elder care system, which has come under fire as new reporting comes out about widespread coronavirus transmission in nursing homes. His plan would allocate $450 billion to be devoted to elderly care and to creating about 1.5 million jobs in caregiving and community healthcare. Biden also plans to eliminate the waiting list of about 800,000 people seeking community- and home-based care.
The remaining $325 billion included in Biden’s plan is intended to make child care more affordable for families by providing access to free pre-kindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-olds, a recommendation generated from a joint policy task force with Sen. Bernie Sanders and his allies. An increase in the number of available child care slots would create 1.5 million new child care and early childhood education jobs, according to the campaign.
Child care workers would get boosts in pay and benefits. Biden’s plan would also expand subsidies to give kids better access to after-school programs and summer activities. It would also provide avenues that parents studying at community colleges could take to access affordable child care.
Low- and middle-income families would be offered up to $8,000 in tax credits per child to help pay for child care. Higher-income families would be eligible for partial credit.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-21--DCCC war chest dwarfs NRCC by $33M as Democrats position to hold majority

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has amassed a $ 94 million war chest and led the National Republican Congressional Committee by a massive $ 33 million in cash on hand as of June 30 , positioning Democrats to withstand a vigorous fall challenge from the GOP in the battle for House control .
The DCCC raised $ 17 million in June , capping a second-quarter fundraising period in which the House Democratic campaign arm collected $ 39.3 million and boosted an existing cash lead over the NRCC .
The House Republican campaign arm raised a healthy $ 13.6 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fundraising for April , May , and June , $ 35.5 million , fell short of the DCCC 's total .
`` House Democrats are on offense , and our grassroots fundraising puts Republicans even further back on their heels , '' DCCC spokesman Robyn Patterson said in a statement .
Two years ago , Democrats captured the House majority in a 40-seat swing on the strength of a suburban repudiation of President Trump .
But many of the freshman Democrats who helped their party win control of the House for the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carried in 2016 , and Republicans are confident that there are enough offensive opportunities for them to reclaim the speaker 's gavel , even with presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden accruing a sizable lead over Trump in public opinion polls .
The party recently flipped a Democratic-controlled House seat in Southern California .
And Congressional Leadership Fund , the super PAC aligned with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , raised $ 16 million in June after declining to fundraise for most of the second quarter due to the coronavirus .
The group 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June 30 , and House race polls it has commissioned show Republican challengers competitive or ahead in targeted districts held by freshman Democrats .
However , money is expected to be a major stumbling block for the GOP .
In addition to the DCCC 's financial prowess , Democratic candidates in key races also are outraising their Republican counterparts .
According to information compiled by the DCCC , 16 Democratic challengers had more cash in the bank at the end of the second quarter than did the GOP incumbents they are running against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significantly larger war chests than their Republican challengers , the DCCC said .
A spokesman for the NRCC did not respond to request for comment Tuesday morning .

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has amassed a $94 million war chest and led the National Republican Congressional Committee by a massive $33 million in cash on hand as of June 30, positioning Democrats to withstand a vigorous fall challenge from the GOP in the battle for House control.
The DCCC raised $17 million in June, capping a second-quarter fundraising period in which the House Democratic campaign arm collected $39.3 million and boosted an existing cash lead over the NRCC. The House Republican campaign arm raised a healthy $13.6 million in June. But the NRCC's overall fundraising for April, May, and June, $35.5 million, fell short of the DCCC's total.
"House Democrats are on offense, and our grassroots fundraising puts Republicans even further back on their heels," DCCC spokesman Robyn Patterson said in a statement.
Two years ago, Democrats captured the House majority in a 40-seat swing on the strength of a suburban repudiation of President Trump. But many of the freshman Democrats who helped their party win control of the House for the first time in eight years represent districts Trump carried in 2016, and Republicans are confident that there are enough offensive opportunities for them to reclaim the speaker's gavel, even with presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden accruing a sizable lead over Trump in public opinion polls.
Some recent developments have encouraged House Republicans.
The party recently flipped a Democratic-controlled House seat in Southern California. And Congressional Leadership Fund, the super PAC aligned with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, raised $16 million in June after declining to fundraise for most of the second quarter due to the coronavirus. The group's cash-on-hand reached $50.8 million as of June 30, and House race polls it has commissioned show Republican challengers competitive or ahead in targeted districts held by freshman Democrats.
However, money is expected to be a major stumbling block for the GOP. In addition to the DCCC's financial prowess, Democratic candidates in key races also are outraising their Republican counterparts. According to information compiled by the DCCC, 16 Democratic challengers had more cash in the bank at the end of the second quarter than did the GOP incumbents they are running against.
Vulnerable House Democrats also have built significantly larger war chests than their Republican challengers, the DCCC said. A spokesman for the NRCC did not respond to request for comment Tuesday morning.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-22--Trump raising expectations and then disappointing by touting events that fall short

If the Republican National Convention ends up being noticeably scaled back , President Trump runs the risk of raising expectations yet again about his public campaign events and then failing to deliver .
Trump wants to move past the months of coronavirus lockdowns and return to traditional campaigning , especially his freewheeling “ Make America Great Again ” rallies , but the virus hasn ’ t cooperated .
The GOP convention was moved from Charlotte , North Carolina , after state and local authorities couldn ’ t guarantee it would be allowed to proceed as a live , mass attendance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar problems with Jacksonville , Florida , officials as COVID-19 cases spike in the Sunshine State with a little over a month to go before Trump ’ s renomination .
The Republican National Committee on Tuesday poured cold water on reports it would be open to a largely virtual convention like the Democrats are planning in Milwaukee .
“ The RNC continues to work closely with local leadership in Jacksonville on planning for the convention , including on health and security measures , and the Department of Justice is in the process of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grant , ” said RNC national press secretary Mani Merritt .
“ Jacksonville has accommodated upwards of 70,000 people for football games and other events , and we are confident in state , local and federal officials to be able to ensure a safe event for our attendees.
” The Trump campaign referred inquiries to the RNC .
But the convention contretemps comes on the heels of other post-coronavirus Trump events that were hyped and then either didn ’ t happen or underperformed expectations .
After the campaign touted a million tickets requested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oklahoma , featured empty seats and failed to serve as the promised relaunch of Trump ’ s reelection bid .
Campaign manager Brad Parscale and chief operating officer Michael Glassner were subsequently moved into other roles and replaced by Bill Stepien and Jeff DeWit , respectively .
A planned rally for Trump-endorsed Alabama Republican Senate candidate Tommy Tuberville did not happen , though Tuberville easily won his primary with over 60 % of the vote .
Neither did the Trump rally in New Hampshire that was supposed to replace it .
The campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In addition to deflating the base , the new pandemic campaign terrain threatens to move Trump out of his comfort zone as he is once again maneuvered into coping with the reality of rather than MAGA rallies and selling the “ great American comeback.
” The president has fallen behind Democratic challenger Joe Biden by 8.6 points in the RealClearPolitics national polling average and is behind in most of the battleground states .
“ Republicans have got to work on energizing the base , and at the same time , appeal to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally in a swing state will bring that energy , ” said GOP strategist Jon Gilmore .
“ That is no longer a reality in the coronavirus environment .
My data as a Republican pollster bears that out .
So how do we win ?
We ’ ve got to have disciplined , effective messaging that resonates with the American people and reach them in their living rooms and at the kitchen table.
” Not everyone is concerned about Jacksonville .
“ I think the only people who care about conventions these days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them and the people who actually go to them and get to party for a week .
And frankly , an incumbent 's convention is a snooze for most people , I believe , ” said a second Republican strategist .
“ Trump should and can give a speech outlining his vision for the next four years anytime he wants to , and maybe without the crowd there , he 'll let up on what people dislike most about him — insults and bullying — and actually talk about the issues for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is meant to offer a series of contrasts with the Democrats .
It would reinforce Trump ’ s argument that a return to normal is on the way and that he hasn ’ t bungled the federal coronavirus response as badly as Democrats and the media claim .
It would give Trump an opportunity to show a national audience he remains more energetic than his rival , “ Sleepy Joe.
” And it would make it easier for him to continue to push for the reopening of everything from businesses and churches to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to attend their own convention .
The Republican National Convention is currently scheduled for Aug. 24-27 .

If the Republican National Convention ends up being noticeably scaled back, President Trump runs the risk of raising expectations yet again about his public campaign events and then failing to deliver.
Trump wants to move past the months of coronavirus lockdowns and return to traditional campaigning, especially his freewheeling “Make America Great Again” rallies, but the virus hasn’t cooperated. The GOP convention was moved from Charlotte, North Carolina, after state and local authorities couldn’t guarantee it would be allowed to proceed as a live, mass attendance event. Now, it is encountering similar problems with Jacksonville, Florida, officials as COVID-19 cases spike in the Sunshine State with a little over a month to go before Trump’s renomination.
The Republican National Committee on Tuesday poured cold water on reports it would be open to a largely virtual convention like the Democrats are planning in Milwaukee. “The RNC continues to work closely with local leadership in Jacksonville on planning for the convention, including on health and security measures, and the Department of Justice is in the process of allocating millions of dollars in a safety grant,” said RNC national press secretary Mani Merritt. “Jacksonville has accommodated upwards of 70,000 people for football games and other events, and we are confident in state, local and federal officials to be able to ensure a safe event for our attendees.” The Trump campaign referred inquiries to the RNC.
But the convention contretemps comes on the heels of other post-coronavirus Trump events that were hyped and then either didn’t happen or underperformed expectations. After the campaign touted a million tickets requested, a June rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, featured empty seats and failed to serve as the promised relaunch of Trump’s reelection bid. Campaign manager Brad Parscale and chief operating officer Michael Glassner were subsequently moved into other roles and replaced by Bill Stepien and Jeff DeWit, respectively.
A planned rally for Trump-endorsed Alabama Republican Senate candidate Tommy Tuberville did not happen, though Tuberville easily won his primary with over 60% of the vote. Neither did the Trump rally in New Hampshire that was supposed to replace it. The campaign cited weather concerns when scrapping the event.
In addition to deflating the base, the new pandemic campaign terrain threatens to move Trump out of his comfort zone as he is once again maneuvered into coping with the reality of public fears of the coronavirus rather than MAGA rallies and selling the “great American comeback.” The president has fallen behind Democratic challenger Joe Biden by 8.6 points in the RealClearPolitics national polling average and is behind in most of the battleground states.
“Republicans have got to work on energizing the base, and at the same time, appeal to independents and moderates. Typically, a rally in a swing state will bring that energy,” said GOP strategist Jon Gilmore. “That is no longer a reality in the coronavirus environment. My data as a Republican pollster bears that out. So how do we win? We’ve got to have disciplined, effective messaging that resonates with the American people and reach them in their living rooms and at the kitchen table.”
Not everyone is concerned about Jacksonville. “I think the only people who care about conventions these days are politicians who think they benefit from them and the people who actually go to them and get to party for a week. And frankly, an incumbent's convention is a snooze for most people, I believe,” said a second Republican strategist. “Trump should and can give a speech outlining his vision for the next four years anytime he wants to, and maybe without the crowd there, he'll let up on what people dislike most about him — insults and bullying — and actually talk about the issues for a change.”
Still, a live convention is meant to offer a series of contrasts with the Democrats. It would reinforce Trump’s argument that a return to normal is on the way and that he hasn’t bungled the federal coronavirus response as badly as Democrats and the media claim. It would give Trump an opportunity to show a national audience he remains more energetic than his rival, “Sleepy Joe.” And it would make it easier for him to continue to push for the reopening of everything from businesses and churches to the public schools if Republicans felt safe enough to attend their own convention.
The Republican National Convention is currently scheduled for Aug. 24-27.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-22--Just weeks until Biden announces his VP pick. Here's who’s on top

Just weeks remain until Joe Biden announces his running mate , and more than a half-dozen women are top contenders in his search .
The decision has the potential not only to define his candidacy and the tone of the Democratic ticket heading into the November election but make a statement about the direction of the Democratic Party and set up a front-runner for the presidency in 2024 or 2028 should he be elected .
Biden , who said in a May fundraiser that he expects to ahead of the Aug. 17-20 Democratic National Convention , gave a clue on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on his list .
MSNBC host Joy Reid asked Biden whether he would commit to picking a black woman to be on the ticket — a common question for him in the wake of the nationwide race and policing protests and riots that swept the country in June .
`` I am not committed to naming any but the people I 've named , ” Biden said .
But instead of repeating his frequent line that more than one black woman is being considered , : “ Among them , there are four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black women who have been rumored to be on Biden ’ s shortlist in recent weeks , the question is who has been eliminated from his list .
Biden has given a few other clues about what he is looking for in his running mate , who he pledged will be a woman .
The pick must be capable and able to assume the presidency in the event he is unable to — “ I ’ m an old guy , ” the 77-year-old put it in January — and he prefers a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the national media .
Biden wants to be “ simpatico ” with his pick “ both in terms of personality as well as substance '' — though as he has in his policy positions , that requirement could be less restrictive of ideology than it seemed a few months ago .
Here are nine top contenders from Biden ’ s rumored VP shortlist : Pro : The relative newcomer to the national stage has been the favorite potential running mates among voters even as the Democratic presidential primary was just getting started .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharp blow in congressional hearings and television interviews , the 55-year-old could act as an attack dog on the ticket , and the prospect of a woman of Jamaican and Indian descent in the White House would energize voters .
Con : Harris ’ s sharp June 2019 Democratic debate attack on Biden for working with segregationist senators in the 1970s to oppose federally mandated busing .
Some of her prosecutorial decisions as California ’ s attorney general on policing and marijuana could be lines of attack .
Pro : As a double @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Duckworth , 52 , to Biden ’ s ticket .
Attacks from Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Duckworth questioning her patriotism helped raise her national profile and showed that she will fight back when attacked .
Con : Carlson attacked Duckworth because of a stumble other Republicans will exploit : She expressed openness to discussions about tearing down statues of George Washington .
Her stumble on the national stage and being relatively unknown nationally poses liabilities should she make the Biden ticket .
Pro : The 60-year-old first-term governor and former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New Mexico to slow the spread of the coronavirus , bolstering her executive credentials .
As the only Latina woman on Biden ’ s shortlist , she has the potential to energize Hispanic and Latino voters , a demographic that Biden struggles with .
Con : Lujan Grisham has little national name recognition , and she faced criticism for allegedly asking a jewelry store to open for her despite being shut down .
She could also face attacks for joining the campaign rather than governing in the midst of the coronavirus crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she would help Biden bridge ideological divides and energize supporters of her and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders .
The left-wing firebrand has endured the political spotlight and undoubtedly has the national experience necessary to serve competently in the White House .
Con : While she would add gender diversity to the ticket , the 71-year-old is in the same age bracket as Biden and also white , which could disappoint some voters .
President Trump ’ s campaign would undoubtedly mount unrelenting attacks on her past identification as a Native American and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Native American ancestor six to 10 generations back .
Biden ’ s may appease that wing of voters enough to cast a ballot for the Biden ticket without Warren ’ s name on it .
And he could worry that ideological divides with Warren , who campaigned for president on a far-left platform , could jeopardize his authority with her as his vice president .
Pro : Having worked in the Obama White House with Rice , Biden knows her and her policy priorities well , and she is the only black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has vast amounts of experience in foreign policy , an important area to Biden , outshining the rest of the shortlist in that area .
Con : Picking Rice comes with and fueling “ Obamagate ” arguments from Trump that the two , among others in the Obama administration , conspired to harm the incoming president by launching what he says were politically motivated investigations .
Picking Rice could also disappoint voters by signaling that Biden will return the White House to an establishment mode of governance .
Pro : Demings ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uprising about race relations and policing : The 63-year-old was the first black woman to be Orlando ’ s chief of police and could help Biden speak with authority on policing and race issues .
Con : As with any police chief , there could be controversial aspects of Demings ’ s career brought to the limelight .
Her lack of statewide experience and low national profile leaves questions about whether she is qualified enough to be vice president .
Pro : Offering retorts to Georgia ’ s Republican governor on cable news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city has and shown that she can be a strong executive voice .
The black mayor ’ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic in the city has allowed her to flex her executive muscles .
Con : Having served no higher office than mayor , significant doubts about Bottoms ’ s White House qualifications remain .
Pro : As the head of the Congressional Black Caucus who has long worked on police reform issues , Bass , 66 , would add a clear recognition of the cultural shift around policing and race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She is an experienced politician and is unlikely to offend Biden ’ s left-of-center sensibilities , having brushed off calls to defund or eliminate police departments .
Con : Bass has a low national profile and does not add diversity in terms of her age range .
She has also signaled that she is focused on legislative priorities .
As with Demings , having attained no statewide or executive office could call into question whether she could assume the presidency .
Pro : The youthful Michigan governor has already in the wake of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the coronavirus pandemic .
Whitmer , 48 , provided contrast with Trump and flexed executive power by implementing strict social distancing and mask-wearing orders .
As one of four national co-chairs of Biden ’ s campaign , she is likely to be in line with him on policy and style , and there is a possibility that she could help push the swing state in Biden ’ s direction should she be on the ticket .
Con : Whitmer has no federal experience and has held her current office for only two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her capacity to assume the presidency .
And like Lujan Grisham , she could have baggage from leading her state through the coronavirus pandemic and be accused of abandoning it during a crisis .
She also adds no racial diversity to the ticket .

Just weeks remain until Joe Biden announces his running mate, and more than a half-dozen women are top contenders in his search.
The decision has the potential not only to define his candidacy and the tone of the Democratic ticket heading into the November election but make a statement about the direction of the Democratic Party and set up a front-runner for the presidency in 2024 or 2028 should he be elected.
Biden, who said in a May fundraiser that he expects to announce his vice presidential pick around Aug. 1 ahead of the Aug. 17-20 Democratic National Convention, gave a clue on Monday into some of the top contenders on his list.
MSNBC host Joy Reid asked Biden whether he would commit to picking a black woman to be on the ticket — a common question for him in the wake of the nationwide race and policing protests and riots that swept the country in June.
"I am not committed to naming any but the people I've named,” Biden said. But instead of repeating his frequent line that more than one black woman is being considered, he provided a specific number : “Among them, there are four black women.”
With more than four black women who have been rumored to be on Biden’s shortlist in recent weeks, the question is who has been eliminated from his list.
Biden has given a few other clues about what he is looking for in his running mate, who he pledged will be a woman.
The pick must be capable and able to assume the presidency in the event he is unable to — “I’m an old guy,” the 77-year-old put it in January — and he prefers a candidate who has already been vetted by the national media. Biden wants to be “simpatico” with his pick “both in terms of personality as well as substance" — though as he has lurched left in his policy positions, that requirement could be less restrictive of ideology than it seemed a few months ago.
Here are nine top contenders from Biden’s rumored VP shortlist:
1. California Sen. Kamala Harris
Pro: The relative newcomer to the national stage has been the favorite potential running mates among voters even as the Democratic presidential primary was just getting started . An eloquent speaker who can land a sharp blow in congressional hearings and television interviews, the 55-year-old could act as an attack dog on the ticket, and the prospect of a woman of Jamaican and Indian descent in the White House would energize voters.
Con: Harris’s sharp June 2019 Democratic debate attack on Biden for working with segregationist senators in the 1970s to oppose federally mandated busing personally bruised the Biden family . Some of her prosecutorial decisions as California’s attorney general on policing and marijuana could be lines of attack.
2. Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth
Pro: As a double amputee Iraq War veteran of Thai descent, Duckworth, 52, would add much diversity to Biden’s ticket. Attacks from Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Duckworth questioning her patriotism helped raise her national profile and showed that she will fight back when attacked.
Con: Carlson attacked Duckworth because of a stumble other Republicans will exploit: She expressed openness to discussions about tearing down statues of George Washington. Her stumble on the national stage and being relatively unknown nationally poses liabilities should she make the Biden ticket.
3. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
Pro: The 60-year-old first-term governor and former congresswoman has put strict policies in place in New Mexico to slow the spread of the coronavirus, bolstering her executive credentials. As the only Latina woman on Biden’s shortlist , she has the potential to energize Hispanic and Latino voters, a demographic that Biden struggles with.
Con: Lujan Grisham has little national name recognition, and she faced criticism for allegedly asking a jewelry store to open for her despite being shut down . She could also face attacks for joining the campaign rather than governing in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.
4. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Pro: Advocates of Warren argue that she would help Biden bridge ideological divides and energize supporters of her and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders . The left-wing firebrand has endured the political spotlight and undoubtedly has the national experience necessary to serve competently in the White House.
Con: While she would add gender diversity to the ticket, the 71-year-old is in the same age bracket as Biden and also white, which could disappoint some voters. President Trump’s campaign would undoubtedly mount unrelenting attacks on her past identification as a Native American and her DNA test that showed she had a Native American ancestor six to 10 generations back.
Biden’s work with the Sanders team crafting policies may appease that wing of voters enough to cast a ballot for the Biden ticket without Warren’s name on it. And he could worry that ideological divides with Warren, who campaigned for president on a far-left platform, could jeopardize his authority with her as his vice president.
5. Former U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice
Pro: Having worked in the Obama White House with Rice, Biden knows her and her policy priorities well, and she is the only black woman on his shortlist. The 55-year-old has vast amounts of experience in foreign policy, an important area to Biden, outshining the rest of the shortlist in that area.
Con: Picking Rice comes with re-litigating the Benghazi scandal and fueling “Obamagate” arguments from Trump that the two, among others in the Obama administration, conspired to harm the incoming president by launching what he says were politically motivated investigations. Picking Rice could also disappoint voters by signaling that Biden will return the White House to an establishment mode of governance.
6. Florida Rep. Val Demings
Pro: Demings’s resume looks tailor-made to address the political uprising about race relations and policing: The 63-year-old was the first black woman to be Orlando’s chief of police and could help Biden speak with authority on policing and race issues.
Con: As with any police chief, there could be controversial aspects of Demings’s career brought to the limelight. Her lack of statewide experience and low national profile leaves questions about whether she is qualified enough to be vice president.
7. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
Pro: Offering retorts to Georgia’s Republican governor on cable news and scolding vandals and rioters for destroying the city has bumped the 50-year-old mayor’s national profile and shown that she can be a strong executive voice. The black mayor’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic in the city has allowed her to flex her executive muscles.
Con: Having served no higher office than mayor, significant doubts about Bottoms’s White House qualifications remain.
8. California Rep. Karen Bass
Pro: As the head of the Congressional Black Caucus who has long worked on police reform issues, Bass, 66, would add a clear recognition of the cultural shift around policing and race relations to Biden’s ticket . She is an experienced politician and is unlikely to offend Biden’s left-of-center sensibilities, having brushed off calls to defund or eliminate police departments.
Con: Bass has a low national profile and does not add diversity in terms of her age range. She has also signaled that she is focused on legislative priorities. As with Demings, having attained no statewide or executive office could call into question whether she could assume the presidency.
9. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Pro: The youthful Michigan governor has already earned national media attention in the wake of the state being hit hard and early in the coronavirus pandemic. Whitmer, 48, provided contrast with Trump and flexed executive power by implementing strict social distancing and mask-wearing orders. As one of four national co-chairs of Biden’s campaign, she is likely to be in line with him on policy and style, and there is a possibility that she could help push the swing state in Biden’s direction should she be on the ticket.
Con: Whitmer has no federal experience and has held her current office for only two years, knocking down some points for her capacity to assume the presidency. And like Lujan Grisham, she could have baggage from leading her state through the coronavirus pandemic and be accused of abandoning it during a crisis. She also adds no racial diversity to the ticket.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-22--Jews back Biden even as anti-Semitism rears its head on the Left

President Trump is headed for a drubbing from Jewish voters this fall even as the Democratic Party ’ s support for Israel wanes and elements of the liberal base flirt with anti-Semitism .
Just recently , Democratic New York Mayor Bill de Blasio scolded Orthodox Jews for defying regulations against mass gatherings during the coronavirus , singling them out among many communities who did so .
And in Washington , Black Lives Matter protesters chanted slogans critical of Israel while marching through Washington .
Trump ’ s first term is littered with plenty more examples of anti-Israel sentiment and borderline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point to leaders of the Women ’ s March organization , some of whom have made anti-Semitic statements and associated with anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan — as well as politically charged comments made by Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar .
And they cite past efforts to change the Democratic Party ’ s platform to diminish U.S. support for Israel and support among some Democrats for a global boycott and divestment from Israel that could devastate its economy .
But American Jews ’ broad support for the Democrats continues , with presumptive nominee Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s share of their votes in November .
This is despite the president ’ s remarkably pro-Israel agenda , amid escalating demands from grassroots liberals and some Democratic lawmakers for the United States to end decades of military aid to Jerusalem and make American foreign policy more favorable toward the Palestinians .
Republicans blame Trump ’ s provocative personality and combative social media presence for overshadowing his accomplishments and shielding Democrats from blowback .
“ People love the kosher sausage but don ’ t care for how the kosher sausage is made , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican Jewish Coalition , told the Washington Examiner this week .
Trump won 23 % of Jewish voters in 2016 , a figure that plummeted to 17 % for Republican candidates in midterm elections two years later .
Brooks is convinced Trump will do better this year , pointing to his record on foreign and domestic policy .
Trump moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and pulled Washington out of the Iran deal .
In territorial and security disputes with the Palestinians and terrorist groups operating on Israel ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jerusalem , and he protects the stalwart American ally from being penalized by the United Nations .
Brooks said he expects Jewish voters to reward Trump for his stewardship of the economy .
To make it so , the RJC is investing $ 10 million to woo Jewish voters in about a half-dozen key state micro battlegrounds — South Florida , Cleveland , Philadelphia and surrounding counties , Pittsburgh , suburban Phoenix , and suburban Atlanta .
But prominent Jewish Republicans recognize Trump ’ s personal conduct poses obstacles .
During an RJC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the panelists that Brooks deliberately chose to air dealt with the challenge of convincing Jewish voters inclined toward Trump ’ s agenda but who resist supporting him because of his behavior .
“ I do understand there are some women who have issues with the tone of the president or the tweeting of the president or the style of this president , ” said former U.N .
Ambassador Nikki Haley , who was joined on the RJC livestream by talk radio host Mark Levin and former Minnesota Sen .
Norm Coleman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might have a nicer way of talking , but he won ’ t have the results that President Trump has had , ” she said .
Jewish Republicans believe hostility to Israel among Democrats and liberal activists over the last decade offers Trump a unique opportunity .
Mark Mellman , a veteran Democratic pollster , agrees pursuing an anti-Israel agenda risks a voter rebuke and regularly warns Democrats against allowing this line of thinking to grow roots inside the party .
In a poll he conducted this month for Democratic Majority for Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of voters nationally and 68 % of voters in battleground states describe themselves as “ pro-Israel , '' with 72 % of Democratic voters describing Israel as a strong ally , and 59 % saying the U.S. relationship with the Jewish state is beneficial .
Additionally , Mellman ’ s poll found liberal Democratic candidates in battlegrounds that are pro-Israel do 17 percentage points better against Republicans than Democrats who are anti-Israel .
But this is not a problem Biden has to worry about , Mellman said , explaining the former vice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for Israel ’ s security and his decision to quash attempts to reduce support for the Jewish state in the new Democratic Party platform that will be unveiled as a part of his nomination .
“ Jews are very likely to vote for Joe Biden over Donald Trump because there is tremendous antipathy to Trump and what he stands for , ” Mellman said .
“ There ’ s an extra high level of trust in Biden on these issues.
” In a campaign fact sheet , Biden pledges to oppose the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military aid for Israel , and fight the domestic rise in anti-Semitism .

President Trump is headed for a drubbing from Jewish voters this fall even as the Democratic Party’s support for Israel wanes and elements of the liberal base flirt with anti-Semitism.
Just recently, Democratic New York Mayor Bill de Blasio scolded Orthodox Jews for defying regulations against mass gatherings during the coronavirus, singling them out among many communities that did so. And in Washington, Black Lives Matter protesters chanted slogans critical of Israel while marching. Trump’s first term is littered with plenty more examples of anti-Israel sentiment and borderline anti-Semitism on the Left.
Republicans also point to leaders of the Women’s March organization, some of whom have made anti-Semitic statements and associated with anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan — as well as politically charged comments made by Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar.
And they cite past efforts to change the Democratic Party’s platform to diminish U.S. support for Israel and support among some Democrats for a global boycott and divestment from Israel that could devastate its economy.
But American Jews’ broad support for the Democrats continues, with presumptive nominee Joe Biden on track to receive the lion’s share of their votes in November. This is despite the president’s remarkably pro-Israel agenda, amid escalating demands from grassroots liberals and some Democratic lawmakers for the United States to end decades of military aid to Jerusalem and make American foreign policy more favorable toward the Palestinians.
Republicans blame Trump’s provocative personality and combative social media presence for overshadowing his accomplishments and shielding Democrats from blowback.
“People love the kosher sausage but don’t care for how the kosher sausage is made,” Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, told the Washington Examiner this week.
Trump won 23% of Jewish voters in 2016, a figure that plummeted to 17% for Republican candidates in midterm elections two years later. Brooks is convinced Trump will do better this year, pointing to his record on foreign and domestic policy.
Trump moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and pulled Washington out of the Iran deal. In territorial and security disputes with the Palestinians and terrorist groups operating on Israel’s borders, Trump consistently sides with Jerusalem, and he protects the stalwart American ally from being penalized by the United Nations.
Brooks said he expects Jewish voters to reward Trump for his stewardship of the economy.
To make it so, the RJC is investing $10 million to woo Jewish voters in about a half-dozen key state micro battlegrounds — South Florida, Cleveland, Philadelphia and surrounding counties, Pittsburgh, suburban Phoenix, and suburban Atlanta.
But prominent Jewish Republicans recognize Trump’s personal conduct poses obstacles. During an RJC livestream event Sunday, two prerecorded questions for the panelists that Brooks deliberately chose to air dealt with the challenge of convincing Jewish voters inclined toward Trump’s agenda but who resist supporting him because of his behavior.
“I do understand there are some women who have issues with the tone of the president or the tweeting of the president or the style of this president,” said former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who was joined on the RJC livestream by talk radio host Mark Levin and former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, who is Jewish. “Joe Biden might have a nicer way of talking, but he won’t have the results that President Trump has had,” she said.
Jewish Republicans believe hostility to Israel among Democrats and liberal activists over the last decade offers Trump a unique opportunity.
Mark Mellman, a veteran Democratic pollster, agrees pursuing an anti-Israel agenda risks a voter rebuke and regularly warns Democrats against allowing this line of thinking to grow roots inside the party.
In a poll he conducted this month for Democratic Majority for Israel, a group he leads, 67% of voters nationally and 68% of voters in battleground states describe themselves as “pro-Israel," with 72% of Democratic voters describing Israel as a strong ally, and 59% saying the U.S. relationship with the Jewish state is beneficial. Additionally, Mellman’s poll found liberal Democratic candidates in battlegrounds that are pro-Israel do 17 percentage points better against Republicans than Democrats who are anti-Israel.
But this is not a problem Biden has to worry about, Mellman said, explaining the former vice president is inoculated thanks to decades of support for Israel’s security and his decision to quash attempts to reduce support for the Jewish state in the new Democratic Party platform that will be unveiled as a part of his nomination.
“Jews are very likely to vote for Joe Biden over Donald Trump because there is tremendous antipathy to Trump and what he stands for,” Mellman said. “There’s an extra high level of trust in Biden on these issues.”
In a campaign fact sheet, Biden pledges to oppose the boycott and divestment movement, support critical military aid for Israel, and fight the domestic rise in anti-Semitism.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-22--Delaware donor claims he wore a wire to help FBI investigate Biden fundraising

Christopher Tigani , a former Delaware political donor who was arrested for campaign finance violations , revealed he helped the FBI investigate whether Joe Biden or his staff knew about his illegal activities by wearing a wire .
Tigani , who pleaded guilty in 2011 to making illegal campaign contributions to and committing tax violations during Biden ’ s unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign , told Politico in an interview published Tuesday that the FBI arranged for him to wear a listening device and record conversations with top officials , including Biden ’ s finance chief Dennis Toner .
Tigani was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he coordinated campaign contributions from employees at his company and then later reimbursed them for the funds using the company ’ s money , a practice that was done to skirt contribution limits .
He claimed not to know the practice was a criminal act while he was bundling .
Despite the investigations , only Tigani was found to have been guilty of any wrongdoing .
He decided to speak about the wire because , according to Politico , “ he felt he was left out to dry by the Bidens.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fair weather friends.
” Politico obtained a 2012 letter from the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office that said that Tigani made recordings of six people on 17 occasions .
Biden ’ s 2020 presidential campaign has affirmed that the former vice president was not aware of Tigani ’ s crimes .
“ This matter was thoroughly investigated almost a decade ago by the Department of Justice , and there was no finding , or even allegation , of improper behavior by the 2008 campaign , ” said Biden spokesman Michael Gwin .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary debate , he was approached by Biden and his sons Hunter and Beau , who asked him to increase his fundraising efforts .
Tigani said Toner then took over and asked , “ How many people do you have who you can trust ?
” “ All of them , ” Tigani said he told Toner .
He also claimed that during a phone call while working with the FBI , Toner appeared to know he was being recorded and quipped , “ I don ’ t even know who else is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toner and Biden knew exactly what was going on with respect to bundling , ” Tigani said but added that the FBI couldn ’ t prove wrongdoing because the duo was “ too smart.
” Toner has denied all accusations of foreknowledge regarding Tigani ’ s crimes .
Tigani had a long history of involvement in Delaware politics , particularly Democratic politics , prior to his crimes .
He was a beer distributor with the family business , NKS Distributors , which gave heavily , including to Beau Biden ’ s campaign for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreeing to wear a wire , Tigani taped conversations , both on the phone and in person , with a myriad of officials ranging from lobbyists to figures with important ties to Biden .
He said that while he attempted to record Biden , he never got the opportunity .
He said that his FBI handlers looked for opportunities in which he would plausibly bump into Biden instead of outright setting up a meeting with him .
“ I did try to go to places where he was , ” Tigani said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple of scheduled events when he was going to be in Delaware where we were going to try to make a chance meeting.
” All in all , Tigani made some $ 72,000 in illegal donations to Biden ’ s failed 2008 campaign .
He pleaded guilty to multiple charges and was sentenced to two years in prison but served a year and a half .

Christopher Tigani, a former Delaware political donor who was arrested for campaign finance violations, revealed he helped the FBI investigate whether Joe Biden or his staff knew about his illegal activities by wearing a wire.
Tigani, who pleaded guilty in 2011 to making illegal campaign contributions to and committing tax violations during Biden’s unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign, told Politico in an interview published Tuesday that the FBI arranged for him to wear a listening device and record conversations with top officials, including Biden’s finance chief Dennis Toner.
Tigani was a bundler who got in trouble because he coordinated campaign contributions from employees at his company and then later reimbursed them for the funds using the company’s money, a practice that was done to skirt contribution limits. He claimed not to know the practice was a criminal act while he was bundling.
Despite the investigations, only Tigani was found to have been guilty of any wrongdoing. He decided to speak about the wire because, according to Politico, “he felt he was left out to dry by the Bidens.” The former fundraiser called the Biden family “fair weather friends.”
Politico obtained a 2012 letter from the U.S. Attorney’s Office that said that Tigani made recordings of six people on 17 occasions. Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign has affirmed that the former vice president was not aware of Tigani’s crimes.
“This matter was thoroughly investigated almost a decade ago by the Department of Justice, and there was no finding, or even allegation, of improper behavior by the 2008 campaign,” said Biden spokesman Michael Gwin.
According to Tigani, following a 2007 Democratic primary debate, he was approached by Biden and his sons Hunter and Beau, who asked him to increase his fundraising efforts. Tigani said Toner then took over and asked, “How many people do you have who you can trust?”
“All of them,” Tigani said he told Toner.
He also claimed that during a phone call while working with the FBI, Toner appeared to know he was being recorded and quipped, “I don’t even know who else is listening.”
“The agents believed that Toner and Biden knew exactly what was going on with respect to bundling,” Tigani said but added that the FBI couldn’t prove wrongdoing because the duo was “too smart.”
Toner has denied all accusations of foreknowledge regarding Tigani’s crimes.
Tigani had a long history of involvement in Delaware politics, particularly Democratic politics, prior to his crimes. He was a beer distributor with the family business, NKS Distributors, which gave heavily, including to Beau Biden’s campaign for state attorney general in 2005.
After agreeing to wear a wire, Tigani taped conversations, both on the phone and in person, with a myriad of officials ranging from lobbyists to figures with important ties to Biden. He said that while he attempted to record Biden, he never got the opportunity. He said that his FBI handlers looked for opportunities in which he would plausibly bump into Biden instead of outright setting up a meeting with him.
“I did try to go to places where he was,” Tigani said. “I know that he had a couple of scheduled events when he was going to be in Delaware where we were going to try to make a chance meeting.”
All in all, Tigani made some $72,000 in illegal donations to Biden’s failed 2008 campaign. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges and was sentenced to two years in prison but served a year and a half.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-22--Trump is the first racist president, Biden says

Never mind the slaveholders : Joe Biden asserted that President Trump is the first racist to be elected president .
At a virtual event for the Service Employees International Union on Wednesday , Biden received a question from a California-based SEIU member , a South Korean immigrant , who said that she no longer says hello to strangers due to the coronavirus , citing racist reactions that she believed Trump 's `` China virus '' comments and attitudes contributed to .
`` What President Trump has done in going his — his spreading of racism , the way he deals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their skin , their national origin , where they 're from , is absolutely sickening , '' Biden said .
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee then went further , suggesting that no other president has been racist .
“ No sitting president has ever done this .
Never , never , never .
No Republican president has done this .
No Democratic president .
We ’ ve had racists , and they ’ ve existed , they ’ ve tried to get elected president .
He ’ s the first one that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggestion that Trump is the first racist president contradicts numerous activists who have called for removals of names and statues of past presidents because of their racist views .
Last month , Princeton University announced that it would remove President Woodrow Wilson 's name from the campus public policy school building because `` Wilson ’ s racist views and policies make him an inappropriate namesake . ''
Days before , Monmouth University announced the same .
In Portland , Oregon , protesters toppled a statue of George Washington during protests against racism .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of the White House was targeted by statue-toppling protesters for similar reasons , prompting arrests for those who attempted to destroy it , which were supported by Trump .
Many early presidents owned slaves , and racist beliefs from former presidents are well-documented .
Critics of Biden 's comment point to the displacement of Native Americans and internment of Japanese Americans during World War II as clear racist policies promoted by then-presidents .
The comment marks a stark change from Biden 's tone about Trump last year when Biden would say that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but preferred not to call him personally a racist .
Later , Biden refused to follow his Democratic primary competitors in calling Trump a white supremacist , saying only that the president `` encourages white supremacy . ''

Never mind the slaveholders: Joe Biden asserted that President Trump is the first racist to be elected president.
At a virtual event for the Service Employees International Union on Wednesday, Biden received a question from a California-based SEIU member, a South Korean immigrant, who said that she no longer says hello to strangers due to the coronavirus, citing racist reactions that she believed Trump's "China virus" comments and attitudes contributed to.
"What President Trump has done in going his — his spreading of racism, the way he deals with people based on the color of their skin, their national origin, where they're from, is absolutely sickening," Biden said.
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee then went further, suggesting that no other president has been racist.
“No sitting president has ever done this. Never, never, never. No Republican president has done this. No Democratic president. We’ve had racists, and they’ve existed, they’ve tried to get elected president. He’s the first one that has,” Biden said.
Biden's suggestion that Trump is the first racist president contradicts numerous activists who have called for removals of names and statues of past presidents because of their racist views.
Last month, Princeton University announced that it would remove President Woodrow Wilson's name from the campus public policy school building because "Wilson’s racist views and policies make him an inappropriate namesake." Days before, Monmouth University announced the same.
In Portland, Oregon, protesters toppled a statue of George Washington during protests against racism. A statue of President Andrew Jackson in front of the White House was targeted by statue-toppling protesters for similar reasons, prompting arrests for those who attempted to destroy it, which were supported by Trump.
Many early presidents owned slaves, and racist beliefs from former presidents are well-documented. Critics of Biden's comment point to the displacement of Native Americans and internment of Japanese Americans during World War II as clear racist policies promoted by then-presidents.
The comment marks a stark change from Biden's tone about Trump last year when Biden would say that Trump is promoting “racist policies" but preferred not to call him personally a racist.
Later, Biden refused to follow his Democratic primary competitors in calling Trump a white supremacist, saying only that the president "encourages white supremacy."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-22--Biden narrowly leading Trump in Georgia: Poll

A Democratic polling firm has a new survey that validates fears from a growing number of Republicans : Joe Biden could win Georgia .
The poll , conducted by the Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group , found that voters in the state currently back Biden over Trump by 4 points , at 47 % to 43 % .
`` Both candidates win overwhelmingly among their respective parties , with Biden ’ s overall advantage coming from his fifteen-point advantage among Independents , '' the pollsters wrote in their Wednesday report .
Ten percent of Georgians remain undecided .
The group interviewed 800 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points .
Georgia 's Senate race between incumbent Republican David Perdue and challenger Jon Ossoff is much tighter , with Ossoff leading by just 1 point , at 45 % to 44 % .
`` Because Ossoff currently has a name ID deficit with the incumbent , his lead is larger among Georgia voters who know both candidates — an encouraging sign as Ossoff will increase his profile , '' the authors noted .
Winning Purdue 's seat is key to Democratic chances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ossoff previously unsuccessfully ran for Congress in the 2017 special election for the state 's 6th Congressional District .
Despite that loss , the district voted for Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath the following year .
Georgia had long been a GOP stronghold until recently , as demographics in the state have shifted favorably to Democrats .
In 2016 , Trump won the state by just under 51 % , the lowest margin for any Republican since the party started consistently winning the state .
The 2018 gubernatorial election in Georgia served as another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the state .
In that race , Republican Brian Kemp defeated former state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams by just under 55,000 votes and 50.2 % of the popular vote .

A Democratic polling firm has a new survey that validates fears from a growing number of Republicans: Joe Biden could win Georgia.
The poll, conducted by the Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group, found that voters in the state currently back Biden over Trump by 4 points, at 47% to 43%.
"Both candidates win overwhelmingly among their respective parties, with Biden’s overall advantage coming from his fifteen-point advantage among Independents," the pollsters wrote in their Wednesday report. Ten percent of Georgians remain undecided.
The group interviewed 800 likely voters, and the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
Georgia's Senate race between incumbent Republican David Perdue and challenger Jon Ossoff is much tighter, with Ossoff leading by just 1 point, at 45% to 44%.
"Because Ossoff currently has a name ID deficit with the incumbent, his lead is larger among Georgia voters who know both candidates — an encouraging sign as Ossoff will increase his profile," the authors noted.
Winning Purdue's seat is key to Democratic chances of retaking the Senate in November. Ossoff previously unsuccessfully ran for Congress in the 2017 special election for the state's 6th Congressional District. Despite that loss, the district voted for Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath the following year.
Georgia had long been a GOP stronghold until recently, as demographics in the state have shifted favorably to Democrats. In 2016, Trump won the state by just under 51%, the lowest margin for any Republican since the party started consistently winning the state.
The 2018 gubernatorial election in Georgia served as another reminder of how tenuous GOP chances remain in the state. In that race, Republican Brian Kemp defeated former state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams by just under 55,000 votes and 50.2% of the popular vote.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-22--Hulu in talks to produce another Hillary Clinton series no one asked for

Hillary Clinton ’ s weird and fiercely loyal troupe of admirers is determined to make you love her .
They are so determined , in fact , that they will even rewrite the story of her life to make her seem more appealing .
The online streaming service Hulu , for example , has optioned the rights to Curtis Sittenfeld ’ s Rodham , a work of “ alternate history ” fiction that imagines Hillary Clinton ’ s life without Bill Clinton .
Sittenfeld ’ s book envisions a world in which an unmarried Hillary Rodham becomes successful and powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House , all without riding the coattails of her eminently more charismatic and politically savvier real-life husband .
Hey , they don ’ t call it “ fiction ” for nothing .
“ Sarah Treem is attached to write and executive produce the project .
The Handmaid ’ s Tale executive producer Warren Littlefield will also executive produce Rodham , ” Variety reports .
Should Hulu greenlight the show , it will become the second such program on the streaming platform to attempt to glorify the two-time failed presidential candidate .
Recall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ docuseries ” ( hagiography is more like it ) this year called Hillary , which failed utterly in its attempt to humanize and glorify Clinton , as noted at the time by my Washington Examiner colleague Tiana Lowe .
Also , while we are on the topic , the Hillary series failed miserably in its attempt to build up Clinton as some great champion of liberal politics .
Indeed , the series went on to become a major headache for the Democratic Party , which , at the time of the program 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hotly contested presidential primary .
Hulu ’ s Hillary features a scene wherein Clinton says of 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont , “ He was in Congress for years .
He had one senator support him .
Nobody likes him .
Nobody wants to work with him .
He got nothing done.
” “ He was a career politician .
It 's all just baloney , and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it , ” Clinton adds .
Later , when asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her comments about Sanders , who , at the time , was running second place in the 2020 Democratic primary , Clinton refused to say whether she would support the Vermont lawmaker should he win the Democratic nomination this year .
Should Hulu produce a Rodham series , one should expect a graceless thud similar to Hillary .
Indeed , with the “ alternate ” history ’ s impossible-to-ignore censoring of the most disturbing elements of Hillary Clinton ’ s real-life story ( including her silence over the credible rape allegations leveled against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rodham television show will likely serve only as another reminder of the failed presidential candidate ’ s greatest faults and flaws , attempts to rewrite history notwithstanding .

Hillary Clinton’s weird and fiercely loyal troupe of admirers is determined to make you love her.
They are so determined, in fact, that they will even rewrite the story of her life to make her seem more appealing.
The online streaming service Hulu, for example, has optioned the rights to Curtis Sittenfeld’s Rodham, a work of “alternate history” fiction that imagines Hillary Clinton’s life without Bill Clinton. Sittenfeld’s book envisions a world in which an unmarried Hillary Rodham becomes successful and powerful enough to make a run at the White House, all without riding the coattails of her eminently more charismatic and politically savvier real-life husband.
Hey, they don’t call it “fiction” for nothing.
“Sarah Treem is attached to write and executive produce the project. The Handmaid’s Tale executive producer Warren Littlefield will also executive produce Rodham,” Variety reports.
Should Hulu greenlight the show, it will become the second such program on the streaming platform to attempt to glorify the two-time failed presidential candidate. Recall that Hulu already released a four-part “docuseries” (hagiography is more like it) this year called Hillary, which failed utterly in its attempt to humanize and glorify Clinton, as noted at the time by my Washington Examiner colleague Tiana Lowe.
Also, while we are on the topic, the Hillary series failed miserably in its attempt to build up Clinton as some great champion of liberal politics. Indeed, the series went on to become a major headache for the Democratic Party, which, at the time of the program's release, was in the heat of a hotly contested presidential primary.
Hulu’s Hillary features a scene wherein Clinton says of 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, “He was in Congress for years. He had one senator support him. Nobody likes him. Nobody wants to work with him. He got nothing done.”
“He was a career politician. It's all just baloney, and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it,” Clinton adds.
Later, when asked during her Hillary press tour to clarify her comments about Sanders, who, at the time, was running second place in the 2020 Democratic primary, Clinton refused to say whether she would support the Vermont lawmaker should he win the Democratic nomination this year.
Should Hulu produce a Rodham series, one should expect a graceless thud similar to Hillary. Indeed, with the “alternate” history’s impossible-to-ignore censoring of the most disturbing elements of Hillary Clinton’s real-life story (including her silence over the credible rape allegations leveled against her real-life husband), a possible Rodham television show will likely serve only as another reminder of the failed presidential candidate’s greatest faults and flaws, attempts to rewrite history notwithstanding.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-22--Trump campaign uses Goya boycott against Biden in South Florida TV ad

In a new Spanish-language political advertisement airing in South Florida , President Trump 's reelection campaign is seizing on the Goya Foods controversy to cast his presumptive Democratic opponent Joe Biden as an `` extreme '' socialist in the mold of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro .
The television ad , which is set to run in the Miami media market on Wednesday , features Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and includes a 2015 photograph of former Vice President Biden with Maduro in Brazil , along with imagery of Cuba 's communist revolutionary Che Guevara on a red flag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ push for a boycott of Goya Foods after CEO Robert Unanue said the United States was `` truly blessed ... to have a leader like President Trump '' during a White House event earlier this month .
He refused to back down , calling the outcry against him `` suppression of speech . ''
Goya Foods says it is the `` largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States . ''
The spot is narrated by Cuban actress Susana Perez , who told the Miami Herald 's El Nuevo Herald that she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whom she `` fully '' supports .
A radio ad will also air .
The new television ad also references school choice and police funding , which Trump has claimed Biden would cut if elected .
A Miami GOP aide described the spots as `` strong '' and told the Washington Examiner that they were clearly intended to `` whip the sentiment '' of South Florida 's Hispanic exiles .
`` We sacrificed a lot to be free and respected , and now , the Left has launched an act of repudiation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just because Goya is working with President Trump , '' says Perez in the ad .
`` The Democrats and Joe Biden are too extreme .
Socialism .
Cutting police funding .
Getting rid of charter schools .
And Joe Biden is too weak to defend us . ''
Trump has fueled the food fight by posing at the Resolute Desk with Goya Foods products in a picture posted to Instagram and tweeting , `` @ GoyaFoods is doing GREAT .
The Radical Left smear machine backfired , people are buying like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's Latino Twitter account , a tweet reacting to former Labor Secretary Robert Reich 's call for a boycott reads , `` Not even croquetas would be safe in Joe Biden ’ s America .
Pass it on . ''
After Ivanka Trump , a White House adviser and the president 's daughter , posted pictures of herself on social media holding a can of Goya beans , a left-leaning watchdog group filed a complaint charging that she was promoting the brand in violation of official ethics guidelines .
Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ethics investigation .
In a stab at Democrats , the new Trump ad shows former first lady Michelle Obama in 2013 holding a can of Goya beans to promote an initiative with the company .
After Trump said in June that he was open to meeting Maduro , Biden 's team sought to paint Trump as sympathetic to the Venezuelan ruler in ads targeting South Florida 's Hispanic electorate .
Trump quickly walked the comments back , stating that any meeting would be to negotiate Maduro 's exit .
A RealClearPolitics average of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by 6.4 points .

In a new Spanish-language political advertisement airing in South Florida, President Trump's reelection campaign is seizing on the Goya Foods controversy to cast his presumptive Democratic opponent Joe Biden as an "extreme" socialist in the mold of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
The television ad, which is set to run in the Miami media market on Wednesday, features Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and includes a 2015 photograph of former Vice President Biden with Maduro in Brazil, along with imagery of Cuba's communist revolutionary Che Guevara on a red flag.
Ocasio-Cortez was among the first to push for a boycott of Goya Foods after CEO Robert Unanue said the United States was "truly blessed ... to have a leader like President Trump" during a White House event earlier this month. He refused to back down, calling the outcry against him "suppression of speech." Goya Foods says it is the "largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States."
The spot is narrated by Cuban actress Susana Perez, who told the Miami Herald's El Nuevo Herald that she was "happy" to assist the president, whom she "fully" supports. A radio ad will also air.
The new television ad also references school choice and police funding, which Trump has claimed Biden would cut if elected. A Miami GOP aide described the spots as "strong" and told the Washington Examiner that they were clearly intended to "whip the sentiment" of South Florida's Hispanic exiles.
"We sacrificed a lot to be free and respected, and now, the Left has launched an act of repudiation against Goya, the brand we love, just because Goya is working with President Trump," says Perez in the ad. "The Democrats and Joe Biden are too extreme. Socialism. Cutting police funding. Getting rid of charter schools. And Joe Biden is too weak to defend us."
Trump has fueled the food fight by posing at the Resolute Desk with Goya Foods products in a picture posted to Instagram and tweeting, "@GoyaFoods is doing GREAT. The Radical Left smear machine backfired, people are buying like crazy!"
On the Trump campaign's Latino Twitter account, a tweet reacting to former Labor Secretary Robert Reich's call for a boycott reads, "Not even croquetas would be safe in Joe Biden’s America. Pass it on."
After Ivanka Trump, a White House adviser and the president's daughter, posted pictures of herself on social media holding a can of Goya beans, a left-leaning watchdog group filed a complaint charging that she was promoting the brand in violation of official ethics guidelines. Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts has also called for an ethics investigation.
In a stab at Democrats, the new Trump ad shows former first lady Michelle Obama in 2013 holding a can of Goya beans to promote an initiative with the company.
After Trump said in June that he was open to meeting Maduro, Biden's team sought to paint Trump as sympathetic to the Venezuelan ruler in ads targeting South Florida's Hispanic electorate. Trump quickly walked the comments back, stating that any meeting would be to negotiate Maduro's exit.
A RealClearPolitics average of polls shows Biden leading Trump in Florida by 6.4 points.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-22--Democratic National Convention platform marks return to signaling against communism

Readers of the Democratic National Convention 's policy platform could be forgiven for mistaking the 2020 version with 1980 , during the depths of the Soviet era .
A draft of the platform , obtained by the Washington Examiner , projects an implicit anti-communist sentiment in the first sentence .
`` America is an idea — one that has endured and evolved through war and depression , prevailed over fascism and communism , and radiated hope to far distant corners of the earth , '' the draft platform preamble states .
`` Just as we came together to stand up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we will come together with Europe to confront the existential challenge of climate change , '' reads a section about European foreign policy .
It is the first mention of communism in the Democratic Party 's national platform in more than a decade and contains the most uses of the word in its platform in nearly three decades .
The mentions subtly pit the party 's stated principles against those of far-left activists and rioters who share some principles with Democrats , such as calling for studying slavery reparations , but who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sickle during marches and demonstrations .
And it could shield Democrats from right-wing attacks on the basis of allies of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , a socialist who also draws support from more radical leftists , having a hand in crafting large portions of the platform .
Democratic platforms in 2016 and 2012 did not use the word `` communist '' or `` communism , '' nor did those in 2004 or 2000 .
The new draft preamble echoes the 2008 platform preamble that also praised U.S. endurance : `` We come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of our nation — the nation that led the 20th Century , built a thriving middle class , defeated fascism and communism , and provided bountiful opportunity to many . ''
Communism was not mentioned elsewhere in the 2008 platform , but it is in the 2020 draft .
In addition to the Europe section , the draft platform 's Asia-Pacific foreign policy states that the approach to China would be `` guided by '' American `` strengths '' such as an open society and strong alliances and that undermining those `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communist Party . ''
The 1996 Democratic platform had a quick reference to `` support for reform in former communist states . ''
The 1992 version , however , took an implicit stance against communism and is the most recent Democratic platform before 2020 with more than one mention of the term .
It flaunted how President Harry Truman approached `` containing communism with the NATO alliance and in Korea , '' discussed countries `` struggling to make the transition from communism to democracy , '' and expressed support for sheltering those escaping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fleeing communism . ''

Readers of the Democratic National Convention's policy platform could be forgiven for mistaking the 2020 version with 1980, during the depths of the Soviet era.
A draft of the platform, obtained by the Washington Examiner, projects an implicit anti-communist sentiment in the first sentence.
"America is an idea — one that has endured and evolved through war and depression, prevailed over fascism and communism, and radiated hope to far distant corners of the earth," the draft platform preamble states.
"Just as we came together to stand up to communism and respond to global terrorism, we will come together with Europe to confront the existential challenge of climate change," reads a section about European foreign policy.
It is the first mention of communism in the Democratic Party's national platform in more than a decade and contains the most uses of the word in its platform in nearly three decades.
The mentions subtly pit the party's stated principles against those of far-left activists and rioters who share some principles with Democrats, such as calling for studying slavery reparations, but who display communist symbols such as the hammer and sickle during marches and demonstrations. And it could shield Democrats from right-wing attacks on the basis of allies of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, a socialist who also draws support from more radical leftists, having a hand in crafting large portions of the platform.
Democratic platforms in 2016 and 2012 did not use the word "communist" or "communism," nor did those in 2004 or 2000.
The new draft preamble echoes the 2008 platform preamble that also praised U.S. endurance: "We come together at a defining moment in the history of our nation — the nation that led the 20th Century, built a thriving middle class, defeated fascism and communism, and provided bountiful opportunity to many."
Communism was not mentioned elsewhere in the 2008 platform, but it is in the 2020 draft.
In addition to the Europe section, the draft platform's Asia-Pacific foreign policy states that the approach to China would be "guided by" American "strengths" such as an open society and strong alliances and that undermining those "would be a gift to the Chinese Communist Party."
The 1996 Democratic platform had a quick reference to "support for reform in former communist states."
The 1992 version, however, took an implicit stance against communism and is the most recent Democratic platform before 2020 with more than one mention of the term. It flaunted how President Harry Truman approached "containing communism with the NATO alliance and in Korea," discussed countries "struggling to make the transition from communism to democracy," and expressed support for sheltering those escaping human rights abuses such as "Vietnamese fleeing communism."
— Naomi Lim contributed to this report.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-22--Democratic platform: Support BLM, oppose BDS

The latest draft of the Democratic Party platform had much to say in support of Black Lives Matter and other domestic protest movements but explicitly calls out the anti-Israel boycott , divest , and sanction movement .
Despite calls to reevaluate the country 's relationship with Israel from left-wing members of the Democratic Party , the latest draft of the 2020 Democratic National Committee platform , obtained by the Washington Examiner , remains steadfastly committed to supporting the Middle East ally .
Although President Trump 's decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem , Israel 's capital , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Left , the draft platform states the party 's commitment to recognizing the city as the country 's capital .
But the denouncement of the BDS movement , which says the United States should stop buying products manufactured with Israel and implement economic sanctions , similar to those imposed on South Africa during apartheid , is the best evidence that the Left 's influence over the Democratic Party remains limited on U.S.-Israeli relations .
`` Democrats will restore U.S.-Palestinian diplomatic ties and critical assistance to the Palestinian people in the West Bank and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the language reads .
`` We oppose any effort to unfairly single out and delegitimize Israel , including at the United Nations or through the Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions Movement , while protecting the Constitutional right of our citizens to free speech . ''
Several outspoken members of the Democratic Party , including members of `` the Squad , '' Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan , count themselves as outspoken supporters of the BDS movement and argue harsh economic consequences are the only way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against Palestinians in the region .
In July , the Democratic-controlled House overwhelmingly passed a bill condemning the BDS movement , 398-17 .
All but one lawmaker who opposed the bill was a Republican .

The latest draft of the Democratic Party platform had much to say in support of Black Lives Matter and other domestic protest movements but explicitly calls out the anti-Israel boycott, divest, and sanction movement.
Despite calls to reevaluate the country's relationship with Israel from left-wing members of the Democratic Party, the latest draft of the 2020 Democratic National Committee platform, obtained by the Washington Examiner, remains steadfastly committed to supporting the Middle East ally.
Although President Trump's decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, Israel's capital, to Tel Aviv, sparked outcries from the Left, the draft platform states the party's commitment to recognizing the city as the country's capital.
But the denouncement of the BDS movement, which says the United States should stop buying products manufactured with Israel and implement economic sanctions, similar to those imposed on South Africa during apartheid, is the best evidence that the Left's influence over the Democratic Party remains limited on U.S.-Israeli relations.
"Democrats will restore U.S.-Palestinian diplomatic ties and critical assistance to the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza, consistent with U.S. law," the language reads. "We oppose any effort to unfairly single out and delegitimize Israel, including at the United Nations or through the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement, while protecting the Constitutional right of our citizens to free speech."
Several outspoken members of the Democratic Party, including members of "the Squad," Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, count themselves as outspoken supporters of the BDS movement and argue harsh economic consequences are the only way to curtail what they see as unjust behavior against Palestinians in the region.
In July, the Democratic-controlled House overwhelmingly passed a bill condemning the BDS movement, 398-17. All but one lawmaker who opposed the bill was a Republican.
— Naomi Lim contributed to this report.