thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-12--'I was aware': Biden admits he knew about FBI's Flynn investigation moments after denial

After first denying that he knew anything about the FBI investigation into retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn , Joe Biden corrected himself when pressed during a Tuesday morning interview .
He changed course after host George Stephanopoulos noted his presence at a high-profile Oval Office meeting in the final days of the Obama administration , during which officials discussed intercepted contacts between Flynn and a Russian envoy .
Disclosures about that meeting have prompted scrutiny over the former vice president 's role in the eventual ouster of President Trump 's first national security adviser .
Biden audibly scoffed on ABC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee knew about an early 2017 investigation into Flynn and whether there was anything improper done by the Obama administration .
`` I know nothing about those moves to investigate Michael Flynn , '' Biden said .
`` This is all about diversion .
This is a game this guy plays all the time .
The country is in crisis .
...
He should stop trying to always divert attention from the real concerns of the American people.
” [ Byron York : What we still do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But Stephanopoulos followed up , noting that Biden was reported to be in attendance at a Jan. 5 , 2017 , meeting where he and former President Barack Obama `` were briefed '' on the FBI 's plan to interview Flynn about his conversation with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential transition period .
`` I thought you asked me whether or not I had anything to do with him being prosecuted , '' Biden replied , after fidgeting with his earpiece .
`` I was aware that there was , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's all I know about it . ''
The Jan. 5 meeting is known to have focused on the Flynn tapes , but it is not known whether officials discussed the FBI 's plan to question Flynn as Stephanopoulos suggested .
Former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates told Robert Mueller ’ s special counsel team she first learned of the Flynn recordings from Obama himself following a White House meeting about the intelligence community assessment attended by Yates , Biden , former FBI Director James Comey , then-CIA Director John Brennan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then-national security adviser Susan Rice , and others .
Obama asked Yates and Comey to stay behind with Rice and Biden when the meeting concluded .
The recently released 2017 interview transcript with Yates shows she told investigators that Comey mentioned the Logan Act in the context of the intercepted Flynn-Kislyak conversations and that he may have used the word `` investigation . ''
She said that a possible `` prosecution '' was not discussed at that time .
The timeline of events surrounding Flynn has led to a further examination of Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsealed FBI documents showed former FBI agent Peter Strzok and the FBI ’ s “ seventh floor ” leadership stopped the bureau from closing its investigation into Flynn in early January 2017 , even though investigators had uncovered “ no derogatory information '' after the Flynn intercepts emerged .
Emails from later that month show Strzok , along with then-FBI lawyer Lisa Page and several others , sought out ways to continue investigating Flynn over the Russian ambassador intercepts , including considering using the Logan Act .
On Jan. 20 , 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former national security adviser Susan Rice penned an internal memo detailing the Jan. 5 meeting .
`` On January 5 , following a briefing by IC [ intelligence community ] leadership on Russian hacking during the 2016 presidential election , President Obama had a brief follow-on conversation with FBI Director Jim Comey and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates in the Oval Office .
Vice President Biden and I were also present , '' she wrote in an email to herself .
“ President Obama began the conversation by stressing his continued commitment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is handled by the intelligence and law enforcement communities ‘ by the book.
’ … The president stressed that he is not asking about , initiating , or instructing anything from a law enforcement perspective .
He reiterated that our law enforcement team needs to proceed as it normally would by the book , ” Rice emailed herself .
Biden spoke with reporters about that January 2017 meeting a week later , following BuzzFeed News 's decision to publish British ex-spy Christopher Steele ’ s anti-Trump dossier .
Biden said intelligence officials brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to brief Trump on it , but he called it “ totally ancillary ” to the primary purpose of the meeting .
“ As a matter of fact , the president was , like , ‘ What does this have anything to do with anything ?
’ ” Biden said , adding that intelligence officials responded , “ Well , we feel obliged to tell you , Mr. President , because you may hear about it .
We ’ re going to tell [ Trump ] .
” “ Neither the president nor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden claimed at the time .
Biden 's inclusion in Rice 's note has prompted Trump and allies to question what exactly Obama and Biden knew about the Flynn investigation and when they knew it .
Sen. Chuck Grassley , who has long pursued answers about the Flynn investigation and whose investigation helped turn up the email from Rice , took to the Senate floor Monday evening looking for answers from Obama and Biden about that meeting .
“ It ’ s unclear to what extent they discussed the details of the investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we know now regarding the fake foundation for the inquiry , it ’ s time that we ask : What did Obama and Biden know , and when did they know it ?
” the Iowa Republican asked .
Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador before Trump entered the White House .
The Justice Department filed to dismiss the charges against Flynn on Thursday , agreeing with Flynn ’ s attorneys that his interview with the FBI should never have taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diplomat were “ entirely appropriate.
” The federal judge presiding over the case has yet to make a final determination on whether to dismiss it .
`` Joe Biden was in the room when one of the greatest abuses of power by an administration in American history was in progress , '' said Trump campaign spokesman Matt Wolking after news broke .
`` The corrupt media will do its best to cover up this scandal and protect him , but Americans deserve to know : What did Joe Biden know , and when @ @ @ @ @ @

After first denying that he knew anything about the FBI investigation into retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Joe Biden corrected himself when pressed during a Tuesday morning interview.
He changed course after host George Stephanopoulos noted his presence at a high-profile Oval Office meeting in the final days of the Obama administration, during which officials discussed intercepted contacts between Flynn and a Russian envoy. Disclosures about that meeting have prompted scrutiny over the former vice president's role in the eventual ouster of President Trump's first national security adviser.
Biden audibly scoffed on ABC's Good Morning America as Stephanopoulos asked what the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee knew about an early 2017 investigation into Flynn and whether there was anything improper done by the Obama administration.
"I know nothing about those moves to investigate Michael Flynn," Biden said. "This is all about diversion. This is a game this guy plays all the time. The country is in crisis. ... He should stop trying to always divert attention from the real concerns of the American people.”
[Byron York: What we still don't know about the Michael Flynn case]
But Stephanopoulos followed up, noting that Biden was reported to be in attendance at a Jan. 5, 2017, meeting where he and former President Barack Obama "were briefed" on the FBI's plan to interview Flynn about his conversation with then-Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential transition period.
"I thought you asked me whether or not I had anything to do with him being prosecuted," Biden replied, after fidgeting with his earpiece. "I was aware that there was, that they asked for an investigation, but that's all I know about it."
The Jan. 5 meeting is known to have focused on the Flynn tapes, but it is not known whether officials discussed the FBI's plan to question Flynn as Stephanopoulos suggested.
Former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates told Robert Mueller’s special counsel team she first learned of the Flynn recordings from Obama himself following a White House meeting about the intelligence community assessment attended by Yates, Biden, former FBI Director James Comey, then-CIA Director John Brennan, then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, then-national security adviser Susan Rice, and others. Obama asked Yates and Comey to stay behind with Rice and Biden when the meeting concluded.
The recently released 2017 interview transcript with Yates shows she told investigators that Comey mentioned the Logan Act in the context of the intercepted Flynn-Kislyak conversations and that he may have used the word "investigation." She said that a possible "prosecution" was not discussed at that time.
The timeline of events surrounding Flynn has led to a further examination of Biden's role in the investigation after newly unsealed FBI documents showed former FBI agent Peter Strzok and the FBI’s “seventh floor” leadership stopped the bureau from closing its investigation into Flynn in early January 2017, even though investigators had uncovered “no derogatory information" after the Flynn intercepts emerged. Emails from later that month show Strzok, along with then-FBI lawyer Lisa Page and several others, sought out ways to continue investigating Flynn over the Russian ambassador intercepts, including considering using the Logan Act.
On Jan. 20, 2017, the day of Trump's inauguration, former national security adviser Susan Rice penned an internal memo detailing the Jan. 5 meeting.
"On January 5, following a briefing by IC [intelligence community] leadership on Russian hacking during the 2016 presidential election, President Obama had a brief follow-on conversation with FBI Director Jim Comey and Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates in the Oval Office. Vice President Biden and I were also present," she wrote in an email to herself.
“President Obama began the conversation by stressing his continued commitment to ensuring that every aspect of this issue is handled by the intelligence and law enforcement communities ‘by the book.’ … The president stressed that he is not asking about, initiating, or instructing anything from a law enforcement perspective. He reiterated that our law enforcement team needs to proceed as it normally would by the book,” Rice emailed herself.
Biden spoke with reporters about that January 2017 meeting a week later, following BuzzFeed News's decision to publish British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s anti-Trump dossier. Biden said intelligence officials brought up the dossier because they were preparing to brief Trump on it, but he called it “totally ancillary” to the primary purpose of the meeting.
“As a matter of fact, the president was, like, ‘What does this have anything to do with anything?’” Biden said, adding that intelligence officials responded, “Well, we feel obliged to tell you, Mr. President, because you may hear about it. We’re going to tell [Trump].”
“Neither the president nor I asked for any detail,” Biden claimed at the time.
Biden's inclusion in Rice's note has prompted Trump and allies to question what exactly Obama and Biden knew about the Flynn investigation and when they knew it.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, who has long pursued answers about the Flynn investigation and whose investigation helped turn up the email from Rice, took to the Senate floor Monday evening looking for answers from Obama and Biden about that meeting.
“It’s unclear to what extent they discussed the details of the investigation amongst each other, but given all that we know now regarding the fake foundation for the inquiry, it’s time that we ask: What did Obama and Biden know, and when did they know it?” the Iowa Republican asked.
Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to the FBI about his conversations with the Russian ambassador before Trump entered the White House. The Justice Department filed to dismiss the charges against Flynn on Thursday, agreeing with Flynn’s attorneys that his interview with the FBI should never have taken place because his conversations with the Russian diplomat were “entirely appropriate.”
The federal judge presiding over the case has yet to make a final determination on whether to dismiss it.
"Joe Biden was in the room when one of the greatest abuses of power by an administration in American history was in progress," said Trump campaign spokesman Matt Wolking after news broke. "The corrupt media will do its best to cover up this scandal and protect him, but Americans deserve to know: What did Joe Biden know, and when did he know it?"


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-12--While pressuring Biden for vice presidential slot, Stacey Abrams backs his White House bid

The only surprise about the endorsement of Joe Biden for president by Stacey Abrams is that it has n't happened already .
After all , Abrams , the 2018 Democratic Georgia gubernatorial nominee , has for weeks openly campaigned for the vice presidential slot on the ticket headed by Biden , the presumptive 2020 Democratic nominee and himself a former two-term vice president .
Still , on Tuesday , the Biden campaign announced it received the endorsement by Abrams , a former minority leader in Georgia 's House of Representatives .
`` Vice President Biden is the leader America needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , competence , and compassion to the Oval Office while restoring America 's moral leadership around the world , '' she wrote in a statement .
`` His commitment to fighting climate change , leading an economic recovery for all , and protecting every eligible American 's right to vote are among the many reasons why he must be the next president of the United States . ''
The endorsement is the latest maneuver by Abrams in her campaign to earn the spot as Biden 's running mate , who has gone on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best choice .
In the past two months , Abrams has directly described herself as an `` excellent '' pick for Biden , going so far as saying she 'd have `` concerns '' if he did not pick a woman of color as his vice president .
The strategy is a departure from previous election cycles , in which vice presidential hopefuls often campaign for themselves behind the scenes and try to demonstrate why they 're the best surrogate for the nominee .
`` As a young black woman growing up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't raise your hand , people wo n't see you , and they wo n't give you attention , '' Abrams told CNN 's Jake Tapper in April .
`` But it 's not about attention for being the running mate .
It is about making sure that my qualifications are n't in question because they 're not just speaking to me .
They 're speaking to young black women , young women of color , young people of color , who wonder if they , too , can be seen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month , Abrams said her `` 25 years in independent study of foreign policy '' gave her some of the requisite qualifications for the spot .
Other lawmakers being considered by Biden include Sens .
Kamala Harris of California , Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota , and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts .

The only surprise about the endorsement of Joe Biden for president by Stacey Abrams is that it hasn't happened already.
After all, Abrams, the 2018 Democratic Georgia gubernatorial nominee, has for weeks openly campaigned for the vice presidential slot on the ticket headed by Biden, the presumptive 2020 Democratic nominee and himself a former two-term vice president.
Still, on Tuesday, the Biden campaign announced it received the endorsement by Abrams, a former minority leader in Georgia's House of Representatives.
"Vice President Biden is the leader America needs — a leader who will restore dignity, competence, and compassion to the Oval Office while restoring America's moral leadership around the world," she wrote in a statement. "His commitment to fighting climate change, leading an economic recovery for all, and protecting every eligible American's right to vote are among the many reasons why he must be the next president of the United States."
The endorsement is the latest maneuver by Abrams in her campaign to earn the spot as Biden's running mate, who has gone on a media blitz pitching herself as his best choice.
In the past two months, Abrams has directly described herself as an "excellent" pick for Biden, going so far as saying she'd have "concerns" if he did not pick a woman of color as his vice president.
The strategy is a departure from previous election cycles, in which vice presidential hopefuls often campaign for themselves behind the scenes and try to demonstrate why they're the best surrogate for the nominee.
"As a young black woman growing up in Mississippi, I learned that if you don't raise your hand, people won't see you, and they won't give you attention," Abrams told CNN's Jake Tapper in April. "But it's not about attention for being the running mate. It is about making sure that my qualifications aren't in question because they're not just speaking to me. They're speaking to young black women, young women of color, young people of color, who wonder if they, too, can be seen."
In an interview with Elle magazine last month, Abrams said her "25 years in independent study of foreign policy" gave her some of the requisite qualifications for the spot.
Other lawmakers being considered by Biden include Sens. Kamala Harris of California, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-12--'We’re winning': Biden insists his basement campaign is working

Joe Biden does n't believe being stuck in his Delaware home 's basement is hurting his chances of becoming president .
The presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee bristled when asked Tuesday about when he expected to restart his campaign for the White House ahead of the general election .
`` We 're on the campaign trail now .
And everybody says , 'You know Biden 's hiding . '
Well , let me tell you something — we 're doing very well , '' he told ABC News .
`` As a matter of fact , we ’ re winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling data , ” said the two-term vice president and 36-year Delaware senator .
Biden , on average , leads President Trump by 4.4 percentage points in early polling , according to RealClearPolitics data .
But that margin is likely to tighten closer to November .
On Tuesday , Biden conceded he was `` anxious to go out and campaign , '' insisting he was n't `` trying to avoid it . ''
Instead , he told ABC News in a short interview that he was `` trying to set an example as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dealing with this health and economic crisis , '' taking a dig at Trump for `` showing up to places without masks . ''
`` The idea that somehow we 're being hurt by keeping to the rules and following the instructions that have been put forward by the docs is absolutely bizarre , '' he said .
Trump has seized on Biden 's absence from a traditional campaign trail amid the coronavirus pandemic , with Fox News hosts such as Laura Ingraham mocking him by saying it 's to Biden 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make verbal missteps when talking with voters .
Democratic strategists also contend ceding the spotlight to the incumbent benefits Biden , given the administration 's haphazard handling of the COVID-19 outbreak .
`` He 's been incompetent in the way in which he 's responded to it , '' Biden said Tuesday of Trump .

Joe Biden doesn't believe being stuck in his Delaware home's basement is hurting his chances of becoming president.
The presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee bristled when asked Tuesday about when he expected to restart his campaign for the White House ahead of the general election.
"We're on the campaign trail now. And everybody says, 'You know Biden's hiding.' Well, let me tell you something — we're doing very well," he told ABC News.
"As a matter of fact, we’re winning, if you look at all the polling data,” said the two-term vice president and 36-year Delaware senator.
Biden, on average, leads President Trump by 4.4 percentage points in early polling, according to RealClearPolitics data. But that margin is likely to tighten closer to November.
On Tuesday, Biden conceded he was "anxious to go out and campaign," insisting he wasn't "trying to avoid it." Instead, he told ABC News in a short interview that he was "trying to set an example as to how we should proceed in terms of dealing with this health and economic crisis," taking a dig at Trump for "showing up to places without masks."
"The idea that somehow we're being hurt by keeping to the rules and following the instructions that have been put forward by the docs is absolutely bizarre," he said.
Trump has seized on Biden's absence from a traditional campaign trail amid the coronavirus pandemic, with Fox News hosts such as Laura Ingraham mocking him by saying it's to Biden's advantage because he's less likely to make verbal missteps when talking with voters.
In the space of just a few hours, both candidates blurt out truth:
On ABC, Biden dismisses basement critique, notes he’s winning and all but says scoreboard, as @MarcACaputo notes
And Trump, eager to have some fodder to work with, pushes out the below https://t.co/llzO7LmD1t — Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) May 12, 2020
Democratic strategists also contend ceding the spotlight to the incumbent benefits Biden, given the administration's haphazard handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.
"He's been incompetent in the way in which he's responded to it," Biden said Tuesday of Trump.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-12--Repealing and replacing the Trump inquiries with the Durham investigation will stoke president's bas

Repealing and replacing the Trump inquiries with the Durham investigation will stoke president's base

An issue Democrats once believed would be the undoing of President Trump could be his ticket back to the White House , as the investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign in Russia turns into a probe of the investigators .
“ POTUS has been vindicated in the Senate , and now he is being further vindicated by DOJ , ” said Republican strategist Bradley Blakeman .
“ There was never any Russian collusion before or after the campaign .
It was an orchestrated effort to prevent Trump from winning and thereafter , keep him from governing .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cat is chasing the dog .
U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham is conducting an investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe that dominated much of the president ’ s term , with results expected before November ’ s election .
Durham ’ s findings could be part of a broader unraveling of the Trump-Russia scandal , which alleged a by the Kremlin and the Trump campaign to swing public opinion against 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton .
Last week , the Justice Department against former national security adviser Michael Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transcripts of over 50 interviews it conducted while investigating possible Trump-Russia collusion , with witnesses , including some former Obama administration officials who have sharply criticized the president on these issues in the media , repeatedly testifying they of such offenses .
The testimony also contained revelations about the dissemination of the discredited Christopher Steele dossier .
All this followed a Justice Department review that found widespread errors in applications the FBI used to surveil Trump campaign aide Carter Page , at least two of which lacked probable cause .
Trump-Russia special counsel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities , ” and House Democrats ultimately did not open an impeachment inquiry based on his report .
“ It paints a pretty damning picture of the political establishment and will further enrage those Trump supporters who believe that the deep state was part of a dangerous coup against the president that they love , ” said Republican strategist John Feehery .
“ The fact that President Obama now looks like he might have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political establishment.
” Trump has frequently called the alleged collusion a “ hoax.
” He was eventually impeached by the Democrat-controlled House over delaying aid to Ukraine in an alleged attempt to force an investigation into Democratic challenger Joe Biden and failing to cooperate with the resulting impeachment inquiry .
The Senate acquitted him of both charges earlier this year .
Now , impeachment has receded into the background , and questions about the Trump-Russia investigations , and how quickly both investigators and Democratic critics of the president knew there was no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be added value to the Trump election fodder , ” Blakeman said .
“ So far , they are gaining more ammo to use against Biden and House and Senate Democrats this fall .
The election will be decided on the economy , but collateral issues like this are certainly going to help the president.
” Durham 's investigation could continue to bolster Trump 's claims that he was subject to a partisan `` witch hunt . ''
`` It was a very dangerous situation what they did , '' Trump told Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are dirty politicians and dirty cops and some horrible people , and hopefully , they 're going to pay a big price in the not too distant future.
” Democrats counter that it is the Justice Department , under the leadership of Attorney General William Barr , that is conducting politicized investigations .
They say that there is substantial evidence against Flynn , who pleaded guilty , and that the Mueller report is a damning portrayal of the president , strongly suggesting that he obstructed justice , even if it stopped short of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found Trump-Russia or impeachment to be a among voters , a fact unlikely to change in the middle of a global pandemic and resulting economic contraction .
But these issues resonate with the bases of both parties .
`` Resistance '' -minded progressive activists kept up pressure on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi until she agreed to an impeachment inquiry .
Trump ’ s strongest supporters believe that the inquiry and the Russia investigation were just tools to oust a duly elected president — and they now have momentum on their side .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an already highly polarized electorate , ” said Feehery .

An issue Democrats once believed would be the undoing of President Trump could be his ticket back to the White House, as the investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign in Russia turns into a probe of the investigators.
“POTUS has been vindicated in the Senate, and now he is being further vindicated by DOJ,” said Republican strategist Bradley Blakeman. “There was never any Russian collusion before or after the campaign. It was an orchestrated effort to prevent Trump from winning and thereafter, keep him from governing. The American people get it.”
Now, the cat is chasing the dog. U.S. Attorney for Connecticut John Durham is conducting an investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe that dominated much of the president’s term, with results expected before November’s election. Durham’s findings could be part of a broader unraveling of the Trump-Russia scandal, which alleged a coordinated effort by the Kremlin and the Trump campaign to swing public opinion against 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Last week, the Justice Department dropped its case against former national security adviser Michael Flynn. The House Intelligence Committee also published transcripts of over 50 interviews it conducted while investigating possible Trump-Russia collusion, with witnesses, including some former Obama administration officials who have sharply criticized the president on these issues in the media, repeatedly testifying they lacked direct evidence of such offenses. The testimony also contained revelations about the dissemination of the discredited Christopher Steele dossier.
All this followed a Justice Department review that found widespread errors in applications the FBI used to surveil Trump campaign aide Carter Page, at least two of which lacked probable cause. Trump-Russia special counsel Robert Mueller concluded his “investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities,” and House Democrats ultimately did not open an impeachment inquiry based on his report.
“It paints a pretty damning picture of the political establishment and will further enrage those Trump supporters who believe that the deep state was part of a dangerous coup against the president that they love,” said Republican strategist John Feehery. “The fact that President Obama now looks like he might have been involved is a further indictment of the political establishment.”
Trump has frequently called the alleged collusion a “hoax.” He was eventually impeached by the Democrat-controlled House over delaying aid to Ukraine in an alleged attempt to force an investigation into Democratic challenger Joe Biden and failing to cooperate with the resulting impeachment inquiry. The Senate acquitted him of both charges earlier this year.
Now, impeachment has receded into the background, and questions about the Trump-Russia investigations, and how quickly both investigators and Democratic critics of the president knew there was no collusion, remain.
“This will be added value to the Trump election fodder,” Blakeman said. “So far, they are gaining more ammo to use against Biden and House and Senate Democrats this fall. The election will be decided on the economy, but collateral issues like this are certainly going to help the president.”
Durham's investigation could continue to bolster Trump's claims that he was subject to a partisan "witch hunt."
"It was a very dangerous situation what they did," Trump told Fox & Friends on Friday. "These are dirty politicians and dirty cops and some horrible people, and hopefully, they're going to pay a big price in the not too distant future.”
Democrats counter that it is the Justice Department, under the leadership of Attorney General William Barr, that is conducting politicized investigations. They say that there is substantial evidence against Flynn, who pleaded guilty, and that the Mueller report is a damning portrayal of the president, strongly suggesting that he obstructed justice, even if it stopped short of proving any collusion-related crimes.
Polling has never found Trump-Russia or impeachment to be a major priority among voters, a fact unlikely to change in the middle of a global pandemic and resulting economic contraction. But these issues resonate with the bases of both parties. "Resistance"-minded progressive activists kept up pressure on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi until she agreed to an impeachment inquiry. Trump’s strongest supporters believe that the inquiry and the Russia investigation were just tools to oust a duly elected president — and they now have momentum on their side.
“Practically speaking, this will further polarize an already highly polarized electorate,” said Feehery.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-13--Solyndra who? Biden focuses on stimulus loan cronyism with Obama-era criticism forgotten

Joe Biden is accusing the Trump administration of cronyism by funneling coronavirus relief funds to politically connected or large corporate companies despite the last administration , during which Biden served as vice president , being accused of the same thing years ago .
“ I will appoint a truly independent , nonpartisan inspector general , and I will direct her to review every stimulus loan given to any big company or political insider , ” Biden said in a video posted Tuesday .
“ Any dollar taken corruptly , we will find it , we will come get it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden was referencing Paycheck Protection Program loans intended for small businesses , a program created in emergency legislation to address economic turmoil due to the coronavirus pandemic .
The program has come under fire as reports emerged that despite the loans being guaranteed are forgiven by the government , if the businesses met certain standards , banks administering the loans favored large clients .
The video announcement prompted dozens of responses from users suggesting hypocrisy by mentioning Solyndra , the failed solar company .
Solyndra was approved for a $ 535 million loan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 2009 Recovery Act during the Great Recession .
ABC reported in 2011 that the Obama administration `` bypassed procedural steps meant to protect taxpayers as it hurried to approve an energy loan guarantee to a politically-connected California solar power startup . ''
One of the company 's major financial backers raised at least $ 50,000 for Obama in 2008 .
The solar panel company went bankrupt four years later .
The Solyndra debacle heightened public mood that the stimulus money meant to help people during the recession was being abused .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in overseeing distribution of stimulus money .
He now points to that responsibility as a major point in his resume as he campaigns against President Trump amid the coronavirus pandemic and another economic crisis .
While the overall effect of the program is still debated , Biden adamantly asserts on the campaign trail that the entire Obama administration , including the stimulus money , was free of scandal or cronyism .
`` Know what I was most proud of ?
For eight years , there was n't one single hint of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at a campaign stop in June , and which he has reiterated many times .
Scrutiny of the 2009 stimulus program , however , prompted many stories of waste and cronyism like Biden is suggesting might be present in the coronavirus small business loans .
`` Overall , the stimulus was notorious for waste and mismanagement .
For two years , following the stimulus bill , newspapers were filled with [ stories of ] fraud .
Payments to dead people , money for a turtle bridge , I remember , was one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Manhattan Institute , a free market think tank , recently told the Washington Examiner .
`` The idea that there was no waste is comical . ''
A 2010 inspector general report found that the Social Security Administration sent 89,000 stimulus payments of $ 250 each to people who were either dead or incarcerated , though around half of them were returned .
The Florida Department of Transportation received $ 3.4 million from the stimulus bill to fund a way for turtles to cross a busy highway .
The turtle bridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma mentioned in a roundup of what he saw as wasteful uses of stimulus tax money .
Solyndra was not the only politically connected company to receive Department of Energy loans .
Tesla Motors , whose CEO Elon Musk was a major donor to Obama 's election campaign , also got hundreds of millions of dollars from stimulus loan programs .
Biden remains consistent in being unconcerned about critics of how stimulus money was spent .
In the 2012 vice presidential debate , his opponent , Wisconsin Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being spent on special interests and `` crony capitalism . ''
Biden scoffed , pointing to a Republican report that found the Solyndra loan was not politically motivated .
`` They found no evidence of cronyism , '' Biden said .
In this election , Biden is on track find himself in the opposition position of where he was in 2012 if he attacks Trump on coronavirus stimulus cronyism , and Trump avoids the issue .

Joe Biden is accusing the Trump administration of cronyism by funneling coronavirus relief funds to politically connected or large corporate companies despite the last administration, during which Biden served as vice president, being accused of the same thing years ago.
“I will appoint a truly independent, nonpartisan inspector general, and I will direct her to review every stimulus loan given to any big company or political insider,” Biden said in a video posted Tuesday. “Any dollar taken corruptly, we will find it, we will come get it, and we will punish the wrongdoers.”
Biden was referencing Paycheck Protection Program loans intended for small businesses, a program created in emergency legislation to address economic turmoil due to the coronavirus pandemic. The program has come under fire as reports emerged that despite the loans being guaranteed as forgiven by the government, if the businesses meet certain standards, banks administering the loans favored large clients.
The video announcement prompted dozens of responses from social media users suggesting hypocrisy by mentioning Solyndra, the failed solar company.
Solyndra was approved for a $535 million loan from the Department of Energy as part of the 2009 Recovery Act during the Great Recession. ABC reported in 2011 that the Obama administration "bypassed procedural steps meant to protect taxpayers as it hurried to approve an energy loan guarantee to a politically-connected California solar power startup." One of the company's major financial backers raised at least $50,000 for Barack Obama in 2008. The solar panel company went bankrupt four years later.
The Solyndra debacle heightened a public mood that the stimulus money meant to help people during the recession was being abused.
Biden as vice president took a leading role in overseeing the distribution of stimulus money. He now points to that responsibility as a major point in his resume as he campaigns against President Trump amid the coronavirus pandemic and another economic crisis.
While the overall effect of the program is still debated, Biden adamantly asserts on the campaign trail that the entire Obama administration, including the stimulus money, was free of scandal or cronyism.
"Know what I was most proud of? For eight years, there wasn't one single hint of a scandal or a lie," Biden said at a campaign stop in June, and which he has reiterated many times.
Scrutiny of the 2009 stimulus program, however, prompted many stories of waste and cronyism like Biden is suggesting might be present in the coronavirus small-business loans.
"Overall, the stimulus was notorious for waste and mismanagement. For two years, following the stimulus bill, newspapers were filled with [stories of] fraud. Payments to dead people, money for a turtle bridge, I remember, was one of the examples," Brian Riedl of the Manhattan Institute, a free market think tank, recently told the Washington Examiner. "The idea that there was no waste is comical."
A 2010 inspector general report found that the Social Security Administration sent 89,000 stimulus payments of $250 each to people who were either dead or incarcerated, though around half of them were returned.
The Florida Department of Transportation received $3.4 million from the stimulus bill to fund a way for turtles to cross a busy highway. The turtle bridge was one of 100 stimulus-funded projects that Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma mentioned in a roundup of what he saw as wasteful uses of stimulus tax money.
Solyndra was not the only politically connected company to receive Department of Energy loans. Tesla Motors, whose CEO Elon Musk was a major donor to Obama's election campaign, also got hundreds of millions of dollars from stimulus loan programs.
Biden remains consistent in being unconcerned about critics of how stimulus money was spent. In the 2012 vice presidential debate, his opponent, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, accused the administration of spending the stimulus on special interests and "crony capitalism." Biden scoffed, pointing to a Republican report that found the Solyndra loan was not politically motivated.
"They found no evidence of cronyism," Biden said.
In this election, Biden is on track to find himself in the opposite position of where he was in 2012 if he attacks Trump on coronavirus stimulus cronyism, and Trump avoids the issue.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-13--Biden would resume war on Little Sisters of the Poor and religious liberty

In these difficult times , we need leadership with the courage to protect groups such as the Little Sisters of the Poor .
As people ’ s daily lives remain upended by the coronavirus , unsung heroes continue to serve as a stabilizing presence in high-risk communities across the country .
One such group , the Little Sisters of the Poor , a group of Catholic nuns dedicated to caring for the indigent elderly , aren ’ t letting the coronavirus pandemic keep them from delivering compassionate care to those hard-hit by the disease .
Just as they did during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sisters have stepped up to care for the poor in a time of great need .
The sisters have weathered a number of trials since their founding over 180 years ago , but none so pernicious as the seven-year campaign threatening the sisters with fines or closure unless they comply with the dictates of the Obama-Biden mandate from the Department of Health and Human Services .
The hostility by the former administration has forced them to return to the Supreme Court this month , and this should concern Catholics and others who support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critical work .
The Little Sisters of the Poor never sought the limelight nor wanted to be involved in politics .
They were forced to stand up courageously for what they believed against an unjust and hostile government .
The sisters first went to court in 2013 to defend their freedom of religion against the Obama-Biden mandate compelling them to provide abortion-inducing drugs and devices in violation of their religious beliefs .
Within months of being elected , President Trump signed an executive order protecting the Little Sisters of the Poor and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's order mandated HHS to write an exemption protecting the sisters and other religious groups from having to provide services that violate their consciences .
While this exemption has been in place since 2018 , Biden ally Josh Shapiro , the attorney general of Pennsylvania , is now attempting to have it struck down .
That is why the Little Sisters of the Poor went to the Supreme Court again , where , hopefully , the justices will grant them their simple request to be left alone — something unlikely to happen under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration showed little mercy when the sisters requested a simple accommodation to its HHS mandate .
The Democratic Party has since moved even further to the Left , with liberals demanding even more purity and less accommodation , especially on matters related to so-called reproductive health .
It ’ s therefore reasonable to assume such antagonism toward Catholics and religious liberty in general will grow worse if Joe Biden were to emerge victorious in November .
The presumptive Democratic nominee has largely remained silent on whether he ’ d defend the Little Sisters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups and other people of faith .
As the Washington Examiner reports , “ The section of Biden ’ s campaign website devoted to Catholics focuses on healthcare , immigration , and environmental protection.
” Given the trajectory of our partisan divide , there is no reason to think a President Biden would pursue a different path than the one pursued by President Barack Obama or that the current crisis will soften his attitude toward the selfless work of the sisters .
Instead , Biden will almost assuredly continue to do the bidding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and double down on the intolerance of the Obama-Biden years .
That will force the sisters to continue to spend precious resources , time , and attention on costly litigation instead of the critical work of caring for the needy elderly across the country .
Unlike the Obama-Biden administration , Trump has been an unwavering advocate for the Little Sisters of the Poor since he took office .
The president has done everything possible to support their charity to the poor , including multiple invitations to the Rose Garden to recognize their work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of new federal judges likely to be far more protective of religious liberty , including two new Supreme Court justices who may very well decide the outcome of their latest appeal .
Voters who care about freedom of religion and value the work of groups such as the Little Sisters of the Poor have a clear choice in 2020 .
Biden knows he must satisfy an increasingly radical base , even if that means turning his back once again on selfless nuns helping the elderly poor .
Meanwhile , Trump has been a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of goodwill who stand with them should keep this in mind when casting their vote for the next president .
Brian Burch is the president of Catholic Vote .

In these difficult times, we need leadership with the courage to protect groups such as the Little Sisters of the Poor.
As people’s daily lives remain upended by the coronavirus, unsung heroes continue to serve as a stabilizing presence in high-risk communities across the country. One such group, the Little Sisters of the Poor, a group of Catholic nuns dedicated to caring for the indigent elderly, aren’t letting the coronavirus pandemic keep them from delivering compassionate care to those hard-hit by the disease.
Just as they did during the influenza epidemic of 1918, the sisters have stepped up to care for the poor in a time of great need. The sisters have weathered a number of trials since their founding over 180 years ago, but none so pernicious as the seven-year campaign threatening the sisters with fines or closure unless they comply with the dictates of the Obama-Biden mandate from the Department of Health and Human Services. The hostility by the former administration has forced them to return to the Supreme Court this month, and this should concern Catholics and others who support the service of religious institutions and their critical work.
The Little Sisters of the Poor never sought the limelight nor wanted to be involved in politics. They were forced to stand up courageously for what they believed against an unjust and hostile government. The sisters first went to court in 2013 to defend their freedom of religion against the Obama-Biden mandate compelling them to provide abortion-inducing drugs and devices in violation of their religious beliefs.
Within months of being elected, President Trump signed an executive order protecting the Little Sisters of the Poor and other religious ministries from government persecution. Trump's order mandated HHS to write an exemption protecting the sisters and other religious groups from having to provide services that violate their consciences. While this exemption has been in place since 2018, Biden ally Josh Shapiro, the attorney general of Pennsylvania, is now attempting to have it struck down.
That is why the Little Sisters of the Poor went to the Supreme Court again, where, hopefully, the justices will grant them their simple request to be left alone — something unlikely to happen under a Biden presidency.
Recall the Obama-Biden administration showed little mercy when the sisters requested a simple accommodation to its HHS mandate. The Democratic Party has since moved even further to the Left, with liberals demanding even more purity and less accommodation, especially on matters related to so-called reproductive health. It’s therefore reasonable to assume such antagonism toward Catholics and religious liberty in general will grow worse if Joe Biden were to emerge victorious in November.
The presumptive Democratic nominee has largely remained silent on whether he’d defend the Little Sisters of the Poor or similarly situated religious groups and other people of faith. As the Washington Examiner reports, “The section of Biden’s campaign website devoted to Catholics focuses on healthcare, immigration, and environmental protection.”
Given the trajectory of our partisan divide, there is no reason to think a President Biden would pursue a different path than the one pursued by President Barack Obama or that the current crisis will soften his attitude toward the selfless work of the sisters. Instead, Biden will almost assuredly continue to do the bidding of liberal ideologues who control the party and double down on the intolerance of the Obama-Biden years. That will force the sisters to continue to spend precious resources, time, and attention on costly litigation instead of the critical work of caring for the needy elderly across the country.
Unlike the Obama-Biden administration, Trump has been an unwavering advocate for the Little Sisters of the Poor since he took office. The president has done everything possible to support their charity to the poor, including multiple invitations to the Rose Garden to recognize their work. Further, he has appointed hundreds of new federal judges likely to be far more protective of religious liberty, including two new Supreme Court justices who may very well decide the outcome of their latest appeal.
Voters who care about freedom of religion and value the work of groups such as the Little Sisters of the Poor have a clear choice in 2020. Biden knows he must satisfy an increasingly radical base, even if that means turning his back once again on selfless nuns helping the elderly poor. Meanwhile, Trump has been a warrior on their behalf. Catholics and people of goodwill who stand with them should keep this in mind when casting their vote for the next president.
Brian Burch is the president of Catholic Vote.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-12--Democrats ruining the economy by fighting to keep lockdowns, Republicans say

Republicans say Democrats fighting to keep tight pandemic lockdowns are cratering the economy .
The GOP strategy is to prevent President Trump shouldering the blame if there is now turnaround before Election Day .
Concern has soared within the previously confident Republican establishment about Trump ’ s prospects against Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee .
Fears are tracking unemployment that skyrocketed from 3.5 % to 14.7 % in just six weeks .
It is likely to go higher this month .
Democrats , trying to frame debate in the run-up to voting , talk of a “ Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is because of the president ’ s mishandling of the pandemic .
Ironically , it is most commonly Democratic officials who oppose Trump 's efforts to reopen the economy and revive the jobs market .
The Left is prioritizing preventing the spread of the coronavirus instead .
Democrats are thus caught in a 180-degree contradiction , holding Trump responsible for recession but refusing to open the economy .
Republicans say this opens Democrats to the wrath of voters increasingly worried about their finances .
“ It ’ s a disconnect , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Democrats are arguing that the economy is bad and that we should keep it shut down .
That ’ s not going to be lost on voters.
” A fresh poll of Wisconsin voters from Marquette University Law School suggests political trends could favor Republicans as the election draws near .
In this closely divided Midwest battleground , critical to Trump ’ s reelection , only 49 % of Republicans say business and schools should stay closed , down from 83 % in March .
Among independents , there is 69 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 79 % last month .
But other data shows voters more worried about health than economic recovery , which makes Democrats confident that making Trump responsible for the recession is a vote winner .
“ I don ’ t think the American people think we ’ ve succeeded at containment , ” said Democratic strategist Joe Trippi .
Democrats believe they can make the case that Trump bungled his response to the coronavirus , exacerbating damage to the economy , which he agreed needed to be shut down , and generating a death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday evening .
They say there is no contradiction in pointing this out while warning that reopening the economy too soon would make both the recession and the pandemic worse .
The president still gets good marks on his handling of the economy .
In the Wisconsin poll from Marquette University Law School , his job approval stood at 47 % , above his national average , although he trailed Biden 46 % to 43 % .
Some Republicans are confident that as voters shift their attention from coronavirus mitigation to jobs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is the most qualified to lead a recovery , Trump ’ s past performance will carry him past Biden .
Privately , other Republican insiders doubt this assessment .
Winning reelection during a historically bad economy is difficult for any president .
Combined with Trump ’ s erratic messaging , voters may conclude he failed , and vote for change , some GOP strategists fear .
“ Biden ’ s best play may be admitting that nobody knows what ’ s to come , but you ’ re in better shape heading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stable , ” a Republican consultant said .
“ It should be easy to make a case for change when you ’ ve got double-digit unemployment and 100,000 deaths .
”

Republicans say Democrats who are fighting to keep tight pandemic lockdowns are cratering the economy. The GOP strategy is to prevent President Trump from shouldering the blame if there is no turnaround before Election Day.
Concern has soared within the previously confident Republican establishment about Trump’s prospects against Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee. Fears are tracking unemployment, which has skyrocketed from 3.5% to 14.7% in just six weeks. It is likely to go higher this month. Democrats, trying to frame the debate in the run-up to voting, talk of a “Trump depression” and blame the free fall on the president’s mishandling of the pandemic.
Ironically, it is most commonly Democratic officials who oppose Trump's efforts to reopen the economy and revive the jobs market. The Left is prioritizing preventing the spread of the coronavirus instead. Democrats are thus caught in a 180-degree contradiction, holding Trump responsible for a recession but refusing to open the economy.
Republicans say this opens Democrats to the wrath of voters who are increasingly worried about their finances.
“It’s a disconnect,” said Brad Todd, a veteran Republican strategist. “Democrats are arguing that the economy is bad and that we should keep it shut down. That’s not going to be lost on voters.”
A fresh poll of Wisconsin voters from Marquette University Law School suggests political trends could favor Republicans as the election draws near. In this closely divided Midwest battleground, critical to Trump’s reelection, only 49% of Republicans say business and schools should stay closed, down from 83% in March. Among independents, there is 69% support in Wisconsin, down from 79% last month.
[Read more: Trump seeks to reopen as early goal of keeping hospitals from overcrowding is achieved]
But other data shows voters more worried about health than economic recovery, which makes Democrats confident that making Trump responsible for the recession is a vote winner.
“I don’t think the American people think we’ve succeeded at containment,” said Democratic strategist Joe Trippi.
Democrats believe they can make the case that Trump bungled his response to the coronavirus, exacerbating damage to the economy, which he agreed needed to be shut down, and generating a death toll that stood at more than 82,000 Tuesday evening. They say there is no contradiction in pointing this out while warning that reopening the economy too soon would make both the recession and the pandemic worse.
“Trump owns that,” said Ed Espinoza, a Democratic operative in Austin, Texas.
The president still gets good marks on his handling of the economy. In the Wisconsin poll from Marquette University Law School, his job approval stood at 47%, above his national average, although he trailed Biden 46% to 43%. Some Republicans are confident that as voters shift their attention from coronavirus mitigation to jobs, the economy, and the question of who is the most qualified to lead a recovery, Trump’s past performance will carry him past Biden.
Privately, other Republican insiders doubt this assessment. Winning reelection during a historically bad economy is difficult for any president. Combined with Trump’s erratic messaging, voters may conclude he failed and vote for change, some GOP strategists fear.
“Biden’s best play may be admitting that nobody knows what’s to come, but you’re in better shape heading into the unknown with somebody who is stable,” a Republican consultant said. “It should be easy to make a case for change when you’ve got double-digit unemployment and 100,000 deaths.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-13--Republicans more likely than Democrats to believe party conventions will be safe to attend: Poll

A strong plurality of Republican voters believe it is safe to hold traditional presidential nominating conventions this summer as originally planned , despite lingering health concerns related to the coronavirus , according to a new poll .
The Republican convention to renominate President Trump is set for Aug. 24 – 27 in Charlotte , North Carolina , and a national YouGov survey conducted for the Economist showed that 47 % of GOP voters believe the event , which typically draws thousands of people , will be safe to attend .
Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has told the Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are on track , despite uncertainty surrounding the pandemic .
A majority of Democrats , 61 % , do not believe it will be safe to hold the conventions , compared to 30 % of Republicans who feel the same .
Another 23 % of Republicans are not sure .
Democrats are set to convene in Milwaukee Aug. 17 – 20 to nominate former Vice President Joe Biden , although the coronavirus forced them to push back the event , which was originally scheduled for mid-July .
A plurality of independents , 45 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold a safe convention amid the COVID-19 outbreak .
The poll found that a significant percentage of voters are simply not sure what to think about the safety of the quadrennial conventions , including 23 % of Republicans , 26 % of Democrats , and 32 % of independents .
The poll revealed stark , partisan differences on a number of related questions .
On the question of whether the conventions should be held at all , 49 % of Republicans favor moving ahead with the events .
But only 18 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independents , agreed .
But there is also support for doing a virtual version of the conventions , with 22 % of Republicans saying they “ strongly approved ” of such a move and 29 % saying they “ somewhat approved.
” Among Democrats and independents , 43 % and 27 % , respectively , strongly approved ; 31 % and 27 % , respectively , somewhat approved .
McDaniel said the GOP would reassess its plans in early July to determine whether the coronavirus necessitates any changes to the convention .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delegates to vote remotely if they prefer .
The YouGov poll was based on online interviews with 1,175 registered voters .
The margin of error was 3.4 percentage points .

A strong plurality of Republican voters believe it is safe to hold traditional presidential nominating conventions this summer as originally planned, despite lingering health concerns related to the coronavirus, according to a new poll.
The Republican convention to renominate President Trump is set for Aug. 24 – 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a national YouGov survey conducted for the Economist showed that 47% of GOP voters believe the event, which typically draws thousands of people, will be safe to attend. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has told the Washington Examiner that plans for a normal convention are on track, despite uncertainty surrounding the pandemic.
A majority of Democrats, 61%, do not believe it will be safe to hold the conventions, compared to 30% of Republicans who feel the same. Another 23% of Republicans are not sure.
Democrats are set to convene in Milwaukee Aug. 17 – 20 to nominate former Vice President Joe Biden, although the coronavirus forced them to push back the event, which was originally scheduled for mid-July. A plurality of independents, 45%, also question the ability to hold a safe convention amid the COVID-19 outbreak.
The poll found that a significant percentage of voters are simply not sure what to think about the safety of the quadrennial conventions, including 23% of Republicans, 26% of Democrats, and 32% of independents. The poll revealed stark, partisan differences on a number of related questions.
On the question of whether the conventions should be held at all, 49% of Republicans favor moving ahead with the events. But only 18% of Democrats, and just 26% of independents, agreed.
But there is also support for doing a virtual version of the conventions, with 22% of Republicans saying they “strongly approved” of such a move and 29% saying they “somewhat approved.” Among Democrats and independents, 43% and 27%, respectively, strongly approved; 31% and 27%, respectively, somewhat approved.
McDaniel said the GOP would reassess its plans in early July to determine whether the coronavirus necessitates any changes to the convention. The DNC is already moving to allow convention delegates to vote remotely if they prefer.
The YouGov poll was based on online interviews with 1,175 registered voters. The margin of error was 3.4 percentage points.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-13--Jake Tapper blasts Biden campaign official for 'gross' attack on Catherine Herridge

CNN anchor Jake Tapper criticized a Biden campaign official for attacking CBS reporter Catherine Herridge .
On Wednesday , the CNN anchor fired back at Andrew Bates , the director of rapid response for Joe Biden 's presidential campaign for attacking journalist Catherine Herridge as a `` partisan , rightwing hack . ''
`` Gross .
Personal attacks on journalists for sharing facts is obnoxious and indecent .
@ JoeBiden approves this message ? ''
Tapper tweeted .
On Wednesday , Herridge tweeted photographs of newly declassified records from acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell that shows a list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn 's identity has been unmasked .
Sixteen individuals made the request for Flynn 's identity to be unmasked , and the list tweeted by Herridge implicated Biden in what President Trump has called `` Obamagate . ''
`` SCOOP CBS News obtains Richard Grenell notification to congress declassified 'unmasking list ' Flynn between late 2016 and January 2017 - Read 3 pages provided by NSA here , '' Herridge tweeted .
In response , Bates attacked Herridge , calling her a `` regular conduit for conservative media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catherine Herridge is a partisan , rightwing hack who is a regular conduit for conservative media manipulation ploys because she agrees to publicize things before contacting the target to ask for comment , '' Bates said in a tweet that was deleted shortly after .
Biden 's campaign has repeatedly decried Trump for his treatment of the press , making it a central message in his campaign .
`` A free press is essential to a free society .
That 's why attacking the press and attempting to intimidate independent media is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , '' Biden tweeted in early May .
`` Trump deflects legitimate questions with attacks .
He bullies members of the press , instead of taking responsibility for his failures .
His efforts to undermine public confidence in the integrity of reporting violate our core values and threaten our very system of government , '' he said in an additional tweet .

CNN anchor Jake Tapper criticized a Biden campaign official for attacking CBS reporter Catherine Herridge.
On Wednesday, the CNN anchor fired back at Andrew Bates, the director of rapid response for Joe Biden's presidential campaign for attacking journalist Catherine Herridge as a "partisan, rightwing hack."
"Gross. Personal attacks on journalists for sharing facts is obnoxious and indecent. @JoeBiden approves this message?" Tapper tweeted.
Gross. Personal attacks on journalists for sharing facts is obnoxious and indecent. @JoeBiden approves this message? https://t.co/G6jVxWuxMF — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 13, 2020
On Wednesday, Herridge tweeted photographs of newly declassified records from acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell that shows a list of people who received notification that former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn's identity has been unmasked. Sixteen individuals made the request for Flynn's identity to be unmasked, and the list tweeted by Herridge implicated Biden in what President Trump has called "Obamagate."
"SCOOP CBS News obtains Richard Grenell notification to congress declassified 'unmasking list' Flynn between late 2016 and January 2017 - Read 3 pages provided by NSA here," Herridge tweeted.
In response, Bates attacked Herridge, calling her a "regular conduit for conservative media manipulation ploy."
"SCOOP: Catherine Herridge is a partisan, rightwing hack who is a regular conduit for conservative media manipulation ploys because she agrees to publicize things before contacting the target to ask for comment," Bates said in a tweet that was deleted shortly after.
Biden's campaign has repeatedly decried Trump for his treatment of the press, making it a central message in his campaign. "A free press is essential to a free society. That's why attacking the press and attempting to intimidate independent media is a standard part of the authoritarian playbook around the world," Biden tweeted in early May.
"Trump deflects legitimate questions with attacks. He bullies members of the press, instead of taking responsibility for his failures. His efforts to undermine public confidence in the integrity of reporting violate our core values and threaten our very system of government," he said in an additional tweet.
A free press is essential to a free society. That's why attacking the press and attempting to intimidate independent media is a standard part of the authoritarian playbook around the world. And it’s why Donald Trump’s efforts to demonize the media put us on such a dangerous path. — Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 3, 2020


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-13--Biden campaign spokesman calls CBS journalist who reported on unmasking a 'rightwing hack'

A senior aide for Joe Biden 's campaign attacked a journalist at CBS News for reporting on the Obama administration officials who received unmasking information on Michael Flynn , calling her a `` rightwing hack . ''
`` SCOOP : Catherine Herridge is a partisan , rightwing hack who is a regular conduit for conservative media manipulation ploys because she agrees to publicize things before contacting the target to ask for comment , '' tweeted Biden 's Director of Rapid Response Andrew Bates .
Herridge , who is a senior investigative correspondent for CBS , first reported on the declassified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have received Flynn 's identity .
The final name on that list was then-Vice President Joe Biden , with a request date listed of Jan. 12 , 2017 .
Notably , that was the same day that David Ignatius of the Washington Post ran a story containing leaked classified details from Flynn 's call with the Russian ambassador .
Biden and other top Obama officials received information in response to `` unmasking '' requests targeting retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn in the final weeks of the previous administration , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Intelligence Richard Grenell .
The list , obtained by the Washington Examiner on Wednesday , shows Biden received information at least once in response to such an unmasking request on Jan. 12 , 2017 , but it is not clear whether he made the request or even looked at the information .
Biden is now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee in the 2020 contest for the White House .
In an interview earlier this week , after first denying that he knew anything about the FBI investigation into Flynn , Biden corrected himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stephanopoulos , who noted his presence at a high-profile Oval Office meeting in the final days of the Obama administration on Jan. 5 , 2017 .
After that meeting , documents show that Comey discussed intercepted contacts between Flynn and then-Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak with President Barack Obama and Biden .
Biden audibly sighed on ABC 's Good Morning America as Stephanopoulos asked what the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee knew about an early 2017 investigation into Flynn and whether there was anything improper done by the Obama administration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to investigate Michael Flynn , '' Biden said .
`` This is all about diversion .
This is a game this guy plays all the time .
The country is in crisis .
...
He should stop trying to always divert attention from the real concerns of the American people.
” But after Stephanopoulos followed up , noting that the former vice president was said to be in attendance at the early January 2017 meeting , Biden corrected himself .
`` I thought you asked me whether or not I had anything to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden replied , after fidgeting with his earpiece .
`` I was aware that there was , that they asked for an investigation , but that 's all I know about it . ''
Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to making false statements to the FBI related to his December 2016 calls with the Russian ambassador but sought to withdraw his guilty plea earlier this year .
The Justice Department moved to dismiss the case against Flynn last week as new details emerged about the FBI 's targeting of Flynn .
The newly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unmasking requests related to the incoming Trump national security adviser , and the list shows which officials received that sensitive information .
It was not immediately clear which individuals made the requests , but those who received the unmasking information were laid out chronologically .

A senior aide for Joe Biden's campaign attacked a journalist at CBS News for reporting on the Obama administration officials who received unmasking information on Michael Flynn, calling her a "rightwing hack."
"SCOOP: Catherine Herridge is a partisan, rightwing hack who is a regular conduit for conservative media manipulation ploys because she agrees to publicize things before contacting the target to ask for comment," tweeted Biden's Director of Rapid Response Andrew Bates.
Herridge, who is a senior investigative correspondent for CBS, first reported on the declassified list of Obama White House officials who may have received Flynn's identity. The final name on that list was then-Vice President Joe Biden, with a request date listed of Jan. 12, 2017. Notably, that was the same day that David Ignatius of the Washington Post ran a story containing leaked classified details from Flynn's call with the Russian ambassador.
Biden and other top Obama officials received information in response to "unmasking" requests targeting retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn in the final weeks of the previous administration, according to a memo declassified by acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell.
The list, obtained by the Washington Examiner on Wednesday, shows Biden received information at least once in response to such an unmasking request on Jan. 12, 2017, but it is not clear whether he made the request or even looked at the information. Biden is now the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee in the 2020 contest for the White House.
In an interview earlier this week, after first denying that he knew anything about the FBI investigation into Flynn, Biden corrected himself when pressed on it by journalist George Stephanopoulos, who noted his presence at a high-profile Oval Office meeting in the final days of the Obama administration on Jan. 5, 2017. After that meeting, documents show that Comey discussed intercepted contacts between Flynn and then-Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak with President Barack Obama and Biden.
Biden audibly sighed on ABC's Good Morning America as Stephanopoulos asked what the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee knew about an early 2017 investigation into Flynn and whether there was anything improper done by the Obama administration.
"I know nothing about those moves to investigate Michael Flynn," Biden said. "This is all about diversion. This is a game this guy plays all the time. The country is in crisis. ... He should stop trying to always divert attention from the real concerns of the American people.”
But after Stephanopoulos followed up, noting that the former vice president was said to be in attendance at the early January 2017 meeting, Biden corrected himself.
"I thought you asked me whether or not I had anything to do with him being prosecuted," Biden replied, after fidgeting with his earpiece. "I was aware that there was, that they asked for an investigation, but that's all I know about it."
Flynn pleaded guilty in 2017 to making false statements to the FBI related to his December 2016 calls with the Russian ambassador but sought to withdraw his guilty plea earlier this year. The Justice Department moved to dismiss the case against Flynn last week as new details emerged about the FBI's targeting of Flynn.
The newly declassified records show that 16 individuals made unmasking requests related to the incoming Trump national security adviser, and the list shows which officials received that sensitive information. It was not immediately clear which individuals made the requests, but those who received the unmasking information were laid out chronologically.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-13--Biden caters to Left by putting AOC on climate change task force

After handily winning a primary packed with 20-odd people by refusing to embark on their race to the Left , Joe Biden is changing his tune .
With the Democratic nominee 's most obvious selling point , personal decency and respect for decorum , imperiled by a credible sexual assault allegation , Biden now seems more desperate than ever to cater to the party 's far Left base .
Most noteworthy is the appointment of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as co-chairwoman of his climate change panel .
During the primary , Biden 's initial climate proposal stood out from the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ocasio-Cortez 's `` Green New Deal . ''
Biden backed both an increase in nuclear research and production and using trade negotiations to cajole China , the world 's worst producer of greenhouse gases , into combating its own emissions .
Putting Ocasio-Cortez on his climate panel indicates that perhaps that would n't be the plan we 'd get in practice , however .
Instead , Biden seems willing to incorporate aspects of the `` Green New Deal , '' the contents of which I summarized last year : It might make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given her national ubiquity and relative popularity among the Left .
But what makes less sense is Biden 's appointment of the crackpot economist Stephanie Kelton to his economy panel .
Kelton , most notable in political circles for advising Bernie Sanders , is the nation 's most vocal proponent of Modern Monetary Theory , which maintains that because the federal government issues its own currency , it could never run out of money as it could always print more to pay off debt and purchase whatever it wants .
MMT fans assert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then , inflation , could be ameliorated with increased taxation — because that worked so well in the Weimar Republic .
Ocasio-Cortez is a household name , and giving her a pretty patronage is an easy way garner the trust of voters on the fence about turning out for Biden .
Kelton is a fringe economist , one celebrated solely by the most extreme and high-information voters of the Left and pretty widely disliked by the few people outside of that circle who know about her .
Couple that with Biden 's recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` FDR-sized presidency '' and that he 's essentially a filler candidate until a more committed leftist can actually win national elections , and it 's pretty evident that Biden is running no mere continuation of the Obama legacy .

After handily winning a primary packed with 20-odd people by refusing to embark on their race to the Left, Joe Biden is changing his tune. With the Democratic nominee's most obvious selling point, personal decency and respect for decorum, imperiled by a credible sexual assault allegation, Biden now seems more desperate than ever to cater to the party's far Left base.
Most noteworthy is the appointment of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as co-chairwoman of his climate change panel. During the primary, Biden's initial climate proposal stood out from the rest precisely because it avoided the radical redistributionism of Ocasio-Cortez's "Green New Deal." Biden backed both an increase in nuclear research and production and using trade negotiations to cajole China, the world's worst producer of greenhouse gases, into combating its own emissions.
Putting Ocasio-Cortez on his climate panel indicates that perhaps that wouldn't be the plan we'd get in practice, however. Instead, Biden seems willing to incorporate aspects of the "Green New Deal," the contents of which I summarized last year:
Furthermore, of the six total topics covered by the early proposal of the "Green New Deal" — which, might I remind you, its proponents say is intended to fight the single greatest threat to planet Earth — one is to "Uphold Indigenous Rights." Under his statute, the "Green New Deal" forbids any "corporate schemes that places profits over community burdens and benefits," including cap-and-trade and carbon capture and storage. So to paraphrase Ocasio-Cortez: We’re like: The world is going to end in 12 years if we don’t address climate change, and your biggest issue is that you are hung up on dams, nuclear power, and any scheme that makes carbon-free energy remotely viable?
Ocasio-Cortez's Deal also The "Green New Deal" expressly forbids "all combustion-based power generation nuclear, biomass energy, large scale hydro and waste-to-energy technologies," which is a clear sign that those who drafted it aren't serious. Although technology has rapidly made modern living more energy efficient, it's scientifically improbable, and probably impossible, for wind and solar alone to satisfy market demand if only because the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow. Consider that states like California have made concerted efforts to shut down nuclear power plants, yet nuclear still provides half of the country's carbon-free power. And hydropower provides about the same amount of energy as biomass, geothermal, solar, and wind combined, even though solar and wind receive massive subsidies and their use is mandated in many cases by federal law.Furthermore, of the six total topics covered by the early proposal of the "Green New Deal" — which, might I remind you, its proponents say is intended to fight the single greatest threat to planet Earth — one is to "Uphold Indigenous Rights." Under his statute, the "Green New Deal" forbids any "corporate schemes that places profits over community burdens and benefits," including cap-and-trade and carbon capture and storage. So to paraphrase Ocasio-Cortez: We’re like: The world is going to end in 12 years if we don’t address climate change, and your biggest issue is that you are hung up on dams, nuclear power, and any scheme that makes carbon-free energy remotely viable?Ocasio-Cortez's Deal also promises to include a federal jobs guarantee and may include “additional measures such as basic income programs [or] universal health care programs.” This has nothing to do with green energy, although it could be viewed as an attempt to help the millions of people in multiple industries who stand to be thrown out of work if anything like this scheme is put into effect.
It might make sense to throw Ocasio-Cortez a bone, given her national ubiquity and relative popularity among the Left. But what makes less sense is Biden's appointment of the crackpot economist Stephanie Kelton to his economy panel.
Kelton, most notable in political circles for advising Bernie Sanders, is the nation's most vocal proponent of Modern Monetary Theory, which maintains that because the federal government issues its own currency, it could never run out of money as it could always print more to pay off debt and purchase whatever it wants. MMT fans assert that the bigger threat to the economy then, inflation, could be ameliorated with increased taxation — because that worked so well in the Weimar Republic.
Ocasio-Cortez is a household name, and giving her a pretty patronage is an easy way garner the trust of voters on the fence about turning out for Biden. Kelton is a fringe economist, one celebrated solely by the most extreme and high-information voters of the Left and pretty widely disliked by the few people outside of that circle who know about her.
Couple that with Biden's recent assertions that he wishes to have an "FDR-sized presidency" and that he's essentially a filler candidate until a more committed leftist can actually win national elections, and it's pretty evident that Biden is running no mere continuation of the Obama legacy.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-13--Reporter tells Biden internet refers to him as 'Dementia Joe' and 'Creepy Joe'

One reporter with a popular Snapchat program told presidential candidate Joe Biden some disparaging nicknames used online to refer to him .
Peter Hamby , host of the show Good Luck America on Snapchat , asked the former vice president how he rebuts nicknames used online against him , telling Obama 's former right-hand man that internet users often call him `` Dementia Joe '' and `` Creepy Joe . ''
Hamby cited a study from the Shorenstein Center at Harvard University , which found the top anti-Biden memes online contain the nicknames widely used by President Trump and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that former President Barack Obama has been shown anti-Biden videos on TikTok by his daughters .
`` Basically , there 's an entire discourse on the internet right now that 's painting you as creepy and old and out-of-touch and kinda lame .
How do you fight back against that ? ''
Hamby asked .
Biden attributed the surge of the nicknames to Trump 's use of Twitter but asserted it 's important for young people to get their information from reliable sources and that his energy level is comparable to Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem comparing my energy level to Donald Trump , who I 'm really resisting giving a nickname to , '' Biden said , laughing .
Biden has attempted to engage with youth voters through the use of social media , through Instagram livestreams with soccer player Megan Rapinoe , and hosting podcasts with prominent Democrats like Hillary Clinton , Andrew Yang , and others .
`` We 're trying to get better with it .
I can hardly wait to get out of being on my back porch here , '' Biden told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already accepted defeat in the 2020 election ]

One reporter with a popular Snapchat program told presidential candidate Joe Biden some disparaging nicknames used online to refer to him.
Peter Hamby, host of the show Good Luck America on Snapchat, asked the former vice president how he rebuts nicknames used online against him, telling Obama's former right-hand man that internet users often call him "Dementia Joe" and "Creepy Joe."
Hamby cited a study from the Shorenstein Center at Harvard University, which found the top anti-Biden memes online contain the nicknames widely used by President Trump and some of his allies, later noting reports that former President Barack Obama has been shown anti-Biden videos on TikTok by his daughters.
"Basically, there's an entire discourse on the internet right now that's painting you as creepy and old and out-of-touch and kinda lame. How do you fight back against that?" Hamby asked.
Biden attributed the surge of the nicknames to Trump's use of Twitter but asserted it's important for young people to get their information from reliable sources and that his energy level is comparable to Trump's.
"I don't have any problem comparing my energy level to Donald Trump, who I'm really resisting giving a nickname to," Biden said, laughing.
Biden has attempted to engage with youth voters through the use of social media, through Instagram livestreams with soccer player Megan Rapinoe, and hosting podcasts with prominent Democrats like Hillary Clinton, Andrew Yang, and others.
"We're trying to get better with it. I can hardly wait to get out of being on my back porch here," Biden told Hamby.
[Opinion: Joe Biden has already accepted defeat in the 2020 election]


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-13--New poll shows Trump leading Biden in swing states

A new poll finds President Trump with a 7-point lead over Joe Biden in 15 swing states , despite losing nationally by 5 points .
The survey , conducted by the research company SSRS for CNN , found that 52 % of voters in swing states back Trump for reelection , with 45 % supporting the vice president .
In a national head-to-head matchup , 51 % of voters prefer Biden and 46 % plan on voting for Trump .
The swing states included in the poll are Arizona , Florida , Colorado , Georgia , Maine , Michigan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Mexico , North Carolina , Ohio , Pennsylvania , Virginia , and Wisconsin .
The firm interviewed 1,112 adults by telephone for the poll , which has a 3.7 % margin of error .
Much of Trump 's advantage in swing states stems from younger voters , who narrowly favor him over Biden .
Nationally , Biden leads Trump with women 55 % to 41 % , and with people of color 69 % to 26 % .
Among men , Trump wins 50 % of their support to Biden 's 46 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 55 % to 43 % , and the two are nearly tied with voters under the age of 45 , at 49 % for Biden and 46 % for Trump .
Trump 's strengths lie in how voters view his handling of the economy , with 54 % saying they trust him more than Biden .
The former vice president , however , is more trusted to handle the coronavirus outbreak at 51 % to Trump 's 45 % .
Questions about Biden 's fitness for office have clearly entered the voters ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think Biden has the `` stamina and sharpness to be president , '' compared to 49 % saying the same for Trump .
The last CNN poll , conducted in April , had Biden leading Trump by 11 points nationally .
That survey found 53 % of voters backing Biden , compared to 42 % for Trump .
A RealClearPolitics average of polls taken in late April and May has Biden leading by 4.5 points , with 47.7 % of the vote .

A new poll finds President Trump with a 7-point lead over Joe Biden in 15 swing states, despite losing nationally by 5 points.
The survey, conducted by the research company SSRS for CNN, found that 52% of voters in swing states back Trump for reelection, with 45% supporting the vice president. In a national head-to-head matchup, 51% of voters prefer Biden and 46% plan on voting for Trump.
The swing states included in the poll are Arizona, Florida, Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The firm interviewed 1,112 adults by telephone for the poll, which has a 3.7% margin of error.
Much of Trump's advantage in swing states stems from younger voters, who narrowly favor him over Biden. Nationally, Biden leads Trump with women 55% to 41%, and with people of color 69% to 26%. Among men, Trump wins 50% of their support to Biden's 46%.
White voters also favor Trump 55% to 43%, and the two are nearly tied with voters under the age of 45, at 49% for Biden and 46% for Trump.
Trump's strengths lie in how voters view his handling of the economy, with 54% saying they trust him more than Biden. The former vice president, however, is more trusted to handle the coronavirus outbreak at 51% to Trump's 45%.
Questions about Biden's fitness for office have clearly entered the voters' minds, with 46% saying they think Biden has the "stamina and sharpness to be president," compared to 49% saying the same for Trump.
The last CNN poll, conducted in April, had Biden leading Trump by 11 points nationally. That survey found 53% of voters backing Biden, compared to 42% for Trump.
A RealClearPolitics average of polls taken in late April and May has Biden leading by 4.5 points, with 47.7% of the vote.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-13--'A bumbling, rambling fool': Mark Levin rips Biden for saying Trump is using pandemic to divide Amer

'A bumbling, rambling fool': Mark Levin rips Biden for saying Trump is using pandemic to divide America

Conservative commentator Mark Levin blasted Joe Biden after the presumptive Democratic nominee for president said that President Trump is presenting people with a `` false choice '' between reopening the economy and staying healthy amid the coronavirus pandemic .
`` Joe Biden didn ’ t write this , despite the fact it is more leftwing drivel .
Yet , the Washington Post pretends he did and publishes it .
The Biden candidacy is a lie , '' Levin said of Biden 's Monday opinion article in the Washington Post .
`` He ’ s a man incapable of clear thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rambling fool through whom the media and Democrats hope to defeat a president they ’ ve hated and tormented for years now . ''
In his editorial , Biden explained how Trump is purposefully using a national public health crisis to divide people in the United States while making himself and Republicans appear as strong economic simulators and casting Democrats as negative and overly afraid of the virus .
`` Instead of unifying the country to accelerate our public health response and get economic relief to those who need it , President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deflecting blame and dividing Americans , '' Biden said .
`` His goal is as obvious as it is craven : He hopes to split the country into dueling camps , casting Democrats as doomsayers hoping to keep America grounded and Republicans as freedom fighters trying to liberate the economy . ''
Biden continued , `` It ’ s a childish tactic — and a false choice that none of us should fall for . ''
The former vice president said if Trump was serious about reassuring the public during this crisis and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would `` focus on producing and distributing adequate testing and protocols that conform with the guidance of public health experts . ''
`` Doing so would speed up the reopening process considerably and make it a whole lot more effective , '' he said .
Levin , a staunch defender of Trump and conservatives in Congress pressing state governments to speed up the reopening process , said voters should not reward Biden 's attacks on Trump .
`` If the American people go along with this in November , they ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cultural tyranny they ’ ve helped unleash against themselves , '' he said .
`` And our foreign enemies , like China , Iran , and Russia , will be thrilled as they exploit the inevitable appeasement of Democrat Party and its media cheerleaders . ''

Conservative commentator Mark Levin blasted Joe Biden after the presumptive Democratic nominee for president said that President Trump is presenting people with a "false choice" between reopening the economy and staying healthy amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"Joe Biden didn’t write this, despite the fact it is more leftwing drivel. Yet, the Washington Post pretends he did and publishes it. The Biden candidacy is a lie," Levin said of Biden's Monday opinion article in the Washington Post. "He’s a man incapable of clear thinking. He’s a bumbling, rambling fool through whom the media and Democrats hope to defeat a president they’ve hated and tormented for years now."
3. If the American people go along with this in November, they’ll soon regret the legal, economic, and cultural tyranny they’ve helped unleash against themselves. — Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) May 12, 2020
In his editorial, Biden explained how Trump is purposefully using a national public health crisis to divide people in the United States while making himself and Republicans appear as strong economic simulators and casting Democrats as negative and overly afraid of the virus.
"Instead of unifying the country to accelerate our public health response and get economic relief to those who need it, President Trump is reverting to a familiar strategy of deflecting blame and dividing Americans," Biden said. "His goal is as obvious as it is craven: He hopes to split the country into dueling camps, casting Democrats as doomsayers hoping to keep America grounded and Republicans as freedom fighters trying to liberate the economy."
Biden continued, "It’s a childish tactic — and a false choice that none of us should fall for."
The former vice president said if Trump was serious about reassuring the public during this crisis and getting the economy back on track, he would "focus on producing and distributing adequate testing and protocols that conform with the guidance of public health experts."
"Doing so would speed up the reopening process considerably and make it a whole lot more effective," he said.
Levin, a staunch defender of Trump and conservatives in Congress pressing state governments to speed up the reopening process, said voters should not reward Biden's attacks on Trump.
"If the American people go along with this in November, they’ll soon regret the legal, economic, and cultural tyranny they’ve helped unleash against themselves," he said. "And our foreign enemies, like China, Iran, and Russia, will be thrilled as they exploit the inevitable appeasement of Democrat Party and its media cheerleaders."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-05-13--Hillary Clinton: Kushner 'doesn't get to decide' on delaying election due to coronavirus

Hillary Clinton joined a growing chorus of Democrats outraged over remarks made by President Trump 's son-in-law and White House adviser Jared Kushner about the possibility of delaying the 2020 presidential election due to the coronavirus pandemic .
“ I ’ m not sure I can commit one way or the other , but right now , that ’ s the plan , ” Kushner told Time when asked if the general election could be postponed .
In separate comments to Time magazine , Kushner said of the November election : “ Hopefully , by the time we get to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve done enough work with testing and with all the different things we ’ re trying to do to prevent a future outbreak of the magnitude that would make us shut down again . ''
Kushner said , `` Once America opens up , it ’ ll be very hard for America to ever lock down again.
” Clinton responded to the comments , saying , `` I can ’ t believe I have to write this sentence , but the president 's son-in-law does n't get to decide when the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opinion of a top White House staffer has no bearing on whether or not an election is held , and the president can not move or delay any presidential election , which law dictates is held every four years on the first Tuesday after Nov. 1 .
Other Democrats also weighed in on the comments .
Several states have either suspended or held primaries by mail in response to the pandemic , which has killed more than 80,000 people in the United States and sickened over 1 million people nationwide .

Hillary Clinton joined a growing chorus of Democrats outraged over remarks made by President Trump's son-in-law and White House adviser Jared Kushner about the possibility of delaying the 2020 presidential election due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m not sure I can commit one way or the other, but right now, that’s the plan,” Kushner told Time when asked if the general election could be postponed.
In separate comments to Time magazine, Kushner said of the November election: “Hopefully, by the time we get to September, October, November, we’ve done enough work with testing and with all the different things we’re trying to do to prevent a future outbreak of the magnitude that would make us shut down again."
Kushner said, "Once America opens up, it’ll be very hard for America to ever lock down again.”
Clinton responded to the comments, saying, "I can’t believe I have to write this sentence, but the president's son-in-law doesn't get to decide when the election is."
Several media outlets noted the opinion of a top White House staffer has no bearing on whether or not an election is held, and the president cannot move or delay any presidential election, which law dictates is held every four years on the first Tuesday after Nov. 1.
I can’t believe I have to write this sentence, but the president's son-in-law doesn't get to decide when the election is. https://t.co/7CrpHny6TF — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 13, 2020
Other Democrats also weighed in on the comments.
They’ll seemingly stop at nothing—more compelling reason for prompt legislation on election security. This serious specter of corrupt interference demands action, on both sides of the aisle. https://t.co/D8XiSOHNwr — Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) May 13, 2020
Today Jared Kushner acted like the November election date could be moved, because he has no idea what he’s talking about. — Scott Dworkin (@funder) May 13, 2020
Jared Kushner (and for that matter the Executive Branch) has no legal authority to determine the timing of the election.
Kushner shouldn’t be commenting on this, or really much of anything. He also shouldn’t have a security clearance. https://t.co/2ebveXoLWO — Mike Levin (@MikeLevin) May 13, 2020
Several states have either suspended or held primaries by mail in response to the pandemic, which has killed more than 80,000 people in the United States and sickened over 1 million people nationwide.