theguardian--2020-03-01--In Selma, 55 years after Bloody Sunday, concern rises over voting rights

On Saturday morning , Henry Allen sat at a cafeteria table at Selma High School with a breakfast of eggs , sausage and biscuit .
The room was filled with friends telling stories and people singing protest songs .
When he attended the school , he wouldn ’ t have been allowed in .
In the 1960s , when Selma was becoming a symbol of the fight over voting rights , its school system was segregated .
“ We were under Jim Crow law but we didn ’ t know it at the time , ” said Allen , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The school system is integrated now but the high school is completely black .
Around 20 % of the city is not .
White parents , Allen said , send their kids to private schools .
This kind of tension – between the legacy of a civil rights revolution and the glaring inequalities of the present – coursed through many conversations this weekend in Selma , where thousands of activists , educators and visitors gathered to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Bloody Sunday , when protesters were brutally beaten as they marched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversations , voting issues were more pressing than usual .
In a heated presidential primary , millions of Americans are getting ready for Super Tuesday .
Several presidential candidates were in the city on Sunday , due to speak at events and march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge , a site of historical violence .
Rutha Harris , a member of the Freedom Singers , activists who led the civil rights movement through song , said she never expected to still be talking about voting rights 55 years after Bloody Sunday and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think it ’ s gotten better but we still have a lot to do , ” said Harris , who has lost track of how many times she has returned to Selma from her home in Georgia .
“ They ’ re still messing with the vote.
” This year ’ s celebration came amid increased scrutiny over voter suppression tactics , such as states removing people from the voter rolls or closing polling places .
Alabama has restrictive policies : people have to show a photo ID to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People with felonies also face severe hurdles to regaining their voting rights .
Selma , the birthplace of voting rights as we know them , is grappling with such policies and with economic distress .
“ Selma is stagnant , we can ’ t move forward , ” said Jesse Marvin , of the unemployment and challenges in his hometown .
For him , fighting for civil rights was a family affair : he and his older siblings protested regularly , often landing in jail .
And while his parents “ didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with white folks ” , his mom helped in church kitchens where activists gathered .
Reflecting on Selma and the election , Marvin said the state of politics and civil rights today was hard to stomach , especially given the history he witnessed and the rights for which he marched .
He was carefully researching the candidates before going to vote .
At the high school cafeteria on Saturday , and throughout the weekend , conversation oscillated between the past and present – a narrative the people of Selma know well .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ televised press conferences , the living memory of marching for , and receiving , civil rights seemed to underlie the fear and frustration .
Charles Mauldin , who marched as a 17 year old on Bloody Sunday , said the fact young people had come to listen to the stories gave him a sense of hope .
“ As desperate as the political climate seems , ” he said , “ I feel very optimistic that young people will rise up like we did .
”

Ankita Rao and Sam Levine in Selma, Alabama

On Saturday morning, Henry Allen sat at a cafeteria table at Selma High School with a breakfast of eggs, sausage and biscuit. The room was filled with friends telling stories and people singing protest songs. When he attended the school, he wouldn’t have been allowed in.
In the 1960s, when Selma was becoming a symbol of the fight over voting rights, its school system was segregated.
“We were under Jim Crow law but we didn’t know it at the time,” said Allen, who marched in protest half a century ago. The school system is integrated now but the high school is completely black. Around 20% of the city is not. White parents, Allen said, send their kids to private schools.
This kind of tension – between the legacy of a civil rights revolution and the glaring inequalities of the present – coursed through many conversations this weekend in Selma, where thousands of activists, educators and visitors gathered to celebrate the 55th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when protesters were brutally beaten as they marched for equal voting rights.
In such conversations, voting issues were more pressing than usual. In a heated presidential primary, millions of Americans are getting ready for Super Tuesday. Several presidential candidates were in the city on Sunday, due to speak at events and march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, a site of historical violence.
Tear gas fumes fill the air as state troopers, ordered by Governor George Wallace, to break up a demonstration march in Selma, Ala., on Bloody Sunday on 7 March 1965. Photograph: AP
Rutha Harris, a member of the Freedom Singers, activists who led the civil rights movement through song, said she never expected to still be talking about voting rights 55 years after Bloody Sunday and the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act.
“I think it’s gotten better but we still have a lot to do,” said Harris, who has lost track of how many times she has returned to Selma from her home in Georgia. “They’re still messing with the vote.”
This year’s celebration came amid increased scrutiny over voter suppression tactics, such as states removing people from the voter rolls or closing polling places. Alabama has restrictive policies: people have to show a photo ID to vote and there is no early voting. People with felonies also face severe hurdles to regaining their voting rights.
Selma, the birthplace of voting rights as we know them, is grappling with such policies and with economic distress.
“Selma is stagnant, we can’t move forward,” said Jesse Marvin, of the unemployment and challenges in his hometown.
For him, fighting for civil rights was a family affair: he and his older siblings protested regularly, often landing in jail. And while his parents “didn’t get involved with anything to do with white folks”, his mom helped in church kitchens where activists gathered.
Reflecting on Selma and the election, Marvin said the state of politics and civil rights today was hard to stomach, especially given the history he witnessed and the rights for which he marched. He was carefully researching the candidates before going to vote.
At the high school cafeteria on Saturday, and throughout the weekend, conversation oscillated between the past and present – a narrative the people of Selma know well. But unlike the political debates, or the televised press conferences, the living memory of marching for, and receiving, civil rights seemed to underlie the fear and frustration.
Charles Mauldin, who marched as a 17 year old on Bloody Sunday, said the fact young people had come to listen to the stories gave him a sense of hope.
“As desperate as the political climate seems,” he said, “I feel very optimistic that young people will rise up like we did.”


theguardian--2020-03-01--‘I might vote for him’: how Bloomberg is courting Georgia’s liberals

As Dena Chandler reviewed the schedule for her monthly Democratic party meeting in Madison county , Georgia , one notice stood out to her .
The group would be hearing from a Mike Bloomberg campaign field organizer , which seemed strange to the 25-year-long resident of the tiny town of Carlton .
Not a single party meeting Chandler , 68 , had attended had seen any representatives , let alone candidates , of presidential elections .
Carlton , which has a few hundred residents , is a rectangular strip of land with more Baptist churches than restaurants deep in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a number of other so-called perennial battleground states , is seeing a huge influx of dollars towards full-time staff , ads and office from the self-funding billionaire candidate Bloomberg has ploughed more than half a billion dollars into his campaign .
With a virtually open-ended budget , his field operatives are able to reach Democratic voters other candidates might not have the resources to court : places just like Carlton .
Armed with said budget , and a laser focus on Super Tuesday ambitions , Bloomberg has shot towards the top of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the months-long campaigns in Iowa and New Hampshire like his Democratic counterparts .
There are plans to open a total of eight field offices in Georgia , says Howard Franklin , senior adviser to Bloomberg in the state .
A few , like the one in DeKalb county , where the largest chunk of registered Democrats reside in Georgia , have already opened .
It ’ s lined with Bloomberg 2020 signs along the window ’ s edges .
On-the ground staff across the state now number more than 75 a month before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states not accustomed to attention , such as Mississippi , are also catching the former New York mayor ’ s attention .
He made a visit to the state in early December and has hired 22 full-time staffers in the state and opened three offices .
Bloomberg has also visited Alabama , a Super Tuesday state , rarely a top stumping spot for Democrats early in the race , twice already .
He has also opened four field officers and hired 30 staff , according to the campaign .
In Georgia , Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lucy McBath , whom the former mayor has donated towards the congresswoman ’ s campaign .
An Atlanta councilwoman switched her support to Bloomberg from the Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren .
He has joined former Georgia gubernatorial Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams at events in Atlanta , having been a staunch supporter of her political races and donating $ 5m to her Fair Fight 2020 initiative , according to a contribution disclosure form .
On a recent appearance on ABC ’ s The View , she defended Bloomberg ’ s spending , saying : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and should run the race that they think they should run , and Mike Bloomberg has chosen to use his finances .
Other people are using their dog , their charisma , their whatever.
” Franklin says the events won ’ t stop any time soon .
“ We literally had probably a half dozen events this past weekend .
We had a weekend of action with events on Saturday and Sunday in four or five different communities all across the state.
” Camerona Blunt , an Atlanta resident , has seen evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city in signs popping up in yards and a relative asking her if she would like to attend his events .
“ He seems like he ’ s kind of in it for the wrong reasons and he kind of represents everything that is wrong in politics , ” Blunt , 25 , says .
“ I was like , sharpening my blade , you know , ” she says .
Chandler readied herself to ask the field organizer about the former New York City mayor ’ s stop-and-frisk policies .
Though she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaning towards Bloomberg .
In recent days , the 69-year-old had watched a documentary about the Central Park Five and how Bloomberg had slowed down their payment after they were released from prison .
“ Long story short , I was definitely gon na tackle the Bloomberg person on that , ” Chandler says with a laugh .
“ And then it turns out to be this lovely middle-aged black woman from Washington DC.
” Chandler and the other members sat through a presentation about Bloomberg ’ s campaign , though none of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed up to canvass for the former mayor in the red , Republican-leaning county .
During the meeting , the visitor told Chandler and the others she was assigned to eight counties in Georgia .
She had never put so many miles on her car , she told those assembled at the senior center in the county seat up in Danville .
“ She was fired up about Michael Bloomberg , ” Chandler recalls .
Trying to describe the rarity of a field organizer coming to their local event , Chandler uses the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I was amazed .
I was amazed first that we had any kind of field organizer coming from any presidential candidate , and second that it was Michael Bloomberg .
I was just amazed , ” her voice spikes on the last word .
It might have made a difference for this particular politically savvy , longtime Democrat in rural Georgia who had no intention of voting for Bloomberg before that night ’ s meeting .
She had been leaning towards putting her support behind Joe Biden , even though her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too moderate and wouldn ’ t get anything done .
After the visit from Bloomberg ’ s campaign , Chandler says Bloomberg might have a chance in winning her vote .
“ You know , I might [ vote for Bloomberg ] because I thought it was very smart of him , ” she admits of his sending someone to speak to her group , adding : “ It made me think that Michael Bloomberg , he ’ s smart , he has something on the ball , you know , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

As Dena Chandler reviewed the schedule for her monthly Democratic party meeting in Madison county, Georgia, one notice stood out to her. The group would be hearing from a Mike Bloomberg campaign field organizer, which seemed strange to the 25-year-long resident of the tiny town of Carlton.
Not a single party meeting Chandler, 68, had attended had seen any representatives, let alone candidates, of presidential elections. Carlton, which has a few hundred residents, is a rectangular strip of land with more Baptist churches than restaurants deep in the woods of east Georgia.
Georgia, like a number of other so-called perennial battleground states, is seeing a huge influx of dollars towards full-time staff, ads and office from the self-funding billionaire candidate Bloomberg has ploughed more than half a billion dollars into his campaign.
With a virtually open-ended budget, his field operatives are able to reach Democratic voters other candidates might not have the resources to court: places just like Carlton. Armed with said budget, and a laser focus on Super Tuesday ambitions, Bloomberg has shot towards the top of a number of polls after waiting out the months-long campaigns in Iowa and New Hampshire like his Democratic counterparts.
There are plans to open a total of eight field offices in Georgia, says Howard Franklin, senior adviser to Bloomberg in the state.
A few, like the one in DeKalb county, where the largest chunk of registered Democrats reside in Georgia, have already opened. It’s lined with Bloomberg 2020 signs along the window’s edges. On-the ground staff across the state now number more than 75 a month before the state’s primary.
Other states not accustomed to attention, such as Mississippi, are also catching the former New York mayor’s attention. He made a visit to the state in early December and has hired 22 full-time staffers in the state and opened three offices. Bloomberg has also visited Alabama, a Super Tuesday state, rarely a top stumping spot for Democrats early in the race, twice already. He has also opened four field officers and hired 30 staff, according to the campaign.
In Georgia, Bloomberg has received endorsements from state Democratic heavyweight Lucy McBath, to whose campaign the former mayor has donated. An Atlanta councilwoman switched her support to Bloomberg from the Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren.
He has joined former Georgia gubernatorial Democratic nominee Stacey Abrams at events in Atlanta, having been a staunch supporter of her political races and donating $5m to her Fair Fight 2020 initiative, according to a contribution disclosure form.
On a recent appearance on ABC’s The View, she defended Bloomberg’s spending, saying: “Every person is allowed to run and should run the race that they think they should run, and Mike Bloomberg has chosen to use his finances. Other people are using their dog, their charisma, their whatever.”
Michael Bloomberg, he’s smart, he has something on the ball, you know, and he’s not taking things for granted Dena Chandler
Franklin says the events won’t stop any time soon. “We literally had probably a half dozen events this past weekend. We had a weekend of action with events on Saturday and Sunday in four or five different communities all across the state.”
Camerona Blunt, an Atlanta resident, has seen evidence of the Bloomberg campaign expansion across the city in signs popping up in yards and a relative asking her if she would like to attend his events. “He seems like he’s kind of in it for the wrong reasons and he kind of represents everything that is wrong in politics,” Blunt, 25, says.
Chandler agrees with that point.
“I was like, sharpening my blade, you know,” she says. Chandler readied herself to ask the field organizer about the former New York City mayor’s stop-and-frisk policies. Though she is undecided, she wasn’t leaning towards Bloomberg. In recent days, the 69-year-old had watched a documentary about the Central Park Five and how Bloomberg had slowed down their payment after they were released from prison.
“Long story short, I was definitely gonna tackle the Bloomberg person on that,” Chandler says with a laugh. “And then it turns out to be this lovely middle-aged black woman from Washington DC.”
Chandler and the other members sat through a presentation about Bloomberg’s campaign, though none of the assembled were supporters. No one signed up to canvass for the former mayor in the red, Republican-leaning county. During the meeting, the visitor told Chandler and the others she was assigned to eight counties in Georgia. She had never put so many miles on her car, she told those assembled at the senior center in the county seat up in Danville.
“She was fired up about Michael Bloomberg,” Chandler recalls.
Trying to describe the rarity of a field organizer coming to their local event, Chandler uses the word amazed three times in a row. “I was amazed. I was amazed first that we had any kind of field organizer coming from any presidential candidate, and second that it was Michael Bloomberg. I was just amazed,” her voice spikes on the last word.
It might have made a difference for this particular politically savvy, longtime Democrat in rural Georgia who had no intention of voting for Bloomberg before that night’s meeting. She had been leaning towards putting her support behind Joe Biden, even though her progressive friends kept telling her he was too moderate and wouldn’t get anything done.
After the visit from Bloomberg’s campaign, Chandler says Bloomberg might have a chance in winning her vote. “You know, I might [vote for Bloomberg] because I thought it was very smart of him,” she admits of his sending someone to speak to her group, adding: “It made me think that Michael Bloomberg, he’s smart, he has something on the ball, you know, and he’s not taking things for granted.”


theguardian--2020-03-01--What is Super Tuesday? Your guide to the night

It ’ s the day when the greatest number of US states cast their votes to nominate presidential candidates , who will eventually compete for the White House in November ’ s general election .
It is the biggest day in the US election calendar apart from election day itself .
The candidates have each held hundreds of meet-and-greet events , travelled thousands of miles , eaten a lot of junk food , and their campaigns have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to get them to this make-or-break moment .
In 2020 , Super Tuesday falls on 3 March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting , but because Donald Trump does not face any serious challengers , all eyes will be on the Democratic contest .
The early voting states – Iowa , New Hampshire , Nevada and South Carolina – have all had their say over the past month , with Bernie Sanders emerging as the possible national frontrunner in the race for the Democratic nomination .
But now , 14 states across the country – Alabama , Arkansas , California , Colorado , Maine , Massachusetts , Minnesota , North Carolina , Oklahoma , Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Virginia – as well as one US territory ( American Samoa ) and Democrats abroad will cast their votes on the same day .
Who are the Democratic presidential candidates ?
There are eight leading Democratic presidential candidates competing : former vice-president Joe Biden , Senators Bernie Sanders , Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar , former mayors Mike Bloomberg and Pete Buttigieg , billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer and Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard .
Sanders and Warren are on the progressive side of the party , while candidates such as Biden , Klobuchar , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderate .
This will be the first time that Bloomberg will be on the ballot , and will be a key test of whether the hundreds of millions of dollars he has invested in his own campaign have paid off .
He controversially skipped the first early voting states to concentrate on winning support in larger , delegate heavy states .
The primaries and caucuses are a series of contests , in all 50 US states plus Washington DC and US territories , by which the party selects its presidential nominee .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a majority of pledged delegates whose job it is to nominate the candidate at the party ’ s convention .
In all states , delegates are awarded proportionally among top winners .
To become the Democratic presidential nominee , the candidate must secure 1,991 pledged delegates from a total of 4,750 .
So far , less than 5 % of delegates have been allotted , but on Super Tuesday , more than a third of available delegates are up for grabs – giving it the potential to propel one candidate to frontrunner status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to quit the race .
California has the most pledged delegates ( 494 ) followed by Texas ( 261 ) , North Carolina ( 72 ) and Virginia ( 65 ) .
The Super Tuesday states also represent a much broader sweep of the US population , not just in terms of geography , but demographics too , than the early voting states .
The results will therefore give a more detailed picture of who supports the candidates , and what their chances of winning on a national level may be .
Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time ?
Polling times vary state by state .
Vermont ’ s polls close first at 7pm ET and California ’ s close last at 11pm ET .
More than a week ahead of Super Tuesday , almost 2m ballots had already been cast as several states allow early voting .
What time will the results be announced ?
Results will begin to be reported after the first polls close at 7pm ET .
The Guardian will be reporting the results live , as they come in .

What is Super Tuesday?
It’s the day when the greatest number of US states cast their votes to nominate presidential candidates, who will eventually compete for the White House in November’s general election.
It is the biggest day in the US election calendar apart from election day itself. The candidates have each held hundreds of meet-and-greet events, travelled thousands of miles, eaten a lot of junk food, and their campaigns have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to get them to this make-or-break moment.
In 2020, Super Tuesday falls on 3 March. Both Democrats and Republicans will be voting, but because Donald Trump does not face any serious challengers, all eyes will be on the Democratic contest.
The early voting states – Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina – have all had their say over the past month, with Bernie Sanders emerging as the possible national frontrunner in the race for the Democratic nomination.
But now, 14 states across the country – Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia – as well as one US territory (American Samoa) and Democrats abroad will cast their votes on the same day.
There are five leading Democratic presidential candidates competing: former vice-president Joe Biden, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, former mayor Mike Bloomberg and Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg and billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer all withdrew from the race in recent days.
Sanders and Warren are on the progressive side of the party, while candidates such as Biden and Bloomberg are regarded as more moderate.
This will be the first time that Bloomberg will be on the ballot, and will be a key test of whether the hundreds of millions of dollars he has invested in his own campaign have paid off. He controversially skipped the first early voting states to concentrate on winning support in larger, delegate heavy states.
Why is Super Tuesday important?
The primaries and caucuses are a series of contests, in all 50 US states plus Washington DC and US territories, by which the party selects its presidential nominee.
The goal for the candidates is to amass a majority of pledged delegates whose job it is to nominate the candidate at the party’s convention. In all states, delegates are awarded proportionally among top winners.
To become the Democratic presidential nominee, the candidate must secure 1,991 pledged delegates from a total of 4,750.
So far, less than 5% of delegates have been allotted, but on Super Tuesday, more than a third of available delegates are up for grabs – giving it the potential to propel one candidate to frontrunner status, and prompt others who perform badly to quit the race.
California has the most pledged delegates (415) followed by Texas (228), North Carolina (110) and Virginia (99).
The Super Tuesday states also represent a much broader sweep of the US population, not just in terms of geography, but demographics too, than the early voting states. The results will therefore give a more detailed picture of who supports the candidates, and what their chances of winning on a national level may be.
Do all the states vote at the same time?
Polling times vary state by state. Vermont’s polls close first at 7pm ET and California’s close last at 11pm ET.
More than a week ahead of Super Tuesday, almost 2m ballots had already been cast as several states allow early voting.
What time will the results be announced?
Results will begin to be reported after the first polls close at 7pm ET. The Guardian will be reporting the results live, as they come in.


theguardian--2020-03-01--Voters of color will decide if Bernie Sanders or Joe Biden prevail | Steve Phillips

Now that the first four contests of the Democratic nomination have concluded , it ’ s clear that whoever wins the nomination will owe their success to the love and support of people of color .
The question is , will the nominee love them back ?
With Joe Biden ’ s resounding victory in Saturday ’ s South Carolina primary , following on the heels of Bernie Sanders ’ dominating showing in the Nevada caucuses a week prior , it is increasingly looking like the race will come down to Biden versus Sanders , and both of them are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes of people of color .
Entrance polls in Nevada showed Sanders leading among white voters ( 31 % to 18 % ) but running away with the contest among Latinos , who made up 17 % of all voters .
Among that critical demographic , Sanders beat his opponents by at least a 3 to 1 margin ( 51 % to 13 % according to the entrance polls ) .
Deeper , precinct-level analysis by UCLA ’ s Latino Policy and Politics Initiative show Sanders securing an astounding 74 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That lopsided margin resulted in the landslide nature of his win in Nevada .
A week later , black folks in South Carolina did for Biden what Latinos had done for Sanders in Nevada .
In a state where African-Americans comprise the majority of all Democratic voters , exit polls showed that African-Americans gave 61 % of their votes to the vice president of America ’ s first black president , propelling him to a nearly 30 point victor .
Biden ’ s candidacy may now be resuscitated from its near-death status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Iowa and New Hampshire , and he now has momentum heading into Super Tuesday where he hopes that his proximity to the Obama legacy can further fuel his electoral rise in heavily-black states such as Alabama , North Carolina and Virginia .
The candidates who failed to gain traction with people of color will now soon likely drop from the race , reducing the contest to a one-on-one battle between Sanders and Biden .
The question going forward for the finalists is will they reciprocate the love they have received from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaningful commitments and putting one ’ s money where one ’ s mouth is .
On the critical question of who the candidate will choose as their vice presidential nominee , their language has been cute , but their commitments have been soft .
Sanders has gone further than Biden by saying that his pick “ won ’ t be an old white guy.
” When he got into the race , Biden ’ s camp floated the name of Stacey Abrams , Georgia ’ s 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee , but he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firm stand .
Although , at last week ’ s debate , he did admirably commit to putting a black woman on the US supreme court , it also came off as pandering in a moment of desperation , evoking images of a man who ’ ll say anything to win back the object of his affection .
Any supreme court pick will be far down the road , while the rubicon of the vice presidential nomination is just over the horizon .
The other critical component of commitment relates to how candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phrase made famous by Cuba Gooding , Jr — will they “ show me the money ” ?
Presidential campaigns are enormously expensive undertakings , with hundreds of millions of dollars spent in multiple states over many months .
Historically , Democratic campaigns have been run by what former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young called “ smart-ass white boys ” who pour resources into a relentless and unproven quest to woo white voters who they hope will abandon the Republicans , regardless of the absence of data supporting such a strategy .
Sanders and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are — or aren ’ t — about their commitment to people of color by allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to hire staff and invest in organizations with deep community roots and effective track records at turning out the vote .
In 2020 , thus far , Sanders is far ahead on this category having invested heavily in bringing on staff of color in Nevada , South Carolina , California and other states who come from and are connected to the communities of color ( 75 of Sanders ’ 225 Nevada staffers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff were people of color ) .
Biden has lacked Sanders ’ resources , but at a minimum he should send a strong signal about the strategy he wants to pursue by encouraging the entire progressive ecosystem to prioritize increasing voter participation in the areas with large concentrations of people of color .
That means the urban areas of Detroit , Milwaukee , and Philadelphia in the Midwestern battleground states as well as expanding the map by seriously contesting the new battlegrounds in the South of Arizona , Georgia , North Carolina , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaching a significant inflection point , and it ’ s more likely than not that the finalists will be two old white men who have benefitted enormously from the backing of voters of color .
Whether they return the affection will not just speak volumes about their values , but also about their sophistication , strategy and prospects for victory in November .
• None Steve Phillips is the host of Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips , a color-conscious podcast about politics , and is the author of Brown Is the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Created a New American Majority

Now that the first four contests of the Democratic nomination have concluded, it’s clear that whoever wins the nomination will owe their success to the love and support of people of color. The question is, will the nominee love them back?
With Joe Biden’s resounding victory in Saturday’s South Carolina primary, following on the heels of Bernie Sanders’ dominating showing in the Nevada caucuses a week prior, it is increasingly looking like the race will come down to Biden versus Sanders, and both of them are in their commanding positions because of the votes of people of color.
Entrance polls in Nevada showed Sanders leading among white voters (31% to 18%) but running away with the contest among Latinos, who made up 17 % of all voters. Among that critical demographic, Sanders beat his opponents by at least a 3 to 1 margin (51% to 13% according to the entrance polls). Deeper, precinct-level analysis by UCLA’s Latino Policy and Politics Initiative show Sanders securing an astounding 74% of the vote in the most heavily Latino neighborhoods. That lopsided margin resulted in the landslide nature of his win in Nevada.
A week later, black folks in South Carolina did for Biden what Latinos had done for Sanders in Nevada. In a state where African Americans comprise the majority of all Democratic voters, exit polls showed that African Americans gave 61% of their votes to the vice president of America’s first black president, propelling him to a nearly 30-point victory. Biden’s candidacy may now be resuscitated from its near-death status after abysmal showings in the opening contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, and he now has momentum heading into Super Tuesday where he hopes that his proximity to the Obama legacy can further fuel his electoral rise in heavily black states such as Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia.
The candidates who failed to gain traction with people of color will now soon likely drop from the race, reducing the contest to a one-on-one battle between Sanders and Biden. The question for the finalists is: will they reciprocate the love they have received from the communities of color? Reciprocity means making meaningful commitments and putting one’s money where one’s mouth is.
On the critical question of who the candidate will choose as their vice presidential nominee, their language has been cute, but their commitments have been soft. Sanders has gone further than Biden by saying that his pick “won’t be an old white guy”. When he got into the race, Biden’s camp floated the name of Stacey Abrams, Georgia’s 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nominee, but he has thus far refused to take a firm stand. Although, at last week’s debate, he did admirably commit to putting a black woman on the US supreme court, it also came off as pandering in a moment of desperation, evoking images of a man who’ll say anything to win back the object of his affection. Any supreme court pick will be far down the road, while the rubicon of the vice presidential nomination is just over the horizon.
The other critical component of commitment relates to how candidates allocate their resources. In the phrase made famous by Cuba Gooding Jr, will they “show me the money”? Presidential campaigns are enormously expensive undertakings, with hundreds of millions of dollars spent in multiple states over many months. Historically, Democratic campaigns have been run by what former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young called “smart-ass white boys” who pour resources into a relentless and unproven quest to woo white voters who they hope will abandon the Republicans, regardless of the absence of data supporting such a strategy.
Sanders and Biden can both show how serious they are – or aren’t – about their commitment to people of color by allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to hire staff and invest in organizations with deep community roots and effective track records at turning out the vote. In 2020, thus far, Sanders is far ahead on this category having invested heavily in bringing on staff of color in Nevada, South Carolina, California and other states who come from and are connected to the communities of color (75 of Sanders’ 225 Nevada staffers and 83% of his South Carolina staff were people of color). Biden has lacked Sanders’ resources, but at a minimum he should send a strong signal about the strategy he wants to pursue by encouraging the entire progressive ecosystem to prioritize increasing voter participation in the areas with large concentrations of people of color. That means the urban areas of Detroit, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia, as well as expanding the map by seriously contesting the new battlegrounds in the South of Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida.
The presidential race is reaching a significant inflection point, and it’s more likely than not that the finalists will be two old white men who have benefitted enormously from the backing of voters of color. Whether they return the affection will not just speak volumes about their values, but also about their sophistication, strategy and prospects for victory in November.
Steve Phillips is the host of Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips, a color-conscious podcast about politics, and is the author of Brown Is the New White: How the Demographic Revolution Has Created a New American Majority.


theguardian--2020-03-01--We feel more patriotic when the government splashes the cash | Torsten Bell

Times change .
JFK might have told Americans to “ ask not what your country can do for you ” , but 30 years earlier FDR ’ s New Deal was all about what the state could do to help Americans out of the huge Wall Street crash-induced depression they ’ d fallen into .
But what was the effect of Franklin D Roosevelt ’ s New Deal , which saw US federal spending rise from 4 % of GDP in 1933 , to more than 9 % by the end of the decade ?
Most answers to that question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy .
But an imaginative study has examined its impact on Second World War patriotism .
It turns out that what your country was willing to do for you had a significant link to what you were willing to do for your country .
People in the areas of the US that benefited most from the New Deal were much more likely to engage in “ patriotic ” acts , such as buying war bonds .
They also put their lives , not just their cash , on the line , being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do the kind of brave/dangerous things in battle that get you a medal .
Now , hopefully , there ’ s no war coming up , but the important lesson is that how the state treats people and places clearly affects how those people and places feel towards the state .
That ’ s worth bearing in mind as the government promises to “ level up ” Britain with £100bn of new infrastructure projects set to be outlined in this month ’ s budget .
• Torsten Bell is chief executive of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resolutionfoundation.org

Times change. JFK might have told Americans to “ask not what your country can do for you”, but 30 years earlier FDR’s New Deal was all about what the state could do to help Americans out of the huge Wall Street crash-induced depression they’d fallen into.
But what was the effect of Franklin D Roosevelt’s New Deal, which saw US federal spending rise from 4% of GDP in 1933, to more than 9% by the end of the decade? Most answers to that question focus on its impact on unemployment and the economy. But an imaginative study has examined its impact on Second World War patriotism.
It turns out that what your country was willing to do for you had a significant link to what you were willing to do for your country. People in the areas of the US that benefited most from the New Deal were much more likely to engage in “patriotic” acts, such as buying war bonds. They also put their lives, not just their cash, on the line, being more likely to volunteer to fight and to do the kind of brave/dangerous things in battle that get you a medal.
Now, hopefully, there’s no war coming up, but the important lesson is that how the state treats people and places clearly affects how those people and places feel towards the state. That’s worth bearing in mind as the government promises to “level up” Britain with £100bn of new infrastructure projects set to be outlined in this month’s budget.


theguardian--2020-03-01--What does Joe Biden's South Carolina win mean for the Democratic race? | Panel

Art Cullen : ‘ The race is down to Sanders v Biden ’ Joe Biden did much to consolidate the moderate wing of the Democratic presidential electorate with a blowout win Saturday in South Carolina .
He exceeded expectations as African-American voters flocked to him .
But Biden continues to face a daunting path forward if Bernie Sanders wins California as big as polls suggest on Super Tuesday , and if Michael Bloomberg does not go away .
Bloomberg should take a hint from Tom Steyer ’ s result : after spending $ 20m in South Carolina and camping there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 % viability to capture delegates .
Billionaires are not welcome .
Amy Klobuchar ran a good race but her moment passed .
Pete Buttigieg clearly has not fared well with minority voters crucial to a winning effort .
Elizabeth Warren is running out of options .
Biden and Sanders have demonstrated that they can build diverse coalitions critical to success in November .
Yet , Sanders has to ask himself some hard questions about why he under-performs with African-American voters , and needs to reach out more to unify the party .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee if he dominates in California , turns out Latinos in Texas and runs even in the other Super Tuesday states .
Bloomberg may assure that with hundreds of millions spent in vain .
• None Art Cullen is editor of The Storm Lake Times in Northwest Iowa , where he won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing .
He is a Guardian US columnist and author of the book Storm Lake : Change , Resilience , and Hope in America ’ s Heartland Lloyd Green : Joe Biden is back – but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden is back with a commanding win in South Carolina after defeats in three-straight contests .
But now comes Super Tuesday .
According to polls , Bernie Sanders holds comfortable leads in delegate rich California and Texas , where early voting is underway .
Practically speaking , the former vice president will have little time to enjoy his triumph .
As for Saturday ’ s losers , South Carolina flashed a red light at Pete Buttigieg , Amy Klobuchar , and Elizabeth Warren .
Each ran in the low single-digits with black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders with this key demographic by three-to-one .
Historically , the Democratic nominee is the candidate who has fared best among the Democrats ’ most reliable voting bloc .
It was also a bad day for Mike Bloomberg who wasn ’ t on the ballot .
Biden ’ s convincing win undercut the rationale for the ex-New York City mayor ’ s candidacy .
Biden has proved to be more durable than estimated , and little more than a quarter of South Carolina ’ s black primary voters view Bloomberg favorably .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winner of the South Carolina primary emerged as the Democratic standard-bearer .
In South Carolina , Biden was outspent 40-one .
From looks of things , it is now a two-person race : Bernie v Biden .
• None Lloyd Green was opposition research counsel to George HW Bush ’ s 1988 campaign and served in the Department of Justice from 1990 to 1992 The Democratic party is at an impasse that can best be observed by Joe Biden ’ s overwhelming win in South Carolina .
I had the chance to spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What I found more than anything else was fear of a progressive agenda .
Just the mention of the name , “ Bernie Sanders ” turned several voters I spoke with from gentle , almost passive , observers of the election into fierce and staunch opponents to the progressive from Vermont .
While I wanted to dismiss my observations as merely being anecdotal , my gut told me otherwise .
Before any vote was cast , I knew that South Carolina – on average – did not like Bernie Sanders .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden appears to have received his first primary victory in all of his previous attempts , it appears as though both the anecdotal evidence and my instincts were proven correct .
South Carolina ’ s primary voters skewed heavily towards older and more conservative/moderate voters .
That group –voters over the age of 45 and those who are seeking a moderate nominee – have resoundingly rejected Senator Sanders ’ s vision for America .
Which brings us to the great divide in the Democratic party : moderates versus progressives .
Moderates can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Progressives can not win the general election without moderates .
Progressives are increasingly declaring that they will not vote for a moderate .
The feeling towards progressives was mutual in South Carolina .
We are at an impasse .
Can the big tent of the Democratic party continue when progressives are demanding actual , material change while moderates are simultaneously shouting at the top of their lungs , “ let ’ s keep things the same.
” The moderates I spoke to in South Carolina had as much a visceral reaction to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towards the name Michael Bloomberg .
If this division holds , neither progressives nor moderates will be able to build the coalition necessary to defeat Donald Trump in the general election because neither side can win without the other .
The real question is , are our competing visions for America irreconcilable differences .
For the sake of the nation , I hope they are not .
• None Benjamin Dixon is the host of the Benjamin Dixon podcast South Carolina ’ s Democratic primary is the first to feature a majority black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sweeping pronouncements about Joe Biden ’ s primary victory in South Carolina .
Its position in the primary and caucus calendar has made it the barometer for the presidential preferences of the Democratic party ’ s black , southern “ blue wall.
” But the clearest message that should come from this campaign season thus far , including the South Carolina results , is that there is no clear message about some monolithic “ black vote.
” When you parse out the policy preferences of primary voters in South Carolina , they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to exit polls .
A majority of South Carolina voters said they prioritize Medicare for All , which Biden refuses to support .
Over half believe the economy needs a complete overhaul— Biden finds his strength in promising more of the same of Obama ’ s presidency .
Biden even won 43 % of voters who consider themselves “ very liberal , ” the plurality of voters who care about climate change , and income inequality .
This doesn ’ t fit the “ moderate ” paradigm typically ascribed to black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in second place with about 20 % of the vote with about 80 % precincts reported— won voters under 30 , illustrating the clear generational gap between the first and second place finishers .
These results aren ’ t entirely comprehensible until you consider that Biden ’ s frequent contact and relationships with South Carolina ’ s black political establishment throughout his career as a senator and vice president matter .
For instance , 47 % of South Carolina voters stated that US Representative Jim Clyburn ’ s endorsement of Biden mattered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s had a decades-long headstart engaging black voters in South Carolina .
But relationships – whether with Obama or South Carolina ’ s black leadership community – can only go so far .
In other states where Biden will not get the benefit of this engagement , black voters may want a candidate more aligned with their political preferences .
The real test of his staying power is not in a state he was expected to win since last year , but this upcoming Super Tuesday when a wider array of black voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a doubt , the South Carolina results are a major victory for former Vice President Biden .
Although a potential Biden victory of around 20 points was viewed as possible , not many expected the near 30 point victory which ultimately played out .
But Biden may soon learn that the devil ’ s in the details .
Although his campaign may wish to believe that his victory is based on deep support for Biden , it ’ s more likely that Biden voters can be more accurately described as “ electability voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed that an estimated 53 % of primary voters would rather see a nominee who can beat Trump , versus 43 % of voters who prefer a candidate who agrees with them .
These numbers are similar to the percentages of voters who voted for Biden versus those who voted for other candidates .
If Biden ’ s victory is based more on his apparent electability than on his unique appeal , then the entrance of Michael Bloomberg on Super Tuesday may keep Biden from getting the type of bounce he is hoping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the race , we will need to continue to watch for the answer to an important question : will black voters in Super Tuesday states follow the path that black South Carolina voters appear to have followed , which is voting based on electability rather than excitement about policy positions ?
Or will they act on the belief that by voting on our issues and interests , we can shape the electability narrative rather than allowing the electability narrative to shape us .
We will soon find out .
• None Cliff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Voters Matter Fund

Art Cullen, Lloyd Green , Benjamin Dixon, Cliff Albright andMalaika Jabali

Art Cullen: ‘The race is down to Sanders v Biden’
Joe Biden did much to consolidate the moderate wing of the Democratic presidential electorate with a blowout win Saturday in South Carolina. He exceeded expectations as African-American voters flocked to him. But Biden continues to face a daunting path forward if Bernie Sanders wins California as big as polls suggest on Super Tuesday, and if Michael Bloomberg does not go away.
Bloomberg should take a hint from Tom Steyer’s result: after spending $20m in South Carolina and camping there, Steyer couldn’t even muster 15% viability to capture delegates. Billionaires are not welcome.
Amy Klobuchar ran a good race but her moment passed. Pete Buttigieg clearly has not fared well with minority voters crucial to a winning effort. Elizabeth Warren is running out of options.
Biden and Sanders have demonstrated that they can build diverse coalitions critical to success in November. Yet, Sanders has to ask himself some hard questions about why he under-performs with African-American voters, and needs to reach out more to unify the party. Sanders remains the front-runner and the probable nominee if he dominates in California, turns out Latinos in Texas and runs even in the other Super Tuesday states. Bloomberg may assure that with hundreds of millions spent in vain.
Art Cullen is editor of The Storm Lake Times in Northwest Iowa, where he won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing. He is a Guardian US columnist and author of the book Storm Lake: Change, Resilience, and Hope in America’s Heartland
Lloyd Green: Joe Biden is back – but this triumph won’t last long
Joe Biden is back with a commanding win in South Carolina after defeats in three-straight contests. But now comes Super Tuesday.
According to polls, Bernie Sanders holds comfortable leads in delegate rich California and Texas, where early voting is underway. Practically speaking, the former vice president will have little time to enjoy his triumph.
As for Saturday’s losers, South Carolina flashed a red light at Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, and Elizabeth Warren. Each ran in the low single-digits with black voters. By contrast, Biden beat Sanders with this key demographic by three-to-one. Historically, the Democratic nominee is the candidate who has fared best among the Democrats’ most reliable voting bloc.
It was also a bad day for Mike Bloomberg who wasn’t on the ballot. Biden’s convincing win undercut the rationale for the ex-New York City mayor’s candidacy. Biden has proved to be more durable than estimated, and little more than a quarter of South Carolina’s black primary voters view Bloomberg favorably.
In all but 1988 and 2004, the winner of the South Carolina primary emerged as the Democratic standard-bearer. In South Carolina, Biden was outspent 40-one. From looks of things, it is now a two-person race: Bernie v Biden.
Lloyd Green was opposition research counsel to George HW Bush’s 1988 campaign and served in the Department of Justice from 1990 to 1992
Benjamin Dixon: ‘The Democrats remain deeply divided’
The Democratic party is at an impasse that can best be observed by Joe Biden’s overwhelming win in South Carolina. I had the chance to spend the weekend in Columbia, South Carolina. What I found more than anything else was fear of a progressive agenda. Just the mention of the name, “Bernie Sanders” turned several voters I spoke with from gentle, almost passive, observers of the election into fierce and staunch opponents to the progressive from Vermont.
While I wanted to dismiss my observations as merely being anecdotal, my gut told me otherwise. Before any vote was cast, I knew that South Carolina – on average – did not like Bernie Sanders. But as the results came in, and Joe Biden appears to have received his first primary victory in all of his previous attempts, it appears as though both the anecdotal evidence and my instincts were proven correct.
South Carolina’s primary voters skewed heavily towards older and more conservative/moderate voters. That group –voters over the age of 45 and those who are seeking a moderate nominee – have resoundingly rejected Senator Sanders’s vision for America. Which brings us to the great divide in the Democratic party: moderates versus progressives.
Moderates cannot win the general election without progressives. Progressives cannot win the general election without moderates. Progressives are increasingly declaring that they will not vote for a moderate. The feeling towards progressives was mutual in South Carolina.
We are at an impasse. Can the big tent of the Democratic party continue when progressives are demanding actual, material change while moderates are simultaneously shouting at the top of their lungs, “let’s keep things the same.” The moderates I spoke to in South Carolina had as much a visceral reaction to the name Bernie Sanders as progressives have towards the name Michael Bloomberg.
If this division holds, neither progressives nor moderates will be able to build the coalition necessary to defeat Donald Trump in the general election because neither side can win without the other.
The real question is, are our competing visions for America irreconcilable differences. For the sake of the nation, I hope they are not.
Benjamin Dixon is the host of the Benjamin Dixon podcast
Malaika Jabali: ‘The black vote isn’t monolithic’
South Carolina’s Democratic primary is the first to feature a majority black electorate, so there may be some sweeping pronouncements about Joe Biden’s primary victory in South Carolina. Its position in the primary and caucus calendar has made it the barometer for the presidential preferences of the Democratic party’s black, southern “blue wall.” But the clearest message that should come from this campaign season thus far, including the South Carolina results, is that there is no clear message about some monolithic “black vote.”
When you parse out the policy preferences of primary voters in South Carolina, they are inconsistent with the candidate they most supported, according to exit polls. A majority of South Carolina voters said they prioritize Medicare for All, which Biden refuses to support. Over half believe the economy needs a complete overhaul— Biden finds his strength in promising more of the same of Obama’s presidency. Biden even won 43% of voters who consider themselves “very liberal,” the plurality of voters who care about climate change, and income inequality. This doesn’t fit the “moderate” paradigm typically ascribed to black voters.
Further, Senator Bernie Sanders—who is in second place with about 20% of the vote with about 80% precincts reported— won voters under 30, illustrating the clear generational gap between the first and second place finishers.
These results aren’t entirely comprehensible until you consider that Biden’s frequent contact and relationships with South Carolina’s black political establishment throughout his career as a senator and vice president matter. For instance, 47% of South Carolina voters stated that US Representative Jim Clyburn’s endorsement of Biden mattered to them. Essentially, Biden’s had a decades-long headstart engaging black voters in South Carolina.
But relationships – whether with Obama or South Carolina’s black leadership community – can only go so far. In other states where Biden will not get the benefit of this engagement, black voters may want a candidate more aligned with their political preferences. The real test of his staying power is not in a state he was expected to win since last year, but this upcoming Super Tuesday when a wider array of black voters will participate in the primaries.
Malaika Jabali is a a lawyer, activist and journalist
Cliff Albright: ‘How committed are black voters to Biden?’
Without a doubt, the South Carolina results are a major victory for former Vice President Biden. Although a potential Biden victory of around 20 points was viewed as possible, not many expected the near 30 point victory which ultimately played out.
But Biden may soon learn that the devil’s in the details. Although his campaign may wish to believe that his victory is based on deep support for Biden, it’s more likely that Biden voters can be more accurately described as “electability voters”. An NBC News exit poll showed that an estimated 53% of primary voters would rather see a nominee who can beat Trump, versus 43% of voters who prefer a candidate who agrees with them. These numbers are similar to the percentages of voters who voted for Biden versus those who voted for other candidates.
If Biden’s victory is based more on his apparent electability than on his unique appeal, then the entrance of Michael Bloomberg on Super Tuesday may keep Biden from getting the type of bounce he is hoping for.
Besides the impact of Bloomberg on the race, we will need to continue to watch for the answer to an important question: will black voters in Super Tuesday states follow the path that black South Carolina voters appear to have followed, which is voting based on electability rather than excitement about policy positions? Or will they act on the belief that by voting on our issues and interests, we can shape the electability narrative rather than allowing the electability narrative to shape us. We will soon find out.


theguardian--2020-02-29--No, Elizabeth Warren – taking Super Pac money is not girl power | Arwa Mahdawi

“ I ’ m not cozying up to Super Pacs , ” Elizabeth Warren promised in an advert that ran over 2,000 times in Iowa .
It ’ s a message the Democrat has repeated throughout her campaign : she ’ s grassroots-funded and is fighting against the corrupting influence of big money in politics .
Ah , how times have changed .
Just a few weeks after tweeting she “ won ’ t take a dime of Pac money ” , Warren now has what appears to be the biggest Super Pac advertising presence in crucial Super Tuesday states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by female Warren supporters ahead of the Nevada caucuses , announced on Thursday night that it is investing $ 9m in adverts across California , Texas and Massachusetts .
This follows a separate $ 3m ad buy across 13 Super Tuesday states and a $ 2m buy in Nevada and South Carolina .
Which means Persist Pac has now spent $ 14m on ads for Warren ; money she seems very happy cozying up to .
So what caused this flip-flop ?
Feminism , apparently .
Speaking the Thursday before last , Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were still in this race and on the debate stage … had either Super Pacs , or they were multibillionaires … And the only people who didn ’ t have them were the two women .
And at that point , there were some women around the country who said , ‘ You know , that ’ s just not right.
’ ” The gender Pac gap swiftly closed ; now Amy Klobuchar and Warren both have Super Pac support .
Girl power at its finest !
I don ’ t completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Her campaign has been flagging ; flooding Super Tuesday markets with expensive ad buys is probably her best chance at changing that .
However , I do begrudge the highly disingenuous way she framed her Super Pac backtrack as some sort of feminist position .
There is nothing remotely feminist about using gender as an excuse to abandon your principles and embrace big money .
Feminism is supposed to be about dismantling oppressive systems , not aligning yourself with them .
Let ’ s remind ourselves exactly what Super Pacs are , shall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 2010 Citizens United v Federal Election Commission ruling , they are “ political action committees ” , which are allowed to accept unlimited political donations from individuals and corporations .
They are supposed to be independent and can ’ t contribute directly to a campaign or coordinate with candidates ; however , Super Pacs frequently circumvent these rules .
In short , they allow the extremely wealthy to avoid the caps on individual contributions ; they give a small group of people an outsized impact on elections .
They are disastrous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim that “ all ” the non-billionaires running , including Bernie Sanders , have Super Pac support correct ?
Sort of .
It is true that a coalition called People Power for Bernie includes a Super Pac affiliated with the national nurses union , and a non-profit Sanders founded called Our Revolution , which functions in a similar way to a Super Pac .
However , in response to a recent Intercept inquiry , Our Revolution said it only received a total of six donations over $ 5,000 in 2019 and its biggest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hasn ’ t taken money from any billionaires .
It is fair to accuse Sanders of a degree of hypocrisy around Super Pacs , but it is hugely disingenuous to claim that the support he gets from nurses and contributors to Our Revolution is equivalent to the other candidates ’ Super Pacs .
Sanders is very much running a grassroots campaign .
Who are the donors behind the $ 14m of pro-Warren Super Pac spending ?
Nobody really knows .
Because the Persist Pac was formed so late it is legally able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by which time a majority of delegates will be allocated .
Warren ’ s campaign hasn ’ t responded to requests for comment about whether the Super Pac should make its donors known earlier .
Once again , I can understand why she would feel forced to accept Super Pac support .
However , it is beyond the pale that she won ’ t disavow a group that refuses to disclose its donors until after much of the primary voting has already taken place .
The fact that the “ men ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transparency is no excuse .
Warren has asked other candidates to put their money where their mouth is .
Being a woman doesn ’ t exempt her from doing the same .
Scotland may become first country to make menstruation products free The Period Products Bill which would provide free sanitary pads and tampons to “ anyone who needs them ” , passed its first legislative hurdle on Tuesday .
As the Economist notes , “ The prevalence of women in Scottish politics seems to be one reason why Scotland looks like achieving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Finnish FA is one of the few organisations in world football that has equal pay for their men ’ s and women ’ s national teams .
Now they ’ re going a step further : the country ’ s top division of women ’ s football will be called the National League instead of the Women ’ s League in a push for “ full equality ” .
People who watch more TV find thinner women more attractive While western media is often blamed for promoting “ thin ideals ” it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect on attitudes .
Researchers at the University of Durham , however , have just published a fascinating study that tracks residents in remote Nicaraguan villages undergoing technological transition .
At the time of the research electricity was being put into the villages , allowing TV viewing .
The researchers found that TV exposure does seem to drive both men and women to find slimmer female bodies more attractive .
The Welsh pop singer made a brave statement on Instagram , explaining she ’ d retreated from the public eye because she ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raped by an unidentified person .
She has been praised by campaigners for drawing attention to the long-term impact of trauma .
Her crime ?
She posted a music video called “ Mecca Girl ” on YouTube .
The persecution of the rapper , who identifies herself as Asayel , is a reminder that Saudi Arabia may make a big song and dance about its supposed “ modernization ” , but there ’ s a very long way for it to go .
Heaven Fitch became the first girl to win one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s individual state wrestling championships .
Fitch got into wrestling because of her brothers .
“ I would just be like , ‘ Well , if they can do it , then I should be able to do it , ’ ” she said .
Indonesian official thinks women can get pregnant from swimming “ In a swimming pool , there ’ s a certain kind of sperm that is very strong , ” Sitti Hikmawatty , a senior child protection official , recently informed reporters .
“ If a person is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] a pregnancy can happen even though there is no sexual penetration.
” These nonsensical claims are a perfect example of why sex education is so important .

Closing the gender Pac gap
“I’m not cozying up to Super Pacs,” Elizabeth Warren promised in an advert that ran over 2,000 times in Iowa. It’s a message the Democrat has repeated throughout her campaign: she’s grassroots-funded and is fighting against the corrupting influence of big money in politics.
Ah, how times have changed. After insisting she “won’t take a dime of Pac money” (a pledge that is still on her campaign website), Warren now has what appears to be the biggest Super Pac advertising presence in crucial Super Tuesday states. Persist Pac, which was formed by female Warren supporters ahead of the Nevada caucuses, announced on Thursday night that it is investing $9m in adverts across California, Texas and Massachusetts. This follows a separate $3m ad buy across 13 Super Tuesday states and a $2m buy in Nevada and South Carolina. Which means Persist Pac has now spent $14m on ads for Warren; money she seems very happy cozying up to.
So what caused this flip-flop? Feminism, apparently. Speaking the Thursday before last, Warren complained that “all of the men who were still in this race and on the debate stage … had either Super Pacs, or they were multibillionaires … And the only people who didn’t have them were the two women. And at that point, there were some women around the country who said, ‘You know, that’s just not right.’” The gender Pac gap swiftly closed; now Amy Klobuchar and Warren both have Super Pac support. Girl power at its finest!
I don’t completely begrudge Warren taking Super Pac money. Her campaign has been flagging; flooding Super Tuesday markets with expensive ad buys is probably her best chance at changing that. However, I do begrudge the highly disingenuous way she framed her Super Pac backtrack as some sort of feminist position. There is nothing remotely feminist about using gender as an excuse to abandon your principles and embrace big money. Feminism is supposed to be about dismantling oppressive systems, not aligning yourself with them.
Let’s remind ourselves exactly what Super Pacs are, shall we? Spawned by the supreme court’s 2010 Citizens United v Federal Election Commission ruling, they are “political action committees”, which are allowed to accept unlimited political donations from individuals and corporations. They are supposed to be independent and can’t contribute directly to a campaign or coordinate with candidates; however, Super Pacs frequently circumvent these rules. In short, they allow the extremely wealthy to avoid the caps on individual contributions; they give a small group of people an outsized impact on elections. They are disastrous for democracy.
Is Warren’s claim that “all” the non-billionaires running, including Bernie Sanders, have Super Pac support correct? Sort of. It is true that a coalition called People Power for Bernie includes a Super Pac affiliated with the national nurses union, and a non-profit Sanders founded called Our Revolution, which functions in a similar way to a Super Pac. However, in response to a recent Intercept inquiry, Our Revolution said it only received a total of six donations over $5,000 in 2019 and its biggest contribution was around $25,000. It hasn’t taken money from any billionaires. It is fair to accuse Sanders of a degree of hypocrisy around Super Pacs, but it is hugely disingenuous to claim that the support he gets from nurses and contributors to Our Revolution is equivalent to the other candidates’ Super Pacs. Sanders is very much running a grassroots campaign.
Who are the donors behind the $14m of pro-Warren Super Pac spending? Nobody really knows. Because the Persist Pac was formed so late it is legally able to keep its donors secret until 20 March, by which time a majority of delegates will be allocated. Warren’s campaign hasn’t responded to requests for comment about whether the Super Pac should make its donors known earlier. Once again, I can understand why she would feel forced to accept Super Pac support. However, it is beyond the pale that she won’t disavow a group that refuses to disclose its donors until after much of the primary voting has already taken place. The fact that the “men” running may embrace big money and eschew transparency is no excuse. Warren has asked other candidates to put their money where their mouth is. Being a woman doesn’t exempt her from doing the same.
Scotland may become first country to make menstruation products free
The Period Products Bill which would provide free sanitary pads and tampons to “anyone who needs them”, passed its first legislative hurdle on Tuesday. As the Economist notes, “The prevalence of women in Scottish politics seems to be one reason why Scotland looks like achieving a world first on this issue.”
The Finnish FA is one of the few organisations in world football that has equal pay for their men’s and women’s national teams. Now they’re going a step further: the country’s top division of women’s football will be called the National League instead of the Women’s League in a push for “full equality”.
People who watch more TV find thinner women more attractive
While western media is often blamed for promoting “thin ideals” it has been hard to actually quantify its effect on attitudes. Researchers at the University of Durham, however, have just published a fascinating study that tracks residents in remote Nicaraguan villages undergoing technological transition. At the time of the research electricity was being put into the villages, allowing TV viewing. The researchers found that TV exposure does seem to drive both men and women to find slimmer female bodies more attractive.
Duffy opens up about horrifying ordeal
The Welsh pop singer made a brave statement on Instagram, explaining she’d retreated from the public eye because she’d been drugged, held captive and raped by an unidentified person. She has been praised by campaigners for drawing attention to the long-term impact of trauma.
Saudi Arabia orders arrest of female rapper
Her crime? She posted a music video called “Mecca Girl” on YouTube. The persecution of the rapper, who identifies herself as Asayel, is a reminder that Saudi Arabia may make a big song and dance about its supposed “modernization”, but there’s a very long way for it to go.
Teenage girl beats boys to win wrestling championship
Heaven Fitch became the first girl to win one of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s individual state wrestling championships. Fitch got into wrestling because of her brothers. “I would just be like, ‘Well, if they can do it, then I should be able to do it,’” she said.
Indonesian official thinks women can get pregnant from swimming
“In a swimming pool, there’s a certain kind of sperm that is very strong,” Sitti Hikmawatty, a senior child protection official, recently informed reporters. “If a person is aroused and ejaculates [in the pool] a pregnancy can happen even though there is no sexual penetration.” These nonsensical claims are a perfect example of why sex education is so important.


theguardian--2020-02-29--'Thank you, God': Trump revels in reign as absolute king of CPAC

Stop Donald Trump now , Democrats warned at his impeachment trial , or will he take on the aspect of a king .
The prophecy appears to have been borne out , as the US president hands out jobs to loyalists , purges perceived enemies , pardons convicted criminals and swaggers as if with a divine right .
On Saturday , addressing the biggest annual gathering of US grassroots conservatives , Trump wondered aloud at it being “ sort of a miracle ” he has got so much done despite all he ’ s been through .
“ Maybe it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he asked , pointing to the heavens .
“ Thank you , God.
” The crowd loved it .
Trump stayed away from a sceptical Conservative Political Action Conference in 2016 but now he is its sun king .
Supporters in a palatial ballroom at the National Harbour leaped to their feet , whooping and cheering , many wearing “ Make America great again ” and “ Keep America great ” caps .
They roared their approval when , like a medieval monarch who has survived a bloody insurrection , Trump vowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after me and we fight them back , ” he said .
“ And now we ’ re going after them because we have no choice .
We have to straighten out our country .
But despite the best efforts of the leftwing fanatics , their scams , schemes , slanders , they ’ ve all been discredited , totally discredited.
” He singled out James Comey , whom he fired as director of the FBI , and special counsel Robert Mueller , who led the Russia investigation , as enemies whose heads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ How is Comey doing ?
” he asked , sardonically .
“ How is Bob Mueller doing ?
That was a great performance in Congress .
‘ Raise your right hand.
’ ‘ What ?
’ ” There was also mention of the Utah senator Mitt Romney , who voted to convict Trump at the impeachment trial and , like a rebellious duke , was banished from CPAC this year .
Trump described Romney as “ lowlife ” and the crowd booed lustily .
The president also spoke ominously of getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are “ not people that love our country ” and launched a familiar tirade against the “ fake news ” media .
He gave little sign that he is worried about the democratic inconvenience of an election in November .
Just a couple of hours after trying to muster gravitas in the White House briefing room while discussing the coronavirus , he reverted to the comfort zone of freewheeling rally style .
He took delight in mocking each of his Democratic rivals .
“ We ’ ve got Sleepy Joe [ Biden ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Sanders ] , we ’ ve got Mini Mike [ Bloomberg ] but I think he ’ s out of it , ” he said .
“ That was probably the worst debate performance in the history of presidential debates .
“ It just shows you can ’ t buy an election .
I mean , there ’ s a point at which people say , ‘ You got ta bring the goods a little bit , too.
’ ” Trump parodied Bloomberg ’ s height by crouching behind the lectern and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and chanting : “ Four more years !
Four more years !
” He also took a swipe at Biden , the former vice-president , for a gaffe in a recent debate : “ Did he just say that we killed 150 million people ?
That ’ s half of our population.
” Trump even held an instant poll by asking the audience to “ scream ” for whether he would beat Biden or Sanders more easily .
There was a significant scream for Biden but a much louder and sustained one for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump suggested Biden would be “ sitting in a home ” for the elderly rather than governing , whereas Sanders might be a communist .
That chimed with the conference ’ s theme : “ America vs socialism ” .
Of the Democrats , Trump warned darkly : “ They want to take away your money , take away your choice , take away your speech , take away your guns , take away your religion , take away your history , take away your future and ultimately take away your freedom .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that.
” In a characteristically rambling monologue , he seemed genuinely unable to comprehend how teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg beat him to the precious title of Time magazine person of the year .
But he finished his speech by hugging and kissing the flag – a familiar move which elicited a huge cheer from his devoted subjects .
For them , and for Trump ’ s loyal courtiers at the White House and on Capitol Hill , it is a case of long live the king .

Stop Donald Trump now, Democrats warned at his impeachment trial, or will he take on the aspect of a king.
The prophecy appears to have been borne out, as the US president hands out jobs to loyalists, purges perceived enemies, pardons convicted criminals and swaggers as if with a divine right.
On Saturday, addressing the biggest annual gathering of US grassroots conservatives, Trump wondered aloud at it being “sort of a miracle” he has got so much done despite all he’s been through.
“Maybe it’s right there, right?” he asked, pointing to the heavens. “Thank you, God.”
The crowd loved it. Trump stayed away from a sceptical Conservative Political Action Conference in 2016 but now he is its sun king. Supporters in a palatial ballroom at the National Harbour leaped to their feet, whooping and cheering, many wearing “Make America great again” and “Keep America great” caps.
They’re coming after me, and we fight them back Donald Trump
They roared their approval when, like a medieval monarch who has survived a bloody insurrection, Trump vowed revenge.
“They’re coming after me and we fight them back,” he said. “And now we’re going after them because we have no choice. We have to straighten out our country. But despite the best efforts of the leftwing fanatics, their scams, schemes, slanders, they’ve all been discredited, totally discredited.”
He singled out James Comey, whom he fired as director of the FBI, and special counsel Robert Mueller, who led the Russia investigation, as enemies whose heads deserved to end up on metaphorical spikes.
“How is Comey doing?” he asked, sardonically. “How is Bob Mueller doing? That was a great performance in Congress. ‘Raise your right hand.’ ‘What?’”
There was also mention of the Utah senator Mitt Romney, who voted to convict Trump at the impeachment trial and, like a rebellious duke, was banished from CPAC this year. Trump described Romney as “lowlife” and the crowd booed lustily.
The president also spoke ominously of getting rid of bad people in government who are “not people that love our country” and launched a familiar tirade against the “fake news” media.
He gave little sign that he is worried about the democratic inconvenience of an election in November. Just a couple of hours after trying to muster gravitas in the White House briefing room while discussing the coronavirus, he reverted to the comfort zone of freewheeling rally style.
He took delight in mocking each of his Democratic rivals.
“We’ve got Sleepy Joe [Biden], we’ve got Crazy Bernie [Sanders], we’ve got Mini Mike [Bloomberg] but I think he’s out of it,” he said. “That was probably the worst debate performance in the history of presidential debates.
“It just shows you can’t buy an election. I mean, there’s a point at which people say, ‘You gotta bring the goods a little bit, too.’”
Trump parodied Bloomberg’s height by crouching behind the lectern and the crowd went wild, laughing ecstatically and chanting: “Four more years! Four more years!”
The president said: “We hit a nerve!”
Supporters of Donald Trump applauds as he speaks. Photograph: José Luis Magaña/AP
He also took a swipe at Biden, the former vice-president, for a gaffe in a recent debate: “Did he just say that we killed 150 million people? That’s half of our population.”
Trump even held an instant poll by asking the audience to “scream” for whether he would beat Biden or Sanders more easily. There was a significant scream for Biden but a much louder and sustained one for the democratic socialist senator from Vermont.
Trump suggested Biden would be “sitting in a home” for the elderly rather than governing, whereas Sanders might be a communist. That chimed with the conference’s theme: “America vs socialism”.
Of the Democrats, Trump warned darkly: “They want to take away your money, take away your choice, take away your speech, take away your guns, take away your religion, take away your history, take away your future and ultimately take away your freedom. But we will never let them do that.”
In a characteristically rambling monologue, he seemed genuinely unable to comprehend how teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg beat him to the precious title of Time magazine person of the year.
But he finished his speech by hugging and kissing the flag – a familiar move which elicited a huge cheer from his devoted subjects.
For them, and for Trump’s loyal courtiers at the White House and on Capitol Hill, it is a case of long live the king.