shareblue--2020-10-03--Trump is promising billions in aid to key voters weeks before the election

It 's almost as if he 's writing a personal check .
In recent days , Donald Trump has promised millions of Medicare recipients that — thanks to him — they 'll soon be getting an `` incredible '' $ 200 card in the mail to help them pay for prescriptions .
He 's called himself `` the best thing '' that ever happened to Puerto Rico , while releasing long-stalled aid .
Trump has also taken to showcasing the $ 28 billion he `` gave '' to farmers hard hit by the trade war with China .
`` What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the $ 28 billion for the farmers , and that includes you , '' Trump told supporters at a rally in Newport News , Virginia , last week — without mentioning that the aid was needed to offset the hit farmers took from his trade standoff with China .
`` That includes tobacco , that includes a lot of things , but that includes your farmers . ''
As Trump talks up heaps of federal aid flowing to key constituency groups in the lead-up to the November elections , he rarely mentions Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollars .
The president was in the battleground state of North Carolina last week when he proposed the idea of $ 200 drug cards for Medicare recipients — a move that comes as polls show slipping support for the president among older voters .
Government officials say key details , like when and how the drug benefit would be paid for , are still being fleshed out .
`` I will always take care of our wonderful senior citizens , '' Trump said .
`` Joe Biden wo n't be doing this .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rally in northern Wisconsin , a battleground he narrowly won in 2016 , to announce another $ 13 billion in pandemic aid to assist farmers .
That came after Trump announced the release of $ 13 billion in assistance to repair years-old hurricane damage in Puerto Rico and pledged to restore its economy .
He did n't mention his past harsh comments about the island and its leaders as he looks to curry favor with Puerto Rican voters elsewhere in the U.S. , particularly in crucial Florida .
`` I 'm the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rico , '' Trump said without a trace of irony .
`` No one even close . ''
On Wednesday , he spoke in personal terms at a rally in Duluth , Minnesota , about his decision to sign an executive order declaring a national emergency in the mining industry .
It 's a step he said would provide `` billions of dollars '' to the industry and bring `` countless '' jobs to the state 's Iron Range .
`` I will always protect Minnesota , '' said Trump , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his win column on Nov. 3 .
`` It 's been very good to me . ''
Trump was also happy to have his name splashed on checks when the U.S. Treasury earlier this year sent economic stimulus payments to millions of Americans struggling during the coronavirus .
It was the first time a president 's name appeared on any IRS payments , whether refund checks or other stimulus checks that have been mailed during past economic crises .
Similarly , the U.S. Department of Agriculture is including letters signed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distributed around the country to people in need .
Greg Trotter , a spokesman for the Greater Chicago Food Depository , said that some food pantries and other non-profits in the Chicago area have decided to remove the letters before distributing the packages to clients , some were troubled by the letters but do n't have the time or manpower to remove them , and others were not bothered by the inclusion .
He said it was `` inappropriate '' to include the letters in the boxes so close to the election even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` The master marketer is marketing himself through federal resources , '' said Rep. Marcia Fudge , D-Ohio , one of several lawmakers to raise concerns about the president 's letter to the USDA .
She added : `` It is no different than when he did the stimulus checks earlier this year ... To me , it 's nothing but politicking , and I think it 's illegal . ''
White House officials said the criticism is unmerited , saying the president is only trying to distribute information to help Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a congressional scholar at Rutgers University , said Trump 's approach to legislation is much like his style in the real estate world : In the end , he always wants to plaster his name on the finished product .
`` It 's Donald the entertainer , '' Baker said .
`` It 's one of the things that he learned from reality television that he 's applied pretty directly to the power of the presidency . ''
Trump is n't the first incumbent president to work the levers of government to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat Barack Obama ramped up his 2012 reelection campaign , he used the backdrop of the battleground state of New Hampshire to press Republicans to get behind an extension of a temporary payroll tax cut that was set to expire .
Republican George W. Bush traveled to Iowa weeks before the 2004 election to sign legislation that lowered taxes for millions of middle-class Americans .
But even as Bush highlighted the legislation in a state that he would narrowly win , he also thanked Democratic lawmakers for their support of the bill .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bill Clinton signed a 90-cent hike of the minimum wage into law , legislation to improve access to health insurance and a controversial bill overhauling the welfare system as he sold himself to the electorate as a pragmatist governing from the middle .
Matt Bennett , an aide in the Clinton White House who served on both of the former president 's White House campaigns , said there is little evidence that the last-second entreaties of past presidents had significant impact at the polls .
And he 's doubtful there are many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have n't already made up their minds .
`` The cake is pretty baked at this point , '' Bennett said .
Trump in recent weeks has taken the election-year courting of key constituencies to a new level as he uses rallies and official White House events for showy pronouncements , sometimes at odds with the facts .
One frequent boast is that his signing of a China trade deal earlier this year is straightening out decades of imbalance between the two nations .
In fact , Commerce Department data shows that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first seven months of this year .
`` I 've taken in billions and billions of dollars from China , '' Trump recently told reporters .
`` No other president has done what I 've done .
I 've given much of it to the farmers . ''
Even when he 's not doling out money , Trump — in the final lap before Election Day — has taken to dangling other benefits for key voter groups .
In Atlanta on Friday , Trump announced second-term plans to increase access to capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion and make a federal holiday of Juneteenth , the commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. Last week , after being asked about whether he 'll endorse Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine , Trump launched into a long aside about his efforts to help the state 's lobster industry .
He visited Maine in June to spotlight his administration 's efforts to get the European Union to lower tariffs on Maine lobsters .
`` What I 've done for Maine is what nobody has done , '' Trump @ @

It’s almost as if he’s writing a personal check.
In recent days, Donald Trump has promised millions of Medicare recipients that — thanks to him — they’ll soon be getting an “incredible” $200 card in the mail to help them pay for prescriptions. He’s called himself “the best thing” that ever happened to Puerto Rico, while releasing long-stalled aid. Trump has also taken to showcasing the $28 billion he “gave” to farmers hard hit by the trade war with China.
“What I’ve done for them, with the $28 billion for the farmers, and that includes you,” Trump told supporters at a rally in Newport News, Virginia, last week — without mentioning that the aid was needed to offset the hit farmers took from his trade standoff with China. “That includes tobacco, that includes a lot of things, but that includes your farmers.”
As Trump talks up heaps of federal aid flowing to key constituency groups in the lead-up to the November elections, he rarely mentions Congress’ role in the appropriation of those dollars.
The president was in the battleground state of North Carolina last week when he proposed the idea of $200 drug cards for Medicare recipients — a move that comes as polls show slipping support for the president among older voters. Government officials say key details, like when and how the drug benefit would be paid for, are still being fleshed out.
“I will always take care of our wonderful senior citizens,” Trump said. “Joe Biden won’t be doing this.”
Earlier in September, Trump used a rally in northern Wisconsin, a battleground he narrowly won in 2016, to announce another $13 billion in pandemic aid to assist farmers. That came after Trump announced the release of $13 billion in assistance to repair years-old hurricane damage in Puerto Rico and pledged to restore its economy.
He didn’t mention his past harsh comments about the island and its leaders as he looks to curry favor with Puerto Rican voters elsewhere in the U.S., particularly in crucial Florida.
“I’m the best thing that ever happened to Puerto Rico,” Trump said without a trace of irony. “No one even close.”
On Wednesday, he spoke in personal terms at a rally in Duluth, Minnesota, about his decision to sign an executive order declaring a national emergency in the mining industry. It’s a step he said would provide “billions of dollars” to the industry and bring “countless” jobs to the state’s Iron Range.
“I will always protect Minnesota,” said Trump, who is looking to add the historically Democratic-leaning state to his win column on Nov. 3. “It’s been very good to me.”
Trump was also happy to have his name splashed on checks when the U.S. Treasury earlier this year sent economic stimulus payments to millions of Americans struggling during the coronavirus. It was the first time a president’s name appeared on any IRS payments, whether refund checks or other stimulus checks that have been mailed during past economic crises.
Similarly, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is including letters signed by the president in boxes of surplus food being distributed around the country to people in need.
Greg Trotter, a spokesman for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, said that some food pantries and other non-profits in the Chicago area have decided to remove the letters before distributing the packages to clients, some were troubled by the letters but don’t have the time or manpower to remove them, and others were not bothered by the inclusion. He said it was “inappropriate” to include the letters in the boxes so close to the election even if the tone was not overtly political.
“The master marketer is marketing himself through federal resources,” said Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, one of several lawmakers to raise concerns about the president’s letter to the USDA. She added: “It is no different than when he did the stimulus checks earlier this year…To me, it’s nothing but politicking, and I think it’s illegal.”
White House officials said the criticism is unmerited, saying the president is only trying to distribute information to help Americans during the pandemic.
Ross Baker, a congressional scholar at Rutgers University, said Trump’s approach to legislation is much like his style in the real estate world: In the end, he always wants to plaster his name on the finished product.
“It’s Donald the entertainer,” Baker said. “It’s one of the things that he learned from reality television that he’s applied pretty directly to the power of the presidency.”
Trump isn’t the first incumbent president to work the levers of government to his advantage ahead of an election.
As Democrat Barack Obama ramped up his 2012 reelection campaign, he used the backdrop of the battleground state of New Hampshire to press Republicans to get behind an extension of a temporary payroll tax cut that was set to expire.
Republican George W. Bush traveled to Iowa weeks before the 2004 election to sign legislation that lowered taxes for millions of middle-class Americans. But even as Bush highlighted the legislation in a state that he would narrowly win, he also thanked Democratic lawmakers for their support of the bill.
Ahead of the 1996 Democratic National Convention, Bill Clinton signed a 90-cent hike of the minimum wage into law, legislation to improve access to health insurance and a controversial bill overhauling the welfare system as he sold himself to the electorate as a pragmatist governing from the middle.
Matt Bennett, an aide in the Clinton White House who served on both of the former president’s White House campaigns, said there is little evidence that the last-second entreaties of past presidents had significant impact at the polls. And he’s doubtful there are many voters whom Trump is trying to reach who haven’t already made up their minds.
“The cake is pretty baked at this point,” Bennett said.
Trump in recent weeks has taken the election-year courting of key constituencies to a new level as he uses rallies and official White House events for showy pronouncements, sometimes at odds with the facts.
One frequent boast is that his signing of a China trade deal earlier this year is straightening out decades of imbalance between the two nations. In fact, Commerce Department data shows that U.S. exports to China were down in the first seven months of this year.
“I’ve taken in billions and billions of dollars from China,” Trump recently told reporters. “No other president has done what I’ve done. I’ve given much of it to the farmers.”
Even when he’s not doling out money, Trump — in the final lap before Election Day — has taken to dangling other benefits for key voter groups.
In Atlanta on Friday, Trump announced second-term plans to increase access to capital in Black communities by almost $500 billion and make a federal holiday of Juneteenth, the commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.
Last week, after being asked about whether he’ll endorse Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Trump launched into a long aside about his efforts to help the state’s lobster industry. He visited Maine in June to spotlight his administration’s efforts to get the European Union to lower tariffs on Maine lobsters.
“What I’ve done for Maine is what nobody has done,” Trump said.


shareblue--2020-10-03--Trump's doctor and White House tell different stories about his health

Donald Trump 's doctor on Saturday painted a rosy picture of the president 's health as he remains hospitalized for coronavirus treatment .
But that assessment was immediately contradicted by a person familiar with Trump 's condition , who said the situation had been very concerning .
Even the sunnier briefing by Navy Commander Dr. Sean Conley and other doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center raised more questions than it answered , including about whether the president has ever required supplemental oxygen and exactly when he fell ill According to a person familiar with Trump 's condition , some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 hours were `` very concerning . ''
The person , who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity , said the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care .
Conley had said Trump has been fever-free for 24 hours as he updated the nation on the president 's condition from Walter Reed Saturday afternoon .
Trump was admitted Friday after testing positive for the coronavirus and has been undergoing treatment .
While Conley said the president is not currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the president had ever been on oxygen , despite repeated questioning .
`` Thursday no oxygen .
None at this moment .
And yesterday with the team , while we were all here , he was not on oxygen , '' he said .
He said that Trump 's symptoms , including a cough and nasal congestion `` are now resolving and improving . ''
`` He 's in exceptionally good spirits , '' said another doctor , Sean Dooley .
The administration has consistently been less than transparent about the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House .
Aides had declined to share basic health information about the president , including a full accounting of his symptoms , what tests he 's undertaken and the results .
The first word that a close aide to Trump had been infected came from the media , not the White House .
In a memo released shortly before midnight , Conley did report that Trump had been treated at the hospital with remdesivir , an antiviral medication , after taking another experimental drug at the White House .
He added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' and is `` not requiring any supplemental oxygen . ''
The White House said Trump was expected to stay at the hospital for `` a few days '' out of an abundance of caution and that he would continue to work from the hospital 's presidential suite , which is equipped to allow him to keep up his official duties .
In addition to accessibility to tests and equipment , the decision was made , at least in part , with the understanding that moving him later , if he took a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a worrying signal .

Donald Trump’s doctor on Saturday painted a rosy picture of the president’s health as he remains hospitalized for coronavirus treatment. But that assessment was immediately contradicted by a person familiar with Trump’s condition, who said the situation had been very concerning.
Even the sunnier briefing by Navy Commander Dr. Sean Conley and other doctors at Walter Reed Medical Center raised more questions than it answered, including about whether the president has ever required supplemental oxygen and exactly when he fell ill
According to a person familiar with Trump’s condition, some of Trump’s vital signs over the past 24 hours were “very concerning.” The person, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care.
Conley had said Trump has been fever-free for 24 hours as he updated the nation on the president’s condition from Walter Reed Saturday afternoon. Trump was admitted Friday after testing positive for the coronavirus and has been undergoing treatment.
While Conley said the president is not currently on oxygen, he refused to say whether the president had ever been on oxygen, despite repeated questioning.
“Thursday no oxygen. None at this moment. And yesterday with the team, while we were all here, he was not on oxygen,” he said. He said that Trump’s symptoms, including a cough and nasal congestion “are now resolving and improving.”
“He’s in exceptionally good spirits,” said another doctor, Sean Dooley.
The administration has consistently been less than transparent about the president’s health as the virus spread inside the White House. Aides had declined to share basic health information about the president, including a full accounting of his symptoms, what tests he’s undertaken and the results. The first word that a close aide to Trump had been infected came from the media, not the White House.
In a memo released shortly before midnight, Conley did report that Trump had been treated at the hospital with remdesivir, an antiviral medication, after taking another experimental drug at the White House. He added that Trump is “doing very well” and is “not requiring any supplemental oxygen.”
The White House said Trump was expected to stay at the hospital for “a few days” out of an abundance of caution and that he would continue to work from the hospital’s presidential suite, which is equipped to allow him to keep up his official duties. In addition to accessibility to tests and equipment, the decision was made, at least in part, with the understanding that moving him later, if he took a turn for the worse, could send a worrying signal.


shareblue--2020-10-03--Pennsylvania unions warn that workers can't survive four more years of Trump

This week , two major labor unions representing nearly a million American workers endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden .
On Wednesday , during a visit to Pennsylvania , Biden accepted the backing of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners , along with the International Union of Operating Engineers .
Pennsylvania labor leaders have warned of the damage Donald Trump has done to American workers .
`` What we 're trying to explain is that union labor , working families can not withstand another four years of assaults on the middle class , '' Bill Sproule , the executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Carpenters , told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review .
Jim Kunz serves as the business manager for the operating engineers ' Local 66 chapter , which represents nearly 8,000 union members in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio .
Kunz told the newspaper that Trump 's appointments to the National Labor Relations Board — which enforces U.S. labor law and oversees labor disputes — have been devastating for American workers .
During Biden 's Pennsylvania visit , the former vice president promised to be a strong advocate for labor rights if elected .
`` Collective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a guarantee .
And union apprenticeships would be sacred , '' Biden told supporters on Wednesday .
Trump also visited Pennsylvania last week in an attempt to present himself as a great job creator for state .
`` We fixed our disastrous trade deals .
They were a disaster , brought jobs and factories back to Pennsylvania , '' he claimed , and promised that in a second term he would `` keep your jobs in Pennsylvania where they belong . ''
He has not lived up to those promises .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roughly 333,000 people in Pennsylvania were unemployed , according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics .
By July 2020 , that number had more than doubled to nearly 794,000 unemployed Pennsylvanians .
Over that same time period , Pennsylvania 's unemployment rate climbed from 5.2 % to 12.5 % .
While September data for the state is not yet available , Friday 's national labor report found that that job growth had slowed significantly as the economic recovery stalls due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic .
`` The issue is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re losing it , '' Drew Matus , a chief market strategist for MetLife , told CNBC .
Trump narrowly carried Pennsylvania in 2016 , and analysts say it is unlikely he could win another term without the state 's 20 electoral votes .
Recent polling shows Biden leading the state by an average of almost 6 points .
Trump has embraced anti-union laws , saying in a February 2016 radio interview , `` We 've had great support from workers , the people that work , the real workers , but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like it better because it is lower . ''
Last month , Trump mocked Biden for speaking to union members .
Trump 's administration has been mostly hostile to labor , siding with corporations in their efforts to erode the rights of their employees .
This has included restricting workers ' ability to organize and improve their working conditions , blocking union elections , placing limits on who can join a union , and loosening workplace safety protections .
Meanwhile , Republicans in Congress and the White House have fought Democratic efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an hour .
During his reelection campaign , Trump has touted the small number of labor endorsements he has received — almost entirely from police unions .
At Tuesday 's presidential debate , Trump bragged of support from `` almost every law enforcement group in the United States .
I have Florida , I have Texas , I have Ohio . ''
But most of the nation 's largest other unions have backed Biden .
The AFL-CIO , which represents 12.5 million members , called Biden `` a lifelong supporter of workers '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for living wages , health care , retirement security and civil rights . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

This week, two major labor unions representing nearly a million American workers endorsed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
On Wednesday, during a visit to Pennsylvania, Biden accepted the backing of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, along with the International Union of Operating Engineers.
Pennsylvania labor leaders have warned of the damage Donald Trump has done to American workers.
“What we’re trying to explain is that union labor, working families cannot withstand another four years of assaults on the middle class,” Bill Sproule, the executive secretary-treasurer of the Eastern Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Jim Kunz serves as the business manager for the operating engineers’ Local 66 chapter, which represents nearly 8,000 union members in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. Kunz told the newspaper that Trump’s appointments to the National Labor Relations Board — which enforces U.S. labor law and oversees labor disputes — have been devastating for American workers.
During Biden’s Pennsylvania visit, the former vice president promised to be a strong advocate for labor rights if elected. “Collective bargaining would be sacred. It’s a guarantee. And union apprenticeships would be sacred,” Biden told supporters on Wednesday.
Trump also visited Pennsylvania last week in an attempt to present himself as a great job creator for state. “We fixed our disastrous trade deals. They were a disaster, brought jobs and factories back to Pennsylvania,” he claimed, and promised that in a second term he would “keep your jobs in Pennsylvania where they belong.”
He has not lived up to those promises. When Trump took office in January 2017, roughly 333,000 people in Pennsylvania were unemployed, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. By July 2020, that number had more than doubled to nearly 794,000 unemployed Pennsylvanians. Over that same time period, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate climbed from 5.2% to 12.5%.
While September data for the state is not yet available, Friday’s national labor report found that that job growth had slowed significantly as the economic recovery stalls due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “The issue is momentum, and I think we’re losing it,” Drew Matus, a chief market strategist for MetLife, told CNBC.
Trump narrowly carried Pennsylvania in 2016, and analysts say it is unlikely he could win another term without the state’s 20 electoral votes. Recent polling shows Biden leading the state by an average of almost 6 points.
Trump has embraced anti-union laws, saying in a February 2016 radio interview, “We’ve had great support from workers, the people that work, the real workers, but I love the right to work. I like it better because it is lower.” Last month, Trump mocked Biden for speaking to union members.
Trump’s administration has been mostly hostile to labor, siding with corporations in their efforts to erode the rights of their employees. This has included restricting workers’ ability to organize and improve their working conditions, blocking union elections, placing limits on who can join a union, and loosening workplace safety protections. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress and the White House have fought Democratic efforts to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour.
During his reelection campaign, Trump has touted the small number of labor endorsements he has received — almost entirely from police unions. At Tuesday’s presidential debate, Trump bragged of support from “almost every law enforcement group in the United States. I have Florida, I have Texas, I have Ohio.”
But most of the nation’s largest other unions have backed Biden. The AFL-CIO, which represents 12.5 million members, called Biden “a lifelong supporter of workers” who “has fought his entire career for living wages, health care, retirement security and civil rights.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-03--Doctors ask Supreme Court to toss Trump rule that denies health care to women

The nation 's largest doctors ' group on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to strike down a Trump administration rule that 's had a far-reaching impact on family planning by prohibiting taxpayer-funded clinics from referring women for abortions .
The American Medical Association acted after two U.S. appeals courts issued conflicting rulings on the legality of the Trump administration restrictions , which apply to clinics that mainly serve low-income women .
`` We do think this conflict needs to be resolved and we need to figure out how to deliver services under a program that has had bipartisan support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Susan Bailey .
The AMA 's move will raise the profile of a reproductive rights issue overshadowed by bigger election-year battles .
The recent death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has prompted speculation that a more conservative court could overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion , as well as the Obama health law that expanded coverage and made birth control free for most women .
But the changes to Title X , as the federal family planning program is known , are already in effect — and getting much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration finalized a rule that prohibits clinics from referring pregnant women for abortions and imposes other restrictions , including a requirement for strict financial and physical separation of family planning facilities from ones that provide abortions .
As a result , about 1 in 5 of some 4,000 clinics receiving federal funds left the program , including Planned Parenthood and its affiliates .
Advocates say the exodus has disrupted care for women who receive birth control and routine medical attention from the clinics .
The program usually serves some 4 million clients , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 20 % last year .
The Trump administration 's regulation `` warps and decimates '' Title X , the AMA said in its petition asking the Supreme Court to take the case .
An appeals court based in San Francisco upheld the Trump administration 's regulations , but a second court based in Richmond , Virginia , ruled in a Maryland case that the restrictions were invalid .
The AMA says that means the administration 's abortion referral rule is in effect everywhere but Maryland .
Casting the case as an issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the AMA said the administration 's rule attempts to control communication between clinicians and patients by prohibiting abortion referrals , while at the same time compelling clinics to refer pregnant women for prenatal care , even if a woman has decided that she wants to have an abortion .
`` The patient-physician relationship is the cornerstone of good medical care , and patients must be able to believe and completely trust that their physicians are giving them all of their options , and that communication is not being blocked in any way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frankly against our code of medical ethics . ''
In response , the Health and Human Services department rejected the accusation that the regulation amounts to a `` gag rule '' and noted that the federal appeals court in politically liberal San Francisco upheld it .
HHS says it is trying to increase the number of patients served and improve quality .
Longstanding laws prohibit the use of federal funds to pay for abortions , but the family planning rule is part of a broader Republican effort to shut down various streams of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the nation 's largest provider of abortions .
That 's been a critical priority for religious and social conservatives in Donald Trump 's political base .
Abortion remains a legal medical procedure , but the number and rate of abortions is at its lowest point in nearly 50 years .
Improved access to birth control is seen as one of the reasons .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden promises to rescind the Trump administration 's family planning rule and also supports allowing federal programs to pay for abortions .
But the AMA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it believes the Supreme Court should address the issue and overturn the Trump administration rule .
`` Title X has contributed to a 30-year low in unintended pregnancies , '' said Bailey .
`` We ca n't afford to walk away from that progress . ''
Joining the AMA 's petition are the ACLU , Planned Parenthood , the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association , and Essential Access Health , which administers the Title X family planning program in California .

The nation’s largest doctors’ group on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to strike down a Trump administration rule that’s had a far-reaching impact on family planning by prohibiting taxpayer-funded clinics from referring women for abortions.
The American Medical Association acted after two U.S. appeals courts issued conflicting rulings on the legality of the Trump administration restrictions, which apply to clinics that mainly serve low-income women.
“We do think this conflict needs to be resolved and we need to figure out how to deliver services under a program that has had bipartisan support for decades,” said AMA President Dr. Susan Bailey.
The AMA’s move will raise the profile of a reproductive rights issue overshadowed by bigger election-year battles. The recent death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has prompted speculation that a more conservative court could overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, as well as the Obama health law that expanded coverage and made birth control free for most women.
But the changes to Title X, as the federal family planning program is known, are already in effect — and getting much less attention.
Last year the Trump administration finalized a rule that prohibits clinics from referring pregnant women for abortions and imposes other restrictions, including a requirement for strict financial and physical separation of family planning facilities from ones that provide abortions.
As a result, about 1 in 5 of some 4,000 clinics receiving federal funds left the program, including Planned Parenthood and its affiliates. Advocates say the exodus has disrupted care for women who receive birth control and routine medical attention from the clinics. The program usually serves some 4 million clients, and the AMA says that was down about 20% last year.
The Trump administration’s regulation “warps and decimates” Title X, the AMA said in its petition asking the Supreme Court to take the case.
An appeals court based in San Francisco upheld the Trump administration’s regulations, but a second court based in Richmond, Virginia, ruled in a Maryland case that the restrictions were invalid. The AMA says that means the administration’s abortion referral rule is in effect everywhere but Maryland.
Casting the case as an issue of free speech and medical ethics, the AMA said the administration’s rule attempts to control communication between clinicians and patients by prohibiting abortion referrals, while at the same time compelling clinics to refer pregnant women for prenatal care, even if a woman has decided that she wants to have an abortion.
“The patient-physician relationship is the cornerstone of good medical care, and patients must be able to believe and completely trust that their physicians are giving them all of their options, and that communication is not being blocked in any way,” said Bailey. “It is frankly against our code of medical ethics.”
In response, the Health and Human Services department rejected the accusation that the regulation amounts to a “gag rule” and noted that the federal appeals court in politically liberal San Francisco upheld it. HHS says it is trying to increase the number of patients served and improve quality.
Longstanding laws prohibit the use of federal funds to pay for abortions, but the family planning rule is part of a broader Republican effort to shut down various streams of taxpayer money still available to Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest provider of abortions. That’s been a critical priority for religious and social conservatives in Donald Trump’s political base.
Abortion remains a legal medical procedure, but the number and rate of abortions is at its lowest point in nearly 50 years. Improved access to birth control is seen as one of the reasons.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden promises to rescind the Trump administration’s family planning rule and also supports allowing federal programs to pay for abortions. But the AMA says regardless of who wins the election, it believes the Supreme Court should address the issue and overturn the Trump administration rule.
“Title X has contributed to a 30-year low in unintended pregnancies,” said Bailey. “We can’t afford to walk away from that progress.”
Joining the AMA’s petition are the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, and Essential Access Health, which administers the Title X family planning program in California.


shareblue--2020-10-04--Amy Coney Barrett could give Trump exactly what he wants

When Amy Coney Barrett stood in the Rose Garden and accepted Donald Trump 's nomination to the United States Supreme Court , she praised the late Justice Antonin Scalia , for whom she had once clerked , declaring `` his judicial philosophy is mine too . ''
Her statement is cause for concern .
Scalia 's Supreme Court decisions chart a map for a second term — and perhaps an election contest — in which Barrett gives Trump whatever he wants .
Adhering to Scalia 's views also means the new justice would happily erase the gains women and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the workplace .
Barrett is slated to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's seat .
Already , there is a movement to declare her `` Notorious '' ( like RBG ) and to argue that she is the `` new feminist icon . ''
But Barrett ’ s record displays no bent toward feminism , while feminism and equality was at the absolute core of Ginsburg 's judicial philosophy .
In a career filled with highlights , Justice Ginsburg 's decision in United States v. Virginia was one of the crown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7-1 majority in which only Scalia dissented , the court held it was unconstitutional for the Virginia Military Institute , a public military college , to only admit men .
The college had a long history of turning out prestigious and highest-ranking military officers , with a laundry list of generals including Gen. George Patton and Gen. George Marshall .
No women were allowed .
Ginsburg ’ s opinion rejected the school ’ s justification for this scheme , saying that sex classifications may never be used `` to create or perpetuate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of women . ''
By contrast , Scalia would have affirmed VMI 's right to forever admit men only .
His dissent complained of change being `` forced '' on Virginia , praised single-sex instruction , and asserted not enough women would enjoy or thrive under the type of instruction offered by VMI .
He also implied that removing single-sex education would undo `` old fashioned concepts '' such as `` manly 'honor ' '' the school provided .
Ginsburg took an expansive view of education that said everyone does better when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t limit the best of those opportunities to just men .
Scalia believed that `` manly honor '' is best served by denying women rights .
If Barrett is asserting she will be just like Scalia , it could mean she is squarely in the camp that does n't believe women should have equal opportunities .
As much as Trump and the Senate Majority have tried to turn her into the new Ginsburg , her own words highlight that she 'd happily undo the late justice 's signature feminist achievements .
Scalia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case regarding independent counsels , Morrison v. Olson .
The majority of the court found that independent counsels were constitutional as they did n't violate the separation of powers , nor did they limit the authority of the executive branch .
The majority also noted that this wasn ’ t a situation where Congress had tried to gain control over executive officials , such as the president .
Instead , the law still allowed the attorney general — an executive branch employee — to remove the independent counsel .
Scalia hated this idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independent counsels was unconstitutional because criminal prosecution is a `` purely executive power '' in that Congress can not prosecute someone , only impeach .
He saw the president ’ s authority as so vast that everyone who exercised some part of executive branch power could only serve at the president 's pleasure .
It 's a worldview tailor-made for Trump , and there ’ s a credible argument to be made that Scalia 's thoughts paved the way for Trump ’ s own wildly outsized view of his power and immunity from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view , her future rulings about the sweep of presidential power would be good for Trump , allowing him to push back on oversight .
Given she has already refused to say she would recuse herself from any 2020 presidential election cases , it doesn ’ t look like she ’ s terribly interested in standing up to Trump .
Scalia additionally wrote the majority opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller , which created , for the first time , a private right to gun ownership rather than as part of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Second Amendment .
The ruling struck down D.C. 's gun law that banned handguns and required people to keep their lawfully owned weapons unloaded .
It provided such an expansive view of what the Second Amendment allows that , as Justice Breyer wrote in his dissent , it `` threaten [ ed ] to throw into doubt the constitutionality of gun laws throughout the United States . ''
That was precisely the point .
Scalia 's decision made it near-impossible to figure out which gun laws would be constitutional , leading inevitably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as unregulated as possible .
That 's undoubtedly Barrett ’ s view .
In Kanter v. Barr , she disagreed with the majority , which upheld Wisconsin ’ s law disqualifying all felons from having guns , including nonviolent felons such as the plaintiff in that case , Rickey Kanter .
Kanter , a former business owner who was convicted of felony mail fraud in May 2011 , sued for the right to have a gun , arguing that as a nonviolent felon , he was not dangerous .
In the lower court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing that though most felons are nonviolent , `` someone with a felony conviction on his record is more likely than a nonfelon to engage in illegal and violent gun use , '' and that a large percentage of later crimes committed by nonviolent felons are actually violent .
That did n't matter to Barrett , who said the state needed to show that Kanter personally would be dangerous if armed .
She got to that conclusion by engaging in the same sort of complicated and tortuous divining of what the Founding Fathers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did .
Finally , Justice Scalia was always notably bad on affirmative action .
He dissented from the court 's decision in 2003 that upheld the University of Michigan 's affirmative action system because having a diverse student body is a `` compelling '' state interest .
Scalia mocked the university ’ s goals , saying `` cross-racial understanding '' was not an `` education benefit '' that would appear on law student transcripts , and was , therefore , neither relevant nor teachable .
As the Trump administration works to dismantle affirmative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will prove an adept assistant if she follows Scalia 's thinking .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

When Amy Coney Barrett stood in the Rose Garden and accepted Donald Trump’s nomination to the United States Supreme Court, she praised the late Justice Antonin Scalia, for whom she had once clerked, declaring “his judicial philosophy is mine too.”
Her statement is cause for concern. Scalia’s Supreme Court decisions chart a map for a second term — and perhaps an election contest — in which Barrett gives Trump whatever he wants. Adhering to Scalia’s views also means the new justice would happily erase the gains women and people of color have made in academia and the workplace.
Barrett is slated to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat. Already, there is a movement to declare her “Notorious” (like RBG) and to argue that she is the “new feminist icon.” But Barrett’s record displays no bent toward feminism, while feminism and equality was at the absolute core of Ginsburg’s judicial philosophy.
In a career filled with highlights, Justice Ginsburg’s decision in United States v. Virginia was one of the crown jewels. With Ginsburg writing for a 7-1 majority in which only Scalia dissented, the court held it was unconstitutional for the Virginia Military Institute, a public military college, to only admit men.
The college had a long history of turning out prestigious and highest-ranking military officers, with a laundry list of generals including Gen. George Patton and Gen. George Marshall. No women were allowed.
Ginsburg’s opinion rejected the school’s justification for this scheme, saying that sex classifications may never be used “to create or perpetuate the legal, social, and economic inferiority of women.”
By contrast, Scalia would have affirmed VMI’s right to forever admit men only. His dissent complained of change being “forced” on Virginia, praised single-sex instruction, and asserted not enough women would enjoy or thrive under the type of instruction offered by VMI. He also implied that removing single-sex education would undo “old fashioned concepts” such as “manly ‘honor'” the school provided.
Ginsburg took an expansive view of education that said everyone does better when they have more opportunities, and you can’t limit the best of those opportunities to just men.
Scalia believed that “manly honor” is best served by denying women rights.
If Barrett is asserting she will be just like Scalia, it could mean she is squarely in the camp that doesn’t believe women should have equal opportunities. As much as Trump and the Senate Majority have tried to turn her into the new Ginsburg, her own words highlight that she’d happily undo the late justice’s signature feminist achievements.
Scalia was also the lone dissenter in a case regarding independent counsels, Morrison v. Olson.
The majority of the court found that independent counsels were constitutional as they didn’t violate the separation of powers, nor did they limit the authority of the executive branch. The majority also noted that this wasn’t a situation where Congress had tried to gain control over executive officials, such as the president. Instead, the law still allowed the attorney general — an executive branch employee — to remove the independent counsel.
Scalia hated this idea. He thought the mere existence of independent counsels was unconstitutional because criminal prosecution is a “purely executive power” in that Congress cannot prosecute someone, only impeach. He saw the president’s authority as so vast that everyone who exercised some part of executive branch power could only serve at the president’s pleasure.
It’s a worldview tailor-made for Trump, and there’s a credible argument to be made that Scalia’s thoughts paved the way for Trump’s own wildly outsized view of his power and immunity from oversight. If this is Barrett’s view, her future rulings about the sweep of presidential power would be good for Trump, allowing him to push back on oversight.
Given she has already refused to say she would recuse herself from any 2020 presidential election cases, it doesn’t look like she’s terribly interested in standing up to Trump.
Scalia additionally wrote the majority opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller, which created, for the first time, a private right to gun ownership rather than as part of a “well-regulated militia” as mentioned in the Second Amendment.
The ruling struck down D.C.’s gun law that banned handguns and required people to keep their lawfully owned weapons unloaded. It provided such an expansive view of what the Second Amendment allows that, as Justice Breyer wrote in his dissent, it “threaten[ed] to throw into doubt the constitutionality of gun laws throughout the United States.”
That was precisely the point. Scalia’s decision made it near-impossible to figure out which gun laws would be constitutional, leading inevitably to the view that guns should be as unregulated as possible.
That’s undoubtedly Barrett’s view. In Kanter v. Barr, she disagreed with the majority, which upheld Wisconsin’s law disqualifying all felons from having guns, including nonviolent felons such as the plaintiff in that case, Rickey Kanter.
Kanter, a former business owner who was convicted of felony mail fraud in May 2011, sued for the right to have a gun, arguing that as a nonviolent felon, he was not dangerous.
In the lower court, the state of Wisconsin provided evidence showing that though most felons are nonviolent, “someone with a felony conviction on his record is more likely than a nonfelon to engage in illegal and violent gun use,” and that a large percentage of later crimes committed by nonviolent felons are actually violent.
That didn’t matter to Barrett, who said the state needed to show that Kanter personally would be dangerous if armed. She got to that conclusion by engaging in the same sort of complicated and tortuous divining of what the Founding Fathers might have thought, much as Scalia did.
Finally, Justice Scalia was always notably bad on affirmative action. He dissented from the court’s decision in 2003 that upheld the University of Michigan’s affirmative action system because having a diverse student body is a “compelling” state interest. Scalia mocked the university’s goals, saying “cross-racial understanding” was not an “education benefit” that would appear on law student transcripts, and was, therefore, neither relevant nor teachable.
As the Trump administration works to dismantle affirmative action programs across the country, Barrett will prove an adept assistant if she follows Scalia’s thinking.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-04--Trump's campaign outreach to LGBTQ voters is all a sham

Eric Trump bragged about his father 's supposed LGBTQ support during a Fox News interview on Tuesday .
Fox News host Ainsley Earhart had just described an unidentified lesbian Trump voter who New York Times columnist Bret Stephens said he interviewed for his latest opinion piece .
Earhart asked if Eric thought his father expected this kind of `` secret voter '' to turn up at the polls on Election Day .
`` I ’ m telling you , I see it every day , the LGBT community , they are incredible and you should see how they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father every single day , '' the younger Trump responded .
`` ' I ’ m part of that community and we love the man and thank you for protecting our neighborhoods and thank you for protecting our cities , ' '' he added , paraphrasing those supporters .
Eric Trump 's comments are just the latest by key Trump allies over the past few months to assert strong LGBTQ support for the president , despite his administration 's 175 attacks on the LGBTQ community .
These attacks include reversing or attempting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , transgender students , transgender patients , and allowing contractors and subcontractors to enjoy broad religious exemptions that could result in discrimination against LGBTQ employees .
Experts reject the idea that Trump , his supporters , his campaign , or the GOP generally are concerned with getting votes from members of the LGBTQ community or about the concerns of LGBTQ people in general .
On Tuesday , Sarah Kate Ellis , president and CEO of GLAAD , responded in a tweet to Eric Trump 's comments .
`` The LGBTQ community is indeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record on LGBTQ issues is shameful and abysmal , '' Ellis said .
`` The Trump family and their surrogates lie about widespread support in our community .
LGBTQ voters will not fall for it . ''
Instead , some LGBTQ advocates say Trump and those who support him want to be seen as attempting to court their vote for strategic reasons .
Attitudes about LGBTQ people and LGBTQ rights are changing .
As of last year , 61 % of Americans supported marriage equality and 31 % opposed it according to Pew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % opposed it and 31 % supported it .
A majority of Americans now support nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people as well , according to a 2019 Public Religion Research Institute poll .
Moreover , the Trump campaign does n't have good reason to be optimistic that they will gain many LGBTQ people 's votes .
According to a Morning Consult poll released in June , Joe Biden leads Trump among LGBTQ voters by an average of 43 percentage points .
Among LGBTQ Republicans , 12 % said they would vote for Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people made up 6 % of the electorate .
An overwhelming percentage , 82 % , voted for the Democratic option in the House of Representatives .
LGBTQ people also showed up at the polls earlier this year on Super Tuesday , with nearly 1 in 10 voters identifying as LGBTQ .
A Williams Institute report on the 2020 LGBTQ vote found that 50 % of LGBTQ voters said they identify most with the Democratic Party compared to 38 % of non-LGBTQ voters .
The GOP focus on the LGBTQ community was kickstarted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Committee published a brief on its website titled , `` President Trump Has Taken Unprecedented Steps To Protect The LGBTQ Community . ''
The listed achievements included Trump 's claim that he would protect LGBTQ people , which was made at the Republican National Convention in 2016 to stoke anti-Muslim sentiments ; his appointment of Richard Grenell , who is openly gay , to acting director of the Office of National Intelligence ; and an HIV/AIDS initiative that aims to end the epidemic by 2030 .
Earlier in September , Trump quote-tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an informal poll by the social media company Hornet , that said 45 % of gay men supported him .
In response to Trump 's tweet , however , Hornet later stated , `` In effect , the only thing truly measured by Hornet ’ s results are the opinions of those Hornet users who chose to take the survey , not the broader Hornet user base , not gay American men , and most definitely not the broader American LGBTQ community . ''
In a statement last month to the New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called outreach efforts , a White House spokesman claimed that it could `` not be further from the truth '' that LGBTQ people 's rights were threatened under the Trump administration .
Still , administration officials told the New York Times that Trump was largely unsure of what political rewards the LGBTQ community could provide him and was more concerned evangelical voters .
The Trump campaign has powered forward with it 's strategic plan regardless .
In late August , long after Pride Month had ended , the campaign announced Trump Pride , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
The Trump Pride website says that Trump `` stands in solidarity with LGBT citizens by supporting and enacting policies and initiatives that protect the wellbeing and prosperity of all gay , lesbian , bisexual , and transgender Americans . ''
The launch coincided with Grenell , the co-chair of Trump Pride , working alongside the Republican National Committee as a senior adviser for LGBTQ outreach .
That same month , Grenell appeared in a video , which was filled with inaccuracies and misleading claims , for the Log Cabin Republicans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video , he claimed , `` President Trump is the most pro-gay president in American history . ''
Grenell never mentioned transgender people , on whom the Trump administration has focused many of its discriminatory attacks .
Mara Kiesling , executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund , called these sorts of statements `` posturing '' and said they were `` ridiculous . ''
`` As vicious and cruel as the administration has been toward trans people , this kind of weak claim isn ’ t going to win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some LGBTQ advocates say Trump 's campaign is attempting to snag the votes of people they believe are sympathetic to LGBTQ rights issues and who they believe would be turned off by Trump 's actual record .
Lucas Acosta , deputy communications director of politics for the Human Rights Campaign , said that much is clear and that he does n't see real outreach to the LGBTQ community .
`` Rick Grenell got a really nice job at the RNC where he 's making some money and cutting some videos , attempting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s doing is appearing on Fox News , living in the Twitter-sphere and what that is not doing is actual outreach to LGBTQ people , '' he said .
Acosta added , `` I take that to be less of a strategy actually about getting the votes of LGBTQ people and more a strategy of attempting to get those equality-adjacent voters , people who don ’ t like supporting candidates who are anti-LGBTQ , and trying to give them a little bit of breathing room . ''
Recent polling from the Human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in key states , including Michigan , Florida , and Pennsylvania , there is widespread support for the Equality Act , a bill that provides federal nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people .
Trump voters who said they supported the bill exceeded Trump supporters who were against it by 10 percentage points in Wisconsin , Arizona , and Pennsylvania .
When asked whether knowing that an elected official was opposed to LGBTQ equality would make them less favorable toward them or more favorable , most Republicans said it did not matter to them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed that among Republicans who had an opinion , `` far more say less favorable than more favorable . ''
Thirty-two percent of Republicans in Arizona and 31 % of Republicans in Pennsylvania said it made the candidate feel less favorable to them .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Eric Trump bragged about his father’s supposed LGBTQ support during a Fox News interview on Tuesday.
Fox News host Ainsley Earhart had just described an unidentified lesbian Trump voter who New York Times columnist Bret Stephens said he interviewed for his latest opinion piece. Earhart asked if Eric thought his father expected this kind of “secret voter” to turn up at the polls on Election Day.
“I’m telling you, I see it every day, the LGBT community, they are incredible and you should see how they’ve come out in full force for my father every single day,” the younger Trump responded. “‘I’m part of that community and we love the man and thank you for protecting our neighborhoods and thank you for protecting our cities,'” he added, paraphrasing those supporters. Eric Trump’s comments are just the latest by key Trump allies over the past few months to assert strong LGBTQ support for the president, despite his administration’s 175 attacks on the LGBTQ community. These attacks include reversing or attempting to roll back safeguards for homeless transgender people, transgender students, transgender patients, and allowing contractors and subcontractors to enjoy broad religious exemptions that could result in discrimination against LGBTQ employees. Experts reject the idea that Trump, his supporters, his campaign, or the GOP generally are concerned with getting votes from members of the LGBTQ community or about the concerns of LGBTQ people in general. On Tuesday, Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, responded in a tweet to Eric Trump’s comments. “The LGBTQ community is indeed incredible, but the Trump Administration’s record on LGBTQ issues is shameful and abysmal,” Ellis said. “The Trump family and their surrogates lie about widespread support in our community. LGBTQ voters will not fall for it.” Instead, some LGBTQ advocates say Trump and those who support him want to be seen as attempting to court their vote for strategic reasons. Attitudes about LGBTQ people and LGBTQ rights are changing. As of last year, 61% of Americans supported marriage equality and 31% opposed it according to Pew Research polling. In 2004, 60% opposed it and 31% supported it. A majority of Americans now support nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people as well, according to a 2019 Public Religion Research Institute poll. Moreover, the Trump campaign doesn’t have good reason to be optimistic that they will gain many LGBTQ people’s votes. According to a Morning Consult poll released in June, Joe Biden leads Trump among LGBTQ voters by an average of 43 percentage points. Among LGBTQ Republicans, 12% said they would vote for Biden. During the 2018 midterms, LGBTQ people made up 6% of the electorate. An overwhelming percentage, 82%, voted for the Democratic option in the House of Representatives. LGBTQ people also showed up at the polls earlier this year on Super Tuesday, with nearly 1 in 10 voters identifying as LGBTQ. A Williams Institute report on the 2020 LGBTQ vote found that 50% of LGBTQ voters said they identify most with the Democratic Party compared to 38% of non-LGBTQ voters. The GOP focus on the LGBTQ community was kickstarted back in June, when the Republican National Committee published a brief on its website titled, “President Trump Has Taken Unprecedented Steps To Protect The LGBTQ Community.” The listed achievements included Trump’s claim that he would protect LGBTQ people, which was made at the Republican National Convention in 2016 to stoke anti-Muslim sentiments; his appointment of Richard Grenell, who is openly gay, to acting director of the Office of National Intelligence; and an HIV/AIDS initiative that aims to end the epidemic by 2030. Earlier in September, Trump quote-tweeted, “Great!” in response to an informal poll by the social media company Hornet, that said 45% of gay men supported him. In response to Trump’s tweet, however, Hornet later stated, “In effect, the only thing truly measured by Hornet’s results are the opinions of those Hornet users who chose to take the survey, not the broader Hornet user base, not gay American men, and most definitely not the broader American LGBTQ community.” In a statement last month to the New York Times, on Trump’s sudden so-called outreach efforts, a White House spokesman claimed that it could “not be further from the truth” that LGBTQ people’s rights were threatened under the Trump administration. Still, administration officials told the New York Times that Trump was largely unsure of what political rewards the LGBTQ community could provide him and was more concerned evangelical voters.
The Trump campaign has powered forward with it’s strategic plan regardless.
In late August, long after Pride Month had ended, the campaign announced Trump Pride, a coalition focused on outreach to LGBTQ people. The Trump Pride website says that Trump “stands in solidarity with LGBT citizens by supporting and enacting policies and initiatives that protect the wellbeing and prosperity of all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans.”
The launch coincided with Grenell, the co-chair of Trump Pride, working alongside the Republican National Committee as a senior adviser for LGBTQ outreach.
That same month, Grenell appeared in a video, which was filled with inaccuracies and misleading claims, for the Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative LGBTQ group. In the video, he claimed, “President Trump is the most pro-gay president in American history.”
Grenell never mentioned transgender people, on whom the Trump administration has focused many of its discriminatory attacks.
Mara Kiesling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund, called these sorts of statements “posturing” and said they were “ridiculous.”
“As vicious and cruel as the administration has been toward trans people, this kind of weak claim isn’t going to win people over,” she said.
Some LGBTQ advocates say Trump’s campaign is attempting to snag the votes of people they believe are sympathetic to LGBTQ rights issues and who they believe would be turned off by Trump’s actual record.
Lucas Acosta, deputy communications director of politics for the Human Rights Campaign, said that much is clear and that he doesn’t see real outreach to the LGBTQ community.
“Rick Grenell got a really nice job at the RNC where he’s making some money and cutting some videos, attempting to target LGBTQ people, but what he’s doing is appearing on Fox News, living in the Twitter-sphere and what that is not doing is actual outreach to LGBTQ people,” he said.
Acosta added, “I take that to be less of a strategy actually about getting the votes of LGBTQ people and more a strategy of attempting to get those equality-adjacent voters, people who don’t like supporting candidates who are anti-LGBTQ, and trying to give them a little bit of breathing room.”
Recent polling from the Human Rights Campaign and Hart Research have found that in key states, including Michigan, Florida, and Pennsylvania, there is widespread support for the Equality Act, a bill that provides federal nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people. Trump voters who said they supported the bill exceeded Trump supporters who were against it by 10 percentage points in Wisconsin, Arizona, and Pennsylvania.
When asked whether knowing that an elected official was opposed to LGBTQ equality would make them less favorable toward them or more favorable, most Republicans said it did not matter to them either way. However, the results showed that among Republicans who had an opinion, “far more say less favorable than more favorable.”
Thirty-two percent of Republicans in Arizona and 31% of Republicans in Pennsylvania said it made the candidate feel less favorable to them.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-04--Trump's doctor admits he withheld details of treatment to 'reflect upbeat attitude'

Donald Trump 's physician says he was trying to `` reflect the upbeat attitude '' of the president and his medical team when he declined to share Saturday that Trump was placed on oxygen the day before .
Navy Cmdr .
Dr. Sean Conley was pressed Sunday on why his rosy picture of Trump 's health was contradicted moments later by White House chief of staff Mark Meadows , who expressed that the medical team was very concerned with the president 's health Friday morning when he experienced a drop in his blood oxygen levels and had a high fever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to reflect the upbeat attitude of the team , that the president , that his course of illness has had . ''
He added that he `` did n't want to give any information that might steer the course of illness in another direction .
And in doing so , came off like we 're trying to hide something , which was n't necessarily true . ''
Trump 's team of doctors says he is doing well after his COVID-19 diagnosis and could be discharged as early as Monday to continue his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specialist in pulmonary critical care , said Trump received a second dose of the experimental drug remdesivir along with a first dose of dexamethasone Saturday and is n't showing any side effects `` that we can tell . ''
He said Sunday that Trump is `` up and well '' and the plan was to have him `` out of bed '' Sunday as much as possible .
Garibaldi and Conley said if things continue to go well , Trump will be able to return to the White House on Monday to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other appropriate therapy .
Conley also said Trump was treated with a steroid after a drop in oxygen levels on Saturday .
He said Trump 's oxygen level had dropped down to 93 % on Saturday .
He says the Trump did not feel short of breath .

Donald Trump’s physician says he was trying to “reflect the upbeat attitude” of the president and his medical team when he declined to share Saturday that Trump was placed on oxygen the day before.
Navy Cmdr. Dr. Sean Conley was pressed Sunday on why his rosy picture of Trump’s health was contradicted moments later by White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who expressed that the medical team was very concerned with the president’s health Friday morning when he experienced a drop in his blood oxygen levels and had a high fever.
Said Conley: “I was trying to reflect the upbeat attitude of the team, that the president, that his course of illness has had.”
He added that he “didn’t want to give any information that might steer the course of illness in another direction. And in doing so, came off like we’re trying to hide something, which wasn’t necessarily true.”
Trump’s team of doctors says he is doing well after his COVID-19 diagnosis and could be discharged as early as Monday to continue his treatment.
Dr. Brian Garibaldi, a specialist in pulmonary critical care, said Trump received a second dose of the experimental drug remdesivir along with a first dose of dexamethasone Saturday and isn’t showing any side effects “that we can tell.”
He said Sunday that Trump is “up and well” and the plan was to have him “out of bed” Sunday as much as possible.
Garibaldi and Conley said if things continue to go well, Trump will be able to return to the White House on Monday to continue his five-day course of remdesivir treatment and other appropriate therapy.
Conley also said Trump was treated with a steroid after a drop in oxygen levels on Saturday. He said Trump’s oxygen level had dropped down to 93% on Saturday. He says the Trump did not feel short of breath.


shareblue--2020-10-04--Opinion: Trump misses his chance to make case for reelection at debate

Leading up to Tuesday night 's first presidential debate , most of the analysis centered around historical precedent .
Many analysts , myself included , looked to past debates , like the 1980 Carter-Reagan faceoff , to examine how the first Biden-Trump debate might impact the race .
Also discussed in television segments and newspaper articles during the lead-up to Tuesday 's debate was the worst day of my tenure as President Barack Obama 's campaign manager and probably my political career : October 3 , 2012 , the first debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney .
Within the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we knew we had lost .
Yet nothing , nothing could have prepared us for the disgraceful spectacle Donald Trump put on Tuesday night .
The debate , in the words of CNN anchor Dana Bash , was `` a sh*t show . ''
Before getting into any political analysis , it is important to recognize that what we as a country saw Tuesday was just the latest example of just how far the cancer that is the Trump presidency has spread across the American body politic .
And while we can become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worth remembering that for four years , Trump , empowered by a feckless , morally bankrupt Republican Party , has blatantly and brazenly broken the law , broken our political system , broken the sacred trust with the American people , and fundamentally tried to break our democracy itself .
Now , with all of that being said , what are the political ramifications of Tuesday night ?
First , it is worth remembering that , most likely , a very small percentage of the millions of viewers who watched were actually persuadable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 74 % of registered voters said they would watch the debates , but only 3 % said it was very likely they would hear something that would change their mind .
But for those 3 % , Trump did nothing to make his case — and for an incumbent who has trailed in national and battleground polls for months , whose job approval sags under the weight of a pandemic and economic collapse , this was a huge missed opportunity .
Rather than articulating a vision for what a second term might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lies and personal insults , went on bizarre tangents unrelated to the questions he was asked , repeatedly interrupted the moderator and former Vice President Joe Biden , and threw infantile temper tantrums you would n't accept from a toddler , let alone the president of the United States in a nationally televised presidential debate .
When Chris Wallace asked Trump if he would condemn white supremacists , a layup question by any decent person 's standards , he could n't and he did n't .
In front of 71 million Americans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fallout will be , because an American presidential debate audience had never been exposed to such disgusting behavior before .
And while partisanship often rules the day , for that tiny sliver of persuadable voters , what they saw on Tuesday was of no comfort .
Joe Biden , meanwhile , did everything he needed to do .
The American people long ago decided they wanted to fire Donald Trump — which is why his approval rating never reached 50 % .
But they needed to be confident in hiring Joe Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ snap reaction , seems to have cleared that bar for voters .
Tuesday night 's debate will go down as another sad chapter in the American story under Donald Trump .
Hopefully , on January 20 , 2021 , we can start a new one .
Jim Messina is CEO of The Messina Group and chief strategist for American Bridge 21st Century .
He was formerly White House deputy chief of staff under President Obama , and campaign manager for the president 's 2012 reelection campaign .

Leading up to Tuesday night’s first presidential debate, most of the analysis centered around historical precedent.
Many analysts, myself included, looked to past debates, like the 1980 Carter-Reagan faceoff, to examine how the first Biden-Trump debate might impact the race.
Also discussed in television segments and newspaper articles during the lead-up to Tuesday’s debate was the worst day of my tenure as President Barack Obama’s campaign manager and probably my political career: October 3, 2012, the first debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney. Within the first 8 minutes of the debate, we knew we had lost.
Yet nothing, nothing could have prepared us for the disgraceful spectacle Donald Trump put on Tuesday night. The debate, in the words of CNN anchor Dana Bash, was “a sh*t show.”
Before getting into any political analysis, it is important to recognize that what we as a country saw Tuesday was just the latest example of just how far the cancer that is the Trump presidency has spread across the American body politic.
And while we can become numb to it, it is always worth remembering that for four years, Trump, empowered by a feckless, morally bankrupt Republican Party, has blatantly and brazenly broken the law, broken our political system, broken the sacred trust with the American people, and fundamentally tried to break our democracy itself.
Now, with all of that being said, what are the political ramifications of Tuesday night? First, it is worth remembering that, most likely, a very small percentage of the millions of viewers who watched were actually persuadable voters. In a recent Monmouth Poll, 74% of registered voters said they would watch the debates, but only 3% said it was very likely they would hear something that would change their mind.
But for those 3%, Trump did nothing to make his case — and for an incumbent who has trailed in national and battleground polls for months, whose job approval sags under the weight of a pandemic and economic collapse, this was a huge missed opportunity.
Rather than articulating a vision for what a second term might be, Trump launched a barrage of lies and personal insults, went on bizarre tangents unrelated to the questions he was asked, repeatedly interrupted the moderator and former Vice President Joe Biden, and threw infantile temper tantrums you wouldn’t accept from a toddler, let alone the president of the United States in a nationally televised presidential debate.
When Chris Wallace asked Trump if he would condemn white supremacists, a layup question by any decent person’s standards, he couldn’t and he didn’t. In front of 71 million Americans.
It is hard to predict what the fallout will be, because an American presidential debate audience had never been exposed to such disgusting behavior before. And while partisanship often rules the day, for that tiny sliver of persuadable voters, what they saw on Tuesday was of no comfort.
Joe Biden, meanwhile, did everything he needed to do. The American people long ago decided they wanted to fire Donald Trump — which is why his approval rating never reached 50%.
But they needed to be confident in hiring Joe Biden. His debate performance, at least on snap reaction, seems to have cleared that bar for voters.
Tuesday night’s debate will go down as another sad chapter in the American story under Donald Trump. Hopefully, on January 20, 2021, we can start a new one.
Jim Messina is CEO of The Messina Group and chief strategist for American Bridge 21st Century. He was formerly White House deputy chief of staff under President Obama, and campaign manager for the president’s 2012 reelection campaign.


shareblue--2020-10-05--Highly contagious Trump returns to White House and removes his mask

Donald Trump returned to the White House Monday night , after spending three days at Walter Reed Medical Center to receive treatment for COVID-19 .
He left the hospital even though his medical team said he had not finished his treatment yet , and even his doctor made clear he should not yet be leaving the hospital .
Trump took to the balcony of the White House , removed his mask , posed for the cameras , and then after several minutes , walked inside — without his mask .
Trump has downplayed the virus — and specifically , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the disease that has killed nearly 210,000 Americans .
Even while hospitalized , he has minimized the seriousness of the illness from which he is now personally suffering .
On Sunday , Trump took a joyride to drive by his fans outside the hospital , putting the Secret Service agents in the car with him at great risk .
He insisted Monday that it would have been `` rude '' for him not to do so .
`` I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Feeling really good !
Do n't be afraid of COVID .
Do n't let it dominate your life . ''
At least 11 people who work in the White House have tested positive in recent days , including his press secretary , Kayleigh McEnany and several of her aides .
Many other members of Trump 's inner circle who attended the White House ceremony a week ago to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court have also tested positive .
On Monday , Trump 's physician , Sean Conley , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be to keep others safe as the virus continues to spread throughout the White House .
It is also not clear what precautions Trump will take — if any — to avoid further infecting the people who serve him .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump returned to the White House Monday night, after spending three days at Walter Reed Medical Center to receive treatment for COVID-19. He left the hospital even though his medical team said he had not finished his treatment yet, and even his doctor made clear he should not yet be leaving the hospital.
Trump took to the balcony of the White House, removed his mask, posed for the cameras, and then after several minutes, walked inside — without his mask.
Trump has downplayed the virus — and specifically, the importance of wearing masks to reduce the spread of the disease that has killed nearly 210,000 Americans. Even while hospitalized, he has minimized the seriousness of the illness from which he is now personally suffering.
On Sunday, Trump took a joyride to drive by his fans outside the hospital, putting the Secret Service agents in the car with him at great risk. He insisted Monday that it would have been “rude” for him not to do so.
“I will be leaving the great Walter Reed Medical Center today at 6:30 p.m.,” Trump tweeted Monday afternoon. “Feeling really good! Don’t be afraid of COVID. Don’t let it dominate your life.”
At least 11 people who work in the White House have tested positive in recent days, including his press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany and several of her aides. Many other members of Trump’s inner circle who attended the White House ceremony a week ago to nominate Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court have also tested positive.
On Monday, Trump’s physician, Sean Conley, refused to say what the protocol will be to keep others safe as the virus continues to spread throughout the White House. It is also not clear what precautions Trump will take — if any — to avoid further infecting the people who serve him.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-05--GOP senator who just got COVID complains of 'unjustifiable hysteria'

Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) on Monday downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus in a radio interview , two days after announcing that he had tested positive for it .
`` Why do we think we actually can stop the progression of a contagious disease ?
Now , if we were [ facing ] something like Ebola that takes more than 40 % of people or MERS which is 30 , or even SARS , which is like 8 % , you take more extraordinary measures , '' he told a Denver radio host .
`` There 's a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , before claiming he was `` not downplaying it . ''
`` The truth is most people who get COVID are going to be just fine , '' Johnson said .
Doctors are still learning about the long-term damage the virus causes to organs .
A significant percentage of people who survive the initial bout with the virus experience serious ongoing symptoms .
Asked about the politics of the disease , Johnson blasted the press for pushing `` unrealistic mass hysteria '' around the notion that Donald Trump could have done more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than anybody wanted him to , '' Johnson claimed , citing Trump 's partial shutdown of travel from China and Europe and his few other actions .
`` I 'll still say it , I 'll probably get beat up in the press for this .
We should have followed the Sweden model .
Isolate the sick , quarantine them , protect the vulnerable , and allow the rest of society to carry on with life as carefully as possible , '' he said .
Johnson is one of a large and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Donald Trump , who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past week .
After having a test done last week , Johnson attended a fundraising event while waiting to learn the result .
He later justified not self-quarantining by noting that he was asymptomatic — ignoring the fact that asymptomatic carriers can still spread the virus .
Public health experts have made it clear that widespread mask use would be hugely helpful in curbing the spread of the coronavirus .
But like Trump , Johnson has staunchly opposed mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even after he tested positive .
To date , almost 210,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 .
More than 1,300 of those deaths have been in Johnson 's home state of Wisconsin , which currently has one of the highest per capita number of cases of any state in the country .
Later in the interview , Johnson vowed to break quarantine if necessary to vote in the Senate to confirm Trump 's nominee Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court before the election .
`` If we have to go in and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'll go in a moon suit , '' he said .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) on Monday downplayed the seriousness of the coronavirus in a radio interview, two days after announcing that he had tested positive for it.
“Why do we think we actually can stop the progression of a contagious disease? Now, if we were [facing] something like Ebola that takes more than 40% of people or MERS which is 30, or even SARS, which is like 8%, you take more extraordinary measures,” he told a Denver radio host.
“There’s a level of unjustifiable hysteria,” he said, before claiming he was “not downplaying it.”
“The truth is most people who get COVID are going to be just fine,” Johnson said.
Doctors are still learning about the long-term damage the virus causes to organs. A significant percentage of people who survive the initial bout with the virus experience serious ongoing symptoms.
Asked about the politics of the disease, Johnson blasted the press for pushing “unrealistic mass hysteria” around the notion that Donald Trump could have done more. “The president did a lot more than anybody wanted him to,” Johnson claimed, citing Trump’s partial shutdown of travel from China and Europe and his few other actions.
“I’ll still say it, I’ll probably get beat up in the press for this. We should have followed the Sweden model. Isolate the sick, quarantine them, protect the vulnerable, and allow the rest of society to carry on with life as carefully as possible,” he said.
Johnson is one of a large and growing number of Republican lawmakers and officials, including Donald Trump, who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past week. After having a test done last week, Johnson attended a fundraising event while waiting to learn the result. He later justified not self-quarantining by noting that he was asymptomatic — ignoring the fact that asymptomatic carriers can still spread the virus.
Public health experts have made it clear that widespread mask use would be hugely helpful in curbing the spread of the coronavirus. But like Trump, Johnson has staunchly opposed mask mandates and has continued to do so even after he tested positive.
To date, almost 210,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. More than 1,300 of those deaths have been in Johnson’s home state of Wisconsin, which currently has one of the highest per capita number of cases of any state in the country.
Later in the interview, Johnson vowed to break quarantine if necessary to vote in the Senate to confirm Trump’s nominee Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court before the election. “If we have to go in and vote, I’ve already told leadership I’ll go in a moon suit,” he said.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-05--Trump's doctor makes it clear he shouldn't be leaving the hospital yet

White House physician Dr. Sean Conley downplayed concerns about Donald Trump leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday , three days after being admitted for COVID-19 , simultaneously admitting that Trump was still not in good health and would require continued medical care at home .
Conley said that while Trump 's team of doctors was `` cautiously optimistic , '' they were `` in a bit of uncharted territory when it comes to a patient that received the therapies he has so early in the course , '' referring to an experimental drug regimen that Trump had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this weekend , if we can get through to Monday with him remaining the same or improving , then we will all take that final deep sigh of relief , '' Conley said .
He added , however , that Trump `` may not entirely be out of the woods yet . ''
During the press briefing , Conley was also asked at least three times when Trump was last tested , and when his last negative result was , but he refused to answer .
Conley responded that he `` does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` As far as travel goes , we will see , '' he said when asked whether Trump would be campaigning .
Conley demurred when confronted about the details of Trump 's case , citing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ( HIPAA ) at least twice .
`` I don ’ t have his viral load .
Those are some of the diagnostics that we ’ re sending out , that will really tell us when it ’ s safe for him to get back out and around people , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked with our infectious disease experts to make some recommendations for how to keep everything safe , down at the White House , for the president and those around him , '' he added .
As a physician of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Conley is a military official who takes orders from Trump .
Sources told CNN that Trump was `` likely instructing '' Conley on what to disclose .
Experts say it 's likely not safe for Trump to be leaving Walter Reed at present .
Already , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have tested positive for the virus , as well as multiple others who visited the Rose Garden in late September to celebrate the nomination of Trump 's Supreme Court pick , Judge Amy Coney Barrett .
One physician told The American Independent Foundation earlier on Monday that Trump was setting a dangerous example for others .
`` In leaving , he is claiming victory ... continuing to downplay it , telling people do n't be afraid , we have to live our lives ... and we 're going to have more people die @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davidson , executive director of the Committee to Protect Medicare .
Davidson added that Trump 's drug regimen — a three-drug cocktail — was in fact `` generally reserved for people who are moderately to severely ill [ ... ] . ''
`` ... And yet he 's still deciding to blow it off , '' Davidson said .
The White House initially claimed on Friday that Trump was being taken to Walter Reed out of an abundance of caution , however doctors later admitted that his blood oxygen level had dropped perilously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administer a steroid `` that has typically been given to Covid-19 patients who are seriously ill , '' the Wall Street Journal noted .
Trump himself has downplayed the threat to his health , tweeting Monday afternoon that he was `` feeling really good . ''
`` Don ’ t be afraid of Covid .
Don ’ t let it dominate your life .
We have developed , under the Trump Administration , some really great drugs & knowledge .
I feel better than I did 20 years ago ! ''
he claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Independent Foundation .

White House physician Dr. Sean Conley downplayed concerns about Donald Trump leaving Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Monday, three days after being admitted for COVID-19, simultaneously admitting that Trump was still not in good health and would require continued medical care at home.
Conley said that while Trump’s team of doctors was “cautiously optimistic,” they were “in a bit of uncharted territory when it comes to a patient that received the therapies he has so early in the course,” referring to an experimental drug regimen that Trump had been on.
“We’re looking to this weekend, if we can get through to Monday with him remaining the same or improving, then we will all take that final deep sigh of relief,” Conley said.
He added, however, that Trump “may not entirely be out of the woods yet.”
During the press briefing, Conley was also asked at least three times when Trump was last tested, and when his last negative result was, but he refused to answer.
Conley responded that he “does not want to go backwards.”
“As far as travel goes, we will see,” he said when asked whether Trump would be campaigning.
Conley demurred when confronted about the details of Trump’s case, citing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) at least twice.
“I don’t have his viral load. Those are some of the diagnostics that we’re sending out, that will really tell us when it’s safe for him to get back out and around people,” Conley said.
“We’ve worked with our infectious disease experts to make some recommendations for how to keep everything safe, down at the White House, for the president and those around him,” he added.
As a physician of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Conley is a military official who takes orders from Trump.
Sources told CNN that Trump was “likely instructing” Conley on what to disclose.
Experts say it’s likely not safe for Trump to be leaving Walter Reed at present. Already, at least 11 White House staffers or aides have tested positive for the virus, as well as multiple others who visited the Rose Garden in late September to celebrate the nomination of Trump’s Supreme Court pick, Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
One physician told The American Independent Foundation earlier on Monday that Trump was setting a dangerous example for others.
“In leaving, he is claiming victory … continuing to downplay it, telling people don’t be afraid, we have to live our lives … and we’re going to have more people die because of it,” said Rob Davidson, executive director of the Committee to Protect Medicare.
Davidson added that Trump’s drug regimen — a three-drug cocktail — was in fact “generally reserved for people who are moderately to severely ill […].”
“…And yet he’s still deciding to blow it off,” Davidson said.
The White House initially claimed on Friday that Trump was being taken to Walter Reed out of an abundance of caution, however doctors later admitted that his blood oxygen level had dropped perilously over the weekend, forcing them to administer a steroid “that has typically been given to Covid-19 patients who are seriously ill,” the Wall Street Journal noted.
Trump himself has downplayed the threat to his health, tweeting Monday afternoon that he was “feeling really good.”
“Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominate your life. We have developed, under the Trump Administration, some really great drugs & knowledge. I feel better than I did 20 years ago!” he claimed.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-05--GOP senator calls White House 'super protected' as outbreak spreads there

Sen. John Kennedy ( R-LA ) on Monday described the White House as a `` super protected '' environment despite the recent outbreak of COVID-19 among White House staffers and the Trump family .
`` Every time I 've been to the White House , it 's sort of been a protected , super protected area , '' Kennedy told Fox News .
He went on to describe the viral outbreak that has killed over 209,000 Americans as `` not nearly as lethal as the experts told us it was going to be . ''
On the same day Kennedy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secretary Kayleigh McEnany revealed that she has tested positive for COVID-19 .
Two other staffers on the White House communications staff also tested positive .
At least 11 people who work in the White House have tested positive thus far .
In addition to Donald and Melania Trump , Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel , three Republican senators , former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , and former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway are among the figures in Trump 's orbit who have tested positive .
From the Oct. 5 edition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Neil Cavuto '' : SEN. JOHN KENNEDY : Every time I 've been to the White House , it 's sort of been a protected , super protected area .
It was a bubble — NEIL CAVUTO , Fox News : Still , all those people have the virus .
Super protected or not , all those people go it , right ?
KENNEDY : True .
And I think that what that shows you is : It shows what we 've learned about this virus .
We 've learned two things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand out in my mind .
Number one , it 's very contagious and number two , it 's not nearly as lethal as the experts told us it was going to be .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) on Monday described the White House as a “super protected” environment despite the recent outbreak of COVID-19 among White House staffers and the Trump family.
“Every time I’ve been to the White House, it’s sort of been a protected, super protected area,” Kennedy told Fox News.
He went on to describe the viral outbreak that has killed over 209,000 Americans as “not nearly as lethal as the experts told us it was going to be.”
On the same day Kennedy made his remarks, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany revealed that she has tested positive for COVID-19. Two other staffers on the White House communications staff also tested positive. At least 11 people who work in the White House have tested positive thus far.
In addition to Donald and Melania Trump, Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel, three Republican senators, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and former White House counselor Kellyanne Conway are among the figures in Trump’s orbit who have tested positive.
From the Oct. 5 edition of Fox News’ “Your World with Neil Cavuto”:
SEN. JOHN KENNEDY: Every time I’ve been to the White House, it’s sort of been a protected, super protected area. It was a bubble — NEIL CAVUTO, Fox News: Still, all those people have the virus. Super protected or not, all those people go it, right? KENNEDY: True. And I think that what that shows you is: It shows what we’ve learned about this virus. We’ve learned two things, among others, but two things stand out in my mind. Number one, it’s very contagious and number two, it’s not nearly as lethal as the experts told us it was going to be.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.