shareblue--2020-10-22--Susan Collins' challenger in Maine asks voters to punish the GOP

The last time Democrat Sara Gideon ran for office , she trounced her Republican challenger and spent a measly $ 4,299.99 doing it .
Two years later , the Maine House speaker has hauled in $ 63.6 million , a mountain of money that 's poured in from Democrats across the country for one clear purpose : defeating Sen. Susan Collins .
It 's a mission that has been enthusiastically embraced by Gideon , an up-and-coming Democrat who has ably tapped into frustrations in Maine and beyond with Collins ' ties to Donald Trump .
The 48-year-old is now giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a race that is testing voters ' willingness to punish all Republicans for Trump 's combative and disruptive leadership — even those , like Collins , who 've tried to keep a distance .
In stop after stop on the campaign trail , Gideon is unrelenting in her answer .
`` You have to stand up to people when they are wrong , and you have to call them out .
You have to say who we are and what matters .
That 's what we 've lost during the course of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a town hall-style meeting under a tent in Camden .
As one of several races that could determine which party controls the Senate , the race has brought a dizzying amount of money to Maine , a state unaccustomed to being a battleground in a national political proxy war .
All told , Gideon 's and Collins ' campaigns and outside allies have spent or allocated more than $ 110 million on campaign advertising through Election Day , according to the ad tracking company Kantar/CMAG .
All of that money has n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than two weeks to go , polls show a close race with neither candidate pulling ahead .
Both women are competing for the state 's pragmatic voters who prize independence and problem-solving .
For nearly 25 years , Collins has made that her brand , often winning headlines for stepping in to work with Democrats on compromises .
But Gideon has tried to flip that script on the 67-year-old Collins .
She 's running as a moderate , calling for expansion of health care and stronger environmental protections .
But she 's stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Green New Deal proposals celebrated by the left flank of her party .
She 's also pitched herself as a candidate who 'll seek common ground , touting her work in the Maine House , where she rearranged seating and forced Republicans and Democrats to sit next to one another .
The best ideas come from collaboration , Gideon said in a recent Associated Press interview .
`` If we 're going to be successful in making something , we pretty much have to build it together , '' she said .
Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's bipartisan image .
When she mentioned during a debate that she 's in regular contact with Republican leaders in the legislature , House Republican leader Kathleen Dillingham pushed back .
`` We have not spoken in months , '' she said .
And when Democrats wanted to reconvene legislators to address unfinished business this summer , Gideon was unable to get Republicans onboard .
Like much of the country , Maine is increasingly divided along partisan lines , with the southern and coastal parts of the state becoming more blue and rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overtook independents as the state 's largest voting bloc .
Still , Gideon needs to cut into Collins ' support with that group to win .
Collins contends she 's the real bipartisan option , with years of experience getting results from working with members of both parties .
She bristles at the unrelenting `` offensive '' attacks by Gideon and her allies and their money .
`` It 's not about trying to attain a policy goal .
It 's all about attaining power , '' Collins told the AP .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often talks about picking potatoes as a teen in Caribou , not far from the Canadian border — Gideon moved to Maine in 2004 and is `` from away , '' as Mainers say about newcomers .
Gideon grew up in East Greenwich , Rhode Island , where her father was a pediatrician who emigrated from India and her Armenian American mother was a psychiatrist .
Gideon settled in Freeport , home to L.L .
Bean , to raise her family with her husband , Benjamin Rogoff Gideon , a Maine native who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her parents ' health care jobs and their commitment to community for her inspiration for public service .
Although Gideon does n't talk much about her Indian heritage , Americans of Indian descent are looking to her candidacy much the way they do that of vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris , whose mother was from India — with a sense of pride and excitement .
Ashok Nalamalapu , an information technology business owner who was born in India and now lives in Maine , said he previously voted for Collins .
But this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gideon because he believes Republicans have lost their way .
`` Republicans have become anti-immigrant , '' he said .
`` We do n't like that .
Many people are afraid for their lives . ''
Gideon got into politics on the Freeport Town Council in 2009 .
She was elected to the Maine House in 2012 and became speaker four years later .
She made her name battling with then-GOP Gov .
Paul LePage over issues including funding to address the drug overdose crisis .
Democratic support quickly coalesced around Gideon as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh ensured her race would draw national attention and cash .
Collins said she will vote against Trump 's latest Supreme Court nominee , Amy Coney Barrett , out of fairness to Democrats , who were denied a vote on President Barack Obama 's nominee during an election year .
But Barrett 's approval is all but assured even without Collins ' vote .
On the campaign trail , Gideon has held more than 30 socially distanced `` Suppers with Sara '' under a tent that is moved from town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a down jacket , and L.L .
Bean boots , Gideon mingles easily with the crowd before holding a town hall session , adeptly fielding questions from business leaders , health care workers , and lobstermen .
`` I think she might be able to bring some fresh ideas to Washington , which seems really stuck right now , '' said Faith Hague , a freelance graphic designer who attended one of the events in Camden .
`` It feels like Susan Collins toes the party line unless her vote is not needed @ @

The last time Democrat Sara Gideon ran for office, she trounced her Republican challenger and spent a measly $4,299.99 doing it.
Two years later, the Maine House speaker has hauled in $63.6 million, a mountain of money that’s poured in from Democrats across the country for one clear purpose: defeating Sen. Susan Collins.
It’s a mission that has been enthusiastically embraced by Gideon, an up-and-coming Democrat who has ably tapped into frustrations in Maine and beyond with Collins’ ties to Donald Trump. The 48-year-old is now giving Collins the fight of her political life in a race that is testing voters’ willingness to punish all Republicans for Trump’s combative and disruptive leadership — even those, like Collins, who’ve tried to keep a distance.
In stop after stop on the campaign trail, Gideon is unrelenting in her answer. “You have to stand up to people when they are wrong, and you have to call them out. You have to say who we are and what matters. That’s what we’ve lost during the course of this presidency,” Gideon said recently at a town hall-style meeting under a tent in Camden.
As one of several races that could determine which party controls the Senate, the race has brought a dizzying amount of money to Maine, a state unaccustomed to being a battleground in a national political proxy war. All told, Gideon’s and Collins’ campaigns and outside allies have spent or allocated more than $110 million on campaign advertising through Election Day, according to the ad tracking company Kantar/CMAG.
All of that money hasn’t moved the needle much. With less than two weeks to go, polls show a close race with neither candidate pulling ahead.
Both women are competing for the state’s pragmatic voters who prize independence and problem-solving. For nearly 25 years, Collins has made that her brand, often winning headlines for stepping in to work with Democrats on compromises.
But Gideon has tried to flip that script on the 67-year-old Collins. She’s running as a moderate, calling for expansion of health care and stronger environmental protections. But she’s stopped short of backing Medicare for All or Green New Deal proposals celebrated by the left flank of her party.
She’s also pitched herself as a candidate who’ll seek common ground, touting her work in the Maine House, where she rearranged seating and forced Republicans and Democrats to sit next to one another.
The best ideas come from collaboration, Gideon said in a recent Associated Press interview.
“If we’re going to be successful in making something, we pretty much have to build it together,” she said.
Republicans have sought to poke holes in Gideon’s bipartisan image. When she mentioned during a debate that she’s in regular contact with Republican leaders in the legislature, House Republican leader Kathleen Dillingham pushed back. “We have not spoken in months,” she said. And when Democrats wanted to reconvene legislators to address unfinished business this summer, Gideon was unable to get Republicans onboard.
Like much of the country, Maine is increasingly divided along partisan lines, with the southern and coastal parts of the state becoming more blue and rural regions becoming more red. Democrats recently overtook independents as the state’s largest voting bloc. Still, Gideon needs to cut into Collins’ support with that group to win.
Collins contends she’s the real bipartisan option, with years of experience getting results from working with members of both parties. She bristles at the unrelenting “offensive” attacks by Gideon and her allies and their money. “It’s not about trying to attain a policy goal. It’s all about attaining power,” Collins told the AP.
While Collins is a state fixture — she often talks about picking potatoes as a teen in Caribou, not far from the Canadian border — Gideon moved to Maine in 2004 and is “from away,” as Mainers say about newcomers.
Gideon grew up in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, where her father was a pediatrician who emigrated from India and her Armenian American mother was a psychiatrist.
Gideon settled in Freeport, home to L.L. Bean, to raise her family with her husband, Benjamin Rogoff Gideon, a Maine native who took her last name. She credits her parents’ health care jobs and their commitment to community for her inspiration for public service.
Although Gideon doesn’t talk much about her Indian heritage, Americans of Indian descent are looking to her candidacy much the way they do that of vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, whose mother was from India — with a sense of pride and excitement.
Ashok Nalamalapu, an information technology business owner who was born in India and now lives in Maine, said he previously voted for Collins. But this time, he said he’s supporting Gideon because he believes Republicans have lost their way.
“Republicans have become anti-immigrant,” he said. “We don’t like that. Many people are afraid for their lives.”
Gideon got into politics on the Freeport Town Council in 2009. She was elected to the Maine House in 2012 and became speaker four years later. She made her name battling with then-GOP Gov. Paul LePage over issues including funding to address the drug overdose crisis.
Democratic support quickly coalesced around Gideon as Collins’ vote for Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh ensured her race would draw national attention and cash.
Collins said she will vote against Trump’s latest Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, out of fairness to Democrats, who were denied a vote on President Barack Obama’s nominee during an election year. But Barrett’s approval is all but assured even without Collins’ vote.
On the campaign trail, Gideon has held more than 30 socially distanced “Suppers with Sara” under a tent that is moved from town to town. Dressed in jeans, a down jacket, and L.L. Bean boots, Gideon mingles easily with the crowd before holding a town hall session, adeptly fielding questions from business leaders, health care workers, and lobstermen.
“I think she might be able to bring some fresh ideas to Washington, which seems really stuck right now,” said Faith Hague, a freelance graphic designer who attended one of the events in Camden. “It feels like Susan Collins toes the party line unless her vote is not needed.”


shareblue--2020-10-22--Trump is in big trouble in all 8 swing states

Polls released this week showed Donald Trump trailing behind former Vice President Joe Biden in all eight swing states — some of which he won by a large margin in the presidential election four years ago .
In Iowa , a Monmouth University poll released Wednesday showed Biden leading Trump among likely voters 50 % to 47 % , compared with last month 's poll in which Trump led by 3 % .
Among registered voters , Trump has a slight advantage with 48 % to Biden 's 47 % .
Though Trump handily won Iowa by nearly 10 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shaping up to be one of the most competitive races in this year 's presidential election .
Patrick Murray , director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute , said he is looking at a `` couple very tight races that could go either way , '' including Iowa .
He credited the important role older voters play in the state .
`` Senior voters are a sizable bloc in Iowa and they prefer Biden on major issues , '' he said .
`` This group has historically supported Republicans but appears to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murray noted Republican campaigns face two challenges in Iowa .
`` Not only do they need a bigger GOTV ( Get Out the Vote ) effort on Election Day , '' he said , `` but any breaking developments that could help them may be too late . ''
Even voters who supported Trump previously are rethinking their options this year .
Four years ago , Charissa Frangione , 34 , a small-business owner in Marcus , Iowa , voted for Trump , telling the New York Times , `` I just thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in order than a businessman ? ''
In 2020 , she told the paper that she already voted by mail for Biden .
`` Unfortunately , I just do n't feel like he 's lived up to my expectations as a president , '' said Frangione , a city council member .
`` Even the good things he does are washed out by his demeanor . ''
In Ohio , where Trump won by 8 points four years ago , a Quinnipiac University poll released last week showed Biden slightly ahead with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden holds an identical 1-point lead in a Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research poll released Tuesday .
Trump has traditionally shown a strong affinity toward Rasmussen , one of his preferred polling outlets .
One poll , a Fox News survey released Wednesday , did find Trump ahead in the Buckeye State among likely voters by 3 percentage points , 48 % to Biden 's 45 % .
Trump was also slightly ahead among registered voters at 46 % to Biden 's 44 % .
In Arizona , another state where Trump won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a poll released Sunday by YouGov showed Biden leading with 50 % over Trump at 47 % .
A PoliticalIQ poll , conducted by Scott Rasmussen ( RMG Research ) , found Biden with a slight lead at 47 % and Trump at 46 % .
In North Carolina , where Trump carried by more than 3 points four years ago , a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released Tuesday showed Biden leading 49 % to Trump 's 46 % .
Dr. Michael Binder is faculty director at the University of North Florida 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a poll released Tuesday showing a tight race with Biden at 48 % and Trump at 47 % in the Sunshine State .
Trump won by 1.2 % in 2016 .
`` While some polls have shown Biden with a big lead in Florida and other key states , we made an effort to capture hard-to-reach voters and our results suggest that it might be a long night on November 3rd , '' the associate professor of political science stated .
`` This is Florida , and elections are never easy here , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the wire . ''
The Reuters/Ipsos poll additionally found that the two presidential candidates neck and neck in Florida with Biden leading 49 % to Trump 's 47 % .
A CNN/SSRS poll released Wednesday showed a tight race as well , with Biden up 50 % to 46 % among likely voters and 48 % to 46 % among registered voters .
In Michigan , an Ipsos poll released Tuesday showed Biden with a wide 8-point lead over Trump , 52 % to 44 % .
A Mitchell Research & Communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an even bigger margin , with Biden up 51 % to Trump 's 41 % .
One survey , a Fox News poll released Wednesday , found Trump trailing Biden by 12 points among likely voters and 11 % among registered voters .
Trump won Michigan in 2016 by the closest margin of all the swing states , 0.3 % .
Steve Mitchell , president of Mitchell Research , cautioned this week that anything can happen in the days leading up to Nov. 3 , but noted that Trump appeared to be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four years ago by just 10,000 votes , but he appears to be in trouble this year .
He is only getting 91 % of the voters who voted for him four years ago , while 98 % of Clinton ’ s voters are voting for Biden .
Trump is getting only 89 % of the GOP vote , while Biden is getting 95 % of the Democrats . ''
Mitchell noted that Biden also `` has a big 2:1 lead with independents ( 54 % -27 % ) . ''
`` All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , but as we saw four years ago , as a lot can happen in the last 15 days , '' he said .
In Wisconsin where Trump won by 0.7 % in 2016 , Biden is also leading by a slim to wide margin .
A Change Research poll released Tuesday found Trump trailing by 8 points , 44 % to Biden 's 52 % .
A third Ipsos poll released Monday also found Biden leading by 8 points with 51 % against Trump 's 43 % .
A Fox News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but also closing the gap slightly compared to last month .
In Pennsylvania where Trump won also by 0.7 % , the former vice president is similarly in the lead .
A Quinnipiac University poll found Biden leading with 51 % and Trump at 43 % .
A Suffolk University poll also found Biden ahead 49 % to 42 % .
The conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research poll found Biden with a slight lead in Pennsylvania , 50 % to Trump 's 45 % .
A CNN/SSRS poll released Wednesday found Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely voters and 5 points among registered voters .
`` In varying degrees , three critical states ( Pennsylvania , Florida , and Iowa ) in three very different parts of the country come to the same ominous conclusion .
The president 's hopes for re-election are growing dimmer by the day , '' said Tim Malloy , a polling analyst at Quinnipiac University .
Published with permission from The American Independent Foundation .

Polls released this week showed Donald Trump trailing behind former Vice President Joe Biden in all eight swing states — some of which he won by a large margin in the presidential election four years ago.
In Iowa, a Monmouth University poll released Wednesday showed Biden leading Trump among likely voters 50% to 47%, compared with last month’s poll in which Trump led by 3%. Among registered voters, Trump has a slight advantage with 48% to Biden’s 47%.
Though Trump handily won Iowa by nearly 10 points in 2016, the Hawkeye State is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races in this year’s presidential election.
Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, said he is looking at a “couple very tight races that could go either way,” including Iowa. He credited the important role older voters play in the state.
“Senior voters are a sizable bloc in Iowa and they prefer Biden on major issues,” he said. “This group has historically supported Republicans but appears to be rejecting the Trump message here.”
Murray noted Republican campaigns face two challenges in Iowa. “Not only do they need a bigger GOTV (Get Out the Vote) effort on Election Day,” he said, “but any breaking developments that could help them may be too late.”
Even voters who supported Trump previously are rethinking their options this year.
Four years ago, Charissa Frangione, 34, a small-business owner in Marcus, Iowa, voted for Trump, telling the New York Times, “I just thought, who better to get the economy back in order than a businessman?”
In 2020, she told the paper that she already voted by mail for Biden.
“Unfortunately, I just don’t feel like he’s lived up to my expectations as a president,” said Frangione, a city council member. “Even the good things he does are washed out by his demeanor.”
In Ohio, where Trump won by 8 points four years ago, a Quinnipiac University poll released last week showed Biden slightly ahead with 48% to Trump’s 47%. Biden holds an identical 1-point lead in a Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research poll released Tuesday. Trump has traditionally shown a strong affinity toward Rasmussen, one of his preferred polling outlets.
One poll, a Fox News survey released Wednesday, did find Trump ahead in the Buckeye State among likely voters by 3 percentage points, 48% to Biden’s 45%. Trump was also slightly ahead among registered voters at 46% to Biden’s 44%.
In Arizona, another state where Trump won by more than 3 points in 2016, a poll released Sunday by YouGov showed Biden leading with 50% over Trump at 47%. A PoliticalIQ poll, conducted by Scott Rasmussen (RMG Research), found Biden with a slight lead at 47% and Trump at 46%.
In North Carolina, where Trump carried by more than 3 points four years ago, a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released Tuesday showed Biden leading 49% to Trump’s 46%.
Dr. Michael Binder is faculty director at the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab, which conducted a poll released Tuesday showing a tight race with Biden at 48% and Trump at 47% in the Sunshine State. Trump won by 1.2% in 2016.
“While some polls have shown Biden with a big lead in Florida and other key states, we made an effort to capture hard-to-reach voters and our results suggest that it might be a long night on November 3rd,” the associate professor of political science stated. “This is Florida, and elections are never easy here, I expect this race to come down to the wire.”
The Reuters/Ipsos poll additionally found that the two presidential candidates neck and neck in Florida with Biden leading 49% to Trump’s 47%. A CNN/SSRS poll released Wednesday showed a tight race as well, with Biden up 50% to 46% among likely voters and 48% to 46% among registered voters.
In Michigan, an Ipsos poll released Tuesday showed Biden with a wide 8-point lead over Trump, 52% to 44%. A Mitchell Research & Communications poll released Monday showed Trump trailing by an even bigger margin, with Biden up 51% to Trump’s 41%.
One survey, a Fox News poll released Wednesday, found Trump trailing Biden by 12 points among likely voters and 11% among registered voters. Trump won Michigan in 2016 by the closest margin of all the swing states, 0.3%.
Steve Mitchell, president of Mitchell Research, cautioned this week that anything can happen in the days leading up to Nov. 3, but noted that Trump appeared to be in trouble.
“President Trump won Michigan four years ago by just 10,000 votes, but he appears to be in trouble this year. He is only getting 91% of the voters who voted for him four years ago, while 98% of Clinton’s voters are voting for Biden. Trump is getting only 89% of the GOP vote, while Biden is getting 95% of the Democrats.”
Mitchell noted that Biden also “has a big 2:1 lead with independents (54%-27%).”
“All this makes Michigan in the Biden camp now, but as we saw four years ago, as a lot can happen in the last 15 days,” he said.
In Wisconsin where Trump won by 0.7% in 2016, Biden is also leading by a slim to wide margin. A Change Research poll released Tuesday found Trump trailing by 8 points, 44% to Biden’s 52%. A third Ipsos poll released Monday also found Biden leading by 8 points with 51% against Trump’s 43%.
A Fox News poll released Wednesday showed Trump still trailing, but also closing the gap slightly compared to last month.
In Pennsylvania where Trump won also by 0.7%, the former vice president is similarly in the lead. A Quinnipiac University poll found Biden leading with 51% and Trump at 43%. A Suffolk University poll also found Biden ahead 49% to 42%.
The conservative-leaning Rasmussen Reports/Pulse Opinion Research poll found Biden with a slight lead in Pennsylvania, 50% to Trump’s 45%.
A CNN/SSRS poll released Wednesday found Biden leading by a whopping 10 points among likely voters and 5 points among registered voters.
“In varying degrees, three critical states (Pennsylvania, Florida, and Iowa) in three very different parts of the country come to the same ominous conclusion. The president’s hopes for re-election are growing dimmer by the day,” said Tim Malloy, a polling analyst at Quinnipiac University.
“For Trump, 2016 is a distant memory.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-22--Trump is to blame for the 2,700 racist attacks on Asians in the US since March

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March , at least 2,700 racist incidents against Asian Americans have been reported around the country , according to a new report .
The report was created by STOP AAPI HATE , a coalition of Asian American advocacy groups and researchers .
The racist incidents included workplace discrimination , being denied service at businesses , being spat on , verbal abuse , and physical assault .
A team of researchers led by University of Michigan professor Melissa Borja also tracked racist and xenophobic statements made by Republican politicians over an eight-month period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans , more than 1 in 10 tweets included `` racist or stigmatizing language , '' the researchers found .
Two of the most frequent offenders were Donald Trump and Sen. Tom Cotton ( R-AK ) .
Trump has frequently made use of racist terms like `` Wuhan virus , '' `` kung flu , '' and `` Chinese virus '' in reference to the coronavirus pandemic .
The report found that the racist remarks came exclusively from Republicans .
By contrast , supportive comments toward Asian Americans dealing with racism came exclusively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last week , international human rights experts at the United Nations published a document expressing their `` serious concern '' about racist violence against Asian Americans since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The document was commissioned by the U.N. 's Human Rights Council , from which the United States withdrew in 2018 .
Nikki Haley , Trump 's ambassador to the U.N. at the time , called the council `` hypocritical and self-serving . ''
The document 's authors wrote that U.S. authorities have `` utterly failed '' to take necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and prevent racist and xenophobic incidents . ''
`` One result of this state of impunity is that many victims of such attacks are reportedly reluctant to seek justice , '' the experts wrote .
The U.N. document reported verbal attacks , vandalism , stabbings , and other acts of violence leveled against Asian Americans during the pandemic .
The document also noted that slurs about the `` China virus '' are often part of these rhetorical and physical attacks , and argued that Trump himself has aided in `` legitimizing these violations.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ authors , E. Tendayi Achiume , is a special rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism , racial discrimination , xenophobia , and related intolerance .
Achiume told NBC News that government leaders ' divisive rhetoric can foster `` an environment where violence is more permissible and attacks are more permissible . ''
`` It really does legitimize those kinds of acts , '' she added .
Trump has defended his racist remarks against Asian Americans .
In August , Trump told talk show host Geraldo Rivera that he has `` great Asian support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand exactly '' why he uses racist terms to discuss the pandemic .
`` They understand how China has hurt our country , you know , very much , '' he said .
But an August poll found that 66 % of Asian Americans disapproved of how Trump has handled the pandemic .
More than 60 % of all registered voters said racist terms like `` kung flu '' and `` China virus '' are inappropriate .
Despite the significant harm his divisive rhetoric has caused Asian Americans , Trump is n't likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time soon .
At a rally in Erie , Pennsylvania , on Tuesday , Trump went back to blaming China for the virus ' spread in the U.S. '' The battle against the China virus , the China virus , that 's what it is , '' Trump said .
`` It 's a China .
You know , they call it COVID .
They call it all different names .
It 's the China virus .
China , maybe the China Plague . ''
Achiume said she hopes the Trump administration will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further racist attacks , but added that lasting change will likely have to come from the American people themselves .
`` These are problems that have to be solved from within the U.S. , rather than expecting that some kind of international cavalry will come in and solve the problem , '' she told NBC News .
`` I think that 's just not how we get change in the world . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March, at least 2,700 racist incidents against Asian Americans have been reported around the country, according to a new report.
The report was created by STOP AAPI HATE, a coalition of Asian American advocacy groups and researchers.
The racist incidents included workplace discrimination, being denied service at businesses, being spat on, verbal abuse, and physical assault.
A team of researchers led by University of Michigan professor Melissa Borja also tracked racist and xenophobic statements made by Republican politicians over an eight-month period.
Out of 1,227 tweets about Asian Americans, more than 1 in 10 tweets included “racist or stigmatizing language,” the researchers found.
Two of the most frequent offenders were Donald Trump and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK).
Trump has frequently made use of racist terms like “Wuhan virus,” “kung flu,” and “Chinese virus” in reference to the coronavirus pandemic.
The report found that the racist remarks came exclusively from Republicans.
By contrast, supportive comments toward Asian Americans dealing with racism came exclusively from Democrats, with one exception.
Last week, international human rights experts at the United Nations published a document expressing their “serious concern” about racist violence against Asian Americans since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The document was commissioned by the U.N.’s Human Rights Council, from which the United States withdrew in 2018. Nikki Haley, Trump’s ambassador to the U.N. at the time, called the council “hypocritical and self-serving.”
The document’s authors wrote that U.S. authorities have “utterly failed” to take necessary steps to “detect, monitor, and prevent racist and xenophobic incidents.”
“One result of this state of impunity is that many victims of such attacks are reportedly reluctant to seek justice,” the experts wrote.
The U.N. document reported verbal attacks, vandalism, stabbings, and other acts of violence leveled against Asian Americans during the pandemic.
The document also noted that slurs about the “China virus” are often part of these rhetorical and physical attacks, and argued that Trump himself has aided in “legitimizing these violations.”
One of the U.N. document’s authors, E. Tendayi Achiume, is a special rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.
Achiume told NBC News that government leaders’ divisive rhetoric can foster “an environment where violence is more permissible and attacks are more permissible.”
“It really does legitimize those kinds of acts,” she added.
Trump has defended his racist remarks against Asian Americans.
In August, Trump told talk show host Geraldo Rivera that he has “great Asian support,” and that Asian Americans “understand exactly” why he uses racist terms to discuss the pandemic.
“They understand how China has hurt our country, you know, very much,” he said.
But an August poll found that 66% of Asian Americans disapproved of how Trump has handled the pandemic. More than 60% of all registered voters said racist terms like “kung flu” and “China virus” are inappropriate.
Despite the significant harm his divisive rhetoric has caused Asian Americans, Trump isn’t likely to dial back his racist rhetoric any time soon.
At a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, Trump went back to blaming China for the virus’ spread in the U.S.
“The battle against the China virus, the China virus, that’s what it is,” Trump said. “It’s a China. You know, they call it COVID. They call it all different names. It’s the China virus. China, maybe the China Plague.”
Achiume said she hopes the Trump administration will take action to protect Asian Americans against further racist attacks, but added that lasting change will likely have to come from the American people themselves.
“These are problems that have to be solved from within the U.S., rather than expecting that some kind of international cavalry will come in and solve the problem,” she told NBC News. “I think that’s just not how we get change in the world.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-22--Republicans run vicious attack ads against lesbian candidate for Congress

The National Republican Campaign Committee has paid for ads attacking Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones , who is running for Texas ' open 23rd Congressional District , for her support of transgender members of the military .
If elected , Jones would be the first out LGBTQ person to represent a Texas district in the House of Representatives and the first Filipina American in Congress .
One of the ads , called `` DOD , '' was released on Tuesday .
It claims Jones supported closing military bases because she `` wants the defense department to pay for transgender reassignment surgeries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reassigning the military : A new mission , helping Jones use our money to radicalize our country . ''
During a debate with her opponent , Republican Tony Gonzales , Jones said : `` I do n't support closing military bases , my opponent knows this . ''
She added , `` I 'm a proud Air Force veteran , Iraq War veteran , I trained at Lackland Air Force Base , my first assignment in the Air Force was Kelly Annex .
...
I 've spent 13 years of my career working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly how important our military bases are to our national security . ''
Another ad against Jones , released by the committee last week and titled `` Death Sentence , '' said she would `` divert military money to pay for transgender reassignment surgeries . ''
Jones tweeted in January of last year about the ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military : `` Transgender men and women currently serving openly on active duty in combat zones shows us this ban is unnecessary .
This ban weakens our military , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual merit , qualifications , or physical and mental fitness to serve .
Who 's next ? ''
In 2017 and 2018 , Jones , who was running against incumbent Republican Rep. Will Hurd in the 23rd Congressional District , criticized Hurd for his vote for an amendment that prevented the use of military spending on transgender people 's transition-related health care , according to the Washington Blade .
In addition to these ads , the National Republican Campaign Committee 's `` DemocratFacts '' website advised groups that produce ads and mailers against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they should clearly note her sexual orientation by including images of Jones and her partner and letting voters know that before running for Congress in Texas , `` Jones and her female partner lived and worked near Washington , DC , not Texas . ''
After HuffPost drew attention to the advice on the website , the committee removed the information about her partner ; it left a photo of the two women on the page .
According to the LGBTQ Victory Institute , an organization that supports LGBTQ leaders in government , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 850 LGBTQ people are running for office this year , and many of the candidates have a real shot at winning their races .
In 2016 , there were 417 LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government .
There are currently 843 LGBTQ elected officials in the United States .
There have been other recent conservative attacks on LGBTQ candidates or use of anti-LGBTQ messages to scare voters into rejecting Democratic candidates .
The group Take Back Colorado recently released a Facebook ad that refers to Democratic Colorado state Rep. Brianna Titone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadname , and includes other transphobic messages .
NBC reported that the group is registered to Joe Neville , the brother of Colorado Republican House Minority Leader Patrick Neville , who denied that the ad was transphobic .
The National Republican Campaign Committee has also attacked Democratic Michigan state Rep. Jon Hoadley , a gay man who is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Fred Upton in Michigan 's 6th Congressional District , calling him a `` pedo sex poet . ''
Annise Parker , president of the LGBTQ Victory Fund PAC , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digging up Jon ’ s puerile college blog posts and pulling together out-of-context words and phrases because he can find nothing else to criticize about Jon 's public service record . ''
The conservative American Principles Project in September released ads in Michigan that attack transgender people in hopes of turning `` persuadable '' voters away from Democratic candidates .
One showed a boy beating girls on a running track while a narrator said : `` All female athletes want is a fair shot at competition .
At a scholarship .
At a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if that shot was taken away by a competitor who claims to be a girl but was born a boy ? ''
The ad then flashed images of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and incumbent Democratic Sen. Gary Peters .
But these kinds of attacks are n't always successful .
In Virginia , after an anti-trans Facebook ad released by a group called Family Foundation Action targeted state Del .
Danica Roem , a transgender woman , last year , she still won reelection .
Polls continue to show a majority of Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The National Republican Campaign Committee has paid for ads attacking Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones, who is running for Texas’ open 23rd Congressional District, for her support of transgender members of the military.
If elected, Jones would be the first out LGBTQ person to represent a Texas district in the House of Representatives and the first Filipina American in Congress.
One of the ads, called “DOD,” was released on Tuesday. It claims Jones supported closing military bases because she “wants the defense department to pay for transgender reassignment surgeries.” The ad continued, “Reassigning the military: A new mission, helping Jones use our money to radicalize our country.”
During a debate with her opponent, Republican Tony Gonzales, Jones said: “I don’t support closing military bases, my opponent knows this.” She added, “I’m a proud Air Force veteran, Iraq War veteran, I trained at Lackland Air Force Base, my first assignment in the Air Force was Kelly Annex. … I’ve spent 13 years of my career working on a military base. I know exactly how important our military bases are to our national security.”
Another ad against Jones, released by the committee last week and titled “Death Sentence,” said she would “divert military money to pay for transgender reassignment surgeries.”
Jones tweeted in January of last year about the ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military: “Transgender men and women currently serving openly on active duty in combat zones shows us this ban is unnecessary. This ban weakens our military, because it is based on things other than individual merit, qualifications, or physical and mental fitness to serve. Who’s next?”
In 2017 and 2018, Jones, who was running against incumbent Republican Rep. Will Hurd in the 23rd Congressional District, criticized Hurd for his vote for an amendment that prevented the use of military spending on transgender people’s transition-related health care, according to the Washington Blade.
In addition to these ads, the National Republican Campaign Committee’s “DemocratFacts” website advised groups that produce ads and mailers against Jones, an out lesbian, that they should clearly note her sexual orientation by including images of Jones and her partner and letting voters know that before running for Congress in Texas, “Jones and her female partner lived and worked near Washington, DC, not Texas.” After HuffPost drew attention to the advice on the website, the committee removed the information about her partner; it left a photo of the two women on the page.
According to the LGBTQ Victory Institute, an organization that supports LGBTQ leaders in government, business, and advocacy, a record 850 LGBTQ people are running for office this year, and many of the candidates have a real shot at winning their races. In 2016, there were 417 LGBTQ elected officials at all levels of government. There are currently 843 LGBTQ elected officials in the United States.
There have been other recent conservative attacks on LGBTQ candidates or use of anti-LGBTQ messages to scare voters into rejecting Democratic candidates. The group Take Back Colorado recently released a Facebook ad that refers to Democratic Colorado state Rep. Brianna Titone, a transgender woman, by her deadname, and includes other transphobic messages. NBC reported that the group is registered to Joe Neville, the brother of Colorado Republican House Minority Leader Patrick Neville, who denied that the ad was transphobic.
The National Republican Campaign Committee has also attacked Democratic Michigan state Rep. Jon Hoadley, a gay man who is running against Republican incumbent Rep. Fred Upton in Michigan’s 6th Congressional District, calling him a “pedo sex poet.”
Annise Parker, president of the LGBTQ Victory Fund PAC, said: “Fred Upton is resorting to digging up Jon’s puerile college blog posts and pulling together out-of-context words and phrases because he can find nothing else to criticize about Jon’s public service record.”
The conservative American Principles Project in September released ads in Michigan that attack transgender people in hopes of turning “persuadable” voters away from Democratic candidates. One showed a boy beating girls on a running track while a narrator said: “All female athletes want is a fair shot at competition. At a scholarship. At a title. At victory. But what if that shot was taken away by a competitor who claims to be a girl but was born a boy?” The ad then flashed images of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and incumbent Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
But these kinds of attacks aren’t always successful. In Virginia, after an anti-trans Facebook ad released by a group called Family Foundation Action targeted state Del. Danica Roem, a transgender woman, last year, she still won reelection.
Polls continue to show a majority of Americans support nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-22--Watch Trump's voter fraud lie get fact-checked in real time

In an appearance Thursday on MSNBC , Trump campaign spokesperson Hogan Gidley attempted to promote disinformation about voter fraud , but he was immediately fact-checked with a statement by FBI Director Christopher Wray .
During the interview with reporter Hallie Jackson , Gidley claimed `` people are finding ballots in trash cans , people are finding ballots in ditches and the backs of trucks '' to prop up Donald Trump 's repeated claims of voter fraud .
But reporter Jackson interrupted to remind him that Wray had made a statement undermining Gidley `` within the last 12 hours ... on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Wednesday night , at a press conference on election security , Wray said claims doubting the integrity of the vote were false .
`` You should be confident that your vote counts .
Early , unverified claims to the contrary should be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism , '' he told reporters .
From the Oct. 22 edition of MSNBC 's `` MSNBC Live '' : HALLIE JACKSON , MSNBC : Will the president back off on making those claims ?
Is that a conversation that you and the campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : You ca n't deny what you 've seen on television on all of these local markets , where people are finding ballots in trash cans , people are finding ballots in ditches and the backs of trucks— JACKSON : There is no widespread evidence of voter fraud , Hogan , you know that .
I do n't want to have to rehash this conversation .
I 'm asking if the president 's going to back off those claims .
If you ca n't answer that , that 's fine , we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question .
GIDLEY : I 'm answering the question because the fact is it does occur .
Listen , I received a ballot just the other day in my apartment , from someone who has n't lived there in ten years .
JACKSON : You 're spreading more information that is inaccurate , Hogan .
There is not widespread evidence of voter fraud .
Okay , well we 're going to move on then .
My other question is this : Before I let you go Hogan— GIDLEY : Hallie , no , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't pretend like — your local markets , NBC affiliates are reporting on this in all types of areas across this country .
This is rampant , everyone sees that .
JACKSON : Hogan .
The FBI director said specifically , within the last twelve hours , said , on national television across every network , that there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud .
Somebody who is part of the Trump administration 's own intelligence expert field , Hogan , that 's not coming from me , that 's coming from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his FBI director , yes or no ?
GIDLEY : The president has confidence that the American people want a free and fair election .
That 's what he 's been pushing for this entire time .
JACKSON : That 's not what I asked .
GIDLEY : That 's why he set up the federal government — JACKSON : Do you have an answer to that question ?
GIDLEY : — to work with the states to get interference out of our election cycle , it was Barack Obama and Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interfere and did nothing .
JACKSON : Nope ?
Okay .
I guess there 's no answer to that question then .
GIDLEY : This president pursued a whole of government approach .
JACKSON : Hogan Gidley , we 'll leave it there .
Hogan , thank you , I appreciate you coming on .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

In an appearance Thursday on MSNBC, Trump campaign spokesperson Hogan Gidley attempted to promote disinformation about voter fraud, but he was immediately fact-checked with a statement by FBI Director Christopher Wray.
During the interview with reporter Hallie Jackson, Gidley claimed “people are finding ballots in trash cans, people are finding ballots in ditches and the backs of trucks” to prop up Donald Trump’s repeated claims of voter fraud.
But reporter Jackson interrupted to remind him that Wray had made a statement undermining Gidley “within the last 12 hours … on national television across every network.”
On Wednesday night, at a press conference on election security, Wray said claims doubting the integrity of the vote were false.
“You should be confident that your vote counts. Early, unverified claims to the contrary should be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism,” he told reporters.
From the Oct. 22 edition of MSNBC’s “MSNBC Live”:
HALLIE JACKSON, MSNBC: Will the president back off on making those claims? Is that a conversation that you and the campaign are having with him? HOGAN GIDLEY: You can’t deny what you’ve seen on television on all of these local markets, where people are finding ballots in trash cans, people are finding ballots in ditches and the backs of trucks— JACKSON: There is no widespread evidence of voter fraud, Hogan, you know that. I don’t want to have to rehash this conversation. I’m asking if the president’s going to back off those claims. If you can’t answer that, that’s fine, we can move on, but just answer the question. GIDLEY: I’m answering the question because the fact is it does occur. Listen, I received a ballot just the other day in my apartment, from someone who hasn’t lived there in ten years. JACKSON: You’re spreading more information that is inaccurate, Hogan. There is not widespread evidence of voter fraud. Okay, well we’re going to move on then. My other question is this: Before I let you go Hogan— GIDLEY: Hallie, no, no, no, Hallie, don’t pretend like — your local markets, NBC affiliates are reporting on this in all types of areas across this country. This is rampant, everyone sees that. JACKSON: Hogan. The FBI director said specifically, within the last twelve hours, said, on national television across every network, that there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Somebody who is part of the Trump administration’s own intelligence expert field, Hogan, that’s not coming from me, that’s coming from Wray. Does the president have confidence in his FBI director, yes or no? GIDLEY: The president has confidence that the American people want a free and fair election. That’s what he’s been pushing for this entire time. JACKSON: That’s not what I asked. GIDLEY: That’s why he set up the federal government — JACKSON: Do you have an answer to that question? GIDLEY: — to work with the states to get interference out of our election cycle, it was Barack Obama and Joe Biden who knew Russia was going to interfere and did nothing. JACKSON: Nope? Okay. I guess there’s no answer to that question then. GIDLEY: This president pursued a whole of government approach. JACKSON: Hogan Gidley, we’ll leave it there. Hogan, thank you, I appreciate you coming on.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-22--Here are the 37 'biased' questions that sent Trump into a 3-day tantrum

Donald Trump melted down this week over what he deemed `` rudeness '' on the part of CBS News reporter Lesley Stahl .
In a combative 37 minute-plus conversation with the `` 60 Minutes '' journalist that took place on Tuesday , Trump repeatedly attacked her and her questions and complained that Joe Biden would not face such tough interrogation .
On Thursday morning , he tweeted , `` I will soon be giving a first in television history full , unedited preview of the vicious attempted 'takeout ' interview of me by Lesley Stahl of @ 60Minutes .
Watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my full , flowing and 'magnificently brilliant ' answers to their ' Q ’ s ' . ''
Hours later , he broke his agreement with CBS News and posted the entire video online .
Here are the 37 questions Trump decried as `` bias , hatred and rudeness on behalf of 60 Minutes and CBS . ''
• • Why do you want this job ?
Why do you want to be president again ?
• Let me ask you what you think the biggest domestic priority is for you right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign adversary ?
• At this stage four years ago , you were behind in the polls like you are now , and you pulled it out .
But this time , you have kind of a double migraine .
You have unemployment numbers going up , you have COVID cases going up .
I mean , it ’ s like the gods have suddenly decided to conspire against you .
• Why are you saying they ’ re [ COVID case numbers ] not up ?
• Will you at least say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask you something about suburban women .
You said the other day to suburban women , “ Will you please like me ?
Please ?
” • You ’ re behind with suburban women in the polls .
• One of the reasons [ you ’ re behind in the polls ] is they don ’ t feel you ’ re being upfront about the pandemic .
And when you say we ’ re rounding the corner , and you tell Bob Woodward that you deliberately like to downplay this — are you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the unemployment claims going up ?
How can you ignore that ?
• Are you denying that the unemployment claims have gone up ?
• I want to know if you ’ re — what ?
Ignoring the fact that there are unemployment claims ?
What are you saying ?
• I wonder if you think that masks don ’ t work .
Is that what you ’ re saying ?
Do you say masks don ’ t work ?
• I ’ m wondering the message that you ’ re sending with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks at rallies ) ?
• I ’ m asking you now about the masks .
Why aren ’ t you getting up there and saying , “ I had it .
I don ’ t want you to get it .
So please put your mask on.
” • You promised that there was going to be a new health package — health care plan .
You said that it was going to be great , you said it 's ready , it 's going to be ready , it 's all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks , it ’ s going to be like nothing you ’ ve ever seen before .
And of course we haven ’ t seen it .
So why didn ’ t you develop the health plan ?
• Why haven ’ t we seen it [ the Obamacare replacement ] ?
• What about the preexisting [ conditions ] ?
• Do you want to leave it [ Obamacare ] ?
Why not ?
• You said in the briefing room , “ nobody likes me , it can only be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your tweets and your name calling are turning people off ?
• This story about Hunter [ Biden ] and his laptop .
Some repair shop found it .
The source is Steve Bannon and Rudy Giuliani , and you ’ re making this one of the hottest , most important issues in your rallies .
This is the most important issue for you to talk about ?
• You think it ’ s the biggest issue to campaign on ?
• Let ’ s get back to the name calling and whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off ?
• Why are you asking me about going after Biden ?
You ’ ve asked me five , six , seven times .
• Half the country loves you but the other half doesn ’ t .
I ’ m wondering why ?
• Do you think that you do anything to unify the country ?
• What about the rabid partisanship in the country ?
Do you take any responsibility for the country being divided against itself ?
Do you feel that ?
• Can you characterize your supporters ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ you hold rallies and encourage people to say , “ Lock her up … ” You don ’ t say , “ Don ’ t do that.
” Why is this still an issue ?
• What about the governor of Michigan , where she had this plot where people were going to [ kidnap her ] ?
• You are very powerful and the people who love you love you with passion .
And if you go after someone like you ’ ve been going after her , they take it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... • You want to lock her [ Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ] up ?
• When you say “ Open up , ” you don ’ t say carefully .
You don ’ t have an aggressive program to say open up with masks , open up with social distancing ?
What about you saying , “ Let ’ s open up but let ’ s wear masks ” ?
• You don ’ t want to lock up Gov .
Whitmer , but you want to lock up the Bidens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lock up the Bidens ?
What about Obama ?
Do you want to lock up Obama ?
• You ’ ve all but said Attorney General Barr should go after President Obama .
If you lose , how would you feel if then-President Biden went after you ?
• You ’ re the president .
Don ’ t you think you should be accountable to the American people ?
Trump then walked out of the interview , cancelling a prearranged segment with Mike Pence .
`` I think we have enough of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's enough .
Let 's go , '' he told his staffers .
He then took to Twitter to complain about the `` FAKE and BIASED interview . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump melted down this week over what he deemed “rudeness” on the part of CBS News reporter Lesley Stahl.
In a combative 37 minute-plus conversation with the “60 Minutes” journalist that took place on Tuesday, Trump repeatedly attacked her and her questions and complained that Joe Biden would not face such tough interrogation.
On Thursday morning, he tweeted, “I will soon be giving a first in television history full, unedited preview of the vicious attempted ‘takeout’ interview of me by Lesley Stahl of @60Minutes. Watch her constant interruptions & anger. Compare my full, flowing and ‘magnificently brilliant’ answers to their ‘Q’s’.”
Hours later, he broke his agreement with CBS News and posted the entire video online.
Here are the 37 questions Trump decried as “bias, hatred and rudeness on behalf of 60 Minutes and CBS.”
Why do you want this job? Why do you want to be president again? Let me ask you what you think the biggest domestic priority is for you right now. And who is our biggest foreign adversary? At this stage four years ago, you were behind in the polls like you are now, and you pulled it out. But this time, you have kind of a double migraine. You have unemployment numbers going up, you have COVID cases going up. I mean, it’s like the gods have suddenly decided to conspire against you. Why are you saying they’re [COVID case numbers] not up? Will you at least say cases are up? Let me ask you something about suburban women. You said the other day to suburban women, “Will you please like me? Please?” You’re behind with suburban women in the polls. One of the reasons [you’re behind in the polls] is they don’t feel you’re being upfront about the pandemic. And when you say we’re rounding the corner, and you tell Bob Woodward that you deliberately like to downplay this — are you deliberately downplaying it? What about the unemployment claims going up? How can you ignore that? Are you denying that the unemployment claims have gone up? I want to know if you’re — what? Ignoring the fact that there are unemployment claims? What are you saying? I wonder if you think that masks don’t work. Is that what you’re saying? Do you say masks don’t work? I’m wondering the message that you’re sending with these pictures (of people not wearing masks at rallies)? I’m asking you now about the masks. Why aren’t you getting up there and saying, “I had it. I don’t want you to get it. So please put your mask on.” You promised that there was going to be a new health package — health care plan. You said that it was going to be great, you said it’s ready, it’s going to be ready, it’s all ready, it’ll be here in two weeks, it’s going to be like nothing you’ve ever seen before. And of course we haven’t seen it. So why didn’t you develop the health plan? Why haven’t we seen it [the Obamacare replacement]? What about the preexisting [conditions]? Do you want to leave it [Obamacare]? Why not? You said in the briefing room, “nobody likes me, it can only be my personality.” Do you think that your tweets and your name calling are turning people off? This story about Hunter [Biden] and his laptop. Some repair shop found it. The source is Steve Bannon and Rudy Giuliani, and you’re making this one of the hottest, most important issues in your rallies. This is the most important issue for you to talk about? You think it’s the biggest issue to campaign on? Let’s get back to the name calling and whether you think it’s turning people off? Why are you asking me about going after Biden? You’ve asked me five, six, seven times. Half the country loves you but the other half doesn’t. I’m wondering why? Do you think that you do anything to unify the country? What about the rabid partisanship in the country? Do you take any responsibility for the country being divided against itself? Do you feel that? Can you characterize your supporters? But do you think that when you hold rallies and encourage people to say, “Lock her up …” You don’t say, “Don’t do that.” Why is this still an issue? What about the governor of Michigan, where she had this plot where people were going to [kidnap her]? You are very powerful and the people who love you love you with passion. And if you go after someone like you’ve been going after her, they take it to heart. There are plots and threats … You want to lock her [Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer] up? When you say “Open up,” you don’t say carefully. You don’t have an aggressive program to say open up with masks, open up with social distancing? What about you saying, “Let’s open up but let’s wear masks”? You don’t want to lock up Gov. Whitmer, but you want to lock up the Bidens, Obama? Do you want to lock up the Bidens? What about Obama? Do you want to lock up Obama? You’ve all but said Attorney General Barr should go after President Obama. If you lose, how would you feel if then-President Biden went after you? You’re the president. Don’t you think you should be accountable to the American people?
Trump then walked out of the interview, cancelling a prearranged segment with Mike Pence.
“I think we have enough of an interview here. OK? That’s enough. Let’s go,” he told his staffers.
He then took to Twitter to complain about the “FAKE and BIASED interview.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-22--Armed 'guards' show up at Florida voting station after Trump 'urged' them to

Two armed men dressed in security uniforms showed up to a St. Petersburg , Florida , polling station on Wednesday , according to local officials .
The two men set up a tent outside an early voting location in downtown St. Petersburg on Wednesday .
The armed `` guards '' claimed they were working for a licensed private security company that had been hired by Donald Trump 's reelection campaign to monitor the polls , according to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri .
The Trump campaign has vehemently denied the men 's claim .
`` The campaign did not hire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to go to the voting location , '' Thea McDonald , the Trump campaign 's deputy national press secretary , told WFLA , a local NBC affiliate .
It is illegal to bring a gun to a polling place in Florida .
Pinellas County Elections Supervisor Julie Marcus said local officials will not tolerate voter intimidation at the polls .
`` The sheriff and I take this very seriously , '' Marcus told WFLA on Wednesday .
`` Voter intimidation , deterring voters from voting , impeding a voter ’ s ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in any way shape , or form . ''
Marcus added that she and Gualtieri — who are both Republicans — anticipated threats to `` cybersecurity '' as well as voters ' `` physical security '' in this year 's election .
`` We had a plan in place and executed that plan , '' Marcus told the news station .
Even if the two armed men were n't directly employed by the Trump campaign , they were acting on his orders .
Trump has encouraged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a federal crime .
During the Sept. 29 presidential debate , Trump instructed his supporters to `` go into the polls and watch very carefully . ''
`` I am urging them to do it , '' he added .
Intimidating voters is a federal crime .
Federal law says that `` no person ... shall intimidate , threaten , coerce ... any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of [ that ] person to vote or to vote as he may choose . ''
Trump has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to commit violence against his perceived enemies .
In April , Trump criticized Michigan Gov .
Whitmer for issuing a stay-at-home order , tweeting , `` LIBERATE MICHIGAN ! ''
Heavily armed right-wing militia members took Trump 's advice , storming the Michigan state Capitol to protest the order .
In early October , the Federal Bureau of Investigations thwarted a plot by right-wing extremists to kidnap Whitmer , who is a Democrat .
After the foiled kidnapping attempt , Whitmer criticized Trump for his refusal to condemn white supremacy .
Jason Miller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , responded by calling Whitmer a `` complete phony '' who should `` go look in the mirror . ''
Trump himself has continued to attack Whitmer after the kidnapping plot was revealed .
`` Governor Whitmer of Michigan has done a terrible job , '' Trump tweeted hours after the news broke .
`` She locked down her state for everyone , except her husband ’ s boating activities .
The Federal Government provided tremendous help to the Great People of Michigan . ''
When he 's not directly stoking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to claim he does n't know anything about it .
At a recent NBC News town hall , Trump claimed ignorance of QAnon , the far-right conspiracy theory linked to his supporters .
`` I know nothing about QAnon , '' Trump told NBC News ' Savannah Guthrie , before adding that he supported their general mission .
`` They are very strongly against pedophilia and I agree with that , '' he said .
During Trump 's time in office , a number of right-wing extremists have committed violent acts against Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 17-year-old Trump supporter — went to Kenosha , Wisconsin during a Black Lives Matter demonstration .
He allegedly shot and killed two protesters , and injured a third protester .
`` That was an interesting situation .
You saw the same tape as I saw , and he was trying to get away from them , I guess , it looks like .
And he fell .
And then they very violently attacked him , '' Trump told reporters .
Trump added that Rittenhouse `` probably would 've been killed , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Between 2015 and 2019 , Trump supporters committed at least 52 `` threats or acts of violence , '' according to an analysis conducted by The Guardian .
The most notable incidents include Cesar Sayoc , a Trump supporter who was arrested in 2018 for mailing 13 homemade bombs to Democratic officials , donors , and media offices .
Trump has refused to disavow the `` MAGA Bomber '' for his alleged crimes .
A judge sentenced Sayoc to 20 years in prison last year .
In 2019 , federal agents arrested Christopher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a self-proclaimed white supremacist .
Hasson was allegedly planning to carry out a terror attack against `` a list of prominent Democratic congressional leaders , activists , political organizations , and MSNBC and CNN media personalities . ''
All of Hasson 's targets were on Trump 's long list of personal enemies .
Rather than being troubled by his supporters ' violence , Trump appears to welcome it .
At a recent rally in Michigan , attendees chanted `` lock her up '' about Whitmer .
`` Lock them all up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of The American Independent Foundation .

Two armed men dressed in security uniforms showed up to a St. Petersburg, Florida, polling station on Wednesday, according to local officials.
The two men set up a tent outside an early voting location in downtown St. Petersburg on Wednesday.
The armed “guards” claimed they were working for a licensed private security company that had been hired by Donald Trump’s reelection campaign to monitor the polls, according to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.
The Trump campaign has vehemently denied the men’s claim.
“The campaign did not hire these individuals nor did the campaign direct them to go to the voting location,” Thea McDonald, the Trump campaign’s deputy national press secretary, told WFLA, a local NBC affiliate.
It is illegal to bring a gun to a polling place in Florida.
Pinellas County Elections Supervisor Julie Marcus said local officials will not tolerate voter intimidation at the polls.
“The sheriff and I take this very seriously,” Marcus told WFLA on Wednesday. “Voter intimidation, deterring voters from voting, impeding a voter’s ability to cast a ballot in this election is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in any way shape, or form.” Marcus added that she and Gualtieri — who are both Republicans — anticipated threats to “cybersecurity” as well as voters’ “physical security” in this year’s election. “We had a plan in place and executed that plan,” Marcus told the news station.
Even if the two armed men weren’t directly employed by the Trump campaign, they were acting on his orders.
Trump has encouraged his supporters to independently monitor polling places — a federal crime.
During the Sept. 29 presidential debate, Trump instructed his supporters to “go into the polls and watch very carefully.”
“I am urging them to do it,” he added.
Intimidating voters is a federal crime. Federal law says that “no person … shall intimidate, threaten, coerce … any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of [that] person to vote or to vote as he may choose.”
Trump has a long history of riling up his followers to commit violence against his perceived enemies.
In April, Trump criticized Michigan Gov. Whitmer for issuing a stay-at-home order, tweeting, “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” Heavily armed right-wing militia members took Trump’s advice, storming the Michigan state Capitol to protest the order.
In early October, the Federal Bureau of Investigations thwarted a plot by right-wing extremists to kidnap Whitmer, who is a Democrat.
After the foiled kidnapping attempt, Whitmer criticized Trump for his refusal to condemn white supremacy.
Jason Miller, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, responded by calling Whitmer a “complete phony” who should “go look in the mirror.”
Trump himself has continued to attack Whitmer after the kidnapping plot was revealed.
“Governor Whitmer of Michigan has done a terrible job,” Trump tweeted hours after the news broke. “She locked down her state for everyone, except her husband’s boating activities. The Federal Government provided tremendous help to the Great People of Michigan.”
When he’s not directly stoking the flames of extremist violence, Trump likes to claim he doesn’t know anything about it. At a recent NBC News town hall, Trump claimed ignorance of QAnon, the far-right conspiracy theory linked to his supporters.
“I know nothing about QAnon,” Trump told NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie, before adding that he supported their general mission. “They are very strongly against pedophilia and I agree with that,” he said.
During Trump’s time in office, a number of right-wing extremists have committed violent acts against Americans. In August, Kyle Rittenhouse — a 17-year-old Trump supporter — went to Kenosha, Wisconsin during a Black Lives Matter demonstration. He allegedly shot and killed two protesters, and injured a third protester.
Trump has cast doubt on Rittenhouse’s alleged crimes.
“That was an interesting situation. You saw the same tape as I saw, and he was trying to get away from them, I guess, it looks like. And he fell. And then they very violently attacked him,” Trump told reporters.
Trump added that Rittenhouse “probably would’ve been killed,” implying that he acted in self-defense.
Between 2015 and 2019, Trump supporters committed at least 52 “threats or acts of violence,” according to an analysis conducted by The Guardian.
The most notable incidents include Cesar Sayoc, a Trump supporter who was arrested in 2018 for mailing 13 homemade bombs to Democratic officials, donors, and media offices. Trump has refused to disavow the “MAGA Bomber” for his alleged crimes. A judge sentenced Sayoc to 20 years in prison last year.
In 2019, federal agents arrested Christopher Paul Hasson, a Coast Guard lieutenant and a self-proclaimed white supremacist. Hasson was allegedly planning to carry out a terror attack against “a list of prominent Democratic congressional leaders, activists, political organizations, and MSNBC and CNN media personalities.”
All of Hasson’s targets were on Trump’s long list of personal enemies.
Rather than being troubled by his supporters’ violence, Trump appears to welcome it. At a recent rally in Michigan, attendees chanted “lock her up” about Whitmer.
“Lock them all up,” Trump replied.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-22--Lindsey Graham outraged that other senators would do exactly what he did

Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) complained on Thursday that partisanship has taken over the judicial confirmation process — just four years after helping to block former President Barack Obama 's Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland from even getting a vote .
`` Now we find ourselves in a situation where qualifications no longer matter .
It is about holding open seats to have them filled after the next election , '' Graham charged as the Senate Judiciary Committee he chairs rammed through a Supreme Court nominee without a single Democratic vote .
`` We have lost sight that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do matter . ''
Graham was angry that Democrats on the committee boycotted the vote and have opposed rushing through a replacement for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg just days before the 2020 elections .
But four years ago , Graham was very much for holding judicial seats open until after the 2016 election .
After Justice Antonin Scalia died that February , Senate Republicans quickly announced that they would block any Obama nominee from getting a hearing or a vote .
Graham and 10 other Judiciary Committee Republicans wrote that month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any nominee to the Supreme Court submitted by this President to fill Justice Scalia 's vacancy . ''
`` As we mourn the tragic loss of Justice Antonin Scalia , and celebrate his life ’ s work , the American people are presented with an exceedingly rare opportunity to decide , in a very real and concrete way , the direction the Court will take over the next generation .
We believe The People should have this opportunity , ” they said .
A month later , Graham falsely promised to treat future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party .
`` I want you to use my words against me , '' he said during a Senate hearing in March 2016 .
`` If there 's a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term , you can say 'Lindsey Graham said let 's let the next president , whoever it might be , make that nomination . '
'' He reiterated that view in 2018 .
A Graham spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story .
Garland was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in U.S. history and Graham voted to instead confirm Neil Gorsuch to the seat in April 2017 .
But it was not just the Supreme Court seat that Senate Republicans refused to fill .
Over the final two years of Obama 's presidency , he nominated 70 people to federal judgeships — every one rated as qualified by the nonpartisan American Bar Association , a status Graham himself has called the `` gold standard . ''
The GOP majority confirmed just 20 of them .
Since 2017 , Graham and the Republican Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominees to lifetime judgeships .
At least seven of those were deemed by the American Bar Association to be `` not qualified , '' but Graham backed their confirmations anyway .
With Graham 's support , the Judiciary Committee voted 12-to-0 to endorse Judge Amy Coney Barrett 's confirmation on Thursday , with all 10 Democrats absent .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) complained on Thursday that partisanship has taken over the judicial confirmation process — just four years after helping to block former President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland from even getting a vote.
“Now we find ourselves in a situation where qualifications no longer matter. It is about holding open seats to have them filled after the next election,” Graham charged as the Senate Judiciary Committee he chairs rammed through a Supreme Court nominee without a single Democratic vote. “We have lost sight that the individuals nominated matter. I think they do matter.”
Graham was angry that Democrats on the committee boycotted the vote and have opposed rushing through a replacement for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg just days before the 2020 elections.
But four years ago, Graham was very much for holding judicial seats open until after the 2016 election.
After Justice Antonin Scalia died that February, Senate Republicans quickly announced that they would block any Obama nominee from getting a hearing or a vote. Graham and 10 other Judiciary Committee Republicans wrote that month that they would “withhold consent on any nominee to the Supreme Court submitted by this President to fill Justice Scalia’s vacancy.”
“As we mourn the tragic loss of Justice Antonin Scalia, and celebrate his life’s work, the American people are presented with an exceedingly rare opportunity to decide, in a very real and concrete way, the direction the Court will take over the next generation. We believe The People should have this opportunity,” they said.
A month later, Graham falsely promised to treat future vacancies the same way, regardless of party. “I want you to use my words against me,” he said during a Senate hearing in March 2016. “If there’s a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say ‘Lindsey Graham said let’s let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination.'” He reiterated that view in 2018.
A Graham spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
Garland was blocked after enduring the longest such wait in U.S. history and Graham voted to instead confirm Neil Gorsuch to the seat in April 2017.
But it was not just the Supreme Court seat that Senate Republicans refused to fill.
Over the final two years of Obama’s presidency, he nominated 70 people to federal judgeships — every one rated as qualified by the nonpartisan American Bar Association, a status Graham himself has called the “gold standard.” The GOP majority confirmed just 20 of them.
Since 2017, Graham and the Republican Senate have confirmed more than 215 Donald Trump nominees to lifetime judgeships. At least seven of those were deemed by the American Bar Association to be “not qualified,” but Graham backed their confirmations anyway.
With Graham’s support, the Judiciary Committee voted 12-to-0 to endorse Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation on Thursday, with all 10 Democrats absent.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-22--GOP Senate candidate says he's a champion for vets. His record says otherwise.

Republican Michigan Senate candidate John James has hit the campaign trail touting himself as a friend to his fellow military veterans — but his record on the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Board undercuts his claims .
James began his tenure on the board in April 2012 , was named chair in March 2014 , and remained in that role until his resignation in March 2017 .
But James , who has built an entire campaign around depicting his opponent , incumbent Democratic Sen. Gary Peters , as an absentee who never shows up to work , had a spotty meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting minutes , James missed on average 22 % of the monthly meetings throughout his time serving on the board .
In 2013 , he missed five of the 12 meetings , or 42 % .
And in 2015 , he missed three of the 12 , or 25 % .
But more distressingly , during James ' time on the board , rates of rejection of requests for assistance from veterans soared .
The requests were typically for such things as housing assistance , medical bills , a new roof , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his own rate of rejection of requests was 64 % , higher than that of the board as a whole , which hovered at 59 % .
After James took on the chair position , however , the board 's rejection rate skyrocketed to 73 % .
Despite his shaky record , James has continued to brag about his work on the Veterans Trust Fund board during his campaign .
After the alleged attempted kidnapping of Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , he expressed his disgust for the plot at a rally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michiganders if elected .
`` With all the vitriol and toxicity and the political process right now , I thought it was very important to give back , '' James said .
`` Being able to feed the hungry , help heal the sick , help clothe the naked , and take care of our veterans is very , very important , and I 'm looking forward to continuing that when I get to Washington . ''
And according to video footage obtained by the American Independent Foundation , in a talk at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legislative Forum on Sept. 28 , James touted the `` millions of dollars in grants '' given during his time in service on the board .
He did n't mention either his erratic attendance rate or his disproportionately high rate of rejecting the claims of veterans .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republican Michigan Senate candidate John James has hit the campaign trail touting himself as a friend to his fellow military veterans — but his record on the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Board undercuts his claims.
James began his tenure on the board in April 2012, was named chair in March 2014, and remained in that role until his resignation in March 2017.
But James, who has built an entire campaign around depicting his opponent, incumbent Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, as an absentee who never shows up to work, had a spotty meeting attendance record at best.
According to meeting minutes, James missed on average 22% of the monthly meetings throughout his time serving on the board. In 2013, he missed five of the 12 meetings, or 42%. And in 2015, he missed three of the 12, or 25%.
But more distressingly, during James’ time on the board, rates of rejection of requests for assistance from veterans soared. The requests were typically for such things as housing assistance, medical bills, a new roof, or a chairlift.
Before James became chair, his own rate of rejection of requests was 64%, higher than that of the board as a whole, which hovered at 59%.
After James took on the chair position, however, the board’s rejection rate skyrocketed to 73%.
Despite his shaky record, James has continued to brag about his work on the Veterans Trust Fund board during his campaign.
After the alleged attempted kidnapping of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, he expressed his disgust for the plot at a rally on Oct. 10 and promised to unify Michiganders if elected.
“With all the vitriol and toxicity and the political process right now, I thought it was very important to give back,” James said. “Being able to feed the hungry, help heal the sick, help clothe the naked, and take care of our veterans is very, very important, and I’m looking forward to continuing that when I get to Washington.”
And according to video footage obtained by the American Independent Foundation, in a talk at the Southwestern Wayne County Regional Chamber Virtual Legislative Forum on Sept. 28, James touted the “millions of dollars in grants” given during his time in service on the board.
He didn’t mention either his erratic attendance rate or his disproportionately high rate of rejecting the claims of veterans.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-23--Trump says kids he took from their parents 'are so well taken care of'

Donald Trump on Thursday night defended his administration 's policy of separating immigrant children from their families with no way of reuniting them , claiming they are `` so well taken care of . ''
Asked at the final presidential debate about the 545 detained immigrant kids taken forcibly from their parents at the southern U.S. border under his administration 's zero-tolerance policy , whose families the Trump administration has been unable to locate , Trump first suggested without proof that some had been brought into the country by `` coyotes . ''
Former Vice President Joe Biden quickly refuted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in question had come over with their families before being separated by border officials .
`` Let 's talk about what we 're talking about , what happened .
Parents , their kids were ripped from their arms and separated .
And now they can not find over 500 sets of those parents and those kids are alone , nowhere to go , '' Biden noted .
`` It 's criminal . ''
Trump then falsely claimed that the children were being kept in great facilities .
`` I will say this .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , everything .
They are so well taken care of .
They 're in facilities were so clean and have gotten such good ... '' he bragged .
In reality , the Department Health and Human Services ' own inspector general has documented widespread trauma among those children , many of whom have been held in facilities with histories of abuse and misconduct .
A September 2019 investigation found `` some separated children expressed acute grief that caused them to cry inconsolably . ''
A separate 2018 report by the Department of Homeland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of children were also unlawfully detained for more than three days — often in cages , without beds or showers — and that the Border Patrol failed to even keep track of which of the nonverbal young kids were which .
Thursday night 's question about the 545 separated children stemmed from a New York Times report published on Wednesday , which revealed that the Trump administration 's poor record keeping had made it difficult to impossible to decipher the parents ' whereabouts .
And though in some cases , parents said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after being deported , they only did so because they felt forced or were concerned for their children 's safety if they came with them .
`` The Trump administration had no plans to keep track of the families or ever reunite them and so that ’ s why we ’ re in the situation we ’ re in now , to try to account for each family , '' Justice in Motion 's Nan Schivone , who is working with other advocates to help find the parents , told the Times .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation .

Donald Trump on Thursday night defended his administration’s policy of separating immigrant children from their families with no way of reuniting them, claiming they are “so well taken care of.”
Asked at the final presidential debate about the 545 detained immigrant kids taken forcibly from their parents at the southern U.S. border under his administration’s zero-tolerance policy, whose families the Trump administration has been unable to locate, Trump first suggested without proof that some had been brought into the country by “coyotes.”
Former Vice President Joe Biden quickly refuted that argument, noting that the kids in question had come over with their families before being separated by border officials.
“Let’s talk about what we’re talking about, what happened. Parents, their kids were ripped from their arms and separated. And now they cannot find over 500 sets of those parents and those kids are alone, nowhere to go,” Biden noted. “It’s criminal.”
Trump then falsely claimed that the children were being kept in great facilities.
“I will say this. They went down. We brought reporters, everything. They are so well taken care of. They’re in facilities were so clean and have gotten such good…” he bragged.
In reality, the Department Health and Human Services’ own inspector general has documented widespread trauma among those children, many of whom have been held in facilities with histories of abuse and misconduct. A September 2019 investigation found “some separated children expressed acute grief that caused them to cry inconsolably.”
A separate 2018 report by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general found that hundreds of children were also unlawfully detained for more than three days — often in cages, without beds or showers — and that the Border Patrol failed to even keep track of which of the nonverbal young kids were which.
Thursday night’s question about the 545 separated children stemmed from a New York Times report published on Wednesday, which revealed that the Trump administration’s poor record keeping had made it difficult to impossible to decipher the parents’ whereabouts. And though in some cases, parents said they had left their children with friends after being deported, they only did so because they felt forced or were concerned for their children’s safety if they came with them.
“The Trump administration had no plans to keep track of the families or ever reunite them and so that’s why we’re in the situation we’re in now, to try to account for each family,” Justice in Motion’s Nan Schivone, who is working with other advocates to help find the parents, told the Times.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-23--Biden on Trump's taxes: 'What are you hiding?'

In Thursday night 's debate , Donald Trump repeatedly leveled accusations of financial corruption at Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , among them unverified claims of Biden 's son Hunter receiving $ 3.5 million from the Russian government .
Biden categorically denied Trump 's vague and unspecific claims that he has taken money from foreign entities .
`` I have not taken a penny from any foreign source ever in my life , '' he said .
Biden immediately pointed out the hypocrisy of Trump 's attacks , given Trump 's ever-growing laundry list of financial scandals .
He noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes to China than to the U.S. government in recent years — $ 188,561 between 2013 and 2015 in total .
Biden also noted that he himself has released 22 years of his tax returns and slammed Trump for his refusal to release his .
`` What 's going on here ? ''
Biden demanded .
`` Why not release your tax returns or stop talking about corruption ? ''
JOE BIDEN : I have not taken a penny from any foreign source ever in my life .
We learned this president paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a secret bank account with China , does business in China , and in fact is talking about me taking money .
I 've not taken a single penny from any country whatsoever , ever , number one .
Number two , this is a president , I have released all of my tax returns , 22 years , go look at them , 22 years of my tax returns .
You have not released a single , solitary year of your tax returns .
What are you hiding ?
Why are you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you a lot .
Russia 's paying you a lot .
China 's paying you a lot .
And your hotels and all your businesses al around the country , all around the world , and China 's building a new road ... to a golf course you have overseas .
So what 's going on here ?
Why not release your tax returns or stop talking about corruption ?
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

In Thursday night’s debate, Donald Trump repeatedly leveled accusations of financial corruption at Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, among them unverified claims of Biden’s son Hunter receiving $3.5 million from the Russian government.
Biden categorically denied Trump’s vague and unspecific claims that he has taken money from foreign entities.
“I have not taken a penny from any foreign source ever in my life,” he said.
Biden immediately pointed out the hypocrisy of Trump’s attacks, given Trump’s ever-growing laundry list of financial scandals.
He noted the recent revelation that Trump paid more taxes to China than to the U.S. government in recent years — $188,561 between 2013 and 2015 in total.
Biden also noted that he himself has released 22 years of his tax returns and slammed Trump for his refusal to release his.
“What’s going on here?” Biden demanded. “Why not release your tax returns or stop talking about corruption?”
JOE BIDEN: I have not taken a penny from any foreign source ever in my life. We learned this president paid 50 times the tax in China as a secret bank account with China, does business in China, and in fact is talking about me taking money. I’ve not taken a single penny from any country whatsoever, ever, number one. Number two, this is a president, I have released all of my tax returns, 22 years, go look at them, 22 years of my tax returns. You have not released a single, solitary year of your tax returns. What are you hiding? Why are you unwilling? The foreign countries are paying you a lot. Russia’s paying you a lot. China’s paying you a lot. And your hotels and all your businesses al around the country, all around the world, and China’s building a new road … to a golf course you have overseas. So what’s going on here? Why not release your tax returns or stop talking about corruption?
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-23--Trump spends last debate ignoring his nonexistent health care plan

During Thursday night 's second and final presidential debate , Donald Trump once again managed to dodge pressing questions on whether he had any health care plan to offer Americans .
In June , the Trump administration joined Republican officials in 18 states to ask the Supreme Court to overturn the Affordable Care Act , a suit that `` if successful , would bring a permanent end to the health insurance program popularly known as Obamacare and wipe out coverage for as many as 23 million Americans , '' according to the New York Times .
When asked by moderator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ACA , Trump never fully confronted the question .
Instead , he offered the empty suggestion that he would like to `` come up with a brand new , beautiful health care '' , while bizarrely stating , `` The Democrats will do it because there will tremendous pressure on them , and we might even have the House by then . ''
Election analysts say Democrats have an 80 % chance of maintaining control of the House .
In response to Trump 's promise of a radical health care package , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come up with a plan .
I guess we 're going to get the preexisting conditions plan at the same time we 'll get the infrastructure plan . ''
`` The fact is that he 's already cost the American people because of his terrible handling of the COVID virus and economic spillover , '' Biden added .
`` Ten million people have lost their private insurance , and he wants to take away 22 million more people who have been under Obamacare , and over 110 million people with preexisting conditions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he would expand the Affordable Care Act , which he helped pass during the Obama administration , by passing `` Obamacare with a public option , '' and allowing people under 65 to access to Medicare .
He also promised that , through the policies he hopes to pass , Medicare will cut premiums and gain the power to negotiate down drug prices .
The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments for why the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional , and the legislation to be struck down in its entirety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protect Our Care , repealing Obamacare could cut off 135 million Americans with preexisting conditions from health care , increase prescription drug prices for older Americans , and cut off financial assistance to 9 million people who purchase their health care through the federal marketplace .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

During Thursday night’s second and final presidential debate, Donald Trump once again managed to dodge pressing questions on whether he had any health care plan to offer Americans.
In June, the Trump administration joined Republican officials in 18 states to ask the Supreme Court to overturn the Affordable Care Act, a suit that “if successful, would bring a permanent end to the health insurance program popularly known as Obamacare and wipe out coverage for as many as 23 million Americans,” according to the New York Times.
When asked by moderator Kristen Welker about his place to replace the ACA, Trump never fully confronted the question. Instead, he offered the empty suggestion that he would like to “come up with a brand new, beautiful health care”, while bizarrely stating, “The Democrats will do it because there will tremendous pressure on them, and we might even have the House by then.” Election analysts say Democrats have an 80% chance of maintaining control of the House.
In response to Trump’s promise of a radical health care package, Biden said, “He’s never come up with a plan. I guess we’re going to get the preexisting conditions plan at the same time we’ll get the infrastructure plan.”
“The fact is that he’s already cost the American people because of his terrible handling of the COVID virus and economic spillover,” Biden added. “Ten million people have lost their private insurance, and he wants to take away 22 million more people who have been under Obamacare, and over 110 million people with preexisting conditions.”
When questioned by Welker, Biden said he would expand the Affordable Care Act, which he helped pass during the Obama administration, by passing “Obamacare with a public option,” and allowing people under 65 to access to Medicare. He also promised that, through the policies he hopes to pass, Medicare will cut premiums and gain the power to negotiate down drug prices.
The Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments for why the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional, and the legislation to be struck down in its entirety, on Nov. 10.
According to Protect Our Care, repealing Obamacare could cut off 135 million Americans with preexisting conditions from health care, increase prescription drug prices for older Americans, and cut off financial assistance to 9 million people who purchase their health care through the federal marketplace.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.