shareblue--2020-10-29--4 ways the GOP is trying to stop votes from being counted just days before election

Trailing in the polls and facing the distinct possibility of defeat , Donald Trump and the Republican Party are running an effort to invalidate ballots cast across the country — and invalidate the will of the voters — to keep Trump and other GOP officials in office .
Trump and his allies are filing lawsuits in states across the country to prevent absentee ballots from being counted , using absurd and false claims of fraud as their excuse .
Some of these lawsuits have failed — such as an effort to prevent absentee ballots postmarked on Election Day from being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have succeeded .
And Trump and the GOP have not stopped in their efforts .
Here are four ways Trump and Republicans are trying to not only suppress the vote but keep ballots from being counted altogether : Republicans won a lawsuit in Wisconsin that invalidates any mail-in ballot received after Election Day , even if it was postmarked on time — even as the U.S .
Postal Service has been plagued by delays following deliberate changes by the Trump appointee leading the agency .
In fact , the delays are so bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find alternatives to sending their ballots in the mail .
In the 2020 primary , 80,000 ballots in the state that were postmarked by the election but received in the days after were counted .
If that happens next week , much less than 80,000 ballots could make a difference in who wins or loses the state , as Trump carried Wisconsin by just over 22,000 votes four years ago .
In Minnesota , Republicans are suing to force the state to separate mail-in ballots received after Election Day but postmarked on time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to toss out the ballots if they are successful in a separate fight to invalidate an extension for counting absentee ballots in the state .
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon extended the deadline to count those ballots for seven days , which Trump and Republicans disagree with , the Hill reported .
Democratic nominee Joe Biden leads in Minnesota .
However , four years ago , Trump lost the state by roughly 40,000 votes .
So the invalidation of tens of thousands of legally cast ballots could possibly impact the outcome of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are undertaking multiple voter suppression tactics in Pennsylvania .
His campaign lost an effort to keep the state from counting absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day but received in the days after .
However , it 's still trying to block the state from processing mail-in ballots before Election Day , which could make results take longer to count and allow Trump to baselessly claim there was voter fraud in the state if Biden 's support grows as ballots are counted .
What 's more , Trump has urged his supporters to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strongholds in the state , such as Philadelphia .
`` A lot of strange things happening in Philadelphia , '' Trump said at a campaign stop in Allentown on Monday .
`` We 're watching you , Philadelphia .
We 're watching at the highest level . ''
In order to prevent intimidation , state law bars poll watchers from going outside the county in which they live to do their jobs .
Rep. Brendan Boyle , a Pennsylvania Democrat who represents Philadelphia , told the American Independent Foundation earlier in October that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the city are `` disturbing . ''
In Nevada , the Trump campaign filed a lawsuit to demand that observers from their campaign be allowed to watch the processing of absentee ballots in heavily Democratic areas of the state .
Democrats in the state say that the Trump campaign wants to watch absentee processing in order to try to invalidate ballots in Democratic strongholds to try to hurt Biden 's campaign and boost Trump 's .
`` Clark County is a blue county , and this is a numbers game .
And quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many ballots in Clark County as they can .
They want a high rejection rate , '' Nevada Deputy Solicitor General Gregory Zunino said at a hearing for the Trump campaign 's lawsuit on Wednesday , according to the Las Vegas Review Journal .
`` They are not challenging the process in Elko County or Humboldt County or Carson City because those are red counties . ''
Ultimately , it 's unclear whether the Trump campaign 's efforts to invalidate legally cast ballots will work .
So far , more than 80 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , according to the U.S .
Elections Project .
That total amounts to more than half of the entire 2016 turnout , which was 138 million .
The majority of those ballots — or nearly 52 million — were cast by mail , according to the U.S .
Elections Project , the very practice Trump and his Republican allies are attacking .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Trailing in the polls and facing the distinct possibility of defeat, Donald Trump and the Republican Party are running an effort to invalidate ballots cast across the country — and invalidate the will of the voters — to keep Trump and other GOP officials in office.
Trump and his allies are filing lawsuits in states across the country to prevent absentee ballots from being counted, using absurd and false claims of fraud as their excuse.
Some of these lawsuits have failed — such as an effort to prevent absentee ballots postmarked on Election Day from being counted in Pennsylvania.
However, some have succeeded. And Trump and the GOP have not stopped in their efforts.
Here are four ways Trump and Republicans are trying to not only suppress the vote but keep ballots from being counted altogether:
Wisconsin lawsuit
Republicans won a lawsuit in Wisconsin that invalidates any mail-in ballot received after Election Day, even if it was postmarked on time — even as the U.S. Postal Service has been plagued by delays following deliberate changes by the Trump appointee leading the agency.
In fact, the delays are so bad election officials have been advising voters to find alternatives to sending their ballots in the mail.
In the 2020 primary, 80,000 ballots in the state that were postmarked by the election but received in the days after were counted. If that happens next week, much less than 80,000 ballots could make a difference in who wins or loses the state, as Trump carried Wisconsin by just over 22,000 votes four years ago.
Minnesota lawsuit
In Minnesota, Republicans are suing to force the state to separate mail-in ballots received after Election Day but postmarked on time.
Republicans want to make it easy to toss out the ballots if they are successful in a separate fight to invalidate an extension for counting absentee ballots in the state.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon extended the deadline to count those ballots for seven days, which Trump and Republicans disagree with, the Hill reported.
Democratic nominee Joe Biden leads in Minnesota. However, four years ago, Trump lost the state by roughly 40,000 votes. So the invalidation of tens of thousands of legally cast ballots could possibly impact the outcome of the race.
Pennsylvania efforts
Trump and the GOP are undertaking multiple voter suppression tactics in Pennsylvania.
His campaign lost an effort to keep the state from counting absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day but received in the days after.
However, it’s still trying to block the state from processing mail-in ballots before Election Day, which could make results take longer to count and allow Trump to baselessly claim there was voter fraud in the state if Biden’s support grows as ballots are counted.
What’s more, Trump has urged his supporters to go “watch” the polls in Democratic strongholds in the state, such as Philadelphia.
“A lot of strange things happening in Philadelphia,” Trump said at a campaign stop in Allentown on Monday. “We’re watching you, Philadelphia. We’re watching at the highest level.”
In order to prevent intimidation, state law bars poll watchers from going outside the county in which they live to do their jobs.
Rep. Brendan Boyle, a Pennsylvania Democrat who represents Philadelphia, told the American Independent Foundation earlier in October that Trump’s efforts to intimidate voters in the city are “disturbing.”
Nevada lawsuit
In Nevada, the Trump campaign filed a lawsuit to demand that observers from their campaign be allowed to watch the processing of absentee ballots in heavily Democratic areas of the state.
Democrats in the state say that the Trump campaign wants to watch absentee processing in order to try to invalidate ballots in Democratic strongholds to try to hurt Biden’s campaign and boost Trump’s.
“Clark County is a blue county, and this is a numbers game. And quite frankly they would like to exclude as many ballots in Clark County as they can. They want a high rejection rate,” Nevada Deputy Solicitor General Gregory Zunino said at a hearing for the Trump campaign’s lawsuit on Wednesday, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. “They are not challenging the process in Elko County or Humboldt County or Carson City because those are red counties.”
Ultimately, it’s unclear whether the Trump campaign’s efforts to invalidate legally cast ballots will work.
So far, more than 80 million ballots have already been cast across the country, according to the U.S. Elections Project. That total amounts to more than half of the entire 2016 turnout, which was 138 million.
The majority of those ballots — or nearly 52 million — were cast by mail, according to the U.S. Elections Project, the very practice Trump and his Republican allies are attacking.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-29--Trump plans 3 more Pennsylvania rallies as doctors beg him not to

Donald Trump will hold three more campaign rallies in Pennsylvania this coming weekend .
But despite five `` MAGA '' rallies over three previous visits this month , polls continue to show him trailing Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in the vital swing state ahead of the general election next week .
Pennsylvania doctors recently begged Trump to stop holding mass rallies in the state , noting that with their large numbers of people crowded together , often without masks , they carry the risk of becoming coronavirus superspreader events .
A Center for American Progress analysis this week noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationally immediately preceded significant COVID-19 case spikes in the communities in which they were held .
Though Joe Biden has taken pains to promote safety at his campaign events , Trump has pointedly refused to enforce mask requirements or social distancing at his .
One poll this week found that voters — including those in Pennsylvania — said they are less likely to vote for Trump because of his mass rallies .
Among persuadable voters in the state , 58 % said Trump 's `` large , in-person campaign rallies where wearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduces their approval of him versus just 18 % who said the opposite .
In 2016 , Trump barely won Pennsylvania — and its 20 electoral votes — with a margin of less than 1 % .
Polls show that he has lost substantial ground in the state since , largely due to his unpopularity among older Pennsylvanians and women .
Despite Trump openly begging suburban women to like him , one recent poll showed him losing among female Pennsylvanians by about 30 points .
Older voters in the state , many citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have also turned away from the incumbent , swapping a 10 % Trump advantage among Pennsylvanian seniors in 2016 for a 19 % deficit this time around .
Trump 's recent appearances in Pennsylvania have done little to win over skeptical undecided voters .
Last Tuesday , he told voters in Erie that he did not really want to be there at all .
`` Before the plague came in , I had it made .
I was n't coming to Erie .
I have to be honest .
There was no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't have to , '' he said .
`` We had this thing won , we were so far up , we had the greatest economy ever , greatest jobs , greatest everything .
And then we got hit with the plague and I had to go back to work .
Hello , Erie , can I please have your vote ? ''
On Monday , he told voters in Allentown and Lititz that he would withhold emergency aid to their state in the future to punish Gov .
Tom Wolf for inconveniencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This [ venue ] was set up because your governor made it almost impossible for us to find any site , '' he complained at his Allentown event .
He returned to the subject several times : `` So , Tom Wolf , next time give us a little notice , Governor .
And I 'll remember it , Tom .
I 'm gon na remember it , Tom .
'Hello , Mr. President .
This is Governor Wolf .
I need help .
I need help . '
You know what ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we go out of our way , regardless Republican , Democrat , when they have a problem , but he shut us out . ''
Virtually every poll of Pennsylvania voters over the past several months has shown Biden ahead .
According to FiveThirtyEight 's polling average , Biden currently holds a 5.2 % lead in the state .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump will hold three more campaign rallies in Pennsylvania this coming weekend. But despite five “MAGA” rallies over three previous visits this month, polls continue to show him trailing Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in the vital swing state ahead of the general election next week.
Pennsylvania doctors recently begged Trump to stop holding mass rallies in the state, noting that with their large numbers of people crowded together, often without masks, they carry the risk of becoming coronavirus superspreader events. A Center for American Progress analysis this week noted that at least 11 large Trump rallies nationally immediately preceded significant COVID-19 case spikes in the communities in which they were held.
Though Joe Biden has taken pains to promote safety at his campaign events, Trump has pointedly refused to enforce mask requirements or social distancing at his. One poll this week found that voters — including those in Pennsylvania — said they are less likely to vote for Trump because of his mass rallies. Among persuadable voters in the state, 58% said Trump’s “large, in-person campaign rallies where wearing a mask is not required of attendees” reduces their approval of him versus just 18% who said the opposite.
In 2016, Trump barely won Pennsylvania — and its 20 electoral votes — with a margin of less than 1%. Polls show that he has lost substantial ground in the state since, largely due to his unpopularity among older Pennsylvanians and women.
Despite Trump openly begging suburban women to like him, one recent poll showed him losing among female Pennsylvanians by about 30 points. Older voters in the state, many citing Trump’s botched handling of the pandemic, have also turned away from the incumbent, swapping a 10% Trump advantage among Pennsylvanian seniors in 2016 for a 19% deficit this time around.
Trump’s recent appearances in Pennsylvania have done little to win over skeptical undecided voters.
Last Tuesday, he told voters in Erie that he did not really want to be there at all.
“Before the plague came in, I had it made. I wasn’t coming to Erie. I have to be honest. There was no way I was coming. I didn’t have to,” he said. “We had this thing won, we were so far up, we had the greatest economy ever, greatest jobs, greatest everything. And then we got hit with the plague and I had to go back to work. Hello, Erie, can I please have your vote?”
On Monday, he told voters in Allentown and Lititz that he would withhold emergency aid to their state in the future to punish Gov. Tom Wolf for inconveniencing him with COVID-19 safety rules.
“This [venue] was set up because your governor made it almost impossible for us to find any site,” he complained at his Allentown event.
He returned to the subject several times: “So, Tom Wolf, next time give us a little notice, Governor. And I’ll remember it, Tom. I’m gonna remember it, Tom. ‘Hello, Mr. President. This is Governor Wolf. I need help. I need help.’ You know what? These people are bad. We, we go out of our way, regardless Republican, Democrat, when they have a problem, but he shut us out.”
Virtually every poll of Pennsylvania voters over the past several months has shown Biden ahead. According to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average, Biden currently holds a 5.2% lead in the state.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-29--The Trump administration's war on immigrants is about to get a whole lot worse

Should Donald Trump get reelected , Stephen Miller , Trump 's senior immigration adviser , is pushing to implement an even harsher slate of immigration policies over the next four years , the Guardian reported Wednesday .
If Trump wins a second term — or simply refuses to concede defeat — Miller will be closer than ever to achieving his vision of a White America .
Jean Guerrero is the author of Hatemonger : Stephen Miller , Donald Trump , and the White Nationalist Agenda .
In an interview with the Guardian , Guerrero said a second Trump term could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies — with Miller as the mastermind behind them all .
At the top of Miller 's list is getting rid of birthright citizenship , which holds that any child born on American soil is automatically a U.S. citizen .
Eliminating birthright citizenship would imperil the legal status of millions of young Americans born to undocumented parents on U.S. soil , also known as DREAMers .
Also on Miller 's policy wishlist is making the U.S. citizenship test harder ; stripping protections for immigrants fleeing crises in their home country ; and adopting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States .
This is only Miller 's latest attempt to paint immigrants as an existential threat to America .
Over the past four years , Miller , Trump , and their allies in politics and right-wing media have used hateful rhetoric time and time again to blame immigrants for the problems facing the United States .
They have peddled the racist myth that immigrants are somehow `` stealing '' American jobs .
They have likened immigrants seeking a better life in the U.S. to ruthless `` invaders . ''
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. with the sole purpose of giving birth to `` anchor babies . ''
The overarching message from Trump , Miller , and their allies is the same : immigrants and refugees are not to be trusted because they want to `` overrun '' the country and upend American life as we know it .
`` We can not allow all of these people to invade our Country , '' Trump tweeted in 2018 .
`` When somebody comes in , we must immediately , with no Judges or Court Cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Our system is a mockery to good immigration policy and Law and Order . ''
This is only Miller 's latest effort in his career-long crusade to make the American public fear and hate immigrants as much as he does — and to shatter thousands of immigrants ' lives in the process .
Miller spearheaded the Trump administration 's `` zero tolerance '' policy toward migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border , which led to the violent separation and detention of hundreds of migrant families , often with no plans to reunite them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far as trying to erase the legacy of the Statue of Liberty , claiming that the lines of the famous Emma Lazarus poem inscribed at the statue 's feet — `` Give me your tired , your poor , you huddled masses , yearning to breathe free '' — were only added as an afterthought .
Miller has fought to block refugees from gaining asylum in the U.S. , even if it means sending refugees back to home countries where they may face violent retribution in the form of torture or death .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigration officials themselves .
Last week , a group of refugees from the African nation of Cameroon were forced to sign their own deportation orders after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers allegedly choked , beat , and threatened to kill them .
It 's not hard to connect Miller 's policy plans to the ideology that animates them .
In a cache of emails uncovered last year , Miller shared links to prominent white nationalist websites and trafficked in well-trod white supremacist conspiracy theories about `` white genocide . ''
Yet Miller himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fled anti-Semitic pogroms to settle in America .
But Miller has never let his own family history stand in the way of his anti-refugee politics today .
In 2018 , Dr. David Glosser — a retired neuropsychologist and Stephen Miller 's uncle — wrote in Politico that his nephew `` has become the architect of immigration policies that repudiate the very foundation of our family ’ s life in this country . ''
According to Glosser , Miller 's great-grandfather , Wolf-Leib Glosser , arrived at Ellis Island in 1903 with only $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not speak English , yet he was welcomed into the country .
Wolf-Leib Glosser and his family would likely have been killed for their Jewish faith if the U.S. had turned them away , forcing them to return to their home country of Belarus .
`` I shudder at the thought of what would have become of the Glossers had the same policies Stephen so coolly espouses — the travel ban , the radical decrease in refugees , the separation of children from their parents , and even talk of limiting citizenship for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wolf-Leib made his desperate bid for freedom , '' Glosser wrote .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Should Donald Trump get reelected, Stephen Miller, Trump’s senior immigration adviser, is pushing to implement an even harsher slate of immigration policies over the next four years, the Guardian reported Wednesday.
If Trump wins a second term — or simply refuses to concede defeat — Miller will be closer than ever to achieving his vision of a White America.
Jean Guerrero is the author of Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda. In an interview with the Guardian, Guerrero said a second Trump term could unleash even more extreme, nationalistic immigration policies — with Miller as the mastermind behind them all.
At the top of Miller’s list is getting rid of birthright citizenship, which holds that any child born on American soil is automatically a U.S. citizen. Eliminating birthright citizenship would imperil the legal status of millions of young Americans born to undocumented parents on U.S. soil, also known as DREAMers.
Also on Miller’s policy wishlist is making the U.S. citizenship test harder; stripping protections for immigrants fleeing crises in their home country; and adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward refugees seeking asylum in the United States.
This is only Miller’s latest attempt to paint immigrants as an existential threat to America. Over the past four years, Miller, Trump, and their allies in politics and right-wing media have used hateful rhetoric time and time again to blame immigrants for the problems facing the United States.
They have peddled the racist myth that immigrants are somehow “stealing” American jobs. They have likened immigrants seeking a better life in the U.S. to ruthless “invaders.” And they have argued that immigrants come to the U.S. with the sole purpose of giving birth to “anchor babies.”
The overarching message from Trump, Miller, and their allies is the same: immigrants and refugees are not to be trusted because they want to “overrun” the country and upend American life as we know it.
“We cannot allow all of these people to invade our Country,” Trump tweeted in 2018. “When somebody comes in, we must immediately, with no Judges or Court Cases, bring them back from where they came. Our system is a mockery to good immigration policy and Law and Order.”
This is only Miller’s latest effort in his career-long crusade to make the American public fear and hate immigrants as much as he does — and to shatter thousands of immigrants’ lives in the process.
Miller spearheaded the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy toward migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, which led to the violent separation and detention of hundreds of migrant families, often with no plans to reunite them.
In 2017, Miller went so far as trying to erase the legacy of the Statue of Liberty, claiming that the lines of the famous Emma Lazarus poem inscribed at the statue’s feet — “Give me your tired, your poor, you huddled masses, yearning to breathe free” — were only added as an afterthought.
Miller has fought to block refugees from gaining asylum in the U.S., even if it means sending refugees back to home countries where they may face violent retribution in the form of torture or death.
Sometimes, that torture comes from U.S. immigration officials themselves. Last week, a group of refugees from the African nation of Cameroon were forced to sign their own deportation orders after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers allegedly choked, beat, and threatened to kill them.
It’s not hard to connect Miller’s policy plans to the ideology that animates them. In a cache of emails uncovered last year, Miller shared links to prominent white nationalist websites and trafficked in well-trod white supremacist conspiracy theories about “white genocide.”
Yet Miller himself is descended from Eastern European refugees who fled anti-Semitic pogroms to settle in America. But Miller has never let his own family history stand in the way of his anti-refugee politics today.
In 2018, Dr. David Glosser — a retired neuropsychologist and Stephen Miller’s uncle — wrote in Politico that his nephew “has become the architect of immigration policies that repudiate the very foundation of our family’s life in this country.”
According to Glosser, Miller’s great-grandfather, Wolf-Leib Glosser, arrived at Ellis Island in 1903 with only $8 in his pocket. He did not speak English, yet he was welcomed into the country. Wolf-Leib Glosser and his family would likely have been killed for their Jewish faith if the U.S. had turned them away, forcing them to return to their home country of Belarus.
“I shudder at the thought of what would have become of the Glossers had the same policies Stephen so coolly espouses — the travel ban, the radical decrease in refugees, the separation of children from their parents, and even talk of limiting citizenship for legal immigrants — been in effect when Wolf-Leib made his desperate bid for freedom,” Glosser wrote.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-29--Pompeo has his own email troubles as he tries to make Hillary Clinton's a thing

Emails show Secretary of State Mike Pompeo repeatedly mixed official government business with personal matters , according to a report released Thursday , even as he is pushing to release more of his predecessor 's emails .
His wife , Susan Pompeo , regularly used her personal email to direct State Department officials on travel plans and restaurant reservations , as well as for a youth visit that did not appear to directly relate to the core mission of the State Department , NBC News reported , citing newly obtained emails .
One set of emails showed that Susan Pompeo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department staffers for a multiday visit to Washington for wealthy CEOs under 45 and members of the Kansas chapter of the Young Presidents ' Organization .
`` There are certainly 'optics ' issues here .
It can look like Pompeo is using the office to ingratiate himself with others , possibly future supporters in a 2024 White House race , '' law professor Stephen Gillers told the network .
Last month , emails obtained by McClatchy showed Susan Pompeo wanted senior State Department staff to help complete their personal Christmas holiday cards .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it sounds like she can direct staff .
It 's odd that someone who is not a government official or an employee is allowed to direct actual government employees , '' Kathleen Clark , a government ethics expert at the Washington University in St. Louis , told CNN .
Susan Pompeo 's role at the CIA was a `` red flag , '' Clark added .
Former State Department staffers also told Politico that Susan Pompeo directed them for personal errands , with one saying that `` decorating became a very large , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigating the firing of Steven Linick , the State Department 's inspector general , who one Democratic aide said `` was looking into the Secretary 's misuse of a political appointee at the Department to perform personal tasks for himself and Mrs .
Pompeo . ''
Just last week , the nonprofit group American Oversight published a watchdog report that found that the secretary of state often used his personal email for official government communications during his time as director of the Central Intelligence Agency .
The Washington D.C.-based group reviewed about 400 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director in 2017 and 2018 , saying they `` reveal a problematic amount of official business being conducted over private email . ''
`` This extensive use of personal email for agency business raises questions about what other activities Pompeo conducted over personal email , including at the State Department—and about whether efforts need to be undertaken to preserve government records in personal accounts , '' the group 's report said .
Earlier this week , Pompeo vowed to release more of former secretary of state Hillary Clinton 's emails .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we ’ ll make sure that all these emails get to the right place , '' he said Wednesday .
`` We will do everything we can to make sure that the American people get a chance to see as much as we can equitably produce . ''
After a 2019 State Department probe of Clinton ’ s more than 33,000 emails , investigators found `` no persuasive evidence of systemic , deliberate mishandling of classified information . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Emails show Secretary of State Mike Pompeo repeatedly mixed official government business with personal matters, according to a report released Thursday, even as he is pushing to release more of his predecessor’s emails.
His wife, Susan Pompeo, regularly used her personal email to direct State Department officials on travel plans and restaurant reservations, as well as for a youth visit that did not appear to directly relate to the core mission of the State Department, NBC News reported, citing newly obtained emails.
One set of emails showed that Susan Pompeo requested a number of tasks for State Department staffers for a multiday visit to Washington for wealthy CEOs under 45 and members of the Kansas chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization.
“There are certainly ‘optics’ issues here. It can look like Pompeo is using the office to ingratiate himself with others, possibly future supporters in a 2024 White House race,” law professor Stephen Gillers told the network.
Last month, emails obtained by McClatchy showed Susan Pompeo wanted senior State Department staff to help complete their personal Christmas holiday cards.
“If staff are helping her, it sounds like she can direct staff. It’s odd that someone who is not a government official or an employee is allowed to direct actual government employees,” Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert at the Washington University in St. Louis, told CNN.
Susan Pompeo’s role at the CIA was a “red flag,” Clark added.
Former State Department staffers also told Politico that Susan Pompeo directed them for personal errands, with one saying that “decorating became a very large, time-consuming project.”
Congress has been investigating the firing of Steven Linick, the State Department’s inspector general, who one Democratic aide said “was looking into the Secretary’s misuse of a political appointee at the Department to perform personal tasks for himself and Mrs. Pompeo.”
Just last week, the nonprofit group American Oversight published a watchdog report that found that the secretary of state often used his personal email for official government communications during his time as director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
The Washington D.C.-based group reviewed about 400 pages of his personal emails as CIA director in 2017 and 2018, saying they “reveal a problematic amount of official business being conducted over private email.”
“This extensive use of personal email for agency business raises questions about what other activities Pompeo conducted over personal email, including at the State Department—and about whether efforts need to be undertaken to preserve government records in personal accounts,” the group’s report said.
Earlier this week, Pompeo vowed to release more of former secretary of state Hillary Clinton’s emails.
“We’ll continue to do the right thing, we’ll make sure that all these emails get to the right place,” he said Wednesday. “We will do everything we can to make sure that the American people get a chance to see as much as we can equitably produce.”
After a 2019 State Department probe of Clinton’s more than 33,000 emails, investigators found “no persuasive evidence of systemic, deliberate mishandling of classified information.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-29--Anti-maskers are getting more violent — and Trump's not helping

Two sisters are accused of stabbing a security guard this week in a store in the Homan Square neighborhood of Chicago 27 times after he asked them to wear masks and use hand sanitizer .
The alleged attack is the latest violent incident surrounding requests that people wear masks during the pandemic .
The pair , ages 18 and 21 , have been charged with attempted murder .
`` This is just too random and quickly escalating .
I ca n't fashion conditions that would protect the community , '' Cook County Judge Mary Marubio said on Tuesday as she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it 's neither the first nor the last occurrence in a wave of mounting violence as the wearing of masks is continuously politicized .
A Florida man reportedly assaulted an Uber driver near Tampa , Florida , on Tuesday , punching him in the face after the driver asked him to put on a mask before entering his vehicle .
The alleged assailant was charged with aggravated assault of a person 65 years of age or older .
On Sept. 26 , an 80-year-old man near Buffalo , New York , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head after asking a fellow bar patron to put on a mask .
He never regained consciousness , and died in early October .
The man who shoved him has pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminally negligent homicide .
These violent attacks have been occurring for months .
Back in May , two men were arrested and charged with felony premeditated murder in the shooting of a security guard at a Family Dollar store in Flint , Michigan , after the guard told the wife of one of the men to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On July 29 , a 54-year-old woman who had recently undergone a liver transplant was violently shoved to the ground and later hospitalized after she asked a fellow customer in a Staples store in Hackensack , New Jersey , to pull up her mask .
On July 31 , a cigar store patron in Bethlehem Township , Pennsylvania , who was asked to put on a mask fired a weapon at an employee .
The man was later arrested after a gun battle with police and faces two separate trials on multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a law enforcement officer .
On Aug. 12 , a passenger on an American Airlines flight hit a gate agent in Phoenix , Arizona , who would n't allow her to board her connecting flight when she would n't wear a mask on her first flight .
Three days earlier , a teenage employee of a Philadelphia Sesame Place theme park was punched in the face by patrons when he asked them to put on their masks .
He suffered the loss of a tooth and required double jaw surgery , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred amid persistent scorn from the White House for mask-wearing since the beginning of the pandemic .
Donald Trump has repeatedly scoffed at people who wear masks and denied their efficacy at preventing the spread of the coronavirus .
On April 3 , Trump said wearing masks was `` voluntary '' : `` You do n't have to do it .
They suggested for a period of time , but this is voluntary .
I do n't think I 'm going to be doing it . ''
`` I do n't know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ myself , '' he said .
`` Maybe I 'll change my mind , but this will pass , and hopefully it will pass very quickly . ''
In July , he told Chris Wallace in a Fox News interview : `` I do n't agree with the statement that if everybody would wear a mask , everything disappears . ''
In August , he said he would never mandate mask-wearing because `` Americans must have their freedoms . ''
He added : `` Maybe they 're great , and maybe they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so good . ''
At the first presidential debate , Trump openly mocked opponent Joe Biden 's mask-wearing .
`` When needed , I wear masks .
I do n't wear masks like him , '' Trump said .
`` Every time you see him he 's got a mask .
He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I have ever seen . ''
On Oct. 18 , Twitter removed a tweet from Dr. Scott Atlas , a Trump medical adviser , for making false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Masks work ?
NO , '' the now-deleted tweet read .
`` LA , Miami , Hawaii , Alabama , France , Phlippnes , UK , Spain , Israel .
WHO : 'widesprd use not supported ' + many harms ; Heneghan/Oxf CEBM : 'despite decades , considerble uncertainty re value ' ; CDC rvw May : 'no sig red ' n in inflnz transm ' n ' ; learn why . ''
And just Wednesday at a rally in Arizona where few masks and little social distancing were to be seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` In California , you have to have a special mask , '' the White House occupant falsely claimed .
`` You can not , under any circumstances , take it off .
You have to eat through the mask . ''
He went on to say that California 's masks were a `` complex mechanism . ''
`` And they do n't realize , those germs , they go through it like nothing .
They look at you with that contraption and they say , 'That 's an easy one , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical professionals have repeatedly explained that the most protective function of masks is reducing the spread to other people of virus-containing water droplets released when speaking , breathing , coughing , or sneezing .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Two sisters are accused of stabbing a security guard this week in a store in the Homan Square neighborhood of Chicago 27 times after he asked them to wear masks and use hand sanitizer.
The alleged attack is the latest violent incident surrounding requests that people wear masks during the pandemic.
The pair, ages 18 and 21, have been charged with attempted murder.
“This is just too random and quickly escalating. I can’t fashion conditions that would protect the community,” Cook County Judge Mary Marubio said on Tuesday as she ordered the accused held without bail.
But it’s neither the first nor the last occurrence in a wave of mounting violence as the wearing of masks is continuously politicized.
A Florida man reportedly assaulted an Uber driver near Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday, punching him in the face after the driver asked him to put on a mask before entering his vehicle.
The alleged assailant was charged with aggravated assault of a person 65 years of age or older.
On Sept. 26, an 80-year-old man near Buffalo, New York, was shoved to the ground and hit his head after asking a fellow bar patron to put on a mask. He never regained consciousness, and died in early October.
The man who shoved him has pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminally negligent homicide.
These violent attacks have been occurring for months.
Back in May, two men were arrested and charged with felony premeditated murder in the shooting of a security guard at a Family Dollar store in Flint, Michigan, after the guard told the wife of one of the men to have her daughter put on a mask.
On July 29, a 54-year-old woman who had recently undergone a liver transplant was violently shoved to the ground and later hospitalized after she asked a fellow customer in a Staples store in Hackensack, New Jersey, to pull up her mask.
On July 31, a cigar store patron in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania, who was asked to put on a mask fired a weapon at an employee. The man was later arrested after a gun battle with police and faces two separate trials on multiple charges of attempted homicide and assault of a law enforcement officer.
On Aug. 12, a passenger on an American Airlines flight hit a gate agent in Phoenix, Arizona, who wouldn’t allow her to board her connecting flight when she wouldn’t wear a mask on her first flight.
Three days earlier, a teenage employee of a Philadelphia Sesame Place theme park was punched in the face by patrons when he asked them to put on their masks. He suffered the loss of a tooth and required double jaw surgery, according to the Washington Post.
These incidents have occurred amid persistent scorn from the White House for mask-wearing since the beginning of the pandemic.
Donald Trump has repeatedly scoffed at people who wear masks and denied their efficacy at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
On April 3, Trump said wearing masks was “voluntary”: “You don’t have to do it. They suggested for a period of time, but this is voluntary. I don’t think I’m going to be doing it.”
“I don’t know, somehow I don’t see it for myself,” he said. “Maybe I’ll change my mind, but this will pass, and hopefully it will pass very quickly.”
In July, he told Chris Wallace in a Fox News interview: “I don’t agree with the statement that if everybody would wear a mask, everything disappears.”
In August, he said he would never mandate mask-wearing because “Americans must have their freedoms.” He added: “Maybe they’re great, and maybe they’re just good. Maybe they’re not so good.”
At the first presidential debate, Trump openly mocked opponent Joe Biden’s mask-wearing.
“When needed, I wear masks. I don’t wear masks like him,” Trump said. “Every time you see him he’s got a mask. He could be speaking 200 feet away and he shows up with the biggest mask I have ever seen.”
On Oct. 18, Twitter removed a tweet from Dr. Scott Atlas, a Trump medical adviser, for making false claims that masks don’t work.
“Masks work? NO,” the now-deleted tweet read. “LA, Miami, Hawaii, Alabama, France, Phlippnes, UK, Spain, Israel. WHO:’widesprd use not supported’ + many harms; Heneghan/Oxf CEBM:’despite decades, considerble uncertainty re value’; CDC rvw May:’no sig red’n in inflnz transm’n’; learn why.”
And just Wednesday at a rally in Arizona where few masks and little social distancing were to be seen, Trump again spun lies about masks.
“In California, you have to have a special mask,” the White House occupant falsely claimed. “You cannot, under any circumstances, take it off. You have to eat through the mask.”
He went on to say that California’s masks were a “complex mechanism.”
“And they don’t realize, those germs, they go through it like nothing. They look at you with that contraption and they say, ‘That’s an easy one,'” Trump said.
Scientists and medical professionals have repeatedly explained that the most protective function of masks is reducing the spread to other people of virus-containing water droplets released when speaking, breathing, coughing, or sneezing.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-29--Susan Collins goes full-on delusional over Supreme Court judges she voted for

Sen. Susan Collins ( R-ME ) told voters on Wednesday that she does not believe the conservative majority on the Supreme Court would ever repeal abortion rights .
But justices she voted to confirm have already tried to severely undermine them .
At a televised debate with her opponent , Democratic state House Speaker Sara Gideon , Collins was asked about the future of Roe v. Wade with the new 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court .
`` I do not think that the Supreme Court is going to strike down Roe v. Wade .
Not only is Roe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relied on for decades , but it was reaffirmed in the [ Planned Parenthood v. Casey ] case 28 years ago , '' she argued .
`` I think it is extremely unlikely that the Supreme Court would act to overturn both of those precedents . ''
But the sole remaining member of the high court who participated in the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey case , Justice Clarence Thomas , dissented .
Collins has subsequently voted to confirm four anti-abortion Republican appointees — Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justices Sam Alito @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As recently as June , Alito , Gorsuch , and Kavanaugh voted to uphold abortion restrictions that would have made it impossible for many Louisiana women to access a legal abortion .
Roberts , who had voted to uphold similar rules in Texas a few years earlier , blocked the Louisiana law , citing precedent — but made clear that he is fine with other burdensome abortion restrictions .
Donald Trump explicitly promised in 2016 that all of his Supreme Court picks would work to repeal Roe .
But Collins — who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has opted to ignore this in her statements , despite clear indications that his first two picks were anti-abortion .
She 's even argued that both Gorsuch and Kavanaugh would preserve the abortion rights precedent .
A Collins spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story .
Earlier this week , the Senate confirmed another anti-abortion Trump nominee — Justice Amy Coney Barrett — to the Supreme Court .
Barrett , who signed a 2006 open letter opposing `` abortion on demand '' and the `` barbaric legacy '' of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the anti-abortion rights majority on the court for the foreseeable future .
While Collins voted against Barrett 's confirmation , she used Wednesday 's debate to make it `` very clear that her concerns about Justice Barrett had to do with process , not with her qualifications for the job . ''
Most polls have consistently shown Collins trailing in her close race against Gideon .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) told voters on Wednesday that she does not believe the conservative majority on the Supreme Court would ever repeal abortion rights. But justices she voted to confirm have already tried to severely undermine them.
At a televised debate with her opponent, Democratic state House Speaker Sara Gideon, Collins was asked about the future of Roe v. Wade with the new 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court.
“I do not think that the Supreme Court is going to strike down Roe v. Wade. Not only is Roe v. Wade a precedent that people have relied on for decades, but it was reaffirmed in the [Planned Parenthood v. Casey] case 28 years ago,” she argued. “I think it is extremely unlikely that the Supreme Court would act to overturn both of those precedents.”
But the sole remaining member of the high court who participated in the 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey case, Justice Clarence Thomas, dissented.
Collins has subsequently voted to confirm four anti-abortion Republican appointees — Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justices Sam Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh.
As recently as June, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh voted to uphold abortion restrictions that would have made it impossible for many Louisiana women to access a legal abortion. Roberts, who had voted to uphold similar rules in Texas a few years earlier, blocked the Louisiana law, citing precedent — but made clear that he is fine with other burdensome abortion restrictions.
Donald Trump explicitly promised in 2016 that all of his Supreme Court picks would work to repeal Roe. But Collins — who claims to be “pro-choice” — has opted to ignore this in her statements, despite clear indications that his first two picks were anti-abortion. She’s even argued that both Gorsuch and Kavanaugh would preserve the abortion rights precedent.
A Collins spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
Earlier this week, the Senate confirmed another anti-abortion Trump nominee — Justice Amy Coney Barrett — to the Supreme Court. Barrett, who signed a 2006 open letter opposing “abortion on demand” and the “barbaric legacy” of Roe v. Wade, will likely solidify the anti-abortion rights majority on the court for the foreseeable future.
While Collins voted against Barrett’s confirmation, she used Wednesday’s debate to make it “very clear that her concerns about Justice Barrett had to do with process, not with her qualifications for the job.”
Most polls have consistently shown Collins trailing in her close race against Gideon.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-29--New tape shows White House decided to overrule doctors on COVID — in April

In a newly released taped interview , Donald Trump 's son-in-law and senior adviser , Jared Kushner , says that his father-in-law rejected the advice of medical professionals during the pandemic — and that he was only concerned about his chances of reelection .
In audio obtained by CNN of an interview conducted in April by Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward , Kushner says that the United States is entering the `` comeback phase '' of the pandemic .
`` That does n't mean there 's not still a lot of pain and there wo n't be pain for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we 've now put out rules to get back to work , '' Kushner says .
`` Trump 's now back in charge .
It 's not the doctors .
They 've kind of — we have , like , a negotiated settlement . ''
He adds : `` It was almost like Trump getting the country back from the doctors .
Right ?
In the sense that what he now did was , you know , he 's going to own the open-up . ''
America 's top infectious disease specialist , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accuracy of Kushner 's remarks to CNN , saying , `` I do n't know exactly the timing , but it was clear that some months ago there was a pivot away from complete focusing on public health issues to looking at opening up the country with regard to the economy . ''
Kushner explains this shift in the interview with Woodward , noting that Trump did n't want the federal government to take control of testing because he wanted to `` own '' a successful response but blame state governors when things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very smart politically with the way he did that fight with the governors to basically say , no , no , no , no , I own the opening , '' Kushner tells Woodward .
`` Because again , the opening is going to be very popular .
People want this country open .
But if it opens in the wrong way , the question will be , did the governors follow the guidelines . ''
Kushner 's newly released remarks indicate that since the beginning of the pandemic , Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals in order to advance his own reelection agenda .
This month on a conference call with campaign aides , he blasted Fauci : `` People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots , '' he said .
He then referred to Fauci as a `` disaster . ''
A few days earlier , at a campaign rally in Carson City , Nevada , on Oct. 19 , he mocked his opponent , Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , for `` listening to the scientists . ''
`` If you vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future to the virus , '' Trump said .
`` He 's going to lock down .
He 'll listen to the scientists .
If I listen totally to the scientists , we would right now have a country that would be in a massive depression instead of — we 're like a rocket ship . ''
Back in April , even Fauci admitted on CNN 's `` State of the Union '' that `` obviously , you could logically say that if you had a process that was ongoing and you started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives . ''
But , he added , he and other officials faced a lot of opposition , `` a lot of pushback about shutting things down back then . ''
Trump 's response was to share a tweet calling for Fauci to be fired .
And Trump 's own personal response to the virus demonstrated his disregard for medical guidelines .
From hosting multiple superspreader events to outright refusing to wear a mask to taking an ill-advised joyride during his hospitalization with COVID-19 , Trump has flouted science since the outset of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American people who have paid : A new study released by the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University indicates Trump could have saved anywhere from 130,000 to 210,000 of the 225,000 lives lost to the coronavirus in the United States thus far with an earlier and more competent virus response .
But all Trump seems to care about is the outcome of Election Day .
On Monday , he complained that the media 's coronavirus coverage is dwarfing his election coverage .
`` We have made tremendous progress with the China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to talk about it this close to the Election , '' Trump tweeted .
`` COVID , COVID , COVID is being used by them , in total coordination , in order to change our great early election numbers .
Should be an election law violation ! ''
He falsely claimed that cases are only up due to more testing , and that any concerns are just a `` Fake News Media Conspiracy . ''
Also during this week leading up to the election , the White House issued a statement proclaiming that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 pandemic . ''
`` From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic , the administration has taken decisive actions to engage scientists and health professionals in academia , industry and government to understand , treat , and defeat the disease , '' it said .
The White House later walked back the statement , claiming : `` The intent was to say that it is our goal to end the virus . ''

In a newly released taped interview, Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, says that his father-in-law rejected the advice of medical professionals during the pandemic — and that he was only concerned about his chances of reelection.
In audio obtained by CNN of an interview conducted in April by Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward, Kushner says that the United States is entering the “comeback phase” of the pandemic.
“That doesn’t mean there’s not still a lot of pain and there won’t be pain for a while, but that basically was, we’ve now put out rules to get back to work,” Kushner says. “Trump’s now back in charge. It’s not the doctors. They’ve kind of — we have, like, a negotiated settlement.”
He adds: “It was almost like Trump getting the country back from the doctors. Right? In the sense that what he now did was, you know, he’s going to own the open-up.”
America’s top infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, confirmed the overall accuracy of Kushner’s remarks to CNN, saying, “I don’t know exactly the timing, but it was clear that some months ago there was a pivot away from complete focusing on public health issues to looking at opening up the country with regard to the economy.”
Kushner explains this shift in the interview with Woodward, noting that Trump didn’t want the federal government to take control of testing because he wanted to “own” a successful response but blame state governors when things went wrong.
“The president also is very smart politically with the way he did that fight with the governors to basically say, no, no, no, no, I own the opening,” Kushner tells Woodward. “Because again, the opening is going to be very popular. People want this country open. But if it opens in the wrong way, the question will be, did the governors follow the guidelines.”
Kushner’s newly released remarks indicate that since the beginning of the pandemic, Trump has scorned the advice of scientists and medical professionals in order to advance his own reelection agenda.
This month on a conference call with campaign aides, he blasted Fauci: “People are tired of hearing Fauci and all these idiots,” he said. He then referred to Fauci as a “disaster.”
A few days earlier, at a campaign rally in Carson City, Nevada, on Oct. 19, he mocked his opponent, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, for “listening to the scientists.”
“If you vote for Biden … he will surrender your future to the virus,” Trump said. “He’s going to lock down. He’ll listen to the scientists. If I listen totally to the scientists, we would right now have a country that would be in a massive depression instead of — we’re like a rocket ship.”
Back in April, even Fauci admitted on CNN’s “State of the Union” that “obviously, you could logically say that if you had a process that was ongoing and you started mitigation earlier, you could have saved lives.”
But, he added, he and other officials faced a lot of opposition, “a lot of pushback about shutting things down back then.”
Trump’s response was to share a tweet calling for Fauci to be fired.
And Trump’s own personal response to the virus demonstrated his disregard for medical guidelines.
From hosting multiple superspreader events to outright refusing to wear a mask to taking an ill-advised joyride during his hospitalization with COVID-19, Trump has flouted science since the outset of the pandemic.
And it’s the American people who have paid: A new study released by the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University indicates Trump could have saved anywhere from 130,000 to 210,000 of the 225,000 lives lost to the coronavirus in the United States thus far with an earlier and more competent virus response.
But all Trump seems to care about is the outcome of Election Day.
On Monday, he complained that the media’s coronavirus coverage is dwarfing his election coverage.
“We have made tremendous progress with the China Virus, but the Fake News refuses to talk about it this close to the Election,” Trump tweeted. “COVID, COVID, COVID is being used by them, in total coordination, in order to change our great early election numbers. Should be an election law violation!”
He falsely claimed that cases are only up due to more testing, and that any concerns are just a “Fake News Media Conspiracy.”
“On November 4th., topic will totally change. VOTE!” Trump added.
Also during this week leading up to the election, the White House issued a statement proclaiming that among Trump’s accomplishments was “ending the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the administration has taken decisive actions to engage scientists and health professionals in academia, industry and government to understand, treat, and defeat the disease,” it said.
The White House later walked back the statement, claiming: “The intent was to say that it is our goal to end the virus.”


shareblue--2020-10-30--Cartoon: Tipsy for Trump

Cartoon: Tipsy for Trump

Clay Jones is a nationally syndicated political cartoonist .
He has worked for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Free Lance-Star @ @ @ @ @ draws a weekly cartoon for CNN Opinion .
He lives in the Washington suburbs of @ @ @

A decade after Sandy Hook, grief remains but hope grows
December, the anniversary of the worst grade school mass shooting in the U.S. is a difficult month for many in Newton. But in the face of heartbreak and grief, some survivors and families of victims feel hope for a brighter future.
By Associated Press - December 22, 2022


shareblue--2020-10-30--Trump complains COVID outbreak in DC might ruin his election party

Donald Trump on Friday said he is mulling moving an election night party planned to be held at his Washington , D.C. , hotel to the White House in order to avoid city coronavirus-related restrictions that ban large gatherings .
If Trump does move the event to the White House , it would be yet another instance of him using government property for partisan political purposes , a violation of ethics laws .
As Walter Shaub , the former director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics , tweeted after Trump accepted the Republican Party nomination for reelection at an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August : `` This abomination may be the most visible misuse of official position for private gain in America ’ s history .
It is an abuse of the power entrusted to this man , the breach of a sacred trust .
It is the civic equivalent of a mortal sin—maybe a religious one too .
And it is a harbinger . ''
It would also be yet another event at which Trump ignores public health guidelines aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus .
Cases of the virus are currently skyrocketing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of deaths from the virus also on the rise .
Several events held at the White House in the past few months , including an event to announce Amy Coney Barrett as Trump 's pick for the Supreme Court , were followed by many attendees receiving positive coronavirus tests .
The White House refused to follow up the events with contact tracing .
There would be irony in Trump holding an election night party at the White House that runs afoul of safety restrictions , as his failure in responding to the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health guidelines are currently imperiling his reelection bid .
Polls show voters disapprove of Trump 's virus response , and blame Trump 's lax adherence to safety guidelines for his own infection with the virus earlier this month .
Meanwhile , if current polls are right , Trump will not be celebrating a victory on election night .
Polling averages currently show Trump losing to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by 9 points nationally , including in critical swing states such as Michigan , Wisconsin , and Pennsylvania .
Those states alone voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's reelection bid .
However , Trump is also behind in Arizona and Florida , and is at risk of losing Georgia and Texas — an outcome that would amount to an Electoral College blowout that has n't been seen in decades .
If Trump were to keep his election night party at his D.C. hotel but did n't make an appearance , he would still personally profit from it , raking in fees for space rental and catering costs .
Over the course of the last four years , Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 8.1 million in Republican donor and taxpayer money for events at and visits to his properties , the Washington Post reported on Tuesday .
For example , when Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in April 2018 , Trump billed the federal government `` $ 13,700 for guest rooms , $ 16,500 for food and wine and $ 6,000 for the roses and other floral arrangements , '' the Post said .
Democrats have been able to use ongoing accusations of grift against Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling shows voters care about the issue .
A YouGov survey released on Wednesday showing 56 % of likely voters view Trump and his family as `` corrupt . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Friday said he is mulling moving an election night party planned to be held at his Washington, D.C., hotel to the White House in order to avoid city coronavirus-related restrictions that ban large gatherings.
“So we have a hotel. I don’t know if it’s shut down, if you’re allowed to use it or not,” Trump told reporters Friday morning. “But I know the mayor has shut down Washington, D.C. And if that’s the case, we’ll probably stay here or pick another location. I think it’s crazy. Washington, D.C., is shut down. Can you imagine?” The New York Times reported the same day that Trump would not make an appearance at his campaign’s party at the Trump International Hotel. The campaign raised money from donors by promising he would appear at the event. “November 3rd will go down in history as the night we won FOUR MORE YEARS. It will be absolutely EPIC, and the only thing that could make it better is having YOU there. Join us on election night,” read a fundraising letter containing a photo of Trump and his wife Melania and the words “Join us on election night.”
If Trump does move the event to the White House, it would be yet another instance of him using government property for partisan political purposes, a violation of ethics laws. As Walter Shaub, the former director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, tweeted after Trump accepted the Republican Party nomination for reelection at an event on the White House lawn in August: “This abomination may be the most visible misuse of official position for private gain in America’s history. It is an abuse of the power entrusted to this man, the breach of a sacred trust. It is the civic equivalent of a mortal sin—maybe a religious one too. And it is a harbinger.”
It would also be yet another event at which Trump ignores public health guidelines aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Cases of the virus are currently skyrocketing across the country, with the number of deaths from the virus also on the rise.
Several events held at the White House in the past few months, including an event to announce Amy Coney Barrett as Trump’s pick for the Supreme Court, were followed by many attendees receiving positive coronavirus tests. The White House refused to follow up the events with contact tracing.
There would be irony in Trump holding an election night party at the White House that runs afoul of safety restrictions, as his failure in responding to the pandemic and his refusal to adhere to public health guidelines are currently imperiling his reelection bid.
Polls show voters disapprove of Trump’s virus response, and blame Trump’s lax adherence to safety guidelines for his own infection with the virus earlier this month.
Meanwhile, if current polls are right, Trump will not be celebrating a victory on election night.
Polling averages currently show Trump losing to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by 9 points nationally, including in critical swing states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
Those states alone voting for Biden would be enough to sink Trump’s reelection bid. However, Trump is also behind in Arizona and Florida, and is at risk of losing Georgia and Texas — an outcome that would amount to an Electoral College blowout that hasn’t been seen in decades.
If Trump were to keep his election night party at his D.C. hotel but didn’t make an appearance, he would still personally profit from it, raking in fees for space rental and catering costs.
Over the course of the last four years, Trump has pocketed a combined total of at least $8.1 million in Republican donor and taxpayer money for events at and visits to his properties, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday.
For example, when Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in April 2018, Trump billed the federal government “$13,700 for guest rooms, $16,500 for food and wine and $6,000 for the roses and other floral arrangements,” the Post said.
Democrats have been able to use ongoing accusations of grift against Trump and his family in campaign messaging, and polling shows voters care about the issue.
A YouGov survey released on Wednesday showing 56% of likely voters view Trump and his family as “corrupt.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-30--Trump finally decides to do something about election commission after it's too late

Donald Trump announced two nominees to vacant seats on the Federal Election Commission this week , after leaving the election watchdog with no quorum for the 2020 election cycle .
After declaring his intent to nominate the two on Wednesday , Trump officially sent their names to the currently adjourned Senate on Friday .
The six-member board is tasked with `` administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law '' and is made up of no more than three members of either major political party .
This has often meant partisan gridlock and 3-3 ties , blocking regulatory decisions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to serve bagels or donuts at the agency 's 40th anniversary celebration .
But for much of the past two years , the commission has lacked a quorum to conduct even much of its noncontroversial business .
As commissioners resigned their seats long after their terms expired , Trump did not quickly nominate replacements , and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did little to prioritize confirmation votes for the people he did pick .
A nominee for one vacant seat has been awaiting a vote since June .
Trump could have named people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seats at any time , but instead waited until the Senate adjourned to after the Nov. 3 election .
This has meant even less oversight than usual for the most expensive election in U.S. history .
Erin Chlopak , director for campaign finance strategy at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center , said last month that the dearth of commissioners at the FEC was a huge problem .
`` [ T ] he agency whose sole responsibility to investigate and enforce violations of our nation 's campaign finance laws can not do its job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation .
`` The FEC 's lack of quorum for much of the 2020 election cycle and especially in the months and now weeks leading up to a presidential election means that more serious violations of law will go uninvestigated and unenforced . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump announced two nominees to vacant seats on the Federal Election Commission this week, after leaving the election watchdog with no quorum for the 2020 election cycle.
After declaring his intent to nominate the two on Wednesday, Trump officially sent their names to the currently adjourned Senate on Friday.
The six-member board is tasked with “administering and enforcing the federal campaign finance law” and is made up of no more than three members of either major political party.
This has often meant partisan gridlock and 3-3 ties, blocking regulatory decisions. The commissioners once even deadlocked on whether to serve bagels or donuts at the agency’s 40th anniversary celebration.
But for much of the past two years, the commission has lacked a quorum to conduct even much of its noncontroversial business.
As commissioners resigned their seats long after their terms expired, Trump did not quickly nominate replacements, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell did little to prioritize confirmation votes for the people he did pick. A nominee for one vacant seat has been awaiting a vote since June.
Trump could have named people to these and most of the other seats at any time, but instead waited until the Senate adjourned to after the Nov. 3 election. This has meant even less oversight than usual for the most expensive election in U.S. history.
Erin Chlopak, director for campaign finance strategy at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center, said last month that the dearth of commissioners at the FEC was a huge problem.
“[T]he agency whose sole responsibility to investigate and enforce violations of our nation’s campaign finance laws cannot do its job,” she told the American Independent Foundation. “The FEC’s lack of quorum for much of the 2020 election cycle and especially in the months and now weeks leading up to a presidential election means that more serious violations of law will go uninvestigated and unenforced.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-30--Fact-checking 9 of the biggest lies in Trump's Fox News op-ed

In an op-ed it published on Friday , Fox News gave Donald Trump a campaign platform in the lead-up to the general election where he could hype his supposed accomplishments .
It 's full of misleading and downright false statements .
The inaccuracies throughout the piece build fast and furious , but here are just a few of the more noteworthy lies .
1 .
China is to blame for the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump claims that the pandemic — which he insists on referring to by the racist and xenophobic term `` China virus '' — `` came from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the coronavirus originated in China , a majority of Americans agree it was America 's own failure to respond adequately to the initial outbreaks that caused them to become a pandemic in the United States .
And , of course , Trump is behind the failure to respond : He knew of the dangers of the virus for months while continuing to downplay it to the American public .
2 .
His administration provided `` direct financial assistance '' during the pandemic .
`` Thanks to my emergency economic relief legislation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial assistance during the pandemic , '' Trump wrote .
While Trump did sign stimulus legislation in late March , and some 159 million Americans received stimulus checks in the spring , Trump left the American people high and dry afterwards .
He has repeatedly promised more checks and never delivered on the promise , and coronavirus relief legislation has been bound up in a warring Senate .
In early October , he shut down all negotiations on coronavirus relief and said they would n't resume until after the election .
Most recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a stick by promising a new stimulus package — but again , only after the election .
Meanwhile , the House is still waiting on 10 answers from the White House to questions on a stimulus before it can go forward .
`` After the election , we 'll get the best stimulus package you 've ever seen , because I think we 're going to take back the House because of her , '' Trump said of Pelosi .
`` I think you have a lot of congressmen and women — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elected .
We 'll take back the House .
We 'll hold the Senate .
We 'll hold the White House . ''
`` Our Paycheck Protection Program helped protect 51 million American jobs , allocating over $ 525 billion in forgivable loans for over 5.2 million small businesses , '' Trump wrote in the op-ed .
But the 51 billion number , according to Reuters , is based only on `` preliminary lender data '' and does not indicate the actual number of jobs saved .
Beth Ann Bevino of S & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that number is at best an overcount : `` At this point in time , it 's hard to believe that the 4.89 million PPP loans granted by the SBA would support 51.1 million small-business jobs . ''
She estimated that the PPP saved about 13.6 million jobs , not 51 — only about a quarter of what the Trump administration claims .
4 .
`` We 're witnessing the fastest labor market recovery from an economic crisis in history . ''
It 's been a swift economic recovery , to be sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fastest of all time is `` tenuous , at best , '' according to economists .
Other countries ' pandemic-related recoveries have far outpaced America 's .
And even Trump 's claim that America 's economy has grown by 33.1 % in the third quarter is misleading , given that this surge still leaves the country far behind where it was before the pandemic .
Exencial Wealth Advisors ' Jon Burckett-St. Laurent told NBC that the 33.1 % figure is not the whole story .
`` The obvious caveat is that when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you 're still below where you started , '' he said .
Trump also brags in the op-ed about adding 11.4 million jobs in 2020 — without acknowledging that more than 22 million jobs were lost to begin with in the wake of the pandemic whose spread he failed to control .
As of September , only about half the jobs lost had been regained .
5 .
Biden is 'campaigning on a $ 4 trillion tax hike — one of the largest in American history . '
`` ( Biden is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax hike — one of the largest in American history — just as the economy begins to recover from a global pandemic , '' Trump said .
Biden 's proposed tax plan is actually to raise between $ 3.35 trillion to $ 3.67 trillion over the course of a decade , according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget .
And , while Biden has said he 'll repeal tax cuts for those making over $ 400,000 , his tax plan will likely not affect anyone making less than that amount .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would only impact individuals making more that that — and corporations .
In Biden 's tax plan , more than 3/4 of the increased tax revenue will come from the top 1 % , despite the Trump campaign 's claims that Biden will raise taxes on 82 % of Americans .
6 .
Biden has pledged to eliminate tax cuts for middle-income Americans .
`` Joe Biden has openly pledged to eliminate my tax cuts for middle-income Americans , '' Trump claimed in the op-ed .
This could n't be further from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the middle class .
According to Forbes , he and Trump would cut middle-class Americans ' taxes by approximately the same amount : between 1 and 1.2 % of their income after taxes .
`` ( Joe Biden will ) bring back Obama 's disastrous health care calamity , '' Trump wrote in the op-ed , without elaborating further .
Assuming he 's referring to the Affordable Care Act , it actually has n't gone anywhere .
It 's true that it may be on the chopping block with the death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court .
It 's also true that on Nov. 10 , oral arguments will be heard in California v. Texas , a decision in which could ultimately invalidate Obamacare .
But for now , there 's nothing to `` bring back , '' since Obamacare is still alive and kicking .
8 .
Trump 'has always promised to protect ' Social Security .
`` Biden 's scare tactics extend to America 's seniors with false claims about my record on Social Security , lies that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote in the op-ed .
`` Biden points the finger , but he is the one who has advocated for cutting Social Security while I have always promised to protect it . ''
But on Aug. 8 , Trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending the payroll tax that feeds into Social Security .
Experts have asserted that the action effectively defunds the Social Security program , as well as Medicare .
And on Aug. 12 , Trump said : `` At the end of the year , with the assumption that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the payroll tax . ''
Trump 's opinion has been , without evidence , that general economic growth will offset the loss of the payroll tax without eliminating or defunding Social Security .
9 .
Biden has 'pledged ' to eliminate the oil and natural gas industries .
`` Biden also issued a clear threat during the final presidential debate to over 10.3 million Americans with his pledge to eliminate the oil and natural gas industries , '' Trump claimed .
But Biden has said no such thing , Trump 's repeated claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually said during the debate was that he wants to invest in renewable energy and eliminate federal subsidies for oil companies .
Biden clarified to reporters after the debate that he hopes to end subsidies for fossil fuels , but has no intention of eliminating the fossil fuel industry altogether .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

In an op-ed it published on Friday, Fox News gave Donald Trump a campaign platform in the lead-up to the general election where he could hype his supposed accomplishments. It’s full of misleading and downright false statements.
The inaccuracies throughout the piece build fast and furious, but here are just a few of the more noteworthy lies.
1. China is to blame for the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump claims that the pandemic — which he insists on referring to by the racist and xenophobic term “China virus” — “came from China.”
While it is true that the coronavirus originated in China, a majority of Americans agree it was America’s own failure to respond adequately to the initial outbreaks that caused them to become a pandemic in the United States.
And, of course, Trump is behind the failure to respond: He knew of the dangers of the virus for months while continuing to downplay it to the American public.
2. His administration provided “direct financial assistance” during the pandemic.
“Thanks to my emergency economic relief legislation, more than 159 million Americans received direct financial assistance during the pandemic,” Trump wrote.
While Trump did sign stimulus legislation in late March, and some 159 million Americans received stimulus checks in the spring, Trump left the American people high and dry afterwards.
He has repeatedly promised more checks and never delivered on the promise, and coronavirus relief legislation has been bound up in a warring Senate.
In early October, he shut down all negotiations on coronavirus relief and said they wouldn’t resume until after the election.
Most recently, he has again dangled a carrot on a stick by promising a new stimulus package — but again, only after the election. Meanwhile, the House is still waiting on 10 answers from the White House to questions on a stimulus before it can go forward.
“After the election, we’ll get the best stimulus package you’ve ever seen, because I think we’re going to take back the House because of her,” Trump said of Pelosi. “I think you have a lot of congressmen and women — Republican — that are going to get elected. We’ll take back the House. We’ll hold the Senate. We’ll hold the White House.”
3. The Paycheck Protection Program “helped protect” 51 million jobs.
“Our Paycheck Protection Program helped protect 51 million American jobs, allocating over $525 billion in forgivable loans for over 5.2 million small businesses,” Trump wrote in the op-ed.
But the 51 billion number, according to Reuters, is based only on “preliminary lender data” and does not indicate the actual number of jobs saved.
Beth Ann Bevino of S&P Global Ratings told the Washington Post that number is at best an overcount: “At this point in time, it’s hard to believe that the 4.89 million PPP loans granted by the SBA would support 51.1 million small-business jobs.”
She estimated that the PPP saved about 13.6 million jobs, not 51 — only about a quarter of what the Trump administration claims.
4. “We’re witnessing the fastest labor market recovery from an economic crisis in history.”
It’s been a swift economic recovery, to be sure, but to claim it’s the fastest of all time is “tenuous, at best,” according to economists. Other countries’ pandemic-related recoveries have far outpaced America’s.
And even Trump’s claim that America’s economy has grown by 33.1% in the third quarter is misleading, given that this surge still leaves the country far behind where it was before the pandemic.
Exencial Wealth Advisors’ Jon Burckett-St. Laurent told NBC that the 33.1% figure is not the whole story.
“The obvious caveat is that when you drop 30 percent and gain 30 percent, you’re still below where you started,” he said.
Trump also brags in the op-ed about adding 11.4 million jobs in 2020 — without acknowledging that more than 22 million jobs were lost to begin with in the wake of the pandemic whose spread he failed to control.
As of September, only about half the jobs lost had been regained.
5. Biden is ‘campaigning on a $4 trillion tax hike — one of the largest in American history.’
“(Biden is) campaigning on a $4 trillion tax hike — one of the largest in American history — just as the economy begins to recover from a global pandemic,” Trump said.
Biden’s proposed tax plan is actually to raise between $3.35 trillion to $3.67 trillion over the course of a decade, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.
And, while Biden has said he’ll repeal tax cuts for those making over $400,000, his tax plan will likely not affect anyone making less than that amount. The tax increases resulting from the repeal would only impact individuals making more that that — and corporations.
In Biden’s tax plan, more than 3/4 of the increased tax revenue will come from the top 1%, despite the Trump campaign’s claims that Biden will raise taxes on 82% of Americans.
6. Biden has pledged to eliminate tax cuts for middle-income Americans.
“Joe Biden has openly pledged to eliminate my tax cuts for middle-income Americans,” Trump claimed in the op-ed.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. Biden openly supports tax cuts for the middle class. According to Forbes, he and Trump would cut middle-class Americans’ taxes by approximately the same amount: between 1 and 1.2% of their income after taxes.
7. Biden will ‘bring back Obama’s disastrous health care calamity.’
“(Joe Biden will) bring back Obama’s disastrous health care calamity,” Trump wrote in the op-ed, without elaborating further.
Assuming he’s referring to the Affordable Care Act, it actually hasn’t gone anywhere.
It’s true that it may be on the chopping block with the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
It’s also true that on Nov. 10, oral arguments will be heard in California v. Texas, a decision in which could ultimately invalidate Obamacare.
But for now, there’s nothing to “bring back,” since Obamacare is still alive and kicking.
8. Trump ‘has always promised to protect’ Social Security.
“Biden’s scare tactics extend to America’s seniors with false claims about my record on Social Security, lies that have been debunked many times,” Trump wrote in the op-ed. “Biden points the finger, but he is the one who has advocated for cutting Social Security while I have always promised to protect it.”
But on Aug. 8, Trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending the payroll tax that feeds into Social Security.
Experts have asserted that the action effectively defunds the Social Security program, as well as Medicare.
And on Aug. 12, Trump said: “At the end of the year, with the assumption that I win, I’m going to terminate the payroll tax.”
Trump’s opinion has been, without evidence, that general economic growth will offset the loss of the payroll tax without eliminating or defunding Social Security.
9. Biden has ‘pledged’ to eliminate the oil and natural gas industries.
“Biden also issued a clear threat during the final presidential debate to over 10.3 million Americans with his pledge to eliminate the oil and natural gas industries,” Trump claimed.
But Biden has said no such thing, Trump’s repeated claims to the contrary notwithstanding.
What Biden actually said during the debate was that he wants to invest in renewable energy and eliminate federal subsidies for oil companies.
Biden clarified to reporters after the debate that he hopes to end subsidies for fossil fuels, but has no intention of eliminating the fossil fuel industry altogether.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-10-30--GOP 'plan' to protect preexisting conditions doesn't actually protect anyone

As Election Day draws near , another important date is looming for tens of millions of Americans with preexisting health conditions : Nov. 10 , the day the Supreme Court will hear arguments on striking down the Affordable Care Act .
Despite the claims of Republican lawmakers , who swear abolishing Obamacare will not result in millions losing insurance , an examination of their alternative , the so-called Protect Act , shows that they 're lying through their teeth .
The GOP effort to bulldoze the ACA was put on blast Wednesday when Democrat Jon Ossoff , whom current poll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia Republican incumbent Sen. David Perdue , confronted Perdue during a debate with his deceptive talking points on the future of the American health care system .
`` It 's not just that you 're a crook , Senator .
It 's that you 're attacking the health of the people that you represent , '' Ossoff said .
`` You did say COVID-19 was no deadlier than the flu .
You did say there would be no significant uptick in cases .
... And you did vote four times to end protections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Ossoff continued : `` The legislation that you tout , the Protect Act , it includes loopholes that specifically allow insurance companies to deny policies to Georgians with preexisting conditions .
Can you look down the camera and tell the people of this state why you voted four times to allow insurance companies to deny us health coverage because we may suffer from diabetes or heart disease or asthma or have cancer in remission ?
Why , Senator ? ''
During the debate , Perdue 's Twitter account posted : `` I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions .
Period .
I 've sponsored legislation to do just that . ''
But as Ossoff highlighted , the Protect Act does not protect people with preexisting conditions .
University of Pennsylvania law professor Allison Hoffman told Politifact in 2018 that the the Protect Act contains loopholes insurance companies could exploit to deny such coverage : `` Insurers could exclude someone 's preexisting conditions from coverage , even if they offered her a policy . ''
Insurance companies would be able to increase the price of such coverage and make it impossible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afford .
GOP lawmakers up for reelection in 2020 continue to claim they will protect insurance coverage for people with preexisting conditions as they work to eliminate Obamacare .
Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa has run ads touting her efforts , with the tagline , `` I approve this message because no American should ever be denied coverage because of a preexisting condition — not in my family or yours . ''
Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska ran an ad in which he talked of his support for `` affordable health care and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cornyn of Texas pushed the claim that preexisting conditions are n't that widespread anyway , tweeting : `` The left , including Joe Biden in Tuesday 's debate , overstates the problem of pre-existing conditions to justify political control of health care . ''
Meanwhile , Donald Trump has claimed for four years that his administration will deliver an effective alternative to Obamacare that will bring down premiums , lower drug prices , and create a far less expensive health insurance system .
He has failed to offer any such legislation .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , voters overwhelmingly trust Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden over Trump when it comes to handling health care .
`` There is no way he can protect preexisting conditions .
None .
Zero .
You ca n't do it in the ether , '' Biden said during the presidential debate earlier this month .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

As Election Day draws near, another important date is looming for tens of millions of Americans with preexisting health conditions: Nov. 10, the day the Supreme Court will hear arguments on striking down the Affordable Care Act.
Despite the claims of Republican lawmakers, who swear abolishing Obamacare will not result in millions losing insurance, an examination of their alternative, the so-called Protect Act, shows that they’re lying through their teeth.
The GOP effort to bulldoze the ACA was put on blast Wednesday when Democrat Jon Ossoff, whom current poll averages show in a tight race against Georgia Republican incumbent Sen. David Perdue, confronted Perdue during a debate with his deceptive talking points on the future of the American health care system.
“It’s not just that you’re a crook, Senator. It’s that you’re attacking the health of the people that you represent,” Ossoff said. “You did say COVID-19 was no deadlier than the flu. You did say there would be no significant uptick in cases. … And you did vote four times to end protections for preexisting conditions. Four times.”
Ossoff continued: “The legislation that you tout, the Protect Act, it includes loopholes that specifically allow insurance companies to deny policies to Georgians with preexisting conditions. Can you look down the camera and tell the people of this state why you voted four times to allow insurance companies to deny us health coverage because we may suffer from diabetes or heart disease or asthma or have cancer in remission? Why, Senator?”
During the debate, Perdue’s Twitter account posted: “I believe health insurance should always cover pre-existing conditions. Period. I’ve sponsored legislation to do just that.”
But as Ossoff highlighted, the Protect Act does not protect people with preexisting conditions.
University of Pennsylvania law professor Allison Hoffman told Politifact in 2018 that the the Protect Act contains loopholes insurance companies could exploit to deny such coverage: “Insurers could exclude someone’s preexisting conditions from coverage, even if they offered her a policy.” Insurance companies would be able to increase the price of such coverage and make it impossible for someone with existing health conditions to afford.
GOP lawmakers up for reelection in 2020 continue to claim they will protect insurance coverage for people with preexisting conditions as they work to eliminate Obamacare. Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa has run ads touting her efforts, with the tagline, “I approve this message because no American should ever be denied coverage because of a preexisting condition — not in my family or yours.” Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska ran an ad in which he talked of his support for “affordable health care and protecting preexisting conditions.”
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas pushed the claim that preexisting conditions aren’t that widespread anyway, tweeting: “The left, including Joe Biden in Tuesday’s debate, overstates the problem of pre-existing conditions to justify political control of health care.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has claimed for four years that his administration will deliver an effective alternative to Obamacare that will bring down premiums, lower drug prices, and create a far less expensive health insurance system. He has failed to offer any such legislation.
According to a Quinnipiac poll released last week, voters overwhelmingly trust Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden over Trump when it comes to handling health care.
“There is no way he can protect preexisting conditions. None. Zero. You can’t do it in the ether,” Biden said during the presidential debate earlier this month.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.