shareblue--2020-11-10--GOP senator suggests ballot-counting idea Democrats already came up with

Sen. Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) introduced a new bill Tuesday aiming to `` protect the integrity '' of American elections by requiring , in part , that mail-in ballots be counted as soon as they 're received .
`` The debacle of the 2020 election has made clear that serious reforms are needed to protect the integrity of our elections , '' Hawley said in a statement .
`` The American people deserve transparency — that means banning ballot harvesting , empowering poll watchers , and taking steps to ensure that all legally cast ballots are accounted for .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ week is not acceptable .
Congress must take action , '' he added , paying lip service to Donald Trump 's widely debunked lies about vote counting .
In addition to mandating that mail-in ballots be immediately tallied upon delivery , Hawley 's proposed bill includes a few other requirements .
It seeks to ban third-party delivery of votes , a practice that helps ensure that older people , disabled people , and those living in rural communities will have their ballots counted , among other groups .
It also mandates that at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party be allowed to watch vote counting , even though poll watchers of both major parties are already present nationwide wherever votes are being counted .
Hawley 's bill would also require 24/7 surveillance of mail-in ballot drop boxes .
The footage would be released , if requested , to the public for free .
And it also would entail that that all vote counting , once begun , could not be halted or paused except in an emergency .
But with his announcement , Hawley failed to publicly acknowledge that it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confusion and controversy '' in the days following the election by preventing early ballot processing .
Democrats , recognizing that there would be an influx of absentee votes in 2020 due to the pandemic , tried for months to make changes to allow for pre-processing mail-in ballots in several key swing states — only to be blocked by Republicans at every turn .
For instance , Pennsylvania 's vote tally was slowed down because the Republican majority in the Pennsylvania state legislature blocked efforts by Democrats to pre-process mail-in votes .
In June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bill that would have allowed for pre-processing three weeks before the election .
They again refused to consider a Democrat-sponsored House bill that would have allowed for pre-processing 10 days before the election .
Meanwhile , in Wisconsin , poll workers could n't legally begin processing any of the 2 million absentee and mail-in votes until 7 a.m. on Election Day , holding up the process considerably .
The Wisconsin Legislature ignored warnings as early as September by the state 's own Republican senator , Ron Johnson , that they ought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what was sure to be a record number of mail-in votes .
`` What I would suggest in Wisconsin , for example , is I hope the state legislature returns and says , 'This is what our law is .
You have to mail in your ballots by x date , ' '' Johnson said in late September .
`` I would also suggest we change the law so election officials can start opening and counting those ballots well before Election Day so Wisconsin results are known by 9 , 10 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so we 're not part of the problem . ''
No such change was enacted , however .
Michigan 's lengthy counting process , too , can be chalked up to resistance by a Republican-controlled state legislature .
Michigan state law indicates that mail-in and absentee ballots can not be tallied before Election Day .
However , in early October , Michigan Democratic Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer signed into law a bill that permitted a very limited amount of early vote processing , but only in jurisdictions with populations over 25,000 — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processing .
That was as much as the Republican-led state legislature would agree to .
Michigan 's Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson , also a Democrat , had warned that even under the new law , the state might not be able to finish counting the ballots until days after the election .
According to Politico , Benson had argued that the pre-processing period of time be longer than 10 hours , but the Republican-run Legislature disagreed .
`` It is a step in the right direction , but it does not go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An Oct. 24 report by the Hill revealed that in another key battleground state , the Trump campaign — alongside the Nevada GOP — brought a lawsuit against the Clark County , Nevada , registrar and the Nevada Secretary of State to stop any early processing of votes in or around Las Vegas .
The lawsuit , filed not even two weeks prior to Election Day , claimed that GOP observers were not allowed to stand close enough to machines and workers to observe properly , and that Clark County should consequently halt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Trump campaign ultimately dropped the lawsuit two days after the election .
Sen. Hawley 's office did not respond immediately to a request for comment by the American Independent Foundation about his party 's prior efforts to block early counting of mail-in ballots .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced a new bill Tuesday aiming to “protect the integrity” of American elections by requiring, in part, that mail-in ballots be counted as soon as they’re received.
“The debacle of the 2020 election has made clear that serious reforms are needed to protect the integrity of our elections,” Hawley said in a statement.
“The American people deserve transparency — that means banning ballot harvesting, empowering poll watchers, and taking steps to ensure that all legally cast ballots are accounted for. The confusion and controversy of this past week is not acceptable. Congress must take action,” he added, paying lip service to Donald Trump’s widely debunked lies about vote counting.
In addition to mandating that mail-in ballots be immediately tallied upon delivery, Hawley’s proposed bill includes a few other requirements.
It seeks to ban third-party delivery of votes, a practice that helps ensure that older people, disabled people, and those living in rural communities will have their ballots counted, among other groups. It also mandates that at least two campaign representatives from each major party be allowed to watch vote counting, even though poll watchers of both major parties are already present nationwide wherever votes are being counted.
Hawley’s bill would also require 24/7 surveillance of mail-in ballot drop boxes. The footage would be released, if requested, to the public for free. And it also would entail that that all vote counting, once begun, could not be halted or paused except in an emergency.
But with his announcement, Hawley failed to publicly acknowledge that it was his own party that caused the “confusion and controversy” in the days following the election by preventing early ballot processing.
Democrats, recognizing that there would be an influx of absentee votes in 2020 due to the pandemic, tried for months to make changes to allow for pre-processing mail-in ballots in several key swing states — only to be blocked by Republicans at every turn.
For instance, Pennsylvania’s vote tally was slowed down because the Republican majority in the Pennsylvania state legislature blocked efforts by Democrats to pre-process mail-in votes.
In June, Pennsylvania Republicans rejected an iteration of a bill that would have allowed for pre-processing three weeks before the election. They again refused to consider a Democrat-sponsored House bill that would have allowed for pre-processing 10 days before the election.
Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, poll workers couldn’t legally begin processing any of the 2 million absentee and mail-in votes until 7 a.m. on Election Day, holding up the process considerably.
The Wisconsin Legislature ignored warnings as early as September by the state’s own Republican senator, Ron Johnson, that they ought to pass a bill allowing for early counting of what was sure to be a record number of mail-in votes.
“What I would suggest in Wisconsin, for example, is I hope the state legislature returns and says, ‘This is what our law is. You have to mail in your ballots by x date,'” Johnson said in late September. “I would also suggest we change the law so election officials can start opening and counting those ballots well before Election Day so Wisconsin results are known by 9, 10, 11, 12 o’clock on Election Day, so we’re not part of the problem.”
No such change was enacted, however.
Michigan’s lengthy counting process, too, can be chalked up to resistance by a Republican-controlled state legislature.
Michigan state law indicates that mail-in and absentee ballots cannot be tallied before Election Day.
However, in early October, Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law a bill that permitted a very limited amount of early vote processing, but only in jurisdictions with populations over 25,000 — and only a 10-hour head start on processing.
That was as much as the Republican-led state legislature would agree to.
Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, also a Democrat, had warned that even under the new law, the state might not be able to finish counting the ballots until days after the election.
According to Politico, Benson had argued that the pre-processing period of time be longer than 10 hours, but the Republican-run Legislature disagreed.
“It is a step in the right direction, but it does not go far enough,” Benson said.
An Oct. 24 report by the Hill revealed that in another key battleground state, the Trump campaign — alongside the Nevada GOP — brought a lawsuit against the Clark County, Nevada, registrar and the Nevada Secretary of State to stop any early processing of votes in or around Las Vegas.
The lawsuit, filed not even two weeks prior to Election Day, claimed that GOP observers were not allowed to stand close enough to machines and workers to observe properly, and that Clark County should consequently halt all early tabulation of mail-in votes.
The Trump campaign ultimately dropped the lawsuit two days after the election.
Sen. Hawley’s office did not respond immediately to a request for comment by the American Independent Foundation about his party’s prior efforts to block early counting of mail-in ballots.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-10--White House has its third coronavirus outbreak in a month

Ben Carson and David Bossie bring the total of positive cases in Trump 's inner circle to at least 39 .
At least eight people in Donald Trump 's orbit have tested positive for the coronavirus recently , the third outbreak tied to the White House in just over a month .
Ben Carson , secretary of Housing and Urban Development , tested positive for the virus on Monday morning , his office confirmed .
`` He is in good spirits and feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics which aid and markedly speed his recovery , '' a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came down with symptoms yesterday .
Fever of 101 .
Chills .
Muscle cramps .
Respiratory issues and fatigue , '' Carson told the Washington Post that same day .
He claimed he had contracted the virus `` probably somewhere , out there in the universe . ''
`` I was on a bus tour last week , '' he said .
`` I was at the White House on election night , so there are multiple possibilities . ''
David Bossie , the Trump campaign adviser leading the legal battles to contest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the virus on Sunday at the White House , according to Bloomberg .
Carson and Bossie were both at an Election Night party at the White House East Room last Tuesday with no one social distancing and few wearing masks .
The two men join White House chief of staff Mark Meadows , four other White House officials , and campaign adviser Nick Trainer , who all tested positive for the virus around Election Day , the New York Times reported .
Two of the four White House officials include Meadows aide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aide to Trump adviser Jared Kushner , Bloomberg reported .
Late last month , five aides to Vice President Mike Pence contracted the virus .
Among them were his chief of staff , Marc Short , and senior political adviser Marty Obst .
In September , Trump held a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden to announce the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , called it a `` superspreader event , '' as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing .
The event later led to a wave of infections , including former New Jersey Gov .
Chris Christie , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany , former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway , White House policy adviser Stephen Miller , and at least two sitting senators , Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina , among several others .
The infections marked the first major outbreak tied to the White House .
Trump himself became infected as a result of that event , as well as first lady Melania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was eventually treated for COVID-19 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , undergoing an aggressive course of treatment and later declaring himself `` cured '' and `` immune '' to the disease .
Trump 's own experts say there is no `` cure '' for the disease as of yet .
Regarding immunity , particularly `` herd immunity , '' something Trump and his allies have claimed will eventually solve the ongoing pandemic , doctors also say such a course would be particularly devastating to the country .
`` In history , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in human behavior and by public health , not by letting it run its course , '' said Dr. Andrew Pavia , chief of the pediatric infectious diseases division at the University of Utah , in an interview with the American Independent Foundation .
He called the idea `` dangerous , '' warning that the human cost would be `` staggering . ''
Carson and Bossie 's infections this week bring the total tally of positive cases in Trump 's inner circle to at least 39 , including himself .
On Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the coronavirus with at least 238,000 deaths under Trump 's watch .

At least eight people in Donald Trump’s orbit have tested positive for the coronavirus recently, the third outbreak tied to the White House in just over a month.
Ben Carson, secretary of Housing and Urban Development, tested positive for the virus on Monday morning, his office confirmed. “He is in good spirits and feels fortunate to have access to effective therapeutics which aid and markedly speed his recovery,” a spokesperson told NPR.
“I really came down with symptoms yesterday. Fever of 101. Chills. Muscle cramps. Respiratory issues and fatigue,” Carson told the Washington Post that same day. He claimed he had contracted the virus “probably somewhere, out there in the universe.”
“I was on a bus tour last week,” he said. “I was at the White House on election night, so there are multiple possibilities.”
David Bossie, the Trump campaign adviser leading the legal battles to contest the presidential election, also tested positive for the virus on Sunday at the White House, according to Bloomberg.
Carson and Bossie were both at an Election Night party at the White House East Room last Tuesday with no one social distancing and few wearing masks.
The two men join White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, four other White House officials, and campaign adviser Nick Trainer, who all tested positive for the virus around Election Day, the New York Times reported. Two of the four White House officials include Meadows aide Cassidy Hutchinson and Charlton Boyd, an aide to Trump adviser Jared Kushner, Bloomberg reported.
Late last month, five aides to Vice President Mike Pence contracted the virus. Among them were his chief of staff, Marc Short, and senior political adviser Marty Obst.
In September, Trump held a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden to announce the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, called it a “superspreader event,” as the crowd was largely unmasked with minimal social distancing.
The event later led to a wave of infections, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, White House policy adviser Stephen Miller, and at least two sitting senators, Mike Lee of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, among several others.
The infections marked the first major outbreak tied to the White House. Trump himself became infected as a result of that event, as well as first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron. Trump was eventually treated for COVID-19 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, undergoing an aggressive course of treatment and later declaring himself “cured” and “immune” to the disease.
Trump’s own experts say there is no “cure” for the disease as of yet. Regarding immunity, particularly “herd immunity,” something Trump and his allies have claimed will eventually solve the ongoing pandemic, doctors also say such a course would be particularly devastating to the country.
“In history, most pandemics have been controlled by changes in human behavior and by public health, not by letting it run its course,” said Dr. Andrew Pavia, chief of the pediatric infectious diseases division at the University of Utah, in an interview with the American Independent Foundation.
He called the idea “dangerous,” warning that the human cost would be “staggering.”
Carson and Bossie’s infections this week bring the total tally of positive cases in Trump’s inner circle to at least 39, including himself.
On Monday, the United States surpassed 10 million cases of the coronavirus with at least 238,000 deaths under Trump’s watch.


shareblue--2020-11-10--South Dakota governor asks for donations to help Trump — but they go into her pocket

South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem has enthusiastically taken up Donald Trump 's efforts to contest the results of the presidential election , asking for online donations to `` help us bring it home for the president , '' but it appears the donations are set to flow into her own reelection account .
The Republican governor , a close Trump ally , launched a fundraising campaign soon after the election was called for Democratic nominee Joe Biden on Saturday .
The website soliciting donations has `` Kristi Noem for Governor '' in large letters at the top , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Trump , saying that he `` needs our support while the far-left Dems declare a victory for Biden before all the votes are counted . ''
It urges donors to `` Please help us bring it home for the president ! ''
The site allows contributors to check the amount of their donation and includes a box to cover a processing fee `` so 100 % of my donation goes to Kristi for Governor . ''
Noem , who was first elected in 2018 and would be up for reelection in 2022 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for comment on how the money raised would be used .
Her campaign committee chairman , Steve Kirby , said he had no comment on how the funds would be used .
It 's unlikely that much , if any , of the money will end up going to Trump , said Paul S. Ryan , the vice president of policy and litigation at Common Cause , a campaign finance watchdog .
Ryan , a campaign finance lawyer , pointed out that the governor can give a maximum of $ 2,800 to Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she wanted more to flow to Trump , she could have directed donors to Trump 's own donation site .
`` In all likelihood , she is keeping this money that she is raising , '' Ryan said .
`` If she were actually interested in raising money for Donald Trump 's own legal efforts , she would use a joint-fundraising committee . ''
Federal election law makes it difficult for state campaign committees like Noem 's to donate to federal campaigns because it would have to ensure the donations it receives meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's solicitation to Trump 's current fundraising push .
Trump 's solicitation , though billed as raising money for his legal fight , notes that half of contributions will go to pay off general election campaign debt .
`` He 's setting the example at the top of the party , at the top of the ticket , '' Ryan said .
`` It does n't surprise me to see Noem doing something similar . ''
Noem has emerged as a conservative star during Trump 's campaign , with her travels to presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fueling speculation that she is eyeing a 2024 run .
The national attention has helped her fill up a campaign war chest , amassing more donations in the two weeks leading up to Election Day than she did in the first five months of the year .
She has raised more than $ 1 million in contributions to her gubernatorial campaign in the last six months .
The Republican governor has increasingly seized on national hot-button issues .
Last week , she furthered Trump 's allegations of widespread voter fraud by tweeting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even as votes were still being tallied .
No evidence of such fraud has yet emerged .
Trump has made an aggressive pitch to donors to help finance lawsuits and encouraged supporters to rally against accepting the results of the election .
Noem has made it clear she will take up Trump 's fight .
In a Sunday appearance on ABC News , she said , `` When you break the process on which we elect our leaders , you will break America forever .
So this is n't just about this election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future . ''

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has enthusiastically taken up Donald Trump’s efforts to contest the results of the presidential election, asking for online donations to “help us bring it home for the president,” but it appears the donations are set to flow into her own reelection account.
The Republican governor, a close Trump ally, launched a fundraising campaign soon after the election was called for Democratic nominee Joe Biden on Saturday. The website soliciting donations has “Kristi Noem for Governor” in large letters at the top, but below that, the message is all about Trump, saying that he “needs our support while the far-left Dems declare a victory for Biden before all the votes are counted.” It urges donors to “Please help us bring it home for the president!”
The site allows contributors to check the amount of their donation and includes a box to cover a processing fee “so 100% of my donation goes to Kristi for Governor.”
Noem, who was first elected in 2018 and would be up for reelection in 2022, did not respond to a request for comment on how the money raised would be used. Her campaign committee chairman, Steve Kirby, said he had no comment on how the funds would be used.
It’s unlikely that much, if any, of the money will end up going to Trump, said Paul S. Ryan, the vice president of policy and litigation at Common Cause, a campaign finance watchdog. Ryan, a campaign finance lawyer, pointed out that the governor can give a maximum of $2,800 to Trump’s campaign under federal law. If she wanted more to flow to Trump, she could have directed donors to Trump’s own donation site.
“In all likelihood, she is keeping this money that she is raising,” Ryan said. “If she were actually interested in raising money for Donald Trump’s own legal efforts, she would use a joint-fundraising committee.”
Federal election law makes it difficult for state campaign committees like Noem’s to donate to federal campaigns because it would have to ensure the donations it receives meet federal contribution limits.
Ryan compared Noem’s solicitation to Trump’s current fundraising push. Trump’s solicitation, though billed as raising money for his legal fight, notes that half of contributions will go to pay off general election campaign debt.
“He’s setting the example at the top of the party, at the top of the ticket,” Ryan said. “It doesn’t surprise me to see Noem doing something similar.”
Noem has emerged as a conservative star during Trump’s campaign, with her travels to presidential proving grounds like New Hampshire and Iowa fueling speculation that she is eyeing a 2024 run.
The national attention has helped her fill up a campaign war chest, amassing more donations in the two weeks leading up to Election Day than she did in the first five months of the year. She has raised more than $1 million in contributions to her gubernatorial campaign in the last six months.
The Republican governor has increasingly seized on national hot-button issues. Last week, she furthered Trump’s allegations of widespread voter fraud by tweeting that election systems were “rigged,” even as votes were still being tallied. No evidence of such fraud has yet emerged.
Trump has made an aggressive pitch to donors to help finance lawsuits and encouraged supporters to rally against accepting the results of the election.
Noem has made it clear she will take up Trump’s fight. In a Sunday appearance on ABC News, she said, “When you break the process on which we elect our leaders, you will break America forever. So this isn’t just about this election, this is about every election in the future.”


shareblue--2020-11-10--Kelly Loeffler blasts California campaign donations — after getting $146,000

Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler on Monday slammed the Rev .
Raphael Warnock , her Democratic opponent in the race for her Georgia U.S. Senate seat , for raising money from California donors ahead of the upcoming January runoff in the race .
But Loeffler has already raised nearly $ 150,000 from California donors during the 2020 campaign .
`` While @ ReverendWarnock courts California liberal elites & Silicon Valley to flip Georgia for the radical left , we 're counting on every day Americans to fuel our effort , '' she tweeted along with a link to a right-wing news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to participate in a fundraising event Monday evening with `` Silicon Valley '' donors .
The tweet included a request that supporters `` chip in '' to her own coffers .
Loeffler , most likely the wealthiest member of the Senate , has poured more than $ 23 million of her own fortune into her campaign since she was appointed in December to the Senate seat left vacant by the retirement of Republican Johnny Isakson .
But rather than simply accepting donations from `` every day Americans , '' she has accepted money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California .
According to the nonpartisan Center for Responsible Politics , Loeffler has taken almost $ 147,000 already this year from contributors in the Golden State .
More than a third of her itemized donations have come from outside of Georgia .
She has received contributions from big tech companies , including PAC donations from companies such as Google ( $ 5,000 ) and Comcast ( $ 5,000 ) .
In total , political action committees have given more than $ 800,000 to her campaign .
The Daily Beast reported in June that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investors , '' `` shareholders , '' and `` board members '' to donors to her campaign .
A fundraising brochure promised those who gave and raised large sums of money for her campaign would receive invitations to quarterly breakfasts and other events .
She also hosted a $ 2,800-a-head fundraising `` retreat '' on Sept. 11 at a private beach and golf course on Sea Island , Georgia .
It is not yet known how much was raised at Monday 's event , a joint fundraiser for Warnock and Democrat Jon Ossoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. David Perdue in a runoff for the state 's other Senate seat .
Loeffler received about 25.9 % of the vote in Tuesday 's special election , coming in second .
Because no candidate got a majority , she and first-place finisher Warnock will face off again in a runoff election on Jan. 5 .
Loeffler claimed last week that that her second-place finish was a `` clear message '' from Georgians `` that they want us to continue our hard work in Washington . ''
The Loeffler campaign did not immediately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this story .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler on Monday slammed the Rev. Raphael Warnock, her Democratic opponent in the race for her Georgia U.S. Senate seat, for raising money from California donors ahead of the upcoming January runoff in the race.
But Loeffler has already raised nearly $150,000 from California donors during the 2020 campaign.
“While @ReverendWarnock courts California liberal elites & Silicon Valley to flip Georgia for the radical left, we’re counting on every day Americans to fuel our effort,” she tweeted along with a link to a right-wing news site’s report that Warnock was set to participate in a fundraising event Monday evening with “Silicon Valley” donors.
The tweet included a request that supporters “chip in” to her own coffers.
Loeffler, most likely the wealthiest member of the Senate, has poured more than $23 million of her own fortune into her campaign since she was appointed in December to the Senate seat left vacant by the retirement of Republican Johnny Isakson. But rather than simply accepting donations from “every day Americans,” she has accepted money from wealthy special interests and donors from California.
According to the nonpartisan Center for Responsible Politics, Loeffler has taken almost $147,000 already this year from contributors in the Golden State. More than a third of her itemized donations have come from outside of Georgia.
She has received contributions from big tech companies, including PAC donations from companies such as Google ($5,000) and Comcast ($5,000). In total, political action committees have given more than $800,000 to her campaign.
The Daily Beast reported in June that Loeffler was offering benefit levels labeled “investors,” “shareholders,” and “board members” to donors to her campaign. A fundraising brochure promised those who gave and raised large sums of money for her campaign would receive invitations to quarterly breakfasts and other events. She also hosted a $2,800-a-head fundraising “retreat” on Sept. 11 at a private beach and golf course on Sea Island, Georgia.
It is not yet known how much was raised at Monday’s event, a joint fundraiser for Warnock and Democrat Jon Ossoff, who is vying against incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue in a runoff for the state’s other Senate seat.
Loeffler received about 25.9% of the vote in Tuesday’s special election, coming in second.
Because no candidate got a majority, she and first-place finisher Warnock will face off again in a runoff election on Jan. 5.
Loeffler claimed last week that that her second-place finish was a “clear message” from Georgians “that they want us to continue our hard work in Washington.”
The Loeffler campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-10--Conservatives are mad that Biden actually wants to fight the pandemic

President-elect Joe Biden 's decision to assemble a 12-person task force to combat the coronavirus pandemic this week has infuriated many prominent conservatives .
In a statement , Biden said that `` dealing with the coronavirus pandemic '' was `` one of the most important battles our administration will face , '' adding that , unlike his predecessor , he would be `` informed by science '' and would consult his experts .
`` The advisory board will help shape my approach to managing the surge in reported infections ; ensuring vaccines are safe , effective , and distributed efficiently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protecting at-risk populations , '' he said .
On the official Biden-Harris transition website , the incoming administration also lists implementation of `` mask mandates nationwide '' in tandem with `` governors and mayors '' as one of the steps it will take to curb the spread of the coronavirus .
`` Experts agree that tens of thousands of lives can be saved if Americans wear masks , '' the website states .
According to the New York Times , three co-chairs were tapped to helm Biden 's task force .
The trio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Medicine professor ; Vivek Murthy , who previously served as surgeon general under the Obama administration ; and David Kessler , previously Food and Drug Administration commissioner under former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W .
Bush .
Biden has also tapped for his task force Rick Bright , who served as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority under Donald Trump .
Bright is noteworthy as the whistleblower who lost his job after warning the Trump administration of the seriousness of the pandemic , and urging the administration not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to treat COVID-19 .
But it 's another member of the task force who has drawn ire from right-wing pundits on social media : Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel , chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania .
Right-wing political commentator Liz Wheeler claimed baselessly on Monday that Emanuel wanted to dispose of the elderly , citing an op-ed he penned for the Atlantic in 2018 about how he personally hoped he would not live past 75 .
`` HORRIFYING : Biden appoints Dr. Zeke Emanuel to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted , linking Emanuel 's 2018 piece .
`` Emanuel : ' I hope to die at 75 . '
This man is now in charge of protecting the nation 's elderly . ''
She continued in the same vein .
`` So Biden picks Zeke Emanuel for his COVID task force , '' Wheeler said in her second tweet .
`` Emanuel wants to die at 75 .
Argues that old age should n't be prolonged .
Says old people do n't contribute to society .
Says he 'll refuse healthcare , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll 'protect ' our nation 's elderly from COVID ?
! ''
Fox host Sean Hannity , too , slammed the appointment Tuesday morning , tweeting a piece by Charlie Kirk accompanied by the caption , `` Biden Covid-19 Adviser Says Life is Not Worth Living Past 75 . ''
Meanwhile , Fox 's Laura Ingraham blasted Biden for not being more cheerful as he spoke to the American people about the deadly pandemic , which has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans , with cases spiking .
`` My God is he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posting a video of Biden 's Monday speech .
`` Has [ sic ] his handlers not told him about the vaccine that that the Trump Admin funded ? ''
According to drug maker Pfizer , which is responsible for the vaccine to which Ingraham was referring , the Trump administration funded neither its research nor its development .
Controversial far-right figure Matt Walsh , who writes for the Blaze , retweeted a post by Fox News stating that Biden 's `` first move '' as president would be a `` mask mandate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative figures , Walsh fiercely objects to the common-sense , medically recommended precaution Biden supports .
`` This would be the first of many absurd and illegal orders from the potential Biden Administration that I will ignore , '' Walsh angrily tweeted .
Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren also roundly condemned Biden for asking the American people to wear masks in order to save lives , claiming it was a short step to fascism .
`` Under Democrat control I believe they will make masks the new seatbelts-required long after COVID .
Pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggestions , it 's the agenda they have for the nation .
Control .
Control .
Government dependence , control , '' Lahren tweeted .
Also on Monday , Lahren claimed that in Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris ' America , the economy would be destroyed and Christmas dinner ruined by coronavirus lockdowns .
`` What would our country look like under Biden ( Kamala ) ... '' she tweeted .
`` Take a look at California .
Fifth largest economy in the world yet a ballooning homeless crisis , outrageous taxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invite threshold .
Sounds fuuuunnn . ''
Daily Wire editor and right-wing provocateur Ben Shapiro simply mocked the entire notion of a coronavirus task force to stop the pandemic , even as he supported Trump 's erstwhile attempts at a coronavirus task force earlier in the year .
`` For a second there I thought Biden had no plan other than to crib from Trump 's plan , say masks a lot , and wait for cover to wane , '' he tweeted sarcastically .
`` But then he announced a Task Force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly done . ''
Shapiro punctuated `` Task Force ! ''
with cartoonish emojis of musical notes on either side .
An hour later , he repeated the same snide remark .
`` To solve covid , we need a ...
Task Force ! ''
he again tweeted , again with musical note emojis .
This time , Shapiro paired his tweet with a GIF of employees around a conference table cheerily captioned , `` Let 's have a meeting ! ''
Biden , however , sees nothing to make light of about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 237,000 American lives to date .
On Wednesday , the United States hit a record of more than 107,000 coronavirus cases in a day , which then snowballed to 121,000 new cases on Thursday — record-breaking numbers , according to the New York Times .
And Monday , the United States crossed the threshold of 10 million confirmed coronavirus cases — 20 % of all coronavirus cases worldwide , and more than any other nation in the world .
`` We could save tens of thousands of lives if everyone would just wear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Biden said in a speech to the nation Monday .
`` Not Democratic or Republican lives , American lives .
Please , I implore you , wear a mask . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

President-elect Joe Biden’s decision to assemble a 12-person task force to combat the coronavirus pandemic this week has infuriated many prominent conservatives.
In a statement, Biden said that “dealing with the coronavirus pandemic” was “one of the most important battles our administration will face,” adding that, unlike his predecessor, he would be “informed by science” and would consult his experts.
“The advisory board will help shape my approach to managing the surge in reported infections; ensuring vaccines are safe, effective, and distributed efficiently, equitably, and free; and protecting at-risk populations,” he said.
On the official Biden-Harris transition website, the incoming administration also lists implementation of “mask mandates nationwide” in tandem with “governors and mayors” as one of the steps it will take to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“Experts agree that tens of thousands of lives can be saved if Americans wear masks,” the website states.
According to the New York Times, three co-chairs were tapped to helm Biden’s task force.
The trio includes Marcella Nunez-Smith, a Yale School of Medicine professor; Vivek Murthy, who previously served as surgeon general under the Obama administration; and David Kessler, previously Food and Drug Administration commissioner under former presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush.
Biden has also tapped for his task force Rick Bright, who served as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority under Donald Trump.
Bright is noteworthy as the whistleblower who lost his job after warning the Trump administration of the seriousness of the pandemic, and urging the administration not to flood the market with untested hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19.
But it’s another member of the task force who has drawn ire from right-wing pundits on social media: Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at the University of Pennsylvania.
Right-wing political commentator Liz Wheeler claimed baselessly on Monday that Emanuel wanted to dispose of the elderly, citing an op-ed he penned for the Atlantic in 2018 about how he personally hoped he would not live past 75.
“HORRIFYING: Biden appoints Dr. Zeke Emanuel to his COVID task force,” she tweeted, linking Emanuel’s 2018 piece. “Emanuel: ‘I hope to die at 75.’ This man is now in charge of protecting the nation’s elderly.”
She continued in the same vein.
“So Biden picks Zeke Emanuel for his COVID task force,” Wheeler said in her second tweet. “Emanuel wants to die at 75. Argues that old age shouldn’t be prolonged. Says old people don’t contribute to society. Says he’ll refuse healthcare, even flu shot. But now he’ll ‘protect’ our nation’s elderly from COVID?!”
Fox host Sean Hannity, too, slammed the appointment Tuesday morning, tweeting a piece by Charlie Kirk accompanied by the caption, “Biden Covid-19 Adviser Says Life is Not Worth Living Past 75.”
Meanwhile, Fox’s Laura Ingraham blasted Biden for not being more cheerful as he spoke to the American people about the deadly pandemic, which has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans, with cases spiking.
“My God is he a downer…” Ingraham tweeted, posting a video of Biden’s Monday speech. “Has [sic] his handlers not told him about the vaccine that that the Trump Admin funded?”
According to drug maker Pfizer, which is responsible for the vaccine to which Ingraham was referring, the Trump administration funded neither its research nor its development.
Controversial far-right figure Matt Walsh, who writes for the Blaze, retweeted a post by Fox News stating that Biden’s “first move” as president would be a “mask mandate for all.”
Like many other conservative figures, Walsh fiercely objects to the common-sense, medically recommended precaution Biden supports.
“This would be the first of many absurd and illegal orders from the potential Biden Administration that I will ignore,” Walsh angrily tweeted.
Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren also roundly condemned Biden for asking the American people to wear masks in order to save lives, claiming it was a short step to fascism.
“Under Democrat control I believe they will make masks the new seatbelts-required long after COVID. Pay attention to their other ‘new normal’ suggestions, it’s the agenda they have for the nation. Control. Control. Government dependence, control,” Lahren tweeted.
Also on Monday, Lahren claimed that in Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ America, the economy would be destroyed and Christmas dinner ruined by coronavirus lockdowns.
“What would our country look like under Biden (Kamala)…” she tweeted. “Take a look at California. Fifth largest economy in the world yet a ballooning homeless crisis, outrageous taxes and regulations and a government mandated holiday invite threshold. Sounds fuuuunnn.”
Daily Wire editor and right-wing provocateur Ben Shapiro simply mocked the entire notion of a coronavirus task force to stop the pandemic, even as he supported Trump’s erstwhile attempts at a coronavirus task force earlier in the year.
“For a second there I thought Biden had no plan other than to crib from Trump’s plan, say masks a lot, and wait for cover to wane,” he tweeted sarcastically. “But then he announced a Task Force! and I realized our problems were nearly done.”
Shapiro punctuated “Task Force!” with cartoonish emojis of musical notes on either side.
An hour later, he repeated the same snide remark.
“To solve covid, we need a… Task Force!” he again tweeted, again with musical note emojis. This time, Shapiro paired his tweet with a GIF of employees around a conference table cheerily captioned, “Let’s have a meeting!”
Biden, however, sees nothing to make light of about a pandemic that has claimed at least 237,000 American lives to date.
On Wednesday, the United States hit a record of more than 107,000 coronavirus cases in a day, which then snowballed to 121,000 new cases on Thursday — record-breaking numbers, according to the New York Times.
And Monday, the United States crossed the threshold of 10 million confirmed coronavirus cases — 20% of all coronavirus cases worldwide, and more than any other nation in the world.
“We could save tens of thousands of lives if everyone would just wear a mask for the next few months,” Biden said in a speech to the nation Monday. “Not Democratic or Republican lives, American lives. Please, I implore you, wear a mask.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-11--Trump's governing failures could actually make it easier for Biden to fix things

Donald Trump 's dearth of legislative accomplishments will make it much easier for President-elect Joe Biden to dismantle most of his policies — even if Democrats do not control the Senate .
`` All that stuff was done administratively through the [ president 's ] executive authority , and so a new executive can basically reject those and start from scratch , '' a source told CBS News on Wednesday .
According to the Washington Post , Biden is planning quick action to reverse executive actions taken by Trump .
As a candidate in 2016 , Trump bragged that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with `` just about everybody '' in Congress .
He promised sweeping legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act with something `` terrific '' that would cover everyone , massively cut taxes on the middle class , and rebuild the nation 's crumbling infrastructure .
But though he began his presidency with a House and a Senate both controlled by Republicans , he accomplished little beyond a tax bill that mostly benefited the wealthy and big corporations .
His signature health proposal failed to get even a simple majority in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oft-delayed `` Infrastructure Week '' for Congress to reach an agreement on rebuilding became a national joke .
After the blue wave of the 2018 midterm elections gave Democrats a majority in the House of Representatives , Trump again suggested that he could achieve bipartisan deals , especially on infrastructure .
`` Nancy Pelosi and I could work together and get a lot of things done , '' he told reporters .
But that did not happen either .
Angry that the Democratic majority was exercising oversight , Trump walked away from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , telling Democratic leaders , `` I want to do infrastructure ... but you know what ?
You ca n't do it under these circumstances , so get these phony investigations over with . ''
Instead , Trump relied on what he once called `` the easy way out '' — unilateral executive orders — for the vast majority of his policy agenda .
Breaking a campaign promise to `` to do away with executive orders for the most part , '' Trump issued more than 190 of them .
Through those and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , immigrants , environmental protections , LGBTQ people , health care , abortion rights , workers — and hijacked billions of dollars from other allocations to build a massive border wall that Congress had not approved .
Biden has made clear that his positions on the issues are the opposite of Trump 's .
Because the actions taken over the past four years were not carried out with congressional approval , Biden can wipe most of them out quickly .
Thanks to Trump 's legislative failures , most of his policies could be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One prominent Pennsylvania Republican lamented this reality on Sunday .
`` What Trump built in 4 years , '' former Lehigh County Commissioner Dean Browning tweeted , `` Biden will destroy in 4 months . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s dearth of legislative accomplishments will make it much easier for President-elect Joe Biden to dismantle most of his policies — even if Democrats do not control the Senate.
“All that stuff was done administratively through the [president’s] executive authority, and so a new executive can basically reject those and start from scratch,” a source told CBS News on Wednesday.
According to the Washington Post, Biden is planning quick action to reverse executive actions taken by Trump.
As a candidate in 2016, Trump bragged that he was an expert dealmaker who would get along with “just about everybody” in Congress. He promised sweeping legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act with something “terrific” that would cover everyone, massively cut taxes on the middle class, and rebuild the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.
But though he began his presidency with a House and a Senate both controlled by Republicans, he accomplished little beyond a tax bill that mostly benefited the wealthy and big corporations. His signature health proposal failed to get even a simple majority in the Senate, and his promised and oft-delayed “Infrastructure Week” for Congress to reach an agreement on rebuilding became a national joke.
After the blue wave of the 2018 midterm elections gave Democrats a majority in the House of Representatives, Trump again suggested that he could achieve bipartisan deals, especially on infrastructure. “Nancy Pelosi and I could work together and get a lot of things done,” he told reporters.
But that did not happen either. Angry that the Democratic majority was exercising oversight, Trump walked away from a $2 trillion infrastructure deal last May, telling Democratic leaders, “I want to do infrastructure … but you know what? You can’t do it under these circumstances, so get these phony investigations over with.”
Instead, Trump relied on what he once called “the easy way out” — unilateral executive orders — for the vast majority of his policy agenda.
Breaking a campaign promise to “to do away with executive orders for the most part,” Trump issued more than 190 of them. Through those and other executive actions, he attacked Muslims, immigrants, environmental protections, LGBTQ people, health care, abortion rights, workers — and hijacked billions of dollars from other allocations to build a massive border wall that Congress had not approved.
Biden has made clear that his positions on the issues are the opposite of Trump’s. Because the actions taken over the past four years were not carried out with congressional approval, Biden can wipe most of them out quickly. Thanks to Trump’s legislative failures, most of his policies could be gone within days of Biden’s inauguration.
One prominent Pennsylvania Republican lamented this reality on Sunday. “What Trump built in 4 years,” former Lehigh County Commissioner Dean Browning tweeted, “Biden will destroy in 4 months.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-11--Religious right leaders are refusing to accept Biden won the election

Many leaders of the religious right are refusing to accept that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election and is the president-elect of the United States .
Over the past few days , a who 's who of religious leaders close to Donald Trump , along with the leaders of anti-LGBTQ religious organizations , have claimed that the election is n't truly over or that it has been stolen .
A Biden administration would constitute a problem for these people , who are outspoken opponents of equality for LGBTQ people and have had a friend and ally in Trump .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Family Research Council , a group designated as an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center , tweeted on Tuesday , `` There are a number of steps—under the Constitution , federal , and state law—that still need to occur in the presidential election process . ''
He shared a link to `` Election FAQs '' on the Family Research Council website that begins : `` While much of the media is acting like Democrat Presidential Candidate Joe Biden has already won the election and is starting with that assumption in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a faulty assumption .
Candidate Biden has not yet been elected president . ''
In the past few years , Perkins has made transphobic remarks and continued to oppose marriage equality .
In 2018 , speaking about transgender people , Perkins said : `` You say , 'Well , I 'm not a male .
I 'm a female . '
I mean , what 's to keep you from saying that you 're an animal ? ''
That same year , he said that marriage equality was about `` obliterating every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known . ''
Franklin Graham , president of Samaritan 's Purse , a nonprofit that requires its employees to agree to an anti-LGBTQ `` statement of faith , '' tweeted on Monday , in a statement drawing attention to the runoff races in Georgia , that the courts will `` determine who wins the presidency . ''
In 2017 , in a tweet condemning North Carolina Gov .
Roy Cooper for an executive order on access to public restrooms , Graham warned of `` pedophiles & sexually perverted men '' using bathrooms designated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke of the Obama administration 's `` gay lesbian agenda '' and claimed that the Biden administration would `` be looking for businesses and ministries to target and to shut them out of business or even put them in jail . ''
On Sunday , Paula White-Cain , a televangelist who acts as Trump 's spiritual adviser , said Biden has a `` demonic agenda . ''
`` He said the first thing he 's going to do is refund Planned Parenthood .
...
There 's multiple lawsuits in action right now ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preserve the integrity of the election , '' she told her followers .
She added , `` We need to pray over the legal process .
We need pray over the judicial process . ''
In July , White-Cain said during a sermon , `` It 's not okay to marry the same sex . ''
Biden 's support of the LGBTQ community has evolved from voting for the anti-LGBTQ Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 to coming out in favor of marriage equality as vice president in 2012 , before President Barack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During the Democratic National Convention in August , Pete Buttigieg , the former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , thanked Biden for the `` political courage '' that he said made his marriage possible and said that the Democratic nominee had `` stepped out ahead of his own party . ''
During the last stretch of the campaign , Biden continued to do interviews with LGBTQ publications and make statements in support of the LGBTQ community .
Biden said in October that he would make the Equality Act , a federal bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , public accommodations , and more , a top legislative priority in his first 100 days in office .
In a town hall event that same month , he told the mother of a transgender girl that he would reverse harmful anti-LGBTQ Trump policies and decried the killings of transgender women of color .
On Saturday , after the media called the election for the Democratic ticket , Biden made history as the first president-elect to thank transgender voters in a victory speech .
Other conservative religious leaders denounced Biden 's win by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed or telling their followers why God allowed him to win .
Their continued insistence on fighting the outcome of the election is not unexpected , given the Trump administration 's deference to their views and goals .
The administration has attacked LGBTQ rights at every turn , arguing against LGBTQ equality in the courts and proposing rules to roll back Obama-era protections for LGBTQ people .
Dave Daubenmire , a conservative Christian activist who last year railed in homophobic terms about Buttigieg 's run for the Democratic presidential nomination , called Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the cross '' and said he will pray that Biden `` fails at what he does . ''
Chris McDonald , a religious right-wing conspiracy theorist , said that he would not `` submit '' to a Biden presidency .
McDonald has tweeted rants against a supposed `` LGBTQ Agenda '' in schools , and responded on Twitter to news of an LGBTQ-inclusive reading event with `` WTH is wrong with this nation !
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
FIGHT against this Patriots , FIGHT ! ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Evangelical Seminary , who has called the affirmation of transgender children `` child abuse , '' said that God may have allowed Trump to lose and that `` it could be that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are a judgment of God on the United States . ''
One notable exception to the pastors and conspiracy theorists refusing to face reality is Pastor Robert Jeffress , a Trump ally who on Wednesday wrote : `` When Joe Biden becomes president , we should commend him for the things he does right .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And above all , we must pray fervently for our president . ''
In an op-ed for Fox News , Jeffress told Christians that God was behind the outcome of the election : `` Human governments and rulers change at God 's direction and design .
Our faith and our salvation lie not in any human ruler , but in the ruler of rulers , the King of kings .
We have to remember that even though the occupant of the White House is changing , the One who occupies the throne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The fact that God has established authorities means that by obeying the government , we obey God . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Many leaders of the religious right are refusing to accept that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election and is the president-elect of the United States.
Over the past few days, a who’s who of religious leaders close to Donald Trump, along with the leaders of anti-LGBTQ religious organizations, have claimed that the election isn’t truly over or that it has been stolen.
A Biden administration would constitute a problem for these people, who are outspoken opponents of equality for LGBTQ people and have had a friend and ally in Trump.
Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, a group designated as an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, tweeted on Tuesday, “There are a number of steps—under the Constitution, federal, and state law—that still need to occur in the presidential election process.”
He shared a link to “Election FAQs” on the Family Research Council website that begins: “While much of the media is acting like Democrat Presidential Candidate Joe Biden has already won the election and is starting with that assumption in every piece now being written, that’s a faulty assumption. Candidate Biden has not yet been elected president.”
In the past few years, Perkins has made transphobic remarks and continued to oppose marriage equality. In 2018, speaking about transgender people, Perkins said: “You say, ‘Well, I’m not a male. I’m a female.’ I mean, what’s to keep you from saying that you’re an animal?”
That same year, he said that marriage equality was about “obliterating every moral and cultural boundary humans have ever known.”
Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, a nonprofit that requires its employees to agree to an anti-LGBTQ “statement of faith,” tweeted on Monday, in a statement drawing attention to the runoff races in Georgia, that the courts will “determine who wins the presidency.”
In 2017, in a tweet condemning North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper for an executive order on access to public restrooms, Graham warned of “pedophiles & sexually perverted men” using bathrooms designated for women. Last week, Graham spoke of the Obama administration’s “gay lesbian agenda” and claimed that the Biden administration would “be looking for businesses and ministries to target and to shut them out of business or even put them in jail.”
On Sunday, Paula White-Cain, a televangelist who acts as Trump’s spiritual adviser, said Biden has a “demonic agenda.”
“He said the first thing he’s going to do is refund Planned Parenthood. … There’s multiple lawsuits in action right now … that process must take place now to preserve the integrity of the election,” she told her followers.
She added, “We need to pray over the legal process. We need pray over the judicial process.”
In July, White-Cain said during a sermon, “It’s not okay to marry the same sex.”
Biden’s support of the LGBTQ community has evolved from voting for the anti-LGBTQ Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 to coming out in favor of marriage equality as vice president in 2012, before President Barack Obama had expressed support for it.
During the Democratic National Convention in August, Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, thanked Biden for the “political courage” that he said made his marriage possible and said that the Democratic nominee had “stepped out ahead of his own party.”
During the last stretch of the campaign, Biden continued to do interviews with LGBTQ publications and make statements in support of the LGBTQ community. Biden said in October that he would make the Equality Act, a federal bill prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ people in housing, public accommodations, and more, a top legislative priority in his first 100 days in office.
In a town hall event that same month, he told the mother of a transgender girl that he would reverse harmful anti-LGBTQ Trump policies and decried the killings of transgender women of color. On Saturday, after the media called the election for the Democratic ticket, Biden made history as the first president-elect to thank transgender voters in a victory speech.
Other conservative religious leaders denounced Biden’s win by accepting it but praying that his presidency failed or telling their followers why God allowed him to win.
Their continued insistence on fighting the outcome of the election is not unexpected, given the Trump administration’s deference to their views and goals. The administration has attacked LGBTQ rights at every turn, arguing against LGBTQ equality in the courts and proposing rules to roll back Obama-era protections for LGBTQ people.
Dave Daubenmire, a conservative Christian activist who last year railed in homophobic terms about Buttigieg’s run for the Democratic presidential nomination, called Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris “enemies of the cross” and said he will pray that Biden “fails at what he does.”
Chris McDonald, a religious right-wing conspiracy theorist, said that he would not “submit” to a Biden presidency. McDonald has tweeted rants against a supposed “LGBTQ Agenda” in schools, and responded on Twitter to news of an LGBTQ-inclusive reading event with “WTH is wrong with this nation!!!!!!!!!!! FIGHT against this Patriots, FIGHT!”
Richard Land, the president of Southern Evangelical Seminary, who has called the affirmation of transgender children “child abuse,” said that God may have allowed Trump to lose and that “it could be that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are a judgment of God on the United States.”
One notable exception to the pastors and conspiracy theorists refusing to face reality is Pastor Robert Jeffress, a Trump ally who on Wednesday wrote: “When Joe Biden becomes president, we should commend him for the things he does right. We should condemn the things he does wrong. And above all, we must pray fervently for our president.”
In an op-ed for Fox News, Jeffress told Christians that God was behind the outcome of the election: “Human governments and rulers change at God’s direction and design. Our faith and our salvation lie not in any human ruler, but in the ruler of rulers, the King of kings. We have to remember that even though the occupant of the White House is changing, the One who occupies the throne of Heaven hasn’t changed.
“The fact that God has established authorities means that by obeying the government, we obey God.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-11--'I'm glad I got it': GOP lawmaker is very excited to have COVID-19

Republican Nebraska state Sen. Mike Groene announced in an email to his colleagues on Monday that his wish had been granted : He has contracted the coronavirus .
`` As you know , I finally got my wish and cont ( r ) acted the COVID-19 virus , '' Groene said in an email to state senators obtained by the Lincoln Journal Star .
`` As I suspected it would happen . ''
Groene told the paper he was glad to be done with the infection and feels that being infected is an option for achieving `` herd immunity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ different than anybody else , '' Groene told local station KETV Omaha .
`` I 'm glad I got it and got it over with .
I do n't see anything wrong with that . ''
He said : `` I had it , I got over it , and everything 's fine .
I have no unique story .
This happens 99.9 % of the time . ''
The World Health Organization notes that achieving herd immunity , a state in which a majority of a population is immune to a given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people from a virus , not by exposing them to it . ''
WHO 's position on herd immunity through infection is posted on the organization 's website : `` Attempts to reach 'herd immunity ' through exposing people to a virus are scientifically problematic and unethical .
Letting COVID-19 spread through populations , of any age or health status will lead to unnecessary infections , suffering and death .
'The vast majority of people in most countries remain susceptible to this virus .
... We are still learning about immunity to COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 develop an immune response within the first few weeks , but we do n't know how strong or lasting that immune response is , or how it differs for different people .
... Until we better understand COVID-19 immunity , it will not be possible to know how much of a population is immune and how long that immunity last for , let alone make future predictions .
These challenges should preclude any plans that try to increase immunity within a population by allowing people to get infected . ''
Dr. Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diseases division at the University of Utah , told the American Independent Foundation : `` The human cost of getting to herd immunity is staggering . ''
Dr. Saralyn Mark , a medical expert on public health preparedness and the American Medical Women 's Association 's lead on COVID-19 , said that if people try to achieve herd immunity through infection , `` millions of people could die . ''
Groene 's conception of the benefits of being infected by a virus that 's killed and sickened millions of people across the globe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top of the current administration .
Donald Trump has insisted that what he calls `` herd mentality '' is going to magically develop and solve the problem of the pandemic .
`` We 're going to be OK , and it is going away .
And it 's probably going to go away now a lot faster because of the vaccines .
It would go away without the vaccine , '' Trump said on Sept. 15 .
`` And you 'll develop — you 'll develop herd — like a herd mentality .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's going to be herd-developed , and that 's going to happen .
That will all happen . ''
The next day , White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said during a briefing : Herd immunity has never been a strategy here at the White House .
The President last night was noting herd immunity is over a period of time .
A country , a society , can reach herd immunity .
It 's a fact .
It was not a strategy ever presented here at the White House . ''
Three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House coronavirus task force told the Daily Beast at the end of last month that Scott Atlas , the neuroradiologist Trump appointed to head the task force , continues to push the dangerous concept as a supposed plan for stemming the spread of the virus : `` Everything that comes out of Atlas ' mouth is geared towards letting it rip and then just worry about protecting the vulnerable .
Everything he says points to the fact that he believes herd immunity is a good option .
Yet he denies he 's pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's not what I 'm doing . '
But he is . ''
Groene said : `` I 've been sick a lot of times .
This is not different .
This is not cancer .
My God this hysteria . ''
As of this writing , over 10 million people in the United States have been infected with the coronavirus , and over 240,000 have died .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republican Nebraska state Sen. Mike Groene announced in an email to his colleagues on Monday that his wish had been granted: He has contracted the coronavirus.
“As you know, I finally got my wish and cont(r)acted the COVID-19 virus,” Groene said in an email to state senators obtained by the Lincoln Journal Star. “As I suspected it would happen.”
Groene told the paper he was glad to be done with the infection and feels that being infected is an option for achieving “herd immunity.”
“I didn’t do anything different than anybody else,” Groene told local station KETV Omaha. “I’m glad I got it and got it over with. I don’t see anything wrong with that.”
He said: “I had it, I got over it, and everything’s fine. I have no unique story. This happens 99.9% of the time.”
The World Health Organization notes that achieving herd immunity, a state in which a majority of a population is immune to a given virus, “is achieved by protecting people from a virus, not by exposing them to it.”
WHO’s position on herd immunity through infection is posted on the organization’s website:
Attempts to reach “herd immunity” through exposing people to a virus are scientifically problematic and unethical. Letting COVID-19 spread through populations, of any age or health status will lead to unnecessary infections, suffering and death. The vast majority of people in most countries remain susceptible to this virus. … We are still learning about immunity to COVID-19. Most people who are infected with COVID-19 develop an immune response within the first few weeks, but we don’t know how strong or lasting that immune response is, or how it differs for different people. … Until we better understand COVID-19 immunity, it will not be possible to know how much of a population is immune and how long that immunity last for, let alone make future predictions. These challenges should preclude any plans that try to increase immunity within a population by allowing people to get infected.
Dr. Andrew Pavia, chief of the pediatric infectious diseases division at the University of Utah, told the American Independent Foundation: “The human cost of getting to herd immunity is staggering.”
Dr. Saralyn Mark, a medical expert on public health preparedness and the American Medical Women’s Association’s lead on COVID-19, said that if people try to achieve herd immunity through infection, “millions of people could die.”
Groene’s conception of the benefits of being infected by a virus that’s killed and sickened millions of people across the globe is shared by those at the very top of the current administration.
Donald Trump has insisted that what he calls “herd mentality” is going to magically develop and solve the problem of the pandemic.
“We’re going to be OK, and it is going away. And it’s probably going to go away now a lot faster because of the vaccines. It would go away without the vaccine,” Trump said on Sept. 15. “And you’ll develop — you’ll develop herd — like a herd mentality. It’s going to be — it’s going to be herd-developed, and that’s going to happen. That will all happen.”
The next day, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said during a briefing: Herd immunity has never been a strategy here at the White House. The President last night was noting herd immunity is over a period of time. A country, a society, can reach herd immunity. It’s a fact. It was not a strategy ever presented here at the White House.”
Three anonymous senior health officials on the White House coronavirus task force told the Daily Beast at the end of last month that Scott Atlas, the neuroradiologist Trump appointed to head the task force, continues to push the dangerous concept as a supposed plan for stemming the spread of the virus:
Everything that comes out of Atlas’ mouth is geared towards letting it rip and then just worry about protecting the vulnerable. Everything he says points to the fact that he believes herd immunity is a good option. Yet he denies he’s pushing herd immunity as a strategy saying “No that’s not what I’m doing.” But he is.
Groene said: “I’ve been sick a lot of times. This is not different. This is not cancer. My God this hysteria.”
As of this writing, over 10 million people in the United States have been infected with the coronavirus, and over 240,000 have died.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-11--Georgia senator ditches his own rally ahead of run-off election

Sen. David Perdue skipped a `` Save Our Majority '' rally for himself and fellow Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler Wednesday morning in Cobb County , Georgia — a once-red county he lost by 11 points on Election Day .
Perdue 's wife Bonnie was in attendance at the rally , along with Loeffler , according to local media .
Sen. Marco Rubio ( R-FL ) headlined the event .
Perdue lost out in Cobb County on Nov. 3 .
Once a firmly red county , Perdue lost it on Election Day to Democratic opponent Jon Ossoff by 11 percentage points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perdue and Loeffler failed to garner a majority of the vote in their Senate reelection races earlier this month against Democratic opponents Ossoff and the Rev .
Raphael Warnock , respectively .
Both races will advance to a runoff election on Jan. 5 .
By Wednesday morning , many on social media were noting Perdue 's absence at the Cobb County rally .
`` Um ... .
why is n't Senator Perdue at his own campaign rally ? ''
tweeted Lauren Passalacqua , communications director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a week '' since Perdue had `` been seen or heard in Georgia and he 's got a runoff in 55 days . ''
Beau Evans , a political reporter for the Georgia Press Association , tweeted images of the densely packed indoor event , where only some attendees were wearing masks .
He noted that Bonnie Perdue had confirmed that the senator had been unable to make it to the rally but would not give any further details .
`` Mrs. Perdue says she regrets Sen. Perdue is not here , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead , '' Evans tweeted .
The Perdue campaign told the American Independent Foundation in an email that Perdue was unable to attend the event because he was working in Washington , and that he would be back for events later in the week .
A senior spokesperson noted that Bonnie Perdue was `` delighted to represent him at this rally , as she has at other events across the state . ''
`` They make a great team and will continue sharing our positive vision for our state and country , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a media release dated Monday which indicated that only Rubio , Loeffler , and Bonnie Perdue were slated to attend the rally .
However , several conflicting media reports that day said that Perdue had in fact planned to attend the event .
The Gwinnett Daily Post published a piece by Evans on Monday stating : `` On Monday , Sen. Marco Rubio , R-Fla. , announced he plans to join Perdue and Loeffler for a joint rally in Cobb County this week , marking the first of what will likely be many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ muster support for the two competing teams of Senate contenders . ''
And a Miami Herald story last updated Monday at 6:39 p.m. stated that `` Rubio will attend a 'Save Our Majority ' rally with GOP Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in suburban Atlanta on Wednesday . ''
The Miami Herald noted that Wednesday 's rally would be `` the first joint appearance of the two Georgia Republican Senate candidates since the Nov. 3 election ended with neither incumbent winning a majority . ''
The Perdue campaign did not give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign 's sole media release , dated Monday , and conflicting media reports from the same day announcing Perdue would be present at the event .
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution , Perdue `` did not attend the rally and has not conducted any interviews or staged any events since the Nov. 3 election , when he did n't appear at his own election-watch party . ''
Also absent from the rally : any mention of Donald Trump .
The Journal-Constitution reported that Rubio conspicuously did not mention Trump in his keynote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Weigel tweeted that Rubio spoke mainly about the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program .
`` Rubio 's remarks at this rally are largely about PPP and the CARES Act , and the threat of Ossoff/Warnock “ voting the party line , ' '' Weigel tweeted on Wednesday .
`` ( Nothing , in other words , about whether the election was fair , which Perdue and Loeffler focused on this week . )
'' Weigel seemed to be referring to Perdue and Loeffler 's joint statement Monday calling for the resignation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raffensperger for alleged `` failures '' in the Georgia election .
This story has been updated to include further details on the Perdue campaign 's initial media advisory for the event .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. David Perdue skipped a “Save Our Majority” rally for himself and fellow Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler Wednesday morning in Cobb County, Georgia — a once-red county he lost by 11 points on Election Day.
Perdue’s wife Bonnie was in attendance at the rally, along with Loeffler, according to local media. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) headlined the event.
Perdue lost out in Cobb County on Nov. 3. Once a firmly red county, Perdue lost it on Election Day to Democratic opponent Jon Ossoff by 11 percentage points, more than 70,000 votes.
Both Perdue and Loeffler failed to garner a majority of the vote in their Senate reelection races earlier this month against Democratic opponents Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, respectively. Both races will advance to a runoff election on Jan. 5.
By Wednesday morning, many on social media were noting Perdue’s absence at the Cobb County rally.
“Um…. why isn’t Senator Perdue at his own campaign rally?” tweeted Lauren Passalacqua, communications director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
She noted that it had been “more than a week” since Perdue had “been seen or heard in Georgia and he’s got a runoff in 55 days.”
Beau Evans, a political reporter for the Georgia Press Association, tweeted images of the densely packed indoor event, where only some attendees were wearing masks.
He noted that Bonnie Perdue had confirmed that the senator had been unable to make it to the rally but would not give any further details.
“Mrs. Perdue says she regrets Sen. Perdue is not here, but does not say where he is instead,” Evans tweeted.
The Perdue campaign told the American Independent Foundation in an email that Perdue was unable to attend the event because he was working in Washington, and that he would be back for events later in the week.
A senior spokesperson noted that Bonnie Perdue was “delighted to represent him at this rally, as she has at other events across the state.”
“They make a great team and will continue sharing our positive vision for our state and country,” the spokesperson stated.
The campaign provided a media release dated Monday which indicated that only Rubio, Loeffler, and Bonnie Perdue were slated to attend the rally.
However, several conflicting media reports that day said that Perdue had in fact planned to attend the event.
The Gwinnett Daily Post published a piece by Evans on Monday stating: “On Monday, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., announced he plans to join Perdue and Loeffler for a joint rally in Cobb County this week, marking the first of what will likely be many high-profile political figures arriving in Georgia to muster support for the two competing teams of Senate contenders.”
And a Miami Herald story last updated Monday at 6:39 p.m. stated that “Rubio will attend a ‘Save Our Majority’ rally with GOP Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in suburban Atlanta on Wednesday.”
The Miami Herald noted that Wednesday’s rally would be “the first joint appearance of the two Georgia Republican Senate candidates since the Nov. 3 election ended with neither incumbent winning a majority.”
The Perdue campaign did not give an explanation for the seeming discrepancy between the campaign’s sole media release, dated Monday, and conflicting media reports from the same day announcing Perdue would be present at the event.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Perdue “did not attend the rally and has not conducted any interviews or staged any events since the Nov. 3 election, when he didn’t appear at his own election-watch party.”
Also absent from the rally: any mention of Donald Trump.
The Journal-Constitution reported that Rubio conspicuously did not mention Trump in his keynote speech.
Washington Post political reporter Dave Weigel tweeted that Rubio spoke mainly about the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program.
“Rubio’s remarks at this rally are largely about PPP and the CARES Act, and the threat of Ossoff/Warnock “voting the party line,'” Weigel tweeted on Wednesday. “(Nothing, in other words, about whether the election was fair, which Perdue and Loeffler focused on this week.)”
Weigel seemed to be referring to Perdue and Loeffler’s joint statement Monday calling for the resignation of the Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger for alleged “failures” in the Georgia election.
This story has been updated to include further details on the Perdue campaign’s initial media advisory for the event.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-11--McConnell is still trying to ram through more judges even after Trump lost

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the GOP Senate returned this week to their favorite pastime : confirming Donald Trump 's judicial nominees to lifetime appointments .
The Senate voted Tuesday to confirm James Knepp II , Trump 's selection for a judgeship in the Northern District of Ohio .
McConnell had teed up the nomination before the election .
On Thursday , the Senate is set to consider Aileen Mercedes Cannon , Trump 's nominee to be a federal judge for the Southern District of Florida .
But just four years ago , McConnell ( R-KY ) refused to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put forward by former President Barack Obama in an election year , claiming he wanted to give the American people `` their say . ''
In February 2016 , after Justice Antonin Scalia died , McConnell quickly announced that he would not allow the seat to be filled until the following year .
`` The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice , '' he said on the day of Scalia 's death .
`` Therefore , this vacancy should not be filled until we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let 's let the American people decide , '' he added at a press conference later that month .
After Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland in March , McConnell refused to allow Garland a hearing for the duration of the Obama administration , let alone a vote .
But now that a Republican is in the White House , McConnell has thrown that logic out the window and is trying to ram through as many conservative judges as possible in the waning days of the Trump administration — even after the American public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes despite the fact that Trump lost reelection by a wide margin last week .
As of Wednesday , President-elect Joe Biden held more than a 5 million-vote lead nationally over the incumbent , with more than the 270 electoral votes needed to win .
McConnell has refused to let the Senate take any action on hundreds of pieces of legislation passed in the House , including those in support of voting rights , LGBTQ nondiscrimination , protections for Dreamers , fair pay , gun background checks , and a minimum wage increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a substantial COVID-19 relief bill , despite record numbers of new cases and millions unemployed as a result .
He said Tuesday : `` I do n't think the current situation demands a multitrillion-dollar package . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the GOP Senate returned this week to their favorite pastime: confirming Donald Trump’s judicial nominees to lifetime appointments.
The Senate voted Tuesday to confirm James Knepp II, Trump’s selection for a judgeship in the Northern District of Ohio. McConnell had teed up the nomination before the election.
On Thursday, the Senate is set to consider Aileen Mercedes Cannon, Trump’s nominee to be a federal judge for the Southern District of Florida.
But just four years ago, McConnell (R-KY) refused to even allow a hearing for a nominee put forward by former President Barack Obama in an election year, claiming he wanted to give the American people “their say.”
In February 2016, after Justice Antonin Scalia died, McConnell quickly announced that he would not allow the seat to be filled until the following year.
“The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice,” he said on the day of Scalia’s death. “Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.”
“Let’s let the American people decide,” he added at a press conference later that month.
After Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland in March, McConnell refused to allow Garland a hearing for the duration of the Obama administration, let alone a vote.
But now that a Republican is in the White House, McConnell has thrown that logic out the window and is trying to ram through as many conservative judges as possible in the waning days of the Trump administration — even after the American public has made its voice heard.
This comes despite the fact that Trump lost reelection by a wide margin last week. As of Wednesday, President-elect Joe Biden held more than a 5 million-vote lead nationally over the incumbent, with more than the 270 electoral votes needed to win.
McConnell has refused to let the Senate take any action on hundreds of pieces of legislation passed in the House, including those in support of voting rights, LGBTQ nondiscrimination, protections for Dreamers, fair pay, gun background checks, and a minimum wage increase.
He has also refused to pass a substantial COVID-19 relief bill, despite record numbers of new cases and millions unemployed as a result. He said Tuesday: “I don’t think the current situation demands a multitrillion-dollar package.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-11--Trump's top evangelical ally abandons him: 'May God bless Joe Biden'

Robert Jeffress , a right-wing pastor and longtime ally of Donald Trump , wrote an op-ed in Fox News this week stating that Joe Biden is the legitimate president-elect and encouraging Christians to accept that reality .
`` When Joe Biden becomes president , we should commend him for the things he does right .
We should condemn the things he does wrong .
And above all , we must pray fervently for our president , '' Jeffress wrote .
`` If President Biden succeeds , we all succeed .
May God bless Joe Biden , and may God bless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeffress was not entirely thrilled by the prospect of a Biden presidency .
In his op-ed he admitted that Trump 's loss was `` a bitter pill to swallow '' for `` millions of Christians across our nation . ''
`` President Trump ’ s strong policies on life and religious liberty would have seemed , from our vantage point , to be a better path for our country ’ s future , '' he wrote .
`` Many of you may be asking : What is God doing in this outcome ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ? ''
Still , he wrote , `` human governments and rulers change at God ’ s direction and design . ''
`` The fact that God has established authorities means that by obeying the government , we obey God , '' he added .
Jeffress ' op-ed appeared to be a response to widespread distrust among Republicans that Biden won the election .
Among other things , they have pushed debunked lies about voter fraud , filed lawsuits challenging mail-in ballots , demanded unnecessary recounts , and even suggested that Republican legislatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people .
Other evangelical leaders are taking cues from Trump and the GOP and also refusing to accept that Trump lost , with people like Paula White — one of Trump 's spiritual advisers — claiming God would eventually overturn the election results .
`` God , we just declare that you will keep the feet of POTUS in his purpose in his position right now , '' White said in a sermon , according to Right Wing Watch .
`` We stop , and we override the will of man for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the will of man for the will of God , we override the will of man for the will of God . ''
Televangelist Kenneth Copeland , a former Trump faith adviser , laughed maniacally at the media for calling the election for Biden .
That makes Jeffress ' column all the more notable .
Jeffress , for his part , is a major Trump supporter who has been invited to numerous White House events since Trump took office .
He 's made a number of discriminatory comments in the past , claiming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that Mormonism is a `` cult , '' and baselessly linking the LGBTQ community to pedophilia .
He also said NFL players should be glad they 're not `` shot in the head for taking a knee . ''
Jeffress has also defended some of Trump 's worst behavior , including Trump 's decision to pay hush money ahead of the 2016 election to adult film actress Stormy Daniels , who claims to have had an extramarital affair with a Trump .
`` Evangelicals know they ’ re not compromising their beliefs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Pastor Robert Jeffress told Fox News in March 2018 .
`` And let ’ s be clear , evangelicals still believe in the commandment 'Thou shalt not have sex with a porn star . '
However , whether this president violated that commandment or not is totally irrelevant to our support of him . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Robert Jeffress, a right-wing pastor and longtime ally of Donald Trump, wrote an op-ed in Fox News this week stating that Joe Biden is the legitimate president-elect and encouraging Christians to accept that reality.
“When Joe Biden becomes president, we should commend him for the things he does right. We should condemn the things he does wrong. And above all, we must pray fervently for our president,” Jeffress wrote. “If President Biden succeeds, we all succeed. May God bless Joe Biden, and may God bless the United States of America.”
Jeffress was not entirely thrilled by the prospect of a Biden presidency. In his op-ed he admitted that Trump’s loss was “a bitter pill to swallow” for “millions of Christians across our nation.”
“President Trump’s strong policies on life and religious liberty would have seemed, from our vantage point, to be a better path for our country’s future,” he wrote. “Many of you may be asking: What is God doing in this outcome? Why would He allow this to happen?”
Still, he wrote, “human governments and rulers change at God’s direction and design.”
“The fact that God has established authorities means that by obeying the government, we obey God,” he added.
Jeffress’ op-ed appeared to be a response to widespread distrust among Republicans that Biden won the election. Among other things, they have pushed debunked lies about voter fraud, filed lawsuits challenging mail-in ballots, demanded unnecessary recounts, and even suggested that Republican legislatures change electors to overturn the will of the people.
Other evangelical leaders are taking cues from Trump and the GOP and also refusing to accept that Trump lost, with people like Paula White — one of Trump’s spiritual advisers — claiming God would eventually overturn the election results.
“God, we just declare that you will keep the feet of POTUS in his purpose in his position right now,” White said in a sermon, according to Right Wing Watch. “We stop, and we override the will of man for the will of God, we override the will of man for the will of God, we override the will of man for the will of God.”
Televangelist Kenneth Copeland, a former Trump faith adviser, laughed maniacally at the media for calling the election for Biden.
That makes Jeffress’ column all the more notable.
Jeffress, for his part, is a major Trump supporter who has been invited to numerous White House events since Trump took office.
He’s made a number of discriminatory comments in the past, claiming that Jews can’t go to heaven, that Mormonism is a “cult,” and baselessly linking the LGBTQ community to pedophilia. He also said NFL players should be glad they’re not “shot in the head for taking a knee.”
Jeffress has also defended some of Trump’s worst behavior, including Trump’s decision to pay hush money ahead of the 2016 election to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had an extramarital affair with a Trump.
“Evangelicals know they’re not compromising their beliefs in order to support this great president,” Pastor Robert Jeffress told Fox News in March 2018. “And let’s be clear, evangelicals still believe in the commandment ‘Thou shalt not have sex with a porn star.’ However, whether this president violated that commandment or not is totally irrelevant to our support of him.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-11--Ivanka Trump suddenly fine with declaring victory before all votes are counted

Ivanka Trump on Wednesday touted her father 's win of the electoral votes in Alaska for the presidential election .
`` BREAKING : President Trump and Senate Republicans win Alaska , '' she said in a tweet that quoted an Associated Press call for the state Wednesday .
The AP called the race with 75 % of the expected vote counted .
That 's in striking contrast to her message from just last week , when Ivanka Trump — like much of the Trump campaign and other Republicans — was insisting that declaring victory was premature until every vote is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
`` Every legally cast vote should be counted .
Every illegally cast vote should not .
This should not be controversial .
This is not a partisan statement — free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy , '' Ivanka Trump tweeted last Friday , when it was clear that former Vice President Joe Biden was on track to win the election .
( Every major outlet declared him the winner the following morning . )
But rather than accept the election results , Donald Trump and his campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all-out assault on remaining mail-in ballots that had not been counted in swing states he eventually lost , including Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , and Michigan .
`` They are finding Biden votes all over the place — in Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , and Michigan , '' Donald Trump tweeted on Nov. 4 .
`` So bad for our Country ! ''
`` They are working hard to make up 500,000 vote advantage in Pennsylvania disappear — ASAP .
Likewise , Michigan and others ! ''
he tweeted again shortly after .
`` STOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nov. 5 .
But in Arizona , where Fox News and the AP had called the race for Biden , the Trump campaign urged the vote counting to continue .
`` We feel like the president is in very , very , very good position this morning .
If all legally cast ballots are counted , the president will win , '' Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien said of Arizona in a call with the press .
In the same call , campaign adviser Jason Miller reiterated that the campaign wants to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' are counted and `` illegally cast ballots '' should n't be , but did not elaborate on the differentiation .
Last Thursday , a lawsuit by the Trump campaign and the Georgia Republican Party to stop ballots from being counted was thrown out .
There was no evidence showing that absentee ballots were being counted illegally , a judge ruled .
This lawsuit is one of many the Trump campaign filed to stop the counting of absentee ballots in several crucial swing states — despite the ballots having been legally cast .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was unable to present any evidence of fraud to support their lawsuit to throw out 600 ballots in Pennsylvania .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Ivanka Trump on Wednesday touted her father’s win of the electoral votes in Alaska for the presidential election.
“BREAKING: President Trump and Senate Republicans win Alaska,” she said in a tweet that quoted an Associated Press call for the state Wednesday. The AP called the race with 75% of the expected vote counted.
That’s in striking contrast to her message from just last week, when Ivanka Trump — like much of the Trump campaign and other Republicans — was insisting that declaring victory was premature until every vote is counted, regardless of what the media says.
“Every legally cast vote should be counted. Every illegally cast vote should not. This should not be controversial. This is not a partisan statement — free and fair elections are the foundation of our democracy,” Ivanka Trump tweeted last Friday, when it was clear that former Vice President Joe Biden was on track to win the election. (Every major outlet declared him the winner the following morning.)
But rather than accept the election results, Donald Trump and his campaign, including his daughter, launched an all-out assault on remaining mail-in ballots that had not been counted in swing states he eventually lost, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
“They are finding Biden votes all over the place — in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan,” Donald Trump tweeted on Nov. 4. “So bad for our Country!”
“They are working hard to make up 500,000 vote advantage in Pennsylvania disappear — ASAP. Likewise, Michigan and others!” he tweeted again shortly after.