shareblue--2020-11-16--Trump-appointed elections official happy to believe Trump's lies about 'voter fraud'

The chair of the Federal Election Commission on Monday endorsed baseless claims by Donald Trump 's campaign that the 2020 election was stolen .
His reasoning was that if Trump 's lawyer alleged there was fraud , it must be true .
Trey Trainor , a Trump appointee to the agency tasked with enforcing campaign finance law , argued in a tweet , `` Having practiced law for almost 2 decades as a member of the State Bar of Texas , I ’ ve never known fellow TX lawyer [ Sidney Powell ] to be anything but forthright and honest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken on .
If she says there is rampant voter fraud in # Election2020 , I believe her . ''
Trainor was referring to false claims made by Powell , a Trump lawyer , over the weekend on Fox News that the incumbent `` won by not just hundreds of thousands of votes , but by millions of votes '' and that there were `` lots of ways to prove it . ''
Trump was decisively defeated , in both the popular vote and Electoral College totals , by President-elect Joe Biden .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her claims that software had been used to `` rig '' the election or any other widespread issues with the vote count .
Trump 's own Department of Homeland Security , meanwhile , has rejected by Trump 's team of massive election fraud .
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency noted last week in a joint statement with the Election Assistance Commission and elections officials that `` the November 3rd election was the most secure in American history , '' and that there was `` no evidence that any voting system deleted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or was in any way compromised . ''
A team of international observers also found no evidence of significant fraud .
That has not stopped Trump from falsely — and repeatedly — claiming that he was the real winner of the 2020 elections .
Trainor spent many years working as a Republican election lawyer in Texas prior to his appointment .
His clients included the Texas Republican Party and the 2016 Republican National Convention 's platform committee .
Last week , he told a right-wing outlet that he believed `` there is voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites because `` otherwise they would allow the observers to go in.
” Observers from both campaigns were allowed to watch counting , while following social distancing requirements to curb the spread of COVID-19 .
The Federal Election Commission , by design , is a six-member panel — made up of no more than three members of either party — responsible for overseeing and enforcing federal campaign finance laws .
But because Trump failed to replace outgoing commissioners before the election , it was left with no quorum for the 2020 campaign cycle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The chair of the Federal Election Commission on Monday endorsed baseless claims by Donald Trump’s campaign that the 2020 election was stolen. His reasoning was that if Trump’s lawyer alleged there was fraud, it must be true.
Trey Trainor, a Trump appointee to the agency tasked with enforcing campaign finance law, argued in a tweet, “Having practiced law for almost 2 decades as a member of the State Bar of Texas, I’ve never known fellow TX lawyer [Sidney Powell] to be anything but forthright and honest in every case she’s ever taken on. If she says there is rampant voter fraud in #Election2020, I believe her.”
Trainor was referring to false claims made by Powell, a Trump lawyer, over the weekend on Fox News that the incumbent “won by not just hundreds of thousands of votes, but by millions of votes” and that there were “lots of ways to prove it.”
Trump was decisively defeated, in both the popular vote and Electoral College totals, by President-elect Joe Biden.
Powell declined to provide any actual evidence of her claims that software had been used to “rig” the election or any other widespread issues with the vote count.
Trump’s own Department of Homeland Security, meanwhile, has rejected by Trump’s team of massive election fraud. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency noted last week in a joint statement with the Election Assistance Commission and elections officials that “the November 3rd election was the most secure in American history,” and that there was “no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised.”
A team of international observers also found no evidence of significant fraud.
That has not stopped Trump from falsely — and repeatedly — claiming that he was the real winner of the 2020 elections.
Trainor spent many years working as a Republican election lawyer in Texas prior to his appointment. His clients included the Texas Republican Party and the 2016 Republican National Convention’s platform committee.
Last week, he told a right-wing outlet that he believed “there is voter fraud taking place” at vote counting sites because “otherwise they would allow the observers to go in.” Observers from both campaigns were allowed to watch counting, while following social distancing requirements to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The Federal Election Commission, by design, is a six-member panel — made up of no more than three members of either party — responsible for overseeing and enforcing federal campaign finance laws. But because Trump failed to replace outgoing commissioners before the election, it was left with no quorum for the 2020 campaign cycle and unable to do much of anything.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-16--Even Trump's national security adviser seems to realize Biden won the election

National security adviser Robert O'Brien , who was appointed by Donald Trump to his position in September 2019 , said on Monday that the country appears headed toward a Joe Biden presidency .
`` If the Biden-Harris ticket is determined to be the winner , and obviously things look that way now , we 'll have a very professional transition , '' O'Brien told the Global Security Forum .
`` They 're going to have very professional folks who are coming in to take these positions , many of whom have been here before and spent a lot of time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
O'Brien 's message stands in sharp contrast to everything Trump continues to insist about the results of the 2020 election .
Trump has refused to concede the election , which he lost by over 5.6 million votes and 74 votes in the Electoral College to President-elect Biden .
From the Nov. 16 meeting of the Global Security Forum : STEVE CLEMONS , the Hill : Do you think , if things continue as they look , and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris come in and their national security team comes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with them ?
Are you thinking about that ?
And then , finally , I just want to open the door to any op-eds that you might want to send to the Hill .
ROBERT O'BRIEN : Well , I 'm still in office so I 'll probably hold off on the op-eds for a while .
If there is a new administration , look , they deserve some time to come in and implement their policies , we might have policy disagreements .
But look , if the Biden-Harris ticket is determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things look that way now , we 'll have a very professional transition from the National Security Council , there 's no question about it .
They 're going to have very professional folks who are coming in to take these positions , many of whom have been here before and spent a lot of time in the White House in prior administrations .
And the great thing is this is the United States of America , we 've passed the baton and had peaceful , successful transitions even in the most contentious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember Bush v. Gore and the transition there did n't start until mid-December and yet it got done .
If we 're in a situation where we 're not going to have a Trump second term , which I think people where I 'm sitting in the White House would like to see , if it 's another outcome , it 'll be a professional transition , there 's no question about it .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

National security adviser Robert O’Brien, who was appointed by Donald Trump to his position in September 2019, said on Monday that the country appears headed toward a Joe Biden presidency.
“If the Biden-Harris ticket is determined to be the winner, and obviously things look that way now, we’ll have a very professional transition,” O’Brien told the Global Security Forum.
“They’re going to have very professional folks who are coming in to take these positions, many of whom have been here before and spent a lot of time in the White House in prior administrations.”
O’Brien’s message stands in sharp contrast to everything Trump continues to insist about the results of the 2020 election. Trump has refused to concede the election, which he lost by over 5.6 million votes and 74 votes in the Electoral College to President-elect Biden.
From the Nov. 16 meeting of the Global Security Forum:
STEVE CLEMONS, the Hill: Do you think, if things continue as they look, and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris come in and their national security team comes in, are you preparing a healthy transition with them? Are you thinking about that? And then, finally, I just want to open the door to any op-eds that you might want to send to the Hill. ROBERT O’BRIEN: Well, I’m still in office so I’ll probably hold off on the op-eds for a while. If there is a new administration, look, they deserve some time to come in and implement their policies, we might have policy disagreements. But look, if the Biden-Harris ticket is determined to be the winner, and obviously things look that way now, we’ll have a very professional transition from the National Security Council, there’s no question about it. They’re going to have very professional folks who are coming in to take these positions, many of whom have been here before and spent a lot of time in the White House in prior administrations. And the great thing is this is the United States of America, we’ve passed the baton and had peaceful, successful transitions even in the most contentious periods. I’m old enough to remember Bush v. Gore and the transition there didn’t start until mid-December and yet it got done. If we’re in a situation where we’re not going to have a Trump second term, which I think people where I’m sitting in the White House would like to see, if it’s another outcome, it’ll be a professional transition, there’s no question about it.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-16--GOP's anti-abortion extremism didn't work with Catholic voters as they'd hoped

Donald Trump spent the 2020 election courting Christian conservatives , hoping his anti-abortion stance would win over both evangelicals and conservative Catholics .
For the latter group , that may have been a miscalculation .
An election night analysis by Catholics for Choice showed that Catholic voters are not as single-minded about abortion as Trump assumes .
Trump did everything he could to solidify his conservative Christian base , including rushing Amy Coney Barrett onto the Supreme Court .
Nominating Barrett , an extremely conservative Catholic , was seen as a way for Trump to court the Catholic vote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholics would vote on the basis of a candidate 's views on abortion alone .
Repeated polling , though , shows this is not true .
A 2019 Pew Research study found that 77 % of Democratic and Democratic-leaning Catholics registered to vote believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases .
Conversely , a large majority — 63 % — of Republican or Republican-leaning Catholic voters think abortion should mostly be illegal .
When it comes to voting on abortion , Catholics ' views tend to align with those of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 57 % of Catholic voters said abortion should be legal .
That view is even more prevalent among Latinx and younger Catholic voters .
Only 30 % support overturning Roe v. Wade , even though Trump made clear that his appointment of Barrett to the Supreme Court was largely based on the assumption that she would decide in favor of overturning the ruling .
Moreover , most Catholic voters do not share the restrictive views of people like Barrett when it comes to reproductive health .
For example , Catholics for Choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe birth control should be covered in employer health care plans , a position contrary to that of American Catholic bishops .
Barrett , though , wo n't even agree that the right to birth control is a settled legal issue .
Seventy-four percent of Catholic voters support in vitro fertilization ( IVF ) , while 66 % support the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research .
In contrast , Barrett signed on to an ad calling for prosecuting doctors both for performing abortions and for discarding unused embryos , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic support for Trump declined slightly from the 2016 vote .
Ryan Burge , a professor at Eastern Illinois University who studies the intersection of faith and voting , said this shift might have been vital in swing states .
`` White Catholics are important in places like Pennsylvania , Michigan , and Wisconsin .
If you can swing them your way , that 's the difference in close races , '' Burge said .
Catholics for Choice found that Biden won Catholics by a margin of 4 points .
At the highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court justices such as Samuel Alito and Justice Barrett , Catholics may appear to be monolithic , universally holding extreme anti-abortion stances .
When it comes to Catholic voters , though , the economy , health care , the coronavirus , and Medicare were top of mind , and their views on abortion tracked those of other members of their parties .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump spent the 2020 election courting Christian conservatives, hoping his anti-abortion stance would win over both evangelicals and conservative Catholics.
For the latter group, that may have been a miscalculation. An election night analysis by Catholics for Choice showed that Catholic voters are not as single-minded about abortion as Trump assumes.
Trump did everything he could to solidify his conservative Christian base, including rushing Amy Coney Barrett onto the Supreme Court. Nominating Barrett, an extremely conservative Catholic, was seen as a way for Trump to court the Catholic vote. This was based on the assumption that Catholics would vote on the basis of a candidate’s views on abortion alone.
Repeated polling, though, shows this is not true.
A 2019 Pew Research study found that 77% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning Catholics registered to vote believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Conversely, a large majority — 63% — of Republican or Republican-leaning Catholic voters think abortion should mostly be illegal.
When it comes to voting on abortion, Catholics’ views tend to align with those of others in their party.
In 2020, 57% of Catholic voters said abortion should be legal. That view is even more prevalent among Latinx and younger Catholic voters.
Only 30% support overturning Roe v. Wade, even though Trump made clear that his appointment of Barrett to the Supreme Court was largely based on the assumption that she would decide in favor of overturning the ruling.
Moreover, most Catholic voters do not share the restrictive views of people like Barrett when it comes to reproductive health. For example, Catholics for Choice found that a majority of Catholic voters believe birth control should be covered in employer health care plans, a position contrary to that of American Catholic bishops. Barrett, though, won’t even agree that the right to birth control is a settled legal issue.
Seventy-four percent of Catholic voters support in vitro fertilization (IVF), while 66% support the use of embryonic stem cells in medical research.
In contrast, Barrett signed on to an ad calling for prosecuting doctors both for performing abortions and for discarding unused embryos, which often result from IVF.
Overall, Catholic support for Trump declined slightly from the 2016 vote. Ryan Burge, a professor at Eastern Illinois University who studies the intersection of faith and voting, said this shift might have been vital in swing states.
“White Catholics are important in places like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. If you can swing them your way, that’s the difference in close races,” Burge said.
Catholics for Choice found that Biden won Catholics by a margin of 4 points.
At the highest levels, that of bishops and Supreme Court justices such as Samuel Alito and Justice Barrett, Catholics may appear to be monolithic, universally holding extreme anti-abortion stances.
When it comes to Catholic voters, though, the economy, health care, the coronavirus, and Medicare were top of mind, and their views on abortion tracked those of other members of their parties.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-17--Cartoon: Operation Bucket Trap

Cartoon: Operation Bucket Trap

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

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


shareblue--2020-11-17--McEnany invents a whole new lie to complain the media is unfair

White House press secretary and occasional Donald Trump campaign spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany on Tuesday slammed the media for not reporting on alleged acts of violence committed against Trump supporters during so-called `` stop the steal '' election protests in Washington D.C .
The problem ?
Media outlets had already covered the clashes at length .
Tweeting a link to a Breitbart News story about reporters ' recent questions for President-elect Joe Biden , McEnany condemned what she claimed was `` journalistic malpractice . ''
`` The breathtaking journalistic malpractice when it comes to Joe Biden is SHAMEFUL , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' asked 12 questions and not a SINGLE one about the violent leftists who attacked @ realDonaldTrump supporters over the weekend ! ''
On Monday , she tweeted a link to another Breitbart story about `` Antifa '' supposedly accosting women , children , and elderly individuals at the pro-Trump rallies on Saturday .
`` The violent Left assaulted innocent @ realDonald Trump supporters after the Million MAGA march , '' McEnany wrote on the social media platform .
`` They threw unknown liquids & launched fireworks at supporters , physically attacked several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seniors .
UNACCEPTABLE ! ''
Numerous major news outlets including NBC News and the Washington Post did in fact cover the conflicts between protesters and counterprotesters at length .
In most cases , the identities of the perpetrators were unclear .
A local NBC outlet reported that , in the evening hours after Saturday 's pro-Trump march , at least 20 protesters and counterprotesters were arrested following clashes and one person was stabbed .
The outlet noted that authorities had not yet released the identity of the suspected stabber .
NBC reporter Shomari @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counterprotesters could be seen shoving and flinging insults at each other .
The Metropolitan Police Department told NBC that arrests after the march included suspected firearms violations , simple assault , acting in a disorderly manner , protesting without a permit , and assaulting a police officer .
However , they could not identify to the outlet which arrests were for pro-Trump protesters and which were for anti-Trump counterprotesters .
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser 's office did confirm to the outlet that seven firearms were confiscated during the violence .
A Washington Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ openly acknowledged that violence seemed to have been instigated by both pro- and anti-Trump factions , though the specific identities and motives of those arrested remains unknown .
`` On both sides , people were bloodied , and at least 20 were arrested , '' the outlet reported .
The outlet reported that anti-Trump counterprotesters set MAGA hats and flags on fire and set off illegal fireworks .
Counterprotesters are also alleged to have knocked over displays of pro-Trump regalia sold by various vendors .
The outlet similarly noted violence by pro-Trump individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impale a counterprotester with a Trump flag .
McEnany 's claims appear to hinge on the accuracy — or lack thereof — of right-wing media reports .
Fox-News ' reporting of Saturday 's events , alleging widespread violence toward Trump supporters , seems largely based on videos posted to Twitter by various individuals .
McEnany also lied about the number of people at the weekend march , falsely claiming that more than 1 million Trump supporters had attended the event .
PolitiFact has since fact-checked that account , noting that only about 135,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area depicted in McEnany 's photo .
Fox News , meanwhile , reported `` tens of thousands '' of attendees .
McEnany has also tweeted various false claims of election fraud in recent days , the impetus for the chaotic rally and a popular conspiracy pushed by Trump himself .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

White House press secretary and occasional Donald Trump campaign spokesperson Kayleigh McEnany on Tuesday slammed the media for not reporting on alleged acts of violence committed against Trump supporters during so-called “stop the steal” election protests in Washington D.C.
The problem? Media outlets had already covered the clashes at length.
Tweeting a link to a Breitbart News story about reporters’ recent questions for President-elect Joe Biden, McEnany condemned what she claimed was “journalistic malpractice.”
“The breathtaking journalistic malpractice when it comes to Joe Biden is SHAMEFUL,” she wrote alongside the article. “‘Reporters’ asked 12 questions and not a SINGLE one about the violent leftists who attacked @realDonaldTrump supporters over the weekend!”
On Monday, she tweeted a link to another Breitbart story about “Antifa” supposedly accosting women, children, and elderly individuals at the pro-Trump rallies on Saturday.
“The violent Left assaulted innocent @realDonald Trump supporters after the Million MAGA march,” McEnany wrote on the social media platform. “They threw unknown liquids & launched fireworks at supporters, physically attacked several rally goers, and accosted children and seniors. UNACCEPTABLE!”
McEnany’s claims are riddled with misinformation.
Numerous major news outlets including NBC News and the Washington Post did in fact cover the conflicts between protesters and counterprotesters at length. In most cases, the identities of the perpetrators were unclear.
A local NBC outlet reported that, in the evening hours after Saturday’s pro-Trump march, at least 20 protesters and counterprotesters were arrested following clashes and one person was stabbed.
The outlet noted that authorities had not yet released the identity of the suspected stabber.
NBC reporter Shomari Stone tweeted video in which protesters and counterprotesters could be seen shoving and flinging insults at each other.
The Metropolitan Police Department told NBC that arrests after the march included suspected firearms violations, simple assault, acting in a disorderly manner, protesting without a permit, and assaulting a police officer.
However, they could not identify to the outlet which arrests were for pro-Trump protesters and which were for anti-Trump counterprotesters.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office did confirm to the outlet that seven firearms were confiscated during the violence.
A Washington Post story covering the evening’s chaos also openly acknowledged that violence seemed to have been instigated by both pro- and anti-Trump factions, though the specific identities and motives of those arrested remains unknown.
“On both sides, people were bloodied, and at least 20 were arrested,” the outlet reported.
The outlet reported that anti-Trump counterprotesters set MAGA hats and flags on fire and set off illegal fireworks. Counterprotesters are also alleged to have knocked over displays of pro-Trump regalia sold by various vendors.
The outlet similarly noted violence by pro-Trump individuals, including one Trump supporter attempting to impale a counterprotester with a Trump flag.
McEnany’s claims appear to hinge on the accuracy — or lack thereof — of right-wing media reports.
Fox-News’ reporting of Saturday’s events, alleging widespread violence toward Trump supporters, seems largely based on videos posted to Twitter by various individuals.
McEnany also lied about the number of people at the weekend march, falsely claiming that more than 1 million Trump supporters had attended the event.
PolitiFact has since fact-checked that account, noting that only about 135,000 people can fit within Freedom Plaza, the area depicted in McEnany’s photo.
Fox News, meanwhile, reported “tens of thousands” of attendees.
McEnany has also tweeted various false claims of election fraud in recent days, the impetus for the chaotic rally and a popular conspiracy pushed by Trump himself.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-17--Georgia secretary of state: We looked for voter fraud. We found none.

Brad Raffensperger , Georgia 's Republican secretary of state , said on Tuesday that an audit of voting machines used in several counties during the 2020 presidential election did not show evidence of hacking or tampering .
Pro V & V , the testing laboratory hired to do the auditing , `` found no evidence of the machines being tampered , '' Raffensperger said in a press release .
The tests were conducted in Floyd , Paulding , Cobb , Morgan , Spalding , and Douglas counties .
`` Those were the — those particular counties were chosen because those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns from the Republican Party and other activist groups , '' Raffensperger told a local TV station .
`` We wanted them to go ahead and just knock that out and answer people 's questions and give them that assurance . ''
Democratic candidate Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in Georgia by over 14,000 votes and became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since Bill Clinton in 1992 .
Trump has been promoting conspiracy theories and the false claim that votes cast on voting machines were tampered with and flipped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Infrastructure Security Agency , whose leadership was chosen by Trump , recently certified the security of the 2020 election and found no evidence of fraud or manipulation .
Biden defeated Trump by over 5.7 million votes and won the Electoral College by a vote of 306 to 232 .
He will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Jan. 20 , 2021 .
From the Nov. 17 edition of `` Action News '' on ABC affiliate WSB-TV in Atlanta : LINDA STOUFFER , WSB-TV : A randomized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key counties found no hacking and no tampering took place .
BRAD RAFFENSPERGER : We conducted a randomized sampling and audit that included Floyd , Paulding , Cobb , Morgan , Spalding , and Douglas counties .
Pro V & V conducted this for our office .
MARK WINNE , WSB-TV : Are you confident that study is comprehensive enough ?
RAFFENSPERGER : Those were the — those particular counties were chosen because those are the ones that had been elevated concerns from the Republican Party and other activist groups , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knock that out and answer people 's questions and give them that assurance .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, said on Tuesday that an audit of voting machines used in several counties during the 2020 presidential election did not show evidence of hacking or tampering.
Pro V&V, the testing laboratory hired to do the auditing, “found no evidence of the machines being tampered,” Raffensperger said in a press release.
The tests were conducted in Floyd, Paulding, Cobb, Morgan, Spalding, and Douglas counties.
“Those were the — those particular counties were chosen because those are the ones that had been elevated concerns from the Republican Party and other activist groups,” Raffensperger told a local TV station. “We wanted them to go ahead and just knock that out and answer people’s questions and give them that assurance.”
Democratic candidate Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in Georgia by over 14,000 votes and became the first Democratic presidential candidate to win the state since Bill Clinton in 1992.
Trump has been promoting conspiracy theories and the false claim that votes cast on voting machines were tampered with and flipped from him to Biden.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, whose leadership was chosen by Trump, recently certified the security of the 2020 election and found no evidence of fraud or manipulation.
Biden defeated Trump by over 5.7 million votes and won the Electoral College by a vote of 306 to 232. He will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Jan. 20, 2021.
From the Nov. 17 edition of “Action News” on ABC affiliate WSB-TV in Atlanta:
LINDA STOUFFER, WSB-TV: A randomized audit of the actual voting machines in key counties found no hacking and no tampering took place. BRAD RAFFENSPERGER: We conducted a randomized sampling and audit that included Floyd, Paulding, Cobb, Morgan, Spalding, and Douglas counties. Pro V&V conducted this for our office. MARK WINNE, WSB-TV: Are you confident that study is comprehensive enough? RAFFENSPERGER: Those were the — those particular counties were chosen because those are the ones that had been elevated concerns from the Republican Party and other activist groups, and we wanted them to go ahead and just knock that out and answer people’s questions and give them that assurance.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-17--Kelly Loeffler tries to save her Senate seat by lying about health care

Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) on Tuesday falsely accused her opponent , Raphael Warnock , of supporting `` socialized medicine '' because he backs a `` public option '' to give people more insurance coverage options .
`` .
@ ReverendWarnock supports socialized medicine including the public option .
He wants the government to run healthcare & take away your private insurance , '' Loeffler tweeted on Tuesday .
`` I will ALWAYS put patients first — and I will NEVER support putting DC in charge of your healthcare . ''
The statement suggests that Loeffler does not understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or is knowingly misleading her constituents on the matter .
Last month , PolitiFact and Kaiser Health News published a fact-check after Donald Trump made a similar `` pants on fire '' claim about Joe Biden 's support for the public option .
Under Biden 's plan to expand the existing Affordable Care Act , the groups note , the `` public option would be a health insurance plan run by the federal government that would be offered alongside other private health insurance plans on the insurance marketplace . ''
Experts said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means that the government runs hospitals and employs doctors , and that is not part of Biden 's plan , '' Larry Levitt , Kaiser Family Foundation executive vice president for health policy , told fact-checkers .
The federal government is , of course , already `` in charge '' of healthcare for millions of Americans who receive coverage through Medicare , the military , and through the Veterans Administration — benefits Loeffler has claimed to support .
This is also hardly the first time Loeffler has falsely accused Warnock , the senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martin Luther King Jr. once preached , of being a `` socialist . ''
She claimed on Monday if that Democrats win the Georgia Senate races , `` they will transform America into a socialist nation '' and that the `` radical '' Warnock `` will champion their agenda . ''
A Loeffler spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story .
In addition to opposing the public option , Loeffler has pushed to get rid of the entire Affordable Care Act .
Last month , she voted against a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Justice to advocate courts to strike down '' the law , commonly known as Obamacare .
Days later , she joined Republican Gov .
Brian Kemp — the man who appointed her to a vacant Senate seat last December — to announce a plan to opt out of the federal health insurance exchange .
Advocates say the move could take coverage away from 60,000 Georgians .
Loeffler , who came in second in the November election , will face Warnock in a January runoff .
On Fox News Monday night , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia is a `` red state , '' even though Democrat Biden carried it in the Nov. 3 election by more than 10,000 votes .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) on Tuesday falsely accused her opponent, Raphael Warnock, of supporting “socialized medicine” because he backs a “public option” to give people more insurance coverage options.
“.@ReverendWarnock supports socialized medicine including the public option. He wants the government to run healthcare & take away your private insurance,” Loeffler tweeted on Tuesday. “I will ALWAYS put patients first — and I will NEVER support putting DC in charge of your healthcare.”
The statement suggests that Loeffler does not understand what a “public option” means or is knowingly misleading her constituents on the matter.
Last month, PolitiFact and Kaiser Health News published a fact-check after Donald Trump made a similar “pants on fire” claim about Joe Biden’s support for the public option.
Under Biden’s plan to expand the existing Affordable Care Act, the groups note, the “public option would be a health insurance plan run by the federal government that would be offered alongside other private health insurance plans on the insurance marketplace.” Experts said it was hardly socialism.
“Socialized medicine means that the government runs hospitals and employs doctors, and that is not part of Biden’s plan,” Larry Levitt, Kaiser Family Foundation executive vice president for health policy, told fact-checkers.
The federal government is, of course, already “in charge” of healthcare for millions of Americans who receive coverage through Medicare, the military, and through the Veterans Administration — benefits Loeffler has claimed to support.
This is also hardly the first time Loeffler has falsely accused Warnock, the senior pastor at the Atlanta church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once preached, of being a “socialist.” She claimed on Monday if that Democrats win the Georgia Senate races, “they will transform America into a socialist nation” and that the “radical” Warnock “will champion their agenda.”
A Loeffler spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
In addition to opposing the public option, Loeffler has pushed to get rid of the entire Affordable Care Act.
Last month, she voted against a resolution opposing “efforts of the Department of Justice to advocate courts to strike down” the law, commonly known as Obamacare.
Days later, she joined Republican Gov. Brian Kemp — the man who appointed her to a vacant Senate seat last December — to announce a plan to opt out of the federal health insurance exchange. Advocates say the move could take coverage away from 60,000 Georgians.
Loeffler, who came in second in the November election, will face Warnock in a January runoff. On Fox News Monday night, she repeatedly claimed that she would win because Georgia is a “red state,” even though Democrat Biden carried it in the Nov. 3 election by more than 10,000 votes.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-17--Meet the LGBTQ congressman who could be the next assistant House speaker

This week , House Democrats are poised to choose their leadership for the 117th Congress , which will convene next year .
One of the contenders for assistant speaker of the House , Rep. David Cicilline ( D-RI ) , would be the first openly gay person to hold that leadership role .
Cicilline and Rep. Katherine Clark ( D-MA ) are vying for the position after New Mexico 's Ben Ray Luján , the current assistant speaker , was elected to the Senate .
Cicilline is currently a senior member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and vice chair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clark is vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus .
Cicilline said the election `` reinforces the need for someone in leadership who has a proven record of bringing people together and forging consensus , '' with a focus on keeping Democratic control of the House .
The Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus endorsed Cicilline , who co-chairs the group , for the role last week .
`` [ I ] t 's critical that our community not lose its voice at the leadership table , '' the group said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ understands personally the damage that Donald Trump has done – especially to young LGBTQ Americans – through his words and deeds .
We remain the only minority community that can still be discriminated against in 30 states , '' the group added .
The Human Rights Campaign has also endorsed Cicilline , saying he `` has been the only LGBTQ voice at the leadership table '' and praising his history of advocating for LGBTQ people , including his efforts over many years to pass the Equality Act , a bill that would provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He sponsored the Equality Act in 2019 , which passed the House but has stalled in the Senate , where Republicans have blocked it .
Cicilline also advocated for nondiscrimination protections in COVID-19 relief legislation that were sought by a coalition of about 200 organizations , including LGBTQ groups , in a letter to members of Congress in April .
It 's not just the House , though .
LGBTQ groups are also pushing for representation in a Biden administration .
The LGBTQ Victory Fund , which is focused on getting more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested a number of LGBTQ lawmakers and state officials to lead agencies , including Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin for the Department of Health and Human Services and Dr. Rachel Levine , the Pennsylvania secretary of health , for Department of Health and Human Services or the office of the surgeon general .
The group working on President-elect Joe Biden 's transition to the White House recently announced that several LGBTQ people would be on its agency review teams .
In addition to endorsing possible LGBTQ leaders in the House , LGBTQ advocacy organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a Biden administration , including the passage of the Equality Act , the BREATHE Act , which would divest taxpayer funding from policing , and the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act , which would create incentives for hate crime reporting , among other provisions .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

This week, House Democrats are poised to choose their leadership for the 117th Congress, which will convene next year. One of the contenders for assistant speaker of the House, Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), would be the first openly gay person to hold that leadership role.
Cicilline and Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) are vying for the position after New Mexico’s Ben Ray Luján, the current assistant speaker, was elected to the Senate. Cicilline is currently a senior member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and vice chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. Clark is vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus.
Cicilline said the election “reinforces the need for someone in leadership who has a proven record of bringing people together and forging consensus,” with a focus on keeping Democratic control of the House.
The Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus endorsed Cicilline, who co-chairs the group, for the role last week.
“[I]t’s critical that our community not lose its voice at the leadership table,” the group said in a statement.
“As an LGBTQ man, he understands personally the damage that Donald Trump has done – especially to young LGBTQ Americans – through his words and deeds. We remain the only minority community that can still be discriminated against in 30 states,” the group added.
The Human Rights Campaign has also endorsed Cicilline, saying he “has been the only LGBTQ voice at the leadership table” and praising his history of advocating for LGBTQ people, including his efforts over many years to pass the Equality Act, a bill that would provide explicit federal nondiscrimination protections to LGBTQ people.
He sponsored the Equality Act in 2019, which passed the House but has stalled in the Senate, where Republicans have blocked it.
Cicilline also advocated for nondiscrimination protections in COVID-19 relief legislation that were sought by a coalition of about 200 organizations, including LGBTQ groups, in a letter to members of Congress in April.
It’s not just the House, though. LGBTQ groups are also pushing for representation in a Biden administration.
The LGBTQ Victory Fund, which is focused on getting more LGBTQ people into political life, has suggested a number of LGBTQ lawmakers and state officials to lead agencies, including Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin for the Department of Health and Human Services and Dr. Rachel Levine, the Pennsylvania secretary of health, for Department of Health and Human Services or the office of the surgeon general.
The group working on President-elect Joe Biden’s transition to the White House recently announced that several LGBTQ people would be on its agency review teams.
In addition to endorsing possible LGBTQ leaders in the House, LGBTQ advocacy organizations have pushed for their own legislative agendas during a Biden administration, including the passage of the Equality Act, the BREATHE Act, which would divest taxpayer funding from policing, and the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, which would create incentives for hate crime reporting, among other provisions.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-17--Pentagon announces it's cutting troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan

Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller on Tuesday announced plans to reduce U.S. troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan , saying the decision fulfills Donald Trump 's pledge to bring forces home even as Republicans and U.S. allies warn against a rash withdrawal .
The new plan will accelerate troop withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan in Trump 's final days in office , despite arguments from senior military officials in favor of a slower , more methodical pullout .
Trump has refused to concede his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden , who takes office Jan. 20 , just five days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finish .
Miller , who refused to take questions from reporters , said the plan will cut the number of troops in Afghanistan from more than 4,500 to 2,500 , and in Iraq from about 3,000 to 2,500 .
Miller added that the U.S. remains ready to respond if conditions deteriorate .
`` If the forces of terror , instability , division , and hate begin a deliberate campaign to disrupt our efforts , we stand ready to apply the capabilities required to thwart them , '' he said in a roughly eight-minute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room .
The withdrawal plan falls short of Trump 's oft-repeated vow to end America 's long wars .
It also runs counter to his guidance that troop withdrawals be based on the conditions on the ground , not a date on the calendar .
In Afghanistan , in particular , military and defense leaders have consistently said the Taliban has not yet met requirements to reduce violent attacks against Afghan government forces .
U.S. forces have remained in Afghanistan since they invaded in October 2001 .
The decision has already received a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Capitol Hill , and a somewhat uncharacteristically blunt critique from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg .
Trump 's national security adviser Robert O'Brien said the president is keeping his promise to the American people to get U.S. troops out of war zones .
`` By May , it is President Trump 's hope that they will all come home safely and in their entirety , '' O'Brien told reporters at the White House shortly after Miller made the announcement at the Pentagon .
`` I want to reiterate that this policy is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This has been the president 's policy since he took office . ''

Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller on Tuesday announced plans to reduce U.S. troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying the decision fulfills Donald Trump’s pledge to bring forces home even as Republicans and U.S. allies warn against a rash withdrawal.
The new plan will accelerate troop withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan in Trump’s final days in office, despite arguments from senior military officials in favor of a slower, more methodical pullout. Trump has refused to concede his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden, who takes office Jan. 20, just five days after the troop withdrawals are slated to finish.
Miller, who refused to take questions from reporters, said the plan will cut the number of troops in Afghanistan from more than 4,500 to 2,500, and in Iraq from about 3,000 to 2,500. Miller added that the U.S. remains ready to respond if conditions deteriorate.
“If the forces of terror, instability, division, and hate begin a deliberate campaign to disrupt our efforts, we stand ready to apply the capabilities required to thwart them,” he said in a roughly eight-minute statement to reporters in the Pentagon briefing room.
The withdrawal plan falls short of Trump’s oft-repeated vow to end America’s long wars. It also runs counter to his guidance that troop withdrawals be based on the conditions on the ground, not a date on the calendar.
In Afghanistan, in particular, military and defense leaders have consistently said the Taliban has not yet met requirements to reduce violent attacks against Afghan government forces. U.S. forces have remained in Afghanistan since they invaded in October 2001.
The decision has already received a cool reception from some Republican leaders on Capitol Hill, and a somewhat uncharacteristically blunt critique from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Trump’s national security adviser Robert O’Brien said the president is keeping his promise to the American people to get U.S. troops out of war zones. “By May, it is President Trump’s hope that they will all come home safely and in their entirety,” O’Brien told reporters at the White House shortly after Miller made the announcement at the Pentagon.
“I want to reiterate that this policy is not new,” O’Brien said. “This has been the president’s policy since he took office.”


shareblue--2020-11-17--Biden names White House senior staff — and none of them are his daughter

President-elect Joe Biden announced several members of his new White House staff on Tuesday .
It 's a list that looks substantially different from the many of the inexperienced or inflammatory advisers Donald Trump installed in his administration over the past four years .
Biden 's choices include his campaign manager , Jen O'Malley Dillon , as deputy chief of staff .
According to CNN , Dillon is the first woman to helm a successful Democratic presidential bid .
She also worked on both of former President Barack Obama 's campaigns as well as Rep. Beto O'Rourke ( D-TX ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also named two counselors to the president : Steve Ricchetti , campaign chair and Biden 's chief of staff during Obama 's time in office , and Dana Remus , who served as a lawyer on the Biden campaign and as Obama 's former deputy White House counsel .
Biden has also tapped campaign chief strategist Mike Donilon , former counselor to the vice president during the Obama administration , as a senior adviser , as well as Rep. Cedric Richmond ( D-LA ) as both director of the White House Office of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and is a junior member of House Democratic leadership as well as past chair of the Congressional Black Caucus .
According to the Wall Street Journal , Richmond will be among the highest-ranked Black officials in Biden 's White House staff .
The outlet noted that Biden said his team would `` help us build back better than before . ''
`` America faces great challenges , '' Biden added , `` and they bring diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to tackling these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stronger , more united nation . ''
Biden 's selections contrast with Trump 's staff during his time in office , who have often drawn criticism due to their close relation to the White House occupant , their inexperience , or their polarizing approach .
One such Trump appointment was that of his daughter Ivanka Trump to the role of senior adviser .
Prior to her role as senior adviser to the president of the United Stated , Ivanka Trump was executive vice president of the Trump Organization and a judge on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The Apprentice . ''
She also founded a fashion line that has been accused of swiping its designs from other , more established designers .
She had no experience in politics prior to taking on her 2017 role as her father 's senior adviser .
Ivanka Trump 's husband , Jared Kushner , also serves as a senior adviser to the White House occupant .
According to a CNN report , Kushner 's experience includes taking over his father 's real estate business , Kushner Companies , after his father pleaded guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evasion , lying to the Federal Election Commission , and retaliating against a federal witness .
Kushner also cofounded Cadre , a digital investment platform for real estate and purchased Observer Media , which publishes the New York Observer .
Like his wife , Kushner has no political experience before joining the White House — another appointment that drew accusations of nepotism .
Another pick early in Trump 's administration was Steve Bannon , tapped in 2016 as senior counselor to the president and chief strategist , a role he held for eight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ varied .
It ranges from working as an investment banker to a naval officer to a Hollywood producer to the cofounder of the alt-right website Breitbart News .
Absent from his resume at the time of his appointment , however , was any experience in United States politics or government .
Other members of Trump 's White House staff over the past four years , while experienced in politics , have become known for the controversies they cause .
Kellyanne Conway , Trump 's former counselor to the president , has credentials including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and political consultant before becoming Trump 's campaign manager toward the end of his 2016 campaign .
But Conway 's time in the role was mired in controversy .
She coined the phrase `` alternative facts '' to describe Trump 's lies in 2017 , and the same year promoted Ivanka Trump 's line of products , potentially a federal violation of ethics .
Conway also claimed former national security adviser Michael Flynn had the `` full confidence '' of Trump , just before his dismissal .
In 2019 , the U.S. Office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violated the Hatch Act more than 50 times during her time on staff , and recommended her dismissal .
Top Trump aide Stephen Miller , often considered a `` rising star '' among conservatives , has also engineered some of the most racist and xenophobic plans of the entire Trump administration — including the child separation policy and the Muslim ban .
Chief of staff Mark Meadows , who previously served in the House before joining the White House , has come under fire for refusing to wear a face mask while speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a face mask , and claiming the country 's dangerous coronavirus numbers are n't Trump 's fault and can not be controlled .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

President-elect Joe Biden announced several members of his new White House staff on Tuesday. It’s a list that looks substantially different from the many of the inexperienced or inflammatory advisers Donald Trump installed in his administration over the past four years.
Biden’s choices include his campaign manager, Jen O’Malley Dillon, as deputy chief of staff. According to CNN, Dillon is the first woman to helm a successful Democratic presidential bid. She also worked on both of former President Barack Obama’s campaigns as well as Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX)’s presidential primary campaign.
Biden has also named two counselors to the president: Steve Ricchetti, campaign chair and Biden’s chief of staff during Obama’s time in office, and Dana Remus, who served as a lawyer on the Biden campaign and as Obama’s former deputy White House counsel.
Biden has also tapped campaign chief strategist Mike Donilon, former counselor to the vice president during the Obama administration, as a senior adviser, as well as Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) as both director of the White House Office of Public Engagement and senior adviser.
Richmond currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and is a junior member of House Democratic leadership as well as past chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Richmond will be among the highest-ranked Black officials in Biden’s White House staff.
The outlet noted that Biden said his team would “help us build back better than before.”
“America faces great challenges,” Biden added, “and they bring diverse perspectives and a shared commitment to tackling these challenges and emerging on the other side a stronger, more united nation.”
Biden’s selections contrast with Trump’s staff during his time in office, who have often drawn criticism due to their close relation to the White House occupant, their inexperience, or their polarizing approach.
One such Trump appointment was that of his daughter Ivanka Trump to the role of senior adviser.
Prior to her role as senior adviser to the president of the United Stated, Ivanka Trump was executive vice president of the Trump Organization and a judge on her father’s reality TV show, “The Apprentice.”
She also founded a fashion line that has been accused of swiping its designs from other, more established designers.
She had no experience in politics prior to taking on her 2017 role as her father’s senior adviser.
Ivanka Trump’s husband, Jared Kushner, also serves as a senior adviser to the White House occupant.
According to a CNN report, Kushner’s experience includes taking over his father’s real estate business, Kushner Companies, after his father pleaded guilty in 2003 to multiple counts of tax evasion, lying to the Federal Election Commission, and retaliating against a federal witness.
Kushner also cofounded Cadre, a digital investment platform for real estate and purchased Observer Media, which publishes the New York Observer.
Like his wife, Kushner has no political experience before joining the White House — another appointment that drew accusations of nepotism.
Another pick early in Trump’s administration was Steve Bannon, tapped in 2016 as senior counselor to the president and chief strategist, a role he held for eight months.
Bannon’s career experience is varied. It ranges from working as an investment banker to a naval officer to a Hollywood producer to the cofounder of the alt-right website Breitbart News.
Absent from his resume at the time of his appointment, however, was any experience in United States politics or government.
Other members of Trump’s White House staff over the past four years, while experienced in politics, have become known for the controversies they cause.
Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s former counselor to the president, has credentials including time spent as a pollster, strategist and political consultant before becoming Trump’s campaign manager toward the end of his 2016 campaign.
But Conway’s time in the role was mired in controversy. She coined the phrase “alternative facts” to describe Trump’s lies in 2017, and the same year promoted Ivanka Trump’s line of products, potentially a federal violation of ethics.
Conway also claimed former national security adviser Michael Flynn had the “full confidence” of Trump, just before his dismissal. In 2019, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel also found that Conway violated the Hatch Act more than 50 times during her time on staff, and recommended her dismissal.
Top Trump aide Stephen Miller, often considered a “rising star” among conservatives, has also engineered some of the most racist and xenophobic plans of the entire Trump administration — including the child separation policy and the Muslim ban.
Chief of staff Mark Meadows, who previously served in the House before joining the White House, has come under fire for refusing to wear a face mask while speaking to reporters, ridiculing Biden for wearing a face mask, and claiming the country’s dangerous coronavirus numbers aren’t Trump’s fault and cannot be controlled.
Meadows recently tested positive for COVID-19.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-17--Meet Trump's new legal team of conspiracy theorists trying to steal the election

A petition filed by Donald Trump 's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani to practice before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in connection with the Trump campaign 's lawsuit seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state was accepted on Tuesday by the court .
The approval of Giuliani 's motion to practice comes despite his incorrect claim on the petition that he is a `` member in good standing '' of a number of courts .
Giuliani wrote , for instance , that he is a member in good standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though his membership status is listed on its website as `` Administratively suspended : non-payment . ''
In addition , Giuliani has not argued before a federal court since 1992 , nearly three decades ago , according to BuzzFeed News ' Zoe Tillman .
Nevertheless , Trump tweeted on Saturday that Giuliani would be leading his team of lawyers , composed of : • Joseph diGenova , whose antisemitic rantings have kept him off the air on Fox News for more than a year .
• Victoria Toensing , who is married @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Giuliani to dig up dirt on Joe Biden in Ukraine , part of the basis for Trump 's impeachment in the House of Representatives .
• Sidney Powell , who has represented former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn .
• Jenna Ellis , a Trump campaign lawyer who has been lying about nonexistent voter fraud on Twitter for weeks .
The suit is Pennsylvania is another attempt by Trump and his supporters to steal the election won by President-elect Joe Biden — an effort that has so far been wildly unsuccessful , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed has either been dismissed by a judge or voluntarily withdrawn for lack of any evidence backing up their claims of widespread voting fraud .
The Trump campaign has already removed its central claim from the suit , namely that representatives of the Trump campaign were not allowed to witness ballot counting and that almost 690,000 ballots should be therefore be invalidated .
The claim was a lie — the Trump campaign did in fact have observers in place to witness vote counting in Pennsylvania .
Now the lawsuit seeks to invalidate ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which , the Washington Post reported , only impacts a few votes that wo n't change make a significant dent in Biden 's current 74,047-vote lead .
The latest team of lawyers replaces high-powered law firms who are dumping Trump as a client as he continues to lie about voter fraud .
On Monday , three lawyers representing him in Pennsylvania filed to be removed from the case , saying in their petition to the court : `` Plaintiffs and Linda A. Kerns , John Scott , and Douglas Bryan Hughes have reached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best served if Linda A. Kerns , John Scott , and Douglas Bryan Hughes withdraw , and Marc A. Scaringi represent Plaintiffs in this case . ''
Law firms that have worked with Trump for years , such as Jones Day , have found themselves having to consider the potential blows to their standing and reputations if they represent him in lawsuits that are determined to be unfounded and frivolous .
Benjamin Ginsberg , a lawyer formerly at Jones Day , wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post two months before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make his and the Republican Party 's rhetoric look less like sincere concern — and more like transactional hypocrisy designed to provide an electoral advantage .
And they come as Republicans trying to make their cases in courts must deal with the basic truth that four decades of dedicated investigation have produced only isolated incidents of election fraud . ''
Ginsberg wrote : `` Republicans need to rethink their arguments in many of the cases in which they are involved — quickly .
Otherwise , they risk harming the fundamental principle of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be allowed to cast their ballots .
If that happens , Americans will deservedly render the GOP a minority party for a long , long time . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A petition filed by Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani to practice before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in connection with the Trump campaign’s lawsuit seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state was accepted on Tuesday by the court.
The approval of Giuliani’s motion to practice comes despite his incorrect claim on the petition that he is a “member in good standing” of a number of courts.
Giuliani wrote, for instance, that he is a member in good standing of the District of Columbia Bar, even though his membership status is listed on its website as “Administratively suspended: non-payment.”
In addition, Giuliani has not argued before a federal court since 1992, nearly three decades ago, according to BuzzFeed News’ Zoe Tillman.
Nevertheless, Trump tweeted on Saturday that Giuliani would be leading his team of lawyers, composed of:
Joseph diGenova, whose antisemitic rantings have kept him off the air on Fox News for more than a year.
Victoria Toensing, who is married to diGenova and worked with him and Giuliani to dig up dirt on Joe Biden in Ukraine, part of the basis for Trump’s impeachment in the House of Representatives.
Sidney Powell, who has represented former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn.
Jenna Ellis, a Trump campaign lawyer who has been lying about nonexistent voter fraud on Twitter for weeks.
The suit is Pennsylvania is another attempt by Trump and his supporters to steal the election won by President-elect Joe Biden — an effort that has so far been wildly unsuccessful, as almost every lawsuit their lawyers have filed has either been dismissed by a judge or voluntarily withdrawn for lack of any evidence backing up their claims of widespread voting fraud.
The Trump campaign has already removed its central claim from the suit, namely that representatives of the Trump campaign were not allowed to witness ballot counting and that almost 690,000 ballots should be therefore be invalidated.
The claim was a lie — the Trump campaign did in fact have observers in place to witness vote counting in Pennsylvania. Now the lawsuit seeks to invalidate ballots that voters were allowed to fix, which, the Washington Post reported, only impacts a few votes that won’t change make a significant dent in Biden’s current 74,047-vote lead.
The latest team of lawyers replaces high-powered law firms who are dumping Trump as a client as he continues to lie about voter fraud. On Monday, three lawyers representing him in Pennsylvania filed to be removed from the case, saying in their petition to the court: “Plaintiffs and Linda A. Kerns, John Scott, and Douglas Bryan Hughes have reached a mutual agreement that Plaintiffs will be best served if Linda A. Kerns, John Scott, and Douglas Bryan Hughes withdraw, and Marc A. Scaringi represent Plaintiffs in this case.”
Law firms that have worked with Trump for years, such as Jones Day, have found themselves having to consider the potential blows to their standing and reputations if they represent him in lawsuits that are determined to be unfounded and frivolous.
Benjamin Ginsberg, a lawyer formerly at Jones Day, wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post two months before the election: “The president’s words make his and the Republican Party’s rhetoric look less like sincere concern — and more like transactional hypocrisy designed to provide an electoral advantage. And they come as Republicans trying to make their cases in courts must deal with the basic truth that four decades of dedicated investigation have produced only isolated incidents of election fraud.”
Ginsberg wrote: “Republicans need to rethink their arguments in many of the cases in which they are involved — quickly. Otherwise, they risk harming the fundamental principle of our democracy: that all eligible voters must be allowed to cast their ballots. If that happens, Americans will deservedly render the GOP a minority party for a long, long time.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-17--GOP complains that Thanksgiving is 'canceled' after refusing to address pandemic

House Republicans are furious that public health experts are advising people to avoid large holiday gatherings to curb the spread of the coronavirus .
But the same people have fought against attempts to contain the pandemic .
A growing chorus of conservative lawmakers in recent days has complained that `` Democrats want to cancel Thanksgiving and Christmas '' and that this is part of a government conspiracy to take away Americans ' `` freedom . ''
With a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalization in much of the country , public health experts have urged people to forgo large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such gatherings will cause yet a bigger surge in new infections in the upcoming weeks .
In recent months , House Republicans have — in nearly unanimous votes — opposed policies aimed at reducing the spread of the virus .
They opposed a $ 3 trillion relief package that included $ 75 billion in new funding for coronavirus treatment , tracing , and testing — as well as emergency exposure controls , child care , and hazard pay for essential workers .
They also opposed — and filed a federal lawsuit to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow members of Congress to work from home during the pandemic , even as several members of both parties tested positive for the coronavirus .
Many Republican lawmakers also flouted social distancing and mask-wearing requirements .
Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs urged in April that health officials should `` be quarantined without a government paycheck and see how they like that . ''
Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan went on Fox News in October to mock Joe Biden for taking safety precautions to avoid the virus — hours after Donald Trump announced he had tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lead , the virus has spread uncontrollably and experts are warning of a dire winter .
More than 138,000 new cases and 660 deaths were reported on Monday alone .
But House Republicans are taking no responsibility for the pandemic and its negative impact on holiday traditions : • Brian Babin of Texas tweeted Tuesday : `` I ’ ve had enough of this lunacy from the liberal media .
As for me and my family , we will celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior whether @ CNN wants us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Banks of Indiana tweeted in October : `` Democrats want to cancel Thanksgiving and Christmas . ''
• Biggs tweeted last month , `` Since March , there has n't been a 2020 holiday that health bureaucrats have n't tried to ruin with their pseudoscientific hysteria & efforts to control the masses .
And just in time for Halloween , these bureaucrats are attempting to scare you into isolation for Thanksgiving . ''
• Ted Budd of North Carolina tweeted Tuesday : `` Nov. 7 : Democrat officials celebrate in the streets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't celebrate Thanksgiving .
Liberal politicians want freedom for themselves , but not for you .
# NoLockdowns . ''
• Matt Gaetz of Florida , who reportedly had the virus jus a few weeks ago , tweeted Tuesday : `` I do n't want to cancel Thanksgiving or Christmas .
I want to cancel the lockdowns . ''
• Mark Green of Tennessee tweeted Tuesday : `` Logic of the left—rioters can set up autonomous zones wherever they please , but you can ’ t have family over for . ''
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , masked protests he referenced were a significant spreader of the virus . )
• Thomas Massie of Kentucky tweeted in late October , `` Are there seriously people in California who will comply with the Thanksgiving/Christmas government edicts instead of relying on their own common sense and judgement ? ''
• Jason Smith of Missouri tweeted last week , `` So street parties and protests with strangers are good , but Thanksgiving with family is bad ? ''
after Chicago 's mayor urged cancellation of `` traditional Thanksgiving plans . ''
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) requested that the Senate 's acting presiding officer , Alaska 's Sen. Dan Sullivan , put his mask on during session .
Sullivan refused , and Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) said that Brown was a `` complete ass '' to even ask .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

House Republicans are furious that public health experts are advising people to avoid large holiday gatherings to curb the spread of the coronavirus. But the same people have fought against attempts to contain the pandemic.
A growing chorus of conservative lawmakers in recent days has complained that “Democrats want to cancel Thanksgiving and Christmas” and that this is part of a government conspiracy to take away Americans’ “freedom.”
With a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalization in much of the country, public health experts have urged people to forgo large holiday celebrations this year. Experts fear such gatherings will cause yet a bigger surge in new infections in the upcoming weeks.
In recent months, House Republicans have — in nearly unanimous votes — opposed policies aimed at reducing the spread of the virus. They opposed a $3 trillion relief package that included $75 billion in new funding for coronavirus treatment, tracing, and testing — as well as emergency exposure controls, child care, and hazard pay for essential workers.
They also opposed — and filed a federal lawsuit to try to stop — a rule change to allow members of Congress to work from home during the pandemic, even as several members of both parties tested positive for the coronavirus.
Many Republican lawmakers also flouted social distancing and mask-wearing requirements. Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs urged in April that health officials should “be quarantined without a government paycheck and see how they like that.” Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan went on Fox News in October to mock Joe Biden for taking safety precautions to avoid the virus — hours after Donald Trump announced he had tested positive.
With millions of Americans following their lead, the virus has spread uncontrollably and experts are warning of a dire winter. More than 138,000 new cases and 660 deaths were reported on Monday alone.
But House Republicans are taking no responsibility for the pandemic and its negative impact on holiday traditions:
Brian Babin of Texas tweeted Tuesday: “I’ve had enough of this lunacy from the liberal media. As for me and my family, we will celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior whether @CNN wants us to or not.”
Jim Banks of Indiana tweeted in October: “Democrats want to cancel Thanksgiving and Christmas.”
Biggs tweeted last month, “Since March, there hasn’t been a 2020 holiday that health bureaucrats haven’t tried to ruin with their pseudoscientific hysteria & efforts to control the masses. And just in time for Halloween, these bureaucrats are attempting to scare you into isolation for Thanksgiving.”
Ted Budd of North Carolina tweeted Tuesday: “Nov. 7: Democrat officials celebrate in the streets. Now: Democrat officials say citizens can’t celebrate Thanksgiving. Liberal politicians want freedom for themselves, but not for you. #NoLockdowns.”
Matt Gaetz of Florida, who reportedly had the virus jus a few weeks ago, tweeted Tuesday: “I don’t want to cancel Thanksgiving or Christmas. I want to cancel the lockdowns.”
Mark Green of Tennessee tweeted Tuesday: “Logic of the left—rioters can set up autonomous zones wherever they please, but you can’t have family over for.” (It does not appear that the outdoor, masked protests he referenced were a significant spreader of the virus.)
Jordan tweeted Monday: “Don’t cancel Thanksgiving. Don’t cancel Christmas. Cancel lockdowns.”
Thomas Massie of Kentucky tweeted in late October, “Are there seriously people in California who will comply with the Thanksgiving/Christmas government edicts instead of relying on their own common sense and judgement?”
Jason Smith of Missouri tweeted last week, “So street parties and protests with strangers are good, but Thanksgiving with family is bad?” after Chicago’s mayor urged cancellation of “traditional Thanksgiving plans.”
On Monday, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) requested that the Senate’s acting presiding officer, Alaska’s Sen. Dan Sullivan, put his mask on during session. Sullivan refused, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said that Brown was a “complete ass” to even ask.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-17--Trump's trying to cram in as much damage as he can before leaving office

Donald Trump is trying to implement as many damaging policies as possible in the lead-up to President-elect Joe Biden 's Jan. 20 inauguration .
On Monday , Trump issued a `` request for nominations '' that asked oil companies to choose areas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge they prefer for drilling oil , according to the Center for Biological Diversity .
`` Trump is trying to lock in climate chaos and the extinction of polar bears and other endangered Arctic species on his way out the door , '' Kristen Monsell , a legal director with the group , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This is unconscionable .
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ca n't be replaced , so we ca n't let this lame-duck president give it away to Big Oil . ''
The move would also impact the indigenous Gwich'in and Inupiat communities , who reside in the sacred lands .
Jody Potts ( Han Gwich ’ in ) , regional director of Native Movement , said in a press release that the lease sales `` demonstrate the Trump administration 's complete disregard for the human rights of the Gwich'in and Inupiat people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the health of the Refuge 's coastal plain . ''
`` In the Arctic , our peoples are being heavily impacted by a climate crisis due to fossil fuel extraction , which we can not afford to continue , '' she said .
`` As a Gwich ’ in person , I know my family 's food security , culture , spirituality and ways of life are at stake . ''
Trump 's wall is also being hurried along , before Biden takes office .
Builders contracted with the U.S. government who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rushing to get as much wall up before January , when their contracts could be canceled .
`` Every single day , the Department of Homeland Security continues to dynamite , to blow up these rugged mountains in order to clear a path for a wall that , in all likelihood , will never be built , '' Laiken Jordahl , who works with with the Center for Biological Diversity , told NPR on Monday .
`` So now it 's just destruction for destruction 's sake . ''
Wildlife is also adversely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Texas-based conservation activist , told the outlet that the Salineño preserve in Starr County — `` 2 1/2 acres of some of the best bird habitat '' as he described it — had already been `` acquired by the Army Corps of Engineers and is set to be destroyed for the border wall . ''
That particular sale , according to NPR , was completed on Election Day , but eventually canceled following public backlash .
Customs and Border Protection officials , however , told the outlet that the land `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border barrier in support of U.S. Border Patrol 's operational requirement in the Rio Grande Valley . ''
In the international realm , meanwhile , Trump is still trying to withdraw more U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan by Jan. 15 , cutting the number down by about half , to 2,500 , officials told the Associated Press on Monday .
Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie , top U.S. commander for the Middle East , has pushed back against a premature withdrawal , warning that it could sabotage peace negotiations between the Taliban and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials maintain that U.S. forces could also continue to suppress ISIS militants in the region .
Regarding immigration , the Trump administration is still aiming to make it harder for U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in `` specialty occupations '' by implementing stricter standards for H-1B visa program , Politico reported .
The program helps employers `` who can not otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the U.S. workforce , '' according to the Labor Department .
Business groups have already criticized the move .
`` This proposal will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by denying them access to the talent they need to grow and create jobs , '' said Jon Baselice from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , back when the visa changes were first proposed .
And on the education front , Trump has pushed repeatedly for schools to reopen amid the pandemic and has sought to redirect coronavirus relief money to parents affected by closures , allowing them to use the funds for private schools instead .
According to Politico , Trump is weighing an executive order on the matter .
Trump allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on forcing these things through in the lame-duck period between now and Jan. 20 , rather than expending all his energy fighting his election loss , which he has claimed baselessly is the result of a rigged vote .
`` The Trump administration should be dotting its I ’ s and crossing its T ’ s on its priorities , '' energy CEO and Trump donor Dan Eberhart told the outlet .
`` The president is understandably focused on the ballot counting , but at some point soon , he needs to turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and putting a capstone on his first four years . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump is trying to implement as many damaging policies as possible in the lead-up to President-elect Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration.
On Monday, Trump issued a “request for nominations” that asked oil companies to choose areas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge they prefer for drilling oil, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.
“Trump is trying to lock in climate chaos and the extinction of polar bears and other endangered Arctic species on his way out the door,” Kristen Monsell, a legal director with the group, said in a press release this week. “This is unconscionable. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge can’t be replaced, so we can’t let this lame-duck president give it away to Big Oil.”
The move would also impact the indigenous Gwich’in and Inupiat communities, who reside in the sacred lands.
Jody Potts (Han Gwich’in), regional director of Native Movement, said in a press release that the lease sales “demonstrate the Trump administration’s complete disregard for the human rights of the Gwich’in and Inupiat people and our ways of life that depend on the health of the Refuge’s coastal plain.”
“In the Arctic, our peoples are being heavily impacted by a climate crisis due to fossil fuel extraction, which we cannot afford to continue,” she said. “As a Gwich’in person, I know my family’s food security, culture, spirituality and ways of life are at stake.”
Trump’s wall is also being hurried along, before Biden takes office.
Builders contracted with the U.S. government who are tasked with constructing the wall are rushing to get as much wall up before January, when their contracts could be canceled.
“Every single day, the Department of Homeland Security continues to dynamite, to blow up these rugged mountains in order to clear a path for a wall that, in all likelihood, will never be built,” Laiken Jordahl, who works with with the Center for Biological Diversity, told NPR on Monday.
“So now it’s just destruction for destruction’s sake.”
Wildlife is also adversely impacted by that construction.
Scott Nicol, a Texas-based conservation activist, told the outlet that the Salineño preserve in Starr County — “2 1/2 acres of some of the best bird habitat” as he described it — had already been “acquired by the Army Corps of Engineers and is set to be destroyed for the border wall.”
That particular sale, according to NPR, was completed on Election Day, but eventually canceled following public backlash. Customs and Border Protection officials, however, told the outlet that the land “is necessary for the execution of planned border barrier in support of U.S. Border Patrol’s operational requirement in the Rio Grande Valley.”
In the international realm, meanwhile, Trump is still trying to withdraw more U.S. troops from Iraq and Afghanistan by Jan. 15, cutting the number down by about half, to 2,500, officials told the Associated Press on Monday.
Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, top U.S. commander for the Middle East, has pushed back against a premature withdrawal, warning that it could sabotage peace negotiations between the Taliban and the Afghan government. McKenzie and other officials maintain that U.S. forces could also continue to suppress ISIS militants in the region.
Regarding immigration, the Trump administration is still aiming to make it harder for U.S. employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in “specialty occupations” by implementing stricter standards for H-1B visa program, Politico reported. The program helps employers “who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the U.S. workforce,” according to the Labor Department.
Business groups have already criticized the move. “This proposal will significantly disrupt the operations of many businesses by denying them access to the talent they need to grow and create jobs,” said Jon Baselice from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, back when the visa changes were first proposed.
And on the education front, Trump has pushed repeatedly for schools to reopen amid the pandemic and has sought to redirect coronavirus relief money to parents affected by closures, allowing them to use the funds for private schools instead. According to Politico, Trump is weighing an executive order on the matter.
Trump allies say he needs to refocus his efforts on forcing these things through in the lame-duck period between now and Jan. 20, rather than expending all his energy fighting his election loss, which he has claimed baselessly is the result of a rigged vote.
“The Trump administration should be dotting its I’s and crossing its T’s on its priorities,” energy CEO and Trump donor Dan Eberhart told the outlet. “The president is understandably focused on the ballot counting, but at some point soon, he needs to turn his attention back to the lame-duck session and putting a capstone on his first four years.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-17--GOP lawmakers are still scoffing at masks even as more Americans are dying

More and more Americans are dying as the number of new coronavirus cases in the country surges to all-new highs , but Republican politicians are still spouting dangerous rhetoric opposing the wearing of face masks .
According to the New York Times , the United States has surpassed 11 million cases nationally , with 247,000 deaths to date .
But in defiance of scientific data , Republican lawmakers remain more concerned about resisting mask mandates than they are about containing the spread of the deadly pandemic .
On Tuesday morning , Republican Rep.-elect Lauren Boebert ( CO ) slammed President-elect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask mandates nationwide .
`` Someone should let Joe Biden know that there is nothing patriotic about mandating what Americans wear to leave their homes , '' she tweeted .
Her fellow Republican representative-elect , QAnon propagandist Marjorie Taylor Greene ( GA ) , tweeted Monday encouraging her constituents to defy any government masking order .
`` If Biden steals this election , tries to LOCK DOWN our country and implement mask mandates ... WE WILL NOT COMPLY ! ''
Greene tweeted , linking to a Washington Examiner piece lauding new representatives who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And despite a massive spike in the number of coronavirus infections in South Dakota , the state 's Republican governor , Kristi Noem , categorically refuses to issue a statewide masking order .
A statement from Noem 's office Friday reads : `` It 's a good day for freedom .
Joe Biden realizes that the president does n't have the authority to institute a mask mandate .
For that matter , neither does Governor Noem , which is why she has provided her citizens with the full scope of the science and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for themselves and their loved-ones . ''
In an email to ABC , Noem spokeswoman Maggie Seidel falsely claimed that public health measures against the coronavirus do n't work , saying : `` The facts are simple : mask mandates , harsh lockdowns , massive testing and contact tracing have n't worked – in the United States or abroad . ''
Last week , Noem also falsely alleged that lockdowns do n't stop the spread of coronavirus and noted her opposition to a national lockdown , tweeting : `` Just like we said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We already know that lockdowns DO N'T stop the spread of the virus .
However , they destroy small businesses and jobs , and they make it difficult for families to put food on the table . ''
Despite the soaring numbers of cases , Oklahoma Republican Gov .
Kevin Stitt also refuses to issues a statewide masking order , only requiring masks in government buildings .
And Iowa Republican Gov .
Kim Reynolds is being widely criticized after issuing a halfhearted masking order that only requires the use of masks after 15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than a dozen states still do n't have a statewide order requiring masks in public places .
The Senate , too , remains starkly divided on the wearing of masks , with Republican members flouting masking rules .
On Monday , Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown ( OH ) asked his colleague , Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan ( AL ) , to wear a mask while speaking .
Sullivan fired back that Brown could n't tell him what to do .
`` I do n't wear a mask when I 'm speaking , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I do n't need your instructions . ''
Brown noted , `` There clearly is n't much interest in this body in public health , '' and condemned Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for calling senators to meet in person to push through Trump 's unqualified judicial picks .
Sen. Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) then attacked Brown on Twitter for making the request .
`` This is idiotic , '' he tweeted .
`` @ SherrodBrown is being a complete ass .
He wears a mask to speak—when nobody is remotely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtue . ''
Many Republican politicians are simply taking the lead from Donald Trump .
Despite his own brush with the virus , Trump has mocked the use of face masks since the beginning of the pandemic — and his administration has followed suit .
Just two weeks ago at a rally held before the election , Trump publicly mocked Fox News host Laura Ingraham for wearing a mask to the event .
And a month ago , Twitter took down a tweet posted by Trump 's top coronavirus adviser , Scott Atlas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The tweet falsely claimed that masks were ineffective and did not reduce transmission of the virus .
But this dangerous rhetoric from high-profile Republicans is having real-life consequences as more people double down on opposition to face masks — and more Americans die .
A study from Pew Research Center on Americans ' thoughts about the pandemic noted that a full 20 % of respondents who mentioned masks claimed that they did n't work , said that they refused to wear them , or claimed that the coronavirus was a hoax perpetrated for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of Democrats expressed those views , 27 % of Republicans did .
And , though more than 80 % of Democratic voters support mask mandates in some public places , only about half of Republican voters do .
According to the same study , 31 % of Democratic voters mentioning masks did so to express concern about people not wearing them in public places , while only 5 % of Republican voters did the same .
President-elect Biden continues to urge Americans to wear masks , and this week slammed Atlas ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain the spread of the virus .
`` What the hell is the matter with these guys ? ''
Biden asked .
“ What is the matter with them ?
Resist ?
Every major individual of any consequence in the health field is saying we can save a hundred thousand lives just between now and Jan. 21 by wearing these masks . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

More and more Americans are dying as the number of new coronavirus cases in the country surges to all-new highs, but Republican politicians are still spouting dangerous rhetoric opposing the wearing of face masks.
According to the New York Times, the United States has surpassed 11 million cases nationally, with 247,000 deaths to date.
But in defiance of scientific data, Republican lawmakers remain more concerned about resisting mask mandates than they are about containing the spread of the deadly pandemic.
On Tuesday morning, Republican Rep.-elect Lauren Boebert (CO) slammed President-elect Joe Biden for his plan to implement mask mandates nationwide.
“Someone should let Joe Biden know that there is nothing patriotic about mandating what Americans wear to leave their homes,” she tweeted.
Her fellow Republican representative-elect, QAnon propagandist Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), tweeted Monday encouraging her constituents to defy any government masking order.
“If Biden steals this election, tries to LOCK DOWN our country and implement mask mandates … WE WILL NOT COMPLY!” Greene tweeted, linking to a Washington Examiner piece lauding new representatives who oppose the wearing of face masks.
And despite a massive spike in the number of coronavirus infections in South Dakota, the state’s Republican governor, Kristi Noem, categorically refuses to issue a statewide masking order.
A statement from Noem’s office Friday reads: “It’s a good day for freedom. Joe Biden realizes that the president doesn’t have the authority to institute a mask mandate. For that matter, neither does Governor Noem, which is why she has provided her citizens with the full scope of the science and trusted them to make the best decisions for themselves and their loved-ones.”
In an email to ABC, Noem spokeswoman Maggie Seidel falsely claimed that public health measures against the coronavirus don’t work, saying: “The facts are simple: mask mandates, harsh lockdowns, massive testing and contact tracing haven’t worked – in the United States or abroad.”
Last week, Noem also falsely alleged that lockdowns don’t stop the spread of coronavirus and noted her opposition to a national lockdown, tweeting: “Just like we said, Biden’s team wants lockdowns. We already know that lockdowns DON’T stop the spread of the virus. However, they destroy small businesses and jobs, and they make it difficult for families to put food on the table.”
Despite the soaring numbers of cases, Oklahoma Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt also refuses to issues a statewide masking order, only requiring masks in government buildings. And Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds is being widely criticized after issuing a halfhearted masking order that only requires the use of masks after 15 minutes of exposure.
In fact, more than a dozen states still don’t have a statewide order requiring masks in public places.
The Senate, too, remains starkly divided on the wearing of masks, with Republican members flouting masking rules.
On Monday, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH) asked his colleague, Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan (AK), to wear a mask while speaking.
Sullivan fired back that Brown couldn’t tell him what to do.
“I don’t wear a mask when I’m speaking, like most senators,” Sullivan said. “I don’t need your instructions.”
Brown noted, “There clearly isn’t much interest in this body in public health,” and condemned Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for calling senators to meet in person to push through Trump’s unqualified judicial picks.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) then attacked Brown on Twitter for making the request. “This is idiotic,” he tweeted. “@SherrodBrown is being a complete ass. He wears a mask to speak—when nobody is remotely near him—as an ostentatious sign of fake virtue.”
Many Republican politicians are simply taking the lead from Donald Trump. Despite his own brush with the virus, Trump has mocked the use of face masks since the beginning of the pandemic — and his administration has followed suit.
Just two weeks ago at a rally held before the election, Trump publicly mocked Fox News host Laura Ingraham for wearing a mask to the event.
And a month ago, Twitter took down a tweet posted by Trump’s top coronavirus adviser, Scott Atlas, for promoting disinformation about masks.
The tweet falsely claimed that masks were ineffective and did not reduce transmission of the virus.
But this dangerous rhetoric from high-profile Republicans is having real-life consequences as more people double down on opposition to face masks — and more Americans die.
A study from Pew Research Center on Americans’ thoughts about the pandemic noted that a full 20% of respondents who mentioned masks claimed that they didn’t work, said that they refused to wear them, or claimed that the coronavirus was a hoax perpetrated for partisan political purposes.
While only 3% of Democrats expressed those views, 27% of Republicans did.
And, though more than 80% of Democratic voters support mask mandates in some public places, only about half of Republican voters do.
According to the same study, 31% of Democratic voters mentioning masks did so to express concern about people not wearing them in public places, while only 5% of Republican voters did the same.
President-elect Biden continues to urge Americans to wear masks, and this week slammed Atlas’ rhetoric encouraging opposition to statewide measures to contain the spread of the virus.
“What the hell is the matter with these guys?” Biden asked. “What is the matter with them? Resist? Every major individual of any consequence in the health field is saying we can save a hundred thousand lives just between now and Jan. 21 by wearing these masks.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


Cartoon: Goodbye, Jerk