shareblue--2020-07-16--Texas GOP reportedly wants to stop voters from choosing their own elected officials

The Texas Republican Party is facing accusations of trying to rig elections , after it reportedly made moves to amend its platform to call for an end to direct election of statewide officeholders .
The platform calls for creating an electoral college system within the state , by which electors from each state Senate district would elect statewide officeholders , according to Kevin Herman , a columnist with the Austin American-Statesman .
The party platform , as it did in 2018 , calls for the repeal of the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution , which provides for direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators .
In its place , it calls for the appointment of U.S. senators by state legislatures , Herman reported .
A spokesperson for the Texas Republican Party did not immediately return a request for comment on why the party feels such moves are necessary .
Texas Republicans currently control the state Legislature , which has created what former Rep. Beto O'Rourke called `` one of the most gerrymandered states in the union . ''
Creating an electoral college system based on those gerrymandered districts could help ensure that Republicans keep power , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular vote .
The attempt comes as Texas looks to be trending Democratic .
Suburbs of the state 's major cities , such as Austin , Dallas , and Houston , have been shifting left and turning out more Democratic voters , as demographics change and more voters reject Donald Trump and the Republican Party he 's reshaped in his image .
In 2018 , Texas Democrats flipped two historically Republican congressional seats .
And in 2020 , the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee , which works to elect Democrats to the House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party 's recruits in those seats .
Meanwhile , polling shows presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden neck and neck with Trump in the state .
Trump leads in Texas by just 0.3 % according to FiveThirtyEight 's polling average , leading the Biden campaign to run ads in the state .
Gilberto Hinojosa , chair of the Texas Democratic Party , told Politico : `` The message is that the Biden campaign recognizes that Texas is a state that is different now , that they see it as a battleground and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` Texas Republicans have gone to greater extremes to suppress votes & illegally gerrymander than in almost any other state , but now that it ’ s becoming more competitive , they 're proposing to literally gerrymander statewide elections by picking the winner based on TX Senate districts , '' tweeted Stephen Wolf , a gerrymandering and voting rights expert with Daily Kos .
The platform will be voted on at the Texas Republican Party 's statewide convention , which has been moved online after Houston blocked the party from holding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a massive coronavirus outbreak .
The Texas GOP tried to get Houston 's decision overturned , but the all-Republican state Supreme Court ruled against it , forcing the event online .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Texas Republican Party is facing accusations of trying to rig elections, after it reportedly made moves to amend its platform to call for an end to direct election of statewide officeholders.
The platform calls for creating an electoral college system within the state, by which electors from each state Senate district would elect statewide officeholders, according to Kevin Herman, a columnist with the Austin American-Statesman.
The party platform, as it did in 2018, calls for the repeal of the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which provides for direct election by the voters of United States senators. In its place, it calls for the appointment of U.S. senators by state legislatures, Herman reported.
A spokesperson for the Texas Republican Party did not immediately return a request for comment on why the party feels such moves are necessary.
Texas Republicans currently control the state Legislature, which has created what former Rep. Beto O’Rourke called “one of the most gerrymandered states in the union.”
Creating an electoral college system based on those gerrymandered districts could help ensure that Republicans keep power, even if a Democrat wins the statewide popular vote.
The attempt comes as Texas looks to be trending Democratic. Suburbs of the state’s major cities, such as Austin, Dallas, and Houston, have been shifting left and turning out more Democratic voters, as demographics change and more voters reject Donald Trump and the Republican Party he’s reshaped in his image.
In 2018, Texas Democrats flipped two historically Republican congressional seats. And in 2020, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which works to elect Democrats to the House, is targeting five more districts, touting the party’s recruits in those seats.
Meanwhile, polling shows presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden neck and neck with Trump in the state. Trump leads in Texas by just 0.3% according to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average, leading the Biden campaign to run ads in the state. Gilberto Hinojosa, chair of the Texas Democratic Party, told Politico: “The message is that the Biden campaign recognizes that Texas is a state that is different now, that they see it as a battleground and intend to make a play for Texas.”
“Texas Republicans have gone to greater extremes to suppress votes & illegally gerrymander than in almost any other state, but now that it’s becoming more competitive, they’re proposing to literally gerrymander statewide elections by picking the winner based on TX Senate districts,” tweeted Stephen Wolf, a gerrymandering and voting rights expert with Daily Kos.
The platform will be voted on at the Texas Republican Party’s statewide convention, which has been moved online after Houston blocked the party from holding the event at a convention center amid a massive coronavirus outbreak. The Texas GOP tried to get Houston’s decision overturned, but the all-Republican state Supreme Court ruled against it, forcing the event online.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-16--Kayleigh McEnany: 'Science should not stand in the way' of school reopening

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany sought to defend the Trump administration 's position that schools should fully reopen this fall , falsely saying that the `` science is on our side here . ''
`` When he says open he means open and full , kids being able to attend each and every day at their school .
The science should not stand in the way of this , '' McEnany said Thursday at a White House press briefing .
However , public health experts within the federal government , who rely on science in making their recommendations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety during the COVID-19 pandemic that fully reopened schools present the `` highest risk '' for spreading the coronavirus .
Multiple major school districts across the country have announced they are not planning to reopen for in-person learning this fall , as they can not meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 's guidelines for safe social distancing .
Doing so would require space the schools simply do not have , as well as more instructors to make smaller class sizes — an expensive endeavor that schools may not be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The public is also not on board with Donald Trump 's push for full school reopenings .
A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found 62 % of voters think it 's unsafe to reopen schools this fall .
And 61 % disapprove of Trump 's handling of the school reopening issue .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany sought to defend the Trump administration’s position that schools should fully reopen this fall, falsely saying that the “science is on our side here.”
“When he says open he means open and full, kids being able to attend each and every day at their school. The science should not stand in the way of this,” McEnany said Thursday at a White House press briefing.
However, public health experts within the federal government, who rely on science in making their recommendations, said in a briefing packet on school safety during the COVID-19 pandemic that fully reopened schools present the “highest risk” for spreading the coronavirus.
Multiple major school districts across the country have announced they are not planning to reopen for in-person learning this fall, as they cannot meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines for safe social distancing.
Doing so would require space the schools simply do not have, as well as more instructors to make smaller class sizes — an expensive endeavor that schools may not be able to afford amid the coronavirus budget crunch.
The public is also not on board with Donald Trump’s push for full school reopenings.
A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found 62% of voters think it’s unsafe to reopen schools this fall. And 61% disapprove of Trump’s handling of the school reopening issue.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-17--News you might have missed: Millionaires beg to be taxed to help cover virus relief

This week , millionaires told the government to `` tax us , '' three states moved toward implementing police reforms , and a nunchuck-wielding bear entertained millions .
Read on to see what else you might have missed this week in the news .
Millionaires ask for higher taxes to pay for coronavirus relief efforts More than 80 millionaires have signed an open letter asking the federal government to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans in order to help offset the cost of coronavirus relief efforts , CBS News reported on Monday .
`` As Covid-19 strikes the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to play in healing our world , '' the letter stated .
`` The problems caused by , and revealed by , Covid-19 ca n't be solved with charity , no matter how generous . ''
The group wrote that millionaires can help `` adequately fund our health systems , schools , and security through a permanent tax increase on the wealthiest people on the planet , people like us . ''
The letter was signed by Walt Disney descendants Abigail and Tim Disney , as well as Ben & Jerry 's Ice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the passage of the 2017 GOP tax law , the richest 400 families in the United States currently pay a lower tax rate than middle-class families , CBS reported .
`` We are not fighting on the frontlines of this emergency and we are much less likely to be its victims , '' the millionaires wrote .
`` So please .
Tax us .
Tax us .
Tax us .
It is the right choice .
It is the only choice . ''
Patients no longer need to visit a health care facility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a federal court ruled on Monday .
Prior to the ruling , the Food and Drug Administration required people to travel to their health care provider , even during the pandemic , to pick up mifepristone , a drug paired with misoprostol to end early pregnancies .
Patients can now receive their prescription medication by mail .
`` People should not be forced to risk unnecessary exposure to a deadly virus in order to access essential medication that has a proven track record of safety , '' Alexis McGill Johnson , president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America , said in a statement .
The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a group of medical experts that included the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists .
15 states and DC push for more zero-emission heavy trucks A coalition of states and the District of Columbia announced on Tuesday that they will work together to bring more medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles to the market .
The states aim to accelerate the market for electric vehicles including vans , delivery trucks , box trucks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commonly known as big rigs .
Trucks and buses account for nearly a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector even though they make up only 4 % of vehicles on the road , according to a press release .
`` The electric vehicle industry is primed for tremendous growth , '' D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a press release .
`` We can not afford to miss this opportunity to place clean transportation technology and infrastructure at the center of the nation 's economic recovery . ''
California , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Maryland , Massachusetts , New Jersey , New York , North Carolina , Oregon , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , Vermont , Washington , and Washington , D.C. , have joined the effort thus far .
Gov .
Jared Polis signed legislation on Monday making Colorado the 11th state in the country to ban the so-called `` gay panic '' legal defense by those accused of committing crimes against LGBTQ people .
This defense seeks to shift blame for crimes onto LGBTQ individuals , arguing that the knowledge or discovery of someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sufficient cause to attack a person , according to a report from the Williams Institute at the UCLA Law School .
`` We 've come a long way here in Colorado since our days as the Hate State , '' Polis said at the bill signing .
He described the gay panic defense as `` absurd , '' `` outdated , '' and `` insidious , '' according to the Denver Post .
Three states take steps on police reform The governors of Pennsylvania and Vermont have signed police reform legislation into law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an end to racism and police brutality .
The Massachusetts state Senate also passed a police reform bill this week .
In Pennsylvania , Gov .
Tom Wolf signed two bills into law on Tuesday .
One requires more transparency for law enforcement hires , and another requires mental health evaluations for officers .
The Vermont law requires state troopers to wear body cameras and bans police in the state from using chokeholds .
In addition , funding for law enforcement agencies is contingent upon the agencies complying with racial data reporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which passed on Tuesday , would ban chokeholds , as well as educate law enforcement officers on the history of racism .
It places limits on the use of tear gas .
The bill would also roll back some of the legal immunity given to law enforcement officers .
It still needs to pass the state House and be signed by the governor before becoming law .
More than 955,000 Democrats voted in Tuesday 's runoff election in Texas , breaking the party 's previous turnout record of 747,000 set in 1994 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas Democrats are fired up and are ready for change , '' Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said in a press release the day after the election .
Democrats nominated MJ Hegar , an Air Force veteran , to take on Republican Sen. John Cornyn in November .
Republicans have won every presidential vote in Texas since 1980 , and a Democrat has not been elected to the U.S. Senate from the state since 1988 .
But many election experts wonder if that will change in 2020 .
Even before Tuesday 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Enten wrote that it was `` pretty clear looking at the data that Texas is a swing state in the 2020 election . ''
A 4-year-old black bear made the rounds on the internet this week , showing off impressive skills with a nunchuck-style weapon .
The undated video is from the Yagiyama Zoological Park in Japan , Tsubasa , according to the Indian Express .
The paper noted that the bear is wielding a three-section staff , which is a martial arts weapon similar to nunchucks .
The video has been viewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

This week, millionaires told the government to “tax us,” three states moved toward implementing police reforms, and a nunchuck-wielding bear entertained millions.
Read on to see what else you might have missed this week in the news.
More than 80 millionaires have signed an open letter asking the federal government to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans in order to help offset the cost of coronavirus relief efforts, CBS News reported on Monday.
“As Covid-19 strikes the world, millionaires like us have a critical role to play in healing our world,” the letter stated. “The problems caused by, and revealed by, Covid-19 can’t be solved with charity, no matter how generous.”
The group wrote that millionaires can help “adequately fund our health systems, schools, and security through a permanent tax increase on the wealthiest people on the planet, people like us.”
The letter was signed by Walt Disney descendants Abigail and Tim Disney, as well as Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream co-founder Jerry Greenfield.
Due to the passage of the 2017 GOP tax law, the richest 400 families in the United States currently pay a lower tax rate than middle-class families, CBS reported.
“We are not fighting on the frontlines of this emergency and we are much less likely to be its victims,” the millionaires wrote. “So please. Tax us. Tax us. Tax us. It is the right choice. It is the only choice.”
Patients no longer need to visit a health care facility to pick up medication used for abortions, a federal court ruled on Monday.
Prior to the ruling, the Food and Drug Administration required people to travel to their health care provider, even during the pandemic, to pick up mifepristone, a drug paired with misoprostol to end early pregnancies. Patients can now receive their prescription medication by mail.
“People should not be forced to risk unnecessary exposure to a deadly virus in order to access essential medication that has a proven track record of safety,” Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in a statement.
The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of a group of medical experts that included the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
A coalition of states and the District of Columbia announced on Tuesday that they will work together to bring more medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles to the market.
The states aim to accelerate the market for electric vehicles including vans, delivery trucks, box trucks, school buses, and long-haul trucks, commonly known as big rigs. Trucks and buses account for nearly a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector even though they make up only 4% of vehicles on the road, according to a press release.
“The electric vehicle industry is primed for tremendous growth,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a press release. “We cannot afford to miss this opportunity to place clean transportation technology and infrastructure at the center of the nation’s economic recovery.”
California, Connecticut, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Washington, D.C., have joined the effort thus far.
Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation on Monday making Colorado the 11th state in the country to ban the so-called “gay panic” legal defense by those accused of committing crimes against LGBTQ people.
This defense seeks to shift blame for crimes onto LGBTQ individuals, arguing that the knowledge or discovery of someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity is sufficient cause to attack a person, according to a report from the Williams Institute at the UCLA Law School.
“We’ve come a long way here in Colorado since our days as the Hate State,” Polis said at the bill signing. He described the gay panic defense as “absurd,” “outdated,” and “insidious,” according to the Denver Post.
The governors of Pennsylvania and Vermont have signed police reform legislation into law, in light of nationwide protests calling for an end to racism and police brutality.
The Massachusetts state Senate also passed a police reform bill this week.
In Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf signed two bills into law on Tuesday. One requires more transparency for law enforcement hires, and another requires mental health evaluations for officers.
The Vermont law requires state troopers to wear body cameras and bans police in the state from using chokeholds. In addition, funding for law enforcement agencies is contingent upon the agencies complying with racial data reporting requirements.
The bill in Massachusetts, which passed on Tuesday, would ban chokeholds, as well as educate law enforcement officers on the history of racism. It places limits on the use of tear gas. The bill would also roll back some of the legal immunity given to law enforcement officers.
It still needs to pass the state House and be signed by the governor before becoming law.
More than 955,000 Democrats voted in Tuesday’s runoff election in Texas, breaking the party’s previous turnout record of 747,000 set in 1994.
The surge in turnout “showed that Texas Democrats are fired up and are ready for change,” Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said in a press release the day after the election.
Democrats nominated MJ Hegar, an Air Force veteran, to take on Republican Sen. John Cornyn in November.
Republicans have won every presidential vote in Texas since 1980, and a Democrat has not been elected to the U.S. Senate from the state since 1988. But many election experts wonder if that will change in 2020.
Even before Tuesday’s turnout record, CNN polling expert Harry Enten wrote that it was “pretty clear looking at the data that Texas is a swing state in the 2020 election.”
A 4-year-old black bear made the rounds on the internet this week, showing off impressive skills with a nunchuck-style weapon.
The undated video is from the Yagiyama Zoological Park in Japan, Tsubasa, according to the Indian Express. The paper noted that the bear is wielding a three-section staff, which is a martial arts weapon similar to nunchucks.
The video has been viewed more than 14 million times on Twitter.


shareblue--2020-07-17--Steve Watkins becomes 4th GOP congressman to lose committee assignments in 2 years

Rep. Steve Watkins ( R-KS ) announced on Friday that he will step down from his committee posts , just days after being charged with multiple felonies related to voter fraud .
`` I 've chosen to temporarily and voluntarily step aside from my committees , allow the committees to continue their critical work and fight these bogus charges , '' Watkins said in a statement , according to the Kansas City Star .
Prosecutors alleged on Tuesday that Watkins registered to vote using the address of a UPS store , not his home address .
Watkins claimed he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign ’ s mailing address rather than his home address on the voter registration form .
Up until this week , Watkins had served on the Foreign Affairs , Veterans ' Affairs , and Education and Labor committees .
With his announcement , Watkins becomes the fourth House Republican in less than two years to lose committee posts , joining former Reps. Chris Collins of New York and Duncan Hunter of California , and Rep. Steve King of Iowa .
Collins was stripped of his committee assignments in August 2018 following charges of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in September 2019 , he resigned from Congress and pleaded guilty to the charges .
Hunter also lost his committee assignments in August 2018 after he was charged with felonies related to improper spending from his campaign accounts .
Hunter pleaded guilty to one charge of misusing campaign funds in December 2019 and resigned from Congress in January 2020 .
King , for his part , was never charged with any crimes , but was stripped of his committee assignments in January 2019 after he made racist comments during an interview with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , white supremacist , Western civilization — how did that language become offensive ? ''
King asked during the interview .
King , who has a long history of making racist comments , ultimately lost his June primary to state Sen. Randy Feenstra .
In January 2019 , House Republicans adopted new rules requiring any member of their party indicted for felonies that carry a prison sentence of two or more years to resign from committee posts .
Watkins initially said he would not step down from his assignments on Thursday before reversing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defeated Democrat Paul Davis by less than 1 % in 2018 , is still running for reelection in his home district , and faces two opponents in a Republican primary .
The Cook Political Report currently lists the seat as `` Lean Republican . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Steve Watkins (R-KS) announced on Friday that he will step down from his committee posts, just days after being charged with multiple felonies related to voter fraud.
“I’ve chosen to temporarily and voluntarily step aside from my committees, allow the committees to continue their critical work and fight these bogus charges,” Watkins said in a statement, according to the Kansas City Star.
Prosecutors alleged on Tuesday that Watkins registered to vote using the address of a UPS store, not his home address. Watkins claimed he was innocent, saying he mistakenly used his campaign’s mailing address rather than his home address on the voter registration form.
Up until this week, Watkins had served on the Foreign Affairs, Veterans’ Affairs, and Education and Labor committees.
With his announcement, Watkins becomes the fourth House Republican in less than two years to lose committee posts, joining former Reps. Chris Collins of New York and Duncan Hunter of California, and Rep. Steve King of Iowa.
Collins was stripped of his committee assignments in August 2018 following charges of insider trading. A year later, in September 2019, he resigned from Congress and pleaded guilty to the charges.
Hunter also lost his committee assignments in August 2018 after he was charged with felonies related to improper spending from his campaign accounts. Hunter pleaded guilty to one charge of misusing campaign funds in December 2019 and resigned from Congress in January 2020.
King, for his part, was never charged with any crimes, but was stripped of his committee assignments in January 2019 after he made racist comments during an interview with the New York Times.
“White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?” King asked during the interview.
King, who has a long history of making racist comments, ultimately lost his June primary to state Sen. Randy Feenstra.
In January 2019, House Republicans adopted new rules requiring any member of their party indicted for felonies that carry a prison sentence of two or more years to resign from committee posts.
Watkins initially said he would not step down from his assignments on Thursday before reversing course on Friday.
Watkins, who defeated Democrat Paul Davis by less than 1% in 2018, is still running for reelection in his home district, and faces two opponents in a Republican primary.
The Cook Political Report currently lists the seat as “Lean Republican.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-17--Ernst reportedly says she'd back Trump Supreme Court nominee even if Trump loses

Sen. Joni Ernst ( R-IA ) reportedly said Friday that she would confirm a nominee to the Supreme Court chosen by Donald Trump in November or December even if Joe Biden had won election to the White House .
Iowa PBS senior producer Andrew Batt tweeted that Ernst said during the taping of an appearance on the network 's show `` Iowa Press '' that `` she would support Supreme Court justice hearings/votes in Nov-Dec lame duck session in late 2020 after election .
Adds she would support even if President Trump & Senate Rs lose November election . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg announced that she has been receiving chemotherapy since May for a recurrence of cancer .
There has been speculation on the part of some conservatives that Justice Clarence Thomas or Justice Samuel Alito might retire to give Trump the chance to replace them .
Ernst 's attitude toward the nomination of Supreme Court justices during the final year of a president 's term was much different four years ago .
In March 2016 , after Justice Antonin Scalia died , Ernst supported the Senate Republican majority 's successful effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the open seat on the court .
`` In the midst of a critical election , the American people deserve to have a say in this important decision that will impact the course of our country for years to come , '' Ernst argued .
`` This is not about any particular nominee ; rather this is about giving the American people a voice .
Folks are frustrated with Washington , and are fed up with President Obama 's failed policies and endless power grabs . ''
Instead , Ernst said , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people say this November '' so the `` next president will put forward a nominee . ''
She and her Senate Republican colleagues refused to hold a hearing for Judge Merrick Garland , Obama 's nominee .
Ernst 's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) reportedly said Friday that she would confirm a nominee to the Supreme Court chosen by Donald Trump in November or December even if Joe Biden had won election to the White House.
Iowa PBS senior producer Andrew Batt tweeted that Ernst said during the taping of an appearance on the network’s show “Iowa Press” that “she would support Supreme Court justice hearings/votes in Nov-Dec lame duck session in late 2020 after election. Adds she would support even if President Trump & Senate Rs lose November election.”
The comment came the same day that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg announced that she has been receiving chemotherapy since May for a recurrence of cancer.
There has been speculation on the part of some conservatives that Justice Clarence Thomas or Justice Samuel Alito might retire to give Trump the chance to replace them.
Ernst’s attitude toward the nomination of Supreme Court justices during the final year of a president’s term was much different four years ago.
In March 2016, after Justice Antonin Scalia died, Ernst supported the Senate Republican majority’s successful effort to block President Barack Obama from filling the open seat on the court.
“In the midst of a critical election, the American people deserve to have a say in this important decision that will impact the course of our country for years to come,” Ernst argued. “This is not about any particular nominee; rather this is about giving the American people a voice. Folks are frustrated with Washington, and are fed up with President Obama’s failed policies and endless power grabs.”
Instead, Ernst said, the Senate should “wait to see what the people say this November” so the “next president will put forward a nominee.”
She and her Senate Republican colleagues refused to hold a hearing for Judge Merrick Garland, Obama’s nominee.
Ernst’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-17--Florida governor: I won't close gyms over virus because people there are 'in good shape'

Florida Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis said on Friday he would not close gyms in his state during the COVID-19 pandemic because people who go to gyms are `` in good shape . ''
`` If you 're in good shape , you have a very , very low likelihood of ending up in significant condition as a result of the coronavirus , '' said DeSantis .
`` I do n't think it would make sense to close it . ''
Despite DeSantis ' lack of concern , many people with healthy lifestyles have suffered severe cases of COVID-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be spread by seemingly healthy individuals , even if they show no symptoms .
Florida was one of several states that reopened early in defiance of the advice of medical experts .
It has since experienced a resurgence of the coronavirus , with over 11,400 new cases and 128 deaths reported in the last day .
The state has reported over 100 new deaths a day for four days in a row .
RON DeSANTIS : In terms of the gyms , we 've not had a lot of problems with that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something that I 'm going to close .
Partially because if you look , you talk to any physician , particularly the people that are under 50 , if you 're in good shape , you know , you have a very , very low likelihood of ending up in significant condition as a result of the coronavirus .
I mean , the people that they 're seeing in there have overwhelmingly uncontrolled comorbidities , a lot of folks have hypertension , diabetes , are very morbidly obese , and so , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to be healthy just does n't make sense .
And we have n't really seen that as a major vector .
I know it could be , theoretically , anything you do , theoretically , could do it , but I think most of the people that are going to gyms are in the low-risk groups and I think what they 're doing is making them even less risk for the coronavirus .
I do n't think it would make sense to close it .
Published with permission of The American Independent @ @

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Friday he would not close gyms in his state during the COVID-19 pandemic because people who go to gyms are “in good shape.”
“If you’re in good shape, you have a very, very low likelihood of ending up in significant condition as a result of the coronavirus,” said DeSantis. “I don’t think it would make sense to close it.”
Despite DeSantis’ lack of concern, many people with healthy lifestyles have suffered severe cases of COVID-19.
Experts have also noted that the virus can be spread by seemingly healthy individuals, even if they show no symptoms.
Florida was one of several states that reopened early in defiance of the advice of medical experts. It has since experienced a resurgence of the coronavirus, with over 11,400 new cases and 128 deaths reported in the last day. The state has reported over 100 new deaths a day for four days in a row.
From a July 17 press briefing:
RON DeSANTIS: In terms of the gyms, we’ve not had a lot of problems with that. And so, that’s not something that I’m going to close. Partially because if you look, you talk to any physician, particularly the people that are under 50, if you’re in good shape, you know, you have a very, very low likelihood of ending up in significant condition as a result of the coronavirus. I mean, the people that they’re seeing in there have overwhelmingly uncontrolled comorbidities, a lot of folks have hypertension, diabetes, are very morbidly obese, and so, I think, taking that option away for people to be healthy just doesn’t make sense. And we haven’t really seen that as a major vector. I know it could be, theoretically, anything you do, theoretically, could do it, but I think most of the people that are going to gyms are in the low-risk groups and I think what they’re doing is making them even less risk for the coronavirus. I don’t think it would make sense to close it.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-17--Trump celebrates NRA endorsement he got after breaking his promises on gun control

Donald Trump celebrated receiving the endorsement of the gun lobby on Friday , after caving to their demands repeatedly .
A day after the National Rifle Association announced it would again endorse Trump , he tweeted out his thanks for their `` FULL & COMPLETE ENDORSEMENT ! ''
`` As long as I am President , I will ALWAYS protect our Great Second Amendment , and never let the Radical Left take away your Rights , your Guns , or your Police ! ''
he wrote .
In its endorsement letter , the NRA said that Trump has `` done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms '' by appointing many pro-gun judges , declaring gun stores `` critical infrastructure '' during the pandemic , and protecting the `` rights of hunters and sportsmen . ''
It made no mention of Trump 's repeated promises to take action against gun violence — and his quick retreat from those pledges .
On August 5 , 2019 , after deadly mass shootings in Dayton , Ohio , and El Paso , Texas , Trump promised a bipartisan push to `` truly make America safer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have died in vain . ''
`` We must make sure that those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety do not have access to firearms and that if they do , those firearms can be taken through rapid due process , '' Trump said .
`` That is why I have called for red flag laws , also known as extreme risk protection orders . ''
The NRA has supported extreme risk protection orders in theory , but only with significant limits .
`` Republicans and Democrats must come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he tweeted that same day .
The NRA strongly opposes expanding background check laws , claiming `` background checks do n't stop criminals from getting firearms . ''
Later that week , Trump falsely claimed that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was `` totally on board '' with universal background checks for gun purchases and that the NRA would either back them or stay `` neutral . ''
The NRA quickly started lobbying against Trump 's proposed new gun measures .
`` Stop the games , '' the group 's chief executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump backed down , switching his rhetoric to claiming there were already `` a lot of background checks . ''
By mid-September , Trump had stopped pushing for anything .
He blamed former Rep. Beto O'Rourke 's ( D-TX ) calls for an assault weapons ban for his own inaction , tweeting `` Dummy Beto made it much harder to make a deal .
Convinced many that Dems just want to take your guns away .
Will continue forward ! ''
He stopped talking about any new gun legislation after that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After a February 2020 mass shooting in Milwaukee , Trump offered his `` deepest condolences '' in a 42-second statement but no action .
The National Rifle Association spent more than $ 30 million in 2016 to elect Trump .
Despite his Sept. 1 , 2019 pledge to take `` strong measures to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous , '' gun violence remains a huge problem under Trump .
According to the Gun Violence Archive , the nation has had more than 22,500 gun deaths already in 2020 — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump celebrated receiving the endorsement of the gun lobby on Friday, after caving to their demands repeatedly.
A day after the National Rifle Association announced it would again endorse Trump, he tweeted out his thanks for their “FULL & COMPLETE ENDORSEMENT!”
“As long as I am President, I will ALWAYS protect our Great Second Amendment, and never let the Radical Left take away your Rights, your Guns, or your Police!” he wrote.
In its endorsement letter, the NRA said that Trump has “done more than any president to protect the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms” by appointing many pro-gun judges, declaring gun stores “critical infrastructure” during the pandemic, and protecting the “rights of hunters and sportsmen.”
It made no mention of Trump’s repeated promises to take action against gun violence — and his quick retreat from those pledges.
On August 5, 2019, after deadly mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas, Trump promised a bipartisan push to “truly make America safer” and ensure the victims “will not have died in vain.”
“We must make sure that those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety do not have access to firearms and that if they do, those firearms can be taken through rapid due process,” Trump said. “That is why I have called for red flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection orders.” The NRA has supported extreme risk protection orders in theory, but only with significant limits.
“Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks,” he tweeted that same day. The NRA strongly opposes expanding background check laws, claiming “background checks don’t stop criminals from getting firearms.”
Later that week, Trump falsely claimed that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was “totally on board” with universal background checks for gun purchases and that the NRA would either back them or stay “neutral.”
The NRA quickly started lobbying against Trump’s proposed new gun measures. “Stop the games,” the group’s chief executive reportedly told the White House in September.
Trump backed down, switching his rhetoric to claiming there were already “a lot of background checks.”
By mid-September, Trump had stopped pushing for anything. He blamed former Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s (D-TX) calls for an assault weapons ban for his own inaction, tweeting “Dummy Beto made it much harder to make a deal. Convinced many that Dems just want to take your guns away. Will continue forward!”
He stopped talking about any new gun legislation after that, effectively disowning his administration’s proposals.
After a February 2020 mass shooting in Milwaukee, Trump offered his “deepest condolences” in a 42-second statement but no action.
The National Rifle Association spent more than $30 million in 2016 to elect Trump.
Despite his Sept. 1, 2019 pledge to take “strong measures to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous,” gun violence remains a huge problem under Trump. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the nation has had more than 22,500 gun deaths already in 2020 — and more than 300 mass shootings.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-17--Trump campaign denies he downplayed virus weeks after he said it's 'fading away'

Mercedes Schlapp , a senior adviser to Donald Trump 's reelection campaign , denied on Friday that Trump had downplayed the COVID-19 pandemic .
During an appearance on CNN , Schlapp was asked why Trump had minimized the dangers of the coronavirus .
`` That is so false , '' she said .
`` He never downplayed it . ''
Exactly one month ago , on June 17 , Trump told Fox News ' Sean Hannity that the virus was in decline .
`` It 's fading away .
It 's going to fade away but having a vaccine would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to happen , '' Trump said .
As recently as July 1 , the Washington Post reported , Trump said , `` I think we 're going to be very good with the coronavirus .
I think that , at some point , that 's going to sort of disappear , I hope . ''
Since then the U.S. death toll connected with the virus has crossed the 138,000 mark .
Trump has been dismissive of the virus since the pandemic began , making claims that it would `` go away in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would `` disappear '' like `` a miracle . ''
He accused Democrats of promoting a `` hoax '' by discussing their concerns about it .
From the July 17 edition of CNN 's `` Newsroom '' : POPPY HARLOW , CNN : For months , and months , why did the president continue to downplay the severity of this ?
MERCEDES SCHLAPP : That is so – that is so false , what you 're saying , Poppy .
SCHLAPP : He never downplayed it .
SCHLAPP : Oh , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severity of this ?
This president has taken decisive and bold actions from the beginning .
When his medical experts came to him and said , `` Look , we need to put these travel restrictions on China , '' the president acted immediately .
You know what Joe Biden said ?
HARLOW : Mercedes , let 's stay on the president .
I promise we can get to Joe Biden in a moment .
SCHLAPP : We have to talk about Joe Biden because none of the press wants to ask questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that 's not true .
SCHLAPP : He 's a candidate .
Should n't we know what Joe Biden stands for ?
HARLOW : We should .
And we should absolutely know what the president leading in this pandemic stands for .
SCHLAPP : Right , and will he let you guys ask questions ?
That 's my point .
HARLOW : It is the single most relevant issue for Americans at this moment in time .
SCHLAPP : And we all agree .
HARLOW : Mercedes , please .
I think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time , so we do n't have to talk over one another .
I think it does a disservice to our viewer to do that .
Let 's not fight , let 's talk about the facts .
Here are the facts : You say the president did n't downplay this .
Exactly one month ago , one month ago today the president said , `` It 's fading away . ''
January 22nd in Davos , Switzerland , `` It 's totally under control . ''
February 2nd , `` We 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February 10th , `` It goes away in April with the heat , a lot of people think . ''
February 26th , `` The risk to the American people remains very low . ''
February 28th , quote , `` This is their new hoax . ''
May 8th , `` This is going to go away without a vaccine . ''
That 's what I 'm talking about .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Mercedes Schlapp, a senior adviser to Donald Trump’s reelection campaign, denied on Friday that Trump had downplayed the COVID-19 pandemic.
During an appearance on CNN, Schlapp was asked why Trump had minimized the dangers of the coronavirus.
“That is so false,” she said. “He never downplayed it.”
Exactly one month ago, on June 17, Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that the virus was in decline.
“It’s fading away. It’s going to fade away but having a vaccine would be really nice and that’s going to happen,” Trump said.
As recently as July 1, the Washington Post reported, Trump said, “I think we’re going to be very good with the coronavirus. I think that, at some point, that’s going to sort of disappear, I hope.”
Since then the U.S. death toll connected with the virus has crossed the 138,000 mark.
Trump has been dismissive of the virus since the pandemic began, making claims that it would “go away in April with the heat,” or that it would “disappear” like “a miracle.” He accused Democrats of promoting a “hoax” by discussing their concerns about it.
From the July 17 edition of CNN’s “Newsroom”:
POPPY HARLOW, CNN: For months, and months, why did the president continue to downplay the severity of this? MERCEDES SCHLAPP: That is so – that is so false, what you’re saying, Poppy. HARLOW: What’s false? SCHLAPP: He never downplayed it. HARLOW: Okay. SCHLAPP: Oh, that you’re saying that he downplayed the severity of this? This president has taken decisive and bold actions from the beginning. When his medical experts came to him and said, “Look, we need to put these travel restrictions on China,” the president acted immediately. You know what Joe Biden said? HARLOW: Mercedes, let’s stay on the president. I promise we can get to Joe Biden in a moment. SCHLAPP: We have to talk about Joe Biden because none of the press wants to ask questions to Joe Biden. HARLOW: Oh that’s not true. SCHLAPP: He’s a candidate. Shouldn’t we know what Joe Biden stands for? HARLOW: We should. And we should absolutely know what the president leading in this pandemic stands for. SCHLAPP: Right, and will he let you guys ask questions? That’s my point. HARLOW: It is the single most relevant issue for Americans at this moment in time. SCHLAPP: And we all agree. HARLOW: Mercedes, please. I think it does a disservice. We’ve got time, so we don’t have to talk over one another. I think it does a disservice to our viewer to do that. Let’s not fight, let’s talk about the facts. Here are the facts: You say the president didn’t downplay this. Exactly one month ago, one month ago today the president said, “It’s fading away.” January 22nd in Davos, Switzerland, “It’s totally under control.” February 2nd, “We’ve pretty much shut it down.” February 10th, “It goes away in April with the heat, a lot of people think.” February 26th, “The risk to the American people remains very low.” February 28th, quote, “This is their new hoax.” May 8th, “This is going to go away without a vaccine.” That’s what I’m talking about.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-17--Oregon governor: Trump is provoking violence to score political points

Oregon Gov .
Kate Brown is up in arms after camouflaged federal agents were discovered to be patrolling the streets of Portland , inciting violence and abducting protesters in what she described as a naked attempt by the Trump administration to provoke violence for political gain .
`` Trump is looking for a confrontation in Oregon in the hopes of winning political points in Ohio or Iowa , '' Brown , a Democrat , tweeted Thursday night .
She accused Donald Trump and his administration of seeking to portray racial justice protests as dangerous uprisings to help get his base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that acting-Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf is `` on a mission to provoke confrontation for political purposes , '' and in the process is `` putting both Oregonians and local law enforcement officers in harm ’ s way . ''
Protests have been taking place in Portland for weeks , as demonstrators are demanding a change in policing in the wake of the deaths of multiple Black Americans at the hands of white police officers .
Trump has tried to distort the image of the many peaceful protests across the country , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` The violent mayhem we have seen in the streets of cities that are run by liberal Democrats , in every case , is the predictable result of years of extreme indoctrination and bias in education , journalism , and other cultural institutions , '' Trump said in a dark and divisive speech at Mount Rushmore on July 3 .
Echoing Trump 's messaging , Wolf put out a press release on Thursday with the clearly untrue claim that Portland has been `` under siege for 47 straight days by a violent mob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ himself speaking to camouflaged officers with the text , `` We will never surrender to violent extremists on my watch , '' and images of what he said was the product of those `` violent extremists '' — which ended up being graffiti on some walls .
But few of the incidents Wolf used as evidence of violence were actually violent .
Most were just reports of graffiti on buildings or attempts to breech fencing around federal property .
In fact , crime data from Portland shows that reported offenses are actually down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ultimately , Trump 's dark message of violence has n't seemed to help him in the polls .
Trump is currently losing to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by 9 points , according to FiveThirtyEight 's average .
Data scientist David Shor said in an interview with New York magazine that Trump 's numbers started to fall after he tear-gassed peaceful protesters across from the White House in order to stage a photo-op with a bible .
`` The real inflection point in our polling was the Lafayette Park incident , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Shor said .
`` That 's when support for Biden shot up and it 's been pretty steady since then . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is up in arms after camouflaged federal agents were discovered to be patrolling the streets of Portland, inciting violence and abducting protesters in what she described as a naked attempt by the Trump administration to provoke violence for political gain.
“Trump is looking for a confrontation in Oregon in the hopes of winning political points in Ohio or Iowa,” Brown, a Democrat, tweeted Thursday night. She accused Donald Trump and his administration of seeking to portray racial justice protests as dangerous uprisings to help get his base out to the polls.
Brown added that acting-Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf is “on a mission to provoke confrontation for political purposes,” and in the process is “putting both Oregonians and local law enforcement officers in harm’s way.”
Protests have been taking place in Portland for weeks, as demonstrators are demanding a change in policing in the wake of the deaths of multiple Black Americans at the hands of white police officers.
Trump has tried to distort the image of the many peaceful protests across the country, painting them as violent and destructive.
“The violent mayhem we have seen in the streets of cities that are run by liberal Democrats, in every case, is the predictable result of years of extreme indoctrination and bias in education, journalism, and other cultural institutions,” Trump said in a dark and divisive speech at Mount Rushmore on July 3.
Echoing Trump’s messaging, Wolf put out a press release on Thursday with the clearly untrue claim that Portland has been “under siege for 47 straight days by a violent mob.”
He also tweeted images of himself speaking to camouflaged officers with the text, “We will never surrender to violent extremists on my watch,” and images of what he said was the product of those “violent extremists” — which ended up being graffiti on some walls.
But few of the incidents Wolf used as evidence of violence were actually violent. Most were just reports of graffiti on buildings or attempts to breach fencing around federal property.
In fact, crime data from Portland shows that reported offenses are actually down in the city from previous years.
Ultimately, Trump’s dark message of violence hasn’t seemed to help him in the polls.
Trump is currently losing to presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by 9 points, according to FiveThirtyEight’s average.
Data scientist David Shor said in an interview with New York magazine that Trump’s numbers started to fall after he tear-gassed peaceful protesters across from the White House in order to stage a photo-op with a bible.
“The real inflection point in our polling was the Lafayette Park incident, when Trump used tear gas on innocent people,” Shor said. “That’s when support for Biden shot up and it’s been pretty steady since then.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-17--Pompeo: We don't have 'capacity to deal with all human rights violations'

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a draft report on human rights on Thursday that advocates say would harm LGBTQ people .
The report is the work of a `` Commission of Unalienable Rights '' Pompeo announced last year to carry out `` an informed review of the role of human rights in American foreign policy . ''
Pompeo is an avowed evangelical Christian who , journalist Masha Gessen noted in the New Yorker , mentioned during his introduction of a State Department report in 2019 that he `` was , for many years , a Sunday-school teacher and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his religious beliefs into his role as secretary of state , telling a pro-Israeli group last year , `` As secretary of state and as a Christian , I 'm proud to lead American diplomacy to support Israel 's right to defend itself . ''
In an op-ed announcing the rights commission published in the Wall Street Journal on July 7 , 2019 , Pompeo wrote that `` when politicians and bureaucrats create new rights , they blur the distinction between unalienable rights and ad hoc rights granted by governments .
Unalienable rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good , or everything granted by a government , can be a universal right .
Loose talk of 'rights ' unmoors us from the principles of liberal democracy . ''
Pompeo used the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights as his jumping-off point in making distinctions between `` unalienable rights '' and `` ad hoc rights . ''
While unalienable rights are said to be inherently possessed by all people by virtue of their humanity , `` ad hoc rights , '' Pompeo says , are `` granted by governments . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ commission a year ago : `` As human rights claims have proliferated , some claims have come into tension with one another , provoking questions and clashes about which rights are entitled to gain respect .
Nation-states and international institutions remain confused about their respective responsibilities concerning human rights . ''
The makeup of the commission itself indicated what its focus would be .
The appointed chair of the commission , Mary Ann Glendon , a Harvard professor , opposes abortion rights and marriage equality , calling the latter `` a bid for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will harm children and infringe on the religious liberty of those who oppose it .
During his speech introducing the report on Thursday , Pompeo paraphrased Glendon 's writing , saying , `` A rapidly expanding catalog of rights … not only multiplies the occasion for risks of collision , but risks trivializing core American values . ''
Mark Bromley , chair of the Council for Global Equality , told NPR of the entire commission membership : `` If you look at their academic work , if you look at their ideological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They all champion religious freedom , often to the detriment of other communities , particularly the LGBTI community and women and girls who seek to exercise their sexual and reproductive health . ''
Pompeo said that a dedication to unalienable rights `` does n't mean we have the capacity to deal with all human rights violations . ''
`` Americans do not only have unalienable rights but also positive rights : rights granted by governments , courts , multilateral bodies .
Many are worth defending in light of our founding .
Others are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean more justice , '' he said .
Andrea Prasow , acting Washington director at the nonprofit Human Rights Watch , said that the report and Pompeo 's comments suggest that it is setting a framework to `` prioritize some rights over others and [ consider ] some well-recognized human rights to be political preferences rather than fundamental rights . ''
She said that while it was not yet clear how the report would affect issues of LGBTQ equality , it is `` deliberately vague so as to obfuscate its true purpose .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ factors the commission deems necessary to consider when deciding whether `` a new claim of human right warrants support in U.S. foreign policy . ''
Among those factors is : The report says that a foreign policy that does n't account for the support of the American people for a `` new rights claim '' will risk `` losing domestic legitimacy . ''
The document also makes a distinction between economic and social rights and civil and political rights .
Said Prasow : `` Any attempt to marginalize economic and social rights would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic and social rights but on civil and political rights as well . ''
Maria Sjödin , the deputy executive director of OutRight Action International , an organization focused on human rights violations and abuses against lesbian , gay , bisexual , transgender , and intersex people , said the report is an effort to `` fundamentally redefine and undermine human rights . ''
`` The report makes numerous references to 'natural law ' and 'natural rights , ' terms used to describe a social order which is often characterized by male domination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and complete erasure of LGBTIQ people , '' she said .
Sjödin said that the report aims to undermine the principle that human rights belong to everyone , regardless of religious denomination , gender , race , sexual orientation , and other characteristics .
`` This report is not business as usual .
Neither is the Commission on Unalienable Rights .
They are frightening signals of a growing institutionalization of strategic and highly thought-out fundamentalism , '' she said .
Prasow noted , `` I see the commission report as phase one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for policy decisions that are more explicit in their rejection of certain human rights , '' she said .
Monica Kerrigan , executive director of Planned Parenthood Global , stated , `` At a time when this administration is attacking reproductive rights , rolling back LGBTQ+ rights , perpetuating systemic racism , marginalizing immigrants , and demonizing the free press , this report is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to bolster neocolonialist ideals and intentionally exclude specific groups from legal protections . ''
The Trump administration has banned most transgender people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rolled back many Obama-era nondiscrimination protections for transgender people , including in homeless shelters , in health care , and in choosing to use bathrooms and facilities that correspond to their gender .
The administration has pushed forward many other rules that would target LGBTQ rights in the name of `` religious freedom . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a draft report on human rights on Thursday that advocates say would harm LGBTQ people.
The report is the work of a “Commission of Unalienable Rights” Pompeo announced last year to carry out “an informed review of the role of human rights in American foreign policy.”
Pompeo is an avowed evangelical Christian who, journalist Masha Gessen noted in the New Yorker, mentioned during his introduction of a State Department report in 2019 that he “was, for many years, a Sunday-school teacher and a church deacon.” He has injected his religious beliefs into his role as secretary of state, telling a pro-Israeli group last year, “As secretary of state and as a Christian, I’m proud to lead American diplomacy to support Israel’s right to defend itself.”
In an op-ed announcing the rights commission published in the Wall Street Journal on July 7, 2019, Pompeo wrote that “when politicians and bureaucrats create new rights, they blur the distinction between unalienable rights and ad hoc rights granted by governments. Unalienable rights are by nature universal. Not everything good, or everything granted by a government, can be a universal right. Loose talk of ‘rights’ unmoors us from the principles of liberal democracy.”
Pompeo used the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights as his jumping-off point in making distinctions between “unalienable rights” and “ad hoc rights.” While unalienable rights are said to be inherently possessed by all people by virtue of their humanity, “ad hoc rights,” Pompeo says, are “granted by governments.”
Pompeo noted in his remarks introducing the commission a year ago: “As human rights claims have proliferated, some claims have come into tension with one another, provoking questions and clashes about which rights are entitled to gain respect. Nation-states and international institutions remain confused about their respective responsibilities concerning human rights.”
The makeup of the commission itself indicated what its focus would be.
The appointed chair of the commission, Mary Ann Glendon, a Harvard professor, opposes abortion rights and marriage equality, calling the latter “a bid for special preferences,” and charging that it will harm children and infringe on the religious liberty of those who oppose it.
During his speech introducing the report on Thursday, Pompeo paraphrased Glendon’s writing, saying, “A rapidly expanding catalog of rights … not only multiplies the occasion for risks of collision, but risks trivializing core American values.”
Mark Bromley, chair of the Council for Global Equality, told NPR of the entire commission membership: “If you look at their academic work, if you look at their ideological perspectives, they’re very monolithic. They all champion religious freedom, often to the detriment of other communities, particularly the LGBTI community and women and girls who seek to exercise their sexual and reproductive health.”
Pompeo said that a dedication to unalienable rights “doesn’t mean we have the capacity to deal with all human rights violations.”
“Americans do not only have unalienable rights but also positive rights: rights granted by governments, courts, multilateral bodies. Many are worth defending in light of our founding. Others aren’t … More rights doesn’t necessarily mean more justice,” he said.
Andrea Prasow, acting Washington director at the nonprofit Human Rights Watch, said that the report and Pompeo’s comments suggest that it is setting a framework to “prioritize some rights over others and [consider] some well-recognized human rights to be political preferences rather than fundamental rights.” She said that while it was not yet clear how the report would affect issues of LGBTQ equality, it is “deliberately vague so as to obfuscate its true purpose.”
The report includes a list of factors the commission deems necessary to consider when deciding whether “a new claim of human right warrants support in U.S. foreign policy.” Among those factors is:
Does the new claim represent a clear consensus across a broad plurality of different traditions and cultures in the human family, as the Universal Declaration did, and not merely a narrower partisan or ideological interest? Caution is particularly warranted in two circumstances. Sometimes broad new rights have been championed by undemocratic and repressive regimes to undermine the unity and effectiveness of recognized universal rights. On other occasions, activists determined to bypass ordinary politics and domestic democratic processes employ the language and structures of international human rights to advance agendas that are not widely shared in the community of nations, and sometimes not even within activists’ own nation.
The report says that a foreign policy that doesn’t account for the support of the American people for a “new rights claim” will risk “losing domestic legitimacy.”
The document also makes a distinction between economic and social rights and civil and political rights.
In sum, the principles of the Universal Declaration do demand that economic and social rights be taken seriously in formulating U.S. foreign policy. However, for many reasons — ranging from our own constitutional traditions to the language of the Universal Declaration itself to prudential concerns about the abuse of rights — it is reasonable for the United States to treat economic and social rights differently from civil and political rights.
Said Prasow: “Any attempt to marginalize economic and social rights would … have an impact not only on economic and social rights but on civil and political rights as well.”
Jayne Huckbery, a clinical professor of law and director of the International Human Rights Clinic at Duke University, who attended the commission’s hearings, told NPR: “Very limited and anachronistic visions of human rights were discussed, rejecting the dynamic approach to human rights that emphasizes the need for evolution to extend human rights to previously marginalized groups.”
Maria Sjödin, the deputy executive director of OutRight Action International, an organization focused on human rights violations and abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people, said the report is an effort to “fundamentally redefine and undermine human rights.”
“The report makes numerous references to ‘natural law’ and ‘natural rights,’ terms used to describe a social order which is often characterized by male domination, subservience of women, racial inequality, and complete erasure of LGBTIQ people,” she said.
Sjödin said that the report aims to undermine the principle that human rights belong to everyone, regardless of religious denomination, gender, race, sexual orientation, and other characteristics.
“This report is not business as usual. Neither is the Commission on Unalienable Rights. They are frightening signals of a growing institutionalization of strategic and highly thought-out fundamentalism,” she said.
Prasow noted, “I see the commission report as phase one, which may then form the basis for policy decisions that are more explicit in their rejection of certain human rights,” she said.
Monica Kerrigan, executive director of Planned Parenthood Global, stated, “At a time when this administration is attacking reproductive rights, rolling back LGBTQ+ rights, perpetuating systemic racism, marginalizing immigrants, and demonizing the free press, this report is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to bolster neocolonialist ideals and intentionally exclude specific groups from legal protections.”
The Trump administration has banned most transgender people from serving in the military and has rolled back many Obama-era nondiscrimination protections for transgender people, including in homeless shelters, in health care, and in choosing to use bathrooms and facilities that correspond to their gender.
The administration has pushed forward many other rules that would target LGBTQ rights in the name of “religious freedom.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-17--Pentagon finds creative way to ban Confederate flag to avoid upsetting Trump

After weeks of wrangling , the Pentagon on Friday will ban displays of the Confederate flag on military installations , in a carefully worded policy that does n't mention the word ban or that specific flag .
The policy , laid out in a memo obtained by the Associated Press , was described by officials as a creative way to bar the flag 's display without openly contradicting or angering Donald Trump , who has defended people 's rights to display it .
Signed by Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Thursday night , the memo lists the types of flags @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Confederate flag is not among them — thus barring its display without singling it out in a `` ban . ''
Details of the policy , which is expected to be released Friday , were first reported by the AP .
`` We must always remain focused on what unifies us , our sworn oath to the Constitution and our shared duty to defend the nation , '' Esper 's memo states .
`` The flags we fly must accord with the military imperatives of good order and discipline , treating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and rejecting divisive symbols . ''
Acceptable flags listed in the memo include the U.S. and state banners , flags of other allies and partners , the widely displayed POW/MIA flag and official military unit flags .
Confederate flags , monuments , and military base names have become a national flashpoint in the weeks since the death of George Floyd .
Protesters decrying racism have targeted Confederate monuments in multiple cities .
Some state officials are considering taking them down , but they face vehement opposition in some areas .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter , the decision not to name a specific prohibited flag was to ensure the policy would be apolitical and could withstand potential legal challenges based on free speech .
The official said the White House is aware of the new policy .
Trump has flatly rejected any notion of changing base names , and has defended the flying of the Confederate flag , saying it 's a freedom of speech issue .
According to Esper 's memo , the display of unauthorized flags — such as the Confederate banner carried during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , historical exhibits , works of art or other educational programs .
The Marine Corps has already banned the Confederate flag .
Gen. David Berger , the commandant of the Marine Corps , directed his commanders in early June to remove public displays of the Confederate battle flag .
That flag , which some embrace as a symbol of heritage , `` carries the power to inflame feelings of division '' and can weaken the unit cohesion that combat requires , Berger said .
Military commands in South Korea and Japan quickly followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect or rescind those bans .
The other three military services were all moving to enact similar bans , but they paused when Esper made it known he wanted a consistent policy across the whole department .
Now they will instead issue this new policy to their troops and employees .
Defense leaders have for weeks been tied in knots over the incendiary issue of banning the Confederate flag , An early draft of the Defense Department plan banned display of the Confederate flag , saying the prohibition would preserve `` the morale @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discipline within the military ranks and unit cohesion . ''
That version was shelved , and officials have been struggling since then to come up with a policy that would have the same effect but not create political havoc .
Esper discussed the matter with senior leaders during a meeting Wednesday , including some of the legal issues surrounding a variety of bans , which some officials believe could be challenged in court .
The final version is a compromise that enables Esper to enact a ban that passes legal muster and gives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't infuriate the commander in chief .
According to the official , the new policy does n't undo the bans already in place , and service chiefs and secretaries will still be able to enact additional more stringent policies restricting symbols they believe are divisive and harmful to unit cohesion .
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss decisions not yet made public .
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told reporters on Thursday that he is still working on a policy that would remove all divisive symbols from Army installations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but said , `` we would have any divisive symbols on a no-fly list . ''

After weeks of wrangling, the Pentagon on Friday will ban displays of the Confederate flag on military installations, in a carefully worded policy that doesn’t mention the word ban or that specific flag. The policy, laid out in a memo obtained by the Associated Press, was described by officials as a creative way to bar the flag’s display without openly contradicting or angering Donald Trump, who has defended people’s rights to display it.
Signed by Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Thursday night, the memo lists the types of flags that may be displayed at military installations. The Confederate flag is not among them — thus barring its display without singling it out in a “ban.” Details of the policy, which is expected to be released Friday, were first reported by the AP.
“We must always remain focused on what unifies us, our sworn oath to the Constitution and our shared duty to defend the nation,” Esper’s memo states. “The flags we fly must accord with the military imperatives of good order and discipline, treating all our people with dignity and respect, and rejecting divisive symbols.”
Acceptable flags listed in the memo include the U.S. and state banners, flags of other allies and partners, the widely displayed POW/MIA flag and official military unit flags.
Confederate flags, monuments, and military base names have become a national flashpoint in the weeks since the death of George Floyd. Protesters decrying racism have targeted Confederate monuments in multiple cities. Some state officials are considering taking them down, but they face vehement opposition in some areas.
According to a Defense Department official familiar with the matter, the decision not to name a specific prohibited flag was to ensure the policy would be apolitical and could withstand potential legal challenges based on free speech. The official said the White House is aware of the new policy.
Trump has flatly rejected any notion of changing base names, and has defended the flying of the Confederate flag, saying it’s a freedom of speech issue.
According to Esper’s memo, the display of unauthorized flags — such as the Confederate banner carried during the Civil War — is acceptable in museums, historical exhibits, works of art or other educational programs.
The Marine Corps has already banned the Confederate flag. Gen. David Berger, the commandant of the Marine Corps, directed his commanders in early June to remove public displays of the Confederate battle flag. That flag, which some embrace as a symbol of heritage, “carries the power to inflame feelings of division” and can weaken the unit cohesion that combat requires, Berger said.
Military commands in South Korea and Japan quickly followed suit. The new policy does not affect or rescind those bans.
The other three military services were all moving to enact similar bans, but they paused when Esper made it known he wanted a consistent policy across the whole department. Now they will instead issue this new policy to their troops and employees.
Defense leaders have for weeks been tied in knots over the incendiary issue of banning the Confederate flag,
An early draft of the Defense Department plan banned display of the Confederate flag, saying the prohibition would preserve “the morale of our personnel, good order and discipline within the military ranks and unit cohesion.” That version was shelved, and officials have been struggling since then to come up with a policy that would have the same effect but not create political havoc.
Esper discussed the matter with senior leaders during a meeting Wednesday, including some of the legal issues surrounding a variety of bans, which some officials believe could be challenged in court.
The final version is a compromise that enables Esper to enact a ban that passes legal muster and gives military leaders what they want, but doesn’t infuriate the commander in chief.
According to the official, the new policy doesn’t undo the bans already in place, and service chiefs and secretaries will still be able to enact additional more stringent policies restricting symbols they believe are divisive and harmful to unit cohesion. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss decisions not yet made public.
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told reporters on Thursday that he is still working on a policy that would remove all divisive symbols from Army installations.
He didn’t mention the flag, but said, “we would have any divisive symbols on a no-fly list.”


shareblue--2020-07-17--GOP Senate focuses on investigating Biden while ignoring virus relief

The Republican-controlled Senate is moving ahead with political probes as emergency unemployment benefits are set to expire .
Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) , chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee , plans to soon release a partial report on presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's son Hunter and his relationship with Burisma — a Ukrainian energy company — months before the presidential election .
`` We 've got a very detailed timeline .
...
I 've told staff I certainly want to get something out before the August recess , as incomplete as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday .
`` At some point in time we 've got [ to say ] 'Okay , here 's what we 've got .
Here 's the remaining questions that need to be answered . '
'' These `` questions '' reportedly include examining `` potential conflicts of interest '' in conversations between Biden and the then-Ukraine president .
Johnson may issue subpoenas in the matter as early as next Wednesday 's committee meeting , Politico reported Thursday .
In March , Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) admitted that the investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and said `` people are tired of these kind of political investigations . ''
Still , he ultimately voted to let Johnson proceed anyway .
In addition , Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) , chair of the Judiciary Committee , said this week in an online discussion that he plans to hold public hearings this month on the origins of the investigation into Russian election meddling during the Obama-Biden administration .
`` There 's a lot to be done between now and September , '' Graham said , to `` investigate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the nation reels from both a public health crisis and an economic meltdown .
The Senate has refused to even hold a vote on the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act , a popular coronavirus relief package passed by the House in May .
That legislation would provide trillions of dollars to address the public health and economic challenges caused by the pandemic , extend expiring unemployment benefits , and provide $ 1 trillion in aid to struggling state and local governments .
It also includes $ 75 billion for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and billions more for hazard pay , child care , and workplace safety for essential workers .
Instead , the nation waits for Senate Republicans to craft a relief bill of their own .
`` I 'll be unveiling something which will be a starting point in a few weeks and we 'll be dealing with the administration and the Democrats , '' Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told constituents in Kentucky last week .
He said his proposal would focus mainly on helping the hospitality industry and on taking away the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liable businesses .
The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the bill might also include provisions aimed at making public school systems to reopen during the pandemic .
McConnell has also indicated he plans to let an emergency program providing a $ 600 weekly federal supplement to unemployment insurance expire on July 31 .
A June report from Congress ' Joint Economic Committee predicted that another 2.8 million Americans could lose their jobs if the benefit is not renewed .
According to the Department of Labor , 1.3 million more Americans filed new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 17th consecutive week in which at least a million people have fired first-time jobless claims .
The current national unemployment rate , as of June data , was more than 11 % .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Republican-controlled Senate is moving ahead with political probes as emergency unemployment benefits are set to expire.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, plans to soon release a partial report on presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s son Hunter and his relationship with Burisma — a Ukrainian energy company — months before the presidential election.
“We’ve got a very detailed timeline. … I’ve told staff I certainly want to get something out before the August recess, as incomplete as it is,” he told The Hill on Friday. “At some point in time we’ve got [to say] ‘Okay, here’s what we’ve got. Here’s the remaining questions that need to be answered.'”
These “questions” reportedly include examining “potential conflicts of interest” in conversations between Biden and the then-Ukraine president.
Johnson may issue subpoenas in the matter as early as next Wednesday’s committee meeting, Politico reported Thursday.
In March, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) admitted that the investigation into the Bidens “appears political” and said “people are tired of these kind of political investigations.” Still, he ultimately voted to let Johnson proceed anyway.
In addition, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), chair of the Judiciary Committee, said this week in an online discussion that he plans to hold public hearings this month on the origins of the investigation into Russian election meddling during the Obama-Biden administration.
“There’s a lot to be done between now and September,” Graham said, to “investigate the investigators.”
These ramped-up investigations come as the nation reels from both a public health crisis and an economic meltdown.
The Senate has refused to even hold a vote on the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, a popular coronavirus relief package passed by the House in May.
That legislation would provide trillions of dollars to address the public health and economic challenges caused by the pandemic, extend expiring unemployment benefits, and provide $1 trillion in aid to struggling state and local governments. It also includes $75 billion for coronavirus testing, tracing, and treatment, and billions more for hazard pay, child care, and workplace safety for essential workers.
Instead, the nation waits for Senate Republicans to craft a relief bill of their own.
“I’ll be unveiling something which will be a starting point in a few weeks and we’ll be dealing with the administration and the Democrats,” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told constituents in Kentucky last week. He said his proposal would focus mainly on helping the hospitality industry and on taking away the right of people who get infected to sue liable businesses.
The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the bill might also include provisions aimed at making public school systems to reopen during the pandemic.
McConnell has also indicated he plans to let an emergency program providing a $600 weekly federal supplement to unemployment insurance expire on July 31. A June report from Congress’ Joint Economic Committee predicted that another 2.8 million Americans could lose their jobs if the benefit is not renewed.
According to the Department of Labor, 1.3 million more Americans filed new unemployment claims last week. This marked the 17th consecutive week in which at least a million people have fired first-time jobless claims. The current national unemployment rate, as of June data, was more than 11%.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-07-18--Biden targets Texas as Trump's fortunes continue to tumble

Joe Biden targeted Texas with a modest advertising investment that raised new questions about Donald Trump 's vulnerability in the longtime Republican stronghold as coronavirus infections explode .
Biden , the former vice president and the Democrats ' presumptive presidential nominee in 2020 , ignores Trump completely in the new ad .
He offers instead an uplifting message that allows voters to envision him as consoler in chief , a role that Republicans have repeatedly encouraged Trump to embrace to no avail .
`` This virus is tough , but Texas is tougher , '' Biden says in the ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know , if you 're sick , if you 're struggling , if you 're worried about how you 're going to get through the day , I will not abandon you .
We 're all in this together . ''
Trump 's campaign on Tuesday laughed off the small new investment , and even some Democrats were skeptical of Biden 's chances in Texas .
Yet Biden 's modest step into a state that has n't backed a Democrat for president in 44 years reflected the extent to which the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fall .
As Democratic-led states like New York and New Jersey slow the spread , new infections and related deaths are surging across Republican-led states like Florida , Texas and Arizona that backed Trump four years ago and resisted aggressive health precautions through the spring .
Even before the outbreak , Democrats considered Florida and Arizona top targets .
Texas , which Democrats have long hoped would swing their way because of demographic trends , emerged as a possible pickup only after the pandemic intensified .
Last week was the deadliest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital system is stretched to its limits in some regions .
Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott has warned that the infection numbers will likely get even worse .
`` We are one of the hottest of the hot spots in the country , '' said Democratic Rep. Colin Allred , who represents a portion of Dallas and its surrounding suburbs .
`` I think people in Texas can recognize what 's happening and connect the dots on who 's responsible for us having a lack of a response .
And they 're looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a very strong appeal . ''
Still , Allred is n't ready to predict a Biden victory in Texas this November .
`` I think that it 's possible .
We still have a ways to go here , '' he said in an interview .
`` We will all be judged — from members of Congress to the president — on what we did and what we did n't do during this crisis . ''
The Biden campaign said the Texas ad was part of a `` mid-six-figure '' investment also spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's scheduled to run in each state 's top markets on local cable and on Sunday cable shows .
Spanish-language-captioned versions will run in Arizona , Florida and Texas , in addition to YouTube , Facebook and Univision .
Later in the week , the campaign plans to release a series of digital videos of Biden calling families of coronavirus victims in all four states .
Trump campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh described the investment as `` a total phony '' media buy designed to generate media coverage given its size .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas is in play , and we encourage him to spend money there , '' he said .
That 's money Biden can not spend , Murtaugh continued , in four states that voted Democrat four years ago where Trump is running ads to try to flip : Minnesota , New Hampshire , New Mexico , and Nevada .
`` We have far more resources than Joe Biden does .
He would have to outraise us by more than a million dollars a day every day until the election and he still could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , referencing the Trump campaign 's massive cash advantage .
`` We encourage him to spend money in states like Texas .
That is money down the drain . ''
Among Biden 's team , there was some internal skepticism that Texas would become a legitimate top target .
Money is a factor .
Texas has nearly two dozen media markets .
A serious bid there would likely require tens of millions of dollars .
And beyond the campaign , outside groups aligned with Democrats have not signaled any serious interest in playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states director for the Biden campaign , said Trump 's mismanagement of the pandemic has helped strengthen Biden 's opportunity in states like Arizona and Texas that were out of reach for Democrats in past elections .
But it 's not as if Biden was ignoring Texas until this month .
The campaign notes it has hosted more than 50 organizing events since early March , including virtual phone banks and virtual community meetings .
Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke has been an active surrogate in recent days , and Biden recorded a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
`` What we have seen , whether it 's Texas or Arizona or Florida or North Carolina , is that Trump 's failed response to the pandemic and his complete mismanagement has taken these states ... that we thought we could have a real shot in and win , and made them even more competitive , '' Ritner said .
`` Voters in these states are seeing firsthand what they get when they have a Trump presidency , and it 's scary . ''
Texas intensive care unit physician Robin Armstrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee , notes there has been a significant increase in coronavirus-related hospitalizations in recent weeks .
Many are younger people who are recovering , he said .
He called it `` silly '' to blame Trump for the surge .
`` I think we need to blame where the virus comes from , not knowing about it a lot earlier , and so I think we 've had a lot of failures in our bureaucracy for sure , '' he said , suggesting that the medical community and local governments should shoulder more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As for Trump 's reelection prospects , Armstrong concedes that Trump 's numbers are not strong — `` especially in this environment right now . ''
`` He polls low , but in the privacy of the voting booth , his numbers will go up considerably , '' he said .

Joe Biden targeted Texas with a modest advertising investment that raised new questions about Donald Trump’s vulnerability in the longtime Republican stronghold as coronavirus infections explode.
Biden, the former vice president and the Democrats’ presumptive presidential nominee in 2020, ignores Trump completely in the new ad. He offers instead an uplifting message that allows voters to envision him as consoler in chief, a role that Republicans have repeatedly encouraged Trump to embrace to no avail.
“This virus is tough, but Texas is tougher,” Biden says in the ad. “I want every single American to know, if you’re sick, if you’re struggling, if you’re worried about how you’re going to get through the day, I will not abandon you. We’re all in this together.”
Trump’s campaign on Tuesday laughed off the small new investment, and even some Democrats were skeptical of Biden’s chances in Texas. Yet Biden’s modest step into a state that hasn’t backed a Democrat for president in 44 years reflected the extent to which the pandemic threatens to scramble the electoral map this fall.
As Democratic-led states like New York and New Jersey slow the spread, new infections and related deaths are surging across Republican-led states like Florida, Texas and Arizona that backed Trump four years ago and resisted aggressive health precautions through the spring.
Even before the outbreak, Democrats considered Florida and Arizona top targets. Texas, which Democrats have long hoped would swing their way because of demographic trends, emerged as a possible pickup only after the pandemic intensified.
Last week was the deadliest of the health crisis for Texas, and the hospital system is stretched to its limits in some regions. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has warned that the infection numbers will likely get even worse.
“We are one of the hottest of the hot spots in the country,” said Democratic Rep. Colin Allred, who represents a portion of Dallas and its surrounding suburbs. “I think people in Texas can recognize what’s happening and connect the dots on who’s responsible for us having a lack of a response. And they’re looking at Joe Biden as someone who has a very strong appeal.”
Still, Allred isn’t ready to predict a Biden victory in Texas this November.
“I think that it’s possible. We still have a ways to go here,” he said in an interview. “We will all be judged — from members of Congress to the president — on what we did and what we didn’t do during this crisis.”
The Biden campaign said the Texas ad was part of a “mid-six-figure” investment also spread across Arizona, Florida and North Carolina. It’s scheduled to run in each state’s top markets on local cable and on Sunday cable shows. Spanish-language-captioned versions will run in Arizona, Florida and Texas, in addition to YouTube, Facebook and Univision.
Later in the week, the campaign plans to release a series of digital videos of Biden calling families of coronavirus victims in all four states.
Trump campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh described the investment as “a total phony” media buy designed to generate media coverage given its size.
“We hope that Joe Biden thinks Texas is in play, and we encourage him to spend money there,” he said. That’s money Biden cannot spend, Murtaugh continued, in four states that voted Democrat four years ago where Trump is running ads to try to flip: Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Nevada.
“We have far more resources than Joe Biden does. He would have to outraise us by more than a million dollars a day every day until the election and he still couldn’t catch us,” Murtaugh said, referencing the Trump campaign’s massive cash advantage. “We encourage him to spend money in states like Texas. That is money down the drain.”
Among Biden’s team, there was some internal skepticism that Texas would become a legitimate top target.
Money is a factor. Texas has nearly two dozen media markets. A serious bid there would likely require tens of millions of dollars. And beyond the campaign, outside groups aligned with Democrats have not signaled any serious interest in playing there.
Molly Ritner, the deputy states director for the Biden campaign, said Trump’s mismanagement of the pandemic has helped strengthen Biden’s opportunity in states like Arizona and Texas that were out of reach for Democrats in past elections.
But it’s not as if Biden was ignoring Texas until this month.
The campaign notes it has hosted more than 50 organizing events since early March, including virtual phone banks and virtual community meetings. Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke has been an active surrogate in recent days, and Biden recorded a video for the state Democratic convention last month.
“What we have seen, whether it’s Texas or Arizona or Florida or North Carolina, is that Trump’s failed response to the pandemic and his complete mismanagement has taken these states … that we thought we could have a real shot in and win, and made them even more competitive,” Ritner said. “Voters in these states are seeing firsthand what they get when they have a Trump presidency, and it’s scary.”
Texas intensive care unit physician Robin Armstrong, who sits on the Republican National Committee, notes there has been a significant increase in coronavirus-related hospitalizations in recent weeks. Many are younger people who are recovering, he said.
He called it “silly” to blame Trump for the surge.
“I think we need to blame where the virus comes from, not knowing about it a lot earlier, and so I think we’ve had a lot of failures in our bureaucracy for sure,” he said, suggesting that the medical community and local governments should shoulder more blame for not offering more consistent messages.
As for Trump’s reelection prospects, Armstrong concedes that Trump’s numbers are not strong — “especially in this environment right now.”
“He polls low, but in the privacy of the voting booth, his numbers will go up considerably,” he said.