shareblue--2020-08-19--You've never seen a convention roll call like this — with calamari

2020 's roll call vote for the Democratic presidential nominee was an entirely new experience .
Because of the coronavirus pandemic , states got to nominate Vice President Joe Biden from their home turf , and it was an opportunity to see the best of the country .
Termed the `` Roll Call Across America , '' people from Alabama to Puerto Rico to Washington and , of course , Delaware .
cast their votes for Joe Biden .
Several of Biden 's one-time primary opponents were there , with former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg casting the votes for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , along with Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter , gave the Minnesota delegation votes to Biden .
In Alabama , where Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell called for the restoration of the Voting Rights Act , a cause Biden has championed .
Fred Guttenberg , who became a gun control activist after his daughter was killed in the Parkland shootings in Florida , delivered the votes for that state .
Speaking in front of Biden 's childhood home , complete with a `` Scranton Loves Joe '' lawn sign in the background , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pennsylvania 's votes .
Maine 's first openly gay African American to serve in the Maine House , State Rep. Craig Hickman , stood outside his farm — his `` American dream '' — and nominated Biden .
In Utah — a state that leans Republican — a delegate stood outside the statehouse and reminded Trump that his state sends every registered voter a ballot , which they can return by mail .
Khizr Khan , the Pakistani-American Gold Star father who Trump targeted after his speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As he did , he spoke sorrowfully of the death of Heather Heyer , killed in Khan 's home city of Charlottesville .
And in South Carolina , Jaime Harrison , who is challenging GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham in an increasingly tight race , cast votes for Biden .
The last state , as is traditional , was Biden 's home state of Delaware .
There , from a train station , of course , Democratic Sen. Tom Carper and Gov .
John Carney cast their votes for Biden , who served as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 36 years .
The liveliest state , however , had to be Rhode Island , which declared itself the `` Calamari Comeback State , '' complete with a giant plate of fried squid .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

2020’s roll call vote for the Democratic presidential nominee was an entirely new experience. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, states got to nominate Vice President Joe Biden from their home turf, and it was an opportunity to see the best of the country.
Termed the “Roll Call Across America,” people from Alabama to Puerto Rico to Washington and, of course, Delaware. cast their votes for Joe Biden.
Several of Biden’s one-time primary opponents were there, with former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg casting the votes for Indiana. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), along with Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, gave the Minnesota delegation votes to Biden.
In Alabama, where Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell called for the restoration of the Voting Rights Act, a cause Biden has championed.
Fred Guttenberg, who became a gun control activist after his daughter was killed in the Parkland shootings in Florida, delivered the votes for that state.
Speaking in front of Biden’s childhood home, complete with a “Scranton Loves Joe” lawn sign in the background, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) cast Pennsylvania’s votes.
Maine’s first openly gay African American to serve in the Maine House, State Rep. Craig Hickman, stood outside his farm — his “American dream” — and nominated Biden.
In Utah — a state that leans Republican — a delegate stood outside the statehouse and reminded Trump that his state sends every registered voter a ballot, which they can return by mail.
Khizr Khan, the Pakistani-American Gold Star father who Trump targeted after his speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, cast the votes for Virginia. As he did, he spoke sorrowfully of the death of Heather Heyer, killed in Khan’s home city of Charlottesville.
And in South Carolina, Jaime Harrison, who is challenging GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham in an increasingly tight race, cast votes for Biden.
The last state, as is traditional, was Biden’s home state of Delaware. There, from a train station, of course, Democratic Sen. Tom Carper and Gov. John Carney cast their votes for Biden, who served as that state’s United States Senator for 36 years.
The liveliest state, however, had to be Rhode Island, which declared itself the “Calamari Comeback State,” complete with a giant plate of fried squid.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-19--John Kerry: Trump is a 'blooper reel' when he travels overseas

Former Secretary of State John Kerry called out Donald Trump 's numerous failures on the global stage during a primetime address at Tuesday 's Democratic National Convention .
From withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord to abandoning the World Health Organization in the middle of a pandemic , Trump has repeatedly abandoned America 's traditional allies .
At the same time , Trump has coddled dictators such as Russia 's Vladimir Putin and North Korea 's Kim Jung Un .
Kerry , the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004 and President Barack Obama 's second secretary of state , compared Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hi , I 'm John Kerry .
For the eight years of the Obama-Biden administration , we led by example .
We eliminated the threat of an Iran with a nuclear weapon .
We built a 68-nation coalition to destroy ISIS .
We forged 195-nation agreement to attack climate change .
We stopped Ebola before it became a pandemic .
And like everything else he inherited , he bankrupted it .
When this president goes overseas , it is n't a goodwill mission ; it 's a blooper reel .
He breaks up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to dictators .
America deserves a president who is looked up to , not laughed at .
Donald Trump pretends Russia did n't attack our elections .
And now he does nothing about Russia putting a bounty on our troops .
So he wo n't defend our country .
He does n't know how to defend our troops .
The only person he 's interested in defending is himself .
This is the bottom line : Our interests , our ideals , and our brave men and women in uniform ca n't afford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our troops ca n't get out of harm 's way by hiding in the White House bunker .
They need a president who will stand up for them , and President Biden will .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Former Secretary of State John Kerry called out Donald Trump’s numerous failures on the global stage during a primetime address at Tuesday’s Democratic National Convention.
From withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord to abandoning the World Health Organization in the middle of a pandemic, Trump has repeatedly abandoned America’s traditional allies.
At the same time, Trump has coddled dictators such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jung Un.
Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004 and President Barack Obama’s second secretary of state, compared Trump’s behavior to the previous administration.
Hi, I’m John Kerry. For the eight years of the Obama-Biden administration, we led by example. We eliminated the threat of an Iran with a nuclear weapon. We built a 68-nation coalition to destroy ISIS. We forged 195-nation agreement to attack climate change. We stopped Ebola before it became a pandemic. Donald Trump inherited a growing economy and a more peaceful world. And like everything else he inherited, he bankrupted it. When this president goes overseas, it isn’t a goodwill mission; it’s a blooper reel. He breaks up with our allies and writes love letters to dictators. America deserves a president who is looked up to, not laughed at. Donald Trump pretends Russia didn’t attack our elections. And now he does nothing about Russia putting a bounty on our troops. So he won’t defend our country. He doesn’t know how to defend our troops. The only person he’s interested in defending is himself. This is the bottom line: Our interests, our ideals, and our brave men and women in uniform can’t afford four more years of Donald Trump. Our troops can’t get out of harm’s way by hiding in the White House bunker. They need a president who will stand up for them, and President Biden will.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-19--Democrats formally nominate Joe Biden for president

The Democratic Party has formally made Joe Biden its presidential nominee , a position he has sought for more than 30 years and through three White House bids .
Delegates from each state took a roll call vote during the second night of the virtual Democratic National Convention on Tuesday , awarding Biden the position .
Usually , each state calls out the number of delegates that different candidates won there during the primary in a dramatic fashion in a sports arena or large hall — but the count was all done online this time .
Biden actually clinched the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challengers in the once-crowded Democratic presidential primary had left the race , and the votes of seven states and the District of Columbia gave him the 1,991 delegates to the convention needed to lock it up .
A former senator from Delaware and vice president , Biden first ran for president in 1988 and tried again in 2008 before launching his 2020 campaign last year .
Donald Trump faced only token opposition in his party 's primary and will formally be renominated as his party 's candidate during the virtual Republican National Convention @ @ @

The Democratic Party has formally made Joe Biden its presidential nominee, a position he has sought for more than 30 years and through three White House bids.
Delegates from each state took a roll call vote during the second night of the virtual Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, awarding Biden the position. Usually, each state calls out the number of delegates that different candidates won there during the primary in a dramatic fashion in a sports arena or large hall — but the count was all done online this time.
Biden actually clinched the nomination in early June. His other challengers in the once-crowded Democratic presidential primary had left the race, and the votes of seven states and the District of Columbia gave him the 1,991 delegates to the convention needed to lock it up.
A former senator from Delaware and vice president, Biden first ran for president in 1988 and tried again in 2008 before launching his 2020 campaign last year.
Donald Trump faced only token opposition in his party’s primary and will formally be renominated as his party’s candidate during the virtual Republican National Convention next week.


shareblue--2020-08-19--Gay lawmakers take center stage at Democratic convention

Three gay lawmakers made history on Tuesday night as the first out LGBTQ keynote speakers of the Democratic National Convention .
Georgia state Rep. Sam Park , Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta , and Long Beach , California , Mayor Robert Garcia were among the 17 Democrats , billed as `` rising stars '' of the Democratic Party , chosen as keynote speakers for the evening .
This week , Kenyatta told the Philadelphia Inquirer : `` I do n't know if I 'll ever get over the fact that a poor , Black , gay kid from North Philly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
In 2018 , Kenyatta was the first LGBTQ person of color elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly .
Park is the only Asian American and the first out gay man in the Georgia General Assembly , to which he was elected in 2016 .
In 2014 , Garcia became the first Latinx person and openly gay man to be elected mayor of Long Beach , and in 2018 was the first mayor to get married while in office when he wed his partner of many years , Matt Mendez .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fiancé , Matthew Miller .
`` When I wanted to marry the man I love , Joe Biden was the first national figure to support me and my family , '' Kenyatta said .
Added Miller , `` Appreciate you , man . ''
The three lawmakers spoke of the economic and health crises Americans are facing during the coronavirus pandemic .
`` You deserve more than the constant chaos that Donald Trump delivers , '' Garcia said .
Kenyatta spoke of doctors , nurses , and home health care aides in Philadelphia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives to protect others because there is not enough protective equipment . ''
Park said that teachers in Gwinnett County , Georgia , and across the country `` are being asked to return to the classroom without a plan to keep them safe , and parents are exhausted juggling full-time work and full-time child care . ''
The three men also spoke of the life experiences they bring to the Democratic Party .
Garcia said he knew the frustrations of carrying student loan debt ; in April , he had tweeted that student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus relief .
Kenyatta shared the `` insecurity and indignity '' that comes with receiving an eviction notice ; last year he sponsored state legislation to restore financial assistance for vulnerable Pennsylvanians that had been eliminated earlier in 2019 .
`` The rate of uninsured children is rising and we 're in the midst of the opioid crisis as well as the HIV epidemic .
Medicaid expansion could cover 500,000 Georgians , and if we extended Medicaid to the full extent under federal law , the federal government would cover 90 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put forth does too little to address the challenges we face , '' Park said last year .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Three gay lawmakers made history on Tuesday night as the first out LGBTQ keynote speakers of the Democratic National Convention. Georgia state Rep. Sam Park, Pennsylvania state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, and Long Beach, California, Mayor Robert Garcia were among the 17 Democrats, billed as “rising stars” of the Democratic Party, chosen as keynote speakers for the evening.
This week, Kenyatta told the Philadelphia Inquirer: “I don’t know if I’ll ever get over the fact that a poor, Black, gay kid from North Philly is about to be on this stage.”
He added, “So often, working people and young people, we’re asked to work on other people’s campaigns, we’re asked to wait our turn, but I think the time for turns is over.”
In 2018, Kenyatta was the first LGBTQ person of color elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Park is the only Asian American and the first out gay man in the Georgia General Assembly, to which he was elected in 2016. In 2014, Garcia became the first Latinx person and openly gay man to be elected mayor of Long Beach, and in 2018 was the first mayor to get married while in office when he wed his partner of many years, Matt Mendez.
During the keynote, Kenyatta appeared with his fiancé, Matthew Miller. “When I wanted to marry the man I love, Joe Biden was the first national figure to support me and my family,” Kenyatta said. Added Miller, “Appreciate you, man.”
The three lawmakers spoke of the economic and health crises Americans are facing during the coronavirus pandemic.
“You deserve more than the constant chaos that Donald Trump delivers,” Garcia said.
Kenyatta spoke of doctors, nurses, and home health care aides in Philadelphia who “have to risk their own lives to protect others because there is not enough protective equipment.”
Park said that teachers in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and across the country “are being asked to return to the classroom without a plan to keep them safe, and parents are exhausted juggling full-time work and full-time child care.”
The three men also spoke of the life experiences they bring to the Democratic Party. Garcia said he knew the frustrations of carrying student loan debt; in April, he had tweeted that student loan cancellation must be included in congressional coronavirus relief.
Kenyatta shared the “insecurity and indignity” that comes with receiving an eviction notice; last year he sponsored state legislation to restore financial assistance for vulnerable Pennsylvanians that had been eliminated earlier in 2019.
Park spoke of his experiences with the health care system: “We have lived that feeling of helplessness when someone we love is very sick and access to health care is a matter of life and death.” He told NBC News in 2016 that he decided to run for office after his mother’s 2014 cancer diagnosis. Park’s mother died a year after he was elected, and he has been working to expand Medicaid in the state. Park said that a plan released by Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp last year is insufficient.
“The rate of uninsured children is rising and we’re in the midst of the opioid crisis as well as the HIV epidemic. Medicaid expansion could cover 500,000 Georgians, and if we extended Medicaid to the full extent under federal law, the federal government would cover 90% of the cost. … The plan they put forth does too little to address the challenges we face,” Park said last year.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-19--Pelosi: Post office chief 'frankly admitted' he has no plans to restore mail services

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that Donald Trump 's postmaster general has no intention of restoring mail equipment or funding overtime hours he cut , despite public outcry that operational changes are undermining service before the November election .
Pelosi ( D-CA ) said she told Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in a phone call that his decision to temporarily pause any further postal operations changes is `` wholly insufficient and does not reverse damage already wreaked . ''
She said DeJoy `` frankly admitted that he had no intention of replacing the sorting machines , blue mailboxes , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ removed and that plans for adequate overtime , which is critical for the timely delivery of mail , are not in the works . ''
Her statement comes as the Postal Service faced more questions and concerns and a federal lawsuit Wednesday over mail delivery disruptions after DeJoy 's abrupt decision to postpone any further changes until after the Nov. 3 election .
The delays have stunned Americans and led to warnings that Trump is trying to undermine the Postal Service before a surge of mail-in ballots as voters avoid polling places during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights organizations said Wednesday they are suing to immediately return postal operations to normal .
`` We never imagined that we would be in this position with one of the oldest and most trusted institutions in our country , '' said Virginia Case of the League of Women Voters .
Case said there was no choice but to sue , even with the reversal by DeJoy on Tuesday .
`` The damage has been done , '' she said .
`` We need guarantees in place that this will not happen again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House , Trump 's team has insisted he has no intention of disrupting mail delivery now or before Election Day .
But Trump leveled more attacks on absentee voting .
`` IF YOU CAN PROTEST IN PERSON , YOU CAN VOTE IN PERSON ! ''
Trump tweeted .
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer , who spoke to DeJoy late Tuesday , asked for a written explanation of exactly what changes he was reversing .
Schumer ( D-NY ) called on the service 's board of governors to provide `` answers on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the job .
DeJoy , who is set to testify Friday before senators , ignited an uproar over operational cutbacks and service changes he swiftly put in place since taking the helm in June .
With mounting public pressure and a crush of state lawsuits , he hit pause Tuesday , saying he would hold off on any further changes until after the election .
Nonetheless , there are concerns that mail delivery of from routine goods and the millions of mail-in ballots expected are still potentially at risk because of the changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been let go , and mailboxes and machines have already been removed .
One initiative that DeJoy did n't single out in his announcement was the newly imposed constraints on when mail can go out for delivery — a change postal workers have said is fueling delays .
DeJoy , a former supply chain CEO , is a Republican donor and Trump ally , and the first postmaster general who did not come from the ranks of the Postal Service .
He has pledged to revamp the Postal Service , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was saddled with a costly new requirement to pre-fund its employee retiree healthcare benefits .
On Tuesday , he said he was halting those initiatives until after the election `` to avoid even the appearance of impact on election mail . ''
`` We will deliver the nation 's election mail on time , '' DeJoy said in a statement .
DeJoy said he is halting the planned removal of mail-processing machines and blue collection boxes , as well as an initiative to change retail hours at post offices .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed and said the agency has not eliminated overtime .
The statement did not specify whether the agency would restore mail-sorting machines that have recently been taken offline .
A Postal Service spokesman declined to comment beyond DeJoy 's statement .
Pelosi is gaining support from Republicans on Saturday 's House vote on legislation that would prevent election-year mail changes and provide emergency postal funds .
`` I do n't , frankly , trust the postmaster general , '' Pelosi said in San Francisco .
More than 20 states , from New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suing to stop the changes .
Several vowed they would press on , keeping a watchful eye on the Postal Service ahead of the election .
Trump made clear last week that he was blocking $ 25 billion in emergency aid to the Postal Service , acknowledging he wanted to curtail election mail operations , as well as a Democratic proposal to provide $ 3.6 billion in additional election money to the states to help process an expected surge of mail-in ballots .
Those funds are tangled in a broader coronavirus aid package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stalled in the Senate .
While the House is expected to approve the $ 25 billion as part of Saturday 's vote , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) has said he 's not interested in a separate postal bill .
He is eyeing a new virus aid package that would provide $ 10 billion for the Postal Service .
Mark Dimondstein , president of the American Postal Workers Union , welcomed DeJoy 's decision but said the Postal Service needs COVID-related financial relief .
`` It 's time for Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pelosi is calling lawmakers back to Washington for the `` Delivering for America Act , '' which would prohibit the Postal Service from implementing any changes to operations or the level of service it had in place on Jan. 1 .
The package would include the $ 25 billion the House has already approved as part of the COVID-19 rescue that is stalled in the Senate .
Postal workers say they are increasingly worried about their ability to deliver for the fall election .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that Donald Trump’s postmaster general has no intention of restoring mail equipment or funding overtime hours he cut, despite public outcry that operational changes are undermining service before the November election.
Pelosi (D-CA) said she told Postmaster General Louis DeJoy in a phone call that his decision to temporarily pause any further postal operations changes is “wholly insufficient and does not reverse damage already wreaked.”
She said DeJoy “frankly admitted that he had no intention of replacing the sorting machines, blue mailboxes, and other key mail infrastructure that have been removed and that plans for adequate overtime, which is critical for the timely delivery of mail, are not in the works.”
Her statement comes as the Postal Service faced more questions and concerns and a federal lawsuit Wednesday over mail delivery disruptions after DeJoy’s abrupt decision to postpone any further changes until after the Nov. 3 election.
The delays have stunned Americans and led to warnings that Trump is trying to undermine the Postal Service before a surge of mail-in ballots as voters avoid polling places during the coronavirus pandemic.
Civil and voting rights organizations said Wednesday they are suing to immediately return postal operations to normal.
“We never imagined that we would be in this position with one of the oldest and most trusted institutions in our country,” said Virginia Case of the League of Women Voters.
Case said there was no choice but to sue, even with the reversal by DeJoy on Tuesday. “The damage has been done,” she said. “We need guarantees in place that this will not happen again, prior to the election.”
At the White House, Trump’s team has insisted he has no intention of disrupting mail delivery now or before Election Day.
But Trump leveled more attacks on absentee voting. “IF YOU CAN PROTEST IN PERSON, YOU CAN VOTE IN PERSON!” Trump tweeted.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who spoke to DeJoy late Tuesday, asked for a written explanation of exactly what changes he was reversing.
Schumer (D-NY) called on the service’s board of governors to provide “answers on why Mr. DeJoy was selected” for the job.
DeJoy, who is set to testify Friday before senators, ignited an uproar over operational cutbacks and service changes he swiftly put in place since taking the helm in June. With mounting public pressure and a crush of state lawsuits, he hit pause Tuesday, saying he would hold off on any further changes until after the election.
Nonetheless, there are concerns that mail delivery of from routine goods and the millions of mail-in ballots expected are still potentially at risk because of the changes pushed by DeJoy. Managers and workers have been let go, and mailboxes and machines have already been removed.
One initiative that DeJoy didn’t single out in his announcement was the newly imposed constraints on when mail can go out for delivery — a change postal workers have said is fueling delays.
DeJoy, a former supply chain CEO, is a Republican donor and Trump ally, and the first postmaster general who did not come from the ranks of the Postal Service. He has pledged to revamp the Postal Service, which has struggled financially ever since 2006, when it was saddled with a costly new requirement to pre-fund its employee retiree healthcare benefits.
On Tuesday, he said he was halting those initiatives until after the election “to avoid even the appearance of impact on election mail.”
“We will deliver the nation’s election mail on time,” DeJoy said in a statement.
DeJoy said he is halting the planned removal of mail-processing machines and blue collection boxes, as well as an initiative to change retail hours at post offices. He also said no mail processing facilities will be closed and said the agency has not eliminated overtime.
The statement did not specify whether the agency would restore mail-sorting machines that have recently been taken offline. A Postal Service spokesman declined to comment beyond DeJoy’s statement.
Pelosi is gaining support from Republicans on Saturday’s House vote on legislation that would prevent election-year mail changes and provide emergency postal funds.
“I don’t, frankly, trust the postmaster general,” Pelosi said in San Francisco.
More than 20 states, from New York to California, announced they would be suing to stop the changes. Several vowed they would press on, keeping a watchful eye on the Postal Service ahead of the election.
Trump made clear last week that he was blocking $25 billion in emergency aid to the Postal Service, acknowledging he wanted to curtail election mail operations, as well as a Democratic proposal to provide $3.6 billion in additional election money to the states to help process an expected surge of mail-in ballots.
Those funds are tangled in a broader coronavirus aid package that was approved in the House but stalled in the Senate.
While the House is expected to approve the $25 billion as part of Saturday’s vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has said he’s not interested in a separate postal bill. He is eyeing a new virus aid package that would provide $10 billion for the Postal Service.
Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union, welcomed DeJoy’s decision but said the Postal Service needs COVID-related financial relief. “It’s time for Congress to deliver,” he said.
Pelosi is calling lawmakers back to Washington for the “Delivering for America Act,” which would prohibit the Postal Service from implementing any changes to operations or the level of service it had in place on Jan. 1. The package would include the $25 billion the House has already approved as part of the COVID-19 rescue that is stalled in the Senate.
Postal workers say they are increasingly worried about their ability to deliver for the fall election.


shareblue--2020-08-19--Conway claims Biden has no coronavirus plan — then she says she's read it

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway falsely claimed on Wednesday that Joe Biden had no plan to address the COVID-19 pandemic .
Less than a minute later , she claimed to have read Biden 's entire COVID-19 plan .
On Fox News , Conway complained that Democrats had not explained how Biden would address the coronavirus .
`` If they 've got a good idea , '' she demanded , `` they should n't be sitting 'til November 4th . ''
Host Sandra Smith corrected Conway , noting that Biden indeed has a plan .
`` Oh yeah ?
Where is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's on his campaign website , '' Smith answers .
`` It 's there .
You can read through it .
They ask for a lot more funding [ and ] a lot more testing . ''
Conway then claimed to have already studied Biden 's COIVD-19 proposals , saying , `` I read his plan .
It does n't make any sense .
Thank you . ''
`` Joe Biden 's Plan to Beat COVID-19 '' is a five-point policy proposal .
It calls for : `` 1 ) test-and-trace , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( PPE ) for all , ( 3 ) science-based treatments and vaccines , ( 4 ) steps to reopen safely and effectively , and ( 5 ) protecting those at high-risk , including older Americans . ''
Biden and his running mate , Kamala Harris , also called for a temporary national mask mandate on Friday .
`` Every single American should be wearing a mask when they 're outside for the next three months , at a minimum .
Every governor should mandate mandatory mask-wearing , '' Biden said during a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institute a mask mandate nationwide starting immediately , and we will save lives . ''
Dr. Robert Redfield , the Trump-appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , said last month that face coverings could be a huge part of curbing the spread of the coronavirus .
`` If all of us would put on a face covering now for the next four weeks , six weeks , '' he told reporters , `` we could drive this epidemic to the ground . ''
But Trump has refused to call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 often-contradictory positions on face masks since the start of the pandemic .
He has almost always refused to wear masks in public .
Trump 's botched handling of the coronavirus crisis has helped fuel the worst outbreak of any country in the world .
More than 5.4 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 to date ; at least 171,000 of those have died .
A CNN poll , released Wednesday , found an all-time high 59 % of Americans disapprove of his handling of the pandemic .
Published with permission of The American @ @ @

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway falsely claimed on Wednesday that Joe Biden had no plan to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Less than a minute later, she claimed to have read Biden’s entire COVID-19 plan.
On Fox News, Conway complained that Democrats had not explained how Biden would address the coronavirus.
“If they’ve got a good idea,” she demanded, “they shouldn’t be sitting ’til November 4th.”
Host Sandra Smith corrected Conway, noting that Biden indeed has a plan.
“Oh yeah? Where is it?” Conway demanded.
“It’s on his campaign website,” Smith answers. “It’s there. You can read through it. They ask for a lot more funding [and] a lot more testing.”
Conway then claimed to have already studied Biden’s COIVD-19 proposals, saying, “I read his plan. It doesn’t make any sense. Thank you.”
“Joe Biden’s Plan to Beat COVID-19” is a five-point policy proposal. It calls for: “1) test-and-trace, (2) sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) for all, (3) science-based treatments and vaccines, (4) steps to reopen safely and effectively, and (5) protecting those at high-risk, including older Americans.”
Biden and his running mate, Kamala Harris, also called for a temporary national mask mandate on Friday.
“Every single American should be wearing a mask when they’re outside for the next three months, at a minimum. Every governor should mandate mandatory mask-wearing,” Biden said during a public health briefing. “Let’s institute a mask mandate nationwide starting immediately, and we will save lives.”
Dr. Robert Redfield, the Trump-appointed director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said last month that face coverings could be a huge part of curbing the spread of the coronavirus.
“If all of us would put on a face covering now for the next four weeks, six weeks,” he told reporters, “we could drive this epidemic to the ground.”
But Trump has refused to call for a mandate, taking at least 28 often-contradictory positions on face masks since the start of the pandemic. He has almost always refused to wear masks in public.
Trump’s botched handling of the coronavirus crisis has helped fuel the worst outbreak of any country in the world. More than 5.4 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 to date; at least 171,000 of those have died.
A CNN poll, released Wednesday, found an all-time high 59% of Americans disapprove of his handling of the pandemic.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-19--McEnany says not allowing MAGA hats at Goodyear is like racism

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Donald Trump 's call to boycott Goodyear tires , saying the Ohio-based company 's policy to allow Black Lives Matter and LQBTQ pride apparel but not political apparel like MAGA hats and Blue Lives Matter clothing is an `` equity issue '' on par with racism .
McEnany made the comments from her Wednesday news conference , in which she falsely said that Goodyear `` failed to clarify '' their policy against political apparel — even though the company said in a statement that employees should `` refrain from workplace expressions in support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' not just MAGA hats .
The company said that LGBTQ and BLM issues fall under the scope of `` racial justice and equity issues '' and are thus allowed , while MAGA hats and Blue Lives Matter are political issues .
However , McEnany said Blue Lives Matter is an `` equity '' issue , even though police have not had to fight for humane and equal treatment , while both Black and LGBTQ communities have been fighting for justice and equality for decades .
Goodyear went on to say in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We have the utmost appreciation for the vital work that police do , '' the company wrote .
Here are McEnany 's comments from her Aug. 19 news conference : '' As far I 'm concerned , Blue Lives Matter is an equity issue .
There have been police officers from across this country that have been targeted because they wear the badge .
Look no further than Dallas where five police officers died .
So Black Lives Matter , an organization who 's D.C. branch said , 'Black Lives Matter means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their presidents in New York said , 'We will burn down the system . '
We all remember in 2015 the yelling of 'pigs in a blanket , fry them like bacon , ' at a Black Lives Matter rally .
That speech is allowed but Blue Lives Matter is not allowed , and I will stand at this podium and say Blue Lives Matter is an equity issue and Goodyear needs to come out and acknowledge that .
MAGA is pretty much unanimous with Blue Lives Matter these days . ''
Published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended Donald Trump’s call to boycott Goodyear tires, saying the Ohio-based company’s policy to allow Black Lives Matter and LQBTQ pride apparel but not political apparel like MAGA hats and Blue Lives Matter clothing is an “equity issue” on par with racism.
McEnany made the comments from her Wednesday news conference, in which she falsely said that Goodyear “failed to clarify” their policy against political apparel — even though the company said in a statement that employees should “refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate,” not just MAGA hats.
The company said that LGBTQ and BLM issues fall under the scope of “racial justice and equity issues” and are thus allowed, while MAGA hats and Blue Lives Matter are political issues.
However, McEnany said Blue Lives Matter is an “equity” issue, even though police have not had to fight for humane and equal treatment, while both Black and LGBTQ communities have been fighting for justice and equality for decades.
Goodyear went on to say in their statement that they support law enforcement.
“We have the utmost appreciation for the vital work that police do,” the company wrote.
Here are McEnany’s comments from her Aug. 19 news conference:
As far I’m concerned, Blue Lives Matter is an equity issue. There have been police officers from across this country that have been targeted because they wear the badge. Look no further than Dallas where five police officers died. So Black Lives Matter, an organization who’s D.C. branch said, ‘Black Lives Matter means defund the police.’ One of their presidents in New York said, ‘We will burn down the system.’ We all remember in 2015 the yelling of ‘pigs in a blanket, fry them like bacon,’ at a Black Lives Matter rally. That speech is allowed but Blue Lives Matter is not allowed, and I will stand at this podium and say Blue Lives Matter is an equity issue and Goodyear needs to come out and acknowledge that. MAGA is pretty much unanimous with Blue Lives Matter these days.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-19--Trump demands boycott of Goodyear Tire — which employs thousands of US workers

Donald Trump on Wednesday urged his supporters to boycott the largest American tire manufacturer , threatening thousands of jobs during a time of 10 % unemployment .
`` Do n't buy GOODYEAR TIRES , '' Trump tweeted .
`` They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS .
Get better tires for far less !
( This is what the Radical Left Democrats do .
Two can play the same game , and we have to start playing it now ! )
. ''
Trump was angered by news reports that the Ohio-based tire and rubber company has instituted a zero-tolerance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ materials '' in the workplace .
Goodyear employs around 63,000 people around the world , including thousands in the United States .
The company is headquartered in Akron and operates 17 other facilities in 12 different states .
A company spokesperson emailed a statement that noted : `` Goodyear has zero tolerance for any forms of harassment or discrimination .
To enable a work environment free of those , we ask that associates refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party , as well as similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scope of racial justice and equity issues . ''
Trump 's tweet comes at a time when millions of Americans are out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic and Trump 's failed response .
As of July , more than 10 % of the U.S. workers were unemployed .
The most recent jobless report showed nearly 15.5 million Americans are collecting continuing unemployment benefits .
With most of Goodyear 's competitors based outside the country , Trump 's call for a boycott hardly backs up his stated support for the `` Buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he called `` the core '' of his agenda .
It also flatly contradicts Trump 's repeated denunciations of `` cancel culture . ''
`` It 's absolutely despicable that the President would call for a boycott of an American company , based in Akron , that employs thousands of U.S. workers , '' Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio tweeted on Wednesday afternoon , adding , `` Keep in mind , this is a President who spent years making his own Trump-branded products overseas . ''
This is not the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he dislikes .
He has demanded higher postal rates for Amazon and claimed the online retail giant was `` doing great damage to tax paying retailers . ''
He also threatened to `` tax like never before '' Harley-Davidson after one of his trade wars pushed the company to say it would move some motorcycle production offshore .
According to the Center for Responsive Politics , Goodyear 's corporate political action committee has given 61 % of its donations this cycle to Republican candidates , compared to just 39 % to Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Wednesday urged his supporters to boycott the largest American tire manufacturer, threatening thousands of jobs during a time of 10% unemployment.
“Don’t buy GOODYEAR TIRES,” Trump tweeted. “They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS. Get better tires for far less! (This is what the Radical Left Democrats do. Two can play the same game, and we have to start playing it now!).”
Trump was angered by news reports that the Ohio-based tire and rubber company has instituted a zero-tolerance policy for “politically affiliated slogans or materials” in the workplace.
Goodyear employs around 63,000 people around the world, including thousands in the United States. The company is headquartered in Akron and operates 17 other facilities in 12 different states.
A company spokesperson emailed a statement that noted: “Goodyear has zero tolerance for any forms of harassment or discrimination. To enable a work environment free of those, we ask that associates refrain from workplace expressions in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party, as well as similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of racial justice and equity issues.”
Trump’s tweet comes at a time when millions of Americans are out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic and Trump’s failed response. As of July, more than 10% of the U.S. workers were unemployed.
The most recent jobless report showed nearly 15.5 million Americans are collecting continuing unemployment benefits.
With most of Goodyear’s competitors based outside the country, Trump’s call for a boycott hardly backs up his stated support for the “Buy American and Hire American” principles once he called “the core” of his agenda.
It also flatly contradicts Trump’s repeated denunciations of “cancel culture.”
“It’s absolutely despicable that the President would call for a boycott of an American company, based in Akron, that employs thousands of U.S. workers,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio tweeted on Wednesday afternoon, adding, “Keep in mind, this is a President who spent years making his own Trump-branded products overseas.”
This is not the first time Trump has gone after American companies that he dislikes. He has demanded higher postal rates for Amazon and claimed the online retail giant was “doing great damage to tax paying retailers.” He also threatened to “tax like never before” Harley-Davidson after one of his trade wars pushed the company to say it would move some motorcycle production offshore.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Goodyear’s corporate political action committee has given 61% of its donations this cycle to Republican candidates, compared to just 39% to Democrats.
Updated with a statement issued by Goodyear.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-19--Fox cuts off Trump Jr. in middle of angry rant about dad's ties to Jeffrey Epstein

Donald Trump Jr. was abruptly cut off during an interview on Fox Business Wednesday morning , after he would n't stop yelling about Donald Trump 's ties to accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein .
In the interview with Fox Business ' Maria Bartiromo , Trump Jr. was trying to tie former President Bill Clinton to Epstein , while downplaying Trump 's relationship with the billionaire who died in prison while awaiting trial for child sex trafficking charges .
`` I see the media every day they flash the two pictures that exist of two billionaires , Jeffrey Epstein and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they try to make that association , '' Trump Jr. said .
However , Trump 's relationship with Epstein was much greater than just two photos .
Trump and Epstein were friends for years before the two had a falling out , apparently over a property in Palm Beach , Florida , according to a Washington Post report .
`` When Jeffrey Epstein 's little black book of phone numbers appeared in a court file a few years ago , it contained 14 numbers for Trump ; his wife , Melania ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the Washington Post reported in 2019 .
Trump also took numerous flights on Epstein 's private jet , the Washington Post reported , something Trump Jr. accused Clinton of doing .
Not only that , Trump also gave well wishes to Epstein 's girlfriend , Ghislaine Maxwell , who is facing charges of conspiring with Epstein to procure underage victims in Epstein 's sex trafficking ring .
`` She 's now in jail .
Yeah , I wish her well , '' Trump told Axios ' Jonathan Swan of Maxwell , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past .
Bartiromo kept trying to end the interview , but Jr. pressed on , pushing QAnon conspiracy theories about how Trump is working to fight child sex trafficking .
`` People can actually address the child sex trafficking problem , [ Trump ] recently funded it with millions of dollars in permanent funding to address this and the fact that they ca n't talk about this and all of a sudden no one has any interest in what 's happened over there , '' Trump Jr. said , as Bartiromo repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracy theorists believe Trump is trying to take down a global cabal of child sex traffickers run by Democrats and the Hollywood elite .
The false conspiracy has a band of followers that the FBI deems a domestic terrorism threat .
`` Donald Trump , Jr. 's obsession with Jeffrey Epstein and blatant QAnon baiting is so bizarre and deranged that even Maria Bartiromo had to pull the plug on an interview , '' Kyle Morse , an American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson , said in a statement .
`` The American people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump family circus .
This November , they are going to turn the page and give the boot to these bunch of loons . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump Jr. was abruptly cut off during an interview on Fox Business Wednesday morning, after he wouldn’t stop yelling about Donald Trump’s ties to accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
In the interview with Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo, Trump Jr. was trying to tie former President Bill Clinton to Epstein, while downplaying Trump’s relationship with the billionaire who died in prison while awaiting trial for child sex trafficking charges.
“I see the media every day they flash the two pictures that exist of two billionaires, Jeffrey Epstein and my father, in New York City and they try to make that association,” Trump Jr. said.
However, Trump’s relationship with Epstein was much greater than just two photos.
Trump and Epstein were friends for years before the two had a falling out, apparently over a property in Palm Beach, Florida, according to a Washington Post report.
“When Jeffrey Epstein’s little black book of phone numbers appeared in a court file a few years ago, it contained 14 numbers for Trump; his wife, Melania; and others in Trump’s inner circle,” the Washington Post reported in 2019.
Trump also took numerous flights on Epstein’s private jet, the Washington Post reported, something Trump Jr. accused Clinton of doing.
Not only that, Trump also gave well wishes to Epstein’s girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is facing charges of conspiring with Epstein to procure underage victims in Epstein’s sex trafficking ring.
“She’s now in jail. Yeah, I wish her well,” Trump told Axios’ Jonathan Swan of Maxwell, whom Trump has been photographed with in the past.
Bartiromo kept trying to end the interview, but Jr. pressed on, pushing QAnon conspiracy theories about how Trump is working to fight child sex trafficking.
“People can actually address the child sex trafficking problem, [Trump] recently funded it with millions of dollars in permanent funding to address this and the fact that they can’t talk about this and all of a sudden no one has any interest in what’s happened over there,” Trump Jr. said, as Bartiromo repeatedly tried to cut him off.
QAnon conspiracy theorists believe Trump is trying to take down a global cabal of child sex traffickers run by Democrats and the Hollywood elite. The false conspiracy has a band of followers that the FBI deems a domestic terrorism threat.
“Donald Trump, Jr.’s obsession with Jeffrey Epstein and blatant QAnon baiting is so bizarre and deranged that even Maria Bartiromo had to pull the plug on an interview,” Kyle Morse, an American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson, said in a statement. “The American people are tired of crackpot conspiracy theories and the Trump family circus. This November, they are going to turn the page and give the boot to these bunch of loons.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-19--LGBTQ workers face extreme hurdles as the pandemic goes on

Carl , a cisgender gay man working for a mattress company in Texas , was furloughed for eight weeks back in March when the pandemic hit .
He said he felt relatively safe from the virus at that time .
Then , in May , when Texas reopened , Carl was told he would have to come back to work or it would be considered separation from the company .
Carl , who asked to be referred to by a pseudonym to protect his job security , said that even though Texas has since made face masks optional , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face coverings even as his employer says those safety precautions are mandatory for workers .
`` I feel less valued than a profit margin , '' he said .
Carl has depression and anxiety .
He used the Family and Medical Leave Act at the end of June to take unpaid , job-protected leave while he faced a mental health crisis caused by working during a pandemic .
His boyfriend has helped him stay afloat financially .
`` I was feeling so low I wanted to hurt myself to get out of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that if he ultimately decides to leave this job , he would probably have to work somewhere that does n't pay as well , such as a grocery store , since it is one of the few places where he has seen openings .
As states continue the reopening process , workers at restaurants , stores , and salons are given a difficult choice : They can go back to work and risk their lives or stay at home and hope they will find another job soon to support themselves and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom work in these industries , are facing heightened economic vulnerability as well as greater risk of serious illness from COVID-19 .
And they say that many of their supervisors are ignoring safety precautions .
Last week , a Burger King employee in Santa Monica , California filed a complaint with state and county health authorities after a transgender coworker died .
Angela Martinez Gómez 's managers had allegedly allowed her to come in for a week after showing symptoms associated with COVID-19 .
At least one manager is alleged to have blamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million LGBTQ people in the United States work in jobs where they are regularly interacting with larger groups of people , putting them at greater risk of illness , as well as industries that have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic , according to a 2018 Human Rights Campaign analysis .
The analysis found that the top five industries in which LGBTQ people were most likely to work included food services , hospitals , K-12 education , colleges and universities , and retail .
Several workers who spoke with the American Independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which employs approximately 2.5 million LGBTQ people .
The pandemic has had a devastating effect on those workers .
Thirty percent of LGBTQ people have said their work hours have been reduced as a result of the crisis , compared to 22 % of the general population .
At least 42 % have adjusted their household budgets compared to 30 % of the general population , according to a PSB Research and Human Rights Campaign poll of 1,000 adults in the United States , conducted in April .
LGBTQ people already face tougher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to a 2019 report from the Williams Institute , a public policy and research group at UCLA that focuses on LGBTQ people , queer and trans individuals have a poverty rate of 21.6 % compared to 15.7 % for cisgender straight people .
Transgender people and bisexual cisgender women had a higher rate of poverty , which were both at 29.4 % .
Thousands of transgender people are also at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that people who are immunocompromised , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or AIDS , and those with underlying medical conditions , such as lung disease , serious heart conditions , diabetes , and asthma , are at higher risk for severe illness .
According to a study from the Williams Institute , which uses data from the U.S. Transgender Population Health Survey , 208,500 transgender adults have asthma , 81,100 have diabetes , 74,800 are living with HIV , and 72,700 have heart disease , which put them at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 than people without these conditions .
Sixty-five percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including HIV , diabetes , asthma , and heart disease compared to 51 % of the U.S. population .
Some of the LGBTQ people working in restaurants and retail who spoke to the American Independent Foundation said they themselves were immunocompromised .
Cases of COVID-19 have reached at least 3.5 million in the United States .
At least 137,319 have died .
On whether or not to return Although Donald Trump has claimed that the economy is `` roaring back , '' the unemployment rate still sits at 11.1 % .
Kerith Conron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Williams Institute , said that before the pandemic hit the United States , experts already knew that LGBTQ people , who had been struggling economically before , would be made even more vulnerable as a result of COVID-19 .
`` Poverty rates were higher for transgender people , bisexual adults , and LGBTQ people of color , so that means that people are going to feel they have to make certain choices about going back to work even if they don ’ t feel safe , '' Conron said .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ echoing those statements , saying they feel unsafe returning to work , have not returned at all , or quit after they realized they would not be safe .
Some workers went back to their jobs but are once again on unemployment because their businesses shut down or reduced some services after states recommitted to safety measures .
Lee , a bisexual transgender nonbinary person with Type 1 diabetes who works as a host at chain restaurant in California — who asked that his name be changed to protect his current and future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have any financial choice but to return to work when the restaurant reopened and would still be at work if not for requirements that part of the the business be closed down during the pandemic .
Lee said the hiring manager at this job had been supportive of him as a transgender person , which made him particularly focused on keeping this job .
However , after the restaurant stopped offering dine-in service more than a month ago , due to state and county safety requirements , he was forced to go back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure if it will be enough to pay rent and I ’ m not sure if I have to find another job and one that will put me more at risk , so it ’ s a stressful time , '' Lee said .
Lee has looked at the possibility of working at local stores if he can ’ t go back to hosting .
Adele , a nonbinary lesbian who works as a server in Tuscaloosa , Alabama , who uses ve , ver , and vis pronouns , said that ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though several employees tested positive for COVID-19 and ver managers didn ’ t inform any of the staff , which included a pregnant worker .
Adele said ve didn ’ t want to retrain at another restaurant or lose income by staying at home .
Although the workplace isn ’ t as affirming for LGBTQ people as Adele would like , ve doesn ’ t think the environment would be much better elsewhere .
Jean , a lesbian restaurant worker who works at a chain restaurant in a small town in Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who uses they/them pronouns , has asthma and a nephew who is immunocompromised , leaving them particularly worried about getting sick.They have asked to work on to-go orders instead of serving food like they used to to stay safer .
But that has meant that their hours have been reduced .
Jean doesn ’ t see many alternatives for employment in their rural community .
They once worked at a psychiatric hospital but left due to several problems with the working conditions , including misogyny in management .
LGBTQ people who work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by COVID-19 , such as storage facilities and salons , have said they have either gone back to work and quit or never returned in the first place .
Matt , a bisexual man who lives in Colorado , worked in middle management for a storage facility and quit when his bosses refused to enforce mask policies , because they believed they would lose customers .
Now he said he ’ s frustrated that he doesn ’ t have any income or health insurance .
He said he plans to deliver food to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , until he can find a safer place to work .
April , a lesbian hairdresser who lives in a small town in Georgia with her wife and three children , said she decided not to return to work even though her salon reopened in May and has since been terminated .
April and her wife Beth are both receiving unemployment .
After Beth lost her job from her university in 2018 , she struggled to find work in the physical education field and took a job as a cashier at a gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay at that job out of concern for exposure to COVID-19 .
For years , the couple struggled to get health insurance because Beth ’ s previous employer would n't recognize their marriage and fought the decision .
After the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality in 2015 , Beth finally won health insurance coverage for her wife .
But like many LGBTQ people , they lost it again once they left their jobs to stay safe .
`` I felt we were back on the path to financial security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was able to secure health insurance , as was she , and we were doing well .
In March 2020 , all of that ended . ''
She added , `` I do n't know when I 'll be able to safely return to work … We are basically hiding out at home with our three teenagers trying to stay safe and hoping there is a vaccine or some kind of solution soon . ''
The salon was eventually forced to close once after a stylist tested positive for COVID-19 .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work in such a busy salon .
I 'm not trying to die , '' she said .
On top of the safety concerns LGBTQ people have , the discrimination LGBTQ people face could make them more vulnerable to blowback if they raise concerns about virus safety measures or hamper their ability to get a new job .
`` It makes sense that there would be heightened vulnerability to mistreatment on the job , '' Conron said .
Despite the Supreme Court 's ruling that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to LGBTQ people and give LGBTQ people recourse against discrimination , it does n't serve as a form of prevention , Conron said .
`` We know that LGBTQ people are more likely to experience discrimination at work , '' she said .
LGBTQ people also suffer higher unemployment rates than the general population .
Even during the economic recovery , same-sex couples had higher rates of unemployment than different-sex couples , said Sharita Gruberg , senior director for the LGBTQ research and communications project at the Center for American Progress .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how widespread experiences of discrimination are , the representation of LGBTQ people in low-wage jobs and issues like that , lead us to believe that the discrimination LGBTQ people folks face throughout their lives definitely has an impact on the higher unemployment rates for same-sex couples , '' she said .
All but one worker said they were concerned about anti-LGBTQ discrimination in interviews for other jobs that may provide greater safety or were concerned about vulnerability to discrimination at their current job .
Matt said he planned to hide his bisexuality from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegedly used homophobic slurs when referring to his gay coworker and that he felt he was treated differently after he came out to coworkers .
Lee said he feared he would n't get his current job but took the risk of coming out to the employer .
Now Lee says he 's not sure how he feels trying to find another less risky job .
`` I did n't even tell [ the employer ] until I was walking out the door ...
I have had other trans friends who have been straight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I 'm pretty sure I have [ been denied jobs because of that as well ] , '' Lee said .
`` I do n't think I have evidence , but I 'm pretty sure I 've had interviews and applications thrown out because they could see that I was trans based off of name changes and stuff , so it can definitely be harder to get a job because of that discrimination . ''
Adele , whose coworkers know that ve is a lesbian but not nonbinary , said that ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about safety issues at work because ve will be automatically dismissed by coworkers .
Adele is n't sure if that 's because ve is gay or because of ve is seen as `` far left . ''
`` I do n't want to speak about it because I do n't want to ruffle any feathers .
I need money , '' Adele said .
Adele said ve is staying at this job because ve is n't sure whether ve wants to stay in school full-time and is n't sure whether ve would find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ve said coworkers have n't `` been rude '' since ve came out at work , but one coworker has repeatedly hit on ver even after ve came out and ve is sometimes concerned that customers might notice something , like a rainbow bracelet ve wears , and not tip as well .
`` It 's not like people leave a note like 'Repent .
Pray , ' but I have been worried about it , especially because I live in Alabama and we have a lot of older customers come in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that considerations about which employers will treat him with respect can narrow his employment options .
`` I do feel the burden of staying on guard for my own personal safety instead of feeling comfortable to speak freely , '' Carl said .
`` I do n't have that burden anymore at my current job , which may be what has kept me so long — what if it gets worse somewhere else ? ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Carl, a cisgender gay man working for a mattress company in Texas, was furloughed for eight weeks back in March when the pandemic hit. He said he felt relatively safe from the virus at that time.
Then, in May, when Texas reopened, Carl was told he would have to come back to work or it would be considered separation from the company.
Carl, who asked to be referred to by a pseudonym to protect his job security, said that even though Texas had made face masks optional, he was forced to assist customers without face coverings even as his employer says those safety precautions are mandatory for workers.
“I feel less valued than a profit margin,” he said.
Carl has depression and anxiety. He used the Family and Medical Leave Act at the end of June to take unpaid, job-protected leave while he faced a mental health crisis caused by working during a pandemic. His boyfriend has helped him stay afloat financially.
“I was feeling so low I wanted to hurt myself to get out of the job,” he said.
He said that if he ultimately decides to leave this job, he would probably have to work somewhere that doesn’t pay as well, such as a grocery store, since it is one of the few places where he has seen openings.
As states continue the reopening process, workers at restaurants, stores, and salons are given a difficult choice: They can go back to work and risk their lives or stay at home and hope they will find another job soon to support themselves and their families.
LGBTQ people, millions of whom work in these industries, are facing heightened economic vulnerability as well as greater risk of serious illness from COVID-19. And they say that many of their supervisors are ignoring safety precautions.
Last week, a Burger King employee in Santa Monica, California filed a complaint with state and county health authorities after a transgender coworker died. Angela Martinez Gómez’s managers had allegedly allowed her to come in for a week after showing symptoms associated with COVID-19.
At least one manager is alleged to have blamed her death on hormone injections.
Five million LGBTQ people in the United States work in jobs where they are regularly interacting with larger groups of people, putting them at greater risk of illness, as well as industries that have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic, according to a 2018 Human Rights Campaign analysis.
The analysis found that the top five industries in which LGBTQ people were most likely to work included food services, hospitals, K-12 education, colleges and universities, and retail.
Several workers who spoke with the American Independent Foundation work in restaurants and retail, which employs approximately 2.5 million LGBTQ people.
The pandemic has had a devastating effect on those workers.
Thirty percent of LGBTQ people have said their work hours have been reduced as a result of the crisis, compared to 22% of the general population. At least 42% have adjusted their household budgets compared to 30% of the general population, according to a PSB Research and Human Rights Campaign poll of 1,000 adults in the United States, conducted in April.
LGBTQ people already face tougher economic odds than the broader population: According to a 2019 report from the Williams Institute, a public policy and research group at UCLA that focuses on LGBTQ people, queer and trans individuals have a poverty rate of 21.6% compared to 15.7% for cisgender straight people. Transgender people and bisexual cisgender women had a higher rate of poverty, which were both at 29.4%.
Thousands of transgender people are also at risk of severe illness from COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that people who are immunocompromised, including those who have poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and those with underlying medical conditions, such as lung disease, serious heart conditions, diabetes, and asthma, are at higher risk for severe illness.
According to a study from the Williams Institute, which uses data from the U.S. Transgender Population Health Survey, 208,500 transgender adults have asthma, 81,100 have diabetes, 74,800 are living with HIV, and 72,700 have heart disease, which put them at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 than people without these conditions.
Sixty-five percent of LGBTQ adults have pre-existing conditions, including HIV, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease compared to 51% of the U.S. population.
Some of the LGBTQ people working in restaurants and retail who spoke to the American Independent Foundation said they themselves were immunocompromised.
Cases of COVID-19 have reached at least 3.5 million in the United States. At least 137,319 have died.
On whether or not to return
Although Donald Trump has claimed that the economy is “roaring back,“ the unemployment rate still sits at 11.1%.
Kerith Conron, research director and Blachford-Cooper distinguished scholar at the Williams Institute, said that before the pandemic hit the United States, experts already knew that LGBTQ people, who had been struggling economically before, would be made even more vulnerable as a result of COVID-19.
“Poverty rates were higher for transgender people, bisexual adults, and LGBTQ people of color, so that means that people are going to feel they have to make certain choices about going back to work even if they don’t feel safe,” Conron said.
As states reopen, many LGBTQ workers are echoing those statements, saying they feel unsafe returning to work, have not returned at all, or quit after they realized they would not be safe. Some workers went back to their jobs but are once again on unemployment because their businesses shut down or reduced some services after states recommitted to safety measures.
Lee, a bisexual transgender nonbinary person with Type 1 diabetes who works as a host at chain restaurant in California — who asked that his name be changed to protect his current and future employment — said he didn’t have any financial choice but to return to work when the restaurant reopened and would still be at work if not for requirements that part of the the business be closed down during the pandemic.
Lee said the hiring manager at this job had been supportive of him as a transgender person, which made him particularly focused on keeping this job. However, after the restaurant stopped offering dine-in service more than a month ago, due to state and county safety requirements, he was forced to go back on unemployment.
“I’m not sure if it will be enough to pay rent and I’m not sure if I have to find another job and one that will put me more at risk, so it’s a stressful time,” Lee said.
Lee has looked at the possibility of working at local stores if he can’t go back to hosting.
Adele, a nonbinary lesbian who works as a server in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who uses ve, ver, and vis pronouns, said that ve felt compelled to stay at ver workplace even though several employees tested positive for COVID-19 and ver managers didn’t inform any of the staff, which included a pregnant worker.
Adele said ve didn’t want to retrain at another restaurant or lose income by staying at home. Although the workplace isn’t as affirming for LGBTQ people as Adele would like, ve doesn’t think the environment would be much better elsewhere.
Jean, a lesbian restaurant worker who works at a chain restaurant in a small town in Texas, faces a similar struggle.
Jean, who uses they/them pronouns, has asthma and a nephew who is immunocompromised, leaving them particularly worried about getting sick.They have asked to work on to-go orders instead of serving food like they used to to stay safer. But that has meant that their hours have been reduced.
Jean doesn’t see many alternatives for employment in their rural community. They once worked at a psychiatric hospital but left due to several problems with the working conditions, including misogyny in management.
LGBTQ people who work in other businesses that are highly impacted by COVID-19, such as storage facilities and salons, have said they have either gone back to work and quit or never returned in the first place.
Matt, a bisexual man who lives in Colorado, worked in middle management for a storage facility and quit when his bosses refused to enforce mask policies, because they believed they would lose customers. Now he said he’s frustrated that he doesn’t have any income or health insurance. He said he plans to deliver food to make ends meet, like his girlfriend, until he can find a safer place to work.
April, a lesbian hairdresser who lives in a small town in Georgia with her wife and three children, said she decided not to return to work even though her salon reopened in May and has since been terminated. April and her wife Beth are both receiving unemployment.
After Beth lost her job from her university in 2018, she struggled to find work in the physical education field and took a job as a cashier at a gas station. But April convinced Beth not to stay at that job out of concern for exposure to COVID-19.
For years, the couple struggled to get health insurance because Beth’s previous employer wouldn’t recognize their marriage and fought the decision. After the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality in 2015, Beth finally won health insurance coverage for her wife. But like many LGBTQ people, they lost it again once they left their jobs to stay safe.
“I felt we were back on the path to financial security,” she said. “I was able to secure health insurance, as was she, and we were doing well. In March 2020, all of that ended.”
She added, “I don’t know when I’ll be able to safely return to work … We are basically hiding out at home with our three teenagers trying to stay safe and hoping there is a vaccine or some kind of solution soon.”
The salon was eventually forced to close once after a stylist tested positive for COVID-19.
“It only solidifies my choice to not return to work in such a busy salon. I’m not trying to die,” she said.
Fear of discrimination
On top of the safety concerns LGBTQ people have, the discrimination LGBTQ people face could make them more vulnerable to blowback if they raise concerns about virus safety measures or hamper their ability to get a new job.
“It makes sense that there would be heightened vulnerability to mistreatment on the job,” Conron said.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling that the Civil Rights Act of 1964’s Title VII’s workplace nondiscrimination protections apply to LGBTQ people and give LGBTQ people recourse against discrimination, it doesn’t serve as a form of prevention, Conron said.
“We know that LGBTQ people are more likely to experience discrimination at work,” she said.
LGBTQ people also suffer higher unemployment rates than the general population.
Even during the economic recovery, same-sex couples had higher rates of unemployment than different-sex couples, said Sharita Gruberg, senior director for the LGBTQ research and communications project at the Center for American Progress.
“Based on the information we have about how widespread experiences of discrimination are, the representation of LGBTQ people in low-wage jobs and issues like that, lead us to believe that the discrimination LGBTQ people folks face throughout their lives definitely has an impact on the higher unemployment rates for same-sex couples,” she said.
All but one worker said they were concerned about anti-LGBTQ discrimination in interviews for other jobs that may provide greater safety or were concerned about vulnerability to discrimination at their current job. Matt said he planned to hide his bisexuality from future employers. He said that coworkers allegedly used homophobic slurs when referring to his gay coworker and that he felt he was treated differently after he came out to coworkers.
Lee said he feared he wouldn’t get his current job but took the risk of coming out to the employer. Now Lee says he’s not sure how he feels trying to find another less risky job.
“I didn’t even tell [the employer] until I was walking out the door … I have had other trans friends who have been straight up denied jobs because they’re trans and I’m pretty sure I have [been denied jobs because of that as well],” Lee said.
“I don’t think I have evidence, but I’m pretty sure I’ve had interviews and applications thrown out because they could see that I was trans based off of name changes and stuff, so it can definitely be harder to get a job because of that discrimination.”
Adele, whose coworkers know that ve is a lesbian but not nonbinary, said that ve doesn’t think ve can speak up about safety issues at work because ve will be automatically dismissed by coworkers. Adele isn’t sure if that’s because ve is gay or because of ve is seen as “far left.”
“I don’t want to speak about it because I don’t want to ruffle any feathers. I need money,” Adele said.
Adele said ve is staying at this job because ve isn’t sure whether ve wants to stay in school full-time and isn’t sure whether ve would find a more LGBTQ-affirming workplace in their area.
Ve said coworkers haven’t “been rude” since ve came out at work, but one coworker has repeatedly hit on ver even after ve came out and ve is sometimes concerned that customers might notice something, like a rainbow bracelet ve wears, and not tip as well.
“It’s not like people leave a note like ‘Repent. Pray,’ but I have been worried about it, especially because I live in Alabama and we have a lot of older customers come in,” Adele said.
Carl said that considerations about which employers will treat him with respect can narrow his employment options.
“I do feel the burden of staying on guard for my own personal safety instead of feeling comfortable to speak freely,” Carl said.
“I don’t have that burden anymore at my current job, which may be what has kept me so long — what if it gets worse somewhere else?”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-19--Barack Obama to make the case for Biden at Democratic convention

Democrats hoping to create a surge of enthusiasm behind Joe Biden 's presidential bid will look to Wednesday 's convention headliners to broaden the party 's focus from a multipart rebuke of Donald Trump to a message of change .
Former President Barack Obama , a transformational figure for the Democratic Party who picked Biden as his running mate a dozen years ago , has top billing for the third night of the all-virtual Democratic National Convention , starting at 9 p.m. EDT .
Before Obama tries to tap into the broad collation that elected him as the country 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set for America to hear from Sen. Kamala Harris in her first prime-time appearance as Biden 's history-making running mate .
Hillary Clinton , another barrier breaker as the first female presidential nominee of any major party , will also speak .
What to watch on the third night of the convention : While his wife , Michelle , opened the convention Monday night by delivering a grave censure of Trump , Barack Obama will likely focus more on the Democratic nominee and a revival of the message of hope and change that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After remaining conspicuously absent from the fray as Biden pushed through a crowded primary contest , Obama 's address will give one of the party 's most popular figures a chance to make a personal case for the man who served by his side for two terms .
Whether Obama can pass on his personal popularity to Biden wo n't be immediately clear without a live audience , but expect the 44th president to describe Biden as a trusted counselor and copilot who helped him pass his signature health care law and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first Black woman and the first Asian American woman selected for a major-party ticket , gives Democrats a barrier-breaking team that echoes the landmark of Obama 's election .
The California senator , who often invokes other groundbreakers such as Shirley Chisholm , the first Black woman elected to Congress , will get a chance to highlight her own historic role .
She will also use the moment to argue for Biden at the top of the ticket and set aside a notable moment from her first debate appearance as a presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his record on race over his previous opposition to federally mandated busing .
Clinton 's historic campaign for the White House remains a rallying point for party faithful , something the former first lady is likely to pay homage to in her speech .
But divisions remain in the party after her candidacy and the rise of the Bernie Sanders coalition on the left .
Clinton drew attention last year for seeming to magnify the split by saying about Sanders in a documentary : `` Nobody likes him .
Nobody wants to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to revive that sentiment this week .
Instead , look for her reiterate a message that does unify Democrats : skewering Trump .
Though Obama will offer Democrats nostalgia for his election to and tenure in the White House , the party hopes to send a message that a Biden presidency wo n't be a 2008 redux .
The theme of the night is `` A More Perfect Union , '' with speakers set to lay out goals for a Biden presidency .
Speakers include Sen. Elizabeth Warren , who unveiled a catalog @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign , some of which Biden has adopted .
Others slated to appear include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers , New Mexico Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham , who was considered a potential running mate for Biden , and former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords , a prominent advocate for tighter gun restrictions who was shot in the head in an attempted assassination in 2011 .
Trump is working to stay in the mix this week with a series of trips to counter the Democratic convention programming .
He made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and on Tuesday in Arizona , with speeches taking on Biden and the Democrats .
Trump plans to travel to Pennsylvania , where Biden was born , on Thursday , hours before the Democrat 's acceptance speech .
Trump does n't have any travel planned for Wednesday but is likely to continue delivering his reactions to the Democratic convention on Twitter .
The program runs from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m .
ET .
The DNC 's official livestream is available online and via its social media channels .
CNN , C-SPAN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full two hours , while ABC , CBS , Fox News Channel , and NBC will air the final hour , from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m .
The convention is also available to watch on Twitch , Apple TV , Roku , and Amazon Fire TV .

Democrats hoping to create a surge of enthusiasm behind Joe Biden’s presidential bid will look to Wednesday’s convention headliners to broaden the party’s focus from a multipart rebuke of Donald Trump to a message of change.
Former President Barack Obama, a transformational figure for the Democratic Party who picked Biden as his running mate a dozen years ago, has top billing for the third night of the all-virtual Democratic National Convention, starting at 9 p.m. EDT.
Before Obama tries to tap into the broad collation that elected him as the country’s first Black president, the lineup is set for America to hear from Sen. Kamala Harris in her first prime-time appearance as Biden’s history-making running mate. Hillary Clinton, another barrier breaker as the first female presidential nominee of any major party, will also speak.
What to watch on the third night of the convention:
Obama
While his wife, Michelle, opened the convention Monday night by delivering a grave censure of Trump, Barack Obama will likely focus more on the Democratic nominee and a revival of the message of hope and change that ushered in his own term in office.
After remaining conspicuously absent from the fray as Biden pushed through a crowded primary contest, Obama’s address will give one of the party’s most popular figures a chance to make a personal case for the man who served by his side for two terms.
Whether Obama can pass on his personal popularity to Biden won’t be immediately clear without a live audience, but expect the 44th president to describe Biden as a trusted counselor and copilot who helped him pass his signature health care law and navigate a complex world.
Harris
Harris, the first Black woman and the first Asian American woman selected for a major-party ticket, gives Democrats a barrier-breaking team that echoes the landmark of Obama’s election. The California senator, who often invokes other groundbreakers such as Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress, will get a chance to highlight her own historic role. She will also use the moment to argue for Biden at the top of the ticket and set aside a notable moment from her first debate appearance as a presidential candidate last year, when she criticized his record on race over his previous opposition to federally mandated busing.
Clinton
Clinton’s historic campaign for the White House remains a rallying point for party faithful, something the former first lady is likely to pay homage to in her speech. But divisions remain in the party after her candidacy and the rise of the Bernie Sanders coalition on the left. Clinton drew attention last year for seeming to magnify the split by saying about Sanders in a documentary: “Nobody likes him. Nobody wants to work with him.” She’s unlikely to revive that sentiment this week. Instead, look for her reiterate a message that does unify Democrats: skewering Trump.
The Biden agenda
Though Obama will offer Democrats nostalgia for his election to and tenure in the White House, the party hopes to send a message that a Biden presidency won’t be a 2008 redux. The theme of the night is “A More Perfect Union,” with speakers set to lay out goals for a Biden presidency. Speakers include Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who unveiled a catalog of action plans during her own presidential campaign, some of which Biden has adopted. Others slated to appear include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who was considered a potential running mate for Biden, and former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, a prominent advocate for tighter gun restrictions who was shot in the head in an attempted assassination in 2011.
Trump
Trump is working to stay in the mix this week with a series of trips to counter the Democratic convention programming. He made appearances on Monday in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and on Tuesday in Arizona, with speeches taking on Biden and the Democrats. Trump plans to travel to Pennsylvania, where Biden was born, on Thursday, hours before the Democrat’s acceptance speech. Trump doesn’t have any travel planned for Wednesday but is likely to continue delivering his reactions to the Democratic convention on Twitter.
How to watch
The program runs from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET. The DNC’s official livestream is available online and via its social media channels. CNN, C-SPAN, MSNBC and PBS will air the full two hours, while ABC, CBS, Fox News Channel, and NBC will air the final hour, from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. The convention is also available to watch on Twitch, Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.


shareblue--2020-08-19--White House chief of staff forgets Obama caught bin Laden

Mark Meadows , the White House chief of staff , falsely claimed on Wednesday that Donald Trump is the only president who has ever taken out a terrorist .
In an interview on Fox News , Meadows dismissed criticisms of Trump 's poor international leadership made by former Secretary of State John Kerry in his speech on Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention , during which he called Trump 's foreign policy actions a `` blooper reel . ''
`` This is the only president who actually went after a terrorist and took him out .
How do we know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where this president took on a threat .
And Iran is the state sponsor , the preeminent state sponsor of terror .
And yet John Kerry is supposedly gon na applaud the efforts of the Obama administration ? ''
Meadows said .
But the Obama-Biden administration also notably `` went after a terrorist and took him out . ''
In 2011 , President Barack Obama sent SEAL Team 6 into Abbottabad , Pakistan , on an ultimately successful mission to capture and kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden , the man behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Sept. 11 , 2001 .
The Obama administration did not release video footage of the raid .
The Trump administration carried out a mission in Syria targeting Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi , leader of the Islamic State group , in October 2019 .
It quickly released footage of the attack after it was completed .
NBC News reported then that military officials cringed as Trump revealed highly classified details of the tactics used in the raid .
`` He has no filter , '' one former senior White House official said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he thinks it 's going to be good to say or make him appear smarter or stronger , he 'll just blurt it out . ''
And while Meadows apparently gives Trump full credit for that raid , Trump has repeatedly suggested Obama deserved little praise for getting bin Laden .
`` Obama deserves much less credit for the killing of Bin Laden .
The praise goes to our brave military and intelligence officers , '' he tweeted in October 2012 .
`` Why do n't we ask the Navy SEALs who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later that same month .
`` They do n't seem to be happy with Obama claiming credit .
All he did is say O.K . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, falsely claimed on Wednesday that Donald Trump is the only president who has ever taken out a terrorist.
In an interview on Fox News, Meadows dismissed criticisms of Trump’s poor international leadership made by former Secretary of State John Kerry in his speech on Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention, during which he called Trump’s foreign policy actions a “blooper reel.”
“This is the only president who actually went after a terrorist and took him out. How do we know that? We saw in real time, where this president took on a threat. And Iran is the state sponsor, the preeminent state sponsor of terror. And yet John Kerry is supposedly gonna applaud the efforts of the Obama administration?” Meadows said.
But the Obama-Biden administration also notably “went after a terrorist and took him out.”
In 2011, President Barack Obama sent SEAL Team 6 into Abbottabad, Pakistan, on an ultimately successful mission to capture and kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, the man behind the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001.
The Obama administration did not release video footage of the raid.
The Trump administration carried out a mission in Syria targeting Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State group, in October 2019. It quickly released footage of the attack after it was completed.
NBC News reported then that military officials cringed as Trump revealed highly classified details of the tactics used in the raid. “He has no filter,” one former senior White House official said. “But also if he knows something, and he thinks it’s going to be good to say or make him appear smarter or stronger, he’ll just blurt it out.”
And while Meadows apparently gives Trump full credit for that raid, Trump has repeatedly suggested Obama deserved little praise for getting bin Laden.
“Obama deserves much less credit for the killing of Bin Laden. The praise goes to our brave military and intelligence officers,” he tweeted in October 2012.
“Why don’t we ask the Navy SEALs who killed Bin Laden?” Trump tweeted later that same month. “They don’t seem to be happy with Obama claiming credit. All he did is say O.K.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-19--Fox News really wants Democrats to talk about rising crime rates under Trump

Conservative Fox News host Laura Ingraham complained on Tuesday night that during their convention , Democrats did not address recent increases in crime — increases that have occurred under Donald Trump 's leadership .
The rhetoric from Ingraham follows weeks of Fox featuring lurid footage from protests that have given the impression of widespread violence and `` anarchy '' in cities like Portland , Oregon , with various Fox personalities suggesting Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden supports the violence .
Trump 's allies , like campaign adviser Boris Epshteyn , have also claimed that such video shows what would occur @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — even though this events are occurring now , with Trump in the White House .
Trump himself has repeatedly complained about a recent surge in violent crime — without claiming any responsibility for it — while saying that if Biden is elected , `` the chaos and bloodshed will spread to every community in our land . ''
Ingraham has made the same sorts of claims on her show .
`` If Biden 's elected , '' she said in July , `` antifa will consider it their victory , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a staple of American life everywhere . ''
The current violence happening under Trump , she said , is `` only '' happening in cities and states under Democratic control .
On Tuesday 's episode , which aired right after the conclusion of the second night of the Democratic convention , Ingraham complained that speakers ignored the violence Fox and Trump have hyped for weeks .
`` There was n't a word about the skyrocketing number of murders in Democrat-controlled cities , '' Ingraham said .
`` Murders are up 29.1 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Recent increases in crime , however , have occurred on Trump 's watch .
Overall violent crime in the United States has been on a downward trend for 30 years .
Nonetheless , Trump and various Fox personalities , including Ingraham , have tried to pin this violence on Democrats , specifically pointing to Democratically controlled cities like Chicago , New York , Milwaukee , and Washington , D.C. — which also have large nonwhite populations .
Meanwhile , Republicans have refused to act on bills passed by the House to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorsed by the NRA after breaking his promises to enact gun safety legislation .
Fred Guttenberg , whose daughter Jaime was killed two years ago , in the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High in Florida , addressed the failure to address gun violence at Tuesday 's convention .
`` Together , with the other victims of gun violence , and our nation 's youth , Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will take on the NRA again and win , '' Guttenberg said as he announced the votes of Florida 's delegation to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Independent Foundation .

Conservative Fox News host Laura Ingraham complained on Tuesday night that during their convention, Democrats did not address recent increases in crime — increases that have occurred under Donald Trump’s leadership.
The rhetoric from Ingraham follows weeks of Fox featuring lurid footage from protests that have given the impression of widespread violence and “anarchy” in cities like Portland, Oregon, with various Fox personalities suggesting Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden supports the violence.
Trump’s allies, like campaign adviser Boris Epshteyn, have also claimed that such video shows what would occur in “Joe Biden’s America” — even though this events are occurring now, with Trump in the White House.
Trump himself has repeatedly complained about a recent surge in violent crime — without claiming any responsibility for it — while saying that if Biden is elected, “the chaos and bloodshed will spread to every community in our land.”
Ingraham has made the same sorts of claims on her show. “If Biden’s elected,” she said in July, “antifa will consider it their victory, and that means violence becomes an acceptable protest tactic and a staple of American life everywhere.” The current violence happening under Trump, she said, is “only” happening in cities and states under Democratic control.
On Tuesday’s episode, which aired right after the conclusion of the second night of the Democratic convention, Ingraham complained that speakers ignored the violence Fox and Trump have hyped for weeks.
“There wasn’t a word about the skyrocketing number of murders in Democrat-controlled cities,” Ingraham said. “Murders are up 29.1% in New York City over last year.”
Recent increases in crime, however, have occurred on Trump’s watch. Overall violent crime in the United States has been on a downward trend for 30 years.
Nonetheless, Trump and various Fox personalities, including Ingraham, have tried to pin this violence on Democrats, specifically pointing to Democratically controlled cities like Chicago, New York, Milwaukee, and Washington, D.C. — which also have large nonwhite populations.
Meanwhile, Republicans have refused to act on bills passed by the House to address gun violence. Trump was recently endorsed by the NRA after breaking his promises to enact gun safety legislation.
Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was killed two years ago, in the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High in Florida, addressed the failure to address gun violence at Tuesday’s convention.
“Together, with the other victims of gun violence, and our nation’s youth, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will take on the NRA again and win,” Guttenberg said as he announced the votes of Florida’s delegation to the convention.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.