shareblue--2020-02-06--Most rural hospital closures are in states that refuse to expand Medicaid

In late January , Pinnacle Regional Hospital in Boonville , Missouri , became the first rural hospital in the country to shut down in 2020 .
However , it was the 121st rural hospital to shut down since 2010 , the year the Affordable Care Act was signed into law .
More than 7 in 10 of the rural hospitals that shut down in that time period — 87 — were located in just 14 states that did not expand Medicaid , according to an analysis of data from the University of North Carolina 's Sheps Center for Health Services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had the option of expanding Medicaid to cover tens or hundreds of thousands of residents , with the federal government picking up almost all of the financial cost .
Since that time , all but 15 states have implemented a Medicaid expansion program , according to the Kaiser Family Foundation .
Those 15 states are Alabama , Florida , Georgia , Kansas , Mississippi , Missouri , Nebraska , North Carolina , Oklahoma , South Carolina , South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas , Wisconsin , and Wyoming .
Republicans control the legislative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in all 15 states .
`` If you look at the states , put them in buckets , and look at where rural hospitals closures are happening , there are more happening in states that did not expand [ Medicaid ] , '' Mark Holmes , a professor of health policy and management and the director of UNC 's Rural Health Research Program , said in a phone interview this week .
Holmes said that the most visible work on the topic comes from a 2018 journal article in Health Affairs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ state `` was associated with improved hospital financial performance and substantially lower likelihoods of closure , especially in rural markets and counties with large numbers of uninsured adults before Medicaid expansion . ''
Brock Slabach , executive vice president of the National Rural Hospital Association , cited different research showing a similar relationship between rural hospital closures and Medicaid expansion .
`` Being located in a state that expanded Medicaid decreased the likelihood of closure by 62.3 % , '' Slabach said in a phone interview , referring to a study from Chartis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slabach said that of the 216 rural hospitals around the country most at risk of closing , 75 % are located in states that did not expand Medicaid .
Texas leads the country in rural hospital closures since 2010 with 20 .
Tennessee has seen 13 rural hospitals shut down , one of a total nine non-expansion states seeing five or more rural hospitals close .
Wyoming is the only non-expansion state that had no rural hospital closures .
In Alabama , six rural hospitals have closed since 2010 .
`` Alabama 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many fall into the coverage gap , '' Rep. Terri Sewell ( D-AL ) , a lead proponent of Medicaid expansion , said in an email .
Expanding Medicaid `` could generate $ 2.7 billion in annual economic activity and create thousands of jobs , in addition to helping shore up our rural hospitals where every dollar counts , '' Sewell added .
`` Expansion , which would increase the number of patients with health insurance to cover the cost of care , is essential to both delivering the services Alabamians need and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The refusal to expand Medicaid could also have life or death consequences .
A 2019 report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found 15,600 adults died prematurely because states decided not to expand Medicaid .
Holmes emphasized the broader economic harm to a community when a rural hospital shuts down .
In addition to hundreds of jobs lost at the hospital , he said closures impact the florist across the street and groundskeepers who maintain the lawn .
Rural towns might have trouble attracting new residents if the closest hospital is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Slabach emphasized that Medicaid is not the only issue at play in rural hospital closures .
Slobach said rural communities tend to have residents who are disproportionately older , sicker , and poorer that non-rural communities , adding that changes to both Medicare and Medicaid could help rural hospitals shore up their finances .
But both men agreed that states expanding Medicaid , while not a silver bullet , would help rural hospitals .
`` Anytime you have more revenue , that 's a good thing , '' Holmes said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make things worse . ''
In Missouri , residents are collecting signatures to put the issue of Medicaid expansion on the November ballot .
In January , Republican Gov .
Mike Parson publicly declared his opposition to a Medicaid expansion .
After the closure of Pinnacle Regional Hospital , the seventh rural hospital to close in Missouri since 2010 , Democrats criticized Parson 's opposition .
`` Missourians across the state are losing access to the health care they desperately need , yet Gov .
Mike Parson refuses to do anything about it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ director for the Democratic Governors Association , said in a statement Monday .
`` Medicaid expansion saves lives and saves hospitals , and it is unconscionable that Parson continues to stand in its way . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

In late January, Pinnacle Regional Hospital in Boonville, Missouri, became the first rural hospital in the country to shut down in 2020. However, it was the 121st rural hospital to shut down since 2010, the year the Affordable Care Act was signed into law.
More than 7 in 10 of the rural hospitals that shut down in that time period — 87 — were located in just 14 states that did not expand Medicaid, according to an analysis of data from the University of North Carolina’s Sheps Center for Health Services Research.
Under the ACA, states had the option of expanding Medicaid to cover tens or hundreds of thousands of residents, with the federal government picking up almost all of the financial cost. Since that time, all but 15 states have implemented a Medicaid expansion program, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Those 15 states are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Republicans control the legislative branch, executive branch, or both, in all 15 states.
“If you look at the states, put them in buckets, and look at where rural hospitals closures are happening, there are more happening in states that did not expand [Medicaid],” Mark Holmes, a professor of health policy and management and the director of UNC’s Rural Health Research Program, said in a phone interview this week.
Holmes said that the most visible work on the topic comes from a 2018 journal article in Health Affairs. That research concluded Medicaid expansion in a state “was associated with improved hospital financial performance and substantially lower likelihoods of closure, especially in rural markets and counties with large numbers of uninsured adults before Medicaid expansion.”
Brock Slabach, executive vice president of the National Rural Hospital Association, cited different research showing a similar relationship between rural hospital closures and Medicaid expansion.
“Being located in a state that expanded Medicaid decreased the likelihood of closure by 62.3%,” Slabach said in a phone interview, referring to a study from Chartis Center for Rural Research. Further, Slabach said that of the 216 rural hospitals around the country most at risk of closing, 75% are located in states that did not expand Medicaid.
Texas leads the country in rural hospital closures since 2010 with 20. Tennessee has seen 13 rural hospitals shut down, one of a total nine non-expansion states seeing five or more rural hospitals close. Wyoming is the only non-expansion state that had no rural hospital closures.
In Alabama, six rural hospitals have closed since 2010.
“Alabama’s current, bare-bones Medicaid program means too many fall into the coverage gap,” Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL), a lead proponent of Medicaid expansion, said in an email.
Expanding Medicaid “could generate $2.7 billion in annual economic activity and create thousands of jobs, in addition to helping shore up our rural hospitals where every dollar counts,” Sewell added. “Expansion, which would increase the number of patients with health insurance to cover the cost of care, is essential to both delivering the services Alabamians need and keeping our rural hospitals open.”
The refusal to expand Medicaid could also have life or death consequences. A 2019 report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found 15,600 adults died prematurely because states decided not to expand Medicaid.
Holmes emphasized the broader economic harm to a community when a rural hospital shuts down. In addition to hundreds of jobs lost at the hospital, he said closures impact the florist across the street and groundskeepers who maintain the lawn. Rural towns might have trouble attracting new residents if the closest hospital is miles and miles away.
Both Holmes and Slabach emphasized that Medicaid is not the only issue at play in rural hospital closures.
Slobach said rural communities tend to have residents who are disproportionately older, sicker, and poorer that non-rural communities, adding that changes to both Medicare and Medicaid could help rural hospitals shore up their finances.
But both men agreed that states expanding Medicaid, while not a silver bullet, would help rural hospitals.
“Anytime you have more revenue, that’s a good thing,” Holmes said. “It’s hard to imagine it would make things worse.”
In Missouri, residents are collecting signatures to put the issue of Medicaid expansion on the November ballot. In January, Republican Gov. Mike Parson publicly declared his opposition to a Medicaid expansion.
After the closure of Pinnacle Regional Hospital, the seventh rural hospital to close in Missouri since 2010, Democrats criticized Parson’s opposition.
“Missourians across the state are losing access to the health care they desperately need, yet Gov. Mike Parson refuses to do anything about it,” Christina Amestoy, deputy communications director for the Democratic Governors Association, said in a statement Monday.
“Medicaid expansion saves lives and saves hospitals, and it is unconscionable that Parson continues to stand in its way.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-06--Republicans start revenge tour immediately after they acquit Trump

For months , congressional Republicans have complained that the impeachment of Donald Trump was delaying important policy , repeating the mantra `` get back to work . ''
Now that the impeachment process is over , they are instead pushing for new investigations in retaliation .
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham essentially admitted this plan on Fox News on Thursday , previewing Trump 's remarks set for the afternoon .
`` I think he 's gon na also talk about how just horribly he was treated and that maybe people should pay for that , '' she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Hillary Clinton has not held public office since 2013 and has not been a candidate since 2016 .
Still , Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) , Homeland Security & Government Affairs chair , wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday to request `` additional information '' about a September 2019 State Department report on `` security violations '' related to a private email server she used during her tenure in Barack Obama 's cabinet .
The origin of Trump 's impeachment was his explicit request that Ukraine 's president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his son Hunter .
On Sunday , Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) told Fox Business that the Senate Foreign Relations would soon investigate the Bidens .
On Wednesday , Johnson and Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-IA ) announced that they would investigate Hunter Biden .
On Thursday , the Trump administration began providing documents related to Hunter Biden , including financial records , to Johnson and Grassley , according to Yahoo !
News .
In the same Fox Business interview , Graham also announced that `` in the coming weeks '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whistleblower '' who first alerted Congress to Trump 's Ukraine quid pro quo .
`` Why is it important ?
I want to find out how this crap started .
If the whistleblower is a former employee of , associate of , Joe Biden , I think that would be important .
If the whistleblower was working with people on [ House Intelligence Chair Adam ] Schiff 's staff that wanted to take Trump down a year and a half ago , I think that would be important , '' Graham explained , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If the Schiff staff people helped write the complaint , that would be important .
We 're going to get to the bottom of all of this to make sure this never happens again , '' Graham added .
Donald Trump has repeatedly blamed Schiff ( D-CA ) for his impeachment .
Last month , he said , `` Shifty Adam Schiff is a CORRUPT POLITICIAN , and probably a very sick man . ''
Trump warned , `` He has not paid the price , yet , for what he has done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced that House Republicans would seek an investigation into Schiff .
`` After President Trump is acquitted , let 's get to the bottom of how this nightmare started , '' he wrote on Twitter .
In remarks on a right-wing radio show , he demanded a probe to `` get to the bottom of the lies of Adam Schiff that put this country through the nightmare . ''
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi received a great deal of GOP ire after she tore up a copy of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address on national television on Tuesday .
On Wednesday , Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) announced he was filing an ethics complaint against her , accusing the California Democrat of conduct `` beneath the dignity of the House . ''
Rep. Kay Granger ( R-TX ) also filed a resolution of disapproval , aimed at forcing a House vote to condemn the Speaker .
She called Pelosi 's conduct `` a breach of decorum and degraded the proceedings of the joint session , to the discredit of the House . ''
Published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

For months, congressional Republicans have complained that the impeachment of Donald Trump was delaying important policy, repeating the mantra “get back to work.” Now that the impeachment process is over, they are instead pushing for new investigations in retaliation.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham essentially admitted this plan on Fox News on Thursday, previewing Trump’s remarks set for the afternoon. “I think he’s gonna also talk about how just horribly he was treated and that maybe people should pay for that,” she said.
Here is what Republicans have already announced:
Investigation of Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton has not held public office since 2013 and has not been a candidate since 2016.
Still, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Homeland Security & Government Affairs chair, wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday to request “additional information” about a September 2019 State Department report on “security violations” related to a private email server she used during her tenure in Barack Obama’s Cabinet.
Investigations of Joe and Hunter Biden
The origin of Trump’s impeachment was his explicit request that Ukraine’s president investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. On Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told Fox Business that the Senate Foreign Relations would soon investigate the Bidens.
On Wednesday, Johnson and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced that they would investigate Hunter Biden.
On Thursday, the Trump administration began providing documents related to Hunter Biden, including financial records, to Johnson and Grassley, according to Yahoo! News.
Investigation of the anonymous whistleblower
In the same Fox Business interview, Graham also announced that “in the coming weeks” the Senate Intelligence Committee “will call the whistleblower” who first alerted Congress to Trump’s Ukraine quid pro quo.
“Why is it important? I want to find out how this crap started. If the whistleblower is a former employee of, associate of, Joe Biden, I think that would be important. If the whistleblower was working with people on [House Intelligence Chair Adam] Schiff’s staff that wanted to take Trump down a year and a half ago, I think that would be important,” Graham explained, suggesting multiple unsubstantiated conspiracy theories.
“If the Schiff staff people helped write the complaint, that would be important. We’re going to get to the bottom of all of this to make sure this never happens again,” Graham added.
Investigation of House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff
Donald Trump has repeatedly blamed Schiff (D-CA) for his impeachment. Last month, he said, “Shifty Adam Schiff is a CORRUPT POLITICIAN, and probably a very sick man.”
Trump warned, “He has not paid the price, yet, for what he has done to our Country!”
On Tuesday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced that House Republicans would seek an investigation into Schiff. “After President Trump is acquitted, let’s get to the bottom of how this nightmare started,” he wrote on Twitter.
In remarks on a right-wing radio show, he demanded a probe to “get to the bottom of the lies of Adam Schiff that put this country through the nightmare.”
Punishing Nancy Pelosi
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi received a great deal of GOP ire after she tore up a copy of Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on national television on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) announced he was filing an ethics complaint against her, accusing the California Democrat of conduct “beneath the dignity of the House.”
Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) also filed a resolution of disapproval, aimed at forcing a House vote to condemn the Speaker. She called Pelosi’s conduct “a breach of decorum and degraded the proceedings of the joint session, to the discredit of the House.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-06--Trump says his hourlong victory speech is 'not a speech, it's not anything'

Donald Trump spoke for an hour and three minutes in a White House ceremony on Thursday to celebrate Senate Republicans voting to acquit him and keep him in office .
He whined about being impeached , praised Republicans for sticking with him , and attacked Democratic leaders for voting to punish him for his unethical actions .
`` This is really not a news conference , it 's not a speech .
It 's not anything , '' Trump told the audience before launching into his remarks .
Echoing his actions at the National Prayer Breakfast , Trump held up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the headline `` Trump Acquitted . ''
Trump has often claimed the Post is `` fake news '' and claimed that he had ordered the government to no longer accept delivery of the paper .
Trump admitted he fired James Comey as part of a cover-up '' It was a disgrace .
Had I not fired James Comey , who was a disaster by the way , it 's possible I would n't even be standing here right now , '' Trump said .
`` There 's nothing from a legal standpoint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And every time I 'd say 'this is unfair , let 's go to court . '
They 'd say , 'Sir , you ca n't go to court , this is politics . '
We were treated unbelievably unfairly , and you have to understand we first went through Russia , Russia , Russia .
It was all bullshit , '' Trump said .
Trump claimed his children could never get away with corruption They do n't think it 's corrupt when a son that made no money , that got thrown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no money at all is working for $ 3 million dollars up front , $ 83,000 a month , and that'sonly Ukraine .
Then he goes to China , picks up one and a half billion dollars .
Then goes to Romania , I hear , and many other countries .
They think that 's okay .
Because if it is — is Ivanka in the audience ?
Is Ivanka here ?
Boy my kids could make a fortune .
They could make a fortune .
It 's corrupt .
Trump 's sons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Washington , D.C. , hotel where lobbyists , politicians , and foreign governments have stayed while doing business with the federal government .
This practice has generated millions for the Trump family .
Trump personally called out and supported Republicans who have defended him in Congress , on television , or both .
Among those who received his attentions were Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy .
Sens .
Charles Grassley ( R-IA ) and Reps. Elise Stefanik ( R-NY ) , Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When he called out Rep. Steve Scalise ( R-LA ) for praise , Trump went into a long and detailed retelling of the day when Rep. Scalise was shot during the congressional baseball game .
Returning to one of his favorite topics , Trump read aloud texts between FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page .
The texts have been central to Republican claims that all the investigations into Trump were motivated by a shadowy `` deep state . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump spoke for an hour and three minutes in a White House ceremony on Thursday to celebrate Senate Republicans voting to acquit him and keep him in office. He whined about being impeached, praised Republicans for sticking with him, and attacked Democratic leaders for voting to punish him for his unethical actions.
“This is really not a news conference, it’s not a speech. It’s not anything,” Trump told the audience before launching into his remarks.
Trump posed with Washington Post front page
Echoing his actions at the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump held up the front page of the Washington Post with the headline “Trump Acquitted.”
Trump has often claimed the Post is “fake news” and claimed that he had ordered the government to no longer accept delivery of the paper.
Trump admitted he fired James Comey as part of a cover-up
“It was a disgrace. Had I not fired James Comey, who was a disaster by the way, it’s possible I wouldn’t even be standing here right now,” Trump said.
Trump called investigations into his wrongdoing “bullshit”
“There’s nothing from a legal standpoint. This is a political thing. And every time I’d say ‘this is unfair, let’s go to court.’ They’d say, ‘Sir, you can’t go to court, this is politics.’ We were treated unbelievably unfairly, and you have to understand we first went through Russia, Russia, Russia. It was all bullshit,” Trump said.
Trump claimed his children could never get away with corruption
Trump told his audience:
They don’t think it’s corrupt when a son that made no money, that got thrown out of the military, that had no money at all is working for $3 million dollars up front, $83,000 a month, and that’sonly Ukraine. Then he goes to China, picks up one and a half billion dollars. Then goes to Romania, I hear, and many other countries. They think that’s okay. Because if it is — is Ivanka in the audience? Is Ivanka here? Boy my kids could make a fortune. They could make a fortune. It’s corrupt.
Trump’s sons run the Trump Organization, which includes the Washington, D.C., hotel where lobbyists, politicians, and foreign governments have stayed while doing business with the federal government. This practice has generated millions for the Trump family.
Trump awkwardly singled out multiple GOP members of Congress
Trump personally called out and supported Republicans who have defended him in Congress, on television, or both. Among those who received his attentions were Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Sens. Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), and Louie Gohmert (R-TX).
When he called out Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) for praise, Trump went into a long and detailed retelling of the day when Rep. Scalise was shot during the congressional baseball game.
Trump called leading Democrats “horrible” people
TRUMP: Adam Schiff is a horrible person. Nancy Pelosi is a horrible person. And she wanted to impeach a long time ago. When she said, “I pray for the president. I pray for the president” – she doesn’t pray, she may pray but she prays for the opposite.
Trump reenacted a conversation between FBI agents
Returning to one of his favorite topics, Trump read aloud texts between FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page. The texts have been central to Republican claims that all the investigations into Trump were motivated by a shadowy “deep state.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-06--Republicans complain Pelosi isn't civil enough after defending Trump's behavior for years

Congressional Republicans have spent much of the past two days pearl-clutching after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped up a copy of Donald Trump 's lie-riddled State of the Union speech on Tuesday night .
But many of the same people now expressing indignation over Pelosi 's act have shown little outrage about Trump 's own chronic incivility , not to mention the wildly inappropriate behavior by Congressional Republicans .
On Wednesday , House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy lambasted Pelosi ( D-CA ) in a Fox News interview .
`` What Nancy Pelosi did went beyond rules of the House , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she should either apologize or resign . ''
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , on the same program , asked , `` What kind of example does that set for the American people about how we ought to conduct ourselves ?
I mean , have we forgotten how to be civil to each other . ''
Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) announced that he would file an ethics complaint against Pelosi for conduct `` beneath the dignity of the House . ''
( Gaetz himself has recently faced investigations for witness intimidation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kay Granger ( R-TX ) filed a resolution of disapproval , objecting to the Speaker 's `` breach of decorum '' that `` degraded the proceedings of the joint session . ''
That exact language was used 11 years ago in another House resolution of disapproval after Rep. Joe Wilson ( R-SC ) screamed `` You lie ! ''
during President Barack Obama 's speech to a joint session of Congress about health care reform .
Back then , both McCarthy ( R-CA ) and Granger were among the 167 Republicans who voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GOP lawmakers complaining about Pelosi have thus far been silent about several other acts of incivility by members of their own party during the same event .
Upon entering the chamber , Trump pointedly declined to shake hands with Pelosi on the dais .
At the beginning of his address , several Republican lawmakers turned the speech into a Trump campaign rally and began chanting `` Four more years ! ''
in a historic breach of decorum .
Trump then used his speech to smear Congressional Democrats as wanting to `` let socialism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the years , Republicans lawmakers have mostly excused or ignored Trump 's incivility .
He has frequently insulted Pelosi , calling her `` Nervous Nancy '' more than a dozen times and belittling her as a `` nasty , vindictive , horrible person . ''
Trump has used mocking nicknames and publicly insulted an array of lawmakers from both parties , including Sens .
Ted Cruz ( R-TX ) , Kirsten Gillibrand , Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) , Marco Rubio ( R-FL ) , Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) , Chuck Schumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( D-MA ) .
He publicly accused House Intelligence chair Adam Schiff of `` fraud & treason '' for investigating the Ukraine scandal and paraphrasing a telephone call .
On Thursday , Trump even questioned his critics ' faith .
In a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast of all places , he pointedly scolded Pelosi ( who said recently that she prays for Trump ) and Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney ( who cited his faith in explaining his vote to convict Trump for abuse of power in the impeachment trial ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong , nor do I like people who say ' I pray for you ' when they know that that 's not so , '' Trump declared , as Pelosi sat listening .
No Republican lawmaker called on him to resign for any of those attacks .
Republicans also ignored their own history of derogatory behavior , which they did little to condemn or address at the time .
Last year , Rep. Jason Smith ( R-MO ) yelled `` go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House speech by Rep. Tony Cárdenas ( D-CA ) .
Smith later apologized , saying it had been a reference to a recent visit by House and Senate Democrats to the territory .
During President Barack Obama 's time in office , Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-IA ) called him `` stupid '' in a 2012 tweet .
Then-Rep. Allen West ( R-FL ) claimed without evidence that same year that `` 78 to 81 '' House Democrats were actually Communists .
In 2010 , then-Rep. Randy Neugebauer ( R-TX ) interrupted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) about abortion language in the Affordable Care Act .
`` It 's a baby killer , '' Neugebauer yelled .
He too later apologized .
Republicans demanded no resignations in any of those cases .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Congressional Republicans have spent much of the past two days pearl-clutching after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped up a copy of Donald Trump’s lie-riddled State of the Union speech on Tuesday night.
But many of the same people now expressing indignation over Pelosi’s act have shown little outrage about Trump’s own chronic incivility, not to mention the wildly inappropriate behavior by Congressional Republicans.
On Wednesday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy lambasted Pelosi (D-CA) in a Fox News interview. “What Nancy Pelosi did went beyond rules of the House,” he said, agreeing that “she should either apologize or resign.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, on the same program, asked, “What kind of example does that set for the American people about how we ought to conduct ourselves? I mean, have we forgotten how to be civil to each other.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) announced that he would file an ethics complaint against Pelosi for conduct “beneath the dignity of the House.” (Gaetz himself has recently faced investigations for witness intimidation while serving in Congress.)
Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) filed a resolution of disapproval, objecting to the Speaker’s “breach of decorum” that “degraded the proceedings of the joint session.”
That exact language was used 11 years ago in another House resolution of disapproval after Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) screamed “You lie!” during President Barack Obama’s speech to a joint session of Congress about health care reform.
Back then, both McCarthy (R-CA) and Granger were among the 167 Republicans who voted against condemning Wilson’s heckling.
The GOP lawmakers complaining about Pelosi have thus far been silent about several other acts of incivility by members of their own party during the same event.
Upon entering the chamber, Trump pointedly declined to shake hands with Pelosi on the dais. At the beginning of his address, several Republican lawmakers turned the speech into a Trump campaign rally and began chanting “Four more years!” in a historic breach of decorum. Trump then used his speech to smear Congressional Democrats as wanting to “let socialism destroy American health care.”
Over the years, Republicans lawmakers have mostly excused or ignored Trump’s incivility.
He has frequently insulted Pelosi, calling her “Nervous Nancy” more than a dozen times and belittling her as a “nasty, vindictive, horrible person.”
Trump has used mocking nicknames and publicly insulted an array of lawmakers from both parties, including Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Kirsten Gillibrand, Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chuck Schumer (D-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
He publicly accused House Intelligence chair Adam Schiff of “fraud & treason” for investigating the Ukraine scandal and paraphrasing a telephone call.
On Thursday, Trump even questioned his critics’ faith. In a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast of all places, he pointedly scolded Pelosi (who said recently that she prays for Trump) and Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney (who cited his faith in explaining his vote to convict Trump for abuse of power in the impeachment trial).
“I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong, nor do I like people who say ‘I pray for you’ when they know that that’s not so,” Trump declared, as Pelosi sat listening.
No Republican lawmaker called on him to resign for any of those attacks.
Republicans also ignored their own history of derogatory behavior, which they did little to condemn or address at the time.
Last year, Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) yelled “go back to Puerto Rico” during a House speech by Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA). Smith later apologized, saying it had been a reference to a recent visit by House and Senate Democrats to the territory.
During President Barack Obama’s time in office, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) called him “stupid” in a 2012 tweet. Then-Rep. Allen West (R-FL) claimed without evidence that same year that “78 to 81” House Democrats were actually Communists.
In 2010, then-Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) interrupted a speech by then-Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) about abortion language in the Affordable Care Act. “It’s a baby killer,” Neugebauer yelled. He too later apologized.
Republicans demanded no resignations in any of those cases.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-06--Republicans get back to the hard work of investigating Hillary Clinton's emails

Sen. Ron Johnson ( R-WI ) turned his attention back to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 's years-old emails this week , the same day he voted to acquit Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment .
On Wednesday , Johnson sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanding more information about a 2019 State Department investigation that exonerated Clinton of wrongdoing .
In his letter , Johnson , who was first elected in 2010 , said he had been investigating Clinton 's emails for almost five years and was determined to continue that work .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oversight of Clinton 's private email server , '' he wrote .
`` As part of that continued oversight , I write to request additional information about the Department 's September 2019 report . ''
Johnson demanded the State Department answer more than 20 distinct questions about its investigation , including how investigators `` uncovered no persuasive evidence of systemic misuse relative to the deliberate introduction of classified information to unclassified systems . ''
Johnson also sought the names and titles of dozens of State Department employees who were contacted as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answers to his questions by Feb. 20 .
The report he referenced Wednesday was initiated under Trump and found that `` by and large , the individuals interviewed were aware of security policies and did their best to implement them . ''
It further concluded that there was `` no persuasive evidence of systemic , deliberate mishandling of classified information . ''
Throughout the impeachment proceedings , which culminated with Trump 's acquittal in the Senate Wednesday evening , Republicans repeatedly complained that Congress should be more focused on issues that matter to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and House inquiry before it were a waste of time .
`` I have heard enough .
It is time to vote , '' Sen. Martha McSally ( R-AZ ) tweeted prior to the vote , demanding the chamber `` return its focus to the priorities of the American people like lowering the cost of prescription drugs . ''
In December , Trump himself demanded a quick impeachment and Senate trial so that Congress could `` get back to business . ''
Now it appears that business is Clinton 's emails .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone , the Democrat-led House of Representatives passed nearly 600 bills , some of them bipartisan , including legislation addressing voting rights , health care , prescription drug prices , LGBTQ equality , gun safety , and immigration .
Most of those bills have since stalled in the Republican-led Senate under Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , who has called himself the `` Grim Reaper '' for his role in refusing to bring them to a vote .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) turned his attention back to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s years-old emails this week, the same day he voted to acquit Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment.
On Wednesday, Johnson sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanding more information about a 2019 State Department investigation that exonerated Clinton of wrongdoing.
In his letter, Johnson, who was first elected in 2010, said he had been investigating Clinton’s emails for almost five years and was determined to continue that work.
“Since March 2015, I have conducted oversight of Clinton’s private email server,” he wrote. “As part of that continued oversight, I write to request additional information about the Department’s September 2019 report.”
Johnson demanded the State Department answer more than 20 distinct questions about its investigation, including how investigators “uncovered no persuasive evidence of systemic misuse relative to the deliberate introduction of classified information to unclassified systems.” Johnson also sought the names and titles of dozens of State Department employees who were contacted as part of the investigation.
Johnson said he expected answers to his questions by Feb. 20.
The report he referenced Wednesday was initiated under Trump and found that “by and large, the individuals interviewed were aware of security policies and did their best to implement them.”
It further concluded that there was “no persuasive evidence of systemic, deliberate mishandling of classified information.”
Throughout the impeachment proceedings, which culminated with Trump’s acquittal in the Senate Wednesday evening, Republicans repeatedly complained that Congress should be more focused on issues that matter to the American people, insisting the trial and House inquiry before it were a waste of time.
“I have heard enough. It is time to vote,” Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) tweeted prior to the vote, demanding the chamber “return its focus to the priorities of the American people like lowering the cost of prescription drugs.”
In December, Trump himself demanded a quick impeachment and Senate trial so that Congress could “get back to business.”
Now it appears that business is Clinton’s emails.
Despite claims of Democratic inaction, last year alone, the Democrat-led House of Representatives passed nearly 600 bills, some of them bipartisan, including legislation addressing voting rights, health care, prescription drug prices, LGBTQ equality, gun safety, and immigration.
Most of those bills have since stalled in the Republican-led Senate under Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has called himself the “Grim Reaper” for his role in refusing to bring them to a vote.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-06--Watch: Trump's 5 most ridiculous moments at the National Prayer Breakfast

Donald Trump 's appearance at the 2020 National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning strayed far from the event 's message of bipartisan religious grace and instead became another self-promotional and indulgent affair .
As he entered the event , Trump held up newspaper front pages reporting on his acquittal by Republican senators in his impeachment trial the night before .
A bipartisan group of senators — all Democrats and Utah Republican Mitt Romney — as well as the chamber 's two Independent members voted for Trump 's removal from office on Wednesday evening but were defeated on the first article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 52-48 .
Trump was also acquitted on the second charge against him , obstruction of Congress 53-47 , with every Republican voting in his favor .
TRUMP : As everybody knows , my family , our great country , and your president , have been put through a terrible ordeal by some very dishonest and corrupt people .
They have done everything possible to destroy us , and by so doing very badly hurt our nation .
They know what they are doing is wrong , but they put themselves far ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Romney and Pelosi invoking their faith Romney invoked his faith in explaining his vote to remove Trump from office .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi previously said that she prays for Trump , despite opposing him politically .
During Thursday 's prayer breakfast , Trump seemed to suggest they were being dishonest or using their faith incorrectly : Trump compared his 2016 election victory to the American Revolution TRUMP : Before America declared independence , patriots in all 13 colonies came together in days of fasting and prayer .
In the bitter cold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men had no food , no supplies , and very little chance of victory .
Reminded me a little bit of 2016 .
We had very little chance of victory , except for the people in this room and some others [ who ] believed we were going to win .
I believed we were going to win .
Trump said he was impeached `` for nothing '' He also complained that it was `` not easy '' to `` like them '' — seemingly referring to Democrats — after they attempted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure Ukraine : Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in December for pressuring Ukraine and withholding critical aid to the country in order to force officials there to investigate his political rivals .
He was also impeached over his efforts to block witness testimony and hide evidence in the earlier House inquiry into the matter .
Trump is only the third president in the country 's 244-year history to be impeached .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s appearance at the 2020 National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning strayed far from the event’s message of bipartisan religious grace and instead became another self-promotional and indulgent affair.
Trump touted his Senate acquittal
As he entered the event, Trump held up newspaper front pages reporting on his acquittal by Republican senators in his impeachment trial the night before.
A bipartisan group of senators — all Democrats and Utah Republican Mitt Romney — as well as the chamber’s two Independent members voted for Trump’s removal from office on Wednesday evening but were defeated on the first article of impeachment, abuse of power, 52-48. Trump was also acquitted on the second charge against him, obstruction of Congress 53-47, with every Republican voting in his favor.
Trump complained about his “terrible ordeal”
TRUMP: As everybody knows, my family, our great country, and your president, have been put through a terrible ordeal by some very dishonest and corrupt people. They have done everything possible to destroy us, and by so doing very badly hurt our nation. They know what they are doing is wrong, but they put themselves far ahead of our great country.
Trump also complained about Romney and Pelosi invoking their faith
Romney invoked his faith in explaining his vote to remove Trump from office. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi previously said that she prays for Trump, despite opposing him politically.
During Thursday’s prayer breakfast, Trump seemed to suggest they were being dishonest or using their faith incorrectly:
TRUMP: I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong, nor do I like people who say “I pray for you” when they know that that’s not so.
Trump compared his 2016 election victory to the American Revolution
TRUMP: Before America declared independence, patriots in all 13 colonies came together in days of fasting and prayer. In the bitter cold of Valley Forge, Washington and his men had no food, no supplies, and very little chance of victory. Reminded me a little bit of 2016. We had very little chance of victory, except for the people in this room and some others [who] believed we were going to win. I believed we were going to win.
Trump said he was impeached “for nothing”
He also complained that it was “not easy” to “like them” — seemingly referring to Democrats — after they attempted to hold him accountable for his efforts to pressure Ukraine:
TRUMP: When they impeach you for nothing and then you’re supposed to like them, it’s not easy folks. I do my best.
Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in December for pressuring Ukraine and withholding critical aid to the country in order to force officials there to investigate his political rivals. He was also impeached over his efforts to block witness testimony and hide evidence in the earlier House inquiry into the matter.
Trump is only the third president in the country’s 244-year history to be impeached.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-07--This week in wins: Virginia takes big step toward banning LGBT discrimination

This week , Virginia is poised to ban LGBT discrimination throughout the state , the House of Representatives passed a bill to strengthen unions , and a federal judge overturned a ruling against aid workers who were trying to prevent migrants from dying of dehydration .
Read on to catch up on this week 's wins .
A bill to ban discrimination against lesbian , gay , bisexual , and transgender individuals in employment , housing , and public accommodations passed both legislative chambers in Virginia on Thursday , the Washington Post reported .
The bill , similar to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Representatives last year , applies the state 's civil rights protections to LGBT people .
Before the bill passed , Democratic Del .
Danica Roem , the state 's first openly transgender lawmaker , gave a passionate speech about the need for this legislation .
Speaking of transgender youth she had met , Roem said , `` I was too afraid to be them .
I was too afraid to tell anyone who I was because that stigma and that fear is so real . ''
She added that no child or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afraid to be who they are and to be that well and to thrive in this commonwealth because of who they are , not despite it , and not for what discriminatory politicians tell them what they 're supposed to be . ''
The bill passed the House of Delegates on a 59-35 vote and passed the state Senate on a 30-9 vote .
Virginia 's Democratic governor is expected to sign the bill into law .
On Monday , a federal judge overturned the convictions of four aid workers found guilty of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food in the Arizona desert for migrants to find , CNN reported .
The judge ruled that the volunteers proved their actions `` were exercises of their sincere religious beliefs . ''
The volunteers were working with No More Deaths , a ministry affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson .
The group says its mission is to `` end death and suffering in the Mexico–US borderlands . ''
Criminals caught in human trafficking will face stiffer penalties in Pennsylvania , thanks to a new law signed Wednesday by Democratic Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The trafficking of humans is unthinkable and that of children is especially reprehensible , '' Wolf said in a statement .
`` No crime involving exploiting humans should be handled lightly and so I am pleased to sign these stricter punishments and increased offenses for those who commit this heinous crime . ''
The new law increases the fines associated with human trafficking and makes it a first-degree felony if the crime involves sexual servitude .
On Tuesday , Wisconsin 's Democratic governor , Tony Evers , signed legislation to fund peer-to-peer suicide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Wisconsin Public Radio reported .
`` We know that students all over our state are struggling with their mental health , '' Evers said at the bill signing , which was held at Milton High School .
`` Peer-to-peer training ensures that the people they are most likely to turn to , their friends and classmates , have the tools they need to recognize warning signs and help their friends . ''
According to research cited by WPR , 40 % of students in Wisconsin report feeling very anxious , tense , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Office of Children 's Mental Health shows the state 's teen suicide rate has been consistently higher than the national average .
Bayard Rustin , a gay civil rights leader involved in the historic 1963 March on Washington , was posthumously pardoned by Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom on Wednesday , the Associated Press reported .
Rustin was arrested in Pasadena in 1953 for `` homosexual activity '' and spent 50 days in a Los Angeles County jail before being released .
`` In California and across the country , many laws have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and to stigmatize and punish LGBTQ people and communities and warn others what harm could await them for living authentically , '' Newsom said in a statement .
`` I thank those who advocated for Bayard Rustin 's pardon , and I want to encourage others in similar situations to seek a pardon to right this egregious wrong . ''
Rustin was a close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. , according to AP , and he worked on several nonviolent efforts to end racial discrimination .
Rustin died in 1987 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2013 .
On Thursday , the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting the Right to Organize Act , a bill that would give workers more power during disputes at work and increase penalties for companies that retaliate against workers seeking to unionize , the Washington Post reported .
The bill also weakens anti-union laws in 27 states and grants hundreds of thousands of workers collective-bargaining rights .
`` The PRO Act is the best way to protect the right to organize and to help workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Rep. Judy Chu ( D-CA ) , a former professor and member of the American Federation of Teachers union , said in a statement after the bill passed .
The bill passed by a 224-194 margin , and now heads to the Senate .
The Post reported that Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander , chair of the Senate Health , Education , Labor , and Pensions Committee , said he will not even consider the legislation .
Check back next week for more good news .

This week, Virginia is poised to ban LGBT discrimination throughout the state, the House of Representatives passed a bill to strengthen unions, and a federal judge overturned a ruling against aid workers who were trying to prevent migrants from dying of dehydration.
Read on to catch up on this week’s wins.
A bill to ban discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals in employment, housing, and public accommodations passed both legislative chambers in Virginia on Thursday, the Washington Post reported. The bill, similar to the Equality Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last year, applies the state’s civil rights protections to LGBT people.
Before the bill passed, Democratic Del. Danica Roem, the state’s first openly transgender lawmaker, gave a passionate speech about the need for this legislation. Speaking of transgender youth she had met, Roem said, “I was too afraid to be them. I was too afraid to tell anyone who I was because that stigma and that fear is so real.”
She added that no child or adult in Virginia “should ever be afraid to be who they are and to be that well and to thrive in this commonwealth because of who they are, not despite it, and not for what discriminatory politicians tell them what they’re supposed to be.”
The bill passed the House of Delegates on a 59-35 vote and passed the state Senate on a 30-9 vote. Virginia’s Democratic governor is expected to sign the bill into law.
On Monday, a federal judge overturned the convictions of four aid workers found guilty of breaking the law for leaving water and food in the Arizona desert for migrants to find, CNN reported.
The judge ruled that the volunteers proved their actions “were exercises of their sincere religious beliefs.”
The volunteers were working with No More Deaths, a ministry affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson. The group says its mission is to “end death and suffering in the Mexico–US borderlands.”
Criminals caught in human trafficking will face stiffer penalties in Pennsylvania, thanks to a new law signed Wednesday by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, FOX-43 reported.
“The trafficking of humans is unthinkable and that of children is especially reprehensible,” Wolf said in a statement. “No crime involving exploiting humans should be handled lightly and so I am pleased to sign these stricter punishments and increased offenses for those who commit this heinous crime.”
The new law increases the fines associated with human trafficking and makes it a first-degree felony if the crime involves sexual servitude.
On Tuesday, Wisconsin’s Democratic governor, Tony Evers, signed legislation to fund peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs in the state’s schools, Wisconsin Public Radio reported.
“We know that students all over our state are struggling with their mental health,” Evers said at the bill signing, which was held at Milton High School. “Peer-to-peer training ensures that the people they are most likely to turn to, their friends and classmates, have the tools they need to recognize warning signs and help their friends.”
According to research cited by WPR, 40% of students in Wisconsin report feeling very anxious, tense, or scared. Research from the Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health shows the state’s teen suicide rate has been consistently higher than the national average.
Bayard Rustin, a gay civil rights leader involved in the historic 1963 March on Washington, was posthumously pardoned by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.
Rustin was arrested in Pasadena in 1953 for “homosexual activity” and spent 50 days in a Los Angeles County jail before being released.
“In California and across the country, many laws have been used as legal tools of oppression, and to stigmatize and punish LGBTQ people and communities and warn others what harm could await them for living authentically,” Newsom said in a statement. “I thank those who advocated for Bayard Rustin’s pardon, and I want to encourage others in similar situations to seek a pardon to right this egregious wrong.”
Rustin was a close friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., according to AP, and he worked on several nonviolent efforts to end racial discrimination. Rustin died in 1987, and posthumously received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2013.
On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, a bill that would give workers more power during disputes at work and increase penalties for companies that retaliate against workers seeking to unionize, the Washington Post reported.
The bill also weakens anti-union laws in 27 states and grants hundreds of thousands of workers collective-bargaining rights.
“The PRO Act is the best way to protect the right to organize and to help workers have the quality of life they deserve,” Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), a former professor and member of the American Federation of Teachers union, said in a statement after the bill passed.
The bill passed by a 224-194 margin, and now heads to the Senate. The Post reported that Tennessee Republican Lamar Alexander, chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, said he will not even consider the legislation.
Check back next week for more good news.


shareblue--2020-02-07--Ben Carson says Trump's no racist because he let black people and Jews into his club

The sole black member of Donald Trump 's Cabinet insisted this week that Trump is not racist because he is liked by his minority employees and let wealthy Jewish and black people join his Mar-a-Lago club .
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson on Friday told attendees at a summit on economic opportunity that he 'd gotten to know Trump — who spent much of the 2016 campaign portraying Carson as a low-energy man with a `` pathological '' temper , a questionable religion , and no leadership ability — since joining his administration .
`` Talking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ park the cars at Mar-a-Lago — they love him .
The people who wash the dishes , because he 's kind and compassionate , '' Carson said .
`` When he bought Mar-a-Lago , he was the one who fought for Jews and blacks to be included in the clubs that were trying to exclude them , '' he added .
You know , people say he 's a racist .
He is not a racist . ''
Carson 's suggestion that Trump was a civil rights pioneer in the Palm Beach club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reality , Trump fought not to integrate other clubs , but rather to renovate his own .
According to a 2015 Washington Post report , back in the 1990s , after Trump bought the Mar-a-Lago mansion , the Palm Beach town council attempted to impose restrictions on Trump 's property use , as he was trying to convert it into a private club and resort .
Trump pushed back against the council , the outlet noted , `` claiming that local officials seemed to accept the established private clubs in town that had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rules on his inclusive one . ''
After he accused the council of discrimination against him , they mostly backed off .
`` He won in the court of public opinion , '' Jack McDonald , a council member at the time , told the Post .
According to the outlet , McDonald later `` went on to be mayor and to join Mar-a-Lago . ''
Another former Palm Beach council member , Allen Wyett , told the Post that Trump 's decision to accept black and Jewish members was likely more a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Was he smart enough to realize that Palm Beach is about 40 % Jewish and he was not going to attract the old guard anyway ? ''
he asked .
Trump notably has a lengthy record of anti-Semitism and racism .
As a candidate in 2015 , he employed anti-Semitic stereotypes portraying Jewish Republican donors as money-grubbing people who are only focused on negotiations .
Last year , he claimed Jews showed `` either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty '' by voting for Democrats , while suggesting American Jews were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .
He also famously praised neo-Nazis as `` very fine people '' in 2017 .
Trump also spent several years pushing racist — and demonstrably false — birther conspiracy theories about Barack Obama , suggesting the first black president was not really an American .
He has dismissed African nations as `` shithole countries '' and has frequently attacked women of color , recently telling four Democratic congresswomen of color to `` go back '' to their home countries .
Since 2017 , a Mar-a-Lago membership has cost $ 200,000 , plus @ @ @ @ @ @

The sole black member of Donald Trump’s Cabinet insisted this week that Trump is not racist because he is liked by his minority employees and let wealthy Jewish and black people join his Mar-a-Lago club.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson on Friday told attendees at a summit on economic opportunity that he’d gotten to know Trump — who spent much of the 2016 campaign portraying Carson as a low-energy man with a “pathological” temper, a questionable religion, and no leadership ability — since joining his administration.
“Talking to the people who drive the cars and park the cars at Mar-a-Lago — they love him. The people who wash the dishes, because he’s kind and compassionate,” Carson said.
“When he bought Mar-a-Lago, he was the one who fought for Jews and blacks to be included in the clubs that were trying to exclude them,” he added. You know, people say he’s a racist. He is not a racist.”
Carson’s suggestion that Trump was a civil rights pioneer in the Palm Beach club scene is misleading at best. In reality, Trump fought not to integrate other clubs, but rather to renovate his own.
According to a 2015 Washington Post report, back in the 1990s, after Trump bought the Mar-a-Lago mansion, the Palm Beach town council attempted to impose restrictions on Trump’s property use, as he was trying to convert it into a private club and resort.
Trump pushed back against the council, the outlet noted, “claiming that local officials seemed to accept the established private clubs in town that had excluded Jews and blacks while imposing tough rules on his inclusive one.” After he accused the council of discrimination against him, they mostly backed off.
“He won in the court of public opinion,” Jack McDonald, a council member at the time, told the Post.
According to the outlet, McDonald later “went on to be mayor and to join Mar-a-Lago.”
Another former Palm Beach council member, Allen Wyett, told the Post that Trump’s decision to accept black and Jewish members was likely more a business strategy than anything else.
“Was he smart enough to realize that Palm Beach is about 40% Jewish and he was not going to attract the old guard anyway?” he asked.
Trump notably has a lengthy record of anti-Semitism and racism.
As a candidate in 2015, he employed anti-Semitic stereotypes portraying Jewish Republican donors as money-grubbing people who are only focused on negotiations. Last year, he claimed Jews showed “either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty” by voting for Democrats, while suggesting American Jews were more loyal to Israel than the United States. He also famously praised neo-Nazis as “very fine people” in 2017.
Trump also spent several years pushing racist — and demonstrably false — birther conspiracy theories about Barack Obama, suggesting the first black president was not really an American. He has dismissed African nations as “shithole countries” and has frequently attacked women of color, recently telling four Democratic congresswomen of color to “go back” to their home countries.
Since 2017, a Mar-a-Lago membership has cost $200,000, plus $14,000 in annual dues.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-07--White House fires Purple Heart recipient who testified in Trump impeachment

The decorated soldier and national security aide who played a central role in the Democrats ' impeachment case against Donald Trump was escorted out of the White House complex on Friday , according to his lawyer , who said he was asked to leave for `` telling the truth . ''
`` There is no question in the mind of any American why this man 's job is over , why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House , '' said David Pressman , partner at a New York legal firm that represented Lt. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth .
His honor , his commitment to right , frightened the powerful . ''
Vindman 's status at the National Security Council , the foreign policy arm of the White House , had been uncertain since he testified that he did n't think it was `` proper '' for Trump to `` demand that a foreign government investigate '' former Vice President Joe Biden and his son 's dealings with the energy company Burisma in Ukraine .
Vindman 's ouster seemed even more certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ post-acquittal celebration with Republican supporters in the East Room and said Friday that he was not happy with him .
`` I 'm not happy with him , '' Trump told reporters as he left the White House to head to North Carolina .
`` You think I 'm supposed to be happy with him ?
I 'm not .
...
They are going to be making that decision . ''
Vindman , a 20-year Army veteran , wore his uniform full of medals , including a purple heart , when he appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a testy televised impeachment hearing .
Trump supporters raised questions about the Soviet Jewish immigrant 's allegiance to the United States and noted that he had received offers to work for the government of Ukraine — offers Vindman said he swiftly dismissed .
`` I am an American , '' he stated emphatically .
When the senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee , Rep. Devin Nunes , addressed him as `` Mr. Vindman , '' the Iraq War veteran replied : `` Ranking member , it 's Lt. Col. Vindman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was asked what the Pentagon would do to ensure that Vindman faces no retribution when he is reassigned to the Pentagon from the White House .
He referred the question to the Army , in terms of Vindman 's next assignment , but on the retribution aspect , he said , `` We protect all of our service members from retribution or anything like that .
We 've already addressed that in policy and other means . ''

The decorated soldier and national security aide who played a central role in the Democrats’ impeachment case against Donald Trump was escorted out of the White House complex on Friday, according to his lawyer, who said he was asked to leave for “telling the truth.”
“There is no question in the mind of any American why this man’s job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House,” said David Pressman, partner at a New York legal firm that represented Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. “Lt. Col. Vindman was asked to leave for telling the truth. His honor, his commitment to right, frightened the powerful.”
Vindman’s status at the National Security Council, the foreign policy arm of the White House, had been uncertain since he testified that he didn’t think it was “proper” for Trump to “demand that a foreign government investigate” former Vice President Joe Biden and his son’s dealings with the energy company Burisma in Ukraine. Vindman’s ouster seemed even more certain after Trump mocked him Thursday during his post-acquittal celebration with Republican supporters in the East Room and said Friday that he was not happy with him.
“I’m not happy with him,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House to head to North Carolina. “You think I’m supposed to be happy with him? I’m not. … They are going to be making that decision.”
Vindman, a 20-year Army veteran, wore his uniform full of medals, including a purple heart, when he appeared late last year for what turned out to be a testy televised impeachment hearing. Trump supporters raised questions about the Soviet Jewish immigrant’s allegiance to the United States and noted that he had received offers to work for the government of Ukraine — offers Vindman said he swiftly dismissed.
“I am an American,” he stated emphatically.
When the senior Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Devin Nunes, addressed him as “Mr. Vindman,” the Iraq War veteran replied: “Ranking member, it’s Lt. Col. Vindman please.”
Defense Secretary Mark Esper was asked what the Pentagon would do to ensure that Vindman faces no retribution when he is reassigned to the Pentagon from the White House. He referred the question to the Army, in terms of Vindman’s next assignment, but on the retribution aspect, he said, “We protect all of our service members from retribution or anything like that. We’ve already addressed that in policy and other means.”


shareblue--2020-02-07--160 Republicans vote to block aid to Puerto Rico in wake of disasters

The House of Representatives voted Friday to appropriate billions in emergency aid to Puerto Rico , 237 to 161 .
The vast majority of House Republicans voted against disaster relief for the American territory .
The legislation , authored by Rep. Nita Lowey ( D-NY ) , provides more than $ 4 billion in emergency funding and billions more in tax incentives for Puerto Ricans .
Just 17 Republicans voted with all 220 Democrats present to pass the bill .
Another 160 Republicans and one conservative-leaning independent voted no .
Puerto Rico , still rebuilding from Hurricanes Maria and Irma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series of earthquakes in recent weeks .
The quakes , including one with a 6.4 magnitude in early January , have caused homes and schools to collapse , destroyed roads , and knocked out power .
`` More support is clearly needed , '' Lowey told her colleagues .
`` We must act now on our shared responsibility to assist people in need . ''
Republicans dismissed it as a `` messaging bill . ''
Rep. Tim Burchett ( R-TN ) complained in a video that the bill `` basically wrote them a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ balances . ''
`` We know there 's been a great deal of fraud , and oddly enough they 're already on track to receive $ 90 billion , '' he said .
In a floor speech , Rep. Kay Granger ( R-TX ) called the bill `` premature '' as it includes funds for `` disasters that have n't happened yet . ''
The aid , like most House-passed legislation , faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Senate .
Donald Trump has already threatened to veto the `` misguided '' bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his week warning , `` Neither Puerto Ricans nor the American taxpayers benefit when emergency aid is misallocated , lost , or stolen through waste , fraud , and abuse . ''
After initially promising a `` massive federal mobilization '' following the Category 5 Hurricane Maria in 2017 , Trump has spent the past two years attacking the territory .
Trump has repeatedly called Puerto Rico 's elected government as `` incompetent '' and `` corrupt , '' falsely accused the territory of scamming the federal government to reduce its debt with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all federal Maria recovery money .
In December , Trump intervened in a spending deal to slash Medicaid funds to Puerto Rico , which his administration defended as `` fiscally responsible . ''
The Republicans ' refusal to help comes despite a 2016 party platform that pledged support for the U.S. territories and even called for Puerto Rico to become a `` fully sovereign state . ''

The House of Representatives voted Friday to appropriate billions in emergency aid to Puerto Rico, 237 to 161. The vast majority of House Republicans voted against disaster relief for the American territory.
The legislation, authored by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), provides more than $4 billion in emergency funding and billions more in tax incentives for Puerto Ricans.
Just 17 Republicans voted with all 220 Democrats present to pass the bill. Another 160 Republicans and one conservative-leaning independent voted no.
Puerto Rico, still rebuilding from Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017, was hit by a series of earthquakes in recent weeks. The quakes, including one with a 6.4 magnitude in early January, have caused homes and schools to collapse, destroyed roads, and knocked out power.
“More support is clearly needed,” Lowey told her colleagues. “We must act now on our shared responsibility to assist people in need.”
Republicans dismissed it as a “messaging bill.” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) complained in a video that the bill “basically wrote them a check [without] really checks and balances.”
“We know there’s been a great deal of fraud, and oddly enough they’re already on track to receive $90 billion,” he said.
In a floor speech, Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) called the bill “premature” as it includes funds for “disasters that haven’t happened yet.”
The aid, like most House-passed legislation, faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Senate. Donald Trump has already threatened to veto the “misguided” bill. His administration put out a statement his week warning, “Neither Puerto Ricans nor the American taxpayers benefit when emergency aid is misallocated, lost, or stolen through waste, fraud, and abuse.”
After initially promising a “massive federal mobilization” following the Category 5 Hurricane Maria in 2017, Trump has spent the past two years attacking the territory.
Trump has repeatedly called Puerto Rico’s elected government as “incompetent” and “corrupt,” falsely accused the territory of scamming the federal government to reduce its debt with aid money, and attempted to withhold all federal Maria recovery money.
In December, Trump intervened in a spending deal to slash Medicaid funds to Puerto Rico, which his administration defended as “fiscally responsible.”
The Republicans’ refusal to help comes despite a 2016 party platform that pledged support for the U.S. territories and even called for Puerto Rico to become a “fully sovereign state.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-07--Pro-Trump group uses Chinese virus as opportunity to spread racist tropes

A Trump-aligned group described Chinese people as `` disease carriers '' and used racist tropes about Chinese food in a recent blog post about the the new coronavirus .
America First Policies , a Trump-aligned nonprofit that promotes his policies , wrote a post about the new virus , sometimes referred to as the Wuhan coronavirus , on Jan. 29 .
In it , the authors criticized the Chinese government for allowing `` potential disease carriers '' to leave Wuhan during the Lunar New Year holiday and pushed racist tropes mocking Chinese food as dirty .
`` Wildlife is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle class .
( Bat bouillabaisse or kung pao mice anyone ? )
, '' the group wrote .
The article was first flagged by American Bridge , a progressive opposition research organization .
Tropes associating Asian cultures with `` dirty '' food habits have been around for years .
As the Los Angeles Times notes , `` Yellow Peril , '' the claim that Asians and Asian culture are somehow a threat to the western world — specifically the western white world — go back as far as 19th century Europe .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a jump-off point for those seeking to further that racist narrative .
In the wake of the outbreak , which began in Wuhan , the capital of Hubei province , for instance , hysteria was sparked after a video of a Chinese woman holding chopsticks and biting into a cooked bat went viral .
Various outlets promoted the video as proof of the disease 's origin and blamed `` dirty '' Chinese food habits for the outbreak .
In reality , the woman , a travel show host , had shot the video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the western Pacific .
In a letter responding to the outcry , she noted that fruit bats were in fact a `` daily dish in many countries . ''
In an email this week , Rep. Judy Chu ( D-CA ) , the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress and the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus , called the anti-Chinese language in the America First Policies post `` deeply offensive . ''
`` It 's not surprising to see a Trump-inspired organization parroting his racist and xenophobic rhetoric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any less dangerous , '' she said .
Such language , she continued , `` endangers the Chinese-American community by encouraging fear and mistrust . ''
`` Already , we are seeing the impact of this in our communities , including a recent hate crime in which a Chinese-American woman in New York City was attacked in the Subway simply for wearing a face mask , '' Chu lamented .
`` It 's shameful to see an organization not only spread racism and hysteria , but encourage it . ''
Kyle Morse , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an email that the Trump-aligned group was stoking `` fear '' and dividing the country by furthering racist narratives .
`` Donald Trump and his allies have been willing to use racist , anti-Semitic , and xenophobic language to stoke fear and divide the American people , '' Morse said .
`` Voices from the Trump universe are far more focused on denigrating and dehumanizing rather than developing a comprehensive plan to tackle this pressing public health crisis . ''
America First Policies did not immediately respond to a request for comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism in the past .
In March 2018 , Carl Higbie , who was Trump 's chief of external affairs for the Corporation for National and Community Service , joined American First Policies as its director of advocacy .
But he was soon let go when funders complained about his past comments , including an instance in which he claimed that black women think `` breeding is a form of government employment , '' and another in which he said , `` I just do n't like Muslim people . ''
In an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Higbie also defended rumors about Trump wanting to implement a `` Muslim registry '' by citing Japanese internment during World War II .
`` We 've done it with Iran , back a while ago , we did it during World War II with Japanese — which , call it what you will , it may be wrong ... . ''
Then-host Megyn Kelly stopped him .
`` Come on , you 're not proposing we go back to the days of internment camps , '' she said .
`` You know better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kind of thing that gets people scared . ''
Higbie responded by saying he was `` not proposing that at all '' before adding , `` I 'm just saying there ’ s precedent for it . ''
In addition to America First Policies ' pro-Trump bent , Vice President Mike Pence has been linked to the group in the past and spoke at an event it organized in August 2019 .
He is also featured prominently on the group 's site .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A Trump-aligned group described Chinese people as “disease carriers” and used racist tropes about Chinese food in a recent blog post about the new coronavirus.
America First Policies, a Trump-aligned nonprofit that promotes his policies, wrote a post about the new virus on Jan. 29. In it, the authors criticized the Chinese government for allowing “potential disease carriers” to leave Wuhan during the Lunar New Year holiday and pushed racist tropes mocking Chinese food as dirty.
“Wildlife is a sought after delicacy by China’s growing middle class. (Bat bouillabaisse or kung pao mice anyone?),” the group wrote.
The article was first flagged by American Bridge, a progressive opposition research organization.
Tropes associating Asian cultures with “dirty” food habits have been around for years. As the Los Angeles Times notes, “Yellow Peril,” the claim that Asians and Asian culture are somehow a threat to the western world — specifically the western white world — go back as far as 19th century Europe. The new virus has only served as a jump-off point for those seeking to further that racist narrative.
In the wake of the outbreak, which began in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, for instance, hysteria was sparked after a video of a Chinese woman holding chopsticks and biting into a cooked bat went viral. Various outlets promoted the video as proof of the disease’s origin and blamed “dirty” Chinese food habits for the outbreak.
In reality, the woman, a travel show host, had shot the video years earlier in Palau, a nation in the western Pacific. In a letter responding to the outcry, she noted that fruit bats were in fact a “daily dish in many countries.”
In an email this week, Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress and the chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, called the anti-Chinese language in the America First Policies post “deeply offensive.”
“It’s not surprising to see a Trump-inspired organization parroting his racist and xenophobic rhetoric, but that does not make it any less dangerous,” she said. Such language, she continued, “endangers the Chinese-American community by encouraging fear and mistrust.”
“Already, we are seeing the impact of this in our communities, including a recent hate crime in which a Chinese-American woman in New York City was attacked in the Subway simply for wearing a face mask,” Chu lamented. “It’s shameful to see an organization not only spread racism and hysteria, but encourage it.”
Kyle Morse, a spokesperson for American Bridge, said in an email that the Trump-aligned group was stoking “fear” and dividing the country by furthering racist narratives.
“Donald Trump and his allies have been willing to use racist, anti-Semitic, and xenophobic language to stoke fear and divide the American people,” Morse said. “Voices from the Trump universe are far more focused on denigrating and dehumanizing rather than developing a comprehensive plan to tackle this pressing public health crisis.”
America First Policies did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The group has had issues with racism in the past. In March 2018, Carl Higbie, who was Trump’s chief of external affairs for the Corporation for National and Community Service, joined American First Policies as its director of advocacy.
But he was soon let go when funders complained about his past comments, including an instance in which he claimed that black women think “breeding is a form of government employment,” and another in which he said, “I just don’t like Muslim people.”
In an interview on Fox News in 2016, Higbie also defended rumors about Trump wanting to implement a “Muslim registry” by citing Japanese internment during World War II.
“We’ve done it with Iran, back a while ago, we did it during World War II with Japanese — which, call it what you will, it may be wrong….”
Then-host Megyn Kelly stopped him. “Come on, you’re not proposing we go back to the days of internment camps,” she said. “You know better than to suggest that. That’s the kind of thing that gets people scared.”
Higbie responded by saying he was “not proposing that at all” before adding, “I’m just saying there’s precedent for it.”
In addition to America First Policies’ pro-Trump bent, Vice President Mike Pence has been linked to the group in the past and spoke at an event it organized in August 2019. He is also featured prominently on the group’s site.
This post was updated to align with WHO guidelines on the virus’ name.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-07--Republicans silent after GOP congressman rips up document

On Thursday , House Republicans tried to formally condemn Speaker Nancy Pelosi for tearing up her copy of Donald Trump 's State of the Union speech .
And right after their resolution was tabled , one GOP congressman decided to do virtually the exact same thing as Pelosi .
Hours after he and 192 other House Republicans sought to publicly censure Pelosi ( D-CA ) for her `` breach of decorum '' that `` degraded the proceedings of the joint session , '' Rep. Paul Mitchell ( R-MI ) took to the floor to oppose a different resolution .
Noting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions as constitutionally protected free speech , Mitchell said , `` Let me , at this point in time , express my opinion , exercise my First Amendment rights by simply saying ... `` He then tore up what was apparently a copy of the legislation being considered — a resolution of disapproval of Donald Trump 's scheme to partially convert the Medicaid program into to block grants to the states .
Mitchell 's office did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether this too was a `` breach of decorum '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( R-TX ) , author of the resolution of disapproval about Pelosi 's behavior ; Rep. Kevin McCarthy ( R-CA ) , the House minority leader , who repeatedly lambasted Pelosi 's actions and demanded she `` apologize or resign '' for violating House rules ; Rep. Liz Cheney ( R-WY ) , House Republican Conference chair , who said she was `` Proud to be an original co-sponsor '' of Granger 's resolution to `` formally condemn Speaker Pelosi 's disgraceful behavior '' ; Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-FL ) , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behavior `` beneath the dignity of the House '' ; Rep. Mike Bost ( R-IL ) , who said the Speaker 's `` actions reflected poorly on the entire House and deserved a rebuke by her colleagues '' ; Rep. Kevin Brady ( R-TX ) , who called himself an `` early/strong sponsor '' of Granger 's resolution ; Rep. Ken Buck ( R-CO ) , who said Pelosi 's `` classless actions '' were `` unbefitting of her office '' ; Rep. Ted Budd ( R-NC ) , who said the speaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up a speech about American greatness '' ; Rep. Paul Gosar ( R-AZ ) , who announced his own resolution to condemn Pelosi 's `` classless outburst '' ; Rep. Mike Johnson ( R-LA ) , who actually claimed Pelosi had `` committed a felony '' by destroying an official record ; Rep. David Kustoff ( R-TN ) , who said Pelosi 's `` shameful behavior '' and `` action 's [ sic ] must be held accountable '' ; Rep. David McKinley ( R-WV ) , who called the Speaker 's actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of decorum '' ; nor Rep. Mike Rogers ( R-AL ) , who complained that the Democratic majority did not `` allow an up or down vote '' on Granger 's `` important resolution . ''
A spokesperson for Rep. Michael Burgess ( R-TX ) , who had called Pelosi 's actions `` disrespectful , '' said in an email , `` At this time Dr. Burgess has not put out a statement on Rep. Mitchell ’ s actions yesterday . ''
House Republicans were n't the only ones slamming Pelosi but not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsely told reporters that `` it was illegal what she did '' and `` she broke the law . ''

On Thursday, House Republicans tried to formally condemn Speaker Nancy Pelosi for tearing up her copy of Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech.
And right after their resolution was tabled, one GOP congressman decided to do virtually the exact same thing as Pelosi.
Hours after he and 192 other House Republicans sought to publicly censure Pelosi (D-CA) for her “breach of decorum” that “degraded the proceedings of the joint session,” Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-MI) took to the floor to oppose a different resolution.
Noting that House Democrats had defended Pelosi’s actions as constitutionally protected free speech, Mitchell said, “Let me, at this point in time, express my opinion, exercise my First Amendment rights by simply saying … ”
He then tore up what was apparently a copy of the legislation being considered — a resolution of disapproval of Donald Trump’s scheme to partially convert the Medicaid program into to block grants to the states.
Mitchell’s office did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether this too was a “breach of decorum” worthy of condemnation.
Neither did:
Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), author of the resolution of disapproval about Pelosi’s behavior;
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the House minority leader, who repeatedly lambasted Pelosi’s actions and demanded she “apologize or resign” for violating House rules;
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), House Republican Conference chair, who said she was “Proud to be an original co-sponsor” of Granger’s resolution to “formally condemn Speaker Pelosi’s disgraceful behavior”;
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who filed an ethics complaint calling Pelosi’s behavior “beneath the dignity of the House”;
Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), who said the Speaker’s “actions reflected poorly on the entire House and deserved a rebuke by her colleagues”;
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), who called himself an “early/strong sponsor” of Granger’s resolution;
Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), who said Pelosi’s “classless actions” were “unbefitting of her office”;
Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC), who said the speaker “deserves to be condemned for ripping up a speech about American greatness”;
Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), who announced his own resolution to condemn Pelosi’s “classless outburst”;
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), who actually claimed Pelosi had “committed a felony” by destroying an official record;
Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN), who said Pelosi’s “shameful behavior” and “action’s [sic] must be held accountable”;
Rep. David McKinley (R-WV), who called the Speaker’s actions “shameful” and a “breach of decorum”; nor
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), who complained that the Democratic majority did not “allow an up or down vote” on Granger’s “important resolution.”
A spokesperson for Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), who had called Pelosi’s actions “disrespectful,” said in an email, “At this time Dr. Burgess has not put out a statement on Rep. Mitchell’s actions yesterday.”
House Republicans weren’t the only ones slamming Pelosi but not Mitchell. On Friday, Donald Trump falsely told reporters that “it was illegal what she did” and “she broke the law.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-02-07--Trump falsely claims Pelosi committed a crime by ripping up his speech

From a Feb. 7 appearance on the White House lawn : DONALD TRUMP : Well , I thought it was @ @ @ @ @ ripped up the speech .
First of all it 's an official document , you @ @ @ @ @ 's illegal what she did .
She broke the law .
But I have n't @ @ @ @ @ than a lot of people that viewed it , they could n't believe that she @ @ @ @ @ it was terrible , I thought it was very disrespectful to the chamber and to @ @ @ @ @ argued that his impeachment should be `` expunged '' by Congress , which is not @ @ @ @ @ law .
Trump will remain the third president impeached in American history no matter which @ @ @ @ @ also told reporters that votes from the Iowa caucuses were `` fried , '' adding @ @ @ @ @ fried their votes on computer . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation @

From a Feb. 7 appearance on the White House lawn:
DONALD TRUMP: Well, I thought it was a terrible thing when she ripped up the speech. First of all it’s an official document, you’re not allowed, it’s illegal what she did. She broke the law. But I haven’t been asked a question other than a lot of people that viewed it, they couldn’t believe that she did it. I thought it was terrible, I thought it was very disrespectful to the chamber and to the country.
Trump then argued that his impeachment should be “expunged” by Congress, which is not a process available in U.S. law. Trump will remain the third president impeached in American history no matter which party controls Congress.
Trump also told reporters that votes from the Iowa caucuses were “fried,” adding, “I think they fried their votes on computer.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.