shareblue--2020-09-28--Black voter on Trump suppression effort: 'It makes me want to go out and vote more'

Annette Clinton , a Black voter in Wisconsin , told the U.K. 's Channel 4 in an interview broadcasted on Monday that voter suppression efforts from the 2016 campaign increased her drive to vote .
The Channel 4 investigation exposed a Trump campaign database that included 3.5 million Black Americans who were labeled `` Deterrence '' and made the target of campaign messages designed to dissuade them from voting .
Black voters disproportionately backed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election , when she won 89 % of their vote , according to exit polls .
But Trump ultimately won in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-third of Black voters were marked for `` Deterrence , '' by just 0.77 % .
After being told about the Trump campaign 's actions , Clinton told reporter Krishnan Guru-Murthy she felt Blacks had been `` targeted '' by Trump , noting , `` It should n't be like that , that they would use you and categorize you to make it harder for you to vote . ''
`` It makes me want to go out and vote more , '' she said .
KRISHNAN GURU-MURTHY , Channel 4 : This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That 's you , Annette Clinton ?
ANNETTE CLINTON : Yes , that 's me .
GURU-MURTHY : Now it says you 're a nurses ' aide or orderly .
GURU-MURTHY : It said your income at the time in 2016 was between $ 25 and $ 35,000 dollars .
GURU-MURTHY : That 's correct .
And that you were a renter .
CLINTON : Yes , that 's correct too .
GURU-MURTHY : So they had you down pretty well ?
GURU-MURTHY : How do you feel about the idea that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of other people as `` deterrence '' ?
CLINTON : I do n't feel — I do n't feel right by that at all .
Because you should n't , they should n't have to categorize no one in order to get votes .
GURU-MURTHY : Black people were disproportionately represented .
There were many more Black people on that list than there should have been , proportionately , what do you think that tells you ?
CLINTON : That the Black community is targeted .
You know , it should n't be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you and categorize you to make it harder for you to vote .
GURU-MURTHY : Does knowing this change anything about how you feel about the last election ?
CLINTON : It makes me want to go out and vote more , actually .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Annette Clinton, a Black voter in Wisconsin, told the U.K.’s Channel 4 in an interview broadcasted on Monday that voter suppression efforts from the 2016 campaign increased her drive to vote.
The Channel 4 investigation exposed a Trump campaign database that included 3.5 million Black Americans who were labeled “Deterrence” and made the target of campaign messages designed to dissuade them from voting.
Black voters disproportionately backed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election, when she won 89% of their vote, according to exit polls.
But Trump ultimately won in Wisconsin, a state where more than one-third of Black voters were marked for “Deterrence,” by just 0.77%.
After being told about the Trump campaign’s actions, Clinton told reporter Krishnan Guru-Murthy she felt Blacks had been “targeted” by Trump, noting, “It shouldn’t be like that, that they would use you and categorize you to make it harder for you to vote.”
“It makes me want to go out and vote more,” she said.
From a Sept. 28 broadcast of Channel 4 News:
KRISHNAN GURU-MURTHY, Channel 4: This is what the file said about you. That’s you, Annette Clinton? ANNETTE CLINTON: Yes, that’s me. GURU-MURTHY: That’s your address? CLINTON: That’s correct. GURU-MURTHY: Now it says you’re a nurses’ aide or orderly. CLINTON: That’s correct. GURU-MURTHY: It said your income at the time in 2016 was between $25 and $35,000 dollars. CLINTON: That’s correct. GURU-MURTHY: That’s correct. And that you were a renter. CLINTON: Yes, that’s correct too. GURU-MURTHY: So they had you down pretty well? CLINTON: So far. GURU-MURTHY: How do you feel about the idea that the Trump campaign categorized you and lots of other people as “deterrence”? CLINTON: I don’t feel — I don’t feel right by that at all. Because you shouldn’t, they shouldn’t have to categorize no one in order to get votes. GURU-MURTHY: Black people were disproportionately represented. There were many more Black people on that list than there should have been, proportionately, what do you think that tells you? CLINTON: That the Black community is targeted. You know, it shouldn’t be like that, that they would use you and categorize you to make it harder for you to vote. GURU-MURTHY: Does knowing this change anything about how you feel about the last election? CLINTON: It makes me want to go out and vote more, actually.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-28--Trump and Nixon have more in common than just dodging taxes

Donald Trump 's tax returns are the talk of the town , and news outlets and the Twittersphere are humming with comparisons to another White House occupant plagued by tax scandals : Richard Nixon .
`` 'People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook , ' Nixon said , '' tweeted Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell on Monday .
`` The comment was n't about Watergate , but rather funny business in his tax returns . ''
A New York Times exposé published Sunday revealed that Trump 's billionaire persona is largely a myth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive debt , bumbling business dealings , and a penchant for avoiding taxes .
The kicker : Donald Trump paid no taxes at all in 10 of the past 15 years , and only paid only $ 750 in federal income taxes during both the year he was elected and his first year in the White House .
Trump claimed that in those years his financial losses surpassed his gains , but his ongoing feud with the IRS about whether a $ 72.9 million tax refund he claimed is legitimate potentially speaks otherwise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times report , including a questionable tax write-off for a family retreat mansion and unexplained claims that his expenses at one New Jersey property increased fivefold between 2016 and 2017 .
Trump is the first presidential candidate to refuse to release his tax returns after the custom began with former President Richard M. Nixon in 1973 .
In news that shook the political sphere 47 years ago this week , the Providence Journal reported that Nixon paid just $ 792.81 in taxes in 1970 and $ 878.03 in 1971 .
He agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` the confidentiality of my private finances is far less important to me than the confidence of the American people in the integrity of the president . ''
Audits by the IRS and Joint Committee on Taxation followed , determining Nixon owed $ 471,431 in back taxes — and that he 'd taken huge and questionable deductions , including $ 576,000 upon donating his vice-presidential papers to the National Archives and backdating it so it would n't be illegal for him to do claim the deduction .
Edward Morgan , a former White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pled guilty to preparing the fraudulent document , spending four months in prison and 20 months on probation .
Two other preparers were indicted as well , but Nixon was never charged by the IRS .
The similarities between Trump and Nixon go beyond their questionable tax returns , however .
Both shared a passionate hatred of the media .
Trump has notoriously called the press the `` enemy of the people '' and dubbed its offerings as `` fake news . ''
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker , a research engine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unearthed 2,000 negative remarks by Trump on Twitter about journalists since 2015 — attacks that have only escalated during the coronavirus pandemic .
The Committee to Protect Journalists reported this year that these comments have discredited the media to the American people , with 62 % thinking reports of COVID-19 were overblown .
Nixon , too , waged war on the press .
After losing the White House to John F. Kennedy in 1970 , he called a news conference to fume , `` You wo n't have Dick Nixon to kick around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press secretary that `` no reporter from the Washington Post is ever to be in the White House again . ''
And during his presidency , he ordered major investigations of several journalists and added some to a public enemies list .
Both , too , had crooks and con artists in their inner circle .
Nine of Nixon 's allies were imprisoned for a total of more than 100 months , including Attorney General John Mitchell , campaign operative G. Gordon Liddy , and former White House counsel Chuck Colson .
Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was charged with defrauding Trump supporters .
Roger Stone , another Trump friend and adviser , was convicted of lying under oath about Russia 's involvement in the 2016 election .
Michael Flynn , a Trump national security adviser , pled guilty to lying to the FBI about dealings with the Russian ambassador before the election .
Trump 's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was found guilty of tax fraud , bank fraud , and conspiracy charges .
Trump former lawyer Michael Cohen is serving a three-year sentence for payments to silence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The list goes on .
And , of course , Trump and Nixon were both notorious misogynists .
Trump has been accused of 26 women of sexual misconduct .
During the election he repeatedly mocked opponent Hillary Clinton in sexist terms , noting that `` if [ she ] were a man , I do n't think she 'd get 5 percent of the vote . ''
Several women also accused Nixon of sexual misconduct , and in the 1950 Senate race he derided Democratic opponent Helen Douglas as the `` Pink Lady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was `` pink right down to her underwear . ''
The similarities the two men share may be unsurprising , given that they enjoyed a decade-long friendship and correspondence .
`` I think that you are one of the country 's great men , and it was an honor to spend an evening with you , '' Trump wrote to Nixon in June 1982 , less than eight years after Watergate .
He urged Nixon to move to Trump Tower .
In 1993 , he wrote to Nixon : `` You are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and always will have the utmost respect and admiration for you .
I am proud to know you . ''
White House Counsel John Dean , who served during Watergate , said the two picked up `` waves of each other 's personalities . ''
`` These are two authoritarian personalities who would have a natural affinity for each other , '' Dean said .
As for the disgraced `` tricky Dick , '' he was a huge fan of Donald Trump .
In 1987 , he wrote to Trump , noting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on politics . ''
`` She predicts that whenever you decide to run for office , you will be a winner , '' Nixon told him .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s tax returns are the talk of the town, and news outlets and the Twittersphere are humming with comparisons to another White House occupant plagued by tax scandals: Richard Nixon.
“‘People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook,’ Nixon said,” tweeted Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell on Monday. “The comment wasn’t about Watergate, but rather funny business in his tax returns.”
A New York Times exposé published Sunday revealed that Trump’s billionaire persona is largely a myth. Instead, Trump’s financial records show massive debt, bumbling business dealings, and a penchant for avoiding taxes.
The kicker: Donald Trump paid no taxes at all in 10 of the past 15 years, and only paid only $750 in federal income taxes during both the year he was elected and his first year in the White House.
Trump claimed that in those years his financial losses surpassed his gains, but his ongoing feud with the IRS about whether a $72.9 million tax refund he claimed is legitimate potentially speaks otherwise.
Other troubling details emerged in the Times report, including a questionable tax write-off for a family retreat mansion and unexplained claims that his expenses at one New Jersey property increased fivefold between 2016 and 2017.
Trump is the first presidential candidate to refuse to release his tax returns after the custom began with former President Richard M. Nixon in 1973.
In news that shook the political sphere 47 years ago this week, the Providence Journal reported that Nixon paid just $792.81 in taxes in 1970 and $878.03 in 1971.
He agreed to release his tax returns, noting that “the confidentiality of my private finances is far less important to me than the confidence of the American people in the integrity of the president.”
Audits by the IRS and Joint Committee on Taxation followed, determining Nixon owed $471,431 in back taxes — and that he’d taken huge and questionable deductions, including $576,000 upon donating his vice-presidential papers to the National Archives and backdating it so it wouldn’t be illegal for him to do claim the deduction.
Edward Morgan, a former White House lawyer, later took the heat and pled guilty to preparing the fraudulent document, spending four months in prison and 20 months on probation. Two other preparers were indicted as well, but Nixon was never charged by the IRS.
The similarities between Trump and Nixon go beyond their questionable tax returns, however.
Both shared a passionate hatred of the media. Trump has notoriously called the press the “enemy of the people” and dubbed its offerings as “fake news.” The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, a research engine monitoring attacks on the press, has unearthed 2,000 negative remarks by Trump on Twitter about journalists since 2015 — attacks that have only escalated during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Committee to Protect Journalists reported this year that these comments have discredited the media to the American people, with 62% thinking reports of COVID-19 were overblown.
Nixon, too, waged war on the press. After losing the White House to John F. Kennedy in 1970, he called a news conference to fume, “You won’t have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore!”
He famously told his press secretary that “no reporter from the Washington Post is ever to be in the White House again.” And during his presidency, he ordered major investigations of several journalists and added some to a public enemies list.
Both, too, had crooks and con artists in their inner circle. Nine of Nixon’s allies were imprisoned for a total of more than 100 months, including Attorney General John Mitchell, campaign operative G. Gordon Liddy, and former White House counsel Chuck Colson.
Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, was charged with defrauding Trump supporters. Roger Stone, another Trump friend and adviser, was convicted of lying under oath about Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election. Michael Flynn, a Trump national security adviser, pled guilty to lying to the FBI about dealings with the Russian ambassador before the election. Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was found guilty of tax fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy charges. Trump former lawyer Michael Cohen is serving a three-year sentence for payments to silence women accusing Trump of sexual assault. The list goes on.
And, of course, Trump and Nixon were both notorious misogynists.
Trump has been accused of 26 women of sexual misconduct. During the election he repeatedly mocked opponent Hillary Clinton in sexist terms, noting that “if [she] were a man, I don’t think she’d get 5 percent of the vote.”


shareblue--2020-09-28--Trump pays less in taxes than the undocumented immigrants he likes to vilify

Donald Trump paid just $ 750 in federal income taxes the year he was elected president , according to a blockbuster report published by the New York Times on Sunday .
The Times report also found that Trump is millions of dollars in debt , incurred through a series of failed business ventures — a fact that runs counter to Trump 's self-made image as a successful businessman .
Trump has also used his financial failings to avoid paying taxes , the report found .
The president has resisted revealing his financial information since the start of his first presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would certainly show tax returns if it was necessary , '' Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in 2015 .
Yet for five years , the president has failed to produce the documents .
The president paid $ 750 in federal income taxes in 2016 , and paid another $ 750 in 2017 , according to the report .
And in 2014 , Trump paid zero dollars in taxes .
Conservatives including Trump often suggest that undocumented immigrants take advantage of government services without contributing their fair share .
Throughout his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blame on immigrants and suggested they pose an economic burden to U.S. taxpayers .
`` Our current immigration system costs America ’ s taxpayers many billions of dollars a year , '' Trump claimed in 2017 during his first presidential address to Congress .
That claim does not hold up to scrutiny .
In reality , undocumented immigrants pay billions of dollars in taxes every year .
In 1996 , the Internal Revenue Service created a program for non-citizens who work in the U.S. to report their income .
Non-citizens who do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undocumented immigrants — are able to file taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number , or ITIN .
According to the IRS , 4.4 million people paid taxes using an ITIN in 2015 , totaling $ 23.6 billion in tax revenue .
This raises the question : why would undocumented immigrants pay U.S. taxes if they are unauthorized to live in the country ?
Immigrants often choose to pay taxes in order to demonstrate `` good moral character '' when applying for legal residence or citizenship , according to the National Immigration Law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay their taxes risk deportation .
`` Immigrants , both documented and undocumented , paid an estimated $ 328 billion in state , federal , and local taxes in 2014 alone , '' Stephen Yale-Loehr , a professor of immigration law practice at Cornell Law School , told the American Independent Foundation .
`` It is outrageous that the average undocumented immigrant in the United States pays more in federal income taxes than the President did in 2016 . ''
This contrast is especially ironic given Trump 's tendency to deride unauthorized immigrants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tendency to respond to criticism with projection — when accused , he accuses others of the same thing .
`` Yes , undocumented immigrants are helping fund the very system that detain and deport us , '' journalist Jose Antonio Vargas , who is undocumented , tweeted in 2019 .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump paid just $750 in federal income taxes the year he was elected president, according to a blockbuster report published by the New York Times on Sunday.
The Times report also found that Trump is millions of dollars in debt, incurred through a series of failed business ventures — a fact that runs counter to Trump’s self-made image as a successful businessman. Trump has also used his financial failings to avoid paying taxes, the report found.
The president has resisted revealing his financial information since the start of his first presidential campaign, despite promising otherwise. “I would certainly show tax returns if it was necessary,” Trump told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt in 2015. Yet for five years, the president has failed to produce the documents.
The president paid $750 in federal income taxes in 2016, and paid another $750 in 2017, according to the report. And in 2014, Trump paid zero dollars in taxes.
Conservatives including Trump often suggest that undocumented immigrants take advantage of government services without contributing their fair share. Throughout his first term, Trump has repeatedly cast blame on immigrants and suggested they pose an economic burden to U.S. taxpayers.
“Our current immigration system costs America’s taxpayers many billions of dollars a year,” Trump claimed in 2017 during his first presidential address to Congress.
That claim does not hold up to scrutiny. In reality, undocumented immigrants pay billions of dollars in taxes every year. In 1996, the Internal Revenue Service created a program for non-citizens who work in the U.S. to report their income. Non-citizens who do not have a Social Security Number — including undocumented immigrants — are able to file taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or ITIN. According to the IRS, 4.4 million people paid taxes using an ITIN in 2015, totaling $23.6 billion in tax revenue.
This raises the question: why would undocumented immigrants pay U.S. taxes if they are unauthorized to live in the country? Immigrants often choose to pay taxes in order to demonstrate “good moral character” when applying for legal residence or citizenship, according to the National Immigration Law Center. Undocumented immigrants who fail to pay their taxes risk deportation.
“Immigrants, both documented and undocumented, paid an estimated $328 billion in state, federal, and local taxes in 2014 alone,” Stephen Yale-Loehr, a professor of immigration law practice at Cornell Law School, told the American Independent Foundation. “It is outrageous that the average undocumented immigrant in the United States pays more in federal income taxes than the President did in 2016.”
This contrast is especially ironic given Trump’s tendency to deride unauthorized immigrants as irresponsible lawbreakers. Trump has a tendency to respond to criticism with projection — when accused, he accuses others of the same thing.
“Yes, undocumented immigrants are helping fund the very system that detain and deport us,” journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, who is undocumented, tweeted in 2019.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-28--Republicans try to hijack RBG's legacy for Amy Coney Barrett

The day after Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's death , Donald Trump pledged to nominate a female jurist to the Supreme Court .
`` It will be a woman , '' he said at an airport rally in North Carolina .
On Saturday , Trump announced he was nominating Amy Coney Barrett , a 48-year-old Catholic judge serving on the 7th Circuit .
Barrett belongs to a religious sect that believes husbands should dominate their wives and is a hardline conservative on reproductive rights and LGBTQ issues .
Nevertheless , some conservatives have tried to paint Barrett as the feminist choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her to Ginsburg , the first woman to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol .
Republicans are selling `` Notorious ACB '' tee-shirts , a reference to the `` Notorious RBG '' — Ginsburg 's nickname and a play on the legendary rapper Notorious B.I.G .
According to CNN , the White House also intentionally decorated the Rose Garden for Barrett 's announcement to mimic the decor for Ginsburg 's announcement on June 14 , 1993 .
`` A White House aide who is involved in making the preparations today sent a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is designed to replicate the look of Ginsburg ’ s announcement , '' the outlet reported .
`` President Trump and his advisers specifically asked for the Rose Garden to be adorned in hanging flags after they recently saw the Clinton-Ginsburg announcement replaying on television . ''
As for Coney , while she promised to respect Ginsburg 's legacy in her nomination acceptance speech on Saturday evening , she added that her judicial philosophy more closely aligns with the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia .
`` I will be mindful of who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still flying at half-staff for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ... She was a woman of enormous talent and consequence ...
Particularly poignant to me was her long friendship with Justice Antonin Scalia , my own mentor .
They disagreed fiercely in print without rancor in person , '' Barrett said .
She continued , `` [ Scalia 's ] judicial philosophy is mine too .
A judge must apply the law as written .
Judges are not policy makers .
They must be resolute in setting aside any personal policy news they might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CEO and president of the Center for Reproductive Rights , has pointed out that if Barrett is true to her word she would `` gut Justice Ginsburg ’ s legacy and turn back five decades of advancement for reproductive rights . ''
And as the New York Times notes , her past writings suggest that Barrett is likely to help overturn Roe v. Wade , reverting access to abortion rights to the states .
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement on Saturday that Barrett 's nomination threatened both Obamacare and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people should make no mistake—a vote by any Senator for Judge Amy Coney Barrett is a vote to strike down the Affordable Care Act and eliminate protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions , '' he said , adding the court appointment `` also makes clear that if she is confirmed , the reproductive freedoms that millions of women hold dear would be in grave danger . ''
As Politico reported , Barrett 's nomination is likely intended to shore up support among women voters , who have increasingly negative views of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News poll conducted between Sept. 21-24 , only 36 % of women surveyed said they approved of Trump 's job performance , compared to 53 % of men .
And a Quinnipiac poll conducted between Sept. 17-31 that surveyed `` likely voters '' showed only 38 % of women nationally said they would cast a ballot for Trump .
Only 39 % of women in that same survey said they held a `` favorable '' view of Trump , and the same percentage said they approved of the way he was handling his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of The American Independent Foundation .

The day after Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, Donald Trump pledged to nominate a female jurist to the Supreme Court. “It will be a woman,” he said at an airport rally in North Carolina.
On Saturday, Trump announced he was nominating Amy Coney Barrett, a 48-year-old Catholic judge serving on the 7th Circuit.
Barrett belongs to a religious sect that believes husbands should dominate their wives and is a hardline conservative on reproductive rights and LGBTQ issues. Nevertheless, some conservatives have tried to paint Barrett as the feminist choice, going so far as to liken her to Ginsburg, the first woman to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol.
Republicans are selling “Notorious ACB” tee-shirts, a reference to the “Notorious RBG”— Ginsburg’s nickname and a play on the legendary rapper Notorious B.I.G. According to CNN, the White House also intentionally decorated the Rose Garden for Barrett’s announcement to mimic the decor for Ginsburg’s announcement on June 14, 1993.
“A White House aide who is involved in making the preparations today sent a photo to CNN showing the flags. It is designed to replicate the look of Ginsburg’s announcement,” the outlet reported. “President Trump and his advisers specifically asked for the Rose Garden to be adorned in hanging flags after they recently saw the Clinton-Ginsburg announcement replaying on television.”
As for Coney, while she promised to respect Ginsburg’s legacy in her nomination acceptance speech on Saturday evening, she added that her judicial philosophy more closely aligns with the late conservative Justice Antonin Scalia.
“I will be mindful of who came before me. The flag is still flying at half-staff for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg … She was a woman of enormous talent and consequence … Particularly poignant to me was her long friendship with Justice Antonin Scalia, my own mentor. They disagreed fiercely in print without rancor in person,” Barrett said.
She continued, “[Scalia’s] judicial philosophy is mine too. A judge must apply the law as written. Judges are not policy makers. They must be resolute in setting aside any personal policy news they might hold.”
Nancy Northup, the CEO and president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, has pointed out that if Barrett is true to her word she would “gut Justice Ginsburg’s legacy and turn back five decades of advancement for reproductive rights.”
And as the New York Times notes, her past writings suggest that Barrett is likely to help overturn Roe v. Wade, reverting access to abortion rights to the states.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement on Saturday that Barrett’s nomination threatened both Obamacare and women’s rights.
“The American people should make no mistake—a vote by any Senator for Judge Amy Coney Barrett is a vote to strike down the Affordable Care Act and eliminate protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions,” he said, adding the court appointment “also makes clear that if she is confirmed, the reproductive freedoms that millions of women hold dear would be in grave danger.”
As Politico reported, Barrett’s nomination is likely intended to shore up support among women voters, who have increasingly negative views of Trump.
According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll conducted between Sept. 21-24, only 36% of women surveyed said they approved of Trump’s job performance, compared to 53% of men. And a Quinnipiac poll conducted between Sept. 17-31 that surveyed “likely voters” showed only 38% of women nationally said they would cast a ballot for Trump.
Only 39% of women in that same survey said they held a “favorable” view of Trump, and the same percentage said they approved of the way he was handling his job as president.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-28--New bill would stop Senate from blocking Supreme Court pick like it did to Obama

House Democrats plan to introduce a bill on Tuesday containing a provision that would prevent the Senate from delaying action on a Supreme Court nomination for more than 120 days .
Reps. Ro Khanna ( CA ) , Joe Kennedy III ( MA ) , and Don Beyer ( VA ) are co-sponsors of the Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act of 2020 .
`` If the Senate does not exercise its advice and consent authority with respect to a President 's nominee to the Supreme Court within 120 days after the nomination , the Senate shall be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consent authority with respect to such nominee , and the nominee shall be seated as a Justice of the Supreme Court , '' the provision states .
Khanna , chair of the House Progressive Caucus , said the bill `` would save the country a lot of agony and help lower the temperature over fights for the court that go to the fault lines of cultural issues and is one of the primary things tearing at our social fabric . ''
In a statement released on Friday , Khanna said : `` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court . ''
On March 16 , 2016 , President Barack Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to fill the seat on the court previously held by the late Justice Antonin Scalia .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to hold hearings on Garland 's nomination or even meet with the judge .
Nearly seven months elapsed between Garland 's nomination and the 2016 presidential election .
This year , Donald Trump , McConnell , and Senate Republicans hope to confirm Trump 's Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett less than two months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill aims to reduce bitter partisan fighting over Supreme Court nominations with an 18-year term limit for justices .
The new limit would not apply to justices who are already confirmed and seated on the court .
Justices who finish serving their 18-year term would be designated `` senior justices '' and would then be rotated to serve on lower courts .
Should there be a Supreme Court vacancy , `` senior justices '' could be assigned to serve on the court until a replacement is confirmed .
`` We ca n't face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurs on the Supreme Court , '' Khanna said .
`` No justice should feel the weight of an entire country on their shoulders .
No president should be able to shift the ideology of our highest judicial body by mere chance . ''
Beyer said : `` Recent upheaval in the Court has only made it clear how much that reform is needed . ''
Published with permission from The American Independent Foundation .

House Democrats plan to introduce a bill on Tuesday containing a provision that would prevent the Senate from delaying action on a Supreme Court nomination for more than 120 days.
Reps. Ro Khanna (CA), Joe Kennedy III (MA), and Don Beyer (VA) are co-sponsors of the Supreme Court Term Limits and Regular Appointments Act of 2020.
“If the Senate does not exercise its advice and consent authority with respect to a President’s nominee to the Supreme Court within 120 days after the nomination, the Senate shall be deemed to have waived its advice and consent authority with respect to such nominee, and the nominee shall be seated as a Justice of the Supreme Court,” the provision states.
Khanna, chair of the House Progressive Caucus, said the bill “would save the country a lot of agony and help lower the temperature over fights for the court that go to the fault lines of cultural issues and is one of the primary things tearing at our social fabric.”
In a statement released on Friday, Khanna said: “It’s time to standardize and democratize the Supreme Court.”
On March 16, 2016, President Barack Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to fill the seat on the court previously held by the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to hold hearings on Garland’s nomination or even meet with the judge.
Nearly seven months elapsed between Garland’s nomination and the 2016 presidential election.
This year, Donald Trump, McConnell, and Senate Republicans hope to confirm Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett less than two months before the November election.
The House bill aims to reduce bitter partisan fighting over Supreme Court nominations with an 18-year term limit for justices.
The new limit would not apply to justices who are already confirmed and seated on the court.
Justices who finish serving their 18-year term would be designated “senior justices” and would then be rotated to serve on lower courts. Should there be a Supreme Court vacancy, “senior justices” could be assigned to serve on the court until a replacement is confirmed.
“We can’t face a national crisis every time a vacancy occurs on the Supreme Court,” Khanna said. “No justice should feel the weight of an entire country on their shoulders. No president should be able to shift the ideology of our highest judicial body by mere chance.”
Beyer said: “Recent upheaval in the Court has only made it clear how much that reform is needed.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-28--Don Jr. says his dad didn't pay taxes because of 'historical tax credits'

Donald Trump Jr. on Monday defended his father against reports that he reportedly only paid $ 750 in income taxes , claiming `` historical tax credits '' explained the unusually low sum .
On Sunday , the New York Times reported that Donald Trump paid only $ 750 in federal income taxes the year he ran for office and his first year in the White House .
Additionally , the paper reported that Trump paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the past 15 years .
`` He does things in certain years where you get depreciation , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get historical tax credits , '' Trump 's eldest son told the hosts of `` Fox & Friends . ''
`` People do n't understand what goes into a business , '' he added .
From the Sept. 28 edition of Fox News ' `` Fox & Friends '' : BRIAN KILMEADE , Fox News : It goes on and on for days , but you guys ' organization have $ 300 million in loans due in the next three years .
What could you tell us about that story ?
DONALD TRUMP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
My father 's paid tens of millions of taxes .
If he does things in certain years where you get depreciation , where you get write off , where you get historical tax credits , like we did when we took on the risk of building the Old Post Office in D.C. , it 's the perfect example .
That was literally a government contract .
We bid against every hotel company in the world .
Historical tax credits that you use to offset tax payments for taking the risk to build @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama administration .
It literally took an act of Congress to get it done .
So with that comes historical tax credits .
That 's the reality .
People do n't understand what goes into a business .
It does n't include property taxes , it does n't include payroll taxes , it does n't include real estate taxes , it does n't include so many of the things that he has been paying taxes on forever as he 's also putting thousands and thousands of people to work on an annual basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times does this .
They put out a selective , you know , picture of all of these things the day before a debate to try to give someone like Joe Biden , you know , an attack line .
They come up with one or two catchy sound bites , and that 's the game .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump Jr. on Monday defended his father against reports that he only paid $750 in income taxes, claiming “historical tax credits” explained the unusually low sum.
On Sunday, the New York Times reported that Donald Trump paid only $750 in federal income taxes the year he ran for office and his first year in the White House. Additionally, the paper reported that Trump paid no federal income taxes in 10 of the past 15 years.
“He does things in certain years where you get depreciation, where you get write off, where you get historical tax credits,” Trump’s eldest son told the hosts of “Fox & Friends.”
“People don’t understand what goes into a business,” he added.
From the Sept. 28 edition of Fox News’ “Fox & Friends”:
BRIAN KILMEADE, Fox News: It goes on and on for days, but you guys’ organization have $300 million in loans due in the next three years. What could you tell us about that story? DONALD TRUMP JR.: Listen, it’s ridiculous. My father’s paid tens of millions of taxes. If he does things in certain years where you get depreciation, where you get write off, where you get historical tax credits, like we did when we took on the risk of building the Old Post Office in D.C., it’s the perfect example. That was literally a government contract. We bid against every hotel company in the world. Historical tax credits that you use to offset tax payments for taking the risk to build that. That was done under the Obama administration. It literally took an act of Congress to get it done. So with that comes historical tax credits. That’s the reality. People don’t understand what goes into a business. It doesn’t include property taxes, it doesn’t include payroll taxes, it doesn’t include real estate taxes, it doesn’t include so many of the things that he has been paying taxes on forever as he’s also putting thousands and thousands of people to work on an annual basis. But of course the New York Times does this. They put out a selective, you know, picture of all of these things the day before a debate to try to give someone like Joe Biden, you know, an attack line. They come up with one or two catchy sound bites, and that’s the game.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-28--Florida governor blatantly ignores CDC guidelines to allow businesses to fully reopen

On Friday , Florida Republican Gov .
Ron DeSantis lifted restrictions on businesses statewide amid a renewed uptick in coronavirus cases in the state .
The move openly defies the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 's guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19 .
Florida surpassed 700,000 cases of the virus on Sunday , second only to California and Texas .
More than 14,000 Floridians have died from the virus since the start of the pandemic .
DeSantis said Friday that bars and restaurants across the state will be allowed to operate at full capacity , as Florida enters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` What that means for restaurants is that there will not be limitations in the state of Florida , '' DeSantis said in his announcement .
`` I think this will be very important to the industry . ''
The governor 's reopening order supersedes local restrictions , meaning that counties in Florida will not be able to restrict businesses to operate below 50 % capacity without state approval .
While Florida 's overall coronavirus cases have decreased since the pandemic 's peak in July , CDC guidelines for entering phase 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documented cases for at least 14 days .
But when DeSantis announced the reopening on Friday , the state was on its 115th consecutive day of reporting 1,000 or more cases statewide , with 2,847 new cases and 120 deaths reported on Friday alone .
CDC recommendations for phase 3 also include near-zero incidences of COVID-19 hospitalizations .
But according to the Tampa Bay Times , on Thursday about 2,200 people in Florida were hospitalized with COVID-19 .
Among adults age 30 or older , cases have also begun to slowly increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March , as most of the country went into lockdown , DeSantis refused to close Florida 's beaches for spring break .
In July , at the peak of the pandemic in the state , Florida theme parks including Disney World were allowed to reopen .
And in August , as college students returned to campus , the state saw another sharp increase in cases among young adults , with about 500 new cases being diagnosed every day among 18- to 22-year-olds .
Despite pleas by other Florida officials , DeSantis has categorically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He went even further on Friday , banning mask fines and lifting all fines statewide for anyone who had previously incurred penalties for violating local mask ordinances .
`` I think we need to get away from trying to penalize people for not social distancing and work with people constructively , '' DeSantis said on Friday .
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber expressed his frustration at the governor 's refusal to require Floridians to wear face masks in public .

On Friday, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis lifted restrictions on businesses statewide amid a renewed uptick in coronavirus cases in the state. The move openly defies the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Florida surpassed 700,000 cases of the virus on Sunday, second only to California and Texas. More than 14,000 Floridians have died from the virus since the start of the pandemic.
DeSantis said Friday that bars and restaurants across the state will be allowed to operate at full capacity, as Florida enters phase 3 of the state reopening plan.
“What that means for restaurants is that there will not be limitations in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said in his announcement. “I think this will be very important to the industry.”
The governor’s reopening order supersedes local restrictions, meaning that counties in Florida will not be able to restrict businesses to operate below 50% capacity without state approval.
While Florida’s overall coronavirus cases have decreased since the pandemic’s peak in July, CDC guidelines for entering phase 3 recommend a “near-zero” incidence of documented cases for at least 14 days. But when DeSantis announced the reopening on Friday, the state was on its 115th consecutive day of reporting 1,000 or more cases statewide, with 2,847 new cases and 120 deaths reported on Friday alone.
CDC recommendations for phase 3 also include near-zero incidences of COVID-19 hospitalizations. But according to the Tampa Bay Times, on Thursday about 2,200 people in Florida were hospitalized with COVID-19. Among adults age 30 or older, cases have also begun to slowly increase in all counties except Miami-Dade County.
In March, as most of the country went into lockdown, DeSantis refused to close Florida’s beaches for spring break. In July, at the peak of the pandemic in the state, Florida theme parks including Disney World were allowed to reopen. And in August, as college students returned to campus, the state saw another sharp increase in cases among young adults, with about 500 new cases being diagnosed every day among 18- to 22-year-olds.
Despite pleas by other Florida officials, DeSantis has categorically refused to issue a statewide masking order. He went even further on Friday, banning mask fines and lifting all fines statewide for anyone who had previously incurred penalties for violating local mask ordinances.
“I think we need to get away from trying to penalize people for not social distancing and work with people constructively,” DeSantis said on Friday.
Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber expressed his frustration at the governor’s refusal to require Floridians to wear face masks in public.


shareblue--2020-09-30--Fact check: No, Trump didn't build 'the greatest economy in the history' of the US

In Tuesday night 's presidential debate , Donald Trump fired at Joe Biden that Biden could never have handled the coronavirus as effectively as he did , claiming that he was forced to close `` the greatest economy in the history of our country . ''
As early as June 2018 , he was bragging , `` In many ways this is the greatest economy in the HISTORY of America and the best time EVER to look for a job ! ''
`` How do you impeach a President who has created the greatest Economy in the history of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 2019 tweet .
Last December , he shared a CNBC story about rising profits for investors with his own pronouncement of `` The best Economy ever ! ''
As recently as last month , as the coronavirus crisis raged , and millions remained unemployed , Trump tweeted , `` My Administration and I built the greatest economy in history , of any country , turned it off , saved millions of lives , and now am building an even greater economy than it was before . ''
Trump in fact never `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to issue national stay-at-home orders and leaving it up to state governors to figure out how to curb the coronavirus pandemic .
In reality , even before his botched response to the COVID-19 pandemic cost more than 10 million Americans their jobs , Trump 's economy never came close to living up to his promises .
As a candidate in 2016 , Trump vowed on his website to `` [ b ] oost growth to 3.5 percent per year on average , with the potential to reach a 4 percent growth rate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox News that economic growth of `` 4 % or 5 % '' was `` absolutely doable . ''
By the October debates , he was claiming that he could `` go higher than 4 % .
I think you can go to 5 % or 6 % . ''
And as he signed the GOP tax bill in December 2017 , Trump told the nation the changes would fuel growth that would rise from `` 3 % '' to `` 4 , 5 , and maybe even 6 % ultimately , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a boon to mega-corporations and the super wealthy .
But according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis , the economy has not grown at even a 4 % rate in any quarter since Trump took office in 2017 .
Trump instead saw negative growth in the first two quarters of 2020 , including a more-than-31 % contraction between April 1 and June 30 .
President Barack Obama , whom Trump has criticized for his economic policies , presided over multiple quarters with more than 5 % growth during his administration .
Harry Truman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 16.7 % , 12.8 % , 16.4 % , and 7.9 % in 1950 , also counteracts Trump 's claims of the best economy `` ever . ''
As Forbes noted in February , Trump 's best year — about 2.31 million jobs created in 2018 — was actually lower than Obama 's totals for each of the final three years of his presidency .
Obama added more than 3 million new jobs in 2014 , 2.72 million in 2015 , and more than 2.34 million in 2016 , for a net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gained .
As of mid-July , Trump had lost a net 7.8 million jobs since taking office , his administration hit particularly hard by the massive layoffs resulting from the coronavirus crisis , for which has has also received ample criticism regarding his botched response efforts .
TRUMP : Let me tell you something , Joe .
If you would 've had the charge of what I was put through .
I had to close the greatest economy of the history of our country .
By the way , now it 's being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'll talk about the economy in the next segment .
TRUMP : It 's going up fast .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

In Tuesday night’s presidential debate, Donald Trump fired at Joe Biden that Biden could never have handled the coronavirus as effectively as he did, claiming that he was forced to close “the greatest economy in the history of our country.”
Trump has made this false claim repeatedly.
As early as June 2018, he was bragging, “In many ways this is the greatest economy in the HISTORY of America and the best time EVER to look for a job!”
“How do you impeach a President who has created the greatest Economy in the history of our Country”? Trump asked in a September 2019 tweet.
Last December, he shared a CNBC story about rising profits for investors with his own pronouncement of “The best Economy ever!”
As recently as last month, as the coronavirus crisis raged, and millions remained unemployed, Trump tweeted, “My Administration and I built the greatest economy in history, of any country, turned it off, saved millions of lives, and now am building an even greater economy than it was before.”
Trump in fact never “turned” the economy off, refusing to issue national stay-at-home orders and leaving it up to state governors to figure out how to curb the coronavirus pandemic.
In reality, even before his botched response to the COVID-19 pandemic cost more than 10 million Americans their jobs, Trump’s economy never came close to living up to his promises.
As a candidate in 2016, Trump vowed on his website to “[b]oost growth to 3.5 percent per year on average, with the potential to reach a 4 percent growth rate.” In March 2016, he told Fox News that economic growth of “4% or 5%” was “absolutely doable.”
By the October debates, he was claiming that he could “go higher than 4%. I think you can go to 5% or 6%.”
And as he signed the GOP tax bill in December 2017, Trump told the nation the changes would fuel growth that would rise from “3%” to “4, 5, and maybe even 6% ultimately,” even as experts warned the bill was a boon to mega-corporations and the super wealthy.
But according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the economy has not grown at even a 4% rate in any quarter since Trump took office in 2017. Trump instead saw negative growth in the first two quarters of 2020, including a more-than-31% contraction between April 1 and June 30.
President Barack Obama, whom Trump has criticized for his economic policies, presided over multiple quarters with more than 5% growth during his administration.
Harry Truman’s presidency, which saw GDP growth of 16.7%, 12.8%, 16.4%, and 7.9% in 1950, also counteracts Trump’s claims of the best economy “ever.”
As Forbes noted in February, Trump’s best year — about 2.31 million jobs created in 2018 — was actually lower than Obama’s totals for each of the final three years of his presidency. Obama added more than 3 million new jobs in 2014, 2.72 million in 2015, and more than 2.34 million in 2016, for a net eight-year total of about 11.6 million jobs gained.
As of mid-July, Trump had lost a net 7.8 million jobs since taking office, his administration hit particularly hard by the massive layoffs resulting from the coronavirus crisis, for which has has also received ample criticism regarding his botched response efforts.
TRUMP: Let me tell you something, Joe. If you would’ve had the charge of what I was put through. I had to close the greatest economy of the history of our country. By the way, now it’s being built again. CHRIS WALLACE: We’ll talk about the economy in the next segment. TRUMP: It’s going up fast.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-30--Biden slams Trump for lying about health care: 'He has no plan'

Democratic nominee Joe Biden slammed Donald Trump for trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act without having any plan to replace it — a move that would cause millions of people to lose their insurance , and leave millions more with preexisting conditions unable to find coverage .
`` He has no plan for health care , '' Biden said , as Trump repeatedly interrupted .
`` He sends out wishful thinking .
He sends out executive orders that have no power .
He has n't lowered drug costs for anybody .
he has been promising health care plan since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Like almost everything else he talks about he does not have a plan .
He does n't have a plan and the fact is this man does n't know what he 's talking about . ''
Trump has promised a replacement for the ACA — better known as Obamacare — for years , yet has never released one .
On numerous occasions , Trump has promised a health care plan is coming , yet he has never released a plan .
Trump most recently made that claim at an ABC News town @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released a plan .
On Friday , Trump signed an executive order that apparently was supposed to be his health care plan , which stated that it 's `` the policy of the United States '' to protect people with preexisting conditions .
However , that is already the law of the land under Obamacare .
And Trump 's own Health and Human Services secretary admitted the executive order carries no legal weight , and that if the Supreme Court overturned Obamacare that people with preexisting conditions would not be protected .
Polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major issue as they decide who to vote for in 2020 .
And Biden leads among voters on the health care issue .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Democratic nominee Joe Biden slammed Donald Trump for trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act without having any plan to replace it — a move that would cause millions of people to lose their insurance, and leave millions more with preexisting conditions unable to find coverage.
“He has no plan for health care,” Biden said, as Trump repeatedly interrupted. “He sends out wishful thinking. He sends out executive orders that have no power. He hasn’t lowered drug costs for anybody. he has been promising health care plan since he got elected. He has none. Like almost everything else he talks about he does not have a plan. He doesn’t have a plan and the fact is this man doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
Biden is correct.
Trump has promised a replacement for the ACA — better known as Obamacare — for years, yet has never released one.
On numerous occasions, Trump has promised a health care plan is coming, yet he has never released a plan.
Trump most recently made that claim at an ABC News town hall on Sept. 15, yet never released a plan.
On Friday, Trump signed an executive order that apparently was supposed to be his health care plan, which stated that it’s “the policy of the United States” to protect people with preexisting conditions. However, that is already the law of the land under Obamacare.
And Trump’s own Health and Human Services secretary admitted the executive order carries no legal weight, and that if the Supreme Court overturned Obamacare that people with preexisting conditions would not be protected.
Polls have shown that health care is a major issue as they decide who to vote for in 2020. And Biden leads among voters on the health care issue.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-29--GOP congressman is fine with racism — but don't criticize Trump's Supreme Court pick

Rep. Andy Biggs ( R-AZ ) introduced a resolution on Tuesday condemning criticism of Amy Coney Barrett 's religious views .
But in recent years , he has repeatedly refused to back efforts to counter actual discrimination .
Biggs ' proposed condemnation alleges that the religious views of Trump 's Supreme Court nominee have only been called into question by a small number of Democratic officials , a historian , a `` podcast cofounder , '' and songwriter Diane Warren .
It asks the House of Representatives to condemn `` any attempt to impose an unconstitutional religious test '' on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' her `` constitutional right to exercise her religious beliefs . ''
Barrett said in her 2017 confirmation hearings that `` it 's never appropriate for a judge to impose that judge 's personal convictions , whether they derive from faith or anywhere else on the law . ''
But she also said in a 2006 law school commencement speech that `` your legal career is but a means to an end '' and `` that end is building the kingdom of God . ''
Biggs has not always been so eager to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he voted against a bipartisan resolution condemning racism and hate crimes against people of Asian descent , which have spiked during the coronavirus pandemic .
Biggs dismissed the sentiment as `` woke culture on steroids . ''
Last year , he was one of just 23 representatives to vote against a resolution against antisemitism and anti-Muslim bigotry .
He attacked it as `` a watered-down resolution that said virtually nothing , '' while condemning only `` anti-Semitic rhetoric . ''
His statement made no mention of anti-Muslim hate .
Since 2017 , Biggs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's Muslim travel ban .
`` President Donald Trump ’ s recent executive order to strengthen and control our immigrant vetting system is rooted in a sincere desire to prioritize the safety and security of Americans , and is based on historical precedent , '' he said in January 2017 .
`` This order is exactly what President Trump said he would do during the campaign , and he should be applauded for following through with his promises , '' he added .
As a candidate , Trump explicitly said in December @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country 's representatives can figure out what is going on . ''
This past July , as the House voted to repeal the ban on travel from majority-Muslim nations , Biggs claimed the Muslim ban was `` not a Muslim ban '' but a `` legitimate travel restriction implemented for the safety of this nation . ''
A Biggs spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) introduced a resolution on Tuesday condemning criticism of Amy Coney Barrett’s religious views. But in recent years, he has repeatedly refused to back efforts to counter actual discrimination.
Biggs’ proposed condemnation alleges that the religious views of Trump’s Supreme Court nominee have only been called into question by a small number of Democratic officials, a historian, a “podcast cofounder,” and songwriter Diane Warren. It asks the House of Representatives to condemn “any attempt to impose an unconstitutional religious test” on Barrett and “any attempt to disparage” her “constitutional right to exercise her religious beliefs.”
Barrett said in her 2017 confirmation hearings that “it’s never appropriate for a judge to impose that judge’s personal convictions, whether they derive from faith or anywhere else on the law.” But she also said in a 2006 law school commencement speech that “your legal career is but a means to an end” and “that end is building the kingdom of God.”
Biggs has not always been so eager to condemn discrimination.
Earlier this month, he voted against a bipartisan resolution condemning racism and hate crimes against people of Asian descent, which have spiked during the coronavirus pandemic. Biggs dismissed the sentiment as “woke culture on steroids.”
Last year, he was one of just 23 representatives to vote against a resolution against antisemitism and anti-Muslim bigotry. He attacked it as “a watered-down resolution that said virtually nothing,” while condemning only “anti-Semitic rhetoric.” His statement made no mention of anti-Muslim hate.
Since 2017, Biggs has been a vocal defender of Donald Trump’s Muslim travel ban.
“President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to strengthen and control our immigrant vetting system is rooted in a sincere desire to prioritize the safety and security of Americans, and is based on historical precedent,” he said in January 2017.
“This order is exactly what President Trump said he would do during the campaign, and he should be applauded for following through with his promises,” he added.
As a candidate, Trump explicitly said in December 2015 that he was “calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.”
This past July, as the House voted to repeal the ban on travel from majority-Muslim nations, Biggs claimed the Muslim ban was “not a Muslim ban” but a “legitimate travel restriction implemented for the safety of this nation.”
A Biggs spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-29--Prison company accused of performing unwanted surgeries has troubling record of deaths

Immigrant women in a detention facility in Georgia were subjected to invasive unnecessary procedures without their full understanding or consent , the New York Times reported Tuesday .
That detention center happens to be run by a private prison company with a troubling record of alleged mismanagement and abuse .
The story builds on a complaint filed by the Atlanta-based nonprofit Project South alleging widespread neglect by the medical staff at the Irwin County Detention Center .
The complaint included details about doctors performing unwanted hysterectomies on immigrants being held there , as first reported by the Intercept and Law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed 16 cases of women who claimed that they did n't fully understand what had happened to them .
Multiple gynecological experts who reviewed the women 's medical records concluded that the procedures , administered for conditions like benign cysts and normal menstrual pain , were n't necessary .
Dr. Deborah Ottenheimer , a clinical professor at George Washington University and the Washington , D.C. , chair of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , told the outlet that she would have prescribed `` an Advil '' in one of the cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ following their surgeries .
Irwin County Detention Center is operated by LaSalle Corrections , a private prison company that oversees jails and prisons in addition to immigration detention facilities .
At least one jail overseen by LaSalle has a shocking record of in custody deaths .
According to a recent lawsuit , 46-year-old Holly Barlow-Austin , who was HIV-positive and suffered from bipolar disorder , died after months of neglect while being held at the Bi-State Justice Center — which is situated on the border of Texas and Arkansas — for a probation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been checked into the center with normal vitals in early April .
In the weeks that followed , the suit claims , jail staff allegedly failed to properly administer her medication , give her water , or take her to the hospital despite clear signs of physical and mental distress .
On one occasion , a nurse allegedly suggested that Barlow-Austin was simply pretending to be more sick than she actually was .
Video footage shows her blindly clawing around in her cell , clutching her head in pain , and soiling herself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the lawsuit alleges , Barlow-Austin was blind as a result of her various undertreated conditions .
Video shows her in distress , emaciated , flailing around on the floor of her jail cell , repeatedly soiling herself , '' Reason wrote .
Barlow-Austin died in June of 2019 .
As Reason notes , her cause of death was listed as `` fungemia/sepsis due to fungus , cryptococcal meningitis , HIV/AIDS , and accelerated hypertension . ''
The jail was also named in a wrongful death lawsuit alleging staffers had left a 20-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Morgan Angerbauer died of ketoacidosis , according to the lawsuit , and was being held in a medical observation cell mere feet from a nurses station at the time .
The Texarkana Gazette reported that she had been vomiting and was unable to stand in the hours preceding her death .
Lawyers for Angerbauer 's family eventually reached a confidential settlement with LaSalle in February this year .
In 2015 , 35-year-old Michael Sabbie , who suffered from diabetes , asthma , and hypertension , also died while in custody at Bi-State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filed by his family in 2017 , Sabbie had been having trouble breathing for nearly 24 hours prior to his death .
Despite having been found on the floor of his cell and taken to a nurse 's station , he was allegedly sent back to his cell a short while later , without receiving proper medical tests or care .
He collapsed again on the way back .
According to jail records , a guard accused him of `` creating a disturbance '' and `` feining [ sic ] illness and difficultly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sabbie appeared in court later that day , where a bailiff noticed he was `` coughing and sweating heavily around his head and face area . ''
`` The judge said it sounded like Sabbie had asthma or bronchitis and asked if he wanted to sit down .
Sabbie reportedly told the judge he had been 'spitting up blood ' and that he needed to go to the hospital , '' the outlet wrote .
Upon returning to the jail , Sabbie stopped to catch his breath .
Video footage shows him hunched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen with asthmatics suffering an attack or respiratory episode .
Rather than helping him , a guard rushes toward him in that video , throwing him to the ground .
Multiple officers pile on and hold him down , pepper spraying him at one point .
According to the civil rights complaint , Sabbie was then taken back to a nurse 's station and `` examined '' for less than a minute before being thrown into the shower and then his cell again .
Guards were told to check in on him every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was found dead the following morning .
Erik Heipt , the lawyer representing Barlow-Austin 's family in their wrongful death lawsuit , has likened her treatment at the LaSalle-run Irwin Detention Center to a war crime .
`` What happened to Holly Barlow-Austin was cruel and inhumane .
It was beyond all bounds of human decency , '' Heipt told Reason .
`` It was tantamount to torture .
If a prisoner of war were treated this way , it would be a war crime . ''
LaSalle did not reply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .
When the American Independent Foundation reached out to LaSalle management 's media team for comment Tuesday , a woman who answered the phone replied , `` I 'm not interested in doing that , but thank you '' and hung up .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Immigrant women in a detention facility in Georgia were subjected to invasive unnecessary procedures without their full understanding or consent, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
That detention center happens to be run by a private prison company with a troubling record of alleged mismanagement and abuse.
The story builds on a complaint filed by the Atlanta-based nonprofit Project South alleging widespread neglect by the medical staff at the Irwin County Detention Center. The complaint included details about doctors performing unwanted hysterectomies on immigrants being held there, as first reported by the Intercept and Law and Crime.
The Times on Tuesday confirmed 16 cases of women who claimed that they didn’t fully understand what had happened to them.
Multiple gynecological experts who reviewed the women’s medical records concluded that the procedures, administered for conditions like benign cysts and normal menstrual pain, weren’t necessary. Dr. Deborah Ottenheimer, a clinical professor at George Washington University and the Washington, D.C., chair of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, told the outlet that she would have prescribed “an Advil” in one of the cases she reviewed.
The women were deported following their surgeries.
Irwin County Detention Center is operated by LaSalle Corrections, a private prison company that oversees jails and prisons in addition to immigration detention facilities. At least one jail overseen by LaSalle has a shocking record of in custody deaths.
According to a recent lawsuit, 46-year-old Holly Barlow-Austin, who was HIV-positive and suffered from bipolar disorder, died after months of neglect while being held at the Bi-State Justice Center — which is situated on the border of Texas and Arkansas — for a probation violation. Reason reported that she had been checked into the center with normal vitals in early April.
In the weeks that followed, the suit claims, jail staff allegedly failed to properly administer her medication, give her water, or take her to the hospital despite clear signs of physical and mental distress. On one occasion, a nurse allegedly suggested that Barlow-Austin was simply pretending to be more sick than she actually was.
Video footage shows her blindly clawing around in her cell, clutching her head in pain, and soiling herself at one point.
“By June, the lawsuit alleges, Barlow-Austin was blind as a result of her various undertreated conditions. Video shows her in distress, emaciated, flailing around on the floor of her jail cell, repeatedly soiling herself,” Reason wrote.
Barlow-Austin died in June of 2019. As Reason notes, her cause of death was listed as “fungemia/sepsis due to fungus, cryptococcal meningitis, HIV/AIDS, and accelerated hypertension.”
The jail was also named in a wrongful death lawsuit alleging staffers had left a 20-year-old diabetic to die after withholding her medicine. Morgan Angerbauer died of ketoacidosis, according to the lawsuit, and was being held in a medical observation cell mere feet from a nurses station at the time. The Texarkana Gazette reported that she had been vomiting and was unable to stand in the hours preceding her death.
Lawyers for Angerbauer’s family eventually reached a confidential settlement with LaSalle in February this year.
In 2015, 35-year-old Michael Sabbie, who suffered from diabetes, asthma, and hypertension, also died while in custody at Bi-State.
According to a civil rights lawsuit filed by his family in 2017, Sabbie had been having trouble breathing for nearly 24 hours prior to his death. Despite having been found on the floor of his cell and taken to a nurse’s station, he was allegedly sent back to his cell a short while later, without receiving proper medical tests or care.
He collapsed again on the way back. According to jail records, a guard accused him of “creating a disturbance” and “feining [sic] illness and difficultly breathing.”
As HuffPost reported, Sabbie appeared in court later that day, where a bailiff noticed he was “coughing and sweating heavily around his head and face area.”
“The judge said it sounded like Sabbie had asthma or bronchitis and asked if he wanted to sit down. Sabbie reportedly told the judge he had been ‘spitting up blood’ and that he needed to go to the hospital,” the outlet wrote.
Upon returning to the jail, Sabbie stopped to catch his breath. Video footage shows him hunched over in a tripod position, commonly seen with asthmatics suffering an attack or respiratory episode. Rather than helping him, a guard rushes toward him in that video, throwing him to the ground. Multiple officers pile on and hold him down, pepper spraying him at one point.
According to the civil rights complaint, Sabbie was then taken back to a nurse’s station and “examined” for less than a minute before being thrown into the shower and then his cell again. Guards were told to check in on him every 30 minutes, but allegedly did not.
He was found dead the following morning.
Erik Heipt, the lawyer representing Barlow-Austin’s family in their wrongful death lawsuit, has likened her treatment at the LaSalle-run Irwin Detention Center to a war crime.
“What happened to Holly Barlow-Austin was cruel and inhumane. It was beyond all bounds of human decency,” Heipt told Reason. “It was tantamount to torture. If a prisoner of war were treated this way, it would be a war crime.”
LaSalle did not reply to the Time’s request for comment this week.
When the American Independent Foundation reached out to LaSalle management’s media team for comment Tuesday, a woman who answered the phone replied, “I’m not interested in doing that, but thank you” and hung up.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-29--GOP candidate brags about endorsement from radical right-wing group

North Carolina Lt. Gov .
Dan Forest , the Republican challenger to incumbent Gov .
Roy Cooper in the state governor 's race , bragged Friday of his endorsement by a fringe right-wing homeschooling group that opposes diversity and gay rights .
A post on Forest 's official campaign Facebook page notes : `` We are proud to be endorsed by the HSLDA - Home School Legal Defense Association .
As a homeschool parent himself , Dan Forest knows how valuable school choice is and will protect it in North Carolina . ''
Forest , a favorite among Christian conservatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1990s .
He has expressed his excitement about `` the growth in the movement , '' citing his own reasons for homeschooling as failing local public schools and prohibitive tuition at private schools .
Unsurprisingly , he is a strong supporter of Betsy DeVos ' plans to privatize education , diverting public school funds to parents who want to homeschool or send their children to private school .
The group that endorsed Forest , the Home School Legal Defense Association , is a conservative fundamentalist lobbying group founded in 1983 and helmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report published by Salon , it is `` on the record as ... vociferously in favor of corporal punishment and gun ownership and against gay rights and the United Nations . ''
Its ranks represent about 15 % of homeschoolers in the United States , but it has had untold influence in shaping homeschooling legislation in the country .
The association has also remained a staunch voice opposing any kind of multicultural curriculum , environmental education , or sex education in schools .
But this is right up Forest 's alley : He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged with white nationalist language , claiming that a diverse America will not survive .
`` No other nation , my friends , has ever survived the diversity and multiculturalism that America faces today , because of a lack of assimilation , because of this division , and because of this identity politics , '' he said .
In a May 2004 post , the HSLDA stated its support for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage , claiming that such unions `` infect ... every state in the nation . ''
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legislators protecting gay rights to the Third Reich .
`` This is not just about gay rights .
This is about ... Will pro-life doctors be forced to participate in abortions ? ''
Farris said on the Lars Larson Show .
`` This is all about unilateral coercion , it 's political correctness with the regimentation and force that Nazi Germany would be proud of . ''
According to a statement issued by the association in 2014 , same-sex marriage `` attacks the traditions of the family in western civilization . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' the organization notes .
`` This is a battle the homeschooling movement can not afford to lose . ''
This dovetails neatly with Forest 's own religious convictions : He was one of the most outspoken of North Carolina elected officials protesting the ruling legalizing gay marriage in North Carolina in 2014 , calling it `` judicial tyranny . ''
The HSLDA has also promoted the myth of social workers targeting homeschoolers to remove them from their families .
ProPublica reported many baseless claims by the association that Child Protective Services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abduct homeschooled children who were not abused .
In Aug. 2015 , Farris described social workers as `` armed officers invading people 's houses , in many instances without a warrant . ''
`` The reality is that we want to stand together as a movement .
If they touch one of us we are going to go to [ the homeschooling parents ' ] defense , and we have the ability to go to their defense with rigor and expertise , '' he added .
On the HSLDA 's website , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Social Workers Snatch Sick Kids . ''
A 2012 headline reads , `` Let Me In or I 'll Huff and I 'll Puff and ...
I 'll Take Your Kids ! ''
And Farris himself wrote a novel in 1996 called `` Anonymous Tip , '' in which a social worker concocts false abuse allegations to take a mother 's child away .
But child welfare experts have long expressed concerns about the trend of `` invisible children '' — the phenomenon of some parents withdrawing their children from public school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was that of Jennifer Hart and her high-profile family of adopted children of color , whose child abuse was concealed through homeschooling and state-hopping .
The story ended tragically as she drove her wife and children off a cliff in California .
A study by the Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate noted that 36 % of children withdrawn from school in six Connecticut districts were subjects of investigations by social services , and one in four had been the subject of multiple prior reports — considered the best indicator of future abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homeschooled children by Homeschool Alumni Reaching Out and the Coalition for Responsible Home Education found that 42 % reported experiencing abuse or neglect .
Milton Gaither , a prominent historian of American education and scholar on homeschooling , has noted that `` child services have long been wary of the potential for unregulated homeschooling to serve as a cloak for child abuse . ''
But Forest distrusts government officials looking out for the welfare of children .
When North Carolina 's Division of Non-Public Education suggested doing site visits to some homeschooling homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such visits , saying that homeschoolers should unequivocally refuse `` warrantless entry by government officials without probable cause into their homes . ''
`` Homeschool [ ing ] families should follow the law relating to the keeping of records and their lawful inspection , but should not be compelled to let any government official into their house .
It is not necessary and people should reject it , '' Forest said .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, the Republican challenger to incumbent Gov. Roy Cooper in the state governor’s race, bragged Friday of his endorsement by a fringe right-wing homeschooling group that opposes diversity and gay rights.
A post on Forest’s official campaign Facebook page notes: “We are proud to be endorsed by the HSLDA – Home School Legal Defense Association. As a homeschool parent himself, Dan Forest knows how valuable school choice is and will protect it in North Carolina.”
Forest, a favorite among Christian conservatives, homeschooled his own children beginning in the 1990s. He has expressed his excitement about “the growth in the movement,” citing his own reasons for homeschooling as failing local public schools and prohibitive tuition at private schools.
Unsurprisingly, he is a strong supporter of Betsy DeVos’ plans to privatize education, diverting public school funds to parents who want to homeschool or send their children to private school.
The group that endorsed Forest, the Home School Legal Defense Association, is a conservative fundamentalist lobbying group founded in 1983 and helmed by Michael Farris. According to a report published by Salon, it is “on the record as … vociferously in favor of corporal punishment and gun ownership and against gay rights and the United Nations.”
Its ranks represent about 15% of homeschoolers in the United States, but it has had untold influence in shaping homeschooling legislation in the country.
The association has also remained a staunch voice opposing any kind of multicultural curriculum, environmental education, or sex education in schools.
But this is right up Forest’s alley: He decried multiculturalism in an incoherent 2019 rant charged with white nationalist language, claiming that a diverse America will not survive.
“No other nation, my friends, has ever survived the diversity and multiculturalism that America faces today, because of a lack of assimilation, because of this division, and because of this identity politics,” he said.
In a May 2004 post, the HSLDA stated its support for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, claiming that such unions “infect … every state in the nation.” In a 2015 interview, association founder Farris compared legislators protecting gay rights to the Third Reich.
“This is not just about gay rights. This is about … Will pro-life doctors be forced to participate in abortions?” Farris said on the Lars Larson Show. “This is all about unilateral coercion, it’s political correctness with the regimentation and force that Nazi Germany would be proud of.”
According to a statement issued by the association in 2014, same-sex marriage “attacks the traditions of the family in western civilization.”
“This is an attack on parental rights,” the organization notes. “This is a battle the homeschooling movement cannot afford to lose.”
This dovetails neatly with Forest’s own religious convictions: He was one of the most outspoken of North Carolina elected officials protesting the ruling legalizing gay marriage in North Carolina in 2014, calling it “judicial tyranny.”
The HSLDA has also promoted the myth of social workers targeting homeschoolers to remove them from their families. ProPublica reported many baseless claims by the association that Child Protective Services and other social workers were out to abduct homeschooled children who were not abused.
In Aug. 2015, Farris described social workers as “armed officers invading people’s houses, in many instances without a warrant.”
“The reality is that we want to stand together as a movement. If they touch one of us we are going to go to [the homeschooling parents’] defense, and we have the ability to go to their defense with rigor and expertise,” he added.
On the HSLDA’s website, an Aug. 2014 article sports the headline, “Social Workers Snatch Sick Kids.” A 2012 headline reads, “Let Me In or I’ll Huff and I’ll Puff and … I’ll Take Your Kids!” And Farris himself wrote a novel in 1996 called “Anonymous Tip,” in which a social worker concocts false abuse allegations to take a mother’s child away.
But child welfare experts have long expressed concerns about the trend of “invisible children” — the phenomenon of some parents withdrawing their children from public school to conceal abuse.
One prominent case was that of Jennifer Hart and her high-profile family of adopted children of color, whose child abuse was concealed through homeschooling and state-hopping. The story ended tragically as she drove her wife and children off a cliff in California.
A study by the Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate noted that 36% of children withdrawn from school in six Connecticut districts were subjects of investigations by social services, and one in four had been the subject of multiple prior reports — considered the best indicator of future abuse.
And a study conducted of 3,700 homeschooled children by Homeschool Alumni Reaching Out and the Coalition for Responsible Home Education found that 42% reported experiencing abuse or neglect.
Milton Gaither, a prominent historian of American education and scholar on homeschooling, has noted that “child services have long been wary of the potential for unregulated homeschooling to serve as a cloak for child abuse.”
But Forest distrusts government officials looking out for the welfare of children.
When North Carolina’s Division of Non-Public Education suggested doing site visits to some homeschooling homes in 2013, Forest publicly objected to such visits, saying that homeschoolers should unequivocally refuse “warrantless entry by government officials without probable cause into their homes.”
“Homeschool[ing] families should follow the law relating to the keeping of records and their lawful inspection, but should not be compelled to let any government official into their house. It is not necessary and people should reject it,” Forest said.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-09-29--Biden releases 2019 tax returns ahead of debate as controversy swarms Trump

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife , Jill Biden , have released more of their personal tax returns ahead of the first presidential debate .
The Bidens ' returns show the couple paid almost $ 300,000 in federal taxes in 2019 , including almost $ 288,000 in personal income tax .
The Bidens reported taxable income of $ 944,737 .
The release on Tuesday comes just days after the New York Times reported that Donald Trump paid $ 750 in federal income taxes in 2016 , the year he was elected president , and again in 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times said Trump paid no federal income taxes for 10 of the 15 years before that .
Biden and Trump are set to meet Tuesday night in Cleveland for their first presidential debate , and Trump 's taxes are sure to come up .
Trump has called the reports `` fake news '' yet still refuses to release his returns himself .
Biden already had released two decades ' worth of his tax returns , in addition to the federal financial disclosures required of him when he was a senator and vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Kamala Harris , and her husband , Doug Emhoff , also released their 2019 returns Tuesday .
Harris and Emhoff reported paying $ 1.05 million in personal income taxes and $ 1.19 million in total federal taxes on $ 3.02 million in taxable income .

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, have released more of their personal tax returns ahead of the first presidential debate.
The Bidens’ returns show the couple paid almost $300,000 in federal taxes in 2019, including almost $288,000 in personal income tax. The Bidens reported taxable income of $944,737.
The release on Tuesday comes just days after the New York Times reported that Donald Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes in 2016, the year he was elected president, and again in 2017, his first year in office. The Times said Trump paid no federal income taxes for 10 of the 15 years before that.
Biden and Trump are set to meet Tuesday night in Cleveland for their first presidential debate, and Trump’s taxes are sure to come up.
Trump has called the reports “fake news” yet still refuses to release his returns himself. Biden already had released two decades’ worth of his tax returns, in addition to the federal financial disclosures required of him when he was a senator and vice president.
Biden’s running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, and her husband, Doug Emhoff, also released their 2019 returns Tuesday. Harris and Emhoff reported paying $1.05 million in personal income taxes and $1.19 million in total federal taxes on $3.02 million in taxable income.


shareblue--2020-09-29--Right-wing extremist Catholic cardinal wants to punish Biden

As the November presidential election edges closer and the Catholic vote remains evenly split between Donald Trump and Joe Biden , right-wing Catholic Cardinal Raymond Burke made a public statement decrying Biden for taking Communion , citing the Democratic nominee 's support for abortion rights .
`` Certainly , he is not a Catholic in good standing , and he should not approach to receive Holy Communion , '' Burke said in an interview conducted on Aug. 31 , shown in footage obtained by Newsweek from Zenger News .
While he stated that his intention was not to make a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have long been entangled with his ecclesiastical duties .
In January , he supported the decision of a priest who refused Communion to Biden during Mass at a church in South Carolina .
`` What the priest did in South Carolina ... was right and just — would that more priests would act in a similar manner ! ''
he said afterwards in an interview with The Wanderer , an extreme traditionalist Catholic newsletter .
And in 2004 , Burke made waves for refusing to give Communion on similar grounds to then-Democratic presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confined his political opinions to liturgical norms for Democratic candidates .
In March , Burke said that faithful Catholics should still attend Mass despite the coronavirus pandemic , in flagrant opposition to Catholic churches throughout the United States canceling the rites and absolving Catholics of their obligation to attend .
`` We must must be able to pray in our churches and chapels , receive the sacraments , and engage in acts of public prayer and devotion , '' Burke said .
He called the shuttering of churches to prevent the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spiritual retreat '' and lamented the `` profound suffering '' of those unable to attend church .
`` During a time of contagion , without irresponsibly risking the spread of the contagion , so , in a similar way , we can find a way to provide for the necessities of our spiritual life , '' Burke said .
Burke , who currently lives in Italy , made his remarks at the peak of the pandemic in that country — on a day on which 793 Italians lost their lives to the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feminism for its alleged destruction of society .
In an interview with something called `` The New Emangelization Project , '' he claimed that divorce and single parenthood have `` grievously wounded men '' and said : `` The goodness and importance of men became very obscured , and for all practical purposes , were not emphasized at all . ''
In the same interview , Burke decried women 's involvement in church leadership , and said that `` the radical feminism which has assaulted the Church and society since the 1960s has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , Burke publicly stated that limiting immigration by Muslims to the United States is `` responsible '' and patriotic , and that Catholics are not obliged to care for immigrant `` opportunists . ''
He added that banning immigration by Muslims is a wise choice , claiming the chief goal of the religion is conquering the world .
In support of his statements , he cited a book published by a former Breitbart reporter that claimed Muslims intend to establish Shariah law in the United States .
In 2017 , Burke met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his home .
Salvini is an admirer of Benito Mussolini who wants to close mosques in Italy and sparked controversy when he celebrated an election victory standing in front of a bookshelf containing a `` Make America Great Again '' hat , an icon of Jesus — and a book about a Nazi expedition to find the origins of the Aryan race .
In an interview with an Italian newspaper owned by the family of politician Silvio Berlusconi , Burke also expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin 's opposition to same-sex marriage .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prayer Breakfast ( an event that recently gave Attorney General William Barr a Christian service award ) alongside the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia .
Formerly , Burke had been honorary chairman of the right-wing Dignitatis Humanae Institute , working with former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon .
It was only when Bannon announced his desire to make a film to expose a subculture of `` homosexuality in the Vatican '' that Burke cut ties with the organization .
Burke is also the former bishop of La Crosse , Wisconsin , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a YouTube video titled `` You can not be Catholic and a Democrat .
Period . ''
But Burke 's public condemnation of Biden is in stark violation of both the United States tax code and the Church 's own teachings .
The Johnson Amendment , a U.S. tax code provision , prohibits all 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) tax-exempt organizations — including Catholic churches — from endorsing or opposing political candidates .
And the Catechism of the Catholic Church itself states : `` It is not the role of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the political structuring and organization of social life .
This task is part of the vocation of the lay faithful acting on their own initiative with their fellow citizens . ''
Pope John Paul II stated during a Vatican general audience in 1993 that a priest or other Catholic religious leader `` ought to refrain from actively engaging himself in politics . ''
Burke 's statement seems to be nothing more than a baldfaced vote grab , as Catholics are a crucial demographic this year and Trump and Biden are hotly contending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
Christianity Today reports that while Trump may receive 75 % of the white evangelical vote , the white Catholic vote is evenly split , with 47.5 % polling for Trump and 49.2 % polling for Biden , and only 3 % undecided .
But with 56 % of American Catholics in favor of abortion rights , Burke 's naked attempt to sway the election may not ultimately affect much .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

As the November presidential election edges closer and the Catholic vote remains evenly split between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, right-wing Catholic Cardinal Raymond Burke made a public statement decrying Biden for taking Communion, citing the Democratic nominee’s support for abortion rights.
“Certainly, he is not a Catholic in good standing, and he should not approach to receive Holy Communion,” Burke said in an interview conducted on Aug. 31, shown in footage obtained by Newsweek from Zenger News.
While he stated that his intention was not to make a political statement, Burke’s political positions have long been entangled with his ecclesiastical duties.
In January, he supported the decision of a priest who refused Communion to Biden during Mass at a church in South Carolina.
“What the priest did in South Carolina … was right and just — would that more priests would act in a similar manner!” he said afterwards in an interview with The Wanderer, an extreme traditionalist Catholic newsletter.
And in 2004, Burke made waves for refusing to give Communion on similar grounds to then-Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry.
He hasn’t confined his political opinions to liturgical norms for Democratic candidates.
In March, Burke said that faithful Catholics should still attend Mass despite the coronavirus pandemic, in flagrant opposition to Catholic churches throughout the United States canceling the rites and absolving Catholics of their obligation to attend.
“We must must be able to pray in our churches and chapels, receive the sacraments, and engage in acts of public prayer and devotion,” Burke said.
He called the shuttering of churches to prevent the spread of the coronavirus “a kind of forced spiritual retreat” and lamented the “profound suffering” of those unable to attend church.
“During a time of contagion, without irresponsibly risking the spread of the contagion, so, in a similar way, we can find a way to provide for the necessities of our spiritual life,” Burke said.
Burke, who currently lives in Italy, made his remarks at the peak of the pandemic in that country — on a day on which 793 Italians lost their lives to the virus.
The cardinal has also frequently condemned feminism for its alleged destruction of society. In an interview with something called “The New Emangelization Project,” he claimed that divorce and single parenthood have “grievously wounded men” and said: “The goodness and importance of men became very obscured, and for all practical purposes, were not emphasized at all.”
In the same interview, Burke decried women’s involvement in church leadership, and said that “the radical feminism which has assaulted the Church and society since the 1960s has left men very marginalized.”
Last year, Burke publicly stated that limiting immigration by Muslims to the United States is “responsible” and patriotic, and that Catholics are not obliged to care for immigrant “opportunists.”
He added that banning immigration by Muslims is a wise choice, claiming the chief goal of the religion is conquering the world. In support of his statements, he cited a book published by a former Breitbart reporter that claimed Muslims intend to establish Shariah law in the United States.
In 2017, Burke met with right-wing Italian nationalist Matteo Salvini in his home. Salvini is an admirer of Benito Mussolini who wants to close mosques in Italy and sparked controversy when he celebrated an election victory standing in front of a bookshelf containing a “Make America Great Again” hat, an icon of Jesus — and a book about a Nazi expedition to find the origins of the Aryan race.
In an interview with an Italian newspaper owned by the family of politician Silvio Berlusconi, Burke also expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin’s opposition to same-sex marriage. The cardinal also keynoted the 2009 National Catholic Prayer Breakfast (an event that recently gave Attorney General William Barr a Christian service award) alongside the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
Formerly, Burke had been honorary chairman of the right-wing Dignitatis Humanae Institute, working with former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon. It was only when Bannon announced his desire to make a film to expose a subculture of “homosexuality in the Vatican” that Burke cut ties with the organization.
Burke is also the former bishop of La Crosse, Wisconsin, where a Catholic priest recently went viral with a YouTube video titled “You cannot be Catholic and a Democrat. Period.”
But Burke’s public condemnation of Biden is in stark violation of both the United States tax code and the Church’s own teachings.
The Johnson Amendment, a U.S. tax code provision, prohibits all 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations — including Catholic churches — from endorsing or opposing political candidates. And the Catechism of the Catholic Church itself states: “It is not the role of the pastors of the Church to intervene directly in the political structuring and organization of social life. This task is part of the vocation of the lay faithful acting on their own initiative with their fellow citizens.”
Pope John Paul II stated during a Vatican general audience in 1993 that a priest or other Catholic religious leader “ought to refrain from actively engaging himself in politics.”
Burke’s statement seems to be nothing more than a baldfaced vote grab, as Catholics are a crucial demographic this year and Trump and Biden are hotly contending for the Catholic vote in key swing states.
Christianity Today reports that while Trump may receive 75% of the white evangelical vote, the white Catholic vote is evenly split, with 47.5% polling for Trump and 49.2% polling for Biden, and only 3% undecided.
But with 56% of American Catholics in favor of abortion rights, Burke’s naked attempt to sway the election may not ultimately affect much.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.