truthout--2020-08-18--Julián Castro Ran on Police Reform Platform But Wasn’t Asked to Give DNC Address

The Democratic National Convention faces criticism over the lack of diversity in its primetime programming during this year ’ s virtual event , even as Latinx voters are slated to make up the largest bloc of nonwhite voters in 2020 .
Only a handful of Latinx speakers and no Muslim speakers are appearing during the broadcasted convention , while Republicans like former Ohio Governor John Kasich were given slots .
“ There were 35 primetime speakers , and only three of them were Latinx , and I raised a concern about that , ” says Julián Castro , former 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate in the race .
“ I don ’ t think that represented the beautiful coalition that the Democrats put together.
” This is a rush transcript .
Copy may not be in its final form .
AMY GOODMAN : As the DNC began the four-day convention Monday night with a focus on racial justice and President Trump ’ s mishandling of the coronavirus crisis , the Democratic Party faced criticism for a lack of diversity in its primetime lineup , with only a handful of Latinx speakers and no Muslim speakers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kasich were given slots .
The first night was moderated by the actress Eva Longoria .
New York Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is set to speak tonight for 60 seconds .
For more , we ’ re joined by former Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro , the only Latinx candidate who was in the race .
Castro served as secretary of housing and urban development under President Obama from 2014 to ’ 17 .
He was not invited to speak in primetime at the DNC , unlike many of his rivals .
He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas , which may be a battleground state this November .
Secretary Castro , welcome back to Democracy Now !
It ’ s great to have you with us .
Our condolences on the loss of your stepmother to COVID-19 .
JULIÁN CASTRO : Thank you very much , Amy .
It ’ s good to be with you .
And that testimony that you played , that was shown last night , from Kristin , was just tremendously powerful and , I think , resonates with a lot of people out there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for my family , we certainly understand the seriousness of this virus and also understand that a lot of this could have been prevented .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : Julián Castro , I wanted to ask you your initial reaction to the first night of the convention .
And especially , many of the speakers were talking about why it was important to vote against Donald Trump , the decency of Joe Biden , and his experience and his respect for science .
But Bernie Sanders was one of the few who actually went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is standing for , his platform , as well , and why it ’ s important for progressives to vote for him .
JULIÁN CASTRO : Yeah , I think that Senator Sanders did a wonderful job .
I think Michelle Obama was very powerful last night .
But you ’ re right with Senator Sanders that — look , one of the things I noticed out there right now is that whether people are liberal or conservative , they ’ re Republican , Democrat , independent , what they want are solutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well in highlighting was this is what electing Joe Biden is going to mean for you and your family — raising the minimum wage , healthcare , a number of other things that are going to make people ’ s lives better .
That ’ s what I think people want to know .
You know , how is this person going to make my life and the life of my family and the country better than it is today ?
I think we ’ ve gotten to a point that because there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news , because people are so polarized , that folks that don ’ t love politics , that don ’ t follow it all the time , they sort of — they tend to shy away from it even more than usual right now , shy away from that conversation .
And the best way , I think , to get their attention is to say , “ OK , well , this is how it ’ s going to be different in a positive way.
” And he did that , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also wanted to ask you — one of the big issues of the night , and obviously of this election season , is the issue of the right to vote , whether it ’ s under assault or not , and also the issue of mail-in ballots .
Now , there was a recent poll that shows that in your state of Texas , a majority of Latinos would prefer to vote in person rather than by mail-in ballot .
I ’ m wondering your sense of this issue .
And are there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of President Trump , are there some concerns about all mail-in ballot in terms of being able to assure the integrity of the vote ?
JULIÁN CASTRO : Look , what I believe is that people should have options during this time period .
They should not have to choose between their right to vote and risking their health .
So , universal mail-in ballots should be available .
If there is in-person voting , if that is going to be an option , as well , that that be made as safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re right , you know , growing up here in a largely Mexican American community in San Antonio , I can tell you , I mean , what I would hear along the way is , “ Oh , oh , I ’ m not going to vote early .
I ’ m going to vote on Election Day .
I ’ m going to go vote in person.
” And so , this practice kind of precedes the controversy that we ’ re having around mail-in balloting .
At the same time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact , of course , that this president is trying to suppress the vote as a strategy to rig this election and win .
And so , there are going to be a lot more people that want to use the mail to cast their ballot this time .
And there are states like Colorado that rely on universal mail-in balloting as their sole form of the way to vote .
We have to make sure that the post office is well invested in , that it is functioning properly , that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mail-in ballots .
AMY GOODMAN : The brothers of George Floyd led a moment of silence during Monday night ’ s Democratic National Convention in honor of their brother and other victims of police violence .
This is Philonise Floyd .
AMY GOODMAN : And with that , they went to a moment of silence at the convention .
Another part of the DNC last night , Joe Biden in conversation with a number of people , including Gwen Carr , the activist and mother of Eric Garner .
This is part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Most cops are good .
But the fact is , the bad ones have to be identified and prosecuted and out , period .
Gwen , how are you doing ?
GWEN CARR : Well , I ’ m doing pretty well , as well as can be expected .
JOE BIDEN : You know , I ’ m sure that the words of George Floyd , “ I can ’ t breathe , ” were not new to you , and they echo in your mind every single day .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died , but we can ’ t let this keep happening .
What do you think the next thing we have to do , Gwen ?
GWEN CARR : Well , first of all , I know when my son was murdered , there was a big uprising , but then it settled down .
We can ’ t let things settle down .
We have to go to the politicians , and we have to hold their feet to the fire , because , otherwise , the big uprising is not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m just asking that if you become the president , that you make sure that we get national law , as well as state and local law , especially when it comes to police brutality , because that has been an age-old problem .
JOE BIDEN : Well , I may be kidding myself , but I think the people are ready .
I think people are ready .
We ’ ve just got to keep pushing .
We can ’ t let up .
AMY GOODMAN : So , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the mother of Eric Garner .
Julián Castro , I think you had the earliest plan for dealing with police .
Can you lay that out and what you think the Democratic candidates need to do right now , what Joe Biden needs to do to deal with this critical issue of police brutality ?
JULIÁN CASTRO : Well , I mean , first , Amy , I would say I was very — I was very glad to see that exchange last night and the fact that Vice President Biden and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue , not shying away from it , not walking away from it , not letting up on it .
What Gwen said there , that we can ’ t let it settle back down , I thought those were some of the most powerful words in the entire convention from last night , because that ’ s usually what happens .
Fortunately , Vice President Biden , very early on , after the murder of George Floyd , put forth a series of policy proposals , from banning chokeholds to a national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he called a “ down payment on change.
” Many of those were reflected , are reflected , in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that the House of Representatives passed .
On top of that , I ’ m glad to see local communities across the country that are engaging in deeper thinking about investing in mental health counseling , social workers , housing opportunity , because so many of the calls that police officers are asked to respond to are for people that are homeless or have a mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need an armed cop .
The vast majority of them are not violent .
What they need is they need services , so that they can get onto a better life .
And cities across the country , whether we ’ re talking about Los Angeles or San Francisco or Austin , Texas , just up the road from me , recently , are moving in that direction .
And Joe Biden has said that he wants to work with local communities as they do that .
All of that is positive .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep pushing .
JUAN GONZÁLEZ : And , Julián Castro , I wanted to ask you — you may be reluctant to talk about your own personal role in this , but it must be bittersweet to see all this emphasis now of the national party on the issue of police abuse after the murder of George Floyd , when you were out there early in the campaign raising these issues , and also that you , in a past convention , had been a keynote speaker of the Democratic convention .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve sort of been slighted in the lineup here of the four days of the convention .
Your thoughts , if you have , on that ?
JULIÁN CASTRO : Well , look , I mean , I know they have a very difficult challenge , because the networks condensed the amount of time that they ’ re giving the parties this year , I think , in one or two hours a night .
Usually that ’ s three or four hours .
So , you know , it ’ s understandable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a limited number of speakers .
And more importantly than me or any one person speaking , politician speaking , I really think that you get value , that the voters get value , the people get value , from hearing the powerful stories like Kristin ’ s and like Gwen ’ s , that are first-person stories that really connect why it ’ s important to elect Joe Biden to the lives of everyday people out there .
I think that ’ s the most important thing .
I think that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing .
So , I know I ’ ll have my time to speak , whether it ’ s on this show or other shows or other opportunities , but America needs to hear how this president has badly impacted the lives of people around this country , and , more importantly , how Joe Biden is going to make a positive difference for them .
AMY GOODMAN : But even talking about representation on the panel , just following up on what Juan said , I mean , the primetime slots include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who was one of your rivals but now the vice-presidential candidate ; Buttigieg ; Klobuchar ; Warren ; Booker ; Yang — not you , though .
Were you asked ?
JULIÁN CASTRO : No , I was not .
No , I was not .
But , look — AMY GOODMAN : And there ’ s been a — go ahead .
JULIÁN CASTRO : Yeah , no , I spoke a few years ago , and I had a wonderful time doing it .
And , you know , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out on issues that matter for our country .
And also , most importantly , I ’ m going to do my part to help ensure that Joe Biden gets elected and we defeat Donald Trump in November .
I do think — I agree with you on the issue of representation .
You know , last week , I think the count had been that there were 35 primetime speakers , and only three of them were Latinx .
And I raised , you know , a concern about that and also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of representation among Native Americans and Muslim Americans , because I don ’ t believe that that represents the — that represented the beautiful coalition that Democrats have put together .
Fortunately , in the days since then , over the weekend , there were announcements that were made that were , I think , much more diverse , which is a positive .
And when you actually look at the programming , the nonpoliticians that are speaking , which I think people maybe even pay attention to more , they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family of George Floyd or Kristin , the young woman who gave testimony about her father passing from COVID-19 .
That ’ s very important .
AMY GOODMAN : But , you know , the polls do show , for example , Texas Hispanics favor Joe Biden , but Donald Trump still leads statewide electorate in presidential race — just one headline .
How should that be addressed , Julián Castro ?
What can Joe Biden do ?
What does he have to watch out for , what he has to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for example , like immigration ?
JULIÁN CASTRO : Well , when it comes to the Latino community , I think that the campaign needs to continue to invest in voter outreach , registration efforts , speak to the issues that matter .
And just recently , the campaign released a Latino agenda for America , which I thought was a good thing to do and will resonate .
But also , you know , all of the issues that people care about — healthcare , about small business , about educational opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Latinx community and other vulnerable communities have been the hardest hit during this pandemic — and Joe Biden has been squarely addressing many of those issues , and I ’ m sure the campaign will continue to do that .
On top of that , it ’ s going to require a lot of other work from the nonprofit organizations that do voter registration , like Voto Latino and a number of others , to get folks out in what is going to be a very unusual year in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : You famously said to Biden , “ I ’ ve learned the lessons of the past , but you haven ’ t. ” Do you think he has now ?
JULIÁN CASTRO : I ’ ve been pleased with what Vice President Biden has put out in terms of his immigration plan and then also on healthcare .
You know , he and I did have our conversations on the debate stage , and that ’ s the nature of a primary debate , right ?
You ’ re going to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And I don ’ t expect that everybody I support is going to agree with me completely .
If they agreed with me completely , I would be that candidate , right ?
So , but what I think is important for folks to realize out there — and now I ’ m speaking , you know , directly to the Latinx community — is that it ’ s night and day with Joe Biden versus Donald Trump .
Donald Trump has been the cruelest , most ill-intentioned president when it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the broader Latino community , scapegoated the community , otherized the community , uses it as a political piñata .
And Joe Biden is somebody who brings compassion , who brings understanding , and , most importantly — because what you want to judge politicians on is , OK , what are you going to do , and what is your track record — has a track record of expanding opportunity , with Barack Obama .
The Affordable Care Act expanded healthcare to 4 million — more than 4 million Latinx folks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on violence against women , on housing opportunity .
I remember going to Delaware with him — I think it was Veterans Day of 2016 — and marking the effective end of veteran homelessness there in Wilmington , and seeing how much that meant to him .
So , this is somebody that is going to work to make life better for everybody in this country , in a way that Donald Trump — as Michelle Obama pointed out , Donald Trump just isn ’ t up to it and doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GONZÁLEZ : And , Julián Castro , just in our final few moments that we have , I ’ m wondering your assessment , going back to Texas , the second most populous state in the nation — your assessment of Governor Greg Abbott ’ s decision to reopen the state early on ?
And also , could you tell us about your thoughts for your future ?
Any possibility of a run for governor at some point ?
JULIÁN CASTRO : Yeah , I mean , Greg Abbott has been in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Ducey in Arizona and DeSantis in Florida .
It ’ s this putting right-wing ideology over the public health and science .
So , when he reopened the state in early May , he made three mistakes , reopening too early .
When they reopened , they didn ’ t have the two things in place that public health experts tell us you need to have in place , which was robust testing and robust contact tracing .
In fact , at the time , Texas ranked 48th per capita in terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happening .
And then , third , when communities across the state begged the governor to be able to tailor their own safety precautions , require masks or do other things , the governor said , “ No , my order supersedes you .
You can ’ t do that , ” opened up the bars and restaurants , and then basically made it worse here in the state of Texas for everybody , and has hurt the economy because of that — and admitted , for instance , that he made a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early .
So , it ’ s just , you know , we can ’ t rely — in the middle of a global pandemic , you can not rely on people that are putting their own political ideology and interests ahead of basic science and the public health .
That is in nobody ’ s interest .
That ’ s exactly what Greg Abbott has done .
In terms of my future , this is the first time in a long time that I ’ m not aiming for any office .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Obama administration , I pretty much knew that I was going to probably run for president .
Right now I ’ m working on People First Future , which is an effort to support bold , progressive candidates that are running up and down the ballot , from Congress down to school board , to help build a bench of progressives in our country .
And I ’ m going to continue to use my voice to be supportive of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and help get them elected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ happens , you know , whether a jump back into politics at some point soon or just wait for a while .
Right now I don ’ t feel compelled necessarily to jump right back in .
AMY GOODMAN : Julián Castro , I want to thank you for being with us , former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate , served as secretary of housing and urban development under President Obama .
Prior to that , he was mayor of San Antonio , where he ’ s speaking to us now .
When we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing women ’ s right to vote , though many Black women would not enjoy that right for decades .
Stay with us .
AMY GOODMAN : “ If I Was President ” by Las Cafeteras , performing here at Democracy Now !
, their song featured during the Democratic National Convention ’ s Hispanic Caucus meeting yesterday .

The Democratic National Convention faces criticism over the lack of diversity in its primetime programming during this year’s virtual event, even as Latinx voters are slated to make up the largest bloc of nonwhite voters in 2020. Only a handful of Latinx speakers and no Muslim speakers are appearing during the broadcasted convention, while Republicans like former Ohio Governor John Kasich were given slots. “There were 35 primetime speakers, and only three of them were Latinx, and I raised a concern about that,” says Julián Castro, former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate and the only Latinx candidate in the race. “I don’t think that represented the beautiful coalition that the Democrats put together.”
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMY GOODMAN: As the DNC began the four-day convention Monday night with a focus on racial justice and President Trump’s mishandling of the coronavirus crisis, the Democratic Party faced criticism for a lack of diversity in its primetime lineup, with only a handful of Latinx speakers and no Muslim speakers, while Republicans like former Ohio Governor John Kasich were given slots. The first night was moderated by the actress Eva Longoria. New York Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is set to speak tonight for 60 seconds.
For more, we’re joined by former Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro, the only Latinx candidate who was in the race. Castro served as secretary of housing and urban development under President Obama from 2014 to ’17. He was not invited to speak in primetime at the DNC, unlike many of his rivals. He’s joining us from San Antonio, Texas, which may be a battleground state this November.
Secretary Castro, welcome back to Democracy Now! It’s great to have you with us. Our condolences on the loss of your stepmother to COVID-19.
JULIÁN CASTRO: Thank you very much, Amy. It’s good to be with you.
And that testimony that you played, that was shown last night, from Kristin, was just tremendously powerful and, I think, resonates with a lot of people out there. I know, for me and for my family, we certainly understand the seriousness of this virus and also understand that a lot of this could have been prevented.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Julián Castro, I wanted to ask you your initial reaction to the first night of the convention. And especially, many of the speakers were talking about why it was important to vote against Donald Trump, the decency of Joe Biden, and his experience and his respect for science. But Bernie Sanders was one of the few who actually went into the content of what Joe Biden is standing for, his platform, as well, and why it’s important for progressives to vote for him.
JULIÁN CASTRO: Yeah, I think that Senator Sanders did a wonderful job. I think Michelle Obama was very powerful last night. But you’re right with Senator Sanders that — look, one of the things I noticed out there right now is that whether people are liberal or conservative, they’re Republican, Democrat, independent, what they want are solutions. And I think what Bernie did well in highlighting was this is what electing Joe Biden is going to mean for you and your family — raising the minimum wage, healthcare, a number of other things that are going to make people’s lives better. That’s what I think people want to know. You know, how is this person going to make my life and the life of my family and the country better than it is today?
I think we’ve gotten to a point that because there’s so much back-and-forth on cable news, because people are so polarized, that folks that don’t love politics, that don’t follow it all the time, they sort of — they tend to shy away from it even more than usual right now, shy away from that conversation. And the best way, I think, to get their attention is to say, “OK, well, this is how it’s going to be different in a positive way.” And he did that, which was great.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: I also wanted to ask you — one of the big issues of the night, and obviously of this election season, is the issue of the right to vote, whether it’s under assault or not, and also the issue of mail-in ballots. Now, there was a recent poll that shows that in your state of Texas, a majority of Latinos would prefer to vote in person rather than by mail-in ballot. I’m wondering your sense of this issue. And are there — independently of what you may think of President Trump, are there some concerns about all mail-in ballot in terms of being able to assure the integrity of the vote?
JULIÁN CASTRO: Look, what I believe is that people should have options during this time period. They should not have to choose between their right to vote and risking their health. So, universal mail-in ballots should be available. If there is in-person voting, if that is going to be an option, as well, that that be made as safe as possible, because, you’re right, you know, growing up here in a largely Mexican American community in San Antonio, I can tell you, I mean, what I would hear along the way is, “Oh, oh, I’m not going to vote early. I’m going to vote on Election Day. I’m going to go vote in person.” And so, this practice kind of precedes the controversy that we’re having around mail-in balloting.
At the same time, we can’t ignore the fact, of course, that this president is trying to suppress the vote as a strategy to rig this election and win. And so, there are going to be a lot more people that want to use the mail to cast their ballot this time. And there are states like Colorado that rely on universal mail-in balloting as their sole form of the way to vote. We have to make sure that the post office is well invested in, that it is functioning properly, that it can handle a greater volume than usual of mail-in ballots.
AMY GOODMAN: The brothers of George Floyd led a moment of silence during Monday night’s Democratic National Convention in honor of their brother and other victims of police violence. This is Philonise Floyd.
PHILONISE FLOYD: My brother George was selfless. He always made sacrifices for his family, friends, and even complete strangers. George had a giving spirit, a spirit that has shown up on streets around our nation and around the world — people of all races, all ages, all genders, all backgrounds — peacefully protesting in the name of love and unity. It’s a fitting legacy for our brother, but George should be alive today. Breonna Taylor should be alive today. Ahmaud Arbery should be alive today. Eric Garner should be alive today. Stephon Clark, Atatiana Jefferson, Sandra Bland, they should all be alive today. So it’s up to us to carry on the fight for justice.
AMY GOODMAN: And with that, they went to a moment of silence at the convention. Another part of the DNC last night, Joe Biden in conversation with a number of people, including Gwen Carr, the activist and mother of Eric Garner. This is part of what they said.
JOE BIDEN: Most cops are good. But the fact is, the bad ones have to be identified and prosecuted and out, period. Gwen, how are you doing? GWEN CARR: Well, I’m doing pretty well, as well as can be expected. JOE BIDEN: You know, I’m sure that the words of George Floyd, “I can’t breathe,” were not new to you, and they echo in your mind every single day. It was six years ago when your son died, but we can’t let this keep happening. What do you think the next thing we have to do, Gwen? GWEN CARR: Well, first of all, I know when my son was murdered, there was a big uprising, but then it settled down. We can’t let things settle down. We have to go to the politicians, and we have to hold their feet to the fire, because, otherwise, the big uprising is not going to mean a lot. So, I’m just asking that if you become the president, that you make sure that we get national law, as well as state and local law, especially when it comes to police brutality, because that has been an age-old problem. JOE BIDEN: Well, I may be kidding myself, but I think the people are ready. I think people are ready. We’ve just got to keep pushing. We can’t let up.
AMY GOODMAN: So, that is Joe Biden speaking to Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner. Julián Castro, I think you had the earliest plan for dealing with police. Can you lay that out and what you think the Democratic candidates need to do right now, what Joe Biden needs to do to deal with this critical issue of police brutality?
JULIÁN CASTRO: Well, I mean, first, Amy, I would say I was very — I was very glad to see that exchange last night and the fact that Vice President Biden and the campaign are dealing squarely with this issue, not shying away from it, not walking away from it, not letting up on it. What Gwen said there, that we can’t let it settle back down, I thought those were some of the most powerful words in the entire convention from last night, because that’s usually what happens.
Fortunately, Vice President Biden, very early on, after the murder of George Floyd, put forth a series of policy proposals, from banning chokeholds to a national use-of-force standard to more transparency, that he called a “down payment on change.” Many of those were reflected, are reflected, in the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that the House of Representatives passed.
On top of that, I’m glad to see local communities across the country that are engaging in deeper thinking about investing in mental health counseling, social workers, housing opportunity, because so many of the calls that police officers are asked to respond to are for people that are homeless or have a mental health issue, that they don’t need an armed cop. The vast majority of them are not violent. What they need is they need services, so that they can get onto a better life. And cities across the country, whether we’re talking about Los Angeles or San Francisco or Austin, Texas, just up the road from me, recently, are moving in that direction. And Joe Biden has said that he wants to work with local communities as they do that. All of that is positive. And as he said, we need to keep pushing.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Julián Castro, I wanted to ask you — you may be reluctant to talk about your own personal role in this, but it must be bittersweet to see all this emphasis now of the national party on the issue of police abuse after the murder of George Floyd, when you were out there early in the campaign raising these issues, and also that you, in a past convention, had been a keynote speaker of the Democratic convention. Now many Latino leaders feel you’ve sort of been slighted in the lineup here of the four days of the convention. Your thoughts, if you have, on that?
JULIÁN CASTRO: Well, look, I mean, I know they have a very difficult challenge, because the networks condensed the amount of time that they’re giving the parties this year, I think, in one or two hours a night. Usually that’s three or four hours. So, you know, it’s understandable that you’re going to have a limited number of speakers.
And more importantly than me or any one person speaking, politician speaking, I really think that you get value, that the voters get value, the people get value, from hearing the powerful stories like Kristin’s and like Gwen’s, that are first-person stories that really connect why it’s important to elect Joe Biden to the lives of everyday people out there. I think that’s the most important thing. I think that’s probably also politically the most effective thing.
So, I know I’ll have my time to speak, whether it’s on this show or other shows or other opportunities, but America needs to hear how this president has badly impacted the lives of people around this country, and, more importantly, how Joe Biden is going to make a positive difference for them.
AMY GOODMAN: But even talking about representation on the panel, just following up on what Juan said, I mean, the primetime slots include Bernie Sanders; of course Kamala Harris, who was one of your rivals but now the vice-presidential candidate; Buttigieg; Klobuchar; Warren; Booker; Yang — not you, though. Were you asked?
JULIÁN CASTRO: To speak in primetime?
AMY GOODMAN: Yes.
JULIÁN CASTRO: No, I was not. No, I was not. But, look —
AMY GOODMAN: And there’s been a — go ahead.
JULIÁN CASTRO: Yeah, no, I spoke a few years ago, and I had a wonderful time doing it. And, you know, I’m going to continue to speak out on issues that matter for our country. And also, most importantly, I’m going to do my part to help ensure that Joe Biden gets elected and we defeat Donald Trump in November.
I do think — I agree with you on the issue of representation. You know, last week, I think the count had been that there were 35 primetime speakers, and only three of them were Latinx. And I raised, you know, a concern about that and also, at that time, a lack of representation among Native Americans and Muslim Americans, because I don’t believe that that represents the — that represented the beautiful coalition that Democrats have put together.
Fortunately, in the days since then, over the weekend, there were announcements that were made that were, I think, much more diverse, which is a positive. And when you actually look at the programming, the nonpoliticians that are speaking, which I think people maybe even pay attention to more, they’re very diverse, whether it’s the family of George Floyd or Kristin, the young woman who gave testimony about her father passing from COVID-19. That’s very important.
AMY GOODMAN: But, you know, the polls do show, for example, Texas Hispanics favor Joe Biden, but Donald Trump still leads statewide electorate in presidential race — just one headline. How should that be addressed, Julián Castro? What can Joe Biden do? What does he have to watch out for, what he has to make sure he doesn’t ignore — for example, like immigration?
JULIÁN CASTRO: Well, when it comes to the Latino community, I think that the campaign needs to continue to invest in voter outreach, registration efforts, speak to the issues that matter. And just recently, the campaign released a Latino agenda for America, which I thought was a good thing to do and will resonate. But also, you know, all of the issues that people care about — healthcare, about small business, about educational opportunity for their kids, addressing the fact that the Latinx community and other vulnerable communities have been the hardest hit during this pandemic — and Joe Biden has been squarely addressing many of those issues, and I’m sure the campaign will continue to do that. On top of that, it’s going to require a lot of other work from the nonprofit organizations that do voter registration, like Voto Latino and a number of others, to get folks out in what is going to be a very unusual year in terms of the mechanics of voting.
AMY GOODMAN: You famously said to Biden, “I’ve learned the lessons of the past, but you haven’t.” Do you think he has now?
JULIÁN CASTRO: I’ve been pleased with what Vice President Biden has put out in terms of his immigration plan and then also on healthcare. You know, he and I did have our conversations on the debate stage, and that’s the nature of a primary debate, right? You’re going to go back and forth on how you differ. And I don’t expect that everybody I support is going to agree with me completely. If they agreed with me completely, I would be that candidate, right?
So, but what I think is important for folks to realize out there — and now I’m speaking, you know, directly to the Latinx community — is that it’s night and day with Joe Biden versus Donald Trump. Donald Trump has been the cruelest, most ill-intentioned president when it comes to not only immigrants, migrants, but the broader Latino community, scapegoated the community, otherized the community, uses it as a political piñata. And Joe Biden is somebody who brings compassion, who brings understanding, and, most importantly — because what you want to judge politicians on is, OK, what are you going to do, and what is your track record — has a track record of expanding opportunity, with Barack Obama. The Affordable Care Act expanded healthcare to 4 million — more than 4 million Latinx folks in this country. On educational opportunity, on violence against women, on housing opportunity. I remember going to Delaware with him — I think it was Veterans Day of 2016 — and marking the effective end of veteran homelessness there in Wilmington, and seeing how much that meant to him. So, this is somebody that is going to work to make life better for everybody in this country, in a way that Donald Trump — as Michelle Obama pointed out, Donald Trump just isn’t up to it and doesn’t want to do it.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Julián Castro, just in our final few moments that we have, I’m wondering your assessment, going back to Texas, the second most populous state in the nation — your assessment of Governor Greg Abbott’s decision to reopen the state early on? And also, could you tell us about your thoughts for your future? Any possibility of a run for governor at some point?
JULIÁN CASTRO: Yeah, I mean, Greg Abbott has been in the same boat as Donald Trump and governors like Ducey in Arizona and DeSantis in Florida. It’s this putting right-wing ideology over the public health and science.
So, when he reopened the state in early May, he made three mistakes, reopening too early. When they reopened, they didn’t have the two things in place that public health experts tell us you need to have in place, which was robust testing and robust contact tracing. In fact, at the time, Texas ranked 48th per capita in terms of the number of tests that were happening. And then, third, when communities across the state begged the governor to be able to tailor their own safety precautions, require masks or do other things, the governor said, “No, my order supersedes you. You can’t do that,” opened up the bars and restaurants, and then basically made it worse here in the state of Texas for everybody, and has hurt the economy because of that — and admitted, for instance, that he made a mistake in opening the bars up too early. So, it’s just, you know, we can’t rely — in the middle of a global pandemic, you cannot rely on people that are putting their own political ideology and interests ahead of basic science and the public health. That is in nobody’s interest. That’s exactly what Greg Abbott has done.
In terms of my future, this is the first time in a long time that I’m not aiming for any office. You know, after I got out of the Obama administration, I pretty much knew that I was going to probably run for president. Right now I’m working on People First Future, which is an effort to support bold, progressive candidates that are running up and down the ballot, from Congress down to school board, to help build a bench of progressives in our country. And I’m going to continue to use my voice to be supportive of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and help get them elected. And then we’ll see what happens, you know, whether a jump back into politics at some point soon or just wait for a while. Right now I don’t feel compelled necessarily to jump right back in.
AMY GOODMAN: Julián Castro, I want to thank you for being with us, former 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, served as secretary of housing and urban development under President Obama. Prior to that, he was mayor of San Antonio, where he’s speaking to us now.
When we come back, today marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution guaranteeing women’s right to vote, though many Black women would not enjoy that right for decades. Stay with us.
[break]
AMY GOODMAN: “If I Was President” by Las Cafeteras, performing here at Democracy Now!, their song featured during the Democratic National Convention’s Hispanic Caucus meeting yesterday.


truthout--2020-08-18--Trump Lashes Out at Michelle Obama for Saying He Is “Clearly in Over His Head”

President Donald Trump lashed out at former First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday during a Twitter rant that came about after she had given an impassioned speech at the Democratic National Convention ( DNC ) the night before .
During a pre-recorded video message given on the first night of the DNC , Obama promoted Democratic candidate for president Joe Biden , who served as vice president in her husband ’ s administration , as a “ profoundly decent man.
” Citing the many policy failures of Trump , particularly his inability to stem the spread of coronavirus , Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not warm , to say the least .
“ Let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can .
Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country , ” Obama said in her Monday night speech .
“ He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job , but he is clearly in over his head .
He can not meet this moment .
He simply can not be who we need him to be for us.
” “ It is what it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added , hearkening back to words Trump himself had used to explain away the COVID-19 death count earlier this month .
“ Somebody please explain to @ MichelleObama that Donald J. Trump would not be here , in the beautiful White House , if it weren ’ t for the job done by your husband , Barack Obama , ” Trump wrote .
“ Biden was merely an afterthought , a good reason for that very late & unenthusiastic endorsement.
” In a second , connected tweet , Trump also made many claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his office better than his predecessor , Barack Obama , had .
“ 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 claimed .
Later on in the morning , Trump continued to launch attacks toward Obama while speaking with reporters after announcing that he would be posthumously pardoning Susan B. Anthony .
“ She was over her head , ” he argued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used in her speech , “ and frankly , she should have made the speech live , which she didn ’ t do , she taped it.
” Trump added it was clear that she had taped the speech because “ she had the wrong [ number of coronavirus ] deaths ” in her video message .
He again suggested the reason he was president was because of her husband .
“ I wouldn ’ t be in the White House , except for Barack Obama , because they did a bad job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ And if they did a good job I wouldn ’ t be here.
” However , many experts have voiced disagreement with Trump ’ s lavish praise of himself , particularly his ardent insistence that he “ built ” the economy .
Much of the economic successes seen during Trump ’ s tenure began under former President Obama , a point that fact-checkers reiterated earlier this year when Trump wrongly described Obama ’ s time in office as “ years of economic decay.
” Trump also didn ’ t “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested .
After weeks of refusing to take the disease seriously , the president finally relented in mid-March and issued social distancing guidelines encouraging people to refrain from attending events with 10 or more individuals .
But none of his guidelines issued stay-at-home orders — instead , starting on March 19 with California , states took it upon themselves to craft rules requiring nonessential workers to stay home .
Indeed , Trump was looking at ways for states to reopen as early as March 23 , and wanted states to end their stay-at-home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was calling on Americans to defy the orders and to “ liberate ” themselves by protesting against their governors .
Trump ’ s push for reopening states and the economy likely came too soon , many experts say , prompting the surge in daily coronavirus cases that have been seen across the country in recent weeks .
Although it was perhaps expected , given her statements from the night before , Trump ’ s attacks against the former first lady may not go over well with the American public .
Michelle Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent approval rating , and has been named “ the most admired woman in the world ” two years in a row , according to polling from Gallup .

President Donald Trump lashed out at former First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday during a Twitter rant that came about after she had given an impassioned speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) the night before.
During a pre-recorded video message given on the first night of the DNC, Obama promoted Democratic candidate for president Joe Biden, who served as vice president in her husband’s administration, as a “profoundly decent man.” Citing the many policy failures of Trump, particularly his inability to stem the spread of coronavirus, Obama’s descriptions of the current president were not warm, to say the least.
“Let me be as honest and clear as I possibly can. Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country,” Obama said in her Monday night speech. “He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us.”
“It is what it is,” the former first lady added, hearkening back to words Trump himself had used to explain away the COVID-19 death count earlier this month.
On Tuesday morning, Trump hit back.
“Somebody please explain to @MichelleObama that Donald J. Trump would not be here, in the beautiful White House, if it weren’t for the job done by your husband, Barack Obama,” Trump wrote. “Biden was merely an afterthought, a good reason for that very late & unenthusiastic endorsement.”
In a second, connected tweet, Trump also made many claims suggesting he had performed the duties of his office better than his predecessor, Barack Obama, had.
“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 claimed.
Later on in the morning, Trump continued to launch attacks toward Obama while speaking with reporters after announcing that he would be posthumously pardoning Susan B. Anthony.
“She was over her head,” he argued, using the same words Obama had used in her speech, “and frankly, she should have made the speech live, which she didn’t do, she taped it.”
Trump added it was clear that she had taped the speech because “she had the wrong [number of coronavirus] deaths” in her video message.
He again suggested the reason he was president was because of her husband.
“I wouldn’t be in the White House, except for Barack Obama, because they did a bad job, Biden and Obama,” Trump said. “And if they did a good job I wouldn’t be here.”
However, many experts have voiced disagreement with Trump’s lavish praise of himself, particularly his ardent insistence that he “built” the economy. Much of the economic successes seen during Trump’s tenure began under former President Obama, a point that fact-checkers reiterated earlier this year when Trump wrongly described Obama’s time in office as “years of economic decay.”
Trump also didn’t “turn off” the economy as he suggested. After weeks of refusing to take the disease seriously, the president finally relented in mid-March and issued social distancing guidelines encouraging people to refrain from attending events with 10 or more individuals. But none of his guidelines issued stay-at-home orders — instead, starting on March 19 with California, states took it upon themselves to craft rules requiring nonessential workers to stay home.
Indeed, Trump was looking at ways for states to reopen as early as March 23, and wanted states to end their stay-at-home orders by Easter. By mid-April, he was calling on Americans to defy the orders and to “liberate” themselves by protesting against their governors.
Trump’s push for reopening states and the economy likely came too soon, many experts say, prompting the surge in daily coronavirus cases that have been seen across the country in recent weeks.
Although it was perhaps expected, given her statements from the night before, Trump’s attacks against the former first lady may not go over well with the American public. Michelle Obama left the White House with a 68 percent approval rating, and has been named “the most admired woman in the world” two years in a row, according to polling from Gallup.
Tired of reading the same old news from the same old sources? So are we! That’s why we’re on a mission to shake things up and bring you the stories and perspectives that often go untold in mainstream media. But being a radically, unapologetically independent news site isn’t easy (or cheap), and we rely on reader support to keep the lights on.
If you like what you’re reading, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. We’re not asking for a handout, we’re asking for an investment: Invest in a nonprofit news site that’s not afraid to ruffle a few feathers, not afraid to stand up for what’s right, and not afraid to tell it like it is.
Copyright © Truthout. May not be reprinted without permission.


truthout--2020-08-18--DeJoy Donated Big to GOP Senators Up for Reelection — They’re Silent on USPS

Recently appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy , a top donor to Donald Trump and until earlier this year the head fundraiser for the Republican National Convention , has given tens of thousands of dollars to Republican Senators up for re-election this November , according to Federal Election Commission records reviewed by Salon .
FEC records also show that DeJoy regularly maxed out with tens of thousands of annual contributions to the official GOP committees dedicated to electing Republican lawmakers : the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee .
DeJoy ’ s political fundraising and donor records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the head of the U.S .
Postal Service Board of Governors .
He caught fierce backlash last week from Democrats and Postal Service employees after reports broke that USPS warned 46 states that their mail ballots might not be delivered on time for the November election , potentially disenfranchising millions of voters .
The news accompanied other reports that USPS mail sorting machines and drop boxes have been removed , as well as another notice from DeJoy that the agency is engaging in a sweeping overhaul that might delay delivery times .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on DeJoy to testify about what it sees as a troubling pattern to suppress votes in November ’ s general election , and has threatened him with arrest if he does not comply .
A number of of DeJoy ’ s GOP beneficiaries are facing tight races this year : Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina , Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona and Michigan Republican candidate John James , who is running against Democratic Sen. Gary Peters .
None of these Republicans have spoken publicly about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general .
DeJoy gave a total of $ 8,100 to McSally — $ 2,500 for her losing 2018 Senate campaign against Sen. Kyrsten Sinema , and $ 5,600 to her current race .
While a recent poll showed McSally pulling slightly closer to Democratic opponent Mark Kelly , husband of former Arizona Rep.. Gabby Giffords , Kelly still leads by about 7.4 percentage points , according to a Real Clear Politics average of polls .
Though McSally says she supports absentee voting , she has expressed the same concerns about mail-in voting as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona ’ s top election official that the president appears bent on sabotaging mail-in voting .
“ I disagree this close to an election [ with ] states or at the federal level having some sort of mass mail-in ballots to everyone on the voter roll .
I have some real concerns about that , ” McSally said last week .
A spokesperson for the McSally campaign declined to comment .
DeJoy , former head of the freight company XPO Logistics , a major player in the supply chain sector and a chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John James , the GOP nominee in Michigan — $ 5,400 for his failed 2018 run against Sen. Debbie Stabenow and $ 5,600 , the maximum amount , for his current campaign .
James is head of the supply chain company James Group International and its affiliate Renaissance Global Logistics , which received between $ 1 million and $ 2 million in federally-backed Paycheck Protection Program loans during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic .
Recent polls in Michigan , a key swing state in November , show James consistently trailing Peters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee , which conducts oversight of the Postal Service .
He is currently investigating USPS delays related to mail-in ballots .
James does not appear to have spoken out publicly about DeJoy or voting by mail , and his campaign did not provide comment for this article .
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and his affiliated committees have taken a combined $ 48,500 from fellow state residents DeJoy and his wife , Aldona Wos , former head of the North Carolina Health and Human Services Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ election efforts since his 2014 campaign .
DeJoy also gave to the John Bolton Super PAC , which has spent heavily for Tillis and , like Tillis , has ties to the shadowy data firm Cambridge Analytica , the subject of subpoenas during special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation into 2016 election interference .
Following last Friday ’ s reports of the USPS state warnings , the Tillis campaign told the Raleigh News & Observer that “ Senator Tillis is confident in North Carolina ’ s strong absentee ballot program , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and believes we will have a fair election.
” Tillis , one of the chief early architects behind North Carolina ’ s controversial voter ID law — dubbed the “ monster ” law by critics — played a central role in what a federal judge called the state ’ s “ sordid history ” of voter suppression when she struck down a North Carolina voter ID law late last year .
The Tillis campaign did not respond to questions about the donations or the last time Tillis and DeJoy spoke .
DeJoy also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 campaign , per FEC records .
Graham , who as Salon recently reported has voted by mail on several occasions , has also made false claims that the practice is prone to fraud .
Graham sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , which is currently holding hearings to confirm DeJoy ’ s wife , Aldona Wos , as ambassador to Canada .
In a rare break with the president , Graham has defended the USPS in the face of Trump ’ s attempts to block funding : “ The idea of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not the right approach , ” he said , adding that he believes the president is “ trying to stop what he sees as an effort to have mass mail-in voting.
” Graham has apparently not commented on DeJoy specifically .
A campaign spokesperson did not reply to Salon ’ s request for comment .
Manuel Bonder , a spokesperson for the South Carolina Democratic Party ’ s coordinated campaign , criticized DeJoy ’ s decisions and Graham ’ s lack of response .
“ The current threats to the USPS are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ahead of this election ; they endanger the health and well-being of communities and small businesses across South Carolina , ” Bonder said .
“ The fact that Sen. Graham has not taken any action to protect this essential service is yet another failure in leadership , and it is hurting South Carolinians.
” DeJoy has routinely made maximum donations to NRSC , the official GOP committee dedicated to electing Republican senators .
During the 2018 election cycle , the NRSC was chaired by Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado , now the focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate contests , which is currently listed as a “ toss-up ” by Cook Political Report .
( Cook also considers Tillis ’ seat a toss-up ; McSally ’ s race is “ lean Democratic ” and Graham ’ s “ lean Republican.
” ) Gardner , recently asked whether he thought DeJoy was doing a good job , dodged , saying , “ First we have to understand what the postmaster is trying to do.
” DeJoy ’ s donor questions extend well beyond the Senate , however .
The Greensboro-based businessman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shell company , LMD Properties LLC , to give $ 50,000 to Karl Rove ’ s American Crossroads super PAC in 2014 .
That year , DeJoy merged New Breed , Inc. , his former contracting logistics company , with freight delivery company XPO Logistics , serving on the board of directors until May 2018 , according to his bio on the DeJoy-Wos Family Foundation website .
DeJoy , along with Wos , was a Jeb Bush donor in 2016 , but has since given the Trump campaign more than a million dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contribution to the Trump inaugural committee , according to financial records accessible through Open Secrets .
He cited New Breed , Inc. , as his company .
“ I take my ethical obligations seriously , and I have done what is necessary to ensure that I am and will remain in compliance with those obligations , ” DeJoy said in a statement provided to Salon by a USPS spokesperson .
The spokesperson declined to comment specifically on DeJoy ’ s political donations .
Over the years , XPO has been awarded hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , primarily through the Pentagon , according to government spending data — including more than $ 14 million in Defense Department contracts the month DeJoy stepped down .
Since his departure , XPO ’ s government contracting appears to have all but stopped .
Another former Pentagon freight contractor , Bill Zollars , was confirmed to the USPS board of governors by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Oversight in June .
Weeks later , Zollars ’ former company , YRC Worldwide , received a $ 700 million federal bailout , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the time .
Salon reported last month that YRC is currently being sued by the Department of Justice for allegedly defrauding Pentagon delivery contracts to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars .
Most of those allegedly fraudulent contracts occurred during Zollars ’ tenure as CEO .
FEC records show that DeJoy also donated $ 5,200 to the 2018 campaign of Sen. Josh Hawley , R-Mo.
, who sits on the committee that confirms Postal Service governors .
DeJoy tried to give Hawley an additional $ 2,500 , but it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the election cycle .
It ’ s a common trait in DeJoy ’ s FEC history , suggesting that he gives so much money so frequently , to so many Republican candidates , that occasionally he loses track .

A number of DeJoy’s GOP beneficiaries are facing tight races this year. None have spoken publicly on his recent acts.
Recently appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a top donor to Donald Trump and until earlier this year the head fundraiser for the Republican National Convention, has given tens of thousands of dollars to Republican Senators up for re-election this November, according to Federal Election Commission records reviewed by Salon.
FEC records also show that DeJoy regularly maxed out with tens of thousands of annual contributions to the official GOP committees dedicated to electing Republican lawmakers: the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
DeJoy’s political fundraising and donor records have come under scrutiny since his appointment to the head of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors. He caught fierce backlash last week from Democrats and Postal Service employees after reports broke that USPS warned 46 states that their mail ballots might not be delivered on time for the November election, potentially disenfranchising millions of voters.
The news accompanied other reports that USPS mail sorting machines and drop boxes have been removed, as well as another notice from DeJoy that the agency is engaging in a sweeping overhaul that might delay delivery times.
The House of Representatives has now called on DeJoy to testify about what it sees as a troubling pattern to suppress votes in November’s general election, and has threatened him with arrest if he does not comply.
A number of of DeJoy’s GOP beneficiaries are facing tight races this year: Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona and Michigan Republican candidate John James, who is running against Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. None of these Republicans have spoken publicly about DeJoy or his recent actions as postmaster general.
DeJoy gave a total of $8,100 to McSally — $2,500 for her losing 2018 Senate campaign against Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, and $5,600 to her current race. While a recent poll showed McSally pulling slightly closer to Democratic opponent Mark Kelly, husband of former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, Kelly still leads by about 7.4 percentage points, according to a Real Clear Politics average of polls.
Though McSally says she supports absentee voting, she has expressed the same concerns about mail-in voting as President Trump, despite a warning from Arizona’s top election official that the president appears bent on sabotaging mail-in voting.
“I disagree this close to an election [with] states or at the federal level having some sort of mass mail-in ballots to everyone on the voter roll. I have some real concerns about that,” McSally said last week.
A spokesperson for the McSally campaign declined to comment.
DeJoy, former head of the freight company XPO Logistics, a major player in the supply chain sector and a chief USPS competitor, donated $11,000 to John James, the GOP nominee in Michigan — $5,400 for his failed 2018 run against Sen. Debbie Stabenow and $5,600, the maximum amount, for his current campaign.
James is head of the supply chain company James Group International and its affiliate Renaissance Global Logistics, which received between $1 million and $2 million in federally-backed Paycheck Protection Program loans during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic.
Recent polls in Michigan, a key swing state in November, show James consistently trailing Peters, who is ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, which conducts oversight of the Postal Service. He is currently investigating USPS delays related to mail-in ballots.
James does not appear to have spoken out publicly about DeJoy or voting by mail, and his campaign did not provide comment for this article.
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina and his affiliated committees have taken a combined $48,500 from fellow state residents DeJoy and his wife, Aldona Wos, former head of the North Carolina Health and Human Services Department. The couple have contributed to Tillis’ election efforts since his 2014 campaign.
DeJoy also gave to the John Bolton Super PAC, which has spent heavily for Tillis and, like Tillis, has ties to the shadowy data firm Cambridge Analytica, the subject of subpoenas during special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into 2016 election interference.
Following last Friday’s reports of the USPS state warnings, the Tillis campaign told the Raleigh News & Observer that “Senator Tillis is confident in North Carolina’s strong absentee ballot program, is encouraging North Carolinians to vote absentee and believes we will have a fair election.”
Tillis, one of the chief early architects behind North Carolina’s controversial voter ID law — dubbed the “monster” law by critics — played a central role in what a federal judge called the state’s “sordid history” of voter suppression when she struck down a North Carolina voter ID law late last year.
The Tillis campaign did not respond to questions about the donations or the last time Tillis and DeJoy spoke.
DeJoy also gave $5,000 to Graham’s 2014 campaign, per FEC records. Graham, who as Salon recently reported has voted by mail on several occasions, has also made false claims that the practice is prone to fraud.
Graham sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is currently holding hearings to confirm DeJoy’s wife, Aldona Wos, as ambassador to Canada.
In a rare break with the president, Graham has defended the USPS in the face of Trump’s attempts to block funding: “The idea of cutting the Postal Service’s budget is not the right approach,” he said, adding that he believes the president is “trying to stop what he sees as an effort to have mass mail-in voting.”
Graham has apparently not commented on DeJoy specifically. A campaign spokesperson did not reply to Salon’s request for comment.
Manuel Bonder, a spokesperson for the South Carolina Democratic Party’s coordinated campaign, criticized DeJoy’s decisions and Graham’s lack of response. “The current threats to the USPS are not only undermining Americans’ voting rights ahead of this election; they endanger the health and well-being of communities and small businesses across South Carolina,” Bonder said. “The fact that Sen. Graham has not taken any action to protect this essential service is yet another failure in leadership, and it is hurting South Carolinians.”
DeJoy has routinely made maximum donations to NRSC, the official GOP committee dedicated to electing Republican senators. During the 2018 election cycle, the NRSC was chaired by Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado, now the focus of one of the most consequential 2020 Senate contests, which is currently listed as a “toss-up” by Cook Political Report. (Cook also considers Tillis’ seat a toss-up; McSally’s race is “lean Democratic” and Graham’s “lean Republican.”)
Gardner, recently asked whether he thought DeJoy was doing a good job, dodged, saying, “First we have to understand what the postmaster is trying to do.”
DeJoy’s donor questions extend well beyond the Senate, however.
The Greensboro-based businessman once used a nearly untraceable North Carolina shell company, LMD Properties LLC, to give $50,000 to Karl Rove’s American Crossroads super PAC in 2014. That year, DeJoy merged New Breed, Inc., his former contracting logistics company, with freight delivery company XPO Logistics, serving on the board of directors until May 2018, according to his bio on the DeJoy-Wos Family Foundation website.
DeJoy, along with Wos, was a Jeb Bush donor in 2016, but has since given the Trump campaign more than a million dollars. He also made a $100,000 contribution to the Trump inaugural committee, according to financial records accessible through OpenSecrets. He cited New Breed, Inc., as his company.
“I take my ethical obligations seriously, and I have done what is necessary to ensure that I am and will remain in compliance with those obligations,” DeJoy said in a statement provided to Salon by a USPS spokesperson.
The spokesperson declined to comment specifically on DeJoy’s political donations.
Over the years, XPO has been awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in federal government contracts, primarily through the Pentagon, according to government spending data — including more than $14 million in Defense Department contracts the month DeJoy stepped down. Since his departure, XPO’s government contracting appears to have all but stopped.
Another former Pentagon freight contractor, Bill Zollars, was confirmed to the USPS board of governors by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Oversight in June. Weeks later, Zollars’ former company, YRC Worldwide, received a $700 million federal bailout, despite being worth only $70 million at the time.
Salon reported last month that YRC is currently being sued by the Department of Justice for allegedly defrauding Pentagon delivery contracts to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. Most of those allegedly fraudulent contracts occurred during Zollars’ tenure as CEO.
FEC records show that DeJoy also donated $5,200 to the 2018 campaign of Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., who sits on the committee that confirms Postal Service governors.
DeJoy tried to give Hawley an additional $2,500, but it was returned because he had exceeded the limit for the election cycle. It’s a common trait in DeJoy’s FEC history, suggesting that he gives so much money so frequently, to so many Republican candidates, that occasionally he loses track.


truthout--2020-08-18--In DNC Speech, Sanders Urges Popular Front to Defeat Donald Trump

Calling the 2020 election the most important in modern U.S. history — one in which the survival of democracy , the economy , and the planet hang in the balance — Sen. Bernie Sanders used his primetime address at the virtual Democratic National Convention Monday night to warn of the existential dangers of handing President Donald Trump a second term and urge the nation to unite to ensure he is defeated in November .
“ I and my family , and many of yours , know the insidious way authoritarianism destroys democracy , decency , and humanity , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am here , I will work with progressives , with moderates , and yes , with conservatives to preserve this nation from a threat that so many of our heroes fought and died to defeat.
” “ We must come together , defeat Donald Trump , and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president , ” the senator from Vermont added .
Sanders ’ eight-minute speech convention speech came just over four months after he ended his second bid for the presidency with a vow to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change that defined his 2016 and 2020 campaigns .
The senator echoed that message Monday , thanking his supporters for helping to move the U.S. “ in a bold new direction ” by making mainstream ideas that were previously deemed “ radical , ” from Medicare for All to tuition-free public college .
“ Our campaign ended several months ago , but our movement continues and is getting stronger every day , ” said Sanders .
“ But let us be clear : if Donald Trump is reelected , all the progress we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At its most basic , this election is about preserving our democracy.
” Under Trump ’ s administration , the “ unthinkable has become normal , ” said Sanders , pointing to the president ’ s open assault on voting rights and the U.S .
Postal Service , deployment of federal agents against peaceful protesters , and threats to refuse to leave office should he lose in November .
Sanders also highlighted Trump ’ s disastrous response to both the coronavirus pandemic — which has killed more than 170,000 people in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has left tens of millions jobless , hungry , and on the brink of complete financial ruin .
While noting his significant disagreement with Biden on the key issue of Medicare for All , Sanders voiced confidence that if elected in November , the former vice president will move forward with a policy agenda to make the U.S. “ more equitable , more compassionate , and more inclusive.
” “ I know that Joe Biden will begin that fight on day one , ” said Sanders , citing Biden ’ s support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 an hour , strengthening union rights , establishing 12 weeks of paid family leave and universal pre-K , expanding health insurance via a public option , reducing the cost of prescription drugs , lowering the Medicare eligibility age , and transitioning the U.S. to 100 % clean electricity by 2035 .
“ My friends , I say to you , to everyone who supported other candidates in this primary , and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election : the future of our democracy is at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The future of our economy is at stake .
The future of our planet is at stake.
” “ My friends , ” Sanders concluded , “ the price of failure is just too great to imagine .
”

Calling the 2020 election the most important in modern U.S. history — one in which the survival of democracy, the economy, and the planet hang in the balance — Sen. Bernie Sanders used his primetime address at the virtual Democratic National Convention Monday night to warn of the existential dangers of handing President Donald Trump a second term and urge the nation to unite to ensure he is defeated in November.
“I and my family, and many of yours, know the insidious way authoritarianism destroys democracy, decency, and humanity,” said Sanders. “As long as I am here, I will work with progressives, with moderates, and yes, with conservatives to preserve this nation from a threat that so many of our heroes fought and died to defeat.”
“We must come together, defeat Donald Trump, and elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our next president and vice president,” the senator from Vermont added.
Sanders’ eight-minute speech convention speech came just over four months after he ended his second bid for the presidency with a vow to continue fighting for the vision of transformative progressive change that defined his 2016 and 2020 campaigns.
The senator echoed that message Monday, thanking his supporters for helping to move the U.S. “in a bold new direction” by making mainstream ideas that were previously deemed “radical,” from Medicare for All to tuition-free public college.
“Our campaign ended several months ago, but our movement continues and is getting stronger every day,” said Sanders. “But let us be clear: if Donald Trump is reelected, all the progress we have made will be in jeopardy. At its most basic, this election is about preserving our democracy.”
.@BernieSanders did a great job showing that you can simultaneously articulate both a sharp & powerful left vision for justice and the need for a popular front against fascism. — Brad Lander (@bradlander) August 18, 2020
Under Trump’s administration, the “unthinkable has become normal,” said Sanders, pointing to the president’s open assault on voting rights and the U.S. Postal Service, deployment of federal agents against peaceful protesters, and threats to refuse to leave office should he lose in November.
Sanders also highlighted Trump’s disastrous response to both the coronavirus pandemic — which has killed more than 170,000 people in the U.S. — and the resulting economic collapse that has left tens of millions jobless, hungry, and on the brink of complete financial ruin.
While noting his significant disagreement with Biden on the key issue of Medicare for All, Sanders voiced confidence that if elected in November, the former vice president will move forward with a policy agenda to make the U.S. “more equitable, more compassionate, and more inclusive.”
“I know that Joe Biden will begin that fight on day one,” said Sanders, citing Biden’s support for increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, strengthening union rights, establishing 12 weeks of paid family leave and universal pre-K, expanding health insurance via a public option, reducing the cost of prescription drugs, lowering the Medicare eligibility age, and transitioning the U.S. to 100% clean electricity by 2035.
“My friends, I say to you, to everyone who supported other candidates in this primary, and to those who may have voted for Donald Trump in the last election: the future of our democracy is at stake,” said Sanders. “The future of our economy is at stake. The future of our planet is at stake.”
“My friends,” Sanders concluded, “the price of failure is just too great to imagine.”
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