westernjournal--2020-06-26--Joe Biden Announces He Would Force All Americans To Wear Masks

Former Vice President Joe Biden promised that if elected president , he would do everything in his power to mandate that Americans nationwide wear masks while in public amid the coronavirus pandemic .
That fits with a general pattern we have seen throughout the crisis , with Democratic officials reveling in exercising heavy-handed emergency powers over Americans lives , whether it be Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan , Gov .
Gavin Newsom in California , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo in New York or Mayor Bill de Blasio in the Big Apple itself .
Biden , who has spent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Donald Trump over his handling of the COVID-19 outbreak , was asked by a reporter with Pittsburgh CBS News affiliate KDKA-TV what he would do differently if he were in charge .
“ I would go back to making sure that everybody had masks , that you had [ personal protective equipment ] lined up , we ’ d have been making sure we stockpile all the things that we need that we don ’ t have now , ” the Democratic presidential nominee responded .
“ The one thing we do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difference .
I would insist that everybody out in public be wearing that mask .
Anyone to reopen — would have to make sure that they walked into a business that had masks , ” the former vice president added .
TRENDING : Senior House Democrat Getting Trounced by Ex-Middle School Principal in Primary Shocker The reporter followed up by questioning if Biden would use the power of the federal government to mandate that people wear masks .
“ Yes , I would from an executive standpoint , yes , I would , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you would , in effect , mandate the wearing of masks ?
” the reporter asked .
“ I would do everything possible to make it required that people had to wear masks in public , ” Biden answered .
If this crisis has taught us anything about government , it is that we have a federal system .
The Constitution grants certain enumerated powers to the federal government , but leaves the plenary power , including responsibility for public health and safety , with the states and the people .
This relationship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and mayors not to be overly restrictive in their lockdowns or too slow in reopening their economies .
But he really didn ’ t have the authority to order governors or mayors to take a different course .
The way the reporter asked his questions to Biden on the subject was a recognition that the former vice president may run into some obstacles if he tried to mandate mask wearing .
Biden appeared to realize his mistake and walk back his initial answer , saying he would do “ everything possible to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government tries to mandate an action at the state and local level that it doesn ’ t have the clear authority to do under the Constitution , it comes down to money : withholding federal funds .
Another route for Biden could be through Congress .
The commerce clause of the Constitution gives that legislative body the power to regulate interstate transactions between the states , which courts have interpreted broadly to mean pretty much anything that affects the economy .
So conceivably , if Biden could convince Congress to pass a law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ withstand a court challenge , as the coronavirus has clearly had an impact on the economy .
But beyond the question of “ could he ” is the more important question : Should he ?
Another lesson from the pandemic is that the safety needs of those in urban New York are different than the needs of those living in Montana or Alaska or even in the more rural parts of the Empire State itself .
Further , experts are split over just how effective facial coverings are at slowing the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ N95 masks .
“ The bottom line , experts say , is that masks might help keep people with COVID-19 from unknowingly passing along the virus .
But the evidence for the efficacy of surgical or homemade masks is limited , ” LiveScience reported earlier this month .
“ In a surgical mask , about 70 percent of the outside air moves through the mask and about 30 percent travels around the sides , ” the outlet added , paraphrasing comments from May Chu , a clinical professor in epidemiology at the Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impede only about 2 percent of airflow in , Chu added .
“ All of this leakage in surgical and fabric masks are why public health officials generally don ’ t believe that wearing a mask prevents anyone from catching a virus that is already floating around in the environment , ” according to LiveScience .
This leaves a properly fitted N95 mask as the really only effective shield , but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rightly wants health care workers to have priority for those .
Biden ’ s proposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be : more ineffective top-down directives coming from the federal government .
The Obama/Biden administration was among the most prolific in promulgating regulations in modern times , while Trump has cut regulations at a historic rate .
To the extent that masks of any kind remind people that we are dealing with a pandemic , they probably do at least some good .
But the decision to require them should be kept at the state and local levels and not mandated from Washington , D.C. We are committed to truth and accuracy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editorial standards .

Former Vice President Joe Biden promised that if elected president, he would do everything in his power to mandate that Americans nationwide wear masks while in public amid the coronavirus pandemic.
That fits with a general pattern we have seen throughout the crisis, with Democratic officials reveling in exercising heavy-handed emergency powers over Americans’ lives, whether it be Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in Michigan, Gov. Gavin Newsom in California, Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York or Mayor Bill de Blasio in the Big Apple itself.
Biden, who has spent the last several weeks taking pot shots at President Donald Trump over his handling of the COVID-19 outbreak, was asked by a reporter with Pittsburgh CBS News affiliate KDKA-TV what he would do differently if he were in charge.
“I would go back to making sure that everybody had masks, that you had [personal protective equipment] lined up, we’d have been making sure we stockpile all the things that we need that we don’t have now,” the Democratic presidential nominee responded.
“The one thing we do know, these masks make a gigantic difference. I would insist that everybody out in public be wearing that mask. Anyone to reopen — would have to make sure that they walked into a business that had masks,” the former vice president added.
The reporter followed up by questioning if Biden would use the power of the federal government to mandate that people wear masks.
“Yes, I would from an executive standpoint, yes, I would,” was the response.
“So you would, in effect, mandate the wearing of masks?” the reporter asked.
Do you think the federal government should mandate the wearing of masks nationwide? Yes No
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“I would do everything possible to make it required that people had to wear masks in public,” Biden answered.
If this crisis has taught us anything about government, it is that we have a federal system.
The Constitution grants certain enumerated powers to the federal government, but leaves the plenary power, including responsibility for public health and safety, with the states and the people.
This relationship was highlighted as Trump encouraged state governors and mayors not to be overly restrictive in their lockdowns or too slow in reopening their economies.
But he really didn’t have the authority to order governors or mayors to take a different course.
The way the reporter asked his questions to Biden on the subject was a recognition that the former vice president may run into some obstacles if he tried to mandate mask wearing.
Biden appeared to realize his mistake and walk back his initial answer, saying he would do “everything possible to make it required.”
Usually when the federal government tries to mandate an action at the state and local level that it doesn’t have the clear authority to do under the Constitution, it comes down to money: withholding federal funds.
Another route for Biden could be through Congress. The commerce clause of the Constitution gives that legislative body the power to regulate interstate transactions between the states, which courts have interpreted broadly to mean pretty much anything that affects the economy.
So conceivably, if Biden could convince Congress to pass a law mandating masks be worn, it could withstand a court challenge, as the coronavirus has clearly had an impact on the economy.
But beyond the question of “could he” is the more important question: Should he?
Another lesson from the pandemic is that the safety needs of those in urban New York are different than the needs of those living in Montana or Alaska or even in the more rural parts of the Empire State itself.
Further, experts are split over just how effective facial coverings are at slowing the spread of COVID-19, particularly if they are not N95 masks.
“The bottom line, experts say, is that masks might help keep people with COVID-19 from unknowingly passing along the virus. But the evidence for the efficacy of surgical or homemade masks is limited,” LiveScience reported earlier this month.
“In a surgical mask, about 70 percent of the outside air moves through the mask and about 30 percent travels around the sides,” the outlet added, paraphrasing comments from May Chu, a clinical professor in epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health.
Fabric masks impede only about 2 percent of airflow in, Chu added.
“All of this leakage in surgical and fabric masks are why public health officials generally don’t believe that wearing a mask prevents anyone from catching a virus that is already floating around in the environment,” according to LiveScience.
This leaves a properly fitted N95 mask as the really only effective shield, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rightly wants health care workers to have priority for those.
Biden’s proposed mask mandate foreshadows what his presidency would be: more ineffective top-down directives coming from the federal government.
The Obama/Biden administration was among the most prolific in promulgating regulations in modern times, while Trump has cut regulations at a historic rate.
To the extent that masks of any kind remind people that we are dealing with a pandemic, they probably do at least some good. But the decision to require them should be kept at the state and local levels and not mandated from Washington, D.C.
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westernjournal--2020-06-26--House Dems Pass Ill-Fated DC Statehood Bill

The House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday that would make Washington , D.C. , a state .
The Washington , D.C .
Admission Act , which had 227 Democratic co-sponsors , was originally introduced by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton , D.C. ’ s nonvoting at-large representative in Congress , in October of last year .
It passed Friday 232-180 without any Republican support .
“ My great-grandfather , who walked away from slavery in Virginia , got as far as the District of Columbia — got freedom , but not to equality , ” Holmes Norton told NPR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill was all but assured to pass the Democratic House , it is likely dead-on-arrival in the Republican Senate .
TRENDING : Senior House Democrat Getting Trounced by Ex-Middle School Principal in Primary Shocker Sen .
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell likened the D.C. statehood efforts to “ full-bore socialism , ” telling Laura Ingraham in June 2019 that “ as long as I ’ m the majority leader of the Senate , none of that stuff is going anywhere.
” President Donald Trump also said that he would veto the bill if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite D.C. residents paying full federal taxes , they are not granted voting representation in Congress .
While the District of Columbia would be the smallest state in terms of area , its population of approximately 700,000 is greater than that of both Wyoming and Vermont .
The district is overwhelmingly liberal , and would all but guarantee two additional Democratic senators and a Democratic representative in the House .
While Holmes Norton ’ s bill is unlikely to become law , public support for D.C. statehood has increased .
Forty-eight percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they favored the measure , up from a 2019 Gallup poll that found that only 29 percent of Americans supported the measure .
A version of this article appeared on The Daily Caller News Foundation website .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday that would make Washington, D.C., a state.
The Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which had 227 Democratic co-sponsors, was originally introduced by Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C.’s nonvoting at-large representative in Congress, in October of last year.
It passed Friday 232-180 without any Republican support.
“My great-grandfather, who walked away from slavery in Virginia, got as far as the District of Columbia — got freedom, but not to equality,” Holmes Norton told NPR’s Ari Shapiro.
Though the bill was all but assured to pass the Democratic House, it is likely dead-on-arrival in the Republican Senate.
Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell likened the D.C. statehood efforts to “full-bore socialism,” telling Laura Ingraham in June 2019 that “as long as I’m the majority leader of the Senate, none of that stuff is going anywhere.”
For the first time in my memory, I actually agree with Nancy Pelosi: I am the grim reaper when it comes to stopping the Democrats’ socialist agenda. pic.twitter.com/mjQaJUPirb — Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) June 14, 2019
President Donald Trump also said that he would veto the bill if it landed on his desk in a statement.
Should D.C. be a state? Yes No
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Despite D.C. residents paying full federal taxes, they are not granted voting representation in Congress.
While the District of Columbia would be the smallest state in terms of area, its population of approximately 700,000 is greater than that of both Wyoming and Vermont.
The district is overwhelmingly liberal, and would all but guarantee two additional Democratic senators and a Democratic representative in the House.
While Holmes Norton’s bill is unlikely to become law, public support for D.C. statehood has increased. Forty-eight percent of respondents to a 2020 Harris poll said they favored the measure, up from a 2019 Gallup poll that found that only 29 percent of Americans supported the measure.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of their original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org
A version of this article appeared on The Daily Caller News Foundation website.
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westernjournal--2020-06-26--Fed Judge: Protests Got ‘Preferential Treatment’ over Churches in NY

A federal judge on Friday blocked Democratic Gov .
Andrew Cuomo and other New York leaders from prohibiting outdoor religious gatherings due to the coronavirus after officials endorsed mass protests .
Judge Gary Sharpe issued a preliminary injunction against Cuomo , Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Attorney General Letitia James forbidding virus-related restrictions on outdoor religious services .
Sharpe ’ s ruling said the regulations resulted in the “ curtailment of fundamental rights without compelling justification , ” especially amid leaders ’ support for outdoor protests .
The Thomas More Society , which specializes in religious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the New York officials on June 12 .
“ We are pleased that Judge Sharpe was able to see through the sham of Governor Cuomo ’ s ‘ Social Distancing Protocol ’ which went right out the window as soon as he and Mayor de Blasio saw a mass protest movement they favored taking to the streets by the thousands , ” The Thomas More Society wrote in a news release on Friday .
TRENDING : Senior House Democrat Getting Trounced by Ex-Middle School Principal in Primary Shocker “ Suddenly , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer necessary to ‘ save lives.
’ ” “ Yet they were continuing to ban high school graduations and other outdoor gatherings exceeding a mere 25 people , ” the news release continued .
“ This decision is an important step toward inhibiting the suddenly emerging trend of exercising absolute monarchy on pretext of public health .
What this kind of regime really meant in practice is freedom for me , but not for thee.
” “ Protest .
Just be smart about it , ” Cuomo said during a June 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you can do many things now as long as you ’ re smart about it , right ?
You can reopen , you can go into a store and you can do a lot of things , just be smart.
” Cuomo did not apply the same logic to religious services , according to the injunction , as Executive Order 202.10 forbade religious gatherings despite being smaller than most protests .
Cuomo ’ s order stated that “ all nonessential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reasons ( e.g .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ other social events ) are canceled or postponed , ” and that “ individuals should not gather in houses of worship , homes , or other locations for religious services until the end of this public health emergency.
” “ Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio could have just as easily discouraged protests , short of condemning their message , in the name of public health and exercised discretion to suspend enforcement for public safety reasons instead of encouraging what they knew was a flagrant disregard of the outdoor limits and social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They could have also been silent .
But by acting as they did , Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio sent a clear message that mass protests are deserving of preferential treatment.
” A version of this article appeared on The Daily Caller News Foundation website .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A federal judge on Friday blocked Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other New York leaders from prohibiting outdoor religious gatherings due to the coronavirus after officials endorsed mass protests.
Judge Gary Sharpe issued a preliminary injunction against Cuomo, Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Attorney General Letitia James forbidding virus-related restrictions on outdoor religious services.
Sharpe’s ruling said the regulations resulted in the “curtailment of fundamental rights without compelling justification,” especially amid leaders’ support for outdoor protests.
The Thomas More Society, which specializes in religious freedom cases, filed the initial lawsuit against the New York officials on June 12.
“We are pleased that Judge Sharpe was able to see through the sham of Governor Cuomo’s ‘Social Distancing Protocol’ which went right out the window as soon as he and Mayor de Blasio saw a mass protest movement they favored taking to the streets by the thousands,” The Thomas More Society wrote in a news release on Friday.
“Suddenly, the limit on ‘mass gatherings’ was no longer necessary to ‘save lives.’”
“Yet they were continuing to ban high school graduations and other outdoor gatherings exceeding a mere 25 people,” the news release continued.
“This decision is an important step toward inhibiting the suddenly emerging trend of exercising absolute monarchy on pretext of public health. What this kind of regime really meant in practice is freedom for me, but not for thee.”
“Protest. Just be smart about it,” Cuomo said during a June 1 news conference.
Do you support this ruling? Yes No
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“With this virus, you can do many things now as long as you’re smart about it, right? You can reopen, you can go into a store and you can do a lot of things, just be smart.”
Cuomo did not apply the same logic to religious services, according to the injunction, as Executive Order 202.10 forbade religious gatherings despite being smaller than most protests.
Cuomo’s order stated that “all nonessential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reasons (e.g. worship services, parties, celebrations or other social events) are canceled or postponed,” and that “individuals should not gather in houses of worship, homes, or other locations for religious services until the end of this public health emergency.”
Sharpe called this dichotomy “preferential treatment.”
“Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio could have just as easily discouraged protests, short of condemning their message, in the name of public health and exercised discretion to suspend enforcement for public safety reasons instead of encouraging what they knew was a flagrant disregard of the outdoor limits and social distancing rules,” Sharpe wrote.
“They could have also been silent. But by acting as they did, Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio sent a clear message that mass protests are deserving of preferential treatment.”
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of their original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
A version of this article appeared on The Daily Caller News Foundation website.
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westernjournal--2020-06-26--Biden’s Racist Past: Voted To Protect Tax Status of Private Segregated Schools

Doing the job the establishment media will not do , at least now that Joe Biden has become the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee , the Washington Free Beacon has looked into the voting record of the elder statesman .
What it found should call into question the media caricature of Biden as a racial healer .
Biden , who serves as the poster boy for career politicians and the D.C. “ swamp , ” spent 36 years representing Delaware in the United States Senate .
First taking office at the age of 30 during the Nixon administration , Biden has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 1979 , Biden voted against stripping the tax-exempt status of so-called “ white flight academies , ” racially segregated private schools that popped up following the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling that ruled segregated public schools unconstitutional .
The fact that Biden would vote in such a way should not come as a surprise .
Back when liberal Trump-haters had numerous alternatives to Biden , establishment media publications actually did do some digging into Biden ’ s past .
New York Magazine put together an article highlighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the issue of race .
From referring to state-mandated school integration as “ the most racist concept you can come up with ” in the 1970s to describing his future boss Barack Obama as “ the first sort of mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean ” three decades later , very little seems to have changed regarding Biden ’ s views of minorities .
TRENDING : Senior House Democrat Getting Trounced by Ex-Middle School Principal in Primary Shocker Even after he became vice president to America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make race-baiting or racially insensitive remarks .
In 2012 , he assured a mostly black crowd in Virginia that Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney would “ put y ’ all back in chains.
” On the campaign trail last summer , Biden uttered perhaps the most outrageous statement of all : “ Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids.
” The implication was that all minorities , including African-Americans , are poor .
The idea that all “ white kids ” are not poor is equally unfounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdo himself .
Just last month , he told black radio host Charlamagne tha God , “ If you have a problem figuring out whether you ’ re for me or Trump , then you ain ’ t black.
” Even if Biden does pick a black woman as his running mate , that will do nothing to erase the Democratic Party ’ s horrendous record on race .
Adding a black woman to the presidential ticket will not erase the fact that most of the opposition to the Civil Rights Act of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Contrary to the media narrative , it ’ s Republicans who have delivered for African-Americans .
The Republican Party was founded for the specific purpose of stopping the spread of slavery in the United States .
The Democrats , on the other hand , pushed back on Republicans ’ efforts to abolish slavery and establish racial equality .
For an example of this , look no further than the Democrats ’ nearly unanimous opposition to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution , which abolished slavery in the United States .
As African-American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Journal last June , Democrats are “ the party of the Klan , Jim Crow [ and ] segregation.
” In contrast , Republicans are the party of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln .
The legacy of Republicans working to advance the well-being of African-Americans continues to this day .
As Arizona state Rep. Walt Blackman explained in a recent Western Journal Op-Ed , “ [ B ] efore the shutdowns put our economy on pause , African-American unemployment was at the lowest rate ever.
” In addition , Republicans have established themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children in lower-income neighborhoods with terrible public schools to obtain vouchers enabling them to attend a better school .
Polling has shown that support for school choice is especially high in the African-American community .
In an effort to please the powerful constituency of teachers ’ unions , Joe Biden , like most other Democrats , has come out on the other side of this debate .
Apparently , he failed to notice that support for school choice enabled Republican Ron DeSantis to win 18 percent of the African-American female vote in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phenomenon repeat itself at the national level , Biden will be in big trouble .
A century and a half of American history has shown that Democrats in general and Joe Biden in particular care very little about achieving equality for African-Americans .
It remains to be seen whether voters of all races will keep this in mind when they head to the polls in November .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Doing the job the establishment media will not do, at least now that Joe Biden has become the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, the Washington Free Beacon has looked into the voting record of the elder statesman. What it found should call into question the media caricature of Biden as a racial healer.
Biden, who serves as the poster boy for career politicians and the D.C. “swamp,” spent 36 years representing Delaware in the United States Senate. First taking office at the age of 30 during the Nixon administration, Biden has known virtually no other career besides politics.
In 1979, Biden voted against stripping the tax-exempt status of so-called “white flight academies,” racially segregated private schools that popped up following the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling that ruled segregated public schools unconstitutional.
The fact that Biden would vote in such a way should not come as a surprise. Back when liberal Trump-haters had numerous alternatives to Biden, establishment media publications actually did do some digging into Biden’s past. New York Magazine put together an article highlighting the worst of Biden’s record on the issue of race.
From referring to state-mandated school integration as “the most racist concept you can come up with” in the 1970s to describing his future boss Barack Obama as “the first sort of mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean” three decades later, very little seems to have changed regarding Biden’s views of minorities.
Even after he became vice president to America’s first African-American president, Biden continued to make race-baiting or racially insensitive remarks. In 2012, he assured a mostly black crowd in Virginia that Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney would “put y’all back in chains.”
On the campaign trail last summer, Biden uttered perhaps the most outrageous statement of all: “Poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids.”
The implication was that all minorities, including African-Americans, are poor. The idea that all “white kids” are not poor is equally unfounded.
Will Joe Biden's past hurt him with African-American voters in the fall? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 84% (1597 Votes) No: 16% (313 Votes)
Somehow, Biden still manages to outdo himself. Just last month, he told black radio host Charlamagne tha God, “If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.”
Even if Biden does pick a black woman as his running mate, that will do nothing to erase the Democratic Party’s horrendous record on race.
Adding a black woman to the presidential ticket will not erase the fact that most of the opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 came from Democrats, not Republicans.
Contrary to the media narrative, it’s Republicans who have delivered for African-Americans. The Republican Party was founded for the specific purpose of stopping the spread of slavery in the United States.
The Democrats, on the other hand, pushed back on Republicans’ efforts to abolish slavery and establish racial equality. For an example of this, look no further than the Democrats’ nearly unanimous opposition to the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished slavery in the United States.
As African-American conservative activist Brandon Tatum told The Western Journal last June, Democrats are “the party of the Klan, Jim Crow [and] segregation.” In contrast, Republicans are the party of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
The legacy of Republicans working to advance the well-being of African-Americans continues to this day.
As Arizona state Rep. Walt Blackman explained in a recent Western Journal Op-Ed, “[B]efore the shutdowns put our economy on pause, African-American unemployment was at the lowest rate ever.”
In addition, Republicans have established themselves as champions of school choice, enabling children in lower-income neighborhoods with terrible public schools to obtain vouchers enabling them to attend a better school. Polling has shown that support for school choice is especially high in the African-American community.
In an effort to please the powerful constituency of teachers’ unions, Joe Biden, like most other Democrats, has come out on the other side of this debate.
Apparently, he failed to notice that support for school choice enabled Republican Ron DeSantis to win 18 percent of the African-American female vote in the 2018 Florida gubernatorial election. Should that phenomenon repeat itself at the national level, Biden will be in big trouble.
A century and a half of American history has shown that Democrats in general and Joe Biden in particular care very little about achieving equality for African-Americans. It remains to be seen whether voters of all races will keep this in mind when they head to the polls in November.
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westernjournal--2020-06-26--Two Politicians Hit with Multiple Voter Fraud Charges Connected to Mail-In Ballots

The New Jersey Attorney General filed voting fraud charges Thursday against four men in connection to the Paterson City Council race on May 12 .
All four men were charged with criminal conduct involving mail-in ballots .
Jackson and Mendez were charged with fraud in casting mail-in votes , unauthorized possession of ballots , tampering with public records and falsifying records .
Mendez was additionally charged with election fraud and false registration .
TRENDING : Senior House Democrat Getting Trounced by Ex-Middle School Principal in Primary Shocker “ Today ’ s charges send a clear message : if you try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jersey , we will find you and we will hold you accountable , ” Grewal said in a statement .
“ We will not allow a small number of criminals to undermine the public ’ s confidence in our democratic process.
” The Attorney General ’ s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability investigation into the election began when the U.S .
Postal Inspection Service found hundreds of mail-in ballots in a mailbox in Paterson , New Jersey .
Many more were found in a mailbox near the township of Haledon .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right to free and fair elections , and we will ensure that happens , ” OPIA director Thomas Eicher said .
“ Our office ’ s criminal investigations complement a number of other safeguards that New Jersey has implemented to ensure the integrity of our elections.
” The allegations against the four men stem from voters ’ ability to assign a “ bearer ” of their ballot to deliver it for them instead of placing it in a “ drop box ” or delivering it to the County Board of Elections .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collect and deliver ballots for no more than three voters in an election , and a candidate in the election is never permitted to serve as a bearer , ” Shore News Network reported .
In addition to reports of Jackson , Mendez and Khalique approaching voters and collecting ballots without a listed bearer , authorities found a video of Razyen “ holding and flipping through a stack ” of mail-in ballot outer envelopes without a bearer filled out , according to the Office of the Attorney General news release .
“ While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another episode of potential corruption in Paterson , I remain hopeful that this is the final chapter in what unfortunately has plagued our city for generations , ” Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said in a statement , according to NJ.com .
RELATED : Experts Warn 133-Year-Old US Law Is Potential Achilles ' Heel of Electoral College The Board of Elections Commissioners decided not to count 800 vote-by-mail ballots that had been bundled together in the same election .
Mail-in voting has been largely discussed as people look for safe ways to hold the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have raised concerns about the potential for voter fraud .
Whereas absentee ballots can be requested by voters — in some states without an excuse — a ballot is automatically mailed to every eligible voter in a vote-by-mail system , according to the National Conference of State Legislatures .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The New Jersey Attorney General filed voting fraud charges Thursday against four men in connection to the Paterson City Council race on May 12.
Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced voting fraud charges against 1st Ward Councilman Michael Jackson, 3rd Ward Council-Elect Alex Mendez, Shelim Khalique and Abu Razyen.
All four men were charged with criminal conduct involving mail-in ballots.
Jackson and Mendez were charged with fraud in casting mail-in votes, unauthorized possession of ballots, tampering with public records and falsifying records.
Mendez was additionally charged with election fraud and false registration.
“Today’s charges send a clear message: if you try to tamper with an election in New Jersey, we will find you and we will hold you accountable,” Grewal said in a statement.
“We will not allow a small number of criminals to undermine the public’s confidence in our democratic process.”
The Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability investigation into the election began when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service found hundreds of mail-in ballots in a mailbox in Paterson, New Jersey. Many more were found in a mailbox near the township of Haledon.
“The residents of New Jersey have a right to free and fair elections, and we will ensure that happens,” OPIA director Thomas Eicher said.
Do you think it would be easy to tamper with votes if the U.S. had a nationwide vote-by-mail system? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (4388 Votes) No: 1% (47 Votes)
“Our office’s criminal investigations complement a number of other safeguards that New Jersey has implemented to ensure the integrity of our elections.”
The allegations against the four men stem from voters’ ability to assign a “bearer” of their ballot to deliver it for them instead of placing it in a “drop box” or delivering it to the County Board of Elections.
“Under state law, a bearer may collect and deliver ballots for no more than three voters in an election, and a candidate in the election is never permitted to serve as a bearer,” Shore News Network reported.
In addition to reports of Jackson, Mendez and Khalique approaching voters and collecting ballots without a listed bearer, authorities found a video of Razyen “holding and flipping through a stack” of mail-in ballot outer envelopes without a bearer filled out, according to the Office of the Attorney General news release.
“While it’s gravely disappointing to see another episode of potential corruption in Paterson, I remain hopeful that this is the final chapter in what unfortunately has plagued our city for generations,” Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh said in a statement, according to NJ.com.
The Board of Elections Commissioners decided not to count 800 vote-by-mail ballots that had been bundled together in the same election.
Mail-in voting has been largely discussed as people look for safe ways to hold the 2020 presidential election, though many Republicans have raised concerns about the potential for voter fraud.
Whereas absentee ballots can be requested by voters — in some states without an excuse — a ballot is automatically mailed to every eligible voter in a vote-by-mail system, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
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westernjournal--2020-06-26--Tom Brady Uses Legendary American Quote To Tell Off Pro-Lockdown Scolds

The country ’ s media has apparently pivoted back to promoting fear about the coronavirus now that massive demonstrations amid nationwide civil unrest have somewhat quieted down , but one NFL legend is not buying in to the panic .
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is reported to be still grinding toward greatness — working out like normal in Florida , despite an increase in cases in the state .
More than 8,900 new coronavirus cases were reported in the state on Friday , WKMG-TV reported .
But following months of wall-to-wall coronavirus coverage and weeks of mass protesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death of George Floyd in Minneapolis , Brady is still conditioning his body and mind for the upcoming season .
He ’ s also practicing with his new teammates , in spite of recommendations from the NFL Players Association against doing so .
TRENDING : Senior House Democrat Getting Trounced by Ex-Middle School Principal in Primary Shocker “ Please be advised that it is our consensus medical opinion that in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases in certain states that no players should be engaged in practicing together in private workouts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement last week , according to NFL.com .
“ Our goal is to have all players and your families as healthy as possible in the coming months.
” Brady , now 42 and being criticized for ignoring that advice , sent out a message Thursday on Instagram that seemed very much like a shot at all those who are spreading fear amid the country ’ s woes .
Quoting a portion of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ’ s 1933 inauguration speech , Brady posted an image of himself hydrating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Only thing we have to fear , is fear itself.
” The post came on the six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback ’ s Instagram story , so it was not available to share directly , though The Athletic ’ s Greg Auman did post a screen shot of it to Twitter .
“ Another quote on Instagram from Tom Brady , again practicing with Bucs teammates in Tampa today after NFLPA medical director recommended players not to practice in groups , ” Auman tweeted .
RELATED : Woods and Manning Beat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Had It All A small group of healthy professional athletes are under fire for exercising outdoors in the sun .
We are living in strange times indeed .
Brady is now a player in Tampa amid a pandemic which apparently only targets people who aren ’ t toppling statues and looting retail stores .
We don ’ t yet know if what the upcoming football season will look like .
Even if we do have one , some of us won ’ t watch it , as the league has apparently embraced those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by players during the national anthem seems certain to make a comeback .
But Brady , for his part , is quietly putting in the same work that helped him succeed with the Patriots .
He brought his winning mentality to the Sunshine State from New England , and seems to be as motivated as ever .
Fear will not be the force which motivates Brady as he attempts to lead a new team , in a new city and state , to a Super Bowl .
We are committed to truth and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Read our editorial standards .

The country’s media has apparently pivoted back to promoting fear about the coronavirus now that massive demonstrations amid nationwide civil unrest have somewhat quieted down, but one NFL legend is not buying in to the panic.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady is reported to be still grinding toward greatness — working out like normal in Florida, despite an increase in cases in the state.
More than 8,900 new coronavirus cases were reported in the state on Friday, WKMG-TV reported.
But following months of wall-to-wall coronavirus coverage and weeks of mass protesting or rioting in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Brady is still conditioning his body and mind for the upcoming season.
He’s also practicing with his new teammates, in spite of recommendations from the NFL Players Association against doing so.
“Brady-Chopper” back in action high about Berkeley Prep for Tom #Brady and his Bucs Bunch’s latest workouts. Despite NFLPA’s recommendation for players to stop workouts together Brady continues to get his new team ready. #GoBucs @FOX13News @TheHerd @FOXSports @TomBrady pic.twitter.com/Nkr5eSKnTn — Kevin ODonnell Fox13 (@ODonnellFox13) June 23, 2020
“Please be advised that it is our consensus medical opinion that in light of the increase in COVID-19 cases in certain states that no players should be engaged in practicing together in private workouts,” NFLPA medical director Dr. Thom Mayer said in a statement last week, according to NFL.com. “Our goal is to have all players and your families as healthy as possible in the coming months.”
Brady, now 42 and being criticized for ignoring that advice, sent out a message Thursday on Instagram that seemed very much like a shot at all those who are spreading fear amid the country’s woes.
Do you support Brady's decision to continue working out with his teammates? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 97% (608 Votes) No: 3% (20 Votes)
Quoting a portion of former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 1933 inauguration speech, Brady posted an image of himself hydrating.
A caption over the photo reads: “Only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.”
The post came on the six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback’s Instagram story, so it was not available to share directly, though The Athletic’s Greg Auman did post a screen shot of it to Twitter.
“Another quote on Instagram from Tom Brady, again practicing with Bucs teammates in Tampa today after NFLPA medical director recommended players not to practice in groups,” Auman tweeted.
Another quote on Instagram from Tom Brady, again practicing with Bucs teammates in Tampa today after NFLPA medical director recommended players not to practice in groups: pic.twitter.com/2wqVT7hN8c — Greg Auman (@gregauman) June 25, 2020
A small group of healthy professional athletes are under fire for exercising outdoors in the sun. We are living in strange times indeed.
Brady is now a player in Tampa amid a pandemic which apparently only targets people who aren’t toppling statues and looting retail stores.
We don’t yet know if what the upcoming football season will look like.
Even if we do have one, some of us won’t watch it, as the league has apparently embraced those wishing to destabilize the country.
Kneeling by players during the national anthem seems certain to make a comeback.
But Brady, for his part, is quietly putting in the same work that helped him succeed with the Patriots.
He brought his winning mentality to the Sunshine State from New England, and seems to be as motivated as ever.
Fear will not be the force which motivates Brady as he attempts to lead a new team, in a new city and state, to a Super Bowl.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
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westernjournal--2020-06-26--Trump Rallies Thousands of Young Americans Only Months Away from Election

President Donald Trump departed Washington , D.C. , with a row to hoe this past week as he returned to the campaign trail amid nationwide civil unrest and the lingering throes of a global pandemic .
Eager for a return to his signature , stadium-size campaign events after a roughly three-month hiatus , Trump was at odds with media naysayers and cautious public health experts as he rallied supporters in the southern battlegrounds of Oklahoma and Arizona .
Prominent conservative commentators and political figures , however , applauded Tuesday in the hours prior to the president ’ s headline appearance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Phoenix , telling The Western Journal there was no better time for the campaign — or the electorate — to receive a shot in the arm .
“ [ Trump ] has to get the spirit of America up , ” Republican Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona said .
“ And that ’ s what he ’ s good at .
He ’ s good at rallying .
This is the fighter-in-chief.
” “ The president has a unique skill-set of getting people ramped up and rallied .
We have a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Nov. 3 , and so it ’ s important to feel that vibration , feel that new movement of getting back this country , making it great again and continuing to make it even greater , ” Gosar said .
TRENDING : Senior House Democrat Getting Trounced by Ex-Middle School Principal in Primary Shocker Trump ’ s Tuesday event filled Dream City megachurch to near-capacity with roughly 3,000 young attendees showing up to see the president speak , Politico reported , alongside GOP Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida , Acting Director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior advisor Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump , Jr .
It fell just three days after the president ’ s comeback rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , unexpectedly failed to fill the BOK Center ’ s 19,000 seats .
Coming in an economic and social climate that is largely unsuited for celebratory rallies , both events paled in comparison to the president ’ s pre-virus campaign stops in terms of crowd size .
According to The Charlotte Observer , Trump ’ s March 2 rally at Bojangles ’ Coliseum in North Carolina brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overflow crowd .
Airing the more recent Tulsa rally on national television , however , Fox News reported its largest audience in network history Saturday night .
Viral transmission fears , an economy short roughly 40 million jobs and at-times violent nationwide anti-police protests have all been floated as potential reasons for the comparatively low in-person turnout .
Former Tuscon police officer and black conservative commentator Brandon Tatum , however , told The Western Journal he was less concerned with the attendance numbers .
“ It ’ s very difficult to pack a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Tatum said .
“ But young people can see the benefit of coming out and hearing the president speak , coming out and being a united front , and I think it ’ s impressive , in my personal opinion.
” Across the aisle , 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has struggled with rally attendance since well before his campaign made the jump to social media events in light of the ongoing pandemic .
RELATED : Two Politicians Hit with Multiple Voter Fraud Charges Connected to Mail-In Ballots Reports seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest-performing rallies , including a recent primary victory night in Detroit and a Philadelphia campaign kickoff event in May 2019 , have pulled in anywhere between 2,000 and 6,000 attendees .
Trump , for his part , has long been known for filling stadiums nationwide to standing-room-only and beyond .
According to Heavy.com , the president filled the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum to its 14,500-person maximum capacity for a rally in February , with thousands more viewing the event from screens outside the stadium .
“ That ’ s how the president wins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s because he has energy .
He has voter turnout , enthusiasm .
Those things are important to the campaign.
” “ People want to hear from the leader , right ?
We don ’ t want a leader that ’ s sitting in a basement waiting for talking points .
We want a man that ’ s unafraid to come out on stage and speak to the people and talk about values , ” he said .
At the time of this report , the president ’ s campaign schedule is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will rally with Alabama ’ s U.S. Senate-hopeful Tommy Tuberville prior to the political upstart ’ s primary runoff battle with former Trump administration Attorney General Jeff Sessions .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

President Donald Trump departed Washington, D.C., with a row to hoe this past week as he returned to the campaign trail amid nationwide civil unrest and the lingering throes of a global pandemic.
Eager for a return to his signature, stadium-size campaign events after a roughly three-month hiatus, Trump was at odds with media naysayers and cautious public health experts as he rallied supporters in the southern battlegrounds of Oklahoma and Arizona.
Prominent conservative commentators and political figures, however, applauded Tuesday in the hours prior to the president’s headline appearance at a packed Students for Trump convention in Phoenix, telling The Western Journal there was no better time for the campaign — or the electorate — to receive a shot in the arm.
“[Trump] has to get the spirit of America up,” Republican Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona said. “And that’s what he’s good at. He’s good at rallying. This is the fighter-in-chief.”
“The president has a unique skill-set of getting people ramped up and rallied. We have a little over 130 days left before we vote on Nov. 3, and so it’s important to feel that vibration, feel that new movement of getting back this country, making it great again and continuing to make it even greater,” Gosar said.
[jwplayer WmzxYVfw]
Trump’s Tuesday event filled Dream City megachurch to near-capacity with roughly 3,000 young attendees showing up to see the president speak, Politico reported, alongside GOP Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida, Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell, Trump campaign senior advisor Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump, Jr.
It fell just three days after the president’s comeback rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, unexpectedly failed to fill the BOK Center’s 19,000 seats.
Coming in an economic and social climate that is largely unsuited for celebratory rallies, both events paled in comparison to the president’s pre-virus campaign stops in terms of crowd size. According to The Charlotte Observer, Trump’s March 2 rally at Bojangles’ Coliseum in North Carolina brought in roughly 10,000 attendees, including the overflow crowd.
Will you be attending a Trump rally before the 2020 presidential election? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 62% (182 Votes) No: 38% (111 Votes)
Airing the more recent Tulsa rally on national television, however, Fox News reported its largest audience in network history Saturday night.
Viral transmission fears, an economy short roughly 40 million jobs and at-times violent nationwide anti-police protests have all been floated as potential reasons for the comparatively low in-person turnout.
Former Tuscon police officer and black conservative commentator Brandon Tatum, however, told The Western Journal he was less concerned with the attendance numbers.
“It’s very difficult to pack a house like this — especially during COVID-19,” Tatum said. “But young people can see the benefit of coming out and hearing the president speak, coming out and being a united front, and I think it’s impressive, in my personal opinion.”
Across the aisle, 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has struggled with rally attendance since well before his campaign made the jump to social media events in light of the ongoing pandemic.
Reports seem to indicate some of Biden’s highest-performing rallies, including a recent primary victory night in Detroit and a Philadelphia campaign kickoff event in May 2019, have pulled in anywhere between 2,000 and 6,000 attendees.
[jwplayer bLencQRu]
Trump, for his part, has long been known for filling stadiums nationwide to standing-room-only and beyond.
According to Heavy.com, the president filled the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum to its 14,500-person maximum capacity for a rally in February, with thousands more viewing the event from screens outside the stadium.
“That’s how the president wins,” Tatum said. “It’s because he has energy. He has voter turnout, enthusiasm. Those things are important to the campaign.”
“People want to hear from the leader, right? We don’t want a leader that’s sitting in a basement waiting for talking points. We want a man that’s unafraid to come out on stage and speak to the people and talk about values,” he said.
At the time of this report, the president’s campaign schedule is clear until July, when the president will rally with Alabama’s U.S. Senate-hopeful Tommy Tuberville prior to the political upstart’s primary runoff battle with former Trump administration Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
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westernjournal--2020-06-26--Mike Huckabee: The Radical Left Is Becoming Like ‘Islamic Terrorists’

During the brief , violent period during which the Taliban had unquestioned control over the entirety of Afghanistan , the regime was noted for its wanton destruction of the country ’ s rich history of art and cultural sites .
The most notorious and shameful example of this occurred in March 2001 when the regime , paying no heed to an international uproar , destroyed the Buddha statues of Bamiyan .
The massive representations of Buddha , built out of stone cliffs in the 6th century , were blown up because the radical Islamic government considered them idols .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could destroy Buddhist art in the country unimpeded .
A few months later , the country ’ s most infamous tenant engaged in the most egregious act of terrorism in modern history and , in very short order , the Taliban found it was no longer in full control of Afghanistan .
Yet The Associated Press reported last year that workers at the National Museum of Afghanistan were still toiling to restore art that was smashed by the Taliban when they ransacked the museum ’ s collection of artifacts , shattering over 2,500 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Getting Trounced by Ex-Middle School Principal in Primary Shocker Take note , Lafayette Square protesters and your brethren nationwide : You have miles to go before you sleep .
And that ’ s rather the character of these protests .
It ’ s moved beyond just Confederate generals or American historical figures who were slaveowners .
Just this week , protesters in Madison , Wisconsin tore down a statue of an abolitionist immigrant who gave his life for the Union .
Former Arkansas Gov .
Mike Huckabee seemed to notice this parallel between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governments and terrorist sought to do during a segment this week on Stuart Varney ’ s Fox Business show .
The segment was touched off by all-purpose cultural swindler Shaun King ’ s suggestion that it was high time we start ripping down statues of white Jesus .
King , probably trying to redirect attention from his latest digital “ journalism ” venture — which seems to be either a failure or a scam , according to a Daily Beast review of its curious finances — made news with this tweet , among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Memorial 'Degrading , ' Freed Slaves Who Paid for It Would Disagree In his appearance on Fox Business , Huckabee said that “ the only thing you can do is to laugh at these loons.
” As Huckabee noted , in Austin , Texas , a statue of blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan was defaced — although not toppled .
I ’ m not quite sure what ’ s so systemically racist about “ Crossfire , ” but OK. “ It ’ s been often said , and it ’ s true , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand its history is like an individual who loses his memory , ” Huckabee said .
“ When a culture doesn ’ t know its history , it ’ s living in chaos .
“ We don ’ t know our history .
We ’ re living in chaos , and these crazy people on the left are now becoming like Islamic terrorists , destroying every last vestige of art and culture and trying to erase history.
” At least there was an international outcry when the Buddhas of Bamiyan were destroyed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been unusually unhelpful in this department .
“ We don ’ t know our history , ” the Republican noted .
“ We ’ re living in chaos , and these crazy people on the left are now becoming like Islamic terrorists , destroying every last vestige of art and culture and trying to erase history.
” “ [ The Democrats ] have already pretty much surrendered to the far left , ” Huckabee said .
“ I mean , you ’ ve got the mayor of Seattle calling that nonsense ‘ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love , ” he continued , referring to the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone in Seattle , where protesters refuse to allow police in .
“ And now , with people being murdered in that little zone , even she ’ s come around to realize it ’ s stupid — but she ’ s still not doing it forcefully , because she ’ s so afraid of her own shadow .
As for the statues , Huckabee said there was a lot we “ ought not to embrace but that we ought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but this is hardly the point anymore .
It ’ s not that Ulysses S. Grant had a complicated past with slave-owning before he helped free the slaves as the commanding general of the Union Army .
It ’ s that his statue was there and was part of U.S. history .
Thus , it had to come down , not unlike the Buddha statues of Bamiyan .
No , the American far left isn ’ t transmogrifying themselves into the Taliban .
Sharing attributes with them — and other terrorist organizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t a particularly good look , though .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

During the brief, violent period during which the Taliban had unquestioned control over the entirety of Afghanistan, the regime was noted for its wanton destruction of the country’s rich history of art and cultural sites.
The most notorious and shameful example of this occurred in March 2001 when the regime, paying no heed to an international uproar, destroyed the Buddha statues of Bamiyan.
The massive representations of Buddha, built out of stone cliffs in the 6th century, were blown up because the radical Islamic government considered them idols.
It was one of the last times they could destroy Buddhist art in the country unimpeded. A few months later, the country’s most infamous tenant engaged in the most egregious act of terrorism in modern history and, in very short order, the Taliban found it was no longer in full control of Afghanistan.
Yet The Associated Press reported last year that workers at the National Museum of Afghanistan were still toiling to restore art that was smashed by the Taliban when they ransacked the museum’s collection of artifacts, shattering over 2,500 statues.
Take note, Lafayette Square protesters and your brethren nationwide: You have miles to go before you sleep.
And that’s rather the character of these protests. It’s moved beyond just Confederate generals or American historical figures who were slaveowners. Just this week, protesters in Madison, Wisconsin tore down a statue of an abolitionist immigrant who gave his life for the Union.
Good work, folks.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee seemed to notice this parallel between the current statue-toppling crowd and what hyper-Islamic governments and terrorist sought to do during a segment this week on Stuart Varney’s Fox Business show.
Did Mike Huckabee go too far by comparing protesters to terrorists? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 1% (27 Votes) No: 99% (2179 Votes)
The segment was touched off by all-purpose cultural swindler Shaun King’s suggestion that it was high time we start ripping down statues of white Jesus.
King, probably trying to redirect attention from his latest digital “journalism” venture — which seems to be either a failure or a scam, according to a Daily Beast review of its curious finances — made news with this tweet, among others:
Yes, I think the statues of the white European they claim is Jesus should also come down. They are a form of white supremacy. Always have been. In the Bible, when the family of Jesus wanted to hide, and blend in, guess where they went? EGYPT! Not Denmark. Tear them down. — Shaun King (@shaunking) June 22, 2020
Solid thinking.
In his appearance on Fox Business, Huckabee said that “the only thing you can do is to laugh at these loons.”
As Huckabee noted, in Austin, Texas, a statue of blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan was defaced — although not toppled. I’m not quite sure what’s so systemically racist about “Crossfire,” but OK.
Stevie Ray Vaughn??? One of greatest blues guitarists ever. When the leftist loons destroy every last piece of art and culture they are no different than radical Islamists who destroy art and antiquities to erase history. Wake up America! These aren’t kids-they are terrorists! https://t.co/cZ7v0LaaPM — Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) June 23, 2020
“It’s been often said, and it’s true, that a culture that doesn’t understand its history is like an individual who loses his memory,” Huckabee said. “When a culture doesn’t know its history, it’s living in chaos.
At least there was an international outcry when the Buddhas of Bamiyan were destroyed. The Democrats, Huckabee noted, have been unusually unhelpful in this department.
“We don’t know our history,” the Republican noted. “We’re living in chaos, and these crazy people on the left are now becoming like Islamic terrorists, destroying every last vestige of art and culture and trying to erase history.”
“[The Democrats] have already pretty much surrendered to the far left,” Huckabee said.
“I mean, you’ve got the mayor of Seattle calling that nonsense ‘a festival,’ ‘a summer of love,” he continued, referring to the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone in Seattle, where protesters refuse to allow police in.
“And now, with people being murdered in that little zone, even she’s come around to realize it’s stupid — but she’s still not doing it forcefully, because she’s so afraid of her own shadow.
As for the statues, Huckabee said there was a lot we “ought not to embrace but that we ought not to forget.” Which is true, but this is hardly the point anymore.
It’s not that Ulysses S. Grant had a complicated past with slave-owning before he helped free the slaves as the commanding general of the Union Army.
It’s that his statue was there and was part of U.S. history. Thus, it had to come down, not unlike the Buddha statues of Bamiyan.
No, the American far left isn’t transmogrifying themselves into the Taliban.
Sharing attributes with them — and other terrorist organizations like the Islamic State group — isn’t a particularly good look, though.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-06-26--Biden Gets an Unexpected Trump Welcome at Rare Speaking Event

Former Vice President Joe Biden was greeted by an army of supporters of President Donald Trump as he hit the campaign trail Thursday in Lancaster , Pennsylvania .
Fox News reported Trump supporters lined the street in front of the Lancaster Recreation Center as Biden arrived to discuss the Affordable Care Act with families who say the Obama administration-era legislation helped them .
Fox News producer Pat Ward shared a video on Twitter of the Trump supporters , who turned out in good numbers to Biden ’ s event , greeting a Trump-Pence-themed semi-truck .
TRENDING : Senior House Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Primary Shocker Another video shared on Twitter showed a Black Lives Matter protest on the sidewalk opposite of the Trump crowd .
Biden ’ s campaign was heavily criticized for apparently barring some local reporters from entering the recreation center to cover the event .
RELATED : Two Politicians Hit with Multiple Voter Fraud Charges Connected to Mail-In Ballots Trump campaign adviser Kimberly Guilfoyle noted on Twitter that the former vice president hadn ’ t held a formal news conference in nearly three months .
“ Basement Biden continues to run scared from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since he held a press conference .
One must wonder , is Biden more scared of the questions about his record or his answers ?
” she tweeted .
Biden spoke with three families at the event , during which he criticized Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus and the president ’ s opposition to the ACA .
Biden complained that Trump ’ s opposition to the ACA is “ cruel ” and “ heartless.
” “ It ’ s all because in my view he can ’ t abide the thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s great achievements , ” Biden said .
Biden later overstated the number of American deaths attributed to the coronavirus by a figure of roughly 1,000 times before catching himself .
“ People don ’ t have a job , people don ’ t know where to go , they don ’ t know what to do , ” Biden said .
“ Now we have over 120 million dead from COVID.
” As of Friday , roughly 124,000 American deaths have been attributed to the virus , according to data from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remarks also had to compete with chants from not only Trump supporters , but also the Black Lives Matter protesters .
The York Daily Record reported that the Trump supporters and the Black Lives Matter protesters were out of sight , but both groups were a mere 100 yards away from Biden .
The Trump supporters were chanting “ Four more years ” and “ USA , ” while the Black Lives Matter demonstrators were chanting : “ No justice , no peace , no racist police.
” The Daily Record reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden come outside and speak to them .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Former Vice President Joe Biden was greeted by an army of supporters of President Donald Trump as he hit the campaign trail Thursday in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Fox News reported Trump supporters lined the street in front of the Lancaster Recreation Center as Biden arrived to discuss the Affordable Care Act with families who say the Obama administration-era legislation helped them.
Karen Bosco, 62, of York County, is one of the supporters of President Donald Trump gathered outside the location for Joe Biden’s Lancaster County visit this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/div3DWuQke — Ed Mahon (@edmahonreporter) June 25, 2020
Fox News producer Pat Ward shared a video on Twitter of the Trump supporters, who turned out in good numbers to Biden’s event, greeting a Trump-Pence-themed semi-truck.
The Pro-Trump supporters outside of Joe Biden’s Lancaster, PA event have been joined by a truck. pic.twitter.com/wPADnQgcEt — Pat Ward (@WardDPatrick) June 25, 2020
Another video shared on Twitter showed a Black Lives Matter protest on the sidewalk opposite of the Trump crowd.
Lancaster-Pennsylvania Joe Biden to speak to a small group of families at the Lancaster Rec will be met by two group of protesters today..BLM and Trump supporters ..This guy leading in the polls ..Total nonsense!!..doubt he could fill a coffee shop pic.twitter.com/QsNNbMWXmE — Ruthann (@TeaBoots) June 25, 2020
Biden’s campaign was heavily criticized for apparently barring some local reporters from entering the recreation center to cover the event.
LNP is not permitted inside the building while Biden is speaking, I’m told by someone with the Biden Campaign. Only national outlets. When I asked why, I was told “space restrictions.” Disheartening to know that local media isn’t allowed to fully cover this event inside and out. — Ty Lohr (@tylohrphoto) June 25, 2020
Biden is hiding! His campaign blocked local reporters from covering Biden’s event yesterday in Lancaster, PA. Lancaster Online Editorial Board: “By shutting out this newspaper’s reporters, Biden campaign sends wrong message to Lancaster.”https://t.co/kWA1kGU39v — Trump War Room – Text TRUMP to 88022 (@TrumpWarRoom) June 26, 2020
Trump campaign adviser Kimberly Guilfoyle noted on Twitter that the former vice president hadn’t held a formal news conference in nearly three months.
“Basement Biden continues to run scared from reporters — it has been 85 days since he held a press conference. One must wonder, is Biden more scared of the questions about his record or his answers?” she tweeted.
Basement Biden continues to run scared from reporters – it has been 85 days since he held a press conference. One must wonder, is Biden more scared of the questions about his record or his answers?https://t.co/5wnlBBZ0uB — Kimberly Guilfoyle (@kimguilfoyle) June 26, 2020
Biden spoke with three families at the event, during which he criticized Trump’s response to the coronavirus and the president’s opposition to the ACA.
Do you think President Trump will be re-elected? Yes No
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Biden complained that Trump’s opposition to the ACA is “cruel” and “heartless.”
“It’s all because in my view he can’t abide the thought of letting stand one of President Obama’s great achievements,” Biden said.
Biden later overstated the number of American deaths attributed to the coronavirus by a figure of roughly 1,000 times before catching himself.
“People don’t have a job, people don’t know where to go, they don’t know what to do,” Biden said.
“Now we have over 120 million dead from COVID.”
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH JOE BIDEN? Joe Biden just said, “Now we have OVER 120 MILLION dead from COVID.” pic.twitter.com/QBQTDyzzZt — Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) June 25, 2020
As of Friday, roughly 124,000 American deaths have been attributed to the virus, according to data from Johns Hopkins.
Biden’s Lancaster remarks also had to compete with chants from not only Trump supporters, but also the Black Lives Matter protesters.
The York Daily Record reported that the Trump supporters and the Black Lives Matter protesters were out of sight, but both groups were a mere 100 yards away from Biden.
The Trump supporters were chanting “Four more years” and “USA,” while the Black Lives Matter demonstrators were chanting: “No justice, no peace, no racist police.”
The Daily Record reported that the Black Lives Matter protesters demanded that Biden come outside and speak to them.
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westernjournal--2020-06-26--Trump Administration Makes Major Play To Get Supreme Court To Ax Obamacare

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to invalidate the Affordable Care Act in a late-night brief filed Thursday , arguing that the individual mandate is unconstitutional .
U.S .
Solicitor General Noel Francisco and other Justice Department officials argued in the brief that the requirement for individuals to buy insurance is no longer valid after the penalty for noncompliance was axed by Congress in 2017 .
“ The individual mandate is not severable from the rest of the act , ” the Justice Department said , adding that because it can ’ t be separated , the entire act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s 2017 amendment does not alter the severability analysis because it left intact the critical statutory findings about the interconnectedness of these provisions — findings that were and remain the functional equivalent of an inseverability clause.
” The brief also asks the Supreme Court to overturn the pre-existing condition rules that forbid insurers from turning away customers or charging them more due to factors like age and health status , NBC News reported .
TRENDING : Senior House Democrat Getting Trounced by Ex-Middle School Principal in Primary Shocker “ Obamacare has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to focus on patient care , ” White House spokesman Judd Deere told The Washington Post after the brief was filed .
“ The American people deserve for Congress to work on a bipartisan basis with the President to provide quality , affordable care.
” Deere also said Obamacare “ limits choice , forces Americans to purchase unaffordable plans , and restricts patients with high-risk preexisting conditions from accessing the doctors and hospitals they need , ” according to NBC .
Democrats were not happy with the brief filing , especially in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ President Trump and the Republicans ’ campaign to rip away the protections and benefits of the Affordable Care Act in the middle of the coronavirus crisis is an act of unfathomable cruelty , ” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement .
Former Vice President Joe Biden , who has promised to expand Obamacare , said that if President Donald Trump got his way , people with complications from COVID-19 could be negatively impacted .
“ They would live their lives caught in a vice between Donald Trump ’ s twin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American people from the coronavirus and his heartless crusade to take health care protections away from American families , ” he said during a media conference .
RELATED : Biden Gets an Unexpected Trump Welcome at Rare Speaking Event The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010 , and has helped about 20 million Americans obtain medical insurance , Reuters reported .
Republicans have long viewed the law as excessive government instruction , and Trump has criticized its costs .
The Trump administration was joined by Texas and 17 other states in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to invalidate the Affordable Care Act in a late-night brief filed Thursday, arguing that the individual mandate is unconstitutional.
U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco and other Justice Department officials argued in the brief that the requirement for individuals to buy insurance is no longer valid after the penalty for noncompliance was axed by Congress in 2017.
“The individual mandate is not severable from the rest of the act,” the Justice Department said, adding that because it can’t be separated, the entire act should be axed.
“And Congress’s 2017 amendment does not alter the severability analysis because it left intact the critical statutory findings about the interconnectedness of these provisions — findings that were and remain the functional equivalent of an inseverability clause.”
The brief also asks the Supreme Court to overturn the pre-existing condition rules that forbid insurers from turning away customers or charging them more due to factors like age and health status, NBC News reported.
“Obamacare has been an unlawful failure and further illustrates the need to focus on patient care,” White House spokesman Judd Deere told The Washington Post after the brief was filed.
“The American people deserve for Congress to work on a bipartisan basis with the President to provide quality, affordable care.”
Deere also said Obamacare “limits choice, forces Americans to purchase unaffordable plans, and restricts patients with high-risk preexisting conditions from accessing the doctors and hospitals they need,” according to NBC.
Democrats were not happy with the brief filing, especially in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
Do you think Obamacare should be axed? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (2390 Votes) No: 1% (30 Votes)
“President Trump and the Republicans’ campaign to rip away the protections and benefits of the Affordable Care Act in the middle of the coronavirus crisis is an act of unfathomable cruelty,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.
Former Vice President Joe Biden, who has promised to expand Obamacare, said that if President Donald Trump got his way, people with complications from COVID-19 could be negatively impacted.
“They would live their lives caught in a vice between Donald Trump’s twin legacies: His failure to protect the American people from the coronavirus and his heartless crusade to take health care protections away from American families,” he said during a media conference.
“It’s cruel, it’s heartless, it’s callous.”
The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, and has helped about 20 million Americans obtain medical insurance, Reuters reported.
Republicans have long viewed the law as excessive government instruction, and Trump has criticized its costs.
The Trump administration was joined by Texas and 17 other states in its challenge to the law.
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westernjournal--2020-06-26--Biden Cancer Group Spent Insane Amounts on Salaries, Little on Cancer

Did you know that the way to cure cancer is to pay executives massive salaries ?
I ’ m not saying we shouldn ’ t pay them massive salaries to cure cancer .
Imagine , for instance , that you ’ re a vice president at Sanofi and that your division has come up with a treatment that significantly increases the five-year survival rate for an aggressive cancer .
While I ’ m sure the U.K .
Guardian , that bastion of the left , would run a scathing piece about your lavish home on the French Riviera and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ d write a full-throated defense of your ability to earn that salary while expressing the earnest hope that you would buy another palatial estate .
I ’ m instead talking about the example set by the Biden Cancer Initiative , a nonprofit founded by Joe Biden when he left the vice presidency in 2017 .
“ The Biden Cancer Initiative injects a sense of urgency into the cancer research and care systems , and reimagines how the government , academia , nonprofits and the private sector can better collaborate to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the focus , ” the group says on its website .
“ The Initiative is a major convening force in driving new actions and collaborations toward ending cancer as we know it .
“ The Biden Cancer Initiative works closely with patients and patient organizations , cancer researchers , cancer hospitals and community health centers , research universities , governments , and the private and philanthropic sectors to identify and address the critical issues in cancer prevention , research , and care to achieve these goals .
The Initiative brings these groups together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ launch pilot projects to test solutions , and disseminate successful solutions in the form of new actions and collaborations.
” TRENDING : Senior House Democrat Getting Trounced by Ex-Middle School Principal in Primary Shocker How they accomplished this , at least when it came to the allocation of resources , is … curious .
According to a Thursday report from the Washington Free Beacon , tax documents from the Biden Cancer Initiative — released by ProPublica — show that almost 65 percent of money the group spent went to staff salaries , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Guidance from charity watchdogs generally advises nonprofits to limit administrative compensation and fundraising expenditures to 25 percent .
The documents show that in 2017 and 2018 , the organization raised and spent a combined $ 4.8 million .
A bit more than $ 3 million of that went toward compensation .
Then there was the $ 740,000 spent on meetings and conferences of various sorts .
Grants ?
Not a single one to be found .
However , Biden Cancer Initiative president Greg Simon pulled down impressive six-figure salaries in both of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remuneration in 2017 and $ 429,850 in 2018 .
( By comparison , a 2013 analysis by Charity Navigator found mid-to-large nonprofits pay their chief executives an average of $ 126,000 a year . )
Both Simon and Danielle Carnival , the initiative ’ s vice president , were previously from the Obama administration ’ s Cancer Moonshot program , so Biden clearly looked far and wide for people who would best fit the organization .
Carnival , for the record , took in a combined $ 391,897 in 2017 and 2018 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the organization ’ s second year .
The initiative was stopped in July 2019 , according to The Associated Press , right around the time that Biden presented his health care plan .
The group also presented some potential conflicts for Biden .
A sample from the AP ’ s reporting : “ In January 2018 , Biden spoke at a San Francisco conference sponsored by a health tech firm whose chief medical officer is Biden ’ s son-in-law , who was also on the Biden cancer nonprofit ’ s board .
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical device entrepreneur who has helped raise funds for Biden ’ s campaign .
Both firms lobby with the federal government.
” Indeed , many of the biotech firms they partnered with — inasmuch as the Biden Cancer Initiative was doing much partnering — have decided interests in currying the favor of the federal government .
That becomes a lot easier if they have immediate access to the guy in the Oval Office .
Arthur Caplan , a bioethics professor at New York University , told the AP that he had concerns regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant the “ Biden administration would give favorable treatment for anyone who supported his foundation in the past.
” One of the things I ’ d like to point out is I ’ m willing to grant the Democratic presidential nominee that the Biden Cancer Initiative isn ’ t a grift on his part .
His interest in the subject isn ’ t just because having a nonprofit dedicated to cancer research rings pleasantly in the ears of voters .
Biden lost his son Beau , a veteran and rising star in Delaware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Inasmuch as Joe Biden can devote his time to philanthropic activities outside of his career , this is a personal one for him .
Instead , I ’ m going to point out an unpleasant possibility : This is how Joe Biden manages things .
This is a microcosm of what it ’ ll look like if the American voters put the Bidens in 1600 Pennsylvania .
There ’ s a fairly long list of people who ’ ve made money off of knowing Joe Biden .
Hunter Biden falls decidedly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progeny of the presumptive Democratic nominee has been taken out of the news by other , more pressing things , and rightly so .
That said , Hunter is a man who owes a great deal of his employment history to his last name .
While in a questionably functional state , Biden was pulling down $ 50,000 a month to sit on the board of a Ukrainian gas company despite the fact he had no experience in Ukraine and no experience in natural gas .
Other well-remunerated jobs on Hunter Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connections to his father ’ s career .
Then there ’ s James Biden , Joe ’ s brother .
According to The Intercept , he had joined a construction firm which won a $ 1.5 billion contract to build homes in Iraq .
This wasn ’ t just when Joe Biden was vice president , it was while he was overseeing Iraq policy .
This is how Joe Biden does things .
Democrats allege Trump ’ s family and close associates have enriched themselves off the presidency .
As a candidate for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a man who either embodies those venalities or has stumbled into them because he ’ s too darn busy to keep track of who ’ s profiting off of him .
The very best interpretation of what happened at the Biden Cancer Initiative is that Biden is such a softie that he ’ s willing to reward people far beyond what they ’ re worth — and doesn ’ t get much accomplished in the process , since his initiative spent so much on personnel .
The worst interpretation is that , inasmuch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he ’ s aware he ’ s being profited off of and doesn ’ t mind .
Why not ?
It ’ s not his money .
Whatever your interpretation is , the Biden Cancer Initiative was woefully inefficient .
This was a small organization based on a personal passion of Biden ’ s .
If this is how he manages that kind of nonprofit , it raises a whole lot of questions about how he would manage a nation .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Did you know that the way to cure cancer is to pay executives massive salaries?
I’m not saying we shouldn’t pay them massive salaries to cure cancer. Imagine, for instance, that you’re a vice president at Sanofi and that your division has come up with a treatment that significantly increases the five-year survival rate for an aggressive cancer. While I’m sure the U.K. Guardian, that bastion of the left, would run a scathing piece about your lavish home on the French Riviera and the seven-figure salary that paid for it, I’d write a full-throated defense of your ability to earn that salary while expressing the earnest hope that you would buy another palatial estate.
I’m instead talking about the example set by the Biden Cancer Initiative, a nonprofit founded by Joe Biden when he left the vice presidency in 2017.
“The Biden Cancer Initiative injects a sense of urgency into the cancer research and care systems, and reimagines how the government, academia, nonprofits and the private sector can better collaborate to take on cancer, with the patient as the focus,” the group says on its website. “The Initiative is a major convening force in driving new actions and collaborations toward ending cancer as we know it.
“The Biden Cancer Initiative works closely with patients and patient organizations, cancer researchers, cancer hospitals and community health centers, research universities, governments, and the private and philanthropic sectors to identify and address the critical issues in cancer prevention, research, and care to achieve these goals. The Initiative brings these groups together to identify barriers, devise solutions, launch pilot projects to test solutions, and disseminate successful solutions in the form of new actions and collaborations.”
How they accomplished this, at least when it came to the allocation of resources, is … curious.
According to a Thursday report from the Washington Free Beacon, tax documents from the Biden Cancer Initiative — released by ProPublica — show that almost 65 percent of money the group spent went to staff salaries, including for executives who pulled down six figures.
Guidance from charity watchdogs generally advises nonprofits to limit administrative compensation and fundraising expenditures to 25 percent.
The documents show that in 2017 and 2018, the organization raised and spent a combined $4.8 million. A bit more than $3 million of that went toward compensation. Then there was the $740,000 spent on meetings and conferences of various sorts.
Did the Biden Cancer Initiative act unethically? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 97% (1313 Votes) No: 3% (47 Votes)
Grants? Not a single one to be found.
However, Biden Cancer Initiative president Greg Simon pulled down impressive six-figure salaries in both of those years, with $224,539 in remuneration in 2017 and $429,850 in 2018. (By comparison, a 2013 analysis by Charity Navigator found mid-to-large nonprofits pay their chief executives an average of $126,000 a year.)
Both Simon and Danielle Carnival, the initiative’s vice president, were previously from the Obama administration’s Cancer Moonshot program, so Biden clearly looked far and wide for people who would best fit the organization. Carnival, for the record, took in a combined $391,897 in 2017 and 2018.
Three other six-figure executives were added in the organization’s second year.
The initiative was stopped in July 2019, according to The Associated Press, right around the time that Biden presented his health care plan.
The group also presented some potential conflicts for Biden.
A sample from the AP’s reporting: “In January 2018, Biden spoke at a San Francisco conference sponsored by a health tech firm whose chief medical officer is Biden’s son-in-law, who was also on the Biden cancer nonprofit’s board. During that speech, Biden also hailed a medical device entrepreneur who has helped raise funds for Biden’s campaign. Both firms lobby with the federal government.”
Indeed, many of the biotech firms they partnered with — inasmuch as the Biden Cancer Initiative was doing much partnering — have decided interests in currying the favor of the federal government. That becomes a lot easier if they have immediate access to the guy in the Oval Office.
Arthur Caplan, a bioethics professor at New York University, told the AP that he had concerns regarding whether the partnerships the initiative relied on meant the “Biden administration would give favorable treatment for anyone who supported his foundation in the past.”
One of the things I’d like to point out is I’m willing to grant the Democratic presidential nominee that the Biden Cancer Initiative isn’t a grift on his part. His interest in the subject isn’t just because having a nonprofit dedicated to cancer research rings pleasantly in the ears of voters.
Biden lost his son Beau, a veteran and rising star in Delaware politics, to brain cancer in 2015. Inasmuch as Joe Biden can devote his time to philanthropic activities outside of his career, this is a personal one for him.
Instead, I’m going to point out an unpleasant possibility: This is how Joe Biden manages things. This is a microcosm of what it’ll look like if the American voters put the Bidens in 1600 Pennsylvania.
There’s a fairly long list of people who’ve made money off of knowing Joe Biden.
Hunter Biden falls decidedly in this category. The ne’er-do-well progeny of the presumptive Democratic nominee has been taken out of the news by other, more pressing things, and rightly so. That said, Hunter is a man who owes a great deal of his employment history to his last name.
While in a questionably functional state, Biden was pulling down $50,000 a month to sit on the board of a Ukrainian gas company despite the fact he had no experience in Ukraine and no experience in natural gas.
Other well-remunerated jobs on Hunter Biden’s resumé also seem to have obvious connections to his father’s career.
Then there’s James Biden, Joe’s brother. According to The Intercept, he had joined a construction firm which won a $1.5 billion contract to build homes in Iraq. This wasn’t just when Joe Biden was vice president, it was while he was overseeing Iraq policy.
This is how Joe Biden does things.
Democrats allege Trump’s family and close associates have enriched themselves off the presidency. As a candidate for his successor, they’ve picked a man who either embodies those venalities or has stumbled into them because he’s too darn busy to keep track of who’s profiting off of him.
The very best interpretation of what happened at the Biden Cancer Initiative is that Biden is such a softie that he’s willing to reward people far beyond what they’re worth — and doesn’t get much accomplished in the process, since his initiative spent so much on personnel.
The worst interpretation is that, inasmuch as Biden is fully aware of anything, he’s aware he’s being profited off of and doesn’t mind. Why not? It’s not his money.
Whatever your interpretation is, the Biden Cancer Initiative was woefully inefficient.
This was a small organization based on a personal passion of Biden’s.
If this is how he manages that kind of nonprofit, it raises a whole lot of questions about how he would manage a nation.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
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* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.