westernjournal--2020-02-09--New York Politicians Shield Illegals, So DHS Makes Airport Security a Nightmare for Them

The liberal state of New York , and other far-left cities and states , just learned that they have a price to pay if they want to continue to thumb their noses at the federal government .
The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that it had kicked residents of New York out of its Trusted Travelers program , meaning longer lines at border crossings and airports for them , NBC News reported .
The decision came as a response to New York ’ s “ Green Light Law , ” which allows illegal immigrants to obtain driver ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its motor vehicle records .
The state wanted to protect illegal aliens but , because federal authorities can no longer access the records , federal agencies will no longer they can not approve new applications for programs that streamlined re-entry into the country for some travelers .
“ Today , we sent a letter to New York indicating because they took these measures that New York residents are no longer eligible to enroll in these Trusted Traveler Programs , ” Chad Wolf , the acting Homeland Security Secretary , said , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enroll or re-enroll in these Trusted Travel Programs that Customs and Border Protection offers because we no longer have access to make sure that they meet those program requirements.
” In a DHS statement , Wolf explained the situation further .
“ New York ’ s ‘ Green Light Law ’ is ill-conceived and the Department is forced to take this action to ensure the integrity of our Trusted Traveler Programs .
It ’ s very clear : this irresponsible action has consequences , ” he said in the statement .
“ CBP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Global Entry because we are able to use DMV data to make an evidence-based assessment that those individuals who seek this benefit are low risk and meet the eligibility requirements .
Without the DMV information , we aren ’ t able to make that assessment .
We must do our job.
” Acting Deputy Secretary of DHS Ken Cuccinelli said that other states with similar laws should prepare for the same consequences .
“ They should know that their citizens are going to lose the convenience of entering these Trusted Traveler Programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did , ” Cuccinelli said , according to NBC .
On Twitter , President Donald Trump and New York Rep. Elise Stefanik both hammed New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo for the decision .
“ Once again , Governor Cuomo ’ s reckless Green Light Law is hindering our federal and state law enforcement and other agencies from doing their jobs , and is now preventing law abiding citizens from receiving access to important travel programs , ” Stefanik wrote .
RELATED : Pelosi Claims New Travel Ban Affects 350 Million , But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Governor Cuomo wanted to see me this weekend .
He just canceled .
Very hard to work with New York – So stupid .
All they do is sue me all the time !
” the president wrote .
But Cuomo and those like him do not care about how their consistent catering to illegal aliens negatively affects citizens of their cities and states .
They care about permanently changing the electorate of the United States and ensuring domination over elections .
Until and unless their citizens start fighting back by voting against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states , it won ’ t be the last consequence they suffer .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The liberal state of New York, and other far-left cities and states, just learned that they have a price to pay if they want to continue to thumb their noses at the federal government.
The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that it had kicked residents of New York out of its Trusted Travelers program, meaning longer lines at border crossings and airports for them, NBC News reported.
The decision came as a response to New York’s “Green Light Law,” which allows illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses and prevents federal authorities from accessing its motor vehicle records.
The state wanted to protect illegal aliens but, because federal authorities can no longer access the records, federal agencies will no longer they cannot approve new applications for programs that streamlined re-entry into the country for some travelers.
“Today, we sent a letter to New York indicating because they took these measures that New York residents are no longer eligible to enroll in these Trusted Traveler Programs,” Chad Wolf, the acting Homeland Security Secretary, said, according to NBC.
“They can’t enroll or re-enroll in these Trusted Travel Programs that Customs and Border Protection offers because we no longer have access to make sure that they meet those program requirements.”
In a DHS statement, Wolf explained the situation further.
“New York’s ‘Green Light Law’ is ill-conceived and the Department is forced to take this action to ensure the integrity of our Trusted Traveler Programs. It’s very clear: this irresponsible action has consequences,” he said in the statement.
“CBP is able to offer Trusted Traveler Programs like Global Entry because we are able to use DMV data to make an evidence-based assessment that those individuals who seek this benefit are low risk and meet the eligibility requirements. Without the DMV information, we aren’t able to make that assessment. We must do our job.”
Should there be consequences for sanctuary cities and states? Yes No
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Acting Deputy Secretary of DHS Ken Cuccinelli said that other states with similar laws should prepare for the same consequences.
“They should know that their citizens are going to lose the convenience of entering these Trusted Traveler Programs, just as New York’s did,” Cuccinelli said, according to NBC.
On Twitter, President Donald Trump and New York Rep. Elise Stefanik both hammed New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the decision.
“Once again, Governor Cuomo’s reckless Green Light Law is hindering our federal and state law enforcement and other agencies from doing their jobs, and is now preventing law abiding citizens from receiving access to important travel programs,” Stefanik wrote.
Once again, Governor Cuomo’s reckless Green Light Law is hindering our federal and state law enforcement and other agencies from doing their jobs, and is now preventing law abiding citizens from receiving access to important travel programs⬇https://t.co/afOU2DKMBd — Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) February 6, 2020
“Governor Cuomo wanted to see me this weekend. He just canceled. Very hard to work with New York – So stupid. All they do is sue me all the time!” the president wrote.
Governor Cuomo wanted to see me this weekend. He just canceled. Very hard to work with New York – So stupid. All they do is sue me all the time! https://t.co/ps0OzMxuE5 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2020
But Cuomo and those like him do not care about how their consistent catering to illegal aliens negatively affects citizens of their cities and states.
They care about permanently changing the electorate of the United States and ensuring domination over elections.
Until and unless their citizens start fighting back by voting against progressives and take back their cities and states, it won’t be the last consequence they suffer.
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--Investigators Find No Evidence of Engine Failure in Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash

An initial National Transportation Safety Board report has ruled out equipment failure as the cause of the crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant , his daughter and seven other people .
“ Viewable sections of the engines showed no evidence of an uncontained or catastrophic internal failure , ” the report stated .
“ Our investigators have already developed a substantial amount of evidence about the circumstances of this tragic crash , ” NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt said in a statement on the NTSB website .
“ And we are confident that we will be able to determine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that contributed to it so we can make safety recommendations to prevent accidents like this from occurring again.
” The report said that , based on flight tracking data , the helicopter had climbed to 2,300 feet and was starting to make a left turn when it began to suddenly and drastically change course .
“ Eight seconds later , the aircraft began descending and the left turn continued .
The descent rate increased to over 4,000 feet per minute ( fpm ) , ground speed reached 160 knots , ” the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions , which have been cited as a possible reason that the helicopter crashed .
The report said a nearby weather station reported “ a calm wind , visibility of 2.5 statute miles in haze and an overcast ceiling of 1,100 feet above ground level.
” It further stated that an automated camera recorded cloud cover with the top of the clouds estimated at 2,400 feet above sea level .
“ Videos and photos taken by the public in the area of the accident also depict fog and low clouds obscuring the hilltops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report said the main wreckage was 127 feet from the impact crater .
The NTSB also shared a video of the field work that took place after the crash .
The helicopter ’ s rotor was still turning as the aircraft crashed , the report said .
RELATED : 'Pelosi for Prison ' : GOP Challenger Takes Flight Against Pelosi After Speaker 's Recent Antics “ One piece of 2-inch diameter tree branch was cut cleanly in 3 locations ( similar to saw cuts ) about 30 feet prior to the initial impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The report said there were no problems with the aircraft ’ s condition .
“ There were no outstanding airworthiness directives or minimum equipment list items , and all inspections were up to date , ” it said .
The report said that the only issue with the pilot was that a 2019 medical examination found he needed glasses for near vision .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

An initial National Transportation Safety Board report has ruled out equipment failure as the cause of the crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven other people.
“Viewable sections of the engines showed no evidence of an uncontained or catastrophic internal failure,” the report stated.
“Our investigators have already developed a substantial amount of evidence about the circumstances of this tragic crash,” NTSB Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt said in a statement on the NTSB website.
“And we are confident that we will be able to determine its cause as well as any factors that contributed to it so we can make safety recommendations to prevent accidents like this from occurring again.”
The report said that, based on flight tracking data, the helicopter had climbed to 2,300 feet and was starting to make a left turn when it began to suddenly and drastically change course.
“Eight seconds later, the aircraft began descending and the left turn continued. The descent rate increased to over 4,000 feet per minute (fpm), ground speed reached 160 knots,” the report said.
The report focused on weather conditions, which have been cited as a possible reason that the helicopter crashed.
Did you expect investigators to find an engine failure in the Bryant helicopter crash? 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: 13% (77 Votes) No: 87% (512 Votes)
The report said a nearby weather station reported “a calm wind, visibility of 2.5 statute miles in haze and an overcast ceiling of 1,100 feet above ground level.”
It further stated that an automated camera recorded cloud cover with the top of the clouds estimated at 2,400 feet above sea level.
“Videos and photos taken by the public in the area of the accident also depict fog and low clouds obscuring the hilltops,” the report added.
The report said the main wreckage was 127 feet from the impact crater. The NTSB also shared a video of the field work that took place after the crash.
“The entire fuselage/cabin and both engines were subjected to a postcrash fire,” the report said. “The cockpit was highly fragmented. The instrument panel was destroyed and most instruments were displaced from their panel mounts. Flight controls were fragmented and fire damaged.”
The helicopter’s rotor was still turning as the aircraft crashed, the report said.
“One piece of 2-inch diameter tree branch was cut cleanly in 3 locations (similar to saw cuts) about 30 feet prior to the initial impact crater,” the report said.
The report said there were no problems with the aircraft’s condition.
“There were no outstanding airworthiness directives or minimum equipment list items, and all inspections were up to date,” it said.
The report said that the only issue with the pilot was that a 2019 medical examination found he needed glasses for near vision.
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--Facebook Official Drops the Hammer on Dems Wanting ‘Fake’ Pelosi Video Removed

If you know one thing about President Donald Trump ’ s State of the Union speech on Tuesday , it ’ s that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped up her copy of the address in full view of the cameras from her perch behind the president .
If you know a second thing about the State of the Union address , it ’ s that the president used it as a vehicle for a number of moving stories — including salutes to a Tuskegee Airman , the family of a fallen police officer and a young girl who wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activist group Turning Point USA decided to juxtapose these two things , showing the emotional stories and then showing , repeatedly , Nancy Pelosi ripping up the speech .
Anyone who would see this would logically know there were only so many times she ripped up the speech — namely , one — and that the occasion probably didn ’ t happen after Trump saluted a 100-year-old Tuskegee Airman .
It was obviously an attempt to synthesize the two differing visions of the speech in a short video , something no one looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in real time .
The president retweeted the video , however , and that ’ s exactly why Nancy Pelosi ’ s staff tried to have the video removed from social media .
Here it is , in all its glory : Drew Hammill , Pelosi ’ s chief of staff , took to Twitter to lambaste social media organizations for not taking down the “ fake ” clip .
“ The American people know that the President has no qualms about lying to them – but it is a shame to see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for millions , do the same , ” he wrote in a Friday tweet .
“ The latest fake video of Speaker Pelosi is deliberately designed to mislead and lie to the American people , and every day that these platforms refuse to take it down is another reminder that they care more about their shareholders ’ interests than the public ’ s interests.
” This prompted a clap-back response from Facebook policy communications manager Andy Stone , who wrote : RELATED : Pelosi Fires Off on Reporter Asking About SOTU Tantrum : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Anybody' “ Sorry , are you suggesting the President didn ’ t make those remarks and the Speaker didn ’ t rip the speech ?
” tweeted Stone — a veteran of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Democrat California Sen. Barbara Boxer ’ s team , just in case you needed to know where his politics are .
Stone then pointed Hammill to Facebook ’ s policy on banning “ manipulated media.
” That guide lays out two criteria for banning said media : • “ It has been edited or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality – in ways that aren ’ t apparent to an average person and would likely mislead someone into thinking that a subject of the video said words that they did not actually say .
And : • “ It is the product of artificial intelligence or machine learning that merges , replaces or superimposes content onto a video , making it appear to be authentic.
” This didn ’ t sit well with Hammill , who apparently didn ’ t read the guidelines : It ’ s good to see Drew Hammill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of respect for American voters , who he thinks are going to be deceived by this .
It ’ d all be funny if it weren ’ t so serious .
Twitter has banned political advertising and Democrats are pressuring Facebook to do the same — in part because the Republicans in general and the Trump campaign in particular have a distinct advantage in social media advertising strategy .
Presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren has repeatedly threatened to break up big tech and , as NPR reported , ran a deliberately faked ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she claims , “ repeatedly fumbled their responsibility to protect our democracy.
” Meanwhile , at one of those interminable CNN town hall meetings in New Hampshire on Thursday , entrepreneur and Democratic presidential contender Andrew Yang said he would consider legislating against “ fake ” campaign ads from appearing on social media .
“ Mark [ Zuckerberg ] , your company is contributing to the disintegration of our democracy , ” Yang said , according to the Daily Wire , addressing Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg .
“ If you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you care about the country your kids will inherit , then you need to have Facebook step up and say there will not be untrue political ads on your platform.
” When asked to clarify : “ Well , my first preference is to sit down with a major organization like Facebook and say , ‘ hey , do the right thing.
’ But if they don ’ t want to do the right thing , then we have a legislature for a reason , ” Yang said .
“ We should just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have verifiably false political advertisements on their platform .
And if they do , then they should pay a penalty accordingly.
” So , “ do what we say or we ’ ll legislate that way anyhow.
” Try this one if you ’ re a Republican and see how many ugly news cycles you have to endure .
And just in case you didn ’ t grasp the subtext of this , given the execrably liberal state of fact-checking at social media organizations — including Facebook — guess which ads are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertisements ” ?
Warren ’ s chances are fading and all those blue-cap emojis from the “ Yang Gang ” on Twitter don ’ t seem to be materializing into actual polling numbers , so neither of these individuals will likely be in a position to carry out any of this directly .
However , losing Democratic candidates can often serve as incubators for bad ideas — and this is an awfully popular awful idea right now , particularly if it isn ’ t Joe Biden that wins the nomination .
If things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November , then , I can guarantee you this : Andy Stone won ’ t exactly be in a position to clap back like this if someone with Andrew Yang ’ s mindset decides to sit down and have a chat with him and his boss .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

If you know one thing about President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday, it’s that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped up her copy of the address in full view of the cameras from her perch behind the president.
If you know a second thing about the State of the Union address, it’s that the president used it as a vehicle for a number of moving stories — including salutes to a Tuskegee Airman, the family of a fallen police officer and a young girl who wanted to escape a failing school.
The conservative activist group Turning Point USA decided to juxtapose these two things, showing the emotional stories and then showing, repeatedly, Nancy Pelosi ripping up the speech.
Anyone who would see this would logically know there were only so many times she ripped up the speech — namely, one — and that the occasion probably didn’t happen after Trump saluted a 100-year-old Tuskegee Airman. It was obviously an attempt to synthesize the two differing visions of the speech in a short video, something no one looking at it would have thought was happening in real time.
The president retweeted the video, however, and that’s exactly why Nancy Pelosi’s staff tried to have the video removed from social media.
Here it is, in all its glory:
Drew Hammill, Pelosi’s chief of staff, took to Twitter to lambaste social media organizations for not taking down the “fake” clip.
Do you think Facebook should ban political advertising? 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: 28% (1053 Votes) No: 72% (2762 Votes)
“The American people know that the President has no qualms about lying to them – but it is a shame to see Twitter and Facebook, sources of news for millions, do the same,” he wrote in a Friday tweet.
“The latest fake video of Speaker Pelosi is deliberately designed to mislead and lie to the American people, and every day that these platforms refuse to take it down is another reminder that they care more about their shareholders’ interests than the public’s interests.”
The latest fake video of Speaker Pelosi is deliberately designed to mislead and lie to the American people, and every day that these platforms refuse to take it down is another reminder that they care more about their shareholders’ interests than the public’s interests. — Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) February 7, 2020
This prompted a clap-back response from Facebook policy communications manager Andy Stone, who wrote:
Sorry, are you suggesting the President didn’t make those remarks and the Speaker didn’t rip the speech? — Andy Stone (@andymstone) February 7, 2020
“Sorry, are you suggesting the President didn’t make those remarks and the Speaker didn’t rip the speech?” tweeted Stone — a veteran of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Democrat California Sen. Barbara Boxer’s team, just in case you needed to know where his politics are.
Stone then pointed Hammill to Facebook’s policy on banning “manipulated media.”
The reason I was making the point about the fact that the things featured in this video actually happened is because that’s a key element of our policy on content like this. https://t.co/CAtmBPczlG — Andy Stone (@andymstone) February 7, 2020
That guide lays out two criteria for banning said media:
“It has been edited or synthesized – beyond adjustments for clarity or quality – in ways that aren’t apparent to an average person and would likely mislead someone into thinking that a subject of the video said words that they did not actually say. And:
“It is the product of artificial intelligence or machine learning that merges, replaces or superimposes content onto a video, making it appear to be authentic.”
This didn’t sit well with Hammill, who apparently didn’t read the guidelines:
what planet are you living on? this is deceptively altered. take it down. — Drew Hammill (@Drew_Hammill) February 7, 2020
It’s good to see Drew Hammill doesn’t have a whole lot of respect for American voters, who he thinks are going to be deceived by this. It’d all be funny if it weren’t so serious.
Twitter has banned political advertising and Democrats are pressuring Facebook to do the same — in part because the Republicans in general and the Trump campaign in particular have a distinct advantage in social media advertising strategy.
Presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren has repeatedly threatened to break up big tech and, as NPR reported, ran a deliberately faked ad to protest the fact that Facebook has, she claims, “repeatedly fumbled their responsibility to protect our democracy.”
What would really “suck” is if we don’t fix a corrupt system that lets giant companies like Facebook engage in illegal anticompetitive practices, stomp on consumer privacy rights, and repeatedly fumble their responsibility to protect our democracy. https://t.co/rI0v55KKAi — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) October 1, 2019
Meanwhile, at one of those interminable CNN town hall meetings in New Hampshire on Thursday, entrepreneur and Democratic presidential contender Andrew Yang said he would consider legislating against “fake” campaign ads from appearing on social media.
“Mark [Zuckerberg], your company is contributing to the disintegration of our democracy,” Yang said, according to the Daily Wire, addressing Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
“If you’re an American and a patriot, and you care about the country your kids will inherit, then you need to have Facebook step up and say there will not be untrue political ads on your platform.”
When asked to clarify: “Well, my first preference is to sit down with a major organization like Facebook and say, ‘hey, do the right thing.’ But if they don’t want to do the right thing, then we have a legislature for a reason,” Yang said.
“We should just pass a law saying Facebook should not have verifiably false political advertisements on their platform. And if they do, then they should pay a penalty accordingly.”
So, “do what we say or we’ll legislate that way anyhow.” Try this one if you’re a Republican and see how many ugly news cycles you have to endure.
And just in case you didn’t grasp the subtext of this, given the execrably liberal state of fact-checking at social media organizations — including Facebook — guess which ads are going to be deemed “verifiably false political advertisements”?
Warren’s chances are fading and all those blue-cap emojis from the “Yang Gang” on Twitter don’t seem to be materializing into actual polling numbers, so neither of these individuals will likely be in a position to carry out any of this directly.
However, losing Democratic candidates can often serve as incubators for bad ideas — and this is an awfully popular awful idea right now, particularly if it isn’t Joe Biden that wins the nomination.
If things go south for Trump and Republicans in November, then, I can guarantee you this: Andy Stone won’t exactly be in a position to clap back like this if someone with Andrew Yang’s mindset decides to sit down and have a chat with him and his boss.
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--Warren Responds After Minority Women Leave Her Campaign Because They Felt Like Tokens

After a rally in Derry , New Hampshire , Sen. Elizabeth Warren expressed her condolences to reporters about the minority women working on her campaign team in Nevada who said they felt like tokens , according to the Washington Examiner .
“ So I just heard about this and I believe the women who have spoken up and believe them unequivocally and I apologize to them personally .
It ’ s important to me to try and build and organization that is diverse and inclusive and open and lets everyone bring their whole self to work every day , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognize that the legacy of racism and oppression pervade everything that we do in this country and so for me this is about taking personal responsibility which I do and being determined that we will have accountability in this organization and keep doing better everyday , ” she added .
Since November , six minority women have fled Warren ’ s nearly 70-person Nevada campaign team , citing a toxic work environment where they felt like tokens , according to Politico .
Three of the six women said the campaign made them feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even worsened after they expressed concerns to higher-ups and the human resources team .
“ During the time I was employed with Nevada for Warren , there was definitely something wrong with the culture , ” Megan Lewis , a field organizer who left in December , told Politico .
“ I filed a complaint with HR , but the follow-up I received left me feeling as though I needed to make myself smaller or change who I was to fit into the office culture.
” Another field organizer who recently left the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interview with Politico .
“ I felt like a problem — like I was there to literally bring color into the space but not the knowledge and voice that comes with it , ” the unnamed woman said .
“ We all were routinely silenced and not given a meaningful chance on the campaign , ” she continued .
“ Complaints , comments , advice and grievances were met with an earnest shake of the head and progressive buzzwords but not much else.
” The third woman who recently departed the campaign agreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience was very similar .
Politico reached out to the other three women for comment , but has not received a response .
Rolling Stone reported that after Lewis heard Warren ’ s response to what the women said about their experience on her campaign team , she said that she was again excited to “ caucus for her.
” “ I think it ’ s a great response .
I appreciate her apology .
I love Elizabeth Warren and I ’ m more excited than ever to caucus for her.
” According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke with reporters about their issues with the Warren campaign didn ’ t open up about it with malicious intent , but because they felt that it might be a common issue in other campaign organizations that would be resolved only if they were heard .
RELATED : Most Dem Voters Think a Woman Candidate Has No Chance Against Trump in November “ Every election will always be the most important election of our lifetimes , ” Lewis told Politico .
“ Organizing culture needs to change because the fact is our well-being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I hope this starts a conversation that helps facilitate personal reflection about ways we can change campaign culture.
” Last week Pete Buttigieg ’ s campaign experienced a similar scenario .
The Washington Examiner reported that his campaign had failed to ensure that minority staffers feel included and valued .
“ We ’ ve taken steps that may not be something that is typical or has happened a lot before in presidential campaigns to try to empower staffers at all levels to be able to speak to their experiences to raise concerns and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are tough in every organization in our country , ” Buttigieg told reporters in Ottumwa , Iowa .
Warren ’ s candidacy can probably endure little additional controversy , as she appears to be clearly behind Buttigieg , former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders among Democrats after the Iowa caucuses .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

After a rally in Derry, New Hampshire, Sen. Elizabeth Warren expressed her condolences to reporters about the minority women working on her campaign team in Nevada who said they felt like tokens, according to the Washington Examiner.
“So I just heard about this and I believe the women who have spoken up and believe them unequivocally and I apologize to them personally. It’s important to me to try and build and organization that is diverse and inclusive and open and lets everyone bring their whole self to work every day,” Warren told WBTS.
“But I recognize that the legacy of racism and oppression pervade everything that we do in this country and so for me this is about taking personal responsibility which I do and being determined that we will have accountability in this organization and keep doing better everyday,” she added.
Since November, six minority women have fled Warren’s nearly 70-person Nevada campaign team, citing a toxic work environment where they felt like tokens, according to Politico.
Three of the six women said the campaign made them feel marginalized and that in some cases it even worsened after they expressed concerns to higher-ups and the human resources team.
“During the time I was employed with Nevada for Warren, there was definitely something wrong with the culture,” Megan Lewis, a field organizer who left in December, told Politico. “I filed a complaint with HR, but the follow-up I received left me feeling as though I needed to make myself smaller or change who I was to fit into the office culture.”
Another field organizer who recently left the campaign echoed similar concerns in a separate interview with Politico.
“I felt like a problem — like I was there to literally bring color into the space but not the knowledge and voice that comes with it,” the unnamed woman said.
“We all were routinely silenced and not given a meaningful chance on the campaign,” she continued. “Complaints, comments, advice and grievances were met with an earnest shake of the head and progressive buzzwords but not much else.”
Do you think Warren has any chance to be the Democratic presidential nominee? 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: 2% (25 Votes) No: 98% (1087 Votes)
The third woman who recently departed the campaign agreed with those statements and said that her experience was very similar.
Politico reached out to the other three women for comment, but has not received a response.
Rolling Stone reported that after Lewis heard Warren’s response to what the women said about their experience on her campaign team, she said that she was again excited to “caucus for her.”
“I think it’s a great response. I appreciate her apology. I love Elizabeth Warren and I’m more excited than ever to caucus for her.”
According to Politico, the three women who spoke with reporters about their issues with the Warren campaign didn’t open up about it with malicious intent, but because they felt that it might be a common issue in other campaign organizations that would be resolved only if they were heard.
“Every election will always be the most important election of our lifetimes,” Lewis told Politico. “Organizing culture needs to change because the fact is our well-being is more important than any election. I hope this starts a conversation that helps facilitate personal reflection about ways we can change campaign culture.”
Last week Pete Buttigieg’s campaign experienced a similar scenario. The Washington Examiner reported that his campaign had failed to ensure that minority staffers feel included and valued.
“We’ve taken steps that may not be something that is typical or has happened a lot before in presidential campaigns to try to empower staffers at all levels to be able to speak to their experiences to raise concerns and to have these tough conversations, and they are tough in every organization in our country,” Buttigieg told reporters in Ottumwa, Iowa.
Warren’s candidacy can probably endure little additional controversy, as she appears to be clearly behind Buttigieg, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders among Democrats after the Iowa caucuses.
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--Comedian Kevin Hart Relents to LGBTQ Outrage Mob over His Jokes: ‘I Did F*** Up’

A year after Kevin Hart stepped down as host of the Oscars , the comedian admitted that he should ’ ve handled the controversy surrounding 10-year-old comments differently .
“ With the whole Oscars thing , there was a big gap between what I thought the problem was versus what the problem really was , ” he told Men ’ s Health in a recent interview .
“ It wasn ’ t until close friends like Wanda Sykes , Lee Daniels , and Ellen [ DeGeneres ] talked to me and explained what they didn ’ t hear me say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Then I was like , ‘ Oh , s–t — I did f–k up.
’ ” Within 48 hours of when Hart accepted the invitation to host the Oscars last year , tweets and jokes from 2009 to 2011 resurfaced , and many began to push for the boycott of the award ceremony .
One of the comments that sparked the cancel culture outrage was from his 2010 comedy special “ Seriously Funny ” in which he talked about one of “ his biggest fears ” being his son coming out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video contains graphic language that some viewers will find offensive .
In 2015 , Hart told Rolling Stone that he wouldn ’ t make the same kind of jokes as he did in the early 2010s .
“ I wouldn ’ t tell that joke today , because when I said it , the times weren ’ t as sensitive as they are now , ” he said .
“ I think we love to make big deals out of things that aren ’ t necessarily big deals , because we can.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online following the Oscars hosting announcement , the Academy asked Hart to apologize for his past remarks .
At first the comedian decided to stand up against the outrage .
“ I passed on the apology , ” he said in an Instagram video .
“ I ’ ve addressed this several times .
This is not the first time this has come up .
I ’ ve addressed it .
I ’ ve spoken on it .
I ’ ve said where the rights and wrongs were.
” Two days later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the highly coveted invitation and also issued the apology he had said he was so strongly against .
RELATED : New York Public Library Abruptly Cancels Event Celebrating Women ‘ Silenced by the Authoritarian Left ’ “ I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year ’ s Oscars … this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists , ” he wrote on Twitter .
“ I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Hart ’ s new Netflix documentary , “ Don ’ t F**k This Up , ” further addressed the controversy surrounding his invitation to host the Oscars last year .
“ What I thought was going to blow over ended up becoming a bigger mess than I expected , ” he said in the documentary that was released in late-December .
“ I missed an opportunity to say simply that I don ’ t condone any type of violence in any way , shape or form to anyone for being who they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I f—ed up .
… Instead I said , ‘ I addressed it.
’ I said , ‘ I apologized.
’ I said , ‘ I talked about this already.
’ I was just immature.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A year after Kevin Hart stepped down as host of the Oscars, the comedian admitted that he should’ve handled the controversy surrounding 10-year-old comments differently.
“With the whole Oscars thing, there was a big gap between what I thought the problem was versus what the problem really was,” he told Men’s Health in a recent interview.
“It wasn’t until close friends like Wanda Sykes, Lee Daniels, and Ellen [DeGeneres] talked to me and explained what they didn’t hear me say that I understood,” he added. “Then I was like, ‘Oh, s–t — I did f–k up.’”
Within 48 hours of when Hart accepted the invitation to host the Oscars last year, tweets and jokes from 2009 to 2011 resurfaced, and many began to push for the boycott of the award ceremony.
One of the comments that sparked the cancel culture outrage was from his 2010 comedy special “Seriously Funny” in which he talked about one of “his biggest fears” being his son coming out as gay.
WARNING: The following video contains graphic language that some viewers will find offensive.
In 2015, Hart told Rolling Stone that he wouldn’t make the same kind of jokes as he did in the early 2010s.
Do you think Kevin Hart should have bowed to cancel culture and apologized for his remarks from 10 years ago? 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: 4% (4 Votes) No: 96% (94 Votes)
“I wouldn’t tell that joke today, because when I said it, the times weren’t as sensitive as they are now,” he said. “I think we love to make big deals out of things that aren’t necessarily big deals, because we can.”
But as the scrutiny continued to grow online following the Oscars hosting announcement, the Academy asked Hart to apologize for his past remarks.
At first the comedian decided to stand up against the outrage.
“I passed on the apology,” he said in an Instagram video. “I’ve addressed this several times. This is not the first time this has come up. I’ve addressed it. I’ve spoken on it. I’ve said where the rights and wrongs were.”
Two days later, however, he decided to step away from the highly coveted invitation and also issued the apology he had said he was so strongly against.
“I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscars … this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists,” he wrote on Twitter. “I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.”
I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscar’s….this is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past. — Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 7, 2018
I’m sorry that I hurt people.. I am evolving and want to continue to do so. My goal is to bring people together not tear us apart. Much love & appreciation to the Academy. I hope we can meet again. — Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) December 7, 2018
Hart’s new Netflix documentary, “Don’t F**k This Up,” further addressed the controversy surrounding his invitation to host the Oscars last year.
“What I thought was going to blow over ended up becoming a bigger mess than I expected,” he said in the documentary that was released in late-December.
“I missed an opportunity to say simply that I don’t condone any type of violence in any way, shape or form to anyone for being who they are,” Hart added.
“I f—ed up. … Instead I said, ‘I addressed it.’ I said, ‘I apologized.’ I said, ‘I talked about this already.’ I was just immature.”
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--Report: Trump To Reject Ugly Architecture, Return Federal Buildings to Former Glory

If you live near any sort of metropolis , chances are you ’ ve seen some ugly architecture .
As federal buildings are constructed , they sometimes fall prey to fads in the design world .
The result is often hideous structures that the taxpayers are forced to fund .
Now , a report says President Donald Trump is drafting an executive order that seeks to destroy the legacy of ugly buildings and return American architecture to its former glory .
According to the Architectural Record , an architecture news site , the Trump administration is planning to do away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A preliminary draft of the order , titled “ Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again , ” reportedly seeks to amend federal guidelines when it comes to construction of new federal buildings .
Instead of brutalism and other postmodern headaches , the order calls for a return to “ classical architectural ” that the Founding Fathers themselves preferred , the Architectural Record reported .
Several federal buildings were reportedly named in the draft order as examples of nausea-inducing designs .
Two of those listed , the U.S .
Courthouse in Austin , Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ San Francisco , have to be seen to be believed .
Take a look at the two buildings below : Thankfully , Trump ’ s order could reportedly do away with designs like this .
A blanket design mandate doesn ’ t appear to be the administration ’ s goal , as allowances are reportedly made in special circumstances .
Florida , for instance , could also see federal structures built in the Spanish colonial style , a reference to the Sunshine State ’ s origins as an imperial Spanish foothold in North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lose Touch with Reality : 'The President Is Not Exonerated' Unique places like New Orleans , Louisiana ; Savannah , Georgia ; and San Diego , California , would surely benefit from this sort of exception .
In the rest of the country , the order would serve to provide the American people with what they deserve — functioning and beautiful buildings that are not a progressive architect ’ s experiment .
This appears to be an extension of Trump ’ s famous “ Make America Great Again ” 2016 campaign motto .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem too important , but it could unite Americans in at least one common point of culture .
As Trump said Tuesday in his State of the Union address : “ The best is yet to come.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

If you live near any sort of metropolis, chances are you’ve seen some ugly architecture.
As federal buildings are constructed, they sometimes fall prey to fads in the design world. The result is often hideous structures that the taxpayers are forced to fund.
Now, a report says President Donald Trump is drafting an executive order that seeks to destroy the legacy of ugly buildings and return American architecture to its former glory.
According to the Architectural Record, an architecture news site, the Trump administration is planning to do away with hideous designs in future federal buildings.
A preliminary draft of the order, titled “Making Federal Buildings Beautiful Again,” reportedly seeks to amend federal guidelines when it comes to construction of new federal buildings.
Instead of brutalism and other postmodern headaches, the order calls for a return to “classical architectural” that the Founding Fathers themselves preferred, the Architectural Record reported.
Do you support this executive order that's reportedly in the works? 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: 98% (541 Votes) No: 2% (11 Votes)
Several federal buildings were reportedly named in the draft order as examples of nausea-inducing designs.
Two of those listed, the U.S. Courthouse in Austin, Texas, and the U.S. Federal Building in San Francisco, have to be seen to be believed.
Take a look at the two buildings below:
The memo apparently gives these 2 specific examples of the architecture it’s meant to stop. The Courthouse in Austin TX & the Fed Building in San Francisco; pic.twitter.com/0KeXtVnruS — Rosie’s NOT GUILTY Verdict (@DarnelSugarfoo) February 4, 2020
Thankfully, Trump’s order could reportedly do away with designs like this.
A blanket design mandate doesn’t appear to be the administration’s goal, as allowances are reportedly made in special circumstances.
Florida, for instance, could also see federal structures built in the Spanish colonial style, a reference to the Sunshine State’s origins as an imperial Spanish foothold in North America.
Unique places like New Orleans, Louisiana; Savannah, Georgia; and San Diego, California, would surely benefit from this sort of exception.
In the rest of the country, the order would serve to provide the American people with what they deserve — functioning and beautiful buildings that are not a progressive architect’s experiment.
This appears to be an extension of Trump’s famous “Make America Great Again” 2016 campaign motto.
The return to classical architecture may not seem too important, but it could unite Americans in at least one common point of culture.
As Trump said Tuesday in his State of the Union address: “The best is yet to come.”
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-02-09--Quote from Activist Teacher Shows That Trans Ideology Is More Religious Than Scientific

When does something become more than a mere belief and almost something religious in nature ?
I ’ m not talking about the definition of religion that we associate most closely with the word — the one that deals with , as the fine people at Merriam-Webster put it , “ the service and worship of God or the supernatural.
” Rather , I would look to two other definitions they give for the word : “ a cause , principle , or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith ” and “ a personal set or institutionalized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and practices.
” The first definition is decidedly secular in nature and the second one , when applied to the first , is as well .
Notice , too , that the question of evidence is never brought up here .
This isn ’ t to say there isn ’ t necessarily evidence in religious matters — as every Christian , Muslim or Jewish apologist will make very clear to you if you give them half a chance .
( As someone who has lost more William Lane Craig books than you probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here , I ’ m just saying . )
However , evidence isn ’ t a precondition for a personal set of attitudes , beliefs and practices held to with an ardor and faith not necessarily borne out by the facts .
All of which is a lengthy pretext to a New York City schoolteacher who I believe has done an awfully good job proving that transgender ideology , at least in public discourse , has a religious aspect to it — in the secular senses of the word — that overshadows any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue has to do with a Jan. 16 email sent to the parents of preschoolers in New York public schools .
The issue has to do with a lesson plan based on the Black Lives Matter Week of Action .
That seems reason enough to be skeptical , but things get worse from there .
“ This year , the week is Feb. 3-7 .
We are starting to talk about these ideas now , as we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day [ which was Jan. 20 ] , and as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ History Month , ’ ’ a letter from teacher Rosy Clark read .
For whatever it ’ s worth , Clark is white and so are most of the students at PS 58 in Brooklyn , where the lesson plan was being implemented , according to the New York Post ’ s Andrea Peyser .
“ Some of the 13 points are unobjectionable — preaching diversity , plus acceptance and empathy , to children who , the dad argues , naturally love their neighbors , ” Peyser wrote , referring to a student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarm about the curriculum , which included transgender “ affirmation.
” “ I was kind of horrified , ’ ’ the dad wrote .
“ They say they ’ re trying to reduce racism and discrimination .
To me , they ’ re perpetuating it , fomenting a sense of victimhood that 4-year-olds would never consider on their own.
’ ’ Clark explained the lesson plan in her letter , writing , “ I am lucky enough to work at this wonderful school where we strive to help our students understand the complex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they can participate in improving it .
One of the ways I do that in my classroom is by exploring the 13 Principles of the Movement for Black Lives .
“ I will not be discussing police brutality or current events with the class .
These issues are obviously too traumatizing for this age group.
’ ’ RELATED : Iowa To Release Child Sex Abuser , Declares He 's No Longer Threat Due to Gender Transition “ Something that we talk about slightly less in the classroom are the national demands , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some more adult ideas and might come up occasionally in our conversations in small ways , but they are something that I really address in my activism work outside of the classroom.
” “ There are some people who think that women are less important than men , ’ ’ Clark wrote .
“ We know that all people are important and have the right to be safe and talk about their feelings.
’ ’ Here are some of the other points that she cited , all from the 13 Principles of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More Black Teachers , ” “ Counselors Not Cops , ” “ End Zero Tolerance ” — this involves severely attenuating ending suspensions for black students , “ based on the idea that these penalties are handed out disproportionately to minority students , Peyser reported — and “ Mandat [ ing ] Black and Ethnic Studies K-12.
” So far , so liberal .
The problem at hand , however , is issue No .
6 : “ Transgender Affirming.
” “ Everybody has the right to choose their own gender by listening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Clark wrote .
“ Everyone gets to choose if they are a boy or a girl or both or neither or something else , and no one gets to choose for them.
” There ’ s no evidence for this , mind you .
Clark provides none , and neither does any social scientist .
There ’ s nothing that says this is anything more than a popular idea that is more religious than anything else — “ a cause , principle , or system of beliefs held to with ardor and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this is any sort of science , not in the least that Black Lives Matter Week of Action has any level of scientific rigor behind it .
Instead , what we have here is an activist who holds to a belief system that is merely a matter of faith .
Transgender ideology , as prescribed here , fits the definition of religion .
There may not be a god behind it — but as Merriam-Webster notes , there doesn ’ t have to be .
The school was loath to respond .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as to PS 58 ’ s principal , Katie Dello Stritto , weren ’ t returned , ” Peyser wrote .
“ In an earlier exchange with a parent , the principal defended the curriculum as being in line with ‘ Chancellor ’ s Regulations , ’ which dictate that a school must be a ‘ safe space ’ for all students.
” We ’ ve entered a brand new world , one where ardor and belief are the determining factor behind whether something is true .
If that isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know what is .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

When does something become more than a mere belief and almost something religious in nature?
I’m not talking about the definition of religion that we associate most closely with the word — the one that deals with, as the fine people at Merriam-Webster put it, “the service and worship of God or the supernatural.” Rather, I would look to two other definitions they give for the word: “a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith” and “a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices.”
The first definition is decidedly secular in nature and the second one, when applied to the first, is as well. Notice, too, that the question of evidence is never brought up here.
This isn’t to say there isn’t necessarily evidence in religious matters — as every Christian, Muslim or Jewish apologist will make very clear to you if you give them half a chance. (As someone who has lost more William Lane Craig books than you probably own, I’m not judging here, I’m just saying.) However, evidence isn’t a precondition for a personal set of attitudes, beliefs and practices held to with an ardor and faith not necessarily borne out by the facts.
All of which is a lengthy pretext to a New York City schoolteacher who I believe has done an awfully good job proving that transgender ideology, at least in public discourse, has a religious aspect to it — in the secular senses of the word — that overshadows any scientific claims it might have.
The issue has to do with a Jan. 16 email sent to the parents of preschoolers in New York public schools. The issue has to do with a lesson plan based on the Black Lives Matter Week of Action.
That seems reason enough to be skeptical, but things get worse from there.
“This year, the week is Feb. 3-7. We are starting to talk about these ideas now, as we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day [which was Jan. 20], and as we prepare to go into February, Black History Month,’’ a letter from teacher Rosy Clark read.
For whatever it’s worth, Clark is white and so are most of the students at PS 58 in Brooklyn, where the lesson plan was being implemented, according to the New York Post’s Andrea Peyser.
Do you think this curriculum is alarming? 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% (499 Votes) No: 1% (3 Votes)
“Some of the 13 points are unobjectionable — preaching diversity, plus acceptance and empathy, to children who, the dad argues, naturally love their neighbors,” Peyser wrote, referring to a student’s father who first sounded the alarm about the curriculum, which included transgender “affirmation.”
“I was kind of horrified,’’ the dad wrote.
“They say they’re trying to reduce racism and discrimination. To me, they’re perpetuating it, fomenting a sense of victimhood that 4-year-olds would never consider on their own.’’
Clark explained the lesson plan in her letter, writing, “I am lucky enough to work at this wonderful school where we strive to help our students understand the complex world around them and think critically about how they can participate in improving it. One of the ways I do that in my classroom is by exploring the 13 Principles of the Movement for Black Lives.
“I will not be discussing police brutality or current events with the class. These issues are obviously too traumatizing for this age group.’’
Fair enough.
“Something that we talk about slightly less in the classroom are the national demands,” Clark wrote. “These involve some more adult ideas and might come up occasionally in our conversations in small ways, but they are something that I really address in my activism work outside of the classroom.”
Point No. 12: “Black Women.’’
“There are some people who think that women are less important than men,’’ Clark wrote. “We know that all people are important and have the right to be safe and talk about their feelings.’’
Here are some of the other points that she cited, all from the 13 Principles of the Movement for Black Lives: “Hire More Black Teachers,” “Counselors Not Cops,” “End Zero Tolerance” — this involves severely attenuating ending suspensions for black students, “based on the idea that these penalties are handed out disproportionately to minority students, Peyser reported — and “Mandat[ing] Black and Ethnic Studies K-12.”
So far, so liberal. The problem at hand, however, is issue No. 6: “Transgender Affirming.”
“Everybody has the right to choose their own gender by listening to their own heart and mind,” Clark wrote. “Everyone gets to choose if they are a boy or a girl or both or neither or something else, and no one gets to choose for them.”
Says who?
There’s no evidence for this, mind you. Clark provides none, and neither does any social scientist.
There’s nothing that says this is anything more than a popular idea that is more religious than anything else — “a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith.”
There’s no evidence that this is any sort of science, not in the least that Black Lives Matter Week of Action has any level of scientific rigor behind it. Instead, what we have here is an activist who holds to a belief system that is merely a matter of faith.
Transgender ideology, as prescribed here, fits the definition of religion. There may not be a god behind it — but as Merriam-Webster notes, there doesn’t have to be.
The school was loath to respond.
“Phone messages and e-mails to Clark, as well as to PS 58’s principal, Katie Dello Stritto, weren’t returned,” Peyser wrote. “In an earlier exchange with a parent, the principal defended the curriculum as being in line with ‘Chancellor’s Regulations,’ which dictate that a school must be a ‘safe space’ for all students.”
We’ve entered a brand new world, one where ardor and belief are the determining factor behind whether something is true. If that isn’t dangerous, I don’t know what is.
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--Watch the Exact Moment Climate-Obsessed Warren Realizes She’s Been Caught Exiting Private Jet

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren may be campaigning for the White House on a platform that includes environmental justice , but all it takes to undo that carefully crafted image is one look at her travel habits .
Judging by how Warren responds to cameras capturing her environmentally destructive ways , it appears as though she ’ s completely aware of this fact .
Warren , fresh from a third-place showing in the Iowa Democratic Caucus , appeared to hide after she noticed a camera filming her disembarking a private jet in a Tuesday video .
After spying the camera , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aide , avoiding the camera lens for the rest of the long walk off the tarmac .
Watch the video below to see Warren ’ s reaction .
The presidential candidate is so eager to gobble up the environmental-justice vote that she actually proposed a ban on new buildings that are not carbon-neutral .
There ’ s nothing that screams “ 2020 elitist ” more than a presidential candidate threatening the construction industry because of climate change , yet refusing to take a bus to save the planet .
It looks like Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this isn ’ t Warren ’ s first brush with environmental hypocrisy .
Despite being a vocal opponent of gas and energy companies , the Massachusetts senator was found to be receiving royalties from one of the largest natural-gas producers in the world .
Anyone with a bit of knowledge about Warren surely realizes these hypocritical positions and half-truths are a staple of the presidential hopeful .
RELATED : Side-by-Side Video Proves Warren Is Least Genuine Candidate Since Hillary After all , wasn ’ t it Warren who went through most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( and employers ) that she was a Native American ?
We shouldn ’ t be shocked by Warren ’ s use of a private jet .
Presidential candidates need to be in many places in a short span of time , something that is exceedingly difficult with land transportation alone .
However , Warren ’ s embarrassing attempt to hide behind one of her own aides shows that not only is she still trying to pull the wool over Americans ’ eyes , she actually believes she ’ s succeeding at it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren may be campaigning for the White House on a platform that includes environmental justice, but all it takes to undo that carefully crafted image is one look at her travel habits.
Judging by how Warren responds to cameras capturing her environmentally destructive ways, it appears as though she’s completely aware of this fact.
Warren, fresh from a third-place showing in the Iowa Democratic Caucus, appeared to hide after she noticed a camera filming her disembarking a private jet.
After spying the camera, the Massachusetts senator quickly ducked behind an aide, avoiding the camera lens for the rest of the long walk off the tarmac.
Watch the video below to see Warren’s reaction.
The best part of this video is that after Elizabeth Warren realizes she’s been caught on camera exiting a private jet. She attempts to hide behind her staffer. As if that would work. ??? pic.twitter.com/WVtCOaVphK — Francis Brennan (Text TRUMP to 88022) (@FrancisBrennan) February 4, 2020
This video completely destroys Warren’s climate-conscious image.
The presidential candidate is so eager to gobble up the environmental-justice vote that she actually proposed a ban on new buildings that are not carbon-neutral.
Do you think Warren will continue to preach climate activism while taking private jets? 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: 98% (3356 Votes) No: 2% (81 Votes)
There’s nothing that screams “2020 elitist” more than a presidential candidate threatening the construction industry because of climate change, yet refusing to take a bus to save the planet.
It looks like Warren knows this, too.
Of course, this isn’t Warren’s first brush with environmental hypocrisy.
Despite being a vocal opponent of gas and energy companies, the Massachusetts senator was found to be receiving royalties from one of the largest natural-gas producers in the world.
Anyone with a bit of knowledge about Warren surely realizes these hypocritical positions and half-truths are a staple of the presidential hopeful.
After all, wasn’t it Warren who went through most of her adult life attempting to convince people (and employers) that she was a Native American?
We shouldn’t be shocked by Warren’s use of a private jet.
Presidential candidates need to be in many places in a short span of time, something that is exceedingly difficult with land transportation alone.
However, Warren’s embarrassing attempt to hide behind one of her own aides shows that not only is she still trying to pull the wool over Americans’ eyes, she actually believes she’s succeeding at it.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
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westernjournal--2020-02-08--‘Moderate’ Buttigieg Refuses To Denounce Infanticide in Uncomfortable Interview with Meghan McCain

During an appearance Thursday on ABC ’ s “ The View , ” Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg refused to denounce late-term abortions , even after being pressed on the matter .
The former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , was discussing his campaign ’ s strategy for winning over Republican voters when co-host Meghan McCain , a conservative , asked him to clarify comments he made last year about abortion .
In September , Buttigieg had used the Bible to suggest it ’ s possible that “ life begins with breath.
” “ There ’ s a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how life begins with breath , ” he told “ The Breakfast Club ” podcast .
“ Even that is something that we can interpret differently.
” McCain asked Buttigieg to address those remarks on Thursday .
“ I just wanted you to clarify , because I found that statement to be pretty radical , ” she said .
“ I ’ m just pointing to the fact that different people will interpret their own moral lights , and for that matter interpret scripture , differently , ” he added .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is extremely important that no one person have to be subjected to some other person ’ s interpretation of their own religion.
” McCain reminded Buttigieg of the backlash Democratic Virginia Gov .
Ralph Northam faced last January when he appeared to advocate for infanticide .
Northam later said his remarks had been taken out of context , according to WWBT .
“ I think people , even Democrats — and there are a lot of pro-life Democrats in the country — want to know exactly where your line is , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that it shouldn ’ t be up to the government official to draw the line .
It should be up the woman who is confronted with the choice , ” Buttigieg replied .
McCain added : “ So if a woman wanted to … invoke infanticide after a baby was born , you ’ d be comfortable with that ?
” Buttigieg still would not relent .
“ Does anybody seriously think that ’ s what these cases are about ?
” he said .
“ If this is a late-term situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one where a woman was expecting to carry the pregnancy to term .
Then she gets the most perhaps devastating news of her life.
” RELATED : Joy Reid Plays Bigot Card , Asks Buttigieg If 'Heartland ' Quote Is a 'Dog Whistle ' for Whites He continued : “ We ’ re talking about families that may have picked out a name , may be assembling a crib , and they learn something excruciating and are faced with this terrible choice .
And I don ’ t know what to tell them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .
I just know that I trust her and her decision , medically or morally , isn ’ t going to be any better because the government is commanding her to do it in a certain way.
” That wasn ’ t good enough for McCain , and as she told the candidate , it won ’ t be good enough for the Republican voters he ’ s trying to court , either .
“ This is going to hurt you in the middle of the country with the Republicans you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she told Buttigieg .
“ People like me , this is a hard line , and quite frankly , that answer is just as radical as I thought it was.
” These comments from Buttigieg show that even Democrats who claim to be Christians and are considered moderates have some very radical views in regard to abortion .
It ’ s worth noting that despite his views on ending the lives of innocent , unborn children , Buttigieg has called for protecting the lives of even the most depraved people in our society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalty .
The candidate previously told The Hill that the “ moral consequence of killing somebody who is defenseless for any reason goes against certainly what I ’ ve been taught about the way we ’ re supposed to treat human life.
” For Buttigieg , a human life apparently only becomes a human life when a child draws his or her first breath .
Furthermore , the Indiana Democrat ’ s assertion that late-term abortions are examples of mothers being forced to make a “ terrible choice ” is misleading , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rose and pro-life OBGYN Dr. Mary Davenport , writing in The Federalist , “ There is no medical situation in which late abortion is medically necessary to save the life of the mother .
In a common late abortion technique , a lethal intracardiac injection is given , and labor is induced.
” “ There is no situation in which late abortion is the only , or even the best , solution to a maternal or fetal health crisis , ” they added .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards .

During an appearance Thursday on ABC’s “The View,” Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg refused to denounce late-term abortions, even after being pressed on the matter.
The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was discussing his campaign’s strategy for winning over Republican voters when co-host Meghan McCain, a conservative, asked him to clarify comments he made last year about abortion.
In September, Buttigieg had used the Bible to suggest it’s possible that “life begins with breath.”
“There’s a lot of parts of the Bible that talk about how life begins with breath,” he told “The Breakfast Club” podcast. “Even that is something that we can interpret differently.”
McCain asked Buttigieg to address those remarks on Thursday.
“I just wanted you to clarify, because I found that statement to be pretty radical,” she said.
“I’m just pointing to the fact that different people will interpret their own moral lights, and for that matter interpret scripture, differently,” he added. “But we live in a country where it is extremely important that no one person have to be subjected to some other person’s interpretation of their own religion.”
McCain reminded Buttigieg of the backlash Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam faced last January when he appeared to advocate for infanticide.
Northam later said his remarks had been taken out of context, according to WWBT.
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“I think people, even Democrats — and there are a lot of pro-life Democrats in the country — want to know exactly where your line is,” McCain told Buttigieg.
“My point is that it shouldn’t be up to the government official to draw the line. It should be up the woman who is confronted with the choice,” Buttigieg replied.
McCain added: “So if a woman wanted to … invoke infanticide after a baby was born, you’d be comfortable with that?”
Buttigieg still would not relent.
“Does anybody seriously think that’s what these cases are about?” he said. “If this is a late-term situation, then by definition it’s one where a woman was expecting to carry the pregnancy to term. Then she gets the most perhaps devastating news of her life.”
He continued: “We’re talking about families that may have picked out a name, may be assembling a crib, and they learn something excruciating and are faced with this terrible choice. And I don’t know what to tell them, morally, about what they should do. I just know that I trust her and her decision, medically or morally, isn’t going to be any better because the government is commanding her to do it in a certain way.”
That wasn’t good enough for McCain, and as she told the candidate, it won’t be good enough for the Republican voters he’s trying to court, either.
“This is going to hurt you in the middle of the country with the Republicans you’re trying to win over,” she told Buttigieg. “People like me, this is a hard line, and quite frankly, that answer is just as radical as I thought it was.”
These comments from Buttigieg show that even Democrats who claim to be Christians and are considered moderates have some very radical views in regard to abortion.
It’s worth noting that despite his views on ending the lives of innocent, unborn children, Buttigieg has called for protecting the lives of even the most depraved people in our society by putting an end to the death penalty.
The candidate previously told The Hill that the “moral consequence of killing somebody who is defenseless for any reason goes against certainly what I’ve been taught about the way we’re supposed to treat human life.”
For Buttigieg, a human life apparently only becomes a human life when a child draws his or her first breath.
Furthermore, the Indiana Democrat’s assertion that late-term abortions are examples of mothers being forced to make a “terrible choice” is misleading, at best.
According to pro-life activist Lila Rose and pro-life OBGYN Dr. Mary Davenport, writing in The Federalist, “There is no medical situation in which late abortion is medically necessary to save the life of the mother. In a common late abortion technique, a lethal intracardiac injection is given, and labor is induced.”
“There is no situation in which late abortion is the only, or even the best, solution to a maternal or fetal health crisis,” they added.
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westernjournal--2020-02-08--The Left Can’t Help But Gush over Mitt Romney a Short 8 Years After Completely Trashing Him

After years of calling Mitt Romney a homophobe who wants to “ put y ’ all back in chains , ” the left has decided that all ’ s forgiven after he chose to side with Democrats to convict the president on one article of impeachment .
In 2012 the left put Romney on blast for comments he had made in 2005 regarding his rejection of birth certificates for babies with gay parents .
“ Some gays are actually having children born to them , ” Romney said in a 2005 speech according to The Boston Globe .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not right in fact .
Every child has a right to a mother and father.
” Huffpost reported in 2012 that Romney was “ hellbent on stigmatizing the children of gay and lesbian parents , labeling these kids as outcasts and causing them to suffer hardship throughout their lives.
” During the 2012 presidential campaign , The Hill reported that then-Vice President Joe Biden had told voters that Romney ’ s policies would “ put y ’ all back in chains.
” “ They ’ ve said it .
Every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Look at what they value and look at their budget and what they ’ re proposing .
Romney wants to let the — he said in the first 100 days , he ’ s going to let the big banks score once again write their own rules — unchain Wall Street , ” Biden said during a Virginia campaigning event .
“ They ’ re going to put y ’ all back in chains .
He ’ s said he ’ s going to do nothing about stopping the practice of outsourcing.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this after Romney crossed party lines during President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial in the Senate .
Wednesday , the Senate voted to acquit Trump of his charges of obstruction of Congress and abuse of power .
Romney broke with the rest of the Republican Party and voted to convict Trump on the abuse of power article .
During the trial , Romney gave a speech about why he planned to vote to convict Trump .
“ The grave question the Constitution tasks senators to answer is whether the president committed an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rises to a level of a high crime and misdemeanor , ” Romney said .
“ Yes , he did .
The president asked a foreign government to investigate his political rival .
The president withheld vital military funds from that government to press it to do so .
The president delays funds for an American ally at war with Russian invaders .
The president ’ s purpose was personal and political .
Accordingly the president is guilty of an appalling abuse of public trust .
“ What he did was not perfect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault on our electoral rights , our national security , and our fundamental values , ” he claimed .
“ [ But ] I acknowledge that my verdict will not remove the president from office.
” After announcing his vote to convict Trump , Twitter predictably began blowing up with praise for Romney from leftist celebrities like Mark Hamill and George Takei .
RELATED : Devout Dems at Debate Give Mitt Romney Explosive Round of Applause as Thanks for Betraying Trump “ Thank you @ MittRomney for putting # CountryOverParty & voting your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcome would have been much different had it been a secret ballot ?
# CowardlyGOP # HistoryIsWatching , ” Star Wars actor Mark Hamill tweeted .
“ Romney made a great speech , logical , well reasoned , emotional and true .
It honestly looks as if # Romney is the ONLY person of courage in the entire party .
THAT ’ S THE REAL OUTRAGE , ” tweeted Bette Milder .
“ thank u @ SenatorRomney for voting to convict – one republican with honor # ConvictAndRemove , ” Rosie O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demonstrating at this trial what integrity looks like , Senator Romney , ” Star Trek actor George Takei said .
“ A lot of respect for Mitt Romney following his conscience and doing what he feels is right .
One vote will mean a lot to many , ” Ben Stiller tweeted .
Apparently , all it takes for the left to move past their own perceptions of bigotry and homophobia is for the object of their scorn to simply say something bad about Trump .
No other crime or moral failure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat than supporting their own president .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

After years of calling Mitt Romney a homophobe who wants to “put y’all back in chains,” the left has decided that all’s forgiven after he chose to side with Democrats to convict the president on one article of impeachment.
In 2012 the left put Romney on blast for comments he had made in 2005 regarding his rejection of birth certificates for babies with gay parents.
“Some gays are actually having children born to them,” Romney said in a 2005 speech according to The Boston Globe. “It’s not right on paper. It’s not right in fact. Every child has a right to a mother and father.”
Huffpost reported in 2012 that Romney was “hellbent on stigmatizing the children of gay and lesbian parents, labeling these kids as outcasts and causing them to suffer hardship throughout their lives.”
During the 2012 presidential campaign, The Hill reported that then-Vice President Joe Biden had told voters that Romney’s policies would “put y’all back in chains.”
“They’ve said it. Every Republican’s voted for it. Look at what they value and look at their budget and what they’re proposing. Romney wants to let the — he said in the first 100 days, he’s going to let the big banks score once again write their own rules — unchain Wall Street,” Biden said during a Virginia campaigning event. “They’re going to put y’all back in chains. He’s said he’s going to do nothing about stopping the practice of outsourcing.”
The left apparently forgot about all of this after Romney crossed party lines during President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate.
Wednesday, the Senate voted to acquit Trump of his charges of obstruction of Congress and abuse of power.
Do you think Mitt Romney deserves all of this praise? Yes No
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Romney broke with the rest of the Republican Party and voted to convict Trump on the abuse of power article.
During the trial, Romney gave a speech about why he planned to vote to convict Trump.
“The grave question the Constitution tasks senators to answer is whether the president committed an act so extreme and egregious that it rises to a level of a high crime and misdemeanor,” Romney said. “Yes, he did. The president asked a foreign government to investigate his political rival. The president withheld vital military funds from that government to press it to do so. The president delays funds for an American ally at war with Russian invaders. The president’s purpose was personal and political. Accordingly the president is guilty of an appalling abuse of public trust.
“What he did was not perfect, no, it was a flagrant assault on our electoral rights, our national security, and our fundamental values,” he claimed. “[But] I acknowledge that my verdict will not remove the president from office.”
After announcing his vote to convict Trump, Twitter predictably began blowing up with praise for Romney from leftist celebrities like Mark Hamill and George Takei.
Thank you for doing what’s right, @MittRomney. History will remember you as a decent, courageous, man among cowards and fools. pic.twitter.com/YPQkDTex1p — Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) February 5, 2020
“Thank you @MittRomney for putting #CountryOverParty & voting your conscience. Is there any doubt the outcome would have been much different had it been a secret ballot? #CowardlyGOP #HistoryIsWatching,” Star Wars actor Mark Hamill tweeted.
Thank you @MittRomney for putting #CountryOverParty & voting your conscience. Is there any doubt the outcome would have been much different had it been a secret ballot? #CowardlyGOP #HistoryIsWatching — Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) February 5, 2020
“Romney made a great speech, logical, well reasoned, emotional and true. It honestly looks as if #Romney is the ONLY person of courage in the entire party. THAT’S THE REAL OUTRAGE,” tweeted Bette Milder.
Romney made a great speech, logical, well reasoned, emotional and true. It honestly looks as if #Romney is the ONLY person of courage in the entire party. THAT’S THE REAL OUTRAGE. — Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) February 6, 2020
“thank u @SenatorRomney for voting to convict – one republican with honor #ConvictAndRemove,” Rosie O’Donnell wrote.
thank u @SenatorRomney for voting to convict – one republican with honor #ConvictAndRemove — ROSIE (@Rosie) February 5, 2020
“Thank you for demonstrating at this trial what integrity looks like, Senator Romney,” Star Trek actor George Takei said.
Thank you demonstrating at this trial what integrity looks like, Senator Romney. — George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) February 5, 2020
“A lot of respect for Mitt Romney following his conscience and doing what he feels is right. One vote will mean a lot to many,” Ben Stiller tweeted.
A lot of respect for Mitt Romney following his conscience and doing what he feels is right. One vote that will mean a lot to many. https://t.co/YQ1b35xVIJ — Ben Stiller (@RedHourBen) February 5, 2020
Apparently, all it takes for the left to move past their own perceptions of bigotry and homophobia is for the object of their scorn to simply say something bad about Trump. No other crime or moral failure, it seems, is worse to a Democrat than supporting their own president.
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westernjournal--2020-02-08--Rob Smith’s Comments as the Son of Single Mom Devastate AOC’s ‘Bootstrap’ Claim

Democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez found herself back in the limelight once again this week , scoring major points with the left-wing media over her dramatic dismissal of the American notion of “ pulling yourself up by the bootstraps.
” Referring to the concept as an “ impossibility ” and a “ joke , ” the left ’ s fresh-faced socialist went viral Wednesday for her belittling of the American dream before a House Committe on Oversight and Reform hearing titled , “ A Threat to America ’ s Children : The Trump Administration ’ s Proposed Changes to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TheBlaze .
“ You know this idea and this metaphor of a bootstrap started off as a joke ?
” Ocasio-Cortez said , “ Because it ’ s a physical impossibility to lift yourself up by a bootstrap , by your shoelaces .
It ’ s physically impossible .
The whole thing is a joke.
” Now , conservative commentator Rob Smith has alleged the viral moment was little more than a “ veiled swipe ” at his incredibly personal testimony before the committee — testimony that entirely undercuts Ocasio Cortez ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a United States Army veteran , Smith had been called before the committee earlier in the day by the minority party to shed light on his early life and argue in favor of the Trump administration ’ s attempts to more strongly curtail the welfare state .
Smith , who was raised by a single mother in Akron , Ohio , told the body of his low-income upbringing , which included a short stint on public assistance and a seemingly endless imperative to strive toward a brighter future .
But the solution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was not a bigger government , but a strong commitment to individuality and the communal bonds that built this nation .
“ Although we didn ’ t have much money or access to a whole lot of resources , [ my mother ] worked very hard to provide for her children , ” Smith said .
“ Like many who grew up in Akron , Ohio , I attended some of the lowest-performing and underfunded schools in the neighborhood .
“ Disaffected teachers would routinely come to class unprepared and my counselors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a student who , quite obviously , didn ’ t have an athletic scholarship ready and available for him upon graduation , ” Smith continued .
“ What we did have in our poor , working-class neighborhood , however , was a strong sense of community and an undying belief in self.
” It was those two core values — coupled with an immense love of country — that eventually led Smith to join the U.S. Army , where he served two tours of duty in the Middle East .
RELATED : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Says It 's 'Impossible ' To Pull Themselves Up by Bootstraps In the years that followed , Smith would become the first member of his family to receive a university education , completing not only his bachelor ’ s degree , but also a master ’ s degree at Columbia University .
Smith , who is openly gay , would go on to advocate in favor of repealing the U.S. military ’ s “ Don ’ t ask , don ’ t tell ” policy regarding homosexual service members , forge a strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump — none of which would have been possible , he argued , had he accepted the modern American left ’ s victim mentality .
“ The figureheads , activists and parents of my day always spoke positively of a brighter future , ” Smith said .
“ One where they ’ d have successfully passed on the torch of leadership and hope of opportunity to us , so that we could pave the way for additional successes .
Just like our forefathers and mothers had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living a life far beyond what my high school education and upbringing would have suggested , ” Smith later added .
“ And I wouldn ’ t have been able to accomplish any of these things had my mentality and beliefs about self been any different.
” “ If I had succumbed to the soft bigotry of low expectations , or to any of the rhetoric from elected officials who wish to substitute the role that strong individuals and communities play in supporting each other with that of an all-powerful , unaccountable and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ where would I be today ?
” In fact , as the child of a single mother myself — one lucky enough to have seen the impact of strong values , positive outlooks and communal and family support structures on one ’ s upbringing — I can safely say there is no greater question for young men and women like us .
As Smith alluded to , whether the nation would like to admit it or not , we have been left to count the social cost of allowing the government to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American community — and that cost is great .
It has resulted in a crime problem , a values problem and an outlook problem .
You see , the American dream was not simply a flawed and powerful mythos , as the left would have you believe .
It was a reality , a driving force and an encouragement for each and every American to strive upwardly and live by a higher material and moral standard .
The American dream isn ’ t delusion — the left ’ s love of government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damaged it to the point of unrecognizability .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez found herself back in the limelight once again this week, scoring major points with the left-wing media over her dramatic dismissal of the American notion of “pulling yourself up by the bootstraps.”
Referring to the concept as an “impossibility” and a “joke,” the left’s fresh-faced socialist went viral Wednesday for her belittling of the American dream before a House Committe on Oversight and Reform hearing titled, “A Threat to America’s Children: The Trump Administration’s Proposed Changes to the Poverty Line Calculation,” according to TheBlaze.
“You know this idea and this metaphor of a bootstrap started off as a joke?” Ocasio-Cortez said, “Because it’s a physical impossibility to lift yourself up by a bootstrap, by your shoelaces. It’s physically impossible. The whole thing is a joke.”
Now, conservative commentator Rob Smith has alleged the viral moment was little more than a “veiled swipe” at his incredibly personal testimony before the committee — testimony that entirely undercuts Ocasio Cortez’s argument.
I shared mine testifying in Congress yesterday. This is @AOC veiled swipe at my testimony of being a poor kid who lifted myself up via the Army, hard work, and the blessing of being born in the USA. They only want to hear from black victims, not victors. https://t.co/F4jKfn4Imk — Rob Smith ?? (@robsmithonline) February 6, 2020
An openly gay black man and a United States Army veteran, Smith had been called before the committee earlier in the day by the minority party to shed light on his early life and argue in favor of the Trump administration’s attempts to more strongly curtail the welfare state.
Smith, who was raised by a single mother in Akron, Ohio, told the body of his low-income upbringing, which included a short stint on public assistance and a seemingly endless imperative to strive toward a brighter future.
But the solution to those poor circumstances, he argued, was not a bigger government, but a strong commitment to individuality and the communal bonds that built this nation.
“Although we didn’t have much money or access to a whole lot of resources, [my mother] worked very hard to provide for her children,” Smith said. “Like many who grew up in Akron, Ohio, I attended some of the lowest-performing and underfunded schools in the neighborhood.
“Disaffected teachers would routinely come to class unprepared and my counselors had little idea of what to do with a student who, quite obviously, didn’t have an athletic scholarship ready and available for him upon graduation,” Smith continued.
“What we did have in our poor, working-class neighborhood, however, was a strong sense of community and an undying belief in self.”
The First’s @robsmithonline just OBLITERATED AOC’s claim that it’s “physically impossible” to pull yourself up from the bootstraps in this country. All of America needs to stop what they’re doing and watch this. pic.twitter.com/nOj33iznXQ — The First (@TheFirstonTV) February 6, 2020
It was those two core values — coupled with an immense love of country — that eventually led Smith to join the U.S. Army, where he served two tours of duty in the Middle East.
In the years that followed, Smith would become the first member of his family to receive a university education, completing not only his bachelor’s degree, but also a master’s degree at Columbia University.
Smith, who is openly gay, would go on to advocate in favor of repealing the U.S. military’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding homosexual service members, forge a strong career as a political analyst and meet both President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump — none of which would have been possible, he argued, had he accepted the modern American left’s victim mentality.
“The figureheads, activists and parents of my day always spoke positively of a brighter future,” Smith said. “One where they’d have successfully passed on the torch of leadership and hope of opportunity to us, so that we could pave the way for additional successes. Just like our forefathers and mothers had done for us.”
“I am living a life far beyond what my high school education and upbringing would have suggested,” Smith later added. “And I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish any of these things had my mentality and beliefs about self been any different.”
Do you think Ocasio-Cortez is wrong about the American dream? Yes No
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“If I had succumbed to the soft bigotry of low expectations, or to any of the rhetoric from elected officials who wish to substitute the role that strong individuals and communities play in supporting each other with that of an all-powerful, unaccountable and bloated government,” he said, “where would I be today?”
A phenomenal question, no doubt.
In fact, as the child of a single mother myself — one lucky enough to have seen the impact of strong values, positive outlooks and communal and family support structures on one’s upbringing — I can safely say there is no greater question for young men and women like us.
As Smith alluded to, whether the nation would like to admit it or not, we have been left to count the social cost of allowing the government to take on the role of father in the American community — and that cost is great.
It has resulted in a crime problem, a values problem and an outlook problem.
You see, the American dream was not simply a flawed and powerful mythos, as the left would have you believe.
It was a reality, a driving force and an encouragement for each and every American to strive upwardly and live by a higher material and moral standard.
The American dream isn’t delusion — the left’s love of government and de-emphasis of the family has simply damaged it to the point of unrecognizability.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.