westernjournal--2020-03-01--Fiery Diamond & Silk Speech: Blacks Don’t Need Reparations, They Need Liberation from Dems

Diamond and Silk are not playing games .
Yes , you could have written that as the open for a hundred articles over the past few years about the two women , also known as Lynette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson .
This time , you get the feeling it ’ s even more appropriate than ever — in a speech Thursday to this year ’ s Conservative Political Action Conference outside of Washington , D.C. “ First of all , we want to say thank you to CPAC for giving two conservative black chicks who are down with politics the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diamond ( Hardaway ) .
“ I ’ m not gon na be here long — but I just came here to talk about what makes America great.
” And talk about making America great they did .
The speech , 20 minutes in length , was one of the highlights of the CPAC schedule .
“ When I look at Bernie Sanders and his socialistic ideas it reminds me of the initials of his first and last name , Silk , ” Diamond said .
There were more denunciations of straight bull @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need more free thinkers and less freeloaders , ” one line from Diamond went .
“ And if you are a freeloader , we need you to get up off your seat and do-nothing and go get you a job !
” However , their key message had to do with independence — from the mentalities of the past , particularly when it came to black Americans and the issue of reparations for slavery .
“ And another thing to the Democrats , ” Diamond said about the 11-minute mark .
“ Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black people need liberation from the Democrat plantation.
” RELATED : Ana Navarro Gets Racist After Polls Show Huge Black Support for Trump If you wanted to end the speech there , you could have .
Thank you , and goodnight .
Wave your hands , get the CPAC plaudits , and move along .
They didn ’ t , mind you , and more power to them .
However , they hit upon the main vein : Reparations are a fraud foisted upon very guilty liberals who want to extirpate their past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get rid of that nagging sense you shouldn ’ t be where you are ?
Reparations .
Don ’ t think you ’ re doing enough for the liberal cause ?
Reparations .
It ’ s a mantra .
It ’ s a way of life .
You can hear it in the wind .
Reparations .
The social media duo also emphasized the First Amendment .
“ We have the right to act , speak , think what we want without hindrance and restraint from our government , ” Diamond said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God , baby.
” They also had an issue with the fact that the Senate rejected the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act , which would require doctors to , among other things , do what they can to keep babies alive that are born out of abortions .
Either way , as you can see , it was a barn-burner of a speech .
Diamond and Silk wouldn ’ t have it any other way .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Diamond and Silk are not playing games.
Yes, you could have written that as the open for a hundred articles over the past few years about the two women, also known as Lynette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson.
This time, you get the feeling it’s even more appropriate than ever — in a speech Thursday to this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference outside of Washington, D.C.
“First of all, we want to say thank you to CPAC for giving two conservative black chicks who are down with politics the opportunity to be here,” said Diamond (Hardaway). “I’m not gonna be here long — but I just came here to talk about what makes America great.”
And talk about making America great they did.
The speech, 20 minutes in length, was one of the highlights of the CPAC schedule.
“When I look at Bernie Sanders and his socialistic ideas it reminds me of the initials of his first and last name, Silk,” Diamond said.
“Straight B.S.”
Do you support Diamond and Silk? 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% (1711 Votes) No: 1% (16 Votes)
There were more denunciations of straight bull fertilizer during the speech.
“We need more free thinkers and less freeloaders,” one line from Diamond went.
“And if you are a freeloader, we need you to get up off your seat and do-nothing and go get you a job!”
However, their key message had to do with independence — from the mentalities of the past, particularly when it came to black Americans and the issue of reparations for slavery.
“And another thing to the Democrats,” Diamond said about the 11-minute mark. “Black people don’t need reparations, black people need liberation from the Democrat plantation.”
If you wanted to end the speech there, you could have. Thank you, and goodnight. Wave your hands, get the CPAC plaudits, and move along.
They didn’t, mind you, and more power to them. However, they hit upon the main vein: Reparations are a fraud foisted upon very guilty liberals who want to extirpate their past in the simplest way possible.
Want to get rid of that nagging sense you shouldn’t be where you are? Reparations. Don’t think you’re doing enough for the liberal cause? Reparations. It’s a mantra. It’s a way of life. You can hear it in the wind. Reparations.
The social media duo also emphasized the First Amendment.
“We have the right to act, speak, think what we want without hindrance and restraint from our government,” Diamond said. “We are one nation under God, baby.”
They also had an issue with the fact that the Senate rejected the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act, which would require doctors to, among other things, do what they can to keep babies alive that are born out of abortions.
Either way, as you can see, it was a barn-burner of a speech. Diamond and Silk wouldn’t have it any other way.
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westernjournal--2020-03-01--NYT Runs Puff Piece on Hunter Biden, Paints Him as a Sensitive Artist

Last July , The New Yorker did a profile on Hunter Biden titled “ Will Hunter Biden Jeopardize His Father ’ s Campaign ?
” I ’ ll give you the TL ; DR : “ He shouldn ’ t , you judgmental jerk.
” In that piece , Biden was described as a prodigal son who ’ d come back to the Biden home numerous times after eating his carob pods with the pigs .
Yes , he ’ d bought crack in a homeless encampment in Los Angeles .
Yes , he ’ d been doing coke while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy firm Burisma .
Yes , his wife claimed in divorce papers that he ’ d been “ spending extravagantly on his own interests ( including drugs , alcohol , prostitutes , strip clubs , and gifts for women with whom he has sexual relations ) , while leaving the family with no funds to pay legitimate bills.
” Yes , he ’ d … OK , point is , Hunter Biden ’ s seen some stuff , man .
But for real , guys , he ’ d changed !
He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ d gotten married , turned over a new leaf and , then 49 , had become the kind of aging hipster/hippie who wears a T-shirt that says “ Be F—ing Nice.
” ( Seriously , that ’ s what he wore during part of the interview process . )
So stop picking on this belatedly maturing boyo , everyone .
He ’ s getting it together .
Be … nice .
The subcontext , of course , is that Biden ’ s conservative opponents want Joe Biden ’ s son pilloried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false .
If Hunter Biden wants to live like Hunter Thompson , he should go ahead .
That ’ s clearly an aim of his and he wouldn ’ t be the first D.C. wastrel who ’ s able to get away with absolute dissolution because of his family lineage .
What we care about is the fact he ’ s managed to get so many jobs that are either aligned with his father ’ s legislative interests or which — let ’ s be blunt — only have to do with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you consider these jobs came at the same time Biden was probably spending a good deal of his time holed up in a suite at the Four Seasons D.C. , waving a crack pipe around and jabbering about how the Beltway was bat country .
In the interim , it ’ s clear he hasn ’ t gotten it together .
He ’ s currently involved in a child support suit with a former college athlete he apparently met while she was a stripper at his favorite club .
He resisted taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pass himself off as unemployed so that his no-doubt amply lined pockets aren ’ t affected .
But , as The New York Times points out , he ’ s become one heck of an artist !
The ghost of Jean-Michel Basquiat has been duly put on notice .
I ’ m not sure that Biden is that much of an artist , but writer Adam Popescu is a puff-piece maestro .
Check out this flattering bilge : “ Dressed in Oxford boots , jeans and a long sleeve T-shirt , Hunter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walkway , into a pool house-turned-art studio in the Hollywood Hills , ” Popescu began the Friday piece .
“ It was filled with colorful works of decorative abstraction — psychedelic florals and ethereal patterns that look like nature viewed through a microscope , leaning toward the surreal .
There were nearly 100 of them , all by his own hand .
Some were signed RH Biden , for Robert Hunter Biden , the 50-year-old son of the former vice president .
“ ’ What do you see ?
’ he asked , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wok brush .
RELATED : As Dems Refuse To Act , Ukraine Moves Against Biden , Opens Own Corruption Investigation “ The more critical question might be : How does it look to the outside world ?
Popescu wrote.
” From the picture provided by The Times , the outside world might think it looks a bit like this : Popescu briefly states that Biden ’ s “ name is very well known , for all the wrong reasons ” — mostly because of the role his employment with Burisma played in President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that “ Republicans continue to press for a separate investigation into Mr. Biden ’ s work for the firm.
” Yes , well , that ’ s how these things tend to happen .
However , Hunter Biden has now chosen to step away from a career as a lobbyist and a guy with the last name Biden for hire for the life of a starving artist .
Well , not too starving .
“ As an undiscovered artist , he is better situated than most : living in a rented , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mulholland Drive , with a Porsche Panamera in the driveway , plenty of natural light and a pool house he has transformed into an art studio , ” Popescu wrote .
This is about as close to tongue-in-cheek criticism of Hunter ’ s new career as Popescu gets in the piece .
What we have instead is an article that talks about things like Biden ’ s desirability as an artist , his taste in music ( he ’ s really into Sturgill Simpson right now , something that may indeed induce me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my Spotify , much as I like him ) and how his wife reacts to paint getting on his pants .
“ His fingers and forearms were paint stained , blacks and reds deep under his nails , flecks on his jeans and boots , something his wife , Melissa Cohen , whom he married in May after a weeklong courtship , can ’ t stand .
‘ I always get my pants dirty , ’ he said .
‘ I don ’ t even notice it , but Melissa hates it.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own , he inserts the oft-repeated backstory about How Hard the Bidens Have It .
“ For years , vodka and cocaine were constant companions .
Mr. Biden has talked often of facing the twin demons of addiction and personal loss .
His mother Neilia and sister Naomi died in a 1972 car wreck , in which 2-year-old Hunter suffered a severe head injury , ” Popescu wrote .
“ Later , as he looked to escape temptations , the painting became therapeutic , he said .
So did writing poems and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Syracuse University ’ s creative writing program in 1993 , but chose law school ) .
Recently , he said , he has been writing letters to his deceased brother Beau , who succumbed to brain cancer in 2015 , a loss that sent Mr. Biden off on a four-year nightmare.
” “ I was addicted to crack for four years , ” Hunter Biden said .
“ I went through a really long period of addiction and I was at a point where I didn ’ t read , write , think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halfway .
That can be a problem.
” Not to diminish the death of Joe Biden ’ s first wife or his son , Beau , but nothing can possibly induce this preternaturally privileged drone to take responsibility for anything he ’ s done .
It was Beau ’ s death .
The pressure of being a Biden .
His divorce .
There ’ s always something that ’ s sent Hunter off the deep end .
Here ’ s the piece ’ s brief mention of Hunter ’ s latest foray into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly embraced : “ This past November , a paternity suit revealed he was the father of a toddler ; he had met the child ’ s mother in Washington .
On Wednesday , a judge ordered Mr. Biden to come to Arkansas , where the mother lives , for a March deposition .
The mother ’ s lawyer said that , among other things , he wanted to know whether Mr. Biden was making money from his art.
” The piece isn ’ t particularly interested in exploring the fact that Hunter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is it interested in the fact that , according to the New York Post , he met the mother at his favorite strip club in the District , the Mpire Club , while she was employed there in a position other than management .
It ’ s also not interested that this was about the time he broke up with his brother ’ s widow , Hallie Biden .
The piece also makes a point of stating that “ [ t ] here has been no proof of any wrongdoing by Mr. Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” There ’ s also been no in-depth investigation of an unbelievably shady situation , one where the son of the vice president of the United States was hired for a well-remunerated position on the board of a state energy firm in a country where he has no business experience and in a sector in which he has no work experience .
Then there was his work with a Romanian oligarch accused of corruption , also glossed over .
A sentence is dedicated to his curious dealings in China .
Here ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ But perception rules .
Even if no laws were broken by him , Mr. Biden has made questionable choices , ” he wrote .
“ At his studio , Mr. Biden talked about his work while puffing an e-cigarette , and staring into the distance .
The soaring hawks came back into view .
‘ See them , it ’ s a family , ’ he said .
‘ There were three yesterday , now there are four .
That ’ s special.
’ ” Reading journalistic debris like that , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of preconditions for this interview .
One imagines Biden ’ s people snarling to some poor mid-level editor at The Times over FaceTime : “ This has to be about painting , you hear ?
I ’ m going to put it in the contract : Any more than three mentions of Burisma and your people are riding in the other press bus , the one with the local guys from the Dogwood Patch Advertiser-Gazette .
No malarkey .
We clear ?
” The other alternative is not to do the piece , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much coaxing .
Meanwhile , picture if one of the Trump kids was an absentee father with a record of guzzling vodka and smoking crack throughout the entirety of his half-century on earth — and oh yeah , he ’ s linked to multiple instances of corruption that nobody ’ s really bothered to look into .
Then picture that they wanted to get into painting pictures .
How do you think that would go ?
Here ’ s what I don ’ t see : a quote from alternate universe Eric Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as he looks at some soaring hawks , “ See them , it ’ s a family .
There were three yesterday , now there are four .
That ’ s special.
” In many ways , I ’ d prefer this didn ’ t happen in my alternate universe .
I ’ d also prefer it didn ’ t happen in this universe , either , but que sera sera .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Last July, The New Yorker did a profile on Hunter Biden titled “Will Hunter Biden Jeopardize His Father’s Campaign?” I’ll give you the TL;DR: “He shouldn’t, you judgmental jerk.”
In that piece, Biden was described as a prodigal son who’d come back to the Biden home numerous times after eating his carob pods with the pigs.
Yes, he’d bought crack in a homeless encampment in Los Angeles. Yes, he’d been doing coke while he was on the board of Ukrainian energy firm Burisma. Yes, his wife claimed in divorce papers that he’d been “spending extravagantly on his own interests (including drugs, alcohol, prostitutes, strip clubs, and gifts for women with whom he has sexual relations), while leaving the family with no funds to pay legitimate bills.” Yes, he’d … OK, point is, Hunter Biden’s seen some stuff, man.
But for real, guys, he’d changed! He’d turned over a new leaf! He’d gotten married, turned over a new leaf and, then 49, had become the kind of aging hipster/hippie who wears a T-shirt that says “Be F—ing Nice.” (Seriously, that’s what he wore during part of the interview process.) So stop picking on this belatedly maturing boyo, everyone. He’s getting it together. Be … nice.
The subcontext, of course, is that Biden’s conservative opponents want Joe Biden’s son pilloried for his personal life. This is false.
If Hunter Biden wants to live like Hunter Thompson, he should go ahead. That’s clearly an aim of his and he wouldn’t be the first D.C. wastrel who’s able to get away with absolute dissolution because of his family lineage. What we care about is the fact he’s managed to get so many jobs that are either aligned with his father’s legislative interests or which — let’s be blunt — only have to do with his last name.
This becomes especially pertinent when you consider these jobs came at the same time Biden was probably spending a good deal of his time holed up in a suite at the Four Seasons D.C., waving a crack pipe around and jabbering about how the Beltway was bat country.
In the interim, it’s clear he hasn’t gotten it together. He’s currently involved in a child support suit with a former college athlete he apparently met while she was a stripper at his favorite club. He resisted taking a DNA test and is now trying to pass himself off as unemployed so that his no-doubt amply lined pockets aren’t affected.
But, as The New York Times points out, he’s become one heck of an artist!
Painting “keeps me away from people and places where I shouldn’t be,” said Hunter Biden, well known for his foreign dealings and his battles with drug addiction https://t.co/4kWHygfyJd — New York Times Arts (@nytimesarts) February 28, 2020
The ghost of Jean-Michel Basquiat has been duly put on notice. I’m not sure that Biden is that much of an artist, but writer Adam Popescu is a puff-piece maestro. Check out this flattering bilge:
“Dressed in Oxford boots, jeans and a long sleeve T-shirt, Hunter Biden ushered a reporter down a stone walkway, into a pool house-turned-art studio in the Hollywood Hills,” Popescu began the Friday piece.
“It was filled with colorful works of decorative abstraction — psychedelic florals and ethereal patterns that look like nature viewed through a microscope, leaning toward the surreal. There were nearly 100 of them, all by his own hand. Some were signed RH Biden, for Robert Hunter Biden, the 50-year-old son of the former vice president.
“’What do you see?’ he asked, shifting bottles of ink and a bamboo wok brush.
“The more critical question might be: How does it look to the outside world? Popescu wrote.”
From the picture provided by The Times, the outside world might think it looks a bit like this:
Popescu briefly states that Biden’s “name is very well known, for all the wrong reasons” — mostly because of the role his employment with Burisma played in President Donald Trump’s impeachment and the fact that “Republicans continue to press for a separate investigation into Mr. Biden’s work for the firm.”
Yes, well, that’s how these things tend to happen. However, Hunter Biden has now chosen to step away from a career as a lobbyist and a guy with the last name Biden for hire for the life of a starving artist. Well, not too starving.
“As an undiscovered artist, he is better situated than most: living in a rented, 2,000-square-foot house in the Hollywood Hills off Mulholland Drive, with a Porsche Panamera in the driveway, plenty of natural light and a pool house he has transformed into an art studio,” Popescu wrote.
This is about as close to tongue-in-cheek criticism of Hunter’s new career as Popescu gets in the piece. What we have instead is an article that talks about things like Biden’s desirability as an artist, his taste in music (he’s really into Sturgill Simpson right now, something that may indeed induce me to delete all of his albums from my Spotify, much as I like him) and how his wife reacts to paint getting on his pants.
“His fingers and forearms were paint stained, blacks and reds deep under his nails, flecks on his jeans and boots, something his wife, Melissa Cohen, whom he married in May after a weeklong courtship, can’t stand. ‘I always get my pants dirty,’ he said. ‘I don’t even notice it, but Melissa hates it.’”
As Popescu paints a portrait of his own, he inserts the oft-repeated backstory about How Hard the Bidens Have It.
“For years, vodka and cocaine were constant companions. Mr. Biden has talked often of facing the twin demons of addiction and personal loss. His mother Neilia and sister Naomi died in a 1972 car wreck, in which 2-year-old Hunter suffered a severe head injury,” Popescu wrote.
“Later, as he looked to escape temptations, the painting became therapeutic, he said. So did writing poems and short stories (he was accepted into Syracuse University’s creative writing program in 1993, but chose law school). Recently, he said, he has been writing letters to his deceased brother Beau, who succumbed to brain cancer in 2015, a loss that sent Mr. Biden off on a four-year nightmare.”
“I was addicted to crack for four years,” Hunter Biden said. “I went through a really long period of addiction and I was at a point where I didn’t read, write, think. I don’t do things halfway. That can be a problem.”
Not to diminish the death of Joe Biden’s first wife or his son, Beau, but nothing can possibly induce this preternaturally privileged drone to take responsibility for anything he’s done. It was Beau’s death. The pressure of being a Biden. His divorce. There’s always something that’s sent Hunter off the deep end.
Do you think Joe Biden will get the nomination? Yes No
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Here’s the piece’s brief mention of Hunter’s latest foray into fatherhood, one he hasn’t exactly embraced: “This past November, a paternity suit revealed he was the father of a toddler; he had met the child’s mother in Washington. On Wednesday, a judge ordered Mr. Biden to come to Arkansas, where the mother lives, for a March deposition. The mother’s lawyer said that, among other things, he wanted to know whether Mr. Biden was making money from his art.”
The piece isn’t particularly interested in exploring the fact that Hunter fought taking a paternity test. Nor is it interested in the fact that, according to the New York Post, he met the mother at his favorite strip club in the District, the Mpire Club, while she was employed there in a position other than management. It’s also not interested that this was about the time he broke up with his brother’s widow, Hallie Biden.
The piece also makes a point of stating that “[t]here has been no proof of any wrongdoing by Mr. Biden related to his business dealings in Ukraine.” There’s also been no in-depth investigation of an unbelievably shady situation, one where the son of the vice president of the United States was hired for a well-remunerated position on the board of a state energy firm in a country where he has no business experience and in a sector in which he has no work experience.
Then there was his work with a Romanian oligarch accused of corruption, also glossed over. A sentence is dedicated to his curious dealings in China. Here’s how Popescu transitions out of it: “But perception rules. Even if no laws were broken by him, Mr. Biden has made questionable choices,” he wrote. “At his studio, Mr. Biden talked about his work while puffing an e-cigarette, and staring into the distance. The soaring hawks came back into view. ‘See them, it’s a family,’ he said. ‘There were three yesterday, now there are four. That’s special.’”
Reading journalistic debris like that, I get the feeling there was a heap of preconditions for this interview. One imagines Biden’s people snarling to some poor mid-level editor at The Times over FaceTime: “This has to be about painting, you hear? I’m going to put it in the contract: Any more than three mentions of Burisma and your people are riding in the other press bus, the one with the local guys from the Dogwood Patch Advertiser-Gazette. No malarkey. We clear?”
The other alternative is not to do the piece, but I doubt the Gray Lady needed much coaxing. Meanwhile, picture if one of the Trump kids was an absentee father with a record of guzzling vodka and smoking crack throughout the entirety of his half-century on earth — and oh yeah, he’s linked to multiple instances of corruption that nobody’s really bothered to look into. Then picture that they wanted to get into painting pictures. How do you think that would go?
Here’s what I don’t see: a quote from alternate universe Eric Trump telling a reporter from The Times, as he looks at some soaring hawks, “See them, it’s a family. There were three yesterday, now there are four. That’s special.”
In many ways, I’d prefer this didn’t happen in my alternate universe. I’d also prefer it didn’t happen in this universe, either, but que sera sera.
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westernjournal--2020-03-01--After 1st US Death, Virus Task Force Leader Pence Confirms ‘All Hands on Deck Effort’

Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday vowed that the battle against the coronavirus will unite all levels of government in a full-throttle effort to protect Americans .
“ This is an all hands on deck effort , ” Pence said during a Saturday White House news conference .
Pence noted that despite the first recorded U.S. death from the virus , the government ’ s measures to protect Americans are working .
Peace earlier noted that Trump took “ decisive action ” in response to the virus including the “ unprecedented ” step of stopping all travel into the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the swift response was a reason that the current threat to Americans from the virus “ remains low.
” Pence said the multi-agency task force he heads has been developing a range of actions .
“ The task force met this morning and brought the president a range of options and , at his direction , we will be doing the following , ” Pence said , listing no only “ additional travel restrictions on Iran ” but also a ban on “ any foreign national who has visited Iran in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States .
Pence also said that a Level Four advisory — the highest level there is — is being applied to regions of Italy and South Korea where there have been severe outbreaks of the virus .
Americans are being advised not to visit those areas , Pence said .
Pence noted that the task force is only just starting its battle , but it moving forward quickly .
“ I ’ m just a few days into this job , but I can tell you having spent time with these extraordinary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be proud to know what I ’ ve heard , ” he said .
‘ This team has been working seamlessly with health officials at the state and local levels , and I can assure the American public that we will continue to live out the president ’ s admonition a few days ago that we ’ re all in this together , and as we work with members of Congress , I ’ ve had the opportunity to speak with Republican and Democratic leadership in the Congress , ” he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support federal , state and local efforts to fight the virus and “ protect the health of the American people.
” Pence addressed the issue of whether Americans need to buy masks .
“ Let me be very clear , and I ’ m sure the physicians up here will reflect this as well .
The average American does not need to go out and buy a mask .
But this administration is going to always put first , our patients first , and second we ’ re going to make sure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providers.
” RELATED : First US Coronavirus Death Confirmed in Washington State Pence noted that there were 40 million masks available , but that the government was working with manufacturers to increase the supply , prioritizing those with the greatest needs .
On Friday , Russ Vought , acting director of the Office of Management and Budget , said the administration had fully funded the Centers for Disease Control and pushed back against what he termed “ some of the main inaccuracies or nuances that are out there in the public debate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pool report .
Vought noted that the “ total amount for CDC of fighting infectious diseases and preparedness ” rose by 3 percent .
Vought did not deny there are reductions in some areas within the CDC .
“ We also think there ’ s waste , fraud , and abuse in this area , where you have studies on how taxi drivers are taking too few bathroom breaks , and whether that ’ s an important occupational health issue .
Those are the kinds of things that we still think , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the resources are there for CDC , we can find inefficiencies and waste , and deal with mission creep at the same time , ” he said .
“ So it is not true that we cut CDC infectious disease fighting — which gets me to the second one , which I think this is the main inaccuracy out there , which is this notion that you see in some of the New York Post and CNN reporting that we cut CDC by 80 percent .
It ’ s flat-out inaccurate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel from Iran noted that “ As of February 28 , 2020 , Iran had 388 cases of COVID-19 , a significant increase from prior days .
In response to that increase , on February 28 , 2020 , CDC raised its infectious disease alert to level 3 , its highest level , which recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Iran .
According to the World Health Organization , as of February 28 , 2020 , 97 COVID-19 cases have been exported from Iran to 11 other countries.
” “ Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as it has repeatedly demonstrated through its history of engaging in malign activity , and confirmed most recently by its repeated denials of responsibility for shooting down an international airliner .
The United States Government is therefore unable to rely on official information disseminated by Iran , undermining the effective evaluation and monitoring of travelers continuing to arrive from that country , ” the order said .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday vowed that the battle against the coronavirus will unite all levels of government in a full-throttle effort to protect Americans.
“This is an all hands on deck effort,” Pence said during a Saturday White House news conference.
Pence noted that despite the first recorded U.S. death from the virus, the government’s measures to protect Americans are working.
Peace earlier noted that Trump took “decisive action” in response to the virus including the “unprecedented” step of stopping all travel into the United Stater, from China.
Pence said that the swift response was a reason that the current threat to Americans from the virus “remains low.”
Pence said the multi-agency task force he heads has been developing a range of actions.
“The task force met this morning and brought the president a range of options and, at his direction, we will be doing the following,” Pence said, listing no only “additional travel restrictions on Iran” but also a ban on “any foreign national who has visited Iran in the past 14 days” from entering the United States.
Pence also said that a Level Four advisory — the highest level there is — is being applied to regions of Italy and South Korea where there have been severe outbreaks of the virus. Americans are being advised not to visit those areas, Pence said.
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Pence noted that the task force is only just starting its battle, but it moving forward quickly.
“I’m just a few days into this job, but I can tell you having spent time with these extraordinary professionals … I think every American would be proud to know what I’ve heard,” he said.
‘This team has been working seamlessly with health officials at the state and local levels, and I can assure the American public that we will continue to live out the president’s admonition a few days ago that we’re all in this together, and as we work with members of Congress, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with Republican and Democratic leadership in the Congress,” he said, noting that funding will be secured to support federal, state and local efforts to fight the virus and “protect the health of the American people.”
Pence addressed the issue of whether Americans need to buy masks.
“Let me be very clear, and I’m sure the physicians up here will reflect this as well. The average American does not need to go out and buy a mask. But this administration is going to always put first, our patients first, and second we’re going to make sure to protect the health of our health care providers.”
Pence noted that there were 40 million masks available, but that the government was working with manufacturers to increase the supply, prioritizing those with the greatest needs.
On Friday, Russ Vought, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, said the administration had fully funded the Centers for Disease Control and pushed back against what he termed “some of the main inaccuracies or nuances that are out there in the public debate,” according to a White House media pool report.
Vought noted that the “total amount for CDC of fighting infectious diseases and preparedness” rose by 3 percent.
Vought did not deny there are reductions in some areas within the CDC.
“We also think there’s waste, fraud, and abuse in this area, where you have studies on how taxi drivers are taking too few bathroom breaks, and whether that’s an important occupational health issue. Those are the kinds of things that we still think, even in a time of making sure that all the resources are there for CDC, we can find inefficiencies and waste, and deal with mission creep at the same time,” he said.
“So it is not true that we cut CDC infectious disease fighting — which gets me to the second one, which I think this is the main inaccuracy out there, which is this notion that you see in some of the New York Post and CNN reporting that we cut CDC by 80 percent. It’s flat-out inaccurate,” he said.
The order banning travel from Iran noted that “As of February 28, 2020, Iran had 388 cases of COVID-19, a significant increase from prior days. In response to that increase, on February 28, 2020, CDC raised its infectious disease alert to level 3, its highest level, which recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Iran. According to the World Health Organization, as of February 28, 2020, 97 COVID-19 cases have been exported from Iran to 11 other countries.”
“Iran is not a trustworthy state actor, as it has repeatedly demonstrated through its history of engaging in malign activity, and confirmed most recently by its repeated denials of responsibility for shooting down an international airliner. The United States Government is therefore unable to rely on official information disseminated by Iran, undermining the effective evaluation and monitoring of travelers continuing to arrive from that country,” the order said.
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westernjournal--2020-03-01--Warren Is Having a Hard Time Convincing Her Own State to Vote for Her

Super Tuesday probably isn ’ t going to be a fantastic night for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren .
This is an issue for her inasmuch as her campaign ’ s “ firewall ” — I want to ban that word after South Carolina , so please email me a better metaphor if you have one — is the fact she has the best campaign infrastructure on Super Tuesday .
It turns out that and $ 6 will get her a rental of “ Parasite ” on Amazon Prime .
( Good movie , by the way , even though President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit leftist . )
Warren is in real trouble in virtually every state she ’ s competing in on Tuesday — and that ’ s taking into account the fact that these states award delegates proportionally .
There are a lot of states voting on Super Tuesday .
Gosh .
There are a whole lot of glittering delegates out there for the taking .
California ’ s the biggie .
Texas , too .
Those two might be difficult for Warren .
North Carolina — that ’ s also not her kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massachusetts — she ’ s from there , right ?
I ’ m sure she can cash in her wampum there .
Well , uh , maybe not .
Boston ’ s NPR affiliate polled the state ’ s residents and they apparently prefer another radical .
“ With Super Tuesday just days away , a new WBUR-FM poll finds Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders well ahead of Sen. Elizabeth Warren in her home state of Massachusetts , ” the station reported .
“ The poll shows Sanders is the choice of 25 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren is in second place with 17 % .
The former mayors , Pete Buttigieg and Michael Bloomberg , are in a virtual tie for third at 14 % and 13 % , respectively .
Former Vice President Joe Biden rounds out the top five at 9 % .
” The problem with predicting Massachusetts like your name was Nate Silver is the fact there ’ s not a whole of polling in what might be the nation ’ s most liberal state .
It is , after all , not one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name isn ’ t Elizabeth Warren .
If your name is Elizabeth Warren , however , the WBUR polling adds to a small pool of polling that doesn ’ t exactly look comforting .
According to RealClearPolitics , none of the polls conducted in the Bay State this year have Warren ahead .
Instead , the favorite son of Massachusetts has been the geriatric Green Mountain Peter Pan that is Sen. Bernie Sanders .
Polls in 2020 have shown Sanders besting Warren in the top two slot withs percentages of been 21-20 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Sanders .
( It ’ s worth noting , however , that in all but one of those polls — the WBUR survey — Warren was within the margin of error . )
Former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg is in third place in all of those polls , something that will no doubt be a great consolation to a guy who ’ s apparently going to get absolutely creamed on Super Tuesday .
In Massachusetts , however , things are not looking great for the favorite-ish daughter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ strength .
“ According to the poll , Sanders ’ strength is propelled by younger Democratic voters : almost half of those under the age of 45 say they support the Vermont senator .
Warren does well with highly educated voters and women — but overall , she trails Sanders by eight points , ” WBUR reported .
“ That ’ s a pretty good size lead , ” Steve Koczela , president of MassINC Polling Group , is quoted as saying in the article , because apparently the obvious needs restating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't Fit the Media Narrative - Is That Why You 've Heard Nothing About Him ?
He also notes that — get this — primary voters are fickle .
“ Particularly in primary polling , numbers can change very quickly , ” Koczela said .
“ Think back to New Hampshire , where we saw 50 % of voters in the Democratic primary who made up their minds just in the last few days.
” This is the most disposable man in the history of politics .
Also dispensable is the Kennedy legacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Joe Kennedy III , last seen in a major public venue in front of a car being repaired for reasons unknown , is a Warren supporter and optimistic she has better than a 1/1,024th chance of winning the Massachusetts primary .
“ I think you ’ ve got a long time [ to go ] , ” Kennedy told WBUR .
“ March 3rd is an eternity .
I believe in her .
I think the people here believe in her .
I expect she ’ s going to have a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to have a great day across the country.
” March 3 is an eternity ?
I remember New Year ’ s Eve 2018 , when The New York Times alert came over my phone that Elizabeth Warren was forming an exploratory committee to run for president .
I knew enough to know an exploratory committee is legally indistinguishable from an actual run for the presidency , which meant Elizabeth Warren was the first major Democrat candidate for president .
Joe Kennedy III made this comment last week , which means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , well underway .
I ’ ve crammed for a few papers before .
I don ’ t think you can cram for being down in your home state ’ s primary when it ’ s literally the only thing you need to win on Super Tuesday when it ’ s just a few days before Super Tuesday , particularly when you ’ ve been in the race since us conservatives were setting up our “ Welcome to 2019 ” fireworks in the backyard .
Bottom line : If Elizabeth Warren can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s done .
It doesn ’ t matter how many debates there are are and how many low blows she can aim at Michael Bloomberg .
Bloomberg isn ’ t the target anymore , but she hasn ’ t become his replacement .
Perhaps she wants to hang around in the back of the room like John Kasich in 2016 hoping for a divided convention .
That ’ s fine .
However , if there is a brokered convention , nobody ’ s going to have any love for Warren , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of affairs by not dropping out .
At least Kasich won his own state , though .
Warren might not even be able to say that .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Super Tuesday probably isn’t going to be a fantastic night for Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
This is an issue for her inasmuch as her campaign’s “firewall” — I want to ban that word after South Carolina, so please email me a better metaphor if you have one — is the fact she has the best campaign infrastructure on Super Tuesday.
It turns out that and $6 will get her a rental of “Parasite” on Amazon Prime. (Good movie, by the way, even though President Trump slagged it and it’s a bit leftist.) Warren is in real trouble in virtually every state she’s competing in on Tuesday — and that’s taking into account the fact that these states award delegates proportionally.
There are a lot of states voting on Super Tuesday. Gosh. There are a whole lot of glittering delegates out there for the taking. California’s the biggie. Texas, too. Those two might be difficult for Warren. North Carolina — that’s also not her kind of bag. Oh, wait, Massachusetts — she’s from there, right? I’m sure she can cash in her wampum there.
Well, uh, maybe not. Boston’s NPR affiliate polled the state’s residents and they apparently prefer another radical.
“With Super Tuesday just days away, a new WBUR-FM poll finds Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders well ahead of Sen. Elizabeth Warren in her home state of Massachusetts,” the station reported.
“The poll shows Sanders is the choice of 25% of likely Democratic primary voters, while Warren is in second place with 17%. The former mayors, Pete Buttigieg and Michael Bloomberg, are in a virtual tie for third at 14% and 13%, respectively. Former Vice President Joe Biden rounds out the top five at 9%.”
The problem with predicting Massachusetts like your name was Nate Silver is the fact there’s not a whole of polling in what might be the nation’s most liberal state. It is, after all, not one of the huge prizes on Tuesday if your name isn’t Elizabeth Warren. If your name is Elizabeth Warren, however, the WBUR polling adds to a small pool of polling that doesn’t exactly look comforting.
According to RealClearPolitics, none of the polls conducted in the Bay State this year have Warren ahead. Instead, the favorite son of Massachusetts has been the geriatric Green Mountain Peter Pan that is Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Do you think Elizabeth Warren still has a chance to be the Democratic nominee? Yes No
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Polls in 2020 have shown Sanders besting Warren in the top two slot withs percentages of been 21-20, 25-23, 25-17 and 24-22 , all for Sanders. (It’s worth noting, however, that in all but one of those polls — the WBUR survey — Warren was within the margin of error.)
Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is in third place in all of those polls, something that will no doubt be a great consolation to a guy who’s apparently going to get absolutely creamed on Super Tuesday.
In Massachusetts, however, things are not looking great for the favorite-ish daughter, at least when compared to Bernie Sanders’ strength.
“According to the poll, Sanders’ strength is propelled by younger Democratic voters: almost half of those under the age of 45 say they support the Vermont senator. Warren does well with highly educated voters and women — but overall, she trails Sanders by eight points,” WBUR reported.
“That’s a pretty good size lead,” Steve Koczela, president of MassINC Polling Group, is quoted as saying in the article, because apparently the obvious needs restating.
He also notes that — get this — primary voters are fickle.
“Particularly in primary polling, numbers can change very quickly,” Koczela said. “Think back to New Hampshire, where we saw 50% of voters in the Democratic primary who made up their minds just in the last few days.”
This is the most disposable man in the history of politics.
Also dispensable is the Kennedy legacy, which is somehow involved in this. Joe Kennedy III, last seen in a major public venue in front of a car being repaired for reasons unknown, is a Warren supporter and optimistic she has better than a 1/1,024th chance of winning the Massachusetts primary.
“I think you’ve got a long time [to go],” Kennedy told WBUR.
“March 3rd is an eternity. I believe in her. I think the people here believe in her. I expect she’s going to have a great day here, and I think she’s going to have a great day across the country.”
March 3 is an eternity? I remember New Year’s Eve 2018, when The New York Times alert came over my phone that Elizabeth Warren was forming an exploratory committee to run for president. I knew enough to know an exploratory committee is legally indistinguishable from an actual run for the presidency, which meant Elizabeth Warren was the first major Democrat candidate for president.
Joe Kennedy III made this comment last week, which means Warren’s candidacy was, um, well underway. I’ve crammed for a few papers before. I don’t think you can cram for being down in your home state’s primary when it’s literally the only thing you need to win on Super Tuesday when it’s just a few days before Super Tuesday, particularly when you’ve been in the race since us conservatives were setting up our “Welcome to 2019” fireworks in the backyard.
Bottom line: If Elizabeth Warren can’t win her home state, she’s done. It doesn’t matter how many debates there are are and how many low blows she can aim at Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg isn’t the target anymore, but she hasn’t become his replacement.
Perhaps she wants to hang around in the back of the room like John Kasich in 2016 hoping for a divided convention. That’s fine. However, if there is a brokered convention, nobody’s going to have any love for Warren, particularly since she helped bring about that state of affairs by not dropping out.
At least Kasich won his own state, though. Warren might not even be able to say that.
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westernjournal--2020-03-01--Oscar Winner Jon Voight Predicts Trump & Almighty God Will Make America Great Once Again

In May of last year , after one of actor Jon Voight ’ s many pro-Trump statements , actress and political activist Alyssa Milano referenced a comment which called Voight an “ F-lister.
” Voight , of course , won a best actor Oscar for his role in the 1978 film “ Coming Home ” and currently has a prominent role on Showtime ’ s “ Ray Donovan , ” for which he ’ s won a best supporting actor Golden Globe .
Milano is best remembered ( when remembered at all ) for her role in either “ Charmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boss ?
” depending on how old you are , although neither ( for whatever reason ) had the awards shows a ’ knocking at her door .
Most observers took the solecism as an example of Milano ’ s ignorance .
I went a different way : Milano ’ s statement was indicative of the un-person you become in Hollywood if you ’ re a prominent conservative and you ’ re not named Clint Eastwood .
You could be the most famous actor in the Southern California firmament , but you put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be like , “ Leonardo who ?
I don ’ t remember any of this guy ’ s movies .
‘ Titanic ?
’ Sounds like some direct-to-video disaster flick , right ?
” The great thing is that Jon Voight doesn ’ t care — as a recent video dispatch yet again proved .
In a tweeted video on Monday , Voight predicted the president and God would be keeping America great — and that would mean winning in November .
“ There is no better man to take this country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is only one man .
This is our president of the United States of America , Donald Trump , ” Voight said in the video .
Voight pointed out that the last four years had been good for the country , and predicted the next four would be better .
“ No man will take this to the heights he has , ” Voight predicted .
He called on Americans “ to take this pledge with me : Let us all vote for our president to win this battle , and with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will make America great once again.
” RELATED : Jon Voight Declares 'This Is War , ' Calls Trump 'Highest Noble Man ' in Viral Video Sure To Offend All of Hollywood “ I stand with all of you — and , for the love of our country and with the power of God , may he give strength to all so they can follow the truth , see the truth and vote for the only truth , President Trump.
” Voight has invoked God before in videos supporting President Trump , having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month during the Senate impeachment trial .
“ We call upon our highest prayers and ask Jesus , Moses and all saints to save the truth that has been taken down by these cruel individuals of the left and ask God to place his hands upon this nation of the United States of America and bless and protect the truth for our President Donald Trump , so he can continue his legacy as one of our greatest presidents , ” Voight said in the January video .
He also condemned “ the radical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and distortion of the mighty truths that have been written.
” “ This is a disgrace to mankind and a disgrace to the people of the United States of America , ” he said .
“ For their control of deceit and disgusting lies against our President Trump , who held to his promise for our country [ and ] his word for our country ’ s love.
” The media coverage of this one was predictable as ever , with USA Today identifying the 81-year-old as “ the father of actress Angelina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I know who Jon Voight is without his daughter .
Trust me , it ’ s not that difficult , especially if you watch a few movies that aren ’ t from Disney or don ’ t have Voldemort in them .
Then again , as a member of a generation where at least half of the political spectrum demands the un-personing of everyone who doesn ’ t agree with their views , it ’ s easy to see why people don ’ t know who Jon Voight is , even though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His beliefs don ’ t coincide with theirs so , well , you do the math .
And that ’ s what takes guts here : Voight is a working actor , even at 81 .
Yes , he ’ s good enough and he ’ s won enough awards that he ’ s grandfathered into the fraternity no matter what his beliefs are , but that grandfather clause is an awfully tenuous one in the age of Donald J. Trump .
On the other hand , Jon Voight is like that viral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t care .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

In May of last year, after one of actor Jon Voight’s many pro-Trump statements, actress and political activist Alyssa Milano referenced a comment which called Voight an “F-lister.”
Voight, of course, won a best actor Oscar for his role in the 1978 film “Coming Home” and currently has a prominent role on Showtime’s “Ray Donovan,” for which he’s won a best supporting actor Golden Globe.
Milano is best remembered (when remembered at all) for her role in either “Charmed” or “Who’s the Boss?” depending on how old you are, although neither (for whatever reason) had the awards shows a’knocking at her door.
Most observers took the solecism as an example of Milano’s ignorance.
I went a different way: Milano’s statement was indicative of the un-person you become in Hollywood if you’re a prominent conservative and you’re not named Clint Eastwood.
(Although Eastwood’s going for Michael Bloomberg this cycle, so there’s that.)
You could be the most famous actor in the Southern California firmament, but you put on a MAGA cap and fellow stars would be like, “Leonardo who? I don’t remember any of this guy’s movies. ‘Titanic?’ Sounds like some direct-to-video disaster flick, right?”
The great thing is that Jon Voight doesn’t care — as a recent video dispatch yet again proved.
In a tweeted video on Monday, Voight predicted the president and God would be keeping America great — and that would mean winning in November.
Do you support John Voight? Yes No
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“There is no better man to take this country to its highest call of God. There is only one man. This is our president of the United States of America, Donald Trump,” Voight said in the video.
Voight pointed out that the last four years had been good for the country, and predicted the next four would be better.
“No man will take this to the heights he has,” Voight predicted.
He called on Americans “to take this pledge with me: Let us all vote for our president to win this battle, and with this win, he and the Almighty will make America great once again.”
We will win pic.twitter.com/0hQBMT8bAg — Jon Voight (@jonvoight) February 24, 2020
“I stand with all of you — and, for the love of our country and with the power of God, may he give strength to all so they can follow the truth, see the truth and vote for the only truth, President Trump.”
Voight has invoked God before in videos supporting President Trump, having done so in a Twitter video last month during the Senate impeachment trial.
“We call upon our highest prayers and ask Jesus, Moses and all saints to save the truth that has been taken down by these cruel individuals of the left and ask God to place his hands upon this nation of the United States of America and bless and protect the truth for our President Donald Trump, so he can continue his legacy as one of our greatest presidents,” Voight said in the January video.
He also condemned “the radical left” for the “filthy lies and distortion of the mighty truths that have been written.”
“This is a disgrace to mankind and a disgrace to the people of the United States of America,” he said.
“For their control of deceit and disgusting lies against our President Trump, who held to his promise for our country [and] his word for our country’s love.”
Say The Truth pic.twitter.com/Sqa3HjYGuz — Jon Voight (@jonvoight) January 24, 2020
The media coverage of this one was predictable as ever, with USA Today identifying the 81-year-old as “the father of actress Angelina Jolie.”
I’m a millennial. I know who Jon Voight is without his daughter.
Trust me, it’s not that difficult, especially if you watch a few movies that aren’t from Disney or don’t have Voldemort in them.
Then again, as a member of a generation where at least half of the political spectrum demands the un-personing of everyone who doesn’t agree with their views, it’s easy to see why people don’t know who Jon Voight is, even though he’s a working actor.
His beliefs don’t coincide with theirs so, well, you do the math.
And that’s what takes guts here: Voight is a working actor, even at 81.
Yes, he’s good enough and he’s won enough awards that he’s grandfathered into the fraternity no matter what his beliefs are, but that grandfather clause is an awfully tenuous one in the age of Donald J. Trump.
On the other hand, Jon Voight is like that viral honey badger: He simply doesn’t care.
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westernjournal--2020-03-01--Sen. Rick Scott: Bernie ‘Can Kiss Florida Goodbye’ After Praising Castro

Democratic presidential contender Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont will never carry Florida now that he has doubled down on his praise for Cuban dictator Fidel Castro , according to Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida .
During a “ 60 Minutes ” interview that aired Feb. 23 , Sanders praised the increase in literacy that took place in Cuba during Castro ’ s rule .
He stood by that on Tuesday in a debate in South Carolina .
“ What I said is what Barack Obama said in terms of Cuba , that Cuba made progress on education , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CBS transcript .
The comment triggered booing from the audience , leading Sanders to launch a furious defense of his position .
But to Florida voters , many of whom fled Castro ’ s Cuba themselves or have family members or know others who did , the position is indefensible , said Scott , a former governor of Florida .
“ You can kiss Florida goodbye , ” Scott said Friday on the Fox News show “ America ’ s Newsroom , ” when asked about the comments .
See the interrview below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the 6-minute mark .
“ You ’ re not going to have people who fought against socialism vote for it again , ” Scott said .
Scott said most Democrats favor socialism , but will avoid making that public .
“ Bernie Sanders is the only Democrat being honest .
He says what he believes .
The others are all socialists , they just aren ’ t saying it , ” he said .
After the Fox News hosts wanted to move on , Scott had one more thing to say about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to Cuba for a second .
Let ’ s remember Castro had firing squads .
There was a lady I gave a Freedom Award to .
She got her hand chopped off by the Castro regime .
She complained that they would close a school in her community and got her hand chopped off .
Bernie Sanders is supporting this ?
This is crazy , ” he said .
Many on Twitter agreed with Scott and criticized Sanders RELATED : Breaking : Dem Field Gets Major Shakeup as Pete Buttigieg Is Dropping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his pro-Castro position .
“ Bernie Sanders has made it clear that he is shamefully ignorant and has no respect for those fighting for freedom , ” Scott said in a Feb. 24 statement on his website , after Sanders accused the American Israel Public Affairs Committee of promoting “ bigotry.
” “ His comments in support of the brutal Castro regime , and now his accusations against AIPAC for ‘ bigotry , ’ are disgusting , but not surprising from a far-left socialist pushing an anti-Israel agenda .
The United States must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand with those fighting for freedom , democracy and human rights , ” the statement said .
Democrats also vented their disgust with Sanders , according to The New York Times .
“ I ’ m totally disgusted and insulted , ” Lourdes Diaz , a Cuban-American who is the president of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus in Broward County , told the newspaper .
“ Maybe this will open people ’ s eyes to how super , super liberal and radical Bernie is .
I ’ m not going to defend him anymore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Democratic presidential contender Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont will never carry Florida now that he has doubled down on his praise for Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, according to Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida.
During a “60 Minutes” interview that aired Feb. 23, Sanders praised the increase in literacy that took place in Cuba during Castro’s rule. He stood by that on Tuesday in a debate in South Carolina.
“What I said is what Barack Obama said in terms of Cuba, that Cuba made progress on education,” Sanders said then, according to a CBS transcript.
The comment triggered booing from the audience, leading Sanders to launch a furious defense of his position.
But to Florida voters, many of whom fled Castro’s Cuba themselves or have family members or know others who did, the position is indefensible, said Scott, a former governor of Florida.
“You can kiss Florida goodbye,” Scott said Friday on the Fox News show “America’s Newsroom,” when asked about the comments.
See the interrview below. Scott’s Sanders comments start about the 6-minute mark.
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
“You’re not going to have people that fight to get away from socialism vote for it again,” Scott said.
Scott said most Democrats favor socialism, but will avoid making that public.
“Bernie Sanders is the only Democrat being honest. He says what he believes. The others are all socialists, they just aren’t saying it,” he said.
After the Fox News hosts wanted to move on, Scott had one more thing to say about Cuba.
“Let’s go back to Cuba for a second. Let’s remember Castro had firing squads. There was a lady I gave a Freedom Award to. She got her hand chopped off by the Castro regime. She complained that they would close a school in her community and got her hand chopped off. Bernie Sanders is supporting this? This is crazy,” he said.
Many on Twitter agreed with Scott and criticized Sanders
Bernie really stepped on his own nuts today with the fawning over Fidel Castro. That cost him Florida and without Florida he is toast. — David (@David_P1975) February 24, 2020
If I wanted to live in Cuba – I’d move there. There is little economic difference between Bernie Sanders and the tyrants in Havana – and that is the truth.
https://t.co/Pr6ty9hoYu — Bill O’Reilly (@BillOReilly) February 24, 2020
Scott had earlier criticized Sanders for his pro-Castro position.
“Bernie Sanders has made it clear that he is shamefully ignorant and has no respect for those fighting for freedom,” Scott said in a Feb. 24 statement on his website, after Sanders accused the American Israel Public Affairs Committee of promoting “bigotry.”
“His comments in support of the brutal Castro regime, and now his accusations against AIPAC for ‘bigotry,’ are disgusting, but not surprising from a far-left socialist pushing an anti-Israel agenda. The United States must reject this behavior and rhetoric, and stand with those fighting for freedom, democracy and human rights,” the statement said.
Democrats also vented their disgust with Sanders, according to The New York Times.
“I’m totally disgusted and insulted,” Lourdes Diaz, a Cuban-American who is the president of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus in Broward County, told the newspaper. “Maybe this will open people’s eyes to how super, super liberal and radical Bernie is. I’m not going to defend him anymore. I’m over it.”
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westernjournal--2020-03-01--Dick Morris: What Does SC Mean for Biden? Not Much

While Biden overwhelmed Sanders and the others in South Carolina , he still does not have much of a path to the nomination .
He will likely get massacred on Super Tuesday , particularly in California where he currently polls in third place at 11 percent behind Sanders and Warren .
He ’ ll probably lose Texas , Virginia , Massachusetts , Minnesota , and most of the other states .
Only in North Carolina is he ahead in the latest polls .
After Super Tuesday , Sanders will have an overwhelming lead in the delegate count .
Democrats who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the hope that Buttigieg , Warren , Bloomberg , Steyer and Klobuchar drop out of the race , and that their supporters flock to Joe Biden , giving him a shot at getting a majority at the convention .
In the national Fox News poll of Feb. 23 , Democratic primary voters were asked who their second choice would be .
And guess which candidate won the most second choice votes ?
Bernie Sanders who won 19 percent of the second choice votes compared to Biden ’ s 17 percent .
Certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie .
Perhaps Biden could get most of Buttigieg ’ s and Klobuchar ’ s small vote totals .
But Bloomberg ’ s voters are largely gullible TV watchers who know little or nothing about politics and likely care less .
He has no organization and , if he dropped out , his voters would likely just stay home and watch more television .
And who says Buttigieg , et al.
, will drop out ?
Covetous of their 15 minutes of fame , they ’ ll probably keep at it .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and endorse Biden , it will likely be a mathematical impossibility that they could swing the race to Biden .
So it sure looks like Trump vs. Sanders in the fall .
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

While Biden overwhelmed Sanders and the others in South Carolina, he still does not have much of a path to the nomination.
He will likely get massacred on Super Tuesday, particularly in California where he currently polls in third place at 11 percent behind Sanders and Warren.
He’ll probably lose Texas, Virginia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and most of the other states. Only in North Carolina is he ahead in the latest polls.
After Super Tuesday, Sanders will have an overwhelming lead in the delegate count.
Democrats who are trying to stop him are clinging to the hope that Buttigieg, Warren, Bloomberg, Steyer and Klobuchar drop out of the race, and that their supporters flock to Joe Biden, giving him a shot at getting a majority at the convention.
Fat chance.
In the national Fox News poll of Feb. 23, Democratic primary voters were asked who their second choice would be.
And guess which candidate won the most second choice votes?
Bernie Sanders, who won 19 percent of the second choice votes compared to Biden’s 17 percent.
Do you think Joe Biden still has any chance in this race? 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: 12% (39 Votes) No: 88% (284 Votes)
Certainly Warren’s vote will go to Bernie. Perhaps Biden could get most of Buttigieg’s and Klobuchar’s small vote totals.
But Bloomberg’s voters are largely gullible TV watchers who know little or nothing about politics and likely care less.
He has no organization and, if he dropped out, his voters would likely just stay home and watch more television.
And who says Buttigieg, et al., will drop out?
Covetous of their 15 minutes of fame, they’ll probably keep at it.
And, even if they do drop out and endorse Biden, it will likely be a mathematical impossibility that they could swing the race to Biden.
So it sure looks like Trump vs. Sanders in the fall.
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
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westernjournal--2020-03-01--Federal Judge Puts Transgender’s Feelings Before Man’s 1st Amendment Rights

The First Amendment is in severe danger of being relegated to obscurity in favor of protecting the feelings of individuals .
A university professor found that out recently when he had his lawsuit dismissed by a federal judge who said he would have to violate his Christian beliefs and call a transgender student by the person ’ s preferred pronouns .
It all started in 2018 for Nicholas Meriwether , a professor at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth , Ohio , when he refused to call a male student by female pronouns .
The school reprimanded him for referring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Meriwether sued to have his record wiped clean .
“ In January 2018 , a male student demanded that Dr. Meriwether address him as a woman because he identified as such and threatened to have Dr. Meriwether fired if he declined , ” the lawsuit said .
“ To accede to these demands would have required Dr. Meriwether to communicate views regarding gender identity that he does not hold , that he does not wish to communicate , and that would contradict ( and force him to violate ) his sincerely held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The professor said the student got in his face and got aggressive with him when he said he could not call the student “ ma ’ am ” or “ miss.
” Meriwether said he offered to call the student by his last name , as the professor does for other students , but , big surprise , this was unacceptable to the student who filed a complaint .
“ They demand this even though the concept of gender identity is entirely subjective and fluid , even though the number of potential gender @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundred different options currently available ) , and even though the number of potential pronouns has likewise multiplied in recent years — all for the purpose of lending credence to cultural ideas Dr. Meriwether does not share or wish to advance , ” the lawsuit said .
Meriwether Lawsuit by The Western Journal on Scribd And perhaps even more frightening , Meriwether said that when he complained to the school he was told that “ Christian doctrines regarding hell are harmful.
” The school allegedly said that religion “ oppresses ” people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberating them of such constraints .
And judging by the crop of violent , morally defunct , irresponsible dimwits who support people like Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders , they have done a splendid job .
You would think that a court in the United States would not tell a professor that he had to violate his religious beliefs to accommodate someone ’ s mental delusion , but you would be incorrect .
RELATED : UK Man Avoids Jail Time by Claiming To Be Trans Woman U.S. District Court Judge Susan Dlott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have a First Amendment right to call the student “ sir ” and dismissed his lawsuit , The Hill reported .
“ The speech here occurred in the context of plaintiff ’ s employment ; it was limited to titles and pronouns used to address one student in plaintiff ’ s class : the speech was directed to plaintiff and heard only by her and her fellow students ; and absent any further explanation or elaboration , the speech can not reasonably be construed as having conveyed any beliefs or stated any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The school gave the usual statement about how it values “ freedom of expression ” and that it keeps “ an educational and work environment that is free from discrimination , retaliation and harassment.
” Yeah , sure you do — as long as that “ expression ” is not Christian and fits in line with your warped worldview .
According to The Hill , the professor has vowed to continue his legal fight , saying , “ Philosophy especially — but certainly higher education in general — is all about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this exchange can not happen unless faculty and students are in fact free to share their views.
” But the damage is done .
The path that this nation is on is dangerous , and electing one of these “ woke ” Democrats who are vying for the presidency would only speed the process along .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The First Amendment is in severe danger of being relegated to obscurity in favor of protecting the feelings of individuals.
A university professor found that out recently when he had his lawsuit dismissed by a federal judge who said he would have to violate his Christian beliefs and call a transgender student by the person’s preferred pronouns.
It all started in 2018 for Nicholas Meriwether, a professor at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio, when he refused to call a male student by female pronouns.
The school reprimanded him for referring to the student as “sir,” and Meriwether sued to have his record wiped clean.
“In January 2018, a male student demanded that Dr. Meriwether address him as a woman because he identified as such and threatened to have Dr. Meriwether fired if he declined,” the lawsuit said.
“To accede to these demands would have required Dr. Meriwether to communicate views regarding gender identity that he does not hold, that he does not wish to communicate, and that would contradict (and force him to violate) his sincerely held Christian beliefs,” it said.
The professor said the student got in his face and got aggressive with him when he said he could not call the student “ma’am” or “miss.”
Meriwether said he offered to call the student by his last name, as the professor does for other students, but, big surprise, this was unacceptable to the student who filed a complaint.
“They demand this even though the concept of gender identity is entirely subjective and fluid, even though the number of potential gender identities is infinite (with over one hundred different options currently available), and even though the number of potential pronouns has likewise multiplied in recent years — all for the purpose of lending credence to cultural ideas Dr. Meriwether does not share or wish to advance,” the lawsuit said.
Meriwether Lawsuit by The Western Journal on Scribd
And perhaps even more frightening, Meriwether said that when he complained to the school he was told that “Christian doctrines regarding hell are harmful.”
The school allegedly said that religion “oppresses” people and that universities were in the business of liberating them of such constraints.
And judging by the crop of violent, morally defunct, irresponsible dimwits who support people like Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, they have done a splendid job.
You would think that a court in the United States would not tell a professor that he had to violate his religious beliefs to accommodate someone’s mental delusion, but you would be incorrect.
U.S. District Court Judge Susan Dlott agreed with the university that Meriwether did not have a First Amendment right to call the student “sir” and dismissed his lawsuit, The Hill reported.
Do you disagree with the judge's decision? 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: 68% (2515 Votes) No: 32% (1159 Votes)
“The speech here occurred in the context of plaintiff’s employment; it was limited to titles and pronouns used to address one student in plaintiff’s class: the speech was directed to plaintiff and heard only by her and her fellow students; and absent any further explanation or elaboration, the speech cannot reasonably be construed as having conveyed any beliefs or stated any facts about gender identity,” Dlott said.
The school gave the usual statement about how it values “freedom of expression” and that it keeps “an educational and work environment that is free from discrimination, retaliation and harassment.”
Yeah, sure you do — as long as that “expression” is not Christian and fits in line with your warped worldview.
According to The Hill, the professor has vowed to continue his legal fight, saying, “Philosophy especially — but certainly higher education in general — is all about the free exchange of ideas, but this exchange cannot happen unless faculty and students are in fact free to share their views.”
But the damage is done.
The path that this nation is on is dangerous, and electing one of these “woke” Democrats who are vying for the presidency would only speed the process along.
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--2020-03-01--Media Claims Trump ‘Muzzled’ Top Doctor, Doc Himself Takes the Mic and Shuts It Down

I don ’ t know what the perfect response to coronavirus would be for an American president .
In a Marvel movie , it would probably involve President Tony Stark going into his labs at Stark Industries and creating a cure within 24 hours .
Of course , Secretary of State Obadiah Stane would try to sabotage the facility creating the cure .
That would mean Tony would have to don the Iron Man suit yet again and , with the help of the Navy SEALs , “ compromise ” Stane to a “ permanent end.
” Unfortunately , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cinematic Universe™ timeline , Stark married one of the Trump daughters and left Pepper Potts out to dry .
Now the press wants to know a few things : Was it really necessary to trot out the Navy SEALs just to kill Obadiah Stane ?
Could this destabilize the Middle East ?
Was Stane a whistleblower , telling us that vaccines and/or cures actually do cause autism ?
Was Stane part Paraguayan ?
Could this attack be rooted in Stark ’ s rampant xenophobia and white nationalism ?
I wouldn ’ t exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the coronavirus as Stark-level perfect , nor even perfect by standards not set by Disney movies .
That being said , it certainly beats the alternative universe in which Hillary Clinton is in charge .
In that universe , a CDC official with no experience dealing with health crises at an executive level is appointed to deal with the disease because it looks better .
Meanwhile , in our actual universe where Donald Trump is blessedly president , someone who ’ s actually had experience dealing with handling public information in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Vice President Mike Pence , a former Indiana governor who dealt with an HIV outbreak in his state — takes charge of things .
However , Trump ’ s appointment of Pence to lead the country ’ s response to the coronavirus has led to headlines like this : “ Cool : Health Officials , Scientists Banned from Speaking About Coronavirus Without Mike Pence ’ s Approval ” ( Vanity Fair ) .
“ Pence ’ s new mission on coronavirus : A controlled message ” ( The Washington Post ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ top US disease expert from speaking freely to the public after he warned the coronavirus may be impossible to contain ” ( Business Insider ) .
The Washington Post ’ s headline came closest to the truth .
( Yeah , I know , I checked my temperature . )
What most people in the media took away was something closer to the Business Insider headline .
In the view of much of the media , the Trump administration wasn ’ t trying to send out a unified message because that was important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t have public officials saying different things about a disease that ’ s suddenly being conflated with the 1918-20 Spanish flu pandemic .
No .
The administration was muzzling officials , particularly the government ’ s top disease expert .
Somewhere in the CDC complex in Atlanta , everyone who wasn ’ t singing that “ Everything is Awesome ” song from “ The Lego Movie ” was being kept in a secure basement facility with the full Hannibal Lecter treatment , complete with cart and facemask .
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and my carrier just informed me I ’ ve used up my monthly quota of movie references on this article alone , so let ’ s just go into Joe Biden using this controversy to sell his candidacy : “ No one takes the president ’ s word for these things , ” Biden said in an interview with CNN on Friday .
“ He at a minimum exaggerates everything , and the idea that he ’ s going to stand there and say ‘ everything ’ s fine , don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to believe that ?
Let the experts speak like we did in our administration.
” RELATED : Oscar Winner Jon Voight Predicts Trump & Almighty God Will Make America Great Once Again So is Trump letting the experts speak ?
Well , as Business Insider reported , he ’ s “ barred the top US disease expert from speaking freely to the public.
” On Friday , a Trump administration official countered this accusation .
Which official ?
Oh , just the top U.S. disease expert .
Dr. Anthony Fauci , who ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , didn ’ t exactly look like a man on a hostage video reading off a script here , either .
In a Friday news conference , responding to the reports that originated in The New York Times ( slightly draconian headline there : “ Pence Will Control All Coronavirus Messaging From Health Officials ” ) , Fauci took the mic and seemed to be speaking on his own terms .
“ I ’ ve never been muzzled and I ’ ve been doing this since the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after being introduced by Trump in response to a contentious question from the press corps .
“ That was a real misrepresentation of what happened.
” I ’ m glad we ’ ve really come together during the coronavirus outbreak .
I understand our wonderful republic only works when there ’ s an adversarial process .
Then again , it helps when the response to a very limited number of coronavirus cases in the United States is proportional .
That ’ s not what has happened .
What has happened is fear — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generated by a legitimate threat but instead the type generated out of cynicism .
There ’ s something to be said about the mind that connects the facts that a ) there ’ s a potential pandemic threat , b ) the president and his administration have a reaction to it , c ) it ’ s an election year and d ) that reaction can be criticized , and then comes up with conclusion e ) it ’ s worth criticizing the current administration over .
That ’ s where we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ muzzling ” to the anti-Trump media ; any sort of gatekeeping becomes the control of messaging .
There ’ s nothing noble about the media using the coronavirus threat to highlight preconceptions about the administration .
Here ’ s what we know about coronavirus in the United States : At least 69 people are infected .
One has died .
Several have infections that can ’ t be traced to travel in affected regions .
In terms of its spread , even epidemiologists don ’ t know .
That ’ s scary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t make headlines .
What does make headlines is officials supposedly being muzzled from giving us pertinent information .
There ’ s no evidence the Trump administration is doing that .
Just ask the people supposedly being muzzled .
Everyone wishes they could solve this .
Even Tony Stark did when I reached him by phone , although he refused to comment further .
Obadiah Stane said that while he was dead , he wasn ’ t dead dead and may be revived in a future iteration of the franchise .
Pepper Potts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not by any disease .
That said , they can ’ t fix things .
Neither can the people in our universe .
But nobody — not in our universe or the MCU — is being muzzled .
Fauci ’ s statement to the media , on a microphone in front of a gaggle of reporters , with the president by his side , proved that .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

I don’t know what the perfect response to coronavirus would be for an American president.
In a Marvel movie, it would probably involve President Tony Stark going into his labs at Stark Industries and creating a cure within 24 hours. Of course, Secretary of State Obadiah Stane would try to sabotage the facility creating the cure. That would mean Tony would have to don the Iron Man suit yet again and, with the help of the Navy SEALs, “compromise” Stane to a “permanent end.”
Unfortunately, it turns out that somewhere in the Marvel Cinematic Universe™ timeline, Stark married one of the Trump daughters and left Pepper Potts out to dry.
Now the press wants to know a few things: Was it really necessary to trot out the Navy SEALs just to kill Obadiah Stane? Could this destabilize the Middle East? Was Stane a whistleblower, telling us that vaccines and/or cures actually do cause autism? Was Stane part Paraguayan? Could this attack be rooted in Stark’s rampant xenophobia and white nationalism?
I wouldn’t exactly go around rating Trump’s response to the coronavirus as Stark-level perfect, nor even perfect by standards not set by Disney movies. That being said, it certainly beats the alternative universe in which Hillary Clinton is in charge. In that universe, a CDC official with no experience dealing with health crises at an executive level is appointed to deal with the disease because it looks better.
Meanwhile, in our actual universe where Donald Trump is blessedly president, someone who’s actually had experience dealing with handling public information in the face of a health crisis — ie, Vice President Mike Pence, a former Indiana governor who dealt with an HIV outbreak in his state — takes charge of things.
However, Trump’s appointment of Pence to lead the country’s response to the coronavirus has led to headlines like this: “Cool: Health Officials, Scientists Banned from Speaking About Coronavirus Without Mike Pence’s Approval” (Vanity Fair). “Pence’s new mission on coronavirus: A controlled message” (The Washington Post). “The Trump administration has barred the top US disease expert from speaking freely to the public after he warned the coronavirus may be impossible to contain” (Business Insider).
The Washington Post’s headline came closest to the truth. (Yeah, I know, I checked my temperature.) What most people in the media took away was something closer to the Business Insider headline.
In the view of much of the media, the Trump administration wasn’t trying to send out a unified message because that was important to stop unnecessary panic and ensure you didn’t have public officials saying different things about a disease that’s suddenly being conflated with the 1918-20 Spanish flu pandemic. No.
The administration was muzzling officials, particularly the government’s top disease expert. Somewhere in the CDC complex in Atlanta, everyone who wasn’t singing that “Everything is Awesome” song from “The Lego Movie” was being kept in a secure basement facility with the full Hannibal Lecter treatment, complete with cart and facemask.
I’m on my mobile data plan right now and my carrier just informed me I’ve used up my monthly quota of movie references on this article alone, so let’s just go into Joe Biden using this controversy to sell his candidacy:
“You need to let the experts speak,” former VP @JoeBiden says about the Trump administration’s response to coronavirus fears. “…No one takes the President’s word for these things. At a minimum, he exaggerates everything.” https://t.co/43RdvxhMVw pic.twitter.com/eh8HV74pHO — New Day (@NewDay) February 28, 2020
“No one takes the president’s word for these things,” Biden said in an interview with CNN on Friday.
“He at a minimum exaggerates everything, and the idea that he’s going to stand there and say ‘everything’s fine, don’t worry?’ Who’s going to believe that? Let the experts speak like we did in our administration.”
So is Trump letting the experts speak? Well, as Business Insider reported, he’s “barred the top US disease expert from speaking freely to the public.” On Friday, a Trump administration official countered this accusation.
Which official? Oh, just the top U.S. disease expert.
Get your popcorn ready:
Watch fake news breakdown in real-time. Media pushed a lie to millions that Dr. Fauci had been muzzled from speaking to the public. It was totally made up by anonymous sources. “I’ve never been muzzled and I’ve been doing this since Reagan”
– Doctor Fauci pic.twitter.com/H0z6b6rmkE — Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) February 29, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who’s the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, didn’t exactly look like a man on a hostage video reading off a script here, either. In a Friday news conference, responding to the reports that originated in The New York Times (slightly draconian headline there: “Pence Will Control All Coronavirus Messaging From Health Officials”), Fauci took the mic and seemed to be speaking on his own terms.
“I’ve never been muzzled and I’ve been doing this since the administration of Ronald Reagan.” Fauci said, after being introduced by Trump in response to a contentious question from the press corps. “That was a real misrepresentation of what happened.”
I’m glad we’ve really come together during the coronavirus outbreak.
I understand our wonderful republic only works when there’s an adversarial process. Then again, it helps when the response to a very limited number of coronavirus cases in the United States is proportional.
That’s not what has happened. What has happened is fear — and not necessarily the kind of fear generated by a legitimate threat but instead the type generated out of cynicism.
There’s something to be said about the mind that connects the facts that a) there’s a potential pandemic threat, b) the president and his administration have a reaction to it, c) it’s an election year and d) that reaction can be criticized, and then comes up with conclusion e) it’s worth criticizing the current administration over.
That’s where we are. Any sort of unified response is “muzzling” to the anti-Trump media; any sort of gatekeeping becomes the control of messaging.
There’s nothing noble about the media using the coronavirus threat to highlight preconceptions about the administration.
Here’s what we know about coronavirus in the United States: At least 69 people are infected. One has died. Several have infections that can’t be traced to travel in affected regions.
In terms of its spread, even epidemiologists don’t know. That’s scary but factual. It also doesn’t make headlines.
What does make headlines is officials supposedly being muzzled from giving us pertinent information. There’s no evidence the Trump administration is doing that. Just ask the people supposedly being muzzled.
Everyone wishes they could solve this. Even Tony Stark did when I reached him by phone, although he refused to comment further. Obadiah Stane said that while he was dead, he wasn’t dead dead and may be revived in a future iteration of the franchise. Pepper Potts is said to be devastated, although not by any disease.
That said, they can’t fix things. Neither can the people in our universe. But nobody — not in our universe or the MCU — is being muzzled. Fauci’s statement to the media, on a microphone in front of a gaggle of reporters, with the president by his side, proved that.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
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* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.