freebeacon--2020-10-16--Biden Calls Transgenderism a Choice

Biden Calls Transgenderism a Choice

The same week Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett was scolded by liberals for using the term `` sexual preference , '' Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said during an ABC town hall Thursday that being transgender is a choice .
`` The idea that an eight-year-old child or a ten-year-old child decides , ‘ You know , I decided I wan na be transgender .
That 's what I think I 'd like to be .
It 'll make my life a lot easier , ' '' Biden said when answering a question about how his administration would protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LGBTQ movement came to the fore this week during the confirmation hearings for Barrett , who was criticized for using the term `` sexual preference '' by Sen. Mazie Hirono ( D. , Hawaii ) .
`` ‘ Sexual preference ' is an offensive and outdated term , '' Hirono told Barrett during a line of questioning about the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges .
`` It is used by anti-LGBTQ activists to suggest that sexual orientation is a choice .
It is not . ''
Despite Hirono 's indignance , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used by Biden , other prominent Democrats , and the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .

The same week Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett was scolded by liberals for using the term "sexual preference," Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said during an ABC town hall Thursday that being transgender is a choice.
"The idea that an 8-year-old child or a 10-year-old child decides, 'You know, I decided I wanna be transgender. That's what I think I'd like to be. It'll make my life a lot easier,'" Biden said when answering a question about how his administration would protect transgender rights.
The mores of the LGBTQ movement came to the fore this week during the confirmation hearings for Barrett, who was criticized for using the term "sexual preference" by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D., Hawaii).
"‘Sexual preference' is an offensive and outdated term," Hirono told Barrett during a line of questioning about the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges. "It is used by anti-LGBTQ activists to suggest that sexual orientation is a choice. It is not."
Despite Hirono's indignance, the term "sexual preference" has been used by Biden, other prominent Democrats, and the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.


freebeacon--2020-10-16--Biden Entertains Court Packing After Election: ‘Depends on How Much They Rush This’

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden entertained the idea of packing the Supreme Court on Thursday during an ABC town hall @ @ @ @ @ with ABC 's George Stephanopoulos , Biden said his opinion on whether or not to @ @ @ @ @ '' on how the confirmation process of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is `` @ @ @ @ @ depends on how much they rush this , '' Biden said .
When pressed , @ @ @ @ @ have `` a right to know where I stand before they vote . ''
But @ @ @ @ @ reveal his position before Election Day , Biden only answered , `` Yes .
Depends @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Biden has dodged the issue in recent weeks , telling voters that an @ @ @ @ @ away from more important questions .
In the past , he called the practice a @ @ @ @ @ a `` terrible , terrible mistake . ''
Last year , Biden said if Democrats @ @ @ @ @ Court , they would `` live to rue that day . ''

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden entertained the idea of packing the Supreme Court on Thursday during an ABC town hall.
In a lengthy exchange with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, Biden said his opinion on whether or not to pack the court "depends" on how the confirmation process of Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is "handled."
"It depends on how much they rush this," Biden said. When pressed, he added that voters do have "a right to know where I stand before they vote."
But when asked if he would reveal his position before Election Day, Biden only answered, "Yes. Depends on how they handle this."
Biden has dodged the issue in recent weeks, telling voters that an answer would shift the focus away from more important questions. In the past, he called the practice a "bonehead idea" and a "terrible, terrible mistake." Last year, Biden said if Democrats moved to pack the Supreme Court, they would "live to rue that day."


freebeacon--2020-10-16--‘Shoot Them in the Leg’

‘Shoot Them in the Leg’

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden repeated his controversial contention Thursday that police should try to shoot dangerous suspects in the @ @ @ @ @ de-escalation .
`` You have to teach people how to de-escalate circumstances .
De-escalate , @ @ @ @ @ ABC News town hall .
`` So , instead of anybody coming at you and @ @ @ @ @ is shoot to kill , you shoot them in the leg . ''
Gun-safety and @ @ @ @ @ tactic espoused by Biden back when he first made it at a campaign event in @ @ @ @ @ idea of using any kind of gunfire as de-escalation or non-lethal force would be dangerous @ @ @ @ @ It 's much harder to hit a smaller moving target than it is to hit @ @ @ @ @ Pincus , who has trained police officers throughout the United States and Europe , told @ @ @ @ @ .
`` From a technical shooting skill standpoint , from a technical legal standpoint , @ @ @ @ @ want to go at all . ''

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden repeated his controversial contention Thursday that police should try to shoot dangerous suspects in the leg as a form of de-escalation.
"You have to teach people how to de-escalate circumstances. De-escalate," Biden said during an ABC News town hall. "So, instead of anybody coming at you and the first thing you do is shoot to kill, you shoot them in the leg."
Gun-safety and police training experts decried the tactic espoused by Biden back when he first made it at a campaign event in June. They said the idea of using any kind of gunfire as de-escalation or non-lethal force would be dangerous.
"Legs move. It's much harder to hit a smaller moving target than it is to hit the chest," Rob Pincus, who has trained police officers throughout the United States and Europe, told the Free Beacon in June. "From a technical shooting skill standpoint, from a technical legal standpoint, it's not where we want to go at all."


freebeacon--2020-10-16--More Californians Own Guns than Ever Before

According to a new study , Californians have bought guns at a record pace , many for the first time , despite recent gun-store shutdowns .
The study , which a group of researchers at the University of California released in October , found that pandemic-caused uncertainty has led to increased demand for firearms in the deep blue state .
First-time owners accounted for 47,000 of the 110,000 people who bought a gun during the onset of the pandemic , the study concluded .
The study also identified several motivations , including initial gun-store lockdowns , for those buyers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ firearm acquisition in response to the pandemic was worry about lawlessness… , followed by worry about prisoner releases… , the government going too far… , government collapse… , and gun stores closing , '' the study 's authors wrote .
`` Reasons for ammunition purchases in response to the pandemic were similar . ''
The study provides further evidence that new gun owners have driven the past seven months ' record-breaking surge in gun sales , both in California and nationwide .
It also shows that despite long waits and gun-store shutdowns at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of Californians persisted to become first-time gun owners .
Those new owners may significantly impact the politics surrounding the regulation of gun ownership in America—including in deep blue states such as California .
The researchers ' findings mirror those of the National Shooting Sports Foundation ( NSSF ) , a gun-industry trade group .
NSSF surveyed gun dealers in May and concluded that 40 percent of buyers between March and May were first-timers motivated primarily by a desire for personal defense .
The University of California researchers pulled data from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which included 2,870 Californians over 18 years old and ran from July 14 to 27 .
The researchers weighed the results of the survey against state demographics .
The new study is a preprint that the medRxiv archive offered before publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal .
A September Washington Free Beacon analysis found that while pandemic concerns drove record sales in March , April , and May , rioting throughout major American cities in June drove the spike even higher .
Both factors have caused gun sales to remain at record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020—already surpassing total sales from 2019 and on pace to set a yearly record .
The possibility of victory for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden , who favors strict new gun-control measures such as banning the AR-15 , will continue to drive up sales in the next several months , industry insiders argue .

According to a new study, Californians have bought guns at a record pace, many for the first time, despite recent gun-store shutdowns.
The study, which a group of researchers at the University of California released in October, found that pandemic-caused uncertainty has led to increased demand for firearms in the deep blue state.
First-time owners accounted for 47,000 of the 110,000 people who bought a gun during the onset of the pandemic, the study concluded.
The study also identified several motivations, including initial gun-store lockdowns, for those buyers.
"The most common reason given for firearm acquisition in response to the pandemic was worry about lawlessness…, followed by worry about prisoner releases..., the government going too far..., government collapse..., and gun stores closing," the study's authors wrote. "Reasons for ammunition purchases in response to the pandemic were similar."
The study provides further evidence that new gun owners have driven the past seven months' record-breaking surge in gun sales, both in California and nationwide.
It also shows that despite long waits and gun-store shutdowns at the beginning of the pandemic, tens of thousands of Californians persisted to become first-time gun owners.
Those new owners may significantly impact the politics surrounding the regulation of gun ownership in America—including in deep blue states such as California.
The researchers' findings mirror those of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), a gun-industry trade group. NSSF surveyed gun dealers in May and concluded that 40 percent of buyers between March and May were first-timers motivated primarily by a desire for personal defense.
The University of California researchers pulled data from the the state's Safety and Wellbeing Survey, which included 2,870 Californians over 18 years old and ran from July 14 to 27. The researchers weighed the results of the survey against state demographics.
The new study is a preprint that the medRxiv archive offered before publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
A September Washington Free Beacon analysis found that while pandemic concerns drove record sales in March, April, and May, rioting throughout major American cities in June drove the spike even higher.
Both factors have caused gun sales to remain at record levels in California and nationwide since March 2020—already surpassing total sales from 2019 and on pace to set a yearly record.
The possibility of victory for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, who favors strict new gun-control measures such as banning the AR-15, will continue to drive up sales in the next several months, industry insiders argue.


freebeacon--2020-10-16--New York Dem Received Teaching Fees From Authoritarian Regime

A New York Democrat took nearly $ 2,000 in teaching fees from the dictatorial government in Kazakhstan , according to the candidate 's financial disclosure report .
Dana Balter , a candidate for Congress in New York , taught an online class to Kazakhstanis during the fall and winter of 2019 , for which she received a total of $ 1,900 from the country 's government .
Kazakhstan consistently ranks among the least free countries in the world , according to the Freedom House global freedom index .
Citing extreme corruption , limited freedom of speech , and neither free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Central Asian country in the bottom quarter of global rankings .
When independent political groups recently highlighted her compensation from the authoritarian regime , Balter said any attempts to tie her to Kazakhstan 's government were `` appalling . ''
`` To suggest that I would ever support or profit from human-rights abuses is appalling , '' Balter told Syracuse.com .
`` It 's just one more strategy to fill people 's mail and television with lies to distract from the truth about the issues we 're facing . ''
Tom Haag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Katko ( R. , N.Y. ) , challenged Balter 's defense .
`` Dana Balter has repeatedly submitted false and conflicting financial disclosures to federal regulators , and consulted for a brutal authoritarian regime , '' Haag said .
`` Why in the world would a self-described progressive take foreign money from a regime with a horrific human-rights record ? ''
The New York Democrat also previously organized for a grassroots organization that protested the death of Qassem Soleimani , a designated terrorist and Iranian general who was responsible for the deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Free Beacon reported earlier this month .
A former professor and community organizer , Balter cited her massive student debt as a motivation for running for Congress and has taken a salary from her congressional campaign .
`` This is not some kind of special privilege , '' Balter said in reference to her campaign salary .
`` This is about being paid for a job that you 're doing . ''
Balter lost her 2018 race against Katko by 5 points , and the pair will face off again in November .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ race as a `` toss up . ''

A New York Democrat took nearly $2,000 in teaching fees from the dictatorial government in Kazakhstan, according to the candidate's financial disclosure report.
Dana Balter, a candidate for Congress in New York, taught an online class to Kazakhstanis during the fall and winter of 2019, for which she received a total of $1,900 from the country's government.
Kazakhstan consistently ranks among the least free countries in the world, according to the Freedom House global freedom index. Citing extreme corruption, limited freedom of speech, and neither free nor fair elections, Freedom House ranks the Central Asian country in the bottom quarter of global rankings.
When independent political groups recently highlighted her compensation from the authoritarian regime, Balter said any attempts to tie her to Kazakhstan's government were "appalling."
"To suggest that I would ever support or profit from human-rights abuses is appalling," Balter told Syracuse.com. "It's just one more strategy to fill people's mail and television with lies to distract from the truth about the issues we're facing."
Tom Haag, the campaign manager for incumbent congressman John Katko (R., N.Y.), challenged Balter's defense.
"Dana Balter has repeatedly submitted false and conflicting financial disclosures to federal regulators, and consulted for a brutal authoritarian regime," Haag said. "Why in the world would a self-described progressive take foreign money from a regime with a horrific human-rights record?"
The New York Democrat also previously organized for a grassroots organization that protested the death of Qassem Soleimani, a designated terrorist and Iranian general who was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans, the Washington Free Beacon reported earlier this month.
A former professor and community organizer, Balter cited her massive student debt as a motivation for running for Congress and has taken a salary from her congressional campaign. "This is not some kind of special privilege," Balter said in reference to her campaign salary. "This is about being paid for a job that you're doing."
Balter lost her 2018 race against Katko by 5 points, and the pair will face off again in November. The Cook Political Report currently rates the race as a "toss up."


freebeacon--2020-10-16--San Francisco Public Schools to Consider Renaming School Named After Feinstein

The San Francisco Unified School District will consider renaming one-third of its public schools , including one elementary school named after California Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein .
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday that school officials deemed the names of 44 public schools `` inappropriate . ''
Dianne Feinstein Elementary , as well as schools named after presidents George Washington , Thomas Jefferson , and Abraham Lincoln , also made the list .
Schools were added to the list if they were named after slave owners , colonizers , those who oppressed women or the LGBT community , those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as racists or white supremacists .
According to a 1984 copy of Workers Vanguard , `` Dixie '' Feinstein raised a Confederate flag at San Francisco ’ s Civic Center while she was mayor of the city , and later replaced the flag after it was pulled down by protesters .
This allegation led the school board to include the elementary school bearing Feinstein ’ s name on the list , the Chronicle reported .
Some schools and local governments have considered renaming buildings after nationwide racial-justice protests broke out this summer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( D. ) created a coalition tasked with reviewing the names of local schools and landmarks , and listed the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument as two structures to potentially be renamed .

The San Francisco Unified School District will consider renaming one-third of its public schools, including one elementary school named after California Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday that school officials deemed the names of 44 public schools "inappropriate." Dianne Feinstein Elementary, as well as schools named after presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, also made the list.
Schools were added to the list if they were named after slave owners, colonizers, those who oppressed women or the LGBT community, those who perpetrated human-rights abuses, or people known as racists or white supremacists.
According to a 1984 copy of Workers Vanguard, "Dixie" Feinstein raised a Confederate flag at San Francisco’s Civic Center while she was mayor of the city, and later replaced the flag after it was pulled down by protesters. This allegation led the school board to include the elementary school bearing Feinstein’s name on the list, the Chronicle reported.
Some schools and local governments have considered renaming buildings after nationwide racial-justice protests broke out this summer. Washington, D.C., mayor Muriel Bowser (D.) created a coalition tasked with reviewing the names of local schools and landmarks, and listed the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument as two structures to potentially be renamed.


freebeacon--2020-10-16--Californians Donate Twice as Much as Georgians to Ossoff

California donors provided twice the amount of large contributions to Georgia Senate candidate Jon Ossoff ( D. ) as donors from his home state in the past quarter , according to a federal election filing .
Ossoff received $ 3.37 million in itemized contributions , donations over $ 200 , from Californians , compared to $ 1.64 million from Georgians in the third quarter .
More than 87 percent of Ossoff 's total in itemized contributions came from outside Georgia , a sharp increase from the 64 percent he received in the second quarter .
Ossoff 's fundraising demonstrates greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than inside it , similar to his failed 2017 bid for Georgia 's Sixth Congressional District .
More than 97 percent of donations to Ossoff in the final two months of that campaign came from outside Georgia .
Despite raising a then-House record $ 32 million , he lost to his Republican opponent .
Among Ossoff 's California donors was left-wing billionaire and Green New Deal supporter Tom Steyer , who gave the maximum $ 2,800 .
Ossoff has not endorsed the Green New Deal resolution—a far-left package of economic , environmental , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cosponsors Sen. Ed Markey ( D. , Mass . )
and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) last year for `` linking environmental policy and infrastructure policy . ''
In the last quarter , he raised $ 21.3 million overall and has $ 8.3 million in cash for the final stretch of the campaign .
Ossoff , who has never held office , is trying to oust Sen. David Perdue ( R. , Ga. ) .
Polls show Perdue narrowly leading his challenger in a race critical to party control of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not respond to a request for comment .

California donors provided twice the amount of large contributions to Georgia Senate candidate Jon Ossoff (D.) as donors from his home state in the past quarter, according to a federal election filing.
Ossoff received $3.37 million in itemized contributions, donations over $200, from Californians, compared to $1.64 million from Georgians in the third quarter. More than 87 percent of Ossoff's total in itemized contributions came from outside Georgia, a sharp increase from the 64 percent he received in the second quarter.
Ossoff's fundraising demonstrates greater enthusiasm for his campaign outside of Georgia than inside it, similar to his failed 2017 bid for Georgia's Sixth Congressional District. More than 97 percent of donations to Ossoff in the final two months of that campaign came from outside Georgia. Despite raising a then-House record $32 million, he lost to his Republican opponent.
Among Ossoff's California donors was left-wing billionaire and Green New Deal supporter Tom Steyer, who gave the maximum $2,800. Ossoff has not endorsed the Green New Deal resolution—a far-left package of economic, environmental, and social justice programs—but he praised its cosponsors Sen. Ed Markey (D., Mass.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) last year for "linking environmental policy and infrastructure policy."
In the last quarter, he raised $21.3 million overall and has $8.3 million in cash for the final stretch of the campaign. Ossoff, who has never held office, is trying to oust Sen. David Perdue (R., Ga.). Polls show Perdue narrowly leading his challenger in a race critical to party control of the U.S. Senate.
Ossoff's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-10-16--Concast (NBC News) Loses 2020 Town Hall Ratings War Despite ‘Trump Boost’

NBC News ( sometimes known as `` Fake News '' or `` Concast , '' as in `` Comcast '' but with `` con , '' as in `` con job , '' instead of `` com '' ) failed to win its head-to-head ratings showdown with ABC News despite hosting the more charismatic candidate during its town hall event on Thursday .
CNN 's Brian Stelter reports that the ABC News town hall featuring former Vice President Joe Biden , who has never had COVID-19 , averaged nearly 14 million viewers Thursday night .
NBC 's town hall with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successfully contracted and defeated COVID-19 , averaged about 13 million viewers across three channels ( NBC , MSNBC , and CNBC ) .
According to Trump , his performance at the NBC event has been receiving `` very good reviews . ''
However , the relentless attacks from moderator Savannah Guthrie , who is married to Al Gore 's former chief of staff , might have caused viewers to change over to ABC in the hopes of seeing a Joe Biden gaffe .
`` President Trump soundly defeated NBC 's Savannah Guthrie in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden surrogate , '' the Trump campaign said in a statement following the town hall .
`` President Trump masterfully handled Guthrie 's attacks and interacted warmly and effectively with the voters in the room . ''
Most experts agree that Trump is the most charismatic presidential candidate in American history .
In the unlikely event that he loses in November , he will be just fine .
NBC , on the other hand , might struggle to survive .
The network 's inability to win a simple ratings showdown despite the coveted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about its future .

NBC News (sometimes known as "Fake News" or "Concast," as in "Comcast" but with "con," as in "con job," instead of "com") failed to win its head-to-head ratings showdown with ABC News despite hosting the more charismatic candidate during its town hall event on Thursday.
CNN's Brian Stelter reports that the ABC News town hall featuring former Vice President Joe Biden, who has never had COVID-19, averaged nearly 14 million viewers Thursday night. NBC's town hall with President Donald J. Trump, who has successfully contracted and defeated COVID-19, averaged about 13 million viewers across three channels (NBC, MSNBC, and CNBC).
According to Trump, his performance at the NBC event has been receiving "very good reviews." However, the relentless attacks from moderator Savannah Guthrie, who is married to Al Gore's former chief of staff, might have caused viewers to change over to ABC in the hopes of seeing a Joe Biden gaffe.
"President Trump soundly defeated NBC's Savannah Guthrie in her role as debate opponent and Joe Biden surrogate," the Trump campaign said in a statement following the town hall. "President Trump masterfully handled Guthrie's attacks and interacted warmly and effectively with the voters in the room."
Most experts agree that Trump is the most charismatic presidential candidate in American history. In the unlikely event that he loses in November, he will be just fine. NBC, on the other hand, might struggle to survive. The network's inability to win a simple ratings showdown despite the coveted "Trump boost" raises serious concerns about its future.


freebeacon--2020-10-16--NYC’s Brearley School Demands Anti-Racism Pledge from Students, Parents for Admission

The application process for an elite New York City private school requires parents to outline their commitment to anti-racism and attend anti-racist training .
Based on documents reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon , the Brearley School , an all-girls private school located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan , asks the parents of prospective students to explain how their family 's values align with the school 's `` commitment to creating an anti-racist and inclusive school community . ''
The application also states that the $ 54,000-per-year school `` requires all members , including at least one parent/guardian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ongoing reflection . ''
The `` anti-racist '' requirements surfaced after black alumnae from three prestigious all-girls schools took to Instagram to accuse their alma maters of racism .
The account `` Black at Brearley '' posted approximately 100 allegations of racism that took place at the school , with one alumna alleging that the school `` tokenized '' her by asking her to appear on diversity panels for prospective students .
`` Despite being constantly disrespected [ by ] administration and my teachers , I was always asked to be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students , '' the Instagram post reads .
`` The school tokenized me , using me as a prop to give off the ( false ) impression that it was inclusive and accepting of black students . ''
Admissions data show that over half of Brearley 's student body is made up of students of color .
In light of the Black Lives Matter movement , both public and private schools have rushed to incorporate antiracism and bias-response training for students and parents into their curricula .
At the Key School , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separated by race for online sessions on `` diversity , equity , and inclusion . ''
Meanwhile , public schools such as Virginia 's Loudoun County Public Schools district are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on `` equity training '' for students , parents , teachers , and faculty .
Brearley 's Diversity and Equity department also released a statement committing itself to `` meaningful change '' in the form of anti-racist activism .
The statement claims that faculty , staff , parents , students , and trustees are expected to participate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` policies , practices , and beliefs that uphold racial inequality . ''
The school maintains a regressive view of gender , however .
In the online application , `` female '' is the only available gender choice .
Brearley did not respond to requests for comment .

The application process for an elite New York City private school requires parents to outline their commitment to anti-racism and attend anti-racist training.
Based on documents reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon, the Brearley School, an all-girls private school located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, asks the parents of prospective students to explain how their family's values align with the school's "commitment to creating an anti-racist and inclusive school community." The application also states that the $54,000-per-year school "requires all members, including at least one parent/guardian, to participate in required anti-racist training and ongoing reflection."
The "anti-racist" requirements surfaced after black alumnae from three prestigious all-girls schools took to Instagram to accuse their alma maters of racism. The account "Black at Brearley" posted approximately 100 allegations of racism that took place at the school, with one alumna alleging that the school "tokenized" her by asking her to appear on diversity panels for prospective students. "Despite being constantly disrespected [by] administration and my teachers, I was always asked to be on internal panels and diversity panels for prospective students," the Instagram post reads. "The school tokenized me, using me as a prop to give off the (false) impression that it was inclusive and accepting of black students."
Admissions data show that over half of Brearley's student body is made up of students of color.
In light of the Black Lives Matter movement, both public and private schools have rushed to incorporate antiracism and bias-response training for students and parents into their curricula. At the Key School, a private school in Annapolis, parents were separated by race for online sessions on "diversity, equity, and inclusion." Meanwhile, public schools such as Virginia's Loudoun County Public Schools district are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on "equity training" for students, parents, teachers, and faculty.
Brearley's Diversity and Equity department also released a statement committing itself to "meaningful change" in the form of anti-racist activism. The statement claims that faculty, staff, parents, students, and trustees are expected to participate in anti-racist training and identify and eliminate "policies, practices, and beliefs that uphold racial inequality."
The school maintains a regressive view of gender, however. In the online application, "female" is the only available gender choice.
Brearley did not respond to requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-10-16--Record Number of Seattle Cops Leave Force in September

A record number of officers left the Seattle Police Department in September , according to department data released Thursday .
Thirty-nine officers left the force last month—more than twice the number of retirements or resignations in any month on record .
`` We are losing an unprecedented number of officers , '' Mayor Jenny Durkan ( D. ) admitted .
She argued that the loss in police only `` makes it even more critical that we recruit and retain officers committed to reform and community policing that reflect the diversity and values of our city . ''
Durkan and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive police budget cuts following months of protests , though they have sparred over the exact amount .
In August , the council passed a budget that would cut up to 100 police jobs , leading to Chief Carmen Best 's resignation .
If officers continue to retire or resign at the current rate , Seattle could soon see the lowest number of cops since the 1990s , when the city 's population was 44 percent smaller than it is now .
In total , 110 officers have left the Seattle Police Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ B. Helfgott said the city 's police department has not received credit for taking action to reform .
`` It 's really been understated in the media , the fact that Seattle Police have had co-responder teams since 2010 , '' said Helfgott , who argued that that the national political climate has `` unfairly impacted Seattle Police . ''
The Washington Free Beacon reported yesterday that the United States now has the fewest number of cops in the past 25 years .
The Census Bureau found a 2019 average of 214 police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .
Seattle , which is left with just over 1,200 officers , now has one of the lowest ratios of cops to citizens of major U.S. cities , with 65 officers per 100,000 residents .

A record number of officers left the Seattle Police Department in September, according to department data released Thursday.
Thirty-nine officers left the force last month—more than twice the number of retirements or resignations in any month on record.
"We are losing an unprecedented number of officers," Mayor Jenny Durkan (D.) admitted.
She argued that the loss in police only "makes it even more critical that we recruit and retain officers committed to reform and community policing that reflect the diversity and values of our city."
Durkan and the Seattle City Council have both called for massive police budget cuts following months of protests, though they have sparred over the exact amount. In August, the council passed a budget that would cut up to 100 police jobs, leading to Chief Carmen Best's resignation.
If officers continue to retire or resign at the current rate, Seattle could soon see the lowest number of cops since the 1990s, when the city's population was 44 percent smaller than it is now.
In total, 110 officers have left the Seattle Police Department this year.
Seattle University criminologist Jacqueline B. Helfgott said the city's police department has not received credit for taking action to reform.
"It's really been understated in the media, the fact that Seattle Police have had co-responder teams since 2010," said Helfgott, who argued that that the national political climate has "unfairly impacted Seattle Police."
The Washington Free Beacon reported yesterday that the United States now has the fewest number of cops in the past 25 years. The Census Bureau found a 2019 average of 214 police officers per 100,000 citizens in the United States.
Seattle, which is left with just over 1,200 officers, now has one of the lowest ratios of cops to citizens of major U.S. cities, with 65 officers per 100,000 residents.


freebeacon--2020-10-16--Conservative Group Pushes ‘Dumbest Senator Ever’ to Replace Feinstein

After liberals called for Sen. Dianne Feinstein ( D. , Calif. ) to be demoted from her perch as the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee , a conservative judicial group suggested a replacement : Sen. Mazie Hirono ( D. , Hawaii ) .
`` Senator Hirono , the dumbest senator ever to serve in the United States Senate , has been very effective at helping President Trump confirm Justice Gorsuch , Justice Kavanaugh , and a near-record number of lower-court judges , '' said Mike Davis , the founder and president of the Article Three Project .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slide by without asking her if she is a rapist , Senator Hirono saved the day .
Thus , A3P strongly endorses Senator Hirono ’ s elevation to the top Democrat post on the Senate Judiciary Committee . ''
Hirono has a history of drawing ridicule during judicial hearings , including for her question about whether Amy Coney Barrett , a married Catholic mother of seven whose children were seated in the room with her , had ever sexually assaulted anyone .
Hirono also scolded Barrett for using the term `` sexual preference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and outdated term , '' although Hirono 's Democratic colleagues have used the term for years .
During Brett Kavanaugh 's contentious confirmation battle , Hirono argued Kavanaugh should not be afforded presumption of innocence because of his `` ideological agenda . ''
She also dubbed Justices Neil Gorsuch , Samuel Alito , and Clarence Thomas `` the three horsemen of the apocalypse '' and has expressed confusion when witnesses explain how the law works .
Hirono has also taken issue with the religious faith of the Trump administration 's appointees .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris ( D. , Calif. ) , for questioning federal court appointee Brian Buescher 's membership in a Catholic fraternal group .

After liberals called for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) to be demoted from her perch as the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, a conservative judicial group suggested a replacement: Sen. Mazie Hirono (D., Hawaii).
"Senator Hirono, the dumbest senator ever to serve in the United States Senate, has been very effective at helping President Trump confirm Justice Gorsuch, Justice Kavanaugh, and a near-record number of lower-court judges," said Mike Davis, the founder and president of the Article Three Project. "While Ranking Member Feinstein let Judge Barrett slide by without asking her if she is a rapist, Senator Hirono saved the day. Thus, A3P strongly endorses Senator Hirono’s elevation to the top Democrat post on the Senate Judiciary Committee."
Hirono has a history of drawing ridicule during judicial hearings, including for her question about whether Amy Coney Barrett, a married Catholic mother of seven whose children were seated in the room with her, had ever sexually assaulted anyone. Hirono also scolded Barrett for using the term "sexual preference," calling it an "offensive and outdated term," although Hirono's Democratic colleagues have used the term for years.
During Brett Kavanaugh's contentious confirmation battle, Hirono argued Kavanaugh should not be afforded presumption of innocence because of his "ideological agenda." She also dubbed Justices Neil Gorsuch, Samuel Alito, and Clarence Thomas "the three horsemen of the apocalypse" and has expressed confusion when witnesses explain how the law works.
Hirono has also taken issue with the religious faith of the Trump administration's appointees. In 2019, Hirono was formally rebuked, along with Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.), for questioning federal court appointee Brian Buescher's membership in a Catholic fraternal group.


freebeacon--2020-10-16--FBI Raids Pro-Biden Union in Philadelphia

Federal authorities raided an electricians ’ union headquarters in Philadelphia on Friday morning , which had a massive flag promoting Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden covering the front of the building .
The Local 98 electricians ’ union—a chapter of the larger International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers—was searched by the FBI at 7 a.m. on Friday , according to Philadelphia news outlet Billy Penn .
It remains unclear why the FBI raided the building , but the raid marks the second time that federal authorities searched the location since the union ’ s alleged corrupt activities came into view four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department indicted Local 98 ’ s union boss John `` Doc '' Dougherty Jr. on corruption charges related to the embezzlement of funds for personal use .
Dougherty and his union engaged in highly overt political activism , spending millions on campaign spending and contributions to political candidates .
The indictment notwithstanding , union officials maintained that Dougherty 's arrest would not change the frequency of the union ’ s political activity .
In February 2020 , the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers officially endorsed Biden for president—though over 1,200 members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retract the endorsement .
Given the major financial and political influence of unions—particularly in the swing state of Pennsylvania—Biden has played up both his labor union and Pennsylvania ties on the campaign trail .
On Labor Day , Biden spoke to union members at a Harrisburg , Pa. , rally , touting his support for organized labor .
`` I ’ ve never been afraid to say the word union , '' Biden said .
`` You can be sure to hear the word ’ union ’ plenty of times when I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden has emphasized his Pennsylvania roots , sometimes to the point of falsification .
The Democratic nominee told voters in Erie , Pa. , last week that his great-grandfather Edward F. Blewett was the first Irish Catholic to be elected to the Pennsylvania state senate in 1907 .
A fact check done by the Dispatch later that week identified an Irish Catholic state senator in Pennsylvania almost a hundred years earlier in 1813 .

Federal authorities raided an electricians’ union headquarters in Philadelphia on Friday morning, which had a massive flag promoting Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden covering the front of the building.
The Local 98 electricians’ union—a chapter of the larger International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers—was searched by the FBI at 7 a.m. on Friday, according to Philadelphia news outlet Billy Penn. It remains unclear why the FBI raided the building, but the raid marks the second time that federal authorities searched the location since the union’s alleged corrupt activities came into view four years ago.
In 2019, the Justice Department indicted Local 98’s union boss John "Doc" Dougherty Jr. on corruption charges related to the embezzlement of funds for personal use. Dougherty and his union engaged in highly overt political activism, spending millions on campaign spending and contributions to political candidates.
The indictment notwithstanding, union officials maintained that Dougherty's arrest would not change the frequency of the union’s political activity.
In February 2020, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers officially endorsed Biden for president—though over 1,200 members of the organization called for union leadership to retract the endorsement.
Given the major financial and political influence of unions—particularly in the swing state of Pennsylvania—Biden has played up both his labor union and Pennsylvania ties on the campaign trail. On Labor Day, Biden spoke to union members at a Harrisburg, Pa., rally, touting his support for organized labor.
"I’ve never been afraid to say the word union," Biden said. "You can be sure to hear the word ’union’ plenty of times when I’m in the White House."
Biden has emphasized his Pennsylvania roots, sometimes to the point of falsification. The Democratic nominee told voters in Erie, Pa., last week that his great-grandfather Edward F. Blewett was the first Irish Catholic to be elected to the Pennsylvania state senate in 1907. A fact check done by the Dispatch later that week identified an Irish Catholic state senator in Pennsylvania almost a hundred years earlier in 1813.


freebeacon--2020-10-16--Judge Sentences Sanction-Dodging Iranian Businessman

The Department of Justice announced Thursday that an Iranian businessman was sentenced to 23 months in prison for his role in a complex sanctions-dodging scheme .
Iranian national Seyed Sajjad Shahidian pleaded guilty to charges of conducting illegal financial transactions in June 2018 .
On Thursday , U.S. District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced Shahidian in Minneapolis .
Shahidian was the founder of PAYMENT24 , a Tehran-based financial services company .
The company conducted financial transactions with U.S. businesses—an illegal action in light of the United States ' robust sanctions on Iran .
According to PAYMENT24 's website , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circumvent American sanctions and claimed to have brought millions of dollars in foreign investment to Iran .
According to the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act , the unauthorized export of goods , technology , or services to Iran is prohibited .
`` Shahidian lied to U.S. suppliers , illegally transferred funds from Iran , used fraudulent passports and IDs , and established a business whose entire purpose was to circumvent U.S. sanctions and to enable others to do the same , '' Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentence should discourage other would-be sanctions violators from following in Mr. Shahidian 's footsteps . ''
Though the Trump administration has operated on a tough-on-Iran approach since 2016 , pressure on Tehran recently reached a new high .
This summer , the administration imposed unilateral `` snapback '' sanctions , and the Treasury Department issued another set of sanctions on Iran 's financial sector .
So far , the sanctions seem to have had some success .
Iran 's currency has dropped to a historic low , and a regime spokesman told reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caused serious monetary and financial damages to Iran . ''
In recent months , the United States has moved to strengthen regional partnerships and normalize relations between Israel and multiple Gulf countries .

The Department of Justice announced Thursday that an Iranian businessman was sentenced to 23 months in prison for his role in a complex sanctions-dodging scheme.
Iranian national Seyed Sajjad Shahidian pleaded guilty to charges of conducting illegal financial transactions in June 2018. On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz sentenced Shahidian in Minneapolis.
Shahidian was the founder of PAYMENT24, a Tehran-based financial services company. The company conducted financial transactions with U.S. businesses—an illegal action in light of the United States' robust sanctions on Iran.
According to PAYMENT24's website, the company charged an additional fee to circumvent American sanctions and claimed to have brought millions of dollars in foreign investment to Iran.
According to the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the unauthorized export of goods, technology, or services to Iran is prohibited.
Justice Department officials applauded the arrest.
"Shahidian lied to U.S. suppliers, illegally transferred funds from Iran, used fraudulent passports and IDs, and established a business whose entire purpose was to circumvent U.S. sanctions and to enable others to do the same," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said in a statement. "Today's sentence should discourage other would-be sanctions violators from following in Mr. Shahidian's footsteps."
Though the Trump administration has operated on a tough-on-Iran approach since 2016, pressure on Tehran recently reached a new high. This summer, the administration imposed unilateral "snapback" sanctions, and the Treasury Department issued another set of sanctions on Iran's financial sector.
So far, the sanctions seem to have had some success. Iran's currency has dropped to a historic low, and a regime spokesman told reporters this week that Americans sanctions "have caused serious monetary and financial damages to Iran."
In recent months, the United States has moved to strengthen regional partnerships and normalize relations between Israel and multiple Gulf countries.


freebeacon--2020-10-16--Former Mexican Defense Minister Arrested for Drug Trafficking

Mexico ’ s former minister of defense , Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda , was arrested Thursday night on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering , making him the highest-ranking official in Mexican history to be arrested on such charges , the New York Times reported Friday .
Zepeda was arrested upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport and was taken into custody at the request of the Drug Enforcement Agency .
His arrest comes only two years after leaving office , as Zepeda held the position of defense minister from 2012 to 2018 .
The former official ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credibility of Mexican law enforcement and overall institutional trust , experts say .
The Mexican military has traditionally acted as the principal cartel-fighting force within the country .
Mexican statesmen and academics alike reacted with shock to the news .
`` There has never been a minister of defense in Mexico arrested , '' Jorge Castañeda , a former Mexican foreign minister , told the Times .
`` The minister of defense in Mexico is a guy that not only runs the army and is a military man , but he reports directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one above him except the president . ''
Alejandro Madrazo , a professor at CIDE , a university in Mexico City , also told the Times that the arrest was a critical ordeal .
`` The military has become way more corrupt and way more abusive since the war on drugs was declared , and for the first time they may not be untouchable—but not by the Mexican government , by the American government , '' Madrazo said .
The news comes during a turbulent time for Mexican national security .
In July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Generation Cartel had ascended to become the most urgent threat to Mexican national security , as the cartel carries out operations targeting politicians and civilians .
The group also sends massive amounts of drugs into the United States , often laced with the lethal substance known as fentanyl .
A report earlier this month found that the Jalisco drug cartel had control over a high-security prison in Mexico for years .
Days later , an attack in Mexico City killed six , and the Jalisco cartel is suspected to be responsible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death of a key cartel witness in a Mexico prison in March was likely a murder by the Jalisco cartel disguised as a suicide , with the intention of preventing the witness from testifying in the United States .

Mexico’s former minister of defense, Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, was arrested Thursday night on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering, making him the highest-ranking official in Mexican history to be arrested on such charges, the New York Times reported Friday.
Zepeda was arrested upon arrival at Los Angeles International Airport and was taken into custody at the request of the Drug Enforcement Agency. His arrest comes only two years after leaving office, as Zepeda held the position of defense minister from 2012 to 2018.
The former official’s arrest is a major blow to the credibility of Mexican law enforcement and overall institutional trust, experts say. The Mexican military has traditionally acted as the principal cartel-fighting force within the country.
Mexican statesmen and academics alike reacted with shock to the news.
"There has never been a minister of defense in Mexico arrested," Jorge Castañeda, a former Mexican foreign minister, told the Times. "The minister of defense in Mexico is a guy that not only runs the army and is a military man, but he reports directly to the president. There is no one above him except the president."
Alejandro Madrazo, a professor at CIDE, a university in Mexico City, also told the Times that the arrest was a critical ordeal. "The military has become way more corrupt and way more abusive since the war on drugs was declared, and for the first time they may not be untouchable—but not by the Mexican government, by the American government," Madrazo said.
The news comes during a turbulent time for Mexican national security. In July, Mexican officials said the ultraviolent Jalisco New Generation Cartel had ascended to become the most urgent threat to Mexican national security, as the cartel carries out operations targeting politicians and civilians. The group also sends massive amounts of drugs into the United States, often laced with the lethal substance known as fentanyl.
A report earlier this month found that the Jalisco drug cartel had control over a high-security prison in Mexico for years. Days later, an attack in Mexico City killed six, and the Jalisco cartel is suspected to be responsible. Last week, another report concluded that the death of a key cartel witness in a Mexico prison in March was likely a murder by the Jalisco cartel disguised as a suicide, with the intention of preventing the witness from testifying in the United States.


freebeacon--2020-10-16--The America Lasters Face Europe’s Second Wave

Europe has now surpassed the United States in daily coronavirus cases .
That presents a challenge for the Democratic politicians and left-wing commentators who have , for the past several months , made unfavorable comparisons between the United States and Europe yet another arrow in their quiver to shoot at President Donald Trump and to illustrate the alleged superiority of European governance , health care systems , and social cohesion .
In early September , Joe Biden bemoaned the way Europe had outperformed the United States in its handling of the coronavirus .
Speaking to a crowd in Wilmington , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the five largest European countries and the United States , asking , `` Why were n't we doing what needed to be done ? ''
Spain 's cases per person had , at the time , already surged past the United States ; a few weeks later , France followed suit .
Today , the United States and the European Union have the same number of cases per capita ; Belgium , the Netherlands , France , Spain , and the United Kingdom all report higher rates .
Europe , it seems , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done after all .
Do n't expect to hear anything about this from those who profess to follow the science and to venerate data .
We expect them to ignore science that undermines their political objective—defeating Trump—and to keep insisting , against the evidence , that America has it worse .
To the America lasters , the coronavirus crisis is further proof that the United States is backward , incompetent , and inferior to Europe 's rational , technocratic , socialist paradise .
To them , American lives lost to the deadly disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to score points against Trump .
Take Biden proxy Beto O'Rourke , who called Europe 's outperformance `` embarrassing . ''
Or CNN 's Gloria Borger , who explained the European Union 's travel ban on Americans this way : America ca n't control the virus , `` not vice-versa , '' she said , although Europeans are also prohibited from traveling to the United States .
Or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , who said in July , over crocodile tears , that Europe was `` getting back to normal '' because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Then , as now , America administered more tests than the entire European Union .
But facts do n't matter .
While critics crow about Americans ’ refusal to practice safety measures , the data show that Americans are more likely to wear a mask than Brits , Canadians , and Scandinavians , and only somewhat less likely than Italians , Spaniards , and the French .
Though Democrats continue to fearmonger about a coronavirus vaccine , Americans are more likely to call vaccines `` safe and effective '' than our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reality : Countries with little experience with a pandemic continue to struggle with it .
America 's leaders , from the federal government on down , have made bad calls and good calls , as have those in Europe .
But that idea is totally alien to people who believe , to their core , that America can do no right , while Europe can do no wrong .
Still , to everyone who insists , against the evidence , that Europe is the socialist wonderland Bernie Sanders promised , that America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , and that they 'd rather move to Canada , we have a simple message : Pack your bags and good riddance .

Europe has now surpassed the United States in daily coronavirus cases. That presents a challenge for the Democratic politicians and left-wing commentators who have, for the past several months, made unfavorable comparisons between the United States and Europe yet another arrow in their quiver to shoot at President Donald Trump and to illustrate the alleged superiority of European governance, health care systems, and social cohesion.
In early September, Joe Biden bemoaned the way Europe had outperformed the United States in its handling of the coronavirus. Speaking to a crowd in Wilmington, Del., Biden compared death tolls in the five largest European countries and the United States, asking, "Why weren't we doing what needed to be done?"
Spain's cases per person had, at the time, already surged past the United States; a few weeks later, France followed suit. Today, the United States and the European Union have the same number of cases per capita; Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom all report higher rates. Europe, it seems, wasn't doing what needed to be done after all.
Don't expect to hear anything about this from those who profess to follow the science and to venerate data. We expect them to ignore science that undermines their political objective—defeating Trump—and to keep insisting, against the evidence, that America has it worse.
To the America lasters, the coronavirus crisis is further proof that the United States is backward, incompetent, and inferior to Europe's rational, technocratic, socialist paradise. To them, American lives lost to the deadly disease weren't a tragedy—they were another opportunity to score points against Trump.
Take Biden proxy Beto O'Rourke, who called Europe's outperformance "embarrassing." Or CNN's Gloria Borger, who explained the European Union's travel ban on Americans this way: America can't control the virus, "not vice-versa," she said, although Europeans are also prohibited from traveling to the United States. Or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who said in July, over crocodile tears, that Europe was "getting back to normal" because it had a "strong testing regime."
Then, as now, America administered more tests than the entire European Union. But facts don't matter. While critics crow about Americans’ refusal to practice safety measures, the data show that Americans are more likely to wear a mask than Brits, Canadians, and Scandinavians, and only somewhat less likely than Italians, Spaniards, and the French.
Though Democrats continue to fearmonger about a coronavirus vaccine, Americans are more likely to call vaccines "safe and effective" than our supposedly more-enlightened European counterparts.
Here's the reality: Countries with little experience with a pandemic continue to struggle with it. America's leaders, from the federal government on down, have made bad calls and good calls, as have those in Europe. But that idea is totally alien to people who believe, to their core, that America can do no right, while Europe can do no wrong.
Still, to everyone who insists, against the evidence, that Europe is the socialist wonderland Bernie Sanders promised, that America's is the worst coronavirus response in the world, and that they'd rather move to Canada, we have a simple message: Pack your bags and good riddance.


freebeacon--2020-10-17--A Candidate at the Center of the Moment

A Candidate at the Center of the Moment

When Wesley Hunt spoke to two dozen curious voters in the backyard of a suburban Houston home on a cool night in September , he had just come from his doctor 's office after donating plasma for the possible treatment of others who had been infected with COVID-19 .
He told his doctor , `` I 'll be here every week in this chair , if you need me to be here every week in this chair . ''
In that doctor 's chair and later in that supporter 's backyard , the black Republican running in a swing district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American political moment in so many different ways .
From race relations to the pandemic to the political fight for suburban Texas , Hunt says his personal experience with each topic brings a level of understanding that leaves him uniquely qualified .
And at the center of everything is a place the West Point grad and former Apache helicopter pilot seems comfortable .
`` My life has prepared me for this very point , '' Hunt told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` All these issues that we 're talking about it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple .
It literally is not black and white as people want to make it . ''
Hunt exuded a natural charisma during his backyard speech while flowing naturally between moments of levity and moments of poignance .
He aimed for nuance when dealing with sensitive topics .
He did n't shy away from the fact that his family had experienced racism but emphasized it had also lived the American dream .
`` My great-great grandfather was a slave , '' Hunt said .
`` He was born on a plantation about 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great-great grandchildren , three of them went to West Point , have multiple master 's degrees from Ivy League schools , have served our country with distinction , and have lived the American dream .
And that can only happen in America . ''
He noted he was the only black person at the event , which he said `` tends to be the case '' in the seventh district of Texas , but said it did not matter .
He said he believed the people gathered in that backyard were more concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the color of his skin .
It was something he said he saw firsthand while studying at West Point with Americans from all different races and backgrounds—14 of whom made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting alongside Hunt oversees .
`` We arise every morning and put our feet on free , sovereign , American soil .
Breathe free American air .
Because these brave gentlemen died for us , '' he said .
`` They did n't die for white people or black people or Asian people or Indian people .
They died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take that attitude of cooperation and patriotism to Congress—something he said his opponent , Rep. Lizzie Fletcher ( D. ) , had promised to do but failed to deliver on .
He complained her voting record was too close to that of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. ) .
He promised to try and form coalitions with members of both parties—especially other veterans—and buck his own party when he thinks it is necessary .
`` The idea of just voting with Speaker of the House 99 percent of the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense to me , '' he said .
`` Even if it was a Republican speaker and if there were something that did not benefit this district , I would absolutely vote against it . ''
Fletcher did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Hunt presented a somewhat nuanced view of President Donald Trump as well .
At one point he cracked a well-received joke about how the president 's tweets sometimes get him in trouble .
But he also made clear he was endorsed by the president , plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largely in agreement with him on questions of policy .
`` I want you to trust me that , although President Trump sometimes can go a little bit off script , trust that I will interpret the policy that benefits the people in this district the best , '' he said .
He used part of his time with the group to talk about key policies that tower over the Houston district .
He noted the Texas Fraternal Order of Police endorsed him over Fletcher and called the effort to defund police departments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'd work with President Trump on flood mitigation if elected .
And he put the most emphasis on opposition to efforts by Democrats to ban fracking and restrict the gas and oil industry that powers many jobs in the district .
`` You 're not going to fuel an Apache helicopter with wind and solar , '' he said to a laugh from the group .
But while Hunt 's campaign says the policy contrast with Fletcher is important , it believes Hunt 's background and natural political ability will be what reverses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seat back to the Republican Party .
The campaign faces an uphill battle , with the Cook Political Report rating the district `` lean Democratic . ''
But Hunt argues Fletcher 's 2018 defeat of Republican John Culberson was less a sign of the district trending more blue and more a sign of Culberson taking the district for granted .
`` I reject the idea that this is a Democrat seat , '' he said .
`` I think we 're going to prove that here in November . ''
If people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunt 's message may be resonating with voters .
After hearing Hunt speak at another small gathering , the small-business owner was inspired to get actively involved in politics for the first time .
She volunteered to host the event—which featured hand sanitizer and free masks alongside the traditional campaign volunteer signup sheet—in her family 's backyard .
`` I heard hope in his voice , '' she said .
`` I know that sounds a little cheesy but I felt enthusiasm and passion and optimism . ''
Beauchamp said she even invited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because she felt Hunt 's message could resonate with them too .
Hunt—who was recently featured in an all-star style ad alongside other Texas Republican candidates and Rep. Dan Crenshaw—did n't shy away from his identity as a Republican but still seemed to craft his message to appeal to as many Americans as he could .
His backyard speech did n't downplay the problems facing the country , but it emphasized hope for the future and belief in the American way 's ability to get us there .
`` Do we have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .
Can we always work to get better ?
Yes , we can .
Actually , that 's inherently what we do as Americans , '' he said .
`` It 's why I love this country so much .
And that 's why I want to stand for it and continue to be a beacon of light for the world . ''

When Wesley Hunt spoke to two dozen curious voters in the backyard of a suburban Houston home on a cool night in September, he had just come from his doctor's office after donating plasma for the possible treatment of others who had been infected with COVID-19.
He told his doctor, "I'll be here every week in this chair, if you need me to be here every week in this chair."
In that doctor's chair and later in that supporter's backyard, the black Republican running in a swing district found himself at the center of the American political moment in so many different ways. From race relations to the pandemic to the political fight for suburban Texas, Hunt says his personal experience with each topic brings a level of understanding that leaves him uniquely qualified. And at the center of everything is a place the West Point grad and former Apache helicopter pilot seems comfortable.
"My life has prepared me for this very point," Hunt told the Washington Free Beacon. "All these issues that we're talking about it is very complicated. It's not that simple. It literally is not black and white as people want to make it."
Hunt exuded a natural charisma during his backyard speech while flowing naturally between moments of levity and moments of poignance. He aimed for nuance when dealing with sensitive topics. He didn't shy away from the fact that his family had experienced racism but emphasized it had also lived the American dream.
"My great-great grandfather was a slave," Hunt said. "He was born on a plantation about 60 miles north of Baton Rouge. His great-great grandchildren, three of them went to West Point, have multiple master's degrees from Ivy League schools, have served our country with distinction, and have lived the American dream. And that can only happen in America."
He noted he was the only black person at the event, which he said "tends to be the case" in the seventh district of Texas, but said it did not matter. He said he believed the people gathered in that backyard were more concerned with the content of his character than the color of his skin. It was something he said he saw firsthand while studying at West Point with Americans from all different races and backgrounds—14 of whom made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting alongside Hunt oversees.
"We arise every morning and put our feet on free, sovereign, American soil. Breathe free American air. Because these brave gentlemen died for us," he said. "They didn't die for white people or black people or Asian people or Indian people. They died for Americans."
Hunt wants to take that attitude of cooperation and patriotism to Congress—something he said his opponent, Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D.), had promised to do but failed to deliver on. He complained her voting record was too close to that of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D.). He promised to try and form coalitions with members of both parties—especially other veterans—and buck his own party when he thinks it is necessary.
"The idea of just voting with Speaker of the House 99 percent of the time, that just doesn't make any sense to me," he said. "Even if it was a Republican speaker and if there were something that did not benefit this district, I would absolutely vote against it."
Fletcher did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hunt presented a somewhat nuanced view of President Donald Trump as well. At one point he cracked a well-received joke about how the president's tweets sometimes get him in trouble. But he also made clear he was endorsed by the president, plans to vote for him, and is largely in agreement with him on questions of policy.
"I want you to trust me that, although President Trump sometimes can go a little bit off script, trust that I will interpret the policy that benefits the people in this district the best," he said.
He used part of his time with the group to talk about key policies that tower over the Houston district. He noted the Texas Fraternal Order of Police endorsed him over Fletcher and called the effort to defund police departments "absurd." He said he'd work with President Trump on flood mitigation if elected. And he put the most emphasis on opposition to efforts by Democrats to ban fracking and restrict the gas and oil industry that powers many jobs in the district.
"You're not going to fuel an Apache helicopter with wind and solar," he said to a laugh from the group.
But while Hunt's campaign says the policy contrast with Fletcher is important, it believes Hunt's background and natural political ability will be what reverses the direction of Texas 7 and moves the seat back to the Republican Party. The campaign faces an uphill battle, with the Cook Political Report rating the district "lean Democratic." But Hunt argues Fletcher's 2018 defeat of Republican John Culberson was less a sign of the district trending more blue and more a sign of Culberson taking the district for granted.
"I reject the idea that this is a Democrat seat," he said. "I think we're going to prove that here in November."
If people like Megan Beauchamp are any indication, Hunt's message may be resonating with voters. After hearing Hunt speak at another small gathering, the small-business owner was inspired to get actively involved in politics for the first time. She volunteered to host the event—which featured hand sanitizer and free masks alongside the traditional campaign volunteer signup sheet—in her family's backyard.
"I heard hope in his voice," she said. "I know that sounds a little cheesy but I felt enthusiasm and passion and optimism."
Beauchamp said she even invited neighbors who she knew weren't Republicans because she felt Hunt's message could resonate with them too. Hunt—who was recently featured in an all-star style ad alongside other Texas Republican candidates and Rep. Dan Crenshaw—didn't shy away from his identity as a Republican but still seemed to craft his message to appeal to as many Americans as he could. His backyard speech didn't downplay the problems facing the country, but it emphasized hope for the future and belief in the American way's ability to get us there.
"Do we have a ways to go? Yes, we do. Can we always work to get better? Yes, we can. Actually, that's inherently what we do as Americans," he said. "It's why I love this country so much. And that's why I want to stand for it and continue to be a beacon of light for the world."


freebeacon--2020-10-17--Dem Missteps Made Conservative SCOTUS Supermajority Possible

The success of President Donald Trump 's last two nominations to the Supreme Court hinges largely on a sequence of tactical errors made by Senate Democrats .
The ill-fated filibuster of Justice Neil Gorsuch left Democrats without procedural weapons to blunt the far more contentious nomination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh .
After the Kavanaugh hearings devolved into an angry and lurid spectacle , Republicans netted two Senate seats that are now the margin of victory for Judge Amy Coney Barrett 's confirmation , expected later this month .
Barrett 's confirmation , which fills out a 6-3 conservative supermajority on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have come about but for those miscalculations .
Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D. , Minn. ) acknowledged that Barrett 's confirmation seemed inevitable even before her testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee this week .
`` We do not have some secret , clever procedural way to stop this sham .
Let 's be honest , '' Klobuchar said .
`` And as good as we are , there 's probably not going to be some brilliant cross-examination that is going to change the trajectory of this nomination . ''
The prime mistake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filibustered the Gorsuch nomination , even though his confirmation would not have changed the ideological balance of the Court .
It was a doomed gambit , as it prompted Senate Republicans to turn the nuclear key and abolish the 60-vote procedural threshold for Supreme Court nominees .
Legal observers spanning the ideological spectrum warned Democrats that strategic patience would pay dividends should another vacancy arise .
`` Imagine if in a year or so Justices Breyer , Ginsburg , or Kennedy leave the Court .
Then things get MUCH worse from the point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irvine professor Rick Hasen wrote at the time on his Election Law Blog .
`` Better to save the firepower for that fight . ''
Hasen was vindicated in short order .
The Kavanaugh nomination was subsumed by allegations of past sexual misconduct that inflamed partisan passions .
Had Democrats kept their powder dry , Republicans would have had the ugly task of breaking a filibuster in the midst of a frenzied national reckoning with gender dynamics , sexual impropriety , and due process .
Republicans might have managed a rule-change in that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a supremely difficult effort .
The GOP had just 51 seats at that time .
One Republican , Sen. Lisa Murkowski ( R. , Alaska ) , voted against Kavanaugh 's confirmation , making her an unlikely vote to abolish the filibuster in that setting .
Whether other moderates such as Sen. Susan Collins ( R. , Maine ) or former Sen. Jeff Flake ( R. , Ariz. ) would have backed the nuclear option is an open question .
Sen. Joe Manchin ( D. , W. Va. ) was the only Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would have been a near-certain vote against the rule change .
GOP veterans of the wild Kavanaugh rumpus credit Democratic tactics with the Senate victories that are making Barrett 's confirmation possible .
`` President Trump should give Chuck Schumer a Presidential Medal of Freedom .
The Schumer-led utter buffoonery during the Kavanaugh confirmation forced four Senate Democrats into early retirement—and guaranteed that a Justice Amy Coney Barrett joins the new 6-3 Clarence Thomas Court , '' said Mike Davis , a former Republican Senate lawyer who now runs an advocacy group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ red-state Democrats , such as former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp ( D. , N.D. ) , were longshots for reelection to begin with ; but others , such as former Sens .
Bill Nelson ( D. , Fla. ) , Claire McCaskill ( D. , Mo . )
, and Joe Donnelly ( D. , Ind . )
, ran competitive campaigns through the fall .
Nelson lost by about 10,000 votes out of some 8 million cast .
McCaskill and Donnelly have since attributed their defeats in significant part to the emotional currents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NPR that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford 's allegations should have been disclosed and investigated as soon as Sen. Dianne Feinstein 's ( D. , Calif. ) office obtained them .
Their late appearance legitimated `` the very real perception that this was an 11th-hour attempt to gut a guy , '' she said .
`` I do n't think my vote hurt me as much as the spectacle that occurred , '' McCaskill said .
`` There were mistakes made by my party in terms of how that was handled . ''
Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later this month .
Were two of the four Democrats who lost in 2018 still in the chamber , Republicans would have maintained only a narrow 51-49 advantage .
As it is , Barrett 's confirmation seems all but inevitable .

The success of President Donald Trump's last two nominations to the Supreme Court hinges largely on a sequence of tactical errors made by Senate Democrats.
The ill-fated filibuster of Justice Neil Gorsuch left Democrats without procedural weapons to blunt the far more contentious nomination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh. After the Kavanaugh hearings devolved into an angry and lurid spectacle, Republicans netted two Senate seats that are now the margin of victory for Judge Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation, expected later this month. Barrett's confirmation, which fills out a 6-3 conservative supermajority on the High Court, likely would not have come about but for those miscalculations.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.) acknowledged that Barrett's confirmation seemed inevitable even before her testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee this week.
"We do not have some secret, clever procedural way to stop this sham. Let's be honest," Klobuchar said. "And as good as we are, there's probably not going to be some brilliant cross-examination that is going to change the trajectory of this nomination."
The prime mistake was made in 2017, when Democrats filibustered the Gorsuch nomination, even though his confirmation would not have changed the ideological balance of the Court. It was a doomed gambit, as it prompted Senate Republicans to turn the nuclear key and abolish the 60-vote procedural threshold for Supreme Court nominees. Legal observers spanning the ideological spectrum warned Democrats that strategic patience would pay dividends should another vacancy arise.
"Imagine if in a year or so Justices Breyer, Ginsburg, or Kennedy leave the Court. Then things get MUCH worse from the point of view of progressives," UC Irvine professor Rick Hasen wrote at the time on his Election Law Blog. "Better to save the firepower for that fight."
Hasen was vindicated in short order. The Kavanaugh nomination was subsumed by allegations of past sexual misconduct that inflamed partisan passions. Had Democrats kept their powder dry, Republicans would have had the ugly task of breaking a filibuster in the midst of a frenzied national reckoning with gender dynamics, sexual impropriety, and due process.
Republicans might have managed a rule-change in that environment, but it would have been a supremely difficult effort. The GOP had just 51 seats at that time. One Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska), voted against Kavanaugh's confirmation, making her an unlikely vote to abolish the filibuster in that setting. Whether other moderates such as Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine) or former Sen. Jeff Flake (R., Ariz.) would have backed the nuclear option is an open question. Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W. Va.) was the only Democrat who voted to confirm Kavanaugh, but he would have been a near-certain vote against the rule change.
GOP veterans of the wild Kavanaugh rumpus credit Democratic tactics with the Senate victories that are making Barrett's confirmation possible.
"President Trump should give Chuck Schumer a Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Schumer-led utter buffoonery during the Kavanaugh confirmation forced four Senate Democrats into early retirement—and guaranteed that a Justice Amy Coney Barrett joins the new 6-3 Clarence Thomas Court," said Mike Davis, a former Republican Senate lawyer who now runs an advocacy group that supports Trump judicial nominees.
Some red-state Democrats, such as former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D., N.D.), were longshots for reelection to begin with; but others, such as former Sens. Bill Nelson (D., Fla.), Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.), and Joe Donnelly (D., Ind.), ran competitive campaigns through the fall. Nelson lost by about 10,000 votes out of some 8 million cast.
McCaskill and Donnelly have since attributed their defeats in significant part to the emotional currents the Kavanaugh confirmation unleashed.
McCaskill told NPR that Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's allegations should have been disclosed and investigated as soon as Sen. Dianne Feinstein's (D., Calif.) office obtained them. Their late appearance legitimated "the very real perception that this was an 11th-hour attempt to gut a guy," she said.
"I don't think my vote hurt me as much as the spectacle that occurred," McCaskill said. "There were mistakes made by my party in terms of how that was handled."
Republicans will reap the benefits of those mistakes later this month. Were two of the four Democrats who lost in 2018 still in the chamber, Republicans would have maintained only a narrow 51-49 advantage. As it is, Barrett's confirmation seems all but inevitable.


freebeacon--2020-10-17--Biden Insults NATO Allies, Forgets Who He’s Talking About, and Gives Terrible Gun-Safety Advice

Joe Biden may be known as `` Sleepy Joe , '' but the former vice president had a busy week @ @ @ @ @ forgetting the names of prominent figures , recommending faulty gun practices , and , ironically @ @ @ @ @ .

Joe Biden may be known as "Sleepy Joe," but the former vice president had a busy week of insulting U.S. allies, forgetting the names of prominent figures, recommending faulty gun practices, and, ironically, questioning voters' memory.
Published under: Joe Biden


freebeacon--2020-10-17--Pro-Trump Union Blasts Biden for Lying About Endorsement

A top official at one of Pennsylvania 's most powerful labor groups slammed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for falsely boasting of the union 's endorsement .
Shawn Steffee , a trustee with Boilermakers Local 154 , said that his members were shocked to hear the Democratic nominee claim their support on national television .
While Biden claimed to have `` sat down '' with union leaders to have an in-depth discussion about his plans , Steffee said the Biden campaign never approached his membership .
Biden 's criticism to fracking led Local 154—the largest local chapter of boilermakers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We had a moment of disbelief when our members started blowing our phone up because they said we flip-flopped on our endorsement , '' Steffee told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` Nobody from his staff—nobody—has ever spoken with us , so I do n't know where he 's coming up with that . ''
When ABC town hall moderator George Stephanopoulos brought up that some Boilermaker Union members do not trust Biden 's claim that he supports the fracking industry , the Democrat responded that the `` Boilermaker Union overwhelmingly endorsed me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not endorsed any candidates in the 2020 race , while Local 154 endorsed Trump in September .
Biden has consistently equivocated on the issue of fracking .
When asked whether fracking and other fossil fuel industries will have a place in the Biden administration , the former vice president said he `` would make sure it 's eliminated '' and opposed subsidies for the industry .
The nominee has since adjusted his position to only oppose new fracking licenses on federal land .
Kamala Harris , the Democratic vice-presidential nominee , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm in favor of banning fracking '' before she joined Biden 's ticket .
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment .
Steffee said that Biden 's equivocation on fracking pushed the union , which represents the Pittsburgh area , to support Trump .
`` [ Biden ] said I will do away with fracking , then it was just fracking on federal land , so I do n't know what his story is , '' he said .
`` But I do know President Donald Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grow the infrastructure on energy—and the Boilermakers absolutely want to be a part of it . ''
Fracking has emerged to be a key campaign issue in battleground states that rely on the shale industry .
Michigan and Ohio together have more than 400,000 workers in the shale industry , while Pennsylvania alone has 320,000 workers .
Trump has leaned into his consistent support for the fracking and natural gas industry during the campaign season , repeatedly saying that Biden wants to ban fracking .
The national headquarters of the Boilermakers Union did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

A top official at one of Pennsylvania's most powerful labor groups slammed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for falsely boasting of the union's endorsement.
Shawn Steffee, a trustee with Boilermakers Local 154, said that his members were shocked to hear the Democratic nominee claim their support on national television. While Biden claimed to have "sat down" with union leaders to have an in-depth discussion about his plans, Steffee said the Biden campaign never approached his membership. Biden's criticism to fracking led Local 154—the largest local chapter of boilermakers in the country—to endorse President Trump.
"We had a moment of disbelief when our members started blowing our phone up because they said we flip-flopped on our endorsement," Steffee told the Washington Free Beacon. "Nobody from his staff—nobody—has ever spoken with us, so I don't know where he's coming up with that."
When ABC town hall moderator George Stephanopoulos brought up that some Boilermaker Union members do not trust Biden's claim that he supports the fracking industry, the Democrat responded that the "Boilermaker Union overwhelmingly endorsed me." The union's national headquarters has not endorsed any candidates in the 2020 race, while Local 154 endorsed Trump in September.
Biden has consistently equivocated on the issue of fracking. When asked whether fracking and other fossil fuel industries will have a place in the Biden administration, the former vice president said he "would make sure it's eliminated" and opposed subsidies for the industry. The nominee has since adjusted his position to only oppose new fracking licenses on federal land. Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, also said, "there's no question I'm in favor of banning fracking" before she joined Biden's ticket. The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
Steffee said that Biden's equivocation on fracking pushed the union, which represents the Pittsburgh area, to support Trump.
"[Biden] said I will do away with fracking, then it was just fracking on federal land, so I don't know what his story is," he said. "But I do know President Donald Trump has embraced our energy independence and wants to grow the infrastructure on energy—and the Boilermakers absolutely want to be a part of it."
Fracking has emerged to be a key campaign issue in battleground states that rely on the shale industry. Michigan and Ohio together have more than 400,000 workers in the shale industry, while Pennsylvania alone has 320,000 workers. Trump has leaned into his consistent support for the fracking and natural gas industry during the campaign season, repeatedly saying that Biden wants to ban fracking.
The national headquarters of the Boilermakers Union did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-10-18--Beto (Finally) Fails Downward: Former 2020 Frontrunner Lands Teaching Gig at Texas State

`` He who can , does ; he who can not , teaches . ''
For perhaps the first time in his boringly privileged life , former congressman Beto O'Rourke has failed to fail upward .
Having proven himself unable to find success as a Senate candidate , presidential candidate , or blogger , Beto has accepted a teaching position at Texas State University , a mediocre institution of higher education .
O'Rourke , a graduate of the Woodberry Forest boarding school for boys , was not recruited by the university .
`` He originally approached people in the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' said Ken Grasso , chair of the political science department at Texas State .
`` I was thrilled . ''
Beto will teach Texas politics at the university beginning in the spring 2021 semester , according to the University Star .
He was reportedly motivated by a desire to connect with young people during such a `` crucial time for the state and the country . ''
Beto became a national political celebrity among Pod Save America hosts and listeners in 2018 during his failed campaign against Sen. Ted Cruz ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was `` just born to be in it , '' the Senate failure set his sights on even higher office , announcing his presidential campaign with a cover story in Vanity Fair .
As it turns out , Beto was born to lose .
He entered the Democratic primary in third place behind Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) and former vice president Joe Biden , the eventual nominee , and raised an impressive amount of money .
Unfortunately , Beto 's poll numbers steadily declined from there , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he was approaching `` statistically insignificant '' territory in the early primary states .
He quit the race in November 2019 , months before voters had the chance to not vote for him .
At the time , Beto had urged the remaining Democratic candidates to focus on issues that `` brought us together , '' such as his wildly unpopular proposal to take away people 's guns .
His recent attempt to influence the Democratic Senate primary in Massachusetts by endorsing Rep. Joe Kennedy III ( D. , Mass . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( D. , Mass . )
, also ended in failure .
Despite his flaws as a candidate , Beto embodied much of what Democratic voters were looking for in a candidate .
Their desire to nominate a white male was obvious , but at the end of the day , they just could n't stomach a white guy under the age of 75 .

"He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches."
—George Bernard Shaw
For perhaps the first time in his boringly privileged life, former congressman Beto O'Rourke has failed to fail upward. Having proven himself unable to find success as a Senate candidate, presidential candidate, or blogger, Beto has accepted a teaching position at Texas State University, a mediocre institution of higher education.
O'Rourke, a graduate of the Woodberry Forest boarding school for boys, was not recruited by the university. "He originally approached people in the administration ... and expressed an interest in teaching," said Ken Grasso, chair of the political science department at Texas State. "I was thrilled."
Beto will teach Texas politics at the university beginning in the spring 2021 semester, according to the University Star. He was reportedly motivated by a desire to connect with young people during such a "crucial time for the state and the country."
Beto became a national political celebrity among Pod Save America hosts and listeners in 2018 during his failed campaign against Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas). Having decided he was "just born to be in it," the Senate failure set his sights on even higher office, announcing his presidential campaign with a cover story in Vanity Fair.
'Man, I’m just born to be in it." Beto O’Rourke seemed to come from nowhere to the brink of a presidential candidacy—but he’s been on this journey for his whole life. O’Rourke spoke with Joe Hagan. Photographs by Annie Leibovitz. https://t.co/WhmQGZnbUg pic.twitter.com/a7DCoaZdtd — VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) March 13, 2019
As it turns out, Beto was born to lose. He entered the Democratic primary in third place behind Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and former vice president Joe Biden, the eventual nominee, and raised an impressive amount of money. Unfortunately, Beto's poll numbers steadily declined from there, and in just a few months' time, he was approaching "statistically insignificant" territory in the early primary states. He quit the race in November 2019, months before voters had the chance to not vote for him.
At the time, Beto had urged the remaining Democratic candidates to focus on issues that "brought us together," such as his wildly unpopular proposal to take away people's guns. His recent attempt to influence the Democratic Senate primary in Massachusetts by endorsing Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D., Mass.) over the incumbent, Sen. Ed Markey (D., Mass.), also ended in failure.
Despite his flaws as a candidate, Beto embodied much of what Democratic voters were looking for in a candidate. Their desire to nominate a white male was obvious, but at the end of the day, they just couldn't stomach a white guy under the age of 75.


freebeacon--2020-10-18--This Week In Campus Insanity Vol. 15

This Week In Campus Insanity Vol. 15

Welcome back to Campus Insanity , a weekly roundup of the craziest developments at our nation 's 4,000-plus institutions of higher education .
Loyola Marymount University 's student government impeached a pro-Trump Latina student who serves as its senator for diversity and inclusion after a progressive student news organization uncovered her past tweets voicing opposition to illegal immigration .
5 .
College Offers ‘ White Supremacy in the Age of Trump ' Course | LaCorte News The women and gender studies department at Smith College in Massachusetts is offering a course that will analyze white supremacy during President Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Northern Iowa Student Government Refuses to Recognize Pro-Life Group , Calls it ‘ Hate Group ' | Young America 's Foundation Student senators at the University of Northern Iowa denied a Students for Life group official club recognition and equated its advocacy for the unborn to white supremacy .
The Mathematical Association of America 's Committee on Minority Participation in Mathematics said that because math was created by humans , it `` inherently carries human biases . ''
Nerds .
Beginning in 2021 , students at Duke University will be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' in collaboration with the school 's Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity .
In response to Amy Coney Barrett 's nomination to the Supreme Court , several professors at leading universities have compared the Republican Party to Nazis and Confederates , while others have expressed a willingness to do `` whatever it takes '' to stop her confirmation .
Want more Campus Insanity ?
Read Vol .
14 here .
If you have any suggestions for our Top 6 stories please email chrissy @ freebeacon.com & nester @ freebeacon.com .

Welcome back to Campus Insanity, a weekly roundup of the craziest developments at our nation's 4,000-plus institutions of higher education.
6. Student Government Impeaches Pro-Trump Latina Student Senator Who Opposes Illegal Immigration | The College Fix
Loyola Marymount University's student government impeached a pro-Trump Latina student who serves as its senator for diversity and inclusion after a progressive student news organization uncovered her past tweets voicing opposition to illegal immigration.
5. College Offers 'White Supremacy in the Age of Trump' Course | LaCorte News
The women and gender studies department at Smith College in Massachusetts is offering a course that will analyze white supremacy during President Donald Trump's presidential tenure.
4. University of Northern Iowa Student Government Refuses to Recognize Pro-Life Group, Calls it 'Hate Group' | Young America's Foundation
Student senators at the University of Northern Iowa denied a Students for Life group official club recognition and equated its advocacy for the unborn to white supremacy.
3. Math Association Says Math 'Inherently Carries Human Biases,' Citing Critical Race Theory | Campus Reform
The Mathematical Association of America's Committee on Minority Participation in Mathematics said that because math was created by humans, it "inherently carries human biases." Nerds.
2. Duke Faculty Approves Proposal for 'Inequality Studies' Minor | The College Fix
Beginning in 2021, students at Duke University will be able to earn a minor in "Inequality Studies," in collaboration with the school's Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity.
1. Professors Calls for 'Civil Disobedience' to Stop Amy Coney Barrett Confirmation | Campus Reform
In response to Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court, several professors at leading universities have compared the Republican Party to Nazis and Confederates, while others have expressed a willingness to do "whatever it takes" to stop her confirmation.
Want more Campus Insanity? Read Vol. 14 here.
If you have any suggestions for our Top 6 stories please email chrissy@freebeacon.com & nester@freebeacon.com.