freebeacon--2020-06-01--Establishment Groups Rush to Boost Iowa Dem Ahead of Crowded Senate Primary

Big-spending outside groups have rushed to boost Iowa Democrat Theresa Greenfield ahead of Tuesday 's Senate primary as the establishment-backed businesswoman struggles to put the race away .
Endorsed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ( DSCC ) in June 2019 , Greenfield was expected to coast to victory in a race that includes little-known progressives Eddie Mauro and Kimberly Graham .
But a fourth candidate , retired Navy admiral Michael Franken , has gained momentum in recent weeks , earning the endorsement of the Des Moines Register on May 10 .
Following the newspaper 's endorsement , pro-choice PAC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 900,000 on a television ad accusing Franken of carpetbagging .
Franken was born and raised in Sioux County , Iowa , but left for the University of Nebraska in 1978 on an ROTC scholarship .
He served in the military for 39 years before retiring in 2017 and returning to Iowa two years later .
Greenfield , who was born across the Iowa border in Bricelyn , Minn. , and graduated from Minnesota State University Mankato , has not taken Franken 's call to denounce the ad , which drew condemnations from Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former Obama secretary of defense Chuck Hagel , who called it `` deplorable . ''
Greenfield did not respond to a request for comment .
EMILY 's List is not the only outside group spending big to boost Greenfield .
Senate Majority PAC , an organization aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) and the DSCC , has spent nearly $ 7 million supporting the Iowa businesswoman as she vies for the nomination to take on Sen. Joni Ernst ( R. , Iowa ) .
Greenfield 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million on the primary , with large fundraising hauls driven by endorsements from prominent national progressives , including Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass. )
.
Franken has spent just $ 740,000 as of May 13 .
In a race with little name recognition across the board—73 percent of Iowans had no opinion of both Greenfield and Franken in a March Des Moines Register poll—the massive spending advantage was expected to guarantee a large margin of victory for Greenfield on Tuesday .
`` It 's quite clear that Greenfield is , by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There 's a Biden-esque or even Clinton-esque kind of feel to her campaign , '' Iowa State University political science department chair Mack Shelley told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` The DSCC has been very straightforward that she 's the chosen one . ''
But the Register ‘ s coveted endorsement of Franken , combined with a series of shaky debate performances by Greenfield , has led to the last-minute scramble from EMILY 's List to push the candidate over the line .
The decision to attack Franken instead of highlighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fail to garner at least 35 percent support on Tuesday , the race will go to a nominating convention , and such a result could have major implications on the Senate majority in November .
It would solidify concerns that the DSCC became involved in the race too early , exposing Greenfield as an anointed candidate who may struggle to attract swing voters in a state President Donald Trump won by nearly 10 points in 2016 .
The Iowa Democratic Party has floundered in recent months after the state 's disastrous presidential caucuses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resignation of former chairman Troy Price .
The party has also fractured somewhat over the DSCC 's handling of the Senate primary .
Graham pushed back following the group 's endorsement of Greenfield , saying , `` It 's important in a democracy—if we 're going to try to say we have one—to at least speak to or return the calls of the other candidates that are other Democrats in that primary . ''
Eddie Mauro also slammed `` D.C. insiders and the D.C. establishment '' after the endorsement .
Mack Shelley said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward the party among progressives due to the DSCC 's early endorsement .
`` Graham is not exactly [ Senator Bernie ] Sanders , but she 's trying to appeal to that wing of the party , '' he told the Free Beacon .
`` I do n't think she has a realistic chance , but she provides opportunity for someone to decide , ‘ I do n't know who to vote for , but the party establishment already screwed Bernie over twice , so why should I support their candidate ? '
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wonk , '' Greenfield has faced criticism for avoiding campaign events and limiting press access both before and after the coronavirus pandemic .
The Iowa GOP highlighted her campaign 's repeated removal of cameras from grassroots events in October 2019 .
The candidate also skipped multiple virtual forums attended by the other three candidates in April .
Greenfield 's gaffes on the campaign trail could explain her hesitancy to go on record .
After calling GOP incumbent senator Joni Ernst a `` socialist '' during an October 2019 campaign forum , Greenfield stumbled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She refused to take a position on decriminalizing illegal border crossings , saying , `` We need to address issues like that . ''
She was also criticized by all three primary competitors over campaign finance hypocrisy—while Greenfield often claims she is not accepting `` one dime in corporate PAC money , '' the outside groups supporting her are bankrolled in part by corporate PACs and dark money groups .
`` You ca n't smile at people and tell them you 're not taking corporate PAC money when you 're taking tens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money , leadership PAC money that 's full of pharmaceutical money , fossil fuel money , and Wall Street money , '' Mauro said .
`` She says she wants to end corruption , but she 's taking corrupt money , so there 's an issue there . ''
Greenfield dismissed the attacks as `` Republican talking points '' and claimed she could n't disassociate from the groups because she does n't `` even know who they are '' and `` would n't even know who to call . ''
She has repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during her campaign .
Greenfield has also come under fire for her business dealings .
As president of a Des Moines-based real estate firm , Greenfield led a 2015 project that `` blindsided '' a city shopping center 's local tenants .
Her proposal would have made German grocer Aldi the fourth big-box retailer within less than one mile , driving out local businesses in the process .
Though the proposal was unanimously killed by Windsor Heights city council , Greenfield moved forward with renovations that priced out at least five small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Free Beacon report on the project , Mauro released a TV ad in May questioning Greenfield 's leadership , saying Greenfield `` kicked small business out to make room for out-of-state companies . ''
Greenfield 's primary woes come after the DSCC reportedly struggled to recruit a candidate to run against Ernst .
According to Iowa Starting Line , Schumer 's first choice was former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack , with freshman congresswoman Cindy Axne ( D. , Iowa ) a `` close second . ''
It was only after the pair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate minority leader pivoted to Greenfield , whose ballot application for Iowa 's Third Congressional District was withdrawn in 2018 after her campaign manager admitted to falsifying signatures .
Axne went on to win the primary and defeated then-representative David Young ( R. ) by 2 points .
The DSCC did not respond to a request for comment .
While Greenfield is still expected to win Tuesday 's primary , a nominating convention would spell an embarrassing result for national party leaders .
A survey of 849 Iowa Democrats conducted by Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with 43 percent support to Franken 's 12 percent .
But the poll was conducted from May 5-6 , weeks before the primary debates and Mauro 's ad attacking Greenfield .
Shelley said that while he would be `` surprised '' to see Greenfield fall below the 35 percent threshold , he was `` personally impressed '' with Franken 's performance on the campaign trail .
`` It seems unlikely that Greenfield is going to end up in a scramble , '' he said .
`` But she may come out of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establishment would like . ''
Should the primary go to a nominating convention , party leaders would be expected—but not required—to select the race 's top vote-getter .
The state party 's convention is scheduled to take place June 13 regardless of the primary 's results , potentially giving Ernst additional time to campaign for the general election while her Democratic challengers look to sway party insiders .
The eventual nominee will face the Iowa Republican in November .

Big-spending outside groups have rushed to boost Iowa Democrat Theresa Greenfield ahead of Tuesday's Senate primary as the establishment-backed businesswoman struggles to put the race away.
Endorsed by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) in June 2019, Greenfield was expected to coast to victory in a race that includes little-known progressives Eddie Mauro and Kimberly Graham. But a fourth candidate, retired Navy admiral Michael Franken, has gained momentum in recent weeks, earning the endorsement of the Des Moines Register on May 10.
Following the newspaper's endorsement, pro-choice PAC EMILY's List dropped more than $900,000 on a television ad accusing Franken of carpetbagging. Franken was born and raised in Sioux County, Iowa, but left for the University of Nebraska in 1978 on an ROTC scholarship. He served in the military for 39 years before retiring in 2017 and returning to Iowa two years later. Greenfield, who was born across the Iowa border in Bricelyn, Minn., and graduated from Minnesota State University Mankato, has not taken Franken's call to denounce the ad, which drew condemnations from Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D., Mich.) and former Obama secretary of defense Chuck Hagel, who called it "deplorable."
Greenfield did not respond to a request for comment.
EMILY's List is not the only outside group spending big to boost Greenfield. Senate Majority PAC, an organization aligned with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) and the DSCC, has spent nearly $7 million supporting the Iowa businesswoman as she vies for the nomination to take on Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa). Greenfield's campaign has spent an additional $2.3 million on the primary, with large fundraising hauls driven by endorsements from prominent national progressives, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.). Franken has spent just $740,000 as of May 13. In a race with little name recognition across the board—73 percent of Iowans had no opinion of both Greenfield and Franken in a March Des Moines Register poll—the massive spending advantage was expected to guarantee a large margin of victory for Greenfield on Tuesday.
"It's quite clear that Greenfield is, by definition, seen as the establishment choice. There's a Biden-esque or even Clinton-esque kind of feel to her campaign," Iowa State University political science department chair Mack Shelley told the Washington Free Beacon. "The DSCC has been very straightforward that she's the chosen one."
But the Register's coveted endorsement of Franken, combined with a series of shaky debate performances by Greenfield, has led to the last-minute scramble from EMILY's List to push the candidate over the line. The decision to attack Franken instead of highlighting Greenfield suggests genuine concern. Should Greenfield fail to garner at least 35 percent support on Tuesday, the race will go to a nominating convention, and such a result could have major implications on the Senate majority in November. It would solidify concerns that the DSCC became involved in the race too early, exposing Greenfield as an anointed candidate who may struggle to attract swing voters in a state President Donald Trump won by nearly 10 points in 2016.
The Iowa Democratic Party has floundered in recent months after the state's disastrous presidential caucuses in February, which led to the resignation of former chairman Troy Price. The party has also fractured somewhat over the DSCC's handling of the Senate primary. Graham pushed back following the group's endorsement of Greenfield, saying, "It's important in a democracy—if we're going to try to say we have one—to at least speak to or return the calls of the other candidates that are other Democrats in that primary." Eddie Mauro also slammed "D.C. insiders and the D.C. establishment" after the endorsement. Mack Shelley said there were "echoes" of hostility toward the party among progressives due to the DSCC's early endorsement.
"Graham is not exactly [Senator Bernie] Sanders, but she's trying to appeal to that wing of the party," he told the Free Beacon. "I don't think she has a realistic chance, but she provides opportunity for someone to decide, 'I don't know who to vote for, but the party establishment already screwed Bernie over twice, so why should I support their candidate?'"
Self-described as "not a policy wonk," Greenfield has faced criticism for avoiding campaign events and limiting press access both before and after the coronavirus pandemic. The Iowa GOP highlighted her campaign's repeated removal of cameras from grassroots events in October 2019. The candidate also skipped multiple virtual forums attended by the other three candidates in April.
Greenfield's gaffes on the campaign trail could explain her hesitancy to go on record. After calling GOP incumbent senator Joni Ernst a "socialist" during an October 2019 campaign forum, Greenfield stumbled through three primary debates held in May. She refused to take a position on decriminalizing illegal border crossings, saying, "We need to address issues like that." She was also criticized by all three primary competitors over campaign finance hypocrisy—while Greenfield often claims she is not accepting "one dime in corporate PAC money," the outside groups supporting her are bankrolled in part by corporate PACs and dark money groups.
"You can't smile at people and tell them you're not taking corporate PAC money when you're taking tens of thousands of dollars of corporate PAC money, leadership PAC money that's full of pharmaceutical money, fossil fuel money, and Wall Street money," Mauro said. "She says she wants to end corruption, but she's taking corrupt money, so there's an issue there."
Greenfield dismissed the attacks as "Republican talking points" and claimed she couldn't disassociate from the groups because she doesn't "even know who they are" and "wouldn't even know who to call." She has repeatedly touted the endorsement of EMILY's List during her campaign.
Greenfield has also come under fire for her business dealings. As president of a Des Moines-based real estate firm, Greenfield led a 2015 project that "blindsided" a city shopping center's local tenants. Her proposal would have made German grocer Aldi the fourth big-box retailer within less than one mile, driving out local businesses in the process. Though the proposal was unanimously killed by Windsor Heights city council, Greenfield moved forward with renovations that priced out at least five small businesses and shut down one permanently.
Following a Free Beacon report on the project, Mauro released a TV ad in May questioning Greenfield's leadership, saying Greenfield "kicked small business out to make room for out-of-state companies."
Greenfield's primary woes come after the DSCC reportedly struggled to recruit a candidate to run against Ernst. According to Iowa Starting Line, Schumer's first choice was former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack, with freshman congresswoman Cindy Axne (D., Iowa) a "close second." It was only after the pair of Democrats turned down the bid that the Senate minority leader pivoted to Greenfield, whose ballot application for Iowa's Third Congressional District was withdrawn in 2018 after her campaign manager admitted to falsifying signatures. Axne went on to win the primary and defeated then-representative David Young (R.) by 2 points.
The DSCC did not respond to a request for comment.
While Greenfield is still expected to win Tuesday's primary, a nominating convention would spell an embarrassing result for national party leaders. A survey of 849 Iowa Democrats conducted by Public Policy Polling showed Greenfield leading the race with 43 percent support to Franken's 12 percent. But the poll was conducted from May 5-6, weeks before the primary debates and Mauro's ad attacking Greenfield. Shelley said that while he would be "surprised" to see Greenfield fall below the 35 percent threshold, he was "personally impressed" with Franken's performance on the campaign trail.
"It seems unlikely that Greenfield is going to end up in a scramble," he said. "But she may come out of this a bit more bruised than the party establishment would like."
Should the primary go to a nominating convention, party leaders would be expected—but not required—to select the race's top vote-getter. The state party's convention is scheduled to take place June 13 regardless of the primary's results, potentially giving Ernst additional time to campaign for the general election while her Democratic challengers look to sway party insiders.
The eventual nominee will face the Iowa Republican in November.


freebeacon--2020-06-01--Schumer PAC Boosting Valerie Plame Ahead of Contested Primary

The super PAC aligned with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) is the largest donor to a prominent progressive group that has thrown itself behind Valerie Plame ’ s congressional bid .
Schumer ’ s Senate Majority PAC , which is working to help Democrats win back control of the Senate , has donated nearly $ 8 million to VoteVets , the liberal group backing Plame in Tuesday ’ s contested Democratic primary in New Mexico ’ s Third Congressional District .
The relationship indirectly links Schumer , the Democratic Party ’ s top-ranking Jewish official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a congressional candidate who has struggled to shed her reputation as an anti-Semite .
Michael Bloomberg , the billionaire businessman who has , like Schumer , been a reliably pro-Israel voice among Democrats , was among VoteVets ’ largest donors in the 2018 cycle .
A spokesman for the Senate Majority PAC did not respond to a request for comment .
A Bloomberg spokesman said the Democratic financier has yet to give money to VoteVets in 2020 .
VoteVets , which dropped tens of thousands of dollars on advertising to boost Plame in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , received more than half of the $ 14 million it has raised in the 2020 cycle from Schumer ’ s PAC , according to the Federal Election Commission .
The group has also defended Plame against an aggressive attack ad that used Nazi imagery to blast Plame as a `` disgraced racist millionaire , '' calling for the ads to be pulled down .
The Democratic primary has taken on added significance because , given the district ’ s strong Democratic leaning , the victor will become a heavy favorite in November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ben Ray Luján ( D. , N.M. ) , who is vacating the seat to run for Senate , won his 2018 race by nearly 30 points , and the district has not elected a Republican since 1997 .
Plame , who faces six other Democrats in the June 2 primary , is the only candidate with a national political profile .
The ex-CIA official rose to national prominence in 2003 when her then-husband , Joseph Wilson , became an outspoken opponent of the George W. Bush administration ’ s war effort in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a 2010 Hollywood bio starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts .
She faced blowback in 2017 after tweeting an article from a fringe website , the Unz Review , that accused American Jews of `` driving America ’ s Wars . ''
Plame , who had previously tweeted several pieces from the discredited site— including one that accused Israelis of celebrating the September 11 terrorist attacks—defended the tweet by urging followers to `` read the entire article , '' before she said by way of apology that she had merely `` skimmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Many neocon hawks ARE Jewish , '' she wrote in a September 2017 tweet before issuing a full-throated apology .
Plame , who has been boosted by a flood of out-of-state money , including donations from the Holocaust denier Pete McCloskey , is locked in a competitive race against Democratic attorney and activist Teresa Leger Fernandez , who has received endorsements from liberal groups including EMILY 's List , NARAL Pro-Choice America , and the Sierra Club .
Leger Fernandez won nearly 42 percent of the delegate vote at the party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received just 5 percent .
Roughly 89 percent of Plame ’ s campaign donations have come from out-of-state , while nearly two-thirds of Leger Fernandez 's money has come from New Mexico residents , according to the Center for Responsive Politics .
Plame 's financial backers include the Hollywood actors Bryan Cranston , Naomi Watts , and Michael Douglas .
She also received multiple donations from McCloskey , the former California congressman who has referred to the Nazi murder of six million European Jews as `` the so-called Holocaust . ''
VoteVets defended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the nonprofit Alliance to Combat Extremism that attacked her using Nazi imagery .
The group called on Leger Fernandez to demand the ads be removed from the Internet .
VoteVets did not return a request for comment .

The super PAC aligned with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) is the largest donor to a prominent progressive group that has thrown itself behind Valerie Plame’s congressional bid.
Schumer’s Senate Majority PAC, which is working to help Democrats win back control of the Senate, has donated nearly $8 million to VoteVets, the liberal group backing Plame in Tuesday’s contested Democratic primary in New Mexico’s Third Congressional District.
The relationship indirectly links Schumer, the Democratic Party’s top-ranking Jewish official, and his top outside allies to a congressional candidate who has struggled to shed her reputation as an anti-Semite. Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire businessman who has, like Schumer, been a reliably pro-Israel voice among Democrats, was among VoteVets’ largest donors in the 2018 cycle.
A spokesman for the Senate Majority PAC did not respond to a request for comment. A Bloomberg spokesman said the Democratic financier has yet to give money to VoteVets in 2020.
VoteVets, which dropped tens of thousands of dollars on advertising to boost Plame in the closing weeks of a crowded primary, received more than half of the $14 million it has raised in the 2020 cycle from Schumer’s PAC, according to the Federal Election Commission. The group has also defended Plame against an aggressive attack ad that used Nazi imagery to blast Plame as a "disgraced racist millionaire," calling for the ads to be pulled down.
The Democratic primary has taken on added significance because, given the district’s strong Democratic leaning, the victor will become a heavy favorite in November’s general election. Outgoing Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D., N.M.), who is vacating the seat to run for Senate, won his 2018 race by nearly 30 points, and the district has not elected a Republican since 1997.
Plame, who faces six other Democrats in the June 2 primary, is the only candidate with a national political profile.
The ex-CIA official rose to national prominence in 2003 when her then-husband, Joseph Wilson, became an outspoken opponent of the George W. Bush administration’s war effort in Iraq. The couple was the subject of a 2010 Hollywood bio starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts.
She faced blowback in 2017 after tweeting an article from a fringe website, the Unz Review, that accused American Jews of "driving America’s Wars." Plame, who had previously tweeted several pieces from the discredited site— including one that accused Israelis of celebrating the September 11 terrorist attacks—defended the tweet by urging followers to "read the entire article," before she said by way of apology that she had merely "skimmed" the article before tweeting it herself.
"Many neocon hawks ARE Jewish," she wrote in a September 2017 tweet before issuing a full-throated apology.
Plame, who has been boosted by a flood of out-of-state money, including donations from the Holocaust denier Pete McCloskey, is locked in a competitive race against Democratic attorney and activist Teresa Leger Fernandez, who has received endorsements from liberal groups including EMILY's List, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the Sierra Club.
Leger Fernandez won nearly 42 percent of the delegate vote at the party’s March convention, while Plame received just 5 percent. Roughly 89 percent of Plame’s campaign donations have come from out-of-state, while nearly two-thirds of Leger Fernandez's money has come from New Mexico residents, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Plame's financial backers include the Hollywood actors Bryan Cranston, Naomi Watts, and Michael Douglas. She also received multiple donations from McCloskey, the former California congressman who has referred to the Nazi murder of six million European Jews as "the so-called Holocaust."
VoteVets defended Plame in the face of an ad from the nonprofit Alliance to Combat Extremism that attacked her using Nazi imagery. The group called on Leger Fernandez to demand the ads be removed from the Internet.
VoteVets did not return a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-06-01--Biden Promotes Police Protocol Decried by Gun-Safety Experts

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden said Monday police should be trained to shoot at the legs of assailants , which police training experts decry as impractical and dangerous .
`` We also have to fundamentally change the way police are trained , '' he said .
`` The idea that instead of standing there and teaching a cop when there 's an unarmed person that 's coming at them with a knife so they shoot him in the leg instead of in the heart , is a very different thing .
There 's a lot of different things that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local leaders at a black church in Wilmington , Delaware , as riots tore across the country following the nonshooting death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer .
He also said , if elected , he would try to form a police oversight committee in the first 100 days of his presidency .
The comments come as Biden attempts to separate himself from President Trump on how he would respond to the rioting and deal with tensions between police and the communities they serve .
Jason Johnson , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fund , said he agreed with Biden that police should continually update their training but said the specific idea of training officers to shoot at people 's legs is a bad one .
He said shooting a gun at somebody is and should always be considered use of deadly force in the law enforcement community , and the decision to use deadly force must be justified .
`` Shooting at a person is deadly force regardless of what part of their body you aim at .
They 're trained to shoot center mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somewhere else and have it not be considered deadly force , '' he said .
He said the scenario Biden articulated , where a suspect runs at a police officer with a knife , should certainly be considered an example of a deadly threat and police are trained to use the most effective means to stop an assailant before they can do harm .
`` In this scenario the vice president talks about where a person is charging at a police officer with a knife , that is a deadly weapon .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer but to use deadly force and officers are trained to shoot center mass .
They 're not trained to shoot to kill .
They 're trained to shoot to stop . ''
Rob Pincus , who has trained police in the use of firearms across the country , said Biden 's advice is impractical because it is more difficult to hit an assailant in the leg and could still be potentially lethal .
He said it has led to issues in the handful of overseas jurisdictions that have tried it .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to hit a smaller moving target than it is to hit the chest , '' Pincus said .
`` From a technical shooting skill standpoint , from a technical legal standpoint , it 's not where we want to go at all .
That 's the problem they face in some parts of Europe , that you can shoot at somebody and not be using lethal force . ''
Law enforcement officers are trained to only use their guns in lethal ways , so as not to reduce the gravity of choosing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong message to prospective officers if they are taught that firearms can be used in nonlethal ways .
`` To consider it a viable option to try to shoot to wound leaves a lot of gray area for what was someone 's intention when they used the gun , '' Pincus told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` We have simplified this issue , to a great degree , in the United States for law enforcement and personal defense by simply saying , ‘ You use a gun , it 's lethal force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' '' Biden has made similarly controversial statements about the use of guns in the past .
In 2013 , the former vice president defended the Obama administration 's gun-control positions by saying that anyone concerned about self-defense should buy a double-barreled shotgun and fire it twice outside their homes if they felt threatened , even though such `` warning shots '' are illegal in many jurisdictions .
`` If you want to protect yourself , get a double-barreled shotgun , '' Biden said .
`` I promise you , as I told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area that 's wooded and somewhat secluded .
I said , Jill , if there 's ever a problem , just walk out on the balcony here , walk out , put [ up ] that double-barreled shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house . ''
A Washington state man arrested for illegally firing a shotgun later that year cited Biden 's advice in his defense .

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden said Monday police should be trained to shoot at the legs of assailants, which police training experts decry as impractical and dangerous.
"We also have to fundamentally change the way police are trained," he said. "The idea that instead of standing there and teaching a cop when there's an unarmed person that's coming at them with a knife so they shoot him in the leg instead of in the heart, is a very different thing. There's a lot of different things that can change."
Biden addressed parishioners and local leaders at a black church in Wilmington, Delaware, as riots tore across the country following the nonshooting death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. He also said, if elected, he would try to form a police oversight committee in the first 100 days of his presidency. The comments come as Biden attempts to separate himself from President Trump on how he would respond to the rioting and deal with tensions between police and the communities they serve.
Jason Johnson, president of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund, said he agreed with Biden that police should continually update their training but said the specific idea of training officers to shoot at people's legs is a bad one. He said shooting a gun at somebody is and should always be considered use of deadly force in the law enforcement community, and the decision to use deadly force must be justified. "Shooting at a person is deadly force regardless of what part of their body you aim at. They're trained to shoot center mass but there is no option to shoot somewhere else and have it not be considered deadly force," he said.
He said the scenario Biden articulated, where a runs at a police officer with a knife, should certainly be considered an example of a deadly threat and police are trained to use the most effective means to stop an assailant before they can do harm.
"In this scenario the vice president talks about where a person is charging at a police officer with a knife, that is a deadly weapon. There's really no choice left for the officer but to use deadly force and officers are trained to shoot center mass. They're not trained to shoot to kill. They're trained to shoot to stop."
Rob Pincus, who has trained police in the use of firearms across the country, said Biden's advice is impractical because it is more difficult to hit an assailant in the leg and could still be potentially. He said it has led to issues in the handful of overseas jurisdictions that have tried it.
"Legs move. It's much harder to hit a smaller moving target than it is to hit the chest," Pincus said. "From a technical shooting skill standpoint, from a technical legal standpoint, it's not where we want to go at all. That's the problem they face in some parts of Europe, that you can shoot at somebody and not be using lethal force."
Law enforcement officers are trained to only use their guns in lethal ways, so as not to reduce the gravity of choosing to use deadly force. It sends the wrong message to prospective officers if they are taught that firearms can be used in nonlethal ways.
"To consider it a viable option to try to shoot to wound leaves a lot of gray area for what was someone's intention when they used the gun," Pincus told the Washington Free Beacon. "We have simplified this issue, to a great degree, in the United States for law enforcement and personal defense by simply saying, 'You use a gun, it's lethal force. Period. Consider that carefully.'"
Biden has made similarly controversial statements about the use of guns in the past. In 2013, the former vice president defended the Obama administration's gun-control positions by saying that anyone concerned about self-defense should buy a double-barreled shotgun and fire it twice outside their homes if they felt threatened, even though such "warning shots" are illegal in many jurisdictions.
"If you want to protect yourself, get a double-barreled shotgun," Biden said. "I promise you, as I told my wife, we live in an area that's wooded and somewhat secluded. I said, Jill, if there's ever a problem, just walk out on the balcony here, walk out, put [up] that double-barreled shotgun and fire two blasts outside the house."
A Washington state man arrested for illegally firing a shotgun later that year cited Biden's advice in his defense.
Pincus said changing police training in order to open up the possibility of shooting with the intention to wound could have major repercussions.
"You really open up a can of worms legally if you start talking about a gun not being universally accepted as a lethal use of force," he said. "And I think that's a really dangerous place that we shouldn't want to play in. As Second Amendment advocates, as law enforcement officers. I don't think any of us want it to go there."


freebeacon--2020-06-01--Supreme Court Turns Down Free Speech Challenge to Mandatory Bar Dues, Membership

The Supreme Court declined to take up a First Amendment challenge on Monday to the so-called integrated bar , which requires attorneys in 30 states to join a bar association and pay fees as a condition of practicing law .
The petitioners , Adam Jarchow and Michael Dean , are lawyers in Wisconsin who object to joining and supporting the state bar association .
They say the Wisconsin bar promotes political positions with which they disagree , such as support for felon voting rights .
`` The state bar is among the most active and powerful political-advocacy organizations in Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debates within the state and entering political debates on seemingly every hot-button issue under the sun , '' their appeal reads .
A coalition of conservative and libertarian legal groups like the Cato Institute and the Pacific Legal Foundation filed briefs urging the Court to hear the case .
The case is one of several petitions pending before the justices that follow the 2018 decision that struck down mandatory government union dues on First Amendment grounds .
The plaintiffs in these petitions say the logic of that ruling , Janus v. AFSCME , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compulsory bar association fees or compelled union representation in collective bargaining .
Probing the relationship between free speech and economic or social policy—from campaign spending to abortion—is becoming a defining feature of the current Supreme Court .
In dissent in the Janus decision , Justice Elena Kagan accused the conservative majority of `` turning the First Amendment into a sword '' to attack everything from workaday economic policy to regulations on pro-life crisis pregnancy centers .
The Court did not give reasons for turning down Monday 's case , as is typical of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch , dissented from the Court 's refusal to take up the dispute .
The Supreme Court has turned back challenges to the integrated bar before , first in 1961 and then again in a 1990 case called Keller v. State Bar of California .
While that seems to put the integrated bar on sound constitutional footing , Jarchow and Dean said the Janus decision changed everything since it overturned past precedents on which the prior integrated bar decisions relied .
`` The intellectual underpinning of both decisions having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should take this opportunity to overrule them , '' the petition reads .
Thomas seemed to agree in his dissent Monday .
`` There is effectively nothing left supporting our decision in Keller , '' Thomas wrote .
`` If the rule in Keller is to survive , it would have to be on the basis of new reasoning that is consistent with Janus . ''
The petitioners said the First Amendment problem in their case is comparatively more serious than Janus .
Before Janus , public employees were only required to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to enroll in a union .
In the 30 states where the integrated bar is in force , lawyers are required to pay fees and join the state bar or risk professional penalties like suspension of a law license .
In its own legal filings , the state bar countered that much of its advocacy work is funded by purely voluntary contributions .
When paying annual dues , lawyers can pay a higher fee to support `` non-chargeable activities '' or a lower fee that is used for ordinary , nonpolitical regulation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any First Amendment objections that arise , lawyers for the bar argued .
`` The State Bar of Wisconsin has in place a very aggressive review process that ensures members ' First Amendment rights are respected , including a policy that mandatory dues do not support any direct lobbying expenses regardless of subject matter , '' the bar said in a statement following Monday 's order .
The bar also said it was pleased to see the appeal turned down .
Other Janus follow-on cases are working their way through the federal courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeks to recoup mandatory dues public workers paid in the past .
Another , also at the petition stage , asks whether public workers must accept labor unions as their `` sole and exclusive bargaining agent '' in negotiations over wages and working conditions .
Another case in an Austin federal court similarly challenges Texas 's integrated bar .
Lawyers for Jarchow and Dean declined to comment for this story .
The case is No .
19-831 Jarchow v. State Bar of Wisconsin .

The Supreme Court declined to take up a First Amendment challenge on Monday to the so-called integrated bar, which requires attorneys in 30 states to join a bar association and pay fees as a condition of practicing law.
The petitioners, Adam Jarchow and Michael Dean, are lawyers in Wisconsin who object to joining and supporting the state bar association. They say the Wisconsin bar promotes political positions with which they disagree, such as support for felon voting rights.
"The state bar is among the most active and powerful political-advocacy organizations in Wisconsin, forcefully engaging in legislative and policy debates within the state and entering political debates on seemingly every hot-button issue under the sun," their appeal reads. A coalition of conservative and libertarian legal groups like the Cato Institute and the Pacific Legal Foundation filed briefs urging the Court to hear the case.
The case is one of several petitions pending before the justices that follow the 2018 decision that struck down mandatory government union dues on First Amendment grounds. The plaintiffs in these petitions say the logic of that ruling, Janus v. AFSCME, should be applied to similar contexts involving compulsory bar association fees or compelled union representation in collective bargaining. Probing the relationship between free speech and economic or social policy—from campaign spending to abortion—is becoming a defining feature of the current Supreme Court. In dissent in the Janus decision, Justice Elena Kagan accused the conservative majority of "turning the First Amendment into a sword" to attack everything from workaday economic policy to regulations on pro-life crisis pregnancy centers.
The Court did not give reasons for turning down Monday's case, as is typical of such orders. Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch, dissented from the Court's refusal to take up the dispute.
The Supreme Court has turned back challenges to the integrated bar before, first in 1961 and then again in a 1990 case called Keller v. State Bar of California. While that seems to put the integrated bar on sound constitutional footing, Jarchow and Dean said the Janus decision changed everything since it overturned past precedents on which the prior integrated bar decisions relied.
"The intellectual underpinning of both decisions having been dismantled by Janus, the Court should take this opportunity to overrule them," the petition reads.
Thomas seemed to agree in his dissent Monday.
"There is effectively nothing left supporting our decision in Keller," Thomas wrote. "If the rule in Keller is to survive, it would have to be on the basis of new reasoning that is consistent with Janus."
The petitioners said the First Amendment problem in their case is comparatively more serious than Janus. Before Janus, public employees were only required to pay a fee. They were not forced to enroll in a union. In the 30 states where the integrated bar is in force, lawyers are required to pay fees and join the state bar or risk professional penalties like suspension of a law license.
In its own legal filings, the state bar countered that much of its advocacy work is funded by purely voluntary contributions. When paying annual dues, lawyers can pay a higher fee to support "non-chargeable activities" or a lower fee that is used for ordinary, nonpolitical regulation of law practice. That distinction should mitigate any First Amendment objections that arise, lawyers for the bar argued.
"The State Bar of Wisconsin has in place a very aggressive review process that ensures members' First Amendment rights are respected, including a policy that mandatory dues do not support any direct lobbying expenses regardless of subject matter," the bar said in a statement following Monday's order. The bar also said it was pleased to see the appeal turned down.
Other Janus follow-on cases are working their way through the federal courts. One petition now before the justices seeks to recoup mandatory dues public workers paid in the past. Another, also at the petition stage, asks whether public workers must accept labor unions as their "sole and exclusive bargaining agent" in negotiations over wages and working conditions. Another case in an Austin federal court similarly challenges Texas's integrated bar.
Lawyers for Jarchow and Dean declined to comment for this story. The case is No. 19-831 Jarchow v. State Bar of Wisconsin.


freebeacon--2020-06-01--Iran Says It Is Ready to Continue Fuel Shipments to Venezuela

DUBAI ( Reuters ) – Iran will continue fuel shipments to Venezuela if Caracas requests more supplies , the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday , despite Washington ’ s criticism of the trade between the two nations , which are both under U.S. sanctions .
`` Iran practises its free trade rights with Venezuela and we are ready to send more ships if Caracas demands more supplies from Iran , '' Abbas Mousavi told a weekly news conference broadcast live on state TV .
Defying U.S. threats , Iran has sent a flotilla of five tankers of fuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is suffering from a gasoline shortage .
Seeking to deter further shipments , Washington is monitoring the supply .
It has warned governments , seaports , shippers and insurers that they could face measures if they aid the tankers .
According to Refinitiv Eikon on Sunday , two Iranian tankers that delivered fuel to Venezuela as part of the flotilla have begun to sail back , as the government in Caracas prepares stations to begin charging for the gasoline .
The fifth and final tanker in the flotilla , the Clavel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was navigating near the country ’ s Tortuga Island on Monday heading to state-run oil company PDVSA ’ s El Palito refinery , the data showed .
Tensions have spiked between longtime foes Tehran and Washington since 2018 , when President Donald Trump exited Iran ’ s 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers and reimposed sanctions that have battered its economy .

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran will continue fuel shipments to Venezuela if Caracas requests more supplies, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday, despite Washington’s criticism of the trade between the two nations, which are both under U.S. sanctions.
"Iran practises its free trade rights with Venezuela and we are ready to send more ships if Caracas demands more supplies from Iran," Abbas Mousavi told a weekly news conference broadcast live on state TV.
Defying U.S. threats, Iran has sent a flotilla of five tankers of fuel to the South American oil-producing nation, which is suffering from a gasoline shortage.
Seeking to deter further shipments, Washington is monitoring the supply. It has warned governments, seaports, shippers and insurers that they could face measures if they aid the tankers.
According to Refinitiv Eikon on Sunday, two Iranian tankers that delivered fuel to Venezuela as part of the flotilla have begun to sail back, as the government in Caracas prepares stations to begin charging for the gasoline.
The fifth and final tanker in the flotilla, the Clavel, entered Venezuelan waters late on Sunday and was navigating near the country’s Tortuga Island on Monday heading to state-run oil company PDVSA’s El Palito refinery, the data showed.
Tensions have spiked between longtime foes Tehran and Washington since 2018, when President Donald Trump exited Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers and reimposed sanctions that have battered its economy.
(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Additional reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Edmund Blair and Alistair Bell)


freebeacon--2020-06-02--REVIEW: ‘This Is What America Looks Like’ by Rep. Ilhan Omar

`` If a writer pitched Rep. Ilhan Omar 's life story to a Hollywood producer as a movie , it would likely be rejected as simply too impossible to believe , '' Dean Obeidallah wrote recently at Salon .
Impossible to believe ?
Certain aspects of it , sure .
Rejected ?
By Hollywood ?
Not a chance .
Indeed , part of Omar 's story was already the subject of an award-winning documentary .
Now her full story , in her own words , is available in the form of a memoir for $ 19.59 on Amazon .
Believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bestseller .
Whereas others , such as Barack Obama , were forced to rely on composite characters , ornate verbosity , and tortured introspection , Omar has the benefit of better source material—the kind that Hollywood producers , Democratic consultants , and journalists ca n't resist .
As a one-term state legislator , for example , she was interviewed by Rachel Maddow on MSNBC and appeared on the cover of Time and in a music video with Maroon 5 .
Your state legislators probably have n't .
Not that you 'd even recognize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like : My Journey from Refugee to Congresswoman lives up to its title .
We live in a country of celebrity state legislators , increasingly obsessed with identity in all its forms , increasingly outraged , prone to violent outbursts , and increasingly likely to view the `` legal and social construct '' of marriage as `` bizarre , '' in Omar 's own words .
She had a `` Britney Spears-style meltdown . ''
She explains her emotions of being a Muslim after 9/11 by quoting a Netflix `` comedy '' special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 .
Omar 's memoir is without question one of the most compelling memoirs ever authored by an ambitious politician 's ghostwriter .
Granted , it 's not a competitive category .
Omar 's early life in particular—fleeing her gated compound in war-ravaged Somalia as a child refugee then finding success and nervous breakdown in America—is undoubtedly dramatic and interesting .
As the book makes clear , Omar has always had a knack for making a scene—usually by way of violent outburst .
`` There was always a slew of parents coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had hurt their children , '' she writes .
Omar 's quick tempter landed her in detention for `` most '' of her sixth grade year , when she would start fights `` when anyone stared at me , '' and `` usually decided to hit them first , assuming they were going to hit me . ''
Her victims were `` mostly boys '' and `` white kids . ''
Omar usually ended the fights as well , such as the time she pushed a middle-school boy `` up against the wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he began foaming at the mouth . ''
His offense ?
Suggesting that another boy had a crush on her .
Omar 's grandfather used to tell her she was heir to the legacy of Araweelo , an eccentric queen in Somali folklore who `` fought to give women power by castrating men , '' according to the Washington Post .
These days , as a member of Congress , Omar has fewer opportunities to initiate physical confrontations .
But her childhood knack for stirring things up has not abated .
For example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's 2019 State of the Union address in full Islamic attire covering everything but her eyes , only to be dissuaded by staff who `` worried I would be arrested by the Secret Service . ''
Trump would have been so owned , though , LOL !
As an elected official , Omar must content herself with dragging the haters on Twitter , occasionally dabbling in anti-Semitism , and urging media outlets not to `` fan the flames of hate '' by asking her reasonable questions .
( They seem to have gotten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not afraid to throw some shade at a fellow `` Squad '' member—the popular one , no less—with the devastating subtlety of a Mean Girl telling her best frenemy how `` unique '' she looks in those jeans .
`` In the primary , I won my district by more than 20,000 votes over the closest candidate to me in the polls .
The race also broke a record for voter turnout in a midterm primary , with 135,318 ballots cast for Democrats , '' she writes in the book .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ocasio-Cortez 's historic upset in New York 's 14th congressional district , which she won by 4,000 votes out of only 28,000 cast .
In both districts of roughly a little more than 700,000 , it was a good day for democracy . ''
It 's these more recent elements of Omar 's story that reflect the absurdity of our politics at the national level .
Reading about her time working in state government to repeal outdated ordinances , and before that as a nutrition advocate serving low-income and immigrant families , invites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of The Squad—heavy on media coverage and controversy , light on substantive accomplishment .
Omar is in the news again , as riots have engulfed her hometown of Minneapolis , which she curiously insists is crawling with `` tanks . ''
The Squad is regrouping after going all in for socialist candidate Bernie Sanders and losing , in part by trying to raise money off the societal unrest sparked by the police killing of George Floyd .
They will be just fine .
Omar 's memoir is the product of a compelling story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind , skilled in the art of public relations , whose first thought after being roughed up at a Somali campaign event was `` First I need you to take a picture of my face and tweet it out—that I 'm okay , '' according to the book .
Dropping the news of her marriage to a recently divorced campaign consultant , for example , on the craziest coronavirus-related news day was certainly a professional move .
Omar 's uniquely American story is one of strength and vulnerability , of struggling to raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confronting the demands of motherhood , family expectations , and mental anxiety .
Her disdain for the trash-lined streets of New York City is imminently relatable , less so her anguish over the scrutiny that comes with being an international celeb .
On some level , even if you disagree with her , it 's possible to admire her , in the same way that Omar admires Margaret Thatcher for being a badass bitch .
But you do n't have to like her , much less elect her president someday .
`` After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest critics will be unable to deny her principled political commitments , visionary leadership , and profound love for the entire human family , '' writes former CNN contributor Marc Lamont Hill in praise of Omar 's memoir .
Hill 's CNN contract was terminated after he called for `` a free Palestine from the river to the sea . ''
Omar 's critics will find a way , even the lesser ones .
Anything else would be devastating to her career .
Like most contemporary political celebs , she is beloved for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's an outsider ready to change the system .
She may lack experience .
But she fights .

"If a writer pitched Rep. Ilhan Omar's life story to a Hollywood producer as a movie, it would likely be rejected as simply too impossible to believe," Dean Obeidallah wrote recently at Salon.
Impossible to believe? Certain aspects of it, sure. Rejected? By Hollywood? Not a chance. Indeed, part of Omar's story was already the subject of an award-winning documentary. Now her full story, in her own words, is available in the form of a memoir for $19.59 on Amazon. Believe it or not, it's a bestseller.
Whereas others, such as Barack Obama, were forced to rely on composite characters, ornate verbosity, and tortured introspection, Omar has the benefit of better source material—the kind that Hollywood producers, Democratic consultants, and journalists can't resist. As a one-term state legislator, for example, she was interviewed by Rachel Maddow on MSNBC and appeared on the cover of Time and in a music video with Maroon 5. Your state legislators probably haven't. Not that you'd even recognize them.
This Is What America Looks Like: My Journey from Refugee to Congresswoman lives up to its title. We live in a country of celebrity state legislators, increasingly obsessed with identity in all its forms, increasingly outraged, prone to violent outbursts, and increasingly likely to view the "legal and social construct" of marriage as "bizarre," in Omar's own words. She had a "Britney Spears-style meltdown." She explains her emotions of being a Muslim after 9/11 by quoting a Netflix "comedy" special. That's what America looks like in 2020.
Omar's memoir is without question one of the most compelling memoirs ever authored by an ambitious politician's ghostwriter. Granted, it's not a competitive category. Omar's early life in particular—fleeing her gated compound in war-ravaged Somalia as a child refugee then finding success and nervous breakdown in America—is undoubtedly dramatic and interesting.
As the book makes clear, Omar has always had a knack for making a scene—usually by way of violent outburst. "There was always a slew of parents coming to our house to complain that I had hurt their children," she writes. Omar's quick temper landed her in detention for "most" of her sixth grade year, when she would start fights "when anyone stared at me," and "usually decided to hit them first, assuming they were going to hit me." Her victims were "mostly boys" and "white kids."
Omar usually ended the fights as well, such as the time she pushed a middle-school boy "up against the wall and wouldn't let go even after he began foaming at the mouth." His offense? Suggesting that another boy had a crush on her. Omar's grandfather used to tell her she was heir to the legacy of Araweelo, an eccentric queen in Somali folklore who "fought to give women power by castrating men," according to the Washington Post.
These days, as a member of Congress, Omar has fewer opportunities to initiate physical confrontations. But her childhood knack for stirring things up has not abated. For example, she wanted to attend President Trump's 2019 State of the Union address in full Islamic attire covering everything but her eyes, only to be dissuaded by staff who "worried I would be arrested by the Secret Service." Trump would have been so owned, though, LOL!
As an elected official, Omar must content herself with dragging the haters on Twitter, occasionally dabbling in anti-Semitism, and urging media outlets not to "fan the flames of hate" by asking her reasonable questions. (They seem to have gotten the message.) She's also not afraid to throw some shade at a fellow "Squad" member—the popular one, no less—with the devastating subtlety of a Mean Girl telling her best frenemy how "unique" she looks in those jeans.
"In the primary, I won my district by more than 20,000 votes over the closest candidate to me in the polls. The race also broke a record for voter turnout in a midterm primary, with 135,318 ballots cast for Democrats," she writes in the book. "The New Yorker compared my stats to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's historic upset in New York's 14th congressional district, which she won by 4,000 votes out of only 28,000 cast. In both districts of roughly a little more than 700,000, it was a good day for democracy."
It's these more recent elements of Omar's story that reflect the absurdity of our politics at the national level. Reading about her time working in state government to repeal outdated ordinances, and before that as a nutrition advocate serving low-income and immigrant families, invites a jarring contrast to the viral shenanigans of The Squad—heavy on media coverage and controversy, light on substantive accomplishment.
Omar is in the news again, as riots have engulfed her hometown of Minneapolis, which she curiously insists is crawling with "tanks." The Squad is regrouping after going all in for socialist candidate Bernie Sanders and losing, in part by trying to raise money off the societal unrest sparked by the police killing of George Floyd.
They will be just fine. Omar's memoir is the product of a compelling story, but also of a shrewd political mind, skilled in the art of public relations, whose first thought after being roughed up at a Somali campaign event was "First I need you to take a picture of my face and tweet it out—that I'm okay," according to the book. Dropping the news of her marriage to a recently divorced campaign consultant, for example, on the craziest coronavirus-related news day was certainly a professional move.
Omar's uniquely American story is one of strength and vulnerability, of struggling to raise a family while attending college, of confronting the demands of motherhood, family expectations, and mental anxiety. Her disdain for the trash-lined streets of New York City is imminently relatable, less so her anguish over the scrutiny that comes with being an international celeb. On some level, even if you disagree with her, it's possible to admire her, in the same way that Omar admires Margaret Thatcher for being a badass bitch. But you don't have to like her, much less elect her president someday.
"After reading her story, even Omar's biggest critics will be unable to deny her principled political commitments, visionary leadership, and profound love for the entire human family," writes former CNN contributor Marc Lamont Hill in praise of Omar's memoir. Hill's CNN contract was terminated after he called for "a free Palestine from the river to the sea."
Omar's critics will find a way, even the lesser ones. Anything else would be devastating to her career. Like most contemporary political celebs, she is beloved for the enemies she's made. She's an outsider ready to change the system. She may lack experience. But she fights.


freebeacon--2020-06-02--The Media’s Riot Defenders

The Media’s Riot Defenders

As Jews were beaten and killed in the 1991 Crown Heights riots , New York Times columnist and erstwhile executive editor A.M. Rosenthal penned a thundering denunciation of the violence and its cheerleaders .
`` Using grievances real or imagined as an excuse for violence will not be tolerated—not by black society or white , not by the press , not by City Hall , not now , not ever , '' Rosenthal wrote .
He was wrong .
As similar scenes play out across America today , with rioters shooting police officers , innocent bystanders dying , and businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adopted a different attitude .
If peaceful armed protesters are voicing frustration with a lockdown , as happened in Democratic darling Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer ’ s state of Michigan , they see anarchy .
But when smashed windows and mutilated civilians can be contorted into an issue of `` racial justice , '' then fealty to their hard-left ideology trumps any concern for safety or sanity .
The Times now publishes calls for defunding police nationwide .
The editorial board on which Rosenthal once sat can not muster a denunciation free of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear-eyed condemnations comes the incessant refrain that rioting and looting are lamentable , but the result of legitimate grievance .
Those same grievances , they argue , can only be addressed through aggressive federal investigations , the stripping of legal protections for cops and , of course , voting for Democrats .
One Times newsletter writer on Tuesday described President Donald Trump 's promise to end the violence as `` a harsh crackdown on protesters demanding racial justice '' and excused rioting as `` often nonviolent , sometimes bloody protests . ''
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg 's unwillingness to use his company to send virtue signals .
The Times is emblematic of the attitude adopted by the press writ large .
And it no longer counts prominent dissenters like Rosenthal among its ranks .
Instead , the views of editorial writers and news reporters are often indistinguishable .
The Associated Press censors the word `` looting . ''
CNN 's Chris Cuomo is calling the riots `` a minority manifesting a desperate plea to be heard . ''
His colleague Don Lemon offered violent protesters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Standing in front of a burning police station , MSNBC 's Ali Velshi noted that while `` fires have been started , '' protesters in Minneapolis were not `` generally unruly . ''
What did Rosenthal understand that his successors do not ?
Perhaps it 's that he lived through the years in which there were 2,500 murders in New York City alone .
Perhaps it was his reporting on the broad-daylight stabbing of Kitty Genovese , a young woman unaided by bystanders who did nothing to stop her death .
Perhaps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but as the atavistic horror it is .
`` The press , '' Rosenthal wrote of the Crown Heights riots , `` treats it all as some kind of cultural clash between a poverty-ridden people fed up with life and a powerful , prosperous and unfortunately peculiar bunch of stuck-up neighbors . ''
And there is nobody like Rosenthal left to strike a dissonant note .

As Jews were beaten and killed in the 1991 Crown Heights riots, New York Times columnist and erstwhile executive editor A.M. Rosenthal penned a thundering denunciation of the violence and its cheerleaders.
"Using grievances real or imagined as an excuse for violence will not be tolerated—not by black society or white, not by the press, not by City Hall, not now, not ever," Rosenthal wrote.
He was wrong. As similar scenes play out across America today, with rioters shooting police officers, innocent bystanders dying, and businesses being destroyed, the news media has adopted a different attitude.
If peaceful armed protesters are voicing frustration with a lockdown, as happened in Democratic darling Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s state of Michigan, they see anarchy. But when smashed windows and mutilated civilians can be contorted into an issue of "racial justice," then fealty to their hard-left ideology trumps any concern for safety or sanity.
The Times now publishes calls for defunding police nationwide. The editorial board on which Rosenthal once sat cannot muster a denunciation free of qualifiers and compromise. In place of clear-eyed condemnations comes the incessant refrain that rioting and looting are lamentable, but the result of legitimate grievance. Those same grievances, they argue, can only be addressed through aggressive federal investigations, the stripping of legal protections for cops and, of course, voting for Democrats.
One Times newsletter writer on Tuesday described President Donald Trump's promise to end the violence as "a harsh crackdown on protesters demanding racial justice" and excused rioting as "often nonviolent, sometimes bloody protests." A Times tech reporter showed more concern with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's unwillingness to use his company to send virtue signals.
The Times is emblematic of the attitude adopted by the press writ large. And it no longer counts prominent dissenters like Rosenthal among its ranks. Instead, the views of editorial writers and news reporters are often indistinguishable.
The Associated Press censors the word "looting." CNN's Chris Cuomo is calling the riots "a minority manifesting a desperate plea to be heard." His colleague Don Lemon offered violent protesters "the benefit of the doubt." Standing in front of a burning police station, MSNBC's Ali Velshi noted that while "fires have been started," protesters in Minneapolis were not "generally unruly."
What did Rosenthal understand that his successors do not? Perhaps it's that he lived through the years in which there were 2,500 murders in New York City alone. Perhaps it was his reporting on the broad-daylight stabbing of Kitty Genovese, a young woman unaided by bystanders who did nothing to stop her death. Perhaps he saw violence not as revolutionary, but as the atavistic horror it is.
"The press," Rosenthal wrote of the Crown Heights riots, "treats it all as some kind of cultural clash between a poverty-ridden people fed up with life and a powerful, prosperous and unfortunately peculiar bunch of stuck-up neighbors."
And there is nobody like Rosenthal left to strike a dissonant note.


freebeacon--2020-06-02--De Blasio: Large Group Protests Are Acceptable, Religious Observances Are Not

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio ( D. ) told a reporter for a Jewish newspaper that `` 400 years of American racism '' justify his decision to permit mass protests but not prayer services .
`` Four hundred years of American racism , I 'm sorry , that is not the same question as the understandably aggrieved store owner or the devout religious person who wants to go back to services , '' de Blasio told Hamodia ‘ s Reuvain Borchardt .
De Blasio said his allowances for the protesters and his curtailment of religious services did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he criticized Borchardt for asking if his solidarity with the protesters affected his decision .
`` I 'm going to tell you that anyone who thinks there are different rules for different people , again , is not trying very hard to see the reality , '' de Blasio said .
`` And I 'm just not going to hold back .
If you guys want to really work hard to miss the reality , be my guest . ''
De Blasio was addressing the protests that have spread across the city in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis .
The protests have been accompanied by several nights of violent looting , even as the coronavirus pandemic continues .
New York governor Andrew Cuomo ( D. ) criticized de Blasio Tuesday for his failure to contain the looting in the city .
De Blasio reportedly refused the help of the National Guard and did not mobilize the entirety of the NYPD .
De Blasio 's comments Tuesday come just weeks after the mayor took heat for criticizing New York 's Jewish community following a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Twitter to single out the Jewish community for not observing social distancing guidelines during the procession , which was occurring in cooperation with the NYPD .
`` My message to the Jewish community , and all communities , is this simple : the time for warnings has passed .
I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups .
This is about stopping this disease and saving lives .
Period , '' he wrote on Twitter .
De Blasio 's tweet drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Max Rose ( D. ) described the statement as `` breathtaking '' and `` beyond insensitive . ''
Under de Blasio 's watch , New York City has experienced an epidemic of anti-Semitic crime in recent years .
The city only prosecuted 13 individuals for anti-Semitic hate crimes between 2017 and 2019 , a number that comprised just 6 percent of all complaints of anti-Semitic hate crimes in the city .

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio (D.) told a reporter for a Jewish newspaper that "400 years of American racism" justify his decision to permit mass protests but not prayer services.
"Four hundred years of American racism, I'm sorry, that is not the same question as the understandably aggrieved store owner or the devout religious person who wants to go back to services," de Blasio told Hamodia's Reuvain Borchardt.
Hamodia reporter asks why protest is allowed when prayer services aren’t.@NYCMayor @BilldeBlasio: '400 years of American racism, I’m sorry, that is not the same question as the understandably aggrieved store owner or the devout religious person who wants to go back to services" — Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) June 2, 2020
De Blasio said his allowances for the protesters and his curtailment of religious services did not amount to a double standard, and he criticized Borchardt for asking if his solidarity with the protesters affected his decision.
"I'm going to tell you that anyone who thinks there are different rules for different people, again, is not trying very hard to see the reality," de Blasio said. "And I'm just not going to hold back. If you guys want to really work hard to miss the reality, be my guest."
De Blasio was addressing the protests that have spread across the city in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis. The protests have been accompanied by several nights of violent looting, even as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo (D.) criticized de Blasio Tuesday for his failure to contain the looting in the city. De Blasio reportedly refused the help of the National Guard and did not mobilize the entirety of the NYPD.
De Blasio's comments Tuesday come just weeks after the mayor took heat for criticizing New York's Jewish community following a rabbi's funeral. The mayor took to Twitter to single out the Jewish community for not observing social distancing guidelines during the procession, which was occurring in cooperation with the NYPD.
"My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period," he wrote on Twitter.
De Blasio's tweet drew condemnation from other New York lawmakers. Rep. Max Rose (D.) described the statement as "breathtaking" and "beyond insensitive."
Under de Blasio's watch, New York City has experienced an epidemic of anti-Semitic crime in recent years. The city only prosecuted 13 individuals for anti-Semitic hate crimes between 2017 and 2019, a number that comprised just 6 percent of all complaints of anti-Semitic hate crimes in the city.


freebeacon--2020-06-02--Stanford Dean Cites Domestic Terrorist in ‘Safety’ Message to Students

A Stanford University dean approvingly quoted a domestic terrorist wanted by the FBI for the murder of a police officer in a `` safety email '' sent to university students on June 1 .
In a message addressing the nationwide protests and riots that followed the death of George Floyd at the hands of police , the university 's dean of students , Dr. Mona Hicks , cited the `` loving '' words of Assata Shakur , who was convicted in 1973 for the murder of a police officer and remains on the FBI ’ s `` Most Wanted '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I am also struggling to make meaning in our world today… .
This loving refrain from Assata Shakur still rings true as I shelter-in-place : ‘ It is our duty to fight for our freedom .
It is our duty to win .
We must love and support each other .
We have nothing to lose but our chains , ' '' Hicks said .
The quote Hicks cited borrowed from the words of Karl Marx , who wrote in The Communist Manifesto that workers have `` nothing to lose but [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ convicted of the first-degree murder of State Trooper Werner Foerster during a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973 .
She was a member of the Black Liberation Army , a group responsible for killing police officers as well as for a series of bombings , robberies , and prison breaks .
She was sentenced to life in prison but escaped six years later and fled to Cuba .
Shakur remains on the lam and on the FBI ’ s `` Most Wanted '' list 41 years later .
Wayne Blanchard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of New Jersey , called Hicks 's statement `` disturbing '' and `` inflammatory . ''
`` A quote like that , in a letter where you ’ re giving guidelines for peaceful protests , is downright disturbing and inflammatory , '' Blanchard said .
`` [ Shakur ] outright murdered a New Jersey State Trooper and conspired to critically wound another . ''
In her note , Hicks said there is an `` undeniable intersection of systemic oppression for minoritized people . ''
She also listed a handful of resources for students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The resources included Stanford 's `` Know Your Rights '' guide on protests and demonstrations , which specifically recommends resources from the left-leaning American Civil Liberties Union .
The dean also recommended the ACLU 's `` Mobile Justice '' app .
Neither Hicks nor Stanford University responded to requests for comment .
The Arizona state senate Democratic caucus included the same Shakur quote in a Friday statement condemning police brutality .
The caucus retracted part of their press statement after Republican backlash over the inclusion of the quote , according to AZ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a soul who believes the killing of George Floyd was anything other than reprehensible and unwarranted but for the AZ Senate Democrats to quote a cop-killer on the FBI Most Wanted Terrorist List in a press release is truly mind blowing , '' said state Rep. T.J. Shope .
State Democrats claimed they were unaware of Shakur 's `` past criminal conviction and current status . ''
`` This is a quote used frequently in social justice and activism circles and we know [ Shakur ] as an author and well-known commentator on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to our attention her past criminal conviction and current status .
The use of the quote was not intended as an endorsement , but to emphasize issues of social justice , '' the party 's official state senate account said in a tweet .
Blanchard , of the state troopers association , said that calling attention to a convicted cop-killer and domestic terrorist is not the best way to condemn violence .
`` There are glaring differences between a peaceful protest and the reaction to the George Floyd incident … and it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form comparable to what [ Shakur ] did , '' Blanchard said .

A Stanford University dean approvingly quoted a domestic terrorist wanted by the FBI for the murder of a police officer in a "safety email" sent to university students on June 1.
In a message addressing the nationwide protests and riots that followed the death of George Floyd at the hands of police, the university's dean of students, Dr. Mona Hicks, cited the "loving" words of Assata Shakur, who was convicted in 1973 for the murder of a police officer and remains on the FBI’s "Most Wanted" list.
"As a Black woman, I am also struggling to make meaning in our world today…. This loving refrain from Assata Shakur still rings true as I shelter-in-place: 'It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains,'" Hicks said. The quote Hicks cited borrowed from the words of Karl Marx, who wrote in The Communist Manifesto that workers have "nothing to lose but [their] chains."
Shakur was convicted of the first-degree murder of State Trooper Werner Foerster during a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973. She was a member of the Black Liberation Army, a group responsible for killing police officers as well as for a series of bombings, robberies, and prison breaks. She was sentenced to life in prison but escaped six years later and fled to Cuba. Shakur remains on the lam and on the FBI’s "Most Wanted" list 41 years later.
Wayne Blanchard, president of the State Troopers Fraternal Association of New Jersey, called Hicks's statement "disturbing" and "inflammatory."
"A quote like that, in a letter where you’re giving guidelines for peaceful protests, is downright disturbing and inflammatory," Blanchard said. "[Shakur] outright murdered a New Jersey State Trooper and conspired to critically wound another."
In her note, Hicks said there is an "undeniable intersection of systemic oppression for minoritized people." She also listed a handful of resources for students to use if they participate in protests. The resources included Stanford's "Know Your Rights" guide on protests and demonstrations, which specifically recommends resources from the left-leaning American Civil Liberties Union. The dean also recommended the ACLU's "Mobile Justice" app.
Neither Hicks nor Stanford University responded to requests for comment.
The Arizona state senate Democratic caucus included the same Shakur quote in a Friday statement condemning police brutality. The caucus retracted part of their press statement after Republican backlash over the inclusion of the quote, according to AZ Central.
"I don't know a soul who believes the killing of George Floyd was anything other than reprehensible and unwarranted but for the AZ Senate Democrats to quote a cop-killer on the FBI Most Wanted Terrorist List in a press release is truly mind blowing," said state Rep. T.J. Shope.
I don’t know a soul who believes the killing of George Floyd was anything other than reprehensible and unwarranted but for the AZ Senate Democrats to quote a cop-killer on the FBI Most Wanted Terrorist List in a press release is truly mind blowing. https://t.co/ShliiR0rTW — T.J. Shope (@TJShopeforAZ) May 29, 2020
State Democrats claimed they were unaware of Shakur's "past criminal conviction and current status."
"This is a quote used frequently in social justice and activism circles and we know [Shakur] as an author and well-known commentator on civil rights. Yet it has come to our attention her past criminal conviction and current status. The use of the quote was not intended as an endorsement, but to emphasize issues of social justice," the party's official state senate account said in a tweet.
Blanchard, of the state troopers association, said that calling attention to a convicted cop-killer and domestic terrorist is not the best way to condemn violence.
"There are glaring differences between a peaceful protest and the reaction to the George Floyd incident … and it is in no way, shape, or form comparable to what [Shakur] did," Blanchard said.


freebeacon--2020-06-02--WHO Officials Privately Vented About China’s Secrecy As They Publicly Praised Regime

The World Health Organization praised the Chinese government 's early response to the coronavirus even as WHO officials privately expressed frustration about China 's refusal to hand over life-saving data , according to a new report .
The WHO has remained a steadfast cheerleader of the Chinese regime since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic , commending its `` openness to sharing information '' with global health authorities and other countries as early as January 28 .
But the Associated Press found that WHO officials were frustrated by the Chinese government 's refusal to share genome data dating back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The delayed release of such data set back the global response to the deadly disease by weeks .
The disease has now infected more than 6 million people worldwide .
`` We 're going on very minimal information , '' said American epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove , WHO technical lead for the pandemic , in one internal meeting .
`` It 's clearly not enough for you to do proper planning . ''
Multiple Chinese researchers figured out the full genome of the virus as early as January 2 , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dark about it , according to the report .
The genome data was made public only on January 11 , when a Shanghai-based research lab published it without official approval .
WHO officials also complained that the Chinese government refused to share other basic data about the pandemic , stymying fact-finding efforts .
`` We have informally and formally been requesting more epidemiological information , '' Dr. Gauden Galea , the WHO 's top official in China , said in an internal meeting .
`` But when asked for specifics , we could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the WHO repeatedly praised the Chinese government 's coronavirus response throughout January to convince China to divulge more information about the virus , according to the report .
Chinese researchers had a considerable head start over their peers at the time , as the virus was still largely confined to mainland China .
State officials refused assistance from foreign scientists .
The WHO has continued to praise the Chinese government 's coronavirus response to the present day , despite the fact that the virus 's global spread means Chinese researchers no longer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
For example , Van Kerkhove , the WHO official who criticized China 's lack of transparency in January , applauded China as an example to be followed during a May press conference .
`` The world has learned from China , '' Van Kerkhove said .
`` And we need to continue to learn from Wuhan on how they are lifting those measures , how they are bringing society back to normal . ''
WHO supports the Chinese government on matters unrelated to the pandemic as well .
Bowing to Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to renew Taiwan 's WHO membership since 2016 .
After Taiwan revealed the WHO had repeatedly ignored its questions about the coronavirus in March , WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus responded by accusing Taiwan of orchestrating a racist smear campaign against him .
Taiwan denied Tedros 's accusations .
In response to growing concerns about the WHO 's handling of the pandemic , the Trump administration officially terminated U.S. funding for and membership in the international organization in late May .
The White House decision followed months of repeated allegations that the WHO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing 's botched response to the coronavirus .

The World Health Organization praised the Chinese government's early response to the coronavirus even as WHO officials privately expressed frustration about China's refusal to hand over life-saving data, according to a new report.
The WHO has remained a steadfast cheerleader of the Chinese regime since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, commending its "openness to sharing information" with global health authorities and other countries as early as January 28. But the Associated Press found that WHO officials were frustrated by the Chinese government's refusal to share genome data dating back to the first days of the outbreak. The delayed release of such data set back the global response to the deadly disease by weeks. The disease has now infected more than 6 million people worldwide.
"We're going on very minimal information," said American epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead for the pandemic, in one internal meeting. "It's clearly not enough for you to do proper planning."
Multiple Chinese researchers figured out the full genome of the virus as early as January 2, but the Chinese government kept the WHO in the dark about it, according to the report. The genome data was made public only on January 11, when a Shanghai-based research lab published it without official approval.
WHO officials also complained that the Chinese government refused to share other basic data about the pandemic, stymying fact-finding efforts.
"We have informally and formally been requesting more epidemiological information," Dr. Gauden Galea, the WHO's top official in China, said in an internal meeting. "But when asked for specifics, we could get nothing."
Stonewalled by Beijing, the WHO repeatedly praised the Chinese government's coronavirus response throughout January to convince China to divulge more information about the virus, according to the report. Chinese researchers had a considerable head start over their peers at the time, as the virus was still largely confined to mainland China. State officials refused assistance from foreign scientists.
The WHO has continued to praise the Chinese government's coronavirus response to the present day, despite the fact that the virus's global spread means Chinese researchers no longer have a monopoly on research about the coronavirus. For example, Van Kerkhove, the WHO official who criticized China's lack of transparency in January, applauded China as an example to be followed during a May press conference.
"The world has learned from China," Van Kerkhove said. "And we need to continue to learn from Wuhan on how they are lifting those measures, how they are bringing society back to normal."
WHO supports the Chinese government on matters unrelated to the pandemic as well. Bowing to Chinese pressure, the international organization has refused to renew Taiwan's WHO membership since 2016. After Taiwan revealed the WHO had repeatedly ignored its questions about the coronavirus in March, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus responded by accusing Taiwan of orchestrating a racist smear campaign against him. Taiwan denied Tedros's accusations.
In response to growing concerns about the WHO's handling of the pandemic, the Trump administration officially terminated U.S. funding for and membership in the international organization in late May. The White House decision followed months of repeated allegations that the WHO colluded with the Chinese government to whitewash Beijing's botched response to the coronavirus.


freebeacon--2020-06-02--GOP Lawmakers Craft Plan to Battle China in Emerging Tech

The United States is falling behind China when it comes to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing , according to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers ( R. , Wash. ) , who told the Washington Free Beacon she is working on a package of legislative measures that would boost public-private partnerships to ensure the United States does not lose its competitive edge in these markets .
As China invests $ 1.4 trillion over the next five years to dominate the field of cutting-edge technologies , the United States must create its own plan to foster innovation in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan , which is garnering support among House Republicans , would increase federal research into new technologies and remove much of the bureaucratic red tape currently restraining the private sector .
While the United States can not compete by throwing money at the problem , it can eliminate many of the restrictions that have prevented the federal government from partnering with private tech startups already making inroads into these technologies .
`` We will never outspend them , we will never out-subsidize these industries like the Chinese government plans to do , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Energy and Commerce Committee , told the Free Beacon .
Instead , Republicans aim to level the playing field with an unprecedented legislative package comprised of 15 bills that would force the federal government to identify the areas where it is lagging behind China and work with the private sector to spur growth .
This includes beefing up American investments into A.I.
, facial recognition technology , blockchains , quantum computing , and unmanned delivery services—all areas where China is outpacing the United States due to massive investments .
The legislative package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comprehensive currently circulating on Capitol Hill .
It is part of a larger push by Republican members in the House and Senate to combat China 's massive investment in cutting edge tech at a time when the world is becoming increasingly dependent on the communist regime .
The private sector has become more attractive to the federal government as bloated budgets and bureaucratic regulations slow its foray into a range of fields .
These types of partnerships proved successful during the weekend when the United States launched its first man-based mission into space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with tech billionaire Elon Musk 's SpaceX to make that mission a reality .
Some Democrats , however , have already balked at the GOP plan , citing concerns about privacy and the potential for civil rights abuses by government authorities .
They maintain that these technologies could be used for unethical purposes—much in the way China has used them to solidify its police state and spy on dissidents .
If the GOP does not find a way to compromise with its colleagues in the Democrat-controlled House , the bills could be dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included in the GOP package identify new fields of research where the federal government can help spur private-sector innovation .
They include A.I.
, 3D printing , facial recognition technology , and other new technologies still in development .
All of the bills would require the Federal Trade Commission and Commerce Department to identify roadblocks preventing innovation in these fields and then create a plan to reduce bureaucratic challenges , such as restrictions on interstate commerce .
Another set of bills seeks to create protections for sensitive U.S. data to ensure the Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes on the heels of reports about China 's efforts to steal sensitive U.S. research and infiltrate the American academic system .
Other legislative efforts would require the federal government to assess its partnerships with tech startups and other smaller private businesses focusing on fields of interest .
McMorris Rodgers said the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated concerns about China 's influence on the global stage , exposing the United States ' weaknesses and vulnerabilities .
Republican lawmakers also want the United States to directly combat China 's weaponization of new technologies that allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bills in the legislative package directs the Federal Trade Commission to determine how A.I .
can be used to combat propaganda , such as deepfakes—videos altered to make it appear as if people are saying and doing things they are not .

The United States is falling behind China when it comes to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, according to Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R., Wash.), who told the Washington Free Beacon she is working on a package of legislative measures that would boost public-private partnerships to ensure the United States does not lose its competitive edge in these markets.
As China invests $1.4 trillion over the next five years to dominate the field of cutting-edge technologies, the United States must create its own plan to foster innovation in this area, McMorris Rodgers said. Her plan, which is garnering support among House Republicans, would increase federal research into new technologies and remove much of the bureaucratic red tape currently restraining the private sector. While the United States cannot compete by throwing money at the problem, it can eliminate many of the restrictions that have prevented the federal government from partnering with private tech startups already making inroads into these technologies.
"We will never outspend them, we will never out-subsidize these industries like the Chinese government plans to do," McMorris Rodgers, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, told the Free Beacon.
Instead, Republicans aim to level the playing field with an unprecedented legislative package comprised of 15 bills that would force the federal government to identify the areas where it is lagging behind China and work with the private sector to spur growth. This includes beefing up American investments into A.I., facial recognition technology, blockchains, quantum computing, and unmanned delivery services—all areas where China is outpacing the United States due to massive investments.
The legislative package is one of the largest and most comprehensive currently circulating on Capitol Hill. It is part of a larger push by Republican members in the House and Senate to combat China's massive investment in cutting edge tech at a time when the world is becoming increasingly dependent on the communist regime.
The private sector has become more attractive to the federal government as bloated budgets and bureaucratic regulations slow its foray into a range of fields. These types of partnerships proved successful during the weekend when the United States launched its first man-based mission into space in nearly a decade. NASA partnered with tech billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX to make that mission a reality.
Some Democrats, however, have already balked at the GOP plan, citing concerns about privacy and the potential for civil rights abuses by government authorities. They maintain that these technologies could be used for unethical purposes—much in the way China has used them to solidify its police state and spy on dissidents. If the GOP does not find a way to compromise with its colleagues in the Democrat-controlled House, the bills could be dead on arrival.
Nine of the bills included in the GOP package identify new fields of research where the federal government can help spur private-sector innovation. They include A.I., 3D printing, facial recognition technology, and other new technologies still in development. All of the bills would require the Federal Trade Commission and Commerce Department to identify roadblocks preventing innovation in these fields and then create a plan to reduce bureaucratic challenges, such as restrictions on interstate commerce.
Another set of bills seeks to create protections for sensitive U.S. data to ensure the Chinese government does not intercept them, which comes on the heels of reports about China's efforts to steal sensitive U.S. research and infiltrate the American academic system.
Other legislative efforts would require the federal government to assess its partnerships with tech startups and other smaller private businesses focusing on fields of interest.
McMorris Rodgers said the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated concerns about China's influence on the global stage, exposing the United States' weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
Republican lawmakers also want the United States to directly combat China's weaponization of new technologies that allow it to promote misinformation. One of the bills in the legislative package directs the Federal Trade Commission to determine how A.I. can be used to combat propaganda, such as deepfakes—videos altered to make it appear as if people are saying and doing things they are not.