freebeacon--2020-12-31--2020 Man of the Year: Jake Tapper

2020 Man of the Year: Jake Tapper

Few journalists in the nation 's capital are unaware of Jake Tapper 's equanimity and composure , his thick skin @ @ @ @ @ slights .
Then there 's the CNN anchor 's grace under fire , his ability @ @ @ @ @ and his quiet and humble advocacy for America 's troops on Twitter , in bestselling @ @ @ @ @ silver screen .
The unflappable Tapper has managed to seamlessly transition from Democratic flack—he began @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky ( Pa. ) , mother of Chelsea Clinton 's hedge-fund hubby Marc—to @ @ @ @ @ with an aplomb that has eluded lesser men .
Tapper 's ascent to Man of @ @ @ @ @ his enormous contributions to the important work of female empowerment in the promotion of Raise @ @ @ @ @ , written by Tapper 's daughter Alice Paul Tapper , `` illustrates her determination , @ @ @ @ @ accept the status quo . ''
L'dor v'dor !
For that and his many contributions @ @ @ @ @ our public discourse , Tapper is a Free Beacon Man of the Year .

Few journalists in the nation's capital are unaware of Jake Tapper's equanimity and composure, his thick skin and imperviousness to criticism and slights.
Then there's the CNN anchor's grace under fire, his ability to triumph over adversity, and his quiet and humble advocacy for America's troops on Twitter, in bestselling books, and on the silver screen.
The unflappable Tapper has managed to seamlessly transition from Democratic flack—he began his career as spokesman for Rep. Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky (Pa.), mother of Chelsea Clinton's hedge-fund hubby Marc—to a nonpartisan and unbiased newsman with an aplomb that has eluded lesser men.
Tapper's ascent to Man of the Year was buoyed by his enormous contributions to the important work of female empowerment in the promotion of Raise Your Hand. The book, written by Tapper's daughter Alice Paul Tapper, "illustrates her determination, bravery, and unwillingness to accept the status quo." L'dor v'dor!
For that and his many contributions to the happy state of our public discourse, Tapper is a Free Beacon Man of the Year.


freebeacon--2020-12-31--2020 Man of the Year: Guy Who Shocked Lib With Electrified Trump Sign

We live in dangerous times .
Violent protests sweep the nation .
Rioters and looters walk free .
And Democrats @ @ @ @ @ defund the one institution tasked with keeping you—and your things—safe .
That 's why one @ @ @ @ @ his own hands .
A staunch supporter of President Donald Trump , the man was @ @ @ @ @ lawless liberals would nab the Trump-Pence 2020 sign placed with pride in his front yard @ @ @ @ @ .
For the unsuspecting criminal who tried to swipe the sign , the result came @ @ @ @ @ intruder was greeted by an electric zap of epic proportions , foiling his seditious attempt @ @ @ @ @ Dem scampered away like a pussycat running from the snarl of an alpha dog , @ @ @ @ @ uttering expletives in the process .
Our honoree displayed American ingenuity in its finest form @ @ @ @ @ that if they want his sign , they can come and take it .
For @ @ @ @ @ < em > Washington Free Beacon < /em > Man of the Year .

We live in dangerous times. Violent protests sweep the nation. Rioters and looters walk free. And Democrats across the country work to defund the one institution tasked with keeping you—and your things—safe.
That's why one American patriot took matters into his own hands.
A staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, the man was (rightly) concerned that lawless liberals would nab the Trump-Pence 2020 sign placed with pride in his front yard. So he electrified it.
For the unsuspecting criminal who tried to swipe the sign, the result came as a shock. The intruder was greeted by an electric zap of epic proportions, foiling his seditious attempt. Defeated, the demented Dem scampered away like a pussycat running from the snarl of an alpha dog, shaking his tiny hands and uttering expletives in the process.
https://twitter.com/DanScavino/status/1212740569014951936
Our honoree displayed American ingenuity in its finest form, reminding political terrorists everywhere that if they want his sign, they can come and take it. For that, he is a Washington Free Beacon Man of the Year.


freebeacon--2020-01-30--MSNBC Contributor: If Trump Is Acquitted, He Will Shut Down Voting in California

MSNBC contributor Jason Johnson on Thursday said President Donald Trump will eliminate Californians ' right to vote in the 2020 election if the Senate does not remove him from office .
`` Imagine Donald Trump deciding sometime in June , ‘ well I heard this conspiracy theory that a whole lot of illegal immigrants voted in California so I 've decided that during the presidential election California has to undergo extreme vetting because we ca n't trust their votes .
We ’ re going to shut down voting in a state , ' '' Johnson said .
`` This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do now .
We 're not talking hypotheticals anymore . ''
Johnson , a professor at Morgan State University , referenced the possibility that noncitizens voted in the 2016 and 2018 elections in California .
California ’ s Department of Motor Vehicles reported that some noncitizens in the state might have incorrectly been registered to vote .
Separately , the secretary of state ’ s office was unable to confirm whether noncitizens participated in the 2018 election .
Johnson said Americans should `` be terrified '' of Trump 's ability to overthrow America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ step one to actual autocracy , not the theoretical one , '' Johnson said .
`` Not the one we talk about in class , but an actual president who will say , ‘ this state 's votes do n't count , these people do n't have a right to vote , these people ca n't come into the country . '
That is what they are allowing to happen here .
And I do n't understand how anyone can not be terrified . ''
San Francisco in 2018 passed a rule allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @

MSNBC contributor Jason Johnson on Thursday said President Donald Trump will eliminate Californians' right to vote in the 2020 election if the Senate does not remove him from office.
"Imagine Donald Trump deciding sometime in June, 'well I heard this conspiracy theory that a whole lot of illegal immigrants voted in California so I've decided that during the presidential election California has to undergo extreme vetting because we can't trust their votes. We’re going to shut down voting in a state,'" Johnson said. "This is literally the kind of thing he will do now. We're not talking hypotheticals anymore."
Johnson, a professor at Morgan State University, referenced the possibility that noncitizens voted in the 2016 and 2018 elections in California. California’s Department of Motor Vehicles reported that some noncitizens in the state might have incorrectly been registered to vote. Separately, the secretary of state’s office was unable to confirm whether noncitizens participated in the 2018 election.
Johnson said Americans should "be terrified" of Trump's ability to overthrow America's democratic system.
"This is step one to actual autocracy, not the theoretical one," Johnson said. "Not the one we talk about in class, but an actual president who will say, 'this state's votes don't count, these people don't have a right to vote, these people can't come into the country.' That is what they are allowing to happen here. And I don't understand how anyone cannot be terrified."
San Francisco in 2018 passed a rule allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections.


freebeacon--2020-01-30--Gutfeld Mocks Newsweek for Fact Checking Joke

Newsweek ran a piece attacking The Five ‘ s Greg Gutfeld for claiming President Donald Trump would cure coronavirus , evidently failing to recognize that the Fox News host was joking .
On Wednesday , Gutfeld said that Trump would `` probably cure the coronavirus and make China pay for it '' if impeachment proceedings continue .
The joke triggered an explainer piece in Newsweek on the deadly virus : `` Fox News ' Greg Gutfeld Claims Trump 's Impeachment Has Made Him More ‘ Effective , ' Says He Could ‘ Probably Cure The Coronavirus . '
'' Gutfeld @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We live in a time where it pays for some sites to treat jokes seriously , or else they would n't have a story to write .
There 's no story in ‘ Greg told a joke , ' but there is one if you take a joke literally , '' Gutfeld told the Washington Free Beacon in an email .
Gutfeld , a self-described satirist and humorist , frequently peppers his commentary with jokes that are not intended to be taken seriously .
In the same monologue , he compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whispering bad things to the kids about the other parent '' and `` a T-shirt cannon , [ they ] can shoot those messages to you at home and call it an honest day ’ s work . ''
Newsweek took the joke-filled segment seriously enough that it `` reached out to Fox News for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication . ''
The magazine also tied Gutfeld 's joke to comments made by Trump during a Tuesday speech claiming his administration will `` achieve new breakthroughs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for childhood cancer and ending the AIDS epidemic . ''
Once a respected mainstream outlet , Newsweek has received criticism in recent years for embracing a more clickbait-driven strategy to escape its financial woes and making embarrassing errors as a result .
Writer Jonathan Alter declared `` The Death of Newsweek '' in 2018 , lamenting that the outlet was `` a painful embarrassment to anyone who toiled there in its golden age . ''

Newsweek ran a piece attacking The Five's Greg Gutfeld for claiming President Donald Trump would cure coronavirus, evidently failing to recognize that the Fox News host was joking.
On Wednesday, Gutfeld said that Trump would "probably cure the coronavirus and make China pay for it" if impeachment proceedings continue. The joke triggered an explainer piece in Newsweek on the deadly virus: "Fox News' Greg Gutfeld Claims Trump's Impeachment Has Made Him More 'Effective,' Says He Could 'Probably Cure The Coronavirus.'"
Gutfeld mocked the website for its clickbait coverage.
"We live in a time where it pays for some sites to treat jokes seriously, or else they wouldn't have a story to write. There's no story in 'Greg told a joke,' but there is one if you take a joke literally," Gutfeld told the Washington Free Beacon in an email.
Gutfeld, a self-described satirist and humorist, frequently peppers his commentary with jokes that are not intended to be taken seriously. In the same monologue, he compared the media to "the bitter ex-spouse whispering bad things to the kids about the other parent" and "a T-shirt cannon, [they] can shoot those messages to you at home and call it an honest day’s work."
Newsweek took the joke-filled segment seriously enough that it "reached out to Fox News for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication." The magazine also tied Gutfeld's joke to comments made by Trump during a Tuesday speech claiming his administration will "achieve new breakthroughs in science and medicine, finding new cures for childhood cancer and ending the AIDS epidemic."
Once a respected mainstream outlet, Newsweek has received criticism in recent years for embracing a more clickbait-driven strategy to escape its financial woes and making embarrassing errors as a result. Writer Jonathan Alter declared "The Death of Newsweek" in 2018, lamenting that the outlet was "a painful embarrassment to anyone who toiled there in its golden age."


freebeacon--2020-01-30--Buttigieg to Anti-Israel Activist: ‘I Respect Your Activism’

Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg ended a confrontation with a far-left anti-Israel activist at a campaign event by saying , `` I respect your activism and I appreciate your joining us . ''
Elias Newman identifies himself on Twitter as a `` proud organizer '' with IfNotNow , an anti-Israel activist organization that recorded his interaction with the presidential candidate .
Newman asked Buttigieg about comments the former mayor had made concerning the potential leverage of U.S. aid to Israel .
`` Recently , I was really happy to see that you said that if annexation happens , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't foot the bill .
So I want to know , now that annexation is happening in full force , '' Newman said , `` are you ready to commit to make sure the U.S. does n't send a blank check to Israel ? ''
Buttigieg said he wants to make sure the United States is pushing away from `` annexation '' and criticized the Trump peace proposal as one-sided and created without input from the Palestinians .
`` I 'm not talking about withdrawing aid or withdrawing our support for Israel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether Buttigieg had changed his position on support for Israel , the candidate said he was n't interested in debating but did respect Newman 's activism .
`` If you 'd like to get into a debate with me , I 'm not sure that this is our best format for that , '' Buttigieg said .
`` But I hope you will continue to see consistency in my policies .
Thanks for joining us .
I respect your activism and I appreciate your joining us . ''
Newman pushed Buttigieg on comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endorse leveraging military aid to `` guide Israel in the right direction . ''
`` I think that the aid is leverage to guide Israel in the right direction .
And if , for example , there is follow through on these threats of annexation , I 'm committed to ensuring that the U.S. is not footing the bill for that , '' Buttigieg said in October .
IfNotNow praised Buttigieg 's statement in a press release .
At the campaign event , Buttigieg said to Newman , `` If you 're asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Israel , the answer is no . ''
Newman posted a video of the interaction on Twitter .
Newman has previously confronted former vice president Joe Biden about whether he considered the Israeli `` occupation '' a human-rights crisis .
Biden demurred on the question , but said `` occupation is a real problem , a significant problem . ''
IfNotNow has a history of confronting Democratic politicians on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .
In August 2019 , an activist connected to the organization accused a Jewish Democratic congressman of dual loyalty .

Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg ended a confrontation with a far-left anti-Israel activist at a campaign event by saying, "I respect your activism and I appreciate your joining us."
Elias Newman identifies himself on Twitter as a "proud organizer" with IfNotNow, an anti-Israel activist organization that recorded his interaction with the presidential candidate. Newman asked Buttigieg about comments the former mayor had made concerning the potential leverage of U.S. aid to Israel.
"Recently, I was really happy to see that you said that if annexation happens, that you'll make sure the U.S. doesn't foot the bill. So I want to know, now that annexation is happening in full force," Newman said, "are you ready to commit to make sure the U.S. doesn't send a blank check to Israel?"
Buttigieg said he wants to make sure the United States is pushing away from "annexation" and criticized the Trump peace proposal as one-sided and created without input from the Palestinians.
"I'm not talking about withdrawing aid or withdrawing our support for Israel," Buttigieg said.
When Newman asked whether Buttigieg had changed his position on support for Israel, the candidate said he wasn't interested in debating but did respect Newman's activism.
"If you'd like to get into a debate with me, I'm not sure that this is our best format for that," Buttigieg said. "But I hope you will continue to see consistency in my policies. Thanks for joining us. I respect your activism and I appreciate your joining us."
Newman pushed Buttigieg on comments in which the former mayor appeared to endorse leveraging military aid to "guide Israel in the right direction."
"I think that the aid is leverage to guide Israel in the right direction. And if, for example, there is follow through on these threats of annexation, I'm committed to ensuring that the U.S. is not footing the bill for that," Buttigieg said in October. IfNotNow praised Buttigieg's statement in a press release.
At the campaign event, Buttigieg said to Newman, "If you're asking me to commit to withdrawing American support for Israel, the answer is no."
Newman posted a video of the interaction on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/EliasANewman/status/1222897137416990721
Newman has previously confronted former vice president Joe Biden about whether he considered the Israeli "occupation" a human-rights crisis. Biden demurred on the question, but said "occupation is a real problem, a significant problem."
IfNotNow has a history of confronting Democratic politicians on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In August 2019, an activist connected to the organization accused a Jewish Democratic congressman of dual loyalty.


freebeacon--2020-01-30--Sanders’s Support for Racist Killer Dylann Roof’s Right to Vote Could Pose Challenge in Crucial S.C.

Sanders’s Support for Racist Killer Dylann Roof’s Right to Vote Could Pose Challenge in Crucial S.C. Primary

Sen. Bernie Sanders 's ( I. , Vt. ) support for extending voting rights to violent felons such as Dylann Roof , the racist gunman who murdered nine people at a black church in South Carolina , could prove problematic as the Democratic presidential candidates set their sights on the Palmetto State primary on February 29 .
Roof , who recently filed an appeal challenging his conviction and death sentence , is a widely despised individual .
So is Dzhokhar Tsarnaev , the Boston Marathon bomber who killed 3 and injured nearly 300 others in 2013 .
Like Roof , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not only spare their lives by abolishing the death penalty but would also grant them voting rights in prison .
The subject of felon voting came up during a CNN town hall in April 2019 .
A member of the audience asked Sanders if he supported `` enfranchising people like the Boston Marathon bomber , a convicted terrorist and murderer , '' as well as individuals convicted of sexual assault .
Sanders confirmed that he would extend voting rights to `` terrible people , '' including those convicted of violent crimes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` vibrant democracy '' in America .
`` If somebody commits a serious crime , sexual assault , murder , they 're going to be punished , '' said Sanders .
`` They may be in jail for 10 years , 20 years , 50 years , their whole lives .
That 's what happens when you commit a serious crime , but I think the right to vote is inherent to our democracy .
Yes , even for terrible people . ''
Days later , Sanders doubled down on his support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a USA Today op-ed , offering `` no apologies '' for his position .
`` The right to vote is an inalienable and universal principle that applies to all American citizens 18 years and older .
Period , '' he wrote .
Sanders is the only candidate in the Democratic field who supports granting voting rights to all incarcerated individuals .
Entrepreneur Andrew Yang supports allowing some inmates to vote , so long as they `` have n't prevented someone else from losing their ability to vote , '' a Yang spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warren ( D. , Mass . )
said she 'd be willing to have a `` conversation '' about giving current inmates the right to vote , while the remaining candidates support restoring voting rights for former inmates .
The issue of voting rights for incarcerated individuals has gone largely unmentioned since the April town hall , but it could potentially resurface as the Democratic candidates head to South Carolina , the site of Roof 's horrific shooting rampage .
If Sanders performs well in Iowa and New Hampshire , his opponents might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letting one of the state 's most high-profile murderers vote in our elections .
The Sanders campaign did not return a request for comment .

Candidate wants to create 'vibrant democracy' in which mass murderers can vote from prison
Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I., Vt.) support for extending voting rights to violent felons such as Dylann Roof, the racist gunman who murdered nine people at a black church in South Carolina, could prove problematic as the Democratic presidential candidates set their sights on the Palmetto State primary on February 29.
Roof, who recently filed an appeal challenging his conviction and death sentence, is a widely despised individual.
So is Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bomber who killed 3 and injured nearly 300 others in 2013. Like Roof, he is on death row. Sanders would not only spare their lives by abolishing the death penalty but would also grant them voting rights in prison.
The subject of felon voting came up during a CNN town hall in April 2019. A member of the audience asked Sanders if he supported "enfranchising people like the Boston Marathon bomber, a convicted terrorist and murderer," as well as individuals convicted of sexual assault.
Sanders confirmed that he would extend voting rights to "terrible people," including those convicted of violent crimes, as part of his mission to create a "vibrant democracy" in America.
"If somebody commits a serious crime, sexual assault, murder, they're going to be punished," said Sanders. "They may be in jail for 10 years, 20 years, 50 years, their whole lives. That's what happens when you commit a serious crime, but I think the right to vote is inherent to our democracy. Yes, even for terrible people."
Days later, Sanders doubled down on his support for giving murderers the right to vote in a USA Today op-ed, offering "no apologies" for his position. "The right to vote is an inalienable and universal principle that applies to all American citizens 18 years and older. Period," he wrote.
Sanders is the only candidate in the Democratic field who supports granting voting rights to all incarcerated individuals. Entrepreneur Andrew Yang supports allowing some inmates to vote, so long as they "haven't prevented someone else from losing their ability to vote," a Yang spokesman told the Washington Post. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) said she'd be willing to have a "conversation" about giving current inmates the right to vote, while the remaining candidates support restoring voting rights for former inmates.
The issue of voting rights for incarcerated individuals has gone largely unmentioned since the April town hall, but it could potentially resurface as the Democratic candidates head to South Carolina, the site of Roof's horrific shooting rampage. If Sanders performs well in Iowa and New Hampshire, his opponents might be compelled to mention his support for letting one of the state's most high-profile murderers vote in our elections.
The Sanders campaign did not return a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-01-30--Screen Actors Guild Went After Child Actress for Non-Union Role

The Screen Actors Guild ( SAG ) went after a child actress who appeared in a non-union commercial before she even joined the powerful labor group , according to a federal complaint .
SAG attempted to discipline 12-year-old Aundrea Smith when it discovered that she performed in a non-union commercial .
Despite the fact that Smith appeared in the commercial before she even joined the guild , SAG threatened to discipline the young actress .
Smith is now fighting back , slapping the labor group with a complaint filed to the National Labor Relations Board .
`` [ SAG ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a minor … by instituting proceedings and threatening to impose internal union discipline for actions taken by [ Smith ] when [ she ] was not a member , '' the complaint says .
Smith joined SAG in April , one month after shooting the non-union commercial .
The young actress resigned her membership in August , but union officials have continued to pursue discipline against her .
The case pits Smith against a labor union with more than 100,000 active members .
SAG declined to comment on the complaint , telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not comment on member disciplinary matters .
Smith referred requests for comments to her attorneys at the National Right to Work Foundation .
Foundation president Mark Mix ripped the guild ’ s leaders as `` power hungry '' for their attacks on the young starlet .
`` It ’ s a testament to how low power hungry SAG-AFTRA union bosses will go , that they are willing to bully a 12-year-old actress just because she chose to appear in a commercial outside of union control , '' Mix told the Free Beacon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ members who participate in non-union commercials in the past .
A 2018 Hollywood Reporter article detailed how 160 members worked on non-union commercials and were subject to disciplinary hearings .
The complaint said the guild 's treatment of Smith violated the National Labor Relations Act , which gives workers the ability to decide whether or not to associate with a union without fear of retribution .
The legal complaint comes after the bitter reelection campaign of the Screen Actors Guild ’ s president , Gabrielle Carteris .
Her campaign became the target of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improper '' contributions for her work as an actress and producer on a Fox show , according to Deadline .
The Department of Labor found no reason to nullify the election , which was confirmed after months of delay .
Carteris has since called for unity among actors , but the guild has also faced criticism from liberal activists inside and outside of the industry for the lack of diversity among its 2020 awards nominees .

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) went after a child actress who appeared in a non-union commercial before she even joined the powerful labor group, according to a federal complaint.
SAG attempted to discipline 12-year-old Aundrea Smith when it discovered that she performed in a non-union commercial. Despite the fact that Smith appeared in the commercial before she even joined the guild, SAG threatened to discipline the young actress. Smith is now fighting back, slapping the labor group with a complaint filed to the National Labor Relations Board.
"[SAG] has violated the rights of Charging Party, a minor ... by instituting proceedings and threatening to impose internal union discipline for actions taken by [Smith] when [she] was not a member," the complaint says.
Smith joined SAG in April, one month after shooting the non-union commercial. The young actress resigned her membership in August, but union officials have continued to pursue discipline against her. The case pits Smith against a labor union with more than 100,000 active members. SAG declined to comment on the complaint, telling the Washington Free Beacon the organization does not comment on member disciplinary matters.
Smith referred requests for comments to her attorneys at the National Right to Work Foundation. Foundation president Mark Mix ripped the guild’s leaders as "power hungry" for their attacks on the young starlet.
"It’s a testament to how low power hungry SAG-AFTRA union bosses will go, that they are willing to bully a 12-year-old actress just because she chose to appear in a commercial outside of union control," Mix told the Free Beacon.
SAG has taken aggressive action against union members who participate in non-union commercials in the past. A 2018 Hollywood Reporter article detailed how 160 members worked on non-union commercials and were subject to disciplinary hearings. The complaint said the guild's treatment of Smith violated the National Labor Relations Act, which gives workers the ability to decide whether or not to associate with a union without fear of retribution.
The legal complaint comes after the bitter reelection campaign of the Screen Actors Guild’s president, Gabrielle Carteris. Her campaign became the target of internal protests over accusations she received "improper" contributions for her work as an actress and producer on a Fox show, according to Deadline. The Department of Labor found no reason to nullify the election, which was confirmed after months of delay. Carteris has since called for unity among actors, but the guild has also faced criticism from liberal activists inside and outside of the industry for the lack of diversity among its 2020 awards nominees.


freebeacon--2020-01-30--Koch Institute Calls Anti-Semitism Charge ‘Absurd,’ Stands by Scholar Who Called American Rabbis Isr

Koch Institute Calls Anti-Semitism Charge ‘Absurd,’ Stands by Scholar Who Called American Rabbis Israel’s ‘Fifth Column’

A spokesman for the Charles Koch Institute said Wednesday that accusations a new think tank supported by Koch is harboring anti-Semites are `` absurd '' and `` grossly mischaracterize the positions '' of the organization .
But he declined to defend the statements of affiliated scholars questioning the loyalty of American Jews , suggesting that some of them comprise a `` fifth column '' inside the United States , and promoting a conspiracy theory that Israel conducted a `` false-flag '' chemical attack on Syrian civilians .
Will Ruger , the vice president for research and policy at the Charles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the wake of a Free Beacon story detailing a litany of controversial statements targeting Israel and American Jews made by experts and scholars who hold prominent posts at a new think tank , the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft , funded by Koch and the liberal philanthropist George Soros .
`` Recent accusations and insinuations against the rising transpartisan effort to rethink U.S. foreign policy are absurd and grossly mischaracterize the positions we and others hold , '' the statement said .
`` Anti-Semitism is abhorrent , and we reject all forms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Free Beacon his statement was not a response to the Beacon ’ s Tuesday report , but rather `` an effort to set the record straight given the criticism from a few who continue to advocate for a failed foreign policy . ''
Ruger did not respond to a request for comment about whether the foundation considers a series of statements from Quincy Institute fellows bigoted or anti-Semitic .
Those statements include a 2013 accusation from Lawrence Wilkerson , a nonresident fellow at the institute , that Syria ’ s use of chemical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve been an Israeli false flag operation . ''
Wilkerson , who served as chief of staff for Colin Powell during his tenure at Foggy Bottom , also argued in 2007 that `` the Jewish lobby in America '' had been the primary driver of the Bush administration ’ s decision to invade Iraq in 2003 .
Paul Pillar , a Quincy Institute expert on intelligence and terrorism , has also accused the Republican megadonor and casino magnate Sheldon Adelson of greater loyalty to Israel than the United States .
Pillar argued in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s `` first love among countries , '' and Israel ’ s `` Likud Party , '' rather than the GOP , his `` first love among political parties . ''
The charge of dual loyalty—that Jews are loyal to their coreligionists rather than to the country in which they live—spread throughout Europe in the 19th century and came to a head in 1894 when Alfred Dreyfus , a French Army officer and a Jew , was falsely charged with treason for passing military secrets to the Germans .
Others affiliated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who authored the organization ’ s first policy brief last month and has suggested that American Jews and Jewish organizations comprise a `` fifth column '' inside the United States .
Freeman ’ s nomination to lead Barack Obama ’ s National Intelligence Council was scuttled in 2009 when controversy erupted over the fact that the organization he led at the time , the Middle East Policy Council , received funding from the Saudi government and had defended the Chinese government ’ s violent attack on student protesters in Tiananmen Square .
Freeman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe it is acceptable for any country to allow the heart of its national capital to be occupied by dissidents intent on disrupting the normal functions of government '' and that the real mistake of the Chinese government was its failure `` to nip the demonstrations in the bud . ''
Forced to withdraw his nomination , Freeman blamed `` the Israel lobby '' and , in a speech in Moscow later that year , argued that Israel enjoyed the support of a `` ‘ fifth column ’ of activist sympathizers '' in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American rabbis '' as well as the Jewish Agency for Israel .
Andrew Bacevich , the president of the Quincy Institute , declined to comment on whether the organization stands by these remarks but said it would not be highlighting the influence of pro-Israel donors and organizations .
Rather , the institute would promote `` restraint as a central principle of U.S. foreign policy . ''

A spokesman for the Charles Koch Institute said Wednesday that accusations a new think tank supported by Koch is harboring anti-Semites are "absurd" and "grossly mischaracterize the positions" of the organization. But he declined to defend the statements of affiliated scholars questioning the loyalty of American Jews, suggesting that some of them comprise a "fifth column" inside the United States, and promoting a conspiracy theory that Israel conducted a "false-flag" chemical attack on Syrian civilians.
Will Ruger, the vice president for research and policy at the Charles Koch Institute, issued a lengthy statement in the wake of a Free Beacon story detailing a litany of controversial statements targeting Israel and American Jews made by experts and scholars who hold prominent posts at a new think tank, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, funded by Koch and the liberal philanthropist George Soros.
"Recent accusations and insinuations against the rising transpartisan effort to rethink U.S. foreign policy are absurd and grossly mischaracterize the positions we and others hold," the statement said. "Anti-Semitism is abhorrent, and we reject all forms of bigotry."
Ruger told the Free Beacon his statement was not a response to the Beacon’s Tuesday report, but rather "an effort to set the record straight given the criticism from a few who continue to advocate for a failed foreign policy."
Ruger did not respond to a request for comment about whether the foundation considers a series of statements from Quincy Institute fellows bigoted or anti-Semitic.
Those statements include a 2013 accusation from Lawrence Wilkerson, a nonresident fellow at the institute, that Syria’s use of chemical weapons on innocent civilians "could’ve been an Israeli false flag operation."
Wilkerson, who served as chief of staff for Colin Powell during his tenure at Foggy Bottom, also argued in 2007 that "the Jewish lobby in America" had been the primary driver of the Bush administration’s decision to invade Iraq in 2003.
Paul Pillar, a Quincy Institute expert on intelligence and terrorism, has also accused the Republican megadonor and casino magnate Sheldon Adelson of greater loyalty to Israel than the United States. Pillar argued in a 2014 essay that Israel is Adelson’s "first love among countries," and Israel’s "Likud Party," rather than the GOP, his "first love among political parties."
The charge of dual loyalty—that Jews are loyal to their coreligionists rather than to the country in which they live—spread throughout Europe in the 19th century and came to a head in 1894 when Alfred Dreyfus, a French Army officer and a Jew, was falsely charged with treason for passing military secrets to the Germans.
Others affiliated with the Quincy Institute include Chas Freeman, who authored the organization’s first policy brief last month and has suggested that American Jews and Jewish organizations comprise a "fifth column" inside the United States.
Freeman’s nomination to lead Barack Obama’s National Intelligence Council was scuttled in 2009 when controversy erupted over the fact that the organization he led at the time, the Middle East Policy Council, received funding from the Saudi government and had defended the Chinese government’s violent attack on student protesters in Tiananmen Square. Freeman had written, "I do not believe it is acceptable for any country to allow the heart of its national capital to be occupied by dissidents intent on disrupting the normal functions of government" and that the real mistake of the Chinese government was its failure "to nip the demonstrations in the bud."
Forced to withdraw his nomination, Freeman blamed "the Israel lobby" and, in a speech in Moscow later that year, argued that Israel enjoyed the support of a "‘fifth column’ of activist sympathizers" in the United States, citing "many American rabbis" as well as the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Andrew Bacevich, the president of the Quincy Institute, declined to comment on whether the organization stands by these remarks but said it would not be highlighting the influence of pro-Israel donors and organizations. Rather, the institute would promote "restraint as a central principle of U.S. foreign policy."


freebeacon--2020-01-30--America Is in a Polydrug Crisis, New CDC Data Confirm

The United States is facing a drug overdose epidemic driven by methamphetamine , cocaine , and synthetic opioids , data released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control confirm .
The new statistics , released as part of the CDC 's final report on deaths in 2018 , offer an initially bright picture , showing that a slight decline in drug overdose death rates has resulted in an end to America 's three-year life expectancy drop .
But a closer look reveals that this seeming respite masks alarming rises in deaths associated with a plurality of drugs , signifying an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug crisis .
This shift is likely to have important ramifications for policymakers , who must move their attention from domestically produced prescription opioids to foreign-sourced narcotics and stimulants .
Whether such a move happens , however , is contingent on lawmakers ' priorities , and whether they can recognize threats from China and Mexico as readily as they have been able to recognize those from the pharmaceutical industry .
The numbers released Thursday confirm the preliminary figures released by the CDC in July .
In the aggregate , the rate of drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from 21.6 per 100,000 people in the population to 20.7 .
That decline is the first in nearly two decades , CDC data show .
In fact , mortality data from the 1980s onward show that drug overdoses have grown exponentially , while data collected by the Senate 's Joint Economic Committee indicate that 2017 was likely the deadliest year ever for drug overdoses .
At the state level , the CDC finds that drug overdose deaths rose in just five states—California , Missouri , South Carolina , Delaware , and New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that overall decline , however , tell a more complicated story .
Compared with 2017 , 2018 saw slight declines in deaths associated with heroin and methadone , on the order of 0.1 deaths per 100,000 people .
It also saw a substantial decline in deaths from prescription opioids , which fell by 15 percent to 3.8 deaths per 100,000 , on par with 2014 death rates .
It is that drop that drove the overall decline .
Whereas deaths associated with prescription opioids have fallen , however , deaths involving other drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opioid fentanyl and its analogs were involved in 31,000 deaths in 2018 , 3,000 more than in 2017 , a death rate of 9.9 per 100,000 people .
There were roughly 2,500 added methamphetamine deaths in 2018 , and roughly 1,500 added cocaine deaths , translating to an increase in the death rate of 0.7 and 0.2 , respectively .
In fact , methamphetamine has now been confirmed to have eclipsed prescription opioids as a cause of death , while cocaine is on pace to overtake heroin ; fentanyl , meanwhile , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American history .
What all of this means in practice is that while topline numbers are positive , the underlying trends indicate that America 's drug crisis may soon get worse .
The change in deaths has also meant a change in the geography of the drug crisis .
Whereas prescription opioid overdose deaths were driven predominantly by American-made pharmaceuticals—in particular , the Purdue Pharma-manufactured OxyContin—the drugs now killing Americans originate outside the country .
As the DEA explained in its 2019 National Drug Threat Assessment , also released Thursday , most synthetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; methamphetamine and heroin are primarily Mexican , and much cocaine is produced in Colombia .
All of the drugs are routinely smuggled over the porous southwestern border or , in the case of Chinese goods , sent in using the U.S. mail .
`` We ’ re pleased that in 2018 , drug overdose deaths declined over 4 percent overall , with even greater decreases—over 13 percent—in overdoses from controlled prescription opioids , '' DEA acting administrator Uttam Dhillon said Thursday .
`` Many challenges remain , however , including the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
DEA and its partners will continue to work diligently to combat the drug trafficking organizations that bring these deadly substances into our country and endanger the American people . ''
As the drug crisis changes shape , lawmakers continue to struggle over how best to combat it .
On Wednesday evening , the House of Representatives finally passed an extension of the DEA 's temporary scheduling of fentanyl 's synthetic analogs , giving law enforcement another year to prosecute traffickers in substances like acetyl fentanyl and carfentanil under the strictest section of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats , however , objected , with several taking to the floor to argue that a `` public health '' approach is preferable to the incarceration of drug dealers .

The United States is facing a drug overdose epidemic driven by methamphetamine, cocaine, and synthetic opioids, data released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control confirm.
The new statistics, released as part of the CDC's final report on deaths in 2018, offer an initially bright picture, showing that a slight decline in drug overdose death rates has resulted in an end to America's three-year life expectancy drop. But a closer look reveals that this seeming respite masks alarming rises in deaths associated with a plurality of drugs, signifying an ongoing shift in the nature of the drug crisis.
This shift is likely to have important ramifications for policymakers, who must move their attention from domestically produced prescription opioids to foreign-sourced narcotics and stimulants. Whether such a move happens, however, is contingent on lawmakers' priorities, and whether they can recognize threats from China and Mexico as readily as they have been able to recognize those from the pharmaceutical industry.
The numbers released Thursday confirm the preliminary figures released by the CDC in July. In the aggregate, the rate of drug overdose deaths fell by roughly 5 percent, from 21.6 per 100,000 people in the population to 20.7.
That decline is the first in nearly two decades, CDC data show. In fact, mortality data from the 1980s onward show that drug overdoses have grown exponentially, while data collected by the Senate's Joint Economic Committee indicate that 2017 was likely the deadliest year ever for drug overdoses. At the state level, the CDC finds that drug overdose deaths rose in just five states—California, Missouri, South Carolina, Delaware, and New Jersey—and fell in 14.
Data underlying that overall decline, however, tell a more complicated story. Compared with 2017, 2018 saw slight declines in deaths associated with heroin and methadone, on the order of 0.1 deaths per 100,000 people. It also saw a substantial decline in deaths from prescription opioids, which fell by 15 percent to 3.8 deaths per 100,000, on par with 2014 death rates. It is that drop that drove the overall decline.
Whereas deaths associated with prescription opioids have fallen, however, deaths involving other drug classes have not. The deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl and its analogs were involved in 31,000 deaths in 2018, 3,000 more than in 2017, a death rate of 9.9 per 100,000 people. There were roughly 2,500 added methamphetamine deaths in 2018, and roughly 1,500 added cocaine deaths, translating to an increase in the death rate of 0.7 and 0.2, respectively.
In fact, methamphetamine has now been confirmed to have eclipsed prescription opioids as a cause of death, while cocaine is on pace to overtake heroin; fentanyl, meanwhile, is by all accounts the deadliest drug in American history. What all of this means in practice is that while topline numbers are positive, the underlying trends indicate that America's drug crisis may soon get worse.
The change in deaths has also meant a change in the geography of the drug crisis. Whereas prescription opioid overdose deaths were driven predominantly by American-made pharmaceuticals—in particular, the Purdue Pharma-manufactured OxyContin—the drugs now killing Americans originate outside the country.
As the DEA explained in its 2019 National Drug Threat Assessment, also released Thursday, most synthetic opioids are produced in China and Mexico; methamphetamine and heroin are primarily Mexican, and much cocaine is produced in Colombia. All of the drugs are routinely smuggled over the porous southwestern border or, in the case of Chinese goods, sent in using the U.S. mail.
"We’re pleased that in 2018, drug overdose deaths declined over 4 percent overall, with even greater decreases—over 13 percent—in overdoses from controlled prescription opioids," DEA acting administrator Uttam Dhillon said Thursday. "Many challenges remain, however, including the spread of fentanyl and methamphetamine across the country. DEA and its partners will continue to work diligently to combat the drug trafficking organizations that bring these deadly substances into our country and endanger the American people."
As the drug crisis changes shape, lawmakers continue to struggle over how best to combat it. On Wednesday evening, the House of Representatives finally passed an extension of the DEA's temporary scheduling of fentanyl's synthetic analogs, giving law enforcement another year to prosecute traffickers in substances like acetyl fentanyl and carfentanil under the strictest section of the Controlled Substances Act. Eighty-six House Democrats, however, objected, with several taking to the floor to argue that a "public health" approach is preferable to the incarceration of drug dealers.


freebeacon--2020-01-30--Trump Admin Again Grants Iran Pass to Conduct Nuclear Work, Angering GOP Hawks

The Trump administration has again renewed key sanctions waivers permitting Iran to conduct sensitive nuclear work , generating anger among GOP hawks who have long called for the administration to quit giving Tehran a pass on its pursuit of an atomic weapon .
Multiple lawmakers and former administration officials , including one recently departed National Security Council member who worked on Iran issues , told the Washington Free Beacon that senior officials in the administration continue to undermine President Donald Trump 's `` maximum pressure '' campaign on Iran .
At issue are sanctions exceptions that the State Department has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the consternation of Iran hawks .
The waivers permit foreign nations and businesses to partner with Iran on its nuclear work , including efforts to enrich uranium , the key component in a weapon .
They also allow Iran to continue sensitive civil nuclear research at contested sites , including a covert military bunker that once housed the country 's atomic weapons program .
The nuclear waivers have been a key point of disagreement , both inside and outside the administration .
Some of Trump 's most vocal backers are now breaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the decision .
Debate over the nuclear waivers has percolated inside the administration and Congress for months .
Multiple sources who spoke to the Free Beacon accused a cadre of officials in both the State and Treasury Departments of seeking to ensure that vital components of the abandoned nuclear deal remain in place against Trump 's orders .
`` You can not underestimate the influence of the ‘ Deep State ' on issues like the nuclear waivers and snapback , '' said Richard Goldberg , who served as the White House NSC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Any time there 's something controversial , something that upends conventional wisdom , something that would actually kill Obama 's Iran Deal , there 's a bureaucratic movement to save the deal . ''
`` This decision keeps the Iran Deal on life support , undermines the president 's negotiating position , and makes it harder for him to achieve his goals , '' said Goldberg in some of his first public comments on an issue he confronted head on during his time in the White House .
`` You ca @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blow up the old one ; keeping these [ Iran Deal ] waivers puts the president in a weaker position . ''
The State Department did not respond to multiple Free Beacon requests for comment .
Leading GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill expressed confusion and frustration over the administration 's decision to continue issuing the waivers .
They told the Free Beacon they would take steps to force cancellation of the waivers .
`` Sanctioning Iran 's Atomic Energy Organization is n't effective if we keep their program on life support through waivers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
said .
`` The waivers ought to have been scrapped .
Do n't reward the ayatollahs for their nuclear blackmail . ''
Sen. Ted Cruz ( R. , Tex . )
, a chief opponent of the waivers , `` believes that the waivers should have been canceled months ago , and in fact should have never been granted .
He will continue to work with his colleagues in the Senate and the House to ensure that they are revoked , '' according to a spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Republicans including Reps. Liz Cheney ( Wyo . )
, Jim Banks ( Ind . )
, and Mike Gallagher ( Wis. ) issued calls for the administration to immediately cancel the waivers .
`` This decision perpetuates Obama 's disastrous nuclear deal and sustains Iran 's nuclear infrastructure , even as Tehran continues on its path of escalation , '' Cheney told the Free Beacon .
`` I urge the president to fully implement his successful maximum pressure campaign against Iran and revoke these waivers once and for all . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armed Services Committee , said Iran 's continued attacks on U.S. forces and outposts in the Middle East should be reason enough to stop gifting the regime nuclear waivers .
`` After Iran 's conspicuous attack on American troops earlier this month , what possible reason could still exist for the State Department to be renewing these waivers and continue allowing Iran to develop nuclear capabilities ? ''
Banks asked .
`` The world has witnessed Iran 's maleficence—time to end these waivers and continue the maximum pressure campaign . ''
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these waivers in place is a day we allow an increasingly weak Iranian regime to draw closer to realizing its nuclear ambitions .
Maximum pressure should mean maximum pressure , '' Gallagher , also a member of the House Armed Services Committee , told the Free Beacon .
`` It 's time to end the waivers . ''

The Trump administration has again renewed key sanctions waivers permitting Iran to conduct sensitive nuclear work, generating anger among GOP hawks who have long called for the administration to quit giving Tehran a pass on its pursuit of an atomic weapon.
Multiple lawmakers and former administration officials, including one recently departed National Security Council member who worked on Iran issues, told the Washington Free Beacon that senior officials in the administration continue to undermine President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran.
At issue are sanctions exceptions that the State Department has now issued several times in recent years to the consternation of Iran hawks. The waivers permit foreign nations and businesses to partner with Iran on its nuclear work, including efforts to enrich uranium, the key component in a weapon. They also allow Iran to continue sensitive civil nuclear research at contested sites, including a covert military bunker that once housed the country's atomic weapons program.
The nuclear waivers have been a key point of disagreement, both inside and outside the administration. Some of Trump's most vocal backers are now breaking ranks with the administration to express opposition to the decision.
Debate over the nuclear waivers has percolated inside the administration and Congress for months. Multiple sources who spoke to the Free Beacon accused a cadre of officials in both the State and Treasury Departments of seeking to ensure that vital components of the abandoned nuclear deal remain in place against Trump's orders.
"You cannot underestimate the influence of the 'Deep State' on issues like the nuclear waivers and snapback," said Richard Goldberg, who served as the White House NSC's top Iran proliferation official until January. "Any time there's something controversial, something that upends conventional wisdom, something that would actually kill Obama's Iran Deal, there's a bureaucratic movement to save the deal."
"This decision keeps the Iran Deal on life support, undermines the president's negotiating position, and makes it harder for him to achieve his goals," said Goldberg in some of his first public comments on an issue he confronted head on during his time in the White House. "You can't negotiate a new deal until you blow up the old one; keeping these [Iran Deal] waivers puts the president in a weaker position."
The State Department did not respond to multiple Free Beacon requests for comment.
Leading GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill expressed confusion and frustration over the administration's decision to continue issuing the waivers. They told the Free Beacon they would take steps to force cancellation of the waivers.
"Sanctioning Iran's Atomic Energy Organization isn't effective if we keep their program on life support through waivers for international assistance," Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) said. "The waivers ought to have been scrapped. Don't reward the ayatollahs for their nuclear blackmail."
Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Tex.), a chief opponent of the waivers, "believes that the waivers should have been canceled months ago, and in fact should have never been granted. He will continue to work with his colleagues in the Senate and the House to ensure that they are revoked," according to a spokesman for his office.
In the House, Republicans including Reps. Liz Cheney (Wyo.), Jim Banks (Ind.), and Mike Gallagher (Wis.) issued calls for the administration to immediately cancel the waivers.
"This decision perpetuates Obama's disastrous nuclear deal and sustains Iran's nuclear infrastructure, even as Tehran continues on its path of escalation," Cheney told the Free Beacon. "I urge the president to fully implement his successful maximum pressure campaign against Iran and revoke these waivers once and for all."
Banks, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Iran's continued attacks on U.S. forces and outposts in the Middle East should be reason enough to stop gifting the regime nuclear waivers.
"After Iran's conspicuous attack on American troops earlier this month, what possible reason could still exist for the State Department to be renewing these waivers and continue allowing Iran to develop nuclear capabilities?" Banks asked. "The world has witnessed Iran's maleficence—time to end these waivers and continue the maximum pressure campaign."
"It's clear that every day we keep these waivers in place is a day we allow an increasingly weak Iranian regime to draw closer to realizing its nuclear ambitions. Maximum pressure should mean maximum pressure," Gallagher, also a member of the House Armed Services Committee, told the Free Beacon. "It's time to end the waivers."


freebeacon--2020-01-30--Whatever Happened to the Democratic Primary?

The Fox News website highlights `` hot topics '' at the top of the page .
As I write , the topics are : `` Kobe Bryant dead , '' `` Trump impeachment , '' and `` Coronavirus . ''
Compelling—and in the last case terrifying—stories .
But something is missing : the Democratic primary .
The Iowa caucus will be held in a matter of days .
New Hampshire votes a week after that .
Twelve Democrats are still in the race .
Nobody cares .
Maybe that 's harsh .
No doubt the candidates ' mothers are paying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious observation of politics I have not seen a presidential primary that exerts less of a hold on the nation 's attention than this one .
Why ?
The obvious answer is impeachment .
It is all Washington cares about .
The trial of President Trump hasn ’ t just overshadowed the campaign .
It 's stopped it .
Bernie Sanders , Elizabeth Warren , and Amy Klobuchar , who are in the game in Iowa , as well as Michael Bennet , who is not , have been strapped to their chairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has missed out on .
She must be despondent .
Because the television camera in the Senate chamber is pointed at the rostrum , Warren and Sanders ca n't even communicate to their supporters through hand gestures .
Nor have Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg capitalized on the opportunity of having Iowa to themselves .
They ca n't break through wall-to-wall coverage of senators ' questions and legal maneuvers , of John Bolton 's book , of Mitch McConnell 's quest to end the trial as soon as possible .
True , impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news .
But not in a way he would like .
Trump 's defense has drawn further attention to Hunter Biden 's questionable position on the board of Ukrainian gas giant Burisma .
What was Hunter being paid for ?
Relationship advice ?
His dad does n't have a good answer .
Whether he likes it or not , impeachment reinforces the impression that Joe Biden is a lifelong D.C. politician whose family benefits from his connections .
Look at the numbers .
Prior to Nancy Pelosi 's announcement of the impeachment inquiry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 44 percent favorable , 49 percent unfavorable .
Last week he was 41 percent favorable , 53 percent unfavorable .
That is n't progress .
President Trump 's job approval rating has n't budged .
It was 45-52 in the Real Clear Politics average then and now .
And Trump has improved in head-to-head matchups .
In the late October ABC News / Washington Post poll , Biden held a 15-point advantage over Trump .
As of last week 's poll , his lead had been cut to four points .
If Nancy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frontrunner , she was mistaken .
That 's not strategy .
It 's what Will Ferrell , portraying George W. Bush , once called `` strategery . ''
( Of course , Pelosi 's objective may have been simply to insulate herself from a left-wing rebellion . )
Biden 's troubles suggest another reason for the lack of excitement .
The candidates are weak and uninteresting .
Biden is barely comprehensible .
Buttigieg has all the pizzazz of a PowerPoint .
Warren reminds you of your least favorite professor .
Sanders and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so did the Jacobins .
The democratic socialists are exciting , sure .
They are also terrifying .
How can you tell the rest of the Democratic field is uninspired ?
Two billionaires have bought support through supremacy of the airwaves .
It 's not Mike Bloomberg 's personality that has contributed to his rise .
It 's his checkbook .
Worse than the dullness of the contestants is the plodding horserace .
Biden has floated above his rivals since the beginning .
The one major change in the dynamic has been Warren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exciting moments came when Kamala Harris ambushed Biden in the first debate and Tulsi Gabbard sideswiped Harris in the second .
Months passed without any incident .
The most recent controversy is whether Sanders told Warren a woman ca n't be president .
Surely they can do better than that .
Sanders victories in Iowa and New Hampshire would liven things up .
For a while .
The fundamental problem is the Democratic primary is a sideshow .
For four-and-a-half years the main event in American politics has been Donald Trump .
Policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the issue .
Everything revolves around him .
`` Our political solar system , in short , has been characterized not by two equally competing suns , '' wrote the political scientist Samuel Lubell , `` but by a sun and a moon .
It is within the majority party that the issues of any particular period are fought out ; while the minority party shines in reflected radiance of the heat thus generated . ''
The party system Lubell described no longer exists .
The parties are shells .
The incumbent has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the GOP four years before winning the presidency .
Bernie Sanders is running for the nomination of a party he has never joined and does n't trust .
What matters today are individual brands .
And no brand is more prominent , more polarizing , more overpowering than Donald J. Trump 's .

The Fox News website highlights "hot topics" at the top of the page. As I write, the topics are: "Kobe Bryant dead," "Trump impeachment," and "Coronavirus." Compelling—and in the last case terrifying—stories. But something is missing: the Democratic primary.
The Iowa caucus will be held in a matter of days. New Hampshire votes a week after that. Twelve Democrats are still in the race. Nobody cares.
Maybe that's harsh. No doubt the candidates' mothers are paying attention. Yet in two decades of serious observation of politics I have not seen a presidential primary that exerts less of a hold on the nation's attention than this one. Why?
The obvious answer is impeachment. It is all Washington cares about. The trial of President Trump hasn’t just overshadowed the campaign. It's stopped it. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Amy Klobuchar, who are in the game in Iowa, as well as Michael Bennet, who is not, have been strapped to their chairs. Think of all the selfies Warren has missed out on. She must be despondent.
Because the television camera in the Senate chamber is pointed at the rostrum, Warren and Sanders can't even communicate to their supporters through hand gestures. Nor have Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg capitalized on the opportunity of having Iowa to themselves. They can't break through wall-to-wall coverage of senators' questions and legal maneuvers, of John Bolton's book, of Mitch McConnell's quest to end the trial as soon as possible.
True, impeachment has kept Biden's name in the news. But not in a way he would like. Trump's defense has drawn further attention to Hunter Biden's questionable position on the board of Ukrainian gas giant Burisma. What was Hunter being paid for? Relationship advice? His dad doesn't have a good answer. Whether he likes it or not, impeachment reinforces the impression that Joe Biden is a lifelong D.C. politician whose family benefits from his connections.
Look at the numbers. Prior to Nancy Pelosi's announcement of the impeachment inquiry on September 24, Biden was at 44 percent favorable, 49 percent unfavorable. Last week he was 41 percent favorable, 53 percent unfavorable. That isn't progress.
President Trump's job approval rating hasn't budged. It was 45-52 in the Real Clear Politics average then and now. And Trump has improved in head-to-head matchups. In the late October ABC News / Washington Post poll, Biden held a 15-point advantage over Trump. As of last week's poll, his lead had been cut to four points.
If Nancy Pelosi thought impeachment would help the Democratic frontrunner, she was mistaken. That's not strategy. It's what Will Ferrell, portraying George W. Bush, once called "strategery." (Of course, Pelosi's objective may have been simply to insulate herself from a left-wing rebellion.)
Biden's troubles suggest another reason for the lack of excitement. The candidates are weak and uninteresting. Biden is barely comprehensible. Buttigieg has all the pizzazz of a PowerPoint. Warren reminds you of your least favorite professor.
Sanders and his surrogate-successor Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez draw crowds. But so did the Jacobins. The democratic socialists are exciting, sure. They are also terrifying.
How can you tell the rest of the Democratic field is uninspired? Two billionaires have bought support through supremacy of the airwaves. It's not Mike Bloomberg's personality that has contributed to his rise. It's his checkbook.
Worse than the dullness of the contestants is the plodding horserace. Biden has floated above his rivals since the beginning. The one major change in the dynamic has been Warren's rise and fall. The two exciting moments came when Kamala Harris ambushed Biden in the first debate and Tulsi Gabbard sideswiped Harris in the second. Months passed without any incident. The most recent controversy is whether Sanders told Warren a woman can't be president. Surely they can do better than that.
Sanders victories in Iowa and New Hampshire would liven things up. For a while. The fundamental problem is the Democratic primary is a sideshow.
For four-and-a-half years the main event in American politics has been Donald Trump. Policy isn't the issue. He is the issue. Everything revolves around him. "Our political solar system, in short, has been characterized not by two equally competing suns," wrote the political scientist Samuel Lubell, "but by a sun and a moon. It is within the majority party that the issues of any particular period are fought out; while the minority party shines in reflected radiance of the heat thus generated."
The party system Lubell described no longer exists. The parties are shells. The incumbent has changed parties five times. He settled on the GOP four years before winning the presidency. Bernie Sanders is running for the nomination of a party he has never joined and doesn't trust.
What matters today are individual brands. And no brand is more prominent, more polarizing, more overpowering than Donald J. Trump's.


freebeacon--2020-01-30--‘F—ing Traitor’: Sen. Collins Releases Abusive Voicemails Ahead of Impeachment Vote

Sen. Susan Collins ( R. , Maine ) has been receiving profanity-laced voicemails ahead of the Senate vote to determine whether witnesses will testify in President Donald Trump 's impeachment trial .
This week , Collins 's office released several of the voicemails to the media .
`` You 're a disgrace !
A disgrace to this country .
Not just to the Senate , but to your country .
You 're a traitor .
You 're a f—ing traitor , '' one man said .
`` You 're going to lose , Susan Collins .
You 're going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ b—h for Donald Trump , '' a woman said .
`` Are you in some kind of satanic cult ?
I do n't understand why you 're doing the devil 's work , '' another woman said .
`` I truly am confused as to why you hate America . ''
Collins and her staff received various abusive and threatening voicemails in September 2018 ahead of the confirmation vote for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh , including a call from someone wishing Collins 's 25-year-old staffer would be raped and impregnated .
Bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested in October 2019 that Collins deserved the death threats she has received during Trump 's presidency .
After quoting a statement from Collins 's spokeswoman about the threats , Nemitz wrote , `` Maybe it ’ s just me , but if I was experiencing all of those things , I ’ d start wondering what the heck I ’ m doing to tick so many people off . ''
Collins , who is seeking her fifth term in office , is one of the top Democratic targets in their effort to @ @ @ @ @ @

Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine) has been receiving profanity-laced voicemails ahead of the Senate vote to determine whether witnesses will testify in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial. This week, Collins's office released several of the voicemails to the media.
"You're a disgrace! A disgrace to this country. Not just to the Senate, but to your country. You're a traitor. You're a f—ing traitor," one man said.
"You're going to lose, Susan Collins. You're going to lose. You're just a little b—h for Donald Trump," a woman said.
"Are you in some kind of satanic cult? I don't understand why you're doing the devil's work," another woman said. "I truly am confused as to why you hate America."
Collins and her staff received various abusive and threatening voicemails in September 2018 ahead of the confirmation vote for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, including a call from someone wishing Collins's 25-year-old staffer would be raped and impregnated.
Bill Nemitz, a Portland Press-Herald columnist, suggested in October 2019 that Collins deserved the death threats she has received during Trump's presidency. After quoting a statement from Collins's spokeswoman about the threats, Nemitz wrote, "Maybe it’s just me, but if I was experiencing all of those things, I’d start wondering what the heck I’m doing to tick so many people off."
Collins, who is seeking her fifth term in office, is one of the top Democratic targets in their effort to flip the Senate this November.


Beacon Extra

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon ’ s morning newsletter , your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom .
To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning , sign up here .
IMPEACHMENT UPDATE … Donald J. Trump is still President of the United States .
NON-DENIAL DENIAL … `` Koch Institute Calls Anti-Semitism Charge ‘ Absurd , ’ Stands by Scholar Who Called American Rabbis Israel ’ s ‘ Fifth Column ’ , '' by WFB ’ s Eliana Johnson : Will Ruger , the vice president for research and policy at the Charles Koch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request for comment about whether the foundation considers a series of statements from Quincy Institute fellows bigoted or anti-Semitic .
Those statements include a 2013 accusation from Lawrence Wilkerson , a nonresident fellow at the institute , that Syria ’ s use of chemical weapons on innocent civilians `` could ’ ve been an Israeli false flag operation . ''
Wilkerson … also argued in 2007 that `` the Jewish lobby in America '' had been the primary driver of the Bush administration ’ s decision to invade Iraq in 2003 .
VC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : U.S .
Actions in Vietnam ‘ Almost as Bad as What Hitler Did ' , '' by WFB 's Adam Kredo : Speaking to a class of ninth graders during his 1972 gubernatorial run in Vermont , Sanders accused the United States of committing atrocities the students would not believe and defended the communist North Vietnamese fighters , according to reporting in the Rutland Herald , a Vermont newspaper .
Sanders compared U.S. actions in Vietnam to those of Adolf Hitler , who murdered some six million Jews .
THE FIRST STAGE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ You can not be acquitted if you do n't have a trial ' , '' via WT : `` You can not be acquitted if you don ’ t have a trial .
You don ’ t have a trial if you don ’ t have witnesses and documentation and all of that , '' the California Democrat said … '' I hope and I pray that the senators can handle the truth and will listen to not only other witnesses but John Bolton as well .
And we ’ ll see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` The fate of our nation is riding on how this is resolved . ''
CHIEF PANDER BEAR … `` Warren Says Her Education Secretary Must Meet Trans Child ’ s Approval , '' via DAILY CALLER : [ Sen. Elizabeth ] Warren added that because it was a young trans person who had asked her about a `` welcoming community , '' she will also require that young trans person to interview the future education secretary .
`` I ’ m gon na have a secretary of education that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Warren said .
`` And only if this person believes that our secretary of education nominee is someone who is committed to creating a welcoming environment , a safe environment , and a full educational curriculum for everyone , will that person actually be advanced to be secretary of education . ''
SUFFRAGE FOR PSYCHOS … `` Sanders ’ s Support for Racist Killer Dylann Roof ’ s Right to Vote Could Pose Challenge in Crucial S.C. Primary , '' by WFB ’ s Andrew Stiles : Sen. Bernie Sanders 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extending voting rights to violent felons such as Dylann Roof , the racist gunman who murdered nine people at a black church in South Carolina , could prove problematic as the Democratic presidential candidates set their sights on the Palmetto State primary … Sanders confirmed that he would extend voting rights to `` terrible people , '' including those convicted of violent crimes , as part of his mission to create a `` vibrant democracy '' in America .
NOT BARACK … `` In Iowa 's small black community , little love for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ via REUTERS : Residents here , in two dozen interviews , said they felt overlooked by the Democratic candidates , a troubling sign for a party that will need the support of African-American voters for its eventual nominee in the Nov. 3 presidential election … Contrary to national polls that show Joe Biden is the most popular Democratic candidate among African Americans , only two of the 24 interviewed said they preferred former President Barack Obama ’ s vice president .
WHY SO SERIOUS ?
… `` AP-NORC poll : GOP more fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' via AP : On the verge of the first votes being cast in a primary contest with no clear leader , 66 percent of Democrats report anxiety about the election , compared with 46 percent of Republicans .
Democrats are also more likely to feel frustration .
Republicans , meanwhile , are more likely than Democrats to declare excitement about the race , and the share of enthusiastic Republicans appears to be rising .
SEND THE BOMBERS … `` Trump Admin Again Grants Iran Pass to Conduct Nuclear Work , Angering GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adam Kredo : Multiple lawmakers and former administration officials … told the Washington Free Beacon that senior officials in the administration continue to undermine President Donald Trump 's `` maximum pressure '' campaign on Iran … '' Sanctioning Iran 's Atomic Energy Organization is n't effective if we keep their program on life support through waivers for international assistance , '' Sen. Tom Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
said … `` Do n't reward the ayatollahs for their nuclear blackmail . ''
AND THE MISSILES … `` Here ’ s why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Iraq yet , '' via MILITARY TIMES : According to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Gen. Mark Milley , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , there ’ s a legal hurdle the military must overcome to deploy those systems there .
`` One of the things we have to do is make sure we have permission from the host government , and that ’ s one of the matters we have to work on and work through , '' Esper said at a news conference Thursday .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s one issue .
There may be others with regard to the placement , things like that , more tactical , operational—it ’ s a combination of things . ''
LET ’ S HEAR HIM OUT … `` MSNBC Pundit : If Acquitted , Trump Will ‘ Shut Down Voting ’ in California , '' via MRC : During MSNBC ’ s special coverage of the Senate impeachment trial on Thursday , Jason Johnson , a favorite pundit of the left-wing cable channel , went on a tirade and warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would embolden him to `` shut down voting '' in the entire state of California ahead of the 2020 election .
LIBS HARASS FEMALE SENATOR … `` ‘ F—ing Traitor ’ : Sen. Collins Releases Abusive Voicemails Ahead of Impeachment Vote , '' by WFB ’ s Cameron Cawthorne : `` You 're going to lose , Susan Collins .
You 're going to lose .
You 're just a little b—h for Donald Trump , '' a woman said … Collins and her staff received various abusive and threatening voicemails in September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh , including a call from someone wishing Collins 's 25-year-old staffer would be raped and impregnated .
NEXT , THEY ’ LL PUNISH THEM WITH GIRL SCOUT COOKIES … `` Brooklyn bakers tried to send cakes to 53 GOP senators asking them to let John Bolton testify in Trump 's impeachment trial , '' via CNN : Colin Bishopp , the executive director for the environmental nonprofit PACE Foundation , worked with Brooklyn-based Butter & Scotch to send what they 're calling `` impeachment cakes '' to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far , cakes have only been delivered to the offices of Republican Sens .
Rob Portman of Ohio and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi .
Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz 's office turned his cake away .
FIELD OF BORES … `` Whatever Happened to the Democratic Primary ?
, '' by WFB ’ s Matthew Continetti : The trial of President Trump hasn ’ t just overshadowed the campaign .
It 's stopped it .
Bernie Sanders , Elizabeth Warren , and Amy Klobuchar , who are in the game in Iowa , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not , have been strapped to their chairs .
Think of all the selfies Warren has missed out on .
She must be despondent … [ Joe ] Biden 's troubles suggest another reason for the lack of excitement .
The candidates are weak and uninteresting .
Biden is barely comprehensible .
[ Pete ] Buttigieg has all the pizzazz of a PowerPoint .
Warren reminds you of your least favorite professor .
DAYS SINCE JOE BIDEN DID A SUNDAY SHOW : 1,146 .
Come back , Joe !
`` You know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Joe Biden . ''
—Former President Barack Obama Thanks for reading !
Send tips to rutz @ freebeacon.com .

Welcome to the Washington Free Beacon’s morning newsletter, your comprehensive briefing on the Enemies of Freedom. To get this newsletter sent straight to your inbox every morning, sign up here.
MENSHEVIKS PREPARE FOR LAST STAND … "Democratic Leaders Willing to Risk Party Damage to Stop Bernie Sanders," via NYT: Since Mr. Sanders’s victory in Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, the Times has interviewed 93 party officials—all of them superdelegates … and found overwhelming opposition to handing the Vermont senator the nomination if he arrived with the most delegates but fell short of a majority …
Since Mr. Sanders won Nevada’s caucuses on Saturday, four donors have approached former representative Steve Israel of New York to ask if he can suggest someone to run a super PAC aimed at blocking Mr. Sanders. He declined their offer.
THE NEW NEW DEMOCRATS … "2020 Dem Plans Reflect Party of the ‘Professional Class’," by WFB’s Charles Fain Lehman: The [Manhattan Institute] report examines the distributive impacts of major proposals, including Medicare for All, student debt forgiveness, and the repeal of key components of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). It argues that while Democratic candidates talk big about supporting workers and the poor, these programs primarily serve the interests of the wealthy …
Long branded as representatives of the working class, the Democratic Party has come to appeal primarily to the college-educated, often affluent residents of urban America, data indicate.
MIKE GOT IT DONE … "Bloomberg Locked Up Nearly Half a Million People on Marijuana Charges," by WFB’s Yuichiro Kakutani: The administrations of [Michael] Bloomberg's three predecessors … collectively arrested 226,000 people, or 25 people daily, for the same charge over a 24-year period between 1978 and 2001. During Bloomberg's tenure, approximately 471,000 people were arrested on possession charges …
The possession arrests for Bloomberg's tenure peaked in 2011 when the police hauled in more than 50,000 New Yorkers.
DOWNLOAD UNAVAILABLE IN WISCONSIN … "Coming to a podcast near you: Hillary Clinton," via POLITICO: The former first lady, secretary of State, and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee is planning to launch a new audio program in late spring, just in time for her to have a powerful new megaphone during the 2020 election …
Clinton’s show will feature her in conversation with a brand-name guest, who might be drawn from world leaders and politicians, of course, but also celebrities, authors and perhaps famous chefs.
BOOK THROWN … "Former Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh sentenced to 3 years for ‘Healthy Holly’ children’s book fraud scheme," via BALTIMORE SUN: [Pugh] told reporters: "This is not the last you’ll see of Catherine Pugh" …
Pugh’s political fall began in March when the Baltimore Sun revealed she had entered into a no-bid deal with the University of Maryland Medical System, where Pugh sat on the board of directors, to buy 100,000 copies of her sloppily self-published "Healthy Holly" books for $500,000.
YANG HOLDS OUT FOR BETTER OFFER … "Michael Bloomberg’s Campaign Sought Andrew Yang’s Backing, Floated Vice- Presidential Slot," via WSJ: Aides to the former New York City mayor reached out to discuss ways the two entrepreneurs-turned-politicians could work together as Mr. Bloomberg seeks the Democratic nomination, these people said.
Mr. Yang, who dropped out of the race earlier this month, didn’t commit to join forces, as he considers his own political future, a third person familiar with the discussions said.
NO SURRENDER … "Congressional Republicans Warn Trump Against Inking Peace Deal With Taliban," by WFB’s Adam Kredo: The lawmakers … are demanding they receive assurances the administration "will not place the security of the American people into the hands of the Taliban" …
The lawmakers are also demanding the release of so-called secret annexes in the draft agreement that they claim establish a set of unknown side deals with the Taliban, a move reminiscent of the Obama administration's secret agreements with Iran when the Iran nuclear deal was being negotiated.
TEHRAN MARY … "Iran Vice President Is One of 7 Officials to Contract Coronavirus," via NYT: The disclosure came a day after a cabinet meeting in which she was in close contact with other government leaders, including [Hassan] Rouhani. A photo posted by a BBC Persia reporter on Twitter showed she had been sitting a few yards from the president.
[Masoumeh] Ebtekar, one of four vice presidents, was known to Americans as "Mary" during the Tehran hostage crisis four decades ago, when, as a young revolutionary, she was a spokeswoman for the captors of the 52 Americans held at the United States Embassy.
PICTURE OF COWARDICE … "Sony World Photography Awards Removes Hong Kong Protest Images," via HYPERALLERGIC: Since pro-democracy protests prompted by the Hong Kong government’s now-scrapped extradition bill erupted across the city in spring 2019, China has tightened its grip on the media …
Now, some speculate WPO yielded to pressure from China to take down the photographs, especially because other entries featuring arguably graphic or politically sensitive content have not faced a similar fate in past competitions.
THE REAL VICTIMS … "Mark Halperin Says Murderers Are Treated More Fairly Than Canceled People," via MOTHER JONES: "I haven’t had a job interview in two years," Halperin said, adding that he has applied to work at restaurants and Target, trying to get health insurance for his three-year-old son …
When [asked to] differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate ways that he had been held accountable for his behavior … he said victims deserve "top priority" but complained again that there isn’t a mechanism for reintegrating canceled people.
THIS IS CNN … "Sasse Criticizes CNN for Referring to a Baby as a ‘Fetus That Was Born’," via CNN: "The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act is about babies who have already been born," [Sen. Ben] Sasse said to the Washington Free Beacon. "I’m glad CNN finally made the correction, but there’s no reason this needed to take two days. Planned Parenthood desperately wants to misrepresent this bipartisan, pro-babies bill, and unfortunately too many reporters have bought their spin hook, line, and sinker."
PUNK IS DEAD … "Billy Idol is helping de Blasio take on idling cars in new campaign," via NY POST: Billy Idol has a new Rebel Yell: helping Mayor Bill de Blasio fight fume-spewing vehicles that idle on Big Apple streets …
The campaign will also publicize the city’s 2018 "Citizens Air Complaint Program," where individuals who see a bus or delivery truck idling for longer than four minutes can file a complaint and collect a 25 percent bounty off the fine, worth $87.50.
"The First Postmodern Pandemic," via WFB’s Matthew Continetti: We were better off when the media focused on impeachment. Now that it is interested in coronavirus, a familiar pattern will set in. Data will be publicized without the slightest sense of proportion. The most outrageous scenarios will receive the most attention. Speculation will be paraded as fact …
The Washington Post transcribes Democratic Party talking points when it suggests Vice President Mike Pence is incapable of overseeing the government's efforts because he opposes needle-sharing programs. Among the reasons [President Donald] Trump is said to have weakened public health? He defunded Planned Parenthood.
Thanks for reading! Send tips to rutz@freebeacon.com.


freebeacon--2020-01-31--Bernie Sanders in 1972: U.S. Actions in Vietnam ‘Almost as Bad as What Hitler Did’

As antiwar sentiment spread across the country in the early 1970s , a young Bernie Sanders accused the United States of committing atrocities on par with those of Nazi Germany , saying U.S. military action in Vietnam was `` almost as bad as what Hitler did . ''
Speaking to a class of ninth graders during his 1972 gubernatorial run in Vermont , Sanders accused the United States of committing atrocities the students would not believe and defended the communist North Vietnamese fighters , according to reporting in the Rutland Herald , a Vermont newspaper .
Sanders compared U.S. actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who murdered some six million Jews .
The American military undertook actions that were `` almost as bad as what Hitler did , '' the paper quoted Sanders as saying to the class of around 30 students at Rutland Junior High School .
Sanders , who declared himself a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War , said during his remarks to the class that the North Vietnamese were not his enemy .
`` They 're a very , very poor people .
Some of them do n't have shoes , '' Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can get it .
And they have been fighting for the freedom of their country for 25 years .
They can hardly fight back . ''
More than 58,000 American military members died or went missing in the Vietnam War .
Sanders 's past is facing increased scrutiny as he has surged to frontrunner status ahead of the Iowa caucus next week .
Sanders has already courted controversy for hiring several individuals who have espoused anti-Israel views .
The Washington Free Beacon reported on Tuesday , for instance , that a top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States orchestrated the 9/11 terror attacks in New York City .
Sanders prefaced his remarks to the students with a warning , according to the paper .
`` Some things I 'm going to say may upset you , '' he said .
`` But I have to say them . ''
These `` things '' included a defense of North Vietnamese fighters and accusations that `` a few rich , powerful individuals control many events in the country , '' according to the report .
The students are reported to have objected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States acted as a conquering force in Vietnam , as well as his position that those who evaded the draft should be granted amnesty , saying that it would not be fair to parents of soldiers killed in the war .
The Oct. 19 , 1972 , Rutland Herald article can be viewed in full here .
Sanders , then running as a member of the Liberty Union party , was an inconsequential actor in the 1972 election—he received 2,175 votes , amounting to just over 1 percent of the vote , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an antiwar platform that includes opposition to the use of U.S. military force against Iran and other regional state sponsors of terrorism .
Sanders 's antiwar activism is well documented and has been raised as a concern during past elections .
During the 2016 cycle , a Des Moines Register column by a Vietnam veteran questioned whether someone who views the military as Sanders does could be trusted as commander in chief .
`` How on earth could a person claiming to be a conscientious objector become the commander in chief of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' wrote Steve Wikert , a Vietnam veteran .
The Sanders campaign did not respond to a Free Beacon request for comment on the senator 's remarks .

As antiwar sentiment spread across the country in the early 1970s, a young Bernie Sanders accused the United States of committing atrocities on par with those of Nazi Germany, saying U.S. military action in Vietnam was "almost as bad as what Hitler did."
Speaking to a class of ninth graders during his 1972 gubernatorial run in Vermont, Sanders accused the United States of committing atrocities the students would not believe and defended the communist North Vietnamese fighters, according to reporting in the Rutland Herald, a Vermont newspaper. Sanders compared U.S. actions in Vietnam to those of Adolf Hitler, who murdered some six million Jews.
The American military undertook actions that were "almost as bad as what Hitler did," the paper quoted Sanders as saying to the class of around 30 students at Rutland Junior High School.
Sanders, who declared himself a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, said during his remarks to the class that the North Vietnamese were not his enemy. "They're a very, very poor people. Some of them don't have shoes," Sanders said. "They eat rice when they can get it. And they have been fighting for the freedom of their country for 25 years. They can hardly fight back."
More than 58,000 American military members died or went missing in the Vietnam War.
Sanders's past is facing increased scrutiny as he has surged to frontrunner status ahead of the Iowa caucus next week. Sanders has already courted controversy for hiring several individuals who have espoused anti-Israel views. The Washington Free Beacon reported on Tuesday, for instance, that a top Sanders campaign surrogate had claimed the United States orchestrated the 9/11 terror attacks in New York City.
Sanders prefaced his remarks to the students with a warning, according to the paper. "Some things I'm going to say may upset you," he said. "But I have to say them."
These "things" included a defense of North Vietnamese fighters and accusations that "a few rich, powerful individuals control many events in the country," according to the report.
The students are reported to have objected to Sanders's assertion that the United States acted as a conquering force in Vietnam, as well as his position that those who evaded the draft should be granted amnesty, saying that it would not be fair to parents of soldiers killed in the war.
The Oct. 19, 1972, Rutland Herald article can be viewed in full here.
Sanders, then running as a member of the Liberty Union party, was an inconsequential actor in the 1972 election—he received 2,175 votes, amounting to just over 1 percent of the vote, according to Vermont election records .
Sanders is currently running on an antiwar platform that includes opposition to the use of U.S. military force against Iran and other regional state sponsors of terrorism.
Sanders's antiwar activism is well documented and has been raised as a concern during past elections. During the 2016 cycle, a Des Moines Register column by a Vietnam veteran questioned whether someone who views the military as Sanders does could be trusted as commander in chief.
"How on earth could a person claiming to be a conscientious objector become the commander in chief of the most powerful military in the world?" wrote Steve Wikert, a Vietnam veteran.
The Sanders campaign did not respond to a Free Beacon request for comment on the senator's remarks.