freebeacon--2020-08-19--Multimillionaire Obamas Haven’t Donated to Joe Biden’s Campaign

Barack H. Obama and his wife Michelle became fabulously wealthy after leaving the White House in 2017 .
For whatever reason , they have n't given a single dollar of their massive fortune to Joe Biden 's presidential campaign .
President Obama has hosted virtual fundraisers for his former running mate and urged Democrats to give `` any amount you can '' to Biden 's campaign .
Michelle addressed the virtual Democratic convention on Monday , but did n't even show her arms .
Barack is scheduled to give the primetime address on Wednesday night .
But neither have personally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to federal election records .
It 's not as if they ca n't afford it .
The power couple received a joint book advance worth as much as $ 65 million for their post-White House memoirs .
( Barack still has n't finished writing . )
They also inked a deal with Netflix worth more than $ 50 million .
The Obamas have used their giant piles of money to make a difference in the world by promoting economic justice .
For example , in 2019 they purchased a waterfront mansion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million .
Two years earlier , they bought a mansion in Washington , D.C. , for $ 8.1 million .
No one thinks that the Obamas want Donald Trump to be president .
But whether or not they actually want Joe Biden to be president is a different story .
According to media reports , Barack has repeatedly tried to discourage his former VP from running for president .
According to Politico , Biden recalls that as he considered a presidential campaign in 2016 , his former boss `` was not encouraging .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` not to end his career in embarrassment . ''
The New York Times reported that Obama `` quietly pressured Mr. Biden to sit out the race , partly because he believed Mrs. Clinton had a better chance of building on his agenda . ''
That did n't turn out so well .
Biden sought Obama 's guidance again before entering the race in 2020 , but his former boss was n't any more encouraging the second time around .
`` You don ’ t have to do this , Joe , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly told Biden in 2019 .
Obama 's name was attached to some anonymously sourced quotes trashing Biden 's prospects .
For example , he reportedly told one 2020 candidate that Biden `` does n't really have it , '' and is also said to have warned : `` Don ’ t underestimate Joe ’ s ability to fuck things up . ''
After Biden ignored his advice and entered the race , Obama stayed on the sidelines .
The glaring lack of support did not go unnoticed .
Following his crucial primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told aides that Obama had n't `` lifted a finger '' to help him .
Michelle 's address to the convention was noteworthy for two reasons : 1 ) The media absolutely wet themselves , and 2 ) It was pre-recorded , and therefore did n't mention Kamala Harris , the historic black woman Biden chose as a running mate .
Seriously ?
She could n't have weighed in on the so-called most important election in American history in a more timely fashion ?
Was she too busy recording podcasts or decorating one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mad about the time that her husband called Harris the `` best-looking attorney general in the country '' ?
It 's bizarre , at the very least .
Maybe the Obamas are sick of hearing New York Times editors describe Biden 's platform as `` far more liberal than Barack Obama 's was years ago . ''
Maybe they are just happy being rich and paying less in taxes thanks to President Trump .
Biden was one of the only candidates in the 2020 Democratic primary willing to defend Obama 's legacy on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thanks he gets .
There is , however , still time .
And Barack Obama has never encountered a problem he could n't solve with a riveting speech .
Stay tuned !

The former first couple has repeatedly shunned their former colleague. Why?
Barack H. Obama and his wife Michelle became fabulously wealthy after leaving the White House in 2017. For whatever reason, they haven't given a single dollar of their massive fortune to Joe Biden's presidential campaign.
President Obama has hosted virtual fundraisers for his former running mate and urged Democrats to give "any amount you can" to Biden's campaign. Michelle addressed the virtual Democratic convention on Monday, but didn't even show her arms. Barack is scheduled to give the primetime address on Wednesday night. But neither have personally contributed a dime to Biden's campaign, according to federal election records.
It's not as if they can't afford it. The power couple received a joint book advance worth as much as $65 million for their post-White House memoirs. (Barack still hasn't finished writing.) They also inked a deal with Netflix worth more than $50 million.
The Obamas have used their giant piles of money to make a difference in the world by promoting economic justice. For example, in 2019 they purchased a waterfront mansion on Martha's Vineyard for $11.8 million. Two years earlier, they bought a mansion in Washington, D.C., for $8.1 million.
No one thinks that the Obamas want Donald Trump to be president. But whether or not they actually want Joe Biden to be president is a different story. According to media reports, Barack has repeatedly tried to discourage his former VP from running for president.
According to Politico, Biden recalls that as he considered a presidential campaign in 2016, his former boss "was not encouraging." Obama adviser David Plouffe urged him "not to end his career in embarrassment." The New York Times reported that Obama "quietly pressured Mr. Biden to sit out the race, partly because he believed Mrs. Clinton had a better chance of building on his agenda." That didn't turn out so well.
Biden sought Obama's guidance again before entering the race in 2020, but his former boss wasn't any more encouraging the second time around. "You don’t have to do this, Joe, you really don’t," Obama reportedly told Biden in 2019.
Obama's name was attached to some anonymously sourced quotes trashing Biden's prospects. For example, he reportedly told one 2020 candidate that Biden "doesn't really have it," and is also said to have warned: "Don’t underestimate Joe’s ability to fuck things up."
After Biden ignored his advice and entered the race, Obama stayed on the sidelines. The glaring lack of support did not go unnoticed. Following his crucial primary victory in South Carolina, Biden reportedly told aides that Obama hadn't "lifted a finger" to help him.
Michelle's address to the convention was noteworthy for two reasons: 1) The media absolutely wet themselves, and 2) It was pre-recorded, and therefore didn't mention Kamala Harris, the historic black woman Biden chose as a running mate.
Seriously? She couldn't have weighed in on the so-called most important election in American history in a more timely fashion? Was she too busy recording podcasts or decorating one of her mansions? Is she still mad about the time that her husband called Harris the "best-looking attorney general in the country"?
It's bizarre, at the very least. Maybe the Obamas are sick of hearing New York Times editors describe Biden's platform as "far more liberal than Barack Obama's was years ago." Maybe they are just happy being rich and paying less in taxes thanks to President Trump.
Biden was one of the only candidates in the 2020 Democratic primary willing to defend Obama's legacy on most issues, and this is the thanks he gets. There is, however, still time. And Barack Obama has never encountered a problem he couldn't solve with a riveting speech. Stay tuned!


freebeacon--2020-08-19--Mysterious Iranian ‘Ghost Ships’ Reappear in Persian Gulf After Months of Darkness

Several Iranian `` ghost ships '' engaged in illicit shipments of the country 's heavily sanctioned oil have reappeared on radar systems after months of silence , raising fresh concerns about the regime 's efforts to skirt international sanctions in a bid to fill its cash reserves .
At least 80 Iranian crude tankers have been sailing across the globe for the past year as `` ghost ships , '' a practice of turning off a vessel 's GPS system to hide its movements from international monitors .
This practice is illegal due to the dangers of causing an accident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these ships mysteriously reengaged their GPS transponders this month , providing a window into Iran 's illegal shipment of oil to countries such as China , which has emerged as one of Tehran 's biggest international supporters as the Trump administration tightens the economic noose on Iran 's economy .
United Against Nuclear Iran ( UANI ) , a watchdog group that has been tracking Iran 's ghost ships , told the Washington Free Beacon that the sudden reappearance of these ships in the Persian Gulf may be due to Iran 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In order to avoid a lethal accident during training missions , Iranian leaders may have ordered the ships to reactivate their transponders .
In the years since the Trump administration enacted sanctions meant to bring Iran 's lucrative oil trade down to zero , the regime has concocted several plots to evade U.S. and international authorities .
Tehran 's so-called ghost ships are among the regime 's most dangerous gambits , given the possibility of causing a crash that could lead to a major ecological disaster .
At least one of the vessels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to UANI .
Senior U.S. officials familiar with Iran 's activity told the Free Beacon that they will continue to sanction Iranian violations , including the illicit shipment of crude oil to China .
The administration is set on preventing Iran from selling its oil and took the unprecedented step this month of intercepting a shipment bound for Venezuela , which has found common cause with Tehran as it faces down its own set of American sanctions .
`` The regime has historically moved hundreds of millions of dollars ' worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terrorism , '' Brian Hook , the administration 's top Iran envoy , told the Free Beacon .
`` The Trump administration has sanctioned any sanctionable activity , and we have taken down some of Iran 's shipping networks .
Iran cloaks the origin of its oil , falsifies documents , and hides the location of its vessels by turning off transponders , which violates maritime law and threatens safety . ''
Of the 80 Iranian ghost ships currently in operation , 14 have been spotted in August , according to data compiled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beacon .
At least 37 of these tankers have been running dark for more than a month and 18 of them have not been spotted at all since 2019 .
Iran 's National Iranian Tanker Company ( NITC ) , which the United States heavily sanctions , is responsible for operating the ships and is one of the hardline regime 's primary sources of cash .
The NITC has gone to great lengths to keep these ships operating under U.S. sanctions , particularly as the regime runs low on money .
One tanker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reappeared this month after having its transponder turned off since June 2020 .
Until that date , UANI officials had not spotted the ship since September 2019 .
It appeared this month in the Yellow Sea and changed its flag from Iran to Mongolia in a bid to further confuse international monitors .
The ship then traveled to China with a full stock of crude oil .
`` Iran is the only country whose ships switch off their trackers as a matter of national policy , '' Claire Jungman , UANI 's chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Iran has a history of concealing the destination of its oil sales by disabling its AIS tracking systems .
The only reason Iran would do this would be to violate sanctions and go undetected .
This obviously makes it difficult to gauge how much crude Tehran is actually exporting , estimates between ‘ observed ' and ‘ unobserved ' vary wildly . ''
At least two other tankers that reappeared have restocked their oil reserves and are also making their way to China and South Korea , according to UANI , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Persian Gulf may have reengaged their transponders to avoid a deadly accident during Iran 's military exercises earlier this month .
`` Given Iran 's abysmal record of ‘ friendly fire ' incidents , including its shooting down of the Ukrainian passenger jet earlier this year , Iranian authorities were loathe to repeat performance , '' UANI concluded in a written briefing on the tankers provided to the Free Beacon .

Several Iranian "ghost ships" engaged in illicit shipments of the country's heavily sanctioned oil have reappeared on radar systems after months of silence, raising fresh concerns about the regime's efforts to skirt international sanctions in a bid to fill its cash reserves.
At least 80 Iranian crude tankers have been sailing across the globe for the past year as "ghost ships," a practice of turning off a vessel's GPS system to hide its movements from international monitors. This practice is illegal due to the dangers of causing an accident in international waters.
At least 14 of these ships mysteriously reengaged their GPS transponders this month, providing a window into Iran's illegal shipment of oil to countries such as China, which has emerged as one of Tehran's biggest international supporters as the Trump administration tightens the economic noose on Iran's economy. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a watchdog group that has been tracking Iran's ghost ships, told the Washington Free Beacon that the sudden reappearance of these ships in the Persian Gulf may be due to Iran's recent military exercises in the region. In order to avoid a lethal accident during training missions, Iranian leaders may have ordered the ships to reactivate their transponders.
In the years since the Trump administration enacted sanctions meant to bring Iran's lucrative oil trade down to zero, the regime has concocted several plots to evade U.S. and international authorities. Tehran's so-called ghost ships are among the regime's most dangerous gambits, given the possibility of causing a crash that could lead to a major ecological disaster. At least one of the vessels is currently on its way to China, according to UANI.
Senior U.S. officials familiar with Iran's activity told the Free Beacon that they will continue to sanction Iranian violations, including the illicit shipment of crude oil to China. The administration is set on preventing Iran from selling its oil and took the unprecedented step this month of intercepting a shipment bound for Venezuela, which has found common cause with Tehran as it faces down its own set of American sanctions.
"The regime has historically moved hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of illicit oil—money then used to fund terrorism," Brian Hook, the administration's top Iran envoy, told the Free Beacon. "The Trump administration has sanctioned any sanctionable activity, and we have taken down some of Iran's shipping networks. Iran cloaks the origin of its oil, falsifies documents, and hides the location of its vessels by turning off transponders, which violates maritime law and threatens safety."
Of the 80 Iranian ghost ships currently in operation, 14 have been spotted in August, according to data compiled by UANI and provided to the Free Beacon. At least 37 of these tankers have been running dark for more than a month and 18 of them have not been spotted at all since 2019.
Iran's National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), which the United States heavily sanctions, is responsible for operating the ships and is one of the hardline regime's primary sources of cash. The NITC has gone to great lengths to keep these ships operating under U.S. sanctions, particularly as the regime runs low on money.
One tanker, known as "Happiness," reappeared this month after having its transponder turned off since June 2020. Until that date, UANI officials had not spotted the ship since September 2019. It appeared this month in the Yellow Sea and changed its flag from Iran to Mongolia in a bid to further confuse international monitors. The ship then traveled to China with a full stock of crude oil.
"Iran is the only country whose ships switch off their trackers as a matter of national policy," Claire Jungman, UANI's chief of staff, told the Free Beacon. "Iran has a history of concealing the destination of its oil sales by disabling its AIS tracking systems. The only reason Iran would do this would be to violate sanctions and go undetected. This obviously makes it difficult to gauge how much crude Tehran is actually exporting, estimates between 'observed' and 'unobserved' vary wildly."
At least two other tankers that reappeared have restocked their oil reserves and are also making their way to China and South Korea, according to UANI, which suspects that the tankers stationed in the Persian Gulf may have reengaged their transponders to avoid a deadly accident during Iran's military exercises earlier this month.
"Given Iran's abysmal record of 'friendly fire' incidents, including its shooting down of the Ukrainian passenger jet earlier this year, Iranian authorities were loathe to repeat performance," UANI concluded in a written briefing on the tankers provided to the Free Beacon.


freebeacon--2020-08-19--Goodyear Bans MAGA Apparel But Allows Black Lives Matter Gear

Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company bans workers from wearing MAGA hats and other `` politically affiliated slogans '' while on the job , but allows Black Lives Matter and pro-LGBT gear , according to a photo of the company 's `` zero-tolerance policy '' shared by an employee .
The employee told Topeka ’ s 13WIBW news that a Topeka-area plant manager presented a slide of acceptable and unacceptable expressions at a diversity training seminar .
While supporting Black Lives Matter and the LGBT community is acceptable , MAGA hats and gear related to Blue Lives Matter , All Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unacceptable .
Goodyear spokeswoman Melissa Monaco said that the company is dedicated to fostering an `` inclusive '' workplace and bans political expressions that `` fall outside the scope of equity issues . ''
`` Goodyear is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace where all of our associates can do their best in a spirit of teamwork , '' Monaco said .
`` As part of this commitment , we do allow our associates to express their support on racial injustice and other equity issues but ask that they refrain from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party as well as other similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of equity issues . ''
President Donald Trump responded to the leaked photo in a tweet Wednesday morning , calling on the public to boycott Goodyear for banning the MAGA caps .
Don ’ t buy GOODYEAR TIRES – They announced a BAN ON MAGA HATS .
Get better tires for far less !
( This is what the Radical Left Democrats do .
Two can play the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing it now ! )
.
Many institutions have implemented anti-racism and diversity training for their employees amid a summer of racial-justice and anti-police protests .
Seattle ’ s Office for Civil Rights created a whites-only diversity training earlier this summer , and Google said it would launch a series of anti-racism training seminars by 2021 .

Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company bans workers from wearing MAGA hats and other "politically affiliated slogans" while on the job, but allows Black Lives Matter and pro-LGBT gear, according to a photo of the company's "zero-tolerance policy" shared by an employee.
The employee told Topeka’s 13WIBW news that a Topeka-area plant manager presented a slide of acceptable and unacceptable expressions at a diversity training seminar. While supporting Black Lives Matter and the LGBT community is acceptable, MAGA hats and gear related to Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, or other political affiliations are unacceptable.
Goodyear spokeswoman Melissa Monaco said that the company is dedicated to fostering an "inclusive" workplace and bans political expressions that "fall outside the scope of equity issues."
"Goodyear is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace where all of our associates can do their best in a spirit of teamwork," Monaco said. "As part of this commitment, we do allow our associates to express their support on racial injustice and other equity issues but ask that they refrain from workplace expressions, verbal or otherwise, in support of political campaigning for any candidate or political party as well as other similar forms of advocacy that fall outside the scope of equity issues."


freebeacon--2020-08-19--Newman Sets Democrats Straight on the Post Office

David Rutz is senior writer at the Washington Free Beacon .
He was previously a sports reporter for two years @ @ @ @ @ freelance sports reporting for the Washington Post .
He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2010 @ @ @ @ @ Ga. His Twitter handle is @ DavidRutz .
He can be reached at rutz @ @ @

Postal employee Newman gives Democrats a reality check on the graces of the United States Postal Service.


freebeacon--2020-08-20--In Dark and Divisive Speech, Obama Seeks to Turn Back Clock on America

To the delight of professional journalists , former President Barack Obama gave a jaw-dropping speech at the Democratic convention on Wednesday .
Its dark and divisive tone signaled an attempt to drag America backwards by electing the man who served for eight years as his vice president .
Obama 's speech was the rhetorical equivalent of a culture war Hiroshima blast .
It offered some token words of praise for Joe Biden , whom he repeatedly urged not to run , but was infused with the desperate rantings of a man who needs to be praised .
`` He made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , effortlessly hogging the spotlight as usual .
Obama assailed the convictions of Donald Trump supporters , suggesting they `` do n't believe '' in American principles .
He cast the stakes of the upcoming election in stark terms , inviting Americans to fear their neighbors , described only as a nefarious `` they '' secretly plotting to destroy the country from within .
`` They are counting on your cynicism .
They know they ca n't win you over with their policies .
So they 're hoping to make it as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and to convince you that your vote does n't matter , '' Obama said while making threatening hand gestures at an oversized U.S. Constitution—an ominous backdrop for a speech teeming with vengeful rage .
`` That 's how they win . ''
Political journalist Tim Alberta argued that Obama 's speech was `` without precedent '' in that it was `` the sharpest criticism a former president has *ever made* of a sitting president . ''
Obama went on to call for a great redefining of America , urging citizens to `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` take '' the country back to a `` better place '' —where he is still the president .
At one point , Obama urged Democrats to engage in `` voting like never before , '' a possible dog whistle endorsing the use of voter fraud .
`` Barack Obama just delivered the finest convention speech in modern history ( again ) , '' mused Politico reporter Ryan Lizza on Twitter .

To the delight of professional journalists, former President Barack Obama gave a jaw-dropping speech at the Democratic convention on Wednesday. Its dark and divisive tone signaled an attempt to drag America backwards by electing the man who served for eight years as his vice president.
Obama's speech was the rhetorical equivalent of a culture war Hiroshima blast. It offered some token words of praise for Joe Biden, whom he repeatedly urged not to run, but was infused with the desperate rantings of a man who needs to be praised. "He made me a better president," Obama said, effortlessly hogging the spotlight as usual.
Obama assailed the convictions of Donald Trump supporters, suggesting they "don't believe" in American principles. He cast the stakes of the upcoming election in stark terms, inviting Americans to fear their neighbors, described only as a nefarious "they" secretly plotting to destroy the country from within.
"They are counting on your cynicism. They know they can't win you over with their policies. So they're hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote, and to convince you that your vote doesn't matter," Obama said while making threatening hand gestures at an oversized U.S. Constitution—an ominous backdrop for a speech teeming with vengeful rage. "That's how they win."
Political journalist Tim Alberta argued that Obama's speech was "without precedent" in that it was "the sharpest criticism a former president has *ever made* of a sitting president."
Obama went on to call for a great redefining of America, urging citizens to "give our democracy new meaning" and "take" the country back to a "better place"—where he is still the president. At one point, Obama urged Democrats to engage in "voting like never before," a possible dog whistle endorsing the use of voter fraud.
"Barack Obama just delivered the finest convention speech in modern history (again)," mused Politico reporter Ryan Lizza on Twitter.


freebeacon--2020-08-20--It’s Still Barack Obama’s Party

It’s Still Barack Obama’s Party

The programmers behind the Democratic National Convention must have known they had a problem .
Major speeches , from Elizabeth Warren , Barack Obama , and Kamala Harris , had to be included in the 10 p.m. hour to guarantee the widest audience .
How then to fill up the first 60 minutes ?
They settled for videos and speeches about a mishmash of hot button cultural issues : gun violence , immigration , climate change , women 's rights , and domestic violence .
I found Gabby Giffords 's speech moving , but the rest was a snooze .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or Pennsylvania would probably view with skepticism this litany of progressive causes .
Then she would change the channel as soon as Hillary Clinton appeared onscreen .
The second hour was more compelling .
Elizabeth Warren gave an effective speech .
She focused on an issue , child care , that is sure to be of interest to working moms .
She also made an argument for government policies that promote `` family infrastructure . ''
It 's a thought-provoking phrase that pro-natalist reformocons and national populists might want to appropriate for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ herself to the American public for the first time as the Democratic vice presidential nominee .
She repeated many of the personal details she included in her speech last week , and then made the case for the Biden-Harris ticket .
I thought the speech was fine , though not as good as Michelle Obama 's or Jill Biden 's .
But Harris had a major disadvantage : She followed President Obama .
The contrast in setting was striking .
Obama appeared from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia .
Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And then there were the differences in rhetoric and delivery .
It is hard for any politician , much less a freshman senator whose presidential campaign ended before the first votes were cast , to surpass Obama 's standard of performance .
When he burst onto the scene in 2004 , he called for national unity .
Now he warned that democracy might not survive a second Trump term .
It was an audacious claim that is sure to stir the emotions of the Democratic base .
( And those of the Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accolades for Obama 's every utterance are a reminder of the hold he maintains on the liberal imagination .
You can draw a line from Obama 's lead-from-behind administration to Donald Trump 's election , and Trump has erased many of Obama 's policies , but the former president is unimpeachable in the eyes of Bobo liberals .
I 'm eager to read tomorrow 's papers to see how analysts spin Harris 's address as the equivalent of Obama 's .
It was n't .
Obama 's ability to translate his rhetorical prowess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Caught up in the reveries of his presence , Democrats always seem to forget that their party was a wreck by the time Obama left the White House .
Obama made a similar case against Trump in 2016 .
It did n't work .
And he will keep making the case against Trump and other Republicans long into the future , whether or not his former vice president wins in November .
It was reported that Obama agreed to move his speech ahead of Harris 's to signal a `` passing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ torch did n't go anywhere .
This is still Barack and Michelle Obama 's Democratic Party .

The programmers behind the Democratic National Convention must have known they had a problem. Major speeches, from Elizabeth Warren, Barack Obama, and Kamala Harris, had to be included in the 10 p.m. hour to guarantee the widest audience. How then to fill up the first 60 minutes? They settled for videos and speeches about a mishmash of hot button cultural issues: gun violence, immigration, climate change, women's rights, and domestic violence. I found Gabby Giffords's speech moving, but the rest was a snooze. An Obama-Trump voter in Michigan, Wisconsin, or Pennsylvania would probably view with skepticism this litany of progressive causes. Then she would change the channel as soon as Hillary Clinton appeared onscreen.
The second hour was more compelling. Elizabeth Warren gave an effective speech. She focused on an issue, child care, that is sure to be of interest to working moms. She also made an argument for government policies that promote "family infrastructure." It's a thought-provoking phrase that pro-natalist reformocons and national populists might want to appropriate for their own purposes.
Kamala Harris introduced herself to the American public for the first time as the Democratic vice presidential nominee. She repeated many of the personal details she included in her speech last week, and then made the case for the Biden-Harris ticket. I thought the speech was fine, though not as good as Michelle Obama's or Jill Biden's. But Harris had a major disadvantage: She followed President Obama.
The contrast in setting was striking. Obama appeared from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. Harris spoke to an empty hotel ballroom. And then there were the differences in rhetoric and delivery. It is hard for any politician, much less a freshman senator whose presidential campaign ended before the first votes were cast, to surpass Obama's standard of performance. When he burst onto the scene in 2004, he called for national unity. Now he warned that democracy might not survive a second Trump term. It was an audacious claim that is sure to stir the emotions of the Democratic base. (And those of the Republican base, too.)
The media accolades for Obama's every utterance are a reminder of the hold he maintains on the liberal imagination. You can draw a line from Obama's lead-from-behind administration to Donald Trump's election, and Trump has erased many of Obama's policies, but the former president is unimpeachable in the eyes of Bobo liberals. I'm eager to read tomorrow's papers to see how analysts spin Harris's address as the equivalent of Obama's. It wasn't.
Obama's ability to translate his rhetorical prowess to victory for other Democrats is limited. Caught up in the reveries of his presence, Democrats always seem to forget that their party was a wreck by the time Obama left the White House. Obama made a similar case against Trump in 2016. It didn't work. And he will keep making the case against Trump and other Republicans long into the future, whether or not his former vice president wins in November. It was reported that Obama agreed to move his speech ahead of Harris's to signal a "passing of the torch." Well, the torch didn't go anywhere. This is still Barack and Michelle Obama's Democratic Party.


freebeacon--2020-08-20--This One Tweet Explains Everything You Need to Know About How the Media Covers Barack Obama

Kids these days have a stupid saying : `` That 's it .
That 's the tweet . ''
This @ @ @ @ @ of Ryan Lizza , chief Washington correspondent for Politico .
Exorbitant to the point of @ @ @ @ @ the media 's relationship with Barack Obama , who addressed the Democratic convention on Wednesday @ @ @

Kids these days have a stupid saying: "That's it. That's the tweet."
This is that tweet, courtesy of Ryan Lizza, chief Washington correspondent for Politico. Exorbitant to the point of parody, it perfectly captures the media's relationship with Barack Obama, who addressed the Democratic convention on Wednesday. Enjoy!
Barack Obama just delivered the finest convention speech in modern history (again). Spell-binding, chilling, optimistic, beautifully written, and expertly delivered. Incredible moment. — Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) August 20, 2020


freebeacon--2020-08-20--Dems Back Assault Weapons Ban at Convention

Democrats threw their weight behind a so-called assault weapons ban during Wednesday evening 's convention programming .
Democratic activists featured in a video montage pushed gun-control measures and praised Democratic nominee Joe Biden for pushing a ban on the sales of popular guns like the AR-15 .
`` I want a president who cares about our pain and grief , a president who will take on the gun lobby to ban assault weapons and close the loopholes to keep guns out of the hands of criminals , '' Moms Demand Action volunteer Deandra Dycus said .
`` Joe Biden has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And he will do it again as president . ''
The video was the first prominent discussion of gun control during the virtual DNC .
It came as gun sales have soared to record levels since March .
Though Democrats have been pursuing a new assault weapons ban since the previous one expired , Joe Biden ( D. ) has proposed a far more aggressive ban than the one he supported in 1994 .
His plan would require anyone who legally owns one of the so-called assault weapons to either turn them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay to register them under the same law that regulates machineguns and explosives .
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris ( D. ) went even further during her failed primary campaign by supporting the outright confiscation of assault weapons .
She advocated for a mandatory buyback of what she estimated to be up to 10 million legally owned firearms .
`` We have to have a buyback program and I support a mandatory gun buyback program , '' she said during an October policy forum hosted by the gun-control group March for Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have to have smart public policy that ’ s about taking those off the streets but doing it the right way . ''

Democrats threw their weight behind a so-called assault weapons ban during Wednesday evening's convention programming.
Democratic activists featured in a video montage pushed gun-control measures and praised Democratic nominee Joe Biden for pushing a ban on the sales of popular guns like the AR-15.
"I want a president who cares about our pain and grief, a president who will take on the gun lobby to ban assault weapons and close the loopholes to keep guns out of the hands of criminals," Moms Demand Action volunteer Deandra Dycus said. "Joe Biden has taken on the NRA twice and won. And he will do it again as president."
The video was the first prominent discussion of gun control during the virtual DNC. It came as gun sales have soared to record levels since March.
Though Democrats have been pursuing a new assault weapons ban since the previous one expired, Joe Biden (D.) has proposed a far more aggressive ban than the one he supported in 1994. His plan would require anyone who legally owns one of the so-called assault weapons to either turn them into the government during a buyback or pay to register them under the same law that regulates machineguns and explosives.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris (D.) went even further during her failed primary campaign by supporting the outright confiscation of assault weapons. She advocated for a mandatory buyback of what she estimated to be up to 10 million legally owned firearms.
"We have to have a buyback program and I support a mandatory gun buyback program," she said during an October policy forum hosted by the gun-control group March for Our Lives. "We’re going to have to have smart public policy that’s about taking those off the streets but doing it the right way."


freebeacon--2020-08-20--Hillary Clinton Blames Voters, Russia for Her Failures in Uplifting Convention Speech

Hillary Clinton , the nominal wife to a credibly accused rapist who made history in 2016 by becoming the highest ranking female politician to lose an election , blamed American voters and `` foreign adversaries '' for her unsuccessful White House bid in an uplifting teleprompted address to the Democratic convention on Wednesday .
`` For four years people have told me , ‘ I did n't realize how dangerous he was .
I wish I could do it all over . '
Or worse , ‘ I should 've voted , ' '' Clinton said of all the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This ca n't be another woulda coulda shoulda election . ''
Dressed in a dazzling white pant suit , the failed candidate urged Americans to vote for `` honest elections '' to prevent a `` foreign adversary '' from choosing the president .
She was presumably referring to Russia , a country that , unlike China , can be acceptably demonized without inviting accusations of racism .
Clinton has repeatedly blamed the former Soviet state , among others , for her ( most recent ) failed presidential campaign .
`` Do n't forget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 million votes and still lose .
Take it from me , '' Clinton said , while exuding the magnetic charisma a post office employee explaining the difference in shipping rates .
`` So we need numbers overwhelmingly , so Trump ca n't sneak or steal his way to victory . ''
Hillary 's husband , former President Bill Clinton , addressed the convention Tuesday on a night that featured some of the biggest names in Democratic sexual deviance .
Hours earlier , the Daily Mail published photos of Bill getting massaged by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pedophile Jeffrey Epstein .

Hillary Clinton, the nominal wife to a credibly accused rapist who made history in 2016 by becoming the highest ranking female politician to lose an election, blamed American voters and "foreign adversaries" for her unsuccessful White House bid in an uplifting teleprompted address to the Democratic convention on Wednesday.
"For four years people have told me, 'I didn't realize how dangerous he was. I wish I could do it all over.' Or worse, 'I should've voted,'" Clinton said of all the people who had let her down. "This can't be another woulda coulda shoulda election."
Dressed in a dazzling white pant suit, the failed candidate urged Americans to vote for "honest elections" to prevent a "foreign adversary" from choosing the president. She was presumably referring to Russia, a country that, unlike China, can be acceptably demonized without inviting accusations of racism. Clinton has repeatedly blamed the former Soviet state, among others, for her (most recent) failed presidential campaign.
"Don't forget, Joe and Kamala can win by 3 million votes and still lose. Take it from me," Clinton said, while exuding the magnetic charisma a post office employee explaining the difference in shipping rates. "So we need numbers overwhelmingly, so Trump can't sneak or steal his way to victory."
Hillary's husband, former President Bill Clinton, addressed the convention Tuesday on a night that featured some of the biggest names in Democratic sexual deviance. Hours earlier, the Daily Mail published photos of Bill getting massaged by a young victim of the late billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.


freebeacon--2020-08-20--Hillary Clinton Uses Misleading Stats to Claim Coronavirus Crisis Enriched Billionaires

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton deployed a popular but misleading statistic during her Wednesday evening remarks at the Democratic National Convention , claiming that billionaires had grown $ 400 billion richer during the coronavirus pandemic .
Amid her endorsement of new nominee Joe Biden , Clinton told viewers , `` it 's wrong that billionaires got $ 400 billion richer during the pandemic while millions lost $ 600 a week in extra unemployment . ''
But the claim that billionaires ' net worth has soared during the pandemic is based on misleading accounting , calculating their change in net @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and thereby maximizing their `` earnings '' in the crisis .
Clinton 's claim , which has been widely repeated in the press , parrots statistics released by the left-leaning Institute for Policy Studies and Americans for Tax Fairness .
To arrive at the $ 400 billion figure , the two groups calculated how much billionaires ' net worth have rebounded from the approximate trough of the coronavirus-ignited stock market crash on March 18 .
But that statistic does not tell the full story , omitting the net worth of America 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market .
A MarketWatch analysis from late May found that the top 50 billionaires ' net worth fell $ 232 billion between the market 's peak , on Feb. 19 , and May 23 .
The wealth of billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates has likely recovered further since then .
But that 's thanks to the stock market rally—a leading indicator of future economic health—not to their profiting off of the pandemic .
That the $ 400 billion figure is misleading has not stopped Democratic politicians from deploying it on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( I. , Vt. ) earlier this month cited the same figure as Clinton in calling once again for a wealth tax , specifically on the `` obscene wealth gains billionaires have made during the public health crisis . ''

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton deployed a popular but misleading statistic during her Wednesday evening remarks at the Democratic National Convention, claiming that billionaires had grown $400 billion richer during the coronavirus pandemic.
Amid her endorsement of new nominee Joe Biden, Clinton told viewers, "it's wrong that billionaires got $400 billion richer during the pandemic while millions lost $600 a week in extra unemployment."
But the claim that billionaires' net worth has soared during the pandemic is based on misleading accounting, calculating their change in net wealth from the bottom of the market, and thereby maximizing their "earnings" in the crisis.
Clinton's claim, which has been widely repeated in the press, parrots statistics released by the left-leaning Institute for Policy Studies and Americans for Tax Fairness. To arrive at the $400 billion figure, the two groups calculated how much billionaires' net worth have rebounded from the approximate trough of the coronavirus-ignited stock market crash on March 18.
But that statistic does not tell the full story, omitting the net worth of America's wealth prior to the precipitous drop in the market. A MarketWatch analysis from late May found that the top 50 billionaires' net worth fell $232 billion between the market's peak, on Feb. 19, and May 23.
The wealth of billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates has likely recovered further since then. But that's thanks to the stock market rally—a leading indicator of future economic health—not to their profiting off of the pandemic.
That the $400 billion figure is misleading has not stopped Democratic politicians from deploying it on the campaign trail. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) earlier this month cited the same figure as Clinton in calling once again for a wealth tax, specifically on the "obscene wealth gains billionaires have made during the public health crisis."


freebeacon--2020-08-20--BEASTMODE: Klacik: Michelle Obama Calls Herself a Victim From a Mansion in Martha’s Vineyard

Baltimore Republican congressional candidate Kimberly Klacik called out former first lady Michelle Obama Wednesday for fashioning herself as a victim @ @ @ @ @ wealth and fame .

Baltimore Republican congressional candidate Kimberly Klacik called out former first lady Michelle Obama Wednesday for fashioning herself as a victim in spite of her immense wealth and fame.


freebeacon--2020-08-20--Dems Waste $5 Million on Failed Attempt to Sway GOP Primary

Two Democratic super PACs spent more than $ 5 million to support a failed candidate in Kansas 's Republican Senate primary race , Politico reported Thursday .
Senate Majority PAC , a group run by associates of Sen. Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) , and pro-abortion group EMILY 's List dumped more than $ 5 million into the race to support candidate Kris Kobach 's bid against GOP-backed congressman Roger Marshall ( R. , Kan. ) .
The groups helped fund advertisements that called Marshall a `` swamp creature '' and presented Kobach as a `` pro-Trump conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marshall prevailed over Kobach in the primary election by a 14-point margin .
Despite the result , the Democratic groups defended their decision to back Kobach .
`` [ Republicans ] were signaling not only they were nervous about it , but that it was shaky , '' said Senate Majority PAC president J.B. Poersch .
`` They won by a decent margin , but at the point , all indications were that it was shaky . ''
National Republicans largely supported Marshall over Kobach , who they believed would jeopardize the GOP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is crying in his beer because Kris Kobach was his best and maybe his only chance to win a Senate seat in Kansas , '' said David Kensinger , a Kansas GOP operative .
Marshall will face off against state senator Barbara Bollier ( D. ) for the Senate seat in November .

Two Democratic super PACs spent more than $5 million to support a failed candidate in Kansas's Republican Senate primary race, Politico reported Thursday.
Senate Majority PAC, a group run by associates of Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), and pro-abortion group EMILY's List dumped more than $5 million into the race to support candidate Kris Kobach's bid against GOP-backed congressman Roger Marshall (R., Kan.). The groups helped fund advertisements that called Marshall a "swamp creature" and presented Kobach as a "pro-Trump conservative leader."
Earlier this month, Marshall prevailed over Kobach in the primary election by a 14-point margin.
Despite the result, the Democratic groups defended their decision to back Kobach.
"[Republicans] were signaling not only they were nervous about it, but that it was shaky," said Senate Majority PAC president J.B. Poersch. "They won by a decent margin, but at the point, all indications were that it was shaky."
National Republicans largely supported Marshall over Kobach, who they believed would jeopardize the GOP's Senate majority.
"Chuck Schumer is crying in his beer because Kris Kobach was his best and maybe his only chance to win a Senate seat in Kansas," said David Kensinger, a Kansas GOP operative.
Marshall will face off against state senator Barbara Bollier (D.) for the Senate seat in November.


freebeacon--2020-08-20--John Kerry Pushed False Narratives in DNC Remarks

Former secretary of state John Kerry pushed several false narratives about the Obama administration during his remarks this week before the Democratic National Convention , including the claim that President Obama eliminated the threat of an Iranian nuclear weapon .
Kerry accused President Donald Trump of abandoning America ’ s allies and sowing discord across the globe , particularly in the contentious Middle East region .
Unmentioned was Trump ’ s landmark effort to broker peace between Israel and the United Arab Emirates , a move widely seen as significantly boosting regional security .
`` For the eight years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , '' Kerry said .
`` We eliminated the threat of an Iran with a nuclear weapon .
We built a 68-nation coalition to destroy ISIS .
We forged a 195-nation agreement to attack climate change .
We stopped Ebola before it became a pandemic . ''
Trump , he added , `` breaks up with our allies and writes love letters to dictators . ''
Kerry ’ s comments , however , do not jibe with the facts , regional experts say .
Just days before Kerry touted the Obama administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United Nations rejected a bid to indefinitely extend an arms ban on Tehran , paving the way for nations such as China and Russia to provide the country with billions in advanced weaponry .
Kerry also failed to mention that it was the Trump administration that successfully annihilated key ISIS leaders and brokered agreements with regional nations to combat the terror organization .
Additionally , Iran spent the billions it received as part of the nuclear deal to stockpile advanced ballistic missiles capable of striking Israel and other U.S. allies .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 400 million in cash to Iran and another $ 1.7 billion more in assets .
U.S. officials have confirmed multiple times in recent years that this money was used by Iran to fund terrorism and sow regional discord .
Trump removed the United States from the nuclear deal and implemented the toughest sanctions on Tehran in history .
Through these sanctions , the Trump administration virtually bankrupted Iran and stopped it from engaging in a weapons buying spree .
Trump also signed off on the drone strike that killed Iranian general Qassem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in attacking U.S. military and other American personnel stationed in the region .
The strike served as a major blow to Iran ’ s intervention in Iraq and other countries in the area .
Kerry ’ s celebration of the Obama administration ’ s climate accord also is misleading .
The accord was widely seen as having no tangible impact and also was abandoned by the Trump administration without much pushback .
`` John Kerry always has and always will live inside an alternate universe that exists only in his mind , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House National Security Council member who now advises the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank .
`` No one ‘ broke up with allies ’ and wrote more ‘ love letters ’ to dictators than Obama and Kerry .
We had a name for their ultimate embrace of murderous dictators and abandonment of our closest allies : the Iran nuclear deal .
The contrast today is amazing : Kerry 's legacy was a short-term extortion payoff to a state sponsor of terrorism ; Trump 's legacy is brokering Middle East peace .
@

Former secretary of state John Kerry pushed several false narratives about the Obama administration during his remarks this week before the Democratic National Convention, including the claim that President Obama eliminated the threat of an Iranian nuclear weapon.
Kerry accused President Donald Trump of abandoning America’s allies and sowing discord across the globe, particularly in the contentious Middle East region. Unmentioned was Trump’s landmark effort to broker peace between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, a move widely seen as significantly boosting regional security.
"For the eight years of the Obama-Biden administration, we led by example," Kerry said. "We eliminated the threat of an Iran with a nuclear weapon. We built a 68-nation coalition to destroy ISIS. We forged a 195-nation agreement to attack climate change. We stopped Ebola before it became a pandemic."
Trump, he added, "breaks up with our allies and writes love letters to dictators."
Kerry’s comments, however, do not jibe with the facts, regional experts say. Just days before Kerry touted the Obama administration’s nuclear deal with Iran, the United Nations rejected a bid to indefinitely extend an arms ban on Tehran, paving the way for nations such as China and Russia to provide the country with billions in advanced weaponry. Kerry also failed to mention that it was the Trump administration that successfully annihilated key ISIS leaders and brokered agreements with regional nations to combat the terror organization.
Additionally, Iran spent the billions it received as part of the nuclear deal to stockpile advanced ballistic missiles capable of striking Israel and other U.S. allies. This includes the Obama administration's shipment of $400 million in cash to Iran and another $1.7 billion more in assets. U.S. officials have confirmed multiple times in recent years that this money was used by Iran to fund terrorism and sow regional discord.
Trump removed the United States from the nuclear deal and implemented the toughest sanctions on Tehran in history. Through these sanctions, the Trump administration virtually bankrupted Iran and stopped it from engaging in a weapons buying spree. Trump also signed off on the drone strike that killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, who played a key role in attacking U.S. military and other American personnel stationed in the region. The strike served as a major blow to Iran’s intervention in Iraq and other countries in the area.
Kerry’s celebration of the Obama administration’s climate accord also is misleading. The accord was widely seen as having no tangible impact and also was abandoned by the Trump administration without much pushback.
"John Kerry always has and always will live inside an alternate universe that exists only in his mind," said Richard Goldberg, a former White House National Security Council member who now advises the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank. "No one ‘broke up with allies’ and wrote more ‘love letters’ to dictators than Obama and Kerry. We had a name for their ultimate embrace of murderous dictators and abandonment of our closest allies: the Iran nuclear deal. The contrast today is amazing: Kerry's legacy was a short-term extortion payoff to a state sponsor of terrorism; Trump's legacy is brokering Middle East peace."


freebeacon--2020-08-20--I Forced a Bot to Write A Joe Biden Acceptance Speech. Here Are The 10 Most Powerful Lines.

Joe Biden will formally accept the Democratic nomination for president on Thursday and deliver the primetime address to his party 's virtual convention .
We did n't feel like staying up to watch , so instead we programmed a bot to study hours of footage of Biden speaking during the campaign , and then forced it to write a Joe Biden acceptance speech of its very own .
Here are the 10 most inspiring lines from the bot-authored speech .
Enjoy !
`` My name 's Joe and I 'm Jill Biden is my husband .
God lover . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wants to talk about mental comp .
Metal cog .
My fill .
As you can see , my physical and mental fill .
Fitness .
Look , I 'm perfectly willing . ''
`` He says to me , ‘ Joe , ' he says .
‘ Give me a hug you old Irish son of a bitch . '
'' `` I 'm the one who , what about education ?
The problems our children are required to at home .
My wife is a teacher .
Triple the money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That was the summer of 1976 , two thousandth year since the framing of , by and for .
Independence .
All men are cremated evil .
Equal .
You know the thing . ''
`` I stood in the room with Kim Jong .
We saw what happens when that happened .
Number two , close your eyes , everybody . ''

Joe Biden will formally accept the Democratic nomination for president on Thursday and deliver the primetime address to his party's virtual convention. We didn't feel like staying up to watch, so instead we programmed a bot to study hours of footage of Biden speaking during the campaign, and then forced it to write a Joe Biden acceptance speech of its very own.
Here are the 10 most inspiring lines from the bot-authored speech. Enjoy!
1)
2)
"My name's Joe and I'm Jill Biden is my husband. God lover."
3)
"My opponent, present Donald Trump, wants to talk about mental comp. Metal cog. My fill. As you can see, my physical and mental fill. Fitness. Look, I'm perfectly willing."
4)
5)
"He says to me, 'Joe,' he says. 'Give me a hug you old Irish son of a bitch.'"
6)
"I'm the one who, what about education? The problems our children are required to at home. My wife is a teacher. Triple the money, okay? Triple."
7)
8)
"That was the summer of 1976, two thousandth year since the framing of, by and for. Independence. All men are cremated evil. Equal. You know the thing."
9)
"I stood in the room with Kim Jong. We saw what happens when that happened. Number two, close your eyes, everybody."
10)


freebeacon--2020-08-20--Trump Brings Bid To Block Twitter Critics To Supreme Court

President Donald Trump 's bid to block critics on Twitter reached the Supreme Court on Thursday .
The Department of Justice asked the High Court to review a lower court ruling that held that the First Amendment bars Trump from blocking critics from his @ realDonaldTrump account .
Trump 's liberal use of Twitter has been a defining part of his presidency , though his freewheeling use of the platform is increasingly constrained .
Twitter has lately restricted or removed several of the president 's tweets , ostensibly for misinformation or copyright violations , while the federal courts have ruled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or internet scolds .
Trump is n't the only politician to face legal blowback for online behavior : Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) settled a lawsuit in November 2019 with Brooklyn politician Dov Hikind , who sued the congresswoman after she blocked him on Twitter .
Acting solicitor general Jeffrey Wall told the justices in Thursday 's filing that Trump 's blocking decisions are purely private choices that are not subject to constitutional rules .
He also warned that the vitriol common to social media could deter other users or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The court of appeals 's holding may have the unintended consequence of creating less speech if the social media pages of public officials are overrun with harassment , trolling , and hate speech , which officials will be powerless to filter , '' Wall wrote .
The Second U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Trump 's blocking practices amount to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination in July 2019 .
The court characterized the @ realDonaldTrump handle as an `` official vehicle for governance , '' noting that Trump operates the account with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major policy decisions from the handle , such as his decision to ban transgender military personnel .
The government argued that this ruling was wrong for several reasons .
While Trump 's account may sometimes broadcast official business , it is fundamentally a personal account , Wall wrote .
Trump created the handle in 2009 when he was a private citizen and will presumably continue using it when he leaves office .
In contrast , the @ POTUS and @ WhiteHouse accounts he controls exist only to promote his official activities , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his successor .
Crucially , while his statements on Twitter often concern government affairs , blocking a specific user is an independent and private decision .
The DOJ also argued that the Second Circuit was wrong to treat comment threads on Trump 's tweets as a public forum , or a space where First Amendment protections apply .
That 's because a private company , not the government , hosts the platform and controls its features .
`` The account has simply persisted as a private platform for the president 's speech , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government for the public to speak to the president and among themselves , '' Wall wrote .
Seven Twitter users blocked from the @ realDonaldTrump account brought the lawsuit in 2017 .
One of the plaintiffs is Dr. Philip Cohen , a sociology professor at the University of Maryland .
Trump blocked Cohen in June 2017 after the professor replied to one of Trump 's tweets with a meme denouncing him as an authoritarian .
The tweet , which mirrors those of his co-plaintiffs , was one of six replies Cohen sent the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lawsuit describes Cohen as an `` active participant '' in comment threads below the president 's tweets .
Wall said the lower court ruling undermines the ability of public officials to `` insulate their social-media accounts from harassment , trolling , or hate speech . ''
Columbia University 's Knight First Amendment Institute represents the plaintiffs .
The institute stated on Thursday that there is no reason for the Supreme Court to get involved with the dispute .
`` This case stands for a principle that is fundamental to our democracy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government officials can ’ t exclude people from public forums simply because they disagree with their political views , '' Knight Institute executive director Jameel Jaffer said .
`` The Supreme Court should reject the White House 's petition and leave the appeals court 's careful and well-reasoned decision in place . ''
A federal trial judge who ruled for the plaintiffs drew a distinction between blocking and `` muting , '' a separate Twitter function .
Since a muted user still has unfettered access to the relevant account , the judge said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justices could decide whether to take the case this fall , teeing up oral arguments in spring 2021 .
The case is No .
20-197 Trump v. Knight First Amendment Institute .

President Donald Trump's bid to block critics on Twitter reached the Supreme Court on Thursday.
The Department of Justice asked the High Court to review a lower court ruling that held that the First Amendment bars Trump from blocking critics from his @realDonaldTrump account.
Trump's liberal use of Twitter has been a defining part of his presidency, though his freewheeling use of the platform is increasingly constrained. Twitter has lately restricted or removed several of the president's tweets, ostensibly for misinformation or copyright violations, while the federal courts have ruled that he cannot lawfully block detractors or internet scolds. Trump isn't the only politician to face legal blowback for online behavior: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) settled a lawsuit in November 2019 with Brooklyn politician Dov Hikind, who sued the congresswoman after she blocked him on Twitter.
Acting solicitor general Jeffrey Wall told the justices in Thursday's filing that Trump's blocking decisions are purely private choices that are not subject to constitutional rules. He also warned that the vitriol common to social media could deter other users or politicians from communicating on Twitter.
"The court of appeals's holding may have the unintended consequence of creating less speech if the social media pages of public officials are overrun with harassment, trolling, and hate speech, which officials will be powerless to filter," Wall wrote.
The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Trump's blocking practices amount to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination in July 2019. The court characterized the @realDonaldTrump handle as an "official vehicle for governance," noting that Trump operates the account with the assistance of senior aides and has communicated major policy decisions from the handle, such as his decision to ban transgender military personnel.
The government argued that this ruling was wrong for several reasons. While Trump's account may sometimes broadcast official business, it is fundamentally a personal account, Wall wrote. Trump created the handle in 2009 when he was a private citizen and will presumably continue using it when he leaves office. In contrast, the @POTUS and @WhiteHouse accounts he controls exist only to promote his official activities, and he will pass those handles along to his successor. Crucially, while his statements on Twitter often concern government affairs, blocking a specific user is an independent and private decision.
The DOJ also argued that the Second Circuit was wrong to treat comment threads on Trump's tweets as a public forum, or a space where First Amendment protections apply. That's because a private company, not the government, hosts the platform and controls its features.
"The account has simply persisted as a private platform for the president's speech, not as a forum created by the government for the public to speak to the president and among themselves," Wall wrote.
Seven Twitter users blocked from the @realDonaldTrump account brought the lawsuit in 2017. One of the plaintiffs is Dr. Philip Cohen, a sociology professor at the University of Maryland. Trump blocked Cohen in June 2017 after the professor replied to one of Trump's tweets with a meme denouncing him as an authoritarian. The tweet, which mirrors those of his co-plaintiffs, was one of six replies Cohen sent the @realDonaldTrump account that day, and the lawsuit describes Cohen as an "active participant" in comment threads below the president's tweets.
Wall said the lower court ruling undermines the ability of public officials to "insulate their social-media accounts from harassment, trolling, or hate speech."
Columbia University's Knight First Amendment Institute represents the plaintiffs. The institute stated on Thursday that there is no reason for the Supreme Court to get involved with the dispute.
"This case stands for a principle that is fundamental to our democracy and basically synonymous with the First Amendment: Government officials can’t exclude people from public forums simply because they disagree with their political views," Knight Institute executive director Jameel Jaffer said. "The Supreme Court should reject the White House's petition and leave the appeals court's careful and well-reasoned decision in place."
A federal trial judge who ruled for the plaintiffs drew a distinction between blocking and "muting," a separate Twitter function. Since a muted user still has unfettered access to the relevant account, the judge said muting is an acceptable practice.
The justices could decide whether to take the case this fall, teeing up oral arguments in spring 2021. The case is No. 20-197 Trump v. Knight First Amendment Institute.
Trump v. Knight Institute c... by Washington Free Beacon on Scribd


freebeacon--2020-08-20--Iran Rolls Out New Missiles Named After Commanders Killed by American Airstrike

Iran announced the creation of new missiles named in honor of two commanders killed in an American airstrike , the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday .
The Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi missile systems vary in size and range , but analysts expect both to have the ability to strike areas of vital importance .
With a range of more than 800 miles , the Qassem Soleimani missile system allows Iran to target Israel , while the Abu Mahdi naval cruise missile 's 620-mile range enables strikes on the Persian Gulf , where Iran shares an aquatic border with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are massive upgrades for the Islamic Republic—Iran 's previously known naval cruise missiles have a range of fewer than 200 miles .
`` This is quite sophisticated .
It 's the kind of system that state-of-the-art militaries would want to use , '' said Fabian Hinz , research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies .
Both missiles are named for military leaders killed in an American airstrike in Iraq in January .
Qassem Soleimani was a general for Iran 's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps , which the White House designated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soleimani was instrumental in building the Iranian `` fifth column , '' a network of paramilitary and terrorist organizations backed by Iran throughout the Middle East .
Attacks committed by the fifth column forces have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American service members .
If functional , these missiles pose a significant threat to the region .
Iran has lashed out in recent months amid domestic instability , which has been further undermined by a recent peace agreement , brokered by Washington , that normalized relations between the United Arab @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adversaries .
Iran has responded to its weakening position by attempting to interfere with the U.S. presidential election in an effort to change Washington 's Iran policy .
Tehran has also organized agreements to pay the Taliban to target American troops and intercepted oiler tankers in the Strait of Hormuz .
Meanwhile , President Trump has announced he will pursue aggressive snapback sanctions on Iran in the coming weeks .

Iran announced the creation of new missiles named in honor of two commanders killed in an American airstrike, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
The Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi missile systems vary in size and range, but analysts expect both to have the ability to strike areas of vital importance.
With a range of more than 800 miles, the Qassem Soleimani missile system allows Iran to target Israel, while the Abu Mahdi naval cruise missile's 620-mile range enables strikes on the Persian Gulf, where Iran shares an aquatic border with the United Arab Emirates. The new missiles are massive upgrades for the Islamic Republic—Iran's previously known naval cruise missiles have a range of fewer than 200 miles.
"This is quite sophisticated. It's the kind of system that state-of-the-art militaries would want to use," said Fabian Hinz, research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.
Both missiles are named for military leaders killed in an American airstrike in Iraq in January. Qassem Soleimani was a general for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which the White House designated as a terrorist organization last year.
Soleimani was instrumental in building the Iranian "fifth column," a network of paramilitary and terrorist organizations backed by Iran throughout the Middle East. Attacks committed by the fifth column forces have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American service members.
If functional, these missiles pose a significant threat to the region. Iran has lashed out in recent months amid domestic instability, which has been further undermined by a recent peace agreement, brokered by Washington, that normalized relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel—two of Tehran's top adversaries.
Iran has responded to its weakening position by attempting to interfere with the U.S. presidential election in an effort to change Washington's Iran policy. Tehran has also organized agreements to pay the Taliban to target American troops and intercepted oiler tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, President Trump has announced he will pursue aggressive snapback sanctions on Iran in the coming weeks.


freebeacon--2020-08-20--National Security Research Lab Leaked Documents Called U.S. ‘Institutionally Racist’

Leaked diversity and inclusion training documents from Argonne National Laboratory , a taxpayer-funded national security research lab in Illinois , said white employees `` have a particular responsibility '' to change the `` institutionally racist society '' in the United States .
Christopher Rufo , a visiting Heritage Foundation fellow and contributing editor at City Journal , revealed the documents via Twitter on Thursday .
`` We affirm our collaboration ’ s commitment to racial justice , and unequivocally assert that Black lives matter , '' one document signed by Argonne ’ s top executives and scientists read .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institutionally racist society , and that white people have a particular responsibility to work to change this .
We acknowledge that we , both as white individuals and as the Executive Team of a predominantly white collaboration , have fallen short in these endeavors to date . ''
One training document called on employees to `` become anti-racist '' by identifying `` How [ one ] may unknowingly benefit from racism '' and `` yield [ ing ] positions of power to those otherwise marginalized . ''
Another document outlining Argonne ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equity of outcome meant `` nonuniform treatment '' for different individuals .
Documents from another Energy Department-contracted lab also leaked this month , revealing that the lab ’ s white male employees were required to participate in racial reeducation training last year .

Leaked diversity and inclusion training documents from Argonne National Laboratory, a taxpayer-funded national security research lab in Illinois, said white employees "have a particular responsibility" to change the "institutionally racist society" in the United States.
Christopher Rufo, a visiting Heritage Foundation fellow and contributing editor at City Journal, revealed the documents via Twitter on Thursday.
"We affirm our collaboration’s commitment to racial justice, and unequivocally assert that Black lives matter," one document signed by Argonne’s top executives and scientists read. "We recognize that we live in an institutionally racist society, and that white people have a particular responsibility to work to change this. We acknowledge that we, both as white individuals and as the Executive Team of a predominantly white collaboration, have fallen short in these endeavors to date."
One training document called on employees to "become anti-racist" by identifying "How [one] may unknowingly benefit from racism" and "yield[ing] positions of power to those otherwise marginalized." Another document outlining Argonne’s new approach to diversity and inclusion said equity of outcome meant "nonuniform treatment" for different individuals.
Documents from another Energy Department-contracted lab also leaked this month, revealing that the lab’s white male employees were required to participate in racial reeducation training last year.


freebeacon--2020-08-20--Calif. Dems’ Taxes on Millionaires Could Spell Disaster in Golden State

Facing a massive coronavirus-induced deficit , Democrats in the California legislature are weighing a suite of new taxes on top earners , including a first-of-its-kind wealth tax and the highest top rates in the nation .
California is the most heavily taxed state in the union , but that did not stop legislators from floating an additional $ 60 billion in taxes by early June—before the wealth tax or income tax hike were proposed .
Those latest plans would directly target the wealth of California millionaires , who already pay the lion 's share of state taxes .
Assembly Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stave off the threat of fiscal insolvency brought about by the state ’ s response to the coronavirus crisis .
But California taxpayers and one tax expert tell the Washington Free Beacon that the threatened hikes could drive the state 's wealthiest to flee .
That would slow the recovery , as they take their wealth and connections with them , and further contribute to the outflow of many of California 's most successful businesses .
Such an exodus would only add to the troubles of the state sometimes touted as a shining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Gavin Newsom ( D. ) , was slated to speak in a much-coveted slot during the Democratic National Convention 's final night on Thursday .
Newsom 's last-minute cancellation , however , further emphasizes the tenuous status of his state—one resident described it to the Free Beacon as `` a feudal society '' —and the social upset that the new taxes could bring .
The two latest tax proposals , Assembly Bills 1253 and 2088 , both explicitly target California 's ultra-wealthy .
A.B .
1253 , released in late July , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 3.5 percent tax on earnings over $ 1 , $ 2 , and $ 5 million , respectively , applied retroactively to the first day of 2020 .
A.B .
2088 would impose a 0.4 percent tax on all personal wealth in excess of $ 15 million ( $ 30 million for couples ) , including assets outside of California .
Both bills would hit many of the state 's tech billionaires , such as Oracle CEO Larry Ellison ( worth $ 59 billion ) , Mark Zuckerberg ( $ 54.7 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jobs ( $ 16.4 billion ) .
A.B .
2088 would be the first state wealth tax in the nation , mirroring the tax agendas of prominent progressives such as Sens .
Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) and Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass. )
.
Assemblyman Rob Bonta ( D. ) , one of A.B .
2088 's main sponsors , argued that the bill was necessary to fill the $ 50 billion budget hole left by the coronavirus crisis .
`` Families are hurting right now , '' Bonta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` COVID-19 has only made matters worse .
In times of crisis , all Californians must step up and contribute their fair share .
Asking these well-resourced Californians to give a little more to keep our people working and support our most vulnerable is the right thing to do . ''
But state tax watchdogs disagree .
Robert Gutierrez , president of the California Taxpayers Association , told the Free Beacon in a release that both taxes were excessive , especially given the $ 9.2 billion in new business taxes in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is enough , '' Gutierrez said .
`` A very small number of Californians pay the vast majority of state income taxes .
When the constant drumbeat for outrageous tax hikes drives them away , who will pick up the tab ? ''
Data from the state tax board back up Gutierrez 's claim .
Fewer than 200,000 Californians , less than half a percent of the state 's population , make over $ 1 million per year .
But that same group is responsible for 40.1 percent of the state 's annual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200,000 or more kicking in another 33.2 percent .
Katherine Loughead , a senior policy analyst at the right-leaning Tax Foundation , told the Free Beacon that is an unstable arrangement .
`` All it takes is a few high earners leaving California to dramatically impact the budget , because the state already relies so heavily on income from high earners , and that is so volatile , '' she said .
Loughead noted that , in general , states with higher tax rates have higher rates of out-migration .
Research bears this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a 2012 increase of California 's top marginal tax rate increased out-migration by the wealthiest , reducing the revenue gains from the increase by 60.9 percent .
A 2011 study from the New Jersey Department of the Treasury similarly found that a new top rate made the wealthy flee , costing the state $ 2.5 billion in tax revenue , while a 2017 study used nationwide data to find that state tax policy significantly affects where top scientists live .
Such an out-migration would only exacerbate the ongoing mass flight of businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ridesharing giant Lyft became the latest , announcing that it would suspend its service in California , citing the regulatory environment—competitor Uber is expected to follow .
In the past several years , major companies such as Charles Schwab , Carl 's Jr. , Toyota , and Tesla have departed ; many left for lower-tax Texas , which has actively courted California businesses .
The trend is not restricted to the wealthy or businesses .
Data from home-buying website Zillow reveal that home offerings in San Francisco increased 100 percent over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as remote-working denizens try to dump their homes and flee five separate tax hikes on November 's ballot .
One Bay Area resident , who cited privacy concerns in requesting not to be named , told the Free Beacon that he is considering decamping to Texas or Idaho now that his six-figure job is remote .
He said the tax savings alone—an estimated $ 30,000 a year—would make it worthwhile , as would the improved quality of life .
`` It 's become a feudal society .
Uber rich and then horrible poverty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've had my life threatened by homeless people , when I worked in S.F .
saw people shoot up heroin or poop in the streets daily , and have had two friends robbed at gunpoint in the last 12 months . ''
These comments highlight one of the risks of driving out the wealthy residents of the nation 's sixth most unequal economy .
California is home to 12 percent of Americans , but over a quarter of the nation 's homeless .
It also has the highest share of noncitizen residents , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group disproportionately likely to be less educated and more reliant on welfare benefits .
The state is the nation 's sixth most generous , in terms of public welfare dollars per capita—an arrangement funded largely by its wealthiest taxpayers .
But as state Democrats bear down on them , regular Californians and the uber-wealthy alike may reconsider if this bargain is really worth it .
`` It 's very tempting to look at [ other ] states and think how cost of living could be a lot better , and income could go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grow your business a lot faster in different environments that may not even have an income tax at all , '' Loughead said .
`` So I think those types of states are going to look more and more appealing to Californians . ''

Facing a massive coronavirus-induced deficit, Democrats in the California legislature are weighing a suite of new taxes on top earners, including a first-of-its-kind wealth tax and the highest top rates in the nation.
California is the most heavily taxed state in the union, but that did not stop legislators from floating an additional $60 billion in taxes by early June—before the wealth tax or income tax hike were proposed. Those latest plans would directly target the wealth of California millionaires, who already pay the lion's share of state taxes.
Assembly Democrats argue that more taxes are needed to stave off the threat of fiscal insolvency brought about by the state’s response to the coronavirus crisis. But California taxpayers and one tax expert tell the Washington Free Beacon that the threatened hikes could drive the state's wealthiest to flee. That would slow the recovery, as they take their wealth and connections with them, and further contribute to the outflow of many of California's most successful businesses.
Such an exodus would only add to the troubles of the state sometimes touted as a shining beacon of Democratic rule, whose governor, Gavin Newsom (D.), was slated to speak in a much-coveted slot during the Democratic National Convention's final night on Thursday. Newsom's last-minute cancellation, however, further emphasizes the tenuous status of his state—one resident described it to the Free Beacon as "a feudal society"—and the social upset that the new taxes could bring.
The two latest tax proposals, Assembly Bills 1253 and 2088, both explicitly target California's ultra-wealthy. A.B. 1253, released in late July, imposes an additional 1, 3, and 3.5 percent tax on earnings over $1, $2, and $5 million, respectively, applied retroactively to the first day of 2020. A.B. 2088 would impose a 0.4 percent tax on all personal wealth in excess of $15 million ($30 million for couples), including assets outside of California.
Both bills would hit many of the state's tech billionaires, such as Oracle CEO Larry Ellison (worth $59 billion), Mark Zuckerberg ($54.7 billion), and Democratic megadonor Laurene Powell Jobs ($16.4 billion). A.B. 2088 would be the first state wealth tax in the nation, mirroring the tax agendas of prominent progressives such as Sens. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.).
Assemblyman Rob Bonta (D.), one of A.B. 2088's main sponsors, argued that the bill was necessary to fill the $50 billion budget hole left by the coronavirus crisis.
"Families are hurting right now," Bonta said at the bill's unveiling. "COVID-19 has only made matters worse. In times of crisis, all Californians must step up and contribute their fair share. Asking these well-resourced Californians to give a little more to keep our people working and support our most vulnerable is the right thing to do."
But state tax watchdogs disagree. Robert Gutierrez, president of the California Taxpayers Association, told the Free Beacon in a release that both taxes were excessive, especially given the $9.2 billion in new business taxes in the state's recently signed budget.
"Enough is enough," Gutierrez said. "A very small number of Californians pay the vast majority of state income taxes. When the constant drumbeat for outrageous tax hikes drives them away, who will pick up the tab?"
Data from the state tax board back up Gutierrez's claim. Fewer than 200,000 Californians, less than half a percent of the state's population, make over $1 million per year. But that same group is responsible for 40.1 percent of the state's annual tax revenue, with Californians making $200,000 or more kicking in another 33.2 percent. Katherine Loughead, a senior policy analyst at the right-leaning Tax Foundation, told the Free Beacon that is an unstable arrangement.
"All it takes is a few high earners leaving California to dramatically impact the budget, because the state already relies so heavily on income from high earners, and that is so volatile," she said.
Loughead noted that, in general, states with higher tax rates have higher rates of out-migration. Research bears this claim out: A 2019 study found that a 2012 increase of California's top marginal tax rate increased out-migration by the wealthiest, reducing the revenue gains from the increase by 60.9 percent. A 2011 study from the New Jersey Department of the Treasury similarly found that a new top rate made the wealthy flee, costing the state $2.5 billion in tax revenue, while a 2017 study used nationwide data to find that state tax policy significantly affects where top scientists live.
Such an out-migration would only exacerbate the ongoing mass flight of businesses from the Golden State. On Thursday, ridesharing giant Lyft became the latest, announcing that it would suspend its service in California, citing the regulatory environment—competitor Uber is expected to follow. In the past several years, major companies such as Charles Schwab, Carl's Jr., Toyota, and Tesla have departed; many left for lower-tax Texas, which has actively courted California businesses.
The trend is not restricted to the wealthy or businesses. Data from home-buying website Zillow reveal that home offerings in San Francisco increased 100 percent over the previous July, rocketing past similar cities as remote-working denizens try to dump their homes and flee five separate tax hikes on November's ballot.
One Bay Area resident, who cited privacy concerns in requesting not to be named, told the Free Beacon that he is considering decamping to Texas or Idaho now that his six-figure job is remote. He said the tax savings alone—an estimated $30,000 a year—would make it worthwhile, as would the improved quality of life.
"It's become a feudal society. Uber rich and then horrible poverty," he said. "I've had my life threatened by homeless people, when I worked in S.F. saw people shoot up heroin or poop in the streets daily, and have had two friends robbed at gunpoint in the last 12 months."
These comments highlight one of the risks of driving out the wealthy residents of the nation's sixth most unequal economy. California is home to 12 percent of Americans, but over a quarter of the nation's homeless. It also has the highest share of noncitizen residents, according to the Census Bureau, a group disproportionately likely to be less educated and more reliant on welfare benefits. The state is the nation's sixth most generous, in terms of public welfare dollars per capita—an arrangement funded largely by its wealthiest taxpayers.
But as state Democrats bear down on them, regular Californians and the uber-wealthy alike may reconsider if this bargain is really worth it.
"It's very tempting to look at [other] states and think how cost of living could be a lot better, and income could go a lot further, and you could grow your business a lot faster in different environments that may not even have an income tax at all," Loughead said. "So I think those types of states are going to look more and more appealing to Californians."


freebeacon--2020-08-20--U.S. Triggers Effort to Restore U.N. Sanctions on Iran

UNITED NATIONS ( Reuters ) – The United States moved to restore all U.N. sanctions on Iran on Thursday , @ @ @ @ @ of a nuclear deal it struck with world powers in 2015 even though Washington itself @ @ @ @ @ ago .
The United States submitted a letter to the 15-member U.N. Security Council alleging @ @ @ @ @ starting a 30-day process that could lead to the `` snapback '' of U.N. sanctions @ @ @ @ @ Russia reject the U.S. stance and say they will not restore the penalties .

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United States moved to restore all U.N. sanctions on Iran on Thursday, arguing Tehran was in violation of a nuclear deal it struck with world powers in 2015 even though Washington itself abandoned that agreement two years ago.
The United States submitted a letter to the 15-member U.N. Security Council alleging Iranian non-compliance, in theory starting a 30-day process that could lead to the "snapback" of U.N. sanctions even though major powers like Russia reject the U.S. stance and say they will not restore the penalties.
(This story corrects to remove the word "economic" in the second paragraph to make clear penalties are not economic)
(Reporting By Michelle Nichols, Arshad Mohammed and Daphne Psaledakis; Writing by Arshad Mohammed)


freebeacon--2020-08-20--AOC Lashes Out at Pelosi Over Kennedy Endorsement

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) on Thursday criticized Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) for endorsing Rep. Joe Kennedy ( D. , Mass . )
, who is mounting a primary challenge to left-wing incumbent senator Ed Markey .
Ocasio-Cortez highlighted the hypocrisy of Pelosi backing a primary challenger against an incumbent when the Democratic Party has punished progressives for doing the same thing .
`` No one gets to complain about primary challenges again , '' Ocasio-Cortez said , calling on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ( DCCC ) to reverse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used against progressive organizations who support primary challengers .
The DCCC has blacklisted organizations that help progressives take on Democratic incumbents , but Ocasio-Cortez used Pelosi 's endorsement of Kennedy to accuse the DCCC of `` cherry-picking , '' since the party 's leader in the House aligned herself against a Democratic incumbent .
Markey is a staunch progressive who sponsored Ocasio-Cortez 's Green New Deal legislation in the Senate , while Kennedy has had the backing of much of the party establishment .
Ocasio-Cortez also argued that Democratic hypocrisy was evident in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Omar ( D. , Minn. ) in her primary this year against Antone Melton-Meaux .
`` Ilhan ’ s multimillion challenge was bankrolled by DC lobbyists & dark money groups , '' she added in a follow-up tweet .
`` He blatantly admitted to using shell corporations to get around the DCCC blacklist , which all but means his vendors work w/ the Democratic Party .
Yet DCCC hasn ’ t enforced policy .
I wonder why . ''
Last year , the DCCC promised it would blacklist any political firms and consultants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it encouraged individual candidates to do the same .
The blacklist policy received pushback from progressive Democrats , although they came to an agreement with Democratic leadership to continue paying their dues to the DCCC .
Ocasio-Cortez had urged her followers to stop their contributions to the organization in response to the blacklist and said she would stop paying her own dues .
`` DCCC made clear that they will blacklist any org that helps progressive candidates like me .
I can choose not to fund that kind of exclusion , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Kennedy could provide a boost to the Massachusetts representative ahead of the Sept. 1 primary .
`` Never before have the times demanded that we elect courageous leaders as today , which is why I ’ m pleased to join so many of my colleagues in endorsing Joe Kennedy III for Senate , '' Pelosi said in her endorsement .
Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez have clashed repeatedly since 2018 .
Ocasio-Cortez accused Pelosi of `` explicit singling out of newly elected women of color '' by going after Ocasio-Cortez and the other members @ @ @ @ @

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) on Thursday criticized Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) for endorsing Rep. Joe Kennedy (D., Mass.), who is mounting a primary challenge to left-wing incumbent senator Ed Markey.
Ocasio-Cortez highlighted the hypocrisy of Pelosi backing a primary challenger against an incumbent when the Democratic Party has punished progressives for doing the same thing.
"No one gets to complain about primary challenges again," Ocasio-Cortez said, calling on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) to reverse the "blacklist" policy it has used against progressive organizations who support primary challengers.
https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1296498853517176832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The DCCC has blacklisted organizations that help progressives take on Democratic incumbents, but Ocasio-Cortez used Pelosi's endorsement of Kennedy to accuse the DCCC of "cherry-picking," since the party's leader in the House aligned herself against a Democratic incumbent. Markey is a staunch progressive who sponsored Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal legislation in the Senate, while Kennedy has had the backing of much of the party establishment.
Ocasio-Cortez also argued that Democratic hypocrisy was evident in the DCCC's treatment of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) in her primary this year against Antone Melton-Meaux.
"Ilhan’s multimillion challenge was bankrolled by DC lobbyists & dark money groups," she added in a follow-up tweet. "He blatantly admitted to using shell corporations to get around the DCCC blacklist, which all but means his vendors work w/ the Democratic Party. Yet DCCC hasn’t enforced policy. I wonder why."
Last year, the DCCC promised it would blacklist any political firms and consultants that worked with primary challengers, and it encouraged individual candidates to do the same. The blacklist policy received pushback from progressive Democrats, although they came to an agreement with Democratic leadership to continue paying their dues to the DCCC. Ocasio-Cortez had urged her followers to stop their contributions to the organization in response to the blacklist and said she would stop paying her own dues.
"DCCC made clear that they will blacklist any org that helps progressive candidates like me. I can choose not to fund that kind of exclusion," she wrote in January.
Pelosi's endorsement of Kennedy could provide a boost to the Massachusetts representative ahead of the Sept. 1 primary.
"Never before have the times demanded that we elect courageous leaders as today, which is why I’m pleased to join so many of my colleagues in endorsing Joe Kennedy III for Senate," Pelosi said in her endorsement.
Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez have clashed repeatedly since 2018. Ocasio-Cortez accused Pelosi of "explicit singling out of newly elected women of color" by going after Ocasio-Cortez and the other members of the so-called squad.