freebeacon--2020-05-14--Biden Taps Top Bernie Allies to Craft Economic Agenda

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has called on two of socialist senator Bernie Sanders 's ( I. , Vt. ) top allies to help lead an economic advisory group tasked with shaping the party 's 2020 agenda .
The Biden campaign tapped top Sanders allies Stephanie Kelton and Sara Nelson to join a `` unity task force '' focused on developing the Democratic platform on the economy .
An economist at Stony Brook University , Kelton served as an economic adviser to Sanders 's failed presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020 .
She has argued that the government can pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 94 trillion Green New Deal , by printing more money .
Nelson , who is president of the Association of Flight Attendants , was Sanders 's guest to President Donald Trump 's State of the Union address in February .
She has been floated as the progressive pick to replace AFL-CIO leader Richard Trumka in 2021 , tying her candidacy to the implementation of far-left values in the labor movement .
The appointments come as Sanders attempts to push Biden further to the left .
While coronavirus has thwarted the socialist insurgent 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeking additional primary delegates—Sanders 's campaign called New York state 's decision to cancel its June presidential primary `` a blow to American democracy '' —the task force gives the Vermont senator an opportunity to sell Biden on far-left economic policies as the U.S. attempts to rebound from the pandemic .
Following the task force announcement , Sanders released a statement touting the group 's ability to move the Democratic Party in a `` transformational and progressive direction . ''
Biden appeared to agree , saying the task forces `` will be essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress '' and `` transform our country '' in a Wednesday statement .
Kelton is a leading advocate of `` Modern Monetary Theory , '' which rejects concerns about deficit spending and calls for the funding of radical progressive policies by printing more money .
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) has said the theory should be `` part of the conversation . ''
Kelton pitched the theory at the Wall Street Journal ‘ s 2019 Future of Everything Festival , questioning why Democratic presidential candidates do not dismiss concerns about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There 's so much pressure on candidates to pay for everything , '' Kelton said .
`` I do n't see anyone—I mean , I 'll just be honest , I do n't really see any presidential candidates putting forward ambitious agendas and saying , ‘ We 're not going to try to pay for any of this . '
'' One GOP campaign veteran criticized Kelton 's inclusion on the economic task force , comparing her theories to The Simpsons .
`` There 's a Simpsons episode where the United States government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ends up in the hands of [ Fidel Castro ] .
By the looks of who Joe Biden has picked for advisers—MMT proponents and far-left ideologues—he wants to repeat that episode , '' the aide said .
Biden has also used the task force as an olive branch to organized labor , which saw many members break for Trump in 2016 even as union leaders endorsed Hillary Clinton .
Nelson , the economy task force co-chair , joins fellow union boss and AFSCME president Lee Saunders on Biden 's economic advisory group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rejects the current labor leadership 's moderate approach , '' calling on unions to advocate for `` progressive topics that have as much to do with embarrassing Trump as they do with labor issues . ''
Nelson has also expressed disregard for union members who support President Donald Trump , despite the fact that Hillary Clinton won union voters in 2016 by the narrowest margin of any Democrat since 1984 .
Trump lost historically blue union households by just 8 percent nationally and won them outright in Ohio .
`` Nelson , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factions back together , '' Politico Magazine wrote in a December 2019 profile .
`` She wants to repudiate Trump—and , implicitly , rank-and-file members of AFL-CIO unions who support him for his trade policies and broader war on establishment elites . ''
In addition to Nelson and Saunders , Biden appointed American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten , National Education Association president Lily Eskelsen García , and Service Employees International Union president Mary Kay Henry to serve in advisory roles .
National Right to Work Committee president Mark Mix called Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` hardly surprising , '' accusing the former vice president of endorsing `` radical labor policies . ''
`` Given the radical labor policies Biden has already endorsed , including wiping out all 27 state Right to Work laws so that union bosses can force millions more American workers to pay dues or else be fired , it is hardly surprising that now Biden is literally having union bosses write the DNC platform , '' Mix said .
`` That the heads of the four largest public sector unions were picked , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of millions of government workers as established in the Supreme Court 's Janus ruling , demonstrates how little regard Biden apparently has for the ability of rank-and-file workers to decide for themselves whether or not to join and fund a union . ''
Biden announced the members of his `` unity task forces '' on Wednesday .
Appointees will advise both Biden and the Democratic National Committee on their November general election platform .
The task forces will cover six policy areas—climate change , immigration , health care , education , criminal justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Kelton and Nelson , Biden tapped prominent progressive congresswomen Ocasio-Cortez and Pramila Jayapal ( D. , Wash. ) to serve on the climate change and health care task forces , respectively .
Ocasio-Cortez did not mention Biden after accepting the nomination , instead thanking Sanders for the nod .
She has previously argued that Biden would `` depress turnout '' as the party 's nominee .
In May , Jayapal said that the `` enormous suffering '' brought on by coronavirus gave congressional Democrats `` leverage '' to achieve policy goals .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of crisis … whoever the ruling party is in the White House , that individual has this enormous opportunity to bring people together because that 's what people want in a crisis , '' she said .
`` None of that has happened… .
For me , the leverage is that there is enormous suffering , and if we do not respond with the boldness and the scale that this crisis demands , then that suffering will continue . ''
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment .

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has called on two of socialist senator Bernie Sanders's (I., Vt.) top allies to help lead an economic advisory group tasked with shaping the party's 2020 agenda.
The Biden campaign tapped top Sanders allies Stephanie Kelton and Sara Nelson to join a "unity task force" focused on developing the Democratic platform on the economy. An economist at Stony Brook University, Kelton served as an economic adviser to Sanders's failed presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020. She has argued that the government can pay for expensive programs, including the $94 trillion Green New Deal, by printing more money. Nelson, who is president of the Association of Flight Attendants, was Sanders's guest to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address in February. She has been floated as the progressive pick to replace AFL-CIO leader Richard Trumka in 2021, tying her candidacy to the implementation of far-left values in the labor movement.
The appointments come as Sanders attempts to push Biden further to the left. While coronavirus has thwarted the socialist insurgent's plan to influence the party platform by seeking additional primary delegates—Sanders's campaign called New York state's decision to cancel its June presidential primary "a blow to American democracy"—the task force gives the Vermont senator an opportunity to sell Biden on far-left economic policies as the U.S. attempts to rebound from the pandemic. Following the task force announcement, Sanders released a statement touting the group's ability to move the Democratic Party in a "transformational and progressive direction." Biden appeared to agree, saying the task forces "will be essential to identifying ways to build on our progress" and "transform our country" in a Wednesday statement.
Kelton is a leading advocate of "Modern Monetary Theory," which rejects concerns about deficit spending and calls for the funding of radical progressive policies by printing more money. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) has said the theory should be "part of the conversation." Kelton pitched the theory at the Wall Street Journal's 2019 Future of Everything Festival, questioning why Democratic presidential candidates do not dismiss concerns about paying for expensive policy proposals.
"There's so much pressure on candidates to pay for everything," Kelton said. "I don't see anyone—I mean, I'll just be honest, I don't really see any presidential candidates putting forward ambitious agendas and saying, 'We're not going to try to pay for any of this.'"
One GOP campaign veteran criticized Kelton's inclusion on the economic task force, comparing her theories to The Simpsons.
"There's a Simpsons episode where the United States government prints a trillion dollar bill and it ends up in the hands of [Fidel Castro]. By the looks of who Joe Biden has picked for advisers—MMT proponents and far-left ideologues—he wants to repeat that episode," the aide said.
Biden has also used the task force as an olive branch to organized labor, which saw many members break for Trump in 2016 even as union leaders endorsed Hillary Clinton.
Nelson, the economy task force co-chair, joins fellow union boss and AFSCME president Lee Saunders on Biden's economic advisory group. According to Politico Magazine, Nelson "rejects the current labor leadership's moderate approach," calling on unions to advocate for "progressive topics that have as much to do with embarrassing Trump as they do with labor issues." Nelson has also expressed disregard for union members who support President Donald Trump, despite the fact that Hillary Clinton won union voters in 2016 by the narrowest margin of any Democrat since 1984. Trump lost historically blue union households by just 8 percent nationally and won them outright in Ohio.
"Nelson, however, is not interested in pulling the factions back together," Politico Magazine wrote in a December 2019 profile. "She wants to repudiate Trump—and, implicitly, rank-and-file members of AFL-CIO unions who support him for his trade policies and broader war on establishment elites."
In addition to Nelson and Saunders, Biden appointed American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten, National Education Association president Lily Eskelsen García, and Service Employees International Union president Mary Kay Henry to serve in advisory roles. National Right to Work Committee president Mark Mix called Biden's decision to appoint the labor leaders "hardly surprising," accusing the former vice president of endorsing "radical labor policies."
"Given the radical labor policies Biden has already endorsed, including wiping out all 27 state Right to Work laws so that union bosses can force millions more American workers to pay dues or else be fired, it is hardly surprising that now Biden is literally having union bosses write the DNC platform," Mix said. "That the heads of the four largest public sector unions were picked, who collectively have violated the First Amendment rights of millions of government workers as established in the Supreme Court's Janus ruling, demonstrates how little regard Biden apparently has for the ability of rank-and-file workers to decide for themselves whether or not to join and fund a union."
Biden announced the members of his "unity task forces" on Wednesday. Appointees will advise both Biden and the Democratic National Committee on their November general election platform. The task forces will cover six policy areas—climate change, immigration, health care, education, criminal justice, and the economy. In addition to Kelton and Nelson, Biden tapped prominent progressive congresswomen Ocasio-Cortez and Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.) to serve on the climate change and health care task forces, respectively. Ocasio-Cortez did not mention Biden after accepting the nomination, instead thanking Sanders for the nod. She has previously argued that Biden would "depress turnout" as the party's nominee. In May, Jayapal said that the "enormous suffering" brought on by coronavirus gave congressional Democrats "leverage" to achieve policy goals.
"When you think about traditional situations of crisis … whoever the ruling party is in the White House, that individual has this enormous opportunity to bring people together because that's what people want in a crisis," she said. "None of that has happened…. For me, the leverage is that there is enormous suffering, and if we do not respond with the boldness and the scale that this crisis demands, then that suffering will continue."
The Biden campaign did not respond to a request for comment.


freebeacon--2020-05-13--Northern Virginia Indoor Gun Ranges Ordered to Remain Closed

Virginia governor Ralph Northam ( D. ) reversed his decision to reopen indoor gun ranges and other businesses throughout the state on Tuesday after pressure from county officials in Northern Virginia .
In a new executive order , Northam said he would keep business closures in effect for localities in the populous northern part of the state .
He had ordered restrictions on indoor gun ranges , restaurants , retailers , gyms , salons , and other retailers to be eased throughout the entire state on Friday .
Citing requests from local officials in the suburbs of Washington , D.C. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through May 28 .
The decision could generate a new legal battle over shutdowns and the limits of Northam 's emergency powers .
The reopening was launched after a state court ruled that Northam lacked the authority to shutter a Lynchburg indoor gun range .
Philip Van Cleave , president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League , which participated in the case , said Northam had bungled the reopening process .
`` Northam is like a puppet on a string dancing around the room .
You do n't know where he 's gon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mess , '' he said .
`` There 's a good chance it 's going to get challenged . ''
The National Rifle Association , which operates an indoor range in one of the affected Virginia localities , told the Washington Free Beacon that `` all options are on the table '' as leaders contemplate legal action against Northam .
Two other Northern Virginia ranges said they would remain closed because of the new order , adding that they are consulting with their lawyers as well .
Northam said the reversal was justified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard by the coronavirus .
The region represented 70 percent of positive cases in the state .
`` As I have said , it 's important that the Commonwealth as a whole can meet key health metrics before moving into Phase One , '' Northam said in a statement .
`` The Phase One policies are a floor , not a ceiling .
While the data show Virginia as a whole is ready to slowly and deliberately ease some restrictions , it is too soon for Northern Virginia . ''
Gun-rights activists and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the indoor range portion of Northam 's order would again be successful .
`` The judge ruled in the Lynchburg range case that the governor did not have the authority to supersede the Virginia Constitution or the U.S. Constitution and deny Virginians the ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights , '' Mark Oliva , a spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation , told the Free Beacon .
`` The supremacy of the U.S. Constitution is clear . ''
Judge F. Patrick Yeatts of the 24th Judicial Circuit of Virginia ruled in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority to shut down Lynchburg Range & Training LLC .
He said gun-rights protections in state law limited the reach of the governor 's emergency powers .
That ruling only applies to the single range but could serve as a blueprint for other legal challenges .
`` The governor appears to argue that , when he declares a state of emergency , he can ignore any law that limits his power , even laws designed to limit his power during a state of emergency , '' Yeatts wrote .
`` The Court can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Governor 's authority . ''
The governor 's reversal will affect ranges and other businesses in Arlington , Fairfax , Loudoun , and Prince William counties ; the cities of Alexandria , Fairfax , Falls Church , Manassas , and Manassas Park ; and the towns of Dumfries , Herndon , Leesburg , and Vienna .

Virginia governor Ralph Northam (D.) reversed his decision to reopen indoor gun ranges and other businesses throughout the state on Tuesday after pressure from county officials in Northern Virginia.
In a new executive order, Northam said he would keep business closures in effect for localities in the populous northern part of the state. He had ordered restrictions on indoor gun ranges, restaurants, retailers, gyms, salons, and other retailers to be eased throughout the entire state on Friday. Citing requests from local officials in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., he extended shutdowns in the area through May 28.
The decision could generate a new legal battle over shutdowns and the limits of Northam's emergency powers. The reopening was launched after a state court ruled that Northam lacked the authority to shutter a Lynchburg indoor gun range. Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, which participated in the case, said Northam had bungled the reopening process.
"Northam is like a puppet on a string dancing around the room. You don't know where he's gonna go next. It's a mess," he said. "There's a good chance it's going to get challenged."
The National Rifle Association, which operates an indoor range in one of the affected Virginia localities, told the Washington Free Beacon that "all options are on the table" as leaders contemplate legal action against Northam. Two other Northern Virginia ranges said they would remain closed because of the new order, adding that they are consulting with their lawyers as well.
Northam said the reversal was justified because Northern Virginia has been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus. The region represented 70 percent of positive cases in the state.
"As I have said, it's important that the Commonwealth as a whole can meet key health metrics before moving into Phase One," Northam said in a statement. "The Phase One policies are a floor, not a ceiling. While the data show Virginia as a whole is ready to slowly and deliberately ease some restrictions, it is too soon for Northern Virginia."
Gun-rights activists and industry officials are confident a challenge to the indoor range portion of Northam's order would again be successful.
"The judge ruled in the Lynchburg range case that the governor did not have the authority to supersede the Virginia Constitution or the U.S. Constitution and deny Virginians the ability to exercise their Second Amendment rights," Mark Oliva, a spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, told the Free Beacon. "The supremacy of the U.S. Constitution is clear."
Judge F. Patrick Yeatts of the 24th Judicial Circuit of Virginia ruled in April that Northam did not have the authority to shut down Lynchburg Range & Training LLC. He said gun-rights protections in state law limited the reach of the governor's emergency powers. That ruling only applies to the single range but could serve as a blueprint for other legal challenges.
"The governor appears to argue that, when he declares a state of emergency, he can ignore any law that limits his power, even laws designed to limit his power during a state of emergency," Yeatts wrote. "The Court cannot agree with such an expansive interpretation of the Governor's authority."
The governor's reversal will affect ranges and other businesses in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties; the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park; and the towns of Dumfries, Herndon, Leesburg, and Vienna.


freebeacon--2020-05-13--CFPB ‘Whistleblower’ Is Disgruntled Warren Donor

The New York Times recently obtained a `` blunt memo '' circulated by a departing `` career economist '' at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) alleging questionable `` maneuvers '' by Trump-appointed officials .
The Times report on the memo does not discuss the apparent ideological motivations of the memo 's author .
Jonathan Lanning , currently employed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago , sent the memo in question to a select group of colleagues on his last day of work at the CFPB before quitting in August 2019 .
The memo is chiefly concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change an Obama-era rule imposing tight restrictions on the payday lending industry .
The fact that the Times was able to `` obtain '' an original copy of the memo from a `` current bureau employee , '' days before the agency was expected to unveil its proposed revisions to the payday lending rule , was certainly a timely development .
It would be absurd to suggest the memo 's release was part of a coordinated effort by Trump administration critics , some of whom are preparing to sue the CFPB as soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lanning told the Times his intent in writing the memo was simply to inform new staff members of the `` history and process '' behind the rule revision and declined to comment further .
The memo itself , however , includes numerous references to the potential `` legal risk '' the Trump appointees were incurring by refusing to respect Lanning 's expertise .
The `` concerns '' outlined in Lanning 's memo regarding the behavior of Trump-appointed officials include a lack of `` direct communication/discussions , '' `` citing out of context sentences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general lack of appreciation for staff expertise . ''
The report does not mention , however , that Lanning helped write the CFPB research paper used to justify the original rule under the Obama administration .
The Times also neglects to note that Lanning has given money to several Democratic candidates in 2020 , including chief CFPB booster Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( Mass. )
.
Lanning 's political affiliations are further evidenced by his participation in numerous ex parte meetings with liberal advocacy groups such as Americans for Financial Reform , the Center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Responsible Lending ( CRL ) .
CRL was intimately involved in drafting the original payday lending rule , according to a Politico report published in 2015 .
At the same time , CRL was urging the Obama administration to support a small-dollar loan program run by CRL 's own financial services arm , the Self-Help Credit Union , as an alternative to payday lending .
One of the original recipients of Lanning 's memo , former CFPB associate director David Silberman , resigned from the agency in February to become a senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Times ‘ initial report on Tara Reade 's allegation of sexual assault against former vice president Joe Biden contains several paragraphs detailing Reade 's support for Biden 's opponents in the Democratic primary .
It also included comments Reade had made in praise of Russian president Vladimir Putin .

The New York Times recently obtained a "blunt memo" circulated by a departing "career economist" at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) alleging questionable "maneuvers" by Trump-appointed officials. The Times report on the memo does not discuss the apparent ideological motivations of the memo's author.
Jonathan Lanning, currently employed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, sent the memo in question to a select group of colleagues on his last day of work at the CFPB before quitting in August 2019. The memo is chiefly concerned with the Trump administration's efforts to change an Obama-era rule imposing tight restrictions on the payday lending industry.
The fact that the Times was able to "obtain" an original copy of the memo from a "current bureau employee," days before the agency was expected to unveil its proposed revisions to the payday lending rule, was certainly a timely development. It would be absurd to suggest the memo's release was part of a coordinated effort by Trump administration critics, some of whom are preparing to sue the CFPB as soon as the revised rule is announced.
Lanning told the Times his intent in writing the memo was simply to inform new staff members of the "history and process" behind the rule revision and declined to comment further. The memo itself, however, includes numerous references to the potential "legal risk" the Trump appointees were incurring by refusing to respect Lanning's expertise.
The "concerns" outlined in Lanning's memo regarding the behavior of Trump-appointed officials include a lack of "direct communication/discussions," "citing out of context sentences from articles," and a "general lack of appreciation for staff expertise."
The report does not mention, however, that Lanning helped write the CFPB research paper used to justify the original rule under the Obama administration. The Times also neglects to note that Lanning has given money to several Democratic candidates in 2020, including chief CFPB booster Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.).
Lanning's political affiliations are further evidenced by his participation in numerous ex parte meetings with liberal advocacy groups such as Americans for Financial Reform, the Center for American Progress, and the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL).
CRL was intimately involved in drafting the original payday lending rule, according to a Politico report published in 2015. At the same time, CRL was urging the Obama administration to support a small-dollar loan program run by CRL's own financial services arm, the Self-Help Credit Union, as an alternative to payday lending.
One of the original recipients of Lanning's memo, former CFPB associate director David Silberman, resigned from the agency in February to become a senior adviser to CRL.
By contrast, the Times' initial report on Tara Reade's allegation of sexual assault against former vice president Joe Biden contains several paragraphs detailing Reade's support for Biden's opponents in the Democratic primary. It also included comments Reade had made in praise of Russian president Vladimir Putin.


freebeacon--2020-05-13--Biden Campaign Wages Dangerous Assault on First Amendment

Joe Biden 's dangerous disregard for the noble profession of journalism , aka truth-telling , was on full display Wednesday as one of the presumptive nominee 's campaign directors launched an unprecedented attack against an award-winning female journalist exercising her constitutional right to report the news .
Catherine Herridge , senior investigative correspondent for CBS News , was the first to obtain a list of former Obama administration officials connected to an `` unmasking request '' that revealed the identity of former national security adviser Michael Flynn in U.S. intelligence documents .
Among those who respect the First Amendment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to as a `` SCOOP . ''
Biden 's name was on that list .
In the revered community of professional journalists , this is often referred to as a `` fact '' or `` the truth . ''
Biden 's rapid response director , a young man named Andrew Bates , simply could n't handle the truth .
`` SCOOP : Catherine Herridge is a partisan , rightwing hack who is a regular conduit for conservative media manipulation ploys because she agrees to publicize things before contacting the target to ask for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a popular social networking website .
Bates has since deleted the tweet , presumably out of shame .
But the damage to our constitutional values and American way of life was already done .
His assault on Herridge , whose courageous reporting earned her an award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in 2019 , was perhaps a predictable tantrum from a campaign well-versed in the art of protecting powerful men from female accusers .
In contrast to Herridge 's decorated career , Bates boasts a resume that includes a stint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as a degree from North Carolina State University , a school best known for its hideous campus and the profound disappointment attendees ' parents must have felt when their children were rejected from UNC .

Joe Biden's dangerous disregard for the noble profession of journalism, aka truth-telling, was on full display Wednesday as one of the presumptive nominee's campaign directors launched an unprecedented attack against an award-winning female journalist exercising her constitutional right to report the news.
Catherine Herridge, senior investigative correspondent for CBS News, was the first to obtain a list of former Obama administration officials connected to an "unmasking request" that revealed the identity of former national security adviser Michael Flynn in U.S. intelligence documents. Among those who respect the First Amendment, this type of reporting is often referred to as a "SCOOP."
Biden's name was on that list. In the revered community of professional journalists, this is often referred to as a "fact" or "the truth." Biden's rapid response director, a young man named Andrew Bates, simply couldn't handle the truth.
"SCOOP: Catherine Herridge is a partisan, rightwing hack who is a regular conduit for conservative media manipulation ploys because she agrees to publicize things before contacting the target to ask for comment," Bates wrote on Twitter, a popular social networking website.
Bates has since deleted the tweet, presumably out of shame. But the damage to our constitutional values and American way of life was already done. His assault on Herridge, whose courageous reporting earned her an award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in 2019, was perhaps a predictable tantrum from a campaign well-versed in the art of protecting powerful men from female accusers.
In contrast to Herridge's decorated career, Bates boasts a resume that includes a stint on Hillary Clinton's failed presidential campaign, as well as a degree from North Carolina State University, a school best known for its hideous campus and the profound disappointment attendees' parents must have felt when their children were rejected from UNC.


freebeacon--2020-05-13--Congress Urges Trump Admin to Stop ICC Investigations Into U.S., Israel

A group of nearly 300 members of Congress is calling on the Trump administration to stop the International Criminal Court 's `` politically motivated investigations '' of the United States and Israel .
In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , the bipartisan group of lawmakers urged the administration to `` marshal a diplomatic initiative with like-minded countries who are members of the ICC to call on the ICC to cease its politically motivated investigations into the United States and Israel . ''
The ICC has been pursuing war crimes cases against the United States and Israel that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Free Beacon first reported earlier this month that the ICC 's cases are being driven by nonprofit organizations found to have ties to designated terror groups .
The United States and Israel are not members of the court and both have routinely criticized the international body for conducting politically motivated investigations , such as those into Israel 's counterterrorism operations and the United States ' actions in Afghanistan .
The lawmakers—including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy ( R. , Calif. ) , Minority Whip Steve Scalise ( R. , La . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Wis. ) , Eliot Engel ( D. , N.Y. ) , and Michael McCaul ( R. , Texas ) , among 260 others—say the ICC is unfit to carry out any investigation into the United States or Israel .
`` The Court 's recent announcements are examples of how politics have been infused into the judicial process and distorted the purposes for which the court was established , '' they wrote .
The lawmakers maintain that the ICC 's pursuit of charges against Israel is part of a larger effort by pro-Palestinian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a peace deal .
`` With respect to the possible case against Israel , we are concerned that those pressing for action seek a court judgment in place of a negotiation process between Israelis and Palestinians , '' the lawmakers wrote .
`` The ultimate sustainable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies in the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian direct negotiations in pursuit of a two-state solution—not in the pursuit of cases at the ICC .
These cases distract from and undermine our efforts to get the parties back to the table . ''

A group of nearly 300 members of Congress is calling on the Trump administration to stop the International Criminal Court's "politically motivated investigations" of the United States and Israel.
In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the bipartisan group of lawmakers urged the administration to "marshal a diplomatic initiative with like-minded countries who are members of the ICC to call on the ICC to cease its politically motivated investigations into the United States and Israel."
The ICC has been pursuing war crimes cases against the United States and Israel that both countries have called illegitimate. The Washington Free Beacon first reported earlier this month that the ICC's cases are being driven by nonprofit organizations found to have ties to designated terror groups.
The United States and Israel are not members of the court and both have routinely criticized the international body for conducting politically motivated investigations, such as those into Israel's counterterrorism operations and the United States' actions in Afghanistan.
The lawmakers—including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.), Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R., La.), and Reps. Mike Gallagher (R., Wis.), Eliot Engel (D., N.Y.), and Michael McCaul (R., Texas), among 260 others—say the ICC is unfit to carry out any investigation into the United States or Israel.
"The Court's recent announcements are examples of how politics have been infused into the judicial process and distorted the purposes for which the court was established," they wrote.
The lawmakers maintain that the ICC's pursuit of charges against Israel is part of a larger effort by pro-Palestinian factions to undermine American efforts to foster a peace deal.
"With respect to the possible case against Israel, we are concerned that those pressing for action seek a court judgment in place of a negotiation process between Israelis and Palestinians," the lawmakers wrote. "The ultimate sustainable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies in the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian direct negotiations in pursuit of a two-state solution—not in the pursuit of cases at the ICC. These cases distract from and undermine our efforts to get the parties back to the table."


freebeacon--2020-05-13--Undercover Journalist Sues Harris for Silencing Pro-Life Exposé

A pro-life activist is suing Sen. Kamala Harris ( D. , Calif. ) , arguing that she launched an investigation into his undercover journalism project to protect political allies that include abortion activists .
The lawsuit argues that the state of California targeted David Daleiden , founder of the Center for Medical Progress ( CMP ) , after he released a series of viral undercover videos showing abortion facility employees candidly discussing the sale of fetal organs and other body parts .
Harris , the suit says , abused her office and violated the reporters ' constitutional rights `` by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a journalist under California 's video recording law . ''
Planned Parenthood and California attorney general Xavier Becerra are also among the defendants .
`` Defendants seek their ‘ pound of flesh ' from Mr. Daleiden and to chill other journalists from investigating and reporting on that same content , '' the suit says .
`` Defendants met in secret with Kamala Harris in her individual capacity and in her capacity as the California Attorney General , seeking her aid in preventing further investigations of their fetal body parts trade and conspiring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CMP . ''
Daleiden and CMP are now seeking to recover damages from Harris , Becerra , and Planned Parenthood for conducting a smear campaign and violating Daleiden 's First Amendment rights .
Harris , a top contender for the vice presidential nomination , launched an attorney general investigation shortly after the videos were released .
After she moved to the Senate , Becerra charged Daleiden and another investigator with violating state recording laws .
The suit argues that Daleiden is the first journalist to be prosecuted under California 's video recording law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free speech around the issue of abortion .
It points to other examples of undercover journalists secretly recording subjects with no legal repercussions and claims that Daleiden is being prosecuted solely because of the content of his recordings .
California is a `` two-party consent '' state for video recording , meaning that it is illegal to record a private conversation without the consent of all parties involved .
Harris and Becerra have received tens of thousands of dollars from the abortion industry over the course of their careers .
Daleiden 's attorneys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as `` co-conspirators '' who used their elected offices to seek `` retaliation for the content of [ Daleiden 's ] videos . ''
`` The co-conspirator Defendants could neither find nor convincingly invent any facts to link Plaintiffs to violent activity , and even their outside political allies could not provide any useful information to them , '' the suit says .
`` Since the publication of CMP ’ s videos , Defendants have conspired to suppress Plaintiffs ’ videos and speech from the public and worked to target Mr. Daleiden for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a civil suit in which a jury ordered him to pay $ 2.2 million to Planned Parenthood for damages .
Daleiden is appealing the decision .
Planned Parenthood , Becerra , and Sen. Harris did not respond to email requests for comment .

A pro-life activist is suing Sen. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.), arguing that she launched an investigation into his undercover journalism project to protect political allies that include abortion activists.
The lawsuit argues that the state of California targeted David Daleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress (CMP), after he released a series of viral undercover videos showing abortion facility employees candidly discussing the sale of fetal organs and other body parts. Harris, the suit says, abused her office and violated the reporters' constitutional rights "by orchestrating the first and only prosecution of a journalist under California's video recording law." Planned Parenthood and California attorney general Xavier Becerra are also among the defendants.
"Defendants seek their 'pound of flesh' from Mr. Daleiden and to chill other journalists from investigating and reporting on that same content," the suit says. "Defendants met in secret with Kamala Harris in her individual capacity and in her capacity as the California Attorney General, seeking her aid in preventing further investigations of their fetal body parts trade and conspiring to silence the reporting of Mr. Daleiden and CMP."
Daleiden and CMP are now seeking to recover damages from Harris, Becerra, and Planned Parenthood for conducting a smear campaign and violating Daleiden's First Amendment rights.
Harris, a top contender for the vice presidential nomination, launched an attorney general investigation shortly after the videos were released. After she moved to the Senate, Becerra charged Daleiden and another investigator with violating state recording laws. The suit argues that Daleiden is the first journalist to be prosecuted under California's video recording law, and that the prosecution will discourage free speech around the issue of abortion. It points to other examples of undercover journalists secretly recording subjects with no legal repercussions and claims that Daleiden is being prosecuted solely because of the content of his recordings.
California is a "two-party consent" state for video recording, meaning that it is illegal to record a private conversation without the consent of all parties involved.
Harris and Becerra have received tens of thousands of dollars from the abortion industry over the course of their careers. Daleiden's attorneys described the two Democrats and Planned Parenthood as "co-conspirators" who used their elected offices to seek "retaliation for the content of [Daleiden's] videos."
"The co-conspirator Defendants could neither find nor convincingly invent any facts to link Plaintiffs to violent activity, and even their outside political allies could not provide any useful information to them," the suit says. "Since the publication of CMP’s videos, Defendants have conspired to suppress Plaintiffs’ videos and speech from the public and worked to target Mr. Daleiden for his speech."
Daleiden also faced a civil suit in which a jury ordered him to pay $2.2 million to Planned Parenthood for damages. Daleiden is appealing the decision.
Planned Parenthood, Becerra, and Sen. Harris did not respond to email requests for comment.


freebeacon--2020-05-13--Whitmer: ‘Vast Majority’ of Sexual Assault Allegations Are True But I Believe Biden’s Denial

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer ( D. ) said Wednesday that while the `` vast majority '' of sexual misconduct allegations are true , she is still skeptical of Tara Reade 's accusation against presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden .
Whitmer , a potential vice presidential contender , told The View that Biden was more credible than his accuser .
`` I think that the inconsistencies that I 've seen give me the judgment that I believe Joe , and I think that it 's important to note that the vast majority of women who come forward , statistics show that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true , '' she said on The View .
`` In this instance , I do believe Joe Biden , and everyone needs to make that judgment , weigh the facts , and make the determination for themselves . ''
Whitmer said at a 2016 Detroit sexual assault summit that she wanted a justice system in which accusers are `` believed , period . ''
She also asked her then-gubernatorial campaign manager Keenan Pontoni to resign in 2018 for unspecified accusations of misconduct at a prior job , saying it was `` not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden has denied Reade 's claim that he sexually assaulted her with his fingers in a Senate hallway in 1993 .
Other Democratic women on the shortlist to join the ticket have maintained their support for Biden , including Sens .
Kamala Harris ( D. , Calif. ) , Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
, Amy Klobuchar ( D. , Minn. ) , and Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams .
Whitmer noted Wednesday that conservative cohost Meghan McCain had also remained supportive of Biden , a longtime family friend .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexually assaulted as a freshman at Michigan State University .
`` The Joe Biden that I know is inconsistent with what we have seen and what we have heard around this particular allegation , and I think for a lot of the same reasons that Meghan herself has cited in terms of her tweets … I will continue to enthusiastically support Joe , '' Whitmer said .
Reade was one of eight women who last year said Biden had touched them and made them uncomfortable , but she did not accuse him of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March .
A lifelong Democrat , Reade voted for the Barack Obama-Biden ticket in 2008 and 2012 , but she told interviewer Megyn Kelly last week that it was purely a vote for Obama .
She has called on Biden to drop out of the presidential race .

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer (D.) said Wednesday that while the "vast majority" of sexual misconduct allegations are true, she is still skeptical of Tara Reade's accusation against presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Whitmer, a potential vice presidential contender, told The View that Biden was more credible than his accuser.
"I think that the inconsistencies that I've seen give me the judgment that I believe Joe, and I think that it's important to note that the vast majority of women who come forward, statistics show that they are telling the story that is true," she said on The View. "In this instance, I do believe Joe Biden, and everyone needs to make that judgment, weigh the facts, and make the determination for themselves."
Whitmer said at a 2016 Detroit sexual assault summit that she wanted a justice system in which accusers are "believed, period." She also asked her then-gubernatorial campaign manager Keenan Pontoni to resign in 2018 for unspecified accusations of misconduct at a prior job, saying it was "not something I would ever tolerate."
Biden has denied Reade's claim that he sexually assaulted her with his fingers in a Senate hallway in 1993. Other Democratic women on the shortlist to join the ticket have maintained their support for Biden, including Sens. Kamala Harris (D., Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D., Minn.), and Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams.
Whitmer noted Wednesday that conservative cohost Meghan McCain had also remained supportive of Biden, a longtime family friend. The governor has also spoken out about being sexually assaulted as a freshman at Michigan State University.
"The Joe Biden that I know is inconsistent with what we have seen and what we have heard around this particular allegation, and I think for a lot of the same reasons that Meghan herself has cited in terms of her tweets ... I will continue to enthusiastically support Joe," Whitmer said.
Reade was one of eight women who last year said Biden had touched them and made them uncomfortable, but she did not accuse him of sexual assault until a podcast interview in March. A lifelong Democrat, Reade voted for the Barack Obama-Biden ticket in 2008 and 2012, but she told interviewer Megyn Kelly last week that it was purely a vote for Obama. She has called on Biden to drop out of the presidential race.


freebeacon--2020-05-13--CNN Panel of Coronavirus ‘Experts’ Includes Celebrity Truant Greta Thunberg, Failed Obamacare Archit

CNN Panel of Coronavirus ‘Experts’ Includes Celebrity Truant Greta Thunberg, Failed Obamacare Architect Kathleen Sebelius

CNN , the so-called news network that employs two of the entertainment industry 's biggest whiners—Jim Acosta and Brian Stelter—is holding a town hall on Thursday to discuss the `` facts and fears '' surrounding the coronavirus pandemic .
The town hall will be hosted by Anderson Cooper , who failed ( twice ) to ask presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden about former staffer Tara Reade 's allegation of sexual assault .
Cooper will moderate a panel of coronavirus `` experts '' that includes at least two members whose coronavirus expertise is somewhat dubious , to say the least .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ truant activist best known for skipping school , riding on boats , and shouting about climate change .
Thunberg , 17 , is presumably breathing easier these days following the collapse of Sen. Kamala Harris 's ( D. , Calif. ) failed presidential campaign , given the former California attorney general 's ruthless approach to prosecuting truancy .
Harris is in the running to become attorney general in a Joe Biden administration , however , so Thunberg should n't get too comfortable just yet .
In any event , it is not entirely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic Thunberg can provide .
Presumably , the child activist approves of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 's ( D. , Calif. ) coronavirus relief bill , which aims to alleviate the suffering caused by the pandemic by allocating `` environmental justice '' grants .
Perhaps Thunberg will celebrate the environmental benefits of the coronavirus pandemic , which some activists have touted as proof that meaningful action to combat climate change is `` possible . ''
All that 's required is the near-total shutdown of the global economy .
Just 10 more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to achieve the goals outlined in the Paris climate accords .
The CNN panel will also include expert coronavirus commentary from Obama 's health secretary , Kathleen Sebelius , a former insurance commissioner and chief lobbyist for the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association .
Sebelius 's experience on health-related issues includes overseeing the disastrous implementation of the Obamacare website , HealthCare.Gov , in 2013 .
She resigned the following year and started a consulting firm .
CNN is a `` facts first '' network , in the words of anchor Chris Cuomo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-paying media job did n't allow him to more aggressively fight with strangers in public .
That 's presumably why CNN refuses to cover White House press briefings with Dr. Anthony Fauci but is happy to promote a high-school dropout 's expert analysis of a global pandemic .
Because of its commitment to facts .

CNN, the so-called news network that employs two of the entertainment industry's biggest whiners—Jim Acosta and Brian Stelter—is holding a town hall on Thursday to discuss the "facts and fears" surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
The town hall will be hosted by Anderson Cooper, who failed (twice) to ask presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden about former staffer Tara Reade's allegation of sexual assault. Cooper will moderate a panel of coronavirus "experts" that includes at least two members whose coronavirus expertise is somewhat dubious, to say the least.
One is Greta Thunberg, the celebrity truant activist best known for skipping school, riding on boats, and shouting about climate change. Thunberg, 17, is presumably breathing easier these days following the collapse of Sen. Kamala Harris's (D., Calif.) failed presidential campaign, given the former California attorney general's ruthless approach to prosecuting truancy.
Harris is in the running to become attorney general in a Joe Biden administration, however, so Thunberg shouldn't get too comfortable just yet. In any event, it is not entirely clear what sort of edifying commentary on the coronavirus pandemic Thunberg can provide. Presumably, the child activist approves of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D., Calif.) coronavirus relief bill, which aims to alleviate the suffering caused by the pandemic by allocating "environmental justice" grants.
Perhaps Thunberg will celebrate the environmental benefits of the coronavirus pandemic, which some activists have touted as proof that meaningful action to combat climate change is "possible." All that's required is the near-total shutdown of the global economy. Just 10 more years under lockdown and we might be able to achieve the goals outlined in the Paris climate accords.
The CNN panel will also include expert coronavirus commentary from Obama's health secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, a former insurance commissioner and chief lobbyist for the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association. Sebelius's experience on health-related issues includes overseeing the disastrous implementation of the Obamacare website, HealthCare.Gov, in 2013. She resigned the following year and started a consulting firm.
CNN is a "facts first" network, in the words of anchor Chris Cuomo, who recently lamented that his prominent, well-paying media job didn't allow him to more aggressively fight with strangers in public. That's presumably why CNN refuses to cover White House press briefings with Dr. Anthony Fauci but is happy to promote a high-school dropout's expert analysis of a global pandemic. Because of its commitment to facts.


freebeacon--2020-05-13--Biden: Democrats Among Chief Victims of Coronavirus

Joe Biden told a North Carolina news station that Democrats are among the primary victims of the coronavirus pandemic and are carrying the country during a difficult time .
`` The people who are getting hurt are Democrats , hard-working people , the people who ca n't afford to stay home , the people who are getting clobbered , the people who are making an hourly wage , the people who are out there saving our lives , carrying the country on their back , '' he said in an interview with Spectrum News posted Tuesday .
Scoffing at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on reopening state economies to hurt President Donald Trump , Biden said the victims of the pandemic were `` our constituency , '' as opposed to millionaires and people making `` hundreds of thousands of dollars . ''
Support from working-class voters , particularly in the Rust Belt , helped propel Trump to the White House in 2016 .
New York Times exit polls found a 16-point swing toward Trump in 2016 from Mitt Romney in 2012 among voters making under $ 30,000 .
The Trump campaign is seizing on the comments to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Joe Biden continues to alienate hardworking Americans in his third quest to become president , '' Trump campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` The coronavirus doesn ’ t discriminate based on political party and President Trump is armed with the data , research , and medical advice needed to combat this crisis head on .
While President Trump has fought daily to protect the American people against this invisible enemy , all Joe Biden has done is regurgitate Beijing ’ s talking points and snipe from his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country was `` truly all in this together . ''
In the same interview , Biden ripped Trump for a `` dereliction of his duty '' in responding to the pandemic , which Trump has blamed on China .
The Biden campaign is planning to roll out policies it says will show greater strength toward China than Trump has .
Biden said last year , however , that China was not `` competition for us , '' adding `` they 're not bad folks . ''

Joe Biden told a North Carolina news station that Democrats are among the primary victims of the coronavirus pandemic and are carrying the country during a difficult time.
"The people who are getting hurt are Democrats, hard-working people, the people who can't afford to stay home, the people who are getting clobbered, the people who are making an hourly wage, the people who are out there saving our lives, carrying the country on their back," he said in an interview with Spectrum News posted Tuesday.
Scoffing at the idea that Democratic governors were holding back on reopening state economies to hurt President Donald Trump, Biden said the victims of the pandemic were "our constituency," as opposed to millionaires and people making "hundreds of thousands of dollars."
Support from working-class voters, particularly in the Rust Belt, helped propel Trump to the White House in 2016. New York Times exit polls found a 16-point swing toward Trump in 2016 from Mitt Romney in 2012 among voters making under $30,000. The Trump campaign is seizing on the comments to depict Biden as a shameless partisan.
"Joe Biden continues to alienate hardworking Americans in his third quest to become president," Trump campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso told the Washington Free Beacon. "The coronavirus doesn’t discriminate based on political party and President Trump is armed with the data, research, and medical advice needed to combat this crisis head on. While President Trump has fought daily to protect the American people against this invisible enemy, all Joe Biden has done is regurgitate Beijing’s talking points and snipe from his basement."
Biden said in March the country was "truly all in this together."
In the same interview, Biden ripped Trump for a "dereliction of his duty" in responding to the pandemic, which Trump has blamed on China. The Biden campaign is planning to roll out policies it says will show greater strength toward China than Trump has.
Biden said last year, however, that China was not "competition for us," adding "they're not bad folks."


freebeacon--2020-05-13--GOP Surges in Wisconsin, California Special Elections

Tuesday 's congressional special elections brought promising results for President Donald Trump and the GOP , as Republicans took commanding leads in swing districts widely seen as a bellwether for November .
State senator Tom Tiffany won big in Wisconsin , while former Navy fighter pilot Mike Garcia jumped to a commanding lead in California and is poised to become the first Republican to flip a Democratic seat in the state since 1998 .
Tiffany coasted to victory late Tuesday night , receiving more than 109,000 votes to Democrat Tricia Zunker 's 82,000 , a 15-point advantage .
In California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after polls closed Tuesday , and the gap widened as in-person ballots trickled in Wednesday morning .
The results come as a major boost for Republicans , who have not flipped a California congressional seat from blue to red in more than two decades .
Garcia is now likely to become the only House Republican that represents a district where Hillary Clinton took more than 50 percent of the vote in 2016 , an encouraging sign for the GOP with November just months away .
Both Tiffany and Garcia were backed by Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement released Tuesday night , thanking supporters for making the `` decisive victory possible . ''
He will replace former GOP representative Sean Duffy , who resigned last fall .
The seat was previously held by Democrats for more than four decades prior to Duffy 's 2010 victory .
`` Throughout the campaign , one thing was made resoundingly clear : the people of our district want … someone who will work with President Trump to get our families safely through these rough times and back to prosperity , '' Tiffany said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to you and I am ready to hit the ground running on day one . ''
Garcia now leads Democrat Christy Smith by 12 points in the race to replace disgraced `` throuple '' congresswoman Katie Hill .
While the race has not been officially called—California officials will accept mail-in ballots postmarked on Election Day that arrive before Friday—Garcia 's lead is likely to hold .
The California Republican currently leads Los Angeles County , where most untallied ballots are located , by 11 points .
Garcia declared victory Wednesday morning , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work right away for the citizens of the 25th Congressional District . ''
`` After seeing more results last night , it is clear that our message of lower taxes and ensuring we do n't take liberal Sacramento dysfunction to Washington prevailed , '' he said .
`` These are difficult times , and too much is at stake—our small businesses , our workers and our families need all the help they can get . ''
Smith called the race `` too early to call '' in a Tuesday night statement , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assembly '' and `` look [ s ] forward to seeing a thorough counting of the remaining ballots . ''
While Tuesday 's result gives Republicans momentum going into the general election , Trump still faces hurdles in his reelection campaign .
He trails Biden in many national polls and his campaign has acknowledged that it must overcome gaps in swing states that were vital to his 2016 victory .
This could have repercussions for Garcia , who will again face Smith in November .
Trump remains unpopular in the district , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seat again with Trump on the top of the ticket in November .
An Emerson College poll released in early May showed Biden leading Trump in California by 30 points .
National Democrats expected to easily hold the seat prior to the scandal and Hill 's subsequent resignation .
On Monday , data site FiveThirtyEight said the special elections `` could hint at another blue wave in 2020 . ''
Garcia was presumed to hold a lead going into Election Day .
Election experts expected the race to tighten Tuesday as major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She received May endorsements from Clinton and former president Barack Obama , as well as an Election Day endorsement from twice-failed presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) .
Smith also pushed in-person voting—Los Angeles County officials on Friday announced the opening of a new voting center for the election in Lancaster , a city that has trended blue in recent years , at her campaign 's request .
The late scramble was likely not enough for Smith , who was running to replace former representative Katie Hill after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scandal involving a `` throuple '' relationship with a campaign staffer .
Smith announced her candidacy the day after Hill 's resignation and described the disgraced congresswoman as a `` friend '' and `` patriot . ''
Hill attempted to boost Smith 's candidacy by making a $ 200,000 ad buy aimed at driving Democratic turnout .
The decision likely backfired—Hill reportedly did not inform national party operatives of her plans to release the ad , and according to Politico , a private December poll showed that her unfavorable rating topped her favorable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump praised Tiffany and Garcia in a Wednesday morning tweet celebrating the results .
`` Big Congressional win in California for Mike Garcia , taking back a seat from the Democrats .
This is the first time in many years that a California Dem seat has flipped back to a Republican , '' he said .
`` Also , Tom Tiffany beat his Democrat rival BIG in Wisconsin .
Two great Congressional WINS ! ''
California has yet to certify the race and has set a Friday deadline for accepting ballots that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Tuesday's congressional special elections brought promising results for President Donald Trump and the GOP, as Republicans took commanding leads in swing districts widely seen as a bellwether for November.
State senator Tom Tiffany won big in Wisconsin, while former Navy fighter pilot Mike Garcia jumped to a commanding lead in California and is poised to become the first Republican to flip a Democratic seat in the state since 1998.
Tiffany coasted to victory late Tuesday night, receiving more than 109,000 votes to Democrat Tricia Zunker's 82,000, a 15-point advantage. In California, Garcia held a strong 16,000-vote lead after polls closed Tuesday, and the gap widened as in-person ballots trickled in Wednesday morning. The results come as a major boost for Republicans, who have not flipped a California congressional seat from blue to red in more than two decades. Garcia is now likely to become the only House Republican that represents a district where Hillary Clinton took more than 50 percent of the vote in 2016, an encouraging sign for the GOP with November just months away. Both Tiffany and Garcia were backed by Trump.
Tiffany touted his win in a statement released Tuesday night, thanking supporters for making the "decisive victory possible." He will replace former GOP representative Sean Duffy, who resigned last fall. The seat was previously held by Democrats for more than four decades prior to Duffy's 2010 victory.
"Throughout the campaign, one thing was made resoundingly clear: the people of our district want … someone who will work with President Trump to get our families safely through these rough times and back to prosperity," Tiffany said. "That has always been my promise to you and I am ready to hit the ground running on day one."
Garcia now leads Democrat Christy Smith by 12 points in the race to replace disgraced "throuple" congresswoman Katie Hill. While the race has not been officially called—California officials will accept mail-in ballots postmarked on Election Day that arrive before Friday—Garcia's lead is likely to hold. The California Republican currently leads Los Angeles County, where most untallied ballots are located, by 11 points. Garcia declared victory Wednesday morning, saying he is "ready to go to work right away for the citizens of the 25th Congressional District."
"After seeing more results last night, it is clear that our message of lower taxes and ensuring we don't take liberal Sacramento dysfunction to Washington prevailed," he said. "These are difficult times, and too much is at stake—our small businesses, our workers and our families need all the help they can get."
Smith called the race "too early to call" in a Tuesday night statement, saying she will "return to the State Assembly" and "look[s] forward to seeing a thorough counting of the remaining ballots."
While Tuesday's result gives Republicans momentum going into the general election, Trump still faces hurdles in his reelection campaign. He trails Biden in many national polls and his campaign has acknowledged that it must overcome gaps in swing states that were vital to his 2016 victory. This could have repercussions for Garcia, who will again face Smith in November. Trump remains unpopular in the district, and national Democrats are confident they can flip the seat again with Trump on the top of the ticket in November. An Emerson College poll released in early May showed Biden leading Trump in California by 30 points.
National Democrats expected to easily hold the seat prior to the scandal and Hill's subsequent resignation. On Monday, data site FiveThirtyEight said the special elections "could hint at another blue wave in 2020." Garcia was presumed to hold a lead going into Election Day. Election experts expected the race to tighten Tuesday as major national Democrats rushed to boost Smith. She received May endorsements from Clinton and former president Barack Obama, as well as an Election Day endorsement from twice-failed presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.). Smith also pushed in-person voting—Los Angeles County officials on Friday announced the opening of a new voting center for the election in Lancaster, a city that has trended blue in recent years, at her campaign's request.
The late scramble was likely not enough for Smith, who was running to replace former representative Katie Hill after the Democrat resigned in November amid a salacious scandal involving a "throuple" relationship with a campaign staffer. Smith announced her candidacy the day after Hill's resignation and described the disgraced congresswoman as a "friend" and "patriot." Hill attempted to boost Smith's candidacy by making a $200,000 ad buy aimed at driving Democratic turnout. The decision likely backfired—Hill reportedly did not inform national party operatives of her plans to release the ad, and according to Politico, a private December poll showed that her unfavorable rating topped her favorable rating in the district by double digits.
Trump praised Tiffany and Garcia in a Wednesday morning tweet celebrating the results.
"Big Congressional win in California for Mike Garcia, taking back a seat from the Democrats. This is the first time in many years that a California Dem seat has flipped back to a Republican," he said. "Also, Tom Tiffany beat his Democrat rival BIG in Wisconsin. Two great Congressional WINS!"
California has yet to certify the race and has set a Friday deadline for accepting ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day.


freebeacon--2020-05-13--Biden Taps AOC to Chair Campaign’s Climate Change Task Force

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden chose far-left congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) and Pramila Jayapal ( D. , Wash. ) to lead `` unity task forces '' to craft the party 's general election platform .
Biden announced the appointments Wednesday alongside former rival Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) , who dropped out of the race in April and endorsed Biden .
The two campaigns worked together to create joint task forces dealing with the party 's stances on six issues : climate change , immigration , health care , education , criminal justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chair the climate change task force along with former secretary of state John Kerry , who was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004 .
Jayapal , also a staunch progressive , will run the health care task force .
`` Building upon the work of the Democratic campaigns to date , the ultimate goal of the Unity Task Forces is to develop the most successful possible agenda for Democrats in 2020 , '' the Biden campaign said in a statement .
Sanders praised Biden 's cooperation , saying the task forces will `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressive direction . ''
Shortly after the announcement , Ocasio-Cortez tweeted about her decision to co-chair the task force .
She thanked Sanders for the nomination but did not name Biden .
Both Jayapal and Ocasio-Cortez are outspoken proponents of massive expansions of government spending through policies like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All .
Ocasio-Cortez was a key backer of Sanders 's presidential campaign and has been critical of Biden 's outreach to progressive voters .
A month before her appointment to Biden 's `` unity task forces , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant that the two would not even be in the same party if they were in a different country .
She called his concessions to the left flank , including lowering the age for Medicare eligibility , `` almost insulting . ''
`` They floated this olive branch to the progressive left of lowering the Medicare age to 60 , '' she said .
`` And it 's almost insulting .
I think Hillary [ Clinton ] was looking at policies that lowered it to 50 .
So we 're talking about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years worse than what the nominee had in 2016 . ''
Ocasio-Cortez also said Biden 's nomination would `` depress turnout '' and argued that Biden was not a `` pragmatic choice . ''
Jayapal said the `` suffering '' experienced by Americans from the coronavirus crisis offers `` leverage '' for Democrats in Congress to accomplish their legislative goals .
She called for `` boldness '' in responding to the pandemic .
The joint task forces are the latest in a series of concessions Biden has made to far-left voters after he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also called for canceling student debt and apologized for the deportations of illegal immigrants that occurred when he was vice president .

Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden chose far-left congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.) to lead "unity task forces" to craft the party's general election platform.
Biden announced the appointments Wednesday alongside former rival Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), who dropped out of the race in April and endorsed Biden. The two campaigns worked together to create joint task forces dealing with the party's stances on six issues: climate change, immigration, health care, education, criminal justice, and the economy.
Ocasio-Cortez will chair the climate change task force along with former secretary of state John Kerry, who was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004. Jayapal, also a staunch progressive, will run the health care task force.
"Building upon the work of the Democratic campaigns to date, the ultimate goal of the Unity Task Forces is to develop the most successful possible agenda for Democrats in 2020," the Biden campaign said in a statement.
Sanders praised Biden's cooperation, saying the task forces will "unify our party in a transformational and progressive direction."
Shortly after the announcement, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted about her decision to co-chair the task force. She thanked Sanders for the nomination but did not name Biden.
After conferring w/ grassroots activists and climate allies, I am accepting @BernieSanders’ nomination to co-chair the Climate Change Unity Task Force with Sec. @JohnKerry. Our planet is dangerously imperiled, and wherever there are decisions made, the people must have a voice. https://t.co/xCzEruOwM1 — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 13, 2020
Both Jayapal and Ocasio-Cortez are outspoken proponents of massive expansions of government spending through policies like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.
Ocasio-Cortez was a key backer of Sanders's presidential campaign and has been critical of Biden's outreach to progressive voters. A month before her appointment to Biden's "unity task forces," Ocasio-Cortez said her ideological differences with Biden meant that the two would not even be in the same party if they were in a different country. She called his concessions to the left flank, including lowering the age for Medicare eligibility, "almost insulting."
"They floated this olive branch to the progressive left of lowering the Medicare age to 60," she said. "And it's almost insulting. I think Hillary [Clinton] was looking at policies that lowered it to 50. So we're talking about a ‘progressive concession' that is 10 years worse than what the nominee had in 2016."
Ocasio-Cortez also said Biden's nomination would "depress turnout" and argued that Biden was not a "pragmatic choice."
Jayapal said the "suffering" experienced by Americans from the coronavirus crisis offers "leverage" for Democrats in Congress to accomplish their legislative goals. She called for "boldness" in responding to the pandemic.
The joint task forces are the latest in a series of concessions Biden has made to far-left voters after he surged past Sanders in the primary. He also called for canceling student debt and apologized for the deportations of illegal immigrants that occurred when he was vice president.


freebeacon--2020-05-13--Americans Say China to Blame for Pandemic

More than two-thirds of Americans say that the Chinese government is at least partially to blame for the pandemic , according to a new YouGov poll .
The survey , commissioned by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation ( VoC ) , found that 69 percent of Americans agree that the Chinese government is either `` somewhat '' or `` very '' responsible for the spread of the coronavirus .
Furthermore , 51 percent of the respondents said China should pay compensation to countries affected by the virus , while only 17 percent opposed such reparations .
Americans also expressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light of the coronavirus pandemic , with 67 percent of them viewing China as either a competitor or an enemy .
Marion Smith , the executive director of the VoC , said that the numbers indicate that Americans view China just as unfavorably as they did the Soviet Union during the Cold War .
`` Americans are waking up to this new reality [ about China ] , '' Smith said in an interview with the Washington Free Beacon .
`` We should have learned lessons from the Cold War .
In particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' The survey results indicate that Americans increasingly agree China should be held accountable for its response to the pandemic .
Gallup , which has been assessing U.S. attitudes about China since 1978 , found that Americans today view China more negatively than ever before .
A different poll , conducted by the Pew Research Center in March , also found that a large majority of both Democrats and Republicans currently hold their lowest-ever opinion of China .
The emerging anti-Chinese-government consensus has emboldened policymakers to take aggressive stances against the authoritarian country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slew of legislation in recent months to counter the Chinese government , including a $ 43 billion plan pushed by Sen. Tom Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
that will beef up the military capabilities of the United States and its allies in the Pacific .
The poll surveyed 1,382 U.S. adults between May 6 and 7 .
The survey was conducted online .
More than 7 in 10 Americans also agree China should be `` penalized , '' according to the poll .
While Americans do n't agree on the exact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` international sanctions , '' while 33 percent support additional tariffs on Chinese products .
The survey also found that the coronavirus significantly contributed to the regime 's unfavorability rating , with 44 percent of Americans saying that their opinion of the Chinese government became more unfavorable as a result of the pandemic .
Smith said the coronavirus will have permanent effects—U.S .
opinion about China will not recover even after the pandemic ends .
`` The American people sometimes do n't know everything that 's going on in the world , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this clear comes out that has affected our lives so completely , the American people can be actually quite decisive .
You 're going to see a form of decoupling [ with China ] that I believe is going to be much more complete than many people believe is possible . ''

More than two-thirds of Americans say that the Chinese government is at least partially to blame for the pandemic, according to a new YouGov poll.
The survey, commissioned by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VoC), found that 69 percent of Americans agree that the Chinese government is either "somewhat" or "very" responsible for the spread of the coronavirus. Furthermore, 51 percent of the respondents said China should pay compensation to countries affected by the virus, while only 17 percent opposed such reparations.
Americans also expressed a historically negative opinion about China in light of the coronavirus pandemic, with 67 percent of them viewing China as either a competitor or an enemy. Marion Smith, the executive director of the VoC, said that the numbers indicate that Americans view China just as unfavorably as they did the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
"Americans are waking up to this new reality [about China]," Smith said in an interview with the Washington Free Beacon. "We should have learned lessons from the Cold War. In particular, the nature of communist parties."
The survey results indicate that Americans increasingly agree China should be held accountable for its response to the pandemic. Gallup, which has been assessing U.S. attitudes about China since 1978, found that Americans today view China more negatively than ever before. A different poll, conducted by the Pew Research Center in March, also found that a large majority of both Democrats and Republicans currently hold their lowest-ever opinion of China.
The emerging anti-Chinese-government consensus has emboldened policymakers to take aggressive stances against the authoritarian country. Members of Congress have unveiled a slew of legislation in recent months to counter the Chinese government, including a $43 billion plan pushed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) that will beef up the military capabilities of the United States and its allies in the Pacific.
The poll surveyed 1,382 U.S. adults between May 6 and 7. The survey was conducted online.
More than 7 in 10 Americans also agree China should be "penalized," according to the poll. While Americans don't agree on the exact penalty, roughly 4 in 10 support "international sanctions," while 33 percent support additional tariffs on Chinese products.
The survey also found that the coronavirus significantly contributed to the regime's unfavorability rating, with 44 percent of Americans saying that their opinion of the Chinese government became more unfavorable as a result of the pandemic.
Smith said the coronavirus will have permanent effects—U.S. opinion about China will not recover even after the pandemic ends.
"The American people sometimes don't know everything that's going on in the world," he said. "But when something this clear comes out that has affected our lives so completely, the American people can be actually quite decisive. You're going to see a form of decoupling [with China] that I believe is going to be much more complete than many people believe is possible."


freebeacon--2020-05-14--Spot The Difference: Two Governors Reopened Their States, Only One Was Accused of ‘Human Sacrifice’

The governors of Georgia and Colorado have at least one thing in common .
They both took steps to reopen their states ' economies in late April amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic .
But for some reason , the media 's coverage of Gov .
Brian Kemp ( R. , Ga. ) has been slightly different from the media 's coverage of Gov .
Jared Polis ( D. , Colo. ) .
Kemp , for example , has been accused of experimenting with `` human sacrifice . ''
So reads the headline of an April 29 article published in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia residents into `` unwilling canaries in an invisible coal mine , sent to find out just how many individuals need to lose their job or their life for a state to work through a plague . ''
In a brief aside , the article acknowledges that some other states , including Colorado , `` have already put similar plans in motion . ''
Polis , for some reason , is not identified as an accomplice in Kemp 's murder scheme .
When Kemp announced his plan to gradually reopen some Georgia businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ echoed the sentiment of many media pundits when he wrote on Twitter : `` Mark this day .
Because two and three weeks from now , the Georgia death toll is blood on his hands .
And as Georgians move around the country , they ’ ll spread more death and economic destruction . ''
Fournier has n't tweeted about Colorado in years .
The media have only managed to confuse themselves in attempting to portray the reopening of state economies as a partisan issue .
`` Republicans are reopening .
Why is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Colorado ? ''
reads the headline from one NBC News article published in early May .
While Republican governors are reopening despite critics who `` warn they 're moving too fast , '' Polis is a political maverick displaying courageous leadership in trying times .
`` Jared is a unique individual , and to say that he is a cookie-cutter , standard public official or politician just is n't the case , '' one Democratic strategist told NBC .
`` He 's always blazed his own trail .
And he 's confident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Vox Dot Com has an explainer about one governor 's `` controversial reopening plan , '' but not the other 's .
CNN published articles on one governor 's `` hugely high-stakes coronavirus gamble , '' and another about how his state 's `` business owners are conflicted '' about the plan to reopen .
The other governor 's name is mentioned at the very bottom of a separate CNN article on states `` taking their first steps toward a new normal . ''
You already know which governor is which .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ media 's heightened interest in Georgia 's efforts to reopen the economy compared to Colorado 's .
It has more than 100 images depicting the gradual reopening of Georgia 's economy , most of them part of a collection titled , `` Coronavirus Pandemic Causes Climate Of Anxiety And Changing Routines In America . ''
A search for `` Jared Polis '' yields 40 results related to the coronavirus , the majority of which were taken during the governor 's meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday .
Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases on May 13 .
Georgia ( population 10.6 million ) reported 579 , an almost identical figure on a per capita basis .
Georgia , meanwhile , is well ahead of Colorado in terms of coronavirus testing .
Both states are projected to have almost no coronavirus infections by August , according to the most recent projections from the vaunted Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation , which were last updated on May 12 , more than two weeks after both states began to reopen .
That all seems pretty similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so different ?

The governors of Georgia and Colorado have at least one thing in common. They both took steps to reopen their states' economies in late April amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. But for some reason, the media's coverage of Gov. Brian Kemp (R., Ga.) has been slightly different from the media's coverage of Gov. Jared Polis (D., Colo.).
Kemp, for example, has been accused of experimenting with "human sacrifice." So reads the headline of an April 29 article published in the Atlantic, which accuses Kemp of turning Georgia residents into "unwilling canaries in an invisible coal mine, sent to find out just how many individuals need to lose their job or their life for a state to work through a plague."
In a brief aside, the article acknowledges that some other states, including Colorado, "have already put similar plans in motion." Polis, for some reason, is not identified as an accomplice in Kemp's murder scheme.
When Kemp announced his plan to gradually reopen some Georgia businesses, former National Journal editor Ron Fournier echoed the sentiment of many media pundits when he wrote on Twitter: "Mark this day. Because two and three weeks from now, the Georgia death toll is blood on his hands. And as Georgians move around the country, they’ll spread more death and economic destruction." Fournier hasn't tweeted about Colorado in years.
The media have only managed to confuse themselves in attempting to portray the reopening of state economies as a partisan issue. "Republicans are reopening. Why is Democratic Gov. Polis doing the same in Colorado?" reads the headline from one NBC News article published in early May.
While Republican governors are reopening despite critics who "warn they're moving too fast," Polis is a political maverick displaying courageous leadership in trying times. "Jared is a unique individual, and to say that he is a cookie-cutter, standard public official or politician just isn't the case," one Democratic strategist told NBC. "He's always blazed his own trail. And he's confident as to where he's going."
Vox Dot Com has an explainer about one governor's "controversial reopening plan," but not the other's. CNN published articles on one governor's "hugely high-stakes coronavirus gamble," and another about how his state's "business owners are conflicted" about the plan to reopen. The other governor's name is mentioned at the very bottom of a separate CNN article on states "taking their first steps toward a new normal." You already know which governor is which.
The Getty Images photo catalogue reflects the media's heightened interest in Georgia's efforts to reopen the economy compared to Colorado's. It has more than 100 images depicting the gradual reopening of Georgia's economy, most of them part of a collection titled, "Coronavirus Pandemic Causes Climate Of Anxiety And Changing Routines In America."
A search for "Jared Polis" yields 40 results related to the coronavirus, the majority of which were taken during the governor's meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday.
Colorado (population 5.8 million) reported 318 new cases on May 13. Georgia (population 10.6 million) reported 579, an almost identical figure on a per capita basis. Georgia, meanwhile, is well ahead of Colorado in terms of coronavirus testing. Both states are projected to have almost no coronavirus infections by August, according to the most recent projections from the vaunted Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which were last updated on May 12, more than two weeks after both states began to reopen.
That all seems pretty similar. Wonder why the coverage has been so different?


freebeacon--2020-05-14--New York Dem: Securing PPE May Not Be Worth ‘Bowing Down’ to Trump

A Democratic congressional candidate questioned whether securing medical supplies vital to combating the coronavirus was `` worth '' working with President Donald Trump .
Perry Gershon , a Long Island businessman challenging GOP incumbent Rep. Lee Zeldin ( N.Y. ) , acknowledged that the Republican has successfully obtained personal protective equipment ( PPE ) for his district during a virtual town hall in April .
But Gershon questioned whether obtaining the life-saving equipment was `` worth '' working with Trump , saying Zeldin is `` essentially bowing down '' to the president .
`` I think sincerely Zeldin has helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after a supporter asked if the equipment obtained by Zeldin was `` actually being distributed . ''
`` But I ask the question , is it worth essentially bowing down to Donald Trump and being part of his society where he rewards the people who say good things about him and he penalizes the people who do n't ? ''
Gershon , a former commercial real estate lender , is again running to unseat Zeldin after losing to the Republican by 6 points in 2018 .
Trump won the district by 12 points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the tighter midterm margins as evidence that the president has lost support in the New York suburbs .
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a digital ad in January tying Zeldin to Trump after the president suggested he would consider cutting entitlement programs .
Gershon took the strategy a step further in April when he attempted to deflect Zeldin 's bipartisan coronavirus work and link it to Trump .
Zeldin in late April touted the securing of more than 1.2 million pieces of PPE for his New York district .
He partnered with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effort , stressing the need to `` work together in a nonpartisan way to deliver the PPE Long Island needs . ''
Bellone praised Zeldin for his help after local officials ran out of key medical supplies earlier in the month .
Suffolk County is fourth in the state in both coronavirus cases and deaths , according to state data .
`` Congressman Zeldin has worked with the White House and secured a commitment that they will make sure Suffolk County has what we need in the next 30 days as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said during an April conference call .
`` Knowing that Rep. Zeldin has that commitment from the White House , that is a significant thing for the people of Suffolk County . ''
Gershon , who did not respond to a request for comment , acknowledged Bellone 's praise of Zeldin during his April virtual town hall .
`` From what I can tell , [ the PPE ] is being distributed .
Zeldin was tweeting this morning pictures of trucks being unloaded , and Steve Bellone has thanked Zeldin for his efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on to say that Zeldin `` perhaps has to '' appeal to the White House to obtain the equipment , calling the Trump administration a `` dictatorship . ''
`` We should be getting enough PPE so everyone gets it and you do n't have to beg the president and thank him as if he 's doling it out .
That 's what 's wrong with what 's going on right now , and Zeldin is being part of it , '' he said .
`` Perhaps he has to because that 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump should be working for all Americans , not working for the dictatorship of Donald Trump . ''
The Zeldin campaign told the Washington Free Beacon that Gershon 's comments are `` alarming , '' given the heavy toll that the virus has had on first responders in the region .
`` For someone to say that they would let politics get in the way of securing the masks , gloves , and other essential items that they need to fight this crisis is beyond alarming , '' a spokesman said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time to put partisan politics aside , and Congressman Zeldin is willing to work with anyone to deliver the resources Long Island needs . ''
Gershon in 2018 said he decided to challenge Zeldin because he saw similarities between Trump and Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler after visiting the U.S .
Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington , D.C. , two years earlier .
`` I was struck then by the parallels between the rise of Donald Trump today and the rise of Hitler back then , '' he said .
`` And I just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand up and make sure this does n't happen in America . ''
Gershon is one of four Democrats running to unseat Zeldin .
He is the primary 's second-leading fundraiser , taking in $ 1 million as of March 31 .
He spent $ 2 million of his own money on his failed congressional bid in 2018 .
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as `` likely Republican , '' indicating that it is `` not considered competitive '' but has the potential to tighten .

A Democratic congressional candidate questioned whether securing medical supplies vital to combating the coronavirus was "worth" working with President Donald Trump.
Perry Gershon, a Long Island businessman challenging GOP incumbent Rep. Lee Zeldin (N.Y.), acknowledged that the Republican has successfully obtained personal protective equipment (PPE) for his district during a virtual town hall in April. But Gershon questioned whether obtaining the life-saving equipment was "worth" working with Trump, saying Zeldin is "essentially bowing down" to the president.
"I think sincerely Zeldin has helped bring PPE here," Gershon said after a supporter asked if the equipment obtained by Zeldin was "actually being distributed."
"But I ask the question, is it worth essentially bowing down to Donald Trump and being part of his society where he rewards the people who say good things about him and he penalizes the people who don't?"
Gershon, a former commercial real estate lender, is again running to unseat Zeldin after losing to the Republican by 6 points in 2018. Trump won the district by 12 points in 2016, but national Democrats see the tighter midterm margins as evidence that the president has lost support in the New York suburbs. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a digital ad in January tying Zeldin to Trump after the president suggested he would consider cutting entitlement programs. Gershon took the strategy a step further in April when he attempted to deflect Zeldin's bipartisan coronavirus work and link it to Trump.
Zeldin in late April touted the securing of more than 1.2 million pieces of PPE for his New York district. He partnered with Democratic Suffolk County executive Steve Bellone in the effort, stressing the need to "work together in a nonpartisan way to deliver the PPE Long Island needs." Bellone praised Zeldin for his help after local officials ran out of key medical supplies earlier in the month. Suffolk County is fourth in the state in both coronavirus cases and deaths, according to state data.
"Congressman Zeldin has worked with the White House and secured a commitment that they will make sure Suffolk County has what we need in the next 30 days as we go through this crisis," Bellone said during an April conference call. "Knowing that Rep. Zeldin has that commitment from the White House, that is a significant thing for the people of Suffolk County."
Gershon, who did not respond to a request for comment, acknowledged Bellone's praise of Zeldin during his April virtual town hall.
"From what I can tell, [the PPE] is being distributed. Zeldin was tweeting this morning pictures of trucks being unloaded, and Steve Bellone has thanked Zeldin for his efforts," he said.
Gershon went on to say that Zeldin "perhaps has to" appeal to the White House to obtain the equipment, calling the Trump administration a "dictatorship."
"We should be getting enough PPE so everyone gets it and you don't have to beg the president and thank him as if he's doling it out. That's what's wrong with what's going on right now, and Zeldin is being part of it," he said. "Perhaps he has to because that's how Trump is giving PPE out…. Donald Trump should be working for all Americans, not working for the dictatorship of Donald Trump."
The Zeldin campaign told the Washington Free Beacon that Gershon's comments are "alarming," given the heavy toll that the virus has had on first responders in the region.
"For someone to say that they would let politics get in the way of securing the masks, gloves, and other essential items that they need to fight this crisis is beyond alarming," a spokesman said in an email. "This is the time to put partisan politics aside, and Congressman Zeldin is willing to work with anyone to deliver the resources Long Island needs."
Gershon in 2018 said he decided to challenge Zeldin because he saw similarities between Trump and Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler after visiting the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., two years earlier.
"I was struck then by the parallels between the rise of Donald Trump today and the rise of Hitler back then," he said. "And I just said to myself that we have to stand up and make sure this doesn't happen in America."
Gershon is one of four Democrats running to unseat Zeldin. He is the primary's second-leading fundraiser, taking in $1 million as of March 31. He spent $2 million of his own money on his failed congressional bid in 2018. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the race as "likely Republican," indicating that it is "not considered competitive" but has the potential to tighten.


freebeacon--2020-05-14--U.S. Media Parrot Chinese Propaganda About Coronavirus

The Washington Free Beacon looks back at the Chinese propaganda claims that American media have advanced since the coronavirus first @ @ @ @ @ Rutz is senior writer at the Washington Free Beacon .
He was previously a sports @ @ @ @ @ Atlanta and has done freelance sports reporting for the Washington Post .
He graduated from @ @ @ @ @ lives in Marietta , Ga. His Twitter handle is @ DavidRutz .
He can be @ @ @ @ @ .

The Washington Free Beacon looks back at the Chinese propaganda claims that American media have advanced since the coronavirus first emerged in December.
Published under: Coronavirus , Media , SUPERcuts , Video