hotair--2020-08-11--Prominent black Dems warn Biden: Pick a black woman as a running mate -- or else

Call it the Gretchen Whitmer reaction .
Joe Biden ’ s outreach to the governor of Michigan as a veepstakes contender surprised observers , as Biden had made a somewhat specific commitment to choose a “ woman of color , ” as Biden put it .
Michelle Lujan Grisham could qualify as a Hispanic , Tammy Duckworth as an Asian-American , but Elizabeth Warren ’ s an obvious no-go , and not just on that basis .
Even in Michigan , black Democrats blasted Biden ’ s last-minute look at Whitmer , saying “ he better pick a black woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend that Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer , a white woman , had flown to meet with Biden to discuss the vice presidency , frustration and disappointment boiled over among Black female Democrats — including some in her own state .
“ He better pick a black woman .
If he picks Gretchen , he ’ ll lose Michigan , ” said Virgie Rollins , chair of the Democratic National Committee Black Caucus , who hosted Biden at her home before his Michigan primary win this spring .
“ There are a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ Whitmer ] in this state , ” Rollins told POLITICO , citing her record on Flint ’ s lead water crisis and education policy , particularly in Detroit .
It ’ s not just Michigan , either .
The Washington Post reported last night that a petition signed by 100 prominent black men , mainly celebrities and Democratic/progressive activists , has made that demand explicit .
Enough of the dodging and the euphemistic use of “ woman of color , ” they declare — pick a black woman , or else : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a strongly worded open letter Monday , warning Biden that not picking a Black woman would cost him the election .
The signatories of the letter included rapper Sean “ Diddy ” Combs , radio show host Lenard McKelvey ( a.k.a .
Charlamagne tha God ) , actor Cedric Kyles ( a.k.a .
Cedric the Entertainer ) , commentator Van Jones , Bishop William J. Barber and civil rights attorney Ben Crump , among others .
“ For too long Black women have been asked to do everything from rally the troops to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with no acknowledgment , no respect , no visibility , and certainly not enough support , ” the letter stated .
“ Failing to select a Black woman in 2020 means you will lose the election .
We don ’ t want to choose between the lesser of two evils and we don ’ t want to vote the devil we know versus the devil we don ’ t because we are tired of voting for devils — period.
” The letter followed a similar public statement from more than 700 “ Concerned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who challenged the “ relentless attacks on Black women and our leadership abilities ” that have accompanied the running mate search .
“ There is a feeling of urgency and history — and Black women are tired of being considered the help , ” said Karen Finney , a Democratic strategist who signed that letter and led the writing of a third open letter to Biden earlier this year urging him to pick a Black woman .
“ In politics , we have carried so many on our backs across the finish line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history , we believe that it is time for a Black woman.
” Thus are the wages of raising expectations .
Biden ’ s problem is that he essentially has two options if he wants to comply with this demand .
Karen Bass and Val Demings are out , for different reasons but one in common — picking a House member makes no political sense at all .
They don ’ t have a large enough constituency ; Bass comes from ultra-safe California , while Demings wouldn ’ t help carry Florida .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would almost certainly cost Biden Florida in November , for that matter , and Demings ’ history as a police chief could cost Biden significant progressive support .
That leaves Biden with Kamala Harris and Susan Rice .
Harris has her own issues as a prosecutor and attorney general with progressives , plus she proved herself less than stellar as a candidate in a national campaign .
Harris practically had the field and the environment set for her , and ended up getting clobbered — twice !
— by Tulsi Gabbard .
Rice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never run for office at all , and her track record on the talk-show circuit might be a bigger headache for Biden .
Democrats have no other black women with a high enough national profile and experience to compete at this level , except perhaps for retired Sen. Carol Moseley Braun , who at 72 is probably a bit too old for the job — although she might otherwise be the best choice in a suddenly narrowing field .
The sudden pressure at the end might end up robbing Biden of some boost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden gets seen as having to be bullied into picking Harris or Rice , just how virtuous will it seem ?
That may not matter much after such a pick and the downpour of plaudits for its historic nature , but it won ’ t allow Biden for the kind of glow he might have otherwise expected .
That ’ s his own fault , however ; playing footsie with Whitmer at the last minute was a dumb decision , and the reaction it provoked should have been easily foreseen .
So when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision is “ imminent ” : The former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has interviewed top finalists to fill the role he once held and an announcement of his choice is still expected this week , according to multiple people familiar with the search .
Joe Biden has interviewed his top choices either in person or remotely .
Last week , for example , Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer flew to Delaware to meet with him in person .
Other meetings have been held either by telephone or video conferencing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who were granted anonymity to speak frankly .
It ’ s not just “ imminent , ” it ’ s overdue .
Team Biden made it known that the pick would be announced last week , only to let that date slide into this week .
That ’ s not a sign of confidence either , and this reaction should have been foreseen , too .

Call it the Gretchen Whitmer reaction. Joe Biden’s outreach to the governor of Michigan as a veepstakes contender surprised observers, as Biden had made a somewhat specific commitment to choose a “woman of color,” as Biden put it. Michelle Lujan Grisham could qualify as a Hispanic, Tammy Duckworth as an Asian-American, but Elizabeth Warren’s an obvious no-go, and not just on that basis. Even in Michigan, black Democrats blasted Biden’s last-minute look at Whitmer, saying “he better pick a black woman”:
But after news broke over the weekend that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a white woman, had flown to meet with Biden to discuss the vice presidency, frustration and disappointment boiled over among Black female Democrats — including some in her own state. “He better pick a black woman. If he picks Gretchen, he’ll lose Michigan,” said Virgie Rollins, chair of the Democratic National Committee Black Caucus, who hosted Biden at her home before his Michigan primary win this spring. “There are a lot of Black people mad at her [Whitmer] in this state,” Rollins told POLITICO, citing her record on Flint’s lead water crisis and education policy, particularly in Detroit.
It’s not just Michigan, either. The Washington Post reported last night that a petition signed by 100 prominent black men, mainly celebrities and Democratic/progressive activists, has made that demand explicit. Enough of the dodging and the euphemistic use of “woman of color,” they declare — pick a black woman, or else:
More than 100 prominent Black men released a strongly worded open letter Monday, warning Biden that not picking a Black woman would cost him the election. The signatories of the letter included rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs, radio show host Lenard McKelvey (a.k.a. Charlamagne tha God), actor Cedric Kyles (a.k.a. Cedric the Entertainer), commentator Van Jones, Bishop William J. Barber and civil rights attorney Ben Crump, among others. “For too long Black women have been asked to do everything from rally the troops to risk their lives for the Democratic Party with no acknowledgment, no respect, no visibility, and certainly not enough support,” the letter stated. “Failing to select a Black woman in 2020 means you will lose the election. We don’t want to choose between the lesser of two evils and we don’t want to vote the devil we know versus the devil we don’t because we are tired of voting for devils — period.” The letter followed a similar public statement from more than 700 “Concerned Black Women Leaders” on Friday, who challenged the “relentless attacks on Black women and our leadership abilities” that have accompanied the running mate search. “There is a feeling of urgency and history — and Black women are tired of being considered the help,” said Karen Finney, a Democratic strategist who signed that letter and led the writing of a third open letter to Biden earlier this year urging him to pick a Black woman. “In politics, we have carried so many on our backs across the finish line, and in this moment in our history, we believe that it is time for a Black woman.”
Thus are the wages of raising expectations. Biden’s problem is that he essentially has two options if he wants to comply with this demand. Karen Bass and Val Demings are out, for different reasons but one in common — picking a House member makes no political sense at all. They don’t have a large enough constituency; Bass comes from ultra-safe California, while Demings wouldn’t help carry Florida. Bass’ baggage from Cuba and Scientology would almost certainly cost Biden Florida in November, for that matter, and Demings’ history as a police chief could cost Biden significant progressive support.
That leaves Biden with Kamala Harris and Susan Rice. Harris has her own issues as a prosecutor and attorney general with progressives, plus she proved herself less than stellar as a candidate in a national campaign. Harris practically had the field and the environment set for her, and ended up getting clobbered — twice! — by Tulsi Gabbard. Rice, on the other hand, has never run for office at all, and her track record on the talk-show circuit might be a bigger headache for Biden. Democrats have no other black women with a high enough national profile and experience to compete at this level, except perhaps for retired Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, who at 72 is probably a bit too old for the job — although she might otherwise be the best choice in a suddenly narrowing field.
The sudden pressure at the end might end up robbing Biden of some boost from this choice, too. If Biden gets seen as having to be bullied into picking Harris or Rice, just how virtuous will it seem? That may not matter much after such a pick and the downpour of plaudits for its historic nature, but it won’t allow Biden for the kind of glow he might have otherwise expected. That’s his own fault, however; playing footsie with Whitmer at the last minute was a dumb decision, and the reaction it provoked should have been easily foreseen.
So when will we know? CBS News says the decision is “imminent”:
The former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has interviewed top finalists to fill the role he once held and an announcement of his choice is still expected this week, according to multiple people familiar with the search. Joe Biden has interviewed his top choices either in person or remotely. Last week, for example, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer flew to Delaware to meet with him in person. Other meetings have been held either by telephone or video conferencing, said the people familiar with the process who were granted anonymity to speak frankly.
It’s not just “imminent,” it’s overdue. Team Biden made it known that the pick would be announced last week, only to let that date slide into this week. That’s not a sign of confidence either, and this reaction should have been foreseen, too.


hotair--2020-08-11--How many nursing home deaths did NY have? We have no idea

Ed touched on this yesterday in a column regarding New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ’ s political song and dance regarding COVID-19 in his state .
But one portion of this story deserves a closer look .
Cuomo ’ s primary defense when people bring up his disastrous decision to force nursing homes and long-term care facilities to accept patients who tested positive for the novel coronavirus has been to call it a “ political attack ” and to point to the low percentage of deaths taking place in those facilities .
But that number only looks low because somebody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the math .
In reality , we have no idea how many nursing home residents and workers died of the virus , and it could be as much as five times higher than what we ’ ve been told .
( Associated Press ) Riverdale Nursing Home in the Bronx appears , on paper , to have escaped the worst of the coronavirus pandemic , with an official state count of just four deaths in its 146-bed facility .
The truth , according to the home , is far worse : 21 dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ succumbed .
“ It was a cascading effect , ” administrator Emil Fuzayov recalled .
“ One after the other.
” New York ’ s coronavirus death toll in nursing homes , already among the highest in the nation , could actually be a significant undercount .
As the AP report points out , New York is the only state in the nation using this bizarre formula to calculate nursing home deaths .
They ’ re only counting the people who physically expired on the premises of the nursing home .
If they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be rushed to the hospital and they died there , they weren ’ t counted .
If their alarmed family members came and took them out of the nursing home only to have them later expire at home , they similarly went uncounted .
How ridiculous is this ?
Even one of Cuomo ’ s fellow Democrats in the state senate , Gustavo Rivera , chimed in to say , “ That ’ s a problem , bro.
” He went on to point out the obvious conclusion that the Governor appeared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could “ look better.
” So how far off are the figures ?
That ’ s impossible to say definitively , but we have a few clues to go by .
If the Riverdale Nursing Home is even close to being typical , the true number could be as much as five times higher than the stated total of roughly 6,600 .
But even if Riverdale is an outlier , the real number is still significantly higher .
The New York Department of Health reports that there are currently 21,000 nursing home beds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 13,000 lower than they had previously estimated .
Yes , it ’ s true that some of those vacancies could be due to fewer people being willing to move their older relatives into long term care facilities or pulling them out because of fears of the virus .
But some significant number of those vacancies are undoubtedly the result of residents dying from COVID-19 .
While it ’ s good to see outlets like the Associated Press tackling this question , it remains to be seen how much of an impact this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media has provided Andrew Cuomo with cover in the form of fawning coverage of the daily pandemic updates he used to deliver .
He was supposed to be a role model of leadership and there was briefly talk of him replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee .
But Cuomo ’ s executive order forbidding nursing homes from refusing patients even if they had tested positive for the virus was nothing short of a disaster .
The AP concludes by saying that the probable number of deaths in such facilities is at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official ” tally .
And it could be considerably higher than that .

Ed touched on this yesterday in a column regarding New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s political song and dance regarding COVID-19 in his state. But one portion of this story deserves a closer look. Cuomo’s primary defense when people bring up his disastrous decision to force nursing homes and long-term care facilities to accept patients who tested positive for the novel coronavirus has been to call it a “political attack” and to point to the low percentage of deaths taking place in those facilities. But that number only looks low because somebody has been playing fast and loose with the math. In reality, we have no idea how many nursing home residents and workers died of the virus, and it could be as much as five times higher than what we’ve been told. (Associated Press)
Riverdale Nursing Home in the Bronx appears, on paper, to have escaped the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, with an official state count of just four deaths in its 146-bed facility. The truth, according to the home, is far worse: 21 dead, most transported to hospitals before they succumbed. “It was a cascading effect,” administrator Emil Fuzayov recalled. “One after the other.” New York’s coronavirus death toll in nursing homes, already among the highest in the nation, could actually be a significant undercount.
As the AP report points out, New York is the only state in the nation using this bizarre formula to calculate nursing home deaths. They’re only counting the people who physically expired on the premises of the nursing home. If they went into severe distress and had to be rushed to the hospital and they died there, they weren’t counted. If their alarmed family members came and took them out of the nursing home only to have them later expire at home, they similarly went uncounted.
How ridiculous is this? Even one of Cuomo’s fellow Democrats in the state senate, Gustavo Rivera, chimed in to say, “That’s a problem, bro.” He went on to point out the obvious conclusion that the Governor appeared to be defining the statistics differently so he could “look better.”
So how far off are the figures? That’s impossible to say definitively, but we have a few clues to go by. If the Riverdale Nursing Home is even close to being typical, the true number could be as much as five times higher than the stated total of roughly 6,600. But even if Riverdale is an outlier, the real number is still significantly higher. The New York Department of Health reports that there are currently 21,000 nursing home beds lying empty. That’s more than 13,000 lower than they had previously estimated.
Yes, it’s true that some of those vacancies could be due to fewer people being willing to move their older relatives into long term care facilities or pulling them out because of fears of the virus. But some significant number of those vacancies are undoubtedly the result of residents dying from COVID-19.
While it’s good to see outlets like the Associated Press tackling this question, it remains to be seen how much of an impact this coverage will have. Most of the media has provided Andrew Cuomo with cover in the form of fawning coverage of the daily pandemic updates he used to deliver. He was supposed to be a role model of leadership and there was briefly talk of him replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee. But Cuomo’s executive order forbidding nursing homes from refusing patients even if they had tested positive for the virus was nothing short of a disaster. The AP concludes by saying that the probable number of deaths in such facilities is at least 11,000, nearly double the “official” tally. And it could be considerably higher than that.


hotair--2020-08-12--Ilhan Omar's ride on the gravy train continues

Despite all of the buzz that seemed to be surrounding Ilhan Omar ’ s primary race over the course of the summer , it ended pretty much as it began .
And it wasn ’ t even all that close .
The current tally shows Omar leading challenger Antone Melton-Meaux by a more than comfortable 57-39 margin .
Omar retained the support of nearly all of the major Democratic players in Minnesota politics , though Minneapolis ’ s largest newspaper endorsed her challenger .
Since the 5th Congressional District isn ’ t competitive , she ’ s essentially assured herself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Fox News ) Rep. Ilhan Omar on Tuesday defeated her Democratic primary challenger , attorney Antone Melton-Meaux , who garnered attention for outraising her during the campaign , the Associated Press projected .
The race has gotten attention in recent weeks : Melton-Meaux said he supported Omar ’ s first run for Congress in 2018 but criticized her for the number of votes she ’ s missed .
“ She has been ineffective in Washington because she is divisive , and she ’ s focused on her celebrity , ” Melton-Meaux told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaints about Omar were both obvious and accurate .
She ’ s a divisive figure who regularly unleashes antisemitic comments and seems more interested in her celebrity status than the conditions in the city that makes up most of her district .
You know… the one that ’ s currently burning to the ground ?
But as I said , there really wasn ’ t much data to make anyone think she was in any danger .
The only reason this primary race attracted any attention was the fact that Melton-Meaux managed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her .
Sometimes that can be an indication of a groundswell of support for the challenger , but in this case , most of that cash was coming from national sources opposed to Omar ’ s continued presence in the House .
Speaking of campaign cash , perhaps of far more interest to the public is the fact that it ’ s not just Omar ’ s congressional career that ’ s received an extension .
Her husband and his political consulting firm have also been granted at least another 50-month extension for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve seen in American politics in quite some time .
Tim Mynett ’ s E Street Group has been raking in cash from his wife ’ s campaign coffers at staggering rates , with more than $ 600,000 coming his way in just the last quarter .
Since we don ’ t have access to his personal tax returns , there ’ s no saying how much he ’ s managed to transfer to their personal accounts through his salary and any possible “ bonus ” payments for the excellent work he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ literally more money than some congressional campaigns raise during an entire term .
And all of that cash is changing hands to manage the campaign of someone who has been an iron lock to win both the primary and general elections from day one .
The other members of Congress have to be looking at each other and saying , ‘ how didn ’ t I think of that ?
’ Some of the internal monologues going on right now are probably predictable .
My husband gives me advice all the time In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to shut up half the time .
Maybe I should be paying him .
Hrmm… In any event , this chapter of the Omar story is obviously behind us .
Now she can return to her national popularity tour and continue her pattern of disparaging the Jews while offering influential “ Squad ” endorsements to upstart socialists across the land .
Let the good times – and the massive campaign cash injections – roll on !

Despite all of the buzz that seemed to be surrounding Ilhan Omar’s primary race over the course of the summer, it ended pretty much as it began. And it wasn’t even all that close. The current tally shows Omar leading challenger Antone Melton-Meaux by a more than comfortable 57-39 margin. Omar retained the support of nearly all of the major Democratic players in Minnesota politics, though Minneapolis’s largest newspaper endorsed her challenger. Since the 5th Congressional District isn’t competitive, she’s essentially assured herself of another two years in office. (Fox News)
Rep. Ilhan Omar on Tuesday defeated her Democratic primary challenger, attorney Antone Melton-Meaux, who garnered attention for outraising her during the campaign, the Associated Press projected. The race has gotten attention in recent weeks: Melton-Meaux said he supported Omar’s first run for Congress in 2018 but criticized her for the number of votes she’s missed. “She has been ineffective in Washington because she is divisive, and she’s focused on her celebrity,” Melton-Meaux told The Associated Press.
Melton-Meaux’s complaints about Omar were both obvious and accurate. She’s a divisive figure who regularly unleashes antisemitic comments and seems more interested in her celebrity status than the conditions in the city that makes up most of her district. You know… the one that’s currently burning to the ground?
But as I said, there really wasn’t much data to make anyone think she was in any danger. The only reason this primary race attracted any attention was the fact that Melton-Meaux managed to raise so much money to run against her. Sometimes that can be an indication of a groundswell of support for the challenger, but in this case, most of that cash was coming from national sources opposed to Omar’s continued presence in the House.
Speaking of campaign cash, perhaps of far more interest to the public is the fact that it’s not just Omar’s congressional career that’s received an extension. Her husband and his political consulting firm have also been granted at least another 50-month extension for one of the most profitable ventures we’ve seen in American politics in quite some time. Tim Mynett’s E Street Group has been raking in cash from his wife’s campaign coffers at staggering rates, with more than $600,000 coming his way in just the last quarter.
Since we don’t have access to his personal tax returns, there’s no saying how much he’s managed to transfer to their personal accounts through his salary and any possible “bonus” payments for the excellent work he must be delivering. That is quite literally more money than some congressional campaigns raise during an entire term. And all of that cash is changing hands to manage the campaign of someone who has been an iron lock to win both the primary and general elections from day one.
The other members of Congress have to be looking at each other and saying, ‘how didn’t I think of that?’ Some of the internal monologues going on right now are probably predictable. My husband gives me advice all the time In fact, you can’t get him to shut up half the time. Maybe I should be paying him. Hrmm…
In any event, this chapter of the Omar story is obviously behind us. Now she can return to her national popularity tour and continue her pattern of disparaging the Jews while offering influential “Squad” endorsements to upstart socialists across the land. Let the good times – and the massive campaign cash injections – roll on!


hotair--2020-08-12--VIP Gold chat II: Cam Edwards, Twitchy's Sam J, and Ed Morrissey!

Get ready for another tremendous live , interactive VIP Gold chat with Twitchy ’ s Sam J , Bearing Arms @ @ @ @ @ HotAir ’ s Ed Morrissey !
Join us at 1:30 pm Wednesday for another great @ @ @ @ @ stories online .
The trio will take your questions and comments and gave an in-depth @ @ @ @ @ of the day .
If you are not a VIP Gold member , you can @ @ @ @ @ you can watch what you missed and participate in future chats !
Sam keeps tabs @ @ @ @ @ views , and controversies on a moment-to-moment basis .
Cam brings his A-game on 2nd @ @ @ @ @ makes sure to keep it real along the way .
Ed has kept pace with @ @ @ @ @ and at the local level as well .
We had plenty to discuss today , @ @ @ @ @ take your questions .
The hot topics were : With all the fast-moving developments , @ @ @ @ @ get the latest as it happens from Sam , Cam , and Ed .

Get ready for another tremendous live, interactive VIP Gold chat with Twitchy’s Greg P, Bearing Arms’ Cam Edwards, and HotAir’s Ed Morrissey! Join us at 1:30 pm Wednesday for another great discussion of the hottest news stories online. The trio will take your questions and comments and gave an in-depth analysis of the top topics of the day.
If you are not a VIP Gold member, you can join at this link use the promo code LAWANDORDER to take part today!
Greg keeps tabs on all the news, views, and controversies on a moment-to-moment basis. Cam brings his A-game on 2nd Amendment and liberty issues and makes sure to keep it real along the way. Ed has kept pace with developments abroad, at home and at the local level as well.
We had plenty to discuss today, and lots of time to take your questions. The hot topics were:
Kamala Harris joins Joe Biden as running mate
Chicago riots and BLM protest updates
COVID-19 developments, and economic recovery
The 2020 national election
With all the fast-moving developments, our VIP Gold members can get the latest as it happens from Greg, Cam, and Ed.


hotair--2020-08-11--Eric Trump posted a video of Robin Williams joking about Biden, then Zelda responded

Eric Trump posted a video clip on Twitter that shows the late comedian , Robin Williams , doing some stand-up jokes about Joe Biden .
At the time of the video , Joe Biden was vice-president and the year was 2009 .
It ’ s a funny clip , to be sure , because Robin Williams is saying the same things about Joe Biden that everyone else does , even his supporters .
The man sounds like his medication isn ’ t quite properly adjusted .
Who among us hasn ’ t had that thought ?
Williams calls him “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden misspeaking when he referred to Barack Obama as Barack America , and also Biden ’ s reference to FDR and television .
These were all standard jokes for comedians back in the early days of the Obama administration .
Eric Trump oversold his tweet , though , by saying that Robin Williams “ savages ” Joe Biden .
Especially in comparison to today ’ s hyper-vicious political atmosphere on social media , the bit by Robin Williams is downright tame .
Most importantly , it ’ s funny .
So , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a presidential election coming up before we know it , posting a tweet at the expense of Joe Biden by a legendary comedian is a no-brainer – especially if it is done by one of the candidate ’ s adult children .
That is what Eric Trump did .
Eric runs into trouble , though , because his father is Donald Trump .
Trump has a very long history on Twitter , as well as in the world of celebrities .
There is an old Trump tweet about Barack Obama or Obama ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which Trump himself is being criticized now .
Here ’ s the thing – Robin Williams was a very funny man .
His delivery of jokes was often in a manic , ADHD riddled kind of manner .
In my opinion , he ranks right up there with Richard Pryor and George Carlin .
Williams and the others were funny because they took on everyone in their acts .
It didn ’ t matter if the subject of the joke was male , female , gay , straight , Republican or Democrat , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of irreverence .
That is exactly how most people like to be entertained with comedy acts .
None of them left the impression that they were trying to savage their target .
Zelda Williams , daughter of Robin , responded to Eric Trump on Twitter .
As she did so , she reminded him that his father was the butt of some of her father ’ s jokes , too .
Upon seeing Trump ’ s reposting of her father ’ s comedy show , Zelda Williams replied to the tweet .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( to further your political agenda ) , you should look up what he said about your Dad .
I did .
Promise you , it ’ s much more ‘ savage ’ .
Gentle reminder that the dead can ’ t vote , but the living can , ” she wrote .
Robin Williams joked about Trump as many others do .
I sure don ’ t think that Trump would have been offended at the time as , say , how he was after Barack Obama delivered some punches to him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Association dinner in 2011 .
The “ Mrs .
Doubtfire ” star mocked Donald Trump in a 2012 routine , years before the businessman and reality TV star launched his 2016 presidential campaign .
“ This is a man who said , ‘ my daughter is hot.
’ Even people in Arkansas went , ‘ that ’ s f—–g wrong .
That ’ s just way out of place , ’ ” the comedian says in a video posted to YouTube by SiriusXM in 2018 .
“ And that f—–g hair , my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Donald .
I believe the body ’ s a maintenance system for the hair , ” Williams continued .
Today is the sixth anniversary of the death of Robin Williams .
Yesterday Zelda posted her annual announcement that she would be logging off of social media to observe the date .
She also posted the names and phone numbers of organizations that help people suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts .
Here is a clip of Williams going after Trump : ( NSFW )

Eric Trump posted a video clip on Twitter that shows the late comedian, Robin Williams, doing some stand-up jokes about Joe Biden. At the time of the video, Joe Biden was vice-president and the year was 2009.
It’s a funny clip, to be sure, because Robin Williams is saying the same things about Joe Biden that everyone else does, even his supporters. The man sounds like his medication isn’t quite properly adjusted. Who among us hasn’t had that thought? Williams calls him “rambling Joe Biden” and jokes about Biden misspeaking when he referred to Barack Obama as Barack America, and also Biden’s reference to FDR and television. These were all standard jokes for comedians back in the early days of the Obama administration. Eric Trump oversold his tweet, though, by saying that Robin Williams “savages” Joe Biden. Especially in comparison to today’s hyper-vicious political atmosphere on social media, the bit by Robin Williams is downright tame. Most importantly, it’s funny.
So, in a political year like 2020, with a presidential election coming up before we know it, posting a tweet at the expense of Joe Biden by a legendary comedian is a no-brainer – especially if it is done by one of the candidate’s adult children. That is what Eric Trump did. Eric runs into trouble, though, because his father is Donald Trump. Trump has a very long history on Twitter, as well as in the world of celebrities. There is an old Trump tweet about Barack Obama or Obama’s administration for just about everything for which Trump himself is being criticized now.
Here’s the thing – Robin Williams was a very funny man. His delivery of jokes was often in a manic, ADHD riddled kind of manner. In my opinion, he ranks right up there with Richard Pryor and George Carlin. Williams and the others were funny because they took on everyone in their acts. It didn’t matter if the subject of the joke was male, female, gay, straight, Republican or Democrat, everyone was treated with the same amount of irreverence. That is exactly how most people like to be entertained with comedy acts. None of them left the impression that they were trying to savage their target.
Zelda Williams, daughter of Robin, responded to Eric Trump on Twitter. As she did so, she reminded him that his father was the butt of some of her father’s jokes, too.
Upon seeing Trump’s reposting of her father’s comedy show, Zelda Williams replied to the tweet. “While we’re ‘reminiscing’ (to further your political agenda), you should look up what he said about your Dad. I did. Promise you, it’s much more ‘savage’. Gentle reminder that the dead can’t vote, but the living can,” she wrote.
https://twitter.com/zeldawilliams/status/1291958864577888256
Robin Williams joked about Trump as many others do. I sure don’t think that Trump would have been offended at the time as, say, how he was after Barack Obama delivered some punches to him at the White House Correspondent’s Association dinner in 2011.
The “Mrs. Doubtfire” star mocked Donald Trump in a 2012 routine, years before the businessman and reality TV star launched his 2016 presidential campaign. “This is a man who said, ‘my daughter is hot.’ Even people in Arkansas went, ‘that’s f—–g wrong. That’s just way out of place,’” the comedian says in a video posted to YouTube by SiriusXM in 2018. “And that f—–g hair, my god. I believe the hair is the Donald. I believe the body’s a maintenance system for the hair,” Williams continued.
Today is the sixth anniversary of the death of Robin Williams. Yesterday Zelda posted her annual announcement that she would be logging off of social media to observe the date. She also posted the names and phone numbers of organizations that help people suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts.
Here is a clip of Williams going after Trump: (NSFW)


hotair--2020-08-12--Morning Consult: Americans growing more opposed to reopening schools and daycares

The White House ’ s hard push for school reopenings appears to have failed to gain traction — and may be losing support the closer we get to the school year .
A new Morning Consult poll shows that the majority which opposed it last month has grown , which threatens not just the economic recovery on which Donald Trump counts but also its Phase 4 relief proposal .
A majority also opposes opening daycare centers , which means parents must be getting more comfortable with the idea of staying home with children — regardless of finances : A growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s demand that schools and colleges fully open for in-person instruction , according to a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll .
In the survey of nearly 2,000 registered voters , 59 percent said they oppose fully reopening K-12 schools for the beginning of the academic year .
Those numbers are up from polling last month that showed 53 percent opposed .
With slightly less resistance to the idea of in-person learning for younger and older students , 56 percent of respondents said this month that they are against fully reopening daycares , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s survey .
For reopening colleges and universities , 57 percent said they were opposed , up from 50 percent in the previous poll .
While Senate Republicans have proposed setting aside tens of billions of dollars in new funding for schools that reopen , pluralities of registered voters believe federal money for schools should neither be increased nor decreased , regardless of whether they open virtually or for in-person instruction .
The crosstabs on this are not pleasant for the Trump administration either .
Only 33 % of voters overall support reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and somewhat support .
Forty-one percent strongly oppose it , making this much more emphatic and emotional than support for reopening .
The few demos that have a majority supporting the reopening of schools are generally linked to the GOP — either explicitly Republican demos or those who approve of the job Trumps doing , and even that support is soft — 54/37 for the latter .
Otherwise , there is no appetite for reopening K-12 schools ; even Trump ’ s loyal evangelical demo narrowly opposes it 43/48 .
The administration has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equality , arguing that minority and poor children will be hardest hit by extended school closings .
Thus far , that message isn ’ t resonating either .
Black voters oppose reopening 20/70 , Hispanics oppose it 21/67 , and white voters pretty much follow the toplines at 35/56 .
Voters earning less than $ 50K score it 29/61 with 44 % strongly opposed .
Given these numbers , it seems very clear that the American public still considers the COVID-19 pandemic its top priority , even over the economy and education .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ grasp this , even though the data has been clear since the first days of the pandemic on this point .
The return of the daily briefings last month suggested that the administration had begun to figure this out , and now they need to recalculate their approach to education and the economy with this in mind .
The best approach would be to shift away from pressuring school districts to reopen and to find a way to use those aid dollars in helping parents educate students at home .
This might be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access in poorer neighborhoods , for instance , to allow teachers to connect with low-income students .
Some of that money could go to online alternatives to the local school districts too , a form of private education in a distance-learning model .
Perhaps some could also go to developing those alternatives and new curricula to improve the efficiency of learning , or expanded access to electronic textbooks and support material .
That could make parental reluctance work for Trump ’ s priorities , rather than work against them .
One thing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team need to start getting ahead of the public rather than remaining constantly trailing behind it .
Update : I wrote “ last year ” in the first paragraph when I meant “ last month.
” Sorry for the error ; it ’ s now fixed .

The White House’s hard push for school reopenings appears to have failed to gain traction — and may be losing support the closer we get to the school year. A new Morning Consult poll shows that the majority which opposed it last month has grown, which threatens not just the economic recovery on which Donald Trump counts but also its Phase 4 relief proposal.
A majority also opposes opening daycare centers, which means parents must be getting more comfortable with the idea of staying home with children — regardless of finances:
A growing majority of voters oppose the Trump administration’s demand that schools and colleges fully open for in-person instruction, according to a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll. In the survey of nearly 2,000 registered voters, 59 percent said they oppose fully reopening K-12 schools for the beginning of the academic year. Those numbers are up from polling last month that showed 53 percent opposed. With slightly less resistance to the idea of in-person learning for younger and older students, 56 percent of respondents said this month that they are against fully reopening daycares, in contrast to 53 percent in July’s survey. For reopening colleges and universities, 57 percent said they were opposed, up from 50 percent in the previous poll. While Senate Republicans have proposed setting aside tens of billions of dollars in new funding for schools that reopen, pluralities of registered voters believe federal money for schools should neither be increased nor decreased, regardless of whether they open virtually or for in-person instruction.
The crosstabs on this are not pleasant for the Trump administration either. Only 33% of voters overall support reopening K-12 schools, split evenly between strong and somewhat support. Forty-one percent strongly oppose it, making this much more emphatic and emotional than support for reopening. The few demos that have a majority supporting the reopening of schools are generally linked to the GOP — either explicitly Republican demos or those who approve of the job Trumps doing, and even that support is soft — 54/37 for the latter. Otherwise, there is no appetite for reopening K-12 schools; even Trump’s loyal evangelical demo narrowly opposes it 43/48.
The administration has tried to push reopening for purposes of equality, arguing that minority and poor children will be hardest hit by extended school closings. Thus far, that message isn’t resonating either. Black voters oppose reopening 20/70, Hispanics oppose it 21/67, and white voters pretty much follow the toplines at 35/56. Voters earning less than $50K score it 29/61 with 44% strongly opposed.
Given these numbers, it seems very clear that the American public still considers the COVID-19 pandemic its top priority, even over the economy and education. The White House has been slow to grasp this, even though the data has been clear since the first days of the pandemic on this point. The return of the daily briefings last month suggested that the administration had begun to figure this out, and now they need to recalculate their approach to education and the economy with this in mind.
The best approach would be to shift away from pressuring school districts to reopen and to find a way to use those aid dollars in helping parents educate students at home. This might be a good time to boost high-speed internet access in poorer neighborhoods, for instance, to allow teachers to connect with low-income students. Some of that money could go to online alternatives to the local school districts too, a form of private education in a distance-learning model. Perhaps some could also go to developing those alternatives and new curricula to improve the efficiency of learning, or expanded access to electronic textbooks and support material. That could make parental reluctance work for Trump’s priorities, rather than work against them.
One thing is certain, however — Trump and his team need to start getting ahead of the public rather than remaining constantly trailing behind it.
Update: I wrote “last year” in the first paragraph when I meant “last month.” Sorry for the error; it’s now fixed.


hotair--2020-08-12--Dems introduce media's new favorite politician, plus Joe Biden

I was going to make the headline “ Dems introduce America ’ s next president , plus Joe Biden ” but thought better of it .
Too dark .
Although if you think that ’ s dark , check out the Babylon Bee .
YouGov published a snap poll this morning finding that 51 percent of voters approve of Harris ’ s selection as VP nominee versus 37 percent who disapprove .
Biden will happily take that , but this is the number he really cares about : That ’ s all he wanted from the pick , ultimately , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was disqualified .
He didn ’ t want voters to get nervous in the booth about electing a 77-year-old because they ’ ve decided the VP nominee is too green to be trusted with power .
Virtually everyone else on his shortlist would have provoked a “ Who ?
” reaction from much of the public except for Elizabeth Warren , and Warren was a nonstarter .
Choosing a white woman over half a dozen black women candidates would have felt like a snub and her brand of leftist politics would have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He went with America ’ s only black woman senator because it checks the right demographic boxes and the right experience box .
Harris is also useful as a running mate because she ’ s slippery , which ironically was a liability for her in the primary .
She tried to brand herself as progressive by embracing Medicare for All and the Green New Deal but it was stupid trying to out-socialist Bernie and Warren .
Harris gambled that she could win the nomination first by consolidating the black vote as the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sorry , Cory Booker ) and then by building support on the left as someone who , while not as authentically progressive as Sanders and Warren , might be more electable and should be supported for that reason .
In the end , though , black voters preferred Joe and the DSA crowd preferred their real-deal options to a poseur who was being cynical in her calculations .
Harris was neither fish nor fowl , not left enough to win over the left but too eager to pander to the left to attract @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine for VP , especially for a candidate like Biden who ’ s run a play-it-safe campaign from the start .
Harris ’ s left-wing pandering hasn ’ t impressed any real leftists , but the fact that she made the effort will leave most of them with no strong reason to oppose her nomination .
The fact that her pretend leftism never seemed very convincing leaves centrists without a strong reason to oppose her as well , especially since she has Centrist Joe ’ s seal of approval and a determined effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a moderate .
She ’ s too weaselly to get people to support her enthusiastically for president but weaselly enough to make everyone in the party find her selection as number two basically unobjectionable .
In fact , Harris ’ s slipperiness has been confounding even to Republicans : How they didn ’ t settle on a line of attack against her long ago , given that she was the VP frontrunner for months , I ’ ll never understand .
But it gets worse : NBC noticed that Trump ’ s own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being a hard-ass prosecutor and for being too soft on criminal elements .
In a statement moments after the announcement , Trump senior adviser Katrina Pierson blasted Harris both as someone who will “ try to bury her record as a prosecutor ” in California — which has been described by some critics as too harsh — and someone who will appease “ anti-police extremists.
” Pierson said she was both “ phony ” and in thrall to “ radicals.
” The early attacks painted a conflicting portrait of Harris and indicated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ settled on a coherent and consistent way to criticize her .
“ This really puts the Trump campaign in a box : whether you portray her as pro-police or anti-police , ” said Dan Eberhart , a Republican donor and Trump supporter .
“ They are going to have to decide.
” Tim Miller watched social media after the pick was announced and found similarly mixed messaging .
“ Donald Trump Jr. went with the attack that Harris is part of the ‘ radical left ’ and campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sanders , ” he noted .
“ Yet the populist MAGA crowd tried to make the case that picking a neoliberal shill like Harris proves the left doesn ’ t actually care about Sanders voters .
And an RNC email argued that Sanders liberals were ‘ revolting ’ over the Harris section.
” One Trump advisor celebrated her nomination , telling Vanity Fair , “ She ’ ll scare the sh*t out of suburban women .
How great is this ?
” But … why would she scare them ?
A well-credentialed multiracial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t be pinned down on policy sounds like the platonic ideal of what the stereotypical modern suburban voter is looking for .
If the idea is that Harris ’ s support for big-ticket programs like the Green New Deal will frighten voters , rest assured , she ’ ll start weaselling away from that immediately .
There ’ s no mystery about her politics .
For all the hype about her groundbreaking VP nomination , she ’ s a perfectly traditional politician in the sense that she really has no principles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ says whatever she thinks she needs to say to get elected .
Her north star is accumulating power and wielding it in authoritarian ways .
She thought she needed to be a progressive in the primary , so she was .
Biden will now want her to be a centrist who was “ tough on crime ” as California AG , so she will be .
That makes her a dismal figure , but dismal in a familiar way if you follow politics .
And I think that ’ s all Biden wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s his core appeal too , after all .
Any swing voter who ’ s sizing up Harris can always tell themselves , “ I know her type .
She ’ s a human weathervane … but it ’ s not the worst thing if the president just follows the political ‘ weather.
’ That ’ s what we want in a democracy , right ?
” Three clips for you here .
One is the end of Biden ’ s introduction for her .
No hugging or handshakes in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy who ’ s pushing 80 .
The second is Harris tearing into Trump and Pence over the pandemic , and making the very cynical point that only two people died of Ebola on Obama ’ s watch while 160,000 have died of coronavirus on Trump ’ s .
The two viruses are night and day ; Ebola spreads slowly and only through direct contact with fluids , not rapidly through aerosols like SARS-CoV-2 .
Harris knows that , but like I say , she says what she needs to say to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dopey talking point going to help Biden , she ’ s game .
The third clip is Jeanine Pirro speculating that something will “ happen ” with Biden before the election to lead to his replacement as nominee by Harris .
I think that ’ s revealing in how it betrays that righties would prefer to campaign against Harris than Sleepy Joe , a politician whom they ’ ve had great trouble defining and demonizing .
It wouldn ’ t surprise me , in fact , to see Harris rather than Biden draw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Team Trump over the next few weeks .
Not so much because there ’ s a strategy involved but because they ’ ve been itching to go on offense and now they finally have a target .

I was going to make the headline “Dems introduce America’s next president, plus Joe Biden” but thought better of it. Too dark.
Although if you think that’s dark, check out the Babylon Bee.
YouGov published a snap poll this morning finding that 51 percent of voters approve of Harris’s selection as VP nominee versus 37 percent who disapprove. Biden will happily take that, but this is the number he really cares about:
That’s all he wanted from the pick, ultimately, and it’s why everyone else was disqualified. He didn’t want voters to get nervous in the booth about electing a 77-year-old because they’ve decided the VP nominee is too green to be trusted with power. Virtually everyone else on his shortlist would have provoked a “Who?” reaction from much of the public except for Elizabeth Warren, and Warren was a nonstarter. Choosing a white woman over half a dozen black women candidates would have felt like a snub and her brand of leftist politics would have been cannon fodder for the Trump campaign. He went with America’s only black woman senator because it checks the right demographic boxes and the right experience box.
Harris is also useful as a running mate because she’s slippery, which ironically was a liability for her in the primary. She tried to brand herself as progressive by embracing Medicare for All and the Green New Deal but it was stupid trying to out-socialist Bernie and Warren. Harris gambled that she could win the nomination first by consolidating the black vote as the most prominent black candidate in the field (sorry, Cory Booker) and then by building support on the left as someone who, while not as authentically progressive as Sanders and Warren, might be more electable and should be supported for that reason. In the end, though, black voters preferred Joe and the DSA crowd preferred their real-deal options to a poseur who was being cynical in her calculations. Harris was neither fish nor fowl, not left enough to win over the left but too eager to pander to the left to attract centrists.
But someone like that is fine for VP, especially for a candidate like Biden who’s run a play-it-safe campaign from the start. Harris’s left-wing pandering hasn’t impressed any real leftists, but the fact that she made the effort will leave most of them with no strong reason to oppose her nomination. The fact that her pretend leftism never seemed very convincing leaves centrists without a strong reason to oppose her as well, especially since she has Centrist Joe’s seal of approval and a determined effort by our media to rebrand her as a moderate. She’s too weaselly to get people to support her enthusiastically for president but weaselly enough to make everyone in the party find her selection as number two basically unobjectionable.
In fact, Harris’s slipperiness has been confounding even to Republicans:
Back-to-back in my Trumpland message-setters feed this morning: Biden-Harris is the choice of Wall Street, and of radical socialists and anarchists. pic.twitter.com/BSJ20aJpxc — David S. Bernstein (@dbernstein) August 12, 2020
How they didn’t settle on a line of attack against her long ago, given that she was the VP frontrunner for months, I’ll never understand. But it gets worse: NBC noticed that Trump’s own campaign alternated yesterday between attacking her for being a hard-ass prosecutor and for being too soft on criminal elements.
In a statement moments after the announcement, Trump senior adviser Katrina Pierson blasted Harris both as someone who will “try to bury her record as a prosecutor” in California — which has been described by some critics as too harsh — and someone who will appease “anti-police extremists.” Pierson said she was both “phony” and in thrall to “radicals.” The early attacks painted a conflicting portrait of Harris and indicated that Trump’s campaign has not yet settled on a coherent and consistent way to criticize her. “This really puts the Trump campaign in a box: whether you portray her as pro-police or anti-police,” said Dan Eberhart, a Republican donor and Trump supporter. “They are going to have to decide.”
Tim Miller watched social media after the pick was announced and found similarly mixed messaging. “Donald Trump Jr. went with the attack that Harris is part of the ‘radical left’ and campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh said she was ‘more liberal’ than Bernie Sanders,” he noted. “Yet the populist MAGA crowd tried to make the case that picking a neoliberal shill like Harris proves the left doesn’t actually care about Sanders voters. And an RNC email argued that Sanders liberals were ‘revolting’ over the Harris section.” One Trump advisor celebrated her nomination, telling Vanity Fair, “She’ll scare the sh*t out of suburban women. How great is this?” But … why would she scare them? A well-credentialed multiracial professional woman who leans left but can’t be pinned down on policy sounds like the platonic ideal of what the stereotypical modern suburban voter is looking for. If the idea is that Harris’s support for big-ticket programs like the Green New Deal will frighten voters, rest assured, she’ll start weaselling away from that immediately.
There’s no mystery about her politics. For all the hype about her groundbreaking VP nomination, she’s a perfectly traditional politician in the sense that she really has no principles. She’s a careerist. She says whatever she thinks she needs to say to get elected. Her north star is accumulating power and wielding it in authoritarian ways. She thought she needed to be a progressive in the primary, so she was. Biden will now want her to be a centrist who was “tough on crime” as California AG, so she will be. That makes her a dismal figure, but dismal in a familiar way if you follow politics. And I think that’s all Biden wants, really — familiarity for voters. That’s his core appeal too, after all. Any swing voter who’s sizing up Harris can always tell themselves, “I know her type. She’s a human weathervane … but it’s not the worst thing if the president just follows the political ‘weather.’ That’s what we want in a democracy, right?”
Three clips for you here. One is the end of Biden’s introduction for her. No hugging or handshakes in the age of COVID, especially with a guy who’s pushing 80. The second is Harris tearing into Trump and Pence over the pandemic, and making the very cynical point that only two people died of Ebola on Obama’s watch while 160,000 have died of coronavirus on Trump’s. The two viruses are night and day; Ebola spreads slowly and only through direct contact with fluids, not rapidly through aerosols like SARS-CoV-2. Harris knows that, but like I say, she says what she needs to say to get elected. If she can get this dopey talking point going to help Biden, she’s game. The third clip is Jeanine Pirro speculating that something will “happen” with Biden before the election to lead to his replacement as nominee by Harris. I think that’s revealing in how it betrays that righties would prefer to campaign against Harris than Sleepy Joe, a politician whom they’ve had great trouble defining and demonizing. It wouldn’t surprise me, in fact, to see Harris rather than Biden draw the lion’s share of attacks from Team Trump over the next few weeks. Not so much because there’s a strategy involved but because they’ve been itching to go on offense and now they finally have a target.
.@JoeBiden: "My fellow Americans, let me introduce to you for the first time your next Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris."@KamalaHarris: "Thank you, Joe…I am incredibly honored by this responsibility and I am ready to get to work." pic.twitter.com/dSgbqSDFQg — CSPAN (@cspan) August 12, 2020
Kamala Harris goes after Trump and Pence pic.twitter.com/uGEWW9ti9t — Acyn (@Acyn) August 12, 2020


hotair--2020-08-12--New Title IX rule will take effect Friday after judge refuses to strike it down

This has been a long time coming .
Education Sec .
Betsy DeVos announced plans to reconsider Obama-era Title IX guidance to college administrators on dealing with incidents of sexual assault back in 2017 .
The proposed revision to the rules appeared in 2018 .
This week two different courts refused last minute efforts to block the new rules so they will take effect on Friday .
The Trump administration ’ s first win in court came over the weekend : However , there was still one case remaining which could have potentially blocked the new rule .
That final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Washington , DC refused an effort by 17 states to strike down the rule : A circuit court judge in the District of Columbia released an order Wednesday denying a request to stop the new rule and to block it as legal action continues .
Attorneys general in 17 states and the District of Columbia have brought the lawsuit challenging DeVos ’ policy change , which mandates how colleges and K-12 schools must respond to reports of sexual misconduct… District of Columbia Circuit Court Judge Carl John Nichols wrote that , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” about the rule , “ they have not established a likelihood of success on their claims , nor have they established that they are likely to suffer substantial irreparable harm pending further litigation.
” The new rule makes several changes to the Obama-era guidance which are intended to create a more level playing field for the accused .
For instance , the new rule gives the accused the right to cross examine the accuser in some form , i.e .
through an attorney or in writing .
This step was frequently absent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a single investigator and often gave the accused no chance to question the accuser ’ s story .
The new rule also allows campuses to choose a higher standard of guilt when making decisions .
Instead of a “ preponderance of evidence ” standard ( 51 % ) they can now choose to use the more rigorous “ clear-and-convincing ” standard of proof .
Schools aren ’ t required to use this but as Reason pointed out they are expected to apply the same standard to everyone , meaning cases involving professors too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the other differences here .
While “ rape culture ” activists uniformly hate the new rule , it will be a big improvement .
There are many cases in the last few years where the lack of due process and low standard of guilt used in these cases has resulted in punishment for the accused despite evidence contradicting the accuser ’ s story .
One of the best takedown ’ s of the Obama-era guidance was this one at the Atlantic by Emily Yoffe .
That ’ s just part one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near the top .
Here ’ s my discussion of part 3 which deals with the racial aspect of these allegations .

This has been a long time coming. Education Sec. Betsy DeVos announced plans to reconsider Obama-era Title IX guidance to college administrators on dealing with incidents of sexual assault back in 2017. The proposed revision to the rules appeared in 2018. This week two different courts refused last minute efforts to block the new rules so they will take effect on Friday. The Trump administration’s first win in court came over the weekend:
In a Sunday order, U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl refused to grant a preliminary injunction, which would have halted the rule’s implementation while he heard arguments in the case, brought by school boards for the state of New York and New York City against DeVos and the U.S. Department of Education.
Sec. DeVos celebrated that win on Twitter:
Today’s ruling on our #TitleIX rule out of the Southern District of New York is a true victory for students. So pleased to see the court agrees that civil rights cannot wait. pic.twitter.com/OA20arj4Hy — Secretary Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVosED) August 9, 2020
However, there was still one case remaining which could have potentially blocked the new rule. That final hurdle was cleared today when a court in Washington, DC refused an effort by 17 states to strike down the rule:
A circuit court judge in the District of Columbia released an order Wednesday denying a request to stop the new rule and to block it as legal action continues. Attorneys general in 17 states and the District of Columbia have brought the lawsuit challenging DeVos’ policy change, which mandates how colleges and K-12 schools must respond to reports of sexual misconduct… District of Columbia Circuit Court Judge Carl John Nichols wrote that, while state leaders have raised “serious arguments” about the rule, “they have not established a likelihood of success on their claims, nor have they established that they are likely to suffer substantial irreparable harm pending further litigation.”
The new rule makes several changes to the Obama-era guidance which are intended to create a more level playing field for the accused. For instance, the new rule gives the accused the right to cross examine the accuser in some form, i.e. through an attorney or in writing. This step was frequently absent from many campus kangaroo courts which used a single investigator and often gave the accused no chance to question the accuser’s story.
The new rule also allows campuses to choose a higher standard of guilt when making decisions. Instead of a “preponderance of evidence” standard (51%) they can now choose to use the more rigorous “clear-and-convincing” standard of proof. Schools aren’t required to use this but as Reason pointed out they are expected to apply the same standard to everyone, meaning cases involving professors too.
There’s a breakdown of some of the other differences here.
While “rape culture” activists uniformly hate the new rule, it will be a big improvement. There are many cases in the last few years where the lack of due process and low standard of guilt used in these cases has resulted in punishment for the accused despite evidence contradicting the accuser’s story. One of the best takedown’s of the Obama-era guidance was this one at the Atlantic by Emily Yoffe. That’s just part one but the other two sections are linked near the top. Here’s my discussion of part 3 which deals with the racial aspect of these allegations.


hotair--2020-08-12--Sanders' former press secretary: Let's face it, the Harris pick is a disaster for progressives

Just what exactly do progressives — especially those with antipathy to law enforcement — get from a Joe Biden/Kamala Harris ticket ?
The media has spent much of the past thirty hours celebrating this union rather than analyzing it , but not everyone ’ s tossing confetti .
Karen included the reaction from former Bernie Sanders press secretary Briahna Joy Gray in her earlier post , but it ’ s worth pulling out and reviewing more closely : Not just any “ top cop ” either , but one with a problematic track record on prosecutions for progressives , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressives want much more aggressive prosecutions for police officers who abuse their authority , Harris ’ record comes up considerably short on that issue .
Forbes notes that two progressive groups sounded less than thrilled with the pick as well : These are not new concerns ; last year , back when the New York Times felt more comfortable in drilling into Harris ’ record , it laid out the issues in more detail .
Harris defended California ’ s death penalty in court as the state ’ s AG despite declaring her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first person of color elected as this city ’ s district attorney , declared her decision a matter of principle : The death penalty , she believed , discriminated against poor and black people and would not deter more killing .
But death penalty opponents wondered a decade later where that principle had gone when as California ’ s attorney general Ms. Harris appealed a judge ’ s decision declaring the state ’ s death penalty law unconstitutional .
She said it was a matter of upholding the law ; her critics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segregation and statutes against interracial marriage .
Despite her pose as a progressive activist during the campaign , the NYT uncovered what looked like hypocrisies in her actual record as the state ’ s “ top cop ” : Years before ending mass incarceration became a bipartisan cause , she started programs to steer low-level drug offenders away from prison and into school and jobs .
At the same time , she touted her success in increasing conviction rates , and as attorney general remained largely on the sidelines as California scrambled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its swollen prison populations .
She also repeatedly sided with prosecutors accused of misconduct , challenging judges who ruled against them .
And while she summoned righteous anger toward the bank fraud that helped set off the Great Recession , holding out for more money for California homeowners in the National Mortgage Settlement , she said little when the governor diverted some of it to fill holes in his budget .
When it came time to run for AG , Harris did so on the basis of increasing convictions in San Francisco — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandering to less-progressive voters : But it was Ms. Harris ’ s success in increasing conviction rates that became a central boast of her campaign for attorney general in 2010 .
An article in San Francisco Weekly that year challenged the numbers , noting that most of the convictions had come from plea deals , and that the conviction rate for cases that went to trial was lower than Mr. Hallinan ’ s , and had dropped over the previous two years .
Assistant prosecutors were quoted saying that Ms. Harris had pressured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an attempt to look tough on crime as she prepared to run beyond the liberal city .
Her office defended her by noting that she had won stiffer sentences than her predecessors , by demanding prison time instead of probation for crimes including robbery and home burglary .
It ’ s fair , at least , to call this a complex record .
Some of what seems off-putting to progressives might be explainable , and might even seem encouraging to conservatives .
However , it is very revealing that the media suddenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its impact on voting constituencies — at all .
Rather than follow up their previous reporting in the context of Harris ’ nomination , today ’ s NYT article on her ascent never mentions any of those conflicts .
It ’ s as if they have been magically wiped from existence .
That won ’ t be easy to sustain , however .
Not everyone ’ s going to keep quiet about it : In light of this , one has to wonder what exactly Harris buys Biden in this election .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the primary , and she has a record on law enforcement that cuts directly against progressives ’ biggest passion at the moment — as does Biden .
Perhaps when the media switches from cheerleading mode to actual reporting and analysis , we can get an answer to that .
In the meantime , it ’ s tough to challenge what Gray said last night .

Just what exactly do progressives — especially those with antipathy to law enforcement — get from a Joe Biden/Kamala Harris ticket? The media has spent much of the past thirty hours celebrating this union rather than analyzing it, but not everyone’s tossing confetti. Karen included the reaction from former Bernie Sanders press secretary Briahna Joy Gray in her earlier post, but it’s worth pulling out and reviewing more closely:
We are in the midst of the largest protest movement in American history, the subject of which is excessive policing, and the Democratic Party chose a “top cop” and the author of the Joe Biden crime bill to save us from Trump. The contempt for the base is, wow. — Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) August 11, 2020
Not just any “top cop” either, but one with a problematic track record on prosecutions for progressives, especially these days. In an era where progressives want much more aggressive prosecutions for police officers who abuse their authority, Harris’ record comes up considerably short on that issue. Forbes notes that two progressive groups sounded less than thrilled with the pick as well:
A joint statement from the Progressive Democrats of America and RootsAction said Harris “failed for years to hold police accountable for gross misconduct in California,” with the groups adding, “We will fight every day to hold Vice President Harris to the higher ideals she often espouses.”
These are not new concerns; last year, back when the New York Times felt more comfortable in drilling into Harris’ record, it laid out the issues in more detail. Harris defended California’s death penalty in court as the state’s AG despite declaring her opposition to it:
Ms. Harris, the first person of color elected as this city’s district attorney, declared her decision a matter of principle: The death penalty, she believed, discriminated against poor and black people and would not deter more killing. But death penalty opponents wondered a decade later where that principle had gone when as California’s attorney general Ms. Harris appealed a judge’s decision declaring the state’s death penalty law unconstitutional. She said it was a matter of upholding the law; her critics asked whether she would have similarly defended segregation and statutes against interracial marriage.
Despite her pose as a progressive activist during the campaign, the NYT uncovered what looked like hypocrisies in her actual record as the state’s “top cop”:
Years before ending mass incarceration became a bipartisan cause, she started programs to steer low-level drug offenders away from prison and into school and jobs. At the same time, she touted her success in increasing conviction rates, and as attorney general remained largely on the sidelines as California scrambled to meet a federal court order to reduce its swollen prison populations. She also repeatedly sided with prosecutors accused of misconduct, challenging judges who ruled against them. And while she summoned righteous anger toward the bank fraud that helped set off the Great Recession, holding out for more money for California homeowners in the National Mortgage Settlement, she said little when the governor diverted some of it to fill holes in his budget.
When it came time to run for AG, Harris did so on the basis of increasing convictions in San Francisco — which critics then and now say was pandering to less-progressive voters:
But it was Ms. Harris’s success in increasing conviction rates that became a central boast of her campaign for attorney general in 2010. An article in San Francisco Weekly that year challenged the numbers, noting that most of the convictions had come from plea deals, and that the conviction rate for cases that went to trial was lower than Mr. Hallinan’s, and had dropped over the previous two years. Assistant prosecutors were quoted saying that Ms. Harris had pressured them to take weak cases to trial in an attempt to look tough on crime as she prepared to run beyond the liberal city. Her office defended her by noting that she had won stiffer sentences than her predecessors, by demanding prison time instead of probation for crimes including robbery and home burglary.
It’s fair, at least, to call this a complex record. Some of what seems off-putting to progressives might be explainable, and might even seem encouraging to conservatives. However, it is very revealing that the media suddenly seems uninterested in that complex record and its impact on voting constituencies — at all. Rather than follow up their previous reporting in the context of Harris’ nomination, today’s NYT article on her ascent never mentions any of those conflicts. It’s as if they have been magically wiped from existence.
That won’t be easy to sustain, however. Not everyone’s going to keep quiet about it:
Remember when @TulsiGabbard reminded Kamala Harris of her terrible record of locking up thousands of young minorities, of being an overzealous drug warrior and of her record as a harsh prosecutor? I do. https://t.co/xhLfBqxGGs — Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 11, 2020
In light of this, one has to wonder what exactly Harris buys Biden in this election. She didn’t excite black voters during the primary, and she has a record on law enforcement that cuts directly against progressives’ biggest passion at the moment — as does Biden. Perhaps when the media switches from cheerleading mode to actual reporting and analysis, we can get an answer to that. In the meantime, it’s tough to challenge what Gray said last night.


hotair--2020-08-12--Hmmmm: Kanye West says he met with Jared Kushner last week

Kanye being Kanye , I find it completely plausible that he arranged a meeting with Trump ’ s most powerful advisor just to chat him up about a book he liked , not to discuss the ampaign-cay ollusion-cay that he and Trump may or may not be engaged in to try to lure votes away from Joe Biden .
The Times called him up .
Kanye being Kanye , he ended up talking about abortion , not the meeting with Kushner .
The meeting took place in Colorado , where Mr. Kushner was traveling with his wife , Ivanka Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr. West had been camping in Colorado with his family , and afterward flew to Telluride to meet with Mr. Kushner and Ms. Trump , but was not accompanied by his wife , Kim Kardashian West , those with knowledge of the meeting said .
After an inquiry , Mr. West tweeted Tuesday evening : “ I ’ m willing to do a live interview with the New York Time about my meeting with Jared , ” adding that they had discussed a book about Black empowerment called “ PowerNomics.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Kushner in a brief follow-up interview .
He instead expressed anger about abortion rates among Black women and said he didn ’ t reflexively support Democrats .
What ’ s confounding about the apparent Trump/West tag-team effort against Biden is that neither one seems competent enough to get it off the launchpad .
And so you ’ re left wondering if they really are scheming to turn Kanye into a 2020 Ralph Nader to Biden ’ s Al Gore and just doing a piss-poor job of it or if there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve simply mistaken Kanye ’ s delusions of grandeur for some sort of Trumpy conspiracy .
Case in point : West ’ s team turned in his submission to be on Wisconsin ’ s ballot at 5:00:14 p.m. on Monday .
The deadline was 5 p.m.
He ’ s now forced to argue that “ 5 p.m. ” means “ anytime before 5:00:59 , ” never mind that any remotely professional operation never would have left itself in the position of cutting it that close in a crucial swing state .
If Team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Wisconsin was important , they would have made sure he got his application in with time to spare , no ?
Collusion or not , what ’ s clear is that some Republican operatives think having West on the ballot will help .
Even in … Montana ?
If Montana is close enough this fall that Kanye is a factor in Trump ’ s victory there , Trump might as well start packing now .
It ’ ll be a bloodbath in the rest of the country .
If these guys are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state , their organizing efforts are much better applied to turning people out for Steve Daines in the Senate race .
That ’ s the one that might be tight , and on which control of the Senate might turn .
Kanye has published a campaign platform of sorts , most of which is vague and platitudinous even by the standards of campaign platforms .
His first item is noteworthy , though : “ 1 .
Restore faith and revive our Constitutional commitment to freedom of religion and the free exercise of one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prayer in the classroom including spiritual foundations.
” *If* Trump is hoping to use Kanye as a stalking horse against Biden , that sentence captures the risk inherent in the gambit .
West ’ s faith-filled program could attract some religious Democrats .
But it could also attract some religious Republicans who ’ ve had their fill of Trump and might appreciate a “ protest vote ” option .
Republicans clearly are hoping he ’ ll appeal to black voters .
If that ’ s the plan , early polling suggests that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll , West garnered 2 percent support overall among registered voters , 7 points behind the “ no opinion ” option .
His support among African American voters is just as meager — 2 percent — and Biden ’ s 9-point national lead over Trump is unmoved with or without West on the ballot… West is most popular among Gen Zers , a majority of whom will be eligible to cast votes for the first time in November .
His favorable ratings with the demographic are at 31 percent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote for him .
Younger adults are a bit more open to West ’ s candidacy than older ones , as you ’ d expect , but not so much that Biden loses a single percentage point with West in the race .
In fact , Kanye takes as many votes from Trump ’ s party ( one percent ) as he does from Biden ’ s .
It ’ s independents , a group which you might expect would be more open to voting third-party , who give him his best number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked voters if they have a favorable or unfavorable view of him .
Which party , do you think , is more likely to say they like a celebrity who ’ s famously pro-Trump and outspokenly pro-life ?
His favorability is literally twice as high among Republicans as it is among Democrats .
Among dozens of demographic groups tested , the group that gave him his lowest rating — six percent — was Democratic women , Biden ’ s strongest base of support .
As for African-Americans , they ’ re only slightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whites ( 16 percent ) to say they view West favorably .
Hispanics are more likely than either group to say so , at 24 percent .
Basically , unless the election ’ s as close as , or closer than , it was last time , Kanye ’ s unlikely to matter .
But I ’ m looking forward to squeezing another two and a half months of easy blog content from his candidacy .

Kanye being Kanye, I find it completely plausible that he arranged a meeting with Trump’s most powerful advisor just to chat him up about a book he liked, not to discuss the ampaign-cay ollusion-cay that he and Trump may or may not be engaged in to try to lure votes away from Joe Biden.
I’m willing to do a live interview with the New York Time about my meeting with Jared where we discussed Dr Claude Anderson’s book Powernomics — ye (@kanyewest) August 12, 2020
The Times called him up. Kanye being Kanye, he ended up talking about abortion, not the meeting with Kushner.
The meeting took place in Colorado, where Mr. Kushner was traveling with his wife, Ivanka Trump, those familiar with the meeting said. Mr. West had been camping in Colorado with his family, and afterward flew to Telluride to meet with Mr. Kushner and Ms. Trump, but was not accompanied by his wife, Kim Kardashian West, those with knowledge of the meeting said. After an inquiry, Mr. West tweeted Tuesday evening: “I’m willing to do a live interview with the New York Time about my meeting with Jared,” adding that they had discussed a book about Black empowerment called “PowerNomics.” He did not elaborate on his meeting with Mr. Kushner in a brief follow-up interview. He instead expressed anger about abortion rates among Black women and said he didn’t reflexively support Democrats.
What’s confounding about the apparent Trump/West tag-team effort against Biden is that neither one seems competent enough to get it off the launchpad. And so you’re left wondering if they really are scheming to turn Kanye into a 2020 Ralph Nader to Biden’s Al Gore and just doing a piss-poor job of it or if there’s no scheme at all and we’ve simply mistaken Kanye’s delusions of grandeur for some sort of Trumpy conspiracy. Case in point: West’s team turned in his submission to be on Wisconsin’s ballot at 5:00:14 p.m. on Monday. The deadline was 5 p.m. He’s now forced to argue that “5 p.m.” means “anytime before 5:00:59,” never mind that any remotely professional operation never would have left itself in the position of cutting it that close in a crucial swing state. If Team Trump thought having Kanye on the ballot in Wisconsin was important, they would have made sure he got his application in with time to spare, no?
Collusion or not, what’s clear is that some Republican operatives think having West on the ballot will help. Even in … Montana?
A group seeking to place rapper Kanye West’s name on the Montana’s presidential ballot this fall has spent the past few days gathering signatures from Yellowstone County residents, telling them their signature could help take votes away from Joe Biden. “You want to help Trump?” one of the organizers called out Tuesday afternoon in front of the Yellowstone County Courthouse. “We’re trying to take votes away from creepy Uncle Joe.”
If Montana is close enough this fall that Kanye is a factor in Trump’s victory there, Trump might as well start packing now. It’ll be a bloodbath in the rest of the country. If these guys are worried about a Democratic victory in their state, their organizing efforts are much better applied to turning people out for Steve Daines in the Senate race. That’s the one that might be tight, and on which control of the Senate might turn.
Kanye has published a campaign platform of sorts, most of which is vague and platitudinous even by the standards of campaign platforms. His first item is noteworthy, though: “1. Restore faith and revive our Constitutional commitment to freedom of religion and the free exercise of one’s faith, demonstrated by restoring prayer in the classroom including spiritual foundations.” *If* Trump is hoping to use Kanye as a stalking horse against Biden, that sentence captures the risk inherent in the gambit. West’s faith-filled program could attract some religious Democrats. But it could also attract some religious Republicans who’ve had their fill of Trump and might appreciate a “protest vote” option.
Republicans clearly are hoping he’ll appeal to black voters. If that’s the plan, early polling suggests that it’s not working:
In a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll, West garnered 2 percent support overall among registered voters, 7 points behind the “no opinion” option. His support among African American voters is just as meager — 2 percent — and Biden’s 9-point national lead over Trump is unmoved with or without West on the ballot… West is most popular among Gen Zers, a majority of whom will be eligible to cast votes for the first time in November. His favorable ratings with the demographic are at 31 percent. However, 6 percent said they would vote for him.
Younger adults are a bit more open to West’s candidacy than older ones, as you’d expect, but not so much that Biden loses a single percentage point with West in the race. In fact, Kanye takes as many votes from Trump’s party (one percent) as he does from Biden’s. It’s independents, a group which you might expect would be more open to voting third-party, who give him his best number at four percent.
Morning Consult also asked voters if they have a favorable or unfavorable view of him. Which party, do you think, is more likely to say they like a celebrity who’s famously pro-Trump and outspokenly pro-life?
His favorability is literally twice as high among Republicans as it is among Democrats. Among dozens of demographic groups tested, the group that gave him his lowest rating — six percent — was Democratic women, Biden’s strongest base of support. As for African-Americans, they’re only slightly more likely (21 percent) than whites (16 percent) to say they view West favorably. Hispanics are more likely than either group to say so, at 24 percent.
Basically, unless the election’s as close as, or closer than, it was last time, Kanye’s unlikely to matter. But I’m looking forward to squeezing another two and a half months of easy blog content from his candidacy.


hotair--2020-08-12--Billionaire Robert Smith endorses reparations designed to provide access to capital for black busine

Billionaire Robert Smith endorses reparations designed to provide access to capital for black businesses

Robert Smith thinks he has the cure for the wealth gap between black and white Americans .
Smith is a financier who is currently the richest black man in America according to Forbes , with a total wealth estimated to be around $ 5 billion .
In an interview published today , Smith endorsed the idea of reparations for slavery but seemed to focus on the idea of corporations putting up money to provide more opportunity for black-owned businesses : In a video interview with Reuters , the CEO of private equity firm Vista Equity Partners said companies that profited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making reparations to African-Americans .
“ I think that ’ s going to be a political decision that ’ s going to have to be made and decided upon .
But I think corporations have to also think about , well , what is the right thing to do ?
” Smith said in a video interview .
Corporations “ can bring their expertise and capital to repair the communities that they are directly associated with in the industries in which they cover , ” he added .
“ I think that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoughtful approach .
But I think action needs to be taken.
” It ’ s a bit hard to parse but I think the reference to “ a political decision ” is the idea of voting in Congress on some form of reparations from the government .
But Smith ’ s main focus is on a privatized reparations plan which he has been promoting for several weeks .
It involves asking major corporations to direct 2 percent of their net income into black communities , mostly to create access to capital for black-owned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Smith ’ s “ 2 % solution ” in mid-June : In recent days , Smith , whose net worth is estimated to be $ 5 billion , has been sharing a concrete plan with the nation ’ s business leaders that argues that an investment equal to 2 % of net income over the next decade would be a small step toward restoring equity and mobility in America .
He has implied that America ’ s big corporations should feel compelled to support such a plan given the exclusionary practices of many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case that the average American household charitably donates 2 % of its income annually and is asking corporate America to do the same… In his talk on Thursday , Smith pointed out that the net income of the ten largest U.S. banks over the last ten years was $ 968 billion .
He figured just 2 % of that would amount to $ 19.4 billion , which could be used to fund the core Tier 1 capital of community development banks and minority depository institutions that primarily service Black communities… “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas that creates a major problem to the enablement of the African American community , ” Smith told the more than 200 top philanthropists who attended the 9th annual Forbes philanthropy summit , which this year was held on Zoom .
“ The first thing to do is put capital into those branch banks to lend to these small businesses to actually create an opportunity set .
.
.
drive it into these small businesses , which employs 60 % -plus of African Americans.
” Some companies appear to have already made a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netflix announced it would shift 2 % of its cash on hand to put it toward black communities .
The companies press release sounded like it could have been written by Robert Smith : “ Black banks have been fighting to better their communities for decades but they ’ re disadvantaged by their lack of access to capital .
The major banks , where big multinational companies including ours keep most of their money , are also focusing more on improving equity , but not at the grassroots level these Black-led institutions can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this seems like one of the most sensible .
It doesn ’ t involve money from taxpayers and the goal of creating more access to capital and allowing black business owners to , essentially , create progress for themselves and those around them seems a lot more appealing than simply sending people checks .
Here ’ s Smith describing his plan in an interview with Forbes :

Robert Smith thinks he has the cure for the wealth gap between black and white Americans. Smith is a financier who is currently the richest black man in America according to Forbes, with a total wealth estimated to be around $5 billion. In an interview published today, Smith endorsed the idea of reparations for slavery but seemed to focus on the idea of corporations putting up money to provide more opportunity for black-owned businesses:
In a video interview with Reuters, the CEO of private equity firm Vista Equity Partners said companies that profited from the Transatlantic slave trade should consider making reparations to African-Americans. “I think that’s going to be a political decision that’s going to have to be made and decided upon. But I think corporations have to also think about, well, what is the right thing to do?” Smith said in a video interview. Corporations “can bring their expertise and capital to repair the communities that they are directly associated with in the industries in which they cover,” he added. “I think that has to be a very, a very thoughtful approach. But I think action needs to be taken.”
It’s a bit hard to parse but I think the reference to “a political decision” is the idea of voting in Congress on some form of reparations from the government. But Smith’s main focus is on a privatized reparations plan which he has been promoting for several weeks. It involves asking major corporations to direct 2 percent of their net income into black communities, mostly to create access to capital for black-owned businesses. Forbes did a story on Smith’s “2% solution” in mid-June:
In recent days, Smith, whose net worth is estimated to be $5 billion, has been sharing a concrete plan with the nation’s business leaders that argues that an investment equal to 2% of net income over the next decade would be a small step toward restoring equity and mobility in America. He has implied that America’s big corporations should feel compelled to support such a plan given the exclusionary practices of many industries over several decades. Smith made the case that the average American household charitably donates 2% of its income annually and is asking corporate America to do the same… In his talk on Thursday, Smith pointed out that the net income of the ten largest U.S. banks over the last ten years was $968 billion. He figured just 2% of that would amount to $19.4 billion, which could be used to fund the core Tier 1 capital of community development banks and minority depository institutions that primarily service Black communities… “The deprivation of capital is one of the areas that creates a major problem to the enablement of the African American community,” Smith told the more than 200 top philanthropists who attended the 9th annual Forbes philanthropy summit, which this year was held on Zoom. “The first thing to do is put capital into those branch banks to lend to these small businesses to actually create an opportunity set . . . drive it into these small businesses, which employs 60%-plus of African Americans.”
Some companies appear to have already made a 2% commitment. In late-June, Netflix announced it would shift 2% of its cash on hand to put it toward black communities. The companies press release sounded like it could have been written by Robert Smith:
“Black banks have been fighting to better their communities for decades but they’re disadvantaged by their lack of access to capital. The major banks, where big multinational companies including ours keep most of their money, are also focusing more on improving equity, but not at the grassroots level these Black-led institutions can and do.”
As reparations proposals go, this seems like one of the most sensible. It doesn’t involve money from taxpayers and the goal of creating more access to capital and allowing black business owners to, essentially, create progress for themselves and those around them seems a lot more appealing than simply sending people checks.
Here’s Smith describing his plan in an interview with Forbes: