thestream--2020-10-08--VP Debate Dissection: Smooth Pence Slices Smirking Harris

There is no denying .
Mike Pence cleaned Harris ’ clock in last night ’ s VP Debate .
In fact Swiss clockmakers couldn ’ t dismantle a watch with the precision and effectiveness Pence did Harris .
It was a dissection so methodical they should have held the debate in a biology lab .
And Harris ?
Ugh .
The rolling eyes .
The smirks .
The facial expressions .
The snottiness .
The weak , canned answers .
The embrace of higher taxes and Green New Deal and cash bail .
Her refusal to answer whether she ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desperate flinging of every false Trump meme imaginable , including the Charlottesville Hoax .
Making Kamala ’ s defeat even more astounding : Moderator Susan Page of USA Today made sure virtually every single question was either directly out of the liberal wish list , or was weighted against the Trump-Pence Administration .
How lopsided was this debate ?
ACTforAmerica summarized it best .
Yes , a fly landed on Pence ’ s head .
The fly connected on Pence more than Harris .
Naturally , Page served up COVID as Harris ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was supposed to be where Harris would nail Trump and Pence to the wall .
Rather than ask what Biden-Harris would have done differently , Page asked what Biden-Harris would do come January .
Harris had her punch line ready : She called the Trump response the “ Greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of the country.
” She claimed Trump didn ’ t properly warn people at the end of January of the dangers of the virus .
( I don ’ t know about you , but in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ videos of Chinese body bags .
Police soldering doors shut .
People dropping like flies .
What was Trump going to say that we already didn ’ t know ?
And all this while Kamala and friends were having their Impeachment trial . )
However , when it came to what Biden and Harris would do different , their plan was little different than what is already happening .
Pence said their plan “ looks a little bit like plagiarism , which Joe Biden knows something about.
” He quoted what the revered-by-the-left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response in March .
Pence pointed out how the lies China and World Health Organization told about the virus hampered our response .
He repeated how Trump ’ s shutdown — called xenophobic by Biden — saved countless lives .
When Harris talked about the alleged failure of America ’ s COVID response , Pence parried , saying she was doing a “ disservice to the American people.
” He spoke of the sacrifice of Americans , the intensive actions taken , and the amazing job Operation Warp Speed is doing to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if she would take a vaccine , Harris got snotty .
“ If Donald Trump tells us that we should take it , I ’ m not taking it.
” Then Pence flattened her .
“ The vaccine will have the capacity to save millions of lives … Your continuous undermining of a vaccine in America is just unconscionable !
” Then he went for the kill .
He told the story of Biden ’ s response to Swine Flu when he was VP .
“ We know about failure , ” Pence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half million .
60 million .
If swine flu had been as lethal as COVID we would have lost 2 million.
” He told how Biden ’ s own chief of staff said “ We got lucky .
We did everything possible wrong.
” When Pence managed to turn COVID against Harris and Biden , you knew Harris was in for a long night .
When Pence said Biden-Harris would ban fracking , Harris insisted that Joe Biden wouldn ’ t .
( Note , friends and neighbors , she didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fracking.
” ) Pence kindly reminded Harris that Biden did tell a voter he “ absolutely ” would ban fracking .
And let ’ s remember Harris herself said in March 2020 , “ There ’ s no question I ’ m in favor of banning fracking.
” Pence put the simple question to Harris : Will you pack the court ?
Harris refused to answer .
Repeatedly .
So we know the answer .
As Pence said , “ This is a classic case of if you can ’ t win by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change the rules.
” One of the most powerful … and cutting moments … came when Pence talked about Kayla Mueller , executed by ISIS after being held hostage for 18 months .
Pence relayed the news that two of her killers were brought to justice today .
Then he shared how Obama and Biden knew where Kayla was , but waited a month to act .
And they were too late .
She had been moved .
Said Pence , according to Kayla ’ s parents , “ If Donald Trump had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alive.
” He also reminded America that Biden had been against the raid that killed Osama bin laden .
On foreign policy , Harris was in so over her head , the Coast Guard had to be sent out to find her .
Page tossed another softball to Harris , “ Was justice served in the Breonna Taylor case ?
” Harris said no , then rambled over to the George Floyd case .
( Why no questions about urban violence , or leftist rioting … even as another city was seeing violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for blocking prison reform .
Sen. Tim Scott was working out a bi-partisan police reform bill , but “ you walked out of the room.
” Later he would return to the Breonna Taylor case .
“ As a former prosecutor , I ’ m surprised you would assume a grand jury would be wrong.
” Pence was set to demolish Harris over her dubious record as prosecutor , but Page cut him off .
Pence launched into Harris for her opposition to a judicial nominee simply because he was a Catholic member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope Amy Coney Barrett won ’ t be subjected to “ the kinds of attacks on her Christian faith that we saw before.
” Harris with planned indignation , said , “ Joe Biden and I are both people of faith , and it ’ s insulting to think we would knock anyone for her faith.
” Oh , but Senator , you already did .
Even though Biden was advised by Hillary Clinton not to concede under any circumstances , Page only asked Harris and Pence about Trump ’ s refusal to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the election .
Thankfully , Pence responded to Harris , “ Your party spent the last 3 years trying to overturn the results of last election.
” He forcibly laid out how Obama-Biden had spied on “ our campaign , ” the impeachment “ over a phone call.
” Harris was floundering and failing .
The scripted answers weren ’ t enough .
So she dug up almost every false Trump cliché in the mud-caked book .
His first act in office was to institute a “ Muslim ban.
” He called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On and on .
You know the drill by now .
She trotted out the “ He didn ’ t condemn white nationalists at the debate ” card .
( Trump saying “ Sure ” three times , before being interrupted , did not count . )
She sunk into the gutter with the evil Charlottesville Hoax , claiming Trump said white nationalists are “ very fine people.
” Pence pounced , denouncing her and the media for ignoring what Trump actually said .
She repeated the lie Trump called COVID a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over COVID was a hoax .
Harris also flung the lie that Trump called our World War I dead “ losers ” and “ suckers.
” Dozens of witnesses are on record denying it happened .
Earlier , she went tin foil hat with this bizarre notion that because real estate mogul Trump owes $ 300 million dollars , he is thus beholden politically to those he owes .
( That ’ s owing $ 300 million … on a building worth $ 450 million . )
Of course , she ignoring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s son , while Biden was VP .
She brought up the $ 750 in taxes Trump paid two years ago .
Ignoring the fact Trump actually paid over $ 5 million in taxes those years , but a tax credit for saving the historic Old Post Office wiped that out .
And rather than get the money back , Trump applied it to future taxes .
Speaking of taxes , she repeatedly lied by claiming Biden would not raise taxes on the middle class .
Pence kept reminding viewers Biden promised to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
A tax cut that put thousands in the pockets of the middle class .
90 minutes on the stage and all she had to offer — this woman who is already talking about the “ Harris Administration ” — is , in essence , a false portrait and Orange Man Bad .
Which Do You See in the Oval Office ?
Given Trump ’ s COVID diagnosis and Biden ’ s clear cognitive issues , we had to watch this debate through the lens of “ Which of these candidates can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Kamala Harris demonstrated why Democratic voters so quickly and thoroughly rejected her .
( And frankly , why she ’ s been kept from answering any real questions during the campaign . )
She ’ s unlikable and offers nothing but platitudes and blind ambition .
Mike Pence gave a textbook demonstration of how to be in charge , informed , in control .
How to take a political opponent apart , all while maintaining grace .
President Trump says he ’ s learned a lot from his COVID battle .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the man serving at his side .
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

There is no denying. Mike Pence cleaned Harris’ clock in last night’s VP Debate.
In fact Swiss clockmakers couldn’t dismantle a watch with the precision and effectiveness Pence did Harris. It was a dissection so methodical they should have held the debate in a biology lab.
And Harris? Ugh. The rolling eyes. The smirks. The facial expressions. The snottiness. The weak, canned answers. The embrace of higher taxes and Green New Deal and cash bail. Her refusal to answer whether she’d pack the Supreme Court. Her desperate flinging of every false Trump meme imaginable, including the Charlottesville Hoax.
Making Kamala’s defeat even more astounding: Moderator Susan Page of USA Today made sure virtually every single question was either directly out of the liberal wish list, or was weighted against the Trump-Pence Administration.
How lopsided was this debate? ACTforAmerica summarized it best.
Even the fly chose Mike Pence instead of Kamala Harris. — ACTforAmerica (@ACTforAmerica) October 8, 2020
Yes, a fly landed on Pence’s head. The fly connected on Pence more than Harris.
COVID
Naturally, Page served up COVID as Harris’ first question. After all, COVID was supposed to be where Harris would nail Trump and Pence to the wall.
Nail? It was barely a tickle.
Rather than ask what Biden-Harris would have done differently, Page asked what Biden-Harris would do come January. Harris had her punch line ready: She called the Trump response the “Greatest failure of any presidential administration in the history of the country.”
She claimed Trump didn’t properly warn people at the end of January of the dangers of the virus. (I don’t know about you, but in late January, I was watching countless videos of Chinese body bags. Police soldering doors shut. People dropping like flies. What was Trump going to say that we already didn’t know? And all this while Kamala and friends were having their Impeachment trial.)
However, when it came to what Biden and Harris would do different, their plan was little different than what is already happening. Pence said their plan “looks a little bit like plagiarism, which Joe Biden knows something about.”
He quoted what the revered-by-the-left Dr. Fauci said about the White House response in March.
Pence pointed out how the lies China and World Health Organization told about the virus hampered our response. He repeated how Trump’s shutdown — called xenophobic by Biden — saved countless lives.
When Harris talked about the alleged failure of America’s COVID response, Pence parried, saying she was doing a “disservice to the American people.” He spoke of the sacrifice of Americans, the intensive actions taken, and the amazing job Operation Warp Speed is doing to bring therapeutics and soon vaccines.
When asked if she would take a vaccine, Harris got snotty. “If Donald Trump tells us that we should take it, I’m not taking it.”
Then Pence flattened her. “The vaccine will have the capacity to save millions of lives … Your continuous undermining of a vaccine in America is just unconscionable!”
Then he went for the kill.
He told the story of Biden’s response to Swine Flu when he was VP. “We actually do know what failure looks like in a pandemic,” Pence said. “Not 7.5 million people contracted the swine flu. 60 million Americans contracted the swine flu. If the swine flu had been as lethal as the coronavirus, in 2009, when Joe Biden was Vice President, we would have lost 2 million American lives.” He told how Biden’s own chief of staff “would say last year that it was pure luck. That they did ‘everything possible wrong.’”
When Pence managed to turn COVID against Harris and Biden, you knew Harris was in for a long night.
Fracking
When Pence said Biden-Harris would ban fracking, Harris insisted that Joe Biden wouldn’t. (Note, friends and neighbors, she didn’t say “we won’t ban fracking.”)
Pence kindly reminded Harris that Biden did tell a voter he “absolutely” would ban fracking. And let’s remember Harris herself said in March 2020, “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking.”
Court Packing
Pence put the simple question to Harris: Will you pack the court?
Harris refused to answer. Repeatedly. So we know the answer. As Pence said, “This is a classic case of if you can’t win by the rules you’re going to change the rules.”
Global Leadership
One of the most powerful … and cutting moments … came when Pence talked about Kayla Mueller, executed by ISIS after being held hostage for 18 months. Pence relayed the news that two of her killers were brought to justice today.
Then he shared how Obama and Biden knew where Kayla was, but waited a month to act. And they were too late. She had been moved. Said Pence, according to Kayla’s parents, “If Donald Trump had been president, our daughter would be alive.”
He also reminded America that Biden had been against the raid that killed Osama bin laden.
On foreign policy, Harris was in so over her head, the Coast Guard had to be sent out to find her.
Racial Issues
Page tossed another softball to Harris, “Was justice served in the Breonna Taylor case?” Harris said no, then rambled over to the George Floyd case. (Why no questions about urban violence, or leftist rioting … even as another city was seeing violence tonight.)
Pence first hit Harris for blocking prison reform. Sen. Tim Scott was working out a bi-partisan police reform bill, but “you walked out of the room.”
Later he would return to the Breonna Taylor case. “As a former prosecutor, I’m surprised you would assume a grand jury would be wrong.”
Pence was set to demolish Harris over her dubious record as prosecutor, but Page cut him off.
Religion and Life
Pence launched into Harris for her opposition to a judicial nominee simply because he was a Catholic member of Knights of Columbus. And his hope Amy Coney Barrett won’t be subjected to “the kinds of attacks on her Christian faith that we saw before.”
Harris with planned indignation, said, “Joe Biden and I are both people of faith, and it’s insulting to think we would knock anyone for her faith.” Oh, but Senator, you already did.
The Election
Even though Biden was advised by Hillary Clinton not to concede under any circumstances, Page only asked Harris and Pence about Trump’s refusal to promise he’d accept the results of the election.
Thankfully, Pence responded to Harris, “Your party spent the last 3 years trying to overturn the results of last election.” He forcibly laid out how Obama-Biden had spied on “our campaign,” the impeachment “over a phone call.”
Desperate Harris’s Litany of Lies About Trump
Harris was floundering and failing. The scripted answers weren’t enough. So she dug up almost every false Trump cliché in the mud-caked book. His first act in office was to institute a “Muslim ban.” He called all Mexicans “rapists and murderers.” On and on. You know the drill by now.
She trotted out the “He didn’t condemn white nationalists at the debate” card. (Trump saying “Sure” three times, before being interrupted, did not count.)
She sunk into the gutter with the evil Charlottesville Hoax, claiming Trump said white nationalists are “very fine people.” Pence pounced, denouncing her and the media for ignoring what Trump actually said.
She repeated the lie Trump called COVID a “hoax.” He said the Democratic/MSN hysteria over COVID was a hoax.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Harris also flung the lie that Trump called our World War I dead “losers” and “suckers.” Dozens of witnesses are on record denying it happened.
Earlier, she went tin foil hat with this bizarre notion that because real estate mogul Trump owes $300 million dollars, he is thus beholden politically to those he owes. (That’s owing $300 million … on a building worth $450 million.) Of course, she ignoring the $1.5 billion China gave Biden’s son, while Biden was VP.
She brought up the $750 in taxes Trump paid two years ago. Ignoring the fact Trump actually paid over $5 million in taxes those years, but a tax credit for saving the historic Old Post Office wiped that out. And rather than get the money back, Trump applied it to future taxes.
Speaking of taxes, she repeatedly lied by claiming Biden would not raise taxes on the middle class. Pence kept reminding viewers Biden promised to trash the Trump tax cut on day one. A tax cut that put thousands in the pockets of the middle class.
90 minutes on the stage and all she had to offer — this woman who is already talking about the “Harris Administration” — is, in essence, a false portrait and Orange Man Bad.
Which Do You See in the Oval Office?
Given Trump’s COVID diagnosis and Biden’s clear cognitive issues, we had to watch this debate through the lens of “Which of these candidates can you see in the Oval Office?”
Kamala Harris demonstrated why Democratic voters so quickly and thoroughly rejected her. (And frankly, why she’s been kept from answering any real questions during the campaign.) She’s unlikable and offers nothing but platitudes and blind ambition.
Mike Pence gave a textbook demonstration of how to be in charge, informed, in control. How to take a political opponent apart, all while maintaining grace.
President Trump says he’s learned a lot from his COVID battle. He can learn a thing or two from the man serving at his side.
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-10-08--Weak Mayors Choose Politics Over Protecting People

When I became Mayor of Cincinnati in 1979 , I took an oath pledging to protect the citizens under my care .
As Treasurer of Ohio and later its Secretary of State , I took nearly identical oaths of public service .
Every local official and governor makes similar binding commitments .
Their primary responsibility under oath is adherence to the Constitution , and “ performing and discharging the duties ” of the office , including the protection of the lives , prosperity and property of their citizens .
No oath includes a directive for mayors or any official to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to achieve a political goal in an upcoming election .
If breaking an oath of service was a criminal offense , many of our liberal politicians would be serving a life sentence in jail .
Damage to American cities from recent riots and looting is likely to exceed $ 2 billion .
That does not include the incalculable personal cost to individuals who have lost life savings and livelihoods .
It is difficult to afford business insurance in high crime urban areas , and many minority and immigrant business owners in decimated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of riots .
They are left with no savings , income , or hope of financial recovery .
Don ’ t their incomes matter ?
Their families ?
Their bills ?
Minneapolis , Seattle , Portland , New York City , and Louisville have four things in common : lawlessness and destruction , terrified citizens , Democrat mayors and governors , and governing executives who do little to keep them safe .
The end goal of these officials appears to be allowing local violence to go unchecked so they can blame it on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In other words , it ’ s about votes .
As violent protestors were destroying Minneapolis , Mayor Jacob Frey asked them to social distance , then asked President Trump for federal ( taxpayer ) aid to cover the millions in damage caused by the unchecked riots .
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan referred to violent rioters as “ patriots , ” called for defunding police , and then claimed Antifa ’ s use of explosives was President ’ s Trump ’ s way of practicing for martial law .
After more than 120 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tens of millions in damage and police overtime , Portland mayor Ted Wheeler warned “ right wing ” groups not to protest in his destroyed city .
Not far left enough for the far leftists burning Portland , progressives called for Wheeler ’ s resignation while he blamed Trump for all of it .
New York City Mayor de Blasio recently cut $ 1 billion from the city ’ s police budget .
When the city ’ s murder and shooting rates doubled this summer , de Blasio blamed Covid , not his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump balks at saddling all U.S. taxpayers with the cost of de Blasio ’ s malfeasance , the Mayor claims this “ makes no sense.
” Well before the Grand Jury convened to investigate the death of Breonna Taylor and all the facts of the tragic incident were revealed , Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer authorized a payout of $ 12 million to her family .
Fischer ’ s response to the riots in May and September was virtually nonexistent and led the City Council to request his resignation .
Liberal governors Tim Walz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D-WA ) , Kate Brown ( D-OR ) , Andrew Cuomo ( D-NY ) and Andy Beshear ( D-KY ) offered no criticism of these mayors ’ lack of action in the face of violence .
Not Just These Cities It ’ s not just these five cities with unprotected citizens .
An analysis of recent crime data shows that of the 20 cities with the highest projected murder rates , 18 are controlled by liberal Democrats .
Fadi Faouri is a Jordanian immigrant who runs a Louisville smoke shop .
After his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a mob demanding he say “ black lives matter.
” He refused .
Appearing on Tucker Carlson Tonight , Faouri was shown telling a BLM protestor , “ I only see you as a human being.
” His final comment to Tucker was , “ I ’ m a free man.
” Mr. Faouri suffered under politically-motivated lawlessness .
As America tries to recover from destruction caused by officials who arguably chose to vilify a political opponent over quelling riots , we could use a lot more Faouris .
As the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I watch and grieve as leftist-run cities become killing fields .
Nearly 90 percent of African Americans murdered in the U.S are killed by other African Americans .
Between 2017-2019 , there were 1,226 white people killed in police-involved shootings and 487 black people .
Local and state officials need to acknowledge these truths and focus on honest problem-solving .
Liberal mayors must be held to their oaths and elevate the safety of their citizens above their quest to achieve socialist political objectives .
At the most basic level , this means upholding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protects the rights of each American .
No citizen deserves , or should expect , anything less .
Ken Blackwell is a member of the American Constitutional Rights Union Action Fund Board of Directors and former Mayor of Cincinnati .

When I became Mayor of Cincinnati in 1979, I took an oath pledging to protect the citizens under my care. As Treasurer of Ohio and later its Secretary of State, I took nearly identical oaths of public service.
Every local official and governor makes similar binding commitments. Their primary responsibility under oath is adherence to the Constitution, and “performing and discharging the duties” of the office, including the protection of the lives, prosperity and property of their citizens.
No oath includes a directive for mayors or any official to sacrifice other people’s safety in order to achieve a political goal in an upcoming election. If breaking an oath of service was a criminal offense, many of our liberal politicians would be serving a life sentence in jail.
Lawlessness and Destruction
Damage to American cities from recent riots and looting is likely to exceed $2 billion. That does not include the incalculable personal cost to individuals who have lost life savings and livelihoods. It is difficult to afford business insurance in high crime urban areas, and many minority and immigrant business owners in decimated cities can’t get insurance because of riots. They are left with no savings, income, or hope of financial recovery. Don’t their incomes matter? Their families? Their bills?
Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland, New York City, and Louisville have four things in common: lawlessness and destruction, terrified citizens, Democrat mayors and governors, and governing executives who do little to keep them safe.
It’s About Votes
The end goal of these officials appears to be allowing local violence to go unchecked so they can blame it on the President of the United States. In other words, it’s about votes.
As violent protestors were destroying Minneapolis, Mayor Jacob Frey asked them to social distance, then asked President Trump for federal (taxpayer) aid to cover the millions in damage caused by the unchecked riots.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan referred to violent rioters as “patriots,” called for defunding police, and then claimed Antifa’s use of explosives was President’s Trump’s way of practicing for martial law.
After more than 120 days of riots by leftist groups causing tens of millions in damage and police overtime, Portland mayor Ted Wheeler warned “right wing” groups not to protest in his destroyed city. Not far left enough for the far leftists burning Portland, progressives called for Wheeler’s resignation while he blamed Trump for all of it.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
New York City Mayor de Blasio recently cut $1 billion from the city’s police budget. When the city’s murder and shooting rates doubled this summer, de Blasio blamed Covid, not his abandonment of the police. As President Trump balks at saddling all U.S. taxpayers with the cost of de Blasio’s malfeasance, the Mayor claims this “makes no sense.”
Well before the Grand Jury convened to investigate the death of Breonna Taylor and all the facts of the tragic incident were revealed, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer authorized a payout of $12 million to her family. Fischer’s response to the riots in May and September was virtually nonexistent and led the City Council to request his resignation.
Liberal governors Tim Walz (D-MN), Jay Inslee (D-WA), Kate Brown (D-OR), Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) and Andy Beshear (D-KY) offered no criticism of these mayors’ lack of action in the face of violence.
Not Just These Cities
It’s not just these five cities with unprotected citizens. An analysis of recent crime data shows that of the 20 cities with the highest projected murder rates, 18 are controlled by liberal Democrats.
Fadi Faouri is a Jordanian immigrant who runs a Louisville smoke shop. After his store was torched, he was accosted by a mob demanding he say “black lives matter.” He refused.
Appearing on Tucker Carlson Tonight, Faouri was shown telling a BLM protestor, “I only see you as a human being.” His final comment to Tucker was, “I’m a free man.”
Mr. Faouri suffered under politically-motivated lawlessness. As America tries to recover from destruction caused by officials who arguably chose to vilify a political opponent over quelling riots, we could use a lot more Faouris.
As the former mayor of a major metropolitan area, I watch and grieve as leftist-run cities become killing fields. Nearly 90 percent of African Americans murdered in the U.S are killed by other African Americans. Between 2017-2019, there were 1,226 white people killed in police-involved shootings and 487 black people. Local and state officials need to acknowledge these truths and focus on honest problem-solving.
Liberal mayors must be held to their oaths and elevate the safety of their citizens above their quest to achieve socialist political objectives.
At the most basic level, this means upholding a system of law and order that protects the rights of each American. No citizen deserves, or should expect, anything less.
Ken Blackwell is a member of the American Constitutional Rights Union Action Fund Board of Directors and former Mayor of Cincinnati.


thestream--2020-10-08--Military Photo of the Day: Grenade Training

U.S. Army paratroopers conduct M67 fragmentation grenade live-fire training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska on September 30 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ Peña for capturing this image .

U.S. Army paratroopers conduct M67 fragmentation grenade live-fire training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska on September 30, 2020.
Thank you to Alejandro Peña for capturing this image.
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thestream--2020-10-08--Better Than Amnesty: An Immigration Plan for Americans

In the early 80s I started a landscaping company located in the Midwest .
By the 90 ’ s we had grown so much we found difficult to find enough hardworking employees .
To solve this problem I went to Texas by the border with Mexico .
I put an ad in the paper , and was able to recruit Latino workers who had the proper paperwork .
I provided housing and transportation for these employees .
The next year my company grew and we needed more employees .
So we recruited near the border again .
That year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my top executives and their wives flew down for a vacation in Texas before we started hiring .
One Sunday we went to a parish Mass .
And we saw something strange .
The church was full of women and children .
No men .
I wondered why .
Then I figured it out .
The men were missing because they ’ d gone away to work .
For people like me .
I knew after seeing this that I needed to find a way to keep families together when they worked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wives together , and housing them with their kids .
We never had a problem finding employees again .
The Long Arm of the Law My first encounter with ICE came when appeared at my company to arrest five of my workers .
One had committed a felony .
The rest were family members of his .
ICE ended up arresting and deporting those people a week later .
ICE also ran E-Verify on all of our employees and determined that 33 % of our employees were illegal .
I was shocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had presented papers certifying that they were legal to work .
ICE gave me a month to fire all of those illegal employees , which I did .
In the end , not one of them was actually deported , though .
They just went to work for my competitors .
So what did ICE accomplish here ?
We Need to Fix the System I am now retired .
My experience with good , hard-working people employed outside the system drove me to think .
Long and hard .
I believe that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is fair to workers , but respects American law .
It would be a win-win for everyone except the Democrat politicians who prefer to keep people disenfranchised and angry .
My plan is based on common sense , and grounded in the Christian respect for the person , and the brotherhood of man .
It also keeps things local , instead of bogging real people down in the gears of distant bureaucracies .
I ’ ll be candid about my goals .
I want to respect American law and sovereignty .
Within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people a pathway to earn citizenship , so they don ’ t live in constant fear .
I also hope to help them keep their religious faith , instead of losing it .
And frankly to keep them out of the clutches of the godless , pro-abortion Democrat party .
I know that my plan would require some action both from Congress and the White House .
I ’ m not a political strategist , so I can ’ t tell you how to pass it .
But I can draw the outline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like .
• An executive order from the president suspending all deportations of non-felons for six months .
• Dedicate one room in every county building in the U.S. as a “ multi-embassy room ” where undocumented workers may apply , along with their families , for green cards .
• To win that , the workers would need “ letters of commitment ” from their employers promising to keep them employed for the next 12 months .
They would sign the same commitment to the employer .
They ’ d also waive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any government benefits for those 12 months .
• Married couples with children should be processed and approved together , to keep from dividing families .
• For any future citizenship applications , these people would be eligible , but put at the back of the line behind others who followed the law .
All should receive a biometric ID card to prove their status as legal to work , but not to vote .
• After this six month window , resume deportations and prosecutions of employers who hire illegally .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. sovereignty and the authority of the federal government .
If the GOP got behind such a pro-family , pro-business , pro-American plan , I think it could solidify its growing share of the Latino vote — while imposing the rule of law on our lawless , dangerous borders .
For The Stream ’ s immigration plan , formulated by James Robison and Sammy Rodriguez , click here .
Zygmunt Mazanowski is the co-founder of Mainscape Inc. , a national landscape company .

In the early 80s I started a landscaping company located in the Midwest. By the 90’s we had grown so much we found difficult to find enough hardworking employees. To solve this problem I went to Texas by the border with Mexico. I put an ad in the paper, and was able to recruit Latino workers who had the proper paperwork. I provided housing and transportation for these employees. The next year my company grew and we needed more employees. So we recruited near the border again.
Keeping Families Together
That year, my wife and I and some of my top executives and their wives flew down for a vacation in Texas before we started hiring. One Sunday we went to a parish Mass. And we saw something strange. The church was full of women and children. No men. I wondered why. Then I figured it out. The men were missing because they’d gone away to work. For people like me.
I knew after seeing this that I needed to find a way to keep families together when they worked for my company. I started hiring husbands and wives together, and housing them with their kids. We never had a problem finding employees again.
The Long Arm of the Law
My first encounter with ICE came when they appeared at my company to arrest five of my workers. One had committed a felony. The rest were family members of his. ICE ended up arresting and deporting those people a week later. ICE also ran E-Verify on all of our employees and determined that 33% of our employees were illegal.
I was shocked, since everyone I’d hired had presented papers certifying that they were legal to work. ICE gave me a month to fire all of those illegal employees, which I did. In the end, not one of them was actually deported, though. They just went to work for my competitors. So what did ICE accomplish here?
We Need to Fix the System
I am now retired. My experience with good, hard-working people employed outside the system drove me to think. Long and hard. I believe that I’ve come up with a plan that is fair to workers, but respects American law. It would be a win-win for everyone except the Democrat politicians who prefer to keep people disenfranchised and angry.
My plan is based on common sense, and grounded in the Christian respect for the person, and the brotherhood of man. It also keeps things local, instead of bogging real people down in the gears of distant bureaucracies.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
I’ll be candid about my goals. I want to respect American law and sovereignty. Within that, I hope to provide undocumented people a pathway to earn citizenship, so they don’t live in constant fear. I also hope to help them keep their religious faith, instead of losing it. And frankly to keep them out of the clutches of the godless, pro-abortion Democrat party.
A Seven Point Plan
I know that my plan would require some action both from Congress and the White House. I’m not a political strategist, so I can’t tell you how to pass it. But I can draw the outline of what a successful plan would look like.
An executive order from the president suspending all deportations of non-felons for six months. Dedicate one room in every county building in the U.S. as a “multi-embassy room” where undocumented workers may apply, along with their families, for green cards. To win that, the workers would need “letters of commitment” from their employers promising to keep them employed for the next 12 months. They would sign the same commitment to the employer. They’d also waive any right to past overpaid taxes or any government benefits for those 12 months. Married couples with children should be processed and approved together, to keep from dividing families. For any future citizenship applications, these people would be eligible, but put at the back of the line behind others who followed the law. All should receive a biometric ID card to prove their status as legal to work, but not to vote. After this six month window, resume deportations and prosecutions of employers who hire illegally. Outlaw “sanctuary” jurisdictions as violating U.S. sovereignty and the authority of the federal government.
If the GOP got behind such a pro-family, pro-business, pro-American plan, I think it could solidify its growing share of the Latino vote — while imposing the rule of law on our lawless, dangerous borders.
For The Stream’s immigration plan, formulated by James Robison and Sammy Rodriguez, click here.
Zygmunt Mazanowski is the co-founder of Mainscape Inc., a national landscape company.


thestream--2020-10-08--#Election2020: ‘Mansplaining’ and a Fly, Oh, My!

Thank you , oh , fly that landed on Mike Pence during last night ’ s debate , for giving us one of those moments that remind us that American politics is supposed to be fun .
That one can be Vice President of the United States , and still only be a landing pad for one of God ’ s little creatures .
Yet , our little fly friend also was a political Rorschach Test .
A black dot on a white field .
( Mike Pence ’ s hair . )
What did you see ?
Most saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some attributed Mike Pence ’ s non-reaction to his unshakable mellow demeanor and intense focus at the task at hand .
David Frum at the increasingly ridiculous The Atlantic saw something more … sinister .
We saw a weird moment when a fly landed on Pence ’ s snow-white hair—and the vice president did not react at all .
No doubt , it ’ s a conundrum , what to do in such a situation .
If Pence had shooed the fly and the fly had refused to shoo , that would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that doing nothing somehow in one powerful visual moment concentrated everything .
It symbolized the whole Pence vice presidency , the determined , willful refusal to acknowledge the most blaring and glaring negative realities .
Through all of the scandals and the crimes and the disasters of the past four years , Mike Pence was the man who pretended not to notice .
And now there was a fly on his head , and he pretended not to notice that too .
Our Tom Gilson had a brilliant response , likening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anchor on The Mary Tyler Moore Show : Come to think of it , Tom , hapless and pompous describes most every MSM news anchor .
They are like Ted Baxter … without the loveability .
But I digress .
You Know Kamala Lost When … The fact so much attention is going to the fly is just one sign of how Kamala Harris ’ night went .
You know your candidate lost when … • You talk too much about the brief appearance of a flying insect .
• Your early response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s eye .
As Buzz Feed did .
• You go with the “ Pence ’ s wife didn ’ t wear a mask afterwards !
” play .
As The Hill and Huffington Post did .
• Your first response is to say the debate will be forgotten .
As MSNBC ’ s Chris Hayes did .
Most of all , you know Kamala Harris got taken to the cleaners by Mike Pence when the memo goes wide to accuse Mike Pence of “ mansplaining.
” Commentator Mike Cernovich quickly picked up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be .
He tweeted , “ All the media shows are saying the debate was unfair because Kamala is a woman , that ’ s it , that ’ s all they got.
” CNN ’ s Van Jones did it , calling Pence the “ Mansplainer in Chief.
” ABC ’ s George Stephanapoulos did too .
Thank you , thank you , thank you , Martha Raddatz for pointing out to George and friends the ridiculousness of it .
The veteran ABC News reporter said , “ When I hear people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Kamala Harris , and a man shouldn ’ t interrupt her , and it ’ s going to look bad , Kamala Harris is a vice presidential candidate .
She should be able to stand up for herself.
” Added Raddatz , “ A man can interrupt another vice presidential candidate .
It is up to that candidate to talk back.
” Megyn Kelly also didn ’ t give Harris a pass because of her sex .
“ Take it like a woman , ” she tweeted .
“ Don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pollster Frank Luntz watched the debate with undecided voters .
Real undecided voters .
Not the NBC “ I know they were just on MSNBC saying how much they love Joe Biden , but we ’ re going to pretend they are ” undecided voters .
Luntz ’ s says “ Harris ’ s reactions to Pence — the smiling , the smirking , the scowling ” left them angry .
The undecided voters found Harris “ abrasive , condescending.
” Pence , they found , was “ tired , ” but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Luntz , “ that Mike Pence was the winner of tonight ’ s confrontation.
” This was also reflected in a Telemundo poll .
Their poll had Pence crushing Harris by 74 % to 26 % .
Apparently , Telemundo didn ’ t like how bad it was looking for Harris , so they took down the poll .
( Thank you , Gateway Pundit , for catching it . )
There is some good news for Harris .
Communist China enjoyed what she had to say .
China censored Pence when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the feed and going to color bars .
But they picked right up when Harris resumed talking .
The Communist Party there knows what side its bread is buttered in this election .
The side that includes the man whose family it enriched by $ 1.5 billion .
Taking one from the Chinese playbook , ABC News only fact-checked Pence .
They did not fact-check Harris at all .
Given the laundry list of lies Harris spun , this is shameless .
One final debate tidbit .
Did it seem to you Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an illusion .
Rick Klein of ABC News determined Harris got nearly 3 1/2 minutes more speaking time .
( 38.48 minutes vs 35:22 minutes . )
So whence came the idea Pence talked more ?
Paul Sperry offers a clue .
Moderator Susan Page generally let Harris finish what she was saying .
But for Mike Pence , she tried cutting him off right at the two minute marker .
Every time .
Trump Holding a Virtual Rally With Rush … Is He Going to Bend on Not Doing Virtual Debate ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a virtual rally on The Rush Limbaugh Show Friday .
Expect that to be epic .
Meanwhile , Trump rejected the Council on Presidential Debates ’ sudden switch to a virtual format for next week ’ s second debate .
But there is some hint or hope that his firm rejection is a negotiating ploy .
Indeed , the Trump campaign suggested pushing the next two debates back a week .
Biden rejected it .
Biden flat out does not want more than one showdown with Trump .
Cowardice , from the guy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump out back and beat him up .
One idea floated by James Freeman of The Wall Street Journal and promoted by Kimberly Strassel is “ Fine .
Have the Virtual Debate .
But No Moderator.
” Meanwhile , Nancy Pelosi must not believe the polls showing Biden winning .
She said Thursday , “ We ’ re going to be talking about ( invoking ) the 25th Amendment ” to remove Trump for health reasons .
You don ’ t do that to someone you fully expect to beat .
Al Perrotta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

Thank you, oh, fly that landed on Mike Pence during last night’s debate, for giving us one of those moments that remind us that American politics is supposed to be fun. That one can be Vice President of the United States, and still only be a landing pad for one of God’s little creatures.
Yet, our little fly friend also was a political Rorschach Test. A black dot on a white field. (Mike Pence’s hair.) What did you see? Most saw a fly. A humorous moment. Some attributed Mike Pence’s non-reaction to his unshakable mellow demeanor and intense focus at the task at hand. David Frum at the increasingly ridiculous The Atlantic saw something more … sinister.
His final paragraph reads:
We saw a weird moment when a fly landed on Pence’s snow-white hair—and the vice president did not react at all. No doubt, it’s a conundrum, what to do in such a situation. If Pence had shooed the fly and the fly had refused to shoo, that would have been bad. So he did nothing. And that doing nothing somehow in one powerful visual moment concentrated everything. It symbolized the whole Pence vice presidency, the determined, willful refusal to acknowledge the most blaring and glaring negative realities. Through all of the scandals and the crimes and the disasters of the past four years, Mike Pence was the man who pretended not to notice. And now there was a fly on his head, and he pretended not to notice that too.
Our Tom Gilson had a brilliant response, likening Frum to the hapless and pompous news anchor on The Mary Tyler Moore Show:
That is, there’s no way to read this aloud without slipping into Ted Baxter voice, and no way to take it any more seriously than we took Ted Baxter. https://t.co/cBhL7JF98N pic.twitter.com/PgHKGLfIax — Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) October 8, 2020
Come to think of it, Tom, hapless and pompous describes most every MSM news anchor. They are like Ted Baxter … without the loveability. But I digress.
You Know Kamala Lost When …
The fact so much attention is going to the fly is just one sign of how Kamala Harris’ night went.
You know your candidate lost when …
You talk too much about the brief appearance of a flying insect.
Your early response is to blather about Mike Pence’s eye. As Buzz Feed did.
You go with the “Pence’s wife didn’t wear a mask afterwards!” play. As The Hill and Huffington Post did.
Your first response is to say the debate will be forgotten. As MSNBC’s Chris Hayes did.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Most of all, you know Kamala Harris got taken to the cleaners by Mike Pence when the memo goes wide to accuse Mike Pence of “mansplaining.” Commentator Mike Cernovich quickly picked up what the media narrative was going to be. He tweeted, “All the media shows are saying the debate was unfair because Kamala is a woman, that’s it, that’s all they got.”
CNN’s Van Jones did it, calling Pence the “Mansplainer in Chief.” ABC’s George Stephanapoulos did too.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Martha Raddatz for pointing out to George and friends the ridiculousness of it. The veteran ABC News reporter said, “When I hear people talk about mansplaining and about these things with Kamala Harris, and a man shouldn’t interrupt her, and it’s going to look bad, Kamala Harris is a vice presidential candidate. She should be able to stand up for herself.” Added Raddatz, “A man can interrupt another vice presidential candidate. It is up to that candidate to talk back.”
Megyn Kelly also didn’t give Harris a pass because of her sex. “Take it like a woman,” she tweeted. “Don’t make faces.”
Kelly was onto something. Pollster Frank Luntz watched the debate with undecided voters. Real undecided voters. Not the NBC “I know they were just on MSNBC saying how much they love Joe Biden, but we’re going to pretend they are” undecided voters. Luntz’s says “Harris’s reactions to Pence — the smiling, the smirking, the scowling” left them angry. The undecided voters found Harris “abrasive, condescending.” Pence, they found, was “tired,” but presidential.
“It was clear, said Luntz, “that Mike Pence was the winner of tonight’s confrontation.”
This was also reflected in a Telemundo poll. Their poll had Pence crushing Harris by 74% to 26%. Apparently, Telemundo didn’t like how bad it was looking for Harris, so they took down the poll. (Thank you, Gateway Pundit, for catching it.)
China Censors Pence, Not Harris
There is some good news for Harris. Communist China enjoyed what she had to say. China censored Pence when he was talking about China, dropping the feed and going to color bars. But they picked right up when Harris resumed talking. The Communist Party there knows what side its bread is buttered in this election. The side that includes the man whose family it enriched by $1.5 billion.
CCP (Chinese Communist Party) supports Biden-Harris because they have paid millions to the Biden Crime Family. pic.twitter.com/iVILb9aD9G — Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) October 8, 2020
Taking one from the Chinese playbook, ABC News only fact-checked Pence. They did not fact-check Harris at all. Given the laundry list of lies Harris spun, this is shameless.
One final debate tidbit. Did it seem to you Mike Pence did more talking? That was an illusion. Rick Klein of ABC News determined Harris got nearly 3 1/2 minutes more speaking time. (38:48 minutes versus 35:22 minutes.) So whence came the idea Pence talked more? Paul Sperry offers a clue. Moderator Susan Page generally let Harris finish what she was saying. But for Mike Pence, she tried cutting him off right at the two minute marker. Every time.
Moderator Susan Page — who's under contract writing Nancy Pelosi's book — let Kamala run well past her 2 minute allotment but cut Pence off right at 2 minutes EVERY TIME. And virtually every one of Page's questions had an anti-Trump slant & not one of them was critical of Biden — Paul Sperry (@paulsperry_) October 8, 2020
Trump Holding a Virtual Rally With Rush … Is He Going to Bend on Not Doing Virtual Debate?
President Trump is going to be hosting a virtual rally on The Rush Limbaugh Show Friday. Expect that to be epic.
Meanwhile, Trump rejected the Council on Presidential Debates’ sudden switch to a virtual format for next week’s second debate. But there is some hint or hope that his firm rejection is a negotiating ploy. Indeed, the Trump campaign suggested pushing the next two debates back a week. Biden rejected it. Biden flat out does not want more than one showdown with Trump. Cowardice, from the guy who once said he wanted to take Trump out back and beat him up.
One idea floated by James Freeman of The Wall Street Journal and promoted by Kimberly Strassel is “Fine. Have the Virtual Debate. But No Moderator.”
3) If CPD is going to throw out the rules at this late stage, let's throw out the moderated format too. Let the American people hear both candidates speak to them and to each other for 90 minutes, equal time, equal footing. — Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) October 8, 2020
Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi must not believe the polls showing Biden winning. She said Thursday, “We’re going to be talking about (invoking) the 25th Amendment” to remove Trump for health reasons. You don’t do that to someone you fully expect to beat.
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-10-08--Updated: Biden Rejects Trump Offer to Delay Next Debate After Debate Commission Unilaterally Decides

Updated: Biden Rejects Trump Offer to Delay Next Debate After Debate Commission Unilaterally Decides to Make Next Debate Virtual

So .
The 2nd Presidential Debate was scheduled for one week from today .
Bowing to the wishes and dreams of the Biden campaign , the Commission on Presidential Debates decides without consulting the Trump campaign to make the 2nd debate virtual for “ health and safety reasons.
” President Trump is recovering from COVID , you may have heard .
But Trump , as expected , says no virtual .
He knows he won ’ t be contagious by then .
But to calm fears , rational or otherwise , he offers the obvious .
Why not delay the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Have the 2nd debate October 22 and the final debate October 29 .
“ Nope , ” says the Biden camp , from their basement bunker .
“ Donald Trump doesn ’ t make the debate schedule ; the Debate Commission does .
We accepted the three dates — Sept. 29 , Oct. 15 , and Oct. 22 — in June.
” Uh , Donald Trump also agreed to those debates and that the 2nd debate will be held in person in Miami .
However , Biden ’ s deputy campaign manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a “ no.
” “ Trump ’ s erratic behavior does not allow him to rewrite the calendar , and pick new dates of his choosing.
” Erratic behavior ?
( Is he going around talking about leg hair and record players and non-existent arrests while making mildly suggestive comments to child female dancers ?
Talking about 200,0000,000 in the U.S. dying from COVID ? )
What ’ s erratic about suggesting a legitimate solution to the supposed problem of health and safety ?
Nothing .
Unless the supposed problem isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real problem is Joe Biden is either incapable or too intimidated to be on a stage again with Donald Trump , even with a friendly moderator who used to be his intern .
The same Joe Biden that boasted about wanting to take Trump out back of the schoolyard .
And now we have confirmation of that .
Joe Biden won ’ t debate Donald Trump in person October 15 .
But he will do an in-person ABC “ town hall ” October 15 in Philadelphia !
We have seen enough town halls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means .
Fawning softballs for Biden from “ undecided ” voters who happen to ask the very questions the DNC would want asked .
If Joe Biden can do an in-person town hall in Philadelphia , he can debate Donald Trump October 15 in Miami .
There is no arguing Eric Trump ’ s reaction : “ What a coward.
” Any bets on whether Trump announces he ’ s going to Philadelphia October 15 ?
In a stunning move , the Commission on Presidential Debates unilaterally decided one week out that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump responded by saying he won ’ t participate .
The Debate Commission announced the news with a short statement .
( Which might as well have been on Biden campaign stationary . )
An angry Trump told Fox Business Channel , “ I ’ m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate .
It ’ s not what debating is all about .
… It ’ s ridiculous.
” The Trump 2020 campaign echoed the sentiment in statement : For the swamp creatures at the Presidential Debate Commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s defense by unilaterally cancelling an in-person debate is pathetic .
That ’ s not what debates are about or how it ’ s done .
Here ’ s the facts : President Trump will have posted multiple negative tests prior to the debate , so there ’ s no need for this unilateral declaration .
The safety of all involved can easily be achieved without cancelling the chance for voters to see both candidates go head to head .
We ’ ll pass on this sad excuse to bail out Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump Jr. in a tweet also blasted the Commission ’ s decision .
And questioned the timing , coming hours after Mike Pence ’ s successful debate against Kamala Harris .
Biden , of course , was ecstatic at not having to leave his basement and teleprompters and compete with Trump head-to-head unaided .
His campaign said Biden “ looks forward to speaking directly to the American people and comparing his plan for bringing the country together.
” Truth be told , Biden was already looking to bail on the second debate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t debate unless he was assured it could be done safely .
More tellingly , Biden said the debate should be cancelled if Trump “ still had COVID.
” He did not say postponed .
So , with a full week to go before the scheduled debate and the President well on his way to being fully recovered , the Presidential Commission on Debates has just given an enormous and shameful campaign contribution to Joe Biden .
It is a disgrace .
Overtly biased moderators was bad enough .
Deliberate election interference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

UPDATE:
So. The 2nd Presidential Debate was scheduled for one week from today. Bowing to the wishes and dreams of the Biden campaign, the Commission on Presidential Debates decides without consulting the Trump campaign to make the 2nd debate virtual for “health and safety reasons.” President Trump is recovering from COVID, you may have heard. But Trump, as expected, says no virtual. He knows he won’t be contagious by then. But to calm fears, rational or otherwise, he offers the obvious. Why not delay the debate and the 3rd one a week? Have the 2nd debate October 22 and the final debate October 29.
“Nope,” says the Biden camp, from their basement bunker. “Donald Trump doesn’t make the debate schedule; the Debate Commission does. We accepted the three dates — Sept. 29, Oct. 15, and Oct. 22 — in June.” Uh, Donald Trump also agreed to those debates and that the 2nd debate will be held in person in Miami. However, Biden’s deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield, didn’t stop with a “no.” “Trump’s erratic behavior does not allow him to rewrite the calendar, and pick new dates of his choosing.” Erratic behavior? (Is he going around talking about leg hair and record players and non-existent arrests while making mildly suggestive comments to child female dancers? Talking about 200,0000,000 in the U.S. dying from COVID?)
What’s erratic about suggesting a legitimate solution to the supposed problem of health and safety? Nothing. Unless the supposed problem isn’t really the problem. Perhaps the real problem is Joe Biden is either incapable or too intimidated to be on a stage again with Donald Trump, even with a friendly moderator who used to be his intern. The same Joe Biden that boasted about wanting to take Trump out back of the schoolyard.
And now we have confirmation of that. Joe Biden won’t debate Donald Trump in person October 15. But he will do an in-person ABC “town hall” October 15 in Philadelphia! We have seen enough town halls the past month to know what that means. Fawning softballs for Biden from “undecided” voters who happen to ask the very questions the DNC would want asked.
If Joe Biden can do an in-person town hall in Philadelphia, he can debate Donald Trump October 15 in Miami.
There is no arguing Eric Trump’s reaction: “What a coward.”
So Biden refuses to debate @realDonaldTrump face to face but will appear in person for a town hall. What a coward. https://t.co/CmQB6u13Iy — Eric Trump (@EricTrump) October 8, 2020
Any bets on whether Trump announces he’s going to Philadelphia October 15?
####
In a stunning move, the Commission on Presidential Debates unilaterally decided one week out that the next presidential debate will be virtual. President Trump responded by saying he won’t participate.
The Debate Commission announced the news with a short statement. (Which might as well have been on Biden campaign stationary.)
In order to protect the health and safety of all involved with the second presidential debate, scheduled for October 15, 2020, The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) announced the following today: The second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in which the candidates would participate from separate remote locations.
An angry Trump told Fox Business Channel, “I’m not going to waste my time on a virtual debate. It’s not what debating is all about. … It’s ridiculous.”
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The Trump 2020 campaign echoed the sentiment in statement:
For the swamp creatures at the Presidential Debate Commission to now rush to Joe Biden’s defense by unilaterally cancelling an in-person debate is pathetic. That’s not what debates are about or how it’s done. Here’s the facts: President Trump will have posted multiple negative tests prior to the debate, so there’s no need for this unilateral declaration. The safety of all involved can easily be achieved without cancelling the chance for voters to see both candidates go head to head. We’ll pass on this sad excuse to bail out Joe Biden and do a rally instead.
Donald Trump Jr. in a tweet also blasted the Commission’s decision. And questioned the timing, coming hours after Mike Pence’s successful debate against Kamala Harris.
Does anyone else find it awfully coincidental that the morning after Mike Pence destroys Kamala Harris in a debate that the “debate commission” unilaterally changes the format to obviously benefit Basement Biden? — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 8, 2020
Biden, of course, was ecstatic at not having to leave his basement and teleprompters and compete with Trump head-to-head unaided. His campaign said Biden “looks forward to speaking directly to the American people and comparing his plan for bringing the country together.”
A Gift for Joe
Truth be told, Biden was already looking to bail on the second debate. He said the other day he wouldn’t debate unless he was assured it could be done safely. More tellingly, Biden said the debate should be cancelled if Trump “still had COVID.” He did not say postponed.
So, with a full week to go before the scheduled debate and the President well on his way to being fully recovered, the Presidential Commission on Debates has just given an enormous and shameful campaign contribution to Joe Biden. It is a disgrace.
Overtly biased moderators was bad enough. Deliberate election interference is another.
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-10-08--Who’s Smaller? Kamala Harris or the Fabulous Fly?

History will remember most about last night ’ s VP debate the small creature that took part in the proceedings .
Oh , and that fly that landed on Mike Pence ’ s head .
We ’ ll get to the fly who crashed the debate soon .
Last night , I wrote a 1,400 word wrap up of the debate .
I was awakened early this morning by a thought that summarized the debate in four : “ Kamala Harris is small.
” What did I mean by that ?
Don ’ t worry , I asked myself that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate you write down your impressions , describe what happened .
Then when you sleep , the brain organizes , and searches for the essence .
Then your subconscious boots you in the back , yelling , “ Wake up !
Here it is .
Here ’ s your real takeaway.
” Kamala Goes to the Desert Last night I wrote about some , but not nearly , all the lies — the divisive lies — Harris told about Trump .
Like the Charlottesville Hoax .
The moment that crystallizes it to me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in today ’ s recaps and hot takes .
Mike Pence was talking about how we had taken out Iranian terror mastermind Gen. Qasem Solemeini .
Seems a good thing to kill a man responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers , and a spree of terror acts across the Middle East .
A man who had plotted with organized militias in Iraq to bombard American bases .
Who was in Iraq at the time , in violation of U.N. orders , to craft more murderous attacks against our troops .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s most dangerous and powerful terrorist .
Okay , I get it .
You and Biden want to cozy up again to the terrorist Iranian regime that shouts “ Death to America ” at every breath .
Such thinking makes you dangerous and naïve , and in the wake of the Middle East peace breaking out and Iran on the ropes , woefully unaware .
But that ’ s not what makes you small .
It ’ s being petty and vindictive , trivializing the monumental to score a tiny political point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iraqi desert with her answer just to take a personal shot at President Trump .
She didn ’ t talk about Soleimani .
She talked about how during Iran ’ s response to the killing , some American service members in bunkers suffered , it eventually turned out , traumatic brain injury .
“ And do you know what Donald Trump dismissed them as ?
Headaches.
” In other words , “ See ?
See ?
Orange Man is Bad .
He doesn ’ t care about soldiers !
” ( Let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did only talked about minor injuries .
And no deaths . )
That is such a petty response to a serious global issue .
One that diminishes her .
She ’ s more upset at what Trump said than what Soleimani did .
But you have to go further .
What actually happened that night ?
Remember how tense things were between the U.S. and Iran ?
Google this : US Iran “ on the brink ” .
Trump had said if Iran killed or seriously wounded any Americans in any response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unleash hell .
But Iran needed to respond to the killing of Gen. Soleimani to save face .
Yet it also didn ’ t want to get in an all-out war with the U.S .
So Iran warned the U.S. what was coming .
Gave hours for U.S. personnel at Irbil and Al Asad bases to get to shelters .
It didn ’ t aim its missiles at the much more vulnerable base closer to its border .
No one was killed .
President Trump spoke of headaches when tensions were high to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to de-escalate .
Kamala Harris is small because she went out of her way to take Trump ’ s successful effort to avoid a conflict that could have killed thousands — or blown up into a massive war killing tens of thousands — just for a cheap political shot .
She took the chance to have a serious discussion to demonstrate she has the stature to be Commander-in-Chief , and all she wanted to do was say , “ Orange Man Bad.
” Kamala Harris is small .
As small as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

History will remember most about last night’s VP debate the small creature that took part in the proceedings. Oh, and that fly that landed on Mike Pence’s head.
We’ll get to the fly who crashed the debate soon.
Last night, I wrote a 1,400 word wrap up of the debate. I was awakened early this morning by a thought that summarized the debate in four: “Kamala Harris is small.”
What did I mean by that? Don’t worry, I asked myself that too.
In the rush after a debate you write down your impressions, describe what happened. Then when you sleep, the brain organizes, and searches for the essence. Then your subconscious boots you in the back, yelling, “Wake up! Here it is. Here’s your real takeaway.”
Kamala Harris is small.
Kamala Goes to the Desert
Last night I wrote about some, but not nearly, all the lies — the divisive lies — Harris told about Trump. Like the Charlottesville Hoax.
The moment that crystallizes it to me is one I doubt will be mentioned in today’s recaps and hot takes. Mike Pence was talking about how we had taken out Iranian terror mastermind Gen. Qasem Solemeini. Seems a good thing to kill a man responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American soldiers, and a spree of terror acts across the Middle East. A man who had plotted with organized militias in Iraq to bombard American bases. Who was in Iraq at the time, in violation of U.N. orders, to craft more murderous attacks against our troops.
Harris was against taking out the world’s most dangerous and powerful terrorist. Okay, I get it. You and Biden want to cozy up again to the terrorist Iranian regime that shouts “Death to America” at every breath. Such thinking makes you dangerous and naïve, and in the wake of the Middle East peace breaking out and Iran on the ropes, woefully unaware.
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But that’s not what makes you small. It’s being petty and vindictive, trivializing the monumental to score a tiny political point.
Harris walked waaaaaay out in the Iraqi desert with her answer just to take a personal shot at President Trump. She didn’t talk about Soleimani. She talked about how during Iran’s response to the killing, some American service members in bunkers suffered, it eventually turned out, traumatic brain injury. “And do you know what Donald Trump dismissed them as? Headaches.” In other words, “See? See? Orange Man is Bad. He doesn’t care about soldiers!” (Let’s put aside the fact early reports did only talked about minor injuries. And no deaths.)
That is such a petty response to a serious global issue. One that diminishes her. She’s more upset at what Trump said than what Soleimani did.
But you have to go further. What actually happened that night? Remember how tense things were between the U.S. and Iran? Google this: US Iran “on the brink”. Trump had said if Iran killed or seriously wounded any Americans in any response to Soleimani’s death, he would unleash hell. But Iran needed to respond to the killing of Gen. Soleimani to save face. Yet it also didn’t want to get in an all-out war with the U.S. So Iran warned the U.S. what was coming. Gave hours for U.S. personnel at Irbil and Al Asad bases to get to shelters. It didn’t aim its missiles at the much more vulnerable base closer to its border. No one was killed.
President Trump spoke of headaches when tensions were high to accept Iran’s clear signal it wanted to de-escalate. Kamala Harris is small because she went out of her way to take Trump’s successful effort to avoid a conflict that could have killed thousands — or blown up into a massive war killing tens of thousands — just for a cheap political shot.
She took the chance to have a serious discussion to demonstrate she has the stature to be Commander-in-Chief, and all she wanted to do was say, “Orange Man Bad.”
Kamala Harris is small. As small as a fly.
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-10-08--Are Healthcare Workers at Far Greater Risk of Death from COVID-19? The Numbers Say No.

Fear of the unknown is a fact of human nature .
That ’ s why we all admired healthcare workers in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic .
They had to face the fear of unknown risks .
A new fear has now emerged over the role of aerosols ( airborne microscopic droplets ) in transmitting the coronavirus .
Kaiser Health News reported last week that a “ battle rages inside hospitals over how COVID strikes and kills.
” Dr. Anthony Fauci added to the worry by acknowledging that officials had erred in downplaying the role of aerosols .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ really have gotten it wrong over many , many years , ” he conceded .
The “ bottom line is there ’ s much more aerosol [ transmission ] than we thought.
” An uproar followed because of what this would mean for containing viruses .
Hospitals have spent months implementing costly containment protocols for large droplets ( in line with CDC advice ) .
Now they ’ re worried that they may have to severely tighten those protocols .
Look at the Numbers But would such a change be needed ?
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , SARS-CoV-2 , is far more deadly than more common respiratory viruses .
If so , then we should have noticed the effect of this mistaken belief about aerosol transmission .
That is , we should have seen far more sickness and death among those on the front lines throughout the pandemic .
Claiming just that , The Guardian has partnered with Kaiser Health News to document all COVID-related deaths among US healthcare workers .
As of October 1 , they have added 1,252 names to their Lost on the Frontline database @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of life .
But to know if it calls for an urgent change of policy , we must compare it to the whole US population .
From the data catalogued by The Guardian and Kaiser Health on 212 of the deceased ( as of October 1 ) , 8 were under 30 years of age , 14 were in their thirties , and 95 were 60 or older .
The remaining 95 were in their forties or fifties .
Let ’ s assume the 212 are a fair sample of the whole group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID deaths among US healthcare workers under age 30 .
Among those in their thirties , the number would be around 83 , and for those 60 or over it would be about 560 ( matched by that many again in their forties and fifties ) .
As weighty as that toll is , it ’ s less scary when we account for the total number of U.S. healthcare workers in each of those age brackets .
According to 2019 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , over twenty million Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first responders and social workers , as the Lost on the Frontline database does ) .
About 4.2 million of these are under 30 years old , with around 4.7 million in their thirties , 8.2 million in their forties or fifties , and 3.1 million aged 60 or over .
So , it turns out that the catalogued front-line deaths aren ’ t out of line with the general population .
Around 66 million Americans are in the 16–30 years age group .
According to the CDC , that group has lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes the COVID death rate about 0.0017 % .
For healthcare workers in that age group , the 47 deaths among 4.2 million workers gives a death rate of 0.0011 % .
That ’ s below the national average .
Of the 44 million Americans in their thirties , around 2,700 were lost to COVID-19 , a death rate of about 0.006 % .
The 83 reported deaths among healthcare workers in their thirties , when divided by the 4.7 million workers in that age group , amounts to about 0.002 % —again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The picture is similar for all age groups .
Of 83 million Americans in their forties or fifties , just under 25 thousand have died with COVID-19 , making the death rate in that group about 0.03 % .
For healthcare workers in that group , the 560 deaths amount to 0.007 % , when divided by 8.2 million workers .
The roughly 33 thousand deaths attributed to COVID-19 among Americans in their sixties is about 0.09 % of the 36 million in that group .
For healthcare workers , the recorded deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ below that , at 0.02 % .
We should not conclude that healthcare workers are less at risk than the rest of us .
Still , there ’ s no evidence that healthcare workers are at far greater risk of death with COVID-19 , relative to the general population .
Dr. Fauci is almost certainly right that aerosols are a major source of transmission of the new coronavirus .
But like many public-health officials , he ’ s oversold the dangers .
Douglas Axe , William Briggs , and Jay W. Richards , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Panic : How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe .

Fear of the unknown is a fact of human nature. That’s why we all admired healthcare workers in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. They had to face the fear of unknown risks.
A new fear has now emerged over the role of aerosols (airborne microscopic droplets) in transmitting the coronavirus. Kaiser Health News reported last week that a “battle rages inside hospitals over how COVID strikes and kills.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci added to the worry by acknowledging that officials had erred in downplaying the role of aerosols. “We [at the CDC] really have gotten it wrong over many, many years,” he conceded. The “bottom line is there’s much more aerosol [transmission] than we thought.” An uproar followed because of what this would mean for containing viruses. Hospitals have spent months implementing costly containment protocols for large droplets (in line with CDC advice). Now they’re worried that they may have to severely tighten those protocols.
Look at the Numbers
But would such a change be needed? Many health officials had assumed that the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is far more deadly than more common respiratory viruses. If so, then we should have noticed the effect of this mistaken belief about aerosol transmission. That is, we should have seen far more sickness and death among those on the front lines throughout the pandemic.
Claiming just that, The Guardian has partnered with Kaiser Health News to document all COVID-related deaths among US healthcare workers. As of October 1, they have added 1,252 names to their Lost on the Frontline database. That’s a huge loss of life. But to know if it calls for an urgent change of policy, we must compare it to the whole US population.
From the data catalogued by The Guardian and Kaiser Health on 212 of the deceased (as of October 1), 8 were under 30 years of age, 14 were in their thirties, and 95 were 60 or older. The remaining 95 were in their forties or fifties.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Let’s assume the 212 are a fair sample of the whole group of 1,252. This implies around 47 COVID deaths among US healthcare workers under age 30. Among those in their thirties, the number would be around 83, and for those 60 or over it would be about 560 (matched by that many again in their forties and fifties).
As weighty as that toll is, it’s less scary when we account for the total number of U.S. healthcare workers in each of those age brackets. According to 2019 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over twenty million Americans are employed in health care (including first responders and social workers, as the Lost on the Frontline database does). About 4.2 million of these are under 30 years old, with around 4.7 million in their thirties, 8.2 million in their forties or fifties, and 3.1 million aged 60 or over.
No Greater Risk
So, it turns out that the catalogued front-line deaths aren’t out of line with the general population. Around 66 million Americans are in the 16–30 years age group. According to the CDC, that group has lost about 1,120 people from COVID-19. That makes the COVID death rate about 0.0017%. For healthcare workers in that age group, the 47 deaths among 4.2 million workers gives a death rate of 0.0011%. That’s below the national average.
Of the 44 million Americans in their thirties, around 2,700 were lost to COVID-19, a death rate of about 0.006%. The 83 reported deaths among healthcare workers in their thirties, when divided by the 4.7 million workers in that age group, amounts to about 0.002%—again, well below the national average.
Dr. Fauci is almost certainly right that aerosols transmit the new coronavirus. But like many public-health officials, he’s oversold the dangers to health care workers and the general public.
The picture is similar for all age groups. Of 83 million Americans in their forties or fifties, just under 25 thousand have died with COVID-19, making the death rate in that group about 0.03%. For healthcare workers in that group, the 560 deaths amount to 0.007%, when divided by 8.2 million workers. The roughly 33 thousand deaths attributed to COVID-19 among Americans in their sixties is about 0.09% of the 36 million in that group. For healthcare workers, the recorded deaths in that age group come in well below that, at 0.02%.
We should not conclude that healthcare workers are less at risk than the rest of us. Still, there’s no evidence that healthcare workers are at far greater risk of death with COVID-19, relative to the general population.
Dr. Fauci is almost certainly right that aerosols are a major source of transmission of the new coronavirus. But like many public-health officials, he’s oversold the dangers.
Douglas Axe, William Briggs, and Jay W. Richards, and are the authors of The Price of Panic: How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe.


thestream--2020-10-09--Christian Voting Myth #1: ‘One Vote Doesn’t Make a Difference’

This is part 1 of a 4-part series debunking four common myths Christians use to not vote .
In an age where we ’ re constantly told to follow “ the science , ” everyone wants their decisions to be data driven .
We study and research to ensure that what we are doing does not simply feel helpful , but actually is helpful .
You Don ’ t Have To Be a Math Major … At the same time , we ’ re all told we should vote because every vote makes a difference .
We ’ re often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell us that our decisions should be data driven .
Sometimes the idea that every vote makes a difference isn ’ t actually supported by the data .
For example , in the 2016 election , 139 million people voted in the presidential election .
That ’ s a lot of people .
Those of us who followed the law only voted once .
You don ’ t need to be a math major to realize that one vote out of 139 million isn ’ t going very far to determine who the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honest , if you or I had decided not to vote , we would still have the same president .
But our vote still matters .
Here ’ s why .
Elections Are About Much More Than a Presidency While presidential elections are usually the first thing we think about when we think about elections , elections are about much more than a presidency .
State and local elections not only have a big impact on your life , they are often decided by a small number of votes .
In 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a tie after more than 23,000 ballots were cast .
The winner was decided by pulling a name out of a bowl , which also decided the majority in the Virginia House of Delegates .
In 2016 , a New Mexico State House seat was decided by two votes out of 14,000 ballots cast .
School board elections , which happen in every town in America and determine what kids will be taught at school , don ’ t have hundreds of millions of votes — in many cases they have hundreds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are critical decisions that make a big difference in our lives that are decided not by millions of people , they ’ re decided by dozens of people .
Each one of those votes matters a lot .
But that ’ s not all .
In elections , as in all of life , many small decisions make a big difference .
When one person decides not to vote , it ’ s easy to make the argument that it doesn ’ t really matter .
But what happens if millions of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
In 2016 , there were 235 million eligible voters in the United States , but only 139 million of them actually voted .
That means that almost 100 million people who could have voted chose not to .
Many of them probably thought their vote wouldn ’ t make a difference .
But it did .
For Christians , however , voting isn ’ t just a practical decision .
It ’ s also about doing the right thing .
Romans 13 tells us that government was created by God in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If any of us had been born into royalty and grown to be king or queen , our duty to God would require us to use the power God gave us to punish evil and reward good .
Most of us weren ’ t born into a royal family and won ’ t be monarchs , but that doesn ’ t mean we don ’ t have political authority .
Those of us privileged enough to vote have authority , and it , like everything , came from God .
That means we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a way that recognizes where that authority came from and what it is for .
Indifference is never good stewardship .
It ’ s true that we can ’ t always control what happens , but we can always control what we do with what we have , and that ’ s what we ’ ll ultimately be responsible for .
Joseph Backholm is Senior Fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement at Family Research Council .
He combines extensive legal , political , and policy experience with a love for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @

This is part 1 of a 4-part series debunking four common myths Christians use to not vote.
In an age where we’re constantly told to follow “the science,” everyone wants their decisions to be data driven. We study and research to ensure that what we are doing does not simply feel helpful, but actually is helpful.
You Don’t Need To Be a Math Major …
At the same time, we’re all told we should vote because every vote makes a difference. We’re often told this by the same people who tell us that our decisions should be data driven. Sometimes the idea that every vote makes a difference isn’t actually supported by the data. For example, in the 2016 election, 139 million people voted in the presidential election. That’s a lot of people.
Indifference is never good stewardship.
Those of us who followed the law only voted once. You don’t need to be a math major to realize that one vote out of 139 million isn’t going very far to determine who the president is. Let’s be honest, if you or I had decided not to vote, we would still have the same president. But our vote still matters. Here’s why.
Elections Are About Much More Than a Presidency
While presidential elections are usually the first thing we think about when we think about elections, elections are about much more than a presidency. State and local elections not only have a big impact on your life, they are often decided by a small number of votes. In 2017, a Virginia House of Delegates race ended in a tie after more than 23,000 ballots were cast. The winner was decided by pulling a name out of a bowl, which also decided the majority in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In 2016, a New Mexico State House seat was decided by two votes out of 14,000 ballots cast. School board elections, which happen in every town in America and determine what kids will be taught at school, don’t have hundreds of millions of votes — in many cases they have hundreds of votes cast. Total. These are critical decisions that make a big difference in our lives that are decided not by millions of people, they’re decided by dozens of people. Each one of those votes matters a lot.
Small Decisions Make a Big Difference
But that’s not all. In elections, as in all of life, many small decisions make a big difference. When one person decides not to vote, it’s easy to make the argument that it doesn’t really matter. But what happens if millions of people decide that voting doesn’t matter?
In 2016, there were 235 million eligible voters in the United States, but only 139 million of them actually voted. That means that almost 100 million people who could have voted chose not to. Many of them probably thought their vote wouldn’t make a difference. But it did.
Stewardship Responsibility
For Christians, however, voting isn’t just a practical decision. It’s also about doing the right thing.
Romans 13 tells us that government was created by God in order to punish evil and reward good. If any of us had been born into royalty and grown to be king or queen, our duty to God would require us to use the power God gave us to punish evil and reward good. Most of us weren’t born into a royal family and won’t be monarchs, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have political authority. Those of us privileged enough to vote have authority, and it, like everything, came from God. That means we have stewardship responsibility to use our authority in a way that recognizes where that authority came from and what it is for. Indifference is never good stewardship.
It’s true that we can’t always control what happens, but we can always control what we do with what we have, and that’s what we’ll ultimately be responsible for.
Joseph Backholm is Senior Fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement at Family Research Council. He combines extensive legal, political, and policy experience with a love for the way biblical truth cultivates human flourishing.
Originally published at FRCBlog.