Reminder: Democrats Are Rooting Against You
Democrats Are So Desperate To Unseat President Trump That The Thought Of Millions Of Americans Going Back To Work Has Sent Them Into A Panic
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While President Trump is working to revive the nation’s economy, Democrats are fretting that an explosive recovery could ” boost his chance at reelection. ”
A former Obama White House official who is still close to the former president said the level of concern among top party officials is “high, high, high, high.”
Politico : The realization that President Trump is poised to benefit from the dramatic recovery “has many Democrats spooked.”
Unfortunately for Democrats, President Trump’s economy has proved resilient, adding 4.8 million jobs in June; a number ” far better ” than economists predicted.
The Wall Street Journal : “Signs of the U.S. economy’s revival have bolstered optimism among some investors that the damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic could be quickly erased.”
Presumptive Democrat nominee Joe Biden responded to 4.8 million Americans returning to work by saying ” there is no victory to be celebrated ,” downplaying the impact of the economic rebound.
Democrats made it clear that they prioritize politics over bringing relief to Americans crushed by the economic fallout from the coronavirus, even blocking critical aid for small businesses to “use the leverage” to push their priorities.
Democrat leadership explained that blocking additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, widely credited with the economic turnaround , was an ” opportunity ” to push for unrelated priorities.
DEMOCRATS ARE SO OBSESSED WITH DEFEATING PRESIDENT TRUMP THEY ARE UNWILLING TO PASS REFORMS THEY CLAIM TO SUPPORT IN ORDER TO DENY HIM A POLITICAL WIN
Democrats blocked a police reform bill authored by Republican Senator Tim Scott, ” stalling efforts to change law enforcement practices .”
The Senate GOP Plan incorporated a number of Democratic proposals , including legislation to make lynching a federal hate crime and a comprehensive review of the U.S. criminal justice system.
The bill also withholds federal grants to state and local law enforcement agencies that do not proactively bar the practice of chokeholds and report the use of “no knock warrants.”
Republicans repeatedly noted that Democrats could amend the bill on the Senate floor , and GOP Senators privately offered amendment votes meant to address several criticisms brought forward by Democrats.
Scott even promised Democrats that if they did not get votes on amendments they sought, that he would help them filibuster his own bill.
The gridlock reflects the realities of ” election-year politics ” even as a support for police reform measures has soared in the weeks following the death of George Floyd.
Democrats have been accused of blocking the bill to “avoid giving the president a police reform bill he can sign or a victory he can tout.”
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AMERICA’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY IS A RELIEF TO EVERYONE EXCEPT DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON
Despite Doomsday Predictions, The U.S. Economy Is Well On Its Way To Recovery, Adding 4.8 Million Jobs In June
When States Began Shutting Down Businesses In March To Slow The Spread Of The Virus, Economists Predicted The Biggest Economic Recession Since The Great Depression . “When states began shutting down businesses in March to slow the spread of the virus, economists predicted the biggest economic recession since the Great Depression.” ( The Washington Examiner , 5/26/20)
The U.S. Added 4.8 Million Jobs In June. ( Bureau Of Labor Statistics , Accessed 7/2/20)
The U.S. Added 4.8 Million Jobs In June, The Number Was “Far Better Than Economists Predicted.” “The US unemployment rate fell to 11.1% as the economy added a record 4.8 million jobs in June, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Thursday. The data was far better than economists predicted, and the unemployment rate also fell more than expected.” ( CNN , 7/2/20)
The Wall Street Journal : “Signs Of The U.S. Economy’s Revival Have Bolstered Optimism Among Some Investors That The Damage Caused By The Coronavirus Pandemic Could Be Quickly Erased.” (The Wall Street Journal , 7/2/20)
Presumptive Democrat Nominee Joe Biden Responded To 4.8 Million Americans By Saying “There Is No Victory To Be Celebrated,” Playing Down The Impact Of The Economic Rebound. “Driving the news: The Labor Department reported Thursday morning that the economy added 4.8 million jobs last month and that the unemployment rate dropped to 11.1% – down from 13.3%. ‘There’s no victory to be celebrated,’ Biden said in a video message from his home in Delaware. ‘We are still down nearly 15 million jobs and the pandemic is getting worse, not better.'” ( Axios , 7/2/20)
More Concerned With Joe Biden’s Election Chances Than The Lives Of Everyday Americans, The Economic Comeback Has Democrats Panicking
While President Trump Is Working To Revive The Nation’s Economy, Democrats Are Fretting That An Explosive Recovery Could “Boost His Chance At Reelection.” “As President Trump and the rest of the country grapple with an economic downturn and sky-high unemployment rates amid the coronavirus crisis, some Democrats reportedly worry that an explosive economic recovery in the fall could revive Trump’s lagging political fortunes — and boost his chance at reelection.” ( Fox News , 5/26/20)
Jason Furman, A Top Economist In The Obama Administration, Has Been Raising The Alarm Among Top Democrats That An Explosive Economic Recovery Could Help President Trump’s Chanced In November. “Furman laid out a detailed case for why the months preceding the November election could offer Trump the chance to brag – truthfully – about the most explosive monthly employment numbers and gross domestic product growth ever. Since the Zoom call, Furman has been making the same case to anyone who will listen, especially the close-knit network of Democratic wonks who have traversed the Clinton and Obama administrations together, including top members of the Biden campaign.” ( Politico , 5/26/20)
- Furman’s Warnings “Has Caused Some Democrats, Especially Obama Alumni, Around Washington To Panic.” “Furman’s counterintuitive pitch has caused some Democrats, especially Obama alumni, around Washington to panic.” ( Politico , 5/26/20)
The Washington Examiner Headline: “‘This Is My Big Worry’: Obama Officials And Other Democrats Fear Strong, Post-Coronavirus Economic Recovery.” ( The Washington Examiner , 5/26/20)
· A Former Obama White House Official Who Is Still Close To The Former President Said The Level Of Concern Among Top Party Officials Is “High, High, High, High.” “‘This is my big worry,’ said a former Obama White House official who is still close to the former president. Asked about the level of concern among top party officials, he said, ‘It’s high – high, high, high, high.'” ( Politico , 5/26/20)
The Realization That President Trump Is Poised To Benefit From The Dramatic Recovery “Has Many Democrats Spooked.” “Trump could be poised to benefit from the dramatic numbers produced during the partial rebound phase that is likely to coincide with the four months before November. That realization has many Democrats spooked.” ( Politico , 5/26/20)
Former Obama White House Official: “Even Today … Trump Gets High Marks On The Economy, So I Can’t Imagine What It Looks Like When Things Go In The Other Direction. I Don’t Think This Is A Challenge For The Biden Campaign. This Is The Challenge For The Biden Campaign.” “The former Obama White House official said, ‘Even today when we are at over 20 million unemployed Trump gets high marks on the economy, so I can’t imagine what it looks like when things go in the other direction. I don’t think this is a challenge for the Biden campaign. This is the challenge for the Biden campaign. If they can’t figure this out they should all just go home.'” ( Politico , 5/26/20)
Democrats Are “Bracing For The Political Impact” Of A Boom In The Economy. “Democrats are bracing for the political impact of lifted lockdown restrictions across the country and other measures that could lead to a boom in the economy following the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report.” ( The Washington Examiner , 5/26/20)
Advisors To Democrat Nominee Are “Concerned That A Bounce Back In The U.S. Economy Could Take Away A Weapon They Planned To Use Against President Trump.” “Trusted advisers to presumptive Democratic nominee for president Joe Biden and former Obama officials are concerned that a bounce back in the U.S. economy could take away a weapon they planned to use against President Trump.” ( The Washington Examiner , 5/26/20)
Democrats Made It Clear That They Prioritize Politics Over Bringing Relief To Americans Crushed By The Economic Fallout From The Coronavirus, Even Blocking Critical Aid For Small Businesses To “Use The Leverage” To Push Their Priorities
As Small Businesses Are “Crushed” By The Economic Fallout From The Coronavirus Pandemic, Democrats Blocked A Request From Majority Leader Mitch McConnell To Unanimously Approve An Additional $250 Billion For The Paycheck Protection Program . “As small businesses across the country are crushed by the economic fallout from the spreading coronavirus pandemic, and as unemployment claims skyrocket to a historic 16 million in just the last three weeks, the Senate on Thursday failed to approve an emergency funding infusion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal plan designed to extend loans to keep those ailing businesses afloat and workers getting paid. Democrats blocked a request from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to unanimously approve a $250 billion PPP replenishment to the original $350 billion fund, demanding more aid for hospitals and other needs be included.” ( ABC News , 4/9/20)
Vox Reported Democrats See An Opportunity To “Use The Leverage They Have” In Congress To Push Their Own Priorities In Addressing Small Business Funding. “At first glance, it’s a surprising move, since Democrats support providing more funding to small businesses and workers experiencing severe economic trouble caused by the fallout of the coronavirus outbreak. But the answer is simple: Democrats want to use the leverage they have in Congress so that Republicans don’t just approve more money for small businesses while leaving out other programs that also desperately need more funding.” ( Vox , 4/9/20)
Democrat Leadership Explained That Blocking Funding For Small Businesses Was An “Opportunity” To Push For Their Stimulus Priorities . “This approach was evident Thursday when Senate Democrats blocked Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s attempt to pass a standalone small-business funding bill via unanimous consent. Democratic leaders explained that the move was an opportunity to push for more expansive stimulus than Republicans have otherwise considered, a tactic they also used with the CARES Act.” ( Vox , 4/9/20)
Economists Are “Relatively Unified” In Crediting The Paycheck Protection Program And Reopening Across An Increasing Number Of States For The Economic Turnaround. “The PPP has doled out more than $510 billion in government-backed loans to support small businesses and keep workers on payrolls. And economists appeared relatively unified in crediting the program for some of the positive aspects of Friday’s report. ‘The largest gains were in sectors that appear to be beneficiaries of both reopening across an increasing number of states, but also potentially some positive effect from PPP loans bringing small business workers back into employment,’ Morgan Stanley economists wrote in a research note Friday.” ( Politico , 6/5/20)
DEMOCRATS ARE SO OBSESSED WITH DEFEATING PRESIDENT TRUMP THEY ARE UNWILLING TO PASS REFORMS THEY CLAIM TO SUPPORT IN ORDER TO DENY HIM A POLITICAL WIN
Democrats Blocked A Police Reform Bill Authored By Republican Senator Tim Scott “Stalling Efforts To Change Law Enforcement Practices”
The Washington Post Headline: “Senate Democrats Block GOP Policing Bill, Stalling Efforts To Change Law Enforcement Practices.” ( The Washington Post , 6/25/20)
CNN Headline: “Senate Democrats Block GOP Police Reform Bill, Throwing Overhaul Effort Into Flux.” ( CNN , 6/24/20)
NPR Headline: “Senate Democrats Block GOP Police Reform Bill.” ( NPR , 6/24/20)
Senate Democrats Blocked Bill Aimed At Overhauling The Nation’s Policing Practices Spelling A Potential Death Knell To Efforts At Revisions At The Federal Level In An Election Year. “Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked a Republican-drafted bill aimed at overhauling the nation’s policing practices amid a national outcry for a systematic transformation of law enforcement – spelling a potential death knell to efforts at revisions at the federal level in an election year.” ( The Washington Post , 6/24/20)
The Failed Senate Vote Came After An Impassioned Speech By Tim Scott (R-SC), One Of Three Black Senators, Who Said His Bill Was An Opportunity To Say “Not Only Do We Hear You, Not Only Do We See You, We Are Responding To Your Pain.” “The failed Senate vote came after an impassioned speech by Scott, the lone black Republican in the Senate, who said his bill was an opportunity to say, ‘Not only do we hear you, not only do we see you, we are responding to your pain.'” ( The Washington Post , 6/24/20)
Sen. Angus King (I-ME), One Of Three Members Of The Democratic Caucus To Join Republicans In Voting To Advance The Bill, Bemoaned The Outcome Saying, “My Concern Was That Voting Against It Will End The Discussion Of This Subject In The Senate For The Foreseeable Future.” “Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), one of three members of the Democratic caucus to join Republicans in voting to advance the bill, bemoaned the outcome. ‘My concern was that voting against it will end the discussion of this subject in the Senate for the foreseeable future, and leave us with nothing to show for all the energy and passion that has brought this issue to the forefront of public consciousness,’ King said in a statement.” ( The Washington Post , 6/24/20)
Democrats Have Made It Clear They Have No Desire To Work With Republicans On Police Reform
The Senate GOP Plan Incorporated A Number Of Democratic Proposals, Such As Legislation To Make Lynching A Federal Hate Crime And A National Policing Commission To Undertake A Comprehensive Review Of The U.S. Criminal Justice System. “The Senate GOP plan incorporates a number of Democratic proposals, such as legislation to make lynching a federal hate crime and a national policing commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the U.S. criminal justice system.” ( The Washington Post , 6/24/20)
· The Bill Also Withholds Federal Grants To State And Local Law Enforcement Agencies That Do Not Proactively Bar The Practice Of Chokeholds And Report The Use Of “No Knock Warrants.” “It also withholds federal grants to state and local law enforcement agencies that do not proactively bar the practice of chokeholds. It also calls on states and localities to report to the Justice Department when no-knock warrants are used, and it would punish those that do not do so, by withholding federal funding.” ( The Washington Post , 6/24/20)
Chairman Of The Judiciary Committee, Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) Met With A Bipartisan Group Of Senators Ahead Of The Vote To Reconcile Issues Democratic Senators Have With The Bill. “Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and chairman of the Judiciary Committee, met with a bipartisan group of senators — Scott, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Dick Durbin and Marco Rubio — on Tuesday to try and talk about the differences between the two bills. Asked by CNN if that meeting had signaled that there is still room to negotiate, Graham said, ‘all I can say is, I don’t see a way forward.'” ( CNN , 6/24/20)
Republicans Repeatedly Noted That Democrats Could Try To Amend The Bill On The Senate Floor, And GOP Senators Privately Offered Amendment Votes Meant To Address Several Criticisms Brought Forward By Democrats. “Republicans repeatedly noted that Democrats could try to amend the bill on the Senate floor, and GOP senators privately offered amendment votes meant to address several criticisms of the bill that Schumer and Sens. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) laid out in a letter to McConnell on Tuesday. The Democrats turned down that offer, according to two GOP officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss procedural deliberations, and rejected a subsequent offer of more amendment votes.” ( The Washington Post , 6/24/20)
· Scott, The Bills Sponsor, Even Promised Democrats That If They Did Not Get Votes On Amendments They Sought, That He Would Help Them Filibuster His Own Bill. “Scott privately told Democrats that if they did not get votes on amendments they sought, that he would help them filibuster his own bill before it proceeded to a final vote, according to one of the officials. One Senate Democratic aide, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, dismissed the moves from Republicans, saying no serious offer or efforts at bipartisan talks had been made by GOP senators.” ( The Washington Post , 6/24/20)
The Gridlock Reflects The Realities Of Election Year Politics Even As A Support For Police Reform Measures Has Soared In The Weeks Following The Death Of George Floyd
The Gridlock On Capitol Hill Stands In Contrast With The Growing Public Support For Police Reform Measures In The Four Weeks Since The Death Of George Floyd, An Unarmed Black Man Killed In Police Custody. “The gridlock on Capitol Hill stands in contrast with the growing public support for police reform measures in the four weeks since the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed in police custody, galvanized the nation and prompted demands for racial justice. A national Associated Press-NORC survey conducted this month found a sweeping desire nationwide for police reform efforts, with clear majorities across racial and party lines supporting changes such as requiring officers to wear body cameras and prosecuting those who use excessive force.” ( The Washington Post , 6/24/20)
Lawmakers Reacted With Universal Horror To The Killing Of George Floyd In Police Custody In Late May But “Election-Year Politics, Combined With Pressure From Activists Outraged By The Police Killings, Sent Lawmakers Back Into Familiar, Partisan Corners.” “Lawmakers reacted with universal horror to the killing of George Floyd in police custody in late May and agreed that an overhaul of police laws was needed. But disagreements over the role of the federal government and how much legal protection police officers should retain quickly undermined that early consensus. Election-year politics, combined with pressure from activists outraged by the police killings, sent lawmakers back into familiar, partisan corners.” ( The Wall Street Journal , 6/24/20)
Democrats Were “Under Heavy Pressure” From Activists To Block The GOP Bill . “Democrats have been under heavy pressure from civil-rights activists to block the GOP bill from advancing, another hurdle to the kind of bipartisan compromises typically needed to pass legislation. In a letter signed by 138 organizations and attorneys this week, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights asked senators to oppose the procedural debate on the bill, as did the Congressional Black Caucus.” ( The Wall Street Journal , 6/24/20)
The Debate On Police Reform Ahead Of The Vote Devolved Into Partisan Barbs, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Accusing Republicans Of “Trying To Get Away With Murder” With Their Bill. “Instead, congressional leaders spent the lead-up to Wednesday’s vote trading barbs, underscoring the political tensions complicating any chance of a deal on police reform. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), during an interview with CBS News Radio, accused Republicans of ‘trying to get away with murder’ with their bill. Schumer added on Wednesday that Republicans were ‘so afraid of Donald Trump … that they can’t even bring themselves to bring a bill on the floor that has a modicum of respect for the civil rights community.'” ( The Hill , 6/24/20)
Democrats Have Been Accused Blocking The Bill To “Avoid Giving The President A Police Reform Bill He Can Sign Or A Victory He Can Tout.” “Republicans claim Democrats, in a position to potentially take control of the Senate and the White House in the November elections, want to avoid giving the president a police reform bill he can sign or a victory he can tout.” ( The New York Times , 6/30/20)