Tag: 2020 election

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News Round-Up: August 31, 2020

Cher (photo: Machado Cicala via Karpel Group)
Some news items you might have missed: • Washington Blade: The one and only Cher (above) headlined an LGBTQ fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden Monday evening which raised over $2 million in half an hour. Paraphrasing her hit song “Believe,” the icon asked the viewing audience, “So ask yourself, do you believe in life after Trump?” • Insider: A straight-identifying man in his 20s says he’s only ever slept with women, but lately sex has been slowed up, so he’s been chatting with dudes on Grindr and he’s not sure why, so he’s seeking advice. “I’ve been going on Grindr and talking to other men with no intention of ever meeting them. I just like flirting with the people on there.” • Dad of the Day: Channing Tatum shared the pic below surrounded by unicorns with the news that he’s penned his first children’s book, “The One and Only Sparkella,” dedicated to his 6-year-old daughter, Everly. “Guys, I don’t know about you but things got a little weird for me in quarantine. I ended up accidentally locking myself in my 7-year-old daughter’s room. And I ended up finding my inner child. So this is what I created for my little girl. From what is, I guess, the little girl in me. Thanks for reading.”

• Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A federal judge on Monday extended the deadline for absentee ballots to be returned in Georgia, ruling that they must be counted if postmarked by Election Day and delivered up to three days afterward. The ruling invalidates Georgia’s requirement that ballots had to be received at county election offices by 7 p.m. on Election Day. • The Gaily Grind: Actress/comedian Niecy Nash dumped her husband in December, and announced her marriage to musician Jessica Betts on Instagram on Monday, coming out in the process. • Instagram: Director/producer Ryan Murphy, who is heading up Netflix’s upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical The Prom, shared a cast photo teasing in the caption, “Christmas is right around the corner…” The pic is our first look at several of the stars in costume: Meryl Streep as Dee Dee Allen, Nicole Kidman as Angie Dickinson, James Corden as Barry Glickman, Andrew Rannells as Trent Oliver, Ariana DeBose as Alyssa Greene, Keegan-Michael Key as Mr. Hawkins, Kerry Washington as Mrs. Greene, Kevin Chamberlin as Sheldon Saperstein, and newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman as Emma Nolan.

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Wisconsin: Poll Shows Support For BLM Dropping Amid New Protests

A new poll shows how Donald Trump could win the November election amid the recent violence that has happened in the aftermath of Jacob Blake being shot by Kenosha police officers. Democrats close to the Biden campaign are concerned the looting and violence in cities could help President Trump, especially among the few undecided or wavering Americans. From Axios:

In a Marquette Law School poll of registered voters in battleground Wisconsin, support for Black Lives Matters protests dropped 13 points from June to August, just ahead of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha.

“There was an initial surge in support for and sympathy with BLM in June,” Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll, told me.

“The shift to a more negative view in August is strongest among Republicans, but independents and Democrats also became less approving. The decline was across all regions except for the city of Milwaukee.”

[snip]

David Axelrod’s warning to fellow Dems about Trump’s effort to shift attention from COVID and unemployment to ‘law and order:’ 

“The timing of unrest in Kenosha has been a gift to him in that project.”

From the summary of the new poll on the issue of the Black Lives Matter movement:

In June 59 percent were favorable and 27 percent were unfavorable.

In August favorable views declined though a plurality held favorable views, 49 percent favorable to 37 percent unfavorable.

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Biden Campaign To Run 2-Minute Spot During Trump Speech

Former Vice President Joe Biden (via campaign)
Joe Biden’s campaign team will counter tonight’s renomination speech by Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention by airing a two-minute, upbeat, positive ad set to run on cable and network TV at the same time as the Trumpster’s address. This is well done. It contrasts Biden from Trump as someone who “runs when other people walk” and “race up steps when others take it slow.”

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Former DHS Official Warns Of 2nd Term For Trump

Former Department of Homeland Security chief of staff Miles Taylor
In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, longtime Republican and former Trump official Miles Taylor warned about Donald Trump if he achieves a second term, “You will see the president align with dictators around the world.” Republican Voters Against Trump has released a new Miles Taylor ad in which the former DHS chief of staff revealed he will vote for Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

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New Spot Highlights Joe Biden’s Commitment To Sons ‘Joe Was There’

A young Joe Biden with his sons (screen capture)
The anti-Donald Trump group Lincoln Project hit pause on its attacks on the Trumpster for a moment to directly support former Vice President Joe Biden’s bid for the White House. The new campaign spot, titled ‘Dad,’ shares the story of how 32-year-old Biden raised his two sons, Beau and Hunter, on his own after tragically losing his first wife and one-year-old daughter to a car accident in 1972. “When the boys cried for their mother and sister, it was Joe who comforted them,” says the narration. “Parent-teacher conferences? Joe was there. When help was needed and report cards were read, Joe Biden was there. Because when Joe Biden makes a commitment, he always sees it through.” “Americans will choose between two types of men this November. Joe Biden is a man of character, compassion, and decency. It’s a choice to vote for a man with that kind of character – or a man without one.”

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Campaign Ad: Biden Calls For More Decisive Action Against COVID-19

In a new campaign ad, former Vice President Joe Biden calls out Donald Trump’s failure to lead in the COVID-19 pandemic and says he would ask governors across the nation to support mandates to wear face masks. “We’re seeing it again: the virus spreading out of control,” begins the narration of the 30-second spot. “The president once again failing to act.” The ad announces that Biden is prepared to “take action now,” which would include “expanding testing, calling for mask mandates nationwide, starting immediately, and producing more protective gear here at home.” “Fighting this virus and rebuilding our economy will take a president who’s ready to lead.” Y’all – just wear the damn mask. It costs you nothing.

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#ThrowBackThursday: The Real Numbers From Obama/Biden Administration

L-R Former President Barack Obama, Donald Trump
I saw some folks trashing the results of the Obama administration years, so just a reminder here. For instance, unemployment dropped from nearly 10 percent o 4.7 percent. The current unemployment rate under Donald Trump is 10.2 percent. The Dow Jones had increased by 63.6 percent at the 43-month point in Obama’s administration, while the Dow has increased much less at 40.8 percent. Overall, by the time Obama left office, the Dow had jump 143.8 percent. We’ll have to see how that shakes out for Trump. Oh, and Obama was never impeached. There’s always that… More at FactCheck.org.

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Biden/Harris Campaign Pulls In $26 Million In One Day

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (via Instagram)
The Biden/Harris campaign scored $26 million in one day following the announcement of Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) joining the ticket as running mate. From Politico:

Joe Biden’s campaign raised $26 million in the 24 hours after he selected Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate — an eye-popping total that shows the campaign’s growing fundraising strength as the election draws nearer.

Biden announced the fundraising total during the ticket’s first virtual grassroots fundraiser on Wednesday evening, immediately following Biden and Harris’ first joint campaign event in Wilmington, Del.

The massive cash haul, which included 150,000 first-time donors, is a signal of Harris’ ability to generate enthusiasm for the campaign and the history-making moment of her selection, as the first woman of color named to a major party presidential ticket.

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Streisand/Summer’s ‘Enough Is Enough’ Is The Battle Cry For Getting Out LGBTQ Vote

The SuperPAC MeidasTouch, founded and funded by three brothers who consider themselves lifelong Democrats, has released its newest political ad video, which targets unregistered LGBTQ+ voters. The video announces a new partnership with Vote Proud, a voting initiative for the LGBTQ community. The group was founded by Bruce Roberts, Lisa Halliday, and Jake Resnicow with Sharon Stone, Billy Porter, Sean Hayes, Lisa Rinna, Elton John, and David Furnish among the many co-chairs.

It’s no coincidence the disco hit “Enough is Enough,” recorded by Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer in 1979, plays in the background of the video as Roberts penned the single for the two divas back in the day. In a statement, Roberts shared why he’s donating his song for the effort:

“There’s too much at stake for us not to reach and engage with the large part of the community that did not vote in 2016. I wrote Enough is Enough many years ago. Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer recorded it and had a global #1 record, selling millions. And all these years later it has become an anthem for change and equality in America today. I am proud to be working with MeidasTouch on this initiative to spread the message using my song.”

If you think the LGBTQ vote doesn’t matter, check out these stats comparing Donald Trump’s 2016 margin of victory in swing states versus how many LGBTQ Americans didn’t even bother to register and vote. While all of those unregistered LGBTQ voters wouldn’t have thrown their support to Hillary Clinton, a recent study by the Williams Institute shows half of registered LGBT voters (50%) are Democrats, 22% are Independents, 15% are Republicans,  and 13% said they identify with another party or did not know with which party they most identify. If the Democratic gays along with half of the Independents had shown up for Clinton…

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Barack Obama On Harris For Running Mate: ‘Joe Biden Nailed This Decision’

Former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Joe Biden (public domain)
From former President Barack Obama: Choosing a vice president is the first important decision a president makes. When you’re in the Oval Office, weighing the toughest issues, and the choice you make will affect the lives and livelihoods of the entire country – you need someone with you who’s got the judgment and the character to make the right call. Someone whose focus goes beyond self-interest to consider the lives and prospects of others. Joe Biden nailed this decision. By choosing Senator Kamala Harris as America’s next vice president, he’s underscored his own judgment and character. Reality shows us that these attributes are not optional in a president. They’re requirements of the job. And now Joe has an ideal partner to help him tackle the very real challenges America faces right now and in the years ahead. I’ve known Senator Harris for a long time. She is more than prepared for the job. She’s spent her career defending our Constitution and fighting for folks who need a fair shake. Her own life story is one that I and so many others can see ourselves in: a story that says that no matter where you come from, what you look like, how you worship, or who you love, there’s a place for you here. It’s a fundamentally American perspective, one that’s led us out of the hardest times before. And it’s a perspective we can all rally behind right now. Michelle and I couldn’t be more thrilled for Kamala, Doug, Cole, and Ella. This is a good day for our country. Now let’s go win this thing.

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Choosing a vice president is the first important decision a president makes. When you’re in the Oval Office, weighing the toughest issues, and the choice you make will affect the lives and livelihoods of the entire country – you need someone with you who’s got the judgment and the character to make the right call. Someone whose focus goes beyond self-interest to consider the lives and prospects of others. @JoeBiden nailed this decision. By choosing Senator @KamalaHarris as America’s next vice president, he’s underscored his own judgment and character. Reality shows us that these attributes are not optional in a president. They’re requirements of the job. And now Joe has an ideal partner to help him tackle the very real challenges America faces right now and in the years ahead. I’ve known Senator Harris for a long time. She is more than prepared for the job. She’s spent her career defending our Constitution and fighting for folks who need a fair shake. Her own life story is one that I and so many others can see ourselves in: a story that says that no matter where you come from, what you look like, how you worship, or who you love, there’s a place for you here. It’s a fundamentally American perspective, one that’s led us out of the hardest times before. And it’s a perspective we can all rally behind right now. Michelle and I couldn’t be more thrilled for Kamala, Doug, Cole, and Ella. This is a good day for our country. Now let’s go win this thing.

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