Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Nasty ass Donald Trump

Oh, that nasty ass Convicted Felon Donald Trump.  I was reading the joint-humor-post by Wally, Cedric, Betty, Isaiah, Ann and C.I.  -- "Who wants Tubby in the drive through window?," "Who thought it was safe to let Trump handle food?," "Don't eat at McDonalds - Trump proves they don't do food safety training," "Trump has forever soured me on McDonalds " "THIS JUST IN! TRUMP'S MCDONALD'S HIJINX!" and "Does treason come with that order of fries?" -- and immediately stopped to ask myself why I did not catch it?  I have teenage grandchildren who have worked fast food.  They do not hire you and let you serve or cook food.  They make you watch the training films about food safety.  There are health codes in place and they are in place for public safety.  The McDonalds that let Mr. Trump handle food violated the health codes.  And shame on them.  Who wants some 78-year-old nasty ass man handling their food with no training in food safety?  No one.  He is a nasty ass person.  Matthew Chapman (RAW STORY) reports:


Former President Donald Trump, whose Florida social club bathroom was raided by federal agents hunting for official White House documents he stored there, professed himself outraged Tuesday morning about mishandled classified information.
Trump's rant on Truth Social Tuesday morning did not reference his own federal court case on Espionage Act violation charges, but reports of "deeply concerning" leaked information about Israel’s plans for retaliation against Iran.
"Israel has been seriously damaged and compromised by this," wrote Trump. "Wartime strategy and data."

CNN reported over the weekend that the leak is under investigation but it was not immediately clear if the documents were deliberately leaked or had been hacked.

This did not stop Trump from pointing fingers.


"Probably came from Defense Department," Trump wrote. "MUST FIND THE LEAKER! Israel no longer wants to share documents with U.S., and who can blame them!"

Trump made this bold claim more than a year after he was indicted on federal charges linked to classified national defense documents recovered at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.



Liar, liar, pants on fire.  It is a phrase that was invented for Mr. Trump.  Sareen Habeshian (AXIOS) reports:


Former President Trump claimed Monday that he's not familiar with the North Carolina governor's race, despite having previously endorsed Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) for the job.

The big picture: Trump's campaign and the GOP have been working to distance the former president from scandal-embroiled Robinson, with North Carolina being a must-win state for the party in the 2024 presidential race.


He just lies about everything.  Mr. Trump is captured on video praising Mr. Robinson over and over.  Yet he believes he can lie and we will trust him and not our own eyes.


When not lying, he suffers from senior moments.  John Varga (DAILY EXPRESS) notes that Mr. Trump lost it on Sunday:


However, he appeared to be momentarily confused when he suggested St Louis Cardinals star Stan Musial was in the audience.

He said: "Stan Musial? Oh, I see Dan Meuser. Is Dan here? I thought he said Stan Musial - Stan the Man, remember?"

Musial died more than a decade ago, with Pennsylvania Representative Dan Meuser instead being referenced before taking to the stage.

Trump also complained that his chair was uncomfortable and suddenly stood up halfway through the interview, before describing his age of 78 as "not that close to 80".



But we are supposed to all pretend he is not losing it?  He thinks he is seeing someone who died over a year ago?  He does not need to be running for office. 

 

This is C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot" for today:


Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Trump didn't do food safety training at McDonalds before serving food (health code violation), he won't release his medical records, JD Vance won't talk about dressing in drag at the age of 27, but they're both obsessed with a summer job that Kamala Harris held at the age of 19.




Yesterday in Michigan, Maria Shriver hosted A New Way Forward, a townhall with Kamala Harris and Liz Cheney. 


Kamala Harris:  [D]on't think it's a sick sense of humor and relegate it to simply being that. You know, I have said many times, I do believe Donald Trump to be an unserious man. But the consequences of him ever being in the White House again are brutally serious.  And take it from the people who know him best: His former Chief of Staff when he was president, two former Defense Secretaries, his National Security advisor and, of course, his vice president who have all, in one way or another, used the word that he is unfit to be president again and is dangerous.  Listen to the report of what his former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a general, said about him, that he is fascist to the core.  And these are people who were in his administration who worked closely with him in the  Oval Office and in the situation room. 


Kamala and Liz also campaigned in Pennsylvania yesterday.  We'll note these remarks by Liz Cheney about her decision to endorse Kamala:


And, you know, that — that begins with the fact that I’m a conservative, and I know that the most conservative of all conservative principles is being faithful to the Constitution.  And you have to choose, in this race, between someone who has been faithful to the Constitution, who will be faithful, and Donald Trump, who it’s not just us predicting how he will act.  We watched what he did after the last election.  We watched what he did on January 6th.

And so, coming to this as someone who’s been a lifelong Republican, a lifelong conservative, also as someone who spent — I spent time working overseas before I was elected to Congress, and I’ve — I’ve spent time working in countries where people aren’t free and where people are struggling for their freedom, and I know how — how quickly democracies can unravel. 

And I know that, as Americans, we can become accustomed to thinking, “Well, we don’t have to worry about that here.”  But I tell you, again, as someone who has seen firsthand how quickly it can happen, that that is what’s on the ballot.  That’s absolutely what’s on the ballot.

I also — I come to this decision as a mother.  I have five children.  And there was a moment right after January 6th when my husband and I were having dinner with our two youngest, our two sons, and I looked across the table at my — my young sons, and I thought to myself, “You know, in the aftermath of the attack on the Capitol, are they going to grow up in a country where we don’t have to worry about the peaceful transfer of power?  Are they going to grow up in a country where that is guaranteed?”

And — and I believe that every one of us in this election has a duty and an obligation to do what we know is right for the country, and that’s to support Vice President Harris.  So, I’m very honored to be here and to do that.  


Earlier today on MSNBC's MORNING JOE polling on favorability was noted and 51% saw  Kamala Harris favorably, 41% saw Tim Walz favorably, only 40% saw Donald Trump favorably and coming in dead last was JD Vance with a favorability score of 335.



The scores aren't a surprise at all.  

Convicted Felon Donald Trump refuses to release his medical records and over the weekend claimed a test proved he had no cognitive decline but (as Ruth noted) that test was taken in 2020 -- four years ago.  I bring that up because medical issues are serious issues, cognitive decline is a serious issue.  And Donald refuses to be open with the American people because he's a liar, a crook, a rapist, on and on.  But that little weasel Miss Sassy JD Vance is demanding that Kamala Harris 'release' her work records involving McDonalds.  In 1983, when she was in college, she briefly worked at McDonalds.  

1983.  

41 years ago.   

When she was 19.


And because empty headed Donald has nothing else, he's treating it like Bully Boy Bush's military service records.  

He's accusing Kamala of having gone AWOL from fast food when she was 19!!!

There is no point in outlets indulging this nonsense or trying to fact check it. What happened 41 years ago to a 19 year old has no bearing on today's election.  

Bone spurs.  Does he want us to explore how he avoided service in the military at a time when the US had a draft?

I've never made an issue of that.  I don't believe anyone should have been sent to Vietnam.  But if he wants to make an issue out of Kamala's 'service' record, I'm happy to bring up Vietnam and, rest assured, I can do it in the most damning manner.  I can note in detail the people who did get drafted because they didn't have rich fathers to buy their way out of the draft.  I can note the people who died in Vietnam so that Donald didn't have to serve.  

By the way, on McDonalds, as we pointed out in the humor joint-post last night -- "Who wants Tubby in the drive through window?," "Who thought it was safe to let Trump handle food?," "Don't eat at McDonalds - Trump proves they don't do food safety training," "Trump has forever soured me on McDonalds " "THIS JUST IN! TRUMP'S MCDONALD'S HIJINX!" and "Does treason come with that order of fries?" --, McDonalds failed to do the food safety training with Donald before letting him serve food -- that's a health code violation.

It takes a lot of gall for Miss Sassy to try to make an issue of a three month fast food job a woman had 41 years ago but that's how desperate and pathetic JD Vance is.  

JD Vance -- who is a homophobe and transphobe --  dressed in drag -- hence the name Miss Sassy -- while he was in law school.  He wore a wig and a skirt and cute little blouse that looks he got felt up all night.  He wasn't 19.  He wasn't a teenager.  He was 27 years old.  So maybe JD can explain that?

He actually should explain that considering his homophobic stance.  He was 27 and it was 13 years ago.  So, Miss Sassy, what prompted you to don the blond wig, the skirt and blouse and have the need to work it, girl?

Would JD be allowed to wear that wig and outfit in Tennessee?  Of the latest ruling in July, Kimberlee Krusesi (AP) noted:


Democratic Rep. Aftyn Behn, who represents Nashville, called the court’s ruling a “misguided attack on the LGBTQ+ community.”

“This isn’t about protecting kids; it’s about spreading fear and division,” Behn said in a statement. “It’s ironic that those who claim to support small government are the first to impose it on our personal freedoms.”



There has always been good reason to ask JD Vance about his Miss Sassy drag routine when he was 27.  Now that he seems to think he can make an issue of a 19-year-old's part-time fast food employment, I'd argue his drag fetish is all the more important and needs to be addressed.

Paul Rudnick Tweets.


 

Mira Lazine (LGBTQ NATION) reports:


With the overturning of Roe v. Wade causing a crisis in abortion care across the country, the LGBTQ+ community and its allies are terrified that something similar could happen to marriage equality. Many conservative figures have said their eyes are on Obergefell v. Hodges, and that the landmark ruling legalizing marriage equality nationwide may very well be on the chopping block, especially with Justice Clarence Thomas saying it warrants a second look.

States across the country are now scrambling to get marriage equality measures on the ballot so that, in the event that Obergefell is overturned, they have some additional protections. In the upcoming election, there are 3 ballot measures relating to marriage equality.

On the California ballot is Proposition 3, a measure designed to repeal the famed proposition 8, an anti-gay ballot measure from 2008. Proposition 8 stated that marriage was a union strictly between a man and a woman and was controversial even at the time it was passed.

Proposition 8 was deemed illegal by the Supreme Court in 2013, however it remains in the California Constitution. If Obergefell is overturned, then California’s constitution would prohibit gay marriage.

The text of Proposition 3 as it appears on the ballot is, “A YES vote on this measure means: Language in the California Constitution would be updated to match who currently can marry. There would be no change in who can marry.”

“A NO vote on this measure means: Language in the California Constitution would not be changed. There would be no change in who can marry.”

State Sen. Toni Atkins (D) said of this measure, “Here in California, we believe the ability to marry the person you love, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, is a fundamental right. During a time when our civil rights are under attack by courts and state houses across the nation, we cannot afford to wait to enshrine marriage equality in California’s Constitution – the time to act is now.”

California Rep. Robert Garcia (D) said, “Prop 3 is about protecting the rights of our community and ensuring equality for all in our state. As ballots are being mailed out, I urge every Californian to vote yes on Prop 3 and stand with us in defending love, dignity, and respect for all.”

Mira also explores the ballot measures in Colorado and Hawaii.


Lovers of the Russian government like Donald Trump, Jill Stein and MAGA want to turn the US into a Putin-like country.  John Russell (LGBTQ NATION) reports:


Police in Moscow raided two gay clubs last weekend, detaining over 50 people, in what Novaya Gazeta Europe described as the continued escalation of the Russian government’s crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community.

Photos and video from the raids was posted on pro-Russia Telegram channels MSK1 and SHOT on October 12 showing masked police storming into downtown Moscow club Central Station, forcing shouting at patrons and forcing them to lie on the ground. One clip shows officers searching people, with one cop violently kicking a detainee’s leg.

Novaya Gazeta Europe reports that the club was holding a Friday, October 11, event marking National Coming Out Day. Police stormed the venue at around 1 a.m. on Saturday morning under the pretext of fighting “drug trafficking.” A photo on MSK1 and a video on SHOT show one clubgoer who appears to have been forced to empty their bag, the contents laid out on the floor.

[, , ,]


As the outlet noted, last weekend’s raids are just the latest in Russia’s continued crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community. Since the country’s Supreme Court declared the “international LGBT social movement” an “extremist organization” last November, there have been multiple raids on LGBTQ+ bars and other establishments in cities across Russia, and multiple people have been arrested and charged under the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Following a similar raid on a nightclub in the city of Orenburg in March, the venue’s art director and administrator were both charged with being members of an “extremist organization.” The case was reportedly the first of its kind since the Russian Supreme Court’s ruling.  

According to Novaya Gazeta, this is not the first time Central Station has been targeted. The venue was briefly forced to close in 2014 following violent attacks in the wake of Russia’s 2013 law banning so-called “gay propaganda” in the presence of children. The club’s St. Petersburg location was forced to close late last year.


Trump, MAGA, Stein -- they don't care for democracy, they don't appreciate the freedoms we can have in this country.  They want to destroy everything.  

Let me note this from Ava and my "Media: Are they trying to elect Donald Trump?:"


The war on Civil Rights and education doesn't matter to them, the attempt to destroy LGBTQ+ rights doesn't matter to them, the attack on Latinos doesn't bother them, the attack on women's health does not bother them, the assault on overtime pay doesn't bother them.  No issue, apparently, is important but what happens in Gaza.  

Grasp for a moment what Trump plans to do with Latinos.  He wants to round up immigrants.  That means he has to arrest them in the first place.  How does that usually happen?  It generally involves profiling.  Oh, how we on the left especially miss Michael Ratner's strong voice today. So since our country shares a border with Mexico, Latinos will be targeted with profiling.  Latinos -- American citizens and others -- will be stopped on a regular basis.  It will be "let me see your I.D." over and over.  And some will be deported by mistake under Donald Trump's plan and, yes, he plans to break up families again with deportation.  As former US President Barack Obama explained in a speech in Nevada on Saturday, "He wants you to believe that if you elect him, he will just round up whoever he wants and ship them out and all your problems will be solved."  But that doesn't seem to matter too much to in left media.  For them, it's all about the Palestinians.  Here's a tip for the Gaza Freaks: You haven't seen anything yet.

Put Donald back in the White House and you'll see what happens when a US president actively seeks out a genocide. And have you noticed that while Amy Goodman can't leave her status as a Gaza Freak behind, other Americans have.  Because they're dismayed that our country's at risk and our lives are at risk and the Gaza Freaks are only focused on Gaza.  Good luck, under a Donald Trump presidency, building up a successful movement to save the Palestinians -- especially after you've turned off the bulk of Americans with your refusal to see the needs of those of us in this country as even just a little bit important. 


Your vote matters, this election matters.  I am appalled by the silence on the Latino issues.  The Trump plan is profiling.  The Trump plan will resort in all Latinos being questioned and detained in their daily lives.  If you missed -- and a lot of people did -- Greg Asshole, governor of Texas, and his hench monkey Ken Paxton sent authorities into the homes of American citizens for the 'crime' of registering voters.  And what did these American citizens have in common?  They were all Latinos.  


Again, targeting Latino immigratns means targeting Latino citizens.  Trump back in the White House will be a nightmare. 

Day to day life, going to the grocery store, would be a nightmare under Trump's policy.

Where are the stories on that?  COMMON DREAMS?  Waiting on you to write about how that plays out.


Probably waiting in vain, but I am waiting. 


There are consequences for our bad, bad, 'independent' media and their non-stop obsession with Gaza.  It is only one issue.  There are so many more.  I could be kind and pretend that this realization is what made Norman Solomon write different sop yesterday.  But the reality is, Norman understands just how hard it's going to be for 'intendent' media -- the beggar media -- to get funding in 2025.  That is why he has followed up his I am voting for Jill Stein column with a new one noting that Kamala is the only vote that will give us the ability to pressure and mobilize so that we can actually help the Palestinians.  


We've noted Kamala's speech in Atlanta, Georgia but I wanted to include it in full:


THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Ohh.  Good evening, Georgia!  (Applause.)  Good evening.

     Can we give it up for Tyler?  (Applause.)

     AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Hey, everybody. 

     AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Oh, thank you. 

     AUDIENCE:  Kamala!  Kamala!  Kamala!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

All right.  We got some work to do.  All right.  Thank you.  It is so good to be back in Atlanta.  Thank you all.  (Applause.)

Oh, my goodness.  It is so good to be back.  And I want to thank all of the incredible leaders who are here.  I want to thank everyone for being here when there are so many things that you have to do with your time, and to taking the time to be here and for us to be here as community, building coalition, being together means the world. 

This is what our campaign is about.  Our campaign is about the people.  (Applause.)  Our campaign is about the people. 

And I want to thank Senator Ossoff, who is here — (applause); Atlanta’s own, Representative Nikema Williams — (applause).  And the many members of the Congressional Black Caucus who are here today, I thank you.  (Applause.)  Mayor Dickens, thank you.  Every time I come, you meet me on the tarmac.  (Applause.)  My pastor, who is here, Reverend Dr. Amos C. Brown, of Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, I thank you.  (Applause.)  And, of course, Ursher — (laughs) — Usher.  (Laughter and applause.)  I got you.  (Laughs.)

And so, I thank you all, everybody, for taking the time to be here together.  And before —

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  We love you!  (Applause.)

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you all.

 Okay.  So, before I continue, let me just say, on a serious note, there are people here in Georgia still dealing with the devastation from Hurricane Helene, and I am grateful to all the federal, state, and local personnel who have been working around the clock to help those who are impacted.  (Applause.)

As we know, this recovery will take time, and we will stand with Georgia and everyone across the Southeast who are impacted by these recent storms for as long as it takes to rebuild.  (Applause.)  Thank you. 

All right.  So, Atlanta, we have 17 days left — (applause) — 17 days left in one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime.  And, look, let’s have some real talk.  It’s going to be a tight race until the very end.  (Applause.)  And we are the underdog, and we are running as the underdog.  But make no mistake, we will win.  (Applause.) 

     We will win.  Yes, we will.  We will win.  Yes, we will.

     AUDIENCE:  We will win!  We will win!  We will win!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  (Addressing an audience member.)  You got the old school!

And we will win — and we will win because we understand what is at stake.  This election is about two very different visions for our nation: one, Donald Trump’s, who is focused on the past —

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and ours that is focused on the future.  (Applause.)  Ours that is focused on bringing down the cost of living, investing in small businesses and entrepreneurs. 

By the way, I love our small businesses.  Can I see the small business leaders and entrepreneurs who are here?  (Applause.)


 I’m telling you, our small businesses are the backbone of America’s economy.  I thank you all.

And we are here because we are committed to protecting reproductive freedom.  (Applause.)

But none of that is what we hear from Donald Trump.  Instead, it is just the same old, tired playbook over and over again.  (Applause.)  He has no plan for how he would address the needs of the American people.  He is only focused on himself.  And now he’s ducking debates —

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — and canceling interviews because of exhaustion. 

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And when he does answer a question or speak at a rally, have you noticed he tends to go off script and ramble?  (Applause.)  And generally, for the life of him, cannot finish a thought.  (Laughter.)  And he has called it the “weave.”  (Laughter.)  But I think we here would call it nonsense.  (Laughter and applause.)

So, folks, for these reasons and more, it is time to turn the page.  (Applause.)  It’s time to turn the page.  And America is ready to chart a new way forward.  (Applause.)  We are ready.  We are ready for a new and optimistic generation of leadership.  (Applause.)  All of you.  All of you.  All of you.  Which is why Democrats, Republicans, and independents are supporting our campaign.  (Applause.)

In fact, earlier this week, over 100 Republican leaders from across the country joined me on the campaign trail — (applause) — including some who worked in Donald Trump’s administration.  And I believe, as I travel our country, Americans really want a president who works for all the American people — (applause) — all the American people — who understands that the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us.  Right?

Folks are exhausted with someone trying to have Americans point their fingers at each other.  It’s ex- — we’re exhausted with it.  That’s why I say it’s time to turn the page on that.  Let’s turn the page — (applause) — and have a president who cares about all the people. 

And you all know I’ve only ever, in my career, had one client: the people.  (Applause.)  The people. 

     As a young courtroom prosecutor, I stood up for women and children.  As attorney general of California, I fought for students and veterans.  As vice president, I have stood up for workers and seniors.  (Applause.)  And as president, I will fight for all the American people.  (Applause.)  And together, we will build a brighter future for our nation.

Together, we will build a brighter future that includes what I call an opportunity economy — (applause) — so that every American has the opportunity to own a home, to build wealth, to start a business.

And to build that opportunity economy, we’ve got to bring down the cost of living — (applause) — because while inflation is down and wages are up, prices are still h- — too high.  You know it, and I know it.

And so, I have laid out a comprehensive plan to lower the costs that you pay on everything from prescription medication to groceries, and this will be my focus every single day as president of the United States.  (Applause.)

I will take on corporate price gouging.  I’ve done it before, and I’ll do it again.  (Applause.)

I will give a middle-class tax cut to 100 million Americans, including $6,000 during the first year of a child’s life.  And I’m going to tell you why: Because we all know young parents have a natural desire to parent their children well but not always the resources to do it.  And we, as a community, need to understand they are the children of the community, and it is in our collective best interest to make sure that they have the resources they need during that critical phase of a child’s development to buy a crib, to buy a car seat, to buy what that child needs during that critical stage of life. 

That’s the kind of leadership that we believe in in America.  (Applause.)   

I have a pr- — a plan to bring down the cost of housing by building more homes and taking on those corporate landlords who are unfairly buying up properties and increasing rental prices.  (Applause.)  We know what’s happening. 

My plan will lower the cost of starting a small business, including by increasing the tax deduction for entrepreneurs from $5,000 to $50,000 — (applause) — knowing that our small-business owners are civic leaders as much as they are business leaders.  They mentor.  They hire locally.  They are part of the cultural fabric of our communities and deserve to be lifted up in every way. 

Under my opportunity economy, I have a plan to lower health costs and health care costs for people as they age so they can grow old with dignity and so their families are not financially crushed by the cost of home care.  (Applause.) 

Because, look, let me tell you — you all may know this; it’s a personal story — I helped take care of my mother when she was sick.  I took care of my mother when she was sick.  And for any of you who is taking care of an elder relative, you know that’s about love and it’s about care.  It’s about trying to cook something for them that they feel like eating.  It’s about trying to help them put on clothes that won’t irritate their skin, help them put on a sweater.  It’s about, from time to time, trying to think of something that will put a smile on their face or make them laugh.  It’s about dignity.  It’s about dignity. 

But what we know is that right now we have so many people who are doing that and raising small children at the same time.  We call it the sandwich generation.  And unless you got a lot of money to be able to hire somebody to help, then folks are looking at the potential of having to leave their job, which is losing a source of income or — worse even — having to spend down whatever might be their savings to be able to qualify for Medicaid.  That’s not right.  That’s not right.  (Applause.)

So, my plan includes allowing Medicare to cover the cost of home health care for our seniors.  (Applause.)  It’s a matter of dignity — dignity.

And so, I share some of these details with you to just let you know what you already know: I will always put the middle class and working families first.  (Applause.)  I always will. 

I come from the middle class, and I will never forget where I come from.  (Applause.)  I will never forget where I come from.

Now, Donald Trump —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You know here I go.  Now, Donald Trump, well, he has a different plan.  Just google Project 2025.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Now, I say it every time, but I just have to say again.  Can you believe they put that thing in writing?  (Laughter.)  They put it in writing.  They published it.  They bound it and handed it out. 

And when you read it, you know it is a detailed and dangerous blueprint for what Donald Trump will do if he is elected president.

Donald Trump — Donald Trump will give billionaires and corporations massive tax cuts.  Like he did it last time, he would do it again. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  He would cut Social Security and Medicare.  He would get rid of the thing we all fought so hard for: that $35-a-month cap on insulin for our seniors.  (Applause.)

Read that plan and you’ll see they’ll make it easier for companies to deny overtime pay for workers.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And impose — he will impose what I call a Trump sales tax, because he has an intention of putting an at least 20 percent tax on everyday necessities, which economists have estimated would cost the average person more than $4,000 more a year. 

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And on top of all of this, Donald Trump intends to end the Affordable Care Act —

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — with no plan to replace it.

Oh, y’all watched the debate.  (Laughs.)  He has, quote —

AUDIENCE:  Concepts of a plan.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — “concepts of a plan.”

So, you all know and you’ve heard me say, look, I think and I do believe Donald Trump is an unserious man, and the consequences of him ever being again in the White House are brutally serious — brutally serious.  Because, think about it, the man is going to threaten the health insurance of 45 million Americans based on a concept and take us back to when insurance companies had the power to deny people with preexisting conditions.  You remember what that was?

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, we are —

AUDIENCE:  Not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — not going back.  (Applause.)  We are not going back.  We are not going back. 

We’re not going back.

AUDIENCE:  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!  We’re not going back!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  And we are not going back because we are working and intend to move forward.

     AUDIENCE:  Forward!

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Forward, because ours is a fight for the future.  (Applause.) 

And it is a fight for freedom — (applause) — like the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have her government telling her what to do.  (Applause.)

And we know how we got here.  Donald Trump hand-selected three members of the United States Supreme Court with the intention that they would undo the protections of Roe v. Wade, and they did as he intended.  And now, in America, more than one in three women lives in a state with a Trump abortion ban.

Today, except for Virginia, every state in the South, including Georgia, has a Trump ban, many with no exceptions even for rape or incest, which is telling a survivor of a violation to their body they have no right to make a decision about what happens to their body next.  That’s immoral.  That’s immoral.

And let us agree: One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling her what to do — (applause) — not the government.  If she chooses, she will talk with her priest, her pastor, her rabbi, her imam, but not the government telling her what to do. 

So, look, we all know this is a health care crisis.  This is not something theoretical.  This is not just about a political conversation.  It’s very real, and Donald Trump is the architect. 

Women are being denied care during miscarriages, some only being treated once they develop sepsis, and tragically, because of these bans, some women have even died. 

Let me show you what I’m talking about.  Roll the clip.

     (A video clip is played.)  (Applause.) 

So, I — here’s the thing that — that you got to understand, and I think everyone is following this.  Donald Trump still refuses to take accountability — to take any accountability for the pain and the suffering he has caused, or even to just acknowledge the pain and suffering that has actually happened.

In a Fox town hall earlier this week, he even mocked Amber’s family for sharing their story. 

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Play the clip.

     (A video clip is played.)

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  You know, we — we talk and we care about things like dignity.  We understand that the real —

     AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Well, I hear you.  But, you know, the thing i- — you know what?  The court is going to take care of that.  We’re going to take care of November.  (Applause.)  Right?  We’re going to take care of November.  We’re going to take care of November.

But — but here’s the thing.  Here’s the thing.  Here’s the thing.  A grieving family — a grieving family sharing the memory of their daughter with our nation — where is the compassion? 

You know, part of what’s wrong with what’s been happening in this so-called Trump era is that there’s this backward notion that somehow the measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you beat down, instead of what we know, which is that the real measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up.  (Applause.)  It’s based on who you lift up. 

And what we see continually from Donald Trump is exactly what that clip shows.  He belittles their sorrow, making it about himself and his television ratings.  It is cruel. 

And, listen, I promised Amber’s mother that we will always remember her story and speak her name: Amber Nicole Thurman. 

     AUDIENCE:  Amber Nicole Thurman.  Amber Nicole Thurman.

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Amber Nicole Thurman.  And Amber’s family, including her parents, Shanette and Andre, are here with us tonight.  (Applause.)  And in front of all the friends here, I thank them both for their courage and their strength, and it is my pledge to the family — (applause) — there she is.  There she is.  And I have pledged to the family — it is my pledge to everybody here: When Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom nationwide, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law.  (Applause.)  I will proudly sign it into law. 

So, there’s so much at stake.  And, you know, I’m traveling the country, and everybody here knows, across our nation, we are witnessing a full-on assault on other hard-fought, hard-won fundamental freedoms and rights — like right here in Georgia, the freedom to vote — (applause); the freedom we are seeing in so many places in our country, an attack on the freedom to be safe from gun violence; the freedom to love who you love openly and with pride.  (Applause.)

So, so much is on the line in this election.  And this election is not 2016 or 2020.  The stakes are even higher for obvious reasons, including because just a few months ago, the United States Supreme Court basically told the former president he is effectively immune no matter what he does in the White House. 

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  But — and just think about this — right? — so, before that ruling just a few months ago, at least there was some possibility of threat of consequence for misbehavior — right? — for breaking the law.  But just imagine now Donald Trump with no guardrails — he who has vowed that he will be a dictator on day one; he who calls Americans who disagree with him the “enemy from within.” 

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  Understand where that comes from in history.  And says he would use the American military to go after American citizens. 

     AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE VICE PRESIDENT:  He — he who has called for the “termination,” I quote, of the Constitution of the United States of America. 

And let us be very clear: Someone who suggests that we should terminate the Constitution of the United States should never again stand behind the seal of the president of the United States of America.  (Applause.)  Never again.  Never again.  Never again. 

So, Georgia, it comes down to this.  We are all here together because we know what is at stake.  We are all here together because we love our country.  (Applause.)  We love our country.  And I do believe it is one of the highest forms of patriotism to then fight for the ideals of our country.  That’s what this is about.  This is about a fight for the promise of America.  (Applause.)  Right?  Right.

And the extraordinary, great Congressman John Lewis reminded us that democracy is not a state; it is an act.  It is an act. 

So, Georgia, now is our time to act.  The baton is in our hands.  Election Day is in 17 days, and early voting has already started.  (Applause.)

You guys are setting some records, by the way.  And so, now is the time to make your plan to vote.  Make your plan.  Go to IWillVote.com and get all the information you need.  And if you have received your ballot in the mail, please do not wait.  Fill it out and return it right away. 

 And you know, Georgia’s own president, Jimmy Carter, voted early.  (Applause.)  Bless him.  Just days after his 100th birthday. 

So, look, if Jimmy Carter can vote early, you can too.  (Laughs.)  (Applause.)  

Because, folks, the election is here.  It’s here.  And I need you to continue to do what you do so well.  Let’s continue to energize.  Let’s continue to organize.  Let’s continue to mobilize.  And let’s remind folks that your vote is your voice and your voice is your power. 

And so, Georgia, I ask you: Are you ready to make your voices heard?  (Applause.) 

     Do we believe in freedom?  (Applause.)

     Do we believe in opportunity?  (Applause.)

     Do we believe in the promise of America?  (Applause.)

     And are we ready to fight for it?  (Applause.) 

     And when we fight —

     AUDIENCE:  We win!

     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  — we win.  (Applause.)

     God bless you.  And God bless the United States of America. 


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