Friday Talking Points -- What Would You Say To A 10-Year-Old Rape Victim?

[ChrisWeigant]

President Joe Biden capped off a pretty good week with a pretty good speech today, given right before he signed an executive order to do what he could to protect women's rights. Biden did so, of course, in response to the "extreme" Supreme Court decision which overturned Roe v. Wade.

In his remarks, the president got visibly angry at one particular point, a point that should be repeated by every Democrat running for office this year as many times as possible. Biden was speaking about the report that a 10-year-old girl in Ohio who had been impregnated due to being raped was denied an abortion and had to travel to neighboring Indiana to get one. Here's what Biden had to say about it:

"She was forced to have to travel out of the state to Indiana to seek to terminate the pregnancy and maybe save her life," Biden said in remarks at the White House. "Ten years old -- 10 years old! -- raped, six weeks pregnant, already traumatized, was forced to travel to another state."

. . .

As Biden retold the girl's story Friday, he grew visibly upset. A 10-year-old girl, he said, should not "be forced to give birth to a rapist's child."

Biden's focus on the child came shortly before he signed an executive order to protect abortion rights in the wake of the Supreme Court decision. The administration has faced pressure from other Democrats to do more, but Biden acknowledged that his executive power has limits.

The Supreme Court's ruling, he said, was "terrible, extreme, and I think so totally wrongheaded decision."

He added that, in his view, the court's majority is "playing fast and loose with the facts" in its opinion by misrepresenting the history of abortion rights in America.

"I can't think of anything as much more extreme as [the] court's decision," an emotional Biden said.

. . .

"We cannot allow an out-of-control Supreme Court, working in conjunction with extremist elements of the Republican Party, to take away freedoms and our personal autonomy," he said.

This is the perfect framing of what the 2022 election should be about. Because 10-year-old girls -- as well as rape victims of any age -- might soon be forced into giving birth, as more and more states outlaw abortion with no exceptions for rape. Democrats are already calling the anti-abortion Republicans a new (and quite fitting) name: they are not pro-life, they are forced-birth Republicans. As Biden rhetorically asked today: "What century are they in?"

More and more horrifying examples of the real-life fallout from the legislative spree Republicans are currently on will need to come to light -- and they will. Each and every time, Democrats need to hit the issue hard: "This is what Republicans are for! They created this problem!" Republicans should be asked about these horror stories each and every time they are interviewed by journalists. They need to be confronted with the cruelty they are creating, whether by reporters or by their Democratic opponents.

And Biden's right -- use the words extreme, extremist, and extremism as much as possible. Tell it like it is. And talk about lost freedoms, because that is precisely what the Republicans now stand for -- fewer freedoms for Americans.

Democratic (and independent) voters are angry. They are motivated. But so far the Democrats have been criticized for using the Roe ruling primarily as a fundraising tool. A lot of women (and men, too) got nothing but instant pleas for donations, right after the court's ruling was announced. This is not good enough. The voters are angry, they don't just want to be solicited for money to run more ads.

Republicans have completely painted themselves into a very harsh and unforgiving ideological corner. They are falling all over themselves to outdo each other on how strictly their state's abortion ban will be. There is no rational discussion about rape or incest victims. There is no compassion whatsoever. There is only a rush to be more Draconian than the next state over. This means it will be all but impossible for them to do any "tacking to the center" for the general election on the issue. And that could translate to a whole bunch of independent and suburban votes for Democrats, in the end. Because extremism isn't ever as popular as the extremists think.

But this can only happen if the Democrats are seen as fighting, as having a plan of action, and just as angry as the voters themselves. We'll see how they handle it, but Biden's speech today was a very good model to follow. It is outrageous that a 10-year-old had to go through what she did. And it should make everyone angry. Biden just showed Democrats how to do that.

As we mentioned, the rest of the week was a pretty good one for Biden as well. It was Independence Day week, so Congress was out on one of their periodic "lie in the sun" extended vacations. The jobs numbers released this morning beat expectations, as the economy added 372,000 new jobs last month (when only 200,000 or so were being predicted). This shows that there simply is no "jobless recession" in sight. Biden also announced that one billion dollars will be spent at 85 airports across the country for upgrades, proving once again he is actually getting done the infrastructure work Donald Trump promised (but never delivered upon). And best of all for Biden (and for everyone else as well), gas prices are falling at the pump. They should continue to do so for at least the next few weeks. That alone is going to take some of the political pressure off of Biden, especially if the trend downwards continues for the rest of the summer. If gas prices get back to being reasonable again, it defangs one of the big issues Republicans have been running on, obviously.

Let's quickly whip through all the other political news that was from the past week, before we move on to the awards portion of the program.

In campaign news, things are looking decidedly better for Democrats in the Senate races, as Republicans nominate more and more awfully vulnerable kooks and nutjobs. We wrote about this earlier in the week, if anyone's interested.

Speaking of the GOP lunatic Senate candidates, we learned that Herschel Walker is (in the words of three of his own campaign staff) a "pathological liar." Also, Eric Greitens in Missouri is out with a new ultra-violent ad, where he promises he is "coming with an army." More on both of these later, down in the talking points.

Dr. Oz seems to be missing in action on the campaign trail, which was an unforced error. The Democratic candidate, John Fetterman, has been recovering from a stroke, so Oz could have used the time to flood the zone, but instead he's reading headlines like "Where In The World Is Dr. Oz?"

In gubernatorial races, a journalist for the Irish Times put together a mashup video of the Arizona Republican debate, which shows just how low the party as a whole has sunk into the rabbit hole. Several times during the debate, it was asked from the stage: "Is this a spoof? Are you sure?" Sadly, it was not.

In Pennsylvania, several prominent Republican politicians have now endorsed the Democratic candidate for governor, because the GOP candidate is so completely loony (and frightening).

In Illinois, a Republican running for governor said we should all just "move on" from the mass shooting which took place in the state on July 4th. That's right -- nothing to see here, folks, move along.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has decided to just cut out the middleman of politics and is now on a speaking tour where he's not raking in donations to his own political action committee or his own campaign funds, but where he's just pocketing millions of dollars directly. Because why bother with all the trimmings? If his fans want to throw money at him, he might as well cut all the middlemen out, right? Grifters gotta grift, after all....

Rudy Giuliani seems to be in a fatal tailspin, reports Politico (and many other media outlets). Getting subpoenaed by the state of Georgia to explain all the lies he told state politicians wasn't even the worst of it. The article is, amusingly enough, titled: "The Rudy Giuliani Joke Isn't Funny Anymore," which (for those old enough to remember) certainly put a new spin on his famous appearance after 9/11 on Saturday Night Live.

Shades of Richard Nixon -- it was revealed that two high-ranking officials who annoyed Donald Trump (James Comey and Andrew McCabe) coincidentally were "randomly" chosen for the deepest-dive audit the I.R.S. can possibly do. Sheer coincidence... must have been!

Let's see, what else? We're getting down to the silly stories so we're almost done. Someone mailed multiple state senators in Ohio some poop, which was actually intercepted before it arrived, but it did lead to one memorable quote, from state senator Jay Hottinger, who remarked it was "just another crappy day."

MSNBC reporter Hayes Brown tweeted a rather amusing reaction to the news that Richard Nephew was named to head the country's strategy on countering global corruption at the State Department: "I'm sorry, but 'Rich Nephew' is a very funny name for an anti-corruption czar." Good point!

And finally, while prime ministers come and go at 10 Downing Street, it's good to know the British government has a constant presence hard at work throughout, providing some welcome continuity. A tweet (complete with photo) lauds: "Larry the Cat, the appointed Chief Mouser of Downing Street, has now outlasted 3 UK Prime Ministers. He holds the true power over the country." Which seems to be a purr-fect place to end this news wrap-up! [Sorry, we just couldn't resist that one....]





California's governor has always been known for coming up with innovative ways to solve political problems. Gavin Newsom first made a name for himself in 2004, when he was San Francisco's mayor. State law prohibited same-sex marriage, but Newsom defied it by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, which allowed them to marry. Now instead of some theoretical problem, the courts had to grapple with gay couples who were actually married, and it entirely changed the tone of the debate. Newsom supported the ballot initiative which legalized adult recreational marijuana use in the state as well, when most of the state's politicians opposed it. He's always gotten out in front of issues rather than letting things lie, in other words, and so far he's been on the right side of the battles he has picked.

Newsom was in the news last weekend, for airing a political ad in south Florida -- so that it would play on the televisions at Mar-A-Lago. The ad trolled Florida's governor and legislature and contrasted the freedom-loving California with the way Florida seems to be going backwards (such as: firing a pediatrician from a state job for advocating for kids to get vaccinated). This was largely seen as Newsom possibly testing the waters for a national run for president in 2024, but first he's got to win re-election, so he's staying mum on that possibility for now. But it wasn't trolling Floridians that earned him this week's Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week award.

Today, Governor Newsom unveiled a radical new plan which directly attacks a big problem in such an innovative way that hopefully it will be copied elsewhere. Frustrated at the high price of insulin, Newsom announced he will be spending $100 million on the problem, half to go to developing innovations in insulin delivery and half to build a factory to just make insulin. That's right: the state is going to make it, and then they'll sell it to people who desperately need it -- at cost. No insane markups that line the pockets of drug companies. No need to pass any state laws attacking the insulin cartel, Newsom will just be radically undercutting them in the marketplace. Problem solved!

Here's the story, in his own words:

Newsom said in a video posted to Twitter that $100 million from the state budget he recently signed for 2022-2023 would be allocated for California to "contract and make our own insulin at a cheaper price, close to at cost, and to make it available to all." Half of the $100 million would go toward the development of a "low-cost" insulin, Newsom said. The other $50 million would go toward a facility in the state to manufacture insulin that would "provide new, high-paying jobs and a stronger supply chain for the drug."

"California is going to make its own insulin," Newsom said in the video. "Nothing epitomizes market failures more than the cost of insulin. Many Americans experience out-of-pocket costs anywhere from $300 to $500 per month for this lifesaving drug. California is now taking matters into our own hands."

. . .

"In California, we know people should not go into debt to receive lifesaving medication," Newsom said in the video.

Or you can watch his video, if you want to hear him tout the new plan.

Congress has been trying to put together a cap on the out-of-pocket cost of insulin to patients for a while now, but even if they do come up with some plan ($35 a month is the goal), it may not be universally-applied. People without health insurance may be left out, which is kind of a strange thing since they are the ones who need the help the most. But in California, everybody who needs insulin will be able to get it for the most reasonable price possible.

That is a masterstroke of political leadership. If enough places emulated this move, it might just put the profiteering insulin cartel out of business for good -- which would be a great thing for all concerned (except maybe their shareholders, boo hoo). For showing such innovation and governmental initiative, Newsom deserves to be copied elsewhere. And he also more than deserves this week's Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week award.

[Congratulate Governor Gavin Newsom on his official contact page, to let him know you appreciate his efforts.]





We have one (Dis-)Honorable Mention award this week, for Senator Kyrsten Sinema. Immediately after the Roe ruling came down, Democrats in Congress tried yet again to convince Sinema and Manchin to support a carve-out in the filibuster in order to pass the provisions of Roe into federal law. Both declined to do so, once again.

But last week, Sinema had the gall to tout her efforts to "protect women's health care" in a fundraising email. This is sheer hypocrisy, since when it came down to deciding whether to actually protect women's health care, Sinema was one of two Democrats who would have voted no. However, we feel that it doesn't quite rise to the level of the Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week award, so we're just going to give her a (Dis-)Honorable Mention instead.

Last week, we gave the MDDOTW award to Joe Biden, partly for what was only really an accusation at the time. It had been reported that just before the decision overturning Roe was announced, Biden was all set to nominate a very anti-abortion federal judge in eastern Kentucky. This was a blatant quid pro quo deal with Mitch McConnell, so McConnell would stop gumming up the works on other Biden judicial nominees.

This week, we got confirmation of the story:

President Biden had planned to nominate a conservative opponent of abortion rights to a lifetime federal judgeship in Kentucky, according to newly released emails, prompting criticism of the White House from some fellow Democrats.

After facing opposition from Democrats in Kentucky, the White House has not put former state solicitor general Chad Meredith's name forward as a nominee. A round of federal judicial nominations released last week did not include Meredith. It was unclear Wednesday whether the White House would ever move forward with nominating him.

But the episode has underscored the impassioned responses from Democrats in the wake of the Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade. At times, Democrats have directed some of their anger at the White House.

On June 23, White House official Kate Marshall emailed Coulter Minix, the director of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's office in Washington. "To be Nominated tomorrow," the message read, followed by the qualifications and experience of Meredith, whom the Biden administration planned to nominate to be a judge in the Eastern District of Kentucky the next day.

The email, released Wednesday, was titled "close hold," meaning information that is not supposed to be widely distributed. Minix said he would "share the info and appreciate the heads up."

The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade the next day, jolting the country and igniting demands that Democratic elected leaders do all they could to protect access to abortions. An email that followed a few days later included what appeared to be an effort to contain potential fallout.

"Sorry for not including this in the original email," wrote Marshall, a former lieutenant governor in Nevada who joined the White House's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in August. "But I wanted to clarify that the email I sent was pre-decisional and privileged information. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you. Kate."

Now, we do realize that we already dinged Biden for this last week, but the fact remains that the White House has had zero to say on the issue since. When asked, the press secretary just says: "We do not comment on any nominations until they are made."

That's not good enough. Biden should admit that, yeah, he did cut a deal with McConnell, but the deal's now off since circumstances have changed. Then he could use it as a launching point to explain how extreme and out-of-step the Supreme Court is and how he won't contribute to the pipeline of judges who favor taking rights away from women.

But he hasn't. So his continuing silence on the issue has earned him yet another Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week award.

[Contact President Joe Biden on his official contact page, to let him know what you think of his actions.]




Volume 668 (7/8/22)

A rather mixed bag this week, with no overarching theme. As always, use responsibly and enjoy!



What would you say to her?

This needs to be asked, directly. If the media won't do it, then Democrats should.

"Republicans have no real answer when confronted by the fact that already their anti-abortion crusade has gone too far. When a Republican governor was asked about a 10-year-old girl in Ohio who was raped and had to travel out of state to get an abortion, she responded: 'I don't believe a tragic situation should be perpetuated by another tragedy.' Interesting choice of weasel words, there -- she obviously doesn't consider a 10-year-old girl being forced to carry a baby and give birth to be any kind of 'tragedy.' Also, what will perpetuate the situation is a 10-year-old being forced to give birth to her rapist's baby. So instead of just asking generic questions, what I'd like to hear is the media ask these heartlessly cruel politicians a direct question: 'What would you say to that 10-year-old child?' How would you explain the reasoning behind condemning her to such a fate? How would you make your forced-birth moral case to a 10-year-old? Because that is the question I'd really like to hear some Republicans come up with an answer to. The time for mincing words and weaselly answers is over."



Extremists

Start calling it what it is. Every time.

"The Republican Party has become dangerously extreme. There's just no denying it anymore. Their ranks are filled with extremists who celebrate violence. They are fine with supporting political violence, plain and simple. Eric Greitens, a GOP Senate candidate in Missouri, just released an ad where he once again carries a weapon of war and threatens: 'We are coming with an army.' And this isn't even the most violent ad he's released! A lifelong friend of his publicly begged him to quit the race, calling him a 'broken man, who will do anything, including inciting violence, to regain power.' But he's not the only one. Republicans who have stood up to Trump in any way, shape, or form have been getting obscene death threats on a regular basis. Elections officials across the country are quitting in droves because the job just isn't worth getting death threats over -- and the death threats keep pouring in. This is brownshirt behavior, folks. This is banana republic stuff. And every American should denounce it all -- but only one political party is doing so. Republicans are either now full-on extremists or they meekly apologize or ignore the extremism in their own ranks because they don't want the anger trained at them. This is dangerous stuff, and about as un-American as it gets."



A few brave Republicans

Thankfully, this isn't universal. There are a few Republicans who see the danger. The ones in Pennsylvania who just endorsed the Democratic candidate for governor, for instance. And Mick Mulvaney -- a man who served as Donald Trump's chief of staff -- wrote an extraordinary article this week in the Charlotte Observer, in which he desperately tries to convince his fellow Republicans to pay attention to what is being revealed about Donald Trump and his coup attempt. Again, this is a man who worked in the top White House job for Trump, so he certainly knows of what he speaks. Here's the opening to his extraordinary article:

The significance of last week's Congressional Jan. 6 committee hearings cannot be overstated. For the first time, evidence was presented that former President Trump knew some of the protesters were armed before encouraging them to go the Capitol, that right-wing extremist rioters communicated directly with the White House, that key Presidential advisers requested pardons, that the chief White House lawyer was concerned about getting "charged with every crime imaginable," and that someone within Trump world may be trying to tamper with committee witnesses. Serious stuff.

Gas goes down, media yawns

Democrats should point it out for them.

"Have you noticed that gas prices are finally coming down? Crude oil prices have been dropping like a stone and prices at the pump are slowly getting better. You know what I find strange, though? When the prices shot up, every television network featured the story night after night on their evening news. But now that the news is good -- prices getting better -- the mainstream media has lost all interest. Things are headed in the right direction, but they don't consider it newsworthy. All I know is that seeing prices drop is a real relief to millions of American families, and I hope the prices keep going down all summer long."



Time to testify

Good news from the Peach State!

"The grand jury in Georgia which is investigating criminal interference in the 2020 election has announced it has subpoenaed seven of the lawyers and others who were at the heart of the illegal and fraudulent scheme. This includes Rudy Giuliani, Lindsey Graham, John Eastman and others. So now instead of ranting and raving about conspiracy theories they've made up out of moonbeams and fairy dust, all of these people will have to testify under oath as to what happened and what part they played in it all. This could lead to criminal charges being brought against any of them, and perhaps against Donald Trump himself. This investigation is further along than any of the others, so it'll be interesting to see what happens after Rudy and Lindsey and all the rest of them are forced to answer questions under oath. If I were Trump, I'd be sweating...."



Nice try

Don't let them get away with this.

"I see a Republican member of the House of Representatives is gushing about how 'thrilled' she is with the money her local airport will be getting for improvements. There's only one rather large problem with this -- Beth Fan Duyne, like most of her Republican colleagues, voted against appropriating this money. She's trying to claim credit for something she voted against. And she's not the only one out there bragging about something the Republicans tried to prevent, either. Her constituents should really be told the truth of the matter -- Democrats made this possible. You had the chance to support it and you didn't -- you voted against it. So spare me the bragging about it, OK?"



No wonder they're buddies!

Hoo boy.

"Herschel Walker, the Republican nominee for Senate in Georgia, has apparently not only been lying to Georgians about all kinds of things, he's been lying to his own campaign staff as well. Here's what they had to say about it to the Daily Beast -- Walker lies 'like he's breathing'... 'he lies so much we don't know what is true'... aides have 'zero' trust in their candidate. In fact, three people -- independent of each other -- all called Walker a 'pathological liar.' This is from his own campaign team, folks. But it does clear one thing up -- no wonder Walker and Donald Trump are such good buddies! Birds of a feather...."




Chris Weigant blogs at: ChrisWeigant.com
Follow Chris on Twitter: ChrisWeigant
Full archives of FTP columns: FridayTalkingPoints.com

[flying rabbit]

1. K&R nt