Obama: Trump is trying to 'actively kneecap' and 'starve' the postal service

[dalton99a]

Source: CNN

(CNN) Former President Barack Obama took on President Donald Trump's attempts to stall funding for the United States Postal Service in a podcast published Friday, slamming his successor's opposition to the much-needed funds as a craven attempt to boost his chances of winning in November.

Obama, in a podcast with David Plouffe, his former campaign manager, took on the Trump administration in direct terms, including calling out Vice President Mike Pence by name.

"What we've seen in a way that is unique to modern political history is a President who is explicit in trying to discourage people from voting," Obama said. "What we've never seen before is a President say, 'I'm going to try to actively kneecap the postal service to encourage voting and I will be explicit about the reason I'm doing it.'"

Obama added: "That's sort of unheard of."




Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/14/politics/obama-trump-usps-postal-service/index.html

[bucolic_frolic]

1. That's where our eyeballs are right now, but consider what Trump will try at the polling places

and he may be scaring us into NOT voting by mail, the most secure method historically. But polling places are being reduced, there is machinery susceptible to sabotage/malfunction, there could be "protestor riots", ICE raids, and long, long, hours long lines, AND due to COVID fear of voting in person AND shortage of poll workers.

[murielm99]

2. They are mailing us our ballots applications starting September 24.

We may turn them in in person anyway. I am willing to risk it.

[C Moon]

8. If the ballots ever get to our homes.

[murielm99]

10. If they don't get here,

I will go vote in person. So will my husband.

[jalan48]

3. Yes he is.

[AC_Mem]

4. Orlando FL

I am driving my mail in vote to the drop off location rather than trust the mail right now. Whatever it takes to VOTE!

[ananda]

7. Same here!

nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. I think voters also need reminding that Post Offices are mentioned in the Constitution

as something the federal government must provide. So starving the postal service is profoundly un-American.

[murielm99]

6. I have always noticed that the Post Office

employs a large number of POC. I am sure that offends trump. This is just one more way for him to be racist.

The Post Office and the military offer opportunities for black people that are lacking elsewhere.

[appalachiablue]

13. That is definitely a factor. Like the military, the USPS

is known for hiring black people for decades, providing secure employment and a path to the middle class.

Racist effers hate that, any government branch that can't legally discriminate, along with contempt for government in general, except for the military, the courts and the executive branch.

In addition to many activist anti government wackos around for years, there's also the rapid adoption of RW libertarian economics and ideology taught in college business departments, and promoted by think tanks and media in the last 40 years. And does it ever show, I've noticed much more of it in the last 10-15 years.

[SergeStorms]

9. He could have done this anytime in the past four years.

But he decided to wait until just before the November election so he could use it to cheat his way to re-election. Democrats MUST vote in record numbers to stop this crook in his tracks. Then, I want to be among the group of people tasked with removing he and his white trash family from our White House. Please!

[Cha]

11. Thank you President Obama.. the more this Shite is called

out the better.

[Duppers]

12. 😡😡 PBS Mark Shields on Obama's comment 😡😡

Our cable went out Friday evening, so instead of listening to no news at all, I streamed PBS News Hour. Never again (there was a reason we stopped listening to that program).

Mark Shields:

Well, Judy, I am not one to often question former President Barack Obama's selection of words or his eloquence, which is demonstrated, but I think he was absolutely wrong when he said that they are trying to kneecap*, Republicans are trying to kneecap.
I mean, it is a mafia term. And it is very harsh.

*"As a metaphor "kneecapping" suggests being limited by external imposition in a way that prevents full freedom of movement or utilization of resources." - Wiki

"Very harsh" - omg! After all tRump has said & done, Shields wants to call out Obama's language. GD, that's reaching!
😡😡

[appalachiablue]

14. Give me a break, 'kneecap' is too strong in dealing with

this admin.? WTH has happened to Shields..