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Trump Demands $1 Billion from Big Oil in Exchange for Doing Their Bidding

By
kindler
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2

By Kindler (please check out my Substack)

Sometimes the corruption at the core of right-wing politics is so blatant, it just takes your breath away.  That is certainly the case with the Washington Post’s recent bombshell, “What Trump promised oil CEOs as he asked them to steer $1 billion to his campaign”.

According to multiple attendees of a dinner with oil industry executives at Mar-a-Lago, Trump stated: “You all are wealthy enough…that you should raise $1 billion to return me to the White House” – in exchange for which, he promised to give them all the policy payoffs they are demanding, from ending restrictions on drilling in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico to allowing more liquefied natural gas exports.

“Giving $1 billion would be a ‘deal,’ Trump said, because of the taxation and regulation they would avoid thanks to him.”

It’s hard to state a political quid-pro-quo more blatantly than GIVE ME LOTS OF MONEY AND I WILL GIVE YOUR INDUSTRY WHATEVER IT WANTS.  And I appreciate the Post refusing to sugarcoat what it called “Trump’s remarkably blunt and transactional pitch.” Instead of the New York Times’ trademark “both sides are always equal” spin, the Post emphasized here that “[t]he contrast between the two candidates on climate policy could not be more stark.”

It may be tempting for some folks to tune out a story like this as just more political noise, but such a shameless display of “pay to play” politics is precisely the type of corruption of our system that almost everyone claims to be passionately against.  Many cynics will dismiss Trump’s display as how all politicians operate, but as the Post documents, it’s not. In fact, the story begins with the anecdote of one of the Big Oil execs complaining to Trump “how they continued to face burdensome environmental regulations despite spending $400 million to lobby the Biden administration in the last year.”

How dare Joe Biden refuse to be bought out by the world’s worst polluters! The nerve of the man!

While our politics revolves around a lot of things, a great deal of it is about the oil, coal and gas industries’ corrupt and immoral efforts to keep their profits flowing at the expense of the lives and health of the rest of us.  There’s a reason why the Republican party’s grip is strongest in fossil fuel extraction states, from Texas and Oklahoma to West Virginia, Wyoming and Kentucky – and why most of Trump’s biggest foreign supporters are petro-dictators, especially those of Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Because ultimately, the Republican party is not about principles at all – it is about gaining and maintaining power by being shamelessly for sale to the highest bidder.  The rest is just window dressing to gain votes from people who don’t read stories about what is really happening in the dark halls of Mar-a-Lago or at steakhouses or fundraisers around the country.

We need to open more Americans’ eyes to the huge choice they face this November between the principled policies of Biden and the Democrats vs. the GOP vision of policy being dictated by those stuffing dollars into their pockets.  Young people who fear the risks of climate change most especially need to pay attention as Republicans bargain their futures away in a soulless trade for political power.  Vote wisely.

Friday News: “Biden’s Public Ultimatum to Bibi”; “Trump Flaunts His Corruption”; “GOP Plan for Execution Spree”; Stormy Daniels’ “final day on the stand in the hush-money trial was a doozy”; “Virginia school board approves restoring Confederate leaders’ names”

By
lowkell
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23

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, May 10.

Video: Sen. Mark Warner Says He Doesn’t Think “anyone in the Israeli government should be surprised that the president is going to stick to his guns”

By
lowkell
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7

See below for video and a few highlights from Sen. Mark Warner’s press availability earlier today.

  • “Obviously, the first issue, which is playing out real time is the FAA reauthorization. Senator Kaine and I, along with our colleagues in Maryland, have been fighting on this issue for some time. We we all agree we need a new FAA bill that will improve safety and grapple with some of the issues about making sure consumers are able to get refunds if they’re inappropriately stopped by certain airlines. But the issue that Tim and I and Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen have focused on is Congress’s repeated attempt to kind of meddle in to the issue of how many airplanes fly into Reagan National versus flights that currently would go to BWI or to Dulles…we think the congestion issues, the safety issues, it would not be in the traveling public’s best interest, you know, to increase capacity at an already extraordinarily crowded National Airport. All we’re saying on the Senate side is give us that same up or down vote…the House voted on this. The House position was zero additional flights. So the fact is the Senate actually ended up agree thing with the House. It is a completely phony argument to somehow say that this would not be greeted well by the House because that was the House’s position.”
  • “…you put that toxic brew together and when you have political candidates making outrageous statements all the time, that oftentimes can be amplified by foreign sources and that we have to be on guard against…So we’ve got to look at the both the the misinformation side and disinformation side and the integrity of our system. This will be the we’ll have this hearing and then a subsequent hearing also to try to bring in the platforms. This is an area that Americans need to be on guard. We all know that we have plenty of disagreements amongst ourselves, a lot of strongly held political views. That’s part of our system. What we don’t need, though, is foreign governments and trying to interfere or trying to, frankly, further pit Americans against one another.”
  • “The president has been on record for weeks on end that before Israel…were to move into Rafah, where there’s now a million and a half Palestinians who frankly been pushed into this corner of Gaza because of Israeli actions in other part of Gaza, that there had to be a plan. And I think that’s appropriate. I mean, I strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself. I strongly support the ability to try to get rid of Hamas, which is a terrorist organization that, you know, created heinous crimes on October 7th. But you know, what we’ve not seen from the Israeli government is that plan to protect innocent civilians. So I don’t think, you know, anyone in the Israeli government should be surprised that the president is going to stick to his guns. You know what? My hope greater hope is and this is happening real time. The director of the CIA, Bill Burns, is is he may have left fence in the last couple hours, but he was still in region the last couple of days. You know, the solution here needs to be a hostage deal, needs to be a cease fire, needs to be an allowance of of, you know, having some of these tensions recede. And I think that is in Israel’s best interest because longer term, Israel needs to kind of further align itself with other Arab nations in the region, countries like Saudi Arabia. I remind folks that Saudi Arabia actually came to the aid of Israel a couple of weeks back when the Iranians launched this, their missile attack on Israel. Saudis, Jordanians stood alongside British, French, American and Israelis to take those missiles down. That kind of alliance is only going to take place or only be strengthened is if there’s no conflict in Gaza. So let’s go ahead and get that hostage deal done. Let’s get the cease fire. And again, I would just hope that the Israeli government, you know, would have listened. I mean, President Biden didn’t say no military action in Rafah. He simply said no military action unless you’ve got a plan to protect them… And many, not all, but many innocent civilians in that part of that part of Gaza.
  • “Here’s what I believe. One, the right to protest is enshrined in our Constitution. It is a First Amendment right. It’s part of our system. And I think that right to protest has to be respected and honored. But at the same time, there are rules and procedures that says, you know, protest, but that protest should not involve stopping other students from being able to go about their classes or their exams. And if you break the law in which my understanding at least, is that you know that right to protest, at least on many university, I don’t know what you’ve been on. Many universities does not extend to the ability to build encampments where people are literally living on a university grounds, which by its very nature would interfere with other students right to pursue their academics. So I think you had a right to protest, but I also think you’ve got an obligation to follow the law. And when you break the law, and I believe on most of these campuses, you break the law. When you start to make living and protest encampments, then there will be consequences.”

 

Trump’s Shameful Antisemitism Shtick is Back

By
Blue Virginia
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2

From President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign:

Trump’s Shameful Antisemitism Shtick is Back

Like Sleepy Don himself, Trump’s monthly attack on Jewish voters is getting tired

Two days after President Joe Biden honored Holocaust Remembrance Day with a powerful condemnation of antisemitism and a call it “must stop,” Donald Trump reminded Americans that he simply disagrees.

Entering court today after choosing to hawk NFTs instead of speaking to voters yesterday, Trump had this message for Jewish Americans:

“If any Jewish person voted for Joe Biden, they should be ashamed of themselves.”

Then Trump doubled down in an interview out this morning:

“If you’re Jewish and you vote for him, I say shame on you.”

It’s nothing new from Trump. In fact, he’s been reminding Jewish Americans on a monthly basis that they should be “spoken to” (April) or “hate their religion” and should be “ashamed of themselves” (March) if they vote for Joe Biden and Democrats — which the vast majority of Jewish voters do. Even lawmakers from Trump’s own party find these comments “awful.”

That’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Donald Trump has a long history of antisemitic behavior, hanging out with antisemites, and attacking Jewish Americans:

Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson Charles Lutvak released the following statement:

“As president, Donald Trump said Neo-Nazi marchers were ‘very fine people.’ Now, like a cuckoo clock of hate, he is popping up every month with the same patronizing antisemitic shtick and reminding Jewish voters that he has no respect for us.

“Like Trump himself lately, his monthly attack on American Jews is getting tired. Voters are ready to put it to bed and they will — by reelecting a president in Joe Biden who cares about people and fights for them instead of one who denigrates them and only cares about himself.

“In words and actions, Joe Biden has been clear that he stands with and will protect the Jewish community against the hatred Trump has encouraged. Anyone who disagrees should be spoken to.”

###

Paid for by Biden for President

Health Care Leaders Warn of Threat Posed by Second Trump Term

By
Blue Virginia
-
7

From President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2024

Health Care Leaders Warn of Threat Posed by Second Trump Term

The following is a statement from Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler following a letter signed by 50 health care officials warning of the dangers of a second Trump presidency and threats posed to health care access:

“Every chance Trump got while in office, he made it his mission to rip health care away from working families. And pushing to ‘terminate’ the Affordable Care Act is just the start for Trump if he’s reelected – he’s now running to go even further. A second Trump presidency would mean the American people would risk getting sicker, going broke, both, or worse with soaring prescription drug costs, the elimination of protections for patients with preexisting conditions, and wins for Big Pharma at the expense of working families. This November, voters will send President Biden back to the White House because he is the candidate who won’t just protect our health care, but will do everything he can to lower costs and improve our health care.”

Today’s letter comes as Team Biden-Harris is communicating directly with voters about the consequences of Trump’s attacks on Americans’ health care. Yesterday, Team Biden-Harris launched “Terminate,” an ad focused on Trump’s long-standing assault on the Affordable Care Act, which provides a lifeline for tens of million Americans and an issue that has lost Trump and Republicans election after election. This ad is running as part of a new $14 million campaign for the month of May and will air on TV and digital across battleground states.


The letter can be seen HERE and below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Healthcare Leaders Warn of Trump’s Threat to Public Health

To the American People:

We write today as people who have dedicated our lives to helping people. As former leaders of national health care and delivery organizations, we have come to understand how policy can impact public health and, just as importantly, the ability of American families to afford the healthcare they need. The possibility of Americans not receiving essential healthcare, either due to cost or lack of access, is among our greatest worries.

If he is elected president, Donald Trump will make our fears a reality. The price of healthcare for American families under Trump would skyrocket, while millions would lose access to healthcare altogether. While his specific policies are at best ambiguous, his track record and his words make clear the damage he would do.

We therefore encourage anyone concerned about the price, availability, and safety of healthcare to keep Mr. Trump out of the White House.

Mr. Trump’s ambiguity on healthcare policy is our first reason for concern. As Larry Levitt, the Executive Vice President for Health Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation put it, “the Trump campaign does not issue the typical policy papers that are provided by presidential candidates.” We therefore must “surmise” what Trump will do based on his prior record and his recent remarks. What we can surmise is troubling. Our concerns involve many of the most important issues impacting the cost of healthcare and people’s access to it.

The Affordable Care Act:

People without health insurance live sicker and die younger. By making health insurance available to millions of previously uninsured Americans, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) made countless Americans healthier and saved many lives. It also expanded Medicaid eligibility, bringing health care access to millions of others. Mr. Trump tried unsuccessfully to repeal the ACA and supported an unsuccessful lawsuit to overturn it.  He did, however, repeal the individual mandate penalty, which drove up the cost of insurance for all participants, and reduced funding for consumer assistance navigators by 84% and outreach by 90%. This made it harder to coordinate care for those insured, and resulted in decreased enrollment among eligible individuals and their families. He also shortened the enrollment period by half, from 12 weeks to 6 weeks, leading to decreasing enrollment.

The Trump administration also supported the expansion of short-term insurance products which discriminate against sicker people, or those with pre-existing conditions, making it harder and more expensive for those groups to obtain coverage. These short-term policies frequently have reduced benefits and limited coverage.

In the current campaign, Trump has vowed to repeal and replace the ACA, but has provided no details as to how he plans to accomplish that. As the ACA’s premium subsidies are set to expire in 2025, the next president will have the chance to implement major changes. Given his opposition to these subsidies in the past, we can only assume that these subsidies would be limited under a Trump administration.

In 2017, the American Medical Association called Mr. Trump’s proposed replacement for the ACA “critically flawed.” We have every reason to think that the plan for a second Trump Administration would be worse.

Children’s Healthcare:

During his first administration, Mr. Trump attempted to cut seven billion dollars out of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides essential healthcare for millions of children. We believe that children should not be punished simply because their parents cannot afford health insurance, and that providing health insurance for children is the very least we as a society owe them. Cutting funds from CHIP does not even make fiscal sense, as most healthcare for children is preventative care that keeps us from having to fix bigger, more expensive medical issues down the road.

Public Health:

While Trump did sign the bipartisan COVID relief bill which enabled Operation Warp Speed to bring vaccines to availability in a year, the administration’s overall response to the COVID epidemic was wanting. Mr. Trump fought publicly with his advisors, promulgated ineffective treatments, and politicized the governmental response. The resulting chaos was reflected in a growing disrespect for government public health agencies and mistrust of vaccines that protect us, particularly the most vulnerable among us.

In the current campaign, he has called for restructuring or eliminating the FDA and the CDC, organizations that have historically protected us from disasters due to ineffective or dangerous pharmaceuticals and deadly infections. Such changes would sicken countless Americans and make American medical care far less safe and effective.

Veterans’ health:

The Trump administration made it possible for Veterans to seek care outside the VA system, but then undercut efforts to fund the program. Veterans have earned the right to access healthcare. We cannot trust an administration that would quietly try to take it from them.

Reproductive Health Care:

Trump has boasted that he is personally responsible for the overturn of Roe v Wade by the judges who he appointed to the Supreme Court. While the implications of the Dobbs decision are still unfolding, there has been a chilling effect on other aspects of reproductive care, including in vitro fertilization. IVF is not only a last hope for couples facing infertility issues, but is also important for people facing fertility-endangering consequences of chemotherapy and other conditions.

The Trump administration also supported a Title X gag rule on providers discussing abortion with patients. They excluded Planned Parenthood and other similar organizations from the Federal Family Planning Program in an attempt to restrict abortion and family planning access. Regulatory changes also allowed employers and providers to more easily decline to participate in activities which they claimed would violate their religions or moral beliefs.

The Heritage Foundation Project 2025 states that “The CDC should ensure that it is not promoting abortion as health care.” Were a second Trump administration to follow through on such a recommendation, and we have every reason to assume it would, it would be putting countless women in danger based on guidance that is simply incorrect.

We, the undersigned, as former leaders of national health care and delivery organizations, understand the critical role that health policy plays in helping Americans live longer, healthier lives. Accordingly, we believe that a vote for Donald Trump is a vote for more expensive, more dangerous, and less accessible healthcare. We believe a second Trump administration would be harmful to the health of American families. We urge Americans of all stripes to reject him and his policies.

Sincerely,

Andrew W. Gurman MD

Former president, American Medical Association

Clara Adams-Ender RN, BSN, MSN, MMAS, PhD, FAAN, LLAN

Brigadier General (Ret), USA

Former Commanding General, Ft. Belvoir & Chief, Army Nurse Corps, USA

Omar T. Atiq MD, MACP

President Emeritus, American College of Physicians

Edward Baker MD, MPH

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Director, PHPP/CDC & Deputy Director, NIOSH/CDC

Donna Barbisch DHA, RN

Major General (Ret), USA

Former Director, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Integration, USA

Jacqueline A. Bello MD

Former chair, American Medical Association Council on Medical Education

Ronald Blanck DO, MACP

Lieutenant General (Ret), USA

Former Surgeon General, USA

Lonnie R. Bristow MD

Former president, American Medical Association

Kristine Campbell PhD, RN

Brigadier General (Ret), USAR

Former Assistant Surgeon General, USAR

Peter W. Carmel MD, PhD

Former president, American Medical Association

Mitchell Cohen MD

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Director, CCID/CDC

Molly Cooke MD

President Emerita, American College of Physicians

José F. Cordero MD, MPH, FAAP

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Director, NCBDDD/CDC & Deputy Director, NIP/CDC

Mary Pat Couig PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Chief Nurse Officer, USPHS & Associate Director, CDER/FDA

Charles Cutler MD

Former chair, board of regents, American College of Physicians

Jack Ende MD, MACP

President Emeritus, American College of Physicians

Marlene Haffner MD, MPH

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Director, Office of Orphan Products Development/FDA

Bryan Hardin PhD, ATS

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Deputy Director, NIOSH/CDC

Clare Helminiak MD, MPH

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Chief Medical Officer, USPHS

Alan Hinman MD, MPH

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Director, NCPS/CDC

Ardis D. Hoven MD

Former president, American Medical Association

James Hughes MD, FIDSA

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Director, NCID/CDC

Douglas Kamerow MD, MPH

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Director, Center for Practice & Technology Assessment, AHRQ

W. Robert Kiser MD, MBA, MS (Bioethics)

Rear Admiral (Ret), USN

Former Inaugural Commandant, Medical Education & Training Campus, Ft. Sam Houston

William Lassek MD

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Regional Health Administrator, USDHHS

Richard Lemen PhD, MSPH

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Acting Director & Deputy Director, NIOSH/CDC

David Lichtman MD

Rear Admiral (Ret), USN

Former Commanding Officer, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, USN

Former President, American Society for Surgery of the Hand

Samuel Lin MD, PhD, MBA, MPA, MS

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, USDHHS

Boris Lushniak MD, MPH, FAAD, FACPM

Rear Admiral & Deputy Surgeon General of the U.S. (Ret), USPHS

Former Acting Surgeon General of the U.S., USPHS

Barbara L. McAneny MD

Former president, American Medical Association

William McDaniel MD

Rear Admiral (Ret), USN

Former Commander, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, USN

Michael Mittelman OD, MPH, MBA, FACHE, FAAO

Rear Admiral (Ret), USN

Former Deputy Surgeon General, USN

Kenneth Moritsugu MD, MPH, FACPM

Rear Admiral & Deputy Surgeon General of the U.S. (Ret), USPHS

Former Acting Surgeon General of the U.S., USPHS

Audrey Nora MD, MPH

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Director, Bureau of Maternal & Child Health, HRSA

Patrick W. O’Carroll MD, PPH, FACPM, FACMI

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Regional Health Administrator, USDHHS

Gale Pollock CRNA, FACHE, FAAN

Major General & Deputy Surgeon General (Ret), USA

Former Acting Surgeon General & Chief, Army Nurse Corps, USA

Charles Roadman MD

Lieutenant General (Ret), USAF

Former Surgeon General, USAF

Mark Rosenberg MD, MPH

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Director, NCIPC/CDC

William S. Stokes DVM, DACAW, DACLAW

Rear Admiral & Assistant Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Chief Veterinary Officer, USPHS & Director, NICEATM/NIEHS

Loree Sutton MD, MS

Brigadier General (Ret), USA

Former Commander, DeWitt Army Community Hospital, USA

Robin Umberg MBA, RN

Brigadier General (Ret), USA

Former Chief of Professional Services, 3rd Medical Command, USA

Craig Vanderwagen MD

Rear Admiral & Deputy Surgeon General (Ret), USPHS

Former Assistant Secretary for Preparedness & Response, USDHHS

Deborah Wheeling MS, MSN, BSN

Major General (Ret), ARNG/USA

Former Deputy Surgeon General, ARNG/USA

Robert Whitney, Jr.  DVM, MS, DACLAM

Rear Admiral & Deputy Surgeon General of the U.S. (Ret), USPHS

Former Acting Surgeon General of the U.S., USPHS

Margaret Wilmoth PhD, MSS, RN, FAAN

Major General (Ret), USA

Former Deputy Surgeon General, USAR

Cecil B Wilson MD

Former president, American Medical Association

Former chair, board of regents, American College of Physicians

Michael Wyrick MHA

Major General (Ret), USAF

Former Deputy Surgeon General, USAF

Stephen Xenakis MD

Brigadier General (Ret), USA

Former Commanding General, Southeast Regional Medical Command, USA

Thursday News: “How Netanyahu Pushed Biden to Edge of ‘Red Line’”; “Top Republicans, led by Trump, refuse to commit to accept 2024 election results”; Mike Johnson Survives – For Now; “Youngkin says he ‘fully supports’ how police have handled pro-Palestinian protests on Virginia college campuses”

By
lowkell
-
24

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, May 9.

How Gaza Is (and Is Not) Playing Out in Virginia Democratic Primaries

By
Blue Virginia
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1

by Sam Shirazi

Discussing the electoral implications in Virginia of the conflict in Gaza seems trivial given the life-and-death situation on the ground. At the same time, understanding the domestic political ramifications of the conflict is important because of the relationship between Israel and the U.S.

To get a sense of how the issue is playing out, we can look at three Democratic primaries in the Northern Virginia U.S. House seats of VA-7, VA-10, and VA-11. Despite strong feelings on Gaza within parts of the Democratic base, that has not always translated into significant impact on these primaries.

In general, the Democratic candidates agree on almost every other major issue, such as abortion, gun safety, Ukraine, etc. The one issue where there are some differences and potential places to see debate is over Gaza.

But most candidates rarely talk about the issue unless directly asked. Even then, they do not usually use it as an issue to distinguish themselves from other candidates. The majority of the candidates do not even discuss the issue on their website, showing most do not see it as a defining issue for them. Given this backdrop, it’s not surprising that Gaza is unlikely to decide any of these primaries.

VA-10

Gaza has perhaps the most importance in VA-10, where incumbent Rep. Jennifer Wexton unfortunately had to retire due to health reasons. This district has a relatively sizable Muslim population with a concentration of voters around the Dulles area in Loudoun, with the county as a whole having more than 25,000 Muslims (out of a county population of about 440,000).

There was a notable protest vote against President Biden in several Loudoun precincts during the March Presidential primary. Overall, Biden got 82% in Loudoun despite getting 88.5% statewide, which was among his worst showing in any county or city in Virginia.

The primary has 12 Democrats and no clear frontrunner. In this environment, it would seem like Gaza might be a way for candidates to distinguish themselves, but it has rarely been a major issue on the campaign trail.

Former Virginia education Secretary Atif Qarni, who is Muslim, is the candidate who has raised the issue the most. He has called for an unconditional ceasefire and also spoken out against the arrests of protesters at college campuses. State Senator Jennifer Boysko has also been more outspoken about civilian causalities in Gaza. She called for a ceasefire as early as October 27, before most Democratic politicians.

On the other end of spectrum, former House of Delegates Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn and Delegate Dan Hemler, who are both Jewish, have been more supportive of Israel. Filler-Corn has gained the support of the PAC Democratic Majority for Israel. Helmer has also spoken about his family’s personal connection to Israel.

The other candidates in the race are State Senator Suhas Subramanyam, Delegate David Reid, Delegate Michelle Moldonado, Krystal Kaul, Travis Nembhard, Mark Leighton, Marion Devoe, and Adrian Pokharel. There are some nuances in their positions on the issue, but most generally have taken the middle ground.

Given differences between some of the candidates, one might expect this might be more of an issue for debate. While it has been raised, it seems like none of the candidates are willing to make this the single issue they focus on.

VA-7

In VA-7, there is another dynamic as there is more of a clear frontrunner in the Democratic primary to replace Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who is running for Governor. Eugene Vindman has a national profile and big fundraising advantage.

He’s facing off against five other candidates Delegate Brianna Sewell, former Delegate Elizabeth Guzman, Prince William County Supervisor Andrea Bailey, Prince William County Supervisor Margaret Angela Franklin, Carl Bedell, and Clifford Heinzer. Guzman draws the biggest ideological contrast with Vindman given she comes from the progressive wing of the party.

Vindman by comparison is more moderate and has expressed his support for Israel when attending the AIPAC Congressional summit. He also spoken about his experience coming to the U.S. as a Jewish immigrant and escaping the antisemitism of the Soviet Union.

Given divided opinions about AIPAC among Democrats, it seems this could be an area Vindman could be vulnerable. But neither Guzman nor the other candidates have been willing to go after Vindman on this issue, although Heinzer has expressed his opposition to continued Israeli military action in Gaza. Facing a divided field, Vindman has been able to avoid this issue becoming a lightning rod in the race.

VA-11

It is important to note that one incumbent Democrat is getting a primary challenger, largely based on this issue. Gerry Connolly has represented VA-11 since first winning in 2008 and has only faced a primary challenger in 2020, winning easily.

Ahsan Nasar is a lawyer challenging Connolly this year who comes from the growing Muslim-American community in the district. He has a prominent section on his website discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Connolly for his part has voted to continue providing aid to Israel (as well as aid to the Palestinians in Gaza), even while his colleague Don Beyer in the neighboring VA-8 was one of a handful (37) of Democrats who voted no on that “supplemental.” At the same time, Connolly did call for a ceasefire in February, before President Biden and many other Democratic politicians; and Connolly was endorsed by Emgage Action (“National nonpartisan organization dedicated to turning out and empowering Muslim voters.”).

Ultimately, it is unlikely that Connolly is in much trouble given his long history and popularity in Fairfax County. But it is a reminder that all Democratic members of Congress have to navigate this issue right now.

Political Reality of Gaza in These Primaries

Despite VA-7, VA-10, and VA-11 being diverse districts, the reality is that the Congressional primary on June 18 will be older, whiter, and wealthier than the electorate in November. These primary voters seem more focused on domestic issues, as opposed to foreign policy. In “internal” Democratic campaigns’ polling, the top issues so far among VA10 Democratic voters appear to be: democracy/voting rights, reproductive freedom, gun violence prevention, healthcare, climate, and numerous others – education, transportation, data centers, etc., etc. – before it gets to foreign policy in general or Gaza specifically. Also, new polling of college students indicates that “only a sliver of students are participating [in protests against the war in Gaza] or view it as a top issue.” And a recent Quinnipiac University poll found that only 6% of Democrats view “international conflicts” as “the most urgent issue facing the country today,” compared to 33% who say “preserving democracy,” 16% “the economy,” 9% “abortion,” 8% “health care,” 8% “immigration,” 7% “climate change,” 6% “gun violence.”

So, while there is no doubt that there are some primary voters who have Gaza as their top issue, it otherwise ranks lower among top issues for likely Democratic primary voters, based on internal polling in VA-10 and other national polling.  There is also the reality that the Democratic primary electorate is divided over the issue. Some are more sympathetic to Israel while others more sympathetic to the Palestinians. Many don’t want to take sides and simply want a resolution to the conflict.

In this environment, any statement will likely upset one part of the Democratic primary electorate. No matter how careful and nuanced a message, it will likely go too far for some and not far enough for others. That’s likely why we are seeing candidates focusing on different issues that unite and energize Democrats. Instead of something to distinguish themselves, Gaza is more of an issue to carefully navigate.

It might seem odd given the amount of attention paid to the issue, but it is what the polling indicates. So while the Gaza situation is certainly important and something that deserves attention, it is unlikely that it will decide any of these Democratic primaries in Virginia.

New Rural Virginia Publishes Q’s & A’s with Democratic Candidates in VA01, VA04, VA05, VA06, VA07, VA09, VA10

By
Blue Virginia
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3

by Rachel Levy

My name is Rachel Levy and I am the new (and first!) Executive Director of New Rural Virginia (NRVA). NRVA is a 501(c)(4) established in 2021. Our goal was to fill a niche in Virginia politics and policy where the visions and policies of Democrats largely overlooked, while those of Republicans often ran counter to the actual needs of rural Virginians. We began with a policy-focused newsletter, The Rural Angle. However, we are now expanding our mission to engage directly in policy advocacy that is both readily understandable by rural voters and that meaningfully represents their interests. As we grow, we will seek to strengthen rural communities in Virginia through education, advocacy, mobilization, and better political accountability when such policies are lacking.

For May, we have published a special Democratic Primary Election edition of our newsletter. Our team sent surveys to all 2024 Democratic candidates (primary and those without a primary) who qualified for the ballot in the seven congressional districts in Virginia with at least 10-15% rural areas (i.e., CD-01, CD-04, CD-05, CD-06, CD-07, CD-09, and CD-10), as well as to Virginia’s candidate for the U.S. Senate. We are not making endorsements in this cycle, but are publishing the responses as a public service.

For each candidate who responded, we included a link to their campaign website, a head shot, and the responses to three basic questions:

1. Tell us about yourself, specifically about how you’re qualified to represent the rural parts of the district where you’re running?
2. What are the 1 to 3 biggest problems or needs in the rural areas of your district?
3. How do you propose to address these problems/needs in Congress?

The responses are published in numerical order, by Congressional District, and then in alphabetical order, by last name. We will also be publishing the responses on a special page on our website and on our social media channels. Where there is no primary, we have noted as such at the top of the section.

Don’t forget that Early Voting started May 3, 2024, with Primary Election Day taking place on June 18th, 2024. To confirm which Congressional District you live in, go here. To learn more about when and how to vote in Virginia, go here.

More information on New Rural Virginia, including our mission, how to support us, and how to sign up for our email list can be found on our website NewRuralVa.org or via our various other channels. You can support the work of our organization with a donation here.

Split Screen: Biden’s Delivering Jobs vs. Trump’s Broken Promises

By
Blue Virginia
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2

From President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign:

Split Screen: Biden’s Delivering Jobs vs. Trump’s Broken Promises

Today in battleground Wisconsin, beyond vibes and pundit speak, voters get to see the clear split screen between President Biden’s record of accomplishment and Donald Trump’s broken promises.

Hell, even our friends at Fox and Friends agree.

President Biden is announcing that Microsoft is making a multi-billion dollar investment in Racine, Wisconsin, that is expected to create thousands of jobs.

For those keeping track, President Biden is delivering JOBS across the Blue Wall:

In Wisconsin, nearly 200,000 new jobs. In Pennsylvania, 500,000 new jobs. In Michigan, 350,000 new jobs.

Donald Trump’s record of broken promises is clear across the country:

Trump’s Broken Promise to Wisconsin: Trump promised $10 billion in investment and up to 13,000 new jobs at the Foxconn plant, calling it the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and the embodiment of the MAGA agenda.

Trump’s Broken Promise to Michigan: Trump promised Michigan “won’t lose one plant” and a “complete revitalization of the Michigan manufacturing sector.”

Trump’s Broken Promise to Pennsylvania: Trump promised, “your jobs will come back under a Trump administration” and “we’re going to bring back our manufacturing.”

Trump’s Broken Promise to Ohio: Trump promised “those jobs have left Ohio. They’re all coming back” and “jobs will return … and new factories will come rushing onto our shores.” Trump boasted he would save the Lordstown plant.

  • Trump’s Reality: GM shut down the Lordstown plant after Trump promised he would save it. Trump’s response to plant closure and lost jobs was, “It doesn’t really matter,” despite 1,500 workers losing their jobs. His next promise of a replacement plant… flopped.

Trump’s Broken Promise to Indiana: Trump promised to keep the Carrier plant and jobs in the U.S.

Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson James Singer released the following statement:

“The choice in this election is clear: Joe Biden is delivering jobs, while all Donald Trump delivered as president was broken promises.

“Joe Biden knows a job is a lot more than a paycheck – it’s about dignity. It’s why he’s spent every day working to bring our country back from the economic abyss Donald Trump left us in.

“Americans will go to the polls this November knowing that Joe Biden is a man of his word who has delivered 15 million new jobs, and that Donald Trump is a fraud who over-promised, under-delivered, and sold America out.”

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Paid for by Biden for President

Video: Pressed by MAGA Radio Host to Explain His Slimy Scam PAC, 2024 VA GOP U.S. Senate Frontrunner Hung Cao Has ZERO Answers

By
lowkell
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3

Can anyone explain what the heck far-right-extremist Hung Cao is blabbering about here with MAGA radio host John Fredericks? For DPVA’s post about what Fredericks is pressing Cao about in the following video, see here and below. Bottom line: Cao complete “failed to explain where the money he raised into the scam PAC went.” Check it out, below.

P.S. For more background on this nutjob, see Video: VA GOP Senate Candidate Hung Cao, Who Compared Abortion to the Atrocities of the Holocaust, Gets Heated When Asked About It, Audio: “Hung Cao’s attack on ailing Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton is even more disgusting when you hear it for yourself.”, Far-Right Republican Hung Cao Launches U.S. Senate Campaign with Dark, Disturbing, Unhinged, Fear Mongering, Falsehood-Filled Video, Glenn Youngkin Enthusiastically Campaigns for Hung Cao, Who Defended Violent 1/6/21 Insurrectionists, Compared Abortion to the Holocaust, Denies Climate Science, Pushed the “Big Lie,” etc., Video: New VA10 Far-Right Republican Nominee Rants That the “Left” Is Supposedly “Destroying Gender” and “the Nuclear Family”; Also “Marxism,” “Equity,” “Pure Evil,” the “Enemy,” etc., VA10 Republicans Nominate Hung Cao, Who Backs “Off-Label Alternatives” to Treating COVID, Is 100% Anti-Reproductive Freedom, Rails Against “Insidious Grooming…of Students” by “government-backed organizations,” etc. to Take on Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA10), etc.

CAO ADMITS THAT HE USED HIS SCAM PAC’S MONEY TO PROMOTE HIMSELF 

Richmond, VA – This morning on the John Fredericks Show, Hung Cao admitted that instead of using his super PAC’s money as he pledged to go to other Republican candidates running in 2023, he used the money to promote himself on cable TV. John Fredericks went after Cao, saying, “you took the money in, you didn’t give it out, and that’s just a matter of public record. Why?”

The best answer Hung Cao could come up with was, “A lot of the money was reimbursed because you know, the cost to go to New York for Fox hits and stuff like that…” Cao said it: he used the money to promote himself on cable TV! Must be nice.

During this scathing interview, Cao failed to explain where the money he raised into the scam PAC went. As a reminder, Cao’s scam PAC received over $100,000 but “no support of any kind, in-kind or otherwise” went to Virginia’s Republican candidates, though that’s what Cao repeatedly promised to do.

The most damning interaction Cao had in his interview with John Fredericks included him scolding Cao for his deceitfulness and reminding him that this is all a matter of public record, starting at 1:57:18:

John Fredericks: So I mean, I guess I have to ask the question. Your PAC raised money. I mean, that’s a matter of public record. You promised them though, when you raised it, that it would go to political candidates that you were backing Republicans running in the General Assembly when Republicans were going to maintain the House and take the Senate, which they lost both houses and but when we look at the PAC records. You didn’t give any money to these candidates, so you took the money in but you didn’t give it out and that’s just a matter of public record. Why?

Hung Cao: Okay, the the PAC raised a little bit of money and then I moved a lot of money from my you know, what’s left over from Cao for Congress to keep a lot because you know like start-up costs a lot. You have to have lawyers you have to have compliance people, you have to have a lot of people to you have to have start fees — so a lot of the money was moved over to from from the old campaign to keep it alive and to be honest, I mean, the lady didn’t know what she was doing. A lot of the money was reimbursed because you know, the the cost to go to New York for for Fox hits and stuff like that. Look, there’s nowhere —- my wife and I supported local candidates. The the primary was in June and I got out in May to consider running for US Senate because I felt it was it was not right for me to be part of the super PAC while I contemplated a run for US Senate.

So just to keep track of this total train wreck interview, even conservative talk radio host John Fredericks is chastising Hung Cao for lying to Virginia Republicans about his scam PAC and his failure to explain where $100,000 went, money that surely could have helped other Republican candidates in 2023.

“Hung Cao lied to Virginians to promote himself and fessed up to it,” said DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker. “Virginians can spot a phony like Hung Cao from a mile away, and all they see when they look at Cao is a fraud who will do or say anything to get elected.”

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