U.S. And International Politics

[Rick Plant]

GOP lawmakers scorched for promoting the 'hateful paranoid nonsense' that led to the Buffalo mass shooting



In a blunt column for the conservative Bulwark, Cato Senior Fellow Cathy Young raged against the spread of the so-called "replacement theory" that played a major part in prompting an 18-year-old white man in New York to go on a shooting rampage Saturday afternoon in a Buffalo-area grocery store situated in a community that is reportedly 80 percent black.

As Young put it, "Those who follow the news know that this is far from the first time “replacement theory” has figured in the ravings of a mass shooter," before adding, "We know these ideas are floating out there. We also know that, disturbingly, “replacement theory” is being mainstreamed on the right," the columnist specifying Fox News host Tucker Carlson who has repeatedly claimed that Democrats are trying to "replace" Americans with immigrants.

As Young notes, two prominent Republican lawmakers have also taken up the "replacement theory" banner, with Rep Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeting, "The Left/Media think of replacement solely on race/ethnicity terms. I don't at all. Democrats failed voters who relied on them to run their states/cities. Now they are importing new voters. That is my argument. Those reading more into it are projecting their own bias."

Add to that, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who Young explained, ".. jumped on the bandwagon as well with a Facebook ad claiming that the Democrats were going to use amnesty for illegal immigrants to 'overthrow our current electorate and create a permanent liberal majority in Washington.'"

"This is hateful, stupid, paranoid nonsense," she wrote before adding, "It is also, need I point out, the epitome of collectivist 'identity politics' the right sometimes likes to deplore in its progressive guises."

Noting that a recent poll shows that a third of Americans "agree at least somewhat that 'There is a group of people in this country who are trying to replace native-born Americans with immigrants who agree with their political views,'" Young wrote, "In a sane and decent political climate, both media figures and political figures on the right would quickly and emphatically disavow “great replacement” as un-American, race-baiting nonsense. Which means … don’t hold your breath."

"That was a joke. Cue bitter laugh," she lamented.

You can read more here: https://morningshots.thebulwark.com/p/the-replacement-theory-and-terrorist


'Elise has chosen chaos': Stefanik slammed by Dem colleague for extremist tweet prior to Buffalo shooting



Reacting to the Buffalo, New York mass shooting at a grocery store in a predominately Black neighborhood committed by an admittedly racist 18-year-old white man, Rep Eric Swalwell (D-CA) pointed the finger at the third-ranking Republican in the House for a tweet she made earlier that has received universal condemnation.

As was noted Saturday afternoon following the shooting that claimed ten lives and left three more wounded, Rep. Elise Stefanik has been a proponent of the conspiracy-minded "Great Replacement" belief popular among white supremacists.

Eight months ago, the Time Union took Stefanik to task in an editorial, writing, "That rhetoric has been resonating ever since in the right-wing, repackaged lately in what’s known as 'replacement theory,' espoused by conservative media figures like Fox News’ Tucker Carlson. And it has seeped into the mainstream political discourse in the Capital Region, where Rep. Elise Stefanik has adapted this despicable tactic for campaign ads."

With that in mind, Swalwell noted that prior to the shooting Stefanik attacked liberals on Twitter where she wrote, "The White House, House Dems, & usual pedo grifters are so out of touch with the American people that rather than present ANY PLAN or urgency to address the nationwide baby formula crisis, they double down on sending pallets of formula to the southern border. Joe Biden has NO PLAN."

According to Swalwell, that type of rhetoric which included the inflammatory "pedo grifters" is one of the causes of violence in the U.S.

Retweeting her post, he commented, "You know why Elise’s tweet is so awful? We just suffered another mass shooting as a country from a shooter motivated by extremism. You know what feeds extremism? This tweet from Elise."

He then added, "We can have community or we can have chaos. Elise has chosen chaos. Let’s all make her own this."

Rep. Eric Swalwell @RepSwalwell

You know why Elise’s tweet is so awful? We just suffered another mass shooting as a country from a shooter motivated by extremism. You know what feeds extremism? This tweet from Elise. We can have community or we can have chaos. Elise has chosen chaos. Let’s all make her own this.

https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1525656301216313344

[Rick Plant]

‘We’re not going back’: Val Demings slams Rubio, anti-abortion rhetoric at pro-choice conference

ORLANDO, Fla. — In a speech in Orlando on Saturday, U.S. Senate hopeful Val Demings touted her pro-choice stance and attacked Republican Sen. Marco Rubio’s position on abortion as “radical.”

Rubio, who’s seeking a third term, has long supported bans on abortion with no exceptions, most recently saying a failed Senate bill to codify Roe v. Wade would legalize ”the killing of unborn children right up to the day of delivery.” The 1973 Supreme Court ruling is on the cusp of being overturned, according to a draft opinion obtained by Politico.

His campaign described his likely opponent in November as “a radical who supports abortion up until the moment of birth,” in what is likely to become a wedge issue in the race, Florida Politics reported.

Demings called the claim “foolishness,” voicing her support for abortions “up until the point of viability or when it threatens the health of the mother.” She also pointed to Rubio’s past support for a 2001 “scarlet letter” law signed and later deemed unconstitutional, which required unwed mothers in Florida who wished to put their children up for adoption to publish details about their sex lives in newspapers.

“Desperate people say desperate things,” Demings said in response. “... I know they are searching for something to draw the attention away from his extreme view about the constitutional right that people have in this country.”

She added, “The nerve of him to say there should be no restrictions, even including incest, rape and abuse — now I think that’s extreme.”

Speaking at the She’s the Change conference hosted at the Rosen Plaza Hotel by pro-choice group Ruth’s List, Demings also called Roe v. Wade “established law.” The Women’s Health Protection Act, the Senate bill that would have codified the ruling and invalidated state abortion bans, failed to overcome the Republican filibuster, with a 51-49 vote against moving the legislation forward.

“When I decided to raise my family, I didn’t ask my congressman, I didn’t ask my governor and I’m dang sure I didn’t ask my senator,” Demings said. “Women have a right to choose her own destiny. We’re not going back, we’re not shutting up, we’re not sitting down, we are going to fight and fight and fight some more.”

The leaked draft opinion penned by Justice Samuel Alito sparked outrage throughout the U.S., with mass protests taking place around the country while doctors and abortion providers speak out as others, including religious conservatives, praise the possible decision.

It also comes as Republican state legislatures pass restrictive abortion bans in anticipation of the Supreme Court’s official ruling, expected to come down later this year. Last month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, except if the fetus is found to have a “fatal fetal abnormality.”

The law, which many fear could be expanded next year after the Supreme Court’s ruling, does not include exceptions for rape or incest. A statewide poll by the University of North Florida found nearly 60% of Floridians are opposed to the newly-signed ban.

“We are here today to protect life,” DeSantis said at a signing ceremony in Kissimmee. “We are here today to defend those who can’t defend themselves.”

Florida Democrats have scrambled to mobilize their base ahead of November’s elections, where Rubio’s Senate seat and the governorship are at stake, as the party nationally has embraced abortion as a key issue in this year’s midterms. A Pew Research Center poll in March found 61% of voters support legal abortion in all or most circumstances.

Ruth’s List, the group that hosted Saturday’s conference, recently released a list of pro-choice Democratic women candidates, including State Rep. Anna Eskamani of Orlando and attorney general candidate and former Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala.

We need the steadfast and bold leadership of pro-choice women in office to fight for our families and our rights, now more than ever,” Mini Timmaraju, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, told the audience.

But Democrats have also been criticized as pro-life Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia broke party ranks against the bill to codify Roe v. Wade and as top leaders lend their support to pro-life candidates.

In Texas, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has refused to pull her endorsement of Rep. Henry Cuellar’s reelection campaign against a progressive challenger, despite him being the only anti-abortion House Democrat.

Demings didn’t comment on the House party leaders’ support for Cuellar, preferring to keep the discussion about her race with Rubio.

“I don’t know what’s going on in Texas,” she said. “But here in Florida, the overwhelming majority of men and women believe in a woman’s right to choose.”

© Orlando Sentinel

[Rick Plant]

So if a woman is brutally attacked, radical Republicans are going to force the woman to give birth no matter what because of their radical evangelical religious beliefs. Republicans are voiding what the Constitution states where we have a separation between church and state. These are the same right wingers who foamed at the mouth when mask mandates were implemented to stop the spread of a deadly virus so we could prevent deaths in children and adults. They cried masks were "unconstitutional" and claimed it was their "body and their choice" not to wear a mask, but now they will not let a woman have control over their own body as they are forcing her to give birth to rapists' babies. This is the beginning of right wing Republican facism and authoritarianism. If Republicans can force women to give birth if they are brutally raped, they can force Americans to do anything they want against their will if Republicans have the full power. Think about it.     

Those are babies too': Nebraska's GOP governor plans to outlaw abortion exceptions for rape and incest victims



During an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union," Gov. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) made it perfectly clear that, if Roe v Wade is overturned by the conservative Supreme Court as expected, he doesn't want to see any exceptions made for victims of rape or incest.

Speaking with host Dana Bash, the lawmaker brushed aside concerns about victims of horrific crimes being forced to give birth.

With Nebraska having just failed to pass a so-called "trigger law" that would ban abortions entirely, host Bash asked, "The abortion ban you tried to pass did not include any exceptions for rape or incest,” then added, "Can you clarify: do you think that the state of Nebraska should require a young girl who was raped to carry that pregnancy to term?”

Ricketts replied by labeling his state as a "pro-life satte" before adding, "Those are babies, too. If Roe v. Wade -- a horrible constitutional decision -- gets overturned by the Supreme Court, which we’re hopeful of, here in Nebraska we’ll take further steps to protect those preborn babies."

“Including in the case of rape or incest?” the CNN host pressed.

“They’re still babies, too. Yes, they’re still babies," he replied before adding, "I will work with our speaker of the legislature to have a special session and do more to protect preborn babies."

Watch below:

Ricketts replied by labeling his state as a "pro-life satte" before adding, "Those are babies, too. If Roe v. Wade -- a horrible constitutional decision -- gets overturned by the Supreme Court, which we’re hopeful of, here in Nebraska we’ll take further steps to protect those preborn babies."

“Including in the case of rape or incest?” the CNN host pressed.

“They’re still babies, too. Yes, they’re still babies," he replied before adding, "I will work with our speaker of the legislature to have a special session and do more to protect preborn babies."

Watch below:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1525834166335684610

[Rick Plant]

Fox host acknowledges 'white replacement theory' could have led to Buffalo shooting

For the first time since the Buffalo, New York shooting, the Fox network is mentioning the so-called "great replacement" theory, which was a key part of the accused gunman's manifesto.

Speaking about it on Sunday, host Eric Shawn noted that the man who lived in far south New York drove to the neighborhood in Buffalo because it was known for being heavily African American.

"Which raises my last question," Shawn continued. "The issue of white supremacist ideology, of terrorism, of him allegedly citing the manifesto of 'white replacement' theory — how concerned are you about that, those allegations and what may have been in his mind?"

Erie County New York District Attorney John Flynn said that they're very concerning and that a "terrorism charge by hate" is on the same level as a murder in the first-degree charge. Mandatory sentencing, however, brings a life-without-parole sentence in terrorism by hate charge, whereas first-degree murder doesn't automatically assign that.

[Rick Plant]

Idaho Republicans scrambling to avoid party takeover by militia members



According to a report from the New York Times, the already highly conservative Idaho Republican Party is attempting to stave off an insurgency of militia members, John Birch Society members and other far-right extremists who are trying to grab the reins of power in the sparsely populated state.

As the Times' Mike Baker documents, aspiring candidates recently showed up to make their pitch at a John Birch sponsored candidates' forum in north Idaho, where some attendees applauded when an aspiring lawmaker proposed “machine guns for everyone" and another advocated taking over federally-owned lands.

According to Baker, the battle between extremist Lt. Gov Janice McGeachin (R) and current Gov. Brad Little, who has pushed to slash taxes and ban abortions, is an example of how far the Idaho GOP could be headed.

"The bitter intraparty contest between Ms. McGeachin and Mr. Little, set to be settled in the state’s primary election on Tuesday, reflects the intensifying split that is pitting Idaho’s conventional pro-gun, anti-abortion, tax-cut conservatives against a growing group of far-right radicals who are agitating to seize control of what is already one of the most conservative corners of the Republican Party in the country," Baker wrote, adding that Idaho has, for years become a hub of anti-government sentiments and now there is a move to take over the GOP apparatus and move the state even farther into extremism.

"Over the years, the Idaho panhandle has been home to white supremacist groups and people ready to take up arms against the U.S. government. Such groups and their allies have been particularly wary of the changing nature of Idaho’s cities, including the legions of other newcomers responding to a booming job market in Boise," the report states. "In Idaho, where Mr. Trump won 64 percent of the vote in 2020, carrying 41 of the state’s 44 counties, many longtime Republicans fear the party’s name, identity and deep conservative values are being commandeered by the state’s fringe elements."

In an interview, former lieutenant governor Jack Riggs issued w warning to his fellow Republicans stating, "If traditional Republican principles in Idaho want to survive, then the traditional Republicans are going to have to work harder.”

The Times report adds, "Mr. Riggs said the local party has been increasingly taken over by zealots motivated by a desire to limit the influence of government, sometimes at the expense of the traditional Republican goals of promoting business and growth. Many of the new activists, he said, express a willingness to fight the U.S. government, with arms if necessary."

Of note, Baker wrote is the resurgence of the Birchers in the state.

"One of the growing powers in the region is the John Birch Society, which dominated the far right in the 1960s and 1970s by opposing the civil rights movement and equal rights for women while embracing conspiratorial notions about communist infiltration of the federal government," he explained. "The group was purged from the conservative movement decades ago but has found a renewed foothold in places like the Idaho panhandle."

You can read more here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/15/us/idaho-republican-primary-little-mcgeachin.html

[Rick Plant]

Mitch McConnell takes shot at Rand Paul after meeting with Ukraine's Zelenskyy



Returning from Ukraine where he and other lawmakers met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) blew off fellow Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul's plans to try and stop an aid package for the country warding off an invasion by Russia.

According to a report from Politico's Burgess Everett, the senior Republican is fighting a small-scale war of his own with the MAGA-aligned members of his own caucus who are becoming more and more non-interventionist when it comes to helping the embattled Ukrainians.

According to Everett, "It’s Mitch McConnell vs. MAGA when it comes to Ukraine," adding, "At least a half-dozen Republican senators are expected to oppose the aid bill, according to one Republican senator. And in private meetings, an increasing number of GOP senators have questioned various aspects of the request."

Pushing back, McConnell explained on Sunday, "It’s in America’s interest to do this. This is not a charity we’re involved in here. It’s in our interests to help Ukrainians just like it’s in the interest of NATO countries. So this is not some handout.”

Pressed on Paul's vocal opposition to the bill, which he blocked last week, but will likely pass when brought up again this week, McConnell took a jab at the junior senator from his state, telling reporters, "Well, it’s no secret. Rand and I have a different world view of the importance of Americans’ role around the world."

He then added, "So that was not surprising. And it won’t create a problem. We’ll get the job done by Wednesday."

Read more here: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/15/mcconnell-maga-ukraine-visit-00032572

[Rick Plant]

A major GOP group is ditching Bill McSwain, joining a last-ditch effort to help Lou Barletta stop Doug Mastriano



An influential Harrisburg conservative group that controls one of the biggest political action committees in Pennsylvania endorsed former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta for governor on Sunday, calling on other contenders to do the same to stop State Sen. Doug Mastriano from winning the Republican nomination.

In doing so, Commonwealth Partners Chamber of Entrepreneurs, a membership association, publicly joined a last-ditch effort to rally behind Barletta as some Republicans worry Mastriano's views are too extreme to win in a purple state.

Commonwealth Partners had previously endorsed former US attorney Bill McSwain, and its political group has spent nearly $13 million boosting his candidacy. On Sunday, the group called on McSwain and another GOP gubernatorial hopeful, former Delaware County Councilman Dave White, to withdraw from the race and endorse Barletta in Tuesday's primary election.

"It's become abundantly clear in recent days that nominating Lou Barletta for governor is Republicans' best chance to defeat Josh Shapiro in November," Commonwealth Partners president and CEO Matt Brouillette said in a statement. Shapiro, the state attorney general, is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

"Months ago, Commonwealth Partners began cautioning of the dangers of nominating Doug Mastriano, as he would not be able to win the swing voters necessary to win in November," Brouillette said.

"Unfortunately, although Mastriano is garnering support from less than 30% of likely primary voters, given the large field of candidates, this could be enough to secure him the nomination," Brouillette said.

Representatives for McSwain and White did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Scores of current and former Republican elected officials have rallied behind Barletta over the last week, as some in the party argued that Mastriano would march to the nomination absent a major campaign shakeup. The eleventh-hour effort to stop Mastriano already faced steep odds.

Mastriano has said the effort shows he's running against the establishment.

© The Philadelphia Inquirer