Category: US Democratic Party

The DNC War Room released a new television ad today, “Tested Positive,” that highlights how, even after contracting the coronavirus, Trump continues to put lives at risk by ignoring experts, holding in-person superspreader events, and lying to the American people about the threat of the virus.

“Trump ignored the advice of experts, didn’t contain the pandemic, and endangered American lives with all his lies — even after he tested positive for COVID himself,” said DNC War Room Senior Spokesperson and Advisor Lily Adams. “Now, as new cases surge, Trump is still claiming the virus will disappear and refusing to act, while the American people pay the price.”

“Tested Positive” will air in battleground states and on cable in Washington, D.C. It is the 14th ad the DNC War Room has released since June to hold Trump accountable for his failed record. 

The post NEW DNC AD: “Tested Positive” appeared first on Democrats.

Today, the Democratic National Committee is announcing new, state-specific voter education videos featuring former President Barack Obama, who encourages Americans to visit IWillVote.com to learn about their different options to cast their ballot and make a plan to vote to vote today.

The DNC is releasing versions of the video with state-specific voting instructions for AK, AL, AZ, CO, FL, GA, IA, KS, KY, ME, MI, MN, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NV, OH, PA, SC, TX, VA, and WI.

“So much is at stake in this election — from getting the pandemic under control to building a fairer economy to taking on climate change to protecting our health care,” President Obama says in the video. “History shows that the easiest way to make sure that you and your friends vote is to make a plan. And when it comes to voting this year, having a plan has never been more important.”

WATCH HERE:

The DNC and Biden campaign recently rolled out new features on IWillVote.com — Democrats’ voter participation website —  that help voters easily request and return their ballot by mail, as well as learn important information about the voting process in their state as they make their plan to vote. The site is also completely accessible in Spanish at VoyaVotar.com.

The post NEW DNC VIDEO: President Obama Helps Americans Make A Plan To Vote appeared first on Democrats.

In response to Trump’s Pennsylvania rally where he once again joked about kissing his supporters and claimed without evidence that you’re immune after recovering from COVID, DNC War Room senior spokesperson and advisor Lily Adams released the following statement:

“Trump is parading around the country holding potential superspreader rallies, joking about the coronavirus, and misleading Americans about being immune. It’s hard to imagine a more reckless and irresponsible approach as the country enters the pandemic’s third wave. Trump is not only ‘asking for trouble,’ he is actively causing it.”

The post DNC on Trump’s Pennsylvania Rally appeared first on Democrats.

DNC Chair Tom Perez released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision granting the Trump administration’s emergency request to end U.S. Census counting early:

“This ruling is a threat to our democracy and a disgraceful attempt to silence marginalized communities. The Trump administration’s goals are simple: to strip states of their fair share of resources and representation and to disempower immigrants and voters of color. It’s long past time for Donald Trump and Republican leaders to stop using the census as a tool for political gain. On November 3, we must end the Trump era of corruption and craven opportunism. We must elect Democrats up and down the ballot across the country. Nothing less than the fate of our democracy is at stake.”

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The post DNC releases a new ad in Spanish and English featuring America Ferrera encouraging voters to use IWillVote.com and VoyAVotar.com appeared first on Democrats.

Today, the Democratic National Committee released a new series of state specific voter education videos featuring former President Barack Obama, who encourages Americans to visit IWillVote.com and make a plan to vote.

Check out what they’re saying about the new videos in battlegrounds across the country:

CNN: Democrats deploy Barack Obama for video voting guides. “Barack Obama is urging Americans in 24 key states to vote in his latest foray into the 2020 election, stressing in new digital videos released by the Democratic National Committee on Tuesday the need for voters to make plans for casting their ballots. The videos, which feature the former president saying there is ‘so much at stake in this election,’ will be used digitally by the Democratic committee, including by statewide campaigns, state parties and other allied progressive groups.”

In Arizona:

Arizona Informant: In New Digital Ad, President Obama Urges Arizonans to Make a Plan to Vote. “With only a few weeks left until Election Day, President Obama is taking to the airwaves to make sure that voters in Arizona have a plan to make their voices heard. In a new digital video released in collaboration with the Democratic National Committee, former President Obama speaks directly to Arizona voters and educates them on their different options to cast their ballots this year. He directs Arizonans to IWillVote.com — the DNC’s voter participation hub that helps voters learn important information about the voting process.”

In Colorado:

Denver Urban Spectrum: Former President Barack Obama Sends Special Message To Colorado Voters. “With the most important election of our lifetime looming just three weeks from today, President Barack Obama is reminding all Coloradoans to get to the polls. The former president has launched an educational video to spotlight the voting options available to Colorado residents as we approach November 3, 2020.”

In Florida:

Westside Gazette: President Obama Helps Floridians Make A Plan To Vote. “Today, the Democratic National Committee is releasing a new voter education video featuring former President Barack Obama, who encourages Floridians to visit IWillVote.com to learn about the different options to cast their ballot and make a plan to vote today.”

In Georgia:

Atlanta Voice: #Election2020: Barack Obama releases new video helping Georgians make voting plans. “This morning, the Democratic National Committee is releasing a new voter education video featuring former President Barack Obama, who encourages Georgians to visit IWillVote.com to learn about the different options to cast their ballot and make a plan to vote today. Early voting began Monday morning in the Peach State, with long lines and protracted waiting times, most notably in the metro Atlanta area.”

In Nevada:

Las Vegas Black Image: Vote — and keep our American democracy alive. “[W]e make history. President Barack Obama knows something about that — and in a new video, he urges Nevadans to know that history and make a plan for one of the many ways to make their voices heard: Voters can mail in their ballots, opt to early vote, or vote in person on Election Day, November 3. They also have the option to put their ballots in official drop boxes across the state — with early voting taking place October 17-30.”

In New Hampshire:

WMUR: Former President Obama appears in NH-focused DNC video outlining voting options. “New Hampshire is among a group of battleground states being targeted in the release of a new video featuring former President Barack Obama urging people to vote and explaining the options for voting. ‘Hey, New Hampshire. Barack Obama,’ the former president says in the two-minute video that urges viewers to visit IWillVote.com to learn about the options of casting ballots.”

In Pennsylvania:

Penn Capital-Star: Exclusive: In new video, Barack Obama has a message for Pa.: Have a plan to vote. “With just three weeks to go before Election Day, national Democrats are calling in the big guns to make sure that voters in a must-win battleground state have a plan to cast their ballots. In a new video, released on behalf of the Democratic National Committee, former President Barack Obama warns Keystone State voters that because so ‘much is at stake in this election,’ they need to make sure they have a plan to vote: whether that’s by mail, at a dropbox, at their county elections office, or in-person at the polls on Election Day.”

In Texas:

Houston Defender: Barack Obama releases new video helping Texans make voting plans. “Today, early voting starts and former President Barack Obama is encouraging Texans in a new voter education video to visit IWillVote.com to learn about the different options to cast their ballot and make a plan to vote.”

In Virginia:

Progress-Index: In new video, Obama urges Virginians to ‘change this country’ by voting in the election. “State Democrats are rolling out a new online video featuring former President Barack Obama as he encourages Virginia voters to ‘protect this democracy and change this country’ by voting in the November election. The two-minute video, produced by the Democratic National Committee, was posted to Democratic portals across Virginia Tuesday morning.”

In Wisconsin:

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Barack Obama urges Wisconsinites to make a plan to vote. “With the push on to get voters to the polls, former President Barack Obama appears in a video message released Tuesday urging people to make a plan to vote. ‘Hey, Wisconsin, Barack Obama here,’ the former president says in the two-minute video.”

The post What They’re Saying: President Obama Encourages Americans To Make A Plan To Vote appeared first on Democrats.

At today’s hearing, Senator Coons made the context of Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination clear: just one week after the election, the Supreme Court will hear a case where Barrett could be the deciding vote to terminate the entire Affordable Care Act, including its protections for people with preexisting conditions.

Trump’s lawsuit to terminate the ACA is scheduled to come before the Supreme Court the week after the election.

Kaiser Family Foundation: “The Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) future continues to be uncertain as the law’s constitutionality will once again be considered by the U.S. Supreme Court in California v. Texas (known as Texas v. U.S. in the lower courts). Oral argument is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, 2020.”

Barrett has criticized past Supreme Court rulings that upheld the ACA.

Washington Post: “Among the most revealing was an essay she wrote at the start of 2017, four months before Trump nominated her to the circuit bench. In the essay published by a journal of Notre Dame Law School, where she was a professor, Barrett argues that judges should respect the text of laws and contends that Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who wrote the majority opinion the first time the Supreme Court upheld the health-care law, ‘pushed the Affordable Care Act beyond its plausible meaning to save the statute.’”

NPR’s TOM ASHBROOK: “If the Court had taken this phrase, which clearly did not align with the intent of the law, and overturned in effect the whole law on that basis, would that have made it an activist Court, not in line with conservative legal principles?” BARRETT: “Well, let’s see. I think that the phrase ‘activist court’ is sometimes used to describe a court that is willing to overturn statutes passed by Congress. Or state legislatures, for that matter. But I would say that actually, I don’t think of the term ‘activist’ in that way, because you might say that to uphold the Constitution as against legislation is exactly what a Court ought to be doing.”

What’s at stake: Health care for more than 20million; protections for patients with preexisting conditions; one of our most critical tools to combating COVID; and more.

• Comprehensive Coverage: The ACA established what are known as “essential health benefits,” mandating coverage of services like prescription drugs and hospitalization. Coronavirus testing and treatment are essential health benefits and must be covered by all ACA-compliant plans.

• Access To Critical Vaccinations Without Cost Sharing: Once a coronavirus vaccine is developed, the Affordable Care Act will almost certainly cover the coronavirus vaccine without cost-sharing, because it requires plans to cover all vaccinations recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Joe Biden has also committed to ensuring a vaccine for COVID-19 is cost-free for Americans.

• Protections For As Many As 133 Million Americans With Preexisting Conditions: Under the ACA, insurance companies are not allowed to discriminate against those with preexisting conditions by denying them coverage or charging higher rates.

• Coverage for 20+ Million People: Because of the ACA, more than 20 million Americans gained health coverage. People with insurance are much more likely to see a doctor when they are sick and to get the treatment they need.

• Increased CDC Funding: The Affordable Care Act established the CDC Prevention and Public Health Fund, which helps states prepare for disease outbreaks.

• Medicaid Expansion: Because of the ACA, states can get additional federal money to expand Medicaid to vulnerable populations. More than 17 million Americans now have coverage through Medicaid expansion. Importantly, Medicaid’s funding structure allows funds to increase in response to a public health emergency like coronavirus.

• Key Support For Rural Hospitals: The ACA significantly reduced uncompensated care costs. Between 2013 and 2015, hospitals’ uncompensated care costs decreased by $12 billion, or roughly 30 percent. As hospitals face an influx in coronavirus patients, it is critical that they are paid for the treatment they provide.

The post What’s At Stake: Barrett Could Be The Vote That Takes Health Care Away From Millions Of Americans appeared first on Democrats.

At the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing just now, Senator Klobuchar highlighted how all you have to do is follow the tracks to know that Amy Coney Barrett will in all likelihood vote to terminate the Affordable Care Act — Trump said his nominee would overturn the law and Barrett has a long record of attacking rulings upholding the ACA.

Trump pledged that his Supreme Court nominee would “do the right thing” and gut the ACA.

“If I win the presidency, my judicial appointments will do the right thing unlike Bush’s appointee John Roberts on ObamaCare.” – Trump, 2015

Trump trashed a Supreme Court justice for voting to uphold the ACA.

“Remember, Cruz And Bush gave us Roberts who upheld #ObamaCare twice! I am the only one who will #MAKEAMERICAGREATAGAIN!” – Trump, 2016

“Justice Roberts, everybody liked Justice Roberts, turned out to be a disaster because of Obamacare. He could have killed it twice, and he turned out to be a total disaster, so.” – Trump, 2016

Barrett attacked the 2012 Supreme Court ruling which upheld the ACA’s individual mandate.

Washington Post: “Among the most revealing was an essay she wrote at the start of 2017, four months before Trump nominated her to the circuit bench. In the essay published by a journal of Notre Dame Law School, where she was a professor, Barrett argues that judges should respect the text of laws and contends that Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who wrote the majority opinion the first time the Supreme Court upheld the health-care law, “pushed the Affordable Care Act beyond its plausible meaning to save the statute.”

Washington Post: “In the essay, Barrett wrote that the court majority in the 2012 case, NFIB v. Sebelius, that upheld the law ‘expresses a commitment to judicial restraint by creatively interpreting ostensibly clear statutory text,’ so that “its approach is at odds with the statutory textualism to which most originalists subscribe.”

Barrett attacked the 2015 ruling upholding the ACA’s tax subsidies.

BARRETT:  “I think the dissent has the better of the legal argument. That’s not to say that the result isn’t preferable. I mean, it’s clearly a good result that these millions of Americans won’t lose their tax subsidies. But just in terms of the analysis of the statute, seems to me, I was kind of thinking that the phrase ‘established by a state’ was clear.”

NPR’s TOM ASHBROOK: “If the Court had taken this phrase, which clearly did not align with the intent of the law, and overturned in effect the whole law on that basis, would that have made it an activist Court, not in line with conservative legal principles?” BARRETT: “Well, let’s see. I think that the phrase ‘activist court’ is sometimes used to describe a court that is willing to overturn statutes passed by Congress. Or state legislatures, for that matter. But I would say that actually, I don’t think of the term ‘activist’ in that way, because you might say that to uphold the Constitution as against legislation is exactly what a Court ought to be doing.”

Vox: “Many fair-minded lawyers — including the six justices who joined the majority in King — would no doubt take issue with Barrett’s suggestion that King distorted the text of Obamacare. But if Barrett is confirmed to the Supreme Court, it won’t really matter what those lawyers think. If Barrett is a justice, she’ll be free to vote against Obamacare even if her reading of the statute is idiosyncratic.”

The post Follow The Tracks: Barrett Repeatedly Attacked Rulings Upholding The ACA appeared first on Democrats.

Today, the Democratic National Committee is releasing a new voter education video featuring former President Barack Obama, who encourages Iowans to visit IWillVote.com to learn about the different options to cast their ballot and make a plan to vote today.

“So much is at stake in this election — from getting the pandemic under control to building a fairer economy to taking on climate change to protecting our health care,” President Obama says in the video. “History shows that the easiest way to make sure that you and your friends vote is to make a plan. And when it comes to voting this year, having a plan has never been more important.”

The video highlights how, in Iowa, voters have several options to conveniently cast their ballot. Iowans can vote early in-person starting as soon as October 5; return their requested ballot by mail, in-person, or at an official drop box; or vote in-person on Election Day.

WATCH HERE:

 

The DNC and Biden campaign recently rolled out new features on IWillVote.com — Democrats’ voter participation website — that help voters easily request and return their ballot by mail, as well as learn important information about the voting process in their state as they make their plan to vote. The site is also completely accessible in Spanish at VoyaVotar.com.

The post NEW DNC VIDEO: President Obama Helps Iowans Make A Plan To Vote appeared first on Democrats.

Today, the Democratic National Committee is unveiling a new billboard in Waukesha ahead of Pence’s visit to Wisconsin this week highlighting how his failed coronavirus response has hurt Wisconsinites.

The billboard, located in Waukesha, will reach voters in the geographical area around Pence’s event starting this week. Across Wisconsin, coronavirus cases are spiking and the state has surpassed the grim milestone of over 150,000 infections.

“Voters across Waukesha won’t be able to miss this message: Trump and Pence were too incompetent and inneffective to respond to the coronavirus, and their failure has cost too many Wisconsinites their lives and livelihoods,” said DNC spokesperson Maddie McComb. “When Pence comes to the Badger state, he’ll be greeted by the consequences of his record: spiking COVID-19 infection rates, workers who are struggling to find a good paying job, and Wisconsinites concerned he’ll rip away their health care coverage in the middle of a pandemic. The last thing Wisconsin needs is Pence coming to town to try and distract from his broken promises, and Wisconsinites will hold him accountable for his failures this November.”

An image of the billboard and the graphic are below:

 

The post Ahead of Pence Visit to Waukesha, DNC Unveil New Billboard Slamming Trump’s Failed COVID-19 Response appeared first on Democrats.