Progressive caucus co-chair calls for 'strong primary challenges' against anti-abortion Dems

Rep. Pramila Jayapal

Anti-abortion Democrats could face dwindling resources and primary challenges as abortion becomes a more prominent issue heading into the 2020 elections.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., indicated as much on Friday when she told reporters "you can't say you're a Democrat ... if you're against abortion." Jayapal, who co-chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), reportedly called for "strong primary challenges" against candidates who weren't as bold on that issue.
“I understand that the DCCC [Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee] is funded by — we are a membership organization — it's funded by our members," she said, referring to the organization, which funds Democratic candidates around the country.
"And I understand that the DCCC is often going to try to protect the incumbent,” she added. "But I do think we have to look at all of these issues and think about what it means to be a Democrat.”
While it's unclear how much her views represented those of the committee leadership, she seemed to highlight growing tension over the issue in her party.
Her comments came as Democrats' position on abortion came under greater scrutiny in the lead-up to 2020. While pro-life Democrats have opposed abortion legislation in prior years, 2019 is reinvigorating debate on the issue and force the party to more explicitly defend its position on the issue. That included support late-term abortion, likely the most controversial abortion procedure in the nation.
The party also spotlighted the issue as Republican legislatures have passed highly restrictive pro-life legislation that Democrats blasted as "extreme." When Alabama passed a bill on Wednesday banning nearly all abortions, it served as a reminder that Democrats could soon face an end to longstanding protections with an apparently conservative Supreme Court.
While some Democratic leaders have OK'ed being pro-life and Democratic, they've also indicated that position would fly in the face of the party's core principles.
That interparty tension caught more attention after Louisiana's Democratic governor signaled on Thursday that he would support his state's "heartbeat" legislation -- one of the more restrictive pro-life proposals that Democrats have decried as attacks on women's rights.
That tension on abortion will likely grow as the nation approaches an expected Supreme Court decision and Democrats push for more abortion funding through the federal government.
Jayapal, for example, received support from one of the most prominent pro-choice organizations -- NARAL -- after she proposed a "Medicare-for-all" program that would eliminate a law -- the Hyde Amendment -- which blocks direct federal funding for most abortions.
Many in the 2020 Democratic field have either pushed Hyde's repeal or advocated more government involvement in a health care system already plagued with concerns about the use of taxpayer money.
The party also saw politicians -- like New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. -- push for legislative protections in case the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Democrats appeared divided on the issue with 60 percent favoring considerable limits on abortion, a Marist poll revealed in January. In that same poll, only 28 percent of Democrats said they thought abortion should be available at any point in the pregnancy.

Drain The Swamp Cartoons

AG Barr's critics, who claimed Trump 'obstruction,' would be 'guilty' by own standards: Ari Fleischer

Ari Fleischer

As Attorney General William Barr takes pointed criticism from Democrats, those who also claimed President Trump obstructed justice in the Mueller probe "would be guilty themselves" by that metric, Ari Fleischer said Friday.
"If the Democrats held themselves to the same standards they tried to hold the Trump administration to, they would be guilty of obstruction of justice themselves the way they're going after the attorney general," said Fleischer, a former White House press secretary for President George W. Bush, on "The Ingraham Angle."
Host Laura Ingraham played several clips of Democrats and media figures blasting Barr as the attorney general gave an exclusive interview to Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer.
"He acts more and more like the total mouthpiece of the president. It is more than disappointing," said Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, on CNN. On MSNBC, morning host Joe Scarborough remarked that someone could "slap an ex-KGB badge on the attorney general."
The criticisms come after Barr appointed federal prosecutor John Durham to look into the origins of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation into possible collusion with the Trump campaign.
Fleischer praised the decision to commence the new investigation, and told Ingraham that Barr is "exactly what we need now - [and] to figure out what, if anything, was done improperly when they authorized all of these wiretaps and surveillance techniques to be used against Trump."
In Barr's interview with Hemmer, the attorney general said he was ready for potential criticism and attacks by Democrats when he took the job.
"Yes," Barr said. "I thought I was in a position where this kind of criticism really wouldn't bother me very much."
"The fact of the matter is, Bob Mueller did not look at the government's activities, he was looking at whether or not the Trump campaign had conspired with the Russians," Barr said.
Barr also called "laughable" an accusation by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., that he had lied to Congress, and dismissed an attempt by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., to hold him in contempt.
"That's part of the usual ... political circus that's being played out. It doesn't surprise me," he said.
Fox News' Liam Quinn contributed to this report.

Louisiana governor breaks with Dems, indicates he'll sign 'heartbeat' legislation

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards reportedly signaled he would sign his state's "heartbeat" legislation -- effectively banning abortions after just weeks of pregnancy -- as his party faced questions over whether it should be more inclusive of pro-life voices.
“When I ran for governor, I said I was pro-life and so that’s something that’s consistent," he reportedly said when asked about the bill on Thursday.
The bill, which awaited a vote from the Louisiana House of Representatives, would make the state one of the strictest on abortion access -- following a slew of other states that passed restrictions in an apparent attempt to make the Supreme Court reconsider major precedent on the issue.
Pro-life advocates have heralded measures like "heartbeat" legislation while groups like Planned Parenthood have challenged them in a series of legal battles. Louisiana's bill could face a lawsuit from the same group -- the American Civil Liberties Union -- that sued Ohio over its own "heartbeat" legislation.
“My position hasn’t changed. In eight years in the Legislature, I was a pro-life legislator,” Edwards said. Edwards attributed his pro-life stance to his faith but it also appeared to hold personal significance. Nearly three decades ago, he and his wife decided to have his daughter, diagnosed as a baby with spina bifida, against the doctor's advice to abort.
During his monthly radio show, the governor seemed to acknowledge his break with Democrats, who have continually denounced state-level legislation like Louisiana's.
“I know that for many in the national party, on the national scene, that’s not a good fit. But I will tell you, here in Louisiana, I speak and meet with Democrats who are pro-life every single day," he said.
Democrats like Edwards were in a tough spot politically as the Supreme Court acquired an apparent conservative majority and members of their own party pushed more controversial forms of abortion.
In 2016, former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton lost after a fiery confrontation with then-candidate Donald Trump who spotlighted her support for late-term abortion during a debate. It also appeared to prompt media questions as to whether the party should expand its tent to be more welcoming to pro-life voters.
“Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her health,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez previously said.
According to a Marist poll from 2019, Democrats varied in their opinion on abortion restrictions. But a strong majority -- 60 percent -- said they supported limiting abortion to the first trimester. Another poll from May showed that overall, registered voters thought heartbeat bills were either "just right" or "too lenient." That contrasted with 45 percent who said they were "too restrictive."
Democrats for Life, which voiced support for "heartbeat" legislation, has challenged the party on this point in particular -- calling for things like more inclusive language from party leadership and a Democratic Pro-Life Political Action Committee.
Congressional Democrats have acknowledged that being pro-life and Democrat was possible but, as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., clarified, the party was "strongly pro-choice."
Schumer, who blasted a "heartbeat" legislation passed on Friday in Missouri, has formed a unified front with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., in vehemently opposing pro-life initiatives pushed by Trump and others.
Trump, whom pro-life leaders have praised, aroused Democratic fears in 2018 when he appointed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to a Court that seemed evenly divided along ideological lines on that issue. Kavanaugh could consider laws from Edwards' state and others if they reach the Supreme Court -- potentially ending protections established under Roe v. Wade or Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
Heading into the 2020 elections, Trump has tried to tie Democrats to late-term abortion. Democrats like New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who pushed a bill allowing abortions up to the point of birth, have faced intense scrutiny over their support on the issue.
But as Democrats encountered accusations they supported "extreme" abortion proposals, Republicans did as well. The party appeared to wrestle with the issue after Alabama passed an abortion ban that excluded exceptions for rape and incest -- provisions that Ronna McDaniel, the party's chair, "personally" opposed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel leaves office for last time, political future uncertain

Another Swamp Creature Gone?

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel left City Hall for the last time Friday afternoon, ending his eight-year, often turbulent tenure.
The mayor hugged and high-fived cheering staffers as he walked through the halls but quickly exited into a waiting black SUV outside, where a much smaller and quieter public crowd stood.
It was reportedly a drastically different scene from 2011, when Emanuel’s predecessor -- former Mayor Richard M. Daley, son of Chicago legend Richard J. Daley -- left office after 22 years on the job.

Sparred with Trump

Emanuel, who was known for being a flamboyant politician, started his mayoral career fighting with a teacher’s union, then consistently sparred with President Trump, defending Chicago as a sanctuary city. He also took heat for allegedly covering up a video of a police officer's 2014 fatal shooting of 17-year-old  Laquan McDonald until after he was re-elected to his second term, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. McDonald was shot 16 times. The officer, Jason Van Dyke, was convicted of second-degree murder.
The shooting happened at a critical point in Emanuel’s reelection campaign in 2015, and he didn’t release the video until after he won, and even then only under a judicial order. The city settled with McDonald’s family for $5 million.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced last September that he would not seek a third term in office. (Associated Press)

"Again and again and again he has resisted reforms, he resisted the consent decree process that he has now embraced and is taking credit for as part of his legacy," investigative reporter Jamie Kalven wrote, according to WLS-TV in Chicago. Kalven first reported on the existence of the dashcam video of McDonald’s shooting.

'Dead tired'

In an interview with WLS, Emanuel explained he didn’t want to run for a third term because he was “dead tired.”
“Being mayor is not a part-time job," he said. "There is no Fourth of July holiday. I knew I didn't have four years in the gas tank.”
Many believe, however, that the 59-year-old Emanuel -- who first drew national attention as a congressman, then as an adviser to former President Bill Clinton and White House chief of staff for former President Barack Obama -- didn’t have the votes to get re-elected after the fallout from the McDonald shooting.

'Who knows if they even want me?'

“Rahm Emanuel could not have won the African-American vote needed to secure his spot as a three-term mayor,” Chicago Tribune columnist Dahleen Glanton wrote last September. “The image of the 17-year-old [McDonald] lying on the pavement after Officer Jason Van Dyke pumped 16 bullets into his body is too ingrained in African-American voters’ minds.
He has ruled out running for president and said he needs a break from politics to be with his family. "However, should a Democrat win in 2020, might you go to Washington? You know what, who knows if they even want me?” he told Chicago's WMAQ-TV.
Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot takes office on Monday.

Trump 'deserves' Khashoggi treatment, Maher guest Fran Lebowitz says before backpedaling

Liberal author Fran Lebowitz went to the extreme Friday night during an appearance on "Real Time with Bill Maher," suggesting that President Trump should not only be impeached but killed.
Lebowitz began by saying she felt "plagued" by Trump's presidency and "shocked" by what she claimed was criminal behavior by Attorney General William Barr over his handling of the Mueller report.
But when she was asked about impeachment, Lebowitz did not think that was enough punishment for the president, who has not been charged with any crimes.
"Certainly, he deserves to be impeached. I mean, impeachment is just the beginning of what he deserves. Not even scratching the surface of what he deserves," Lebowitz said. "Whenever I think about this and what he really deserves, I think, 'We should turn him over to the Saudis, you know, his buddies. The same Saudis who got rid of that reporter, you know. Maybe they can do the same for him.'"

"Certainly, he deserves to be impeached. I mean, impeachment is just the beginning of what he deserves. Not even scratching the surface of what he deserves."
— Fran Lebowitz, liberal author

Her remarks, which drew some applause from Maher's studio audience in Los Angeles, was in reference to the 2018 murder of Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi, who is believed to have been tortured and dismembered with a bone saw, purportedly under the orders of the Saudi government.
During the show's "Overtime" segment, however, Lebowitz said the "Real Time" producers told her that her remarks were getting blowback on social media, which prompted her to walk them back.
"I saw your face when I said it. I didn't even realize that I said it. I had twelve cups of coffee," Lebowitz told Maher. "I regret saying it."

"I saw your face when I said it. I didn't even realize that I said it. I had twelve cups of coffee. I regret saying it."
— Fran Lebowitz, liberal author

Author Fran Lebowitz spoke some harsh words about President Trump on Friday night during an appearance on Bill Maher's weekly late-night show. (Getty Images)

"You know, everyone's too, too, too, too ... " Maher told the panel. "I mean, it's a live show. You really don't want to see the president dismembered by the Saudis. I don't like Donald Trump either. ... but no matter who the president is, we don't want physical harm."

"I don't like Donald Trump either. ... but no matter who the president is, we don't want physical harm."
— Bill Maher, "Real Time" host

"I did not mean that and I regret saying it. I regret that everyone misinterpreted it because they misinterpret everything," Lebowitz added.
The situation seemed reminiscent of the May 2017 controversy surrounding comedian Kathy Griffin, who posed for a photo while holding a fake head of Trump, dripping with fake blood, as if the president had been beheaded. The photo drew scorn from around the world, and Griffin lost work as a result, including an annual New Year's Eve gig on CNN.
Lebowitz is an author and speaker best known for her appearances on "The Late Show with David Letterman." She also appeared on "Law & Order" and in the film, "The Wolf of Wall Street."

John Brennan Cartoons

From abortion to immigration, endless battles that lead nowhere

It seems to be all sound and fury these days, with no tangible outcome.
That may be great for the media, which love combat and conflict, and for politicians, who love to decry and declaim. But actual progress? Not so much.
Washington has always been known for gridlock that matches the Beltway traffic, but now it's on steroids. It’s almost as though, while people slam each other on Twitter and Facebook, nobody expects anything to happen.
Let's go down the list.
President Trump unveiled an immigration plan yesterday, and even before the announcement The Washington Post said it's "already is facing skepticism from lawmakers in both political parties, and there appears to be no clear path toward advancing the plan through Congress."
What a shock. And the president probably didn't help its chances by immediately calling Democrats the "open borders" party.
The plan, which would favor legal immigrants with high skills over those with family ties, is "another test of Trump's willingness to stump for a plan that could face opposition from border hawks and his ability to forge bipartisan support at a time when he has inflamed Democrats over unilateral immigration actions, including declaring a national emergency to pay for a border wall."
It's true that his hard-line approach has played mainly to his base. But it’s not all Trump's fault. Barack Obama couldn't solve the immigration mess either, and neither could George W. Bush. Neither side is ever prepared to make the necessary compromises.
Next up is abortion, an issue that has become more politicized than ever. Alabama just adopted a law that would ban almost all abortions in the state, including in cases of rape and incest, and that has hardened the battle lines.
Liberal commentators and the Democratic presidential candidates are all denouncing the measure as an assault on women. Some conservative pundits and Republicans — although there is a split over severity and tactics — are defending the Alabama effort as overdue.
But here, too, we're looking at a long period of inaction. The Alabama statute doesn't take effect for six months and it faces a long legal battle that may well end up at the Supreme Court.
With its extreme provisions — no exceptions for rape and incest, 99-year prison terms for providers — the law seems crafted to trigger a high court review of Roe v. Wade. And even such pro-life advocates as Pat Robertson are predicting it will be struck down, which takes us back to square one (although several states are passing less severe abortion restrictions).
And then there's Iran. The papers are full of details about backstage power struggles after administration officials devised a contingency plan to send up to 120,000 troops to the Middle East.
"President Trump is frustrated with some of his top advisers, who he thinks could rush the United States into a military confrontation with Iran and shatter his long-standing pledge to withdraw from costly foreign wars," says The Washington Post, "according to several U.S. officials."
What’s more, "Trump grew angry last week and over the weekend about what he sees as warlike planning that is getting ahead of his own thinking, said a senior administration official with knowledge of conversations Trump had regarding national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo."
Such infighting occurs in every administration. Trump, having pulled out of the Iran nuke deal, places a high value on confronting that provocative regime, but is also disdainful of endless wars. So we have plenty of behind-the-scenes churning, but no real movement.
And speaking of endless wars, don't get me started on endless investigations. We've been through two years of the Mueller probe and both sides are still fighting about the fallout. Now Bill Barr has tapped a federal prosecutor to look into the origins of the FBI inquiry into the Trump campaign and Russia, which is also being examined by DOJ’s inspector general. More sound and fury.
I think many Americans are just tuning out this daily warfare, along with a presidential campaign that once again has started way too early. And that may be a rational response.