NEW: Kamala Harris pulls out of criminal justice forum at HBCU Benedict College after President Trump was awarded the Bipartisan Justice Award today.
She will host her own forum with Bakari Sellers open to the HBCU and Columbia communities. #ForThePeoplehttps://t.co/soSk1HU0sW
— Madam Auntie Kamala Harris (Supporters) (@flywithkamala) October 26, 2019
Trump visit to SC black college ‘inappropriate,’ protesters outside of speech say https://t.co/EcKGVQKugK
— Ragnarok Lobster (@eclecticbrotha) October 26, 2019
Our full story: Trump spoke at a HBCU to an audience of almost no students, and assailed Obama. It's the kind of thing you do if you're not trying to win black votes, but give your largely white supporter base a built-in response to accusations of racismhttps://t.co/QevdITt0pW
— Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) October 25, 2019
Per the NYTimes, “In Criminal Justice Speech, Trump Belittles Obama’s Efforts for Black People”:
… Opening a three-day forum on criminal justice that will later feature his Democratic rivals, Mr. Trump promoted the bipartisan criminal justice overhaul he signed last year and invited to the stage several people who were released from prison as a result of the new law or his own commutation decisions.
Last year’s overhaul, the First Step Act, was an example of the power of bipartisanship, he said, praising the Republicans and Democrats who worked on it for their efforts “to restore hope and optimism where they’re really needed the most and where there was very little.”
But as his hourlong speech went on, his message of harmony gave way to his trademark partisan attacks on Democrats…
He recalled the 2016 speech in which he urged black voters to support him because “what the hell do you have to lose,” repeating the line multiple times and saying his administration had kept its promise to those voters.
And he described how his administration had helped historically black colleges and universities and suggested that voters “check out the last administration and see what they did for you.”
“Not too much,” he said…
Reporting on today's event revealed that only 7 Benedict students were able to attend the event and that students had been told to stay in their dorms while Trump was on campus. https://t.co/ea3X4YTmAh
— Jerusalem (@JerusalemDemsas) October 25, 2019
How closely manicured was Trump's audience today: I kept running into black Trump supporters I met across the country at other Trump rallies, who had come into SC to give the president a friendly audience. Less than 10 Benedict students in attendance https://t.co/QevdITt0pW
— Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) October 25, 2019
Still, HBCUs are a place where the administration has found a mini-refuge. Why? Bc the schools, which are in dire financial straits, need the federal $$$, and will take a momentarily upset student body to maintain those relationships. Story w/ @MaggieAstorhttps://t.co/QevdITt0pW
— Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) October 25, 2019
Sherrilyn Ifill compiled a short list of Trump's record on criminal justice reform. Trump tried to whitewash his CJR record in front of a room full of Trump loyalists during an invitation only event at an HBCU. https://t.co/LtxHuOznlN
— Ragnarok Lobster (@eclecticbrotha) October 26, 2019
feebog
And once again Kamala Harris demonstrates she gets it.
Bobby Thomson
She effectively turned his PR grab into a vivid demonstration/reminder of what a racist asshole Trump is.
I mean, he was going to do that anyway, because that’s who he is, but she brought it attention and media focus.
zhena gogolia
I want her as the candidate so badly. I’ll vote for any of them (except Sanders or Gabbard), but I really want her.
ETA: I’ll vote for, contribute to, and work for any of them (except Sanders and Gabbard).
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
Video shows the Black man who gave Dump the award hugged him, but Dump was mortified and pushed him off.
David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch
Meanwhile, Nancy Pelosi greeting Obama at Elijah Cummings funeral (photo)
Mike in NC
Another day ending in “y” where Fat Bastard proves he has no class or decency.
MattF
It’s… unpleasant to say so, but I’d take a hard look at the finances of Benedict College.
lamh36
The group giving Trump an award is lead by a Trump appointee…so once again basically Chumo gave himself an award
trollhattan
“Bipartisan Justice”? WTF does that even mean?
lamh36
@MattF: Benedict College like most HBCU are in a financial bind and in need to the funding that the govt provides, more so than non HBCU. And Chumo and co vindictive enough and DeVos crooked enough to hold funds from these institutions.
pinacacci
Who invited him, who is in the school administration, yeah they might need federal cash but is it worth your soul? Telling students to stay in their dorms? THIS IS INSANE.
Too much reality for me today. This is just batshit insane.
lamh36
lamh36
A bit more in the founder of the 2020 group that have Chump the award
https://twitter.com/ag_due/status/1188190393084665857?s=21
germy
@lamh36:
She was on Tucker Carlson’s show again?
hilts
Asshole Van Jones had a sad about Kamala Harris’ decision to pull out of the forum
h/t https://www.mediaite.com/news/cnns-van-jones-slams-kamala-harris-for-running-away-not-being-smart-enough-to-attend-forum-that-honored-trump
Martin
Telling you all, getting the energy behind those protesters is worth so many more votes than the however many Ohio diner independents who might pull the lever for Biden over Trump.
HalfAssedHomesteader
@trollhattan: Exactly.
HalfAssedHomesteader
Anyone want to lay odds that Benedict College will soon announce an investigation into Biden?
lamh36
I knew there was gonna be a way to totally report in this in a negative slant and first up MSNBC?
Next up The Hill…
Like fuqn clockwork ??
Sigh…
germy
People must be getting paid to crisscross the country for his rallies. Unless they’re all independently wealthy?
germy
@lamh36: I don’t trust the reporting from The Hill.
Something fishy about them and their motivations.
West of the Rockies
@lamh36:
In the photo of him beside Trump, he’s got that same weird Centaur stance…
Harris is fabulous.
lamh36
@lamh36: And…this just in the NYT, no mention of Harris at all ??
zhena gogolia
@lamh36:
You would like Jon Zal.
Gvg
Seriously, I laugh every time I hear that Trump quote about all his life he has fought for fairness and opportunity for African Americans…..I mean LOL! I’d like the media to show multiple interviews of people laughing at that particular nonsense. It wouldn’t be too hard.
patrick II
Wasn’t a criminal reform act one of the bills Mcconnell held up so Obama wouldn’t get credit?
Mary G
When I saw that only seven students were there, I thought it was because the rest of the student body were boycotting.
This is even worse. The students at “Liberty” University weren’t penned up in their dorms, I bet. Blatant racism. Disgusting. That’s one of the things he wants to go back to the olden days. The award was probably a quid pro quo to keep him from cutting funding. Nice college you got here, be a shame if something would happen to it.
Ruckus
@Mary G:
Like maybe the students boycott and go someplace else? Certainly the idea would cross my mind.
hells littlest angel
@Gvg: For instance, Trump fought for the opportunity for Central Park Five to be executed for a crime they didn’t commit.
Doug R
At least trump believes in federal busing, unlike Uncle Joe ?
laura
I want Senator Harris to be the candidate so much. I’ll start working her campaign in November, tabling at the farmer’s market, phone banking and precinct walking.
Another Scott
Good for Kamala. We all need to prevent Donnie’s attempts to nomalize his behaviors and policies.
In other news, BBC:
(Emphasis added.) “Potentially” is doing a lot of heavy lifting there…
This is my shocked, shocked face.
Cheers,
Scott.
Redshift
@trollhattan:
It means you only get as much justice as Republicans will allow you to have. If only they meant it in that mocking sense, it would actually be an appropriate award for Trump.
Miss Bianca
@lamh36: Speak it!
Ruckus
@trollhattan:
Basically it means whatever word salad rolling around in that excuse for a brain that trump has which was closest to his pie hole while he was doing his version of speaking. IOW it’s bullshit.
Raven
@lamh36: Have you read The Yellow House?
Mary G
glory b
Remember, the Trump organization fought the biggest housing discrimination case that HUD had brought to date.
With Roy Cohn by his side, he dragged the litigation out much longer than necessary, even Fred Trump wanted to throw in the towel, but Donald insisted they fight it out.
Cheryl Rofer
@Mary G: She’s gotten standing ovations when she’s attended the Santa Fe Opera.
glory b
@Mary G: Humpf, she needed to have stepped down in Obama’s first term. Now, the future of the country hangs on her elderly, fraigle self. Obama could have appointed a younger, healthier justice.
She’s not the progressive hero she’s been made out to be. She just has good PR.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Mary G: @Cheryl Rofer: I was listening to I don’t know what MSNBC show in the car the other day, and some of the usual suspects were lamenting the decline of Republicans, in this specific case I think it was Rob Portman, who said he would under no circumstances vote to remove trump. What happened? Why are they like that? And I thought; Do they really not get it? It’s all about RBG. And the lower courts of course, but replacing RBG fills both their long-term goals, and the shorter term one of owning the libs.
A corollary: Why don’t they care about Russia and now trump actively working to undermine the elections: Because it works for them.
debbie
@hells littlest angel:
Hell, back in 1974, the DOJ cited Trump and his father for housing discrimination.
Josie
@lamh36:
This is so typical. It’s as though she doesn’t exist for the press and pundits. I think being a woman of color is a double hit. They just will not permit her to be noticed. It is infuriating.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
John Kelly said today, basically, that trump is over his head and needs minders
lgerard
This is the greatest statement to come out of the White House in quite some time
It is right up there with that Steven Miller classic
debbie
@lgerard:
Miller vs. Grisham head to head: Who wins?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@lgerard:
Ken
@lgerard:
I could imagine anyone saying that, though in my imagination they’d have to be making air quotes around “genius”.
lgerard
@Ken:
The weird thing is she forgot to mention how ‘stable” he is
lgerard
@debbie:
Miller. at some point Grisham will start drinking
hells littlest angel
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Shorter Stephanie Grisham: “John Kelly, please testify to the impeachment inquiry committees.”
Another Scott
@Ken: The GOP operatives have been saying stuff like this for ages. Remember Rove?
Grrr…
Cheers,
Scott.
counterfactual
@Mary G: At the Liberty University events for Trump, attendance was mandatory for students.
Ken
@debbie:
The gene pool.
You did mean a fight to the death, didn’t you?
Steeplejack
@lgerard:
Fix’d.
opiejeanne
@Ken: Miller would win by gnawing her head clean off.
Matt
@lamh36:
But the university administration thinks those same vindictive crooks are going to go, “oh, THOSE blahs kissed ass that one time so we’ll spare them” when it comes time to hurt some people to get the base excited? Being that stupid should be reason enough to lose their jobs.
Citizen Alan
@glory b:
FOADIAF
Nora
The part of that article that made me almost have a coronary on the spot:
Oh yeah, it just HAPPENED that there was a decrease in black turnout in those cities, I guess the black people just couldn’t be bothered to vote, as if this were just some interesting astronomical phenomenon that no one could have possibly affected in any way.
The votes were SUPPRESSED, you total horses’ asses! The Republican Party went out of its way to SUPPRESS black votes in those cities to make sure Trump got those razor thin margins, and the New York Times can’t even be bothered to MENTION that.