The GOP plays “hide the ball” with its 2024 platform

July 9, 2024

Trump knows that if the 2024 election is decided on the issues, he will lose. That is why the Republican Party platform previewed today attempts to distance the GOP from its real agenda. The fact that Trump is playing “hide the ball” with the American electorate is a sign of fear and concern. If the GOP believed its platform would propel Trump to re-election, it would not engage in deceit and sleight of hand.

To be clear, the official Republican platform is horrific, as described below. But the real Republican platform is known as Project 2025—a document that describes a fascist vision for America. But the GOP Platform whitewashes that vision.

For example, the GOP Platform mentions the word “abortion” only once to say that the decision has been returned to the states. Project 2025 references “abortion” 922 times to describe how access to abortion will be denied at the national level through congressional legislation and how access will be restricted in every program possible—from emergency medical treatment to foreign aid to healthcare in the military. (Click the link above, search the PDF for the word “abortion” to confirm the results for yourself.)

But the same is true of other issues. Project 2025 promises to “dismantle the administrative state,” gut the civil service, strip the EPA of its ability to protect the environment, actively discriminate against LGBTQ people (including by excluding transgender people from the military), promote the role of “faith-based” organizations in delivering government services, and more.

Heather Cox Richardson described Trump's recent attempt to distance himself from the toxic Project 2025 in her Letters from An American, dated July 5, 2024. First, HCR notes that Steve Bannon and other Trump allies describe Project 2025 as “institutionalizing Trumpism.” HCR then notes

His social media feed tried to distance the former president from Project 2025. “I know nothing about Project 2025. I have no idea who is behind it,” the post read. Despite this disavowal of any knowledge of the project, it continued: “I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal. Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them.”

Any reasonable reading of Trump's statement above suggests that he understands Project 2025 will be a millstone around his neck that will sink his prospects. The reactionaries behind Project 2025 understand the same thing. One of the co-founders of Project 2025, Paul Dans, canceled an interview with NBC to be taped on Monday. No explanation was provided for the cancellation.

Trump's attempt to soften the GOP platform should fool no one. See generally Talking Points Memo, Trump Team Tries Harder And Harder To Hide What They Will Actually Do During Trump 2.0.

Trump's “hide the ball” routine is not escaping the notice of the ultra-right evangelical Christians who have served as the backbone of Trump's solid core of support.

As noted by NBC News,

Social conservatives pushed to retain the platform’s old language promoting an abortion ban and opposing same-sex marriage, but they lost as the politics surrounding both have changed over the years. . . .

“It is fair to say that over 1,000 pastors have emailed, texted and called me about their disappointment over where they saw the platform going,” said Chad Connelly, a former chair of the South Carolina GOP who said he was blocked from the platform committee over "being labeled 'too pro-life.'"

“The words I am hearing are shocked, betrayed, trampled, depressed, deflated,” he said. “Most pastors I know don’t want Biden and will still probably vote for Trump, but this hurts the energy needed for those folks to do the things it takes to help elect a president.”

Still, the GOP platform presents a fascist, white nationalist, xenophobic view of America. Relevant points include:

1. Seal The Border, And Stop The Migrant Invasion

2. Carry Out The Largest Deportation Operation In American History

9. End The Weaponization Of Government Against The American People

10. Stop The Migrant Crime Epidemic, Demolish The Foreign Drug Cartels, Crush Gang Violence, And Lock Up Violent Offenders

15. Cancel The Electric Vehicle Mandate And Cut Costly And Burdensome Regulations

16. Cut Federal Funding For Any School Pushing Critical Race Theory, Radical Gender Ideology, And Other Inappropriate Racial, Sexual, Or Political Content On Our Children

18. Deport Pro-Hamas Radicals And Make Our College Campuses Safe And Patriotic Again

19. Secure Our Elections, Including Same Day Voting, Voter Identification, Paper Ballots, And Proof Of Citizenship.

There is more to discuss in the days to come. However, the above points align with Project 2025—although they are sanitized to conceal the essential connection between Project 2025 and the Republican Platform. It is up to Democrats to spread the alarm. A good place to start is with Center for American Progress, Project 2025: The Plan To Seize Power by Gutting America’s System of Checks and Balances.

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Update on President Biden’s status as the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party

The turmoil surrounding President Biden’s status as the Democratic Party nominee continued Monday, although some clarity emerged through the fog of intra-party war. President Biden was proactive, appearing early (by phone call) on Morning Joe after issuing a letter to congressional Democrats. See MSNBC, 'I am not going anywhere': Defiant Biden's message to Dem critics in MSNBC Exclusive. Let’s start there and review where we are.

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President Biden issues a letter to congressional Democrats

President Biden issued a letter dated July 8, 2024, addressed to Fellow Democrats. See Biden-letter-to-congressional-democrats.pdf (documentcloud.org).

President Biden said, in part,

I want you to know that despite all the speculation in the press and elsewhere, I am firmly committed to staying in this race, to running this race to the end, and to beating Donald Tramp. 1 have had extensive conversations with the leadership of the party, elected officials, rank and file members, and most importantly, Democratic voters over these past 10 days or so.

I have heard the concerns that people have their good faith fears and worries about what is at stake in this election. I am not blind to them. Believe me, I know better than anyone the responsibility and the burden the nominee of our party carries. I carried it in 2020 when the fate of our nation was at stake. I also know these concerns come from a place of real respect for my lifetime of public service and my record as President, and I have been moved by the expressions of affection for me from so many who have known me well and supported me over the course of my public life. . . .

We had a Democratic nomination process and the voters have spoken clearly and decisively. I received over 14 million votes, 87% of the votes cast across the entire nominating process. I have nearly 3,900 delegates, making me the presumptive nominee of our party by a wide margin.

This was a process open to anyone who wanted to run. Only three people chose to challenge me. One fared so badly that he left the primaries to run as an independent. Another attacked me for being too old and was soundly defeated. The voters of the Democratic Party have voted. They have chosen me to be the nominee of the party.

Do we now just say this process didn’t matter? That the voters don’t have a say?

I decline to do that. I feel a deep obligation to the faith and the trust the voters of the Democratic Party have placed in me to run this year. It was their decision to make. Not the press, not the pundits, not the big donors, not any selected group of individuals, no matter how well intentioned. The voters — and the voters alone — decide the nominee of the Democratic Party.

How can we stand for democracy in our nation if we ignore it in our own party? I cannot do that. I will not do that.

The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it’s time for it to end. We have one job. And that is to beat Donald Trump. We have 42 days to the Democratic Convention and 119 days to the general election. Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It is time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.

Throughout the day, Biden seemed to regain control of the Democratic Party and the field of potential competitors. Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she would not run for president even if Joe Biden withdrew. Rep. Steven Horsford, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said he is standing with Biden. MSNBC anchor Joy Reid created a viral rant that is interesting because she tells political insiders to “quit texting me and tell me who you have settled on” to “keep Hitler out of the White House.” Reid says she is no fan of Biden because of his policies but would support him “even if he was in a coma.”

Those signs of support for Biden were offset by continued attacks by pundits—ex-advisers to former presidents who now make their living telling the current president what he is doing wrong. James Carville penned the most unhelpful op-ed in the history of the Democratic Party in the New York Times. Opinion | James Carville: Biden Won’t Win. Democrats Need a Plan. Here’s One. Carville suggests that Democrats hold “mini-primaries” before the Democratic convention because . . . well James Carville apparently doesn’t like the choice made by 14 million Democrats.

And PodSaveAmerica host and former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau appeared on MSNBC Monday evening to tell Jen Psaki that President Biden should drop out. Favreau does not appear to have thought through the implications of his call for Biden to withdraw. If Biden doesn’t drop out, how will Favreau continue as the head of an organization dedicated to getting out the vote to support Democrats in 2024 with President Biden at the top of the ticket? Favreau is hopelessly compromised if his “dump Biden” effort fails. Perhaps he has made that calculation and believes it is worth the risk to his leadership position in the grassroots community. But as Josh Marshall noted about people in leadership saying Biden should step down,

You have a damaged nominee and you damage him even further and he’s still your nominee.

As President Biden said in his letter to congressional Democrats,

The question of how to move forward has been well-aired for over a week now. And it’s time for it to end. . . . Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It is time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.

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The New York Times’ conspiracy theory flops spectacularly. White House press corps disgraces itself.

The New York Times ran an article noting that a neurologist from Walter Reed Military Hospital specializing in Parkinson’s Disease had visited the White House on eight occasions over the last eight months. A press briefing at the White House devolved into a shouting match as reporters from the Times and NBC accused White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre of covering up information about President Biden’s health. Or, as the Times described the conduct of the press corps,

The White House briefing room devolved into shouting on Monday as the press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, repeatedly dodged and refused to answer questions about the president’s health, and whether visits to the White House by a Parkinson’s doctor were about the president.

The reporters apparently never considered that the Parkinson’s specialist could be treating other White House employees—including 1,000 military personnel—and that Jeane-Pierre was prohibited by federal privacy laws and national security from providing the requested information that might compromise military leaders. Instead, one reporter said the press was “miffed” with Ms. Jean-Pierre and accused her of “dodging questions” to which the press had the absolute right to answers—damn the privacy concerns of possible other patients in the White House.

Late in the day, the President's doctor reaffirmed that the President has been evaluated on three occasions by a neurologist—at each of his annual physicals, including in February of this year. The other visits by the Parkinson’s specialist were to see other members of the White House staff, including military combat veterans—who frequently suffer neurological damage from combat. The letter is here: Letter 7.8.24 - DocumentCloud.

I urge you to read the entire letter. It explains, in relevant part, that the Parkinson’s disease specialist visited the White House as part of a clinic for military personnel:

Prior to the pandemic, and following its end, [the Parkinson’s Disease specialist] has held regular Neurology Clinics at the White House Medical Clinic in support of the thousands of active-duty members assigned in support of White House operations. Many military personnel experience neurological issues related to their service, and Dr. Cannard regularly visits the WHMU as part of this General Neurology practice. We value the contributions he has made across the many patients he has treated in support of the White House and its personnel over these years.

So, the New York Times conspiracy theory went down in flames. But the treatment of Karine Jean-Pierre was despicable. It was racist and sexist. The condescension and wild accusations of a cover up by white male reporters who were “miffed” that a Black woman would not do their bidding is reprehensible.

Each of the reporters who accused Jean-Pierre of a cover-up owes a public apology to her, as do the editors of the New York Times and the other media outlets that allow the journalists to make reckless accusations before researching, considering, and thinking through other innocent explanations.

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The Supreme Court

Meanwhile, the biggest threat to democracy, the Supreme Court, has glided under the radar in the uproar over Biden’s debate performance. But Professor Laurence Tribe and Judge Michael Luttig continue to sound the alarm.

Professor Tribe has published an article in The Guardian that proposes fundamental reforms in the Supreme Court and executive branches. See US supreme court abandoned the rule of law and triggered a need for basic reform | Laurence H Tribe | The Guardian.

Professor Tribe suggests three fundamental reforms: First, an enforceable ethics code and term limits, and possibly creating several added seats “to offset the way Trump stacked the court to favor his Maga agenda as president;” second, creating a federal prosecutorial arm structurally independent of the presidency; and third, clarifications and limitations on presidential immunity and the pardon power.

As Professor Tribe notes, the process of amending the Constitution need not take long. The first step is taking control of Congress and re-electing Joe Biden (my gloss)!

Also, Professor Michael Luttig discusses the recent immunity decision with Michael Popok on the podcast Legal AF (available on Apple Podcasts). The discussion takes a deep dive into

the dangers presented by the immunity decision.

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Opportunities for Reader engagement

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Join Force Multiplier to support three Democrats who can help flip the House!

Join Force Multiplier and meet three Challengers who can help Flip the House!

Meet Janelle Bynum (OR 05), Sue Altman (NJ 07)and Derek Tran (CA 45) on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 at 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Eastern on Zoom. (A link will be sent on the day of the event.)

All three of these candidates are running competitive races in districts that were won by Biden/Harris in 2020 and are currently represented by Republicans. As challengers, they all need financial support to overcome the advantages incumbents have in voter awareness and fundraising. Hear about their races and participate in the Q&A.  Register and Donate HERE

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Help Kari Lerner defeat Rep. Byron Donalds in Florida’s Congressional District 19

Kari Lerner is running to defeat incumbent Byron Donalds in Florida’s Congressional District 19. If you live in FL CD 19 or are interested in sending Byron Donalds packing, please join us for this event on Wednesday, July 10 at 4:00 pm Pacific / 7 pm Eastern.

Register for my interview with Kari Lerner here: Today's Edition event for Kari Lerner for Florida

If you can’t attend but would like to contribute to Kari’s campaign, you can do so where:

Kari Lerner for Florida | Act Blue

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Support Blue CD2 with Rising Force for Good

Be part of “A Rising Force for Good” fundraiser for Blue CD2 New Mexico with Jessica Craven and Robert Hubbell - Wednesday, July 10, 5 pm Pacific/8 pm Eastern.  We’ll hear from Jessica and Robert, whose newsletters inspire tens of thousands with their optimism, gumption and defiance in the face of authoritarianism, as they headline a presentation of BlueCD2 New Mexico’s work to save democracy, one reluctant voter at a time.  We’ll drill down on the importance of reaching young, low-propensity voters in a rural swing district, and how Blue CD2 New Mexico brought 7000 of these voters to the polls in 2022.

Blue CD2 NM’s mission is to help Representative Gabe Vasquez hold this seat and to build Democratic infrastructure in an historically red district. Gabe is a progressive Democrat who won New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District from MAGA Yvette Herrell in 2022 by just 1,346 votes. We’ll share the methods we used to register new Democrats and motivate reluctant, disengaged voters. We’ll touch on how critical holding this seat is to flipping the house, why we need to double our impact this November, and how you can help by donating and volunteering for our postcard and texting teams. This is a free zoom event. Donations are encouraged. 

Click to register for “A Rising Force for Good”.

Or learn more here.

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Concluding Thoughts

A reader asked me today if I would support a replacement candidate if Joe Biden steps aside. I reminded the reader that I confirmed that I would do so in yesterday’s newsletter. But I also noted that the reciprocal must be true—if Biden stays in the race, everyone with reservations must support Joe Biden. And supporting Joe Biden doesn’t only mean voting for him. It means doing everything possible to re-elect Joe Biden and support Democrats up and down the ballot.

This conversation among Democrats has been difficult, even painful. But it is a conversation that would never have taken place in the Republican Party because Trump rules with an iron fist. Joe Biden has not attacked or sought to punish his friends and colleagues who urged him to step aside. Instead, after a respectable discussion period, he has called for unity.

The difference between the reactions of the two candidates to internal debate illustrates the striking differences between the two versions of America that hang in the balance in 2024. In the words of President Biden, the need for unity is compelling, and time is short. We should focus on defending democracy from the threat of a second Trump tenure in the White House.

Talk to you tomorrow!