Most people around the country had never heard of Ken Cuccinelli — until this week.
That’s when Cuccinelli, the Trump administration’s acting head of Citizenship and Immigration Services, went on NPR Tuesday and astonishingly took liberties with Emma Lazarus’ famous words inscribed on a bronze plaque at the Statue of Liberty, which says: “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Cuccinelli, who on Monday had announced a new “public charge” requirement that limits legal migrants from seeking certain public benefits such as public housing or food aid, or are considered likely to do so in the future, said on NPR, “Give me your tired and your poor who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge.”
He added that the inscription referred to “people coming from Europe,” which of course is absurd.
As The New Yorker’s Andy Borowitz noted in a Facebook post:
“Trump Writes New Poem For Statue of Liberty:
Roses Are Red
Violets Are Blue
If You’re Not White
To Hell With You”
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Meanwhile, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was at a listening session with farmers in Minnesota, who told financial horror stories about how they are reeling from Trump’s ridiculous trade war.
According to Slate magazine: “So what did he do? Oh, he rubbed salt in the wound — though he stopped short of burning and salting their fields, for some reason.
“He hit back at the complaints with his joke: ‘What do you call two farmers in a basement? A whine cellar.’
“As he pounded the table in mirth, some of the thousands of farmers at the event laughed nervously — which was followed by boos.
Maybe he should visit kids in cancer wards dressed as Pennywise the Clown from It. Because that could be funny, too. You know, if you’re a &$#@(*# psychopath”.
It should be noted that Perdue is scheduled for another listening session on Aug. 23 at the Nebraska State Fair. It starts 11:30 a.m., is open to the pubic and will be in the Raising Nebraska exhibit hall.
It would be a shame if a bunch of people showed up to give him a deserved comeuppance.
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The DNC has its summer meeting next week in San Francisco, at which a resolution will be offered honoring the late Frank LaMere, a member of the Winnebago Nation of Nebraska and first associate chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party
DNC meeting attendees will be shown a tribute video honoring Frank, which you can watch here.
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NDP Chair Jane Kleeb, National Committeewoman Patty Zieg and First Associate Chair Richard Register are among the nearly 70 co-sponsors of a Climate Change Resolution that will be considered at the DNC’s summer meeting.
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Some updates:
We will be holding a VendorFest and Candidate Briefing on September 29. This is a training targeted at candidates and campaign staff, but all are welcome. Vendors will participate in best practices panels facilitated by NDP staff and officers. We will also review the Candidate MOU, VAN, Coordinated Campaign and other information needed to run a strong campaign.
We also have a Big Blue Weekend: SCC Meeting, Blue Bench Training, Black Caucus Event October 25-27. The Blue Bench Training with the National Democratic Training Committee has three tracks for candidates, campaign staff and local party leaders/grassroots activists. All three tracks get trained on Fundraising, Digital Organizing, Communications and Field.
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The 2019 Nebraska State Fair is Aug. 23 through Sept 2.
NDP staff will be manning our fair booth each day, but we need volunteers to help!
Please follow this link to sign up for a shift. And feel free to share.
Also, 2020 candidates are urged to drop off campaign materials (yard signs, etc.) at our Lincoln office (3701 O St. Suite 200) before Aug. 21 that we will take to our booth for distribution.
You can also off campaign materials by our booth once it opens on Aug. 23.
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We leave you this week with a rendering by Steve Breen of the San Diego Times Union, on the administration’s changes to the Endangered Species Act.
–By Kevin O’Hanlon/NDP Communications Director
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IMPORTANT DATES
Aug. 22-24: DNC Summer Meeting in San Francisco
Aug 23 – Sept 2: Nebraska State Fair
Sept. 29: NDP VendorFest and Candidate Briefing
Oct. 25-27: Big Blue Weekend: SCC Meeting, Blue Bench Training, Black Caucus Event
CLICK HERE TO STAY IN TOUCH WITH NEBRASKA DEMOCRATS AND GET OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!
