As we watched the confirmation hearings of Amy Coney Barrett for Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s Supreme Court seat this week, she deftly dodged tough questions by Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee by, well, refusing to answer.
We also learned during the hearings that she subscribes to the “originalist” theory of constitutional law.
Originalism, as Barrett explained, is the belief “constitutional text means what it did at the time it was ratified and that this original public meaning is authoritative.” Translated, originalists say they are bound by the words of the Constitution, and the meaning of those words should be determined solely based on how they were understood when they were added to the Constitution.
The New Yorker’s Andy Borowitz took notice:
Claiming that she has been unfairly branded as anti-health care, Amy Coney Barrett testified that she strongly supports all medical treatments that were available in the year the United States Constitution was written.
Like her role model, Antonin Scalia, Barrett said that she considers herself a “strict originalist” and therefore advocates only the health-care practices that the Framers of the Constitution used in 1787.
“For example, the best cure for headaches, fevers, and agues is arsenic, a wondrous elixir prescribed by many a Doctor of Physick,” she said. “ ’Twill serve.”
As for preëxisting conditions, Barrett said that she only acknowledges maladies that preëxisted the late eighteenth century, such as dropsy, King’s Evil, and scrivener’s palsy.
Today marks just 18 days until Nov. 3. Please vote.
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Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb responded Thursday to statements made by Sen. Ben Sasse in which he blasted President Trump.
“The obvious first question is will Gov. Ricketts, Reps. Bacon and Fortenberry along with the Republican Party condemn Sasse publicly for his words against Trump or will they sit by in silence showing Nebraskans that they too share Sasse’s words about the reckless behavior of Trump?,” Kleeb said.
“Ben Sasse, who has all but stood silent during Trump’s reckless time in office, is now distancing himself from the president. Saying these words now, when it seems safe for Sasse, will not erase the years Sasse was complicit in the horrendous behavior and actions of Trump. Voters can write-in Preston Love. We can send a message to Sasse his words are too little, too late,” Kleeb said.
Background: The statements made about Trump by Sasse were published in the Washington Examiner:
- Trump mishandled the coronavirus response
- Trump “kisses dictators’ butts”
- Trump “sells out our allies”
- Trump spends “like a drunken sailor”
- Trump mistreats women
- Trump trash-talks evangelicals behind their backs
- Trump has “flirted with white supremacists”
- Trump and his family “treated the presidency like a business opportunity
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There is still time to sign up for our 100,000 Calls Across Nebraska — which end on Sunday, Oct. 18. We need your help turning out voters to support Biden-Harris, Kara Eastman, Kate Bolz, Preston Love and other strong Democrats!
It’s easy! Sign up here!
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The NDP has designed Voter Guides showing all of the Democrats running for office in all 93 Nebraska counties. We also include the ballot initiatives and constitutional amendments.
Just click here to find your county Voter Guide.
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If you have any questions about voting, including how to register to vote or request a Vote-by-Mail ballot, simply visit the NDP Voting Center.
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If you missed our Yard Sign Drive-Thru event in your area, you can still pick up Biden-Harris signs at our Lincoln and Omaha offices on Tuesday and Thursdays!
— The Lincoln office is at 3701 O St, Suite 200 and is open M-F from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
— The Omaha office is at 5418 S. 27th, Suite 6 and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
We ask for a $20 donation for yard signs or that you take a packet of postcards to fill out and send to voters.
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You can help us elect Democrats by writing postcards to voters!
We have several options:
Create your own postcards and we will email you a list of names.
Pick up a packet at one of our offices:
— The Lincoln office is at 3701 O St, Suite 200 and is open M-F from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
— The Omaha office is at 5418 S. 27th, Suite 6 and is open M-F from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
If you are in greater Nebraska and want to involve a few friends, we can mail a packet with a larger number of postcards and names.
Sign up here for detailed information.
You also can write postcards to voters while we watch the last Presidential Debate. Sign up here if you’d like to join our zoom call during the debate:.
Questions? Send an email to: gina@nebraskademocrats.org
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Preston Love, longtime community leader and political advocate, is the Democratic write-in candidate for U.S. Senate in the Nov. 3 election. Love is endorsed by the Nebraska Democratic Party.
Voters can simply write Love on the write-in line and fill in the oval next to his name under the U.S. Senate portion of their ballot.
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Help protect the vote as an Election Day poll watcher! The Nebraska Coordinated Campaign is looking for lawyers, law students, and other volunteers committed to Democratic principles and voting rights to join our voter protection team. Help protect the vote by serving as a poll watcher in Omaha on Election Day! The first step to becoming a poll watcher is to sign up for one of our upcoming trainings:
Sign up for a training to be an Election Day Poll Watcher!
On Election Day, our volunteers will be on the ground at priority polling places in Nebraska’s competitive Second District (Douglas and Sarpy Counties) to monitor election administration and ensure that everyone qualified gets to cast their vote. All poll watchers must attend a training. Sign up here for one of our upcoming virtual training sessions coming up soon on: Saturday, October 17, 1 to-2:30 p.m.; Tuesday, October 20, 7 to 8:30 p.m.; Thursday, October 22, 7 to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 25, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
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The NDP has started a series of Welcome-to-the-Party online events geared to new voters. We will answer all your questions about voting and how to get involved. You can type your questions in the chat or ask them live.
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Make sure you register to vote and request a Vote-by-Mail ballot at the NDP Voting Center.
Please share the above link with friends and family!
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Get your Biden and NDP swag at the NDP/Shirts 101 store!
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We leave you this week with a rendering by Steve Benson.
–By Kevin O’Hanlon/NDP Communications Director
NOTE: If you’d like to receive #NebDems News via email, just let us know by sending a note to: info@nebraskademocrats.org
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IMPORTANT DATES
Oct. 16-18: Phone Bank for Dems:100,000 Calls Across Nebraska
Oct. 17: Elkhorn Biden-Harris Yard Sign Drive-Thru Party
Oct. 20: Welcome-to-the-Party Call
Oct. 22: Final Presidential Debate
Oct. 22: Watch the debate and help Dems!
Oct. 27: Welcome-to-the-Party Call
Nov. 3: Election Day
