I really care about the Hatch Act, do you?

[bigtree]

I read where Trump's Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows - the man who had twice said publicly that Pres. Obama should "go back to Kenya" - defended SoS Pompeo's use of taxpayer funded travel, security, and other amenities to broadcast an unprecedented partisan, political message to the republican convention, clearly illegal under the Hatch Act, by claiming "Nobody outside of the Beltway really cares" about the law.

Link to tweet

I do care, in most part, because these are MY tax dollars, and your tax dollars, being used to reelect an incumbent president. Trump's decision to run the republican convention from the People's House isn't just a violation of an arcane law, it's usurping our democracy at the moment where our participation is a primary underpinning of the process; one aspect that we're ostensibly able to independently control.

There's reason consent isn't automatically given at tax time to dip into our pockets to support elections. Participation is the essence of democracy, but without free will associated with our contributions, it's nothing more than election fraud and theft. Trump is treating American voters like we're paying guests to his unreality show; leveling a garden to provide a convention prop for Melania to praise her husband; active-duty military present as Trump performs official duties in a cynical naturalization ceremony...

Link to tweet

This open abuse of the law is yet another attempt by Trump at normalizing his deviancy and criminality, but it's also another massive grift designed to allow the host of the show to walk away with the ultimate prize. The media is tailor-made for this cynical coercion, with hardly a word or acknowledgement from most of these television productions that their slick presentations and impressive backgrounds are actually footage of a crime in operation; an open fleecing of Americans who are the true owners of those historical premises and grounds.

Some media folks are cleaning up with their own justifications for why they don't bother to call out clear violations of law; aside from the fact their coverage benefits them financially. Apparently, for some, you can break the law if 'no one cares.' Consider this:

Link to tweet

Do you 'give a hoot?' I sure do.

Link to tweet

[SheltieLover]

1. Yes, I do!

[Blue Owl]

2. K & fucking R

The "Law and Order" president can go fuck himself.

[2naSalit]

3. Every federal employee is bound by oath to obey that rule.

And most of us who have been a federal employee are pretty upset about it.

[2naSalit]

4. That Honore' tweet is essential.

We should all file complaints at the phone# he gives...

Hatch Act Unit @ [phone]. You will get instruction on how to file.

I'm doing it.

[crickets]

10. +1

[Vinca]

5. I bet the people doing it now will be up in arms if Biden hosts on air campaign

rallies in 2022 for Democratic Congress members at the White House.

[bigtree]

8. no reason to think he would

[Vinca]

11. I'm sure he wouldn't, but I wish he would just to get the response from the GOP.

[WyattKansas]

6. tRUMP has forever made it on the record, but don't move it to the front burner for him.

Stay on these issues and keep hammering tRUMP and Republicans with them:
1) His massive pandemic failure and continuing failures.
2) The cratering economy and unemployment rates, while the wealthy elite fat cats get richer under tRUMP.
3) His destruction of Obamacare during a national crisis pandemic and soaring prescription drug prices.

Failing to stay on these issues risks the election if the many other grievances drown it out for him, so don't help him by letting him distract with his other corrupt behaviors.

[bigtree]

7. that's not what's happening here

...this is a discussion board, not some remote control to a campaign.

But, I like your priorities.

[Tanuki]

9. I care. Trump and his enablers want us all to collude with the toxic arrogance

that at least for the moment places him, and them, above the law. I am not going to minimize or trivialize this erosion of our democracy. This matters.

[bigtree]

12. it's predatory behavior

...and we shouldn't turn our backs on it, lest we surrender our democracy to them.