The Patriot Post Digest 12-14-2017

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The Patriot Post Digest 12-14-2017
From The Federalist Patriot
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The Patriot Post® · Mid-Day Digest

Dec. 14, 2017 · https://patriotpost.us/digests/52947

IN TODAY’S EDITION

Alabama was only a bellwether if the Leftmedia bushwhacks more Republicans.
Rampant corruption at an unaccountable bureaucracy.
About that wage gap in the public sector…
Tribalism leads to less diversity, not more. And it’s going to bit leftists.
Republicans play into Democrats’ hands with latest tax changes.
The Washington Post goes to bat for Nancy Pelosi’s batty claims.
Plus our Daily Features: Top Headlines, Memes, Cartoons, Columnists and Short Cuts.

THE FOUNDATION

“Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.” —Benjamin Franklin (1771)

IN BRIEF

Was Alabama a Bellwether?1

By Nate Jackson

We’ve been through this before, but the setup is key. One month before the Alabama Senate election, The Washington Post published a politically timed hit piece2 detailing 40-year-old allegations of sexual misconduct against Roy Moore. The allegations were well reported and corroborated, and Moore did an ineffective job of refuting them, which, among other problematic aspects of his candidacy, cost him the election3. (Note: We consider these allegations entirely separate from feminist charlatan Gloria Allred’s follow-up publicity stunt, which is far less believable.) In other words, contrary to Moore’s refrain of “fake news,” which absolutely is a problem, that wasn’t really the issue with these Post-reported allegations.

The core issue is that it was a political bushwhack. Clearly, the Post sat on the allegations until after Moore won the primary so as to do maximum damage to Moore, the GOP and President Donald Trump. It was clever, professionally done, and it worked.

Which brings us to the latest Post headlines: “Alabama results remake 2018 election playbook for both parties4” and “Democrats see road map for 2018 in huge turnout among black voters in Alabama5.” The stories are all about the bellwether Alabama supposedly represents.

What the Post is trying to do is spin Tuesday’s results as evidence of some overwhelming surge in favor of Democrats and, especially, a rejection of Trump. To be sure, every president faces headwinds in midterm elections — especially when his party controls Congress. But remember: While Democrats need just two seats to retake the Senate, they’re defending 25 seats to Republicans’ eight, and several of those races are vulnerable Democrats in states Trump won bigly.

In short, to extrapolate the incredibly unique case of Alabama to a nationwide trend might be considered fake news … unless the Post has plans to similarly bushwhack Republicans around the country four weeks before the election. Don’t rule that out.

The truth is the Alabama election means almost nothing nationally. Most of the sexual miscreants being outed so far in the #MeToo stampede are supposedly feminist Democrats and leftist Hollywood or media types. Republicans clearly aren’t immune, but this isn’t primarily their problem.

No, the real problem Republicans face is their own abysmal failure to repeal ObamaCare — which they promised to do for seven years before winning the White House. The GOP has in fact done quite a bit this year to advance a conservative agenda, from deregulation to judicial confirmations to pushing (however imperfect) tax reform. But Republicans should not underestimate the anger grassroots folks feel for a party that doesn’t keep its promises. The swamp will be drained if Republicans don’t learn the right lessons.

Corruption at the CFPB?6

Not only have members within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau sought to resist7 Donald Trump’s appointment of Mick Mulvaney to temporarily head the rogue agency, it also appears that some egregiously corrupt practices have been occurring there.

A former employee at the CFPB, Cassandra Jackson, is now blowing the whistle on the agency alleging “widespread racism and gender discrimination” among the management, as well the extremely serious charge of “falsifying documents” relating to an investigation the agency was conducting into a Texas-based payday lending company. Jackson recounts, “During the course of this examination, I was asked [by my superiors] to change, remove and otherwise falsify documents connected with this examination.” Jackson claims that her superiors ordered her to do this so as to make it appear like the payday lending company had violated the law. She refused to comply and faced retaliatory action, while her managers then went ahead and falsified the reports anyway. She says she has documentation to back up her claims.

Due to the actions of the CFPB, the payday lending company, Ace Cash Express, was forced to shell out millions in fines and fees. Now, we’re not defending ubgone23, which do tend to prey on the poor, but if Jackson’s accusations prove to be true, then the CFPB has engaged in a fraudulent shakedown. This is precisely the type of danger posed by an unaccountable government agency. Who’s watching the watchers?

Top Headlines8

Trump poised to set record for appeals court judges (Roll Call9)

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton will appoint current Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith to fill Senator Al Franken’s seat (National Review10)

So maybe spending is the problem… Feds collect record taxes through November; still run $201.8B deficit (CNS News11)

Federal Reserve hikes interest rates, easing off stimulus efforts amid improving economy (The Washington Post12)

Disney to buy 21st Century Fox assets in a deal worth more than $52 billion (CNBC13)

Tavis Smiley’s show suspended by PBS after sexual misconduct accusations involving staffers emerge (Fox News14)

Second woman accuses Rep. Kihuen of sexual misconduct (The Hill15)

Kentucky State Rep. Dan Johnson dies of “probable suicide” after sexual molestation accusation (WDRB16)

Unfunded liabilities of state public pensions top $6 trillion in 2017 (The Washington Free Beacon17)

Belly laugh of the week: Vladimir Putin will run as an independent for fourth term as Russia’s president (Washington Examiner18.)

Policy: GOP tax bills aim to derail the green-power gravy train (Manhattan Institute19)

Policy: Occupational licensing reduces interstate mobility (E2120)

For more of today’s news, visit Patriot Headline Report21.

Your Help Is Urgently Needed

Our annual Year-End Campaign is critical if we are to be fully funded into the new year. This morning we still have approximately $120,000 left to raise by year’s end. We understand that many readers are not in a position to help at this time. If you are among them, then please disregard this message and allows us to provide The Patriot Post as a service to you. However, if you are able, help us continue putting the Right perspective into your inbox every week — please support The Patriot Fund’s 2017 Year-End Campaign22 today.

From each of us here, our sincerest thanks for your support.
Christy Chesterton
Director of Advancement at The Patriot Post

FEATURED ANALYSIS
The Government’s Gender Hiring Gap23

By Caroline Camden Lewis

Politicians routinely criticize the private sector for not hiring enough women in key positions. For example, in 2017, only 32 Fortune 500 companies had female CEOs24. Yet, a closer examination of public sector (i.e. government) jobs also reveals a disparity. According to a recent report25 by Open the Books, one of the largest private databases of government spending in the world, men outnumber women as the top-paid employees on both the state and federal level.

On the federal level, females account for only one in three of the top earning positions.

Of the top-paid congressional staffers (earning up to $172,500), men outnumber women two to one.

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The Patriot Post Digest 12-14-2017
From The Federalist Patriot
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On the state level (data from the five most populous states: Florida, Texas, Illinois, California and New York), only 20% of the 1,000 most highly compensated employees were women. Male employees collectively earned $1.6 billion while women collectively earned $386 million. Only seven women represented the top 100 highest earning employees across the five states.

The hiring gap and compensation differences of congressional staff also reveal gender hiring gaps as an issue for both parties. As Open the Books CEO and Founder Adam Andrzejewski states, “[The] taxpayer-funded gender gap crosses both sides of the aisle.”

The case study of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s office states that in terms of yearly salaries, “on average, male employees made $124,404 while female employees made $94,389,” despite the fact that fewer men (25 men and 30 women) composed her staff. How? The men on her staff rank in higher positions than the women, and that’s why they earn more. It’s not that she’s paying women less for the same job (that’s illegal), it’s just that she’s either not hiring women to higher-paying positions or not promoting existing female staff to higher-paying positions.

On her website26, Pelosi champions the cause of opportunity and pay for women, stating, “Too many women are asked to bear the burden of outdated policies that diminish opportunities for women’s full participation in our workforce. Too many women are faced with the lack of good-paying jobs, and the daily challenge of providing for their families.” Yet her own office lacks action on the ideals she espouses.

The office of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also revealed a gender compensation difference. Schumer employed 32 men and 41 women. The male employees averaged $76,711 per year while the females averaged $69,263. Again, this seems due to the fact that men occupied more highly compensated positions than women.

While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) employed 21 males and 23 females, the male employees made $107,813 per year while the female employees made a drastically lower $66,726. Like Pelosi and Schumer’s offices, this reveals that the males in McConnell’s office fill higher positions than the women.

This data sparks key questions about women, careers and government leadership. Is the hiring disparity the fault of government employers who prefer hiring men to women, or are fewer women interested in government jobs in general? Are women not receiving promotions or do women prefer a lower paying position with greater flexibility?

Government leaders who hypocritically criticize the private sector for gender hiring gaps should first examine their own staffs. If the hiring and promotion gap exists due to a lack of female applicants, give these women the freedom to apply for a career they enjoy. However, if the hiring gap proves to be based on discrimination, politicians should assess their own hiring practices before they criticize private companies.

Note: The Open the Books oversight report25 states, “Our analysis didn’t find a gender wage gap, but a gender hiring gap in the highly compensated employees. … Employees in the same position — regardless of gender — are paid the same wages. Doing otherwise is illegal.”

MORE ANALYSIS FROM THE PATRIOT POST

Toxic Tribalism31 — Democrats should be careful what they wish for. Tribalism requires purity, which in turn requires conformity.
WaPo ‘Fact-Checker’ Cushions Gun Liar Pelosi32 — The Leftmedia’s supposed fact-checkers are enabling the falsehoods they claim to be fighting against.
Bad Optics on Republicans’ Tax Proposal33 — The last idea has the GOP looking like the party that favors the wealthy over the working class.

BEST OF RIGHT OPINION

Ed Feulner: Taking a Better Shot at Missile Defense34
Cal Thomas: Trump’s Accomplishments Obscured by Distractions35
Victor Davis Hanson: Why Trump Should Consider a Post-Twitter Presidency36
Larry Elder: What About the Abysmal Poll Numbers of Merkel, Macron, May and Trudeau?37
Tony Perkins: Military on the Polarized Express With Trans Training38

For more of today’s columns, visit Right Opinion39.

OPINION IN BRIEF

Tony Perkins: “The Pentagon is about to deploy 23,000 troops — but not for the mission you’d expect. According to the Defense Department, that’s how many service members it’ll have to train to deal with the first wave of transgender recruits. Although the Trump administration is actively fighting the court’s order, military officials are bracing themselves for the monumental distraction set in motion by Barack Obama. … If liberals were as focused on the world’s threats as they are on LGBT activism, America would be the safest, most powerful country in the world. Instead, they’re desperately trying to preserve Obama’s radical legacy and jeopardizing the whole of national security in the process. And for what? So that a group of people with legitimate health concerns can self-actualize? The military’s purpose is to fight and win wars. Does the integration of men and women confused about their gender make us better prepared to defend our nation? If the answer is no (and research suggests it is), why are we even considering it?”

SHORT CUTS

Insight: “I doubt if the oppressed ever fight for freedom. They fight for pride and for power — power to oppress others. The oppressed want above all to imitate their oppressors; they want to retaliate.” —Eric Hoffer (1902-1983)

Tough love: “[Democrats have] taken the black vote and the poor vote for granted for a long time. It’s time for them to get off their ass and start making life better for black folks and people who are poor.” —Charles Barkley

Dissent: “I saw a member yesterday with her cleavage so deep it was down to the floor. And what I’ve seen … it’s really an invitation.” —Democrat Rep. Marcy Kaptur criticizing women for inviting sexual abuse

Thou doth exaggerate much: “If Trump can’t get a 50% job approval in Alabama, if he can’t carry over his candidate in Alabama, every Republican in the country … needs to wake up and fear for their political lives.” —Chuck Todd

Braying Jenny: “Fox News, why are you so damn quiet now? Knowing everything, lying on everybody, bullying everybody, claiming to be holy, righteous and loving America more than anybody else. Speak up now — admit you just got your butt kicked royally and MORE to come.” —Maxine Waters

Delusional: “With President Trump as commander in chief, the Department of Defense, which previously called climate change a national security threat, now questions the science linking increasingly common extreme weather events to climate change. This is unacceptable and could severely jeopardize our military readiness.” —Bernie Sanders

Alpha Jackass: “Our motto: A city he’ll never sleep in. We don’t want him. Look, Donald Trump is driving forward looking through the rearview mirror, and I’m not going that way because I want my city going that way and I want it to be a Trump-free zone.” —Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

And last… “[Jimmy] Kimmel is allowed to go on his show, pass blatant falsehoods and Democrat talking points without a single journalist stopping to ask if what he is saying is true. If you’re going to make him your conscience, you better own up to it.” —Stephen Miller

Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of Liberty, and for their families. We also humbly ask prayer for your Patriot team, that our mission would seed and encourage the spirit of Liberty in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis

Nate Jackson, Managing Editor
Mark Alexander, Publisher