Senate Republicans have released their healthcare bill, the “Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017.” The GOP planned a vote on Thursday, but they have delayed it until after the Independence Day holiday, because it lacks the votes needed to pass.
Shortly following the news President Donald Trump invited all Senate Republicans to The White House to discuss healthcare legislation and begin negotiation of policy provisions in the bill.
Just came from WH. @realDonaldTrump is open to making bill better. Is Senate leadership?
The Senate plan repeals all ObamaCare taxes in the “most expeditious manner possible,” preserves pre-existing conditions and implements enhanced health savings accounts. It removes the individual and employer mandate. Both the House-passed bill and the Senate proposal would maintain the ability for young people to remain on their parents’ insurances until age 26.
Like the House-passed bill, the Senate maintains that states will have the power to determine coverage of so-called essential benefits based on residents’ needs. The MacArthur Amendment to the House American Health Care Act seeks to allow states to waive certain ObamaCare requirements to “achieve state goals of lower premiums, stable insurance markets, increased enrollment and improved choice of insurance plans.” The Senate dropped the House provision in the AHCA to allow insurers in waiver states to charge more for those with pre-existing conditions.
The Senate bill also focuses on stabilizing the insurance markets that have been in disarray under ObamaCare by spending $15 billion in 2018 and less spending in subsequent years to wean off the Affordable Health Care Act.
The Senate bill would shrink Medicaid slower than the House passed, phasing out the Medicaid expansion by January 1, 2024. The House proposed immediately prohibiting new states from receiving an enhanced federal share for expanding Medicaid and, for states that have already adopted Medicaid expansion, would phase out the federal share by 2020. Under the Senate bill, Medicaid block grants to states to grow more slowly after 2025 than under House bill.
Tax credits exist under both plans. The Senate proposes to base tax credits on age and income whereas the House bill bases tax credits on age only.
Planned Parenthood would be defunded – a big win for conservatives.
The first page of the Senate’s “Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017” has been published on the Senate Budget site.
The first page of the bill has been published online for the American people. It is expected that the full text will be published after senators are briefed on the details.
The next step will be committee meetings and hearings and a negotiation between the two chambers of Congress that could see some amendments to woo some Democrats and conservative members of the Republican Party.
There are some wonky policy rules that allow for a simple majority in the Senate to pass the bill because it will be done through the budget reconciliation process. However, it has been difficult for Republicans to come to a consensus on a healthcare plan.
Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV)
Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV) is the fifth and latest Republican to oppose the Senate bill. Heller is the only GOP senator up for re-election in 2018 who represents a state Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) have also come out against the “Better Care” plan in its current form.
Without a Democrat vote, Republicans can only afford to lose 2 votes in the Senate. Vice President Mike Pence can break a tie.
First group of senators to oppose the Senate “Better Care” bill in its current form. From left to right: Rand Paul, Mike Lee, Ted Cruz and Ron Johnson.
Sen. Paul, a physician, has been outspoken about his disagreements with a moderate health care repeal and replace plan. The former Republican presidential candidate calls it “ObamaCare Lite,” claiming it will not substantially lower healthcare costs for middle class Americans.
On Fox News last Thursday, Sen. Paul said the GOP is may be providing “more subsidies than ObamaCare.”
.@RandPaul: "It sounds like ObamaCare to me. It doesn't even sound like ObamaCare-lite. In some areas it may even be ObamaCare-Plus." pic.twitter.com/QvWPwvs5fQ
Democrats are unwilling to work with the GOP to repeal former-President Barack Obama’s signature piece of legislation.
The House passed an amended version of the AHCA on May 4 with a 217-213 vote. President Trump said last Wednesday night at a “Make America Great Again Rally” in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that he told the GOP to add “heart” to the bill.
President Trump was engaged in deliberations that led up to the passage of the AHCA, making phone calls to legislators and negotiating between moderate and conservative Republicans. Mr. Trump hosted a celebratory event for House Republicans at the White House Rose Garden just following the AHCA’s passage.
The Chief Executive is involved directly with Senate Republicans to get a bill passed by next week. That’s a fast turnaround in the higher chamber of Congress.
Estimated premium hikes for 2018 were announced Wednesday – the deadline for insurance companies to decide on participation in ObamaCare. After 2017 increases in premiums and deductibles across the country, including skyrocketing costs of 116 percent in Arizona, premiums will jump double-digits next year. Maryland will see premiums rise 52 percent. Virginia and New York residents will see 2018 ObamaCare premiums growing over 40 percent (multiple insurance company double-digit percentage increases in New York). Other states are proposing over 30 percent increases in individual ObamaCare premiums.
With little to no competition in the healthcare marketplace, 41 percent of counties in the U.S. will have just one insurer option on the marketplace. Some small states only have one or no insurance options.
Principal Deputy White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee-Sanders would not address the specific items in the new Senate bill as it stands, telling reporters at Thursday’s press briefing, “I think [President Trump] wants to bring the stakeholders to the table, have those conversations and we’ll get back to you as we go through that process, but I think right now we’re in a negotiation process.”
President Trump hopes to sign a repeal and replace healthcare bill into law before Congress goes on August recess and then move on to the first major tax reform in 31 years featuring tax cuts for individuals and corporations to stimulate economic growth.
Featured Image: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell courtesy of the Associated Press.
House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) is in critical condition after being shot in the hip while practicing baseball early Wednesday morning in Alexandria, VA for the next day’s Congressional charity game that is played annually at Nationals Park in the nation’s capital.
MedStar Washington Hospital Center tweeted about Scalise’s updated condition at 2:29 PM ET. Initial reports were that the Louisiana representative was stable.
Rep. Scalise was critically injured and remains in critical condition. The other patient is in good condition.
Scalise, 51, underwent surgery after being rushed to the hospital. Two police officers and a Congressional aide were also shot. The other victims are reportedly in good condition in local hospitals.
The shooter was identified as 66-year-old James T. Hodgkinson, of Belleville, Illinois. President Donald J. Trump addressed the nation, saying Hodgkinson is dead.
The heroes, the U.S. Capitol Police, took the gunman down and prevented casualties.
“We have to have unity in this country. We are the United States of America. We are great,” Davis said. “We have to bind together as Americans, not as Republicans and Democrats.”
Rep. Ron DeSantis, (R-FL), told Fox News as he walked to his car, a man asked him if it was Republicans or Democrats on the baseball field. About 3 minutes later, at about 7:15 AM, the shooting began, DeSantis said. The shooting reportedly lasted about 10 minutes with Congressmen and Congresswomen and staffers taking cover in the first base dugout.
Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) told Fox News he “felt like I was in Iraq, but without my weapon.”
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky) described, in excruciating detail, his perspective of the harrowing experience on “The Fox News Specialists,” after calling into “Fox & Friends” as the situation unfolded.
Hodgkinson’s Facebook profile’s background photo is a portrait of Sanders and the profile picture states, “Democratic Socialism explained in 3 words: ‘We The People.'”
Alexandria shooter James T. Hodgkinson wrote in March “It’s time to destroy Trump & Co.” (Courtesy: Facebook)
In one Facebook post, Hodgkinson called Trump a “traitor” and wrote “It’s time to destroy Trump & Co.”
Hodgkinson, who was once arrested for battery, subscribed to a Facebook group called “Terminate the Republican Party,” writing incendiary, vitriolic posts about Republicans.
Partisan Death Threats
Multiple members of Congress say they have received threatening emails and calls on Wednesday including an email to Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) that stated “one down, 216 to go” – a clear reference to the Republican members of Congress who were targeted Wednesday morning.
“Did you NOT expect this?” continued the email sent to the office of Rep. Tenney. “When you take away ordinary peoples very lives in order to pay off the wealthiest among us, your own lives are forfeit. Certainly, your souls and mortality were lost long before.”
Rep. Tenney’s office reported the email to Capitol Police.
Congressmen and Congresswomen from both sides of the political aisle have said they have received death threats.
Politically-Charged Drivel in the Wake of this Incident is Wrong
Longtime Clinton aide and Democratic strategist Virginia Governor Terry McAullife exploited the assassination attempt to push his gun control agenda.
“There are too many guns on the street. We lose 93 million Americans a day to gun violence. I’ve long talked about this; background checks, shutting down gun-show loopholes. That’s not for today’s discussion, but it’s not just about politicians, we worry about this every day for all of our citizens,” said McAullife.
Some liberals have been taking to Twitter in the aftermath calling for stricter gun laws. Illionois, where the shooter is from, has the strictest gun laws in the country and its City of Chicago is home to the most gang-related violence in the U.S.
Virginia: No background checks No licensing No registration No permit req’d for concealed carry of long guns Open carry long guns & handguns
Within moments of the shooting, unhinged liberal activists who claim to be tolerant celebrated the attack on Twitter with some labeling Rep. Scalise as a racist member of the Ku Klux Klan and inappropriately using the opportunity to attack the GOP’s healthcare plan.
So Rep. Steve Scalise, who once spoke at a white supremacist event sponsored by David Duke (google it) was SHOT today in Alexandria.
Other left-wing extremists described the shooting as an act of “karma” because of Rep. Scalise’s support for the National Rifle Association, saying, “The GOP deserves everything it has coming their way.”
I would feel bad for Scalise if he wasn’t a white supremacist. Karma is a bitch and the GOP deserves everything it has coming their way.
— PualBearersGhost (@Carichampionsoc) June 14, 2017
Another individual described the event as “karma for the gun loving right.”
An act of senseless violence, seemingly politically motivated, is inexcusable and sends a strong message to the nation that people need to cool their emotions and keep policy debates civil.
When liberal politicians make appalling claims that people will “die” if ObamaCare is repealed in favor of the GOP healthcare plan, people take notice.
Griffin, who teaches Media Arts and Animation at the Art Institute of Washington, just outside of the nation’s capital, lambasted Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare on May, posting on Facebook his suggestion to shoot Republican House members.
Last month a professor called for the public assassination of the GOP house
Griffin used inflammatory language in another post referring to the GOP.
“Republicans are a f***ing joke and their voting block runs the gamit [sic] from monstrous to ignorant,” Griffin wrote.
Griffin apologized after her posts were reported in online media publications.
Our society should not accept the promotion of violence against anyone, including people with whom we strongly disagree.
Let’s be clear and blunt: This is the shooter’s fault, not the gun’s fault. He sought out GOP Congress members and Capitol Police, according to eyewitnesses.
Two Capitol Police officers, Krystal Griner and David Bailey – the first responders – were Scalise’s security detail; if the House Majority Whip was not present, this situation could have been a massacre in an open baseball field. The armed security detail saved lives.
The FBI is investigating the incident to determine if it was an act of terror and the defined motives of the shooter.
Let’s stand together as a nation on this Flag Day and seek better political discourse following this horrific incident. No political disagreement is worth anyone’s life. That is why vicious, incendiary “jokes” about assassinating President Trump, “blowing up the White House” (Madonna), threats against people for their political beliefs, Republicans being shunned and silenced on college campuses, and similar hostilities that have ramped-up after the election are heinous and should be investigated by the Secret Service and Homeland Security so it doesn’t inspire people to execute such acts.
“We may have our differences, but we do well, in times like these, to remember that everyone who serves in our nation’s capital is here because, above all, they love our country,” remarked President Trump.
God Bless Rep. Scalise and his family, all the victims, our law enforcement officers who save lives every day and the United States of America.
I came across an article in The New York Times this morning and I wanted to share it with you as a prime example of why people do not trust the mainstream media.
This utterly biased article centers around a Trump supporter in the media (yes, there are some but they aren’t treated kindly or with respect from so-called journalists), labeling him as a “conspiracy theorist.” The Times clearly does not like Jack Posobiec because he is a young man (33-years-old) with a different perspective and has been granted access to the The White House press briefings. Even Donald Trump Jr. reads his materials and Retweets Posobiec from time-to-time.
The article is dripping with condescension that only legacy media outlets should have access to the almighty press briefings and The People’s House that is supposed to represent a government of the people, by the people and for the people who are given First Amendment rights, including freedom of the press. Note that “freedom of the press” does not mean freedom of some press outlets. Freedom of speech does not mean only speech that agrees with a liberal, anti-Trump agenda.
Another example of this bias from the Sunday shows today is on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” where Stephanopoulos interviewed former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara. While it is tradition that U.S. attorneys offer their resignation when a new administration enters The White House, Bharara refused, taunting President Donald J. Trump to fire him as the Chief Executive ultimately did on March 11 after serving while Barack Obama was president.
Today, Bharara, in his first television interview since he was terminated, told Stephanopoulos, former White House communications director for former-President Bill Clinton, that ex-FBI Director James Comey’s leaking of his own memos to the media “sounds more like a distraction” than a legal issue. A man of the law is denying that leaking sensitive information is not legally questionable at least. This is absolute spin. When an FBI director is found to be a leaker, that is alarming. It is like a fireman who sets arson fires.
Bharara, without pushback, said there’s “absolutely evidence” to begin an obstruction of justice case against President Trump. The fact is, there is no evidence of obstruction. A former U.S. attorney should know better. The President has a different legal standard plus it is Comey’s word against Mr. Trump’s word. This is another sour grapes political actor who is seeking revenge after being fired for just reasons by President Trump.
Back to The New York Times article: It makes the assumption and claims that Trump supporters are “fringe” “right-wing” “conspiracy theorists.” The liberal activist organization Media Matters for America that pushes boycotts of conservative commentators like syndicated talk radio host and Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity is given credence by The Times with a quote in the context of truth-telling.
To summarize The Times’ piece: Trump supporters are insane and need to be lectured and stopped (so much for free speech) and liberal activists are honest, working to destroy President Trump and his agenda for a just cause.
Harvard University Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy released a report that reviews media coverage of President Donald Trump’s first 100 days, revealing most news outlets covered President Trump with a negative tone.
This “news” article is exactly what is wrong with the mainstream media today. They tell you “All the news That’s Fit to Print” their agendas, offering contempt in what reads like scolding lectures of what to believe and what not to trust, otherwise, you will be brainwashed by “right-wing” lunatics; however, brainwashing is exactly what some media outlets are doing by publishing this type of drivel.
“Donald Trump’s Contract with the American Voter,” President Trump’s ambitious agenda and his promise to the American people.
They distract, like House and Senate Democrats, from the legislative agenda millions of Americans, from all walks of life and all parties and different ideologies, voted for on November 8, 2016 – repeal and replace of ObamaCare with a free market approach to healthcare, individual and corporate tax reform, repair of the crippling infrastructure, easing the regulatory burden on small businesses, cutting the deep state bureaucracy that works in their self-interest instead of the interests of the American people, enforcing immigration laws and keeping the nation safe from terror, putting American interests first and refusing to apologize for our strong stance on human rights and democracy, growing the economy and creating jobs for blue collar workers who have been left out of the labor force, taking care of our veterans and our soldiers who have sacrificed everything for our freedom, renegotiate trade deals to our benefit, moving towards energy independence, and nominate conservative justices to the Supreme Court and lower courts to uphold the U.S. Constitution.
Our democracy is founded on free speech and unity not political divisiveness that hurts our own, especially in today’s age of terror when radical jihadists seek vulnerabilities to infiltrate democratic nations and institute Sharia Law. And when peaceful protesters speak out against Sharia Law, the radical faction of Islam that indoctrinates and imposes the enslavement of women and persecution of homosexuals, Christians and Jewish people in some Muslim-majority nations such as Iran, Saudia Arabia and Qatar, leftists label protesters as having “Islamophobia.”
While one may not agree with everything President Trump or one’s family members, friends and acquaintances say, we should all be able to agree on the fact that we are blessed to be in a country in which we can have political disagreements without fear. The problem is, the hypocritical left, the snowflakes, have a gripe with free speech when they do not agree with someone’s political views. They spark riots on college campuses, places that are supposed to be beacons of debate and dialogue, in order to prevent people of different perspectives from speaking. These snowflakes believe it is their obligation to silence Conservatives and Trump supporters. That is un-American.
Former FBI Director James Comey testified in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and national television, on Thursday, providing insight into his side of the story as it relates to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s correspondence with President Donald J. Trump.
Comey divulged he leaked the memos he wrote about his conversations with President Trump to the media. He said he decided to leak his memos to the press via a third-party friend, a “professor at Columbia Law School,” later identified as Daniel Richman, after waking up in the middle of the night worried that his side of the story would not get out in the public sphere. The disgraced ex-FBI Director felt it was his obligation, like other Washington, D.C. political actors who leak, to release this information which is being debated as official, sensitive U.S. Government information and personal notes. This is also raising credibility concerns that Comey could have been leaking classified information throughout his tenure to fit a personal agenda, like politicians do anonymously to hurt political opponents or push a political narrative.
Comey said he hoped that by leaking his own memos a special counsel would be appointed. A special counsel, headed by former FBI Director Robert Mueller, was appointed by the Justice Department on May 17 to ensure independence over the investigation into Russia interference of the U.S. election. President Trump had fired Comey 8 days earlier.
According to Fox News sources and other media organizations, President Trump’s personal lawyer Marc Kasowitz will file a complaint with the Department of Justice’s Inspector General’s Office and the Senate Judiciary Committee after Comey said he leaked the private conversation he had with the Commander-In-Chief in order to prompt the appointment of a special counsel to investigate Russian interference. It is not clear whether Kasowitz will file the complaint, but it is expected.
Despite Comey’s testimony, the department sent a memo to Comey on March 2 noting that Sessions had recused himself because of his support for President Trump during the campaign. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
During the hearing, Comey claimed that he never saw any memoranda regarding Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ recusal from all matters involving the investigation into Russian interference of the election and any possible relation with the Trump campaign. However, the Department of Justice released a statement Thursday evening accusing the ex-FBI head of providing false testimony. DOJ Spokesman Ian Prior wrote that Comey received an email on March 2, attached on the Justice Department site, “specifically informing Mr. Comey and other relevant Department officials of the recusal and its parameters, and advising that each of them instruct their staff ‘not to brief the Attorney General *** about, or otherwise involve the Attorney General *** in, any such matters described.'”
Ironically, the only thing that wasn’t leaked to media, as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) pointed out in the hearing, that was discussed in Comey’s testimony was that there has never been an investigation of Mr. Trump. Comey confirmed he told President Trump that he was not under investigation on three separate occasions, as Trump wrote in his letter of termination. Comey also established many media reports chronicling the investigation into Russia interference in the last U.S. election have been false.
As all intelligence chiefs have confirmed under oath, Comey reiterated that there is no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. The ex-FBI Director also said, like all other intelligence officers, he never felt pressure to end the investigation. To the contrary, Comey revealed President Trump encouraged him to pursue the facts of whether or not Trump’s campaign officials communicated inappropriately and/or illegally with Russian officials. Mr. Trump wanted the investigation to be conducted independently, accurately and swiftly.
In 2004, Comey and Justice Department officials threatened to resign over a dispute about former President George W. Bush’s surveillance program. Comey said he never considered resigning from his post under the Trump Administration despite the “awkward” conversations and disagreements he had with the President – most of which has been publicized after Comey was fired.
The ex-FBI leader said former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, an Obama appointee, directed him to call the criminal investigation into 2016 Democrat Party presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s private email server a “matter.” The FBI director reports directly to the attorney general and both serve at the pleasure of the president.
Comey made a public announcement on July 5, 2016 highlighting the crimes Mrs. Clinton committed but concluded that “no reasonable prosecutor” would take the case, relieving Attorney General Lynch of making a tough decision on prosecuting the Democratic nominee days after meeting with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, on the Phoenix tarmac while his wife was under a criminal investigation.
Despite his concerns about Obama Administration officials, Comey only took notes on Mr. Trump and did not pursue a special counsel appointment for the Clinton investigation.
240 Character Commentary and Analysis:
3.6 million Tweets were sent between 7 AM-1:30 PM ET, discussing former FBI Director Comey’s testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee. Here, we compile a series of facts, intelligent comments, perceptive analyses and statements stemming from Thursday’s hearing in reverse chronological order, starting with President Trump’s reaction on Twitter on Friday morning.
Despite so many false statements and lies, total and complete vindication…and WOW, Comey is a leaker!
.@POTUS: "The entrenched interests and failed bitter voices in Washington will do everything in their power to try and stop us." pic.twitter.com/2vJIMg0GDy
Comey takes no responsibility. He should have made a public statement if he felt necessary. Instead: More unnamed sources. Agenda? https://t.co/iq1NnIwFzT
Russia interfering is dangerous. They've done it since the '60s. What cyber advancements have we made since then? No votes changed 11/8/16! https://t.co/McbpXpj3rv
Why is the committee ignoring that Comey leaked his own memos? Is it because they all leak for their political agendas? #DrainTheSwamphttps://t.co/w0kKm4OLss
Anonymous leaks always fit an agenda. Obviously, leakers and media aimed to destroy Trump, revive Comey's damaged rep. #WitchHunthttps://t.co/raJzLgnCbA
That is clearly not obstruction of justice. Hoping and pressuring are different. Remember: Trump not a seasoned politician. Real word convo https://t.co/OkhtiorcT7
Feb 14 Oval Office Meeting (per Comey testimony) – Trump said, “I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.” https://t.co/RAFgF4m2Ua
— Fox News Research (@FoxNewsResearch) June 8, 2017
Burr: "Did @POTUS at any time ask you to stop the FBI investigation into Russian involvement…?"#Comey: "Not to my understanding, no." pic.twitter.com/YNsVqBAe66
Burr: "Would you say that it's normal for foreign govts to reach out to members of an incoming administration?"#Comey: "Yes." pic.twitter.com/xQImb0QBO7
Ahead of #Comey's testimony on his interactions w/ Pres #Trump, here's a look at intriguing remarks made by then-Deputy AG Comey back in '05 pic.twitter.com/pMLtWpfBX0
— Fox News Research (@FoxNewsResearch) June 8, 2017
Flashback: Comey Says Trump Never Obstructed Justice
Former FBI Director Comey says President Trump never obstructed justice.
On Thursday, the ex-FBI director added there is no evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia. Comey has also said, Trump and his team have not impeded the investigation.
All intelligence officials and politicians from both parties have concluded there is no evidence of collusion or change of votes at the ballots on November 8, 2016.
Former FBI Director James Comey says President Donald J. Trump never obstructed justice. ABC News reports exclusively that Comey “will stop short of saying Trump obstructed justice.”
On Thursday, it is expected the disgraced ex-FBI director will murk the waters without providing any evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia because he has testified under oath that there is none. Comey has also said, Trump and his team have not impeded the investigation.
And as a point of clarity: All intelligence officials and politicians from both parties have concluded there is no evidence of collusion or change of votes at the ballots on November 8, 2016.
Last July, Comey revealed the laws that Hillary Clinton broke by illegally using a private email server. He then went above his duty to say that “no reasonable prosecutor” would pursue criminal charges. This abnormal press conference occurred three days after former Attorney General Loretta Lynch met President Bill Clinton on the Phoenix tarmac to discuss “grandkids.”
Lynch refused to recuse herself from the investigation, rather said she would take Comey’s recommendation, putting the onus of the Clinton investigations on someone who has inserted himself into the public political conversation since former President Barack Obama appointed him to the post.
President Trump fired Comey, which he has the unfettered Constitutional authority to do. What has followed has been a series of insider leaks and stories portraying Comey as a victim. The New York Times even published a report that Comey wrote memos contrary to his public testimony that allegedly shows Trump tried to influence the investigation. The Times did not even read the memos for itself, publishing unverified claims.
Now, House and Senate Intelligence Committees want to view all memos, if it exists, going back to the Obama Administration that could shed light on Comey’s decisions not to prosecute Clinton or pursue the IRS targeting scandal even leakers and any insight into Comey’s relationship with President Trump.
The long-term fallout from this entire politicization of intelligence is the lack of trust with our allies in terms of intelligence sharing that is essential to preventing terror attacks. A mantra in World War II is “loose lips sink ships,” meaning our intelligence is critical to our national security advantages. Leaking and politicizing intelligence will put us at a disadvantaged position to prevent attacks, even cyber, on our nation especially when it involves ongoing investigations. Furthermore, glorification of leaking will harm U.S. national security by encouraging more traitors to leak classified information for what they deem justifiable such as bringing down our President.
Featured Image Courtesy: Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images.
