Plus, Hypocrisy The Chicago Way. Friday, August 21, 2020 To: Friends & Supporters From: Gary Bauer Biden's Speech Former Vice President Joe Biden did what he had to do last night. He delivered a coherent acceptance speech that made the case for his candidacy. His delivery was more than passable, and the media rejoiced. Pollster Frank Luntz summed up the election well this morning when he said this: "The Democrats are trying to make this a referendum on Donald Trump, not his policies, not the issues, but on Donald Trump himself. [Trump] needs to make it a referendum on Joe Biden's policies because his [Biden's] persona is very positive. "[Voters] have to choose between Trump, who they agree with in terms of issues but disagree with his personality, or Joe Biden, who they like but don't agree with what he wants to do." There's a lot I could say about Biden's speech last night, but I will focus on just three points. Biden again asserted that President Trump called white supremacists and neo-Nazis at Charlottesville "very fine people." President Trump did not say that. He specifically said that they should be "condemned totally." Biden accused the president of turning "a blind eye to Russian bounties on the heads of American soldiers." There were unconfirmed reports about Russian bounties, but the president was never briefed on them. We now know that Iran was paying the Taliban to kill American troops. Biden also said that he would "not put up with foreign interference in our most sacred democratic exercise – voting." Well, that's exactly what the Obama Administration did when they discovered that Russia was meddling in the 2016 election. In fact, national security officials were ordered to "stand down." About That Darkness. . . Biden also suggested that this election was a choice between darkness and light. But his speech failed to address two hugely important issues -- the major darkness descending on us domestically and the darkness that is descending internationally. The domestic darkness is what descends on our cities every night. It covers the spectrum from ideologically driven rioters and mobs that threaten civilization to the vicious drug cartels, crime syndicates and gangs that turn cities like Chicago into killing fields once the sun goes down. The second great darkness comes from abroad. Communist China is rising economically and militarily. China is marrying technology with oppression in ways never before seen in the world. Politicians in both parties have watched cluelessly as 60,000 U.S. factories closed and millions of jobs were sent to Chinese serfs. While the cultural left has taught their children to hate our country, hundreds of millions of Chinese youth burn with a patriotic passion and believe their day to rule is coming soon. Good News The latest readings from the U.S. purchasing managers index show surprisingly strong economic activity. The figure for the manufacturing sector hit 53.6 – the highest reading since January of 2019. The figure for the services sector hit 54.8 – highest since February of 2019. Both numbers were well above estimates. In addition, sales of existing homes soared nearly 25% last month, posting the biggest monthly gains since 1968. And sales prices are also up 8.5%. Along with last week's retail sales figures, which surged back to pre-pandemic levels – this is incredibly encouraging news, suggesting that the economic recovery is well on track. Pelosi Goes Postal Speaker Nancy Pelosi has cut short the August recess and called the House of Representatives back into session in order to pass an emergency bailout bill for the United States Post Office this weekend as her party obsesses over mail-in voting. Needless to say, the optics of this move aren't good, and her party knows it. House liberals are blocking another stimulus deal for the economy and emergency aid for the American people while she wants to bail out the Post Office! More than 100 House Democrats sent the speaker a letter this week urging her to consider adding some additional items for the American people and small businesses to her agenda, but so far "Postal Pelosi" has refused. Referring to the stalemate in negotiations between the White House and congressional liberals, Pelosi recently quipped, "We have a vast difference in our values." I'd certainly say so. Billions for the Post Office and nothing for the American people. Hypocrisy The Chicago Way Twenty-one people were shot in Chicago not last weekend, but this Wednesday. The shocking violence that used to be limited to the weekends is now becoming a regular occurrence. Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is in a heap of hypocrisy. She's taking heat for shutting down protests . . . in the neighborhood where she lives. According to reports, as many as 140 police officers are guarding the mayor's home. High-end stores in the Miracle Mile can be looted. Ronald McDonald houses can be ransacked. Children can be gunned down in the streets every single day. But don't you dare think about protesting outside Mayor Lightfoot's home! And Lightfoot is unapologetic. "I have a right to make sure that my home is secure," she said. Really? Well, I'm sure every law-abiding resident in gun-controlled Chicago feels the same way. I'm sure Mark and Patricia McCloskey of St. Louis felt the same way when they tried to defend their home from a mob. Now they're being prosecuted by left-wing politicians like Lightfoot. MAKE YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION NOW As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donations to American Values are tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. 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