V25, N37 Thursday, June 4, 2020

Race could impact Spartz/Hale Mrvan prevails in 1st CD on the thrust of Visclosky By BRIAN A. HOWEY – To understand how 5th CD Democratic nominee will have to thread the proverbial needle to turn this reliably red district to blue in her race against Republican State Sen. , look no further than Carmel City Hall. In a bizarre subplot to the COVID- delayed Tues- day primary, on white, 3% black, and 9% Asian. The “threats” presumably Monday, Mayor James Brainard were made by protesters in Indianapolis. In other major threatened to sue Minneapolis for U.S. cities there were threats by protesters of taking their costs his city had incurred from actions to the suburbs. A source told HPI he witnessed a the protests and riots that had Carmel demonstration Tuesday near the Monon Center, spread across the nation. And describing it as “five African-Americans and whites who Brainard invoked a curfew, its duration “indefinite” due to looked like they belonged to the Carmel Honor Society.” what Carmel Police Chief Jim Barlow described as “threats On Wednesday, Brainard announced he had ended the cur- directed toward our community,” insisting the curfew was few, but said it could be reinstituted if further information “necessary to better ensure the safety.” According to the 2010 Census, Carmel is 85% Continued on page 3

American carnage revisited By BRIAN A. HOWEY CARMEL – stood before us in January 2017 and surveyed a tormented nation that had chosen what it believed was the lesser of two evils. He and Hillary Clinton had offered Americans two nominees with “I’m calling for the Election the highest negatives in presidential election history. At his 2016 Republican National Conven- Commission to extend no-fault tion acceptance speech, he vowed, “When I take the oath of office absentee voting to the General next year, I will restore law and or- Election and come to a biparti- der to our country. Nobody knows the system better than me, which san agreement about extending is why I alone can fix it.” necessary deadlines. This is He added, “Here, at our convention, there will be no lies. something Hoosier voters want.” We will honor the American people - Democrat Chairman John Zody with the truth, and nothing else.” Six months later, President Page 2 Trump surveyed at his inauguration when he carried Pennsylvania, Michi- an insecure America teeming of crime, gan and Wisconsin by about 80,000 gangs and drug abuse. “This American votes. carnage stops right here and stops If the election were held right now,” he said. today, Trump would lose to Biden in Today, President Trump pre- a landslide. Just in the past day, polls Howey Politics sides over a nation that has lost more in Texas and Ohio showed Trump in WWWHowey Media, LLC than 100,000 souls to the COVID-19 statistical ties (he won Texas by 9% c/o Business Office pandemic that he suggested in March in 2016) while two Fox News polls PO Box 6553 would magically disappear by April. He show him losing Wisconsin (49-40%) signed off on an economic shutdown and Arizona (46-42%). Kokomo, IN, 46904 that tanked the economy, sending job- But the election is not www.howeypolitics.com less numbers into a freefall not seen today. It’s a little under five months since the Great Depression. When a from now and as I repeatedly said Brian A. Howey, Publisher Minneapolis police officer pinned a throughout 2015 and 2016, anything Mark Schoeff Jr., Washington black man’s neck to the asphalt pave- can happen. Anything. ment for more than eight minutes, In the past six months, Mary Lou Howey, Editor depriving him of his life, it ignited riots Americans have witnessed a cas- Susan E. Joiner, Editor and looting in dozens of cities, and cading series of events and crises, protests in a hundred others. Subscriptions When a volatile crowd last Friday night forced the Se- HPI, HPI Daily Wire $599 cret Service to take Trump to the HPI Weekly, $350 White House bunker normally used Lisa Hounchell, Account Manager in terror events, it prompted him (765) 452-3936 telephone three days later to clear a peace- (765) 452-3973 fax ful protest across the street with [email protected] percussion grenades and tear gas, prompting widespread criticism Contact HPI that included evangelist Pat Rob- [email protected] ertson and a couple of Republican Howey’s cell: 317.506.0883 senators. Trump didn’t go to the boarded up St. Johns to pray or begin ranging from Trump’s toothless Washington: 202.256.5822 a dialogue. He brandished a Bible as a Senate impeachment trial, to the Business Office: 765.452.3936 prop, then left. possibility of socialist Bernie Sanders Trump wasn’t the only Ameri- winning the Democratic presidential © 2020, Howey Politics can politician to head to the bunker. nomination, an attack by Iran on the Indiana. All rights reserved. Presumptive Democrat nominee Joe U.S. military after we killed a sav- Biden was esconsed in his Delaware age Persian military commander, to Photocopying, Internet forward- basement for much of the past three the ghost of Biden rising from the ing, faxing or reproducing in any months. The reality is that it doesn’t political graveyard, to the pandemic form, whole or part, is a violation matter much what Biden does or says; and its 100,000 deaths, and now the of federal law without permission the November election will be a refer- most prolific spate of racial violence from the publisher. endum on President Trump. to hit American cities since Martin The results from Tuesday’s Luther King’s assassination in 1968. Indiana primary in the 5th CD bear Trump has responded by Jack E. Howey this out. positioned denying the pandemic even existed, editor emeritus its endorsed candidate, State Sen. to routinely touting the coming 1926-2019 Victoria Spartz, as a Trump supporter, “rigged” November election, to his and she won with 39% of the vote, proclamation as a Nixonian “law and matching Trump’s approval in the lat- order” president. Enough Americans est Reuters/Ipsos poll. wanted a “strongman” elected in National polls show Biden 2016 to place Donald J. Trump at leading Trump by double digits, and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but a sig- the president was trailing in five of the nificant percentage of that vote came six key battleground states, includ- from people who simply refused to ing the “blue wall” he toppled in 2016 vote for Hillary Clinton. There is now Page 3 speculation that his authoritarian tendencies and his threat ing, we must endeavor to see American cities and towns to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 pose a practical as our homes and our neighborhoods. They are not ‘battle menace to the U.S. Constitution and the fragile American spaces’ to be dominated, and must never become so.” experiment, with Defense Sec. Mark Esper and the Joint Mullen wrote that the St. John’s church episode “sickened” Chiefs pushing back. him and that Trump’s response to the nationwide protests On Wednesday, former Defense Sec. James has brought the to “an inflection point.” Mattis weighed in, saying in an extraordinary op-ed in The “Too many foreign and domestic policy choices Atlantic, “I have watched this week’s unfolding events, have become militarized; too many military missions have angry and appalled. Donald Trump is the first president in become politicized,” he said. “This is not the time for my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people stunts. This is the time for leadership.” — does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide Trump appears to be grasping for and playing us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of to his base, and one thing I’m hearing a lot these days is this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences it’s exhausting to be for Trump, particularly when it’s all of three years without mature leadership.” about him. Retired Adm. Mike Mullen added Tuesday in The Trump's "American carnage" has met its inflection Atlantic, “Even in the midst of the carnage we are witness- point. v

clearing photo op at St. John’s Episcopal Church across Spartz, Mrvan, from page 1 from the White House, his mulling of invoking the Insur- warrants. rection Act and his summoning of Richard Nixon’s “moral Another cautionary tale that comes with the majority” has the potential of shifting the dynamics in combustible race issue in American politics, Hammond what Democrats hoped for a “purple” 5th CD in November. Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., himself pitted in an intense Brainard doesn’t fit the profile of an ardent Democratic 1st CD primary race, arrived at a volatile pro- Trumper (he served on President Obama’s climate task test in his city on Saturday and intervened. “When I got force). But his indefinite curfew and talk of threats stand there, nobody was talking to each other,” McDermott told to help Spartz, should racial politics stay in the foreground the NWI Times. “The cops were digging in and not letting of this election. them get to the highway and the protesters were yelling Princeton University political scientist Omar Wasow (curses) at them. The crowd was extremely hostile. They in his May 2020 paper, “Agenda Seeding: How 1960s knew exactly who I was. Black Protests Moved People would come up and Elites, Public Opinion and yell curses at me, although Voting,” found that the some people were saying violent protests following thank you for being here.” the April 4, 1968, assas- While Lake County sination of Martin Luther Sheriff Oscar Martinez cred- King tipped that year’s ited McDermott for “calming presidential race to Rich- the the crowd,” on Tuesday, ard Nixon. Violent protests he was defeated by North likely caused a 1.6% to Township Trustee Frank J. 7.9% shift among whites Mrvan in the primary elec- toward Republicans. In tion. McDermott’s 11th hour contrast, the Democratic leadership wasn’t enough to vote in white counties cut into Mrvan’s endorsement by out-going U.S. Rep. Pete that directly experienced, or were in proximity to, nonvio- Visclosky, the Gary Precinct Organization and the United lent protests rose by 1.6%. Steelworkers. New York Times columnist Thomas Edsall ob- We are in the Trump era of whiplash politics, served: “Based on these calculations, Wasow estimated where his impeachment seems like a far-off event even what the outcome of the 1968 election would have been though it occurred in February, and the racial strife in the under a ‘counterfactual scenario that Martin Luther King 10 days after a Minneapolis cop murdered George Floyd had not been assassinated on April 4, 1968, and 137 has displaced the 100,000 deaths from COVID from the violent protests had not occurred in the immediate wake headlines, but if 2020 becomes the “Floyd Election” as of his death.’ Under this scenario, Wasow wrote, ‘Hubert opposed to the “Pandemic/Depression Election,” then Hale Humphrey would have won an additional 763,040 votes faces an arduous election. nationally,’ including a majority of the votes in five addi- Despite President Trump’s ham-handed teargas- tional states: Delaware, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, and Page 4

Ohio. These swing states would collectively have provided began in . She was one of two candidates – Dr. Humphrey with an additional 84 electoral votes and al- Chuck Dietzen being the other – to use a full-page adver- lowed him to win the 1968 election with a total of 275 torial in the Carmel Current. “She had yard signs, TV ads electoral votes.” and every method you could have to reach voters,” Dunn State University political scientist Matt said. Grossman adds that in 2016, “Trump incorporated rheto- Club For Growth spent more than $460,000 on ric combining conservative sentiments with symbols that the race, including two attack TV ads describing key rivals invoke racial attitudes. He mentioned ‘illegal’ and ‘criminal’ Beth Henderson and former Marion County prosecutor more than prior campaigns and exceeded Richard Nixon Carl Brizzi as anti-President Trump. In addition, Club For levels of ‘law and order’ rhetoric, which had been effective Growth members contributed more than $56,000 directly in the past at marrying racial attitudes with broader ideas to Spartz’s winning campaign through the Club For Growth about liberalism. Trump took advantage of a moment of PAC. rising racial conflict. As he began to campaign in 2015, “Victoria Spartz knows first-hand just how dan- there had been a large upsurge in attention to the Black gerous socialism is from her youth growing up in Soviet Lives Matter movement, protests of police violence, and Ukraine, we congratulate her on her victory, and look for- campus protests of discrimination. The Baltimore Freddie ward to supporting her in the general election. As a fellow Gray protests and riots before his announcement, and the Hoosier I am proud of her principled, free-market positions Ferguson anniversary protests after it, stimulated wide- she will take to Washington,” said David McIntosh, presi- spread media attention and public interest.” dent of Club For Growth PAC, who lost a 5th CD primary to Hale’s campaign hasn’t embraced the rhetoric and U.S. Rep. in 2012. actions such as the $3 trillion Democratic rescue package. Spartz was the only candidate in the field of 15 Nor has her campaign issued statements in the post- Republicans who had a political base, even though she George Floyd protests, suggesting that she is reticent to was appointed to her Senate district by caucus in 2017. embrace a Democratic agenda that won’t play well in the Tuesday was the first time she appeared on an election northern part of the district. ballot. But she was able to It’s a high-wire act, as she use her franked mail privi- will need a robust turnout in leges to communicate with the Indianapolis portion of a sizeable chunk of the 5th the district. CD. “Our community is Beth Henderson was facing unprecedented chal- another self-funding candi- lenges, and I’m committed date, loaning her campaign to taking action on the issues $250,000. The personable most critical to families across nurse and businesswoman (the 5th District),” Hale said was crimped by the pan- in a statement following her demic. “She couldn’t play to defeat of 2018 nominee Dee her strong suit,” Dunn said. Thornton on Tuesday, 39- “The pandemic really hurt 28%. “Whether it’s the lack her ability to reach out to of access to affordable health people.” care during a global pandem- ic, or the economic crisis that 1st CD: Mrvan wins has forced over half a million with Visclosky’s help Hoosiers to file for unemploy- North Township Trustee ment, our problems are too Frank J. Mrvan took en- grave to waste time on partisan politics.” dorsements from out-going U.S. Rep. , the United Steelworkers and the Gary Precinct Organization to How Spartz won defeat Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., to win the Sen. Spartz won her primary race with a coordi- open 1st CD Democratic primary. With 80% of precincts nated media campaign. “Every day there was a mailer, two reporting, Mrvan had a 2,800 lead over McDermott. “I or three emails and texts,” said former 5th CD Republican conceded to Frank two minutes ago,” McDermott told HPI chairman Craig Dunn. She loaned her campaign $900,000 shortly after 10 p.m. (CT). “I don’t see how I can make (including $150,000 in the last week), though her FEC up 2,800 votes with what’s left out there.” McDermott financial disclosure does not list any bank accounts. In had doubled Mrvan in fundraising and drew $165,000 of addition, her campaign aired four TV ads that included en- outside PAC money, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the dorsements from Senate colleagues. There was a biogra- organizational strength of Visclosky and the Steelworkers. phy ad titled “Relentless,” describing her life journey which “We shocked the world,” Mrvan told the NWI Page 5 Times’ Dan Carden. “We were outspent three-to-one. We SD13: Glick glides past Wibel kept our head down. We stayed positive. We’ve proven State Sen. Susan Glick will end up north of 60% that people want someone who can stay positive, unify, in a race between two former LaGrange County prosecu- work for them, advocate for them, and bring results back tors. Wible ended up going strong negative the final week to . People beat big money in Northwest but the Senate Majority Campaign Committee responded Indiana.” in kind. Wible was aided by the Term Limits group from Mrvan credited Visclosky for his win. “Everywhere Florida who sent mailers for him. Former congressman I went, from the first step of the campaign, every minute backed Wible on his WOWO radio show a of the campaign early on people asked: Who is Congress- few times for some late exposure. man Visclosky, who is Pete, endorsing?” Mrvan said. “He’s handled the job with grace and dignity, he has proven re- SD16: Busch defeating Rhoades sults, he’s beloved within our community, and his endorse- State Sen. Justin Busch should end up at 70% ment was something that gave credibility and also allowed or above in his race against Tom Rhoades. Busch won a us to be able to move forward with momentum, along caucus to replace retiring Senate President Pro Tem David with the United Steelworkers — one of the most powerful, Long. results-driven unions in Northwest Indiana.” Mrvan now will face perennial Republican nominee SD7: Buchanan leading Mark Leyva, the apparent winner of the six-candidate GOP State Sen. Brian Buchanan should end up at 70% primary, in the Nov. 3 general election. Voters have sent as well. It was his first election since he won a caucus to the Democratic nominee to Washington in every race since replace State Sen. Brandt Hershman. The term limits group the district first was centered on Northwest Indiana in engaged similarly here, hitting him with multiple mailers 1932, according to the NWI Times. and digital ads. The National Association of Gun Rights . was heavilty involved here against Buchanan, who had an Hackett, Ruff win in 2nd, 9th CDs A rating from the NRA. In the 2nd CD, Democrat Pat Hackett was easily defeating Ellen Marks by 10,000 votes and will face Repub- SD30: Ruckelshaus winning with 80% lican U.S. Rep. . State Sen. John Ruckelshaus was blowing out Terry In the 9th CD, former Bloomington councilman Michael with 80% of the vote with 84% reporting. Andy Ruff had an 8% lead with 67% reporting, with the Associated Press declaring him the winner. Ruff will face U.S. Rep. . HD93: Sherman trails Jacobs In the 3rd CD, U.S. Rep. was winning State Rep. Dollyne Sherman was trailing John in a landslide over Christopher Magiera. Democrats Chip Jacobs 2,063 to 1,877 with 80% of the vote reporting. A Coldiron and Carlos Marcano where in a nip-and-tuck number of Johnson County absentee ballots still had to be battle for that nomination. With 80% reporting, the two counted. The Associated Press declared Jacobs the winner, were tied at 33%, with Tommy Schrader at 20%. but sources close to Sherman believe she still has a chance In the 6th CD, U.S. Rep. faces a re- to close the gap. Sherman won a caucus to replace retir- match with Democrat Jeannine Lake, who easily defeated ing State Rep. Dave Frizzell in 2019. Jacobs has a volatile past nominees Barry Welsh and George Holland. reputation, with sources saying he once tossed bags filled In the Democrat 8th CD, Thomasina Marsili had a with tomato juice at pro-choice legislators. He is a State narrow lead over past nominee Ron Drake, 36-33%, with Board of Accounts employee. the AP declaring her the winner. She faces U.S. Rep. . HD50: Rep. Leonard edges Stoffel Indianapolis attorney Susan Marie Smith captured State Rep. Dan Leonard won a narrow 52-48% vic- nearly half the vote to win the Republican nomination tory over Huntington teacher John Stoffel, who was backed against U.S. Rep. Andre Carson in the 7th CD. by the IPACE PAC.

General Assembly HD58: Davis wins with Burton backing Michelle Davis, director of adult education at Cen- SD40: Zody loses to Yoder tral Nine Career Center in Johnson County won the Indiana Democratic Chairman John open seat of retiring State Rep. Woody Burton. Davis Zody suffered a landslide loss at the hands of had been endorsed by Burton. Davis won with 43%, 2016 9th CD nominee , who won with Jay Hart second at 33% and David Hopper third by an 80-to-18% tally. The two Democrats with 13%. Hopper had been backed by Greenwood were seeking the Democrat nomination after Mayor Mark Myers. State Sen. Mark Stoops announced he would retire. Page 6 HD75: Ledbetter wins open seat very good,” Bauer said Wednesday afternoon (South Bend Warrick County Councilwoman Cindy Ledbetter Tribune). “I’m very grateful. It was an extended primary defeated Warrick GOP Chairman Michael Griffin, 52-48% in and it was through very difficult times to be campaigning a seat being vacated by retiring State Rep. Ron Bacon. for the first time.”

HD79: Lehman dispatches Isch HD39: Klein defeats Hinton House Majority Leader Matt Lehman was fending Democrat Ashley Klein defeated 2018 nominee off a challenge from social conservative Taylor Isch, win- Mark Hinton and will take on State Rep. Gerald Torr. ning 56-44% with 84% reporting. HD45: Borders defeats Garmong HD88: Jeter defeats McGrath Republican State Rep. Bruce Borders defeated Jeff In the seat being vacated by former House Garmong with 68% of the vote. Speaker Brian Bosma, social conservative Chris Jeter de- feated Fishers Deputy Mayor Leah McGrath, who had been HD100: Johnson prevails endorsed by Gov. , Bosma and House Speak- Indianapolis City-County Councilor and IndyHub er Todd Huston. With 73% of the vote reporting, Jeter had President Blake Johnson won over Clif Marsiglio, senior a 58-42% lead over McGrath. management analyst for IUPUI. Johnson led Marsiglio nearly 77% to 23%. HD6: Bauer wins In the open HD6, Maureen Bauer had a 44-39% Parks loses delegate race lead over Garrett Blad with 72% reporting. She is the It wasn’t a good election for party chairs. In addi- daughter of out-going State Rep. B. Patrick Bauer and will tion to Democratic Chairman John Zody’s blow out loss in be the third generation to hold the seat. Her grandfather, SD30, Vanderburgh County Republican Chairman Wayne Bernie Bauer held the seat followed by her father. “It feels Parks lost his state convention delegate race. v Page 7

protest line. For example, those wanting protestors to be held Homogenous hegemony accountable for defying city and countywide curfews have By PETE SEAT a truth to tell. The protestors fighting for their elected INDIANAPOLIS — From every angle, from every officials to be held accountable for systemic inequities in perspective, no matter how you slice it, America is divided. society have a truth to tell, too. To fully understand both Age, geography, gender, ideology and, of course, race. We sides, we must allow ourselves to let down our guard and live within increasingly homogenous groups of people who open our minds to a voice unlike our own. There is no look, act and think like us, groups that cater to our worst prerequisite for agreement and no obligation for confor- demons and resort to harmful hegemonic tactics to get mity, there is only a requirement for mutual respect and their way. emotional empathy. Baby Boomers thumb We all struggle in some ways. The verac- their noses at Millennials, and ity of the struggle is within the mind and heart of those Millennials indiscreetly mutter, living the struggle – and within those who can empathize “Ok, Boomer,” to express their with the struggle. Not the status quo of our lives nor the disgust at parents and superiors. end point of our endeavors can fully express the reality Urban Democrats sway elections of those struggles. Nor can our age, geography, gender, over rural Republicans – and vice ideology or race. The only true form of expression is to a versa depending on the location. willing audience. Men and women tussle in the Each of us deserves nothing less. The rich and workplace and in the home. Re- affluent, the poor and downtrodden, the ideologically publicans decry socialism on the potent and the politically impotent, everyone’s voice must left and Democrats scream of be heard if our republic is to live to see another 200 years. fascism on the right. And race, As President Bush concluded in his eloquent dispatch to which cuts across all these divides, is separating Ameri- America, “This will require a consistent, courageous, and cans at a time when unity is of paramount import. creative effort. We serve our neighbors best when we try The assertion of righteous dominance over groups to understand their experience. We love our neighbors as of disparate mind – and, at times, of like mind – defines ourselves when we treat them as equals, in both protec- America in the year 2020. What should unite us is being tion and compassion. There is a better way – the way of American. Yet, we can’t see past our differences. We see empathy, and shared commitment, and bold action, and a each other not as human equals, but as a member of our peace rooted in justice.” preferred tribe or as a member of the opposing gang. And George Floyd’s death was an inflection point for within those groups, within the homogeneity of which our nation. But unlike the inflection points that were the we define ourselves, we work non-stop to put down the election of and Donald J. Trump, which other groups who don’t possess a similar worldview. As in their own ways exacerbated old wounds and further former President George W. Bush wrote in a statement this divided our land, let this inflection point not lead us to fur- week, “America’s greatest challenge has long been to unite ther division, but captivate us enough to begin shattering people of very different backgrounds into a single nation our homogenous tribes and our hegemonic ways to bring of justice and opportunity.” We are failing this solemn duty. about the reconciliation our nation is crying out to realize. Homogenous hegemony, the mentality that v I’m right and you’re wrong and nothing you can say will change my mind, could bring America to its knees unless Pete Seat is a former White House spokesman for we take heed of this moment. I am hardly perfect in this President George W. Bush and campaign spokes- regard. In fact, I am guilty of the impulses myself. Soci- man for former Director of National Intelligence ety’s pull lurches me frequently to negativity. I watch a and U.S. Senator . Currently he is a vice news story about or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez president with Bose Public Affairs Group in India- and steam comes out of my ears. A minute later I see one napolis. He is also an Atlantic Council Millennium about Indiana’s Republican leadership and pop champagne Fellow and author of the 2014 book, ”The War on bottles and high five friends. I try to look at the end of the Millennials. rainbow but can’t seem to find where it lies. Or if it lies there at all. So to myself, and to all of you, I implore more discernment and less reaction. More empathy and less avoidance. More humanity and less dismission. Speak your personal truth to enlighten those around you. But know in this moment, as in any moment in history, there is truth on both sides of the political debate and on both sides of the Page 8

Blue dot means you’re off to a FEMA concentration camp. Pink dot means slave labor. Red dot means you’ll be shot. Ducking all the I received a letter from a nice lady in Mishawaka who was very worried. “I returned my census question- conspiracy theories naire and also licked the envelope,” she wrote. Also, she By JACK COLWELL said: “Some time ago a red dot was placed on my mail SOUTH BEND – Attention: That story about the and Tribune boxes.” fatal shooting of 20 first-graders at Sandy Hook Elemen- She wasn’t sure if I wrote “a tongue-in-cheek tary School in Newtown, Conn., was fake news. The little article” or one with a real warning. “I will remove the red brats were just acting, pretending to be dead in a plot to dots from my boxes after I hear from you,” she wrote. I promote taking away our guns. quickly contacted her, assuring there was no danger from Attention: A viral video called “Plandemic” tells the red dots or anything on the envelope. She understood how Bill Gates is orchestrating this and agreed it was a good idea to ridicule the lies. coronavirus scam to control the She was no dummy. You don’t have to be to world and make even more money hear about and wonder about some of these conspiracy through a vaccine monopoly. Dr. theories, especially ones designed to play on fears and Anthony Fauci also is a villainous concerns, with full intent to mislead with false informa- plotter. tion, the ultimate fake news. Some of the conspiracy junk Attention: Believers in QAnon is laughable. Like the QAnon supporters who speculate reveal the threat of a global con- this Q who started it all with postings is John F. Kennedy spiracy involving politicians, ce- Jr., who faked his death and lives to warn of “deep state” lebrities, banks, media and a child plots. sex-trafficking ring. Barack Obama is Reaction to what is spread by the fakers isn’t implicated. always funny. It can have life-threatening consequences. If these conspiracy theories have come to your Pizzagate is an example. That was the fake news inten- attention, I’m sure you realize that they deserve an evalu- tionally spread back during the 2016 presidential cam- ation often expressed by the ducks in the pond near my paign about a child-enslavement and sexual-abuse ring home: “Quack. Quack. Quack.” run by Hillary Clinton in the basement of a Washington, Well, actually I’m not sure about everybody agree- D.C., pizzeria. It went viral online. Alex Jones, the creep ing with the ducks. When I who claimed the write satire about ridiculous kids at Sandy Hook conspiracy theories, I often really weren’t killed, hear from some reader who spread Pizzagate, finds the conspiracy more expanding it to tell understandable than the how Hillary mur- satire intended to debunk it. dered kids. Ten years ago, at Nobody would the time of the last census, take that seriously? I wrote a satirical column A man from North about some nutty con- Carolina did. He spiracy theories of the time. drove to the pizze- Beware, I warned: “Filling ria to free the kids out the form could lead to from the basement, confinement in a concentra- entering with his tion camp. Licking to seal AR-15 rifle and the return envelope could pistol and shooting let them use your DNA to off the lock on one frame you. And letting them door. There were no pinpoint your address could kids. The place had bring targeting of your no basement. He home by a Predator drone went to prison. Too missile.” bad he didn’t listen to the wisdom of the ducks: “Quack. Also mentioned was the claim that FEMA had Quack. Quack.” established concentration camps, including one near LaPorte. And colored dots on mailboxes affixed in some Colwell has covered Indiana politics over five de- areas for newspaper or other delivery purposes were cades for the South Bend Tribune. really to help foreign troops round up American patriots. Page 9

at one point reviving a civil rights era slogan: “When the Holcomb vows to fight looting starts, the shooting starts.” Holcomb was flanked by Indiana State Police Supt. Doug Carter and Indiana National Guard Brig. Gen. injustice, seeks dialogue Dale Lyles at his Statehouse south atrium presser. Carter By BRIAN A. HOWEY said that over the weekend, ISP resources worked hand INDIANAPOLIS — Just minutes after President in glove in Indianapolis, , Hobart, Michigan Trump chided American governors for not “dominating” City, Merrillville, Tell City, Evansville, Jeffersonville and violent protesters, Gov. Eric Holcomb vowed to use “Ev- other locations. ery breath we take, every breath we have left should be Curfews were invoked in Indianapolis, Michigan devoted to making sure what happened to Mr. Floyd never City, Fort Wayne and Hammond. happens again.” “Hear me loud and clear,” Carter said at one Noting that his state is now battling the COVID-19 point. “Law enforcement is not without sin. And we col- virus and violence in the wake of the police murder of lectively own some of this distrust. We are human beings, George Floyd in Minneapolis a week ago, Holcomb ob- just like you. And the death of George Floyd is a stern served, “What started as a justifiable, and actually, needed reminder that we, and what I represent, have much left protest has turned into something else. Indiana, we don’t to do.” But he deplored the violence that left three dead have more time or lives to in . “This is not the way to solve lose. I implore every Hoosier... complex, real and his- to use your breath, your will, toric conflict,” Carter in efforts that bridge, not said. divide. Only then will these Gen. Lyles said tense and turbulent times give that National Guard way to the more optimistic assets were used days ahead.” Sunday to defend four It marked a trifecta in sites in Indianapolis. civil discord with the CO- “On Sunday ... sol- VID-19 pandemic that has diers and airmen from killed 2,000 Hoosiers since the reactionary force March launched the state into established a force a 16.9% jobless rate as the at state properties shutdown tanked the econ- in downtown Indy to omy, and then the spasm of violence over the weekend protect centuries-old spread to more than a dozen Indiana cities. monuments that were defaced on Saturday.” Holcomb added, “Violence in the streets makes Over the weekend, presumptive Democrat guber- progress on all of these fronts harder. It’s just unconscio- natorial nominee Woody Myers said, “Last night, Hoosiers nable to me that someone would go to these monuments across the state practiced their 1st Amendment rights in that represent men and women that gave their lives so protesting the tragic and brutal death of George Floyd. that people would have that First Amendment right to as- The numbers don’t lie; the Black community has been semble peacefully. To speak, peacefully.” disproportionately affected by this brutality, both here “The folks who are peacefully responding to the in Indiana and across the United States. Law enforce- extreme injustice that was done to Mr. George Floyd ... ment officers took an oath to serve and protect, and their that is a noble cause. To not just protest that, but to seek violence against Black Americans is not only wrong, but change from it. Violence in the streets makes progress on criminal. The actions that perpetuated these events have all these fronts harder and sets us back from forming that exposed the racial inequities in our society, and require more perfect union.”” us to confront these injustices honestly and openly. While As Holcomb spoke, smart phones across the the initial protests were peaceful, the opportunistic loot- state blared an “emergency alert” that Marion County ing that followed does little to further the righteous cause would be under a curfew from 8 p.m. Monday until 4 a.m. intended by the original protesters and activists. Our na- Tuesday. At the same time, another peaceful protest was tion needs to progress into a more equitable tomorrow. moving toward the Statehouse from Monument Circle. “I join the world in its outrage and anger at Holcomb was preparing his remarks as President the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Trump had a conference call with governors, reportedly Ahmaud Arbery and Dreasjon Reed,” Myers continued. chiding them for being “weak” before saying, “If you don’t “We cannot accept that injustice remains the status quo dominate you’re wasting your time. It’s like a war. . . . It is a in 2020 – the fight to provide a better future lands upon war in a certain sense. And we will end it fast. Be tough.” It all of our shoulders to find a path together to justice.” v came days after Trump began tweeting incendiary remarks, Page 10

tancy in the 36 OECD countries, we rank 29th. The pandemic didn’t rob us of our “exceptional” America exceptional? status. We’ve been doing that all on our own for years. Which country is perceived as having the most We’ve got work to do advanced technology? Japan (we’re fourth). Where is By LEE HAMILTON democracy strongest? The Economist Intelligence Unit, BLOOMINGTON – Like most Americans, I have al- measuring the state of democracy in 167 countries, put ways considered the United States an exceptional country. Norway and Iceland at the top, with the U.S. coming in We possess a political system built on checks and bal- 25th. Which country is viewed as possessing the most ances, an ideal of giving voice to ordinary people across a stable economy? Switzerland, Canada, and Germany top diverse land, and a Constitution that favors finding com- U.S. News & World Report’s list. The U.S. comes in 15th. mon ground among them. To be sure, on various indexes of military Our economy, at its best, strength, we rank first in the world. But then, we also offers opportunity, rewards in- rank highest among the G7 nations for income inequality. novation, and makes it possible I don’t want to make your eyes glaze over with numbers. for people from humble circum- And, in fact, the measures I cited might not be the ones stances to succeed and thrive. you’d pick. Feel free to go online and search for “coun- Our civic spirit, despite hiccups try rankings by…” whatever you’re curious about. What and political conflict, has over the you’ll find is a mixed picture of the U.S., quite apart from long haul pointed us toward toler- anything caused by the pandemic. It didn’t rob us of our ance, broadening civil rights, and “exceptional” status. We’ve been doing that all on our own encouraging participation from the for years. neighborhood to Capitol Hill. Not long ago, the writer Fintan O’Toole had a Recently, there has been widely read piece in which he said, “However bad things a spate of public musing about “the end of American are for most other rich democracies, it is hard not to feel exceptionalism.” This is not new; conservatives have been sorry for Americans.” When I read articles like that, I think lamenting our “decline” for years, while there are signifi- they miss a key point. I don’t feel sorry for us. Because cant portions of the population for whom the promise of what I said at the beginning of this commentary still holds America never quite became real. But the coronavirus true: Our political system, our economic potential, and our has laid bare a country fumbling for a response; a fed- civic spirit remain the cornerstones of a great nation. eral government that, despite pockets of brilliance, has We have a choice. We can continue to lose ground failed overall to protect and offer guidance to Americans; globally. But if we choose to build and strive to reach our a health care system that has been forced to scramble for potential, we can become, without doubt, truly exceptional the most basic supplies; and an economic downturn that again. v has wreaked disproportionate havoc on the lives of middle- class and wage-earning Americans. Lee Hamilton is a Senior Advisor for the Indiana Yet even before this crisis, there was reason to University Center on Representative Government; question whether the U.S. truly is exceptional. This is a Distinguished Scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar worth spending some time on, because in the coming School of Global and International Studies months of this election year you’ll no doubt hear grandiose claims about the U.S.’s virtues. They demand an honest accounting of where we excel and where we fall short. Let’s take a quick tour. In education, for in- stance, the OECD ranked the U.S. as sixth most-educated in 2018; Canada came first. We do even worse on student test scores for reading, math, and science, where the U.S. in 2018 ranked 36th in math and 17th in reading. There was a time when our infrastructure was the envy of the world. Now it’s Singapore, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong; we’re not even in the top 10. In health care, World Population Review ranks us 37th. On a broad ranking of quality of life – that is, which countries offer the best chances for a healthy, safe, and prosperous life ahead – you’d want to be in Denmark, Switzerland, or Finland; on the Bloomberg “Healthiest Country” index, the U.S. didn’t make the top 20. In fact, in a separate look at life expec- Page 11

order attacking the protections granted to social media companies under Section 230 of the Communications Our tweeting Decency Act. “We’re here today to defend free speech from one of the gravest dangers it has faced in American president history, frankly,” he said from the Oval Office. “A small By KELLY HAWES handful of powerful social media monopolies control the CNHI News Bureau vast portion of all private and public communications in the ANDERSON — The war between our president United States.” and his favorite social media platform escalated in the wee Kate Ruane, senior legislative counsel for the hours of Friday morning. Just before 1 a.m., the president American Civil Liberties Union, was skeptical the president sent out a tweet about the rioting in Minneapolis. He called would succeed in his effort. “Much as he might wish oth- the demonstrators “thugs” and promised to take action to erwise, Donald Trump is not the president of ,” she halt the violence. said in a statement. She argued the president was actu- “Any difficulty and we ally benefiting from the provision his order attacked. “If will assume control but, when the platforms were not immune under the law,” she said, “then looting starts, the shooting starts,” they would not risk the legal liability that could come with he tweeted. “Thank you!” Less than hosting Donald Trump’s lies, defamation and threats.” two-and-a-half hours later, Twitter Lots of folks would love to see our president took action. “This Tweet violates our stop tweeting. Even his closest advisers have likely been policies regarding the glorification tempted at times to take away his phone. Now that Twitter of violence … and the risk it could has taken him on directly, it’ll be interesting to see how it inspire similar actions today,” the all plays out. What we know for sure is he’ll continue to company said. portray himself as the victim. Hours later, the official White And many of his supporters will believe it. v House Twitter account posted the same message, and Twitter again took action. “As is standard with this notice, Kelly Hawes is a columnist for CNHI News Indiana. engagements with the Tweet will be limited,” the company He can be reached at kelly.hawes@indianamedia- said. “People will be able to Retweet with Comment, but group.com. Find him on Twitter @Kelly_Hawes. will not be able to Like, Reply or Retweet it.” The president is no stranger to outrageous mes- sages on Twitter. Take his latest attack on Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” In a series of tweets, the presi- Go cranks, go! dent suggested Scarborough might have killed a young congressional staffer nearly 20 years ago. “A lot of interest By MORTON J. MARCUS in this story about Psycho Joe Scarborough,” the president INDIANAPOLIS — Citizens are the final line of tweeted. “So a young marathon runner just happened to defense against misdeeds by business and government. faint in his office, hit her head on his desk, & die? I would Often these social soldiers are derided as cranks obsessed think there is a lot more to this story than that? An affair? with unwarranted concerns of environmental, health, and What about the so-called investigator? Read story!” safety matters. The woman’s still-grieving husband asked Business and government are simultaneously Twitter to take down the president’s tweets, but the social seen as irresponsible and unresponsive. They plunder, media platform declined. “We are deeply sorry about the endanger, defile, and destroy communities too weak or pain these statements, and the attention they are drawing, too greedy to resist the “investments” being proposed. are causing the family,” a company representative said in a These conflicts characterize prepared statement. “We’ve been working to expand exist- American history. Early on, with so ing product features and policies so we can more effec- much open land and little under- tively address things like this going forward, and we hope standing of nature, questionable to have those changes in place shortly.” “progress” was invited to move The president’s response was to repeat his slan- further away, somewhere down der. “Psycho Joe Scarborough is rattled,” he tweeted, “not stream, somewhere out of sight. only by his bad ratings but all of the things and facts that But real progress is an inexorable are coming out on the internet about opening a Cold Case. force benefiting many despite any He knows what is happening!” adverse consequences for the few. After Twitter had the audacity to fact-check his Thus, Indiana and much claims of election fraud, the president signed an executive of America “developed” until den- sity overwhelmed “destiny.” With Page 12 less and less land open for “development” and more and Misrepresentation by business and government more educated, sensitive people, “investment” is not an about projects they wish to develop is sadly endemic and easy buy, build and prosper matter. There are now govern- creates persistent distrust. For WSP to deny their recycling ment and private oversight hurdles to master. project would emit toxic contaminants in Muncie but ad- So it was for WSP (Waelz Sustainable Products) mitting such on their application to Indiana’s EPA agency, in Muncie recently. There, a plant to recycle steel mill by- was not just a singular error. It was breach of the public products, in a former Borg-Warner facility, was rejected trust all organizations must establish. only after community guardians raised concern about Ultimate liability rests with the State of Indiana, mercury and zinc emissions. These pesky “protesters” the ’s office, and, in this case with IEDC (the included scientific researchers who challenged misleading Indiana Economic Development Corporation). Before IEDC “zero-emission” claims by the company. introduces suitors to Hoosier communities, offering sub- Today, WSP is trying to advance virtually the same sidies to those companies, encouraging local cooperation project further north on U.S. 35 in Cass County. Again, and subsides, those firms should be fully vetted. aroused and informed citizens are in opposition to WSP, Heritage has a 50-year history yielding a sub- a 2018 joint venture by two family-owned, experienced stantial record of performance. No Indiana city or county international recycling companies. has the resources to certify the environmental, health, The American partner is Heritage, with locations in safety, and financial credentials of every firm seeking 17 states, including four in Indiana, headquartered in In- public support. The state should have and apply such dianapolis. The irony is Heritage maintains a sophisticated, resources on our behalf. convincing business website which details the services and We should thank our “protesters” for their dili- philosophy of the organization. gence and persistence. Go, cranks, go! v Then why was WSP challenged in Muncie and Cass County? According to the company, they were defeated Mr. Marcus is an economist. Reach him at mortonj- by a “campaign of misinformation.” With all the positives [email protected]. Follow his views and those of proudly proclaimed on the Heritage website, why can’t John Guy on “Who gets what?” wherever podcasts the toddler WSP present a convincing case to the public in are available or at mortonjohn.libsyn.com. Muncie and Cass County?

the next Democratic presidential nominee four or eight years from now. The Klobuchar His choice in this hypothetical scenario? Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). veep hypothetical Biden picked Klobuchar despite the objections of By KYLE KONDIK, J. MILES COLEMAN some black leaders, reasoning that Klobuchar, a three- and LARRY SABATO term senator with a strong electoral track record from the CHARLOTTSVILLE, Va. — If you ever wonder why Midwest, would be electorally helpful, a useful governing it takes so long for presumptive presidential nominees partner, and a plausible future president. to name their running mates, even those who effectively Mere days after rolling out the Biden-Klobuchar wrap up their nominations relatively early in the nominat- ticket, the killing of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, ing season, consider this hypothetical: while in custody of Minneapolis police sparked protests What if, two weeks ago, Joe around the country -- and immediately put Biden on the Biden determined that he wanted to defensive given Klobuchar’s make a splash and had announced “tough on crime” history as Hen- his vice presidential choice early? nepin County Attorney and the Already struggling to break history of the officer indicted for through the news cycle, Biden killing Floyd, Derek Chauvin. reasoned that picking his running mate would give him Back in the real world, Biden is apparently going an important new surrogate to help make the case for his to wait at least a couple of more months before naming candidacy. his running mate. As impatient as we all are to know his In making his choice in this hypothetical situation, running mate, waiting makes some sense. For one thing, Biden prioritized three major factors: proven success in it gives the campaign the maximum amount of time to vet an electorally important region; high-level experience to the candidates; for another, it allows more of the sand in assist him as a governing partner in the White House; and 2020’s hourglass to pass, thus making it less likely that a pedigree that would reassure voters the vice president events conspire to spoil the eventual choice. could take over as president if necessary and/or become This is also why presidential candidates hardly Page 13 ever pick their running mate in the heat of the primary epidemic. The killing of George Floyd, and other instances campaign -- such a decision only exacerbates the timing of police brutality, has refocused attention on a long-fes- risks we just mentioned, and it can be a sign of despera- tering American problem: the reality that blacks have more tion (as it was when Ted Cruz picked Carly Fiorina in reason to be fearful of interactions with police officers than advance of the fateful Indiana primary that ended his whites do. Biden naming a black running mate would not, campaign four years ago). on its own, address these problems, but it would carry Still, in the hectic hours after the South Carolina symbolic and, perhaps, electoral significance. primary this year and in advance of Super Tuesday, it As friend of the Crystal Ball Ted Johnson wrote seemed possible that Biden might have traded the vice earlier this year, there is persuasive evidence that sug- presidential nomination to Klobuchar for her exit from the gests Biden would benefit electorally from picking a black race and endorsement -- which is why our ears perked up running mate, which could redound in Democrats’ favor when Klobuchar said back in March that she was proud to as a way to “to increase enthusiasm, voter participation join Biden’s “ticket” at a Michigan campaign event before and chances of victory.” Johnson discussed this in a recent quickly correcting herself. UVA Center for Politics panel on the VP search, while also As it stands, Biden said recently that he will noting that the black community is more cohesive in the make his choice around Aug. 1. If the choice comes on United States than other broad groups of nonwhites (such that specific date, Biden’s VP choice would come 16 days as Hispanics or Asian Americans), meaning that, hypotheti- before the Democratic National Convention is scheduled cally, picking a black running mate might help Biden more to open in Milwaukee (the DNC was originally scheduled with black performance and turnout than picking someone to start a month earlier). A Biden selection on or by Aug. from a different nonwhite group would help him with that 1 would actually be relatively early by historical standards: nonwhite voting bloc. That said, this is all hypothetical at FiveThirtyEight’s Nathaniel Rakich found that the earliest this point -- while there has been a black president, Barack vice presidential announcement by a presumptive nominee Obama, every major party vice presidential nominee has in the modern presidential selection era (dating back to been white, and only two have been women (Geraldine 1972) was John Kerry’s selection of John Edwards 20 days Ferraro and Sarah Palin). before the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Another Remember, too, that heading into Memorial Day early pick was Mitt Romney’s selection of Paul Ryan 16 weekend, Biden made news for telling progressive black days before the 2012 Republican National Convention. radio host Charlamagne that black people who don’t back Klobuchar herself may still be a contender for the Biden “ain’t black.” There have also been some indications vice presidential nod, but certainly one would think that that Biden is not quite as strong with black voters, particu- the events of the past couple of weeks have significantly larly younger black voters, as perhaps he could be. reduced her chances of being selected. Some black lead- Biden’s age is a factor. At 78 by Inauguration ers were skeptical of Klobuchar even before the killing of Day next January, he would not just be the oldest first- George Floyd. Since it happened, House Majority Whip Jim time president, but the oldest person, period, to ever hold Clyburn (D, SC-6), whose endorsement of Biden days be- the job at any point. If Trump is reelected, he would turn fore the South Carolina primary will feature prominently in 78 his last year in office; Ronald Reagan, the oldest-ever histories of the 2020 campaign, stated the obvious about White House occupant, left office at 77. It’s an open ques- Klobuchar’s VP odds: “This is very tough timing for her.” tion as to whether Biden would seek a second term, mean- This has been an exceptionally hard year for ing that the person he selects as his running mate could African-Americans in the United States. It is already dif- be the Democratic presidential nominee as soon as four ficult being black in America, and the black community years from now. So this is an important choice, although has been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus all vice presidential choices are. Page 14

Unsurprisingly, our list is led by Sen. Kamala Harris a gubernatorial appointment to replace her in the Senate (D-CA), who has long seemed like a top VP contender. -- there would be a special election in 2021 to fill her seat. When we compiled this list, the three of us each That would be a very competitive contest, and special did separate rankings independently of one another, which elections often break toward the party out of the White we then used as the basis for our collective list. While the House, particularly in midterm election cycles (as was the lists differed substantially in many ways, all three of us case in 2017-2018). So there are major Senate control had Harris listed in the top position. risks with Baldwin. Harris brings some obvious attributes to the table. Duckworth, an Asian-American and disabled She would bring racial and regional balance to the ticket, veteran with House and Senate experience, would, to us, and she also would be broadly acceptable within the be a safe choice. Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) would be able Democratic Party: Some on the left do not like her, but we to appoint a replacement to her seat, and there wouldn’t suspect that none of Biden’s most plausible vice presi- even be a special election, as her seat is regularly sched- dential picks would satisfy Bernie Sanders’ most hardcore uled to be on the ballot in 2022. In her 2016 Senate elec- supporters. Of all the candidates, she also seems like the tion, Duckworth won a substantial chunk of Trump voters best future Democratic presidential nominee among the in downstate Illinois -- perhaps that appeal could boost contenders, although that may just be because she is still Biden in other Midwestern states. on the younger side (55) and because we just saw her Warren, meanwhile, seems like an obvious con- in action as a presidential contender. But she does make tender, too. She could give Biden more credibility with the sense as a candidate of both the present and the future -- left, and she is very policy-focused, making her a strong in other words, the manifestation of Biden’s “bridge” to the potential governing partner for Biden. future. However, we also see a lot of downsides with War- After Harris, our next leading candidate may ren. Even though she’s probably the most liberal of any of be somewhat surprising: Rep. (D, FL-10). the top contenders on our list, the most hardcore Sanders Demings, a former Orlando police chief, has emerged as backers don’t seem to like her very much, owing to the one of the brighter stars in the Democratic House caucus, belief of some that she splintered the progressive vote (we even though she was just elected in 2016. Like Harris, her don’t really think this was the case). Finally, Warren’s age background in law enforcement may bring both positives -- she’ll be 71 later this month -- makes her a less compel- and negatives to her candidacy, and the Biden team will ling “bridge” candidate than many others on this list. have to vet her carefully, both because she is relatively Current Massachusetts law would give Gov. Charlie new to the national scene and because there is some Baker (R-MA) the right to appoint a Republican placeholder history from her past as the chief of police that could to Warren’s seat, giving Republicans at least temporary be damaging. It remains to be seen if she has enough control of the seat, although Democrats hold a superma- high-level experience to strike the broader public as being jority in the Massachusetts legislature, so they could supremely qualified for the job, but her background may change the law to protect Democratic control of the seat. also be the right fit for the moment. Three governors, and a prominent former Demings, unlike Harris, comes from an important gubernatorial candidate, round out the list. Gov. Gina swing state, Florida, and her district is based in Orlando, Raimondo (D-RI) has governed the Ocean State as some- part of the electorally important I-4 corridor (which runs thing of a centrist. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) west to east from Tampa to Orlando). She is one of 27 would bring diversity to the ticket, and she has federal House members from Florida, though, so while she may experience as a member of the U.S. House. She is also be decently known in Orlando, her name ID in Miami now the one major Hispanic candidate, as Sen. Catherine might not be any better than it is in Milwaukee. Speaking Cortez Masto (D-NV) dropped out (Cortez Masto would of Milwaukee, the last time a member of the House was on have ranked highly on our list if she wanted the job). a ticket, Paul Ryan in 2012, it didn’t really help Romney all Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) has achieved a significant that much in Wisconsin. In fact, down the ballot, Ryan also amount of national prominence because of coronavirus, was a candidate for reelection that year, and he won by although she suffered a bad headline recently when her the smallest margin of his career. husband seemed to try to use her position to retrieve their Next on our list is a trio of senators, Tammy family boat (in the VP search, everything matters). And Duckworth (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Tammy finally, former state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams Baldwin (D-WI). From a strict electoral standpoint, Baldwin (D-GA) became a major national figure during and follow- may bring the most to the table: Wisconsin is arguably the ing her narrow gubernatorial loss, and she has not been state likeliest to vote for the winning presidential candi- shy about wanting the job. But her lack of experience in date, and it appears to also be very competitive. If vice any of the traditional VP feeder positions (governor, sena- presidential picks are worth even a point or two in their tor, or U.S. House representative) significantly hurts her home states, as some studies indicate, Baldwin’s place on position in our eyes. v the ticket could be electorally vital. On the other hand, Wisconsin has no provision for Page 15 David Stafford, Indiana Lawyer: Say what you they beg him not to. Secretary of State Connie Lawson will about Curtis Hill, he is a man can tell you about this, and if she won’t speak about it, of convictions. But for purposes of this earned polemic, the court filings where she did live on. Hill was making let’s set aside the wrongful convictions that are still being his record on voter suppression when he went to court overturned from Hill’s years as Elkhart County prosecutor. as AG to undermine Lawson — the official duly in charge Instead, let’s focus on his time as AG and explore of elections in Indiana — because Hill wanted to Hill’s personal and political convictions. Hill’s cam- block expanded voting in Indianapolis. There were paign recently sent a letter to delegates who will any number of legitimate, timely opportunities for choose the Republican AG nominee at the party Holcomb and the Indiana General Assembly to hold convention next month. In it, Hill said he would Hill accountable. Cowardice prevailed. They blew it, use the month starting May 18 to “reflect on and we’re stuck with a malcontented, unscrupulous lessons learned.” That’s some euphemism for “suspended AG whose convictions are surpassed only by his unfitness. from the practice of law for 30 days.” But Hill needs much v more time for reflection, demonstrating he has learned nothing from his suspension. Because Hill’s bedrock con- Ezra Klein, Vox: In the early years of the Trump viction is he is right. If you disagree, Hill is a hammer, you era, I was often asked if American politics had been this are a nail. In suspending Hill, the Indiana Supreme Court bad before. I always said the same thing. It has been so cited Hill’s vindictive streak toward the four women who much worse. Think of the 1960s. John F. Kennedy and accused him of groping and sexual misconduct. Neverthe- Malcolm X were assassinated within two years of each less, within days, Hill’s fellow Republicans were getting a other. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were taste. Hill’s campaign braintrust went from reflection to murdered within two months of each other. Riots set cities retaliation in the length of a letter. “Don’t be fooled,” his aflame. Domestic terrorists detonated bombs across the letter warned fellow Republicans, telegraphing scorched- country. Freedom Riders were beaten and killed. White earth politics. “These new candidates don’t care about police officers turned dogs and hoses on black children. your voice. They only care about themselves and taking The Vietnam draft forced the nation’s young to war. The another step up the ladder.” Hill is talking here to members Democratic Party’s 1968 convention collapsed in violence. of his own party about his fellow Republican challengers — America was coming apart, with disagreements measured Nate Harter, and John Westercamp. in bullets and blood. But there was one thing the 1960s Hill’s campaign letter also warns “the establish- had, that we, today, do not: a political system designed ment” is out to get him, never mind that he occupies — to absorb conflict and find consensus, or at least stability. well, did occupy — the office of Indiana attorney general. I do not seek to smother the age in nostalgia. That calm Has it never dawned on Hill that he won? That once you was often purchased at terrible moral cost, as in the union hold statewide office, you are the establishment? But play- of Dixiecrats and New Deal Democrats that upheld segre- ing the establishment card feeds another Hill conviction: gation for decade after decade. But our divisions did not that he is a victim. This is amplified in his appeal to Repub- track our parties, and so they were muffled in our politics. lican delegates. “(T)he establishment is just being quiet What our political system could not solve, it suppressed. now, biding their time to take out everyone who doesn’t What it could no longer suppress, it sought to solve. When give them power,” says Hill’s letter, stopping just short of the Civil Rights Act passed, it did so with Republican votes, seething, “my precious!” even as it was signed by a Democrat. Imagine legislation “The establishment” in this case is everyone who of such consequence passing without partisan valence told Hill that the right and proper thing for him to do was today. The compromises of that era saved the country, but resign and spare the state a pointless years-long slog they ended that political system. The Civil Rights Act set through the muck. Amid his rhetoric, Hill told delegates, off a realignment of the parties. Richard Nixon weapon- “I don’t need Rhetoric … I’ve got a Record!” He sure does. ized the fury his predecessors had sought to quiet. The Just this month, Hill not only claimed the record of first In- parties slowly restructured: The Democratic Party became diana attorney general disqualified from office due to pro- the party of liberals, its coalition racially and religiously fessional misconduct, he also created a very un-Indiana- diverse, its power centers urban. The Republican Party like constitutional crisis over who is in charge in the AG’s became the party of conservatives, its coalition white and office. Hill had his chief deputy cover for him, but Gov. Eric Christian, its power centers rural and exurban. This is Holcomb thinks he should be able to appoint an AG while the story of American political polarization. For a time, in Hill is off reflecting. The Indiana Supreme Court snubbed the 20th century, our political coalitions did not echo our Holcomb when he asked if he could appoint a new AG. social divisions, our parties were mixed enough to see little Predictably, a lawsuit now challenges Hill’s eligibility to benefit in sharpening the contradictions, and so the politi- serve. Onward through the muck we slog. Hill’s record also cal system often calmed our conflicts. It did so imperfectly, includes a lack of transparency on spending and picking and often unjustly, but America held together when it fights with elected prosecutors and fellow statewide Re- could have come apart easily. Today, our political coalitions publican elected officials, suing in their names even when are our social divisions, and that changes everything. v Page 16

who requested absentee ballots for onstrations this weekend, and given Holcomb, Lawson Tuesday’s election again be allowed to the violence and property damage we vote by mail in November. “We are still experienced this past weekend, we don’t commit to battling a major pandemic, and our intend to reinstate the curfew order November mail vote state government must ensure that for Friday and Saturday,” Mayor Joe Hoosiers are not forced to exchange Hogsett said in a statement. INDIANAPOLIS — Hoosiers their own health for their constitution- who appreciated the convenience and al right to make their voices heard,” Tippecanoe ballots safety of voting by mail in Tuesday’s Lanane said. unaccounted for primary election may nevertheless be 21% more nursing forced to cast their ballot in-person, at LAFAYETTE — There are a polling place, for the Nov. 3 gen- home deaths some concerns with voting in Tippeca- eral election (Carden, NWI Times). noe County after a historical amount Gov. Eric Holcomb and Secretary of INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana of absentee ballots were cast. The State Connie Lawson declined to say health leaders said they were work- head of the election board said there Wednesday whether mail-in voting will ing Wednesday to determine why a are thousands of mail-in votes not continue to be available to all Hoosiers federal report found about 200 more accounted for yet (WLFI-TV). Randy in future elections, or if coronavirus-related deaths Vonderheide and County Clerk Julie the opportunity to vote among the state’s nursing home Roush answered Wednesday how by mail again will be lim- residents than state officials the election played out and what the ited to only those with a had tallied (Indiana Public Me- county and state can do better going specific excuse for being dia). A report released by the forward. Tippecanoe County more unable to vote in person. Centers for Medicare and Med- than quadrupled the record for mail The Indiana Election Commission icaid Services on Monday listed 1,141 in votes in the 2020 primary. “Turnout authorized no excuse mail-in voting total COVID-19 deaths among nursing was lower than we expected, but the for this year’s rescheduled primaries home residents as of May 24. That turnout for mail-in ballots was ex- due to the coronavirus pandemic and number is 196, or 21%, more than the tremely high,” said Roush. based on the bipartisan recommenda- 945 such deaths reported this week tion of the leaders of Indiana’s Repub- by the Indiana State Department of Fort Wayne installs lican and Democratic parties. Health. State officials suspect the dif- Since that time, however, Re- ference stems from Indiana nursing protest barriers publican President Donald Trump re- homes only being asked once in early peatedly has called on states to scrap April for a total number of previous FORT WAYNE — The city of mail-in voting, by claiming — without COVID-19 deaths and infections, Fort Wayne has installed a row of evidence — the mail-in process, which while they have since been required barriers along the sidewalk between Trump used to cast his own primary to report new cases within 24 hours, the Allen County Courthouse lawn and election ballot in Florida, is riddled said Dr. Dan Rusyniak, chief medical Clinton Street, where protesters have with fraud. “We’re still counting the officer for the state Family and Social gathered to protests racism and police votes by the way. So before we weigh- Services Administration. brutality. City spokesman John Perlich in on the next election, we need to told WANE 15 the barriers were in- land this one,” Holcomb said. “But I Hogsett ends curfew stalled “as a safety measure to protect know from the turnout yesterday in protesters and motorists in the area person, that that option is critically until weekend where the majority of the protests and important to many people.” Similarly, demonstrations have occurred.” Lawson said state and county election INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapo- officials have yet to evaluate how well lis will drop until Friday the overnight SNAP benefits can mail-in voting worked at this elec- curfew that was imposed after a tion, so it’s too soon to say whether it weekend of violence following protests be used for delivery should be available in future elections. over the death of George Floyd and INDIANAPOLIS – Hoosiers on “But my goal would be to have a police treatment of African Americans, who qualify for SNAP benefits can use normal election in November with the the mayor’s office said Wednesday their EBT cards, beginning Wednes- normal absentee process, 28 days of (Indiana Public Media). The city won’t day. Both Walmart and Amazon have early, in-person voting, and voting on continue the curfew for Wednesday been approved retailers for the SNAP Election Day,” said Lawson, a Repub- and Thursday nights after order- delivery service. Amazon offers deliv- lican. Senate Democratic Leader Tim ing people off the streets for three ery, while Walmart offers delivery and Lanane, D-Anderson, said it’s impera- straight nights. “For the safety of what pickup options for groceries. tive the more than 500,000 Hoosiers we believe will be much larger dem-