DMH

Q2, 2016 (RL - 03/14/2024) Speculation Grows Around Possible Obama SCOTUS Nominee @Jim Acosta - The President has made clear to aides that he intends to move forward with a nominee regardless of the stance of Majority Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans. @Ana Navarro - I think President Obama would be wise to appoint someone that would put pressure on Republicans to acknowledge. A conciliatory centrist jurist would be difficult to justify blocking in spite of it being an election year. @Rachel Maddow - Republicans have made it clear they intend to block the nominee, regardless of their qualifications. It’s time for Democrats to even the playing field and appoint a jurist who will stand in stark contrast to Scalia and his legacy. @Sean Hannity - Republicans must stand firm in rejecting any SCOTUS nominee put forward by the lame-duck President! Especially the moderates! @Norah Mc'Donnell - Internal discussions within the White House have been intense over the past few days as they settle on a nominee to put forward to replace the late-Scalia. @Kyle Kulinski - The “Biden Rule” is made-up. Simple as that. Republicans know that taking a speech from 1992 and pretending like it’s a precedent is a load of crap. History shows the exact opposite when it comes to confirming in election years. @Megyn Kelly - Democrats throwing Joe Biden under the bus to distract from their hypocrisy on SCOTUS is telling of the lengths they’ll go to take this seat. Keiko Fujimori Takes First Place in First Round of Peruvian Presidential Election @BBC News - Peru is on the cusp of returning a Fujimori to power as Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, takes first place over her leftist opponent in the nation's presidential election. The election will be decided in a second round in the summer. @Fareed Zakaria - The Fujimori name in Peru has been synonomous with brutal repression or internal security depending on who you ask. Noted internationally as a dictator, Alberto Fujimori is currently serving a sentence for human rights abuses.

Q2, 2016 (RL - 03/13/2024) Camilo deSonido (I-CA) Suspends Presidential Primary Campaign @CNN - BREAKING: Independent California Senator Camilo deSonido has suspended his campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination. @Kyle Kulinski - The only independent voice speaking up against the duopoly is out. Now we’re stuck with psychotic Republicans and Democrats hyper-fixated on Obama’s legacy. A bad day for progressives. @Glenn Beck - Even Democrats can’t stomach voting for radical Socialists like Camilo deSonido! @Al Sharpton - Camilo deSonido spoke to the aspirations of minority voters and young voters across the country. The youth demand change and it’s the youth that will deliver the change. @Jake Tapper - deSonido has, as of yet, not endorsed either candidate for the Democratic nomination but has spoke highly of both candidates. His supporters could make or break this primary. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia Dead at the Age of 79 @CNN - BREAKING: US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has passed away at the age of 79. @NBC News - Justice Scalia, a prominent conservative member of the court, was noted for his various majority and minority opinions throughout his tenure as well as his close friendship with fellow Justice and ideological opposite Ruth Bader Ginsburg. @Fox News - President Obama will now be able to nominate a successor to Justice Scalia, a topic that could have major implications on the 2016 elections. @Sean Hannity - A man of patriotic service will be missed on this day. Justice Scalia, I tip my hat to you. Thank you for your service. @Laura Ingraham - I send thoughts and prayers to Justice Scalia’s family as they mourn the lost of America’s favorite Justice. @Cenk Uygur - Antonin Scalia was a homophobic bigot who rejected progress time and time again. He deserves no praise. @Alex Jones - The Marxists MURDERED Antonio Scalia! Why won’t they do an autopsy! Look at the pillow on his face! Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Republicans Consider Blocking Obama SCOTUS Nominee @Norah O'Donnell - All eyes now turn to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who has already expressed hesitation with considering the confirmation of a new Justice. @Rachel Maddow - Is Mitch McConnell really going to destroy the Senate as an institution just to spite President Obama one more time? Pathetic. @Jeanine Pirro - Obama should not be allowed to push through a Supreme Court nominee in his final year. End of story. @Megyn Kelly - Harry Reid threw everything up in the air when he nuked the filibuster for judicial appointments to circumvent the will of Congress. Democrats have themselves to blame. @Larry Sabato - If Senate Republicans refuse to consider a replacement for Antonio Scalia on the Supreme Court, this could further amplify the issue for voters come November. @Donna Brazile - Barack Obama is the incumbent President of the United States. He has every right to nominate a successor to the Supreme Court and for the Senate to give that nominee a fair process. @Jesse Watters - Democrats want to force a leftist judge on the American People in an election year! It’s a no from me! @James Carville - Last I checked, Barack Obama was President until January 20, 2017. Enough with the damn nonsense! @Brian Williams - If reports are true that Senate Republicans are actively considering blocking a replacement to Scalia, some judicial experts have indicated that future SCOTUS rulings could be impacted by the vacancy. RealClearPolitics Super Tuesday State Polling @RealClearPolitics - 2016 Presidential Super Tuesday Polls: ARTICLE Mitch McConnell Announces Senate Republicans Will Not Consider Obama SCOTUS Nominee @Fox News - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to speak on the Senate floor later today. @Bret Baier - I am being told Majority Leader McConnell has made a determination regarding filling the vacant SCOTUS seat. @NBC News - “… the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and I believe that it is today the American people who are best-positioned to help make this important decision — rather than a lame-duck president whose priorities and policies they just rejected in the most-recent national election.” - SML Mitch McConnell (R-KY) @CNN - Senate Republicans have announced that they will not confirm a Justice to the U.S. Supreme Court following the passing of Antonin Scalia. @MSNBC - Senate Majority Leader McConnell has cited the current 2016 election as a reason for the Senate to not consider a nominee put forward by President Obama. @Sean Hannity - Republicans finally grow a backbone! Let the voters make their choice this fall! @Rachel Maddow - McConnell betrays the spirit of the Senate in a craven last act to spite President Obama as his time in office nears an end. Shameful. @George Will - The SCOTUS issue could animate conservative voters this fall as they have a chance to keep a conservative on the court should a Republican win. It’s a risky gambit no doubt. @Jake Tapper - Word around the Senate Republican Conference is affirmation from the vast majority in support of Majority Leader McConnell’s decision to not move forward with a SCOTUS nominee. President Obama Announces He Will Nominate Candidate to SCOTUS @Jim Acosta - I am being told by individuals close to the White House that President Obama still intends to nominate a successor to the late-Antonin Scalia in spite of Senate Republicans. @Cecile Richards - Reproductive rights are on the ballot this November. Whether it be the anti-choice policies of leading Republican candidates or a potentially vacant SCOTUS seat in time for the next President should this obstruction hold. @Franklin Graham - Pray for America! Voters will make their voices heard this fall and we should look to the American People to determine who fills this vacancy, not a lame-duck President! United Kingdom to Vote on Continued EU Membership in Summer @BBC News - Voters in the UK are set to decide this summer whether the United Kingdom will maintain its membership with the European Union or separate from the EU in a major referendum. @Prime Minister David Cameron - Britain’s role in the European Union must be maintained to the best of our abilities. A vote to leave the EU is a vote for economic chaos. @Boris Johnson - Brexit is the only answer to the unequal relationship between the UK and the European Union. The money we send to Brussels can be used right here for the NHS! @Fareed Zakaria - UK voters will cast perhaps their most consequential vote of their lifetime in the summer as the future relationship between the UK and EU could change forever. Definitely a campaign to watch closely. Charles Walker Suspends Presidential Primary Campaign; Endorses McCord @Fox News - BREAKING: Former General and 2016 candidate Charles Walker endorses South Carolina Senator Katherine McCord for President of the United States. @Steve Bannon - Katherine McCord is a shill for neoconservatism and a tool of the establishment. Sad to see Walker embrace her. @Charles Krauthammer - Walker is right. McCain and Romney went through a buzzsaw in their respective primaries. Avoiding the ugliness will save Republicans long-term. @Jesse Watters - Gotta be awkward to upset McCord in her home state and then turn around and endorse her. @Rachel Maddow - McCord is still an anti-choice, anti-environment, and anti-worker candidate just like Rollins and Kuykendall. Don’t lose sight of that.

Q2, 2016 (RL - 03/12/2024) Pre-Super Tuesday Primary Endorsements @Mitt Romney - The only candidate fighting for a fiscally conservative future that leaves future generations financially independent is David Rollins. I am proud to lend him my support. @Senator John McCain - Katherine McCord is the candidate I trust to defend the interests of our nation against threats abroad like Russia, China, and Iran. The choice for security is clear. @Rudy Giuliani - America’s Mayor is proud to support America’s General Charles Walker! We need a tough SOB ready to take on Washington and deliver for America. Charles is the guy! @Rick Santorum - While some count Kuykendall out, I think he could make a big splash come Super Tuesday while delivering on a strong conservative agenda. Join me in supporting the underdog! @Senator Elizabeth Warren - Camilo deSonido is the transformation candidate we need to bring a bold and progressive vision to America. It’s an honor to support his campaign. @Michael Bloomberg - Xiomara de la Cruz understands that elections are about addition, not subtraction. I believe she has the vision and bipartisan appeal we need that will deliver the White House in November. @Al Gore - Doug Murphy is building a broad coalition that brings the issues of corporate excess and working class empowerment to the forefront. His clean energy goals will power America’s future and he will make a great President. @New York Times Pitchbot - Walker rejects Romney and McCain as candidates who lost, while welcoming perpetual winner Rudy Giuliani, notable 2008 victor, to his campaign. @New York Times Pitchbot - In this Ohio diner, Saturday traditions used to involve a stack of pancakes, Ohio State football, and discussing the importance of non-Democrats in the Democratic presidential primary. But with Camilo deSonido’s troubles the woke mob is trying to take all that away. Armed Militia Protestors in Oregon Ends in Arrests of Participants @NBC News - The last members of the militias and armed protestors occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon have turned themselves into authorities. @Fox News - Occupation leader Ammon Bundy has surrendered himself to law enforcement. @CNN - One militant was killed by law enforcement while resisting arrest and another injured after detainment. @Governor Kate Brown - Order has been restored at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. My thanks to law enforcement and federal authorities for working diligently to deescalate the situation. @Jesse Watters - These dolts should’ve never occupied a federal building but they are right to call out the harm burdensome government overreach causes our ranchers and farmers! They’re eroding our way of life! @Cenk Uygur - Far right nut jobs from out of town went to Oregon, took a wildlife refuge hostage, and got themselves arrested because of churned up nonsense from right-wing media! @Steve Bannon - The brave men who occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge stood up to tyranny. They have my respect. @Jake Tapper - I am being told as many as 26 militants from Oregon are expected to face felony conspiracy charges, among other individual charges. Pre-Super Tuesday Election Fundraising @Open Secrets - OpenSecrets has obtained key campaign fundraising data in the aftermath of the first series of primaries and caucuses. @Open Secrets - On the Democratic side, Xiomara de la Cruz leads that pack with $50 million in fundraising, while polling frontrunner Doug Murphy raised $44 million. @Open Secrets - Independent Senator Camilo deSonido, who has leads in some key Super Tuesday states, raised $38 million. @Open Secrets - Winner of the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary David Rollins raised $44.5 million after vaulting into frontrunner status with two key victories. @Open Secrets - However, he was overshadowed by Senate Katherine McCord's fundraising apparatus, which brought in $50 million from a diverse array of donors for the delegate leader in the Republican primary. @Open Secrets - General Charles Walker raised $46.5 million after his victory in South Carolina, tapping into a series of traditional Republican donors on Wall Street. @Open Secrets - Finally, George Kuykendall raised $40 million in the wake of a series of strong finishes in the first for states, despite having no wins under his belt yet.

Q1, 2016 (RL - 03/11/2024) Early 2016 Primary State Voting Begins @CNN - Voters in the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada are heading to their polling places and caucus sites as the first votes of the 2016 Presidential Election are cast. @Fox News - The first set of the primary election is upon us. Who will come out on top early on? Who will drop? More to come later today when polls close. @MSNBC - Record turnout reported across early primary states as both parties stand at a crossroads for their political future. Early 2016 Primary State Results @CNN Politics - For the GOP, Nebraska Senator David Rollins has won the states of Iowa and New Hampshire. Former General Charles Walker takes the state of South Carolina in a major upset and South Carolina Senator Katherine McCord wins a commanding victory in Nevada. @CNN Politics - For the Democrats, Wisconsin Senator Doug Murphy cements his status as frontrunner with victories in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. Xiomara de la Cruz wins a decicive victory in Nevada as deSonido focuses on Super Tuesday. @RealClearPolitics - 2016 EARLY PRIMARY STATE RESULTS: ARTICLE

Q1, 2016 (RL - 03/10/2024) Diane Delorean (R-NE) Suspends Presidential Primary Campaign @Fox News - BREAKING: Nebraska Senator Diane Delorean suspends her campaign for the Republican Presidential nomination. @Bret Baier - Senator Delorean ran an unorthodox platform on topics like labor relations, making a case for the German model, while also taking a hardline stance against TPP. Her trade rhetoric had played well with rural voters despite criticism. @Steve Bannon - The CCP sympathizer finally realized Republicans didn’t want what she was selling! @Megyn Kelly - You didn’t have to agree with Senator Delorean on everything to still appreciate female Republicans making a compelling case for the highest office in the land. The GOP would be making a mistake not to lift up more female voices. Diego Everhart (D-PA) Endorses Doug Murphy (D-WI) for President @CNN - BREAKING: Pennsylvania Senator and former 2016 Democratic candidate Diego Everhart has endorsed Doug Murphy for President. @Larry Sabato - A major endorsement for Doug Murphy as he attempts to patch together a broad coalition to propel him to the presidency in 2016. @Sean Hannity - Everhart backing Murphy has corrupt bargain written all over it. The DNC is rigged! @Jake Tapper - An interesting note causing speculation following Senator Murphy’s public acceptance of the Everhart endorsement was the acknowledgement that the work Everhart would “continue to do in the U.S. Senate.” Could Everhart be in the running to replace Harry Reid come 2017? Diane Delorean (R-NE) Endorses George Kuykendall (R-CO) for President @NBC News - BREAKING: Nebraska Senator and former 2016 Republican candidate Diane Delorean endorses Colorado Senator George Kuykendall for President. @Charles Krauthammer - A major boost that the Kuykendall Campaign was in need of. Delorean voters make a natural fit for the coalition Kuykendall needs to change the dynamics of the race. @George Will - Sleep on the Kuykendall Campaign at your own risk. While he faces a difficult path to be the outright nominee, he could potentially come to play kingmaker with delegates and states he could win. John Carlsen (D-IN) Suspends Presidential Primary Campaign @MSNBC - BREAKING: Indiana Senator and 2016 Democratic primary candidate John Carlsen suspends his campaign for President. @James Carville - While derided by some because his positions were more conservative, particularly fiscal policy, than where the average Democrat voter is, Democrats would be damn fools to not acknolwedge that Carlsen voters are key to winning in 2016. @Kyle Kulinski - Carlsen wanted to drag Democrats back to the 90s when they had to out-conservative Republicans just to be competitive! Democrats dodged a bullet with someone as conservative as Carlsen. @Jim Acosta - Carlsen now returns to focusing on the Senate and a possible future 2018 re-election campaign. His credentials as a conservative member of the caucus have certainly been boosted. @Bret Baier - Both parties have signalled that Indiana is a top priority in the near future. President Obama famously carried the state in 2008 before being routed with 9% of the vote in to Mitt Romney in 2012. John Carlsen (D-MO) and Andrew Clarke (D-MO) Endorse Xiomara de la Cruz (D-TX) for President @Fox News - BREAKING: Indiana Senator and 2016 Democratic primary candidate John Carlsen and Missouri Senator Andrew Clarke endorse Xiomara de la Cruz for President. @Norah O'Donnell - Major pickups for Houston Mayor de la Cruz as her campaign has seen a steady rise in the polls in recent weeks. Carlsen voters could be critical for her campaign in the early primary states. @Charles Krauthammer - Xiomara de la Cruz has consolidated the moderate wing of the Democratic Party. Could she build the coalition needed to win the nomination and move Democrats to the center? Remains to be seen. @Glenn Beck - de la Cruz and the rest of her "moderate" Democrats are nothing but pinko liberals in sheep's clothing! They can't be trusted to defend liberty. Denver Broncos Defeat Caroline Panthers 24-10 at Super Bowl 50; Beyonce Sparks Controversy with Halftime Performance @ESPN - The Denver Broncos have defeated the Carolina Panthers 24-10 to win Super Bowl 50. Denver linebacker Von Miller has won Super Bowl MVP. @Rolling Stone - Coldplay, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars with Mark Robinson brought down the house during the Super Bowl Halftime Show at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. @Jesse Watters - Beyonce and her dancers making their performance during the Halftime show an ode to the Black Panthers and Malcolm X is nothing short of divisive and the kind of message being forced on Americans! @New York Daily News - Calls online for an "anti-Beyonce" rally outside the NFL headquarters in New York City failed to materialize as no one showed up.

Q1, 2016 (RL - 03/08/2024) Alex Fakhouri (D-MI) Endorses Xiomara de la Cruz (D-TX) for President @Detroit Free Press - Democratic Senator Alex Fakhouri endorses Houston Mayor Xiomara de la Cruz for President of the United States. @Congressman Sander Levin - Xiomara de la Cruz is the exact kind of leader Americans need in 2016 and beyond. Her vision and energy will hold the White House and deliver results for working people! Pre-Primary 2016 Election Endorsements @RealClearPolitics - PRE-PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS: ARTICLE @Arnold Schwarzenegger - Elizabeth McCord is the only candidate in the race willing to speak honest truths about the complex problems we face without embracing the worst of us. She's welcome at the gym anytime! @Sarah Palin - You want a truth teller who tells the leftists to shove off, look no further than Charles Walker. ISIS will be wetting their pants on day one with Walker in the White House! @Senator Chuck Grassley - I've been around long enough to know when I see a generational leader emerge from the pack. David Rollins knows how to fight for rural America and stays true to our party values. @Gun Owners of America - George Kuykendall is the only candidate willing to fight for the 2nd Amendment with every fiber of their being. The only true gun rights organization in America is proud to endorse him. @Senator Joni Ernst - Diane Delorean is a stellar candidate in every sense of the word ready to stand up for working Americans and stand up to the liberal establishment that keeps our country down! @Senator Harry Reid - Doug Murphy cares about Nevadans and cares about the future of this country. We need a strong leader to carry on the mantle of the Obama Administration and Doug is the right candidate for the job. @Reverend Jesse Jackson - Diego Everhart is the embodiement of the rainbow coalition we've been building for decades. The time is now to keep the dream alive and put Everhart in the White House. @Culinary Workers Union - Xiomara de la Cruz fights for working people because she understands working people. A strong Latina candidate with a passion for fighting for us, so we will fight for her. @Senator Jeanne Shaheen - When I look out at the primary field, there is only one candidate talking about bringing us together and making the real tough choices in Washington. Proud to throw my support behind John Carlsen. @Senator Bernie Sanders - A revoluton in our political system is coming and all roads lead to Camilo deSonido. The time is now for a true progressive to carry the mantle of the Democratic Party! @Kal Penn - Julius Tuck is the only candidate actually talking about a bold vision that includes the decriminalization of marijuana, protecting abortion rights, and protecting our kids from gun violence. Diego Everhart (D-PA) Suspends Presidential Primary Campaign @MSNBC - BREAKING: Pennsylvania Senator Diego Everhart has suspended his campaign for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. @Jim Acosta - Little information has been provided from the Everhart Campaign as to why the Senator has decided to end his campaign for the Presidency despite polling in second place nationally among Democratic voters. @Jake Tapper - Where Everhart voters go could make or break campaigns across the early primary states. An endorsement for any campaign could be a boon for their prospects. @Sean Hannity - Diego Everhart took one look at the Democratic primary and decided to drop out. It’s a mad house over there! @James Carville - Everhart ran a good campaign focused on working class issues. He’s got a future in the Democratic Party even if 2016 isn’t his time. @Candace Owens - Everhart had no reason to drop. He was literally in second! You know what I think? I think he was either offered VP or Dems just didn’t want another failed black man leading the ticket. I’m going with both. @Ben Shapiro - For what it’s worth, smart move on Everhart’s part. Progressive stand no chance and him dropping out to be on a ticket with a more electable liberal could help boost him and his faction. I hate to see it. Julius Tuck (D-IN) Suspends Presidential Primary Campaign @NBC News - BREAKING: Former Ambassador to Kenya and Democratic Governor of Indiana Julius Tuck announces he is suspending his campaign for President. @Norah O'Donnell - Despite struggling to catch fire with primary voters, Ambassador Tuck carved out a niche for himself through his embrace of marijuana decriminalization and support for reproductive rights. @Jesse Watters - Another one bites the dust! How many more Democrats are going to drop before they realize 2016 just isn’t going to be their year! @Al Sharpton - Ambassador Tuck spoke truth to power and embraced a vision that lifted up minority voters. I wish him the best. @Larry Sabato - With Everhart and Tuck out, that leaves only four major candidates left for the Democratic nomination for President. @Rachel Maddow - No doubt wherever Everhart and Tuck voters land come primary day could reshape the landscape of this race. @Candace Owens - The party of the minority just dropped its only two black candidates before the primaries even started. The GOP is the real party for black Americans.

Q1, 2016 (RL - 03/07/2024) RealClearPolitics Early Primary State Polling and Election Fundraising @RealClearPolitics - 2016 Presidential Pre-Primary Polls: ARTICLE @Open Secrets - See who's funding who for President!: ARTICLE

Q1, 2016 (RL - 03/06/2024) White House Announces Upcoming Visit to American Mosque in Baltimore @Baltimore Sun - President Obama expected to visit the Islamic Society of Baltimore later today. This would be the first official visit to a mosque by President Obama. @CNN - Maryland Senators Nolan Stokes and Ben Cardin expected to be in attendance. Senator Alex Fakhouri, the only Muslim American in the Senate, is also expected to attend. @Franklin Graham - Pray for America! @Rachel Maddow - Increasingly hostile rhetoric towards Muslim Americans simply living their lives is deplorable. I’m glad President Obama is taking a stand. @Steve Bannon - Democrats put all Americans at risk every day they refuse to call out Radical Islamic terrorism for what it is: a clear and present danger. @Al Sharpton - Republicans holler about liberals putting American lives at risk while they coddle the same white supremacists actually committing hate crimes and violent attacks on innocent people. Remember Charleston! President Obama, Alex Fakhouri (D-MI), and Nolan Stokes (D-MD) Visit American Mosque in Baltimore @CNN - President Obama Visits Mosque in Show of Solidarity with Muslim Americans: ARTICLE @Hillary Clinton - Muslim Americans deserve a leader who rejects hate and sees them rightfully as a community that helps make up the beautiful tapestry that is the United States. @Fox News - From the Office of former President George W. Bush: “In the aftermath of 9/11, I spoke to the Islamic Center of Washington and affirmed that Islam is peace. I continue to believe that to this day.” @Cenk Uygur - Tell that to the hundreds of thousands of Muslims you killed in Iraq and Afghanistan! @Sean Hannity - Radical Islamists are a threat to the United States. Pretending like conservatives are conflating average Muslim Americans with terrorists is just another dog whistle from the left! @Jake Tapper - Ultimately a forceful rebuke of increasingly antagonistic rhetoric from Republicans on Islam and terrorism by the President. How Americans will react is another matter entirely. @Jon Meacham - President Dwight Eisenhower dedicating the Islamic Center of Washington in 1957.

The Woman from Del Rio Blazes a Historic Trail | 2016 Democratic Nominee Xiomara de la Cruz Texas - Four years ago, few pundits would have expected that the Democratic Party would nominate not only the first woman but also the first Latina as their nominee for President of the United States. Experts would have gawked at the assertion that, in 2016, the mayor of a major American city could defeat sitting United States Senators, foreign diplomats, and former Governors to serve as the standard bearer of the oldest active political party in the United States. What started as an upstart campaign in the heart of Houston has taken the Democratic Party by storm as Xiomara de la Cruz emerges as the 2016 Democratic Presidential Nominee. The story of Xiomara de la Cruz is rooted in humble beginnings as the daughter of a Air Force technician and a public school teacher. Born in Del Rio, Texas on July 4, 1975, Xiomara de la Cruz grew up in the modestly-sized city of 25,000 with a family income supported by the large military presence that fuels economic development in the region. A daughter of a Mexican immigrant, de la Cruz grew up in Western Texas along the Southern Border of the United States and could often be seen playing with her friends on the outskirts of Laughlin Air Force Base. A close-knit majority Hispanic community with a deep connection to the predominant Roman Catholic Church, the people of Del Rio, Texas hold a series of strong values centered around family and supporting one another in times of strife. Xiomara de la Cruz would experience the American Dream in full through her mother as she became a full U.S. citizen during her childhood upbringing. The young de la Cruz showed a passion for politics and global affairs early on in life as she was accepted to Texas A&M University as the result of a 18-page essay analyzing the strategic significance of the H.W. Bush Administration's decision not to negotiate Israel-Palestine with Saddam Hussein in exchange for his withdrawal from Kuwait prior to the Persian Gulf War. It was in college that de la Cruz would get her first chance at making a name for herself as she entered and successfully competed in the Miss Texas competition as a means for paying her way through college. Her articulate and passionate answers around the inner-workings of the Balkans and the need for international stability was a hit with judges in 1996 and de la Cruz used her time in the limelight to promote political engagement and public service for Texas women in the mold of strong Texas women like then-former Governor Ann Richards. The tireless dedication to a rigorous college course load would lead de la Cruz to a spot at Yale Law School in 1997 and as an editor to the prestigious Yale Law Journal. Following in the footsteps of her father's public service, Xiomara de la Cruz turned down offers for private sector legal workin 2000 in favor of enrolling as a JAG officer specializing in international law within the U.S. Air Force. After completing the Commissioned Officer Training and Judge Advocate Staff Officer Courses at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama with high marks, de la Cruz received her first 6-month deployment at Andrews Air Force Base before being promoted to Captain and securing her first major commission at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. The 9/11 terrorist attack would expand the need for national security expertise, giving de la Cruz and her fellow JAG officers a busy portfolio at Langley with global impact. Xiomara de la Cruz would serve her final tour in Iraq after the JAG Corps were deployed as part of the Bush Administration's shifting strategy in 2007, known more commonly as the troop surge. After being discharged from the Air Force following her retirement, de la Cruz left the military in 2008 and returned home to Texas. Leaning on her intelligence and legal expertise, de la Cruz landed a job at the Akin Gump in their Houston office. With her husband Antonio "Tony" de la Cruz, a former intelligence officer turned business executive, the couple planned for the arrival of their daughter, Micaela, within the same year. Inspired by the election of Barack Obama and a changing economic climate, de la Cruz began her foray into politics with a run for Harris County District Attorney. A powerful position within Houston and the surrounding area, the office had been marred in scandal after DA Chuck Rosenthal was forced to resign following a lawsuit petitioning his removal from office for various controversies, including racist e-mails with staff. The de la Cruz campaign for Harris County District Attorney was a people-powered movement against a deeply entrenched political machine. Major Houston Democratic leaders endorsed long-time Houston Police Chief Brad Bradford, with many deferring to the police head as his time to serve as DA. Despite ultimately losing to Brad Bradford, de la Cruz had made significant inroads within minority communities throughout Houston and Harris County as a community-oriented leader. This wave of energy would be critical in de la Cruz's subsequent victory in the Houston mayoral election in 2009 against leading Houston politicians like Annise Parker and Gene Locke. The de la Cruz campaign tapped into Hispanic and union voters, posting large vote totals in majority-Hispanic areas of the city. Through her DA race, de la Cruz made inroads with African American and working class communities against better-known Houston politicians. Her commanding victory in the subsequent runoff election, credited in part to the surprising decision of the Houston Chronicle to endorse de la Cruz over rival Gene Locke, was evidence of the people of Houston embracing change. Xiomara de la Cruz's tenure as Mayor of Houston made her the first Latina to hold the office. She steered the passage and implementation of Rebuild Houston, a pay-as-you-go comprehensive street and drainage improvement program designed to increase job growth. After a strong appeal to the public, Houston voter approved a $410 million public improvement bond program that has benefitted the city. Her time as Mayor has led to the creation of an independent organization to oversee the City’s crime lab operations, a sobering center for public intoxication cases, the adoption of a long-term financial plan that ensures the stability of Houston's water department and reorganization of City departments to achieve cost savings and more efficient operations. Mayor de la Cruz created a new department focused on neighborhood relations and the Office of Business Opportunity to help minority and women-owned small business enterprises compete for city contracts. Mayor de la Cruz also won city council approval of a historic preservation ordinance that, for the first time, provides protection for historic properties in city-designated historic districts. Mayor de la Cruz's decision to put forward to the city council a vote in 2015 on a measure to protect the rights of the lesbian, gay and transgender community in public and private places, which included a provision that would allow people to use the restroom that best fits their gender identity, proved to be controversial. Social conservatives called it “the bathroom bill.” The provision regarding public restrooms was amended out before the measure passed. Following the ordinance being put to a city-wide vote, Houston voters resoundingly rejected the anti-discrimination ordinance after conservative voters rallied around bathroom issues. The decision for de la Cruz to launch a campaign for President is historic in its own right. Not once in the entire history of the United States has an incumbent mayor ever won the White House. Despite the odds stacked against her given her standing against sitting U.S. Senators like Doug Murphy of Wisconsin, Diego Everhart of Indiana, John Carlsen of Indiana, Camilo deSonido of California, and former Ambassador to Kenya Julius Tuck of Indiana, de la cruz would emerge from the crowded field as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Key victories in states like Nevada, California, and Texas propelled de la Cruz to the nomination despite a spirited campaign by runner-up Doug Murphy. Building a coalition of Hispanic voters, women voters, working class voters, suburban voters, and minority voters, de la Cruz has brought historic levels of Hispanic engagement with the Democratic Party in particular, becoming the first Latina to win a Democratic primary with her commanding victory in the Nevada Caucus. Political experts have pointed to the consolidation of moderate elements of the Democratic Party around de la Cruz as instrumental in her primary victory. The decision of John Carlsen of Indiana and Andrew Clarke of Missouri to back de la Cruz was critical to mobilizing moderate and centrist Democrats. Credibility with other wings of the party helped de la Cruz build a coalition beyond the core constituencies of the moderate wing with support from leaders like Senator Alex Fakhouri of Michigan and Senator Heather James of Washington. A strong union and Hispanic presence on the campaign was a critical component to victories and close-seconds in primaries across the country. Xiomara de la Cruz now stands on the cusp of becoming the first woman and first Hispanic American to serve as President of the United States. With a moderate platform centered on bipartisan economic development, expansion of the ACA, protection of reproductive and LGBT rights, strong union support, protecting entitlements, a strategic foreign policy centered on global peace and national security, immigration and criminal justice reform, and environmental investment, de la Cruz will face South Carolina Senator Katherine McCord in the upcoming 2016 Presidential Election.

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Justice Antonin Scalia Dead at 79, Political Fight Rages for Supreme Court Vacancy - Q2, 2016 Shafter, TX - Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has passed away at the age of 79 at a ranch in Shafter, Texas. Justice Scalia was reportedly on vacation at the ranch owned by businessman John Poindexter. Medical personnel have determined the cause of death to be natural causes and no foul play is being investigated by law enforcement. Justice Scalia was nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 and was confirmed by the Senate in a 98-0 vote. Scalia quickly made a name for himself as one of the foremost conservative legal minds in the United States and was universally recognized as a member of the court’s conservative wing. Key opinions of the late-Justice include D.C. v. Heller, which affirmed that the Constitution guarantees an individual right to handgun ownership, repeatedly declared that the Constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion through dissents such as in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, and did present an occasional libertarian streak through opinions like his opinion in favor of the majority in Texas v. Johnson which affirmed the right of Americans to engage in flag burning. The late-Justice was also known for his close friendship with ideological opposite and liberal member of the court Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The death of the conservative legal icon has sent shockwaves across the American political world as the implications of his vacant seat have consumed Washington in recent days. While the White House and politicians across the country expressed sympathy for the Scalia family, the politics surrounding the death of the Justice quickly turned towards whether or not a new nominee should be confirmed by the Senate. Senate Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, announced on the floor of the Senate that they would not take up a Supreme Court nominee during the 2016 election year. “... the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and I believe that it is today the American People who are best-positioned to help make this important decision,” said Majority Leader McConnell on the Senate floor. “Rather than a lame-duck president whose priorities and policies they just rejected in the most-recent national election.” Senate Republicans have taken to the media to make the case that the vacancy on the Supreme Court is best left to the American People. Alabama Senator Cliff Fleming spoke to Fox News and pointed to past actions undertaken by Senate Democrats and then-Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada for changing the rules around judicial nominees in the Senate. “Democrats are the ones who abolished the Supreme Court judicial filibuster so they could continue to politicize the process that they say needs to be held up to the level of sanctity that it deserves,” stated Senator Fleming when asked about how the American People would respond to the actions of Senate Republicans. Other Republicans pointed to a speech given by then-Senator Joe Biden of Delaware in 1992 in which he similarly called for a SCOTUS vacancy to be filled following the 1992 Presidential Election. Senator Douglas Butcher of Louisiana expanded on this point to Bill O’Reilly on the O’Reilly Factor by stating, “The interesting thing about this is that the current sitting vice president is the one who back in the Reagan years was talking about the inappropriate nature of nominating a Supreme Court candidate during an election. So, we have not established this so-called rule. It’s your vice president who established this rule.” Democrats have been quick to criticize the position of Senate Republicans in the press as unprecedented in nature and degrading for the institution. Speaking to MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Senator Heather James of Washington stated, “Since 1916, every nominee to fill a vacancy on the Court has been acted on by the Senate. 5 of them have been confirmed in election years, most recently Justice Kennedy in 1988, under President Reagan.” Democrats have also been publicly dismissive of the issue raised by Republicans around the speech made by then-Senator Biden as a one-off remark and not indicative of the wider party or institution. The White House has indicated that it intends to move forward with nominating a jurist to replace the late-Antonin Scalia. Shortlists floating around D.C. have indicated that Judge Merrick Garland, Judge Paul J. Watford, and Judge Sri Srinivasan are top contenders for a potential nomination. Some progressive Democrats have expressed frustration with the White House over choosing a more conciliatory nominee in an attempt to seek confirmation than a more ideologically-aligned candidate. “The White House needs to call McConnell and co’s bluff and nominate a candidate Democrats can unify around that brings a strong progressive set of credentials,” said House Progressive Caucus Vice Chair Keith Ellison. “McConnell isn’t going to budge, so why should we? Put forward a nominee that is immensely qualified and unashamed to have an opinion.” Recent polling indicates that a narrow majority of 52 percent of Americans believed Obama should make the nomination. The support overwhelmingly came from Democrats, with 81 percent of them saying they supported Obama nominating Scalia's successor. Among Republicans, only 27 percent said they either strongly or somewhat supported Obama making the pick. Democrats and Republicans also have indicated different priorities when it comes to picking a Supreme Court nominee, according to the poll. A majority, or 62 percent, of Democrats said they wanted someone pragmatic and willing to compromise, with 55 percent of Republicans saying they wanted someone ideologically pure.

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2016 Presidential Super Tuesday Polls | February 2016 2016 Democratic Super Tuesday Polling Alabama 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary Murphy ... 37.5% de la Cruz ... 29.3% deSonido ... 18.5% Alaska 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary de la Cruz ... 39.9% Murphy ... 32.4% deSonido ... 17.6% American Samoa 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary de la Cruz ... 26.6% deSonido ... 21.8% Murphy ... 20.7% Arkansas 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary Murphy ... 35.3% de la Cruz ... 27.6% deSonido ... 15.4% California 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary deSonido ... 31.8% de la Cruz ... 29.9% Murphy ... 27.7% Colorado 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary deSonido ... 35.4% Murphy ... 29.8% de la Cruz ... 20.2% Georgia 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary Murphy ... 34.7% de la Cruz ... 28.1% deSonido ... 23.9% Maine 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary Murphy ... 34.4% de la Cruz ... 30.7% deSonido ... 22.2% Massachusetts 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary Murphy ... 36.6% deSonido ... 33.8% de la Cruz ... 18.7% Michigan 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary de la Cruz ... 33.8% Murphy ... 31.4% deSonido ... 23.4% Minnesota 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary Murphy ... 36.6% de la Cruz ... 28.7% deSonido ... 19.9% North Carolina 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary Murphy ... 33.8% deSonido ... 26.5% de la Cruz ... 22.4% Oklahoma 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary de la Cruz ... 39.9% Murphy ... 29.6% deSonido ... 16.7% Puerto Rico 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary de la Cruz ... 32.7% deSonido ... 30.4% Murphy ... 28.9% Tennessee 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary Murphy ... 33.6% de la Cruz ... 30.5% deSonido ... 25.3% Texas 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary de la Cruz ... 35.2% Murphy ... 30.3% deSonido ... 24.9% Utah 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary de la Cruz ... 38.8% Murphy ... 31.4% deSonido ... 19.4% Vermont 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary deSonido ... 37.8% Murphy ... 29.7% de la Cruz ... 24.5% Virginia 2016 Democratic Presidential Primary Murphy ... 34.7% de la Cruz ... 31.2% deSonido ... 23.6% 2016 Republican Super Tuesday Polling Alabama 2016 Republican Presidential Primary Walker ... 31.4% McCord ... 25.6% Rollins ... 19.7% Kuykendall ... 15.2% Alaska 2016 Republican Presidential Primary Kuykendall ... 25.6% McCord ... 24.2% Walker ... 20.7% Rollins ... 18.8% American Samoa 2016 Republican Presidential Primary McCord ... 29.6% Walker ... 26.9% Rollins ... 19.9% Kuykendall ... 18.2% Arkansas 2016 Republican Presidential Primary Walker ... 32.4% McCord ... 25.5% Rollins ... 23.4% Kuykendall ... 15.6% California 2016 Republican Presidential Primary Walker ... 27.7% McCord ... 27.2% Kuykendall ... 21.1% Rollins ... 18.7% Colorado 2016 Republican Presidential Primary Kuykendall ... 29.4% McCord ... 27.6% Rollins ... 21.1% Walker ... 16.6% Georgia 2016 Republican Presidential Primary McCord ... 31.4% Walker ... 27.7% Rollins ... 20.2% Kuykendall ... 18.8% Maine 2016 Republican Presidential Primary Rollins ... 31.1% McCord ... 25.5% Walker ... 20.2% Kuykendall ... 17.8% Massachusetts 2016 Republican Presidential Primary McCord ... 29.7% Walker ... 23.3% Rollins ... 19.6% Kuykendall ... 15.2% Michigan 2016 Republican Presidential Primary Walker ... 29.8% McCord ... 27.3% Rollins ... 23.5% Kuykendall ... 18.9% Minnesota 2016 Republican Presidential Primary McCord ... 30.2% Rollins ... 27.8% Walker ... 21.3% Kuykendall ... 16.6% North Carolina 2016 Republican Presidential Primary Walker ... 28.8% McCord ... 26.4% Rollins ... 19.9% Kuykendall ... 17.6% Oklahoma 2016 Republican Presidential Primary Rollins ... 27.7% Kuykendall ... 24.4% Walker ... 19.9% McCord ... 17.3% Puerto Rico 2016 Republican Presidential Primary McCord ... 31.1% Walker ... 26.5% Rollins ... 18.4% Kuykendall ... 16.2% Tennessee 2016 Republican Presidential Primary McCord ... 30.3% Walker ... 27.7% Kuykendall ... 22.3% Rollins ... 17.6% Texas 2016 Republican Presidential Primary Walker ... 28.8% Rollins ... 26.2% McCord ... 21.5% Kuykendall ... 16.7% Utah 2016 Republican Presidential Primary Rollins ... 33.3% McCord ... 25.5% Kuykendall ... 20.3% Walker ... 15.4% Vermont 2016 Republican Presidential Primary Rollins ... 31.1% McCord ... 27.5% Kuykendall ... 21.3% Walker ... 20.2% Virginia 2016 Republican Presidential Primary Walker ... 31.3% McCord ... 30.5% Rollins ... 22.3% Kuykendall ... 15.7%

PRE-SUPER TUESDAY ENDORSEMENTS Who's Supporting Who? Katherine McCord picked up the endorsement of Senator and 2008 Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain (R-AZ), former Governor Rick Perry (R-TX), former Governor Jon Huntsman Jr (R-UT), and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (R-CA). Charles Walker picked up the endorsement of former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-NY), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA), former Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN), and Governor Paul LePage (R-ME). David Rollins picked up the endorsement of former Governor and 2012 Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney (R-MA), former Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), Governor Sam Brownback (R-KS), and Governor Scott Walker (R-WI). George Kuykendall picked up the endorsement of former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA), NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre, Governor Rick Snyder (R-MI), and former Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA). Doug Murphy picked up the endorsement of former Vice President Al Gore (D-TN), Governor Mark Dayton (D-MN), Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-VA), and former Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA). Xiomara de la Cruz picked up the endorsement of former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg (D-NY), Governor John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Governor Steve Bullock (D-MT), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ).

Name: Media/Outlet: Reason: (Ex. Why I Love SCOTUS) [Bullet points/brief outline of talking points during appearance.] Due by March 16th, at 11:59 PM EST.

2016 EARLY PRIMARY STATE RESULTS IOWA REPUBLICAN CAUCUS | 30 DELEGATES David Rollins . . . 31.7% [10 delegates] Charles Walker . . . 27.6% [8 delegates] Katherine McCord . . . 20.8% [6 delegates] George Kuykendall . . . 19.9% [6 delegates] NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY | 23 DELEGATES David Rollins . . . 34.4% [8 delegates] Charles Walker . . . 29.8% [7 delegates] Katherine McCord . . . 19.3% [4 delegates] George Kuykendall . . . 16.5% [4 delegates] SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PRIMARY | 50 DELEGATES Charles Walker . . . 32.9% [19 delegates] Katherine McCord . . . 32.5% [18 delegates] George Kuykendall . . . 20.2% [13 delegates] David Rollins . . . 14.4% NEVADA REPUBLICAN PRIMARY | 30 DELEGATES Katherine McCord . . . 46.7% [16 delegates] George Kuykendall . . . 24.5% [8 delegates] David Rollins . . . 15.7% [6 delegates] Charles Walker . . . 13.1% DELEGATE COUNT Elizabeth McCord - 44 Charles Walker - 34 George Kuykendall - 31 David Rollins - 24 IOWA DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS | 51 DELEGATES Doug Murphy . . . 49.5% [28 delegates] Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 37.6% [23 delegates] Camilo deSonido . . . 12.9% NEW HAMPSHIRE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY | 42 DELEGATES Doug Murphy . . . 42.3% [18 delegates] Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 39.2% [16 delegates] Camilo deSonido . . . 18.5% [8 delegates] SOUTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY | 59 DELEGATES Doug Murphy . . . 47.5% [32 delegates] Camilo deSonido . . . 38.7% [27 delegates] Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 13.8% NEVADA DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS | 43 DELEGATES Xiomara de la Cruz . . . 45.4% [20 delegates] Doug Murphy . . . 39.3% [17 delegates] Camilo deSonido . . . 15.3% [6 delegates] DELEGATE COUNT Doug Murphy - 95 Xiomara de la Cruz - 59 Camilo deSonido - 41

PRE-PRIMARY ENDORSEMENTS Who's Supporting Who? Senator Elizabeth McCord picked up the endorsement of Governor Brian Sandoval (R-NV), Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-SC-04), and former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) Former General Charles Walker picked up the endorsement of Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX), Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC-02), and former 2008 Republican Vice Presidential Nominee and Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) Senator David Rollins picked up the endorsement of the Iowa Farm Bureau, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) Senator George Kuykendall picked up the endorsement of Gun Owners of America, Congressman Rod Blum (R-IA-01), and former Governor and Congressman Mark Sanford (R-SC) Senator Diane Delorean picked up the endorsement of Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), Congressman Frank Guinta (R-NH-01), and Congresswoman Kristi Noem (R-SD-AL) Senator Doug Murphy picked up the endorsement of Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-IA-02), and former Governor and DNC Chairman Howard Dean (D-VT) Senator Diego Everhart picked up the endorsement of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Reverend Jesse Jackson, and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (D-NH-02) Mayor Xiomara de la Cruz picked up the endorsement of the Culinary Workers Union, Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV-01), and Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr. (D-SC) Senator John Carlsen picked up the endorsement of former Governor Evan Bayh (D-IN), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles (D-NC) Senator Camilo deSonido picked up the endorsement of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), activist Dolores Huerta, and former NAACP President Ben Jealous (D-MD) Former Ambassador Julius Tuck picked up the endorsement of political strategist Paul Begala, former White House official and comedian Kal Penn, and Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN-05)

President Obama Visits Mosque in Show of Solidarity with Muslim Americans - Q1, 2016 Baltimore, MD - President Barack Obama traveled to Baltimore this week to speak to a delegation of Muslim American and community leaders at the Islamic Society of Baltimore that was noted for its emphasis on solidarity with the community and criticism of recent rhetoric towards Muslim Americans in the media and on the political stage. "So the first thing I want to say is two words that Muslim Americans don't hear often enough and that is thank you," said President Obama at the start of his remarks to the crowd gathered at the Islamic Society of Baltimore. This marks the President’s first official visit to a mosque since the start of his presidency. President Obama is only the third U.S. President to make an official visit to a mosque during their term, with Dwight Eisenhower and George W. Bush having made previous trips during their respective presidencies. President Obama was particularly forceful with regard to increasingly popular rhetoric from conservative circles around “radical Islamic terrorism” and the danger of casting a wide net when making claims of that nature. “We've heard inexcusable political rhetoric," said President Obama following a meeting with Muslim American leaders. "We've seen Muslim children bullied. We've seen mosques vandalized. We have to be consistent in condemning hateful rhetoric and violence against everyone." The President also addressed the rise of Islamic terrorist organizations like ISIS and called for a clear separation between the ideology of the terrorist groups and the Islamic faith. "Right now, there is an organized extremist element. Groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIL, they're not the first extremists in history to misuse God's name. We've seen it before, across faiths. Mere tolerance of different religions is not enough. Our faiths summon us to embrace our common humanity.” Michigan Senator Alex Fakhouri was reportedly invited by the White House directly to also attend the gathering. Senator Fakhouri is the first and only Muslim American serving in the United States Senate. Representatives from various Muslim American interest groups, such as the Council on American Islamic Relations or CAIR, were also in attendance. “For a decade and longer, Muslims across America have faced the all too familiar challenge posed by the vocal few who do not or refuse to understand a viewpoint that is not their own,” said Senator Fakhouri when asked about why he accepted the offer to attend the event. “To see the President in solidarity with my community is heartwarming, and a reminder that we are still one nation, indivisible, regardless of which God we pray under.” Joined by Maryland Senators Nolan Stokes and Ben Cardin, the President also met with various community leaders across Maryland at the event as well. Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and other Baltimore city officials attended the event and participated in a separate roundtable held later in the day with the President. Republican Governor Larry Hogan cited scheduling conflicts for not being in attendance despite a reported offer by the White House. When asked about the President’s visit, Senator Stokes stated, “The recent attacks on the Muslim community are alarming. I join in the call for love and peace. Muslim Americans are welcomed here and violence against our Muslim brothers and sisters will not be tolerated.” Reports of increased Islamaphobia have been cited by experts in recent weeks and months following the rise of ISIS and rhetoric utilized that has placed the Muslim American community in what they describe as a difficult position. "The President's first trip to a U.S. mosque and his message promoting religious pluralism reaffirms the place of Muslims in American society," said CAIR in a statement following the meeting with President Obama.

Q1, 2016 (RL - 03/05/2024) Beau Goodwin (R-NC) Endorses Charles Walker (R-CA) for President @The News & Observer - At a BBQ event in Wake County, North Carolina Republican Senator Beau Goodwin announces endorsement of former General Charles Walker of California for President of the United States. @Congressman Patrick McHenry - Charles Walker understands that we need strength and leadership on the world stage. I’m proud to offer my support! President Obama Will Not Endorse in Democratic Primary @CNN Politics - BREAKING: Sources close to President Obama have indicated that he does not intend to weigh in on the upcoming Democratic primaries and will support the eventual nominee. @Jake Tapper - The sources near the President have emphasized that the President is optimistic that the next nominee for the party will win in November. @Sean Hannity - Obama is too scared to endorse the wrong clown in the circus! Not a good sign for Democrats in November! @Donald Trump - Barack HUSSEIN Obama doesn’t want to endorse any of the suckers running with the Democrats! I did big things for Romney in 2012. GOP would be foolish to not give me a call! Douglas Butcher (R-LA) Endorses Charles Walker (R-CA) for President @The Advocate - Senator Douglas Butcher (R-LA) announces endorsement of former General Charles Walker (R-CA) for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. @Congressman John Fleming - Charles Walker has the guts to tell it like it is and fight for conservative values. You won't find a truer patriot than Charles Walker! @Bret Baier - It is worth noting that Senator Butcher did cite various Republican candidate positions on Right-to-Work as a particular area of disagreement despite the endorsement of the Walker Campaign. Andrew Clarke (D-MO) Endorses John Carlsen (D-IN) for President @St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Democratic Missouri Senator Andrew Clarke (D-MO) endorses Indiana Senator John Carlsen (D-IN) for President of the United States. @Congressman Emanuel Cleaver - John Carlsen is the exact kind of steady hand we need navigating our nation through these partisan times. A true bridge-builder.