What Newt’s Reading | October 17, 2020

What Newt’s Reading Americans deserve to know the candidates’ stances on something as radical as packing the Supreme Court — it shouldn’t be that hard for Biden or Harris to answer. -Newt Why Voters Seriously Need Joe Biden to Answer the Court-Packing Question By The Editorial Board New York Post Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has dismissed questions asking whether he would pack the Supreme Court with additional justices if elected, saying Americans don’t deserve to know his position on the matter. He is mistaken. If Biden plans on increasing the number of Supreme Court justices from nine for the first time since 1869, American voters deserve to know. While some liberals cast Biden’s reluctance as a play to keep the progressive wing of the Democratic Party in check, one needs to ask whether he would continue pandering to the same crowd as president. Despite efforts to paint him as a moderate, Biden has gone along with every effort from the left to sully the judiciary to suit political ends. From delaying Robert Bork’s confirmation hearings so that the left could smear his name to the disastrous job he did chairing Clarence Thomas’ confirmation saga, Biden’s tenure is one marked by repeated capitulation to the left. Now, Biden claims that it is “unconstitutional” for Republicans to fill the vacant Supreme Court seat prior to the election. While his supporters try to portray him as a jovial man who gets along with everyone, Biden is ruthless whenever Republicans get in his way. Voters deserve to know that. With the likelihood of Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation, the practice of discrimination based on race as admission standards should have Ivy League universities worried. -Newt Amy Coney Barrett and the Ivies By William McGurn Wall Street Journal Harvard and Yale should fear Judge Amy Coney Barrett not only because she would break their lock on the Supreme Court but also because she may be the decisive vote barring them from using race in college admissions. Though Democrats are focused on the court’s impact on abortion rights and health care, their fears on the rollback of affirmative action might be more justified. Currently, in a case brought by a group called Students for Fair Admissions, Harvard is facing charges of discrimination in the admissions process against whites and Asians in favor of Latinos and African Americans. With the First US Circuit Court of Appeals preparing to consider the case, the Justice Department filed a similar case against Yale. These cases seem likely to head to the Supreme Court. In terms of Supreme Court precedent, in Fisher v. University of Texas, the court ruled that using race in the admissions process is constitutional by a narrow 4-3 majority. Two of the judges in the majority, Justices Kennedy and Ginsburg, are no longer on the court, and a Barrett confirmation could easily tip the scales. Even in deep-blue California, voters might reject Proposition 16, a measure that would remove language in the state constitution prohibiting the use of race in awarding public contracts, public jobs, and admission to public universities. While Democrats routinely exaggerate the role Barrett will play on the court, this is an area where her role might be nothing short of pivotal. Mark Kelly's ties to China should worry Arizona's voters. -Newt Martha McSally Leverages Mark Kelly's Ties to China in Bid to Win Arizona Election By Stephen Dinan Washington Times Incumbent Arizona Republican Sen. Martha McSally is calling out her Democratic challenger, Mark Kelly, for his business ties to China. She cites Kelly’s multiple trips to China soliciting financial backing from Chinese corporations, such as social media giant Tencent, for his own space payload company, World View. Kelly has led in polling consistently and, if he wins, Arizona would have seen two Republican seats flip blue in as many years. The last time the state had two Democratic senators was 1953. The president of the Population Research Institute, Steven Mosher, said that China represents a fundamental threat to the American constitutional system and that business dealings with China are a valid campaign issue. Mosher argued that Tencent likely invested in Kelly’s company in order to gain a window into NASA. While public polling shows rising concern about China’s geopolitical influence, it remains to be seen whether the issue can move the needle in this race. Violence in Portland (and other American cities) is the main reason more Americans like this veteran and small business owner will vote for President Trump. -Newt Antifa Rioters Who Targeted Portland Cafe 'Solidified' His Trump Vote, Military Veteran Says By Louis Casiano Fox News Black Lives Matter rioters shot at the windows of Heroes American cafe in Portland on the grounds that it was an “unfriendly business,” as deemed by Antifa-linked Twitter accounts. The owner of the café is John Jackson, a black man who served in the Army and Marine Corps. Jackson said that Portland had changed from the accepting city he came to many years ago. He added that, while his business did not support bad policemen, it supported heroes like policemen who did their jobs, veterans, military personnel, nurses, and others. Despite the damage it sustained, the cafe’s downtown location was open on Monday and no arrests were made in connection to the vandalism. Since George Floyd’s death in May, Portland has seen over 100 consecutive nights of violent riots, prompting some like Jackson to put their political choices in perspective. Jackson said that, while he voted for President Trump with some reservations in 2016, the damage his cafe sustained has solidified his vote. He justified his decision by citing the need for strong leadership. More signs of an economic comeback under President Trump's leadership — the small business confidence index for September rose to the highest levels since the start of the pandemic. -Newt US Small Business Confidence at Highest Since February By Dan Burns Reuters US small business confidence increased last month to its highest point since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic with more firms seeing rising sales and foot traffic, according to a survey released this week. The National Federation of Independent Business Optimism Index rose 3.8 points to a reading of 104 in September, the highest level since February. This metric fell to a seven-year low in April but has since rebounded significantly as restrictions on businesses continue to ease across the country. On a more granular level, there has been a 13-point uptick in business owners’ assessment of revenue trends. Additionally, a larger percentage of firms expect the economy to rebound and, consequently, many more firms expect to increase employment in the next three months. However, NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg stated that, while businesses see more traffic due to easing COVID-19 restrictions, some are struggling to operate at full capacity given state and local restrictions and are uncertain about how to proceed. Corroborating his point, the NFIB Uncertainty Index rose two points to 92, matching its level from March. 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