This week in the news: Super Tuesday puts Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in the lead; South Dakota Gov. vetoes transgender restroom bill; abortion is back in the Supreme Court; and the Olympic will have an all refugee team this summer.
Here’s Just How Massive Republicans’ Super Tuesday Turnout Was
Last Tuesday, more than 8.5 million Republicans turned out to vote in the 11 GOP Super Tuesday states. That indicates far more participation than the last time Republicans picked a nominee. In 2012, turnout totaled only 4.7 million. That makes this year’s turnout 81 percent higher than four years ago.
The results reflect what many are calling an “enthusiasm gap” between Republican and Democratic voters. Republicans, bent on removing Democrats from the White House, are looking to outsiders like Donald Trump to change Washington. Last Tuesday’s exit polls showed that the majority of Republican voters are “dissatisfied” or “angry” with the federal government. Many believe that these kinds of disproportionate numbers will turn into a skewed advantage for the GOP leading up to the general election.
Romney implores: Bring down Trump
Mitt Romney delivered a bold attack against Donald Trump on Thursday.
“Here’s what I know: Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud,” Romney said. “His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He’s playing members of the American public for suckers: He gets a free ride to the White House, and all we get is a lousy hat. “Romney said that “dishonesty is Donald Trump’s hallmark,” pointing to his “bullying, the greed, the showing off, the misogyny, and the absurd third-grade theatrics.”
The speech reflected the splintering of the Republican Party, as party leaders and statesmen increasingly rebuke their front-runner.
Paul Ryan ‘Laughed Out Loud’ At Donald Trump’s ‘Pay A Big Price’ Threat
House Speaker Paul Ryan said he “laughed out loud” at Donald Trump’s Super Tuesday comment that the Wisconsin Republican would “pay a big price” if he couldn’t work with him.
Ryan has publicly rebuked Trump twice during this presidential nomination contest. First, for calling for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S., and then this week for Trump’s failure to distance himself quickly enough from white supremacists who support his campaign. Trump stated he disavowed those groups.
South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard Vetoes Transgender Restroom Bill
On Tuesday Gov. Daugarrd vetoed a bill that would require transgender students to use the restrooms/locker rooms that matched their sex at birth all in public state schools. The bill passed the House 58-10 and the Senate 20-15 but was vetoed by the Governor. The move by the Governor was applauded by many transgender rights activists and organizations.
Abortion Back in the Supreme Court
On Wednesday the Supreme Court began hearing arguments regarding a Texas law that would force clinics that perform abortions to have hospital like standards and doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals.
If this law goes into effect the majority of Texas women’s health clinics would be forced to close and close to 900,000 women would be impacted. This is the most important Supreme Court hearing regarding abortion since Roe v. Wade in 1973.
Team of Refugees Competing at the Summer 2016 Olympics
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach announced that there will be an all refugee team competing at this year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In order to be nominated the criteria is as follows:
- Sporting level of individual
- United Nations verified refugee status
- and personal situation and background
The official name is: Team of Refugee Olympic Athletes. According to the IOC, the team will be treated the same as all other teams, including events and housing. President Bach stated “by welcoming ROA to the Olympic Games in Rio, we want to send a message of hope to all the refugees of the world”.
