Just this week, a group of Republican senators re-introduced the Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution, which, as we know, would ban gay marriage. And once again, the language is pretty straightforward: Section 1. This article may be cited as the `Marriage Protection Amendment’. Section 2. Marriage in the United States shall consist only of […]
Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers: * When it comes to helping Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama is putting his money where his mouth is: “Senator Barack Obama said on Thursday that he had written a personal check of $2,300 […]
In December, “60 Minutes” ran one of my favorite “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” stories, featuring Army Sgt. Darren Manzella, who’d been deployed twice during the war in Iraq. During his first deployment, Manzella, a medic with a field artillery unit in Baghdad, earned a combat medal for rendering treatment under fire. “I’ve treated everything from […]
In his first presidential campaign, eight years ago, John McCain went out of his way to avoid talking about his military background. Four years ago, when John Kerry campaigned in part on his military service, McCain criticized him for it, saying he was “sick and tired of re-fighting the Vietnam War.” McCain even disparaged Kerry […]
Joe Lieberman, now fully immersed in his role as an attack dog for John McCain’s campaign, had an interesting chat with ABC News’ Jake Tapper yesterday, and touched on a few topics of note. Lieberman’s future was of particular interest, and whether his chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is […]
As a rule, Republicans appreciate the value in defining the Democratic presidential nominee, and the GOP is usually pretty good at it. In 2000, Al Gore, they said, was an “exaggerator.” This was not only effective, thanks to a quick embrace by the media, it was part of a narrative — when Gore takes credit […]
Certain policy issues become associated with an ideology or political party by virtue of emphasis. The left talks about healthcare, the right thinks the status quo is acceptable, so healthcare becomes a “liberal” issue. The right wants to change immigration laws, so it’s perceived as a “conservative” issue. Now, both sides sometimes want to call […]
Today’s edition of quick hits. * Oh my: “A barrage of bad news including a new record high for oil sent Wall Street plunging Thursday, hurtling the Dow Jones industrials down nearly 360 points to their lowest level in nearly two years. Oil’s surge past $140 a barrel was just one of the day’s troubling […]
You’d think McCain campaign surrogates would know better. Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas learned a lesson today that other John McCain surrogates might be wise to learn: Before you say Barack Obama never worked across the aisle, make sure he never worked with, for example, you. On a McCain campaign conference call with reporters […]
When Hillary Clinton delivered a gracious concession speech in DC earlier this month, and threw her support to Barack Obama, Clinton’s Democratic detractors said she’d have to do more. Soon after, Clinton urged her top fundraisers “in no uncertain terms to throw their weight” behind Obama. And soon after that, Clinton announced a joint-appearance with […]