Inside the Beltway

NEWS AND OPINION:

LETTER MAN

Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight has America on his mind these days, and has shared an open letter to President Obama with The Washington Times.

“You will be the first American president that lied to the Jewish people, and the American people as well, when you said that you would defend Israel, the only democratic state in the Middle East, against all their enemies. You have done just the opposite. You have propagandized Israel, until they look like they are everyone’s enemy - and it has resonated throughout the world. You are putting Israel in harm’s way, and you have promoted anti-Semitism throughout the world,” Mr. Voight wrote to Mr. Obama.

“You have brought this to a people who have given the world the Ten Commandments and most laws we live by today. The Jewish people have given the world our greatest scientists and philosophers, and the cures for many diseases, and now you play a very dangerous game so you can look like a true martyr to what you see and say are the underdogs. But the underdogs you defend are murderers and criminals and want Israel eradicated.”

“You have brought to Arizona a civil war, once again defending the criminals and illegals, creating a meltdown for good, loyal, law-abiding citizens. Your destruction of this country may never be remedied, and we may never recover. I pray to God you stop, and I hope the people in this great country realize your agenda is not for the betterment of mankind, but for the betterment of your politics,” Mr. Voight concludes, adding: “With heartfelt and deep concern for America and Israel” with his signature.

BRASSY BRASS

Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal is due in the White House on Wednesday, to answer for “The Runaway General,” a Rolling Stone interview that won’t even be on newsstands until Friday. Enthusiastic reports already say he has tendered his resignation. There was media combat as well. The magazine chastised Politico, for example, for publishing unauthorized excerpts of the profile, though the Columbia Journalism Review, Gawker.com and the Atlantic managed to sneak in a few paragraphs unscathed.

Speculation about the officer and his professional fate launched close to 5,000 press accounts on Tuesday, according to a Google search, replete with headlines that divvy up the drama:

“Calls for resignation largely muted” (Fox News), “McChrystal’s toast” (National Public Radio), “Keep McChrystal” (National Review), “Fire McChrystal or fire Afghanistan?” (Firedoglake), “McChrystal/MacArthur, it’s deja vu all over again” (MSNBC), “Just what is a firing offense?” (Politico), “So much for military discipline” (Dallas Morning News), “Fire McChrystal and bring the troops home now!” (Huffington Post).

CRITICAL JUNCTURE

“Sarah Palin’s not running for the Senate - but she might as well be,” says J.B. Poersch, executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Her fingerprints are all over these races. She wants Senate influence - and she’s got just the candidates to gain it. Carly Fiorina, Rand Paul, Sharron Angle. A veritable ’Axis of Palin.’ “

“Sure, we Democrats think they’re too extreme to win. But Palin’s supporters don’t. And with her support and encouragement, they think they can win these races,” Mr. Poersch continues, with a recommendation that loyal Democrats send money, please, to the party.

“It’s going to take each and every grass-roots Democrat to defeat the Axis of Palin. This is one fight we can’t afford to sit out.”

DRONING ON

A trio of Predator 3 drones has patrolled the U.S./Mexico border since 2004. Texas Republicans Gov. Rick Perry and Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, and Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar have asked for more of the unmanned aircraft, along with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer. Will they get their wish? We may find out the answer to this question - and others - Wednesday afternoon.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano will share “ongoing efforts and new strategies to bolster security along the Southwest border and enforce our immigration laws,” the agency says, at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She’ll be joined by heavyweight law enforcement: National Drug Control Policy Director R. Gil Kerlikowske, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement John Morton, Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner David V. Aguilar and Major Cities Chiefs Association President Robert Davis.

CROSSFIRE

There has been no formal announcement from Comedy Central indicating that the cable network will abandon plans to air “JC,” a cheeky cartoon show that depicts the rollicking adventures of Jesus Christ in Manhattan. But the chances it will air are low, says the Media Research Center.

“After an intense period of writing and then calling hundreds of sponsors, the results are clear. In fact, the verdict is unanimous: There is no advertiser support for anti-Christian bigotry such as that embraced in Comedy Central’s ’JC’ project. The sponsors understand what the programming department at Comedy Central does not: Religious bigotry is bad business,” says L. Brent Bozell III, president of the conservative watchdog group.

“With literally zero advertiser support for this program, the only reason Comedy Central would put it on their broadcast schedule is in an effort to offend Christianity and Christians,” he adds.

POLL DU JOUR

c 64 percent of Americans are “optimistic” about life in the next 40 years.

c 61 percent are optimistic about the future of the U.S.

c 56 percent say the U.S. economy will be stronger.

c 53 percent say our role in the world will be “less important.”

c 50 percent say health care will be more affordable.

c 50 percent say life will be discovered elsewhere in the universe.

c 41 percent say Jesus Christ “will return.”

Source: A Pew Research Center survey of 1,546 adults conducted April 21-26 and released Tuesday.

c Tips, quips, flippant observance to jharper@washingtontimes.com