NEWS AND OPINION:
SCORECARD
Enough already. Among news organizations that have examined facts and rejected White House claims that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce used foreign money to fund political ads: the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, CBS News, The Washington Post, Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, Baltimore Sun, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, the Hill, Powerline, the Daily Caller and Real Clear Politics.
But the claims persist. Within the past 48 hours, the Democratic National Committee produced a campaign spot vilifying the U.S. Chamber, along with “Bush cronies” Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie, claiming they would “steal our democracy” as images of a purse snatching unfold onscreen. Meanwhile, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. issued yet another challenge to the Chamber to reveal how much of its funding is from foreign sources, adding, “If I’m wrong, I will stand corrected.”
OK. Prepare, Mr. Biden.
“We accept the vice president’s challenge here and now, and are happy to provide our answer: Zero. As in, not a single cent. We hope this clears it up, and hope the vice president keeps his word and stands corrected,” says Tom Collamore, senior vice president of communications for the organization.
“Politically speaking, this shows the bankruptcy of the Democratic Party. They have no answer for the failures of Obamanomics. They only have fear to peddle, and voters simply aren’t buying it - and neither is the media,” observes HotAir columnist Ed Morrissey.
“President Obama hasn’t completely distanced himself from the Chamber, a fact which has gone largely overlooked by an increasingly skeptical media,” says Newsbusters.com analyst Jeff Poor, who points out that Mr. Obama will address the U.S.-India Business and Entrepreneurship Summit in Mumbai early next month - an event organized and sponsored in part by the U.S. Chamber.
VIEWING LEVI
Can the ladies cope with the likes of Levi? He’s rugged, not of legal drinking age, never graduated from high school, but what the heck? The campaign trail beckons. Bill Geddie, executive producer of ABC’s “The View,” says that Sarah Palin’s former-future-son-in-law Levi Johnston - busy planning a run for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, and star of the forthcoming reality series “Loving Levi: The Road to the Mayor’s Office” - will lope on to the set and make his first appearance on the show on Monday. Mr. Johnston has been honing his “brand appeal” as he-man politician, according to ABC:
“Wasilla’s mayoral chair isn’t up for election until 2012. In the meantime, 20-year-old Johnston is in the process of completing his GED. The reality series promises to be an unrestrained look into his life as a potential candidate, father to his son Tripp, skilled hunter and enthusiastic dirt biker who is searching for love and taking care of business for his fellow Wasillians,” the network says.
Those fellow Wasillians hope Mr. Johnston’s demand for the spotlight will yield official attention to local unemployment and federal moratoriums on oil exploration, among other things. Is Mr. Johnston serious about his aspirations, political and otherwise? You betcha.
“People questioned Jesus Christ. So I definitely don’t care about these mere mortals questioning Levi Johnston,” says his manager Tank Jones.
THAT’S $1 BILLION
Business isn’t bad everywhere.
“The Haunted House Association is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to promote attendance, best practices and safety within the haunted house industry. The HHA is the official association of the industry. Membership includes more than 125 professional attractions in the U.S., which will scare up more than $1 billion in revenues in 2010,” explains Randy Bates, president of the trade group.
Yes, he runs a haunted house called the Bates Motel in Glen Mills, Pa.
“Haunted houses traditionally see more visitors in a down economy. People need to find a release, an unrealistic fantasy place to take their minds away from problems. And that’s precisely what we work so hard all year to provide,” Mr. Bates adds.
UNCLE PAJAMAS
Still mindful of the “New Black Panther controversy” of a previous election, Pajamas Media founder Roger L. Simon is recruiting for a nationwide Voter Fraud Watch for the midterms on Nov. 2, manned by citizen poll watchers armed with flipcams, video phones and just about everything else.
“Uncle Pajamas wants you,” Mr. Simon says. “These people would report back to us - with either video, still photos, text or some combination thereof - on cases of voter fraud, intimidation or other voting malfeasances they may encounter. We will then cover these occurrences heavily on Pajamas Media and PJTV, and promote them to the media at large.”
He adds, “It should go without saying that we expect these reports to be made irrespective of the political party or ideology of the persons involved.”
The watchers will be on the lookout for improper electioneering near polling places, forced “assistance” of elderly voters and any creepy evidence that “dead voters” are still being counted. Mr. Simon advises interested parties to contact his news organization at pollwatch@pjtv.com.
POLL DU JOUR
- 59 percent of Americans say President Obama “has the personality and leadership qualities a President should have.”
- 90 percent of Democrats and 26 percent of Republicans agree.
- 79 percent of liberals and 38 percent of conservatives also agree.
- 42 percent of Americans overall agree with Mr. Obama on the “issues that matter to them most.”
- 81 percent of Democrats and 10 percent of Republicans agree with the president.
- 64 percent of liberals and 21 percent of conservatives also agree.
Source: A CNN/Opinion Research Poll of 1,008 adults conducted Oct. 5 to 7.
- Rants, raves, press releases to jharper @washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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