Laying the groundwork for the biggest race of his life, the Newark mayor has an unusually quiet month. “He's hunkering down,” says Muzzio.

Via: Spencer Platt / Getty Images

If you haven't heard much about Cory Booker lately, it's no accident.

The Newark mayor — typically at home in the spotlight, at the center of a crowd, or on the set of a cable news show — spent much of April behind closed doors, working to formalize the nascent stages of his bid for U.S. Senate, professionalize his campaign operation, create an early fundraising advantage, and let the people of New Jersey focus on the gubernatorial race this fall.

Aides to the mayor, who won't make his bid for Senate official until after the governor's race, say privately that Booker is laying low, and even avoiding big interviews, to buckle down on creating a foundation for his campaign and concentrate on his last 400 days in Newark City Hall.

It's a quiet but calculated effort to do what doesn't come naturally to America's favorite mayor: Stay out of the news.

During last year's presidential campaign, Booker was a prominent surrogate for President Barack Obama. He was also a regular fixture on CNN and MSNBC, where he continued to appear even after Election Day, first to promote his "SNAP Challenge" in December — when Booker lived for a week on meals provided by a food stamp budget — and later to address speculation over whether he would run for governor or Senate. But since then, Booker has been largely absent from network and cable news shows. He gave six television news interviews in December, five in January, four in February, three in March — and in April, Booker did not appear on a single television news program, sticking instead to his monthly radio interview on WBGO's "Newark Today" show.

His recent public appearances, too, have not been the kinds that make news among the political class. In the last month, Booker's events have ranged from local outings in Newark — a press conference for the city's gun-buy back program, or an exhibit opening at the Newark Museum — to social-media-themed conferences and panels, where Booker is asked by tech-industry moderators to discuss his digital media company, Waywire, and only sometimes answer a question or two about his Senate campaign.

"He's hunkering down," said Doug Muzzio, a Baruch College political science professor and longtime observer of New Jersey politics. "He's raising money, and he's putting together a staff. He's going all the things that you need to do to be a serious candidate."

"The problem is that Twitter alone does not win campaigns," said Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf, referring to Booker's following of 1.4 million on the social media site. "He is now figuring out what kind of structure to have in place, who's going to be working for him, what kind of consultants to have — when he figures those things out, he'll have a real campaign."

Following the departure of three campaign staffers at the start of the year, Booker hired three new aides who have since helped add structure to his occasionally loose, on-the-fly operation: Finance director, Lauren Dikis, who worked previously at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee; campaign communications director, Kevin Griffis, a former Obama staffer; and City Hall communications director, James Allen, who came from Capitol Hill to fill the position after almost a year of it being vacant.

Before the new team was assembled, Booker may as well have been his own communications director — the mayor would often tweet directly at reporters, or make calls for interviews from his personal cell phone. That has certainly changed.

For an interview last week with BuzzFeed about New Jersey's Democratic candidate for governor, whom Booker supports, Griffis arranged a conference call — complete with a dial-in code and password — so both he and Booker could be on the line at the same time. As the interview came to a close and Griffis pronounced the call over, Booker obediently ignored an appeal for another question. "My new communications director would kill me," he joked.

Booker has also gotten serious about raising cash for the effort in advance of a possible primary challenge from other New Jersey Democrats. He has held at least 10 fundraisers inside and outside the state since March in support of the Senate bid, traveling most recently to Chicago Tuesday evening, on the heels of what was likely a fruitful swing through California — to San Francisco for an event at a prominent law firm, and to Los Angeles for a private, $5,000-per-head reception at the home of major motion-picture producer Jerry Weintraub.

In the first quarter alone, before most of his major fundraisers, Booker netted more than $1.9 million, even with a late start — he didn't file paperwork with the Federal Election Committee to create a campaign committee until Jan. 8.

With the governor's race underway between incumbent Republican Gov. Chris Christie and challenger, Democratic state Sen. Barbara Buono, Booker has the time and space to operate quietly while the rest of the state eyes the contest this November.

The governor's race, too, provides a crucial opportunity for the mayor to reconnect with state Democrats. Booker is no doubt a national star, but inside New Jersey, his willingness to operate outside the state party apparatus has nettled his peers in the political class before.

Last December, Booker's decision to run for Senate instead of governor came after a long, public period of deliberation that Democrats said held up other potential gubernatorial candidates from starting their own campaigns, and riled the 89-year-old Sen. Frank Lautenberg, whose seat Booker said he wanted before the senior senator had even announced he was retiring. (Lautenberg finally did about two months later.)

"I know he rubbed people the wrong way with the way he handled it," said a New Jersey Democratic operative. "But the governor's race gives him a chance to show a little humility and be a good soldier this year."

"He angered some people when he came out of the gate that quickly and talked about running against Lautenberg," Sheinkopf said. "In New Jersey, that kind of behavior is remembered."

By virtue of his name recognition alone, Booker has already proven a valuable asset to Buono, who is unknown inside the state relative to Christie. He has held one event for the candidate in Newark, sent a campaign email on her behalf, and plans to host a fundraiser for her early this month. And Buono told BuzzFeed last week that she couldn't be happier with Booker's level of involvement.

"He has been wonderful. He told me, 'There's no such thing as over-asking.' Direct quote," said Buono, who is trailing Christie by a 30-point margin in the polls. "Whatever we want he said he'd do. Obviously fundraising is big. But he validates that the campaign is winnable. It's important that you have validators."

In an interview on MSNBC last month, when asked about Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's support for Christie — the media mogul held a fundraiser for the incumbent governor earlier this year in California — Buono said simply, "He may have Mark Zuckerberg, but I have Cory Booker."

Booker also appeared last month at a private-home fundraiser to endorse Dave Haas, the Democratic candidate for mayor in Westfield, N.J. Helping his colleagues in the party — and crisscrossing the state for Buono, as he has vowed to do — will certainly help Booker shore up support between now and next year from state party leaders.

"I'm not doubting his motives, and I think he wants Barbara to be the next governor of the state," said one New Jersey Democratic official. "But this makes a whole lot of sense for him. He tripped on some of his politics in terms of the roll-out of his campaign, or whatever you want to call that, so he'll now have to do a bit of work."

But even if Booker faces a serious primary challenge from Reps. Frank Pallone and Rush Holt, the two candidates said to be considering a bid for the Senate seat, the Newark mayor will likely have a serious advantage in both name identification and fundraising. A Fairleigh Dickinson University poll shows that 50 percent of state Democrats would vote for Booker in the race, while only seven percent would vote for Holt, and just four percent for Pallone. That's the sort of combined advantage, in money and in popularity, that could just scare off a primary challenger.

Democrats add that Pallone, who has reportedly been interested in Lautenberg's seat for years, may opt to stay out of the race to keep his spot as ranking member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

"Pallone is telling people he wants to run, and he's all over the state, showing up at county dinners and making small changes to his staff," said the Democratic state official. "But it's a big risk for him. If he really wanted to run, it would require him being very forceful about what his intentions are. And so far I've just seen a dip-his-toe-in-the-water approach."

And until another candidate gets in the race, Booker is likely to stay in newfound spot behind the scenes, and away from the spotlight.

"All he has to do right now is raise money and not anger anybody by moving too quickly," said Sheinkopf.

Because it's the Congress we deserve, not the Congress we need right now.

Could Batman be the mysterious Eric Cantor (R-VA)?

Via: Jacquelyn Martin / AP

Xavier Becerra (D-CA) is technologically advanced.

Via: Alex Wong / Getty Images

Is Batman young, handsome, unassuming Sean Duffy (R-WI)?

Via: Charles Dharapak / AP

Darrell Issa (R-CA) certainly has the resources for crime fighting as he is the richest member of congress.

Via: J. Scott Applewhite / AP

View Entire List ›

“If Democrats in Washington want to pin their hopes on a pro-Bush lobbyist who's already lost two two midterm elections, they can explain that decision to progressives,” says Dayspring.

WASHINGTON — Republicans are hoping to use South Dakota's Democratic primary for Senate to fuel the war between the party and its progressive base.

To divide the troops, Republicans are criticizing Democrats for lining up behind conservative former Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin instead of the more liberal U.S. Attorney Brendon Johnson. Although the party is officially staying neutral in the primary to replace Sen. Tim Johnson, Democrats in the state believe the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is clearly backing Herseth-Sandlin over Johnson's son Brendon, who is a favorite of progressive activists.

Seeing a chance for mischief, the National Senatorial Campaign Committee Thursday released a web ad playing up Herseth-Sandlin's conservative political positions on gun control, abortion, and other issues in an effort to sow discord between Democrats and liberal outside organizations.

The minute-long web ad is a play on the NFL draft, showing the "Washington Democrats" draft Herseth-Sandlin over Johnson. "Progressive star Brendan Johnson was their man — what an upset!" one of the announcers says.

When one of the announcers points out that "Herseth Sandlin is married to a gun lobbyist," the second says, "OOFFFF! Progressive groups must be furious!"

"If Democrats in Washington want to pin their hopes on a pro-Bush lobbyist who's already lost two midterm elections, they can explain that decision to progressives. Considering the DSCC's public push for gay marriage, it is a bit surprising," NRSC spokesman Brad Dayspring said. "Regardless, we'll soon find out whether Chuck Schumer gets to pick the candidate in the Mount Rushmore State or South Dakotans do."

The progressive Brendon Johnson is perhaps a better fit for the Senate's existing Democratic conference than Herseth-Sandlin, a conservative Democrat who vowed to vote for George W. Bush if the electoral college became deadlocked.

But for groups like the DSCC, deciding which candidate they want on the ballot has little to do with ideology and everything to do with electability. And for the politics of South Dakota, the calculus that goes into backing Herseth-Sandlin seems obvious: The red state hasn't been in play for years in any serious way on the presidential level, abortion is deeply unpopular, and gun ownership is a fundamental part of its culture.

UPDATE: DSCC spokesman Justin Barasky has this to say about the new ad: "National Republicans should focus more on recruiting candidates and raising money than political gimmicks which conveniently ignore the fact that conservative groups are promising a bruising primary for the GOP nomination in South Dakota — a problem Republicans are facing in numerous states up and down the map."

“Rubio's Folly” includes Sens. Chuck Schumer and John McCain — but the famous anti-tax conservative gets edited out of the photo. Updated with a statement from the editor.

Here's the National Review's cover:

Here's the photo it was apparently taken from:

Notice Norquist peering over Rubio's left shoulder.

"Sorry, Grover. But our extensive market research shows that partially obscured bearded anti-tax activists do very poorly on our covers. In addition to a partial Grover head, we removed a detached arm and a few other random heads from the image to make it more visually clean and to focus on the politicians in the foreground. The table of contents of the issue contains this disclaimer: 'The cover image was altered slightly, to remove people standing in the background.'"

Internship promised “inside knowledge of just how the UN really operates and have tremendous opportunities to make invaluable connections.”

Via: charitybuzz.com

WASHINGTON — An internship at the United Nation's UN-NGO Committee on Human Rights being auctioned online for $22,000 isn't legitimate and officials have launched an investigation into the advertisement, a spokesman told BuzzFeed on Thursday.

"Internships at the United Nations are not for sale and cannot be put up for auction," said Eduardo Del Bey, deputy spokesperson for the Secretary General. "We do not believe that the internship in question is a UN internship. We are trying to establish the details of this case and have contacted 'charitybuzz.com'."

The internship promises "inside knowledge of just how the UN really operates and have tremendous opportunities to make invaluable connections. This truly is the ultimate internship opportunity for any college or graduate student looking to get their foot in the door!" It is for six weeks in New York, according to the listing. Twenty-six bids have been placed on it, the highest for $22,000.

The auction proceeds for the internship go to the RFK Young Leaders, according to the listing on CharityBuzz, a site that raises funds for non-profits through auctions. A spokesperson for the Robert F. Kennedy Center, the non-profit that runs the Young Leaders program, declined to comment, referring all inquiries to CharityBuzz.

"We didn't arrange the auction item," said spokesperson Meaghan Baron. "We're just not speaking on the record about it because it's a CharityBuzz issue."

Asked for comment, a CharityBuzz spokeswoman walked back the listing.

"As you can see in the description, this charity auction is an internship with the UN-NGO Committee on Human Rights," said Glenda Felden in an email. "The location is at the UN in New York City, however, the internship is not with the UN. Funds raised from the charity auction will benefit a widely respected nonprofit organization. The UN-NGO Committee will not receive any of the funds raised."

Later on Thursday, Felden emailed to say that "I think this is a simple syntax issue.... The UN is both a place and an entity. This internship is "at" the UN in NYC but not "with" them. Any confusion was unintentional. We've tried to clear this up in the auction description and the legal terms. Our bidders are aware of the details of the experience and are looking forward to supporting a great cause."

The UN-NGO Committee on Human Rights is listed as one of the non-governmental organizations with a consultative relationship with the United Nations. But the listing on CharityBuzz still says the internship is at the UN as of this writing.

This post has been updated with additional comment from Felden.

The government is investigating possible human trafficking at a Saudi diplomatic compound.

WASHINGTON — A State Department official on Thursday said the agency was unsure of the legal status of the Saudi diplomat from whose compound in Virginia two women thought to be human trafficking victims were removed on Wednesday.

Patrick Ventrell, acting deputy spokesman for the agency, said that he was not sure whether diplomats accused of a crime were automatically protected by diplomatic immunity or whether they have to assert it in order for it to protect them.

"I'd have to ask a lawyer on that," he said in response to a question from a reporter at the daily press briefing.

Ventrell said that the State Department was working with the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security in the case, and that Diplomatic Security agents were helping with the investigation in "very close collaboration with our DHS colleagues." ICE has taken the lead on the investigation, Ventrell said.

"I'm not sure if they were on the scene but they've been in close contact with DHS," Ventrell said. "It's DS and our Office of Foreign Missions."

BuzzFeed reported on Wednesday that the Saudi embassy said the compound in McLean, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, belongs to the Saudi military attaché.

DHS removed two women from the premises on Wednesday morning because of information that indicated they had been trafficked. CNN reported that the two women are originally from the Philippines and were brought over to work at the Saudi embassy.

A DHS official said no new updates on the investigation were available on Thursday.

The Democratic candidate for governor of Virginia is giving Frank Underwood a run for his money.

Room enough for Valerie Jarrett and Penny Pritzker both to reach out to business, the White House says. But Jarrett tried to kill the appointment.

Via: Larry Downing / Reuters

WASHINGTON — The nomination of billionaire Penny Pritzker to be Secretary of Commerce will import a Chicago rivalry into the Obama Administration.

Pritzker and Obama confidante Valerie Jarrett share roots in their native city's insular business community and will have overlapping portfolios of outreach to corporate America. But there is no love lost between the two women, people who know both say: Indeed, Jarrett tried to torpedo the appointment, someone she made the case to told BuzzFeed. And their tense relationship could help define the Administration's attempts to mend ties with the business world that frayed badly during the first term.

A top fundraiser for his first campaign, Pritzker — who inherited the Hyatt Hotel fortune — stayed outside the administration during his first term. Jarrett, who came up in the world of Chicago real estate, tried to manage relationships with business leaders who felt shut out by a president who didn't want to golf with them and complained of populist rhetoric.

Unhappy with Jarrett, many directed their complaints to Pritzker, people familiar with the tensions say. And when Obama began seriously to consider her as Commerce Secretary, Jarrett tried to stop it, arguing that the pick would provoke a backlash from labor leaders and progressives over Hyatt's tense relations with the union representing hotel workers.

Those progressive complaints were relatively muted Thursday. And now, as business leaders welcome Pritzker's arrival in the cabinet, she is also posing a challenge to the woman who is one of the president's close advisers and personal friends. While Obama called Pritzker a "friend," Jarrett is something more — a longtime patron and adviser, and someone who has survived challenges from other key insiders. But there is little question who big business would prefer to deal with.

"Valerie doesn't really have ties to the business community," said Greg Simoncini, a longtime Chicago Democratic activist and fundraiser. "Penny does."

A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, discounted any suggestion that the women would clash.

"Outreach to the business community is not a one person job" when asked about what Pritzker's role will be in regards to Jarett's when it comes to business outreach. The official said the administration expects Pritzker to use her considerable rolodex on the White House's behalf.

Pritzker is a real estate investment titan and philanthropist, born into the Pritzker and Hyatt fortunes. She has sat on several major corporate boards, and knew the Obama family personally for years before helping finance his 2008 run. Despite grumbling from some in his union base over Pritzker's opposition to a proposal to ease organizing known as "card check,",Obama considered Pritzker for the Commerce post in his first term. (She eventually took herself out of the running.) Forbes lists her net worth at $1.85 billion.

And with Pritzker headed for the cabinet, people close to both women hurried to play down the suggestions of tension between them.

"I know there is a lot of 'noise' out there," one person close the Jarrett said. "But I think it is much more fiction than fact." The source said Jarett welcomes Pritzker to Washington and thinks having her at Commerce will make it easier for the White House to reach out to business.

Officials in the White House and at business groups also publicly discount any suggestion that relations aren't going swimmingly, but few deny the tensions of the first term.

Business leaders weren't happy with the push for health care reform, and they didn't like what they thought was antagonistic tone coming from the White House in the years after the financial collapse. William Daley, who like Pritzker has close ties to big business, was famously brought in as Chief of Staff to shore things up with the business community after Rahm Emanuel left to run for mayor of Chicago. (His ties to the business community were supposed to make things easier with the new Republican House majority, a plan that didn't quite work out.) But Daley's his tenure was short and Obama never built strong ties to the business lobby.

Some business groups say they hope things are changing.

"I think we would argue that especially in the second term, the last couple months have been a reinvigoration regarding small business," Molly Brogan, spokesperson for the National Small Business Association, told BuzzFeed. "I'm not sure how cordial relations are with the White House and large business organizations, but I think we've all heard the stories that it's not always terribly warm. But in our experience, we have had a decent amount of outreach."

Meanwhile, the big business lobby welcomed Prtizker's nomination.

"The Chamber looks forward to continuing to work with the Department of Commerce to promote the interests of America's job creators and I am pleased to personally congratulate Penny Pritzker on her nomination to this important post," US Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue said in a statement.

The White House blasted out more words of praise for Pritzker Thursday afternoon, noting statements of support from leaders at the Real Estate Roundtable, Financial Services Forum, American Hotel & Lodging Association and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

"Penny's strong relationships with leaders in the business community will make her an asset to the Administration, and she will bring a lifetime of business experience to the position," a White House official said. "Penny has known the President for many years, and believes in the work that he and his Administration are doing to create jobs and strengthen America's economy."

From UFOs to Earth-bound asteroids, members of Congress are looking to the skies. Ordinary duties can feel “a little hum drum,” says Rep. Rohrabacher.

WASHINGTON — In space, no one can hear you drone on at a committee meeting.

Congress is used to being consumed with practical issues like sequestration, unemployment, health care, and international disputes. But there's also a strange and enduring history of congressional fascination with the great unknown. And in the past three months, current and former lawmakers are looking up to the skies with hearings on pending doom from asteroids hitting the Earth, a bill to build a moon base by 2022, and a mock hearing to investigate a potential cover-up of the existence of aliens by the U.S government.

The political focus on threats from space may seem misplaced when there are so many pressing issues to be addressed here on Earth, but the lawmakers concerned with these issues say they are deadly serious, and the consequences of letting the space program deteriorate are equally dire.

Plus, they say, space is really awesome.

"I know cleaning up sewage spills is very important, how you deal with your local sewage treatment center is important, but it could be a little hum drum compared to developing a strategy to prevent a meteorite or asteroid from destroying half the planet," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher. "Space technology and dealing with space is exciting because it takes you out of the ordinary and puts you into a situation that doesn't occur everyday."

Rohrabacher, a California Republican, serves as the Vice Chairman of the Science, Space and Technology Committee and when a meteor hit Russia in February, he worked with Chairman Lamar Smith to come up with a two-part hearing dubbed "Threats from Space." The full committee reviewed ways the U.S. could better track (and hopefully stop) asteroids and meteorites headed for Earth.

"The meteor in Russia was wake up call and very rarely do policy makers have the opportunity to set policy while the public is fully aware that there is a problem," Rohrabacher said. "We need to do something on this issue before the public begins to focus their attention on something else."

Not everyone was impressed with Smith's decision to hold the hearings.

"What, are we going to have Bruce Willis testify?" snarked a Democratic aide.

Rohrabacher defended Smith, who until last year was the Chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee, and said Smith was effectively embracing his new role.

"He's been the chairman of another committee all these years so he was focused on the threat lawyers posed to the earth," Rohrabacher said. "Now he realizes there's things other than lawyers that pose a threat to the planet that have to be dealt with. He's totally focused on these space and science issues."

Other members of congress have different space-related fears. With NASA's budget continually facing the budget ax, several lawmakers introduced an ambitious bill that directs NASA to have a "sustained human presence on the moon" by 2022.

The bill was introduced in April by Republican Congressman Bill Posey, who represents Florida's Space Coast.

Posey spokesman George Cecala argued that the U.S was ceding it's power in the world by neglecting space missions and technology.

"Space is the 21st century military high ground, who ever controls space controls the future of the world," he said. "NASA is the only agency that hasn't gotten a budget increase, and at some point we're not going to have a space program. It's going to be a real national security problem."

The moon base idea isn't new. It attracted wide attention – and a fair bit of mockery – when Newt Gingrich proposed it during the Republican presidential primaries.

His rival Mitt Romney bluntly told Gingrich at a debate in Florida: "I spent 25 years in business. If I had a business executive come to me and say they wanted to spend a few hundred billion dollars to put a colony on the moon, I'd say, 'You're fired.'"

But Gingrich, the former speaker of the House, said he's impressed with the resurgent attention Congress was paying to space.

"It's future, it's the next place," he said. "It's the same reason Daniel Boone went West. There's a natural healthy human desire to go to the next place."

Gingrich said Congress should be focused on getting the private sector involved in developing new space technologies.

"Its good if they change the rules to make it easier. We could make it easier for space shuttles to launch, have less regulations," he said. People who are entrepreneurs who are willing to take risks should be encouraged not discouraged."

Gingrich's biggest space concern these days isn't an asteroid destroying the planet, but "the next really big solar storm."

"I'm very concerned that a very big solar storm could knock a huge portion of our electric capability including your cellphone," he said. "And that's a very real next 50-100 year problem."

Off the Hill, six former lawmakers were paid $20,000 each to participate in a mock-hearing put on by Paradigm Research Group, a lobbying organization dedicated to alien research.

Former Rep. Lynn Woolsey participated in the panel and wouldn't say if the testimony made her a believer in extraterrestrials, but she did think the government needed to open up about the matter.

"I'm convinced that our government covers up any evidence they have and we need to have a more transparent government, period," she said. "It's the next frontier, and we need to find out what our government is thinking in this regard. Me of all people, the last thing I want is a new frontier for war."

And Woolsey, a member of the Science committee for 20 years, said Chairman Smith's Science committee would be the best place to start an investigation into a potential cover-up of found alien life.

"The NASA subcommittee in the science committee would be a perfect vehicle for a hearing on this issue," she said. "Chairman Smith ought to look at this. He's a bright man, he should know how important this is to talk about."

In 2006, Virginia State Sen. Cuccinelli argued that his constituents would feel a connection to the Beatles song because “they feel like all they ever get from Richmond is more taxes.”

Via: facebook.com

In January 2006, the Commonwealth of Virginia had been without an official state song for almost nine years. "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia," designated the state's anthem in 1940, had been retired in 1997 after civil rights groups protested the song's lyrics, which included such lines as "There's where this old darkey's heart am long'd to go."

To amend this, State Sen. Charles Colgan (D-Manassas) introduced SB. 682, a bill designating the traditional folk song "Shenandoah" as Virginia's "interim state song". The debate over the song's merits took an odd turn on January 30th, when then-Sen. Cuccinelli filed an amendment to change the bill and replace "Shenandoah" with "Taxman," an anti-big government anthem by the Beatles.

Cuccinelli's amendment to the proposed bill:

Via: leg1.state.va.us

The Newport News Daily Press covered then-Sen. Cuccinelli's decision "send a message" during the state song debate:

In a floor speech, the Fairfax Republican said he had nothing against the Shenandoah region, but he thought the state needed a more generalized song that had something for everyone. Virginia, he said, has a unique history.

"And taxes are a part of that history. The very building we're standing in is named after Patrick Henry. Everyone pays those taxes," he deadpanned, "and starting in about 1765 Patrick Henry began fighting the imposition of British taxes, which in turn began the American Revolution. That is our history in Virginia."

Cuccinnelli added that his constituents would feel more of a connection to "Taxman" than to "Shenandoah," because "they feel like all they ever get from Richmond is more taxes."

The Northern Virginia Daily reported that Cuccinelli's amendment was mocked by other senators and never taken up for consideration:

The Northern Shenandoah Valley's two representatives in the body both weighed in on the debate.

"Shenandoah" is more than good enough to be the state song, said Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, who spoke against the committee amendments that would make it the "interim" song.

State Sen. H. Russell Potts Jr., R-Winchester, decided to add his voice to the debate in verse.

In a brief recitation that drew chuckles from the body, Potts riffed on the lyrics of "Shenandoah" to fire back at Cuccinelli, reflecting themes from his failed gubernatorial campaign.

"The no tax crowd will not prevail, we will simply let them sail," Potts read, before taking his seat.

Others took to Cuccinelli's proposed amendment with less humor.

Sen. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania, protested that Cuccinelli's effort falsely labeled Virginia as a high-tax state.

"Apparently there's some kind of political advantage in trying to persuade Virginians that this is a high-tax state," he said. "It's not."

A study by the legislature's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission found that Virginia is in the bottom tier of states when it comes to tax burdens, he said.

"Lo and behold, Virginia comes up 45th," Houck said. "Perhaps the [Cuccinelli amendment's lyrics] should be amended … to 'I'm the low-tax man.'"

View Entire List ›

If the court strikes down DOMA, the fight over including same-sex couples in immigration reform will change dramatically overnight.

Josh Vandiver and Henri Velandia have fought to keep Velandia in the country.

Via: facebook.com

WASHINGTON — As the political debate over whether to include protections for same-sex couples in immigration reform heats up in the Capitol, the real control over what's going to happen with the issue likely rests with the Supreme Court.

Because the Defense of Marriage Act bars the federal government from recognizing same-sex couples' marriages, binational gay and lesbian couples — those where one partner is not a U.S. citizen — have been denied the ability to seek a green card that straight couples have been eligible to obtain for their spouse in a similar situation.

The legislation aimed at addressing this issue is the Uniting American Families Act, and it would create a new category, called "permanent partners," that would make same-sex couples eligible for green cards. The "Gang of Eight" senators did not include the measure in their immigration reform bill, but LGBT advocates have been pressing for Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy to add the provision into the bill during the committee markup, which is slated to begin May 9.

And, although the focus this week has been on the claims by some Republican senators that inclusion of such protections would doom the immigration overhaul bill, little has been said about the Supreme Court — which is considering a case that could strike down that part of DOMA that bans recognition of same-sex couples' marriages, Section 3.

If that provision is struck down, married gay and lesbian couples are expected to be eligible for the same green card petitions as straight couples. The decision also could make the current language in UAFA inapplicable to same-sex couples.

Asked about this issue Thursday, Lambda Legal's deputy legal director, Hayley Gorenberg, told BuzzFeed only, "We will continue to push for UAFA until we are absolutely sure we don't need it. And of course the demise of DOMA section 3 will reduce harm to families but will fall far short of eliminating it."

She continued, "Same-sex couples still can't marry in forty states. And to assume traveling elsewhere to marry will solve the problems of a low-income couple in a southern state, for example, would be to disregard their lived reality and resources."

Under the current version of the UAFA legislation, however, a permanent partner is defined as someone in a committed relationship and "unable to contract with that other individual a marriage cognizable under [the Immigration and Naturalization] Act."

As Lavi Soloway, a prominent immigration attorney who works on same-sex couples' cases and co-founded Immigration Equality and The DOMA Project, told BuzzFeed, "When we crafted the definition of 'permanent partner' that is the centerpiece of UAFA, our goal was the same then as it is today: to remedy the problem caused by the inability of same-sex couples to enter into marriages that would be recognized for the purposes of our immigration law."

With Section 3 of DOMA gone, however, same-sex couples' marriages would almost certainly be recognized under the INA. If that happens, the UAFA provision — even if enacted in to law — likely would no longer have any effect.

Sen. Patrick Leahy greets President Barack Obama.

Via: Charles Dharapak, Pool / AP

Other LGBT rights groups, including the Human Rights Campaign and Immigration Equality, have been pushing strongly for inclusion of the UAFA provision in the Senate's immigration bill. Neither group would directly respond to inquiries about the impact of a court ruling striking down Section 3 of DOMA. The case before the court was brought by Edith Windsor and heard by the justices in March, and a decision is expected by the end of June.

Immigration Equality spokesman Steve Ralls would not comment on the impact of a ruling striking down the provision, saying only, "Certainly the Windsor case is something we are keeping a very close eye on, but the decisions of this Supreme Court have proven very difficult to predict. We will not know, until we have the specifics of the decision in-hand, how that might impact our legislative strategy."

Despite the comments — or lack thereof — from LGBT groups about the impact, the legislative strategy, and any legislation itself, is sure to change dramatically if the court strikes down DOMA and same-sex married couples begin to be eligible for green cards.

Unlike some other provisions of federal law that focus on the state of residence, moreover, the government looks to whether a marriage was valid where entered into when determining whether a marriage is valid for immigration purposes. Because of this, even a same-sex couple in Texas or Michigan would only need to find a way to travel to a state where marriage is legal in order to marry and be eligible for equal green card treatment.

Although Gorenberg is correct that "a low-income couple in a southern state" would face difficulties that a couple in New York would not face, it is hard to imagine a Supreme Court ruling striking down DOMA not greatly reducing the perceived need for an UAFA-like provision in the immigration reform bill, even if amended to address the issues raised by the current legislation's definition of permanent partner.

Rea Carey, the head of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, suggested as much in a comment to BuzzFeed.

Noting that her group currently is "pushing for UAFA language to be included," Carey told BuzzFeed, "No one knows what is in the hearts and minds of the Supreme Court justices and, as things currently stand, UAFA is vital to ensuring bi-national same-sex couples are treated fairly. Even if the Court overturns Section 3 of DOMA we are still left with the reality that same sex marriage is not available in all 50 states and we would need to look at the range of options, including UAFA, for ensuring that bi-national couples can continue their lives together in this country if they choose."

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Romney was criticized on CNN after talking to graduates at a predominantly Mormon university about the importance of marriage and family.

Mitt Romney spoke at Southern Virginia University commencement last week.

SVU is 92 percent Mormon, so Romney mentioned things Mormons are familiar with like the importance of marriage and family.

Source: campaign.svu.edu

He quoted from Psalms 127:3-5 where it says a man is blessed for having a "quiver full of" children.

Source: biblegateway.com

And talked about his own family.

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The geotargeted ad campaign centered the around iconic horse race the latest aggressive move by Kentucky Republican in early days of his 2014 reelection fight.

Via: Manuel Balce Ceneta, File / AP

WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Saturday will launch an innovative geotargeted campaign ad based around the Kentucky Derby, part of the Kentucky Republican's aggressive re-election campaign.

According to a campaign source, the technology, which is similar to event-specific advertising campaigns used by companies during this year' Super Bowl, will target "mobile devices of people within a 5 mile radius of Churchill Downs. The ads will appear in apps and mobile versions of websites that would be commonly used at the event."

Aides said the ad is designed to be a simple expression of McConnell's pride in his home state. "Mitch loves Kentucky and always celebrates the Derby. He hopes to remind everyone why this weekend is so special and share his pride with the many visitors from across the country and around the world," McConnell campaign manager Jesse Benton said.

Indeed, the idea of branding McConnell directly to Kentucky has long been a hallmark of his political career, a fact that the schools, buildings and roads around the state named after him bare testament to.

And for a politician who's spent decades in Washington, maintaining a high profile link to your home state can be critical. Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, former Sen. Richard Lugar and scores of other skilled politicians have been pushed out of office thanks to charges of becoming "inside the beltway."

The advertising strategy is a relatively inexpensive way of reaching tens of thousands of potential voters — according to the campaign, the final price tag on the ad is expected to be "in the low five figures" and could reach hundreds of thousands of people.

Clicking on the ads will take users to a new video, "A Kentucky Story." The slick, 90-second never mentions McConnell, the 2014 race or anything to do with politics. Rather, it features images of Kentucky like rolling countryside and coalminers and Derby specific footage of horses, jockeys and the iconic Churchhill Downs.

"When winter gives way to spring, and late afternoons begin to brighten for the promise warm summer nights. My old Kentucky home becomes everyone's home on the first Saturday in May," McConnell says as video of the race and track play.

"And for the first Saturday in May, we're glad everyone can join us. Enjoy the Kentucky Derby," McConnell concludes at the end of the ad.

The ad and the geotargeting strategy was developed by GOP ad man Vincent Harris, who worked on the Perry and Gingrich campaigns, and the video was produced by Lucas Baiano. Harris also works for Sen. Ted Cruz, and is widely credited with helping make the freshman lawmaker a darling of the conservative social media set during the 2012 election cycle. "Vincent played a big role in that," a McConnell campaign source said.

Harris isn't the first conservative operative that McConnell has poached: Benton ran Sen. Rand Paul's Senate campaign. Bringing conservatives into the fold is a key part of McConnell's strategy to reduce the risk of a legitimate primary challenge from the right, something the consummate DC dealmaker is keen to avoid.

With more than $8.5 million on hand, McConnell has plenty of money to burn on setting himself up early in the cycle. "We are running the most innovative Senate campaign in history and you can expect much more to come in the months ahead," Benton said.

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So maybe he's not perfect. But who else is going to host Reliable Sources ? UPDATE: CNN caved .

Now that media critic Howard Kurtz has made himself the media story of the week and got himself booted from the Daily Beast, CNN is reportedly reviewing Kurtz's blunder and how it could affect his Sunday show, Reliable Sources. As one of America's leading cable news obsessives, I am begging CNN not to fire Howard Kurtz. The future of cable news talk shows about the media on Sundays depends on it.

Sure, what Howard Kurtz did was so dumb, and so tasteless, and so very lazy, but he got punished for it. And it wasn't broadcast on CNN. That should be the end of the story. The network has been forgiving before — recently, as Inside Cable News points out, in the case of Fareed Zakaria's " journalistic lapse."

"How can CNN possibly drop Kurtz over this comparatively less significant incident when it set the bar so high with Zakaria, without having everyone revisit the Zakaria incident and the apparent double standard that will be underscored? My read is CNN can't do it and won't do it."

Unfortunately for Kurtz, the Jason Collins blog post isn't the only thing CNN is going to have to look at while they conduct this review. Kurtz's connection to the website The Daily Download has raised questions. Kurtz says he is merely a contributor to the site, but the noticeably numerous times Editor-in-Chief Lauren Ashburn has appeared on his show, combined with Kurtz's constant presence on the little-watched site, have raised eyebrows. This kind of conflict of interest may be too much for Kurtz to overcome and CNN would have to say goodbye.

I know what you're saying. Who cares? Why keep Reliable Sources around anyway? That is a fair question. Now, let me ask you, what are you watching at 11 a.m. on Sunday morning? The last hour of This Week? Face The Nation? The back of your eyelids? Sorry, that was rude. But here's your answer; Reliable Sources is the only hour of the week that cable news gets to completely turn inward on itself. CNN is doing the public a service (kind of) by providing such a show, and they can afford to keep it on the air if only to maintain the appearance that "The Most Trusted Name In News" gives a damn.

Fortunately for CNN, dropping Howie would fit right in with new boss Jeff Zucker's out with the old, in with the new strategy for change at the network (to say nothing of his quest for more emotionally compelling television). Unfortunately for those of us who appreciate a weekly examination of the fourth estate, there aren't many TV-ready critics out there who are prepared to helm an hour long cable news talk show about the media on Sunday mornings. That said, with Kurtz's future at CNN looking not great, I reluctantly offer a couple of possible replacements should the ax drop. Admittedly, more than a few of these suggestions are more than longshots for the job.

Errol Louis

While not a media reporter by trade, Louis has extensive experience hosting his own show on NY1 News and been employed as a contributor by CNN in the past.

Pros: Knows his way around a teleprompter.

Cons: Might not have enough time to host two TV shows.

David Carr

The lovable Times media critic would be a lot of fun on TV, but his crankiness doesn't really fit CNN's tastes.

Pros: Media freaks would love this.

Cons: Carr might be a bit too opinionated for this job.

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The then-state senator and now Republican candidate for governor of Virginia filmed the video talking to “Ron the Elephant” as part of a 2007 fundraising pitch. But the video was quickly pulled.

Source: youtube.com

In Mexico, Obama goes off script to raise expectations that comprehensive reform will pass “this year.”

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WASHINGTON — After a week of chatter about the limits of his power, President Obama told the people of Mexico Friday he has the juice to get immigration reform passed this year.

Obama said he was not only "convinced" bipartisan immigration reform will happen, he said he was "absolutely convinced of it." His confidence on stage went farther than his prepared remarks did — a version of the speech sent to reporters ahead of delivery didn't contain one instance of the word "convinced," let alone two.

Instead, the prepared version hedged things quite a bit. Obama's remarks said when it came to comprehensive reform containing a pathway to citizenship, the president was "optimistic that—after years of trying—we're finally going to get this done." But the prepared speech set no timeframe for completing reform, a huge part of the Obama's second term agenda.

When Obama delivered the remarks, however, a time frame was added.

"I'm working with our Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform this year," Obama said. "I'm convinced we can get it done."

Below are the two versions of Obama's remarks on immigration reform, the first from the prepared speech and the second from the delivered speech.

"That's one of the reasons I acted to lift the shadow of deportation from DREAMers—young people brought to the United States as children. And that's why I'm working with our Congress to pass common sense immigration reform. Reform that continues to strengthen border security and strengthen legal immigration, so citizens don't have to wait years to bring their family to the United States. Reform that holds everyone accountable— so immigrants get on the right side of the law and so immigrants are not exploited and abused. Most of all, reform that gives millions of undocumented individuals a pathway to earn their citizenship. And I'm optimistic that—after years of trying—we're finally going to get this done."

"That's one of the reasons I acted to lift the shadow of deportation from what we call the DREAMers—young people brought to the United States as children. And that's why I'm working with our Congress to pass common sense immigration reform this year. I'm convinced we can get it done. Reform that continues to strengthen border security and strengthen legal immigration, so citizens don't have to wait years to bring their families to the United States. Reform that holds everyone accountable— so immigrants get on the right side of the law and so immigrants are not exploited and abused. Most of all, reform that gives millions of undocumented individuals a pathway to earn their citizenship. And I'm optimistic that—after years of trying, we are going to get it done this year. I'm absolutely convinced of it."

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As Republicans ramp up pressure over Benghazi scandal, Vice President acknowledges “We have a solemn obligation to do more and more to protect them.”

Vice President Biden greeting the families of foreign service officers killed in the line of duty.

Via: BuzzFeed

WASHINGTON — With the Benghazi terrorist attacks once again in the news, Vice President Joe Biden Friday promised better protection for American diplomatic posts during a ceremony to mourn slain foreign service officers at the State Department.

Although Biden didn't directly mention the Sept. 11 2012 attack on the U.S. facility in Benghazi, Libya, the announcement comes as Republicans have renewed calls for hearings into the incident, which left Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans dead.

"We have a solemn obligation to do more and more to protect them," Biden said.

"Yesterday, without revealing anything that's classified, we had our daily meeting, the President and I, with the CIA director and the NSC; it's called the PDB, the presidential daily briefing," Biden said. "You know what the discussion was about yesterday? The president made the case about we have to protect these more dangerously-located embassies."

The administration is clearly wary of renewed public interest in the Benghazi scandal, which scuttled Obama's plan to appoint UN Ambassador Susan Rice as Secretary of State.

After months of little public action, the administration has suddenly refocused on the issue: in addition to Biden's comments, the State Department on Wednesday released photos of three men who were seen outside the compound during the attack.

Those efforts come as Republicans have demanded information from the White House and State Department on alleged pressure being put on whistle blowers to not testify about the attack.

Friday's ceremony was in honor of the foreign service officers killed in the last year, including Stevens and Anne Smedinghoff, a 25-year-old who was just two years into her career at the State Department when she was killed in Afghanistan just a few weeks ago, making her the first American foreign service casualty since Benghazi. Families of the victims attended the ceremony, where Secretary of State John Kerry spoke as well as Susan Johnson, the president of the American Foreign Service Association. General John Allen and CIA Director John Brennan were also in attendance.

Beefing up protection for American posts abroad became a front-page topic after the attack on Benghazi in September, which killed four Americans and which continues to drive some foreign policy debate today.

Kerry told anecdotes about each of the six officers killed this year as well as two diplomats killed during the Vietnam War also being honored as the 50th anniversary of that war rolls around.

In a speech that at points quoted Irish poet W.B. Yeats, the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, Biden said that the government was working to ensure greater safety for diplomats but that the job would always be dangerous.

"The truth is that most Americans don't understand you all," Biden said. "They don't understand this outfit called the State Department."

"Being a diplomat has become even more dangerous and at the same time more necessary," Biden said.

Biden, who spoke in a hoarse low whisper throughout his remarks, drew on his own experience losing his first wife and child in a car accident to give advice to the families who lost family members this year.

"You know you're going to make it the day the thought of him or her flashes to your eye and the memory brings a smile to your lip before a tear to your eye," Biden said.

Congressman Joe Kennedy, Collins' old Stanford roommate, was instrumental in the NBA center coming out as gay.

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Via:

Massachusetts Congressman Joe Kennedy said he's "surprised" about the prominent role he played in NBA center Jason Collins coming out as gay.

"Quite frankly I was surprised that it had an impact on him," Kennedy told local Boston TV station WHDH. "I've known Jason a long time, he didn't need any help in this. He's a thoughtful guy, he's a deliberative guy. He did this all on his own."

Collins wrote in Sports Illustrated he realized he needed to come out publicly when he saw Kennedy, his roommate at Stanford, marching in the Boston gay pride parade.

"I realized I needed to go public when Joe Kennedy, my old roommate at Stanford and now a Massachusetts congressman, told me he had just marched in Boston's 2012 Gay Pride Parade," Collins wrote. "I'm seldom jealous of others, but hearing what Joe had done filled me with envy. I was proud of him for participating but angry that as a closeted gay man I couldn't even cheer my straight friend on as a spectator."

"In my conversations with him you can tell he's really happy and looking forward to the next chapters ahead," Kennedy added in his interview. "He's now a historic figure in sports, he's a historic figure in his country. He's not going let any sort of labels define him."

After he stands with the White House on guns and immigration, McCain gets the big Biden shoutout.

WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain can be one of the White House's toughest critics. But after backing President Obama on gun control and comprehensive immigration reform, McCain got a big shoutout from the White House Friday.

In the latest installment of "Being Biden" — the White House audio series featuring the Vice President describing moments in his week — Biden describes his recent trip to the McCain Institute in Sedona, Arizona where he appeared with the Republican Senator at a policy summit. Biden heaps praise on McCain, who he calls "my old friend of 35 years," in the audio clip posted to the White House website.

Though McCain has continued to be a thorn in the side of the White House, particularly on foreign policy matters, McCain recently broke with many in his party to support universal background checks, a top White House priority. McCain is also a leading voice in the push for comprehensive immigration reform, another of Obama's goals.

Biden said both he and McCain are looking for a return to bipartisanship in Washington.

"We're both determined to reestablish the kind of trust between the parties and among senators and congressmen that existed all the years we served together," Biden said.

Beyond sharing a desire for the mythical comity of old Washington, Biden said he and McCain share a lasting respect.

"He's not only a great hero, he's an honorable, decent man and he has the courage to vote his conscience and he's my friend," Biden said.

The FBI released an Arabic-language video in an attempt to solicit tips about three individuals they believe could possibly be involved in the Sept. 11 attacks on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

The Video

Translation: "The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation is seeking information about three individuals who were on the grounds of the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya on Sept. 11, 2012, when U.S. personnel and facilities were attacked.

These individuals may be able to provide information related to the attacks, which resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador to Libya.

We appreciate that the Libyan people and the government of Libya have condemned the attacks.

We need your help to solve this crime. If you have any information, text or e-mail BenghaziTips@ic.fbi.gov or submit information confidentially at forms.fbi.gov/benghazi.

Source: youtube.com

The FBI also has a Benghazi tips website it launched back in December.

Via: facebook.com