In South Carolina today, Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s wife, Anita, committed a cardinal campaign sin: Candor. In an address that was sometimes teary, she offered a window into how the family has been dealing with this first two months …
Controversies
Perry Supporter Calls Mormonism a “Cult”
Rick Perry just gave a well received speech Here at the annual Values Voters summit in Washington, D.C.–though not flawless, the Texas governor is a lot sharper when he’s in control, not under fire in a debate setting. But the Texas pastor who introduced Perry has unexpectedly opened the door to a sensitive issue barely discussed in …
Michael Steele on Perry’s Hunting Camp: “It’s Very Troubling”
Even as Texas Governor Rick Perry downplays the story of a racist epithet painted on a rock outside a property that he co-leased, black Republicans are not giving him the benefit of the doubt. First came GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain, who said yesterday that Perry handled the episode in a “very insensitive” way.
And in an …
Rick Santorum vs. the APA
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzzDrOR30U8]
Speaking to a group of Penn State students, including members of the College Republicans, on Wednesday, the night before his interview with CNN’s Piers Morgan aired, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum boiled with outrage over Morgan’s assertion that his attitude on …
In New Memoir, Dick Cheney Tries to Rewrite History
Early critics have argued that Dick Cheney’s forthcoming memoir, held under strict embargo until its official release on Aug. 30, is a predictable reprise of old arguments. Like most examples of the genre, In My Time has plenty …
Big Oil’s Big Presence in Iowa Presidential Politics
Last week I wrote about the dark side of the Iowa straw poll. Today comes new reason to be down on that strange Republican ritual, which will be held 10 days from new in Ames. The context is that Tim Pawlenty’s campaign is taking flack over the revelation that two of its key Iowa advisers are on the payroll of the Iowa Energy Forum, an …
Troubled Rep. David Wu Faces Ouster After Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
An allegation that Oregon Rep. David Wu engaged in sexual misconduct with the teenage daughter of a friend has forced the Democrat out of next year’s election and renewed questions about his fitness for office. An Oregon paper broke news of the allegation on Friday, and by Sunday night, a senior Democratic official said the seven-term …
Charges of Sexism, Ties to Biker Mag Resurface in Wake of Allen West E-mail
It’s never a good sign when congressional staffers feel the need to reassure reporters that their boss does not hate women. But that’s where Florida Republican Rep. Allen West’s staff have found themselves on Thursday. “He has been married to a Ph.D. for 20 years, he has two teenage daughters,” spokeswoman Angela Sachitano told …
In South Carolina, Bachmann Mum on Migraines
Columbia, S.C.
Michele Bachmann spoke on Tuesday morning to a Christian group here, whom she told about growing up poor and her devout Christian faith. (“The most important thing is eternity, and what we can do for eternity.”) The Minnesota Congresswoman is looking awfully strong in Iowa, but as one GOP operative put it to me …
The Truth Behind Marcus Bachmann’s Controversial Christian Therapy Clinic
The therapists at Bachmann & Associates aren’t very good at turning gay people straight. I don’t just mean that the Lake Elmo, Minn., based Christian therapy clinic, founded by Rep. Michele Bachmann’s husband, professional …
Michelle Bachmann and the Sexism Factor
After the apology of senior advisor Vin Weber for referring to Michele Bachmann’s “sex appeal,” Tim Pawlenty’s team is learning the hard way that campaigning against a woman can be uniquely tricky. The charge of sexism constantly lurks just around the corner. It is frequently justified, because politics and media remains a male-dominated …
Will the AARP Support an Overhaul of Social Security?
So, did they or didn’t they?
Did the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) – easily the country’s most influential seniors group – abandon its opposition to cutting Social Security benefits?
Anthony Weiner’s Characteristically Undignified Exit
The Anthony Weiner scandal ended in much of the same way it began. Hecklers hijacked the New York congressman’s Thursday afternoon press conference in New York City, rudely interrupting a somber resignation announcement with …