Day: May 26, 2011
Where Are the Obama Administration Scandals?
One of the least remarked upon aspects of the Obama presidency has been the lack of scandals. Since Watergate, presidential and executive branch scandal has been an inescapable feature of the American presidency, but the current administration has not yet suffered a major scandal, which I define as a widespread elite perception of wrongdoing. What happened, and what are the odds that the administration’s streak will continue?
— Brendan Nyhan, whose research on presidential scandals finds the longest that a president has gone without having a scandal featured in a front-page Washington Post article is 34 months.
Clyburn: Obama’s Political Problems Due to Racism
You know, I’m 70 years old. And I can tell you — people don’t like to deal with it, but the fact of the matter is — the president’s problems are in large measure because of the color of his skin.
— Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), blaming most of President Obama’s political problems on racism, the Columbia State reports. In particular, Clyburn suggested the “birther” movement is fueled by racism: “I don’t know why anybody didn’t ask for John McCain’s (birth certificate). He wasn’t even born in this country.”
Gingrich Has ‘Tanked’ with GOP Voters
45%
Of Republican voters have an unfavorable opinion of Newt Gingrich now, while just 38% have a favorable one, according to a new Public Policy Polling survey, which notes Gingrich “has completely tanked with Republican voters, providing real confirmation that his campaign rollout has been a total disaster.”
Most Would Rather Lunch with Obama
53%
Of Americans would choose to have a one-on-one lunch chat with President Obama over any of the Republican presidential contenders, according to a new Sachs/Mason Dixon poll. Sarah Palin placed a distant second, with 16%.
Negate the Hate: How to Turn Westboro Baptist Hate Group Protests into a Force for Good
If there is a bipartisan consensus about anything in this divided country these days, it’s that the Westboro Baptist Church protests at military funerals are an affront to decency.
Across the spectrum — supporters of the military, gay rights activists, Democrats, Republicans, independents and the apolitical — everyone agrees that the Westboro’s Pastor Fred Phelps and his family’s tactic of showing up at soldiers’ funerals with signs proclaiming “God Hates Fags,” “Pray for More Dead Soldiers,” “God Hates America” and “Your Son Is in Hell” is outrageous, unpardonable behavior.
Preying on the grief of the mothers and fathers, husbands, wives and children of soldiers
The Phelpses welcome the scorn, of course. The funeral protests are calculated to provoke outrage, a fact that makes them evil.
