Wilshire & Washington

Pile On

Hillary Clinton's campaign responded to last night's debate with a new web video called "The Politics of Pile-On" --- rounding up the sheer number of times her name was mentioned last night.

G.I. Joe, Anti-American?

I love it when controversies erupt over movies still in production or pre-production. You can almost always guarantee that those outraged haven't seen the script, an outline, or even know any of those involved. And you can almost always be sure that the furor is much ado about nothing. Example: "The Da Vinci Code."

Such is the case with Glenn Beck, Headline News' poor man's version of Bill O'Reilly, who believes that the upcoming Paramount movie "G.I. Joe" is "trying to indoctrinate our kids into hating their own country, turning us into some one-world government nightmare; hating America, turning it into a dirty word," according to Media Matters for America. He referred to the producers of the movie as "butchers" (and they haven't even gone into the editing room).

His gripe is over the premise of the movie. Here's Variety's description: "While some remember the character from its gung-ho fighting man '60s incarnation, he's evolved. G.I. Joe is now a Brussels-based outfit that stands for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, an international co-ed force of operatives who use hi-tech equipment to battle Cobra, an evil organization headed by a double-crossing Scottish arms dealer. The property is closer in tone to "X-Men" and James Bond than a war film."

Beck's gripe is that G.I. Joe is fighting for some sort of an international entity. "Hollywood now has him answering to some bullcrap international force like the U.N. We all know that the U.N. is a toothless bunch of pansies. They don't deserve somebody like Joe, even the little plastic version."

Beck said, "We're being attacked someplace else in the cover of night and if we lose this battle, we lose it all. Here's 'The Point' tonight. G.I. Joe is the latest casualty in the war against the American way and I know, I know, Glenn, it's just a toy, a little hunk of plastic, a cartoon. I know. And that makes it easy to dismiss this. But I believe that would be a huge mistake."

He's previously proclaimed "Superman Returns" use of the phrase --- "Truth, Justice and All That Stuff" as another example of Hollywood pushing anti-Americanism.

They are just cartoons, aren't they?

Fright Night

That, and other news, in today's Political Panorama.

Updated

Hillary Clinton saw slings and arrows from all fronts last night --- the consensus among many pundits is that it was her weakest debate performance --- but a sideshow was playing out among longer than longshot candidates. Mike Gravel was angry, naturally, that he wasn't included in last night's forum, and instead offered his views via a webcast and protest of General Electric, parent company of MSNBC. On the other side of the aisle, Ron Paul appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," and then raised money at a home in the Hollywood Hills. Paul has considerably more traction in his party than Gravel, and he told Leno that "there's probably a risk I could win." A new poll, meanwhile, shows that Stephen Colbert would beat Paul or Dennis Kucinich in matchups.

Missed Opportunity?: The Congressional Black Caucus Institute is postponing a scheduled Nov. 4 debate, as campaigns have once again cited "scheduling conflicts," the Huffington Post reports.

Naomi's Trip: Model Naomi Campbell is the latest celebrity to drop in on Hugo Chavez.

Dodd Dude: What to wear this Halloween? The Chris Dodd is pushing dressing up as the candidate for Halloween: Spray your hair white, have a copy of the Constitution in your pocket.

Whitford's Vid: With California's GOP-led electoral initiative alive again, actor Bradley Whitford releases a new web video via the Courage Campaign.

Take Me to Your Leader

It's hard to fathom that any candidate won over big chunks of the electorate in Tuesday's Democratic presidential debate --- other than perhaps Dennis Kucinich, the new darling of the Roswell crowd as the first 2008 presidential contender to admit seeing a UFO.

But this was a debate that was more about campaign tactics than policy differences --- in particular on what all of these challengers were going to do to stop Hillary Clinton's march to the nomination. They got an assist from moderators Brian Williams and Tim Russert, who directed what seemed like the bulk of the queries to all things Hillary.

"This is where everybody plays gotcha," she said at one moment of queries.

Chief among the candidates in taking on Clinton were Barack Obama and John Edwards, who proved that if they could not change the dynamics of the race they could at least change the dynamics of a debate.

One after another, they and Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and Dennis Kucinich challenged Hillary the front runner, as if MSNBC teleprompters signalled "Target: Woman in Pantsuit."

Leadership, Barack Obama said, "does not mean changing positions when it is politically convenient."

“Now, that may be politically savvy, but I don’t think that it offers the clear contrast that we need,” he said.

And at one point, Obama said, "Part of the reason that Republicans, I think, are obsessed with you, Hillary, is because that's a fight they're very comfortable having. It is the fight that we've been through since the '90s."

He challenged her positions on social security, NAFTA and her vote for a resolution declaring Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization.

But you could still feel a twinge of discomfort from Obama in taking such an approach, often pausing as if choosing his words carefully. Even he himself signaled that all of the attention on his amping up his attacks was overhyped, using a "Rocky" reference that ultimately fell flat.

Instead, his attacks were upstaged by Edwards' attacks. He was more specific, more strident, more biting in his criticism of Clinton, at one instance standing by his claim that she was engaged in "doubletalk."

On her vote on the Iran resolution, Edwards said, "I mean, has anybody read this thing? I mean, it literally gave Bush and Cheney exactly what they wanted.”

He was perhaps the most aggressive in picking apart Clinton's plan to end the war in Iraq.

"She says she will end the war, but she continues to say she’ll keep combat troops in Iraq and continue combat missions in Iraq. To me, that’s not ending the war; that’s the continuation of the war.”

Clinton held her own, but did so by directing her attacks at President Bush, not the other Democratic candidates. In fact, she rarely mentioned them by name. Speaking a few decibels higher than normal, it was as if she were merely doing another round of "Meet the Press," controlling the message when she could, dodging questions when necessary. She wasn't too clear on whether she'd issue drivers licenses to illegal immigrants, but it's hard to believe that will be a central issue of the campaign.

Edwards has vowed to have all combat troops out by the end of his first year in office. Clinton said, “I stand for ending the war in Iraq and bringing our troops home, but I also understand that it’s going to take time." But she added that some troops must remain to fight al-Qaida.   

On Iran, she said, "In my view, rushing to war—we should not be doing that—but we shouldn't be doing nothing. And that means we should not let them acquire nuclear weapons, and the best way to prevent that is a full court press on the diplomatic front."

Others were critical, too. Dodd said the resolution could be used by Bush to pursue a war. Biden said that the Iran resolution has "emboldened" Bush and has perhaps contributed to the rise in gasoline prices.

The sparring became forceful enough --- I have seen worse, mind you --- that Bill Richardson stepped in to call a truce, and then used the opportunity to underscore the fact that he's the one with the real experience as a governor, a.k.a. "CEO."

"We need to stay positive," he said.

That didn't apply to Republican candidates, however. Once again garnering the line of the evening, Biden took on Rudy Giuliani's foreign policy experience,  “There’s only three things he mentions in a sentence: a noun and a verb and 9/11. I mean, there’s nothing else. And I mean it sincerely. He is genuinely not qualified to be president.”

The candidate who got hit with a true zinger was not Clinton, Edwards or Obama but Kucinich. As the debate was wrapping up, he was asked whether Shirley MacLaine's story was right --- that he had seen a UFO while visiting her at her home. He did.

"More people in this country have seen UFOs than I think have seen a probe of George Bush's presidency," said Kucinich.

And who says celebrity endorsements don't matter?

Just When They Thought It Was Safe...

An effort to change the way California awards its electoral votes --- and perhaps change the outcome of next year's presidential race --- is alive again.

And this time, state Democratic activists are linking the effort to the Giuliani campaign.

They've filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission and the Department of Justice, charging violation of election laws that prohibit coordination between an election campaign and a state initiative.

The inititive would change California's "winner-take-all" method of awarding electoral votes to one in which candidates would collect electoral votes based on the winner in each congressional district. Democrats accuse the GOP operatives of waging what they call a "power grab," in that the initiative could help tilt a presidential election toward the Republican candidate. In the past few presidential election cycles, California has represented a reliable cache of electoral votes for the Democrats.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a key backer of the electoral initiative, Tony Andrade, sent a e-mail last week urging Giuliani backers ("Hello Fellow Rudy Supporters!") to place it on the ballot. There are other connections: Anne Dunsmore, who resigned last month as one of Giuliani's chief fund-raisers, now is handling fund-raising for the ballot measure. And Paul Singer, one of Giuliani's big contributors, is bankrolling the initiative effort.

Giuliani's campaign has denied that they have anything to do with the initiative effort. Perhaps more than any other GOP contender, he stands to gain the most from such a change. Should he win the nomination and move back to the middle in his campaign, he could appeal to the state's moderates.

After several of the initiative's key proponents resigned last month, it was thought that the whole effort was dead --- until new supporters emerged to lead the effort.

Democrats are fighting the initiative via a group called Californians for Fair Election Reform, with backers including private equity mogul Thomas Steyer, producer Steve Bing and producer Norman Lear. Actor Bradley Whitford has produced ads for the Courage Campaign opposing the effort.

The backers of the change have until Nov. 13 to gather the 434,000 valid signatures to get it on next June's ballot, according to the Times.

Obama's Moment

That, and other news, in today's Political Panorama.

Barack Obama on Monday danced with Ellen and goaded Stephen Colbert, but given the expectation and anticipation that he'll take a more forceful aim at Hillary Clinton, that is about it for levity. The media, pundits and donors are all focused on tonight's Democratic debate in Philadelphia, anxious to see how and if Obama follows through on his intention of casting greater distinctions between himself and Clinton. His backers are getting anxious, and, to say the least,  he finds himself in a tight spot.

When he visited Los Angeles last weekend, he pointed to a few policy initiatives, such as his call for increased automotive fuel standards, that are unique among the candidates. But on issues like health care, Obama said that his proposal, Clinton's proposal and Edward's proposal are "basically the same." Instead, he cast the race as one of judgment vs. experience, pointing most often to Clinton's 2002 vote to authorize the use of force in Iraq. But those are lines that he's been repeating since at least the end of the spring. A problem that Obama has had his translating his "politics of hope" message into something that his supporters can carry elsewhere, on their own, via policy proposals or solutions. In fact, one of the chief complaints among his backers in Hollywood is that his campaign wasn't able to channel a lot of the enthusiasm into concrete campaign activities. Obama's campaign may not make or break based on tonight's performance, but this may be one of his last and best opportunities to make his case.

Pitt Politics: The New York Daily News reports that the Obama campaign turned down Brad Pitt's offer to stump for him. I'm a bit suspicious of this item, given that the item also says, "The overture was made through intermediaries, and it's not known whether the Illinois senator was even aware of Pitt's offer to make appearances on his behalf." Anyhow, Pitt and Angelina Jolie has so far been neutral in the presidential contest. They appeared last month as guests at the Clinton Global Initiative.

No Magic: Foxnews.com's Roger Friedman reports that Clear Channel stations are being told not to run songs from the Bruce Springsteen album "Magic," even though it is No. 1 on the charts. Springsteen's lyrics are critical of the current administration and U.S. foreign policy.

Little Shock: It's a Horserace Out There

In no way can this be even remotely shocking: The media is covering this presidential campaign like a horse race, just as they have in recent election cycles.

That's according to a new report from the Project for Excellence in Journalism and the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy at Harvard University. Some 63% of the stories were on the the tactics and political aspects of the race, the study found, including such things as a candidate's strategies, polling and fund-raising. (Of the latter, I anm surely guilty, but how can you avoid that in Hollywood?)

The study reviewed 1,742 campaign stories from January to May.

"Even coverage of issues and candidate background was often cast through a political lens, frequently in the form of exploring the potential vulnerabilities of key candidates," the report stated. "For [Hillary] Clinton, this strategic focus translated into more coverage of her evolving stances on the Iraq War, something that created strains with elements of her party’s more liberal base. For Giuliani it resulted in coverage of his position on abortion and his marriage history, two areas that raise questions about his chances with the conservative base of his party."

Just 15% of the stories were on a candidates' ideas and policy proposals, the study found, and less than 1% examined the candidates' record.

Although Hillary Clinton was the most covered candidate, that was thanks in large part to the negative attention coming from right-wing radio hosts. Barack Obama enjoyed the most favorable coverage, while John McCain drew the least flattering stories.

The type of coverage is largely unchanged from 2004.

Drew Carey's Reasoning

Drew Carey says he has little time in his "Price Is Right" gig to comment on issues, but he's taking to another forum to do so: Reason.tv.

The newly launched website of the Reason Foundation, the nonprofit think tank with a libertarian bent, features regular Carey-hosted videos on particular subjects. This month, it's on the potential benefits of privately financed toll roads to cure traffic problems. The Examiner's Yeas and Nays column has details of Carey's recent visit to Washington D.C. to promote the new web venture.

Although Carey says that "The Price is Right" "runs too fast" to give a chance to provide a little commentary, his predecessor Bob Barker did use it as a platform for animal rights ("Don't forget to help control the pet population...")

But perhaps it is just as well for CBS. Carey's next Reason.tv segment will be on medical marijuana.

Wedge Issues

That, and other news, in today's Political Panorama.

Updated

The Obama's campaign's Embrace the Change tour went off as planned on Sunday in South Carolina, drawing some 2,500 supporters and a peaceful vigil from a gay rights group protesting the appearance of Grammy-winning Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin. Gay rights orgs like Human Rights Campaign called on Obama to remove him from the show for what it called anti-gay rhetoric. Obama was not there, but perhaps it was just as well. McClurkin made it through almost the entire show before commenting on the controversy, telling the crowd that he has been "vilified" and that "God delivered me from homosexuality." He said that his previous statements had been "twisted."

"They accuse me of being anti-gay and a bigot," McClurkin said, according to CNN. "We don't believe in discrimination. We don't believe in hatred, and if you do you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. That's the whole premise of God. That's the whole premise of Christ is love, love, love. But there is a side of Christ that deals in judgment, and all sin is against God."

Obama, meanwhile, told The Advocate that the campaign had perhaps not vetted McClurkin like a surrogate would have been, given that he was among a group of performers at the event. He denied that his refusal to drop McClurkin from the tour represented picking on constituency over another.

"This is not a situation where I have backed off my positions one iota. You’re talking to somebody who talked about gay Americans in his convention speech in 2004, who talked about them in his announcement speech for the president of the United States, who talks about gay Americans almost constantly in his stump speeches. If there’s somebody out there who’s been more consistent in including LGBT Americans in his or her vision of what America should be, then I would be interested in knowing who that person is."

Andrew Sullivan, who is backing Obama, told Bill Maher on Friday that he thought that Obama was "pandering" to get the conservative black vote but writes on his blog that the issue has been overblown. "I think it's been blown up, but I have to say it's good to see gay voters finally demanding real accountability from politicians they support.  Now let's see if they can keep that vigilance up with Clinton, whose substantive record on gays and lesbian rights - from DOMA to the military ban - is far worse than Obama's." 

Obama appears today in the latest MTV/My Space political forum.

Music Matters: At the Huffington Post, Howie Klein calls out another recording artist, Big & Rich, who are signed to Warner Bros. Records., for homophobic comments. The duo's John Rich is a big Fred Thompson supporter.

Sightings: Rick Jacobs of the Courage Campaign was dining in West Hollywood over the weekend at Murano and was a bit surprised to see the woman at the next table: Ann Coulter. He writes on the Huffington Post, "There she was, burbling like a fountain about her interview on Donny Deutsch's show in which she says Jews should be Christians, completely at ease in the heart of the gayest city on the planet. She was a natural with the gay men who surrounded her. She enjoyed the fawning attention by her two not so masculine male escorts, clearly in her milieu."

Libyan Cinema: Moammar Gadhafi is bankrolling a new pic called "Years of Torment," about the Italkian occupation of Libya, reports Variety's Ali Jafaar.

Oprah's Apology: Oprah Winfrey asked parents to forgive her for alleged abuse at her South African school.

Colbert Campaigns: Vowing to "crush the state of Georgia" if elected, Stephen Colbert launched his campaign on Sunday with an appearance at the University of South Carolina.

Right Around the Corner

That, and other news, in today's Political Panorama.

With Iowa Democrats looking to caucus on Jan. 3, suddenly the protracted presidential race doesn't look so short anymore. But the move probably limits California's influence on the nomination process. With the state heavy in absentee voters, residents would have been casting ballots in early January, and before Iowans voted.

When California moved its primary up to Feb. 5, many expected the state to become a campaign battleground. That hasn't happened yet --- and many doubt that it ever will. Many other states moved their primaries to the same date, and the net result seems to have been to make Iowa and New Hampshire more important than they once were --- just as some commentators predicted. With the Barack Obama and John Edwards camps banking on showings in Iowa, a Hillary Clinton rout in that state could make this a very short race. California, once again, would be delivering a coronation vote.

Birthday Bash: Hillary Clinton raised $1.5 million at a birthday gala Thursday night in New York, where Elvis Costello sang "Happy Birthday, Mrs. President," and Billy Crystal and the Wallflowers also provided entertainment. Clinton turns 60 today. She didn't mention that fact when she spoke and, according to ABC News, Costello said, "I always thought it was impolite to mention a lady's age."

Out There: Professor Dumbledore enters Bill O'Reilly's zone. He was a bit irked when J.K. Rowling announced that the Harry Potter character was gay.

Here's the Media Matters for America transcript of "The O'Reilly Factor" --- with guest Dennis Miller. 

O'REILLY: Here's -- you can talk about this on your radio show tomorrow. There are millions of Americans who feel that the media and the educational system is trying to indoctrinate their children to a certain way of life, and that includes parity for homosexuals with heterosexuals.

And that's what this Rowling thing is all about, because she sells so many books. So many kids read it, that she comes out and says, "Oh, Dumbledore is gay, and that's great." And this -- it's another in the indoctrination thing. That's what the belief system is among some Americans.

MILLER: I'll be honest with you. I don't think you can indoctrinate a kid into being gay. You might indoctrinate him into trying it once and him going, "I guess I'm not gay."

[crosstalk]

O'REILLY: No, but tolerance. It's -- you know, he's not going to be gay, but it's tolerance of it.

Gay, African American Supporters Defend Obama

The Obama campaign released a statement from 16 supporters and leaders in the African American and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, including Tobias Wolff and Otis Moss Jr., calling for "common ground" in the dispute over McClurkin.

"As representatives of Barack Obama supporters from the African American religious community and the gay community, we are issuing a statement together for the first time.  Our letter addresses the recent issue of Pastor Donnie McClurkin singing at Senator Obama’s “Embrace the Change” concert series.  In the midst of division, we hope and believe that this is a moment to bring together communities that have been divided for far too long.

A few things are clear. 

First, Pastor McClurkin believes and has stated things about sexual orientation that are deeply hurtful and offensive to many Americans, most especially to gay Americans.  This cannot and should not be denied.

At the same time, a great many African Americans share Pastor McClurkin’s beliefs.  This also cannot be ignored.

Finally, we believe that the only way for these two sides to find common ground is to do so together. 

Not at arms length.  Not in a war of words with press and pundits.  Only together. 

It is clear that Barack Obama is the only candidate who has made bringing these two often disparate groups together a goal.  In gatherings of LGBT Americans and African Americans of faith, Obama has stated that all individuals should be afforded full civil rights regardless of their sexual orientation, and that homophobia must be eradicated in every corner of our nation.  If we are to end homophobia and secure full civil rights for gay Americans, then we need an advocate within the Black community like Barack Obama. 

At the same time, while Obama has said that he "strongly disagrees" with Pastor McClurkin's comments, he will not exclude from his campaign the many Americans including many in the African American community who believe the same as Pastor McClurkin.

We believe that Barack Obama is constructing a tent big enough for LGBT Americans who know that their sexual orientation is an innate and treasured part of their being, and for African American ministers and citizens who believe that their religion prevents them from fully embracing their gay brothers and sisters.  And if we are to confront our shared challenges we have to join together, build on common ground, and engage in a civil dialogue even when we disagree.

We also ask Senator Obama’s critics to consider the alternatives.  Would we prefer a candidate who ignores the realities in the African American community and cuts off millions of Blacks who believe things offensive to many Americans?  Or a panderer who tells African Americans what they want to hear, at the expense of our gay brothers and sisters? Or would we rather stand with Barack Obama, who speaks truth in love to both sides, pulling no punches but foreclosing no opportunities to engage?

We stand with Senator Obama.  We stand with him because of the solutions he is proposing for our nation.  We stand with him because of his character and his judgment.  But the most important reason we stand with him is because today, as he has done all along, Barack Obama is causing us to stand together. 

That's the kind of President we need, and we are proud to support him." 

The full letter is here.

Not Over Yet

That, and other news, in today's Political Panorama.

The Obama campaign's decision to add a gay minister to its "Embrace the Change" tour lineup appears to have done little to tamp down anger and upset among commentators and gay activists. Grammy-winner Donnie McClurkin, who has called being gay a "curse," is still on the tour. In fact, rather than  temper the situation, some see it as merely a brazen attempt to have it both ways.

Huffington Post columnist Earl Ofari Hutchinson, who first pointed out McClurkin's comments, wrote, "He's been the paragon of political correctness on gay issues in press statements, and in his campaign stump speeches. But Obama is a politician. It would look awful strange for him as a liberal, and a self-professed change America, consensus guy to say and do anything else. That goes hand in hand with the second thing politician Obama has mastered, counting votes. When it comes to getting those crucial votes, flowery statements and speeches on tolerance mean little."

He adds, "It's almost laughable to hear the tortured gyrations that blind faith Obama backers go through to justify his flirt with McClurkin. If Republican presidential contenders Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, or Mitt Romney had publicly hyped an appearance with a very public gay basher, they'd scream bloody murder. But Obama did just that and he gets a free pass. Amazing!"

Obama told the Chicago Sun-Times, "I want to make sure that we are communicating the inclusive nature of this campaign, that I am continuing to reach out in the faith community."

"But I did want to do so in a way that is consistent with my strong belief in equal rights for gays and lesbians. And I don't want there to be any confusion about that."

The Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet reports, "During one of the conference calls, according to a participant, the decision to have a gay minister deliver an invocation at the three gospel concerts was explained as Obama 'not wanting to choose among elements of his Democratic base. ... So considering Obama is a big-tent guy, the idea was to form a dialogue among contrarian interests.'"

When all is said and done, you have to wonder whether the "Embrace the Change" tour is worth it.

Playing Judy Miller: Kate Beckinsdale, a generation younger than former New York Times' reporter Judy Miller, plays a character inspired by her in Rod Lurie's upcoming movie about the CIA leak scandal. Her Rachel Armstrong is a crusading journalist who finds herself under subpeona of a special prosecutor.

From the Washington Post's William Booth: Beckinsdale says, "She's a working mom. Her marriage is in a lull. Her husband is a novelist, and there are issues of professional jealousy. And this is the biggest story of her career. I think, yes, she is a good journalist," and here Beckinsale gives us a throaty laugh, "given that I've always seen you people as the enemy."

In enemy, Booth points out, she means reviewers, not all of us other scribes.

New Way Forward?

Gathered before dozens of guests at CAA on Tuesday, Jordan's Queen Rania Al-Abdullah said that the next U.S. presidential election will present "an opportunity for the U.S. to change course and change its standing ... and to really reassert itself as a moral barometer."

Speaking at an evening conversation with Arianna Huffington, an event sponsored by the Foreign Policy Roundtable, she said that the country could increase its efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to the region and elsewhere.

"It is important again for the U.S. to engage with the rest of the world," Queen Rania said. "This is the worst time to isolate."

Queen Rania, 37, who assumed the throne with her husband, King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, in 1999, has been among the most visible Arab women, travelling frequently for a variety of charitable causes and speaking out as an advocate for microlending and for children's issues. She appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" last year, and at Maria Shriver's Women's Conference during the day on Tuesday.

She has been particularly bent on changing stereotypes and mindsets about Arab women, the Islamic religion and the region in general.

Although its leaders opposed the war in Iraq, Jordan has absorbed some 700,000 refugees and "is stretched to the limit," Queen Rania said. But she said that the responsibility for them lies with the international community and "not any one country."

She also called for international cooperation --- "patient engagement" --- in solving the looming standoff between the United States and Iran over the latter's development of a nuclear program.

"What is crucial is that this not become a confrontation between the U.S. and Iran," she said.

She added that Iran had to abide by international regulations and that "Pressure has to be brought to bear" to make sure that their nuclear program is solely for civilian use.

Born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents, Queen Rania said that a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue would help boost the voices of moderation in the region.

"The Israeli-Palestinian issue is the core issue on the minds of most Arabs," she said, citing the way that it is used by extremists in recruitment.

"If we can really find a just solution to the conflict, those voices of moderation ... will prevail."

She favors a two-state solution, an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and an agreement between Israelis and Palestinians in which security issues can be resolved.

She said that there was a "clash of misperceptions" between those in the U.S. and those in the Middle East. As an example, she said that a frequent question she was asked when speaking to Americans after 9/11 was, "why do they hate us so much?" But that is just the same question she gets asked by citizens of her country.

"I have never seen such misunderstanding when it comes to both cultures," she said.

Queen Rania also promoted the Jordan River Foundation, a non-profit program aimed at community development and children's rights.

Among those present at CAA were Quincy Jones, Taylor Hackford and agency partner Rick Nicita.

Colbert in Double Digits in Latest Poll

Stephen Colbert is preferred by some 13% of voters as an independent candidate over Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani, according to the latest Rasmussen Poll.

Clinton is at 45%, Giuliani at 35% and Colbert is at 13%.

It gets even better for him with younger voters.

According to Rasmussen Reports, "Colbert does particularly well with the younger voters most likely to be watching his show and therefore most aware of his myriad presidential-like qualities. In the match-up with Giuliani and Clinton, Colbert draws 28% of likely voters aged 18-29. He draws 31% of that cohort when his foes are Thompson and Clinton. In both match-ups, Colbert has more support with young voters than the GOP candidate."

Gay Rights Group Disappointed With --- and Thankful To --- Obama

Updated

Will Obama's inclusion of an openly gay minister diffuse the controversy over Donnie McClurkin?

The reaction was a decidedly mixed from the Human Rights Campaign, one of the nation's largest gay rights groups.

After speaking with Barack Obama today, the Human Rights Campaign's Joe Solmonese released a statement that expresses disapproval of his campaign's association with McClurkin  --- yet thanks Obama for making an openly gay minister a part of this weekend's gospel tour called "Embrace the Change."

Solmonese said, "I spoke with Sen. Barack Obama today and expressed to him our community's disappointment for his decision to continue to remain associated with Rev. McClurkin, an anti-gay preacher who states the need to 'break the curse of homosexuality.'  There is no gospel in Donnie McClurkin's message for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people and their allies.  That's a message that certainly doesn't belong on any presidential candidate's stage."

"I did thank him for announcing he would be adding an openly gay minister as part of the tour and for his willingness to call on religious leaders to open a dialogue about homophobia. We hope that Sen. Obama will move forward and facilitate face to face meetings with religious leaders, like Rev. McClurkin, and the GLBT community to confront the issue of homophobia."

Solmonese also widened the statement to include other campaigns.

"We also call on all of the presidential campaigns to look within their ranks of supporters and make the same commitment to engage in a dialogue among differing views around issues of equality and fairness for our community."

To say the least, there are probably a lot of different pressures on Solmonese, as HRC has strident backers of all candidates on its board and among its membership. The Obama campaign will certainly hope that it helps diffuse the situation.

But it's not over yet, as other groups are still weighing in.

Another group, the National Black Justice Coalition, has condemned the "Embrace the Change" concert tour as "gospel music's most openly homophobic artists; the most volatile of which is the Rev. Donnie McClurkin."

Fox News' Carl Cameron reported that another singer, one-half of the duo Mary, Mary, once said of homosexuality: "I feel how God feels about it ... but I still love them. ... I don't agree with the lifestyle, but I love them. They have issues and need somebody to encourage them like everybody else — just like the murderer, just like the one full of pride, just like the prostitute; everybody needs God." Cameron also note that McClurkin has performed at the Democratic and Republican conventions. He also pointed out that earlier this year, Hillary Clinton trumpeted her support from Harold Mayberry, pastor of the First AME Church in Oakland who has preached against homosexuality.

Why not just drop McClurkin?

Keith Boykin, an openly gay member of the Clinton White House and a classmate of Obama's at Harvard, wrote on his blog:  "If they disinvite McClurkin, they run the risk of offending black voters who are inspired by McClurkin's message and don't know or don't care about the gay controversy. If they go ahead with McClurkin, they run the risk of alienating gay voters who have supported and contributed to their campaign since the beginning."

Colbert's Campaign Violation?

Is Stephen Colbert --- or Viacom --- violating election law?

ABC News' Rick Klein says that should his campaign get any serious-er (in Colbert speak), he could be violating election laws. Specifically, Viacom would be seen as contributing to his campaign, by mere fact that they pay for the cost of his show, in violation of regulations that prohibit corporations from directly giving to candidates.

The Federal Election Commission could decide that his campaign is satire --- but with Colbert polling at 2% among Democrats, he could have some impact on the race.

"Everybody is very cautious, not wanting to take this too seriously, or to say that campaign finance laws are going to stop satire, or what is clearly a joke," said Lawrence M. Noble, a former general counsel for the Federal Election Commission. "But he's trying to get on the ballot, and he could in fact affect the election."

His campaign, meanwhile, is fielding signatures at its own website, unaffiliated with Viacom's Comedy Central.

Is There an Oprah Effect at All?

Updated

A new Gallup Poll shows that 81 percent of adults say that Oprah's endorsement of Barack Obama will have little impact on whether they will back his candidacy.

Some 8% say they are more likely to vote for him based on the endorsement and some 10% say they will vote against him because of it. Only 16% of adults said that endorsements in general were important to them, while 38% say they are not important at all.

The poll also found that Winfrey's favorability rating was at 66%, but that is down from the levels in the mid-70s from previous surveys.

It's not a total wash. Write Gallup's Joseph Carroll and Jeffrey M. Jones:

"Winfrey’s endorsement of Obama will likely aid his candidacy only at the margins, and that would not be enough for him to overcome his current large deficit to Clinton. But Winfrey’s appeal to certain groups – such as women -- could help Obama perform better among these groups than he would otherwise.

"Among groups of voters that view both Obama and Winfrey favorably, such as blacks, the endorsement may not change minds but may primarily reinforce existing views. That reinforcement could help motivate voters to turn out to vote or to work in support of Obama’s candidacy."

One caveat: How many respondents will really admit that they are moved --- or even influenced --- to vote for someone based on an endorsement?

Update: Meanwhile, the Obama campaign is trying to diffuse the impact of another endorsement, that of Donnie McClurkin. The Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet reports that a gay minister will open the gospel performances that are part of campaign events this weekend.

One

The day almost went by --- it's been a busy one --- without a mention that October 23 marks the first year of Wilshire & Washington.

I hope you've had as great a time reading as I have writing. And many thanks to all of our contributors in the past year, including William Triplett and Michael Learmonth.

And thank you all for your support.

 

Gay Rights Group Pressures Obama

Updated

Barack Obama may be learning the limits of celebrity endorsements: It's a big matter of debate if they can help you, but there's little doubt that they can hurt you.

The Human Rights Campaign is stepping into the fray over Obama's plans for a campaign event with Donnie McClurkin.

According to The Hill, the gay rights group has called on Obama to cancel the event or they will make a public pronouncement that he do so.

From The Hill, "Obama will not be present on the so-called Embrace the Change Tour, but public denouncement by the Human Rights Campaign could damage him in his quest for the White House."

Blogger John Aravosis of AMERICAblog had this to say: “Funny how Obama is a big supporter of civil rights when blacks are being maligned, but not so much when gays are the victims. I really like Obama. I’m from Illinois. But this is despicable.” Earl Ofari Hutchinson called it the "gay bash tour."

Obama issued a statement on Monday in which he repudiated homophobic comments --- which is fine. Most commentators are giving Obama the benefit of the doubt, and haven't said that this means he is homophobic. Nor do I. (The same goes for Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Bill Richardson ....)

But Obama never addressed Hutchinson's central request, that he drop McClurkin from the tour.   Did Obama seriously believe that his statement itself would end this debate?

Instead, this issue has festered, much like many of the other controversies we've seen this year, such as Don Imus. Unlike McClurkin, Imus apologized for his comments, but he still was fired.

The campaign certainly could be forgiven for not knowing about McClurkin's comments --- he was not that well known, and campaigns are certainly not the best at vetting. But when Hutchinson pointed it out they could have just admitted as such as and canceled plans. Instead, in campaign speak, this is a one day story that has been allowed to drag into a third day. And as the clock ticks, more people are hearing about it, more groups are chiming in and the more it hurts Obama's support.

McClurkin gave an interview to the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday:

Writes Kelley L. Carter: "McClurkin told The Associated Press on Monday that "sexuality, everything is a matter of choice." But on Tuesday he told the Tribune that his ideals, and most importantly his ministry, were severely misconstrued.

"I don't believe that even from a religious point of view that Jesus ever discriminated toward anyone, nor do I," McClurkin said in an exclusive interview with the Tribune. "Most of the things that were said were totally out of context and then other things weren't true."

"My only concern is to be in place with Sen. Obama in unity and bring all the factors together for the sake of change," he said. "That's my only thing. Of course some agents have twisted it as though he [Obama] were embracing a racist or a Nazi, and that is anything but true."

Obama and McClurkin first connected at Oprah Winfrey's fund-raiser last month.

Spouses Sound Off

At a first-of-its-kind gathering of presidential candidates' spouses on Tuesday, what was perhaps most surprising was that the wives downplayed the extent of their influence over their husbands' campaigns.

In a year in which many of them have grabbed headlines and attention just like their husbands, they nevertheless emphasized how consumed they were with the tasks of raising families, juggling careers and supporting their mates rather than in dictating campaign strategy.

Jeri Thompson, Ann Romney, Michelle Obama, Cindy McCain and Elizabeth Edwards gathered as part of the Women's Conference, a day-long event led by California's First Lady, Maria Shriver. Each has been campaigning for their husband, often giving speeches as campaign surrogates.

Thompson dismissed press accounts in which she has been called a "trophy wife" and characterized as the ringleader of her husband Fred's campaign.

"I have a one year old, and I think most of you all know how much time and effort that takes," Thompson said.

Of media reports that she is the guiding force of the campaign, she said, "I am not even qualified to do any of the other stuff."

The statement was perhaps a bit too modest for Shriver, who moderated the forum. She noted that Thompson has worked as a media consultant, but Thompson still downplayed her role.

Elizabeth Edwards said that often what she says gets blown out of proportion and taken to mean that she is dictating what her husband should say or do on the campaign trail.

"In truth, I think it is overplayed because all you are doing is expressing what you think is best for your husband as your spouse, not as a candidate," Edwards said.

Edwards, who is battling a recurrence of breast cancer, has been particularly outspoken on the campaign trail, at one point taking on Ann Coulter during one of the right-wing commentator's appearances on "Hardball."

"Sometimes, if we think he is being misrepresented ... it is our job to say so," said Edwards, who has often been deployed as a surrogate giving interviews and speeches for her husband. But she later  quipped that "if it ended up on the front page of Drudge, I know I didn't say it right."

The forum wasn't a debate, and much more of a feel-good session. The wives were seated on a living-room set, and it rarely touched on anything political --- the war in Iraq wasn't even mentioned. In fact, by the end, all five women locked their hands together and held them up on center stage, as if to show their unity of the often hard tasks that they face.

Obama said that "in any marriage you come together to talk about issues you care about" but she stopped short of saying just how much influence she has over the campaign. She drew laughs when she said, "I would like to think he has the good sense to understand that I am correct --- but in no way do I expect it."

Romney said that she was selective about when to chime in on an issue and when to not, particularly when her husband Mitt was governor of Massachusetts. She cited as an expample when Romney worked on a healthcare plan for the state.

"I loved being peripherally involved, where you are understanding the conflict and all that is going on," she said. But "it is not like you are in the chair there, making important decisions."

The Women's Conference, held at the Long Beach Convention Center, also included appearances by former British Prime minister Tony Blair and Jordan's Queen Rania Al Abdullah, as well as entertainers like Jamie Lee Curtis and Ed Begley Jr.

The hourlong spouses' panel drew the attention of the political press, coming as it did during a campaign in which a former president's mate, Hillary Clinton, is running for the White House.

But most spouses talked of the challenges that they faced with the added scrutiny and attention that comes from a national campaign.

Because her husband just declared his candidacy last month, Thompson was the newest to the campaign trail, a process she likened to "walking down the street with no clothes on."

Nevertheless, she said her husband has been there to support her through it. "It has already deepened our marriage."

Two wives have been through a national campaign before: McCain and Edwards. The former seemed to be retreating from exposure and the latter seemed to be welcoming it. McCain said that in contrast to 2000, she has become "more comfortable in my skin. I have learned to say 'No.'"

But Edwards said that she has learned that "our life is going to be an open book --- you might as well get used to it now.

"Most of the attention is good," she said. "It can be really affirming."

Shriver asked whether a candidates spouse influenced a voters' decision. She cited Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign promise that by electing him, voters were getting two for the price one: him and Hillary.

McCain acknowledged that voters "do look at both of you very carefully," noting that she often heard from people they met on the campaign trail, "I like the way both of you look and act together."

"That is because it tells you something about him, and the relationship he has with his family," Edwards said.

Obama talked of the lengths to which she and her husband have tried to "stay grounded."

Despite the demands of the schedule, Obama said she been been able to stump for her husband by day and be back home with her kids by night.

Their two daughters have adjusted, she said, perhaps quicker than expected. The "bargaining chip" was that they would get a dog. They haven't gotten it yet, but they are talking a lot about it, Obama said.

"I said, 'Look, you are getting a dog. Knock it off.'"

Kucinich's Close Encounter

Shirley MacLaine writes in her new book that Dennis Kucinich saw a UFO and heard messages from it.

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, MacLaine writes in "Sage-Ing While Age-Ing," "Dennis found his encounter extremely moving. The smell of roses drew him out to my balcony where, when he looked up, he saw a gigantic triangular craft, silent, and observing him.

"It hovered, soundless, for 10 minutes or so, and sped away with a speed he couldn't comprehend. He said he felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind."

Take that --- Rudy Giuliani.

Colbert. Seriously.

That, and other news, in today's Political Panorama.

Stephen Colbert is ahead of Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel in a recent national poll from Public Opinion Strategies, reports Chris Cillizza in the Washington Post. He actually garnered 2.3 percent of the vote to Richardson's 2.1 percent, Kucinich's 2.1 percent and Gravel's less than one percent. Among Republicans, he fared less well, polling at less than one percent.

Are people actually taking this satire/book tour seriously?

In the Atlantic, Joshua Green examines Colbert's real impact on the race, especially if he gets on the ballot in South Carolina and draws the "drunken college men" demographic.

He writes, "Which presidential candidates might be threatened by a Colbert candidacy? The obvious group is second-tier competitors, because if Colbert runs more than a “front-porch” campaign—if he actually shows up and holds a few rallies—he’ll suck up the media buzz any laggard needs to break through. Sam Brownback may cite other reasons for dropping out today, but Colbert’s plan to run in South Carolina wouldn’t have made his job there any easier. Same is true for Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, and Mike Huckabee." He also sees Colbert as a real challenge for Ron Paul, the current protest candidate du jour on the GOP side.

But some words of caution for Colbert on the limits of celebrity candidacies. "Of course, there’s a drawback to vanity candidacies—vanidacies?—which is why we don’t see more of them. And that is the danger that the celebrity on the ballot could bomb. Yes, actors like Reagan and Schwarzenegger have done just fine; but campaigning comedians have tended to wind up as punch lines. In the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election, Gary Coleman won a less-than-pint-sized total of 14,242 votes and placed eighth. In the 1996 Democratic presidential primary in New Hampshire, former Smothers Brother Pat Paulsen won 920 votes (enough to earn him a second-place finish to a sitting president, Bill Clinton). Given the meager caliber of his predecessors, there would seem to be considerable pressure on Colbert to outperform them and land a delegate or two."

Utah's Own: Robert Redford doesn't have flattering things to say about Mitt Romney. He calls him a "faceless, methodic jerk." “Missionary work is very effective for being persuasive - you appear to never get ruffled,” Redford told the Boston Herald. “Everything looks good. But there seems to be a space running through it. I mean, is Mitt bad? No. There’s just nothing there.” He also says that some of the Democrats in the field "are just batty." "Now Bill Richardson . . . is saying what Democrats need to say. But why doesn’t the press say anything about him? Because they’re paying attention to Hillary Clinton and Obama. Boring.” Redford has yet to contribute to any candidate.

Lame Game: Radio host Glenn Beck: "We all love America. We all love America. We just disagree on how we should function, what we should do, big government, small government. It doesn't mean you hate America. I think there is a handful of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today. There are a few people that hate America. But I don't think the Democrats are those. I think there are those posing as Democrats that are like that."

Lame Game II: Presidential candidate Mitt Romney: ``Actually, just look at what Osam — Barack Obama — said just yesterday. Barack Obama, calling on radicals, jihadists of all different types, to come together in Iraq. That is the battlefield. ... It's almost as if the Democratic contenders for president are living in fantasyland. Their idea for jihad is to retreat, and their idea for the economy is to also retreat. And in my view, both efforts are wrongheaded.'' Romney's campaign said he misspoke.

Hutchinson: Obama Response Not Good Enough

Updated

As expected, there are still calls for Obama to drop Donnie McClurkin from an upcoming campaign tour because of the singer's anti-gay remarks.

Columnist Earl Ofari Hutchinson, who first pointed to Barack Obama's deployment of McClurkin on the campaign trail, writes today that he was pleased with some aspects of the presidential candidate's response but that it didn't go far enough.

He writes: "Obama's response to my call for him to reject support of Grammy winning singer and anti gay crusader, Donnie McClurkin was a big, bold, and direct claim that he will fight anti-gay phobia, and aggressively challenge religious leaders to do the same. One of those at the top of the list of religious leaders that he says that he challenged is McClurkin. But one line missing from his disavowal of gay bashing was this: 'I will not appear on stage with Reverend McClurkin unless he publicly disavows his rabid anti-gay statements and crusade.' Since Obama didn't add that line, this question still dangles dangerously. How hard will Obama fight as president for tolerance, specifically against anti gay bigotry? This is the supreme litmus test for any candidate that purports to champion diversity and tolerance."

Hutchinson calls this "even more of a test" for Obama as he seeks support of black ministers to slice away at Hillary Clinton's support.

"An Obama win in the state would propel him skyward in his march toward the presidential nomination. Black voters make up more than forty percent of the Democratic vote in the state, and a significant percentage of them are evangelical leaning, and openly hostile to gay rights. Many are strict Bible constructionists and take literally passages that condemn homosexuality as a sin against the almighty."

As he points out, Bush benefited from the support of black evangelicals in 2004, even from those who otherwise may not have voted for him. Their reason? His call for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

Given other, even more forceful reaction in the blogging community, this issue is likely to fester. This election, many gay leaders are especially sensitive to Democratic candidates who profess to support gay rights yet remain silent or their actions do not match their words. Matt Forman of the  Gay and Lesbian Task Force already has expressed doubts that this race won't be a replay of past elections, where candidates haven't stood up more forcefully for gay rights and have instead parsed their words and tried to avoid the issue altogether.

McClurkin on Monday told the Associated Press that he does not believe in discriminating against gays. "What people do in their bedrooms and who they are as human beings are two different things," he said.

He softened his earlier words in which he said that homosexuality was a "curse." But he still called it a "choice."

"I don't believe that it is the intention of God," McClurkin said Monday in a telephone interview. "Sexuality, everything is a matter of choice."

Fred Offense

Fred Thompson came off as a bit feistier in Sunday's GOP debate on Fox, going on offense against Rudy Giuliani and generally earning better marks than his performance at a forum earlier this month.

Today, however, he's hitting the "lazy" issue head on, the perception that he is slumbering through the race.

He told the AP, "I'm going to do it the way I want to do it."

As the AP noticed, "Thompson hasn't been in South Carolina in more than a month, he scrapped a recent trip to New Hampshire and then canceled a news conference Saturday in Florida." On Saturday, he talked to a Values Voters forum for just five minutes.

"The mainstream media, with all due respect, likes to concentrate on the process game on a daily basis, and I can't get caught up in that. I'm going to do it the way I want to do it."

"I hear all the time about people canceling events and things like that, other candidates," he said. "They're not held to the same standard that I am."

Moreover, he said that his experience as an actor doesn't necessarily translate to the campaign trail.

"Some experts, I think, probably expected me to be slicker and better-scripted than I am," he said. "Ironically, I don't follow a script well."

Obama Draws Ire for Tour with Singer

Updated

Barack Obama is drawing criticism over plans to tour South Carolina this week with gospel singer Donnie McClurkin, who has vowed to battle "curse of homosexuality."

The state has been regarded as key to Obama's chances of winning the nomination and as a demonstration of his support in the South.

In fact, McClurkin came under fire in 2004 when he performed at the Republican National Convention. He has stated that he believes that gays can be changed and turned straight. At the time, he told the Washington Post, "I can't let off. I didn't call myself -- God called me to do what I do. If this is a war, we are willing to fight. Not a war of violence, but a war of purpose."

Ad the Washington Post reported, McCurkin wrote on a Christian Web site in 2002 that he struggled with homosexuality after he was molested by male relatives when he was 8 and 13. "I've been through this and have experienced God's power to change my lifestyle," he wrote. "I am delivered and I know God can deliver others, too."

Already, Huffington Post columnist Earl Ofari Hutchinson has called on the candidate to cancel the tour.

Hutchinson writes, "He's also sold himself as a healer and consensus builder. Legions have bought his pitch, and have shelled out millions to bankroll his campaign. But healing and consensus building does not mean sucking up to someone that publicly boasts that he's in 'a war' against gays, and that the aim of his war is to 'cure' them. That's what McClurkin has said. Polls show that more Americans than ever say that they support civil rights for gays, and a torrent of gay themed TV shows present non-stereotypical depictions of gays. But this increased tolerance has not dissipated the hostility that far too many blacks, especially hard core Bible thumping blacks, feel toward gays."

McCourkin also has performed at events for Bill Clinton and George Bush.

Obama's campaign issued a statement in which the Illinois senator repudiates McClurkin. He does not say anything about dropping him from the tour.

Obama said, “I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens.  I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country.

"I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights.  And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin’s views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division.”

It brings up an interesting question, as candidates start to deploy celebrities to the trail as surrogates: How much should they be held accountable for a celebrity's past statements and views?

John Edwards campaigned with Danny Glover earlier this year, shortly after Glover appeared in Venezuela with Hugo Chavez. But such a "guilt by association" failed to become an issue that was used against him. This is a bit different, both with the groups involved and in the timing.

It will be interesting to see if Obama brings it up during any of his appearances on the tour, which includes other gospel singers such as Mary Mary, Hezekiah Walker, Byron Cage and the Mighty Clouds of Joy. At the HRC/Logo forum, Obama pointed to his past efforts to get African American religous leaders to address homophobia.

Obama said cited a forum he attended that was origanized by Harold Ford. "And I specifically talked about the degree to which the notion of gay marriage in black churches has been used to divide, has been used to distract. I specifically pointed out that if there is an pastor here who can point out a marriage that has been broken up as a consequence of seeing two men or two women holding hands, then you should tell me, because I haven't seen any evidence of it.”

My guess is there will continue to be pressure on Obama to drop McClurklin from the tour.

Fall Haul

That, and other news, in today's Political Panorama.

Updated

Hillary Clinton got an early birthday celebration with a celebrity filled fund-raiser at the Brentwood home of Rob and Michele Reiner on Sunday night, with Rob Reiner singing a rendition of "Happy Birthday, Mrs. President!" Her visit was the capper to a whirlwind weekend of fund-raising in Southern California. Barack Obama and John Edwards also raised money, drawing enthusiastic crowds and dismissing notions that Clinton is the inevitable nominee. They also did their best to distinguish themselves from Clinton. Here's my roundup. Obama, by the way, attended a Malibu fund-raiser just hours before fires started to rage and sealed off much of the city to traffic.

In Defense of Imus: Former Sen. Bob Kerrey welcomes the news that Don Imus will return to the airwaves. He writes in the new York Daily News, "Rather than being a Republican ideologue like Rush Limbaugh or a left-wing ideologue like most of the Air America hosts, he is independent-minded and very well-informed. That knowledge makes him a formidable force in the complicated process of voter decision-making.In short, Imus adds a lot to the American political debate. He made a nontrivial, nonfatal mistake — one for which he apologized. He and his listenership should not be indefinitely ostracized as a result."

He adds, "But there's another reason national politicians would be making a mistake if they boycott Imus. If they keep away from the show all the way through next year, it could do real political damage, if not in votes lost, at least in courage points.

Democratic candidates already made a similar mistake when, goaded by groups like MoveOn.org to dissociate themselves from Fox News, they pulled the plug on a party debate to be aired on the network in September. They had a chance to reach millions of people — but they blinked, and they blew it."

"Lions" Like a Lamb: Tom Cruise stopped short of any kind of strident political rhetoric at a screening of "Lions for Lambs" on Thursday, reports Variety's Dade Hayes. The upcoming movie, directed by Robert Redford and starring Cruise, Redford and Meryl Streep, is aimed at the government's policies in Iraq and Afghanistan. Writes Hayes, "Cruise didn't exactly morph into Tim Robbins, preferring to stay largely above the fray and offering measured comments that the film was trying to "open up serious questions for the audience" and that the script was "timely." It was clear that he hadn't decided exactly what positions to stake out and was using the event as a rehearsal for his views, which will certainly face scrutiny in the next two weeks."

In Case You Missed: Bill Maher confronts a protester who interrupted the live telecast of his Friday night "Real Time with Bill Maher."

Campaign Stop: Stephen Colbert made the requisite campaign stop on "Meet the Press," telling Tim Russert that his administration would be "Nixonian."

Dennis' Donors

I've gotten a bit of flack for the excessive amount of focus we've had on leading presidential contenders --- Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in particular.

They have a point. Not one vote has been cast. The dynamics of the race could still change.

And then there is Dennis Kucinich, whose odds are longer than long, but who has nevertheless gathered such spirited supporters as director Paul Haggis. Earlier this year, Joaquin Phoenix turned out on Capitol Hill in support of Kucinich's plan for a Department of Peace. And Sean Penn recently gave to his campaign, in addition to that of John Edwards. In the most recent quarter, Kucinich raised $27,455 from entertainment sources, actually better than Chris Dodd and Joe Biden did.

One of Kucinich's key supporters in Hollywood, both this year and in 2004, is Shelley Morrison, perhaps best known recently as Rosario Salazar on "Will & Grace."

Not only have she and her husband helped him raise money, they serve as unofficial "secret service" for him, guiding him along Los Angeles campaign events. They put off a special 34th wedding anniversary celebration and instead used the money to donate to Kucinich's effort.

"Everything he says is right on the money," she says. "He knows what is going on. He knows government, he has concrete solutions to the problems that are facing us."

Why invest so much time that most people say, "Not a chance." Or even worse, don't know who he is? At the recent Logo/Human Rights Campaign forum on gay issues, Kucinich drew some of the strongest cheers from the studio audience, in part because he, along with Mike Gravel, are the only two candidates who support same sex marriage.

Panelist Melissa Etheridge said something on the order of, "You may be too advanced for us." And yet most of the focus was on the major candidates, because Kucinich's chances are so easily dismissed.

"Whenever people ask me why we work so hard for him and can't be elected, I say 'Have you heard him speak?'" Morrison says. "It's not over until the fat lady sings."

Every campaign has a candidate like Kucinich --- the gadfly who challenges the thinking of the front runners, who make the most entertaining moments out of the debate, who raise issues that others avoid. If you're against the war in Iraq, why not simply cut off funding for the war? If you want health care for all, why not universal, single-payer coverage, ala Michael Moore? If you are for gay rights, why not gay marriage? As unrealistic as it is to think that Kucinich and other long shots even have a chance to make a showing, they are actually what the primaries are all about: a full airing of the issues.

"I think the lobbies are afraid of him because what he is saying in on point, what he is saying makes sense," Morrison says.

As for why Kucinich, then, isn't getting more coverage, Morrison quips, "Someone said if he were tall, he would have more attention."

"It's a Bishop?"

Joey Bishop, who died Wednesday, was the last surviving member of the Rat Pack --- and as such the last of that clan's link to the Kennedy years.

Bishop emceed Kennedy's pre-Inaugural ball, a gala that Sinatra produced, below right, and performed nine shows at the White House. Once, when Kennedy introduced him at a press conference by saying, "I made you a promise, and I want to apologize. I promised you I would not allow Catholicism to mingle with politics. And wouldn't you know it? The first time I'm introducing someone to the press, it's a bishop?"

Why do I know this? Because in 1998, shortly after Frank Sinatra died, I was assigned to do a story on Bishop, as the last surviving member of the Clan. He was approaching 80 then, and living in a bayside home in Newport Beach with his wife, Sylvia. It was not a typical interview, to say the least. He shouted at me one minute, then was perfectly friendly the next.

Naturally, I had many questions to ask him about those years, particularly about politics, but with Bishop you kind of had to go with his agenda. He plucked his one-liners out of the past and could recite them verbatim. Some were indeed funny, showing off his sharp wit back then; others were from another era.

He was still scrappy --- and still holding many grudges and slights from many decades earlier, as if he was still fighting for his place in the show business pantheon. He held a big grudge against Regis Philbin, apparently because he felt his former sidekick on his 1960s talk show hadn't paid him enough respect. And he was still upset with Johnny Carson over a joke that he had told some 30 years earlier, when Bishop was in the hospital for a back injury. He even remembered the joke. Carson: "Joey Bishop is in the hospital, in traction. He threw out his back bowing to Sinatra."

Finally, after an entire afternoon of listening to old routines and watching tapes of his old shows, and as it was getting dark, we got to politics. He would campaign and write various jokes for candidates including Hubert Humphrey and Kennedy.

"I remember one time Bobby Kennedy was late, he was with Sinatra in the car, and he was late getting some place, and he called me by phone and said, 'Give me some kind of excuse.' I told him to say, 'Sorry you're late, and you were speeding to  get there, and a cop pulled you over, and you would have gotten a ticket, but Frank was in the car."

His talk show on ABC --- a direct competitor to Carson --- frequently featured candidates like Humphrey and Richard Nixon.  Bishop said that when the latter was on the show, and in the bathroom in his dressing room, he knocked on his door.

"What is it?" Nixon said.

"Could I please come in?" Bishop said.

"I'm sorry, I'm using the toilet," Nixon said. "Why would you want to come in?"

"Years from now, they'll ask me if I knew Nixon. I can say, I peed with him."

Bishop actually campaigned for Bill Clinton, to the point where he was upset with Jay Leno for all of his Monica Lewinsky jokes. Clinton, in fact, asked Bishop to campaign in his old neighborhood in Philadelphia for him.

"So I went there, and there were about 40,000 people in the streets, south side, my old neighborhood. And I told them, 'I didn't come here to campaign for Clinton, I came here because this is my old neighborhood. And somebody in this crowd last year stole my hubcaps. I'd like to have them back."

The interview ended --- some four or five hours later. He grabbed from a stack of photos of himself and the Rat Pack and signed, under his picture, "It was a real pleasure."

Poll: Gore's Peace Prize Better Than Presidency

Here's probably more reasons for Al Gore not to throw his hat in the ring.

A new poll commissioned by cable channel IFC shows that more voters believe winning the Nobel Peace Prize is more meaningful than winning the presidency. Some 52% said that the Nobel was "the most meaningful award" to them, compared to 42% who said it was winning the presidency.   

What's more, the survey shows that 56% of voters believe that were he to decide to run, he would not be a stronger candidate than in 2000.

The results come from a survey commissioned by the cable channel and conducted by the Ipsos Internet panel using a sample of 1,073 likely voters. I didn't know this --- but IFC has a news division, and the poll is the latest in their expansion plans.

Gore should be encouraged by another finding: 68% strongly or somewhat agree with Gore's position on the environment, even if 79% said that they have not read or watched "An Inconvenient Truth." Some 59% say that the environment will play a strong or moderate role in  their decision of who to vote for.

Gore still drew significant support: 25% said they would vote for him, but 30% said they would go for another Democratic candidate. Some 45% said they would vote for a Republican.

"Our analysis shows that Al Gore's cultural legacy is enormously enhanced by the Nobel Prize," IFC's general manager Evan Shapiro said in a statement. "The Nobel was seen as more significant that Mr. Gore's other recent honors, and more meaningful than the one honor that eluded him, the presidency."

What may be a little disconcerting is that 5% of voters chose the Oscar and 1% chose the Emmy as most meaningful, over the presidency and the Nobel. Were there some actors in the sampling?

Clinton, Obama Still Neck-and-Neck in Showbiz Dollars

Hillary Clinton leads in Hollywood fund-raising, but Barack Obama actually collected more money from entertainment sources in the third quarter.

In the July 1- Sept. 30 quarter, Obama raised $580,000 from show business donors, and Clinton raised $530,589, according to the most recent figures from the Center for Responsive Politics (Opensecrets.org).

Obama's fund-raising was undoubtedly boosted by Oprah Winfrey's massive event at her Santa Barbara home in September, when she helped the Illinois senator raise some $3.2 million. Donors came from all over the country, but there was a substantial presence there from the entertainment community.

Clinton not only has established a substantial lead in national and California polls, but she has been racking up endorsements from such entertainment industry figures as Rob Reiner and Steven Spielberg. Magic Johnson hosted an event for Clinton, but it was a more intimate gathering of several hundred people at his Los Angeles home.

As they have been all yar long, Clinton and Obama were well ahead of their rivals.  John Edwards raised $96,052 in the third quarter, and Bill  Richardsin raised $60,710.

Among Republicans, Fred Thompson, drawing on his connections to the industry, led with $43,275, followed by Rudy Giuliani with $39,436.

So far this year, Clinton has raised $2,141,609 from the entertainment business, to Obama's $2,073,325. Among Republicans, John McCain still leads with $390,016, followed by Giuliani with $360,001.

The full list here.

Big Media's Moment

That, and other news, in today's Political Panorama.

Big media giants are suddenly back in the fray --- perhaps as a campaign issue.

According to a report in the New York Times, FCC chairman Kevin Martin wants to relax media ownership rules that forbid a media company from owning a newspaper and a TV and radio station in the same city. This is just what Rupert Murdoch has in New York and the Tribune Co. in Los Angeles (soon to be Sam Zell).

Apparently Martin has the support of a majority of the five commissioners. But some Democrats already are digging in their heels. In his presidential campaign, former Sen. John Edwards already has attacked media consolidation.

“This is a big deal because we have way too much concentration of media ownership in the United States,” Senator Byron L. Dorgan, Democrat of North Dakota.

“If the chairman intends to do something by the end of the year,” Dorgan added, his voice rising, “then there will be a firestorm of protest and I’m going to be carrying the wood.”

Media execs have said that the current rules are outdated.

It will be interesting to see how other Democratic contenders fall on this issue should it go further, given that many of their supporters come from the ranks of executives at media conglomerates.  Sen. Hillary Clinton has the backing of News Corp. COO Peter Chernin along with other company execs, and Murdoch made a contribution to her campaign last spring.

"Tonight" Light: Barack Obama riffed with Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" last night, with a warning not to consider Hillary Clinton the inevitable nominee. "Hillary is not he first politician in Washington to declare 'Mission Accomplished' a little too soon," Obama said. He said of reports that he and Vice President Dick Cheney are related, "I don't want to be invited to the family hunting party."

Miller Movie?: "Nothing But the Truth," now filming in Memphis, is the tale of a reporter who goes to jail for refusing to give up her source on a CIA story. But it is not the Judy Miller story. According to the Washington Post, Miller was not pleased about the project, directed by Rod Lurie and starring Kate Beckinsdale. Her lawyer, Floyd Abrams, has a cameo.

Seriously, Though

Stephen Colbert is chatting up his presidential prospects with local politicians in South Carolina.

According to the New York Times' Caucus blog, "Joe Werner, executive director of the South Carolina Democratic Party, said that a representative for Mr. Colbert, who was raised in Charleston, called three weeks ago to request basic information about filing dates and other requirements. Mr. Werner added, 'From what I understand, he does have credible people down here, working to have him placed on the ballot.’'"

And there's this:

"Katon Dawson, the chairman of the state Republican Party, said his office had also received a call from Mr. Colbert’s staff — on Tuesday. The call came just hours before Mr. Colbert taped his own show (in which he said he hoped to run as both a Democrat and Republican) as well as a teaser to his announcement that appeared on 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,’' which leads into 'The Colbert Report.’"

Colbert still faces a rather strict set of requirements to get on the ballot, not to mention the challenge of getting both parties to take him, well, seriously.

Will Gore Go for Hillary?

That, and other news, in today's Political Panorama.

Updated

In the aftermath of Al Gore's Nobel Peace Prize, focus has shifted from "Will Al Run?" to "Who Will He Endorse?" Although a recent Vanity Fair piece explains why there's no love lost between Gore and Hillary Clinton, the Politico's Roger Simon believes that the endorsement will happen. He argues that although Clinton voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq, the major candidates now have staked out similar positions about what they would do to get troops out of the country --- which is to say, rather non-committal.

Writes Simon, "Given that, plus the small political consideration that Hillary has reached 50 percent in two national polls (50 percent in a field where there are eight credible candidates is extraordinary), the question for Gore becomes: Why not endorse Hillary?

Especially considering there might be something in it for him and his movement."

Colbert Bid: Channeling Pat Paulsen, Stephen Colbert announces plans for a White House bid --- but plans to run only in South Carolina. Says Obama's campaign spokesman Bill Burton: "As Rudy Giuliani would say, he's no Ronald Reagan."

Cooter Not for Clinton: Ben Jones, the former "Dukes