You can find no greater fan of "Mad Men" than myself, and I liked this essay in the Wall Street Journal from John Meroney, who singles out the show for its depiction of Conrad Hilton, played by Chelcie Ross.

Although Hilton is eccentric, Meroney writes that "to many viewers Hilton may seem unusual—and he does represent a refreshing break from Hollywood's negative depictions of corporate businessmen. The Hilton character in the show, like the real-life man on whom he is based, was a Christian anticommunist who believed that America and capitalism were positive forces in the world."

I don't have quite the same reaction of Hilton, who seems to also have shades of Sam Zell, but Meroney's point is that he provides a counterweight to what is unfolding on the show, the turbulent 1960s that other filmmmakers have mythologized in favor of the youth revolt. What I hope is that the show presents a nuanced view of conservativism and liberalism that is framed by that era rather than the rather cartoonish standards of today.

Meroney writes, "In this case, the show has chosen the right man, whose proud, wholesome, pro-American views—lest we forget—were as emblematic of the 1960s as the social turmoil to come. "There were people like Hilton," [creator Matthew] Weiner says, "and I love what he was about.""

Attorney General Jerry Brown's spokesman secretly taped a phone conversation with San Francisco Chronicle reporter Carla Marinucci --- a violation of state law. And that spokesman, Scott Gerber, has admitted taping other conversations.

"Here's the implication: Reporters now have one hell of a story about a guy who's running for governor of California," said Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, tells the Chronicle. "He's just lit a fire under a real big political thing."

It's hard to tell, though, what is more of a potentially damaging issue for Brown: The secret taping or that fact that Marinucci had been working on a story about Brown revising ballot language on an auto insurance initiative, with a watchdog group claiming that he was removing mention that it would increase rates. Mistrust of auto insurance companies is a California pasttime.

This is a story that probably would have gotten buried by the Newsom news had Brown's spokesman not recorded the calls, trigger more media interest.

When Bill Clinton endorsed Gavin Newsom, some pundits called it a game-changer: A former president stepping into a presidential primary so early in the process.

But now that Newsom is out of the race, what does it say about Clinton's ability to drum up support and campaign cash?

Earlier this year, Clinton was a big backer of Terry McAuliffe's bid for governor of Virginia, which ended with his loss to Creigh Deeds. Nevertheless, even as Clinton was pummeled in the media for his wife's defeat in the South Carolina presidential primary in 2008, he campaigned aggressively in California, which she won handily.

The fund-raiser that Newsom held with Clinton on Oct. 5 drew healthy turnout, but apparently not nearly enough money to trigger a flow of money to his campaign coffers. The week before, the DreamWorks trio of Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen announced their endorsement of Jerry Brown, no mere coincidence as the Newsom team was fielding donors for its big event.

Although Brown's upcoming fund-raiser will be his first major fete for his gubernatorial bid, he's been aggressively lining up donors and fund-raisers for months, calling and visiting them personally. Those he couldn't convince to stay in his camp may have at least stayed out of it. It's still early, after all, and the gubernatorial race was hardly generating the excitement of the Clinton-Obama rivalry in Hollywood.

The big surprise would be if Clinton again ventures into California gubernatorial politics any time soon. There was no love lost between Clinton and Brown, both rivals for the Democratic nomination in 1992, or, for that matter, between Clinton and Geffen, whose falling out came to the fore in the early days of the 2008 presidential race.

If anything, Newsom's exit shows the limits of endorsements, even of the presidential sort. Newsom ran a campaign that sought to embrace the kind of youthful energy of Obama's run, but left lingering were doubts on how voters statewide would treat some of his negatives. Clinton's support certainly didn't hurt Newsom, but it didn't alleviate the anxiety of whether the San Francisco mayor really could win.

Update: Karen Ocamb writes that Newsom may have one person to thank for his scuttled gubernatorial bid: Frank Schubert. He's the political consultant who created the pro-Prop 8 ad last year that tried to make Newsom a scary figure to statewide voters. It features a clip of Newsom celebrating the state Supreme Court's decision to approve same-sex marriage, and the San Francisco mayor says that gay nuptials are coming to the state "whether you like it or not."

Photo of Brown and Newsom: Karen Ocamb

Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney and Brad Pitt all appear on the logs of the initial batch of visitor records released by the White House today, but the more discreet entertainment figures may not have to worry about their names being disclosed.

The White House unveiled the list of visits dating from Jan. 20 to Sept. 15, but the names are only those that have been specifically requested. The Obama administration plans to release visitor records on a regular basis starting in late December, although the lists will be 90 days after the fact and will not include those coming to the Executive Mansion for purely personal visits with the President and First Lady.

Winfrey visited twice, once for a late-night reception on inauguration day, Jan. 20, and another time on Feb. 17 to interview Michelle Obama.

Clooney's visit on Feb. 23 was to visit Vice President Joseph Biden to talk about the crisis in Darfur, but the logs do not mention his short, last-minute visit with President Obama or Clooney's press conference on the White House driveway.

The record for Pitt's March 5 visit to the White House mentions meeting with adviser Melody Barnes and Kate Brandt, special assistant to Carol Browner, but does not cite his meeting with Obama, where he discussed his Make It Right project in New Orleans. Pitt was joined in his visit meeting by producer Steve Bing and their political advisers Trevor Neilson and Chad Griffin.

Hill Harper, who went to law school with Obama, visited twice, once on May 12 to meet Obama as part of a poetry reading, and again on May 14 to meet with Karen Anderson of the Council on Women and Girls.

Obama's team agreed to release the records in response to lawsuits brought by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. In unveiling the names on Friday afternoon --- in what is known as a document dump --- the White House also expressed words of caution of not assuming those on the list are who they appear to be.

White House special counsel Norm Eisen wrote, "A lot of people visit the White House, up to 100,000 each month, with many of those folks coming to tour the buildings. Given this large amount of data, the records we are publishing today include a few “false positives” – names that make you think of a well-known person, but are actually someone else.  In September, requests were submitted for the names of some famous or controversial figures (for example Michael Jordan, William Ayers, Michael Moore, Jeremiah Wright, Robert Kelly ("R. Kelly"), and Malik Shabazz).  The well-known individuals with those names never actually came to the White House.  Nevertheless, we were asked for those names and so we have included records for those individuals who were here and share the same names."

A case in point: Denzel Washington's name pops up for two visits, one on May 7 and another on May 9, but he was part of a White House tour.

Updated

Gavin Newsom is dropping out of the race for governor of California.

The mayor of San Francisco issued a statement today citing his family responsibilities and city hall commitments as the reasons for not pursuing the job of replacing Arnold Schwarzenegger in Sacramento.

But his campaign, which he officially launched in March, had trouble gaining much traction and, despite some significant support from some high profile industry donors, posted lackluster fund-raising results overall.

Newsom was facing a stiff challenge from California Attorney General Jerry Brown, who recently received the endorsements of Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen.

Brown is not officially in the race, but last month set up an exploratory committee. Before that, he had been raising money for his reelection campaign for attorney general, money that can be rolled into his gubernatorial bid, and even by those marks had outraised Newsom.

Newsom had lined up a significant list of names in Hollywood, like Ari Emanuel, Ben Silverman, Jeffrey Kwatinetz and Chris Silbermann, as well as such celebrities as Ryan Seacrest and Rosie O'Donnell. With his support of same-sex marriage, he also had drawn gay and lesbian supporters in the business, such as Skip Paul and Bruce Cohen.

He was even scheduled to attend a fund-raiser this evening at the home of producer Bill Block, who recently wrote a check for $6,000, and there were plans for an event at Emanuel's home in December. One source said Newsom cancelled an appearance at Block's event on Thursday afternoon, citing pressing business in San Francisco.

More than anything, Newsom's endorsement by former President Bill Clinton, along with a campaign swing and fund-raiser earlier this month, were events that his campaign had hoped would provide a jolt. But those numbers, too, were apparently disappointing, based on initial campaign disclosure reports.

Newsom's spokesman, Peter Ragone, told the Los Angeles Times, "He needed to spend most of his waking hours raising money for the next few months in order for the campaign to be viable."

Even as industry supporters expressed surprise at the news today, rumors had been swirling for the past month or so that Newsom was considering dropping out, perhaps to seek the lieutenant governor slot instead. He made no mention of seeking that slot in today's announcement.

Although Newsom's departure leaves the field open for Brown, there has been some speculation that another Democrat could get in the race, such as Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), who fell short in her bid for governor in 1998. To be viable, any candidate who gets in the race would have to have a strong network of fund-raisers or the ability to self finance, both to face Brown's strength and the general election challenge of potential Republican nominees Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner, millionaires who already have written substantial checks for their own bids.

Andy Spahn, political adviser to the DreamWorks founders, said that he started to reach out to Newsom donors this afternoon, e-mailing the withdrawal announcement. Even before Newsom ended his bid, he said, the fund-raiser had been on track to raise in the seven figures. The Nov. 18 event, with tickets starting at $5,000 per person, will be held at the home of Sandy Gallin, and the list of co-hosts also includes J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath, Wallis Annenberg, Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller, Larry Ellison and John Emerson. Among those who have contributed to his exploratory committee is James Nederlander, who has chipped in $25,000.

Here is the statement from Newsom:

"It is with great regret I announce today that I am withdrawing from the race for governor of California. With a young family and responsibilities at city hall, I have found it impossible to commit the time required to complete this effort the way it needs to — and should be — done.

"This is not an easy decision. But it is one made with the best intentions for my wife, my daughter, the residents of the city and county of San Francisco, and California Democrats.

"When I embarked on this campaign in April, my goal was to engage thousands and thousands of Californians dedicated to reforming our broken system and bringing change to Sacramento.

"I would like to thank those supporters, volunteers, and donors who have worked so hard on my behalf. I have been humbled by their support and am indebted to their efforts. They represent the spirit of change and determination essential to putting California back on the right track.

"I will continue to fight for change and the causes and issues for which I care deeply — universal health care, a cleaner environment, and a green economy for our families, better education for our children, and, of course, equal rights under the law for all citizens."

-- Josh Marks

Groups on the left have hounded journalists with proof that the White House is on the mark when it claims that Fox News' news programming, as opinion programming, is biased. Last night, Jon Stewart did the job for them --- with some needling of Valerie Jarrett for not sticking to the latest line of argument.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
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That, and other news, in today's Roundup and Recap.

In an interview, Sting sings President Obama's praises, but is also fascinated by the right's pushback. "In many ways, he's sent from God, because the world's a mess," he joked to the AP.

A Scientology spokesman denied that the church supported Proposition 8, but the text of ex-member Paul Haggis' letter shows that the issue was about refusing to denounce homophobia.

Obama's signing of the hate crimes bill was followed by a reception co-sponsored by the David Bohnett Foundation, and Bohnett was among those in attendance along with David Mixner, Judy Shepard, congressional leaders and Cyndi Lauper.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs met with a Fox News official on Wednesday, but Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett still has some (guarded) criticism of the news network.

Sorry for the technical glitches earlier today...

More than 40% of Barack Obama's top fundraisers have secured posts in his administration, and more than half of the ambassadors that he has named so far are political appointees.

This comes from a story in USA Today, which breaks down the numbers. It's particularly disconcerting for groups like the American Foreign Service Assn., which called on Obama to limit the selection of fund-raisers over career foreign diplomats. They now say that the percentage of political appointees is higher than at any point in four decades.

Among the entertainment figures tapped by Obama are Nicole Avant and Charlie Rivkin, his finance co-chairs in Southern California who are now ambassadors to the Bahamas and France, respectively. Others on the list who have landed posts include Rocco Landesman, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts; Julius Genachowski, chairman of the FCC; and William Kennard, ambassador to the European Union. Kennard is not yet confirmed.

Here's a piece I did in June on the whole practice of awarding ambassadorships to non-careerists, which is older than you think.

It's no secret that California Gov, Arnold Schwarzenegger was unhappy with the state legislature, but his statement in vetoing a recent bill is worthy of Dan Brown. If you read the first letter on each line, it is a "f--k you" --- perhaps, as some have suggested, directed at one of the bill's authors, assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), a rival. (Ammiano's vetoed bill is here). A spokesman for the governor says that it was a coincidence, but a cryptologist apparently told NPR that the oodds of such a thing are 5.5 in one trillion.

The letter is below. Start on the line, "For some time now..."

Al Gore is building an online wall for a clean energy economy.

The former vice president and star of environmental documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," is reaching out to college students, celebrities, activists, corporations and others in a new initiative through his Alliance for Climate Protection's green jobs project -- Repower America.

In a conference call to supporters this evening, Repower America campaign manager Dave Boundy previewed a new initiative called the Repower America Wall.

The new website www.repoweramerica.org/wall offers an opportunity for anyone to upload a video calling on our leaders to support a clean energy future. The result they hope will be a powerful show of force with thousands of videos scrolling across the screen.

There are already videos posted to the site including some notable participants. Musician Sheryl Crow, actress Fran Drescher, "The Wire" screenwriter George Pelecanos and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are among the recognizable faces.

Corporate sponsors include Pepsico, Ebay, Whole Foods, Lifetime, Nike, North Face, Levis Strauss & Co. and Starbucks.

In the conference call Boundy stated that the initiative's goal is to create a "national chorus" for clean energy jobs and that they want to engage more than five million people in the campaign.

-- Josh Marks

That, and other news, in today's Roundup and Recap.

Matthew Hiltzik's representation of Glenn Beck comes under scrutiny in the Washington Post, which profiles the odd coupling of a former Democratic strategist with one of the most influential and outrageous critics of the Obama administration.

Jason Horowitz writes, "The close friendship and lucrative business relationship that has developed between the 45-year-old conservative firebrand and the 37-year-old former Democratic operative shows how partisan media personalities get discovered, promoted and catapulted into the political stratosphere, even when the talent and the talent broker have opposing ideologies. But for Hiltzik's former Democratic allies, the alliance is still mostly shocking."

Hiltzik represented Harvey Weinstein in PR and political affairs, in an effort to boost his profile, but offers this reasoning for their teaming. ""Everyone knows they're dating," joked Harvey Weinstein, who called his former right hand a deeply religious, brilliant guy. "It must be that kind of attraction. I can't see any other reason."

"His voice turning more serious, Weinstein said there was perhaps a simple reason Hiltzik felt comfortable representing Beck. "I had a lot of actors Matt came in contact with," Weinstein said. "I just think Glenn is another one.""

Other former Hiltzik associates and clients, like Mark Green, aren't laughing. And Hiltzik's friend, Ken Sunshine, has a firm that is representing Color of Change, the firm that is pushing the Beck boycott campaign.

The Artists & Athletes Alliance hosts a briefing on major issues facing the Obama administration tonight at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles, with Mark Halperin (whose book about the '08 campaign will be called "Game Change"), Mark Preston, Maria Cardona and Ed Goeas.

Sean Penn's trip to Cuba is especially timely for the release of Ann Louise Bardach's new book "Without Fidel," which includes a chapter on the actor's previous visit to interview Raul Castro. Big Hollywood has an excerpt.

I was on a Hollywood & politics panel at the 140 Characters Conference at the Kodak Theatre today as Maria Shriver's Women's Conference was taking place in Long Beach, so I didn't get a chance to attend. But from the initial accounts one of the highlights was on "grief and resilience," and featured Elizabeth Edwards, Susan Saint James and Lisa Niemi (the widow of Patrick Swayze). But it was Shriver herself who provided an extraordinary account of grief that she's still processing since the death of her mother, Eunice Shriver, in August.

Per the Los Angeles Times, she said, "The real truth is that my mother's death has brought me to my knees. I had feared this my entire life. . . . She was my hero, my role model, my very best friend. I spoke to her every single day of my life. I tried really hard when I grew up to make her proud of me."

Few other public figures are able to balance publicity and privacy, showing very personal moments of your life and yet at the same time retaining a sense of dignity.

Shriver also talked about the "infamous" cellphone, the one that got her splashed across the pages of TMZ and in trouble with her husband.

This morning Organizing for America sent an email to supporters with a link to vote on each of the 20 video ad finalists out of thousands who submitted 30-second health care reform messages. The winner will air on national television.

Many of the videos cleverly and humorously make a general case for Obama's health reform plan or point out the absurdity of insurance denials based on pre-existing conditions, such as "Serve and Protect," submitted by Jeremy Beiler, in which a  police officer doesn't stop a burglar from stealing a woman's property because her house has a pre-existing condition.

There are also more serious videos such as "I Deserve Health Care" by Eric Hurt which features children at a playground predicting ailments they will have in the future that their parents won't be able to pay for. One child even says that two years from now she will be diagnosed with leukemia and will die because her parents won't be able to afford health care.

But the two videos that stand out the most deal with the hotly debated public option. It will be interesting to see if either these explicitly pro-public option messages are chosen given the turmoil in the Senate regarding inclusion of a government-run program in the health reform bill.

Just today, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) announced he will join a Republican filibuster unless the public option is removed. This comes on the heels of Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) making a bold move by including a public option in the final bill. 

With Reid firmly behind the public option, pressure is mounting on the White House to take a strong stand in support of the public option. Progressives have been dismayed that President Obama has not pushed the government-run program enough.

But what if one of the pro-public option videos is chosen for the national TV spot? Will it force Obama's hand?

In addition to the American public, a panel of celebrities and politicos will also vote on the submissions. Panelists include musician will.I.am, animator Seth MacFarlane, actress Kate Walsh, Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine.

-- Josh Marks

That, and other news, in today's Roundup and Recap.

President Obama has held more fund-raisers and played more rounds of golf than his predecessor did at this point in his first term, so why isn't he getting more of a bad rap.

Josh Gerstein writes in Politico that the topic is unnerving to Republicans, who have long been charging a media double standard. treating Obama with kid gloves where George Bush took a drubbing.

I confess that I didn't even know that Obama played golf until he started his presidency. as if he's trying not to break a streak of chief executives who have taken to the game. (Jimmy Carter may have been the only recent one to break it).

Michael Wolff is perturbed by Obama's foray into the circles of the rich and famous, particularly for fund-raisers. He's done 26 in nine months.

He writes, "It's important to be clear on just exactly what this operation is: The president of the United States is slavishly stroking rich guys. He's listening to their dumbass (and dull) opinions, he's laughing at their lame jokes, he's cultivating their secret ambitions."

Stephen Colbert took on a Washington state referendum to restrict same-sex marriage and domestic partnerships, mocking advertisements and noting the "terrible toll gay marriage has on fact checking." His case in point: A claim that Scandinavia approved gay marriage in 2004. Scandinavia is not a country.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Word - Don't Ask Don't Tell
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Jon Stewart, meantime, took on opponents of net neutrality.

 

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
From Here to Neutrality
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The Yes Men have mastered the art of generating publicity, what with last week's Chamber of Commerce hoax on climate change, the fake New York newspapers distributed throughout Manhattan last month and various other stunts in which they have tricked the media into believing they were corporate spokesmen. And last week, perhaps even inspired by their antics, a group of health reform advocates infiltrated a meeting of health insurers, where they sang a suprisingly on key rendition of "Tomorrow" from the musical "Annie."

Maddening to journalists and politicians, but impossible to ignore, the Borat-level antics nevertheless mark a return of the crass publicity stunt, the once common practice perfected by Hollywood press agents.As I heard about some of the recent efforts in D.C., I couldn't help but think of a late friend who was an old-style entertainment industry publicity man. Back in 1962, Howard Brandy and his client, "Rocky & Bullwinkle" creator Jay Ward, travelled the country to create a national referendum urging statehood for Moosylvania. It ended with the two pulling up at the White House in full costume, but it was the day the Cuban Missile Crisis erupted.

Such blatant stunts largely fell out of favor in the 1980s and 90s, as stars sought out suave gatekeepers tasked with tightly controlling their image, limiting it to magazine covers and pre-screened junkets. But that control has fallen away with tabloid style Internet blogs and TMZ, not to mention the balkanization of the audience. It just takes a lot more to get attention these days --- or even to be a mass market star.

So I wouldn't be surprised if more of these types of hoaxes spread to Hollywood as a "new" publicity technique, a return of the time when all publicity is good publicity.

California's First Lady Maria Shriver holds her annual Women's Conference in Long Beach on Tuesday, once again with a mix of celebrities and politicos.

Among the highlights is a luncheon session, "How a Woman's Nation Changes Everything," with David Gregory moderating a conversation with Madeleine Albright, Amy Holmes, Valerie Jarrett and Claire Shipman; "Grief, Healing and Resilience," with Shriver interviewing Elizabeth Edwards and Susan Saint James; and "Tough Leadership Decisions in Tough Times," with Robin Roberts moderating a panel with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, FDIC chairwomen Sheila Bair and Richard Branson.

Other sessions include "Changing the World Through the Web," with Ashton Kutcher, Kara Swicher and Joe Rospars, among others; and "Women Who Use Their Voices to Change the World," featuring Geena Davis, Nicholas Kristof and Lisa Ling. Others appearing throughout the day include Katie Couric, Alicia Keys and Caroline Kennedy.

There will be a live webcast of the event at Californiawomen,org.

Photo: Shriver at the 2008 conference with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Warren Buffett.

That, and other news, in today's Roundup and Recap.

Al Franken's election had some on Capitol Hill wondering, "Who in the entertainment industry would be next to seek public office?" But Anne Schroeder Mullins writes in Politico that the tables have turned in Washington, as more freshmen congressmen deploy Hollywood tactics to make themselves into stars. about the class of freshmen congressmen and women who are playing the celebrity card to gain attention in Washington.

She writes, "Higher-profile politicians can raise more money, wield greater influence with fellow lawmakers and rally public support more readily. And in recent years, there’s been a widening “celebrity gap” between Washington’s megawatt politicians and the no-glory workhorses of the world. The trend presents junior and aspiring politicians with a challenge once in office: When the days of just doing publicity for the campaign are over, what’s the best way to build a celebrity profile? Or, at the very least, a more recognizable name?

"Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) has used new forms of media — like Twitter and Facebook — to juice up his national presence. He participates in a CNN.com video series called “Freshman Year.” And his video webcast “cot-side chats” — during which he discusses policy near the office cot that he sleeps on — have something of a following. As a result, he has emerged as one of the most recognizable freshmen members of Congress."

Sean Penn is in Cuba in what is described as a "journalistic and creative" visit, but his reps deny a report that he is there to interview Fidel Castro for Vanity Fair.

Director Paul Haggis has cut his ties with Scientology in part over the church's support of Proposition 8.

President Obama will sign the Matthew Shepard/James Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act on Wednesday at a White House ceremony to be attended by Shepard's mother, Judy. She was the guest of honor on Monday at the Luncheon Society in Westwood, and signed copies of her book, "The Meaning of Matthew." David Bohnett is partnering with the White House in a post-signing reception.

President Obama still remains a very popular figure in Hollywood. Showbiz names have lined up for his service initiatives, donors fill Democratic Party coffers and even some of his likely critics from the left, such as Michael Moore, have softened their bite. But perhaps more than any other issue, his pending decision on Afghanistan threatens to create lasting fissures in his support.

That's the subject of my latest column in Politico, which you can read here.

Wilshire & Washington today marks three years on the 'Net. Thanks to all of you for reading and all of your support, especially in sending ideas and words of wisdom. It's been a great run.

As it turns out, this is also my first wedding anniversary --- and my birthday. Better to fete it all at once...

Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen have sent out invites for a Nov. 18 fund-raiser for Attorney General Jerry Brown's bid for governor, an event that will be held at the home of Sandy Gallin.

The trio, which gave Brown their endorsement last month, are joined by co-chairs J.J. Abrams and Katie McGrath, Wallis Annenberg, Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller, Larry Ellison, John Emerson, Reed Hastings, Michael and Jena King, Peter Morton, Lynda and Stewart Resnick and Jennifer Perry and Andy Spahn, among others.

Co-chairs are invited to a pre-reception, followed by a general reception. Co-chairs are those who write checks or raise $50,000 and sponsors write or raise $25,000. General tickets are $5,000 per individual and $10,000 per couple.

Brown is not officially in the race, but has been raising money via an exploratory committee in which he can accept contributions up to $51,800, or $25,900 each for the primary and the general election.

Mickey Kaus defines the debate between the White House and Fox as a question of independence.

He writes, "I think Fox is also not neutral (which, again, doesn't bother me) but it's also not independent (which does). This isn't because it's owned by Rupert Murdoch--moguls are, typically among the more independent sorts. It's because it's run by Roger Ailes. I have zero faith that Ailes is independent of the Republican party or, specifically, those Republicans who have occupied the White House recently--the Bushes. As I said, I think if Karl Rove called Ailes in 2003 and said "We don't want so much coverage of X" it's extremely likely that X would not be covered on Fox. A ... suggestive example of Fox's loyalty is the debate on immigration, in which Ailes' network initially seemed to try valiantly--against the beliefs of most of its audience--to push the Bush White House line in favor of "comprehensive" legalization (while brushing aside its viewers' views).

He adds, "I do think independence is essential to be a legitimate player in the new, emerging non-objective press world. If you're independent, there's always a chance you'll change your mind."

Ailes dismissed the rumors of a presidential bid.

That, and other news, in today's Roundup and Recap.

Fox News chief Roger Ailes's friends are urging him to consider throwing his hat in the ring for 2012, according to a report out today. It sounds like a wild scenario to me, but doesn't it also bolster White House arguments that Fox News is not a legitimate news operation? Politico's Mike Allen reports that one of Ailes's friends says, "Ailes knows how to frame an issue better than anybody, and that's what we need now." Ailes, as we all know, is a political mastermind, extending back to Richard Nixon's rebranding in the 1968 presidential contest.

The White House's "war" on Fox News apparently has moderate Democrats concerned that the tit for tat looks a bit petty.

The White House released the official portrait of the First Family, left, shot by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz.

First Lady Michelle Obama appears on "The Jay Leno Show" this evening in his "Ten@10" segment.

It's buried on Friday night, but "Law & Order" this evening features an episode about the murder of an abortion doctor. The New York Times reports that NBC likely lost advertisers, given the fervor on both sides of the issue. Fox pulled an episode of "Family Guy" that featured an abortion storyline, although it will be seen in its DVD release.

The son of Mia Farrow, Ronan Farrow, has been appointed Richard Holbrooke's liaison to non governmental organizations working in Pakistan. Farrow has traveled to Southern Sudan with his mother, an outspoken advocate for action in Darfur. Farrow, whose father is Woody Allen, graduated college at age 15 and has been recognized as an up and coming young activist. He and his mother penned the Wall Street Journal op-ed calling for Steven Spielberg to end his participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which is eventually did.

As expected, the FCC is taking an initial step toward provisions that will ensure the pipes are clear of interference.

FCC chairman Julius Genachowski said that the goal is to ensure a "free and open Internet."

Here's the statement from the MPAA and its chairman Dan Glickman: “The American motion picture and television production industry applauds the decision of the FCC to recognize the critical role of legitimate content in the continuing development of the Internet.  Today’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) makes clear that reasonable network management includes the ability to stop unlawful distribution of content online.  Although we are not proponents of government regulation of the Internet, by highlighting the importance of intellectual property in this way, the Commission signaled that American creativity and ingenuity, and millions of related jobs will be preserved.  We look forward to reviewing the NPRM in its entirety and working with the Chairman and the Commission to craft policies that will lead to widespread broadband adoption, greater consumer choice, and preservation of American intellectual property online.”

Updated

Trent Reznor, Jackson Browne, the Roots, R.E.M., Pearl Jam and Billy Bragg are among the musicians who are demanding the release of records to show what music was played as part of interrogation tactics at Guantanamo Bay.

They are all part of the National Campaign to Close Guantanamo, but their pursuit of this Freedom of Information Act request certainly bolsters the profile of the organization's effort. While their request is not a frivolous one, as Reznor and Tom Morello have reportedly had their music linked to interrogations, the action seems like a savvy way to get attention, particularly in Washington, which is flooded by stars and their causes (for an example, see the reporting on yesterday's testimony by Nicole Kidman and violence against women, where journos had to pick and choose what to cover).

They are seeking information on the specific role of music in interrogation, and how it was chosen. Declassified documents show that the work of Metallica, Britney Spears and rap artists, among others, was used as a way to "create futility" with uncooperative detainees. The org notes that the United Nations has banned the use of music in torture techniques under the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, although it has been unenforced.

Morello said in a statement, “Guantanamo is known around the world as one of the places where human beings have been tortured – from water boarding, to stripping, hooding and forcing detainees into humiliating sexual acts - playing music for 72 hours in a row at volumes just below that to shatter the eardrums."

Others backing the effort include Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earle, T-Bone Burnett and David Byrne. The National Security Archive is assisting the musicians in obtaining the documents. They also are seeking documentation on the strategy of using music as an interrogation device at other detention facilities as well.

Earlier in the week the org announced a new national TV ad calling on Congress to close Guantanamo, below.

R.E.M. said in a statement, “We signed onto the campaign in complete support of President Obama and the military leaders who have called for an end to torture and to close Guantanamo. As long as Guantanamo stays open, America’s legacy around the world will continue to be the torture that went on there.  We have spent the past 30 years supporting causes related to peace and justice – to now learn that some of our friends’ music may have been used as part of the torture tactics without their consent or knowledge, is horrific.  It’s anti-American, period.”

Thomas Blanton, the archives executive director, charged that at Guantanamo, "the U.S. government turned a jukebox into an instrument of torture." He said in a statement, "The musicians and the public have the right to know how an expression of popular culture was transformed into an enhanced interrogation technique."

Their action is also likely to trigger further debate as to whether the use of such music constitutes torture or an "enhanced interrogation technique," an argument still being waged by former members of the Bush administration. Vice President Dick Cheney has defended the Guantanamo methods of interrogation and has argued that its closure would be a risk to national security.

A 2005 Army report on allegations of detainee abuse that was obtained by the National Security Archive reported, "Almost every interviewee stated that yelling and the use of loud music were used for interrogations at GTMO.  On a few occasions, detainees were left alone in the interrogation booth for an indefinite period of time while loud music played and strobe lights flashed.  The vast majority of yelling and music was accomplished with interrogators in the room.  The volume of the music was never loud enough to cause any physical injury. Interrogators stated that cultural music would be played as an incentive. Futility technique included the playing of Metallica, Britney Spears, and Rap music." 

Update: The CIA says that the music was used for security rather than "punitive purposes" and that it was played "at levels far below a live rock band." Also, the National Security Archive's suspected interrogation playlist is here, a familiar list of names and songs ranging from Bruce Springsteen to the Barney theme song.

The AP also cites a Senate Armed Services Committee report into the treatment of detainees in U.S. custody. "In one case interrogators played music to "stress" Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a citizen of Mauritania who has been at Guantanamo for more than seven years, because he believed music is forbidden, the report says.

"Over a 10-day period in July 2003, Slahi was questioned by an interrogator called "Mr. X" while being "exposed to variable lighting patterns" and repeated playing of a song called "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor" by the band Drowning Pool, according to the committee's report."

The use of music was one of the techniques thrown out by the Obama administration shortly after the inaguration, a White House official told the New York Times.
 

That, and other news, in today's Roundup and Recap.

Entertainment figures and civil rights activists raised $50,000 for the fight against a ballot initiative in Maine that would restrict same-sex marriage. The event at the Hollywood home of Bruce Cohen and Gabriel Catone included attendees such as Skip Paul, Mary McCormack and Los Angeles city councilwoman Wendy Gruel, reports Karen Ocamb of the LGBT POV blog, as well as Rick Jacobs of the Courage Campaign, which is sending help to Maine in the form of staffers and volunteers. Cohen and Chad Griffin co-chaired the event.

Cohen told Ocamb, "We have this huge battle in Maine coming up in two weeks and it’s the same situation as in California. Same sex marriage existed there – it was passed by the Legislature – and now the voters are trying to take it away. The effects – if they succeed in doing that – would be completely devastating to the movement of ours moving forward.

"And on the other hand – if we can win this one – it sends such a huge message to the country, to the President, to the Senate, to the House, to the media, to ourselves – that we are moving forward on the right track to full equality for all of us.”"

White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel is one of the central figures in a new documentary debuting in Washington tonight, "HouseQuake," directed by Karen Price, which tells of the Democrats ability to retake Congress in 2006. The New York Times' Peter Baker writes that the movie depicts Emanuel as the hard-charging, winning-is-everything mastermind of the victory, and it credits his powers of persusion in convincing a strong field of contenders to challenge GOP incumbents or candidates in Republican-leaning districts that year, including Health Shuler.

Jack Nelson, Pulitzer Prize winning reporter for the Los Angeles Times, has died. Nelson, who had been the longtime bureau chief of the Times' Washington office, helped establish the paper's reputation with his coverage of the civil rights movement and the Watergate scandal. He also was a regular commentator on "Washington Week in Review."

Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis will be among the panelists on Thursday for a panel discussion on people with disabilities in the arts. Solis will be joined by Robert David Hall of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," Fred Beam, founder of Invisible Hands, and Kathleen Martinez, assistant secretary in the office of disability employment policy. The 10:30 a.m. panel will take place at the Department of Labor auditorium.

Heather Graham appears in a new MoveOn video pushing for a public option, in a spot that takes on private insurers. As I have stated here before, celebrity activists are slowly jumping into the health care fray, perhaps as polls show growing support for reform and the memory of the townhall outbursts fades.

What does the White House have to gain by taking on Fox News?

The wisdom is that it will only boost Fox's ratings, something that we will see bear out over the next couple of days. And history suggests that politicians take on single news organizations at their own peril. During the campaign, John Edwards tried to take on the news network, and even had a press conference to attack News Corp., but the strategy quickly fell by the wayside when it was pointed out that Edwards reaped the benefits of a book contract with Harper Collins, a News Corp. subsidiary.

The attacks at Fox News, like David Axelrod declaring that they are "not a news organization," have boosted the White House in the eyes of liberal advocates anxious for the administration to be more aggressive, as MoveOn is pressuring Democrats in general to boycott the news network. During the Nixon years Spiro Agnew attacked the liberal media and the "negative nabobs of negativism," a line of argument that certainly didn't boost his own fortunes but helped trigger a long campaign against liberal media that conservatives still champion to this day. Perhaps this is a similar strategy, but it certainly doesn't fulfill Obama's promises of a new style of discourse.

While there is plenty to pick apart, isn't this all just feeding into the distraction as the administration pursues its priorities? The size of the Fox News audience, while dominant among the cable news outlets, is still small compared to network primetime. Recent polling on the impact of Glenn Beck showed that a big chunk of the population had no opinion of him because they didn't know who he was. Perhaps a better course for White House image makers would be that offered by David Corn and others who argue that, given the outrage at Fox News, they should instead offer witty dismissals. Corn writes, "With a clever use of strategic derision, Obama and his aides could do this and still stick it to the network. Fox is just not worth a game of chicken." After all, if you think Fox News is a joke, isn't it worth a laugh?

Update: Sen. Lamar Alexander compares the Obama's "street brawling" with Fox to President Nixon gathering an enemies list.

That, and other news, in today's Roundup and Recap.

One of President Obama's highest profile critics will be face to face with one of his most famous supporters, when Sarah Palin guests on Oprah Winfrey's show on Nov. 16, the even of the release of Palin's book "Going Rogue: An American Life."

The White House outlined its rationale for taking on Fox News to Politico, with a White House official telling the site, "We're doing what we think is important to make sure news is covered as fairly as possible." The White House press corps has hardly come to Fox's defense, although Jake Tapper of ABC News tweeted, "Today's Qs for O's WH: Why is it appropriate for the WH to delineate what is and what is not a 'news organization'?" Update: MoveOn is urging its members to pressure Democrats to stay off of Fox. And responding to a question along the lines of Tapper's, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs singled out Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity.

Dustin Lance Black narrates a new documentary that exposes the financial backing of the Mormon Church in the campaign for Proposition 8. The project, "8: The Mormon Proposition," is directed by Reed Cowan and executive produced by Bruce Bastian. Tonight, Bruce Cohen and Gabriel Catone raise money at their home for the No on 1 campaign in Maine, where voters will go to the polls next month to decide on an initiative to repeal that state's same-sex marriage law.

You could see this coming from a mile away: Glenn Beck attacked the service initiative launched this week by the Entertainment Industry Foundation, involving a host of stars and shows, as something akin to Mao's China.

His main point is that the media, the TV networks and the Obama administration are in kahootz.

Lisa Paulsen, chief executive of the EIF, told the Los Angeles Times: "All of our political leaders have made national service a priority This is a nonpartisan initiative. I don't see that there's anything negative that can be taken from this in any way, shape or form, because it really is about true citizenship."

In fact, Obama appeared on Friday with former President George H.W. Bush at the Bush Library in Houston to promote the service initiatives of the current administration and that of the Point of Light Foundation.

Last week, I spoke with Leslie Lenkowsky, who was CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003. He shared a story of Bush calling on Americans to volunteer in his State of the Union address in 2002.

"Shortly after President Bush made his speech, I paid a call on Dick Armey, and Mr. Armey said that not only was he against AmeriCorps, but he was against the president asking Americans to volunteer," says Lenkowsky, now a professor at the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University in Bloomington. "His thinking was, if the president wants you to serve the country, he should draft you or leave you alone. It is appalling, but there always has been that libertarian streak."

The bigger question, Lenkowsky notes, is how effective the service initiative will be. His concern is that it will produce "episodic volunteering" (and that is an unintentional pun), rather than those who commit to service for long periods of time.

"The key question is what do they do for the long haul," he says. "It is not clear that the mass media, even well intentioned, is going to be very good at that."

"It may provoke some immediate responses, but they are likely to be short term."

EIF plans a multi-year program that also will engage movies and music, and it is working with Ashton Kutcher's Katalyst Media on a social networking component. One signal of the overall success of Obama's service initiatives could come in January, when the Census Bureau releases its latest figures on volunteerism.

During Lenkowsky's tenure in the White House, he says, they also engaged the industry with public service efforts, although not to the extent of the I Participate campaign. One challenge, he said, was that volunteering "sounds like something your grandmother did." That's perhaps why one of the latest buzzwords is "social entrepreneurship," a term that sounds a lot more cool even if it is likely to rouse Beckian suspicion.

There was speculation of who would succeed Dan Glickman well before he announced his departure from the MPAA on Sunday, but one of the more intriguing suggestions was Arnold Schwarzenegger.

His spokesman, Aaron McLear, dismissed such speculation without ruling it out. He said, via email, "The Governor is focused on solving the state's problems, not on what he may do when his term is up."

Expect plenty more names in the mix, just judging by the last time the MPAA looked for a new chief lobbyist to succeed Jack Valenti. Valenti had not even announced his retirement and one of the wilder prospects was that Bill Clinton would succeed him.

It's been rumored for months, but Dan Glickman now confirms that he'll be leaving his post as chairman of the Motion Picture Assn. of America.

He tells Politico he plans to depart when his contract expires in September 2010. He said that "my guess is that I’ll end up in the nonprofit or academic world. People who know me know I’ve had these great extracurricular interests that have been very significant in driving me.”

Glickman's low-key style was a contrast to that of his predecessor, Jack Valenti, the charismatic former Lyndon Johnson aide who led the trade association for almost 40 years before his retirement in 2004.

But Glickman, a former secretary of agriculture under Bill Clinton, also found a trade organization much different that it was during the 1960s, with studios now under the direction of conglomerates and with ever-more divergent agendas.

There also was some unhappiness that the industry was unable to secure tax breaks in this year's stimulus bill, after the provisions were pulled when Republican lawmakers complained of giving a special windfall to Hollywood producers. Nevertheless, Glickman and other MPAA officials pointed to what they called far more significant tax benefits for the industry that they secured in the bailout bill last year.

Glickman also has defended his tenure by citing increased federal antipiracy resources. The White House recently namedVictoria A. Espinel to be the first "copyright czar," a position mandated by a bill that passed last year. Glickman also cited efforts in states to offer greater incentives for filmmaking, including a package passed earlier this year in California.

Glickman, a former Democratic congressman from Kansas, assumed his post in a contentious period. In the midst of a Republican majority in Congress, GOP leaders expressed their unhappiness that a Democrat was tapped for the job and not a Republican. With an effort known as the K Street Project underway to fill lobbyist ranks with figures of the same political stripes, industry friendly tax provisions were blocked early in his tenure, with the suspicion that it was a kind of payback. 

Among the names floated as possible successors are former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) and Disney lobbyist Richard Bates. Politico cited California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose term will be ending next year, as another contender, as well as Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.). Also believed to be possibilities are the MPAA's COO, Robert Pisano, and its executive vice president, Michael O'Leary. The search for a successor is expected to be of intense interest in Los Angeles and Washington, as it is viewed as one of the prized lobbying posts for its prestige and perks.

But the transition also could lead to a rethinking of the MPAA's role in the current environment, as speculation has been that the trade association would be scaled back while studios rely more heavily on their own in-house lobbying teams.

Rumors surfaced in late February that Glickman was looking to exit his post after the board of the MPAA declined to renew his contract for a length of more than one year, according to sources. Studios also have cut the org's budget by 15% to 20%, forcing it to trim communications and lobbying staff and realign piracy efforts overseas. Glickman said that the cuts reflected the decline in the economy.

Former President George H.W. Bush, who appeared with President Obama at Texas A&M today, said that the current White House occupant is "entitled to civil treatment and intellectual honesty when it comes to critics."

But in an interview with CBS News, he also compared the discourse during Obama's term to that of his son's tenure, charging that "there are plenty of people on the left" who engage in just the kind of outrageous chatter that has come to define cable. He even singled out Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow as "sick puppies."

"The way they treat my son and anyone who's opposed to their point of view is just horrible," he said. "When our son was president they just hammered him mercilessly and I think obscenely a lot of the time and now its moved to a new president."

Where Bush is likely to find agreement with Obama is in the dismissal of cable news in general as a kind of white noise chatter, more annoyance than incormation. Obama has been pretty vocal on this, and his administration has been hardening their attacks on Fox News specifically. Today, White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton singled out Glenn Beck's attack on communications director Anita Dunn for calling Chairman Mao "one of her favorite political philosphers." (She says that the comment was meant to be ironic).

Burton said, "I caught some of that from the Glenn Beck show yesterday, but I don't think anybody takes it -- takes his attacks very seriously.  We're just -- you know, we go day to day in this White House trying to ensure that people know the truth about the policies and programs and positions that the President holds, and we're going to continue to do that."

I'm starting to think that even debates over the state of discourse are beginning to be white noise...

That, and other news, in today's Roundup and Recap.

Matt Damon taped a video for the State Department addressing the problem of chronic hunger, a spot that was recently released in conjunction with World Food Day. An official at Foggy Bottom says that the intent of the spot is to "explain the problem in a tangible way" and "one that communicates the importance of an issue to which the Administration is committed."

Among the protesters who showed up at President Obama's Thursday night fund-raiser for the DNC in San Francisco was Code Pink's Jodie Evans. But unlike the hundreds of others who were cordoned off outside the St. Francis Hotel, Evans was in the VIP reception with the president and got face-time with the commander in chief, pressing the case against a troop buildup in Afghanistan. The San Francisco Chronicle's Carla Marinucci reports, "When she told him that "women want a seat at the table" in wartime negotiations in that nation, Evans said he responded, "But we have Hillary Clinton.'' No, she said, you're not getting it: the women of Afghanistan want the seat. Upside: She and her fellow Code Pinker didn't even get arrested for peacefully presenting him with petitions from anti-war protesters. Downside: she paid $30,400 for the one-on-one, which works out to about $7,000 a minute." 

About 50 people protested Buju Banton at Hollywood's Cabana Club on Thursday, and Karen Ocamb writes that the reggae singer gave an interview with the Jamaican Observer in which he charged that someone pepper sprayed his appearance in San Francisco following a meeting with gay activists. And he has no plans to "surrender" to proposals that he donate to LGBT orgs. “I owe dem nothing, they don’t owe I nothing.”

Tina Brown's The Daily Beast has started a new site called The Giving Beast, highlighting philanthropic endeavors and service opportunities. The effort is being done in partnership with Global Philanthropy Group.

Pieces of the Berlin Wall have been installed along Wilshire Boulevard. To be exact, they are at 5900 Wilshire Boulevard, which happens to be our building here at Variety. The exhibit is part of the Wende Museum's commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the wall next month.

 

Flashbacks to 2008: Almost to the day of a Hollywood fund-raiser to raise money to beat back Proposition 8, some of the same organizers are staging another event to raise money for a similar effort to defeat an anti-same sex marriage ballot initiative in Maine.

Bruce Cohen and Chad Griffin are hosting a $250-per-person fund-raiser at Cohen and Gabriel Catone's Los Angeles home on Tuesday, with co-host levels at $1,000 per person and co-chairs at $5,000 per person. Also on the host committee are Katie and J.J. Abrams, David Bohnett, Wilson Cruz, Dana Delany, Michael Lombardo, Helen Hunt, Michele and Rob Reiner and Max Mutchnik and Erik Hyman, among others.

Griffin and Cohen organized a fund-raiser at the home of Ron Burkle last year that raised millions for the campaign to defeat Proposition 8. But it's been a challenge to raise money for Maine, both because of the proximity and the fact that it's an off-year election.

The campaign there has gained the support of Belinda Carlisle, who appears in this YouTube video where she urges contributions in honor of her son.

There's a protest against Buju Banton, who is performing at the Cabana Club in Hollywood this evening, after the reggae singer met with gay and lesbian bloggers and activists in San Francisco earlier this week. Included in that group was mayoral candidate Bevan Dufty, a San Francisco supervisor.

But Banton offered no apologies for past anti-gay lyrics, and the LGBT POV blog charges that it's provided some "cover" (a popular word tonight) for promoters to continue his tour dates. In other words, activists have been the victim of PR gamesmanship.

Next week, the networks will blanket the airwaves with messages about service and volunteerism, in a campaign coordinated by the Entertainment Industry Foundation and with the help of a bevy of celebrities delivering public service announcements and sitcoms and dramas incorporating themes in their shows' storylines.

But the motives behind some of Obama's service initiatives have come under scrutiny and suspicion in some conservative circles, including Big Hollywood, which has a series of posts today including one from John Nolte with the headline, "Leaked Memo Reveals: Obama Controls Your Television Set." The post is tied to a letter that EIF sent to showrunners citing Obama's call for "a new era of responsiblity" as inspiration for the campaign, which runs from Oct. 19-25 and includes more than 60 TV shows.

The campaign itself directs viewers to the website for IParticipate.org, where there are links to ways to sign up for volunteer activities, including links to the AARP site Create the Good and the Obama's administration's Serve.gov. IParticipate, spearheaded by Ashton Kutcher and his Katalyst Media, among others, is a star-studded site of celebrities like Faith Hill and Matthew McConaughey promoting the idea of service, but Nolte charges that the initiaitves are set up to follow a left of center agenda, "education, health, environment, the economy and lastly — almost as an afterthought as some kind of “bi-partisan” cover – support for military families." (Another post shows how the links to volunteerism leads to opportunities from Planned Parenthood and, somewhat bizarrely, Charlie Sheen describing 9/11 conspiracy theories).

Michelle Obama announced that EIF would undertake the campaign at a San Francisco rally last June, something that also has added to suspicions.

I haven't received any response yet from EIF, but the fact that these suspicions have been raised shouldn't come as much of a surprise. They are an outgrowth of the furor over President Obama's back-to-school message and the controversy over an NEA conference call on service. But it also has its seeds in an "I Pledge" video that Kutcher and Demi Moore created for the inauguration, in which they rounded up a host of celebrities to make pledges of service, something that Glenn Beck called "creepy." (In it, Moore pledges to be "a servant to our president.")

I'll have more on this tomorrow, but the concern among the organizers of the I Particpate initiative shouldn't be blogger-fueled madness and mirth (Richard Rushfield mocks it over at Gawker), but how the success of the campaign itself will be measured and whether it actually leads to an uptick in enduring volunteerism. I'm also skeptical of the ability to get a message through in this media environment, especially if it is in the form of standard PSA's or overly blatant messaging (remember all those 1980s era "very special episodes"?).

As for the stealth political agenda, Obama's United We Serve campaign will get some bipartisan cover on Friday when the president appears at the George H.W. Bush Presidential Libary in Houston to commemorate the anniversary of Bush's Point of Light Foundation.

An effort to pass a law requiring that broadcasters pay performers when their music is played over the air cleared another hurdle on Thursday as the legislation gained approval in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The House Judiciary Committee passed similar legislation in May, although it is unclear when the legislation will come to a floor vote in either chamber. The Senate Judiciary Committee reported the legislation in a voice vote, and senators indicated that they wanted to continue to work on a few items to refine the bill.

The legislation has triggered a bitter fight that has pitted artists and the recording industry, backed by a star-studded list of lobbying performers like Tony Bennett, Bono and Sheryl Crow, against broadcasters, who have not minced words in stating their opposition over the airwaves. Each side has amassed a bipartisan list of lawmakers to make their case.

Jennifer Bendall, executive director of the MusicFIRST Coalition, which is leading the lobbying effort in support of the legislation, said in a statement, “We are making unprecedented progress.  Two congressional committees have now approved a bill to create a fair performance right on radio. We ask broadcasters and the new leadership at the NAB to join with us.  Together we can create a performance right on radio that is fair to artists, musicians and rights holders, fair to other radio platforms that pay a performance royalty, and fair to AM and FM music radio.”

The National Assn. of Broadcasters has been waging a strong campaign to defeat the legislation, and today unveiled the results of a poll it conducted showing that 75% of Americans do not support a "performance fee." The NAB also says that 251 House lawmakers and 26 Senators oppose a "performance tax" on local radio stations. (Both sides have been in a dispute over the use of the term "tax" to characterize the legislation.)

Artists currently are not compensated when their songs are played over the airwaves, but songwriters are. Their efforts to pass such a bill extends back generations, and the victory in the Judiciary Committee is a significant step forward as previous efforts have stalled. Broadcasters argue that such payments will be devastating to stations already struggling in a sluggish ad market, and that it ignores the promotional value that free radio airplay provides.

Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who introduced the bill in February along with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), said in a statement, “We will still have a lot of work to do and I strongly encourage the National Association of Broadcasters to work with us, work with the artists and the music industry, and help us reach an agreement that protects broadcasters while ensuring that artists are compensated fairly.”

Leahy introduced an amendment that allows smaller and noncommercial radio stations to pay a flat fee based on their gross revnues, an effort to address concerns that the Performance Rights Act would force some broadcasters off the air or into the red.

Leahy's amendment also includes provisions to ensure that the Performance Rights Act doesn't cut into the existing royalties for songwriters, as well as another provision to make sure that artists "actually receive their share of royalties when their music is played." Record labels also would receive a share of the royalties under the bill.

Leahy said, "Record labels often hold the property right in the sound recording, and they deserve to be compensated, but we all want to ensure that the artists receive their compensation, too.  I commend the recording industry for working with us on this issue to protect the artists whose music we all love to hear." 

U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker has delivered victory after victory so far in Ted Olson and David Boies' challenge to Proposition 8, the latest being today's decision that rejected efforts to dismiss the case.

Walker said that "serious questions" are raised and that the court is "inclined to proceed directly and expeditiously to the merits of the plaintiffs' claims."

Walker declined Olson and Boies' request to issue an injunction in the case, but instead said that he wanted to move speedily to trial, one that now is scheduled to begin in January, a short time frame from when the suit was originally filed in May. Walker also has rejected efforts by other gay organizations to join the case, and just a couple weeks ago ruled in favor of Olson and Boies' request that Prop 8 campaign records be opened for discovery.

At Wednesday's two-hour hearing, Walker even seemed to ridicule the arguments made by Chuck Cooper, who is representing backers of Prop 8.

From the Wall Street Journal's Law Blog: "Many of the arguments discussed for two hours in court on Wednesday centered on the more philosophical issue of why the government would be in the business of sanctioning marriages at all. Cooper argued that marriage existed to support and to encourage “natural procreation” – something that gay couples can’t do.

"Judge Walker scoffed at that idea, saying the last wedding he officiated was between people aged 95 and 83. “I did not demand that they prove they intended to engage in procreation,” he said."

According to the Journal, Cooper also couldn't provide proof that same-sex marriages harm society.

When he was first appointed chief judge, Walker was regarded as an "independent minded conservative," first tapped for the federal court by George H.W. Bush. 

What does all this prove? Well, surely an appeal (and the fodder for it) if he ultimately rules in favor of Prop 8 opponents. He's already stirring charges of "judicial harrassment," as evidenced from this National Review post by Maggie Gallagher, a leader in the traditional marriage fight.

That, and other news, in today's Roundup and Recap.

George W. Bush, Laura Bush, Hank Paulsen and Donald Rumsfeld all have memoirs scheduled for next year, a prospect that could haunt Republicans gearing up for what could "haunt" the GOP, Politico reports. While the memoirs undoubtedly will provide a forum for administration figures to shore up their legacies, they could just as easily remind voters of the Bush years at a time the party is looking for success in the midterms. Many a Democratic candidate will certainly jump on anti-Bush sentiment as a way to counter criticism of Obama's handling of the economy and other issues. The Paulsen memoir, in fact, may be the one cited most often by Democratic contenders seeking to reinforce the point that Obama inherited a mess.

In San Francisco, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker is expected to issue a ruling around 1 p.m. on whether to throw out a lawsuit that seeks to overturn Proposition 8. Champions of the proposition argue that the case essentially has been decided by prior court rulings and the vote to approve the ban on gay marriage in California last year. The federal suit is being argued by Ted Olson and David Boies and is backed by a group of entertainment industry activists. Update: Walker rejected efforts to dismiss the case.

Just what is the Obama administration's strategy in taking on Fox News? Time's James Poniewozik lays out the rationales for openly attacking the outlet in the face of evidence that all it does is increase the channel's ratings. He writes, "Politically, you would think that the White House seeks to gain something from a fight, since Fox News probably is."

Jon Stewart compares Fox News' coverage of the tea party rally at the Capitol last month to their coverage of the National Equality March. Some marchers wondered how Fox would characterize the march the next day, and the answer apparently was, well, not much of anything at all. Actually, Stewart's best riff is on MSNBC's decision to end its coverage of the march in favor of a documentary called "Honeymoon in Hell." Stewart: "Be careful what you wish for."

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Queer and Loathing in D.C.
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Ron Paul Interview

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Queer and Loathing in D.C. - Radical Gay Agenda
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Ron Paul Interview

Update: At Pajamas Media, Roger L. Simon challenges the notion that gay rights are a left-right issue.

Twitter lit up with a flurry of activity this afternoon after TMZ posted three pictures from three different incidents of California's First Lady Maria Shriver driving while talking on a cell phone, in violation of a law that is perhaps ignored more often than jay walking.

Then her husband got wind of it via Harvey Levin and tweeted, "Thanks for bringing her violations to my attention, @harveylevintmz. There's going to be swift action."

I've personally given up talking on the cell phone while driving, even hands free, although the far more dangerous texting has been a hard habit to break. I have a feeling that this is essentially a TMZ shot across the bow to all of the DC officials who have been warning of the dangers of texting while driving.

Jose Feliciano, Marc Anthony, Pete Escovedo, Los Lobos and Gloria Estefan were among the performers on hand as the White House celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month this evening with a Fiesta Latino concert on the South Lawn.

The event  --- which had President Obama wiggling his hips and taking to the dance floor (albeit not in Tom DeLay fashion) --- marked another in a series of concerts at the White House this year as the administration tries to bolster the visibility of the arts.

Hosts were Jimmy Smits, Eva Longoria Parker and George Lopez.

Obama said, per the AP, "In the end, what makes Latin music great is the same thing that's always made America great. The unique ability to celebrate our differences while creating something new."

Earlier in the day, Longoria Parker appeared at a Capitol Hill press conference along with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, right, and members of the National Museum of the American Latino Commission to discuss plans for a museum project in Washington.

The New York Times Jon Pareles reviewed the concert, writing, "coalition-building came with dance steps, sequins and plenty of rhythm is here." He also cited Lopez's quip, “While we have been in here, Lou Dobbs has petitioned to build a wall around this tent.”

Is this much of a surprise? No. 1 on GQ's just released list of 50 most powerful people in Washington is White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.

The mag says, in a list just posted on GQ.com, "He knows procedure, he's ruthlessly pragmatic about what is politically achievable, and he knows how and when to twist arms and call in the many favors he's owed. All of which has helped him wrangle fence-sitters when it came to ponying up for the stimulus package, negotiate with the Senate Finance Committee on health care, and keep the liberal and conservative elements of his own party in line."

All people with the last name "Obama" and "Biden" were stricken from the list, eliminating the obvious choices. But as Politico points out, the day-to-day face of the administration, Robert Gibbs, is not anywhere to be found.

What's most noticeable is the influx of new names, reflecting the obvious shift of power in the past year. That still didn't keep Dick Cheney from ranking No. 9, after being ineligible from previous lists.

Among media types, Jane Mayer of the New Yorker and Scott Shane of the New York Times rank No. 27, The mag writes, "Their work has impacted our detention policies and, whether they'd admit it or not, forced the hand of the Obama administration to release the torture memos. Call them journalists, advocates, or pains in the ass of power, what they do is essential."

George Stephanopoulous is the only on-air journalist to make it, ranking No. 31. "The questions he asks—whether informed by his regular conversations with his old pal Rahm or not—are much tougher and more forward-looking than those you get on the other Sunday shows."

Other notables: Paul Rieckhoff, founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, at No. 37; Bob Cohn, editorial director of The Atlantic.com, at No. 39; White House social secretary Desiree Rogers, at No. 40; Politico editor in chief John Harris, at No. 43; lawyer Robert Barnett, at No. 44; SCOTUSblog founder Tom Goldstein, at No. 45; and restaurateur Ashok Bajaj is No. 47.

As a reminder that in D.C. power is not always about politics, Washington Capitals hockey player Alexander Ovechkin ranks No. 48.

GQ is feting the honorees this evening at 701 Restaurant in D.C, with the list featured in their upcoming November issue.

Updated

That, and other news, in today's Roundup and Recap.

While I was out last week, there was a steady stream of analysis of "Saturday Night Live" and its satirical turn against President Obama, with Fred Armisen portraying him as all talk, no action. The wisdom: It was a late-night, comedic turning point, one that could be potentially damaging to the president as it would set in stone a caricature in much the same way that Chevy Chase created the impression that Gerald Ford was a klutz or Tina Fey solidified the image that Sarah Palin was in over her head. The Nobel Peace Prize only reinforced the impression, as evidenced by the "SNL" skit over the past weekend.

But was this really a late-night turning point, a signal that Obama will now be subjected to endless punchlines about giving great speeches but never delivering? What struck me is that the "SNL" skit, far from setting an agenda, followed humor that was already out there, including that from the show itself. During the campaign, you may remember, Armisen's Obama was the charmed-life upstart to Amy Poehler's straight-A, Tracy Flick-like Hillary Clinton.

So perhaps we're reading too much into this, a view reflected by Jon Stewart last night, who spect considerable time mocking CNN for going so far as to "fact check" the skit while ignoring more in-depth coverage of other stories, including the National Equality March.

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Reggae singer Buju Banton, whose anti-gay lyrics in one of his early standards have ignited protests as he has tried to stage concerts throughout the country, met with gay leaders and bloggers in San Francisco on Monday. Blogger Michael Petrelis was there, and writes that the singer rejected many of their suggestions, including that he sing "about loving gay people." All were rejected. Petrelis writes, "While there certainly was little movement on his part, and we didn't agree to tell any other gays to stop protesting his concert tour or suggesting he do more to confront the terrible, and sometimes deadly, anti-gay violence in Jamaica, we felt it was a very positive step forward that the meeting took place."

Jim Key, spokesman for the LA Gay & Lesbian Center, which had spearheaded efforts to get AEG to cancel Banton concerts in Los Angeles, sees it as a P.R. stunt. He e-mails, "If I were in the group of folks who met with him, I’d be very cautious about touting that meeting as an important first step, since Buju apparently offered no apology and not even a promise to never again sing “Boom, Bye Bye.” 

"Now, however, Buju’s management can tell promoters and club owners who are considering whether or not to cancel his concerts, that the singer is meeting with gay activists to make amends.  The meeting sounds like nothing more than a PR victory from a singer desperate to perform here, while maintaining his anti-gay cred back home."

Here's a different view on the National Equality March from Jacob Bernstein at the Daily Beast. He writes that the march was "as if the entire gay contingent of the Equinox Fitness chain had stormed Washington with the hipsters of Williamsburg."

Meanwhile, blogger Andrew Sullivan called on the Human Rights Campaign's Joe Solmonese to resign, charging that he's been co-opted by the Democratic Party and has given away leverage in negotiating for gay rights. Appearing at a sparsely attended vigil for HIV and AIDS on the National Mall on Saturday, Sullivan also noted that the low turnout was unfortunate in that it showed there was more interest in attending the HRC dinner and seeing, among other people, Lady Gaga.

Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Isabel Allende and Emmitt Smith are among those expected tonight at the Free the Slaves Freedom Awards this evening at USC. The event recognizes the efforts of activists to curb human trafficking around the world. The event will be followed by the Freedom Rocks concert featuring performances including Alex Band.

Updated

As I mentioned earlier, Gov. Arnold Scharzenegger signed into law a bill declaring May 22 as Harvey Milk Day in California. He vetoed virtually the same bill a year ago.

Why the reversal?

The governor's spokesman, Aaron McLear, told the New York Times that the movie "Milk" influenced his change of heart.

“Harvey Milk symbolizes the importance of the gay community in California. And the governor wanted to honor that community. A well-known film brought awareness of him.”

Schwarzenegger also inducted Milk into the California Hall of Fame this year, and the late gay rights activist was honored at the White House last summer with the National Medal of Freedom.

State Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), who introduced the bill, said in a statement, “I am pleased the Governor recognized the historic and international nature of Harvey Milk’s contributions and legacy. Milk is an inspiration to people worldwide who believe in fairness and equality and he fought for many of the issues we value today, including access to education, public transportation, affordable housing and protecting the environment.”

Here's Sean Penn urging Schwarzenegger to sign the bill at an appearance in San Francisco on May 22 of this year.

The backlash has started, with social conservatives declaring that Schwarzenegger caved in to his Hollywood friends. Karen Ocamb of LGBT POV reports on the response of Karen England of the Capitol Resource Institute. England said in a statement:

“We don’t know why the governor suddenly changed his mind and decided to impose a radical social agenda in every classroom. One possible explanation is the influence of the governor’s Hollywood friends. After a biopic on Milk received Academy Award recognition earlier this year, Hollywood political activists began lobbying the governor to sign the resurrected Harvey Milk Day bill. It seems that the governor places more value in the opinion of his Hollywood friends and their values than the values of the people who voted him into office……

Parents are outraged that their young children — including kindergarteners — will be forced to participate in activities ‘commemorating’ the life of a man known for his sexuality. Parents and voters are deeply disappointed and outraged by the governor’s signing of these two unnecessary, agenda-pushing bills.”

That, and other news, in today's Roundup and Recap.

I'm back from a week-long, refreshing break, spent in the painted forest that is Vermont this time of year. I want to thank Joshua Marks for all the great posting he's done in the past week, one that, as usual, was quite eventful.

In the Washington Post today, Howard Kurtz compares the storm of coverage about the Letterman infidelity to the dearth of continuing coverage over John Ensign, the Nevada senator whose extramarital affair with an aide's wife has even produced serious questions of whether he tried to payoff the cuckolded husband in exchange for silence.

Kurtz writes, "The Ensign story is complicated and not very visual. Letterman is far more famous. So the comic is turned into media fodder and the officeholder largely stays under the radar." 

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill last night declaring May 22 as Harvey Milk Day in the state. It won't be a holiday, but the legislation recommends that teachers include Milk's legacy as part of their lesson plans. Sean Penn and others associated with the movie "Milk" were among those who publicly campaigned for its passage. Karen Ocamb of LGBT POV also reports that the governor also signed a a bill recognizing out-of-state same-sex marriages performed when they were still legal in the state. The bill also gives those couple married in states that allow same-sex nuptials to receive domestic partnership benefits when they are in California.

Meanwhile, in Time, the always great writer John Cloud has some perspective on whether Sunday's National Equality March will have resonance beyond a D.C. weekend that has the crowds singing "Let the Sunshine In" to the cast of "Hair." He also cites Milk (and the movie "Milk") as an inspiration for marchers who turned up in droves.

Disheartened journalists take note of my friend M.E. Sprengelmeyer, a former Rocky Mountain News correspondent in Washington. The New York Times profiles M.E.'s latest career move today, which was to buy a small New Mexico newspaper --- the Guadalupe County Commissioner, circulation 2,000 --- and transform it into a serious journalistic enterprise. There's long, long hours, but it sounds like he's having a blast.

Of all the dozens of speakers at a rally following the National Equality March today, Lady Gaga was perhaps the most critical of President Obama.

"Obama, I know you are listening," she said on the West Lawn of the Capitol, before shouting, at the top of her lungs, "'Are you listening?' We will continue to push you and your administration to bring your words of promise to a reality."

That stood in contrast to the rousing reception that Obama received on Saturday night when he addressed a black tie Human Rights Campaign gala at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, where he vowed to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell, to sign hate crimes legislation and to work toward repealing the Defense of Marriage Act.  The crowd of donors, celebrities and activists there often stood up in excitement.

Obama also quipped that he was the opening act for Lady Gaga. How right he was.

The National Equality March was less about changing minds that it was energizing a new breed of activist in the gay rights movement --- younger, more aggressive, more dispersed and more impatient with the political establishment. As such, more than a few speakers were skeptical of Obama's promises, or insistent on holding him to his word.

I wasn't able to make the march; after being on vacation with my husband all last week, we had to change our plans at the last minute.

But from what I saw, its success was in what it was not: Slickly produced. That made it all the more genuine, from the spartan stage to the online mobilizing. This was grassroots to the point that even 10 days ago, organizers had little idea of just how many people would show up. Established gay organizations were reluctant to sign on at first, and many bloggers harbored doubts from the start that the team could pull it off. But initial estimates ranged from 150,000 to 200,000, filling the streets of Washington from Dupont Circle to the Capitol.

Mindful of the lavish concert staged on the Mall in 2000 1999, organizers downplayed entertainment figures in favor of an eclectic mix of activists, many of them new to the gay rights movement in the furor following the passage of Proposition 8.

The co-director of the march, Robin McGehee, wasn't even known much beyond Fresno before the election last year. Reflecting the relative lack of resources (there was a $250,000 budget), she even gave a shout out to her parents during her speech as they were unable to afford to make the trip.

Despite the simple nature of the event, that didn't mean that it was show biz free, and some of the most eloquent words came from Dustin Lance Black, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Milk," as well as Cynthia Nixon, who said, "It is time for us to make the president move beyond words....The right sentiment just isn't enough anymore." And the cast of "Hair" singing the song "Let the Sunshine In," near the event's coda, seemed especially fitting.

David Mixner, the author and activist who first suggested the idea for the march on his blog in May, was particularly adept in linking the host of concerns under the umbrella of equality for all. It's counterintuitive to stage a national event of this size with no snappy one liner. But perhaps that is just the point, especially if the goal is to create groups of activists organically in all 435 congressional districts.

It's never easy to measure the ultimate impact of an event like this. Perhaps it will be at the ballot box: Next month, voters in Maine and Washington state will decide whether to restrict same-sex relationships. Or it will be in the actions of Obama, who in so forcefully promising that he would end Don't Ask, Don't Tell may have spared himself stronger words of criticism at the rally but also has only increased the pressure on his administration to do something soon.

The success also may be in the ability to create a sense of momentum in an off-year and during a dire economy. That in and of itself is no easy task, and certainly would be enough to counter criticism that the whole event was a waste of time.

Other posts: HRC's Washington building is tagged...The cast of "Hair" skips matinee performance to attend the march.

This will be my last post before Ted Johnson returns. I'd like to thank Ted for allowing me the opportunity to take the reigns of Wilshire & Washington while he was gone. It has been an honor and a privilege.

This week one D.C. institution lost its beloved founder while another new institution got off to a star-studded start.

On Wednesday Ben's Chili Bowl Founder Ben Ali, 82, died of congestive heart failure at his home in the District. For those unfamiliar with the legendary diner on the U St. corridor of Northwest Washington, D.C. since 1958, it has seen famous politicos and celebrities pass through its doors along with its reputation as a spot where longtime local working class D.C. folk mix with newly arrived hipsters and tourists alike.

In addition to the cozy atmosphere, the food of course is a big draw with the best chili dogs, half-smokes and milkshakes in town. Quick side note -- I used to work at the music venue the 9:30 Club a few blocks down from Ben's Chili Bowl and can personally vouch for the chili dogs.

Ben Ali, who immigrated from Trinidad, welcomed famous faces such as Bill Cosby, Denzel Washington, Chris Tucker, Bono and Shaquille O'Neal.

Ted Koppel held his "Nightline" farewell party in 2005 at the diner and Hillary Rodham Clinton could be spotted there.

But perhaps Ali's most famous guest was President Obama, who made a scene when he stopped by for a bite to eat earlier this year.

Also, scenes from "The Pelican Brief" and "State of Play" were filmed in the restaurant.

The Washington Post has a great photo gallery of Ben's Chili Bowl through the years. 

On Thursday, D.C. held a Hollywood-style bash to celebrate the reopening of the historic Hotel Washington as the W Hotel. 

The hotel, built in 1917, offers spectacular views of the White House and the Washington Monument but was falling into disrepair before the renovation which turned the building into the W Hotel. 

The opening party included stars such as singer John Legend, actresses Emmy Rossum and Tatyana Ali, and basketball player Robert Horry. 

Legend performed at the event.

Some might recognize the Hotel Washington from "The Godfather II" in the memorable scene between Diane Keaton and Al Pacino in which they have an epic argument over birthing the future of the Corleone family.

-- Josh Marks

Obama's surprise Nobel Peace Prize win announced today is sure to ratchet up the global media attention focused on Oslo, Norway for the ceremony at Oslo City Hall on Dec. 10 -- the date the award's namesake Alfred Nobel died.

Hollywood stars were already heading to the Scandinavian city for the 16th annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert on Dec. 11, but with Obama's win there will be extra significance to the festivities.

As first reported Sept. 29 on People.com, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith will co-host the concert. The show at the Oslo Spektrum will include performances by Wyclef Jean, Toby Keith and Donna Summer with more announcements to come.

It has already been widely publicized that Obama would like Smith to play him in a future movie about his life.

"If I am ordered by my commander in chief to star in a film about him, I will do my duty as an American," Smith told The Daily Telegraph at the London premiere of "Seven Pounds" in January.

-- Josh Marks

TIME Magazine's White House correspondent Michael Scherer reports on the Obama administration's more aggressive stance towards the media in the new issue hitting newsstands tomorrow and posted to the website this morning.

The White House, led by interim Communications Director Anita Dunn, is going on the attack after a summer that saw in their view jaw-dropping moments of irresponsible reporting by the mainstream media.

Here is an excerpt:

"All the criticism, both fair and misleading, took a toll, regularly knocking the White House off message. So a new White House strategy has emerged; rather than just giving reporters ammunition to ‘fact-check’ Obama’s many critics, the White House decided it would become a player, issuing biting attacks on those pundits, politicians and outlets that make what the White House believes to be misleading or simply false claims, like the assertion that health-care reform would establish new "sex clinics" in schools. Obama, fresh from his vacation on Martha's Vineyard, cheered on the effort, telling his aides he wanted to "call 'em out."

Could this more muscular White House partly be a reaction to the media's portrayal of Obama as compromising too easily on the big issues?

And while the administration is calling out the press, will they bring out the boxing gloves when it comes to congressional Republican obstructionism and intransigence on health care reform and climate change legislation?

The end of the TIME story might provide a hint:

"After eight months at the White House, the days of nonpartisan harmony are long gone — it's Us against Them. And the Obama Administration is playing to win."

-- Josh Marks