The Sleuth

For Journalists, Michelle Obama's G-8 Hostess Has the Mostess

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:09:00 -0500

From left to right, Michelle Obama, Filippa Reinfeldt, wife of Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, and Italian Equal Opportunities Minister Mara Carfagna at the Capitoline Museums in Rome. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis) Even though Michelle Obama is keeping a relatively low profile during her trip to Italy this week, her official escort is making quite a media splash as a mini-soap opera unfolds around the first ladies of the Group of Eight. Mrs. Obama and other wives of the G-8 leaders are being led around by Mara Carfagna, the head-turning former topless model-turned-Italian government official. Carfagna, who holds the title of equal opportunities minister, is helping to fill the role that traditionally would be played by Italy's first lady, Veronica Lario. But Lario has filed for divorce from Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, accusing him of philandering, and is boycotting the G-8 summit. So Carfagna, 33, was tapped by Berlusconi to play

Pelosi: No Debate on Michael Jackson Resolution

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:53:40 -0500

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has ruled out House consideration of a resolution memorializing Michael Jackson. Asked this morning whether the resolution sponsored by Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and Diane Watson (D-Calif.) should be brought to the House floor, Pelosi paused and then said very quietly, "Michael Jackson was a great, great performer. Lots of sadness there for many reasons." But, Pelosi continued, members do have the opportunity to "offer sympathy or praise" for whomever they want on the House floor when they wish (presumably during floor speeches at the beginning and end of each day), so no legislation is required. "I don't think it's necessary for us to have a resolution," Pelosi said, because in the case of Jackson, such a debate would be opened up to "contrary" views. The most glaring of those contrary views comes from Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), who lambasted the pop superstar last

Rep. Slaughter's Cameo In Terrorist-Tracking Reality Show

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:11:47 -0500

Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) will be surrounded by three hot beefcakes in an upcoming episode of the new NBC show titled "The Wanted," the Sleuth has learned. The controversial series, which premieres July 20, chronicles a Navy SEAL, a Green Beret and a journalist -- three good-looking, buff guys straight out of Central Casting, though apparently they are real-life people -- as they chase down Muslim extremists and other international criminals who are living below the radar in the United States. In a trailer of the series, Congresswoman Slaughter, who originally hails from Kentucky, delivers this riveting line in her Bluegrass State accent: "How could our government ever have allowed this to happen?" Slaughter, the chairwoman of the House Rules Committee, made her way into the series when the producers of the show were investigating the case of a suspected Rwandan war criminal who at some point was living in

Rep. Burton Feeling Vindicated By Fed Security Breaches

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:28:26 -0500

Sarah Palin had her "told ya so" moment. And now Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) is having his. The Sleuth and others lampooned Burton a few weeks ago for trying to offer a measure that would analyze the benefits of building a protective shield around the House chamber "so that somebody can't throw a bomb down on the floor and kill a lot of us." As we reported at the time, Burton laid out a detailed scenario to the House Rules Committee of how terrorists could blow up the House chamber. "Members of the committee stared at Burton dumbfounded, according to sources in the room, as if wondering to themselves how to delicately explain to the Indiana Republican that he may be more in need of Xanax than Plexiglas," we wrote. But today Burton is feeling vindicated. He cites a shocking new federal watchdog report detailing how investigators easily smuggled

House Resolution Would Memorialize Jackson

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:35:54 -0500

It'll be interesting to see how the votes shake out on a House resolution offered by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) to honor Michael Jackson. Speaking today at the pop icon's funeral, Jackson Lee (who is no relation to the late singer) held up a copy of her resolution and said it will be debated on the House floor. The measure will hail Jackson as "an American legend, a musical icon and a world humanitarian," she said. The lengthy resolution, which includes 44 separate "whereas" clauses, chronicles Jackson's career and accomplishments from his days as a baby-faced member of the "Jackson 5" to his rise as the "King of Pop" with such explosive hits as "Thriller," "Billie Jean" and "Beat It." The measure also notes some of Jackson's more obscure humanitarian work, including these clauses: Whereas in December 1991, Michael's office MJJ Productions donated more than 200 turkey dinners to

Sarah Palin, On Quitting

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:10:18 -0500

The Politician Formerly Known as Sarah Barracuda says if she dies politically, no biggie. "If I die, I die. So be it," outgoing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said in an interview broadcast this morning on ABC's "Good Morning America," which you can read about it in its entirety, and watch video, here. Palin said she was surprised by the media frenzy over her stunning announcement last week that she's quitting as governor and possibly - likely, as we see it - throwing away her presidential aspirations. She never imagined it would be "such a darn big deal." "I said before ... 'You know, politically speaking, if I die, I die. So be it,'" Palin said. Other choice quotes from the ABC interview: - "Don't know what the future holds. I'm not gonna shut any door. That -- who knows what doors open. I can't predict what the next fish

Peter King Defends His Attack On Michael Jackson and Media

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:39:05 -0500

Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) says he never imagined the short Web video he made bashing the media for its round-the-clock coverage of Michael Jackson's death would go viral the way it has. The congressman said in a telephone interview this afternoon that when he typically sets up a news conference, "maybe one radio station shows up." Of the frenzied reaction over his Jackson video, he said, "I didn't get expect it would get this response...My God." In the video, which King posted on YouTube, the tough-talking, blue-collar Long Island pol calls Jackson a "pervert," a "child molester" and a "pedophile" and says the media has "disgraced itself" with its relentless coverage of the pop superstar's passing. King's video, which as of this afternoon had more than 22,600 views and had generated a spate of news stories, has infuriated die-hard Jackson fans. They have mobilized online to dethrone King, so

Reps. Kennedy and Sullivan Out of Rehab

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:11:02 -0500

Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), right, and John Sullivan (R-Okla.), left, are out of rehab and back on the job. (AP Photo/Tulsa World, Michael Wyke/Andrea Bruce / The Washington Post) Updated, 3:28 p.m. Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) and John Sullivan (R-Okla.), both of whom spent the past month in substance abuse treatment programs, are returning to Capitol Hill this week. An aide to Sullivan tells the Sleuth the Oklahoma congressman has completed his rehabilitation at the Betty Ford Center in California and has returned to work in his predominantly Christian conservative district, which is home to Oral Roberts University. Sullivan issued a letter today to his supporters, which was posted on his reelection campaign Web site, saying, "My time at the Betty Ford Center gave me the opportunity to reflect on my life and afforded me a clearer perspective on what is truly important: God, family, friends and service to others.

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Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:11:02 -0500

New Car Czar Deese Doesn't Drive American

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:00:14 -0500

Obama's new "car czar" Brian Deese. (Bloomberg News) Anyone interested in knowing what Brian Deese, the wunderkind tapped with revamping the nation's dying automotive industry, drives to work? We were very interested to learn what Deese doesn't drive. His nicely worn car isn't a Chevy. Or a Ford. Or a Dodge. Or any Big Three auto for that matter. Nope. Deese, the 31-year-old tour de force behind President Obama's Auto Task Force, has been seen tooling around town in a car that might make board members of General Motors shudder: He drives a Honda, whose manufacturer is based in Japan. One source describes Deese's car as an "old, old, old silver Honda Civic two-door hatchback." Another tells us Deese's two-toned Honda was never properly repainted after the new auto whiz got into an accident a few years ago. The car still has Connecticut plates, a relic of his recent days

Where Are They Now: Cynthia McKinney Strikes Again

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:41:24 -0500

Somehow we didn't think we had seen the last of Cynthia McKinney. The former controversial congresswoman from Georgia has resurfaced - on a boat in the Mediterranean Sea trying to deliver supplies to Gaza. Israeli forces arrested McKinney and other passengers on board the ship, according to a group called Free Gaza, which said on its Web site that McKinney and the others "have been illegally incarcerated for their solidarity work with Palestine." The Israeli Consulate General of Israel in Atlanta, however, accused McKinney and her fellow travelers of waging a "reckless political stunt." McKinney ran for president in 2008 as a Green Party candidate. She was defeated for reelection to the House in 2006, not long after she was accused of punching a Capitol Police officer who mistook her for a tourist. She had made a brief comeback after being defeated in 2002, at which time her father

French President Makes Michelle Obama his Cause Celebre

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:59:31 -0500

First lady Michelle Obama waves on June 6, 2009 in Colleville-sur-Mer during D-Day celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of the allied landings in France. (Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images) The White House is refusing to comment today on reports that first lady Michelle Obama got special treatment during her trip to France last month. Long after her departure, it seems, the first lady continues to be treated like a rock star -- or even like a princess -- in France, especially by President Nicolas Sarkozy. Sarkozy says he made special calls to get stores opened for Mrs. Obama when she took her daughters, Malia and Sasha, shopping in Paris during their trip last month. "Is it normal that when Mrs. Obama and her daughters, on a  Sunday, want to go shopping in Paris stores, I have to make a  call to get the shops to open?" Sarkozy said Tuesday during a speech 

Aide Comes to Sarah Palin's Defense

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:57:19 -0500

(AP Photo/Chris Miller, File) At least one former campaign aide to 2008 vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin is rushing to her defense in light of the lengthy and blistering profile of the Alaska governor in Vanity Fair. David Welch, a veteran campaign operative and behind-the-scenes researcher for the McCain-Palin campaign, takes issue with the anonymous quotes attributed to other former campaign aides in the magazine piece. Welch, who was deputy research director on the campaign, says he was "shocked" by the Vanity Fair article and the allegations made by former staffers. "Significant parts of the story are based on half truths and gossip from staffers who refused to go on the record," Welch said in a statement e-mailed to the Sleuth, which will be circulated more widely this afternoon. "Purdum did not include quotes from pro-Palin staffers (Mike Goldfarb, Randy Scheunemann have been outspoken in their support) - a clear

Two House Races, Made For Reality TV

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:01:02 -0500

Updated, 1:45 p.m. Is reality TV having a trickle-down effect on politics these days, or what? A fundraiser in San Diego for a Democratic candidate for Congress got so out of hand last weekend that police showed up, arrested the host of the fundraiser and used pepper spray on the partygoers. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a statement it has ordered an internal review of the handling of the incident. Meanwhile in New Hampshire, the mayor of Manchester, Frank Guinta, who is a highly touted Republican candidate for Congress, is being questioned for his involvement in a bar brawl that reportedly left one man's leg severely broken. Guinta is running to oust Rep. Carol Shea Porter, one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the country. Guinta was at the bar with his friends the Garrity brothers -- Mike Garrity, an alderman, and Pat Garrity, a

Report: John Edwards Faces New Questions About Paternity

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:37:09 -0500

It isn't just Republicans like John Ensign and Mark Sanford who are making headlines for political sex scandals these days. Democrat John Edwards' name has resurfaced, thanks to a report that Andrew Young, a former close aide, is writing a bombshell tell-all book. Oddly, the Sleuth has noticed, the subject of that former aide is so sensitive that Elizabeth Edwards couldn't bring herself to mention him by name in her recent best-selling book, "Resilience" -- the same position she took toward her husband's one-time mistress, Rielle Hunter, who also goes unnamed. "I will call him Jim," she writes of an aide she described as an "obsessed fan" whose "unbridled loyalty" to her husband and "willingness to do anything John wanted" obviously still rankle. That "pathetic" individual first started working with the Edwardses during John's 1998 Senate campaign, she writes, just as Young did. Former Edwards aides have stepped forward to

Sen. Kerry Clarifies Joke About Palin

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:09:36 -0500

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) would like to amend that little joke he made earlier this week about Sarah Palin when he said he wished it had been the Alaska governor who had gone missing instead of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford. "Too bad, if a governor had to go missing, it couldn't have been the governor of Alaska. You know, Sarah Palin," Kerry told a group of civic and business leaders on Tuesday, according to the Boston Herald. That, of course, was before he and the rest of us learned Sanford had lost himself in Argentina with his secret mistress. Conservative women rushed to Palin's defense after the Kerry joke. Ethel Fenig at American Thinker wrote, "Tee hee! Letterman, Kerry -- all afraid of strong, independent women! Kerry should find a job with David Letterman -- who would miss him?" Kerry's spokeswoman now tells The Sleuth the senator really didn't