Weiner Platform: A Kindle in Every Backpack

Disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner made news again last week with an announcement that he was exploring a run for mayor in New York City. Weiner's testing of the political winds continues this week with the release of his "platform" for the city's top job. His "Keys to the City" blueprint lists 64 "ideas" meant to transform and improve life in Gotham. One of Weiner's sillier ideas is to give every school kid a Kindle e-book reader. 15 Apr 2013

OFA Accepts Contribution from Mega-Lobbyist Teachers Union

Obama campaign veteran Jim Messina is heading up Organizing for Action, a non-profit using campaign tactics to promote the President's agenda. As a 501(c) 4, OFA can accept unlimited donations. Messina has promised that the organization wouldn't accept any contributions from "corporations or lobbyists." Information released Friday, however, reveals that OFA accepted a large in-kind contribution from the National Education Association, one of the nation's largest lobbying powerhouses. 13 Apr 2013

OFA Struggles to Attract Big Donors

Organizing for Action is a non-profit advocacy organization borne out of the Obama campaign infrastructure. Headed by veteran staff of Obama's reelection, the organization's mission is to use the resources that reelected Obama to promote his policy agenda. As a 501 c(4), it can accept unlimited donations. According to its 1st Quarter financials, however, it is struggling to attract the same big donors that fueled Obama's reelection. 13 Apr 2013

McAuliffe Under Fire for Inflated Jobs Claim

The centerpiece of Democrat Terry McAuliffe's campaign for VA Governor this year is his record as a businessman. This experience, he argues, gives him the experience to be able to create jobs in the commonwealth. New questions about past claims, however, are putting his full business record under closer scrutiny. 12 Apr 2013

NY Dems Just Not That Into Weiner Mayoral Run

Disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner told The New York Times this week that he was considering jumping into the race to succeed Michael Bloomberg as Mayor of New York City. It is an obvious trial balloon, to assess whether the public is prepared to forgive his public lies after inadvertently tweeting scandalous photos of himself. While his campaign would be a boon to late-night comics, one key group, his former colleagues in the NY Congressional delegation seem cool to the idea. 11 Apr 2013

CREW Wants McConnell Investigated, Not Alleged Illegal Recording

On Tuesday, Mother Jones "broke" audio of a meeting of Sen. Mitch McConnell's campaign aides discussing possible campaign messages against potential opponent Ashley Judd. It was a small glimpse inside the kind of conversations that have happened in every campaign office since the dawn of politics. McConnell is a Republican, however, so the media gave the story blanket coverage. On Thursday, lefty-watchdog group CREW asked the FBI to investigate the matter. The twist is that CREW thinks McConnell should be investigated, not the ones who made the illegal recording. 11 Apr 2013

Obama's $78 Billion Tax Hike on Low-Income Americans

Last year, a major study showed just how regressive tobacco taxes are: In New York, the state with the highest cigarette tax in the nation and in parts of which a pack of premium brand cigarettes can cost you over $10 per pack, low-income smokers "spent nearly 25 percent of their household income on cigarettes." 11 Apr 2013

Poll: Obama Approval Underwater

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC poll finds Obama's job approval continuing to slip in the months after his successful reelection. Today, only 47% of Americans approve of the job Obama is doing, while 48% disapprove. It is the first time his approval has been underwater since the middle of last year. 11 Apr 2013

Surprise: Democrats Like Federal Tax Code

I had always assumed that death and taxes, while inevitable, would both universally rank pretty low on popularity surveys. A new Washington Post/ABC poll does find that a strong majority of Americans pretty much hate the U.S. tax code, except for one interesting subgroup -- Democrats. A majority of Democrats, 53%, actually have a favorable view of our tax system, while just 43% have an unfavorable impression. 11 Apr 2013

Lt. Gov Candidate Snyder Breaks Mold With Attack on McAuliffe

Pete Snyder, successful businessman and tech entrepreneur, is in a 7-way primary for the GOP nomination for Lieutenant Governor in Virginia. Lt. Gov candidates often have a challenge in breaking through to the public. Snyder, however, has made two unorthodox moves that are garnering him attention and showing a fighting spirit that give him a lift in the nomination. His latest move is a highly-effective ad against likely Democrat Governor candidate Terry McAuliffe. 10 Apr 2013