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Obama's Capitol Swearing-In Area and Parade Viewing Stand Take Shape
Tweet Share on Facebook December 10, 2008 CommentBy Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers.
It won't be long now before Barack Obama places his hand on the Bible to be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States, and it appears that those building the podium on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol are keeping pace. Here are my latest shots of the construction. And if you look hard enough, you'll see the very tall but skinny Capitol Christmas Tree to the right of the West Front stairs.
I also went down to the White House, where the construction of Obama's parade reviewing stand and the press area across Pennsylvania Avenue are well underway. What's left: the interior seating, bulletproof glass, and presidential seal.
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Don't Ask, Don't Tell Advice for Obama: Hide the Change
Tweet Share on Facebook December 10, 2008 Comment (4)By Nikki Schwab, Washington Whispers.
A new report on the military came out today from the Center for American Progress and, not surprisingly, it called for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The document could be influential, as it is coming from the progressive think tank whose president, John Podesta, is being borrowed to serve as Barack Obama's transition team leader. But in reality, ditching the Clinton-era law could be politically dicey for Obama. While the president-elect has said he supports getting rid of it, retired Air Force Gen. Merrill McPeak, who supported Obama early on and helped beef up his national security cred, told Whispers previously that he thinks the ban should stay, and he's surely not alone.
In addition, with two wars raging, among other national security concerns, it may not be a big priority. "He has got a lot on his plate," Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha tells Whispers. "I'm not sure what his position will be." The two have yet to talk about it personally but Murtha says he's heard people chattering about it. "I'm sure they'll talk to me before they do anything," he assures us. If Obama does decide to tackle the challenge, CAP Senior Fellow and report coauthor Lawrence Korb suggests sticking the repeal into a bill with a whole bunch of other things. "Don't make it a focus," he tells Whispers. "Make it a whole thing about military readiness."
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Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff Praises the Press
Tweet Share on Facebook December 10, 2008 Comment (2)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is making his round of exit interviews with an unusual twist. He's complimenting the press. "I really appreciate the work that you do," he says. "It's very hard, I know, to understand and explain complicated issues, and I can't say I never have a complaint, but I do appreciate the work you do, and I think it's important." He follows the press closely. "For what it's worth, I do read the clips, and it's one of the ways in which I do manage the department, in the sense that it tells me things I've got to ask about. Now, sometimes the answer is the newspaper article was wrong, but sometimes the answer is the newspaper article is right. And sometimes that tells me there's something we need to fix," says Chertoff.
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President-Elect Obama Considering Doug Kmiec for Vatican Ambassador
Tweet Share on Facebook December 9, 2008 Comment (9)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers.
Here's a question being asked in Catholic circles: Should President-elect Barack Obama name an ambassador to the Holy See who didn't support his candidacy? If Obama wants to make the Vatican happy, he might, since he's pro-choice and anyone who endorsed him could be viewed as backing his position on abortion. It's an issue because Obama is said to be considering Doug Kmiec, a prominent conservative Catholic who endorsed Obama in the election, angering fellow conservative Catholics. A priest even refused Kmiec Communion because of his support for Obama. The debate will most likely continue for a while, since Obama is still filling out his cabinet. But if Kmiec is chosen, there is a winner in the Catholic world: the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a pro-religion legal defense firm. Kmiec is a board member, as was the current ambassador, Mary Ann Glendon.
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President-Elect Obama's Cabinet Picks Begin Selling Themselves to Senate
Tweet Share on Facebook December 9, 2008 Comment (2)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers.
Several of President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet nominees begin their trek to Capitol Hill today to launch their personal sales pitches to the Senate. Democratic aides said that two arrived today, one tomorrow, and two others are being scheduled. The meet and greet with Senate leaders is the key first step toward confirmation by the appropriate committees and full Senate, though there are no indications yet that the GOP plans to block any of Obama's choices. In fact, many Republicans have told Whispers that they want to hurry the votes so that they can get a look at what Obama plans to do legislatively.
According to the sources, Eric Holder, named as attorney general, was to be the first this week to meet with senators. He was slated to arrive today at 3 p.m. He was to be followed by Tim Geithner, named to run Treasury, at 4:30 p.m. Tomorrow, OMB pick Peter Orszag will gather with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other leaders at 2 p.m. And the Senate and Obama team are arranging courtesy call schedules for Janet Napolitano, named to head Homeland Security, and Sen. Hillary Clinton, Obama's pick for State, say the sources.
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Hillary Clinton's Mommy Pitches 'Hillary, the Book'
Tweet Share on Facebook December 9, 2008 Comment (12)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers.
One of the major stumbling blocks to Sen. Hillary Clinton winning confirmation to be President-elect Barack Obama's secretary of state is her multimillion-dollar presidential campaign debt. Well, now her mom, Dorothy Rodham, is weighing in, pitching a "wonderful book" about the senator that is geared to preteen girls. Even though Clinton stumbled in her bid for the White House, Rodham E-mails Whispers: "I'm so proud of everything my daughter has accomplished and excited about what her future holds. Her life is full of amazing achievements, and her story has inspired millions of people, especially young girls, to achieve their dreams, no matter what they are. There's a wonderful book about her life I'd like to share with you. It's called Hillary Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight, and it is the perfect way to share my daughter's story with a child you want to inspire." Take a look at that cover. She was one cute kid.
The goal of the effort, of course, is raising money. Here's what her mom tells us—and everyone else on the massive Clinton E-mail list: "As you know, Hillary is still working hard to pay down the debt from her campaign, and I hope you'll take this opportunity to help her out. With your contribution of $50, you will receive a copy of Dreams Taking Flight with a specially designed Hillary Clinton bookplate. And for that special person in your life, with a contribution of $250 or more, you will receive a book that's personally signed by Hillary to him or her by name. Contribute to help pay down Hillary's debt and we'll send you a copy of Hillary Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight. I know you're just as proud as I am of everything my daughter has achieved, and I want to thank you for everything you've done to support her!"
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Reporters Whine: Not Another Inauguration
Tweet Share on Facebook December 8, 2008 CommentBy Nikki Schwab, Washington Whispers.
If you thought covering the inauguration sounded like a plum assignment for a reporter, think again. A panel of inaugural planners and seasoned reporters told us journos today that they expect Barack Obama's inauguration to be cold, crowded, and most likely chaotic, as several million Americans swarm Washington, D.C., to catch a glimpse of the first black president being sworn in. The biggest issue? Transportation. "The Metro will be a frightening nightmare," says Jim Carroll of the Louisville Courier-Journal, a reporter who has covered inaugurations since the '80s and is familiar with Washington's already overly crowded subway system. Driving was also discouraged, making walking the only seemingly viable option. "Probably more important than what your stories are is how you're going to get from where you live to where you're working that day—and the answer is probably your feet," warns Carole Florman, communications director for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. "Or sleeping in your office the night before, which is what we're all going to do," she adds.
Panelists also advised those journalists lucky enough to get credentials for the main event that they should arrive earlier then most of the public, say 6 a.m., which means braving the cold for a cool six hours before Obama is sworn in. Reporters should bring pencils (ballpoint pens don't work in the bitter cold), wear long underwear, and know where the nearest phones are in case cellular service becomes spotty, although Verizon is beefing up coverage in D.C. for the event. In addition, thermoses and umbrellas aren't permitted, and there will be no power cords for the press, so forget using that laptop. And the last bit of advice? "Have fun," says Carroll. "You're going to be witnessing a piece of history, and it'll be over before you know it."
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CNN's Political Anchor Wolf Blitzer Is Taking Weekends Off
Tweet Share on Facebook December 8, 2008 Comment (11)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers.
There's big news at CNN today, but it's not just that ace political reporter John King is taking over on Sundays with four hours of political and news coverage. It's that the guy who has owned that space for 11 years is taking a breather. Yes, CNN's 24-7 anchor and reporter Wolf Blitzer is going to take weekends off beginning next year. "It's bittersweet," Wolf tells me. But it's welcome news. "It works for me because I can go back and play tennis on Sunday mornings," he says. What's more, Blitzer, a sports nut with tickets to the Nationals, Redskins, Wizards, and GW Colonials, will finally make it on time for the opening plays. "I'll finally get to see a kickoff," he says.
We hear that Wolf leaves at the top of his game: His Sunday show, Late Edition, is currently winning the TV ratings for the quarter and is one of the highest-rated cable shows every weekend.
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And he's not going anywhere. CNN reupped him for four years, and he will remain the cable's lead political anchor through the next presidential election. He will also keep his weekday No. 1-rated show The Situation Room, which he plans to expand. "I don't want to go anyplace else," he says. "I'm very happy."
Friends say that the weekend change was an easy one for Blitzer. In fact, they say that Wolf was the first to suggest that it was time for a new face to take over. "He said we need to freshen up the look on Sunday," says one ally.
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Arizona State University Beats Competition to Hire the Washington Post's Len Downie
Tweet Share on Facebook December 8, 2008 Comment (2)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers.
After 17 years inside the beltway as the Washington Post's executive editor, Leonard Downie Jr. has decided to head west, where later today he will be named a faculty member of Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Downie, who won more Pulitzer Prizes under his reign than any other editor in history, will begin teaching in August at the school's new downtown Phoenix campus. It's a major coup for school president Michael Crow and Cronkite Dean Christopher Callahan, who have recently pushed competing J schools away to snag hot properties like former CNN anchor Aaron Brown, Minneapolis Star Tribune editor Tim McGuire, former BET vice president Retha Hill, and syndicated Chicago Tribune columnist Andrew Leckey.
In a release going out later today but provided in advance to Washington Whispers, Downie says, "I look forward to working with them to prepare tomorrow's professional journalists at a time of extraordinary change and challenge in the news media. I hope to play a role in ensuring that enterprising and ethical journalism that holds the powerful accountable will survive and prosper in the new media age. As a state university graduate who owes much to public education, I am also pleased to help carry on that mission for a new generation of students at ASU."
Downie, an Ohio State University grad, will be the Weil Family Professor of Journalism at the school named after the legendary CBS anchor. ASU Prez Crow says Downie represents "the very best of American journalism." Callahan called Downie "simply the finest newspaper editor of our era."
Callahan, Whispers readers will recall, took the job a few years back after being wooed away from the University of Maryland by Cronkite himself. And full disclosure: Callahan and I came to Washington on the same day to work for the old States News Service in 1983 and drove to many Baltimore Orioles games in "Blue," his V-8 junker, when the team was good.
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Press in a Frenzy Over Obama Inauguration
Tweet Share on Facebook December 7, 2008 Comment (6)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers.
It isn't just the public that's in a frenzy for tickets to attend Barack Obama's inauguration. So are the media. Whispers hears that applications to cover the January 20 event are 10 times higher than for past inaugurations. So far, 2,400 to 3,000 news organizations, reporters, and photographers are begging for seats. It's still unclear how many seats will be available on the West Front of the Capitol, but it's in the hundreds, not thousands, say insiders.
