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Poll: Americans Say No to New Healthcare Taxes
Tweet Share on Facebook June 22, 2009 Comment (44)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
Americans are not keen on paying any new tax to fund healthcare reform and instead want Congress to cut programs to pay for the changes. In the new Whispers poll from Synovate eNation, 56 percent rejected new taxes while 29 percent said OK to sin taxes, 12 percent are willing to pay a soda tax, and just 3 percent agree with a tax on employer-paid health insurance.
Of note in the poll, low-income Americans rejected taxes at a higher rate than other groups, with 62 percent against new levies. And families making $75,000 or more favored sin taxes more than the other income groups.
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Miss USA Says Carrie Prejean's Book Plan Violated Contract
Tweet Share on Facebook June 22, 2009 Comment (20)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
Fired Miss California Carrie Prejean's claim that the contest organizers, including Donald Trump, knew she was writing a book about her ordeal are being countered today by lawyers for Miss California USA, who claim that they never gave the beauty queen the OK to move ahead with the project.
"There is no dispute that, although some discussions about the possible terms and conditions of a future agreement allowing Ms. Prejean to write a book were in progress," wrote lawyer Timothy Shields, the organizers never "gave written consent to any such book, print article, or similar publication. Accordingly, her participation in the admitted book deal unquestionably violates the contract and appears to be a knowing and deliberate violation."
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Reagan's Statue Hides His Message
Tweet Share on Facebook June 21, 2009 Comment (3)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
They are among Ronald Reagan's most inspirational words, spoken in 1992 at his last Republican National Convention appearance. "America's best days are yet to come. Our proudest moments are yet to be. Our most glorious achievements are just ahead." They were included on the pedestal of the new Reagan statue unveiled recently in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. But there's a problem. The back panel, where the words are chiseled, is so close to the wall that they are hard to see. Alerted, Capitol officials assure us that it will be fixed when the bronze is permanently placed. "It was placed in the Rotunda for the unveiling ceremony, and traditionally, after statues are unveiled, they can remain in the Rotunda for up to six months," says a spokeswoman. "When its final location is determined, we'll try to place it so its inscriptions can be read from all sides."
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Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony Want Attention From Washington
Tweet Share on Facebook June 20, 2009 Comment (8)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
The parade of celebs eager to bring their activism to Washington might soon have new entrants: Jennifer Lopez and hubby Marc Anthony. Friends tell us that the stars are interested in drawing Washington's attention to their campaign to fight childhood obesity, especially among Latino kids.
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Michelle Obama's First Harvest Gets an A Plus
Tweet Share on Facebook June 20, 2009 Comment (19)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
With a veggie harvesting fashion that leans toward carnation-pink hip-huggers, designer sneakers, and perfect nails, Michelle Obama isn't going to win the dirt farmer of the year award. But if the first lady and her White House kitchen continue to embrace the sustainable farming craze sweeping the nation, perhaps the Future Farmers of America ought to adopt her as its organic and healthful eating spokeswoman. Not only is she cheerleading chemical-free farming with her South Lawn veggie plot; we also hear that the White House is showing it means business by building three kitchen-waste compost piles for next year's planting.
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Joe Scarborough's Secret to Success: Play Nice
Tweet Share on Facebook June 19, 2009 Comment (2)By Nikki Schwab, Washington Whispers
It's his secret to TV and radio success: Joe Scarborough doesn't yell at his guests. "I would have guests on like Barbara Boxer or Maxine Waters or Barney Frank or other Democrats who I knew when I served with them in Congress, and I didn't shout at them," the former Florida Republican congressman says. In fact, the host of TV's Morning Joe and radio's The Joe Scarborough Show says it's because he genuinely likes them. His best example: a trick he used to play on Waters. "I used to always come up to her on the House floor and I would hug her in the middle of a big vote because the C-SPAN cameras were rolling," Scarborough slyly admits. "She would scream, 'Get away from me, Joe, I'm going to lose votes in my whole district, get away from me.' "
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Obama Holds Steady, Thanks to Iran, Financial Overhaul
Tweet Share on Facebook June 19, 2009 Comment (4)Pollster John Zogby regularly updates our Obamameter. Each week, Zogby uses his polling, expert analysis, and interaction with major players to come up with a rating of between 1 and 100. Unlike his polls, the Obamameter is his judgment on the performance of the president once multiple factors are considered. In this week's Obamameter, Zogby says that the president has leveled at 82 as his policies on Iran and domestic issues face off with interparty cost concerns over healthcare.
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Ex-Miss California Carrie Prejean Working on a Book
Tweet Share on Facebook June 19, 2009 Comment (45)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
We haven't heard the last of Carrie Prejean, the fired beauty queen, and not just because her lawyer is threatening a lawsuit against the Miss California USA pageant. Publishing sources say that she has begun shopping her story to publishers, and they tell Whispers that they are eager to cut a deal.
The book would likely tell her side of pageant life and what has happened since she backed traditional marriage over same-sex marriage in answering a question at the Miss USA pageant. The answer sent the liberal and gay community into a frenzy and, she says, ultimately cost her the Miss California crown. She has since become aligned with a pro-traditional marriage group, National Organization for Marriage.
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Thune Could Replace Ensign on GOP Policy Committee
Tweet Share on Facebook June 18, 2009 Comment (4)By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
We're hearing that South Dakota Sen. John Thune has locked up support to replace Sen. John Ensign as chairman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. The opening came when Ensign admitted to an affair with an ex-aide and could clear the way for Thune, talked about last year as a vice presidential nominee, to run against President Obama in 2012.
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Obama Made Voting Cool Even For Ginuwine
Tweet Share on Facebook June 18, 2009 Comment (5)By Nikki Schwab, Washington Whispers
Even though he was born in Washington and lives in the capital's Maryland suburbs, R&B artist Ginuwine never got into politics. "In my younger years, I never paid attention," he admits to Whispers.
Enter candidate Barack Obama, who inspired Ginuwine to enter a polling place for the first time at age 33. "I'm embarrassed to say it was my first time voting—but my guy got in," he says. Though the two haven't had face time, Ginuwine says, "I like what he stands for."
