Oops! The secret's out on plan to slam Bush, GOP; Father Gay; Banning Clinton; Brass knuckles; Friends in need; Daschle bedevils his GOP foes; The vets' long war; Hiring binge; Afghan soup line; Watts's audible; Curse of CNN
Oops! The secret's out on plan to slam Bush, GOP
Top Democrats, liberal interest groups, and two CNN cohosts are quietly promoting a new network to thwart President Bush's agenda with orchestrated protests, critical stories planted in friendly media, and rapid-reaction teams. The job of the "Progressive Donor Network" is to fight the "right-wing infrastructure." The lefties held an inaugural meeting this month, featuring talks by House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, CNN Crossfire hosts and party operatives James Carville and Paul Begala, and former top Clinton-Gore aides. The war plan included a detailed call to develop strategies to fight Bush and win local elections. One technique displayed in splendor: how an associated group, American Family Voices, has ginned up Enron protests to disrupt White House events. It's the brainchild of Michael Lux, a former Clinton aide and progressive PR strategist. His goal: get Democrats to react "with more quickness and agility" to the GOP. Lux hoped to keep his handiwork secret, but "I always assume if I hand out anything to any group that it will be in a reporter's hands within . . . days."
Father Gay
Gay groups are freaking out over the progression in news coverage of the Roman Catholic Church sex scandal. What started as a story about a few bad men in black has moved to headlines about a subculture of gay priests, some of whom sexually abuse altar boys, and others who may tolerate the crimes. In an "action alert," the Human Rights Campaign and Gay & Lesbian Alliance call on members to counter stories that connect "homosexuality and pedophilia or charge that gay men are inclined toward sexual abuse of minors." Their worry: After making homosexuality acceptable in the media, the fight might be back to square one.
Banning Clinton
Bill Clinton's hometown school, the University of Arkansas, is hosting a June symposium on his presidency. Lots of scholars want to attend, but they've made the rather odd request that Clinton stay away, an assurance the school has given. Seems some feared Bubba's presence would inhibit their "frank critique" of him.
Brass knuckles
The bell has rung for Round 2 of the fight between Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Pentagon brass. Rummy was decked last summer when the military services blasted his reform plans. Now, boosted by the antiterrorism war, he is set to cut pricey weapons like the Air Force's F-22. Still, the brass is confident of victory and will tell lawmakers that saving jobs is more important than bowing to Rumsfeld's rock-star status.
Friends in need
It made headlines last month when Rep. Ernest Istook berated fellow Republican and top Bush aide Mitch Daniels over the president's refusal to let homeland security boss Tom Ridge testify before Congress. But Daniels isn't about to take it personally: He has agreed to be the featured guest at a $1,000-a-head Istook fundraiser May 16 in Washington. Could it be because Istook's an appropriations subcommittee honcho?
Daschle bedevils his GOP foes
What gives with the Republican Party's anger at Democratic Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle? It's gone beyond the GOP's stalling tactics. Now the attacks are getting petty--and personal. Like House Republicans chanting "Vote! Vote!" when Speaker Dennis Hastert told them that Daschle would die before letting the Senate vote on extending the Bush tax cuts. And how about leaking that Daschle, who has complained that Republicans don't want to work five days a week, went to Acapulco for a four-day holiday. Democrats have even begun assembling the evidence in a nine-page (so far) "Summary of attacks on Tom Daschle." Why has it turned personal? It makes Republicans nuts that his aw-shucks, on-camera demeanor hides a "mean, partisan streak," as one top Hill aide put it. "What next, Daschle as devil?" asks a Dem. Adds Daschle spokesman Jay Carson: "Well, the Republicans kept their promise to change the tone in Washington. It's gone from mean to vicious."
The vets' long war
American troops battling in Afghanistan take note: Some Persian Gulf War veterans are still fighting to have the Department of Veterans Affairs cover their war-related ailments--specifically, Lou Gehrig's disease. While the department is treating the 40 to 50 Gulf War vets who are afflicted right now with the disease, it's unclear if it will care for those who contract it later. In a letter to Secretary Anthony Principi, the American Legion asked the VA to make that pledge. But the VA, saying that vets deployed to the gulf are "nearly twice as likely" to develop the disease, says it will only "consider" the request. Look for Congress to step in.
Hiring binge
The surge in hiring by federal police agencies due to September 11 is only now coming to light. Topping the list: Some 5,000 federal air marshals are being hired, and that's just the first phase. Then there's the U.S. Secret Service. That agency is hiring a whopping 500 agents, in part because some agents are leaving instead of working 80 hours of overtime each month.
Afghan soup line
They've won their freedom, but what many Afghans want is a steady meal. The wait could be long. The United Nations World Food Program says its Afghan food cache is 60 percent short of the needed $285 million. Don't blame Washington, which is supplying nearly all of this year's donations. Look overseas, says Ken Bacon, president of Refugees International. He blames the "donor fatigue" of nations hit up for other Afghan programs. Nonetheless, the U.N. plans an urgent appeal for money.
Watts's audible
College football star turned No. 4 House Republican leader Rep. J. C. Watts wants his team on offense. Armed with a new Winston Group poll that finds Hill Democrats and Republicans locked in a dead heat, he says now's the time to lay out the GOP vision. In a memo, he urges Republicans to brag on their ideas, not bash Democrats. His is a wake-up call to Republicans who have become "too content" with a tiny House majority.
Curse of CNN
The GOP whisper campaign to boycott CNN's political show Crossfire has become official policy. Top leaders have told members not to go on the show because they feel cohosts and Democratic activists James Carville and Paul Begala are unfair to them and their views.
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In Quotes
"If the perception is that foreign policy isn't working well for them politically, what else can they run on?"
JENNIFER PALMIERI,
Democratic Party spokesperson, sizing up the Republicans' fall election platform and issues
"When my son is mad at me and he looks at me and says, `Mom, don't spin me,' it just hurts me."
KAREN HUGHES,
White House communications chief, who prefers the term "persuasive communications" to "spin"
"He held the leader's coat. He was a great assistant . . . not a leader."
ANDREW CUOMO,
New York Democratic gubernatorial hopeful, saying foe Gov. George Pataki's 9/11 leadership was dwarfed by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani
"I held his coat as often as he held mine."
RUDY GIULIANI,
denouncing candidate Cuomo's comments
Sources: USA Today, Roll Call, Associated Press (2)
With Mark Mazzetti, Suzi Parker and Edward T. Pound
This story appears in the April 29, 2002 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.