Washington Whispers
The 'Jo-No' Effect in Celebrity Lobbying
Forget "Brangelina" and "Bennifer." When it comes to lobbying pet issues, there's only one celebrity duo that rules in Washington: "Jo-No." " Angelina [Jolie] and Bono have great influence,"says a senior State Department insider. "I guess you call it the 'Jo-No' effect." While they follow in the footsteps of other celebs to push AIDS research (Jolie) and Third World debt relief (Bono), it's how the actress and singer have approached Washington in the past few months that is winning kudos from both political camps. Instead of blasting the establishment like Barbra Streisand, sending antiwar E-mails like Martin Sheen, or just mouthing off like Ted Nugent, they're working inside the system to get what they want in attention and money.
GOP image man Terry Holt recalls helping Bono on his first trip to D.C. in 1999. Holt's top tips: Avert partisanship and learn the issues. "He is smart enough to understand that he has to stay disciplined and not get drawn into other people's battles," says Holt. "You need to know when to keep your mouth shut." A West Wing bigwig praises the duo for avoiding cliched name-calling. "It is the new civility, and it works." A key Democrat agrees, suggesting that Hollywood follow the Jo-No model. "They do their homework," says the Dem. "It's not just some passing fancy for a spoiled celebrity ... they don't just show up at an event and smile for the cameras."
The Army's Return to a Classic Look
Those cheap-looking polyester Army dress greens are most likely headed for the trash heap. Gen. Peter Schoomaker, Army chief of staff, tells us that he "very much" backs a proposal aired last week in Army Times to favor the Army's dress blues as the only traditional uniform. "You might remember the blue uniform is our traditional uniform,"he says. The green dress uniform was adopted in 1954, but some soldiers think the polyester fabric makes it look cheap. Soldiers currently wear dress blues for ceremonial occasions, green for office work. "We don't need so many uniforms," the chief says.
Too Much News That's Fit to Print
Marine Corps Commandant Michael Hagee didn't like recent New York Times stories detailing problems with the military's body armor. Hagee says the military asked the Times not to reveal the vulnerabilities but was ignored. "I don't want snipers knowing where to shoot at our marines," says Hagee. The Times says it "worked to strike a balance between reporting on vital information while not increasing the risk to troops."
In Car No.4, Mr. Secretary
For next year's Daytona 500, don't be surprised if one of the new drivers is Carlos Gutierrez. We hear that the commerce secretary was at IBM in North Carolina last week touting the president's American Competitiveness Initiative when he got a chance to play the new IBM-chip-powered Xbox 360 game Project Gotham Racing 3 and was hooked. His day job, however, will probably keep him from driving the oval, because Gutierrez has taken the lead in pitching the president's initiative. In fact, he has become such a go-to cabinet member that some Republicans want him to run for elective office.
A Little Paper Is Thinking Big
Finally there's proof that the Washington Examiner really means to expand to 69 cities: The free tabloid has hired a big name White House correspondent as its first move into national coverage. "It's exciting to come in and help build that national voice," says Bill Sammon of the Washington Times, who's also a Fox News contributor and author. Sammon's move surprised the city's journalism establishment, which is skeptical of the Examiner's expansion plans. But he tells us the free paper is the real deal. That's not good news for editors of low-paying Washington news bureaus. They could be the next to be raided by the Examiner.
Redskins Get Their Place at State
The Washington Redskins are finally getting some respect inside the State Department. We hear that Secretary of State Condi Rice has put a Redskins helmet on the shelf behind her cozy office desk. It happened after Redskins defensive assistant head coach Gregg Williams won an invitation to talk football with the administration's foremost NFL expert and fan. They chatted in the same white chairs in Rice's outer office where she conducts very official bilateral meetings with world leaders. "Listen," says an aide, "it's all serious business here, but sometimes she likes a break." Williams brought the helmet as a gift, and now it shares the top shelf with a Cleveland Browns helmet.
Pricey Lunch, but Maybe a Free Flick
Hollywood's man in Washington, Dan Glickman, has a deal for you. Bid nearly $1,000 on eBay for a charity lunch and he'll consider taking you to a movie. Here's the offer: Glickman, head of the Motion Picture Association of America, has joined "Lunch With a Leader," the auction fundraiser that benefits Communities In Schools. He's offering lunch at MPAA's HQ or at his favorite restaurant, Cafe Milano in Georgetown. If the bidder ads an extra $50 for the charity, "I may even treat them to a movie." It's not his first eBay move, though. Glickman has started suing movie pirates who sell their stolen flicks on the site.
24 Has TiVos Humming in D.C.
There's a new rule inside the White House for fans of Fox's hit 24 starring Kiefer Sutherland: Don't talk about the latest episode for a week, until the next one airs. The reason: Working hours at the White House are so bad that dozens of 24fans TiVo it for the weekend and don't want to know what happened before watching. After one episode, our insider says she overheard staffers telling Chief of Staff Andy Card about how the 24 character who plays his role hanged himself. "They totally ruined that for me."
With With Julian E. Barnes
This story appears in the February 27, 2006 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.