GOP: Grand Only-White Party

A reader of Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire noticed that in the 42 photos Republicans sent out with their “Pledge to America,” there was little, if no, diversity.

“I counted 42 photos with people in them, and in only two are there African-Americans — and they’re tiny specks in a much larger group, barely visible. There are maybe two identifiable people of Asian descent and no one who might be considered Latino. Basically almost all whites in the Pledge, hundreds of them, with barely any noticeable minorities. Most telling is the large auditorium featured on page 12 — a crowd of …

Bill Maher’s Latest O’Donnell Clip: “Why Aren’t Monkeys Still Evolving Into Humans?”

Bill Maher is making good on his threat to keep releasing clips of Christine O’Donnell until the Delaware candidate for U.S. Senate comes on his show. This week’s offering dealt with the issue of evolution (h/t Think Progress).

O’DONNELL: You know what, evolution is a myth. And even Darwin himself –

MAHER: Evolution is a myth?!? Have you ever looked at a monkey!

O’DONNELL: Well then, why they — why aren’t monkeys still evolving into humans?

…

FBI Raids Anti-War Activists In Four Cities

The FBI raided an organization called the Freedom Road Socialist Organization believing there were links to terrorist activity.

The Minneapolis raids targeted peace activists who were active in protesting the 2008 Republican National Convention (RNC) in St. Paul — among them Jessica Sundin and Mick Kelly, organizers of the massive march on the first day of the RNC. Travel and phone records were reportedly taken from their homes.

At a home on Park Avenue in Minneapolis, FBI agents arrived early this morning with a warrant. The person who answered the door says that the FBI pushed past her and …

Even Conservatives Dislike GOP Pledge, Call It A “Sellout”

What the GOP doesn’t want you to know is how much dissension there has been around their just-released “Pledge to America.”

…interviews with Republican aides reveal that many in the GOP caucus are unhappy that there was no earmark ban and no promise to pass a balanced budget amendment in the proposal, which was unveiled Thursday by House Minority Leader John Boehner. The inclusion of a health insurance provision considered to be mandate angered many conservative lawmakers.

“We’re going to repeal Obamacare and then bring a large chunk of it back. It’s kind of crazy,” said a senior Republican official.…

Democratic Upset Brewing? Joe Pitts in Trouble In PA-16

by Sandi Behrns

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA16) has been in the House since 1997. Originally vowing to serve no more than 10 years, he reneged on that promise in 2006. Through 6 reelection cycles, he has withstood no significant opposition. In fact, the same Democrat opposing him this year ran against him in 2006, losing by nearly 20 points. Pennsylvania’s 16th District is just about as red as they come.

So imagine the mood at Democrat Lois Herr’s campaign headquarters last night when the news came in that a new poll conducted by Public Policy Polling (PPP) shows Herr trailing …

On Friday’s Radio Show…

• Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton sits down with Alan to discuss his possible run for president.

• Rev. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State explains why he’s fighting to stop a Christian concert at Fort Bragg.

• Katherine Schwarzenegger, author of Rock What You’ve Got: Secrets to Loving Your Inner and Outer Beauty, tells Alan how she overcame body-image issues while growing up in a famous family.…

GOP Candidates Afraid To Be Seen With John Boehner?

by Sandi Behrns

As enthusiastic as the Republican base is at the prospect of a GOP takeover of the House this November, one would think GOP candidates would be proud to have the future Speaker of the House appearing with them in their districts. Alas, this seems not to be the case.

Rumors have been circulating for some time that Minority Leader Boehner has been surreptitiously attending fundraisers around the country. These appearances are not being announced in advance, allowing Mr. Boehner, and the candidates for whom he’s hustling, to avoid press interaction. On a handful of occasions, however, word has …

Christine O’Donnell Vowed To “Stop The Whole World From Having Sex”

Delaware GOP sensation Christine O’Donnell told her debate opponent in 2003 on MSNBC that she wanted “stop the whole world from having sex.” O’Donnell was on with Eric Nies of the Moment of Hope Foundation, while she represented the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (which she later sued for gender discrimination). Nies was arguing for the use of condoms, while O’Donnell argued for no sex at all.

NIES: You’re going to stop the whole country from having sex?

O’DONNELL: Yeah. Yeah!

NIES: You’re living on a prayer if you think that’s going to happen.

O’DONNELL: That’s not true. …

Average American More “Socialist” Than Obama Would Ever Dream Of Being

By Yashwanth Manjunath

Warning: The content of the following post may cause the heads of conservatives to explode.

Republicans love to scream about “class warfare” and “income redistribution” whenever Obama brings up not extending the Bush tax cuts for the highest tax bracket. They can’t wait to call Obama and the Democrats “socialist” for wanting to raise the marginal income taxes of the wealthy by 3.6%,  as if even under the Democrats’ plan the wealthy still would not be saving more money from the Bush tax cuts than the middle class. But a new report released by Dan Ariely of …

Should The Military Be Sponsoring Christian Concerts?

Americans United for the Separation of Church and State is protesting a concert at Fort Bragg called “Rock the Fort,” which, it says, improperly uses the military to convert people to Christianity.  The event is being produced by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which promotes the presentation as a chance to hear evangelists speak, and says that “chaplains at the fort identified 20 churches in the area where most soldiers are involved. The churches are now walking alongside chaplains from Fort Bragg, hosting training and praying for this event.”

In a letter to Secretary of the Army John McHugh …

Democrats Don’t Want To Act On Taxes For Fear Of Being Criticized; Republicans Criticize Anyway. Who Could Have Predicted?

Leave it to Democrats to take lemonade and produce lemons.  In spite of polls showing the majority of Americans want to reverse the Bush tax cuts for the rich, Democrats don’t want to act on it before Election Day for fear they’ll be branded tax-raisers. Sadly, they couldn’t foresee that Republicans were going to do that anyway. The National Republican Campaign Committee is using the Democrats’ inaction to call them tax-hikers:

“Americans are opposed to raising taxes on anyone in this struggling economy, but it seems Democrat leaders in Washington are the only ones who have yet to receive that …