The Washington Independent - U.S. news and politics - washingtonindependent.com: Stories by Jessica Pearce

State of Play: Obama's New Pastor Problem

Jessica Pearce, Jonathan J. Cooper — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:13:22 GMT

State of Play: Obama's New Pastor Problem

Just as Sen. Barack Obama thought he had weathered the Rev. Jeremiah Wright storm, another Chicago clergyman has made trouble for the Democratic presidential candidate. This time, a white Catholic priest, Father Michael Pfleger, appears on tape at Obama's local Chicago church, the Trinity United Church of Christ, ranting about "white privilege" and mocking Sen. Hillary Clinton for tearing up days before the New Hampshire primary. The incendiary sermon from last Sunday has media outlets declaring that Obama's got a new preacher problem. This time the presidential hopeful didn't take long before disavowing Pfieger's remarks that are now gracing YouTube.

Here's our latest installment of "State of Play," a look at how a major story of the day is being played on the Web and in print:

Obama Faces A New Preacher Problem (CBS News)

Obama's New Pastor Issue (Fox News)

Obama Again Apologizes for a Preacher (Washington Post)

Priest apologizes for mocking Clinton while at Obama church (CNN)

Obama Distances Himself From Another Clergyman (ABC News)

Obama disavows priest's comments (LA Times)

Update: The Wall Street Journal's "Best of the Web" column featured the Pfieger fiasco today too. Writer James Taranto noted that a Pfieger endorsement appeared on Obama's website (according to The New York Times) has disappeared.

Watch the video:

State of Play: Clinton's Puerto Rico Victory

Jessica Pearce — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:04:07 GMT

In the wake of her 36-point victory in Puerto Rico, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton continues to fight for the Democratic nomination. But it's still a bleak situation for Clinton. Accounting for that big Puerto Rico win and the Rules and Bylaws Committee decision on Saturday to seat the Michigan and Florida delegates with a half vote each, Obama is now less than 50 delegates away from the new magic number of 2,118 to clinch the nomination. But does a glance at today's headlines make this clear? Some papers headlines went championed Clinton's victory, while others pointed to a nearing end for her campaign.

Here's our latest installment of "State of Play," a look at how a top story of the day is playing around the Web and in print:

Puerto Rico Moves Obama Closer to Nomination (LA Times)

Clinton Wins Easily in Puerto Rico (Washington Post)

Obama Poised to Claim to Victory (The Wall Street Journal)

Winning Again, Clinton Weighs Her Options (The New York Times)

Democrats' nomination duel is down to wire (USA Today)

Clinton seeks to go after Obama superdelegates (Newsweek)

Clinton Wins Puerto Rico; Appeals to Superdelegates to Heed Popular Vote (Fox News)

Cheney: Obama, McCain Likely to Vary Veep Selection Tactics

Jessica Pearce — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:47:28 GMT

Vice President Dick Cheney is waiting "eagerly" to find out who Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain choose as running mates, he said in an engaging, and even funny at times, speech at the National Press Club today. He didn't mention Sen. Clinton.

Cheney has said that he never intended to run for public office after serving as vice president. Today he called that an important advantage. "People had to look at the advice I gave knowing I was giving it based on what I thought was best to do, rather than how it was going to affect the Iowa caucuses," Cheney told the Press Club crowd.

While Cheney said his model worked well for him, he pointed out that candidates choose vice presidential hopefuls for many reasons, like to get out the vote in key states.

Cheney didn't hazard any guesses as to who he thinks might be tapped to run with either candidate, but he said the camps are likely to vary their tactics.

"I suspect they’re going to make completely different decisions," he said.

State of Play: What's Next for Clinton?

Jessica Pearce — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:15:00 GMT

For every banner headline crowning Sen. Barack Obama the Democratic nominee for president, there was at least one lurking lower on the page wondering what Sen. Hillary Clinton is going to do. In her speech following the Montana and South Dakota results, Clinton told her supporters:

In the coming days, I’ll be consulting with supporters and party leaders to determine how to move forward with the best interests of our party and our country guiding my way.

In her refusal to concede to the numbers, Hillary has papers around the country wondering what she's going to do next.

Next on Agenda Is Clinton’s Role (The New York Times)

Clinton open to VP nod (Washington Post)

Clinton Kabuki: How Hillary is playing the veep game (Newsweek)

Inside Hillary's Bunker: The Parallel Universe That Is Convincing Her To Stay In The Race (The New Republic)

Did Clinton damage her VP chances? (Chicago Tribune)

Clinton is willing to take No. 2 spot, but she doesn't have a lock on it (L.A. Times)

Clinton's Road to Second Place (The Wall St. Journal)

State of Play: Dicey Tomatoes?

Jessica Pearce — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:35:00 GMT

At least 23 people in 16 states have been hospitalized in an outbreak of salmonella traced to tomatoes, the Centers for Disease Control announced over the weekend. Although the center has not pinpointed where the infected tomatoes are grown, instead releasing a list of types of tomatoes and states and countries that appear to be safe, fast food restaurants have pulled tomatoes off their menus and grocery stores are pulling them from the shelves. Although the restaurants say the tomatoes used in their dishes are safe, the 2006 E. coli outbreak that The Wall Street Journal pointed out made spinach's pain, arugula's gain (via Nexis), has made everyone a little more cautious.

Big Chains Withdraw Tomatoes From Menus (The New York Times)

Tomatoes Pulled After Salmonella Warning (Washington Post)

Salmonella scare: Tomatoes pulled off shelves, menus (USA Today)

Tomatoes Pulled Off Shelves, Menus Amid Salmonella Scare (Fox News)

Grocers and Restaurants Toss Out Tomatoes (The Wall St. Journal)

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (New York Post)

State of Play: Duck and Cover

Jessica Pearce — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:10:00 GMT

Tornadoes raged through the Midwest Wednesday, twisting through an Iowa Boy Scout camp and killing four scouts. Two people were also killed in Kansas as another tornado damaged much of the Kansas State University campus. According to the Weather Channel, "Tornadoes caused 111 deaths through the end of May, the second highest death toll for any year in the Doppler radar era, eclipsed only by the 130 deaths for the year in 1998."

Much of the news focused on the heroics of the scouts, who dug through wreckage and performed first aid on the injured.

Boy Scouts Among Dead as Tornadoes Hit Midwest (The New York Times)

Tornado Hits Boy Scout Camp in Iowa, Killing 4 (Washington Post)

Tornado kills 4, injures 48 at Iowa Boy Scout camp (USA Today)

Boy Scout Tragedy: Tornado Leaves 4 Dead At Camp (Fox News)

Tornado kills 4 at Iowa Boy Scout camp (LA Times)

4 Boy Scouts die as tornado hits Iowa camp (MSNBC)

Four killed by tornado at camp were Boy Scouts (CNN)

State of Play: Iran vs. the World, Round...?

Jessica Pearce — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:50:44 GMT

President George W. Bush met with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday in London to discuss Iran and Afghanistan. Brown proposed freezing the assets of Iran's biggest bank and suggested tightening oil and gas sanctions if Iranian leaders don't "resolve international concerns over its nuclear activities." Both leaders are deeply unpopular, with approval ratings in the 20s, and the headlines focused more on the press conference, leaving out details about the hundreds of anti-war protesters who greeted Bush in central London. This is supposed to be Bush's last scheduled visit while in office, and the media seems to already have moved on, quoting Bush rarely and mostly paraphrasing the president, while quoting Brown's hard line against Tehran's alleged nuclear activities.

Still, both leaders made the headlines.

Bush, UK's Brown show solidarity on Iran, Afghanistan (USA Today)

Bush, Brown Meet in London, Show Solidarity on Foreign Policy (The Wall St. Journal)

Bush and Brown issue Iran warning (CNN)

Brown announces EU sanctions for Iran and more troops for Afghanistan (Times of London)

Britain to Tighten Iran Sanctions (The New York Times)

Britain, E.U. Announce Iran Sanctions (The Washington Post)

State of Play: Bush to Propose Offshore Drilling

Jessica Pearce — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:07:42 GMT

With $4 per-gallon gas in the rearview mirrors of many drivers around the country, Americans are screaming for relief. President Bush is expected to make a speech this morning urging Congress to lift the 27-year federal ban on offshore drilling. Bush plans to ask Congress to lift the drilling moratoria in more than 80 percent of the country's Outer Continental Shelf and to let states help to decide where to allow drilling, according to White House press secretary Dana Perino. The House Appropriations Committee was supposed to review legislation Wednesday that would continue the ban into late 2009, but the session was postponed to focus on disaster relief for the flooded Midwest. According to USA Today:

The 574 million acres of federal coastal water that are off-limits are believed to hold nearly 18 billion barrels of undiscovered, recoverable oil and 77 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to the Interior Department. The country each year uses about 7.6 billion barrels of oil and 21 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Headlines across the country reflected the monumental request.

Bush Will Seek to End Offshore Oil Drilling Ban (The New York Times)

Bush to urge Congress to allow offshore drilling (Washington Post)

Bush looks offshore for remedy to high oil prices (USA Today)

Bush to Urge Congress to Lift Offshore Drilling Ban (Fox News)

Bush looks offshore for oil remedy (MSNBC)

Bush to ask Congress to clear way for offshore oil drilling (CNN)

State of Play: Ice on Mars!

Jessica Pearce — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:04:28 GMT

NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander confirmed that there was water ice under the soil on Mars Thursday, renewing hope that scientists might detect life on the planet. Pictures sent back by the lander earlier this week showed white patches uncovered by the robot. Scientists confirmed Thursday that the white patches were actually ice after sublimation, or changing to water vapor.

To let the world know about its big news, NASA has been having fun with social networking tools such as Twitter and Facebook. Thursday evening, the Mars Phoenix Lander tweeted "Are you ready to celebrate? Well, get ready: We have ICE!!!!! Yes, ICE, *WATER ICE* on Mars! w00t!!! Best day ever!!"

Media around the U.S. were more sedate, reporting the news but not speculating on what this might mean for life on the fourth planet from the sun.

White Patches Found in Mars Trench Are Ice, Scientists Say (The New York Times)

Scientists believe Mars lander exposed ice crumbs (The Washington Post)

On Mars: 'It must be ice' (The Los Angeles Times)

Mars Lander Finds Evidence of Ice (The Wall St. Journal)

Mars Phoenix Tweets: "We Have ICE!" (Wired)

State of Play: More Bad News For the Housing Market

Jessica Pearce — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:26:37 GMT

The housing market is still looking dreary. The average home price for 20 metropolitan areas fell 1.4 percent between March and April, according to the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes, which measures home prices in 20 markets around the United States. That's a 15 percent drop from March 2007. According to The New York Times, Los Angeles and Miami have felt the pinch most acutely, with a 12-month decline of more than 26 percent. There was some good news in eight cities, including Boston, Chicago and Dallas, where home prices saw a slight increase from March to April.

Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan was not making anyone feel better, telling a conference in Johannesburg that the U.S. economy is on "the brink of a recession, with the chances of that happening at more than 50 percent."

Media outlets reported the bad news stoically.

U.S. home prices fall in April at record rate (MSNBC)

Home prices post record 15.3% drop (CNN)

Housing Index Shows Deeper Drop; Consumer Confidence Tumbles (The Wall St. Journal)

S&P: U.S. home prices fall in April at record rate (The Los Angeles Times)

Home prices fall in April at record rate (USA Today)

Home Prices Continued Slide in April (The New York Times)

Another Year for Abstinence-Only Education Funding?

Jessica Pearce — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:25:00 GMT

Tucked into a Medicare spending bill that passed the House yesterday is a provision that would extend a controversial abstinence-only education program for another year. It's so controversial that 22 states have actually opted out of taking the funding. Two more states have said they plan to decline the funds when the new fiscal year begins in October. The AP reports:

Some $50 million has been budgeted for [the program] this year, and financially strapped states might be expected to want their share. But many have doubts that the program does much, if any good, and they're frustrated by chronic uncertainty that it will even be kept in existence. They also have to chip in state money in order to receive the federal grants.

Abstinence-only education has taken plenty of heat. A 2007 report from the Dept. of Health and Human Services-funded, independent Mathematica Policy Research Group found that such programs had "no effect on the sexual abstinence of youth." Nonetheless, the push for such programs lives on.

In April, TWI reporter Matthew Blake covered a hearing where the House oversight committee took a look at the issue. Matt noted at the time:

The hearing showed that social conservatives continue to shape the public debate on [abstinence-only education]. Abstinence-only education, one plank of Newt Gingrich's 1994 "Contract With America," is now a big part of the Bush administration's public-health agenda, receiving $1.3 billion since 1997. Despite the current calls to end funding, the conservatives who framed the abstinence-only policy have created a formidable obstacle for opponents to overcome.

The Senate still needs to pass its own version of Medicare's funding bill before we'll know if this has a chance of making it another year.

State of Play: North Korea Removed From Terror List

Jessica Pearce — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:55:43 GMT

The axis of evil is down one member- Kim Jong Il, leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (aka North Korea), has issued a 60-page declaration describing its nuclear capabilities, both in power and in weapons. President George W. Bush announced that he would remove North Korea from the State Department’s list of state sponsors of terrorism, as well as lift key trade sanctions against the country.

The New York Times reports that despite the news, the country isn't quite revealing everything:

But, significantly, the North’s declaration was not expected to reveal details on three critical points: the nuclear bombs the North has already produced; its alleged attempts to produce nuclear arms by secretly enriching uranium, which triggered the ongoing crisis in 2002; and accusations that the North helped Syria build a nuclear plant.

Major media outlets trumpeted the news, but seemed split on whether to cover the declaration, the lifting of the sanctions or Bush taking North Korea off the terror list.

U.S. to Take North Korea Off Terror List (The New York Times)

North Korea Details Nuclear Program (The Washington Post)

Bush administration to lift North Korea sanctions (USA Today)

Bush Offers Carrots in Exchange for North Korea Nukes Declaration (FOX News)

Bush will take North Korea off terror list (The Los Angeles Times)

Pyongyang Submits Nuclear Declaration (The Wall Street Journal)

Bush welcomes N. Korea move on nuclear program (CNN)

Bush: U.S. to lift key North Korea sanctions (MSNBC)

State of Play: California Wildfires Rage

Jessica Pearce — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:30:00 GMT

More than 1,400 wildfires are raging though Northern California. So far the blazes have destroyed more than 364,600 acres and devoured at least 28 homes. President George W. Bush declared a huge swatch of land from Nevada to the Pacific Ocean a federal disaster area Sunday.

The regional disaster has picked up national attention.

Calif. firefighters battle more than 1,400 blazes (The Washington Post)

Little Relief Against California Fires (The New York Times)

No new California fires, but old ones still rage (CNN)

Northern California scarred by 1,400 blazes (MSNBC)

Bush declares emergency for fires in N. California; weather cooperates( Los Angeles Times)

Little progress in battling California wildfires (The Seattle Times)

State of Play: Bulldozer Ordeal Kills Three

Jessica Pearce — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:45:36 GMT

A Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem bulldozed his way through cars and buses in downtown Jerusalem, killing at least three and injuring 40. The ordeal ended when a police officer fatally shooting the driver. Israeli police called the incident a terrorist attack, but no group has claimed responsibility.

Reports of the incident ranged from dramatic to straightforward. Every major outlet covered the incident.

Construction Vehicle Kills 3 in Israel Attack (The New York Times)

Driver Rams Earthmover Into Jerusalem Bus (The Washington Post)

Palestinian goes on rampage in Jerusalem; 3 killed (Newsweek)

Driver rams bulldozer into Jerusalem bus; 3 dead, dozens hurt (USA Today)

Terror in the street (Fox News)

Palestinian 'terrorist' in earth-mover rampage (MSNBC)

Jerusalem bulldozer 'terrorist' kills 3 in rampage (CNN)

State of Play: Suicide Bomber Kills 40 in Kabul Blast

Jessica Pearce — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:26:03 GMT

A suicide bomber killed at least 40 people and injured 140 in Kabul Monday morning, when he rammed a car into two Indian diplomatic vehicles at the gates of the Indian Embassy. According to The New York Times, no group has claimed responsibility for the blast. Some Afghan officials said they suspect the bombing was an attempt by Pakistanis affiliated with the Taliban to pursue the 61-year-old feud between Pakistan and India over the partitioning of the Indian subcontinent in 1947.

Media reports called the blast Kabul's "deadliest blast this year," but pointed out that the attack was the second in Afghanistan's capital this year, including an assassination attempt on Afghan President Hamid Karzai in April.

Suicide Bomber Kills 40 in Afghan Capital (The New York Times)

Afghan Capital Struck by Suicide Bombing (Washington Post)

Suicide bomb attack in Afghan capital kills 40 (USA Today)

Deadliest Blast in Afghan Capital This Year Kills 40 (Fox News)

Car bomber kills dozens in Afghanistan (The Los Angeles Times)

Kabul car blast kills 41, including Indian envoys (CNN)

Suicide car bomb kills 40 in central Kabul (MSNBC)

You Can't Nader McCain, But Can You Barr Him?

Jessica Pearce — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:21:31 GMT

Third party candidates may be making inroads into Congressional and state political races, which could affect the outcome of this year's presidential election, according to a new report from the University of Minnesota's Center for the Study of Politics and Governance.

While third-party candidates haven't come close to occupying the Oval Office, they are having some success at the polls, playing "king maker" in 10 gubernatorial races and seven U.S. Senate races between 1998 and 2006. A king maker, according to the study, is a third party candidate who won more votes than the margin of victory -- think of Ralph Nader in 2000, then a Green Party candidate, when he chalked up 97,488 votes in the Florida contest that was decided by 537 votes. The king maker party is always ideologically related to the major party that lost, so, Nader can't say Nader Sen. John McCain. But will Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party nominee, Nader McCain? That's the question in some tight states in the 2008 presidential election. From the report:

In 7 gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races in 2006, 2 percent or more of voters cast their ballots for the Libertarian Party, which has picked up the banner of small government. Similar vote totals by a Libertarian presidential candidate could be enough to flip the race to Obama in several states by draining away voters who would otherwise end up casting their ballot for McCain. Some polling already shows Barr drawing support in certain states (like his home state of Georgia) that diminishes McCain’s vote share.

A recent nationwide poll by CNN showed Barr with 3 percent of the popular vote, though CNN polling director Keating Holland said early surveys often overstate actual election day support of third-party candidates. Holland said third party candidates historically only end up with about half the support in November as shown in the summer prior to the election. Still, McCain probably isn't looking to lose out on 1.5 percent of the vote.

State of Play: Iran Test-Fires Missiles

Jessica Pearce — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:28:32 GMT

Iran reportedly set off nine long- and medium-range test missiles today. Officials in the country's capital city Tehran said the missile is able to hit targets 1,250 miles away from its firing position, a range that includes Israel.

The United States criticized the tests, accusing Iran of violating the recent United Nations Security Council resolution, which strengthened restrictions on Iran’s proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities and ballistic missile programs. The dispute comes as negotiations over the country's nuclear program are intensifying. Seymour Hersh just reported in The New Yorker this week that the White House has stepped up clandestine operations in Iran. Meanwhile, British and U.S. warships are maneuvering in the Persian Gulf, reportedly within range of the missiles.

Iran said the tests were just that, tests, but media around the country pointed out the range of the missiles and seemed skeptical.

Iran Says It Test-Fired Missiles, Drawing Sharp U.S. Response (The New York Times)

Iran Test-Fires Long-Range Missile (The Washington Post)

Iran test-fires missiles in Persian Gulf (Newsweek)

Iran test-fires long- and medium-range missiles (USA Today)

Iran Test-Fires Missiles Capable of Hitting Israeli, U.S. Bases (Fox News)

Iran tests missiles in Persian Gulf, Hormouz (Los Angeles Times)

Iran Says It Test-Fired Missiles (Wall Street Journal)

Iran claims it was threatened, tests missiles (CNN)

State of Play: iPhone Fever

Jessica Pearce — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Apple released the new iPhone today to long lines of gadget-loving, though impatient customers. When I walked by a line of 50+ people waiting outside an AT&T store in Dupont Circle this morning and wondered aloud what was going on, I got some incredulous looks. "The iPhone, duh!" hissed one man in a suit.

The new phone, which is cheaper and faster than the previous model, debuted in 22 countries simultaneously, with The New York Times reporting that anxious Apple fans in Germany, Japan and New Zealand are waiting at the edge of their seat.

Headlines were restrained today, with nary an i-pun headline in sight, as opposed to the release of the first iPhone, which was released with great fanfare and iGotta-have-it headlines.

Crowds Line Up for New iPhone As Apple's Global Launch Begins (Wall Street Journal)

People line up early for Apple's new iPhone (The New York Times)

Long Lines and High Hopes Mark New iPhone's Debut (Washington Post)

The iPhone Haters: Why Apple's latest isn't winning everyone over (Newsweek)

Eager buyers line up for iPhone 3G (USA Today)

Apple iPhone goes on sale in Japan with smoke and cheers (Los Angeles Times)

Apple debuts faster, cheaper iPhone (CNN)

State of Play: Obama in Iraq

Jessica Pearce — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:50:36 GMT

Sen. Barack Obama arrived in Baghdad today as part of his week-long trip abroad. This is his third stop, after visiting Afghanistan and Kuwait. In Iraq, Obama, along with a congressional delegation including Sens. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) will meet with top U.S. and Iraqi officials and military commanders, including Army Gen. David H. Petraeus.

Al major media outlets covered the stop, but some focused on the region, while some looked more at who Obama was going to meet with on his trip.

Obama Arrives in Baghdad on Mideast Tour (The New York Times)

Obama Arrives in Baghdad to Discuss Iraq Strategy (Washington Post)

Obama begins firsthand look at Baghdad (Newsweek)

Obama arrives in Iraq, visits with officials (USA Today)

Obama Begins On-the-Ground Inspection of Iraq (Fox News)

Barack Obama arrives in Baghdad (The Los Angeles Times)

Obama Begins Visit to Iraq (The Wall Street Journal)

Obama in Iraq for talks with Iraqi leaders, military (CNN)

Obama meets Iraq's prime minister (MSNBC)

State of Play: Home Prices Decline For Another Month

Jessica Pearce — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:23:58 GMT

The average home price for 20 metropolitan areas fell almost a full percent between April and May, according to the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes, which measure home prices in 20 markets around the United States. For the year, the index is down 15.8 percent compared to May 2007. The 10-city index has fallen 16.9 percent, the biggest decline in its history. According to the AP, "No city in the Case-Shiller 20-city index saw price gains in May, the second straight month that's happened. The monthly indices have not recorded an overall home price increase in any month since August 2006."

While major media covered the decline, most posted the AP story, without additional reporting. The Los Angeles Times posted the AP story, but then localized it to the region, one of the hardest hit in the housing decline.

Home Price Index Down 15.8% in May (The New York Times)

Home Prices Drop by Record 15.8% in May (Washington Post)

S&P: Home prices drop by record 15.8 pct. in May (Newsweek)

Home prices down 15.8%; confidence ticks up (USA Today)

L.A. home prices falling at 24.5% annual rate (Los Angeles Times)

Home-Price Declines Accelerate (The Wall Street Journal)

Home prices drop record 15.8% (CNN)

Home prices fell by steepest rate ever in May (MSNBC)

S&P/Case-Shiller: Home Prices Drop by Record Amount in May (Fox News)