Mitt Romney’s only openly gay spokesman, Richard Grenell, left his job with the campaign this week after backlash from social conservatives.
“My ability to speak clearly and forcefully on the issues has been greatly diminished by the hyper-partisan discussion of personal issues that sometimes comes from a presidential campaign,” Mr. Grenell said in Read More
Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren is embroiled in a controversy over her alleged Native American ancestry that has Beantown’s conservative tabloid, the Boston Herald, digging for her great great great grandmother’s records.
Last week, the Herald revealed Ms. Warren “enrolled herself as a minority in law school directories” citing Native American heritage. At a press conference yesterday, Ms. Warren said she’s “proud “of her heritage identified herself as Native American to score lunch invites not to advance her career.
“I listed myself in the directory in the hopes that it might mean that I would be invited to a luncheon, a group something that might happen with people who are like I am. Nothing like that ever happened, that was clearly not the use for it and so I stopped checking it off,” Ms. Warren said. Read More
Massachusetts Republicans criticized Democratic Senate hopeful Elizabeth Warren for having a New York fundraiser hosted by calypso singer Harry Belafonte. Mr. Belafonte drew the ire of conservatives in Ms. Warren’s home state because of his long history as an activist, which included vigorous, sometimes controversial, opposition to the Bush administration that has earned him villain status among some conservatives.
“Harry Belafonte’s anti-American views are extreme and repugnant. He has praised Castro and Chavez, blamed the United States for the terrorist attacks that took place on 9/11 and denounced America as a villain in world affairs,” MassGOP Executive Director Nate Little,” told the Boston Herald. Read More
With primaries occurring in ten states tonight, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich have each enjoyed victories on this Super Tuesday, but the most crucial contest, Ohio, is still too close to call. So far, Mr. Santorum won in Oklahoma and Tennessee. Mr. Romney, as expected, emerged victorious in Massachusetts, Vermont, and Virginia, where Mr. Santorum and Mr. Gingrich did not qualify to get on the ballot. Mr. Gingrich, who hasn’t had a primary victory since South Carolina in January, won his home state of Georgia.
“As it looks right now we’re going to get at least a couple of gold medals and a whole passel full of silver medals,” Mr. Santorum said to supporters at his Ohio campaign headquarters. Read More
Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, said he believes there “absolutely” should be a parade for the troops who have returned from Iraq in New York or Washington, D.C. Though there have been calls for a ticker tape parade honoring Iraq veterans in Manhattan, Mayor Bloomberg has said Pentagon officials don’t want New York City to hold a parade now because they think it would be “premature while we still have so many troops in harm’s way around the world.” The Politicker asked Mr. Kerry his thoughts on whether there should be an Iraq War parade in Manhattan after his appearance at New York Law School yesterday.
“Absolutely, I think there ought to be a parade if not there, in Washington,” Senator Kerry said. “I think Iraqi war veterans, all veterans, I think they deserve to have the nation’s gratitude and I think it’d be wonderful to do something like that.” Read More
Massachusetts Senator John Kerry appeared at the New York Law School this afternoon as part of the Sidney Shainwald Public Interest Lecture Series and he delivered a speech “about where we find ourselves at this moment in our country.” Mr. Kerry began by apologizing for Congress’ dismal approval rating.
“I come to you with huge humility. I understand that we are at eight percent in the United States Congress and it is therefore miraculous that you would invite a sitting, elected member of the United States Senate to come talk to you,” Mr. Kerry said. “I don’t come here to be partisan, but I’m going to tell you facts.”
Despite his promise to be non-partisan, the Democratic senator proceeded to slam Republicans for “ideological extremism” in Congress, the failure of the debt reduction supercommittee and a presidential primary he described as a “traveling reality gong show television show.” Read More
Massachusetts Senator John Kerry spoke at the New York Law School today and The Politicker asked his thoughts on whether the former governor of his state, Mitt Romney, has moved to the right now that he’s seeking the Republican nomination. Mr. Kerry said it’s clear Mr. Romney has substantially changed his approach.
“Well,” Senator Kerry said with a laugh, “It’s like 180 degrees night and day difference. It’s just a different Mitt Romney. It’s Mitt Romney versus Mitt Romney.” Read More
Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank went out with a bang. In a nearly hourlong press conference this afternoon, Congressman Frank explained his decision not to seek re-election and why he hopes Newt Gingrich will win the Republican nomination. Read More
In New York, “The 99%” is actually more like 44%.
Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion reportedly has his eye on Gracie Mansion.
The Suffolk County Executive race is turning into a proxy war between Governor Cuomo and former Governor Pataki.
Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson did lunch at Zuccotti Park. Read More
Massachusetts Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren says she “created much of the intellectual foundation” for Occupy Wall Street in a new interview with The Daily Beast. In the interview, Ms. Warren, whose many conservative critics say she advocates “class warfare,” also describes how she used to be a Republican. Read More
