Bush-appointed Federal Election Commissioner lied under oath in 2004 Voter Suppression case

Caroline Hunter, a Bush-appointed Federal Election Commissioner who remains in office, provided misleading statements under oath in an effort to conceal Republican National Committee involvement in vote suppression activities, known as voter caging, during the 2004 presidential election, a Raw Story investigation has found.

Legal experts say Hunter's submission of misleading statements under oath is a serious ethical and professional breach which could warrant a bar review and potential disbarment. At the time, Hunter was serving as deputy counsel to the Republican National Committee.

This took place during a trial regarding the Ohio voter caging issue in 2004. Her affidavit, which can be read here (pdf), was given under oath. There is a five-year limit on perjury.

See a report on the Raw Story investigation here: http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0330/fec-commissioner-conceal-vote-suppression/

Republican Mississippi Governor, whose state is ranked last in health care, says media gave health care reform a 'long sloppy wet kiss'

Republican Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour must not be watching Fox News because he thinks coverage of health care reform has been largely favorable.

Barbour says the media has gushed over Democrats' ideas to improve health care in the US.

"Since this thing passed last weekend, we've been seeing the longest wet kiss in political history, given the Obama administration by the liberal media elite and every day that goes by, it gets sloppier," Barbour told ABC's Jake Tapper Sunday.

Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell just laughed at the notion. "I don't know what channels Haley watches but that's a lousy wet kiss, boy, because it's getting pounded in the media," Rendell countered.

Barbour was billed as a leading voice on health care by ABC News but his state is ranked dead last in health.

Watch the Gov. Barber and Gov. Rendell interviews on ABC here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh_XDjIwszY

'Joe the Plumber' calls Senator McCain a failure, won't campaign for him

In an interview with FoxNews.com on Sunday Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher, once a well-known face of John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, said that he won't be campaigning for the Arizona senator in his close race for reelection.

Wurzelbacher said he was used as a "political tool" during McCain's presidential run and faulted the fourth-term senator for what he described as a weak stance on immigration and border security.

"It's supposed to be a closed border. Why don't you uphold the law instead of trying to change it?" he said. "McCain's been a senator for a long time and he's failed in his duties."

Wurzelbacher, who appeared at a tea party rally of 400 conservative activists in Phoenix on Sunday, said he won't be backing anyone in the Arizona senate race. "I don't want to cloud the issue and create a lot of drama," he said.

McCain, who is seeking a fifth term, is locked in a close race with former congressman and Tea Bagger radio talk show host J.D. Hayworth, a favorite among many wing-nut voters.

Wurzelbacher rose to fame in 2008 after he confronted then-candidate Barack Obama over taxes. He soon became a familiar face at Republican rallies, stumping for McCain and his running mate, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

Ironically, Mr. Wurzelbacher is not a licensed plumber as is required in his home State. But, as usual, Republicans wouldn’t let reality get in the way of a good story as they continued to refer to him as ‘Joe the Plumber’ during the 2008 presidential campaign. This a direct insult to all the legitimate plumbers who worked hard to earn that designation.