Inside the Beltway

NEWS AND OPINION:

MINDING THE SPILL

The political, environmental, economic and legal dynamics of the BP oil spill have taken on a new tenor - the faith factor. Can we pray our way out of it, and will the idea gain traction among lawmakers or the White House? Hundreds of Christian congregations have staged vigils and an “Oil Spill Day of Prayer” in Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she’s praying for the Gulf, too. Now, the Council on American-Islamic Relations is urging prayer leaders in the nation’s 2,000 mosques to offer “special supplications” for the Gulf on Friday. The group advises, “Although physically we may not be able to help stop the oil spill, together with our mindful thoughts, we can all contribute to help clean it up.”

Meanwhile, Sister Jenna, director of the Maryland-based Brahma Kumaris, which is dedicated to “spreading the awareness of inner power, peace and self-empowerment,” will stage a Festival to Heal the Gulf on Saturday. She notes, “What if we all maintain a constant vigil of thoughts for the oil spill to be brought to a halt and to heal the environment, as well as humanity? We will never know the power of this unless we try.”

BOXING WITH BOXER

Look out. California is resounding with the feminine war cry, “Boxer bites.” The rivalry between two women for the U.S. Senate seat is no mere catfight. The race will demand major media mojo and PR prowess on the part of Republican challenger Carly Fiorina and Democratic incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer. Mrs. Fiorina already has launched “Boxer Bites,” a series of precise but cheeky campaign messages that chomp upon her opponent’s reputation - while naming names and citing press accounts or statistics.

“This is designed to highlight the many ways Barbara Boxer has failed the state of California for 28 years,” campaign spokeswoman Amy Thoma tells Inside the Beltway. “Let’s just say there is a lot of material out there.”

REPUBLICAN FISTICUFFS

Flush with victory, the Republicans are ready to rumble, promising an old-fashioned, baby-kissing, grass-roots campaign combined with state-of-the-art, high-tech outreach. Wait. Isn’t that what Democrats do?

“The Democrats better watch out. We’re not only coming, we’re already there,” Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele tells the Beltway. “We’ve got a different style, not the same old, same old. This is not mom and dad’s GOP. It’s a very different party now.”

CONSERVATIVE FISTICUFFS

Tuesday’s primary elections offered some jolts and jabs, with some quakes and landslides due, perhaps, in about five months.

“The election results were a swift right cross to the collective chins of the Republican establishment, organized labor and the far left. It was a resounding rebuke of the Obama administration and its march toward socialism,” says L. Brent Bozell III, president of the Conservative Victory Committee.

“Sharron Angle’s victory in Nevada and Nikki Haley’s victory in South Carolina are just the latest confirmations of a reborn conservative movement that is reshaping the Republican Party and the political landscape from coast to coast. Organized labor and the far-left propaganda machines of MoveOn.org and DailyKos suffered yet another huge defeat in the Arkansas Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, a seat that looks ripe for a conservative pickup in November with [GOP Rep.] John Boozman,” Mr. Bozell says.

REDNECK REVENGE

“Hey, Y’all! We are officially casting the South! So holler if you’re blue collar! Doron Ofir Casting and the team that brought you the phenomenon ’Jersey Shore’ is looking for 12 lucky guys and gals who are keepin’ it country and want to party … on the sickest reality show during one all-American summer! Kegs, muddin’ and cookouts … If you like your chicken fried, drive a pickup truck and you’re full of American pride, we are looking for you! Now casting the hottest, funniest and proudest Southerners who are at least 21 years old who can prove that the party down South will rise again.”

(A June 9 public casting notice for “Party Down South,” from executive casting director Doron Ofir).

THE DEMOCRAT VERSION

Election primaries in Nevada, California, Arkansas and Iowa have given Democrats great pause, perhaps. But they are ready to go, and here’s their spin:

“To sum up. The choice couldn’t be more clear between the Republican candidates and ours. While Democrats are focused on repairing our economy, creating jobs and strengthening America’s middle class, Republicans are more interested in appealing to the right-wing fringe. Let’s make sure every voter knows it in November,” says J.B. Poersch, director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

A RARE MOMENT

“The public expresses far more trust in the news media for information about the Gulf oil leak than it does in either the federal government or BP,” says Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center, who notes that a survey of 1,002 adults conducted June 3 to 6 revealed that 67 percent of Americans trust news organizations, compared with 51 percent who trust the federal government and 39 percent who believe BP.

POLL DU JOUR

• 83 percent of U.S. voters disapprove of BP’s response to the Gulf oil spill.

• 76 percent fault the federal government’s response to the spill.

• 66 percent say the spill will cause long-term environmental and economic damage.

• 85 percent of Democrats and 45 percent of Republicans agree.

• 52 percent overall say offshore drilling is safe, reliable and cost-efficient.

• 20 percent of Democrats and 88 percent of Republicans agree.

Source: A Zogby International poll of 2,062 likely voters conducted June 4 to 7.

• Buzz, cautious asides and press releases to jharper@ washingtontimes.com.