Jennifer Harper
Articles by Jennifer Harper
Inside the Beltway: Kirsten Powers book says liberals kill free speech and demonize conservatives
There's much talk about free speech, and the right to it. Now comes a major book explaining who and what is eroding this most basic tenet. Out Monday, it's "The Silencing: How the Left is Killing Free Speech" by Kirsten Powers, a lifelong liberal and daughter of a feminist who converted to Christianity as an adult and is now a frequent contributor to Fox News. Published May 10, 2015
‘Love and reverence’: The original presidential proclamation for Mother’s Day - see it here
It was President Woodrow Wilson who issued a presidential proclamation on May 9, 1914, officially establishing the first national Mother's Day holiday - "as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of country." He suggested that American flags be raised as well. Published May 10, 2015
‘The Right Side Forum’ with Armstrong Williams asks: Can local entrepreneurship cure cities?
The "Right Side Forum," an hour-long conservative live news and talk show hosted by columnist Armstrong Williams, will ask this question on its next broadcast: "Can thriving local entrepreneurship rescue our cities?" His guests will be Doyle Mitchell, president of Industrial Bank, and Chip Ellis, CEO of the Ellis Development Corporation. Published May 8, 2015
Age counts: 92 percent of Americans prefer a presidential candidate under 60
How old is too old to run for president? Americans have an age range in mind. Consider that the current crop of presidential hopefuls ranges in age from 43 to 75 -- and in the middle is Gov. Scott Walker checking in at 47, Martin O'Malley at 53, Jeb Bush at 63, Hillary Clinton at 67. But now there's a YouGov poll revealing what age Americans actually prefer. Published May 8, 2015
Inside the Beltway: Freedom Summit: A bodacious gathering of conservatives
It's a good thing that C-SPAN will cover the South Carolina Freedom Summit on Saturday. It's a big hoopla with muscle, attitude and purpose, and it has attracted big-name conservatives who also have muscle, attitude and purpose. Published May 7, 2015
Obama off to Oregon and South Dakota — fundraiser included
Rev up Air Force One. President Obama journeys to Oregon on Thursday for two reasons. First he'll attend a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at a hotel in Portland to support the organization's 2016 White House Victory Fund - tickets up to $10,000 each. Then it's on to Nike headquarters in Beaverton on Friday to talk up "progressive, high-standards trade agreements that would open up new markets and support high-quality jobs for businesses large and small," according to the White House. Published May 7, 2015
Al Jazeera America has a rough week: $15 million lawsuit, resignations, new CEO
It has been a rough week for Al Jazeera America. The ambitious, Qatar-based news network that essentially grew out of Al Gore's Current TV pubic affairs channel two years ago now has its own drama. "AJAM" was first slapped with a $15 million wrongful termination lawsuit by a former employee who also claimed the network was discriminating against women - and others. Published May 6, 2015
Inside the Beltway: Why people listen to Ben Carson
Those who are dismissive of Ben Carson and his presidential campaign should not underestimate the popular appeal of his common-sense observations -- such as a simple message to voters produced as Mr. Carson rolled across Iowa in his campaign bus on Wednesday. Published May 6, 2015
Democrats tear into Mike Huckabee; Glenn Beck calls him ‘a spoiler’
It took the Democratic National Committee only moments to scurry after Mike Huckabee, who announced Tuesday that he would run for president in 2016, advising his audience, "I don't come from a family dynasty, but a working family. I grew up blue-collar, not blue blood." The Democrats, however, were waiting for him, as is their pattern with Republican presidential hopefuls. Published May 6, 2015
Inside the Beltway: Gawking media salutes the ‘Hollywood gasbags’ and climate hypocrites
The practice of treating celebrities like scientific experts continues. An ambitious new study of network broadcasts by Media Research Center business analyst Mike Ciandella has tracked "the climate hypocrites and the media who love them," offering insight into "the not-so-green habits of Hollywood gasbags." Published May 5, 2015
Bernie Sanders may be a campaign underdog, but he’s a historic campaign underdog
Americans, even Republicans, are willing witnesses for Sen. Bernie Sanders and his long-shot presidential bid. The hair, the gumption, the unapologetic ideology — all that could appeal to an audience trained to root for the underdog, just as they would a reality TV contestant determined to beat the odds. The Vermont Independent is a cultural force to be reckoned with. Will he also be a political force? Published May 5, 2015
Inside the Beltway: Media makes a mess of Baltimore, coverage of cops
The mainstream news media has picked up some powerful critics following relentless, often repetitive coverage of the Baltimore riots. President Obama was vexed at the press for dwelling on violence and mayhem during the events, overlooking the stalwart citizens who tried to bring order. Then there is Rep. Peter King. The New York Republican is weary of news organizations who don't offer fair-minded coverage to law enforcement officers. The lawmaker is particularly disgusted with coverage following the fatal shooting of NYPD officer Brian Moore on the streets of Queens. Mr. King had spent time at the officer's hospital bedside before his death, then went on to react to "anti-cop rhetoric" in the media. Published May 4, 2015
American Conservative Union has five questions of its own for Hillary Clinton
"Clinton's lack of candor, and repeated attempts to distract or hide truths from the American people have raised questions that deserve answers. At some point, Mrs. Clinton will have to answer questions about how and why she and her husband appear to have rigged the system to their political and financial benefit," says American Conservative Union chairman Matt Schlapp. Published May 4, 2015
Inside the Beltway: Richard Viguerie has advice: Scandal mongering isn’t going to defeat Hillary
Shrill partisan finger-pointing has its limits in the political marketplace, and could weary voters who are hungry for empowering facts rather than mere outrage and indignation. One conservative veteran points out that a certain Democratic presidential hopeful is deft at deflecting muckraking, no matter how justified. Published May 3, 2015
Gov. Jerry Brown gets a suggestion: Mandatory fake grass would cure the California drought
It's bristly, lush and there's tangly thatch around the roots. And it's fantastically faux. High-end synthetic grass looks like the real thing - even enough to please discerning Californians. So why not make it mandatory? The Synthetic Grass Warehouse - the nation's largest distributor of the stuff - is calling upon California Gov. Jerry Brown to consider a fake grass law in the drought-stricken state, where residents use 6.4 billion gallons of water per day for lawn care. Published May 2, 2015
‘Right Side Forum’ with Armstrong Williams to address Baltimore riots, and the outcome
The "Right Side Forum," an hour-long conservative live news and talk show hosted by columnist Armstrong Williams, will ask this question on its next broadcast: "Baltimore - Is There Anything Left to Burn?" His guests are Michael A. Jackson, Delegate, State of Maryland, and former Prince Georges County Sheriff; and Charles Yarbaugh, president, Precision Tactical Training & Consultants LLC. Published May 1, 2015
The Breitbart candidate: ‘Conservative media warrior’ Mike Flynn to run for Congress
A journalist barrels toward politics: Mike Flynn — a former policy director for the American Legislative Exchange Council who founded BigGovernment.com with the late media maven Andrew Breitbart — now plans to run as a conservative candidate for Congress in the special election for Illinois' 18th Congressional District, following the resignation of Aaron Schock. Mr. Flynn is a sixth generation native of central Illinois. Published May 1, 2015
Inside the Beltway: Three new GOP presidential hopefuls due to emerge by Monday
It will be an intense weekend for a trio of powerful Republicans: Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina and Mike Huckabee all are scheduled to make their presidential intentions known within 72 hours, give or take an hour or two. Published April 30, 2015
Same-sex marriage now a litmus test for Republican hopefuls, poll suggests
Is it politically prudent for Republican presidential hopefuls to say they'd attend the wedding of a gay family member or friend? A new poll suggests this dynamic is in play. A Reuters/Ipsos survey released Wednesday finds that 68 percent of Americans overall say they'd attend the same-sex wedding of a loved one; 80 percent of Democrats, 70 percent of independents and 56 percent of Republicans agree. Published April 30, 2015
Inside the Beltway: Shrinking: 51 percent of Americans now ‘middle class’ - down from 63 percent
And yet another poll focuses upon a cultural moment with political implications. Gallup reveals that the middle class is truly shrinking: Fifty-one percent of Americans now describe themselves as middle class, down from 63 percent seven years ago; 48 percent say they are "working or lower class," up 10 percentage points since 2008. Among Republicans, 55 percent say they're middle class, down 12 percentage points; 49 percent of Democrats say the same, down 10 percentage points. Published April 29, 2015
