Jennifer Harper
Articles by Jennifer Harper
Clergy-on-the-ground: Disaster experts mobilize ministers should catastrophe strike
It is a sign of the times - and a clear-eyed, viable idea from Johns Hopkins University emergency preparedness and response experts, who have led pastors, ministers and other clergy in disaster readiness training in three cities, capping off the outreach in the nation's capital on Tuesday. They specialize in schooling folks of faith who also have a calling to be spiritual boots-on-the-ground during a terrorist attack, mass shooting, natural disaster or other unexpected calamity. Published September 29, 2014
Inside the Beltway: $5,242 a minute: White House fundraising continues
Yes, there are numbers to justify why Republicans get cranky about President Obama's frequent fundraising for the Democratic Party, particularly when tax payer dollars facilitate glittering events. We know that Mr. Obama has hosted almost 400 political fundraisers since taking office. We also know that Air Force One costs $228,288 an hour to operate, a factor when the West Coast is involved. Like the upcoming gala in the Hollywood home of Gwyneth Paltrow in early October - which marks the 19th time the president has journeyed to Los Angeles for some campaign cash. Published September 29, 2014
Inside the Beltway: Amen: 61 percent of Americans support prayer in school
Sixty-one percent of Americans support allowing daily prayer to be spoken in the classroom, reports Rebecca Riffkin, a Gallup analyst. Published September 28, 2014
Inside the Beltway: ‘The left is shaking in their slippers’ over values voters
Those who base their politics and lifestyles around traditional values, faith and founding principles are many in number, and have their eyes on the nation's capital. Published September 25, 2014
Two decades later: Newt Gingrich’s ‘Contract for America’ turns 20
The 20th anniversary of the Contract with America is Saturday, marking the moment when a phalanx of Republican hopefuls gathered on the West Front steps of the U.S. Capitol and signed a document penned by Newt Gingrich and Richard Armey that set forth GOP principles and clarified their promises to voters. Published September 25, 2014
Inside the Beltway: Wary Democrats reconsider their new war hawk President
When the president of the United States makes a bold move that resonates with the public, the lawmakers within the president's party normally respond with a cascade of celebratory press releases and sound bites. That was not the case for President Obama when he ordered airstrikes on Syria earlier this week. Many Democrats remained on the sidelines in the aftermath — dithering over the proper response to Mr. Obama's sudden switch to commander-in-chief mode. Published September 24, 2014
Inside the Beltway: Tea party deploying to take on liberal Democrats
The persistent, rambunctious soul of the tea party has not been extinguished. While the mainstream media has eagerly declared the grassroots movement to be dead, dying or irrelevant in recent years, the clan maintains the same attitude it had going into the 2010 midterms. And that attitude is aggressive. Published September 23, 2014
Inside the Beltway: Obama shifts from war hawk to green guy
Issue du jour? Piece of cake. Two weeks after he stepped before the nation as the hawkish protector of the homeland, President Obama now greets a global audience as the wonkish protector of the planet, showcased Tuesday at the United Nations Climate Summit. Published September 22, 2014
Intelligence community ponders the ‘immaculate collection’
"There’s no 'secret' version of the NIS. Our oversight committees, our partners, the public and, for that matter, even our adversaries are all seeing the very same strategic direction I'm giving to the Intelligence Community," says James R. Clapper, director of national intelligence - who also has thoughts on the current intel landscape. Published September 21, 2014
Inside the Beltway: The spectacle of global warming
Climate alarmism creates good melodrama but scanty policy. President Obama soon journeys to New York City, a destination now knee-deep in climate activism and boasting corporate endorsements, multiple sponsors and aggressive branding — amped up with hippie fervor, tubas, costumes, feathers, populist messages and endless social media. Published September 21, 2014
You betcha: Sarah Palin returns to Washington in the name of traditional values
Well, this ought to whet the appetites of certain journalists. Sarah Palin is among the confirmed speakers for the ninth annual Values Voters Summit next week in the nation's capital. Published September 19, 2014
Inside the Beltway: 264,220 people definitely not ready for Hillary Clinton
The persistent Stop Hillary PAC has marked the formal start of the Benghazi hearings with some noise of their own. The independent political action committee has dropped $100,000 on broadcast ads in New Hampshire, South Carolina and Iowa featuring a 30-second spot that has a simple recommendation: "Stop the silence." Published September 18, 2014
Former ‘Meet the Press’ anchor David Gregory now complains of media ‘laziness’
David Gregory has quietly re-emerged into public life, a mere three weeks after vacating his anchorman perch on NBC's "Meet the Press". Mr. Gregory served as a moderator at the National Ideas Meeting, and he had a few choice things to say about the press itself. Published September 18, 2014
The GOP’s youthful Maverick PAC set to host Portman, Cruz, Priebus
The term "maverick" used to belong to Sen. John McCain back in the day. Now it's been expanded to represent a growing batallion of young, aggressive Republicans and conservatives who are ready to rumble, and in touch with their inner maverick, or words to that effect. Founded in 2009, Maverick PAC - or MAVPAC - now boasts 2,500 members. The group gathers Friday in the nation's capital for an annual conference that has attracted a stellar line-up of speakers. Published September 18, 2014
49 percent of Americans now say they would vote for a gay presidential candidate
Big majorities of Americans - about seven-out-of-10 - say they would be comfortable voting for a presidential candidate who was Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, childless or single. So says a meticulous new Harris Poll which reveals some partisan divides among other demographics. Half of the overall public - 49 percent - would be comfortable voting for a gay presidential hopeful; 36 percent of Republicans, 61 percent of Democrats and 51 percent of independents agree with that. Published September 18, 2014
It’s not for frugal: Half of the U.S. Senate gets an F in ‘fiscal performance’
Alas, almost half of the U.S. Senate has earned an F grade in "fiscal performance" according to the National Taxpayers Union's 35th annual rating of Congress. Indeed, 45 senators received the rock bottom grade on the scorecard, which analyzes their responses to every single roll call vote affecting federal taxes, spending, debt and significant regulations. Published September 18, 2014
Inside the Beltway: Libertarians kick into gear with LPAC — The Liberty Political Action Conference
The ever feisty Ron Paul is the driving force behind LPAC, the three-day Liberty Political Action Conference, which begins Thursday in a lofty Virginia hotel outside Washington, and hosts 800 eager guests. Published September 17, 2014
‘Real Benghazi’ author Aaron Klein predicts unfair media coverage of Benghazi hearings
"I do not expect much fair coverage from a media that is mysteriously uninterested in telling the real Benghazi story, in probing even the most basic facts about the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks," Mr. Klein says. Published September 17, 2014
Inside the Beltway: Another grass-roots victory for Ben Carson
The heartland still loves Dr. Ben Carson, even as the public continues to puzzle about his possible plans to run for the White House in 2016. This time around, the author and physician won a small but telling presidential straw poll in the Granite State. Published September 16, 2014
Libertarians pledge to eliminate federal income tax, reduce spending to 1998 level
"If elected, I will sponsor legislation to eliminate the federal income tax, cut federal spending to the 1998 level ($1.65 trillion) and get the IRS off the backs of taxpayers." And so say the 40 official Libertarian Party candidates running for office around the nation in a public pledge. Published September 16, 2014
