Jennifer Harper
Articles by Jennifer Harper
Inside the Beltway: The answer-free White House continues
The answer-free White House continues: President Obama now has gone eight weeks without holding a formal press conference. Maybe it’s because he’s just too busy on the campaign trail. Maybe it’s because voters are paying close attention. Published August 16, 2012
Inside the Beltway: Top secret
This is sure to confuse the National Organization for Women, not to mention Democratic strategists who want to tout President Obama's support for women's rights. What follows may not be part of the thinking, perhaps. GoTopless, a Las Vegas organization "dedicated to attaining women's rights to go bare-chested," is petitioning the Obama administration to recognize their "rights" as International GoTopless Day looms. It's Aug. 26, a date the group chose to coincide with Women's Equality Day, which commemorates the attainment of women's voting rights Aug. 26, 1920. Published August 15, 2012
Inside the Beltway: The right equation
Along with his policy prowess and campaign cachet, Rep. Paul Ryan has another factor working for him as Mitt Romney's choice as running mate. Chemistry. That's what's implied, at least. Published August 14, 2012
Inside the Beltway: The big squawk
The moment Rep. Paul Ryan became Mitt Romney's running mate, high-profile Democrats and progressives joined in a unified public chorus insisting that Mr. Ryan and his policies are extreme in nature, and oh, woe to the Republican Party for embracing him. Published August 13, 2012
Inside the Beltway: The Hollywood script
He may have matinee idol looks and the hard body of an action hero, but Mitt Romney's newly cast running mate is already sending shudders through Hollywood. Published August 12, 2012
Inside the Beltway: Tea party war drums
It's no mere movement anymore as the political campaign escalates. The "tea party army" has emerged, and organizers are framing their activities in near dire terms. Published August 9, 2012
Inside the Beltway: The Palin mystery
There are nine governors and former governors set to entertain the Grand Old Party when the Republican National Convention gets rolling in Tampa, Fla. a mere 17 days from now. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin — despite her vigorous message, cool shoes, Supergirl T-shirt, and knack for transfixing any and all media — is not on the roster. Yet. Published August 8, 2012
Inside the Beltway: Veep madness
Wide-eyed and salivating, hundreds of journalists dream of being the chosen one who breaks the news of Mitt Romney's choice for a running mate, even before word goes out on his campaign's fancy new "Who will be Mitt's VP?" phone app. Published August 7, 2012
Inside the Beltway: Not in the script
"The president's top celebrity supporters have benefited from outsourcing, Hollywood-style," says ABC News political correspondent Jon Karl, who points out that President Obama's uber-fundraisers in Tinseltown regularly shoot movies that are supposedly set in the U.S. in overseas locations, rather than on American soil. Published August 6, 2012
Inside the Beltway: Remembering August 6
"A most sobering anniversary: August 6. It marks the most serious and heaviest loss of life for our SEAL community in their illustrious service to our country," says Rep. Scott E. Rigell, who reminds the nation of the helicopter crash one year ago in the Wardak province of Afghanistan that killed 25 members of Navy SEAL Team 6, along with five U.S. Army National Guard and Army Reserve crewmen, one civilian interpreter, seven Afghan commandos and a military working dog. Published August 5, 2012
Inside the Beltway: The Governor’s Posse
Hey, include Gary Johnson in the presidential debates and let America have access to a third party, say his allies. Or else. Published August 2, 2012
Inside the Beltway: Perryfied
The bodacious victory of Ted Cruz in the Texas Republican primary has somehow fired up Texas Gov. Rick Perry, whose own right-hand man lost to Mr. Cruz on Tuesday by 14 fat percentage points. But the ever-canny Mr. Perry has ridden the Cruz victory like a bronco, tamed his own presidential disappointment and framed the Lone Star State in heroic terms. Published August 1, 2012
Inside the Beltway: Ron Paul’s not done yet
The dedicated fans of Rep. Ron Paul are determined to make a big noise at the Republican National Convention, and the Texas Republican is raising money to get them there. Published July 31, 2012
Inside the Beltway: Red meat politics
Those lawmakers had a beef: Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Charles Grassley of Iowa have celebrated their first "Meat Monday," intent on providing a savory comeuppance to the U.S. Department of Agriculture after it encouraged its employees to boycott meat on Mondays, just to be all nice and eco-conscious. Published July 30, 2012
Inside the Beltway: The Polish Connection
Certain powerful voting blocs will track Mitt Romney's goodwill visit to Poland on Monday with keen interest: A very friendly audience awaits him in that nation, along with some potential election benefits. Published July 29, 2012
Inside the Beltway: Drumstick politics
Deep-fried controversy continues: "Chick-fil-A Day" looms Wednesday, organized by Mike Huckabee and some 219,000 fans of the embattled restaurant chain after its CEO Dan Cathy condemned gay marriage, prompting multiple boycotts and much political posturing. Published July 26, 2012
Inside the Beltway: Pillars of liberty
It is a tale of two tours: One for Mitt Romney, the other for those who pine to be his running mate. Published July 25, 2012
Inside the Beltway: ‘2016’ arrives in Washington
There's a low-key advance screening of "2016: Obama's America" in the nation's capital Wednesday night. The documentary film opens nationwide Friday, providing an alarming vision of the life in the U.S., should President Obama be re-elected and his particular "dream" replace that of the Founding Fathers. Published July 24, 2012
Inside the Beltway: Gary Johnson’s White House hopes ‘a matter of karma’
Hey, Gary E. Johnson's still standing, still touring: the Libertarian presidential hopeful, in fact, is quite cheerful these days, having drawn 5 percent of the national vote in multiple polls. The phenomenon has prompted Mr. Johnson to insist he be included in presidential debates with President Obama and Mitt Romney, which begin Oct 3. Published July 23, 2012
Inside the Beltway: In God they trust
The crowd stood below a monumental eagle and the words "In God We Trust" at a gathering recently in the grand foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building to address a visceral but oft neglected issue on Capitol Hill: religious freedom. Published July 22, 2012
