Inside Politics

The depression era

Bloggers haven’t had such fun since one of their own kind revealed that Sen. Barack Obama thought America’s blue-collar class was “bitter” — thus launching a kerfuffle of epic proportions.

The sharp-eyed unknowns are at it again.

“The change you deserve,” — a snappy slogan newly adopted by the National Republican Congressional Committee — is actually a trademarked phrase used to market Effexor, an anti-depressant made by pharmaceutical giant Wyeth. This snippet of embarrassment was chronicled yesterday by Sally Jo Sorenson, a blogger in rural Minnesota.

“We were alarmed by the slogan for the minority caucus’s re branding campaign, for it directly — though probably inadvertently — addresses the depressed opportunities House Republicans might be feeling of late,” Ms. Sorenson wrote.

Within hours, her tidbit was picked up and amplified by Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” the Huffington Post and the New York Times, among others.

“Turns out that slogan is also used to market an antidepressant, which Democrats quickly lampooned as reflecting the Republican mood at the moment,” the Times said.

“Jeepers. What can start with an old heifer nibbling her way through her morning reading?” Ms. Sorenson asked.

A sorry state

The Rev. John Hagee, an influential Texas televangelist who endorsed Sen. John McCain, is apologizing to Catholics for referring to the Roman Catholic Church as “the great whore” and calling it “the apostate church,” according to the Associated Press.

Mr. Hagee’s support for the Arizona Republican has drawn criticism from some Catholic leaders. Mr. McCain has said he does not agree with some of Mr. Hagee’s past comments.

In a letter to William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, Mr. Hagee wrote: “Out of a desire to advance a greater unity among Catholics and evangelicals in promoting the common good, I want to express my deep regret for any comments that Catholics have found hurtful.”

“Whatever problems we had before are now history. This case is closed,” Mr. Donohue said.

Fox-ification

Things just get curiouser and curiouser. The vast right-wing conspiracy is now a Friend of Hillary. Sort of.

Terry McAuliffe, campaign chairman for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, told Fox News yesterday that his boss was being victimized by the press. But not by the usual suspects.

“Clearly, it has been a biased media, no question about it,” Mr. McAuliffe said, insisting that 90 percent of the mainstream media are “in the tank” for Sen. Barack Obama.

“It is what it is. We’re not complaining,” Mr. McAuliffe added. “We have to deal with the hand we’re dealt with.”

And in a sterling moment, he gave evidence that the media allegiances of yore are unraveling, calling conservative Fox News “one of the most responsible in this presidential campaign.”

Fox-ification Part 2

CNN continues to troll the Bush White House for talent.

Frances Fragos Townsend, who recently stepped down as President Bush’s chief anti-terrorism and homeland security adviser, is joining the network as analyst for national security issues.

She’s got two decades in intelligence and criminal justice, chairing the Homeland Security Council, serving as deputy national security adviser and working with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Justice Department for both the Bush and Clinton administrations.

“This is a critical time for our country,” Mrs. Townsend said, who is anxious to tell her newfound global audience about the insidious threat of terrorism.

“She adds an important dimension to CNN’s coverage of one of the central questions in the presidential election: How safe are we?” said CNN President Jonathan Klein.

Mrs. Townsend joins Tony Snow, former white House spokesman and longtime Fox News host, who went to CNN last month as a political commentator.

Veep alert

The Hill newspaper asked the 97 senators who are not running for president the same question:

“If you were asked, would you accept an offer to be the vice presidential nominee?”

More than 20 said they would accept or seriously consider such an offer.

Others demurred, saying they would stick with their jobs in the Senate. Serious contenders, including Sens. Jim Webb, Virginia Democrat, and John Thune, South Dakota Republican, downplayed their chances. Some lawmakers wouldn’t hesitate.

“Of course,” Sen. Bob Bennett, Utah Republican, said. “Big house, big car, not much to do. Why not?”

Sen. Larry Craig, Idaho Republican, who was arrested in a Minneapolis airport bathroom sex sting and has since been ostracized by his party, at least got into the spirit of things.

“I would say ’No, Hillary.’ ” Mr. Craig said.

“Absolutely,” said Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland Democrat. “I think I would be great. First of all, I know how to behave at weddings and funerals. And I know how to be commander in chief. I’d bring a lot of fun to the job. We would rock the Naval Observatory.”

But some have already been there, done that.

“Once is enough,” observed Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman.

“I already have the T-shirt and I’m proud of it.” the Connecticut independent said.

c Contact Jennifer Harper at jharper@washington times.com or 202/636-3085.