Inside the Beltway

Mrs. Pelosi?

Now that the Democrats are fully in charge of Capitol Hill, an organization of black Americans is asking for an apology — from them.

“The Democratic Party’s wall of deception and denial about that party’s past racism and failed socialism is beginning to crack,” declares Frances Rice, chairwoman of the National Black Republican Association. “In a surprising and long-overdue move, the Democrats in North Carolina did what we, as black Americans, demand that the national leaders of the Democratic Party do — apologize to black Americans.”

She’s referring to the apology issued Jan. 20 by the 700-member North Carolina Democratic Executive Committee, acknowledging past racist activity supported by the state’s Democratic Party.

“In spite of their history of racism and failed socialism that fostered urban black poverty, national Democratic Party leaders refuse to apologize,” says Miss Rice, who paraphrases author Michael Scheurer, former CIA senior analyst and chief of the Osama bin Laden unit, as saying, “History shows the Democratic Party is and always has been the party of ‘Four S’s: Slavery, Secession, Segregation and now Socialism.’ ”

Lt. Dan

“Hey man, I look just like you.”

Or so actor and military advocate Gary Sinise tells Inside the Beltway he was told recently by one double-leg amputee he visited at a U.S. military hospital. We had asked Mr. Sinise to comment on how common it was today for disabled members of the armed services to relate to his memorable “Lieutenant Dan” character — a disabled Vietnam veteran who lost both legs — in the 1994 movie “Forrest Gump.”

Mr. Sinise, the star of the highly rated CBS-TV crime drama “CSI: N.Y.,” has been in Washington for the past several days visiting with injured troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and raising awareness and private funds for the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, which will be built on a two-acre site adjacent to the National Mall within view of the U.S. Capitol.

Prefer the pews

President Bush “surprised us by skipping his usual church visit,” heading to Maryland at 8:15 a.m. yesterday, according to the White House pool report. Despite the “rain and mud” that eventually turned to sleet and snow, Mr. Bush was obviously aching for some exercise when he missed the Sunday sermon.

Reporters tagging along weren’t any happier when their press van suffered a flat tire.

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