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Jennifer Harper

Jennifer Harper

jharper@washingtontimes.com

Jennifer Harper wrote the daily Inside the Beltway column for The Washington Times.

Articles by Jennifer Harper

House Speaker Paul Ryan vigorously talks up the American Health Care Act at Republican National Committee Headquarters. (Associated Press) ** FILE **

Inside the Beltway: Obamacare 2,300 pages, Trumpcare 46 pages

Consider health care heritage: Once there was the Healthcare Security Act of 1993, otherwise known as Hillarycare. It went bye-bye when Republicans took over the House and Senate a year later. Next came Obamacare -- the 2,300-page Affordable Health Care Act that required a $200 million public relations campaign to get it rolling -- this according to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed against the Department of Health and Human Services by Judicial Watch in 2011.

March 8, 2017
A political strategist has advised that President Trump, like his predecessor, must learn the limits of governing by executive order. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Keep it simple and you’ll win, Mr. President

The political landscape grows ever more murky with questionable media coverage and partisan trickery meant to upstage President Trump's bona fide accomplishments. How can he counter such tactics and maintain the positive momentum he gained following his well-received speech before Congress? Ford O'Connell, an adjunct professor at George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management, has a suggestion.

March 7, 2017
Talk radio kingpin Rush Limbaugh regularly dissects media trickery for his listeners, from "fake news" to Trump bashing. (Rush Limbaugh) ** FILE **

Rush Limbaugh, press watchdogs attack fake news and media trickery

Biased news media and Democratic operatives are skilled at crafting a powerful, coordinated narrative against President Trump and his administration. But the jig may be up soon. Too many meticulous press watchdogs are pushing back with straightforward analysis.

March 2, 2017
Talk radio hosts are taking note of President Trump's masterful command of his audiences, and advise making use of his style. (Associated Press)

Inside the Beltway: Trump factor: Talk radio learns from the master

"Love him or hate him, we in talk radio can learn a great deal from Donald Trump. Since he blasted onto the political scene, he's been a ratings juggernaut. Even the news media have to admit this guy is ratings gold. The assumption in talk radio is that being rah-rah Trump equals big ratings. That would be completely missing the point. The Trump factor is not whether you support him or oppose him. It's what you learn from him," says Phil Valentine, a syndicated radio host heard on the Westwood One Network, writing in Talkers, an industry publication.

March 1, 2017
President Donald Trump reacts after addressing a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool Image via AP)

Fox News pulled in largest audience for Trump speech

President Trump drew a very respectable national audience during his speech before Congress on Tuesday night: 43 million viewers tuned in, according to early Nielsen Media Research numbers. Fox News emerged as the network of record as the most-watched channel in all of television with 10.8 million viewers, outpacing rivals in both the cable and broadcast realms.

March 1, 2017
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has made clear she will exit the political stage on her own schedule, but many Democrats across the nation say it's time for the next generation to take charge. (Associated Press/File)

Inside the Beltway: Voters to Democrats: Cooperate with Trump

The "i word" -- impeachment -- has already surfaced in the Democratic dialogue as the party rails against President Trump, its noisy message amplified by the mainstream media. In the words of Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez, everybody is "fired up."

February 28, 2017
Celebrities, lobbyists and other high-profile folk who party at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner won’t see President Trump there this year. (Associated Press/File)

Donald Trump’s decision to skip White House Correspondents Dinner wins praise

President Trump is winning some accolades for his decision not to attend the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner, just over eight weeks away. The jumbo gala attracts over 2,600 "correspondents" -- including celebrities, lobbyists, PR mavens, military brass and other high-profile folk. Squealing fans and spectators wait for sightings; there is considerable coverage of the event's red carpet walk.

February 26, 2017
Sen. Ted Cruz prepares to face a huge crowd during a previous CPAC appearance; the event typically draws some 13,000 people. (AP Photo)

Inside the Beltway: The power of CPAC drowns out the news media

News coverage of the Conservative Political Action Conference -- CPAC -- is often dismissive, sarcastic or just plain negative, dwelling on controversy and even creating it. Such coverage will get drowned out when this bodacious event roars to life on Thursday, drawing some 13,000 attendees who are thoughtful, enthusiastic and politically engaged. There's some real passion here, and refreshing sincerity.

February 22, 2017
A Florida congressman and Afghanistan war veteran is taking issue with Democratic supporters' post-election feelings of "trauma." (Associated Press)

Message to weepy Democrats: ‘Post-election stress disorder’ nowhere near PTSD

We have heard much about Democratic depression and despair over Hillary Clinton's loss during the 2016 election. There's been weeping and sighing; former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean himself warned of youthful angst over President Trump and his administration, telling MSNBC that "young people were traumatized by Trump."

February 21, 2017
Some critics thought President Trump wouldn't last long in office, but as of Tuesday, he is not the president with the shortest term in office, according to historical records. (Associated Press)

Trump keeps William Henry Harrison’s record safe for shortest presidential term

President Trump passes a noteworthy milestone on Tuesday. He begins his 33rd day in office -- which means he is no longer the shortest-serving president in history -- a title his critics likely wish he had obtained. The shortest-serving president on record was William Henry Harrison, who was in the White House for 32 days before he died of pneumonia, brought on by a severe chill on his Inauguration Day in 1841.

February 20, 2017
A long-lost, newly discovered letter written by Abraham Lincoln amid the Civil War is now up for sale, with an asking price of $80,000. (Raab Collection)

Inside the Beltway: Long-lost Abe Lincoln letter priced at $80K

Just in time for Presidents Day: A previously unknown, newly discovered letter written by Abraham Lincoln a year before his death has been found buried in a family safety deposit box. Its value? That would be $80,000, according to the Raab Collection, a dealer in important historical documents.

February 19, 2017
President Trump visits an airplane hangar in Melbourne, Florida for a rally on Saturday, five months after his rally there drew 8,500 people. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Loyal forever: They love Trump in the heartland no matter what the media does

The press may hate him. But the grassroots are still fiercely loyal to President Trump no matter what the news media does. He has the untiring support of heartland voters who rallied behind him with gusto, then went to the polls to vote the man into office. Mr. Trump revisits that territory on Saturday when he journeys to an airplane hangar in Melbourne, Florida, for a jumbo public rally -- a familiar feature of his relentless campaign for the White House.

February 16, 2017