In today's “Truer Words Might Never Have Been Spoken” segment, Michelle Obama told CNN's Robyn Curnow Friday, “Fortunately we have help from the media.” Such came during an interview with the First Lady in Botswana aired on the 6PM installment of “The Situation Room” (video follows with transcript and commentary): ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The long view, obviously, the bigger picture is what you're talking about. You're going on safari here. When you go back home, you're going to walk into also a pretty dangerous environment, a political presidential campaign, a new presidential campaign. How is the family ready for this? It's going to be quite vicious, isn't it? How do you prepare for that? M. OBAMA: You know, it's — we're — we're ready. You know, our children, you know, could care less about what we're doing. We work hard to do that. And… CURNOW: How do you do it? M. OBAMA: Well, we — fortunately we have help from the media. And I — I have to say this, that I'm very grateful for the support and kindness that we've gotten, and people have respected their privacy. And in that way, I think, you know, no matter what people may feel about my husband's policies or what have you, they care about children. And that's been good — good to see. But when it comes to the campaign, you know, we're ready to work hard. We did it before, and we'll do it again. So we're rolling up our sleeves and getting on with it. Truer words might never have been spoken. Now, in fairness, she was talking about how the media handle her children. Even so, could you imagine a Republican president's wife saying, “Fortunately we have help from the media?” On the other hand, you have to respect her for not only recognizing it, but actually saying it during an interview with CNN. Makes you wonder how this didn't end up on the cutting room floor. (H/T RCP via @ conservagrl )
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Click here to view this media (h/t Heather at Video Cafe) Pity Paul Ryan. Not only is he one of the least popular member of his party and Congress , but his Randian wet dream budget plan– declared the litmus test for all Republicans this election– isn’t fooling most Americans . So much so that even Ryan is backing away from it . And now politicians aspiring to join the Republicans on the national scene have to figure out a way to be for the Ryan plan to satisfy the party leadership and yet not be for a plan that most Americans hate. George “Macaca” Allen had the repeated resisted answering whether he would support it although by his own words, politicians should answer how they will vote . But perhaps the most telling episode came from Florida Republican Mike Haridopolos , who appeared on the conservative Ray Junior radio show in Orlando and gave such mealy-mouthed answers with the typical politician filibuster to issues he did want to talk about that even Junior got fed up and kicked him off his show . Poor Mike tried to do the GOP duck and dodge, but the conservative radio host, “Ray Junior”, was having none of it. Ray Junior pointed out that it was Mikey who brought up budget in the first place, and the voters needed to know how Mikey was going to vote. Mikey claimed that the Ryan budget was hypothetical, so he couldn’t answer, but in general, he’s “for” a balanced budget. But then Ray hooked him by pointing out that every candidate has to answer hypothetical questions. Cue the confusion. Perhaps Mikey only got the Fox News training, but for whatever reason, he was woefully unprepared to answer real questions and seemed rather piqued at being asked for real solutions, as if this were an affront. The Orlando based Ray Junior Show touts itself as “…the best in bold, conservative talk. America’s Loose Cannon, Ray Junior, has no fear of telling the truth, no matter which party it hurts or who it aggravates.” Love it. And this should be the rallying cry of all Democrats as we near the election: demand that Republicans stand with destroying Medicare as we know it with the Ryan plan. The voters will know how to act.
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Security stepped up at tennis championships after activists from 15M group are found trying to smuggle in paint and banners Security has been stepped up at Wimbledon , after a group of Spanish activists tried to smuggle banners and tins of paint inside the tennis championship. Police said they believed the 14 members of 15M London , which is linked to the mass protests in Spain , planned to target the match between world number one Rafael Nadal and Gilles Muller on court one. The tournament went into lockdown after the protesters, all Spanish and wearing yellow T-shirts, were stopped in the queue, with a Metropolitan Police helicopter hovering overhead. Thousands of fans were delayed as the gates were closed for an extra 45 minutes. Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the All England Lawn and Tennis Club, said he did not know whether the championships would be targeted again but security would be increased. He said: “For all we know, we have to be prepared for people coming back in on Monday. We have to be prepared for every eventuality.” Ritchie said personal security for Nadal and other Spanish players had not been altered. A police spokesman said: “At approximately 10.30am today a number of people were stopped in the queue at the tennis for Wimbledon and items were also found near to this group, believed to be for use in a demonstration or publicity stunt. “A number of individuals are not being allowed access to the tennis following the searches. No arrests were made.” The planned protest caused no alteration to the playing schedule. 15M London put a message on its website saying: “Important: don’t go to Wimbledon – mission aborted.” The activists describe themselves as “a movement of outraged citizens” opposed to corrupt politicians and greedy bankers. Thousands have protested in Spain under the 15M umbrella, amid anger about high unemployment and the stagnant economy. Wimbledon Protest Tennis Rafael Nadal Spain David Batty guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Security stepped up at tennis championships after activists from 15M group are found trying to smuggle in paint and banners Security has been stepped up at Wimbledon , after a group of Spanish activists tried to smuggle banners and tins of paint inside the tennis championship. Police said they believed the 14 members of 15M London , which is linked to the mass protests in Spain , planned to target the match between world number one Rafael Nadal and Gilles Muller on court one. The tournament went into lockdown after the protesters, all Spanish and wearing yellow T-shirts, were stopped in the queue, with a Metropolitan Police helicopter hovering overhead. Thousands of fans were delayed as the gates were closed for an extra 45 minutes. Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the All England Lawn and Tennis Club, said he did not know whether the championships would be targeted again but security would be increased. He said: “For all we know, we have to be prepared for people coming back in on Monday. We have to be prepared for every eventuality.” Ritchie said personal security for Nadal and other Spanish players had not been altered. A police spokesman said: “At approximately 10.30am today a number of people were stopped in the queue at the tennis for Wimbledon and items were also found near to this group, believed to be for use in a demonstration or publicity stunt. “A number of individuals are not being allowed access to the tennis following the searches. No arrests were made.” The planned protest caused no alteration to the playing schedule. 15M London put a message on its website saying: “Important: don’t go to Wimbledon – mission aborted.” The activists describe themselves as “a movement of outraged citizens” opposed to corrupt politicians and greedy bankers. Thousands have protested in Spain under the 15M umbrella, amid anger about high unemployment and the stagnant economy. Wimbledon Protest Tennis Rafael Nadal Spain David Batty guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Security stepped up at tennis championships after activists from 15M group are found trying to smuggle in paint and banners Security has been stepped up at Wimbledon , after a group of Spanish activists tried to smuggle banners and tins of paint inside the tennis championship. Police said they believed the 14 members of 15M London , which is linked to the mass protests in Spain , planned to target the match between world number one Rafael Nadal and Gilles Muller on court one. The tournament went into lockdown after the protesters, all Spanish and wearing yellow T-shirts, were stopped in the queue, with a Metropolitan Police helicopter hovering overhead. Thousands of fans were delayed as the gates were closed for an extra 45 minutes. Ian Ritchie, chief executive of the All England Lawn and Tennis Club, said he did not know whether the championships would be targeted again but security would be increased. He said: “For all we know, we have to be prepared for people coming back in on Monday. We have to be prepared for every eventuality.” Ritchie said personal security for Nadal and other Spanish players had not been altered. A police spokesman said: “At approximately 10.30am today a number of people were stopped in the queue at the tennis for Wimbledon and items were also found near to this group, believed to be for use in a demonstration or publicity stunt. “A number of individuals are not being allowed access to the tennis following the searches. No arrests were made.” The planned protest caused no alteration to the playing schedule. 15M London put a message on its website saying: “Important: don’t go to Wimbledon – mission aborted.” The activists describe themselves as “a movement of outraged citizens” opposed to corrupt politicians and greedy bankers. Thousands have protested in Spain under the 15M umbrella, amid anger about high unemployment and the stagnant economy. Wimbledon Protest Tennis Rafael Nadal Spain David Batty guardian.co.uk
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Eight people taken to hospital in Bordeaux, with French officials examining three types of seeds from Suffolk supplier Food safety officials are investigating a possible link between seeds sold by a British firm and an E coli outbreak in France. The action by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) comes after France banned the sale of three types of seeds linked to Thompson & Morgan, based in Ipswich, Suffolk. Eight people affected by E coli have been admitted to hospital in Bordeaux. French officials said the results of tests on two of them showed an infection of the same strain of E coli that killed 44 people and affected 3,700 others, including Britons, in an outbreak centred on Germany. An investigation by France’s competition, consumption and fraud prevention agency found those hospitalised had consumed rocket and mustard vegetable sprouts believed to have been grown from seeds sold by Thompson & Morgan at a school fair in the south-western town of Begles. Commerce minister Frederic Lefebvre said the ban involved fenugreek, mustard and rocket seeds. But he added: “The link between the symptoms and eating of the sprouts so far has not been definitively established.” The FSA said it was asking Thompson & Morgan for more information about the seeds. It added that no E coli cases had been reported in the UK. Thompson & Morgan’s website describes it as an expert in the garden since 1855. There is no suggestion of a link to the German E coli outbreak. Thompson & Morgan told the BBC it sold “thousands of packets and had no reported problems”. “It is highly unlikely to be the seeds themselves but the way that they were used and handled,” the company said in a statement. Managing director Paul Hansord said the firm bought its seeds in bulk from suppliers around the world and those under investigation may have come from Italy. E coli Food safety France Germany David Batty guardian.co.uk
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New York state senate passes marriage equality bill in a move celebrated as a turning point by gay activists across the US New York has become the latest and largest US state to legalise same-sex marriage in a move which gay rights campaigners hope will be a turning point for recognition of such unions across the country. The state senate’s backing of the marriage equality bill means New York, the third most populous US state, joins Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the Washington capital district in allowing gay couples to wed. Gay weddings are expected to commence within 30 days after governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill into law on Friday night. The Republican-controlled state senate voted 33-29 for the bill which had earlier been approved by the lower house, which has a Democratic majority. Gay rights activists believe the vote will strengthen the campaign for marriage equality across the country, as the impact of the legislation will be felt well beyond New York. Unlike in Massachusetts, the first state to allow gay marriage in 2004, people do not need to be residents of New York to obtain a marriage licence, so the state could attract couples from across the country. Activists believe the state’s size and New York City’s international stature add to the significance of the vote. Ross Levi, executive director of the Empire State Pride Agenda, said the law would have “a ripple effect across the nation”. “It’s truly a historic night for love, our families, and democracy won,” he added. The vote was particularly emotional for many in the gay community as the gay rights movement is considered to have started in New York City with the Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village in 1969. There was a huge street party at the Stonewall Inn overnight. Alex Kelston, 26, who works in finance in Manhattan, said: “This is the place where the movement started, and it’s a way to close the loop and celebrate the full equality of gay people in New York.” Scott Redstone popped the question to his partner of 29 years, Steven Knittweis: “I said, ‘Will you marry me?’ And he said, ‘Of course!’” Revellers posted photos of the celebrations on Twitter, which included waving rainbow flags and dancing. The vote is likely to be celebrated at annual gay pride events this weekend, culminating with parades in New York City, San Francisco and other cities on Sunday. Sarah Ellis, who has been in a six-year relationship with her partner, Kristen Henderson, said the new law would enable the couple, who have twin toddlers, to get married in the autumn. “We’ve been waiting. We considered it for a long time, crossing the borders and going to other states,” said Ellis, 39, from Long Island. “But until the state that we live in, that we pay taxes in, and we’re part of that community, has equal rights and marriage equality, we were not going to do it.” In the week leading up to the vote in New York, some Republicans who opposed a similar bill in 2009 announced they were supporting it for reasons of conscience and a duty to ensure civil rights. Pressure to back the legisation came from celebrities, athletes and New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has long used his own fortune to help bankroll Republican campaigns and personally lobbied some undecided representatives. Senator Stephen Saland, voted against the 2009 bill, said before last night’s vote. “I am doing the right thing in voting to support marriage equality.” Singer Lady Gaga has been urging her 11 million Twitter followers to call New York senators in support of the bill. Following the vote, she tweeted: ” I can’t stop crying. We did it kids. The revolution is ours to fight for love, justice+equality. Rejoice NY, and propose. We did it!!! ” Pink tweeted: ” Congratulations!!!!!!!!! About time! ” The legislation does include Republican demands for legal protections for religious groups that fear they will be hit with discrimination lawsuits if they refuse to allow their facilities to be used for gay weddings. United States Gay rights Michael Bloomberg Lady Gaga David Batty guardian.co.uk
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• Hit F5 for the latest or select the auto-refresh button below • Follow all the latest scores on the official live scoreboard • The full order of play for Saturday’s action at SW19 • In pictures: our pick of the best images from day six • Email your thoughts to paolo.bandini@guardian.co.uk You can even follow Paolo on Twitter, if that’s your thing 12.14pm: Out on Court Five, Heather Watson suffers a brave defeat (all British defeats, as we know, are either brave, or spirited) on serve in the opening game of her doubles match with Jocelyn Rae against Sophie Lefevre and Evgeniya Rodina. After each point the British pair high-five – relentlessly enthusiastic even in the wake of rubbish volleys into the net cord. I blame the Bryans for this nonsense. 12.08pm: Not much of a conspiracy theory, but perhaps the beginnings of an explanation of the delay at the gates from Sporting Intelligence on Twitter: Wim spokesmn: “Acting on information received that there might be a potential demonstration we have been taking some actions to prevent it.” Police helicopter above Wimbledon. Potential protest apparently involves Spaniards. Reasons unknown. 12.01pm: The senior players are making their way out onto the outside courts, but the delay opening the gates means many fans with tickets are still stuck outside. “The Queue stretches all the way down the road on both sides,” notes my colleague Anna Kessel, while the tennis blogger @FortyDeuceTwits tweets: Calamity at the gates. 50 minute delay in opening the gates means a queue that actually looks longer than the actual Queue. 11.54am: Play traditionally starts on the outside courts at noon, but with the junior competitions getting underway today, any visitor (or at least any visitor lucky enough to have found a way in the gates) strolling around the outside courts will have been treated to the sight of miniature Pete Samprases and Steffi Grafs crushing the ball back and forth across a net that in some cases seems to be higher than their eyeline. Roger Federer himself was so startled at the height of the nets on his first entry into the junior tournament here, back in 1998, that he demanded the umpire take a measurement to confirm it did not exceed regulations. He still won the tournament, though, naturally. 11.52am: Oh yeah, you can also get the full order of play for day five here . 11.48am: If you’re looking for something to keep you entertained between updates this morning, then you can catch up on yesterday’s action with all our reports , or indeed our award-winning snapper Tom Jenkins’s picture gallery . Alternatively, if you’ve read something brilliant elsewhere, why not let us know below the line. 11.45am: Drama at the gates of the All England Club this morning, as your not especially intrepid live blogger arrived just in time to be shut out of the grounds. The press entrance was closed for all of about one minute before being reopened, but the mysterious voice from the sky inside the media centre suggests others were made to wait much longer, with gates that would normally open at 10.30am being kept shut until 11.15am. As yet, I do not have an explanation, so in the meantime do feel free to suggest outlandish conspiracy theories of your own. Both the women’s No1 Caroline Wozniacki and the men’s No1 Rafael Nadal are in action today – facing Jarmila Gajdosova and Gilles Muller respectively – but that’s not the half of it. Today also sees Novak Djokovic take on Marcos Baghdatis , Roger Federer up against David Nalbandian , Serena Williams taking on Maria Kirilenko and a rather tasty looking encounter on Court Two between Juan Martin Del Potro and Gilles Simon . And if you’re just here for the Brits then I have good news on that front too. Five home doubles pairings are in action today – Jocelyn Rae and Heather Watson , Anne Keothavong and Laura Robson , Colin Fleming and Jocelyn Rae , Kenneth Skupski and Elena Baltacha , Jamie Delgado and Melanie South . As a great man once said: woof . Wimbledon 2011 Wimbledon Tennis Paolo Bandini guardian.co.uk
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Click here to view this media CNN’s Anderson Cooper gave a writer at a conservative website a lesson in reporting Thursday night. The Daily Caller’s Laura Donovan attacked Cooper Thursday for a segment he did mocking 16-year-old singer Courtney Alexis marriage to 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison. Apparently it wasn’t clear to Donovan that Cooper was being sarcastic when he jokingly referred to people objecting to the age disparity as “romance haters” in his Wednesday “RidicuList” segment. “Unlike much of the population, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper isn’t repulsed by the Las Vegas nuptials,” Donovan wrote . “I bet at The Daily Caller, if someone tells a knock knock joke everyone runs to the door and waits to see who comes in,” Cooper said Thursday. After outraged Cooper fans wrote the conservative website explaining that he had been joking, editors had to correct her story and she responded on Twitter. “I knew it was sarcastic!” she claimed. “I said in my story that he took ‘sarcastic jabs.’ Guess I could have been clearer.” “Clearer than a completely misleading headline followed by a completely misleading story?” Cooper asked. “Come on, Laura. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Then the CNN host offered a few words of advice: “You’re only 22 years old. You wrote for your college newspaper and you have a blog about guys who hit on you or something. I couldn’t really get into it. I know when you’re starting out in today’s snide internet culture you want to make a name for yourself. I know that attacking others is an easy way to do that. Maybe you want to prove you’re ideologically on the right side. In the future, don’t be so quick to attack. Make sure you research what you write. That way your editors don’t step in and rewrite your inaccurate stories.” The Daily Caller’s Jim Treacher responded with a series of unfunny, gay-baiting knock knock jokes about Cooper. Way to keep it classy.
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Click here to view this media CNN’s Anderson Cooper gave a writer at a conservative website a lesson in reporting Thursday night. The Daily Caller’s Laura Donovan attacked Cooper Thursday for a segment he did mocking 16-year-old singer Courtney Alexis marriage to 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison. Apparently it wasn’t clear to Donovan that Cooper was being sarcastic when he jokingly referred to people objecting to the age disparity as “romance haters” in his Wednesday “RidicuList” segment. “Unlike much of the population, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper isn’t repulsed by the Las Vegas nuptials,” Donovan wrote . “I bet at The Daily Caller, if someone tells a knock knock joke everyone runs to the door and waits to see who comes in,” Cooper said Thursday. After outraged Cooper fans wrote the conservative website explaining that he had been joking, editors had to correct her story and she responded on Twitter. “I knew it was sarcastic!” she claimed. “I said in my story that he took ‘sarcastic jabs.’ Guess I could have been clearer.” “Clearer than a completely misleading headline followed by a completely misleading story?” Cooper asked. “Come on, Laura. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Then the CNN host offered a few words of advice: “You’re only 22 years old. You wrote for your college newspaper and you have a blog about guys who hit on you or something. I couldn’t really get into it. I know when you’re starting out in today’s snide internet culture you want to make a name for yourself. I know that attacking others is an easy way to do that. Maybe you want to prove you’re ideologically on the right side. In the future, don’t be so quick to attack. Make sure you research what you write. That way your editors don’t step in and rewrite your inaccurate stories.” The Daily Caller’s Jim Treacher responded with a series of unfunny, gay-baiting knock knock jokes about Cooper. Way to keep it classy.
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