Political Grapevine: 11/13

" And now some fresh pickings from the political grapevine. Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele says health insurance for party employees. Will no longer include coverage for elective abortion. Politico reported the existence of the provision this week sending party officials scrambling. The Republican platform form of course calls abortion quote. -- fundamental assault on the sanctity of innocent human life steel instructed his staff Thursday to inform insurance provider Cigna. That the RNC wanted to opt out of that coverage. Which has been in the policy since 1991. Quote money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose. I don't know why this policy existed in the past. But it will not exist under my administration. Consider this issue settled. Well tis the season -- war on Christmas stories. The mayor of Amelio Ohio has canceled the village's traditional Christmas parade. Because of fears over possible lawsuits. A private group had funded the parade for the last 48 years it pulled out so the bullet village took over. And the mayor's legal counsel advised him to change it to a holiday parade. To avoid any potential legal problems well that prompted a backlash from church groups who threatened to boycott if Christmas was taken out of the name. Mayor Lee Roy Ellington says he had no choice but to call the whole thing off. Quote as a citizen I wanted to Christmas parade as the mayor. I have an obligation to prevent the village from spending unnecessary tax dollars. Finally shopkeepers and what used to be called red China are seeing green ahead of president Obama's visit. To the -- and Communist nation Sunday vendors are fully embracing the free market mindset stocking all sorts of items inspired by the American leader. Apparently some of the hottest shots -- did include. Obama Mao T shirts and trinkets. But -- President Obama wearing the uniform of the red guards one vendor says he is already sold hundreds of Obama now shirts. But none more -- as one government employee quote they're not allowed to sell these things because there are images of Obama wearing the uniform of the red army."