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Zogby Poll: Most Americans Can Name Three Stooges, But Not Three Branches of Gov't

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Public Priorities

A recent poll found that nearly three-quarters of those asked could name each of the Three Stooges — Larry, Curly and Moe — but only 42 percent were able to name the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.

That's according to a new Zogby poll in which 77 percent of Americans could name two of the seven dwarfs, while just 24 percent knew two of the nine Supreme Court justices.

And while 57 percent of Americans could name fictional boy wizard Harry Potter, less than half could name Great Britain's real prime minister, Tony Blair.

Allen's Apology

Virginia Republican Senator George Allen is apologizing for repeatedly referring to a 20-year-old Indian-American campaign volunteer as "macaca" — the name for a breed of primate that sometimes doubles in Europe as a racial slur against North Africans.

Related

The Washington Post reports Allen singled out S.R. Sidarth, who is a volunteer for Allen's opponent James Webb, at a campaign event last week saying: "Let's give a welcome to Macaca here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia." In fact, Sidarth was born in the state.

The Webb campaign called the remarks demeaning and insensitive. But Allen says he didn't know what the word meant saying it sounds similar to "Mohawk" — the name Allen's campaign staff had given to Sidarth because of his mullet-style haircut.

Anti-Israeli Protests

Anti-Israel protesters waved Hezbollah flags and pictures of Sheik Hassan Nasrallah at protests against the "Israeli-U.S." war in Lebanon over the weekend, while a few held signs equating Jews with Nazis.

One said: "Nazi Kikes out of Lebanon," while others urged protesters "to defend Hezbollah resistance against U.S.-Israel attack and occupation."

The rallies were sponsored by A.N.S.W.E.R. — a left-wing coalition of radical groups whose previous protests have included Cindy Sheehan, among others.

In Washington, former Attorney General and current Saddam Hussein attorney Ramsey Clark drew cheers when he called for President Bush to be impeached, while in San Francisco, police used batons to break up a clash between protesters after a woman attempted to burn an Israeli flag.

Blame Game

Georgia Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney is blaming her recent defeat in a Democratic run-off on the media and electronic voting machines, which she urged the black community to oppose because she says they're designed to steal elections.

In her first public appearance since losing to challenger Hank Johnson, McKinney also said she considers herself a "black political paramedic" saying, "The black body politic is near comatose."

McKinney was given a standing ovation before and after her remarks, but refused to answer questions from reporters.

—FOX News Channel's Aaron Bruns contributed to this report.

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