By ,
Published May 08, 2017
And now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:
Cream of the Crop
A talent agency picking the crowd for an MTV town hall with President Obama will make decisions partly on political views and looks.
ABC News reports the casting call asked for a list of issues applicants were passionate about, a "short description of your political views" and a recent photo.
During the 2008 campaign the Obama campaign insisted its town halls were authentic. Here's one possible reason for the change of attitude: Vice President Joe Biden got a lukewarm reaction Thursday, while speaking to an audience in Wisconsin about globalization and jobs.
He then said, "You're the dullest audience I've ever spoken to."
Fact Checkup
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has quietly reversed herself on the impact of the new health care law on Medicare. Her prepared remarks to an AARP conference last week included the statement: "There will be more Medicare Advantage plans to choose from."
Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley asked her to back up the statement and soon afterward the HHS website changed the web version of the speech without noting it. Politico quotes a spokeswoman as saying: "When HHS was alerted that there was in error in the prepared remarks that were posted online, we corrected it. However, the fact that the speech has been updated should have been clearly indicated on the website."
It now says Medicare Advantage will provide more "meaningful" choices.
Political Hardball
And finally, Florida governor and Senate candidate Charlie Crist tossed out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2 of the American League Division Series Thursday between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Texas Rangers.
Click here to watch Crist pitch
For context, Crist once played quarterback at Wake Forest and has drawn first pitch duty several times during his political career.
https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/charlie-crists-poor-performance