Face Time for Gov. Bill Richardson
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:
Real Beauty, Real Advice?
As part of a national campaign to promote self-esteem among young girls, the makers of Dove soap have provided teens with information on everything from politics to sex, but some of the content may raise
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Campaign for Real Beauty Web site suggests that readers report offensive ads and messages to media watchdogs such as Media Watch and Adbusters. But those organizations' Web sites contain links to articles attacking the Bush administration, offers for online dating sites specifically aimed at liberal Democrats and numerous references to pornography. One online forum even contains solicitation for free kiddie porn.
‘Fantasy’ League
The New Mexico Republican Party is giving Democratic Governor Bill Richardson some serious face time leading up to the 2008 president election. The GOP has designed Bill "THE GOVERNOR" Richardson baseball cards. On the front is the slogan, "Never Drafted, Never Played," a reference to a controversy last year over his biography which falsely stated he'd been drafted by a Major League Baseball team.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}On the flip side of the card, the Republicans list his career stats as "bats liberal and throws curves." A spokeswoman for Governor Richardson said, "This must be a fantasy Republican baseball league because none of it is true."
Ciao Cascioli!
An Italian atheist has lost his fight against a Roman Catholic priest whom he’d accused of fraud. A judge has dismissed Luigi Cascioli's case against Father Enrico Righi in which the priest was accused of breaking anti-fraud laws by saying Jesus Christ was a real person. Cascioli had argued that the priest violated the laws barring fraudulent deception and now says he may take his case to the European Court of Human Rights.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Residents Fear Backlash
And the cartoons of Muhammed are generating heat here in the U.S. as well. The town manager in Stoughton, Massachusetts, has raised the Danish flag outside Town Hall to show solidarity with the people of Denmark and support for freedom of speech. But some residents view the gesture as inflammatory and others worry it will incite violence against Town Hall.
Meanwhile the University of Illinois student newspaper has published six of the controversial cartoons, sparking concern from the university's chancellor. The paper's editor-in-chief said he made the decision to publish the cartoons so students could better understand the Muslim response.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}— FOX News' Dominique Pastre contributed to this report