Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:
CORRECTION:
On Friday, July 18, 2008 the text version of the Grapevine reported that the American Physical Society had "reversed its stance" on climate change. That was an error and did not make it to air.
The following was reported on air:
An organization representing nearly 50,000 physicists is denying that it has reversed its stance on climate change. The American Physical society this afternoon put a statement on its Web site saying it has not changed its views about global warming.
The society declared in 2007, "The evidence is incontrovertible. Global warming is occurring." But an article by some members of the society says there is no scientific consensus to support that statement: "There is a considerable presence within the scientific community of people who do not agree with the intergovernmental panel on climate change conclusion that anthropogenic C02 emissions are likely to be primarily responsible for global warming."
FOXNews.com regrets the error.
Exclusive Enumeration
Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts and California, but none of those marriages will be counted in the 2010 census. That's because the Census Bureau says the Federal Defense of Marriage Act bars the agency from recognizing gay marriages.
The Census Bureau's director says that the 1996 federal law, "has that effect... we are restricted by it." He also says the Bureau will try to count same-sex couples as they have done in the past. But those who say they are married will be reclassified as unmarried, same-sex partners.
But Molly McKay of the group Marriage Equality USA says, "to completely whitewash us out of existence is hurtful, discriminatory and shameful... the notion — is un-American."
Footing the Bill
A South Carolina gay pride organization is planning to raise $5,000 to pay for an advertising campaign that proclaimed "South Carolina is so gay."
The state refused to pick up the tab for the ad. It was part of a London-based campaign that targeted gay travelers. A spokesman for South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford says tax dollars should not be used for ads that "promote any group with a particular social or political agenda," adding that a state employee "OK'd it when they shouldn't have."
But a board member of South Carolina's Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement says, "South Carolina has sent a message to the world — that a signed contract from any state agency could be nullified if someone says 'oops — we made a mistake in signing this contract.'"
Helping Hand?
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless plans to give out movie tickets, passes to the Denver Zoo and the Museum of Nature and Science to homeless people during the Democratic Convention in Denver next month.
The Rocky Mountain News reports that many shelters will also extend their hours of operation and big screen televisions are being donated so that the homeless can watch the convention. And while backers say the plan is a humane way to care for the homeless, critics say it's just a way to hide them from media and visitors.
And some of the homeless are not buying in, either. One homeless woman in Denver said, "that sounds sweet and all, but I would really rather have a laundry voucher or a gift certificate to McDonald's." Another said, "I hate the movies, can't stand the zoo. Buy me breakfast?"
— FOX News Channel's Zachary Kenworthy contributed to this report.
Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox