Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:
Tale of the Tape
The McCain camp has now joined those demanding The Los Angeles Times release a 2003 video that shows Barack Obama celebrating with a group of Palestinians hostile to Israel.
Peter Wallsten wrote in April about Obama's association with former Palestinian operative Rashid Khalidi. The celebration was a farewell for Khalidi as he left Chicago for a job in New York. Wallsten called Khalidi a, "critic of Israel and advocate for Palestinian rights."
He says, "A special tribute came from Khalidi's friend and frequent dinner companion, the young State Senator Barack Obama... Obama reminisced about meals prepared by Khalidi's wife... and conversations that had challenged his thinking."
Wallsten writes that a young Palestinian read a poem accusing the Israeli government of terrorism. Another speaker likened Israeli settlers on the West Bank to Usama bin Laden.
Wallsten confirmed he has the tape, but told the political blog Gateway Pundit he does not plan on releasing it. The newspaper declines to comment.
French Twist
Senator Obama is the overwhelming favorite of the French to win the White House, but President Nicolas Sarkozy has some reservations.
The Haaretz newspaper reports that a senior Israeli government source says Sarkozy has privately criticized Obama's position on Iran as "utterly immature" and "empty of all content."
Obama met with Sarkozy in July. The report says Obama was told that changes in policy toward Iran could be "very problematic."
The source says Sarkozy repeatedly expressed disappointment and fear that Obama might "arrogantly" ignore the U.N. Security Council and open direct talks with Iran.
Pause for Concern
The Weekly Standard — a sister publication of FOX News — will not publish this week because of next Tuesday's general election — by the time the magazine reached readers, it would be outdated.
However, editors at a New Mexico newspaper decided to deal with the problem another way. The latest edition of the New Mexico Sun News declares quote, "Obama Wins!" and includes a "special collector's edition" tag in red, bold typeface.
The Sun News is a bi-monthly paper, meaning its current edition was due to hit the streets before the election. The editors explained their decision this way: "When it comes to calling the winner of a presidential election, everyone wants to be first. The New Mexico Sun News hereby claims that achievement."
Oh, by the way, the paper supports Barack Obama.
Guilt by Association?
Some in the media have decided that the conviction of Republican Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska is a referendum on Sarah Palin. Stevens was found guilty of lying on disclosure forms about improvements to his home.
While Palin said in July she had "great respect" for Stevens, they have not been close political allies.
But, The Scotsman newspaper declares, "embarrassment for Palin as 'king of pork' senator convicted." Tim Dickinson at RollingStone.com asks, "What was she doing palling around with a suspected felon like Ted Stevens?"
Dickinson cites an Anchorage Daily News article from 2002 about Stevens and then-Wasilla Mayor Palin campaigning together for former Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski. But he fails to mention Palin later ran against — and defeated — fellow Republican and Stevens ally Murkowski in the governor's race.
— FOX News Channel's Zachary Kenworthy contributed to this report.
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