Is One Government Agency's Seal a Reflection of the President's Campaign Logo?

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Seal of Approval?

The administration is defending its use of a new logo for the Missile Defense Agency.

The Washington Times points out that the red, white and blue symbol looks strangely similar to Barack Obama's campaign "O" from 2008.

Richard Lehner, spokesman for the Missile Defense Agency, dismisses the comparison as ridiculous, saying the new logo is for recruiting and the public Web site was developed almost three years ago, has no link to any political campaign, and is cheaper to reproduce on paper.

You'll remember soft drink maker Pepsi was criticized for seeming to jump on the Obama bandwagon in 2008, unveiling a new logo that some saw as mirroring the campaign "O." Pepsi also used Obama-esque slogans like "choose change" and "yes you can" in some of its marketing.

Back in the Spotlight

Former green jobs czar Van Jones is back in the spotlight after a nearly six-month hiatus from the public eye following his resignation from the White House last September.

Jones is being honored by the NAACP Friday. That group's president calls Jones a misunderstood American treasure. Jones described himself to the Washington Post as "one of the most effective bridge-builders in American politics" for bringing minority activists together with union members, environmentalists and renewable technology executives.

Jones left his White House post last fall amid mounting criticism over controversial remarks and positions from his past, including signing a petition in 2004 that stated the 9/11 attacks might have been supported by the U.S. government, and calling Republicans a derogatory name. Jones apologized for both before resigning his post.

All-American

And a Kansas City man is combining three great American traditions: baseball, hot dogs and lawsuits.

John Coomer is suing the Kansas City Royals for $25,000 alleging he was injured last September when he was hit in the eye with a hot dog thrown by the team mascot. Coomer says he suffered a detached retina and has developed cataracts.

The Royals are not commenting. But they are looking for a replacement for the mascot, Slugger the Lion; presumably to get one with better control of his fastball.

— Fox News Channel's Lanna Britt contributed to this report.