Inside the Beltway

NEWS AND OPINION:

SIMPLE ANSWER

Simple question: Will President Obama score big on the patriotic meter this Memorial Day weekend? He will not be at Arlington National Cemetery for the traditional wreath-laying to mark the day; that duty belongs to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who will also eat breakfast with Gold Star families at the White House beforehand. Mr. Obama will instead “participate,” the White House says, in a ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill. The 982-acre site is situated in the former Joliet Army Ammunition Plant, about 50 miles south of Chicago, and was dedicated in 1999.

That’s good enough, right?

“I think it is a cover for using Memorial Day weekend to a take break in Chicago, and skip a wartime president’s obligation to be at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Hope that clears it up,” American Thinker editor Thomas Lifson tells Inside the Beltway.

DESTINY CALLS

Tracking the trajectory of Rep. Joe Sestak? The Pennsylvania Democrat says the White House offered him a high-level position if he’d drop his primary challenge to Sen. Arlen Specter. If the claim is true, the following laws may have been violated, according to Judicial Watch: “18 USC 210: Offer to procure appointive public office; 18 USC 211: Acceptance of solicitation to obtain appointive public office; 18 USC 595: Interference by administrative employees by federal, state or territorial governments; and 18 USC 600: Promise of employment,” the watchdog group says.

“We’ve heard nothing from the White House so far but vague denials of wrongdoing and outright stonewalling. It’s time for everyone in this scandal to come clean. There is simply no wiggle room. Either Sestak lied about the federal job offer or someone at the White House likely committed a felony. It’s that simple,” the group’s president, Tom Fitton, says, adding, “The ’Chicago machine’ has truly come to Washington.”

ANOTHER GULF WAR

What is the BP oil spill, exactly? It’s in the eye of the beholder.

“There are significant partisan differences, with 83 percent of Democrats calling the spill a ’disaster,’ compared to 32 percent of Republicans and 51 percent of independents,” says a Zogby Interactive survey of 2,085 adults, conducted May 25 to 27.

GREEN AND COZY

From a notice from the Alliance for Climate Protection: “Former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore, the Climate Project and the China-U.S. Center for Sustainable Development will host a training session in Beijing, China, June 9-10. The event, held with the support of the Chinese government, led by the Ministry of Science and Technology, will see Vice President Gore personally train a cross-section of 300 Chinese citizens who share a commitment to reduce the harmful effects of climate change.”

And from Mr. Gore himself: “I am so honored that I will be returning to China to deliver my slideshow and present the latest updated information about the climate crisis and how we can solve it.”

Incidentally, “Climategate” is not over yet. The Competitive Enterprise Institute filed a lawsuit to force NASA to produce internal documents from one of its scientists who it says was “improperly boosting U.S. temperature data” on a private website, and ultimately fueling the science scandal with taxpayer dollars.

FENCING MATCH

A towering cedar privacy fence has already gone up between the Alaska homes of Sarah Palin and investigative journalist Joe McGinniss, who moved in next door to research a book about his neighbor. Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren deemed the author “the Wasilla Stalker,” while Mrs. Palin warned him, “Stay away from my kids.”

Oh, but the former governor is a “public figure,” some Palin critics have countered.

“What if the ’public figure’ was Sen. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat? The so-called ’feminist’ groups would go wild. If a conservative blogger moved in next door and monitored her comings and goings 24/7, we would never hear the end of it,” says Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women for America.

DRIVING FORCE

One Virginia Republican will be in touch with his inner “Oo-rah” this weekend. Rep. Eric Cantor is “honorary race director” for the 2010 Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina on Sunday, complete with “Let Freedom Race,” a patriotic show honoring America’s armed forces before the 51st running of NASCAR’s longest race.

Included: Vintage military aircraft, assault demonstrations by Fort Bragg soldiers, recognition of Medal of Honor recipients and the unfurling of a 11,250-square-foot American flag by family members of active-duty soldiers. Mr. Cantor, who calls the troops “America’s best,” will ride in the official pace car of the 43-car field.

POLL DU JOUR

• 75 percent of U.S. voters are closely following news about South Korea and North Korea.

• 66 percent say North Korea is an enemy of the U.S.

• 64 percent say South Korea is an ally of the U.S.

• 56 percent say it is likely there will be a war between South Korea and North Korea in the “near future.”

• 47 percent say the U.S. should provide military assistance to South Korea if it is attacked by North Korea.

• 25 percent are opposed and 28 percent are undecided.

Source: A Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,000 likely voters conducted May 24 and 25.

• Patriotic observances and clever asides to jharper@washingtontimes.com.