Sit like a lady...

Truer words have never escaped his mouth.

Shirley Sherrod reportedly has plans to file suit against Andrew Breitbart.  The ousted federal worker apparently announced her intentions at a conference of the National Association of Black Journalists today in San Diego, Calif.

As you'll recall, Breitbart posted a clip of video which seemed to show Sherrod giving preferential treatment to blacks over whites in her job at the USDA.  In a hectic response to the video, the Obama administration demanded Sherrod's resignation via Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack--not because of her comments, but because they feared she'd appear on Fox News' Glenn Beck. In addition, the NAACP heavily condemned Sherrod's remarks. 

Interestingly enough, there don't seem to be any rumors circulating about Sherrod filing claims in court against her now-former employer or the NAACP.

CBS News reports that Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., will be spared an embarrassing public trial after striking a deal to admit wrongdoing:

Harlem friends of Rangel tell WCBS in New York they have been told that the details could be unveiled when the House Ethics Committee meets Thursday afternoon.

It's the culmination of two years of scandal for the 20-term Democratic lawmaker. At issue is whether the former head of the House Ways and Means committee will admit to any serious ethical wrongdoing. Rangel is being charged with misusing his office for fundraising, failure to disclose income, belated payment of taxes and possible help with a tax shelter for a company whose chief executive was a major donor. ...

The 42-member Congressional Black Caucus had warned Democrats against a rush to judgment, and any lawmaker with a significant African-American constituency must consider whether it's worth asking Rangel to quit.

Because in order to secure the black vote, we can't hold a member responsible for their alleged misdeeds...?

However, some Democratic House members in close races may think it's more important to distance themselves from Rangel. They don't want to have to answer negative Republican ads about Speaker Nancy Pelosi's promise to wipe Congress clean of ethical misdeeds.

The only time I ever really give Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., any attention at all is in highlighting just how insanely idiotic he is.  But today, it appears the jokes on all of us.

As American taxpayers we have contributed $73,000 for Grayson to send his constituents pre-recorded DVDs with the congressman's "greatest hits." 

The Orlando-Sentinel explains:

The 90-minute disc features video highlights from his first term in office, including one of him grilling Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and another in which the Orlando Democrat preaches on the need to teach schoolchildren about the U.S. Constitution.

The DVD comes wrapped inside a mailer covered with promotional slogans: “Congressman Alan Grayson, Hard at Work for You,” “He works hard. He pays attention. He gets things done,” and “Video DVD Inside: Watch Congressman Grayson in Action!”

In many ways, it’s the perfect campaign video — with one key difference.

Thanks to perks given to all members of Congress, it’s not Grayson’s campaign but taxpayers who footed the nearly $73,000 bill to produce and mail the DVD to 100,000 homes in Grayson’s district of Lake, Marion, Orange and Osceola counties.

To Florida's Eighth Congressional District: Can you really think of no better use of taxpayer dollars?  Because apparently your representative can't.

Do the rest of us a favor and dump this buffoon in November.

From the WONK'd department of the August issue of Townhall Magazine.

San Jose State University's ban on blood drives reveals its true -- and dangerous -- agenda.

Recently, San Jose State University President Jon Whitmore decided to continue a two-year-old policy banning all blood drives on campus.

The reason? The Food and Drug Administration prohibits men who have had sex with other men from donating blood, a policy that a government health committee upheld June 11.

But despite the fact that the only motive of the policy is to protect people’s health, SJSU contends that the FDA’s ban violates the university’s policy against “sexual orientation” discrimination. The implications of this decision are sobering.

Read the whole report in the August issue of Townhall magazine.

Guest blog post by Rep. Randy Neugebauer (Tex.)

If there is one thing Democrats in Congress have proven themselves good at, its creating more uncertainty for working families and the economy. Unless Congress acts, in 155 days Americans will face the largest tax hike in history to the tune of $3.8 trillion.

What does this mean for taxpayers? Income tax rates will increase across the board, 35 million married couples would be hit by a $595 marriage penalty, and taxes would be higher on dividends and capital gains, discouraging investment. Thirty-one million families with children would pay $1,033 more due to a lower child tax credit, and the death tax would return to a maximum rate of 55 percent.

With 9.5 percent of the population unemployed, these higher taxes would come at a time when taxpayers can least afford it. The threat of the largest tax hike in history is creating widespread uncertainty for small businesses that could otherwise be creating jobs and expanding. After all, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation, 94 percent of small businesses will face higher taxes under the Democrats plan. If their taxes are going to be higher, business owners are going to hold off on hiring and expansions. The unknowns for small businesses are simply taxing the certainty out of our economy.

House Republicans have offered good, common-sense solutions, but the Majority just isnt listening. Earlier this year, I introduced the Taxpayer Certainty Act, which would prevent these pending tax hikes. As a former small business owner, I know these businesses will be the economic engine driving our economic recovery. Likewise, families who can keep more of their own money, rather than sending it to the government, will grow the economy.

Washington has created this economic uncertainty; its high time for us to end it. The federal government has a spending problem, not an income problem. Its time to give the taxpayers the certainty they deserve.

Congressman Neugebauer represents Texas' 19th congressional district.

Our friend Tim Carney today points out some interesting characters playing a role in the ongoing ethics case against Ways & Means chairman Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y. 

Not surprisingly, the powerful committee chair has some of the usual suspects working to protect him and, consequently, their own interests: K Street lobbyists and unions.

Two of the three firms providing legal counsel to Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., in his pending ethics cases are lobbying firms. In fact, one firm, Oldaker, Belair & Wittie, conducts much of Rangel's political fundraising, while operating four different lobby shops.

But who's ultimately paying Rangel's legal bills? Mostly corporate and union political action committees along with individual lobbyists. Over the past six months, PACs and lobbyists have accounted for a majority of the money Rangel's campaign has raised this year, not counting transfers from Rangel's other fundraising operations. ...

PACs and lobbying firms have given more than $120,000 to Rangel in the past six months while individual lobbyists have chipped in another $28,000.

All of these companies and lobbyists are savvy enough to know they're funding Rangel's legal defense. This is why politicians like Rangel benefit when K Street gains clout. Starting this week, we'll find out if K Street is powerful enough to save Rangel.

Read Carney's full report over at the Washington Examiner