Stephen Colbert to testify before Congress
Washington (CNN) – Comedian Stephen Colbert will testify before Congress on Friday at a House Judiciary Committee hearing on immigration called "Protecting America's Harvest."
Colbert will testify alongside United Farm Workers President Arturo S. Rodriguez to discuss the UFW's summer "Take our Jobs" campaign, in which the group invited U.S. citizens and legal residents to replace immigrant field laborers, according to a UFW press release.
The campaign is an effort by the group to debunk the theory that immigrant laborers are taking jobs away from U.S. citizens and documented workers.
Rodriguez appeared on "The Colbert Report" in July to discuss the campaign. During the interview, Colbert agreed to participate in the challenge after Rodriguez reported that only four people had signed up to work in the fields.
Liz Cheney: President 'unwilling' to keep nation safe
Washington (CNN) - Liz Cheney blasted President Barack Obama in a statement Wednesday, saying he seems "unwilling to do what it takes" to protect the country from a terrorist attack.
Cheney released the statement following a report in the Washington Post that quotes journalist Bob Woodward's new book detailing the Obama administration's deliberations over U.S. strategy in Afghanistan.
According to an excerpt, Obama sat down with Woodward last July to discuss the White House's struggle with the threat of terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.
"We can absorb a terrorist attack. We'll do everything we can to prevent it, but even a 9/11, even the biggest attack ever . . . we absorbed it and we are stronger," Obama reportedly said in the interview.
Florida appeals court strikes down gay adoption ban
(CNN) - A Florida appeals court Wednesday struck down a state law barring gay men and lesbians from adoption on the basis of equal protection under law.
The Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal upheld a trial court ruling that Florida's explicit ban was unconstitutional, noting that the state's adoption law required officials to assess potential adoptive parents in "the best interests of the child."
"By the time of the trial below, the application of the statutory ban was contrary to both the professional judgment of the Department and the legislative directive to assure 'the best interest of the child' in 'every' adoption," wrote Judge Cindy S. Lederman in the 42-page ruling.
Sheheen and Haley attack in new ads
(CNN) - It's an eye for an eye in South Carolina, where the gubernatorial race is heating up.
Democratic nominee Vincent Sheheen released his second television ad Wednesday, a 31-second spot entitled "Think," which claims his opponent, Nikki Haley, was "handpicked by (former Gov.) Mark Sanford," and accuses her of wanting to "put a tax on our groceries" while being fined for "failing to pay her own taxes." The ad also states that Haley "hid a $40,000 contract that she got because of her connections." The claims in the ad come from people who appear to be voters, rather than Sheheen himself.
Nikki Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey lashed out at Sheheen for launching a "negative ad filled with personal attacks." But the state House member and GOP nominee's campaign did not waste time firing back with a new ad .
Senate vote on tax cuts likely to be delayed, Democratic sources say
Washington (CNN) - With Democrats divided on tax cuts, a Senate vote before the election on extending Bush-era tax cuts for the middle class is looking less likely, multiple Senate Democratic sources tell CNN.
These sources all stress that no final decision has been made, and that Senate Democrats could come to a different conclusion after discussing the issue at a meeting Thursday afternoon.
Still, one senior Democratic senator told CNN that a tax cut bill "isn't going anywhere at this point." The senator spoke on condition of anonymity in order to talk about internal deliberations.
Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, however, did speak freely, telling CNN, "I think it's headed to after the election."
House GOP's 'Pledge to America'
Washington (CNN) - House Republican Leaders will unveil a 21 page "Pledge to America" on Thursday morning. CNN obtained a copy of the document Wednesday, which lays out a "governing agenda" for what Republicans would do if they won control of Congress.
The document focuses primarily on issues of jobs and the economy, with a short reference in the "preamble" section referencing the party's position on social issues. In terms of specific proposals, Republicans propose to permanently extend all the tax cuts due to expire at the end of this year, give small businesses a tax deduction equal to 20% of their income, require Congress to review any new federal regulations that add to the deficit. The plan also calls for federal spending to be rolled back to pre stimulus levels, which the GOP says will save $100 billion in the first year.
Several GOP sources had told CNN there were no plans to say much at all about social issues, since the electorate is so heavily focused on jobs and spending.
CNN/Time Poll: Johnson 51 to 45 percent over Feingold
Oshkosh, Wisconsin (CNN) - Wisconsin Senate hopeful Ron Johnson likes to shun labels.
"I'm just a guy from Oshkosh," the millionaire plastics manufacturer told CNN in an interview Wednesday at his campaign headquarters, ticking through his private sector accomplishments and his fondness for recreation league basketball.
Voters would be forgiven if they somehow miss the fact that Johnson, who is hoping to unseat three-term incumbent Sen. Russ Feingold in November, is a Republican. Nowhere on his signage or campaign literature does the word "Republican" appear, and Johnson seems to want to put some space between himself and the party.
CNN/Time Poll: Will GOP sweep in Pennsylvania?
(CNN) - A new poll suggests that Republicans are in good shape as they try to win back a Senate seat and the governor's office in Pennsylvania.
According to a CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday, former Rep. Pat Toomey, the GOP Senate nominee, holds a 49 to 44 percent advantage over Rep. Joe Sestak, the Democratic nominee, among likely voters in Pennsylvania, with seven percent either undecided or supporting a different candidate.
Toomey's five point lead is within the poll's sampling error. The poll indicates that Toomey leads by nine points among Independent voters.
CNN/Time/Opinion Research Poll – September 17-21 – Colorado, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin
TOPICS: Senate and Governor races in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin; Senate race in Delaware plus a hypothetical Castle vs. Coons match-up
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