CNN's GUT CHECK | for August 16, 2013 | 5 p.m.
- n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle
CLINTON GOES ON THE OFFENSIVE: Former President Bill Clinton hits back at the New York Times reporting on his foundation… “The New York Times recently reported that the Foundation ran a deficit of $40 million in 2007 and 2008 and $8 million in 2012. The reporting requirements on our tax forms, called 990s, can be misleading as to what is actually going on. Here’s why. When someone makes a multi-year commitment to the Foundation, we have to report it all in the year it was made. In 2005 and 2006 as a result of multi-year commitments, the Foundation reported a surplus of $102,800,000 though we collected nowhere near that.” NYT STORY FULL LETTER
DEVELOPING: GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE SENDS BACK MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL… The governor signaled that he would sign the bill if the Legislature made two changes: that edible forms of marijuana would be available to qualified minors only, not for everyone and that both a pediatrician and a psychiatrist should sign off on a child's prescription.
EGYPT REMAINS IN TURMOIL: Thousands of protesters defied a government-imposed curfew Friday evening, staying put at Cairo's Ramses Square and in the streets. Already Friday, 17 people had been killed and more than 40 wounded in clashes between Morsy supporters and security forces, state-run Nile TV reported.
MARKET WATCH: U.S. stocks finish a second straight week in the red. Dow and Nasdaq lose about 2%.
TRAIL TRIVIA
(Answer below)
Elvis Presley died on this day in 1977 at age 42. What other Americana legend died on this day in history?
MARK (@PrestonCNN) & DAN (@DanMericaCNN)
What caught our eye today in politics
Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s female empowerment movement around her recent bestseller “Lean In” is admirably asking women to lean in at their jobs and demand equal pay. That message gets muddled, however, when you seek unpaid, yet “HIGHLY” skilled, interns.
That is the problem Sandberg’s “Lean In Foundation” ran into this week when Jessica Bennett, the group’s editor-at-large, posted a job description for an unpaid internship on her Facebook page. “Part-time, unpaid, must be HIGHLY organized with editorial and social chops,” read the post. “HIT ME UP. Start date ASAP.”
As one might expect, the hypocrisy in offering an unpaid internship at the organization that urges women to have “the confidence and know-how to achieve their goals” was roundly pointed out on countless websites and on Facebook.
“To not pay your intern for an organization and job like this is not only laughable, but mostly pathetic. Do better,” Adrienne Allen posted on the “Lean In” job posting.
And a sarcastic Natasha Chart read between the lines on the job post and wrote: “Social ‘movement’ started by a millionaire seeks young person who can afford to engage in skilled labor for free, in hopes of opportunities not afforded people too broke to work here.”
Ouch.
Unpaid internships are nothing new. Congress, the White House and countless other organizations have been called to the carpet on the practice. But the reaction to “Lean In” was something different.
“Revealed: Sheryl Sandberg's Unpaid Intern Disgrace,” wrote Gawker. “Leaning In, And Over, Unpaid Interns,” wrote Fortune Magazine.
Sandberg even rose to Redditt fame when a picture of her was up-voted to near the top of the popular internet’s site homepage. “Wrote bestselling book about how women should demand fair pay, makes $100 million,” reads the text over the edited photo of Sandberg holding wads of cash. “Demands experience and full time schedules from interns, pays them zero.”
The reaction got “Lean In” to change their plans. In a statement posted on Facebook, Rachel Thomas, the president of LeanIn.Org, wrote that “moving forward” the organization plans to pay their interns. “We support equality – and that includes fair pay – and we’ll continue to push for change in our own organization and our broader community,” the post read.
the LEDE
Did you miss it?
Leading CNNPolitics: RNC moves to freeze out networks on debate
The Republican National Committee approved a resolution Friday vowing to sideline CNN and NBC from the presidential primary debate process in 2016 unless the networks abandon plans to produce programs about Hillary Clinton. – Peter Hamby
Also at the RNC in Boston: GOP urges schools to emphasize 'founding principles'… Members of the Republican National Committee backed a resolution Friday calling on state legislatures to pass legislation "supporting the changing and teaching" of American history to put a greater emphasis on the country's "founding principles." – Peter Hamby
Leading Drudge: Another 'Day Of Rage'
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood to stage "Friday of anger" mass march, with the government warning it would not shy away from using violence again. – The Telegraph
Leading HuffPo: Under Review: Move Puts Perry In Hot Water
A Texas judge said Thursday he plans to have a special prosecutor review allegations that Gov. Rick Perry abused the powers of his office and broke the law over a veto that cut funding for state public corruption investigators. – Paul J. Weber
Leading Politico: With Clinton vote, RNC pushes back on debates
The Republican National Committee passed a resolution Friday to bar NBC and CNN from hosting GOP primary debates in 2016 if the networks move forward with their Hillary Clinton projects. But the vote was not just about Clinton. – James Hohmann
Leading The New York Times: Puzzle Awaits the Capital: How to Solve 3 Fiscal Rifts
Though a government shutdown seems relatively unlikely, President Obama and his Republican interlocutors face a challenge in bridging seemingly irreconcilable goals in a fiscal deal. – John Harwood
HOT SOTS
The political bites of the day
– Jenny Sanford eyes (college) presidency –
FORMER SOUTH CAROLINA FIRST LADY JENNY SANFORD IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE CHARLESTON CITY PAPER: “I would certainly welcome the opportunity to be involved in that process. … I am, right now, just waiting to see what the formal process is. I understand I would be a long shot, but it certainly is something I would consider looking at.”
– Democratic nominee for governor of Virginia explains business ties –
TERRY MCAULIFFE SEEKING TO EXPLAIN GREENTECH IN AND OPINION PIECE FOR THE WASHINGTON POST: “This week, The Post editorial board posed some questions about my time as chairman of GreenTech Automotive. Let me offer some answers. … My opponent, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II, has since devoted much of his energy to misleading attacks based on that story. … In a free-market economy, some businesses succeed and some fail. Businesses are risky, and start-up businesses are even riskier. But risk-taking and investing in our No. 1 asset — our workforce — are what drive our economy in a global marketplace. Virginia needs a governor who understands that."
– Athletes speak out against Russia’s anti-gay propaganda law –
U.S. OLYMPIC RUNNER NICK SYMMOND IN AN INTERVIEW WITH CNN: “As an American who believes in freedom of speech and freedom of assembly I take huge offense that the Russian government is limiting their people in that way. … This is the defining civil rights movement of our time. I just want to say in 100 years when people look back on this moment, the people who are against equality and against love are going to be remembered on the wrong side of history.”
TOP TWEETS
What stopped us in 140 characters or less
Ashley Powers (@ashleypowers)
Was a rodeo clown's anti-Obama act racist? (Did I really just type that sentence?) WP's @philiprucker: http://bit.ly/15OBcds
Steve King (@SteveKingIA)
Mr. President: Invite the rodeo clown 2 the White House 4 a beer summit. Take the temperature down, have a laugh, relax. It's not about race
Peter Hamby (@PeterHambyCNN)
New Orleans, Salt Lake City and Las Vegas also interested 2016 GOP convention. Nola would be emceed by @timodc and @blakewilly
Mike Murphy (@murphymike)
Hey RNC convention, why not Detroit ‘16? Just like 80. Tell a story, start the comeback.
Tom Fitzgerald (@tomfitzgerald)
RNC bans CNN Espanol y Telemundo from hosting GOP '16 debates. There's a word for that: estupido.
Amy Walter (@amyewalter)
Solution for better debates: stronger candidates.
Toby Harnden (@tobyharnden)
Hillary Clinton's memoir to be published next June 1st, cover price a hefty $40 http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2013/08/15/hillary-rodham-clintons-upcoming-memoir-priced-at-40/ …
NESN (@NESN)
Report: Alex Rodriguez's 'Inner Circle' Leaked Documents Implicating Ryan Braun in Biogenesis Scandal http://wp.me/p2AlCJ-Ux6
Stefan Becket (@stefanjbecket)
AOL boss Tim Armstrong says 40% of Patch workforce will be laid off http://jimromenesko.com/2013/08/16/aol-boss-tim-armstrong-says-40-of-patch-workforce-will-be-laid-off/ …
TRIVIA ANSWER from @DanMericaCNN
Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, died on this day in 1977 at his Memphis, Tennessee Graceland home. The rock icon died of a heart attack, which doctors said was likely brought on by his addiction to prescription barbiturates.
But August 16 also saw the death of another American icon.
Baseball slugger Babe Ruth died on August 16, 1948 at the age of 53. Ruth, who died of cancer, was a baseball legend by the time of his death - a slugger known for both his pitching and hitting ability, as well as his gregarious personality.
After his death, Ruth’s body lay in state at Yankee stadium where thousands of fans stood in line to honor their baseball hero.
GUT CHECK WINNER’S CIRCLE
(why aren’t you in it)
Congrats to Doug Curdgelss (@douglasdugless) for correctly answering today’s Gut Check trivia question. Happy Friday, all.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/15/rick-perry-veto_n_3764087.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
