* You might have heard that Fidel Castro decided it was time to lecture President Obama. That led to my favorite tweet of the day.
If they think Fidel Castro will continue 2 criticize PBO, Republicans R more likely 2 invite Castro 2 GOP convention than Dubya or Jeb.
— Kenny BooYah! (@KwikWarren) March 28, 2016
* Evidently the pressure from Hollywood and the NFL got to Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.
Gov. Nathan Deal on Monday vetoed the “religious liberty” bill that triggered a wave of criticism from gay rights groups and business leaders and presented him with one of the most consequential challenges he’s faced since his election to Georgia’s top office.
In a press conference at the state Capitol, Deal said House Bill 757 doesn’t reflect Georgia’s welcoming image as a state full of “warm, friendly and loving people” – and warned critics that he doesn’t respond well to threats of payback for rejecting the measure.
“Our people work side by side without regard to the color of our skin, or the religion we adhere to. We are working to make life better for our families and our communities. That is the character of Georgia. I intend to do my part to keep it that way,” he said. “For that reason, I will veto HB 757.”
* Jill Abramson has written an article that is getting a lot of attention today. It’s titled, “This may shock you: Hillary Clinton is fundamentally honest.”
For decades she’s been portrayed as a Lady Macbeth involved in nefarious plots, branded as “a congenital liar” and accused of covering up her husband’s misconduct, from Arkansas to Monica Lewinsky. Some of this is sexist caricature. Some is stoked by the “Hillary is a liar” videos that flood Facebook feeds. Some of it she brings on herself by insisting on a perimeter or “zone of privacy” that she protects too fiercely. It’s a natural impulse, given the level of scrutiny she’s attracted, more than any male politician I can think of.
I would be “dead rich”, to adapt an infamous Clinton phrase, if I could bill for all the hours I’ve spent covering just about every “scandal” that has enveloped the Clintons. As an editor I’ve launched investigations into her business dealings, her fundraising, her foundation and her marriage. As a reporter my stories stretch back to Whitewater. I’m not a favorite in Hillaryland. That makes what I want to say next surprising.
Hillary Clinton is fundamentally honest and trustworthy.
* Speaking of things that may shock you about Hillary Clinton, there’s this from Gallup today.
As the 2016 primaries continue, with neither party’s nominee yet decided, Gallup finds sharp differences in the enthusiasm expressed by supporters of the various candidates…
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton’s supporters are more enthusiastic than Sen. Bernie Sanders’ supporters, 54% vs. 44%.
* Gallup also finds that President Obama’s favorability rating continues to climb. It now stands at 53%. That might not sound great, given that we’ve seen out-going presidents reaching as high as 65% in the past. But Paul Waldman explains that the times have changed.
Obama is the first president since polls existed to have never gone above 25 percent approval from the other side, not even in the honeymoon glow of the first days of his presidency. He could defeat ISIS, make America secure and prosperous, save a baby from a burning building, then cure cancer and invent a pill that would let you eat all the ice cream you want without gaining any weight, and no more than a handful of Republicans would ever say they think he’s doing a good job.
* Finally, today was Easter Egg Roll day at the White House – which inevitably results in more of those adorable pictures of President Obama interacting with his “base” – children. Here’s one from Doug Mills.
@POTUS picks up little Stella Munoz as he participates in the White House Easter Egg Roll. #EasterEggRoll pic.twitter.com/xm0wEDihvC
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) March 28, 2016
