TheDC Morning

TheDC Morning: Barkley’s verdict

Jamie Weinstein Senior Writer
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1.) Barkley’s verdict — Like the rest of America, Charles Barkley is playing legal expert on the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin case.  TheDC’s Jeff Poor reports:

“On Thursday’s ‘Closing Bell’ on CNBC, former NBA and Auburn University basketball star Charles Barkley sounded off on the George Zimmerman trial verdict with what he called ‘not a very popular opinion.’ According to Barkley, the verdict was the proper one — but he took it further, criticizing the media for its coverage of racism evinced during the trial. ‘I agreed with the verdict,’ Barkley said. ‘I feel sorry that young kid got killed. But they didn’t have enough evidence to charge them. Something clearly went wrong that night. Clearly, something went wrong, and I feel bad for anyone losing a kid. But if you looked at the case and you don’t make it — there was racial profiling, no question about it. But something happened that changed the dynamic of that night. And I know — and that’s probably not a popular opinion among most people. But looking at the evidence, I agree with the verdict.'”

2.) Hey DC, don’t blame it on me!  — Those who were blamed for the IRS scandal by their superiors are fighting back. TheDC’s Alexis Levinson reports:

“A Cincinnati Internal Revenue Service official said Thursday that when blame for the IRS targeting of conservative groups was initially placed entirely on the Cincinnati office, it was like ‘a nuclear strike.’ ‘Personally I felt like it was a nuclear strike,’ Elizabeth Hofacre said. ‘I felt they were blaming us.’ Hofacre, who worked as a Exempt Organization Determinations Specialist, was assigned in April 2010 to handle all applications from tea party groups applying for tax exempt status. Testifying before the House Oversight Committee on Thursday, Hofacre said that she had been in contact with IRS officials in Washington regarding the processing of those applications, and was quite upset when blame for all of the targeting was placed on the shoulders of a few ‘rogue agents’ in the Cincinnati office.”

As much as some want to pretend that this has proven to be a faux scandal, there is still much more we need to know.

3.) No Amnesty! (well, at least not now) — Not all those decrying so-called amnesty for illegal immigrants are actually unalterably opposed to it on principle. You can be excused for being confused on that point. TheDC’s Jamie Weinstein reports:

“The most vocal opponent of comprehensive immigration reform in the House of Representatives says that he would ‘likely’ support at least a limited “amnesty” once the southern border is truly secure. ‘I am opposed to the legalization of people that are unlawfully here unless and until we restore the respect for the law and the expectation that it will be enforced,’ Iowa Republican Rep. Steve King told The Daily Caller. ‘Short of that, we sacrifice the rule of law — at least with regard to immigration — for all time.’ But when asked if he would support some type of legalization of illegal immigrants after the border is secured to his standards, King said he probably would. ‘I would say the answer to that is likely yes and the time to take that discussion up is after we restore the rule of law,’ he said. ‘I think it is a three- to five-year endeavor if we had an honorable president.'”

See what other comprehensive immigration opponents have to say by reading the full story.

4.) Name change — What’s in a name? A lot. The AP reports:

“A son of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky is seeking to have his name changed more than a year after his adoptive father was convicted of child sexual abuse. Matt Sandusky filed papers Tuesday in Centre County Court seeking to have the names of him and his family changed. Though the documents are sealed, they show he filed for a name change, along with his wife and four children.”

As long as he is not changing his last name to Hitler, this is probably a wise move.

5.) Tweet of Yesterday — Noah Pollak: It’s almost like turning your city over to the SEIU doesn’t work out very well long-term

6.) Today in North Korean News –BREAKING: “DPRK Led by Kim Jong Un Will Prosper”

VIDEO: Piers Morgan smacked around by Larry Elder after “condescending” Rachel Jeantel interview

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Jamie Weinstein