The Flowers Endorsement?
Obama Girl better look out. The attention-seeking fan of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) might have some competition from former tabloid princess Gennifer Flowers.
[IMGCAP(1)]Flowers, who skyrocketed to sorta-fame (back when Obama Girl was still in grade school) after alleging that she had a 12-year affair with former President Bill Clinton, says she’s not voting for a Democrat this time around. But if she were, it would be Obama, and not — surprise, surprise — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).
“It was always my dream to see a woman run for the presidency,” Flowers told HOH. “In my heart of hearts I would love to support my gender, but not her.”
Flowers has re-emerged conveniently in time for a renewed interest in all things Clinton. She owned and danced in a cabaret club in New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina, and now she’s reinvented herself again — this time trying to auction off the infamous audiotapes of her conversations with Bill Clinton. Flowers hasn’t stayed in touch with the Clintons. And so far, Sen. Clinton appears to be following suit — her office didn’t respond to HOH’s inquiries.
Flynt’s Money Shot. Thought porn mogul Larry Flynt was only interested in Members of Congress for the purpose of outing them for their naughty behavior? Think again.
Flynt, whose Hustler magazine ran a spread in November on Wendy Ellis, the hooker who allegedly had relations with Louisiana Republican Sen. David Vitter, is back.
But this time he’s doling out money, trying to give Ohio Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich an edge in his upcoming primary. Flynt, who hosted a fundraiser for Kucinich’s presidential campaign last year, gave the maximum campaign contribution of $2,300 to Kucinich’s re-election campaign last week.
Call us cynical (HOH answers to it, trust us) but perhaps the famous porn-peddler has designs on another Kucinich: Elizabeth Kucinich, the Congressman’s famously foxy wife, has plenty of fans in Hustler’s demographic.
Craig: Help Wanted. Sen. Larry Craig is looking for a few good young men — or women. The Idaho Republican, who was engulfed in a scandal after his arrest last summer in a men’s bathroom, is doing a different kind of soliciting these days: His office on Tuesday released a notice that it was seeking interns to work in Craig’s Washington and district offices.
Craig spokesman Will Hart says the scandal hasn’t affected the internship program. The office routinely advertises about this time of year to let young Idahoans know about the office’s internship program. “It’s standard operating procedure,” he said, noting that the office has filled two or three intern classes since the news of Craig’s arrest broke last summer.
And you know what they say about internships — there’s no better way to get one’s foot in the door …
A Little off the Top. Former Attorney General John Ashcroft had something more pressing on his mind than the subpoena a House committee had been readying for him when he was spotted on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
The former Missouri Senator was seen exiting the Russell Building on Tuesday morning looking a little underdressed for official business, in khakis and a sweatshirt, according to an HOH tipster.
The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law had slated, but later canceled, a meeting later in the day during which it planned to issue a subpoena to get Ashcroft to testify about oversight contracts he holds with private companies.
But Ashcroft wasn’t looking to do any early- morning arm-twisting, according to his spokeswoman Juleanna Glover. Rather, he was simply paying a visit to the Senate barber. Looks like Ashcroft, who averted the subpoena by voluntarily agreeing to testify, will be neatly trimmed when faces his questioners.
Cast, then Curve Balls for Bond. You’d think that Sen. Kit Bond would be pretty content with his career decisions. He’s a four-term Senator after all, which we’re pretty sure is the kind of gig that makes one’s mom proud. But the Missouri Republican is disappointed that one job is closed off to him — at least for a bit.
Bond is sporting a cast on his arm, and sadly announced last week that shoulder surgery has dampened his short-term prospects to serve as a relief pitcher for his beloved St. Louis Cardinals. “The Cardinals will have to wait ‘til next year,” he said in a statement.
Bond was struck by a car while out on an early-morning walk last May, but he didn’t realize how serious the injury was at the time. The surgery, which took place Feb. 22 at Bethesda Naval Hospital, was aimed at correcting the damage from the accident.
Shira Toeplitz contributed to this report.
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