UPI's Capital Comment for Nov. 18, 2002

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Capital Comment -- Daily news notes, political rumors, and important events that shape politics and public policy in Washington and the world from United Press International.

Diversity diversion -- The new Democrat leadership in the United States is the most diverse group in party history. In addition to California's Nancy Pelosi, who is the first woman ever to lead an American congressional caucus, the Democrats have elected Rep. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., to be caucus chairman. Menendez, now the first Hispanic in the leadership of either party in the House or Senate, defeated Connecticut's Rose DeLauro, wife of Clinton pollster Stan Greenberg, by just one vote.

After his victory, Menendez spoke to the media in both English and Spanish in an effort to emphasize the diversity. This led another new member of the leadership, South Carolina's James Clyburn, to make his own public foray into bilingualism. "I am pleased to be vice chair," Clyburn said. "I will look forward to whatever (Menendez) delegates for me to do. And I will try to follow his lead, not that I can speak Spanish, but I can speak a little bit Gullah. And so, mahn, I say to all of you, thanks."

Gullah is a dialect spoken by blacks in South Carolina who are descended from slaves brought from West Africa. The Gullah culture developed in relative isolation -- well into the 20th century -- among those whose ancestors were among the first slaves to be freed during the Civil War and still exists today.

The power of special interests -- National Journal, the scrupulously non-partisan magazine for Beltway insiders, has just published a survey of 20 Washington-based associations and interest groups showing how they did in the November elections. The magazine looked at the role the groups played in 15 competitive Senate and 45 competitive House races.

Topping the list was the United Seniors Association, a conservative organization that promotes market-based reforms of the American healthcare system and opening up Social Security to allow workers greater control and partial ownership of their government retirement funds. USA turned in a 15-and-2 won-loss record among the 60 races included in the survey.

Bringing up the rear was EMILY's List, the once-powerful pro-abortion rights bundling operation for women Democrats. The List posted a victory in only one of the 10 races in which it participated that were also included in the survey.

Rounding out the top five are the National Rifle Association, the Club for Growth, the National Right to Life Association and the Business Industry Political Action Committee, each of which is decidedly not liberal in its political leanings.

Show Gore the door? -- Just as he has resurfaced to hawk a new book co-written with wife Tipper, former Vice President Al Gore is the recipient of some bad news from fellow Democrats. The Los Angeles Times polled members of the Democratic National Committee and found that support for a 2004 Gore presidential run may not be as high as he might have hoped.

The Times poll, which surveyed close to 75 percent of committee members, found only one-third thought Gore should run again. Almost half thought he should not make a third bid for the White House while 17 percent were undecided.

There was strong support for Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., among committee members, the Times said, also announcing what it called "surprising support" was evident for outgoing Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

The Times survey found no clear frontrunner among these party insiders. "Asked whom they would like to see as the party's 2004 nominee, just about half the party leaders surveyed, 46 percent, had no preference. Gore's name was volunteered by 13 percent and Kerry's by 10 percent. After they were read a list of 10 prospective candidates, 19 percent... named Gore."

Among the remaining candidates, 11 percent still had no preference among the 10 names... Kerry was the choice of 18 percent; North Carolina Sen. John Edwards had 13 percent and outgoing House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., had 20 percent. The six other candidates -- including Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman and California Gov. Gray Davis -- finished in single digits.

Giving a hoot -- OWL, the Older Women's League, honors several feminist pioneers Tuesday by presenting them with its On Wings of Leadership awards. The honorees are labor leader Evelyn Dubrow, civil rights activist Dr. Dorothy Height, media magnate Gloria Steinem, and former United Press International White House correspondent Helen Thomas. The awards will be presented Tuesday at a reception at the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory beginning at 6:00 p.m. Laurie Young, executive director for the Older Women's League, says the group want to "highlight the accomplishments of those women who, through their leadership, continue to redefine what it means to be an older woman in our society."

Personnel notes -- Philip Burgess, founder of the Center for the New West, has been chosen to be the new president of the National Academy of Public Administration... Pollster Chris Ingram, recently of his own 411 Communications firm, becomes chief of staff to incoming GOP Rep. Max Burns of Georgia... Jim Wilkinson, deputy director of White House Communications and a longtime "W" supporter, is off to Florida to take over as head of public affairs for Gen. Tommy Franks, the army commander who would likely lead any U.S. invasion of Iraq. Reservist Wilkinson, who managed the White House's international communications team during the war in Afghanistan and studied Arabic as an officer in the U.S. Naval Reserves, will now be in charge strategic communications at the U.S. Central Command.

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