WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (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.
Why do you hate us so? -- The U.S. State Department begins the fall season with a two-day conference being convened to explore the reasons why America is disliked in so many different parts of the world. The seminar, which will involve close to 20 scholars from around the United States and 50 State Department officials will hopefully, according to departmental spokesman Richard Boucher, yield clues as to how to counter anti-Americanism around the world as part of the war against terrorism. It will be next Thursday and Friday.
Boarding pass -- Acting Under Secretary of Transportation for Security Adm. James M. Loy announced Thursday that the Transportation Security Administration is dropping the requirement that airline check-in personnel question passengers about their baggage when they arrive at the airport. "These questions no longer contribute to the safety and security of the flying public," Loy said. "Over the years they have lost whatever original value they contributed and now can be safely eliminated," he said. The TSA believes the new and improved airport security procedures put in place after Sept. 11 have made the questions obsolete. The questions that will no longer be asked -- "Has anyone unknown to you asked you to carry an item on this flight?" and "Have any of the items you are traveling with been out of your immediate control since the time you packed them?" -- have been a part of the pre-flight check in regime for 14 years.
A testament of faith -- On the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy is issuing a statement rejecting violence and terrorism. The document, which has already be been signed by a number of prominent American Muslim political and intellectual figures, is an attempt to clarify "that Islam does not condone terrorism or the killing of innocent civilians." Among those who have already signed on to the statement are: Abdulwahab Alkebsi of the Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy; Louay Safi of the Center for Balanced Development; Jamal Barzinji of the International Institute for Islamic Thought; and Abdulaziz Sachedina of the University of Virginia.
Seeking a Cardinal's rule -- Catholic laymen in Michigan are asking Detroit's Cardinal Adam Maida to "publicly disavow" gubernatorial candidate Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, over her pro-abortion rights stance. A group of them, led by Nancy Restuccia of Canton, Mich., are leading a public demonstration this weekend in front of Detroit's Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, asking the cardinal to openly reiterate "the church's commitment to the dignity of human life from conception to natural death."
"The church clearly teaches that human life is sacred and deserving of the full protection of the law from the moment of conception," Restuccia says. "Ms. Granholm is yet another example of a politician claiming Catholic support while refusing to support a basic teaching of the church."
Out -- Ben Odom, one of two Democrats who had advanced to the runoff in Oklahoma's 4th Congressional District, has quit the race. While he had widely been regarded as the favorite, Odom received 34 percent of the vote in Tuesday's Democrat primary, finished second behind former state Sen. Daryl Roberts, who polled 48 percent. Oklahoma Democrats feared a runoff between the two would eliminate any chance they might have to win the seat, currently held by retiring GOP Rep. J.C. Watts, in November. Odom's withdrawal leaves Roberts to concentrate on his general election opponent, former Oklahoma Secretary of State Tom Cole.
The hand that rocks the cradle... -- Over the last 20 years the percentage of women making up the national electorate has increased dramatically. In an effort to keep that trend alive the Women's Campaign Fund, the nation's oldest political action committee supporting pro-choice women candidates, is embarking on a program to ensure that more young women get involved in the political process. The WCF says 35 percent of women aged 18-24 voted in 1998, causing them some concern.
On Sept. 10 the WCF is having its annual fall reception with an eye toward bringing out "younger women, new supporters and those who want to be in the know." The group is giving its 2002 Leadership Award to House Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., at the event, which will also be attended by a number of other outstanding women in politics including Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Blanche Lincoln-Lambert, D-Ark.; and Reps. Judy Biggert, R-Ill.; and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif.
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