MATTHEWS HIT BY A HARD BALL

NEW YORK (AP) – MSNBC’s Chris Matthews said he was surprised by the “peculiar stagecraft” of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s response to President Barack Obama’s speech to Congress, leading him to quietly say “Oh God” as Jindal approached a microphone.The remark inspired a brief Internet guessing game about who had said it and questions about whether someone at MSNBC was mocking the Republican governor.

Matthews’ barely audible “Oh God” appeared to be a classic case of someone talking on TV without realizing their microphone was on, and potentially embarrassing to a network many Republicans already regard with suspicion because of left-leaning talk shows by Keith Olbermannand Rachel Maddow.

“I was taken aback by that peculiar stagecraft, the walking from somewhere in the back of this narrow hall, the winding staircase looming there, the odd antibellum look of the scene,” Matthews said in a script for his “Hardball” show on Wednesday. “Was this some mimicking of a president walking along the state floor to the East Room?”

Matthews said he wasn’t referring to Jindal himself, or anything he expected the governor to say.

A clip of the “Oh God” remark quickly made the Internet rounds. Before it was known that Matthews had said it, the Huffington Postasked readers to guess who it was and nearly 7,000 people responded: 32 percent had guessed Matthews, 35 percent said it was Olbermann, his co-anchor, 15 percent said it was an MSNBC camera operator and 18 percent thought it was a producer.

It’s not the first time Matthews’ mouth has gotten him noticed for the wrong reasons. He was ridiculed by some Republicans for saying he “felt this thrill going up my leg” during an Obama speech, but later defended the remark as an objective look at Obama’s ability to inspire through his speeches.

After some protests by women’s groups, Matthews said he was wrong last year to say that the reason Hillary Clinton was a senator and candidate for president “is that her husband messed around.”

THIS GUY  appears to have been hit by a fast ball right in the head without a helmet. he is he poster boy for the think before you speak caucus

WILL THE INDIANA HOUSE HELP OR HURT LEGAL INDIANA WORKERS?

Delph: Senate passes ‘one of the toughest
illegal immigration bills in the country’

STATEHOUSE (Feb. 24, 2009) – Senate lawmakers today approved by a vote of 37-13  Sen. Mike Delph’s (R-Carmel) legislation aimed at punishing those who harbor, transport or employ illegal immigrants in Indiana.

“The Senate came together today and sent a clear message that we will no longer tolerate this failure of the federal government to protect our borders and ensure our national security,” Delph said. “I am committed to working with members of the Indiana House of Representatives to continue the discussion on illegal immigration.”

Senate Bill 580 prohibits Indiana employers from knowingly employing illegal immigrants, places violators on three year probation and requires violators to file quarterly reports concerning all new hires to the Indiana Attorney General’s office.

If a second violation occurs, the employer could receive up to 10-years probation and be required to file quarterly reports. A third violation could result in the permanent loss of the business license in Indiana.

Delph said his legislation includes a “safe harbor” for an employer who verifies the work status of an employee using the E-Verify System, a federal system free to employers who want to confirm citizenship or legal employability. The legislation requires exempt organizations to use the E-Verify system.

SB 580 also includes several other provisions targeting illegal immigration across Indiana:

• Prohibits sanctuary policies for illegal aliens;
• Increases penalties for counterfeiting or falsely reproducing a driver’s license;
• Requires the Indiana Department of Corrections to check the citizenship or immigration status of a adult and juvenile offenders committed to a correction facility;
• Requires the Indiana Department of Labor to use the SAVE program to determine the immigration statuses for unemployment benefit eligibility;
• Prohibits the employment of illegal immigrants by state agencies and public contractors and requires the use of the free, federal E-Verify system;
• Increases penalties for distributing counterfeit identifications;
• Increases penalties for someone who knowingly or intentionally transports, conceals, harbors or shields from detection an illegal immigrant for commercial or private financial gain; and
• Increases penalties to use individual tax identification numbers or consular identifications for purposes other than provided in federal law.

Delph’s bill now moves to the House for further action.

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