• The Voting Homeless
• Holy Baloney, Buttman!
• Nixon Library Welcomes A Democrat
• Dornan Unplugged

The Voting Homeless

CLEVELAND (AllPolitics, July 19) -- Lack of a permanent residence is no excuse for not voting, according to the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless. "Unless the homeless start speaking out and voting, nothing is going to change for them," said coalition director Brian Davis, who wants homeless people to register. "We need them to vote and by doing so, get lawmakers to listen to them." While Cleveland has an estimated 22,000 to 25,000 homeless, only eight voted in the 1992 election. Though the Ohio Constitution states that a person must have a residence to register to vote, a 1992 advisory from Ohio Secretary of State Bob Taft says that a residence can be a shelter or a park bench, not just a house or apartment. The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections hopes 2,500 to 3,000 homeless people will register to vote in the November election.

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Holy Baloney, Buttman!

MADISON, Wis. (AllPolitics, July 19) -- Batman had the Joker, Superman had Lex Luthor and now Buttman, too, has met his nemesis, Baloney Man. The armless, speechless, flesh-toned superhero made his debut outside a Bob Dole rally in Milwaukee to call attention to what Republicans call the "phony baloney" records of Democrats. The indomitable Buttman reportedly fled the scene. "I think Oscar Meyer should be rolling around in his grave," said Democratic state Sen. Joe Wineke of the latest superhero on the campaign trail.

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Nixon Library Welcomes A Democrat

YORBA LINDA, Calif. (AllPolitics, July 19) -- Tom Umberg, President Bill's Clinton's leading California strategist, received a surprisingly warm welcome at the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace, deep in heavily Republican Orange County. Though Umberg selected many of the audience members himself, he seemed amazed when about 200 people applauded after he was introduced and cheered when he mentioned Clinton's lead in the polls. While Umberg was surprised to be invited to speak at the bastion of Republicanism, library executive director John H. Taylor said, "It was important to President Nixon that the Nixon Library be a focal point of debate about ideas."

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Dornan Unplugged

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AllPolitics, July 19) -- U.S. Rep. Robert Dornan (R-Calif.) canceled a radio town hall meeting due to the cost and his House voting schedule. Dornan, who did not realize that he would have to pay for the air time, said, "I've guest hosted on 50,000-watt stations all over the country for free. Why would I pay to go on a 5,000-watt station whose signal just reaches greater Orange County?" Dornan would have been the third congressman to use the recently approved but controversial method of communicating with constituents over radio paid for with taxpayer money.