Claire McCaskill

Claire McCaskill On IRS Target of Tea Party, Conservative Groups: "People Should Be Fired"

One of the biggest national news stories of the week centers on revelations that the Internal Revenue Service targeted conservative groups -- scrutinizing organizations with the words "tea party" and "patriot" in their names, for example. And the reports say that the tax agency's focus on conservati ... More >>

Todd Akin Comeback? Failed "Legitimate Rape" Candidate Talks GOP Future in KSDK Exclusive

They shout his name at the Missouri State Capitol when lawmakers propose anti-abortion bills. He was the inspiration for an entire episode of Law & Order SVU this season. And now, ladies and gentlemen, Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin, the failed Senate candidate who got national attention for his cont ... More >>

Mark Kirk of Illinois Second GOP Senator to Back Gay Marriage, Week After Claire McCaskill

Missouri Democratic Governor Jay Nixon may not want to talk about gay marriage right now -- but Mark Kirk, Republican Senator from Illinois, is not shying away from the topic. Just a little over a week after Senator Claire McCaskill, a Democrat, expressed her support for marriage equality for the fi ... More >>

Answers to the Riverfront Times 2012 News Quiz

In January Riverfront Times published its annual "News Challenge" -- 78 multiple-choice questions testing how well readers paid attention to current events over the past twelve months. Within a week, more than 100 of you submitted your answers to us. A few weeks later a dozen readers e-mailed a simi ... More >>

Gay Marriage: Governor Jay Nixon Doesn't Want to Talk About it Right Now

With the United States Supreme Court considering gay marriage this week, people across the country are talking about the issue of marriage equality. But not Governor Jay Nixon. Questioned about it at a press conference yesterday -- just two days after Senator Claire McCaskill publicly stated her su ... More >>

Violence Against Women Act: Why Is Senator Roy Blunt Still Opposing? LGBT Protections?

One of the more heated battles in D.C. this year so far centers around the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, a measure that provides protection for victims of domestic violence. Congress failed to extend it last year, but it's now under consideration at the House -- after it passed ... More >>

Stan Musial Bridge: Governor Jay Nixon Pressures Pat Quinn With Press Release

The death of Stan Musial is one of those rare occasions that prompts elected officials from across the state to send out press releases with virtually the same message -- one of praise and gratitude for the late Cardinal and Missouri icon. The latest incarnation of press-releases-honoring-Musial is ... More >>

Scenes From the Todd Akin Campaign Watch Party

In retrospect, the outcome of the evening should have been clear around 8:40, just after FOX2 News (KTVI) announced that Claire McCaskill had a commanding sixteen percent lead over Todd Akin with four percent of precincts reporting. Read more about Todd Akin on Daily RFT: The "legitimate rape" co ... More >>

[PHOTOS] Euphoria and Overpriced Champagne at the Chase: MO Dems Watch Party

Who was the saddest man at the Chase Park Plaza last night? He was tough to find amid a jubilant crowd 500 strong celebrating big Democratic victories at all levels of government, but tucked in a corner behind shrieking college students and a woman sobbing into her cell phone, we found him. Mark "J ... More >>

RIP Betty Anne McCaskill, Missouri Politician and Advocate for Women

Betty Anne McCaskill, who is now most famous as one of the chief campaigners for her daughter Claire but who had a long career of her own in Missouri politics, died yesterday at home in St. Louis after a long illness. She was 84. Claire McCaskill, who had last week suspended her campaign for re-ele ... More >>

Akin Camp Scoops Post-Dispatch By Publishing Email From Reporter Kevin McDermott

Late yesterday afternoon, Todd Akin's campaign got ahead of a Post-Dispatch scoop by publishing emails between the campaign's spokesperson and longtime political reporter Kevin McDermott. The email from McDermott contained what appeared to be the story's first four paragraphs revealing that Akin w ... More >>

Introducing the "Illegitimate Rape" Whistle

Should have seen this coming -- after Rep. Todd Akin's incredibly stupid comments about "legitimate rape" someone has started producing "illegitimate rape" whistles. But the product has a major design flaw. As the producers say in their own promotional literature, there is no such thing as "illegit ... More >>

The Convention That Could Have Been: What if STL Had Hosted the DNC?

If life in St. Louis is better than it was four years ago, it still ain't got nothin' on the summer of 1916--the last time we hosted the Democratic National Convention. You might remember that in 2010, St. Louis was a finalist to host the convention that brought 35,000 people to Charlotte, NC this ... More >>

Guns Blazin' n' Insults Flyin', GOP Candidates Wrap Up "Victory Tour" in STL County

We didn't find Abby Wambach amid the stacks of GOP yard signs, but 300 or so STL-area Republicans were on hand to celebrate their slate and revel in partisan glory... however premature.

Todd Akin: Ban Morning-After Pill "Totally For Everyone"

Updated with statement from Planned Parenthood representatives. The media has gone nuts this week over Congressman Todd Akin's far-right positions, as he prepares to take on Senator Claire McCaskill in November. Buzzfeed says he supported a right-wing militia in the 1990's. The Hill notes that he v ... More >>

UPDATE: Sculptor Hard at Work on Bust of Rush Limbaugh for Missouri State Capitol

Update, March 6: More information at the end of the post, including Senator Claire McCaskill's protest and an answer to commenter Mike N's question about whether this wad of bronze is funded by taxpayer money. ------- The eagle-eyed bloggers at Fired Up! Missouri posted the news earlier this after ... More >>

William Lacy Clay Shares "Most Liberal" Ranking

The public policy magazine National Journal released its annual rankings reflecting the most liberal- and conservative-voting politicians last Friday, and two Missouri lawmakers earned slots that make for interesting discussion. Rep. William Lacy Clay, who represents parts of St. Louis and north S ... More >>

Akin, Steelman Debate to Stream Live on Facebook This Morning

​This is kind of cool -- not because of the debate but because of the technology behind it. Today at 9 a.m. Republican senatorial candidates Todd Akin and Sarah Steelman will face off in a debate at the Missouri Athletic Club West to be broadcast simultaneously over both the radio waves and Facebo ... More >>

As Obama Attacks Congress, McCaskill Becomes Vulnerable

An interesting political article in today's New York Times pinpoints incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill as a potential casualty this November if President Obama continues to campaign on an anti-Congress platform. Experts say the oft-deadlocked Congress of last year is a fair target for President Obama ... More >>

Todd Akin's Campaign Staff Exodus Is the Latest Stumble Among a Limping Senate Primary Field

Will a new leader jump start Todd Akin's campaign?​The campaign manager and two other top aides recently left Todd Akin's Senate campaign team. The shake-up seems to be a product of a stumbling operation for a candidate who fumbled away his status as presumed Republican front-runner to challenge ... More >>

Net Worth of Missouri Congressional Delegation Tops $47.9 Million

​The Center for Responsive Politics recently released its report on the nation's wealthiest U.S. representatives and senators. No one from Missouri makes its Top 10 list, but that doesn't mean we don't have some worthy contenders. Turns out we actually have some of the richest -- and poorest -- po ... More >>

Todd Akin: Doubts Climate Change, Constitutionality of Medicare

Akin touts his Tea Party credentials.​Congressman Todd Akin showed off his conservative bona fides Saturday in a meeting with Tea Party activists in Fulton. Akin, who's hoping to win the Republican primary for Senate, told the group that global warming is "highly suspect" and that he's proud of hi ... More >>

Sarah Steelman and the "Clean Super Committee" Petition

Can Sarah Steelman ride the anti-Washington wave all the way to Capitol Hill?​Republican Senate candidate Sarah Steelman has weak fundraising, subpar name recognition, and a primary opponent who has gained support from the seemingly powerful conservative wing of the party. Her only weapon may be ... More >>

Todd Akin is One of Those Republicans Willing to See America Default on Debt

​Depending on which prominent economist you talk to, a failure to raise the debt ceiling by 12:00 a.m. (EST) August 2, 2011 would either be "doomsday," "calamitous," "a calamity," "serious, and we probably would be thrown into a recession," "could provoke a renewed financial crisis," or someth ... More >>

Claire McCaskill Gives Karl Rove a Wave at St. Louis Airport

Okay, so we just posted an item about Claire McCaskill. But this is just too good to pass up, and worthy of two McCaskill posts back-to-back. The U.S. Senator from Missouri tweeted at 12:15 p.m. today that she just passed Karl Rove at Lambert St. Louis International Airport. Given Rove's work with A ... More >>

The U.S. Government Runs on Free Snacks -- So How Does Missouri Stack Up?

image viaHow things get done in Congress. (At least in the office of Representative Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, which sports of model of the Capitol building made from boxes of Peeps.)​In any office, no one is more likely to get visitors than the person who keeps a candy jar on his or her de ... More >>

Claire McCaskill Asks FTC Chair to Watch for Gas Gouging

Claire McCaskill: Not too pumped about gas prices.​With Memorial Day around the corner and gas prices flirting with the $4-a-gallon mark, Sen. Claire McCaskill and three colleagues yesterday sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz, calling on him to investigate potenti ... More >>

Review: Hip-Hop 911/Stop the Violence Concert, The Pageant, Saturday, January 29

Jon GitchoffBradd Young and Aloha Mischeaux host the show on Saturday​Hip-hop fans who attended the State of Emergency concert earlier this month may have received mixed signals from the show. While some of the artists involved tried to invoke Dr. King's vision -- the show was scheduled to coi ... More >>

Ed Martin Senate Bid Seems Likely

Apparently he just can't get enough of the campaign trail.​Just three months after losing his U.S. Congressional race to Russ Carnahan (and not being a good sport about it), Ed Martin seems poised to jump into the 2012 senate race against incumbent Claire McCaskill. Yesterday the Tea Party politic ... More >>

Charlotte Mayor Says He (Too) Is In Dark Over Democratic National Convention

Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx​Earlier this week Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill fretted that St. Louis may not win the bid for the 2012 Democratic National Convention because she's heard nothing in recent weeks about the event from the White House. Apparently, though, McCaskill isn't the only one ... More >>

Former GILF-Wannabe Sarah Steelman Sets Sights on Senate

Jennifer SilverbergSteelman on the campaign trail in 2008.​Remember Sarah Steelman? Of course you do! A few years ago, she was Missouri state treasurer and hailed far and wide as the most attractive candidate for Missouri governor. Not that being a potential GILF did her much good: Steelman lo ... More >>

Will Missouri Lose a Congressional Seat?

image via​Hi, Daily RFT readers! Are you ready for a little region-specific political Jeopardy?Q: This process starts with a "g" and ends with "errymandering"? A: The process the state legislature may soon begin, if Missouri loses one of their delegation's congressional seats!Results of ... More >>

New Dem Party Chair Susan Montee: "We're Down About as Far as We Can Go"

Can she bring her party out of the doldrums?​One month after Missouri's Democratic candidates suffered a series of bruising defeats in the midterm elections, the party swiftly moved to make a change at the helm. Out as party chairman is Craig Hosmer, who held the post for two years. In his p ... More >>

Food Safety Bill Passes Senate

Image via​Legislation to overhaul the nation's oversight of food safety passed the Senate this morning by a vote of 73 to 25. The bill greatly increases the FDA's authority over food producers.Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill (D) voted in favor of the bill; retiring Senator Kit Bond (R) abstained ... More >>

Missourians Are Schizophrenic About Earmarks

Image via​Our state can't get its story straight.  Yesterday, The New York Times' unpacked the debate over earmarks (are they good or evil?) by focusing on the St. Louis experience. Here's a quote from our mayor, Francis Slay, on Senator Kit Bond's love of federal $$$ and how Bond corralled i ... More >>

Happy Fiscal New Year!!

image via​...3......2......1...HAPPY FISCAL NEW YEAR!!Today, October 1, marks the first day of the fiscal year, or, as the kids in the hood call it, FY'11. Thanks to the U.S. Congress, the government didn't completely shut down at midnight. A miracle!In a late-night vote (12:15 a.m. EST) Wednesday ... More >>

Anti-BP Protest Planned for 10 a.m. Today at Delmar BP

Where it goes down today.​Activists who favor stricter clean-energy legislation, and oppose the controversial Murkowski resolution, are holding a rally at 10 a.m. today at BP gas station on Delmar.The rally is being organized by Repower America and its Missouri chapter, plus like-minded groups suc ... More >>

Peter Kinder Grandstands on Health Care, Joins Lawsuit to Stop Reform

Kinder: That's prounounced "KIN-der" not "KIND-er".​Moments after the health care reform bill was signed into law yesterday, Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder announced he would join the attorneys general in 13 other states in signing a lawsuit intended to overturn the legislation. In a statement ... More >>

Obama Visits St. Louis, Wishes it Were 2008 All Over Again

Claiming a burning need to get out of politics-obsessed Washington, President Obama visited St. Louis yesterday for a nice, relaxing chat about health care. After delivering his speech at St. Charles High School, the president dropped in at the Renaissance Grand Hotel downtown for a benefit for his ... More >>

Patriot Dame: Dana Loesch, Tea Party co-founder and rising star of conservative talk radio, reporting for duty!

St. Louis Twitterati Cover the McCaskill Town Hall Meeting on Healthcare

​Senator Claire McCaskill held a town hall meeting on healthcare reform yesterday in Hillsboro. Oh sure, you could have watched it live on at least a couple of cable outlets. Or...if you were following the right people on Twitter, you could have read up-to-the-minute updates in (almost) real time. ... More >>

Video: Arrest Yesterday at McCaskill Healthcare Forum

Thanks to blogger Peter Glickert for drawing our attention to the video (below) posted on his website HatingNotDebating. As you can see from the video, the woman arrested yesterday at Senator Claire McCaskill's  healthcare forum was kicked out of the event after a fellow attendee took it upon h ... More >>

St. Louis Tea Party and MC Hammer: Kindred Spirits

​By its own admission, the St. Louis Tea Party has yet to make much impact on the public policy of President Barack Obama and the Democratically controlled Congress. But that's beginning to change, states St. Louis Tea Party organizer Bill Hennessey in a message to his flock. Following his group's ... More >>

Last Week's Most Popular Daily RFT Posts, July 20-26

G'morning! If you're just not ready to unclench the weekend from your grip, rewind with these highlights from last week on the Daily RFT, the top-ten most-read postsJoker Bites His Wife's Face, Tells Cops He's BatmanThomas Byrd of Granite City, Ass Clown of the Week nominee, was sentenced to 24 year ... More >>

A-B Sale Gets The Onion Treatment

Barack's Star Turn Snub

Four More Smears

Has Daryl Duwe's transgression been forgiven?

The Wright Stuff

Mayor Adrian Wright knows what's right for Pine Lawn. If folks don't like it, that's just tough.

Mad-As-Hell Letter-Writing 101

School spirit goes haywire at the University of Missouri

What about Bob?

Drug courts save lives and save money. That's not good enough for St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McCulloch.