Photograph by Mladen Antonov/AFP via Getty Images

A cardboard cut-out of President Barack Obama in a tent defending “Obamacare” at a street fair in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The long-running competition for one-upsmanship over Obamacare in three pithy words has reached a fever pitch, pitting the White House and allies against repeal-minded Republicans with all sorts of bystanders weighing in — remembering that last summer one of those entries read: Guarantees President Romney.

The White House stands on terra firma with this one:

It’s. The. Law. #ObamaCareInThreeWords, twitter.com/whitehouse/sta…

— The White House (@whitehouse) May 16, 2013

Yet the partisan competition is undeterred, and seldom have so many people with day jobs devoted so much time to debating something so momentous in such abbreviated fashion.

Counted 100 new tweets on this track in the last five minutes.

#ObamaCareInThreeWords–> $1,000,000,000,000 In Taxes

— Eric Cantor (@GOPLeader) May 16, 2013

IRS in control. #ObamacareInThreeWords

— Michele Bachmann (@MicheleBachmann) May 16, 2013

#obamacareinthreewords: God Bless America!

— Donna Brazile (@donnabrazile) May 16, 2013

RT @gopleader: #ObamaCareInThreeWords –> Another Broken Promise

— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) May 16, 2013

No gender discrimination.#ObamaCareInThreeWords #womenpaysameasmen

— Stephanie Cutter (@stefcutter) May 16, 2013

IRS. Is. Boss #obamacareinthreewords

— Heritage Foundation (@Heritage) May 16, 2013

Good for America. #obamacareinthreewords

— D Wasserman Schultz (@DWStweets) May 16, 2013

#ObamaCareInThreeWords –Job Killing Regulations

— RNC (@GOP) May 16, 2013

The speaker’s office has been stuffing the ballot box:

RT @gopleader: #ObamaCareInThreeWords –> Run by #IRS.

— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) May 16, 2013

#ObamaCareinThreeWords: Scares small businesses –> j.mp/10qCYTK

— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) May 16, 2013

#ObamaCareinThreeWords –> Repeal for jobs

— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) May 16, 2013

Original post is Obamacare in Three Words: OMG by Political Capital.

Photograph by Sam Hodgson/Bloomberg

A man stands in Tijuana, Mexico, beyond the U.S.-Mexico border fence from San Diego, California, on March 21, 2012.

That messaging thing remains a problem for Republicans talking about immigration.

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of the sponsors of the bipartisan immigration bill under debate today, maintains that he was not calling Mexico a “Hell hole.”

“It’s not a Hell hole,” Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, one of the most outspoken critics of the bill, said at the Senate Judiciary Committee. “There are some great things going on in Mexico.”’

“You’re right,” Graham replied. “I wasn’t slandering Mexico. I was just talking about all the places people want to leave for whatever reason.”

It started with Graham saying:

@grahamblog: “The problem is we cant have everybody in the world living in a hell hole coming to America.”

— Kate Hunter (@Kate_HunterDC) May 9, 2013

@grahamblog Clarifies “Hellhole” remark “I wasn’t slandering Mexico. I was just talking about all the places people want to leave.”

— Kate Hunter (@Kate_HunterDC) May 9, 2013

Now that that’s settled, the Judiciary Committee is plowing ahead with amendments.

Original post is Mexico No ‘Hell Hole,’ Graham Adds by Political Capital.

Photograph by Tom Williams/Roll Call/Getty Images

Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., right, Chairman of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), walks with Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., Vice Chairman, to a discussion of the JTC on the topic of reforming the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

Welcome to Taxreform.gov — a new bipartisan entry on the Internet sponsored by Rep. Dave Camp, Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Democratic Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Camp says he is “committed” to getting a tax overhaul out of his committee this year. Baucus, who will retire at the end of 2014, is working on a bill but can’t say for sure that his committee will produce one this year. They’re reaching out to the public for ideas as they move forward.

Bloomberg’s Richard Rubin writes about the “Max and Dave” tour underway, which comes with more than a website — there’s a Twitter handle too: @simplertaxes.

The two are talking about a zero-based approach to writing a new federal tax code that has undergone 15,000 amendments since 1986.

“What we’re trying to do is set up a framework where we don’t take the current tax code and see what individual thing we pull out — we take a blank piece of paper and start over,” Camp said in an interview on National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition” today. “There has been a lot of layering upon layering and tinkering of the tax code. The complexity is really the big thing that we’re going to try to get at.”

“One thing I know we agree on, and I know the American public agrees on, is loopholes, which allow corporations, many corporations, not to pay any income taxes,” Baucus said. “That’s just not right… When we start from scratch, start from no deductions, no credits, no exclusions, that puts the burden on them as those who want those provisions to state a better case as to why they should be there.”

The big question is what comes out of this potential tax reform: A gain in federal revenue that the White House is seeking, or the “revenue neutral” result of no additional revenue the House’s Republicans are demanding.

“That’s the fundamental question that’s being asked in this debate,” Baucus said. “My sense is, like a lot of things in this town, that we’re going to have to compromise. There is going to be some rate reduction. There is going to be some revenue raised.” The amount, he said, is what will have to be negotiated.

“I think that’s getting to the end game before we get there,” Camp said. “I can tell you right now most of my caucus is not in favor of more revenues. They think we did that at the end of last year. We’ve got to move forward on getting the policy right and working together to get the best possible tax code and then we’ll resolve those issues.”

While Camp promises a bill this year, Baucus is less confident: “We’ll see. I don’t know. I cannot answer that question definitively. It depends on how quickly we can get an agreement in our committee…

“We’ll reach a point where I think we’ll pass legislation,” Baucus said. “And if it’s good legislation that tends to make some sense, then it’s more likely that Majority Leader Harry Reid will want to schedule it on the floor, and it’s more likely that we’ll be able to pass it with 60 votes.”

Original post is Zero-Based Tax Reform: Camp, Baucus (‘Max and Dave’) by Political Capital.

Photograph by Susan Walsh/AP Photo

First lady Michelle Obama signs copies of her book “American Grown: The Story of the White House Kitchen Garden and Garden Across America” at the Politics & Prose bookstore in Washington, on May 7, 2013.

While the first lady was out in the rain today talking about healthy eating at a book-signing, the White House chief of staff was inside and dry sharing some doughnuts with the press.

Michelle Obama is using her book about the White House garden she developed, “American Grown,” “as a way to talk about one of the issues that is important to me and has been something that I’ve talked about a lot as first lady… ending the epidemic of childhood obesity,” she said at the book-signing at Washington’s Politics and Prose Bookstore.

“Because the garden was really a way to begin this conversation about how do we educate our children about the food they eat and how it impacts their body and how all of that affects their health, and encourage our children to eat healthy and eat more vegetables and to get more exercise,” she said.

Back at the West Wing, chief of staff Denis McDonough was risking a humorous take-off on his name with his hand-off of some good-will dunkers on this drizzly day.

With thanks to Mark Knoller, chronicler of all events White House related, at CBS News:

WH Chief of Staff Denis McDonough just came through the press room dispensing donuts. Said he just wanted to thank the press for all we do.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 7, 2013

Don’t tell Mrs Obama the Chief of Staff was dispensing donuts. Could be short-lived in the job.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 7, 2013

Original post is White House: Gardening and Doughnuts by Political Capital.

The Onion

Onion Twitter Password Changed To OnionMan77 — ‘That Ought To Do It’

Original post is Onion-Hacking: ‘Just the Beginning’ by Political Capital.

Photograph by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Jason Collins, left, #34 of the Atlanta Hawks, warms up before the game against the Golden State Warriors.

Perhaps notably, it was the Obama White House — and then President Barack Obama personally — who spoke of their pride in Jason Collins, the NBA center who announced that he is gay.

And perhaps predictably, now it is Collins co-headlining a party fundraiser.

With first lady Michelle Obama, one of the first to tweet her pride in the ballplayer.

The two are the featured stars at the Democratic National Committee’s 2013 LGBT gala in New York on May 29.

Collins already had contributed $5,000 to Rep. Joseph Kennedy III’s 2012 campaign — half as an employee of the Atlanta Hawks in February, half as a member of the Boston Celtics in August.

(Collins cited Kennedy as an inspiration in his Sports Illustrated coming-out essay.)

As for his ready deployment on the fundraising circuit, it was the Obama White House, after all, that was quick to celebrate Collins’ announcement. That wasn’t Mitt Romney tweeting the news.

So proud of you, Jason Collins! This is a huge step forward for our country. We’ve got your back! -mo

— FLOTUS (@FLOTUS) April 29, 2013

Bloomberg’s Derek Wallbank contributed to this report. 

Original post is Jason Collins, Michelle Obama: Fundraisers for Party’s LGBT Gala by Political Capital.

Photograph by Julio Cortez/AP Photo

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie talks during a town hall meeting at Raritan Valley Community College, on April 11, 2013, in Branchburg, N.J.

One of the fun parts of being governor, Chris Christie tells the schoolchildren:

“Any bugs on your desk, you’re allowed to kill them without getting in trouble.”

Faced with an uninvited visitor making himself comfortable in his office, the New Jersey governor didn’t wait for his bodyguards. He sent the trespasser to his doom: Splat!

Video of the 50-year-old governor greasing a spider, as his fourth-grader Bridget and tour-taking classmates giggled, was posted on his YouTube channel today.

“Where is he?” the governor said, stooping over his desk. “There he is.”

Icky things, somehow, are always “he.”

A child, spotting an office tool, suggested: “Let’s staple him.” The remark, one presumes, was directed toward the critter and not the 50-year-old Republican who is running for a second term.

Christie instead chose his left hand, and that was the end of that. The children laughed and clapped.

“Thank you very much,” he said. “That’s also another fun part of being governor. Any bugs on your desk — you’re allowed to kill them without getting in trouble.”

Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for Christie, said the governor is not, in fact, arachnophobic.

“Impressive constituent relations,” Drewniak, referring to the governor’s young visitors, said in an e-mail. “Too bad fourth-graders can’t vote.”

We couldn’t help but think of President Barack Obama’s equally cool-handed swatting of a fly during an interview with CNBC a few years back. “Nice,” said interviewer John Harwood.

“I got the sucker,” the president said proudly.

(Aren’t the spiders supposed to take care of the flies?)

Original post is Christie Kills Spider for Schoolkids, Channeling Obama’s Fly-Swatting by Political Capital.

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

President Barack Obama and President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico share a toast prior to a working dinner at Los Pinos, Mexico City, Mexico, on May 2, 2013.

One of the perks of working at the highest levels of the White House is the travel.

President Barack Obama’s journey to Mexico this week carried him and his staff to the historic presidential palace in Mexico City, where the air is something less than refreshing.

The food is worth the trip, though, and the host on this occasion gracious:

Pres Obama and Pres Pena Nieto toast last night before dinner in Mexico twitter.com/petesouza/stat…

— petesouza (@petesouza) May 3, 2013

Costa Rica makes up for all that hustle and bustle, however.

Just landed in Costa Rica. Absolutely gorgeous!!

— Valerie Jarrett (@vj44) May 3, 2013

He who lives in La Casa Blanca is off to Casa Amarilla:

POTUS is wheels down in Costa Rica. First stop: Casa Amarilla for a meeting with President Chinchilla.#ObamainCostaRica

— @NSCPress (@NSCPress) May 3, 2013

Those perks don’t stop at the White House staff. From Ed Henry, tourist:

People waiting for a glimpse of President Obama in Costa Rica twitter.com/edhenryTV/stat…

Costa Rica declared a national holiday for Obama’s visit, Bloomberg’s traveling Lisa Lerer reports.

— Ed Henry (@edhenryTV) May 3, 2013

Laura Chinchilla, elected in 2010 to a 4 year term, is first woman pres of Costa Rica. She has a Masters in Public Policy from Georgetown

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 3, 2013

Original post is Travels with Obama: Casa Amarilla by Political Capital.

Photograph by Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., right, check on judges former Rep. Vin Weber, R-Minn., left, and House Chaplain Patrick Conroy during the second annual ‘hotdish’ competition in the Capitol Visitor Center, featuring casserole-like dishes from members of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, on March 7, 2012. The dishes of Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., and Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn., tied for first place in the competition.

Can you smell what Congress is cooking?

Tater-tots and more, washed down with Jell-O.

Not to mention Rep. Michele Bachmann’s volcanic “Metro” dish with a whole can of sweet corn, or Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s hold-the-SPAM (not to be confused with e-mail) pepperoni special.

Al Franken, the Democratic senator from Minnesota, has a well-known sense of humor harking to his SNL days. (And who can forget his 2006 pre-Senate remarks about Dick Cheney shooting a hunting partner in the face?)

But who knew he also had a chef’s eye bigger than the average person’s stomach?

The Minnesota delegation’s bipartisan “Hotdish-Off” plays on a fine Minnesota tradition — the “hotdish,” usually, as it’s explained at Franken’s official Senate Web-site, a casserole that “goes real good” with Jell-O or a salad.

In the annual contest initiated by Franken two years ago, his own “Mom’s Mahnomin Madness Hotdish” tied for first place with a former congressman’s “Minnesota Wild Strata Hotdish” last year.

Klobuchar took top honors in 2011 with a “Taconite Tater-Tot Hotdish.”

In the latest dish-off, served up on April 10, Rep. Tim Walsh’s “Hermann the German Hotdish” (brats and a bottle of Schell’s beer are the keys) captured first-place, competing with Rep. Rick Nolan’s “Real Deal Danger Ranger Hotdish” (venison, presumably not roadk kill, and wild rice) and Bachmann’s “Southwest Metro Hotdish” (something to do with a can of Green Giant sweet corn and taco seasoning — not to mention two pounds of the ever-popular tater tots).

Rep. Keith Ellison weighed in with a “Juicy Lucy Hotdish” (crumbled hamburger buns, ground beef, mushrooms  and cheese),” and Rep. Betty McCollum cooked “Beef, Beer and Biscuits” in her hotdish.

And Klobuchar was back this year with her “Hormel `I Can’t Believe it’s not SPAM’ Pepperoni Pizza Hotdish”), a mix of donkey meat, hamburger and Ronzoni rotini.

As for Franken, he stuck with Willmar Stew, which he assures us goes well with a Vikings game and, as everyone should know, requires a dutch oven and two pounds of Cannelini beans soaked overnight, turkey thighs — duck or pheasant will do — pork roast plus sausage, bacon and butter and a medley of vegetables (for health) salted to taste.

All the hotdish recipes are here.

And that Cheney talk is here.

Original post is Tater Tots and Pepperoni (Hold the SPAM) — What Congress is Cooking by Political Capital.

Source: Twitter Inc. via Bloomberg

The Twitter Inc. page belonging to Warren Buffett, the billionaire chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., is seen in this screen grab taken on May 2, 2013. Buffett topped 50,000 followers on Twitter as he sent his first message on the social media site.

Updated May 3, 2013, 8:20 am EST

Bill Clinton and Warren Buffett are keeping company. With friends like Stephen Colbert. And “where else can you hear from Bill Gates, John McCain, Ellen Degeneres and Usher in one day?”

The 43nd president only recently signed up for Twitter, and already has more than 560,000 followers. The oracle of Omaha signed up Thursday —  ”Warren is in the House” — with more than 105,000 followers on Day One and 270,000 on Day Two.

Warren is in the house.

— Warren Buffett (@WarrenBuffett) May 2, 2013

.@warrenbuffett Welcome to @twitter. What took you so long?

— Bill Clinton (@billclinton) May 2, 2013

Colbert is really “cool,” Clinton said in his first tweet last month (10 tweets ago.)

Just spent amazing time with Colbert!Is he sane? He is cool! #cgiu

— Bill Clinton (@billclinton) April 6, 2013

And Clinton is proud, he said in another tweet, of Jason Collins, the NBA center who announced that he is gay.

I’m proud to call Jason Collins a friend. wjcf.co/154piCi

— Bill Clinton (@billclinton) April 29, 2013

He noted that he was glad to join his daughter at the social networking site.

Excited to join @chelseaclinton and my good friend @stephenathome on Twitter! — Bill Clinton (@billclinton) April 25, 2013

So far, Clinton said recently, it’s going fairly well.

Enjoying @twitter so far. Where else can you hear from @billgates @paulpierce34 @senjohnmccain @theellenshow @usher in one day? #thisisgreat — Bill Clinton (@billclinton) April 25, 2013.

Warren’s only other tweet so far promoted a column he wrote for CNN Money titled “Warren Buffett is Bullish … on Women.”

Read my new essay on why women are key to America’s prosperity: cnnmon.ie/18eXfik.

— Warren Buffett (@WarrenBuffett) May 2, 2013

Waiting for the next word from Buffett, with about 270,000 others.

Original post is Warren Buffett ‘Is In The House’ — With More than 270,000 Guests by Political Capital.