Andrew Breitbart Takes Over Anthony Weiner's Press Conference (VIDEO)

NEW YORK -- On Monday afternoon, in the Sheraton Hotel's New York West ballroom, it felt, at times, like there were two press conferences happening at once. One featured the spectacle of a teary-eyed and emotionally wrenched Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) apologizing for his online indiscretions. The other showcased a combative Andrew Breitbart doing his best to hijack the moment.
The conservative media provocateur spoke before, after and during Rep. Weiner's admission of sending sexually charged emails to six different women.
It was supposed to be Weiner's press conference -- so why was Breitbart on the stage? He had decided to attend, he told the scores of assembled press corps members, partly because his hotel was "coincidentally" located three blocks away.
But, Breitbart also noted, "I'm here to watch myself be vindicated." He attempted to turn Weiner's press conference into a battle in his ongoing war against the so-called mainstream media, criticizing outlets that included Salon and The Daily Kos.
No one from Weiner's office pre-screened the press at the sometimes-chaotic news conference, which was held with about an hour's advance notice. At one point, before Weiner had taken the stage, someone from the crowd -- it was difficult to tell if they were a member of the media or just an onlooker -- asked Breitbart to break from a press huddle he was holding on the side of the ballroom and walk up to the podium at the front of the room set aside for Weiner.
"If he's paying for this I find this to be a tad rude," Breitbart said, and then went ahead, at 3:58 p.m.
Weiner had scheduled his conference to start at 4 p.m. When people tuned in, though, they saw not the Congressman, but Breitbart, who took questions for approximately 13 minutes before leaving the podium. Fox News reported that Weiner's aides ran down the hall to inform him that Breitbart was there.

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Breitbart defended Big Government's reporting on Weiner, as well as on past stories, saying his website "didn't get into conjecture."
He expressed particular ire toward the online magazine Salon, and claimed that Weiner was "complicit" in a media campaign blaming Breitbart for the whole debacle -- and thus owed the media entrepreneur an apology.
"Given the fact that Congressman Weiner made much of last week about trying to blame me, and much of the left-wing media tried to make last week about blaming me, including claiming that I outed the name of the girl in Seattle that he sent the tweet to, which is false, and also claiming that I was the hacker, I felt that I needed to set the record straight," he told Fox News in a phone interview.
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Aside from personal vindication, Breitbart said on the stage, "I'm doing this to save his family, okay? And if this guy wants to start fighting with me again, I have this photo."
Breitbart was referring to an X-rated photo of Weiner that he purportedly has in his possession yet refrained from publishing Monday. Someone from the gaggle asked Breitbart if he was extorting the congressman, and he denied that he was.
After a few more minutes, Breitbart left the podium. He filtered into and out of the ballroom, taking calls and talking to a number of media outlets.
Once Weiner had taken the stage, he was soon asked whether he owed Breitbart an apology. "I'm right here," Breitbart said, and shortly thereafter, Weiner did apologize.
By then, Breitbart had walked to the back of the room for more interviews. He was still standing there, speaking with "Inside Edition," as Weiner choked up again, toward the end of his press conference, over the pain he had caused his wife and family.

CNN Anchor Don Lemon Reveals He's Gay In New Book

CNN anchor Don Lemon has come out. In a new book, "Transparent," Lemon talks about his life and his sexuality, and he revealed that he is gay in an interview with the New York Times. In a tweet on Sunday night, Lemon, who has anchored in a variety of roles for CNN, linked to the Times article and wrote, "wanted to be the firs to share with u. thanks for your support!!!"

By coming out, Lemon becomes one of a tiny number of openly gay anchors on television; the list also includes Rachel Maddow and Thomas Roberts, both of MSNBC.

In the interview, Lemon said that he has never hid his sexuality from his co-workers at CNN, but decided to take a more public step after he felt that he could not write an inspirational book without being open about who he is.

Lemon also said that he was "scared," because he was talking about things that "people might shun me for." He said that he was particularly concerned about what the reaction in the black community would be. At one point, Lemon got so nervous that he thought about removing the parts of the book that dealt with his sexuality, but he changed his mind.

Lemon has been a reporter and anchor at CNN since 2006. On Monday, he is scheduled to give several interviews on the network about his revelation.

“I think it would be great if everybody could be out,” he told the Times. “...I think if I had seen more people like me who are out and proud, it wouldn’t have taken me 45 years to say it, to walk in the truth.”

Fareed Zakaria Clarifies Obama 'Advising' (VIDEO)

CNN's Fareed Zakaria said on Thursday that he has been having regular discussions with President Obama about national security and foreign policy. He then posted a "clarification" of his statement on Saturday.

Asked by Eliot Spitzer on Thursday's "In The Arena" if Obama has been calling him up lately, Zakaria said, "mostly it's been face-to-face meetings...usually organized by Tom Donilon, the national security adviser."

He said Obama was spending a lot of time "thinking about the issues of the Arab Spring," and added, "it's been a very thoughtful conversation. You know, we'll see where it goes."

Zakaria's admission attracted fast criticism from his frequent antagonist, Glenn Beck, who said that Zakaria could not possibly be a neutral arbiter of the Obama administration's policies while he was advising Obama.

The characterization that I have been "advising" President Obama is inaccurate. Over the last few months I've had a couple of conversations with the president, off-the-record. At no point did president President Obama ask me for advice on a specific policy or speech or proposal, nor did I volunteer it. I know that he has had similar meetings with other columnists.

Mike Huckabee : he will not run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 (Video)

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Saturday he will not run for the Republican presidential nomination, a significant development that removes one of the potential front-runners from contention and brings the slow-moving GOP primary process into sharper focus.

“All the factors say go, but my heart says no and that’s the decision I have made,” Huckabee said at the end of his hour-long weekly television program on Fox News.

Huckabee spent a few minutes knocking down rumors that had flown about why he would or would not run for president. He said his wife and children had encouraged him to run. He said the polls had shown he could be a serious contender and that he could win voters outside the south and in addition to social conservatives. And despite his well-known aversion to asking for money, he said he had become convinced he could raise the necessary money.

"I had come to believe I would be in the race," Huckabee said.

"The external signs … point strongly toward running," he said. "But only when I was alone, in quiet and reflective moments, did I have not only clarity but an inexplicable inner peace."

Huckabee said his decision was not financial, but the wealth he has generated off book sales and his contract with Fox News -- and the ongoing construction on an expensive home in Florida -- will doubtless be considered by many a major factor in why he did not run.

There were other reasons many expected Huckabee to decline a run for president. He would have faced legal obstacles if he were to announce a run for president on his Fox News show. And a top adviser, Ed Rollins, said late in the week that he did not think Huckabee would run.

But Huckabee did his best to keep the political world on its toes. He said in interviews Friday that people who said they knew what his decision was were speaking out of turn. And in an email to friends and aides that leaked Saturday, Huckabee said that “once I pull the trigger Saturday night, things will get even crazier, as if that's possible.”

Huckabee is an ordained Southern Baptist minister who won the Iowa caucuses in 2008, and his decision not to run again opens the door for other social conservatives. Perhaps no one will benefit more than Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) if she decides to run. She has the capability -- probably more than any other potential GOP candidate -- to unite social conservatives in Iowa in the manner Huckabee did last election.

But it is also likely -- even if Bachmann runs -- that the social conservative vote in Iowa will be more splintered in 2012 than it was in 2008, with votes going to former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), former Godfathers Pizza CEO Herman Cain, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. A divided vote could benefit other more moderate candidates like Pawlenty, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, if he decides to run, or former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, if he decides to campaign in the Hawkeye State.

"The Iowa caucus front-runner has just decided against running. It's wide open, folks," wrote Tim Albrecht, a spokesman for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, on Twitter soon after the announcement.

Other potential candidates, eager to draw Huckabee's support or endorsement, were quick to praise him.

"Our country has been very fortunate to have Mike Huckabee as a leader and public servant. His commitment to this country and its core values - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - is a model to which all elected officials should aspire," Huntsman said in a statement. "It is unfortunate that we will not have his voice - or his bass guitar - in the presidential debate, as our party would have benefited from his involvement."

Pawlenty called Huckabee "an important leader within the Republican Party."

"Mike and I agree our nation is facing big challenges and desperately needs new leadership, and I plan to work hard to earn the support of the millions of Americans who have supported him," Pawlenty said.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said Saturday he will not run for the Republican presidential nomination, a significant development that removes one of the potential front-runners from contention and brings the slow-moving GOP primary process into sharper focus.

“All the factors say go, but my heart says no and that’s the decision I have made,” Huckabee said at the end of his hour-long weekly television program on Fox News.

Huckabee spent a few minutes knocking down rumors that had flown about why he would or would not run for president. He said his wife and children had encouraged him to run. He said the polls had shown he could be a serious contender and that he could win voters outside the south and in addition to social conservatives. And despite his well-known aversion to asking for money, he said he had become convinced he could raise the necessary money.

"I had come to believe I would be in the race," Huckabee said.

"The external signs … point strongly toward running," he said. "But only when I was alone, in quiet and reflective moments, did I have not only clarity but an inexplicable inner peace."

Huckabee said his decision was not financial, but the wealth he has generated off book sales and his contract with Fox News -- and the ongoing construction on an expensive home in Florida -- will doubtless be considered by many a major factor in why he did not run.

There were other reasons many expected Huckabee to decline a run for president. He would have faced legal obstacles if he were to announce a run for president on his Fox News show. And a top adviser, Ed Rollins, said late in the week that he did not think Huckabee would run.

But Huckabee did his best to keep the political world on its toes. He said in interviews Friday that people who said they knew what his decision was were speaking out of turn. And in an email to friends and aides that leaked Saturday, Huckabee said that “once I pull the trigger Saturday night, things will get even crazier, as if that's possible.”

Huckabee is an ordained Southern Baptist minister who won the Iowa caucuses in 2008, and his decision not to run again opens the door for other social conservatives. Perhaps no one will benefit more than Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) if she decides to run. She has the capability -- probably more than any other potential GOP candidate -- to unite social conservatives in Iowa in the manner Huckabee did last election.

But it is also likely -- even if Bachmann runs -- that the social conservative vote in Iowa will be more splintered in 2012 than it was in 2008, with votes going to former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), former Godfathers Pizza CEO Herman Cain, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. A divided vote could benefit other more moderate candidates like Pawlenty, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, if he decides to run, or former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, if he decides to campaign in the Hawkeye State.

"The Iowa caucus front-runner has just decided against running. It's wide open, folks," wrote Tim Albrecht, a spokesman for Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, on Twitter soon after the announcement.

Other potential candidates, eager to draw Huckabee's support or endorsement, were quick to praise him.

"Our country has been very fortunate to have Mike Huckabee as a leader and public servant. His commitment to this country and its core values - life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - is a model to which all elected officials should aspire," Huntsman said in a statement. "It is unfortunate that we will not have his voice - or his bass guitar - in the presidential debate, as our party would have benefited from his involvement."

Pawlenty called Huckabee "an important leader within the Republican Party."

"Mike and I agree our nation is facing big challenges and desperately needs new leadership, and I plan to work hard to earn the support of the millions of Americans who have supported him," Pawlenty said.

'I Still Want Obama To Fail' : Rush Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh repeated one of his most infamous lines on his Tuesday show.

He was playing a clip of Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels talking about the tax system, saying he wanted "net tax increases through closing preferences."

"We don't need more revenues, folks, we need less spending!" he said after the clip was over. "We need less spending. And I, by the way, I still want Obama to fail, lest there be any doubt."

Limbaugh famously said he wanted President Obama to fail at the start of Obama's presidency.