Major Garret Leaving Fox, Going To National Journal

Fox News’ White House Correspondent Major Garrett will be leaving the network and joining the staff of the National Journal, according to a statement released from the publication.

“Major Garrett is the embodiment of the new team we’re building here at National Journal,” Editor-in-Chief Ron Fournier said in the statement. “We’re incredibly lucky to be bringing into our newsroom.”

The move comes as the National Journal steps up their efforts to rival Politico for online-news coverage.

Republicans To White House: Fire Economic Team

House Republicans are urging President Barack Obama to fire key members of his economic team, including Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.

During a highly publicized speech Tuesday, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) cited the need for a “fresh start” in light of high unemployment and a volatile economy. Boehner also decried the lack of private sector experience within the administration’s inner circle.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), the chair of the House Republican Conference, issued a similar call Tuesday.

“The economic policies of this administration have failed and President Obama needs a new economic team,” Pence said in a statement. “This administration is out of ideas to get this economy moving again.”

The White House responded to the calls Tuesday, albeit with what seemed to be a sarcastic tone.

“Very constructive advice, thanks,” Biden said during remarks on Recovery Act funds.

“For eight years before we arrived, Mr. Boehner and his party ran this economy and the middle class into the ground,” Biden added.

NYC Mayor Defends Mosque Near Ground Zero

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently defended the construction of the controversial mosque near ground zero in New York City. 

At a Tuesday dinner celebrating the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Bloomberg said that by prohibiting the construction of the mosque, the city and the country would be “compromising our commitment to fighting terror with freedom.”

“We would undercut the values and principles that so many heroes died protecting,” he said.

Bloomberg raised questions about the after-effects of not allowing the mosque’s construction, saying it would then boil down creating a “mosque-free” boundary around ground zero.

“The question will then become how big should the no-mosque zone around the World Trade Center be,” Bloomberg said. “There is already a mosque four blocks away. Should it, too, be moved?”

White House Responds To Stem Cell Ruling

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton said the following Tuesday on the recent ruling from a Federal Judge to halt federal funding for stem cell research:

“The President said very plainly when he laid out his stem cell policy that this is important lifesaving — potentially lifesaving research that could have an impact on millions of Americans and people all around the world.  He thinks that we need to do research.  He put forward stringent ethical guidelines, and he thinks that his policy is the right one.”

“We’re still reviewing the decision from this judge, but what we’ve seen so far, from what we can tell, this would also stop the research that President Bush had allowed to go forward early in his presidency.  So we’re exploring all possible avenues to make sure that we can continue to do this critical lifesaving research.”

Sherrod Declines Vilsack's Offer

Former United States Department of Agriculture official Shirley Sherrod, who was forced to resign from her Georgia position after a misleading video mistakenly portrayed her making racist remarks, turned down a new job offer Tuesday from Agriculture Department Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Sherrod’s prospective new position would have been deputy director of the Office of Advocacy and Outreach. This newly created position was designed to improve the department’s civil rights efforts and image nationwide, something Sherrod said she is a strong advocate for.

“We need to work on issues [such as] discrimination and racism in this country, and I’d certainly like to play my role,” Sherrod said.

Vilsack acknowledged the fact that he acted harshly when the news broke in July and still takes full responsibility for the tirade. 

“This was my responsibility,” he said. “I disappointed the president [and] the country [and] I have to live with that.”

Sherrod respectfully declined Vilsack’s offer but accepted his apology.