Friday the 13th/Meaning of Is

We've been busy with hard-hitting news stories lately -- with global importance, mind you -- so forgive us for some leftovers from the Halloween basket:

Republicans and Fox News are apoplectic over rope-line comments Bill Clinton made Tuesday in Scranton on the White House job offer to Joe Sestak, saying "I didn’t try to get him out of the race." Supposedly that puts the lie to the White House's (convoluted) story about the offer, but really?

Clinton was supposedly the emissary on a possible job offer itself, not necessary on a demand that he get out of the Senate race in return. (Even though the quid pro quo is clear. It's sort of like getting into a discussion on what the meaning of "is" is.)

What is clear? Sestak isn't making things any easier on himself when it comes to this kerfuffle. He seemed to contradict Clinton (who was in Scranton rallying for him) in his response to the Inquirer. “President Clinton was carrying a message,” he told the paper. “It was no secret Washington wanted me out of the race.”

Video of the rope-line comments is below.

More leftover candy: We told you yesterday of the AFL-CIO endorsements of Democrats statewide, from Senate and governor and on down the list of races this fall. It bears mentioning that the labor leadership group endorsed Jason Altmire, despite all the angry words about the suburban Pittsburgh Dem's vote against health care reform.