l Gore and various administration officials are attacking George W. Bush for supporting a Texas law banning municipal lawsuits against gunmakers. (Polls have consistently shown that these lawsuits are unpopular, and over a dozen states have banned them.) The new liberal line, previewed by Al Hunt over the weekend, is that Bush is being hypocritical here because Republicans are supposed to favor local control. Apparently local control, as defined by liberals, includes running to federal courts to make a legal industry change its practices nationwide and agree to changes in federal public policy.

Religious Beat
In a news story last Thursday on the death of John Cardinal O'Connor, Hanna Rosin and Colman McCarthy described New York as "a city known for its tolerance." They've apparently never ridden in a Manhattan taxi cab, attended a Yankees game, or seen that episode of Letterman in which Rudy Giuliani unveils New York's new motto: "Our city kicks your city's ass." (Kate O'Beirne pointed out that New Yorkers aren't even tolerant of people from New Jersey.)

Rosin ups the ante today in a news story on O'Connor's funeral. Now New York is "a city that flaunts its tolerance." Sort of like when Reggie Miller plays at the Garden.

Rosin's article contrasts New York's mythic tolerance with O'Connor's alleged intolerance. In both her stories, she suggests Cardinal O'Connor was a bumble-headed yahoo because he stood by Catholic teachings on abortion, gays, and the ordination of women--even in the face of criticism from liberal journalists. You know, the tolerant ones.

Thanks For Clearing That Up
Adam Nagourney, in today's New York Times: "In politics, the phrase 'pro-life' is shorthand for opposition to abortion."

Rally Tommorrow
To honor the widely-ignored wishes of Elian Gonzalez's mother, Elisabeth Broton, on International Mother's Day, the Americans to Keep Elian Free Coalition will be demonstrating at the U.S. Department of Justice tomorrow (5/10) at 10 am. Speakers at the event will include Linda Chavez, Phyllis Berry Myers, and Bridget Benitez. Participants will also deliver 535 white roses to Members of Congress, in memory of Elisabeth Broton. For further details, contact Claudia Barlow (703-912-1441) or Barbara Ledeen (202-833-4553.)