Condoleezza Rice & Aretha Franklin Raise Money for Children

What do you get when you put a former Secretary of State together with the Queen of Soul? Apparently, you get beautiful music and lots of money raised for a good cause. Dr. Condoleezza Rice and Aretha Franklin took the stage together at the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia last week. Their goal was to raise money for music and arts awareness for children in Detroit and Philadelphia's inner city schools.
Before a crowd of over 8,000 people Franklin and Rice performed two songs together: "I Say a Little Prayer" and "My Country 'Tis of Thee." Earlier in the three-hour concert Rice also played a selection from Mozart's "Piano Concert No. 20 in D Minor." During her tenure as Secretary of State, many people were surprised to learn Rice was not only an important diplomat but a classically trained pianist as well.
Rice and Franklin first met at a White House event several years ago. The two were chatting when Franklin suggested they do a duet together. Franklin said she was surprised that Rice "really does play" and called her "formidable." According to the Associated Press, Rice said this particular night was born out of both women's desire to keep music accessible to children.

Music has always been close to the former Secretary's heart. Rice began taking piano lessons at the age of three and gave her first recital at the age of four. Growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, Rice became known as a musical prodigy in the area and could often be found playing at community events and schools. When she was 15, she played at the Denver Symphony and though she does not play professionally, she does play regularly with a chamber music group in Washington, DC. She has performed for Queen Elizabeth and played alongside cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
She has stated that her favorite composer is Johannes Brahms because his music is "passionate but not sentimental." She has also said her favorite band is Led Zeppelin. Rice's name even has a musical background. Her mother, Angelena, a teacher and church organist, loved opera so much that she named her daughter after an Italian music term "con dolcezza." It means "to play with sweetness."

Suggested Read:
THE NEW NORMAL: DOING MORE WITH LESS IN EDUCATION

Most Hated Women of the GOP

When it comes to the American Left, negative feelings towards anyone on the other side, especially anyone who is successful, run rampant. And it's that kind of attitude that's prompted the editorial team at Townhall.com to compile a list of the "100 Americans the Left Hates Most." As you can imagine, many of our favorite GOP women made the list. Here is a look at the ones who did and how they manage to get under the skin of liberals.

#2: Sarah Palin - It's no surprise Sarah Palin tops the list at number two (just behind TV and radio host Glenn Beck). When GOP presidential nominee John McCain chose her as his running mate, the right immediately embraced her and the left immediately tried to find something wrong with her. They attacked her looks, her family, and her patriotism. They attacked her success in raising her family and success in her career. They attacked her Conservatism and they attacked her strong will. But in the end, Palin continues to be a start among Conservatives, Republicans, and Tea Partiers, and you can bet that really makes the Left mad.

#5: Ann Coulter - Love her or hate her, you have to respect her for saying what she thinks and not letting anyone or anything keep her from speaking her mind. Writer and political commentator Ann Coulter has been telling it like it is about liberals for years and causing controversy wherever she goes. Political correctness isn't something Coulter knows anything about and for that reason alone, the Left can't stand her.

#6: Michelle Malkin - Michelle Malkin has become a Conservative star in recent years. She blogs, she writes columns and best-selling books, and she appears on Fox News, exposing left-wing hate like no one else can. The victim of everything from racist remarks to personal threats, Malkin seems to get under the skin of every liberal she crosses.

#10: Michele Bachmann - Bachmann, a Conservative Congresswoman from Minnesota tops the list for many of the same reasons as Sarah Palin. She has made a name for herself as a woman with a family and a career, but she touts Conservative values verses wild left-wing feminist views. She's been a strong voice against Obama's health care plan and a strong voice for the tea party movement. This fall, she is up for re-election and the Left is doing everything it can to stop her.

#17: Laura Ingraham Anyone who listens to Laura Ingraham's radio show knows she's in a constant battle against the left to prevent the perversion of our culture by left-wingers who think their way is the only way. Whether she's debating politics or promoting conservatives in Hollywood, Ingraham is always on the lookout for liberals who want to ruin the country.

Other GOP women who made the list? Hannah Giles, the young journalist who posed as a prostitute and brought down ACORN; Jan Brewer, the governor of Arizona who is doing what the federal government won't do: standing up to illegal immigration; Liz Cheney, co-founder of Keep America Safe and strong voice for American security; Condoleezza Rice former Secretary of State under President George W. Bush; Phyllis Schlafly, columnist and author; Peggy Noonan, columnist, author, and former assistant to President Ronald Reagan; and S.E. Cupp, author, commentator, and columnist.

---

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Interview with S.E. Cupp

S.E. Cupp is a phenomenal author, columnist and political commentator, and it seems as though she's everywhere these days. She's written for a number of publications, everything from the Washington Post to Sports Illustrated, on topics ranging from Sarah Palin to NASCAR. She's appeared on a number of television programs and radio shows, including regular spots on "Hannity," "Fox and Friends," and "Red Eye." According to her website, she is working on her second book (her first, Why You're Wrong About the Right, was published in June 2008). We had a chance to talk with Cupp about everything from what the GOP can do to attract more young people to what she likes to do when when she needs a break from the world of politics and news. Here's what she had to say:

1. How did you become interested in politics?

SEC: I was interested in everything when I was young. Politics, history, art, science, culture...I was always a really curious kid. When I was 10 I wanted to be "Ambassador of France" when I grew up...but more because Shirley Temple had become an ambassador. Then it was an astronomer. Later I considered going to Annapolis. Then I wanted to be a foreign service officer. Eventually I settled on a writing career, but I always knew I'd continue to be curious about the world around me. And that included politics.

2. What makes you a conservative? What issues are most important to you right now?

SEC: I'm a conservative because I find a few central tenets really compelling: strong national defense, fiscal responsibility, limited government and lowering taxes. These are things that affect my daily life. I believe conservatism has come up with the best answers for those issues. And I'm incredibly uncomfortable with the malleability of liberal philosophy, its moral relativism, its reliance on the zeitgeist as cause creator, its antipathy toward religion, and its inherent elitism.

3. You are often mentioned as a voice for young conservatives and the future of conservatism. What do you think the right can do to get more young people interested and involved?

SEC: The GOP needs to embrace young, new messengers that can deliver our message in more interesting, relevant, and creative ways. Sometimes the party clings to the old guard and the party's anointed patriarchs at the exclusion of everyone else...it's turf war, and it is what will make conservatism staid and stale for the younger generation. We need our veteran leadership -- but we also need fresh voices.

4. What about women? How do you think conservatism relates to women's issues?

SEC: Conservatism is better for women because conservatism is better for everyone. Conservatism is better for minorities and the youth, as well as middle aged white guys. Conservatism fosters ingenuity, self-reliance, innovation, independence, strong family values, and a sense of purpose. It creates jobs, boosts capitalism, defends freedom, and spreads democratic values to the rest of the world. When you start to use identity politics as a way to appeal to certain demographics, you become a cheap pander. Conservatism's benefits are self-evident -- my uterus has nothing to do with it.

5. Are there any women in politics (in or out of office) whom you admire?

SEC: I admire plenty of women, but certainly not because they're women. I admire Condoleeza Rice's intellect. I admire Laura Bush's quiet dignity. I admire Judith Sheindlin's decisiveness. And I admire Sarah Palin's tenacity. But those are all qualities I've also found in many of the men I admire.

6. What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment to date?

SEC: Being someone my parents are proud of.

7. Do you plan to run for office in the future? If not, is there anyone you would like to see run for office?

SEC: Absolutely not. I enjoy my journalistic freedom to write and say what I want.

8. Finally, I know you're a big NASCAR fan - what else do you like to do when you need a break from the political world?

SEC: I love shooting. I own a .12 gauge shotgun, and am partial to skeet shooting. I enjoy fishing as well. I've recently taken up knitting, which is very relaxing. And I travel as much as I can. Day to day though, it's always a nice escape from news when I can squeeze in an hour of mindless television.

Thanks so much to S.E. Cupp for taking part in our interview. To learn more about her, you can visit her website: Red S.E. Cupp

---

Considering a projector rental or a plasma rental for your your next convention or event? Then Call a Tech Travel Agent today at 800-736-8772.

Liz Cheney Speaks Out

The political world is all abuzz about Liz Cheney's appearance on MSNBC, last week. In an interview with Norah O'Donnell, she defended her father, former Vice President, Dick Cheney, former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and the Bush Administration's interrogation tactics and claimed they brought about valuable intelligence. Cheney explained that memos on the matter expressed that it was important not to cross a line into torture and that everything that was done is often used on Americans for training purposes. Cheney also defended her father's legacy and spoke about the future of the Republican Party, but it was her willingness to stand up to the more-often-than-not biased reporter's accusations and asinine assumptions that have some blogs and websites posting headlines such as "Cheney '12" as headlines for the interview. You can watch the video here:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

About Liz Cheney:

While most people know Liz Cheney as the oldest daughter of the former Vice President, they probably don't realize that Cheney served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State during the Bush Administration, that she is an attorney, or that she is the mother of five children.

Elizabeth Cheney Perry was born in 1966. She attended Colorado College and graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 1996. Between college and attending law school, Cheney worked at the State Department and the consulting firm, Armitage Associates LLP. After law school, she practiced law privately for the firm White and Case, worked as international law attorney, a consultant at the International Finance Corporation, served as Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State for Assistant to the former Soviet Union, and as a USAID officer in U.S. embassies in Budapest and Warsaw.

In 2002, she would be appointed to the position of Deputy Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs but the appointment was not without controversy. Many claimed the position was created just for the daughter of the Vice President, but the State Department claimed she had been recommended by Colin Powell and that the position was just vacant at the time of her appointment. The London Times saw her appointment as "America is getting serious about Middle East Reform." As Deputy, Cheney was given control of the Middle East Partnership Initiative which was put in place to help create democracy and economic progress in the Middle East. Cheney left this position after two years to work for President George Bush's re-election campaign, often speaking to women voters, but would return to the U.S State Department in 2005. During that time, she oversaw the launch of Fund of the Future (a foundation that provides capital for small businesses) and Foundation of the Future (a group that promotes freedom of the press and democracy).

Since the Bush Administration left office, Cheney has continued her busy career in politics. In 2007, she worked as a co-chair for Senator Fred Thompson's Presidential campaign, and later went on to work for Governor Mitt Romney when Thompson dropped out of the race. That year, she also wrote a big editorial for the Washington Post, criticizing Hillary Clinton's position on the war in Iraq. She also speaks publicly about international relations and the role of women in democracy and has been rumored to be helping her father research for a book about his work in public service.

Liz Cheney is married to Philip Perry, the former General Counsel of the Department of Homeland Security. The couple have five children: Kate, Elizabeth, Grace, Philip, and Richard.

Where is Condoleezza Rice?

When politicians began throwing their names into the race for the 2008 Presidential election, many people began to speculate about then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Websites such as Rice2008.com began to pop up all over the internet, encouraging Secretary Rice to run. When it became obvious she wasn't going to, many Republicans hoped to persuade Senator John McCain to pick her as his running mate. But Rice made it pretty clear that she was not interested in running for any political office,

"I don't know how many ways to say no. I don't have any desire to run for president. I don't intend to. I won't do it...I know what it takes to run for president. I've watched it up close, one of these days very soon I am going to want to return to being an academic again and to get back to the California life, and the world of ideas."

It's been a few months since the Bush administration left office and many people have been left wondering what Secretary Rice is doing now, especially after she recently made headlines for writing a piece about the Masters entitled, "My Weekend on Tiger's Trail." Throughout her public life, Rice has been known for her love of sports and has even joked about wanting to become the next NFL commissioner. Turns out, she's also a fan of Tiger Woods. In the piece, she jokes,

"...when I was able to get tickets for my first Masters, I was really excited. I’ve been to Super Bowls, the Final Four, the U.S. Open Tennis Championships—nothing matched the anticipation of my first Masters. As the time approached, my assistant Anne said, 'They want to know who you want to follow.' Borrowing language from Anne’s generation, I said, 'Duh?' I know Tiger from our Stanford connection. I once sat with him at a Stanford-Duke basketball game. Stanford won on a buzzer-beater, and we stormed the court together. With that kind of bonding, whom else would I pull for?"

So, aside from blogging about her trip to Augusta, what else has Rice been up to? Well, just last week, she joined former President George W. Bush in a visit to Southern Methodist University for a meeting to discuss the George Bush institute. Afterwards she took pictures with students and faculty and then, along with several other former Bush aides and advisers, the Secretary had dinner at the former President's home.

A quick Google news search will tell you that the former Secretary of State has been invited to speak at many upcoming events and occasions. On April 30, she will speak at the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan, she'll return to Washington D.C. to speak at the Annual Yitzhak Rabin Memorial Lecture, and even as far ahead as January, 2010, Rice has been lined up to speak at the Marin Speaker Series.

But true to her word, Secretary Rice returned to academia in March. She is currently a political science professor at Stanford University. At Standford she also serves as a Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution. Even so, people continue to speculate a future run for President and even Governor of California. For now, it looks like she's pretty content at Stanford, but who knows what the future will hold for Condoleezza Rice.

Women of the GOP "In the News" Round-Up

Lots of great Conservative and Republican women in the news this week, here is your weekly round-up!

- Condoleezza Rice's name has been in the headlines this week. What exactly has she been up to? Is she running for office? Returning to academia? Not exactly. Looks like she is writing about the Masters over at The Daily Beast. Not exactly what the world expected! (Stick around - tomorrow, "Women of the GOP" will have a profile on Secretary Rice, including everything else Rice is up to these days!)

- Did you attend your local Tax Day Tea Party on Wednesday? Thousands of Americans gathered in large cities and small towns to protest the government's misuse of our tax dollars! GOP Women from all walks of life were out in full force! Actress, Janine Turner, attended the San Antonio Tea Party. Georgia Secretary of State and candidate for Governor Karen Handel told a crowd at the Peachtree City Tea Party the Obama administration and Democrats in Congress are "in the midst of a full-on assault on the freedoms that this country was founded upon."

- Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has been making a name for herself and getting under the skin of many liberals, lately. Bachmann isn't hesitant to criticize current Democrats in office or their policies and this week, she has been making headlines for daring to speak out and warn against Americorp.

- Alaska Governor Sarah Palin told a "Right to Life" crowd in Indiana, this week, that she briefly considered having an abortion when she found out her youngest son, Trig, would be born with Down syndrome. She followed that idea by saying, "The moment he was born, I knew that moment my prayers had been answered." Despite the way the mainstream media has handled the story, those who attended the event say the speech made them love and respect the Governor even more. You can watch part of Palin's speech here: