The GOP's astonishingly bad message on sequester cuts … In a Wall Street Journal op-ed Wednesday, House Speaker John Boehner describes the upcoming sequester as a policy “that threatens U.S. national security, thousands of jobs and more.”  —  Which leads to the question …

‘Friends of Hamas’: My role in the birth of a rumor  —  A Daily News reporter explains how he inadvertently created the myth that Chuck Hagel spoke to a non-existent group.  —  Daily News reporter Dan Friedman recounts the origin of a rumor he unwittingly started about Chuck Hagel (pictured) …

Ex-Sen. Domenici discloses son born in secrecy  —  Former New Mexico Sen. Pete Domenici told the Journal on Tuesday he fathered a son outside of his marriage over 30 years ago, revealing a secret kept for decades.  —  Statements given to the Journal by Domenici and the son's mother …

Ted Cruz says attacks on Marco Rubio are because he's a Hispanic Republican  —  Sen. Ted Cruz says some of the attacks on fellow Republican Sen. Marco Rubio by Democrats are motivated by race.  Cruz said today the fact that Rubio is a Republican Latino poses a threat to political adversaries.

Romney to Speak at CPAC  —  Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will appear at the Conservative Political Action Conference next month, according to two sources familiar with the event's itinerary.  Romney's speech, which will be delivered at the Gaylord National hotel …

Florida governor backs Medicaid expansion under ‘ObamaCare’  —  Florida Gov. Rick Scott endorsed the Medicaid expansion in President Obamas healthcare law on Wednesday, delivering a political coup for the White House.  —  Scott isn't the first high-profile GOP governor to accept the Medicaid expansion …

The New York Times Company Announces Plan to Sell the Boston Globe and Related Properties  —  The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT) today announced that it plans to sell its New England Media Group, including The Boston Globe and its related properties, and that it has retained Evercore Partners …

Soledad headed out at CNN  —  High-profile morning anchor Soledad O'Brien is on her way out at CNN as new boss Jeff Zucker moves Erin Burnett into her morning slot, Page Six has exclusively learned.  —  We're told award-winning journalist O'Brien has indicated she is ready to leave …

State reps propose repealing 17th Amendment  —  The 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was adopted on May 31, 1913, and provided for the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote.  —  Now, 100 years later, a group of Georgia state representatives would like to repeal the 17th Amendment …

WHY KARL ROVE AND STUART STEVENS ARE PLAIN WRONG  —  RESIZE:  —  I am writing this newsletter in a very direct, no baloney, effort to get across how much trouble we Republicans are in and how real the internal party fight is going to be.  —  I strongly support RNC Chairman Reince Priebus' effort …

Woman claims she was fired for voting for Obama  —  DAYTON —  A Kettering woman alleges in a lawsuit that she was fired for voting for President Obama, a charge the company denies.  —  Patricia Kunkle is seeking in excess of $25,000 from Dayton-based defense contractor Q-Mark …

The future of free-market healthcare  —  Over nearly a century, progressives have pressed for a national, single-payer healthcare system.  When it comes to health reform, what have conservatives stood for?  —  For far too long, conservatives have failed to coalesce around a long-term vision …

Hillary Clinton's Speaking Fee North Of $200K  —  It puts her in the stratosphere of the speaking circuit, along with her husband and Arnold Schwarzenegger.  —  Image by Win McNamee / Getty Images  —  WASHINGTON — Now that she's out as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton isn't going to be hurting …

The GOP star you've never heard of  —  You haven't seen a YouTube video of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam berating a constituent at a town hall meeting.  You probably haven't watched him on Fox News.  In fact, if you search the headlines for his name, you're just as likely to turn up coverage of his brother …

Jackson Jr. faces 47-57 months in prison  —  Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday morning to charges stemming from the misuse of campaign funds.  —  “Sir, for years I lived off my campaign,” Jackson told the judge.  “I used money I shouldn't have used for personal purposes.”