The Right's ‘Duck Dynasty’ Hypocrisy  —  By Dean ObeidallahDecember 19th 201312:00 PM  —  Conservatives think people should be held responsible for their actions—until one of their own, like Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson, has to pay a price for their hateful views.

Meet Ethan Krupp: Pajamacare boy and Organizing for Action employee  —  BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL OPINION OBAMACARE ORGANIZING FOR ACTION  —  This is the Obamacare Pajama boy in the latest Organizing for Action ad.  —  Pajamacare boy is Ethan Krupp, an Organizing for Action employee and the subject …

Most Republicans Plan Early Christmas Exit After Defense Vote  —  The Senate will vote through the weekend on pending nominations that Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., would like to see completed before Christmas — just don't expect most Republicans to be there for it.

Senate Dems Defy Obama on Iran  —  Despite the president's pleas, key Democrats to side with GOP on sanctions bill.  —  A bipartisan group of senators will soon introduce legislation that would level new sanctions against Iran, defying pleas from President Obama for Congress to wait …

Obama Commutes Sentences for 8 in Crack Cocaine Cases  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama, expanding his push to curtail severe penalties for drug offenses, on Thursday commuted the sentences of eight federal inmates who were convicted of crack cocaine offenses.

Target Confirms Unauthorized Access to Payment Card Data in U.S. Stores  —  Issue has been identified and resolved  —  Target today confirmed it is aware of unauthorized access to payment card data that may have impacted certain guests making credit and debit card purchases in its U.S. stores.

Hack list No. 1: Mike Allen  —  Our annual list is here!  This time, we channeled each hack's unique voice — and let them “write” their own entries  —  PAYOLA-BOOK: No professional blowback for sponsor-fluffing Mike Allen — LEIBO on ALLEN: ‘enabler’ — Business lobby agenda pushed daily …

Take This Town and Shove It  —  A White House reporter's tale of sex, booze and the briefing room.  —  If you write about American politics for a living, stop right there.  Get back to work, and don't read another damn word.  —  Sign out of Twitter, say “thanks but no thanks” …

Peter King Slams Paul For Attacking Clapper: ‘He Disgraced His Office’  —  Rep. Peter King (R-NY) blasted Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on Thursday for comparing National Security Agency Director James Clapper to Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who leaked classified information about America's surveillance programs.

Marriage Equality Is The Law In New Mexico, State Supreme Court Rules  —  “We hold that the state of New Mexico is constitutionally required to allow same-gender couples to marry,” the justices unanimously concluded.  The state becomes the 17th in the U.S. to approve marriage equality.

The Welfare Queen  —  Ronald Reagan made Linda Taylor a notorious American villain.  Her other sins were far worse.  —  “She Used 80 Names”  —  Ronald Reagan loved to tell stories.  When he ran for president in 1976, many of Reagan's anecdotes converged on a single point: The welfare state is broken, and I'm the man to fix it.

Brian Boitano announces he's gay before trip to Sochi  —  Brian Boitano, the 1988 Olympic figure skating gold medalist who was named to the official U.S. delegation to the 2014 Sochi Olympics, announced today that he is gay.  —  “I am many things: a son, a brother, and uncle, a friend …

Bob Newhart bows out of gig with anti-LGBT organization  —  Bob Newhart, the beloved actor and comedian, quietly announced over social media that he has cancelled his upcoming gig at the Legatus Summit.  This follows GLAAD and several LGBT advocates and bloggers, including Lisa Derrick of Firedog Lake …