Breaking News, Entertainment, Opinions, Nightclubs at the Socialite Report

Obama campaign denies women in Muslim scarves to appear with candidate

2008-06-19T03:44:32Z

POLITICAL REPORT A young Muslim woman claims she and another woman were refused seats directly behind Barack Obama and in front of TV cameras at a Michigan rally where Al Gore endorsed the Illinois Senator. Hebba Aref says she and Shimaa Abdelfadeel were told the could not sit behind the podium where Obama was speaking because they were wearing head scarves. Aref and Abdelfadeel were two of 20,000 people at the rally, and both were a member of groups invited to appear behind Obama as he spoke. The catch is that those wearing the traditional head scarves were told they were not invited despite the fact that the rest of their group was. Is Obama's campaign worried he'll look too Muslim?

Thousands pay their respects to Tim Russert

2008-06-18T21:09:32Z

NEWS REPORT Thousands of people ranging from the President to everyday people came out to pay their respects to veteran newsman Tim Russert. Several generations of politicians are also gathered on Thursday at the Kennedy Center to remember Russert's life. That event was invitation only, yet hundreds still attended. Russert died over the weekend from a heart attack. He was the moderator of "Meet the Press" and the Washington Bureau Chief for NBC News. Tim Russert passed away at only 58 years.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to appear together for first time

2008-06-18T03:57:22Z

POLITICAL REPORT Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will appear together for the first time next week in Washington. This is the first time that the two former rivals will come appear side-by-side since Clinton suspended her campaign for the presidency. The event is intended to send out a message to Clinton's donors that they should start sending their money to the Obama camp. Most of the money raised at this event next week in D.C. will go in the Obama bank account, but this is evidently just the beginning to joint fund raising efforts to help boost Obama's funding and pay off Clinton's debt.

Are Kendra's days at the Playboy Mansion numbered?

2008-06-17T04:34:32Z

ENTERTAINMENT REPORT This is something I've been telling you for almost a year now, but TMZ is reporting now so it must be true - right? The shit is about to hit the fan at the Playboy mansion. Holly and Kendra are evidently about to come head to head. As I've told you, Holly hates Kendra. The other girlfriend, Bridget, is evidently compliant to Hugh Hefner's rules that Holly seems to enforce. But when it comes to Kendra, she won't fall into order. Since Holly shares a bed with Hef, he sees things through her view TMZ also says the mansion staff hates Kendra and wants her out. I'd say she'll get the boot soon.

Watch Al Gore's entire endorsement for Barack Obama here

2008-06-17T04:28:17Z

POLITICAL REPORT Al Gore is back on the campaign trail, and as expected he's stumping for the Democratic nominee - Barack Obama. Gore called Obama a "young leader." The former Vice-President also said he wants a president who knows "we are not a red state America or a blue state America, we are the United States of America." "We have such a leader," said Gore. "Ladies and gentlemen, the next president of the United States -- Barack Obama!"

Watch Al Gore's entire endorsement for Barack Obama here

2008-06-17T04:28:17Z

Luke Russert remembers his father on "Today"

2008-06-16T23:54:19Z

Tim Russert's son Luke appeared on the Today Show this morning to remember his dad. Russert's impact on the news industry has definitely been demonstrated by the outcry of grieving and remembrance by his colleagues and competitors alike. The funeral and memorial service for Tim Russert will take place on Wednesday, June 18 at 4pm in Washington's Kennedy Center. The funeral services will be closed to the public, but will be televised by MSNBC.

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe's divorce is final!

2008-06-14T16:36:24Z

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe are officially divorced. Reese and Ryan called it quits in 2006, after rumors of an affair between Phillippe and his "Stop-Loss" co-star, Abbie Cornish. Phillipe called his split from Witherspoon "the worst time of his life," but it seems that Ryan has moved on with the very woman who likely broke up his marriage. Two years after denying he was dating Cornish, Ryan has finally admitted that the duo are an item. Think Reese will marry Jake Gyllehaal now?

Prisoners escape from Afghanistan jail after Taliban bombing

2008-06-14T13:27:02Z

About 870 prisoners escaped from the main prison in southern Afghanistan after a Taliban bomb and rocket attack knocked the main gate off the prison. Authorities said 390 Taliban prisoners were among those who fled the prison during the attack late Friday. "We admit it," Brig. Gen. Carlos Branco said. "Their guys did the job properly in that sense, but it does not have a strategic impact. We should not draw any conclusion about the deterioration of the military operations in the area. We should not draw any conclusion about the strength of the Taliban." The complex attack included a truck bombing at the main gate, a suicide bomber who struck a back wall and rockets fired from inside the prison courtyard, setting off a series of explosions that rattled Kandahar, the country's second biggest city.

Remembering journalist and leader Tim Russert

2008-06-14T02:42:33Z

As a journalism student, I always dreamed of being where Tim Russert was. Who knew that I would end writing a crappy gossip blog, but you know... Then when working for a CBS affiliate in Knoxville, Tennessee I watched Tim write "Florida, Florida, Florida" on that small white board over on NBC as Dan Rather was comparing George Bush to a tornado in a trailer park. I remember wishing I was on their network, lol! The point is, that Tim Russert has touched so many people. He was not just a journalist, he was a father and he was hard working American. He is the type of person that you want your kids to grow and be like. On this day, we should remember all that Tim Russert has accomplished. In addition to his work at NBC News Time Magazine named him one 2008's most influential people. Russert won numerous awards and was also the author of two bestselling books. He is survived by his wife, Vanity Fair writer Maureen Orth, and their son, Luke. His father "Big Russ" lives in Buffalo. He is in his late 80's.

RIP sportscaster Charlie Jones. He was 77.

2008-06-13T22:30:35Z

MORE MOURNING. Another broadcasting legend has died. Charlie Jones, the deep-voiced sportscaster whose career as a play-by-play announcer spanned 38 years for ABC and NBC, has died. He was 77. Jones died of a heart attack Thursday at his home in the La Jolla district of San Diego. NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol called Charlie "one of the great pioneers of NBC Sports. His work in particular on the NFL, golf and the Olympics left a lasting legacy." NBC also lost Washington Bureau Chief and "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert.

BREAKING: NBC's Tim Russert suddenly dies at 58

2008-06-13T19:55:49Z

BREAKING NEWS. NBC News is reporting that their Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert has suddenly died. Russert, the host of "Meet the Press," evidently died of a heart attack. We don't have a lot of details on Tim's death, but he was definitely a well respected journalist known for his unconventional "dumbed down" news reporting style. He was 58 years old. Timothy John Russert Jr. was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 7, 1950. He was a graduate of Canisius High School, John Carroll University and the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Russert was a member of the bar in New York and the District of Columbia.

Another Vick in trouble with the law, this time little brother Marcus

2008-06-13T19:36:00Z

Being stupid and causing trouble must run in the Vick family. Dog-killer Michael Vick's younger brother Marcus is a jail bird too! Marcus Vick was picked up early Friday morning and charge with driving under the influence and eluding police. Lil' Vick signed as a free agent receiver with the Miami Dolphins after a troubled career at Virginia Tech. He was released by the Dolphins in 2007. Again, just like his loser brother Michael. Cops say an uniformed bicycle patrol officer saw Marcus and a female involved in an altercation in a car. The officer asked if the couple needed his assistance, then he asked Vick for his driver's license. Police say Vick then sped away, but was stopped minutes later. Marcus failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DUI, misdemeanor eluding police, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the road and driving on a suspended license. The passenger, Delicia Cordon of Miami, Fla., was charged with being drunk in public. Vick was released from jail at 6 a.m. Friday on $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court Monday. Oh and by the way, these could be the worst two mug shots EVER!

Electricity restored in Washington, DC after morning power outages

2008-06-13T15:56:23Z

The lights are back on in downtown Washington, DC after a Friday morning power outage. "Basically, we've got everybody restored," Pepco spokesman Robert Dobkin said. A huge power outage and subway fire left parts of DC in the dark causing problems during the morning commute. Due to the subway fire, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority riders could experience delays of up to one hour. The White House was even running on back-up generators, but the Department of Homeland Security said there was no threat of terrorism. Pepco and WMATA said they did not know if the power outage and the fire were related.

"The Weiner Bill" will bring more models to the US

2008-06-13T03:11:54Z

Believe it or not, New York Congressman (and probably the next Mayor) of New York City Anthony Weiner wants to get more international super models to the US. "From Fashion Week to our vibrant publishing industry to the many designers that call New York City home, fashion is a vital part of our economy that drives thousands of jobs," Weiner told the New York Daily News. And Gov. Spitzer paid for his ladies... Right now, International models have to compete for a H-1B visa. They're going up against everything from computer programmers to doctors. The News says only about 349 slots go to models out of the 85,000 available. Hit it Weiner!