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No local news about 2009 MDA telethon.

Despite the effects of an uncertain economy, contributions and pledges to the 44th annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon over Labor Day nonetheless totaled $60,481,231 million. MDA National Chairman and Telethon star Jerry Lewis said he was impressed by the show of support from Telethon viewers even during hard times. "These are very special people, and their money comes straight from the heart," Lewis said. "Right now, the only thing I can think of to say, other than thank you, thank you is, 'love conquers all.' So many people, everywhere, even with cares of their own, dug deep to show their...

TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 27, 2009 – Fire up the barbies, and the flat screen TVs and join comedy legend Jerry Lewis for his 44th annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon this Labor Day weekend, Sept. 6-7. “I’m determined to keep fighting for a cure for muscular dystrophy because my kids deserve to live long and healthy lives,” said Lewis, MDA’s national chairman and Telethon star.

Gitmo vote proves a doozy for Dems @ 6:16 pm by Aaron Blake House Democrats have just taken one of their most difficult votes of the election cycle. And if you don't believe it, check out the roll call. The 213-212 vote against today's amendment from Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) seeking to stop funding the closing of Guantanamo Bay prison split Democrats in a painful way. In all, 39 Democrats voted with Republicans, and with just two exceptions, they are either Blue Dogs, vulnerable or eyeing higher office. A couple key notes: * The close nature of the vote cost...

House Republicans failed Thursday in their efforts to block President Obama's decision to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, but lawmakers still moved ahead with legislation that opposes the president's plans. While debating a bill to fund the Justice Department, lawmakers initially defeated an amendment by Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif. to ban the government from spending any money to close the prison by a vote of 216-212. After a rare legislative procedure triggered a recount, it was defeated again, 213-212.

Jerry Lewis & The Unforgiving Left Jerry Lewis has dedicated much of his personal and professional life to the cause of Muscular Dystrophy. Decade after decade with his yearly telethon and other works Lewis has been a one man show in keeping this awful disease in the public consciousness. And yet some on the Left, because in their diseased minds a half-century of charity work is wiped out by the uttering of “fag,” want to deny Lewis the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: I also have learned that protests are coming into the Academy about its Board of Governors’ choice of...

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Jerry Lewis made an anti-gay slur on Australian television similar to one he apologized for using on his annual telethon a year ago. Following a news conference in Sydney Friday, Lewis, 82, was asked by a Network Ten national TV reporter for his opinion on the Australian nation sport of cricket. "Oh, cricket? It's a f-- game. What are you, nuts?" Lewis replied. The network broadcast the comment in full on its Friday evening news bulletin along with footage of Lewis handling an imaginary cricket bat with an effeminate gesture. Lewis apologized in September last year...

The nation's best insurance program will receive a lot of publicity this weekend. Jerry Lewis will conduct the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon this weekend. The Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethon has been a tradition since the first Labor Day telethon in New York City in 1966. Lewis and former comedy partner Dean Martin had previously conducted a telethon in New York City in 1955, but it wasn't on Labor Day. Jerry Lewis and all the other performers donate their services and receive no payment. Most people don't think of MDA as being an insurance program because it doesn't charge...

LAS VEGAS - Police say they have confiscated a gun belonging to Jerry Lewis that was found in the 82-year-old entertainer's carryon bag as he prepared to fly to Detroit from Las Vegas.

US comedian Jerry Lewis apologised today for his use of an anti-gay slur during the weekend broadcast of his annual Labor Day Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The controversial remark came yesterday in the 18th hour of the live national telecast, when a visibly weary Lewis, 81, was joking on stage, pretending to introduce members of someone's family as he mugged for the camera. "Oh, your family has come to see you. You remember Bart, your oldest son, Jesse, the illiterate fag ...," Lewis said, as he apparently caught himself and ceased the gag in mid-sentence, turning on his...

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Tuesday denounced comedian Jerry Lewis' use of the word "fag" on Lewis' annual Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy and called on him to apologize. "Jerry Lewis' on-air use of this kind of anti-gay slur is simply unacceptable," GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano said in a statement posted on the group's Web site. "It also feeds a climate of hatred and intolerance that contributes to putting our community in harm's way." In the 18th hour of the 21 1/2-hour telethon Monday, Lewis -- bow tie undone and shirt collar open -- stumbled...

Sept. 4, 2007 While Jerry Lewis raised millions of dollars during his annual Labor Day telethon, he also caused a bit of controversy. During the 18th hour of the telethon to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the 81-year-old actor, riffing in front of the camera very late in the broadcast, introduced an unseen family member with a description that sounded like either "the illiterate fatty" or "the illiterate faggot." In a video clip of the incident posted on the Internet, Lewis swaggers across the stage, appearing to dodge a cameraman before making the slightly muddled statement. He then seemingly catches...

Showman Jerry Lewis sets a goal for his annual Labor Day Telethon to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association of $1 more than the previous year. He met that mark, plus almost $3 million on Monday. "We did it. We did it. I got my buck more. And more. We can go shopping," a jubilant Lewis said as the tote board topped $63.7 million for his 42nd telethon. Last year's record was $61 million. As in the past, the International Association of Fire Fighters anchored the donations from local fill-the-boot drives with $25.2 million, eclipsing last year's $23.5 million. "Whoa, whoa...

Rep. Jerry Lewis' campaign committee failed to properly report more than $276,000 in stock earnings to the Federal Election Commission last year, campaign finance records show.

Besides Doolittle, California Republicans with ethics problems are: _Rep. Jerry Lewis (news, bio, voting record), now in his 15th term and chairman of the Appropriations Committee last year when federal prosecutors in Los Angeles began investigating his ties to a lobbyist with clients in his district. _Rep. Gary Miller (news, bio, voting record), in his fifth term, who's drawn scrutiny over a tax deferral strategy he used in a profitable real estate sale to a Southern California town outside his district. _Rep. Ken Calvert (news, bio, voting record), in his eighth term, who denies any conflict over pushing federal funding...

Republican sources on Capitol Hill and in California say Rep. Jerry Lewis, ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee who has been criticized on ethical grounds, will not seek a 16th term next year. Lewis came under fire last year for pouring millions of dollars worth of earmarks into his heavily Republican southern California district. He has not apologized and vigorously defended himself behind closed doors in the House Republican Conference. Lewis is one of at least six Republican House members from California who have faced ethical scrutiny, beginning when Duke Cunningham was sent to prison. Most recently, Rep. Ken...

Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, a prodigious fundraiser who will campaign today in California, is partner in a law firm [Bracewell & Giuliani] with a generous political action committee -- one that gave nearly 40 percent of its contributions to Democrats in the 2006 midterm elections, including $5,000 to then-Democratic House leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco. Bracepac contributed to 53 Democratic candidates and 50 Republicans in the 2006 election cycle, federal records show. In California, Bracepac donations went mostly to Democrats, although the political action committee also contributed $2,500 to Pombo and $3,500 to Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands (San...

After the voters slaughtered House Republicans this past November, most people expected some period of introspection and house cleaning among the GOP. Having seen Duke Cunningham (R.-Ca.), Tom DeLay (R.-Tx), and Mark Foley (R.-Fl.) resign over various indictments and accusations, people thought the Grand Old Party had lost its way. When campaigning to become Minority Leader, John Boehner appeared to recognize this problem. In his campaign manifesto he wrote, “In 1994 we made it clear we wouldn't tolerate such activity, and showed our differences with the Democrats, by changing our rules to deny prime leadership and committee positions from any...

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said Thursday that Debra Yang's departure as U.S. attorney in Los Angeles was unrelated to her office's investigation of Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands. "From what I know, Ms. Yang's resignation was entirely voluntary. She did a wonderful job," Gonzales told a House Judiciary Committee hearing. He said that Yang had financial reasons for going to the private sector last October. Yang is not among the eight U.S. attorneys whose firings last year have turned into a controversy for the Justice Department. But Democrats have raised suspicions about Yang's case because she left while her office was...

Senate Democrats signaled Sunday that of the eight U.S. attorneys abruptly fired by the Bush administration, the case in San Diego is emerging as the most troubling because of new allegations that U.S. Attorney Carol Lam was fired in a direct attempt to shut down investigations into Republican politicians in Southern California. ...Lam spearheaded the case against Randy "Duke" Cunningham, the former Republican congressman from Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., who pleaded guilty to bribery and income-tax evasion. He was sentenced in March 2006 to eight years and four months in prison.