The Morning Read: Wednesday, September 17, 2008

The Republican Jewish Coalition is taking responsibility for a phone survey that has angered Jewish voters with questions about Barack Obama’s stance on Jewish issues.

John McCain called for a commission to investigate what happened on Wall Street; Obama called the idea a "gimmick."

After saying that Sarah Palin would not be able to run a big corporation, Carly Fiorina canceled TV interviews for the rest of the week.

Prominent Hillary Clinton supporter Lynn Forester de Rothschild is going to endorse McCain today.

The Washington Post gave Palin "four Pinnochios" because she repeatedly exaggerated Alaska's energy output.

The Alaska attorney general says state employees subpoenaed in a probe of Palin will not participate. 

Michael Bloomberg said “you can’t blame the banks” for what happened on Wall Street.

Bloomberg also said city schools made huge improvements in the last year.

Foreign diplomats told the New York Sun they were contacted by the McCain campaign to set up meetings with Palin.

Here’s more on my question to the mayor about whether the Wall Street downturn bolsters the argument in favor of extending term limits.

A lawyer for Charlie Rangel said he’s not stepping down as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

“I see no reason why Mr. Rangel should step down,” said Nancy Pelosi.

Pelosi reportedly said the decision was up to Rangel.

The New York Post editorial board wants Rangel to step down.

E.J. McManhon of the Manhattan Institute leads the push against Obama’s tax plan with an op-ed in the Daily News saying it would mean higher taxes in New York.

Jacob Gershman, citing a soon-to-be-released report from the Manhattan Institute, says New York would basically subsidize the tax breaks Obama offers.

Fred Dicker also has a story on that Manhattan Institute report.

Christine Quinn is suing the Rent Guidelines Board.

The head of the city Conflict of Interest Board supports a bill that would loosen requirements for the amount of money nonprofit board members would have to disclose.

A spokesman for Bloomberg, who introduced the bill, confirmed that the administration requested a hearing be delayed.

The Daily News editorial board favors a law that requires modest disclosures. 

Andrew Cuomo spoke to residents of Long Island last night.

Dean Skelos, who opposes same-sex marriage, attended a fund-raiser organized by gay Republicans.

Richard Brodsky said too much public money is going towards building Yankee Stadium.

The stadium “doesn’t serve” the public interest, said Brodsky.

Bloomberg is declining to send a representative to a congressional hearing on the stadium deal.

Here’s more on the story of Marty Markowitz giving money to a nonprofit he’s in charge of.

Staffers in the state comptroller’s office were called to testify before a grand jury probing the Alan Hevesi case.

And Michael Bloomberg’s soul mate still doesn’t have a budget.