BET Wire: Oprah Gives Cory Booker the Thumbs Up

Republicans accuse Eric Holder of being "deceptive."

In Case You Missed It - Republicans leave President Obama scratching his head; Ben Carson kind of blames the spread of measles on immigrants; one lawmaker thinks it's OK if your food service worker doesn't wash his hands after a bathroom break — and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)

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In Case You Missed It - Oprah endorses Cory Booker; President Obama offers Republicans a grand fiscal bargain; Harry Belafonte and Jay Z are feuding; and more. — Joyce Jones

Oprah Endorses Booker - "Cory Booker is a genius," Oprah Winfrey wrote in Time magazine in 2011. So, it's no surprise that she is backing the Newark mayor's New Jersey U.S. Senate bid and hosting a fundraiser. Booker so far is winning the money race and the polls, with $4.5 million in the bank and is leading the polls at 49 percent, ABC News reports. (photos from left: Rob Kim/Getty Images, AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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Oprah Endorses Booker - "Cory Booker is a genius," Oprah Winfrey wrote in Time magazine in 2011. So, it's no surprise that she is backing the Newark mayor's New Jersey U.S. Senate bid and hosting a fundraiser. Booker so far is winning the money race and the polls, with $4.5 million in the bank and is leading the polls at 49 percent, ABC News reports. (photos from left: Rob Kim/Getty Images, AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

A Deal Republicans Can Refuse? - During a trip to Tennessee on July 30, Obama offered Republicans a fiscal deal: a cut in corporate tax rates in exchange for investment in jobs programs. "If we're going to give businesses a better deal, we're going to give workers a better deal, too," the president said. So far, Republicans aren't warming up to the idea, but may succumb under pressure from American corporations open to tax savings that may indeed inspire them to create more jobs. (Photo: AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

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A Deal Republicans Can Refuse? - During a trip to Tennessee on July 30, Obama offered Republicans a fiscal deal: a cut in corporate tax rates in exchange for investment in jobs programs. "If we're going to give businesses a better deal, we're going to give workers a better deal, too," the president said. So far, Republicans aren't warming up to the idea, but may succumb under pressure from American corporations open to tax savings that may indeed inspire them to create more jobs. (Photo: AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Sticks and Stones - The House Judiciary Committee released a report on July 31 that accuses Attorney General Eric Holder of giving “deceptive and misleading testimony” and of trying to “circumvent proper congressional oversight and accountability by distorting the truth about the Justice Department’s investigative techniques targeting journalists.” A Justice Department spokesman called the report "purely partisan," Politico reports. Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

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Sticks and Stones - The House Judiciary Committee released a report on July 31 that accuses Attorney General Eric Holder of giving “deceptive and misleading testimony” and of trying to “circumvent proper congressional oversight and accountability by distorting the truth about the Justice Department’s investigative techniques targeting journalists.” A Justice Department spokesman called the report "purely partisan," Politico reports. Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

What's Up, Hillary Clinton? - Former first lady, senator and secretary of state Hillary Clinton had the Beltway and beyond abuzz after a Monday lunch with Obama and breakfast on Tuesday with Vice President Biden. Did she declare her 2016 intentions or not? Washington insiders want to know.   (Photo: Chuck Kennedy/White House via Getty Images) 

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What's Up, Hillary Clinton? - Former first lady, senator and secretary of state Hillary Clinton had the Beltway and beyond abuzz after a Monday lunch with Obama and breakfast on Tuesday with Vice President Biden. Did she declare her 2016 intentions or not? Washington insiders want to know.   (Photo: Chuck Kennedy/White House via Getty Images) 

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Silly Rabbits! - Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tennessee) decried as "silly" efforts by some members of his party to block government funding unless Obamacare is defunded. "What people are really saying who are behind that effort is we don't have the courage to roll up our sleeves and deal with real deficit and spending decisions. We want to take ourselves out of the debate and act like we're being principled to the American people." (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Silly Rabbits! - Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tennessee) decried as "silly" efforts by some members of his party to block government funding unless Obamacare is defunded. "What people are really saying who are behind that effort is we don't have the courage to roll up our sleeves and deal with real deficit and spending decisions. We want to take ourselves out of the debate and act like we're being principled to the American people." (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Belafonte vs. Jay Z - Harry Belafonte is feuding with Jay Z over the lack of political participation by entertainers like the hip hop mogul  and his wife, Beyoncé. "You’re this civil rights activist and you just big’d up the white guy against me in the white media," Jay Z responded.  (Photos from left: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images, Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

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Belafonte vs. Jay Z - Harry Belafonte is feuding with Jay Z over the lack of political participation by entertainers like the hip hop mogul  and his wife, Beyoncé. "You’re this civil rights activist and you just big’d up the white guy against me in the white media," Jay Z responded.  (Photos from left: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images, Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Photo By Photos from left: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Rally Round the Troops - Obama made a rare trip to the Capitol to meet with Senate and House Democrats on July 31. The primary goal of the visit was to ensure that lawmakers and the White House are on the same page going into the August recess. Their ability to resonate a unified and convincing message to the voters will be key to enacting key legislation, like immigration reform and, oh yeah, a federal budget. (Photo: AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Rally Round the Troops - Obama made a rare trip to the Capitol to meet with Senate and House Democrats on July 31. The primary goal of the visit was to ensure that lawmakers and the White House are on the same page going into the August recess. Their ability to resonate a unified and convincing message to the voters will be key to enacting key legislation, like immigration reform and, oh yeah, a federal budget. (Photo: AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Fighting Words - Florida has been under a microscope since the George Zimmerman verdict with entertainers and others threatening to boycott the state. During a recent visit, civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr. called the Sunshine State the “Selma of our time” and “the Apartheid State.” Gov. Rick Scott is not happy. "Jesse Jackson owes every Floridian an apology for his reckless and divisive comments,” he said in a statement on July 31. (Photo: Angel Valentin/Getty Images)

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Fighting Words - Florida has been under a microscope since the George Zimmerman verdict with entertainers and others threatening to boycott the state. During a recent visit, civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson Jr. called the Sunshine State the “Selma of our time” and “the Apartheid State.” Gov. Rick Scott is not happy. "Jesse Jackson owes every Floridian an apology for his reckless and divisive comments,” he said in a statement on July 31. (Photo: Angel Valentin/Getty Images)

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Close Call - Johnny DuPree, mayor of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, won re-election by a mere 37 votes. His opponent says he is the one who won the most legal votes and filed a lawsuit that has ended in a mistrial, leaving DuPree in office for a fourth term. "They tried to take it away from us, but they didn't," one of his supporters said after the judge's decision. (Photo: AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Photo By AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

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Jimmy McMillan Supports Weiner - Jimmy McMillan, known for his colorful description of rents in New York, has endorsed sexter Anthony Wiener for New York City mayor. "Jimmy McMillan officially endorses Anthony Weiner in the Sept 10 Democratic Primaries! " he announced on Twitter. (Photos from left: Audrey C. Tiernan-Pool/Getty Images, Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

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Jimmy McMillan Supports Weiner - Jimmy McMillan, known for his colorful description of rents in New York, has endorsed sexter Anthony Wiener for New York City mayor. "Jimmy McMillan officially endorses Anthony Weiner in the Sept 10 Democratic Primaries! " he announced on Twitter. (Photos from left: Audrey C. Tiernan-Pool/Getty Images, Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Not Feeling Sen. Sarah Palin - If a Senate primary was held in Alaska today, former governor and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin would lose. In a matchup between her and Sen. Mark Begich, Begich leads 52-40 percent, Politico reports. In addition, 58 percent of voters in Alaska have an unfavorable opinion of Palin. (Photo: Pete Marovich/Getty Images)

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Not Feeling Sen. Sarah Palin - If a Senate primary was held in Alaska today, former governor and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin would lose. In a matchup between her and Sen. Mark Begich, Begich leads 52-40 percent, Politico reports. In addition, 58 percent of voters in Alaska have an unfavorable opinion of Palin. (Photo: Pete Marovich/Getty Images)