DAY’S END ROUNDUP

The Clintons’ newly released tax returns, John McCain’s Martin Luther King speech, Clinton adviser Mark Penn’s side job meeting with Colombia’s ambassador, and a new Absolut ad suggesting the U.S. cede half its territory to Mexico led the conversation Friday afternoon.

As the Clintons released their tax returns this afternoon, bloggers were quick to react. Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey noted that $20 million remain unaccounted for and was skeptical of the timing of the release — on a Friday afternoon, on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination, with media otherwise occupied. The Weekly Standard’s Michael Goldfarb was thankful Clinton is not a Republican: if she had “cash[ed] in” on her government service after leaving office as Republicans do, she would have a much larger war chest. The Huffington Post gives details of Clinton’s seven-year, $109.2 million earnings, and notes that questions about her tax returns have dogged her throughout the campaign.

McCain received heavy boos mixed with shouts of “we forgive you” and “we all make mistakes” when he said today in Memphis he was wrong to vote against a national MLK holiday. Open Left’s Matt Stoller said McCain flip-flopped on “pandering to racists,” while RedState’s Erick argued with Stoller, claiming the crowd did not heckle McCain. Kos ran an interview in which McCain said he learned about King’s signifigance after his initial vote. Kos doubts McCain on this, pointing out McCain was 32 when King was shot.

The American Prospect’s Ezra Klein called for senior Clinton adviser Mark Penn’s resignation this afternoon. Penn has liberal bloggers hot after it was revealed that he met with Colombia’s ambassador to the U.S. to discuss a free trade deal. President Bush has pushed Congress to approve his free trade agreement with Colombia over the protests of unions. Daily Kos’ Devilstower accused Penn, who apologized today, of being deceitful, and The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder doubts Penn actually authored the apology.

Finally, bloggers were fascinated today by an Absolut Vodka ad running in Mexico. The ad shows a map in which Mexico’s border extends to include most of the Western U.S., and the tagline reads: “In an Absolut World.” Michelle Malkin calls the ad “absolut arrogance,” and wonders if a map of the Middle East without Israel is next. The Minority Report’s Steven Foley asks if Absolut thought Americans wouldn’t see the ad.

FROM THE BLOGS:
The McCain Girl(s) Strikes Back – David All, TechRepublican.com
Rosen: U.S. occupation ‘imperialist’ – Satyam, Think Progress
McCain Finally Yields to the Service – Marc Ambinder, The Atlantic
Michigan Primary Most Sincerely Dead – Ariel Alexovich, The Caucus
Colombia FTA Gains Allies – Steven Foley, The Minority Report
Hypocrite Mark Penn Talks Trade – Sara K. Smith, Wonkette
The Rove Biography Tour – Matthew Yglesais, The Atlantic
Clinton Releases Tax Returns – Chris Cillizza, The Fix
Who Is Lying about the Yoo Memo? – Christy Hardin Smith, Firedoglake
Don’t Overestimate Anti-Romney Sentiment – Matt Lewis, Townhall.com

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
McConnell Opponent Goes on the Air – Sam Youngman, The Hill
Job Losses Mount, Recession Feared – Joanne Morrison, Reuters
Congressional Democrats Warn Petraeus – Dan Robinson, Voice of America