NutriSystem

No deal for Doles on diet plan

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 05 May 2009 10:10:09 -0400

Pepsi and Viagra: Yes. NutriSystem: No.

Former Sen. Bob Dole may have endorsed a soft drink and a prescription drug, but he and his wife Elizabeth are not hawking a diet plan.

Mrs. Dole, a former North Carolina senator, mentioned at a lecture Sunday that the couple was going on the NutriSystem diet plan, which has had former NFL coach Don Shula and Go-Go's lead singer Belinda Carlisle as celebrity spokespeople.

But a representative of NutriSystem said the Doles are not getting paid.

"NutriSystem doesn't have any plans to sign them up as spokespeople, but we're thrilled that they're going on the program," spokeswoman Regan Preston told Dome.

Did Dole pick Democratic diet plan?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:32:55 -0400

Former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole may want to rethink her new diet.

At a lecture in Kansas Sunday, the former North Carolina senator said that she and her husband Bob would be starting the NutriSystem diet.

Until recently, at least, the diet planners have leaned Democratic, according to a search of data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics.

The company's top officers have donated $10,650 to Democratic candidates, including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John Kerry as well as Pennsylvania Congressmen Joe Sestak and Patrick Murphy.

Between 2006 and 2008, former chief executive officer Mike Hagan, former vice president Bryan Janeczko and former chief financial officer James Brown gave between $250 and $2,300. Hagan also donated $1,000 to the International Franchise Association, an industry group.

Current CFO David Clark, meantime, gave $500 to the Republican National Committee.

No donations could be found for the other current executives.

E. Dole remembers Jack Kemp

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 04 May 2009 10:25:51 -0400

Former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole remembered Jack Kemp Sunday.

Speaking with her husband Bob at a lecture at the University of Kansas, Dole told a crowd of between 500 and 1,000 students that the former Congressman was full of energy and enthusiasm when he helped her campaign in North Carolina.

"Jack believed in what he was doing with all his heart," she said, according to the Topeka Capital Journal. "He will be truly missed."

Kemp, a former Congressman who was Bob Dole's vice presidential pick, died of cancer Saturday. In October, he campaigned on a bus tour for Elizabeth Dole's re-election with Sen. Richard Burr in five mountain counties.

She also said she was disappointed with Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter's decision to switch parties and with the recent tone in Washington.

"In recent years, it's become much more raucous," she said, according to KTKA TV. "You feel like it's almost combat now. I do think we have to work hard at getting that civility back."

Dole added that she and her husband also plan to go on the NutriSystem diet plan.