Democratic congresswoman Linda Sanchez (Calif.) hopes the controversial new film "Bully" will raise awareness about bullying in schools across the country.

Sanchez is a sponsor for the "Safe Schools Improvement Act", bi-partisan legislation designed to prevent students from being bullied and harassed. The legislation would ban bullying, collect information on harassment, and provide technical assistance to school districts. Sanchez also introduced the "Put School Counselors where They're Needed Act" which creates additional funding for secondary counselors in troubled schools, in an effort to reduce drop out rates.

"Bully" chronicles the lives of several children being bullying in school. But it's not the subject matter causing a stir, it is the rating. The film received an "R" rating by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) because explicit language is used multiple times.

Critics feel the "R" rating will prevent a lot of kids from seeing what they feel is an important movie. (read more)

'Tis the season to spread merriment and Newt Gingrich and his wife Callista are doing that on TV in Iowa.

Friday, Gingrich will begin airing a Christmas ad that includes a holiday message. The ad will replace all other campaign ads airing in Iowa. The message of thanks and prayer is another attempt to keep with Gingrich's positive campaign pledge.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

 Tuesday morning on Dan Kennedy's radio show on WOC in Davenport, Iowa Gingrich called in to talk about his campaign strategy. He said, "We are releasing today a Merry Christmas ad, in which Callista and I wish everybody around Iowa a Merry Christmas and about the importance of our faith and the importance of celebrating Christmas."

Gingrich continued by saying Iowans have a choice, "You want some guy who runs vicious negative ads Christmas week you've got some candidates. You want somebody who is actually positive and wants you to have a Merry Christmas you've got Newt Gingrich."

Gingrich called negative ads other campaigns are airing in Iowa "absurd," adding that, "a lot of these ads are just plan not true." (read more)

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft gave some advice to Washington politicians on negotiating when he spoke at a press conference announcing the end of the NFL lockout on Monday.

"I hope we gave a little lesson to the people in Washington because the debt crisis is lot easier to fix than this deal was," said Kraft said after announcing NFL owners and players had agreed to end their labor standoff.

Demaurice Smith, Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association, tried to subdue Kraft's political tackle. "Robert probably got us in trouble with the White House, I'm sure," Smith said.

After months of negotiations, the National Football League Players Association and NFL team owners agreed on a ten year collective bargaining agreement.

Meanwhile the wrangling over the debt crisis continues in Washington as NFL players get ready to head to training camp. (read more)

Is President Obama also a Supreme Court justice? Does he wear a black robe in the West Wing? Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., thinks so.

An unofficial dispute broke out Wednesday between President Obama and the GOP presidential candidate.

Stumping in Charleston, South Carolina, Bachmann passionately spoke of defending the constitution saying it's a ‘magnificent political document.' She then quickly pointed out that Obama would not uphold the law of the land as it pertains to the Defense of Marriage Act. The administration stopped defending court challenges to the law when Attorney General Eric Holder advised he believes it is unconstitutional.

"Well, Mr. President take off that Supreme Court robe," she told the crowd. "You are not the Supreme Court. You don't get to decide if a law is constitutional or not."

Later Wednesday at a presidential press conference in the East Room of the White House, the second question, asked by NBC's Chuck Todd, was a ‘hodge-podge question,' according to Obama, that sought answers on an array of legal issues.

"Do you believe the War Powers Act is constitutional? Do you believe that the debt limit is constitutional, the idea that Congress can do this? And do you believe that marriage is a civil right?," Todd asked. (read more)

Freshman Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is concerned about the future of Medicare, so he's standing behind House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan and calling on Democrats to stop using the issue as a political weapon.

"It's the only plan that saves Medicare, that doesn't hurt seniors currently on the plan and doesn't hurt economic growth by raising taxes " Rubio told Fox News Thursday.

Rubio says people don't have to like the Ryan plan, but if that's the case they need to come up with another suggestion. He doubts that will happen and implored Republicans and Democrats to work together. "Washington is full of people who don't have a plan... I think Medicare deserves that sort of attention that strategy where both parties can put aside differences and work together."

Rubio also says President Obama needs to lead on the Medicare issue. "How can you sit there as president of the United States, in charge of this country, and say there's a major program like Medicare, that's this important, and I'm going to criticize and demonize and lie about Paul Ryan's plan but I not gonna offer one of my own. Where is President Obama's plan on Medicare?"

Residents of the Sunshine State do not have to worry, at least for now, about losing Rubio the presidential race.

"I'm not running for president in 2012," Sen. Rubio definitively said.

"I wish Dr. King was here."

That was the thought going through the mind of Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., while waiting to receive his Medal of Freedom from President Obama in the East Room of the White House.

Lewis, spoke to reporters in the White House Briefing Room still wearing his medal with a cobalt blue ribbon. He humbly described the day.

"It's a special honor," Lewis said. "I feel more than lucky; very blessed to receive this medal this honor from the first African American president."

The Medal of Freedom is America's highest civilian honor.

The Georgia congressman said in his mind, he accepted the medals of countless individuals who were also a part of the Civil Rights Movement.

"Those that started on the journey. Those that were beaten, arrested and jailed. Those that died along the way that are not here," he said. (read more)

"The Rent is Too Damn High" party member and New York gubernatorial candidate Jimmy McMillan, just had his 15 minutes of fame extended...again. He's now getting his own action figure.

McMillan is one of the more memorable political characters of the 2010 midterm election cycle with his unforgettable beard, which just might have been a deciding trait to get him his own mini-toy figurine.

Herobuilders.com is marketing McMillan's action figure which will sell for about 50 bucks. According the website, there are two dolls available. The talking doll, which has McMillan saying his signature phrase "Rent is too Damn High," is available to purchase online for $49.95. There's also just a silent Jimmy McMillan doll available for $39.95.

He's not the first political figure to be turned into an action figure. The company has also produced popular figures like President Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and Sarah Palin.

And if the action figure isn't even enough, McMillan's album will be released on Election Day. According to McMillan's website, you can purchase the album on iTunes.

McMillan first hit the national spotlight after appearing in the New York governor's debate where he proudly announced that he represented the "Rent is Too Damn High Party." (read more)

The latest poll from Florida shows Republican Marco Rubio leading in his three way race to represent the Sunshine State in the United States Senate. Rubio was on Fox News Monday and told Bill Hemmer why he thinks lawmakers in Washington are making it harder for private sector employers to create jobs. He thinks what the country needs is a ‘level of certainty' in the tax code. Rubio also claims that he is the only candidate who will stand up against President Obama.

It's not just a Republican primary election race in Alaska, it's the "Continental Army versus the British." That's what former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee said Wednesday morning on "Fox & Friends" when he weighed in on the still-undetermined, and surprisingly tight, Senate race. (read more)