By DAN K. THOMASSON, Scripps Howard News Service

The current flap over mandating birth control services to employees of institutions owned or run by the Catholic Church is yet another example of mistakes brought on by political tone deafness in the White House and by President Barack Obama's decision to turn over the crafting of the giant health care reform package to Congress.

WASHINGTON - Who is in charge of the nation's public schools, Dumb or Dumber? Whoever they may be, there seems to be an enormous disconnect between the words "common" and "sense." They may be common, but there is little evidence of sense at times.

Talk about closing the barn door after the animals have fled. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure has hired a big-time public relations firm to improve its now-tattered image among millions of American women.

WASHINGTON - Everyone knows there is cheating in colleges. Now it turns out some of the institutions themselves cheat. Well, well, imagine that. Who would have thunk it?

WASHINGTON - Just when you think you've heard it all, someone reports that the price of the best seat at the Super Bowl -- row one on the 50-yard line of Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium -- is a cool $17,048.

WASHINGTON - Leaks are a fact of life in Washington, and while every presidential administration since the earliest days of the republic has sought to prevent them, no one has succeeded. But President Barack Obama seems determined to try -- even in the face of mounting criticism from civil libertarians.

WASHINGTON - Newt Gingrich was well on his way to reversing his downward trend in the race for the Republican nomination before the moderator of the last debate in South Carolina asked him the question that may have put the finishing touches on his stunning 13-point victory.

WASHINGTON - When I first met the editor of the international German press service DPA, I was startled that this dapper, erudite man spoke perfect English but with an unmistakable Deep South accent. How did this occur?

Have you ever tried putting toothpaste back in the tube? Of course, you haven't. It can't be done. But that is exactly what the Federal Communications Commission is trying to do by arguing its continued right to censor and fine broadcast television on standards that date to early in the last century.

WASHINGTON - Whatever the founding fathers had in mind about the advise and consent function of the Senate besides a reasonable check on the power of the presidency, it's a good bet they didn't mean for it to unreasonably deny the executive branch the right to carry out the nation's business.