Barack Obama

TPMDC Saturday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 6, 2009, 1:03PM

Obama YouTube: Health Care Must Be Fixed
In his weekly Presidential YouTube Address, President Obama discussed his proposals for health care -- and the urgency to get a new reform bill passed:

"Simply put, the status quo is broken. We cannot continue this way," said Obama. "If we do nothing, everyone's health care will be put in jeopardy. Within a decade, we'll spend one dollar out of every five we earn on health care - and we'll keep getting less for our money. That's why fixing what's wrong with our health care system is no longer a luxury we hope to achieve - it's a necessity we cannot postpone any longer."

Sessions Decries "Empathy Standard" For Judges
In this weekend's Republican YouTube, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), the lead Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, discussed the pending nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court -- and warned against an "empathy standard" in law:

"I hope that the American people will engage in this nomination process and follow it closely. They should learn about the issues, and listen to both sides of the argument. And, at the end of the day, ask: 'If I must one day go to court, what kind of judge do I want to hear my case?" said Sessions. "'Do I want a judge that allows his or her social, political, or religious views to impact the outcome? Or, do I want a judge that objectively applies the law to the facts, and fairly rules on the merits?' That is the central question around which this entire nomination process will revolve."

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Health Care

The Mark-Up, 06-05-2009

Brian Beutler | June 5, 2009, 5:19PM

TPMDC's update on the biggest legislative initiatives on the Hill:

• Health Care: House progressives responded to their Blue Dog counterparts today, sending a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (pasted below the fold) stating their strong opposition to measures that will weaken health reform efforts, including a "trigger" that would delay, or possibly eliminate, the public health insurance option.
• War Spending: House Republicans oppose the supplemental war spending bill because, as written, it will increase the spending capacity of the International Monetary Fund. Some liberal Democrats oppose it, too, because it also contains a provision that would allow the Obama administration to suppress any "photograph taken between September 11, 2001 and January 22, 2009 relating to the treatment of individuals engaged, captured, or detained after September 11, 2001, by the Armed Forces of the United States in operations outside of the United States." Taken together, that means the bill might not pass--which leaves Democratic leaders in a bit of a pickle. Either they somehow nix the IMF funding provision, or they nix the FOIA photograph exception, or they nudge their progressive members into voting for it anyhow. Looks like they've picked the latter option.

Late update: Jeffrey Young of The Hill has obtained what appears to be a draft (or a draft of a draft) the HELP committee's as yet unreleased health reform legislation (PDF). If only it were written in parseable English.

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Bay Buchanan: After Assaulting Black Woman, Calling Her 'Nigger,' Epstein Was 'Lynched'

Brian Beutler | June 5, 2009, 4:12PM

Bay Buchanan has once again responded to critics of her karate chopping employee Marcus Epstein. This time, though, she's taken it to the website of the conservative magazine Human Events.

In the piece she acknowledges both that she knew all along about Epstein's crime and that she nonetheless kept him on staff at both of the anti-immigrant organizations which she chairs--facts which she more or less conceded when I interviewed her earlier this week.

She also writes this: "What happened next was a modern day lynching by a faceless, angry, ignorant mob who reveled in the collective assault on their victim."

She's not talking about a mob of masked white karate choppers, but rather of the bloggers and reporter who picked up on the story. Not exactly the metaphor I would have chosen given the facts of the case, but ok.

"They had wounded an adversary and drawn blood -- without pausing to ask how so talented a young man could have found himself in such a mess."

The article--titled "The Internet Lynching of Marcus Epstein"--also touches on some of Epstein's more personal issues. You can read the entire piece here.

Poll: Even Conservatives Are In Favor Of Gays In The Military

Eric Kleefeld | June 5, 2009, 4:01PM

A new Gallup poll finds an overwhelming majority of Americans, 69%, in favor of allowing gays to serve openly in the military -- it's so big in fact, that even self-identified conservatives are for it.

The polling internals show 58% of conservatives in favor, plus 86% of liberals and 77% of moderates, for the overall top-line of 69%.

Back in 2004, 63% of Americans were in favor, with 83% of liberals, 72% of moderates, and 46% of conservatives.

This does invite an important question: Is a center-right country like the United States ready to have gays serving in the military?

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | June 5, 2009, 3:11PM

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Sec. of State Hillary Clinton.

• CBS, Face The Nation: David Axelrod, Senior White House Adviser; Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA).

• CNN, State Of The Union: David Axelrod, Senior White House Adviser.

• Fox News Sunday: Austan Goolsbee, member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers; Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL); Google CEO Eric Schmidt; and Fred Malek, chairman of Thayer Lodging Group and Thayer Capital Partners.

• Meet The Press will not air this weekend, due to NBC's coverage of the French Open.

James Inhofe

Inhofe: Obama Not On The Side Of Terrorists--Or Our Troops.

Brian Beutler | June 5, 2009, 2:50PM

Liz Cheney's basic line about President Obama's historic speech yesterday is that she's "troubled" that Obama thinks he can stop terrorism with "hand-holding."

Pretty harsh, right? Well, she's got nothing, though, on Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK). He called the speech, "un-American," adding, "I just don't know whose side he's on."

Curious which 'sides' Inhofe might have had in mind, I asked his communications director, Jared Young, to complete the picture a bit. According to Young, Inhofe was saying he's "kind of confused about why the President's going on foreign soil and in some cases echoing talking points from al Qaeda about Guantanamo Bay."

So is he saying he think's the President's on the side of terrorists?

"No, no, he's not saying that, no. He just certainly doesn't seem to be on the side of our men and women in uniform."

Well, I guess that clears that up.

National Review

National Review's Wise Latina Caricature Inexplicably Asian

Brian Beutler | June 5, 2009, 1:42PM

As part of a cover package called "The Wise Latina," the folks over at the conservative National Review--apparently flummoxed by the very idea of a "wise Latina"--have caricaturized the Puerto Rican-descended Sonia Sotomayor as an Asian Buddhist.

Good times.

Also featured on the cover in the current issue: "Jonah Goldberg On His Critics." That better be a long article.

Supreme Court

Poll: Public Overwhelmingly Says Sotomayor Not Racist, And Empathy Is Important

Eric Kleefeld | June 5, 2009, 1:34PM

A new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll suggests that two key right-wing talking points against Sonia Sotomayor, which they've worked hard to get into the collective public mind, have in fact...totally failed.

"Based on what you know or have heard about Sonia Sotomayor do you think she is a racist?" The numbers: Yes 8%, No 61%. Even among Republicans, the number is only Yes 19%, No 28%.

"Do you think empathy is an important characteristic for a Supreme Court Justice to possess or not?" The numbers: Yes 52%, No 29%.

Dick Cheney

Gingrich: Cheney Concentrated On National Security; Obama Read A Couple Of Left-Wing Books

Eric Kleefeld | June 5, 2009, 1:17PM

Newt Gingrich spoke last night to the Connecticut Republican Party, and made it clear just how much he trusts Dick Cheney over President Obama.

"One was chief of staff, secretary of defense and a vice president who concentrated on national security," Gingrich said to the assembled Republicans. "The other read a couple of left-wing books on the CIA."

It's an interesting description of the current President of the United States, who was also previously a U.S. Senator -- making him sound like the lefty kids you see on college campuses, carrying around copies of Noam Chomsky.

Interestingly, there was a dog that didn't bark: Gingrich didn't mention Sonia Sotomayor, against whom he's kind of, sort of, not really backed away from calling a racist.

MN-SEN

Coleman: GOP Needs To Compete On "The Ethernet"

Eric Kleefeld | June 5, 2009, 12:15PM

Former Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) spoke to a friendly conservative video-blogger yesterday at the at the Conservative Heartland Leadership Conference in St. Louis, and said Republicans need to more effectively organize around the newer modes of communication -- like the "ethernet":

"In the end, we need to compete, as I've said before, we need to compete in each and every kind of forum," said Coleman. "And whether it's on the ground traditionally, or today it's in -- it's in the ethernet. It's in the -- you know, it's online. It's in the blogs, it's Twitter, it's Facebook, and the next iteration."

Oh well. At least he's trying.

NY-SEN

Gillibrand Rolls Out Endorsements From Sharpton, Meeks

Eric Kleefeld | June 5, 2009, 11:48AM

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), who is moving to further lock up support among the Democratic base and solidify her momentum against any potential primary challengers, has just announced the endorsements of Rev. Al Sharpton and Rep. Gregory Meeks.

In the campaign's press release, Sharpton said that Gillibrand is committed to working on issues facing minority communities, and to working with President Obama -- the man who has also made one known phone call to clear the field for her.

"I was impressed that the day after being selected to replace Hillary Clinton in the Senate, she came down to the House of Justice in Harlem to hear the real concerns of the voiceless," Sharpton said. "I am proud to endorse her today because I believe she will be a strong, passionate advocate for children and families. I believe she is committed to working with President Barack Obama to create jobs and improve education for minorities in New York City and across the state."

Cap-and-Trade

Inhofe: Tell Environmentalists What I Told Barbara Boxer--'Get over it. Get a life.'

Brian Beutler | June 5, 2009, 11:21AM

Republicans tend to object whenever Democrats insist on calling the GOP "the party of 'no'," but then someone like Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) will go and say something like this and suddenly we're reminded that their grounds for objection are pretty thin.

The EPA has threatened to regulate this through the Clean Air Act. That isn't going to work in my opinion because we can stall that until we get a new president--that shouldn't be a problem. ... But while the House will pass a bill ... in the Senate, they're not going to be able to pass it.

Inhofe was speaking at the Heartland Institute's Third International Conference on Climate Change, where he was a welcomed guest. In that comfortable environment, he let loose a little. "As I've told Barbara Boxer, 'Get over it. Get a Life. You've lost. We've won," Inhofe said to laughter and applause.

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MN-SEN

Norm Doesn't Rule Out 2010 Gubernatorial Run -- Or Further Litigation On The Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | June 5, 2009, 10:48AM

Speaking to reporters yesterday at the Conservative Heartland Leadership Conference in St. Louis, Norm Coleman did not rule out a run for Governor of Minnesota in 2010, now that incumbent Republican Tim Pawlenty has announced he isn't running again. But he also seemed to leave the door open to further litigation over his former Senate seat, in the wake of reports that he was ready to throw in the towel after the state Supreme Court presumably rules against him.

"I'm still waiting to hear from the Supreme Court," said Coleman, when asked about a gubernatorial run. "Remember I just gave a speech about being focused? I'm a very focused guy, and the focus is on keeping my Senate seat."

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James Inhofe

Inhofe Attacks Obama's "Un-American" Speech -- "I Just Don't Know Whose Side He's On"

Eric Kleefeld | June 5, 2009, 10:03AM

Mark down Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) as one of the more outspoken critics of President Obama's speech yesterday in Egypt -- in fact, he told The Oklahoman the speech was "un-American" for calling the Iraq conflict a "war of choice."

Inhofe also blasted Obama for implying that torture had taken place at Guantanamo Bay: "There has never been a documented case of torture at Guantanamo."

"I just don't know whose side he's on," Inhofe added.

(Via Think Progress)

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 5, 2009, 9:00AM

Obama Calls For Increased Efforts For Two-State Solution
In a press conference earlier today, alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Obama called for the international community to increase its efforts towards a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian disputes. "I think the moment is now for us to act on what we all know to be the truth," said Obama, "which is each side is going to have to make some difficult compromises."

Obama's Day In Germany
President Obama arrived at Dresden Castle at 2:55 a.m. ET (8:55 a.m. local time), and held a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at 3 a.m. ET, then meeting with an expanded German delegation at 3:15 a.m. ET. At 4:10 a.m. ET, Obama and Merkel held a press conference, and then toured Church of Our Lady at 4:45 a.m. ET. Obama will tour Buchenwald Concentration Camp at 9:15 a.m. ET, and will then make a statement to the press at 10:05 a.m. ET. He will visit Landstuhl Regional Medical Center at 11:50 a.m. ET. He will depart from Ramstein Air base at 2:30 p.m. ET, en route to Paris, France.

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Health Care

House Blue Dogs Seek To Slow-Walk The Public Option

Brian Beutler | June 4, 2009, 6:26PM

House Blue Dogs today released a statement of principles (PDF) for what they call "responsible" health reform, specifically addressing what they view as acceptable terms of the public option.

Buried at the bottom is this caveat. "The availability of a public option would occur only as a fallback and in the absence of adequate competition and cost containment. Fundamental insurance market reforms and increased choice...should improve access and contribute to lower costs. However, should the private plans fail to meet specific availability and cost targets, a public option would be triggered and be allowed to compete on a level playing field subject to the conditions outlined above."

The trigger idea is one that's has purchase among conservative Democrats in the Senate, too. It's also an ideas that liberal Democrats call a non-starter. The gist is that the government would give insurance companies a few years to get with the program by meeting heretofore unknown cost-saving and coverage goals, and to only create a public option in the event that they miss their deadline. But triggers are often unsuccessful policy tools, and since liberals are basically running the health care show in the House, there's almost no chance that this will be written into their bill, an early version of which should be released in the next couple weeks.

It should be noted that the Blue Dogs aren't monolithic on this point. Already, Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Mike Michaud (D-ME) are distancing themselves from this statement--and several others have signaled in the past that they support a public option at the outset. But at the very least this demonstrates that there's still a considerable appetite among conservative Democrats for weakening or imperiling the public option.

Climate Change

Republican Congressman Redubs Climate Bill 'Wacky-Marxist Tax And Cap'

Brian Beutler | June 4, 2009, 5:58PM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) has a bit of a joke for you. "The Waxman-Markey Cap-and-Trade legislation is just another disguise and it's high time that we call it what it really is: a Wacky-Marxist Tax-and-Cap bill that will suffocate America's small businesses, ultimately strangling America's respiratory system."

Get it?!

The really funny part is that Broun is a doctor (as in, M.D.) so he should know that suffocation results from strangling and not the other way around. Also, that America doesn't have a respiratory system, per se.

In his press release, Broun hearkens back to the good old days when Republicans called Democrats socialists, and limited their critique of cap-and-trade legislation to the false claim--based on an intentional misreading of an M.I.T. study--that climate legislation will cost the average household thousands of dollars.

"Representative Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) exposed the truth behind the Waxman-Markey Cap-and-Trade energy tax and appropriately renamed it the Wacky-Marxist Tax and Cap bill as it will increase energy costs for each family by $3,100."

Sonia Sotomayor

Menendez Blasts GOP Leadership For Reportedly Encouraging Attacks On Sotomayor

Eric Kleefeld | June 4, 2009, 5:10PM

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, has just put out this statement on The Hill's report that the Senate GOP leadership has privately encouraged conservative activists to attack Sonia Sotomayor, at the same time as they've publicly distanced themselves from the attacks:

"This is the exact type of a Washington political game that offends Americans. When you try to appear thoughtful and open-minded in front of the cameras, but behind closed doors wink to your right-wing friends to keep up the vicious attacks, it is a strategy that is not only disingenuous, but it also does a disservice to the confirmation process. Sonia Sotomayor deserves a fair and thorough assessment by the Senate, not name-calling, and not political posturing. The American people expect nothing less."

VA-GOV

Another Poll Puts Deeds Up With Virginia Dems -- With McAuliffe In Third

Eric Kleefeld | June 4, 2009, 4:51PM

The new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll of the Virginia Democratic primary for Governor, which is behind held this coming Tuesday, confirms other surveys that have shown state Sen. Creigh Deeds rising to the top -- and that Terry McAuliffe has lost his position as the frontrunner.

The numbers: Deeds 30%, former state Del. Brian Moran 27%, and former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe 26%, within the ±5% margin of error. Two weeks ago, the Kos/R2K poll had it as McAuliffe 36%, Moran 22%, and Deeds 13%.

So what happened? McAuliffe had a big lead for quite a while, thanks in part to a big money advantage -- and on top of that, nobody who had watched him on the campaign trail for Hillary Clinton in 2008 would ever deny that he's an energetic campaigner. But in recent weeks, Moran began attacking McAuliffe's record in both politics and business, with the ultimate effect of making Deeds the biggest beneficiary in a three-way race.

NY-SEN

McCarthy Not Challenging Gillibrand In 2010 Senate Primary

Eric Kleefeld | June 4, 2009, 4:49PM

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) has announced that she is not running for Senate, which would have involved a Democratic primary challenge against the appointed incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.

It was reported earlier today that Vice President Biden called up Rep. Carolyn Maloney and asked her not to run. President Obama previously made a phone call three weeks ago to Rep. Steve Israel, who had also been gearing up to challenge Gillibrand, and talked him out of the race.

Maloney denied that Biden has pushed her out. "You don't make a decision of that magnitude," she said, "in a telephone conversation."

Late Update: An earlier version of this post confused Carolyn Maloney and Carolyn McCarthy.

VA-GOV

Virginia Dem Candidate Moran Gives His Cell Phone Number During Televised Forum

Eric Kleefeld | June 4, 2009, 3:56PM

This is an interesting moment from a forum last night for the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Virginia. Former state Del. Brian Moran said that he would not take Guantanamo detainees even if President Obama called him up -- and then he gave his own cell phone number out on TV. Check out the 42:00 mark:

Moran communications director Jesse Ferguson has confirmed to TPM that the candidate has gotten phone calls from people he does not know. "He got calls from folks who liked his performance during the forum -- it was broadcast around the state," said Ferguson. "And he actually got a lot of text messages from people, as well, saying he had their support. And those have come over the last 24 hours to that phone number."

So how many strangers have called Moran up? "When you're running for Governor of Virginia, the voters of Virginia aren't strangers," Ferguson said cheerfully. "Folks who may not have had his cell phone number prior to seeing it on network television, it's been in the dozens."

I have just called Moran on his cell phone, too, and left him a voicemail asking for further comment. And for the record, I gave him my own cell phone number, in case he wants to get back to me.

(Via Not Larry Sabato)

VA-GOV

Poll: Deeds Edging Out Terry McAuliffe In Virginia Dem Race, But Race Is Still Fluid

Eric Kleefeld | June 4, 2009, 3:24PM

A new Suffolk poll shows state Sen. Creigh Deeds with a narrow lead in this Tuesday's Democratic primary for Governor of Virginia, edging out former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe -- the former Hillary Clinton backer whose TV appearances during the 2008 primaries certainly added some flair to the campaign, and who led in all the polls until recently -- former state Del. Brian Moran.

The numbers: Deeds 29%, McAuliffe 26%, and Moran 23%, with a ±4.4% margin of error. There is no prior Suffolk poll for direct comparison.

Deeds has spent much of the primary race playing the role of the under-funded third man in the race, behind McAuliffe and Moran. But then something happened recently: Moran began aggressively attacking McAuliffe, causing Deeds to rise up in the polls.

However, the race remains fluid. From the pollster's analysis: "What makes this race even tougher to call is that when undecided voters statewide were prodded to choose one of the three candidates, many were breaking to McAuliffe and, to a lesser extent, Moran."

Sonia Sotomayor

White House: Sotomayor Delivers Anything But Race-Based Justice--So Confirm Her Quickly

Brian Beutler | June 4, 2009, 2:44PM

Accompanying the release of Sonia Sotomayor's response (read it here) to the Senate Judiciary Committee's questionnaire, White House Counsel Greg Craig argues on the White House website that she should be confirmed quickly:

In an effort to advance her nomination through the Senate as swiftly as possible, Judge Sotomayor has completed her questionnaire faster than any Supreme Court nominee in recent history - in just 9 days. For historical context, it took Chief Justice Roberts 13 days, Justice Ginsburg 15 days and Justice Alito 30 days from the time they were designated to the time they completed their questionnaires. With her record of 17 years on the bench, this historically fast completion of the exhaustive questions is no small feat that will hopefully lead to her swift consideration by the Senate and enable her to be a member of the Supreme Court by the time they begin selecting cases in September.

Without eliding statements which have made conservatives froth at the mouth, Craig also plays up those aspects of her career on the bench which highlight her impartiality--a response of sorts to critics who accuse her of meting out race-based justice.

Impartiality in Judging: Judge Sotomayor said "It is very important when you judge to recognize that you have to stay impartial. That's what the nature of my job is. I have to unhook myself from my emotional responses and try to stay within my unemotional, objective persona." [Latinos in Law: Wonderful Life, 2000]

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NY-SEN

Biden Tells Maloney To Not Challenge Gillibrand In New York Senate Primary

Eric Kleefeld | June 4, 2009, 2:29PM

The Hill reports that Vice President Biden spoke this week to Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), urging her to not run in the Democratic primary for Senate against appointed incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand.

Maloney has been widely reported to be preparing to enter the race soon.

President Obama previously made a phone call three weeks ago to Rep. Steve Israel, who had also been gearing up to run, and told him not to do it. Afterwards, Israel pulled his hat out of the ring. With Obama overseas this week, Biden appears to have picked up the slack.

Supreme Court

Judiciary Committee Recieves Answers From Sotomayor

Brian Beutler | June 4, 2009, 2:27PM

The White House has just sent the Senate Judiciary Committee a passel of documents which constitute her answers to the questionnaire the committee sent her just over a week ago.

The committee will post the documents here, but we're talking hundreds of pages, so the roll out won't be immediate. We'll look them over, when they're up--and so should you!

MN-SEN

Can Norm Coleman Still Have A Political Future?

Eric Kleefeld | June 4, 2009, 1:13PM

With the new report that Norm Coleman might actually be preparing to throw in the towel on his lawsuit against the Minnesota Senate election results, should the state Supreme Court hand down its widely-expected ruling in favor of Al Franken, let's look at the reasons why this might be. It might be coming down to one thing: The basic health and viability of any future political career that he might hope to have.

Keep in mind that Minnesota public opinion is that the race should be over -- the latest Rasmussen poll put it at 54%-41%. However, Prof. Larry Jacobs of the University of Minnesota explained to me that the opinion may have majority support right now, but it isn't felt intensely. It's not at the top of people's minds or in everyday news reports. However, that would all shift very quickly once there is a state Supreme Court ruling.

"Coleman is facing the prospect of widespread and harsh condemnation if the Supreme Court comes back decisively in Franken's favor," said Jacobs. At that point, three different bodies -- the state canvassing board, the trial court, and the state Supreme Court -- will have all ruled after lengthy proceedings that Franken is the legitimate winner.

Read more »

James Inhofe

David Hamilton Reported Out Of Judiciary Committee On Party Line Vote

Brian Beutler | June 4, 2009, 12:44PM

With all the news about President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, it's easy to forget that Obama nominated a different judge to a different court before well before Sonia Sotomayor became a household name.

Obama nominated David Hamilton to serve on the Seventh Circuit court of appeals back in March, and, thanks to a number of Republican delays, he has only today been reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on a party-line 12-7 vote.

Now Hamilton will be exposed to a bright new world of procedural measures meant to obstruct his confirmation. Back in April, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) said he would filibuster Hamilton once the committee advanced the nomination. "I had to come to the floor to speak so that the American people, who are very concerned about this nomination, will know that I and my Republican colleagues on the Judiciary Committee are taking interest and are not just going to let this nomination sail through," Inhofe said on the Senate floor. "In fact I will filibuster David Hamilton."

That's the same James Inhofe who once called judicial filibusters 'unconstitutional.'

(Incidentally, Hamilton is the brother-in-law of Dawn Johnsen--another Obama nominee who's struggling to get confirmed by the Senate.)

NJ-GOV

Poll: Dem NJ Gov. Corzine Trails GOP's Christie By Double-Digit Margin

Eric Kleefeld | June 4, 2009, 11:07AM

The first post-primary poll is now out in the New Jersey gubernatorial race, giving Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie a healthy lead over Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine. The numbers from Rasmussen: Christie 51%, Corzine 38%, outside of the ±4.5% margin of error.

Christie won the Republican primary on Tuesday night, and this poll was then immediately conducted yesterday. Three weeks ago, Christie led Corzine by a 47%-38% margin. Corzine's approval rating in the latest poll is only 42%, against 57% disapproval, while Christie's favorables and unfavorables stand at 60%-40%.

However, there is a frequent pattern in New Jersey elections that must be noted -- a sizable number of voters don't affirmatively like the Democrats, but in the final weeks of a campaign will break heavily in that direction as a vote against the conservatism of the Republican candidate.

The pollster's analysis -- and I should note that Scott Rasmussen is a New Jerseyan, like myself -- acknowledges this important caveat: "New Jersey polls often show Republican candidates doing well in the spring with Democrats gaining ground in the fall. Corzine is expected to heavily outspend Christie which could add to that trend."

FL-SEN

Rubio Picks Up Christian Right Support Against Crist

Eric Kleefeld | June 4, 2009, 10:46AM

Marco Rubio, the former Florida state House Speaker who is waging an up-hill conservative challenge in the Republican primary for Senate against Gov. Charlie Crist, is now lining up some right-wing support to oppose Crist.

Rubio announced yesterday that Dennis Baxley, the former state Speaker Pro Tempore and outgoing head of the state Christian Coalition, will be backing his candidacy -- a decent pickup in Rubio's mission to solidify support on the religious right. The big question here is whether Rubio will be able to mobilize conservative activists against Crist -- who starts out with an enormous lead in the polls -- in light of the moderate governor's support for the stimulus and his other breaks from Republican orthodoxy.

Also, the Jacksonville Observer points out, Baxley previously supported Crist's opponent in the 2006 open-seat gubernatorial primary, and Crist won that nomination in a landslide. But Baxley is undeterred. "Gov. Crist is very popular," he said. "But that's what you get when you're on both sides of every issue. But as a party, we need to show that we can advance people with real leadership skills."

EFCA

New Business Coalition Pressures Senators To Back EFCA

Brian Beutler | June 4, 2009, 10:34AM

A new coalition of business leaders--Business Leaders for a Fair Economy--will press Congress in the coming weeks to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.

As part of their launch, the group has placed an ad in the Wall Street Journal, The Hill, and Politico, and it's chairman Roger Smith (who's also the President and CEO of American Income Life Insurance Company and National Income Life Insurance Company) has sent a letter to members of the Senate asking them to support EFCA.

It's important to counter the myths and misunderstandings that unions are bad for business. Quite the contrary - allowing workers to freely join unions can improve morale, productivity, and retention rates, and our bottom line. Further, enabling workers to make their own choice on how to form a union helps remove unnecessary conflict from the workplace so labor and management can focus on advancing the business....

In this tough economy, Business Leaders for a Fair Economy believes that passage of the Employee Free Choice Act is more pressing than ever. We urge you and your colleagues to put our country on a path toward lasting economic and financial recovery by enacting this vital measure.

MN-SEN

Will Coleman Give Up The Fight In Minnesota?

Eric Kleefeld | June 4, 2009, 9:48AM

Roll Call reports that we may now be entering a truly crucial phase in the seemingly never-ending saga of the 2008 Minnesota Senate election -- indeed, it might actually be ending fairly soon, if Norm Coleman doesn't have the heart to keep going.

On the one hand, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the NRSC chairman who has said the race could take "years" to resolve, says the party would continue to keep on supporting Norm -- and would fight any effort to seat Franken even if the Minnesota Supreme Court orders his certification. "I personally think it'd be a mistake to seat anybody while the appeals are pending," said Cornyn.

However, Roll Call says: "Sources close to Coleman say the former Senator would likely give up his legal battle and accept defeat if the Minnesota Supreme Court decides in Franken's favor. That's because Coleman anticipates that Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) would ultimately sign Franken's certification papers." The issue here is that Coleman might not have the energy to keep fighting this in federal court -- as it is, he's already put his political reputation on the line with the state court battle.

A ruling from the state Supremes is expected to happen some time in the next few weeks, and is universally expected to be a strong decision in favor of Al Franken.

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 4, 2009, 9:00AM

Obama To Muslim World: "Cycle Of Suspicion And Discord Must End"
In his big speech earlier today in Cairo, Egypt, President Obama reached out to Muslims the world over in an appeal for peace, religious tolerance and understanding, and an overall new beginning for international relations. "So long as our relationship is defined by our differences," Obama said, "we will empower those who sow hatred rather than peace, and who promote conflict rather than the cooperation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end."

Obama's Day In Egypt
President Obama arrived in Cairo, Egypt, at 2:10 a.m. ET (9:10 a.m. local time), and participated in a welcome ceremony at the Quba palace at 2:40 a.m. ET. At 3 a.m. ET, he held a bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and at 4:50 a.m. ET he and Sec. of State Clinton toured the Sultan Hassan Mosque. At 6:10 a.m. ET, he gave his big speech. At 8:45 a.m. ET, he toured the Pyramids and the Sphinx. At 11 a.m. ET, he will depart from Cairo International Airport, en route to Dresden, Germany.

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Barack Obama

Obama Delivers Major Address In Cairo

Brian Beutler | June 4, 2009, 8:49AM

Video and full text below.

I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: assalaamu alaykum.

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Harold Koh

Anonymous Senator Places Hold On Key Obama Legal Pick Koh

Brian Beutler | June 3, 2009, 6:44PM

Add Harold Koh to the list of Obama nominees whom Republicans have decided to slow walk to confirmation. At least one senator is, anonymously, holding Koh's nomination, according to a Senate source.

Koh, who if confirmed will serve as legal adviser to the State Department, was reported out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about three weeks ago, but has languished ever since--a fact which, I'd imagine, makes him thrilled that he resigned as Dean of Yale's Law School in order to serve in government.

Recall that before the committee vote, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) also placed a hold on Koh's nomination. That delay only lasted a week.

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Pres '12

Pawlenty: USA Turning Into South American Republic

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2009, 5:51PM

During his appearance today on the Neil Cavuto show, potential presidential candidate Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) gave a dire warning about the mass nationalization of the economy under President Obama:

"But beyond just the money and the politics, just as a matter of philosophy and our country," said Pawlenty, "the nationalization of the auto industry, the likely partial or full nationalization of the health care industry, the energy industry -- this is gonna be a very different country 12 or 24 months from now."

He then added: "This is not the United States of America that we know and love and remember. This looks more like some sort of, you know, republic from South America circa 1970s."

Health Care

HCAN "Thrilled" With Obama's "Strong, Unambiguous Commitment" To Public Option

Brian Beutler | June 3, 2009, 5:39PM

Richard Kirsch, the national campaign director for Health Care for America Now, read Obama's letter to Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Max Baucus (D-MT), and liked what he saw.

We are thrilled to see President Obama's strong, unambiguous commitment to reform that includes the choice of keeping private health insurance or joining a new public health insurance option. The choice of a new public health insurance plan is the only way to control costs, guarantee coverage, ensure quality and transparency, and set a benchmark by which patients will know whether their private health insurance is truly giving them what they're paying for.

Taking issue with the Senate Finance Committee suggestion that a public insurance option can be instituted down the line by placing a trigger mechanism in the bill, HCAN says, "some Members of Congress have discussed the possibility of creating a public health insurance plan "trigger," suggesting the public health insurance option can wait. It cannot."

Obama didn't address that particular question in his letter, but he did reiterate his commitment to the public option. "I strongly believe that Americans should
have the choice of a public health insurance option operating alongside private plans. This will give them a better range of choices, make the health care market more competitive, and keep insurance companies honest."

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)--often a key holdout on progressive aspects of Obama's agenda--has wavered on the question of a public insurance option. He originally called it a deal breaker, and sought to recruit centrist members of Congress to oppose the plan alongside him, but now says, without getting specific, that he's keeping an open mind.

MN-SEN

Pawlenty: I'll Certify Franken's Election -- If There's No Order Against It From A Federal Court

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2009, 5:22PM

This is the sort of thing that gets people wondering whether Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) will actually sign a certificate of election for Al Franken -- as he's said he would do -- once the Minnesota Supreme Court hands down its expected ruling in Al's favor.

Pawlenty appeared this afternoon on the Neil Cavuto show, and Cavuto observed that Pawlenty's decision to not run for a third term, which many people see as a possible lead-up to a presidential campaign in 2012, also frees him up to fight for Norm Coleman. Pawlenty denied that he would behave in such a manner -- but he did point out some possible circumstances that could hold things up further:

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Sonia Sotomayor

Sotomayor Also Made "Wise Woman" Comment In 1994 -- And Won Key Senate Vote In 1998

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2009, 4:59PM

Greg Sargent has discovered that Sonia Sotomayor's "wise Latina" line from 2001 was not the only time Sotomayor said something like that -- back in 1994, she also expressed basically the same sentiment in relation to women: "I would hope that a wise woman with the richness of her experience would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion."

So what does this mean?

• Greg thinks that the fact that this was well known at the time of Sotomayor's confirmation to her current position on the appeals court would certainly seem to undercut the Republicans who are shocked -- shocked! -- to find out about this now.

• Michael Goldfarb, that great humanitarian from The Weekly Standard, says this really contradicts the White House for saying that Sotomayor would want to rephrase a poor choice of words.

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Andrew Ross Sorkin

Sorkin: I Apologize For 'Flip,' 'Unscripted' Comments

Brian Beutler | June 3, 2009, 4:59PM

I've just heard back from New York Times reporter Andrew Ross Sorkin by phone and email. In a prepared statement, he walked back his comments on MSNBC considerably. "Boy did I touch the third rail! My off-handed comment was admittedly flip. I apologize for that. It was meant to provoke a conversation."

I did not mean to suggest that there are literally no successful companies that employ union workers. Of course there are! Your readers have provided a good list (though I might quibble with some of the names.)

I made the unscripted comment with my financial columnist hat on in the context of the problems at GM. That's what the discussion was about on the program. And when you look at some of the once great iconic American industries that have faltered -- automobiles, airlines, steel, apparel, etc -- there is a fair question worth asking about whether those industries were helped or hurt by their unions. But let's leave that debate for another day.

Not sure if that will placate his critics, who were pretty livid about the whole episode, but I guess we'll see.

Regarding the similarity between the question he posed the hosts of Morning Joe and a question former General Electric CEO Jack Welch posed to economist Joseph Stiglitz during a panel discussion Sorkin moderated, he said, "I'm afraid to say I hadn't remembered it until you sent me your post."

Sorkin said he hadn't expected such a strong response and even suggested he was sympathetic to the very people who were most upset by his words.

Gay Marriage

New Hampshire Legislators Finally Get Out The Votes For Gay Marriage

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2009, 4:49PM

The New Hampshire state House has now passed a gay marriage bill after a misfire two weeks ago, putting this state on the road to full marriage equality.

So what has made the difference? Two weeks ago, I pointed out that this bill had become a case study in get-out-the-vote for a chamber of 400 members. The initial version passed by a 178-167 margin. But Gov. John Lynch (D) wouldn't sign it without expressly codified exemptions for religious institutions that didn't want to participate in gay marriage.

That new version then initially failed by a margin of 188-186 -- owing mainly to marriage opponents doing a better job this time of getting their people to the chamber.

But now the new version has passed 198-176. Marriage-equality supporters took another bite at the apple, ironed out some final language, and picked up those remaining votes they needed.

Late Update: Gov. Lynch has signed the bill, officially legalizing gay marriage in the state of New Hampshire. The new law will take effect January 1, 2010.

Andrew Ross Sorkin

SEIU's Stern: Contra Sorkin, 'Unionized Companies Are Driving Force In Our Economy'

Brian Beutler | June 3, 2009, 4:17PM

Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union answers Andrew Ross Sorkin's question with a question of his own. "Unionized companies are a driving force in our economy, from Kaiser Permanente to Securitas," Stern said in a statement to TPMDC.

The bigger question this country is really asking right now is how do we define a successful company? Is it a company that turns a profit by driving down employee wages successful? Is cutting off benefits or putting people out of work to improve the bottom line for shareholders a business model we as Americans want to embrace? Are we going to embrace the Wal-Mart model as the standard of success, or are we going to raise the bar and rebuild the middle class in this country?

We think it's time to have a serious national discussion about what we want the future of our economy to look like--and the voices of women and men who work are critical to that conversation. That's why we're supporting the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill to help create an economy in which companies succeed based on the quality of their services, not on their willingness to exploit or silence workers.

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Andrew Ross Sorkin

American Rights At Work: You Can't Name Successful, Unionized Businesses? Look Here!

Brian Beutler | June 3, 2009, 3:52PM

If you want more information than you'll ever need on the wealth of successful business employing unionized workers, you need look no farther than the group American Rights at Work. Every year they publish the Labor Day List, to "recognize successful partnerships between employers and their employees' labor unions that are working well in the global economy."

You can download the 2008 report here (PDF), and see a full list of past reports here.

(Note that because the most recent Labor Day List came out last year, the companies highlighted in it don't necessarily meet the criteria we've set up for our growing list of profitable, unionized companies.)

I asked Nikki Daruwala, who directs the Socially Responsible Business Program at the group American Rights at Work, why the perception that unions always hurt businesses persists if all this information is so easily accessible.

"I think it has to do with the fact that people have this knee-jerk reaction--that union and management are on the opposite poles," she said. "They're not open to the idea that there are very successful partnerships...helping the companies, helping society."

AFL-CIO

AFL-CIO: Sorkin's Comments 'Ignorant,' Vested Interests 'Don't Seem To Know Who's In Unions'

Brian Beutler | June 3, 2009, 3:38PM

I just got off the phone with Nancy Mills, the Deputy Chief of Staff for AFL-CIO, who had some thoughts for us on the substance and the implication of Sorkin's statements on MSNBC.

"One of the things it points out is that the American public in general, and those who have an axe to grind, who are promoting this ignorance, don't seem to know who's in unions." Mills said.

She noted that there's no shortage of companies with successful worker-employer partnerships adding that "People think of these as good places, successful, interesting, and they don't stop and think that they might be unionized, because there hasn't been a picket line."

I asked her if unions, or the greater labor movement have any culpability for allowing this predominant line of thinking to go largely unchallenged. She noted that there's a long standing debate within the labor movement about the usefulness of spending dues dollars on messaging to non-union members, and that the big federations have spent the last several years fending off attacks from anti-union interests leaving little in the way of time or resources to promote a positive message.

Late update: You can read Sorkin's apology here.

VA-GOV

New Poll Says McAuliffe Still Ahead In Virginia Dem Primary -- But Race Is Up In The Air

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2009, 3:31PM

The new SurveyUSA poll in Virginia finds former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe still ahead in this Tuesday's Democratic primary for governor -- contrary to a Public Policy Polling (D) survey yesterday that showed him slipping into second place behind state Sen. Creigh Deeds.

The numbers: McAuliffe 35%, Deeds 29%, and former state Del. Brian Moran 26%, with a ±4.4% margin of error. Two weeks ago, SurveyUSA had the race as McAuliffe 37%, Deeds 26%, and Moran 22%.

The pollster's analysis shows that this race remains volatile: "Half of SurveyUSA likely voters say they may yet change their mind. Among voters who say their mind is made-up, Deeds leads, with McAuliffe and Moran a half-dozen points back."

In the general election match-ups against Republican former state Attorney General Bob McDonnell, the Dems currently all trail by varying margins: McDonnell edges Deeds 44%-43%, leads McAuliffe 47%-40%, and is ahead of Moran by 48%-37%.

Health Care

In Letter To Kennedy And Baucus, Obama Outlines Principles For Health Reform

Brian Beutler | June 3, 2009, 3:11PM

Following on his meeting earlier this week with Democrats from the Senate Finance and HELP committees (the two committees with jurisdiction over health reform legislation), President Obama has sent a letter to the committees' chairmen--Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)--restating his priorities, and committing to some new spending cuts to generate revenue to pay for comprehensive legislation.

You can see the entire letter here, but some of the key points are:

I am committed to working with the Congress to fully offset the cost of health care reform by reducing Medicare and Medicaid spending by another $200 to $300 billion over the next 10 years, and by enacting appropriate proposals to generate additional revenues. These savings will come not only by adopting new technologies and addressing the vastly different costs of care, but from going after the key drivers of skyrocketing health care costs, including unmanaged chronic diseases, duplicated tests, and unnecessary hospital readmissions.

To identify and achieve additional savings, I am also open to your ideas about giving
special consideration to the recommendations of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), a commission created by a Republican Congress. Under this approach, MedPAC's recommendations on cost reductions would be adopted unless opposed by a joint resolution of the Congress. This is similar to a process that has been used effectively by a commission charged with closing military bases, and could be a valuable tool to help achieve health care reform in a fiscally responsible way.

Congress has demanded that health reform efforts be deficit neutral--meaning Obama must pay for the initial costs with a combination of efficiency savings and increased taxes or spending cuts. For more on how the MedPAC plan would work, see this post. Much of this ground, apparently, was covered at the meeting--and soon we'll know whether it's the sort of stuff Congress will go for.

Andrew Ross Sorkin

GE's Welch Used Same Line About Unions On Panel Sorkin Moderated

Brian Beutler | June 3, 2009, 2:47PM

As we've been reporting, earlier today, New York Times business reporter Andrew Ross Sorkin appeared on MSNBC and seemed to question the entire idea of unionization. "Name a successful unionized company. Think. You're going to go to [commercial] break before you come up with one."

Last week, Sorkin moderated a forum, hosted by Vanity Fair and Bloomberg, which included, among others, former General Electric CEO Jack Welch and Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.

During the discussion, the Welch trotted out roughly the same that Sorkin brought on to Morning Joe against Stiglitz "[G]ive me a highly successful, unionized American industry," he demanded.

Here's the entirety of the exchange:

WELCH: Joe, do you think that if we trace back things like this, they're going to give us a more competitive America to compete in the global world? Now, do we - should be retained good wages? Should we have benefits? Should we have enlightened management to take care of workers? Absolutely.

But should we get all organized again and get all these work rules and have General Motors and U.S. Steel and the airlines and all these businesses - give me a highly successful, unionized American industry.

STIGLITZ: Well, I do think that - that workers who are treated better or more productive.

WELCH: I agree.

STIGLITZ: Now - now, one of the things that has induced a lot of companies to treat the workers well is the fear of unions coming in. So it has been an incentive device that has, I think, encouraged better treatment of the workers at by some of the non-union firms.Well, I do think that - that workers who are treated better or more productive.

More on the answer to Welch's (and now Sorkin's) question in a moment. Funny how that line made it from the lips of the former chairman and CEO of GE on to a GE-owned cable network. I'm sure Welch is extremely proud.

Late update: You can read Sorkin's apology here.

Andrew Ross Sorkin

Hoffa: Sorkin and Morning Joe Show Complete Failure To Understand

Brian Beutler | June 3, 2009, 2:27PM

New York Times reporter Andrew Ross Sorkin went on MSNBC this morning and set off the entire labor movement.

"Name a successful unionized company. Think. You're going to go to [commercial] break before you come up with one. And that's the problem," he said before a room full of unionized NBC employees.

Unions are aghast. "Sorkin and the Morning Joe crew just showed their complete failure to understand how unions contribute to the success of the American economy by blindly assuming that unionized companies haven't been profitable in the last year," said James Hoffa, General President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, in a statement to TPMDC.

Off the top of my head I can give you several Teamster-represented companies who continue to thrive, despite the economic downturn, but there are thousands more: UPS, Eight O'Clock Coffee, Coca-Cola Enterprises, PepsiCo, Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors. The Morning Joe team really should be embarrassed for showing their lack of knowledge on the subject.

And that's just on the record.

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Goldfarb: Does Obama Secretly Speak Arabic?

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2009, 2:23PM

Check out the latest pearl of wisdom from The Weekly Standard's single most cartoonish neocon blogger, Michael Goldfarb, wondering whether President Obama might be concealing a secret knowledge of the Arabic language -- and the Koran!

Goldfarb focuses on Obama using the Arabic world "Shukran" ("Thank you") when he was received by the King of Saudi Arabia:

Obama has said before that he speaks "barely passable Spanish" and "a smattering of Swahili," as well as some Bahasa from his youth in Indonesia. But Obama has at other times denied speaking a foreign language, saying in July of last year, "I don't speak a foreign language. It's embarrassing!"

...

It seems there is some legitimate confusion on just what languages Obama speaks, and as far as Arabic, the only real hint has came from Nick Kristof, who heard Obama recite the Muslim call to prayer in Arabic and with a "first-rate accent" back in 2007. With even the White House now smearing Obama as a Muslim, one wonders if the president hasn't been concealing some greater fluency with the language of the Koran.

Look out, Michael -- as Spencer Ackerman has pointed out, General Petraeus has used Arabic phrases, too! And Petraeus is against torture! The Muslim secret agents are everywhere...

Newt Gingrich

Limbaugh Reacts To Newt: "I'm Not Retracting It," Sotomayor Is A Racist

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2009, 1:29PM

Rush Limbaugh has now reacted to the widely-reported "retraction" by Newt Gingrich of his having called Sonia Sotomayor a racist -- and he's going to keep on calling her a racist by himself:

Limbaugh appears not to have read Gingrich's new Web post with the alleged retraction, but he nevertheless has a lot to say about it based on press reports. "Well I have my own theory about what Newt's doing, but since I'm not doing it, I'm not gonna comment," Limbaugh said. "I'm not retracting it. Nobody's refuted it!"

Limbaugh should probably read Newt's actual post, in which case he'll be pleasantly surprised to find that...Newt hasn't actually recanted it! Gingrich has simply tricked that pesky liberal media into thinking he has, while at the same time repeating his message that Sotomayor makes her legal decisions based on race.

George W. Bush

Corzine Running In N.J. On His Progressive Record -- And Most Importantly, Against George W. Bush

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2009, 1:08PM

At last night's general election kickoff rally for Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ), which I was able to attend due to the good fortune of it being in my hometown, Corzine laid out a clear message he'll be taking into the general election: That he has a strong progressive record that he's proud to run on, that you can count on him as an ally of the very popular President Obama -- and perhaps as the most crucial element, that you simply can't vote Republican, the party of George W. Bush.

Corzine was introduced by none other than Vice President Joe Biden, who praised Corzine as a man who understands the economy, and directly advised Obama and Biden during the transition period, on how to craft the stimulus bill. "And everyone knows," Biden said at one point, "that your state, your state Senate, your state Assembly, your Governor, have inherited a mess left behind by the last administration in Washington, DC."

Corzine's Republican opponent -- who had not yet been determined at that hour, as votes were being counted in the primary, but was widely expected to win -- is former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie. The Democrats will therefore go after Christie using not just the unpopular Republican brand in general, but the Bush brand in particular, since Christie was an appointee of the Bush Administration. It's a strategy that would be inviting for a Dem in any state, but especially in this deep-blue bastion.

"They've got a secret plan. They won't tell you whose taxes they plan to cut," Corzine said during his own speech -- then ad-libbed this line that deviated from the prepared remarks: "They'll check with George Bush about that." So while George W. Bush is out of office, Dems plan to still have him to kick around.

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Pat Buchanan

Pat Buchanan's Anti-Sotomayor Jihad--A Montage

Brian Beutler | June 3, 2009, 12:38PM

We've spent a lot of time on this site examining the handful of conservative activists leading the fight against Sonia Sotomayor. It's almost a full time job. Intentionally or otherwise, though, that group of folks has recruited MSNBC analyst Pat Buchanan to do much of their bidding. Herewith, a montage of Buchanan's tireless campaign in defense of downtrodden white male Supreme Court hopefuls:

That video comes courtesy of Media Matters.

As I noted earlier today, Buchanan often saves his most controversial polemics for readers of the conservative magazine Human Events, which runs his column twice a week. Yesterday, in that column, he accused Sotomayor of practicing "tribal justice."

Jeff Sessions

Sessions: I'm Very Glad Gingrich Backed Off (Note: Gingrich Didn't Back Off)

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2009, 11:38AM

The GOP seems to be consolidating around a message of contrition for calling Sonia Sotomayor a racist, recognizing just how politically self-defeating it's been -- even if the retractions aren't exactly genuine.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) spoke to CNN's Dana Bash, who asked him about the alleged walk-back by Newt Gingrich:

"I'm very glad he backed off. I think that's unusual, that commentators do that, and I think it was very good that he did," said Sessions. "I think that will help - help us. I think that will help us have a real good discussion about the serious issues that the nation faces and that the court faces. And there's some disagreements about that."

The thing is, as I've pointed out, Gingrich is very clearly not backing off, if one simply reads his new post beyond the first few paragraphs. Instead, he's talking out of both sides of his mouth by saying he shouldn't have called Sotomayor a racist -- and then haranguing her for making decisions based on race, and repeating this refrain: "You Read, You Decide."

Pat Buchanan

Buchanan: Sotomayor Practices "Tribal Justice"

Brian Beutler | June 3, 2009, 11:21AM

In April, my colleague Zack Roth described Pat Buchanan as Washington's "crazy political uncle"--the guy who the establishment indulges, and even enjoys, despite a oeuvre that runs the gamut from aspersions on "New York Jewish money" to a rousing defense of the South Carolinian wise men who raised a confederate flag over the state capitol.

In order to get away with it though, his enablers have to overlook much of the work he does in the extremely right wing magazine Human Events. That's where "crazy Uncle Pat" often turns nasty.

"In her world," Buchanan wrote yesterday of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, "equal justice takes a back seat to tribal justice."

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MN-SEN

Take Two? Could Ex-Sen. Coleman Mount Comeback as ... Governor?

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2009, 11:07AM

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that an interesting name has popped up among the people being speculated about as Republican candidates for governor of Minnesota, now that incumbent Republican Tim Pawlenty isn't running again: Former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman -- the man who is still litigating his defeat against Al Franken in the photo-finish 2008 Senate race.

David Strom, a senior fellow at the state's conservative Minnesota Free Market Institute think tank, seemed to take the idea seriously and said that running for governor could be an "attractive prospect" for Coleman. If Norm Coleman had not come out ahead on the first [vote tally] ... I think the political fallout would have been quite significant," said Strom -- but since Coleman had at some point been seen as the likely winner, he could potentially be able to salvage the situation.

If this sounds absurd, consider just how many phases this man has had in his political life. In college, he was a left-wing campus radical. He went on to become a liberal Democratic politician -- then became a Republican, and lost the 1998 gubernatorial race to a pro-wrestler. He came back in 2002, by getting elected to the Senate over Walter Mondale after the death of Paul Wellstone. And if his lawsuit against the Senate election results proves nothing else, it shows just how persistent he has always been.

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Arlen Specter

New Website Tracks Specter's Record For Pennsylvania Progressives

Brian Beutler | June 3, 2009, 10:01AM

The group Keystone Progress will have it's eye on Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA). Today, the online progressive network launched Specter Scorecard, with two key purposes. One is forward looking: "We'll keep you informed about key upcoming votes where Sen. Specter's vote will be vital to the success of the progressive position. We'll give you accurate information about the issue and we'll provide you with the opportunity to take action to help persuade Arlen to do the right thing."

And the other, a bit retrospective "We'll let you know how Sen. Specter has voted on important progressive issues since he made the switch. We'll display his 'progressive batting average' and keep it updated when he takes votes on those issues." Right now, based on his vote for the confirmation of Kathleen Sebelius and his vote against the 2010 budget, Specter's batting .500.

"We decided to create this page because on almost every issue we are working on at the federal level, Senator Specter was a key vote," said Michael Morrill, the Executive Director of Keystone Progress. "We thought it would be fun and informative to put all of the issues in one place."

Newt Gingrich

Gingrich Walks Back Calling Sotomayor A Racist -- Not

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2009, 9:39AM

In a sign that the Republican Party's right wing could now be attempting to walk back the over-the-top rhetoric that has been used against Sonia Sotomayor, Newt Gingrich has put up a new post on his Web site saying he shouldn't have called her a racist -- and then proceeds to go into detail about how she's a racist!

"The word 'racist' should not have been applied to Judge Sotomayor as a person," Gingrich says, "even if her words themselves are unacceptable (a fact which both President Obama and his Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, have since admitted)."

Then he goes into all sorts of details about the "wise Latina" comment, the intricacies of the New Haven firefighters case, and other objections he has to Sotomayor. At each juncture, he borrows a line from Fox News: "You Read, You Decide."

Read more »

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 3, 2009, 8:58AM

Obama Visiting Muslim World; Bin Laden Puts Out New Message Against Him
President Obama has arrived in Saudi Arabia for a multi-nation tour in the Arab world, most notably including a speech addressed to all Muslims tomorrow in Egypt. And just in time for Obama's arrival, Osama bin Laden has released a new recording, saying Obama was following in the steps of George W. Bush, and planting the seeds for "revenge and hatred."

Obama's Day: Saudi Arabia
President Obama arrived this morning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. At 8:10 a.m. ET, he attended a welcome reception with King Abdullah at the King's farm. At 9:20 a.m. ET, he will hold a bilateral meeting with King Abdullah.

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George W. Bush

Book: Bush Needed Condi To Explain 'Articulate' Flap During Dem Primary

Justin Elliott | June 2, 2009, 8:38PM

Did George W. Bush really summon his African-American secretary of state for a lesson on junior-high-level racial politics?

So reports Newsweek's Richard Wolffe in his new book on Obama, Renegade: The Making Of A President.

Bush found himself perplexed by the flap over Joe Biden describing Obama as "articulate and bright and clean" in January 2007. So, naturally, the president turned to the top U.S. diplomat, the trusted Condi Rice, to explain what the heck this was all about.

Here's the tidbit from the first chapter of Wolffe's book:

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Supreme Court

Miranda: My Call For Filibuster Actually A Call For "Great Debate"

Brian Beutler | June 2, 2009, 6:16PM

Earlier today we brought you a letter signed by conservative Manuel Miranda and dozens of other activists calling for Republicans to consider a filibuster of Sonia Sotomayor. On Hardball tonight, though, Manuel Miranda characterized things a bit differently.

A "great debate" (followed by a sixty vote requirement for confirmation. Cough.) Chris Matthews insisted that what Miranda and other Sotomayor critics really want is to slow her confirmation process down, but Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, said he'd speed the confirmation process up if the unfair attacks continue.

Israel/Palestine

Gallup: Arab World's Opinion Of U.S. Leaders Has Improved Since Last Year -- But Still Low

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 5:58PM

A new polling analysis from Gallup shows that as President Obama prepares to tour the Middle East, the Arab world now has significantly higher approval of the U.S. leadership than they did last year under George W. Bush -- though it's still far from being a thumbs-up.

In Egypt, the approval rating of the American leadership rating last year was only six percent, to 74% disapproval -- a number that has now gone up to 25%-52%. Saudi Arabia has gone from 12%-81% last to 29%-52% now; and Syria from 4%-91% to 15%-71%, among others.

It hasn't been all positive, though. In the Palestinian Territories -- which have seen a lot of political strife thanks to the recent war with Israel -- things have gone from 13%-81% to 7%-80%.

From the pollster's analysis: "Gallup Polls show that Obama will deliver his message Thursday with an arguably stronger basis of support than his predecessor ever had in many Arab countries. Nonetheless, approval remains low and underscores the work that remains as Obama seeks to pave a new, more positive way forward."

MN-SEN

What's Next In Minnesota: A Virtually-Certain Ruling For Franken -- And Big Choices For Pawlenty

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 5:20PM

So with the Minnesota Supreme Court having heard arguments yesterday in Norm Coleman's appeal of his defeat in the Senate election trial (check out our coverage here, here, here and here), what comes next?

I spoke today with Prof. Larry Jacobs of the University of Minnesota, and he predicts that the state Supreme Court will likely put out a ruling by the end of the month -- and that this ruling will be for Franken, based on their very sharp questioning of Coleman's lawyer yesterday. "I would take from that session that the judges may have already written a good part of their decision," said Jacobs, "because their thinking was very far along, and there were a number of them on the same page."

At that point, the outcome here really hinges on one man: Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who announced today that he is not running for a third term in 2010.

Read more »

EFCA

Labor Law Violator Argues Against EFCA In Arkansas

Brian Beutler | June 2, 2009, 4:14PM

A group of 11 Arkansas business leaders met with the state's congressional delegation today to voice their opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act. According to Arkansas Business, the the group included Michael Keck, whose St. Vincent Health System has been found time and again to be in violation of federal labor law.

Nurses there successfully joined a union in 2000 after a previous failed attempt was overturned by the National Labor Relations Board "amid charges that St. Vincent officials improperly tried to influence staff."

Two years later, St. Vincent was found to be involved in a similar attempt to decertify the union by "illegally lobby[ing] unions to end union representation."

Altogether, negotiations dragged on for nearly three years before before a contract was finally ratified. Those quotes come from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, but were aggregated by the Service Employees International Union before Keck's meeting with the delegation was announced. SEIU has been pressuring key Democrats in Arkansas to end their opposition to EFCA.

Pres '12

Poll: No Immediate Republican Frontrunner For 2012

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 4:11PM

A new CNN poll finds that there is no immediate frontrunner for the Republican nomination in 2012. Here are the numbers, with a ±4.5% margin of error among GOP respondents:

Mike Huckabee 22%
Sarah Palin 21%
Mitt Romney 21%
Newt Gingrich 13%
Jeb Bush 6%
Someone else (volunteered answer) 10%

At this point there really doesn't need to be an immediate Republican frontrunner. It's even quite plausible that the lack of a current leading candidate could have its own mix of pluses and minuses.

MN-GOV

Bachmann Campaign Manager: She's Not Running For Governor

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 3:52PM

It looks like Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) will not be running for governor, in the wake of GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty's announcement that he is not seeking a third term.

"I don't think so," Bachmann campaign manager Michelle Marston told Minnesota Public Radio. "I think she's very happy where she is."

Bachmann's name had come up in various media reports as a possible candidate for governor in case of an open seat. For some strange reason, liberal bloggers were especially fond of the idea.

Patrick Leahy

Leahy: Sotomayor Hearings Will Come Earlier If Racially Charged Smears Continue

Brian Beutler | June 2, 2009, 3:42PM

Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL)--the chair and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee respectively--may disagree about the overall timeline for the Sotomayor confirmation process. But now Leahy says if the Republicans want Democrats to speed the process along, all they have to do is keep smearing Sotomayor.

Tom Tancredo and Newt Gingrich aren't really the kind of people who acquiesce to this type of threat, but let's see what happens.

MN-SEN

Pawlenty Officially Announces Retirement, Not Ruling Anything In Or Out For 2012

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 3:30PM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) just officially announced that he is not running for a third term in 2010.

A reporter asked him whether he is running for President. "I don't have any plans beyond serving out my term," he said. "So I'm not ruling anything in or out."

He did, however, offer some wisdom for the Republican Party on a nationwide level. "We're the party of the marketplace. The marketplace has been signaling movement to our competitors, so we need to do better." He later added: "My party needs new ideas, new policies, and I think I can contribute to that."

A reporter asked how this decision will affect the controversy surrounding an election certificate to the U.S. Senate for Al Franken, and Pawlenty's response was in line with previous public comments. "I think you guys have really over-baked that issue, you're spinning out of control. I'm gonna do whatever the court says," Pawlenty responded. And if a courts tells him to sign the certificate, "I'm not gonna hold it up or delay it in any fashion."

Late Update: It's worth noting that Pawlenty will be speaking to the College Republicans national convention this week in Washington.

Sonia Sotomayor

Disgraced Miranda Repeatedly Calls Republicans 'Limp Wristed' For Not Breaching Ethics In Judicial Matters

Brian Beutler | June 2, 2009, 3:17PM

Manuel Miranda is, perhaps, the most vocal conservative calling on the GOP to filibuster Sonia Sotomayor--an ironic fact given Miranda's long history of opposing judicial filibusters. But he's also been the subject of a thorough investigation by former Senate Sergeant at Arms William Pickle.

Miranda became mired in controversy several years ago, after he and a fellow Senate Judiciary Committee aide distributed thousands of pages of Democratic memos--supposedly documenting the minority members' ties to liberal interest groups--to friendly reporters and conservative activists from late 2001 until early 2003.

The two aides--Miranda and Jason Lundell--worked in concert. Lundell had learned how to access private Democratic documents by observing the keystrokes of a young system administrator, who didn't realize that many files on the committee server were unprotected. Armed with an ill-begotten password, Lundell accessed reams of forbidden memos, which he brought to his superiors who initially scolded him and advised him to burn the evidence.

Enter Manny Miranda.

Read more »

Sonia Sotomayor

Poll: Majority Favors Confirming Sotomayor

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 2:57PM

A new Gallup poll finds that 54% of Americans favor the confirmation of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, compared to only 28% against.

This level of support is just slightly higher than the initial support for Samuel Alito, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Clarence Thomas -- all of whom were confirmed -- and lagging just slightly behind the initial approval of John Roberts. It is significantly ahead of the initial support for Harriet Miers and Robert Bork, whose nominations were respectively withdrawn or defeated.

Not surprisingly, Democrats favor confirmation by a 76%-6% margin, Republicans oppose it 57%-24%, and independents correspond almost exactly to the top-line numbers at 54%-27%.

MN-SEN

Americans United Calls On Pawlenty To Put Political Ambitions Aside, Certify Franken's Win

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 1:45PM

Donald McFarland, the Minnesota state director for Americans United for Change, released this statement in response to Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty's reported decision to not seek re-election in 2010. McFarland calls on Pawlenty to not play politics with the ongoing dispute over the 2008 Senate race:

"Tim Pawlenty's national political ambitions have become clear with his reported decision not to seek reelection -- but he is still the governor of Minnesota. Gov. Pawlenty, the Iowa caucuses can wait - the people of Minnesota need you now. During these extraordinarily difficult economic times, we cannot afford to be without full representation in the Senate a day longer. We implore the Governor to sign the election certificate should the Minnesota Supreme Court rule in Al Franken's favor. Refusing to do so would be an act of political cowardice that will unfairly punish the people of Minnesota."

Jeff Sessions

Sessions Calls For Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings To Be Pushed Into September

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 1:28PM

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), the head Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, just spoke to reporters and said that Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearings should be held in September -- that is, three months or more from now.

Sessions said that Sotomayor has had 4,000 cases as part of her 17-year record, that this whole record must be held up to review, and the process should not be rushed.

Said Sessions: "We've got until October 7, I believe, or the fifth, for the nominee to take office."

As I've previously pointed out, Republican calls for September hearings would take this process well beyond the timeframe that John Roberts and Samuel Alito both had for their confirmations -- which by themselves took place under complicated and convoluted circumstances.

Sonia Sotomayor

Head Of Coalition to End Judicial Filibusters Now Promotes Filibustering Sotomayor

Brian Beutler | June 2, 2009, 1:10PM

Dozens of conservatives today sent Senate Republicans a letter, urging them to filibuster Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

"We call on you...to display leadership, if the nominee merits it, in preparing for the use of the traditional filibuster...so that the debate on the Senate floor is appropriately long and, therefore, suitably catalyzed to the American people."

The signatories are of a coalition of conservative activists called Third Branch, led by a storied character named Manuel Miranda.

Read more »

FL-SEN

National Dems Launch Joke "Scheduling Office" Hotline Against Charlie Crist In Florida Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 12:50PM

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is trying a new angle to attack Florida's Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, who is currently the big frontrunner for the open Senate seat in this big swing state -- an attack that relies upon a political technology of yesteryear.

The DSCC has launched a joke 800 phone number, the "Charlie Crist's Scheduling Office" Hotline, in which a satirical recording of a secretary tries to find him for you -- only tell you he's taken 62 weekdays off from work, meets with big donors, etc.

Check it out at 1-800-403-2195. It's unclear whether something like this will actually be politically effective -- but they do deserve some credit for at least being mildly entertaining.

Arlen Specter

Poll: Pennsylvania Democrats Hunger For Senate Primary

Brian Beutler | June 2, 2009, 12:19PM

In our Friday interview, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) called into question the idea that Pennsylvania Democrats will be automatically loyal to Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) just because he's the de facto incumbent. "Does that automatically buy loyalty--because you changed an R to a D--from those within the party?" Sestak asked, rhetorically.

"Well actually it appeared to do so within the wash political establishment, which was quite disturbing, but I think that's a long haul from where Pennsylvanians will be."

And, as it turns out, a new poll (PDF) suggests there's some evidence for this claim.

As you may know, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter recently switched from Republican to Democrat. Should Arlen Specter be the Democratic nominee for the 2010 election for US Senate or should he face a challenge from one or more other Democrats in the primary?

1. Specter should be nominee 28%
2. Specter should face challenge 63%
3. Undecided 32 09%

This comes via Greg Sargent--and, presumably, as good news for the nascent Sestak campaign. Other recent polls show Specter with a sizable lead over the relatively unknown Sestak, but this new poll shows a hunger for a primary challenge on general principle.

MN-GOV

Report: Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Possible 2012 Pres. Candidate, Not Seeking Re-Election In 2010

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 12:05PM

The local CBS channel in Minneapolis reports that Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a possible 2012 GOP presidential candidate, will announce today that he is not running for a third term as governor in 2010.

Pawlenty was narrowly re-elected in the big Democratic year of 2006 -- and in what is usually a Democratic state, though it has a habit of electing GOP governors -- and had reportedly made the list of finalists to be John McCain's running mate.

Keep a close lookout for Pawlenty's actions in a few key areas: His continuing budget battle with the heavily-Democratic legislature, where he's taken a strong anti-tax line; potential travel around the country for GOP candidates; and of course, how he handles the upcoming battles over whether or not Al Franken gets an election certificate to the U.S. Senate.

Defense Spending

Obama Army Secretary Nominee Tussled With Obama, Gates Over Pentagon Budget

Brian Beutler | June 2, 2009, 11:44AM

As Eric Kleefeld reported, President Obama will nominate Rep. John McHugh (R-NY)--ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee--to be the Secretary of the Army later today. If all goes as planned, though, McHugh will be working in a Pentagon he has recently, and dubiously, attacked.

In April, McHugh criticized the administration's Pentagon budget outline, which he inaccurately characterized as a proposed defense spending cut. He suggested, moreover, that Pentagon officials had complained to committee minority that the budget would slash defense spending by $8 billion. That claim couldn't be verified, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters, basically, that McHugh was fudging.

"Some of these things we have put in the base budget we elected to put into the base budget to send a signal to the troops that these things were going to be a permanent part of the budget, that we weren't going to be dependent on a supplemental," Gates said. "[W]hat you chose to put into the supplemental and so on, is probably how Mr. McHugh gets to his numbers."

Read more »

NJ-GOV

Conservative NJ-GOV Candidate: Poll Showing Me Losing Primary Is "Retarded"

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 11:42AM

Steve Lonegan, the conservative insurgent candidate running in today's New Jersey Republican gubernatorial primary against establishment favorite Chris Christie, sure has a way with words.

Appearing on a local radio show yesterday, Lonegan was asked about a new Fairleigh Dickinson poll showing Christie ahead by a 54%-30% margin. Lonegan then referred to the poll as "retarded," prompting radio host Casey Bartholomew to make sure he'd heard the candidate correctly.

"I said just that," said Lonegan, "retarded Fairleigh Dickinson poll."

VA-GOV

Poll: McAuliffe Slips To Second Place In Virginia Gubernatorial Primary

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 11:25AM

Former DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe appears to have slipped from his previous position as the frontrunner for next week's Democratic gubernatorial primary in Virginia -- going from a strong first place to a close second in the latest survey from Public Policy Polling (D).

The latest numbers: State Sen. Creigh Deeds 27%, McAuliffe 24%, and former state Del. Brian Moran 22%. Two weeks ago it was McAuliffe 29%, Deeds 20%, Moran 20%, and in early May it was McAuliffe 30%, Moran 20% and Deeds 14%.

Moran recently began attacking McAuliffe's record as a businessman and political figure, which may have taken some wind away from McAuliffe -- but apparently didn't help Moran either as the aggressor, leaving the third man Deeds as the true beneficiary.

NY-23

Obama's Upcoming Appointment Of McHugh Sets Up Potential Nail-Biter For Special Election

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 11:04AM

With reports coming in that President Obama will appoint Rep. John McHugh (R-NY) as the new Secretary of the Army, the political world will now be gearing up for what could be yet another high-stakes special Congressional election in upstate New York, so soon after we already had a photo-finish for the former House seat of appointed Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). And so far, both parties seem to be downplaying expectations.

The district itself has all the makings of a swing seat. President Obama carried it 52%-47% in 2008, just slightly behind the curve of his overall 53%-46% national victory over John McCain. Before that, it voted 51%-47% for George W. Bush in 2004. Compare this to the NY-20 special election, which was won by Democrat Scott Murphy by a razor-thin margin, where Obama had carried it 51%-48% in 2008, and Bush had taken it 53%-45% in 2004. So on paper, this could be a potential Dem pickup in the special election.

Read more »

Health Care

Health Care Stakes Heat Up--Kennedy, Baucus Meet With Obama

Brian Beutler | June 2, 2009, 9:48AM

Last night, with the typical eloquence of a 75 year old man using Twitter, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee wrote, "The prez is meetin w Finance and Help Demo bc doesn't appear they on same page Finance working biparty HELP more partisan. Where Prez land?"

Translated roughly from the Twitterese, that means that President Obama met with Democrats from both the Finance Committee and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee because they disagree about the direction health reform should take. Unsurprisingly, all signs indicate that the more liberal HELP Committee--chaired by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA)--will soon introduce a fairly dramatic reform proposal, with a truly robust public insurance option. Soon thereafter, though, the Finance Committee will unveil a rather less progressive proposal of its own with the issue of the public option--how robust it will be, or whether it will be included at all--still unsettled.

Grassley's spinning this as a rift between partisans and centrists within the Democratic party, and in a way that rift really exists. But the political play here is somewhat more complicated.

Read more »

Sonia Sotomayor

Levey: I Had No Idea Sotomayor Smear Campaign Would Blow Up

Brian Beutler | June 2, 2009, 9:26AM

Yesterday we reported that prominent Sonia Sotomayor critics including Tom Tancredo ("Latina KKK") and Pat Buchanan ("That woman... is for race-based justice") were employing, with full knowledge of the events, a young man named Marcus Epstein, who plead guilty to karate chopping a black female pedestrian and calling her a "nigger."

Dave Weigel of The Washington Independent asked a number of conservative Sotomayor critics what this apparent hypocrisy says about the larger campaign to block her confirmation, and one response, in particular was telling.

Curt Levey, the executive director of the Committee of Justice, has been optimistic about the right's fight against Sotomayor, but he admitted to TWI that he "underestimated the degree to which a few conservatives would say a few extreme things, and that would be characterized as what all conservatives think."

As we've noted before, the campaign against Sotomayor has exposed and widened a rift between a sensible faction within the conservative movement and die-hard activists. By basing the attacks on charges of racism, while simultaneously lobbing ethnically loaded insults at her, people like Levey have, inadvertently or not, poured gasoline on the embers of this conflict.

Barack Obama

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 2, 2009, 9:00AM

Obama: Cheney "Happens To Be Wrong" On National Security
In an interview with National Public Radio, President Obama responded to Dick Cheney, saying that while Cheney has every right to speak up on national security, "He also happens to be wrong, right?" Obama added: "Last time, immediately after his last speech, I think there was a fact check on his speech that didn't get a very good grade."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will be meeting with Senate Democrats at 2:30 p.m. ET in the State Dining Room, to discuss health care reform. At 3:45 p.m. ET, he will sign the Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act. At 4:15 p.m. ET, he will meet in the Oval Office with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. At 6:45 p.m. ET, he will depart from the White House, heading for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Read more »

Sonia Sotomayor

Leahy Meets With Sotomayor Tomorrow

Brian Beutler | June 1, 2009, 5:55PM

The Sotomayor confirmation process moves forward, however slowly, tomorrow when she meets with Judiciary Committee chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT). The two will host a photo op in Leahy's Senate office building at 11:30 and Leahy will brief the press after the meeting at noon.

Last week, the committee sent Sotomayor a broad questionnaire in anticipation of her coming confirmation hearing.

Dick Cheney

Pfotenhauer: I Don't Believe Cheney Would Say Things He Knew To Be Inaccurate

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2009, 5:23PM

Check out this appearance today on MSNBC by former McCain campaign spokesperson Nancy Pfotenhauer, saying how her candidate of course disagreed with Dick Cheney on "harsh interrogation" -- but she doesn't believe Cheney would say things he knew to be inaccurate:

"I don't believe, however, that the former Vice President would be making statements that he knew to be inaccurate," said Pfotenhauer -- spurring open laughter and ridicule from Bill Press and David Shuster.

Randall Terry: George Tiller Reaped What He Sowed... Now Let's Go Have Some Hot Wings And Beer

Brian Beutler | June 1, 2009, 4:28PM

People for the American Way have posted some incredible footage of anti-choice activist Randall Terry who, at the National Press Club earlier today, doubled down on his suggestion that Tiller got what was coming to him.

"The point that must be emphasized over, and over, and over again: pro-life leaders and the pro-life movement are not responsible for George Tiller's death. George Tiller was a mass-murderer and, horrifically, he reaped what he sowed."

Read more »

Tom Coburn

Coburn Running Again In 2010

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2009, 4:24PM

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), a champion of the Christian Right who had been the subject of some speculation that he might not run for a second term in 2010, has now announced that he is in fact running.

Coburn added that if re-elected, he will stick by the pledge from his 2004 campaign to not serve more than two terms. And for the record, he previously honored a term-limits pledge back in 2000, when he retired from his House seat after six years.

Coburn had been publicly undecided about whether to make the race, and wasn't actively raising money. But in all truth, he didn't need to raise money -- he's a popular conservative from a deep-Republican state, and insofar as he'll need some money he will be able to get it easily. This might have been a competitive race as an open seat, but as it is now Coburn is in all likelihood a safe bet for re-election.

University Of Virginia: Epstein Will Not Enroll With Us

Brian Beutler | June 1, 2009, 4:12PM

One thing that struck us about The Karate Chop Heard 'Round The Blogosphere was the news that the chopper--Marcus Epstein--is saying goodbye to Tom Tancredo and Pat Buchanan this summer to go to law school at the University of Virginia. Dave Weigel reported this, and Bay Buchanan told me the same thing.

But Jason Wu Trujillo, UVA's Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, now says Epstein will not enroll this fall, or ever.

Trujillo couldn't discuss the specifics of that decision, but it raises a question: The incident itself occurred on July 7, 2007, before Epstein applied, but the school requires applicants to disclose all criminal convictions.

Have you ever been convicted of any offense, excluding minor traffic violations which did not involve injury to others?

Are there any charges pending or expected to be brought against you?

....If, after you submit this application, you are charged with a criminal offense or disciplinary charges are brought against you, notify the Office of Admissions in writing immediately.

Now, suddenly, Epstein isn't going to UVA anymore. Trujillo couldn't comment further on the situation, saying that his office can only comment on students who are enrolled or intending to enroll at the school, and that Epstein fits neither description. Notably, though, he didn't suggest that this was somehow the first he'd ever heard of Epstein. So, did Epstein omit the information from his application?

FL-SEN

FL-SEN: One Dem Gets Out To Avoid Messy Primary -- And Another Could Get In

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2009, 4:09PM

It's been a crazy last few days in the 2010 Florida Senate race, where both parties are jockeying to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Mel Martinez in this perennial swing state.

Over the weekend, Democratic state Sen. Dan Gelber announced that he is "stepping back" from the race -- that is, he's dropping out -- in order to avoid a nasty primary (current press speculation is he could end up running for a different state office). The frontrunner for the Dem nomination is Rep. Kendrick Meek, who has already raised $1.5 million.

Read more »

Republicans

Poll: GOP A White, Conservative, Religious Party

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2009, 2:39PM

A new Gallup poll shows the Republican party going further down to its demographic base -- it is overwhelmingly a party of conservative whites, and is a conservative white religious party as well.

The survey finds that 89% of Republican self-identifiers are white, compared to 64% of Democrats being white. Only 5% of Republicans are Hispanic and 2% black, compared to 11% Hispanics and 19% blacks among the Democratic base. In addition, 63% of Republicans are white conservative, and an overlapping 49% are white and religious.

From the pollster's analysis:

Does the Republican Party in essence "stick to the knitting" and cling to its core conservative principles? Or should the Republicans make an effort to expand their base -- among whites who are moderate or less religious, and/or the various nonwhite groups who to this point are largely ignoring the Republican Party in favor of the Democrats? The decision the party makes in response to this question could be pivotal in helping determine its future.

Pat Buchanan

Epstein: 'Diversity Can Be Good In Moderation' As Long As 'Trends Do Not Overwhelm The Dominant Culture'

Brian Beutler | June 1, 2009, 2:27PM

Earlier this year, a New York Times editorial blasted Marcus Epstein for a report he authored as executive director of The American Cause, arguing that Republicans ought to embrace anti-immigration extremism if they still dream of an eventual renaissance.

In the course of their digging, the Times editors came across an online archive of Epstein's writings which contain gems like:

"Diversity can be good in moderation -- if what is being brought in is desirable. Most Americans don't mind a little ethnic food, some Asian math whizzes, or a few Mariachi dancers -- as long as these trends do not overwhelm the dominant culture."

There's much, much more, if you care to browse.

Read more »

MN-SEN

Coleman Camp Keeps Mum On Whether They Will Appeal

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2009, 2:17PM

Earlier this morning, right after the Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Norm Coleman's appeal of his defeat in the Senate election trial, the attorneys for the two sides -- and Norm himself -- briefly took questions from reporters. The question on everybody's mind: Is this finished yet?

Norm Coleman
"We've come to an obviously critical point in this process," said Coleman. "It's more than about process, it's been about the opportunity to ensure that over 4,000 Minnesotans whose votes have not been counted to have their votes counted. I don't know what it's in those ballots, but if those 4,000 voters had lived in a different area, their votes would have been counted."

Note Coleman's claim that he does not know what's in the 4,000 rejected ballots (out of about 11,000 total) that his campaign selected. No rational observer of this process would believe such a claim if it had come from either side -- both campaigns clearly engaged in a thorough process of cherry-picking, selecting ballots where they either knew for sure that it was a vote for themselves, or had a decent idea based on geography. Coleman's legal team even made a reference to geography in one of their filings.

Read more »

Bay Buchanan: Epstein 'Showed Tremendous Courage' 'Turned His Life Around'

Brian Beutler | June 1, 2009, 2:14PM

I just got off the phone with Bay Buchanan who confirms that Marcus Epstein is still executive director of The American Cause, and will be until June 20th. She says his departure has nothing to do with the karate chopping incident, but with his departure for law school.

"The whole incident was inexcusable," Buchanan said. "The language in particular was offensive to anyone by any standard." But, "Marcus Epstein has shown tremendous courage in addressing some serious personal problems and he has turned his life around."

She said she's known about this case for nearly two years, but agreed to let him stay on staff contingent upon full rehabilitation.

MN-SEN

Menendez: Franken "Should Soon Prevail In The Minnesota Supreme Court"

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2009, 1:44PM

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, has released this statement on today's arguments at the Minnesota Supreme Court:

Today's hearing in the Minnesota Supreme Court was an important marker in Norm Coleman's protracted legal effort to overturn the results of last November's senate election. While Norm Coleman's desperate arguments still call for tossing-out legally-cast ballots, and counting illegally-cast ones, Al Franken was well-served by his legal team, headed by Marc Elias who impressively argued today's case.

But the bottom line is Al Franken got more votes and that is why Al Franken won the election, why Al Franken won the recount, why Al Franken won the election contest, and why he should soon prevail in the Minnesota Supreme Court. We have always said Norm Coleman deserves his day in court, but the Minnesota court system should be the end of the road for former Senator Coleman. This is a decision that should be made in Minnesota. It's been 209 days since the election, and with this Court's ruling we believe Al Franken will be entitled to an election certificate, so that he can get to work for the people of Minnesota.

The reference to the state court being the proper end of the road is meant to convey the Democratic position that once the state Supreme Court presumably rules for Franken, he should be seated immediately -- as opposed to a potential Republican effort to tie this up further in federal court.

Pat Buchanan

Tancredo's Karate Chopping Racist Aide Also Works For Pat Buchanan

Brian Beutler | June 1, 2009, 1:34PM

In addition to crusading for Tom Tancredo and karate chopping innocent black women on summer evenings in Georgetown, it turns out that Marcus Epstein also works for everyone's favorite MSNBC talking head Pat Buchanan.

According to its website, Epstein is the executive director of The American Cause--Buchanan's anti-immigration organization. I've placed a call to The American Cause and to MSNBC for comment, and to verify that Epstein remains on staff, and will let you know what they tell me.

MN-SEN

Coleman Attorney: We Tried To Put In Evidence -- And Couldn't

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2009, 1:11PM

For part three of today's legal proceedings in Minnesota, where the state Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Norm Coleman's appeal of his defeat at the election trial, let's take a look at when lead Coleman attorney Joe Friedberg came back for a 10-minute response period after Franken's lead attorney Marc Elias had a turn at bat.

Friedberg again complained that the trial court did not allow him to put in evidence of unequal treatment of absentee ballots across the state. "I repeatedly tried to get that evidence in, and repeatedly could not," said Friedberg. He added in even stronger terms: "I couldn't get it in, and I tried to the point where I strained the court's patience. I didn't want to go any further than that. These judges were very well-tempered."

Read more »

MN-SEN

Minnesota Supremes Put Franken's Lawyer On The Spot

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2009, 12:36PM

As part two of our review of today's proceedings at the Minnesota Supreme Court, where oral arguments were heard in Norm Coleman's appeal of his defeat at the election trial, let's take a look at lead Franken attorney Marc Elias' rebuttal.

Elias did get a fair number of tough questions from the five-member panel, but for the most part they had a different flavor than what Friedberg got. Elias received a lot of questions that amounted to putting him on the spot regarding the nature and ramifications of his arguments and his objections to Friedberg's. By contrast, I pointed out that Friedberg got questions that were so pointed as to amount to a ridicule of his case -- specifically the lack of full evidence.

Read more »

Joe Sestak

Sestak Talks Political Strategy Against Arlen Specter

Brian Beutler | June 1, 2009, 12:06PM

When Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) makes his primary challenge to Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) official, he won't have the Washington establishment on his side and he'll probably find himself significantly outspent by his famous opponent. But he has some tricks of his own up his sleeve.

"If you have the right message, and you're consistent in putting it out there," Sestak told me, then you still have a shot. "Sen. Clinton, running against Sen. Obama, was outspent four-to-one in Pennsylvania and yet somehow her message seemed to resonate." *

He describes "the message" as a key issue. But what will his message be? In an interview with TPMDC, Sestak provided some clues.

Read more »

MN-SEN

Minnesota Supremes Grill Coleman Lawyer On Lack Of Evidence

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2009, 12:03PM

The oral arguments just finished at the Minnesota Supreme Court, in Norm Coleman's appeal of his defeat at the election trial, with Coleman's lead attorney Joe Friedberg arguing that serious constitutional issues mean the trial court's legal conclusions should be overturned and more previously-rejected absentee ballots from Coleman's selected list put into the count. Franken's side obviously argued differently. For this post, let's focus on the Coleman side.

It's always a tricky business to read clues into the questions that judges ask the lawyers during these proceedings -- despite some basic assumptions about how this works, judges can surprise you. But if we just go by the basic assumptions, it didn't look good for Coleman, with the judges asking pointed questions of Friedberg that at certain points amounted to ridicule of him for putting on a shoddy case.

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Tom Tancredo

Tancredo Aide Pleads Guilty to Karate Chopping Pedestrian, Calling Her 'Nigger'

Brian Beutler | June 1, 2009, 11:23AM

Remember how Tom Tancredo went on CNN last week and called Sonia Sotomayor a racist, accusing her falsely of being a member of a "Latino KKK"? Well, if racism so offends him, how does he explain this?

On July 7, 2007, at approximately 7:15 p.m. at Jefferson and M Street, Northwest, in Washington, D.C., defendant was walking down the street making offensive remarks when he encountered the complainant, Ms. [REDACTED], who is African-American. The defendant uttered, "Nigger," as he delivered a karate chop to Ms. [REDACTED]'s head.

That defendant is named Marcus Epstein--a former Tancredo speechwriter who now works as executive director of Tancredo's political action committee.

Epstein pled guilty to the charge, but, according to Dave Weigel of The Washington Independent, he'll remain on the job "until he leaves for law school in the fall."

Auto Industry

RNC Web Vid Condemns "Government Motors" Deal

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2009, 9:57AM

The Republican National Committee has this new Web video on the General Motors bankruptcy deal, condemning it as an example of the Obama Administration taking over the private sector:

RNC Chairman Michael Steele included this statement:

"No matter how much the President spins GM's bankruptcy as good for the economy, it is nothing more than another government grab of a private company and another handout to the union cronies who helped bankroll his presidential campaign. President Obama will now own 60 percent of GM, and his union buddies will own almost 20 percent. And what do the taxpayers get? They'll get stuck with up to a $50 billion tab for the taxpayer dollars Obama is using to pay for his takeover of GM. Americans shouldn't be fooled. This is the real 'change' President Obama has in mind for America - government ownership of our economy financed with irresponsible and reckless government spending and debt and no jobs to show for it. This is a very sad day for the autoworkers and their families whose financial well-being will be directly affected by this clear act of an overreaching UAW and overbearing government."

MN-SEN

What To Expect Today At The Minnesota Supreme Court

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2009, 9:49AM

The Minnesota Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments at 10 a.m. ET today in the Minnesota Senate election contest, hearing Norm Coleman's appeal of his defeat at the trial a month and a half ago. Check out our good friends at The Uptake for a video feed. So what can we expect? And when will Minnesota actually get a second Senator?

The first thing to remember is that we won't get a decision from the judges today, and probably not for several weeks. Instead, both sides will make their oral arguments, after having already filed written briefs over the last few weeks. The big thing to look out for will be how the five Justices of the court -- the court has seven members, but two have recused themselves because they sat on the state canvassing board that oversaw the recount -- react to the attorneys' arguments and what sort of questions they pitch.

The Coleman side has charged that variation among local elected officials in accepting or rejecting certain absentee ballots -- namely ballots from their own list, and largely from counties that Coleman carried overall -- amount to a fundamental violation of the Constitution under the 14th amendment. They have argued for the court to adopt a more lax standard for admitting ballots in, as opposed to strict adherence to the letter of the law on a ballot's requirements and qualifications. A consequence of this is that it seemingly implies they'll try to take this to federal court if they lose at the state level.

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Blanche Lincoln

Change To Win Targets Blanche Lincoln With Direct Mail Campaign

Brian Beutler | June 1, 2009, 9:12AM

The labor consortium Change To Win is targeting Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) with a direct mail campaign. The flyer credits her with helping assure that the stimulus bill survived in the Senate and tells recipients to "ask Senator Lincoln to do the right thing" and vote for the Employee Free Choice Act.

David Kinkade of The Arkansas Project got his hands on a copy.

Labor groups have been targeting Lincoln pretty consistently since she came out against the original language of EFCA earlier this year. Last week, workers held a 24 hour vigil at Lincoln's office in Little Rock. And AFL-CIO's director of organizing Stewart Acuff says Lincoln has received 14,000 handwritten letters from workers and small business owners across Arkansas.

Auto Industry

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | June 1, 2009, 9:00AM

GM Declares Bankruptcy; Government To Have Majority Share
General Motors has filed for bankruptcy as part of a government-led reorganization. The federal government will provide an additional $30 billion in aid -- and will have a majority share in the company of 60%. The plan is for GM to emerge from the bankruptcy within 60-90 days with a smaller work force, fewer plants and a reduced number of dealerships.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will be speaking at 11:55 a.m. ET, on the General Motors bankruptcy deal. At 1:20 p.m. ET, he will visit the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. At 4:45 p.m. ET, he will meet with the National Economic Council staff.

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Sonia Sotomayor

TPMDC Sunday Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | May 31, 2009, 1:00PM

Cornyn Not Ruling Out Filibuster Against Sotomayor
Appearing on ABC's This Week, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) would not rule out a filibuster against the Sotomayor nomination. "I'm not willing to judge one way or the other, George [Stephanopoulos]," said Cornyn, "because frankly, we need to not prejudge, not pre-confirm, and to give Judge Sotomayor the fair hearing that Miguel Estrada, and, indeed, Clarence Thomas were denied by our friends on the other side of the aisle."

Rove: Bush Appreciates Cheney's "Forthright Defense"
Karl Rove told the Politico that former President George W. Bush -- who has publicly said he won't criticize President Obama -- privately appreciates the role that former Vice President Dick Cheney has taken on. "I know President Bush and Vice President Cheney talk with regularity," said Rove. "I know the former president appreciates Dick's forthright defense of the administration's polices. And I know Vice President Cheney understands the special role that the former president occupies."

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