TPMDC Morning Roundup

Obama: Speech Tonight Will Make It Clear Exactly What is Being Proposed
In an interview aired this morning on ABC's Good Morning America, President Obama said that his speech to Congress tonight will bring "clarity" to the health care debate: "So, the intent of the speech on is to, A, make sure that the American people are clear exactly what it is that we are proposing," said Obama. "B, to make sure that Democrats and Republicans understand that I'm open to new ideas, that we're not being rigid and ideological about this thing, but we do intend to get something done this year."

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will address the Walter Cronkite Memorial Service at 10:30 a.m. ET, at Lincoln Center in New York City. He will depart from New York at 1:25 p.m. ET, arriving back at the White House at 2:35 p.m. ET. At 8 p.m. Et, he will address a joint session of Congress, delivering a speech on health care reform.

Biden's Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will travel this morning to Syracuse, New York, to chair a meeting of the White House Task Force on Middle Class Families, focused on college access and affordability. He will be joined by Sec. of the Treasury Timothy Geithner, Sec. of Education Arne Duncan, and other experts on higher education. At 6 p.m. ET, he and his wife Dr. Jill Biden will host a Rosh Hashanah reception at the Naval Observatory. In the evening, he will attend President Obama's address to Congress.

Supreme Court Hearing Today On Anti-Hillary Movie
The Supreme Court today will be rehearing the Citizens United case, involving a conservative group's corporate funding of a movie to attack Hillary Clinton during the 2007/2008 primary season. Justices Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas are already on record opposing restrictions on political activity by corporations, so the real question is whether Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito will uphold the governing precedents in the case, or join with the other conservatives in overturning it.

Massachusetts Legislature Holding Hearing On Senate Appointment Bill
The Massachusetts state House will hold a much-anticipated hearing today on a bill to give Gov. Deval Patrick the power to make a temporary appointment to Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. "There's a lot of interest in it," said state Rep. Michael Moran, chairman of the Committee on Election Laws. "I'm expecting a full house."

Pawlenty Campaigning Today With McDonnell
Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN), the vice-chairman of the Republican Governors Association and a potential presidential candidate in 2012, is campaigning today in Virginia with GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell.

Opposition To Health Care Reform Revives Christian Right
The Washington Post reports that the fight over health care has re-energized the Christian Right, with its groups taking in money and mobilizing supporters at a very much accelerated rate. "Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and Henry Waxman have done more to energize Christian conservatives than any conservative leader could have done with this health-care package," said Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. "I, who never believed that we were dead, did not believe that it would happen this quickly."

Palin Auctioning Celebrity Dinner For Charity
Sarah Palin is auctioning a dinner for five with herself and her husband Todd on eBay, with the proceeds going to the "Ride 2 Recovery" charity, which provides wounded veterans with bicycles and organized rides. The opening bid started at $25,000.