TPMDC Saturday Roundup

Obama Announces Plans To Reform No Child Left Behind
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama announced that the administration will roll out a set of reforms to the No Child Left Behind Act.

"And on Monday, my administration will send to Congress our blueprint for an updated Elementary and Secondary Education Act to overhaul No Child Left Behind," said Obama. "What this plan recognizes is that while the federal government can play a leading role in encouraging the reforms and high standards we need, the impetus for that change will come from states, and from local schools and school districts. So, yes, we set a high bar - but we also provide educators the flexibility to reach it."

Scott Brown: Dems' Attitude On Heath Care 'Washington At Its Very Worst'
This weekend's Republican address was delivered by Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), whose upset victory in a January special election seriously complicated Democratic plans to pass health care. In the address, Brown attacked the Democrats over the health care bill.

"Somehow, the greater the public opposition to the health care bill, the more determined they seem to force it on us anyway," said Brown. Their attitude shows Washington at its very worst - the presumption that they know best, and they're going to get their way whether the American people like it or not. And, when politicians start thinking like that, they don't let anything get in their way - not public opinion, not the rules of fair play, not even their own promises."

Hillary Clinton: Israel's Settlement Announcement During Biden's Visit 'Insulting'
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized Israel over its announcement of new settlements, which came during Vice President Biden's visit to the country. "Our relationship is durable. It's strong. It's rooted in common values," Clinton told CNN. "But we have to make clear to our Israeli friends and partners that the two-state solution -- which we support, which the prime minister himself says he supports -- requires confidence-building measures on both sides. And the announcement of the settlements the very day that the vice president was there was insulting."

Politico: Obama's Reluctant Populism Irks Left
Politico reports that President Obama's overall approach has irritated Democrats on the populist left. "I think the president has a long way to go," said Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA), chairman of the Populist Caucus. "He keeps sending mixed messages where he'll do something that appears to be populist, like condemning the actions of Wall Street, and then he'll be sitting down with corporate executives and planning strategy."

U.S. Avoids Anti-Abortion Debate At U.N. Meeting
The Associated Press points out a major difference between this past two-week United Nations meeting on women equality, which ended yesterday, and the one before it: The United States avoided debate over abortion. At the previous meeting five years ago, the Bush administration fought unsuccessfully for language against abortion, an argument that did not occur this time.

Kerry: Energy Bill 'Primarily A Jobs Bill,' And Climate 'On For The Ride'
In an interview with the Associated Press, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) is selling his energy bill as being about jobs and reducing pollution, with less emphasis on climate change as a main issue. "It's primarily a jobs bill, and an energy independence bill and a pollution reduction-health-clean air bill," Kerry said. "Climate sort of follows. It's on for the ride."

NYT: Tea Party Leaders Avoiding Social Issues
The New York Times reports that some organizers of the Tea Party movement are trying to steer clear of hot-button social issues, and keep the focus on spending and economic issues. "We should be creating the biggest tent possible around the economic conservative issue," said Ryan Hecker, the organizer behind the online Contract From America. "I think social issues may matter to particular individuals, but at the end of the day, the movement should be agnostic about it."