Obama: McConnell Making ‘Cynical And Deceptive Assertion’ About Financial Reform
In this weekend’s YouTube address, President Obama put forward his case for the proposed new financial regulations. And he went after Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for working with Wall Street firms to block the proposals.
“Now, unsurprisingly, these reforms have not exactly been welcomed by the people who profit from the status quo - as well their allies in Washington. This is probably why the special interests have spent a lot of time and money lobbying to kill or weaken the bill. Just the other day, in fact, the Leader of the Senate Republicans and the Chair of the Republican Senate campaign committee met with two dozen top Wall Street executives to talk about how to block progress on this issue,” said Obama. “Lo and behold, when he returned to Washington, the Senate Republican Leader came out against the common-sense reforms we’ve proposed. In doing so, he made the cynical and deceptive assertion that reform would somehow enable future bailouts - when he knows that it would do just the opposite.”
Cantor Promises ‘Adult Leadership’ With GOP, Says Dems Want To Turn America Into Europe
In this weekend’s Republican address, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) warned of massive taxes under the Democrats, who he said want to turn America into Europe.
“Down one path is the Democrats’ trillion dollar health care overhaul, a stimulus law that failed to meet expectations for job creation, the taxpayer funded bailouts of private companies, and a cap-and-trade policy that will impose a massive energy tax upon all Americans. All are costly policies that seize more control over the economy and of our lives. The goal? To remake America in the image of Europe,” said Cantor. “But take hope. Down the other path is responsible, adult leadership, focused firmly on job creation and economic opportunity. We believe in a Congress that will once again listen to the people and return America to the country they know and love.”
Conservatives Geared Up To Attack Wood, Kagan As SCOTUS Picks
The New York Times reports that conservative activists are already gearing up to oppose President Obama’s upcoming Supreme Court nominee. They already have opposition-research files on Diane Wood and Elena Kagan from when they were finalists for last year’s nomination: “Some of those files, obtained by The New York Times, show that if Mr. Obama nominates Judge Wood, conservatives would seek to portray her as an abortion-rights extremist who is hostile to Christians. Should the pick go to Ms. Kagan, conservatives are likely to accuse her of subordinating national security to a gay rights agenda.”
Dems Plan Unprecedented Aid For Congressional Campaigns, Seek To Repeat Obama Playbook
The Washington Post reports that Democrats will try to remobilize young and minority voters who turned out for Barack Obama in 2008, to come out again for this year’s mid-term elections: “As Republicans show new momentum in their fundraising, White House officials are promising congressional Democrats about $50 million in support to shore up their reelection bids this fall. Run through the Democratic National Committee, the plan relies primarily on help from the millions of young and minority voters who cast their first ballots ever for President Obama in 2008 but whose energy has since waned. About $20 million of the total is dedicated to traditional campaign resources such as TV advertising and get-out-the-vote efforts for the midterm elections.”
Reid To Make Push On Backlog Of Nominees
Roll Call reports: “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in the coming week wants to clear the backlog of executive and judicial nominees, beginning with a procedural vote Monday night on the nomination of Lael Brainard for an undersecretary position at the Treasury Department. Reid filed cloture petitions on a handful of other names Thursday before shutting the chamber down for the week, including: Maria Demeo to serve on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, Thomas Vanaskie to serve on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Denny Chin to serve on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Christopher Schroder to serve as assistant attorney general.”
3 In 10 Americans Failed To Return Census Forms
CNN reports that three out of every ten Americans have failed to return their census forms in time for Friday’s deadline, with a national participation rate of 69%. Census workers will begin going to door to door in early May, to houses that did not return the forms. Wisconsin has the highest participation at 78%, followed by Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and Pennsylvania with rates between 74%-77%.
Tax Hikes Still On The Table For GOPers In Obama’s Fiscal Commission
The Hill reports that Republican members of President Obama’s fiscal commission are not ruling out raising taxes as they head into the commission’s first meeting, scheduled for April 27. “I will sit down with anybody at anytime to discuss anything to see if there is any common ground to prevent the fiscal insanity this nation has engaged in today,” said Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), a commission member.
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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