State Dinner Crashers

Tareq Salahi Donated To Virginia Pols And Sold $25K Worth Of Wine For Kaine Inaugural

Christina Bellantoni | November 27, 2009, 7:26PM

Tareq Salahi, DNC chair Tim Kaine and Michaele Salahi

We already know that now-famed party crashers Michaele and Tareq Salahi of Hume in Faquier County in Virginia like to pose with celebrities and top politicians, but they also dabble a bit in local political donations.

Tareq Salahi, who owns Oasis Winery, has made two donations large enough to make the federal database - $600 to Republican George Allen's first campaign for the U.S. Senate in Virginia and $1,000 to Rep. Jim Moran's (D-VA) primary campaign in 2006.

Virginia Public Access Project records show that Tim Kaine's inaugural committee bought $25,000 worth of Oasis wine for an event held the night before Kaine's inauguration in 2006 as governor of Virginia.

TPMDC tonight interviewed state Delegate Dave Albo, a Republican from Northern Virginia.

Albo is a longtime friend of the Salahis, even attending an ACDC concert with them recently.

"They are really fun and very nice," he said.

Albo said the Salahis spend a lot of time at social events.

"They are the kind of people who would get invited to something like that," Albo said.

As I reported earlier, they have attended events at the executive mansion and were involved with Virginia tourism promotion and active in the state's winery association.

Salahi also donated $2,500 to a Democratic candidate for delegate in 2007.

State Dinner Crashers

Party Crashers: Who Are Michaele And Tareq Salahi?

Christina Bellantoni | November 27, 2009, 5:22PM

Tareq and Michaele Salahi

For all the consternation about how two uninvited reality show hopefuls were able to crash a state dinner at the White House, much remains unknown about who the husband and wife glitterati wannabes actually are.

TPM has been digging, and on close examination Michaele and Tareq Salahi have been moving in high end social and political circles for quite some time.

The White House is just the creme de la creme of the hot spots they've hit - the Salahis have attended receptions at the Executive Mansion in Virginia, big-dollar dinners for Congressional leadership and appear grinning next to top politicians and celebrities in dozens of photos on the Internet.

Read more »

2008 campaign

Top 10 Things You Didn't Know Before Reading Plouffe's 'Audacity To Win'

Christina Bellantoni | November 27, 2009, 11:56AM

David Plouffe

TPMDC is thankful today for political books that aren't boring or retread, and David Plouffe's "The Audacity to Win" fits into that category.

Plouffe ran the Obama campaign in 2008 and still does work for the DNC's campaign arm Organizing for America. He dishes in his book on some of the campaign's best-kept secrets.

We've reported on a few since the book came out - the Obama camp leaked the John Edwards haircut, they pushed for an early state campaign pledge to "box in" Hillary Clinton and Edwards offered to endorse for a spot on the ticket.

But there's so much more.

I covered the entire long campaign, and it was fascinating to read a candid book and peek under the hood at what had been a famously tight-lipped shop.

There are plenty of examples of Plouffe being cheap, and a few mentions of Plouffe and Robert Gibbs in their boxers.

After the jump, TPMDC's Top 10 things that Plouffe reveals in "Audacity to Win."

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Barack Obama

Green Bean Casserole And Huckleberry Pie On Obama Thanksgiving Menu

Christina Bellantoni | November 27, 2009, 10:45AM

President Barack Obama

The Obama family's first White House Thanksgiving was resplendent with pie.

They hosted about 50 guests, including family, friends and staff, the White House said.

The White House told the pool reporter on holiday duty that Obama's favorite Thanksgiving dishes are turkey and pumpkin pie. However, last year he told reporters his favorite dish was sweet potato pie.

Republicans used to make fun of all the times Obama would say on the campaign trail that he loves pie. In one example, he goes on and on about the pie:

Yesterday's menu after the jump.

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Barack Obama

Obama Phoned Troops On Holiday

Christina Bellantoni | November 27, 2009, 10:32AM

Pres. Barack Obama

President Obama spoke with members of the armed services on Thanksgiving, a few days before he will be announcing an increase of more than 30,000 troops to Afghanistan.

The White House said Obama made 10 calls to troops.

He called two service members in each of the five military branches "to wish them a Happy Thanksgiving and to let them know how much Michelle and he are truly thankful for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the nation," the White House told a pool reporter on holiday duty.

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Visitors Logs

Who Visited The White House (And Why You Should Care)

Christina Bellantoni | November 25, 2009, 4:38PM

White House

Taking a step back, let's evaluate what the release of 1,615 visitors to the White House show us.

* First, it's a busy White House.

President Obama has often been accused of doing too much, and it's clear from the frequency the gates open that his team has dozens of balls up in the air at once.

From health care summits, education strategy talks with state and big-city officials in the Oval Office and meetings with industry leaders to press interviews, poetry readings and the luau for members of Congress, by all accounts there is never a dull moment at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

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Visitors Logs

FCC Chairman Jules Genachowski On White House Visitors List 46 Times

Christina Bellantoni | November 25, 2009, 3:07PM

Julius Genachowski, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission

FCC Chairman Jules Genachowski has been a frequent White House visitor, both before and after getting the job.

His first meeting on Feb. 18, according to the White House visitors logs released today, was several weeks before he was nominated for the job.

He came again Feb. 24 to meet with Pete Rouse.

The day before President Obama nominated him, Genachowski met with both David Axelrod and Valerie Jarret, presidential advisers.

He was nominated March 3.

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Barack Obama

UPDATED: Some War! Chamber CEO Visited White House Ten Times

Zachary Roth | November 25, 2009, 2:54PM

Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Donohue

Last month, the White House was accused of launching "a frontal assault against free enterprise and the Chamber of Commerce," by an executive of the business lobby.

It's true that the White house signaled its intention to play hardball with the Chamber. But it's not like the group has been shut out from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue since Obama took office.

Read more »

Barack Obama

MoveOn's Pariser Met With Obama

Zachary Roth | November 25, 2009, 2:15PM

Eli Pariser, former executive director of MoveOn.org

If you've been feeling like President Obama has shut out his progressive base since taking office, you might be mildly comforted to know that the POTUS met directly with MoveOn's Eli Pariser back in February, according to White House visitor logs.

Pariser is the former executive director, and current board preisdnet, of MoveOn.org.

Another MoveOn leader doesn't seem to have had as much access. Joan Blades, one half of the California couple that founded the group, made her own White House visit in March, but it was with a mid-level aide to Michelle Obama.

Barack Obama

Cory Booker Met With Obama, Jarrett

Zachary Roth | November 25, 2009, 1:56PM

Newark Mayor Cory Booker

Newark mayor Cory Booker has visited President Obama's White House four times, including one meeting with the president himself, according to the White House visitor logs that were released this afternoon.

The meeting with Obama occurred in March. There was another White House visit later that month for Booker, as well as one in May. And in August, Booker met with Valerie Jarrett, a close confidante of the president.

Booker and Obama have long been political allies, and some observers have noted that Booker's "post-racial' political style echoes the president's own.

Lou Dobbs

Poll: Lou Dobbs Wouldn't Go Far As Indy For President

Eric Kleefeld | November 25, 2009, 1:17PM

Lou Dobbs

A new Rasmussen poll tests Lou Dobbs as an independent candidate for President against Barack Obama and various Republicans -- finding that Lou wouldn't poll very strongly as an indy, and would only take votes away from the GOP.

With Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee, Obama is ahead 42%-34%-14%. With Mike Huckabee, it's 42%-36%-12%. With Sarah Palin, it's 44%-37%-12%. By comparison, without Dobbs in the mix Obama is tied with Romney at 44%-44%, leads Huckabee by 45%-41%, and leads Palin by 46%-43% (with "some other candidate" in the single digits in all those matches).

Interestingly, there is no match-up of Dobbs one on one against Obama -- that is, Dobbs himself as the Republican nominee.

From the pollster's analysis: "Obviously, it's way too early to evaluate the political environment for the 2012 election, and it's important to remember that four years ago Obama would not have been considered a serious national challenger for 2008. For Dobbs, the data shows how improbable such an independent bid could be."

Visitors Logs

White House Visitors Logs: Who Came To See President Obama?

Christina Bellantoni | November 25, 2009, 1:13PM

White House

The White House just posted more than 1,600 records of visitors who came through the gates at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue this year. The release includes the names of people who visited President Obama and other top officials.

Check out the names here, and TPMDC will update readers as we go through the names.

As we reported earlier, the White House is releasing the names from before Sept. 15 as part of its new transparency policy.

It's an earlier release than expected due to the holiday.

They are the first administration in history to release the names of people who have visited the White House. Read through our coverage of the release here. The spreadsheet is more detailed than the last one, offering a description of the meeting.

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Copenhagen

Al Gore Also Going To Copenhagen

Christina Bellantoni | November 25, 2009, 12:48PM

Fmr. Vice President Al Gore

Vice President Al Gore will travel to Copenhagen next month for the climate change talks.

We reported earlier that President Obama will be going with the aim of giving "momentum" to the U.S. team's negotiations.

TPMDC has learned that Gore, who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his work on global warming, also is making the trip.

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Visitors Logs

No Pardon For The Press: WH Visitors' Names Being Released Today

Christina Bellantoni | November 25, 2009, 10:24AM

President Barack Obama

The White House this afternoon will be releasing more names of visitors who came through the gates at Pennsylvania Avenue this year.

Last month the administration for the first time offered citizens a look at names - requested by watchdog groups and press - and starting at the end of this year they will release every name.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters in his morning gaggle this morning there are about 1,600 names on this list that covers requests before Sept. 15.

The names would normally come out at the end of the day the last Friday of the month. They are being posted at WhiteHouse.gov early due to the holiday.

Afghanistan

Obama Will Address Nation On Afghanistan Decision Tuesday Night

Christina Bellantoni | November 25, 2009, 10:16AM

President Obama holds what will likely be the final meeting of his War Council before deciding to send a surge of troops to Afghanistan. Official White House photo.

President Obama will address the nation from West Point Military Academy at 8 p.m. Tuesday to explain his decision on sending more troops to Afghanistan, Robert Gibbs told reporters in his morning gaggle.

He's In!

Obama Will Attend Climate Talks In Copenhagen

Christina Bellantoni | November 25, 2009, 9:52AM

A White House official tells TPMDC President Obama will attend the climate talks in Copenhagen on Dec. 9. The trip coincides with Obama's acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.

In addition to the president's address, the White House will send a large delegation, including Obama's "Green Cabinet" who aim to "maximize" chances of success at Copenhagen.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters the move would "give momentum" to the U.S. position on climate talks.

EPA administrator Carol Browner told reporters he would lay out clear goals for cutting carbon emissions, in metrics that are "fairly similar" to the bill which passed the House and what is being considered by the Senate.

Read more »

India

Steven Spielberg, Fareed Zakaria, Tom Friedman Among Guests At State Dinner

Christina Bellantoni | November 24, 2009, 5:49PM

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Newsweek International Editor Fareed Zakaria, and filmmaker Steven Spielberg

Producer Steven Spielberg, music mogul David Geffen and New York Times columnist Tom Friedman are among the guests at tonight's White House state dinner in honor of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) will be attending, and he's not the only Republican.

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is attending, as is Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN).

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent who has backed the White House on key matters, also is attending.

Ari Emanuel, brother to White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel.

Congressional leadership, Cabinet members and White House staffers are on the list, including incoming general counsel Bob Bauer.

Oprah Winfrey isn't on the list, but her best friend Gayle King, is.

Television personalities Katie Couric of CBS, Brian Williams of NBC and Sanjay Gupta and Fareed Zakaria of CNN are on the list.

Late Update: The Associated Press caught another journalist on the list - Washington Post national editor, Rajiv Chandrasekaran.

Full guest list after the jump.

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India

Biden Toasts India's Singh: 'You're Hottest Ticket In Town'

Christina Bellantoni | November 24, 2009, 5:36PM

Vice President Joe Biden

As part of the official state visit festivities today, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hosted a lunch for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur at the State Department this afternoon.

Biden told Singh he was so popular they couldn't find a large enough room to host everyone who wanted to be there.

"There's a phrase Mr. Prime Minister here in this country, you're the hottest ticket in town," Biden said.

Biden toasted Singh with a Gandhi quote.

"As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world as in being able to remake ourselves," he said. "I would argue that as we adapt to this new century, as we enter this new era of growth and prosperity, as we remake ourselves India and America, and our partnership will help remake the world."

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Barack Obama

Poll: Obama's Fall In Popularity Comes Mainly From Whites

Eric Kleefeld | November 24, 2009, 4:43PM

President Barack Obama

A new Gallup poll finds that President Obama's approval rating has fallen precipitously among one group in particular: White Americans.

Back in February, during his honeymoon period, Gallup had Obama's approval among whites at 61%. Today, it is only 39%. By comparison, his approval among non-whites had a much smaller decrease, from 80% during the honeymoon to 73% now.

Interestingly, the decline in white approval extends to white Democrats, as well, though to a lesser extent than the white demographic overall. His approval among white Dems has fallen from 87% during the honeymoon, down to 76% now. By contrast, his approval among non-white Dems has actually gone up slightly, from 90% then to 92% now.

It shouldn't be surprising that whites are a weaker demographic for Obama, as they tend to be tough ground for national Democrats in general. Obama won only 43% of this group in 2008, even as he won 53% of the total popular vote. This was actually pretty good for a Democrat, and an improvement from John Kerry's 41% in 2004.

Barack Obama

Obama's Approval In The States: The Honeymoon Is Over -- We're Back To The Campaign

Eric Kleefeld | November 24, 2009, 3:08PM

President Barack Obama

As you know, national polls have shown President Obama's approval rating headed below 50% recently, a sign of discontent after his solid win in the 2008 election, and his sky-high approval ratings during his honeymoon period. But how has this worked out on a state by state level?

A look at key swing states suggests that the current political situation has really become a lot like last year -- from one state to another, Obama's approval ratings are pretty close to election results from 2008. Using those election results as a benchmark, it's as clear a sign as any that the honeymoon is truly over -- we're right back to 2008 campaign mode, in terms of average voter opinion.

In all these states, and in the country overall, Obama had a very strong honeymoon period, but that really does seem to have worn off. There may be one difference, though, and it's a crucial one: Obama's own supporters aren't as revved up as they were back then, while the opposition has become very energetic. And that can make all the difference in 2010.

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Feast

Prawns, Pralines And Pumpkin Pie On State Dinner Menu

Christina Bellantoni | November 24, 2009, 2:04PM

Press hustles to photograph the sample place settings for the first official state dinner of the Obama presidency.

The White House is offering reporters a preview of tonight's state dinner, from the menu to the table settings.

TPMDC is among dozens of news outlets currently crammed into the state dining room, where two tables have been set up to show how the festivities will play out this evening.

Read more »

Barack Obama

White House Takes On Gun Lobby's Health Care Reform Attacks

Brian Beutler | November 24, 2009, 1:01PM

President Barack Obama

You might not necessarily think that health care reform would end up in the crosshairs of the gun lobby. But you'd be wrong. Gun Owners of America have been raging against the Senate health care bill for all sorts of imagined threats to the Second Amendment, and now the White House has taken notice.

What exactly are their concerns? Well, for instance, "Special 'wellness and prevention' programs (inserted by Section 1001 of the bill as part of a new Section 2717 in the Public Health Services Act) would allow the government to offer lower premiums to employers who bribe their employees to live healthier lifestyles -- and nothing within the bill would prohibit rabidly anti-gun HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius from decreeing that 'no guns' is somehow healthier."

The White House says: "Section 2717 section creates guidelines for insurers to report on initiatives that improve quality of care and health outcomes, and it specifically lists what types of programs would be involved - such as smoking cessation, physical fitness, nutrition, heart disease prevention. There is no mention of guns, and there is no language that could result in higher premiums for gun owners or lower premiums for people who do not own guns."

You can read the gun owners' gripes here, and the fact-check here.

Barack Obama

Rahm Orders Health Care Article Be Must-Read For Staffers

Christina Bellantoni | November 24, 2009, 11:35AM

President Obama, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, and Ron Brownstein

When President Obama likes a magazine article, White House staffers had better read it.

Obama's must-read is Ron Brownstein's Saturday blog post "A Milestone in the Health Care Journey" at the Atlantic's political Web site.

Politico noted today that Obama found the article, which lauds Max Baucus' approach to health care, a good summary of the cost controls in the health care bill.

An administration official tells TPMDC that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel assigned the article as homework during a recent meeting.

According to the official, Emanuel told senior staffers "not to come back to the next day's meeting if they hadn't read the article."

Alex Castellanos

In Quest To Reform Steele's Image, RNC Hires Republican Attack Dog Castellanos

Brian Beutler | November 24, 2009, 11:28AM

RNC Communications Director Alex Castellanos

Pretend for a moment that you're Michael Steele. You won the RNC chairmanship earlier this year, and have been at the helm of the GOP for months as it has waged a fierce internal battle over the future of the party. You also have a reputation for being a bit of a buffoon. So the off-year elections roll around, and things go OK. Dede gets Scozzafav'd, but for the most part the media trains its eyes on gubernatorial pick ups in New Jersey and Virginia and declares victory for the GOP.

You might think that's a pretty good outcome. But Steele apparently wanted more credit for the Christie and McDonnell wins. So what's a political chief to do?

According to Politico the answer he arrived at was 'fire my communications director and fill the void with CNN's celebrity GOP talking head Alex Castellanos."

Read more »

India

Obama Says India-U.S. Relationship A 'Defining Partnership'

Christina Bellantoni | November 24, 2009, 9:44AM

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Barack Obama

President Obama welcomed Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today at the White House, saying it was "fitting" that India was the first country to be hosted for an official state visit.

Obama said the nations can work together to curb the effects of climate change, end poverty and strive for a world without nuclear weapons. He said they each are "speaking out and standing up for the rights and dignity" that all humans deserve.

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Climate Change

WH Officials Say Decision On Copenhagen Attendance Coming Soon

Christina Bellantoni | November 23, 2009, 2:13PM

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), the planet Earth, and President Barack Obama

The White House will announce soon whether President Obama will attend the climate change meetings in Copenhagen, a long anticipated decision that will signal how much effort and political capital the United States wants to spend on promising to curb carbon emissions.

As world leaders and climate experts have criticized a lack of action in Washington in the leadup to the talks, the White House is trumpeting more action in the 10 months since Obama took office than the world saw under President George W. Bush.

When questioned about the delay, White House officials pushed back.

"We go into Copenhagen with a very, very strong hand - if we have an outline that's helpful, but we go in with 10 months of unprecedented leadership on these issues," a senior administration official told reporters in a briefing today.

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Barack Obama

Lieberman Repeats Claim That Public Option Not Part Of 2008 Presidential Campaign

Brian Beutler | November 21, 2009, 9:15PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) raised hackles among liberals earlier this week when he claimed that the public option wasn't a part of the 2008 presidential campaign. He repeated that claim to reporters tonight, though acknowledged, when pressed, that then-candidate Barack Obama did in fact include a public option in his campaign health care proposal.

"This is a kindof 11th hour addition to a debate that's gone on for decades," Lieberman told reporters tonight. "Nobody's ever talked about a public option before. Not even in the presidential campaign last year."

I asked in response, "How do you reconcile your contention that the public option wasn't part of the presidential campaign given that all three of the [leading Democratic] candidates had something along the lines of the public option in their white papers?'

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Health Care

White House Keeping Close Watch Over Health Care Debate

Christina Bellantoni | November 21, 2009, 12:15PM

Pres. Barack Obama

A White House source tells TPMDC they are "monitoring" today's Senate debate, but wouldn't tip off whether President Obama is making last minute phone calls to the holdout Democrats.

Volunteers with the DNC's Organizing for America are flooding Senate switchboards, and as we noted earlier, Sarah Palin is asking her fans to make calls and help "KILL THE BILL tonite."

The White House also is pushing back on critics who blast the health care bill as too long.

Communications director Dan Pfeiffer wrote on the White House blog late last night: "Since some opponents of reform seem too obsessed with the length of the Senate health insurance reform bill to even bother looking at what's in it for American families, we thought we'd make it a little easier for them to find some key of provisions they're working so hard to kill."

He highlights eight elements of the bill the White House likes the most.

Read Obama's statement of administration policy on the Senate bill here.

Late Update: The president can't be watching too closely - Obama is golfing this afternoon.

Health Care

Obama Administration: We (Heart) Senate Health Care Bill

Christina Bellantoni | November 20, 2009, 5:59PM

Pres. Barack Obama and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)

The White House has released a statement of administration policy about the Senate health care bill that will receive its first test vote tomorrow.

If the headline above sounds familiar, so does the statement. They released a very similar one before the House health care vote earlier this month.

"They have forged a strong consensus that represents an historic step forward," the administration said of both the House and Senate bills.

Each statement talks about the bill being "the product of unprecedented cooperation and countless hours of hard work by Members of the Senate who share the President's conviction that the Nation cannot wait another year for health insurance reform."

The biggest difference - the statement on the House talked about its strong public option.

The Senate statement lauds that the bill "includes important health care delivery system and insurance reforms and cost-containment initiatives, and it would extend the solvency of Medicare's hospital insurance trust fund."

Statement in full after the jump.

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Health Care

Tag Team: Obama, Biden, Interest Groups Push On Health Care

Christina Bellantoni | November 20, 2009, 2:24PM

OFA Organizers Mitch Stewart and Jeremy Bird

The White House, Democratic National Committee and pro-health care groups are going full force to build support in advance of tomorrow test vote on the Senate health care bill.

President Obama had nothing on his public schedule following a return from his 8-day trip to Asia, and administration sources said they believe he and the White House team are pushing senators to at least vote to bring the bill to the floor. So far, they've had good news today as conservative Democrats agree to that first step.

Vice President Joe Biden, who is celebrating his 67th birthday home in Delaware today, has been on the phone with lawmakers to bend their ears and ask for their support on the health care bill.

The DNC used the Obama Twitter feed today to urge: "The senate has unveiled an excellent health reform bill. Call your senators and ask them to move forward."

Organizing for America is asking supporters to phone Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and OFA volunteers showed up yesterday on Capitol Hill when Reid released the bill.

Read more »

Barack Obama

Poll: Obama Still Beats Palin And Other GOPers, But Palin Improves A Little

Eric Kleefeld | November 20, 2009, 11:54AM

President Barack Obama and Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

The new national survey from Public Policy Polling (D) finds that President Obama continues to hold a national lead over Sarah Palin and other potential Republican challengers -- but interestingly enough, Palin has closed the gap just a little.

The numbers: Obama leads Palin by 51%-43%, is ahead of Mike Huckabee by 49%-44%, leads Mitt Romney by 48%-43%. The margin of error is ±3%. As a frame of reference, in 2008 the Obama-Biden ticket beat the McCain-Palin ticket by 53%-46%.

A month ago, Obama was ahead of Palin by 52%-40%, ahead of Huckabee by 47%-43%, and ahead of Romney by 48%-40%. Paul was not tested.

Obama's approval rating in the poll is 49%, with 46% disapproving, down from 51%-43% last month.

"Barack Obama is now in a slightly weaker position than he was a year ago at this time," said PPP president Dean Debnam, in the press release. "His leads against Huckabee and Romney are smaller than his margin of victory against John McCain and his approval's dropped below 50%. It's not a dire situation but he needs to reverse the current trend."

Barack Obama

Fear Factor: The Four Ways Republicans Say Obama Will Kill You Now

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 20, 2009, 11:45AM

Nidal Hasan, Pres. Obama, Khalid Sheik Mohammed

It's been a week since Attorney General Eric Holder announced that five terror suspects will be transferred from Guantanamo Bay to New York City to face trial. There are still a lot of questions to be answered about logistics, and it will likely be months before the first suspect sets foot in a federal courtroom.

Republicans have already told us what's going to happen, though: If you let President Obama have his way, you will die.

The GOP has returned to a familiar line on Obama and national security in the days since Holder's announcement. It's time to be afraid again, they say, hearkening back to the days of duct tape and Orange alerts even some Republicans thought they left behind on Election Day 2008.

So grab an assault rifle and keep the phone number for Operation TIPS close -- here are the four ways Republicans say Obama is putting your life at risk.

Read more »

Barack Obama

Obama's Approval Goes Below 50% In Gallup Poll

Eric Kleefeld | November 20, 2009, 11:40AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama's approval rating has fallen below 50% in the Gallup poll for the first time, the organization has announced.

The full number will be released at 1 p.m. ET. (Late Update: The number has been posted, with 49% approval to 44% disapproval.)

As Gallup has previously noted, every president since World War II, except for John F. Kennedy, eventually went below 50%. The shortest time for such a fall belongs to Gerald Ford at three months, while the longest (except for Kennedy, and his tragically shortened administration) was Dwight Eisenhower at 63 months, the only president to last through a full first term above 50%.

Falling below 50% doesn't necessarily spell defeat for re-election. Obama's ten months will match the ten months for Ronald Reagan, who was of course re-elected in a landslide, and Bill Clinton only stayed above 50% for four months.

Immigration

It's The Time Of The Season For Illegal Aliens

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 20, 2009, 10:33AM

Rep. Steve King (R-IA)

In this unpredictable world we live in, it's nice to know there are some things you can still rely on -- the sun will rise in the east, winter will follow the fall and conservatives will start talking about immigration as an election year approaches.

To a nearly-empty room in the Rayburn building yesterday afternoon, the Republican members of the House Judiciary committee dusted off their well-worn rhetoric about the hordes of illegal aliens destroying the American way of life and partied like it was 2005, despite an economic downturn that has turned the immigration debate on its head.

"Americans are conditioned to believe that illegal workers are necessary," Rep. Steve King (R-IA) said.

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Organizing for America

Like An '08 Flashback: OFA Targets Sarah Palin As 'Dangerous'

Christina Bellantoni | November 20, 2009, 10:30AM

Fmr. Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

Organizing for America, the DNC's campaign arm set up to support President Obama's agenda, has a familiar target today: Sarah Palin.

Mitch Stewart, OFA's director, told supporters in an email just now they need help to raise "$500,000 in the next week to push back against Sarah Palin and her special interest allies."

His argument is that Palin's "lies" about health care are "widely covered by the media, then constantly echoed by right-wing attack groups and others who are trying to defeat reform." He uses her death panels meme as an example.

In his book "The Audacity to Win," Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said he was shocked that Palin was such a good fundraising driver for the team.

He writes that he looked at the online fundraising numbers a few hours after Palin made her big debut at the Republican National Convention going after Obama as his only experience being a community organizer.

"I couldn't believe what I saw," Plouffe wrote.

More from the book:

"We had taken in millions of dollars in the three hours since Palin had started speaking. We hadn't even asked for most of it; we had sent out just a single unplanned fund-raising email highlighting her attacks on community organizers, but it was just starting to hit people's in-boxes as I checked the numbers. So the big response from the last three hours meant people were merely venting via contribution. Her speech might have ginned up their base, but apparently it had sent ours into orbit."

He said he thought, "I hope she keeps this up. Sarah Palin has now become our best fund-raiser."

Sounds like that hasn't changed much.

Stewart's email from today after the jump.

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Barack Obama

Trouble Ahead For Obama? Congress In Chaos Over Economy

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 20, 2009, 9:11AM

Pres. Barack Obama

President Obama is facing an uprising from some of his allies in Congress over the economy. The Washington Post reports on "a wave of criticism and outright anger directed" at the White House as unemployment numbers continue to rise.

Many of the strongest critics are among Obama's strongest allies on the Hill, and the growing furor threatens to derail Obama's plan to reform the financial sector.

Read more »

Barack Obama

Americans Overwhelmingly Say Obama Bowing To Japanese Emperor Was Appropriate -- Even In A Fox Poll

Eric Kleefeld | November 19, 2009, 3:09PM

President Barack Obama, the Emperor of Japan, the Empress of Japan

Despite a lot of complaining by conservatives, the American people don't actually have any problem with President Obama bowing to the Emperor of Japan -- and that's according to the new Fox News poll.

Respondents were asked: "When the president of the United States is traveling overseas, do you think it is appropriate for him to bow to a foreign leader if that is the country's custom or is it never appropriate for the president to bow to another leader?"

The numbers: Appropriate 67%, Never appropriate 26%. Even a majority of Republican respondents were okay with the bow, by a 53%-40% margin. Democrats weigh in at 84%-9%, and independents 62%-30%.

It's very interesting that Fox actually gave the full context of the bow, telling respondents that it would be the country's custom. There's still no verdict, however, on Joe Biden bowing to Jon Stewart.

Health Care

DeParle: Reid's Abortion Provisions Are 'In The Middle,' 'Status Quo'

Christina Bellantoni | November 19, 2009, 1:29PM

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

White House health care "czar" Nancy-Ann DeParle spoke with reporters this afternoon lauding the historic steps Congress has taken toward passing health care and to outline the next steps.

As we just reported, DeParle lauded Sen. Blanche Lincoln, a possible Democratic holdout on the procedural vote.

Reporters also asked about the provisions related to abortion, and both aides dodged the question by saying the issue was working its way through Congress and noting members are talking amongst themselves.

President Obama last week said he doesn't support the Stupak amendment, saying it was a health care, not an abortion bill, and DeParle took that a step further today.

DeParle signaled she prefers the Reid approach, saying the majority leader "carefully" worked on the issue and not mentioning the Stupak amendment.

Read more »

Republicans

Poll: Majority Of Republicans Think Obama Didn't Actually Win 2008 Election -- ACORN Stole It!

Eric Kleefeld | November 19, 2009, 12:28PM

Tea Partiers, ACORN logo, President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama

The new national poll from Public Policy Polling (D) has an astonishing number about paranoia among the GOP base: Republicans do not think President Obama actually won the 2008 election -- instead, ACORN stole it.

This number goes a long way towards explaining the anger of the Tea Party crowd. They not only think Obama's agenda is against America, but they don't think he was actually the choice of the American people at all! Interestingly, NY-23 Conservative candidate Doug Hoffman is now accusing ACORN of stealing his race, and Fox News personalities have often speculated about ACORN stealing the 2008 Minnesota Senate race for Al Franken.

The poll asked this question: "Do you think that Barack Obama legitimately won the Presidential election last year, or do you think that ACORN stole it for him?" The overall top-line is legitimately won 62%, ACORN stole it 26%.

Among Republicans, however, only 27% say Obama actually won the race, with 52% -- an outright majority -- saying that ACORN stole it, and 21% are undecided. Among McCain voters, the breakdown is 31%-49%-20%. By comparison, independents weigh in at 72%-18%-10%, and Democrats are 86%-9%-4%.

Read more »

Barack Obama

Chinese Weekly Asks Obama About His Love Of Hoops

Christina Bellantoni | November 19, 2009, 10:12AM

Pres. Barack Obama

President Obama granted an interview to Chinese weekly Xiang Xi while traveling in Asia and detailed his view of economic and trade relations with the country.

It's not clear if the interview ran in full or if reports it was censored are accurate, but Obama told the weekly he viewed his trip as a success.

You can read the whole transcript at the White House Web site, but here's an amusing exchange:

Q I know you love basketball. So do you think you have time to play basketball while you're being President?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: You know, I do play, not as often as I used to, but I still play maybe once every week or two. And I enjoy going to games, as well. I wish I could have gone to see the Shanghai Sharks, but it wasn't in my schedule. And I'm looking forward to meeting Yao Ming, who is one of my favorite players.

Asia trip

WH's Axelrod Says Obama Wasn't Expecting 'Immediate Gratification' From Asia Trip

Christina Bellantoni | November 19, 2009, 9:57AM

President Barack Obama, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak

President Obama left Seoul this morning to head home, concluding an 8-day, 4-country trip through Asia. Air Force One just landed in Alaska for refueling and he's expected back at the White House tonight.

Reporters traveling bombarded White House aides with questions about the lack of tangible results came from the trip, especially from China.

White House senior adviser David Axelrod said Obama "advanced our goals" over the week by having frank discussions with Asian leaders and presenting a new face to the world.

"This is not an immediate gratification business," Axelrod said. "All of these things require solid diplomacy, relationship building, discussions, and that was the purpose of this trip."

Read more »

Health Care

Health Care Reactions Expected To Dominate Capitol Hill Today

Christina Bellantoni | November 19, 2009, 7:45AM

United States Capitol

It's a big day for health care and the reactions will be flooding the zone today.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid revealed his health care bill last night, with a $849 billion price tag. He's holding a big event at 12:15 at the Capitol Visitors Center (and the White House is reacting via a noon conference call).

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is holding her weekly press conference at 11 on Capitol Hill, Minority Leader John Boehner will talk about health care at 11:45.

Republican Sens. Judd Gregg and Lamar Alexander are briefing reporters this afternoon.

Volunteers from Organizing for America and pro-reform groups plan to attend Reid's event and show their health care spirit.

Sen. Chuck Schumer was on MSNBC this morning and predicted the bill will get the needed votes to pass.

He added, "When we get this done, poll numbers will go up."

Read more »

Stimulus

GOP Jumps On Administration's Self-Inflicted Stimulus Goofs

Christina Bellantoni | November 18, 2009, 4:04PM

Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama

Every time the Republicans said the $787 economic stimulus plan didn't create jobs, the Obama administration was ready with a counterargument proving them wrong. That's one reason the self-inflicted problems of inaccurate reports at Recovery.gov sting.

The administration says it's a non-story, since the errors were about data entry, and the data entry only happened because they have tried to make the spending as transparent and real-time as possible.

Officials pointed us to today's AP Fact Check on so-called phantom districts, and said they are correcting "rough" data that is less than one percent of the total that's been posted at Recovery.gov.

But this afternoon came the latest, when ABC News obtained a report from the Government Accountability Office showing "more than 50,000 jobs or one out of every 10 jobs the White House says were 'saved or created' by their economic stimulus plan came from projects that reported spending no money."

ABC reported that GAO says there are a "range of significant reporting and processing problems that need to be addressed."

It may not be fair, but the Republicans are having a field day.

Read more »

Asia trip

Save Darfur Slams Obama Over China Trip

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 18, 2009, 10:18AM

President Barack Obama

The Save Darfur Coalition lashed out at President Obama today, claiming he is not doing enough to confront the human rights crisis still unfolding in Sudan. The group, one of the largest focused on protecting the victims of genocide in the region, say that Obama's decision not to raise the issue publicly during his trip to China suggests he is not willing to push for peace in the region.

"President Obama's public silence on Sudan in Beijing sent an unfortunate message to the Sudanese government and other key actors that he is not willing to lead publicly for peace in Sudan," Save Darfur president Jerry Fowler said in a statement. "The Administration's new Sudan strategy cannot succeed without vigorous multilateral leadership that starts with the President. Tacking Sudan on to a laundry list of items behind closed doors is not that kind of leadership."

Read more »

Tim Pawlenty

Poll: Obama Would Beat Pawlenty In Minnesota

Eric Kleefeld | November 18, 2009, 9:49AM

Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) and President Barack Obama

A new poll of Minnesota by St. Cloud State University finds that Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a potential Republican candidate for president in 2012, would lose his Democratic-leaning home state to President Obama if the election were held today.

The numbers: Obama 49%, Pawlenty 40%, with a ±5% margin of error.

In 2008, Obama beat John McCain in Minnesota by 54%-44%. As the Star-Tribune notes, Pawlenty received less than 50% of the vote in each of his two elections as governor. He won 44% of the vote in a three-way race in 2002, and in 2006 he narrowly edged out his Democratic opponent by a 47%-46% margin.

Guantanamo Bay

Obama On Critics Of Gitmo Detainees Facing Trial: Won't Be Offensive 'When Death Penalty Is Applied'

Christina Bellantoni | November 18, 2009, 7:49AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama dismissed critics who don't like his administration's plan to transfer detainees from Guantanamo Bay to the U.S. to stand trial for the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, suggesting if Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is found guilty and executed, they will stop being offended.

Obama did a round of interviews with the network White House correspondents traveling with him in Asia. Some of them are airing tonight, but a few networks have released clips.

NBC's Chuck Todd asked Obama about some Americans offended by the decision to transfer detainees, including Mohammed, from Guantanamo Bay to New York.

"I don't think it will be offensive at all when he's convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him," Obama said.

Todd pressed the president, suggesting he was already deciding how the trial would go.

"What I said was, people will not be offended if that's the outcome. I'm not prejudging it, I'm not going to be in that courtroom. That's the job of the prosecutors, the judge and the jury," Obama said.

Read more »

Health Care

OFA Picks Ad Starring Children: 'I'll Die ... Because We Couldn't Afford Health Care'

Christina Bellantoni | November 17, 2009, 5:10PM

David Plouffe

Last month Organizing for America solicited homemade health care ads from supporters, and today they released the winning video.

It stars several children with health care messages, including:

"Two years from now, I'll be diagnosed with Leukemia and I'll die, because we couldn't afford health care."

and

"There are over 8 million uninsured children in America. ... We all deserve health care."

In an email asking for donations to put the ad on television, David Plouffe says the Organizing for America Health Reform Video Challenge shows "our supporters' creativity and passion is more than a match for the slick ads and partisan spin doctors on the other side."

Read more »

2008 campaign

Trippi Disputes Plouffe's Claim About Edwards Offer To Trade Endorsement For Joint Ticket

Christina Bellantoni | November 17, 2009, 1:01PM

Fmr. Howard Dean Campaign Manager Joe Trippi

Former John Edwards adviser Joe Trippi is pushing back against David Plouffe's claim that the Edwards camp tried to strike deals on the vice presidency during the 2008 Democratic primary.

As we reported last night, Plouffe charges in his new book "The Audacity to Win" that a "senior Edwards adviser" suggested Edwards would drop out and that he and Obama could team up as a joint ticket.

Trippi told the Washington Post's Greg Sargent he wasn't aware of the pitch. He also suggested Edwards, who was later mired by scandal due to an affair, was more interested in being attorney general than the No. 2 slot.

Read more »

Health Care

Poll: Plurality Opposes Health Care Bill -- Some From Right, Some From Left

Eric Kleefeld | November 17, 2009, 12:34PM

President Barack Obama

The new CNN poll has mixed news for President Obama and the Democrats on health care, with a plurality against the health care bill that just passed the House -- but their reasons vary, coming from both the right and the left.

The poll found 46% in favor of the bill, with 49% against it, with a ±3% margin of error.

"Roughly one in three Americans opposes the House bill because it is too liberal, but one in 10 oppose the bill because it is not liberal enough," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "That may indicate that a majority opposes the details in the bill, but also that a majority may approve of the overall approach taken by House Democrats and President Obama."

In addition, President Obama's approval rating remains in good territory, with 55% approving to 42% disapproving. The poll also gives the Democrats a continued lead in the generic Congressional ballot, with a 49%-43% lead over Republicans among registered voters.

Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin Quotes C.S. Lewis And Asks For Cash

Christina Bellantoni | November 17, 2009, 10:16AM

For all her 2012 denials, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is sure sounding like a presidential candidate in her fundraising emails.

Palin (R) asks supporters for up to $5,000 in donations, and anything over $100 gets a free, signed copy of "Going Rogue."

She says Ronald Reagan "showed us the way" and "charted the course for us," and goes on to quote C.S. Lewis:

C. S. Lewis once wrote: "We all want progress, but if you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road." We need to get back on the right road. In order to progress, we must return to our founding principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and strong national defense.

Palin says she'll help commonsense candidates "regardless of party" and asks for fundraising help with a peppy message:

"We won't let anyone tell us to sit down and shut up. We're going to stand up, stand together, and fight for what's right!"

Palin's full email after the jump.

Read more »

Health Care

Poll: Public Split On Health Care, Heavily In Favor Of Public Option

Eric Kleefeld | November 17, 2009, 10:07AM

President Barack Obama

The new ABC/Washington Post poll finds Democrats in a tricky the public divided on health care reform as it now stands -- but some internal numbers find potential for Democrats to break through, with no clear Republican alternatives in sight.

The poll found 48% of respondents in favor, and 49% against, the health care proposals current being developed by Congress and the Obama administration. In addition, opponents were more intense, with 39% strongly against and 10% only somewhat against, compared to 30% strongly in favor and 18% somewhat in favor.

In addition, 52% expect their own personal health care costs to increase if the bill is passed, and 56% expect the country's overall costs to increase.

However, respondents were also asked: "Do you think leaders of the Republican Party are mainly presenting alternatives to
Obama's proposals, or mainly criticizing Obama's alternatives?" In this case, only 31% said the Republicans were presenting alternatives, with 61% saying they were mainly criticizing Obama.

Read more »

Asia trip

WH: Obama's Internet Comments In China Most 'Direct' Human Rights Talk To Date

Christina Bellantoni | November 17, 2009, 9:23AM

President Barack Obama

White House aides traveling with President Obama on his trip abroad say his brief remarks on human rights and technology at the Shanghai town hall with Chinese students on Monday mark a key turning point in U.S.-China relations.

"I have never heard that kind of a discussion publicly in China before," Jeff Bader, senior director of the National Security Council for Asian Affairs, told reporters traveling with Obama in Beijing. "This was as direct a discussion on human rights as I've seen by any high-level visitor with the Chinese."

Bader said during private discussions with Chinese officials, Obama was "equally candid in describing human rights as a core, a fundamental, bedrock principle of U.S. foreign policy." He said Obama holds up the United Sates as an example while recognizing it remains an "unfinished project."

Read more »

2008 campaign

Plouffe Shocker: Edwards Camp Offered To Endorse If Obama Would Pick Him As VP

Christina Bellantoni | November 16, 2009, 5:56PM

Fmr. Sen. John Edwards (D-NC), Fmr. Barack Obama campaign manager David Plouffe

In the thick of the Democratic presidential primary, a top operative offered up John Edwards' withdrawal from the race and endorsement - on the condition the person he endorsed would offer him a spot on the ticket.

David Plouffe details the deal that "a senior Edwards" adviser" tried to ink before the South Carolina primary, spilling the beans in his book "The Audacity To Win."

Plouffe, then campaign manager for Barack Obama, was worried after the New Hampshire loss and polls tightening in South Carolina.

He said that the rival Edwards camp was in trouble and wanted to make a move with either Obama or Hillary Clinton while Edwards was "at a point of maximum leverage."

In this portion of the book, Plouffe hedges a bit, saying he's not sure Edwards was aware of the effort's specificity.

But he also has direct quotes, suggesting he documented the conversation.

Read the excerpt after the jump.

Read more »

Joe Biden

Tuesday: Joe Biden To Be First Sitting VP To Appear On 'Daily Show'

Christina Bellantoni | November 16, 2009, 9:40AM

Vice President Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden tomorrow night will become the first sitting vice president to appear on Comedy Central's "Daily Show with Jon Stewart."

Biden, sometimes known for sticking a foot in his mouth, has appeared five other times on the show.

President Obama pitched in via satellite for a stunt on The Colbert Report earlier this year when Stephen Colbert did his show from Iraq.

Asia trip

Obama Tells Chinese Students Decision On Afghanistan Gives Him 'A Heavy Heart'

Christina Bellantoni | November 16, 2009, 8:57AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama's town hall in Shanghai (held around midnight East Coast time) was a highlight of his 8-day Asia trip. He'll be holding a press conference today in Beijing and also will see the Great Wall and Forbidden City.

He makes the diplomatic visit as he's considering whether to send a surge of up to 40,000 troops to Afghanistan, and the 300 Chinese students he spoke to at the town hall were well aware of the upcoming decision. A Fudan University student asked Obama if terrorism is still the greatest security concern for the United States, adding, "How do you assess the military actions in Afghanistan, or whether it will turn into another Iraqi war?"

His answer in full after the jump.

Read more »

Asia trip

In China Obama Touts Freedom Through Twitter, Basketball's Yao Ming And Being The First Black President

Christina Bellantoni | November 16, 2009, 7:55AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama held up Twitter and non-censored technology as a key foundation for a free society while addressing students in China.

Speaking in Shanghai during his 8-day trip through Asia, Obama operated much like he does at his typical U.S. town hall, even going boy-girl, boy-girl as he took questions.

He opened up on winning the Nobel Prize, how he views the conflict in Afghanistan and complimented the students on their English skills.

During the town hall Ambassador Jon Huntsman read the question, submitted through the embassy: "In a country with 350 million Internet users and 60 million bloggers, do you know of the firewall? ... Should we be able to use Twitter freely?"

Obama admitted he had never actually tweeted - despite his campaign and the White House's large presence on Twitter - but said technology helps unite the world.

Read more »

Health Care

Michelle Obama Uses Stories That 'Touch Our Hearts' In Health Care Pitch

Christina Bellantoni | November 13, 2009, 3:59PM

First Lady Michelle Obama

With President Obama abroad, First Lady Michelle Obama is stepping in for a few days with a focus on health care.

At an event with women at the White House this afternoon, the first lady joined health care czar Nancy-Ann DeParle. They showcased the stories of women whose families had suffered due to bad insurance and the Medicare "donut hole."

"These stories touch our hearts and they spark in us a fundamental source of unfairness," she said.

Obama said she can't say what the bill "that ultimately will cross my husband's desk will look like," but said it would be true reform.

Read more »

Guantanamo Bay

Sen. Graham Says White House Asked Him To Withhold Comment On Gitmo, For Now

Christina Bellantoni | November 13, 2009, 1:55PM

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Senator John McCain (R-AZ)

Sen. Lindsey Graham, not known for holding back criticism of the White House, said today that he has "very strong feelings" about Guantanamo Bay detainees but will hold them in until President Obama returns from his trip to Asia.

Graham (R-SC) just issued this statement responding to the administration's announcement to transfer Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Gitmo detainees to be tried in New York.

"The decision on the proper venue to try Guantanamo detainees, particularly the 9/11 conspirators, is one of the most important decisions we will ever make in the War on Terror. I have had and continue to have very strong feelings on this subject. Those feelings are well-known as evidenced by our debate on the floor of the Senate last week. "I have been asked by the White House to withhold comment about today's Guantanamo decision until I can meet face-to-face with the President after he returns from Asia. As our Commander in Chief, I will honor his request. I look forward to discussing this issue further."

Read more »

Barack Obama

Obama Says He's 'Indebted' To Greg Craig As Counsel Leaves White House

Christina Bellantoni | November 13, 2009, 8:59AM

White House Counsel Greg Craig

President Obama has made official what broke late last night - White House counsel Greg Craig is leaving and being replaced by longtime D.C. lawyer Bob Bauer.

"Greg Craig is a close friend and trusted advisor who tackled many tough challenges as White House Counsel," Obama said in a statement announcing the move, effective Jan. 3.

"Because of Greg's leadership, we have confirmed the first Latina justice on the Supreme Court, set the toughest ethics standards for any administration in history, and ensured that we are keeping the nation secure in a manner that is consistent with our laws and our values," Obama said. "I'm indebted to Greg not only for leading the Counsel's office but for his many decades of service to this country as well. He has been a huge asset in the White House, and he will be missed. I will continue to call on him for advice in the years ahead."

The move had been expected - and written about - for more than a month as details leaked out there was inner-White House tension over Guantanamo Bay. Today White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters in Asia that had nothing to do with the departure.

Read more »

Asia trip

First News From Asia Trip: Agreements With Japan On Climate, Nuclear Weapons

Christina Bellantoni | November 13, 2009, 7:59AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama arrived in Tokyo about six hours ago for the start of his 8-day Asia trip and the White House has announced he's secured agreements on both climate change and nuclear weapons.

In a joint statement with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama the leaders said they aim to reduce carbon emissions in Japan and the U.S. by 80 percent by 2050. They also said they "endorse a global goal of reducing emissions by 50 percent by that year."

The U.S. and Japan also issued a joint statement complimenting "renewed international attention and commitment to achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons" and said they are determined "to realize such a world."

The start of the trip is marked with big news back home - Attorney General Eric Holder will be announcing today that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other detainees from Guantanamo Bay prison will face trial in New York. Also, White House counsel Greg Craig is leaving and being replaced with longtime Obama friend Bob Bauer.

The White House laid out more climate change details which you can read after the jump.

Read more »

Guantanamo Bay

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed To Be Moved From Gitmo To New York

Christina Bellantoni | November 13, 2009, 7:16AM

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who has said he masterminded the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, is being transferred from the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to New York to face trial.

A Justice Department official confirmed to TPMDC that Mohammed and four other detainees being held at Gitmo will stand trial in a civilian federal court.

Attorney General Eric Holder will make the announcement today, the official told TPMDC.

The news comes as Obama is traveling to Asia and as officials tell reporters that White House counsel Greg Craig is leaving.

From the Associated Press:

Mohammed and the four others -- Waleed bin Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Mustafa Ahmad al-Hawsawi and Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali -- are accused of orchestrating the attacks that killed 2,973 people on Sept. 11, 2001.

Mohammed admitted to interrogators that he was the mastermind of the attacks -- he allegedly proposed the concept to Osama bin Laden as early as 1996, obtained funding for the attacks from bin Laden, oversaw the operation and trained the hijackers in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Afghanistan

Gibbs on Afghanistan: 'We're Not Going To Be There Forever'

Christina Bellantoni | November 12, 2009, 7:09PM

Though President Obama hasn't reached a decision on the size of the troop surge he will send to Afghanistan, he "gets closer and closer every day."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters on Air Force One it is "probably likely" Obama will host a ninth meeting of his war council after he returns from abroad next Friday.

He said there have been discussions about "benchmarks" for success in Afghanistan but said there would be no announcement before the conclusion of Obama's Asia trip.

"We have been there for eight years. And we're not going to be there forever," Gibbs said. "It's important to fully examine not just how we're going to get folks in but how we're going to get folks out."

Read more »

Sean Parnell

Sean Parnell To Obama: Love To Meet Ya, But Something Came Up

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 12, 2009, 6:01PM

President Barack Obama, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell (R)

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell (R) steered clear of President Obama's visit to his state today. Obama stopped off at Elemendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage on his way to his tour of Asia that starts tomorrow.

Obama was greeted at the base by hundreds of cheering airmen as well as Alaska's Lt. Gov., Craig Cambell (R), and the state's junior U.S. Senator, Mark Begich (D). But Parnell said he was too busy to make an appearance.

Read more »

Asia trip

Obama Embarks On Four-Country Blitz As Asia Trip Begins

Christina Bellantoni | November 12, 2009, 5:32PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama today departed for his eighth foreign trip since taking office. He's making a brief stop in Alaska to speak with troops and arrives in Tokyo at 2 a.m. eastern time.

Obama will have a full day there before going to Singapore Saturday for the annual Asia-Pacific Cooperation Forum known as APEC.

Sunday after APEC he'll head to Shanghai, China. After a full day of events there he will travel to Beijing. Obama will hold a press conference in Beijing and stay through Wednesday. Then he travels to Seoul, South Korea. He departs late Thursday to return to Washington.

According to unofficial White House statistician Mark Knoller, Obama has been to more countries in his first year than any predecessor. This latest brings his total to 8 foreign trips and 20 countries.

Read more »

Afghanistan

Defense Sec. Gates 'Appalled' By Leaks On Afghanistan And Threatens Firings

Christina Bellantoni | November 12, 2009, 3:11PM

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has threatened to fire Pentagon employees who are leaking details of President Obama's deliberations on whether to send more troops to Afghanistan.

Gates addressed the leaks today in a press briefing while flying to Wisconsin, according to an article in the Pentagon's own American Forces Press Service.

"I am appalled by the amount of leaking that has been going on," he said.

From the article:

Gates said he has little doubt that some of those leaks have come from within the Defense Department. "If I found out who" was involved, he said, "it would probably be a career ender."

The official line from the White House and Pentagon is that Obama remains undecided on how many troops to send.

He also condemned leaks on the Ft. Hood shootings, saying: "Everybody out there with their own little piece of the action" doesn't understand how it fits into the big picture.

"Everybody out there ought to just shut up."

Barack Obama

Administration Approvingly Cites Report Critical Of Key Elements Of Health Care Reform

Brian Beutler | November 12, 2009, 12:32PM

President Barack Obama

The White House is touting a new report from the typically conservative Business Roundtable, which has some kind things to say about health care reform proposals making their way through Congress.

"A new report released today by the Business Roundtable underscores what experts and businesspeople have told us all along - comprehensive health insurance reform is one of the most important investments we can make in American competitiveness," President Obama said in a statement.

And indeed, the report does have some kind things to say about current legislation. But it isn't wholly positive. "The current proposals are missing some ingredients needed to drive the type of system-wide change that can "bend the future trend" significantly and permanently," the report reads.

Read more »

2008 campaign

Campaign Tactics They Could Believe In: Obama '08 Pushed Early State Pledge

Christina Bellantoni | November 12, 2009, 10:39AM

David Plouffe

Remember the mess that was Florida, Michigan and the earliest Iowa caucus in history?

Turns out some of the complications were orchestrated by the Obama campaign.

In his new book "The Audacity to Win" Obama campaign manager David Plouffe confesses they tried to "box in" Clinton after the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee decided to strip Florida and Michigan of their delegates as punishment for holding primaries earlier than allowed. (In the end, it all worked out, but it caused complete chaos for months as the primary dragged on.)

Plouffe writes:

"Emboldened by the drift of the rules committee, we took it to the next level. I asked Steve Hildebrand to go on a secret diplomatic mission to speak with the four early-state party chairs, encouraging them to ask all the candidates to sign a pledge stating they would not campaign in any states (Florida and Michigan) that had violated the rules and were threatening the approved early states' primacy.

Yes, this was in our self-interest. But it was also in theirs. If these two big states were penalized as severely as possible, and we all committed not to campaign in them, then the role of the early states was protected with no ambiguity."

Read more »

Health Care

GOP Sees 2010 Window, Gloat That Dems Who Opposed Health Care Will Take Dual Heat

Christina Bellantoni | November 11, 2009, 5:38PM

(Top, L-R), Rep. Boucher (D-VA), Rep. Shuler (D-NC), Rep. Ross (D-AR). (Bottom, L-R), Rep. Altmire (D-PA), Rep. Nye (D-VA), Rep. Tanner (D-TN)

Much like Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Sen. Ben Nelson, looks like the 39 Democrats voting against the House health care bill Saturday are getting squeezed from both sides.

We've been writing about all the left-leaning campaigns going after Democrats on health care, and plenty of efforts to hit Republicans as party of "no."

TPMDC has been chatting with Republicans who want to pick off vulnerable House Democrats in 2010 and they (not surprisingly) are pleased as punch by the internal warfare.

Read more »

Barack Obama

Influential Players: How Six Big Stakeholders Shaped Health Care

Brian Beutler | November 11, 2009, 8:39AM

President Barack Obama

The biggest players in the health care reform debate often blur together into a swirl of acronyms and policy jargon. But they're also key to understanding how health care reform has been shaped, and how it's come as far as it has.

At this point in the health care debate, pro-reform groups have spent more money on health care ads than have well-heeled health care opponents. That's a testament to just how important the issue is to the liberal base, but it's also the precise effect President Obama was seeking when he partnered with the health care industry's most powerful stakeholders.

What sets the following six players apart is how they've defied the usual expectations and taken positions that don't easily fit into the usual left vs. right or corporate vs. consumer paradigm.

Read more »

Organizing for America

TPMDC Exclusive: Inside DNC's Organizing For America

Christina Bellantoni | November 11, 2009, 8:15AM

Nine months ago when the Democrats who ran Barack's Obama campaign created Organizing for America, no one was sure exactly how it would work or whether it was possible to harness the enthusiasm for the new president and translate it into action.

But nearing the anniversary of Obama's election, OFA has strengthened into a (smaller) mirror of the campaign, with volunteers in every single Congressional district and staff on the ground in every state but Oklahoma.

They also are growing the Obama donor base.

TPMDC has learned that 24.7 percent of the donations made online to OFA are new donors - people who didn't give during the campaign. That's a pretty striking figure give that a record 3 million people donated during 2007 and 2008.

Organizationally, the boots-on-the-ground, Washington outsider vibe has translated into real results as well. Saturday morning, an OFA volunteer in Louisiana flagged for the team that Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA) might end up supporting health care.

The administration had been talking to Cao behind the scenes, but it was the volunteer who emailed OFA staffers to report that the Republican's office wasn't saying he was against the bill which opened the floodgates. OFA volunteers made 550 calls to the district office on Saturday in the hours before he became the lone Republican to back the bill.

In an exclusive interview with TPMDC, OFA officials laid out their metrics so far and stressed the results have exceeded expectations.

It was no surprise that Mitch Stewart, OFA's director, and Jeremy Bird, the deputy director, remained on message at all times. They told me nearly a dozen times the OFA mission is to support the president's agenda, and downplayed any disappointment that Obama voters couldn't make the difference in last week's state races in Virginia and New Jersey.

But the wide-ranging interview did lift the curtain on the organization, officially deemed a special project of the Democratic National Committee.

As I detailed earlier this year, OFA and the DNC share a building and merged finances, but keep many things separate. Among those are the list of email supporters, which stood at 13 million at the end of the long campaign. (They won't disclose its size today.)

Campaign geeks may like the transcript of our interview, and come along after the jump to delve into how OFA is doing.

Read more »

Climate Change

Senators To U.N.: We'll Make No Climate Change Before It's Time

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 10, 2009, 6:55PM

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

U.N. General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon stopped by the Capitol today to lobby Senators to get on board with comprehensive climate change legislation in advance of next month's U.N. climate summit in Copenhagen.

The response he got from Senators mired in the debate over health care reform? Get in line, pal.

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) joined Moon with reporters after his closed-door meeting with the Senators. All three said that there was no chance a climate change bill will make it out of the Senate by Copenhagen, and slim chance it will come after that. Kerry said the bill comes after health care and financial services reform in terms of Senate priority.

Read more »

Health Care

Pro-Choice Groups Plan Campaign To Get Senate To Reject Abortion Amendment In House Bill

Christina Bellantoni | November 10, 2009, 9:58AM

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI)

The Stupak amendment blocking abortion funding has become the hot button of the left, replacing (for now) the fight over the public option.

As President Obama suggested he doesn't think the measure belongs in the bill, reproductive rights groups are mobilizing to make sure the amendment doesn't make it any farther in the process.

"This is a middle class abortion ban and I don't think women are going to accept it," said Laurie Rubiner, Planned Parenthood Federation of America's vice president of policy.

Read more »

Health Care

Bill Clinton Meeting Today With Senate Democrats

Christina Bellantoni | November 10, 2009, 7:56AM

Fmr. President Bill Clinton

Senate Democrats today are huddling for their first weekly lunch since the House passed its version of the health care plan and they have a special guest with firsthand experience of what can happen when legislation fails.

Former President Clinton will speak to the caucus about health care, a Democratic source confirmed to TPMDC.

The White House has been coy for months when reporters ask if Clinton (or Secretary of State Hillary Clinton) are advising President Obama on health care.

Late update: Another source tells us that Clinton is attending the lunch at the request of Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel (who worked in Clinton White House) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Afghanistan

White House Strongly Denies Reports Obama Has Decided On Afghanistan Troop Levels

Christina Bellantoni | November 9, 2009, 9:45PM

President Obama and his war council

The White House is forcefully denying reports that President Obama has settled on the number of troops to send to Afghanistan.

Several stories in recent days have suggested he has made a decision and cite specific troop levels.

Officials have dismissed those as inaccurate, but tonight the White House is sending out a rare statement from National Security Adviser Gen. Jim Jones:

"Reports that President Obama has made a decision about Afghanistan are absolutely false. He has not received final options for his consideration, he has not reviewed those options with his national security team, and he has not made any decisions about resources. Any reports to the contrary are completely untrue and come from uninformed sources."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters today the president is holding another Situation Room meeting of his war council as he continues to gather information for his decision.

Read more »

Israel

WH: Obama, Netanyahu Talked Iran And Middle East Peace

Christina Bellantoni | November 9, 2009, 9:26PM

President Obama

President Obama tonight met privately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office, and the White House isn't offering many details about what they discussed.

Here's the short readout the White House put out tonight:

"The President and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed a number of issues in the U.S.-Israel bilateral relationship. The President reaffirmed our strong commitment to Israel's security, and discussed security cooperation on a range of issues. The President and Prime Minister also discussed Iran and how to move forward on Middle East peace."

Health Care

A Closer Look At The Health Care Vote

Eric Kleefeld | November 9, 2009, 3:15PM

United States Capitol

Let's take a look at the breakdown of the vote on the health care bill -- the people who went against their leadership, or the people whose votes run seemingly counter to their districts' presidential votes in 2008 -- and in some cases, both.

Much has been made of the Democrats who voted no, and the fact that most of them come from districts that voted for John McCain. Thus, a vote against a major Obama policy initiative would certainly seem to be the safe thing to do -- just as Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA) became the only Republican to vote yes, and his district voted 75% for Obama.

The single largest group, however, is one that hasn't been commented on very much: Republicans from districts that voted for Obama, and who voted no on the bill. There are 32 of them in all: Judy Biggert (IL); Brian Bilbray (CA); Mary Bono Mack (CA); Ken Calvert (CA); Dave Camp (MI); John Campbell (CA); Mike Castle (DE), currently a Senate candidate in an Obama state; Charlie Dent (PA); David Dreier (CA); Randy Forbes (VA); Elton Gallegly (CA); Jim Gerlach (PA); a candidate for governor in an Obama state; Mark Kirk (IL), a Senate candidate in Obama's home state; Leonard Lance (NJ); Tom Latham (IA), Frank LoBiondo (NJ), Dan Lungren (CA), Donald Manzullo (IL); Thaddeus McCotter (MI); Buck McKeon (CA); Erik Paulsen (MN); Tom Petri (WI); Dave Reichert (WA); Mike Rogers (MI); Peter Roskam (IL); Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL); Paul Ryan (WI); Lee Terry (NE); Patrick Tiberi (OH); Fred Upton (MI); Frank Wolf (VA); and Bill Young (FL).

Read more »

Israel

Gibbs: Policy On Settlements Hasn't Changed

Christina Bellantoni | November 9, 2009, 3:04PM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said reporters should not read anything into the closed, off-camera meeting between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scheduled for this evening.

Gibbs said during his daily briefing the 7 p.m. meeting in the Oval Office will focus on
"a full range of issues," including the Middle East peace process.

Reporters asked if the Obama administration was backing down from its push earlier this year that all settlements on the West Bank should be halted. Gibbs insisted the policy was the same.

Obama initially had been scheduled to speak Tuesday to a major meeting of Jewish leaders, which Netanyahu plans to address. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel is going in Obama's place.

The president's schedule changed significantly following the tragic shootings at Ft. Hood. Obama will spend most of tomorrow attending the memorial service at the base.

It was already going to be a packed week since Obama departs for a more than week-long trip to Asia. He is now scheduled to leave Thursday.

Two interesting exchanges after the jump.

Read more »

Health Care

Do or Die: The Six Senators Who Will Decide the Fate of Health Care Reform

Brian Beutler | November 9, 2009, 1:46PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid faces a number of obstacles to passing health care reform but his main task is to keep his caucus united for not one, but two, supermajority votes, just to get the reform bill an up or down on the Senate floor. Failure to get 60 votes to push past either of those two procedural chokepoints could derail the reform bill. Here are the six key holdouts Reid must wrangle to reach the magic threshold.

Read more »

Joseph Cao

Cao To Steele: Come And Get Me -- Just Remember You Need My District

Versha Sharma | November 8, 2009, 1:26PM

Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA)

Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA), the lone GOP vote for the House health reform bill that passed late last night, has responded to RNC Chairman Michael Steele's warnings about stepping outside of party lines. (WATCH Steele: "We'll come after you.")

Cao told CNN that Steele retains "the right to come after those members who do not conform to party lines, but I would hope that he would work with us in order to adjust to the needs of the district and to hold a seat that the Republican party would need." He represents the second congressional district of Louisiana, a solidly Democratic district that includes New Orleans. Cao said earlier today that he put the needs of his district over what was popular with his own party.

Cao's opponent was former Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA), who was under indictment on corruption charges at the time of the election, widely seen as the sole reason the Republican was able to triumph in this specific district. His unique victory was celebrated by Steele and other GOP leaders, a fact which the young lawmaker is not letting party leadership soon forget.

Read more »

Health Care

Obama Says He's Grateful For Lawmakers Who Took 'Courageous' Health Care Vote

Christina Bellantoni | November 8, 2009, 1:18PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama today said "millions of Americans whose lives will change" when health care reform finally becomes law are grateful to the House for passing a sweeping overhaul bill late last night.

"Given the heated and often misleading rhetoric," Obama said during a brief statement in the Rose Garden, he wanted to recognize the "courageous vote" and add his own gratitude to the House "for taking us this far."

Obama, who spent the night at the Camp David presidential retreat, said he'd called a Montana woman this morning to thank her for telling him about her health care struggle, telling her that the bill pass in part because of her willingness to share her story.

He lauded "extraordinary activism" of those fighting for health care, as his campaign arm Organizing for America put together thank-you welcoming parties for supportive lawmakers as they arrived at their home airports today.

Read more »

Health Care

House Passes Health Care Bill 220-215

Christina Bellantoni | November 7, 2009, 11:19PM

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

The House of Representatives has passed a bill calling for comprehensive reforms to the American health care system and universal insurance coverage, marking a major milestone in the battle for health care reform.

It's the first time in the nation's history a chamber of Congress has gotten this far as the House passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act by a vote of 220-215.

The vote came after President Obama made a last-minute appeal to his party during the House Democratic Caucus, asking them to "answer the call" of history.

Democrat after Democrat cited history on the House floor during the rare Saturday session, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) saying generations of Americans have wanted health care reform.

"Today the call will be answered," Pelosi said, citing the late Sen. Teddy Kennedy who called health care reform the "great unfinished business of our society."

Earlier in the day, lawmakers were getting Pelosi's signature on their copies of the bill.

All but one of the Republicans opposed the bill after a day of debate, joining 39 Democrats who voted 'No.' Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA) was the only Republican to vote for it.

Read more »

Health Care

Obama To House: 'Vote Yes'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 7, 2009, 1:37PM

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), President Barack Obama

President Obama is calling on representatives to pass the sweeping health care reform bill scheduled for a floor vote tonight.

"This is our moment to live up to the trust that the American people have put in us," he said in a public address on the grounds of the White House just now.

"I urge members of Congress to rise to this moment, answer the call of history, and vote 'yes' for health insurance reform for America," Obama said.

Obama made the speech shortly after returning from a closed-door meeting with House Democrats at the Capitol.

The House is expected to vote on the measure late tonight, read our primer here.

Read Obama's full statement here.

Barack Obama

House Dems Chant Obama's 'Fired Up' Campaign Slogan As He Leaves Caucus

Christina Bellantoni | November 7, 2009, 1:29PM

President Barack Obama

President Obama rallied House Democrats this afternoon on the eve of a major vote on health care.

After he was done outlining the historic significance of the vote, some members spontaneously started chanting "Fired Up, Ready to Go" the White House told reporters.

White House spokesman Bill Burton told reporters that Obama told the caucus they had a unique opportunity before them:

"The President made the case that Congress has a historic opportunity today to provide stability and security for those who have insurance, affordable coverage for those who don't and bring down the cost of health care for families, small businesses and the government. He said that we have made more progress on comprehensive reform than any administration and any Congress in the past 70 years - and we should take this historic opportunity to pass health care reform so that he can sign a bill by the end of this year.

The White House also moved up the president's statement by an hour, he's expected to talk in the Rose Garden any moment.

Health Care

Health Care Saturday: Obama To Rally Dems Before Historic Vote

Christina Bellantoni | November 7, 2009, 10:22AM

Capital Building and President Barack Obama

Democratic leadership is saying this morning they are confident they have the 218 votes needed to pass the sweeping House health care, public option included.

Just in case, President Obama will make his way to Capitol Hill to speak with the Democratic House caucus at 11:25 this morning. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team will meet the press around noon.

Then things will get exciting as they start debating in a rare weekend session billed as health care Saturday.

If you want to see the sausage being made, tune into C-Span today, and for an explainer, keep reading.

Read more »

Barack Obama

Obama Awards Two Purple Hearts To Soldiers During Walter Reed Visit

Christina Bellantoni | November 6, 2009, 6:24PM

President Obama pays his respects to fallen American soldiers.

President Obama spent nearly two hours this afternoon meeting privately with soldiers and their families at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

While there, he awarded two Purple Hearts, the White House said.

No press was allowed to witness the visit, but an administration staffer told the pool which accompanies the president when he leaves the White House that Obama "visited with 19 soldiers, three families of soldiers in the ICU, as well as hospital staff."

Capitol Hill Tea Party

Gibbs Laments Images, Statements From Tea Party Crowd As 'Stunning'

Christina Bellantoni | November 6, 2009, 3:09PM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

David Corn from Mother Jones read an incendiary quote from yesterday's Capitol Hill Tea Party to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs this afternoon during the press briefing.

Gibbs used the question as an opportunity to lament the state of discourse in the U.S.

Here's the Gibbs exchange:

Read more »

Health Care

Obama Administration: We (Heart) House Health Care Bill

Christina Bellantoni | November 6, 2009, 1:14PM

Capital Building and President Barack Obama

The White House just released a lengthy statement supporting the House health care plan.

Statements of administration policy, as they are officially known, sometimes help guide wavering lawmakers on how to vote.

The statement, in full after the jump, says the House bill "meets the President's criteria for health insurance reform."

Read more »

Health Care

Gibbs: Obama Will Rally Democrats Before Health Care Vote

Christina Bellantoni | November 6, 2009, 1:06PM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

President Obama will speak to House Democrats before they vote on the health care bill, even if the vote is pushed to Sunday or Monday.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters in his daily briefing that due to the shootings at Ft. Hood yesterday, schedules changed and that's why Obama is planning to go to the caucus tomorrow instead of today as originally scheduled.

"The president wanted to go closer to the vote," he said.

Obama "will go to Capitol Hill to advocate for continuing that progress," Gibbs said.

Read more »

Bill Owens

Bill Owens To Be Sworn In At About Noon Today

Eric Kleefeld | November 6, 2009, 11:37AM

Rep.-elect Bill Owens (D-NY)

Rep.-elect Bill Owens (D-NY) will be sworn in today at about noon, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office has confirmed.

Owens's win this past Tuesday in the NY-23 special election was a bright spot for Democrats on an otherwise dreary night, with his victory over Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman giving Democrats a pick-up of a seat that they literally did not hold during the entire 20th century.

Owens will also be meeting with President Obama at 4:25 p.m. ET today. During his campaign Owens had initially been skeptical of a strong public option, but was later supportive of the milder version contained in the current House health care bill. So don't be surprised if the upcoming health care vote, in which Owens could very well make the difference between passage and failure, is a major topic of discussion.

Health Care

Hispanic Caucus Warns Obama On Immigration Language In Health Care Bill

Christina Bellantoni | November 6, 2009, 10:50AM

Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)

Roll Call is reporting (sub. req.) this morning that Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) is unhappy with potential language about illegal immigrants not being covered under the health care plan.

The newspaper reports Velázquez warned President Obama yesterday that 20 members of her caucus will vote against the final bill if that language is included.

In their current forms, the Senate version of the bill blocks illegals from getting coverage, the House bill does not.

"He listened to us and he knows where we stand," Velazquez said, according to Roll Call. "We made it very clear that we support the language that is in the House. We expect that the current language will not change."

We've checked in with her office and with the White House and will update readers when we know where this stands.

Health Care

House Democrats Set The Stage For Vote On Landmark Health Care Legislation

Brian Beutler | November 6, 2009, 9:34AM

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

The stage is being set for a rare and historic weekend vote on landmark health care legislation in the House of Representatives. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has left herself enough wiggle room to delay the vote in the event that the thorny issues of abortion and immigration prevent her from rounding up the 218 votes she needs to pass the bill, but she and other House health care leaders will be working throughout the day to resolve the concerns of the conservative Democrats who are still withholding support.

Any final agreements Pelosi makes with her caucus will be cemented by the Rules Committee, which, by procedural norm, will set the contours of the debate and vote on the House floor.

Read more »

Barack Obama

Obama Meeting With Newly Elected Rep. Owens, Caucus Pushed To Saturday

Christina Bellantoni | November 5, 2009, 10:23PM

Capital Building and President Barack Obama

Bill Owens will have been a member of Congress less than five hours when he is treated to a private sit-down with President Obama.

The White House said Obama is scheduled to meet with Owens in the Oval Office Friday at 4:25 p.m. after the president returns from a visit to Walter Reed.

Owens (D-NY) was elected Tuesday night after defeating Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman. Speaker Nancy Pelosi will host the swearing-in ceremony around noon Friday.

He was a bright spot in a lousy night for the party in the elections in the Northeast, and the first Democrat to hold the seat since the Civil War.

TPMDC reported earlier that Obama is meeting with House Democrats during a caucus meeting before they vote on health care. That was scheduled for Friday but the White House just announced the meeting will be Saturday instead.

Late update: Vice President Biden on Friday will speak via phone to "members of the House of Representatives about the need to pass health insurance reform." In announcing Biden's schedule, the White House didn't specify if he was speaking to Democrats and Republicans or just one party. TPMDC will update when we find out.

Capitol Hill Tea Party

Tea Partiers Came With 2010 Warnings

Christina Bellantoni | November 5, 2009, 6:52PM

The scene today at the Capitol Hill Tea Party probably worried incumbents of both parties.

TPMDC was there, following every "Kill the bill" refrain and impromptu "USA! USA!" chant from the many thousands gathered on the West Front Lawn of the Capitol.

Evan captured the mood on the ground (with extra fun video of women singing their own anti-health care version of "Yankee Doodle") and as we reported earlier, I stumbled upon tea partiers heckling police who had arrested protesters.

My takeaway after several hours interviewing people who had taken time off work, sacrificed sleep and hopped on buses to make the trip from across the country is that there is a real spark to the movement.

The group is angry, and in many cases ill-informed about the 1,900-page health care bill that they delighted in shredding across the Capitol today. But they vote, and each person told me they are angry with incumbents and government spending.

Read more »

Barack Obama

As Leaders Try To Pass Health Care Reform By Year's End, The Nearest Obstacles Are In Their Own Party

Brian Beutler | November 5, 2009, 2:23PM

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

With less than two months to go until Congress breaks for the holidays, the White House and Senate leaders are huddling to figure out how to pass a bill before the end of the year. As part of their push, both camps are meeting with conservative Democrats--most notably Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)--whose unanimous support is absolutely required simply to bring the bill to the floor. But leading Democrats are unlikely to make any progress until these swing-vote senators see the bill Majority Leader Harry Reid put together, along with a cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office. They say that's necessary before they make any decisions on even the earliest procedural votes, and there's no clear indication as to when the CBO will weigh in.

Last night, Reid met with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel and others to discuss, among other things, how far they've come in convincing caucus conservatives to support the bill's public option. "That's one of many subjects, that wasn't the main subject," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Along the same lines, Reid spokesman Jim Manley suggests that this is part and parcel of an effort to move legislation sooner rather than later. They met, he said, to "discuss ways to try and get a bill done by the end of the year."

But with conservative Democrats cold to the public option, and withholding their commitments to allow the bill to be debated on the floor, the White House and Democratic leaders have a lot of work ahead of them and they'll likely have to work in tandem. On that score, this week, Lincoln--perhaps the most electorally vulnerable of all moderate Democrats--met with both Reid and President Obama to discuss the Senate bill.

Read more »

Nancy Pelosi

Pelosi: Republican Health Care Proposal 'Scandalous'

Brian Beutler | November 5, 2009, 11:53AM

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

At her weekly press conference this morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi bucked the conservative spin that Tuesday's election was a boon to the GOP by noting that the results actually make health care reform easier for her to pass.

"Tuesday night we won two more votes for health care," Pelosi said. Both candidates won, she noted, amid a flurry of anti-reform ads in their districts and, despite the fact that one of the new members hails from a red-leaning district, both will vote for the plan.

"Bill Owens will be a great representative, independent voice, for his district," Pelosi said this.

She also took aim at the Republican health care plan, denouncing it in no uncertain terms.

Read more »

Health Care

Obama Gets More Visible On Health Care As House Prepares Weekend Vote

Christina Bellantoni | November 5, 2009, 10:28AM

Capital Building and President Barack Obama

President Obama will travel down Pennsylvania Avenue Friday to speak privately with House Democrats on the eve of a critical vote on health care.

The White House may be attempting to put more of a stamp on the legislation as it weaves its way through the halls of Congress, and administration officials have been forcefully pushing back against reports suggesting health care won't happen until next year.

Last night, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and administration health care staffers huddled with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and leadership senators Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer and Patty Murray on Capitol Hill.

Leadership and administration officials were mum on the details.

Meanwhile, the DNC's Organizing for America has been urging supporters to phone their member of Congress before the Saturday vote.

"We expect it to be very close," Mitch Stewart, director of OFA, wrote to the campaign's 13 million-strong email list.

Roundup

TPMDC Morning Roundup

Eric Kleefeld | November 5, 2009, 8:58AM

Fmr. Gov. Mitt Romney (R), Fmr. Gov. George Pataki (R), Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R)

Pawlenty, Romney And Pataki Call New Mayor Of Manchester, New Hampshire
Ted Gatsas, the new Republican mayor-elect of Manchester, New Hampshire, told ABC News that he's already received congratulatory phone calls from Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney and George Pataki. "I don't know who is running for president but I don't mind telling you who has called," said Gatsas.

Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will speak at 9:30 a.m. ET, delivering opening remarks and participating in an interactive discussion with tribal leaders at the White House Tribal Nations Conference. He will meet with senior advisers at 11 a.m. ET, and receive his daily briefing at 11:40 a.m. ET. At 12:30 p.m. ET, he will have lunch with Vice President Biden. He will meet at 1:40 p.m. ET with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. He will meet at 3 p.m. ET with President Ian Khama of Botswana. He will meet at 3:40 p.m. ET with representatives of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and at 4 p.m. ET with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. At 4:50 p.m. ET, he will deliver closing remarks at the White House Tribal Nations Conference.

Read more »

2009 elections

Obama Has Made The Calls

Christina Bellantoni | November 4, 2009, 1:49PM

New Jersey Gov.-elect Chris Christie (R), President Barack Obama, Virginia Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell (R)

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs tells TPMDC that President Obama has phoned the winners from last night's competitive East Coast races.

Gibbs said Obama has called Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell (R-VA), Gov.-elect Chris Christie (R-NJ) and Rep.-elect Bill Owens (D-NY).

Obama also phoned New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, an independent who won reelection, and he left a message for Rep.-elect John Garamendi (D-CA).

As we reported earlier, Obama phoned the losing candidates last night.

The Washington Post has some more detail on the McDonnell call.

2009 elections

Obama Called Losers Last Night, Will Call Winners Today

Christina Bellantoni | November 4, 2009, 10:38AM

New Jersey Gov.-elect Chris Christie (R), President Barack Obama, Virginia Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell (R)

President Obama has not yet called Republican governors-elect Chris Christie in New Jersey or Bob McDonnell in Virginia.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters in his gaggle today that Obama did not watch the returns last night, a trend which is not unusual since he didn't watch returns for his own races as they came in.

"He wanted them to enjoy their night with their families and supporters," Gibbs said.

Gibbs said he sent Obama some email updates throughout the night and spoke with him on the phone. (As for what the races mean, all politics is local, Gibbs said this morning.)

The president was "disappointed" that his "friend" Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) was defeated, Gibbs said.

The president did talk to Corzine and state Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-VA) last night.

Gibbs said Obama will call the victors today.

McDonnell is holding a press conference this afternoon.

2009 elections

Gibbs: Dem Losses In VA And NJ 'Didn't Involve The President'

Christina Bellantoni | November 4, 2009, 10:28AM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters in his morning gaggle that Republican wins last night "demonstrate that voters" are working through "local issues that didn't involve the president."

Read more »

White House

White House Blasts Stimulus 'Myths,' Including Cash For Sperm Freezer

Christina Bellantoni | November 4, 2009, 7:53AM

President Barack Obama

In a White House blog post last night, Obama adviser G. Edward DeSeve detailed "10 Recovery Act Myths."

He said some of the commentary in the press and among politicians about the $787 billion plan is "just plain wrong."

DeSeve, Assistant to the Vice President and Special Advisor to the OMB Director for Implementation of the Recovery Act, said "more than 170 proposed Recovery Act projects have been halted or altered due to our review process" on waste, fraud or abuse.

Myth No. 5 - the money is being used for a freezer for fish sperm at the Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery, in South Dakota.

"Actually, no Recovery Act funds are being used for this project," DeSeve writes.

2009 elections

Red Tide: After Losses In Virginia and New Jersey What Will Obama Say?

Christina Bellantoni | November 3, 2009, 11:49PM

VA-GOV candidate Bob McDonnell and NJ-GOV candidate Chris Christie

President Obama will wake up Wednesday morning on the one-year anniversary of his historic election with two fewer Democratic governors he can call allies.

In New Jersey, Republican Chris Christie unseated Gov. Jon Corzine (D). Virginia Republicans swept the statewide races and picked up seats in the state house as Republican former attorney general Bob McDonnell walloped state Sen. Creigh Deeds (D) by more than 15 points.

Here's what we know:

Read more »

VA-GOV

Steele: GOP Sweep In Virginia 'Blow' To Obama

Christina Bellantoni | November 3, 2009, 8:14PM

Candidate For Governor Bob McDonnell (R-VA)

RNC Chairman Mike Steele is happy about Bob McDonnell's win in Virginia, and sends over a statement regarding the expected sweep from the GOP ticket.

Steele takes a whack at Obama:

Read more »

2008 campaign

Rubbing It In? OFA's Obama Feed Tweets About Election '08

Christina Bellantoni | November 3, 2009, 7:44PM

President Barack Obama

As Virginia Democrats brace for a potential sweeping loss to Republicans tonight, Organizing for America chooses to reminisce.

The Barack Obama Twitter feed posted for its more than 2.5 million subscribers at 7:06 p.m.:

"Tomorrow will mark a year since our historic victory. Do you have a favorite 2008 Election Day memory? Share your stories via #Nov4"

Tonight the "By the People" documentary about the 2008 campaign is debuting on HBO, so Democrats who don't want to hear bad news can just change the channel and relive the good 'ol days.

As we reported yesterday, OFA is organizing campaign reunions.

VA-GOV

Pre-Spin Battle: Dems Say Tonight Not Obama Referendum But Were Happy To Blast Bush

Christina Bellantoni | November 3, 2009, 6:22PM

The White House for more than a week has been saying today's elections don't reflect on the 2010 landscape for the Democratic party or President Obama.

That's been echoed by Democrats across the spectrum today as the party braces for a probable loss in Virginia, a possible loss in the 23rd Congressional district in New York and a toss-up in New Jersey.

"I don't think looking at the two gubernatorial races, you can draw with any great insight what's going to happen a year from now any more than if Jake's team wins tomorrow night I can tell who's going to win next year's World Series," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said today.

"We don't look at either of these gubernatorial races or the congressional race as something that portends a lot for our legislative efforts going forward or political prospects in 2010," he added.

"In 2001, President Bush lost Virginia and New Jersey. I don't believe that it impacted his legislative initiatives going forward," Gibbs said.

But TPM intern superstar Darius Tahir went searching, and found plenty of examples of Democrats saying Bush was doomed.

Read more »

Afghanistan

Gibbs: Obama Wants To Tell Americans His Strategy When He Announces Troops Decision - Still 'Weeks' Away

Christina Bellantoni | November 3, 2009, 3:39PM

President Obama meets with national security team in Situation Room on Afghanistan, Oct. 30, 2009

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters President Obama is still "weeks away" from making his decision on whether to send up to 40,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

When Obama does decide, he wants to help Americans understand how he came to the conclusion, Gibbs said.

"The president has told us ... that it is important for the American people to understand why he made the decision that he's made," Gibbs said today in his briefing. "And I anticipate that the president will spend some time walking the American people through the process that we've undertaken and the decision points that he's made along the way to come to the ultimate conclusion that he's come to."

White House officials say they haven't discussed if that will be in the form of a speech or if it will come in an Oval Office address. Obama has held seven meetings with his war council in the Situation Room and last week attended a pre-dawn ceremony for troops that had been killed in Afghanistan.

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Health Care

Sen. Blanche Lincoln Meeting With Obama

Christina Bellantoni | November 2, 2009, 10:21PM

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

The White House says President Obama will meet privately with Sen. Blanche Lincoln Tuesday night.

Obama and Lincoln (D-AR) will huddle in the Oval Office at 5:15, less than two hours before polls close in the critical elections in New Jersey, New York and Virginia.

Lincoln is perhaps the most embattled Democrat in the Senate, and she's been getting political pressure from both sides as she declines to tip her hand on health care.

She is one of several moderates who have had the president's ear lately - Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN), Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) also have visited the White House recently.

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Joe Wilson

Rep. Joe Wilson Blames Obama For Vaccine Shortage -- After Voting Against Vaccine Funding

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 2, 2009, 11:24AM

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC)

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) says President Obama has endangered American lives by not doing more to alleviate the nation's short supply of H1N1 vaccine. In a new interview with the conservative-leaning CNSNews.com, Wilson says Obama's administration is "solely responsible" for the vaccine shortage, which he said are related to promises America made to donate vaccine to some foreign allies.

From the interview:

"The current administration is solely responsible. They can't blame this on any prior administration," said Wilson. "This is the responsibility of the current administration. They've put the lives of Americans at risk."

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Barack Obama

Remember When? White House Staff (And President) Relive Campaign As OFA Plans Reunions

Christina Bellantoni | November 1, 2009, 6:17PM

Organizing for America is putting together campaign "reunions" in honor of the one-year anniversary of Barack Obama's presidential election victory.

Wednesday marks the anniversary of President Barack Obama's historic election, and White House staffers, campaign volunteers and supporters are reliving the moment.

Most prominent in the coming week is Tuesday's HBO debut of the "By the People" documentary, a retelling of the long campaign.

Also happening this week are reunions put together by the volunteers still active in Organizing for America, the next generation of the Obama campaign.

On a sign-up sheet for local reunion events, OFA tells supporters:

"One year ago, President-Elect Obama told us that the election victory was only the beginning of the change we all sought -- and today, through Organizing for America, we're fighting just as hard to make health insurance reform a reality, this year. But while we seek to live up to the President's words, we're planning to gather together to reconnect, celebrate, and remember that moment, last year, when we won a historic victory.

So this week, we're holding reunion events across the country for folks who were involved in the campaign. Can you attend one near you?"

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