TPMDC India
John Boehner
Boehner Invites CEO Of Gibson Guitar To Watch President's Speech
Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) isn't done tweaking the White House over the President's address to a joint session on jobs tonight.
Boehner's latest commentary over the Obama administration's economic policies will come in the form of a special guest invited to attend the speech and sit in the Speaker's box: the CEO Of Gibson Guitar Henry Juszkiewicz.
Topics: Barack Obama, Economy, India, Jobs, John Boehner, Speaker of the House, Trade, White House
Mike Huckabee
Huckabee Dings Republicans For Howling Over Cost Of Obama's India Trip (VIDEO)
President Obama and Former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR)
During an appearance on Greta Van Susteren's Fox News show on Friday, former Gov. Mike Huckabee (R-AR) made a very interesting comment for a potential Republican presidential candidate: He defended the Obama administration on something, specifically against right-wing attacks that the India trip is too costly.
As we've reported, many on the right have complained that Obama is spending more money -- $200 million per day -- than the nation spends daily on the war in Afghanista. "No basis in reality" was the way Deputy White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest described that claim in an email to TPM.
"Presidents always get in trouble when they take a trip. It doesn't matter whether they're Democrats or Republicans. The Republicans whine when the Democrats go, and the Democrats whine when the Republicans go," said Huckabee.
"It's an expensive trip. But the reality is, it costs a lot of money to take a president and all the necessary security, especially in a country like India, where there have been a lot of terrorist bombings and things have to be carefully managed."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Greta Van Susteren, India, Mike Huckabee, Pres '12
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Gates, Obama Urge Repeal Of DADT
The Associated Press reports: "Defense Secretary Robert Gates is encouraging Congress to act before year's end to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the military. It's a position shared by his boss, the president...'I would like to see the repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell,' but I'm not sure what the prospects for that are and we'll just have to see,' Gates told reporters traveling with him to Australia this weekend. Gates has said he would prefer Congress act after the Pentagon releases its study of how repeal would be implemented, which is due Dec. 1.'"
Obama Hails Ties With 'World Power' India
The AFP reports: "Obama heaped praise on the country and its Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the end of a three-day trip, which saw a raft of commercial deals signed and agreements to cooperate more closely in agriculture, health and energy. The president said that the principles of democracy and human rights were too often ignored around the world, which was riven with conflicts and misunderstandings between nations. 'For our two countries to be able stand together to promote these principles in international forums, I think can be incredibly powerful and incredibly important,' he said at a joint press conference with Singh."
Topics: Barack Obama, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, India, Joe Biden, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Saturday Roundup
Obama: 'I Don't See How We Can Afford' Permanent Extension of Top Bush Tax Cuts
In this weekend's YouTube address, President Obama addressed the recent election results, and called for the two parties to work together. He also insisted that he supports a permanent extnsion of the Bush tax cuts for family incomes under $250,000, but not for the wealthiest.
"We also agree on the need to start cutting spending and bringing down our deficit. That's going to require everyone to make some tough choices. In fact, if Congress were to implement my proposal to freeze non-security discretionary spending for three years, it would bring this spending down to its lowest level as share of the economy in 50 years," said Obama. "But at a time when we are going to ask folks across the board to make such difficult sacrifices, I don't see how we can afford to borrow an additional $700 billion from other countries to make all the Bush tax cuts permanent, even for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans. We'd be digging ourselves into an even deeper fiscal hole and passing the burden on to our children."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Alex Sink, Barack Obama, Bush Tax Cuts, FL-GOV, India, James Clyburn, Marco Rubio, Roundup, Steny Hoyer
India
TPMDC Video: Michelle Obama Previews State Dinner
First Lady Michelle Obama with schoolchildren at state dinner
First Lady Michelle Obama today previewed the first official state dinner of the Obama presidency, talking about the importance of honoring visiting dignitaries.
The guests are arriving now and will dine under a large tent set up on the White House South Lawn.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: India, Michelle Obama, White House
India
Steven Spielberg, Fareed Zakaria, Tom Friedman Among Guests At State Dinner
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.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, India, White House
India
Biden Toasts India's Singh: 'You're Hottest Ticket In Town'
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."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Barack Obama, India, White House
Feast
Prawns, Pralines And Pumpkin Pie On State Dinner Menu
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.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Feast, George W. Bush, India, White House
India
Obama And Singh Pledge U.S.-Indian Cooperation
Indian Prime Minister Singh, President Obama
During a joint press conference on the first official "state visit" of the Obama presidency, President Obama said he and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have pledged cooperation between the world's two largest democracies.
"The relationship between our two countries has never been stronger," the president said.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: India, White House
India
Obama Says India-U.S. Relationship A 'Defining Partnership'
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.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (1)Topics: Barack Obama, Climate Change, India, Manmohan Singh, White House
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