44 - Politics and Policy in Obama's Washington - June 28, 2009

Obama Throws a Backyard Party for the Fourth

President Obama celebrated his first Fourth of July at the White House with a festive backyard party that included games, an all-American menu of hot dogs and hamburgers, and a salute to U.S. servicemen and women.

By Washington Post Editor | July 4, 2009; 10:44 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)

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Obama Summons "Spirit of America," Seeks Support for Initiatives

President Obama today invoked the "spirit of America" to argue for health care, energy and education reform in a July 4 radio address that compared this moment in U.S. history to the turning points of past generations.

By Eric Rich | July 4, 2009; 6:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: 44 The Obama Presidency, Barack Obama
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Palin's Reasons for Stepping Down

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has released her complete remarks announcing she will be stepping down from office.

By Web Politics Editor | July 3, 2009; 4:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (72)
Categories: Primary Source
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Post 'Salon' Story Prompts WH Ethics Rules Reminder

White House counsel Greg Craig reminded administration staffers this afternoon that they operate under strict ethical guidelines, in the wake of reports that The Washington Post had solicited Obama officials for off-the-record "salons" with corporate sponsorship.

By Web Politics Editor | July 2, 2009; 5:35 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Ethics, Washington Life
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White House Kitchen Welcomes Brainfood

This week, the White House executive chef got 10 extra pairs of hands from Brainfood, an area nonprofit organization that helps teach teenagers life skills through cooking, to prepare for the Obamas' Fourth of July extravaganza.

By Web Politics Editor | July 2, 2009; 4:40 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Washington Life
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Obama: Indefinitely Holding Detainees 'Gives Me Huge Pause'

By Michael D. Shear President Obama still has reservations about the prospect of indefinitely holding...

By Post Editor | July 2, 2009; 3:54 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Barack Obama
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Obama Optimistic on Economy Despite 'Sobering' Job Losses

President Obama called the job figures released today "sobering" but said he is "absolutely confident" that the country will recover from the recession and prosper over the longer term.

By Web Politics Editor | July 2, 2009; 3:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (49)
Categories: Barack Obama, Economy
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President Voices Support for 'Conscience Clauses' Ahead of Plans to Scale Back Bush-Era Policies

President Barack Obama said today that he still favors a "robust" federal policy protecting health-care workers who have moral objections to performing some procedures, even though he plans to roll back a Bush administration rule that expanded such protection.

By Web Politics Editor | July 2, 2009; 2:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Culture Wars
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Sharp Words from Republicans as Unemployment Edges Up

Republicans today sharply attacked President Obama and congressional Democrats, accusing them of wasting money on an economic stimulus plan that hasn't worked.

By Web Politics Editor | July 2, 2009; 2:01 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: Economy, Republican Party
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Vice President Biden Lands in Iraq

Biden will visit U.S. forces and meet with Iraqi leaders to foster political reconciliation.

By Web Politics Editor | July 2, 2009; 1:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: B_Blog, Foggy Bottom, Joe Biden
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Obama Launches New Afghanistan Strategy

By Ben Pershing For all the recent focus on the troop pullback in Iraq and...

By Ben Pershing | July 2, 2009; 8:26 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: The Rundown
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POTUS Events: Pushing Innovation

President Obama at a town hall meeting at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, Va....

By Washington Post editors | July 2, 2009; 7:43 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: The Daybook
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For Some WH Aides, Public Service Has Its (Six-Figure) Rewards

Twenty-two of the president's top aides -- most with the title "assistant to the president" -- make $172,000 a year, the White House reported to Congress today. The Obama administration also published the information on the White House blog.

By Post Editor | July 1, 2009; 6:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (35)

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Obama Ate Here: The Map

By Garance Franke-Ruta President Obama's dining forays into the District and Northern Virginia have reshaped...

By Post Editor | July 1, 2009; 4:11 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Barack Obama, New Media
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Clinton Cancels Trip to Russia

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, still ailing from a broken elbow, has canceled plans to join President Obama on his upcoming trip to Russia, the State Department said today.

By Web Politics Editor | July 1, 2009; 3:53 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: B_Blog, Foggy Bottom, National Security
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When a Coup Is Not Yet a Coup

Opinions inside the administration appear to differ over whether the events in Honduras constituted a coup.

By Web Politics Editor | July 1, 2009; 2:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Foggy Bottom
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No Recent Videos from Palin

By Garance Franke-Ruta A spokeswoman for Sarah Palin's political action committee denied a blog report...

By Web Politics Editor | July 1, 2009; 1:48 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Barack Obama, Making the Rounds, Sarah Palin
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Latest Palin Controvery Just a Subset of War Over Direction of GOP

The Palin wars have erupted again.

By Post Editor | July 1, 2009; 12:49 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (228)
Categories: B_Blog, Dan Balz's Take
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What Franken's Win Does and Doesn't Mean

By Ben Pershing The 2008 election began 545 days ago with the Iowa caucus, and...

By Ben Pershing | July 1, 2009; 8:28 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: The Rundown
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POTUS Events: Debating Health Care and Honoring WASPs

File photo - President Obama walks off stage after delivering remarks on nationwide nonprofit programs...

By Washington Post editors | July 1, 2009; 12:43 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: The Daybook
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Gov Geeks a Hit in New York

Vivek Kundra wows at the Personal Democracy Forum conference.

By Web Politics Editor | June 30, 2009; 5:23 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: The Clickocracy
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Obama Hails Pullback in Iraq, Warns of More Violence

By Michael D. Shear President Obama hailed the transfer of authority in Iraqi cities and...

By Web Politics Editor | June 30, 2009; 2:38 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Barack Obama
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Muted Response to Iraq Troop Pullback from War-Weary Nation

The celebrations in Iraq marking the pullback of U.S. combat forces from Baghdad and other cities stand in stark contrast to the reaction in the United States. Here the transfer of power has been met almost with public indifference.

By Web Politics Editor | June 30, 2009; 1:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (22)
Categories: B_Blog, Dan Balz's Take
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On Foreign Policy, Obama Treads Carefully

By Ben Pershing President Obama came to office promising bold change on a variety of...

By Ben Pershing | June 30, 2009; 9:07 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: The Rundown
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POTUS Events: A Nod to Nonprofits

File photo - President Obama waves to his 8-year-old daughter Sasha on the White House's...

By Washington Post editors | June 30, 2009; 8:02 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: The Daybook
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In a Presidential First, Obama Marks Gay Pride at the White House

President Obama on Monday became the first Oval Office occupant to officially celebrate gay pride in the White House even as the gay community remains bitterly divided about the pace of Obama's efforts to turn words into action for their agenda.

By Web Politics Editor | June 29, 2009; 5:47 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (68)
Categories: B_Blog, Culture Wars
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Gay Rights Groups Praise Pending End to HIV Travel Ban

Gay rights groups are praising the imminent release of a proposed regulation ending a 1987 U.S. ban on travel and immigration by foreign nationals infected with the virus that causes AIDS.

By Web Politics Editor | June 29, 2009; 4:53 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Health Care
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Term Limits and Constitutional Tinkering in Latin America

Obama might think about risking the topic of presidential term limits in his meeting with Alvaro Uribe today, given the current climate in Latin America, where public sentiment is running strong against tinkering with constitutions to give presidents more time in office.

By Web Politics Editor | June 29, 2009; 12:07 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Foggy Bottom
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44: June 28, 2009 - July 4, 2009