44 - Politics and Policy in Obama's Washington - August 16, 2009

Tea Party Protest Organizers Target Health-Care Reform

The organizers who brought the Tax Day Tea Party to cities around the nation this spring recruited thousands of protesters Saturday afternoon to anti-health care reform rallies staged in front of at least 100 Congressional district offices.

By Web Politics Editor | August 22, 2009; 6:19 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (49)
Categories: Health Care
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Obama Decries 'Outrageous Myths' About Health-Care Reform

President Obama used his weekly radio and Internet address to call for "honest debate" about his health-care reform proposals and decry "willful misrepresentations," "outright distortions" and "outrageous myths" circulating on the Internet, cable television and at town halls across the country.

By Web Politics Editor | August 22, 2009; 5:32 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (73)
Categories: Health Care
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NEA Attacks Administration's Education Reform Plan

By Nick Anderson The nation's largest teachers union sharply attacked President Obama's most significant school...

By Nick Anderson | August 21, 2009; 8:18 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (38)
Categories: Education
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Major Factor In Obama's WaPo Poll Slide: Drop Among Dems, Liberals

The Plum Line's Greg Sargent reports: A major factor in President Obama's slide in today's...

By Web Politics Editor | August 21, 2009; 5:27 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: The Pollster
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White House Keeps Eye on Hurricane Bill

The second Atlantic hurricane of the season is headed toward the United States, and is expected to head in the direction of Martha's Vineyard this weekend before being pushed out to sea. That's where Obama is headed, too.

By Web Politics Editor | August 21, 2009; 2:57 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Vacation Time
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White House Asks Media to Let Obama Girls Enjoy Their Vacation

By Michael D. Shear The White House pleaded Friday for privacy for President Obama's daughters...

By Michael D. Shear | August 21, 2009; 2:51 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (43)
Categories: Cast of Characters
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Getting 'All Wee-Weed Up'

Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content. var thisObj =...

By Web Politics Editor | August 21, 2009; 1:16 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (77)
Categories: Washington Life
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Conservative Group Aims Ad at Vacationing Obama

Updated 4:47 p.m. By Ben Pershing Seeking to ensure that President Obama has a...

By Ben Pershing | August 21, 2009; 1:03 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Health Care
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Obama Wishes 'Ramadan Kareem' to Muslims

By Garance Franke-Ruta President Obama released videotaped Ramadan wishes Friday, sending "best wishes to...

By Web Politics Editor | August 21, 2009; 12:16 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: Religion
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Reform Debate Looks Stuck Until Sept.

By Ben Pershing As an unusually eventful August inches toward its end, a health-care debate...

By Ben Pershing | August 21, 2009; 8:38 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: The Rundown
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POTUS Events: Obama Meets with Daschle

President Obama has a very light schedule today. He begins with a meeting with...

By washingtonpost.com | August 21, 2009; 7:25 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)

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Ridge Claims That He Was Pressured to Elevate Threat Warning

Former Pennsylvania governor Tom Ridge, the first director of the Department of Homeland Security, says that he was pressured by other agency heads to raise the national security-threat level on the eve of the 2004 presidential election -- a move he rejected as having political undertones.

By Garance Franke-Ruta | August 20, 2009; 6:18 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (51)

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DNC Outraises RNC in July, but Republicans Retain Cash Edge

Reversing an earlier trend, the Democratic National Committee outraised the Republican National Committee in July, but the RNC continues to hold a cash edge as the parties arm themselves for electoral battle.

By Ben Pershing | August 20, 2009; 4:17 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: B_Blog, Democratic Party, Republican Party, The Green Zone, White House
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On Smerconish Show, Obama Seeks to Clear Up Misconceptions

Pressed by a radio host and listeners calling in from around the country, President Barack Obama tried on Thursday afternoon to clear up confusion surrounding his health care proposals -- and insisted a government-run insurance option would be only a small, and optional, part of it.

By Web Politics Editor | August 20, 2009; 1:49 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (153)
Categories: Barack Obama, Health Care
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How Reform Bill(s) Could Become Law

By Ben Pershing If yesterday's health-care narrative was all about message, today's is focused on...

By Ben Pershing | August 20, 2009; 8:36 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: The Rundown
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POTUS Events: President Participates in Smerconish Show

President Obama honors Jimmie Johnson, 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, at a ceremony on...

By Washington Post editors | August 20, 2009; 7:24 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: The Daybook
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On Faith Call, Obama Seeks to Refute 'Ludicrous' Claims About Health Reform

Obama once again sought to refute the idea that his proposal contained anything resembling a "death panel," calling the notion "ludicrous" and an "extraordinary lie." He said other accusations -- such as that the government would fund abortions or grant benefits to illegal aliens -- were "fabrications that have been put out there."

By Web Politics Editor | August 19, 2009; 6:18 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (34)
Categories: Health Care
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Conservative Radio Host Smerconish to the White House

President Obama has invited conservative Philadelphia talk radio host Michael A. Smerconish to broadcast his nationally-syndicated radio show from the White House Thursday afternoon, a first for radio during his administration.

By Web Politics Editor | August 19, 2009; 2:03 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (52)
Categories: Health Care
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In the Absence of Specifics, 'Public Option' Looms Large

The longer the legislative environment remains fluid, the fewer specifics advocates have to point to in explaining how the new, post-reform world may operate.

By Web Politics Editor | August 19, 2009; 12:13 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (197)
Categories: Dan Balz's Take, Health Care
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Fixing Obama's Message Problem

By Ben Pershing How bad is President Obama's health-care message problem, and can it be...

By Ben Pershing | August 19, 2009; 8:33 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: The Rundown
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POTUS Events: Athletes and Faith Leaders

President Obama in the Oval Office of the White House, August 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Pablo...

By Washington Post editors | August 19, 2009; 7:20 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: The Daybook
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Bill Clinton Arrives at White House for Obama Meeting

Former president Bill Clinton arrived at the White House late Tuesday afternoon for a meeting with President Obama -- potentially one of their most extensive meetings ever and one that could touch on a range of topics besides North Korea.

By Web Politics Editor | August 18, 2009; 4:26 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (22)
Categories: Barack Obama, Foggy Bottom, Hillary Rodham Clinton, National Security
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Amid Privacy Concerns, White House Shuts Down Health-Care Tip Line

By Garance Franke-Ruta Following complaints from Republicans, the White House has shut down a two-week-old...

By Garance Franke-Ruta | August 18, 2009; 4:14 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: New Media
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Obama, Mubarak Discuss Mideast Peace

When Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak arrived at the White House today, it was the first time he had set foot in the building since 2004, when he and former president George W. Bush parted ways over human rights and U.S. policy in the Middle East.

By Web Politics Editor | August 18, 2009; 11:13 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Foggy Bottom, Hillary Rodham Clinton
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Obama Offers Condolences to People of South Korea

President Obama on Tuesday released a statement on the death of former president Kim Dae-jung of the Republic of Korea, mourning his passing.

By Web Politics Editor | August 18, 2009; 11:03 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Barack Obama, Primary Source
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Jon Stewart to Obama: 'Why Can't You Guys Just Stay on Message?'

Comedian Jon Stewart took on the administration's muddled messaging on health-care reform and the role of a public option in it on his show last night, channeling the growing chorus of concerns from liberal lawmakers and Democrats that the president's reform proposals may not, in the end, go far enough.

By Web Politics Editor | August 18, 2009; 10:31 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: In Case You Missed It
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Bill Clinton to Brief Obama on North Korea Mission

Former president Bill Clinton, fresh from his mission to North Korea earlier this month, is delivering his read-out on the trip to President Obama at the White House today.

By Web Politics Editor | August 18, 2009; 10:05 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: B_Blog, Hillary Rodham Clinton, National Security
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Path to Reform Passage Looks Clearer

By Ben Pershing The White House continued to insist Monday that "nothing has changed" in...

By Ben Pershing | August 18, 2009; 8:35 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (22)
Categories: The Rundown
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POTUS Events: Musharaf Visits

File Photo, L'Aquila, Italy -- President Obama speaks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at the...

By Washington Post editors | August 18, 2009; 6:22 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: The Daybook
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Rahm Emanuel Reads to Small Children, Ad Libbing All the Way

By Garance Franke-Ruta The White House played it straight, because really, what else could...

By Web Politics Editor | August 17, 2009; 5:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Washington Life
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At VFW Event, Obama Praises Veterans, Defends Afghanistan Strategy

President Obama said Monday that fierce fighting rages on in Afghanistan, but he defended the administration's new approach to the conflict there, calling it a "war of necessity."

By Web Politics Editor | August 17, 2009; 1:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Barack Obama, National Security
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Obama Makes Explicit His Objection to DOMA

President Obama made clear Monday that he favors the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, and intends to ask Congress to repeal the 13-year-old law that denies benefits to domestic partners of federal employees and allows states to reject same-sex marriages performed in other states.

By Web Politics Editor | August 17, 2009; 1:16 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (220)
Categories: B_Blog, Culture Wars
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44: August 16, 2009 - August 22, 2009