44: March 28, 2010 - April 3, 2010

In weekly Obama address, a spiritual turn

Usually, President Obama deplores the 24-hour media cycle as a distraction from important public policy debates. This weekend, Obama is describing it as a spiritual blocker as well.

By Anne E. Kornblut  | April 3, 2010; 6:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (20)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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Obama to attend Easter services in the District

President Obama will worship with a District congregation this Easter Sunday, a visit that comes at a time when president has been quietly working to improve his ties with faith leaders, particularly those in the African American community.

By Hamil R. Harris  | April 2, 2010; 6:06 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (22)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency, Washington Life  
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Today in photos

Click here for the best pictures from Obama's NC trip:...

By Rachel Weiner  | April 2, 2010; 5:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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Obama's 17-minute, 2,500-word response to woman's claim of being 'over-taxed'

Even by President Obama's loquacious standards, an answer he gave here on health care Friday was a doozy. After a woman named Doris asked the president whether it was a "wise decision to add more taxes to us with the health care" package, Obama took the next 17 minutes 12 seconds to respond.

By Anne E. Kornblut  | April 2, 2010; 3:01 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (1868)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care  
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Fla. doctor urges patients who like health care law to go 'elsewhere'

A Florida doctor is telling prospective patients who like President Obama's health-care changes to "seek ... care elsewhere." What's your reaction?

By Post Editor  | April 2, 2010; 1:34 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (161)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care  
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FBI warns extremist letters may encourage violence

The FBI is warning police across the country that an anti-government group's call to remove governors from office could provoke violence by others. A group that calls itself the Guardians of the free Republics wants to "restore America" by peacefully dismantling parts of the government, according to its Web site.

By Rachel Weiner  | April 2, 2010; 10:43 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (3)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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Today in photos -- Census edition

Click here for the best Census-related photos:...

By Rachel Weiner  | April 1, 2010; 5:58 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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Protesters debate race outside RNC HQ

Dani McClain stood behind a lectern on the sidewalk in front of the Republican National Committee's Capitol Hill headquarters and demanded that its chairman "stop stoking the hate." It was noon Thursday.

By Multiplatform Editor  | April 1, 2010; 4:07 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (28)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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FRC's Perkins asks conservatives to stop funding RNC

The influential social conservative, angry about the Republican National Committee spending nearly $2,000 to entertain young donors at a risque nightclub in West Hollywood, is encouraging fellow Republicans to stop giving money to the party committee.

By Post Editor  | April 1, 2010; 1:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (74)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency, Capitol Briefing  
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GOP praises Democratic rainbows-and-unicorns agenda

By Matt DeLong The National Republican Senatorial Committee gets in on the April Fool's Day...

By 44 Editor  | April 1, 2010; 11:54 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (15)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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Today's top photos

Click here for today's best political pictures:...

By Rachel Weiner  | March 31, 2010; 5:52 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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RNC cancels all Young Eagles events

In the wake of the scandal over an outing at a bondage-themed Hollywood club, the Republican National Committee is canceling all future fundrasing events held by its "Young Eagles" group.

By Rachel Weiner  | March 31, 2010; 5:17 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (18)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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Steele faces critics, but GOP calls for ouster are scarce

Despite a controversy that drew headlines everywhere and intense anger from members of his own party, no prominent Republican has called for the ouster of Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele since new broke Monday that an RNC aide authorized a nearly $2,000 payment to take donors to a bondage-themed West Hollywood nightclub.

By Perry Bacon Jr. and Dan Eggen  | March 31, 2010; 1:13 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (35)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency, Republican Party  
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LL Cool J: Fox News 'misrepresenting' Sarah Palin's new show

Those who were surprised to learn that one of the first guests on Sarah Palin's new Fox News show was LL Cool J were right to be incredulous. The rapper is now upset with Fox, saying they are "misrepresenting" an old clip in their ads.

By Rachel Weiner  | March 31, 2010; 11:39 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (101)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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Obama moves back to middle with drilling plan

After dispensing with a health-reform bill that mostly pleased liberals and alienated nearly all conservatives, President Obama heads back to the ideological middle Wednesday with a dramatic -- and controversial -- new plan for domestic oil exploration.

By Ben Pershing  | March 31, 2010; 8:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (15)
Categories:  The Rundown  
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Obama, Sarkozy forge a new bond: the half-smoke

The highlight of Tuesday's joint press conference with President Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy was a bit of banter about the visiting leader's lunch.

By Anne E. Kornblut  | March 30, 2010; 5:54 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (14)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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Today in photos

Click here for today's best political photos:...

By Rachel Weiner  | March 30, 2010; 5:44 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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Tom Ridge takes the blame for a long airport line

Tom Ridge got stuck in a long airport security line Monday in Orlando, and was good humored about it.

By Al Kamen  | March 30, 2010; 4:27 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency, In the Loop, National Security  
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'Young Eagles' director Allison Meyers fired from RNC in bondage club controversy

The staffer fired by the Republican National Committee for authorizing a $2,000 payment to a bondage-themed nightclub was the head of the "Young Eagles," a GOP program aimed at cultivating major donors under 45 years old, according to a report Tuesday.

By Dan Eggen  | March 30, 2010; 3:34 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (136)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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Swift Boat vet offers Crist a race-tinged endorsement

Gov. Charlie Crist (R-Fla.), falling behind in the polls to Florida's conservative former House Speaker Marco Rubio in the Florida Senate race, may have just received an endorsement he could have done with out from Medal of Honor-winning war hero Col. Bud Day

By Matt DeLong  | March 30, 2010; 1:36 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (31)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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Fight over 9/11 ads riles Ky. Senate race

The Republican Senate primary in Kentucky is heating up, as candidates Rand Paul and Trey Grayson trade charges that the other is exploiting the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks for political gain.

By Ben Pershing  | March 30, 2010; 12:43 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)
Categories:  2010 Election, 44 The Obama Presidency  
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Obama signs higher-education measure into law

President Obama signed into law Tuesday a package of revisions to his new health-care overhaul that includes a measure aimed at making higher education more affordable.

By William Branigin  | March 30, 2010; 12:04 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (98)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency, Education  
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Obama on 'Today' talks Afghanistan, health care, 'tea party' skeptics

President Obama said he believes the "tea party" movement is built around a "core group" of people who question whether he is a U.S. citizen and believe he is a socialist.

By Web Politics Editor  | March 30, 2010; 8:12 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (82)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency, Health Care, Security  
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Post-reform polls show little movement

Much has changed in Washington over the last two weeks, as Congress passed a sweeping health-reform bill and Barack Obama's presidency became known by both friend and foe as a historically consequential one. But according to a host of new surveys, one thing hasn't changed all that much -- public opinion.

By Ben Pershing  | March 30, 2010; 8:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (23)
Categories:  Health Care, The Rundown  
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Obama emphasizes preemption of terror threats in NBC interview

In the wake of twin suicide attacks on the Moscow subways, President Obama said Monday that the threat of a terrorist attack on the U.S. transportation network is a "significant concern," one that is "not restricted to subways."

By Anne E. Kornblut  | March 29, 2010; 7:41 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (4)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency, National Security  
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Today in photos

Click here for the weekend's best political photos:...

By Rachel Weiner  | March 29, 2010; 5:29 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (2)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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Ethics office says ex-Rep. Deal may have violated House rules

The Office of Congressional Ethics said Monday that ex-Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) may have violated House rules by earning too much outside income and by lobbying Georgia officials to steer state business to an auto salvage company he co-owned.

By Ben Pershing  | March 29, 2010; 2:29 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (23)
Categories:  Capitol Briefing  
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FEC report details lavish Republican spending, including nearly $2,000 at Voyeur West Hollywood

The Republican National Committee spent tens of thousands of dollars last month on luxury jets, posh hotels and other high-flying expenses, according to new Federal Election Commission filings, including nearly $2,000 for "meals" at Voyeur West Hollywood, a lesbian-themed nightclub that features topless dancers in bondage outfits.

By Dan Eggen  | March 29, 2010; 12:51 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (734)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency, Republican Party  
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Obama watches NCAA games with troops (Video)

President Obama is back in Washington after a quick trip to Afghanistan to visit with leaders there and American troops. During his visit, the president watched some NCAA basketball with the troops.

By Web Politics Editor  | March 29, 2010; 9:24 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency, Barack Obama  
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Obama returns from surprise Afghanistan trip

By Anne E. Kornblut Obama landed at Andrews Air Force base shortly before 9 a.m....

By Kendra Nichols  | March 29, 2010; 9:03 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (4)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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Bombings, Afghan trip show challenges abroad for Obama

After a long and intense focus on getting his health bill passed, President Obama's surprise trip to Afghanistan this weekend and Monday's horrific Moscow subway bombings served as fresh reminders that the hardest and most important work of his presidency may lie outside the domestic arena.

By Ben Pershing  | March 29, 2010; 8:12 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (2)
Categories:  The Rundown  
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Obama in Afghanistan Twitter feed

By 44 Editor  | March 28, 2010; 2:50 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  44 The Obama Presidency  
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