July 2009 - Posts
THE WEEK AHEAD: Health care, Sotomayor vote, Obama's birthday, Hillary goes to Africa, Summers on Meet the Press... and birther invades the manor.
For our mailbox, submit your questions for next week in the comments section below. We might pick yours.
From NBC's Pete Williams
Alberto Gonzales is making a comeback, nominated today to return to his old job.President Obama has nominated Daniel Bogden to be the top federal prosecutor in Nevada. Bodgen was the US attorney there in the George W. Bush administration for five years until he was fired in December 2006, one of nine who were forced out.
Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada had pushed for the nomination. His spokesman has said it would help correct a past wrong.
From NBC's Mark Murray MSNBC.com on the observations from it.
Video: Atlantic Media’s Ron Brownstein talks about the public’s support of health care reform and President Barack Obama according to the latest NBC News/WSJ poll. TOWSON, Md. - The past wave of public polling, including Wednesday’s NBC/Wall Street Journal survey, hasn’t been terrific news for the
Obama White House.
The president’s job-approval numbers have declined, although they remain above 50 percent. His standing on health care has dropped. And Republicans now find themselves, at least in the NBC/Journal survey, with an advantage over Democrats in which party would do a better job reducing the deficit — the first time the GOP has led on this question in 12 years.
But according to Peter D. Hart, the pollster who conducts the NBC/Journal survey with Republican Bill McInturff, poll numbers don't always tell the entire story.
That’s why Hart held a focus group Wednesday in the Baltimore area with 12 self-described independents to evaluate the first six months of Obama's presidency.
Seven of these independents voted for Obama in last November’s presidential contest, four voted for Republican John McCain and one voted for Ralph Nader. All the participants were white men and women, except for one African-American man.
While a few of them expressed negative opinions about Obama — saying they were “worried” or “afraid” — those who voted for him remained mostly supportive. And even half of the McCain voters said they were pulling for the president.
From NBC's Mark Murray Sarah Palin , according to a Hays Research Group poll conducted July 29-30. (Hat tip: Political Wire .)
In the poll, 48% see her negatively, versus 47% who view her positively.
In May 2008 -- before Palin was selected as
John McCain's running mate -- the same Hays Research poll had her positive rating
at 86% , and in May 2009 it dropped
to 54% . Now it's 47%.
The new Hays poll was taken of 400 Alaskans, and it has a margin of error of plus-minus 4.9 percentage points.
From NBC's Luke Russert
By a 316-109 vote, the House just passed an additional $2 billion for the "Cash for Clunkers" program.
From NBC's Mark Murray
The deal that was cut earlier this week between House Energy and Commerce Chairman
Henry Waxman and the Blue Dogs included four of the committee's seven Blue Dogs.
Here's a script of the MoveOn radio ad...
AD SCRIPT
Female VO
Today in [STATE], a patient lost insurance coverage for medical care she needs...
Male VO
Female VO
Male VO
Instead of helping [STATE] families get more affordable, quality health care choices, Congressman [XXXX] sided with the special interests and insurance companies
Female VO
Call XXX-XXX-XXXX and tell him [STATE] families can't afford to wait for real health care reform any longer.
From NBC's Mark Murray The Hill that quoted Senate Finance Committee Max Baucus (D) -- whose work on health care so far has frustrated some liberal Democrats -- saying he had "no idea" whether he'll vote for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor .
“I haven’t paid any attention and I haven’t announced," he told the Capitol Hill publication. "I’ve been so busy with health care. It’s under consideration. I’ll certainly know when I vote, but right now I can’t tell you.”
Well, he's now telling us -- he's voting for her.
"I have long said that to be a Supreme Court Justice a person must meet three main criteria: personal integrity, professional competence, and a view of important issues that is within the mainstream of contemporary judicial thought," Baucus said in a statement. "After personally meeting Judge Sotomayor, thoroughly analyzing her judicial record, and reviewing her nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Judge Sotomayor unquestionably meets each of these criteria. Thus, I am proud to support her nomination and will vote to confirm her as a Justice to the United States Supreme Court.”
From NBC's Mark Murray Chris Dodd
(D), who is up for re-election next year, has been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer.
From NBC's Mike Viqueira, Kelly O'Donnell and Carl Sears It's a race against time today for the House. They're set to go off on their way for recess once the gavel comes down at close of business, but they want to send the "Cash for Clunkers" program another $2 billion before they go.
Procedurally, they will need to get Republicans to go along, however. Early indications are that it might be possible, but conservatives are already on the record as opposing more money.
Video: Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., discuses the House’s plans to pass $2 billion to keep the “Cash for Clunkers” program running. Just a week after taking effect, the program has already run through the $1 billion allocated to it. Today, White House Auto Czar
Brian Dees was up on the Hill for a closed-door meeting of the Michigan delegation, where he gave assurances that the program would not be suspended and indicated that he wants the dealers to continue to submit applications for the credit.
The plan is to "reprogram" the money from a a renewable energy loan guarantee program in the stimulus that has funds yet to be used. The money would eventually be replenished, according to a House leadership aide.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Carl Sears and Kelly O'Donnell Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow say the "Cash for Clunkers" program is an overwhelming success -- that the program is ongoing -- and they're hoping to find more money to extend the program.
"Go in, buy cars, hopefully American cars, that qualify until further notice," Levin urged at a Capitol Hill news conference. "This is the best example of a stimulus program that is clearly working."
Stabenow added, "The evidence is extremely strong that this works. People are buying autos, people are generating revenue for the economy and creating demand, so people can go back to work."
Video: The government’s billion-dollar “cash for clunkers” program seems to be low on money as car shoppers flock to take advantage of the rebates. CNBC’s Erin Burnett reports. There is a House bill being introduced today that would add $2 billion to the program ($1 billion has already been committed). If the House passes the bill, Levin said the Senate could vote a bill next week.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell and Scott Foster
Although key members of Congress were notified by the Secretary of Transportation Thursday that the auto purchase incentive program would run out of money at midnight, sources say "Administration and Congressional officials are working to keep it up and running."
Video: The Obama administration is reviewing its ‘cash for clunkers’ program. CNBC’s Phil LeBeau reports. The program has exhausted its authorized funding of nearly $1 billion in less than a week, but officials say "it is not suspended."
White House spokesman
Robert Gibbs today said the program is "up and continuing to run," adding that the plan is available for car buyers this weekend.
He said the administration is working to extend the program with more funding. "OMB and DOT and the economic team are working with bipartisan leaders to com up with more funding," Gibbs said. He repeatedly emphasized the White House believes the program is "working well."
From NBC's Mark Murray
Video: Rachel Maddow wraps up the Birther conspiracy. According to a Research 2000/DailyKos poll, eight in 10 Americans believe
President Obama was born in the United States. But among Republicans, 28% of them say he WASN'T born in the country and another 30% say they're not sure. (By comparison, 93% of Democrats and 83% of independents say Obama was born in the U.S.A.)
Also, 23% of Southerners don't believe he was born here, and an extra 30% aren't sure. (On the other hand, 93% of those living in the Northeast, 90% from the Midwest, and 87% from the West believe he was born in this country.)
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Here come the ads! As the House begins its month-long August recess, here come the ads on health care. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has announced it’s launching an advertising and grassroots offensive on health care targeted at about two dozen House Republicans. Here’s a sample of one radio ad: “Health care bills -- every year, the cost goes higher,” an announcer says, “making it harder to make ends meet. But year after year, Congressman Charlie Dent (PA) opposed reforms to make health care more affordable. Congressman Dent’s gotten nearly $75,000 from the insurance industry while we’ve gotten stuck with runaway health-care costs. And what do the insurance companies get? Record profits. Call Congressman Dent. Tell him not to side with insurance companies … and start supporting real health care reform.” We already know the RNC is up in certain districts, and MoveOn is on the air. The question is, of course: When does the insurance industry jump in, and where?
Video: Sen. Orin Hatch, R-Utah, talks about what's really wrong with America's health care system and why a public option will cost too much and result in the rationing of health care. ***
Mob rule? With the House embarking on its recess,
Politico asks this question: Just how unruly will the congressional town halls be? “On the eve of the August recess, members are reporting meetings that have gone terribly awry, marked by angry, sign-carrying mobs and disruptive behavior. In at least one case, a congressman [Dem. Tim Bishop] has stopped holding town hall events because the situation has spiraled so far out of control.” Bishop’s “decision came on the heels of a June 22 event he held in Setauket, N.Y., in which protesters dominated the meeting by shouting criticisms at the congressman for his positions on energy policy, health care and the bailout of the auto industry. Within an hour of the disruption, police were called in to escort the 59-year-old Democrat — who has held more than 100 town hall meetings since he was elected in 2002 — to his car safely.” The angry folks live in both ideological neighborhoods and get emboldened by folks on the internet, radio, and TV. Maybe lawmakers ought to go with the tele-town hall approach, where constituents get asked if they have a question an hour before. The planned stuff only serves as a target for groups to hijack these events.
*** CORRECTION *** A Bishop spokesman emails First Read that Politico's story is wrong; Bishop ISN'T ending his town halls. "Congressman Bishop held a public forum with hundreds of seniors earlier this month, a teletownhall with 3500 constituents yesterday, and has town halls, public events and community office hours scheduled for August."
*** Are things getting better? Breaking news from the AP: "The economy dips at a 1 percent pace in the spring, strong sign recession is winding down." But again, the technical end of the recession vs. the actual FEEL for the public is the challenge for the White House.
*** The haves and have-nots : While much attention (and deservedly so) was given to Obama’s declining numbers on health care, our NBC/WSJ poll found a clear split between those who have private health insurance and those who don’t. Americans who have private insurance disapprove of Obama’s job on health care by a 51%-38%. But those who lack insurance approve of his job, 52%-29%. Similarly, those who don’t have insurance are much more likely to think Obama’s health-care plan is a good idea, while those who have it are more likely to think it’s a bad idea. Of course, the folks without insurance are a very small minority of the country. And now the focus of the White House appears exclusively on the insurance industry. This might be better politics as it's something both individuals and businesses might agree on.
*** Still backing Bush?
Here’s another interesting number from our poll: 56% said they approved of the reported Bush administration plan to send CIA agents overseas to assassinate senior members of Al Qaeda. When you add that finding to last month’s NBC/WSJ result that 52% oppose the closing of the Guantanamo Bay prison, Republican pollster Bill McInturff observed that still 50%-plus of the American public still back some of the Bush war-on-terror policies. Focus on this : As we mentioned yesterday, one of us attended a focus group of 12 self-described independents that Democratic pollster Peter Hart conducted on Wednesday night in Towson, MD, which is just outside of Baltimore. Seven of these independents voted for Obama last November, four voted for McCain, and one voted for Nader. While almost all of the participants were down on the current state of the nation and other American politicians, many of them -- including some who voted for McCain -- had positive things to say about Obama or were hopeful about his presidency. Asked about her opinion about Obama after his first six months in office, Marsha, 59, a McCain voter, responded, "Just hopeful… I just see what's on his plate." Hart observed afterward, "Don't get fooled by the [poll] numbers alone. There is something strong there" regarding attitudes about Obama.
Video: Former Clinton Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers and former Press Secretary to Newt Gingrich, Tony Blankley, discuss why President Obama is having such a difficult time selling his health care plan to Congress and the American people. ***
I feel the need … the need for speed (or not) : In the focus group, perhaps the biggest concern about Obama was the speed at which he is moving. "I'm very worried about the speed," said Jennifer, 48, another McCain voter. There also was concern about Obama's strength and backbone. When Hart asked the participants to fill in the blank to the phrase "Obama's spine is made of …," some of the McCain voters responded with "plastic" and "sand." Those who voted for Obama said "steel" and "metal." This also was interesting: Despite the C.W. that Obama is overexposing himself, many of participants said they liked his press conferences and his town halls. And another thing: Many of the participants referred to Obama as "Barack," which Hart found interesting, saying it suggested a comfort and ease with the president.
*** Word association time : Hart also played a word association game with the 12 independents in attendance. On Obama: "scary," "worried," "brilliant," "idealistic," "afraid," "busy," "straightforward." On Rush Limbaugh: "mouthy," "I don't like him," "too outspoken," "entertaining." On Hillary Clinton: "smart," "intelligent," "relentless," "great," "energetic." On John McCain: "over the hill," "disappointing," "fighter," "strong-willed," "still trying." On Joe Biden: "hopeful," "embarrassing," "nice-looking," "useless." On Nancy Pelosi: "pushy," "strong-willed," "disrespectful," "self-centered," "I like her," "disrespectful," "strong-willed," "sneaky." On Sarah Palin: "If I wanted a stripper for president… She is not real bright," "future," "I'm glad she resigned," "average," "idiot," "nutty," "go away," "she has a good speaking voice," "celebrity," "comical." On Michelle Obama: "beautiful," "educated," "great role model," "improved," "good role model," "role model." On the Democratic Party: "divided," "splitting." And on the GOP: "a long way to go," "lacking leaders," "cronyism," "too conservative," "not tackling the issues."
*** That’s not my name!
*** Another Palin scheduling snafu : Who else saw this coming? According to NBC’s Norah O’Donnell, ex-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is NOT going to attend that speaking event in California next month. "As repeatedly stated to several in the media over the last week, former Gov. Sarah Palin is not committed to attend the Simi Valley Republican Women's event at the Reagan Library and in fact is not attending the event,” Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton told O’Donnell. “Neither the governor's state staff nor SarahPAC has ever committed to attending this event or speaking at this event, and even requested that the governor's name be removed from the invitation several weeks ago. The governor has other work and commitments to take care of at that time. She looks forward to visiting her friends in California soon." This cancellation, of course, comes after a similar “she will attend, now she won’t” situation played out for last spring’s NRCC/NRSC dinner.
*** The war in Afghanistan : Are things falling apart in Afghanistan? Perhaps not, but there is HARDLY any good news coming from this war zone right now. July saw the highest number of U.S. casualties there. And here’s this AP story "U.S. agencies handling reconstruction work in Afghanistan lack direction and communication, problems that risk wasting U.S. tax dollars, says the special inspector general overseeing tens of billions of dollars worth of projects.” A word of warning to the administration: When we did our latest NBC/WSJ, we re-interviewed a number of respondents, and here was one quote from an Obama supporter that ended up on the TV cutting room floor but is appropriate. “I'm sorry that now we're in another war. We were in Iraq, you know, we were pulling back and now, we're in Afghanistan. Do we really need another war? I understand that yes, the president is trying to go after Al-Qaeda but do we need to be yet in another war where we're spending billions of dollars every day or every month?” And remember, this is an Obama SUPPORTER!?!?! There won’t be the same public patience on Afghanistan as there was on Iraq even though, logically, one would assume differently since there is near universal agreement that Afghanistan is home to more of our enemies. The Blair House Project : At 6:15 pm ET at the Blair House (near the White House), President Obama and Vice President Biden begin huddling with the administration’s cabinet secretaries to assess their first six months in office. CEOs hold these kinds of retreats all the time to identify what's working and what's not. So what's working and what's not? And who should/will be put on notice by the president at this retreat?
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 95 days
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The Boston Globe on the Beer Summit: "They did not link arms, and there were no public apologies. But a subdued meeting over beers on the White House patio last evening appeared to achieve President Obama’s goal of encouraging a deeper dialogue on race between Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Cambridge police Sergeant James Crowley."
Video: President Obama and Vice President Biden sit down with Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and the officer who arrested him, Sgt. James Crowley, for a beer at the White House. NBC’s Chuck Todd reports. Prof. Gates (in a statement on
TheRoot.com ): "I would like to applaud President Obama for bringing Sergeant Crowley, me and our families together… Sergeant Crowley and I, through an accident of time and place, have been cast together, inextricably, as characters – as metaphors, really – in a thousand narratives about race over which he and I have absolutely no control… It is incumbent upon Sergeant Crowley and me to utilize the great opportunity that fate has given us to foster greater sympathy among the American public for the daily perils of policing on the one hand, and for the genuine fears of racial profiling on the other hand. .. At this point, I am hopeful that we can all move on...."
More : "Scholars said the meeting was apparently an unprecedented intervention in a local dispute by a sitting US president, part of the White House damage control" after the "stupidly" comment. New York Post's cover has the three men clinking mugs and a headline: "Brew-haha." New York Daily News uses the same photo and the headline, "Touch of Glass." (You can also clearly see Prof. Gates' cane.)
CONTINUED >>
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus says his panel will not introduce a health-care reform bill before the August recess, NBC’s Ken Strickland reports. This forces Majority Leader Harry Reid to push back another timetable for passing a bill. Reid had said publicly he wanted the committee bill passed before Aug. 7. "Nevertheless," Baucus said, "we're as committed, if not more committed, to finding a bipartisan agreement." The announcement comes a day after key Republicans involved in writing the bill complained the process was moving too fast.
"We have not been committed to deadlines," said Republican Chuck Grassley, one of the six bipartisan negotiators. "We've been committed to getting a job done. And that's where we are today. That's where we've been -- Max and I -- for five months. And that's where the six of us have been for the last month."
Video: Have the Blue Dog Democrats fallen for a Republican ruse with their August time out? Newsweek’s Howard Fineman discusses the GOP’s scary stall tactics. "House Democratic leaders have developed a coordinated strategy for attacking insurance companies to ward off attacks from opponents of their health care overhaul during the August break, according to a strategy memo obtained by
The Hill . 'Our message is simple. It is now being echoed by the White House,' said the memo sent to all Democratic members. 'And it counters the Republican ‘government takeover’ message.' The message in the memo, though, won't fit on a bumper sticker: 'Remove the insurance companies from between you and your doctor— capping what they can force you to pay in out of pocket expenses, co-pays and deductibles, and giving you the peace of mind you will be covered for the care you need, if get sick, or if you change or lose your job.'"
CONTINUED >>
So Max Baucus
says he has "no idea" how he'll vote on Sotomayor? This comes after liberals have been frustrated by his work on health care. “I have no idea,” Baucus said, per The Hill. “I haven’t paid any attention and I haven’t announced… I’ve been so busy with healthcare. It’s under consideration. I’ll certainly know when I vote, but right now I can’t tell you.”
By the way,
The Hill points out: "Baucus had an A rating from the NRA in 2008, as did two other Senate Democrats who ran last year: Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Mark Warner of Virginia." Johnson, Warner and Montana Democrat Jon Tester have said they both intend to support Sotomayor. And even Republican Lamar Alexander said yesterday he'd support her -- despite his A rating from the NRA. The National Rifle Association, which opposes Sotomayor, has vowed to make the vote part of its ratings system this year.
Debate on her confirmation may begin Tuesday,
Roll Call reports.
It's official. Sarah Palin is not attending that Simi Valley Republican women's group talk -- emceed by Palin supporter John Ziegler. Invitations had gone out with her name on them. And it was set to be her first appearance -- though closed to the press -- since she stepped down as governor of Alaska. Palin's people had never confirmed that she was attending.
The Republican Women Federated of Simi Valley released a statement: "We regret to inform you that Governor Sarah Palin is unable to attend our event on August 8, 2009. As stated, we invited her to attend and we were honored by her consideration. We sincerely appreciate the support of our members and guests. We will refund ticket purchases for anyone who chooses not to attend. Contact us by end of business Tuesday, August 4, 2009 … with your name, address, and telephone number for refunds. We apologize for any inconvenience."
Video: Bloomberg News’ Margaret Carlson discusses whether former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will keep herself in the political arena or pursue other interests. The group had put out a statement July 12 saying Palin was attending. Back then, the group's president said she "respected Palin's right to change her plans at any time," the San
Diego Union-Tribune wrote. "She said in an e-mail that correspondence with the governor's office has been 'positive but cautious,' but she added, 'we know she will come.'"
There is an
internal spat within the RNC that is playing out at the summer meeting in San Diego. Some RNC old guard would like to limit Michael Steele's ability to hand out consulting contracts.
The Hill looks at the perils of running as an incumbent governor in 2010.
NEW JERSEY : A spokesman for New Jersey’s U.S. Attorney office said that accusations that Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie intervened in a federal fraud suit, leading to a plea agreement that “prevented a developer from collecting whistleblower payments,” were “unsubstantiated and politically charged.” Developer Samuel Yarosh, who says he “tipped off federal agents” to his former business partner and Assembleyman Morton Salkind’s tax evasion, has filed a lawsuit claiming that Salkind’s lawyers, both political allies of Christie, got a “sweetheart deal” from federal prosecutors: Salkind plead guilty to only one count of tax evasion, and Yarosh didn’t receive any percentage of Salkind’s recovered money, a common reward for whistleblowers.
On Thursday, Democratic Governor Jon Corzine’s camp released an ad criticizing Christie’s “handling” of the case.
NORTH DAKOTA : Rut-ro for Dems. Could this be true? Republican Gov. Hoeven is being heavily recruited by the NRSC AGAIN to challenge Byron Dorgan. Normally, the GOP can't produce a poll that gets a popular Republican at any better than even, but now they have a poll showing Hoeven up double-digits .
VIRGINIA : As part of “efforts by the national parties to target politicians they believe to be vulnerable at home,” Virginia Representative Gerald Connolly and Virginia Democratic Party chairman Richard Cranwell are “slamming Rep. Eric Cantor and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell for not supporting President Obama’s recovery bill.” At a press conference yesterday, Connolly noted “irony” in that Cantor “successfully roped every Republican member of the House to oppose [the Economic Recovery Act]…while at home he’s writing letters urging that a major chunk of that money be invested in his district.” An RNC spokeswoman responded, saying that the bill “wastes Virginians tax dollars,” noting that the rising unemployment rate since President Obama’s inauguration makes it “hard to see how this massive spending experiment can be billed as a success.” Washington Post asks both Virginia candidates what kind of beer they would request if invited to the White House for one. Said Deeds’ spokesman: “Creigh would drink what he always drinks, Budweiser. He’s a consistent guy.” McDonnell, however, would choose a Coors Light. “Both campaigns declined to provide any memorable stories involving their candidates’ consumption of their beer of choice. ‘Any good stories are locked away until after Election Day,” McDonnell’s rep said.
From NBC's Luke Russert
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), a member of the Progressive Caucus claimed at a news conference today on Capitol Hill that she had a letter with 53 signatures, attesting to that. “We have gathered here today to demand that the final health-care legislation has a robust public option and to vow we will vote against it if it does not," she said.
Video: Rachel Maddow is joined by Rep. Anthony Weiner, to talk about the latest battles in Congress to pass the health care reform bill. Echoing House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi ’s words from earlier in the day, Woolsey took a swipe at health-insurance companies saying, “Insurance companies have had decades to provide the kind of coverage that Americans need. They have shown that they cannot or they will not do it.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Scott Foster Gates and Sgt. Crowley .
Obama said he's "fascinated with the fascination about tonight."
Video: President Obama speaks on his chat with a black professor and the white police officer who arrested him. He added that he's heard this has been called the beer summit.
"That's a clever term, but this is not a summit," he said. "It's three folks having a drink at the end of the day and hopefully giving an opportunity to listen to each other."
He continued: "This is not a university seminar; this is not a summit; it's a personal interaction. ... The issue has been so hyped and symbolic you lose sight that there are people involved inclduing myself all of whom are imperfect."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Luke Russert
Nancy Pelosi came out aggressively against health insurance companies and their opposition to a public insurance option. “I think it is pretty clear that we want a strong public option in the legislation. Insurance companies full force carpet-bombing and shock and awe against the public option -- so much so that the American people doubt the plan or are uncertain about it, until you tell them what is in it.”
Later, off camera, while walking with reporters to her office, Pelosi took it a step further and questioned the morality of health insurance companies that oppose a public option. “It is somewhat immoral what they are doing. Of course, they have been immoral all along how they have treated the people that they insure.”
In a passionate tone, she continued, “They are the villains in this. They have been part of the problem in a major way. They have been doing everything in their power to stop a public option from happening. The public has to know that. They can describe their arguments any way they want, but the fact is they don’t want the competition. They don’t even want anti-trust laws. They have had a good thing going for a long time at the expense of the American people and the health of our country. Our members have to go out there ready to take on a big special interest that has not made our country healthier and have made our cost spiral upward and for whom that is coming to an end.”
Pelosi then said this about the health-care reform legislation: “This is the fight of our lives for the people that we represent, for their health.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro and Kelly O'Donnell Ted Kennedy and Jack Kemp , as well as Justice Sandra Day O'Connor .
"I am profoundly grateful to President Obama for this extraordinary honor," Kennedy
said in a statement. "My life has been committed to the ideal of public service which President Kennedy wanted the Medal of Freedom to represent. To receive it from another President who prizes that same ideal of service and inspires so many to serve is a great privilege that moves me deeply."
Others include: Physicist
Stephen Hawking , tennis great
Billie Jean King , gay rights activist
Harvey Milk (whose life was memorialized in a feature film this past year), actor
Sidney Poitier , actress
Chita Rivera ,
Archbishop Desmond Tutu ,
Nancy Goodman Brinker (founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure),
Dr. Pedro Jose Greer (a Miami physician that helps the homeless and disadvantaged children in Miami),
Rev. Joseph Lowery (civil rights leader),
Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow , (last living Plains Indian war chief),
Mary Robinson (first female President of Ireland),
Janet Davison Rowley (geneticist and cancer researcher),
Dr. Muhammad Yunus (“micro-loan” pioneers, providing credit to the poor)
From NBC's Scott Foster Robert Gibbs says today's meeting between the president, Sgt. Crowley and Prof. Gates is "not an after action report," and he reiterated there will be "no formal agenda."
"We are not here to mediate apologies," Gibbs added.
Gibbs says the president believes the meeting will help "foster a dialogue" on race, but Gibbs added, "It's not something that's just going to involve him or the actions of the presidency. ... It has to continue to happen at all levels."
Video: Rev. Jesse Jackson, MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan and a panel discuss the potential impact of the “beer summit.” Don't expect any comments from the photo spray, Gibbs said.
CONTINUED >>
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg *** Back to Nov. 3, 2008: Perhaps the most striking observation from the new NBC/WSJ poll is how Barack Obama's standing has returned to where it was right before Election Night. His job-approval rating has dropped to 53%, which just happens to be the percentage of the popular vote he won in November. His approval among independents and Republicans is, respectively, 49% and 16%, which is fairly close to his exit-poll scores with these groups. And Obama's fav/unfav in our poll is 55%-34, which is almost identical to his fav/unfav in our mid-October 2008 NBC/WSJ poll. How did we return back to 2008? One obvious explanation is the health-care debate, which has turned into a Democrat-vs.-Republican fight. In fact, the 16% of Republicans approving of Obama’s job is a five-point decline from our June survey and a nine-point one since April. NBC/WSJ co-pollster Bill McInturff (R) says Obama had been flying above the partisan fray, but he’s now come back down to earth. “The question I asked back in February was: When does political gravity take hold? The answer is in this survey. It is happening now.”
Video: MSNBC’s Carlos Watson and Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., discuss whether the Blue Dog Democrats and Republicans can work together to fight President Barack Obama’s health care plans. ***
Health care & stimulus numbers slipping: Speaking of health care, our poll also shows that the more Obama has campaigned on the issue, the worse his numbers have become. In it, 42% now say that the president’s plan is a bad idea, which is a 10-point increase since last month; only 36% say it’s a good idea. In addition, 39% -- a plurality -- believe that Obama’s plan would result in the quality of their health care getting worse, which is a 15-point jump since April. And just 41% approve of the president’s job on health care, which is nearly identical to Bill Clinton’s scores from 1994, when he failed to get Congress to pass health reform. (Just asking, but what happens to Obama's health numbers this fall, when there might be a shortage -- and rationing! -- of swine-flu shots?) A final note about health care: Support for a public insurance option decreases (to 46%-44%) when you take out the word “choice” from last month’s survey. What’s more, health care isn’t the only domestic priority for Obama that has become less popular. According to the poll, 43% now believe the stimulus was a bad idea, which is up 16 points since January. Indeed, the NBC/WSJ survey finds that the public’s top concern about Obama’s young presidency is that he has spent too much money.
*** The GOP’s new edge on the deficit/controlling spending: How concerned is the public with spending? Concerned enough that the GOP now has a six-point advantage over the Democrats on which party do you trust more on reducing the deficit -- which is the first time Republicans have led on this question since 1997 (!!!). Moreover, the GOP now has advantages over the Democrats on controlling government spending and taxes. And that could make Obama’s job to sell a health-care bill (and the tax increases that would pay for it) more difficult. Still, the Democratic Party maintains its edge over the GOP on health care, energy, getting the country out of recession, and the economy, although those advantages are smaller than they were a year ago. Overall, the Democratic Party’s fav/unfav rating is 42%-37%, while the GOP’s is 28%-41%.
*** 1994 or 1982? Looking ahead to 2010, one other thing that has declined for Democrats is their edge in the generic ballot. According to our new poll, Americans prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress over a GOP-controlled one, 46%-39%. But that seven-point advantage for Democrats is their smallest edge here since April 2006. Much of the increase comes from white men and white women. While a seven-point Dem advantage doesn’t suggest a change in power like we saw in 1994, NBC/WSJ co-pollster Peter Hart (D) says next year’s midterms could look a lot like 1982, when the Democratic Party picked up seats after Ronald Reagan’s first two years in office. “To me, 2010 is looking to be much like 1982,” he said. “It’s going to be a bad year for the incumbent party. It may not affect the president as much as it will affect the party and the makeup of the Congress.” Another thing to note from the poll: The GOP has increased its strength in the South, and the regional splits between the parties look like they did pre-Katrina.
Video: MSNBC political analyst Laura Flanders talks about the GOP’s continued criticism of the stimulus despite the Federal Reserve’s report that most of its 12 regions have either stabilized economically or have seen a leveling off in the pace of the economic decline. ***
Biden, Pelosi, Romney, Clinton, and Palin: Despite the decline in his numbers, Obama (with a 55%-34% fav/unfav) is still the most popular politician measured in our poll. Vice President Biden’s score is 38%-36% (reflecting the fact that when he gets into the news, it’s usually because he did or said something wrong); House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s is 25%-44%, Mitt Romney’s is 28%-20% (look what happens when you stay out of the news!); Hillary Clinton’s is 53%-31%; and Sarah Palin’s is 32%-43%. Looking at Palin and 2012, the poll shows that a whopping 67% of the public -- and 43% of Republicans -- say they would NOT like to see her as president someday. By comparison, 50% of Americans -- and 33% of Republicans -- say they don’t want to see Romney become president.
*** Focus group time: As Peter Hart notes, poll numbers alone don’t always tell you the entire story, however. And last night, he conducted a focus group with 12 independent voters in Towson, MD (outside of Baltimore) that one of your First Read authors attended. Seven of these indies voted for Obama last year, four voted for McCain, and one voted for Nader. We’ll have more on this focus group in tomorrow’s First Thoughts, but here are the quick highlights: Despite the drop in Obama’s poll numbers, these participants -- even those who voted for McCain -- expressed hope and some positive feelings for the president. Yet they also expressed concern about the speed at which the president was moving on issues, particularly health care. Also, Michelle Obama won rave reviews from the participants, while Biden didn’t.
Video: Many conservatives feel health care proposals are being rushed and were hoping Blue Dog Democrats would take their side. Rep. Mike Pence, D-Ind., discusses whether the Blue Dogs’ decision to negotiate with Democratic leaders may hurt the prospect of a bipartisan health care bill. ***
The Great American Health Care Fight: Blue Dogs struck a deal with House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman yesterday, but the agreement has angered liberals… NBC’s Ken Strickland reports that although Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has called for the Senate Finance Committee to complete its bill before the August recess, two GOP negotiators (Grassley and Enzi) suggested that it probably won’t happen… And finally, a last word about the Blue Dogs: Our new NBC/WSJ poll measured that group (white Democrats who aren’t liberals), and found that while they overwhelmingly approve of Obama’s job, they agree with him less on the issues. Just 46% of them think he’s taking the country in the right direction, and only 41% think his stimulus package was a good idea. And you wonder why these Blue Dog congressmen are reluctant on health care…
Video: Why no Boston beers or microbrews for today's beer summit? NBC's Domenico Montanaro previews Obama's day. ***
Obama’s day: At 3:00 pm ET today, Obama meets with Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. And then three hours later comes his much-anticipated beer with Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Cambridge police officer James Crowley. There will be a pool spray of the men gathering.
***
Pawlenty’s day: Finally today, retiring Minnesota Gov. (and potential 2012 candidate) Tim Pawlenty addresses the Republican National Committee’s meeting in San Diego today. Per a source close to Pawlenty, the governor will introduce himself and lay out the case why Obama’s policies are taking the country in the wrong direction. Talking about the budget, Pawlenty will emphasize the fact that he balanced the budget every year (which almost all governors have to do). On health care, he will criticize Obama’s plan, saying it will “replace independence with dependence and increase costs." And on foreign policy, he will mention that he has just returned from Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Here’s our write-up of the new NBC/WSJ poll: “Despite his public-relations blitz over the past two weeks to promote his plans to reform the nation's health-care system -- including holding two town halls on Wednesday -- President Barack Obama has lost ground on this issue with the American public... Pluralities now say that the president’s health care plan is a bad idea, and that it will result in the quality of their care getting worse. What’s more, just four in 10 approve of his handling on the issue.”
Video: President Obama spent another day on the road Wednesday pushing a health care overhaul as Democrats in the House appeared to have settled on a compromise plan that they'll take to the floor for a vote. NBC's Savannah Guthrie reports. Here’s the Wall Street Journal’s take: “Declining popularity of the health-care overhaul reflects rising anxiety over the federal budget deficit and congressional debate over the most contentious aspects of the legislation, including how to pay for it. The poll also shows concern over the role of government in determining personal medical decisions.”
The
CBS/New York Times poll , which shows Obama’s approval rating at 58%: “Mr. Obama continues to benefit from strong support for the basic goal of revamping the health care system, and he is seen as far more likely than Congressional Republicans to have the best ideas to accomplish that. But reflecting a problem that has hindered efforts to bring major changes to health care for decades, Americans expressed considerable unease about what the end result would mean for them individually.”
And here’s Time ’s poll, which has the president’s approval rating at 56%: “By significant margins, survey respondents said they believe the final health-reform legislation is likely to raise health-care costs in the long run (62%), make everything about health care more complicated (65%) and offer less freedom to choose doctors and coverage (56%).”
CONTINUED >>
NBC's Luke Russert reports from the House side on Capitol Hill about the progress toward a deal on health care yesterday. There will most likely be a committee vote by Friday. But it's important to note that yesterday's agreement was not between the Blue Dogs and the Leadership; it was between four of the seven Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee -- Hill, Space, Ross and Gordon -- and the chairman of that committee, Henry Waxman. At this point we don't know if all Blue Dogs will support health-care reform.
CONTINUED >>
Tim Pawlenty, who last week assumed the No. 2 job at the Republican Governors Association, is set to give a speech today before the Republican National Committee at its retreat in San Diego. Minnesota Public Radio says it "represents a key opportunity for the Minnesota governor to raise his national profile and make his pitch to the party faithful."
The
AP looks at Pawlenty's ambition: "The two-term fiscal and social conservative is taking necessary steps toward a possible presidential bid -- headlining GOP fundraisers, taking an influential job at the Republican Governors Association, mulling his own political action committee. But Pawlenty says he's focused on the party, not 2012." But it notes: "[H]is track record of GOP building in Minnesota is less than stellar. Republicans have lost ground in every election since he became governor in 2003. He is the sole statewide GOP officeholder and his party controls its fewest legislative seats since 1992. Pawlenty himself narrowly survived a three-way election contest to win his second term. But the governor said that's not his fault."
MASSACHUSETTS: "Republican Charles D. Baker Jr. officially entered the governor’s race yesterday, filing his paperwork with the state and then swiftly launching into an attack on Governor Deval Patrick’s handling of the budget and economy," The Boston Globe writes. "Baker immediately pledged not to raise taxes and said he would try to repeal the recent increase in the state sales tax, which will go from 5 percent to 6.25 percent Saturday, if he is elected. 'I’m a no-new-taxes candidate,' he said, adding later for the television cameras: 'Yeah, read my lips: No new taxes.'"
NEW JERSEY: “Within hours” of New Jersey’s corruption round-up last week, “word was circulating that Jon Corzine wasn’t long for the governor’s race.” Rumor had it that Corzine would pull the old bait and switch, much like Democratic senatorial candidate Robert Torricelli did in 2002. “Overwhelmed by questions about his relationship with a shady contributor, his party gave him the hook in favor of the tried-and-true Frank Lautenberg.” The New York Observer , however, predicts Corzine won’t pull a Torricelli, as Democrats don’t have the same “leverage they enjoyed” with the wealthy Corzine, who “tends to believe he’s far more popular -- and far more skilled at communicating with the public -- than he actually is.”
Stu Rothenberg , writing in Roll Call, has this headline: "You Have 4 Months To Learn to Say ‘Gov. Chris Christie’" -- unless Corzine bows out, which it doesn't look like he will. Rep. Frank Pallone and Newark Mayor Cory Booker have expressed interest in replacing Corzine, but he isn't beholden to the state party system, since he has been self-financed.
TEXAS: Kay Bailey "Hutchison said for the first time Wednesday that she would resign “sometime” around October or November -- a decision that would pave the way for a much-anticipated May [2010] special election. She said she was resigning because her 'heart is in Texas,' but also emphasized that her primary opponent has forced her hand by running for an unprecedented third term. Asked why she wouldn’t stay in the Senate while she runs, Hutchison said it was all about Perry. 'I just can’t, as long as Gov. Perry’s in the race,' she told a Dallas-Fort Worth radio station. 'No one expected him to run again.'"
From NBC's Mark Murray
Sarah Palin
stepped down as Alaska governor on Sunday, and could be eyeing a presidential bid in 2012. But according to the poll, a whopping 67 percent of Americans -- and 43 percent of Republicans -- say they would not like to see her president someday.Mitt Romney
, another possible 2012 contender, become president. President Obama's handling of health care, which is nearly identical to Bill Clinton's scores from 1994, when he failed to get Congress to pass health-care reform.
Video: The latest NBC/WSJ poll suggests that confidence in President Barack Obama's approach to a massive overhaul of the health care system has taken a political toll. The president's job approval rating has dropped to 53 percent. NBC's Chuck Todd reports. We'll have plenty more numbers on Obama and health care when the full poll is released at 6:30 pm ET.
From NBC's Ken Strickland Max Baucus today announced the bipartisan working group has a draft health-care reform bill. And according to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill costs less than $900 billion and does not increase the deficit. "The bill would actually reduce the federal deficit in the 10th year by several billion dollars," he said.
Video: A bipartisan deal may have been reached on health care, and while it might win over some Republicans, it’s causing a major rift in the Democratic caucus. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., discusses. Baucus was quick the say the "good news" was preliminary. "Keep in mind the draft does not include resolution of several issues," he told reporters after a closed door meeting the group of six.
He also said the bill would cover 95% of all Americans by 2015 and would not cause people to drop out of their company-provided insurance programs -- a big concern of business groups. "Employer-sponsored coverage increases throughout the life of the program," he added.
The bill is expected to be shown the all Finance Committee Democrats later today.
From NBC's Mark Murray
Video: TODAY’s Matt Lauer talks to conservative columnist Michelle Malkin about the arrest of black Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates and President Obama’s comment about the arrest. But a greater number, 29%, believe that both were equally at fault. And 31% say they didn't know enough to have an opinion.
The full NBC/WSJ poll comes out at 6:30 pm ET on NBC Nightly News and on MSNBC.com.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Losing the message war? Perhaps the biggest thing that stood out to us at President Obama’s AARP town hall yesterday was that the White House appears to be losing the message war on health care. How do we know? Just listen to the questions the AARP callers had. Several of them asked about "rumors,” and they also brought up GOP talking points on "rationing" or the government coming to your house to ask how you want to die (!!!). Also, Obama's closing statement at the town hall was particularly telling. "Sometimes I get a little frustrated because this is one of those situations where it's so obvious that the system we have isn't working well for too many people and that we could just be doing better,” he said. “We're not going to have a perfect health care system; it's a complicated system, there are always going to be some problems out there. But we could be doing a lot better than we're doing right now."
Video: President Obama says that the skyrocketing cost of health care is one of the reasons Americans need health reform urgently at town hall meeting sponsored by AARP. ***
Pushing back : Also at the AARP town hall, Obama tried to push back more directly at the criticisms aimed at his health-care push. "So this is not like Canada where suddenly we are dismantling the system and everybody's signed up under some government program." More: "You know, I guarantee you, first of all, we just don't have enough government workers to send to talk to everybody, to find out how they want to die… I just want to be clear: Nobody is going to be knocking on your door; nobody is going to be telling you you've got to fill one out. And certainly nobody is going to be forcing you to make a set of decisions on end-of-life care based on some bureaucratic law in Washington." And here he was channeling Jon Stewart: "And I got a letter the other day from a woman. She said, 'I don't want government-run health care, I don't want socialized medicine, and don't touch my Medicare.' (Laughter.) And I wanted to say, well, I mean, that's what Medicare is, is it's a government-run health care plan that people are very happy with.”
Video: Can GOP scare tactics prevent Congress from voting on the health care bill? Rachel Maddow is joined by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT. ***
More tweaks are coming : Bottom line: The president is showing his frustration, and he appears to be TRYING to tweak his messaging. And more tweaks are coming today when Obama holds town halls on health care in Raleigh, NC (at 11:55 am ET) and Bristol, VA (4:15 pm). In fact, the White House is now talking about health INSURANCE reform, not health CARE reform. As an administration spokesperson emails NBC News, “At events in North Carolina and Virginia today, the president will lay out for Americans why health insurance reform means more security and stability for them and their families. Building on the theme that he outlined at the start of last week’s press conference, the president will make it clear that when he signs a reform bill into law, the discrimination, dropping, and coverage gaps that riddle today’s health insurance system will be a thing of the past.”
*** NBC/WSJ poll day! Just how is the president’s health-care push playing with the American public? What about his new job-approval numbers? And how is the nation viewing Sarah Palin after her resignation on Sunday? Well, beginning at 6:30 pm ET, be sure to tune into NBC Nightly News or click on to MSNBC.com for the answers from our brand-new NBC/WSJ poll.
Video: The Huffington Post’s Sam Stein discusses why some Blue Dog Democrats in Congress are holding up health care reform legislation. ***
Slowly but surely? Turning to the health-care work on Capitol Hill, the Senate Finance Committee wrapped up its work yesterday with no agreements but more progress, NBC’s Ken Strickland reports. (Sound familiar?) The panel's Democrats met in the morning and the bipartisan working group of six met in the afternoon. The G6 talks (among three Dems and three Republicans) resume today at 10:00 am ET. After yesterday’s Democratic meeting, Strick adds, Sen. John Kerry suggested a deal could be close at hand. "There's probably a consensus, an agreement on almost 80% of this," he said. "And I think in the next hours and days, that gap is going to close very, very significantly." Committee Chairman Max Baucus said he thinks finding ways for the pay for the reform "are pretty well nailed down." On the other hand, while Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow noted the panel was "moving in the right direction," she also said there were still "lots of details to workout." One of her top concerns was trying to establish a stronger public/government insurance option than the co-op path the Finance Committee seems it will take.
*** Triangulate this : Speaking of public option vs. co-op, the Finance Committee plan is either going to be the most brilliant piece of triangulation ever, or it's going to open up a fight on the left that is U-G-L-Y. Clearly, the White House is VERY open to a co-op. It is trying hard NOT to bash the public option or show preference to a co-op. But Team Obama definitely has an open mind.
*** The sausage factory is never pretty to watch : By the way, regarding all of this breathless reporting about no House vote on health care this week: HELLOOO!!! It's been reported this way for the past four days. Now, however, House Democrats apparently keep telling a new reporter that they won't vote -- but they wring their hands about it creating yet another bad process story. This is what makes the president's challenge so difficult. He's not selling a plan, but the idea of creating a plan. The plan is being shaped by Congress, and that's where the focus is. And watching the sausage factory is never a pretty sight.
*** On the Glenn Becks and Howard Beales : The White House doesn't want to give Glenn Beck a bigger platform or extra oxygen -- especially regarding his remark yesterday that the president has "a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture" -- so they won't comment, even off record. Beck, after all, is a radio DJ who somehow ended up getting a national platform to give his opinion on politics. What's most amazing about this episode is that what Beck said isn't a fireable or even a SUSPENDABLE offense by his bosses. There was a time when outrageous rants like this would actually cost the ranters their jobs. But not anymore; if anything, it's now encouraged. And all of this could turn ACTUAL journalists into the next Howard Beales. It's getting nuts that the folks who are creating the perception of an ideological/polarized media world are people who have never really spent their lives being journalists. Whether it's former political consultants-turned-TV execs or former radio DJs, or former California socialites, the folks helping to accelerate the public's perception of the media off a cliff made their livings trying to do other things. Of course, Beck's crazy language could have one unintended consequence: It could cost him bookings with any Republicans who want to be popular outside Beck's hard-core bizarro-land viewers.
Video: Fox News host Glenn Beck says President Obama has a 'deep-seated hatred for white people" and accuses him of being a racist. The NAACP's Hilary Shelton discusses with MSNBC's Contessa Brewer. ***
Fighting back on the stimulus : Democrats, meanwhile, are fighting back on the stimulus. The DNC is going up with a TV ad (on national and DC cable) and radio spots targeting GOPers Mike Pence, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Mitch McConnell, and Jon Kyl. The
TV ad goes , “They supported the Bush policies that sank our economy into recession. They broke it -- now they refuse to fix it. Tell Republicans leaders to stop playing politics with our economy."
Video: Democratic Mayor of San Antonio, Julian Castro talks about the renewed debate over the stimulus plan and its effectiveness on the economy. ***
Napolitano in the news : Finally today, at 9:00 am ET, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano
delivers a major address on homeland security. Per the
Wall Street Journal , she’s “expected to outline Wednesday the Obama administration's domestic approach to preventing terrorist attacks -- a strategy that will rely in large measure on refining and expanding initiatives launched under President George W. Bush.”
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"With imminent House and Senate approval of health care reform legislation proving elusive, Obama again is taking his pitch right to the people . This time, the president is traveling to two politically important states that he won last fall after decades of Republican dominance, North Carolina and Virginia."
The
Washington Post : “President Obama on Wednesday will unveil a new message highlighting eight ways that health care consumers would be treated better by insurance companies if his reform efforts pass, a White House aide said.”
In an interview with
Time magazine , Obama talks about the public option vs. co-op. Obama on the public option: “I would say … actually we defined it fairly clearly in terms of what we thought would work best. What I said was, is that it shouldn't be something that's simply a taxpayer-subsidized system that wasn't accountable, but rather had to be self-sustaining through premiums and that had to compete with private insurers.”
On whether a co-op would fit that definition: “Well, I think in theory you can imagine a co-operative meeting that definition. Obviously sort of the legal structure of it is less important than practically how can it operate. There are concerns that in the past, attempts at setting up co-ops have not been successful because they just haven't been able to get off the ground; sort of the start-up energy involved may not exist if you're doing a state-by-state co-op effort as opposed to a broad national plan.”
CONTINUED >>
"President Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor, moved closer to taking her seat on Tuesday as the Senate Judiciary Committee overwhelmingly approved her nomination and sent it on to the full Senate," the New York Times writes. "The committee’s vote was 13 to 6, with Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina the only Republican joining the panel’s 12 Democrats in voting for the nomination. The action cleared the way for a Senate floor vote next week for Judge Sotomayor, who would be the 111th justice to serve on the Supreme Court, the first Hispanic and the third woman."
The Boston Globe says Sotomayor passing Judiciary "over near-unanimous Republican opposition - a GOP strategy that analysts say could further alienate Hispanic voters."
Video: The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve Sonia Sotomayor with only one GOP vote. Rachel Maddow is joined by Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, D-CA to discuss the repercussions Republicans may expect from the Hispanic community. The Senate Finance Committee is getting closer to reaching a deal, the
Washington Post says. “An emerging consensus among a bipartisan group of senators is poised to shift the dynamic in the congressional debate over health-care reform and could lead to a final product that sheds many of the priorities that President Obama has emphasized and that have drawn GOP attacks. Three Democrats and three Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee are expected to wrap up their arduous multi-week talks in the coming days, and Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said he expects a panel vote before the Senate recess, which will begin Aug. 7.
The AP profiles Max Baucus and Harry Reid in their roles in trying to pass health care. "For better or worse, the burden to design a plan that provides health insurance to every American who seeks it without adding to the deficit -- and that can get 60 votes in the Senate -- is falling" to them.
CONTINUED >>
In a letter to his congressional delegation, Tim Pawlenty took a shot at Massachusetts' health-care program, "an implicit attack on the Bay State's former governor, Mitt Romney (R)," The Hill notes. He wants the focus on cost, not expansion. Pawlenty is slated to speak at the RNC meeting tomorrow.
Video: Countdown looks back at Sarah Palin’s brief stint at the center of U.S. politics. Meanwhile,
Maureen Dowd writes that Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin have reversed roles. “The Alaskan who shot to stardom a year ago as the tough embodiment of Diana the Huntress has now stepped down as governor and morphed into what the Republicans always caricatured Hillary as — preachy, screechy and angry. And Hillary, who is at long last in a job that she earned on her own merits, has lost that irritating question mark she used to carry around above her head like a thunder cloud: What is Hillary owed because of what she gave up, and went through, for Bill?”
Politico looks at how the overall landscape has changed in the past six months: "[T]he possibilities GOP officials now imagine are a dramatic shift from the bleak prospects that the 2010 midterm elections presented for the party at the beginning of the year."
Video: Vice President Joe Biden was in Philadelphia to announce an aid package for police departments in need of financial help. But not all departments will be getting the money they need. Msnbc.com's Keva Andersen reports. : Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder were supposed to appear in New Jersey yesterday to tout “stimulus money going to law enforcement agencies across the country. They
moved the event, however, to Philadelphia at the last minute. “The vice president’s office said Philadelphia was chosen because ‘it was the most convenient and central location for all the principals.’” NJ Gov. Corzine appeared with a bevy of other elected officials, including PA Gov. Ed Rendell, DE Gov. Jack Markell, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. At the event, Biden
asked voters to give stimulus programs “18 months to two years” before “making a final judgment.” and
From NBC's Ken Strickland Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad
today gave specific details on the co-op insurance proposal being drafted by a bipartisan group of the Senate Finance Committee. Conrad, who has shepherded the idea, stressed that no deals have been struck and the details were not final.
Video: Sen. Judd Gregg R-N.H., discusses how the Senate Finance Committee is handling the new health care proposal and whether the bill can accomplish the goals set out by President Obama. Health-care experts suggested to Conrad the co-op would require a front-end federal investment of $6 billion. "When you start up a health insurance company, state laws require you to have reserves," Conrad said, in order to make these entities viable.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Ken Strickland
"Look, my first choice is to have a public plan, to have a public option," Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) said. "But we all understand there's going to be some compromise in this effort. That's the only way you can put a complicated bill like this together."
The Finance Committee seems to have coalesced around a co-op style plan. But other Democrats suggested the fight is just beginning.
Video: Author of “Best Care Anywhere,” Philip Longman, talks about GOP scare tactics attacking government-controlled health care, a system that has already proven effective for politicians, the elderly and military veterans. "I think people have strongly held positions about the public plan," said Sen.
Debbie Stabenow , who strongly supports a public plan. She said because there would be more steps in the negotiations en route to a final bill, the Finance Committee bill "is a critical one, but not the only one."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Luke Russert
But today, Majority Leader
Steny Hoyer (D-MD) indicated in his off-camera briefing with reporters to being open to a co-op.
“We think a public option is very important,” he said, but, “We are going to have to see what the Senate does on co-op to see how it’s formulated -- and to see whether or not we preclude that it will have a similar effect. After all a co-op will be a competitor.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Libby Leist
Roberto Micheletti 's de facto government in Honduras.Manuel Zelaya to come to an agreement that would allow Zelaya to return to Honduras and then move to elections down the road.
Spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters that the U.S. recognizes Zelaya as the leader in Honduras and this move is in keeping with that.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Michelle Perry and Domenico Montanaro Tom Harkin (D-IA) stressed on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports that a government run/public option is necessary and that he would not be satisfied if the Finance Committee does not include one.
“I believe there has to be a public option,” Harkin said, per a rough transcription. He said there “has to be choice and competition” particularly for rural areas.
Video: Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, discusses why that research demonstrates the need to include prevention and wellness initiatives in the health care overhaul. Harkin sits on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, or HELP, which released their own version of health reform, which, as Harkin pointed out, included a public option.
Chuck Grassley
-- a Republican also of Iowa, who sits on the Finance Committee -- told Mitchell that Finance’s version will not include an employer mandate and will include a co-op as opposed to a government-run option. He said a public option would be unfair to private insurers and the co-op would spark the competition necessary.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray John Larson -- the No. 4 Democrat in the House leadership -- spoke to reporters, maintaining that Democrats are still confident about passing a health-care bill.
But he acknowledged the increasing likelihood that passage wouldn't come until Congress returns from its August recess.
Larson's comments came as House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman continues to negotiate with the committee's conservative Blue Dog Democrats. And they also came after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested yesterday that House passage was unlikely before the recess.
Video: Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., talks about the state of the health care reform bill and whether an agreement will be reached. "Everyone in our caucus -- and I don't care what part of the caucus they come from -- wants health-care reform," Larson said. "People are understanding the gravity of what we are undertaking."
Larson went on to say that, during the lunch, Pelosi was "as enthusiastic and ebullient as ever... That's why we remain so confident it [health care] will happen."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Luke Russert
House Republican Leaders today strived to portray Democrats as doing too much too soon with regard to health-care reform.
Minority Whip
Eric Cantor (R-VA) mocked familiar themes from the
Obama Campaign when he said at a news conference on Capitol Hill today, "We continue to wonder why it is the president and the speaker have taken the approach of now or never. This is not the type of change I think that people wanted and certainly the my way or the highway approach that is being followed is not offering the hope that people deserve."
Video: The Republicans are planning to mount a serious campaign to stop President Obama's proposed health care reform. Rachel Maddow is joined by former Democratic National Committee chairman, Howard Dean. Rep.
Mike Pence (R-IN) alluded to the recent impasse Democrats have encountered in the House on health-care reform. "But now House Republicans and a handful of Democrats are on the verge of an historic victory for American taxpayers and for the American health care economy," he said. Pence then encouraged citizens to call their congressman and lend support against the Democratic legislation.
*** UPDATE *** Tim Pawlenty health-care cost report from Monday. The aide added that Govs. Mike Rounds and Jim Douglas also attended the GOP conference about a month ago and Mitch Daniels has done the Republican weekly address at Boehner’s invitation.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ken Strickland and Domenico Montanaro As expected, the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning voted 13-6 in favor of Sonia Sotomayor 's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. It was a mostly party-line vote, except for Sen. Lindsey Graham , of South Carolina, who voted to confirm.
Video: By a vote of 13 to 6, including GOP Senator Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the Senate Judiciary Committee votes in favor of Sonia Sotomayor's nomination for the Supreme Court. As we noted in
First Thoughts this morning, "By comparison, John Roberts' Judiciary vote was 13-5, and Samuel Alito's was 10-8."
Sotomayor is on track to be confirmed by the full Senate by Aug. 7. If the committee vote is any indication, Sotomayor's full Senate vote is likely to be somewhere between that of Alito and Roberts. With a slim Republican majority in 2006, Alito was confirmed 58-42. (Just four Democrats voted for him.) In 2005, Roberts was confirmed by a much wider margin, 78-22, with Democrats about split.
NBC's Luke Russert 's conducted a Q&A with Thaddeus McCotter 's spokesperson about the House Republican's resolution wanting President Obama to apologize to the Cambridge Police Department.
Here's McCotter's office's e-mailed responses:
Q: What do you hope to accomplish with this resolution?
Q: Sergeant Crowley isn't asking for an apology, how come you are seeking one?
CONTINUED >>
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Senate progress -- or problem? Per NBC’s Ken Strickland, the bipartisan group of Senate Finance Committee negotiators repeated a familiar refrain yesterday -- we're making progress on the health-care bill, but still don't have an agreement. While strongly reaffirming that no deals had been struck, Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe hinted at the direction the senators were going. "We don't mandate employer coverage at least in some of the initial proposals," she remarked after the meeting. "As I said, we haven't agreed to any of the specifics, but these are the ones that are on the table." It also appeared the group, Strick adds, has rejected the idea of a government-run insurance program and is instead focusing on the so-called "co-op" plan. Indeed, the AP confirms those hints. “[P]articipants were on track to exclude a requirement many congressional Democrats seek for businesses to offer coverage to their workers. Nor would there be a provision for a government insurance option, despite President Barack Obama's support for such a plan.” But does the lack of an employer mandate, as well as no public option, scare away liberals in the House? Will it look like massive or incremental reform? One could see how folks could make both arguments. However, the government expansion outlined by Snowe probably doesn't attract any more Republicans than are at the table right now.
Video: MSNBC’s Ed Schultz and a political panel discuss the Republicans’ alternative to a public option for President Barack Obama’s health care reform plan. ***
Still a stalemate in the House: Meanwhile, over on House side yesterday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested -- as we reported yesterday -- that the House won’t pass a health-care bill until after the August recess, notes NBC’s Luke Russert. "I have said that I wanted the bill to pass before we left for the August recess, to honor the request of the president to make that commitment,” Pelosi said at a news conference yesterday. "But I've also said that members need the time they need to not only get this bill written, but also to have plenty of time to review it. I've also said that we need to see the direction that the Senate is going, so that we can do as much work in advance of September so that when we come back we'll be able to go to conference and be a good way down the road." Well, the House Democrats now get their first look at where the Senate is headed (see above). And specifically on the issue of the co-op, we've heard very little from the House side about it. Interestingly, the White House has publicly not taken a position on the idea. Behind the scenes, we can tell you that they are intrigued by it.
Video: MSNBC’s Carlos Watson is joined by the Financial Times’ Chrystia Freeland and NBC’s Savannah Guthrie to discuss whether a bipartisan bill can be reached in the House. ***
AARP, yeah you know me: After a brief respite, President Obama returns to the subject of health care today, when he participates in an AARP-sponsored tele-town hall beginning at 1:30 pm ET. Here’s how the town hall works: Questions will come from AARP members via phone and email, as well as a live audience of 40 members and volunteers. Per AARP spokesman Drew Nannis, the phone-in portion of questioning will function "kind of like a radio talk show." The AARP will contact "hundreds of thousands" of members around the country with a robocall 10 minutes before the event. If the listeners have a question, they can push a number and get connected to operators who put them in a queue for questioning. Nannis adds that the AARP has conducted eight previous tele-town halls, each of which attracted 60,000 to 70,000 callers -- and that was without the president. Meanwhile, the Washington Post sums up the political challenge for Obama: "Although polls have consistently shown that just over half of Americans think the health-care system is in need of reform, a substantial majority say they are satisfied with their own insurance and care. Any hope of change will require their support, according to experts and advocates across the ideological spectrum." And without any new details to push (like public option vs. co-op or employer mandate or not), can the president advance the argument?
Video: Sen. Orin Hatch, R-Utah, discusses how close the Senate Finance Committee is to reaching a final draft on the health care reform bill. *** '
I love you, man': NBC learned yesterday that Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Cambridge police officer Crowley will have their beer at the White House with President Obama on Thursday at 6:00 pm ET. Will the White House allow for a full-fledged pool spray, or try to limit the meeting to still photos only? The debate is taking place behind the scenes.
Video: Presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin talks about President Barack Obama’s invitation to Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates and Cambridge police Sgt. James Crowley and discuss the controversial arrest of the professor. ***
Sotomayor’s first vote: There's expected to be little drama when the Senate Judiciary Committee formally votes on Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination at a hearing that begins today at 10:00 am ET. (The actual vote might not happen until 11:30 am or noon.) Democrats already have a 12-7 majority on the committee. And at least one Republican on the panel -- Lindsey Graham -- has
said he'll vote for her .
So all signs point to a 13-6 vote. (By comparison, John Roberts' Judiciary vote was 13-5, and Samuel Alito's was 10-8.) With Sotomayor on track to be confirmed by the full Senate by Aug. 7, it's worth remembering that she didn't immediately look like a slam dunk (at least compared to the other finalists), with that YouTube of her stating the court of appeals “is where policy is made” and with the Supreme Court about to weigh in on the New Haven firefighter case. Here's what we wrote the day her nomination was announced, on May 26: “The big question: Will she survive the confirmation process? Some Senate Democrats worry she'll be a heavier lift than others he could have nominated (like Diane Wood or Elena Kagan).” Of course, some behind the scenes will look at the 65-68 confirmation votes Sotomayor is likely to get and say, "Well, Wood would have gotten 75; Kagan too." But does that really matter in the end?
***
Middle East and Iran: There's some real action happening in the Middle East. Four key officials are in the region: Def Secretary Robert Gates, National Security Adviser Jim Jones, Special Envoy George Mitchell, and newly minted special Middle East White House adviser Dennis Ross. But Israel isn't publicly ready to set aside its right to deal with Iran's nuclear capabilities itself. Here’s the
AP : "Israel hardened its insistence Monday that it would do anything it felt necessary to stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb, just the ultimatum the United States hoped not to hear as it tried to nudge Iran to the bargaining table.” The
Wall Street Journal adds, "A simmering dispute between the U.S. and Israel over Iran's nuclear program burst into the open on Monday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, on a visit to Israel, called for continued diplomatic engagement with Tehran, while Israeli officials repeatedly warned of a possible military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities." Of course, some might argue that Israel had to sound tough publicly. As Gates said when in Jordan, Israel will give the U.S. space when it comes to Iran. But the question is: Does Israel have U.S. diplomacy efforts on a timetable?
Video: During his visit to the Middle East, Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Israel to be patient while Iran reconsiders its security interests. NBC's Martin Fletcher reports. ***
I fought the law and the law won: Vice President Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder head to Philadelphia today to announce $1 billion in grants -- via the stimulus -- dedicated to finance the hiring and retention of law enforcement officials across the country. Biden and Holder will be joined by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (up for re-election in November), Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley. The announcement, of course, comes after the Gates-Crowley-Obama flap. But it also comes as the
AP notes that four large American cities -- Houston, New York, Pittsburgh, and Seattle -- are getting no cop funding from the program. By the way, speaking of the recovery effort, the
AP also gives Republicans a fresh new article to beat up the administration when it comes to how they calculate job creation numbers.
*** 2010 Watch : Republicans had the rare Senate situation where they had a couple of incumbents who, on paper, were weaker candidates than new recruits. First, they caught a mild break in Florida when Mel Martinez decided to retire -- and ended up with Charlie Crist. And yesterday, in Kentucky, Jim Bunning announced that he wouldn’t run for re-election -- although Secretary of State Trey Grayson (while probably stronger than Bunning) is no Charlie Crist. Democrats have their own retirements they are rooting for… They already got one in Roland Burris. The next one COULD be -- though no one in the party will say this publicly yet -- Chris Dodd. By the way, the hits keep on coming for Dodd: A Countrywide official DIRECTLY contradicts the claims by Dodd and Kent Conrad regarding their special mortgages. Oh, and Dodd has a major lobbying association (PhRMA) spending money on his behalf. Even supposed good news -- a special interest group SUPPORTING him -- is bad news for Dodd these days.
*** Dems courting Latinos: Finally today, DNC Chairman (and Virginia Gov.) Tim Kaine addresses the National Council of La Raza -- a Latino advocacy group that Tom Tancredo assailed when Sonia Sotomayor’s Supreme Court nomination was first announced. According to excerpts of his remarks, Kaine -- who fluently speaks Spanish -- will say: “Hay algo mas que hice luego de su nombramiento: Practique mucho mi espaniol durante las entrevistas que hice por television y por radio.” (Translation: “One more thing we did after [Sotomayor's] nomination -- I got to brush up on my Spanish for a few interviews on TV and radio.”) As Politico writes, “Republicans’ dilemma in connecting with the growing Hispanic electorate will be on vivid display Tuesday: GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote overwhelmingly against confirming Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latino nominee to the Supreme Court. And the Democratic Party chairman will address the nation’s largest Latino political group -- partly in Spanish. No national GOP official is speaking.
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 98 days
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This hasn’t gotten a lot of attention -- and, perhaps more importantly, it’s from the CBO: "President Obama and his Democratic allies, scrambling to broker a health care deal Monday, finally got an upbeat assessment from Congress' official scorekeeper when it said the plan for government-run coverage would not force out private insurers. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer trumpeted the report from the Congressional Budget Office, Congress' nonpartisan budget analyst, that said private insurers could survive competition from a government health insurance option - contradicting a chief criticism from Republicans."
One advantage Obama has during August recess, Roll Call points out, is he will have the public square to frame the debate on health care all to himself. That's particularly true if he can sell specifics that could emerge from the House and Senate bills.
Video: NBC’s Savannah Guthrie talks to NBC’s Brian Williams about the status of the health care reform effort in Washington. Politico proposes this idea: to have more benchmarks included in the health care reform, and if they aren’t met, the debate gets reopened.
In non-health care news… Tapes were released in the Gates arrest, but "they leave unreconciled sharply divergent accounts of the incident offered by the two men," the
Boston Globe writes.
CONTINUED >>
The Senate Finance Committee seems to have struck a health-care deal, but is it too watered down? The AP's Espo reports, "After weeks of secretive talks, three Democrats and three Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee were edging closer to a compromise that excludes a requirement many congressional Democrats seek for large businesses to offer coverage to their workers. Nor would there be a provision for a government insurance option, despite Obama's support for such a plan, officials said. The Finance senators were considering a tax of as much as 35 percent on very high-cost insurance policies, part of an attempt to rein in rapid escalation of costs. Also likely to be included in any deal was creation of a commission charged with slowing the growth of Medicare."
Video: NBC’s Chuck Todd reports on lawmakers' effort to reach a bipartisan compromise on a health care reform bill. While the Senate
may have a deal , "Reps. Waxman (D-Calif.) and Mike Ross (D-Ark.) emerged from more than three hours of negotiations late Monday to say that the Blue Dogs were weighing an offer from Waxman. Blue Dogs have asked Waxman to get a cost estimate for the bill. 'The chairman has made an offer,' said Ross, who is the lead Blue Dog on healthcare reform. 'We have asked that he get a [Congressional Budget Office] score, that is, find out how much it would cost. We're going to review it and see if it's something we can accept.'"
But don't expect a vote by Friday. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says it's not going to happen because of procedural hurdles. But he left open the possibility of doing it Saturday, Monday or Tuesday.
CONNECTICUT: Ouch: A Countrywide official directly contradicts the claims by Chris Dodd
and Kent Conrad regarding their special mortgages. "The statements from Robert Feinberg, who worked as a loan officer at the mortgage lender, stand in direct contradiction to statements made by Dodd and Conrad, who maintain that they did not know they were part of the Countrywide program created by its chief executive at the time, Angelo Mozilo. ‘He always made a big deal about them being in the VIP program. Does he remember the exact words he spoke with Conrad
and Dodd? No, but he always made it clear,’ said Elana Goldstein, one of Feinberg's attorneys.”
“Feinberg testified for several hours before the ethics committee on June 23. Questioning him were Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), ranking Republican Johnny Isakson (Ga.) and Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho). Dodd and Conrad responded to questions from the committee last year. "
Dodd’s office released this statement: “Today, the Associated Press published a story on allegations made by a former Countrywide employee -- allegations that the former employee has been making for over a year. Senator Dodd and his wife, Jackie, have demonstrated that they received market rates and terms on their loans. As they have said all along, they did not seek or expect any special rates or terms on their loans and they never received any; they were never offered special or sweetheart deals and if anyone had made such an offer- they would have severed that relationship immediately. They acted properly in their mortgage refinancing negotiations.”
CONTINUED >>
Finally,
David Corn has a fascinating report in Mother Jones about the latest attempt to resurrect what was said by Nixon on the infamous 18 1/2 minute tape gap. Apparently, notes Haldeman took might have indentions on them that can be resurrected by a computer. Who says all that time watching CSI or Bones or whatever the latest crime-scene investigation TV show is wasted?
From NBC's Ali Weinberg President Obama will participate in a "tele-town hall" meeting on health care tomorrow afternoon at the AARP in Washington. Questions will come from AARP members via phone, e-mail and a live audience of 40 members and volunteers. The event is scheduled from 1:30 to 2:45 pm ET.
AARP CEO Barry Rand and President Jenny Chin Hansen will also participate in the town hall. Mike Cuthbert, host of AARP "Prime Time Radio" will moderate the event.
Video: President Obama continues his push to overhaul the country's health care system. NBC's Steve Handelsman reports. Per AARP spokesman Drew Nannis, the phone-in portion of questioning will function "kind of like a radio talk show." The AARP will contact "hundreds of thousands" of members around the country with a robocall 10 minutes before the event. If the listeners have a question, they can push a number and get connected to operators who put them in a queue for questioning.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Norah O'Donnell
Sarah Palin not only left her perch in the governor's office; she also left behind her husband Todd after yesterday's ceremony in Fairbanks.
Todd Palin followed just seconds behind, and was left struggling to avoid a phalanx of cameras. The problem: His family had already left.
Video: Rachel Maddow reports on Sarah Palin's farewell speech, in which she blasted the media and its compulsive obsession with the families of Alaska governors. After reviewing our camera tape, you can hear someone ask, "No car for Todd?" Then Todd, the former First Dude, laughs and says, "They left me."
From NBC's Mark Murray Jim Bunning
(R) won't run for re-election next year, giving Republicans a better chance at holding on to his seat. Roland Burris did a few weeks ago: a lack of financial resources.
With Bunning's exit, the front-runner for the GOP nomination is Secretary of State Trey Grayson . The top Democrats are state Attorney General Jack Conway and former 2004 Democratic Senate nominee Dan Mongiardo .
From NBC's Betsy Cline Ray LaHood told Americans "to get out there and buy cars" as he officially kicked off Cash for Clunkers this morning.
LaHood complimented what he called the "extraordinary" efforts of Congress: he said no rule had ever been written and passed in just 30 days. Rep. Betty Sutton , Rep. John Dingell (on crutches), Sen. Carl Levin , and Rep. Sandy Levin joined LaHood at the kick-off.
Video: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood discuses the expected gains from the new car rebate program on CNBC. "This is really a three-fer -- good for the economy, good for consumers, and good for the environment," Levin said.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Shaq
. According to Shaq's Tweets, per Politico :
Today, President Obama meets with the WNBA champions as well as the head of soccer's world governing body (FIFA) about soccer in the U.S. Also, remember that Dwyane Wade , a former teammate of Shaq's when he was on the Miami Heat, was at the White House for a Father's Day event.
From NBC's Luke Russert and Domenico Montanaro Thaddeus McCotter , a Republican congressman of Michigan, will introduce a resolution in the House tonight asking President Obama to formally apologize to the Cambridge Police Department.
All this despite Obama's outreach to the police officer involved, Sgt. Jim Crowley , and the beer summit to take place this week with the president, Crowley and the arrested Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates .
Video: Cambridge, Mass. police release the 911 call which led to the arrest of noted scholar Henry Lewis Gates. NBC's Ron Allen reports. According to an aide, McCotter announced his intent to offer a resolution on the issue Friday, so that President Obama would have the weekend to apologize. To this point the president has not yet offered an adequate apology, so McCotter will introduce the resolution this evening at 6:30 unless an acceptable apology comes from the White House in the next four hours.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Paul Krugman asks this question: Where were the Blue Dogs' cries for fiscal responsibility in 2001, when Congress passed Bush's $1.35 trillion tax cut (which wasn't paid for by other offsets)?
Well, it's worth noting that 19 current Blue Dogs served in the House back then. Six of them -- including Mike Ross
, the Arkansas congressman who has become the Blue Dog's point person on health care -- voted FOR the Bush tax cut's final passage. Bart Gordon , Jim Matheson , Dennis Moore , Collin Peterson , Mike Ross , Adam Schiff )Marion Berry , Leonard Boswell , Jane Harman , Baron Hill , Earl Pomeroy , Loretta Sanchez , John Tanner , Gene Taylor , Mike Thompson) Joe Baca , Sanford Bishop , Allen Boyd , Mike McIntyre )
From NBC's Danielle Weisberg Illinois State Treasurer
Alexi Giannoulias
yesterday officially entered the Senate race for President Obama's old seat. Giannoulias called Obama his “friend, mentor, and inspiration," according to the
Chicago Sun-Times , despite the White House's unsuccessful effort to recruit Illinois Attorney General
Lisa Madigan for the seat. When asked about an endorsement from the White House, Giannoulias replied, “You’d have to ask the president that.”
Other recent developments in the race include speculation, reported by
Sun-Times , that
Chris Kennedy , son of the late Robert Kennedy, is vacillating between running for the Senate seat or the governorship.
Meanwhile, Republican Rep.
Mark Kirk announced he would be running for the Senate seat
last week , making him the GOP front-runner.
From NBC's Mark Murray Jeff Sessions
, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says in a USA Today op-ed that he will vote against Sonia Sotomayor's nomination in tomorrow's committee vote.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Back to health care : Sarah Palin’s in the news. So is Hillary Clinton after her “Meet” appearance. And Gates-gate hasn’t completely gone away. But we begin this Monday morning with health care. Here's what we know: The House will not vote on a full bill this week, according to leadership sources. They believe they've worked out a lot of the issues with the conservative Blue Dog Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee, but markup won't be finished until Thursday (at the earliest), and they don't think it's wise to force a vote by Friday without giving members more time to understand the combined bills out of three committees. As for the Senate, it's much harder to read. But we think we'll have an idea about the plan Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus will unveil by the end of the week. It will, as Sen. Kent Conrad said over the weekend, include a "co-op" instead of a public option, and it likely will include Sen. John Kerry's plan to tax so-called Cadillac-health care plans. Kerry's plan is an easy sell for Grassley and the remaining Republicans still talking. As for the co-op deal, some Democrats in the Senate (and in the House) believe they can do many of the things with a co-op that they can do with a public option -- yet have a few Republicans in the Senate on board.
Video: CNBC's Maria Bartiromo and Atlantic Media political director Ron Brownstein discuss the issue of whether 'effective' health care reform can be passed before the August deadline. ***
On bipartisanship : And don't forget this: Without a few Senate Republicans on board, Democrats can't keep all of their OWN senators on board. That's why they need it. They may not need (or get) a single Republican vote in the House, but it's the Senate where they need a stimulus-like bipartisanship to pull this off. That's what Nelson/Landrieu, et al need to have as cover. "Look, there are not the votes for Democrats to do this just on our side of the aisle," Kent Conrad told ABC yesterday.
*** No longer clearing the decks : As for President Obama, he touts health-care reform later this week -- a virtual town hall meeting on Tuesday, and events in Virginia and North Carolina on Wednesday -- but there’s no more of a "clear the decks" mentality. For instance, today he addresses what is a VERY significant new summit with China (the administration calls it a "dialogue"). This summit features Secretary of State Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner meeting with their Chinese counterparts, and it's a meeting that is supposed to happen at least twice a year. The next time there is a high-level U.S.-China meeting will be in November when Obama visits China. As for this dialogue, don't be surprised if you start hearing the expression the "G2," as opposed to simply being members of the G20. This is an acknowledgement that these two countries are the most influential in the world now, and it's a U.S. acknowledgement that China -- not Russia or any other country -- is now America's chief rival/adversary/counterpart (choose whatever word you want).
*** Row, row, row your boat : Geithner and Clinton, in fact, have a Wall Street Journal op-ed previewing today’s U.S.-China meetings. “[H]aving these strategic-level discussions with our Chinese counterparts will help build the trust and relationships to tackle the most vexing global challenges of today—and of the coming generation. The Chinese have a wise aphorism: ‘When you are in a common boat, you need to cross the river peacefully together.’ Today, we will join our Chinese counterparts in grabbing an oar and starting to row.” Translation: with the U.S. economy and major business interests so tied to China, the U.S. needs to have these dialogues in order to understand what's going on behind the Chinese curtain. Their finances aren't exactly transparent so these dialogues might help to give us more clues as to how they manage their money.
*** The Great American Health Care Fight: Here are today’s other developments in health care: Paul Krugman says the Blue Dogs’ opposition confuses him… Liberal MoveOn is running a new TV ad (on DC and national cable) calling out Republicans for playing political football with health care… And liberal Americans United for Change has its own new TV ad (airing on DC cable) criticizing Republicans for advocating a take-it-slow approach on health care.
*** Hillary meets the press : A couple of things stood out from Hillary Clinton’s “Meet the Press” interview yesterday. She did NOT back away from the Iran-defense umbrella comments, which some thought she would hedge more. But there was no hedging. “What we want to do is to send a message to whoever is making these decisions that if you're pursuing nuclear weapons for the purpose of intimidating, of projecting your power, we're not going to let that happen,” she told NBC’s David Gregory. What’s more, anyone who thinks she isn't keeping up with domestic issues, think again. Clinton seemed VERY up to speed on health care, even knowing a few key talking points like how many folks were being dumped from their insurance. All in all, Clinton seemed as adept at combining the politics and policy more so than most recent Secretaries of State who also have been seen as having their own national ambitions (see Powell, Colin and Rice, Condi).
Video: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discusses President Barack Obama’s diplomatic decisions with NBC’s David Gregory on “Meet the Press.” ***
Classic Palin : And then there was Sarah Palin, whose farewell speech yesterday was … classic Palin. Per NBC’s Norah O’Donnell, the outgoing Alaska governor blasted the media ("Democracy depends on you and that is why our troops are willing to die for you. So how about in honor of the American soldier, you quit making things up!”). She took aim at Hollywood and specifically (we think) Ashley Judd (“You're going to see anti-hunting, anti-2nd Amendment circuses from Hollywood… Hollywood needs to know we eat, therefore we hunt"). She lashed out at unnamed political opponents (“We are facing tough challenges in America with some seeming to be just hell-bent on tearing down our nation, perpetuating some pessimism and suggesting American apologetics”). And she offered her share of contradictions, like how quitting the governorship allows her to be more involved (“Now with this decision I will be able to fight even harder for you for what is right and for what is true”). Of course, the irony of Palin lashing out at the media is that without the media’s fascination with her and her family, she wouldn't be who she is today.
Video: MSNBC's Norah O'Donnell and a Morning Joe panel talk about fmr. Gov. Sarah Palin's feisty final address as governor and her plans to campaign for Republican candidates. ***
Beer Fest : The Obama-Gates-Crowley beer may be coming soon,
Bloomberg writes. "Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates and police Sergeant James Crowley will probably join President Barack Obama for a beer within the next several days, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said."
Video: NBC's Chuck Todd and Georgetown University professor Michael Eric Dyson discuss whether Harvard professor Henry Gates Jr. and Cambridge police officer James Crowley will be visiting the White House for beers this week. ***
McCain and Sotomayor : The Senate Judiciary Committee votes tomorrow on Sonia Sotomayor’s Supreme Court nomination. Perhaps the only remaining drama: How will John McCain vote when it comes before the full Senate? (He doesn’t sit on Judiciary.) Remember, McCain comes from a state with a large Hispanic population, but faces a conservative primary challenge next year (from a Minuteman founder), which could become serious. Lindsey Graham went yes, which probably means McCain's headed there, too. But it’s still fascinating to watch considering how the NRA decided to politicize the vote a bit more by announcing they'd use the vote for their grade; that may be why fewer Senate Republicans end up supporting her than would have normally.
*** 2009 watch : A final note: There are now less than 100 days until the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia. One thing about last week’s organ sting in New Jersey -- it's going to make Christie's "clean out government" message even easier to sell.
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 99 days
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"Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag accused Congressional Budget Office Director Doug Elmendorf of 'overstepping' in a Web post Saturday, escalating the battle between the Obama administration and Republicans over the White House’s conduct toward the CBO. The charge was leveled after Elmendorf posted a blog entry Saturday that suggested a new Obama proposal to create an independent board to reduce Medicare payments would save $2 billion over 10 years, a small sum compared to the overall cost overruns of the program." Orszag, a former CBO director, accused Elmendorf of playing into a stereotype that the CBO often overestimates cost and underestimates savings.
On Wednesday, Obama will participate in a town hall meeting on health care in Bristol, VA, a town familiar to him as he kicked off his general election campaign there in 2008. Writing in June of that year, Jonathan Martin of Politico wrote that a Bristol appearance was “a pragmatically strategic move,” as “Bristol is the sole media market in the vast southwest part of Virginia.” Ezra Klein points out one thing that Clinton’s effort got right: competition among health insurers. "A Washington Post-ABC News poll last month showed that 62 percent of Americans support the choice of a public insurance option. It's one of the most popular aspects of health-care reform. But if the public option would drive private insurers out of business and reduce consumer choice, the numbers flip, with 58 percent opposing it. What people support, in other words, is not public or private insurance, but choice in insurance. That, along with protection from escalating costs, is the inviolable principle of health-care reform."
Video: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discusses President Barack Obama’s push for health care reform with NBC’s David Gregory on “Meet the Press.” The
AP : "Senate postponement of work on health care until September gives interest groups on both sides an entire month to whip up supporters, and pushes off crucial votes on the overhaul effort until fall -- when people are likely to refocus on the issue."
CONTINUED >>
Roll Call : "House Democratic leaders hope to quickly defuse rising intraparty tensions and reach a health care deal this week, but they are acknowledging that they may be forced to join the Senate and punt on a floor vote until after the August recess."
Video: President Obama heads to North Carolina and Virginia as he continues to push for his health care reform plan. The Senate has said it will not vote on the measure before the August recess. NBC’s Chuck Todd reports. "Democratic and GOP officials acknowledged Sunday that Obama's ambitious plan would not pass without the aid of a doubtful GOP, whose members are almost united against the White House effort. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., budget committee chair: "Look, there are not the votes for Democrats to do this just on our side of the aisle. Blue Dog Rep. Jim Cooper "said he doubts the Democratic-controlled House could pass a proposal as it's drafted now," the
AP writes. 'We have a long way to go,' Cooper said." But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "insisted she has the votes to move forward with the plan despite concerns among fiscally conservative fellow Democrats. 'When I take this bill to the floor, it will win. We will move forward, it will happen.'"
Speaker Nancy Pelosi “rai
sed the stakes by planning to restart talks Monday among bickering Democrats on the Energy and Commerce Committee… Democratic leaders are newly confident that these differences can be resolved, possibly in time to bring a House bill to the floor before lawmakers depart Friday for the August recess, although Pelosi did not commit to a timetable.”
Video: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., explains why the GOP’s version of health care reform reduces costs, increases access, and preserves the doctor to patient relationship. Stu Rothenberg, writing in
Roll Call : "Democratic Blue Dogs and deficit hawks are showing their muscle right now. Whether it’s out of principle or merely a political reflection of the president’s loss of support on health care among independent voters in a number of recent surveys, moderates in the president’s own party are now driving the bus."
“Gov. Sarah Palin resigned … Sunday with a blast at the media that reflected the frustrations that led her to leave office a year-and-a-half before her term expired,” Politico’s Martin writes. “But speaking in a style that her fans see as plain talk and her detractors consider disjointed, she offered almost nothing about what she was planning to do next. Plainly feeling liberated, Palin said that the freedom of the press was an important American right and one that members of the military died to protect.”
“‘So, how about, in honor of the American soldier, quit making things up,’ she said with an insistent voice, prompting loud applause and cheers from a mostly sympathetic audience gathered at a park here.”
She concluded her remarks by saying, “Let’s all enjoy the ride.”
Video: Sarah Palin slams the media and her opponents as she officially steps down as Alaska’s governor. Among her next moves: a speech in Iowa, the first-caucus-in-the-nation state. NBC’s Norah O’Donnell reports. The
Washington Post’s Dan Balz : “She exited office in classic Palin style, with folksy picnics at which she bade farewell to her constituents, and with a running series of Twitter reports as she traversed the vast state. In one posted Saturday en route to Fairbanks, she wrote, ‘We remember all of AK is big/wild/good life; feel freedom here.’”
CONTINUED >>
NEW JERSEY : Gov. Jon Corzine
picked self-described “feisty Jewish grandmother” Loretta Weinberg,
a state senator, as his candidate for lieutenant governor on Friday. The choice “was heavily influenced by the dozens of corruption busts that rocked the state’s political scene on Thursday,” including state legislators, mayors and rabbis. Weinberg is regarded as having strong anti-corruption credentials, having written several ethics bills and “taken on an allegedly corrupt boss in her native Bergen County.” The Weinberg pick reflects Corzine’s desire to “keep Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie,” campaigning as an “anti-corruption crusading U.S. Attorney—from complete domination on the ethics front.”
An interesting note about Weinberg: she is the first Bernie Madoff victim to run for public office, according to
PolitickerNJ , having “lost her life savings—an estimated $1.3 million that she had invested with Stanley Chais, a Los Angeles financial planner.” In December, Weinberg said in an interview, “This is another road in one’s life that one must traverse. I’m a lot better off than a lot of other people who were affected by this.”
VIRGINIA : State Sen. Creigh Deeds (D) and Republican Bob McDonnell faced off in their first of four gubernatorial debates on Saturday. On the topic of the state’s $100 billion “backlog of highway construction projects,” Deeds “sought to tie his opponent to former President George W. Bush,” saying, “This election presents a clear choice between who has a … plan to jump-start our economy and who will take us back to the failed economic policies of the past.” The
Washington Times says McDonnell “took his opponent to task” over his refusal to come out against cap-and-trade legislation and the union “card check” legislation, both of which McDonnell “characterized as bad for business in Virginia.”
THE WEEK AHEAD: Palin's last day as Alaska governor, a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, Obama heads to VA and NC to push health reform, Hillary Clinton on Meet the Press... and we solve the health-care crisis!
For our mailbox, submit your questions for next week in the comments section below. We might pick yours.
NBC Chief White House Correspondent, Political Director and First Reader
Chuck Todd will be interacting with viewers and readers today and over the weekend over on
Newsvine . If you have a question, join the conversation.
President Obama 's own words from his book, The Audacity of Hope, to give context to his feelings on the Gates arrest:
From page 233:
"...I can recite the usual litany of petty slights that during my forty-five years have been directed my way: security guards tailing me as I shop in department stores, white couples who toss me their car keys as I stand outside a restaurant waiting for the valet, police cars pulling me over for no apparent reason. I know what it's like to have people tell me I can't do something because of my color, and I know the bitter swill of swallowed-back anger."
From NBC's Ali Weinberg 's approval rating dropped from 61% to 56% from April to July, according to a poll released this morning. The National Journal/Allstate Heartland Monitor poll found that critics expressed pessimism "more vociferously" than supporters did optimism, said Ed Reilly, CEO of Financial Dynamics, the firm that conducted the survey.
This suggests that the president and Democrats have "fallen back to earth" in terms of voter enthusiasm, said Ron Brownstein, political director of Atlantic Media, at an event on the poll's release.
The poll also found that although Americans' "faith is flagging" in government and business, an overwhelming majority -- 87% -- still believe America is the "land of opportunity," said , at the release of a new , focused on "the way people maximize opportunity for themselves and their family."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro made an impromptu appearance at the daily White House press briefing to say that he'd spoken with the Cambridge police officer Sgt. Jim Crowley . (Crowley is the officer, who arrested Henry Louis Gates , the Harvard professor, on a disorderly conduct charge at his home, following a breaking and entering call. The charge was later dropped.)
"In my choice of words," Obama said, "I unfortunately gave the impression that I was maligning" the police department. He added, "I could have calibrated my words differently." But, he maintained, "I continue to believe there was an overreaction." And he said, "Professor Gates probably overreacted as well."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ken Strickland, Pete Williams and Domenico Montanaro Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and John Cornyn will vote against Sonia Sotomayor
to be the next United States Supreme Court justice. Ginsburg and Breyer . Second, Hatch's declaration, especially when he was considered a possible yes vote, will undoubtedly lead other wavering Republicans to vote against her.
Video: NBC's Pete Williams reports on Sen. Orrin Hatch's, R-Utah, announcement. "[Her] statements and record were too much at odds with the principles about the judiciary in which I deeply believe," Hatch said in a statement.
This greatly reduces the prospect that she will get as many votes as
John Roberts did (78, including 22 Democrats) and may put her down in the neighborhood of
Samuel Alito . He was confirmed with 58 votes, with support from just four Democrats -- the third-smallest confirmation margin in the past 50 years.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Chuck Todd Robert Gibbs says the president DOES regret commenting on the Gates issue ONLY in this respect: that had he known it would become such a media distraction, he would have refrained from commenting. But the president has said all he's going to say on the issue, according to Gibbs. He has not talked to Gates nor the Cambridge police officer.
These comments are part of an experiment Gibbs is trying today by having a morning "gaggle." It’s the potential reinstitution of an old White House standby, the off-camera morning gaggle.
Gibbs convened reporters in his office at about 9:50 for a quick 20 questions and answers, which focused basically on two topics: health care and Gates.
Video: TODAY’s Matt Lauer talks to David Gregory, moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” about President Obama’s remark that Cambridge police “acted stupidly” in arresting black Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. Some other notes: -- On why the president stopped by his house in Chicago last night, Gibbs said he just wanted to check it out, see how things were. Apparently Secret Service is in charge of the house now and regularly keeps tabs on it.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray and Chuck Todd Roanoke Times , President Obama will soon make his first foray into 2009's marquee political race: the VA Gov race between Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R).
"Obama will appear at a public event and private fundraiser with Deeds on Aug. 6 in McLean, just outside of Washington, Deeds' campaign said Thursday."
Meanwhile, Politico reports that the White House is getting involved in the race in other ways. "The Obama administration dispatched a senior aide to Richmond Wednesday to urge former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder to get behind state Sen. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee. Patrick Gaspard, the White House political director, met with Wilder, the nation's first elected black governor, for over two hours in Virginia's capital."
Still, Politico notes, Wilder has yet to endorse Deeds.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Another tough week: It's been another relatively tough week for President Obama. His poll numbers, while still hanging in there, have declined. The Senate now won't meet his deadline to get a health-care bill passed by August. And Wednesday’s press conference on health care turned into a controversy over race -- hardly its goal for that evening. Remember when we wrote about how smart the White House has been about multi-tasking, forcing the GOP to aim its fire at several moving targets? Well, guess what: It isn’t doing that right now; it’s focusing on just one issue: health care. And that has allowed the political opposition and the media to zero in on that one issue. The White House’s "clear the decks" mentality is the opposite of what Team Obama bragged about when it came to focusing on more than one big issue at a time. And they are paying a steep political price for it.
Video: Rep John Price, R-Ga., and Rep. David Camp, R-Mich., talk about the proposed government take over on health care and alternative options for changing the 'status quo.' ***
Unity isn’t easy under a big tent: Given the news that the Senate won’t vote on a bill until after the August recess, today's big pundit debate question on health care is: Why did Obama impose a deadline? The president gave his answer in Ohio yesterday, “If there's not a deadline in Washington, nothing happens… I just want people to keep on working.” Still, missing the deadline only underscores the difficulty for this new, big-tent Democratic Party to achieve unity. That includes everyone from Bernie Sanders to Arlen Specter in the Senate, and from Pete Stark and Mike Ross in the House. In fact, it wasn't lost on some of us yesterday that Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel was on the Hill either begging Blue Dogs or cracking heads -- or both -- to climb aboard with the president. This is the same Emanuel who recruited some of these Blue Dogs to run in these tough districts back in 2005 and 2006, promising them he'd be looking out for their politics, while promoting the idea to reporters that he was finding candidates that "fit their districts."
*** Rahm on the GOP: Speaking of Rahm, don’t miss his comments on health care and politics to NPR this morning. “I'm OK with politics, as you well know. You know, today Senator Inhofe, I don't have the exact quote, but basically the thrust of the quote was the political importance of defeating this because of what it would do to President Obama. They're seeing it in political terms, and they've decided that if they can beat the president on health care reform, they've scored a big political victory. But what they've also guaranteed in policy terms is that you have the status quo. I actually appreciate what Senator DeMint said and Senator Inhofe. I'm different than everybody, I'm not going to criticize them. I compliment them. They’re honest.” The White House needs to have the GOP as its opponent right now, not each other, which is why you'll continue to hear the White House invoke DeMint and Inhofe. But can they convince conservative Democrats that a legislative defeat for the president will end up being a reflection on the whole party?
Video: Speaking at a town-hall style meeting in Shaker Heights, Ohio, President Obama says that he wants health care reform "done by the fall." ***
The bottom line on health care: It's still hard to imagine a scenario where Obama doesn't sign something he calls health-care reform by the end of the year. But this is coming -- at least right now -- at a painful political cost. It could mean future congressional fights become even harder. Or worse, it could become a political nightmare for the administration and they see members lose in 2010. Then again, as
Ron Brownstein writes, congressional Democrats could bet on Obama.
*** More green shoots? There has been one piece of good news for the White House and for its long-term fortunes: the economy. As the Washington Post front-pages, “Companies that a few months ago were too fearful even to project their future earnings are now seeing glimmers of hope in the year ahead. The rate of home sales has risen for three straight months. And the number of people drawing unemployment insurance benefits has fallen back to April levels, having receded for the third straight week.” All of that news led the Dow to its highest level since January. In his National Journal column, Charlie Cook wonders whether it’s wise for Obama to delay his health-care push until there’s even more good economic news -- which might make voters more comfortable with new spending. “Waiting is not a great option for the Democrats, but it may be better than losing one or both of Obama’s signature proposals or passing legislation that could trigger a disaster for their party in next year’s midterm elections.”
*** On Gates/Cambridge: There's an uncomfortable joke at the White House right now: "Thank God for the Henry Louis Gates Jr. story, because it steps on the really bad health care day the president had Thursday." Still, Obama does seem annoyed that this became such a big story, but that's where things are these days on the issue of race. The White House should be thankful for one thing: Sgt. Crowley has not really been a political antagonist. And Republicans, besides a couple of small attempts yesterday, have stayed pretty much out of it.
Video: President Barack Obama's comments on the Gates incident overshadowed his message on health care reform at a crucial moment. NBC's Chuck Todd reports. ***
On to education: Perhaps recognizing that it has been TOO focused on health care, Obama gives a speech on another topic -- education -- at 1:15 pm ET. But he will still meet behind closed doors at the White House with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus at 11:30 am.
*** Happy trails to you, until we meet again: Sunday is Sarah Palin’s last day as Alaska governor. Her exit comes as a brand-new Washington Post/ABC poll shows her fav/unfav to be 40%-53%, her lowest rating in that survey. What’s more, nearly six in 10 (57%) say she does not understand complex issues. According to NBC’s Norah O’Donnell and Adam Verdugo, Palin officially becomes a private citizen at 7:00 pm ET on Sunday, when Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell is sworn into office. Palin will deliver a farewell address, and newly minted Gov. Parnell will make remarks as well. The transfer-of-power event, O’Donnell and Verdugo add, takes place in Fairbanks, AK on the port bow of the S.S. Nenana. (Interesting fact: The S.S. Nenana, a riverboat, is nicknamed the "Last Lady of the River," and is the "largest stern-wheeler ever built west of the Mississippi and the second largest wooden vessel in existence," according to the state's website). The handover also occurs during Fairbanks' Golden Days festival, a celebration of the discovery of gold in Fairbanks back in 1902.
*** Jumping ship? Speaking of exits, the office of embattled Nevada Sen. John Ensign officially announced last night that the chief of staff and as his communications director were leaving -- which is never good news for a politician trying to hold on to his job.
*** Hillary Meets he Press: Finally, be sure to tune into “Meet the Press” on Sunday, when NBC’s David Gregory has an exclusive interview with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, conducted live, for the FULL hour.
Countdown to Palin Stepping Down: 2 days
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"President Obama says Washington needs deadlines to do anything, but his Senate leader decided Thursday deadlines are made to be broken, including health care reform before August," the New York Daily News writes.
Obama at the town hall yesterday: "We just heard today that, well, we may not be able to get the bill out of the Senate by the end of August, or the beginning of August," Obama said. "That's OK. I just want people to keep on working. Just keep working."
Video: Steve Handelsman reports on President Obama's trip to Ohio to promote health care reform. Interesting co-op vs. public option reporting in the
Washington Post "Some Democrats are so opposed to the cooperative idea that they are urging Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) to offer no new coverage option in his legislation. That would allow Democrats more time to build support for the government insurance plan included in the House bill, along with legislation approved on a party-line vote by the Senate health committee. But dropping the cooperative provision would risk losing the support of Sen. Charles E. Grassley (Iowa), the panel's ranking Republican and a co-op advocate, whose presence at the negotiating table represents Obama's best hope of getting the broad bipartisan support he has pledged to seek for reform."
CONTINUED >>
… and we’re just lucky to live in it.
Per The Hill , "House Democrats, still searching for a way to pass their healthcare bill before August, are considering bypassing the Energy and Commerce committee altogether, where the bill has stalled, and proceeding right to the floor." Blue Dogs are vehemently opposed to this.
Video: MSNBC’s Ed Schultz, House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn, and Politico’s Roger Simon discuss Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s announcement that a health care reform bill will not be passed before the August Roll Call : "Blue Dog Democrats, two White House officials and Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) left a multihour meeting Thursday afternoon in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) office without a resolution to the deadlock holding up the party’s $1.6 trillion health care bill. But Pelosi, leaving her office with several Ways and Means Committee Democrats on the way to votes, said the intention is still to have a markup in the Energy and Commerce Committee. 'We’re still talking, and that’s a good thing,' said Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), chairman of the Blue Dog health care task force. Rep. Baron Hill (D-Ind.), another lead Blue Dog negotiator on the bill, said he believed talks were done for the night. 'We’re moving in the right direction,' he said."
Turning to the Senate… The key figure in health care, Sen. Max Baucus said the removal of the timeline may help bipartisan negotiations: “I think it’s helping a little because this is so complicated and Senators want to feel comfortable with what they’re doing,” Baucus said last night, per Roll Call .
NEW JERSEY: Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie refused to comment on yesterday’s sweep of arrests in New Jersey “in a political context.” He added, “this matter started while I was at the U.S. Attorney’s office, and as I found out this morning while it was culminating, I can only think of it in terms of what it means in a law enforcement perspective,” though he did call for the resignation of all public officials involved in the investigation. Campaigning in a barbershop in West New York, Christie said his rivals and pundits would turn the events, in which 44 people accused of corruption and money laundering were arrested, into a political issue. “For the political analysis you’ll have to go to other people who do that for a living,” he said. And Politicker notes: "Only in NJ is a public official named Cheatam indicted for corruption."
Video: A corruption sting in New Jersey resulted in the arrest of 44 people, including mayors and state legislators. Rachel Maddow has the latest with New Jersey bureau chief at Gannett's Trenton office, Bob Ingle. By the end of the day, members of Governor Jon Corzine’s administration had resigned after being implicated in the massive corruption scheme. Joe Doria Jr., the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, stepped down after his home and office were searched by the FBI. At a last-minute press conference, Corzine said, “Any corruption is unacceptable any time, anywhere by anybody.”
NEW YORK: A blow for Democrats … "New York state Sen. Darrel Aubertine (D) has decided not to run in the special election for Army Secretary-designate John McHugh’s (R-N.Y.) seat, leaving Democrats without their leading potential recruit in a big special election… National Republicans already spent money attacking Aubertine in ads and robocalls. Democrats will hail the investment as wasted money on a candidate who didn’t wind up running; Republicans will say it played into Aubertine’s decision not to run." Republicans certainly will consider this a scalp on the wall.
Per the
New York Times , “President Hamid Karzai
backed out of a live televised debate with two of his leading opponents on Thursday, saying that he had not been given enough time to prepare and questioning the neutrality of the television channel organizing it. Mr. Karzai’s opponents accused him of backing out because he could not defend his performance of the last seven years in office. But the president’s campaign office said he would take part in a debate nearer to the election, scheduled for Aug. 20, preferably on state-run television… The two-hour debate, based on Western-style political debates, was polite and rarely confrontational, with a moderator asking the candidates questions. Much of the discussion was about what was wrong with the country and, by reflection, with Mr. Karzai’s leadership.”
From NBC's Mark Murray President Obama made in his press conference last night: the cost of NOT reforming health care is too high.
"What's the cost of not reforming health care?" the narrator asks in the ad. "Premiums rising faster than your paycheck. Insurance companies dictating more and more medical decisions. Denying you coverage while their profits soar."
It also takes a shot at Republican/conservative critics (with images of Sen. Jim DeMint , RNC Chairman Michael Steele , and even Rush Limbaugh ), saying: "Tell Republicans the cost of doing nothing on health care is just too high."
The ad will run on national and DC cable. A DNC source says the buy size is in the "tens of thousands" -- i.e., a relatively small buy.
The ad's script:What's the cost of not reforming health care?
From NBC's Luke Russert and Chuck Todd
is now on Capitol Hill meeting with Blue Dog Democrats to try and encourage them to allow a health-reform bill to come before the full House before the August recess.
That goal hit an extra hurdle now that the Senate has punted until September.
From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mark Murray Time magazine story detailing former Vice President Cheney's
intense (and ultimately unsuccessful) campaign to get George W. Bush to pardon Scooter Libby , Cheney has issued this press release:
He was not the source of the leak of Valerie Plame's name. Former Deputy Secretary of State,
Rich Armitage , leaked the name and hid that fact from most of his colleagues, including the President. Mr. Libby is an honorable man and a faithful public servant who served the President, the Vice President and the nation with distinction for many years. He deserved a presidential pardon."
From NBC’s Luke Russert
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) expressed optimism that health-care reform would be passed on time.
Later on, when answering a reporter's question on the fate of the bill, Pelosi conveyed ironclad self-confidence.
"I am more confident than ever,” she boasted, adding, “When the bill is ready, we will go to the floor, and we will win."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray President Obama's remarks last night on the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. against Democrats.
The National Republican Congressional Committee is running press releases in congressional districts represented by Massachusetts Democrats -- as well as Indiana Democratic Rep. Brad Ellsworth , a former sheriff -- asking: "Does [enter Democratic congressman's name] Think Cambridge Cops 'Acted Stupidly?'
Video: MSNBC’s Mike Barnicle and Carlos Watson discuss the state of race relations in America after the controversial arrest of Harvard professor and African-American scholar Henry Gates by an officer responding to a report of a break-in at Gates’ home. The release is running in these districts:
Michael Capuano (MA-08),
William Delahunt (MA-10),
Brad Ellsworth (IN-08),
Barney Frank (MA-04),
Stephen Lynch (MA-09),
Jim McGovern (MA-03),
Ed Markey (MA-07),
Richard Neal (MA-02),
John Olver (MA-01),
John Tierney (MA-06), and
Niki Tsongas (MA-05).
Here's the release....
Does Michael Capuano Think Cambridge Cops 'Acted Stupidly?'
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ken Strickland and Chuck Todd Harry Reid
said the Senate will NOT pass a health-care reform bill before the August recess. At a health-care event with his leadership team, Reid said, "The decision was made to give [the Senate Finance Committee] more time."
According to a senior administration official, however, Reid pledged to the White House that all committee work would be done before the recess -- i.e., markups, amendments, etc. through the Senate Finance Committee.
*** MORE *** work before the August recess. And during the recess, Reid will merge the Finance bill with the Senate health committee bill. That new bill will be brought to the floor for votes when the Senate returns in September, he said.
The current expectation is that the Finance bill will be fundamentally different from the Health committee bill in key areas -- specifically on a public option or government-run insurance plan. Republicans say they're concerned their provisions will be left out of the final bill.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Arkansas Democrat-Gazette , comes from Conrad Reynolds , who's running to challenge Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas.
"When I joined the military I took an oath to defend the Constitution against enemies foreign and domestic," Reynolds said. "I never thought it would be domestic, but in today's world I do believe we have enemies here. It's time for people to stand up. It's time for us to speak out." ... "We need to change if we want to stop the way America is going toward socialism," Reynolds said. "We need someone to stand up to Barack Obama and his policies. We must protect our culture, our Christian identity."
Also:
Reynolds said Obama's "policies are leading us to socialism," but doesn't consider Obama to be a domestic enemy.
Reynolds' comments come after another GOP Senate candidate in Arkansas, state Sen. Kim Hendren , referred to New York Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) as "that Jew." Hendren later apologized.Video: Rachel Maddow is joined by Arkansas News Bureau’s Nick Stovall to discuss Senator Hendren's comment.
From NBC's Mark Murray Lamar Alexander (R-TN), as well as Reps. Dave Camp (R-MI), Eric Cantor (R-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Dave Reichert (R-WA), Mark Souder (R-OH), and Pat Tiberi (R-OH).
Here's the ad hitting Alexander.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg A snoozer conference : Last night’s primetime news conference, President Obama’s fourth since taking office, was as much a dry health-care symposium as it was a give-and-take with reporters. Honest question: Is there a point when the president knows too much about an issue? He got into the weeds a number of times on a number of different aspects of health care, which is what his diehard supporters love, but might not grab the attention of the average viewer. Still, in his opening statements and then in his answers, Obama made a direct appeal to those WITH health insurance. “This is not just about the 47 million Americans who have no health insurance,” he said. “Reform is about every American who has ever feared that they may lose their coverage if they become too sick, or lose their job, or change their job. It's about every small business that has been forced to lay off employees or cut back on their coverage because it became too expensive.” Still, he's selling the unknown to folks with health insurance, and that's no easy task.
Video: White House deputy press secretary Bill Burton joins MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan to discuss President Obama’s primetime pitch for reform. ***
No game-changers : There were no game-changers on the politics of the debate -- or even the specifics -- although Obama seemed open the idea of the millionaire surtax (do notice the number he brought up; so that means he doesn't want the lower threshold, which was a subtle signal to Congress). Also, he used the word "mandate” and promised at least 97% of Americans covered, which would leave 9-10 million without insurance or 20% of the current 47 million uninsured (but a big chunk of those people are illegal immigrants). In addition, he signaled more flexibility on the August deadline, saying he won't sign a bill that isn't the right bill. And he bristled at the suggestion he was trying to blame Republicans for the current congressional roadblocks and instead claimed the Democratic disunity (so far) might be more regional than anything else. But let's not forget that he portrayed Republicans as roadblocks in his opening statement. One other thing: Obama hinted which stakeholder might be his chief opposition in August: the insurance industry. Obama had nice words for the pharmaceutical companies, but not insurers. And if it is the insurance industry that feels it's the most under siege when bills finally are passed in the House and Senate, they'll spend a LOT of money and this will be an even higher-stakes campaign.
*** Did Obama jump the gun? But beyond those things, Obama didn’t seem he had anything new to sell. There was no new ground about what’s acceptable and what isn’t when it comes the public/government insurance option. (What happens if he has to start explaining the idea of a co-op?) There also was no new ground on his promise to reduce Medicare costs. (The White House had already rolled out its MedPac plan, but he did sell it more passionately than ever.) All of this raises the question: Did this press conference come too soon? No doubt, the White House probably thought they'd have the Senate Finance Committee bill to tout and explain by last night. Then again, he might have wanted to have a final conversation with the American public before it tunes out for the rest of the summer. (Still, maybe this presser should have happened NEXT week?) As the New Republic’s Jonathan Cohn puts it, “All I know is that Obama wanted to speak to America like adults tonight--and make the case for the reforms he (quite rightly) believes are necessary. Time will tell whether that faith in the public's patience and judgment is well-placed.”
Video: President Barack Obama outlines the money he expects his health care plan to save and how he intends to cover the plan's further costs. ***
Skip-ping to something else : But because Obama didn’t have much new to sell and because of his answer to the final question of the night, that adult conversation about health care he wanted to have also got turned into a conversation about race. Indeed, the press conference’s most memorable moment and Obama’s most animated answer came when he was asked about the arrest of Harvard’s Henry Louis Gates Jr. at his own home in Cambridge, MA. In his response, the president did something he rarely does: weigh in on an issue that he himself admitted he didn't know every fact. And his blunt commentary about the Cambridge police will inevitably lead to some to seek out the police officers in question, potentially stirring an odd political stew. (Who bets he wishes he never used the word "stupidly"?) In his past news conferences, Obama has usually ended on a high note for the White House’s message team (remember that ocean-liner metaphor that made Rahm smile?). Right or wrong, Obama’s answer to the Gates question didn’t help him advance his health-care message.
*** Meet me in Ohio! Obama today takes his health-care show on the road today to Cleveland, OH. He tours the famed Cleveland Clinic at 1:15 pm ET, and then holds a health-care town hall at Shaker Heights High School beginning at 2:10 pm. Here’s what Obama said about the Cleveland Clinic last night: “Part of the reason it works well is because they've set up a system where patient care is the No.1 concern, not bureaucracy, what forms have to be filled out, what do we get reimbursed for.” Later tonight, the president hits a pair of fundraisers in Chicago, one of which has Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith and new QB Jay Cutler in attendance.
*** A'Huntsman we will go... : You might have forgotten about him, especially in the partisan back-and-forth over health care, but one of those moderate Republicans who is joining the Obama administration -- Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. -- has his confirmation hearing today before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Also today, Vice President Biden is in Georgia, where he meets with that country's president and speaks before Parliament; Hillary Clinton attends the ASEAN conference in Thailand and meets with the foreign ministers of Australia, Japan, and Indonesia; and First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at an event honoring National Design Award recipients at 12:30 pm ET.
*** Not on her radar screen : Speaking of Clinton, Thai reporters pressed the Secretary of State hard about future political plans. Per the Washington Post , “The questioners pressed Clinton on her run for the presidency and whether she still entertained the notion of running again. ‘That's not anything I'm at all thinking about,’ she replied. She was asked if she had ever given up hope, and she said: ‘I don't know, but I doubt very much that anything like that will ever be part of my life.’ Is it wait and see? ‘No, no, no, no.’ Finally, one questioner pressed, ‘Never say never,’ and Clinton seemed to shut the door. ‘Well, I am saying no because I have a very committed attitude to the job I have and so that's not at all on my radar screen.’”
Video: Newsweek’s Howard Fineman and Politico’s Roger Simon join Hardball’s Chris Matthews to discuss Hillary Clinton’s political ambitions beyond serving as Secretary of State. ***
Cheney vs. Bush? But this
Time magazine story might be the big cable catnip of the day: TIME COVER—THE FINAL DAYS—DETERMINED TO GET A PARDON FOR HIS FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF, SCOOTER LIBBY, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY “REALLY GOT IN THE PRESIDENT’S FACE," [ABOUT THE PARDON] A LONG TIME BUSH FAMILY SOURCE TOLD TIME. "HE JUST WOULDN’T GIVE IT UP."
Countdown to Palin Stepping Down: 3 days
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"President Obama tried on Wednesday to rally public support for overhauling the nation’s health care system and said for the first time that he would be willing to help pay for the plan by raising income taxes on families earning more than $1 million a year," the New York Times writes. "'If I see a proposal that is primarily funded through taxing middle-class families, I’m going to be opposed to that,' Mr. Obama said in a prime-time news conference in the East Room of the White House. A surcharge on the highest-income Americans, under consideration in the House, 'meets my principle,' he said."
Video: President Barack Obama held his fourth primetime news conference Wednesday night. Watch the entire event. The
Boston Globe says, "Obama sought to calm middle-class fears about a major healthcare overhaul last night." More: "Despite the urgency of the moment, the president’s tone last night was characteristically low-key and his rhetorical style coolly logical. Obama’s job last night was to rally Americans to the cause of the overhaul by convincing them that they have a stake in its outcome at a time when negotiations have become bogged down in Congress and public support has wavered. The political problem Obama faces is that five out of six Americans already have health insurance. They have seen premiums double in the last 10 years, but the debate over healthcare in Washington is dominated by headlines about which taxes Democrats might raise to pay the $1 trillion bill for covering the uninsured."
“Stalled”? Ouch. The
Washington Post : “Six months after his inauguration, Obama finds his signature domestic issue stalled on Capitol Hill, where House Democratic leaders are working to quell dissension and the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate acknowledged that action probably will be delayed until September. Addressing what he called ‘entirely legitimate’ skepticism, the president vowed that health-care reform would drive down costs, eventually saving families thousands of dollars. But he struggled to explain how any of the measures under consideration would fulfill that promise.”
Politico's Smith on Obama's performance: "His dryness was all the more striking by contrast with the press conference’s conclusion, when he suddenly re-engaged with a question that he’s spent much of his life mulling, race, in the form of the arrest of a black Harvard professor. The appearance was striking by its absence of a move that’s long characterized Obama’s political career: When in trouble, go big. Faced with a crisis of confidence or with a political furor, he’s repeatedly shown an ability to rise above the storm, and to broaden the playing field, as when he turned a flap over his pastor into a meditation on race in America. Now, facing his hardest test as President, Obama chose to go small."
Video: In his prime time press conference on Wednesday night, President Barack Obama offered few specifics about who will pay for health care reform. NBC’s Savannah Guthrie reports. The
Wall Street Journal's headline out of the presser: "Obama backs health surtax."
CONTINUED >>
The Hill : "Pelosi: I have the votes." "Democratic opponents of the bill said Pelosi’s vote count was somewhere between wildly optimistic and dead wrong."
"Senate Democrats are increasingly frustrated by the secrecy and duration of Finance Chairman Max Baucus’ (D-Mont.) bipartisan talks on health care reform, with some saying it could undermine Democratic support for the bill,"
Roll Call writes. "Democrats both on and off the Finance Committee said the briefings they get about the six negotiators’ progress are too vague. Plus, they say, without a bill in hand, they cannot defend or sell the package to a wary media and public. 'At some point, [Baucus is] going to have to worry about getting Democratic votes,' said one Democratic Senator, speaking on the condition of anonymity. 'If they think that we’ll take whatever it is that comes out because we want to get something passed, they’re wrong.'"
Video: Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., talks about why Blue Dog Democrats are dragging their feet on health care reform and standing in the way of getting it passed before the August recess.
House Dems far apart on deal? Roll Call : "With time running out to reach consensus before a scheduled summer break, House Democrats appear further than ever from bridging internal rifts on a sweeping health care overhaul. House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) spent hours Wednesday in talks with moderate Blue Dog Democrats on his panel who have stalled the package over concerns about its price tag and scope. But the two sides emerged speaking different languages." are trying to send out to constituents the Rep. Kevin Brady-created complicated health-care flow chart using House mail. Democrats are blocking the effort, saying it would violate House rules because it is misleading. The Hill reports.
CONNECTICUT : It's still not good, but it's possible that Chris Dodd stopped the bleeding. He trails Rob Simmons by nine points in a new Quinnipiac poll . But his job rating has inched up a tad, and he's gained a bit among Dems. Remember, the state's so blue, Dodd can pull this off with just Dems and a few indies. Still, he has a LONG way to go.
FLORIDA : Marco Rubio says he's staying in the Senate race .
NEW JERSEY : Gov. Jon Corzine said he would announce his candidate for lieutenant governor on Saturday, but declined to discuss his short list.” On that list is former “Apprentice” winner Randall Pinkett, who held a press conference yesterday to “speak directly” about his interest in the job.
NEW YORK : Here's a name for you... Scozzafava . That's who "Republican leaders in New York have chosen ... as their nominee for the special election to replace Army Secretary-designate John McHugh (R-N.Y.)." Dede Scozzafava is a state Assemblywoman, and she was voted in by "County chairmen for the 23rd district" yesterday. "The chairmen choose their nominee in lieu of a primary process for special elections in the Empire State."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray President Obama will deliver at his primetime news conference at 8:00 pm ET.
Video: NBC Chief White House Correspondent Chuck Todd reports on President Obama's 10th health-care related event. According to the excerpts, he will make these arguments:
1) that health-care reform will benefit all Americans, especially those who already have insurance.
This is not just about the 47 million Americans who have no health insurance. Reform is about every American who has ever feared that they may lose their coverage if they become too sick, or lose their job, or change their job. It’s about every small business that has been forced to lay off employees or cut back on their coverage because it became too expensive. And it’s about the fact that the biggest driving force behind our federal deficit is the skyrocketing cost of Medicare and Medicaid.
From NBC’s Luke Russert Blue Dog Democratic leader Baron Hill (D-IN) openly disagreed with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’s assertion that Democrats have the votes to pass health-care reform in the House right now.
Hill was referring to a comment from Pelosi at her morning press briefing where she said, “I think that we are moving closer, that we are making progress, and I have no question that we have the votes on the floor of the House to pass this legislation.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Here's a look at how senators voted on the Thune Amendment.
Lots of Western and Southern Democrats voted for it, including Majority Leader Harry Reid (up for reelection in 2010).
Video: Despite support from some Democratic senators, the Senate struck down a bill Wednesday that would have allowed gun owners to carry concealed weapons across state lines. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports. Some others that stand out:
Russ Feingold (up for reelection in 2010) voted for it. Feingold said in a statement: “Last year, the Supreme Court finally recognized that the right to bear arms protected by the Second Amendment to the Constitution is an individual right. Americans’ right to possess a firearm to protect themselves or their families does not stop at a state border. Once citizens have obtained permission from a state to carry a concealed weapon, they should be able to rely on that permission in states that permit the concealed carrying of firearms, and that is why I will support the Thune amendment.”
Arlen Specter voted against. As the National Republican Senatorial Committee points out, this puts Specter to the left of the other Pennsylvania senator, Bob Casey , who voted for it.
Two Republicans voted against: Richard Lugar and George Voinovich (retiring). And that means the Republican from Indiana is to the left of the Democrat on guns. Evan Bayh , the junior senator from the Hoosier state, voted for it.
Most of the votes fall along predictable geographic lines.
Here's the full roll call:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Betsy Cline and Whitney Bright In a speech about the economy, former New York City mayor and 2008 presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani
railed against President Obama 's push for health care.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Mike Viqueira
Nancy Pelosi appears to be leaving the door open to keeping the House in session past the scheduled July 31 target date for recess.
But the question is what, if anything, the House will be voting on if she does so. We're learning today that if Senate negotiators come up with a deal among themselves, the House could abruptly change course and drop it's tax plan in favor of a possible Senate compromise, according to well-placed House sources.
There remains a solid wall of Republican opposition to the House plan, and Dem groups like the Blue Dogs and vulnerable freshmen are in opposition to the surtax on the wealthy to pay for it. Meanwhile, the Senate has been working on a plan that may not include a surtax, but could raise revenue on a tax on insurers on their high-end, "Cadillac" plans, for example.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ken Strickland Orrin Hatch
has taken himself out of bipartisan group of Finance Committee members drafting the health-care bill.Max Baucus (D-MT), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA).
From NBC's Ken Strickland Lindsey Graham
(R), who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is making his announcement now on the Senate floor. More to come.Susan Collins , Dick Lugar , Mel Martinez , and Olympia Snowe .
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Jim Cooper , a member of the Blue Dog Coalition and someone who also taught health-care policy at Vanderbilt, laid out his arguments for the revisions needed to current health-care reform legislation making its way through Congress.
Cooper told Dr. Nancy Snyderman on MSNBC's "Dr. Nancy," the bill has to be "deficit neutral" in less than 10 years and "bend the cost curve in the right direction."
Video: Details of the congressional health care overhaul are filtering out. What is President Obama doing to push through his plan? NBC’s Dr. Nancy Snyderman talks with Reps. Peter Welch and Jim Cooper. At issue is the House bill making its way through the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Democrats have argued that the bill, over time, would reduce costs. But the head of the Congressional Budget Office testified that's not so -- that, in fact, costs would go up as a result. As a result, in part, markups on the bill have been delayed twice now -- yesterday and today -- to accomodate negotiations with the Blue Dogs.
Cooper, who is not a member of the committee, said the Blue Dogs want "real, scorable savings," an indication that the moderate group will give weight to the CBO.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Mike Viqueira and Domenico Montanaro Mike Ross , congressman from Arkansas, says the conservative Democratic group and House Commerce and Energy Committee Chairman Henry Waxman “are making progress; however, we have a long way to go.”
Here’s the full statement:
"The Blue Dogs share the President's goal of providing the American people with quality, affordable health care reform that's deficit neutral, and we have put forth a number of substantive policy proposals over the past several months aimed at achieving this goal. "We are making progress; however, we have a long way to go. The Blue Dogs will continue to work constructively with the administration, Chairman Waxman and members of the House and Senate to produce a bill that we can ultimately support."
Video: Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., joins MSNBC’s Carlos Watson to discuss whether President Barack Obama is rushing to pass the new health care reform bill. As CongressDaily wrote yesterday: There are “seven Blue Dog Coalition members on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which was forced to postpone the markup it had scheduled for today as Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman tries to assuage the group's concerns. If the group stays unified in its opposition to the bill, it can be held up in committee. Leaders could elect to end the markup without passing it out of committee, but if that happens, ‘you will see a howling cry come up from the floor,’ [Rep.
Charlie] Melancon said.”
Melancon is a member of the conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coaltion. It has been widely reported that he is likely to mount a 2010 senate challenge to Republican David Vitter .
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Tonight’s presser: Will President Obama come armed with news tonight when, beginning at 8:00 pm ET, he holds his fourth primetime news conference? In his last full-fledged presser -- a daytime one dominated by the Iranian issue -- the president didn't have any news, and instead found himself more on the defensive than at any other time he's faced the press. You can easily see how tonight's news conference could produce a similar outcome if the White House doesn’t have some specific news to make on health care. Will Obama be able to articulate specific policy proposals on health care that he’s for, or will we hear more of the same chatter on his principles? Repetition is always important to pushing a message, but one of the things that may be slowing down the process in Congress is that the president hasn't come out publicly on the specifics. He won't even say if he's OK with the millionaires' surtax or not; whether a co-op is enough to fulfill his "public option" promise; or what amount of "virtually" universal coverage is satisfactory. Other issues will also come up tonight, including the stimulus and the economy in general, perhaps Iraq, Afghanistan, GITMO, and the Bush-era investigation issue. But health care should dominate.
*** The taxing debate: One of the bigger, but more under-reported, sea changes in American politics is how any kind of tax increase -- whether in war or peace, good economic times or bad ones -- has become absolutely unacceptable. After all, Ronald Reagan raised taxes. So did every modern American president involved in war, until George W. Bush. But not anymore. Indeed, as one of us pointed out on Nightly News last night, only 29% (or 157) of the 535 and House members and senators serving in Congress were around the last time -- 1993! -- the federal government raised taxes, and that was on gasoline. Think about that for a moment: Congress hasn't really had a TOUGH vote in 16 years, if one defines a "TOUGH" vote as the government asking for a financial sacrifice from the American people. This is the political climate that President Obama faces in trying to pay for health reform. Republicans and some Democrats are opposed to a tax on the wealthy, and unions and Obama's political strategists are against taxing health benefits.
Video: Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., an outspoken critic of President Obama’s health care reform plans, talks with TODAY’s Matt Lauer about Republicans’ concerns about the proposed reforms. ***
A new era of responsibility? But at some point, if you're fighting two wars, trying to pay for health care, promising to reduce the deficit, and trying NOT to "starve the beast," you've got to raise taxes, right? When they were in charge, Republicans punted because they could NEVER go back to their base and defend a tax increase of any kind (and look where that got them). But is Barack Obama, who called for a “new era of responsibility” in his inaugural address, willing to use his influence to truly change how Washington works? So far, he's supported borrowing -- for the stimulus and for part 2 of the bank bailout.
*** The Great American Health-Care Fight: Other moving parts in the health-care debate: Right before Obama’s press conference tonight, Eric Cantor and other GOP members participate in a health-care forum sponsored by the conservative Pajamas Media TV… The DNC is running a Web video using Sen. Jim DeMint’s “Waterloo” comment to hit Republicans on health care… Cantor’s office has its own Web video on the subject… And around 9:30 am ET, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks on health care, his 25th speech on the topic since June 1, according to his office.
*** Transparency we can believe in? And just askin’, but why is the White House declining a request to release a list of health-care industry stakeholders it has met with? The Los Angeles Times : "Invoking an argument used by President George W. Bush, the Obama administration has turned down a request from a watchdog group for a list of health industry executives who have visited the White House to discuss the massive healthcare overhaul. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington sent a letter to the Secret Service asking about visits from 18 executives representing health insurers, drug makers, doctors and other players in the debate. The group wants the material in order to gauge the influence of those executives in crafting a new healthcare policy." And this gets at another issue: The White House hasn't said what it has promised the various stakeholders they've gotten to publicly promise to make cuts. Apparently, doctors are getting a 10-year fix to soften the blow of lower Medicare reimbursement rates. Who else got what?
*** Iraq is back: Before his primetime news conference, Obama meets at the White House with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki, and the two will hold a joint press availability at 3:00 pm ET.
According to NBC’s Libby Leist, Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told reporters in Washington this week that Maliki will have one key message for Obama today: your attention is still needed. Zebari pressed the point that while the Obama administration turns its focus to the war in Afghanistan, it cannot come at Iraq's expense. He stressed that "serious challenges" remain and Iraq is still in a very fragile situation, especially over the next six months in the run up to January 2010 elections. For his part, Obama will try and send message that the U.S. is pledging support beyond security, and cultural and business exchanges will be discussed. Simply put, Iraq is like an 18 year old -- it wants independence from the parent (in this case the U.S.), but if it runs into trouble, it wants to know that the parent will bail him/her out.
*** Ace of Base? Whether it’s “Birther” conspiracies, worries about ACORN and the Census, or the GOP's fealty to Rush Limbaugh, watching the conservative base in the Obama Era has become one of the fascinating spectacles in American politics. And perhaps the best place to monitor that base is in competitive Republican primaries. The latest example: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist -- who’s running for the Senate and competing in a GOP primary against the more conservative Marco Rubio -- says he opposes Sonia Sotomayor’s Supreme Court nomination. If Crist weren’t running in a competitive Republican primary, does anyone believe he’d be opposing Sotomayor, let alone commenting on this issue? Do note that the man Crist and Rubio are trying to replace, Mel Martinez, has said he’ll vote for her. As the Washington Post’s Cillizza writes, Crist “appears more concerned about angering the GOP primary electorate by supporting Sotomayor than risking the ire of Hispanics in a general election against Rep. Kendrick Meek.”
*** Birth(er) of a nation, part 2: Speaking of the conservative base, is anyone else stunned that a member of the United States Congress wouldn’t unequivocally say that Barack Obama was born in the United States? That’s exactly what happened when MSNBC’s Chris Matthews interviewed Rep. John Campbell (R-CA) on Hardball yesterday. Why are elected officials feeding this conspiracy theory? As the "Morning Joe" crew noted today, what do these conspiracy theorists think -- a single mother, 47 years ago, secretly had the president in Indonesia and then hours later decided to get a Hawaii birth announcement because she thought he'd be president?
Video: Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis discusses what problems the Republican Party will face if they continue to entertain conspiracy theories like those questioning President Barack Obama’s citizenship. ***
Palin back in the news: With four days until she officially leaves office, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is dealing with another ethics investigation. The
AP reports that an independent investigator “has found evidence that … Palin may have violated ethics laws by accepting private donations to pay her legal debts. The report obtained by The Associated Press says Palin is securing unwarranted benefits and receiving improper gifts through the Alaska Fund Trust, set up by supporters.” Per NBC’s Norah O’Donnell, Palin spokeswoman Meg Stapleton issued this response: "I cannot verify the validity of this claim. There is no final report. The investigator is still confidentially reviewing this matter. It appears suspect that in the final days of the governor's term, someone would again violate the law and announce a supposed conclusion before it is reached."
Video: Is Palin going to have to face charges? Rachel Maddow is joined by KTUU reporter Jill Burke ***
Gingrich & Giuliani: Today in DC, two of the nation’s better-known Republicans -- Newt Gingrich and Rudy Giuliani -- give competing speeches on the economy. At 10:00 am ET at the National Press Club, Gingrich will outline steps he thinks will lead to job creation. And at the same time at the American Enterprise Institute, Giuliani will talk about the free market and economic competitiveness.
Countdown to Palin Stepping Down: 4 days
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The Boston Globe previews tonight's press conference. "After weeks of bad news about costs, the defection of moderate Democrats, and a negative drumbeat from Republicans, President Obama will use a televised news conference tonight in a bid to shore up public support for his sweeping plan to cover the uninsured and reform the healthcare system."
The New York Times : “On Wednesday night Mr. Obama addresses the nation in a prime-time news conference as the public, and lawmakers, are growing skittish over his next big plan, to remake the American health care system. How he handles the issue over the next several weeks could shape the rest of his presidency, shedding light on his political strength, his relationship with both parties in Congress and his appetite to fight for his own agenda.”
Video: On Tuesday, President Barack Obama said America was closer than ever to overhauling the health care system, but there is still no agreement on how to pay for it. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, discuss the president’s health care predicament. The
Washington Post reports as fact that a "mandate" -- a la auto insurance -- would be included in any health-care reform legislation. "Many of the nation's 47 million uninsured people, however, would be required to purchase a health policy or face financial penalties, though waivers or discounts would be provided for lower-income Americans. The concept is modeled after a requirement instituted in Massachusetts three years ago as part of that state's broad health-care overhaul. And like the Massachusetts law, the individual mandate proposed by congressional Democrats would be paired with a much more controversial new requirement that nearly every employer contribute to the total cost of care."
While the insurance industry isn't trying to scuttle the Obama administration’s efforts on health-care reform, it is trying to push back at attempts to create a government plan. "The industry's stance against a public health plan revives shades of 1994, when it was instrumental in blocking President Bill Clinton's health-care proposals. ‘A government-run plan would turn back the clock on efforts to improve the quality and safety of patient care,’ AHIP has argued. Such a plan ‘will ultimately limit choices and access,’ the big insurer WellPoint contends.
The Boston Globe's lead story : "President wins on defense spending." The Globe says, "Obama scored a major victory " on the F-22 vote.
Video: Rachel Maddow is joined by Rep. Barney Frank, D-MA, to talk about the Senate cutting funding for F-22 fighter jets The
New York Times : “Senate aides said that some Democrats who otherwise might have voted for more planes sided with the president out of concern that a loss could have hurt him in the fight for health care reform. ‘The president really needed to win this vote,’ Senator Carl Levin, a Democrat from Michigan who led the fight to cut financing for the plane, said after the vote.”
The
Washington Post curtain-raises the Maliki visit to DC this week, which begins today with a meeting with President Obama. "Iraq would like the United States to provide more economic support, help resolve problems with some of its neighbors and -- when asked -- assist in combating the myriad security problems it still faces. Otherwise, it would like the Americans to leave it alone. For its part, the Obama administration wants Baghdad to stop the sectarian disagreements that continue to impede economic and political progress, show a little more public respect for U.S. sacrifices on its behalf and start behaving like a normal, oil-rich democracy. Those issues, politely stated, will form the basis of talks during Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's first visit to the Obama White House on Wednesday, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials."
CONTINUED >>
The Washington Post does its best at what's become a version of "Kremlinology" -- trying to read the Senate Finance Committee tea leaves. Call it Baucus-ology. Bottom line: There could be a tax on INSURERS, not beneficiaries, for offering expensive plans. Also, the government health plan would be out in favor of a co-op (a la the rural electricity deals). Finally, they are promising that committee work will be DONE by the recess -- which is not meeting the president's deadline.
Video: In a prime-time news conference Wednesday, President Obama will press his plan to overhaul the country’s health care system. This comes as some Democrats voice concerns over the president’s timeline for the measure. NBC’s Savannah Guthrie reports. "Moderate House Democrats and a key committee chairman emerged from a three-hour meeting at the White House on Tuesday with a tentative agreement to give an outside panel -- rather than Congress -- the power to make cuts to government-financed health care programs,"
Politico writes.
Roll Call reports the same: "Blue Dogs said Waxman agreed to support an independent commission with the power to control Medicare spending, an idea proposed by Obama but rejected by House chairmen while writing the bill."
CONTINUED >>
California may get all the attention nationally, but every state is struggling to close gaps. In North Carolina, it's a tax hike for everyone. "The proposal calls for increases in sales taxes and sin taxes, as well as a two-year surcharge on corporate and individual income taxes for all taxpayers, to raise $990 million. It would put the total budget for this fiscal year at about $18.9 billion. Budget writers are facing an unprecedented drop in revenue, but the exact size of the deficit has been a hot debate. Revenue next year is expected to be more than $4 billion below what it would have taken to keep funding programs and services at recent levels, and Democrats have described the deficit as $4.5 billion or more. Unlike the federal government, the state must have a balanced budget."
Video: An unprecedented deal in California to close the state’s budget gap will cut billions from education spending and give early release to thousands of prison inmates. NBC’s Miguel Almaguer reports on what could be a sign of things to come in other states. The
Washington Post does the big picture on the state budget issue. “[T]he total shortfall facing all 50 states through fiscal 2011 is estimated at nearly 10 times that figure, or $230 billion, according to state budget officers."
Is DNC Chairman Tim Kaine moonlighting as Virginia governor, or is Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine moonlighting as DNC chair?
"Kaine traveled outside the state doing business for the Democratic National Committee half of the days in June, a departure from an initial pledge to limit his work as party chairman to evenings and weekends." More: "According to newly released documents, Kaine's out-of-state travel has accelerated substantially as he has taken on a more visible national role in selling President Obama's agenda, but it has also come as the economic crisis has worsened in Virginia, where the unemployment rate has been rising and state revenue has been falling.”
The New York Times does a C.W.-setting piece on governors' races, and notes the GOP has an opportunity to make inroads. Of course, is this a party issue? Or simply an issue of incumbent governors or incumbent party's in trouble, and Dems have an edge overall so they will take the bigger hit?
ILLINOIS: Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D) announced that he would officially kick off his Senate candidacy this coming Sunday.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro CAPITOL HILL -- Ya gotta love House floor speeches.
Today’s rhetorical flourishes came courtesy mostly of the House Republicans -- with some colorful Democratic exceptions.
Video: MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell analyzes the Republicans’ strategy of intervening in the health care battle despite their lack of political leverage to do so. Republicans took to the floor en masse to taunt Democrats on unemployment and health care, using a privilege called “one minutes” (which are a series of one-minute speeches). In what was an apparently coordinated message attack, every Republican who took to the podium asked, "Where are the jobs?"
But as is per usual in Washington there was a bevy of what we call, “Only in DC Moments.”
What exactly do Garth Brooks and Thelma and Louise have to do with the economy and health care? Don't worry, House Republicans will tell you.
There was Jeff Flake (R) (all loosely transcribed): There's a Garth Brooks song that says, "Wild Horses keep dragging me away ... Wild horses seem to be dragging the Congress away."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Luke Russert
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) expressed optimism for passing health-care reform possibly by the end of next week saying, “I believe we are going to get to a place where we can create consensus where there will be agreement.” Later he added, “We have every intention of passing health care and we want to pass it next week.”
Hoyer, speaking in his weekly off-camera briefing with Capitol Hill reporters, started off by vehemently going after Republicans who have suggested that Democrats are rushing health-care reform through Congress: “In the last 18 months, we’ve been discussing it extensively. This is not a rush to judgment.”
Hoyer then pushed what is now a popular Democratic talking point after Republican Sen.
Jim DeMint ’s comment that health-care reform would be
Obama ’s “Waterloo,” Hoyer said: “This is consistent with what Republicans are trying to do. Their interest is much more in making failure happen then progress for the American people.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Michelle Perry and Mark Murray Judd Gregg (R) told NBC's Andrea Mitchell that he had no regrets about turning down the opportunity to be President Obama's Commerce secretary.
Video: Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., discusses some of the factors which may prevent a health care bill from being passed before Congress breaks for their August recess. "I wouldn't have been any good on health-care defense, and wouldn't have been good on [the] budget. I made the right decision; I just should have made it sooner."
Mitchell interjected, "You weren't going to be great cheerleader?"
Gregg replied, "That's true."
Video:
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., discusses the major push Democratic leaders are launching to win over health care critics within their own party. Also, Mitchell interviewed Oregon Sen.
Ron Wyden (D), who said he'd be willing to work through the August recess to hammer out a health-care bill. Mitchell asked Wyden what his wife thought about that.
He said she wasn't exactly thrilled.
From NBC's Ken Strickland Max Baucus today announced that a bipartisan group of committee members have "locked down and agreed" on two "major issues" of their version of the health-care reform bill. But Baucus refused to give specific details on which provisions agreement was reached.
He did said the agreement was on a policy provisions -- not issues that address how to pay for the massive reform. "Major issues," Baucus said, "issues that have been in the public domain for a good time."
Video: As lawmakers hammer out health care reform, which state plans are working and which face serious recession cost issues? NBC’s Dr. Nancy Snyderman takes a look at Oregon and Massachusetts. Democratic Sen.
Kent Conrad is a member of group. He also refused to divulge specifics on the agreements, but appeared personally pleased with the deal. Conrad has been the driving force behind developing insurance cooperatives (co-ops) that would complete against private insurance plans.
"I don't think it's my place to go into the details," he said. "It's been a very good day. I'm a very happy guy."
Beside Baucus and Conrad, the group consist of Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). Baucus says the group will meet again today at 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm ET.
From NBC's Mark Murray Max Baucus (D-MT) to unveil his health-care bill, the liberal groups Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America are running a TV ad in Montana the presses the senator to back a public/government option.
The ad comes as the Washington Post reports that health-related companies and their employees "gave Baucus's political committees nearly $1.5 million in 2007 and 2008, when he began holding hearings and making preparations for this year's reform debate."
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Robert Byrd
, of West Virginia, cast his first vote today after a long absence due to illness.President Obama today on the F-22. Byrd voted to continue production of the F-22 fighter jet.
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell, Jim Miklaszewski, and Mark Murray Obama administration, as well as for Sen. John McCain
(R-AZ), the purchase of new F-22 fighter jets was stripped form the Defense authorization bill.Carl Levin
(D-MI) -- stripping the F-22 money. Bush and Obama administrations were in agreement on ending production of the jet. But many in Congress wanted to keep the production line going, often citing jobs as a reason.
The Pentagon already has 183 of the jets with plans for four more. The McCain-Levin amendment removed $1.75 billion to build seven additional F-22s.
Video: President Obama commends the Senate on its vote to reject funding for seven new F-22 jets, saying the money is better spent on other military priorities. The Pentagon released this statement: "Secretary
Gates appreciates the careful consideration Senators have given to this matter of national security and he applauds their bipartisan support to complete the F-22 program at 187 planes. He understands that for many members this was a very difficult vote, but he believes that the Pentagon cannot continue with business as usual when it comes to the F-22 or any other program in excess to our needs. Today's vote is an important step in that direction and the secretary looks forward to working closely with lawmakers as President Obama's budget is debated in the coming months."
In remarks he made at the White House, Obama said he was "grateful" for amendment's passage vote, saying that military experts have agreed that the U.S. doesn't need more F-22s. "This would have been an inexcusable waste of money," he said. "If more money goes to F-22s, it is our troops and citizens who lose."
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro President Obama 's approach.
"I commend the Blue Dog Democrats" who are "expressing concern on the cost of the bill," Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) told reporters following the Republicans' weekly meeting. He added, "I understand they're going to get the extended tour" of the White House. (Several so-called moderate Blue Dog Democrats, who have expressed some concerns over the details of the health-care plan, were asked to the White House today.)
"I tell people, 'The woodshed's not on the regular tour,'" Pence added, after reminiscing -- with a chuckle -- of times he was invited to the White House during the Bush administration.
Video: Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., joins MSNBC’s Carlos Watson to talk about President Barack Obama’s determination to pass his health care plan on time despite his admission that the bills themselves are not yet “where they need to be.” John Boehner , the House Republican Minority Leader, questioned how much political capital the White House and House Democratic leadership had left within their own party.
"Some Democrats got their arms broken" during the energy fight, Boehner said. "Now there are no more arms to break."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Pete Williams, Ken Strickland, and Mark Murray Sotomayor
nomination next Tuesday, July 28th, said the committee chairman, Patrick Leahy of Vermont.Susan Collins has become the fourth Republican senator to announce support for Sotomayor, joining Dick Lugar , Mel Martinez , and Olympia Snowe .
"I have decided to vote in favor of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to serve as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court," Collins said in a statement. "The decision of whether to confirm a nominee to the Supreme Court is a solemn responsibility of the Senate and one that I approach with the utmost care... I know that I will not agree with every decision Justice Sotomayor reaches on the Court, just as I disagree with some of her previous decisions. However, upon reading these decisions, talking personally with her, and hearing her responses to probing questions, I have concluded that Judge Sotomayor understands the proper rule of a judge and is committed to applying the law impartially without bias or favoritism."
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Finding an enemy : You can mark yesterday as perhaps a key turning point in the fight over health-care reform. Why? Because President Obama and the White House found a political enemy in South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint (R), who earlier said that health care could be Obama’s “Waterloo” and could “break” him politically. Obama replied yesterday: “Think about that. This isn’t about me. This isn’t about politics. This is about a health-care system that is breaking America’s families.” As it turns out, Obama is much more comfortable when he has someone to run against. He hasn’t really had that … until now. Will Republicans regret turning this into a political fight? Polls, including yesterday’s Washington Post/ABC survey , show that the public trusts Obama more than Republicans on health care. And that means they’re more likely to side with the president in a political fight, even if they aren’t convinced his plan is the right one.
Video: The Washington Post's Eugene Robinson debates with a Morning Joe panel whether the Obama administration needs to take a more reasonable approach to achieving health care reform. ***
Risk vs. reward : Of course, Republicans would have drawn criticism had they not attempted to seize this political opportunity. So the GOP strategy of turning this into a political fight was something they had to attempt, because the reward is great (see DeMint's prediction). But it may have given the president a lifeline -- just as he was showing a growing frustration with members of HIS OWN party. But, suddenly, the president looks much more comfortable when back to campaign mode, running against Republicans.
*** Playing into Obama’s hands? Honest question: Is this “Will it pass or won’t it?” drama on health care actually playing right into Obama’s hands? Truth is, with the Democrats at 60 in the Senate and with a very strong majority in the House, they are -- more than likely -- going to be able to pass health care, especially when you have Senate Republicans like Chuck Grassley and Olympia Snowe who still apparently want to play ball. As a result, any victory Obama gets on health care is going to look more significant. Then again, he’s got to achieve that victory first, and that’s why he’s meeting today with House Democrats on Energy and Commerce Committee, to get them to pass the House bill.
Video: Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., talks about the large group of moderate senators who share President Obama's goal to fix health care this year, but disagree with his timetable. ***
Seizing the bully pulpit : Another day, another example of President Obama seizing the bully pulpit to press for health-care reform. At 1:05 pm ET (before meeting with those House Democrats), he once again delivers brief remarks on the subject from the White House -- the eighth day in the last nine in which he spoken on health care (in some form or fashion) since returning from his recent overseas trip. Yet another example was his interview with NBC’s Meredith Vieira on TODAY. On why he set an August deadline to get health-care bills passed through the House and Senate: “Well, because if you don't set a deadline in this town, nothing happens. You know, the default in Washington is inaction and inertia. And there's a reason why we haven't had health-care reform in 50 years.” But in a separate interview with PBS, Obama
did admit that the deadline could “spill over.” He said, “You've been around here long enough to know that you have to say, ‘Get this done.’ If somebody comes to me and says, ‘It's basically done; it's going to spill over by a few days or a week,’ you know, that's different.”
*** The Great American Health Care Fight : Other health-care developments: It looks like the surtax on high-income earners is more on life support than Republicans wish, because it was turning into an easy thing to attack Democrats over… The U.S. Chamber of Commerce holds a conference call with reporters at 2:00 pm ET today to announce a multi-million-dollar ad campaign to protect “employer-sponsored health care”… Obama held a conference call with liberal bloggers last night… Has Obama lost David Brooks ? The White House's favorite non-liberal columnist unloads on House Dem "old bulls" … And everyone is waiting to see if today’s the day that the Senate Finance Committee releases its health-care bill.
*** Birth(ers) of a Nation : Remember that McCain event last year during the presidential campaign, when a woman asked if Barack Obama was an Arab? Well, that’s nothing compared to YouTube clip of a Rep. Mike Castle (R-DE) town hall, in which a woman carries on and on about Obama's citizenship and birth certificate. Let's get something straight: If Obama weren't a United States citizen, don't you think the Clinton campaign (first) or the McCain camp (second) would have said something during the two-year-long presidential campaign? (In fact, McCain, who was born in the Panama Canal Zone, was the one who had the bigger potential legal question mark about his eligibility for the presidency.) But the real story in all of this is that Republican Party has a HUGE problem with its base right now. That some Republicans believe a man who won last year’s presidential contest by seven percentage points is not the legitimate president is a base problem much bigger than Cindy Sheehan anti-war protestors or black helicopter conspiracy theorists who flock to some Ron Paul events. Check out how flummoxed Castle looked. How many other Republican elected officials are dealing with questioners like this woman? Meanwhile, did Lou Dobbs really GO THERE? Seriously? This is getting absurd.
*** Mr. Unpopular : Here’s more evidence that simply BEING a governor is an unpopular job these days, per a new Quinnipiac poll : "Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell's job approval rating has shrunk to its lowest level ever, 39 - 53 percent negative, and voters see him as most responsible for the state's budget mess.” What has Rendell done wrong other than be chief executive of a state running out of money. You can write this storyline about some 35 of the 50 governors. By the way, California struck a budget deal… FINALLY. It's ugly for all involved.
*** Sotomayor news : At 10:00 am ET, the Senate Judiciary Committee will gather to consider Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination, and some members will hold a stakeout afterward. It's expected that Republicans will move to delay a committee vote on her nomination until next week. That said, the full Senate vote is still on target before the chamber departs for its August recess. Meanwhile, has Sotomayor become a campaign wedge issue for some Republicans seeking re-election in 2010? If so, keep tabs on Richard Burr's vote. The normally down-the-line conservative from a swing state is undecided.
*** Elsewhere today : Vice President Biden
is in Ukraine and Georgia through Friday… Secretary of State Clinton is in Bangkok, where she meets with the Thai prime minister… Fed Chair Ben Bernanke testifies at 10:00 am ET before House Financial Services (Bernanke is getting more political grief from BOTH sides of Pennsylvania Ave, by the way) … TARP Special Inspector General Neil Barofsky testifies on his TARP report before House Oversight and Government Reform at 10:00 am… And Chu on this: Energy Secretary Steven Chu appears tonight on “The Daily Show,” and he also launches Facebook and YouTube to discuss energy and climate change.
*** Two steppin' with the Obamas : Finally, the White House will host a country music celebration tonight, with country acts like Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss, and Charley Pride.
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