September 2009 - Posts
From NBC’s Kelly Paice While the heated health-care debate continues on the Hill, Democrats are pushing for reform with the backing of some doctors and nurses across the country. Rep. Steve Kagen, M.D. (D-WI), who practiced medicine for 33 years, along with a local Wisconsin doctor and nurse joined in a conference call with reporters today to express their support for President Obama's health-care initiative and to lay out what they would like to see in the legislation passed by Congress. "We need to fix what's broken, improve what we have, and...eliminate wasteful spending," Kagen said. He stressed three "critical, essential elements" that he believes need to be in the legislation passed by Congress. One, he suggests there needs to be "no discrimination against anyone due to a pre-existing condition." Two, that there is "complete transparency" by insurance companies, particularly regarding prices. And, three, that a "standard health-benefit plan" is established for all citizens. Although the public option was rejected by the Senate Finance Committee earlier this week, when asked about the future of the government-run plan, Kagen said, "I believe the House will have a bill with the public option," and that the differences between the House and Senate versions will have to be tackled in conference committee.
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From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg *** Debating The Goals: Today's White House meeting on Afghanistan at 3:00 pm ET (closed to press) will probably be as much about laying out the potential strategic options -- not troop levels, but about debating what the ultimate goals should be. For instance, is the goal about removing just al Qaeda? Is it about stabilizing Afghanistan? Is it about removing the Taliban, too? Is it about stabilizing Pakistan? Of course, the answer to all of these questions is “yes.” But to what extent? That's the ultimate question at today’s meeting. Also, why just 40,000 troops? Why not 150,000? (Could it be that 40,000 is simply the maximum number available at this time?) One other thing: Who talks the most at this meeting of heavyweights (not many shrinking violets will be in attendance) could also tell us a bit more about where things are heading. Then again, how pro-forma is the meeting itself? There are so many important folks in this meeting that it's hard to imagine it can be THAT productive.
*** The Guest List: Here’s a list of those attending today’s meeting: Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton, envoy Richard Holbrooke, Ambassador to Afghanistan Eikenberry (by remote), Ambassador to Pakistan Patterson (by remote), Defense Secretary Gates, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mullen, Gen. Petraeus, Gen. McChrystal (by remote), Chief of Staff Emanuel, Director of National Intelligence Blair, CIA head Panetta, U.N. Ambassador Rice, National Security Adviser Jones, Deputy National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Adviser John Brennan, Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough, and Gen. Lute.
*** Major Disaster In Samoa: Today’s biggest story, though, is the tsunami that slammed into Samoa and American Samoa, and the death toll there stands at 99, according to the AP . President Obama declared a major disaster there, and he released this statement early this morning: "Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the earthquake and tsunami in American Samoa and the region. I am closely monitoring these tragic events, and have declared a major disaster for American Samoa, which will provide the tools necessary for a full, swift and aggressive response. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is in close and constant contact with emergency responders, and the U.S. Coast Guard is fully supporting the deployment of resources to those areas in need of immediate assistance. We also stand ready to help our friends in Samoa and the region. Going forward, we will continue to provide the resources necessary to respond to this catastrophe, and we will keep those who have lost so much in our thoughts and prayers."
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A powerful tsunami slams into the tropical islands of American Samoa and Samoa, killing dozens of people. *** Stop The Presses! Senate Finance Doesn’t Support A Public Option! If you’ve been paying attention to the health-care debate over the past several months (and reading First Read), you shouldn’t have been surprised that the Senate Finance Committee yesterday defeated those public option amendments. But that didn’t stop some news outlets from calling yesterday’s votes “a crippling blow” to liberals or a “setback” for the White House. Is the public option dead in the Senate? Probably -- and that hasn’t changed over the past couple of months. Still, we don't know if a trigger is possible, and we have no idea about the so-called co-op. Yet Baucus' decision to cite votes, even as he praised the idea of a public option, was interesting. And public option advocates have successfully used yesterday's actions to raise even more money to target Baucus (and Olympia Snowe) in TV ads. Maine and Montana are cheap states, so getting on the air in both states isn't hard. By the way, and we've noted this before, TV ads in general appear to be the dog that hasn't bitten.
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Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., shares his perspective on the failure of public option amendments to pass in Senate Finance Committee voting on Tuesday. *** On The Iran Talks: Per NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Swiss officials say they are moving tomorrow's talks on Iran to another location than originally announced. The talks will now be held in an 18th century government conference center called the Hotel Saugy (pronouonced Saw-Gee). The U.S. delegation flew overnight to Geneva and is holding strategy sessions today with other members of the Security Council, as well as its Swiss hosts. A senior U.S. official told Mitchell that we are now about to test the proposition of whether the (Obama) policy of diplomatic engagement will work -- and that this will be the first chance to see whether Iran is willing to engage constructively on the nuclear issue. The official added that how Iran responds will set the stage for what happens next (whether they proceed with a move toward tougher sanctions, either with the Europeans or, optimally, with the U.N. Security Council). Today's various stories on the run-up to these talks suggest that those who believe engagement will work might be feeling a tad pessimistic. Iran clearly wants to be publicly defiant, and China continues to send NO signals it will be open to serious sanctions. So what happens if these talks fail and sanctions aren't viable thanks to China?
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Diplomats from the U.S., Iran, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany are meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on Wednesday to discuss Iran's nuclear program. *** All About Daggett? Is the New Jersey race for governor beginning to tighten? A new Quinnipiac poll finds Chris Christie (R) leading incumbent Jon Corzine by four points, 43%-39%. Earlier this month, Christie was ahead by 10 points (47%-37%). That’s the good news for Corzine and the Democrats. The bad news is that the incumbent remains stuck in the high 30s, and his approval/disapproval is 36%-58%. Ouch. The reason for Corzine seeming to close the gap? Third-party candidate Christopher Daggett is now getting 12% in the Quinnipiac poll. Indeed, it increasingly looks like the difference between Corzine winning and losing re-election is going to be Daggett. Yet history has shown that indie candidates -- more often than not -- see their numbers go down, not up, on Election Day. A final thought about Corzine: His unfavorable rating is at 56%. Did even Gray Davis, the last governor we can think of to win re-election with an upside down job approval rating, have a 56% unfav rating? Meanwhile, did you know Christie has attended 120 Springsteen concerts in his life?
*** 2007-2008 Flashback: “Norman Hsu, a former prominent Democratic fund-raiser, was sentenced Tuesday to more than 24 years in prison for bilking hundreds of investors of millions of dollars in a nationwide Ponzi scheme and committing campaign finance fraud,” the New York Times reports.
*** Obama’s Day: Before his meeting on Afghanistan in the Situation Room, President Obama travels to the National Institutes of Health in Maryland, where he tours an NIH lab with HHS Secretary Sebelius and then makes a stimulus-related announcement there at 11:00 am ET. Per the White House, Obama will “announce $5 billion in [Recovery Act] funding to support 12,000 critical research projects – and tens of thousands of jobs associated with them, ranging from teachers and lab technicians to database managers and scientists. These research grants are part of the Recovery Act’s overall investment of $100 billion in innovative research and advancing our science and technology infrastructure.”
*** Biden’s Day: And before he attends today’s White House meeting on Afghanistan, Vice President Biden heads to his home state of Delaware, where he will address the Delaware National Guard brigade that just returned from Iraq. One of the members of that brigade, of course, is Biden’s son Beau, who is expected to run for his dad’s Senate seat next year. Biden’s speech in Dover, DE occurs at 1:00 pm ET.
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 34 days
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The
Wall Street Journal previews today’s White House meeting on Afghanistan. “The White House unexpectedly decided to review its strategy in Afghanistan after a series of recent setbacks in the war, including allegations of fraud following last month's presidential elections and surging violence throughout the country. It begins just days after Gen. McChrystal submitted his request for as many as 40,000 additional troops to the Pentagon. Some in the administration, notably Mr. Biden, have argued for a smaller military footprint and a tighter focus on counterterrorism as the best way forward.”
The LA Times : "The vice president's plan: Scale back the overall American military footprint in Afghanistan, drop the mission of rescuing the country from the Taliban, focus on strikes against Al Qaeda along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border -- the real threat to U.S. national security -- using special forces and Predator missile attacks."
With Biden’s desire for a tighter focus on counterterrorism, the Washington Post front-pages, “U.S. and international intelligence officials say that improved recruitment of spies inside the al-Qaeda network, along with increased use of targeted airstrikes and enhanced assistance from cooperative governments, has significantly reduced the terrorist organization's effectiveness.” CONTINUED >>
Washington Post reports. “In a signal moment in the increasingly fractious debate over reforming the nation's sprawling health-care system, Senate Finance Committee members rejected two amendments to create a public option on votes of 15 to 8 and 13 to 10.”
Video :
Newsweek's Howard Fineman explains why several Democrats and all Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee coted against the public option. More: “Despite the setback for advocates of a public option, debate over such a plan is certain to continue. Sens. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.) and Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), who offered the amendments that were voted down Tuesday, have vowed to keep the issue at the forefront as the debate unfolds. And Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) could include a government plan when he combines the Finance Committee's bill with Senate health committee legislation, approved in July, that includes a public option. Aides said Tuesday that Reid has not decided how to proceed.”
The New York Times adds, “The votes … underscored divisions among Democrats and were a setback for President Obama, who has endorsed the public plan as a way to ‘keep insurance companies honest.’”
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Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum said yesterday that his plans to do a series of speaking engagements in key election states are intended to "galvanize the Republican Party," but did not deny that he was considering running for president in 2012. In a conference call with reporters, Santorum previewed his speech on Thursday in Iowa, which just happens to be the home of the first presidential nominating contests. When asked whether the speech is an opening salvo to a presidential bid, Santorum said "it's not that I'm not going to plan; it's just that this is an opportunity to speak and lend my voice to what I hope to be a conservative movement and Republican movement to change the direction that Barack Obama wants to take us."
During the Q&A, one reporter on the call likened Santorum's non-official platform to that of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin -- to which Santorum responded: "The opportunity to influence the debate has to come from other places. It can't come from doing press conferences at my Senate office." He described his current junket as a "combination of helping candidates and speaking to groups that would like to hear a different set of ideas than those that are being espoused in Washington DC by the administration."
After opposing Obama on the stimulus, “Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal urged his party in an interview Tuesday to shift to offering health care solutions instead of just rejecting what President Barack Obama and the Democratic majority in Congress are proposing,” Politico writes.
COLORADO: The
New York Times parachutes into the Bennet-Romanoff Senate primary. “Republicans see the Democratic primary as a lucky break in a state where they badly need one. There are three top Republican candidates: former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; Ken Buck, a district attorney from Weld County; and Ryan Frazier, a city councilman from Aurora.”
NEW JERSEY: PolitickerNJ writes that “a new Quinnipiac University poll shows Republican Christopher Christie with a four-point lead over Democrat Jon Corzine, 43%-39%, among likely voters.” On the issue of personal integrity, voters are “split: 44%-45% on whether Corzine is honest and trustworthy, and 37%-36% on Christie.”
The New York Times looks at one of Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie’s non-political hobbies: going to Springsteen concerts. CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ken Strickland Chuck Schumer was defeated by a 10-13 vote.
Democratic Sens. Baucus , Conrad , and Lincoln voted no, joining all Republicans.
We don't expect any more public option votes in committee.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader
Steny Hoyer reiterated that the bills will be introduced "when ready."
At a briefing this morning, Hoyer said a House bill was likely to emerge next month.
On the public option, a source of division among moderate and liberal Democrats, Pelosi stressed once again, "I believe we will have a public option" -- with this caveat -- "in OUR bill."
Neither Hoyer nor Pelosi would endorse a deadline for a health bill to hit the floor, but they insisted progress is being made.
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From NBC's Bobby Cervantes Michael Steele said today that President Obama has failed to give an answer to one important question: “What’s the focus?”
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From NBC's Ken Strickland
The amendment is offered by Sen. Jay Rockefeller , who is making his closing argument now.
The vote is expected to fail. The reason: Committee Chairman Max Baucus already has announced he'll vote against, and it's expected that Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad and Blanche Lincoln will vote against as well. In addition, all Republicans, including Olympia Snowe, will vote against it, too.
After Rockefeller vote, they'll start the debate on the Schumer public option amendment.
*** UPDATE ***
Five Democrats voted against: Baucus, Lincoln, Bill Nelson, Tom Carper, and Kent Conrad
All Republicans voted no.
From NBC's Athena Jones Anders Fogh Rasmussen declared today after a meeting with President Obama in the Oval Office.
The head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization went on to say that the organization was committed to staying in Afghanistan for as long as necessary to get the job done.
"I'm convinced that success in Afghanistan is achievable and will be achieved," Rasmussen said. "And don't make any mistake -- the normal discussion on the right approach should not be misinterpreted as lack of resolve. This Alliance will stand united and we will stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to finish our job."
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From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Bob Menendez made the walk across the street from the Capitol and put on his other hat as head of the Democrats' Senate political arm.
He acknowledged that the landscape for Democrats, as it stands now, could be tough. He pointed out "red flags" -- their big gains in the past two cycles (and how that's tough to replicate); that Dems have dropped in the generic ballot test; and the historical disadvantages of trying to make gains in the Senate after picking up the White House.
But, he urged that the elections are still 14 months away and any prognosticating now is premature.
He acknowledged that Republicans gained some momentum during the August break, but he called it short term and that the GOP will come to regret being solely in opposition of the most important issues facing the country, like the economy and health care.
On the overarching issue of the economy, he said, "Does anyone think that a year from now we won't be in better shape? he asked.
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From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Steny Hoyer told reporters in one of his regular off-camera briefings.
He also touched on the economy, saying he saw positive signs, as well as Afghanistan and tomorrow's auto talks designed to give some say to dealers who had their franchises closed on them -- even if they were profitable. On Afghanistan, Hoyer reiterated that he'd like to see what Gen. Stanley McChrystal -- the U.S. commander in Afghanistan -- has to say.
Though he expects a health-reform bill in October, Hoyer noted that there is no deadline set.
"The speaker and I are in lockstep on this," he said, adding with a smile, "I'm sure that'll be the headline."
Echoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Hoyer said a bill won't come up for a vote until it's ready. He outlined familiar requirements for the bill, like bringing costs down and bending the curve, as scored by the Congressional Budget Office -- all things he and Democratic leaders have stressed previously.
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From NBC's Ken Strickland Olympia Snowe ).
Putting aside the political debate about reconciliation -- and whether or not Democrats should use it -- the bottom line is this: Reconciliation can be used and has been used by both parties. It's written into law.
But the biggest question is this: Can it be used to successfully produce a comprehensive health-care reform bill?
This is an attempt to give a stripped-down, dumbed-down, Cliff Notes-like explanation of what reconciliation is, what hurdles opponents can place before it, and how it might be handled on the floor should Democrats decide to use it.
What is reconciliation and why is it used?
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From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg All about Afghanistan : The next two days are all about Afghanistan for President Obama. Today, he huddles with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at 11:30 am ET (pool spray at the bottom), and then Obama meets separately with Gates and Biden at 4:30 pm (closed press). The Biden-Gates meeting introduces Biden's skepticism into the Afghanistan conversation in a very intimate and serious setting. And what had been scheduled for TODAY -- a major meeting of the key players on Afghanistan strategy -- has been postponed a day and will now be held TOMORROW. Among those who will be at tomorrow’s meeting with Obama include Gens. Petraeus and McChrystal, Defense Secretary Gates, Secretary of State Clinton, Ambassador to Afghanistan Eikenberry, and Af/Pak envoy Holbrooke. It’s a BIG meeting -- all about strategy assessment, which is why it may have been postponed a day as today may have simply gotten too packed.
*** Finance Committee back at work : Turning to health care, the Senate Finance Committee returns to work today on its mark-up of its health-care bill. On the agenda today will be the committee’s vote on the public option amendments that Sens. Chuck Schumer and Jay Rockefeller are proposing. The big unknown is whether Olympia Snowe will introduce her version of a public option trigger.
*** The Club for (Democratic) Growth? Are Republicans/conservatives going to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in NY-23, the congressional seat vacated by John McHugh (R)? The conservative Club for Growth has now endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman over the socially moderate/liberal GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava; former presidential candidate Fred Thompson also has endorsed Hoffman. Could Republicans splitting their votes between Hoffman and Scozzafava tip the race to the Democrat in the race, Bill Owens? We've said this before and we'll say it again: Outside of watching the Obama administration’s ups and downs, the most intriguing political story in America could very well be the infighting inside the Republican Party. Besides the Scozzafava-Hoffman split, we’re going to see several important GOP primaries next year over the heart and soul of the GOP -- Perry vs. Hutchison in Texas, Crist vs. Rubio in Florida, the challenge against Utah Sen. Bob Bennett, and even the primary challenge against John McCain.
*** Whitman’s crucial test : Meg Whitman, the former eBay CEO who’s running for California governor, now enters a crucial phase in her gubernatorial campaign. Either she survives an intense focus over the fact that she hasn’t voted in past California elections, including recent ones, or it ends up sinking her fledgling campaign. Now her chief primary opponent, Steve Poizner, has a TV ad hitting Whitman on her voting record (or lack thereof). And today, the Los Angeles Times pens this editorial: “[J]ust because she failed to vote doesn't mean she lacks the skills to do the job well. As a voter, Whitman might have been disengaged, but as CEO of one of California's largest tech companies, she surely was not. Still, it's surprising, and of some concern, that someone so seemingly uninterested in politics would suddenly want to govern what is perhaps the most ungovernable state in the union.”
*** “Going Rogue” : As Politico writes, Sarah Palin’s memoir is set to be entitled “Going Rogue” -- a reference to the complaints during the end of the presidential campaign that she wasn’t entirely a team player for the McCain campaign -- and that the book is now scheduled to be published earlier than expected, for Nov. 17. Sources tell NBC’s Norah O’Donnell that she was able to move up her schedule by writing furiously for months, something she couldn’t have done if she were still governor of Alaska. O’Donnell adds that Palin moved the whole family to San Diego for the month of August, so she could crash the book with her collaborator Lynn Vincent, editor of an evangelical magazine; that Palin traveled to New York City for the first half of September to work on the editing process; that she will address never-heard details about her life, her time as governor, and the historic campaign; and that HarperCollins has ordered a huge first print of 1.5 million books. By the way, Palin’s book will come out when the president is likely overseas… It would mark the second-straight major overseas trip for the president where Palin could be the national story.
*** Rick Santorum heads to … Iowa : Here’s some more 2012 news: This Thursday, former Sen. Rick Santorum -- who lost his bid for re-election in the battleground state of Pennsylvania by a whopping 19 points, 59%-41% -- heads to Iowa to deliver the keynote at a conservative economic lecture series in Dubuque. Santorum holds a conference call at 10:30 am ET to preview his speech.
*** 2009 watch : Finally, Creigh Deeds is bringing in in his big gun, former Virginia Gov. (and current Sen.) Mark Warner. In a brand-new TV ad , Warner speaks to the camera about his support for Deeds. “The choice in this election for governor is really pretty simple,” Warner says. “Do we move Virginia forward by continuing the pro-business economic policies that I helped put in place, or do we go backwards with the failed economic approach that ruined our economy? Creigh Deeds knows keeping taxes low and controlling spending is the right way to keep Virginia ‘the best place to do business’. And I agree.” Deeds also will be getting the endorsement of another former governor today, according to Virginia sources: Republican Linwood Holton. Of course, this shouldn't be a surprise… Holton is outgoing Dem Gov. Tim Kaine's father-in-law. And as the Virginia Republican Party has become more conservative, Holton has become more supportive of Democrats.
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 35 days
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The head of NATO is coming to the White House today to talk Afghanistan. "Anders Fogh Rasmussen, chief of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, stopped short of calling for more combat troops to be sent to Afghanistan, as the Obama administration currently is debating. Instead, he said a far stronger focus needs to be put on preparing Afghan military and civilian forces to take the lead in securing and building their nation. But Rasmussen also voiced doubts that the U.S. and NATO will be successful in preventing the Taliban and other extremists from again making Afghanistan a haven for terrorists." Washington Times writes.
More: "Asked by reporters and editors at The Washington Times whether the U.S. and its allies might be seen as weak because of the prolonged debate over whether to send more forces to Afghanistan, Mr. Musharraf said, ‘Yes, absolutely… By this vacillation and lack of commitment to a victory and talking too much about casualties [it] shows weakness in the resolve.’”
The Wall Street Journal takes a look at which economic sanctions against Iran are in play and whether it's a viable strategy.
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The Chicago Tribune reports that the Windy City’s Olympic delegation has arrived in Denmark; Friday Lady Michelle Obama leaves tonight, and President Obama will depart on Thursday. “In recent weeks Rio has become the emotional favorite to win the games -- and Brazil's president has said he is confident that country will. During the day, however, Chicago seemed to gain momentum after President Obama officially announced he was going to Copenhagen, joining his wife Michelle, in making a case for a U.S. win. Madrid and Tokyo also are in the running.”
The New York Times : “Mr. Obama changed his mind and decided to take a gamble no other American president has taken at the urging of his close friend and senior adviser, Valerie Jarrett, who has been deeply involved in promoting Chicago’s bid. He hopes to trump the presence in Copenhagen of his counterparts from rival countries seeking the games — Brazil, Japan and Spain — and duplicate the success that Tony Blair of Britain and Vladimir V. Putin of Russia have had in recent years by personally lobbying for their nations’ bids. ‘Having the leader of the free world there supporting the bid sends a good message,’ Michelle Obama, who was originally tapped to go to Copenhagen without her husband, told reporters at the White House. ‘It will demonstrate to the I.O.C. that this bid has unprecedented commitment throughout our government.’”
“At the same time, crossing the ocean for a dramatic personal plea on behalf of his adopted hometown involves at least some political hazards. Mr. Obama risks looking parochial at a time of enormous challenges and, perhaps even worse, risks a major international embarrassment if the committee rebuffs him and rejects Chicago in favor of Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo or Madrid.”
Politico adds, “The White House knows that the decision to go before the International Olympic Committee is fraught with political risk: The president could be embarrassed on a world stage if he doesn’t land the games. Plus, more than a few Americans are surely scratching their heads — with his inbox crowded with a troop request for Afghanistan, a new secret nuclear site in Iran, sky-high unemployment and a health care bill in Congress, does the president really have time for this?”
It's public option day at the Senate Finance Committee. The big mystery: Will Olympia Snowe offer her plan -- a public option trigger -- as an amendment? “The Senate Finance Committee is expected to consider whether the government should offer its own insurance plan for the middle class in competition with private carriers. A public option is the top goal for liberals, but it has no Republican support and moderate Democrats say the Senate will never go along.”
“So Tuesday's debate is expected to pit Democratic liberals against moderates. Although the public plan isn't expected to get a majority of the panel, supporters say at least they'll know where everybody stands.”
The Hill breaks down the Senate Finance Committee mark-up. There are 13 Dems and 10 Republicans. “Apart from Snowe, the GOP is lined up strongly against the legislation. Baucus can afford to lose one Democrat when the final vote comes -- or two if Snowe jumps aboard.”
Schumer’s influence : “Sen. Charles Schumer has revived the prospect of a public insurance option in the Senate’s version of healthcare reform. Whether it ultimately passes may depend on a handful of first-term Democrats who owe their seats, in significant measure, to the support they received from Schumer (D-N.Y.) when he headed the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) in 2006 and 2008.”
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CongressDaily’s Carrie Dann reports that the top House Republican overseeing the census -- North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry -- is enlisting his GOP colleagues “to maximize participation in the decennial count by constituents who may be reluctant to disclose information to government officials.” This effort comes after the apparent murder of a Census worker in Kentucky (although it is still unclear whether his death was due to his work with the Census), as well as critical comments about the census by some GOP members, including Rep. Michele Bachmann.
More from Dann: “In an interview Thursday, McHenry declined to point fingers at other Republicans, emphasizing that his goal is to underscore to his colleagues that encouraging participation in the census is ‘in their own self-interest’ because it affects the allocation of federal aid and congressional seats. ‘If none of their constituents answer the census,’ he said, ‘then they do not have any constituents, and they don't have a district.’ McHenry may be keenly aware of the need for full participation because his home state narrowly won a 13th House seat after the 2000 census. A legal battle ensued between North Carolina and Utah, which fell 857 residents short of qualifying for that extra seat.”
Palin Watch: “POLITICO surveyed nearly 50 prominent Republican Party officials and politicians, representing every region of the country and ranging from statewide-elected officeholders to state legislators to state and county party chairs. Some refused to talk about her at all. Others, mostly her critics, would do so only off the record. But taken as a whole, the body of interviews revealed that despite Palin’s high negative ratings in recent national polls, Republicans at the grass-roots level and their leaders still hold a very favorable impression of the former Alaska governor. Westerners have a particular affinity for Palin, with many noting that she embodied the values of freedom and self-reliance.”
A Star Tribune poll finds that only 30% want to see Tim Pawlenty (R) run for president in 2012, versus 55% who don’t want him to run. “But in a mixed message for Pawlenty, 25 percent of Minnesotans said there was a ‘good chance’ they would vote for him if he became the GOP nominee, while another 25 percent said there was at least "some chance" they would vote for him. A solid 43 percent said there was no chance they would vote for a President Pawlenty.”
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MASSACHUSETTS : A quick primer, per the New York Times , on the MA SEN special election when it comes to fundraising. Dem front-runner Martha Coakley is trying to raise a million dollars by the end of the month (that's tomorrow).
NEW JERSEY : Now it's personal! GOP gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie “hit back” on his opponent Jon Corzine’s claims that Christie’s proposed policies on health insurance “would not require insurers to follow mandates, leading Corzine to charge that young women could be denied mammograms to detect breast cancer.” Last week Corzine released a Web ad “in which Christie heatedly debates the issue with a cancer survivor.” That Christie responded to with his own ad “describing his own mother’s lifesaving mammogram” and calling Corzine “so deceitful.” "The governor's said a lot of things about me all summer," Christie said to a crowd of 40 women at a New Jersey library. "I didn't respond to any of it, because it was trivial. But this was different. ... My mother survived. She survived because she got a mammogram. It's deceitful and now it's personal."
VIRGINIA : Deeds brings in his big gun, former Virginia Gov. (and current Sen.) Mark Warner. In a brand-new TV ad , Warner speaks to the camera about his support for Deeds. “The choice in this election for Governor is really pretty simple,” Warner says. “Do we move Virginia forward by continuing the pro-business economic policies that I helped put in place, or do we go backwards with the failed economic approach that ruined our economy? Creigh Deeds knows keeping taxes low and controlling spending is the right way to keep Virginia ‘the best place to do business’. And I agree.”
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From NBC's Kelly Paice and Ali Weinberg Bob McDonnell and current Lt. Gov Bill Bolling -- today announced a series of budget and spending proposals intended to increase transparency and efficiency in the Virginia state government.
In a conference call with reporters today, McDonnell laid out his plans for evidence-based budgeting, an approach that he said corporate America had embraced. Annual budgets for state agencies would be determined "on the premise that they must justify expenditures year after year," as opposed to adding to or subtracting from the previous years' budget. Each agencies' budget would be subject to "performance measures and metrics to determine how well that money has been spent," McDonnell said.
Bolling recommended increasing the permitted amount of state revenue put into the Rainy Day Fund, created in 1995 by former Gov. Doug Wilder (D) to provide extra funding during tough economic times. The current cutoff is 10% of total state tax collections, which Bolling said he wants to increase to 15%.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Chuck Todd and Ali Weinberg Last week, we received a press release from Virginia Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine touting the fact that his state had seen its unemployment rate drop for the second straight month. It got us wondering, what states are bucking the national trend.
Here's what we found out after a thorough examination of the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site. (And remember when reading this data, state unemployment numbers are a month behind the national data; so all of this is as of August).
Just three states registered job INCREASES in the month of August: Montana, North Carolina and West Virginia. In addition, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas and Virginia all had an unemployment rate DECREASES.
Also, it's worth noting that the two Dakotas (4.3% and 4.9% respectively) and Nebraska (5.0%) continued to report overall low jobless rates.
A few quick points:
-- You can't look at this data and not notice that two of the most important swing states in the country right now -- Colorado and Virginia -- are seeing some light at the end of their tough economic tunnel. That's a potentially HUGE development politically for the current White House occupant.
-- Obviously, this recession hasn't hit the northern plains states very hard; that's clear from the Montana, Dakotas, Nebraska and Kansas data.
-- We plan to delve into the data even more to see if there is a pattern to these states in particular. Why are they showing the first signs of recovery? Each of these state governors will probably claim credit for a friendly business climate etc, but is there something else? We'd love to hear your theories as well.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg *** Obama’s foreign focus: Although President Obama has spent so much time and energy on domestic issues in his first nine months in office, last week’s news (Iran and its nuclear ambitions and missile tests, the future of Gitmo’s closure, and Gen. McChrystal’s troop request for Afghanistan) once again proved that foreign affairs could end up defining Obama’s presidency more than health care or even the economy. And foreign affairs will continue to dominate this week’s headlines. On Tuesday, Obama will meet in his Situation Room to discuss Afghanistan with Gens. Petraeus and McChrystal, Defense Secretary Gates, Secretary of State Clinton, Ambassador Ikenberry, and Afghanistan adviser Holbrooke. On Thursday, the U.S. will have its big meeting with Iran in Geneva. That meeting comes after today’s news that Iran test-fired long-range missiles capable of striking Israel and American bases in the Persian Gulf.
*** Lots of questions on Iran: Diplomatically, the White House feels very good about the moves it made regarding Iran. But this week will TRULY tell us how good the White House team really was. Will China step up, a la Russia, on sanctions? Will Iran continue to act as defiantly as they have, or will the domestic pressure in its country bring a more conciliatory Iran to the table? And how soon can some economic sanctions be passed? Clearly, U.S. sanctions aren't enough, but could the U.S. cobble together a coalition of countries in Europe to impose some sanctions if China continues to drag its feet? There are so many moving parts. Remember, Iran's potential nuclear threat -- unlike North Korea's -- can easily become a domestic political issue, as all things Middle East tend to do.
Iran tests long-range missiles capable of reaching U.S. bases in the Middle East as tensions mount over the country's nuclear ambitions.
*** Applying the Powell Doctrine to Afghanistan: Turning to Afghanistan, the
news over the weekend that Colin Powell was among those Obama was seeking advice about Afghanistan didn't get the attention it deserved. This could be the best hint yet that the president is rethinking the strategy to the point that not only are more troops NOT going to be sent, but we could see a re-deployment of some troops OUT of Afghanistan proper. By the way, the president is getting personal with his outreach on this issue, as he called John McCain over the weekend in what was described as a brief chat with the president making his case for deliberation.
*** A few other stray thoughts on Afghanistan: As Obama gathers his entire national security team at the White House on Tuesday, we're betting the president will -- at least -- outline a timeline for making a decision. And we're also guessing there will be some handwringing over all the leaks coming from the Pentagon. Also, for those wondering why Gen. McChrystal is getting so much support from Joint Chiefs Chairman Mullen, among others, it may have to do with the fact that McChrystal was recruited by Mullen to take over the Afghanistan command after the previous general was relieved of his duty. The least the leadership at the Pentagon can do is stand by their man on the ground. McChrystal, we're guessing, made a pretty good first impression to many in Washington on "60 Minutes" last night.
:
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said defeat in Afghanistan is not an option. So is a change of strategy needed to secure victory? As NBC’s Savannah Guthrie first reported on TODAY, President Obama will reverse course and travel to Copenhagen to take part in Chicago's presentation to host the 2016 Olympics. (Who didn’t see this coming…?) He will depart Washington Thursday evening to be in place for Chicago's presentation on Friday. Obama made the final decision Saturday night, after previously saying he would not be able to attend because of the health care debate, dispatching First Lady Michelle Obama to make Chicago's pitch in his stead. Guthrie adds that the first lady is still planning to attend and will travel Tuesday night as previously planned to spend the week lobbying International Olympic Committee officials. Other administration officials planning to attend include Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Education Secretary Arne Duncan. The IOC will hold a series of votes Friday to determine which of the four finalist cities -- Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, and Tokyo -- will host the games.
President Obama will travel to Copenhagen to make a personal pitch for Chicago to get the 2016 Olympic Games. *** Chicago-style politics: This is a classic case of "All politics is local." Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid has seemed like a shoo-in to many observers for a few reasons, including: 1) it's been 20 years since the U.S. last hosted an Olympics; 2) the IOC is struggling to make the 2014 Winter Olympics enticing for sponsors, and they’re desperate to link it to a big summer draw in 2016; and 3) McDonald's is one of the most loyal Olympic sponsors in history, and if Coke could get an Olympics in Atlanta, then why couldn't McDonald's get one for its hometown of Chicago? But, as of late, Chicago political leaders have been paranoid that Rio's bid has been gaining ground, and Brazil was sending ITS president (Lula) to personally make their final pitch. Rio's best selling point is that South America has never hosted an Olympic Games (perhaps the reason: It’s winter there during our summers…) So Chicago has been pulling out all the stops, including Oprah and now Obama. Bottom line: The president and his Chicago-area advisers were getting all sorts of "If he doesn't go and Chicago doesn't get it" veiled threats, and so he was boxed in. Better to go and not get it, right? Without a doubt, however, getting Obama to Copenhagen is a big win for mayor Daley.
*** Don’t forget about the economy and health care: While the focus is on foreign affairs, the economy and health care aren’t going away anytime soon. On Friday, the Labor Department will release the all-important job numbers for September (will the unemployment rate decline, or will it reach 10%?). And Max Baucus’ Senate Finance Committee tries to finish its health-care bill this week. And as Baucus’ committee concludes its work, liberal groups Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America are running a TV ad in Montana and DC that pressures the senator to support the public option. By the way, this New York Times piece makes public what many on Capitol Hill had already believed: that the White House is playing the role of Senate Majority Leader on health care; it's the White House cutting the deals and wooing Snowe, Collins, and the like.
*** Paterson says he’s still running: On “Meet the Press” yesterday, embattled New York Gov. David Paterson told NBC’s David Gregory that he’s running for election next year. “I'm blind, but I'm not oblivious. I realize that there are people who don't want me to run,” he said. “But let me just tell you at the outset, I am running for governor in 2010. I don't think that this is an issue other than for the people of the state of New York to decide.
*** RIP, William Safire: The former Nixon speechwriter and conservative New York Times columnist passed away yesterday. He was 79. The New York Times’ obituary: “There may be many sides in a genteel debate, but in the Safire world of politics and journalism it was simpler: There was his own unambiguous wit and wisdom on one hand and, on the other, the blubber of fools he called ‘nattering nabobs of negativism” and “hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history.’ He was a college dropout and proud of it, a public relations go-getter who set up the famous Nixon-Khrushchev ‘kitchen debate’ in Moscow, and a White House wordsmith in the tumultuous era of war in Vietnam, Nixon’s visit to China and the gathering storm of the Watergate scandal, which drove the president from office.”
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 36 days
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“Amid growing international pressure in advance of highly anticipated talks this week, Iran displayed its defiance of Western threats against its nuclear program by announcing Sunday that it had test-fired at least two short-range missiles,” the Washington Post says. “Senior Obama administration officials, meanwhile, said they had the international support necessary to impose crippling sanctions if Tehran does not stop construction on a new uranium-enrichment plant and allow immediate inspections.”
The New York Times: “The Obama administration is scrambling to assemble a package of harsher economic sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program that could include a cutoff of investments to the country’s oil-and-gas industry and restrictions on many more Iranian banks than those currently blacklisted. The administration also is seeking to build a broader coalition of partners for sanctions so that it may still be able to act against Iran even if China and Russia were to veto harsher measures proposed in the United Nations Security Council.”
Indeed, the Times also notes that Russia could slow-walk any actual decision on Iran sanctions. "Russia is also reluctant to mass the might of the United Nations Security Council against a single country, especially at Washington’s behest. That in part explains why Russia has historically sought to dilute sanctions, as it did in previous rounds against Iran.”
The Wall Street Journal has a good analysis about why it's not easy for Israel to militarily take out Iran's nuclear plants.
CONTINUED >>
Behind the scenes, it's been clear for weeks that President Obama and his team of Rahm Emanuel, Jim Messina, and Peter Orzsag would be cutting the final health-care deal. Today's New York Times basically confirms that. "As the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, takes on the delicate task of melding two competing versions of major health care legislation, aides say he will lean heavily on President Obama to arbitrate a number of contentious issues that still threaten to divide liberal and centrist Democrats and derail a final bill."
Per the Boston Globe , “Public support for Massachusetts’ closely watched health insurance overhaul has slipped over the past year, a new poll indicates, but residents still support the path-breaking 2006 law by a 2-to-1 ratio… 59 percent of those surveyed said they favored the state’s multimillion-dollar insurance initiative, down from 69 percent a year ago. The poll, by the Harvard School of Public Health and The Boston Globe, found that opposition to the law stands at 28 percent, up slightly from 22 percent in a June 2008 survey. Percolating throughout the poll findings is a gnawing concern over rising health care costs, suggesting that support could erode further if the state fails to slow the growth of medical spending. With key features of the state law at the heart of the blistering national health care debate in Congress, architects and observers of the Massachusetts plan say the poll findings indicate that a national overhaul is not only possible, but politically viable.”
The
Washington Post looks at how Republicans, who previously haven’t been Medicare’s biggest defenders in Washington, suddenly are championing the government program and its funding. “After years of trying to cut Medicare spending, Republican lawmakers have emerged as champions of the program, accusing Democrats of trying to steal from the elderly to cover the cost of health reform.”
“It's a lonely battle. The hospital associations, AARP and other powerful interest groups that usually howl over Medicare cuts have also switched sides. Last week, they stood silent as the Senate Finance Committee debated a plan to slice more than $400 billion over the next decade from Medicare, the revered federal insurance program for people over 65, and Medicaid, which also serves many seniors.”
And don’t miss this paragraph, which gets to the issue of whether industry can live up to its cut promises. "Some budget analysts worry that industry groups, though confident now, may find it difficult to live up to their part of the bargain. The Baucus bill would create an independent commission charged with ratcheting payment rates even lower in the years to come. Others say the cuts, even if they stand, are insufficient to fix a program facing the twin burdens of a rapidly growing population of retirees and rampant health-care inflation. Unless health reform delivers on Obama's promise to restrain the overall cost of health spending, Medicare will undoubtedly stay on the chopping block." CONTINUED >>
The New York Times runs a front-page profile of Liz Cheney. “Like her father, Ms. Cheney speaks in understated, almost academic cadences, head veering down into her notes. She also shares his willingness to pummel President Obama in stark, disdainful tones, not so much criticizing as taunting him... It is a source of debate whether “Cheney” is an asset or a liability for this 43-year-old lawyer and former State Department official who keeps turning up on TV, at lecterns and in discussions about future Republican candidates. There is also the question of whether the “Cheney message” on national security — which essentially translates to an aggressive and interventionist approach — is something the Republican Party should be trumpeting, or burying."
The Hill looks at Mitt Romney’s efforts to make nice with potential GOP rivals.
The former president discusses the state of U.S. political discourse, as well as criticisms of his administration with NBC’s David Gregory on “Meet the Press.” CALIFORNIA : Dan Balz weighs in on the story about gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman’s (R) voting record, or lack thereof. “[T]he formal launch of her candidacy last week was disrupted by a damaging report in the Sacramento Bee. Though Whitman seeks to lead one of the biggest and most troubled governments in the world, when it comes to politics, she has been -- to put it kindly -- an absentee citizen for much of her adult life… Failure to vote from time to time is understandable and has rarely been seen as disqualifying for those seeking public office. But Whitman's record appears to go beyond occasional absences. Setting aside the question of whether she was registered before 2002, her slender record is striking for its apparent indifference to the political process.”
MASSACHUSETTS : EJ Dionne breaks down the race to permanently replace Ted Kennedy in the Senate. The candidate embracing the Kennedy legacy most fiercely is Mike Capuano, a congressman whose district includes Cambridge and Somerville. He's running as the liberal's liberal… The woman to beat is Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, who has the most statewide recognition.”
More: “The race has its mandatory rich guy spending his own fortune, Stephen Pagliuca, a co-owner of the Boston Celtics… That leaves the most interesting candidate, Alan Khazei. I'll confess a soft spot for the 48-year-old co-founder of City Year, one of the best youth service groups in the country.”
CONTINUED >>
In an interview to be broadcast Sunday on “Meet the Press ,” NBC's David Gregory sits down with former President Bill Clinton , who says, “it’s a good idea, if possible, to look somebody in the eye and have a chance to have a conversation before there’s a total breach.”
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News , World News , and News about the Economy
Here's the transcript:
CONTINUED >>
THE WEEK AHEAD: The Week Ahead: Will unemployment hit double digits? ... All eyes on the Senate Finance Committee ... Republicans fan out ... Jimmy Carter turns 85 ... Meet the Press: Clinton, Paterson
Do you have a question on politics -- presidential, horse race, something in Congress or something in your state? Submit it in the comments section, and we might pick yours in an upcoming week.
From NBC's Chuck Todd
From NBC's Athena Jones
President Obama , French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown each spoke briefly, with Obama laying out the countries' case against Iran; with Sarkozy setting a December deadline for Iran to respond to their demands; and with Brown using strong words to drive home the point that time was running out for Iran to fulfill its obligations to the international community.
U.S., British, and French officials traveled to Vienna yesterday afternoon to brief the International Atomic Energy Agency on the intelligence of a secret Iranian enrichment facility near Qom. The plant is not yet operational.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Bob McDonnell's (R) 20-year-old graduate thesis -- continue to dominate the race for Virginia governor. Consider the two new TV ads McDonnell is airing.
The first blasts opponent Creigh Deeds (D) for running a "dishonest attacks" against McDonnell.
The other one features McDonnell's daughter Jeanine, who served in Iraq, to counter the criticism the Republican has received for writing in that 1989 thesis that working women and feminism were "detrimental" to the family.
From NBC's Mark Murray Obama White House that there needs to be a clear exit strategy from the war in that country.
Here's the key passage in the email, which was first reported on by Greg Sargent : "Pro-war advocates both inside and outside the administration--including John McCain and Joe Lieberman --are calling for a big escalation. The general in charge of Afghanistan is expected to request tens of thousands more troops, and that may just be the beginning/ They're cranking up the pressure for an immediate surge."
"But other powerful voices are urging caution: Vice President Biden and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel have raised real concerns about the idea of sending more troops to Afghanistan without a clear strategy, as have Democrats in Congress. And a majority of Americans oppose increasing troop levels. Can you write to the White House and tell them we need a clear exit strategy-not tens of thousands more US troops stuck in a quagmire?"
Below is the full email...
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Republicans are using the revelation of a secret nuclear facility in Iran -- something that U.S. intelligence has known about for about a year -- to criticize the Obama administration's willingness to talk to Iran.
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor was first out of the gate with a statement:
John Boehner :
From NBC's Mark Murray Joe Wilson -- of "You lie" fame -- has become a fundraising darling for Republicans?
Wilson now has penned a fundraising email for the National Republican Congressional Committee. In it, he says:
similar one for Virginia Republicans earlier this week.
*** UPDATE ***
*** UPDATE 2 *** their refusal to return tainted cash from an accused ponzi schemer and someone convicted of defrauding U.S. taxpayers in Afghanistan for millions, the American people are seeing the lengths the Republican Party of No will go to raise a buck.”
From NBC's Pete Williams Supreme Court Associate Justice
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is out of the hospital and expected back on the job today.
From NBC's Ken Strickland
Democratic Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Chuck Schumer yesterday said they were planning to introduce amendments on the so-called public option, and they would take place today.
But committee sources say there is not time. The committee will work a shortened day today and not be in session Monday due to the Jewish holiday. Work will continue Tuesday.
Also, the Wyden -Bennett amendment has not been introduced to the committee. That amendment would permit those with employer-based insurance to choose from a variety of plans offered in an "insurance exchange" -- regardless of their employer's benefits.
From NBC's Andrea Mitchell President Medvedev praised President Obama effusively during a question-and-answer session with students at the University of Pittsburgh.
Asked about Iran and sanctions, Medvedev reportedly said, according to a transcript provided by the Russians:
"I have this feeling as though I'm still in the meeting with Barack Obama. Yesterday he asked me this very same question. We spent about a half hour talking about that yesterday! I tried to answer that yesterday and I'll try to answer that today in this beautiful hall.
First of all, we are all responsible for global affairs. Since we share this responsibility, no state should refuse it. In this sense, Russia is a responsible country. All of us are involved in promoting nuclear energy and the right to the peaceful use of it. Iran as a state has a right to its own peaceful nuclear program. This is our clear position. That is what I said to Barack Obama yesterday.
CONTINUED >>
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg *** Iran’s secret facility: You can now add one more pressing problem that the Obama White House must deal with: Iran building a secret plan to make nuclear fuel. Just moments ago, President Obama, surrounded by British Prime Minister Brown and French President Sarkozy, said while the international community remains open to working with Iran, that country must show its intentions or "be held accountable." He added that Iran is not living up to its "international responsibilities," that the size of this facility is inconsistent with a peaceful program, and that there's a "sense of urgency" about the upcoming Oct. 1 meeting with Iran and that it must be prepared to cooperate and "take concrete steps." The New York Times broke the news on this story, with lots of senior administration quotes in it: “The revelation … appears bound to add urgency to the diplomatic confrontation with Iran over its suspected ambitions to build a nuclear weapons capability.” Indeed, this news today will overshadow a G-20 summit that had already become something of an afterthought. The president’s news conference at 4:40 pm ET in Pittsburgh will probably be two-thirds about Iran, one-third about Afghanistan. When is the last time that has happened?
*** We’ve known about this for a year: Per NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, officials say it was U.S. intelligence that learned of the secret plant more than a year ago -- before President Obama's election; Israel also knew about it, too. They most likely would not have gone public if Iran had not discovered that the U.S. was onto them and had it not notified the U.N.'s international inspection agency on Monday. By the way, Mitchell adds, the site is 30 kilometers outside of Qum, Iran’s holy city. That means that any military strike would be very difficult politically, because it would around huge reaction throughout the Muslim world. Also today, watch for Russian and Chinese reaction. Yes, they were notified of our intelligence this week, but their reaction is unknown.
*** Gitmo and money woes? The Washington Post has today’s other big news. First, it reports that the White House is going to be “hard-pressed” to meet its goal to close Gitmo within a year. “Even before the inauguration, President Obama's top advisers settled on a course of action they were counseled against: announcing that they would close the facility within one year. Today, officials are acknowledging that they will be hard-pressed to meet that goal.” (How numbered are Greg Craig's days? He clearly fell on his sword on this, so he's being given plenty of running room to make his own exit timetable.) Here’s the other buzz-worthy Post story: “Democratic political committees have seen a decline in their fundraising fortunes this year, a result of complacency among their rank-and-file donors and a de facto boycott by many of their wealthiest givers, who have been put off by the party's harsh rhetoric about big business.” Dem sources tell us to expect to see the president step up fundraising for individual candidates later this year. He can be an effective draw for, say, a Senate candidate in Missouri or Colorado, as opposed to trying to do it in DC for the DSCC.
*** Sticking up for Goliath? Here’s the latest back-and-forth in the fight over health-care, per the AP : "The Senate's top Republicans said Thursday they wouldn't allow President Barack Obama to fill health posts until his administration stops barring insurers from telling the elderly how Democrats' health overhaul could affect their benefits.” At issue is the GOP’s anger after the HHS Department asked private insurer Humana to cease sending mailers to seniors that were critical of the health-care reform efforts moving through Congress. Honest question: Are Republicans explicitly sending the message that they’re sticking up for the big guy (Humana’s PAC has given lawmakers nearly $150,000 so far this cycle) over the little guy in this debate? A Senate GOP aide disagrees: “It’s about free speech and big government intimidating people with an alternative point of view. And this is a perfect of example of why big government scares the hell out of people.”
*** Public option vote: Meanwhile, the Senate Finance Committee begins its fourth day of marking up its health-care bill. Per NBC’s Ken Strickland, the committee today will consider amendments to install a public option to the legislation -- which will likely fail. In a conference call with reporters yesterday, Democratic Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Chuck Schumer were effusive in their belief that a public option will eventually become law, and each said he would offer his own amendment on it. "[Friday] is the opening day in our big fight," Schumer said, "but it's going to be a fight that goes down all the way to the wire." If moderate Democrats on the committee like Max Baucus, Kent Conrad, and Blanche Lincoln vote in line with their public statements against the public option, the amendments should fail. They prefer the non-profit cooperative model which is already included in the bill. Strickland says that it’s unclear when the Finance Committee will finish its work marking up the legislation. It could very well be pushed into Monday or Tuesday or next week. Also, the Congressional Budget Office might report on its findings about the bill today or tomorrow.
*** Bucking up the Blue Dogs: A Democratic source has sent First Read a poll conducted by Anzalone Liszt (D) for the liberal group Health Care for America Now (HCAN), which argues that there’s still plenty of appetite for health-care reform in 91 Blue Dog/conservative/swing congressional districts. Excerpts from the poll’s analysis: “With 58% of voters believing the healthcare system requires either major reform or a total overhaul and 59% concerned that Congress won’t pass reform this year, supporting the status quo is a risky proposition for swing district Dems.” Also: “[W]hen voters hear a paragraph of information about what the plan supports (including a public option, mandates for individuals and businesses, and higher taxes on high-income households), a majority in these districts support it (53% favor/41% oppose).” And it also argues that, despite the media’s attention to the contentious town-hall meetings over the summer, polling in Blue Dog districts has remained relatively stable from June to September.
*** Ginsburg taken to hospital: According to NBC’s Pete Williams, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was taken to the Washington Hospital Center last night after feeling ill in her chambers earlier in the day. She felt ill after receiving an iron sucrose infusion to treat an iron deficiency anemia that was administered at the Office of the Attending Physician. Williams updates that Ginsburg stayed overnight at the hospital as a precautionary measure, and it’s expected that she will be released from the hospital today. In short, her illness yesterday isn’t thought to be serious.
*** A lack of muscle? Yesterday’s decision by former Democratic Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder NOT to endorse Creigh Deeds (D) in Virginia’s gubernatorial race -- even though the Obama White House had leaned on Wilder to back the Democrat -- spurred one GOP operative to remind us how unsuccessful the White House has been when flexing its political muscles. Other examples: The inability to get Lisa Madigan to run for the Senate in Illinois, the failure to convince North Carolina AG Roy Cooper to challenge Richard Burr, and the fact that New York Gov. David Paterson has yet to bow out for 2010. What’s more, the source said, Senate Democrats have primaries in CO, PA, and IL. To be fair, however, the White House WAS able to essentially clear the field for Kirsten Gillibrand, it got Arlen Specter to switch parties, and the Paterson story has yet to fully play out (does anyone really think he sticks it out?). Also, while not desirable having primaries in CO and PA actually provides a silver lining for the White House, because it forces Specter and Michael Bennet to be more reliable votes.
*** Today’s sked: Elsewhere today, Vice President Biden travels to Georgia (the state, not the country) to survey the flood damage there. And at 3:15 pm ET, Paul Kirk gets sworn in as temporary senator replacing Ted Kennedy. GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said this about the Kirk appointment: "What the . . . totally Democratic-controlled Massachusetts state government should have done is just be honest about it. They should have written a law this way: If there's a Republican governor, there's no appointment. And if there's a Democratic governor, there is an appointment."
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 39 days
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“President Obama and the leaders of Britain and France will accuse Iran Friday of building a secret underground plant to manufacture nuclear fuel, saying the country hid the covert operation from international weapons inspectors for years, according to senior administration officials,” the New York Times reports.
The Washington Post : “President Obama will call attention to the existence of the underground facility in an early-morning statement to reporters here before the opening of the G-20 economic summit, and will say that Western intelligence agencies have been tracking the facility for years. U.S. officials said Obama decided to disclose the program's existence after learning that Iran had become aware that it was no longer a secret.”
"Iran has kept the facility, 100 miles southwest of Tehran [with 3,000 centrifuges], hidden from weapons inspectors for years, but the U.S. has long known of its existence, the official said," the AP says . "Obama decided to go public with the revelation after Iran learned that Western intelligence agencies were aware of the project. The official said the plant could be in operation by next year… The revelation of a secret plant further hinders the chances of progress in scheduled Oct. 1 talks between Iran and six world powers."
Here's the latest New York Times/CBS poll: "President Obama is confronting declining support for his handling of the war in Afghanistan and an electorate confused and anxious about a health care overhaul as he prepares for pivotal battles over both issues... But Mr. Obama is going into the fall having retained considerable political strength. At 56 percent, his approval rating is down from earlier in the year but still reasonably strong at this point compared with recent presidents."
Also, "More Americans are starting to credit his stimulus package with having helped to revive the economy. And Mr. Obama retains a decided advantage with the American public over Republicans on prominent issues, starting with health care."
"The Obama administration on Thursday evening rejected Senate Republicans’ request that the Department of Health and Human Services lift a so-called gag order on insurance companies that have been critical of Democratic efforts to reform health care," Roll Call reports. "HHS spokesman Nicholas Papas said the department will continue its investigation into a mailer sent to seniors by Humana that Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) has argued contains misleading information about his legislation’s impact on Medicare and Medicaid." Republicans have argued this is another sign of a big government takeover that stifles free speech. CONTINUED >>
The Boston Globe's front page: "Senator Kirk." The story says Kirk is "throwing himself immediately into the job by asking former staff members of Edward M. Kennedy to stay on, delivering his first speech in the role to a group of labor activists, and preparing to travel to Washington this morning to be sworn in." Today, he'll visit Ted Kennedy's gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery, meet with Kennedy's former staff, which he'll keep on until a permanent replacement is elected and be sworn in this afternoon by Vice President Biden.are not happy . Gov. "Patrick was under immense political pressure. His close circle of advisers narrowed a wide array of candidates to six finalists, but he ultimately went with the candidate who, despite having never held elective office, is most closely identified with Kennedy and favored by the late senator’s immediate family."
The Globe has a front-page profile of Kirk. "To those who know him, Paul G. Kirk Jr. is not only the trusted adviser of the Kennedy clan, but a quiet fixer with a reassuring demeanor. An intimate family friend who is comfortable working in the shadows, he is also a savvy, adroit deal maker who has grappled with some of the most emotional rifts in Democratic party politics."
Republicans, however, are trying to stop the appointment. A GOP injunction filed will be heard this morning. The legislation calls for a 90-day window -- unless there's an emergency. "Patrick signed an emergency letter that he says allows the law to become effective immediately," the AP writes . "Republicans allege in their court filing that Patrick did not have the constitutional authority to do that."
CONTINUED >>
NEW JERSEY : PolitickerNJ’s Matt Friedman comments on the “not-so subtle personal jabs” being thrown around between gubernatorial nominees Jon Corzine (D) and Chris Christie (R). “The latest example is a television ad Governor Corzine released yesterday. More than a few observers and bloggers noticed the double entendre -- whether intentional or not --when the voiceover says that Christie “threw his weight around” as U.S. Attorney to avoid traffic tickets and points on his license.” State Sen. Bill Baroni, who grew up overweight and lost 130 pounds 15 years ago, said that he “immediately” recognized a reference to Christie’s girth in the Corzine ad. “We’re better than that,” Baroni is quoted as saying. Friedman also writes Christie’s painting Corzine, who grew up in rural Illinois, as an “out-of-town” outsider. The Christie campaign released a Web ad featuring Corzine mentioning the nonexistent “Garden State Expressway.” Text in the ad reads, “Uhm, Governor… It’s called the Parkway.” Then, Garden State Parkway signs are superimposed over Corzine’s mouth, “bleeping out the offending term.” NEW YORK: "Six in 10 New Yorkers believe President Obama was wrong in his attempt to force Gov. Paterson from the 2010 gubernatorial race, according to the latest Marist College poll," per the New York Post . "The statewide survey of registered voters nonetheless found little sympathy for the beleaguered governor. Job approval for both Paterson and the president slipped to all-time lows in the days since Obama's intervention came to light." By the way, Paterson's job approval dropped even further to an astonishing 17%, an all-time low for him and for any governor in New York history. It's the lowest rating for any governor in the country. NY-23: "New York Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava, the Republican nominee in the special election to replace former Rep. John McHugh (R-N.Y.), was whacked in two rounds of new TV ads Thursday, as a new poll showed the three-way race essentially tied. Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party nominee, went up with his first TV ad Thursday, and it’s a full-throttle assault on Scozzafava while the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Thursday also launched a TV attack of its own against the Assemblywoman. The advertising activity comes as a new poll sponsored by the anti-tax group the Club for Growth shows the race to essentially be a three-way tie."
TENNESSEE: The liberal group Accountability Now says it’s recruiting a primary opponent to challenge Tennessee Rep. Jim Cooper (D). It also has launched a Web site targeting Cooper.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's John Yang
For much of the day, the park had been populated with reporters, photographers, and neighborhood residents walking their dogs. The protestors now number in the low three figures, finally beginning to outnumber -- barely -- the press. The mood is festive, with drummers playing and people mingling around. The police are in the area, but are not very visible at the park itself.
The group did not apply for a permit for the event, saying that to do so would make it "state-sanctioned." Their goal is to get as close to the convention center, site of the summit, as possible.
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
A statement from his office:
Robert C. Byrd , D-W.Va., was released from the hospital early this afternoon following a brief 48-hour stay to monitor and treat a spike in his white-blood cell count, a symptom that is usually an early sign of an infection. Byrd was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday, following a precautionary trip to the hospital after he fell at his home. While being examined, doctors found an increase in Byrd's white-blood cell count and then admitted the West Virginia Senator to the hospital for antibiotic treatment and observation.
Byrd will continue his antibiotic treatment at his home and convalesce over the coming days. Byrd indicated that he "is looking forward to engaging in the upcoming debate and votes on health care reform - one of the most critical issues facing this Congress."
From NBC's Mark Murray Former Democratic Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder will NOT be endorsing Creigh Deeds (D) in Virginia's gubernatorial contest.
"The present law [in Virginia] permits anyone of sufficient age, who is not a felon, to be able to buy one gun a month; twelve a year, twenty four a year for couples, etc.," Wilder said in a statement (hat tip: NBC-29's Adam Rhew). "Mr. Deeds thinks that's not enough and signed a pledge to repeal that law. This action would allow the truck loads of guns to come back in exchange for drugs from those Northeastern states where gun laws are more stringent."
Wilder also seems to take a swipe at Deeds' willingness to raise taxes to pay for more transportation in the state. "This is not the time in our Commonwealth to talk about any kind of tax increase, especially those that are fundamentally regressive and will hit hardest those who are struggling."
Wilder concludes, "The requests, made of me, have been to endorse Mr. Deeds, the Democratic Candidate, for Governor. I refrain from doing so and will leave that choice to the voters. This in no wise is intended to detract from Mr. Deeds in terms of character or commitment to the task of being Governor. I find that he, as well as Mr. McDonnell are fine and honorable men and well suited to that task. The question before me is whether I support the Democratic candidate's position in addressing these issues. I have not thus far in the progress of the campaign, and as aforesaid refrain from so doing."
As Politico writes, "Wilder’s announcement is a significant blow to the Deeds campaign, which had been aggressively courting his support in recent weeks. Even President Obama got involved in the lobbying campaign, making a personal call to Wilder earlier this month asking him to endorse Deeds."
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Paul Kirk will be sworn in at 3:15 pm ET tomorrow, according to a top aide to Majority Leader Harry Reid .
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro It's official. Former DNC Chairman and Kennedy confidant Paul Kirk was appointed to fill the late Sen. Ted Kennedy 's U.S. Senate.
Kirk said he would not run in the Jan. 19th special election or the December primary, would likely be sworn in tomorrow and that he would retain Kennedy's well-regarded staff.
"Between now and then [the special election] the vital interests of the people of the Commonwelath will come to the Congress," said Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick as he announced the appointment -- a day after the state legislature changed the law to make the move possible. Patrick said he signed the bill into law this morning.
Patrick cited issues like transportation, financial regulation, climate change and, of course, health care. On health care, Patrick quoted Kennedy, who called it a "right not a privilege" for all Americans.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Doug Adams Max Baucus' bill -- which in Senate lingo is called the "chairman's mark" because Baucus is the chairman.
It has been slow going, as debate dragged on for a third day, and tempers flared this morning. After more than a half hour of a nitty-gritty discussion of Medicare Advantage, Sen. Baucus lectured the Republicans that a vote against his bill is "a vote for the status quo!!" and for doing nothing. He said the allegation that millions will lose their current coverage is "a patently gross and inaccurate assumption."
Baucus lectured that "the status quo" is unacceptable when 14,000 people lose insurance every day, and rapped Republicans for not offering any comprehensive alternatives for reform.
GOP Sen. Jon Kyl took exception to the lecture, saying that Republicans oppose a "massive government takeover" -- which is what he said Baucus bill is. Instead, Kyl wants "targeted solutions." Baucus cut him off and accused him of delaying, and Kyl heatedly insisted he was not delaying or filibustering.
From NBC's Mark Murray Other media outlets are reporting -- and First Read has now confirmed -- that Gov.
Deval Patrick (D) will select
Paul Kirk to temporarily fill
Ted Kennedy's Senate seat.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Dems back at 60: That didn’t take long, did it? Almost a month after Ted Kennedy passed away, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) is expected to name an interim successor at 11:00 am ET at the State House in Boston, according to NBC's Kelly O'Donnell. This move comes after the Democratic-controlled Massachusetts Legislature quickly changed its succession law to return to the Democrats their 60th Senate seat. All signs -- and reporting -- point to Patrick picking Paul Kirk, a former DNC chairman and Kennedy aide. Of course, as the news of Sen. Robert Byrd’s (D) recent hospitalization reminded us, 60 sometimes seems like more of a mirage than a reality for the Democrats.
*** Obama’s 'Steel City' obsession: President Obama begins his day at the United Nations, where he’ll chair the U.N. Security Council meeting. Then he heads about 350 miles west to Pittsburgh to take part in the G-20 economic summit there. Pittsburgh has become a special place in Obama’s heart. He campaigned there a bunch -- both in the primaries and general election. He developed a strong bond with the Rooney family, tapping Dan Rooney as ambassador to Ireland and rooting for his Steelers in the Super Bowl. He visited the city last week at the AFL-CIO’s convention in the city. And he said this at a recent ceremony for the Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins: “As many of you know, I have a special place in my heart for Pittsburgh, and so if it can't be the [Chicago] Blackhawks, then the Penguins aren't a bad choice.” Of course, it’s perhaps no coincidence that Pittsburgh is the swing voting area of the part of the country -- Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio -- he has to keep to stay president. Regarding the G-20, remember that it was planned as an "in case of" summit if the economy was still in a deep, deep recession. Now that’s not the case, it’s all about regulation and an exit strategy for government intervention.
*** Who’s the boss? During the presidential campaign, in his press conference from Jordan, Barack Obama made this point: that the president of the United States is the ultimate decision-maker on military matters, not the generals. “In terms of my conversations with Gen. Petraeus, there's no doubt that Gen. Petraeus does not want a timetable [in Iraq],” he said back then. "But keep in mind, for example, one of Gen. Petraeus' responsibilities is not to think about how could we be using some of that $10 billion a month to shore up a U.S. economy that is really hurting right now? If I'm president of the United States, that is part of my responsibility.” That strong belief, however, is certainly being put to the test now that top U.S. military commanders seem to be backing Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s request for more troops in Afghanistan. Speaking at the National Press Club yesterday, Petraeus said that both he and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen endorsed McChrystal's recent assessment of the situation in Afghanistan, per NBC’s Courtney Kube.
*** Getting back on the same page: Interestingly, we are hearing a new spin from the White House about McChrystal’s request. They are saying that his report was written BEFORE Afghanistan’s questionable elections, which have raised doubts about whether the Karzai government can be a reliable partner. The bottom line: The White House knows the debate over Afghanistan has been too public, and it hopes to get back on same page with Defense Secretary Gates and Secretary of State Clinton from here on out. Notice from whom we may NOT hear on this: Vice President Biden, who reportedly is the most skeptical person in the administration on the subject on sending more troops to Afghanistan.
*** Rahm and the public option: Meanwhile, Charlie Rose conducted a fascinating interview with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel yesterday. In it, Emanuel didn’t insist on a public option, which could enrage the left (then again, if the left didn’t already know this, it hasn’t been paying attention…) "ROSE: And it will not have a public option feature? EMANUEL: I’m not -- that should be what the conference has to negotiate. But I don think -- you know. ROSE: Can it pass with a public option feature? EMANUEL: I think the Senate’s been clear about what -- the prospects there. That doesn’t mean in the House that they’re not going to come to the table and demand that…” Be sure to read the entire Rose interview. It provides a rare glimpse into Rahm's governing philosophy in general…
*** When acting like the victim doesn’t help: David Paterson and Co. certainly aren’t going down without a fight. Yesterday, Paterson’s wife, Michelle, told the New York Post that it was "very unfair" for the White House to encourage "the first African-American" governor of the state not to run in 2010 (even though he didn't win election to the post). Then to NBC’s New York affiliate, she noted that Paterson’s poor poll numbers and political standing were due, in part, to his blindness. And also yesterday, the governor spoke at a luncheon organized by the AP, where he said he never envisioned being governor and admitted that he instead wanted Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat -- if she won the presidency. “I wanted to be lieutenant governor,” Paterson said. “I had this grand plan that Hillary Clinton was going to become president. Maybe the governor would appoint me to the Senate.” While Paterson may have looked like a political victim on Monday and Tuesday, that isn’t the case anymore. By the way, Paterson will appear on “Meet the Press” this Sunday.
*** 2009 watch: And in New Jersey, the Corzine campaign (D) released a TV ad yesterday that appears to refer to opponent Chris Christie’s (R) weight. The ad goes, “If you drove the wrong way down a one-way street, causing an accident and putting the victim in a trauma center, would you get away without a ticket? Chris Christie did," adding later: “Christie threw his weight around as US Attorney and got off easy.” Also, The New York Times writes about Christie’s family relationship with a convicted member of the Genovese crime family, Tino Fiumara, who is the brother of Christie’s aunt’s husband. Which reminds us of this line from “Space Balls”: “Lone Star, I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate.”
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 40 days
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The Boston Globe on Obama’s U.N. address yesterday: "In a speech punctuated at least eight times by applause -- rare at the United Nations -- Obama signaled a sharp break with the policies of President Bush and echoed the themes of his own presidential campaign. He exhorted world leaders to act together to combat global warming, nuclear proliferation, extreme poverty, and continuing conflict in the Middle East."
The New York Times : “President Obama, in his first visit to the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, made progress Wednesday on two key issues, wringing a concession from Russia to consider tough new sanctions against Iran and securing support from Moscow and Beijing for a Security Council resolution to curb nuclear weapons.”
More: “Russian President Dmitry Medvedev opened the door Wednesday to backing potential sanctions as a reward for President Barack Obama's decision to scale back a U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe. While U.S. and Russian officials denied a flat-out quid pro quo, Medvedev told the U.N. General Assembly that Obama's pivot on a missile defense plan long loathed by Moscow 'deserves a positive response.'"
The Washington Post looks at Obama’s day at the UN. “President Obama will use the forum of the U.N. Security Council on Thursday to press his efforts to slow the spread of nuclear weapons and reduce global stockpiles.”
CONTINUED >>
The Baucus legacy : "With momentum building for health care reform and the process in the Finance Committee beginning to take on an air of inevitability, a Baucus victory will likely overshadow many of the missteps that some Democrats feel he made in pursuing a bipartisan bill that has yet to materialize. However, a failure would likely result in many of his Senate colleagues calling for his head. 'He’s either the hero or the goat,' said one Democratic source familiar with the process."
"Health care legislation along the lines sought by President Barack Obama is moving methodically if slowly through the Senate Finance Committee, where Republicans are so far unable to force any significant changes and Democrats have yet to try." AP has the rest of what senators want.
Meanwhile, "Republicans hope to reverse that trend [of lost ground after the Joe Wilson incident] thanks to Baucus, who has asked Jonathan Blum, acting director of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Center for Drug and Health Plan Choice and a former Baucus Medicaid policy aide, to investigate a mailer by the insurance giant Humana that was critical of Baucus’ health care reform bill," Roll Call writes. "Blum sent Humana a letter warning them to stop sending out the critical mailers and said the agency is investigating the company’s activities." GOP aides are billing it as a warning about the ills of government and call it big-brother-like tactics."
CONTINUED >>
"Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele has raised more money in the first seven months of his tenure than his Democratic counterpart, and he is spreading that wealth to Republicans around the country," The Hill writes. "According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports that run from Feb. 1, Steele’s first full month as chairman, until the end of August, the RNC has a $6 million advantage, having raised $59.8 million. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) raised $53.5 million in the same period."
"ACORN, the embattled anti-poverty advocacy group, took another hit today. Joining the Census Bureau, the Internal Revenue Service announced it is severing its ties with ACORN, which had been included in a volunteer tax assistance program that offered free advice to about 3 million low- and moderate-income taxpayers. The IRS said ACORN, embroiled in a scandal after employees were captured on hidden-camera video giving advice to a couple posing as a prostitute and her pimp, provided help on about 25,000 returns. This afternoon, ACORN released a letter, dated Monday, from CEO Bertha Lewis to the IRS saying that it was suspending its tax assistance activities." filed a lawsuit "suing conservative filmmakers James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles for secretly videotaping in their office." (Maryland, by the way, is what's called a two-party consent state when it comes to recording audio. In other words, both sides have to agree to allow recording to happen.) Here's the complaint .
"Politically vulnerable Democrats say Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House leaders aren’t offering them the protection from tough votes that they did in the last Congress," The Hill reports. "Conservative Democrats fear that dozens of members could be swept out of their districts in the midterm election next year, and that fear has been intensifying in recent weeks. Between a tough vote on a climate change bill that many don’t expect to become law and a leftward push on healthcare legislation, Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) critics within her caucus say she’s left the so-called 'majority makers' exposed."
MASSACHUSETTS: "Governor Deval Patrick huddled with a small group of trusted advisers last night to finalize his choice for an interim U.S. senator, with indications pointing to former Democratic National Committee chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr., who has the strong backing of the immediate family of the late Edward M. Kennedy, as the overwhelming favorite," the Boston Globe writes. "A person with knowledge of the process said last night that former governor Michael S. Dukakis, considered a leading candidate for the appointment, was unlikely to be chosen. At the same time, senior Democrats in Washington told The New York Times that they were certain Kirk would be the choice."
Meanwhile, Curt Schilling won't run for Kennedy's Senate seat. "Regardless of the amount of support and outreach that's been given to me, it just did not make sense," he said on HBO's Joe Buck Live. OK, well, there wasn't that much support, actually. According to a Suffolk poll, which we reported on a week ago , baseball's goodwill wasn't translating into political support. Just 29% viewed him favorably versus 39% who viewed him negatively.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray David Paterson (D) and Co. aren't going down without a fight.
His wife, Michelle, gave an interview to the New York Post , in which she argued that it's "very unfair" for the White House to encourage "the first African-American" governor of the state not to run in 2010.
Of course, it might not be that unusual if you've seen Paterson's poll numbers lately. But the governor's wife also had an explanation for that. In an interview with WNBC's Melissa Russo, she said that Paterson's low numbers were due, in part, to his blindness.
From Russo:
From NBC's Mark Murray Joe Wilson -- of "You lie" fame -- is helping Virginia Republicans raise money.
Virginia House Speaker Bill Howell knows what it's like to be a target too. Virginia is one of only two states with an election this year—in just a month and a half—so he and his House Republican colleagues need your help today.
Virginia's Democratic Party released this statement in response: "It's a disgrace that Virginia House Republicans thought it was appropriate to recruit a recently admonished Congressman to help them raise money. House Republicans' endorsement of Joe Wilson's disrespectful behavior will not only be rejected by voters, but their divisive political tactics and lack of civility have no place in our Commonwealth.
More: "I hope the Speaker recognizes his error in judgment and returns the money raised by this email, and if I were a candidate on the Republican ticket, I'd ask for him to give it back as well."
From NBC's Luke Russert Eric Cantor argued that health-care reform was increasingly becoming a roadblock to Congress being able to address other important issues facing the country.
Cantor said, "Health care in this building has made it so that it seems we can't get anything else done. We have burning issues out there in this country. First and foremost, Americans want to see job security return; they want to see economic security return. Somehow, they are unable to deliver on that because of the intransigence on the majority's part on even discussing on ways for us to agree on health care.
He continued, "We have serious challenges as far as Afghanistan is concerned, that's being clouded by the rigidity by which this majority hangs on to H.R. 3200 [the House health-care legislation] and the imposition of a public option."
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama returned to his familiar theme of changing the world from the bottom up -- as he laid out his vision for a more peaceful world, re-committed the United States to help achieve the United Nations' goals, and encouraged members to re-double their efforts to strengthen the organization.
The president, who was interrupted repeatedly by applause, twice quoted Franklin Roosevelt in calling on world leaders to set aside old divisions and work together to solve the world's problems. While he said he bore a responsibility to act in America's interests and would "never apologize for defending those interests," he argued it was in the interests of all nations to spur a recovery from the global economic crisis, combat terrorism and global warming, eradicate extreme poverty, and work toward a world without nuclear weapons.
Obama and Gadhafi steal show at U.N. "Those who used to chastise America for acting alone in the world cannot now stand by and wait for America to solve the world's problems alone," he said. "We have sought -- in word and deed -- a new era of engagement with the world and now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ken Strickland and Mark Murray During the mark-up of the Senate Finance Committee's health-care bill this morning, Senate Democrats were successful in defeating a GOP-sponsored amendment that would have delayed the bill's passage.
The vote on the measure was 11-12. All the Democrats except Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas voted against the amendment. Republican Olympia Snowe of Maine voted for it.
There are about 500 amendments for the committee to get through. On this one amendment, they debated about two hours.
The amendment, sponsored by GOP Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky, would have required that the legislative language and the final cost analysis from the Congressional Budget Office be posted on the committee's Web site for 72 hours before the committee votes on the final bill.
While the amendment, on its face, may seem reasonable by providing transparency for Congress and the public to read the bill, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said it would take at least two weeks for the staff to write the bill that way.
CONTINUED >>
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Doubts on Afghanistan: Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the Obama administration is weighing alternatives to a troop increase in Afghanistan: The American public is increasingly pessimistic about the war there. According to the latest NBC/WSJ poll, 59% say they’re less confident the war will come to a successful conclusion, and 51% oppose sending more troops to Afghanistan. On the other hand, 55% also oppose an immediate and orderly withdrawal from that war zone, and the public is split over whether the conflict there has been worth the costs and casualties. Not surprisingly, President Obama’s Democratic base isn’t in favor of sending more troops to Afghanistan, which presents a potential political problem for the president. Two-thirds of Democrats oppose a troop increase, versus 60% of Republicans who support it. "It is reverse coalitions here," NBC/WSJ co-pollster Peter Hart (D) says. The poll also shows a generational split: 52% of those who are 50 years old or older support the troop increase, while 62% of those under 50 oppose it. There are two ways to look at that divide: The more of a memory the public has about military interventions, the more trust they have; or perhaps, those who are in the age group of folks who could get SENT over to Afghanistan are leery considering the recent memory of Iraq.
*** Clogging things up: Given these numbers on Afghanistan and given the Obama’s indecision about what to do there, one thing that has become increasingly clear is how the health-care debate has clogged up everything else. Health care is dominating the debate in Washington and the political pain is making it harder to deal with other tough issues. For instance, on energy, it's unlikely the White House is going to put its full weight to get something passed in the Senate THIS YEAR. That means we might not see something until 2011, because if the politics of getting enough votes on a major energy bill is difficult in an ODD number year, then why should we think an EVEN-numbered year is somehow easier. Then there's the issue of unemployment -- the No.1 issue in our poll, but Washington is talking about health care. Bottom line: Passing any health care might serve as Drano of sorts and unclog the political system making way for other debates and decisions.
*** Obama’s health-care numbers: As for health care, Obama’s numbers on this issue have slightly increased during and after his big media blitz to sell reform, although the increase remains within the margin of error. Per the poll, 39% believe Obama’s health-care plan is a good idea, which is up three points since last month; 41% think it’s a bad idea. In addition, the president’s approval/disapproval on health care is 45%-46%, which is up from his 41%-47% score last month. Much of the improvement here is from Democrats -- in August, 62% of Dems thought Obama’s health plan was a good idea; now 69% of them say that. As for Republicans on health care, just 26% approve of the GOP’s handling of the issue.
NBC's Chuck Todd discusses the latest NBC News/WSJ poll. *** Fed up with Washington: Another takeaway from our new NBC/WSJ poll is just how angry the American public is at Washington right now. Only 22% approve of Congress’ job, which is down two points from July; the Democratic Party’s fav/unfav is 41%-39%, down from 49%-31% back in February; and the GOP’s fav/unfav is 28%-43%, which is a slight uptick from its 26%-47% score back in February but still close to the party's ALL-TIME low. What about Speaker Nancy Pelosi? Her fav/unfav mirrors the GOP’s, 27%-44% (a worse ratio than Glenn Beck’s!). It's no wonder why the president is trying to flash anti-Washington rhetoric again. One question we have: Is the public fed up with the health-care debate and the tenor and tone, especially considering the conversation THEY are having around the kitchen table has to do with the economy?
*** We’re huge in Belgium: Compared with those figures, Obama’s numbers seem sky-high. But, in truth, they’re decent -- and they’ve stabilized. Overall, Obama’s job-approval rating is at 51%, which is unchanged from last month’s poll. And the public continues to like him personally: A combined 77% say they like him, even if they don’t agree with his policies, and his fav/unfav is 56%-33%. But just 45% are confident that Obama has the right goals and policies for the country, and only 40% are confident that he has the right policies to improve the economy. Still, go inside the crosstabs, and there are some potential problems, including the fact that independents -- for the first time -- are upside down on the president. The good news for him: His base keeps him at a floor, for now, at 51%... But some key swing voting groups have their questions.
*** Looking ahead to 2010: Perhaps the best news for Republicans in the poll is that they’ve narrowed the gap in the generic congressional ballot test, which could be a good sign for them come 2010. According to the poll, 43% prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress, versus 40% who want a Republican-controlled one -- which is the GOP’s best performance in our ballot test since Oct. 2004, a year when Republicans picked up House seats. NBC/WSJ co-pollster Bill McInturff (R) says Republicans have gained ground with independents on this ballot test. Another good sign for Republicans: Obama has a net-negative among independents on his job approval, a first in our NBC/WSJ poll.
*** More optimism on the economy? The most important results you won't hear a lot about: the public's growing confidence in the economy. It's still not great, but to borrow a phrase, this poll has some "green shoots" of confidence. On the question of satisfaction with the economy, 23% are at least "somewhat satisfied." Compare that to 13% in July and just 7% in February. Again, it's nothing to write home about -- since 76% are still "somewhat dissatisfied" with the economy. But it's a start. More importantly, 47% told us they believe the economy will get better, compared with just 38% who thought that back in April. And on the issue of personal job security, 66% are at least somewhat satisfied with it, which is a six- point jump from July.
*** Winning the legislative battle, but not the P.R. war: But while there’s growing confidence about the economy, the public isn’t giving much credit to the stimulus -- which is a lesson to the White House P.R. shop if/when Obama signs a health-care bill into law. Our NBC/WSJ poll shows that while Team Obama won the stimulus legislative battle, they have seemed to lose the P.R. war. Just 34% think the stimulus was a good idea, versus 45% who said it was a bad idea. Moreover, less than half of the public (47%) thinks the stimulus is beginning to help improve the economy or will improve it in the future. And Americans are essentially split whether the stimulus saved the U.S. from entering a greater economic downturn than it did, which has been one of Obama’s big messages. Bottom line: The Republicans defined the stimulus after it passed. And trust us: How the Obama administration implements health care will be more difficult than the stimulus. It's one thing to get the legislative victory. But if the public doesn't believe it worked, then they won't see political benefit in 2010 or 2012.
*** Obama at the U.N.: President Obama’s marquee event at the U.N. today will be his speech to the General Assembly at 10:00 am ET. As NBC’s Andrea Mitchell reported on TODAY, Obama will call for international cooperation on nuclear disarmament, the Middle East, and climate change. He’ll also outline his top economic priorities for the upcoming G-20 meeting in Pittsburgh. Also today, the president holds bilaterals with the new prime minister of Japan (at 9:00 am) and with Russian President Medvedev (at 3:30 pm). At 7:05 pm, Obama and the first lady host a reception for heads of state. But so far, it’s worth pointing out, Obama’s U.N. week has not been a productive one. Yesterday’s Middle East photo-op was, well, just a photo-op. The U.S. also found itself the enviro bogeyman of the world -- again... And then there is the fact this U.N .opening week can sometimes resemble the bar scene from Star Wars.
:
NBC's Savannah Guthrie gives a preview of President Obama's address to the U.N. General Assembly *** Captain Kirk? Now that the Massachusetts Senate has passed a bill allowing Gov. Deval Patrick to make a temporary appointment to fill Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat, we could get Patrick’s pick as early as today. There are three names in the mix: Michael Dukakis, former DNC Chair Paul Kirk, and former Lt. Gov. Evelyn Murphy. Sources tell NBC News that Kirk is probably the front-runner, but there is a growing chorus of folks who would like to see Patrick appoint a woman. We continue to hear that Dukakis is probably less likely to get it, but who knows.
***The man with the plan:
Finally, after being criticized by opponent Bob McDonnell (R) for not having a transportation plan, Creigh Deeds (D) pens a
Washington Post op-ed entitled “My Transportation Plan.” He writes, “The last time Virginia passed meaningful transportation funding was in 1986, under Gov. Gerald Baliles (D), who created a commission to provide recommendations and build support for financing. Since then, each time a governor has presented a proposal to the General Assembly to raise meaningful transportation revenue, it has failed. The day after I'm elected, I will begin assembling a bipartisan commission to craft a comprehensive transportation package.” Also in the op-ed, he says he’s open to raising taxes to pay for transportation. “I will sign a bill that is the product of bipartisan compromise that provides a comprehensive transportation solution. As a legislator, I have voted for a number of mechanisms to fund transportation, including a gas tax. And I'll sign a bipartisan bill with a dedicated funding mechanism for transportation -- even if it includes new taxes.”
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 41 days
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Here’s the Wall Street Journal’s take on the new NBC/WSJ poll: “President Barack Obama faces significant doubts from the American public about the war in Afghanistan and his handling of foreign policy… At the same time, he has shored up support for his top domestic priority following this month's health-care speech to Congress.”
Here’s our write-up : “As President Barack Obama weighs sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll finds that Americans are concerned about the progress of the conflict there. Nearly six in 10 say they’re less confident the war will come to a successful conclusion, and a narrow majority of respondents (51 percent) oppose sending more troops to Afghanistan. However, a majority of Americans (55 percent) also oppose an immediate and orderly withdrawal from that war zone, and the public is split over whether the conflict there has been worth the costs and casualties.”
The Los Angeles Times previews Obama’s speech to the U.N today. “President Obama will ask world leaders today to join him in confronting a range of vexing issues, including nuclear arms proliferation and climate change, and will appeal for the international cooperation he thinks will advance interests around the globe, aides said. In a morning address to the United Nations General Assembly, Obama will call for several specific commitments, including support for the major elements of a nonproliferation resolution he plans to introduce before the U.N. Security Council on Thursday.”
CONTINUED >>
"With no end in sight to the country's job market woes, the House has agreed to give the jobless in a majority of states another 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits," the AP reports. "The bill, which passed the House 331-83, approves the extra three months of benefits for those jobless living in 27 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with unemployment rates topping 8.5 percent. Similar legislation is pending in the Senate. The longtime unemployed in states with lower levels of joblessness would not get the extension."
Roll Call looks at the machinations among Senate Finance Committee members: "Since Baucus issued his original $856 billion health care proposal last week, Finance Democrats have held extensive discussions to plot their markup strategy. And while some progress was made, committee member and Democratic Conference Vice Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) acknowledged Tuesday that no agreement was reached over whether to strip the co-ops in favor of a public insurance option."
The Hill calls it more of the same: "At long last, the Senate Finance Committee began marking up a bill Tuesday that would overhaul the U.S. healthcare system. But little appeared to have changed. The opening statements delivered by 22 senators offered more of the same rhetoric that has characterized the healthcare reform debate for months."
CONTINUED >>
“Former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin used her first trip to Asia to attack the Federal Reserve for creating asset bubbles and encouraging excessive risk-taking that hurt working-class Americans,” Bloomberg News says. “In a wide-ranging, 80-minute speech to fund managers in Hong Kong today, Palin spoke about issues ranging from Alaskan fishing to energy independence to U.S.-Sino ties. She repeated calls for 'market-oriented' health-care reform and said governments shouldn’t regulate executive compensation.”
Palin also criticized Obama's decision to impose duties on Chinese tires, but had some harsh words for China: “We simply cannot turn a blind eye to China’s policies and actions that could undermine international peace and security. China has some 1,000 missiles aimed at Taiwan and no serious observer believes that it poses a military threat to Beijing,” she said. “Those same Chinese forces made our friends in Japan and Australia kinda nervous. China provides support for some of the most questionable regimes from Sudan to Burma to Zimbabwe.” Palin said her comments did not show any hostility towards China. “We simply want them to rise responsibly,” she said.
Politico's Smith says former McCain campaign foreign policy adviser Randy Scheunemann advised Palin on her speech and was with her in Hong Kong.
CONTINUED >>
ILLINOIS: Roll Call's Toeplitz sees shades of 1992 in the Illinois Democratic Senate primary: "Although state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is still considered the frontrunner in the February primary, the official entrance of Chicago Urban League President Cheryle Jackson and former Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman last week ensures a competitive primary for Democrats. The race also has striking similarities to the 1992 Democratic primary for the same Senate seat. In that race, Carol Moseley Braun came from behind to defeat then-Sen. Alan Dixon with 38 percent of the vote. A third Democrat, Al Hofeld, ran millions of dollars in negative advertisements against Dixon that backfired and helped to grease the way for Braun’s victory."
MASSACHUSETTS: "The state Senate approved a bill yesterday that would let Governor Deval Patrick appoint an interim successor to Edward M. Kennedy, paving the way for the appointment of a new US senator as early as tomorrow and providing Democrats in Washington the potential 60th vote they have been seeking to pass a health care overhaul," the Boston Globe writes. "The state Senate approved the measure by a 24-to-16 vote, just five days after the House had voted 95 to 58 to change Massachusetts election law and allow the appointment of an interim US senator. Both chambers are planning to give a final procedural endorsement to the measure and to send it to the governor’s desk today; the only potential hurdle is that Republicans are contemplating a last-ditch legal challenge in an effort to derail the legislation."
The New York Times says that Paul Kirk -- not Mike Dukakis -- might have the inside track to getting this interim appointment. “[S]enior Democrats in Washington said Tuesday that Paul G. Kirk Jr., a former aide to Mr. Kennedy and chairman of the Democratic National Committee, was a likely choice. The Democrats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they believed that Michael S. Dukakis, the former governor and 1988 presidential nominee, said to be under consideration, was out of the running and would not be named. Other possibilities include Evelyn Murphy, a former lieutenant governor; and Charles Ogletree, a professor at Harvard Law School.”
The Boston Globe's Lehigh thinks Rep. Michael Capuano had the best launch of the candidates running in the special election for Kennedy's seat. "Capuano gave a shrewd speech, too, portraying himself as a liberal fighter in the Ted Kennedy tradition, a claim he buttressed by citing his votes and voice against the Iraq war and the Patriot Act as well as his consistent support for a robust public health care option. In the Q&A, Capuano contrasted his outspokenness with Coakley’s caution… To be sure, this wasn’t a stunningly graceful dive - more like a Capuanian cannonball. Still, his forceful, attention-getting B-plus event made it clear Capuano is a candidate to be reckoned with."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Obama’ s health-care plan is a good idea, which is up three points since August. Forty-one percent say it’s a bad idea.
In addition, 45% approve of Obama’s handling of health care, while 46% disapprove, which is up from his 41%-47% score last month. By comparison, just 21% approve of the Republican Party’s handling of the issue.
And who will get blamed if health care doesn't get passed this year? Per the poll, 10% say Obama, 16% say congressional Democrats, and 37% say congressional Republicans.
The poll was conducted Sept. 17-20 and has an overall margin of error of plus-minus 3.1%. The full poll comes out beginning at 6:30 pm ET.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro On the road to 2012 there are several steps.
One is adjusting your tone to suit your base. Check.
Another is upping your profile -- with a new national position (check), hitting the cable and speaking circuits (check and check), and starting a political action committee (and now, that's a check).
Gov. Tim Pawlenty, widely rumored to be eyeing a presidential run in 2012 has done all of the above, including today launching a shiny, new PAC.
"Governor Pawlenty is in the process of starting the 'Freedom First' PAC," wrote Alex Conant, a Pawlenty adviser and former RNC official, in an e-mail. "I expect it will launch within the next few weeks. When the Governor said he wouldn't seek re-election, he said in addition to finishing his term strong, he would help other Republicans candidates, and obviously a PAC is one key way to do that. In recent weeks, he has spoken to various groups, campaigned with various candidates, and been elected vice-chair of the Republican Governors Association. Starting a PAC is a logistical next step, and one that he has talked about on the record several times."
It certainly is a logical next step.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro David Paterson , look no further than the fresh evidence from the latest statewide poll.
Rudy Giuliani beats Paterson 52%-35% in a general election in the latest Siena poll . Attorney General Andrew Cuomo beats Giuliani 52%-39%. Cuomo wallops Paterson in a primary, 66%-20%.
Pretty dreadful stuff. But Paterson does beat Rick Lazio 39%-35%. So is Paterson's only hope that Giuliani decides against a run, and Lazio is the best the Republican Governors Association and the state GOP can find?
The White House can read polls too.
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell Robert Byrd say the senator "has been admitted to the hospital and is expected to remain there for a few days."
Byrd was taken to the hospital this morning as a precautionary measure following a fall at his home which aides say "was likely caused by standing up too quickly."
While having no broken bones or bruises, upon examination, doctors found an elevated white-blood cell count which can be an early sign of an infection. Therefore, his doctors have determined that Byrd should remain in the hospital for antibiotic treatment and observation.
Aides say, "Senator Byrd is in good spirits and expressed his disappointment that he was unable to join all his Senate colleagues this afternoon for the biennial Senate photo."
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Reuters reports that the vote was 24-16.
The House approved the measure 95-58 last week.
But "the bill goes back to both chambers for a final procedural vote
The Boston Globe on possible replacements: "Among the names frequently mentioned by observers are Michael S. Dukakis , the former governor; Paul G. Kirk Jr ., the former Democratic National Committee chairman and an aide to Kennedy; Charles J. Ogletree , Harvard Law School professor; and Evelyn Murphy , former lieutenant governor."
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas since the American president took office eight months ago began with a handshake of symbolic importance.
The leaders on both sides of the long-simmering Israeli-Palestinian conflict grasped each other's hands after each shook hands with Obama.
The show of goodwill came after Obama announced that he had asked former Sen. George Mitchell , special envoy to the region, to meet with Israeli and Palestinian negotiators next week, had called on both leaders to send their negotiating teams back to Washington next week to continue these "intensive discussions" and had requested that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to report to him in mid- October on that status of negotiations.
"Simply put, it is past time talk about starting negotiations, it is time to move forward," he said. "It is time to show the flexibility and common sense and sense of compromise that's necessary to achieve our goals. Permanent status negotiations must begin and begin soon, more importantly we must give those negotiations the opportunity to succeed."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro President Bill Clinton 's Global Initiative will get you?
On the same day President Obama is set to appear at CGI with Clinton today in New York, the former president lends his name to a fundraising appeal for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
He says those criticizing Obama "simply can't accept that America has entered a new era, where the same old political rules just don't apply."
And he has some praise for his wife: "Today, we have a president, a Congress, and, if I may be so bold, a pretty darn impressive Secretary of State, who are committed to improving our standing in the world and our economy here at home."
He says Republicans are employing "fear mongering," "misinformation," and "scare tactics."
Here's the full letter:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray President Obama appearing on five Sunday-morning news programs and with him sitting down with David Letterman last night, the political chattering class has asked this question: Is Obama overexposed?
According to a new NBC/WSJ poll, the answer is mostly no -- although it depends on whether you're a Democrat or Republican.
In the poll, 34% say they see and hear Obama too much, 9% say they see/hear him too little, and 54% say it's the right amount.
Among McCain voters, however, 63% say they're seeing too much of the president. That's compared with only 8% of Obama voters who say that.
Among independents, 52% say Obama's exposure is the right amount, versus 40% who say it's too much.
The NBC/WSJ poll was conducted Sept. 17-20, and this question has a margin of error of plus-minus 4.4%. The rest of the poll will be released -- beginning at 6:30 pm ET -- on NBC Nightly News and on MSNBC.com.
From NBC's Luke Russert Steny Hoyer (D-MD) echoed the recent demands of Republican leaders that Afghanistan Commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal , testify before the House and Senate on the current strategy in the war-torn nation.
NBC News asked: "Last week, Mr. Boehner said Gen. McChrystal should come to the Congress to testify about Afghanistan, in wake of yesterdays leaked report that Mr. Woodward published in the Washington Post, John McCain also called for Gen. McChrystal to come testify before Congress immediately, do you think Gen. McChrystal should come here sooner rather than later to talk about what the Afghanistan policy and what the main objective is?"
Hoyer replied: "You know, I think the answer to that is yes. Let me caveat it with you said immediately, I don't know that I think it is necessarily immediately, that means next week so I don't know what McCain meant by immediately, maybe that was your phrase not his."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell and Ken Strickland Robert Byrd was taken to the hospital this morning after he "apparently stood up too fast this morning in his home and fell down," senior Byrd aides tell NBC.
"To err on the side of caution, his caregiver called an ambulance. He was taken to the hospital where he is currently being checked out. At this point in time there is no indication that he will be admitted."
Byrd, the West Virginia Democrat, is the longest-serving senator in U.S. history. In his ninth term, he was elected to the Senate in 1958. He is 91.
From NBC's Ken Strickland
The "mark up" session began this morning with each member being allow to make opening statements. There are 23 members on the committee. Each is allotted 5 minutes.
From Athena Jones President Obama asked representatives from countries around the world to join together to combat it.
Promoting the development of clean energy is one of the Obama administration's top agenda items. The president touted U.S. efforts to reduce greenhouse gases and develop new technologies even as he declared the issue a global challenge that could not be solved by one or two countries.
"Our generation's response to this challenge will be judged by history, for if we fail to meet it -- boldly, swiftly, and together -- we risk consigning future generations to an irreversible catastrophe," the president said in brief remarks before a packed General Assembly hall at the U.N. Climate Change Summit. "No nation, however large or small, wealthy or poor, can escape the impact of climate change."
He said rising sea levels, more powerful storms and floods, more frequent droughts and crop failures threatened every country's security and stability and that time was running out to address the issue. Obama quoted John F. Kennedy , a frequent source of inspiration in his speeches, saying "Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man."
CONTINUED >>
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Changing course? A day after news organizations got their hands on the McChrystal report, which argues that the eight-year conflict in Afghanistan will result in failure unless more U.S. troops are sent there, we now learn that the Obama White House is considering focusing more on counterterrorism efforts than a large-scale counterinsurgency effort. The AP : "The White House is looking at expanding counterterror operations in Pakistan as an alternative to a major military escalation in Afghanistan." Whether this is a trial balloon or a real signal that a change in strategy is coming, the political stakes here are considerable. “Obama's decision is complicated by a deepening domestic political divide and no guarantee of success whichever option he chooses,” the Washington Post says. “One observer, characterizing the president's dilemma at its most extreme, said: ‘He can send more troops and it will be a disaster and he will destroy the Democratic Party. Or he can send no more troops and it will be a disaster and the Republicans will say he lost the war.’”
*** Poll day! How does the public view the war in Afghanistan? Is it a success? Should more troops be sent there? Or should they be immediately withdrawn? Well, beginning at 6:30 pm ET, be sure to tune into NBC Nightly News or click on to MSNBC.com for the answers to these questions in our latest NBC/WSJ poll. The survey also will have plenty of other numbers on health care and on President Obama’s overall standing with the public.
*** The president’s day in the Big Apple : Obama has a busy day in New York with the events tied to the United Nations’ General Assembly. At 9:15 am ET, he delivers remarks at UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's climate-change summit. Then, later in the morning, he holds bilaterals with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Abbas, and then a trilateral with all three (there's a pool spray at the top of that trilateral). That’s perhaps the day’s biggest event. It was a mild accomplishment to even get that photo-op, but that's what it is for now. At 3:30 pm, Obama meets with Chinese President Hu, and he delivers remarks at the Clinton Global Initiative at 5:15 pm.
*** Staging the intervention : So we guess it takes the White House getting involved in a New York race for folks to begin paying attention to the fact that Team Obama is injecting itself in several political races across the country (and has been for MONTHS) -- either to give Democrats the best candidates or to build some important allies on Capitol Hill. (After Obama endorsed Sens. Arlen Specter and Michael Bennet, these guys aren’t going to vote against health care, right?) On TODAY this morning, former President Bill Clinton said some nice things about embattled Gov. David Paterson, but it wasn’t different than any other Democrat would say right now. To paraphrase Clinton, Paterson is a good man who has done a lot, and he should be able to make his own decision whether he should run in 2010 or not. If he thinks he can win, Clinton said, he should run. If he can’t, then he shouldn’t.
*** Paterson's poor standing : That sounds like the same advice the White House gave Paterson. Remember, that's truly what the White House did, give advice (now, it was advice that came with a heavy hand, but…) So what do the polls show? An August Quinnipiac survey found Rudy Giuliani leading Paterson by 20 points, 53%-33%. (By comparison, Andrew Cuomo was leading Rudy by nine points, 48%-39%.) And a more recent Marist poll shows that only one-fifth approve of Paterson’s job. Looks like the handwriting is on the wall, right?
*** Getting that 60th vote : Speaking of politics, the Massachusetts Senate is expected “to begin debate this morning on a bill that would let Governor Deval Patrick appoint an interim successor to Edward M. Kennedy, potentially paving the way for appointment of a new US senator later this week,” the Boston Globe writes. “The Republican leader in the state Senate, who has twice succeeded in postponing the debate using parliamentary maneuvers, said yesterday that he is prepared to allow debate to proceed, and the Democratic Senate president said she is ready for a debate and a vote… If the state Senate approves the bill today, the governor would probably be able to sign it tomorrow.” Mark it up : Also today, the Senate Finance Committee begins marking up its health-care bill today. Per the Washington Post , “Lawmakers have proposed 564 amendments to Baucus's measure, and a vote on the $774 billion plan is not expected before Friday at the earliest.” The mark-up comes as Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus has said he’ll be making some adjustments to his legislation, particularly making subsidies to low- and middle-income Americans more generous.
*** Murtha watch : The Washington Post has another damning story against Democratic Rep. John Murtha. Seriously, read this story; it almost reads like a parody. "The buzzer is broken at the John P. Murtha Institute for Homeland Security, and a note invites visitors, ‘Please knock.’ On a summer afternoon, a lone intern answers the door of the mostly empty basement offices that through the years have overseen $50 million in federal money awarded to projects designed to make the nation safer." Are you kidding us? There's a "John P. Murtha Institute for Homeland Security?" And it has a broken buzzer, a lone intern... You can't make this up.
*** 2009 watch : In New Jersey, Chris Christie (R) is calling for opponent Jon Corzine (D) “to release all documents related to a forensic review of a hedge fund that Gov. Jon Corzine invested that was conducted last year by the state Attorney General's office.” And in Virginia, Bob McDonnell (R) and Creigh Deeds (D) both hosted fundraisers last night -- McDonnell at the offices of the American Gas Association, which former Massachusetts governor and “possible presidential hopeful” Mitt Romney was also scheduled to attend. and
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The New York Times runs a helpful curtain-raiser on what the administration is facing regarding its decision timeline on troops and a new strategy. "Obama has had only one meeting so far on the McChrystal review, but aides plan to schedule three or four more after he returns from the Group of 20 summit meeting in Pittsburgh at the end of this week.”
“Aides said it should take weeks, not months, to make a decision. ‘The president’s been very clear in our discussion that he’s open-minded and he’s not going to be swayed by political correctness one way or the other,’ Gen. James L. Jones, the national security adviser, said in an interview. ‘Different people are going to have different opinions, and he wants to hear them, but at the end of the day, he’s going to do what he thinks is the right thing for the United States and most especially for the men and women who have to respond to his orders.’”
The AP : "President Obama may change course again as the war worsens in Afghanistan, steering away from the comprehensive counterinsurgency strategy he laid out this spring and toward a narrower focus on counterterror operations aimed at al-Qaeda. The White House is looking at expanding counterterror operations in Pakistan as an alternative to a major military escalation in Afghanistan."
"Two senior administration officials said Monday that the renewed fight against al-Qaeda could lead to more missile attacks on Pakistan terrorist havens by unmanned U.S. spy planes. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because no decisions have been made."
CONTINUED >>
On Letterman last night , "Obama made his case for changing the nation's health care system. He also expanded on comments he made Sunday on CNN about former president Jimmy Carter's assertion that some of the heated criticism directed at him is because of his race. 'I was actually black before the election,' Obama told Letterman. 'The American people … gave me this extraordinary honor. That tells you a lot, I think, about where the country is at.'"
More: "Obama conceded that whenever a president tries to bring about 'significant' change, such as with his health care plan, 'there is a certain segment of the population that gets riled up.' On Afghanistan, Obama indicated he would not yet make a decision on sending more U.S. troops. 'I've got to make sure that the policy in place was worthy of their sacrifice,' he said."
On the humorous side… “During the taping in New York, Letterman offered up his top 10 reasons why the president had agreed to do the show, including that Obama said yes without thinking about it, … "Like Bush did with Iraq," Letterman said. But Obama joked that he showed up because of the unusual prop that an audience member brought to the show: "The main reason I'm here? I want to see that heart-shaped potato." The woman tossed the potato to Letterman and agreed to let Obama keep it.
“In what would be a dramatic next step in its drive to insulate itself from K Street, the White House is strongly considering limiting the ability of lobbyists to serve on federal advisory panels designed to bring the voices of outside interests into the halls of the administration,” Roll Call says.
Here's the White House's health care in a four-minute video.
And as has been explored in David Mendell's “Obama: From Promise to Power,” the New York Daily News gets a sneak peak at another book, “Barack and Michelle,” which details the Obamas' marital woes, centered around something lots of couples fight over -- raising the kids.
As the Senate Finance Committee today begins marking up its health-care bill, the Washington Post looks at the changes Chairman Max Baucus is making to the legislation. “Baucus … came under fire last week from fellow Democrats and Sen. Olympia J. Snowe …, the only Republican still at the negotiating table, for a mandate that people buy health coverage, at a price they may not be able to afford. To address that concern, Baucus said Monday that his revised bill would offer more generous subsidies to low- and middle-income people to buy coverage through a network of private insurance exchanges. He also said he may cut the maximum penalty facing middle-class families who do not buy insurance.”
“Baucus said he is considering substantial changes to one of his primary sources of funding: a proposed tax on high-cost insurance policies. Some Democrats complained that the tax would strike hardest at residents of expensive urban areas and those with risky jobs, such as coal miners, firefighters and other public safety workers.”
The New York Times : "The changes could add $28 billion to the 10-year cost of his bill, originally estimated at $774 billion by the Congressional Budget Office. The bill could still meet President Obama’s stipulation that health care legislation not add to the federal budget deficit."
“Baucus faces the difficult task of keeping the 13 Democrats on board without moving so far to the left that he alienates Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, the only one of the panel's 10 Republicans considered a possible vote for the bill,” according to the AP .
CONTINUED >>
“Tom DeLay was elected to the House of Representatives 11 times, but if his performance on Monday's 'Dancing With the Stars' is any indication, he shouldn't expect that kind of longevity on the hit ABC dancing competition.” He's third from the bottom . “The judges were left shocked by DeLay's hip-shaking moves - Tonioli proclaimed, 'You're crazier than Sarah Palin!' - but were less-than-impressed with the actual dancing. He was complimented on his 'natural grace' and for being 'light on his feet,' but DeLay was only able to muster 16 points out of 30 from the three judges.” The Hill previews Palin's speech in Hong Kong today, “ 'We have asked her to address U.S. foreign policy, to discuss her views on governance, healthcare and, of course, China,' Jonathan Slone, CLSA's CEO, told Agence France Presse. The address, however, will be closed to the press. '[W]e said to her, 'Look, we want you to give the most information to our clients. Do you feel comfortable doing that with the press around?'' Slone said. 'She said, 'If I do that with the press in the room, I will have to say different things.''
After reporting how the White House is working to encourage New York Gov. David Paterson (D) not to run for election in 2010, the New York Times takes a front-page look at Team Obama’s involvement in races across the country. “While some party officials applaud the White House for its efforts — there is widespread concern among Democrats that the party could suffer if Mr. Paterson runs — the actions are drawing alarm from some Democrats who believe they cross a line and run contrary to Mr. Obama’s often-stated pledge to rise above partisan battles.”
In addition to urging Paterson to bow out, the Washington Post lists other ways in which the Obama White House has exercised its political muscles. “Earlier this month, Obama reached out to former Virginia governor L. Douglas Wilder (D) to ask him to endorse the state's Democratic gubernatorial candidate, R. Creigh Deeds, after Wilder publicly praised the Republican nominee, Robert F. McDonnell. ‘I'll just say he called and made his position known,’ Wilder said in an interview Monday.”
“Deputy White House Chief of Staff Jim Messina, meanwhile, has been bird-dogging the Massachusetts legislature, trying to persuade lawmakers to pass a bill allowing the Democratic governor to pick an interim successor to the late senator Edward M. Kennedy, a move that could be vital to the prospects of Obama's health-care overhaul in Congress.”
MASSACHUSETTS : The Boston Globe editorial page comes out in favor of former Gov. Michael Dukakis as the temporary replacement.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ken Strickland Max Baucus is making adjustments to his original bill. However, the fundamental concepts of the bill will remain intact.
Last week, committee members filed several amendments addressing concerns about affordability. "We had a number of amendments filed to reduce the penalty imposed for not purchasing insurance, and to make sure that families at all income ranges can afford the lower cost insurance to be provided through the exchange," said a Democratic aide close to the discussions.
To make up for the loss of money raised in penalties and to put more money towards subsides, Baucus will tap the $28 billion of surplus in the bill, according to the aide. (The Congressional Budget Office said that Baucus bill was not only deficit neutral, but reduced the deficit by $49 billion over 10 years, creating a surplus of sorts.)
Last week, Baucus predicted that these types of changes would be coming. "I expect adjustments in the area of affordability," he said last week after a meeting with committee Democrats. "I don't see major changes," he said. "It's a readjustment. It's a redialing of things that are already in the package."
Finance Committee Democrats will meet with Baucus today at 5:30 pm ET to go over the new modifications. The committee begins voting on those amendments tomorrow.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
The Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for America say there's $100,000 behind the ad right now to run in Maine and Washington, D.C. There's also a fundraising solicitation on its Web site : "GOAL: We're raising $100,000 to air this TV ad in Maine and Washington, DC. Can you chip in?"
From NBC's Mark Murray, Bobby Cervantes, and Ali Weinberg Deeds campaign (D) -- for the first time -- is airing a new TV ad explicitly targeting Bob McDonnell's (R) controversial graduate thesis. It's one of three new advertisements the campaign is running in markets across the state, including pivotal Northern Virginia.
"Virginians are asking lots of questions about Bob McDonnell's thesis," a narrator says in the ad. "How old was he when he wrote it? McDonnell was 34, married." It also refers to the school where McDonnell wrote the thesis, what is now known as Regent University, as "Pat Robertson's law school."
The ad continues, "And what did the thesis say about women? A lot ... abortion should be outlawed and birth control should be restricted -- even for married adults."
Another Deeds TV ad focuses more on his record (on abortion and birth control), with women speaking to the camera. One asks, "Why did you vote that way?"
In a conference call with reporters, Deeds senior adviser Mo Elleithee noted that more than half of Virginia voters -- 54% -- have heard little or nothing about McDonnell's thesis. "I think that puts us in a very strong position," he said. "There's still a lot of education to do. Among those who are educated on the issue, there's significant movement."
Elleithee added, “More and more people are finding Bob McDonnell too conservative,” and that McDonnell has “done everything in his power to hide… his conservative agenda. His efforts to appear moderate are falling flat.”
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Obama’s very busy week : In the Obama Era, every week has seemed to be busy, but this week is particularly so -- and it has little to do with health care, at least at the presidential level. Today, President Obama gives a speech on the economy in Troy, NY and then does Letterman. On Tuesday, in New York, he speaks at UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s climate-change summit, holds a bilateral with Chinese President Hu, meets with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Abbas, and delivers remarks at the Clinton Global Initiative. (Also on Tuesday come the results from our newest NBC/WSJ poll.) On Wednesday, Obama addresses the UN General Assembly. On Thursday, he heads to the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh. And then on Friday, the president holds meetings with G-20 leaders and then has a press conference. But these aren’t the only political issues on his -- or our -- plate. Afghanistan, David Paterson, and Virginia’s gubernatorial race are all in the news (see below). And so is health care, with the Senate Finance Committee marking up Max Baucus’ bill tomorrow.
*** Obama’s Sunday-palooza : So what did the president get out of his five Sunday show interviews? Was it about selling his health-care plans to the American public, again? Was it about sending messages to Senate Dems and Olympia Snowe? Or was it -- as American politics becomes increasingly shrill, uncivil, and partisan -- about portraying himself as the only grownup out there? As for the news from his Sunday-palooza, it’s hard for any ONE thing to stand out when the president sits down for five interviews. That said, there were some buried nuggets. On ABC, Obama seemed to suggest that, politically, Democrats will need some sort of "Medicare protection" amendment to support. On CBS, when asked about the letter seven former CIA chiefs sent urging him to reverse Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to re-open those CIA interrogation cases, Obama appeared to only offer Holder tepid support. And on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Obama said he wants to shift the debate over Afghanistan from troops to strategy. “The question that I'm asking right now is to our military, to Gen. McChrystal, to Gen. Petraeus, to all our national security apparatus, is … how does this advance America's national security interests? … [I]f it doesn't, then I'm not interested in just being in Afghanistan for the sake of being in Afghanistan or saving face or … sending a message that America is here for the duration.”
*** We’ve got a leak! Yet as if on cue, within hours of Obama expressing some skepticism about increasing troops in Afghanistan, the McChrystal recommendations get leaked. Gotta love it: Who says it's ONLY Congress and the two political parties leak news in this town; the Pentagon knows how to play the game, too. Here’s the Washington Post , with a Bob Woodward byline (!): “The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan warns in an urgent, confidential assessment of the war that he needs more forces within the next year and bluntly states that without them, the eight-year conflict ‘will likely result in failure’… Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal says emphatically: ‘Failure to gain the initiative and reverse insurgent momentum in the near-term (next 12 months) -- while Afghan security capacity matures -- risks an outcome where defeating the insurgency is no longer possible.’”
*** Obama on the economy, innovation, education : Obama’s economic speech today in Troy, NY will take place at 11:50 am ET at Hudson Valley Community College. So before he plays the role of world leader at the UN and G-20, he’s reminding folks that he’s focusing on jobs and the economy. It’s worth noting that the speech occurs in the NY-20 congressional district that Democrats won earlier this year and where the debate over the stimulus was an important issue. Per an administration official, Obama’s remarks “will outline the administration’s strategy for innovation: investing in education, infrastructure and research; spurring productive entrepreneurship and sustaining competitive markets and achieving breakthroughs for national priorities including health care and energy.” Joining (and introducing) Obama will be Dr. Jill Biden, who’s work is in education.
*** Obama’s not-so subtle message to Paterson : Also joining Obama in Upstate New York will be Gov. David Paterson (D), which could be AWKWARD after the New York Times reported that the Obama White House was encouraging Paterson not to run next year. It shouldn’t be surprising that the White House is getting involved in electoral politics. Remember, presidents' also are leaders of their party, and all of them, when they can, sometimes step in (just ask Senate candidate Tim Pawlenty about the call he received from Dick Cheney in 2001-2) The reason Obama is intervening here: Paterson’s poll numbers are dismal; the New York political landscape is a mess; the most recent state legislative session was a disaster for the party; Rudy Giuliani could very well run for governor; and 2011 is the redistricting fight, which will decide how the makeup of House districts will be for the following 10 years. There is a hope among some Dems that if Paterson decides not to run, and if the party rallies around Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, then Giuliani will get cold feet and not run. It is ironic listening to Obama deride "politics" when he is a very savvy political player. Of course, you have to be to become president.
*** Steele's “stunning” statement : Did anyone else catch RNC Chair Michael Steele’s comments about the Paterson news? After accusing Jimmy Carter last week of playing the race card, Steele said this yesterday: “I found that to be stunning, that the White House would send word to one of only two black governors in the country not to run for re-election. And it just raised a curious point for me. I think … Gov. Paterson's numbers are about the same as Gov. Corzine's numbers, yet the president was with Gov. Corzine. One really BIG difference between Corzine and Paterson: Corzine was actually elected… By the way, the only person to benefit for this story going public THIS week (just before the Obama was to appear with the New York governor) was Paterson. And given the Caroline Kennedy history, there are a bunch of folks around Paterson who have no problem with leaking. The question is whether this ends up helping Paterson, or whether it actually accelerates the process since many New York Dems are hoping Paterson, sees the writing on the wall.
*** Good news, bad news for Deeds : There was good news and bad news for Creigh Deeds (D) in Sunday’s Washington Post poll on Virginia’s gubernatorial race. The good news: Capitalizing on the fallout over Bob McDonnell’s (R) thesis, Deeds has narrowed the Republican’s lead among likely voters from 54%-39% in August to 51%-47% now. The bad news: Even after McDonnell’s thesis has dominated the news and airwaves, he’s still above 50%, which is a solid place to be a month and a half out from this election. Question: How much of this Deeds movement would we have seen if there HADN’T been the thesis story? Is this just a natural tightening of the race? Moreover, McDonnell has the enthusiasm edge right now -- 36% of McDonnell supporters say they are very enthusiastic about voting for their guy, compared with just 22% of Deeds supporters who say the same thing. That 14-point gap isn’t chump change.
*** All about enthusiasm and the NoVA ‘burbs : So in order to win, Deeds has to improve on those enthusiasm numbers. And here’s another number to watch: Deeds now leads McDonnell in populous (and Dem-leaning) Northern Virginia by a 57%-40% clip, after being essentially tied there last month. For Deeds to beat McDonnell in November, he’ll need to win NoVA by at least 60%-40%. Also in the poll, Deeds leads McDonnell on women's issues overall, abortion, health care, and education. But McDonnell leads on more bread-and-butter issues, like transportation, state budget, the economy, and jobs and taxes. McDonnell also leads Deeds on the issue of guns. By the way, Obama’s approval rating in Virginia, according to the poll, climbed from 47% in August to 53% now, which is essentially what his national average is. More proof that as Virginia goes, so goes the nation?
*** Mark-up time : As for health care, we might know by Thursday where the Senate Finance Committee eventually comes out, after considering some 500 amendments. By the time Obama returns to DC on Friday, he believes he'll have a Finance Committee bill that will have, at a minimum, the support of Olympia Snowe.
*** I don’t know how to put this, but I’m kind of a big deal : Finally, given all the attention to health care and this week's international focus, the government’s apparent success in disrupting a potential major terrorist attack is no small deal...
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 43 days
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The Boston Globe : "President Obama sought to blanket the airwaves yesterday with an impassioned defense of his health care effort during back-to-back broadcasts of taped interviews on five morning-news programs. In interviews conducted Friday in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Obama acknowledged being humbled by the challenge of 'breaking through' in the complicated and emotional battle over health care legislation." are going to sit down for a trilateral in New York on Tuesday. It will be the first time Netanyahu and Abbas have met since Netanyahu took over as prime minister. AP previews Obama's UN/G-20 week: "The unrelenting global troubles confronting Barack Obama are about to converge on him all at once, providing a stern test of leadership for a first-year president who has pledged to 'change the world.' In a span of four days, Obama will plunge into the politics of the United Nations and host a summit in Pittsburgh on the world's wobbling economy. The international stage is coming to him, and no one standing on it with him will have higher stakes."
CONTINUED >>
"Keep going. You don't have to fix all of it now . Just please don't let it stall. That's the essence of the message that Senate Democratic leaders have for their Finance Committee senators, who plan to start voting Tuesday on a remake of the nation's health care system." And the focus again is on the Finance Committee: "Democrats on the pivotal committee are disappointed with the bill from the chairman, Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. Republicans see a chance to deliver a stunning blow to President Barack Obama's top domestic priority." Boston Globe writes. "Baucus has proposed paying for more than a quarter of his $750 billion health care proposal with a 35 percent excise tax on 'gold-plated' insurance plans. It would be levied on insurance companies, which could pass on the expense to their customers. The tax was meant to be a compromise, but it has already caused an uproar on both sides of the political aisle, with liberals and conservatives alike complaining it would hurt low- and moderate-income workers and older workers - particularly in high-cost areas." Roll Call says.
CONTINUED >>
Huckabee won the Value Voters straw poll. He got about 28%. Romney, Palin, and Mike Pence followed, all getting some 12%. The results :
1. Mike Huckabee 170 28.48%
This excerpt from the Washington Times explains why Pawlenty may be going out of his way to show off his conservative credentials. "Another big surprise, veteran summit participants said, was Mr. Pawlenty's Friday evening speech, which went over exceptionally well with an audience that knew little about him until he spoke. Mr. Pawlenty, who many religious conservatives said they assumed was a social moderate, given that he is from Minnesota, quoted from the Bible and had much of the audience virtually transfixed and quoting the same passages with him."
"Republicans acknowledge they have a challenge of trying to tap into the energy of their angry base without turning off moderate and independent voters," Roll Call writes.
NEW JERSEY : The Star-Ledger reports that "Gov. Jon Corzine has a stake in TPG-Axon, a private hedge fund related to the corporate owner of four New Jersey casinos,” which Republicans claim presents the appearance of a conflict of interest, violating state regulations that prohibit some state officials from business ties with casino operators. Corzine’s camp says the hedge fund’s holdings are kept separate from those of its founding company, [Texas Pacific Group], which bought Harrah’s Entertainment in late 2006.”
PolitickerNJ.com adds, “A spokesman for Gov. Jon Corzine's re-election campaign says that the state Division of Gaming Enforcement conducted a forensive review of Texas Pacific Group (TPG) and its affiliates and "found no financial connection between TPG and TPG-Axon."
NEW YORK : “Gov. David A. Paterson insisted on Sunday that he would continue his campaign for governor, despite urgings from the White House that he step aside for the good of the Democratic Party,” the New York Times reports. “At a parade in Harlem, the governor refused to discuss his conversations with President Obama’s political team, which has made clear to Mr. Paterson in recent days that it has lost confidence in him and does not believe he can be elected next fall. Asked how he would run as a Democrat without White House support, Mr. Paterson said, 'I am running for governor right now. I have no idea — I am a candidate for governor.'"
The New York Daily News' cover : "Bam: Drop out, Dave!" The paper calls him "a dead man walking." And it adds, "The governor may insist he intends to buck the White House and run in 2010, but President Obama has fixed it so Paterson is the lamest of lame ducks and virtually unable to accomplish anything that might resurrect his poll numbers."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Chuck Todd As today's
New York Times indicates, the president isn't being shy about getting involved in key political races, even if it means taking sides in a Democratic primary or, in the case of embattled/unpopular New York Governor David Paterson, suggest to him that he not run. Obama's not just the Commander-in-Chief, leader of the free world etc.., he's also the head of the Democratic Party. Because these next set of elected governors (in 2009 and 2010) will be in office when the next round of redistricting/reapportionment takes place, it raises the stakes even higher than usual. All of this may explain why the White House -- whose chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, himself has spent years getting Dems elected to the House -- is taking such an interest in governor's races.
In the case of New York, the state may lose another House seat once the census is completed, making the redistricting process very important if they want to protect some newly elected Democrats sitting in swing/GOP leaning districts. So that's why governors matter so much more this cycle than the last two combined. How important are governor races to the White House?
NBC News has learned the president will be headlining a fundraising dinner for the DGA (Democratic Governors Association) in Washington, DC, on Oct. 1. The event is expected to raise at least $500,000 as the org will be limited in how much they can raise per person as the White House puts extra rules in place when the president is involved. For this event, contribution limits are $5,000. But normally, the group can accept donations at a much higher level.
Governors expected to be in attendance for this Obama fundraiser: DGA Chair/MT Gov. Brian Schweitzer, MD Gov. Martin O'Malley, DE Gov. Jack Markell, MO Gov. Jay Nixon, KS Gov. Mark Parkinson and KY Gov. Steve Beshear.
Despite the economic climate, the DGA is on pace to raise more money than ever before. In the first six months of this year, the group raised $11.6 million, breaking a prior record of $11.2 million.
THE WEEK AHEAD: The Week Ahead: Obama does The Full Ginsburg (well, almost), a new NBC/WSJ poll, the G-20 in Pittsburgh, Mideast peace talks, Palin's first speech, and where health care goes from here?
Do you have a question on politics -- presidential, horse race, something in Congress or something in your state? Submit it in the comments section, and we might pick yours in an upcoming week.
By NBC's Chuck Todd and Ali Weinberg
The Attorney General works closely with the men and the women of intelligence community to keep the American people safe and he does not believe their commitment to conduct that important work will waver in any way.
From NBC's Athena Jones Michelle Obama has focused largely on supporting military families, promoting community service, education and the arts, and touting healthy eating and healthy habits.
But today she waded into the hotly contested political issue that is her husband's top legislative priority this year: health care.
Like she did on the campaign trail during the 2007-2008 presidential contest, Mrs. Obama delivered a pointed, emotional argument for why the nation's health-care system must be overhauled.
"If we want to achieve true equality for women, if that is our goal; if we want to ensure that women have opportunities that they deserve, if that is our goal; if we want women to be able to care for their families and pursue things that they could never imagine, then we have to reform the system," she told an audience gathered in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ali Weinberg and Bobby Cervantes At the conservative Family Research Council's Value Voters Summit taking place here in DC, featured speakers today criticized the Democratic health-care-reform proposals moving through Congress, saying that they would lead to the government funding of abortion.
Another raised the specter that the reform could result in the so-called "death panels," which independent fact-checkers say isn't true.
Receiving a standing ovation, Indiana
Rep. Mike Pence (R) said, "Fighting for freedom means fight for the born and unborn. We must stand for sanctity of human life without apology," adding: "The time has come to deny federal funding to Planned Parenthood of Amercia."
Former Arkansas Gov. and presidential candidate
Mike Huckabee warned against what he called the "slippery slope" of government intervention. "We have been on a slippery slope since 1973, since we decided it was perfectly okay to terminate the life of a healthy unborn child."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Ali Weinberg Seven ex-CIA directors -- serving under both Republican and Democratic White Houses -- have signed a letter to
President Obama , calling on him "reverse
Attorney General Holder's Aug. 24 decision to re-open the criminal investigation of CIA interrogations that took place following the attacks of September 11."
Of course, asking the nation's top law-enforcement official to put the toothpaste back into the tube -- now that he has appointed a prosecutor to look into these interrogations -- seems easier said that done.
Below is the entire letter...
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray President Obama firing up his audience -- "Fired up, ready to go" -- at yesterday's health-care rally in Maryland.
According to Salon's Mike Madden , who first reported on this TV advertisement, the ad will air on national cable and in the DC area, as well as on 40 liberal blogs.
The ad coincides with the DNC's new “Call’em Out” campaign, which is says is intended “to set the record straight on GOP lies, scare tactics and mistruths on health insurance reform and other issues.” The campaign's first target: Minnesota GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty .
From NBC's Libby Leist Clinton defended President Obama 's decision on missile defense saying, "This decision was not about Russia it was about IRAN and the threat its ballistic missile program poses."
She said the change proposed by Obama will deploy missile defense sooner - a "stronger and smarter approach."
She made the comments during a speech at the Brookings Institution, previewing next week's session of the U.N. General Assembly.
*** UPDATE ***
Clinton said the Obama administration "clearly displayed our readiness to engage" with Iran. But since June, Iran has engaged in politically motivated arrests, show trials and is standing in the way of the progress it seeks. Clinton said, "Nevertheless the U.S. stands ready" to engage. But she added, "We have no appetite for talks without action."
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Health-care forecast -- lots of Snowe: It appears that Senate Finance Committee Democrats have gotten the message from the White House: Do whatever it takes to get Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe on board. She's sending EVERY signal that she'll be there at the end, as long as she gets a large say in how the bill is shaped. Snowe yesterday releasing a statement with three moderate Dems (Ben Nelson, Lieberman, and McCaskill) tells you she is looking for a way to support the bill -- not oppose it. And if the White House and Dems get Snowe, suddenly her Maine colleague, Susan Collins, is probably in play too. But remember: This isn't about getting Snowe and Collins; it's about making sure the White House can get Nelson and other moderate-conservative Dems like Blanche Lincoln, Mark Pryor, and Mary Landrieu. Clearly, the White House wants to do this with 60 votes and avoid reconciliation. The entire strategy appears to be predicated on 60.
*** Boy, that was fast: Speaking of 60… Democrats now seem to be well on their way toward getting their 60th Senate vote back, by maybe next week. The Boston Globe says that in Massachusetts, “House lawmakers approved legislation last night that gives Governor Deval Patrick the power to appoint a temporary successor to the late Edward M. Kennedy in the US Senate, putting Massachusetts on track to have a new senator in place by next week… The legislation now goes to the Senate, where top lawmakers believe they have enough votes for it to pass, presuming some supporters do not get cold feet. Republicans, however, vow to use parliamentary maneuvers to stall final passage for as long as possible.” The two front-runners to be the interim pick, the Globe says, are former Gov. Michael Dukakis and former DNC Chair Paul Kirk.
*** The partisan missile war: We know we're never supposed to be surprised by anything in American politics, but the partisan response to the administration’s decision yesterday on missile defense was yet another example of how the political debate has eroded in Washington. It's no wonder there is collective disapproval of both congressional Dems and congressional Republicans in the latest Gallup poll. Obviously, the idea of politics stopping at the water's edge disappeared a long time ago as both parties in Congress have violated the credo for years. What made this criticism somewhat surprising was that it's the first time we've seen congressional Republicans unload on a decision that was largely made by Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The one-time Republican appointee had been somewhat untouchable by many in the mainstream GOP community. As for the ACTUAL decision, the administration is taking pains to claim the benefits in regards to relations with Russia played no role, but it would be naïve not to think they didn't see the benefit that the TIMING wouldn't be beneficial. The ball is in Russia's court now; if they aren't productive allies of the U.S. when it comes to Iran NOW, then maybe these predictions of the return of the Cold War will be truer than we realized.
*** That '70s Show? Who is going to be the first Republican to call on House Speaker Pelosi to apologize for comparing the protests and opposition that President Obama is receiving to the violence in San Francisco in the '70s? It was a heavy charge, one that is likely going to force the president -- when he’s interviewed today by NBC's David Gregory for "Meet the Press," among other interviews -- to probably rebut her. Will the president take it a step further and start calling on everyone to cut out the heated debate OVER political debate? It's one thing for columnists to hand-wring about the state of political discourse. But when it comes from former presidents and sitting speakers, it elevates things to a level that isn't politically helpful for anyone.
*** You be the editor: The House deciding to strip ACORN of federal funding was certainly news yesterday. But ask yourself this: What was more consequential to every day Americans -- the House's vote on ACORN, or it's vote on the larger bill the ACORN measure was stuffed inside, which was an overhaul of student-loan funding in this country? Speaking of, don’t miss this quote from conservative Web entrepreneur Andrew Breitbart: “Everybody that is a conservative news junkie thinks that ACORN is the most important institution for us to uncover to the American public.”
*** 2009 watch: In Virginia’s gubernatorial race, Bob McDonnell (R) has always been the more polished candidate, while Creigh Deeds (D) has been the folksy one. Yesterday’s Deeds-McDonnell debate, moderated by NBC’s Gregory, made that clear. It also was the candidates’ toughest debate yet. The YouTube clip of Deeds after the debate (on taxes) probably isn’t helping the candidate much.
*** 2012 watch: Earlier this year, conservatives gathered in Washington for the annual CPAC conference, which brought us speeches by potential ‘12 candidates, a ‘12 straw poll (which Mitt Romney won) and, of course, that memorable image of Rush Limbaugh (dressed in black without a necktie) jumping up and down. Well, there’s another conservative confab going on this week in DC -- the Value Voters Summit, sponsored by the Family Research Council. Today, two potential GOP presidential candidates, Mike Huckabee (in the morning) and Tim Pawlenty (evening) address the summit, and a third, Romney, speaks on Saturday. Other GOP speakers today include Mike Pence, Michele Bachmann, Mitch McConnell, Eric Cantor, and former Miss California Carrie Prejean.
*** More on the Value Voters Summit: On Saturday, John Boehner, Romney, and Rick Perry will speak. Also that day will be these breakout sessions: "True Tolerance: Countering the Homosexual Agenda in Public Schools"; "The Threat of Illegal Immigration"; "ObamaCare: Rationing Your Life Away"; "Global Warming Hysteria: The New Face Of The Pro-Death Agenda"; "Speechless -- Silencing The Christians"; "Thugocracy -- Fighting The Vast Left Wing Conspiracy"; "Defunding Planned Parenthood"; and "Activism And Conservatism: Fit to a Tea (Party).”
*** T-Paw turn to the right: Speaking of Pawlenty… He's always been a conservative on the Minnesota scale of things, but he's been sending even more signals to gain notice with the activist conservative base. The local Star-Tribune has noticed the change. "For two terms as governor, Pawlenty worked to cast himself in the public eye as a conservative with one foot planted in the political center -- a strategy that attracted the statewide support crucial to his close wins in Minnesota. Now widely believed to be testing a potential presidential run, Pawlenty is making public statements and taking stands likely to gain him some notice by the conservatives who will determine which candidate will rise from the GOP pack as their nominee." Of the major 2012 players, Pawlenty -- unlike Romney -- has inserted himself into the everyday debate over health care and other issues, which has helped with his name I.D. on the right. Pawlenty, by the way, is the first target of the DNC’s new “Call’em Out” campaign intended “to set the record straight on GOP lies, scare tactics and mistruths on health insurance reform and other issues.”
*** Cheney update: Finally, it appears that former Vice President Cheney's surgery went well. Last night, he was having dinner in his hospital room with Mrs. Cheney and expects to be released soon.
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 46 days
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The New York Times on yesterday’s missile-defense news: “The new plan that President Obama laid out for a missile shield against Iran on Thursday turns Ronald Reagan’s vision of a Star Wars system on its head: Rather than focusing first on protecting the continental United States, it shifts the immediate effort to defending Europe and the Middle East. It is a long way from the impermeable shield that President Reagan described in glowing terms in 1983, an announcement that turned into a diplomatic triumph even while it was a technological flop. Ever since, missile defense has always been more about international politics than about new military technology.”
The AP : "So Obama has torn up the old defense plan and replaced it with one the Pentagon says will be more effective. It's a gamble, but so was the Bush approach."
Yesterday’s announcement became an INSTANT political football -- very partisan response on a military/foreign policy issue. In fact, it was the first time that a decision by Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been completely panned, politically, by congressional Republicans.
On day the of the missile defense announcement, an international nuclear agency reported that Iran is close to have a nuclear bomb -- but still struggling on developing a delivery system so they predict they'll overcome that hurdle.
CONTINUED >>
Attempting to end a civil war before the first shot is fired, Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee say they will build a consensus on the health-care reform bill before the first vote is cast, NBC’s Ken Strickland reports. And in the process, they hope to attract the support of GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe. "I think there's a view on the part of the chairman and on the part of just about everyone who was there to try to come up with a consensus that every Democrat, and perhaps Olympia Snowe, can support," Sen. Chuck Schumer said following a meeting with his fellow committee Democrats. Schumer said it’s Chairman Max Baucus' desire was to get that consensus before the committee starts voting on the bill Tuesday. "We're going to be talking over the weekend," Schumer said.
For Sen. Jay Rockefeller, Strick adds, Thursday night's meeting had a calming effect. "It was a total lack of hostility, people attacking each other and all these kinds of things, which has happened in previous meetings," he said. "There's a feeling in there of 'We're in this together' that I've not known in any other meeting." Rockefeller said Democrats will try come together on handful of amendments on what he called the main issues. "We haven't done it yet, but I felt a will to do it," he said. "We have to be together. You can't get everything you want, but you also can't bring to the floor or out of committee something that isn't a good bill." Still, Rockefeller made it clear he hasn't given up his push for a public option. "There was a lot of good public option talk in there," he said.
The liberal reform group Change Congress has a new TV ad targeting Arkansas Blue Dog Dem Mike Ross.
The Washington Post : “Lawmakers in both parties raised concerns Thursday that the health-care reform bill offered by Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus a day earlier would impose too high a cost on middle-class Americans and said they will seek to change the legislation to ease that potential burden… How to make insurance more affordable to the estimated 30 million uninsured people who would be required to buy coverage under the Baucus proposal is emerging as a central challenge as the long-awaited plan advances to full committee debate Tuesday. Democrats and Republicans alike worry that a bill intended to address one source of financial hardship -- the skyrocketing cost of health care -- could lead to another, in the form of hefty premiums.”
CONTINUED >>
The Washington Post profiles the young conservative filmmakers who produced those videos exposing ACORN employees who are apparently encouraging fraud. “O'Keefe insists that he and Giles's work was done independently and rejects liberal suggestions that the videos were bankrolled by conservative organizations. He does, however, acknowledge receiving help and advice from a conservative columnist and Web entrepreneur. When O'Keefe had filmed the first two videos -- in the District and Baltimore -- a friend urged him to share his project with Andrew Breitbart, a conservative Internet entrepreneur who had plans to launch an anti-liberal site called BigGovernment.com.”
More: “Breitbart, who also has a column that appears in the Washington Times, advised O'Keefe to roll out the videos one by one, rather than at once. He said he predicted the mainstream media would try to ignore the story, and after a day ‘poof, it would be over.’ ‘When I saw these videos, I couldn't help thinking, this is the Abu Ghraib of the Great Society,’ said Breitbart, who put the videos on BigGovernment.com. ‘Everybody that is a conservative news junkie thinks that ACORN is the most important institution for us to uncover to the American public.’”
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour sat down with Washington Times editors and said the states are truly at a potential financial breaking point. "Noting that employment and state revenue ‘typically continue to decline 18 months after a recession ends,’ Mr. Barbour said states that have already pared their budgets to the bone have nowhere else to cut with more hard times on the horizon. The big bill that Mr. Obama's health care overhaul may present to the states would only add to the burden, he argued.”
“‘There's nothing about this that is particularly encouraging for state financing, which is why we don't want the federal government to stick us with a huge unfunded mandate for health care reform,’ he said. ‘Most states can't pay for it but one way, which is raising taxes. We ain't got any money. We don't get to print it like the federales do."
On running for president: "I doubt it."
The DCCC is hitting Republicans who voted against the student-loan overhaul yesterday. It sent out a release to at least 52 GOP members' districts. On NRCC Chair Pete Sessions, it said, "Today, Representative Pete Sessions opposed a common-sense solution that will help Americans compete for the best jobs, by helping families afford college tuition and continue our nation’s economic recovery by paying down the national debt… The investments from this measure would make certain that 32nd students in 12,327’s Pete Sessions Congressional District are able to receive a Pell Grant Award in 2010-2011." And it points to this chart for how many Pell Grants would be provided in each Congressional district.
MASSACHUSETTS: Massachusetts could hand over power to Gov. Deval Patrick by Wednesday of next week to appoint an interim U.S. Senator to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy. Last night, the state House passed, by a 95-58 margin, legislation that would give Patrick the authority to make an appointment. The matter now moves to the state Senate, "where top lawmakers believe they have enough votes for it to pass," the Boston Globe reports. But Republicans "vow to use parliamentary maneuvers to stall final passage for as long as possible." Possible candidates to replace Kennedy on an interim basis: former governor Mike Dukakis and former Democratic National Committee chairman/Kennedy Library Chair Paul G. Kirk Jr.
NEW YORK: A “statewide Marist College survey found voters would narrowly favor [Republican George Pataki] -- 48 percent to 44 percent -- over Gillibrand if the 2010 election were held today. That's an 8-point swing from a similar poll in July, when Pataki, who's reportedly considering a run, trailed the freshman senator, with 42 percent to her 46." VIRGINIA: On yesterday's debate, the Richmond Times-Dispatch writes, “[T]he debate featured the most pointed and prickly exchanges between the candidates to date… [B]oth men saved their rhetorical firepower for the areas they perceive to be the greatest weakness in their rivals.”
The Washington Post adds, “Deeds might have hurt his attempts to appeal to women voters during the same post-debate discussion by making a sharp remark to a female reporter who asked about his plan to pay for road improvements. 'I think I made myself clear, young lady,' said Deeds, though he said it with a smile. The exchange was quickly posted on YouTube and sent out by the state Republican party. Deeds later called to apologize to the reporter, Chelyen Davis of the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star, who said she was not offended by the remark.”
From NBC's Ken Strickland Members of the Senate Finance Committee met today to talk through some of the details the healthcare bill they'll start voting on next week. And 24 hours after the bill was introduced nothing's really changed: most Republican don't like it, liberal Democrats want the public option in it, and moderate Democrats think it's a good starting point, but won't commit their support.
Sen. John Kerry sized up the Democrats' position best when he talked to reporters after today's meeting. They have to pass a bill.
"Are there some pieces in it I disagreed with? Yes," Kerry said. "And we're going to try and work on those." But he quickly added, "We're going to get a bill done, one way or the other. We will make changes in it.... but we will get a bill out of this committee."
While some Democrats on the panel are clearly unhappy with the bill, the bill pretty much HAS to be passed out of the Finance Committee in order for there to be a health-care reform bill at all. The committee has jurisdiction over taxes and revenue; Medicare and Medicaid; fees and subsidies.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mark Murray This morning, we -- and others -- noted how little bipartisan support Senate Finance Committee Max Baucus' health-care bill received. The biggest surprise: Moderate GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe wasn't on board, at least not yet.
Well, now Snowe -- along with Democratic Sens. Claire McCaskill and Ben Nelson , and independent Joe Lieberman , who caucuses with the Dems -- are praising Baucus' bill. The four released this statement:
Each of us has an obligation to put aside partisan views and to consider how health care reform addresses the needs and challenges faced by individual citizens and our economy as a whole. While we each have outstanding concerns we wish to see addressed, Senator Baucus has taken an important and critical step forward with this legislation. We will continue to work together in the full Senate on bipartisan health care reform that reduces costs, improves care, and expands access.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
H.R. 3221 -- Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 -- would essentially "push private lenders out of the federal college loan business and massively expand the government's own lending program," AP wrote today.
More: "Proponents of putting the government in charge of all federal loans say it would save an estimated $87 billion, though this figure has been disputed. The money would boost Pell Grants for needy students and pay for a new college completion fund, community college reforms and more college aid for veterans. ... Yet the money also would be spent on things that don't help pay for college, such as construction at K-12 schools and new preschool programs. And while the measure would increase Pell Grants, it would do nothing to curb college costs, which rise much faster than Pell Grants do."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Ken Strickland and Domenico Montanaro Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley said he "resents" some of the things the administration and President Obama said and did during the August recess. In particular, Grassley took umbrage with President Obama attaching him to the death panel controversy. He said it was something he “took very personally.”
"And [I] kind of resent, that when I've been very candid with the President of the United States face to face... I leveled with him, I leveled with him," Grassley said of his conversations with President Obama. "And then we're accused by [David] Axelrod of making political things and maybe not being serious in our negotiations."
For political observers, this Grassley divorce from the administration and the negotiating table is not surprising. It comes after, in particular, his admission -- in a question posed to him by NBC’s Chuck Todd on MSNBC -- that he would not vote for legislation if it didn’t have widespread Republican support, even if it had everything he wanted in it.
All along, no one expected more than three or four Republicans to support even the legislation that was being negotiated by the moderate, so-called Gang of Six in the Senate Finance Committee. So Grassley’s statement was a marker for analysts that he had opened the door to backing away during a summer of angry town halls fueled by a fired up conservative base.
And on death panels last month, Grassley did lend credence to the idea that the government would “determine if you’re going to pull the plug on grandma.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Pat Tiberi of Ohio and Dave Reichert of Washington state.
Here's one of the ads:
From NBC's Mark Murray Creigh Deeds about whether race was behind some of the protests and opposition aimed at President Obama .
Deeds answered in the affirmative, saying that there is a "hint of racism that is crystal clear."
In addition, Gregory asked Deeds where he disagreed with Obama. While he replied that he's "proud" to have the president's support and that Obama will be campaigning for him again in the future, Deeds said he differed with Obama on the cap-and-trade legislation, the Employee Free Choice Act, and some of the excess spending in Washington.
Then Gregory asked, "Is he your kind of Democrat?"
Deeds responded, "I am a Creigh Deeds Democrat."
Meanwhile, Republican Bob McDonnell said this about Obama: "I disagree with him on some things." But he added that he agrees with the president -- who won the battleground state of Virginia by six percentage points last year -- on issues like merit pay and charter schools.
From NBC’s Pete Williams President Obama 's constitutional qualification to be president, has been rejected in federal court. And in tossing the case out, the judge said that Congress seems satisfied that Obama is qualified, based on the unanimous passage of a House resolution dealing with Hawaii.
On July 27th, the House approved, by a vote of 378-0, a resolution to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's statehood. In extolling the state's history, the resolution says, "the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961."
"Congress is apparently satisfied that the President is qualified to serve," says federal judge Clay Land, in dismissing the case. "Congress has not instituted impeachment proceedings, and in fact, the House of Representatives in a broad bipartisan manner has rejected the suggestion that the President is not eligible for office."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Luke Russert
It was a bipartisan vote, with more than 300 members voting for the measure. (We'll get the full numbers/vote breakdown shortly.)
This goes further than the Senate did; the Senate took money out of one bill. This is to de-fund the group completely -- for any money the House would appropriate.
*** UPDATE *** Eric Cantor 's office just sent around this statement:
“ACORN has violated serious federal laws, and today the House voted to ensure that taxpayer dollars would no longer be used to fund this corrupt organization. All federal ties should be severed with ACORN, and the FBI should investigate its activity. This united Republican effort to defund ACORN is a victory for the rule of law and taxpayers across the country.”
*** UPDATE 2 ***
*** UPDATE 3 ***
From NBC's Mark Murray Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R) sparred here over transportation, taxes and energy policy, as well as the subject that has dominated the campaign in the last few weeks: the controversial 1989 graduate thesis McDonnell wrote at age 34.
In that thesis, which the Republican penned while a graduate student at what is now known as Regent University, McDonnell -- among other things -- called working women and feminists "detrimental" to the family. In the first question of the debate, NBC's David Gregory, who served as moderator, asked McDonnell about that comment, which he has since disavowed.
"Nobody in the world had read that thesis," McDonnell replied. "Now that's all my opponent wants to talk about." He went on to say that half of his campaign staffers are women and that his wife and daughters work, including his daughter who served in Iraq. "That is the ultimate working women," he emphasized.
When Gregory brought up McDonnell's 2001 vote against a resolution in the Virginia House of Delegates that supported ending wage discrimination between men and women, the Republican declared, "I support equal pay for women."
For his part, Deeds criticized the thesis, as well as what he says has been McDonnell's focus on social issues like abortion.
Near the end of the debate, which was sponsored by the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, Deeds quipped that McDonnell doesn't support working women. In response, McDonnell shot back that he was "pretty insulted" that Deeds made that charge, citing his working wife and daughters.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Luke Russert John Boehner (R-OH) addressed the nation's hostile political climate. Boehner said, "I believe we are in the middle of a modern day political rebellion…The American people are saying enough is enough."
Boehner then recited the Obama administration's policy on the stimulus bill, deficits, the bailout of the auto industry, climate change and healthcare as reasons why Americans have become so impassioned.
Boehner cited a fear amongst many Americans at the quick changes happening in the country. "You begin to add all of this up and Americans are saying 'stop,'" he said. "They are scared to death that the country that they grew up in is not going to be the country that their kids and grandkids grew up in."
Boehner did call on Americans to be respectful. "I believe it ought to be civilized," he said. "Americans are speaking up, and I believe they should speak up."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Luke Russert John Boehner shifted attention to foreign policy by calling out White House for, he says, not letting Afghanistan Commander General Stanley McChrystal testify.
"Our commander in Afghanistan, General McChrystal has submitted an assessment of the situation on the ground, but the Obama Administration has yet to allow him to testify here in Congress," Boehner asserted. "But I think it's imperative that the American people and members of Congress hear directly from Gen. McChrystal about the situation on the ground. We need to hear from him soon. Gen. Petraeus spoke before the Congress and he spoke plainly about his strategies for stabilizing Iraq. I think that testimony was critical to Congress being able to make an informed decision regarding our success in that country. ...
*** UPDATE ***
*** UPDATE 2 ***
"I think it's outrageous that House Democrats have voted time and again to protect taxpayer funding for ACORN, a troubled organization rife with corruption and criminal conduct," he said. "House Republicans have requested that the President end all Federal funding of ACORN and if he declines to act we have legislation that is already introduced to get this job done. ... If the Speaker refuses to allow a vote on this bill, I'll file a discharge petition to try and force one. ...
"We need to stop giving money to this corrupt gang immediately."
From NBC's Carl Sears and Luke Russert Bush on European missile defense. Here's the latest roundup:
At the weekly House Republican briefing, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) criticized Obama's decision:
"This ill-advised decision does little more than to empower Russia and Iran at the expense of our european [allies]," he said. He added later that the president should reconsider the decision and stand with our allies and do what is right and stand for the safety of the American people."
Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-IN) compared Obama to Jimmy Carter in a written statement:
"The first nine months of the Obama administration have emboldened rogue dictators across the globe, and now an increasingly antagonistic Russia has been rewarded for bullying and threatening its neighbors. Not since the Carter administration has America looked so weak on the international stage."
Predictably, Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry had a different view. He said in a statement:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Luke Russert Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), a lightning rod for conservatives herself, grew emotional today at her weekly press conference when fielding a question regarding the increasingly hostile political climate that seems to be engulfing the country these days.
Pelosi, visibly choked-up and teary-eyed, softly said, "The balance between freedom and safety is one that we have to carefully balance. … I have some concerns about some of the language being used, because I saw this myself in the late 70s in San Francisco; this kind of rhetoric was very frightening, and it created a climate where violence took place. I wish that we could all curb our enthusiasm in the statements that we make and understand that some of the ears that it's falling on are not as balanced as the person making the statement might assume."
She continued, "Again our country is based on people being able to say what they believe, but I also believe they must take responsibility for any incitement they may cause."
CONTINUED >>
Got a politics question? Ask Chuck Todd, who will be chatting with viewers today at 12:15 p.m.
Click
here for the chat.
****UPDATE: The chat will now start at 12:30 p.m.****
From NBC's Ali Weinberg President Obama 's health-care rally at the University of Maryland today, former Maryland Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R) said American voters found Democrats' plans for health care unpalatable. Max Baucus , is driven by ideological differences, rather than deep-seated partisanship.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro and Ken Strickland announced a break from President Bush 's policy on missile defense in Europe. It has been a major point of contention with Russia.
But the President contended the new policy doesn't make the country weaker. In fact, "To put it simply, our new missile defense architecture in Europe will provide stronger, smarter, and swifter defenses of American forces and America's allies," Obama said. "It is more comprehensive than the previous program; it deploys capabilities that are proven and cost-effective; and it sustains and builds upon our commitment to protect the U.S. homeland against long-range ballistic missile threats; and it ensures and enhances the protection of all our NATO allies."
Before Obama spoke, his 2008 Republican rival, John McCain said he is "disappointed" in the president's decision and that hte U.S. should "strengthen our defenses."
Below is McCain's full statement, followed by Obama's remarks today, as well as the White House's release on its missile defense policy.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Martha Coakley was a pretty good candidate and would probably be the front runner.
She had a strong announcement speech, and a tough, crime-fighting woman in a field of men would have inherent political advantages.
Well, here are the numbers to back it up. According to a new Suffolk poll , Coakley blows away the both the Democratic primary field and a leading Republican, who are all vying to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy . Coakley gets 47%, and the next closest competitor, Rep. Mike Capuano gets just 9%. Following Capuano is Rep. Stephen Lynch (who said he won't run) at 6% and City Year founder Alan Khazei at 3%.
Bay Staters also say they prefer Coakley to a leading Republican contender, state Sen. Scott Brown , by a wide margin -- 54%-20%.
CONTINUED >>
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Baucus’ bust? After months of negotiations, after trying desperately to find middle ground, and after everyone waiting to see what he would produce, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus yesterday unveiled a bill that … pleased almost no one on Capitol Hill. It disappointed liberals and progressives. More importantly, not a single Senate Republican so far, not even Olympia Snowe, has signed on. Of course, that can all change once the bill gets marked up and amended next week. And as the Washington Post points out, the health industry, which sank health-care reform in 1993-4, is still on board. But it’s clear that while Baucus was busy working on the policy, he didn’t get the politics right, at least not yet. As Mitch McConnell’s communications office emailed us this morning, “The only thing bipartisan” about Baucus’ bill “is the opposition."
*** Obama’s one-on-one work: So who’s working on getting the politics right? None other than President Obama. Yesterday, he met with two Democratic Senate Finance members who have voiced criticisms about the Baucus legislation (and who also were left out of the bipartisan “Gang of Six” talks). And today, Obama works on the politics again when he hits a rally in College Park, MD for health-care reform at 11:40 am ET. Indeed, at least on this issue, the president has become the Senate majority leader. And who’s his whip? David Axelrod, who we learned yesterday was making calls to the Massachusetts Legislature to change the state’s succession law to give Democrats their 60th Senate vote ASAP.
*** Is the middle the loneliest place to be? But what does it say about today’s Republican Party when Baucus’ bill seeks the middle ground, lowers the price tag, doesn’t contain the so-called public option, and actually lowers health costs -- and yet not a single Republican, even Snowe, will embrace it? Indeed, the middle may very well be the loneliest place to be in America these days. In our politics, almost everyone seems to be on one side or another, with very few (Snowe, Collins, Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, etc.) in between. The same seems true of our society, where everyone is looking out for his or her own self-interest, rather than the greater good. Baucus’ biggest problem may have been seeking the middle ground in a country where the middle is seemingly lost.
*** Missile defense : Today’s biggest non-health care news: “The White House will shelve Bush administration plans to build a missile-defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic, a move likely to cheer Moscow and roil the security debate in Europe,” the Wall Street Journal reports. NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski adds that Defense Secretary Robert Gates will hold a press conference on this move at 10:30 am ET. More from Mik: “After a reported decision by the Obama administration to abandon plans to install a permanent missile defense system in both the Czech Republic and Poland, a senior official says the White House will announce plans to field a more ‘portable and flexible’ -- yet capable -- system to defend against short and medium-range missile attacks on our European allies and the American forces stationed there.” What will be fascinating at Gates’ presser is seeing him explain how he changed his mind here -- the Bush administration Gates vs. the Obama administration Gates. The 9/15 Commission gets to work : Here’s another piece of interesting news : "Four months after its creation, a congressionally appointed panel modeled after the 9/11 Commission and the Iraq Study Group is opening a 15-month investigation into the causes of last year's economy-crippling financial collapse. The 10-member, bipartisan Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission holds its first meeting Thursday. With a budget of $5 million, its instructions are to submit findings to lawmakers by December 2010, long after Congress hopes to have a new regulations in place for preventing another Wall Street meltdown. That deadline also assures that the findings won't have any impact on the 2010 congressional races." Czar Wars : As we’ve mentioned, conservatives and the conservative media have pushed stories -- Van Jones, ACORN -- and scored political points in the process. But on another story -- the czars in the Obama administration -- the White House is now pushing back, pointing out that the previous administration had plenty of czars, too. A new DNC video makes that point, as did White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs from the podium yesterday. The White House and Democrats probably didn’t have the high ground on the Jones and ACORN stories, but it probably does on this czars one. This is a fight the White House wants to have…
*** Debate in VA : Turning to Virginia’s gubernatorial contest, which takes place in 47 days, NBC’s David Gregory today moderates the first debate between Creigh Deeds (D) and Bob McDonnell (R) since McDonnell’s 1989 master’s thesis came to light. Polls show that McDonnell is ahead in the race, with him overperforming among independents and in Northern Virginia. Can Deeds use this debate -- which takes place in NoVA in McLean, VA at 11:00 am ET -- to even the contest in a state Obama won by six percentage points last year?
*** Cheney in the hospital : Finally, former Vice President Cheney went to The George Washington University Hospital this morning for elective surgery to deal with lumbar spinal stenosis. Dr. Anthony Caputy, chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery, will perform the operation. According to the North American Spine Society , lumbar spinal stenosis is associated with old age and degenerative arthritis. It's usually treated non-surgically, but if it becomes painful, a small percentage might require surgery.
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The Boston Globe's lead on the Baucus bill announcement: "Max Baucus, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, released his long-awaited health care proposal yesterday without the bipartisan support he had sought over months of painstaking negotiations, only to see it attacked from every corner of the political spectrum." More: "Republicans said his plan spent too much on insurance subsidies for low-income people, Democrats said it did not spend enough. Lawmakers in both parties said it was unaffordable, particularly for low- and middle-income people. Republican leaders, who have panned the Democrats’ plans from the start, pronounced it ‘dead on arrival.’” And on and on…The Hill : "The Finance Committee chairman has huddled for months with a bipartisan Gang of Six senators in hope of devising a compromise. But it hasn’t worked, at least not yet. The right hates it, the left thinks it’s weak and the center may not be as broad as Baucus hoped."
Liberals on the Finance Committee (see: Rockefeller, Jay ) are irritated with Baucus for having been shut out of the negotiations. Another Hill story points out: "Baucus handpicked the Gang of Six, a group of lawmakers who represent states with a combined population of 8.4 million people, about the same as New York City ."
Even the White House wasn’t overly enthusiastic… White House Press Secretary Robert "Gibbs said that while much of Baucus's bill, which has been assailed by Democrats and Republicans, does track with Obama's overall goals for reform, he doesn't 'think this is a mirror of what the president has talked about.' The White House expects that 'there will be a continued legislative process that will tweak and change legislation, as there always is.'"
A Washington Post analysis , however, has a different take. “On the surface, it appears that no one is happy with Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) -- and that may be the best news President Obama has had in months… [B]ehind the rhetorical fireworks was a sense that the fragile coalition of major industry leaders and interest groups central to refashioning the nation's $2.5 trillion health-care system remains intact. As they scoured the 223-page document, many of the most influential players found elements to dislike, but not necessarily reasons to kill the effort. Most enticing was the prospect of 30 million new customers.”
CONTINUED >>
The Washington Post and New York Times note that the White House tried to stay above the political fray over Jimmy Carter’s comments about race. Here’s the Washington Post : “[A]t the White House, the official line is: Race issue? What race issue? ‘I'm not sure I see this large national conversation going on right now,’ White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday. He said Obama ‘does not believe that that criticism comes based on the color of his skin,’ attributing it instead to honest policy disagreements.”
The New York Times : “Mr. Obama’s response to all this, aides say, has been to tell his staff not to be distracted by the charges and to focus on health care and the rest of his policy agenda. ‘He could probably give a very powerful speech on race, just as he did in the course of the campaign,’ said Valerie Jarrett, a senior adviser to Mr. Obama. ‘But right now his top domestic priority is health care reform. It’s difficult, challenging and complicated. And if he leads by example, our country will be far better off.’”
The New York Daily News on the Carter story: "White House to Jimmy Carter: Stop helping us. ... Obama has long worked to project a ‘postracial’ view of the world, addressing matters of race only when forced. That happened during the presidential campaign when Obama had to defuse an uproar over his ex-pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. As President -- a job that requires him to cobble together disparate factions -- talk of racism is about as welcome in the White House as a case of swine flu." The Hill writes. "Gibbs said GOP ‘silence was deafening’ on the issue of czars during former President George W. Bush's administration. 'You've read Sen. Bennett was pushing for a Y2K czar that he didn't think was powerful enough,' Gibbs said. 'You've seen Lamar Alexander call for a manufacturing czar.' He also brought up the name of Randall Tobias, a Bush administration deputy secretary of State and 'abstinence czar' who resigned after it was discovered his name was on a prostitution-services call list. 'You know, somebody referred to in the Bush administration as the abstinence czar was on the D.C. Madam's list,' Gibbs said. 'Now, did that violate the Constitution, or simply offend our sensibilities?'"
CONTINUED >>
The latest issue of Time magazine looks at Glenn Beck. “He is the hottest thing in the political-rant racket, left or right. A gifted entrepreneur of angst in a white-hot market. A man with his ear uniquely tuned to the precise frequency at which anger, suspicion and the fear that no one's listening all converge.”
More: “His fears are many — which is lucky for him, because Beck is responsible for filling multiple hours each day on radio and TV and webcast, plus hundreds of pages each year in his books, his online magazine and his newsletter. What's this rich and talented man afraid of? He is afraid of one-world government, which will turn once proud America into another France. He is afraid that Obama ‘has a deep-seated hatred for white people’ — which doesn't mean, he hastens to add, that he actually thinks ‘Obama doesn't like white people." He is afraid that both Democrats and Republicans in Washington are deeply corrupt and that their corruption is spreading like a plague. He used to be afraid that hypocritical Republicans in the Bush Administration were killing capitalism and gutting liberty, but now he is afraid that all-too-sincere leftists in the Obama Administration are plotting the same. On a slow news day, Beck fears that the Rockefeller family installed communist and fascist symbols in the public artwork of Rockefeller Center. One of his Fox News Channel colleagues, Shepard Smith, has jokingly called Beck's studio the ‘fear chamber.’ Beck countered that he preferred ‘doom room.’”
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader John Boehner’s office has unveiled a research document entitled “ACORN’S Enablers: House Democrats’ Lengthy Record of Protecting a Troubled Organization.”
CONNECTICUT : Chris Dodd has pulled within five points of Rob Simmons in the latest Quinnipiac poll . Simmons leads 44%-39%, which is a slimmer margin than the 48%-39% margin Simmons led by in July. Dodd's approval is still a net negative at 43% approve, 49% disapprove. That's a slight improvement from where he was in July at 42%/52%. Still, Dodd sits at 39% in the poll, which is low for an incumbent, but there's a lot of time until Election Day 2010.
MASSACHUSETTS : There's buzz that Dukakis, the former governor and 1988 Democratic presidential nominee, could be the pick for interim senator. The Boston Globe calls him "a leading choice for the interim appointment."
NEW JERSEY : Jeb Bush attended a fundraiser for gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie (R) last night. Christie spokeswoman Maria Comella said he was invited by one of the host committee members, who did not check with the Christie campaign. PolitickerNJ : “The Corzine camp -- which last month played up the disclosure that Christie spoke with former Bush political point man Karl Rove about a potential run for governor -- did not pass up the opportunity to once again associate Christie with Bush.” Corzine communications director Sean Darcy said, “[I]t’s no surprise Christie is embracing Bush’s brother.”
VIRGINIA : Let’s get ready to rumble… "Gubernatorial rivals R. Creigh Deeds and Bob McDonnell meet Thursday in the one debate every statewide candidate circles on his calendar and dreads," according to the Virginia newspaper Daily Press . The debate, taking place in Northern Virginia and moderated by “Meet The Press” host David Gregory, is Deeds’ “opportunity for a breakout moment that could lift him in statewide polls that have consistently shown him trailing.” For McDonnell, “[I]t's a chance to score points in Washington DC's suburbs, his boyhood home and a reliably Democratic area for years.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Luke Russert Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
Reid made analogies to famous Simon songs saying, “If there was ever a time that we have troubled waters it is now…Our children die, infant mortality is extremely high, those are our troubled waters. And if there was ever a bridge we need over these troubled waters, it is passing comprehensive health-care reform.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
"The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimates of the America's Healthy Future Act are now available on the Senate Finance Committee website."
The estimates show that the Mark (which means the Baucus team's plan) would extend coverage to 94 percent of nonelderly Americans
Reduce the deficit by $49 billion over the next 10 years and in following decade as well.
Achieves the overwhelming majority of its savings -- nearly three-fourths of its savings outside of coverage -- $409 billion -- from spending reductions, and only a quarter of its savings outside of coverage -- $139 billion -- from revenue.
The CBO document can be found here . found here .
From NBC's Ken Strickland Olympia Snowe will not support the health-care bill unveiled today by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus .
Snowe, the last member of the Gang of Six to formally withhold her support, called the bill "a first step," but added, "a number of issues still need to be addressed -- including cost assumptions and ultimate affordability to both consumers and the government as well as ensuring appropriate competition in the health insurance exchange."
Her full written statement below:
"This is a first step in the process and those of us as members of the bipartisan Group of 6 fully intend to keep meeting, moving forward and continuing to work with the Chairman during the committee process toward crafting a bill that I, and hopefully other Republican members of the Finance Committee, can support. I believe the Chairman's legislation moves in the right direction away from a government-run system contained in bills that have passed other Congressional committees, but a number of issues still need to be addressed -- including cost assumptions and ultimate affordability to both consumers and the government as well as ensuring appropriate competition in the health insurance exchange. "
"Moreover, I have repeatedly insisted that Committee Members are given sufficient time to read the legislation - and for the Congressional Budget Office to provide its cost projections - given the monumental complexity of this issue. As one of three Republicans in the Group of 6, I have appreciated the Chairman's leadership of the only bipartisan effort in any committee in either the House or Senate, which has laid real and substantial groundwork for bipartisan cooperation during this ongoing process - and I will continue to work toward that goal as the committee continues its deliberations."
From NBC's Ken Strickland, Kelly O'Donnell, Domenico Montanaro and Luke Russert Sen. Mike Enzi , a member of the so-called "Gang of Six", says he cannot support the health-care bill introduced today by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus . This effectively means that the three Republicans who've spent months working with Baucus on a bipartisan proposal won't be standing with him today.
"Unfortunately, there are fundamental issues that we were not able to resolve by the deadline that was set for us," Enzi said in a statement. "The proposal released today still spends too much, and it does too little to cut health care costs for those with health insurance."
Enzi joins fellow Republican negotiator Chuck Grassley in withholding support for Baucus' bill. Olympia Snowe , the other GOP negotiator, has yet to release a formal statement on her position, but her recent statements strongly suggest she too will not join with Baucus at this point.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ken Strickland
The following is directly from the Finance Committee's release (For reference, here are the 2009 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines ):
Personal Responsibility - The Mark would create a personal responsibility requirement for health care coverage, with exceptions provided for a variety of reasons including religious conscience (as defined in Medicare) and an exemption for undocumented workers.
Individuals who fail to meet the requirement are subject to a penalty. If an individual's income is between 100 and 300 percent of poverty, the penalty for failing to obtain health coverage is $750 per person per year with a maximum of $1,500 per family . If an individual's income is above 300 percent of poverty, the penalty for failing to obtain coverage is $950 per person per year with a maximum of $3,800 per family.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ken Strickland Max Baucus has finally unveiled his version of the health-care reform bill. Now what?
Here's a look at what comes next en route to getting the bill to a final vote on the Senate floor...
First, the full committee -- and the public -- will now get a chance read the details of the bill. But, as you'll read below, some of these details will likely change next week. Still, of all the other health-care bills moving through Congress (three in the House, one in the Senate,) the Finance bill more closely resembles what President Obama wants in cost and substance, except it doesn't have a public option.
On Tuesday the 22nd, the committee starts the "mark up," voting on amendments to change the bill. We suspect there will be lots of them -- lots. After a few days of amendments, the committee will take a last vote to approve the bill and send to it the full Senate. Baucus seems convinced that after the amendment process, some Republicans will vote in favor of the bill. We'll see.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Michael Steele , the Republican Party's most prominent African American official, has issued a press release criticizing former President Jimmy Carter for arguing that much of the opposition that President Obama is facing is due to race.
Steele:
Characterizing Americans' disapproval of President Obama's policies as being based on race is an outrage and a troubling sign about the lengths Democrats will go to disparage all who disagree with them. Playing the race card shows that Democrats are willing to deal from the bottom of the deck. Our political system has no place for this type of rhetoric. As the leader of the Democratic Party President Obama should flatly reject efforts by those in his Party, including Jimmy Carter and Tim Kaine, to inject race into our civil discourse in ways that divide, not unite, Americans."
Tim Kaine was injecting race into the discussion, it provided as evidence this Politico clipping, which explicitly says that Kaine DIDN'T bring up race.
"Virginia Governor and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine used a speech Friday to single out those conservative critics whose hostility toward President Obama goes deeper than just opposing his policies — but without mentioning that which many in his party believe drives the anger. 'Republican leaders…rose up to say that he did not deserve honorary degrees from colleges that were giving him degrees last spring, members of Congress, Republican members of Congress, are spreading bogus rumors about where the president was born, and they whipped up opposition all across this country when President Obama wanted to give a speech to our nation’s schoolchildren to tell them to take responsibility, study hard and stay in school,” Kaine said here at the party’s fall meeting.'"
"He demurred when asked later whether this often-personal criticism is rooted in contempt for a president who happens to be black."
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg America’s Rorschach Test: Jimmy Carter's comments to NBC’s Brian Williams -- that racism is playing a role in much of the current opposition to President Obama -- will be the ultimate Rorschach test. The question is whether this turns into an adult discussion, or whether it turns into your usual political food fight (and we probably know the answer to that, right?). It's tough to find a middle ground on this issue. Call us cynics, but we're not sure the debate on cable today will successfully explore a middle ground. The fact is that MANY of the president's supporters see the collective opposition coming mostly from the South, and they believe it's hard to come to any other conclusion after the armed protestors outside Obama events, the questions about his citizenship, the Nazi/Hitler/Communist signs, etc. But obviously, there's more nuance to that, even when simply examining the southern opposition. Yet nuance is something that never gets the attention. Instead, it’s the loudest, shrillest voices on both the left and right that do.
*** A loser for the White House? Politically, the White House sees this as nothing more than a political loser. As Michael Eric Dyson acknowledged on “Morning Joe,” to even entertain the idea of race being a part of the opposition to the president is political suicide. Of course, there are those on the president's side who will argue that they believe the mainstream elements of the opposition to the president haven't done enough -- or anything -- to denounce the extremist elements on their side, and that's yet another reason why we can expect this back-and-forth over the issue of race won’t go away. Yet the last thing White House needs is for the 10-15% of people who disapprove of his policies right now -- but at one time approved of his job -- to feel alienated away from ever supporting him. Let's face it: One of the worst insults anyone can feel is being called a racist, and the White House politically doesn't want average white independents to believe if they ever disagree with the president, they'll be labeled racists. By the way, Colin Powell is visiting the White House today. Will he comment on this?
*** Baucus’ bill: After months of bipartisan negotiations, after other key congressional committees have already passed their bills, and after keeping Washington waiting, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus will finally introduce his health-care today at noon ET. And it’s not being embraced by either party. Said ranking member Chuck Grassley (R) in statement last night: "I'm disappointed because it looks like we're being pushed aside by the Democratic leadership so the Senate can move forward on a bill that, up to this point, does not meet the shared goals for affordable, accessible health coverage that we set forth when this process began," he said, per NBC’s Ken Strickland. On the other hand, Finance Committee Democrat Jay Rockefeller said he was disappointed that Baucus’ bill wouldn’t include the so-called public insurance option. "There is no way, in its present form, that I will vote for it," he said. But “present form” is key here, given that the Finance Committee will mark-up the bill and add amendments next week.
*** How did you get from $300 billion to $500-$600 billion: Speaking of health care, how has Obama gone from touting $300 billion in Medicare waste/fraud/abuse savings in June as part of his plan to pay for health care to now claiming the White House has found $500-$600 billion in these savings. The fact is the president still hasn't release a detailed plan in general, let alone gotten into the "how to pay for" weeds when it comes to exactly how they found yet another $200 billion in cuts. This actually gets at the nut of the president's potential credibility problem: If there is so much money in waste/fraud/abuse in the Medicare system, then why do we continue to let it happen? Why are we waiting so long to deal with it? The average cynical voter is thinking, “Well, the president may be well meaning, but the bureaucracy that is the American government let this waste/fraud/abuse happen once, who is to say they won't let it happen again?”
*** Mr. Exposure: If it weren’t for Carter’s comments, we're guessing one of the topics that cable and the internet would be focusing on today is the fact that the president is EVERYWHERE. It started last week with his joint session speech, continued with his “60 Minutes” interview, and then business cable interviews followed the next day. Now five Sunday shows (on NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, and Univision) are coming up this weekend, and then there’s Letterman next Monday. We're sure the White House will also be doing something online, since that seems to be the only venue they haven't touched on this week.
*** Is the Amtrak Corridor elite wrong? The issue of over-exposure has come up before, and while the Amtrak Corridor Elite (NY-DC) believes he may be over-exposed, the White House has previously gotten positive results from its strategy. They believe that with folks getting their news and info for hundreds of different places on multiple platforms, you have to use multiple platforms to touch everyone you want to touch at least once. By the way, our reporting from a summer Peter Hart/Annenberg focus group of swing voters suggested that Obama’s speeches, interviews, and news conferences were a plus for him, not a minus. So this may be one of those Beltway-created storylines that the facts don't bear out as much. Still, the White House should be a tad concerned that last week's address attracted 31 million views, compared with the 50 million he got for his first presser. Then again, 31 million is a lot of people…but where do those 19 million go? Are they tuning out Washington?
*** A Buckeye bounce? A day after talking to GM workers in the battleground state of Ohio, a new Quinnipiac poll conducted last week shows that President Obama’s numbers have slightly rebounded in the Buckeye State, from 49%-44% approve/disapprove in July to 53%-42% now. Moreover, the two Democratic candidates for Senate, Lt. Gov. Lee Fischer and Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, lead the top Republican in the field, Rob Portman. With perhaps the exceptions of Colorado and Virginia, there’s no state in the country that’s more important in measuring the Democrats’ health than in Ohio. On the other hand, of course, Republicans have argued that recent national polls (WashPo/ABC, USA Today/Gallup) didn’t move the needle that much on Obama’s health-care numbers.
*** Obama’s day: In advance of next week’s G20 meeting in Pittsburgh, President Obama sits down at the White House with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper beginning at 10:45 am ET. Then, at 1:00 pm, Obama has 2016 on his mind – not that year’s presidential election, but rather the Olympics. He and First Lady Michelle Obama host an event at the White House promoting Chicago’s bid for that Olympics.
*** 2010 watch: Let’s get ready to … RUMBLE. First Read has confirmed that Linda McMahon, World Wrestling Entertainment CEO and wife to WWE honcho Vince McMahon, today is announcing that she’s running for the Senate in Connecticut, setting up a Republican cage match for the right to challenge vulnerable Sen. Chris Dodd (D). Indeed, McMahon will be joining a growing GOP field that includes former Rep. Rob Simmons, former Ireland Ambassador Tom Foley, and state Sen. Sam Caligiuri. Considering the image Congress is portraying to the American public these days, is it any wonder that no one dismisses out of hand the possibility that someone associated with professional wrestling is a legitimate candidate for the U.S. Senate? Forget Mrs. McMahon; why not just have Vince himself run. At this point, it's only fitting, right?
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 48 days
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On the day Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus is set to unveil his committee's health-care bill, he pens an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal laying out why he believes reform is necessary and what is in the bill. "Health care is a complicated and deeply personal issue; it takes time and effort to get reform right. Legislating every piece of this puzzle would be impossible and counterproductive. What we can do is seize this opportunity to put America back on a fiscally sustainable path. The Senate Finance Committee proposal builds on what already works and fixes what threatens to break the bank for future generations."
The AP : "[D]espite numerous gestures to Republicans, Baucus has fallen short in his quest to assemble a coalition of senators from both parties behind his proposal."
Is Snowe not supporting it, either? The Hill writes, "Senate Democrats are going to have to move forward on healthcare without a single Republican supporter after Sen. Olympia Snowe said Tuesday she could not back the Finance Committee’s bill." Said Snowe: “I do have concerns and I’m not sure they can be addressed before he issues [legislation] tomorrow."
CONTINUED >>
The Washington Post’s Kornblut looks at the White House’s strategy to counterpunch against conservatives and Republicans. “Facing a near-daily barrage of attacks from conservative opponents, White House officials are engaged in an internal debate over how hard to hit back, even as they have grown increasingly aggressive in countering allegations they deem to be absurd.”
“After brushing aside criticism during the presidential campaign that they tried to keep candidate Barack Obama too far above the fray -- and with memories of the abundance of media coverage during the Clinton years -- administration officials are accelerating their efforts to anticipate and respond to the most sharp-edged charges.”
So how is Massachusetts’ health experiment working? "The state’s major health insurers plan to raise premiums by about 10 percent next year, prompting many employers to reduce benefits and shift additional costs to workers… The higher insurance costs undermine a key tenet of the state’s landmark health care law passed two years ago, as well as President Obama’s effort to overhaul health care. In addition to mandating insurance for most residents, the Massachusetts bill sought to rein in health care costs. With Washington looking to the Massachusetts experience, fears about higher costs have become a stumbling block to passing a national health care bill."
The New York Times on Obama's AFL-CIO speech yesterday: "President Obama did not deliver a robust sales pitch on the details of his health care agenda here Tuesday at a convention of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., but rather asked labor leaders to stand with him in resisting opponents of the White House and focus on lifting the economy. 'We’ve been hearing a lot of stuff from folks who aren’t that friendly to me, or the union movement,' Mr. Obama said. 'So let’s just take a stroll down memory lane. Let’s just remember where we were when I took the oath of office.'"
And… President Obama has enjoyed union backing, and yesterday spoke before the AFL-CIO national convention. Today, the labor group holds its elections, and current Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka is expected to become the group's next president. There has been political battle going on over card check, and today, one of the main opposition groups, the Workforce Fairness Institute (WFI), has "assembled a two-and-a-half minute, potentially incendiary web video likening the leader of the powerful organized labor group to organized crime bosses," The Hill writes. "The video , featuring music in the background meant to mimic the soundtrack of mob classic 'The Godfather,' compares quotes from Trumka to words from mob dons like Carlo Gambino, John Gotti, Al Capone, and even the fictional 'Don Corleone.' 'Mob Boss vs. Union Boss: Should it be so hard to distinguish between the two?' the ad asks."
A new book by a former White House speechwriter contends that former President George W.
Bush warned the party before John McCain picked Sarah Palin. "This woman is being put into a position that she is not even remotely prepared for," Bush said, per Matt Latimer's book, "Speechless: Tales of a White House Survivor." "She hasn't spent one day on the national level. Neither has her family. Let's wait and see how she looks five days out."
More: On Joe Biden: "'If bulls*** was currency, Joe Biden would be a billionaire.'" On Hillary Clinton: "'Wait till her fat keister is sitting at this desk." On Obama: "This is a dangerous world, and this cat [Obama] isn't remotely qualified to handle it. This guy has no clue, I promise you."
National Review's Corner blog writes that Dana Perino questions the accuracy of the book. For one thing, she writes, "I don’t think he’s [that is, President Bush] ever even said the word ‘keister.' C’mon."
PENNSYLVANIA: Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) -- who was for card-check, then against card-check before he was for it again -- on Tuesday declared before the AFL-CIO national convention that a deal had been struck in the Employee Free Choice Act and, “I believe before the year is out, and I will join my colleague Sen. [Bob] Casey [Jr. (D-Pa.)] in predicting, that there will be passage of an Employees Free Choice Act which will be totally satisfactory to labor.”
VIRGINIA: Republican gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell is hitting back at ads released by his opponent Creigh Deeds last week, which accuse McDonnell of recommending a $180 million rate increase for a state power company. McDonnell’s campaign released an ad yesterday, accusing Deeds of supporting a proposed federal “cap and trade bill,” which the McDonnell ad says would eliminate 56,000 jobs. Deeds spokesman says the nominee does not support the bill, but served on a climate change commission with Gov. Tim Kaine, who does support it. both appeared at a luncheon in Hampton Roads yesterday, focusing on local issues in anticipation of their matchup on Thursday in Fairfax County. In back-to-back appearances, both nominees took swipes at each other’s transportation plans. McDonnell said Deeds’ plan amounted to “elect me and we’ll figure things out,” while Deeds said McDonnell’s blueprint was “robbing Peter to pay Paul” because it taps into the state’s main financial artery, the General Fund, which Deeds said would take money away from priorities like public schools. outraised Republican nominee Bob McDonnell in July and August, but McDonnell entered the final two months of the campaign with a clear financial advantage, campaign reports show. McDonnell had $5.8 million in the bank Aug. 31, while Deeds had about $4.4 million, the campaigns reported yesterday."
From NBC's Mark Murray President Jimmy Carter attributed much of the conservative opposition that President Obama is receiving to the issue of race.
"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man," Carter said. "I live in the South, and I've seen the South come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that share the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African Americans."
Carter continued, "And that racism inclination still exists. And I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of the belief among many white people, not just in the South but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply."
From NBC's Luke Russert and Mark Murray Joe Wilson for his "You lie" outburst at President Obama last week.
Twelve Democrats voted against the resolution: Michael Arcuri (NY), Bill Delahunt (MA), Gabrielle Giffords (AZ), Maurice Hinchey (NY), Paul Hodes (NH), Dennis Kucinich (OH), Dan Maffei (NY), Eric Massa (NY), Jim McDermott (WA), Gwen Moore (WI), Gene Taylor (MS), and Harry Teague (NM).
Seven Republicans voted for it: Joseph Cao (LA), Jo Ann Emerson (MO), Jeff Flake (AZ), Bob Inglis (SC), Walter Jones (NC), Jim Petri (WI), and Dana Rohrabacher (CA).
And five members voted present: Eliot Engel (NY), Bill Foster (IL), Barney Frank (MA), Carol Shea-Porter (NH), and Ike Skelton (MO).
From NBC's Mark Murray noted how conservatives -- especially the conservative media -- have been targeting Democrats and liberal-leaning groups, with some notable success. Several days ago, Obama administration official Van Jones resigned after conservatives highlighted his controversial statements and actions, like signing a petition suggesting the conspiracy theory that the 9/11 terrorist attacks might have been an inside job.
Now, after two young conservatives (dressed up like a pimp and prostitute) produced videos apparently exposing ACORN employees encouraging fraudulent behavior, Republican lawmakers are trying to crush this group that they've long considered suspect. (The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, is a group that helps low-income Americans with housing, voter registration, and other services.)
Just today: John Boehner introduced legislation, the Defund ACORN Act, to sever all ties between the federal government and the group.Eric Cantor , and GOP Rep. Dave Camp wrote the Internal Revenue Service a letter, asking that agency to end its association with ACORN, which helps low- and middle-income Americans with their tax preparations. Lamar Smith , the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, called for the FBI and Justice Department to investigate the group.
Today's activity comes after the Census Bureau already severed its ties to ACORN, and also after the Senate voted on a GOP amendment to cut ACORN funding.
From NBC's Bobby Cervantes Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania held a conference call with reporters this afternoon, responding to President Obama's speech today to the AFL-CIO in Pittsburgh, as well as his fundraiser later in the day for newly minted Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter . Santorum also left open the possibility that he might run for president in 2012.
Santorum argued that Pennsylvanians will see through Specter’s continuous flip-flops as nothing more than moves for “pure political survival.” He singled out Specter’s record of opposition to -- then support of -- the Employee Free Choice Act (a.k.a. "card check"), and also his shift to the Democratic Party.
The White House has made it clear it's backing Specter in his primary race against Democratic challenger Rep. Joe Sestak .
Specter has “done a hard left turn to get into the good graces of the president” and to “survive a Democratic opponent,” Santorum said, adding that he doesn’t believe Specter will win the Democratic nomination.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro and Luke Russert Rep. Joe Wilson for his "You lie!" outburst during President Obama's speech before a joint session of Congress.
The resolution (language below) will be offered by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Majority Whip Jim Clyburn .
Don't expect a vote for about an hour or so afterward. Republicans will likely try to hold the line on the vote -- in opposition to the measure.
It should be interesting to see which, if any, Republicans decide to break with their party.
*** UPDATE ***
Clyburn, however, closed by saying, that "If the rules of the House are not here to maintain order, then we can never get to" the kinds of discussions "that will make our country proud."
He added, "The proper thing to do is to show proper contrition. The accepted form of contrition ... is to come to this floor and to recrest the apology of these members. And until that is done, proper contrition has not been made."
Here's the text of resolution :
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Rep. Joe Wilson .
The last time one that was introduced as a disciplinary action, according to the House Historian's office, was in 2003 by Nancy Pelosi against California Republican Bill Thomas . Thomas, then the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, "called the U.S. Capitol Police to eject protesting Democrats from a committee room," The Hill recalls.
The action never saw a vote, as it was tabled by the Republican majority, but Thomas later "tearfully apologized."
Wilson, however, has no plans to apologize again.
Several members have faced harsher sanctions (that's below as well -- and there are some good ones). A "resolution of disapproval" is the least severe disciplinary action the U.S. House can level against a fellow member.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro House Democrats launched what amounted to a high-profile public relations blitz and locker room pep rally with a three-hour panel on the need for health reform.
The panel -- entitled, "Democratic Steering and Policy Committee Forum on the Need for Health Reform Now" -- brought together policy experts and a wide range of health reform advocates, from a small business group (Small Business Majority), the American Medical Association (which recently came out in favor of reform), the American Hospitals Association, American Nurses Association, the AARP and a former spokesman for CIGNA.
Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel , under his own ethics cloud, tried to sound a unifying message by thanking leadership for organizing the panel "to shore each other up," he said.
Rep. George Miller (D-CA) said, "Momentum is building stronger everyday" to pass reform. He noted what he called "progress" in the Senate. Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) is set to introduce legislation to his powerful Finance Committee tomorrow. (Baucus chairs the committee.)
But there were signs that not all House Democrats have completely jumped on board and divorced themselves from the public option.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray
Republicans are firmly lining up in opposition against today's House Democratic resolution reprimanding GOP Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress.
RNC Chairman Michael Steele released this statement: “In another stunning example of hypocrisy, congressional Democrats are wasting taxpayers’ time and resources on a legislative measure to censure Congressman Joe Wilson so they don’t have to talk about their exceedingly unpopular health care plan. Without question, Joe Wilson made a terrible error in judgment and has wasted no time in extending a personal apology to the president. The president has accepted his apology... Democrats don’t want an apology. They want a side show -- something to shift the focus away from their government-run experiment on health care.”
Ken Spain, communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee adds, "Democrats only seem interested in condemning the actions of Republican lawmakers when it is politically convenient, but when it comes to cleaning up real corruption and ethical misconduct in the House, Nancy Pelosi continues to look the other way. The American people are still waiting for a public repudiation of the corrupt actions of Democrat members like Charlie Rangel , John Murtha , and Pete Visclosky , whose actions have truly disgraced the integrity of the People’s House that Democrats claim to be so concerned about defending."
*** UPDATE *** Mike Pence claimed that Democrats wanted to promote the issue in order to take attention away from more pertinent issues like the economy and health-care reform. He added, "This Congress is poised to demand an apology from a man who has already apologized."
Minority Leader John Boehner said of House Democrats, "They want to change the subject because health-care reform is unpopular." Boehner stressed that Wilson had already apologized -- and, just as Speaker Pelosi said last week, "It is time to move on."
When asked whether the GOP would be unified against any resolution condemning Wilson, Boehner replied, "Members are going to have to make their own decision."
From NBC's Mark Murray John McCain uttered the words, "The fundamentals of our economy are strong." As we pointed out at the time, it was a remark McCain had said before, but after Lehman's collapse, Obama's campaign pounced -- and it produced this devastating TV ad.
As we wrote yesterday, Lehman's collapse was both a blessing and curse for Barack Obama -- a blessing because it turned the presidential contest into a referendum on the economy (which benefited the Democrats), and a curse because the economy he inherited will largely determine his political fate.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Nobody puts GM in a corner : President Obama has a very busy, and interesting, day today in Ohio and Pennsylvania. He starts things off in Lordstown, OH (outside of Youngstown), where he participates (at 10:40 am ET) in a roundtable discussion with GM workers and then delivers remarks (at 11:10 am) to these workers on an assembly plant floor. This will be the president’s first GM event since the federal government, essentially, took over the automaker. Whether or not that intervention turns out to be successful could end up being important for the Obama administration, more so, frankly, than health care or the other big government decisions he's made. Indeed, GM’s success or failure could impact how Americans view government. More than health care, more than the bank bailouts, more than the economy, how GM goes, so goes this presidency -- and moreover, so goes the country's capacity to support (or oppose) government intervention.
*** Siding against The Outsiders : After speaking to the GM workers in Ohio, Obama then heads to Pittsburgh, where he’ll speak at the AFL-CIO’s convention and where health care will obviously be Topic No. 1. Later, he travels to Philadelphia to headline a fundraiser for newly minted Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter. Obama’s fundraiser with Specter is a reminder how the president is taking sides in some key Democratic Senate primaries or potential primaries -- in Pennsylvania (for Specter), New York (for Gillibrand), and Colorado (for Bennet). And especially in the case of the Specter-Sestak race, Obama is siding with the establishment and against the base.
*** Point Break for Senate Finance? Per NBC’s Ken Strickland, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus yesterday announced that he will introduce the panel's version of a health-care reform bill on Wednesday. Although the core of the bill will be a product of weeks of bipartisan negotiations among the so-called Gang of Six, it's still unknown if any Republican negotiators will sign on to it. While many Democrats believe -- and hope -- GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe will support the committee bill, they're skeptical of her fellow GOP negotiators Chuck Grassley and Mike Enzi. On Monday, Strick says, Grassley said there was a strong desire in the group for a bipartisan bill, but added that "nothing's done until it's done." Baucus acknowledged the possibility of a Democrats-only bill when it's introduced Wednesday, but predicted it will attract GOP support as the committee votes on amendments. "I'm going to continue working with Republican's all the way through," he said, "but I'm moving forward irrespective of whether anyone is on this draft." The president himself has hinted that there are some secret Republicans the White House has been talking with beyond Snowe. Could they be ready to spring a surprise? A good place to start, by the way, would be the Republicans who voted with the president on SCHIP earlier this year.
*** To Health Care Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar : Here are some other odds and ends in the Great American Health Care Fight: “A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken after the president's dramatic address to a joint session of Congress last week shows Americans almost evenly divided over passing a health care bill and inclined to think it would make some of the system's vexing problems worse, not better.”… The liberal group Health Care for American Now (HCAN) is up with a new TV ad targeting the health insurance industry… GOP Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who has a child with Down Syndrome, holds a press conference to argue how the health-care reform proposals “will adversely affect” children with special needs, per a release… Finally, Democrats are quietly trying to assuage Republicans on at least three issues: illegal immigrants, abortion funding, and the public option. Will these changes do anything to bring over a few other Republicans to the President's cause? It's an interesting test. For what it's worth, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell's press shop highlighted the one Post clip dealing with these issues. Could it be the GOP leader sees this as a positive sign for bipartisanship? ,
*** Road House (of Representatives) : A Democratic House leadership aide confirmed to First Read that a resolution reprimanding South Carolina GOP Rep. Joe Wilson -- who shouted, “You lie” at President Obama during last week’s joint address to Congress -- will likely come this afternoon. NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell adds the official language of the resolution is expected to be "short, direct, non-partisan," and it will address the "breach of decorum." Yet after House GOP leaders reportedly urged Wilson to apologize on the House floor, Minority Leader John Boehner said he would oppose the resolution, the New York Times says, adding: “Democrats are likely to paint the [GOP] stance as evidence of a lack of Republican respect for the House as an institution and an outgrowth of the unruly and uncivil atmosphere that marked town hall meetings in August.” Folks, it could be a very ugly day on Capitol Hill -- one of those days that explains why Americans, no matter their ideology, have a negative view of Congress.
*** Red Dawn? Check out this Washington Times headline: "Conservatives hunt for next Van Jones.” From the story: “Emboldened by the ouster of presidential adviser Van Jones, conservative and business groups are launching fresh challenges aimed at derailing President Obama's nominees. The latest of these targets is David Michaels, Mr. Obama's pick to head the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), who as an academic published a book attacking corporate executives for the tactics they used to fight class-action lawsuits. Republican critics said they considered Mr. Michaels to be too close to trial lawyers because of his aggressive advocacy on their behalf." (Is this really a sin, or simply a reminder that to the victor go the spoils?) The recent Van Jones, ACORN, and now Michaels stories have this in common: They’re examples of the how the conservative media is trying -- and being largely successful -- in taking down Democrats or some GOP bogeymen. What also they have in common: They have little to do with today’s most important stories (the economy, Iraq, Afghanistan, health care). This doesn't excuse ACORN's practices; and clearly, of the three targets mentioned above, that group has for years allowed too many questionable practices go unchecked. But how POWERFUL ACORN actually is versus how some on the right believe it is are two different stories.
*** He’s like the wind : Finally, Vice President Joe Biden has arrived in Iraq. Per a release, “Vice President Biden has arrived in Iraq to visit U.S. troops and meet with Iraqi leaders. During his trip, he will meet with Iraq’s President Jalal Talabani; Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki; Speaker of the Council of Representatives Ayad al-Samarrai; Vice President 'Adil 'Abd al-Mahdi; Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi; Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Rafe Al-Eissawi; President of the Kurdistan Regional Government Massoud Barzani; Prime Minister-designate of the Kurdistan Regional Government Barham Salih, among others. He will also meet with representatives from the United Nations mission in Iraq. Vice President Biden will convey the strong U.S. commitment to Iraq's future and national unity.”
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 49 days
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CNBCs Steve Liesman pens an op-ed in the New York Daily News on Obama’s speech to Wall St: “[W]hat the surviving titans of Wall Street did was nod their heads politely as the regulator in chief laid out why and how the nation's financial system needs to be overhauled. Then, no doubt, many went back to their offices and resumed opposing his reforms.”
“The speech … received mixed reviews from finance executives. Industry representatives said afterward they welcomed some of the president’s ideas, but they remained strongly opposed to one of his more controversial proposals: creating a federal agency to regulate consumer loans,” the Boston Globe says.
The biggest issue for the president in the next 18 months is not health care; it's jobs. “Despite fresh signs that the worst may be over for the beleaguered U.S. economy, there has been no letup in public fears about possible financial hardship ahead and there is broad concern that not enough is being done to avert another meltdown, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll .”
CONTINUED >>
Canada
isn’t inclined to extend its Afghanistan troop commitment even if asked directly by Obama.
Those new Eastern European democracies
are missing George W. Bush . Is President Obama more "old Europe"?
The U.S. military
has active combat operations in Somalia ? Something "we know' and yet "we don't know." Get our drift?
”House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio) announced Monday he would vote against any resolution disapproving of Wilson’s conduct, which led Democrats to charge the minority leader with flip-flopping on the matter of whether Wilson should offer an apology on the floor. Most Republicans are expected to vote against the resolution of disapproval. Aides said a handful of GOP institutionalists appalled by the outburst or vulnerable members from districts won by Obama might defect from Boehner’s position,” The Hill says.
By the way, Wilson autographed a picture of his outburst for a supporter.
“Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee are poised to demand changes to the healthcare legislation being drafted by their chairman. Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) plans to introduce his proposal for healthcare reform on Wednesday with a committee mark up to begin the following Tuesday. Based on the comments by several committee Democrats after a meeting Monday evening, that mark up could be a lengthy one.” More: “Near the top of the list for the panels Democrats is worry that health insurance subsidies will not be sufficiently generous nor available to enough people despite the fact that the bill would legally require most people to obtain coverage. Beyond premiums, some Democrats are concerned that Baucus’s proposal would not do enough to protect middle-class families from high healthcare expenses.”
ARKANSAS : A new poll shows Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) in better shape than other recent polling had her, but she is still well under 50 percent support. The Daily Kos/Resarch 2000 poll shows Lincoln leading recently declared candidate state Sen. Gilbert Baker (R) 44-37 and businessman Curtis Coleman (R) 45-37.
CONNECTICUT : Let’s get ready to rumble? "World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) CEO Linda McMahon appears primed to run for Senate in Connecticut and should make an announcement very soon, according to sources with knowledge of her deliberations."
MASSACHUSETTS : "The US Senate race came into sharper focus yesterday as a surprise candidate, Boston Celtics co-owner and wealthy private equity investor Stephen G. Pagliuca, emerged from the wings in a possible pursuit of the Democratic nomination, while US Representative Stephen F. Lynch prepared for his formal announcement tomorrow." NEW YORK : "Rick Lazio, the former Long Island congressman who tried to take on Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2000 for US Senate, will formally declare he's running for governor next Monday, The Post has learned. Lazio's announcement, set for Albany next Monday, means that unlike 2000, when he deferred to Rudy Giuliani's expected campaign against Clinton, he is not waiting for the former mayor to decide his 2010 plans about a possible gubernatorial run."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
All three Kennedy brothers' service in the Senate was described in the resolution. Both JFK and RFK announced their candidacies for the presidency in the Caucus Room, which is on the third floor of the Russell building, just steps from Ted Kennedy's office.
Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Ted's son, was present for this honor.
It was introduced by Sen. Chris Dodd , and Sen. John Kerry spoke as well.
It was passed approx 6:05 pm ET.
From NBC's Bobby Cervantes and Ali Weinberg
The National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action today
endorsed Republican
Bob McDonnell in Virginia's gubernatorial race --
reversing its endorsement from four years ago, when it backed
Creigh
Deeds in the 2005 McDonnell-Deeds attorney general contest that
McDonnell won.
Chris Cox , executive director of the NRA group, said in a conference
call with reporters that McDonnell has been “steadfast and forthright”
in his support of Virginians’ gun rights during his tenure as that
state’s attorney general.
In particular, Cox cited McDonnell’s involvement in the 2007 case
District of Columbia v. Heller, in which the Supreme Court narrowly
ruled that the 2nd Amendment protects an individual's right to possess
a firearm for lawful purposes, irrespective of military service.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Savannah Guthrie Joe Wilson 's (R-SC) opponent in SC-2 has raised more than $1.5 million, according to the DCCC.
"Since Republican Congressman Joe Wilson's outburst on the House floor his Democratic opponent, former Marine Rob Miller, has received over 40,000 individual grassroots contributions raising more than $1.5 million," Jessica Santillo, Southern regional press secretary for the DCCC, wrote in an e-mail.
A Republican source says Wilson has raised more than $1 million.*** UPDATE ***
From NBC's Ken Strickland Chuck Grassley says he wants a less costly health-care bill than the one being drafted by a bipartisan group of Finance Committee members.
Grassley, who's a member of the so-called Gang of Six said today, "I have proposed it being smaller. I suggested ways to get it smaller, but I don't want to get into those ways."
The latest cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office put the cost just under $880 billion, according to Committee Chairman Max Baucus .
But Grassley said, "Frankly, I think with the big budget deficit the smaller it is the better."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell and Domenico Montanaro Rep. Joe Wilson spoke at 2:03 pm ET to his colleagues. No apology, but Wilson plans to discuss what he calls his "hand-out concerns" about health care legislation.
Wilson spoke about his town hall meetings during recess that he claimed were record in size for South Carolina. Wilson said he had not seen "such passionate events full of patriots" in his 25 years of public service.
He also held up papers with his alterative views on health care. He argued that most people want health-care reform, but "not a government-run takeover."
He ended his one-minute speech with a salute to servicemembers, "God bless our U.S. troops."
*** UPDATE ***
"Rep. Wilson has apologized to the President, and the President accepted his apology," Boehner said in a statement. "Last Thursday, Speaker Pelosi said that she believed it was time to move on and discuss health care. I couldn't agree more, and that's why I plan to vote 'no' on this resolution. Instead of pursuing this type of petty partisanship, we should be working together to lower costs and expand access to affordable, high-quality health coverage on behalf of the American people."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Don't hold your breath.
This is all about the very important House Resolution 6: Recognition of National Coaches Appreciation Week. It recognizes coaches who make a difference in the lives of children.
From NBC's Ken Strickland
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus reiterated the point that he's on track to introduce a bill to the committee this week -- perhaps as early as tomorrow. While Republican negotiators are still in the room, it's still unclear if they'll sign on to it. Baucus is optimistic: "We're working toward a bipartisan bill."
Democratic group member Kent Conrad said the issues addressed today were medical malpractice lawsuits, illegal immigrants, and the financial impact on states once Medicaid is expanded. He also said the Congressional Budget Office sent new cost estimates on its proposal. It comes in under $880-billion and doesn't increase the deficit, he said.
The gang meets again this afternoon at 4:00 pm ET; and committee Democrats meet at 5:30 pm.
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama today sought to remind Wall Street and the American public how close the financial system came to the brink of collapse, called on financial firms rescued by taxpayer dollars to act more responsibly, and urged Congress to pass updated "rules of the road" for the industry.
The president used his 30-minute address -- pegged to the first anniversary of Lehman Brothers' collapse -- to highlight the steps the administration has taken to jump-start an economic recovery and to make the case for strengthening financial regulations.
"Common-sense rules of the road do not hinder the markets but make them stronger," Obama said. "One year ago, we saw in stark relief how markets can err; how a lack of common-sense rules can lead to excess and abuse; how close we can come to the brink. One year later, it is incumbent on us to put in place those reforms that will prevent this kind of crisis from ever happening again."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Joe Wilson (R-SC) may have apologized to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel , but "Rahm is not a member of this body."
The aide says that Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) approached Wilson on the House floor on Thursday and told him that, after Wilson said he would not apologize any further. Wilson told Clyburn he was done apologizing, and that he had already apologized to Emanuel.
"Rahm is not a member of this body," Clyburn told Wilson on the House floor. He added that there is a swell of Democrats looking to push a "resolution of disapproval" and that he could put an end to this by apologizing to the body formally. He said he would not, and Clyburn said he would then go ahead with the resolution. The resolution is being written (as this is being written) and could be introduced as early as tomorrow.
What do Democrats base the resolution on? H.CON.RES 179 -- a rule in place for the joint session that says the president is recognized to speak. Democrats say Wilson spoke out of order.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro President Obama speaking to Wall St. today about financial regulation, the committee that is spearheading those reforms in the House says a bill is on track to hit the floor by late October or early November.
The Financial Services Committee, headed by Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank , is pushing to announce more details "very soon," according to an aide.
Committee leadership hopes to have hearings, then markups in October, hit the floor by late October or early November.
The most politically difficult items in trying to get reform passed: a Consumer Financial Protection Agency, or CFPA, and a Systemic Risk Regulator.
Industry has been pushing back hard and has been a significant obstacle to reform getting through.
A Republican leadership aide said of the industry's opposition, "I can't imagine they don't have an opinion."
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell Following GOP Rep.
Joe Wilson's insistence that he won't apologize on the House floor a "resolution of disapproval" is being drafted now, and the earliest it would be introduced is tomorrow, according to House leadership aide.
The aide says: "The issue at hand is one of conduct, not speech. Congressman Wilson's outburst during the joint session was a breach of decorum and brought discredit to the House. It is common for members to address such breaches themselves rather than force action by the full House. Failure to respond would mean consent for that kind of conduct. In the absence of an apology, the House must act to admonish his behavior. These are the standards members are held to when they take the oath of office."
From NBC's Mark Murray we wondered what kind of role race was playing in some of the opposition to President Obama . Well, days after Joe Wilson's outburst last week, it's a topic that others also are raising.
Here's Maureen Dowd yesterday: "Surrounded by middle-aged white guys — a sepia snapshot of the days when such pols ran Washington like their own men’s club — Joe Wilson yelled 'You lie!' at a president who didn’t. But, fair or not, what I heard was an unspoken word in the air: You lie, boy!"
Dowd continued, "Wilson’s shocking disrespect for the office of the president — no Democrat ever shouted “liar” at W. when he was hawking a fake case for war in Iraq — convinced me: Some people just can’t believe a black man is president and will never accept it."
And here's Politico's Jonathan Martin reporting from last week's DNC meeting in Austin, TX: "Eight months into Barack Obama’s presidency, as criticism of his administration seems to reach new levels of volume and intensity each week, the whispers among some of his allies are growing louder: That those who loathe the nation’s first African-American president, and especially those who would deny his citizenship, are driven at least in part by racism... 'As far as African-Americans are concerned, we think most of it is,' said Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas), when asked in an interview in between sessions how much of the more extreme anger at Obama is based upon his race. 'And we think it’s very unfortunate. We as African-American people of course are very sensitive to it.'"
More: "Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.), chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, agreed with his colleague that elements of the opposition can’t accept the reality of a black president. 'There’s a very angry, small group of folks that just didn’t like the fact that Barack Obama won the presidency,' Honda said, adding: 'With some, I think it is [about race].' Said Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) about the race factor: 'There are some issues that have been swept under the rug and we’re not witnessing them come out.'"
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Blessings and curses: Lehman Brothers' collapse a year ago was both a blessing and a curse for Barack Obama. A blessing because it turned the final month and a half of the presidential race into a contest over the economy, which the Republicans and (especially) John McCain were ill-suited to win. (But it would be wrong to suggest that the Lehman collapse was the reason Obama won -- by mid-September 2008, the Palin bounce was fading, McCain lost the three debates, and the political environment had always favored the Democrats.) But it was a curse, too, given the anemic economy Obama inherited, and the future of that economy will largely determine Obama's political fate. On this one-year anniversary of Lehman’s collapse, President Obama heads to New York City today to give a speech about the economy. Interestingly, the speech, as well as the rest of his agenda this week, could end up helping Obama’s cause on health care. Any day the president is focused more on the economy than any other issue is a good day as far as Rahm Emanuel and the White House is concerned. One thing we learned over the summer was that Congress accomplished more on the sausage-making front (on health care and energy) when the White House was focused on other issues.
*** The deets on the speech: Obama’s speech today will take place at 12:10 pm ET. According to an administration official, Obama will 1) discuss his plan to wind down government involvement in the financial sector, 2) argue for financial regulations to prevent future economic crises, 3) recount the actions his administration took to stabilize the economy, and 4) urge Wall Street to begin taking responsibility for its actions and stress its obligations to the American people. The audience, at Federal Hall on Wall Street, will consist of members of the financial community, members of Congress, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, adviser Christina Romer, the president’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, and consumer and progressive advocates.
*** The fatigue factor: Regarding Point #1 -- Obama’s promise that the government will unwind its involvement in the financial industry -- this is the root of the president's political problem right now. The government’s intervention in the financial industry and the auto industry is proving to be an impediment to galvanizing the public on health care. Just take a look at the new Washington Post/ABC poll : The underlying message is that Obama is trying to do too much, and that government, like a credit card, is overextended. This is clearly something that frustrates the president. Note his reaction last night on "60 Minutes," when CBS' Kroft asked him the "fatigue" question. Obama tried to remind Kroft and viewers that this wasn't started on his watch. But as many of us warned folks back in the spring, the public has about a six-month memory. And, voila, it was at about at Month Six when the public started holding the president more responsible for all of the country's economic related ills -- fair or not. It comes with the job.
*** No game-changer? Here’s more from the Washington Post/ABC poll that was conducted AFTER Obama’s speech: Obama’s approval/disapproval on health care is 48%-48% (up from 46%-50% last month); 46% favor his reform efforts and 48% oppose them; and 54% say the more they hear about Obama’s plans, they less they like them. Also, among seniors, 56% of them think reform will weaken Medicare.
*** Whither the public option: The media seem to have declared the public option dead, thanks to comments from the two Maine-iacs -- Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins -- over the weekend. But what's dead? The idea itself? Or the legislation that would immediately implement it? It looks like a game of trigger vs. co-ops, with the trigger more alive than some realize.
*** Speaking of blessings and curses…: Meanwhile, the conservative Tea Party protest in DC over the weekend was a blessing and curse for the Republican Party. A blessing because it demonstrated, once again, a grassroots backlash against the current administration that the GOP can potentially tap into this November (in NJ and VA) and 2010. That’s possibly why Republican leaders -- from South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint to Mike Pence-- addressed the audience that was estimated to number in the tens of thousands. But it also could be a curse, given that Republicans are attaching themselves to a movement that contains some not-so happy elements. As the New York Times recounted, one sign called Obama “the parasite in chief,” while others likened him to Hitler. And another read, “Bury Obama Care with Kennedy.” Still, what made Saturday’s protest unique was that it was from the right, not the left. Over the last few decades, conservatives have never been as active on the protest front. The intensity we're seeing is something that Republicans for both 2010 and 2012 need to figure out how to channel.
*** A game of chicken: South Carolina GOP Rep. Joe Wilson says he’s NOT apologizing on the House floor for his “You lie!” outburst at Obama on Wednesday. Democratic leaders have threatened to reprimand Wilson if he doesn’t issue that kind of apology. "The American people are fed up with the political games in Washington, and I refuse to participate in an effort to divert our attention away from the task at hand of reforming health insurance and creating new jobs,” Wilson said in a statement yesterday. “Having apologized on Wednesday to the White House, we agreed that we must move forward in a civil manner to do the work the American people have sent us here to do. Health insurance reform is too important to take a backseat to political partisanship." While last week's outburst seemed to give life to Wilson's opponent – who raised almost $1 million in grassroots contributions!!! -- the GOP congressman seems to be embracing his newfound celebrity, and nothing would financially benefit him more now than a formal rebuke on the House floor.
*** 'A real revelation': In an interview on TODAY this morning timed to the publication of their late father's book, "True Compass," Rep. Patrick Kennedy and Ted Kennedy Jr. told Matt Lauer that the book was a real revelation to them, NBC’s Andrea Mitchell reports. Patrick said his father had always been "old Irish" -- not speaking of his emotions and private thoughts. So, for him, reading the book "was an enormous revelation." Ted Jr. said that after reading the book, "his voice was speaking to me in a powerful way. I was comforted." Speaking of his parent's divorce, Mitchell adds, Ted Jr. said that like many couples at the time, they got married very young. He said he thought his father was "very gracious to my mother" about the reasons for their divorce. Asked about Chappaquiddick, Patrick said that "someone else would have been paralyzed" but that his father "spent his life trying to make up for his failings… He carried on."2009 watch: Football fans in the DC market were treated to a slew of airings of a new TV ad in which Bob McDonnell looks to the camera to defend himself over attacks on his character via that 20-year old graduate thesis that he wrote when he was 34. The ad is striking for one simple reason: It's airing two weeks after the issue first surfaced. Clearly, the thesis story had an impact. The question for McDonnell: Can he ever put this issue to rest, or will we see TV ads in October also trying to repair the damage? By the way, McDonnell, strategically, deserves credit for trying to not let this fester, not putting their head in the proverbial sand. Still, it’s not a good sign for the front-runner.
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 50 days
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The Washington Post previews Obama’s speech today on the economy. “President Obama will head to Wall Street on Monday to try to breathe new life into efforts to overhaul the financial regulatory system, an undertaking he has said is essential to halting the abuses and failures that led to the current crisis. While the health-care debate has raged nationwide throughout the summer, financial reform virtually vanished from the public radar, even as an army of lobbyists worked on Capitol Hill to reshape the president's agenda.”
“In New York, Obama will try to retake the initiative, capping other recent efforts in which top government officials have emphasized improvements in the economy and made the case anew for rewriting the nation's financial rulebook. He will urge members of the financial community ‘to take responsibility, not only to support reforming the regulatory system but also to avoid a return to the practices on Wall Street that led us to the financial crisis,’ an administration official said Sunday.”
Bloomberg adds, “Obama will use the backdrop of Federal Hall in New York City to try and revive efforts at revamping market regulations. The president will urge the financial community to support that goal and he will emphasize the need for global coordination on financial oversight, according to an administration official speaking on the condition of anonymity.”
The New York Times : “Between financial rescue missions and the economic stimulus program, government spending accounts for a bigger share of the nation’s economy -- 26 percent -- than at any time since World War II. The government is financing 9 out of 10 new mortgages in the United States. If you buy a car from General Motors, you are buying from a company that is 60 percent owned by the government. If you take out a car loan or run up your credit card, the chances are good that the government is financing both your debt and that of your bank. And if you buy life insurance from the American International Group, you will be buying from a company that is almost 80 percent federally owned.”
CONTINUED >>
Rep. Joe Wilson has now raised more than $700,000 since his outburst Wednesday during the president’s address to Congress.
His likely 2010 opponent, Rob Miller, has raised almost $1 million.
Americans United has a new TV ad arguing that a vote against health-care reform is bad politics.
The Boston Globe : “Senator Olympia J. Snowe, a Republican from Maine who is one of the most influential voices in the debate, said the public option is politically out of the question. Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, which is experiencing grievous budget problems, said the bill must not foist new costs on states, and Senator Susan M. Collins, a Republican from Maine, said cost was the number one concern, as I talk to my constituents. On Saturday thousands of people from across the country converged on the mall, angrily protesting Obama’s health care plans, deficit spending, and overall agenda. Some of the protesters held signs praising U.S. Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina, who said yesterday that he would not apologize from the House floor.”
More: “In his 60 Minutes interview, Obama also acknowledged he has nearly given up working out a deal on health care with all but a few Republicans, the majority of whom he said were interested only in using the issue to restore their party to power.”
CONTINUED >>
MASSACHUSETTS: State Attorney General Martha Coakley faces a big fundraising hurdle, the Boston Globe writes. “How big? If $5 million is the goal, she must raise an average of $58,000 every day for the next 86 days. Even if the target is a more modest $3 million, that’s $34,000 a day. Coakley has advantages in being the only statewide elected official in the race, but fund-raising is not one of them. Because cash raised for state campaigns cannot be used in a federal election, she started the race with zero money and no federal campaign account before Sept. 3, the date of her campaigns statement of organization. ‘I think to reach voters in the state, even in a short period of time, a campaign would have to have between $5 million and $7 million,’ said Martin T. Meehan, the former US representative who has more than $4.8 million in his dormant campaign account but declined to enter the race to continue as chancellor at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.”
NEW JERSEY: A new Monmouth University/Gannett poll puts Republican nominee Chris Christie eight points ahead of his opponent Jon Corzine, 47%-39%. But Patrick Murray, Monmouth’s polling director, says the numbers indicate there is a lot of churning in this electorate. Despite the incumbent’s continued unpopularity, there is still a sense that anything can happen. A Quinnipiac University poll released last week had Christie leading by 10. And Christie had led by 14 in the last Monmouth poll. Still, 39% for an incumbent is pretty low.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that national Democratic and Republican groups have funneled more than $5 million into the New Jersey gubernatorial race. As far as the implications of this year’s gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia to the 2010 elections, University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato is wary of overstating an effect. He noted that since 1965, only two off-year governors races preceded same-party successes or failures in the midterms.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mike Viqueira
The question, as we all know, arises from the Wilson "You lie" outburst, and the core claim that notwithstanding specific bill language barring illegal immigrants from participating in the "exchange," as a practical matter, there is no way of verifying the citizenship of applicants -- which is the current state of play. Republicans say that then means illegal immigrants would end up being enrolled in plans -- bill language or no bill language.
Today, for the first time as far as we know, the administration is backing a provision that would require proof of citizenship before someone could enroll in a plan selected on the exchange.
Here, the administration also concedes that hospitals would be compensated with public funds for the care of undocumented immigrants.
CONTINUED >>
THE WEEK AHEAD: Obama to address Wall St, heads to PA for Specter fundraiser and AFL-CIO, Ted Kennedy book out, Values Voters Summit, Meet the Press and a First Read fact check: Health insurance for illegal immigrants?
For our mailbox, submit your questions for next week in the comments section below. We might pick yours.
From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell Aides to House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi say that if embattled GOP Rep.
Joe Wilson does not apologize for his outburst directed at the president on the House floor next week, the House will likely introduce a "resolution of disapproval."
From NBC's Mark Murray New York Times previewed, Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin today delivered remarks on the Senate floor arguing that the Obama administration shouldn't send more U.S. combat troops to Afghanistan until it has worked first to boost the Afghan security forces.
"I recently returned from a trip to Afghanistan, where I was joined by my colleagues Senators Jack Reed and Ted Kaufman ," he said. "The situation in Afghanistan is serious. Security has deteriorated. But if we take the right steps, we can ensure that Afghanistan does not revert to a Taliban-friendly government that could once again provide a safe haven for al Qaeda to terrorize us and the world."
More: "[W]e should increase and accelerate our efforts to support the Afghan security forces in their efforts to become self-sufficient in delivering security to their nation -- before we consider whether to increase U.S. combat forces above the levels already planned for the next few months."
While other Democrats -- including Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- are expressing doubts about sending more troops into Afghanistan, Republicans are backing Obama's expected troop increase.
Here's a statement from House Minority Whip Eric Cantor : "Although we have made progress through the sacrifices of our brave men and women in the field, the enemy is not yet defeated in a war we simply cannot afford to lose. We owe an immeasurable debt to our troops and their families for their sacrifices. I also applaud the President for his continued support for the War in Afghanistan and for his commitment to provide the men and women in uniform, and the generals on the battlefields, the necessary resources to achieve victory.”
From NBC's Bobby Cervantes The Republican ticket’s top three candidates in Virginia’s statewide elections this November said in a conference call with reporters on Thursday that any health-care reform proposals in the state should avoid excessive government intrusion and instead focus on offering private-sector incentives.
On the day after President Obama’s health-care address to Congress, GOP gubernatorial nominee Bob McDonnell , Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling , and attorney general hopeful Ken Cuccinelli offered their ideas on health reform.
With an emphasis on free market reform principles, the trio was adamant about rejecting proposals that introduce heavy government mandates and tax increases. “Last night, when we heard the president outline his vision for health care reform at the national level, we think he took wrong approach,” Bolling said. “The wrong approach is for government to take over our health-care delivery system. The right approach is to try to access and affordability in the private sector.”
While he found some common ground with some details of the president’s address -- most notably, medical malpractice reform -- McDonnell disparaged the so-called public option.
“It’s yet another federal dictate and another mandate on the free enterprise system that’s common with this administration,” he said, adding that sooner or later, it will “lead to a complete take over by the federal government.”
Due to technical difficulties yesterday, Chuck Todd will continue to answer viewers' questions on Cover it Live today at 10:30 am.
Click here for the chat.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg *** Remembering 9/11 : On the eighth anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil, President Obama and the first lady have already observed a moment of silence at the White House. Now Obama is heading over to the Pentagon -- one of the sites of the 9/11 attacks -- to lay a wreath and deliver remarks at 9:30 am ET. Vice President Biden also is making remarks in New York, near Ground Zero. And, at 9:45 am, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Colin Powell, Tom Ridge , and Tommy Franks attend a ceremony in Shanksville, PA honoring the victims of Flight 93. Obama also pens this op-ed in the New York Daily News : "As President, my greatest responsibility is the security of the American people. It is the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning. It's the last thing I think about when I go to sleep at night. That responsibility is the heart of the policies my administration has put in place. No one can guarantee that there will never be another attack; but what I can guarantee - what I can promise - is that we will do everything within our power to reduce the likelihood of an attack, and that I will not hesitate to do what it takes to defend America.”
*** Remembering What Biden Said: Obama’s op-ed, in fact, reminds us of what Biden said last October. "Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy ," said Biden to a roomful of donors. "The world is looking. We're about to elect a brilliant 47-year-old senator president of the United States of America. Remember I said it standing here, if you don't remember anything else I said," Biden continued. "Watch, we're going to have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy. I promise you it will occur. As a student of history and having served with seven presidents, I guarantee you it's going happen. I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate." Bill Clinton in 1993 and George W. Bush in 2001 were both tested in their first years with attacks on New York City. It may explain the facts behind then candidate Biden's prediction.
*** Dem Doubts On Afghanistan: The country from where Al Qaeda’s attack originated -- Afghanistan -- dominates today’s political news. The New York Times front-pages that two top Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin , have doubts about sending more U.S. combat troops to that country. Said Pelosi yesterday: “I don’t think there is a great deal of support for sending more troops to Afghanistan in the country or in Congress.” Meanwhile, Levin told the paper that “he was against sending more American combat troops to Afghanistan until the United States speeded up the training and equipping of more Afghan security forces… ‘I just think we should hold off on a commitment to send more combat troops until these additional steps to strengthen the Afghan security forces are put in motion.’” It's one thing to have Nancy Pelosi voicing skepticism about Afghanistan since she's considered to be more doveish, but it's another thing having Levin doing it. By the way, at yesterday’s daily press briefing, Press Secretary Robert Gibbs promised that the president would unveil an exit strategy; he didn't say when, but he reiterated the administration's belief in having one.
*** 'I’m Proud Of My Congressman': While that New York Times piece on Afghanistan contains today’s most substantive political news, there’s another Times article that will probably generate a significant amount of buzz. Per the paper, some of Joe Wilson’s constituents in South Carolina are actually applauding the congressman’s seemingly unprecedented outburst at President Obama on Wednesday night. “Yeah, it was rude, but somebody needed to say it,” said one constituent. “I kind of want to defend Representative Wilson,” said another. “The president has been trying to shove something down our throats, and Representative Wilson said, ‘Hold on here.’” And then there was this: “Give Obama hell. I’m proud of my congressman.”
*** The Elephant In The Room: At what point do what a bunch of folks in D.C. believe privately become more public -- that there is a dramatic divide between how people in the South view Obama versus the rest of the country? Sure, the South has always been more conservative and has been increasingly more Republican, so it shouldn't be a surprise this region is less open to a Democratic president's ideas; it's no different than folks in New York City and San Francisco not being open to a Republican president's proposals. But is it really the “D” next to Obama’s name that has folks upset in the South? Yes, there was a "coastal" divide when it came to George W. Bush, and the election results of 2004, 2006, and 2008 proved that. But is it ALL just ideological? It's truly subjective... As defiant as some on the right are about the fact that this has nothing to do with race, there’s an equal group of folks who believe it's ONLY grounded in race. Bottom line: Whether it's fair or not, there is a perception growing that race is driving some elements of the opposition to Obama. It probably means this tumult will only grow for the time being.
*** Is That Really An Apology? Meanwhile, Wilson has posted a video on his campaign Web site in which he again apologizes for heckling the president, but then he goes on to say: "On these issues, I will not be muzzled. I will speak up, and speak loudly against this risky plan. The supporters of the government takeover of health care and the liberals who want to give health care to illegals are using my opposition as an excuse to distract from the critical questions being raised about this poorly conceived plan. They want to silence anyone who speaks out against it.” Also on Twitter, NBC’s Sarah Rosefeldt notes, Wilson writes this: “Over 8,500 Americans are standing with me against the liberal attacks.” On the other hand, Wilson’s likely opponent in 2010, former Marine Rob Miller , has raised more than $700,000 -- a jaw-dropping amount for a congressional challenger -- from more than 20,000 grassroots supporters since Wilson’s “You lie” outburst. The DNC also reports raising more than $1 million since last night. And finally, the liberal group Americans United for Change has produced a Web video seizing on Wilson’s heckling to call the GOP “the party of no shame.”
*** Just Askin’: By the way, what does it say about the House GOP leadership that it couldn't convince Wilson to go to the House floor to apologize, even as they reportedly pleaded with him to do it?
*** Focusing On Snowe And 60: Turning to health care, NBC’s David Gregory reports that, according to sources inside and outside the White House, President Obama is focusing on getting 60 Senate votes to pass health care, versus opting for reconciliation. “So the key here is Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine,” says Gregory. “She could be that 60th vote and the lone Republican vote. One of the first calls the president made the morning after the speech was to Sen. Snowe. That's where the action is -- keep the Democrats in line, get Senator Snowe and try to get to 60. On “Meet the Press” this Sunday, Gregory interviews Sens. Dick Durbin and John Cornyn, Howard Dean, and Newt Gingrich.
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 53 days
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More from Obama’s op-ed in the New York Daily News : “I can promise - is that we will do everything within our power to reduce the likelihood of an attack, and that I will not hesitate to do what it takes to defend America. That is why we are providing the necessary resources and strategies to take the fight to the extremists who attacked us on 9/11 and who have found safe haven in Pakistan and Afghanistan."
It's one thing to have Nancy Pelosi airing skepticism about Afghanistan; it's another to have Senate Armed Services Chair Carl Levin . He wants to hold off sending more combat troops to the country until the U.S. speeds up training/equipping more Afghan forces. The New York Times: "Levin’s comments, made in an interview and in the draft of a speech he will deliver Friday, are significant because his stature on military matters gives him the ability to sway fellow lawmakers, and his pivotal committee position provides a platform for vetting Mr. Obama’s major decisions on troops.”
“Underscoring the increasing unease, the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, said earlier on Thursday that the president would face opposition if he sought to fulfill an expected request from Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal , the top commander in Afghanistan, for more American combat troops. ‘I don’t think there is a great deal of support for sending more troops to Afghanistan in the country or in Congress,’ Ms. Pelosi told reporters, emphasizing that she was eager to see a report due from the White House in two weeks on benchmarks to measure the success of the administration’s six-month-old strategy.”
CONTINUED >>
What's worse – that Joe Wilson won't apologize on the House floor , or that House GOP leaders can't convince him to apologize on the House floor?
And instead of going to the House floor, Wilson decided to do a Web video asking for money. This is your American political landscape, 2009!
Here’s what Wilson says in the video: "Hello, I'm Congressman Joe Wilson. I want to take this moment to speak to you directly. Last evening, I let my emotions get the best of me on the critical issue of health care. It was wrong. And I apologized to the president shortly afterwards and he has acknowledged my sincerity. This occurred after a month of town hall meetings and deeply emotional conversations I had with constituents who are as passionate as I am about this issue, who fear a government takeover of health care will reduce the quality of care and increase the cost of coverage. I will not be muzzled . I will speak up, and speak loudly against this risky plan. The supporters of the government takeover of health care and the liberals who want to give health care to illegals are using my opposition as an excuse to distract from the critical questions being raised about this poorly conceived plan. They want to silence anyone who speaks out against it. They made it clear they want to defeat me and pass the plan. I need your help now. If you agree with me that the government run health plan is bad medicine for America, then I ask for your support. Please go to JoeWilsonforCongress.com and contribute to my effort to defeat the proponents of government-run health care. Health care is a matter of life and death for so many. I choose life with health insurance reform. I hope you will join me in this effort."
CONTINUED >>
Federal authorities have
decided not to investigate Democrats’ claims that former U.S. Attorney
Chris Christie politicized the office during his tenure. Recent accusations focused on Christie’s conversations with
Karl Rove, advisor to
George W. Bush,
about running for governor. The Office of Special Counsel, which made
the decision not to investigate, said “it had no authority to
discipline Christie even if there was a violation.”
VIRGINIA: Here’s the new
Creigh Deeds ad, mentioned yesterday,
warning voters of Republican opponent
Bob McDonnell’s
plan to “take Virginia backwards.” Called “Restrict,” the ad cites
McDonnell’s introduction of “35 bills to restrict a woman’s right to
choose,” and his opposition to birth control for married adults.
The Virginia ad wars wage on, with the Republican Governors Association
releasing an ad on behalf of McDonnell, criticizing Deeds’ gas tax law proposals.
The
Weekly Standard unearthed
this 1999 statement from Creigh Deeds’ spokesman, sure to spark debate
in light of his attacks on Bob McDonnell’s controversial term paper on
conservative family issues: “Mr. Deeds does not support gay rights.
There is no law that says that gay partners can get health insurance.”
Weekly Standard: “That same year Deeds took out a full page ad
declaring his opposition to “special rights for gays… As evidence of
Deeds’ evolution on gay rights, however, in 2007 he did support the
right of same-sex couples to… get gym memberships at UVA. How
progressive!”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro President Obama 's speech last night, according to Communications Director Brad Woodhouse.
In addition to the dollar figure, Woodhouse said 381,000 people had signed a letter in support of health reform to members of Congress.
Woodhouse said the money figure and letter were evidence of "momentum for health reform."
"We expect both numbers to continue to grow," Woodhouse said. "We are particularly pleased at the number of people who are signing the letter to demonstrate their support for the President's plan."
From NBC's Ken Strickland, Betsy Cline, and Mark Murray While never condoning GOP Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst on the House floor yesterday, two Republicans leaders are making the point that Wilson's argument -- that illegal immigrants may in fact, albeit inadvertently, get health-care benefits under the reform proposals written in the House.
Yes, Republican Sen. Jon Kyl says, Obama was technically correct last night when he said that "the reforms I'm proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally." But Kyl argues that because the House's health reform bill does not explicitly require verification of eligibility -- proof that you are in fact a legal resident -- some undocumented immigrants may slip through the cracks.
"And so if there is no verification of eligibility required, it is quite likely -- indeed, I would say probable -- that a lot of people who are not eligible, including illegal immigrants, will end up receiving the benefits of the legislation," Kyl said at a news conference today.
Because there was no such requirement in the House bill, Republicans say they offered amendments to include verification measures, which are already used in other federal programs. Those amendments were defeated.
"There were two opportunities, in committee, for House Democrats to make clear that illegal immigrants would not be covered by putting in requirements to show citizenship," said House Minority Leader John Boehner .
However, for weeks, independent fact-checkers like PolitiFact and Factcheck.org have maintained that the House bill does NOT give illegal immigrants benefits like tax subsidies.
From NBC’s Athena Jones President Obama said a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau was just more proof that the time for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's health-care system is now.
The brief event with nurses was part of an effort to keep the pressure on Congress to pass reform this year.
"This morning, the Census Bureau released new data showing not only that the poverty rate increased last year at the highest rate since the early 1990s, but also that the number of uninsured rose in 2008," Obama said.
The Census report showed the number of people without health-insurance coverage rose by 600,000 to 46.3 million from 45.7 million over the last 12 months and that the number of people covered through their employers fell by 1.1 million to 176.3 million.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Luke Russert Joe Wilson’s (R-SC) office on Capitol Hill. On a normal day, one would be hard pressed to find more than a security guard in the Cannon office building at 6:30 a.m.
But when a sitting member of Congress shouts, “You lie” at the president of the United States during a joint session to Congress, normalcy not longer applies.
Starting at around 8:30 a.m. various groups supportive of Congressman Wilson’s comment began to stop by his office. First up: the Montgomery, Alabama Tea Party Patriots. When leaving the office, one of the four women that made up the group said, “He was right, and he needed to know it.”
Later, long-time anti-abortion rights activist Randall Terry, founder of “Operation Rescue,” stopped by to applaud Wilson’s effort.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mike Viqueira John Boehner was asked whether GOP behavior, aside from Wilson, was out of line last night, what with the audible scoffing and the shouting.
"Other than this one instance, nothing unusual happened on the floor," Boehner said.
He cautioned reporters: "Don't underestimate the amount of emotion that people are feeling."
When asked about the report, put forward by Barney Frank (D-MA), that GOP leadership has asked Wilson to apologize in the more formal and public setting of the House floor, Boehner would not confirm that he had done so.
However, he said, "I did have a conversation with Mr. Wilson."
From NBC's Simon Dedman and Domenico Montanaro President Obama , in a call with the UK's Prime Minister Gordon Brown , expressed disappointment over the release of Lockerbie bomber Megrahi, according to the White House and a Downing Street official.
The Downing Street spokesperson told NBC News London that Brown told Obama that the decision was made entirely by the Scottish Justice Minister.
The spokesperson also said they were not surprised by Obama's stance, as he had made it public before.
When asked by NBC News if President Obama enquired as to whether any rumors over oil deals between Libya and the UK played had any truth or why Britain's Justice Secretary Jack Straw had excluded Megrahi from its extradition treaty with Libya -- their line was that they would not comment on the president and prime minister's conversation.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama addressed the outburst by South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson after a Cabinet meeting this morning, saying he accepted the congressman's apology for having interrupted his speech to Congress.
During remarks, in which Obama sought to shoot down erroneous reports that his health care plan would cover illegal immigrants, Wilson shouted, "You lie" -- comments for which he apologized last night and again today.
The president said it was important to be able to discuss important issues civilly and that the media could help by not giving all its attention to the loudest and shrillest voices. He said the American people were turned off by name-calling and sharply ideological approaches to solving problems. Asked if he would speak with Wilson if the congressman called, the president said, "Oh, I talk to everybody."
Here are Obama's remarks:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Luke Russert and Mark Murray President Obama last night, embattled GOP Rep. Joe Wilson admitted that his outburst was wrong.
"Last night, I spoke to the leadership, and they wanted me to contact the White House and say that my statements were inappropriate. And I did," Wilson said at an impromptu press conference outside his congressional office. "I am very grateful that the White House in talking with them, they indicated that they appreciated the call and that we needed to have a civil discussion on the health-care issues."
Obama accepted Wilson's apology in remarks he made while huddling with his cabinet at the White House.
In his press conference on Capitol Hill, Wilson went on to say, "I am happy to discuss the health-care issues, in particular on the issue which I think is very important -- whether the bills cover illegal aliens or not. I was aware that there were two different amendments on the bills that provided for verification for persons having citizenship."
He continued, "We need to be discussing specifically to help the American people and that would not include illegal aliens."
However, independent fact-checking organizations like PolitiFact and Factcheck.org maintain that illegal immigrants would not benefit from the legislation moving through Congress. and
When asked whether or not his comments were premeditated, Wilson responded: "I will tell you this, it was spontaneous, it was when he stated as he did about not covering illegal aliens."
From NBC's Mike Viqueira Nancy Pelosi let it slip today that during last night's contretemps in the House chamber the parliamentarian handed her a list of options available to her as the presiding officer should the situation escalate. Pelosi would not get into specifics.
In response to a follow-up e-mail, an aide to Pelosi explains, "The option presented to her was to gavel the Chamber to order since she was the presiding officer. The Speaker deemed the action unnecessary."
She spoke on camera at her weekly session with Capitol reporters.
Pelosi, perhaps following the political maxim that holds when an opponent is heading off the side of the cliff you simply stand aside, says that while the episode was "unfortunate," it is time to "move along."
From NBC's Libby Leist
Hill described the Iran-Iraq relationship as "very malevolent" despite some close Shia ties. He said he has first-hand experience with Iranian weaponry being provided to Iraqi insurgent groups.
"One of Iranian weapons I found in the front yard of my house," he said, referring to a rocket that landed in the Green Zone early this year.
Hill described Iran's influence in Iraq as "a reality" that the U.S. must deal with, but he said as Iraqi presidential elections approach the U.S. will be closely watching whether Iran respects Iraq's sovereignty and whether Iran will support a long-term U.S.-Iraq relationship.
Hill is in Washington updating lawmakers about U.S.-Iraq strategy. He said the next 12 months will be "very critical" in bringing security to Iraq before the majority of U.S. troops leave in August 2010. Hill told the panel the U.S. goal is to "significantly reduce" its civilian presence as well.
Got a question about last night's speech? NBC's Chief White House Correspondent and Political Director Chuck Todd will be responding to viewers' questions in a chat session through Cover it Live today, from 12 pm to 12:30.
Click here at noon for the chat.
***UPDATE*** The chat has been moved to 12:15 pm.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg *** What the doctor ordered? For Democratic members of Congress who want to pass health-care reform this fall, President Obama's speech last night was probably just what the doctor ordered. In it, Obama demonstrated some leadership that even he himself admitted was lacking (“The time for bickering is over… Now is the season for action”); he unveiled more specifics (a mandate for employers and individuals, a price tag of $900 billion over 10 years); and he rallied his Democratic troops by invoking the late Ted Kennedy. What they didn’t hear, as expected, was a visible line in the sand on the public option (“We should remain open to other ideas that accomplish our ultimate goal”), although he once again stated his preference for it. Nor did Obama talk about raising taxes on the richest Americans, which probably has to occur to pay for the $900 billion reform. Still, the president sounded more like the guy who was in office the FIRST three months than the guy who has been in office the LAST three months.
*** Meeting his two goals : How will we know if the speech worked? The biggest clue: Whether congressional Democrats have political space to negotiate with each other. They needed the president to do a couple of things -- 1) calm down the political middle that reform isn't going make things worse, and 2) reassure the left that he's got a political spine. On those two scores, it was probably an effective speech. Don't get confused by the mention of Republicans and bipartisan rhetoric (floating the idea of a medical malpractice demonstration project) as the president's attempt to reach out to Republicans. That rhetoric was aimed as much at political independents to re-brand himself as the political pragmatist, adult, moderate, etc. in this debate.
*** Joe Wilson’s War : And what about the other side? Well, South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson didn’t help the GOP’s cause one bit. Indeed, the most effective part of Obama’s speech last night might not have been what he said -- but rather what Wilson yelled: “You lie.” It could be an incredibly important moment for the president and the congressional Dem leadership because it does a couple of things: 1) paint a picture of the Republicans as ornery and hard to work with, and 2) remind conservative Democrats that they may not want to line up with folks like Joe Wilson when casting votes. Let’s be honest: Wilson did more to undermine the GOP's efforts to come across as reasonable opposition as anything any conservative cable host has done in the past few months. Remember how conservatives were able to turn Cindy Sheehan into someone very difficult for the anti-war Democrats in Congress to support during the Bush years? Well, Wilson could end up providing that kind of symbolism. In short, he gave voice -- literally -- to the president's attempts to paint some of his opponents as shrill.
*** A verbal sucker punch : Wilson apologized last night in a statement (“I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility") and in a call to White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. But the damage was done and it may take a long time to repair. It was a sad day in Washington that polarization has gotten so bad that a member of Congress thinks it's appropriate to shout down the president. So what should Wilson's punishment be? After all, it was a verbal sucker punch, and we just saw one football player get suspended for the year for a sucker punch. By the way, the DCCC tells First Read that in the eight hours since Wilson's outburst, his Democratic opponent in 2010, former Marine Rob Miller, has received nearly 3,000 individual grassroots contributions, raising about $100,000.
*** What about the public option? The most fascinating part of reading the punditry and analysis of the speech is to see the number of DIFFERENT ways folks are reading between the lines regarding the president's stand on the public option. So on this score, he did NOTHING to clear up his position on this subject. Obviously, he made it pretty clear there's wiggle room here. And check what one liberal/progressive member of the House Dem caucus said last night to MSNBC’s Ed Schultz: “The progressives … are going to have a hard time just ignoring the president… The face that he showed he’s willing to get tough, I think may back some people down. I think some people were taking him for granted.” Folks, the public option needs an "al" at the end of the word option; the idea is "optional."
*** Other observations : The president decided to eliminate the illegal immigrant total from the uninsured estimates, so suddenly instead of 46 million uninsured the president put the number at approximately 30 million… What was under-reported was the financial trigger he promised. It strikes us as a "made for C.B.O." idea; that is, it's about making sure that his plan will score as deficit neutral… On TODAY this morning, Vice President Biden said he expects a "bill before Thanksgiving."
*** So what’s next? Need more evidence at whom last night’s speech was aimed? Just look at the president's schedule today: At 10:15 am ET, President Obama will deliver a few more remarks on health-care reform and will meet with his cabinet 30 minutes later. Then, later this afternoon, he meets with moderate Senate Democrats to discuss health care. According to NBC’s Ken Strickland, the invitees are members of the Moderate Dem Working Group and represent critical -- yet unsecured -- votes. For many of them, the notion of a government run health insurance program is a trouble spot and possible deal breaker. “I believe that we can make necessary reforms without creating a purely public, new government entitlement program," moderate Blanche Lincoln said in her statement following the speech. Still, the moderates were generally supportive of the president's broad case for healthcare reform, but none of them was moved enough by his speech to offer blanket support. "There are still obstacles ahead and I'll need to be convinced on some issues," Alaska Sen. Mark Begich said.
*** On to … Minnesota! However, it’s interesting that the White House has decided to do its first rally after the speech in the Democratic state of Minnesota. Not Nebraska, not Maine, not Iowa. In fact, he's going to the state which awarded his party its 60th Senate seat. Again, it's more evidence that the president's goal now is to unite the Democrats and do whatever it takes to keep the party together on this. In the Senate, that COULD mean wooing Republican Olympia Snowe whose support then gives cover to folks like Ben Nelson and Lincoln.
*** A goodbye and a welcome : Yesterday, retiring Florida Sen. Mel Martinez gave his farewell address from the Senate floor. Today, at 2:45 pm ET, his temporary replacement, George LeMieux, gets sworn in by Vice President Biden.
*** Austin City Limits : Finally, the Democratic National Committee today begins holding its fall meeting down in Austin, TX. (How did the DNC score hotel rooms during football season? Well, the Longhorns are on the road this weekend…)
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 54 days
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The Wall Street Journal on the details: “Calling the initiative ‘my plan,’ Mr. Obama set the size of a health-insurance plan at $900 billion over 10 years, a figure smaller than versions approved in the House and fully paid for, he said, by spending cuts and tax increases. Most individuals would be required to purchase health insurance, but the costs would be mitigated by generous tax credits. Large employers would also face a requirement to offer health coverage to employees or pay a fine, while most small businesses would be exempt.”
Also: “The president pledged to tackle medical-malpractice lawsuits in an overture to Republicans. He singled out his former presidential rival, Sen. John McCain, in embracing one of the Arizona Republican's health-care proposals. And he promised new cost controls that could scale back his plan if health-care inflation isn't brought under control.” Los Angeles Times writes, "President Obama's spirited defense Wednesday night of his broad healthcare goals avoided making concrete commitments on some of the most contentious issues, reflecting a guiding principle of his legislative strategy: to put off the most controversial decisions until the very last moment. It is a strategy born of political reality. At this stage of the process, when neither the House nor the Senate has even begun a floor debate, lining up firmly on one side or the other of the hot-button issues invites gridlock or even defeat."
The Boston Globe : “President Obama delivered an impassioned defense last night of his plan to overhaul the US health care system, accusing his critics of distorting his views while setting a tougher and more determined tone for the debate as it enters a crucial phase on Capitol Hill." And the first quote it uses from the president: “I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it’s better politics to kill this plan than improve it."
CONTINUED >>
Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg conducted a focus group/dial test on President Obama's health-care speech with 50 independents in Denver, CO -- half who voted for Obama last fall and half who voted for John McCain. In a conference call with reporters to discuss the findings, Greenberg said that before the speech, 23 of these independents supported Obama's call for reform, 23 opposed it, and four were undecided. After the speech, the number who said they supported reform jumped from 23 to 33.
The Washington Post’s Dan Balz : “It is rare for a presidency so young to have so much on the line. No single speech can create consensus on health-care legislation, and in that sense this was not the make-or-break moment described by some commentators. But Obama has staked his presidency on this issue, and his advisers knew it was long past time for him to assert himself in a more demonstrable way or risk seeing the entire enterprise slip away.”
The New York Times' Nagourney says the speech "was an attempt by this still new president to display his authority to a Congress that had begun to question his fortitude, to show that he was as strong a political leader as he was a political candidate and to show that he was not — to use the shorthand of the day — another Jimmy Carter: professorial, aloof, a micromanager who perhaps was not ready to be the nation’s chief executive... For nearly an hour, Mr. Obama spoke strongly and passionately, pausing only to acknowledge the repeated cheers from his audience as he made what appeared to be his clearest and most concise case yet on a complicated issue that had repeatedly defied his communications skills."
The Washington Times’ analysis : “The true measure of whether the young president succeeded at his high-risk mission will be whether he can build a bipartisan coalition among diverse constituencies and pass a bill through Congress that has eluded presidents and Congress for decades before him.”
CONTINUED >>
The
Boston Globe fact-checks the president's speech, pointing out: "Studies have shown that much preventive care - particularly tests like the ones Obama mentions - actually costs money instead of saving it." The Congressional Budget Office noted this earlier this year. It's because, apparently, the odds are that not everyone will get so sick later on that the preventative care saves money. But if everyone gets testing early, that's an upfront cost that doesn't exist and isn't counterbalanced by a smaller percentage getting more sick than they should have later. As the Globe writes, "That doesn’t mean preventive care doesn’t make sense or save lives. It just doesn’t save money."
The
AP also takes a stab and says the administration uses iffy math on claiming the bill will be deficit-neutral: "House Democrats offered a bill that the Congressional Budget Office said would add $220 billion to the deficit over 10 years. But Democrats and Obama administration officials claimed the bill actually was deficit-neutral. They said they simply didn't have to count $245 billion of it -- the cost of adjusting Medicare reimbursement rates so physicians don't face big annual pay cuts. Their reasoning was that they already had decided to exempt this 'doc fix' from congressional rules that require new programs to be paid for. In other words, it doesn't have to be paid for because they decided it doesn't have to be paid for."
As for illegal immigrants benefiting from reform: "The facts back up Obama. The House version of the health care bill explicitly prohibits spending any federal money to help illegal immigrants get health care coverage. Illegal immigrants could buy private health insurance, as many do now, but wouldn't get tax subsidies to help them. Still, Republicans say there are not sufficient citizenship verification requirements to ensure illegal immigrants are excluded from benefits they are not due." As far as those "verification requirements" that Republicans are hanging their hats on, there aren't any now. They are required by a law written during a Republican presidency, to be treated in an emergency room.
And on Medicare not being touched: "Although wasteful spending in Medicare is widely acknowledged, many experts believe some seniors almost certainly would see reduced benefits from the cuts. That's particularly true for the 25 percent of Medicare users covered through Medicare Advantage. Supporters contend that providers could absorb the cuts by improving how they operate and wouldn't have to reduce benefits or pass along costs. But there's certainly no guarantee they wouldn't."
Vice President Biden said Joe Wilson's outburst "demeaned the institution ." He said he was "embarrassed for the chamber and a Congress I love."
Dana Milbank writes that Wilson’s heckling was only the most flagrant outburst. “There was booing from House Republicans when the president caricatured a conservative argument by saying they would ‘leave individuals to buy health insurance on their own.’ They hissed when he protested their ‘scare tactics.’ They grumbled as they do in Britain's House of Commons when Obama spoke of the ‘blizzard of charges and countercharges.’
“When he asserted that ‘nothing in this plan will require you or your employer to change the coverage or the doctor you have,’ there was scoffing and outright laughter on the GOP side. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (Tex.) shook his head in disbelief. Several Republicans shouted "What plan?" and Rep. Louis Gohmert (Tex.) waved at Obama a handwritten poster he made on a letter-size piece of paper: ‘WHAT PLAN?’ Gohmert then took that down and replaced it with another handmade poster that said ‘WHAT BILL?’”
CONTINUED >>
For most observers who listened to the Supreme Court hearing yesterday,
it seems the consensus is that the court could very well overturn much of the campaign finance system giving corporations and unions more power to spend money.
CONNECTICUT : "In the end, Dodd chose to remain at the helm of the Banking Committee in hopes that he can steer a troubled sector in the right direction and move the focus away from his personal and political problems of the last year," The Hill writes. "Dodd has said that if he takes care of business at his job, the politics would take care of itself."
MASSACHUSETTS : The Democrats' 60th Senate vote, which could come via appointment in Massachusetts, is still an elusive target. The state's OTHER senator, John Kerry, testified before a committee hearing in the state legislature to make his case, using the need for a 60th vote in the current debate on health care.
NEW JERSEY : The Star Ledger : “Christie renewed his attacks on Gov. Jon Corzine, criticizing the incumbent’s history on Wall Street and chiding what he called Corzine “lobbying” to help Enron deceive its investors.” These accusations come as Christie “portrays himself as a non-Wall Street regular “Jersey guy” -- a Trenton outsider.” Christie, however, was a “registered Statehouse lobbyist” before becoming U.S. Attorney, “who at times even worked to further positions at odds with what he now espouses on the campaign trail,” lobbying for, among others, the Securities Industry Association, a Wall Street trade organization. Christie deflected questions about his own record yesterday, saying Corzine is “’selective’ about his own history: “I guess he thinks everybody in New Jersey has amnesia about what he’s been doing over the years.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ken Strickland Chuck Grassley and Mike Enzi would pull out bipartisan health-care negotiations this week, they haven't. This afternoon, Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said the bipartisan group -- the "Gang of Six" -- will meet again tomorrow.
"That's been the same story for seven months," Grassley said today referring to claims that Republicans were on the verge with pulling out of the talks. "There hasn't been on harsh word said at any of those meetings. So we're still having a very friendly discussion."
Republicans continued participation, particularly by stalwarts Grassley and Enzi, may blunt some criticism that the GOP isn't serious about health-care reform. While Democrats argue that Grassley and Enzi won't support the bill in the end -- that they're negotiating in bad faith -- they have not called it quits just yet.
Their continued participation also may give Republicans ammunition against Democratic desires to use the procedural tool known as "reconciliation," a filibuster-proof way of pushing legislation through the Senate.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Charles Boustany (R-LA), who will deliver tonight's GOP response to President Obama's speech tonight, will say that Republicans wants to work with the president on health care -- but also that they want Democrats to start over.
“Republicans are pleased that President Obama came to the Capitol tonight," Boustany is expected to say. "We agree much needs to be done to lower the cost of health care for all Americans. On that goal, Republicans are ready -- and we’ve been ready -- to work with the president for common-sense reforms that our nation can afford.”
Also: "It's clear the American people want health care reform, but they want their elected leaders to get it right. Most Americans wanted to hear the president tell Speaker Pelosi , Majority Leader Reid and the rest of Congress that it's time to start over on a common-sense, bipartisan plan focused on lowering the cost of health care while improving quality. That's what I heard over the past several months in talking to thousands of my constituents. Replacing your family's current health care with government-run health care is not the answer. In fact, it'll make health care much more expensive."
From NBC's Mark Murray President Obama's remarks tonight. And, per these remarks, it appears he will come out swinging on health care.
"I am not the first president to take up this cause," he is expected to say, "but I am determined to be the last."
More: "[T]he time for bickering is over. The time for games has passed. Now is the season for action. Now is when we must bring the best ideas of both parties together, and show the American people that we can still do what we were sent here to do. Now is the time to deliver on health care."
Later, he adds: "And I will continue to seek common ground in the weeks ahead. If you come to me with a serious set of proposals, I will be there to listen. My door is always open.
"But know this: I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it’s better politics to kill this plan than improve it. I will not stand by while the special interests use the same old tactics to keep things exactly the way they are. If you misrepresent what’s in the plan, we will call you out. And I will not accept the status quo as a solution. Not this time. Not now."
As far as the particulars go, Obama will say that the reform he seeks will accomplish three goals. "It will provide more security and stability to those who have health insurance. It will provide insurance to those who don’t. And it will slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government. It’s a plan that asks everyone to take responsibility for meeting this challenge – not just government and insurance companies, but employers and individuals. And it’s a plan that incorporates ideas from Senators and Congressmen; from Democrats and Republicans – and yes, from some of my opponents in both the primary and general election."
The Democratic National Committee
released an ad yesterday saying that
Republicans in Congress "voted to abolish Medicare." The ad responds to
GOP claims that Democratic plans for health care reform would mean cuts
to care for the elderly and disabled.
In a conference call with reporters today, DNC spokesman
Brad Woodhouse
denied that changes to Medicare would negatively affect seniors'
health. He declined to get into specifics about how the Democrats plan
to pay for health-care reform, deferring instead to the president's
speech before the joint sessions of Congress this evening.
There have been several iterations of how Democrats plan to pay for the
bill, and the president has expressed some support for things like
taxing the wealthiest Americans, the wealthiest health-care plans and a
possible soda tax. Nothing is for certain, however. What is certain, is
that the president has vowed that health reform would be
deficit-neutral.
CONTINUED >>
NBC’s Brian Williams interviewed White House adviser David Axelrod today ahead of the president’s speech tonight.
He indicates that Obama will be more specific in his joint address to Congress tonight than he has been previously on health care. Tonight, Obama, he said, will not draw a line in the sand on the public option. He also indicated the president is willing to go it alone -- without Republicans -- if necessary, since many are simply playing politics. Obama, he said, has “had more consultation across party lines, I would hazard a guess than any president-- in recent-- history.”
Axelrod also blamed the news media, in part, for the White House behind on the message on health care.
Here’s the transcript:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: Part of why your administration is in this position tonight, you've been rolled by the opposition on a couple of points. Town hall meetings have exploded across the country. There's this notion that was in the public that there would be death panels. Who is responsible for that?
DAVID AXELROD: Well Brian, first of all, let me challenge-- your research, and I'll tell you what position we're in tonight. We're in a position to complete a historic-- health reform. And I think we're closer than we've been in our lifetime-- to doing that. We allowed the Congress to work-- a lot of ideas were on the table, and there's been some mischief-- out there.
Most of the change, almost all the change in polling did not occur in the month of August, even as-- some of the m-- louder voices got quite a bit of time on your air-- and others. Tonight, the President can bring the strands of-- ideas together, Republican and Democrat, and present a plan that will bring security and stability to people who have insurance, and help those who don't, get the insurance-- that they can afford. And I think that's-- will be an extraordinary achievement for-- the American people.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro L.A. Times on the numerology of today's date -- and even what it means for President Obama 's speech tonight.
It's all pretty out there, but fun anyway.
"Historically, the number 9 was the good luck charm of the Emperor of China, whose robes had nine dragons. The reason: the number 9 sounds like the word long-lasting."
Because of that, there were thousands of marriages in China and Southeast Asia today. Even Vegas capitalized:
"[T]he Stratosphere was offering quickie weddings, hoping to marry off 99 couples at 9:09 p.m. for a fee of $99.09 each."
But for Obama:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama used his remarks at a memorial service for a legendary newsman to share his thoughts on the current state of the news media and to make the case for improving standards.
The president hailed CBS's Walter Cronkite for the high standards, honesty and objectivity he applied to the pursuit of journalism and said that he had benefited as a citizen from the anchor's "dogged pursuit of the truth."
"He never dared compromise his integrity," Obama said as spoke of the man who came to be known as "the most trusted man in news," a man he said he was sorry he did not know personally.
Obama has often lamented the consequences of an increasingly rapid, profit-driven news business. Today, he said the new model meant that Cronkite's high standard of responsibility was "a little bit harder to find today." Cronkite was a man who saw journalism as a public good vital to American democracy, who "calmly and authoritatively" told the American people what they needed to know, Obama said, adding that his "trusted" title was not given to him by a network or an advertising campaign, it was earned.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Chris Dodd will stay as chairman of the Banking Committee and won't take over the reins of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee that Ted Kennedy chaired. “We all had hoped that Teddy would be able to come back to see this through," Dodd said in a statement. "Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. But I intend to keep the promise I made. And so, I am pleased that I will able to continue the role he asked me to take on as the HELP Committee’s leader on health care reform."
“But," Dodd added, "we have important work to do on the Banking Committee, and I intend to see it through as chairman. The Banking Committee is of vital importance to Connecticut, responsible for issues central to the economic security and prosperity of the people of my state."
Taking over the chairmanship of the HELP Committee will be Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin , who is the current chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Stepping into that Ag position in the musical chairs is Sen. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, which could help her in her re-election effort next year.
From NBC's Ken Strickland Max Baucus says he'll introduce a bill to the full committee sometime in the next week or so with OR WITHOUT Republican support.
He also said there are not enough votes in the Senate to pass the "public option," based on public and private conversations he's had with his colleagues.
From NBC's Luke Russert
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) said, "As members of the Congressional Black Caucus, we are unwavering in our support of a robust public option." When asked by NBC News whether or not the CBC would join Republicans and vote against a healthcare reform bill that did not have a public option, Lee explained "We are going to continue to fight and work hard to make sure it is included." That answer however, seemed to leave some wiggle room.
Benjamin Todd Jealous, President of the NAACP cranked up the rhetoric in support of a public option saying, "What a public option is all about is trying to give American's the very essence of free market capitalism, choice and competition."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Pete Williams
Based on the comments from the justices today during an unusual summer argument session, the court appears to be inclined to strike down decades of federal laws and court decisions that have limited who can buy political campaign ads. At stake are laws that ban corporations and labor unions from spending their own money to run ads that attack or support candidates, and ads that even mention a candidate's name in the months leading to elections.
The conservative backers of the "Hillary: The Movie" documentary argued today that the laws are a violation of free speech, and at least five justices appeared today to agree.
From NBC's Savannah Guthrie
He'll visit the Twin Cities Saturday for a rally. An adminstration official says it will be the first of many such events the president will do over the coming weeks as health care is debated in Congress.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Obama's three audiences: Perhaps the best way to view (and also judge) President Obama's health-care address tonight is to consider that he's speaking to three audiences. The first is ordinary American voters -- call them Joe and Jane from Kansas City. What we've picked up from the White House is that the president isn’t expected to get into the legislative weeds in tonight’s speech, but instead hopes to explain to Joe and Jane that his health-care reform will 1) cover nearly everyone and 2) cut costs in the long run. If that message isn’t hammered home to Joe and Jane, then the White House will consider tonight’s speech a failure. By the way, Joe and Jane in Kansas City live in the geographic AND political middle.
*** Fixing the public option fetish: But the speech also will be a failure if progressives -- Obama’s second audience tonight -- are still obsessing over the public option a week from now. We've said this before and we'll say it again: Obama never made the public option the focus of his health-care ideas, in the primaries or in general election. In fact, he never uttered the words "public option" or "public plan" in his big campaign speeches on health care. But there is no doubt that the public option has fired up the left, and how he sells them near-universal coverage and lower costs -- even if it means no public plan -- could very well be the trickiest part of tonight's speech. Indeed, that the White House allowed this to become the be-all, end-all on the left ("Public option or die!") remains a mystery. On TODAY this morning, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that “there can be no reform without adequate choice and competition,” but didn’t say that choice and competition had to come from a public option.
*** Wiggle room: Here's one more thought on the public option: House Democratic leaders already seem to be softening their insistence on it. Yesterday, the top three House Dems -- Pelosi, Hoyer, and Clyburn -- all left themselves some wiggle room on the issue. "If the public option isn't in there, I still could support a bill, because I think there is a lot in there that is good," Hoyer said, per NBC’s Luke Russert. On MSNBC, Clyburn didn't draw a line on the sand on the issue either, saying that a "trigger" delaying a public option would be acceptable. And while Pelosi maintained that the public option was essential, she also said this: “We will have a public option in our [House] bill,” which seemed to leave open the possibility that the final conference bill might omit it. By the way, the left should be happy about one thing: The compromise talk appears to revolve around the trigger, which keeps the potential for a public option alive. What aren't we hearing about anymore? Co-ops.
*** Snowe patrol: If there's a third audience tonight -- following Joe and Jane from Kansas City and progressives -- it's the lone Republican who remains a real player on health care: Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe. Her support, and her ability to bring along a conservative Democrat like Ben Nelson on something like the trigger, is the formula for Democrats getting 60 in the Senate and being able to bypass the tricky (and uncertain) reconciliation process. How important has Snowe become? Important enough that the liberal group Health Care for America Now (HCAN) is running a grassroots and advertising campaign just in Maine, which stresses that reform must include 1) allowing people to keep their health insurance if they like it; 2) forcing the insurers to behave; and 3) providing a public insurance option.
*** Great expectations: The sky is falling and tonight’s speech is the only thing standing in the way of a political collapse!!!!! OK, that's not true. But judging by some of the breathless coverage, there certainly are incredible expectations for tonight's speech. The only thing folks aren't expecting, apparently, is for the president to announce, in detail, how he'll cure cancer. Every single news organization seems to be putting this speech in "do-or-die" terms. That said, in his interview with ABC this morning, Obama admitted to one thing that many inside the White House have whispered on background but ever never said on the record: that he left too much ambiguity, and that was because they left the details to Congress. It may be a "Captain Obvious" observation, but coming directly from the president is telling. That does sound like a president whose intent is grab hold of the health-care debate and own the legislation.
*** The skinny on tonight’s speech: Obama delivers his speech to a joint session of Congress at 8:00 pm ET (and this morning he will speak at Walter Cronkite’s funeral service in New York). Republicans have tapped GOP Rep. Charles Boustany of Louisiana, a doctor, to give the Republican response to Obama’s address. Also, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner will hold a news conference in the early afternoon to discuss what they see as the need for responsible, bipartisan health-care reform in advance of Obama’s address tonight.
*** Palin returns … to the op-ed pages: Sure to take up a large part of the health-care discussion between now and when Obama delivers his remarks later tonight, Sarah Palin has penned an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal arguing that the health-care legislation that has emerged so far from Congress has failed to live up to Obama’s promises. More significantly perhaps, she once again raises the specter of these two words: “death panels.” She writes, “Establishment voices dismissed that phrase, but it rang true for many Americans. Working through ‘normal political channels,’ they made themselves heard, and as a result Congress will likely reject a wrong-headed proposal to authorize end-of-life counseling in this cost-cutting context. But the fact remains that the Democrats' proposals would still empower unelected bureaucrats to make decisions affecting life or death health-care matters. Such government overreaching is what we've come to expect from this administration.”
*** 'Gang of Six' update: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus told his bipartisan group trying to write a health-care reform bill that if a deal can be struck, he wants it done today before President Obama addresses a joint session of Congress, NBC’s Ken Strickland says. Without specifically laying out a deadline, he suggested the talks will end soon. Baucus will meet with Finance Committee Democrats in the morning (11:00 am ET); the entire Senate Democratic caucus in its weekly luncheon in the afternoon (12:30 pm); and the "Gang of Six" later in the day (TBD). What will happen at 10:00 am? Will Grassley and Enzi present a counterproposal, making it unlikely Baucus has any official bill to present to his committee before the president's speech? Or will Baucus digest the counterproposal quickly in order to stay a player? If the president presents a plan before Baucus, does that make his committee no more than a legislative rubber stamp and Baucus himself less relevant? Who has more sway at this point with Snowe: Baucus or the president?
*** Perception vs. reality: As we mentioned yesterday, the other big political event today is the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments in the Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission case, which could end up overturning precedents on restrictions over corporate and union advertising in elections. This comes as a new Gallup poll has this stunning finding: More folks believe the Supreme Court is “too liberal” versus “too conservative.” It’s the first time there has been a significant liberal perception advantage over the conservatives since before John Roberts joined the court. By the way, 50% said the court was "about right" -- the highest number Gallup's recorded in TWO DECADES.
*** Dodd to remain at Banking? It looks like Chris Dodd is going to buck the C.W. and keep his Senate Banking Committee gavel and not take over the Senate HELP Committee, chaired by the late Ted Kennedy. Dodd is supposed to make his decision public today. This would mean Tom Harkin would be next in line to take over Senate HELP. This is a mild surprise and something the left would be happy about, given that the initial response about Sen. Tim Johnson taking over Banking was not good. Also, worth noting: There was some concern among those trying to re-write the regulations for the financial world (which is perhaps the biggest story few are covering in Washington right now) that Johnson didn't have the staff in place to handle the other BIG legislative fight this year, financial reform.
*** Martinez’s exit: Finally today, retiring Sen. Mel Martinez (R) gives his farewell speech from the Senate floor at 10:30 am ET. His successor, George LeMieux, whom Florida Gov. (and Senate candidate) Charlie Crist appointed, will be sworn in on Thursday at 2:45 pm.
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 55 days
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The New York Times front-pages that the chances for passing health-care reform are MUCH better than some might think after a tough summer for Democrats. “The conventional wisdom, here and around the country, is that the centerpiece of President Obama’s domestic agenda -- remaking the health care system to cut costs and cover the uninsured -- is on life support and that only a political miracle could revive it. Here’s why the conventional wisdom might be wrong:
“While the month of August clearly knocked the White House back on its heels, as Congressional town hall-style meetings exposed Americans’ unease with an overhaul, the uproar does not seem to have greatly altered public opinion or substantially weakened Democrats’ resolve.Critical players in the health care industry remain at the negotiating table, meaning they are not out whipping up public or legislative opposition. Despite tensions between moderate and liberal Democrats, there is broad agreement within the party over most of what a package would look like.”
"In a primetime address, Obama is expected to provide a new level of detail about what he hopes to accomplish -- essentially defining what a victory would look like," The Boston Globe writes. "It is an effort that the president and his advisers see as crucial to regaining influence over a debate that in recent weeks has been defined largely by the president’s critics."
The New York Post's lead : "President Obama will deliver a make-or-break speech on health care tonight as he tries to revive his plan in the face of plunging public support, defections by key Democratic allies, and the aftermath of a month of brutal criticism in town-hall meetings across the country."
CONTINUED >>
The Hill and Roll Call noticed, as we did, that congressional liberals, including the top three Dem House leaders -- Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn -- showed some room for compromise on the public option.
The Hill: "Political momentum appeared to swing sharply against the public health insurance option prized by liberals Tuesday, on the eve of President Barack Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress. Democratic leaders in the House and Senate on Tuesday signaled they are increasingly willing to pass healthcare reform without a public insurance option, even while Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) again insisted it must be included in a House healthcare bill."
Roll Call : "Amid fresh signs that the White House is preparing to back a scaled-down health care overhaul that would only include a public insurance option as a fallback plan, several House liberals told Roll Call that they could support such a bill depending on how it was structured. The 'trigger' approach has been considered a deal-killer by liberals on and off Capitol Hill, and the willingness of some Congressional Progressive Caucus members to entertain it reflects a recognition that a bruising August recess has imperiled prospects for reform and redrawn expectations for what is possible."
Has the Baucus bill become less relevant than it was two weeks ago?
CONTINUED >>
MASSACHUSETTS: The Dem primary field gets more crowded ; that only helps Martha Coakley, by the way. Meanwhile, one of the characters of MA politics, Christy Mihos, is pondering a GOP run. The only major player left on the Dem side we haven't heard from: Nikki Tsongas.
State Treasurer Tim Cahill is running for governor as an independent. Though he's a longtime Democrat, he switched this summer.
NEW JERSEY: The Corzine camp yesterday unveiled a new TV ad on the economy. “Only one candidate can lead us through these tough times,” the ad goes. “Jon Corzine created the nation’s first economic recovery plan. It’s beginning to work. Thousands of new private sector jobs – bucking the national trend… But Chris Christie’s so partisan he’d reject President Obama’s stimulus funds – driving up property taxes $2 billion. Chris Christie - the same Bush policies that got us into this mess.”
VIRGINIA: The latest hit perhaps undermining Bob McDonnell's efforts to run as a moderate. The Washington Post reports on comments he made back in 2003, when he told “one newspaper that ‘certain homosexual conduct’ could disqualify a person from being a judge because it violates the state's crimes against nature law.”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ali Weinberg Rep.
Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) and actress
Fran Drescher from the CBS sitcom "The Nanny" criticized
a new TV ad by the conservative Independent Women's Forum, which cites a study concluding that "government control of health care [in the U.S.] could have meant that 300,000 women with breast cancer might have died."
The report in question was published in 2008 by the British medical journal Lancet, comparing five-year breast cancer survival rates in England, which has government-run health care, with those in the U.S.
Wasserman-Schultz, who like Drescher is a cancer survivor, called the ad's use of the study "the most outrageous scare tactic that I've seen in this debate."
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Signatories include Karl Rove, Sarah Palin, John Podhoretz, Amb. Ryan Crocker, Paul Bremer, Bill Kristol, Randy Scheunemann, Jennifer Rubin, Dan Senor, et al.
It's certainly a case of strange bedfellows. Liberals are moving increasingly against the war in Afghanistan, and American public opinion has indicated a frustration and impatience with the eight-year-old war. This letter is further evidence, as we've written in First Read, that on the war in Afghanistan, this Democratic president is in the odd position of REPUBLICANS being his base of support.
Here's the full letter:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ken Strickland Max Baucus . The chairman told reporters moments ago he would give the gang until 10:00 am ET tomorrow to submit any changes to his proposal.
That will be followed up with a afternoon meeting in which, we suspect, there will be a determination if there is an agreement or not.
In short, it should all come down to tomorrow for any hope of a bipartisanship plan.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Gov. Sarah Palin was invited to testify before the New York state Senate Aging Committee by its Chairman, Rev. Ruben Diaz . Instead of testifying, Palin has submitted written testimony, and publicizes it via her latest Facebook "Note."
In it, she defends her contention that there are, in fact, "death panels" in health-care legislation being considered in Congress -- despite independent fact-checkers repeatedly debunking the notion.
"A great deal of attention was given to my use of the phrase 'death panel' in discussing such rationing," Palin writes. "Despite repeated attempts by many in the media to dismiss this phrase as a 'myth', its accuracy has been vindicated."
She also claims that "Advance Care Planning Consultation" will have a "coercive effect" on seniors.
"These consultations are authorized whenever a Medicare recipient's health changes significantly or when they enter a nursing home, and they are part of a bill whose stated purpose is 'to reduce the growth in health care spending,'" Palin writes.
Therefore, she concludes: "Is it any wonder that senior citizens might view such consultations as attempts to convince them to help reduce health care costs by accepting minimal end-of-life care?"
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Mark Murray Mark Sanford (R) resign from office.
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer , who would succeed Sanford in office, also has asked for the governor's resignation.
"It was with much thought and trepidation that I came to this conclusion," Harrell said in a statement. "I did so only after I spoke with colleagues in the Legislature, talked with leaders in our communities, heard from numerous citizens from across the state and carefully reviewed the facts surrounding the situation."
*** UPDATE *** Read Harrell's full letter to Sanford after the jump.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Luke Russert Steny Hoyer (D-MD) hinted that he would support a health-care reform bill without a government funded public option: "I think the bill if you didn't have a public option has much that is very good and moves us forward." He continued, "If the public option isn't in there, I still could support a bill, because I think there is a lot in there that is good."
Recently, the public option has proved a significant point of contention within the Democratic Party. The Progressive Caucus as well as the Congressional Black Caucus and other left-leaning orders within the party have said they will not support a bill that does not include a "robust public option." In late July, Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), a leader in the Progressive Caucus said her group would "demand that the final healthcare legislation has a robust public option and to vow we will vote against it if it does not."
Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in a statement said, "A bill without a strong public option will not pass the House. Eliminating the public option would be a major victory for the insurance companies who have rationed care, increased premiums and denied coverage."
Today it looks like Hoyer, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, is differing with Pelosi on this divisive issue. Earlier today on MSNBC, the No. 3 Democrat, Jim Clyburn, also indicated he could support a bill that did not include the public option.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro and Ken Strickland Max Baucus sent out to the "Gang of Six." The 18-page document lays out principles for health reform, including a health insurance exchange, tax credits for small businesses, increased funding for so-called "high-risk pools" of patients, but, as expected, no public option.
The framework was sent out to the bipartisan negotiators over the weekend. They were to read it over and consider it. We'll see if Republicans Chuck Grassley and Mike Enzi stay or go -- and what they point to in this document if they decide to pull out from negotiations. They are set to meet at 2:30 this afternoon.
The framework does include co-ops, which were born in this committee. It tries to describe what they actually are. And it outlines fines for individuals and families if they fail to purchase health insurance:
For taxpayers between 100-300% of poverty, the penalty for failing to obtain health coverage is $750 per year with a maximum penalty per family of $1500. For taxpayers with incomes above 300% of poverty, the penalty for failing to obtain coverage is $950 per year with a maximum penalty per family of $3800.
There will, however, also be tax credits to help some families:
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Ken Strickland When the Senate convenes at 2:00 pm ET today, there will be a moment of silence for the late Sen.
Ted Kennedy .
From NBC's Athena Jones
During a Back-to-School event with students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va., the president was asked what advice he would give to a young person who hopes to one day be president.
Be careful what you post on Facebook, because whatever you do, it will come up later in your life, Obama told a class of about 30 ninth-graders gathered in the school library.
"I've been hearing a lot about young people who, you know, they're posting stuff on Facebook and then suddenly they go apply for a job and somebody's done a search and, you know, so that's some practical political advice," Obama said.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Chuck Todd and Mark Murray John Boehner's office has announced that Louisiana GOP Rep. Charles Boustany , a doctor, will deliver the GOP response to President Obama's health-care address tomorrow night.
"Dr. Boustany has been a tireless advocate for reform that lowers health care costs and expands access for the American people at a price our nation can afford," Boehner said in a statement. "He understands why a Washington bureaucrat - as Democrats have proposed - should never get between a doctor and his patient. I'm pleased Charles has agreed to speak to the American people about a Republican vision for reform and the need for both parties to come together to craft a responsible proposal at a time when people across the country are focused on jobs."
From NBC's Mark Murray Creigh Deeds (D) has a new spot on the issue of education.
Meanwhile, Bob McDonnell's (R) campaign is focusing on the economy, issuing this release...
McDonnell: Endorsed by Virginia's Small Business Owners; Voted for over $2billion in Tax Cuts; Carried Legislation to Kill Death Tax
From NBC's Mark Murray
The one-minute ad by the group Americans for Stable Quality Care will air in Indiana, Maine, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Colorado, Florida, Alaska, Iowa, Montana Nevada and South Dakota, as well as on cable and DC broadcast.
The ad is part of Americans for Stable Quality Care's $12 million buy it announced last month.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg A September to remember? President Obama is back at work. So is Congress. And it’s shaping up to be the busiest September we can remember for an off-year. Here's everything coming up before end of the month: health care, including the president’s big speech on the topic tomorrow; the Supreme Court’s hearing tomorrow regarding Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission (more on that below); the 9/11 anniversary, which will lead to discussion about Afghanistan; the anniversary of Lehman Brothers’ fall, which will lead to more discussion about the economy; the G20; UN General Assembly; Middle East peace talks; and Iran talk threats. Whew...
*** Obama’s big test : Tomorrow’s health-care speech is shaping up to be a big test for President Obama. Financial observer Ron Insana made this observation in an online debate that we thought was worthy of highlighting: "It appears the president is becoming ‘Carteresque’ in the extreme. It took Carter years to engage in this much waffling and indecision, not to mention a propensity to micromanage the wrong stuff. I rarely, if ever, suggest a premature end to a cycle, but Obama could easily ruin his presidency in the next week with an amateurish move.” While Insana might be writing history a wee bit early here, he is getting at something that few people are focusing on: This week is as much a presidential leadership/character test, as it is a debate about health care. How the president takes control of this town this week -- not just health care -- is going to be a tone-setter potentially for how the president runs this town for the rest of his term.
*** Whither the public option : It isn’t clear how hard the president will fight for the public option. He will express support for it, as he did in Cincinnati yesterday. “I continue to believe that a public option within that basket of insurance choices will help improve quality and bring down costs,” he said. Yet buried in Obama’s rah-rah speech was some language that suggests he's going to be asking for leeway from Democrats to get this done. He talked about 80% of agreement (a familiar phrase) and framed the opposition on this as wanting to do "nothing." That's code for, let's get SOMETHING, as the president has said before; don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Still, that isn’t stopping the advocates for a public option. Today, at 12:15 pm ET former staffers who worked on Obama’s campaign will rally outside the White House in support of the public option.
*** Crunch time for the Gang of Six : A decision on whether three Senate Republicans (Chuck Grassley, Mike Enzi, Olympia Snowe) will support a bipartisan proposal for health-care reform may come as early as this afternoon -- if not sooner, NBC’s Ken Strickland reports. This past weekend, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus put an offer before the panel's bipartisan Gang of Six and is seeking a response when the group meets today. Baucus' framework, Strick adds, represents most of the ideas that have been previously discussed and reported on during the past months of negotiations. Those ideas have now been packaged into a proposal that cost less that $900 billion and does not increase the deficit. As expected, it does not include a "public option," but instead creates healthcare cooperatives or "co-ops." This is a significant point in the legislative process because Grassley and Enzi must now accept or reject the bipartisan group’s work.
*** So why now? Baucus has been taking FOREVER and then suddenly, a few days after the White House announces it’s going to begin framing the debate with its own speech Wednesday, Baucus releases his framework. Our sources indicate to us that Baucus sped up the process because he knew the committee, himself included, risked becoming less relevant in the debate if it did NOT have a bill by Wednesday's speech.
*** Move along, folks; nothing to see here : After reading Obama’s education speech that the White House released 24 hours before he delivers it at Wakefield (VA) High School at noon ET today, do some Republicans and conservatives -- accused Obama of “socialist” indoctrination” -- have egg on their face? Here’s an excerpt of Obama’s message today: “Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.” Also: “No one’s born being good at things, you become good at things through hard work.” And: “The story of America isn’t about people who quit when things got tough. It’s about people who kept going, who tried harder, who loved their country too much to do anything less than their best.”
*** Fired up, ready to go : Of course, some conservatives argue that it wasn't Obama’s education speech they were objecting to; it was the lesson plan focus they didn't like. But that got lost. They may have an ideological issue with the Education Department, but the criticism of the president himself came across as undignified. By the way, the White House is hinting that it plans to fight back more directly on some of the attacks it has faced. Regarding the education speech criticism, for instance, the president and his team believe they need to not brush off these things but start confronting it and using it as an attempt to create a wedge between the political middle and the conservative base. In fact, we're told that the president's feisty tone in Cincy yesterday was a result of the staff pumping him up a bit, or getting him worked up.
*** Van Jones resigns : Speaking of distractions, Glenn Beck got his man -- Van Jones, who resigned from the administration over the weekend. And judging by how Beck responded to the news of the resignation of the mid-level staffer, he won't be satisfied with this scalp. Beck made it sound like he might even have a list of "Who's next," which will embolden defenders of the administration to start focusing on Beck and others. In short, it could be an ugly fall. And it makes us miss the "good old days," when the Wall Street Journal editorial page led the fight to take down some Clinton administration officials with long "Who is Webb Hubbell?" or "Who is Vince Foster?," etc. Those Wall Street Journal editorials were tough, but they did seem to stay within certain boundaries. Are there boundaries now? As for Jones, clearly, that 9/11 stuff made him indefensible and does call into question the White House's vetting process. The irony in all of this: Beck never lost his job for calling Obama a racist, but Jones did…
*** Joe says no : Yesterday, Joseph Kennedy II, RFK’s son, said he WOULD NOT run for Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat. “My father called politics an honorable profession, and I have profound respect for those who choose to advance the causes of social and economic justice in elective office,” he said in a statement. “After much consideration, I have decided that the best way for me to contribute to those causes is by continuing my work at Citizens Energy Corporation.”
*** Money finds a way : Honest question: If the Roberts Court ends up overturning precedents upholding restrictions on campaign advertisements financed by corporations and unions, can conservatives ever rail against "judicial activism" with a straight face? The Supreme Court -- with newly minted Justice Sonia Sotomayor -- holds a GIGANTIC hearing in this case, Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission, on Wednesday. All of the hints are there that this Roberts Court might just overturn many of the campaign finance reforms out there that involve corporate spending. What would the unintended consequences of such a decision be? Would it automatically mean we'd see corporate America spend more money in elections? The C.W. says this will help Republicans, but will it? Remember when the soft money ban was supposed to benefit the GOP? Our point is – you just never know. What we do know is that the system would change and, well, to paraphrase Jeff Goldblum's character in “Jurassic Park,” money finds a way.
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 56 days
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After Obama's "fired up" speech yesterday before unions, the New York Daily News puts the president on its cover with this headline: "It's now or never."
The New York Times on yesterday’s Obama speech in Cincinnati: “The president told thousands of cheering unionized workers that Congress should stop debating, because ‘it’s time to act and get this done.’ ‘I’ve got a question for all those folks who say we’re going to pull the plug on Grandma,’ the president thundered. ‘What’s your answer? What’s your solution? And you know what? They don’t have one. Their answer is to do nothing.’”
The Washington Post : "In the lead-up to President Obama's critical Wednesday night address to a joint session of Congress, interviews with a cross section of about 15 House Democrats and half a dozen aides show that there is still overwhelming support for some overhaul of the health-care system. But the caucus remains deeply divided over the details of the more than 1,000-page measure and now faces a public that is more skeptical than when House committees began drafting the plan two months ago."
The Democratic National Committee says it will be announcing the extension of Organizing for America’s “Health Insurance Reform Now: Let’s Get It Done” bus tour to kick off the next phase of its campaign. Per the DNC, “The first leg of the tour ran from 8/26 thru 9/3, hit 10 cities and attracted over 12k supporters and around 350 protesters. The next leg kicks off on the night of the President's speech following a watch party in Atlanta, heads to Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Utah and ends in Vegas.”
Regarding today’s education speech… “After reading the text on Monday, even Jim Greer, the Florida Republican Party chairman who last week accused the president of seeking to use the speech to foist ‘socialist ideology’ on schoolchildren, said he could find nothing to criticize in its text,” the New York Times notes. “‘In its current form, it’s fine,’ Mr. Greer said in an interview. ‘But it remains to be seen if it’s the speech he’s going to give.’”
CONTINUED >>
Gentlemen (and ladies): Start your legislating... "[J]ust because health care is all anyone wants to talk about, Democrats aren’t giving up on pushing a number of other controversial measures this fall. Reid summed up the hefty agenda in a statement provided by his office, 'Senate Democrats will continue to aggressively push legislation that boosts our economy and helps working families build a better future. Key items on this list are delivering on health insurance reform and clean energy, providing jobs by improving our infrastructure, and reining in the behavior on Wall Street that contributed to the economic downturn. We also intend to pass legislation that makes college more affordable and invest in critical domestic priorities.'" will be tested by their talks on Tuesday in advance of his Wednesday night speech to a joint session of Congress."
"At least 23 House Democrats already have told constituents or hometown media that they oppose the massive healthcare overhaul touted by President Barack Obama," The Hill reports. "If Republicans offer the blanket opposition they’ve promised, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) can afford to lose only 38 members of her 256-member caucus and still pass the bill."
But Roll Call reports that key liberals may be willing to bargain on the "trigger" option.
As Congress returns to work, the Alliance for Jobs and Affordable Energy, a group opposed to the cap-and-trade legislation, has written a memo arguing that the legislation’s prospects are in a “worse legislative position today than when Congress adjourned for the summer.” From the memo: “Any objective analysis of the cumulative impact of news reports, expressed public sentiment, editorials and opinion columns, and research studies would conclude that the cap-and-trade legislation passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives is in a worse legislative position today than when Congress adjourned for the summer. While some Senators have begun to voice concern about various aspects of the bill we must continue a sustained effort until we are assured Congress will not pass this legislation.”
CONTINUED >>
The
AP's Fouhy writes, "Weren't Republicans against Medicare before they were for it? ... It's a remarkable turnaround for a party whose leaders tried to slash billions from Medicare more than a decade ago and have assailed the program as a wasteful entitlement. None other than Ronald Reagan, a hero to Republicans, warned in 1961 that creation of Medicare would push the country toward socialism. The new GOP posture may be politically savvy given older Americans' fears of major changes to Medicare, which were among the concerns widely on display at angry town hall meetings across the country last month. But the new stance also contradicts the party's long history of skepticism toward government-run programs and Republican concerns about the long-term viability and health of the Medicare system."
Stu Rothenberg's getting excited for 2010. "I began this year doubtful that we’d see much excitement in the 2010 elections. I’m quickly changing my tune," the prognosticator writes in his Roll Call column . He adds, "The change in the political landscape has encouraged Republican candidates and prospects. But Democratic recruiting remains on track, with a list of strong candidates. Even now, a number of top-shelf contests are developing, making for a surprisingly interesting 2010 election."
And perhaps the most important point about next year's elections: "The tide clearly has turned nationally, with the president’s popularity down and Democrats fighting against a growing mood of dissatisfaction. That’s a huge problem for Democrats in the two states that will have gubernatorial elections this year. But while Republican strategists are showing greater optimism about the midterms, they also say that they wish those elections were taking place this November, not more than a year from now."
NRSC Chair John Cornyn has penned this memo to colleagues about the GOP Senate prospects in 2010: “[W]hile the overall political climate has improved markedly for Republicans since January, the election is still 14 months away, which is a lifetime in politics. We have a very real opportunity to make gains in the Senate next year, but we must continue to offer our own positive agenda as an alternative to the Democrats’ increasingly unpopular policies. If we are successful with this, we have a strong chance of exceeding the expectations set for us when the cycle began.”
MASSACHUSETTS : Joe Kennedy's out. The Boston Globe writes that the decision "probably [ends] the family’s half-century of political dominance in Massachusetts and opening up the Democratic primary race." His reason for not running? "[T]hose close to him said the lure of a Senate seat and the prospect of extending his family’s political legacy were not enough to draw Kennedy, who runs an energy firm, back into the spotlight and grueling pace of national politics." And the political implications: "His decision clears the way for a highly competitive three-month campaign for the Democratic nomination that may pit several members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation against the state’s attorney general."
CONTINUED >>
CINCINNATI, OH --
President Obama gave few clues about the specifics he'll address
in his health-care speech to a joint session of Congress on Wedneday during
remarks at an AFL-CIO-sponsored Labor Day picnic this afternoon.
Before a boisterous, enthusiastic crowd, Obama gave a campaign-style speech in which he spoke about the contributions of the labor movement, the economy and
his own agenda.
"We're on the road to recovery, Ohio, and don't let anybody tell you otherwise,"
the president said, as he touted the measures taken to jump-start the economy.
He talked about having extended unemployment insurance and said the
infrastructure jobs being created as a result of the stimulus package, the
improved manufacturing figures and the slower pace of job losses last month
were all evidence that the steps his administration had taken to revive the
flagging economy were working.
On health care, the president joked that he didn't want to say too much on the
topic, because he wanted listeners to tune in on Wednesday night.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro [in Washington] and Athena Jones [aboard Air Force One] here's President Obama 's speech to students tomorrow, which focuses on that liberal calling card, personal responsibility.
Is the president indoctrinating children with a socialist agenda? You be the judge.
(By the way, if you're looking for a presidential speech, parts of which can be construed as political, to students, a friend of First Read passes along this Charlotte Observer column on a speech made by ANOTHER president -- Ronald Reagan .)
Last week, the president's address sparked an uproar -- fueled in part by conservative politicians and commentators -- with parents in districts from Florida to Texas to Utah expressing concerns about the speech and even urging parents to keep their children home.
CONTINUED >>
THE WEEK AHEAD: Obama's big health-care speech to Congress; The flap over the president in schools; Meet the Press and a First Read Afterschool Special.
For our mailbox, submit your question. We might pick yours next week.
From NBC's Chuck Todd CNN report , the White House is not drafting its own health-care bill, according to a senior administration official.
The White House is, however, contemplating using "legislative language" in the president's speech on Wednesday, which pulls together the 80% they believe all of the four Congressional bills agree on. But even THAT hasn't been decided on yet. As one person said to me, anyone who is claiming we're writing our own health care bill is "leaning over their ski tips."
Still, we can report that there is some frustration in the White House with the Senate Finance Committee and the fact that they haven't reported out a bill yet. There are some advising Chairman Max Baucus to report out a skeleton bill and then, with White House help, starting to cobble together a bill.
So, take all of this together, and it's clear the White House has decided to get more heavily involved in the details of how this legislation is being put together, but it would not be correct to say they are writing the bill themselves.
From NBC's Mike Viqueira Lynn Woolsey , of the Progressive Caucus, released the following on health care after their conference call with the president:
President Obama discussed health care reform today in a conference call with leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Tri-Caucus, which comprises the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Caucus leaders expressed absolute commitment to the idea of a robust public option, and said they expect it to be part of any health care reform legislation .
The president listened, asked many questions, and suggested that the dialogue should continue.
A follow-up meeting between the president and caucus leaders will take place next Tuesday or Wednesday at the White House.
From NBC's Ken Strickland Max Baucus called it "productive," but otherwise didn't make any news. The group will meet -- in person -- on Tuesday when the Senate reconvenes in Washington.
Other members of the so-called "gang of six" include Democrats Kent Conrad and Jeff Bingaman , and Republicans Chuck Grassley , Mike Enzi and Olympia Snowe .
"Today's call was a productive one," Baucus said in a statement. "We addressed a number of issues at hand and the next steps moving forward. Health reform is certainly a significant challenge and each time we talk, we are reminded just how many areas of agreement exist. We agree we need to take control of health care costs and make health insurance affordable for families and small businesses. We agree all Americans should be able to choose -- and be able to afford -- a quality health care plan. And, we agree health care reform should be fiscally responsible and not add to the deficit."
Added Snowe: "Today's discussion was both productive and constructive, as we continue to move forward as a group toward a shared goal of producing an historic, bipartisan agreement on health reform legislation. When Congress returns to session next week, we will be working with the same intensity we've brought to bear this year to achieve a consensus bill -- as I believe we must reduce the costs of health care and make coverage more affordable for all Americans."
From NBC's Mark Murray Barack Obama first unveiled his health-care plan, on May 29, 2007, his 3,600-word speech didn't contain the words "public option" in it. There wasn't a single mention of it (although an accompanying fact sheet did refer to a "new public plan" that would be open to individuals without access to other coverage).
The words "public option" or "public plan" also didn't appear in Obama's convention speech in Denver, nor in his victory address at Grant Park in Chicago.
All of this is ironic given that the debate over health care now -- especially now that Democrats, and perhaps one or two Republican senators, are the key players in it -- has become all about the public option.
Congressional liberals are demanding it. "A bill without a strong public option will not pass the House," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement yesterday. "Eliminating the public option would be a major victory for the insurance companies who have rationed care, increased premiums and denied coverage."
Added the House Progressive Caucus: "Any bill that does not provide, at a minimum, a public option built on the Medicare provider system and with reimbursement based on Medicare rates-not negotiated rates-is unacceptable."
On the other hand, centrist Blue Dog House members, as well as moderate Democratic senators (especially those from the South and Mountain West), are opposed to public option.
All of which has put Obama in the middle of this debate -- a comfortable position during presidential elections, but not so much during the legislative sausage-making process.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC’s Courtney Kube Robert Gates has reached out to a news organization to ask them not to publish a photograph.
While an Associated Press photographer was embedded with Marines in Helmand last month, a Marine convoy was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, or RPG. It struck Lance Corporal Joshua M. Bernard severing his legs. He was treated on the scene, but later died at a combat field hospital.
The AP took still photos and video of the attack, and of Bernard, as he lay dying.
Several weeks later, while working on a feature story about the war in Afghanistan, the AP reporter met with Bernard's family and told his father that they had photos and video of their son before he died. Bernard's father was furious that the photos of his mortally wounded son would potentially be published, so he reached out to the U.S. Marine Corps, asking them to stop the publication.
CONTINUED >>
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Stuck in the middle with you: As President Obama prepares to deliver his primetime health-care speech on Wednesday, he’s finding himself boxed in from the left and right -- of his own party. On the one hand, there are those conservative-leaning House Blue Dogs as well as moderate senators (Ben Nelson, Kent Conrad, Blanche Lincoln) who all have reservations about a public option. And on the other hand, the left is demanding it. Yesterday, the House Progressive Caucus, the Congressional Black Caucus, MoveOn, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi all released letters and statements calling for its inclusion in any health-care bill. "A bill without a strong public option will not pass the House. Eliminating the public option would be a major victory for the insurance companies who have rationed care, increased premiums and denied coverage," Pelosi said. No one ever said governing was easy, even when your own party controls both chambers of Congress…
*** Obama’s message to the left: So how is Obama going to try to fix this conundrum? NBC’s David Gregory reports that the president is preparing to tell liberals in Congress that it's time to be good soldiers. “While he is expected to stand behind the idea of a public option, he is also expected to stress that it can't be MORE important than some of the other reforms that are possible this year, including insurance reform that would guarantee coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions,” Gregory says. “He'll argue that as with Social Security, Democrats should start with an achievable foundation and build on it from there.” We’ll see how liberals react to that. Meanwhile, on Sunday, “Meet the Press” has an exclusive interview with White House senior adviser David Axelrod.
*** Trigger happy? The middle ground that Obama might try to find on the public option versus no public option is with a trigger, something that Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) backs. Pelosi has hinted she's against the trigger, but will she be against the trigger after Wednesday’s speech? And won't the argument to her and other house Dems be, "Well, if you are right about the private insurance industry's ability to create competition and lower costs, then you'll get your public option. So why not give me this leeway to get something passed?” But for now, it appears there is greater pressure coming from the president’s left on this issue, than the right.
*** The divide over Afghanistan: Speaking of being pushed from the right and left, The New York Times has a fascinating breakdown of those who are pushing for more troops in Afghanistan versus those who are wary about that. Among those supporting more troops: Hillary Clinton and Richard Holbrooke. Among those expressing concerns: Vice President Biden and Robert Gates (although the Defense secretary expressed more support for the prospect of more troops yesterday).
*** Today’s job report: Today’s monthly jobs report is good news, bad news for the Obama administration. The bad news: The unemployment rate for August has increased from 9.4% last month to 9.7%, the highest level in 26 years. The good news: Employers cut 216,000 jobs in August, which is the lowest number since Aug. 2008 , providing further proof that the economy bottomed out last winter. So cue all of today’s press releases -- from Republicans and Democrats! In fact, the RNC and Eric Cantor have already released theirs. On her 1:00 pm ET show on MSNBC, NBC’s Andrea Mitchell will interview Labor Secretary Hilda Solis on the job numbers. Mitchell today also will interview former Homeland Security head Tom Ridge.
*** Harry Reid’s in trouble: Republicans have yet to find a top-tier challenger to take on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in 2010, but that doesn’t mean he’s safe from trouble. A new DailyKos/Research 2000 poll shows Reid trailing relatively no-name GOP candidates Danny Tarkanian and Sue Lowden (who announced she’s exploring a bid). Could Democrats really see a second-straight Senate majority leader lose re-election? Right now, Reid’s best assets are the fact the GOP brand in Nevada is just atrocious (see Gibbons/Ensign). Still, it won't be easy for him to make a campaign about his opponent. Considering his leadership post, he runs a big risk of being the referendum for voters. Reid's folks point to his enormous warchest and are taking the long view. Still, if he loses, don't expect to see a swing state senator to lead the caucus anytime soon...
*** 2010 -- the year of the angry white senior? Some House Democrats are in trouble, too. The Cook Political Report’s David Wasserman publishes a comprehensive overview of the 2010 congressional battlefield, and writes that Democrats could find a backlash from angry white seniors. For starters, older voters make up a disproportionate share of the midterm electorate, he writes. “According to exit poll data, voters over 45 comprised 54 percent of the total electorate in 2004 and just 53 percent of the electorate in 2008, but they were 63 percent of all voters in 2006.” And he adds that a recent Pew poll showing seniors, “who gave Democrats a 50 percent to 39 percent edge on the generic ballot in November 2006, giving Republicans a 51 percent to 43 percent edge now. If that reversal holds, Democrats could be ruing the ‘year of the angry white senior’ at the polling place, not just the town hall.”
*** Remind us again how the media is biased…: Finally, here’s one more thought about the entire controversy over Obama’s education speech on Tuesday: Since the White House has said the text of the speech will be available for 24 hours before he delivers it and since they altered the lesson plan language, why is this still a controversy? The ability of the conservative media machine to generate a controversy for this White House is amazing. In fact, this is an example of a story that percolates where it becomes harder and harder for some to claim there's some knee-jerk liberal media bias. (Does anyone remember these kinds of controversies in the summer of 2001?) The ability of some conservatives to create media firestorms is still much greater than liberals these days. How effective is the conservative media machine? Just ask Van Jones …
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The Boston Globe : “As President Obama prepares to deliver a make-or-break address on health care to a joint session of Congress next week, he is expected to turn the focus away from controversial issues such as the ‘public option’ plan and toward key areas of bipartisan agreement, including enabling anyone to buy insurance regardless of preexisting conditions, according to White House and congressional officials.”
Roll Call says that "according to talking points being circulated in the Senate by the White House in advance of Obama’s prime-time speech, at least some of the president’s message will remain the same: Obama will frame the health care debate as one that pits those who want to improve the system against those who support the status quo." Another bullet: “The speech will make clear what health insurance reform means." And: “After this speech, opponents of health reform will either need to propose their own plan, or explain why they think it’s best to do nothing while premiums crush American families and thousands lose their coverage everyday.”
The AP calls Obama's speech a "test of leadership." "Vacation is over. Obama's decision to give a prime-time speech to Congress on Wednesday underscores the stakes for a president, and even a young presidency."
The New York Daily News' DeFrank : "Obama insiders know the double-down speech is more about reasserting the President's authority than a desperate bid to revive health care reform from life support. In fact, inside the Beltway, even die-hard Republican opponents recognize a bill of some kind is all but certain to pass Congress this fall. Though it will likely be less than Obama wants, he'll reap some credit. What it won't do is cure all that ails Obama." More: "It's a tricky proposition. Aides are convinced Obama will prevail, even as they acknowledge the downside risk of failure. 'The danger is, he does this and the numbers don't move,' said one Obama strategist. 'Then he looks weak.' Or worse: irrelevant."
CONTINUED >>
"Senator John F. Kerry is reluctant to say he will take up Edward M. Kennedy’s mantle on health care -- it sounds 'presumptuous' to him -- but he appears primed to take on a larger, more public role in the debate," The Boston Globe reports. "Kerry is in a potentially influential position as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has been working for months to create a bipartisan health care bill and will be a key battleground when Congress reconvenes next week. While health care has never been his signature issue, Kerry has been a quiet player in the talks, suggesting ideas for compromise on financing and the public insurance option - ideas the 'Gang of Six' Finance panel negotiators immediately took up as serious proposals. Now, he seems poised to do more."
The always-pugnacious Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) recently told constituents "that reform opponents should 'slit our wrists' and become 'blood brothers' in the effort to stop Democratic legislation." She also said that she'd run for president if God told her to. Fellow Minnesotan Rep. Jim Oberstar (D) took a shot at her for those comments at a town hall: "Tell her there are voices other than God that are informing her now."
"President Barack Obama will likely shape the healthcare debate going forward, a top House Democrat said Thursday," The Hill writes. "Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Xavier Becerra (Calif.) said that despite a desire by many in the party to include a government-run insurance option in the bill, Democrats will listen carefully to Obama's direction." Roll Call writes. " 'The Senator’s foremost goal is to achieve a bipartisan consensus among the six members of the group on a path forward for meaningful health care reform,' Snowe spokeswoman Julia Wanzco said."
"Organizing for America, the offshoot of President Barack Obama's campaign that now resides within the Democratic National Committee, will run advertisements in four districts thanking Democrats for backing the stimulus package," The Hill reports. "The ads will run beginning Friday on local cable channels aimed at constituents of Reps. Ben Chandler (D-Ky.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Travis Childers (D-Miss.) and Zack Space (D-Ohio). Heinrich, Childers and Space all have prominent Republican candidates running against them." NEVADA: "Nevada Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Lowden announced Wednesday she would step down from her post in order to explore a challenge to Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.)… Lowden would begin the race against Reid in a strong position. A survey for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, conducted Aug. 17-18 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Research, showed Lowden leading Reid by a 45 percent to 40 percent margin. But she will have to get through a competitive primary first. The same poll showed Lowden losing to Danny Tarkanian, a businessman who ran for secretary of state in 2006, by a 33 percent to 14 percent margin. Tarkanian, son of former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, leads Reid by a 49 percent to 38 percent margin." NEW JERSEY: Adding to Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie’s vehicular woes today is news that he was in a traffic accident that injured a motorcyclist in 2002. Christie was on his way to a swearing-in ceremony for a local official when he lost his way and hit the cyclist. “Both men saw another and put on the brakes, police said. Christie’s vehicle came to a stop, and the motorcycle ‘then fell on its side and slid into his vehicle.” Police Director James Cosgrove said Christie identified himself as U.S. attorney and did not receive a ticket for the accident. “Asked whether Christie’s job title factored into the officer’s decision, Cosgrove said, ‘I don’t think I want to make that kind of deduction, but I think the facts speak for themselves.’”
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Jim Miklaszewski In today's Pentagon briefing, Defense Secretary Robert Gates indicated he's prepared to drop his reluctance for a big U.S. military "footprint" in Afghanistan and may be willing to sign onto a large increase in U.S. troops.
Gates indicated that Gen. McChrystal 's new strategy which puts a larger emphasis on "protecting the Afghan people" may be a game changer.
"It's not the size of the footprint, but the nature of the footprint" that matters, Gates said, indicating again he's willing to support a request for a sizable increase in the number of U.S. forces on the ground.
Gates also said after eight years of war (in Iraq and Afghanistan), he understands why public support for the war in Afghanistan is slipping -- but tried to remind the American people that ultimately the war in Afghaistan is about the 9/11 attack on the United States, and preventing Afghanistan from once again becoming a safe haven for terrorists.
From NBC's Chuck Todd The White House is releasing the full text of the president's speech to students on Monday -- a full 24 hours before
President Obama delivers the speech live at noon ET a local Arlington, VA, high school. Obviously, this means parents and teachers will have plenty of time to read the text of the speech and decide for themselves about the content.
From NBC's Mark Murray Creigh Deeds (D) is now airing a tough radio ad in Virginia that seizes on Bob McDonnell's (R) 1989 graduate-student thesis at what is now Regent University.
Here's the script...Female: You startin' to follow this Governor's race in Virginia?
From NBC's Libby Leist The State Department announced this afternoon that it will terminate "a broad range of assistance" to Honduras in response to the June 28 coup.
The announcement comes on the day that ousted President Zelaya is at the State Department to meet with Hillary Clinton .
The statement below from spokesman Ian Kelly says the the restoration of aid to Honduras will depend on Honduras returning to "democratic, constitutional governance."
The U.S. is pressing for "legitimate" elections to take place in November.
CONTINUED >>
From NBC's Pete Williams
C-SPAN did the interviews earlier this year and made the tape available today to coincide with the arrival next week of Sonia Sotomayor .
Both Chief Justice John Roberts and Clarence Thomas say getting a new justice is like living through a change in a family. "You quickly get to view the court as composed of these members, and it becomes kind of hard to think of it as involving anyone else," Roberts says.
Justice Anthony Kennedy says changes are "stressful for us, because we so admire our colleagues. We wonder, oh, will it ever be the same?"
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and retired Justice Sandra Day O'Connor say one difference for a woman is finding a suitable judicial robe. Most are made for men, designed with a v-neck to show a little shirt and tie. Women struggle to find robes with collars, they both said.
From NBC's Ken Strickland Mike Enzi today stressed that he's still part of the Senate Finance Committee's bipartisan negotiations to draft a health-care reform bill. "Despite some reports, I am still working with Sen. Baucus and other members of the so-called Gang of Six," he said in a written statement.
Some Democrats have strongly suggested that Enzi's statement in last week's Republican weekly radio/internet address displayed an unwillingness to reach a deal with Democrats. Asked about Enzi's remarks Monday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, "It appears.. he doesn't believe there's a pathway to get bipartisan support."
Today Enzi shot back. "My position has been consistent from the start. I haven't walked away from our shared goal of health-care reform or compromised the original principles I outlined as essential to any plan for reform."
Enzi called the bipartisan Gang of Six' meetings lead by Baucus "productive, and I plan to continue with them." More: "This truly bipartisan approach is the best way to solve the real health-care problems facing our nation because both parties are at the table and working on solutions without being rushed by arbitrary deadlines."
The senator also cited the last line of his address last week, in which he said that bipartisanship offered the best chance of passing health-care reform. "That part of my speech is something a lot of people seem to be conveniently ignoring along with my long record of passing bipartisan bills."
*** UPDATE *** Gillette (WY) News-Record : “That (the health care bill) is going to take awhile and I’m pretty sure it’s going to fail." Plum Line's Greg Sargent : "[Americans for Prosperity] president Tim Phillips, who was standing next to Enzi and listened to his whole talk, tells me he left with little doubt that Enzi had declared his blanket opposition to the Gang of Six proposal."
Have something about the president or politics or you want answered?
NBC's Chief White House Correspondent and Political Director Chuck Todd will be responding to viewers' questions in a chat session through Cover it Live today, from 12 pm to 12:30.
Click here for the link to where the discussion will take place.
***UPDATE***
From NBC's Mark Murray
As it turns out, a controversy over a president giving an education speech to students isn't new.
One, George H.W. Bush gave a speech to students back in 1991. And two, Democrats criticized him for it.
From the Washington Post on Oct. 4, 1991 (hat tip to KY3 and our friends at Hotline):
White House press secretary Marlin Fitzwater came armed to the lectern top yesterday to rebut complaints that the president used taxpayer money for a political event to promote himself as the education president.
Democrats are complaining that the $26,750 paid by the Education Department to a private media firm to produce television coverage of Bush's speech to students on education Tuesday was improperly used. The television performance was broadcast live by CNN and other stations around the nation could pick it up by satellite.
Not that the White House is sensitive about the issue, but Fitzwater said that if the White House instead had sent a letter to only 86,000 of the nation's 4.6 million schoolchildren, it would have cost more. The TV show was just another way to get the president's message out, Fitzwater said, and cynical journalists should get with the new technology.
Wouldn't the film make good campaign commercials, Fitzwater was asked. "We certainly would use any tape of the president, doing anything, anywhere in the world at any time if it was to his political benefit," Fitzwater agreed.
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Obama’s big stage: By choosing such a large setting for his health-care speech on Wednesday -- a primetime joint address of Congress -- there's no doubt that the White House is heeding the call of Democrats to own the issue like never before. “It's always been the case that the president wanted to drive this debate, lay out some principles, challenge the Congress to respond to them,” White House senior adviser David Axelrod told one of us in an interview yesterday. “Now they have… Now it's time to draw those strands together and … take those final steps so we can provide that stability and security for people who have insurance and help those who cant get coverage they can afford.” Yet as Republicans reminded us yesterday, Bill Clinton gave a joint address to Congress on health care back in Sept. 1993, and that didn’t turn out so well for the Democrats. This is the last P.R. arrow in the White House’s proverbial quiver. Said House Minority Leader John Boehner yesterday, “House Republicans want to hear what the President has to say, but after the public outcry this August, it’s clear the American people don’t want a new speech, they want a new plan.”
*** A house divided: The joint session, of course, will likely feature one side of the chamber -- the Democrats -- constantly applauding President Obama’s speech, and another side -- the Republicans -- sitting on their hands. Indeed, the president’s true audience for this joint session probably isn’t most Republicans, who have been unwilling so far to work with the White House. Nor is his real audience the American public, which is increasingly skeptical about the legislation emerging from Congress. Rather, the folks whom Obama really be will addressing on Wednesday are the Democratic senators and members of Congress, plus Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Those are the true players in this debate who will decide the fate of the health-care legislation. Some critics, like Boehner, are now telling the White House to start over and hit the reset button. But for Obama, the quicker he can pass something in his rear-view mirror, the quicker he can turn to other issues. It may be too late to use the health-care debate to fix his political problems. So the hope with the White House is that passing something -- ANYTHING -- will give the president a small boost, and then he can begin the real repairs with the political middle post-health care.
*** Whither the public option? Also in the interview with Axelrod, he refused to draw any lines in the sand on the public option. “The president embraced a public option as part of this pool for uninsured Americans and small businesses as a way of promoting competition with private insurance companies to get them the best possible deal,” Axelrod said. “He still believes in that competition and choice and will be promoting that idea.” After a follow-up question, he added, “The idea of competition and choice is a very important part of his plan. Look, Chuck, if I gave you all details of the plan, then why would he have to make a speech?”
*** Strange bedfellows: The New York Times makes this striking point on its front-page: that Republican support has become vital to President Obama when it comes to the war in Afghanistan. Question: How many more Republicans, if they stick by the president on Afghanistan, will echo Lindsey Graham's call here? “The president needs to be more aggressive about taking ownership of this strategy, and reinforcing to this country the consequences of Afghanistan being lost and becoming a safe haven for Al Qaeda,” Mr. Graham said. More: “One danger for Mr. Obama is that he may be forced to abandon his own party on Afghanistan for the right, which could put him in a perilous position if Republicans at any point decide they do not want to support a Democratic president on the issue. ‘Some people on the right think Afghanistan is hopeless, some people think this is Obama’s war and want to do to Obama the same thing the left did to Bush with Iraq,’ Mr. Graham said.”
*** Kennedy’s memoir: The New York Times also reports on an advanced copy of Ted Kennedy’s memoirs, in which the late senator “called his behavior after the 1969 car accident that killed Mary Jo Kopechne ‘inexcusable’ and said the events might have shortened the life of his ailing father, Joseph P. Kennedy.” Per NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Kennedy's publisher is refusing to advance the Sept. 14 publication date and issued this statement about the New York Times’ article: “We regret that the New York Times did not respect the September 14th release date of TRUE COMPASS, which was carefully coordinated with the Senator's family.” A Kennedy source added to Mitchell, "The NYT, based on a hasty read, has missed the core of the book and much of the news in it. Their coverage comes from about 15 pages of a 500 page book. It is a family story. A story of tragedy. A story of persistence. A story of love. The story of 70 years of American history. An American story. It is a book to be read, not to be summarized.”
*** Hey! Obama! leave them kids alone: You know American politics has perhaps sunk to a new low in polarization when a president’s upcoming speech on education and personal responsibility gets criticized by Republicans for being a “socialist” power grab. That’s what happened when Florida GOP Chairman Jim Greer issued this statement about Obama speech, which the Education Department has encouraged students to watch: “As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology.” One could maybe find question with the wording (and perhaps wisdom) of the recommended lesson plans the Education Department has built around the speech, and the administration has since revised the most controversial language in them. But is the Florida GOP really suggesting here that a speech on education and personal responsibility -- a term that some politicians may have forgotten over the past few years -- is a bad thing?
*** The administration’s stimulus blitz: Over the past few weeks, the political debate over the stimulus has taken a backseat to other issues -- health care, Afghanistan, those CIA interrogations. But the stimulus, along with Vice President Biden, returns to the spotlight when he delivers a speech on the Recovery Act at the Brookings Institution at 10:00 am ET. The White House also is dispatching its cabinet secretaries to talk up the stimulus -- Ken Salazar to Arkansas, Tom Vilsack to Virginia, Ray LaHood to Chicago, and Arne Duncan to California.
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The White House announced yesterday that President Obama would deliver a primetime joint address to Congress on Wednesday. The topic: health care. “Scheduling of the speech next Wednesday night, just a day after lawmakers return from their August recess, underscores the determination of the White House to confront critics of Obama's overhaul proposals and to buck up supporters who have been thrown on the defensive,” the AP says. “Allies have been urging the president to be more specific about his plans and to take a greater role in the debate, and aides have signaled he will do that in the address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber.”
The Washington Post adds that Obama “is not expected to associate himself with any one bill, but a senior administration official said the president's goal is to be ‘much more prescriptive’ than he has been, mapping out ways to merge proposals and ‘move Congress toward one single solution.’”
The New York Times : “By signaling that they would seek to revise existing versions of legislation moving through the House and Senate, administration officials and Democratic leaders in Congress -- many of whom had said earlier in the summer that they saw no need to scale back their ambitions -- made clear that their political calculations had changed. With Congressional Republicans standing almost unanimously in opposition to the Democratic approach, the target now for Mr. Obama is primarily a handful of moderate Democrats and the one Republican who seems open to a deal, Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine.”
Politico calls the speech “his riskiest effort to date -- a high-reward gamble with significant potential downsides.”
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The Hill does its "Rich List." John Kerry (D-MA), Darrell Issa (R-NJ) and Jane Harman (D-CA), it says, are the richest members of Congress. The top 10 by net worth in the millions: 1) Kerry $167.8, 2) Issa: $164.7, 3) Harman: $112.2, 4) Jay Rockefeller (D-WV): $80.4, 5) Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO): $71.2, 6) Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL): $50.2, 7) Rep. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): $43.6, 8) Rep. Harry Teague (D-NM): $40.3, 9) Rep. Mike McCaul (R-TX): $38.2, 10) Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL): $31. (Here's the full list .)
The DCCC has a new Web video that highlights some of the comments that Republicans and conservatives like Michele Bachmann, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Michael Steele have made about health care. “Since Congressional Republicans and their right wing allies can’t win with the facts on health care, they’ve resorted to using fear, fiction, and scare tactics of the worst kind to shamelessly try and ‘kill’ health insurance reform,” DCCC spokesman Ryan Rudominer says. “This new Web video is just another way that we are exposing their lies and over-the-top rhetoric while empowering our grassroots supporters to hold them accountable for trying to deny families quality, affordable health care.”
NEW HAMPSHIRE: A new poll shows that GOP challenger Frank Guinta has pulled within the margin of error against incumbent Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D).
NEW JERSEY: The campaign for Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie released a mostly positive ad yesterday, with supporters calling him a “leader” and “independent.” The ad also plays up Christie’s “bipartisan” record, saying that as U.S. Attorney he put both Democrats and Republicans behind bars. debates : Oct. 1 and Oct. 16 will feature Christie, Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine and Independent Chris Daggett. On Oct. 8, the candidates for lieutenant governor, Republican Kim Guadagno, Democrat Loretta Weinberg and Independent Frank Esposito will debate.
PENNSYLVANIA: Beer Summit 2? Joe Sestak and Pat Toomey will have beers together tonight -- after their joint health-care town hall on Wednesday. Once again, Arlen Specter won't be attending.
VIRGINIA: Creigh Deeds made his first public comments about Bob McDonnell’s controversial masters’ thesis yesterday, saying that it “explains the social agenda that has apparently driven his legislative agenda during the years… He wasn’t 20 years old when he wrote it. He was 34,” Deeds said. “Thomas Jefferson was 33 when he wrote the Declaration of Independence… it’s relevant."
The Democratic National Committee is giving $5 million to the Virginia governor’s race, as it did when former governor and DNC chairman Tim Kaine ran for the post in 2005. Some will go directly to the Democratic nominee Creigh Deeds, and some will go to the state party.
From NBC's Athena Jones President Obama will address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, Sept. 9th.
The White House is still deciding what time the speech will take place, but it will be in prime time.
Might this be the big health-care speech?
From NBC's Pete Williams Justice John Paul Stevens has hired only one law clerk for the term that begins next year, in the fall of 2010?
It's the clearest indication yet that he's seriously considering retirement, say those familiar with his hiring. But there's no sign yet that he has actually made the decision -- or if he has, that he's told anyone about it.
For at least the past three years, Stevens has told the clerks he has hired that he might retire and therefore couldn't promise them the full term of the clerkship. So far, of course, that caveat has proven unnecessary.
Associate justices are allowed up to four clerks, and he has hired the full complement for the coming term which begins next month. By hiring just one for the term that begins in 2010, he leaves himself the option of either retiring with only one clerk to disappoint or going ahead and hiring the remaining three in the coming months.
In any event, it's no secret that Stevens is likely the court's next retirement. He's 89, and though he is in good health and remains a vigorous member of the court, the odds have always been good that President Obama , in his first term, would be nominating a Stevens successor.
From NBC's Mark Murray Nancy Pelosi regarding the ethics investigation into Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel . As NBC's Lisa Myers reported, Pelosi and Dem leaders aren't going to make any decision about Rangel's chairmanship until the Ethics Committee has finished its investigation.
“After numerous empty campaign promises to ‘drain the swamp’ of ethical misconduct in Washington, Nancy Pelosi continues go back on her word and endorse a tax cheat who has effectively become the Bernie Madoff of the United States Congress," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain. "In the midst of a severe recession combined with budget deficits that have reached astronomical levels, one would think Democrats would be calling for the removal of tax-cheat Charlie Rangel from his perch atop the powerful Ways and Means Committee. If the head of the tax-writing committee cannot manage his own finances, how serious can Democrats possibly be about keeping the nation's fiscal house in order? By the looks of the federal balance sheet, they aren't."
From NBC's Mark Murray President Obama is set to deliver a speech on education and its importance to students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA.
The speech also will be broadcast on the White House's Web site, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan has encouraged principals across the country to have their students tune in.
Yet somehow, the chairman of the Florida Republican Party, Jim Greer , believes Obama's speech as a platform "to spread" his "socialist ideology."
Says Greer : "As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology. The idea that school children across our nation will be forced to watch the President justify his plans for government-run health care, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, and racking up more debt than any other President, is not only infuriating, but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power."
More: "While I support educating our children to respect both the office of the American President and the value of community service, I do not support using our children as tools to spread liberal propaganda. The address scheduled for September 8, 2009, does not allow for healthy debate on the President's agenda, but rather obligates the youngest children in our public school system to agree with our President's initiatives or be ostracized by their teachers and classmates."
Has the state of our political discourse devolved to the point where a president's speech about the importance of education gets called a socialist power grab?
*** UPDATE *** recommended lesson plan from Education Secretary Arne Duncan. One example for pre-K to 6th graders: "As students listen to the speech, they could think about the following: What is the President trying to tell me? What is the President asking me to do? What new ideas and actions is the President challenging me to think about?"
Gordon tells First Read that the Florida GOP believes that students should be taught to respect the office of the presidency. Its beef, she said, is that parents should be able to decide whether their children should be allowed to participate in this kind of discussion.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro Curt Schilling is apparently "not ruling out" (classic) a run to replace Ted Kennedy, according to the New England Cable Network's Twitter page.
NECN's Tweet from about 1:30 pm ET:
Curt Schilling tells NECN's Brad Puffer that he's not ruling out a possible run for the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Ted Kennedy.
*** UPDATE *** Here's the audio
*** UPDATE 2 ***
From NBC’s Libby Leist
The inspectors will "evaluate all aspects of the embassy and the mission," spokesman Tom Burgess said.
State Department officials say the inspectors will be looking at the allegations against ArmorGroup revealed by a watchdog group yesterday as well as all embassy operations including diplomatic, consular and security activity.
The IG's office has previously conducted inspections of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul in 2004 and 2006 and officials insist that the ArmorGroup revelations did not trigger this latest inspection.
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From NBC's Mark Murray Sarah Palin's grandson, dishes out on the Palins in the latest issue of Vanity Fair .
On the kind of parents Sarah and Todd were:
From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg Retooling time : Just askin’, but what would be the bigger news today -- if President Obama was re-vamping his health-care pitch or if he decided NOT to re-vamp it? Well, multiple outlets today are reporting about the health-care retool. Politico says that the White House “is putting the final touches” on a new health-care strategy, which will include detailing his health-care demands from Congress in a speech as soon as next week and which won't insist on the so-called public insurance option. However, the White House pushes back a bit against the story, saying it just one of the options being considered. That said, senior White House adviser David Axelrod tells the AP that it’s beginning to be time for the White House to put everything together. "The ideas are all there on the table," he said. "Now we are in a new phase, and it's time to pull the strands of these together." By the way, look at the post-Labor Day schedule: It's pretty clear the White House has to do something on health care in first 10 days after Labor Day, because the rest of the month is dominated by the economy, 9/11 anniversary (translation: Afghanistan), UN General Assembly, and the G20. and Debating the public option : That the White House might not be insisting on a public option shouldn’t be big news to anyone who has been following the debate over the past few months. Of course, the news is likely to enrage the left. Yesterday, the man who likely will be the new AFL-CIO president, Richard Trumka, said the labor group won’t support any legislation that doesn’t contain the public option. (Obama, it turns out, addresses two AFL-CIO audiences in the next two weeks, at their Labor Day picnic in Cincinnati and then in Pittsburgh on Sept. 15.) And tonight, progressive groups like MoveOn are sponsoring vigils across the country demanding the government/public option. But we’ve asked this question before and we’ll ask it again: Why did the left make this the centerpiece of any reform -- more important than insuring more Americans, establishing an insurance exchange, and preventing insurers from denying coverage to those with pre-existing health conditions? In other words, is the left really going to walk from any health-care legislation that does those things but that doesn’t contain a public option? Also, why hasn't there been a greater debate over the phrase "public option" -- is it really an obvious description of what those who are for it are advocating? If they had given it another name (say "expanded Medicare"), would it have changed the debate a bit and kept seniors from feeling so concerned?
*** Change you can believe in? As Nicholas Lemann writes in the New Yorker , “If a health-care bill passes this fall, it will be full of compromises: departures from liberal ideals, and fudges about how much it will cost. But anybody who stops fighting for it now is going to spend years repenting. As long as Congress passes, and Obama signs, a law that embodies the principle of universal, government-guaranteed coverage, the country will have achieved an enormous, and previously elusive, advance. Reagan nailed it in 1961: medical care is a core element in the liberal social compact.” South Dakota Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, a Blue Dog, also sums up the polling we've seen on health care, maybe without realizing it: “I want to support necessary change,” she said. “But I don’t want to support radical change.” The real lesson, some say, of the Ted Kennedy legacy? His regret for not taking the health-care deal he could have cut with Richard Nixon in the early '70s.
*** Selling Afghanistan : But if the White House thought selling health care was hard, selling staying in Afghanistan might be harder. Just look at the array of stories TODAY. The New York Times : "Tribal Leaders Say Karzai’s Team Forged 23,900 Votes." Another Times headline : "U.N. Sees Afghan Drug Cartels Emerging." The Washington Post : “Taliban is much stronger than the insurgency the U.S. military faced in Iraq.” And the Los Angeles Times : "First the votes, now the complaints pile up in Afghanistan."
*** They’ve done studies, you know -- 50% of the time, it works every time Gallup has noted, if Obama falls below 50% in his eighth month on the job, it will be the third-fastest drop below that mark for a new president since World War II. Gerald Ford fell below 50% in his third month, Bill Clinton in his fourth month, Ronald Reagan in his 10th month, Jimmy Carter in his 13th month, Richard Nixon in his 25th month, LBJ in his 29th month, Bush 41 in his 36th month, Bush 43 in his 37th month, and Eisenhower in his 63rd month. Note: Kennedy never fell below 50% before he was assassinated, and George W. Bush was approaching that mark right before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A few things to remember about all the analysis folks will see on polls in the coming days: There are more BAD polls now than ever before; it confuses the issue and lets some folks cherry-pick what they want. The VERY erratic robo-polling firms have added to the confusion like never before.
*** Obama has him where he wants them? This data above tell us a few things. One, Obama has had a rapid drop and that doesn’t help his prospects for things like health-care reform. Two, the most recent presidents -- Reagan, Clinton, and Bush 43 (right before 9/11) -- have experienced similar drops, suggesting an increased political polarization over the past 20 or so years. Three, taking George W. Bush out of the equation due to 9/11, every president who has ended up winning re-election since 1980 saw his approval rating drop below 50% in his first year. Moral of the story: If your goal is to get re-elected, it’s better to have your political struggles early (Clinton, Reagan) rather than later (Bush 41). Kind of like a college football season, right? Better to lose early, than late. So be careful what you read into what Obama’s approval rating right now means for his presidency. There’s really no correlation between how quickly a president’s poll numbers drop and the overall success of his presidency.
*** GOP recruiting and 2010 : But here’s another byproduct of Obama’s declining poll numbers: It’s encouraging some Republicans -- who might not have run for office in 2006, 2008, or even three months ago -- from seriously thinking about running for the Senate or House in 2010. Yesterday, we learned that state Sen. Gilbert Baker (R) is going to challenge Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) down in Arkansas. While Lincoln still has be considered the favorite here, and while Baker has a crowded GOP primary to deal with first, it is clear that Republicans are recruiting better candidates than they have in quite some time. Recruiting success in politics doesn’t guarantee you’ll win the race, but it gives you the opportunity to win. One other sign to watch for in the next few months: If the declining Obama ratings push any DEMOCRATS into retirement. For the GOP, the big difference between now and this point in the '94 cycle is the lack of open-seat opportunities caused by Democratic retirements. Republicans made a lot of their gains in '94 due to retirement, not knocking off incumbents.
*** Another SCOTUS opening next year? According to the AP , “Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has hired fewer law clerks than usual, generating speculation that the leader of the court's liberals will retire next year. If Stevens does step down, he would give President Barack Obama his second high court opening in two years. Obama chose Justice Sonia Sotomayor for the court when Justice David Souter announced his retirement in May.” Stevens is 89. Sestak vs. Toomey : Let's debate -- well, kind of. There will be a debate in the Pennsylvania Senate race WITHOUT Arlen Specter. Rep. Joe Sestak (D) will take on former Rep. Pat Toomey (R) at Muhlenberg College at 6:15 pm ET. The topic: health care.
*** More on Rangel : On TODAY this morning, NBC’s Lisa Myers asked this question: How did chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, Charlie Rangel (D), forget to disclose more than $600,000 in assets and thousands of dollars in income? Myers reported that, per Democratic sources, Speaker Pelosi and the Dem leadership have agreed not to make any decision about Rangel’s chairmanship until the investigation is complete. The Ethics Committee is taking a long time, sources tell us, because Rangel's finances are THAT complicated and that, well, messed up. A big factor working in Rangel’s favor, though: The next in line for the chairmanship of Ways and Means is Pete Stark, who is, shall we say, a "controversial" old-school liberal. Notice how few House Republicans actually are taking the opportunity to criticize Rangel.
*** Beam me up outta here : Finally, former Rep. Jim Traficant (D) will be released from prison today -- after serving seven years for bribery and other charges. The former Ohio congressman's release will be honored at the local minor league baseball team's game that night in Youngstown, complete with a video of his career on the JumboTron. There will even be a dinner in his honor on Sunday. “We need to tell this guy: ‘We still love you, Jim,’” said Linda Kovachik of Boardman, who was an aide in the 17th District congressman’s Boardman and Youngstown offices.
Countdown to Election Day 2009: 62 days
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"Faced with falling approval ratings and increasingly impatient with Senate negotiations, Obama is considering a speech in the next week or so in which he would be "more prescriptive" about what he feels Congress must include in a health bill, top adviser David Axelrod said Tuesday in an interview," the AP writes. "The speech might occur before the Sept. 15 deadline the White House gave Senate negotiators to seek a bipartisan bill, Axelrod said. He suggested that two key Republicans have not bargained in good faith." New York Times interviews some Blue Dog Dems who are speaking positively about passing something major, but the details of what they want are thin.
The Los Angeles Times delves into the fact that red states, home to some of the strongest opposition to health care, could benefit the most from the president's reform efforts.
Dan Balz on the president's push for health care: "But if they hoped that August would significantly strengthen their hand for the long-awaited fall battles, they must be disappointed. The task looks as difficult today as it did when Congress left, if not more difficult. They could use some help. Whatever happened to that reset button that Secretary of State Clinton gave to the Russians?"
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"Growing ethics turmoil surrounding Rangel has prompted calls for Pelosi to yank Rangel’s gavel," The Hill reports. "But Democratic aides say that Pelosi will not pressure Rangel to resign his post or censure him publicly unless the House ethics committee finds him guilty of misconduct or a prosecutor brings forth charges." Her reasons for not stepping in: She doesn't want to step on the ethics committee's investigation and she "does not want to set the precedent of penalizing a colleague because of transgressions alleged in media reports."
USA Today looks at the role lobbyists are playing in the health-care debate. “In the first six months of the year, health care interests donated $19.7 million to all federal lawmakers. More than 40% — $8.1 million — went to the campaign and political action committees of lawmakers on the five House and Senate committees that are working on health care. Craig Holman, of the watchdog group Public Citizen, said the giving allows health care lobbyists ‘to get one-on-one time with officeholders’ as lawmakers craft legislation.”
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer faced one rowdy town hall yesterday. Per The Hill , "A chant of 'We want questions! We want questions!' soon broke out, despite pleas from the moderator to set a better example for the children in attendance. Hoyer aides soon began scurrying about as, at a few points, it seemed like the organizers were about to lose control. A brief scuffle in the rear of the gymnasium sent sheriff's deputies running up the bleachers to escort at least one person from the gymnasium. As a trickle of people started to leave in apparent disgust, a woman in the front row began shouting back at the rowdy audience, calling them disrespectful. The remarks of a small business owner who addressed the crowd might as well have been elevator music as the crowd grew even more restless, and the catcalls grew louder, more frequent, and more colorful. 'Too much bulls--,' a man huffed while storming out."
Roll Call on the town hall: "The meeting, held in the gymnasium at North Point High School, had flashes of pandemonium as people shouted at Hoyer from the bleachers and then turned around to yell at each other. Others walked out in protest when they felt they couldn't ask their questions." Hoyer also defended his comment that those who shout down others are “un-American.” “What is not consistent with our values is shouting down others when they want to speak. I want to make it very clear: That’s what I was referring to. I can’t believe there’s anybody in this room who disagrees with that sentiment. We are a civil society,” Hoyer said.
The Wall Street Journal gets a lengthy interview with the embattled South Carolina governor. “South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, stung by political attacks over his extramarital affair with an Argentine woman, said in his first extended interview since June that he no longer wants to ‘crawl into a cave’ and will fight to keep his job in the face of mounting public opposition. ‘I have a newfound level of humility, knowing how hard I work and how hard I push is not the ultimate driver of change,’ he said in the interview Monday. ‘Power resides with people.’”
Is Sarah Palin’s upcoming speech in Asia a practical joke? So reports Business Insider . “CLSA, the Asia-focused broker who invited Mrs. Palin as keynote speaker for an Asian investment conference, is well known for their cheeky takes on investment research. In the past, they've polled Asian fortune tellers for index targets, hired anime cartoonists to draw Japanese research, and generally love to push the boundaries between entertainment and analysis. They are a real research firm, it's just that they love to sprinkle in some hilarity every now and then as a smart marketing gimmick. Sarah Palin is this year's big laugh for them.”
By the way, this Gallup survey is going to be VERY popular in the liberal/progressive and the conservative blogosphere as Gallup claims there are VERY few conservative Dems and moderate GOPers.
Although the two off-year gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia may be “poor proxies for national trends,” Bloomberg writes that “the elections offer a test of whether the electricity Obama generated with voters during his campaign will power other Democrats.” More: “the results in Virginia are more likely to telegraph national sentiment, said Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia.” He called Deeds and McDonnell “two relatively little-known candidates who are bland moderates, and that encourages the message-sending of voting.” Because New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine’s “woes owe largely to state-specific issues like higher property taxes, falling schools, crumbling roads and corruption,” Bloomberg said the election there is “more likely to be a referendum on the incumbent Corzine.”
ARKANSAS : "Arkansas state Sen. Gilbert Baker (R), who has been openly contemplating a Senate bid for nearly six months, announced Tuesday that he will challenge Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) in 2010," Roll Call says.
CALIFORNIA : Per The Hill , “California Lt. Gov. John Garamendi (D) and businessman David Harmer (R) are headed for a November showdown in the special election to replace former Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.). With all 176 precincts reporting in results delayed by wildfires in the region, Garamendi led the multi-party field with 26.1 perce
