Politics Daily http://www.politicsdaily.com Politics Daily http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.politicsdaily.com/media/feedlogo.gif Politics Daily http://www.politicsdaily.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Obama: Allies Will Soon Take Control of Libyan Campaignhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/obama-allies-will-soon-take-over-management-of-libyan-campaign/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/obama-allies-will-soon-take-over-management-of-libyan-campaign/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/obama-allies-will-soon-take-over-management-of-libyan-campaign/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Facing criticism for taking military action in Libya without first formally consulting Congress, President Obama said Tuesday he is certain U.S. control over the operation would soon be transferred to the allies, news agencies reported.

"I have absolutely no doubt that we will be able to transfer control of this operation to an international coalition," Obama said at a press conference in San Salvador with El Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes, Bloomberg reported.

Members of NATO are meeting to establish a command structure, which will be done "over the next several days," he said.

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Aboard Air Force One, Ben Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser, told reporters, "What we're saying right now is that NATO has a key role to play here."

According to Bloomberg, "the allies are considering a proposal, backed by France, to create a political steering committee that would oversee military operations using NATO's command structure."

In Moscow, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he expected that "significant military fighting" in Libya "should recede in the next few days."

"I don't want to get in front of the diplomacy that is going on, but I still think a transfer within a few days is likely," Gates said. "This command-and-control business is complicated, and we haven't done something like this kind of on the fly before. So it's not surprising to me that it would take a few days to get it all sorted out," The Washington Post reported.

Meanwhile, debate in Washington over the U.S. role heated up even before reports Tuesday that a U.S. warplane patrolling Libyan air space had crashed.

Four liberal House Democrats -- Reps. Barbara Lee, Mike Honda, and Lynn Woolsey, all of California, and Raul Grijalva or Arizona -- called on the president to end the U.S. involvement in the Libyan campaign, Politico said.

"The decision for the United States to engage militarily in Libya is one that should have been debated and approved by Congress," the four lawmakers said in their statement. "We have serious concerns about whether or not an effective and thorough case for military intervention in Libya was made. Too many questions remain. What is our responsibility now? Do we own the situation in Libya and for how long? Where does this dramatic acceleration of military intervention end?"

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), a conservative member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Obama's "unilateral choice" to join a U.N.-backed coalition establishing a no-fly zone "is an affront to our Constitution," The Hill newspaper reported. The United States, Bartlett said, "does not have a king's army."

Meanwhile, a CBS News poll shows a full 50 percent of Americans approve of the president's handling of Libya.

Since the intervention started Saturday, U.S. Navy warships have launched Tomahawk missiles at Libyan air defenses, while American warplanes have joined other coalition aircraft in attacking military installations and some Libyan ground troops.

A U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet crashed late Monday near Benghazi, but its two crew members ejected and were rescued, the Washington Post and NPR said. Military officials said the plane apparently malfunctioned and was not shot down.

In the Senate, Richard Lugar of Indiana, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee and a White House ally on some issues, said Congress should have a full debate on the objectives and costs of the U.S. role in the attacks. And Democratic Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia, a moderate, said, "This isn't the way the system is supposed to work."

But earlier this month, Defense Secretary Gates warned pro-intervention lawmakers that setting up a no-fly zone was a major undertaking that would have to begin with attacks on Moammar Gadhafi's anti-aircraft systems.

Traveling with the president in Santiago, Chile on Monday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney insisted Obama had consulted personally with congressional leaders on the Libyan situation. And last Saturday, Carney said Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough phoned top lawmakers "to inform them of the imminent action" about to happen. "We take very seriously the need to consult with Congress and we have been doing that," Carney said.

Under the Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war. But the president, as commander in chief of the armed forces, has authority to take military action in emergencies or in the face of threats to national security.

For Rep. Dennis Kucinich, that's not enough to justify what the U.S. has done in Libya. The liberal lawmaker called it "an act of war" and said Congress should be called back from a spring recess to decide whether to continue the military action.

On the website Raw Story, Kucinich (D-Ohio) went further, calling Obama's move in Libya "an impeachable offense." The president "didn't have congressional authorization; he has gone against the Constitution, and that's got to be said," Kucinich maintained.

Kucinich noted that then-Sen. Obama argued in 2007 that "the president does not have the power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."

Kucinich, who has twice run for president as an anti-war candidate, said he was not actually proposing impeachment proceedings but only "raising the question" as to whether grounds exist. In any event, calls for a president's impeachment -- often coming from the far left or the far right on Capitol Hill -- are not unusual. Kucinich himself sought to initiate an impeachment article against President George W. Bush in 2008, but then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi wouldn't go along with it.

 

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]]>Barack Obamabritaincoalitioncommand and controldennis kucinichfranceliberalslibyaLibya uprisinglibyan military actionNATOPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-22T21:11:00+00:00Democrats Could Lose Senate, Biden Warns Partyhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/democrats-could-lose-senate-biden-warns-party/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/democrats-could-lose-senate-biden-warns-party/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/democrats-could-lose-senate-biden-warns-party/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Democrats are only four seats away from losing control of the Senate to Republicans in 2012, Vice President Biden warned supporters in a online appeal for donations Tuesday.

"I am writing to you today because at a moment when the stakes are highest, Democrats in the Senate face the toughest electoral climate we've seen in a long time," he said in his e-mail from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Politico reported.

"Democrats are defending 23 seats in 2012, five of which are open. Republicans only need to pick up four to take control of the Senate," Biden wrote.

In late January, RealClearPolitics' Sean Trende identified 2012's most vulnerable Democrats as Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Jon Tester of Montana, Missouri's Claire McCaskill, Florida's Bill Nelson, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and Virgina's James Webb (who has since announced he will not seek re-election). In North Dakota, Republicans have their sights on the seat now held by Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad, who after 24 years will not seek re-election.

Here's Biden's e-mail, posted at Politico:

I am writing to you today because at a moment when the stakes are highest, Democrats in the Senate face the toughest electoral climate we've seen in a long time.

Democrats are defending 23 seats in 2012, five of which are open. Republicans only need to pick up four to take control of the Senate.

President Obama and I believe that government has a responsibility to invest, to give people the tools to make the most of their own lives. But many of today's Republicans have a different vision.

That's why I'm writing to you today. The end of the month's FEC deadline is a crucial test of our strength. By giving to the DSCC, you have the power to prove to the pundits and our opponents that grassroots Democrats are standing together to defend our firewall.

Click here to give $5 or more to the DSCC. The DSCC must raise $233,533 by March 31 to build campaign infrastructure. Not meeting this deadline will mean not having the resources to win.

While Republicans in Congress are trying to drag us back to the past, President Obama and I are working to win the future.

We're working not only to create jobs in the short-term, but to make sure our nation can out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the competition in the long-term. To succeed, we need a Senate that's working with us.

Your gift to the DSCC is the best way to ensure just that. More than 90% of donations come from grassroots supporters who are standing with President Obama and me as we work toward an America that works for all Americans.

Click here to give $5 or more to the DSCC. The DSCC has an important FEC deadline on March 31, and it must raise $233,533 to recruit top candidates, build winning campaigns and keep the Senate blue.

Please stand with President Obama and me by standing with the DSCC. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Joe Biden

 

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]]>Democratic Senatorial Campaign CommitteeJoe BidenPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-22T18:30:00+00:00Republican Sen. Scott Brown: GOP's Planned Parenthood Cut 'Goes Too Far'http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/republican-sen-scott-brown-gops-planned-parenthood-cut-goes/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/republican-sen-scott-brown-gops-planned-parenthood-cut-goes/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/republican-sen-scott-brown-gops-planned-parenthood-cut-goes/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Republican Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts has broken ranks with his party over an effort to defund Planned Parenthood, saying the move "goes too far."

"I support family planning and health services for women. Given our severe budget problems, I don't believe any area of the budget is completely immune from cuts," Brown said in a statement Tuesday.

"However, the proposal to eliminate all funding for family planning goes too far. As we continue with our budget negotiations, I hope we can find a compromise that is reasonable and appropriate."

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Earlier, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) raised similar concerns about the House's proposal, Politico reported.

The House voted in February to cut more than $300 million from the organization as part of its $61 billion in proposed reductions in the current federal budget. Indiana Rep. Mike Pence represented his successful gutting of the funding as a victory in preventing abortion, even though the Hyde Amendment, enacted in 1977, prohibits federal funding of abortion except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.

The GOP budget bill is the subject of negotiations between the House and the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has said he would not accept a bill that strips Planned Parenthood of federal dollars, The Hill reported.

In a related development, 29 fiscally conservative organizations have called for the immediate defunding of Planned Parenthood, according to The Hill.

"On economic merit alone, Planned Parenthood should be near the top of the cut list," the groups' letter to Congress says. "To begin with, as Chuck Donovan at the Heritage Foundation has pointed out, Planned Parenthood is awash in net income. From 2002 to 2007, the national organization and its affiliates took in $388 million more than they spent on programs and services. Even in the midst of the recession, the president of the organization still received more than $337,000 in an annual salary and tens of thousands more in benefits and allowances. Planned Parenthood is receiving a rolling, annual bailout, and they don't even need it."

 

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]]>Lisa MurkowskiPlanned Parenthoodplanned parenthood federal fundingScott Brown MassachusettsPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-22T15:44:00+00:00Obama Getting Heat From Left and Right for U.S. Role in Libyan Attackshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/obama-getting-heat-from-left-and-right-for-u-s-role-in-libyan-a/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/obama-getting-heat-from-left-and-right-for-u-s-role-in-libyan-a/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/22/obama-getting-heat-from-left-and-right-for-u-s-role-in-libyan-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

President Obama is getting blowback from both sides of the aisle for taking military action in Libya without first formally consulting Congress. Debate in Washington heated up even before reports Tuesday that a U.S. warplane, patrolling Libyan air space, had crashed.

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.), a conservative member of the House Armed Services Committee, said Obama's "unilateral choice" to join a U.N.-backed coalition establishing a no-fly zone "is an affront to our Constitution," The Hill newspaper reported. The United States, Bartlett said, "does not have a king's army."

Meanwhile, a CBS News poll shows a full 50 percent of Americans approve of the president's handling of Libya.

Since the intervention started Saturday, U.S. Navy warships have launched Tomahawk missiles at Libyan air defenses, while American warplanes have joined other coalition aircraft in attacking military installations and some Libyan ground troops.

A U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet crashed late Monday near Benghazi, but its two crew members ejected and were rescued, the Washington Post and NPR said. Military officials said the plane apparently malfunctioned and was not shot down.

In the Senate, Richard Lugar of Indiana, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee and a White House ally on some issues, said Congress should have a full debate on the objectives and costs of the U.S. role in the attacks. And Democratic Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia, a moderate, said, "This isn't the way the system is supposed to work."

But earlier this month, Defense Secretary Robert Gates warned pro-intervention lawmakers that setting up a no-fly zone was a major undertaking that would have to begin with attacks on Moammar Gadhafi's anti-aircraft systems.

Traveling with the president in Santiago, Chile on Monday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney insisted Obama had consulted personally with congressional leaders on the Libyan situation. And last Saturday, Carney said Deputy National Security Adviser Denis McDonough phoned top lawmakers "to inform them of the imminent action" about to happen. "We take very seriously the need to consult with Congress and we have been doing that," Carney said.

Under the Constitution, only Congress has the power to declare war. But the president, as commander in chief of the armed forces, has authority to take military action in emergencies or in the face of threats to national security. Obama, who was winding up a Latin American trip Tuesday, insists no U.S. ground troops will be deployed and that leadership of the intervention effort will soon be turned over to NATO partners such as Great Britain or France.

For Rep. Dennis Kucinich, that's not enough to justify what the U.S. has done in Libya. The liberal lawmaker called it "an act of war" and said Congress should be called back from a spring recess to decide whether to continue the military action.

On the website Raw Story, Kucinich (D-Ohio) went further, calling Obama's move in Libya "an impeachable offense." The president "didn't have congressional authorization; he has gone against the Constitution, and that's got to be said," Kucinich maintained.

Kucinich noted that then-Sen. Obama argued in 2007 that "the president does not have the power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."

Kucinich, who has twice run for president as an anti-war candidate, said he was not actually proposing impeachment proceedings but only "raising the question" as to whether grounds exist. In any event, calls for a president's impeachment -- often coming from the far left or the far right on Capitol Hill -- are not unusual. Kucinich himself sought to initiate an impeachment article against President George W. Bush in 2008, but then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi wouldn't go along with it.

 

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]]>dennis kucinichImpeachmentJames Webbrichard lugarroscoe bartlettPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-22T09:32:00+00:00Democrats, Republicans, Independents Differ on Issues That Worry Them Mosthttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/21/democrats-republicans-independents-differ-on-the-issues-that-w/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/21/democrats-republicans-independents-differ-on-the-issues-that-w/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/21/democrats-republicans-independents-differ-on-the-issues-that-w/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The top five issues that Americans worry about the most would not surprise anyone -- the economy, federal spending and the deficit, availability and affordability of health care, unemployment and the Social Security system. But one polling snapshot zeroes in on the difference in emphasis that Republicans, Democrats and independents regard as the top issues.

For the overall population, 71 percent say they worry a great deal about the economy, 64 percent name federal spending and the deficit, 58 percent are concerned about health care, 57 percent fret about unemployment and 51 percent mention Social Security, according to a Gallup poll conducted March 3-6.

But looked at along party lines, federal spending tops the list for Republicans at 79 percent, with the economy a close second at 76 percent. The size and power of government is a major worry for 62 percent of Republicans, compared to 48 percent for the overall public. Illegal immigration is another issue higher on the list for Republicans (at 55 percent) than it is for the general public (42 percent).

Democrats put health care at the top of their list with 69 percent saying that's their top worry, followed by the economy at 64 percent, unemployment at 60 percent and Social Security at 53 percent.

Among independents, the order of concerns is: the economy (72 percent), federal spending (65 percent), health care (58 percent) and unemployment (55 percent).

The issue Americans worry about least is race relations, which only 16 percent call a top worry, with the environment second to last at 34 percent. In between, for the public at large, is availability and affordability of energy (46 percent), crime and violence (44 percent), illegal immigration (42 percent), hunger and homelessness (41 percent), possibility of a terrorist attack in the U.S. (40 percent) and drug use (40 percent).

Health care did not break into the ranks of top concerns for Republicans, and a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, conducted March 8-13, shows that it continues to be a polarizing issues, with Republicans strongly opposed to the year-old reform measure and Democrats strongly in support.





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]]>dailyguidanceBruce Drake2011-03-21T11:51:00+00:00Obama in Brazil, Balancing Latin American Swing With Libyan Crisishttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/19/obama-in-brazil-balancing-latin-american-swing-with-libyan-cris/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/19/obama-in-brazil-balancing-latin-american-swing-with-libyan-cris/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/19/obama-in-brazil-balancing-latin-american-swing-with-libyan-cris/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

President Obama, balancing the crisis in Libya with a long-planned trip to Latin America, arrived in Brazil Saturday at the outset of a three-country swing aimed at strengthening the nation's economic relationship with its neighbors and improving regional security.

"As we respond to these immediate crises abroad, we also will not let up in our efforts to tackle the pressing, ongoing challenges facing our country, including accelerating economic growth," Obama said in his weekly address before departing.

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Latin America is experiencing rapid economic growth, the president said, and is open for business with North American companies. "We now export more than three times as much to Latin America as we do to China, and our exports to the region will soon support more than two million jobs here in the United States," he said.

After Air Force 1 landed in Brasilia, the capital, Obama was briefed on the fluid situation in Libya by National Security Adviser Tom Donilon.
On a drizzly day, Obama was met at the Brasilia airport by U.S. Ambassador Thomas A. Shannon, prior to a formal welcoming ceremony and bilateral session with Brazil President Dilma Rousseff at the presidential palace. Rousseff accepted an invitation to visit the United States later this year.

Later at a meeting with CEOs, Obama said the two countries would enter into a new trade and cooperation deal and also an open skies agreement, liberalizing the countries' respective rules for air routes, capacity and pricing of commercial airliners.

The president was accompanied by first lady Michelle Obama, their daughters Sasha and Malia, and Marian Robinson, the president's mother-in-law. He will also visit Chile and El Salvador in Central America.

Speaking in Brasilia Saturday at a youth cultural event, Michelle Obama noted that she had come from a modest working class background. "I want you all to look at me and see that anything is possible, That's why I'm here... " she said. "I hope that you all will keep pushing yourselves. I hope you all will keep pushing one another. I hope that you all continue to work as a commnity, you support each other, that you encourage each other...."

In Washington, Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, said Obama should consider proposing a reciprocal tax treaty with Brazil, so companies doing business with both nations can avoid double taxation, the Associated Press said.

Watch Obama's weekly remarks.




 

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]]>BrazilChileLatin AmericaPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-19T11:59:00+00:00Newt Gingrich: President Obama 'Fixated' on Final Fourhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/newt-gingrich-president-obama-fixated-on-final-four/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/newt-gingrich-president-obama-fixated-on-final-four/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/newt-gingrich-president-obama-fixated-on-final-four/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Newt Gingrich says President Obama is acting like the "spectator in chief instead of the commander in chief."

Appearing on Fox News Thursday night, the former House speaker and presumed 2012 GOP presidential contender told Sean Hannity: "Yes, the administration has just sort of checked out. You know, the president has this fixation with the Final Four -- spent time on ESPN giving us his version of what really mattered to him, which was the Final Four," said Gingrich.

Obama, said Gingrich, "may be the most out-of-touch president in modern American history."

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As TalkingPointsMemo and others have noted, Gingrich joins a chorus of Republican leaders blasting the president for his appearance on ESPN to fill out an NCAA bracket while emergencies continue in Japan and Libya, and Congress is at a stalemate on the budget.

On Twitter, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus complained: "How can @BarackObama say he is leading when [he] puts his NCAA bracket over the budget & other pressing issues?"

RNC spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said Wednesday, "With all of those pressing issues on the president's plate, we would be happy to hear the White House explain why filming an ESPN special on the NCAA Tournament should be a priority on his public schedule."

White House spokesman Jay Carney replied that the presidency is "a hard job" that requires someone adept at juggling its many demands.

"There are crises all the time, for every president," he said. The earthquake/tsunami/nuclear reactor catastrophe in Japan "is happening halfway around the world -- and it is severe and it is important, and it is the focus of a great deal of the president's attention. As are the events in the Middle East, as are the agenda items that he is pursuing to grow the economy and increase jobs in America."

Thursday night, Hannity referred to Obama's upcoming trip to Brazil as "another vacation to Rio" and said the president plays too much golf.

But at least one Republican defended Obama on that score.

"I'm glad he's out playing golf," Quayle -- a golfer himself -- told Fox Business Channel. "I think presidents deserve down time. And, believe me, he is in constant communication with what's going on. . . . What do you want him to do, stay in his house and be on the phone with the ambassador to Japan all the time?"

 

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]]>dailyguidanceJapanese earthquakeMarch MadnessPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-18T15:30:00+00:00Wisconsin Judge Puts Hold on Law Limiting Union Bargaininghttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/wisconsin-judge-puts-hold-on-law-limiting-union-bargaining/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/wisconsin-judge-puts-hold-on-law-limiting-union-bargaining/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/wisconsin-judge-puts-hold-on-law-limiting-union-bargaining/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Hold everything. That Wisconsin law limiting the collective bargaining rights of public workers -- the one that brought tens of thousands of protesters to the Capitol in Madison -- has been blocked from taking effect by a county judge.

Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi issued a temporary restraining order Friday barring the Wisconsin secretary of state from publishing the law -- which would allow it to go into effect, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Sumi said she wanted time to consider a legal challenge, arguing that a legislative committee violated the state's open meetings law when it pushed the bill though on a Republican Party-line vote last week.

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"It seems to me the public policy behind effective enforcement of the open meeting law is so strong that it does outweigh the interest, at least at this time, which may exist in favor of sustaining the validity of the [law]," she said.

The ruling marked a setback for Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who sought the legislation curtailing public employee collective bargaining rights. Walker, who signed the bill last Friday, also wants state workers to make larger contributions to their pension and health care funds. Wisconsin Assistant Attorney General Steven Means said the state would appeal Sumi's decision, the Milwaukee newspaper said.

But Democratic State Rep. Peter Barca said, "We felt from the beginning this was a violation of the open meetings law. And now we go on from here." Democrats argued that majority Republicans -- in their haste to pass the bill -- failed to give adequate public notice of a Senate committee hearing that amended the legislation and quickly scheduled it for a vote in the full state Senate.

 

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]]>collective bargainingpublic employee unionsscott walker wisconsinunionsPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-18T14:05:00+00:00Poll: Slim Majority Supports Gay Marriagehttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/poll-slim-majority-supports-gay-marriage/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/poll-slim-majority-supports-gay-marriage/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/18/poll-slim-majority-supports-gay-marriage/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

For the first time, more Americans support legalization of same-sex marriage than oppose it, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey, showing 53 percent backing for gay marriage, comes amid signs of increased acceptance of homosexuals in the U.S. Just five years go in polling by the same news group, only 36 percent favored gay marriage, the Post said.

Taken last weekend, the new survey asked a random sample of 1,005 adults, "Do you think it should be legal or illegal for gay and lesbian couples to get married?" Support for that proposition grew among college-educated whites, political independents, and respondents who didn't regard themselves as religious, the Post said. Men, in general, were on the positive side of the question at the same rate as women.

Republicans, conservatives and white evangelical Christians were among the 44 percent opposed. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Brian Brown, a gay marriage foe and president of the National Organization for Marriage, said the term "illegal" may have skewed the numbers, since most Americans wouldn't favor imprisonment for violating a law against same-sex marriage. But Brown noted that voters in 31 states have approved ballot issues banning gay marriage.

Although a bill legalizing gay marriage failed this month in the Maryland legislature, gay-rights advocates have had their share of victories. Congress last year repealed the Pentagon's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy that prohibited openly gay men and women from serving in the military. And the Obama administration announced last month that it would no longer defend in court a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act -- which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman.

Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry, said the Post-ABC findings were "consistent with a lot of other polling data we've seen, and the general momentum we seen over the past year and a half. As people have come to understand this is about loving, committed families dealing, like everyone, with tough times, they understand how unfair it is to treat them differently."

 

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]]>dailyguidancedefense of marriage actDOMAPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-18T12:08:00+00:00House Votes to Cut Federal Funding for National Public Radiohttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/house-votes-to-cut-federal-funding-of-npr/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/house-votes-to-cut-federal-funding-of-npr/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/house-votes-to-cut-federal-funding-of-npr/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As expected, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted Thursday to ban federal money for National Public Radio, but the bill might not be taken up by the Senate and faces opposition from the Obama administration.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), also would prevent member stations from using taxpayer dollars to pay dues to NPR or acquire programming from it. Stations could still use federal money for administrative expenses associated with day-to-day operations.

The bill passed 228 to 192 in a largely party-line vote.

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"Let me be clear, this measure will not prohibit local stations from receiving any funding," Lamborn said Thursday, according to Politico. "It will just not allow them from using taxpayer money to fund NPR programming and dues. They can do it without federal dollars by embracing the private sector. I want NPR to grow on its own. I'd like it to thrive. Just remove the taxpayers from the equation."

Ad Week quoted Rep. Ed Markey, (D-Mass.), as saying the legislation would "would drive Car Talk off the road and would wipe Lake Wobegon right off the map. It would close down Marketplace and [tell] Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me to take a hike."

NPR says its receives a small number of competitive grants from the federally funded Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and agencies such as the Departments of Education and Commerce. This funding amounts to approximately 2 percent of NPR's overall revenues. The largest share of its money comes from program fees and dues paid by member stations.

Lamborn's bill took the fast track to the House floor after the House Rules Committee on Wednesday declared an emergency meeting to vote on the measure - a procedure allies of public radio criticized.

Earlier Thursday, the administration said in a statement that it "strongly opposes" the bill.

"The vast majority of CPB's funding for public radio goes to more than 700 stations across the country, many of them local stations serving communities that rely on them for access to news and public safety information. Undercutting funding for these radio stations, notably ones in rural areas where such outlets are already scarce, would result in communities losing valuable programming, and some stations could be forced to shut down altogether."

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also said he opposed the bill.

The latest move to defund NPR follows the release of a secretly taped video by a conservative activist purportedly showing former NPR fundraising executive Ron Schiller criticizing Republicans and tea party activists during a meeting with phony Muslim donors. However, analysts who examined the full version of the video suggested the editing was misleading and left out important context for the controversial remarks.

Ron Schiller had already announced he was leaving NPR for another job when the video surfaced last week. His departure was accelerated. Then NPR's president and chief executive, Vivian Schiller (no relation), resigned abruptly.

In February, the House passed a massive budget-cutting bill that, among other things, would rescind all federal funding this year for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which helps support NPR. The Senate rejected that measure. A stopgap spending bill passed by the House and Senate this week to keep the government operating for three more weeks contains $50 million in cuts to the CPB. It is now goes to President Obama.

 

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]]>defunddefund nprDoug Lambornnational public radioNPRPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-17T16:51:00+00:00Stopgap Spending Bill Approved by Senatehttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/stopgap-spending-bill-approved-by-senate/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/stopgap-spending-bill-approved-by-senate/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/stopgap-spending-bill-approved-by-senate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Senate on Thursday approved another stopgap spending bill that cuts $6 billion more from the federal budget and keeps the government running until at least April 8, the Washington Post reports.

The bill passed 87 to 13. The House has already approved the legislation, so it now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign it.

The bill would give House and Senate negotiators breathing room to try to hammer out a longer-term spending plan for the rest of the fiscal year.

An earlier stopgap bill passed in early March trimmed $4 billion in federal spending

The $10 billion in cuts so far are far short of the $61 billion the GOP-controlled House agreed to trim from the federal budget for the rest of the fiscal year. But the Democratically controlled Senate rejected the larger House bill, and the impasse over the budget has forced Congress to consider short-term measures until a compromise can be reached.

Following Thursday's vote, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said the modest trims would amount to $140 billion in savings over the next decade -- "All in all, a good day's work."

 

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]]>deficitfederal budgetspendingspending cutsstopgap spending billPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-17T15:56:00+00:00Sarah Palin Heading to Israel, Taking Path of Other GOP Hopefulshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/sarah-palin-heading-to-israel-taking-path-of-other-gop-hopefuls/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/sarah-palin-heading-to-israel-taking-path-of-other-gop-hopefuls/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/17/sarah-palin-heading-to-israel-taking-path-of-other-gop-hopefuls/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

In what has become almost a rite of passage for aspiring American politicians, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is heading to Israel, where next week she will meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and visit historic sites.

Palin, perhaps the most closely watched of all potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates, is scheduled to arrive in Israel Sunday after making a weekend speech to business leaders and politicians in New Delhi, India, the Jerusalem Post and Politico reported Thursday.

She plans to meet Monday with the conservative Netanyahu, and separately with Danny Danon, a pro-settler member of the Knesset. Palin is also expected to tour the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem and visit Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus.

As with many politicians in both U.S. parties, strong and unwavering support for Israel is nearly an article of faith for Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee. She has criticized the Obama administration for not being strong enough in backing the Jewish state in disputes with the Arab world and Iran.

Yet she also offended some Jews when she used the loaded term "blood libel" to complain about U.S. commentators who put part of the blame for the deadly shootings in Arizona on harsh right-wing rhetoric. Palin was faulted for posting a map showing vulnerable Democratic districts in cross-hairs.

Palin's trek to Israel follows recent visits by other Republicans with presidential ambitions, including Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Haley Barbour and Rudy Giuliani.

 

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]]>Binyamin Netanyahu - Israel - World LeaderdailyguidanceIsraelPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-17T12:30:00+00:00House to Consider Bill to Defund National Public Radiohttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/house-to-consider-bill-to-defund-national-public-radio/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/house-to-consider-bill-to-defund-national-public-radio/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/house-to-consider-bill-to-defund-national-public-radio/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The House is set to take up a measure that would eliminate federal funding for National Public Radio, which has been tarnished recently by bad publicity and resignations.

The bill by Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) was considered by the House Rules Committee Wednesday.

The Hill wesbsite quoted House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's (R-Va.) office as saying the GOP-controlled chamber would vote on the Lamborn bill on Thursday.

"This is an exciting and significant step forward in the ongoing effort to protect taxpayer dollars from supporting programs that are fully capable of standing on their own. Taxpayers should not be on the hook for something that is widely available in the private market," Lamborn said in a statement.

"I wish only the best for NPR. Like many Americans, I enjoy much of their programming. I believe that they can survive, even thrive, in the free market without the crutch of government subsidies."

Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York, the top Democrat on the rules committee, criticized the effort to push the measure through Congress without hearings, USA Today reported.

"NPR plays a valuable role in providing millions of Americans with in-depth reporting and is often the only source of reliable news in rural parts of the country," she said. "It is under attack in the name of fiscal responsibility."

Lamborn said his bill would cut all federal money to NPR, but NPR affiliate stations could still use federal dollars for administrative expenses associated with day-to-day operations.

The latest move follows the release of a secretly taped video by a conservative activist purportedly showing former NPR fundraising executive Ron Schiller criticizing Republicans and tea party activists during a meeting with phony Muslim donors. However, analysts who examined the full version of the video suggested the editing was misleading and left out important context for the controversial remarks.

Ron Schiller had already announced he was leaving NPR for another job when the video surfaced last week. His departure was accelerated. Then NPR's president and chief executive, Vivian Schiller (no relation), resigned abruptly.

Earlier, the House passed a massive budget-cutting bill that, among other things, would rescind all federal funding this year for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which helps support NPR. The Senate rejected that measure. On Tuesday, a stopgap spending bill passed by the House to keep the government operating for three more weeks contains $50 million in cuts to the CPB. It is now before the Senate.

 

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]]>corporation for public broadcastingDoug Lambornnational public radioNPRPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-16T21:38:00+00:00Nevada's Sharron Angle Launches Run for U.S. Househttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/nevadas-sharron-angle-launches-run-for-u-s-house/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/nevadas-sharron-angle-launches-run-for-u-s-house/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/nevadas-sharron-angle-launches-run-for-u-s-house/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Republican Sharron Angle kicked off her campaign for one of Nevada's four U.S. House seats on Wednesday with a video of her at a kitchen table, announcing, "I am most concerned about the enormous debt that we're passing along to our children and grandchildren."

Watch video here:


Angle, a tea party superstar who lost by five percentage points to Democrat Harry Reid in a bid for his Senate seat last November, is a divisive figure in her own party.

Here's how Politico characterized her entrance into the 2012 House race, under the headline, "GOP Braces for Angle's Encore Run":

"She's back . . . After unceremoniously crashing the Nevada Senate race last year -- raising record amounts of money and becoming a headache for establishment Republicans while also endearing herself to tea party activists nationwide -- Sharron Angle is returning for an encore performance."

Angle's return to the campaign trail "was greeted among Republican operatives from Las Vegas to Washington with more eye-rolling and regret than surprise," reported Politico.

GOP insiders say Angle was unpredictable and undisciplined in her race against Reid, and she was prone to impolitic statements about the Second Amendment, immigrants and Social Security.

It will be Angle's second run for the House. In 2006, she lost to Republican Rep. Dean Heller, who announced Tuesday he'll run for Sen. John Ensign's seat, opening the way for Angle in the rural Nevada House seat.

Roll Call reported the former state assemblywoman is the first candidate to announce in what is expected to be a crowded GOP field for Heller's seat. Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki and state GOP Chairman Mark Amodei are expected to run. State Sen. Greg Brower told Roll Call on Tuesday that he is considering a bid as well.

Possible Democratic contenders include former congressional candidate Jill Derby, state Assemblywoman Debbie Smith and state Treasurer Kate Marshall.

"We were going to pursue this seat whether Sharron Angle jumped into it or not," Zach Zaragoza, executive director for the Nevada State Democratic Party, told the Associated Press.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal first reported Angle's campaign announcement. AP reported Angle did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

 

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]]>Angle and Nevada House seatDean HellerHarry ReidnevadaNevada house seatSharron AngleTea partyPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-16T21:32:00+00:00Palin Seen More Negatively by Republicans Than Other Possible 2012 Candidates, Poll Findshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/palin-seen-more-negatively-by-republicans-than-other-possible-go/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/palin-seen-more-negatively-by-republicans-than-other-possible-go/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/palin-seen-more-negatively-by-republicans-than-other-possible-go/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

If Sarah Palin is seriously considering a run for president in 2012, the latest poll on her standing among Republican candidates contains the same kind of bad news found in earlier surveys.

A Washington Post/ABC News poll, conducted March 10-13, found that among eight frequently mentioned candidates, Palin was viewed negatively by a significantly higher percentage of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents than the others. (Story; Poll data).

While 58 percent expressed a favorable view of her, those seeing her unfavorably added up to 37 percent. That's a jump from a year ago when the number of those seeing her unfavorably was 30 percent.

The only other potential candidate who came close was Newt Gingrich, who was see unfavorably by 26 percent.

Palin's 37 percent unfavorable number included those who had "somewhat" or "strongly" unfavorable opinions. Seventeen percent had a strongly unfavorable view of Palin, while all the other Republicans were in single digits in that column.

Mike Huckabee was the most popular in the poll, with 61 percent seeing him favorably and 18 percent unfavorably. Mitt Romney was next, with 60 percent seeing him favorably and 21 percent unfavorably.

The numbers for Haley Barbour, Tim Pawlenty, Jon Huntsman and Mitch Daniels don't mean much because 57 percent or more of those surveyed in each case didn't know enough to have an opinion.

A Bloomberg poll, conducted March 4-7 among all adults and not just Republicans, found 60 percent with a negative opinion of Palin.

When the Washington Post/ABC News poll of all adults conducted last December asked respondents whether they would support Palin for president or even consider it, 59 percent said they would not.

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]]>Haley BarbourJon HuntsmanMitch DanielsPalin pollsTim PawlentyBruce Drake2011-03-16T14:34:00+00:00Republicans Losing Their Advantage on How to Handle the Deficit, Poll Findshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/republicans-losing-their-advantage-on-the-issue-of-the-deficit/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/republicans-losing-their-advantage-on-the-issue-of-the-deficit/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/republicans-losing-their-advantage-on-the-issue-of-the-deficit/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

A new poll released Wednesday echoes what a Washington Post/ABC News poll reported a day earlier: President Obama doesn't get good marks for his handling of issues involving the economy, but faith in Republicans doing a better job has slipped.

While the way the questions were framed in the Post/ABC News poll was different from the one by the Pew Research Center -- the Post/ABC survey focused on the economy in general and the Pew poll focused on dealing with the deficit -- the results point to a similar trend suggesting a drop in enthusiasm for Republican policies since the party won big in last year's midterm elections.

The Post/ABC News poll found a majority disapproving of Obama's handling of the economy, but those surveyed still said they trusted him more to do a better job in dealing with the issue than the Republicans.

When it comes to the deficit issue, Pew had found last November that 35 percent thought the Republicans had a better approach than Obama compared to 24 percent who preferred Obama's approach. Thirty-three percent said there was not much difference between the two and 8 percent were undecided.

But in its latest poll, conducted March 8-14, the percentage of those who believed Republicans had a better approach dropped to 21 percent, almost the same as the 20 percent who favored Obama. The percentage of those who said there was not much difference between the two jumped to 52 percent, with 7 percent undecided.

The poll found that the deficit issue now ranks third when it comes to the public's top economic concerns, although the percentage of those who express concern about the deficit is rising. Gallup noted a similar trend in a January poll.

Thirty-four percent cite jobs as the top economic concern, followed by 28 percent who worry most about rising prices. Twenty-four percent named the deficit as the top problem, up from about 15 percent in Pew's last two surveys. Ten percent name problems in the financial and housing markets as the top concern.

When it comes to ways to reduce the deficit, those surveyed were in favor of lowering domestic spending by a 61 percent to 30 percent margin. Americans were roughly split on whether defense spending should be reduced, with 49 percent saying it should and 47 percent disagreeing, which was within the poll's 3-point margin of error. Nearly two-thirds opposed making changes to Social Security or raising taxes.

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]]>Obama pollsBruce Drake2011-03-16T14:00:00+00:00Sen. Rand Paul Heading to Key Presidential Contest Stateshttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/sen-rand-paul-heading-to-key-presidential-contest-states/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/sen-rand-paul-heading-to-key-presidential-contest-states/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/16/sen-rand-paul-heading-to-key-presidential-contest-states/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

A father and son running for president at the same time? It seems highly unlikely, but Rep. Ron Paul says the odds are 50-50 that he will again seek the Republican presidential nomination, and his son, Sen. Rand Paul, has trips planned soon to South Carolina and Iowa -- two of the states where the 2012 race will begin.

Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is headed to Charleston, S.C., Monday for an off-the-record meeting of influential conservatives, CNN reported. He is slated for a return trip to the state to promote his new book, "The Tea Party Goes to Washington," and he has a speaking engagement at a GOP dinner in Des Moines, Iowa, on April 2.

The first-term senator, who shares his dad's libertarian leanings, has made an impression with his uncompromising stands on spending issues. But he probably wouldn't even flirt with the notion of running nationally unless his dad decides to take a pass on 2012. Even so, when a senator starts spending time in states like Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire in the months preceding an election year, his travel schedule gets the attention of the political press.

Ron Paul (R-Texas) ran for president in 2008, winning 16 delegates and a strong following drawn to his fiscal conservatism and opposition to the war in Iraq. In 1988, he ran nationally as the candidate of the Libertarian Party, getting 430,000 votes nationwide.

Two father-and-son combos have served in the White House -- John Adams and John Quincy Adams, and George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush -- but none competed against each other.

 

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]]>dailyguidanceRand PaulRon PaulPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-16T09:30:00+00:00Houses Passes Another Stopgap Spending Billhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/15/houses-passes-another-stopgap-spending-bill/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/15/houses-passes-another-stopgap-spending-bill/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/15/houses-passes-another-stopgap-spending-bill/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The House approved another short-term spending bill Tuesday afternoon, a step in keeping the government open beyond Friday but drawing complaints from some members who want a permanent fix.

The measure passed 271 to 158, with 54 GOP members opposing it, according to news reports. It would keep the federal government running through April 8 while House and Senate negotiators try to hammer out a longer-term spending plan for the rest of the fiscal year. The measure now goes to the Senate for a vote.

An earlier stopgap bill passed in early March trimmed $4 billion in federal spending and provided money to keep federal agencies operating through March 18.

The new continuing resolution cuts some $6 billion, still far short of the $61 billion the GOP-controlled House agreed to trim from the federal budget for the rest of the year. But the Democratically controlled Senate rejected the larger House bill, and the impasse over the budget has forced Congress to consider short-term measures until a compromise can be reached.

 

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]]>dailyguidanceHouse and stopgap spending billspending cutsstopgap spending billPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-15T16:38:00+00:00Huckabee, Bachmann Score Highest in GOP 2012 Field on 'Positive Intensity' of Supporthttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/15/huckabee-bachmann-score-highest-in-gop-2012-field-on-positive/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/15/huckabee-bachmann-score-highest-in-gop-2012-field-on-positive/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/15/huckabee-bachmann-score-highest-in-gop-2012-field-on-positive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Mike Huckabee and Michele Bachmann score the best among the field of potential GOP presidential candidates when it comes to a "positive intensity score" calculated by Gallup, but neither they or anyone else in the Republican field generates a high level of intensely positive opinions.

Gallup arrived at this measure by asking Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, in a poll conducted Feb. 28-March 13, whether they had a strongly favorable, favorable, unfavorable or strongly unfavorable opinion of each potential candidate that they recognized. The intensity score is arrived at by subtracting the "strongly unfavorable" number for those names that they recognized.

One problem with this measure is the significant differences among the GOP field when it comes to name recognition. Huckabee, Newt Gingrich (in third place as far as positive intensity), Sarah Palin (fourth place) and Mitt Romney (sixth place) are recognized by 81 percent or more of those surveyed, with Palin having the highest recognition at 96 percent.

Bachmann may hold second place when it comes to positive intensity, but that's based on responses from the 52 percent who recognize her name. Rick Santorum beats out Romney when it comes to positive intensity, but that's based on the much smaller pool of 42 percent who know his name.

The showings by Bachmann and Santorum could be explained by the fact that, although they are known by a far smaller group of Republicans, their conservative credentials make them a hit among those who know them because they are their target audiences.

Gallup didn't consider any of the scores, including Huckabee's, to demonstrate a high level of intensely positive opinions.

For the Republicans who do have high name recognition, Gallup says the challenge is to "translate that name identification into strongly positive reactions from Republican voters."

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]]>michele bachmannRick SantorumBruce Drake2011-03-15T16:09:00+00:00Fox News Adds Indiana Democrat Evan Bayh as Commentatorhttp://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/15/fox-news-adds-indiana-democrat-evan-bayh-as-commentator/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/15/fox-news-adds-indiana-democrat-evan-bayh-as-commentator/http://politicsdaily.com/2011/03/15/fox-news-adds-indiana-democrat-evan-bayh-as-commentator/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Former Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, an influential voice for moderation during his 12 years in the U.S. Senate, has signed on as a political commentator with Fox News.

Bayh, 55, chose not to seek reelection last year -- and his seat was subsequently lost a Republican in November, Dan Coats.

"I'm pleased to offer analysis of public policy and politics to the millions of Americans who get their news from Fox," Bayh said in a statement issued by the network. He will "lend a valuable point of view" and will be part of Fox's coverage of the 2012 presidential race, Fox Senior Vice President Michael Clemente said.

In Indiana, Bayh is a household name. He is a former governor and the son of Birch Bayh, who also served in the Senate and ran for president in 1976, losing the Democratic nomination to Jimmy Carter.

A lawyer, Bayh recently joined the Washington firm of McGuireWoods and became an adviser to the New York-based private equity firm of Apollo Global Management, according to the Indianapolis Star.

Fox News, often criticized for leaning too heavily on conservative Republican commentators, recently suspended former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum from their contributor roles because both are edging toward candidacies for the GOP presidential nomination.

 

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]]>birch bayhdailyguidanceDan Coatsevan bayhPolitics Daily Staff2011-03-15T12:58:00+00:00