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Edwards says he’s the son of the South on ‘Road to White House’

November 03, 2007 1:33 PM

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson reports:  For John Edwards, campaigning in his native South Carolina Saturday morning was as easy as bacon and eggs.  The presidential hopeful greeted supporters at a breakfast fundraiser for State Representative Bill Clyburn.

Rep. Clyburn, who has endorsed Edwards' '08 run, proudly told the former senator and the small crowd of bacon, eggs and grits eating supporters, "Keep up the good work, you've been an inspiration to me and many other South Carolinians and I want you to know that you are our favorite son."

The battle for the favorite son came into play when comedian Steven Colbert threw himself into the race in South Carolina.  But at home, Edwards had something to say about all the big names crowding the field.

"I’m running against two celebrity candidates who get massive media coverage and the result is it's very hard to get heard," said Edwards about his top rivals, Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama. 

"We know that we have a long way to go, I feel good about what I stand for and as soon as South Carolinians are reminded and they will be, that I was born here and that I understand their lives and I'm going to change Washington to make it work for them, they'll vote for me."

As for that bit of business as to who's the real son of the South? "It's me. Colbert better get out of claiming he's the son of South Carolina." And considering Colbert's application to run in the South Carolina Democratic primary was recently rejected -- Edwards may have a leg up on the claim.

The Clyburn fundraiser was held at Mac's on Main, a Columbia restaurant where the road to the White House literally runs through -- with masking tape that is.  The floor of the restaurant has been marked with a "road" where presidential hopefuls make stops to post there campaign slogans.  Edwards took a moment to plaster an Edwards '08 sticker on the floor.  His visit to Mac's on Main comes after Sens. Obama, Biden and Dodd all made a campaign stop this cycle.

November 3, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Giuliani Impersonates Hillary, Says Bill Clinton Had Head in the Sand

November 03, 2007 12:13 PM

ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports:  With an Elvis impersonator crooning just two floors below him, Rudy Giuliani, R-N.Y., took aim on Friday at both Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

Speaking at a town hall in Berlin, New Hampshire, Giuliani first set his sights on Hillary Clinton and used humor to answer a question about Clinton's much analyzed debate response on whether she supported a plan to grant driver's licenses to illegal aliens in New York state.

"Oh gee I can't figure out what to think," said Giuliani satirizing Clinton.

"Don't pick on me by asking that question. That's a gotcha question. Do not pick on me for asking that question.  Now let me see what I think…. Let me see… First put up your hands and tell me what you think.  Then I'll tell you what I think. Are you for it or against it?  Ok, you're not gonna tell me.  So I'm for it, for it.  I am against it.  I'm for it and against it.  And I wanna be your president."

After having his fun, the former New York City Mayor got serious.

"Okay, all kidding aside, I am against it," he said. "It's a terrible mistake. You don't give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants."

Giuliani did acknowledge that he at least could respect Barack Obama, D-Ill., who said he supported the license plan.

"I at least respect somebody who answers the question and I watched that debate the other night and Hillary Clinton could not answer the question," Giuliani said.  "It was like double talk.  This and this and this."

"If you can't take a position on driver's licenses, what the heck are you gonna do about war and peace, and difficult decisions in crisis?" he added returning his attention to the Democratic frontrunner.

Giuliani was not done with the Clintons though.  Next to draw the former mayor's ire was the former president, Bill Clinton, whom Giuliani took umbrage with over how he cut the military and intelligence agencies' budgets while he was in the White House.

"What Bill Clinton did to you in the 1990's most Americans don't even know.  They don't even know the worst thing that he did," said Giuliani.

"The worst thing that he did was not any of the stuff that got all the attention and sometimes exaggeration and who knows what.  The worst thing he did was to cut our military and intelligence budgets. That is the worst thing he did."

Noting that Clinton "slashed" both the agencies' budgets, Giuliani charged that the former president had his "head in the sand."

"And now as I said, I don't pretend that he (Clinton) could predict September the 11th.  People are not prophets, even presidents," said Giuliani.  "But he did have his head in the sand.  He was cutting those military budgets and intelligence budgets while Islamic terrorists were killing Americans."

"Over 500 before September 11th.  The first attack on America was not September 11th, it was 1993.  And then Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, and then Kenya, and then Tanzania, and then the attack on the USS Cole, to which we didn't even respond.  So let's not go back to that."

Ending his Clinton focus, Giuliani noted, "Hillary Clinton really wants to take you in reverse to the 1990's. She thought things were wonderful in the 1990's and there was only one thing missing in the 1990's and it was the socialized medicine she couldn't do for us.  So now she wants to take us back to the 1990's and give us the socialized medicine too.  Let's not let her do that."

November 3, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (78) | TrackBack (0)

McCain Not Sure About Mukasey

October 28, 2007 11:32 AM

ABC News' Bret Hovell reports: Senator John McCain indicated Sunday that he would not rule out voting against President Bush’s nominee for attorney general over the issue of torture.

Michael Mukasey, a U.S. district judge and Bush's choice to head the Justice Department, refused to say during his confirmation hearings last week whether or not he considered harsh interrogation techniques such as waterboarding torture.

McCain, a guest on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, was asked if he would need a more definitive answer from Mukasey before voting to confirm him.

"I can't be that absolute," he said, after a pause. "But I want to know his answer."

McCain continued that he will judge the nominee by his entire record.

"But this is a very important issue to me."

McCain, R-Ariz, spent 5 ½ years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, during which time he was routinely tortured.

McCain took a swipe at rival Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor, on the issue of waterboarding as well. Giuliani, a friend of Mukasey, responded Thursday to the nominee's answer on waterboarding by saying, "I'm not sure it is [torture] either, it depends on how it is done. It depends on the circumstances. It depends on who does it."

"Anyone who says they don't know if water boarding is torture or not has no experience in the conduct of warfare and national security," McCain told Stephanopoulos.

October 28, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

Obama: Clinton & Washington Treat Social Security Like “Political Football”

October 28, 2007 11:06 AM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: At a Saturday town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, Senator Obama accused Senator Clinton of "ducking" on Social Security.

The town hall began with an introduction by Todd Bowman, a voter who posed a Social Security question to Senator Clinton earlier this month.

"She gave me a conflicted response and made me wonder if a candidate won't answer a question on the campaign trail, how can we be sure she'll be honest with the American people when she'll be president?" Bowman, an Obama supporter, said.

Obama was quick to highlight Bowman's story, saying, "When Senator Clinton was asked about it, she wouldn't say what she thought needed to be done… I reject that notion… A candidate for president owes it to the American people to tell us where they stand."

Obama's plan would eliminate income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000 a year.

"But if we're serious about making retirement security a reality, then tax breaks aren't enough. We also have an obligation to protect Social Security and ensure that it's a safety net the American people can count on today, tomorrow and forever," he said. "The underlying system is sound. The actual problem is a projected cash shortfall that can be readily solved."

"Conventional thinking in Washington says Social Security is the third rail of American politics. It says you should hedge, and dodge, and spin, but at all costs, don't answer," Obama said.

Obama opposes both privatization and raising the retirement age.  His plan would raise Social Security taxes on wealthy Americans and stop the government from dipping into the Social Security trust fund.

"But the fact is, we will not be able to solve this problem and protect Social Security once and for all until we stop treating it like a political football and start treating it like the national treasure that it is," he said.

October 28, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Bush Aims to Comfort California

October 27, 2007 11:31 AM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: In his weekly radio address, President Bush once again emphasized that the federal government is ready and able to respond to the California wildfire crisis that displaced over a half a million people this week. Bush went to California on Thursday as the fires ravaged the southern part of the state.

"I walked with a married couple through the charred remains of their home. I met with emergency responders. I talked with displaced families at a disaster assistance center. And I made a pledge to the people of California on behalf of all Americans: We will help you put out the fires, get through the crisis, and rebuild your lives," Bush said in the address.

The president highlighted the efficiency of the federal response, noting that assistance was granted within an hour of one of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's requests. He also paid tribute to the first responders who are still working to contain the massive fires.

"Despite the challenges of high winds and dry weather, firefighters are gaining the upper hand and earning the gratitude of their fellow citizens. Many of these brave men and women have battled the blaze in triple-digit heat. Some have worked around the clock. And more than once, firefighting teams were forced to take emergency shelter in their fire tents when threatened by approaching walls of flame. I was grateful for the opportunity to meet them, and I thank them for their courage," the president said.

October 27, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Obama Hits the Southern Airwaves

October 27, 2007 10:19 AM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: The Obama campaign will repurpose two TV ads to run in South Carolina, making Sen. Obama the first Democratic candidate to hit the airwaves in the early primary state.

The two ads, entitled "What If?" and "Join Us," will air on the Jumbotron during the homecoming football game this weekend between South Carolina State University and Delaware State.

"What If?" has already aired in Iowa. The ad asks, "What if we had a president with the ability to restore our place in the world and Americans' faith in our government?"

"Join Us" was the ad produced by the campaign for the CNN/You Tube debate this past summer.

October 27, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Colbert Support Growing on Facebook

October 26, 2007 12:57 PM

ABC News' Bradley Lautenbach Reports: While comedian Stephen Colbert's run for the presidency is hardly serious business, he is attracting support on the popular social networking site Facebook.

While Facebook has not given him an official presidential candidate profile, Colbert has amassed quite a following among the site's users since "announcing" on Comedy Central that he would run in South Carolina as a presidential candidate.

Today the group, "1,000,000 Strong For Stephen T Colbert," actually passed its tally-goal of 1,000,000 members.

By comparison, Sen. Barack Obama's Facebook profile has 157,201 supporters, and the group "Barack Obama (One Million Strong for Barack)" has 384,781 members.

Republican candidate Rep Ron Paul, R-Tex., the candidate who seems to have mobilized the most vocal if not the most numerous set of online supporters, has 33,582 supporters on his politician profile.

Colbert  -- who has said he would only campaign in his native South Carolina -- will be honored "Favorite Son" in South Carolina this Sunday and handed a key to the city by Charleston, South Carolina Mayor Bob Coble.

October 26, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)

Rudy Pumped Up in Florida

October 20, 2007 7:25 PM

ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports:  An extremely energized Rudy Giuliani took the stage Saturday at the Florida GOP Presidency 4 rally and was focused on the importance of Florida.

"In 2000, you saved us from Al Gore," said Giuliani wiping his brow in relief. "Well in 2008, we are gonna need you to save us from Hillary Clinton!"

Moving back and forth on the stage, like motivational speaker Tony Robbins, Giuliani told the Florida Republicans that the party can no longer cherry pick which states they would campaign in for the presidency. 

"The day after our convention, we cannot close our campaign office in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, California, Washington, Oregon," said Giuliani in a quasi-Howard Dean moment. "And that's what we've done for the last three or four campaigns.  We can’t do it anymore, we can’t afford to take the chance."

Giuliani told the crowd that if he is elected their nominee, his campaign would compete in all states.  And, he added, more importantly-- they would win some of those states.

Going back to his time as Mayor of New York, Giuliani recounted the results he says he was able to bring to the Big Apple -- cutting taxes, reducing crime and welfare among the items he rolled off.

"I've done the impossible and I'll tell you why" said Giuliani. "Because I don't give up.  Because I don't take no for an answer. Because I fight hard for you. And I fight hard for the things that I believe in."

Rudy Giuliani though did not lose sight of the Democrats in his speech and implored the crowd not allow to "Hillarycare" to become a reality. "If somebody mandates healthcare, we become like Canadian healthcare, we become like French healthcare, we become like English healthcare, we become like Cuba healthcare," Giuliani warned the crowd.

"Do you believe like Michael Moore that healthcare is better in Cuba?" he asked the crowd.

"It now occurs to me, I've been looking at Michael Moore… and he gets his healthcare in Cuba," Giuliani added, to the roar of the crowd. He then detailed his own healthcare plan and $15,000 tax credit that goes along with it. 

Before saying goodnight to the crowd, Giuliani went back to the importance of Florida.  "The winner of the primary here in January, will win Florida in November.  And once again Florida is gonna give us the next president of the United States," said Giuliani.

"I need your support. I need your votes and we are gonna win Florida."

October 20, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Romney Wins Conservative Straw Poll

October 20, 2007 3:36 PM

ABC News' Karen Travers reports: Mitt Romney won the Family Research Council Values Voters' Summit straw poll in Washington Saturday, barely beating out Mike Huckabee with just 30 more votes.

Romney garnered 1595 votes to Huckabee's 1565 in the poll of conservative activists. Ron Paul was third with 865 and Fred Thompson was fourth with 564 votes. Rudy Giuliani, who addressed the crowd Saturday, finished eighth.

Romney spoke at the summit Friday and called for ending the "marriage penalty" and decreasing out-of-wedlock birth.

In a veiled hit at his rival, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and his more liberal positions on gay rights and abortion, Romney said, "We won’t win the White House with only two out of three or one out of three… We’re not going to beat Hillary Clinton by acting like Hillary Clinton."

Romney reiterated his belief that "two parents are the ideal setting for raising a child." On abortion, Romney declared he would be "a pro-life president," acknowledging that he was a "convert to this cause," referencing his 2005 change from an "effectively pro-choice" position to a pro-life stance.

More than 2,000 conservative activists attended the summit and heard from the Republican presidential field over the last two days.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said 5,776 votes were cast in the straw poll by voting in person, online or by mail. Romney's campaign actively petitioned supporters to vote online whether or not they had attended the conference.

The straw poll is non-binding, unscientific, and does not necessarily reflect the social conservative movement as a whole.

The following three questions were on the straw poll ballot:

1. Which of the following candidates for president would you be most likely to vote for?

RESULTS:
Romney- 1595
Huckabee- 1565
Paul- 865
Thompson- 564
Brownback- 297
Hunter- 140
Tancredo- 133
Giuliani- 107
McCain- 81

2. Who of the following candidates would be least acceptable to you as President of the United States? Clinton- 4141 (71.7 percent)
Giuliani- 532 (9.21 percent)
Obama- 278 (4.81 percent)
Kucinich- 196 (3.39 percent)

3. Please indicate which issue is the most important in determining your opinion of the candidate that you will most likely vote for – choose one:
RESULTS:
-abortion
-defending marriage
-tax cuts
-permanent tax relief

ABC News' Matt Stuart contributed to this report.

October 20, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (29) | TrackBack (0)

Clinton tries to Woo Iowa Dems

October 20, 2007 2:38 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper reports: Hillary Clinton heavily praised the Polk County Iowa Democrats while speaking at their dinner Friday night. 

"The Polk county Democrats, the epicenter of the Democratic party, therefore the epicenter of America, therefore the epicenter of the world!" Clinton shouted.

Sen. Clinton, who arrived an hour and a half late due to weather delays, reminisced about the hot August days she spent in Iowa this past summer. Specifically, she fondly remembered the Iowa state fair, "I saw the butter cow; the thing I loved about the butter cow was the butter cow and Harry Potter. Right?"   

"And then I got to eat a wonder bar which I never had before. Then I got to flip pork chops on the grill, and then I got to eat pork chops and I got to eat my way from one way of the fair to another."

The conversation inevitably turned to President Bush. Clinton energetically said, "Well I'm not talking sorry anymore." Clinton then referred to current state of healthcare in this country, "we are going to make the insurance companies sorry."

Clinton also spoke about President Bush's veto of SCHIP, as she has frequently this past week. "I think what our response should be is we need to veto President Bush and the Republicans and their policies."

Clinton has three more events throughout Iowa today where she is spending her 37th day campaigning in the Hawkeye state.

October 20, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

Edwards and Maher have "Real Time"

October 20, 2007 1:00 PM

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson reports: In an appearance on “Real Time with Bill Maher” Friday evening, Democratic presidential contender John Edwards gave viewers a sampling of campaign life, and gave Maher a healthy serving of campaign issues.

The interview began by pointing to the fact that it’s already been a lengthy campaign season, with Edwards joking that he declared his candidacy 37 years ago.  Edwards told viewers he spends his time between town halls, campaign busses and hotels-- all of which at times are enjoyed with the company of his wife Elizabeth and their children.

“Is it romantic?” asked Maher about campaign life. 

“It’s way not romantic, except of course when Elizabeth’s there," said Edwards.

Maher has been a long time supporter of Edwards, and though he made no official endorsement of any candidate, it was clear that his personal favorite was sitting next to him.

“When I think-- go through my head, the other candidates, the democrats do have a lot of good people this time,” said Maher.  “But when I think…Hillary Clinton, what could go wrong?  Well yeah, things could go wrong.”

Try telling that to Bill O’Reilly. Earlier this year in an appearance on “The O’Reilly Factor” Maher dubbed Edwards a “sure thing” in ’08.  The admission caused O’Reilly to shoot back saying, “I think you’re out of your mind that John Edwards would get anywhere close.”

Edwards took it all in stride telling Maher, “that’s the best endorsement a Democrat can get is to have Bill O’Reilly be against you.”

After briefly discussing universal healthcare and Sen. Clinton’s vote on Iran, Maher quizzed Edwards on environmental issues, particularly on ethanol, a corn based biofuel that Edwards is proposing the U.S. produce at a rate of 65 billion gallons annually in addition to other biofuels by the year 2050. He also floated the idea that it might be necessary to impose a gas tax to help pay for the restoration of the planet.

Maher injected a little cynicism and sarcasm telling Edwards, “Why do I think if we had the first primary in Vermont we would be subsidizing biofuels made out of syrup.”

At the culmination of the interview, Maher asked Edwards how he would surge in the polls. Edward quickly pointed to the Howard Dean scenario in 2003 before adding, “When it gets to the end people in Iowa and New Hampshire who are looking you in the eye and not just watching you for 30 seconds on television, they want to know what you’re made of.”

“They want to know if you really stand for something if you’re willing to take on this system that doesn’t work, whether your ideas for healthcare, ending the war are real and whether they can trust you.”

“I would give you money if I thought it wouldn’t come back to hurt you,” said Maher, making it clear that he does indeed trust Edwards’ candidacy.

October 20, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Bush Radio Address Calls for Cooperative Conservation

October 20, 2007 11:34 AM

ABC News' James Berger reports: In his weekly radio address, President Bush touted the administration's work in protecting the nation's waterways and expanding National Wildlife Refuges.

Bush called for a coalition of groups including conservationists, fishermen, plus federal, state and tribal officials to meet and discuss the "environmental challenges of the 21st century."

He labeled the meetings "cooperative conservation," where "Instead of the old environmental debates that pit one group against another, we're moving our country toward a system where citizens and government can come together to achieve meaningful results for our environment."

In the President's 2008 budget, Bush requested an increase of $4.7 million for National Wildlife Refuge System wildlife and habitat management.  According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this increase will allow the refuge system to restore an additional 5,102 acres of wetlands and 48,000 acres of uplands.

The president scheduled a fishing trip to the Chesapeake Bay after the address; immediately prior he signed an Executive Order preserving what he called, "two of our Nation's most popular recreational fish – striped bass and red drum."

Bush ended the address by saying, "With the cooperative conservation policies we have put into place, we show our commitment to preserving our nation's heritage.  By making responsible choices today, we will ensure that our children and grandchildren will enjoy a cleaner and more vibrant environment."

October 20, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Brownback's Yellow Brick Road Comes to an End

October 20, 2007 11:00 AM

ABC News' Julia Bain reports: Sen. Sam Brownback announced his withdrawal from the presidential race Friday.  Surrounded by his wife and two of his five children, Brownback told reporters that he was ending his candidacy, "with great love for my country, but [with] the recognition that my yellow brick road came just short of the White House this time."

Brownback acknowledged that he was bringing his campaign to a close due to a lack of funds. "We're out of money," he said in an afternoon press conference in Topeka, Kansas.  His campaign reported less than $100,000 in cash on hand at the end of the third quarter, the lowest quarterly fundraising total of his campaign.

The Kansas Republican said he had not yet reached a decision about endorsing any of his fellow Republican candidates. 

Brownback acknowledged that a disappointing third place finish in the Iowa Straw Poll in August was a turning point for the campaign.  Significant time and resources were invested in the event on a gamble that a surprise top tier finish would translate to a bump in the polls.  Brownback campaigned in Iowa almost weekly in the run-up to the straw poll, hoping to woo conservative Iowa caucus goers.  He found himself in direct competition with former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee for the social conservative vote.  At Friday's press conference, Brownback stood by the plan to focus on the straw poll, saying, "I think it was a good game plan, it could have worked, we were just a hair short."

When asked by reporters what part of the campaign he would approach differently, Brownback said he wouldn't "debate immigration in the middle of an election cycle."  Brownback, a co-sponsor of the original McCain-Kennedy bill, faced tough questions about his stance on the issue at campaign events.  He ultimately voted against the immigration reform bill that was brought to the Senate floor in June, saying "this is not the right bill or the right time."

Brownback stood by the core issues of his campaign, including a three state solution in Iraq, an optional flat tax, and the strengthening the family. Brownback focused his platform on strong social conservative values, describing himself as a "bleeding heart conservative," and an advocate of a "pro-life, whole-life" message.

Over the course of his candidacy, Brownback struggled to push poll numbers beyond the low single digits.  In recent weeks, he said that he would need at least a fourth place finish in the Iowa caucuses in order to continue in the race. 

The two-term senator grew up on a farm in Parker, Kansas-- population 281. During the final press conference of his candidacy, he emotionally expressed his amazement that the son of a Kansas farmer could grow up to run for president.  Brownback jumped into the race January 20th, saying he was taking "the first steps on the yellow brick road to the White House."

October 20, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Edwards Criticizes Clinton on Iran

October 13, 2007 7:15 PM

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson and Eloise Harper report: On Saturday, former Sen. John Edwards criticized Sen. Hillary Clinton's vote and comments on labeling Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.

In South Carolina, Clinton defended her vote saying, "I thought that was the right vote. A lot of people supported me on it. There are those who say oh well that's like voting for war-- that is absolutely wrong, it's deliberately misrepresented."

But in New Hampshire, Edwards "respectfully" disagreed, telling ABC News, "I think the lesson that we learned from Iraq is that George Bush will take whatever authority that you've given and push it to the extreme if it fits with his agenda. And this was clearly completely in line with George Bush's agenda. George Bush has been rattling the sabre on Iran since he declared them part of the axis of evil."

Speaking at a town hall meeting, Edwards reissued his concern about Clinton's vote, saying he worries six months from now "if Bush invades Iran are we going to hear again, 'Well only if I knew then what I know now'?"

October 13, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

McCain: Romney not a real Republican

October 13, 2007 4:27 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovell reports: In what may be the harshest attack yet in the race for the 2008 Republican nomination, Sen. John McCain insinuated that rival Gov. Mitt Romney is conning New Hampshire voters when he implies that he is the "real Republican" in the race.

"I don’t usually do this," McCain began, citing comments Romney had made yesterday at a stop in Sparks, Nevada, that he spoke for the Republican wing of the Republican party. McCain went on to list several facets of Romney's record that he said indicated Romney's more liberal tendencies.

"So you'll understand why I'm a little perplexed when Mitt Romney now suggests that he's a better Republican than me, or that he speaks for the Republican wing of the Republican party," McCain told a meeting of the New Hampshire GOP.

"You might not agree with me on every issue, but I think you know, I won't con you," McCain said. "The most important thing we have in this life is our self respect. And I'm not going to trade mine for anybody's vote for any office."

Romney's campaign fired back, arguing that Romney's record does speak to Republican voters.

"It's truly unfortunate that at an event designed to bring the Republican party together, Senator McCain chose, instead, to break Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment in an attempt to divide us," said Craig Stevens, Romney's press secretary in New Hampshire.

The campaign of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani entered the fray on Romney's comments as well, calling them "one of those moments where you sit back and just say 'huh?'"

"We already know Mitt will say anything but at some point all the millions in the world won't help his latest attempt at re-branding," Giuliani communications director Katie Levinson said.

Speaking with reporters after the GOP meeting, McCain was asked directly if he thought Romney was trying to con New Hampshire voters.

"No, but it’s very clear he's changed his positions on almost every major issue in his various campaigns," McCain said.

"I've been a person who has tried to follow in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan," he said. "It makes one a bit frustrated to hear someone of his record say that he's the only real Republican."

That frustration may have been building for some time. Top McCain aides say that Romney's comments yesterday rubbed the Senator the wrong way, that he was anxious to respond, and that there will be more to come.

John Berman, Jake Tapper and Matt Stuart contributed to this report.

October 13, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (22) | TrackBack (0)

Edwards Tries to make Clinton Flip Flop Label Stick

October 13, 2007 3:46 PM

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson reports: Former Sen. John Edwards sought to recast the image of Sen. Hillary Clinton as a flip-flopper on matters of Social Security on Saturday.

"The American people need a president who will be straight with them, who will be honest about the greatest challenges our government faces. And one of the most important of those is the looming Social Security crisis," said Edwards during a town hall meeting in Keane, N.H. this afternoon.

"First, Senator Clinton said she would just wait for things to get better. Now, she has apparently told some people that she really supports my idea of asking people who make more than $200,000 a year to contribute a little more," said Edwards, speaking to a revelation that last week Clinton privately told a voter she would consider applying the Social Security tax after publicly dodging the proposal.

During an AARP debate in September, Clinton was asked if she agreed with Edwards’ proposal.  Clinton responded saying, "I want to focus on the fiscal responsibility piece of this," adding, "before we do anything else, we need to get back to what was working."

Edwards has been a vocal supporter of imposing a 12.4 percent Social Security tax to income above $200,000 while exempting income between $97,500 and $200,000.

Edwards highlighted Clinton's discrepancy by saying, "I don't believe open government means popular answers in public and honest candor in private."

October 13, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

As the Seasons Change, So Does Obama’s Desire for Comparisons

October 13, 2007 3:44 PM

ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports:  Just like the changing leaves on the trees lining the street he walked upon, Senator Obama explained his changing rationale for an increased critique of his top opponents for the presidency.

“Now as the leaves turn and the air gets cooler there’s going to be more of an emphasis on the contrast between myself and the other candidates in the race,” he said.

Explaining that the Clinton campaign understands the point that they’re at in the race, Obama confessed, “They haven’t been accustomed to as much scrutiny as maybe they’ll be receiving now that it’s getting closer to the election.”

Ending a week of back and forth spats between campaigns, the senator did not ease up in his criticism of Clinton as he canvassed a neighborhood just outside Des Moines. “The degrees to which she would be willing to go along with Bush policies that provide a rational for keeping troops in Iraq longer or engaging in aggression toward Iran, those are all areas where we have specific differences,” he said.

Obama added that he thinks Clinton thinks more conventionally on foreign policy, and pointed once again to their difference on meeting with enemies of the U.S. as well as friends.

And even though this fall campaign season may have blown in more criticisms between competing campaigns, Obama admits not everything is changed, “We’re not undergoing some fundamental transformation approach. We continue to offer a hopeful and optimistic message on where we want to take this country.”

But the senator quickly added, “Obviously there is going to be difference between the candidates, we’re running for president…and voters are going to need to know where those difference are.”

October 13, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Edwards Proposes Ban on Lobbyists

October 13, 2007 3:43 PM

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson reports: Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards upped the ante in his fight against entrenched interests in politics, calling for a ban on lobbyists' contributions and expanding the public financing system.

"To clean up our government, you have to do two things. You have to be committed to changing the system," said Edwards during a town hall meeting in Keane, N.H. "The first thing we have to do is cut off special interests' ability to influence campaigns with their money, and increase the power of regular people," said Edwards.

"With all the money that is flooding into this race, you would think it was an auction, not an election. As president, I will prohibit all candidates and federal office holders from accepting contributions from lobbyists. All this money is making it extremely difficult for non-wealthy candidates to run.  I believe that a high-school teacher here in Keene, or a nurse in Manchester, should have the same opportunity to run for Congress as a lawyer from North Carolina.”

Edwards also proposed to rewrite campaign finance rules to include matching donations. Under his plan two $100 checks will be worth the same as one $1,000 check, and no one will be allowed to give more than $1,000. 

Edwards has taken Sen. Hillary Clinton to task for continuing to take money from lobbyists, but has had less sharp criticism of Sen. Barack Obama, who took money from lobbyists during his senate campaign, but has not done so in his presidential campaign.

It was clear Edwards wanted his message to reach beyond the two hundred plus people gathered in the Brickyard Pavilion in downtown Keane.

"You have to run a campaign that does not take money from lobbyists or special interests so you are not beholden to the people who are corrupting our system by the time you get to Washington. You can't do one without the other. You have to do both," he said.

October 13, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Bush Calls on Congress to Pass Free Trade Agreements

October 13, 2007 10:57 AM

ABC News' James Berger reports: In his weekly radio address, President Bush called on Congress to pass three more free trade agreements. 

In the last six years, the Bush administration has signed 11 free trade agreements, including seven new agreements in Latin America.  Bush is seeking new agreements with Peru, Colombia, and Panama.

The president made the case for free trade by saying, "More exports support better and higher-paying jobs -- and to keep our economy expanding, we need to keep expanding trade."

Bush said these three agreements would lower agricultural and industrial tariffs on American businesses, while at the same time provide 75 million new consumers for American goods. 

Bush acknowledged that many Americans are uneasy with the new competition free trade agreements bring, but said that "the federal government is providing substantial funding for trade adjustment assistance that helps Americans make the transition from one job to the next."

The administration plans to also work toward a possible agreement with South Korea. "This agreement would strengthen our relationship with a democratic partner in a critical part of the world," Bush said.

October 13, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

Clinton Includes God in the Conversation

October 13, 2007 10:38 AM

ABC News' Eloise Harper reports: Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., speaking on Friday at the Brookland Baptist Church, in Columbia, S.C. brought faith into the conversation. "Well, and the congregation said amen," Clinton said. "I do think that we hope and pray with all our might for God to continue his blessings on us but we also know he is looking for a little help for all of us and we're gathered here tonight for those who have been trail blazers in doing God's work on this earth."

Clinton thanked Bishop F.C. James and said that "during a lot of those years in Arkansas he was not only our friend, but as a United Methodist I could count on him as a bishop from time to time."

After a day of swipes back-and-forth between the top three Democratic candidates running for president, Clinton abstained from engaging in the politics of Iran or the war in Iraq. Instead, Clinton, introduced some faith-based language, but primarily focused on voter registration. "Langston Hughes said 'Let America be America again,'" Clinton said, adding, "well let us be Americans, rolling up our sleeves, working together, finding common cause, solving problems. But none of this can happen unless we register our fellow citizens to vote."

People uttered "uh-huh" and "yes" in the crowd as Clinton spoke about the current president and of the tragedies of Hurricane Katrina.

Perhaps Clinton couldn't resist a subtle dig at her top democratic rival, Sen. Obama, and his politics of hope. Clinton concluded her remarks saying, "This church wasn't built by wishing, it was built by planning and working and making it happen. We didn't get our rights sitting around hoping and thinking it could happen but because people like Jim Felder and John Lewis and others are willing to get out there and lead."

October 13, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Retired General Has Never Heard Clinton Oppose Iraq War

October 06, 2007 4:34 PM

ABC News' Eloise Harper reports: A retired U.S. general visiting New Hampshire to campaign for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., said yesterday that Clinton does not oppose the Iraq war, and the General said she's never heard Clinton oppose it, reported New Hampshire's Union Leader.

Retired Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy, the Army's first woman to reach the three-star rank, said in a telephone interview with the paper, "I have not ever heard [Clinton] say, 'I oppose the war.' I've heard her say that we need to begin withdrawal under a plan led by the military and defense secretary. I've heard her say we need to create a regional stabilizing group by allies, by leaders in the world and by all of the states that are bordering Iraq."

A Clinton spokesperson tells ABC News that "Senator Clinton opposes this war and is trying to do everything she can to end it as quickly as she can- a goal that she and General Kennedy share."

October 6, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (17) | TrackBack (0)

Obama Fires Back at Bill Clinton

September 29, 2007 2:34 PM

September 29, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Gingrich Not Running in '08

September 29, 2007 1:08 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: ABC News has learned that former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, D-Ga., will not seek the presidency in 2008. Gingrich has kept campaign watchers guessing by delaying his decision for months. As recently as Thursday, it was reported that he was planning to launch a website this coming Monday in an effort to raise $30 million by Oct. 21 to support a possible candidacy.

Despite those earlier indications, Gingrich spokesman Rick Tyler confirms that Gingrich is staying out. Tyler said Gingrich plans to "remain a citizen activist," continuing his work with American Solutions for Winning the Future, a non-partisan organization aimed at rising above partisan gridlock to provide solutions to issues facing the United States.

This Sunday Gingrich will appear exclusively on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

September 29, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (28) | TrackBack (0)

Romney Tells Republicans to Reform

September 22, 2007 4:50 PM

ABC News' Matt Stuart reports: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney continued his call for the Republican party to "put [their] house in order" during his address outlining the principles of "Republicans for Change" at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference in Mackinac Island, Mich.

His address focused largely on his call for Republicans to reform.  "We've got to start acting like Republicans, not earmarking Republicans…not big government Republicans," Romney said, "but like Reagan Republicans and Roosevelt Republicans." Romney said the American people expect "higher ethical standards" but thanked President Bush for "restoring…the dignity to the White House."

Romney also highlighted his suggestion for ethics reform, declaring, "If I'm elected president, one of my first acts will be to issue an executive order prohibiting the immediate family of my cabinet and senior staff from lobbying the executive branch."

He even took on the U.S. Mint’s new dollar coin, in which "In God We Trust" is now on the side of the coin, saying the phrase is, "virtually invisible, just like the ACLU wants God to be," promising to "work to get God back on the front of our coin!"

Romney also seemed to suggest Republicans supported the American troops more than others, saying, "When a Republican says 'We support our troops,' it comes from the heart." Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom later said the remarks only were directed to Republicans and did not reflect other parties.

Fehrnstrom emphasized that Romney also said in his speech that "Democrats also love America."

Romney was the only speaker at the Republican lunch after former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark.,  canceled because of a scheduling conflict.

September 22, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Romney touts "deep roots" in Michigan

September 22, 2007 1:51 PM

ABC News' Matt Stuart reports: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney emphasized his "deep roots" in Michigan on Saturday before addressing the Mackinac Republican Leadership conference in Mackinac Island, Mich.

"I love Michigan... I love the state. I've got deep roots here," Romney said from the porch of the Grand Hotel. "I remember well when my family had the chance to be there," Romney said of Mackinac Island where the Michigan governor's summer residence is located. His father, George Romney, was governor of Michigan.

Romney responded to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani's claim that he was best suited to run a "50 state campaign" by arguing that he was the one best suited to win in the Midwest. "Frankly, if we're gonna win the election in '08 as I expect us to win," Romney said, "the Midwest is going to be key. You can expect that some of the coastal states will probably stay blue and many of the Southern states and Western states will stay red, but the swing states are gonna be in the Midwest. And frankly a guy that was born in the Midwest, raised in the Midwest, and who loves the Midwest and understands something about the industries and people of the Midwest, is probably best suited to be able to pick up some states that have been blue in the past."

On Michigan moving its primary to January 15th, Romney said "I must admit it was a good piece of news... My dad's name and my mom's name and their reputation is way better than mine will ever be."

Romney finally addressed his new ad, charging that the Republican party had lost its way, but refused to address any one Republican in particular. "I'm not pointing fingers. I'm talking about our party as a whole."

September 22, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Giuliani Vows To Bring Big Apple Plan Nationwide

September 22, 2007 10:07 AM

ABC News' Matt Stuart and Jan Simmonds report: After swapping places with Duncan Hunter, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani became the lead-off speaker Friday night at the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference; he immediately compared the tribulations he faced in New York to those currently being felt in the state of Michigan. 

He even gave his best Yogi Berra impression, saying it was going to be "deja vu all over again."

Giuliani argued that in New York he faced the problems of a deficit and massive unemployment in a city where "65% wanted to live somewhere else if they could," but he was able to turn the city around.

And as he did in New York, he exclaimed, there was a game plan to follow.  And that plan was "exactly what's needed for the state of Michigan" and "exactly the plan for America."

For Giuliani, the crux of his strategy is to have "lower taxes, smaller government, and less regulation", while at the same time recognizing that "business is not the enemy.  Where do you think all the jobs come from?  The sky?"

On lower taxes, Giuliani pushed his support for the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts, saying he would not only keep them, "I would increase them to put more money back in the system."

Giuliani focused all of his criticism on the Democratic frontrunners saying they would increase government and impose socialized medicine.  On Hillary Clinton's plan to mandate that every American get health care, he quipped "When…healthcare is free you will find out how expensive it is."

Giuliani claimed that America has "the best health care system in world," while also adding the caveats that "we've got to make it less expensive…more accessible…and higher quality."

The lone booing came when Giuliani admitted that he was not the perfect candidate nor the perfect person, and that he was in fact a Yankees fan. The Michigan audience jokingly booed.

Giuliani finally argued the importance of the "terrorist war against us" for the Michigan audience, saying that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are the primary reason why "You and I are on Mackinac Island, and we're safe."

September 22, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

State Dept Will Comply with Subpoenas

September 21, 2007 6:03 PM

ABC News' Kirit Radia Reports: The State Department intends to comply with subpoenas from a congressional watchdog committee, a senior State Department official told ABC News.

Just hours after the watchdog committee threatened Thursday to subpoena the State Department for documents and interviews on "Corruption in Iraq," as requested in a previous letter, the House Oversight Committee did just that.  Late on Thursday, Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., quietly issued a subpoena for documents and depositions from three department officials.

While the committee didn't name the officials that received depositions, Waxman's letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice noted that it wanted to interview three officials from the Office of Accountability and Transparency: Vincent Foulk, Christopher Griffith, and James Santelle. The letter also requested documents from the Office of Accountability and Transparency's reports.

The committee intends to hold a hearing next Thursday on the subject.

A senior State Department official said that the department is in the process of producing the documents for the committee and that the officials requested are in Baghdad and will eventually be made available to the committee.

September 21, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

The End of the Bridge to Nowhere

September 21, 2007 1:43 PM

ABC News' John Cochran reports: The Bridge to Nowhere is gone.  Not the victim of aging frames, bolts and joints.  No, this bridge has collapsed, even before it was built, after an onslaught of angry editorials, furious anti-pork citizens groups, and caustic jokes on late night TV.

First, that name.   It was not accurate.   If built, the bridge would have gone somewhere.   It would have replaced the ferry that takes residents of Ketchikan, Alaska (population 8,000) to the local airport on Gravina Island.  In 2005, Congress approved $223 million for construction.

In Washington, groups such as Taxpayers for Common Sense and Citizens Against Government Waste, rallied their troops to try to block the money.   They said the island was home to far more deer than people (50). 

The bridge's main sponsor in the Senate, Alaska Republican Ted Stevens, was outraged by any attempt to prevent his state from getting federal funds.  In 2004, with the help of Stevens, his state got special projects worth $645 million.  That was $984 for every Alaskan.   By contrast, Congress handed out less than $3 to every Texan.  And a Texan was, and still is, the President. 

But the barrage of publicity was too much for his fellow Republicans.  Senator John McCain, R.-Ariz., cited the Bridge to Nowhere as a perfect example of wasteful spending.  Senator Tom Coburn R-Okla., a longtime foe of pork spending, tried to shift the money to rebuild an interstate highway damaged by Hurricane Katrina. 

Senator Stevens grew even more outraged: "I don't kid people.  If the Senate decides to discriminate against our state…I will resign."  He did not resign.

An uneasy compromise was reached.  Congress took away the money for the Gravina Island bridge and another Alaskan bridge which was almost as controversial.  Instead, Congress gave the money to the state with the understanding that it was not required to use the funds specifically for bridges.

Friday, the state of Alaska officially sank the Bridge to Nowhere.  Governor Sarah Palin, also a Republican, said "Ketchikan desires a better way to reach the airport."  "But," she said, the bridge "is not the answer."  Palin has told state transportation officials to look for the most "fiscally responsible" alternative.

A spokesman for Senator Stevens was not immediately available for comment.

                                                                                                               

September 21, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)

Sen. Jack Reed Speaks Out on the Iraq Ad Wars

September 16, 2007 12:34 PM

ABC News' Mary Bruce Reports: Sen. Jack Reed, D- R.I., responded this morning to an ad from anti-war activist group MoveOn.org labeling General Petraeus as "General Betray Us".

"I think the particular ad overreached.  I think it was not something that I would accept.  And I think it was not the most effective way to get their message," Reed said in an interview on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

Republican leaders denounced the ad last week, calling on Democrats to condemn it. 2008 Republican Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani responding by posting his own ad calling on democratic rival Sen. Hillary Clinton to denounce MoveOn.org.

Other activist groups have retaliated as well. Freedom's Watch released an ad in response, urging viewers to "call your congressman and senator. Tell them to condemn MoveOn."

Reed, who delivered the democratic rebuttal to President Bush's speech this week on the War in Iraq, said "it's better to get on to the substance, to have a discussion about force structures, about policies, about what the Iraqi government's doing. That, I think, is more resonant among the American people and more significant and helpful in terms of the debate."

Reed admitted, however, that "MoveOn.org is taking a very active role in trying to change the policy, and in that sense reflects a vast majority of Americans."

September 16, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)

Gen. Clark Endorses Clinton

September 15, 2007 12:32 PM

ABC News' Kate Snow reports: Former Presidential Candidate General Wesley Clark added his name to the list of Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., fans today. 

On a conference call with reporters, the four-star general called Clinton a remarkable person with incredible experiences.  "She's smart, does her homework," Clark offered.

He said Clinton would be a strong President.  "I think she'd be a great Commander in Chief for our men and women in uniform," the former NATO Commander added.

Clark's endorsement is perhaps not that surprising.  After all, he reached top levels of the military during the administration of Bill Clinton, commanding forces in Kosovo and working as a military advisor in Bosnia.  He is from Arkansas and his 2004 failed presidential campaign featured many former Clinton administration staffers.

Though the campaign billed today's announcement as a "major national endorsement" it was unclear exactly what Clark's role will be.

"I haven't considered anything like that," Clark said when asked exactly what he would do for the Clinton campaign.  "This is about trying to help the Democratic party and the American people make the right decision."

Senator Clinton said she was "very grateful" for Clark's support and would be "pleased and honored to have General Clark play whatever role his demanding schedule and other commitments allow."

Clinton then went on to-- as she put it-- "pump up" Clark's new book. Clark's book hits bookstores on Monday. 

"I know how busy you're going to be with your book tour," Clinton said "and I'm looking forward to getting a copy myself."

Clark promised that a copy was already in the mail.

September 15, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Bush Makes Point Petraeus Won't

September 15, 2007 11:02 AM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: In his weekly radio address, President Bush again touted progress in Iraq and reiterated his plan to bring home 5,700 troops by Christmas and a full five brigades by next July.

"I have accepted General Petraeus's recommendations, and I have directed that he and Ambassador Crocker deliver another report to Congress in March," Bush said.

As he did in his address to the nation on Thursday night, the president explained his decisions on troop levels are being driven by "return on success."

"The more successful we are, the more troops can return home," Bush said.

When testifying before Congress this week, General David Petraeus said he did not know if achieving the military's objectives in Iraq made America safer, but the president concluded his radio address on the point his general wouldn't make.

"If Iraq's young democracy can turn back its enemies, it will mean a more hopeful Middle East -- and a more secure America," he said.

September 15, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Big Turnout for Gonzales Goodbye

September 14, 2007 5:45 PM

ABC News' Jason Ryan Reports: Gray overcast skies covered Washington Friday as Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said farewell to Justice Department employees at a ceremony held in the Department's Great Hall.  The ceremony highlighted his years in public service both as White House counsel and during his 32 month term as attorney general.

In a prayer invocation, Reverend Kathleene Card, wife of former White House chief of staff Andrew Card, asked for a blessing as Gonzales "transitioned from public life into private life."

There was nary a mention of the controversy that ultimately cost him his job during the ceremony but Acting Deputy Attorney General Craig Morford recalled an April meeting in Chicago where Gonzales met with a number of U.S. Attorneys.

Morford described the meeting as "Frank and candid - perhaps too frank and candid," but Gonzales listened to their concerns and did not hold it against them, his Deputy explained.

Gonzales replaced former Senator John Ashcroft, R-Mo., as attorney general on February 3, 2005, after a 60-36 Senate confirmation vote. 

Gonzales endured months of criticism for the firing of at least nine U.S. attorneys last year and members of Congress accused him of providing misleading testimony on the government's terrorist surveillance program.  Democrats alleged that Gonzales had repeatedly lied to Congress under oath.

In his 7-minute address to his family, friends and employees, Gonzales thanked the Department for their efforts in confronting terrorism and fighting drugs and crimes against children.

"If there is an agreement, a consensus, about anything, it is that children are what are most dear to us and we must do everything that we can to protect them from being hurt," said the outgoing Attorney General.

Throughout Gonzales' tenure, the White House stood behind its top law official, who has had a long history with President Bush.

Gonzales joined then-Governor George Bush's staff in 1994 as general counsel.  He became Texas secretary of state in 1997, a position he held until Bush appointed him to the state's Supreme Court in 1999.  Gonzales left Texas' high court to take a position as White House counsel at the beginning of Bush's first presidential term in January 2001.

Gonzales became emotional when he thanked his friend, the president, saying, "He has on numerous occasions afforded me the great privilege of public service in Texas, at the  White House, and the Department of Justice as the attorney general.  I am profoundly grateful to him.  And it has been a great honor to serve under his leadership."

At the departure ceremony Michael Sullivan, Acting ATF Director and US Attorney from Massachusetts, praised Gonzales calm demeanor, despite the political controversy in Washington, "He is a calm eye in the center of a storm."

Despite the recent months of controversy many of the top officials at the Department spoke highly of Gonzales dedication in battling online child pornography through the Department's initiative Project Safe Childhood.  According to Department statistics in the first half of 2007 the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force made 1,139 arrests in child exploitation crimes.

Gonzales tenure included the establishment of the Department's National Security Division which coordinates counterterrorism and counterintelligence investigations.  The division has increased monitoring of FBI's use of National Security Letters which were found to have been overused by the FBI in terrorism investigations.

Although morale at the Department has been diminished due to the recent months of controversy officials have remained focused on their work. A long time career official said today about Gonzales departure, "People really aren't discussing it much … people are focused on their work."

The Department's political appointees turned out in high numbers to fill the Department's Great Hall, also in attendance were Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff,  White House counsel Fred Fielding, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and Homeland security Advisor Fran Townsend.

The warm overture and feelings did not extend to outside of the Department where about 50 protestors from the anti-war group Code Pink, several with signs reading "LIAR" and "IMPEACH", held their own gathering denouncing Gonzales.

Members of the group often heckled Gonzales during his Senate testimony and would often come by the Department's Main Justice Building with bull-horns yelling for his resignation.
 
And when approached by this reporter in the halls at DOJ employees when asked about Gonzales last day expressed little interest and wanted to discuss who his replacement might be as the Attorney General.

Several names have been  including former Solicitor General Ted Olson, who attended the ceremony, and former Deputy Attorney Generals, Larry Thompson and George Terwilliger.

September 14, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Giuliani: Clinton Spewing 'Political Venom' on Iraq

September 12, 2007 2:49 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis, Jan Simmonds, Jennifer Parker, and Sunlen Miller Report:

One day after Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., sharply questioned the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Rudy Giuliani blasted his Democratic presidential rival, accusing her of spewing "political venom" in the Iraq war debate.

"I don't know what she's trying to say when she's accusing a general of the ‘willing suspension of disbelief,;" Giuliani said Wednesday on the "Randy and Spiff" show, a radio program which airs in Atlanta. The former New York mayor repeated his criticism of the Democratic frontrunner for president later in the day Wednesday during a media availability in Akron, Ohio.

When Army Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker came before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, Clinton said that their claims of progress in Iraq require a "willing suspension of disbelief."

"Despite what I view is your rather extraordinary efforts in your testimony both yesterday and today," said Clinton, "I think that the reports that you provide to us really require a willing suspension of disbelief."

Giuliani accused Clinton of "playing into" a MoveOn.org ad that ran in the New York Times Monday that read: "General Petraeus or General Betray Us?"

After co-host Spiff Carner said, "She's trying to tell us that she knows more about the whole situation than he does," Giuliani shot back by saying, “Doesn’t it also sound like she’s also saying that he isn’t telling the truth?"

"I really do think to accuse a general of the ‘willing suspension of disbelief,’ particular in the atmosphere that Moveon.org has created with these terrible attacks, I don’t know, I mean I think that’s not the way in a responsible way to go about , you know, forging the foreign policy of the United States and the military policy of the United States," said Giuliani. "I think this name calling, you know, saying to people, ‘willing suspension of disbelief,' and then saying the horrible thing they said about betrayal -- that is the last thing we need right now."

"What we need right now," he added, "is a reasoned account, we need statesmanship not political venom."

The Clinton campaign responded to Giuliani's charge that the former first lady is spewing "political venom" by suggesting that the national Republican frontrunner is oblivious to the real situation in Iraq.

"Mayor Giuliani might be content to bury his head in the sand when it comes to ending the war in Iraq," said Clinton spokesman Phil Singer, "but Senator Clinton will continue to ask the hard questions in an effort to get our troops home."

September 12, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (607) | TrackBack (0)

Lieberman Blasts Moveon; Petraeus Goes on FOX

September 10, 2007 9:51 AM

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., is challenging the Democratic leadership to denounce Moveon.org's attack on Gen. Petraeus in a New York Times ad, in which the liberal antiwar group refers to him as "General Betray-us."

"We must reject the slander of this brave soldier and patriot," says Lieberman, who called the labeled the ad "an outrageous and despicable act of slander."

White House spokesperson Tony Snow chimed, saying, "It's a boorish, childish, unworthy attack," before also calling on members of Congress to condemn the ad.

After months of speculation, Petraeus testifies Monday on the status of the troop surge in Iraq.

Although Petraeus is expected to call for a small drawdown in troops as early as December, the report will likely make the case that the United States should delay any decision to make substantial cuts in troops levels.

But a new ABC News poll of Iraqis shows widespread dissatisfaction with the troop surge. 

In between Hill appearances on both the Senate and House sides, Petraeus will also appear on FOX News for an hour-long interview with Brit Hume.  That decision has also raised Democratic suspicions but Petraeus spokesman Col. Steve Boylan tells ABC News:

"All networks were contacted for a potential early interview and the stipulation was that it would need to be a longer format than regular newscasts or just a little longer than normal.  Only two networks responded with options.  One was CNN with Larry King Live and one was Fox News with a special with Brit Hume.  It was decided to go with Brit Hume for no other reason than audience reach to the American public.  Their audience reach was at least double that of Larry King for the same time slot. Based on the length of the testimony today, we had time for only one long-format show."

President Bush is expected to address the nation later this week to announce changes, if any, he will make to the Iraq strategy.

September 10, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (11) | TrackBack (0)

McCain Makes the Case for Republicans to Republicans

September 08, 2007 6:51 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovell reports: Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., took the opportunity of a reliably conservative audience to attack Democrats Saturday, and drew comparisons between the 1980 and 1984 elections of Ronald Reagan to the current race for the White House.

"Can you imagine a liberal Democratic President would have called the Soviet Union and 'evil empire'?" McCain asked, referring to Reagan's rhetoric during the 1980s. "…Can you imagine a liberal Democratic President saying communism should be left on the ash heap of history?"

McCain, the Arizona Republican running for president, said that the challenges today are "at least as severe as they were when Ronald Reagan stood tall" – and that Democrats are no better prepared to deal with those challenges.

"Today, leading Democratic presidential candidates question whether there is a war on terror, offer to enter into unconditional negotiations with our worst enemies, and talk about countering the forces of radicalism by advocating surrender to them in Iraq."

The speech, to a semi-annual convention of California Republicans outside of Palm Springs, was an opportunity for McCain to project the image of Republican Party leader, as he runs to secure the Republican Party nomination. Polls suggest McCain has fallen behind national frontrunner Rudy Giuliani of New York, and former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee, who entered the race Thursday.

It was also an opportunity to argue for continuing the "surge" strategy in Iraq. The speech came on the eve of a report to Congress by General Petraeus, the commander of forces in Iraq, on the status of the war effort. McCain says the "surge" is now working, but he acknowledged frustration with the way the war has gone.

"We must give General Petraeus and the Americans he has the honor to command adequate time to salvage from the wreckage of our past mistakes a measure of stability for Iraq and the Middle East," McCain said.

"As long as we have a chance to succeed we must try to succeed."

September 8, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Obama Heads to Oprah's

September 08, 2007 4:25 PM

ABC News' Jonathan Greenberger reports: It's the day the political and entertainment worlds collide, and the crowds have already started gathering in Santa Barbara, Calif. 

At 3 pm PT, Oprah Winfrey's widely anticipated fundraiser for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., kicks off at her $50 million estate in Montecito.  The event is expected to raise over $3 million for Obama's presidential campaign and to draw over a thousand guests, including George Clooney, Will Smith, and Stevie Wonder.

First, though, a crowd estimated by the campaign to number nearly 7,000 turned out at Santa Barbara City College to hear Obama give the stump speech he unveiled earlier in the week.  Flanked by the Pacific Ocean over one shoulder and the Santa Ynez Mountains over his other, Obama told the crowd that he alone is the "change" candidate they need. 

Those assembled under the 70 degree skies hung onto every one of Obama's words.  At the end of his speech, after telling Santa Barbara that he was about to "bring it to a close," loud boos and chants of "No!" were heard.

But the biggest event of the day is still to come.  And today's Oprah event won’t be the last big fundraiser of the month for Obama: The New York Times reported yesterday that on Sept. 24, a "Barack on Broadway!" fundraiser hosted by some of Broadway's biggest luminaries will take place at New York's New Amsterdam Theater. 

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., has her own star-studded fundraiser in the offing, hosted by Magic Johnson and scheduled for six days from now.

The spate of big-ticket, high-profile fundraisers comes as the close of the important third quarter of fundraising approaches at the end of this month. 

September 8, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)

Bush Looks Ahead to Iraq Report

September 08, 2007 11:02 AM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: In his weekly radio address, President Bush recounted his trip to Iraq, describing the progress made in Al Anbar province.

"Terrorists brutalized the people of Anbar and killed those who opposed their dark ideology. So the tribal sheiks of Anbar came together to fight al Qaeda," Bush said. "Together we have driven al Qaeda out of strongholds in Anbar."

Bush then looked ahead to next Tuesday when General David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker are scheduled to appear on Capitol Hill to give their assessment of the situation in Iraq. Later in the week, Bush himself plans to address the country.

"I will speak directly to the Nation about the recommendations General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker have presented to me. I will discuss the changes our strategy has brought to Iraq. I will lay out a vision for future involvement in Iraq--one that I believe the American people and their elected leaders of both parties can support," Bush said.

The president is on his way back from Australia where he was attending the APEC summit. The trip was cut short so Bush could get back to Washington in advance of a busy week on Iraq.

September 8, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Hagel to Retire from the Senate

September 08, 2007 8:54 AM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: After toying with the idea of a presidential run and leaving everyone guessing as to his political ambitions, Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., will announce Monday that he is retiring from the Senate, according to the Omaha World Herald.

Hagel's departure leaves another Republican Senate seat open in the coming election. Already Republicans are jumping into the Nebraska primary- two announcing before Hagel even retired. More entries are expected after Hagel's announcement with the possibilities including current Secretary of Agriculture and former Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns and former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub.

Former Nebraska Senator and 1992 Democratic presidential candidate Bob Kerrey has told reporters he would not run against Hagel, but should Hagel bow out, Kerrey would announce his own intentions the very same day. Kerrey is currently the president of the New School University in New York. He recently held a conference call with the University's trustees to let them know of his interest in returning to the Senate.

A decorated Vietnam veteran, Hagel is known for his sharp criticism of the Bush administration's policy in Iraq. Earlier this year, a very public dinner with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg roused discussion of a possible independent presidential ticket.

Hagel will make his formal announcement on Monday at the Omaha Press Club.

September 8, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Dems Senators Take Aim at Primary Calendar

September 06, 2007 1:08 PM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: The game of backwards hopscotch that has beset the presidential primary system this year and threatens to upend the proverbial political apple cart has got to stop. On that, there seems to be agreement.

The national Democratic party got tough last month when it decided to give the worst offenders -- Florida and Michigan, which have set their primary dates at January 29th and January 15th, respectively -- 30 days to move their primary dates to later in 2008.  The problem from the national party's perspective is that if Iowa and New Hampshire, the traditionally early primary and caucus states, were to respond to Florida and Michigan, the first votes in the 2008 election could come in 2007. Florida and Michigan, after all, already have great importance in the general election as battleground states.

The calendar war is creating strife in the Democratic party as Democratic candidates may have to skip primaries in important battlegrounds like Florida and Michigan to fall in line with the Democratic National Committee sanctions. Republican candidates won't have those restrictions. More on that HERE.

Democratic senators from Florida and Michigan have shot right back to their national party and proposed legislation to fundamentally change the presidential primary system. Time out, they say; it is time to change the whole system.

Instead of the piecemeal, state's rights version of a primary system, where each state decides for themselves when their primary will be, Democrats Bill Nelson of Florida and Carl Levin of Michigan (reminder, their states are the two big offenders in the primary calendar showdown) have introduced legislation that would create a rolling, structured primary system with staggered primary dates. The early primaries would be held in different states each cycle, one state from each region would have the early primary and those states would change each time. Companion legislation is being introduced in the House of Representatives by Levin's brother, Democratic Rep. Sander Levin also of Michigan.

Nelson said that the decision by the national party to boycott the Florida party essentially disenfranchises Floridians. And voter disenfranchisement is still a touchy subject in Florida after the 2000 presidential election. "To have that ballot count and to have that ballot count as intended is paramount and is highly sensitive in the state of Florida," Nelson said Thursday on the Senate floor, adding if the national party doesn't rethink its decision, "legal action may be necessary."

"It's a case of fundamental rights versus the rules of a political party," Nelson said.

He said that  fundamental change of the system could be in place by the 2012 election and argued it would be "rational rather than chaotic."

All 50 states (except for South Dakota) seem to want their primaries to come first. Big states like Florida and Michigan keep moving their primary dates up in an effort to raise their political stock and give their voters more say in who the major parties select as their candidates. The small, some would say quirky, places like New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina that traditionally hold their votes months before other states, were supposed to force candidates to sell themselves in a more personal setting to a smaller number of discerning voters. But, voters in the big states complain that they are then stuck with whoever the quirky voters in the small states fancy.

It remains to be seen if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will give his fellow Democrats Levin and Nelson a vote on their proposal. Reid's home state of Nevada helped start the rush to the front of the primary calendar when the Democratic party signed off over a year ago on a plan to move the Nevada's caucus closer to Iowa's and bring a Western state into the early mix.

September 6, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Giuliani Campaign Hits Refresh

September 04, 2007 6:25 PM

ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports: Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign hit refresh on their official website Tuesday morning.  While the basic color scheme and layout remains the same, the campaign hopes the changes present a cleaner, simpler and more user-friendly web presence.

A key addition to the site is "Running with Rudy", an online initiative that connects the campaign with at least seven social network sites, including MySpace and Facebook.  Dan Meyers, Giuliani, R-N.Y., campaign manager Michael DuHaime's right hand man, will act as the face of the project. 

"I am the host of "Running with Rudy" and I'm here to give you an insider's perspective of life on the campaign," Meyers writes on the Giuliani MySpace page.  "My colleagues and I will be updating this page frequently with blog posts, photos and videos. We'll do our best to give you interesting insight and campaign news. See you on the road." 

A welcome video from Dan can also be viewed here.

The Giuliani campaign's online platform has not been well received by web site critics or members of the blogosphere since its launch early this year. But after taking the site off-line for the Labor Day weekend to make the upgrades, the campaign feels now is the time to put a greater emphasis on the web. 

"We're really proud of the changes we've made to the site.  We've achieved our objective to provide a clean look and make it easy and simple to navigate the site," said campaign spokeswoman Maria Comella.

"And our grassroots tools are just getting their first facelift," continued.  "In the weeks to come, there will be applications allowing our volunteers to contribute any spare time they might have without ever leaving their homes."

Comella adds that the improvements to the site were developed by their internal staff and not from an outside consulting group.

Notably not altered on the updated website is the former Mayor's biography.

During coverage of the strained relationship between Giuliani and his two children it had been noted that neither were mentioned on the website's life story of the former New York City Mayor.  That remains the same while Giuliani's third wife, Judith Giuliani, continues to have her own section within the text. 

September 4, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Early States Rule as Dems Sign Pledge

September 01, 2007 5:31 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis reports: State party leaders from Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Carolina have effectively persuaded all the Democratic presidential candidates- even the well-funded top tier candidates Clinton, Obama and Edwards- to sign a pledge promising not to campaign in any state that schedules its contest pre-February 5 other than Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, and South Carolina- the four states which the DNC has picked for special front-of-the-pack status.

For the second-tier candidates, signing the pledge was a no-brainer: they simply don't have the money to campaign in a state like Florida.

In signing the pledge, the well-funded top Democratic candidates are bowing to the reality that the early states will continue to play an outsized role in bestowing momentum and media acclaim. By agreeing, Clinton, Obama and Edwards ensure that they do not offend early state Democrats who jealously guard their role as inhabitants of presidential testing grounds.

The letter urging the Democratic contenders to sign the pledge went out Friday. Befitting her role as the national frontrunner, Clinton was the last one to sign the pledge. But, the former first lady fell into line on Saturday afternoon in a statement released by her campaign manager.

"We believe Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina play a unique and special role in the nominating process. And we believe the DNC’s rules and its calendar provide the necessary structure to respect and honor that role," the campaign statement said.

September 1, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (13) | TrackBack (0)

Craig: 'I Am Not Gay'

August 28, 2007 4:53 PM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: Senator Larry Craig, R-Idaho, made a public statement to cameras Tuesday to declare that he is not gay, regrets pleading guilty to a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct this summer at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport, intends to pursue the matter legally, and may yet seek reelection in 2008.

Here is the statement in full as posted on the Senator's website:

"First, please let me apologize to my family, friends, staff, and fellow Idahoans for the cloud placed over Idaho. I did nothing wrong at the Minneapolis airport. I regret my decision to plead guilty and the sadness that decision has brought to my wife, family, friends, staff, and fellow Idahoans. For that I apologize.

In June, I overreacted and made a poor decision. While I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct at the Minneapolis airport or anywhere else, I chose to plead guilty to a lesser charge in the hope of making it go away. I did not seek any counsel, either from an attorney, staff, friends, or family. That was a mistake, and I deeply regret it. Because of that, I have now retained counsel and I am asking my counsel to review this matter and to advise me on how to proceed.

For a moment, I want to put my state of mind into context on June 11. For 8 months leading up to June, my family and I had been relentlessly and viciously harassed by the Idaho Statesman. If you’ve seen today’s paper, you know why. Let me be clear: I am not gay and never have been.

Still, without a shred of truth or evidence to the contrary, the Statesman has engaged in this witch hunt. In pleading guilty, I overreacted in Minneapolis, because of the stress of the Idaho Statesman’s investigation and the rumors it has fueled around Idaho. Again, that overreaction was a mistake, and I apologize for my misjudgment. Furthermore, I should not have kept this arrest to myself, and should have told my family and friends about it. I wasn’t eager to share this failure, but I should have done so anyway.

I love my wife, family, friends, staff, and Idaho. I love serving Idaho in Congress. Over the years, I have accomplished a lot for Idaho, and I hope Idahoans will allow me to continue to do that. There are still goals I would like to accomplish, and I believe I can still be an effective leader for Idaho. Next month, I will announce, as planned, whether or not I will seek reelection.

As an elected official, I fully realize that my life is open for public criticism and scrutiny, and I take full responsibility for the mistake in judgment I made in attempting to handle this matter myself.

It is clear, though, that through my actions I have brought a cloud over Idaho. For that, I ask the people of Idaho for their forgiveness.

As I mentioned earlier, I have now retained counsel to examine this matter and I will make no further comment."

August 28, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

GOP Calls For Ethics Investigation

August 28, 2007 4:37 PM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: Moments before Senator Larry Craig's press conference in Idaho, Senate Republicans back in Washington called for an Ethics investigation of the events surrounding the Republican's June arrest in the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport.

"Late yesterday we became aware of the incident involving Senator Larry Craig and his subsequent admission of guilt in a Minnesota court," the statement from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senators Trent Lott, R-Miss., Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Tex., and John Ensign, R-Nev., began.

The Republican leadership quintet added, "This is a serious matter," adding that they would "recommend that Senator Craig's incident be reported to the Senate Ethics Committee for its review."

August 28, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Idaho Guv's Office 'Blindsided'

August 27, 2007 6:59 PM

ABC News Teddy Davis Reports: As an incumbent senator in a reliably Republican state, Sen. Larry Craig was a shoo-in for re-election to a fourth term.

The Democrat running against him -- former Congressman Larry LaRocco -- had not raised much money and was not given much of a chance by independent political handicappers.

In the wake of Monday's Roll Call story which reported Craig's arrest in connection with lewd conduct, Democrats are giddy about the prospect of putting the reddest of Red States in play.

"We were blindsided by this," said an aide to Idaho's Republican Governor Butch Otter who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

If Sen. Craig were to resign, Otter would be responsible for naming a replacement.

According to the Idaho Secretary of State's office, the replacement would serve until the next election (and would be free to run in that election).  The state's primary is scheduled in Idaho for May 27, 2008 and the filing period to run for Senate is between March 10-21, 2008.

If the governor wants to name himself as a replacement, there would be nothing barring him from doing so under Idaho law. The state's independently elected Republican lieutenant governor would simply assume the duties of governor.

For now, Otter's staff is just coming to grips with the Craig allegations.

August 27, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Senator Pleads Guilty

August 27, 2007 5:39 PM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports: Senator Larry Craig, R-Idaho, was arrested in June and pleaded guilty on Aug. 8 to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct stemming from an incident of lewd behavior in the men's public restroom at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

In a court document obtained by ABC News, Craig agreed to pay a $575 fee and a $1,000 fine and was sentenced to 10 days at the Hennepin County Workhouse and one year of unsupervised probation.

But in a statement released late Monday by Craig's office, the senator expressed regret for entering the guilty plea.

"At the time of this incident, I complained to the police that they were misconstruing my actions.  I was not involved in any inappropriate conduct," read the senator's statement. " 

"I should have had the advice of counsel in resolving this matter.  In hindsight, I should not have pled guilty.  I was trying to handle this matter myself quickly and expeditiously," Craig concluded.

Roll Call, a Capitol Hill news publication, originally reported the exclusive story found here.

A spokesperson for the Sen. Craig originally described the incident to Roll Call as a "he said/he said misunderstanding".

August 27, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (62) | TrackBack (0)

The Lone Defender

August 27, 2007 11:43 AM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has never liked all the Gonzales bashing and he's not very happy about his resignation either.  But he's not taking his job.

While rumors persist, Hatch's office is denying that he will be asked by President Bush to succeed Alberto Gonzales as Attorney General.

Partially fueling these rumors is the fact that Hatch's chief spokesman, Peter Carr, left the Senator's office this month to become the deputy director of public affairs at the Department of Justice. Carr's first day at DOJ was last Monday.

So reporters who wanted comment from Hatch on whether he would go to DOJ and were used to calling Carr had to dig a little deeper into their rolodexes and contact his spokesperson in Utah, Heather Barney, who said she had in fact asked her boss about who would succeed Gonzales. Hatch told her it would not be Hatch. But he is not speaking directly to reporters Monday because, according to Barney, he is having some dental work done.

"The main thing he said to me was there are some qualified candidates he knows they will be looking at that he does support," Barney said. "He did not say who those candidates were."

"Is he one of those candidates he was talking about?" she was asked by ABC News.

"No," she replied.

Hatch is the former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and so might have an easier time being confirmed than some other candidates for the job. But Hatch, at 72, was just reelected to his sixth term in 2006. He would get only a year as Attorney General before a new president came to office.

Nevertheless, Senator Arlen Specter, R-Penn., a longtime colleague of Hatch and critic of Gonzales, fueled the Hatch rumor further when he told reporters on a conference call that a "former senator might be just the ticket."

"A former senator or a present senator might be well known to the (Judiciary) Committee," Specter said.  "You might have confidence in the person's ability."

But Specter was heading overseas, on a plane from Poland, and on a cell phone and when reporters asked him if the names of any particular senator leapt to mind, the phone connection went dead.

Specter did say he wouldn't take the job, and that speculation "wouldn't be fruitful," because the nomination has to come from the White House.

For months, Hatch has been really the only vocal defender of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Capitol Hill.

Lone among a chorus of criticism, Hatch is the only lawmaker, Republican or Democrat, to release a statement saying it was a shame that Gonzales is leaving and that history will be kind to his tenure, remembering his work against meth and not the 9 US Attorneys who may or may not have been fired for political reasons.

"Alberto Gonzales has been the President's strong right arm in fighting terrorists using the tools of law enforcement, and he helped successfully protect the American homeland during his tenure. Beyond that, he has overseen the Department of Justice’s efforts to protect children from Internet predators, to combat human trafficking, and to prevent the spread of meth in our communities," Hatch said.

The Senator concluded, "I hope that history will remember Attorney General Gonzales for his honorable service to his country, rather than for the absurd political theater to which some critics have subjected him."

August 27, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Bush Goes on the Offensive

August 21, 2007 5:58 PM

ABC News' Ann Compton Reports: In an unusual PR move, Ed Gillespie, the new counselor to the President and a veteran political strategist, has released details of two upcoming speeches in which Bush will prepare the country for the Iraq Progress Report due Sept 15th.

Addressing the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) national convention in Kansas City on Wednesday, President Bush will, as he has done in the past, seek to frame the Iraq war as an ideological struggle.

Speaking to aging veterans who fought the Japanese in WWII, the communists in Korea and Vietnam, Bush argues the doubters never thought democracy would work in Japan.  And they now see that withdrawal from Vietnam left killing fields and a generation of consequences.

President Bush also praises the troops in combat now pledging the govt will provide everything they need to succeed.

By September 15th the administration is required by law to report to Congress on progress since a surge of US forces was ordered last January.  The President told a news conference here in Canada that Iraq still has much to do, but suggesting he does believe there has been some progress both politically and militarily.

Below are the White House excerpts of Wednesday's speech:

"There are many differences between the wars we fought in the Far East and the war on terror we are fighting today. But one important similarity is that at their core, they are all ideological struggles.  The militarists of Japan and the Communists in Korea and Vietnam were driven by a merciless vision for the proper ordering of humanity.  They killed Americans because we stood in the way of their attempt to force this ideology on others. 

Today, the names and places have changed, but the fundamental character of the struggle has not.  Like our enemies in the past, the terrorists who wage war in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places seek to spread a political vision of their own – a harsh plan for life that crushes all freedom, tolerance, and dissent.  Like our enemies in the past, they kill Americans because we stand in the way of their goal of imposing this ideology across a vital region of the world.  This enemy is dangerous, this enemy is determined, and this enemy will be defeated. 

We are still in the early hours of the current ideological struggle, but we know how the others ended, and that knowledge helps guide our efforts today.  The ideals and interests that led America to help the Japanese turn defeat into democracy are the same that lead us to remain engaged in Afghanistan and Iraq.  The defense strategy that refused to hand the South Koreans over to a totalitarian neighbor helped raise up an Asian Tiger that is a model for developing countries across the world, including the Middle East.  And the fruit of American sacrifice and perseverance in Asia is a freer, more prosperous, and stable continent – whose people want to live in peace with America – not attack America."

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"In the aftermath of Japan's surrender, many thought it nave to help the Japanese transform themselves into a democracy.  Then as now, the critics argued that some people were simply not fit for freedom.

Some said Japanese culture was inherently incompatible with democracy.  Joseph Grew, a former U.S. ambassador to Japan who served as Truman’s undersecretary of state, told the President flatly that "democracy in Japan would never work.""

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"Other critics argued that democracy could not succeed in Japan because the national religion, Shinto, was too fanatical and rooted in the Emperor...Today, in defiance of the critics, Japan retains its religious and cultural traditions and stands as one of the world's great free societies.

Critics also complained when America intervened to save South Korea from Communist invasion.  Then as now, critics argued that the war was futile, that we never should have sent our troops in, or that America's intervention was divisive here at home."

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"Many of these criticisms were offered as reasons for abandoning our commitments in Korea.  While it is true that the Korean War had its share of challenges, America never broke its word.  Today, we see the result in the stark contrast of life on the Korean Peninsula.  Without America’s intervention during the war – and our willingness to stick with the South Koreans after the war – millions of South Koreans would now be living under a brutal and repressive regime.  The Soviets and Chinese Communists would have learned the lesson that aggression pays.  And the world would now be facing a larger, stronger, and more implacable enemy.   

Instead, South Korea is a strong, democratic ally of the United States.  South Korean troops are serving side-by-side with American forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.  And America can count on the free people of South Korea to be lasting partners in the ideological struggle against the extremists.

Finally, there was Vietnam.  This is a complex and painful subject for many Americans, and the tragedy of Vietnam is too large to be contained in one speech.  So today I will limit myself to one argument that has particular significance today.  Then as now, people argued that the real problem was America’s presence and that if we would just withdraw, the killing would end."

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"Many argued that if we pulled out, there would be no consequences for the Vietnamese people.  In 1972, one antiwar Senator put it this way:  "What earthly difference does it make to nomadic tribes or uneducated subsistence farmers in Vietnam or Cambodia or Laos, whether they have a military dictator, a royal prince or a socialist commissar in some distant capital that they have never seen and may never even have heard of?"" 

--------------------------------------

"The world would learn just how costly these misimpressions would be.  In Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge began a murderous rule in which hundreds of thousands of Cambodians died by starvation, torture, or execution.  In Vietnam, former American allies, government workers, intellectuals, and businessmen were sent off to prison camps, where tens of thousands perished.  Hundreds of thousands more fled the country on rickety boats, many of them going to their graves in the South China Sea. 

Three decades later, there is a legitimate debate about how we got into the Vietnam War and how we left.  Whatever your position in that debate, one unmistakable legacy of Vietnam is that the price of America's withdrawal was paid by millions of innocent citizens whose agonies would add to our vocabulary new terms like "boat people," "re-education camps," and "killing fields."

There was another price to our withdrawal from Vietnam, and we can hear it in the words of the enemy we face in today’s struggle – al Qaeda.  In an interview with a Pakistani paper after the Nine Eleven attacks, Bin Laden declared that "the American people had risen against their government’s war in Vietnam. They must do the same today."  His number two man, Zawahiri, has also invoked Vietnam.  In a letter to al Qaeda’s chief of operations in Iraq, Zawahiri pointed to "the aftermath of the collapse of the American power in Vietnam and how they ran and left their agents."  Zawahiri later returned to this theme, declaring that the Americans “know better than others that there is no hope in victory.  The Vietnam specter is closing every outlet.”  Here at home, some can argue our withdrawal from Vietnam carried no price to American credibility – but the terrorists see things differently."   

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"I recognize that history cannot predict the future with absolute certainty.  But history does remind us that there are lessons applicable to our time.  In Asia, we saw freedom triumph over violent ideologies after the sacrifice of tens of thousands of American lives – and that freedom has yielded peace for generations.  …  The advance of freedom in these lands should give us confidence that the hard work we are doing in the Middle East can have the same results we have seen in Asia – if we show the same perseverance and sense of purpose."

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"There is one group of people who understand the stakes: our men and women in uniform.  …  And today they are carrying out a surge that is helping bring former Sunni insurgents into the fight against Al Qaeda, clearing the terrorists out of population centers, and giving families in liberated Iraqi cities their first look at decent and normal life.  Our troops are seeing this progress on the ground.  And as they take the initiative from the enemy, they have a question:  Will their elected leaders in Washington pull the rug out from under them just as they are gaining momentum and changing the dynamic on the ground in Iraq?  My answer is clear:  We will support our troops, we will support our commanders, and we will give them everything they need to succeed."

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"Prevailing in this struggle is essential to our future as a Nation.  The question now before us comes down to this:  Will today’s generation of Americans resist the deceptive allure of retreat – and do in the Middle East what veterans in this room did in Asia?"

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"Today the violent Islamic extremists who fight us in Iraq are as certain of their cause as the Nazis, Imperial Japanese, and Soviet Communists were of theirs.  And they are destined for the same fate.  The greatest weapon in the arsenal of democracy is the desire for liberty written into the human heart by our Creator.  So long as we remain true to our ideals, we will defeat the extremists in Iraq and help that country's people stand up a functioning democracy in the heart of the Middle East.  When that hard work is done and the critics of today recede from memory, the cause of freedom will be stronger, a vital region will be brighter, and America will be safer."

August 21, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)

Pols Tread Carefully on Bonds

August 08, 2007 11:13 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein and Jennifer Duck Report: Say this about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: She knows her base.

Pelosi, D-Calif., on Wednesday became one of the few prominent political leaders to offer full-throated congratulations for Barry Bonds, the San Francisco Giants slugger who broke the all-time home run record Tuesday night.

"Barry Bonds etched his name into baseball's history books and took his rightful place among the sport's immortals," Pelosi said. "It was a great night for baseball and a great night for San Francisco -- the crowd went wild."

Pelosi represents San Francisco in the House and is a Giants season-ticket holder. Bonds is viewed as a hero in the Bay Area, even while his achievement is marred elsewhere in the country by allegations of steroid use. (Pelosi, as it happens, will face a primary challenge next year from anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan -- no word yet on how Sheehan comes down on Bonds.)

Other politicians are treading much more carefully. President Bush, an avid baseball fan who once owned the Texas Rangers, offered congratulations through his spokesman -- but also let it be known that he didn't stay up to watch the game, and didn't call to offer congratulations personally.

"The home run record is one that has always captured the imaginations of sports fans and it obviously was an historic occasion," White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said Wednesday morning.

Asked by ABC's David Wright if the president didn't call Bonds because of the steroid issue, Snow responded: "No. He didn't call him."

"Right now there's a league-wide investigation going on into steroid use, and questions about Barry Bonds will be answered certainly in the fullness of time," Snow said. "The president does commend Major League Baseball, as well [as former] Senator [George] Mitchell for taking a good, hard look at a problem that needs to be taken a look at."

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., sidestepped a question at Tuesday night's presidential debate about whether he'd invite Bonds to the White House to celebrate his record-setting homer.

"First of all, he has still got to hit one more, and it has been taking a while," Obama said just hours before No. 756 landed in the seats at AT&T Park in San Francisco. "I had the opportunity to meet Hank Aaron just this past weekend.  It reminded me of what sports should be, and that is something that young people can look up to.

"Now, Barry Bonds is a remarkable baseball player and I honor his achievement," Obama continued. "But I hope that all of us are focused on making sure that sports is something that kids can look up to, not something that they start feeling cynical about."

UPDATE: ABC News' Ann Compton reports that the president called Bonds around 1 pm ET Wednesday. Per an aide, Bush told him, "You've always been a great hitter and you broke a great record."

August 8, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Intern for the ABC News Political Unit!

August 03, 2007 1:32 PM

The ABC News Political Unit is now seeking full-time unpaid fall interns in Washington, D.C.

There are a few requirements you should know about before applying for the internship.

You must be either a graduate student or junior or senior in college.
You must be able to work long days, starting early, Monday through Friday.
If your school gives credit for internships, you must receive credit.
The internship begins Sept. 4 and runs into the middle of December.

Not only do Political Unit interns attend political events and write for the politics page of ABCNews.com, they also help us by conducting research, maintaining contact lists, and building the next day’s political schedule.

If you write well, don't mind getting up early, and have some familiarity with web publishing, send a cover letter and resume to teddy.davis@abc.com as soon as possible, with the subject line: "INTERN" in all caps. Please indicate in your cover letter the dates you would be available.

August 3, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Sheehan Affirms Intent to Run

July 23, 2007 2:50 PM

ABC News' Michael Skocay Reports: Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan said Monday she will run against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., if the Congresswoman does not return impeachment to the legislative table.

"By midnight (Monday) I will announce that I am going to run against her" said Sheehan who spoke to a crowd of a few hundred supporters outside Arlington National Cemetery. Sheehan was referring to a comment made by Speaker Pelosi in May when she told Democratic Congressional leaders that "impeachment is off the table."

The rally was organized around calls to begin impeachment proceedings against President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney over their conduct relating to the Iraq war. The protesters plan to spend the day marching from Arlington Cemetery to the office of House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich.

"Nancy Pelosi had no authority to take impeachment off the table," explained Sheehan to loud applause. Sheehan also criticized Iraq war policy, saying, "The status quo is not acceptable to us...the status quo is killing people every day."  She continued, "This is not a political decision, it is a humanitarian decision."

Watch the video from the rally HERE.

In late May, Sheehan announced that she was leaving the anti-war movement and in early July said she was mulling a Congressional run as an independent challenger to Pelosi.

Sheehan began her public protest of the Iraq war in 2004 when she set up outside President Bush's Crawford Ranch.  Sheehan's location became known as "Camp Casey," named for her son Army Spc. Casey Sheehan who died in Iraq. She has since become a powerful voice on the political left, campaigning across the nation to bring the war to a close.

July 23, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Gore Daughter: '08 Run Not Happening

July 21, 2007 1:07 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: During a Friday book signing in Washington, D.C., one of former Vice President Gore's daughters seemed to go further than her father in saying that a 2008 White House run was not going to happen.

"He's really not going to get in the race," said Kristin Gore when asked if she has any special insight into her father's political plans. "He's really liberated working on things he cares about."

The former vice president regularly says that he has "no plans to be a candidate for president." But by stopping short of a "so-called Sherman statement," completely ruling out a presidential run, speculation has continued to surround the future plans of the man who won the 2000 popular vote for president.

Kristin Gore was at Politics and Prose bookstore to discuss her recently published second novel. "Sammy's House," in the words of the book's promotional literature, is about a "courageous and klutzy heroine" who works as a health-care adviser to a newly elected administration.

July 21, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (201) | TrackBack (0)

Elizabeth Edwards on Campaigning with Cancer

July 21, 2007 12:59 PM

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson reports: It's been four months since Elizabeth Edwards announced her cancer had returned. Often with her husband, she has kept up an impressive schedule of campaigning, speaking engagements, house parties and fundraising all for the man she believes this country needs to be the next president of the United States.

Today in a compelling account to the Wall Street Journal, Elizabeth reveals that while she feels her husband John Edwards' campaign is "worthy" of her "precious time" she admits that she struggles with her choices. And those struggles happen both at home and on the campaign trail.

On a recent weekend enjoying some downtime with her Edwards and her two young children, 9-year-old Emma Claire and 7-year-old Jack, Elizabeth finds herself comforting them about an upcoming bone scan to would determine if her cancer had spread. Together the Edwards' have made the decision to be equally honest and reassuring to their children about their mother's incurable cancer. When Jack asks who will be the grandmother to his children, Elizabeth chokes up and is unable to answer.

Earlier this week it was revealed that her July bone scans were successful.  "There's nothing new to report," said Elizabeth in a Town Hall meeting on Good Morning America.  "The doctor's suggested that was going to be the case, that we're not going to get a lot of information in the early scans."

On the campaign trail, Elizabeth is the subject of both a lot of praise and criticism.  She receives prayers and well wishes from the crowds of people who come to see here.  And when she's not present, people often send their regards to her through her husband.

At a recent campaign stop she picked up a young boy for a picture and afterwards said, "Maybe I shouldn't have done that," as she is to be cautious about breaking her bones where cancer has spread, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Despite the admirers both young and old, Elizabeth's cancer has been the source of a lot of criticism. "I worry if this is right, but I don't have any good choices," she told the Journal in response to the criticisms, some of which insist that voters should consider if it's worth it to donate to her husband's campaign, given the chance that her condition could worsen causing Edwards to drop out of the race.

And with Elizabeth's prognosis come questions of her survival rate.  "That just doesn't apply to me," she said to the Journal when asked about a statistic that places her with a 20% chance of survival beyond five years. "My job is to stay alive until the medicine and research catch up."

And when the Journal reporter asked Edwards if he saw himself winning the White House without his first lady of nearly 30 years he simply responded, "I reject that possibility."

July 21, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

Senate "Nap Room" Used in All-nighter

July 18, 2007 3:20 PM

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Freshmen Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., have owned up to catching a few Z's in the Senate nap room (actually the LBJ Room) during the all-night session of the Senate last night. And three-to-four other unidentified senators did as well, according to Democratic leadership aides. 

McCaskill was asked at a press conference this afternoon about whether she and Casey used the cots.

"Now listen, did you start a rumor we slept together?" McCaskill joked, to laughter.

She then elaborated on her experience: "I ventured into the LBJ room with some trepidation at about 2:30 last night and I looked around and saw empty cot, empty cot, empty cot, empty cot and then there was one kind of blob in the corner. And I'm trying to figure out, now who is it? Who's sleeping over there, and it was none other than Bob Casey."

She continued: "So, I took a cot on the opposite side of the room, as far away from him as I could possibly get, because it was a little weird, you know, and lay down and I napped a little bit. And then eventually I got up, because I wasn't finding that sleep was coming so I thought if I read, and obviously I couldn't turn on a light in the LBJ room, so I grabbed my pillow and blanket and went back to the Senate lounge. And as I was leaving, I think I woke him up, so I apologize for waking you up after I came in."

Said Casey: "That's a reasonably accurate summary of what happened."

Of no doubt less interest, the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms set up cots in the offices of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., which were used for Leadersleep.

In fact, Democrats are claiming that they charitably lent McConnell that cot.

"While the cots are controlled by the Sergeant-at-Arms, once they were set up in the LBJ room, they were technically under the control of the Majority Leader (he controls access to the LBJ Room)," says Joe Shoemaker, spokesman for Majority Whip Dick Durbin, R-Illinois. "So when Sen. McConnell requested that a cot be set up in his office (as is the tradition with both the Minority and Majority Leaders) he had to either send for another cot from the storage facility in Cheverly (Maryland) or ask Sen. Reid for one of his cots. He asked Sen. Reid. And with love in our hearts and a smile on our faces, we sent him the pick of the litter."

Added Shoemaker: "Noting the Minority Leader's mood on the floor this morning however, I believe he may have gotten up on the wrong side of that cot...but that's just a personal observation."

July 18, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

Veterans Affairs Secretary Resigns

July 17, 2007 12:01 PM

ABC News' Jennifer Duck Reports: Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson submitted his resignation today saying he will return to work in the private sector. He will be replaced before October 1 of this year.

Nicholson's tenure as Secretary of Veteran Affairs has been criticized over the past year and a half, with closing hospitals around the country, overcrowded conditions for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, questionable outpatient care for veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other hospitals, the loss of 26.5 million veterans' personal data last summer, and awarding $3.8 million in bonuses to senior officials in charge of the failing budget at the VA.

However, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said there was "no backstory" on Nicholson's departure. President Bush went further praising Nicholson's work saying, "Jim has led innovative efforts to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs is better prepared to address the challenges facing our newest generation of heroes after they return home."

Nicholson has worked for the administration since 2001 as an ambassador to the Holy See and was sworn in as Secretary of Veterans Affairs on February 1, 2005.

July 17, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (12) | TrackBack (0)

Founding Fathers Get High Marks

July 04, 2007 12:08 PM

USATODAY's 'On Politics' Blog Reports: "The nation's first four presidents -- Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison -- all continue to earn rave reviews in the twenty-first century," Rasmussen Reports writes this morning.

According to the polling firm:

• George Washington continues to be the most popular president. "The Father of our Country is viewed favorably by 94% of Americans.."

• Abraham Lincoln is close behind. "The man who gave us the Gettysburg Address is viewed favorably by 92%."

• "The next five are Thomas Jefferson (89%), Teddy Roosevelt (84%), Franklin D. Roosevelt (81%), and John F. Kennedy (80%). Five other presidents are viewed favorably by at least 70% of Americans today -- John Adams (74%), James Madison (73%), Ronald Reagan (72%), Dwight Eisenhower (72%), and Harry Truman (70%)."

• As for the other side of the measure -- "The highest unfavorable rating for any president is earned by Richard Nixon. Sixty percent of Americans have an unfavorable opinion of the only president to resign from office. ... Close on Nixon's heels for most unpopular is the current president, George W. Bush. Fifty-nine percent have an unfavorable opinion of him."

Rasmussen's complete list of presidential ratings is here. It says the results are based on national automated telephone surveys of 1,000 "randomly selected adults" done between June 13 and June 24.

July 4, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)

Ann Romney: Family dog loved his kennel

June 30, 2007 4:48 PM

ABC News' Jake Tapper reports: Ann Romney, the wife of Republican presidential candidate and Mitt Romney, says that the family's dog, Seamus, enjoyed being in a kennel on the roof of their car. The comments appeared in a blog post on the campaign's official website in response to dog-lovers who say the family was acting cruelly in 1983 when it drove 12-hours from Boston to Ontario, Canada with the dog inside a kennel on top of the car.   

"...he loved it," Mrs. Romney said. "Every time he saw it, he jumped up on the tailgate, walked in, and lay down. It was just like the kennel he jumped up on the tailgate, walked in, and lay down. It was just like the kennel he curled up in at home."

Mrs. Romney says the Irish setter "rode in an enclosed kennel, not in the open air." She appeared to be responding to apparent confusion over media reports that said the dog was "strapped" to the car. Most major media outlets have reported the incident as Mrs. Romney depicted it, with the dog inside a kennel -- but with kennel strapped to the roof. Romney goes on to describe her family as "a dog family", and that their dog "lived to a ripe old age, basking in the affection of a large family."

Animal rights activists were outraged when the incident was first reported in a Boston Globe piece about Mitt Romney's management style. A Time Magazine article quoted Ingrid Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals as saying it was "a lesson in cruelty that was ... wrong for [his children] to witness."

June 30, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (15) | TrackBack (0)

Bush makes another case for immigration

June 23, 2007 12:09 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: For the second time in three weeks, President Bush made the case for comprehensive immigration reform in his radio address.  Responding to concerns about the government's ability to secure the border, Bush argued that current laws are "ineffective and insufficient."

The President claimed the bill would strengthen border security by allotting $4.4 billion in border enforcement and taking pressure off the border.

But the president added that the economy needs workers from other countries to continue to grow. "This bill provides an historic opportunity to uphold America's tradition of welcoming and assimilating immigrants and honoring our heritage as a Nation built on the rule of law..." Bush said.  "By acting now, we can ensure that our laws are respected, that the needs of our economy are met, and that our Nation treats newcomers with dignity and helps them assimilate."

Since its introduction five weeks ago, the bill has endured harsh criticism from both parties, including Republicans who say it would be the equivalent of granting amnesty to the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States. In his radio address today, Bush said, "Under this bill, these workers will be given an opportunity to get right with the law. This is not amnesty. There will be penalties for those who come out of the shadows."

Debate on the immigration bill is scheduled to be brought to the floor on Tuesday.

June 23, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (21) | TrackBack (0)

Bush slams Democrats' spending habits, threatens vetoes

June 16, 2007 10:48 AM

ABC News' Jon D. Garcia reports: President Bush condemned Democrats for excessive spending during his weekly radio address this morning, vowing to veto any bill he deems fiscally irresponsible. The harsh remarks come a day after Congress passed a $37 billion Homeland Security budget bill, roughly $2.1 billion more than what the President requested. House Republicans rallied 147 votes against the bill, enough to uphold a potential presidential veto.   

"The American people do not want to return to the days of tax and spend policies," Bush said. "They expect accountability and fiscal discipline in Washington, D.C.  And I will use my veto to stop tax increases and runaway spending that threaten the strength of our economy and the prosperity of our people."

The President has advocated less government spending this year in efforts to reduce the Federal deficit. But since taking over the House and the Senate, Democrats have passed a number of measures to support programs it deemed under-funded during Republican control. 

"[The Democrats have] passed a budget that would mean higher taxes for American families and job creators, ignore the need for entitlement reform, and pile on hundreds of billions of dollars in new government spending over the next five years," Bush said. "This tax-and-spend approach puts our economic growth and deficit reduction at risk."

Bush also promised to continue pushing for full Congressional earmark disclosure. Late Friday Democrats agreed to make earmarks public after trying to put off identifying thousands of earmarked items until later this year.

June 16, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

Democrats Vow Anti-Gonzales Effort

June 11, 2007 7:55 PM

ABC News' Matthew Jaffee Reports: After his no-confidence resolution in embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales had failed to get the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture, Sen. Chuck Schumer D-N.Y., said the vote was still "a significant step forward" because 53 Senators had said they had no confidence in a cabinet official.

"A 53-38 vote saying we don't have confidence in the Attorney General moves the ball forward," said Schumer after the Monday evening vote. "It says he shouldn't continue. He should have the decency to resign. President Bush should have the wisdom to have him step down."

Schumer noted that "only one Republican went to the floor all day to defend Gonzales". "Where are the voices saying Gonzales should stay?", asked Schumer. "Nowhere."

Meanwhile, his Judiciary Committee colleague Sen. Dianne Feinstein D-Calif., highlighted the fact that seven Republicans, among them the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee Sen. Arlen Specter R-Pa.,, voted with the majority.

"The Attorney General of the United States should not be a political figure who bows to the politics of the day and the White House," said Feinstein. "It's up to the President and the Attorney General himself to make the decision on whether it's important to have the confidence of the Senate."

"You can't help but see how badly this Attorney General has degraded the justice of the United States of America," said fellow Judiciary Committee member Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse D-R.I..

Whitehouse said the next steps in addressing the Attorney General's status will be the acquisition of Republican National Committee emails, the testimony of subpoenaed White House officials on Capitol Hill, and a report by Justice Department Inspector General Glenn Fine.

June 11, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Johnson Aims for Senate Return

June 11, 2007 1:14 PM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: Senator Tim Johnson's, D-S.D., attending physician at Washington DC's National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) has said that the South Dakota senator will eventually regain his capabilities to resume his duties as senator. 

Johnson, 61, suffered an intracerebral bleed caused by an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) on December 13, 2006. 

AVM is a congenital health issue which causes blood vessels in the brain to become enlarged and tangled. Symptoms of AVM include headaches and seizures, but there is no word on whether or not Johnson experienced these prior to his attack during a live interview with WNAX radio in Yankton, South Dakota.

Following successful surgery at George Washington University Hospital, Johnson began intensive speech therapy on January 19, 2007. After leaving the hospital, the senator moved to NRH where he continues his therapy.

Dr. Vivek Deshmukh, the surgeon who operated on Johnson, said he was pleased with the Senator's progress and that his most recent MRI indicates continued healing.

Of Johnson's current condition, Dr. Michael Yochelson, Director of Brain Injury Programs, said, "In my discussions with Senator Johnson, I am very well aware that he is interested in continuing his work as a senator and I am confident that he will be able to resume his duties." 

Johnson continues to participate in therapy five days a week for several hours each day and Yochelson added, "With his improving language skills, the senator is able to express himself more clearly, which allows us to recognize the fact that he is doing well cognitively. He is reading the paper daily and talking with friends, family and colleagues. His memory and processing skills are strong."

There is, however, no definite word on exactly when the senator will return and Johnson is up for reelection to the Senate in 2008.

June 11, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

McCain and Richardson Differ on Iraq

June 10, 2007 2:45 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: Presidential candidates Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., staked out completely opposite positions on Iraq this Sunday.

Speaking with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, McCain maintained his strident support for the troop surge and a continued U.S. presence in Iraq.

"I'm going to support this strategy even if I'm the last man standing," McCain said. "Now, if this strategy fails- if we give it enough time- if it fails, of course, then other options have to be examined, but we just got the 5th Brigade over there."

If Richardson has his way, however, the 5th Brigade and all other U.S. forces in Iraq would be home by the new year.

"The contrast between my position and the other candidates is that I would leave no troops in Iraq whatsoever. I would take them out in the next six months- no residual forces," Richardson told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

June 10, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Snow Defends Bush Legacy

June 10, 2007 12:21 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: White House Press Secretary Tony Snow argued Sunday that the efforts of his boss will benefit the next president.

"It's always easy at a time like this to point out that the president has tackled tough issues, which are always going to be unpopular because they're hard. But on the other hand… what he has determined to do as president is to build institutions and powers and abilities that are going to make the job of the next president a lot easier," Snow told Fox News' Chris Wallace.

Bush has been criticized by both the Republicans and Democrats vying for his job. Snow said that's because "everybody tries to provide some differentiation between themselves and the guy in office right now." But, Snow added, most Republicans would have opted to deal with the same difficult issues as Bush.

"Would you or would you have not taken on the war in Iraq? They'd say yes. Would you or would you have not decided to go ahead and tackle the tough issue of immigration? My guess is that you would say yes," Snow said.

June 10, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

McCain on a pardon for Libby

June 09, 2007 11:43 AM

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos to air Sunday on ABC's THIS WEEK, Senator John McCain chimed in on the discussion about Scooter Libby's conviction and 30-month sentence.  He disagreed with both Governor Romney and Mayor Giuliani, who characterized Libby's conviction as a "miscarriage of justice."  But McCain hesitated to make a definitive statement for or against a pardon while Libby's appeal process continues.

"I think that you can make a case that he was singled out unfairly.  I think that the appeals process goes forward," McCain said.  "I happen to be one who admires Scooter Libby.  I think he was a dedicated servant."

If President Bush were to pardon Libby, the Senator stated he would assess the facts of the case and the President's reasons for the pardon before coming to any conclusions about the decision. 

"I would say I'd like to know the reasons why he did so.  I would like to have him lay out, which I'm sure he would if he pardoned him, the reasons for the pardon and then I would evaluate that."

McCain added, "If it looked like that he was going to prison, I would certainly examine the case, but I cannot say that I would do -- I would know what the president of the United States would do."

The presidential hopeful also told Stephanopoulos that pardoning Libby may taint the public's perception of Republicans as soft on the rule of law.  However, McCain placed his faith in the both the courts and the President to ultimately make that decision.

You can see John McCain's "On the Trail" interview tomorrow on THIS WEEK with George Stephanopoulos.

June 9, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Putin proposes substitute radar system in Azerbaijan

June 07, 2007 11:23 AM

ABC News' Karen Travers Reports: After weeks of pointed comments and escalating tensions, President Bush and Russian President Putin finally sat down face-to-face at the G-8 Summit. Among the topics on the table was the proposed U.S. missile defense system and Both leaders agreed to cooperate to find a solution.

In his efforts to reach a compromise, Putin arrived at the meeting with the idea of a different radar system. It would be built by the Soviets and located in Azerbaijan. In preparation, Putin went to Azerbaijan and successfully secured a commitment from them to use this system. He insisted that it would function the same as the U.S. missile defense system.

Bush commented on Putin's idea, saying that he found it was "interesting."

National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said the White House considers this proposal to be Putin walking back from his threat to point Russian missiles at Europe.

The Secretaries of Defense and State will work with their Russian counterparts to determine the best way forward to keep the U.S., Russia and Europe free from the threat of rogue missiles.  There was no indication from Bush's comments to reporters that there was any tension in the meeting.

Bush said that he and Putin had a "constructive dialogue" on the missile defense issue and said they will continue to talk about their shared concerns and strategies.

President Bush also said he was looking forward to having Putin to his family's house in Kennebunkport Maine next month.

June 7, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Brazile Calls for Jefferson's Resignation

June 06, 2007 6:06 PM

ABC News' Jordan Hultine Reports: Democratic strategist Donna Brazile urged Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., to resign in an interview aired Wednesday on National Public Radio's News and Notes.

"I personally hope that he would do what’s best for his family and his constituents and put his legal case before everything else and allow someone else to step up and represent that district," Brazile told NPR.

Jefferson represents the still vulnerable city of New Orleans and Brazile continued, "If there’s one congressional district in America that needs a full time lawmaker focused and committed to the recovery of the Gulf Coast, it’s the second congressional district of Louisiana."

A federal grand jury delivered a 16-count indictment of Jefferson on Tuesday that includes charges of money laundering, racketeering, and obstruction of justice.

Brazile, who served as Vice President Al Gore's chief of staff during his 2000 presidential bid, said she's known Jefferson since she was an intern with the Louisiana state legislature.

"He's a hard worker, he's been a dedicated public servant, but this probe, these allegations are a distraction," Brazile said.

She said she believes the pressure on Jefferson to step down now will come from two sources: his colleagues on the Democratic side of Congress and also from the people back at home in New Orleans.

In the wake of the indictment, the House took initial steps that could lead to Jefferson's expulsion from Congress.

"I'm also pleading because of the residents of that great, wonderful city that needs his leadership, needs his attention. And right now he can not give them his full… I'm not playing this as a political game. I'm playing this personally because my own family and many other families in the Gulf Coast," Brazile said.

June 6, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)

New York Senators respond to foiled JFK Airport terrorist plot

June 02, 2007 6:29 PM

ABCNews' Eloise Harper and Barbara Garcia: Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) praised law enforcement agencies following the arrest today of four individuals allegedly planning to attack John F. Kennedy Airport. Clinton said the thwarted plot demonstrates the importance of providing law enforcement with all the necessary resources to prevent potential terrorist activity.

"Today's news reminds us that we must continue to remain vigilant in the face of the threats to our country," Clinton said. "They underscore the need to promote and to foster interagency cooperation and to provide all levels of law enforcement with the tools they need to continue the fight against terrorism here at home."

Schumer compared the plan to another in New Jersey last month, when six men were arrested for allegedly planning an attack on Fort Dix army base.

"Most troubling here is that today's foiled plot has similar characteristics to that of Fort Dix - small, homegrown, indigenous groups unrelated to each other or to groups like Al Qaeda who seek ways to harm America," Schumer said. "It is a new challenge that law enforcement will have to adapt to quickly."

Clinton also pointed to one of the individuals involved being a former airport employee as an example of the need for more thorough background checks of airport workers.

"This case also painfully highlights that critical measures like screening airport employees continue to lag behind and we cannot become complacent in the face of continued threats to our nation," Clinton said.

Officials' say the plan to blow up the airport's major jet fuel supply tanks and pipeline was discovered in its early stages and did not pose an immediate threat to the airport. A spokeswoman for the White House said President Bush received regular briefings and updates on the investigation into the plot over the past several months.

June 2, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Clinton Fundraiser: No Shoes, Full Service

May 31, 2007 4:38 PM

ABC News' Ed O'Keefe Reports: One day after holding a swanky Hillary Clinton fundraiser at his lavish Beverly Hills home, "X-Men" director Brett Ratner drew criticism Thursday for requiring scores of guests standing in his living room to remove their shoes while waiting to have their photos taken with the former first lady.

"If you're hosting a party for Hillary Clinton, suck it up, and let your guests keep their shoes on," sniffed an attendee who spoke with ABC News on the condition of anonymity.

"This is ridiculous," groused another attendee who had to fish around a pile of designer shoes once the indoor, high-dollar portion of the evening ended.

Upon entering Ratner's Tudor revival-style house which was once occupied by Ingrid Bergman, guests were asked by a young redheaded woman working the door to remove their shoes. Asked why the shoes had to come off, the woman surmised that it was to protect Ratner's newly refinished hardwood floor.

Among the better-known shoeless guests walking around at the Wednesday evening fundraiser were Eric Dane, who plays "Dr. McSteamy" on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," Rebecca Gayheart, who first gained recognition in the 1990s as "The Noxzema Girl," and Pauly Shore of "Encino Man" and other classics.

Some of the more powerful players in attendance, including Ratner himself, music maestro Quincy Jones, and former Elizabeth Hurley beau Steve Bing, were allowed to keep their shoes on.

Clinton as well as Antonio Villaraigosa -- the Los Angeles mayor who endorsed the New York Democrat's presidential bid earlier in the day -- also escaped the general footwear prohibition.

None in attendance, however, escaped with a full wallet; each indoor guest donated up to the maximum of $2,300 per person (or $1,150 per shoe as it were). 

Those who remained outside the mansion reportedly contributed just $250 -- ironically, likely much less than the average price of the footwear tossed about the entryway.

May 31, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

Obama Healthcare Bash

May 31, 2007 11:53 AM

ABC News' Rick Klein reports: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is taking some heat from liberals, including former senator John Edwards, D-N.C., for offering a healthcare plan that stops short of mandating universal health coverage.

Obama appeared to endorse mandatory universal coverage barely a year ago.

Last February, at a town-hall meeting in his home state of Illinois, Obama bemoaned the shortcomings of the nation's healthcare system and said the answer should be universal coverage, according to the Daily Herald, a suburban Chicago newspaper.

The newspaper paraphrases Obama as saying: "It's time to accept that we must offer some form of basic health care to every American. Health care should be like auto insurance -- mandatory for all Americans. A larger pool of subscribers would drive down health care costs."

An Obama spokesman, Bill Burton, said that the senator now believes that the issue of mandates should be left to the states to decide, while the federal government focuses on bringing down healthcare costs for everyone.

"As he looked into healthcare, he saw that a mandate was not the answer," Burton said. "Good things are happening in the states. The federal government should not stunt what's going on with the states."

Burton said Obama finds the nation's handling of auto insurance to be "instructive" in crafting a health insurance plan. Forty-eight states require drivers to have car insurance, but there is no nationwide mandate. A recent study found one of the states without a mandate -- New Hampshire -- has a smaller portion of uninsured drivers than many of its neighbors that do require coverage.

Healthcare policy analysts have identified the absence of a mandate in Obama's plan as a key point of distinction with Edwards' proposal.

An Edwards spokesman described Obama's plan as "simply inadequate."

UPDATE: A transcript of the 2006 event provided by the Obama campaign shows that the senator mentioned mandatory coverage as "an example" of a way the country can provide "some kind of basic health care for every American." He cited Massachusetts' new universal healthcare law, but -- despite the Daily Herald's characterization -- he did not endorse using that as a national model.

May 31, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Warm Front in the New Cold War?

May 30, 2007 11:19 AM

ABC News' Ann Compton and Tara Woodside Report: The White House has announced that President George W. Bush has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the first family at Walker's Point, the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, just prior to the 4th of July.

The move could signal a warm front in the leaders' increasingly chilly relationship.

The two presidents once enjoyed a seemingly diplomatic, if not strategic, friendship.  Following their first meeting in 2001, a newly elected President Bush commented on Putin: "I looked the man in the eyes and I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy...I was able to get a sense of his soul."

Putin was one of Bush's first foreign guests at his Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas, and Putin quickly returned the favor, hosting Bush at a dacha, the ranch's Russian equivalent, outside of Moscow. 
But the lines of communication spanning the Atlantic have grown brittle since the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Bush's declaration of war in Iraq. 

Putin opposed Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq and the U.S. fears Putin is drifting away from his commitment to democracy.  The Russian president began restricting the country's civil liberties and has placed more of mother Russia under Moscow's central control, causing concern to mount in Washington.

Now both Bush and Putin are on their way out office, neither able to serve another term according to their respective country's constitution.  And perhaps the summer heat will allow each to step back from what some experts have feared could become the new Cold War.

May 30, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Gilmore Continues His Conservative Pitch

May 27, 2007 2:17 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: Former Virginia Governor and Republican presidential candidate Jim Gilmore has long billed himself as the one and only "consistent conservative" in the '08 race, but now he says the emphasis on money is making it harder for a conservative candidate to win.

Speaking with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, Gilmore said, "The race has gotten itself down now, George, into a case where it's really just about raising money… we're in a very peculiar situation with all this primary move-up… It may be very well the case that we're just not going to have a conservative candidate in this race unless we rally behind one candidate."

Gilmore, who frequently calls his rivals by one name: "Rudy McRomney," also commented on his potential competitors, former Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and former Senator Fred Thompson, R-Tenn. Gilmore said Gingrich "has been a conservative for many, many years," but he questioned Thompson's conservative record saying, "That's going to have to be seen after he gets in the race."

May 27, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Troop Drawdown Discussion Called "Premature and Unwise"

May 26, 2007 1:16 PM

ABCNews' John Hendren Reports:  A government official involved in Iraq planning tells ABC News, when it comes to cutting American troop levels in Iraq, "The concept's being discussed, but not the time frame."   

The official noted that was only to his knowledge and cabinet officials could be discussing that time frame outside of formal meetings on Iraq strategy. He also said it is "very premature and unwise" for the administration to be publicly discussing the administration's internal planning for a troop drawdown at a time when the troop buildup remains incomplete.

The New York Times reported earlier today that the Bush administration is developing "concepts" to decrease the number of troops in Iraq "by as much as half next year."

May 26, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

Bush Honors Fallen and "Freedom's Cause"

May 26, 2007 10:17 AM

ABCNews' Lauren Sher and Suhas Subramanyam Report: In his radio address this morning, President Bush honored the troops who have died in the line of fire.

"As we pay tribute to the brave men and women who died for our freedom, we also honor those who are defending our liberties around the world today," Bush said.

The President praised soldiers who are protecting freedom and fighting extremists in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also revisited the theme of democracy-building in the Middle East.

"In Iraq and Afghanistan, millions have shown their desire to be free," Bush said.  "Our troops are helping them build democracies that respect the rights of their people, uphold the rule of law, and fight extremists alongside America in the war on terror."

Bush also expressed optimism about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"With the valor and determination of our men and women in uniform, I am confident that we will succeed and leave a world that is safer and more peaceful for our children and grandchildren," Bush said.

"On Memorial Day, we rededicate ourselves to freedom's cause."

The President is scheduled to visit Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day.

May 26, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

NJ Governor Says 'Buckle Up'

May 25, 2007 8:26 AM

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Weeks after being injured in a serious car crash where he wasn't wearing a seat belt, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine today released a public service announcement promoting seat belt use.

"I'm New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine," Corzine starts in the 30-second PSA, "And I should be dead."

Detailing the injuries he sustained in the April 12th car accident, Corzine says: "It took a remarkable team of doctors and a series of miracles to save my life, when all I needed was a seat belt."

"I have to live with my mistake, but you don't." Gov. Corzine says looking into the camera: "Buckle up."

The PSA, released in conjunction with the Governors Highway Safety Association, ends with Corzine exiting on crutches.

You can watch the PSA HERE.

May 25, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Bush In Line of Fire

May 24, 2007 1:50 PM

ABC's Ann Compton reports: An outdoor news conference in perfect spring weather, with birds chirping loudly in the magnolia trees, is not without its hazards.

As President Bush took a question Thursday in the White House Rose Garden about scandals involving his Attorney General, he remarked, "I've got confidence in Al Gonzales doin' the job."

Simultaneously, a sparrow flew overhead and left a splash on the President's sleeve, which Bush tried several times to wipe off. 

Deputy White House Press Secretary Dana Perino promptly put the incident through the proper spin cycle, telling ABC News, "It was his lucky day...everyone knows that's a sign of good luck."

To watch the video, CLICK HERE.

May 24, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (101) | TrackBack (0)

Romney Jumps Ahead in Iowa

May 20, 2007 4:31 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: In a new Des Moines Register poll, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has jumped ahead of his Republican rivals in Iowa. Likely caucus-goers in the strategically significant state had previously preferred Senator John McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, but now Romney has a sizeable lead. Thirty percent of those surveyed supported Romney, followed by McCain and Giuliani and 18 and 17 percent, respectively.

On the Democratic side, the same poll finds former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina leading the pack with 29 percent, followed by Senator Barack Obama, Ill., and Senator Hillary Clinton, N.Y.

The margin of error in the poll was +/- 4.9 percent.

May 20, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

War Funding by Memorial Day?

May 20, 2007 11:04 AM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., says she is committed to passing war funding legislation before Congress breaks for the Memorial Day recess next weekend.

"One thing is for sure," Pelosi told ABC's George Stephanopoulos, "by the time we leave here to honor our war veterans and those who have given their lives for our country on Memorial Day weekend, we will have legislation to fund the troops."

Pelosi accused President Bush of having a "tin ear" when it comes to listening to ideas about Iraq and said she would have to oppose any "blank check" legislation.

Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., warned that lawmakers need to stay away from a firm "surrender date" or the legislation won't make it through the Senate.

"I do have the votes to uphold the veto," McConnell told Stephanopoulos. "The leaders of Congress, on a bipartisan basis, said they'd like to finish this job before Memorial Day. We've got one week left to do it. The way to do it is to craft a proposal that can get through the United States Senate."

May 20, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

New York Times Doesn't Fight Obama Fix

May 19, 2007 3:27 PM

ABCNews' Suhas Subramanyam and Lydia Thew Report:  The New York Times today admitted that even it sometimes forgets to cross its T's.  The paper ran a correction today on a front-page article that suggested Barack and Michelle Obama had feuded over the Senator's decision to run for President.

The Times had quoted a family friend, Valerie Jarrett, saying that the couple "fought long and hard about this decision before they made it."  A powerful quote indeed, except for the fact that Jarrett actually said in a telephone interview that the couple "thought long and hard," not "fought."

It's unknown who conducted the interview or if a tape of the interview exists.

Sen. Obama spoke today at the Southern New Hampshire University commencement.  He did not comment on the quote correction.

May 19, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Bush and Clinton Urge Unity And Service

May 19, 2007 12:50 PM

ABCNews' Lydia Thew and Suhas Subramanyam Report: Former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton both stressed the importance of unity and service as they addressed the University of New Hampshire’s graduating class today. 

“There is nothing beyond the reach of our common endeavor, all you have to do is remember that it is our common endeavor," President Clinton said.

Both emphasized the importance of contributing to society and encouraged the kind of collaboration that the former Presidents formed to work on the Asian tsunami crisis.  They also stressed the importance of private citizens in humanitarian aid.

“You don’t have to be a president to be a leader,” Bush said. 

President Bush warned against religious fundamentalism that teaches a “virulent strain of the Koran” and “open hatred of the United States.” He said that brand of teaching stands in direct contrast to the ideals of acceptance and critical thinking taught in the university setting, calling it “one of the great battles we face.”

Clinton also mentioned religion, pointing out how similar religious themes are taught in Buddhism, Christianity and Islam.

Clinton encouraged looking beyond race and political differences to recognize human similarities.  He noted that in mapping the human genome we have learned that the differences in humans, such as gender, are only a fraction of a percent genetically different. He then encouraged the class of 2007 to focus more on the “99.9 percent we have in common.”

“Our differences are important,” Clinton said.  “But our common humanity matters more.”

Earlier in his speech, with a nod to his wife’s presidential campaign, President Clinton thanked “Madame President Newman” of the University of New Hampshire.  “I’ve about decided women should run everything,” Clinton said.  “George and I can play golf.”

May 19, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Giuliani Makes Amends With Iowa Farm Family

May 14, 2007 9:08 PM

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: The first fracas of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, R-N.Y., has been resolved amicably.

This weekend the VonSpreckens -- self-described "poor farmers" from eastern Iowa -- rocked the political universe that is the Hawkeye State by going public with a complaint about the candidate from New York City.

Deborah VonSprecken told the Des Moines Register that the Giuliani campaign canceled an anti-estate tax event that was to be held on their 80-acre farm outside of Olin.

"They checked our assets, and since we're not considered millionaires, they canceled," the fiesty Mrs. VonSprecken told her local newspaper, which was later picked up by the state's newspaper of record.

"Why would Rudy Giuliani not come speak to the average Americans that live in eastern Iowa, instead of qualifying you as a millionaire before he will show up to your place?" she continued.

Republican nomination rival Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., was quick to pounce on the controversy, personally calling the pride-wounded couple to apologize.

Not to be outdone, Giuliani quickly struck back, reaching out to the VonSpreckens on the phone and in person.

Deborah VonSprecken tells ABC News that Mayor Giuliani called Sunday and spoke to her husband, "ask(ing) if he could talk with us and then apologized and asked if he could come see us and when would be a good time."

Giuliani visited the VonSprecken farm Monday.

"It was very small, very relaxed for me, for my benefit," Mrs. VonSprecken reports.

She seems to have found this whole ordeal rather overwhelming.

In addition to the Mayor and the VonSpreckens, one reporter was there from the local weekly newspaper, the Anamosa Journal-Eureaka, which publishes every Thursday, circulation 2,245.

Did the Mayor apologize in person as well? "Absolutely. He explained," VonSprecken told ABC News.

And she says she's back on the Giuliani team, accepting the position of Jones County Chair for the campaign.

Jones County Chair is not a paid position, she says, "It's volunteer."

Did the Giuliani campaign offer to pay for the event she threw and then had to cancel. "That was not an issue, no comment," she says.

"It was a very, very pleasant meeting," VonSprecken says.

"And one-on-one!" shouts Jerry, her husband.

"And one-on-one," she adds. "And we resolved our issues."

And thus we bid adeiu, perhaps forever, to VonSpreckengate.

May 14, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Obama Says Race Won't Keep Him From Office

May 13, 2007 4:59 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., says that if he loses his bid for the presidency it won't be because of race.

"Are there people who would be troubled with an African-American president? Yes. Are there folks who might not vote for me because I'm African-American? No doubt. What I'm confident about, though, as I travel around the country is that people are decent at their core in America," Obama told ABC's George Stephanopoulos. "If I don't win, it's not going to be because of my race. It's going to be because I didn't project a vision of leadership that gave people confidence."

Obama says he reluctantly asked for Secret Service protection recently and acknowledged that he had faced racially-motivated threats.

May 13, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

McCain Ready to Serve as Septuagenarian

May 13, 2007 3:49 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: After his defeat in the 2000 presidential primaries, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speculated that by 2008 his age would prevent him from another run for the White House. But, in an interview with NBC's Tim Russert, McCain said he is healthy enough to hike the Grand Canyon "from rim to rim" and the most prepared candidate in the race.

"My energy level is great," said McCain, who, at 72 in 2008, would be the oldest president elected to a first term. "I work 24/7. I'm pleased that I am in excellent health, and I believe that I may not be the youngest candidate in this race, but I'm certainly the most prepared."

May 13, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Hagel Criticizes Republican Party, Talks Independent Ticket

May 13, 2007 1:03 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel, Neb., kicked the door to an independent presidential run wide open on Sunday.

"I think a credible third ticket, third party, would be good for the system," Hagel told CBS's Bob Schieffer. "I think it shakes the system up. The system needs to be shaken up."

A constant critic of Bush's policy in Iraq, Hagel took his criticism to the entire Republican party.

"I am not happy with the Republican party today. It has drifted from the party of Eisenhower, of Goldwater, of Reagan, the party that I joined. It isn't the same party. It's not. It's been hijacked by a group of single-minded, almost isolationist insulationsts, power-projectors…" said Hagel.

Hagel recently dined with another Republican politician rumored to be considering an independent presidential bid, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. When asked whether he saw himself on a ticket with Bloomberg, Hagel replied with a grin, "It's a great country to think about a New York boy and a Nebraska boy to be teamed up leading this nation."

May 13, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Giuliani Reaffirms Abortion Rights Position

May 13, 2007 11:35 AM

ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports: On FOX News Sunday, Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, N.Y., reaffirmed his commitment to abortion rights.   

"I'm very, very passionate about abortion and the whole issue of abortion. But it leads me to a conclusion that may be different than some, the same as others, which is I oppose it," Giuliani told moderator Chris Wallace. "That's a principle I've held forever, and I'll hold it forever. That's not going to change."

Giuliani added that he would place no abortion litmus test on prospective Supreme Court nominees if he was elected president. "My view is that there shouldn't be a litmus test on Roe against Wade, it seems to me the best position to take is I don't want a litmus test for judges," said the former mayor.  "We didn't want Justice Roberts or Justice Alito to answer that question. They both answered that question they would consider it, they would look at it. I'm going to select strict constructionist judges."

Giuliani added that if he agreed with a prospective court nominee on 20 issues, but disagreed with the nominee over abortion, that alone would not stop him from nominating that person.

On other subjects, Giuliani expressed no willingness to disarm Americans but said he believes in "reasonable restrictions." 

"The Second Amendment to the Constitution is about as clear as it can be. It gives people the individual right to bear arms," said Giuliani. "That means that any restrictions have to be reasonable. And those restrictions largely have to do with criminal background, background of mental illness, and they should basically be done on the state-by-state level. And that's the guidelines that I would use in dealing with it as president."

On immigration reform, Giuliani said a "tamper-proof I.D. card" must be created, a technological fence should be put in place on our borders with a border patrol, and that a process needs to be established that will allow the government to know who's in the United States from a foreign country while separating the ones who are dangerous from the ones who aren't.

And finally, Giuliani was asked to respond to the comments of Richard Land, who represents the Southern Baptist Convention, who said he could not vote for Rudy Giuliani because of infractions in his personal life. "I would not vote for Rudy Giuliani… If a man will lie to his wife, and if a man will be dishonest to his wife, he'll be dishonest with anybody,: said Land.

Answering Land and those who agreed with him, Giuliani said that "people have a right to vote however they're going to vote."  Acknowledging he has made mistakes in his life, he added that prospective voters should "take a look at the teaching from the Gospel about he without sin not cast the first stone. And the reality is that we're all imperfect.  We're all striving as best we can to improve ourselves and to be better." Giuliani asks that voters look at his whole public record and not to focus on any single issue.

May 13, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Edwards Amps Up Anti-War Stance

May 12, 2007 8:12 PM

ABCNews' Raelyn Johnson Reports: Former Senator John Edwards is ramping up his anti-war stance and is asking the American people to help him do so.

Today, in a commencement speech delivered in Henniker, New Hampshire, Edwards asked a graduating class to join the American people to "reclaim patriotism" over Memorial Day Weekend in an effort to end the Iraq War.

"Each of us has a responsibility as Americans, a duty to our troops and to each other to do all we can to support the troops to end this war. This Memorial Day Weekend that means more than just getting in your car, driving to the beach, or a parade, or a picnic and saying the words, 'we support our troops'."

For Edwards, more means sending care packages to troops, organizing prayer vigils and holding public gatherings in support of them. Other items of actions can be found at supportthetroopsendthewar.com, a website Edwards launched today that helps direct people to participate in local anti-war activities and events.

Edwards voted to authorize use of force against Iraq in October 2002. According to Kerry-Edwards campaign insiders, he was vociferous in inner-circle debates against saying that vote was a mistake throughout the 2004 campaign.

However, in this campaign, Edwards has been aggressively outspoken on Iraq and the recent congressional showdown with President Bush on the war supplemental bill. He believes Congress should use its power of the purse to end the war.

"If you and Americans across this country rise up and demand an end to this war, Congress will find the courage, and the President will find he has no choice," Edwards said today.

Edwards is pressuring Congress to stand up to President Bush’s veto of an Iraq supplemental that includes a timetable for troop withdrawal. Against compromising to end the war, Edwards has repeatedly asked Congress to send "the same bill again and again."

It’s clear that Edwards’ anti-war message is one we’ll hear throughout the campaign, again and again.

May 12, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Planned Parenthood: Giuliani Is "Pro-Choice and At The Front of the Pack"

May 12, 2007 3:08 PM

ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports: Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Cecile Richards responded today to presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's (R-N.Y.) comments Friday at Houston Baptist University about being a pro abortion rights candidate.

"It's encouraging to see that the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for president supports the right to make personal private health care decisions free from government intrusion," said Richards in a paper statement.

Giuliani's position may be in more flux than the Planned Parenthood statement implies.  Previously, Giuliani has stated his support for various abortion restrictions he once opposed, which yesterday he called an "evolution."

"Giuliani is pro-choice and at the front of the pack -- the days of the anti-choice strangle-hold on the Republican Party are numbered," Richards adds. "Bedrock Republican Party principles like freedom of choice and personal responsibility - including support for family planning and the right to choose -- and are mainstream, winning positions and finally in the spotlight."

It was reported earlier this week that Rudy Giuliani and then wife Donna Hannover gave $900 to Planned Parenthood in the late 1990's and the year 2000.

May 12, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Giuliani Reneges on Iowa Family. McCain Apologizes For It.

May 12, 2007 2:10 PM

ABC News' Jake Tapper reports: John McCain phoned a family in Olin, Iowa, to apologize on behalf of "all politicians" after Rudy Giuliani abruptly cancelled a campaign event at the family's farm.

As reported in this morning's Des Moines register, Giuliani cancelled a May 4 campaign event at an Iowa farm because the hosts were not rich enough, according to the family pegged to welcome him to their home in Olin, Iowa.  The event was intended to coincide with a Giuliani speech on the estate tax, an issue oft-perceived as pertaining to the wealthy.  VonSprecken says the campaign backed out because the event with non-millionaires would no longer fit the bill. 

“They checked our assets, and since we're not millionaires, they canceled," said Deborah VonSprecken, who along with her husband Jerry, owns the 80-acre farm that was once being feverishly prepped in expectation of a visit.

Giuliani did deliver an address that day urging permanent repeal of the federal estate tax.  The couple insists they told the Giuliani campaign staff from the beginning, "We're just poor farmers."

While it appears likely Giuliani has lost a supporter, John McCain may have picked one up.  TalkingPointMemo's Greg Sargent adds: McCain even offered to visit the family.  "He was really sweet. I recognized his voice from TV. He was very, very polite, funny" VonSprecken said.

May 12, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Bush Lays Out 5 Pillars of Immigration Reform

May 12, 2007 10:15 AM

ABCNews' Lydia Thew Reports: In his radio address this morning, President Bush laid out his goals for comprehensive immigration reform.  He also urged bipartisanship in the impending Congressional debate on immigration.

“Reforming our immigration system is an important opportunity to show that elected officials in Washington can work together to find practical solutions to the problems that matter most,” Bush said. 

The President outlined five objectives including border security, employer accountability, a temporary worker program, resolving the status of illegal immigrants and honoring the American tradition of a melting pot. 

“The success of our country depends upon helping newcomers assimilate into our society and embrace our common identity as Americans,” Bush said. 

He added, “I am optimistic we can pass a comprehensive immigration bill and get this problem solved for the American people this year.”  The Senate is scheduled to debate immigration reform this week.   

May 12, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

QEII (Heart) W

May 07, 2007 2:34 PM

ABC News' Karen Travers Reports: Ever the gracious host, President Bush escorted Queen Elizabeth II to the Blair House across Pennsylvania Avenue following their lunch at the White House Monday. 

The President and the Queen were greeted by about 200 school students from The British School of Washington and the IDEA Junior Academy, a charter school here in Washington, DC. The students lined up behind metal fences draped with red, white and blue bunting and they all enthusiastically waved American and British flags and screamed and whistled as the President and Queen grew closer.

Several of the children gave the Queen bouquets of flowers, and she held one and passed the rest on to her staff. Prince Phillip and the First Lady walked the rope line behind the two heads of state. The President was engulfed in a few bear hugs by some older students, and many girls were squealing as he approached them on the rope line.

As the President went into the Northwest appointments gate to head back into the White House, he shouted to a favorite target, Charles Ammanny, a British photographer from Newsweek.

"This must be a special day for you," the President said.  Ammanny agreed and the President then noted his outfit of khakis and a gray sweater and said, "You couldn't have found something other than hand me down clothes?"

Zing.

May 7, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Gingrich Says Early Debate Shrinks Potential Presidents

May 06, 2007 4:13 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., who is toying with the idea of an '08 presidential run, called the recent Republican primary candidate debate "ludicrous."

"The Republicans averaged seven minutes and 20 seconds a piece, split up into 25 to 30 second answers," Gingrich told CBS's Bob Schieffer. "The potential president of the United States, the most powerful governing office in the world, shrinks with each appearance in these shows, and we don't have a national discussion."

Gingrich, who did not participate in the debate, has been critical of the early start to the campaign and called it "a mixture of 'American Idol,' 'The Bachelor,' and 'Survivor.'"

May 6, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Bush Calls For Funding, Invokes al Qaeda

May 05, 2007 10:29 AM

In his radio address this morning, President Bush reiterated the need for Congress to pass an emergency funding bill that he can sign. "Our elected officials have no higher responsibility than to provide these troops with the funds and flexibility they need to prevail," Bush said.

The President once again invoked al Qaeda, warning of what could happen in Iraq if the United States withdrew troops too soon. "The al Qaeda terrorists who behead captives or order suicide bombings would not be satisfied to see America defeated and gone from Iraq,"  Bush said. "They would be emboldened by their victory, protected by their new sanctuary, eager to impose their hateful vision on surrounding countries, and eager to harm Americans." 

Bush asked Congress to be patient with the progress of the troop surge in Iraq and expressed his faith in General Petraeus. "This strategy is still in its early stages, and Congress needs to give General Petraeus' plan a chance to work," he said.

The President met with Congressional leaders this week to discuss the Iraq funding bill. No formal date has been set for the next meeting.

May 5, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Obama Gets Secret Service Protection

May 03, 2007 4:03 PM

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Senator Barack Obama, D-Ill., began receiving Secret Service protection Thursday.

The unusual move -- quite early in the presidential process -- will likely continue as Obama continue his pursuit of the Democratic nomination.

"Yes, we can confirm we are protecting Senator Obama," U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Darrin Blackford told ABC News.

As per their standard operating procedure, the Secret Service refused to provide any further details on the decision and Obama's campaign referred all inquiries back to the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security.

May 3, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Deep Fried Presidential Politics

April 28, 2007 9:01 AM

ABC News' David Chalian and Eloise Harper Report:  In a packed (and hot) parking garage in Columbia, SC, the major Democratic candidates for president took the stage at Rep. Clyburn's (D-SC) annual fish fry, Friday night, to kiss the ring of the number three Democrat in the House and an influential South Carolina Democrat whose endorsement they all covet.

"I have never seen anything like Jim Clybrn's Fish Fry," said Sen. Clinton to big applause.

Unlike in Thursday night's debate, the two lesser known candidates in the field, Rep. Kucinich and former Sen. Gravel, were no-shows, leaving the stage to the Big 6 hopefuls.

Sen. Barack Obama came up on stage with a fried fish sandwich in hand and provided the candidate-eating-food picture of the night.  (He passed the test - no spillage on his white shirt.)

"We are all trying out for quarterback, but we are on the same team," Obama told the crowd of cheering Democrats.

Former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) made a splashy entrance into the parking garage with a high school marching band leading his way.

This was not the place for personal pitches.  Each candidate spoke briefly -- well aware, no doubt, that the crowd wanted to get to the fish, beer, and dancing portion of the evening -- and in generic terms about a Democratic victory in 2008.

Rep. Clyburn began his fish fry tradition back in 1992.  The event is always held on the same evening as the South Carolina Democratic Party's large annual fundraising dinner.  But unlike the dinner, the fry is free of charge.

The Democratic presidential wannabees now head West to California to address party activists at the California Democratic Party's convention in San Diego.

April 28, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Iraq Vet Tapped to Star in Oliver Stone's Anti-War Ad

April 26, 2007 4:10 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: John Bruhns, an Army Sergeant stationed in Baghdad during the initial Iraq invasion, was selected by MoveOn.org members to star in an anti-Iraq war ad directed by Oliver Stone.

"It never seemed to me as if we were fighting al Qaeda, bin Laden, or the people who were responsible for attacking us on 9/11," said Bruhns in his youtube audition tape. "The mission was so confusing."

Bruhns joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Capitol Hill Thursday to urge President Bush not to veto the recently-passed Iraq war funding bill which includes a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal.

Bruhns' youtube video was one of 20 interviews with Iraq veterans and their family members which were considered for the Stone-directed ad in an on-line ballot.

Production of the John Bruhns ad is underway and will include a voice-over from Ron Kovic, the Vietnam vet who wrote the book "Born on the Fourth of July," on which the Academy Award-winning movie was based.

The ad will air on national cable next week.

April 26, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Bloomberg and Gore joke about '08

April 26, 2007 6:18 AM

ABC's Jake Whitman Reports:  Al Gore and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg have each said they're not running for president, but that's not stopping the two men from having a little fun with all the speculation.

Gore and Bloomberg appeared together last night to kick off the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.

Bloomberg was the first to get playful, when he introduced the former vice-president.

"His recent success has even prompted some talk that he might again try for the White House," Bloomberg said. "Don't you just hate those rumors about running for president?"

Gore kept the routine going moments later when asked whether he believes the '08 candidates are doing enough to focus on global warming.

"Well, I think Mike is," Gore said.   Bloomberg turned red and laughed.

Gore went on to praise Bloomberg for his recent proposals to reduce New York's carbon emissions.

When Bloomberg was later asked to clear the air over his jab at Gore, the mayor told the AP, "People talk about Al Gore being a presidential candidate a lot more seriously than joking about me. This guy could be a presidential candidate," Bloomberg said.  "He certainly has experience ... and I hope Al Gore enters the race. I think that would be good for the country."

April 26, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Emanuel's Conspiracy Theory

April 25, 2007 12:40 PM

ABC News' Matthew Zavala Reports: Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., who serves as chair of the House Democratic Caucus, said Wednesday that the Bush Administration has been working for the good of the G.O.P, not for the good of the country.

"Instead of promoting solutions to our nation's broad challenges, the Bush Administration used all the levers of power to promote their party and its narrow interests," said Emanuel in a morning speech at The Brookings Institution in Washington.

Emanuel ran through a list of instances that he believes point to a corrupt administration, heavily citing the controversial firings of eight U.S. Attorneys. 

Referencing last week's testimony by the Attorney General, Emanuel said that Gonzales "could offer no coherent explanation for the fiasco, because to do so would unveil the guiding principle at the core of this White House -- insinuating partisan politics into every aspect of government and bringing politics into what used to be a political free zone- the Justice Department."

Taking questions from the audience, Emanuel was put on the defensive of his former boss, former President Bill Clinton, who removed all 93 U.S. Attorneys when he took office in 1992.  Emanuel insisted that Clinton's dismissal of the U.S. Attorneys was acceptable because it was a way to "start new."

The Democratic takeover in 2006 was in part because corruption was made an issue according to Emanuel.

"Many in Washington dismissed Democratic efforts to make corruption an issue in the 2006 elections.  But voters across the country rendered a different verdict than official Washington.  And now we Democrats are accountable for fixing the problems we inherited," said Emanuel.

Emanuel concluded his remarks by saying, "The saddest legacy of the Bush Administration's six-year trail of cronyism and corruption is that it contributes to the public's already cynical view of government," and added, "Repairing this sorry legacy is the first challenge our next President will face."

Not too far from the Brookings Institution in the White House morning press gaggle, Press Secretary Dana Perino said in anticipation of Emanuel's comments, "That's really surprising, given the messenger, that this is the speech that he's going to be giving.  I heard yesterday, too, that he's going to be calling it part of a grand conspiracy, which I think is the recurring nightmare."

Perino also added that "it sounded a little more like something you would see in the National Enquirer, not at a prestigious American think tank," before concluding, "I do think that when you're 100-hour plan is faltering, maybe the best thing to fall back on is a conspiracy theory.  But they're usually a little bit better than this one."

April 25, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

Bloomberg Takes Manhattan (For Now)

April 24, 2007 2:40 PM

ABC News' Ed O'Keefe Reports: New York's Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he isn't running for president.  No, really.  Well, maybe just not yet.

Reuters reports that Bloomberg, touring in Mexico, told reporters, "Let me make it clear: I am not a candidate for president of the United States.  I plan to spend the next 984 days being mayor of what I think is the greatest city in the world." 

Speculation has swirled for months that the billionaire businessman turned politician could enter the presidential fray with an Independent bid for the White House.  And Bloomberg, it seems, has done little to discourage the ever churning rumor mill.

Just last month, the Washington Post reported that Bloomberg, 65, told confidants that he will decide about a run in 2008 -- after it has become clear whom Democrats and Republicans will nominate.

Bloomberg's public stance remains clear: he'll take Manhattan for now.  But political pundits point out that the Mayor has yet to make a "Sherman-esque"* statement disqualifying the notion entirely.

*(General William Tecumseh Sherman declined a run for 1884 Republican nomination by asserting in no uncertain terms, "If drafted, I will not run; if nominated, I will not accept; if elected, I will not serve.")

Politicians generally resist making such strong statements -- lest they be removed from the political discourse surrounding the help wanted sign over the Oval Office.

Vice President Al Gore told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in June of 2006, "I have no plans to be a candidate for president again."  But, Gore then quickly added, "I don't expect to ever be a candidate for president again.  I haven't made a so-called Sherman statement, because it just seems unnecessary."

The Former Veep's lecture inspired documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" has since won two Academy Awards and he's been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his global warming work.  And still, no Sherman statement.

Others flirting with a White House run in the already crowded nomination field include former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and actor-turned-politician-turned-actor and ABC News Radio personality former Senator Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.

Gingrich has repeatedly said he'll make the call in September of 2007 while the "Law & Order" actor is being coy about a bid, making unprompted health announcements and leaving his surrogates to stir the pot.

Bloomberg is number 142 on the Forbes list of the word's richest people and is said to be worth at least $5.5 billion.  He spent an estimated $85 million in his 2005 campaign for New York mayor against Democrat Fernando Ferrer.

ABC News' Jake Whitman contributed to this report.

April 24, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Gonzales Vows 'Reassurance', Addresses VA Tech Shooting

April 23, 2007 4:43 PM

ABC News' Jason Ryan Reports: During a press conference Monday, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was confronted with numerous questions about his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week and his effectiveness as Attorney General. Gonzales once again admitted that mistakes had been made, but and continued to offer no indication that he intends to step down.

"I will stay as long as I feel I can be effective," said Gonzales, "and I believe I can be effective. Obviously, we'll be working with the Congress to reassure them that we've identified the mistakes that have been made here."

"[As] head of an agency, you worry about questions about morale. You address those specific concerns," added Gonzales. "And the way I do it is by speaking directly to U.S. attorneys, by speaking directly to the component heads, and talking about my vision for the department moving forward, encouraging them to understand and realize the importance of staying focused on the mission."

Gonzales was also asked about the Virginia Tech shooting and if there are sufficiently strong laws to bar mentally ill people from purchasing guns. Gonzales described the efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education, and said of the Justice Department’s role, "From my perspective, what we're looking at is to see whether or not this information -- what information about mental health should law enforcement officials have? And what are the barriers that prevent law enforcement from having that information?"

The questions for Gonzales came during a press conference held with Federal Trade Commission chair Deborah Platt Majoras regarding a report on identity theft.

April 23, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Kucinich Goes for Impeachment Against Cheney

April 23, 2007 1:45 PM

ABC News' Jennifer Duck Reports: Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) plans to hold a noon ET press conference on Tuesday to introduce articles of impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney.

The noon presser is scheduled to be held in the Cannon Terrace of the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC.

April 23, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (14) | TrackBack (0)

Clinton's Abortion Word Choice Troubles Some

April 22, 2007 6:31 PM

ABC News' Jake Tapper reports: A linguistic gaffe by Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., has some abortion rights supporters chatting. In her statement about Wednesday's Supreme Court decision upholding a ban on an abortion procedure, Clinton used the term "partial birth abortion," the name abortion opponents have given to that procedure. Many abortion rights supporters are offended by the term.

"This decision marks a dramatic departure from four decades of Supreme Court rulings that upheld a woman's right to choose and recognized the importance of women's health.  Today's decision blatantly defies the Court's recent decision in 2000 striking down a state partial-birth abortion law because of its failure to provide an exception for the health of the mother," Clinton said in the statement.

April 22, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (16) | TrackBack (0)

Specter Says Gonzales Staying is Harmful for the Justice Department

April 22, 2007 3:58 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: After listening to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales explain his role in the U.S. attorneys firing controversy, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, said Gonzales staying on is bad for the Justice Department.

"It is harmful. There has been a very substantial decrease in morale," Specter told Fox News' Chris Wallace. "The other 93 U.S. attorneys don't know who is up next. There is a suspicion of improper motivation."

Specter also said that "the attorney general's testimony was very, very damaging to his own credibility."

Specter has stopped short of saying Gonzales should go, reiterating this morning that it is still up to the president.

April 22, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Gingrich Defends Concealed Weapons

April 22, 2007 11:53 AM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: Former Speaker of the House and potential presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., speculated that concealed weapons could have mitigated the Virginia Tech massacre.

"In states where people have been allowed to have concealed weapons, in Mississippi and Kentucky, there have been incidents of this kind of a killer who were stopped, because in fact, people who are law-abiding people, who are rational, and people who are responsible had the ability to stop them," Gingrich told ABC's George Stephanopoulos.

Gingrich has not ruled out running in '08, but said he is "not going to think about it 'til the end of September."

April 22, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (70) | TrackBack (0)

First Roaming Ambassador for Clinton

April 21, 2007 4:11 PM

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Saturday that if she is elected president, she would make her husband a roaming ambassador to the world, using his skills to repair the nation's tattered image abroad, the Associated Press reports.

"I can't think of a better cheerleader for America than Bill Clinton, can you?" the Democratic senator from New York asked a crowd jammed into a junior high school gymnasium in Marshalltown, Iowa. "He has said he would do anything I asked him to do. I would put him to work."

Clinton spoke at a town hall-style meeting Saturday where she took questions from about 200 people. When asked what role the former president would play in her administration, she left no doubt it would be an important one.

"I'm very lucky that my husband has been so experienced in all of these areas," said Clinton, who pointed to the diplomatic assignments her husband has carried out since leaving office, such as raising money for tsunami victims.

Clinton also commented on immigration reform and raising taxes for the wealthy.

The senator chatted with activists in Marshalltown and mingled at a coffee shop in Newton before raising money for Rep. Leonard Boswell.  She was scheduled to visit Dubuque on Sunday.

Read the full article on ABCNews.com

April 21, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (12) | TrackBack (0)

Bush Address Focuses on Virginia Tech

April 21, 2007 10:15 AM

In his radio address this morning, President Bush expressed sympathy for the friends and families of the victims of Monday's deadly rampage at Virginia Tech University. "We mourn promising lives cut short," the President said. "We pray for the wounded. And we send our love to those who are hurting."

Bush talked about meeting with grieving parents and students at a memorial service in Blacksburg, VA.  He also addressed the need for greater national focus on the issue of mental illness. "Our society continues to wrestle with the question of how to handle individuals whose mental health problems can make them a danger to themselves and to others," Bush said with regard to Seung-hui Cho, the gunman who shot 32 students and professors at Virginia Tech on April 16. Cho had a record of mental illness.

Bush pledged the federal government will help the Virginia Tech community and address the issues raised by the shootings.

"I've asked top officials at the Departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services to provide the Virginia Tech community with whatever assistance we can, and to participate in a review of the broader questions raised by this tragedy," Bush said.

April 21, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

"1984" Ad Creator Takes on Wolfowitz

April 19, 2007 3:50 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Philip de Vellis, the creator of the "1984" YouTube ad attacking Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is ready to strike again.   

This time his target is Paul Wolfowitz, the embattled World Bank president. 

The new YouTube ad, which is expected to be released later Thursday, paints Wolfowitz as a “hypocrite,” in the words of De Vellis.

The ad is a take off on "The Office" and it will be called "The Bank."

"It talks about how Wolfowitz said that he wanted the World Bank to be involved in ending corruption and yet he was involved in a corruption scandal," De Vellis tells ABC News. The ad also criticizes Wolfowitz, who served as Deputy Secretary of Defense in the second Bush administration, for his role in "leading" the United States into the Iraq war.

Earlier this month, Wolfowitz publicly apologized for arranging a high-paying posting for Shaha Riza, a World Bank employee with whom he is romantically involved, at the State Department.

De Vellis, who lost his job with Obama vendor Blue State Digital after he identified himself as the unauthorized creator of the "1984" ad, received funding to create his anti-Wolfowitz ad from Avaaz.org, an international liberal advocacy group.

"Global poverty is just too important to have someone like Paul Wolfowitz turn the World Bank into a punchline," Ben Wikler, Avaaz.org's campaign director, tells ABC News.

Avaaz.org launched a global on-line petition last week calling for Wolfowitz to be fired. The group has collected 40,000 signatures from 189 countries, according to Wikler.

View the ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UlhLLiQo2Y

April 19, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Same-Sex Civil Unions Headed to Granite State

April 19, 2007 12:27 PM

ABC News' David Chalian Reports:  Gov. John Lynch, D-N.H., announced today that he intends to sign a bill establishing legal civil unions for same sex couples in the key first-in-the-nation primary state.

Since most of the Democratic candidates running for president support civil unions for gay couples, Gov. Lynch's move provides an easy applause line for those candidates speaking in front of Democratic crowds in the Granite State.

It will be far more interesting to watch the Republican presidential hopefuls react to what will soon be the law of the land in New Hampshire.  Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has expressed support for civil unions in the past.  Mitt Romney is opposed to them except when they are the only alternative to same-sex marriage.

And  on November 19, 2006 when ABC News' George Stephanopoulos asked Sen. John McCain if he was for civil unions, he said he believes that people ought to be able to "enter into contracts and exchange "powers of attorney."

Perhaps providing clues as to how some Republican candidates may respond, the Associated Press reports that New Hampshire State Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen responded to Lynch's announcement thusly, "The Democrats are going too far, too fast and Governor Lynch is going along with them," he said. "These are not the actions of a moderate governor."

Stay tuned.

April 19, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

American Idol for Politicians?

April 19, 2007 11:25 AM

ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., campaign insists he was only kidding when he combined a Beach Boys impression with foreign policy Wednesday before a group of Veterans at a VFW hall in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.

See the YouTube video here.

McCain campaign spokesman Kevin McLaughlin points out that the Senator's song was not serious and the people in the room were laughing.  "He was just trying to add a little humor to the event."

McLaughlin also points out that the Senator went on to express support for President Bush's pro-Israel policies and reiterated his own tough stance against Iran.

McCain has long been an advocate of dealing with rogue states aggressively.  Back in 2000, when then-Gov. George W. Bush was wary of nation building and talking about a foreign policy based on humility and restraint, McCain was advocating a policy of "rogue-state rollback," which he described in a 1999 speech to the Center for Strategic and International Studies as a "21st century interpretation of the Reagan doctrine." 

As for the light-hearted harmony, will this event portend more singing from the senior Senator from Arizona?  As Simon Cowell reminds: song choice is critical.

April 19, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

Bush Observes 'Day of Mourning' at Virginia Tech

April 17, 2007 2:59 PM

ABC News' Ed O'Keefe Reports: President George W. Bush delivered a brief, six-minute address at a convocation ceremony on the campus of Virginia Tech, site of the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history.

The President said he and First Lady Laura Bush traveled to Blacksburg Tuesday with "hearts full of sorrow", proclaiming, "This is a day of mourning for the Virginia Tech community and it is a day of sadness for our entire nation."

Bush, who ordered flags at half staff over federal buildings including those at the White House and Capitol in Washington, expressed sympathy to the students, faculty, staff, and families of those affected by the tragedy.

"In this time of anguish, I hope you know that people all over this country are thinking about you and asking God to provide comfort," President Bush said.

Describing the horror that took the lives of thirty three victims Monday, Bush said, "Yesterday began like any other day," before it took a "dark turn" that would not only be the worst campus attack in U.S. history but also the worst day in the lives of many young people at Virginia Tech.

The victims were, as the President put it, "simply in the wrong place at the wrong time."

The President said, "It's impossible to make sense of such violence and suffering" and commended the school for their "compassion and resilient community".

Bush read from a blog in which a fellow Hokie offered support to the current students and explained that although many students may feel far from home at this moment, as a father, "a parent's love is never far from a child's heart."

The President closed with an appeal to the greater good, citing Scripture, and concluding, "In times like this we can find comfort in the grace and guidance in a loving God."

April 17, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Kerry Stands By His Man Imus

April 17, 2007 2:38 PM

ABC News' Matthew Zavala Reports: In an interview with NY1 News political anchor Dominic Carter, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said that he disagreed with the ousting of Don Imus over his racial remarks.

Kerry, a frequent visitor to Imus' show said, "I think that the punishment has to fit the crime so to speak. I think a long suspension, or a strong suspension met with his appropriate level, given that the team forgave him."

The former presidential nominee also told NY1, "They made the judgment that they thought he was genuine and they felt they could forgive him. And I think it was appropriate to pay a price on the airwaves but I'm not sure that it was appropriate to say you're off forever."

Though Imus has been taken off the airwaves by MSNBC and CBS, there is always the possibility that he could get another radio program. When Kerry was asked if he would appear on a potential future Imus show, Kerry said, "It would depend on what the context of the show was obviously. If he goes back to doing the same old same old I'd have trouble doing that, but if it's a different show and he says it’s going to be different sure."

Kerry's most recent appearances on Imus' show occurred on February 12, 2007 via telephone and an in-studio appearance with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, on March 23, 2007 to discuss their book.

April 17, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)

Udall's Senate Ambition Secret Is Out

April 16, 2007 2:46 PM

ABC News' Matthew Zavala Reports: Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., officially filed paperwork to run for the open Senate seat in Colorado that is being vacated by Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo.

Allard is sticking to a two-term limit pledge and Udall has raised $1.5 million for his 2008 effort to turn Colorado's red Senate seat blue.

In 2004, Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., spent $10 million to beat Republican beer mogul Pete Coors.  Udall said that he expects to need at least that much, but analysts suggest $20 million may be a safer bet.

Udall, who is serving his fifth term in Congress, represents a Democratic-leaning swath of Colorado including the northwest suburbs of Denver, site of the Democratic convention next year.

Possible Republican contenders for the open seat include former Congressman Bob Schaffer and Attorney General John Suthers; Senator Salazar's brother, Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., has not indicated any plans for pursuing what would be a potentially historic bid for the Senate; instead Salazar will likely focus on winning reelection to a third term in the House.

April 16, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Clinton Details First Quarter Cash

April 15, 2007 6:15 PM

ABC News' Kate Snow and Matt Stuart report: Sen. Hilary Clinton's, D-N.Y., campaign released details of her first quarter earnings today, trumpeting the nearly $31 million they maintain in cash on hand, though nearly $7 million is money raised for the general election and cannot be used unless and until Sen. Clinton wins the nomination. 

A release from the campaign also makes special note that "the campaign has raised the highest amount of money in its first quarter of any presidential candidate ever."  Not played quite as prominently is the fact that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., significantly out raised Sen. Clinton in primary dollars for the first quarter.  Sen. Clinton raised roughly $19 million for the primary in the first three months of the year compared to Sen. Obama's $23.5 million tally raised for his bid for the Democratic nomination.

Sen. Clinton had 60,000 contributors in the first quarter, far fewer than Sen. Obama.  But, of course, cash on hand is key and after many reports of Sen. Obama's strong fundraising showing, the Clinton campaign appeared eager to reestablish Sen. Clinton as the Democratic cash queen.

April 15, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Cheney Calls Out Congress Over War Funding

April 15, 2007 4:55 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: Vice President Dick Cheney took the Democrat-controlled Congress to task over the hotly debated $100 billion measure to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Cheney reiterated the president's intent to veto any legislation that would put conditions on the funding for the troops. He called the funding "essential."

"It's for the troops. The troops are in the field or in combat every day, and the process has already run on far too long. We're already some 70 days since the president made this request," he told CBS's Bob Schieffer.

"The fact of the matter is, I do believe that the positions that the Democratic leaders have taken and, to a large extent now, are irresponsible," he said.

April 15, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

Gonzales Says Dismissals Were Appropriate, Mishandled

April 15, 2007 12:14 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales will face the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. In his written statement to the committee, Gonzales said he believes "that these dismissals were appropriate," but he made mistakes in handling the situation. Gonzales also apologized to the fired attorneys.

"I apologize to them and to their families for allowing this matter to become an unfortunate and undignified public spectacle, and I am sorry for my missteps that have helped to fuel the controversy," he said in the statement.

In an interview with ABC's George Stephanopoulos, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Arlen Specter, R-Penn., said Gonzales will need to explain each firing "case-by-case" and "either justify the reasons for replacing them, or concede that he was wrong."

April 15, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Iacocca Bashes Bush in New Book

April 15, 2007 9:20 AM

ABC News' Jake Tapper reports: Twenty-three years after his best-selling and influential book "Iacocca: An Autobiography," former Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca hits the bookshelves again Tuesday with "Where Have All the Leaders Gone?"

"We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car," Iacocca, 82, writes in his inimitable subtle prose. "But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, 'Stay the course.'"

The legendary, if less relevant, business leader had a close relationship with President Reagan in the 1980s, and endorsed then-Gov. George W. Bush for president in 2000. But he switched to Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in 2004, and his latest book lambastes the current administration.

"Thanks to our first MBA President, we've got the largest deficit in history, Social Security is on life support, and we've run up a half-a-trillion-dollar price tag (so far) in Iraq," Iacocca writes. "And that's just for starters."

April 15, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)

Brownback: Yank Imus-Like Lyrics

April 14, 2007 7:53 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback tells ABC News that he plans to use his speech to the Iowa Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner to urge record companies to yank rap songs with Imus-like lyrics.

The Republican senator from Kansas provided ABC News with a list of what he terms the "top five songs on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks for the week of April 10, 2007." The songs, by EMI Capitol Records, Jive, Def Jam, Interscope, and Big Oomp Records, include offensive language that Brownback wants pulled the way Imus was pulled.

The following lyrics are excerpted from a handout provided by Brownback:

1. "This is Why I'm Hot" by Mims: "Another bitch another drop"

2. "I'm a Flirt" by Bow Wow and R-Kelly: "When it comes down to these hos I don't love em"

3. "Go Getta" by Young Jeezy and R. Kelly: "U in Da Club; U C A Bad Bitch"

4. "Throw Some D's" by Rich Boy: "F*k niggas wanna jack; Sh*t tight no slack"

5. "2 Step" by Unk: "Where The Gangsters At And You Can Still Post The Wall Nigga Holla Back"

April 14, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

Giuliani Talks up 'Health Care Vouchers'

April 14, 2007 6:28 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani spoke out in favor of "health-care vouchers" Saturday at Noah's Ark Restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Republican presidential hopeful foresees "health care vouchers" for people who are too rich for Medicaid but too poor to buy private health insurance on their own.

He also reiterated his support for President Bush's 2007 State of the Union proposal to exempt families with health insurance from income and payroll taxes on $15,000 of their income.

When told by a person with autism attending his event that "most" private insurers will not cover people with autism, Giuliani said that he favored "high-risk pools" for people with expensive conditions. He stressed, however, that, in his opinion, a "free market, profit-driven" health care system still serves most people best.

April 14, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

McCain has $5.18M cash on hand

April 14, 2007 6:27 PM

ABC News's Jake Tapper, David Chalian, and Bret Hovell report:  With a burn rate a rival campaign official called "mind boggling," the presidential campaign of Senator John McCain (R-AZ) announced today that while it had raised $13 million during the first quarter of 2007, it had spent $8.38 million, about 64% of what it raised.

Not even factoring in the campaign's $1.8 million in outstanding debts, McCain begins this next, increasingly competitive quarter of the presidential race with only $5.18 million in cash on hand, far below his two closest rivals for the Republican nomination, according to the campaign's finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission Saturday.

It was more bad news for the Arizona Republican, who has made fiscal responsibility one of his campaign clarion calls to conservatives.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has more than twice as much primary cash on hand as McCain - $11.8 million - and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has about $10.8 million available to him in the primaries. Both the Romney and Giuliani campaigns filed their disclosure reports Friday.

McCain raised money from more individual contributors than either of his closest rivals. Just over fifty thousand people gave to the McCain campaign. About thirty-two thousand gave to Governor Romney, Giuliani received cash from approximately twenty-eight thousand people.

McCain's numbers fall well below the top three contenders for the Democratic nomination as well. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, raised $26 million and $25 million, respectively, and former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina raised about $14 million. None of the Democrats have filed their reports with the FEC at this time.

McCain has acknowledged "disappointing" fundraising, and campaign officials say they have taken steps to correct the problem. They say they are pleased with the direction the fundraising is going - they raised $2 million in January, $3 million in February, and $8 million in March of this year. 

McCain campaign insiders also note that former Rep. Tom Loeffler, R-Texas, is now on board and brought the national finance chairs together for a meeting this week and explained to them that the campaign is now installing high levels of accountability in its fundraising structure.

"Obviously, we would have liked to have raised more money," McCain said at a press conference in Arizona on Monday.  "We'll try and do better next time."

April 14, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Giuliani Laughs Off Milk Gaffe

April 14, 2007 5:40 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Rudy Giuliani joked Saturday about his recent
low-balling of the price of gallon of milk while struggling to draw a
metaphor between the market for health care and the market for plasma
televisions.

"Am I getting the plasma TV’s mixed up the way I did the milk?" asked
Giuliani while speaking to Iowa caucusgoers at Noah’s Ark Restaurant in Des
Moines. "I thought they were asking me about a quart of milk which is all
you can ever fit into a New York refrigerator."

Giuliani was prompted to joke about his milk gaffe when he seemed to
overestimate the degree to which the price of plasma televisions has
declined. He got on the topic of plasma televisions in an effort to explain
his support for a "free market, profit-driven" health-care system.

Giuliani and nine other Republican presidential hopefuls are in the Hawkeye
State to speak to the Iowa Republican Party’s Lincoln Dinner.

April 14, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

A Heated Exchange for Hillary

April 14, 2007 2:52 PM

ABCNews' Eloise Harper reports: After fielding many questions ranging from mental health care to veteran affairs at a Town Hall Meeting in Hampton, NH, Senator Hillary Clinton received a heated question about Iraq.  A woman who had traveled from New York asked Sen. Clinton if she had read the report given to her in 2002 on intelligence and the Iraq war.

Clinton said she had been briefed on the report, and the woman screamed back, "Did you read it?!"  Notably uncomfortable, the Senator repeated that she had been briefed.  This exchange went back and forth about three times.

The woman sat down and Clinton explained, "If I had known then what I know now, I never would have voted to give this President the authority." Clinton also said she believed she was giving the President the authority to send U.N. inspectors to Iraq.

When Clinton finished the answer, the woman continued to scream but was drowned out by applause for the Senator.  The woman was escorted out of the building.

April 14, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (471) | TrackBack (1)

Obama Returns Lobbyists' Money

April 14, 2007 10:37 AM

ABC News' Jake Tapper reports: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, yesterday announced that his campaign is returning $50,566 from 49 donors who Obama's campaign says are lobbyists.

"Giving back these donations is part of our best efforts to ensure we stay true to our commitment to not take money from federal lobbyists," Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said."

This, combined with Obama's criticism of music artists who use degrading language, prompted NPR's Scott Simon to speculate aloud whether Obama would return the $1.3 million raised for him by David Geffen.  Geffen, a billionaire record executive, signed many rap stars including Snoop Dogg, Common, and The Game.

April 14, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

Bush Bashes Dems

April 14, 2007 10:20 AM

ABC News' Lydia Thew reports: In his radio address this morning, President Bush again called on Congress to pass a clean war supplemental funding bill.  The President criticized Democrats for passing legislation with a withdrawal date for US troops attached, as well as spending unrelated to the war in Iraq. 

"When Americans went to the polls last November, they did not vote for politicians to substitute their judgment for the judgment of our commanders on the ground," Bush said.  "And they certainly did not vote to make peanut storage projects part of the funding for our troops."

Bush said military leaders will tell Congress this week that $1.6 billion must be transferred from other military accounts to cover the funding delay.  "These actions are only the beginning, and the longer Congress delays the worse the impact on the men and women of the Armed Forces will be," Bush said.

The President plans to meet with congressional leaders to discuss emergency war funding on Wednesday.

April 14, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)

Obama Takes on Rappers

April 14, 2007 10:20 AM

The Associated Press' Jim Davenport reports: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, challenged rappers who use degrading language in their songs yesterday.

"We've got to admit to ourselves, that it was not the first time that we heard the word 'ho.' Turn on the radio station. There are a whole lot of songs that use the same language. . . . We've been permitting it in our homes, and in our schools and on iPods," Obama said at a fundraising dinner for the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus in Columbia.

The remarks come two days after Don Imus was fired by CBS and MSNBC for using the phrase "nappy-headed hos" to describe the Rutgers women’s basketball team.  Imus met with the team on Thursday to apologize following a week of press conferences, apologies, and sharp criticism from Al Sharpton to Al Roker.

"If it's not good for Don Imus, I don't know why it's good for us. If we don't like other people to degrade us, why are we degrading ourselves?" Obama asked.

Obama referenced his own daughters, who he described as "tall" and who he hoped might one day get basketball scholarships.  "I don't need somebody on a radio station degrading that. I think it's fair to say that there are a whole bunch of young rappers who look like us, who use the words that Don Imus does, who are on our radio stations."

April 14, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (1)

Government Agencies Receive an 'F' in FIMSA Report Card

April 12, 2007 2:47 PM

ABC News' Matthew Zavala Reports: Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released a report card on Thursday that gives government agencies an 'F' in addressing computer security problems.

In his report, Davis gave a failing mark of 'F' to the Department of Defense, Department of State, and the Department of the Treasury while the much scrutinized Department of Justice faired better this year, jumping all the way from a 'D' to an 'A-'. 

The report card comes on the heels of an admission Wednesday by the White House that emails concerning the firing of several U.S. attorneys by the Department of Justice have "potentially been lost".

Health and Human Services also showed improvement, going from failing grade to near the honor roll.  Also improving, but only slightly, the Department of Homeland Security went from an 'F' to a 'D' -- perhaps making them barely eligible for sports again.

The Federal Information Management Security Act of 2002, which required the report, was enacted as a way to enhance network security within the federal government and the yearly audits are used as a way to evaluate each department's progress.

Just be thankful, kids, that Davis is a congressman and not a teacher.

April 12, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Ford Finally Weighs In on Imus

April 12, 2007 1:09 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Former Rep. Harold Ford, Jr., D-Tenn., a fixture on Don Imus' program over the years, finally weighs in on the controversy involving the radio talk show host. Ford's statement, which was issued Thursday afternoon by the centrist Democratic Leadership Council which Ford has chaired since losing a Tennessee Senate race in 2006, comes after declining to comment for several days. 

"I don't want to be viewed as piling on right now because Don Imus is a good friend and a decent man," Ford says in the statement. "However, he did a reprehensible thing. His comments about the Rutgers women's basketball team were hurtful and wrong. Moreover, the comments robbed these young women of an important time to celebrate a magnificent and positive moment in their lives."

"I am a big believer in redemption," Ford continues, "and I understand that Don has done many good deeds in his life. Yet, no amount of philanthropy gives anyone the license to offend innocent people - particularly when it comes to matters of race and gender. So I'm going to follow the lead of those brilliant and gracious women of the Rutgers basketball team and wait and see how the next two weeks unfold. I certainly hope Don can come to understand better the pain he has caused these young women and their families, and I will leave it to others to decide how his future in media should play out."

April 12, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (9) | TrackBack (0)

Leahy Plays the Watergate Card, Has Subpoenas in His Deck

April 12, 2007 12:07 PM

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: The Senate Judiciary Committee today authorized more subpoenas as part of their investigation into firing of eight U.S. Attorneys late last year, and to whether Justice Department officials misled Congress in explaining the firings. It was not the two people for whom the committee authorized subpoenas today, but the White House and Justice Department documents that are noteworthy.

The committee authorized its Chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., to subpoena documents from both the Justice Department and the White House. Congressional investigators have complained that documents relating to the US Attorney firings still need to be released from the Justice Department, and that other documents that have already been released are too heavily redacted.  More important, they say the White House is hiding some emails and is conducting government business from email accounts held by the Republican National Committee.

More on that here: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3032600&page=1

Just before the vote, Leahy used strong language on the Senate floor, comparing the Bush White House to Richard Nixon's Watergate White House, because staffers say some emails relating to the U.S. Attorneys firings have gone missing.

"Now we are learning that the 'off book' communications they were having about these actions, by using Republican political email addresses, have not been preserved," said Leahy. 

"Like the famous 18-minute gap in the Nixon White House tapes, it appears likely that key documentation has been erased or misplaced.  This sounds like the administration's version of the dog ate my homework.  I am deeply disturbed that just when this administration is finally subjected to meaningful oversight, it cannot produce the necessary information." Leahy continued, "This Administration has worn out the benefit of the doubt and undermined whatever credibility it had left.  The American people are right that they are entitled to full and honest public testimony of the White House staff responsible for this debacle."

The vote in the Judiciary Committee was by voice, but Republicans on the Committee stressed that Leahy should allow the Department of Justice to produce testimony and documents before actually using the subpoenas.

"It's a bad precedent to be subpoenaing the Attorney General," said Sen. John Kyl, R-Ariz. "Some people would do it in a political way."

The committee also authorized subpoenas for testimony from Deputy Attorney General William Moschella and Scott Jennings, a White House Political Aide. Republicans on the Committee blocked for one week a subpoena for Sara Taylor, the White House political director who was identified in Congressional testimony two weeks ago as the White House official who lobbied for the appointment of a former aide to Karl Rove as US Attorney in Arkansas. Moschella testified in March before the House Judiciary Committee.

April 12, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

Schwarzenegger: Green Is Sexy

April 11, 2007 4:31 PM

ABC News' Matthew Zavala Reports: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, R-Calif.,  touted his recent efforts to curb the effects of global warming during a speech Wednesday at Georgetown University, his wife Maria Shriver's alma matter.

Schwarzenegger proclaimed, "For too long the environmental movement had been powered by guilt," adding, in his best motivational voice, "Guilt is passive. Guilt is inhibiting and guilt is defensive."

The body-builder turned moviestar turned politician tried to show that the environmental movement does not have to conflict with economic growth.

"Capitalism, which was the alleged enemy to the environment, is today giving new life to the environmental movement," California's Republican Governor contended.  "We can protect the environment and protect the economy."

He also sent a message to his fellow Republicans and said that they need "courage" to  join the environmental movement, insisting that "political courage is not political suicide."

The audience was mostly Georgetown students and Schwarzenegger presented his ideas using his former profession of body building.  Bodybuilding, said the still-fit Schwarzenegger, "used to have a sketchy image...but now the perception has changed.  It has become sexier, attractive.  This is what needs to happen to the environmental movement."

"Environmentalists were kind thought of as kind of weird and fanatics, the kind of serious tree huggers.  The environmentalists were no fun.  They were like prohibitionists at a fraternity party," joked Schwarzenegger.

Schwarzenegger served as the keynote speaker as part of the Newsweek Global Environment Leadership Conference.

April 11, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Dodd Challenges McCain on Iraq

April 11, 2007 2:20 PM

ABC News' Donna Hunter reports: In a Wednesday evening address in Iowa, Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn., plans to sharply contrast potential Republican rival and fellow Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., on the subject of Iraq.

In prepared remarks obtained by ABC News, the Connecticut Democrat challenges McCain, who has tied his White House hopes to a stay-the-course strategy in Iraq, saying, "No one questions Senator McCain's patriotism.  He is a war hero and a friend.  But, like the President, he is wrong."

Dodd will go on to say, in prepared remarks, "McCain's market visit makes clear the point many of us have made for some time.  We don't need a surge of troops in Iraq - we need a surge of diplomacy.  The Bush/McCain Doctrine is not succeeding, it is failing."

Although this is not Dodd's first visit to the first in the nation caucus state, it will be the first time he lays out a comprehensive foreign policy plan. 

Speaking before the U.S. Center for Citizens for Diplomacy in downtown Des Moines, Dodd will be call for support from all of the candidates in supporting legislation which sets a firm timetable withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq by March 31, 2008. 

Senator Dodd is, at present, the only presidential candidate co-sponsoring the bill which was introduced in the Senate by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senator Russ Feingold, D-Wis., who last year ruled out a White House bid of his own.

Dodd's speech will also focus on recognizing the need for experienced leadership -- a trait, no doubt, the Senator believes he has earned during five terms in the Senate -- and energy independence.

After Wedneday's address, the Senator continues a 'kitchen table tour' across Iowa, speaking to local families about their concerns.  These small kitchen table stops will continue throughout each of the early primary states, giving the relatively unknown national candidate, much needed name and face time. 

This weekend Dodd takes his campaign far from Iowa kitchen tables to Las Vegas, where he will dine with local fire fighters in the state wedged between the all-important Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary next January.

April 11, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

'08ers React to Imus

April 11, 2007 1:49 PM

ABC News' Paul Fidalgo Reports:  As radio personality Don Imus' remark about the Rutgers women's basketball team continues to stir up controversy and debate, the field of 2008 White House hopefuls are endeavoring to carefully navigate through choppy political waters in their various responses.

While the candidates that have made public statements on the matter have universally condemned the comments -- some of whom have been recent (and frequent) guests on the program -- none have called for his outright ouster from his program. 

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., who herself has not been portrayed in a positive light on Imus' program, said, "You know, I've been on the receiving end of a lot of his barbs, so, you know, I understand, I'm a public figure. But it just went way over the line, and I think that, you know, the reaction is well-deserved."

The controversy has become a rallying cry on Clinton's website.  The site features a large picture of the Rutgers team and Clinton has issued a statement calling the remark "nothing more than small-minded bigotry and coarse sexism."

In a previous statement, Clinton made clear her position as to whether she would appear a guest on his program, saying, "I've never wanted to go on his show and I certainly don't ever intend to go on his show, and I felt that way before his latest outrageous, hateful, hurtful comments."

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in contrast, a longtime guest of the programs', made the case for forgiveness, saying,  "He's said that he's deeply sorry.  I'm a great believer in redemption.  Whether he needs to do more in order to satisfy the concerns of people like the members of that team, that's something that's between him and them."

"I've made many mistakes in my life," continued McCain, before adding,  "…and I've apologized and most people have accepted that apology."  McCain has also stated that he would still be willing to appear on the program in the future.

Likewise, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who claims a "rooting interest" in Rutgers' team, said that he, too, would still be a guest on Imus' show.

"I take Don at his word that he understands the gravity of what he did," said Giuliani, who added, "I called him a little while ago to talk to him about it personally and I believe that he understands that he made a very, very big mistake, that that wasn’t his intention, but it was very, very damaging what he said."

Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., also did not rule out a future stint on the show, but stipulated that he would come bearing harsh words.  A spokesman for Romney said in a statement that "if [Romney] did go back on the show, he would be sure to tell Mr. Imus how awful those remarks were."

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has been less specific about his feelings toward Imus himself, but released a statement saying the comments were "divisive, hurtful and offensive to Americans of all backgrounds.  With a public platform, comes a trust.  As far as I'm concerned, he violated that trust."

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., who announced his presidential bid on the morning shock jock's radio program, said of the remarks, "As the father of two young girls, I can imagine how hurtful these comments were to these young women and their parents. The comments were wrong and unacceptable."

Sen. Joe Biden, D-Dela., who has appeared on Imus' show many times, and has faced his own political trouble over what was perceived by many as racially insensitive remarks, has yet to issue a public statement on the matter.

ABC News' Kate Snow and 2008 Off-Air Reporters Eloise Harper, Bret Hovell, Jan Simmonds, Matt Stuart, Jonathan Greenberger, Donna Hunter, and Brian Wheeler contributed to this report.

April 11, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Clinton Ties Troop Funding to Withdrawal

April 10, 2007 6:48 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Eloise Harper Report: In a taped interview with MoveOn.org, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., held out the threat of withholding funding for U.S. troops in Iraq if President Bush does not agree to a timeline for withdrawal.

"I don't want to foreclose any options right now," Clinton said in the audio-only interview with the anti-war advocacy group.  "You know, I don't think we should tell President Bush what we will do.  We have to keep the pressure on him not to veto it."

Clinton's comments were an implicit effort to contrast herself with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., a top rival for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, who took heat from some in the liberal blogosphere last week for telling the Associated Press that "Nobody wants to play chicken with our troops on the ground."

While the former First Lady kept the option of withholding Iraq war funding on the table, she stopped short of committing to any particular course of action if President Bush vetoes the current war funding bill which includes a March 2008 timetable for troop withdrawal. 

"I'm not prepared to throw in the towel and basically concede either point that he, you know, will veto it and then we have to choose one of the strategies that are based on the premise of his veto," said Clinton.

The Senator and presidential contender is holding out hope that Bush can be swayed from vetoing the latest Iraq spending bill if there's public support for a withdrawal timetable.

Clinton's comments to MoveOn.org are part of a pre-recorded "virtual town hall meeting" that the liberal advocacy group is streaming over the Internet Tuesday at 7:00 pm ET with seven Democratic presidential candidates.

April 10, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)

Kerry, Gingrich Heat Things Up in Climate Debate

April 10, 2007 2:25 PM

ABC News' Matthew Zavala Reports: Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., debated the best way to solve climate change problems Tuesday in Washington, DC., clearly showing their ideological differences.

The two were in agreement that the issue needs to be addressed, but disagreed about which method would work quickest and most efficiently.

The former speaker, who is still mulling a presidential bid said, "We have to have a very strong commitment to finding new incentives, to use new science and new technology and to maximize the rate of innovation."

Gingrich said that he was in favor of creating market incentives for the countries that pollute the most to find ways to limit greenhouse emissions.

Kerry counters that Gingrich's idea reacts to the problem too late. "He takes the consensus of the U.N. report, but then essentially says, what we need to do is encourage the marketplace to go out and respond, and to unleash science, to unleash technology," said Kerry.

The core of Gingrich's proposals focused on the countries of China and India who are rapidly growing and creating large amounts of greenhouse gases.  Gingrich believes that the best way to solve the problem would be through economic incentives.

Kerry said he thinks that a carbon neutral society is the best way to reverse the effects of global warming.

The Massachusetts Senator also added some humor and said that Gingrich's idea by that allowing the market to be the answer to the problem would be like saying, "Barry Bonds go investigate steroids or by saying, 'Enron, you take over pensions'."

Kerry believes that the best way to deal with the problem is to be a carbon neutral society.  The 2004 presidential candidate, who recently authored the environmental tome "This Moment on Earth" with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, cited numerous statistics to strengthen his argument.

The debate was sponsored by the New York University Brademas Center exploratory series, the Brookings Institution, and RAND Corporation.

April 10, 2007 in Politics, Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Kerry, Gingrich Heat Things Up in Climate Debate

April 10, 2007 2:25 PM

ABC News' Matthew Zavala Reports: Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., debated the best way to solve climate change problems Tuesday in Washington, DC., clearly showing their ideological differences.

The two were in agreement that the issue needs to be addressed, but disagreed about which method would work quickest and most efficiently.

The former speaker, who is still mulling a presidential bid said, "We have to have a very strong commitment to finding new incentives, to use new science and new technology and to maximize the rate of innovation."

Gingrich said that he was in favor of creating market incentives for the countries that pollute the most to find ways to limit greenhouse emissions.

Kerry counters that Gingrich's idea reacts to the problem too late. "He takes the consensus of the U.N. report, but then essentially says, what we need to do is encourage the marketplace to go out and respond, and to unleash science, to unleash technology," said Kerry.

The core of Gingrich's proposals focused on the countries of China and India who are rapidly growing and creating large amounts of greenhouse gases.  Gingrich believes that the best way to solve the problem would be through economic incentives.

Kerry said he thinks that a carbon neutral society is the best way to reverse the effects of global warming.

The Massachusetts Senator also added some humor and said that Gingrich's idea by that allowing the market to be the answer to the problem would be like saying, "Barry Bonds go investigate steroids or by saying, 'Enron, you take over pensions'."

Kerry believes that the best way to deal with the problem is to be a carbon neutral society.  The 2004 presidential candidate, who recently authored the environmental tome "This Moment on Earth" with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, cited numerous statistics to strengthen his argument.

The debate was sponsored by the New York University Brademas Center exploratory series, the Brookings Institution, and RAND Corporation.

April 10, 2007 in Politics, Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

DeLay: indicting me is like the Holocaust

April 09, 2007 10:15 PM

ABCNews' Jake Tapper Reports:  In his new book "No Retreat, No Surrender," former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, compares liberals to Adolf Hitler.

"I believe it was Adolf Hitler who first acknowledged that the big lie is more effective than the little lie, because the big lie is so audacious, such an astonishing immorality, that people have a hard time believing anyone would say it if it wasn’t true. You know, the big lie — like the Holocaust never happened or dark-skinned people are less intelligent than light-skinned people. Well, by charging this big lie” — that DeLay broke campaign finance laws — “liberals have finally joined the ranks of scoundrels like Hitler."

This week in a radio interview on WERS in Boston, DeLay was asked about this, and not only did he stand by his comparison, he amplified it, comparing his prosecution to the Holocaust.

"I am so outraged by this whole criminalization of politics," DeLay said. "It’s not good enough to defeat somebody politically. It’s not even good enough to vilify somebody publicly. They have to carpet bomb you with lies and made up scandals and false charges and indicting you on laws that don’t exist. ...It’s the same thing as I say in my book, that the Nazis used. When you use the 'Big Lie' in order to gain and maintain power, it is immoral and it is outrageous…

"It’s the same process. It’s the same criminalization of politics. It’s the same oppression of people. It’s the same destroy people in order to gain power. It may be six million Jews, it may be indicting somebody on laws that don’t exist. But, it’s the same philosophy and it’s the same world view."

You can listen to it here: LINK

April 9, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (15) | TrackBack (0)

Specter Defends Pelosi, Lieberman Criticizes

April 08, 2007 2:01 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: Two U.S. senators went against their usual party lines today to defend and criticize Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Cali., over her recent trip to Syria.

Speaking with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, Penn., said the Democratic leader did the right thing by going to Syria and meeting with President Assad, a trip the White House denounced.

"She has a very prominent constitutional role in determining what's going to happen in the Iraq war," he said. "I don't think it is helpful for people in the administration to characterize her as being engaged in, quote 'bad behavior,' unquote."

But Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., felt very differently.

"I respectfully and strongly disagree with Arlen Specter and with Nancy Pelosi. I believe her visit to Syria was a mistake, that it was bad for the United States of America and good for the Syrians," he said.

April 8, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (16) | TrackBack (0)

Gingrich Says Gonzales Should Go

April 08, 2007 11:41 AM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton reports: Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., slammed both Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and the White House over the U.S. attorneys firing controversy, going as far as saying the country would be better off with a new team at the Justice Department.

"This is the most mishandled, artificial, self-created mess that I can remember in the years I've been active in public life," Gingrich told Fox News' Chris Wallace.

Gingrich, a possible '08 Republican presidential contender, defended the president's right to ask U.S. attorneys to resign, but said there isn't any doubt that the situation has been poorly managed.

When asked whether or not he thought Gonzales should resign, Gingrich replied, "I cannot imagine how he is going to be effective for the rest of this administration… I think the country, in fact, would be much better served to have a new team at the Justice Department, across the board."

April 8, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Snowy Easter for Bush

April 07, 2007 4:54 PM

ABCNews' Jon Garcia reports: Snowing in Crawford in April? Yep. A steady snow started falling Saturday afternoon, sending locals scurrying indoors, their cowboy hats dusted with the cold, white stuff. While Washington, New York and Boston bemoan the late season snow, at least they're used to it. Crawford isn't. The local weatherman says they haven't had a freeze over Easter since 1975 -- and the last time before that was in 1937.

A White House spokesman said President Bush got a bike ride in early this morning, before the flakes started to fall, adding that it was a safe bet the First Family wasn't going swimming today. 

Neither the White House staff nor the press traveling with the President were quite prepared for this -- many had packed shorts and short-sleeved shirts in anticipation of a more temperate, Spring-like weather. Some press scrambled to buy sweaters, jackets and blankets. FOX correspondent Mike Emanuel trumpeted the fact he got $75-worth of outerwear on sale for $20.98 at the local Dillards. And ABC's Jessica Yellin stopped on the way to work to get a purple "micro fiber" weatherproof blanket for her workspace in the now-even-colder-than-usual Crawford middle school gym.

"This is ridiculous. I brought only one warm sweater just in case of excessive air conditioning," Yellin said. "Now I'm wearing several outfits at once!"

"I think that's a bit much," said one long-time White House staffer who is a veteran of many trips to the presidential ranch. "C'mon, it's Texas weather. It'll be 80 degrees like that," said the staffer with a snap of the fingers.

And CBS correspondent Mark Knoller, a veteran of 50+ trips to Crawford, was heard lamenting the fact he'd purposely pulled his gloves out of his lightweight jacket and tossed them aside before hitting the road with Bush last Wednesday.

"Cindy Sheehan asked me 'where are your gloves?' but even she hadn't brought gloves! She only had gardening gloves -- and she was wearing them!" Knoller said.

Of course, Sheehan, the anti-war activist who's promised to dog the President about the war in Iraq until he meets with her, was out on her usual protest rounds near the ranch. Sheehan got her Easter eve protest in early, avoiding the snow but not the morning cold.

April 7, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)

Presidential Easter Feast

April 07, 2007 4:35 PM

The office of the First Lady released the Bush's Easter dinner menu today.  The meal will feature fire-glazed ham, green chili cheese grits souffle, roasted orange molasses sweet potatoes and roasted asparagus.  Coconut cake and Blue Bell ice cream will top off the dinner. 

Former President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush will be at the President's ranch in Crawford, TX, for the Easter holiday.   

April 7, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

LA GOP Rips Breaux Over Residence

April 07, 2007 12:00 PM

ABCNews' Rebecca Teitel reports: Although former U.S. Sen. John Breaux D-LA has yet to announce his candidacy for Governor of Louisiana, the state GOP continues to question whether he is a resident of the state and able to run for the office.

In a statement released Thursday, the LA GOP claims to have obtained documents showing that Breaux filed for a non-resident hunting license application with the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries.

According to the LA GOP, the document says, "Our records indicate that Mr. John Breaux acquired the following licenses, Nonresident Migratory Bird 3-day, Nonresident LA Duck Stamp, and HIP Certification on January 3, 2006."

This revelation possibly undermines Breaux's claim that, despite living in Maryland and voting there since 2005, he never forfeited his Louisiana citizenship. Attorney General Charles Foti is assessing the situation and will issue a legal opinion shortly on his eligibility to run.

Foti's opinion in the matter is not legally binding, however, and the issue is still likely to end up in court should Breaux run.

Louisiana law requires a candidate to be a citizen of the state for the preceding five years; what determines citizenship is not clearly stated in the Constitution.

April 7, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Bush slams Democrats over war funding

April 07, 2007 11:15 AM

ABCNews' Lydia Thew and Florian Heinhold report: Saturday morning President Bush praised American troops far from home for Easter and Passover.  "They are separated from their families by great distances, but they are always close in our thoughts," Bush said in his weekly radio address.  He emphasized the importance of funding for the troops and reiterated his vow to veto the current Iraq supplemental funding bill.

Bush criticized Democrats in Congress for leaving Capitol Hill without providing a bill that he can sign.  "For our men and women in uniform, this emergency war spending bill is not a political statement, it is a source of critical funding that has a direct impact on their daily lives," Bush said.

The President said the delay in emergency funding will cause a funding shortfall that will adversely affect military personnel.  Bush quoted Army Chief of Staff Pete Schoomaker saying that failure to approve additional funding by April "will impact Army readiness and impose hardships on our soldiers and their families."

Bush said if a bill is not passed by mid-May, military training will be curtailed and troops abroad will need to stay longer than intended.

"For our troops, the clock is ticking," the President warned.

The full Congress will return from Easter recess April 16th.

April 7, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)

McCain says he misspoke in upbeat Baghdad comments

April 07, 2007 9:31 AM

U.S. Senator John McCain said in an interview to be broadcast on Sunday he misspoke in his recent upbeat comments about security in Baghdad, where he traveled under heavy military protection, as Reuters reports.

The Arizona senator, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, maintains progress has been made in the U.S.-led war in Iraq, according to comments to be aired on CBS' "60 Minutes."

McCain said he regrets comments he made after a tour of Baghdad last Sunday, when he said he could see progress and the American people were not being told the "good news" about the war, according to excerpts of his comments and a press release provided by "60 Minutes."
Read the full story on  ABCNews.com

April 7, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Florida Guv on Felons and Forgiveness

April 06, 2007 2:57 PM

ABC News' Matthew Zavala Reports: Florida Republican Governor Charlie Crist is in a forgiving mood this week and he has persuaded the Florida Board of Executive Clemency to restore voting rights to most ex-felons.

Crist put this latest development into the context of Holy Week saying, "A fundamental belief of both Passover and Easter is that the debt for a person's wrongs can be paid in full."

The new rule, which could prove pivotal in the 2008, gives voting rights back to individuals who have committed less serious crimes. They now have the right to serve on a jury, apply for an occupational license, and to hold public office.

Crist also said, "giving a person a meaningful way to re-enter society, make a living and participate in our democracy will encourage good behavior and will help thousands of Floridians restore their dignity."

In 2000, some voters who were not felons were denied the right to vote after being mistaken for felons.

April 6, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Kerry and Gingrich to Debate Climate Change

April 05, 2007 2:03 PM

ABC News' David Chalian Reports: Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and yet to be determined presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., are scheduled to debate the environment and global climate change later this month.

The two political heavyweights will hold their debate Tuesday, April 10, 2007 in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

The event with Kerry and Gingrich is part of the Brademas Center exploratory series, “Legislating for the Future,” which is cosponsored by The Brookings Institution and RAND Corporation.

Kerry recently co-authored a book about the environment, “This Moment on Earth,” with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry.

April 5, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (5) | TrackBack (1)

Dems on Wilson Watch

April 05, 2007 12:03 PM

ABC News' Matthew Zavala Reports: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee launched a website Thursday, highlighting Rep. Heather Wilson's, R-N.M., role in the firings of eight U.S. Attorneys.

The website, Heather Wilson's Watch, provides a 60 second radio ad that uses a sound bite from former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias' testimony when he says Wilson called and asked, "What can you tell me about sealed indictments?"

"A federal prosecutor was fired only after he refused to bend to Heather Wilson's political pressure," said Jennifer Crider, Communications Director at the DCCC.
   
The DCCC radio ad calls on Wilson to come forward with her phone records and to tell the "full truth." "Heather Wilson needs to quit playing games and tell the truth about her role in the U.S. Attorney scandal" said Crider. The website also has a timeline of Wilson-related events, hoping to show the inconsistencies. The site also uses articles from recent publications that tie White House deputy Karl Rove to the scandal.

The National Republican Congressional Committee’s Communications Director, Jessica Boulanger, responded by saying, "there is no one tougher or with a better record of delivering for their constituents than Heather Wilson. Her character and service will both easily withstand the DCCC's latest partisan mud-slinging."

Though the content is serious, there is still room for humor. There is a picture of Rove talking on his cell phone and viewers have three options from which to choose as to who Rove is talking to. Option three is Rove talking to American Idol's Sanjaya Malakar, about his American Idol strategy.

April 5, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

McCain's Bump

April 04, 2007 6:09 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: The presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Wednesday that a dark spot on McCain's head is due to the Arizona senator hitting his head while getting out of a helicopter in Iraq and not a recurrence of skin cancer.

"McCain hit his head getting out of a helicopter," campaign spokesperson Matt David tells ABC News.

Brian Jones, McCain's communications director, told ABC News that the McCain campaign learned about the Arizona senator hitting his head when McCain spoke with senior adviser Mark Salter by telephone after arriving earlier than expected at an Air Force base in Germany while on his way back to the United States from Iraq.

Speculation about the spot on McCain's head was fueled when the Drudge Report, which often receives items about presidential candidates from rival campaigns, posted a photo of a "nickel-sized" dark spot on the front of the Arizona Senator's partially bald head.

McCain aide David sought to put to rest concerns that the spot was a recurrence of skin cancer early Wednesday afternoon by telling ABC News: "Senator McCain had a routine dermatology examination in January of this year, as he does every several months.  His doctor found no new skin problems. The melanomas he had successfully removed several years ago have not recurred and no new melanomas were found."

April 4, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

EXCLUSIVE: Cheney One-on-One

April 04, 2007 12:03 PM

ABC News Radio's Ann Compton Reports: In an exclusive interview with ABC News Radio, Vice President Dick Cheney greeted the release of fifteen British sailors from Iran, blasted Democratic efforts to attach a timetable for withdrawal to an Iraq spending bill, and played the role of political pundit in the 2008 Republican presidential contest. 

Regarding the soon to be released British sailors, Cheney told ABC News Radio, "I don't know all the details, obviously, but I'm glad to know that the British sailors will be released," quickly adding that it was "unfortunate they were ever taken in the first place" and pointing out "there's considerable evidence that they were, in fact, in Iraqi territorial waters when this happened."

Cheney said he did not know if there was a 'quid-pro-quo' ensuring their release but said if there was such an exchange, it sets a bad precedent for the future.

"If you get into the business where you reward that kind of behavior, there will be more of that kind of behavior," Cheney said.

The Vice President also sounded off on the emergency spending bill for the Iraq War currently winding its way through Congress with a timetable for withdrawal attached.

"The president is the commander-in-chief," Cheney declared, "he's the one that makes the decisions about the use of miltary force."

Blasting Democrats who support the withdrawal measure, Cheney asserted, "They are trying to usurp the ability of the president to make those basic decisions," adding that he felt their legislative efforts would "interfere with the actions of our troops on the ground."

"We made it very clear," Cheney concluded, "what we want is a clean bill."

On another hot topic, the Vice President continued the White House's criticism of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's, D-Calif., Middle East tour which included a recent stop in Syria to meet with President Bashar Assad.

Cheney called Pelosi's diplomatic venture "unfortunate" explaining, "the fact of the matter is Bashar Assad has been a bad actor in many respects," citing Syria as a "conduit for Iranian support of Hezbollah" and a "flow of jihadists" into Iraq.

Echoing President Bush, who on Tuesday labeled Pelosi's visit to Syria "counterproductive", Cheney added, "He's been isolated and cut off be of his bad behavior.  The unfortunate thing about the Speaker's visit is it sort of breaks down that barrier."

"His bad behavior's being rewarded in a sense," Cheney concluded to ABC News Radio.

On the more general question of his relationship with the newly minted Democratic Speaker of the House, Cheney smiled and said simply, "It is what it is."

After complimenting Pelosi's "historic" status as the first female Speaker, Cheney also said, "There are fundamental differences.  Nancy Pelosi is basically a, you know, what (former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations) Jeane Kirkpatrick used to call a San Francisco Democrat; she's a liberal and those are her views, there's nothing wrong with that, that's her world view...(but) we're bound to have disagreements and we do."

Expecting his sixth grandchild next month from daughter Mary Cheney and her lesbian partner Heather Poe, Cheney reiterated that he had not changed his views on the Clinton era 'Don't ask, Don't tell' policy concerning homosexuals serving in the military and repeated his support for states taking the lead in gay rights equality issues.

Cheney, who returned to the hospital recently to treat a deep vein thrombosis, insisted he was feeling good and said, "I was fortunate to catch it early and I've got great medical care."

Declining to detail much about his post-White House plans except to say, "I'm not aiming to do anything in the public spotlight," later further clarifying, "but I do expect that the public aspect of it will end it ," Cheney did comment on the 2008 Republican presidential field.

Insisting he would stay out of the presidential fray until "at least after the convention", Cheney declined to predict a nomination winner but could not resist several pundit volleys from ABC News Radio's Ann Compton.

When asked whether Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is too old to be president, Cheney answered, "No."

Asked whether former New York Mayor Giuliani has been married too many times to be president, the Vice President also retorted, "No."

And, finally, when asked whether religion would be an impediment for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Cheney again replied, "No."

April 4, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (67) | TrackBack (0)

$20 Million and Not a Dime to Spare

April 03, 2007 1:10 PM

ABC News' John Berman Reports: On the campaign trail in New Hampshire, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, the newly minted king of Republican presidential fundraising, hasn't been asked by many Granite Staters about his record-shattering $20 million haul.

Dashing from Keene to Manchester, to Derry and back, Romney is riding a wave of glowing press through five events Tuesday, yet there's some evidence that the campaign hasn't gotten around to cashing all those big checks.

Having held the inaugural 'Ask Mitt Anything' forum at the Colony Mill Market Place in Keene, the contender stopped for a bite and some votes at the Peterborough Diner in Peterborough, N.H.

Munching on the Diner's classic blueberry pie (reportedly his favorite), Romney wisely avoided Diner lunch specials such as 'Hillary's Wrap', instead shaking hands and chatting with locals alongside son, Tagg, (who, say witnesses, also has tremendous hair) and his eldest granddaughter.

But at the conclusion of his visit, the $20 million dollar man made a startling realization: he had no cash.

It seems Romney, claiming only 55 cents in his pockets, did not have enough money to pay the Diner's seemingly reasonable $3.25/slice fee.  (Fortunately the businessman turned politician did not opt for pie a la mode -- that, according to the Peterborough Diner's website would have cost him $3.95). 

The Salt Lake Olympic savior called out to his 37-year-old son Tagg, "Can I borrow some money?"

Tagg Romney lent his father a Lincoln and the campaign went on its way.

Approxiamately 100-150 people turned out for Romney's first event of the day.  Cameras from ABC, NBC, and the CBS newsmagazine "60 Minutes" were also in tow. 

Although dared to 'Ask Mitt Anything', most in the crowd stuck to the basics to which Romney replied with Reagan-inspired quips.

Responding to a question on education, the former Governor paraphrased the 40th President to offer, "It's not that liberals are ignorant, it's just that so much of what they know is wrong."

Romney also stoked the conservative Republican crowd when taunting another favorite target; asked about U.S. power and the nation's role in the world, Romney declared, "We don't want to be the France of the 21st century."

In a brief press availability, Romney was finally asked about those boffo fundraising figures -- by the press, not the public, of course.

Romney claimed his fundraising clip reflects "growing support around the country" and joked, "Reports of my flip flops are greatly exaggerated," referring to another subject on which the public seems less concerned than the press at present.

April 3, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Cheney Blasts Iraq Timetable

April 02, 2007 5:12 PM

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Vice President Cheney ripped "self-appointed strategists on Capitol Hill" Monday for including a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal in an Iraq war funding bill.

"It's time the self-appointed strategists on Capitol Hill understood a very simple concept," Cheney said at a fundraiser for Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., in Birmingham, Ala.  "You cannot win a war if you tell the enemy when you're going to quit."

DNC Chairman Howard Dean shot back by accusing the vice president of "scare tactics." 

"The American people overwhelmingly support the Democratic plan for change in Iraq," said Dean in a statement released by the DNC, "yet the President has stubbornly threatened to veto legislation that contains his own benchmarks for success in Iraq, ensures our troops have the training they need, and supports our veterans."

April 2, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

Campaign Coffers Filling Up

April 01, 2007 5:38 PM

The first quarter of 2007 campaign fundraising is over and the candidates are busy counting their cash.

Three Democratic campaigns have announced figures. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., topped the list with record-breaking donations totaling $26 million. She also transferred $10 million from her Senate campaign coffers, bringing her total to $36 million for the quarter.

Former Sen. John Edwards', D-N.C., campaign said they were very pleased with their more than $14 million take, which they said exceeded their $10 million goal.

And Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., guessed his total would be around $3 million. Dwarfed by the front-runner tallies, Biden said he thinks this election will be about more than the dollar signs.

He told Fox News' Chris Wallace, "If people think we're going to pick a nominee based on how much money they have rather than based on their ideas, I think they vastly underestimate the Democratic electorate in these primaries."

The Republican campaigns are expected to announce within the coming days.

April 1, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Clinton Raises $26 Million in First Quarter of 2007

April 01, 2007 2:22 PM

ABC News' Kate Snow Reports: Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign announced today it has raised $26 million in the first quarter of 2007. $4.2 million of that was raised on the Internet.

The campaign will actually report $36 million in fundraising because of a transfer to her presidential account of the $10 million that was left in her Senate campaign account after her re-election last fall.  Because those dollars were raised under the federal campaign finance laws, the $10 million is completely transferable to her presidential campaign account.

"I am proud to say that we have dramatically exceeded our goals and expectations," said Campaign Manager Patti Solis Doyle.

On Clinton's campaign website today a bold-typed message signed "Hillary" reads: "Thank you for making our end-of-quarter fundraising drive a huge success!" over the candidate's smiling photo.

Clinton supporters trumped the other campaigns by calling a 2PM teleconference with reporters, making her the first major candidate to release a figure. 

Clinton shattered the record for presidential fundraising in a period of just three months.  Former Vice President Al Gore had previously held that record by raising $9 million in one quarter in 1999.

April 1, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

Senators Anticipate Gonzales' Hill Appearance

April 01, 2007 2:18 PM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton Reports: Seven members of the Senate Judiciary Committee populated the Sunday talk shows to discuss the latest on embattled Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who has called for Gonzales to resign, questioned his ability to run the department, accusing him of "cronyism and incompetence."

The ranking Republican on the committee, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Penn., told CBS's Bob Schieffer, "It's very important for the country that we clear the air and get the Justice Department back functioning."

On Saturday, President Bush expressed his confidence in Gonzales, and today White House Counsel Dan Bartlett re-affirmed that message. Bartlett said that Bush has asked Gonzales to go to Capitol Hill to explain his decision-making.  The attorney general is scheduled to appear before the Judiciary Committee on April 17, but Bartlett says that's not soon enough.

"Let's move it up and let's get to the facts," Bartlett told ABC's George Stephanopoulos.

April 1, 2007 in Politics | Permalink | User Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Tommy Thompson Makes it Official

April 01, 2007 10:57 AM

ABC News' Lindsay Hamilton Reports: Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, R, told ABC's George Stephanopoulos that he is taking his '08 presidential campaign from exploratory to official. Despite barely registering in most polls, Thompson was optimisti