The Obama administration, somewhat shockingly, weighed in on the controversy surrounding longtime White House scribe Helen Thomas, calling her remarks about the need for Jews to "get the hell out of Palestine" "offensive and reprehensible." ... "I have not spoken with [the president] directly on that," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said on Monday. "I think those remarks were offensive and reprehensible. She should and has apologized because obviously those remarks do not reflect
I'm loving this piece from Chris Beam in Slate entitled "The Only Politics Article You'll Ever Have To Read." It's a rather brilliant and hilarious plumbing of the puddle-deep political tropes that the political media and political academics reflexively dials up, as if they were half-dissected frogs who occasionally get the twitchy benefit of an electric current ... A taste, to whet your appetite: ... Still, Democrats hope that passing health care and financial regulatory reform will give
If you've spent any time at all watching the heroes of cable news grapple with the ongoing oil spill crisis, it should be pretty clear that what they need to get them through the day is for President Obama to stand in front of their cameras and wage a frenzied campaign of emotional warfare against BP, oily water, tar balls, fancy pants, time, circumstance, modern life, the perils of consequence and the fickle finger of cruel fate ... Nothing less will do! Everyone remembers that iconic moment
The abrupt retirement of Helen Thomas from her perch as the ranking member of the White House press corps was essentially accepted as a fait accompli by supporters and detractors alike after her controversial remarks urging Jews to leave Israel surfaced ... Indeed, if there was any defense made of Thomas's comments, it wasn't done persuasively or at an influential level. But that didn't stop the progressive community -- many hearing about her retirement while at the Campaign for America's Future
The White House is still formally supporting Sen. Blanche Lincoln's re-election bid as the Arkansas Democratic primary approaches its runoff vote on Tuesday. But over the past few weeks, as the incumbent senator's prospects for holding onto the seat have became more unsettled, the president and his team have been noticeably silent about the race ... The president's political shop can read both polls and tea leaves. And while the official policy is to back incumbents, there is clear
Yesterday, seniors across the country participated in President Obama’s tele-town hall meeting on the Affordable Care Act. Tens of thousands of seniors listened or watched the event while others gathered at more than 100 watch parties, some of which were attended by senior Obama Administration officials ... Watch the full event, with direct links to each question ... At the event, President Obama knocked down the misinformation campaign opponents of reform have been waging for a year.
The Affordable Care Act passed by Congress and signed by President Obama this year will provide seniors and their families with greater savings and increased quality health care. It will also ensure accountability throughout the health care system so patients and their doctor—not insurance companies—have greater control over their own care ... On Tuesday, June 8, President Barack Obama – in a national tele-town hall meeting answering questions directly from seniors across the country –
Ed. Note: The live chat with Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner origninally scheduled for June 7 has been postponed due to scheduling conflicts. We'll update this post with a new date and time as soon as it is confirmed. ... Click here to see the video ... Today, President Obama travelled to Louisiana to meet with National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen, Governors of Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida, members of Congress and local officials to
First Lady Michelle Obama addresses hundreds of chefs from around the country during a “Let’s Move!” event on the South Lawn of the White House, June 4, 2010 ... The First Lady called on chefs to get involved by adopting a school and working with teachers, parents, school nutritionists and administrators to help educate kids about food and nutrition ... What an amazing day! Today, hundreds of chefs from over 37 states gathered on the South Lawn of the White House in support of the "Chefs
A group of 27 major donors is vowing to withhold campaign cash from lawmakers who stand in the way of legislation that would allow for public funding of congressional campaigns. Over their careers, the donors have contributed millions to Democratic candidates -- and, on limited occasions, Republicans or independents -- but they say they've had it. And they don't mind if it means a lack of access ... Steve Kirsch kicked in roughly $10 million to try to elect Al Gore in 2000. "It is a trade off,