Biden: Sotomayor "Is The Real Deal"
5065717Vice President Joe Biden today hosted an event with law enforcement groups in honor of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. In conjunction with the event, the White House announced that eight law enforcement organizations are formally endorsing the nominee.
The support of the groups "is going to go a long way to putting to rest some of the ridiculous statements made about the judge," Biden said, though he did not elaborate on the ridiculous statements.
The event was marked by unambiguous praise for Sotomayor, for whom the White House is trying to shore up support in advance of her July 13 confirmation hearings.
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The support of the groups "is going to go a long way to putting to rest some of the ridiculous statements made about the judge," Biden said, though he did not elaborate on the ridiculous statements.
The event was marked by unambiguous praise for Sotomayor, for whom the White House is trying to shore up support in advance of her July 13 confirmation hearings.
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GOP Looks For Fountain Of Youth
(CBS)
Hundreds of students from around the country gathered in Washington this past weekend for the College Republicans National Convention. From Colorado to New Hampshire, these students showed strong support for a party that many say has lost its edge when it comes to reaching out to young voters.
The three-day event featured speeches from Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-Minn.), Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and RNC Chairman Michael Steele, among others, in a quest to secure the party's future with young voters.
But how do these college students feel about the direction their party has taken in recent years? Jim Kearney who attends Colorado College says, "I think there's this sort of stereotype that's percolating that, "What does a Republican look like? Someone kind of like me; white, male. There isn't really diversity in the party and that the Democrats are the party of diversity,"
"I think that it is definitely important for us to make it known that we are here and we are going to be the future of the party and it is really important for them to start reaching out to us," adds Providence College student Nora Fazioli.
These students are aware that it will take time, energy, and utilizing social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to reach young voters, but they are positive. Belmont University student Rachel Baily says, "I'm very optimistic about our future, we've employed a lot of new tactics to reach out to voters, and just widen our support base. We've been known as the party of the older generation, so I think that's changing now."
Watch interviews with College Republicans on how they feel about the future of the Republican Party, what issues are important to them, and how the GOP can get back into the White House in 2012.
Politics Today: Obama To Talk "Paygo"
Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in Politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
**President Obama to talk "paygo" today...
**First Gitmo detainee to U.S...
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**President Obama to talk "paygo" today...
**First Gitmo detainee to U.S...
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Democrats Look To Expand Disability Services
(AP)
"The way I see it, [this] is a civil rights issue," said Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. "As far as I'm concerned, there is no health reform without the Community Choice Act."
Harkin is the sponsor of the Community Choice Act, one of two proposals introduced this year that that would significantly expand federal assistance for people in need of long-term care. Harkin and other advocates of the measures say they must pass this year – tying them to overall health care reform that the president and others have said will be accomplished now or never.
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President Obama's Schedule Today
President Obama will make remarks on his tax plan this afternoon to members of Congress in the East Room.
Earlier in the day, the president will receive his presidential daily and economic briefings and meet with senior advisers in the Oval Office
Later, he will meet with Democratic members of the House Ways and Means Committee in the State Dining Room.
Finally, President Obama and Vice President Biden will meet with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Here is more from the White House press conference (all times Eastern):
9:30AM: President Obama and Vice President Biden receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
9:50AM: President Obama receives the Economic Daily Briefing
10:30AM: President Obama meets with senior advisers
1:00PM: President Obama delivers remarks on the principle that new tax or entitlement policies
2:30PM: President Obama meets with Democratic members of the House Ways and Means Committee
4:30PM: President Obama and Vice President meet with Secretary of Defense Gates
Earlier in the day, the president will receive his presidential daily and economic briefings and meet with senior advisers in the Oval Office
Later, he will meet with Democratic members of the House Ways and Means Committee in the State Dining Room.
Finally, President Obama and Vice President Biden will meet with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Here is more from the White House press conference (all times Eastern):
9:30AM: President Obama and Vice President Biden receive the Presidential Daily Briefing
9:50AM: President Obama receives the Economic Daily Briefing
10:30AM: President Obama meets with senior advisers
1:00PM: President Obama delivers remarks on the principle that new tax or entitlement policies
2:30PM: President Obama meets with Democratic members of the House Ways and Means Committee
4:30PM: President Obama and Vice President meet with Secretary of Defense Gates
Palin Will Attend GOP Dinner Tonight
(CBS)
CBS News has learned that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, will attend tonight's fundraiser on behalf of the National Republican Congressional Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Palin will not have a speaking role, but she will be sitting at the table of NRSC Chairman Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and she is expected to be recognized, reports CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris.
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First Lady Makes Surprise Stopover In London
(AP Photo)
According to the BBC, the Obamas are believed to have visited Big Ben and Parliament after flying in early Monday morning.
The Obamas also met with Sarah Brown, wife to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, at 10 Downing Street. Downing Street spokesmen say that the first lady did not meet with Prime Minister Brown himself, the Associated Press reports.
Michelle, Malia, and Sasha joined President Obama in Paris Friday following the president's visit to Saudi Arabia and Egypt earlier in the week.
Mr. and Mrs. Obama attended D-Day commemorations in Normandy Saturday and had dinner together at a Paris bistro. The first lady and her daughters went shopping in Paris Sunday while Mr. Obama returned to the United States.
GOP Senators Send Letter Opposing Public Plan
5013485A letter sent to President Obama on Monday from a key group of Republican senators highlights the seemingly intractable differences Republicans and Democrats will have to overcome to achieve bipartisan health care reform.
Nine of the ten Republicans from the Senate Finance Committee, one of the two panels responsible for health care legislation, wrote to Mr. Obama to express their opposition to a government-sponsored health insurance plan -- or a "public option." The only Republican senator from the committee who refrained from signing the letter is moderate Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).
"At a time when major government programs like Medicare and Medicaid are already on a path to fiscal insolvency, creating a brand new government program will not only worsen our long term financial outlook but also negatively impact American families who enjoy the private coverage of their choice," the letter says. "Forcing free market plans to compete with these government-run programs would create an unlevel playing field and inevitably doom true competition."
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Nine of the ten Republicans from the Senate Finance Committee, one of the two panels responsible for health care legislation, wrote to Mr. Obama to express their opposition to a government-sponsored health insurance plan -- or a "public option." The only Republican senator from the committee who refrained from signing the letter is moderate Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine).
"At a time when major government programs like Medicare and Medicaid are already on a path to fiscal insolvency, creating a brand new government program will not only worsen our long term financial outlook but also negatively impact American families who enjoy the private coverage of their choice," the letter says. "Forcing free market plans to compete with these government-run programs would create an unlevel playing field and inevitably doom true competition."
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Congresswomen Spar Over NBA Finals On YouTube
Representative Corrine Brown of Florida and Rep. Maxine Waters of California took to YouTube over the weekend for a little trash talk concerning the NBA Finals.
The championship series pits Brown's Orlando Magic against Waters' Los Angeles Lakers, whose victory last night gave them a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series.
"The only reason I'm here with you this evening, Corrine, is to bring my condolences," Waters said in the awkward-but-endearing video, prompting a laugh from Brown.
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The championship series pits Brown's Orlando Magic against Waters' Los Angeles Lakers, whose victory last night gave them a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series.
"The only reason I'm here with you this evening, Corrine, is to bring my condolences," Waters said in the awkward-but-endearing video, prompting a laugh from Brown.
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Senator Offers Angry Tweet For Obama
(CBS)
"Pres Obama you got nerve while u sightseeing in Paris to tell us 'time to deliver' on health care. We still on skedul/even workinWKEND," Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, declared on his Twitter account on Sunday morning.
Minutes later, he tweeted, "Pres Obama while u sightseeing in Paris u said 'time to delivr on healthcare' When you are a 'hammer' u think evrything is NAIL I'm no NAIL."
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Sotomayor Has Slight Ankle Fracture
5065717
The White House this morning announced that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor fractured her ankle after tripping at New York's LaGuardia Airport on her way to Washington this morning.
However, the injury does not appear to be serious, as she has already been released from a hospital in Washington and the the White House was clear to point out she is keeping her full schedule of meetings with senators today.
Here is the full statement from Ben LaBolt, a White House spokesman:
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The White House this morning announced that Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor fractured her ankle after tripping at New York's LaGuardia Airport on her way to Washington this morning.
However, the injury does not appear to be serious, as she has already been released from a hospital in Washington and the the White House was clear to point out she is keeping her full schedule of meetings with senators today.
Here is the full statement from Ben LaBolt, a White House spokesman:
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Obama: Stimulus Spending To Be Sped Up
(CBS)
The bill will mean "keeping teachers in the classroom, cops on the streets, providing summer jobs for youth that are particularly hard-hit in this job market, breaking ground on hundreds of new projects, all across the country, in clean energy and transportation and so on," he said.
The president said last month that the bill had saved or created 150,000 jobs in its first 100 days, a claim met with criticism from Republicans. Citing a May New York Times report that less than 6 percent of the money had been paid out – most of it in the form of social service payments to states – the Republican National Committee argued that the Recovery Act had thus far "produced waste and fraud, but no jobs."
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Laura Bush Discusses Husband's Low Profile
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Echoing an earlier comment from George W. Bush, Laura Bush said her husband feels he "owes President Obama his silence" on issues.
"There's no reason to second-guess any decision [Obama] makes," said Laura Bush.
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Politics Today: Obama Refocuses On The Economy
Editor's Note: Our "Morning Bulletin" daily roundup now has a new name – "Politics Today." It remains CBSNews.com's essential inside look at the key stories driving the political scene on a daily basis, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
**President Obama refocuses on domestic issues: stimulus, health care...
**Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidates campaign on eve of primary...
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**President Obama refocuses on domestic issues: stimulus, health care...
**Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidates campaign on eve of primary...
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Obama Seeks Planetary Leadership
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
"Well, we were the good guys in 1984, it felt that way. It hasn't felt that way in recent years. So Obama's had, really, a different task. We're seen too often as the bad guys. And he – he has a very different job from – Reagan was all about America, and you talked about it. Obama is 'we are above that now.' We're not just parochial, we're not just chauvinistic, we're not just provincial. We stand for something – I mean in a way Obama's standing above the country, above – above the world, he's sort of God. He's going to bring all different sides together."
Alas, Barack Hussein Obama is a mere mortal. But as Thomas notes, he has global ambitions. He is not content with just salvaging the U.S. economy, exiting Iraq, closing Gitmo, revolutionizing health care, running auto companies or keeping the nation's physical and digital borders safe from terrorists. He wants to elevate the dialog and break down the profound differences, cultural impasses and centuries-old grudges on a global scale. As part of that quest to form a new global alliance for peace, Mr. Obama has been intent on disavowing Bush administration policies, such as the use of waterboarding and the Iraq war, in hope of restoring a more positive view of America around the world.
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