Obama's Money Class  —  Barack Obama sells the Democratic Party short.  He talks about his fund-raising success as if his donors were part of a spontaneous movement of small-money enthusiasts who cohered around himself.  In fact, Democrats have spent years building their donor network.

Obama and “False Rumors”  —  In a story reporting that Obama “fiercely” defended his patriotism in his Independence, Missouri speech yesterday, Washington Post reporters Jonathan Weisman and Michael Shear write: … I keep seeing the flag-pin issue included among the alleged falsehoods about Obama.

Pentagon Official Warns of Israeli Attack on Iran  —  U.S. Offical Sees Two ‘Red Lines’ That Could Prompt Strike  —  Senior Pentagon officials are concerned that Israel could carry out an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities before the end of the year, an action that would have enormous security …

Evidence Faulted in Detainee Case  —  In the first case to review the government's secret evidence for holding a detainee at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, a federal appeals court found that accusations against a Muslim from western China held for more than six years were based on bare and unverifiable claims.

What Bush hath wrought  —  FEW AMERICANS, whatever their political persuasion, will mourn George W. Bush's departure from office.  Democrats and Republicans alike are counting the days until the inauguration of a new president will wipe the slate clean.  —  Yet in crucial respects, the Bush era will not end Jan. 20, 2009.

Obama's sister helps reach out to Asian-Americans  —  SAN FRANCISCO - The throng of Asian-American donors drew closer, drinks in hand, to hear Barack Obama's sister describe the wide arc of his life: beyond politics and Chicago, into his childhood in Indonesia and Hawaii.

The South Will Fall Again  —  THE interim between the primaries and the parties' nominating conventions is, according to ancient writ, a fertile period for presidential campaigns to talk about how they plan to expand the political map in the fall.  This year is no different.

Bush base yet to rush to donate to McCain  —  Funding woes tied to candidate's stances, GOP standing in polls  —  President Bush has headlined a fund-raising event to help John McCain finance his campaign to succeed him, but most of the big-money backers who helped reelect Bush in 2004 …

We Can Lower Oil Prices Now  —  Although most experts agree that financial speculation was not responsible for the surge in the global prices of food and energy, many people remain puzzled about the source of these remarkable price rises.  Economics offers a simple supply-and-demand explanation …

Ex-Agent Says CIA Ignored Iran Facts  —  A former CIA operative who says he tried to warn the agency about faulty intelligence on Iraqi weapons programs now contends that CIA officials also ignored evidence that Iran had suspended work on a nuclear bomb.  —  The onetime undercover agent …

Clark won't back down  —  In a statement to reporters, retired General Wes Clark repeats that McCain is a “hero” but also reiterates his point that McCain's service didn't give him “executive experience”:

The Court vs. Voters  —  If the long conservative era that began with Ronald Reagan's election is over, will the judges appointed during the right's ascendancy be able to block, frustrate and undermine the efforts of a new progressive majority?  —  Consider this analysis …

Obama rejects proposed California gay marriage ban  —  Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A3  —  Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who previously said the issue of gay marriage should be left up to each state, has announced his opposition to a California ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriages.

Obama Courting Evangelicals Once Loyal to Bush  —  WASHINGTON — Politically speaking, Susan Speakman is a different kind of evangelical.  —  Mrs. Speakman, 59, a pastor and educator at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Bridgeville, Pa., an activist evangelical church southwest of Pittsburgh …

Obama to expand Bush's faith based programs  —  CHICAGO - Reaching out to evangelical voters, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is announcing plans to expand President Bush's program steering federal social service dollars to religious groups and — in a move sure to cause controversy …

Timing the Unveiling of Running Mates Will Be Tricky  —  WASHINGTON — It is a given these days that the toughest decisions Senators John McCain and Barack Obama will make this summer will be choosing running mates.  But there is another choice that might prove important as well: when to make the announcement.

Obama Shifts on Welfare Reform  —  ABC News' Teddy Davis and Gregory Wallace Report: Barack Obama aligned himself with welfare reform on Monday, launching a television ad which touts the way the overhaul “slashed the rolls by 80 percent.”  Obama leaves out, however, that he was against the …