‘Scare tactic’ — Obama slams Muslim portrayal  —  The Obama campaign is condemning as “tasteless and offensive” a New Yorker magazine cover that depicts Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in a turban, fist-bumping his gun-slinging wife.  —  An American flag burns in their fireplace.  —  The New Yorker says it's satire.

Mark Sanford Draws A Blank On McCain/Bush Economics  —  The most painful clip from the Sunday morning shows: top McCain VP prospect Mark Sanford “drawing a blank” (in his own words) on live TV when asked to name a major economic policy that President Bush and John McCain disagree on.  —  The transcript:

Paulson Statement on Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae: Full Text  —  July 13 (Bloomberg) — Following is the text of a statement issued today by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson:  —  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac play a central role in our housing finance system and must continue to do so in their current form as shareholder-owned companies.

Nine US soldiers killed in Afghanistan as Taliban attacks base  —  Taliban insurgents killed nine US troops when they attempted to overrun an American base as bloody fighting broke out in several parts of Afghanistan today.  —  Nato reported that the small American Combat Outpost in Dara …

CNN exclusive: Obama on foreign policy  —  Editor's note: Fareed Zakaria is a pre-eminent foreign affairs analyst and hosts “Fareed Zakaria: GPS” on CNN at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.  —  (CNN) — Sen. Barack Obama discussed his vision for the world in a wide-ranging foreign policy discussion with CNN's Fareed Zakaria.

Gallup Daily: Presidential Preferences Remain in “the Zone”  —  Presidential race has been highly stable for the last two weeks  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama wins the support of 46% of national registered voters interviewed in Gallup Poll Daily tracking from July 10-12, while John McCain is not far behind with 43%.

The Shame of Postville, Iowa  —  Anyone who has doubts that this country is abusing and terrorizing undocumented immigrant workers should read an essay by Erik Camayd-Freixas, a professor and Spanish-language court interpreter who witnessed the aftermath of a huge immigration workplace raid at a meatpacking plant in Iowa.