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Romney says his effective tax rate is 15% — Florence, South Carolina (CNN) - Mitt Romney said Tuesday he pays roughly a 15% effective tax rate on his income - an acknowledgment that the multi-millionaire pays a smaller percentage of taxes on his income than many middle-income Americans.
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South Carolina Diarist — Sumter, S.C. — When I started covering presidential primaries, the best part was getting to know the candidates. We journalists would ride around in vans and buses with them and get an intimate look at what it's like to endure this soul-destroying process.
Discussion:
The State, No More Mister Nice Blog, Booman Tribune, Poynter and CNN


Will frontrunner Romney keep debating? — MYRTLE BEACH, SC — After a debate in which Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney faced attacks from all sides, the Romney campaign says it has not yet accepted invitations to participate in two high-profile debates leading up to the January 31 Florida primary …
Discussion:
The Politico, GOP 12, Hot Air and The Daily Caller

Mitt Romney Routing the GOP Pack in Florida, Sunshine State News Poll Shows
Discussion:
GOP 12

Gingrich pushes Romney to release tax returns before SC primary
Discussion:
The Politico and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

TRANSCRIPT: Fox News Channel & Wall Street Journal Debate in South Carolina — Here's a full transcript from tonight's GOP debate in South Carolina: — BAIER: Thanks, Bill, and welcome to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center and the Republican presidential debate.
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Turkey responds angrily to Perry remarks — Istanbul (CNN) - Most of Turkey was fast asleep when Republic presidential candidates engaged in a spirited debate in South Carolina Monday night. — Turkish newspapers had already gone to print by the time Texas Gov. Rick Perry declared …
Discussion:
USA Today, Mediaite and Jihad Watch

Rick Perry Camp Explains Suggestion That Turkey Is Led By ‘Islamic Terrorists’ — MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - In response to a question about whether or not Turkey should still be a part of NATO, Rick Perry suggested some consider the country to be ruled by “Islamic terrorists.”
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, The Hill, Reuters, Associated Press, CNN, The Caucus, News Desk and Outside the Beltway

Obama warns left: You won't like budget — Top White House officials are warning liberal and labor leaders to brace themselves for President Obama's budget proposal. — Gene Sperling, director of the National Economic Council, sought in meetings last week to lift the left's gloom …
Discussion:
The Politico, Firedoglake, Liberal Values, Pirate's Cove, Prairie Weather and Shakesville


Romney Admits His Tax Rate Is About 15 Percent, Lower Than Many Middle Class Families — Citizens for Tax Justice a few months ago estimated that Mitt Romney, due to most of his income coming from investments, pays a tax rate of around 14 percent, a far cry from the 35 percent top income tax rate.
Discussion:
ourfuture.org/blogs_chrono/* and Hot Air
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Romney Says His Effective Tax Rate Is About 15 Percent
Discussion:
Washington Post, Washington Monthly, The Atlantic Online, Political Mojo, The Raw Story, Paul Krugman, Gothamist and Daily Kos

The Real Scandal in Private Equity? It's the Taxes
Discussion:
Wonkette

Romney, Dewhurst lead in Texas — Rick Perry's Presidential campaign is doing about as bad in Texas now as it is everywhere else in the country. When PPP last polled the state in September he was at 49%, leading Mitt Romney by 39 points. Now Perry's support has declined by 31 points, leaving him in 3rd place at 18%.
Discussion:
Hit & Run, Trail Blazers Blog, Ballot Box and Campaign 2012
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GOP debate audience boos Romney's Mexican heritage — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney may be in the lead in the Palmetto state, but that doesn't mean South Carolinians necessarily like him. — During a Fox News debate at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Monday …
Discussion:
pandagon.net and Booman Tribune

Nancy Pelosi: GOP knows Mitt Romney can't win — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday launched political grenades at Mitt Romney, arguing that Republicans haven't coalesced behind the GOP frontrunner because they don't believe he can beat President Barack Obama in November.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers
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Santorum Staffer Says Women Shouldn't Be President Because It's Against God's Will — In an article about the reasons Rep. Michele Bachmann's campaign fizzled, the Des Moines Register points to “sexism among conservatives,” singling out an offensive email written by a staffer to Rick Santorum:
Discussion:
The Hinterland Gazette and Wonkette


Obama to speak at Bank of America stadium — On the final night of this fall's Democratic National Convention, President Barack Obama will deliver his acceptance speech at Bank of America stadium, party sources told the Observer on Monday night. — Convention officials are expected …
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh, New York Magazine, The Daily Caller, The Hinterland Gazette and Taegan Goddard's …


New Polls Show Signs Of Serious Vulnerability For President Obama — There are plenty of Democrats and even some Republicans who view the Republican primary as a gift to President Obama. Sixteen debates, web videos and “you can't even make this up” candidate behavior …
Discussion:
Big Journalism and Gallup
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Riding Electability & Expectations, Romney Rolls to 35 Percent Support
Discussion:
Investor's Business Daily, Pundit & Pundette and The Page

Obama adviser Jarrett defends church pulpit criticism of GOP — Senior White House adviser Valerie Jarrett is defending critical comments she made of the GOP made from a church pulpit. — Jarrett ripped congressional Republcians for blocking President Obama's jobs bill …
Discussion:
The Politico, White House Dossier, The Hinterland Gazette and Weasel Zippers

Netanyahu: Current US sanctions won't stop Iran's nuclear program — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israel's parliament Monday that the current sanctions against Iran are not going to stop its nuclear program. — Speaking to the Israeli Knesset's Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, Pat Dollard, New York Times, democracyarsenal.org and Big Peace