Top Items:
Jake Tapper / ABCNEWS:
Obama to Offer ‘Accomodation’ on Contraception Rule — With the White House under fire for its new rule requiring employers including religious organizations to offer health insurance that fully covers birth control coverage, ABC News has learned that later today the White House …
Discussion:
JustOneMinute, Michelle Malkin, ThinkProgress, National Review, US Politics, Don Surber, LifeNews.com, Political Mojo, News Desk, The Hinterland Gazette, Jezebel, Weasel Zippers, Rumproast, Shakesville, The Raw Story, The Page, Hot Air, Right Wing News, Campaign 2012, Outside the Beltway, Business Insider, The PJ Tatler, The Daily Caller, Daily Kos, Taylor Marsh and 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com, more at Mediagazer »
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Wall Street Journal:
Low Turnout and the Big Tune-Out — Voters aren't bothering with the GOP, but Obama has lost their attention too. — The Romney campaign is better at dismantling than mantling. They're better at taking opponents apart than building a compelling candidate of their own.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, GOP 12, Outside the Beltway, Business Insider and Hot Air
Politico:
President Obama boxed in on birth control — It was no secret inside the West Wing that Bill Daley, a Catholic with deep connections to the church hierarchy, vehemently opposed the administration's proposal to require church-run hospitals and universities to give their employees free contraception.
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh, Sky Dancing and Weasel Zippers
Ian Swanson / The Hill:
Obama retreats on birth control — The White House will announce a retreat from its controversial rule requiring religious organizations like charities and hospitals to include contraception in their healthcare plans. — President Obama has come under heavy criticism from the Catholic Church …
Discussion:
Washington Post and Taegan Goddard's …
Washington Post:
White House to announce adjustment to birth-control rule — Seeking to allay the concerns of Catholic leaders, the White House is planning to announce an adjustment to its health care rule requiring religious employers to provide women access to contraception, a senior administration official said.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Firedoglake, Rod Dreher, Big Government, ABCNEWS, The Lonely Conservative and The Atlantic Online
Carrie Budoff Brown / Politico:
Birth-control compromise to be announced by White House
Birth-control compromise to be announced by White House
Discussion:
Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog
Nick Baumann / Mother Jones:
Most of Obama's “Controversial” Birth Control Rule Was Law During Bush Years
Most of Obama's “Controversial” Birth Control Rule Was Law During Bush Years
Discussion:
Public Policy Polling, Political Mojo, Balloon Juice, THEROOT.COM, Daily Kos, The Last Tradition and Feministing
Laurie Goodstein / New York Times:
Bishops Were Prepared for Battle Over Birth Control Coverage
Bishops Were Prepared for Battle Over Birth Control Coverage
Discussion:
Firedoglake, ThinkProgress, The Huffington Post, The Confluence, No More Mister Nice Blog, Balloon Juice, Hullabaloo and Opinionator
Laurie Kellman / Associated Press:
They're back: Social issues overtake US politics
Lesley Clark / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
As Obama's political fortunes rise, fight over contraception mandate casts a cloud
As Obama's political fortunes rise, fight over contraception mandate casts a cloud
Discussion:
Washington Wire
Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
Santorum says ‘other types of emotions’ could preclude women in combat — For a candidate with virtually no staff and who tends to talk off the cuff, Rick Santorum has been nearly gaffe-free. However, this evening might have been his first, and it comes at a time when he is trying …
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, ThinkProgress, Althouse and msnbc.com
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Washington Post:
Rep. Spencer Bachus faces insider-trading investigation — The Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee over possible violations of insider-trading laws, according to individuals familiar with the case.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, CBS News, The Maddow Blog, Politico and Big Government
John Hinderaker / Power Line:
Is 2012 Slipping Away From the GOP? — For a long time, I was confident that Republican voters would oust Barack Obama in 2012, hold the House and, in all likelihood, take the Senate. Obama is a weak incumbent, who has been chronically unpopular since early in his term.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
Jon Ward / The Huffington Post:
Mitt Romney's Struggles Take Republican Angst To New Heights … Barack Obama , Mitt Romney , Republican Presidential Primary , Rick Santorum , Cpac , Elections 2012 , Newt Gingrich , Rick Perry , Video , Politics News — WASHINGTON — The angst within the Republican Party …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, NationalJournal.com, Chicago Tribune, New York Magazine, Politico and Wall Street Journal
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Jonathan Easley / The Hill:
Rep. King predicts critical day for GOP presidential candidates
Rep. King predicts critical day for GOP presidential candidates
Discussion:
CNN
David Brooks / New York Times:
The Crowd Pleaser — At first glance, President Obama and Mitt Romney share some similar traits. Both Harvard Law School grads are smart and analytical. Both are emotionally reserved rather than touchy-feely. Both are traditionalist in their family and personal lives.
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog
Noam Scheiber / The New Republic:
Obama's Worst Year — The inside story of his brush with political disaster. — Shortly after four o'clock on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 13, 2011, U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner walked down the hallway near his office toward a large conference room facing the building's interior.
Discussion:
Politico and Brad DeLong
Russell Berman / The Hill:
Pelosi might have skirted House ethics rules on campaign solicitations — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) might have briefly run afoul of congressional ethics rules at a Capitol press conference on Thursday when she made a statement that could be construed as a solicitation for campaign contributions.
Discussion:
Washington Free Beacon
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CNN:
Did Nancy Pelosi inadvertently cross a legal line?
Did Nancy Pelosi inadvertently cross a legal line?
Discussion:
Hot Air, nation.foxnews.com, The Hill and Politico
Annysa Johnson / JSOnline:
8,000 instances of abuse alleged in Archdiocese bankruptcy hearing — By Annysa Johnson of the Journal Sentinel — Sealed documents filed in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee bankruptcy identify at least 8,000 instances of child sexual abuse and 100 alleged offenders - 75 of them priests …
Discussion:
The Raw Story and Joe. My. God.
Sabrina Tavernise / New York Times:
Education Gap Grows Between Rich and Poor, Studies Say — WASHINGTON — Education was historically considered a great equalizer in American society, capable of lifting less advantaged children and improving their chances for success as adults. But a body of recently published scholarship suggests …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress and Rod Dreher
Bloomberg:
Foreclosure Deal to Spur U.S. Home Seizures — The $25 billion settlement with banks over foreclosure abuses may result in a wave of home seizures, inflicting short-term pain on delinquent U.S. borrowers while making a long-term housing recovery more likely.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal and Hot Air
Associated Press:
Romney ‘glitter bomber’ fired from internship — DENVER — The college student accused of “glitter bombing” Mitt Romney after the Colorado caucuses has been fired from his unpaid internship with state Senate Democrats. — Police say 20-year-old Peter Smith threw glitter at Romney …
Discussion:
Washington Free Beacon
Julie Bykowicz / Bloomberg:
Gingrich Seeks to Ease Fundraising Woes as Las Vegas Checks Slowing Down — Newt Gingrich was just days away from the Jan. 31 Florida Republican presidential primary when he told reporters that his campaign was down to its last $600,000. — Five losing contests later, Gingrich and Winning Our Future …
Nicole Neroulias / Reuters:
Washington state governor to sign gay marriage bill on Monday — (Reuters) - Governor Christine Gregoire plans to sign newly passed legislation on Monday to legalize gay marriage in Washington state, making it the seventh with a law on the books to recognize same-sex nuptials, her office said on Thursday.
Discussion:
Towleroad News #gay, Feministing and BuzzFeed
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