President Obama's Speech Gets A Thumbs Down From Political Press Corps  —  President Obama on stage in Ohio.  (Photo: Getty)  —  Prior to President Barack Obama's marathon 54 minute speech in Ohio today, the Obama campaign sent our several statements promising the speech would be a major address framing the campaign going forward.

Obama Campaign Checks IDs At The Door  —  Not at the polls.  —  (Getty Images / JEWEL SAMAD)  —  CLEVELAND — President Barack Obama's presidential campaign checked the identification of the supporters attending Obama's “framing” event at Cuyahoga Community College today.

Obama bemoans ‘people hurting out there’ at Sarah Jessica Parker's $40,000-per-person fundraiser … CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reported from the glitzy $40,000 a person Obama fundraiser at the home of Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.  Yes, you read that right, $40,000 each.

Lawmaker barred from speaking over ‘vagina’ comment  —  Lansing - House Republicans prohibited state Rep. Lisa Brown from speaking on the floor Thursday after she ended a speech Wednesday against a bill restricting abortions by referencing her female anatomy.

Eric Holder offers Darrell Issa ‘extraordinary’ deal  —  Attorney General Eric Holder made a new offer to House Republicans on Thursday to defuse the growing controversy over the “Fast and Furious” program, the latest bid to derail a contempt vote against Holder set for next week.

Gay judge appointed in Virginia  —  An openly gay prosecutor has been appointed in Virginia to take the bench as a district judge, despite the state General Assembly's rejection of his nomination last month.  —  Tracy Thorne-Begland, whose appointment by Richmond Circuit Court judges will begin July 1 …

White House Forgets to Pay Father's Day Lunch Tab  —  Amid the bustle of President Obama's surprise stop for barbecue Wednesday the White House apparently overlooked one key detail: the bill.  —  Celebrating Father's Day early, the president had lunch with two service members and two local barbers at Kenny's BBQ on Capitol Hill.

Mike Krieger Says To Remember The Words Of Joseph Stalin  —  Submitted by Mike Krieger of Libertyblitzkrieg  —  Remember The Words Of Joseph Stalin … - All Quotes by Joseph Stalin  —  Know Your Enemy  —  I recall wanting to read Mein Kampf as a young kid, although to this day I have only read excerpts.

Union of Concerned Scientists Admits It Was Wrong  —  Last week, my column, Union of Concerned Scientists Cooks the Books, Media Swallow It, dissected the artful way in which UCS analysts had used corporate giving data to imply that General Electric executives were climate change hypocrites …

KEYSTONE FALLOUT: AS PROMISED, CANADA BUILDING PIPELINES TO SELL OIL TO CHINA  —  In April, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper revealed disheartening consequences for America's energy policy at a think-tank event in Washington.  Asked about President Obama's decision to put off a decision …

RNC Latino Site Features Stock Photo of Asian Children  —  Mitt Romney has been increasingly keen to court the Latino vote, which is believed to heavily favor President Obama over the former Massachusetts governor for president.  In the latest Latino Decisions poll, Obama held a 43-point lead over Romney.

‘Olmert bombed Syria despite US diplomacy’  —  In exclusive with ‘Post’, former US foreign policy advisor Elliott Abrams defends Netanyahu over critical State Comptroller report.  —  Former prime minister Ehud Olmert decided in September 2007 to bomb the al-Kabir nuclear facility in Syria …

Portman, Ayotte and Ryan will join Romney on upcoming bus tour  —  (CBS News) Three potential running mates for presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney will be putting their surrogate skills on display as they campaign with him during a bus tour of several swing states taking place over the next several days.

General Mills Declares War on Marriage with Its Own Customers  —  Contact: Anath Hartmann or Elizabeth Ray (703-683-5004)  —  “This will go down as one of the dumbest corporate PR stunts of all time.”  —Brian Brown, NOM president—  Washington, D.C.—The National Organization …