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Saturday, February 09, 2013

It's All Politics

Public Pressure, Background Checks Central To Obama Gun Control Strategy

President Obama speaks about his gun control agenda before law enforcement officials in Minneapolis on Monday. The president was doing what his aides say he didn't do often enough in his first term: getting outside of Washington to build public support for legislation.

February 9, 2013 Gun control historically has been one of the most divisive issues in Congress, between the parties and even inside the Democratic coalition. Yet some in President Obama's own party say he has put together a gun agenda that is sweeping without being too painful for most Democrats to support.

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

It's All Politics

Immigration Opponents Remain Adamant, Despite Political Risk

A woman takes the oath of allegiance during a naturalization ceremony at the district office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in Newark, N.J.

January 29, 2013 President Obama will address the immigration issue in a speech Tuesday, following hard on the heels of a new overhaul proposal out of the Senate. Despite new momentum on the issue, those who favor a harder line against illegal immigrants are not convinced they need to change tack.

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Tuesday, January 22, 2013

It's All Politics

Divine Rhetoric: God In The Inaugural Address

George Washington referred to "that Almighty Being" during his inaugural address in 1789. "God" didn't show up in an inaugural speech until more than three decades later.

January 22, 2013 George Washington invoked the Almighty, but the word "God" wasn't used in an inaugural address until James Monroe. Since then, few presidents have missed the opportunity to put God in their inaugural speeches.

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Political Junkie

Monday Was All About Obama. Now All He Needs Is A Cabinet.

President Barack Obama, center, makes a statement to the media before the start of a meeting with his Cabinet on Nov. 28, 2012.

January 22, 2013 The President has been inaugurated. Now comes the hard part — getting his agenda through Congress. He also needs to fill the upcoming vacancies in his Cabinet.

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Monday, January 21, 2013

The Two-Way

When It Comes To Inaugural Fashion, First Family Stays The Course

First lady Michelle Obama arrives at the Senate carriage entrance for the presidential inauguration ceremonies at the U.S Capitol.

January 21, 2013 The first lady is well known for her wardrobe choices, and for the inauguration, Michelle Obama showed off her ability to make multiple style statements during a single day.

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Sunday, December 16, 2012

The Two-Way

Boehner Floats Tax Rate Hike For Highest Earners

House Speaker John Boehner at the Capitol on Thursday. In a call the following day with President Obama, he proposed an income tax rate increase on people making more than $1 million a year as long as the president agreed to substantial spending cuts.

December 16, 2012 The House speaker is showing new flexibility on tax rates in talks with President Obama on the "fiscal cliff." Boehner has proposed allowing income tax rates to increase on people making more than $1 million a year as long as the president agreed to substantial spending cuts.

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Wednesday, December 05, 2012

It's All Politics

Obama And House GOP Engage In Fiscal Cliff Talks, Only Briefly With Each Other

President Obama is introduced to the Business Roundtable by Boeing CEO Jim McNerney in Washington on Wednesday.

December 5, 2012 The president and House Republicans continued to snipe at each other Wednesday over the impending set of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts known as the fiscal cliff. President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner later spoke briefly by phone for the first time in a week, according to reports.

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Tuesday, November 06, 2012

NPR Ombudsman

To Be American In Referring To The President

The Oval Office.

November 6, 2012 Only the president of the United States is given the respect on air of being called "Mister" or by his office title in second references. I hereby announce on this election day that whoever wins, the honorific be dumped come the January inauguration. It's not just a matter of journalistic fairness. It's a matter of being American.

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Saturday, November 03, 2012

The Two-Way

Obama And Romney Go On A Whirlwind Tour In Election's Final Weekend

President Obama greets audience members Saturday after speaking at a campaign event at Mentor High School in Mentor, Ohio, before traveling to Milwaukee for another campaign event.

November 3, 2012 It's a nonstop sprint to the finish as President Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney speed through campaign stops in at least seven states Saturday, looking for support where each needs it most.

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The Two-Way

Obama's Weekly Address Receives Belated Romney Response

November 3, 2012 Mitt Romney delivered the official GOP response to President Obama's weekly address on Saturday. Media observers were surprised, however, that the challenger's address was released hours after the president's message.

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Friday, October 26, 2012

It's All Politics

Why The Economy Won't Help Obama — Or Romney

October 26, 2012 The economy is growing and consumer confidence is rising. But the data are too mixed to point to a robust economy. And it may be too late anyway to change voters' impressions.

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It's All Politics

In Search Of Obama's Second-Term Agenda

President Obama holds a copy of "The New Economic Patriotism: A Plan for Jobs & Middle-Class Security," which outlines some of his agenda for a second term, during a rally in Richmond, Va., on Thursday.

October 26, 2012 The president has been relatively mum during the campaign about what he would do if given a second term. He outlined more specific ideas this week — but he hasn't explained how he would get those ideas through Congress.

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Wednesday, October 24, 2012

It's All Politics

Obama Campaign Invokes '537' To Get Out The Vote

Broward County canvassing board member Judge Robert Rosenberg examines a disputed ballot Nov. 24, 2000, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

October 24, 2012 An Obama campaign ad airing in swing states referencing the 2000 Florida recount uses memorable images of the days following the election to encourage supporters to vote. It calls 537 "the number of votes that changed the course of American history."

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Monday, October 15, 2012

NPR Ombudsman

Hearing Is Believing: A Comparison of Romney and Obama Sound Bites

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama after the Presidential Debate on Oct. 3, 2012 in Denver, Colo.

October 15, 2012 On the eve of the second presidential debate, we revisit the first one and the vice presidential debate. Some listeners thought they heard more clips of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan than of President Obama and Joe Biden. We found a virtual dead heat. In politics, our bile affects what we hear.

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It's All Politics

The Not-So-Great Communicator: Is Obama Overrated As A Speaker?

President Obama speaks to supporters last month during a campaign stop in Las Vegas.

October 15, 2012 Since becoming president, Obama's rhetorical triumphs have been just that: moving speeches delivered on ceremonial occasions. When it comes to policy and attempts to move public opinion, the silver-tongued Obama has largely been absent.

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