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Don Gonyea Don Gonyea is a NPR National Political Correspondent based in Washington, D.C., and travels throughout the United States covering elections and the country's political climate. His reports can be heard on all NPR programs and at NPR.org.
Don Gonyea 2010
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Don Gonyea

Politics

New AFL-CIO Chief Has Tough Road Ahead

The nation's largest labor organization, the AFL-CIO, gets a new president next month. Former United Mine Workers President Richard Trumka will replace John Sweeney. Trumka faces major challenges, including the long-term decline in union membership. But he also will have a friend in the White House in President Obama.

New AFL-CIO Chief Has Tough Road Ahead

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Health Care

Warner: Discussion Must Include End-Of-Life Care

Some of the hottest debate over health care this summer has been about end-of-life care. Critics warn of "Death Panels" that would decide who gets life saving treatment. President Obama and others counter that claim is baseless. In Virginia Thursday, Democratic Senator Mark Warner held a town hall meeting designed to specifically address end-of-life issues.

Warner: Discussion Must Include End-Of-Life Care

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Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, 1932-2009

Obama: Honored To Call Teddy A Friend

President Obama says Sen. Ted Kennedy touched the lives of many people. Even though the two didn't know each other for very long, Obama says he was honored to call him a friend. Kennedy's endorsement of Obama was very important in the race for the White House.

Obama: Honored To Call Teddy A Friend

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Health Care

Radio, Grassroots Used To Push Health Care Rx

With polls showing public support slipping for the White House push to change health care, President Obama reached out to two different audiences Thursday. He's trying to gain control of the debate on overhauling health care. Obama invited a conservative talk radio show to the White House; then the president visited the Democratic National Committee headquarters where he talked about health care to the audience and to thousands watching online.

Radio, Grassroots Used To Push Health Care Rx

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Politics

Obama Tries To Retake Health Care Dialogue

President Obama said Thursday any bill he signs must reduce costs, protect consumers, provide affordable choices and not add to the federal deficit. He was answering questions on health care from callers on a talk radio interview at the White House.

Obama Tries To Retake Health Care Dialogue

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Politics

Obama Blasts Defense Pork

President Obama called the conflict in Afghanistan "a war of necessity." Speaking Monday to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention, Obama also lashed out at wasteful Pentagon spending and pledged to veto any pork-laden defense bills.

Obama Blasts Defense Pork

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Health Care

Obama Takes Health Care Battle To The People

President Obama has been using campaign-style events to push for a major overhaul to the nation's health care system. The president held three town hall meetings on health care last week. Obama's focus has been fighting the information war against opponents of the Democrats' health plan.

Obama Takes Health Care Battle To The People

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Money And Influence

Obama's Health Care Pitch Suddenly Gets Personal

At his third town hall meeting on health care in a week, President Obama's argument for an overhaul to the nation's health care system took an unexpectedly personal turn.

Obama's Health Care Pitch Suddenly Gets Personal

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Politics

Obama Faces Skeptical Crowds At Town Halls

So far, President Obama's health care town halls haven't been marked by the intense anger and outrage that many members of congress have seen. But at an airplane hanger at a small airport in Montana, Obama did hear, first-hand, some of the worries many have about proposed health care changes. NPR's Don Gonyea reports on the latest town hall confrontation.

Obama Faces Skeptical Crowds At Town Halls

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Health Care

Obama Takes Health Care Case To Montana

President Obama has headed west to make his case for a national health care system with a role for the government. He's taking on skeptics in Bozeman, Mont., familiar ground for Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus.

Obama Takes Health Care Case To Montana

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Health Care

Muted Reaction To Obama Health Care Town Hall

Over the past week, members of Congress have been shouted down and booed at town hall meetings around the country, but President Obama got a far different reaction Tuesday when he came to talk health care in coastal New Hampshire. The loud debate over the issue took place outside the president's forum.

Muted Reaction To Obama Health Care Town Hall

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Economy

Obama Points To Signs Of Economic Recovery

President Obama returned to Elkhart County, Indiana, which has the highest unemployment rate in America, to tout progress toward economic recovery. Obama also repeated a promise to overhaul health care this year despite stiff opposition from Republicans and some in his own party.

Obama Points To Signs Of Economic Recovery

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Financial Turmoil Grips World Markets

$1 Billion Stimulus Plan Keeps Cops On Streets

Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder went to Philadelphia Tuesday to talk about the stimulus funds that cash-strapped cities are getting to help put police officers on the streets. The event was held to try to counter Republican criticism that the stimulus package didn't do enough to help small businesses.

$1 Billion Stimulus Plan Keeps Cops On Streets

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