Politics

Despite Elizabeth Warren’s Flubs, Democrats Still Have A Credible Candidate

By Todd Domke
Todd Domke says  Democratic Senate candidate Marisa DeFranco deserves respect, if not a second look by Democratic primary voters and the news media. (AP)

WBUR political commentator Todd Domke calls Democratic candidate for Senate Marisa DeFranco “a more genuine populist than Warren — or Brown, for that matter — but it’s probably arguable,” and says she deserves respect, if not a second look by Democratic primary voters and the news media.

Is Scott Brown A Birther?

By Dan Payne

Elizabeth Warren’s ancestry is not germane to her candidacy or the election, says WBUR political commentator Dan Payne. Ultimately a Senate race this big will be decided on more weighty matters than bloodlines.

Presidential Campaign Themes: ‘It’s The Slogan, Stupid’

By Todd Domke

Campaign slogans may seem simple-minded, but they can reveal a campaign strategy. Barack Obama’s new slogan is “Forward.” Mitt Romney’s slogan is “Believe in America.”

Can Warren Get Her Mojo Back?

By Dan Payne
On Monday, Elizabeth Warren appeared on The Morning Show and called for JPMorgan Chases' chief executive, Jamie Dimon, to step down from his role as a top official at the New York Federal Reserve Bank. (CBSnews.com)

BOSTON — Warren’s campaign has suffered from small caliber thinking. She should be employing her financial know-how, not constantly reminding us of her humble roots.

Obama Campaign Puts Spotlight On Romney’s Work At Bain

By Fred Thys
Vice President Joe Biden speaks at M-7 Technologies, Wednesday, May 16 in Youngstown, Ohio. Biden punced on Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney, casting him as a corporate raider more interested in making profits than in the needs of workers. (AP)

BOSTON — In Ohio Wednesday, Vice President Joe Biden told the story of how workers at a steel plant lost their jobs when Bain took over.

Romney And GOP-Linked Committees Close Fundraising Gap

By S.V. Dáte

(Edward Linsmier / Getty Images)

With the latest campaign dollar totals officially on the FEC books, at least one thing is certain: President Obama will not have the huge spending advantage this November that he did four years ago. What is less certain: whether some big political donors can remain anonymous.

Mitt Romney Vs. Rand Paul In 2016?

(Charles Dharapak / AP)

It increasingly looks like GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul and his passionate loyalists are consolidating clout in state party organizations with an eye toward 2016. They appear to be laying the groundwork for a future presidential run by the congressman's son, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

Under Obama, U.S. Govt. Spends At Lowest Rate In Decades, Says Journalist

(Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP)

Max Nutting, a journalist who writes for the MarketWatch website affiliated with The Wall Street Journal looked at the data and found that rhetoric and reality don't quite match up. Nutting found that, contrary to repeated allegations from the president's political foes, including Mitt Romney that Obama has been on a federal spending tear, he actually hasn't.

Voters Agree It's The Economy, But Split On Who Can Fix It

By Greg Henderson

(Rick Bowmer / AP)

President Obama and his expected Republican challenger are tied on the all-important question of who can best deal with the ailing economy, according to a poll released Tuesday.

Morning Edition

U.S. Politicians See Opposite Messages In Euro Crisis

(Jim Watson / AFP/Getty Images)

Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. can't agree on what's behind the eurozone's troubles. Now it looks like the Europeans may try the approach President Obama has advocated: a commitment to long-term fiscal discipline while pursuing growth in the short term.

Romney And GOP-Linked Committees Close Fundraising Gap

By S.V. Dáte

(Edward Linsmier / Getty Images)

With the latest campaign dollar totals officially on the FEC books, at least one thing is certain: President Obama will not have the huge spending advantage this November that he did four years ago. What is less certain: whether some big political donors can remain anonymous.

Mitt Romney Vs. Rand Paul In 2016?

(Charles Dharapak / AP)

It increasingly looks like GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul and his passionate loyalists are consolidating clout in state party organizations with an eye toward 2016. They appear to be laying the groundwork for a future presidential run by the congressman's son, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

Under Obama, U.S. Govt. Spends At Lowest Rate In Decades, Says Journalist

(Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP)

Max Nutting, a journalist who writes for the MarketWatch website affiliated with The Wall Street Journal looked at the data and found that rhetoric and reality don't quite match up. Nutting found that, contrary to repeated allegations from the president's political foes, including Mitt Romney that Obama has been on a federal spending tear, he actually hasn't.

All Things Considered

I Vs. We: The 'Heart' Of Our Political Differences

By NPR Staff

(Paul Morigi / Courtesy of Bloombury USA)

For years, the Tea Party has held individualism up as the great American value. But columnist E.J. Dionne Jr. says that Americans historically have prized communitarianism just as much. In Our Divided Political Heart, Dionne argues that America is at its best when it balances the two.

All Things Considered

Colbert Spawns SuperPACs 'For A Better Tomorrow'

Audie Cornish and Robert Siegel tell us about the recent spawn of superPACs — thanks mostly to late-night TV host Stephen Colbert.

Talk of the Nation

Young Voters, Once Buoyed By Obama, Turn Away

In 2004, then-candidate Barack Obama campaigned on a message of hope and gained overwhelming support from young voters. In an op-ed in the Los Angles Times, Neal Gabler writes that many of those young voters are disappointed with his tenure, and they've turned to "DIY politics" instead.

Voters Agree It's The Economy, But Split On Who Can Fix It

By Greg Henderson

(Rick Bowmer / AP)

President Obama and his expected Republican challenger are tied on the all-important question of who can best deal with the ailing economy, according to a poll released Tuesday.

Morning Edition

Obama Defends Campaign Attacks On Romney

President Obama is back in Washington after a long weekend of international diplomacy. First there was the G8 summit at Camp David and then the NATO summit in Chicago. The Windy City is also home to the president's re-election headquarters, and at news conference Monday, he was forced to defend his campaign attacks on Republican rival Mitt Romney.

Morning Edition

Obama Camp Hammers Away At Bain Capital Issue

The Obama campaign continues its attack on Mitt Romney's time at the private-equity firm Bain Capital. Over the weekend, Newark, New Jersey, Mayor Cory Booker seemed to veer off the campaign's message. Later, Booker tempered his remarks in a YouTube video. But it didn't take long for the Romney campaign to seize on Booker's comments.

Morning Edition

Obama Made A Strong First Impression At Harvard

(AP)

After their first meeting in 1989, legendary law professor Laurence Tribe was so impressed with the skinny first-year law student in jeans, a sweatshirt and an afro, that he made a special notation on his calendar. The student, Barack Obama, went on to become the first black president of the Harvard Law Review.

Obama: Romney's Bain Record Is No Distraction

By Eyder Peralta

Defending a campaign ad, Obama said Mitt Romney's work at a private equity firm is fair game.

Booker, Bain, Romney & Obama: Ad Wars Go Full Circle And Then Some

(Bennett Raglin / Getty Images for Macy's)

It's a classic campaign chain of events: a rising star (in this case Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker) seems to cross his party's leader, and then says he was misunderstood. Meanwhile, the opposition uses his words to its advantage.

All Things Considered

At Harvard, Romney Wasn't Your Typical Student

(Courtesy of The New York Times)

Twenty years before President Obama graduated from Harvard Law School, rival Mitt Romney earned a joint degree from Harvard's law and business schools. Amid the '70s counterculture movement, Romney stood out as more of a Boy Scout type, classmates recall. But they say he was also a loyal friend.

Talk of the Nation

Op-Ed: Send Message Of U.S.-NATO Solidarity

In recent years, critics have questioned the need for a U.S.-European alliance, originally formed to confront the Soviet Union. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright argues the president and NATO leaders must reaffirm the importance of their union to U.S. security.

Tell Me More

G8 Summit Drives Home Effects Of Euro Crisis

The G8 Summit was dominated by talks on how to handle the latest financial setback in Europe. President Obama stood at the center of those talks, knowing that what Europe decides could have a lasting impact on the U.S. economy and his own political future. Host Michel Martin speaks with The Wall Street Journal's Sudeep Reddy.

What Does Ron Paul Want? Hint: It's Not About The 2012 GOP Nomination

(Ken Rudin collection)

Ron Paul knows he's not going to be the Republican nominee for president this year. Mitt Romney has it all but locked up. But Paul's supporters are flooding state conventions, getting elected as convention delegates ... and preparing for life after 2012.

Morning Edition

Sophomoric? Members Of Congress Talk Like 10th-Graders, Analysis Shows

(Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images)

The sophistication of congressional speech-making is on the decline, according to the open government group the Sunlight Foundation. Since 2005, the average grade level at which members of Congress speak has fallen by almost a full grade.

Morning Edition

Secret Political Donors Find Ways To Stay Anonymous

Those hoping to sway the presidential election with anonymous donations to nonprofit political groups could find their names made public this fall after a pair of court rulings backed public disclosure. There are, however, ways to work around that.

Despite Elizabeth Warren’s Flubs, Democrats Still Have A Credible Candidate

By Todd Domke
Todd Domke says  Democratic Senate candidate Marisa DeFranco deserves respect, if not a second look by Democratic primary voters and the news media. (AP)

WBUR political commentator Todd Domke calls Democratic candidate for Senate Marisa DeFranco “a more genuine populist than Warren — or Brown, for that matter — but it’s probably arguable,” and says she deserves respect, if not a second look by Democratic primary voters and the news media.

Mass. Gambling Chair: Approval Of 3 Casinos Not Definite

By Sacha Pfeiffer

BOSTON — The Massachusetts gaming commissioner says the state isn’t necessarily destined for three casinos and a slots parlor, and a Massachusetts economist says the state is not being realistic in thinking that it can support three major resort casinos.

Is Scott Brown A Birther?

By Dan Payne

Elizabeth Warren’s ancestry is not germane to her candidacy or the election, says WBUR political commentator Dan Payne. Ultimately a Senate race this big will be decided on more weighty matters than bloodlines.

Presidential Campaign Themes: ‘It’s The Slogan, Stupid’

By Todd Domke

Campaign slogans may seem simple-minded, but they can reveal a campaign strategy. Barack Obama’s new slogan is “Forward.” Mitt Romney’s slogan is “Believe in America.”

Obama: ‘Emerging Consensus’ On Economic Fix

By The Associated Press
World leaders attend the family photo session during the G-8 Summit at Camp David. From left: European Commission President Jose' Manuel Barroso, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, French President Francois Hollande, U.S. President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minster David Cameron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and European Council President Herman Van Rompuy. (Philippe Wojazer/AP)

Confronting an economic crisis that threatens them all, President Barack Obama and leaders of other world powers on Saturday declared that their governments must both spark growth and cut the debt that has crippled the European continent and put investors worldwide on edge.

Trio Accused Of Plotting Attacks Around NATO Summit

By The Associated Press
Brian Church, Jared Chase and Brent Vincent were arrested on Wednesday, accused of making Molotov cocktails with plans to attack President Obama's campaign headquarters. (Chicago Police Department/AP)

Prosecutors said the three were not only planning to attack Obama’s campaign headquarters, but also Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s home and other targets during this weekend’s NATO summit.

Predicting The Unpredictable – Who Will Win The White House?

By Todd Domke
President Barack Obama, left, and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (AP)

BOSTON — A do-it-yourself scorecard for determining who will win in 2012. While it is not scientific, it’s a way to review many of the factors that will affect the outcome.

Senate Passes Health Care Cost Control Bill With Few Major Changes

By Martha Bebinger

BOSTON — In a near unanimous vote the state Senate on Thursday night passed a major health care cost control bill that legislators estimate will save $150 billion over the next 15 years.

Mass. Senate OKs Health Care Cost-Cutting Bill

By The Associated Press

BOSTON — The bill, which passed 35-2, aims to reduce projected health care costs in the state by $150 billion over the next 15 years.

Can Warren Get Her Mojo Back?

By Dan Payne
On Monday, Elizabeth Warren appeared on The Morning Show and called for JPMorgan Chases' chief executive, Jamie Dimon, to step down from his role as a top official at the New York Federal Reserve Bank. (CBSnews.com)

BOSTON — Warren’s campaign has suffered from small caliber thinking. She should be employing her financial know-how, not constantly reminding us of her humble roots.

Obama Campaign Puts Spotlight On Romney’s Work At Bain

By Fred Thys
Vice President Joe Biden speaks at M-7 Technologies, Wednesday, May 16 in Youngstown, Ohio. Biden punced on Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney, casting him as a corporate raider more interested in making profits than in the needs of workers. (AP)

BOSTON — In Ohio Wednesday, Vice President Joe Biden told the story of how workers at a steel plant lost their jobs when Bain took over.

Mass. Senate Details $32.3B Spending Plan

By Benjamin Swasey

BOSTON — Budget-writers in the state Senate are proposing to spend more on local aid than the funding level approved by the House in April.

Mass. Senate Tackles Health Care Payment Plan

By The Associated Press

The Massachusetts Senate on Tuesday began debating a bill that sets an ambitious goal of reducing projected health care costs in the state by $150 billion over the next 15 years.

Warren Controversy Fades, But What’s Her Strategy?

By Todd Domke
Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Elizabeth Warren (AP)

The significance of Warren claiming to be 1/32 Cherokee is that it raised as many questions about her Senate campaign as about her personally.

Mass. House Leaders Tie Jobs Bill To Innovation Economy

By State House News Service

BOSTON — The bill includes a new $50 million innovation investment fund to support research and development at universities and research centers where House leaders say the state’s economic strengths lie.

Obama And The Arc Of History

By Dan Payne
Marriage equality supporters Teri McClain, left, and Mary Beth Brotski stand with signs supporting President Barack Obama outside a fundraising event for the president, Thursday, May 10 in Seattle. (AP)

BOSTON — Political analyst Dan Payne says Obama could not have believed that his position on gay marriage would gain him votes in tossup states.

Romney: Marriage Is One Man, One Woman

By The Associated Press

LYNCHBURG, Va. — During a commencement speech at a conservative Christian university, Romney called marriage an “enduring” institution.

State House Roundup: Let Them Eat Wedding Cake

By Matt Murphy

THE STATE HOUSE — Sen. Michael Knapik rose on the Senate floor Thursday to decry a policy he deemed so “downright un-American” that it had to be reversed: A ban on bake sales.

Analysis: How Will Obama’s Gay Marraige Stance Affect General Election?

By Bob Oakes

How will the President’s announcement of support for gay marriage help or hurt his reelection prospects in New Hampshire and beyond this fall?

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