Political Punch

Power, pop, and probings from ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper

In Shift, US Calls for "Amnesty" for Journalists in NK


In an attempt to gain their release, the United States has shifted its carefully crafted language to imply the culpability of two American journalists who were convicted by North Korea of illegally entering the Stalinist country earlier this year. Today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton even appeared to apologize for the incident.

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July 10, 2009 in North Korea | Permalink | User Comments (0)

Obama Pushes Back Amid Criticism Over G-8 Progress on Iran


ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: Amid criticism that the outcome of the G-8 Summit’s work on Iran yielded only a statement rather than a punishment for Iran’s nuclear program, President Obama beat back, disputing that this was ever a goal...

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July 10, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (4)

While the President's Away, Health Care will Stray?


ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: At the tail end of his trip abroad, President Obama was asked to refocus on his domestic agenda that has faced some setback in the United States during his 7-day trip to Russia, Italy and...

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July 10, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (11)

'My Cousin In Kenya Can't Get a Job Without Paying a Bribe': Obama Tells African Leaders to Get Their Houses in Order


In a meeting with leaders from African countries, President Obama stressed food security and stressed that development programs should reach the masses.

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July 10, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (67)

'Camp Obama' for Malia and Sasha


ABC News' Yunji de Nies and Sunlen Miller report: First lady Michelle Obama thought about sending her daughters away to summer camp, she said recently, but instead decided on another program -- "Camp Obama." It's not your everyday sleep away...

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July 10, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (9)

When In Rome...? Actually, not so much


The snapshot of President Obama caught in a moment of less than lofty analysis may not be what it seems.

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July 9, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (1596)

President Obama Shakes Hands with Qadaffi


At the dinner hosted by the Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, President Obama this evening shook hands with Libyan dictator Moammar Qadaffi, here representing African nations.

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July 9, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (32)

More Qs for O's WH - 7/9/2009


TAPPER: I was wondering, Froman talked about yesterday of the efforts that are being made to bring the developing nations onboard in time for Copenhagen in December. Can you talk a little bit about what those efforts will entail? And...

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July 9, 2009 in Today's Qs for Obama's WH | Permalink | User Comments (4)

President Obama Urges Major Economies Forum Nations to Act on Climate Change


President Obama today pledged a strong U.S. role in global efforts to curb climate change and called upon his fellow attendees of the Major Economies Forum on Climate Change to work in the coming months to come up with commitments to lessen greenhouse gases.

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July 9, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (25)

Today's Qs for O's WH - 7/9/2009


I don’t have the transcript of my precise questions, but I asked White House press secretary Robert Gibbs and Denis McDonough, deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications, two basic inquiries. The first was: how does the US intend, in...

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July 9, 2009 in Today's Qs for Obama's WH | Permalink | User Comments (11)

Whom Should the White House Invite to Its 2010 Nuclear Non-proliferation Summit?


As President Obama pledged earlier this year during a speech in Prague, the White House took the opportunity of the G-8 summit to announce that he will host a global nuclear security summit in Washington, DC, in March 2010 to discuss and develop a common nonproliferation agenda.

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July 9, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (9)

Is the Stimulus Working?


The president today will chair the Major Economies Forum to discuss the state of the global economy from Europe to Indonesia. But back home a rising chorus is wondering if the economic plan for the U.S. is working... and if...

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July 9, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (80)

First Ladies Visit Quake Zone


Michelle Obama tours the earthquake zone in Italy with other G-8 spouses.

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July 9, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (27)

Hoopster-In-Chief Plays "Horse" In Italy


Italian organizers built President Obama a special half-court basketball court at the police complex in L'Aquila where heads of state attending the G8 Summit are currently staying. President Obama used the court for a game of "horse" with aides David...

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July 9, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (8)

President Obama to Brazil's Lula: 'Next Time We Won't Give Up a 2-to-0 Lead'


L'AQUILA, ITALY -- Brazilian President Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, nicknamed "Lula," took some time during his meeting with President Obama Thursday morning to razz him about his country's defeat of the U.S. in last months Confederation Cup...

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July 9, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (5)

When Near Rome ...


Our "World News" report from the G-8 Summit: - jpt

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July 8, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (1)

President Obama Threatens to Veto Intelligence Bill


President Obama threatened to veto the Intelligence Authorization Act Wednesday, asserting that Congress was unconstitutionally pursuing information about executive branch deliberations. It was the third veto threat the president had issued since being elected last November. The first, made before he was sworn in, was to those lawmakers who wanted to block release of the second $350 billion in TARP funds to bail out financial institutions.

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July 8, 2009 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (59)

G-8 Will Not Call for New Sanctions Against Iran


The G-8 leaders will issue a joint statement this evening expressing serious concerns about the post-election violence in Iran, as well as its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons, but will not push for new economic sanctions or tougher enforcement of those that exist, an Obama administration source told ABC News this afternoon.

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July 8, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (31)

I COULDA HAD A G-8!!


Buon giorno from the G-8 summit L'Aquila, Italy, a place rocked by a devastating earthquake and aftershocks and a major sex scandal involving the host, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. He, President Obama, and the 6 other leaders of the G-8...

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July 8, 2009 | Permalink | User Comments (49)

MoveOn Pulls the "Trigger" on Rahm


White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel's remarks in today's Wall Street Journal -- in which he argued that a government-run public health care plan isn't as important as the need for competition driving down insurance costs -- has resulted in the liberal group MoveOn.org rallying its base to tell President Obama to resist Emanuel's views.

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July 7, 2009 in health care | Permalink | User Comments (127)

 

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