Elections 2012

Critics Say Ryan's Record Belies Tough Deficit Talk

Credit Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Paul Ryan waves as he takes the stage at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Aug. 29. Ryan has been celebrated as a deficit hawk with bold vision, but some critics have called his record on deficit-reduction "dismal."

Credit J.D. Pooley / Getty Images

Paul Ryan speaks to supporters in Westlake, Ohio, on Sept. 4. Ryan has been celebrated as a deficit hawk with bold vision, but some critics have called his record on deficit reduction "dismal."

By John Ydstie

Originally published on Sun September 9, 2012 2:08 pm

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Paul Ryan has a reputation as a deficit hawk. Mitt Romney's running mate has proposed budgets that cut non-defense spending significantly, and advocated controlling Medicare costs by making it a voucher program. But critics argue there's a lot in the Wisconsin congressman's record that undermines his deficit-hawk reputation.

When Ryan gave the GOP response to President Obama's State of the Union address last year, he restated his commitment to debt and deficit reduction.

6:53 am

Sun September 9, 2012

For Both Parties, Spanglish Is The Unofficial Convention Language

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Credit Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Cristina Saralegui waves at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday.

Credit Mladen Antonov / AFP/Getty Images

Signs at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Aug. 30.

By editor

Originally published on Mon September 10, 2012 8:34 am

If you grew up in a bilingual Hispanic household, listening to the Democratic and Republican conventions may have sounded a lot like home.

It's no coincidence that both parties highlighted politicians like Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro.

Rubio, whose parents are from Cuba, introduced Mitt Romney at the Republican convention; Castro, whose grandmother immigrated from Mexico, became the first Latino to give the Democrats' keynote address.

2:45 am

Sun September 9, 2012

GOP Has Rare Shot At Winning House Seat In Mass.

Credit Josh Reynolds / AP

Richard Tisei is running for U.S. House in Massachusetts, where he could be the first Republican in that seat in 15 years.

By editor

Originally published on Sun September 9, 2012 10:43 am

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U.S. House candidate Richard Tisei is openly gay. He's also openly Republican.

"You know what, in Massachusetts, it's a lot easier to be gay than be a Republican," he says, "as far as trying to get elected to office."

But Tisei could make political history for the Massachusetts GOP. Not just because they could win their first U.S. House seat in 15 years, but also because Tisei would be the first openly gay Republican to be elected to a term in Congress.

7:36 am

Sat September 8, 2012

Words Wealthy Democratic Donors Should Get Used To: 'It's Me, Rahm'

Credit Lynne Sladky / AP

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants you ... if you're a wealthy Democrat who can write a $10 million or $20 million check.

By Peter Overby

Originally published on Sat September 8, 2012 11:11 am

Now that Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is in charge of raising really big dollars for a superPAC that supports President Obama, wealthy Democrats all over the country may be eyeing their phones nervously.

Emanuel, the former Obama White House chief of staff, is known for not taking no for an answer and for aggressively going after what he wants.

Indeed, he's a ferocious fundraiser who gets to the point, often throwing in an epithet or two for emphasis, just the sort of rainmaker needed by Priorities USA Action, the pro-Obama superPAC that desperately needs cash.

2:59 am

Sat September 8, 2012

As Election Nears, Keeping Donors A Secret Is Trickier

Credit iStockphoto.com

By Peter Overby

Originally published on Sun September 9, 2012 2:32 pm

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1:47 pm

Fri September 7, 2012

Russia Talk Throws DNC And RNC Back To Cold War

By editor

Originally published on Mon September 10, 2012 11:48 am

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Transcript

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

Last night, in his convention speech, President Obama offered this critique of the Republicans on foreign-policy.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: They want to take us back to an era of blustering and blundering that cost America so dearly. After all, you don't call Russia our number one enemy - not Al-Qaida, Russia...

(LAUGHTER)

OBAMA: ...unless you're still stuck in a Cold War mind warp.

(LAUGHTER)

1:47 pm

Fri September 7, 2012

A Few 'Baloney' Facts In Biden, Obama's Speeches

By editor

Originally published on Fri September 7, 2012 3:18 pm

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Melissa Block talks to Robert Farley, deputy managing editor of FactCheck.org, to truth squad some of the comments made Thursday night by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Presidential Race

1:47 pm

Fri September 7, 2012

Obama, Romney Spin New Jobs Report Differently

By Ari Shapiro

Originally published on Fri September 7, 2012 3:18 pm

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With the conventions over and the latest jobs report out, both President Obama and Mitt Romney were on the road Friday. Mr. Obama began in New Hampshire and ended in Iowa, and his Republican challenger did just the opposite.

It's All Politics

11:12 am

Fri September 7, 2012

Deflating Jobs Report May Not Move The Needle On The Election

Credit Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

President Obama spoke at a campaign event at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, N.H., on Friday.

By Scott Neuman

Originally published on Fri September 7, 2012 11:52 am

It wasn't what President Obama was hoping for: another disappointing jobs report the morning after he accepted the Democratic nomination and asked Americans to stay the course.

The U.S. economy added just 96,000 jobs last month, according to the Labor Department, and a drop in the unemployment rate to 8.1 percent was mostly due to people giving up on job searches.

10:00 am

Fri September 7, 2012

AZ Dems Inspired by President's Speech to DNC

By Matt Laslo

Arizona delegates at the Democratic National Convention say President Obama’s speech last evening is inspiring them to spread his message when they return home.

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11:59 am

Sun September 9, 2012