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"A vote against him would put that senator on the wrong side of history."

— Senate Judiciary Cmte Chair Patrick Leahy, to colleagues voting on AG-designate Eric Holder, mult., 1/28.

National Briefing

OBAMA

1. Passes Stop Sign; Yields To Republican Colleagues

With the House widely expected to pass an $825B stimulus plan this p.m., today's media coverage focused on if Pres. Obama's 1/27 outreach to GOP lawmakers will translate into bipartisan backing for the package. Obama devoted nearly three hours to separate closed-door meetings with House and Senate GOPers on 1/27, "an investment that is unlikely to result in new support for the relief package" (Murray/Kane, Washington Post, 1/28). The House will pass the bill, but Obama "is likely to fall short of getting the strong bipartisan consensus he wants." Participants praised Obama's outreach, "but afterward, few GOP lawmakers said they were ready to vote" for the plan (Lightman, McClatchy, 1/28). In other words, he won "compliments but few converts."

Still, as Obama courted business leaders at the WH this morning, he "expressed confidence that Congress would pass a stimulus bill with strong bipartisan backing." Obama: "I'm confident we're going to get this passed" (Jackson/Wolf, USA Today, 1/28). After his meeting with business leaders and CEOs, Obama delivered remarks about the stimulus plan. Obama noted the executives he met with "understand that what makes an idea sound is not whether it's Democratic or Republican, but whether it makes good economic sense for their workers and companies. And they understand that when it comes to rebuilding our economy, we don't have a moment to spare" (release, 1/28).

(For more on Obama's stimulus package remarks and his 1/27 Hill meetings, see today's ECONOMY story).

Fair Enough, Now Say "Uncle"

A day after Obama "struck a conciliatory tone toward Iran," Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urged Washington on 1/27 "to apologize for its actions toward his country for the past 60 years and said it was unclear whether" the new admin. "was merely shifting tactics or wanted real change. But, in a speech in the western city of Kermanshah," Ahmadinejad "did not explicitly rebuff" Obama's gesture. Ahmadinejad, referring to the policies of the new admin: "We are waiting patiently. We will listen to the statements closely, we will carefully study their actions and if there are real changes, we will welcome it."

Ahmadinejad said that the "slogan of change was good, but it could be of two kinds -- a fundamental change or a tactical one." It would soon become clear, the Iranian pres said, whether Obama's comments were "just a change in tone." Ahmadinejad: "Change means that they should apologize to the Iranian nation and try to make up for their dark background and the crimes they have committed against the Iranian nation" (Cowell, New York Times, 1/28).

Opportunity For A Multilateral Something Initiative That Follows Protocol

In her first remarks to reporters 1/27, Sec/State Hillary Clinton said Obama's "intent to change the direction of US foreign policy gives Iran a 'clear opportunity' to engage more productively on its nuclear program and other issues." Clinton: "There is a clear opportunity for the Iranians, as the president expressed in his interview, to demonstrate some willingness to engage meaningfully with the international community... whether or not that hand becomes less clenched is really up to them."

Clinton also told reporters that the admin "is undertaking a wide-ranging and comprehensive survey of US policy options toward Iran," but was "not prepared to discuss" the effort (Burns, AP, 1/28). Clinton "did not disclose the options under consideration for reaching out to Iran, beyond mentioning the existing multilateral talks involving Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China." But she indicated that she and Obama "were thinking broadly" (Landler, New York Times, 1/28).

Special Envoy For Press Peace

Coverage of Obama's interview Arabic TV network Al-Arabiya (see 1/27 Hotline) and his outreach towards the Muslim world continued:

Obama has "launched a determined effort to change the tone" of U.S. relations with the Arab and Muslim worlds, saying he is eager to listen to their concerns. The early appointments of "emissaries to the Middle East and to Afghanistan and Pakistan; the announced closure" of Gitmo; the "choice of Arab satellite network al-Arabiya for the first formal interview of his presidency; first-week National Security Council meetings on Iraq and Afghanistan;" and phone calls to regional leaders on his first full day in office 'were reflections both of the seriousness of the issues and a message to governments and the public," admin officials said (DeYoung, Washington Post, 1/28).

Obama, "whose inauguration speech featured a direct appeal to the Muslim world, says he is determined to repair relations. And his advisers are already holding meetings on a strategy to achieve the goal," said a foreign policy official in the Obama admin. Obama official: "We are actively looking at and beginning to plan for a series of policy choices that shows that this is not some kind of posturing. It's a big priority for him, and he raises it often with us" (Dorning, Chicago Tribune, 1/28).

"Initial reactions to the interview across the Middle East seemed positive. In Lebanon, some people who saw it said they thought that it marked a startling break from the rhetoric of previous" U.S. admins. Lebanese journalist Jamil Mroue: "It's different from what we've seen in forever. This is his first official interview, and it's addressed to Al Arabiya? It's a logical extension of his inauguration speech, but it's unprecedented" (Cowell, New York Times, 1/28).

More reaction:

• Newt Gingrich: "I thought it was an unusual decision. I frankly don't understand it. Maybe there's some grand strategy, or maybe they thought it was clever. But if you actually read the interview, they don't break any real ground. It's probably more pro-Iranian than the Arab world wanted to hear, and it's certainly must more pro-Iranian than Israel would want to hear. ... It was kind of odd, at a time when we're faced with a massive economic problem and when we have very, very large problems here at home, that his first interview wasn't with an American network talking about solving American problems" ("On the Record," FNC, 1/27).

• New America Foundation's Steve Clemons: "I think it was designed for the Muslim world. Barack Obama just pulled off one of the most brilliant opening moves as a president and stagecraft I've seen. ... One of the problems the Muslim world has felt during the Bush years is they felt that their lives, their culture didn't matter quite as much as everyone else. And Obama just checked that box off and said, 'You do matter and you do matter to all of America.' So, I think it was quite important" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 1/27).

• Jimmy Carter, on Obama saying his job is to communicate that the Americans are not your enemy: "That's a dramatic change over what we've had the last eight years -- or certainly the last six years. ... I believe this is a very good start. And I believe it will pay rich dividends to reach out to them. I think his phrase, that he wants to shake hands if they will unclench their fists, to those who are inclined in that direction, it was a very memorable thing" ("LKL," CNN, 1/27).

• Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer: "Conciliatory, but also apologetic and defensive, I thought needlessly. We heard him say that he we shouldn't paint Islam with a broad-brush. Who does? That's a straw man. Did the Bush administration do so? ... Somehow he is implying that somehow the Obama era is a break with the American past. Somehow it is undoing a disrespect of Islam that had somehow occurred under the previous administration. ... We have no need to apologize. Extend a hand, yes, but to imply that there was a disrespect of Islam in the last administration, I think is unfair and fictional."

• NPR's Liasson, in response: "Every president makes a straw man out of their predecessor in order to underline the change that they're bringing. And I don't know if this kind of interview in and of itself will change things, but it allows him to lay the groundwork for what he wants to go next" ("Special Report," FNC, 1/27).

• Washington Post's Cillizza: "It's January 2009, remember, not January 2012. Barack Obama is pretty far removed, at least in electoral terms, from running for re-election. This is the kind of thing you do in the start of an administration, put a marker down and show that yes, things are going to be different under Barack Obama than they were under George W. Bush" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 1/27).

• Al Arabiya DC bureau chief Hisham Melhem, who conducted the interview, asked if Obama will succeed: "Already he is sending the right vibes, the right tone and a different approach. There is a different wind coming from Washington, a different discourse. In terms of a radical shift, it's too early to say. He's waiting for the Israeli elections. ... He's waiting for the Iranian election. ... He's going to force people in the Middle East to listen to him and take him very seriously" ("Situation Room," CNN, 1/27).

• More Melhem: "Even through the Arabic translation, people felt the authenticity and the honesty of the president of the United States. ... Judging by the reaction we've gotten on our website, the letters, the requests, it was translated to all sorts of languages. It was seen by hundreds of millions of people around the world, mostly in the Muslim world and the Arab world ... and the reaction of the average citizens, as well as officials has been positive and overwhelming, really" ("American Morning," CNN, 1/28).

• AP's Burns writes, Obama "signaled a break with the past." And while "the substance of the shift may have to wait," the "symbolism is immediate and likely to be reinforced with an early presidential visit to a Muslim nation" (1/28).

• Washington Post's Froomkin writes, Obama "officially launched his push for peace in the Middle East" 1/26, declaring his desire for genuine progress -- "not just photo-ops." Obama's "sense of urgency -- and his aversion to photo ops -- contrasts starkly" with ex-Pres. Bush's "half-hearted last-minute effort to bring the fractious parties together. But it's unclear how much Obama's basic view of the region contrasts with that of his predecessor.... Will he abandon Bush's absolute support for Israel and instead become an 'honest broker' -- which requires some leaning on all parties? So far, it's all just a matter of speculation" (1/27).

Let The Brush Clearing Begin!

Obama may return to Chicago for a home visit as early as mid-Feb, during a time when IL "will be awash in celebrations marking Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday." Aides declined to comment on Obama's Feb schedule, "but a source close to him said he could make his first presidential visit to Chicago as early as Presidents' Day weekend, when his daughters have a three-day break from school." The possible trip "could be one of Obama's first flights on Air Force One and comes with the question of where the president--and potential traffic jams--will land" (McCormick, Chicago Tribune, 1/28).

Lawyers Get Around

DoJ attys "are set to ask a San Francisco federal judge to throw out a lawsuit brought against" ex-DoJ Official John Yoo, the "chief author of the so-called torture memos" that Obama sought to nullify last week. The new admin.'s lawyers are in an "awkward" position in having to defend Yoo, who has been widely "pilloried" in Dem legal circles. DoJ attys are also "slated to be in Charleston, SC, "to ask a federal magistrate there to dismiss another lawsuit charging about a dozen current and former government officials," including "a who's who" of Bush admin "boogeymen": ex-defense sec. Donald Rumsfeld, ex-dep. defense sec. Paul Wolfowitz, and ex-AG John Ashcroft.

NYU Professor Karen Greenberg: "This is going to happen again and again across the government. [Obama Justice Dept. lawyers] are between a rock and a hard place." Ex-federal terrorism prosecutor Andrew McCarthy: "When they go back to the privacy of their offices, they may wish that someone would draw and quarter John Yoo, but they have to wave the flag. What they have to do is appear as if they are defending all the prerogatives of government that people want them to defend... That's the job of the Justice Department" (Gerstein, Politico, 1/28).

Brownback To Saddleback?

The election of a "pro-choice" admin. and a Dem Congress "has divided the pro-life movement, between those who are preparing for the fight of their lives and those who see an opportunity to redefine what it means to be pro-life." Pro-lifers "fear that their push for more state-level restrictions may have run its course after all three pro-life ballot initiatives" introduced in '08 failed. "While a majority of pro-lifers may be preparing for an escalated battle, there is a small group that sees the change in Washington as an opportunity to reshape some of the movement's core principles." Progressive Evangelical group Sojourners Dir. Jim Wallis: "Let's look at the results. How do you really reduce abortion? You support women's health care, you promote involved fatherhood. I think those programs are significant if you're saving unborn lives."

Pres. Obama "offered an optimistic view" of the level of cooperation possible between pro-life and pro-choice activists, on the anniv. of Roe v. Wade. Obama: "While this is a sensitive and often divisive issue, no matter what our views, we are united in our determination to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the need for abortion, and support women and families in the choices they make. To accomplish these goals, we must work to find common ground to expand access to affordable contraception, accurate health information, and preventative services." When Obama overturned the Mexico City policy, he "did not use the anniversary of Roe," unlike previous Dem presidents. Wallis: "He was trying to do it quietly, without fanfare. By issuing a statement first, he sent a clear signal that he's not looking to start a fight with people who are pro-life."

Still, legislation promoting both increased access to contraception and increased funding to pregnancy-support programs in one bill "has floundered without enough support from either camp." The issue "is so polarizing, that even if a piece of legislation does not have an overt 'pro-life' or 'pro-choice' label, some legislators and activists are determined" to label it anyways. Democrats for Life Dir. Kristen Day: "I think the biggest obstacle [for abortion-reduction legislation] is that people look at it and they're going, 'okay, what's the angle here? What are you pushing?' It's support for pregnant women. There's no hidden agenda here" (Kliff, Newsweek, 1/27).

This Admin Has Appointments...

• This afternoon Obama heads to the Pentagon for a meeting with Defense Sec. Robert Gates and the JCS, who "will be ready with a rough sketch of what would be required to fulfill" his 16-month withdrawal timetable for Iraq (AP, 1/28). A WH release refers to Obama's Pentagon visit as the "next in a series of meetings designed to get a comprehensive view of the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan and the impact on our forces" (release, 1/27).

(For more on today's JCS meeting, see today's IRAQ story).

• Meanwhile, Obama "plans to sign into law tomorrow the first legislation" of his WH tenure, reversing a recent SCOTUS ruling "that had restricted the ability of women and other workers to sue for pay discrimination." WH press sec. Robert Gibbs said 1/27 that Obama would sign the bill 1/29 during a public ceremony in the East Room (Goldstein, Washington Post, 1/28).

• VP Biden "is scheduled to make his first foreign trip" as VP when he travels to Germany 2/6 to represent the U.S. at the 45th Munich Conference on Security. WH Security Advis. James Jones will also attend. "Among the items on the conference agenda" are the future of NATO, nuclear weapons issues, Iraq and Afghanistan (Fletcher, Washington Post, 1/28).

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