National Briefing

OBAMA

1. Angela's Ashes

Pres. Obama sat down with German Chancellor Angela Merkel today "under a cloud of disagreement over the way out of the global financial crisis and Germany's role in" Afghanistan.

The Germans "probably will stand pat on their refusal to increase troop strength significantly to the NATO mission" in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Merkel's "unusually harsh public criticism of U.S. financial policy appears to be driven by domestic politics" -- her "need to appear tough in advance of" Sep. elections (Hurst, AP, 6/25).

During his joint presser with Merkel this a.m., Obama addressed "the tragic situation in Iran." Noting the "bravery" of protestors "in the face of brutality," Obama said: "The violence perpetrated against them is outrageous. ... We see it and we condemn it."

Obama: "I continue to believe that ultimately it's up to the Iranian people to make decisions about who their leaders are going to be." But he added: "A government that treats its own citizens with that kind of ruthlessness and violence, and that cannot deal with peaceful protestors who are trying to have their voices heard in an equally peaceful way, I think has moved outside of universal norms, international norms that are important to uphold."

Obama: "Chancellor Merkel and I share the belief that what's happened in Iran is unacceptable when it comes to violence against its own citizens, and we call on the Iranian government to uphold those international principles."

Obama, on Iranian Pres. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's call for him to apologize for recent statements he has made about Iran: "I don't take Mr. Ahmadinejad's statements seriously about apologies, particularly given the fact that the United States has gone out of its way not to interfere with the election process in Iran. ... I would suggest that Mr. Ahmadinejad think carefully about the obligations he owes to his own people, and he might want to consider looking at the families of those who've been beaten or shot or detained, and that's where, I think, Mr. Ahmadinejad and others need to answer their questions" (Hotline viewing, 6/26).

(For more on Iran, see today's IRAN story).

Impatience Is A Virtue

VP Biden told gay and lesbian Dems at a 6/25 LGBT DNC fundraiser "that he doesn't blame them for their impatience," and promised that the admin. will begin to push more strongly on the issues they care about, including the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell."

Biden "acknowledged the anger many gays and lesbians have toward" the WH, and he pledged to "put some pace on the ball." Biden: "I don't blame you for your impatience. ... I hope you don't doubt the president's commitment."

The vice president "spent 20 minutes trying to convince the donors" that Obama "is dedicated to following through on his campaign promises." Biden: "I am not unaware of the controversy swirling around this dinner and swirling around the speed or lack thereof that we are moving on issues that are of great importance to you."

The annual dinner "was boycotted by some prominent gay and lesbian donors." But it still netted about $1M, according to a pool report, which is roughly $250K more than the event raised last year.

Biden "tried to shine the best light on Obama's record on gay and lesbian issues so far. He mentioned" that the admin. appointed 60 LGBT people, including nine that require Senate confirmation. He said that gay and lesbian concerns will not be "delayed, put off or not end up on [Obama's] plate" because he is dealing with so many other issues. Biden "drew repeated standing ovations, according to a pool report, as he pledged the repeal" of DOMA and Don't Ask Don't Tell, "the passage of the Lieberman-Baldwin bill on health benefits, a ban on workplace discrimination, adoption rights for all and an end to the HIV travel ban" (Lee, Politico, 6/26).

Planes, Trains And Automobiles

After "rejecting criticism that it is taking on too much," the Obama admin. "has identified one area where ambitious reforms will have to wait: overhauling the nation's aging, congested and carbon-emitting" trans. system.

The current six-year $286B trans. spending plan expires in Oct., and House members "have worked for months" to produce a 775-page $500B bill "that would create a new fund for road repairs, increase funding for rail and public transit and include reforms meant to wean the country from fossil fuels." But "it became clear at a contentious" 6/25 Senate hearing "hat the half-trillion-dollar question is how to pay for the bill." The 18.4-cent federal gas tax has not been raised since '93, "and revenue from it falls increasingly short every year because of inflation and the shift to more fuel-efficient cars."

Some in Congress, state gov'ts and "even in the freight-trucking industry believe the time has come to consider a greatly expanded revenue source, whether a higher gas tax or more tolls, or a shift to a 'vehicle miles traveled' fee, which drivers would pay based on how much they drive."

The WH and some of its Senate allies "are letting it be known, though, that this is not a discussion they want to have now, in the middle of a recession" and as DC "is consumed with battles over health care and energy. Also, polls show that Americans are growing anxious" about gov't spending (MacGillis, Washington Post, 6/26).

Don't Get Mad, Get Gadfly

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) "has emerged as one of the chief gadflies leading" GOP opposition to Obama's "biggest legislative initiatives."

"Nevertheless, Obama and other" Dems "still cling to the hope that McCain can be persuaded to help advance their priorities." Obama invited McCain and other lawmakers to the WH 6/25 to discuss immigration reform. And Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dems' "point man on the issue, has approached McCain about forming a partnership."

McCain recently "lambasted" the healthcare reform markup in Congress, calling it a "joke." He "also criticized Obama for being too timid in his response to protests over the disputed election in Iran." And the criticism "seemed to have some effect when, the next day, Obama denounced" the Iranian gov't's crackdown.

McCain said "he is still willing to partner with" Obama on some issues. McCain: "I'm always willing to work with the president if I can" (Bolton, TheHill.com, 6/25).

National Lampoon's European Vacation

Obama has selected for ambassadorships in Europe two of his WH camp's "biggest fundraisers, extending a pattern of rewarding political supporters."

Obama chose "career foreign service officers" to head U.S. embassies in Latvia, Benin and Zimbabwe.

Obama said he will nominate Carlton Capital Group CEO William Eacho to be U.S. amb. to Austria. Eacho raised more than $500K for Obama's WH bid. Atty Bruce Oreck, who raised more than $500K for the Obama camp and with his family gave $202K to federal races, according to the center, was chosen to be U.S. amb. to Finland. And Obama picked finance exec. David Thorne to be amb. to Italy. Thorne contributed a total of $3,300 to Obama's primary and general election bids last year (Burns, AP, 6/25).

The Double Boy

New York Times' Krugman writes, "when it comes to domestic policy, there are two" Obamas. "On one side there's Barack the Policy Wonk, whose command of the issues -- and ability to explain those issues in plain English -- is a joy to behold. But on the other side there's Barack the Post-Partisan, who searches for common ground where none exists, and whose negotiations with himself lead to policies that are far too weak."

'Both Baracks were on display" in his presser earlier this week. First, Obama "offered a crystal-clear explanation of the case for health care reform, and especially of the case for a public option competing with private insurers." But "when asked whether the public option was non-negotiable he waffled, declaring that there are no 'lines in the sand.'" That p.m., WH CoS Rahm Emanuel met with Senate Dems and "told them -- well, it's not clear what he said." Still, "the impression everyone got was of" a WH "all too eager to make concessions."

"The big question here is whether health care is about to go the way of the stimulus bill." Obama and cong. Dems "have to hang tough -- no more gratuitous giveaways in the attempt to sound reasonable. And reform advocates have to keep up the pressure to stay on track. Yes, the perfect is the enemy of the good; but so is the not-good-enough-to-work. Health reform has to be done right" (6/26).

It's Not Personal, Sonny. It's Strictly Business.

National Journal's Cook writes, "when we look deeper into the surveys' results, we see that most Americans like Obama personally -- that is, except for" the 25-30% who still consider themselves GOPers. "Most people generally subscribe to his goals but are troubled by the specifics and the costs of achieving them. They definitely want to see significant health care reform, but they worry about how an overhaul could affect them." The public "shows a willingness to give Obama the benefit of the doubt, but it is reserving the right to worry about how his goals will work out in the end and how much they will cost" (6/27 issue).

Koh OKd

The Senate on 6/25 confirmed Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh as legal adviser to the State Dept. The vote was 62-35. Sens. voting no:

• Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
• Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY)
• Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT)
• Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO)
• Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS)
• Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY)
• Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC)
• Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
• Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK)
• Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS)
• Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN)
• Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX)
• Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID)
• Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)
• Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
• Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY)
• Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
• Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
• Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH)
• Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
• Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
• Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
• Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
• Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE)
• Senate Min. Whip Jon Kyl
• Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
• Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell
• Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
• Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID)
• Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS)
• Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
• Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL)
• Sen. John Thune (R-SD)
• Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)
• Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS)

Sens. Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) did not vote. A seat from MN remains vacant (U.S. Senate, 6/25).

The Senate also confirmed Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) to be the new undersec/State for arms control by unanimous consent (Cong. record, 6/25). Tauscher spoke today on the House floor to thank her constituents and colleagues (Hotline viewing, 6/26). She "could resign from Congress as early as this evening" following the House's work on the climate-change bill (Stannard, San Francisco Chronicle, 6/26).

Also confirmed 6/25 was Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney to be amb. to Ireland (Cong. record, 6/25).

We Are Family

The Senate on 6/25 confirmed venture capitalist Julius Genachowski as FCC chair and FCC commis. Robert McDowell for another term, both by unanimous consent (Cong. record, 6/25).

The WH officially nominated SC Public Service Commis. Mignon Clyburn to a "five-year term" on the FCC. Clyburn is the daughter of House Maj. Whip Jim Clyburn (Newmyer, Roll Call, 6/25).

Out With The New, In With The Old

Chapman Univ. WH fellow Joel Kotkin writes in Politico, the Obama admin. "has been, so far, hierarchical and even conservative in its thinking. Following and even surpassing" the Bush admin.'s reliance on an "MBA-trained elite, which drove the country nearly to ruin, the Obama approach seems to boil down to finding the smartest guy in the room, rather than utilizing people with hands-on experience or acquired wisdom." This "fixation on hierarchy has been unexpected" for an admin. "whose stock sold on the notion of being something other than the same old, same old. Yet as it turns out, the Obamanians seem to be as narrow, if not narrower, than their much-disdained predecessors" (6/26).

Editor-in-Chief: Amy Walter

Executive Editor: John Mercurio

Managing Editor: Quinn McCord

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