Campaign News

Obama Appears To Suggest Romney Might Not Have OK'd Bin Laden Raid The anniversary of the Osama bin Laden raid generated a great deal of coverage last night and this morning, including more than ten minutes of combined coverage from the three network newscasts. Both NBC Nightly News and ABC World News aired segments suggesting that comments made by Mitt Romney in 2007 are evidence that he would have been hesitant to approve the strike on Abbottabad. While the network coverage, especially the lead story from NBC Nightly News, reflected very positively on the Administration, much of the commentary in the major papers this morning is critical of the Obama campaign's implication that Mitt Romney would not have made the same decision the President did.
For example, David Brooks, in the New York Times , writes the Obama campaign ad touting the bin Laden raid included "a low-minded attack on Romney," which "turned a moment of genuine accomplishment into a political ploy," and Dana Milbank, in the Washington Post says the President's "nonstop campaigning is looking...sleazy -- and his ad suggesting that...Romney wouldn't have killed...bin Laden is just the beginning of it." Also in the Washington Post , CIA veteran Jose Rodriguez claims that "much of that work" that preceded the raid "has been denigrated by Obama as unproductive and contrary to American principles."
On NBC Nightly News, Chuck Todd reported, "In anticipation of the one-year anniversary...the Obama campaign released two web videos," which "called into question whether Mitt Romney would have made the same decision." The Romney campaign "took offense," and Romney "himself...tried to minimize the President's role." Romney: "Even Jimmy Carter would have given that order." Todd went on to report that the President "took issue with the criticism that his campaign had been overusing the bin Laden anniversary for his campaign and then alluded to the fact that Romney himself once questioned the President's judgment about going it alone in Pakistan."
ABC World News reported, "The decision to take out Osama bin Laden loomed large today in the battle for the White House," as "there was a kind of duel between" the President and Romney "over which candidate has the sheer determination and nerve to eliminate US enemies." Jake Tapper added that the President is "determined to make this success a cornerstone of his reelection effort," in part, because Romney "said, in 2007, it wasn't 'worth moving heaven and earth, spending billions of dollars, just to catch one person.'"
Reuters quotes the President as saying, "I said that we'd go after bin Laden if we had a clear shot at him and I did. If there are others who've said one thing, now suggest they'd do something else, then I'd go ahead and let them explain."
Huffington Calls Obama Ad "Despicable" Politico (4/30, Dixon, 25K) reported that in an appearance on CBS This Morning, Arianna Huffington said "making a campaign ad about the killing of Osama bin Laden...'is one of the most despicable things you can do." Huffington added, "There is no way to know whether Romney would've been as decisive. And to actually speculate that he wouldn't be is, to me, not the way to run campaigns on either side."
Peter Grier, in the Christian Science Monitor , noted that "even some Democrats are questioning the propriety of invoking bin Laden's killing in such nakedly political terms."
McCain: "Heroes...Don't Brag" Sen. John McCain, on Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, said, "Any president would have obviously, under those circumstances, done the same thing. And to now take credit for something that any president would do is indicative of the kind of campaign we're seeing." McCain added, "I have had the great honor of serving in the company of heroes. And you know the thing about heroes? They don't brag."
Mullen Warns Against Politicizing Bin Laden Raid NBC Nightly News reported, "The prospect, the possibility of politics getting mixed up in this one-year anniversary of the raid is a question we raised in our interview with retired Admiral Mike Mullen...who back then was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff." Mullen: "From my perspective, the President's support, the decision he made, and obviously, the result stand alone in terms of the kind of call Presidents have to make, and he made it. I do worry a great deal that this time of year that somehow this gets spun into election politics."
Mukasey Accuses Obama Of Planning To Blame McRaven If Raid Failed Former attorney general Michael Mukasey, in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal , claims that prior to signing off on the operation, the President insisted on insulating himself from any potential criticism of a failed operation, and signed a memo reading: "The timing, operational decision making and control are in Admiral McRaven's hands. The approval is provided on the risk profile presented to the President. Any additional risks are to be brought back to the President for his consideration." Mukasey contrasts this memo with one written by Dwight Eisenhower before D- Day, in which he wrote, "If any blame attaches to the attempt it is mine alone."

New Obama Ad Introduces "Forward" Slogan, Blames GOP For Recession The Hill reports the Obama campaign "released a seven-minute Web video on Monday highlighting the president's first-term accomplishments, contrasting them with the challenges he inherited from the prior administration. The video teases a new campaign slogan, 'Forward,' and...blames GOP policies for the still-sluggish economy."
Victor Morton, in a blog post for the Washington Times linked to from the Drudge Report under a "Socialismo O Muerte" poster with President Obama's head superimposed on an image of Lenin, says the term "forward" has a "a long and rich association with European Marxism," and "many Communist and radical publications and entities...had the name 'Forward!'"
Obama Ad Features "First Dog," Bo The Washington Post reports that the President "has unleashed a particularly unusual fundraiser for his 2012 campaign. ... The unlikely pitchman is Bo, the White House family pet, who may well be the first 'first dog' to emerge as a central player in a presidential reelection campaign." According to the Post, "The strategy is also an attempt to capitalize on the persistent controversy over" Mitt Romney "transporting his now-deceased Irish setter, Seamus, in a crate tied atop the family station wagon for a 12-hour trip to Canada in the 1980s."
"Source": Upcoming Obama Ad Titled "Swiss Bank Account" In a blog entry on the website of Politico , Alexander Burns wrote that "the Obama campaign is going up with a fresh round of ads tomorrow in Ohio, Iowa and Virginia -- three states where the president has been spending time in recent weeks." And "one media-tracking source tells me the title of the new commercial is 'Swiss Bank Account.' An Obama spokesperson declined to confirm the content of the ads, but one would imagine the title's a reference to Mitt Romney's Swiss bank account, which he initially failed to report in disclosure forms, and over which Democrats have been criticizing him for months."

Christie Says He Might Be Open To VP Nod Politico reports in its "Burns Haberman" blog that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie indicated Monday "that he might be open to the possibility" of joining Mitt Romney on the GOP ticket. Christie said, "He might be able to convince me. He's a convincing guy, but I really love this job. I really want to stay in this job." Christie added, "I really have no interest in being vice president, but if Governor Romney calls and asks me to sit down and talk to him about it, I'd listen because I think you owe the nominee of your party that level of respect and who knows what he's going to say."

Romney Edges Obama In Both Trackers Mitt Romney has regained the lead over President Obama in the Gallup daily primary tracker, topping him 47%-46%. Romney was down by as much as 7 points in the last week, but has slowly rallied. The poll surveyed about 2,200 registered voters from April 24-29.
In the Rasmussen Reports daily tracker, Romney leads 47%-45%. The candidates are tied at 43% among independent voters. The poll surveyed 1,500 likely voters from April 27-29.

Washington News

Obama Mum As Escaped Chinese Dissident Complicates Upcoming US-China Talks The Administration's handling of the Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng, who is widely thought to be sheltering in the US embassy in China, received heavy media attention, including almost eight minutes of coverage on national network newscasts – one of which led with the story -- as well as at least on front-page article in major national paper. Coverage tends to follow common themes: The Administration is being tight lipped about the situation, Obama must balance human rights with the need for China's cooperation on a variety of issues, and there appears to be no easy solution.
NBC Nightly News reported, "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leaves tonight for China. A previously scheduled trip that now has an important new goal. Protecting the fate of one man, a Chinese dissident who made a remarkable escape from house arrest a week ago and is now thought to be under US protection in Beijing." NBC (Williams) added, "The fate of this Chen Guangcheng has become the biggest test for US/China relations in years. ... No sign of extra security at the embassy today, but the issue is so delicate that there's been no comment from officials here."
The CBS Evening News reported, "Just when the Obama Administration was expecting progress in relations with China there's a new crisis. ... Now the [US] delegation is facing a dilemma: Stand up for human rights or make progress on other issues that affect millions."
The CBS Evening News reported, "We don't know whether Chen is holed up in the US Embassy. The Obama Administration won't say, but the midnight oil will be burning at the White House tonight." CBS (O'Donnell) added, "President Obama today tried to avoid saying anything that could risk their hopes to diffuse this crisis." O'Donnell continued, "It was clear Mr. Obama was trying to avoid rattling an already tense situation in part because Chen's case is threatening to be the biggest human rights issue between the two countries since the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989."
In a front-page article, the New York Times reports, "President Obama on Monday gently prodded China to improve its human-rights record" but said "that he was 'very pleased' with the cooperation his administration had fostered between the United States and China, reflecting a balance he has long sought between partnership and concern over China's restrictions on basic freedoms." However, Obama "pointedly declined to discuss" Chen's case, which "has badly strained that balance."

Obama Accuses GOP Of Blocking Infrastructure Spending The AP reported President Obama is "rallying union workers by painting a bleak portrait of America's infrastructure. He blames Republicans for focusing on tax cutting rather than creating jobs by updating and rebuilding highways, railroads and airports." Obama told "the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO that US highways are clogged, railroads are no longer the fastest in the world and airports are congested," but he said "Republicans have repeatedly voted against his initiatives to create jobs by spending on construction projects."
The Hill reports the President "slammed" Speaker Boehner "over construction projects, which the president says have been blocked by Republicans who have refused to take up a long-term highway bill approved in a bipartisan vote by the Senate. The president said the stalled legislation is keeping millions of workers jobless...including in Boehner's own district."
According to the Washington Times , "Even before the president delivered the remarks, Mr. Romney's campaign issued a release slamming Mr. Obama for pandering to the labor unions. 'Nearly 23 million Americans are struggling for work in the Obama economy, but the president has repeatedly sided with his well-funded allies in big labor over American workers,' said Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul."
Obama's Failure To Address Keystone Pipeline Debate Noted Fox News' Special Report also reported that the President "said Congress is to blame for blocking many infrastructure projects that would put many Americans back to work." Correspondent Shannon Bream added, "One project on which the President won't act is the Keystone XL pipeline, which served as an elephant in the room during Mr. Obama's remarks to his union supporters. This very group has backed Keystone and called on the President to do the same."
Milbank: Obama's AFL-CIO Speech Was "A Campaign Rally In Everything But Name" According to Dana Milbank, in a column for the Washington Post titled, "President Obama, Campaigner In Chief," Obama, "to a greater extent than his predecessors...has used the trappings of his office to promote his reelection prospects even while handling taxpayer-funded business." Milbank notes the President's AFL-CIO speech was "ostensibly an 'official' speech," but, according to Milbank, "it was a campaign rally in everything but name."

EPA Official Resigns Over "Crucify" Comments Fox News' Special Report reported that Al Armendariz, an EPA regional administrator "who compared enforcement philosophy to early Romans crucifying a few people to make an example of them, resigned...saying his continued service would distract from the agency's work." According to Fox, Sen. James Inhofe, "who brought the remarks to light, said the resignation does nothing to solve the problem and noted [Armendariz] 'was just being honest.'" Inhofe said, "His choice of words revealed the truth about the war that EPA has been waging on American energy producers."
The Los Angeles Times reports, "Armendariz's remarks were uncovered by" Inhofe's staff, "who discovered a video of Armendariz delivering a speech in 2010 while in Dish, Texas. During his address, Armendariz used a metaphor that he acknowledged was 'crude' to portray the enforcement practices of the EPA. 'It was kind of like how the Romans used to conquer little villages in the Mediterranean. They'd go into a little Turkish town somewhere, they'd find the first five guys they saw, and they would crucify them. And then you know that town was really easy to manage for the next few years,' Armendariz said."