Copyright (c) 2012 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. http://news.yahoo.com/politics/barack-obama politics Politics - Barack Obama en-us Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:24:50 GMT 5 142 18 http://news.yahoo.com/politics/barack-obama http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/th/main_142c.gif http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120215/ap_on_go_co/us_payroll_tax ap/20120215/us_payroll_tax AP business Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:24:50 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120215/ap_on_go_co/us_payroll_tax"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.5724bd216dad48189b665ec96b3b61ea-ba99b619363243fc8d736131c58634b5-0.jpg?x=130&y=111&q=85&sig=smGhRAt4BszctPFDHPXFqg--" align="left" height="111" width="130" alt="President Barack Obama speaks to continue to push Congress to act to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance through the end of the year, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, in the Old Executive Office building on the White House complex in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)" border="0" /></a>AP - House-Senate talks on renewing a payroll tax cut that delivers about $20 a week to the average worker yielded a tentative agreement Tuesday, with lawmakers hopeful of unveiling the pact Wednesday and sending the measure to President Barack Obama as early as this week.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120215/ap_on_go_co/us_payroll_tax"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.5724bd216dad48189b665ec96b3b61ea-ba99b619363243fc8d736131c58634b5-0.jpg?x=130&y=111&q=85&sig=smGhRAt4BszctPFDHPXFqg--" align="left" height="111" width="130" alt="photo" title="President Barack Obama speaks to continue to push Congress to act to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance through the end of the year, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, in the Old Executive Office building on the White House complex in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120215/ap_on_el_pr/us_obama_solyndra ap/20120215/us_obama_solyndra AP Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:17:35 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120215/ap_on_el_pr/us_obama_solyndra"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.76c4fdb77c8848e4a71feea649b56211-76c4fdb77c8848e4a71feea649b56211-0.jpg?x=130&y=98&q=85&sig=.oBlen487d7JRoisOa.rXw--" align="left" height="98" width="130" alt="In this photo taken Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, President Barack Obama speaks in the Eisenhower Executive Office building on the White House complex in Washington. If you want a window into how outside Republican groups may target President Barack Obama's record this year, look no further than his administration's handling of solar company Solyndra. Republicans have latched onto Obama's ties to the bankrupt California energy company. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)" border="0" /></a>AP - If you want a window into how outside Republican groups are likely to assail President Barack Obama's record this year, look no further than how the GOP is lambasting the administration's handling of solar company Solyndra.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120215/ap_on_el_pr/us_obama_solyndra"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.76c4fdb77c8848e4a71feea649b56211-76c4fdb77c8848e4a71feea649b56211-0.jpg?x=130&y=98&q=85&sig=.oBlen487d7JRoisOa.rXw--" align="left" height="98" width="130" alt="photo" title="In this photo taken Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, President Barack Obama speaks in the Eisenhower Executive Office building on the White House complex in Washington. If you want a window into how outside Republican groups may target President Barack Obama's record this year, look no further than his administration's handling of solar company Solyndra. Republicans have latched onto Obama's ties to the bankrupt California energy company. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120215/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_china ap/20120215/us_us_china AP politics Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:08:33 GMT AP - The man destined to be China's next leader won an extraordinary welcome across Washington on Tuesday, a finely scripted opening to one of the world's most important relationships. Trading kind words of cooperation, President Barack Obama and Xi Jinping also spoke directly about human rights and worsening foreign crises. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120215/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama_budget ap/20120215/us_obama_budget AP business Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:06:54 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120215/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama_budget"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.d3dd42689084424f91b4a064fa93e00c-d3dd42689084424f91b4a064fa93e00c-0.jpg?x=130&y=90&q=85&sig=2l7lODxbgpmEq5GAPMmTbQ--" align="left" height="90" width="130" alt="Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, before the Senate Finance Committee hearing on President Barack Obama's fiscal 2013 federal budget. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)" border="0" /></a>AP - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told Congress Tuesday that the president's new $3.8 trillion spending plan would impose new taxes on only 2 percent of the nation's wealthiest families and the alternative would be to seek more painful cuts in other government programs such as defense, Social Security and Medicare.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120215/ap_on_bi_ge/us_obama_budget"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.d3dd42689084424f91b4a064fa93e00c-d3dd42689084424f91b4a064fa93e00c-0.jpg?x=130&y=90&q=85&sig=2l7lODxbgpmEq5GAPMmTbQ--" align="left" height="90" width="130" alt="photo" title="Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, before the Senate Finance Committee hearing on President Barack Obama's fiscal 2013 federal budget. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120215/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_valentine_s_day ap/20120215/us_obama_valentine_s_day AP politics Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:03:17 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120215/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_valentine_s_day"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.e2285991115241af8c1f19984c7909e5-e2285991115241af8c1f19984c7909e5-0.jpg?x=130&y=93&q=85&sig=8zaKKSN2eq.FXBO50LpVog--" align="left" height="93" width="130" alt="President Barack Obama meets with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, Tuesday, Feb., 14, 2012, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)" border="0" /></a>AP - President Barack Obama, popular in blue states, had a decidedly red message Tuesday: "Let me start with a quick public service announcement for all the gentlemen out there. Today is Valentine's Day."</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120215/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_valentine_s_day"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.e2285991115241af8c1f19984c7909e5-e2285991115241af8c1f19984c7909e5-0.jpg?x=130&y=93&q=85&sig=8zaKKSN2eq.FXBO50LpVog--" align="left" height="93" width="130" alt="photo" title="President Barack Obama meets with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, Tuesday, Feb., 14, 2012, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120214/ts_nm/us_usa_china nm/20120214/us_usa_china Reuters topstories Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:43:15 GMT Reuters - President Barack Obama told Chinese leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping on Tuesday that Beijing must play by the same trade rules as other major world powers and vowed to keep pressing China to clean up its human rights record. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_justice_worst_award ap/20120214/us_justice_worst_award AP politics Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:29:23 GMT AP - A group dedicated to reducing government secrecy gave its annual worst performance award Tuesday to the Justice Department, the agency President Barack Obama ordered in 2009 to lead his drive to open more government records to the public. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120214/pl_nm/us_usa_economy_geithner nm/20120214/us_usa_economy_geithner Reuters politics Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:19:33 GMT Reuters - The Obama administration's corporate tax reform plan will end "dozens and dozens" of tax breaks, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Tuesday as he defended the White House's election-year call for higher taxes on the wealthy. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_el_ge/us_money_for_politicians ap/20120214/us_money_for_politicians AP Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:18:01 GMT AP - In a Feb. 3 story about contributions to political committees supporting Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich and Barack Obama, The Associated Press incorrectly identified a New York company founded by hedge fund manager Paul Singer as Renaissance Technologies. Singer's company is Elliott Management Corp. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120214/us_ac/10966956_obamas_budget_seeks_300_million_for_great_lakes_restoration_initiative ac/20120214/10966956_obamas_budget_seeks_300_million_for_great_lakes_restoration_initiative ContributorNetwork science Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:58:43 GMT ContributorNetwork - According to the Associated Press, under a budget proposal submitted by President Barack Obama, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative would receive another $300 million for tackling environmental problem in the Great Lakes system. If approved, the funding would go to individual projects and partnerships the federal government has with state, local and tribal agencies that specifically seek to help alleviate ecological concerns. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_nuclear_weapons ap/20120214/us_nuclear_weapons AP politics Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:51:01 GMT AP - The Obama administration is weighing options for sharp new cuts to the U.S. nuclear force, including a reduction of up to 80 percent in the number of deployed weapons, The Associated Press has learned. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_faa ap/20120214/us_obama_faa AP politics Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:30:09 GMT AP - President Barack Obama has signed legislation Tuesday that modernizes the nation's aviation system, speeding up the nation's switch from radar to an air traffic control system based on GPS technology. The law also opens up the skies to military, commercial and privately-owned unmanned drones. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120214/pl_ac/10962470_obama_is_the_great_divider_but_evidence_shows_dividers_get_reelected ac/20120214/10962470_obama_is_the_great_divider_but_evidence_shows_dividers_get_reelected ContributorNetwork politics Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:21:00 GMT ContributorNetwork - COMMENTARY | At the Conservative Political Action Conference last week, speakers frequently touted the argument that President Barack Obama is the most divisive president in history. Roll Call's John Stanton said GOP lawmakers frequently decried Obama's "politics of division." http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_wisconsin_obama ap/20120214/us_wisconsin_obama AP politics Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:12:59 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_wisconsin_obama"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.8d1af970873b4908ac575193355ff93e-8d1af970873b4908ac575193355ff93e-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=m2dDoOx57VKG__YW2NCTnQ--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2012, file photo Delisa Scales touches up locks inside Master Lock company in Milwaukee, Wis. President Barack Obama will try to use his visit to Master Lock Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, to show how the economy is improving and companies are growing jobs in the United States instead of shipping them overseas, but the success story hasn't translated across Wisconsin which has lost private sector jobs each of the past six months. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps, File)" border="0" /></a>AP - President Barack Obama will try to use his Wednesday visit to a Milwaukee padlock manufacturer to highlight an improving economy and showcase companies that are bringing jobs back to the U.S., even though the Wisconsin company's success isn't reflective of the state.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_wisconsin_obama"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.8d1af970873b4908ac575193355ff93e-8d1af970873b4908ac575193355ff93e-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=m2dDoOx57VKG__YW2NCTnQ--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="photo" title="FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2012, file photo Delisa Scales touches up locks inside Master Lock company in Milwaukee, Wis. President Barack Obama will try to use his visit to Master Lock Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, to show how the economy is improving and companies are growing jobs in the United States instead of shipping them overseas, but the success story hasn't translated across Wisconsin which has lost private sector jobs each of the past six months. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps, File)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_defense_spending ap/20120214/us_defense_spending AP politics Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:45:58 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_defense_spending"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.cc3e3ae76b64421eb07bf9e1e97215f8-cc3e3ae76b64421eb07bf9e1e97215f8-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=ciDvdrSxIOmSTZawKoiJZA--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, right, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Pentagon's budget plan. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)" border="0" /></a>AP - Brushing aside congressional opposition, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and the nation's top military leader insisted on Tuesday that President Barack Obama's trimmer, $614 billion defense budget will ensure the U.S. advantage worldwide with acceptable risks to the force and missions.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_defense_spending"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120214/capt.cc3e3ae76b64421eb07bf9e1e97215f8-cc3e3ae76b64421eb07bf9e1e97215f8-0.jpg?x=130&y=86&q=85&sig=ciDvdrSxIOmSTZawKoiJZA--" align="left" height="86" width="130" alt="photo" title="Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, right, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Pentagon's budget plan. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP) http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120214/ts_nm/us_usa_iran_sanctions nm/20120214/us_usa_iran_sanctions Reuters topstories Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:06:44 GMT Reuters - The Obama administration on Tuesday clarified how it would enforce recently passed Iran sanctions including how the United States would determine if another country has significantly reduced oil purchases from Iran. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20120214/ts_csm/466952 csm/20120214/466952 The Christian Science Monitor topstories Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:05:59 GMT The Christian Science Monitor - The federal government recovered nearly $4.1 billion last year in an escalating, nationwide crackdown against health-care fraud, Obama administration officials announced Tuesday. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120214/us_ac/10965758_obama_budget_filed_with_new_spending_and_accounting_gimmicks ac/20120214/10965758_obama_budget_filed_with_new_spending_and_accounting_gimmicks ContributorNetwork us Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:26:58 GMT ContributorNetwork - COMMENTARY | The Obama administration released a budget proposal that is not so much a budget as it is a campaign document disguised as a wish list. Obama proposes to spend $3.8 trillion in the next fiscal year, with a deficit of $901 billion. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20120214/pl_ac/10963734_arizona_presidential_preference_primary_voter_guide ac/20120214/10963734_arizona_presidential_preference_primary_voter_guide ContributorNetwork politics Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:54:39 GMT ContributorNetwork - The Arizona presidential preference primary will be held Feb. 28. Voters will have an opportunity to select their choice for the Republican candidate they feel will best represent the Republican Party in the November general election against incumbent Barack Obama. http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_fbi_raids_militia ap/20120214/us_fbi_raids_militia AP us Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:55:23 GMT <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_fbi_raids_militia"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.63027b8b5e904ea4a2d353d037b1e8f4-dd6ffe727146435c99cd970e33384de2-0.jpg?x=130&y=83&q=85&sig=_acD2j378kzB9wx_9QAdxg--" align="left" height="83" width="130" alt="ADDS INFORMATION THAT ONE OF THE PEOPLE SHOWN IS NOT GOING ON TRIAL --This combo of eight photos provided by the U.S. Marshals Service on Monday March 29, 2010 shows from top left, David Brian Stone Sr., 44, of Clayton, Mich,; David Brian Stone Jr. of Adrian, Mich,; Jacob Ward, 33, of Huron, Ohio; Tina Mae Stone and bottom row from left, Michael David Meeks, 40, of Manchester, Mich,; Kristopher T. Sickles, 27, of Sandusky, Ohio; Joshua John Clough, 28, of Blissfield, Mich.; and Thomas William Piatek, 46, of Whiting, Ind., suspects tied to Hutaree, a Christian militia. Jury selection is getting under way in Detroit federal court Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, nearly two years after the dramatic arrest of people who authorities say belonged to a southern Michigan militia with a goal of rebelling against the government. The trial is expected to last weeks. It involves seven of the nine people charged with belonging to a group called Hutaree. The government says they conspired to try to kill a police officer and plotted further strikes. No one was ever attacked, and the defendants say they're being prosecuted for saying stupid things. Joshua Clough, bottom row second from right, is the only defendant to make a deal with prosecutors and could be called as a witness to testify against the Hutaree. (AP Photo/U.S. Marshall)" border="0" /></a>AP - An undercover informant was paid about $31,000 in cash for his critical role in an investigation that led to charges against members of a Midwest militia accused of plotting rebellion against the U.S., an FBI agent testified Tuesday.</p><br clear="all"/> <p><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120214/ap_on_re_us/us_fbi_raids_militia"><img src="http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20120213/capt.63027b8b5e904ea4a2d353d037b1e8f4-dd6ffe727146435c99cd970e33384de2-0.jpg?x=130&y=83&q=85&sig=_acD2j378kzB9wx_9QAdxg--" align="left" height="83" width="130" alt="photo" title="ADDS INFORMATION THAT ONE OF THE PEOPLE SHOWN IS NOT GOING ON TRIAL --This combo of eight photos provided by the U.S. Marshals Service on Monday March 29, 2010 shows from top left, David Brian Stone Sr., 44, of Clayton, Mich,; David Brian Stone Jr. of Adrian, Mich,; Jacob Ward, 33, of Huron, Ohio; Tina Mae Stone and bottom row from left, Michael David Meeks, 40, of Manchester, Mich,; Kristopher T. Sickles, 27, of Sandusky, Ohio; Joshua John Clough, 28, of Blissfield, Mich.; and Thomas William Piatek, 46, of Whiting, Ind., suspects tied to Hutaree, a Christian militia. Jury selection is getting under way in Detroit federal court Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012, nearly two years after the dramatic arrest of people who authorities say belonged to a southern Michigan militia with a goal of rebelling against the government. The trial is expected to last weeks. It involves seven of the nine people charged with belonging to a group called Hutaree. The government says they conspired to try to kill a police officer and plotted further strikes. No one was ever attacked, and the defendants say they're being prosecuted for saying stupid things. Joshua Clough, bottom row second from right, is the only defendant to make a deal with prosecutors and could be called as a witness to testify against the Hutaree. (AP Photo/U.S. Marshall)" border="0"/></a></p><br clear="all"/> (AP)