PostPartisan: Barack Obama


Posted at 10:58 AM ET, 05/22/2013

The Insiders: A special prosecutor in the IRS matter is inevitable
By Ed Rogers
Obama has two choices: Appoint a special prosecutor now or later.

By Ed Rogers  |  10:58 AM ET, 05/22/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, irs, The Insiders, White House

Posted at 03:09 PM ET, 05/21/2013

Obama can't win with some black critics
By Jonathan Capehart
The president's detractors fail to take a 360-degree view of what they are demanding from him and ignore what he's actually done.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  03:09 PM ET, 05/21/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama

Posted at 01:41 PM ET, 05/21/2013

Look beyond the 1990s for a full picture of presidential approval
By Jonathan Bernstein
Economic performance supplies the context, but other events can affect presidential approval

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  01:41 PM ET, 05/21/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  approval ratings, Associate Press, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, irs, Richard Nixon

Posted at 12:23 PM ET, 05/21/2013

The Insiders: Obama needs a plan
By Ed Rogers
President Obama should go on the offensive and turbocharge an effort for corporate tax reform, open an aggressive debate about entitlement eligibility and means testing, and delay the implementation of ObamaCare.

By Ed Rogers  |  12:23 PM ET, 05/21/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Benghazi, doj, entitlement reform, irs, obamacare, tax reform, The Insiders

Posted at 03:16 PM ET, 05/20/2013

All laughs in the presidents' club
By Jonathan Capehart
There's something especially rich and sentimental about a photo from the opening of George W. Bush's library and museum. In the president's club all is forgiven, it seems.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  03:16 PM ET, 05/20/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama

Posted at 02:36 PM ET, 05/20/2013

The Insiders: 'Nothing to see here' is not a viable strategy
By Ed Rogers
President Obama and the White House want the scandals they face to disappear, but they are going to face increased scrutiny in the days ahead.

By Ed Rogers  |  02:36 PM ET, 05/20/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Benghazi, irs, sarah hall ingram, The Insiders

Posted at 07:16 PM ET, 05/15/2013

The president's IRS comments make things worse
By Ed Rogers
Throwing fuel on a scandal's fire

By Ed Rogers  |  07:16 PM ET, 05/15/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, irs, The Insiders

Posted at 06:59 PM ET, 05/15/2013

Obama goes after the IRS
By Jonathan Capehart
The president was stern, angry and clear in what he wants. Finally.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  06:59 PM ET, 05/15/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, irs

Posted at 09:04 AM ET, 05/15/2013

Obama and the IRS: Time to act
By Jonathan Capehart
Obama didn't direct the IRS to target his critics. But he is going to have shake things up to make sure this doesn't happen again.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  09:04 AM ET, 05/15/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, irs

Posted at 03:30 PM ET, 05/14/2013

PostScript: Will and Watergates
By Rachel Manteuffel
Readers respond to Will's column on new Obama scandal

By Rachel Manteuffel  |  03:30 PM ET, 05/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  george will, irs, Justice Department, PostScript, President Barack Obama, Watergate

Posted at 08:29 AM ET, 05/14/2013

The Insiders: Don't stall Mr. President: It's time for a special prosecutor.
By Ed Rogers
The growing IRS scandal is a perfect example of when we need an independent counsel to investigate. Republicans need to lead the call for a special prosecutor to be appointed.

By Ed Rogers  |  08:29 AM ET, 05/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Congress, irs, The Insiders

Posted at 03:37 PM ET, 05/13/2013

Obama right about Benghazi 'sideshow'
By Jonathan Capehart
The scandal is not in what Rice said. No, the scandal is that all this congressional table-thumping doesn't address the real issue of diplomatic security.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  03:37 PM ET, 05/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Benghazi, hillary clinton, Jason Chaffetz, Presidient Barack Obama, Susan Rice

Posted at 12:44 PM ET, 05/13/2013

Obama hammers the IRS
By Jonathan Capehart
Only a diehard, right-leaning partisan could question the sincerity of his outrage over the IRS's actions.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  12:44 PM ET, 05/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama

Posted at 11:11 AM ET, 05/13/2013

The Insiders: Benghazi is dream scenario for Republicans
By Carter Eskew
Republicans' two favorite bones buried together: Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama

By Carter Eskew  |  11:11 AM ET, 05/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Benghazi, Hilary Clinton, John Boehner, Karl Rove, Rand Paul, Robert Gates

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 05/13/2013

The Insiders: The Obama IRS nightmare is just getting started
By Ed Rogers
The details are just starting to come to light, but the targeting of tea Party and patriot groups by the Obama IRS is a scandal that could affect the November 2014 elections.

By Ed Rogers  |  10:00 AM ET, 05/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Benghazi, irs, Tea Party, The Insiders

Posted at 09:20 AM ET, 05/13/2013

Obama must read the IRS the riot act [Update]
By Jonathan Capehart
It doesn't matter that the internal changes at the IRS that made the boneheaded actions possible took place under President George W. Bush.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  09:20 AM ET, 05/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama

Posted at 10:14 AM ET, 05/09/2013

The Insiders: The Obama economy has delivered for the 1 percent!
By Ed Rogers
Obama's economic policies have worsened income inequality in America.

By Ed Rogers  |  10:14 AM ET, 05/09/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, economy, income inequality, stock market, The Insiders

Posted at 09:22 AM ET, 05/09/2013

Obama and gay marriage: one fabulous year
By Jonathan Capehart
So much has happened since the president came out for marriage equality.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  09:22 AM ET, 05/09/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, LGBT, Same-sex marriage

Posted at 06:30 PM ET, 05/07/2013

The Insiders: Some whiskey-talk suggestions for Obama and McConnell
By Ed Rogers
If they really did have a drink together, they might actually do some good.

By Ed Rogers  |  06:30 PM ET, 05/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  appropriations, Barack Obama, Confirmation hearings, Congress, senator mcconnell, The Insiders

Posted at 03:50 PM ET, 05/06/2013

The Insiders: Hard facts cloud the Obama presidency
By Ed Rogers
President Obama needs a new agenda, not a better way of selling the status quo.

By Ed Rogers  |  03:50 PM ET, 05/06/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, economy, election 2014, The Insiders, unemployment

Posted at 02:59 PM ET, 05/03/2013

Executive-branch vetting is a disaster
By Jonathan Bernstein
The costs of excessive vetting are obvious and important. The benefits? Phony, mostly.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  02:59 PM ET, 05/03/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 05/03/2013

The Insiders: Only a polite "golf clap" for the April jobs report
By Ed Rogers
Today's jobs report is better than what most feared, but the fact is that the only robust thing about the Obama economy is the stock market.

By Ed Rogers  |  10:00 AM ET, 05/03/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, economy, employment situations, jobs, The Insiders

Posted at 11:48 AM ET, 05/02/2013

Obama's real 'leadership' problem
By Jonathan Capehart
If folks are going to talk about President Obama's "inability to lead" they need to be fully mindful of just how responsible the Republican Party is for it.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  11:48 AM ET, 05/02/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Republicans

Posted at 06:01 PM ET, 05/01/2013

The Insiders: Republicans should help the president deal with Syria
By Ed Rogers
GOP shouldn't seize upon the "red line" mistake to force bad policy in hopes of just embarrassing President Obama.

By Ed Rogers  |  06:01 PM ET, 05/01/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Republicans, Syria, The Insiders

Posted at 06:23 PM ET, 04/30/2013

The Insiders: Obama's blasé news conference
By Ed Rogers
Obama filled a tired question and answer session with his usual slogans and platitudes.

By Ed Rogers  |  06:23 PM ET, 04/30/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Congress, sequester, The Insiders, White House

Posted at 10:07 AM ET, 04/29/2013

The Insiders: Many dark clouds on the president's horizon
By Ed Rogers
The economy, Obamacare and Syria are heavy anchors on the Obama presidency, but those are just some of the problems that Obama faces.

By Ed Rogers  |  10:07 AM ET, 04/29/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, obamacare, sequester, The Insiders

Posted at 06:44 PM ET, 04/23/2013

Assad defies the U.S. and Russia
By David Ignatius
The growing evidence that the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons provides an opportunity for the two countries that have the most influence over the situation to jointly force the Syrian president to hand over power.

By David Ignatius  |  06:44 PM ET, 04/23/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Russia, Syria

Posted at 04:13 PM ET, 04/22/2013

The Insiders: Obama had to charge the Boston Marathon suspect
By Ed Rogers
President Obama had no choice but to charge the Boston Marathon bombing suspect in custody as an American citizen rather than as an enemy combatant.

By Ed Rogers  |  04:13 PM ET, 04/22/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, boston marathon bombing, Congress, terrorism, The Insiders

Posted at 05:41 PM ET, 04/18/2013

How much grief can we and Obama take?
By Jonathan Capehart
How many times have we watched a man who keeps his emotions in check be unable to hold back his anger and sadness over the loss of life and injury with each incident?

By Jonathan Capehart  |  05:41 PM ET, 04/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama

Posted at 10:31 AM ET, 04/18/2013

The Insiders: The president's Sandy Hook exploitation fails
By Ed Rogers
President Obama used the Sandy Hook families as props and lobbyists to try and fight a Washington legislative battle that was not their fight.

By Ed Rogers  |  10:31 AM ET, 04/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Congress, Democrats, gun control, sandy hook, The Insiders

Posted at 04:27 PM ET, 04/10/2013

The Insiders: Democrats should fear Obama's budget
By Ed Rogers
For Democrats running for office in 2014, President Obama's budget can't be very encouraging. It's just more of the same taxing and spending.

By Ed Rogers  |  04:27 PM ET, 04/10/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, budget, Congress, economy, Republicans, The Insiders

Posted at 10:39 AM ET, 04/09/2013

The Insiders: Obama may be irrelevant to the budget
By Ed Rogers
Tomorrow, President Obama will formally reveal his budget plan. But since it is over 2 months late, and the House and Senate leaders have already produced and adopted budget resolutions, it may be irrelevant.

By Ed Rogers  |  10:39 AM ET, 04/09/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, budget, Congress, economy, speaker boehner, The Insiders

Posted at 05:44 PM ET, 04/04/2013

Obama was right about Kamala Harris
By Jonathan Capehart
His comments weren't cat-calling of a woman he doesn't know.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  05:44 PM ET, 04/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, kamala harris

Posted at 11:04 AM ET, 04/04/2013

The Insiders: Let them eat 5 percent
By Ed Rogers
President Obama might be returning 5 percent of his salary, but he should have his pay docked for not submitting a budget on time.

By Ed Rogers  |  11:04 AM ET, 04/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Chuck Hagel, Sequestration, The Insiders

Posted at 10:28 AM ET, 04/04/2013

Obama's insulting salary stunt
By Richard Cohen
The $20,000 Obama is kicking back to the Treasury is a pittance that he won't even miss.

By Richard Cohen  |  10:28 AM ET, 04/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, sequester

Posted at 02:47 PM ET, 04/03/2013

On guns, Obama is doing all he can. Are you?
By Jonathan Capehart
There is still widespread support for sensible measures to curb gun violence. All that's needed now is the political activism to match it.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  02:47 PM ET, 04/03/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Connecticut shooting, gun control, Guns

Posted at 05:47 PM ET, 04/02/2013

The Insiders: Voters are cool and the planet is too
By Ed Rogers
Global warming is fading as a political issue.

By Ed Rogers  |  05:47 PM ET, 04/02/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, energy, Environment, global warming, The Insiders

Posted at 12:59 PM ET, 03/29/2013

The Insiders: Obama's plan for business
By Ed Rogers
Between the burden of ObamaCare, higher taxes, and stifling regulations, President Obama and the Democrats are destroying our chances for a real economic recovery.

By Ed Rogers  |  12:59 PM ET, 03/29/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, economy, energy, obamacare, regulations, taxes, The Insiders

Posted at 02:38 PM ET, 03/27/2013

The Insiders: Obama and the Democrats can't hide from the deficit
By Ed Rogers
President Obama and the Democrats are creating a cosmetic veneer to cover the cancer of our deficits and debt by denying that we have a spending problem.

By Ed Rogers  |  02:38 PM ET, 03/27/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, deficits, economy, The Insiders

Posted at 04:25 PM ET, 03/25/2013

President Obama, where are the judges?
By Jonathan Bernstein
He has promised to fight harder against GOP obstruction on judges, but will he?

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  04:25 PM ET, 03/25/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, judicial nominations

Posted at 06:30 PM ET, 03/18/2013

Obama's wise choice for the White House's faith office
By E.J. Dionne Jr.
Melissa Rogers is an excellent pick, and one about which I claim absolutely no neutrality.

By E.J. Dionne Jr.  |  06:30 PM ET, 03/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Religion

Posted at 02:38 PM ET, 03/14/2013

The Insiders: CPAC needs to stay on message with the economy
By Ed Rogers
The annual conference is still relevant, but it needs to focus on the problems we face and the solutions conservatives can offer.

By Ed Rogers  |  02:38 PM ET, 03/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Congress, CPAC, gun control, Republicans, The Insiders

Posted at 01:39 PM ET, 03/11/2013

The Insiders: A big week for the budget
By Ed Rogers
This week will reveal a lot about the stark differences between Republicans and Democrats as we learn more about Rep. Ryan and Sen. Murray's budget proposals.

By Ed Rogers  |  01:39 PM ET, 03/11/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, budget, Congress, economy, entitlements, patty murray, Paul Ryan, The Insiders

Posted at 10:06 AM ET, 03/11/2013

The Insiders: Still unanswered questions, 10 years after the Iraq invasion
By Carter Eskew
A decade has passed, but unanswered questions remain.

By Carter Eskew  |  10:06 AM ET, 03/11/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Colin Powell, Eichenwald, George Bush, Iraq, Middle East, Saddam

Posted at 08:11 AM ET, 03/06/2013

The Insiders: President Obama could learn from Yahoo's Marissa Mayer
By Ed Rogers
President Obama could learn a lesson from Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer on how to make decisions that will enact real change, even if making those decisions means facing criticism.

By Ed Rogers  |  08:11 AM ET, 03/06/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, economy, marissa mayer, sequester, The Insiders

Posted at 03:08 PM ET, 03/01/2013

Obama continues to make gay history
By Jonathan Capehart
Obama burnished his image as "the first gay president" with his amicus brief calling for the invalidation of Proposition 8.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  03:08 PM ET, 03/01/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, LGBT, Same-sex marriage, Supreme Court

Posted at 11:19 AM ET, 03/01/2013

The Insiders: The sequester is here
By Ed Rogers
The sequester is here, and it is bringing to light how difficult it would be for Washington to seriously try to slow spending and reduce our national debt. Where is the leadership from The White House?

By Ed Rogers  |  11:19 AM ET, 03/01/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Congress, economy, John Boehner, Mitch McConnell, Sequestration, The Insiders

Posted at 07:04 AM ET, 03/01/2013

No surprise in Obama's gay marriage brief
By Jonathan Capehart
Anyone surprised by the administration's action hasn't been paying attention to the president.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  07:04 AM ET, 03/01/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, LGBT, Same-sex marriage, Supreme Court

Posted at 10:05 AM ET, 02/28/2013

The Insiders: The buck stops with President Obama
By Carter Eskew
The president has more to lose in the upcoming sequester.

By Carter Eskew  |  10:05 AM ET, 02/28/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, sequester, The Insiders

Posted at 11:15 AM ET, 02/27/2013

The GOP's recycled sequester gambit
By Jonathan Capehart
Their latest idea to dodge blame on across-the-board budget cuts sounds a lot like what the GOP embraced on the debt ceiling two years ago.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  11:15 AM ET, 02/27/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Republicans, sequester

Posted at 01:21 PM ET, 02/26/2013

'Unfair' assessment of Obama's leadership
By Jonathan Capehart
A common complaint about President Obama's leadership completely ignores the planned recalcitrance of congressional Republicans.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  01:21 PM ET, 02/26/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Republicans

Posted at 09:49 AM ET, 02/25/2013

The Insiders: Sequestration and made-for-TV suffering
By Ed Rogers
President Obama is invested in making the sequester cuts as harmful as possible for the American public, to try and shift the blame to Republicans.

By Ed Rogers  |  09:49 AM ET, 02/25/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Congress, economy, Sequestration, The Insiders

Posted at 01:27 PM ET, 02/21/2013

The Insiders: What if the sequester isn't a disaster?
By Ed Rogers
What will be the lessons learned from sequestration?

By Ed Rogers  |  01:27 PM ET, 02/21/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Congress, Sequestration, The Insiders

Posted at 12:11 PM ET, 02/19/2013

The Insiders: Sequestration is the president's Frankenstein
By Ed Rogers
President Obama seems agitated by sequestration, but it's likely that Republicans inCongress will hear from their constituents to hold the line on taxes and spending.

By Ed Rogers  |  12:11 PM ET, 02/19/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Congress, Sequestration, taxes, The Insiders

Posted at 10:43 AM ET, 02/19/2013

The Insiders: It isn't a fair fight
By Carter Eskew
The relationship between the White House press corps and the administrations it covers needs to change.

By Carter Eskew  |  10:43 AM ET, 02/19/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Arsenio, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Iran-Contra, Monica Lewinsky, president, Reagan, Reddit, Twitter, West Wing, White House, White House correspondent

Posted at 07:34 AM ET, 02/19/2013

The Insiders: President Obama a leader for our times
By Hilary Rosen
His legacy will go beyond any single piece of domestic legislation.

By Hilary Rosen  |  07:34 AM ET, 02/19/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, The Insiders

Posted at 10:44 AM ET, 02/18/2013

The Insiders: Questions about the Obama legacy
By Ed Rogers
Obama cemented his place in history as the first African-American U.S. president, but what will his legacy be for his actual tenure in office?

By Ed Rogers  |  10:44 AM ET, 02/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, The Insiders

Posted at 09:55 AM ET, 02/15/2013

The Insiders: Spending problem or no? Let's have the debate.
By Ed Rogers
Democratic leaders say that we don't have a spending problem, drawing a clear contrast with the Republican position on this issue.

By Ed Rogers  |  09:55 AM ET, 02/15/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Democrats, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, The Insiders, Tom Harkin

Posted at 05:39 PM ET, 02/14/2013

Obama's welcomed 'pivot' back to Europe
By Jonathan Capehart
Obama's State of the Union address made clear that Europe remains a priority for the United States.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  05:39 PM ET, 02/14/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, State of the Union

Posted at 03:58 PM ET, 02/13/2013

Obama won't win the ideological battle -- just as Reagan didn't
By Jonathan Bernstein
Presidents don't change ideology. But if Obama and the Democrats implement policies that work, they'll have done something more important.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  03:58 PM ET, 02/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, State of the Union

Posted at 02:02 PM ET, 02/13/2013

Five reasons why Obama is right to push for a higher minimum wage
By James Downie
The president's call for a $9 minimum wage is a good start for many reasons.

By James Downie  |  02:02 PM ET, 02/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, minimum wage, State of the Union

Posted at 11:55 PM ET, 02/12/2013

A visual statement of progress, followed by the same old story
By Eugene Robinson
How remarkable that an African American and the child of Cuban immigrants would bring us the state of the union.

By Eugene Robinson  |  11:55 PM ET, 02/12/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Marco Rubio, State of the Union

Posted at 11:37 PM ET, 02/12/2013

State of the Union: Immigration, reframed
By Michael Gerson
The most significant development of the State of the Union address was President Obama's decision not to use the immigration issue as a partisan wedge.

By Michael Gerson  |  11:37 PM ET, 02/12/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, immigration, State of the Union

Posted at 11:30 PM ET, 02/12/2013

Obama's message: 'We can fix this'
By David Ignatius
It was a muscular, confident speech that took simple themes and elevated them to a broad message that the the country's problems, as difficult as they are, are still soluble.

By David Ignatius  |  11:30 PM ET, 02/12/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, State of the Union

Posted at 06:06 PM ET, 02/12/2013

Tweeting the State of the Union
By Marisa Bellack
Welcome to The Washington Post Opinions team's State-of-the-Union watch party. We know we have a lot of competition for your attention tonight. It's Mardi Gras! And they'll be awarding Best in Show at Westminster! But if you stay with us, you'll find out tonight what all the pundits will be talking about tomorrow.

By Marisa Bellack  |  06:06 PM ET, 02/12/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, economy, State of the Union

Posted at 03:30 PM ET, 02/12/2013

What a State of the Union does do -- and can't do
By Jonathan Bernstein
No, presidents can't change the course of the nation by finding the right words. But the annual speech is important, nonetheless.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  03:30 PM ET, 02/12/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, State of the Union

Posted at 02:40 PM ET, 02/12/2013

Don't focus on the deficit, Mr. President
By James Downie
Jobs must be his central topic in the State of the Union.

By James Downie  |  02:40 PM ET, 02/12/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Deficit, economy, federal reserve, janet yellen, State of the Union

Posted at 09:09 AM ET, 02/12/2013

A tale of two State of the Union speeches
By Ed Rogers
President Obama won't have much to say in his speech, but Sen. Marco Rubio needs to be careful in his.

By Ed Rogers  |  09:09 AM ET, 02/12/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, jobs, Marco Rubio, State of the Union

Posted at 11:13 AM ET, 02/11/2013

Head games before the State of the Union
By Carter Eskew
Depending on who's talking, the president is preparing to be aggressively partisan or fiscally pragmatic.

By Carter Eskew  |  11:13 AM ET, 02/11/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, State of the Union, The Insiders

Posted at 04:14 PM ET, 02/05/2013

The Justice Department's chilling 'targeted killings' memo
By James Downie
Congress must call on the White House to explain publicly how the program is legal.

By James Downie  |  04:14 PM ET, 02/05/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, john brennan, Justice Department, ron wyden, targeted killings

Posted at 02:06 PM ET, 02/04/2013

The Boy Scouts' no-brainer decision on gays
By Jonathan Capehart
"Scouting executives should look to our president to see what it means to lead," said former Eagle Scout James Dale.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  02:06 PM ET, 02/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Boy Scouts, LGBT

Posted at 11:54 AM ET, 02/04/2013

Wanted: A 'national conversation' on poverty
By Jonathan Capehart
I don't have a problem with conversations. First comes talk, then comes action. It's the lag time between the two that makes people weary of the former.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  11:54 AM ET, 02/04/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Poverty

Posted at 06:56 PM ET, 01/28/2013

On immigration, Obama should opt for a persuasive vagueness
By Jonathan Bernstein
On Barack Obama, immigration reform, and what it reveals about the presidency.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  06:56 PM ET, 01/28/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, immigration

Posted at 01:09 PM ET, 01/24/2013

The Keystone XL oil pipeline distraction
By Stephen Stromberg
The environmental movement needs to move on.

By Stephen Stromberg  |  01:09 PM ET, 01/24/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Environment, Keystone XL

Posted at 05:45 PM ET, 01/21/2013

Obama's unapologetic inaugural address
By E.J. Dionne Jr.
Progressives will be looking back to this speech for many years, much as today's progressives look back to FDR's, and conservatives to Reagan's.

By E.J. Dionne Jr.  |  05:45 PM ET, 01/21/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Inauguration

Posted at 05:39 PM ET, 01/21/2013

In his second inaugural, Obama forgets the coin
By Stephen Stromberg
After taking the oath of office, President Obama on Monday attempted to re-lay the familiar intellectual foundations for active government. But his second inaugural speech left those foundations incomplete and unsteady.

By Stephen Stromberg  |  05:39 PM ET, 01/21/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Inauguration

Posted at 02:49 PM ET, 01/21/2013

Obama makes gays 'feel more fully American'
By Jonathan Capehart
At no point was President Obama's refrain of We the people in his second inaugural more powerful than when he invoked it to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  02:49 PM ET, 01/21/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, LGBT

Posted at 01:27 PM ET, 01/21/2013

Obama's inaugural address -- a sign of more to come?
By Eugene Robinson
It may have been the most unabashedly progressive speech he has given as president. To date, at least.

By Eugene Robinson  |  01:27 PM ET, 01/21/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, entitlements, Inauguration, Social Security

Posted at 11:57 AM ET, 01/21/2013

The historic serendipity of Obama and MLK
By Jonathan Capehart
When it comes to President Obama and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the stars always seem to be aligned.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  11:57 AM ET, 01/21/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama

Posted at 09:43 AM ET, 01/21/2013

On Inauguration Day, the triumph of the normal
By E.J. Dionne Jr.
Four years ago, the Metro trip to the inauguration of Barack Obama was a giant party. This year, the feeling on the train is more business-like.

By E.J. Dionne Jr.  |  09:43 AM ET, 01/21/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Inauguration

Posted at 01:19 PM ET, 01/18/2013

Conservatives try but can't quite let go of extremism
By James Downie
Underneath the gestures toward less brinksmanship, Republicans remain committed to the same extreme policies.

By James Downie  |  01:19 PM ET, 01/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Congress, debt ceiling, Republican Party

Posted at 04:51 PM ET, 01/17/2013

Always leave the president's kids alone
By E.J. Dionne Jr.
The lives of a president's children, particularly minor children, should be out of bounds for public discussion.

By E.J. Dionne Jr.  |  04:51 PM ET, 01/17/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, gun control, nra

Posted at 04:20 PM ET, 01/17/2013

NRA 'jeopardized the security of the first family'
By Jonathan Capehart
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.) says the NRA ad mentioning the first daughters is reckless and irresponsible.:

By Jonathan Capehart  |  04:20 PM ET, 01/17/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, nra

Posted at 02:20 PM ET, 01/16/2013

How gun control is another front in the far right's war on science
By James Downie
Obama’s call for research counters an impulse that has perverted our broader political debate.

By James Downie  |  02:20 PM ET, 01/16/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, gun control, Joe Biden, nra

Posted at 05:32 PM ET, 01/15/2013

Don't forget the women already in Obama's binder
By Jonathan Capehart
While I get all this talk of Obama needing his own binders of women, I also see how it completely ignores the powerful women who are already there.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  05:32 PM ET, 01/15/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama

Posted at 05:11 PM ET, 01/08/2013

Don't make just one platinum coin
By Stephen Stromberg
One idea to keep the government running without stoking inflation.

By Stephen Stromberg  |  05:11 PM ET, 01/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, budget

Posted at 09:24 AM ET, 01/07/2013

Toomey's 'prioritization' scheme won't work
By Jonathan Capehart
Sen. Toomey's idea to temporarily shut down the government over the debt ceiling made no sense in 2011 and still makes no sense in 2013.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  09:24 AM ET, 01/07/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, debt ceiling, economy, Pat Toomey

Posted at 02:27 PM ET, 01/02/2013

5 truths about the 'fiscal cliff' deal
By James Downie
Why the deal isn't good for either liberals or conservatives, plus the one thing that will determine its legacy.

By James Downie  |  02:27 PM ET, 01/02/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, debt, fiscal cliff, John Boehner, medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, taxes

Posted at 02:11 PM ET, 01/02/2013

House GOP dilemma: Politics versus governing
By Jonathan Capehart
The split in the Republican leadership is fascinating.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  02:11 PM ET, 01/02/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, fiscal cliff, John Boehner, Republicans

Posted at 12:41 PM ET, 12/31/2012

From Trayvon to Newtown
By Jonathan Capehart
2012was a year book-ended by tragedies that shocked the nation.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  12:41 PM ET, 12/31/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Connecticut shooting, gun control, Guns, nra, Trayvon Martin

Posted at 12:19 PM ET, 12/28/2012

Obama's platinum pate
By Jonathan Capehart
The salt-and-pepperfication of the chief executive happens slowly over time before our very eyes.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  12:19 PM ET, 12/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, fiscal cliff

Posted at 02:41 PM ET, 12/27/2012

Debt-ceiling deja vu
By Jonathan Capehart
As we hurtle toward another dance with the debt ceiling, it is imperative that we keep two things in mind.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  02:41 PM ET, 12/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, fiscal cliff, Tim Geithner

Posted at 04:46 PM ET, 12/24/2012

PostScript: E.J. Dionne and a governing cliff
By Rachel Manteuffel
Readers respond festively to E.J. Dionne's column on Congress' stalemate

By Rachel Manteuffel  |  04:46 PM ET, 12/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Congress, fiscal cliff, PostScript, Republicans

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 12/24/2012

'No desire' for the latest Romney excuse
By Jonathan Capehart
Turns out Mitt Romney really didn't want to run for president.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  10:00 AM ET, 12/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  2012 election, Ann Romney, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney

Posted at 03:59 PM ET, 12/19/2012

Obama: From talk to action on gun violence
By Jonathan Capehart
The hard part is turning all this anger and urgency into legislation that becomes law. And doing it quickly.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  03:59 PM ET, 12/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Connecticut shooting, gun control

Posted at 12:43 PM ET, 12/17/2012

RG III is 'black enough'
By Jonathan Capehart
If one of the burdens of being a black male is carrying the heavy weight of other people's suspicions, then another is enduring the critique that you're not black enough.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  12:43 PM ET, 12/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Race, RG III

Posted at 08:23 AM ET, 12/17/2012

'Surely, we can do better than this'
By Jonathan Capehart
There is a right to bear arms, but no right is absolute. When an elementary school is no longer sacrosanct, the laws must change.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  08:23 AM ET, 12/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Connecticut shooting, gun control, Michael Bloomberg

Posted at 03:52 PM ET, 12/14/2012

Horror at Sandy Hook Elementary
By Jonathan Capehart
We've been here before. But what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Conn., this morning was frighteningly different.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  03:52 PM ET, 12/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Guns, school shooting

Posted at 05:04 PM ET, 12/13/2012

The ignoble hounding of Susan Rice
By Jonathan Capehart
Three senators belittled her experience, questioned her competence and wondered about her temperament for a job that she was only rumored to be considered for.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  05:04 PM ET, 12/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Benghazi, Secretary of State

Posted at 05:30 PM ET, 12/12/2012

Nothing 'reluctant' about First Father Obama
By Jonathan Capehart
Kathleen Parker takes Obama to task for not us[ing] his bully pulpit to emphasize the importance of a two-parent family, and especially of fathers, to children's well-being. She couldn't be more wrong.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  05:30 PM ET, 12/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama

Posted at 12:26 PM ET, 12/12/2012

The GOP's problem and promise in four charts
By Jonathan Capehart
As dire as things look now for the Republican Party, they can get better if it is willing to make the necessary adjustments.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  12:26 PM ET, 12/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  2012 election, 2016 election, African American, Barack Obama, Election 2012, LGBT, Republicans

Posted at 04:44 PM ET, 12/11/2012

PostScript: Robinson says get serious, GOP, or else what?
By Rachel Manteuffel
Readers respond to Eugene Robinson's column urging Republican moderation.

By Rachel Manteuffel  |  04:44 PM ET, 12/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Election 2012, Republicans

Posted at 03:20 PM ET, 12/10/2012

Mr. President, forget a budget deal "legacy"
By Jonathan Bernstein
The president has a lot of reasonable motives for a bargain, but one really scary one.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  03:20 PM ET, 12/10/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, budget, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Ronald Reagan

Posted at 05:52 PM ET, 12/06/2012

Jeh Johnson: A hero of DADT repeal resigns
By Jonathan Capehart
Jeh Johnson co-wrote the report that paved the way to the repeal of "don't ask don't tell." That gay men and lesbians can serve openly in the military ought to be Johnson's greatest legacy at defense.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  05:52 PM ET, 12/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Jeh Johnson, LGBT, Pentagon

Posted at 05:55 PM ET, 12/04/2012

Grover Norquist stands corrected' again
By Jonathan Capehart
Counter to what he said on MSNBC today, nothing was 'corrected' about his startling admission in July 2011 that letting the Bush tax cuts expire would not violate his no-tax-increase pledge.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  05:55 PM ET, 12/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, fiscal cliff, Grover Norquist, Republicans, taxes

Posted at 08:57 AM ET, 12/04/2012

GOP: Revenues, but not yet
By E.J. Dionne
There is no reason to take House Republicans seriously on their pledge to raise revenue.

By E.J. Dionne  |  08:57 AM ET, 12/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, fiscal cliff, John Boehner, tax reform, taxes

Posted at 02:32 PM ET, 11/30/2012

Obama has Romney for lunch
By Jonathan Capehart
There's something at once hopeful and sad about the picture of President Obama and Mitt Romney in the Oval Office yesterday.

By Jonathan Capehart  |  02:32 PM ET, 11/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  2012 election, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney

Posted at 04:09 PM ET, 11/29/2012

Republicans' bizarre fiscal cliff rhetoric
By Jonathan Bernstein
Why are they demanding what the Democratic position should be on Medicare?

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  04:09 PM ET, 11/29/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Barack Obama, Congress, fiscal cliff, health care, Medicare, Paul Ryan, Republicans, taxes

Posted at 04:20 PM ET, 07/18/2012

Obama is no pro-worker president
By James Downie
The president’s populist rhetoric doesn’t match his actions.

By James Downie  |  04:20 PM ET, 07/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  labor, workers' rights, barack obama