Obama Visiting Muslim World; Bin Laden Puts Out New Message Against Him
President Obama has arrived in Saudi Arabia for a multi-nation tour in the Arab world, most notably including a speech addressed to all Muslims tomorrow in Egypt. And just in time for Obama’s arrival, Osama bin Laden has released a new recording, saying Obama was following in the steps of George W. Bush, and planting the seeds for “revenge and hatred.”
Obama’s Day: Saudi Arabia
President Obama arrived this morning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. At 8:10 a.m. ET, he attended a welcome reception with King Abdullah at the King’s farm. At 9:20 a.m. ET, he will hold a bilateral meeting with King Abdullah.
Biden’s Day Ahead
Vice President Biden will hold a roundtable meeting at 12 p.m. ET, along with Sec. of Transportation Ray LaHood, governors and federal and local transportation officials from across the country, to discuss the High Speed Rail Grant Program contained in the stimulus bill. At 2:45 p.m. ET, he will keynote the 2009 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards Ceremony at the Pentagon. Afterwards, he will go to the White House to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
Feinstein: Sotomayor Says “Wise Latina” A “Poor Choice Of Words”
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) told reporters yesterday that Sonia Sotomayor regrets her “wise Latina” remarks from 2001. Said Feinstein, after meeting with Sotomayor: “She said, ‘Obviously it was a poor choice of words if you read on and read the rest of my speech you wouldn’t be concerned with it but it was a poor choice of words.'”
GOP Senator Says Sotomayor Could Get 75 Votes
The Hill reports that an anonymous Republican Senator on the Judiciary Committee predicted that Sonia Sotomayor will be confirmed — potentially with a landslide margin, depending on how she handles the process. “It could be with 75 votes or it could be with 57 votes,” the Senators said, “and it depends on whether she assures people.”
Chris Christie Wins GOP Nomination In NJ-GOV Race
Former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie won the Republican primary for Governor of New Jersey last night, taking 55% against right-wing challenger Steve Lonegan’s 42%. Christie now faces Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine, who scores low approval ratings in polls but has the advantage of running in a very Democratic state that has in the past voted for Dems with only lackluster ratings — but isn’t particularly willing to vote for a Republican.
Obama: America “One Of the Largest Muslim Countries”
In an interview on French TV, President Obama made an interesting statement in his outreach to the Muslim world — based on the numerically large populations of just about every demographic in the United States. “And one of the points I want to make is, is that if you actually took the number of Muslim Americans, we’d be one of the largest Muslim countries in the world,” said Obama. “And so there’s got to be a better dialogue and a better understanding between the two peoples.”
Obama: Americans “Love All French Things”
Also during his interview on French TV, Obama sought to repair the enmity between America and France from the Bush years — the era of “freedom fries” and other such name-calling. “I think the American people continue to love all French things,” said Obama. As examples of what he himself likes about France: “Let’s see, we have the food, we have Paris, we got the south of France, Provence, the wine.”
