Gibbs: Liberal Detractors ‘Ought To Be Drug Tested’
The Hill reports: “The White House is simmering with anger at criticism from liberals who say President Obama is more concerned with deal-making than ideological purity. During an interview with The Hill in his West Wing office, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs blasted liberal naysayers, whom he said would never regard anything the president did as good enough. ‘I hear these people saying he’s like George Bush. Those people ought to be drug tested,’ Gibbs said. ‘I mean, it’s crazy.'”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET, and the economic daily briefing at 10:30 a.m. ET. He will deliver remarks on teacher jobs at 11:40 a.m. ET. He will meet at 1:50 p.m. ET with senior advisers. At 2:45 p.m. ET, he will participate in an Ambassador Credentialing Ceremony. He will meet at 4:30 p.m. ET with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
Today: Big Primaries
Voters are headed to the polls today in key gubernatorial and Senate primaries in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia and Minnesota. The polls will close in Georgia at 7 p.m. ET, in Connecticut at 8 p.m. ET, and in Colorado and Minnesota at 9 p.m. ET.
New START: Similar Arms Reduction Pact, Different Republican Reaction
The Washington Post points out that Senate Republicans are now critical of President Obama’s new arms limitation treaty with Russia, after having voted in 2003 for a different arms limitation treaty negotiated by then-President George W. Bush: “In fact, Kyl [Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ)] and many of the 23 other senators are critical of elements of New START that they readily accepted or ignored in the agreement they embraced seven years ago.”
Unions Spending Big to Influence House Vote
Roll Call reports: “Top union brass are shuttling back to Washington, D.C., today to make last-minute pleas with undecided House Members, who interrupted their recess to vote on a $26.1 billion state aid package, a priority for organized labor for nearly a year. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on Monday was busy finalizing her Beltway comeback from a vacation spot on eastern Long Island. National Education Association lobbyist Kim Anderson was plotting her return from Martha’s Vineyard.”
High Response Saves 2010 Census $1.6B In Costs
The Associated Press reports: “With the 2010 census nearly finished, the government said Tuesday it will save $1.6 billion in the cost of the U.S. population count because of strong public response and no major problems. The cost of the census was originally budgeted at $14.7 billion, with emergency dollars set aside for additional outreach in cases such as a natural disaster, a flu epidemic or a major operational breakdown. Because such problems were not extensive, the Census Bureau saved money, officials said.”
