Items by ABCNews.com

• Obama Downplays Differences Between Senate, House Health Care Bills

  —Political Punch

  President Obama today downplayed the differences between the House and Senate Health care bills, painting the differences that exist between the two bills that are starting the merging process on Capitol Hill as minuscule. [...]
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  Posted: December 21, 2009, 6:27pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• All Aboard! Obama Reads “The Polar Express” To DC School Children

  —Political Punch

  “To get in the right Christmas mood,” President Obama made a surprise visit to the Boys and Girls Club in NE Washington, DC this afternoon and read “The Polar Express” to about 25 boys and girls ranging in ages from six-years-old to eleven-years-old. [...]
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  Posted: December 21, 2009, 5:27pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• POTUS and FLOTUS get the H1N1 Vaccine Shot

  —Political Punch

  The White House confirms that President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have received their H1N1 shot. [...]
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  Posted: December 21, 2009, 4:28pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• An End to 'Monopoly Money' Government Spending? Obama Touts Contract Cost Savings

  —Political Punch

  ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: Saying that the federal government can no longer spend taxpayers' money like it is “monopoly money,” President Obama today touted that the administration is well on its way to reaching his goal of saving $40... [...]
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  Posted: December 21, 2009, 1:04pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Obama Says Senate Vote is a “Big Victory” for Health Care Reform

  —Political Punch

  President Obama today touted the work done in the Senate over the weekend, calling the “historic vote” a big victory for the American people. [...]
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  Posted: December 21, 2009, 12:27pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Love and Debt

  —Political Punch

  Worried about the perception that he's spending way too much -- with the national debt having topped $12 trillion -- President Obama will today discuss his goal of saving $40 billion in contract costs by Fiscal Year 2011, and how his administration has already cut $19 billion by reviewing the [...]
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  Posted: December 21, 2009, 9:51am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• The Presidential Planner

  —Political Punch

  From Sunlen Miller This morning President Obama will first hold his daily meetings, including a meeting with members of the National Economic Council. Obama then will meet with the SAVE Award winner in the Oval office. Launched in September of... [...]
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  Posted: December 21, 2009, 7:00am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Obama Administration Transfers 12 Detainees to Yemen, Afghanistan, Somaliland

  —Political Punch

  The number of detainees being held at Guantanamo Bay sank to under 200 this weekend with the transfer of a dozen former prisoners in the last day to Yemen, Afghanistan, and Somaliland. [...]
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  Posted: December 20, 2009, 10:29am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• President Obama Heralds as 'Significant Progress' Unpopular Compromise Health Care Bill, Non-Binding Climate Change Accord

  —Political Punch

  President Obama came to the Diplomatic Reception Room Saturday afternoon to herald the unpopular compromise Senate health care reform bill and the watered-down non-binding international climate change accord as "significant progress" on resolving "the crushing cost of health care and our dangerous dependence on fossil fuels." [...]
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  Posted: December 19, 2009, 4:40pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Obama Calls for Senate to Avoid “Parliamentary Measures” Blocking Health Care Reform

  —Political Punch

  President Obama calls on the Senate to avoid using “parliamentary maneuvers” to stand in the way of passing health care reform in his weekly address. [...]
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  Posted: December 19, 2009, 9:39am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Obama Calls Global Warming Agreement an “Unprecedented Breakthrough”

  —Political Punch

  President Obama touted that “for the first time in history, all major economies have come together to accept their responsibility to take action to confront the threat of climate change,” calling the late-hour agreement struck in Copenhagen, Denmark an “unprecedented breakthrough.” [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 6:54pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• A Sham” and “A Climate Crime Scene” or “A Major Step Forward”? Mixed Reactions from Environmental Groups on Copenhagen Accord

  —Political Punch

  Mixed Reactions from Environmental Groups on Copenhagen Accord [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 6:51pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• President Obama Sits for Interviews with Gloria Estefan, Will Smith, & Jada Pinkett Smith

  —Political Punch

  In the past week or so President Obama – the nation’s media-critic-in-chief -- sat for interviews with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, as well as Gloria Estefan. [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 6:11pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• High Drama in Copenhagen (per Administration Officials)

  —Political Punch

  Senior Obama administration officials describe quite a dramatic scene at Climate Change Conference. Officials say President Obama was frustrated. The conference was in complete chaos. [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 5:47pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Treasury Plans $68 Billion in TARP Spending Next Year

  —Political Punch

  The Obama administration plans to spend nearly $70 billion in bailout funds in the next year, according to an internal Treasury Department document. [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 4:35pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Senior Administration Official Heralds "Significant Breakthrough" at Copenhagen

  —Political Punch

  A senior administration official, speaking to ABC News, heralded what he called a “significant breakthrough” at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this afternoon. [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 4:18pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• At Copenhagen, Chávez Suggests Obama is the Devil

  —Political Punch

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez spoke at the United Nations Climate Change Conference today in Copenhagen, and suggested that President Obama is the devil. Chávez said that “the Kyoto Protocol cannot be declared dead or extinguished, which is what the US... [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 3:25pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Obama and Medvedev Meet; New Arms Treaty Deadline Pushed to Next Year

  —Political Punch

  President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met today in Copenhagen in an effort to complete the nuclear disarmament treaty to replace the START treaty that expired on December 5, with no indication it will be completed before 2010. “Our... [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 1:02pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Our GMA Chat on Copenhagen & Health Care

  —Political Punch

  I stopped by the Good Morning America set this morning to talk about the White House’s view of the climate change conference in Copenhagen and where health care negotiations are in the Senate. -jpt [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 11:43am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Senior White House Official: The 'Chinese Are Dug In'; 'We've Done What We Can' in Copenhagen

  —Political Punch

  "We've done what we can here," a senior White House official in Copenhagen, Denmark, tells ABC News. "The Chinese are dug in on transparency and are refusing to let people know they're living up to their end of the agreement."... [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 9:50am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• White House: Obama, Chinese Premier Hold "Constructive Discussion" on Climate Change Negotiations

  —Political Punch

  COPENHAGEN -- As the negotiations on a climate change agreement continue, President Obama met with Chinese Premier Wen for 55 minutes here to try and work out issues that have stalled the overall discussions. [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 8:18am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Obama: Climate Change Agreement Not Perfect, But a 'Substantial Step Forward'

  —Political Punch

  ABC News' Jim Sciutto, Bill Blakemore and Karen Travers report: COPENHAGEN -- Acknowledging that the climate change agreement world leaders are considering here in Copenhagen is not perfect, President Obama said that action must be taken now and modifications to...' [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 7:15am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• The Presidential Planner Abroad

  —Political Punch

  ABC's Sunlen Miller reports: After traveling overnight, President Obama will land in Copenhagen, Denmark early this morning and immediately enter into high-stakes meetings on climate change. The 193-nation conference has hit many hurdles during the course of the last 10... [...]
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  Posted: December 18, 2009, 1:00am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Climate Change Deadlock?

  —Political Punch

  President Obama heads to Copenhagen to try to help forge a compromise in the U.N. Climate Change Conference stalemate. Our World News report: - jpt [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2009, 10:31pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Obama's High Stakes Copenhagen Gamble

  —Political Punch

  President Obama will fly overnight to Copenhagen, Denmark this evening, for the tail-end of the climate change conference -- uncertain of what kind of impact, if any, his presence at the 193-nation conference will have. [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2009, 5:54pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• POTUS (Still) Copenhagen Bound, Despite Setbacks in Denmark

  —Political Punch

  Despite some rumors swirling in Copenhagen that the lack of progress at the ongoing climate change summit will cause President Obama to cancel his attendance tomorrow, the White House says no – the President is still committed to going. [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2009, 11:33am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• White House, Sen. Nelson, Dispute Rumor in Conservative Media About Air Force Base Closure Threat

  —Political Punch

  White House officials are disputing an allegation making the rounds in conservative media outlets that a White House official threatened Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., that if he doesn't support Democratic health care reform legislation, Nebraska's Offutt Air Force Base will...' [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2009, 8:15am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• The Presidential Planner

  —Political Punch

  President Obama today will meet with members of his National Economic Council, in addition to his regular rounds of daily briefings. [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2009, 7:00am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• V.P. Biden to Announce Stimulus Funding for Broadband Internet Projects

  —Political Punch

  ABC News' Karen Travers reports: Today, Vice President Biden will travel to Georgia to announce more than $2 billion in Recovery Act grants and loans to bring broadband Internet services to communities that currently do not have it. The vice...' [...]
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  Posted: December 17, 2009, 6:01am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• White House Outlines Next Six Months of Stimulus Efforts

  —Political Punch

  ABC News' Matt Jaffe reports: Obama administration officials tonight outlined how the next six months of the $787 billion stimulus program will focus on infrastructure projects - such as roads, water projects, broadband, and housing – as the push continues to create jobs across the country.' [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 8:36pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• White House Says Howard Dean’s Arguments Against Democrats’ Health Care Reform ‘Simply Weren’t True,’ Suggests He’s Not Rational

  —Political Punch

  Senior White House officials began to more aggressively dispute criticisms of Democratic Senate health care reform legislation from former Democratic National Committee chairman Dr. Howard Dean Wednesday, saying the former Vermont governor made arguments that “simply weren’t true” and “flat-out wrong.” [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 3:50pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Today’s Q for O’s WH – 12/16/2009

  —Political Punch

  TAPPER: I was just wondering what your response is, kind of a back-and-forth going on between the former head of the Democratic Party, Dr. Howard Dean, and the White House on health care reform. [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 3:27pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Michelle Obama Gives Toys for Tots

  —Political Punch

  The First Lady loaded up carts with toys for needy children at a warehouse near the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, VA today, to show her support for the Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots campaign. The First Lady praised the Marines for giving to others, at time when those [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 2:05pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• No New Tax Break for Citi?

  —Political Punch

  The Treasury Department is vehemently refuting a Washington Post story that says the government last Friday quietly agreed to give up billions of dollars in tax money from Citigroup as part of this week’s deal for the bank to pay back bailout funds. [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 12:49pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Republican Lawmakers Continue to Push President Obama to Issue Posthumous Pardon to Boxer Jack Johnson

  —Political Punch

  Rep. Peter King (R-NY) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) have written a letter to President Obama today asking him again to issue a posthumous pardon for boxer Jack Johnson. [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 11:24am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Republican Lawmakers Continue to Push President Obama to Issue Posthumous Pardon to Boxer Jack Johnson

  —Political Punch

  Rep. Peter King (R-NY) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz) have written a letter to President Obama today asking him again to issue a posthumous pardon for boxer Jack Johnson. [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 11:24am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• The Presidential Planner

  —Political Punch

  ABC News' Sunlen Miller reports: This morning, the president has a round of closed-door meetings after his regular morning briefings. Mr. Obama will first meet with Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams in the Oval Office, who was nominated by the...' [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 9:21am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Bad News, Good News, for President in New ABC News Poll

  —Political Punch

  The new ABC News/Washington Post poll has bad news and good news for the president, whose approval ratings have sunk to an all-time low of 50%. [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 8:33am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Gitmo Detainees to Thomson, Illinois

  —Political Punch

  Our World News report: - jpt [...]
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  Posted: December 16, 2009, 12:19am EST
  by ABCNews.com

• White House Says Comments from GOP Leader Boehner Are Crazy

  —Political Punch

  Asked about fears some Americans might have about Gitmo detainees being transferred to a prison in Thomson, Illinois, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs today singled out House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, suggesting the tanned Ohioan’s comments were less than sane. [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 6:03pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• The President's Orders: Buy and Use Thomson Facility for Detainees

  —Political Punch

  The White House has released the Presidential Memorandum in which Mr. Obama directs the acquisition and use of Thomson Correctional Center. [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 5:50pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Obama Administration Seeks To Improve High School Financial Literacy

  —Political Punch

  In the wake of the worst financial crisis in generations, the Obama administration today announced a new campaign to promote financial education for high school students nationwide. [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 5:03pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Today's Q's for O's WH – 12/15/2009

  —Political Punch

  TAPPER: Does the president…understand at all the concerns that some Americans have about whether or not this puts Illinois in any sort of jeopardy, security-wise -- 100 or so detainees coming to one facility? [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 4:56pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Obama "Cautiously Optimistic" on Health Care Reform

  —Political Punch

  After meeting with the Senate Democratic Caucus at the White House today President Obama said that he is "cautiously optimistic" that the health care bill will be passed, saying that they are on the "precipice" of achievement yet stayed away from any deadlines on when this might happen. [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 4:17pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Obama Prepares for Copenhagen Climate Summit

  —Political Punch

  ABC's Rachel Martin reports: The President heads to Copenhagen for the UN Conference on Climate Change later this week and White House officials are already lowering expectations for what will come out of his visit – and the talks overall.... [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 3:13pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• 359 Terrorists Currently in US Federal Prisons

  —Political Punch

  A spokesperson for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons tells ABC News that federal facilities on American soil currently house: [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 2:39pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• President Obama Dips in Approval Ratings, but Portrait Still Inspires

  —Political Punch

  For many of his erstwhile supporters, President Obama's image as almost an American savior is a distant memory, overshadowed by health-care battles and troop allocations, unemployment numbers and myriad disappointments. For at least one artist in a struggling community in the nation's capital, however, the nation's first black president and [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 2:35pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Obama Administration to Seek Legal Authority to House Candidates for Indefinite Detention at Thomson Prison

  —Political Punch

  Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller report: In a letter to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, five Obama administration officials – Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. , Director of National Intelligence... [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 1:56pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• Obama Says Home Insulation is "Sexy"

  —Political Punch

  Standing in a Home Depot in Alexandria, Virginia today, President Obama said that home insulation "is sexy." [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 12:29pm EST
  by ABCNews.com

• More on Imprisoning Gitmo Detainees in Illinois

  —Political Punch

  At 3 pm ET, today at the White House, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., will be briefed on the plans to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to Thomson Correctional Center in Illinois by National Security Adviser Gen. Jim Jones (Ret.), Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs of [...]
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  Posted: December 15, 2009, 12:24pm EST
  by ABCNews.com