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ON THE LIES OF OBAMACARE:

Gruber exposes explicit Obama LIES on ObamaCare

Gruber on Obamacare: "Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage and basically, you know, call it the stupidity of the American voter, or whatever, but basically that was really, really critical to getting the thing passed."

AMERICA AND MARTIAL LAW

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Top Democrat fundraiser sentenced to 12 years Backer of Hillary, Obama, Kerry heads to prison for bank fraud

Posted: July 15, 2010
1:44 pm Eastern

© 2010 WorldNetDaily

Former Democratic Party fundraiser Hassan Nemazee leaves Manhattan federal court after his sentencing in New York July 15, 2010. A U.S. judge handed a 12-year prison sentence on Thursday to Nemazee, a former fundraiser for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton who admitted to a $292 million fraud of three major banks. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton (UNITED STATES - Tags: CRIME LAW POLITICS BUSINESS HEADSHOT)

Hassan Nemazee, a multimillionaire Iranian-American investment banker and top Democratic Party fundraiser, was sentenced today to 12 years in federal prison for bank fraud.

Nemazee, 60, served as the national finance chairman of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign before raising more than $500,000 for Barack Obama's campaign.

In 2004, Nemazee was New York finance chairman for Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign, a position in which he raised about $500,000 in bundled campaign contributions.

Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign website listed Nemazee as being in the top tier of Kerry's contributors nationwide. Nemazee was one of some 60 people credited with raising $100,000 or more for the campaign, an amount that earned him the designation of vice chairman to Kerry's campaign.



In his 2005 book "Atomic Iran: How the Terrorist Regime Bought the Bomb and American Politicians," WND senior staff reporter and columnist Jerome R. Corsi targeted Nemazee for his alleged history of pushing to normalize diplomatic relationships with the theocratic regime ruling Iran, despite Iran's pursuit of a clandestine nuclear weapons program.

On Oct. 18, 2004, Corsi attended a deposition in New York City in which Nemazee was questioned under oath by legal counsel for Aryo Pirouznia, the leader of the Student Movement Coordination Committee for Democracy in Iran.

Nemazee had sued Pirouznia in a $10 million defamation suit that charged Pirouznia had defamed him by calling him an agent of the religious clerics ruling Iran.

According to Corsi's book, Pirouznia had charged that Nemazee was utilizing his resources, including investment funds Nemazee managed in Nemazee Capital Corp., to further the interests of the religious rulers in Tehran in the formation of U.S. foreign policy toward Iran.

The lawsuit was ultimately settled out of court.

On Sept. 30, 2004, in the campaign's first nationally televised presidential candidate debate with President George W. Bush, Democratic Party nominee Kerry said the United States should provide nuclear fuel to Iran to test them, "to see whether or not they were actually looking for it for peaceful purposes."

Kerry's plan was basically the same one the Clinton administration had tried with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il in 1994 under an "Agreed Framework" in which the U.S. handed over to Pyongyang enough nuclear fuel to run two nuclear power plants.

After the delivery of the nuclear fuel by the Clinton administration, Kim Jong-Il withdrew from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and proceeded to make nuclear warheads for North Korea's Nodong missiles.

Nemazee had reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors in March, having admitted to three counts of bank fraud and one count of wire fraud, in a scheme in which he forged documents and created false account statements in applying for new bank loans to pay off older bank loans.

U.S. Attorney Prett Bharara in New York City and FBI investigators told Dow Jones Newswires that the 59-year-old Namazee applied for the Citibank loans for Nemazee Capital Corp., of which he is chairman and chief executive, by giving Citibank "numerous documents that purported to establish the existence of accounts in Nemazee's name at various financial institutions containing many hundreds of millions of dollars."

According to the criminal complaint released by Bharara, the accounts Nemazee submitted in the loan documentation were "fraudulent and forged" and "either never existed or had been closed years before Nemazee submitted the documents referencing those accounts."

The criminal complaint alleged Nemazee's fraudulent scheme began in December 2006, when he first approached Citibank to borrow $25 million, until 2009 when he raised the sum to $80 million.

In 1998, President Clinton nominated Nemazee to be ambassador to Argentina but later withdrew the nomination after Forbes magazine published an extremely damaging review of Nemazee's business career.

On May 3, 1999, Forbes wrote, "Over the past four years Nemazee and his family have given more than $150,000 to Democratic politicians and the DNC. Six of Nemazee's friends and relatives have given $10,000 apiece – the maximum allowable per year – to Bill Clinton's legal defense fund."

Obama, Holder blistered for 'racism'? Author condemns 'policy' against prosecuting black-on-white crime

© 2010 WorldNetDaily


WASHINGTON – Our "post-racial" president is actually our "most-racist" president, says the author of a blistering new book on race politics, "Negrophilia: From Slave Block to Pedestal – America's Racial Obsession."

Lady Justice may be blindfolded, says Erik Rush, but the Department of Justice is operating with eyes wide open in its repeated refusals to prosecute crimes where the defendant is black and the victim is white, as a former Justice Department whistleblower recently testified.

"As reflected by the actions of the Obama-Holder Justice Department in the New Black Panther Party case, it is now clear that this is a racist president and a racist administration," says Rush. "We are bearing witness to an instance of racism and racial double standard on the part of this president and his administration that surpasses the surreal."

Rush refers to J. Christian Adams' recent testimony to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights alleging the department's repeated "hostility" to cases with black defendants and white victims, admitting, "We abetted wrongdoing and abandoned law-abiding citizens."

(Story continues below)



Adams cited the Election Day 2008 case involving members of the New Black Panther Party who were videotaped guarding the entrance of a Philadelphia polling place clad in black fatigues and wielding a nightstick. The Obama administration at first followed up on the Bush administration's initial prosecution of the case but dismissed it in May 2009 – a month after three members of the party failed to appear in court.

"To progressives and the establishment press, the contention that our president and this administration are racists is practically incomprehensible – but this is precisely the case," says Rush. "This atrocity is abject racism. President Obama's overt antiwhite, anti-Christian and anti-Semitic sentiments have been painfully evident to some observers, and suspected by others for some time."

Rush sparked a national furor when he exposed the anti-American ravings of President Obama's longtime minister and then "spiritual adviser," the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. With "Negrophilia," published by WND Books, charting in the Top 5 of Amazon categories on African-American Studies and Discrimination & Racism, Rush has adopted a Glenn-Beck-style blackboard approach toward revealing the intents and tactics of the "professional race-baiters who seek to manipulate, intimidate and subjugate Americans of every color – even and especially from the highest offices in the land."

Race-baiters' unseen tool is "negrophilia," says Rush, "an undue and inordinate affinity for blacks," combined with the "reflexive demonization of whites as inherently wicked." It's rooted in leftist tactics of division and aimed at advancing policies that keep blacks "obedient," whites "silent" and "political control” secure.

Negrophilia is colorblind, says Rush, and is taking center stage in the boiling debate over amnesty vs. law enforcement regarding the violations of illegal immigrants.

"For months," Rush says, "Americans have been treated to wanton accusations of racism in the public square regarding our wish to secure our border with Mexico, and misgivings vis-à-vis the Obama administration's handling of the Islamic terrorist threat. We have also seen similar gratuitous and slanderous accusations leveled against those who criticize this president on any level.

"What could be more racist," he adds, "than an administration that orders attorneys in the civil-rights division to ignore cases involving black defendants and white victims?"

Obama, Netanyahu to meet July 6

The White House welcomed Israel's new rules for its land embargo, which has drawn heightened international criticism since a deadly raid on an aid flotilla bound for the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.

"We believe that the implementation of the policy announced by the government of Israel today should improve life for the people of Gaza," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

Israel said it would start allowing in all goods over land except for weapons and materials that can be used to make them.

But Israel did not ease its sea blockade on Gaza, despite international calls to do so since commandos killed nine pro-Palestinian activists during the interception of a Turkish aid vessel on May 31. Israeli officials said the troops acted in self-defense when attacked during boarding.

Obama, in talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on June 9, called for a "new conceptual framework" to replace the Israeli embargo. But he stopped short of joining a broader international outcry against Israel, a staunch U.S. ally.

Netanyahu, who was due to see Obama on June 1 but scrapped his trip because of the flotilla crisis, will now meet Obama at the White House on July 6.

Gibbs said the United States would work with all parties to "explore additional ways to improve the situation in Gaza, including greater freedom of movement and commerce between Gaza and the West Bank."

"There is more to be done, and the president looks forward to discussing this new policy, and additional steps, with Prime Minister Netanyahu during his visit to Washington," he said.

Obama and Netanyahu are also expected to try to mend fences after recent strains over Jewish settlement construction on occupied land.

In another meeting between Obama and a key ally in the Middle East, Saudi King Abdullah will visit Washington for talks on June 29, the White House said.

Gibbs said Obama "looks forward to discussing with King Abdullah the strengthening of bilateral ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia as well as a range of common concerns related to Gulf security, peace in the Middle East and other regional and global matters."

Obama's disrespect for fallen heroes

Posted: June 01, 2010
1:00 am Eastern

© 2010

Obama not participating in the wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery is not much ado about nothing. Add to your list of "don't dos" three things: you don't confuse ignorance for intelligence, you don't build a mosque next to Ground Zero, and – I don't care who it is or who it was – the president doesn't opt out of the Memorial Day ceremonies at Arlington Cemetery without a darn good reason. And being in Chicago isn't one of them.

Vice presidents don't send military personnel to risk life and limb in war and neither do deputy defense secretaries. The POTUS does, and that makes it his responsibility to attend the national services of those honored legions who have sacrificed their lives at his command.

I find it particularly offensive that, little more than one week ago, Obama spoke to the graduating class of West Point – where 1,000 young men and women graduates were fully aware that, as commander in chief, he in all probability would be ordering some – if not many, and potentially all – of them to risk their all in defense of America. Yet, he cannot make recognizing our memorialized veterans a priority on the same level with his playing golf.

Arlington isn't just another cemetery – it is the resting place of "The Unknowns." It is the site of "Freedman's Village," the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy and the eternal flame. It is where the "Old Guard" serves. Of the 300,000 who rest at Arlington, over three-quarters were military personnel.

Show your support for the United States military with one or more of these service flags

Obama, more so than any other commander in chief (and I use said assignation grudgingly), seems to be the most dismissive of those traditions America holds dear.

In September 2007, during the playing of our nation's National Anthem, a nation he would soon lead, as all others in attendance at the Indianola, Iowa, event placed their right hands over their hearts at its playing, he stood with his hands folded in front of him.

In April 2009, to avoid offending the British and Germans, he skipped visiting the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach where 9,387 American personnel are buried. In the mind of this essayist, there is no reason short of national emergency worth ignoring our honored lost, and concern over British and German feelings aren't it. As Debbie Schlussel put it: "There is never an inappropriate time for an American president to visit the graves of those who gave their lives so we could be free" ("Nauseating: Obama Avoided Normandy Cemetery to Avoid Offending Brits, Germans," April 6, 2009).

Obama has time to play golf and basketball, but not honor those he commands? Even more egregious, he stands by, giving tacit approval with his silence as foreign potentates denigrate America and the will of her people.

Mexico's President Calderon went so far as to parrot Obama's own words, saying, "I agree with the president (Barack Obama) who says, the new [Arizona] law carries a great amount of risk with the core values that we all care about are breached." As one blogger observed, "Well, we've finally found something our president and Democrats in Congress will stand up for – a foreign leader … slamming and demagoguing [America]. What a despicable, disgraceful lot, all of them" ("Congressional Democrats Stand and Applaud Calderon Over AZ Law Criticism"; SisterToldjah.com; May 20, 2010).

(Column continues below)



I find it interesting that the "president," as he is quick to reference himself, had plenty to say about a police department, and officers of same, for doing their job in the Henry Louis Gates situation – even going so far as to play the race card. He has had no shortage of response pursuant to Arizona's immigration law – but what has he had to say about Muslims putting a mosque 600 feet from Ground Zero?

I submit, anyone who thinks for an instant the proposed mosque will be simply a "kumbayah, yippee, ain't it nice we all get along center" is living in the same fantasyland where Jack bought his magic beans.

Selfish, narcissistic people have time to do what is important to them. Ignoring those who rest proudly in our national cemetery isn't important to Obama. He elects instead to slough it off to his "in-house embarrassment," Joe Biden. Maybe Biden will grace us with another of his foul-mouth comments as he lays the memorial wreath.

The POTUS is an assignation of leadership and authority. It is the authority under which men and women stand ready to die. It would seem the least our so-called leader could do is pretend to take their willingness to sacrifice for America seriously.



Mychal Massie is chairman of the National Leadership Network of Black Conservatives-Project 21 – a conservative black think tank located in Washington, D.C. He was recognized as the 2008 Conservative Man of the Year by the Conservative Party of Suffolk County, N.Y. He is a nationally recognized political activist, pundit and columnist. He has appeared on Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN, NBC, Comcast Cable and talk radio programming nationwide. A former self-employed business owner of more than 30 years, Massie can be followed on Twitter and Facebook.

The White House physician says,"Obama should moderation in alcohol intake

Barack Obama should not only try harder to kick his smoking habit, his team of doctors warned, but they also recommended 'moderation of alcohol intake'.

It would seem the pressure of the U.S. presidency - and all those White House receptions - are taking their toll after the 48-year-old's first medical checkup since winning the race to the White House.

The chief executive, who has endured an exhausting first year in the White House and year-long battles with congressional Republicans, should also eat better to lower his cholesterol, but was otherwise declared in excellent health and fit for duty.

The White House physician, Navy Capt Jeffrey Kuhlman, said Obama should stick with 'moderation in alcohol intake' and ‘smoking cessation efforts’, the use of nicotine gum, and come back in August 2011 after he turns 50.

Obama's cholesterol levels have crept up to borderline high and he should alter his diet accordingly, according to a report the White House released after the 90-minute examination at the National Naval Medical Centre in Bethesda, Maryland.

While at the facility, he visited 12 military service members receiving treatment and rehabilitation for injuries suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The president is the picture of health, eats modest portions and exercises regularly. He is an avid basketball player and golfer.

The slightly elevated cholesterol levels, occasional smoking and tendinitis in his left knee were the only negatives noted.

Obama said at a June news conference that he still had an occasional cigarette. It was his first public acknowledgment that he hadn't kicked the habit.

He chews nicotine gum to avoid regular smoking, and his doctor said that should continue.
Obama (right) at the so-called 'Beer Summit' with (from left) Harvard Professor Henry Gates, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Police Sgt James Crowley. The summit was called after Crowley arrested Gates at his home on July 16, sparking racial tensions

Occupational hazard: Obama (right) at the so-called 'Beer Summit' with (from left) Harvard Professor Henry Gates, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Police Sgt James Crowley. The summit was called after Crowley arrested Gates at his home on July 16, sparking racial tensions

On a previous occasion he said quitting smoking didn't create 'huge withdrawal symptoms', partly because he smoked only seven or eight cigarettes a day at the most.

The then senator first announced his decision to quit in 2007, in order to please his wife Michelle, while on the David Letterman Show.

Kuhlman also said the president should modify his diet to bring his LDL, or bad cholesterol, below 130.

At the time of his last exam, Obama's total cholesterol was 173, while his LDL was 96 and HDL, or good cholesterol, was 68.

This time, total cholesterol was up to 209, with HDL down slightly at 62. LDL was up to 138. Borderline high cholesterol starts at 200, with LDL considered in the same category at 130.
Obama smoking with a relative in front his family's hut in Kenya, Africa. He first announced his decision to quit in 2007, in order to please his wife Michelle, while on the David Letterman Show

Bad habits: Obama smoking with a relative in front his family's hut in Kenya, Africa. He first announced his decision to quit in 2007, in order to please his wife Michelle, while on the David Letterman Show

In the U.S., the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says that for healthy men, drinking more than four drinks on any day or 14 per week is considered 'at-risk' or 'heavy' drinking.

Last year Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
The law allows the Food and Drug Administration to reduce nicotine in tobacco products, ban sweet flavourings and block labels such 'low tar' and 'light.'

Tobacco companies are now also required to cover their cartons with large graphic warnings.


More...

* Obama warned by Nation of Islam leader that 'white right' will make him one-term president
* Hillary Clinton 'stands ready' to help Argentina and Britain resolve Falkland Islands row
* Strictly's Phil Tufnell: The secret of giving up smoking? Drink more red wine...

The law didn't let the FDA ban nicotine or tobacco, but the agency is now able to regulate the contents of tobacco products, make public their ingredients and prohibit marketing campaigns, especially those geared toward children.

Kuhlman said Obama's last checkup was in July 2008 when he was seen by the attending physician to Congress when Obama was an Illinois senator.

During the 2008 White House race, his campaign released a statement from his longtime Chicago doctor saying Obama was in excellent health when examined in January 2007.

Sunday's report said Obama is 6ft 1in and weighs 180lb (82kg) in shoes and exercise clothing. His pulse rate is 56, which is very good, as is his blood pressure - 105 over 62.

The doctor recommended that Obama should:

● Have another exam for colon cancer in five years

● Continue smoking cessation efforts, a daily exercise programme, a healthy diet, moderation in alcohol intake, periodic dental care and remain up to date with recommended immunisations

● Keep up a modified exercise regimen to strengthen his legs to ward off more difficulties with his knee

● Modify his diet to lower his LDL cholesterol below 130

The doctor said Obama's vision was 20/20 in both eyes for both distance and near vision.

The president was checked for and found free of colon cancer with a virtual colonoscopy, a scan that avoids the more invasive visual inspection with a camera device that is passed into the large intestine.

The tendinitis that Obama suffers in his left leg could be the result of his regular basketball playing.

Kuhlman said that there was mild popping and grinding in Obama's left knee and ‘some weakness’ in his left hip, also possibly a result of rigorous and extended periods on the basketball court.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1254684/Barack-Obama-try-harder-kick-smoking-habit-doctors-say.html#ixzz0pLPEfxPC

Calls renewed for investigation following statement that issue was unpaid advisory post

Posted: May 29, 2010
1:00 am Eastern

By Bob Unruh
© 2010 WorldNetDaily

White House lawyer Robert Bauer's statement today on the "job offer" to Rep. Joe Sestak carefully explained it was really only an unpaid advisory position that would allow Sestak to stay in his U.S. House seat representing Pennsylvania.

But the words did nothing to remove critics' doubts, and one commenter on the blog of conservative columnist Michelle Malkin may have touched a nerve when he wrote, "When you are telling the truth you do not have to prepare a response. The truth does not have to be manipulated. It does not have to be reviewed by attorneys. It does not have to be prepared. Calls don't have to be made to get the story straight."

WND reported earlier in the day when the White House issued a statement from Bauer explaining suspicion that improper conduct led to multiple and repeated statements from Sestak that he had been offered a job to quit his primary campaign against White House favorite Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., was based on "factual errors."

Aaron Klein's exposé of Barack Obama's notorious connections with extremists and America-haters is scorching the best-seller lists. Order your autographed copy of "The Manchurian President" today.

Republicans have asked the Justice Department for an independent investigation since the case as Sestak has portrayed it – a job offer in exchange for a political decision to drop out of the race – could be interpreted as a crime.

(Story continues below)

Just yesterday, the president was asked about the controversy at his news conference and declined to elaborate.

However, in a statement provided to the press by e-mail today, Bauer said the White House wanted to suggest that Sestak serve on an "uncompensated" board, and it dispatched former President Bill Clinton to discuss the offer.

"Recent press reports have reflected questions and speculation about discussions between White House staff and Congressman Joe Sestak in relation to his plans to run for the United States Senate," Bauer wrote. "Our office has reviewed those discussions and claims made about them."

Bauer said Sestak "accurately stated" that "options for executive branch service were raised with him."

He said the White House wondered whether Sestak wanted to serve on a presidential or "other senior executive branch advisory board, which would avoid a divisive Senate primary, allow him to retain his seat in the House, and provide him with an opportunity for additional service to the public in a high-level advisory capacity."

Those positions were uncompensated, Bauer maintained.

"Really?" was the general response from critics.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who has been the point person on the issue since Sestak made the first comment about the job offer in February, wasn't satisfied.

"After more than 10 weeks of outstanding questions, the White House has offered a version of events that has important differences from what Congressman Sestak has been saying for months – that he was offered a 'job' by 'someone the White House' in exchange for leaving the Pennsylvania Senate race," Issa said in a statement.

"I'm very concerned that in the rush to put together this report, the White House has done everything but explain its own actions and has instead worked to craft a story behind closed doors and coordinate with those involved. The White House has admitted today coordinating an arrangement that would represent an illegal quid-pro-quo as federal law prohibits directly or indirectly offering any position or appointment, paid or unpaid, in exchange for favors connected with an election," he said.

"President Clinton and Congressman Sestak now need to answer questions about what the White House released today – that at the behest of the White House chief of staff, they dispatched a former president to get Joe Sestak out of the Pennsylvania Senate primary. Regardless of what President Clinton or Congressman Sestak now say, it is abundantly clear that this kind of conduct is contrary to President Obama's pledge to change 'business as usual' and that his administration has engaged in the kind of political shenanigans he once campaigned to end," the statement said.

According to a Roll Call report, the White House had contacted Sestak's brother, who serves as his campaign manager, to let him know about the statement that the White House would release.

At an impromptu news conference today in Washington, Sestak said he was very "conscious" that Democratic leaders did not want him challenging Specter. His own statement paralleled the White House explanation and he dismissed questions over why he called it a "job" when the White House explanation called it an unpaid advisory post.

"I didn't try to parse the word there," he said.

Kurt Bardella, a spokesman for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, told Malkin, "If the White House is coordinating its response with the Sestak campaign, as Congressman Sestak has reported, it certainly explains why the president, when given the opportunity at a nationally broadcast press conference, abdicated the opportunity to address the issue candidly and definitively."

He continued, "Instead, it appears as if the White House is taking time to circle the wagons and coordinating their message. This revelation that the White House initiated a dialogue with Sestak at the same time they are preparing their public response certainly leaves the impression that there is a coordinated effort going on. Of course, if everyone just did the right thing and told the truth, the need to speculate about motive and impartiality wouldn't be necessary."

Sestak's own prepared statement said he got a phone call from Clinton last year.

"During the course of the conversation, he expressed concern over my prospects if I were to enter the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and the value of having me stay in the House of Representatives because of my military background. He said that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had spoken with him about my being on a president board while remaining in the House. … I said no."

On Malkin's comment forum, "NJ-Aviator" said, "What Obama is doing is trying to make sure that what they plan to say will not send Sestak to the media exposing Obama as a criminal. The Obama-Thugs are looking for some sort of sweet spot that is close enough to the truth to satisfy Sestak, yet not so close to the truth as to provide evidence for an indictment."

Larry Kane, the host of a Comcast program in Philadelphia, originally asked Sestak in February about the "federal job" offer.

"Were you ever offered a federal job to get out of this race?" he asked. "Yes," said Sestak.

Today, Kane threw another wrench in the works, telling National Review Online the White House originally denied there was any offer.

He recalled asking for confirmation of Sestak's statement.

"When the White House finally called back, they denied it," he told NRO. "Strategically, the White House press person I spoke with said Sestak's statement 'was not true.' So I pressed: Was anything, at all, dangled? She repeated that all she could say was that Sestak's words 'were not true.'"

GOP Sens. Orrin Hatch of Utah, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Jon Kyl or Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma had asked the Justice Department for a review.

"Such an offer (as described by Sestak) would appear to violate various federal criminal laws," the senators told Attorney General Eric Holder. "You have the clear statutory authority … to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate this matter, which would avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest and square with the precedent of Attorney General Ashcroft's recusal from a White House-related investigation in 2003."

Their letter to Holder this week noted the initial admission by Sestak in February that "a White House official offered him a federal job in an effort to end his campaign in his state's Senate primary," the letter said. "This issue arose again this past weekend when Mr. Sestak confirmed on both 'Meet the Press' and 'Face the Nation' that he was offered a job, but declined to provide any specifics."

The letter suggested the White House statements from Press Secretary Robert Gibbs that "nothing improper happened" and from senior presidential adviser David Axelrod that everything was "perfectly appropriate" weren't sufficient.

"We do not believe the Department of Justice can properly defer to White House lawyers to investigate a matter that could involve 'a serious breach of the law.' The White House cannot possibly manage an internal investigation of potential criminal misconduct while simultaneously crafting a public narrative to rebut the claim that misconduct occurred," the letter said.

"It's time for everyone involved in this scandal to come clean," said Tom Fitton, chief of the government corruption investigating Judicial Watch.

He said the situation raises concerns about a "disturbing pattern" in the Obama White House.

"We still don't have all the details about involvement of Obama administration officials in the sale of Obama's former Illinois U.S. Senate seat by Rod Blagojevich. And we still don't have answers about the charge that Obama Deputy Chief of Staff Jim Messina offered a federal job to Colorado Democratic Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff to keep him out of the Senate race. There is also the report that President Obama tried to push disgruntled White House Counsel Greg Craig out of the White House by offering a federal judgeship on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. And now we have Joe Sestak," he said. "The Chicago Machine has truly come to Washington."

The controversy is over Sestak's multiple statements that he was offered a job in the Obama administration if he would drop his primary challenge to Specter. He refused and since then has won the primary.

A spokesman in Issa's office earlier pointed out that while the Justice Department has refused to investigate, the Office of Congressional Ethics accepts allegations and details of misbehavior from the public in a section allowing for "public input" about members of Congress. It also provides an e-mail option for information that comes from the public.

WND has documented the opinions of analysts who say the alleged offer appears to be an "impeachable offense" on the part of the White House.

Dick Morris, a former White House adviser to President Bill Clinton, told Sean Hannity on his Fox News show the case is "Valerie Plame only 10 times bigger, because it's illegal and Joe Sestak is either lying or the White House committed a crime."

Now We Know Why Clinton and Obama Had Lunch on Thursday

RUSH: I guess now we know why, ladies and gentlemen, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton had lunch yesterday. They had to get their stories straight. You know who this is, and you know what this is, so let's go.


RUSH: There is no major media figure like I who takes this great a career risk every week. On Friday when we go to the phones the content of this program is totally yours, unlike Monday through Thursday where you have to talk about things I care about -- 'cause I don't want to be bored because if I'm bored, the audience will be bored and nobody will listen. But on Friday, whatever you want to talk about is fine, if I don't care, I'll fake it. I'm pretty good at that. It's a golden opportunity for you to discuss things you think haven't been discussed or to pretend that you, too, are a real radio announcer. Telephone number if you want to be on the program, 800-282-2882, the e-mail address, ElRushbo@eibnet.com.

As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, hurricanes could be... (interruption) Yes! I'm going to get to Sestak in a minute. Just keep your pants on. "Hurricanes could be stronger than usual because black oil would heat water faster and accelerate formation." So the hurricane geniuses are now revising their forecasts because of all the oil in the Gulf of Mexico. The theory is the oil is dark, it's black. It gets hot faster than the water does, and if a hurricane comes along, I mean it's over. Why don't we all just commit suicide and be done with this? Let's just be done with it. Every waking moment is a disaster waiting to happen. The Drive-By Media cannot wait for it.

Okay, now we know why Clinton and Obama had lunch yesterday. They had to get their stories straight on this Sestak business. It is... (laughing) Folks, this is just too rich. Isn't it great? Here's what happened. Apparently Rahm Emanuel went to Clinton and said, "Look, would you go talk to Sestak informally? See if he's interested in taking a nonpaid -- an unpaid job -- high position job, unpaid here in the administration." And Clinton, of course, said (doing impression), "Hey, Mr. President, whatever you want. You know, I said, 'You're going to have to kiss my ass' back during the campaign if you wanted my support 'cause of the way you called me racist and so forth, the way you portrayed me and Hillary. Now you gotta come kiss my ass. So fine you're kissing my ass." I got the story right here. Clinton said that. Sit tight.

"I'm going to kiss your ass, you kiss my ass, and I will make sure that you are all right. You come groveling to me I'll be happy to help you out here." Now, look at what's happened here. They go to Bill Clinton. He's famous for getting people jobs. Monica Lewinsky offered a job at Revlon. She was offered a job at the United Nations. She didn't take any of them. But they've got Bill Clinton. Isn't it great, folks, that they've found a guy who they know will commit perjury to carry the water here? (chuckling) Snerdley... This is why the staff does not have microphones. People ask, "Why can't we hear them speak to you?" (chuckling) Anyway, what better choice than Bill Clinton, a man who they know was willing to commit perjury in order to carry the water here.

Now, there's some question over whether this is any big deal or not. The document dump on this coincides with The One's arrival down in New Orleans. He's going to spend three hours touring the disaster in Louisiana. His average golf game, according to the New York Times, is five hours. Last summer he went on vacation up to Martha's Vineyard and he played on a course owned and operated by a good friend of mine, the Vineyard, and he spent five hours out there. The reason it takes five hours because he's not any good, most of the time is spent in the woods looking for his errant shots. That's in the New York Times! I'm not it up. Now, I went and looked at the law on this.
"18 U.S.C. § 211 : US Code - Section 211: Acceptance or Solicitation to Obtain Appointive Public Office -- Whoever solicits or receives, either as a political contribution, or for personal emolument, any money or thing of value, in consideration of the promise of support or use of influence in obtaining for any person any appointive office or place under the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both," and it doesn't say here anything about it has to be a paid position. "Whoever solicits..." In this case it would be Rahm Emanuel going through Der Schlick Meister. "Whoever solicits or receives," that would be Sestak -- and then, by the way, Clinton went to Sestak's brother. That's the circuitous route here.

"Whoever solicits or receives any thing of value in consideration of aiding a person to obtain employment under the United States either by referring his name to an executive department or agency of the United States or by requiring the payment of a fee because such person has secured such employment shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. This section shall not apply to such services rendered by an employment agency," I guess they're going to say Clinton has one because Lewinsky has been a previous client "pursuant to the written request of an executive department or agency of the United States."

So they're trying to get around this by saying it's not paid. You know, we've always thought "B.J." meant one thing. No. It means "bribe jobs." That's apparently what it means. Lewinsky is what it is. B.J. means "bribe jobs." There are two laws here, this one I just read to you. There two laws they appear to be violating but I doubt anybody's going to press this, but clearly this is subject to the law. A lot of people have been saying this is a potential impeachment type of offense here. Now, I've heard some commentators inside-the-Beltway commentators "Oh-ho-ho! This is no big deal. Why, this is just the way Washington works. It happens all the time. People are offered jobs for silence. People are offered jobs to give up their congressional seats all the time if they think they're going to lose, fall on the sword. This happens all the time."

Well, just because it happens all the time doesn't make it right. Sestak, the onus has been on him because he blew the whistle on this. He's the one that said he was offered a job. Well, who and what and how? So Clinton, Obama had lunch yesterday and the story is, "Well, Rahm Emanuel went to Clinton and Clinton sought Sestak out through his brother to see if Sestak was interested in a very influential and important unpaid federal job." Now, we are left here to believe that that is what happened, it was totally innocent, and as I say: It looks like the lawyers are gonna claim that if the offer was for an unpaid position, it is of no value, and therefore not technically a bribe, because it all centers here on whether or not Sestak was being bribed by the administration to give up his campaign for the Senate seat in Pennsylvania. Now, if... (interruption) (laughing) Bribery for him?

Every time the Democrats break laws, we need to "reform the laws," as though the law was the problem. The Democrats are just fine people. Even if the White House and Clinton are not lying about this (which is unlikely) it's still a very tough argument to make, since a high position in the government has real value besides and beyond just monetary compensation. No matter how they slice it, it's still a quid pro quo offer. So Fox News was first on this saying the White House counsel's office going to say that Clinton offered Sestak a vague unpaid position or possible positions through Sestak's brother. Buried way, way back in the New York Times on their website, the Caucus Blog: "White House Used Bill Clinton to Ask Sestak to Drop out of Race -- Obama's chief of staff" that would be Rahm Emanuel "used Clinton as an intermediary to see if Sestak would drop out of the Senate primary if given a prominent but unpaid advisory position."

Now, a lot of you are probably wondering, "What do you mean, Rush, that you started out here with Clinton talking about kissing his rear end?" Here it is. This is the UK Telegraph back in June of 2008. It's by Tim Shipman in Washington and Philip Sherwell in New York, and it's June 28th, 2008. This is after Operation Chaos is over and the Democrat primaries are over. "Bill Clinton is so bitter about Barack Obama's victory over his wife Hillary that he has told friends the Democratic nominee will have to beg for his wholehearted support. ... The Telegraph has learned that the former president's rage is still so great that even loyal allies are shocked by his patronizing attitude to Mr Obama, and believe that he risks damaging his own reputation by his intransigence. A senior Democrat who worked for Mr Clinton has revealed that he recently told friends Mr Obama could 'kiss my ass' in return for his support."

So here it is, UK Telegraph, the media. Clinton's "lingering fury has shocked his friends. The Democrat told the Telegraph: 'He's been angry for a while. But everyone thought he would get over it. He hasn't. I've spoken to a couple of people who he's been in contact with and he is mad as hell. 'He's saying he's not going to reach out, that Obama has to come to him. One person told me that Bill said Obama would have to quote kiss my ass close quote, if he wants his support." Well, it appears that it happened yesterday. It appears that it happened. (laughing) Clinton finally got what he wanted. He was asked to bail Obama out of this, and has -- has done so. So this has been a building. It's been building to a crescendo here and people have been wondering, "Well, who did what to who?" because, you know, Sestak, the onus has been on him. He's the one that revealed this had happened but he wouldn't provide any details.

He was waiting for the White House to come out with the story, and now that they've come out with the story, Sestak's not talking. You know, he's going right along with it. But he was either one of two things. Either Sestak was lying when this all happened, or something far more serious was going on and that is that a bribe was offered. Now, it may be "the way the game is played in Washington" but Sestak blew it by going public with it. So now the lid's off, everybody is looking into it, and it remains to be seen if this is going to be accepted and the end of the story. In the meantime, Sestak's poll numbers in the Pennsylvania senatorial race are sort of leveling out. He's running against Pat Toomey, as you know, who looks good.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: Have you noticed the Democrats always throw their brothers under the bus when a controversy comes up? I mean look at the brothers of Democrats always get thrown to the wolves. Billy Carter got thrown to the wolves. Roger Clinton got thrown to the wolves. Hillary's brothers got thrown to the wolves. Hugh Rodham was thrown to the wolves and now Sestak's brother. It's all Sestak's brother's fault! Do you know what the two most dangerous jobs in the world are? The two most dangerous jobs in the world are being number three at Al-Qaeda and being the brother of an American Democrat politician -- and of course look at Obama's brother! This guy, he's still stuck in a hut. He's still living in a six-by-nine-foot hut in Kenya. His brother is president and he hadn't even sent the him a little sign "Home, Sweet Hut." Living in a hut for crying out loud! Twenty dollars would change this guy's life. No running water.

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: We'll start in Chicago with Susan. Glad you called, and welcome to the program.

CALLER: Hi, Rush. It's a pleasure to talk with you and an honor.

RUSH: Thank you very much.

CALLER: I just think that this is absurd with this Sestak job offer. Nobody's going to offer somebody a job with no compensation to give up a Senate race? That's absurd.

RUSH: Well, but the Democrats understand they've got a sympathetic and supportive stenographer-like media to report this -- and they have, of course, the august stature of Bill Clinton to stand behind the veracity of this. I mean, what better guy could they have found to carry the story than a guy that has been willing to commit perjury before.

CALLER: Yeah.

RUSH: It's made to order. So you're not buying it.

CALLER: No, not at all. And another thing I wanted to bring up to you is I heard on late-night radio that President Obama has a Connecticut-issued Social Security number that he supposedly got when he was 21 years old from a state that he never lived in.

RUSH: I seem to have heard that somewhere. I don't know. I don't know any of the details about that. In fact, I don't know if that's actually true. I haven't looked into it, but I think I've heard that. But regardless, that's way down on the list of things to be concerned about is where he has his Social Security card. I appreciate the call, Susan.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: Here is Richard in Cincinnati. Richard, great to have you on the EIB Network. Great to have you here.

CALLER: Thanks, Rush. Thanks for taking my call.

RUSH: You bet.

CALLER: I'd like to make a comment about Joe Sestak. You know, I was thinking over the weekend here, Memorial Day, our fallen heroes, we have this retired admiral that more than likely made decisions and put lives on the line. And I got to wondering, "You know, what if our soldiers out there came into fire or something and decided to save their own butts as opposed to doing what they go in there for, which is to protect freedom and stuff," and now we've got this retired admiral that seems to be selling out to save his own skin. It just kind of makes me a little bit angry about it. I hope he's listening. But I mean the man is, to me, he's a coward and a disgrace, and he needs to really come clean.

RUSH: Here's what happened. I've been hearing this ever since the story broke. When I brought it up to people, they said, "Come on, Rush! This is how Washington works. This is nothing new. People are offered patronage jobs or bribed with jobs all the time. You know, look at all these Democrats that are retiring. David Obey! You think he's leaving for nothing? Of course not. He's going to be rewarded for all his work. He's going to get a lobbying job." I said, "Yeah, but Sestak broke the code! Sestak said he was offered a job. Nobody talks about it. It's always been something, 'Yeah, it happens. We just assume it,' but Sestak went out there and he broke the code by saying it and then he realized he broke the code and he said it because then the onus was on him." Now, he didn't lie. He didn't lie, but it was thought maybe he was lying or somebody in the White House was.

And then they all figured out, "You know what? This is an impeachable offense!" So they have been working hard trying to massage this and interesting trying to massage it, who do they go to? Bill Clinton. They have lunch yesterday with Clinton, and they come up with this line. As I said at the top of the program: It never hurts to find the guy who has been willing to commit perjury before to come out and cover your rear end on something like this. So this notion that the job didn't require any compensation? If it's a high-ranking and important job, and it's unpaid, then how in the world can it be high-ranking? I think Sestak probably spoke outta turn because he's an academy grad. He's an honorable guy. He said, "I was offered a gig." So he broke the code. He let the cat out of the bag. They're all saying, "Gosh, what the hell did he do? Gee, what kind of mess are we in." So they've been circling the wagons, and this is what it's they've come up with. And Sestak has said, "I'm saying nothing. Whatever the White House counsel's office says, that's my version, too."
BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: Here's Sestak's response, and this from NBC. "Last summer, I received a phone call from President Clinton. During the course of the conversation, he expressed concern over my prospects if I were to enter the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and the value of having me stay in the House of Representatives because of my military background. He said that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had spoken with him about my being on a Presidential Board while remaining in the House of Representatives. I said no. I told President Clinton that my only consideration in getting into the Senate race or not was whether it was the right thing to do for Pennsylvania working families and not any offer."

This kind of garbage just makes me want to throw up: Pennsylvania's working families. "Yeah, our only consideration here, the only consideration I had in considering this offer was for Pennsylvania's working families." Now, the real concern is for people in Pennsylvania who don't work, if you're a Democrat. At any rate, "I told President Clinton that my only consideration in getting into the Senate race or not was whether it was the right thing to do for Pennsylvania working families and not any offer. The former President said he knew I'd say that, and the conversation moved on to other subjects. There are many important challenges facing Pennsylvania and the rest of the country. I intend to remain focused on those issues and continue my fight on behalf of working families."

I kid you not! "Working families," that's Democrat code lingo for unions. "Working families." What about the unemployed? What about those who really want to work but can't? (interruption) No, I'm not nitpicking this. This kind of language makes me cynical. "No, doing the right thing for Pennsylvania working families is what's important to me, not any offer here." Now, we know that Bill Clinton has a history of going to Democrats and trying to get 'em outta races. Went to Torricelli, and Torricelli quit. He went to Andrew Cuomo and told Andrew Cuomo, "Look, don't try for governor now. It's not your time," and Andrew Cuomo bowed out. So Sestak says Rahm Emanuel called Clinton; Clinton called Sestak and said, "'Why don't you come on a presidential board and stay in the House of Representatives?' I said no, and the former president said he knew I'd say that."

Well, now, if Clinton knew that Sestak would say no, then why go to the offer? Here's the big question. This is the real question, and this is a question for all of you "Pennsylvania working families." If this explanation is so clear-cut and simple and legal, why has the White House not put out an explanation about this before now? Why is it...? How many weeks has it been going on? How many months is this been going on? How long ago was it that Sestak said he was offered a gig? And we haven't had anybody say anything more. Sestak would be asked, "What do you mean?" He'd say, "I'm not saying anymore." The White House was not answering the question. If this is "the way business is done," why not just come out and tell us?

This story has been percolating since February, and this is best they can come up with. (doing Clinton impression) "Well, that's right, Limbaugh. This is how it works. I went to this guy and I said, 'Look, we really don't want you in that Senate race. You don't stand a prayer. We want to keep you in the House. Come on some presidential advisory board now and then. But I understand you got concern for Pennsylvania's working families, and if you want to say no, that's fine. I'm just conveying the offer." Right? Is that how it happened? If it's this simple, why did it take all this time and a lunch yesterday with Clinton and Obama to come up with this? (sigh) I, for one, am not buying it.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: Let's take some things, people at their word here. Even if what the White House is now claiming is true, and even if it's "business as usual" that people are offered jobs all the time to give up something else, didn't Obama pledge to change business as usual in Washington? Wasn't that part of the campaign? (doing Obama impression) "We're gonna change business as usual!" Isn't this the exact kind of corruption Obama promised to end? Instead just like with all his other promise he has made, his minions have done the very things he condemned in sp..... Well, I was going to say "spades," but I won't. And about Sestak, the timeline, the timeline is suspicious. 'Cause if this is all there was to it, why not just call Clinton and tell him to get in front of a camera and laugh it off way back in February when this thing came up? None of this just fits. If this is all that happened, why did it take all this time to conjure this up? If there's nothing to it have Clinton go out there (doing impression), "Hey, hey, this is no big deal! I called his brother I said, 'Hey, how would you like to serve on a presidential commission and stay in the House?' He said he didn't want to do that. That's all there is here. It doesn't matter. There's no 'here' here." But no, they had to conjure something up. There's something about this that's still not right, folks. It just doesn't fit.
END TRANSCRIPT
Read the Background Material...
• Washington Post: White House Asked Clinton to Talk to Sestak About Senate Run
• Washington Post: How the Sestak Job Offer Became a Big Deal
• FOXNews: White House Asked Bill Clinton to Urge Sestak to Drop Out of Senate Race
• UK Telegraph: Bill Clinton Says Barack Obama Must 'Kiss My Ass' For His Support - 28 Jun 2008
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GM Still Losing- The company has burned through cash at a rate of more than $1 billion a month. In the quarter ending in March, the burn rate was abo

The auto industry is in chaos -- fortunately for General Motors (GM, news, msgs).

• Gasoline above $4 a gallon in the U.S. has sent sales of trucks and SUVs plunging as drivers look for more mileage for their dollars.

• Higher steel prices have savaged profit margins.

• New competitors from India and China are about to emerge in the global market.

• And nobody knows what the future will bring -- electric cars, more hybrids, even cleaner diesels.

It's likely that the auto industry will look radically different in 2010 than it does today.

And that's what's likely to save GM. The company is bleeding market share in its home market because fewer motorists want to buy its North American product line of trucks and SUVs. And its losses are so huge that in the past couple of months the company has burned through cash at a rate of more than $1 billion a month. In the quarter ending in March, the burn rate was about $500 million a month.

But whatever its current troubles, the company isn't shut out of the future of the global auto industry. So much change is sweeping across the global marketplace, nobody -- not even Toyota Motor (TM, news, msgs) -- will be able to lock up the market and turn GM into a permanent also-ran. There's so much uncertainty about demand trends and developing technology that even a player as currently challenged as General Motors could grab the brass ring if it makes the right decisions on what cars to produce and what technologies to back.

• Talk back: Can GM overcome its huge problems?

And amazingly, given all the talk about the death of General Motors, the company has a better chance of grabbing that prize than almost any car company in world except for Toyota. If GM can get to 2010 with a few dollars left in its gas tank, that is.

Market weakest where GM is strongest

How bad are things at General Motors? The company showed a $4.4 billion operating loss in 2007, the fourth operating loss in the past four years. Cash flow for the year was a negative $5.6 billion. The company finished the year with $25 billion in cash, about flat with 2006 but down a huge $24 billion from the end of 2005.

Then everything got worse. After averaging 16.8 million units a year from 2000 through 2007, U.S. auto sales are on a pace to fall to just 14 million units in 2008. The hardest-hit segments are exactly where General Motors' sales are strongest. Industrywide, sales of pickups, SUVs and vans -- exactly the kinds of vehicles most affected by higher gasoline prices -- were down 21% in the first half of 2008 compared with a year ago. The company gets about 60% of its sales from these categories. The company's share of the U.S. market, which tumbled to 23.5% by the end of 2007, has declined further, to just 21%.

More from MSN Money

• Why Pepsi can rebound but GM can't
• The great Google-Nokia-Apple war
• The next Internet-sized boom
• Bad times for good companies
• Waiting out the bear? Safety first

And the recovery in U.S. auto sales is getting further and further away. First projected for the end of 2008, as the economic slowdown has dragged on and as oil prices have shown no signs of a meaningful retreat, the recovery has receded into 2009. General Motors has recently started talking about 2010 as the year the auto market turns around and the company returns to profitability.

Losing cash, facing debt

Pushing off a recovery for an additional 18 months gets very scary when a company is burning through cash as fast as GM -- whether it's the $1 billion a month of the past couple of months or the $500 million a month of the March quarter.

Do the math: Eighteen months at $1 billion a month comes to $18 billion. General Motors finished the March quarter with $22 billion in cash. The current rate of cash burn would cut that to just $4 billion by the start of 2010. That's cutting it a little close for a company with $34 billion in long-term debt.

Obama sees positive signs from Venezuela, Cuba

U.S. President Barack Obama said Sunday he has seen positive signs from both Cuba and Venezuela, but "the test for all of us is not simply words but also deeds."

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, right, listens to U.S. President Barack Obama during the fifth Summit of the Americas in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on Sunday. (Miraflores Press Office/Associated Press)

At a news conference closing the three-day Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, Obama praised his country's recent exchanges with Cuba and Venezuela, saying there have been "potential positive signs in the nature of the relationship" between the United States and those countries.

"The test for all of us is not simply words, but also deeds," he added. "I do believe that the signals sent so far provide at least an opportunity for frank dialogue on a range of issues, including critical issues of democracy and human rights throughout the hemisphere."

At the summit, Obama shook hands with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and welcomed remarks made in Havana by Cuban President Raul Castro.

Last Monday, the U.S. administration lifted restrictions on Cuban-Americans who want to travel and send money to their island homeland. Obama said the nearly-50-year-old U.S. policy of isolating Cuba has "failed to advance liberty or opportunity for the Cuban people."

Within hours of the announcement, Raul Castro replied from a summit in Venezuela: "We have sent word to the U.S. government in private and in public that we are willing to discuss everything — human rights, freedom of the press, political prisoners, everything."

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning, in closing remarks from Port-of-Spain, said he has never witnessed such a spirit of co-operation at an international conference.

"I am extremely pleased at what threatened to be a summit that could have been derailed by the agendas of individuals and individual countries has turned out to be a single example of co-operation and collaboration between the countries of the Western Hemisphere."

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, talks to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during the fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on Sunday. (Brennan Linsley/Associated Press)

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined other leaders in declaring the summit an unexpected success.

"We all came here, I think, believing that we would have quite a battle among the radically different perspectives that do exist on certain subjects on hemispheric countries," he said. "That did not materialize. In fact, we saw the opposite. We saw the replacement of confrontation with dialogue."

Despite expressions of goodwill, the 34 leaders couldn't agree on a final declaration, instead adopting a much shorter final statement.

Chavez and allies including Nicaragua and Bolivia refused to sign chiefly because they want Cuba reinstated in the Organization of American States, which suspended it in 1962.

Harper said ideally, Cuba — excluded from the summit because it does not have a democratically elected leader — would be welcomed back into the fold, "but in such a way as to promote our own democratic and electoral standards."

Harper's main message at the summit was against protectionism and for more free trade in the region. He said promoting security and democracy were other key issues.

Spike in sales of book Chavez presented to Obama

While Chavez had been fierce critic of the United States under former president George W. Bush, he warmly greeted the current U.S. president on Saturday. However, he also let it be known Obama has much to learn about the region's history.

On Saturday, he handed Obama a Spanish-language version of the book Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent, written by Eduardo Galeano. The book chronicles U.S. and European economic and political interference in Latin America.

The paperback edition was ranked 54,295 on the online retailer Amazon.com before the weekend. It had jumped to No. 5 by Sunday.

After meeting Obama, Chavez said he expects to send an ambassador back to Washington soon, ending a diplomatic impasse that began in September when the Venezuelan president expelled the U.S. envoy to Caracas.

As the summit was ending, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told reporters the "moment is right" for dialogue between Venezuela and the United States.

With files from The Associated Press

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/04/19/summit-americas.html#ixzz0p4ozGt4l

Obama, Corker clash in private meeting

WASHINGTON (AP) - It was billed as a high-noon cease-fire between President Barack Obama and Senate Republicans, but the rare, private Capitol Hill meeting instead turned into a heated shootout at the notion that anyone in the room has bipartisan intentions this election year.

When Obama appealed for bipartisanship on legislation in the six months remaining before Election Day, freshman Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., confronted him, the senator later told reporters.

"I told him I thought there was a degree of audacity in him even showing up today after what happened with financial regulation," Corker said after the meeting. "I asked him how he was able to reconcile that duplicity, coming in today to see us."

Four people who were in the room said Obama bristled and defended his administration's handling of negotiations. Republicans have long complained that Democrats are using heavy-handed tactics to push though Obama's agenda.

On the way out, Obama approached Corker, according to the senator, who had been sitting just to the president's right, to press his case. Corker repeated his.

"I mentioned that there was a very large disconnect between what he was saying and his actions," Corker told reporters.

Applause could be heard as the president exited. "It was a good, frank discussion about a whole range of issues," Obama told reporters.

That was one way of describing it, but Republicans leaving the meeting used other words.

"I think feelings are frayed, maybe, on both sides of the aisle," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.

The prospects for progress weren't high during a volatile election year in which every House seat, 36 in the Senate and Obama's clout are on the line. The testy atmosphere inside the Lyndon Baines Johnson Room reflected the anger constituents are lobbing at their representatives over key agenda items, from the government's economic stimulus to health care reform and now the handling of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

"We want to see if we can get some more work done," Obama told reporters on the way into the session.

Soon enough, he had his answer, in bitter terms.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he told Obama that he had mischaracterized Arizona's new immigration law as being "open to discrimination."

"I pointed out that members of his administration who have not read the law have mischaracterized the law—a very egregious act on their part," McCain said afterward.

White House spokesman Bill Burton said Obama told McCain that he has read the Arizona law himself and stands by his comments.

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., pressed Obama on the administration's response to the oil spill. Sen. John Barasso, R-Wyo., invoked the fierce debate over health care reform, which passed without a single Republican vote.

And then, there was Corker.

According to the Tennessee Republican and others in the room, that eruption started when Obama pledged to meet Republicans halfway on several issues. People spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private.

The Tennessee Republican spent weeks in February and March in almost daily negotiations with Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, D-Conn., in an attempt to reach a bipartisan bill. Corker angered Republicans by taking the lead in the talks.

While Corker succeeded in winning some adjustments in the bill, Dodd eventually cut their talks short. Republicans declined to make changes to the bill in the committee and Dodd sent a bill to the floor backed by the White House.

In a statement after the meeting with Republicans, the White House said the president would continue to work toward bipartisanship.

Corker told reporters, "I just wanted him to tell me how when he wakes up in the morning, comes over to luncheon like ours today, how does he reconcile that duplicity?"

___

Associated Press writers Erica Werner, Jim Kuhnhenn, Charles Babington and Julie Hirschfeld Davis contributed to this report.

0bama For Sestak Matter, a ‘Trust Us’ Response From White House

By PETER BAKER
Published: May 24, 2010


WASHINGTON — For three months, the White House has refused to say whether it offered a job to Representative Joe Sestak to get him to drop his challenge to Senator Arlen Specter in a Pennsylvania Democratic primary, as Mr. Sestak has asserted.
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But the White House wants everyone who suspects that something untoward, or even illegal, might have happened to rest easy: though it still will not reveal what happened, the White House is reassuring skeptics that it has examined its own actions and decided it did nothing wrong. Whatever it was that it did.

“Lawyers in the White House and others have looked into conversations that were had with Congressman Sestak,” Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said Sunday on “Face the Nation” on CBS. “And nothing inappropriate happened.”

“Improper or not, did you offer him a job in the administration?” asked the host, Bob Schieffer.

“I’m not going to get further into what the conversations were,” Mr. Gibbs replied. “People that have looked into them assure me that they weren’t inappropriate in any way.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the “trust us” response from the White House has not exactly put the matter to rest. With Mr. Sestak’s victory over Mr. Specter in last week’s primary, the questions have returned with intensity, only to remain unanswered. Mr. Gibbs deflected questions 13 times at a White House briefing last week just two days after the primary. Mr. Sestak, a retired admiral, has reaffirmed his assertion without providing any details, like who exactly offered what job.

Republicans have pressed Mr. Sestak to explain. “Congressman Sestak should tell the public everything he knows about the job he was offered, and who offered it,” former Representative Pat Toomey, his Republican opponent, said Monday.

Amber Marchand, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said, “Joe Sestak owes Pennsylvanians a full explanation for this potentially illegal activity.”

Whether the conversations might have been illegal is unclear without knowing what precisely was said. There are certainly statutes that bar government employees from using their authority to influence a Senate nomination or to promise employment as a reward for political activity. Yet presidents have given appointments to many people to reward allies or take would-be obstacles out of the way for other allies, explicitly or not.

Even if the conversations were perfectly legal, as the White House claims, the situation challenges President Obama’s efforts to present himself as a reformer who will fix a town of dirty politics. And the refusal to even discuss what was discussed does not advance the White House’s well-worn claim to being “the most transparent” in history.

When Mr. Gibbs was pressed on the matter Thursday, he resolutely referred to his original statement exonerating the White House and refused to elaborate.

“But you never really explained what the conversation was,” said Jake Tapper of ABC News.

“And I don’t have anything to add today,” Mr. Gibbs said.

“But,” Mr. Tapper continued, “if the White House offers a congressman a position in the administration in order to convince that congressman not to run for office ...”

“I don’t have anything to add to that,” Mr. Gibbs said.

Mr. Tapper persisted: “But do you really think the American people don’t have a right to know about what exactly the conversation was?”

“I don’t have anything to add to what I said in March,” Mr. Gibbs said.

The White House had nothing more to say Monday. David Axelrod, the president’s senior adviser, said on CNN, “I don’t think any questions will be left unanswered on this,” but he did not actually answer the questions. Other Democrats have come to the White House’s defense by arguing that even if Mr. Sestak’s assertion about a job were true, it would hardly be shocking in a city of political tradeoffs.

“I don’t see the scandal,” Steve Elmendorf, who was chief of staff to former Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri when he was the House Democratic leader, said in an e-mail message. “Sestak is totally qualified for the job, and Dem and Rep presidents routinely offer members of Congress jobs for all sorts of reasons.”

Indeed, Douglas B. Sosnik, the White House political director under President Bill Clinton, said using jobs to reward political friends was simply “business as usual.” But, he added, that was the problem: Mr. Obama promised not to perpetuate business as usual. “It cuts against the Obama brand,” he said. “The public tolerance for these deals is less than in the past.”

Ron Kaufman, who had the same job under the first President George Bush, said it would not be surprising for a White House to use political appointments to accomplish a political goal. “Tell me a White House that didn’t do this, back to George Washington,” Mr. Kaufman said. “But here’s the difference — the times have changed and the ethics have changed and the scrutiny has changed. This is the kind of thing people across America are mad about.”

Moreover, he said, Mr. Obama’s own rhetoric raised the bar: “When you get out there and say, ‘We’re going to do things totally different, we’re above all this and we’re going to be totally transparent,’ they cause their own problem because they’re not being transparent.”

Obama will use Memorial weekend for a trip home to Chicago

By Anne E. Kornblut
With the long Memorial Day weekend on the horizon, President Obama is finally addressing one of the great broken promises of his administration: his early pledge to return home to Chicago every six weeks or so.

In 16 months at the White House, the Obamas have been back home just once - in February of 2009. But they plan to make the trip over Memorial Day weekend, an official said. After arriving on Thursday night, they will visit with friends and participate in private events.

On Monday, Obama will make remarks at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, south of Chicago - missing the usual tradition of presidents speaking at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day.

Vice President Biden and his wife will appear in Obama's place, laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as holding a breakfast for Gold Star families -- families whose loved ones died in military service -- at the White House earlier that day.

By Anne E. Kornblut | May 24, 2010; 7:00 PM ET