Reuters: Politics

Obama says won't allow U.S. debt ceiling crisis repeat

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:58:46 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama told top lawmakers on Wednesday he was ready to work with Republicans and Democrats on a "balanced" approach to deficit-cutting but would not permit another down-to-the-wire debt ceiling crisis, the White House said.

Taxes lurk behind court test of Obama health law

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:53:41 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - While Supreme Court watchers focus on the controversial insurance requirement in President Barack Obama's healthcare law, lesser known is that the court's ruling next month will also decide the fate of billions of dollars in new taxes.

Boehner tells Obama no debt increase without cuts: aide

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:57:19 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner told President Barack Obama during a meeting on Wednesday that he would not allow another increase of the U.S. debt limit without spending cuts, according to a Boehner aide.

Obama's April fundraising drops to $43.6 million

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:10:49 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's re-election campaign and Democratic groups affiliated with it raised $43.6 million in April, a decrease from the previous month despite the start of a robust general election campaign against Republican Mitt Romney.

U.S. to freeze assets to help Yemeni transition

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:51:38 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday ordered the freezing of U.S. assets of anyone the United States considers to be obstructing the Washington-backed political transition in Yemen.

Lawyers for ex-US Senator John Edwards rest case

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:46:40 -0400

GREENSBORO, North Carolina (Reuters) - The defense rested its case on Wednesday in the federal trial of ex-Senator John Edwards on charges he used presidential campaign finances to hide his then-pregnant mistress from voters, setting the stage for jury deliberations as early as this week.

Obama walks fine line in bashing Romney, courting Wall Street

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:55:04 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For President Barack Obama's re-election team, it's sort of like threading a needle.

No boost for Obama from gay marriage decision

Tue, 15 May 2012 18:19:00 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's announcement of support for gay marriage has inflamed political passions but has not given him a bump in popularity, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed on Tuesday.

Obama issues veto threat against House defense bill

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:31:45 -0400

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama threatened on Tuesday to veto a defense policy bill in the House of Representatives that would authorize higher Pentagon spending and tie his hands on national security issues from nuclear arms reductions to handling war detainees.

Nebraska rancher scores upset in Senate primary

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:25:22 -0400

Omaha, Nebraska (Reuters) - Rancher and state Senator Deb Fischer overcame two longtime state office holders to win the Nebraska Republican primary for the Senate on Tuesday, the second Republican primary upset in a week after an insurgent ousted longtime Indiana Republican Senator Richard Lugar.