The Note’s Must-Reads for Wednesday, February 18, 2009
EmailThe Note’s Must-Reads are a round-up of today’s political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com
Compiled by ABC News’ PETER MARTINEZ, CARRIE HALPERIN, KRISTEN RED-HORSE, JAYCE HENDERSON, JUSTIN GRANT and LAURA GREENE
BOOKMARKS:
The Note: LINK
The Must-Reads Online: LINK
ABC News Politics: LINK
The Political Punch (Jake Tapper): LINK
George’s Bottom Line (George Stephanopoulos): LINK
ABC News Mobile: LINK
ABC News on your iPhone/iPod Touch: LINK
2009: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND HIS ADMINISTRATION:
ABC News Nightline: "Closing Arguments: Obama’s War on Terror" LINK
ABC News’ Luis Martinez: "Obama Increases U.S. Troop Presence in Afghanistan" LINK
ABC News’ Jake Tapper: "Obama Authorizes Troop Increase in Afghanistan" LINK
ABC News’ Jake Tapper: "A Brief Sketch of Today’s Housing Speech" LINK
USA Today’s Susan Page and Tom Vanden Brook: "Obama’s war: Deploying 17,000 raises stakes in Afghanistan" LINK
The Associated Press: "Obama taking pro-trade message to Canada" LINK
The Washington Times’ Jennifer Harper: “Obama has new flag frenzy” LINK
Time Magazine’s Mark Thompson: “Afghanistan: A Yes-We-Can War?” LINK
Newsweek Magazine’s Mark Hosenball: “More Forces for Afghanistan” LINK
The Hill’s Silla Brush and Jim Snyder: "Obama Shifts From Stimulus to Housing" LINK
Politicos’ David S. Cloud & Mike Allen: "Obama Shifts Focus to Afghanistan" LINK
Politicos’ Josh Gerstein: "The White House’s Missing Documents" LINK
The New York Daily News’ Bob Kappstatter: "Carrion heads to White House for new urban policy position in Obama administration" LINK
The New York Daily News’ David Saltonstall: "Obama signs stimulus into law" LINK
The New York Daily News’ Richard Sisk: "Obama is just ‘Barack’ in note to slain G.I.’s kin" LINK
The New York Daily News’ Kenneth Bazinet: "Obama to unveil task force to give boost to auto industry" LINK
The New York Times’ Helene Cooper: "Putting Stamp on Afghan War, Obama Will Send $17,000 Troops" LINK
The New York Times’ David Sanger: "Obama Takes on Auto Crisis without a Czar" LINK
The New York Times’ Charlie Savage: "Obama’s War on Terror May Resemble Bush’s in Some Areas" LINK
The Washington Post’s Jeffrey Smith and Joby Warrick: "Obama, Gates at Odds Over New Whistleblower Protections" LINK
2009: SENATOR BURRIS:
ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos: "Democratic Source on Burris: ‘He’s In Deep Sh*t’" LINK
The Associated Press: "Burris Tried to Raise Funds for Blagojevich" LINK
USA Today’s Judy Keen: "Burris revelations prompt perjury investigation" LINK
The Hill’s J. Taylor Rushing: "Ethics Panel Opens Probe On Sen. Burris" LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Douglas Belkin and Naftali Bendavid: “Burris Tried to Raise Funds for Blagojevich” LINK
2009: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS:
ABC News’ Kate Barrett: "Obama Signs Stimulus to Jump Start Economic Recovery" LINK
ABC News’ Jake Tapper: "Signing the Stimulus" LINK
USA Today’s Mimi Hall and David Jackson: "Stimulus slammed as Dems’ agenda" LINK
The Associated Press: "Obama wants stimulus to transform schools" LINK
The Washington Times’ S.A. Miller: “GOP to hound pro-stimulus Blue Dogs” LINK
The Washington Times’ Stephen Dinan and David R. Sands: “Spending the windfall won’t be easy” LINK
The Washington Times’ Richard Rahn: “The experiment” LINK
The Hill’s Reid Wilson: "Stimulus goes on the road" LINK
The Los Angeles Times’ Peter Nicholas: "Obama Calls Stimulus ‘Beginning Of The End’ Of Economic Downturn" LINK
Politicos’ Eamon Javers: "Greenspan: Fix System before Stimulus" LINK
The Los Angeles Times’ Ken Bensinger and Jim Puzzanghera: "GM, Chrysler Seek Nearly $22 Billion More From U.S." LINK
The Los Angeles Times’ Ralph Vartabedian: "Treasury Department Sees Modest Cutback In Bank Lending" LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Laura Meckler: “Obama Signs Stimulus into Law” LINK
The Boston Globe’s Joseph Williams: “Stimulus is signed as storm builds” LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Deborah Solomon: “Distressed Homeowners Get New Options in Plan” LINK
Bloomberg’s Edwin Chen and Roger Runningen: “Obama Says Afghan War ‘Winnable,’ Will Send 17,000 New Soldiers” LINK
The Boston Globe’s Susan Milligan: “Grand pledges in campaign led to stumbles” LINK
The New York Times’ Sheryl Stolberg: "Signing Stimulus, Obama Doesn’t Rule Out More" LINK
The New York Times’ Peter Baker: "Obama Team Has Billions to Spend, but Few Ready to Do It" LINK
The New York Times’ Thom Shanker: "After Stimulus Package, Pentagon Officials Are Preparing to Pare Back" LINK
The Washington Post’s Michael Fletcher: "Obama Leaves D.C. to Sign Stimulus Bill" LINK
2009: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND HIS INAUGURATION:
Buy the ABC News DVD: "A Moment in History – The Inauguration of Barack Obama" LINK
2009: ECONOMY/HOUSING MARKET/AUTO INDUSTRY/BAILOUT:
ABC News’ Alice Gomstyn: "GM May Need Up to $30 Billion in Gov’t Aid" LINK
USA Today’s Richard Wolf: "Phoenix-area real estate picture grim" LINK
The Washington Times: “GM, Chrysler seek $22 billion more” LINK
Time Magazine’s David Von Drehle: “Saying No to a Car Czar: A Smart First Step on Detroit” LINK
The New York Times’ Bill Vlasic and Nick Bunkley: "Automakers Seek $14 Billion More in Aid" LINK
2009: CONGRESS:
ABC News’ Jonathan Karl and Kirit Radia: "State Dept. Defends Congressional Travel" LINK
USA Today’s Seung Min Kim: "Poll: Congress’ job approval at 31%" LINK
2009: SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON:
The Associated Press’ Matthew Lee: "Clinton Seeks to Improve US Image With Muslims" LINK
The Washington Times’ Nehginpao Kipgen: “Dividends of Hillary’s travels” LINK
The Los Angeles Times’ Paul Richter: "Clinton Covers The Bases On Tokyo Visit" LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Yuka Hayashi and Jay Solomon: “Clinton Pursues Delicate Diplomacy, Meeting Japan’s Aso and Opposition” LINK
The New York Daily News’ Richard Sisk: "Clinton warns North Korea on missile launch" LINK
The Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler: "Clinton Says U.S. Seeks Unity With Muslim World" LINK
2009: TREASURY SECRETARY THOMAS GEITHNER:
ABC News’ Jake Tapper: "What Really Happened with that Clunker of a Geithner Speech" LINK
2009: DEMOCRATS/REPUBLICANS:
Politicos’ Kenneth P. Vogel: "Accused Fraudster Gave Big To Dems" LINK
Boston Globe Op-Ed by Derrick Z. Jackson: “Republican obstinacy: How’s it working?” LINK
2009: NAFTA:
The Hill’s Sam Youngman: "Obama Defends NAFTA Policy Ahead Of Canada Trip" LINK
2009: TARP:
The Hill’s Ian Swanson : "Govt.’s TARP Losses $86.5B Since October" LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Michael R. Crittenden and Meena Thiruvengadam: “Treasury Finds No Rise in Bank Lending” LINK
2009: FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY:
The New York Times’ Jim Rutenberg and Jo Becker: "Aides Say No Pardon for Libby Irked Cheney" LINK
2009: ENVIRONMENT:
The New York Times’ Kate Galbraith: "E.P.A. to Revisit Approval Process for Coal-Fired Plants" LINK
2009: SARAH PALIN:
The Washington Post’s Michael Leahy: "Back Home in Alaska, Palin Finds Cold Comfort" LINK
2009: OTHER MUST-READS:
ABC News’ Jonathan Karl: "Postmaster General’s Pay Package Under Fire" LINK
The Associated Press’ Julie Watson: "Marchers Block US Border to Protest Army Presence" LINK
USA Today’s Haya El Nasser: "No Census director as 2010 count nears" LINK
USA Today’s Joan Biskupic: "Civil rights in court spotlight" LINK
USA Today’s Sharon Jayson: "Federally funded ad campaign holds up value of marriage" LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Peter Sanders: “Lawmakers Weigh Hollywood Tax Break” LINK
The Wall Street Journal’s Glenn R. Simpson and T.W. Farnam: “Texas Businessman Sought Influence in Corridors of Capitol” LINK
Bloomberg’s Alison Fitzgerald: “Stanford Wielded Jets, Junkets and Cricket to Woo Clients” LINK
The New York Times’ Monica Davey and Dirk Johnson: "2 Investigations Into New Illinois Senator Are Begun" LINK
The Washington Post’s Karl Vick and Keith Richburg: "Budget Mire Forces Calif. Senate Lockdown" LINK
The Washington Post’s Del Quentin Wilber: "6 Prosecutors No Longer Part Of Legal Team in Stevens Case" LINK
The Washington Post’s Peter Slevin: "Burris Admits to Fundraising Attempt" LINK
2009: ABC NEWS VIDEOS:
"Stimulus: It’s a Law" LINK
"George: Burris May Face Perjury Charges" LINK
"Biden Praises Obama for ‘Landmark Achievement’" LINK
"Paul Krugman on Stimulus Spending" LINK
"Overseas With Hillary Clinton" LINK
"Obama Signs Massive Stimulus Bill" LINK
"GM Seeks $16 Billion More" LINK
"Flipping Angry over Obama Coin" LINK
"Postmaster’s $857,459.00 Salary" LINK
Rick Santorum Sweeps 3 States 
Pentagon to Open Additional Jobs to Women
It is astonishing that a supposedly “serious” website like The Note would post a link to a silly, shallow, nonsensical fluff piece (The Washington Times’ Jennifer Harper: “Obama has new flag frenzy”) about Obama and the American flag.
Shame on you!
Posted by: Joe | February 18, 2009, 9:29 pm 9:29 pm
On the February 18 editions of ABCNews.com’s The Note highlighted a February 18 Washington Times
article titled “Obama has new flag frenzy: White House embraces a
backdrop of red, white and blue,” with ABC News describing the article
as a “Must-Read,” and Playbook author Mike Allen writing, “Cable’s
gonna go cuckoo over this WashTimes A1er.” The Times article, however,
rehashes several false and baseless claims regarding President Obama’s
presidential campaign and the American flag and uncritically quotes
right-wing radio host Michael Savage attacking Obama as a
“Neo-Marxist” and “street agitator” to whom “our flag is just a rag.”
Washington Times reporter Jennifer Harper wrote that the Obama White
House “has rediscovered — or possibly reinvented — the patriotic
cachet of Old Glory as a perfect frame for the new president” and
quoted University of California at Berkeley psychologist Jack Glaser
appearing to suggest that for Obama to wear an American flag lapel pin
and “appear before American flags” is a departure from what occurred
during the presidential campaign. Harper wrote:
Oh, say — can you see? Look. It’s President Obama, and he’s
surrounded by American flags.
They’re on the dais in star-spangled glory. They’re at the
town-hall meeting and the news conference, in bold folds of red, white
and blue. The White House has rediscovered — or possibly reinvented
– the patriotic cachet of Old Glory as a perfect frame for the new
president.
That’s the same president who once would not wear an American flag
pin. Things have changed.
“The biggest factor is that Barack Obama is now the president,”
said Jack Glaser, a social psychologist with the University of
California at Berkeley.
“He’s around more flags now. They’re behind him or on the podium.
That’s the reality. He’s not running around on the campaign trail.
“Now that he’s president, Mr. Obama most likely knows he’s an
American symbol. So he wears an American flag pin. He appears before
American flags. That’s part of the job.”
In fact, Obama’s use of the flag as a backdrop is neither a
“rediscovery” or a “reinvent,” nor is it a departure from the
campaign. Obama appeared in front
of either multiple American flags or a prominent American flag at
numerous campaign rallies, events, and speeches throughout 2007 and
2008. Obama did, in fact, wear American
flag lapel pins during the campaign.
Nonetheless, Harper characterized Obama’s recent use of the flag as a
“turnaround” and quoted a Savage “question” it by smearing Obama.
Harper wrote:
Some question the turnaround, however.
“Neo-Marxists recognize the power of Old Glory as they steadfastly
pursue their agenda,” said talk-radio host Michael Savage. “As Castro
taught them, ‘hasta la victoria siempre,’ always towards victory. As
the street agitators themselves know, ‘by all means necessary.’ To
them, our flag is just a rag.”
Harper continued, reviving Republican smears about Obama not saluting
the flag during the national anthem and painting over an American flag
on his campaign jet:
Mr. Obama has had some banner-based troubles in recent years. The
issue arose in 2007 when he chose not wear a flag pin, defending his
decision by saying that flag pins had become a substitute for “true
patriotism.”
There was another partisan ruckus when Mr. Obama neglected to
salute the flag during “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a campaign stop,
and again when an American flag disappeared from the tail of his
campaign jet, replaced by an attractive red, white and blue “O.”
Look, up to 9-11-01 I wore an American flag pin and displayed the flag
daily. After that with everyone doing it and talking the talk, I held
off because I perceived the showy “patriotism” was phony. I
understand what Obama does: I sometimes stand, think, and listen
during the National Anthem. I sometimes wear a lapel pin and I
sometimes fly our flag. As a patriot from before and after 9-11, I
understand what Obama is thinking and doing. You all don’t!!
Semper Fi to my Corps and my country,
Cameron Kuss
(530) 902-0022
Posted by: Cameron Kuss | February 22, 2009, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm