The Note’s Must-Reads for Thursday, August 14, 2009

The 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’ JAYCE HENDERSON, KRISTEN RED-HORSE, CLAUDIA MORALES, CARRIE HALPERIN, VALENCIA WICKER and GEORGIA DAWKINS

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HEALTH CARE:

ABC News’ Kate Snow, Kristina Wong, and Teddy Davis: “Fact Check: Would Health Care Reform Provide Federal Funding for Abortion?” LINK

Politico’s Dianna Heitz: “Howard Dean responds to ‘outlandish’ health claims” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Douglas Belkin: “At Indiana Forum, Skepticism of Overhaul Reigns” LINK

Bloomberg’s Jonathan D. Salant and Lizzie O’Leary: “Six Lobbyists Per Lawmaker Work to Shape Health-Care Overhaul” LINK

Bloomberg’s Daniel Whitten and Simon Lomax: “Climate Change Measure Should Be Set Aside, U.S. Senators Say” LINK

Time Magazine’s Pat Dawson: “Obama Takes Health Care West: A Montana Showdown” LINK

The Washington Post’s Lori Montgomery: “Deficit Plays Into Health Reform” LINK

The Washington Post’s Anne Kornblut: “Obama to Take On Health-Care Critics” LINK

The New York Times’ Robert Pear: “Obama Proposal to Create Medicare Panel Meets With Resistance” LINK

USA Today’s Kathy Kiely: “Town halls too heated for some” LINK

USA Today’s John Fritze and David Johnson: “Health care showdown shifts to TV ads” LINK

Newsweek’s Lester Feder: “Obama’s FDA gets tough” <a LINK

Newsweek’s Paige Greenfield: “Side-effects of common medications are surprising” LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Tom Hamburger: “White House deal with drug firms draws flak” LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Christi Parsons and Andrew Zajac: “Senate committee scraps healthcare provision that gave rise to 'death panel' claims” LINK

FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

ABC News’ Kirit Radia: “Clinton Doges Question About Losing Her Cool in Congo” LINK

Politico’s Chris Frates: “Marine, former D.C. reporter, killed in Afghanistan” LINK

Politico’s Zachary Abrahamson and Eamon Javers: “Barack Obama’s words downplay wars” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Sarah Childress and Jay Solomon: “In Africa, Clinton Balances Criticism, Praise” LINK

Boston Herald Op-Ed by Bonnie Erbe: “Credit Clinton for aiding Congo’s cause” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Gordon Fairclough: “North Korea Frees Detainee From the South” LINK

Newsweek’s James Kirchick: “South Africa acting like a rouge state” LINK

The Hill's Bridget Johnson: “Hamas looks at Obama plan 'positively,' with condition” LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Paul Richter: “Afghanistan report won't include U.S. troop request, Gates says” LINK

DEMS/GOP:

Boston Herald Op-Ed by Michael Barone: “Democratic troubles by the number” LINK

Politico’s Charles Mahtesian: “Bill Clinton: ‘New era of progressive politics’ LINK

Politico’s Lisa Lerer: “Are Democrats losing August?” LINK

ECONOMY:

The Wall Street Journal’s Deborah Solomon: “Geithner Sees Good Vital Signs” LINK

Bloomberg’s Rebecca Christie: “Obama Considers Raising Fees on Larger Financial Institutions” LINK

ABC News’ Matt Jaffe: “U.S. Digs Deeper Into Debt” LINK

ABC News’ Kevin Krolicki: “Ford Raises Output as “Clunker” Sales Surge” LINK

The Washington Post’s David Cho: “Obama Wants Big Banks To pay More for Oversight” LINK

USA Today’s Sharon Silke Carty: “'Clunker' vouchers allowed as eligible new cars get scarce” LINK

The Washington Times' Stephen Dinan: “Pace of stimulus spending plummets” LINK

CONGRESS:

Politico’s David Rogers: “White House asks for $1B to add to Army manpower” LINK

The Hill's Walter Alarkon: “Pork-barrel spending increases in 2009” LINK

OTHER MUST-READS:

ABC News’ Stu Schutzman: “Cheney ‘Spills the Beans’ About Bush Administration” <a LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEOS:

“Can Dems Pull Health Care Reform Off?” LINK

“Jake Tapper on Hillary Clinton's Remarks” LINK

“Sotomayor 'Grateful' to America” LINK

“Fact-Checking the Health Care Bill” LINK