U.S. Edition
Washington (CNN) - Congressional Republicans threw a monkey wrench in President Barack Obama's plans to nominate an individual to head the "first-ever consumer watchdog" agency.
Obama, in his weekly White House address, spoke Saturday of his nominating former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to lead the forming agency "whose job it is to protect American families from being taken advantage of by mortgage lenders, payday lenders and debt collectors." FULL POST
Washington (CNN) - GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul held his ground Wednesday against views that he is anti-Israel as he sought to explain his exclusion from a major gathering of conservative Jewish advocates his fellow GOP hopefuls addressed.
Paul was asked in a CNN interview to respond to remarks he made during last month's CNN Republican National Security Debate where he raised concerns about a continued U.S. military presence in Israel, saying, "Why do we have this automatic commitment that we're going to send our kids and our money endlessly to Israel? I think they are quite capable of taking care of themselves." FULL POST
Washington (CNN) – Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey in the Republican weekly address Saturday forewarned viewers and listeners that America may soon mirror the current period in Europe he describes as being fraught with economic and social unrest.
"Across the Atlantic, we're watching a fiscal disaster unfold in Europe with social unrest, riots in the streets, governments failing, financial markets imploding and imminent bankruptcy," Toomey said. "Sadly, this is the inevitable result of an extended period of inadequate economic growth and wildly excessive debt." FULL POST
Washington (CNN) – Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain on Friday seemed to suggest Libya's developing government, which is set to succeed the fallen regime of Moammar Gadhafi, contains elements of the terrorist groups al Qaeda and the Taliban.
The comments came during a media availability in Orlando, where Cain sought to clarify his bungled response Monday on whether he agreed or disagreed with President Barack Obama's handling of the situation in Libya during an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. FULL POST
Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama said Saturday it was an "American responsibility" to improve the dismal jobs landscape facing veterans when they return from duty.
"Today, more than 850,000 veterans remain unemployed. And too many are struggling to find a job worthy of their talents and experience," the president said in his weekly address, delivered from the Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, currently at port in San Diego. "As part of the American Jobs Act, I called on Congress to pass a Returning Heroes Tax Credit, which would give businesses a tax break for each unemployed veteran they hire." FULL POST
Washington (CNN) – When Republicans were asked to select their preferred presidential nominee for a USA Today/Gallup poll released Monday, GOP contenders Mitt Romney, Herman Cain and the 'undecided' option, all tied in first place each garnering 21 %.
The poll was conducted last week while businessman Herman Cain was at the center of accusations that he sexually harassed employees in the late 1990s during his tenure as president of the National Restaurant Association. FULL POST
Washington (CNN) – The Republican weekly address struck a bipartisan tone Saturday as Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown appealed to Democratic Senate leaders to consider passing a jobs bill in an apparent exercise of a little quid pro quo.
"Leader Reid has come to me a few times and asked me to consider bills on their merits, and I'm always willing to do so. And now I'm asking the same of my colleague, the majority leader," the Bay State junior senator said as this week's GOP speaker. FULL POST
Washington (CNN) - The Republican strategy for job creation strengthens the economy through a specific type of American: the business owner, Illinois Rep. Bobby Schilling said Saturday in the party's weekly address.
"Our plan looks at the problem from the view of the small businesspeople, and works to clear out barriers to job creation by addressing excessive regulations, fixing our tax code and closing loopholes, and paying down our debt," Schilling said. FULL POST
Washington (CNN) – A former "Survivor" contestant is throwing his hat in the ring to be Indiana's next governor.
Rupert Boneham, a participant in three separate seasons, most notably the winner of the "fan favorite" contest in the show's 20th season, is seeking the nomination of the state's Libertarian Party. FULL POST
Washington (CNN) – First lady, wife, mother, careerist, fashionista - Michelle Obama can now add "author" to her list of credentials.
Obama has written a book that highlights one of her most visible initiatives as first lady: promoting better nutrition and edible gardening as a means for Americans to get and stay healthy. FULL POST