Inside Politics Archive: December 2011
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Obama hides behind the Christmas holiday
President Obama had a two-word non-answer Friday for reporters who asked his opinion of a new payroll tax-cut bill introduced by House Republicans: "Merry Christmas." Published December 9 2011
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Obama curtails Christmas-in-Hawaii vacation plans
Under fire for planning a 17-day vacation in Hawaii over the holidays while the economy continues to sputter, President Obama Thursday pledged to stay in Washington until Congress passes a payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance extensions. Published December 8 2011
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Hill staffers tweet of partying, 'idiot boss'
Staffers of Rep. Rick Larsen boasted over Twitter that they were drinking and otherwise goofing off on the job, according to a story in the NW Daily Marker. Published December 8 2011
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Poll: Gingrich surging in three key states
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich holds double-digit leads for the Republican presidential nomination over rival Mitt Romney in the key states of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday. Published December 8 2011
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President to mark end of Iraq war Wednesday
President Obama will greet U.S. troops returning from Iraq at Fort Bragg, N.C., on Wednesday to mark the end of the war, the White House has announced. Published December 8 2011
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Santorum talks tough on Iranian threat
GOP presidential contender Rick Santorum said Wednesday that the United States government must do whatever it takes to ensure that Iranian leaders do not develop the capacity to develop a nuclear weapon. Published December 7 2011
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Romney drawing contrasts with Gingrich
Mitt Romney appears to be preparing for battle in the early nomination states, releasing an television ad this week that indirectly draws contrasts with blemishes from Newt Gingrich's professional and personal life. Published December 7 2011
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Perry derides Obama's 'war on religion'
Rick Perry played the faith card Wednesday, releasing a new television ad that contrasts his Christian faith with what he sees as the Obama administration's "war on religion." Published December 7 2011
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Romney to vow to go first to Israel
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney plans to tell the the Republican Jewish Coalition on Wednesday that his first foreign trip will be to Israel and vow to prevent Iranian leaders from acquiring the capability to produce a nuclear weapon. Published December 7 2011
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Gingrich, Romney, Perry, Obama hit Ohio filing deadline
Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama all filed paperwork Wednesday to appear on Ohio's primary ballot, according to a spokesman for the Ohio secretary of state's office. Published December 7 2011
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Gingrich edges Romney in Delaware straw poll
Newt Gingrich edged out Mitt Romney in a Delaware GOP straw poll Wednesday night by a margin of 40 percent to 39 percent. Published December 7 2011
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Obama's Pearl Harbor statement echoes political pitch
President Obama on Wednesday marked the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor with a rhetorical nod to his own recent language about the importance of the middle class and the need to press for higher taxes on wealthy Americans. Published December 7 2011
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Romney says no to Trump
Following the lead of rivals Ron Paul and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, GOP hopeful Mitt Romney said Tuesday he will not take part in billionaire Donald Trump's Dec. 27 debate. Published December 6 2011
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California voters face dueling votes on taxes
California voters may be able to choose between raising and cutting taxes on the November 2012 ballot. Published December 6 2011
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Poll: Gingrich lengthening lead in Iowa
A new poll out Tuesday shows that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is extending his lead in the GOP presidential race in Iowa, thanks in large part to his political experience and the conservative craving for an alternative to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Published December 6 2011
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Quayle endorses Romney for president
Former Vice President Dan Quayle endorsed Mitt Romney for president on Monday, saying he is best equipped to defeat President Obama, who "is a darling of the fawning media." Published December 6 2011
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Hoyer: Tea party, Boehner to blame for gridlock
The House's No. 2 Democrat blames tea party conservatives and GOP Speaker John A. Boehner for the partisan gridlock that has enveloped Congress this year. Published December 6 2011
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Congressman talks porn on House floor
The House can be an unsavory place, but Tuesday's session may have exceeded the norm when Rep. Hank Johnson, a Georgia Democrat, began talking about pornography rental habits, including the iconically infamous "Debbie Does Dallas," and even dragged Judge Robert Bork into the conversation. Published December 6 2011
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White House: Our countdown clock is cool
In the not-so-distant past, White House spokesman Jay Carney gave media organizations a hard time for using debt-ceiling countdown clocks to illustrate the urgency involved in this summer's high stakes budget negotiations. Published December 5 2011
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Oddsmaker says Iowa is Gingrich's to lose
Paddy Power, an Irish bookmaker, says Newt Gingrich is the favorite to win Iowa's caucuses next month and is running even with Mitt Romney in the overall national race for the Republican presidential nomination. Published December 5 2011
