Inside Politics Archive: February 2013
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Graham cuts loose, calls Clinton 'blind and deaf,' Hagel 'unqualified'
Sen. Lindsey Graham has never pulled punches when it comes to criticizing the Obama administration, but the conservative South Carolina lawmaker's rhetoric has been especially biting in recent weeks. Published February 17 2013
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McCain: Hagel will be confirmed as defense secretary
Sen. John McCain, one of the leading opponents of President Obama's nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel to be the new defense secretary, said Sunday that it's likely Mr. Hagel will be confirmed, but that he still doesn't believe he's qualified for the post. Published February 17 2013
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Gen. Allen's NATO commander nomination on hold
The White House said Friday President Obama has put the nomination of Gen. John Allen on hold as the general decides whether he wants to take on the role of NATO supreme commander. Published February 15 2013
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N.Y.'s Cuomo: Fracking decision 'too important' to rush
Under fire for delaying a decision whether to allow fracking in his state, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo defended his handling of the situation on Wednesday. Published February 14 2013
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New NRA ad: 'Welcome to Barack Obama's middle class'
The National Rifle Association is out with a new ad Thursday taking President Obama and others to task over gun control, specifically targeting a proposed ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines. Published February 14 2013
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Obama and Japan's prime minister discuss N. Korea's nuclear test
President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Wednesday are consulting about the appropriate steps to take in response to North Korea's test of a nuclear device at an underground site this week. Published February 14 2013
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Boehner to Senate Dems: Make my day by acting on Obama's liberal agenda
Seeking to strengthen his position in the fiscal battles on Capitol Hill, House Speaker John A. Boehner challenged the Senate to act on the liberal agenda that President Obama laid out in his State of the Union address. Published February 14 2013
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Obamas dine out for Valentine's Day
President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama celebrated Valentine's Day Thursday with dinner out at MiniBar, a Jose Andres restaurant known as a tough place to get a reservation. The menu price is $225 per person, beverages not included. Published February 14 2013
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Kerry: Sequester will 'seriously impair' safety, security at U.S. diplomatic facilities
If across the board spending cuts known as the sequester go into effect on March 1, their impact would "seriously impair" State Department efforts to "enhance the security of U.S. government facilities overseas and ensure the safety of thousands of U.S. diplomats," Secretary of State John F. Kerry wrote to Congress this week. Published February 14 2013
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Obama renominates contentious labor board picks
In a provocative move, President Obama Wednesday re-nominated two controversial Democratic candidates to the National Labor Relations Board just weeks after a federal court invalided their recess appointments to the posts. Published February 13 2013
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., others arrested in Keystone pipeline protest at White House
Climate change activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was one of dozens arrested Wednesday in front of the White House during a protest against completion of the massive Keystone XL pipeline project. Published February 13 2013
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Illegal immigrant tells Congress not to call him illegal
Jose Antonio Vargas, an illegal immigrant and former reporter, scolded a congressional panel on Wednesday, saying that he should not be called illegal, and saying it is an insult to his family who brought him here. Published February 13 2013
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Paul blames both parties' sacred cows, backs sequester slaughter
Blaming the nation's spending problems on both parties, Sen. Rand Paul plans Tuesday to use his response to President Obama's State of the Union address to warn that Congress must cut defense and domestic programs if it is serious about fixing the nation's "fiscal mess." Published February 12 2013
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Senate Dems, GOP far apart on guns at Judiciary hearing
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee argued during a Tuesday hearing that a balance can be struck between combating gun violence with new laws and protecting Americans' Second Amendment rights, while Republicans said it would be unwise to enact new laws until the current ones are more vigorously enforced. Published February 12 2013
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Obama announces panel to ease voting
President Obama made an aggressive push for new voting rights in his speech, announcing the creation of a nonpartisan commission to "improve the voting experience in America." Published February 12 2013
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Climate-change solutions must be a bipartisan goal, Obama insists
Following up on his inaugural address, Mr. Obama devoted a lengthy passage of his speech to his intention to combat climate change, asking Congress to pursue a "bipartisan, market-based solution" and threatening executive action if it did not. Published February 12 2013
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Obama pushes minimum-wage increase
President Obama is proposing an increase in the federal minimum wage to $9 per hour from the current $7.25 in his State of the Union speech. Published February 12 2013
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Obama speech proposes tens of billions in new spending
The president said his new spending proposals wouldn't add a single dime to the deficit but, if so, he'd require significant offsets in the budget to pay for them. Published February 12 2013
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I drank fracking fluid, says Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper went to unusually great lengths to learn firsthand the strides the oil and gas industry has made to minimize environmental harm from fracking. Published February 12 2013
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House tears down Obama 'failometer'
Rep. Steve Stockman, a conservative Texas Republican, said Tuesday that House officials have banned him from posting a billboard tracking President Obama's failures in office. Published February 12 2013
