Chicago Sun-Times

Duckworth launches PAC, aims at leadership role

Wed, 01 May 2013 02:26:59 -0500

WASHINGTON—Freshman Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) is positioning herself for a leadership role, launching a political action committee to boost other Democrats running for the House as her profile — and buzz — are growing. Papers creating Duckworth’s “Perimeter PAC” were sent to the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday, with the name a play on the basic military responsibility of guarding a perimeter — duty the wounded Iraq war vet, a lieutenant colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard — did as a young soldier. One of the first steps ambitious lawmakers take, whether aiming to become leaders or to run …

Streisand, Obama movie spoof among top sights at Correspondents’ Association dinner

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:14:20 -0500

WASHINGTON — Takeaways from the just-concluded White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner weekend: ◆ Barbra Streisand was my favorite celebrity to spot at the giant Saturday night dinner. I am not above gawking — you all knew, right? I just happened to be hanging near the best table in the giant Washington Hilton hotel ballroom — massive coincidence — when Streisand and husband James Brolin sat down. Their seatmates included Kevin Spacey and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Streisand was next to Bloomberg. My problem at this event is always that my Hollywood and sports celebrity recognition quotient is too low. …

Obama moving cautiously on reports Syria used chemical weapons

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:25:59 -0500

WASHINGTON — While President Barack Obama was attending the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center on Thursday — prompting stories about former President Bush plunging the U.S. into the controversial Iraq War — he was moving cautiously on U.S. intelligence reports of “varying degrees of confidence” the Syrian government is using chemical weapons. Obama doesn’t want to get Syria wrong.

Hillary in 2016? Axelrod calls her ‘first among equals’

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:41:56 -0500

WASHINGTON — Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton hits Chicago on June 13 to be honored by CURE, the epilepsy research foundation — this while a new poll and the start Wednesday of a new chapter in her life are sparking even more speculation about a 2016 White House bid. CURE — Citizens for Research in Epilepsy — was founded by President Barack Obama’s former top strategist David Axelrod, and his wife, Susan, 15 years ago; their daughter, Lauren, has epilepsy. Clinton, then the first lady, was the draw at the group’s very first fund-raising dinner and the boost …

Will Boston bombings derail immigration reform?

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 02:15:33 -0500

WASHINGTON — The question asked on various Sunday shows was whether the Boston bombings will slow or derail immigration reform; it came up because the suspects are immigrants: The now deceased Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, was a legal permanent resident and his younger brother, Dzhokhar, 19, captured Friday, is a naturalized U.S. citizen, according to the FBI. Five takeaways, as landmark immigration legislation is pending in the Senate with the House version expected to be introduced in a few weeks: ◆ White House and congressional sources are saying the lawmakers who have or will call for delay in dealing with immigration …

Sweet: Hadiya law faces defeat, too

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 02:18:44 -0500

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans blocked a series of gun-control measures on Wednesday with an anti-trafficking provision named after Hadiya Pendleton, the Chicago teen shot to death in a park, expected to be sidelined with the rest of the gun bill on Thursday. Two items of particular interest to the Chicago area — an amendment expanding background checks to close gun show and other loopholes and another amendment cracking down on gun trafficking and fencing, with similar Pendleton language — could not muster the 60 votes needed to advance. Each of those amendments had a majority, but in the Senate, the …

LYNN SWEET: First lady’s tough stand against violence is long overdue

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 02:19:15 -0500

The usually cautious first lady Michelle Obama came home Wednesday to voluntarily plunge herself into a controversy, speaking out for the first time on two life-and-death matters: On preventing youth violence in Chicago and the need for Congress to at least vote on gun control measures. To this I can only add: Finally. What is the point of being one of the most popular people in the U.S. with a powerful platform if you don’t use it. I just hope Mrs. Obama’s era of being risk-averse is over — when it comes to protecting kids in her city, my city, …

First lady coming home to boost mayor’s initiative

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 11:54:20 -0500

LYNN SWEET: As the Senate is poised to take up measures to curb gun violence, likely Thursday, first lady Michelle Obama comes home Wednesday to bolster Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s efforts to help at-risk youth and visit Harper High School — where 29 present or former students were shot in the last year, leaving eight dead.

LYNN SWEET: Sen. Mark Kirk ‘unshackled since he came back from his stroke’

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 10:22:24 -0500

WASHINGTON — Sen. Mark Kirk announced Tuesday he supports gay marriage, the result of a new appreciation for life and love he’s gained as a survivor of a stroke that almost killed him. He opposed gay marriage when he started running for the Senate in 2009 — worried about a challenge from the right in the 2010 GOP primary. Supporting gay marriage early — that is for a Republican — helps Kirk burnish a moderate credential.

Michelle’s special push to combat Chicago violence

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:11:37 -0500

First Lady Michelle Obama comes home on April 10 to address youth violence in her city — and bolster Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s new $50 million fund to help at-risk kids. I’m told that Mrs. Obama’s White House team reached out to Emanuel’s City Hall — asking how she can be helpful — after she attended the Feb. 9 funeral in Chicago for Hadiya Pendleton, the 15-year-old shot to death Jan. 29 about a mile from the Obamas’ Kenwood home. Out of that call came the idea for Mrs. Obama to headline the first major event for Emanuel’s “Chicago Public Safety …

Obama talking energy at Argonne National Lab today

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:25:04 -0500

President Barack Obama visits Argonne National Laboratory in suburban Lemont on Friday to deliver a speech on weaning the nation from oil and gas, following up on an energy plan unveiled in his State of the Union address.

Obama to give major speech in Jerusalem

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:52:51 -0500

WASHINGTON — A highlight of President Barack Obama’s visit to Israel next week will be a major speech in Jerusalem — with an audience full of students — where he will speak directly to Israelis for the first time. That’s just one stop of Obama’s first foreign trip of his second term, designed to show — through substance and symbolism — the ironclad U.S. commitment to Israel, as the nation faces a potential nuclear threat from Iran and conflicts in Egypt and Syria threaten Israeli security. The speech will give Obama an opportunity to bypass often critical Israeli media and …

GOP: President’s overtures overdue but welcome

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 06:40:31 -0500

WASHINGTON — As President Barack Obama was motorcading to the Capitol on Tuesday — the first of three visits this week to huddle with GOP and Democrat lawmakers, known here as his “charm offensive” — I asked Sen. Susan Collins if the mixers could make a difference, what with entrenched Congressional gridlock. “My hope is it will change the atmosphere and to make everyone work better together,” the Maine Republican known for her bipartisanship told me. “The presidents’ overtures are long overdue, but they are welcome nevertheless.” Obama met with Senate Democrats Tuesday in a session that featured a lot …

Obama calls Kirk to discuss guns and deficit ahead of Capitol Hill visits

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 06:46:14 -0500

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama phoned Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) on Monday to discuss gun violence and deficit reduction, according to a White House official, with the call coming as Obama this week makes three trips to Capitol Hill to woo members of Congress. Obama meets with Senate Democrats on Tuesday, House Republicans on Wednesday, Senate Republicans and House Democrats on Thursday. At the Monday briefing, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney outlined Obama’s broad agenda with these visits, seen as a “charm offensive” needed to try to remake congressional relations. Obama will, Carney said, discuss “a range of priorities” …

Lynn Sweet: Bobby Jindal a hit; Obama teaches thirsty Marco Rubio a lesson at Gridiron Dinner

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 06:32:48 -0500

WASHINGTON — Proving once again that there are second acts in politics, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal — a potential 2016 contender — was a big hit Saturday night at the 128th annual Gridiron Club and Foundation dinner, more than making up for his disastrous 2009 State of the Union speech.The white-tie and gown affair also featured Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) representing Democrats, and President Barack Obama.

Biden, Netanyahu talk tough on Iran to AIPAC conference

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 06:27:54 -0500

WASHINGTON — After years of strained relations, President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — both just re-elected — may be able to press the reset button when Obama heads to Israel later this month — united against the growing threat of Iran gaining nuclear capability. Against this backdrop, Vice President Joe Biden and Netanyahu delivered separate speeches on Monday at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference that touched on Obama’s visit.

LYNN SWEET: Obama backers’ big bucks boost chance of presidential library in city

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 06:28:06 -0500

The Obama campaign released its final list of “bundlers” over the weekend — supporters who raised mega bucks to re-elect President Barack Obama — and the abundance of Chicago money muscle, and lack of Hawaiian fund-raising juice, takes away any doubt that the Obama presidential library will end up in Chicago. Of abou 250 bundlers who raised more than $500,000, 21 were from Chicago or the suburbs and none were from Hawaii, which has been angling for the library.

‘I’m not a dictator’ — so federal spending cuts a reality

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 06:14:56 -0500

WASHINGTON — Faced with the reality of no agreement with Republicans to prevent the sequester — forced across-the-board federal spending cuts — President Barack Obama lamented Friday the limit of his powers. “I am not a dictator. I’m the president,” Obama said to CNN’s Jessica Yellin after she asked him at a press conference if he could just keep the congressional leaders in a room until they have a deal. Obama met with House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, but nothing happened to head off the …