Obama Doesn't Lie—But He Does Mislead

(AP) - South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson, who shouted "You lie" at President Barack Obama during his speech to Congress tonight, called the White House within hours of the outburst, attempting to reach Obama. He ended up speaking instead to White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and "expressed his apologies," his office said. More»

President seeks a fundamental change in our political discourse: Goodman

(NEWSER) - Even President Obama's fans are beginning to wonder when—or even if—his "inner fighter" is going to emerge, writes Ellen Goodman of the Boston Globe. His collaborative style entranced many during the campaign, but supporters are groaning as the president listens calmly to the opposition rather than putting up his dukes. It’s telling that, when a student asked his ideal dinner date, the president answered, "Gandhi.' More»

They reject his 'legitimacy as president'

(NEWSER) - Jimmy Carter was right when he said racism fuels some of President Obama's critics, Eugene Robinson writes for the Washington Post. Carter may have overstated it—plenty of naysayers have legit policy concerns over issues such as health reform—but "the most vitriolic attacks" reject Obama's "legitimacy as president," Robinson writes. "I can't find any explanation for it other than race." More»

It's OK Obama's 'jamming a lot of change down the system'

(NEWSER) - Bill Clinton has a hopeful exhortation for Congressional Democrats trying to push through health care reform. “The president's doing the right thing. It is both morally and politically right,” Clinton tells Esquire. “I wouldn't even worry about the Republicans,” who are just “sitting around waiting for us to mess up,” he says. “I'd worry about executing.” Clinton sees parallels between Obama’s first year and his own, with one caveat. More»

Dems' current version as bad as Hillarycare, Louisiana gov writes

(NEWSER) - President Obama is presenting health care reform as a bipartisan effort, but, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal writes in the Wall Street Journal, he and fellow Democrats have taken “a fundamentally dishonest approach to reform.” Obama is “repeating the mistakes” of Hillarycare, forcing Americans to join a public plan, diminishing the quality of services, and raising middle-class taxes. “They might as well try to argue that up is down,” he writes. More»