Analysis: Specter leaves a shrinking GOP tent

Analysis: Specter leaves a shrinking GOP tent: "With Sen. Arlen Specter's switch to the Democrats, the Republican Party is increasingly at risk of being viewed as a mostly Southern and solidly conservative party, an identity that might take years to overcome."

Future of the Republican Party

Dear Friend, As we learned today, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter has decided become a Democrat in the face of a seemingly insurmountable bid for re-election next year in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, his decision represents the height of political expediency that voters have come to reject from Washington.   Even before his announcement today, Senator Specter's political future was in grave danger, with recent polls showing him trailing former U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey by more than 20 points.   After he crossed party lines to support President Obama's massive $787 billion "stimulus" package, Senator Specter conceded that his vote caused "an enormous political problem for me," yet argued it was a "matter of necessity." His purported willingness to put politics aside for the good of our country ring especially hollow in light of his decision today.   While we are disappointed that Senator Specter has put personal ambition ahead of principles, we are confident that the Keystone State will reject this posturing and elect a new Republican Senator who will stand by his word next year. The fact remains that Pennsylvanians are looking for principled leadership, not political opportunism. Nevertheless, today's news raised the stakes for all Americans. President Obama and the Democratic Congress have spent more in the first 100 days than what was spent on the Iraq War, the Afghanistan War and Katrina combined. And you and I, along with our children and grandchildren, are going to pay this bill. Senator Specter has chosen to enable this runaway spending by joining the Democratic Party.   Next year, voters across the country will have a clear choice to cast their ballots for a potentially unbridled, unchecked, Democrat super-majority versus the system of checks-and-balances that Americans deserve. The future of our nation is at stake, and we need your help. With gratitude, Rob Jesmer NRSC Executive Director Paid for by the National Republican Senatorial Committee Not Authorized By Any Candidate Or Candidate's Committee www.nrsc.org 425 2nd Street NE | Washington, DC 20002 | Phone: (202) 675-6000 Contributions to the National Republican Senatorial Committee are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

Media Matters Daily Summary

Here are today's news items from Media Matters for America, click on the title or 'read more' to read the entirety of each story. Fox Nation gets an "F" for Obama rating falsehood The Fox Nation featured a headline that falsely claimed: "One Group Gives Obama's 100 Days a C+." In fact, the article to which the headline linked discussed a poll of "new media experts" who graded the WhiteHouse.gov website, not President Obama's first 100 days in office. Read More CNN's Bash didn't note economists' argument that spending is necessary in recession In a CNN.com article, Dana Bash reported that Republicans "trying to return to their small government roots" are "opposing Obama's economic prescriptions." But Bash did not mention that several economists say increased government spending -- as opposed to a return to "small government roots" -- is the necessary "economic prescription[]" during a recession. Read More Post reports GOP criticism of HHS vacancy, but not GOP's role The Washington Post allowed Bush HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt to criticize the Obama administration for not having an HHS secretary in place, but did not note Senate Republicans' role in delaying nominee Kathleen Sebelius' confirmation vote. Read More VandeHei uncritically repeats Gregg's reconciliation criticism The Politico's Jim VandeHei stated that Sen. Judd Gregg is "angry" because "Democrats were able to get this thing called reconciliation inserted into" the proposed 2010 budget, but did not note that Republicans, including Gregg, repeatedly supported using reconciliation to pass several Bush initiatives. Read More Baier ignored study's finding that media coverage of Obama's policies skewed negative Fox News' Bret Baier cited a conclusion from a media study that President Obama received more positive coverage through his first 50 days than President Bush or President Clinton but not the study's conclusion that Obama's "positive media image hasn't precluded heavy criticism of his policies." Read More The Hill reported Ryan and Gregg's reconciliation criticism, omitted their prior support The Hill quoted objections by Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Judd Gregg, both Republicans, to the Democrats' use of the reconciliation process to pass health care reform legislation, but failed to note that Republicans -- including both Ryan and Gregg -- repeatedly supported the Bush administration's use of reconciliation. Read More Fox's Cameron provides bad medicine in health care report Carl Cameron falsely suggested that President Obama has proposed a health care system similar to those of England and Canada -- models Obama has explicitly rejected -- and uncritically aired a misleading portion of a Conservatives for Patients' Rights ad. Read More Fox's Angle repeated false and misleading claims on harsh interrogations Jim Angle again falsely compared the harsh techniques used in the interrogations of CIA detainees to those used in U.S. military training. In fact, officials familiar with both dispute the comparison. Read More You can help support our work; become a volunteer media monitor, or donate to Media Matters for America.

Supreme Court upholds TV profanity crackdown

Supreme Court upholds TV profanity crackdown: "The Supreme Court upheld a U.S. government crackdown on profanity on television, a policy that subjects broadcasters to fines for airing a single expletive blurted out on a live show."

ABC7 eNews

>>> Having trouble viewing this newsletter? View as a webpage. Top Stories Tuesday, April 28, 2009 Chicago still waiting for swine flu | VIDEO New cases of swine flu are being reported around the world- but not in the Chicagoland area. Ind. reports swine flu case; person 'doing well' The Indiana health commissioner says one swine flu case has been confirmed in the state and that the person is "doing well." Elderly woman found stabbed to death | VIDEO An elderly woman was found stabbed to death in a Bronzeville apartment building Monday. Semi accident snarls train, highway traffic An accident caused a major tie-up on the Tri-State Tollway as well as the Metra Milwaukee North line Tuesday morning. Blue Line fire evacuates train | VIDEO A fire early Tuesday morning shut down a portion of the Blue Line subway and forced passengers to evacuate. MORE STORIES Strange Tenn. bathroom voted best in US Blown-away Chihuahua reunited with owners Bomb squad destroys WW2 land mine Volunteers married at homeless shelter Swiss heartland voters ban nude hiking Consumer Avoid raw alfalfa sprouts due to salmonella risk Apple reportedly in talks with Verizon GM to cut 21,000 US factory jobs, shed Pontiac Money Matters Travel Web sites cut fees Healthbeat Prostate treatment could cause other problems Long-term breast-feeding benefits for moms CDC: Swine flu cases in US jumps to 64 | VIDEO How did the swine flu spread? WHO raises global alert level on swine flu | VIDEO MOST POPULAR Teen charged with criminal sexual assault ABC7 On Your Side: Credit Cleanup Ike crash injures wrong-way driver Chicago still waiting for swine flu Elderly man, nephew accused in 19 robberies Advertisement TODAY'S WEATHER OUTLOOK 55°F 44°F Cloudy most of the time, breezy and cooler Hour-by-Hour | 7 Day Forecast | Radar & Satellite TONIGHT ON ABC 7:00 PM According to Jim 7:30 PM According to Jim 8:00 PM Dancing With the Stars 9:02 PM Cupid 10:00 PM ABC 7 News at 10PM 10:35 PM Nightline Lottery Results Your Daily Horoscope CDC: Swine flu cases in US jumps to 64 Health officials say the number of confirmed swine flu cases in the United States has jumped to 64. Chicago still waiting for swine flu Ind. reports swine flu case; person 'doing well' Interactive report: Swine Flu Swine Flu resources from the CDC Recipes, tips for Kentucky Derby parties The most famous horse race in the United States takes place this Saturday, May 2. Kentucky Derby recipe: BBQ Shrimp Kentucky Derby recipe: Derby Mint Julep SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS I'd like to receive the following newsletters from abc7chicago.com Daily Weather | Daily News | 190 North Sign up for news alerts

CDC, states: US swine flu cases jump to 68 - Yahoo! News

CDC, states: US swine flu cases jump to 68 - Yahoo! News: "Federal health officials say the number of confirmed swine flu cases in the United States has jumped to 64, and states say there are at least four more."

Politics, Political News - POLITICO.com

Politics, Political News - POLITICO.com

Specter switches to Democratic Party

A source involved in the talks confirms that Senator Arlen Specter will switch to the Democratic Party, a dramatic move putting the Democrats within reach of two votes in the Senate.

The move stands to put the White House's agenda on a fast-track, and to renew hopes among organized labor for the Employee Free Choice Act.

Vice President Joe Biden was, I'm told, deeply involved in the talks with Specter.

The move also raises the stakes for the resolution of the Minnesota Senate race, and may tempt Republicans to drag that fight on further.

Official: US flu victims may be infecting others

Official: US flu victims may be infecting others: "The swine flu epidemic crossed new borders Tuesday with the first cases confirmed in the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region, as world health officials said they suspect American patients may have transmitted the virus to others in the U.S."

Consumer confidence soars in April

Consumer confidence soars in April: "The New York-based Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index rose more than 12 points to 39.2, up from a revised 26.9 in March. The reading marks the highest level since November's 44.7 and well surpasses economists' expectations for 29.5."

Shares of BofA, Citi drop on stress test concerns

Shares of BofA, Citi drop on stress test concerns: "Shares of Bank of America and Citi each dropped about 5 percent in midday trading. Wells Fargo & Co., PNC Financial Services Group Inc. and others also dipped. JPMorgan Chase & Co., American Express Co. and a few more of the 19 banks tested by the government traded slightly higher."

Pakistani jets, choppers bomb Taliban near capital

Pakistani jets, choppers bomb Taliban near capital: "Pakistani jets and attack helicopters bombed Taliban positions in a district near the capital Tuesday, the military said, in an expansion of an offensive against militants seemingly emboldened by a much-criticized peace deal."