Potential 2012 GOP slow to enlist big-dollar lobbyist bundlers for federal accounts

By Josh Israel and Aaron Mehta

One strong sign of a politician’s interest in the presidential race is always the amount of early money raised. New rules for identifying lo

Excerpts from this story referencing "America":

"… Palin (Sarah PAC), former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (Free and Strong America PAC), former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (Huck PAC), former House Speaker …"

"… rkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (Huck PAC), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (American Solutions PAC), and current Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (Haley’s PAC …"

"… ecom giant AT&T Inc., the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, and the controversial Bowl Championship Series (BCS), which runs the coll …"

A civil war of words

By Emma Schwartz and Aaron Mehta

President Obama's call for civility may fall on deaf ears as Republicans and Democrats debate contentious issues like health care and climat

Excerpts from this story referencing "America":

"… ent Obama's call at the Tucson shootings memorial for a more civil tone in America rang familiar, it was no mistake. From his early days campaigning for the …"

"… debate.But in the time lapsed between Obama's various pleas, a majority of Americans now believe the discourse has actually gotten worse, not better.A Center …"

"… rward was warmly received in the room. It remains to be seen, however, how America's political leaders will respond with the start of so many contentious deb …"

DHS report in 2009 warned of "lone wolf" attacks

By Aaron Mehta

Two years before the Tucson massacre, the Department of Homeland Security warned in a report that right wing extremism was on the rise and c

Excerpts from this story referencing "America":

"… S to apologize.“Furthermore, the Secretary of Homeland Security owes the American people an explanation for why … her own Department is using [“terrori …"

"… tion for why … her own Department is using [“terrorist”] to describe American citizens who disagree with the direction Washington Democrats are taking …"

"… man has received generally poor ratings from pro-gun groups. Gun Owners of America gave her a D in its 2010 candidate rankings, and the NRA gave her a D+ in …"

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Text messages, Google ads target Virginia Democrats

By Aaron Mehta and Simona Raetz

Not all independent expenditures come in the form of a slick television ad. Two small independent groups are using relatively inexpensive ce

Excerpts from this story referencing "America":

"… .Earlier this week, one of our colleagues received a text message from the Americans in Contact PAC saying: “Congressman Gerry Connolly passed Obamacare an …"

"… nning for re-election in the 11th district.Another independent group, Keep America Safe, bought Google banner ads attacking Jim Moran, a tenth-term Democrat …"

"… terrorist trials in Alexandria” and “voted to close Guantanamo.”Keep America Safe is a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization whose board members include El …"

"… or Rep. Moran, Austin Durrer, told You Report: Election 2010 that the Keep America Safe “F” rating is “a badge of honor” in the eyes of the campaign …"

Energy secretary visits Google to talk green energy

By Josh Israel and Aaron Mehta

As the Obama cabinet fans out for official appearances before Nov. 2, its sole Nobel laureate stopped by Silicon Valley to talk up green tec

Excerpts from this story referencing "America":

"… company’s investment in an undersea power line for offshore wind farms. America invented many of the world’s green technologies, but has fallen behind C …"

Futuristic Citizens Against Government Waste ad warns against unchecked debt

By Josh Israel and Aaron Mehta

More than 20 years ago, a Ridley Scott-directed ad warned of possible “Deficit Trials” in 2017. The controversial spot, paid for by W.R. Gr

Excerpts from this story referencing "America":

"… ent Greeks, the Roman Empire, the British Empire, and the United States of America. Health care reform, government takeovers of industry, and crushing debt …"

"… eovers of industry, and crushing debt — owned mostly by China — led to America’s fall, he explains. “So now they work for us,” he tells his laughin …"

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Iowa TV station won't air "Pull the Plug on Grandma" ad attacking Sen. Grassley

By Josh Israel and Aaron Mehta

A Des Moines TV station is refusing to air an attack ad against Republican Sen. Charles Grassley created by two liberal groups unless they c

Excerpts from this story referencing "America":

"… paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and by Democracy for America. The latter was founded by Howard Dean, a former Democratic National Commi …"

"… its disclosure documents to the Federal Election Commission, Democracy for America reported paying $3,100 on ad production and $9,995 for air time.The Progre …"

"… ssleyPaid for By: Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy for AmericaCost: TBDDisclaimer: Paid for by the Progressive Change Campaign Committe …"

"… ive Change Campaign Committee (www.boldprogressives.org) and Democracy for America (www.democracyforAmerica.com). Not authorized by any candidate or candidat …"

Stimulating hypocrisy: Scores of Recovery Act opponents sought money out of public view

By John Solomon and Aaron Mehta

Scores of Recovery Act opponents sought money out of public view

Excerpts from this story referencing "America":

"… Republicans and conservative Democrats who voted against the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act subsequently wrote letters requesting funds …"

"… rs particularly dismay conservative advocacy groups like the Tea Party and Americans for Tax Reform that have been backing Republicans in the fall election b …"

"… fiber of their elected beings.”Mattie Corrao, the Executive Director of Americans for Tax Reform’s Center for Fiscal Accountability, said the letters sh …"

"… a stark example of the gulf between political promises and action.When the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law, President Barack Obama …"

California Republican lampooned in tropical ad

By Josh Israel and Aaron Mehta

As election ads paid for by third-party groups begin to flood U.S. airways, one group seeking campaign finance reform is running an ad blast

Excerpts from this story referencing "America":

"… n Money Watch, a group which describes itself as “dedicated to improving America’s campaign finance laws.” Campaign Money Watch, a project of the Washi …"

Top pipeline regulator missing from Congressional hearing

By Aaron Mehta

The Obama administration’s top pipeline safety official has recused herself from matters related to Enbridge Inc’s massive oil spill in Mich

Excerpts from this story referencing "America":

"… ve oil spill in Michigan because she previously worked for the company’s American arm.Cynthia Quarterman, the head of the Department of Transportation’s …"

"… issue addressed at the hearing.Before she was named to the job overseeing America’s network of pipelines in August 2009, Quarterman had represented Enbrid …"

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