A debt deal still seems out of reach after President Obama and Speaker Boehner clash, the Norway gunman thinks he is a “warrior,” Rep. David Wu will not seek re-election, Maine GOP Chairman, Charlie Webster, claims college students are behind voter fraud, and 78 people have died in a Morocco military plane crash. Also, Romney targets young voters with a new video and Wal-Mart will offer video streaming.
Caitlin, Katie, + Perry
CRITICAL:
Debt ceiling speeches: Obama reasserts himself; Boehner pushes back, http://politi.co/p7Vbed
Last night, President Obama and Speaker Boehner spoke about the debt ceiling debate. Despite the speeches to the American public, it still remains unclear how and when a deal will pass. President Obama asked citizens to call or email their representatives to end what he called the “most dangerous game,” saying that “If you want a balanced approach to reducing the deficit, let your member of Congress know.”
Norway Gunman Used Drugs, Thought He Was ‘Warrior,’ His Lawyer Says, http://nyti.ms/qa5zsK
Anders Behring Breivik, the anti-Muslim extremist who massacred 76 people in Norway, may plead insanity. His laywer, Geir Lippestad, said that Breivik believes that he is in a war, has been taking drugs, and believes that in 60 years the rest of the world will understand what he did.
Democrat David Wu Won’t Seek Re-Election to House, http://abcn.ws/rhu56i
Oregon Congressman David Wu is facing an Ethics Committee investigation over an “unwanted sexual encounter” with an 18-year-old girl. Wu will not seek re-election. In January, many of his staffers quit due to unusual behavior; specifically, the congressman sent a photo of himself in a tiger costume to a staff member.
GOP chairman says university students behind voter fraud, http://bit.ly/mWFT5q
Maine GOP Chairman, Charlie Webster, has accused 206 out-of-state college students of voter fraud. Webster has admitted that he is accusing the students based solely on the fact that they are from other states, and that he has no evidence that they have voted twice. Maine’s supreme court has upheld college students’ right to name their dorm as their primary residence and subsequently vote in Maine elections.
Report: 78 dead in Morocco military plane crash, http://bit.ly/qf0EqU
Bad weather has taken down a C-130 military transport plane in the southern mountainous region of Morocco. Three people survived while 78 are estimated to be dead.
Romney Goes after Young Voters with New Video, http://bit.ly/pm8Hxw
GOP presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney is hoping to woo young voters with a new video that attacks the President’s record on youth unemployment. The DNC has responded by criticizing Romney’s experience as a businessman and governor.
Back to the Future: Young Voters Support Social Security, But Fear for Its Preservation, http://bit.ly/qlt3g8
Young people sometimes view Social Security as a program that they don’t need, or one that will not be available by the time they retire. However, young voters still have surprisingly strong, positive feelings about Social Security and are opposed to raising the retirement age.
(via POLITICO Playbook) TOP TALKER – Chicago Tribune p. 1, “Happy Meal to tilt at obesity: McDonald’s to add fruit or veggies, downsize the fries,” by Emily Bryson York, Tribune reporter: “McDonald’s plans to announce Tuesday that it will begin serving a fruit or vegetable with every Happy Meal sold in the U.S. The … chain will … shrink the portion of french fries, beginning in September in some markets, with all 14,000 restaurants getting the revamped offering by next April. McDonald’s said it first experimented with using fruit – typically an apple – or a vegetable as a replacement for fries in Happy Meals. But both children and parents rebelled, so the fries will stay. … 88 percent of customers know about the meal’s [current] fruit option, according to the company. But only 11 percent of kids meals are ordered with apples instead of fries. http://trib.in/oIzmqZ
(via POLITICO Playbook) TECHWATCH – “Wal-Mart offers video streaming on website” – AP/New York: “Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is now renting and streaming movies online, many the same day they come out on DVD, in a second bid for a share of popular movie rental and streaming website Netflix Inc.’s business. The world’s largest retailer bought video-streaming service Vudu.com 18 months ago and Tuesday started offering 20,000 titles that can be viewed on almost any device with Internet access, from PCs to televisions to Sony’s PlayStation3 and other Blu-Ray disc players. Movies are available at Walmart.com to rent for $1 to $5.99 or to purchase for $4.99 and up. Wal-Mart … previously offered a DVD-by-mail service but it stopped that service in February 2010.”
CULTURAL:
Amy Winehouse Cremated After ‘Moving Yet Humorous’ Memorial Service, http://bit.ly/qY8fZw
Michael Jackson Family Announces Tribute Concert, http://on.mtv.com/nfrq2f
Franco returns (again) to ‘General Hospital’! http://bit.ly/oLDt2u
Autopsy not conclusive on Amy Winehouse death, http://bit.ly/oKqwBF
