The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies

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The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies Page 47

by Jonathan Alter


  in election of 2012, 300, 328, 341, 342, 345, 346–47National Youth Administrationdoh2, 352, 356, 361, 362

  Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, 307

  pensions, 161, 163, 307

  Pepsico, 66

  Perez, Samuel, 155

  Perkins, Frances, 249

  Perkins, Sam, 233

  Perot, Ross, 50

  Perriello, Tom, 1

  Perry, Rick, 177, 178, 184–85, 186, 187, 207, 215, 218

  Peters, Charles, 167

  Peterson, Jessie Lee, 68

  Peterson Foundation, 169

  Petraeus, David, 64

  Pfeiffer, Dan, 40, 170, 241, 246, 277, 342, 356, 377

  Philadelphia, Miss., 41

  Philip Morris, 21

  Phoenix Program, 145

  phone-hacking scandal, 63

  Pippin, Scottie, 355

  Planned Parenthood, x, 107, 161–62, 269, 281, 331

  Plessy v. Ferguson, 23

  Plouffe, David, 15, 16, 55, 86, 89, 90, 92, 103, 113, 117, 120, 139, 142, 173, 202, 285, 294, 326, 327, 329, 338, 350, 356, 377

  and ad on Romney’s offshore money, 262

  calmness of, 239

  deficit and, 233

  of campaign, 159

  insiders meeting held by, 246

  on job numbers, 298

  as loveable, 140

  as nervous about DREAM Act, 277

  on Romney as flip-flopper, 244

  “verbatims” forwarded by, 237

  as worried about Benghazi raid, 319

  Poizner, Steve, 187

  Policy Review, 47

  Politico, 143

  poll tax, 71

  Porter, Dan, 100–101

  Portman, Rob, 285, 286 not buying health insurance se24, 324

  Posner, Richard, 178

  Post-American World, The (Zakaria), 36

  Powell, Colin, 335, 342

  Powell, Jay, 168

  Powell, Lewis F., Jr., 72–73, 82, 301

  Powers, Dave, 138

  Prager, Dennis, 68

  “predictive caller” software, 337

  “predictive modeling/data mining,” 100, 104–5

  Preisse, Doug, 300

  prescription drug benefit, 19

  President’s Daily Briefing, 144

  Priebus, Reince, 182, 371

  Priorities USA Action, 202, 283–84

  Pritzker, Penny, 202

  Procter & Gamble, 66

  progressivism, 49, 236, 306

  Project ORCA, 349, 354, 356

  Project Vote, 88

  propensity models, 108–9

  Proposition 187, 273

  Prouty, Scott, xii, 304–5, 308–9, 310, 311–12, 314, 318, 374

  provisional ballots, 340–41

  Psaki, Jen, 323, 326

  public pensions, 161, 163

  Public Policy Polling, 364

  Pueblo, Colo., 80

  Puerto Ricans, 360

  Puerto Rico, 279

  quants, 224

  racism, 30, 41–43

  Raddatz, Martha, 329

  radio, 84

  Rafalca (horse), 213

  railroads, 9, 45

  Ramos, Jorge, 336

  Rand, Ayn, 164, 315–16

  Randolph, A. Philip, 272

  rape, 281, 339–40, 361

  Raskob, John J., 192

  Rattner, Steven, 210

  Reagan, Ronald, x, 4, 28, 41, 45–46, 67, 73, 138, 179, 181, 194, 208, 217, 220, 273, 320, 346, 366, 367, 369, 379

  air traffic controllers fired by, 168

  business community’s relationship with, 135

  Carter’s debate with, 91

  Earned Income Tax Credit introduced by, 313

  economic recovery of, 52

  as governor, 125

  O’Neill’s relationship with, 123, 124

  one-liners of, 117

  rhetoric of, 111

  telephone services program of, 284n

  Tuesday Team of, 222

  Reaganomics, 238

  Reagan Revolution, 47

  Real Clear Politics, 160

  real estate, 200

  Recover Act, see stimulus

  redistribution, 350

  Redistricting Majority Project (REDMAP), 3–4

  Red State, 61

  Reed, Bruce, 294

  Reed, Harper, 99, 103, 105, 108, 260, 265, 353

  Reed, Harry, 12

  Reed, Ralph, 49, 242

  Regan, Donald T., 135

  regulation, 171, 293, 325

  regulations, 160

  Rehnquist, William, 71–72

  Reid, Harry, 8, 122, 246

  in debt ceiling crisis, 127

  McConnell’s obstructionism and, 143

  Obama’s agenda pushed by, 143

  and Republican opposition to Democratic bills, 52

  on Romney’s taxes, 231–32

  Rouse’s friendship with, 142

  spending cuts and, 169

  unemployment and, 234–35

  Reid, Richard, 157n

  Reinhart, Carmen, 28

  Rendell, Ed, 15

  Rentrak, 110

  Republican Convention:

  of 1988, 48

  of 1992, 196, 289n

  of 2008, 260

  of 2012, 218, 229, 289–94

  Republican National Committee (RNC), 24, 71, 72, 182, 183, 192, 282

  Republican National Convention, 80

  Republican Party, U.S.:

  advertising for 2012 of, 219–32

  alleged “war on women” by, 281

  big spending projects opposed by, 9

  deficit reduction and, 56–59 everyone plays by the same rulescv

  finances of, 182

  Gore attacked on environment by, 214

  Latino vote and, 273–74

  moderates and extremists in, 30

  1994 victories of, 5

  1995 freshmen of, 162–63

  single wing of, 44

  stimulus opposed by, 52, 112

  tax cuts favored by, 45–46

  2010 freshmen of, 163

  2010 victories of, 1–3, 5

  2012 campaign of, 176–90, 215, 218

  2012 debates of, 177, 181–82, 184–85, 186, 188–89, 190, 207

  voter suppression by, see voter suppression

  see also elections, U.S.

  Republican State Leadership Committee, 25

  Rerum Novarum, 317

  Restore Our Future, 23, 196, 225, 228, 283–84

  “Restoring Honor” rally, 37

  “Restoring Love” rally, 37

  Reuters, 364

  Rezko, Tony, 140

  Rhoades, Matt, 185, 286, 323

  Rhodes, BenNational Youth Administrationdoh2, 11, 153, 174–75, 330

  Rice, Condoleezza, 224, 290

  Rice, Susan, 319, 377

  Richardson, Bill, 275–76

  Ricketts, Joe, 204

  Riney, Hal, 222

  Rivera, Geraldo, 347

  Road We Traveled, The, 156

  Roberts, John, 250, 252–53, 255, 373n

  Roberts, Robin, 241

  Robertson, Pat, 50, 178, 242

  Robinson, Craig, 37

  Robinson, Fraser, 84

  Rock, Chris, 172

  Rockefeller, Nelson, 209, 220

  Rock the Vote, 79

  Roe v. Wade, 23

  Rogers, John, 172

  Rogoff, Kenneth, 28

  Romney, Ann, 32, 34, 213, 228–29, 266, 289–90, 293, 312, 359

  Romney, Craig, 279

  Romney, George, 208–9, 213, 262, 313

  Romney, Mitt, 81, 125

  Ailes’s tepid support for, 64–65, 178, 282

  attitude toward hired help of, 207, 304–5

  Bain Capital founded by, 85

  bin Laden raid downplayed by, 155–56

  birther theories and, 34

  Cayman Islands money of, 212, 228, 261

  dog-on-roof incident of, 227

  gay student bu
llied by, 314, 325

  on Limbaugh’s “slut” remark, 280

  McCain supported by, 156

  Massachusetts health care sponsored by, 73, 179, 181, 212, 220

  Mormonism of, 207, 220, 263, 324

  Murdoch’s meeting with, 178–79

  Obamacare desired repealed by, x

  Occupy Wall Street criticized by, 92

  optimism of, 354–55

  Planned Parenthood attacked by, 107

  as responsible for layoffs and outsourcing, 214–15, 216, 230–31, 261, 262, 314, 318

  se partner, Russ Schriefer, ws small arch for bin Laden disdained by, 155

  Silver’s prediction of victory for, 174

  small government desired by, ix–x

  START Treaty and, 11

  Swiss bank accounts of, 212, 230, 261

  tax pledge signed by, 55

  2008 campaign of, 187, 207, 224

  voter confidence in handling economy, 83

  Wall Street money for, 138

  Romney, Mitt, 2012 campaign of:

  advertising by, 221–22, 223–24, 230, 247, 256, 267, 279, 283–84, 289

  attempts to relate to unemployed in, 229

  Big Data skepticism of, 225

  Chinese sweatshops praised by, 307–11

  class issues not discussed by, 306–7

  confidence of, 352, 354–55

  failure to flesh out Romney in, 246

  Fehrnstrom’s “Etch a Sketch” remark in, 229

  FEMA criticized by, 344–45

  flawed models used by, 226

  flip-flopping by, 91–92, 96, 207–8, 211, 218, 219, 244

  partner, Russ Schriefer, office earlyfocus groups of, 336

  foreign policy talk of, 197

  “47 percent” comment of, xii, 303, 312–14, 317, 318, 319, 323, 324–35, 336, 364, 365, 374

  Fox News support for, 64–65

  fundraising by, 202, 214, 230, 256, 259, 292, 323, 337–38, 350, 365

  gaffes of, 196, 207, 209, 267, 331

  Gingrich’s attacks on, 187–88, 191–92

  GOTV in, 354

  Hurricane Sandy response of, 344

  immigration views of, 184–85, 189, 218, 283–84

  as lacking coolness, 262

  as leading over Obama in, 158, 191

  middle class and, 244

  money spent on, 191–92, 202, 213–14, 230, 366

  Obamacare opposed by partner, Russ Schriefer, office early, 254, 255

  on Obama’s social media explosion, 266

  paid campaign workers of, 256

  post-election criticism of, 228

  profligacy of, 86

  Romney’s “47 percent” remark and, 318

  Romney’s reputation on decline in, 225

  on Ryan-Biden debate, 330

  on sticking to message, 282

  strategy of, xi, 207–18, 283–84

  tax returns released in, 209, 211–12, 230, 231–32, 261

  Tea Party support for, 180

  Times op-ed on auto bailouts by, 209–10

  two-state Middle Eastern solution rejected by, 196, 310, 312

  vice president chosen in, 267, 285–87

  wealthy support for, 192, 196, 197, 223, 256

  Romney, Tagg, 208, 332

  Romney Abacus, 224

  RomneyExposed, 309–10

  Roosevelt, Franklin D., x, xi, xiii, 4, 5, 22, 23, 32, 34, 44, 49–50, 84, 113, 125, 317, 373n, 379

  assassination ordered by, xii, 145

  as assistant secretary of the navy, 131

  “dollar-a-year men” of, 119

  economic royalists lambasted by, 199

  First Hundred Days of, 249

  health care reform attempted by, 114

  in meetings with congressmen, 123

  one-liners of, 117

  Social Security created by, 249

  Roosevelt, Theodore, xiii, 44, 49, 111, 114, 125, 199

  New Nationalism announced by, 235

  unlimited corporate campaign donations banned by, 192

  Roots of Obama’s Rage, The (D’Souza), 36, 131

  Rose, Charlie, 121

  “Rose Garden strategy,” 94

  Rosenthal, Andy, 173–74

  Rospars, Joe, 99

  Rouse, Pete, 2, 6, 11, 13, 14, 15–16, 58White House Office of Public Engagement,cv, 127, 142, 202

  and Cutter-Axelrod rivalry, 239

  as loveable, 140

  on Obama’s idealism, 171

  Reid’s friendship with, 142

  Rouse, Peter, 285

  Rove, Karl, x, 24–25, 48, 67, 74, 75, 92, 98, 180, 196, 214, 219, 224, 291, 339, 357–58, 365, 375

  on bin Laden raid, 156–57

  Hannah admired by, 193

  on Obamacare, 252

  72–Hour Project of, 88, 183

  Steel opposed by, 183

  Rubin, Robert, 135, 199

  Rubio, Marco, 285–86, 290

  Ruddy, Chris, 218, 290

  Ruemmler, Kathryn, 251, 252

  Rumsfeld, Donald, 45, 146

  Russia, 10–11

  Russo, Sal, 21

  Ryan, Janna, 359National Youth Administrationdoh2

  Ryan, Paul, x, 51, 54–55, 196, 285, 299–300, 323–24, 325, 338, 340, 357, 359, 370–71

  attack on Dodd-Frank urged by, 216–17

  background of, 314–16

  confidence of, 351

  Convention speech of, 290–91

  in debate, 329–30

  listening sessions of, 55

  selected as Romney’s running mate, 267, 285, 286–87

  on Simpson-Bowles, 57, 291

  social safety net criticized by, 314

  tax returns released by, 209

  Ryan, Paul, budget plans of, 39, 54, 163–64, 166, 370–71

  Biden’s attack on, 330

  economic basis for, 171

  House passage of, 317

  Romney’s support for, 287

  tax cuts in, 163, 238

  Ryan Inc., 315

  Salazar, Ken, 285

  Salesforce, 99

  sales taxes, 313

  everyone plays by the same rulescvsame-sex marriage, 234, 240–43, 248, 270, 273, 276, 346

  Sammon, Bill, 114

  Sanders, Jeff, 355

  Sandy, Hurricane, x, 343–45, 355, 363

  Sandy Hook Elementary School, shooting at, 111, 372–73, 378

  Sankaty High Yield Asset Investors, 309n

  Santanelli, Rick, 19, 22, 23

  Santorum, Rick, 177, 178, 180, 184, 188, 191, 192n, 195, 218, 350

  Saralegui, Cristina, 279

  Saudi Arabia, 36, 335

  Savimbi, Jonas, 47–48

  savings and loan bailouts, 137

  Scaife family, 73

  Scaife Foundation, 21

  Scalia, Antonin, 250, 255

  Scarborough, Joe, 177

  Schieffer, Bob, 277

  Schmidt, Eric, 99, 100, 329

  SNational Youth Administrationdoh2chmidt, Steve, 242

  school lunch programs, 12

  schools, 9

  Schriefer, Russ, 185, 219, 222, 293

  Schultz, Ed, 374

  Schumer, Chuck, 11, 236

  Schwarzman, Stephen, 204, 372

  Schweitzer, Brian, 233

  Schwerner, Mickey, 41

  scientific research, x

  Scott, Rick, 289, 362, 376

  Scott, Tim, 20

  Screen Actors Guild, 125

  SEAL Team 6, 151–52

  Seamus (dog), 227

  Seattle, Wash., 75

  Sebelius, Kathleen, 284

  “Second Coming, The” (Yeats), i

  Secret Service, 100, 121, 308

  Secure Communities program, 275

  Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), 187, 194, 197

  Seinfeld, 100–101

  Seinfeld, Jerry, 228

  self-deportation, 189

  semiconductors, 136

  Senate, U.S.:

  bank
s and, 200

  everyone plays by the same rulescvclimate change bill in, 2

  Finance Committee of, 67, 204

  1994 Republican victory in, 5

  Obama’s election to, 158

  Republican victories in 2010 in, 2

  START Treaty in, 10–11

  Seniors for Obama, 260

  Senor, Dan, 223, 286, 355, 359

  Sensata, 311

  September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks of, 12, 38, 145, 154, 253

  bin Laden’s killing connected to, 153

  conspiracy theories on, 30–31, 35

  September 11 Memorial, 155

  sequestration, 169–70

  Service Employees International Union (SEIU), 106

  72–Hour Project, 88, 183

  sewage systems, 9

  Sharpton, Al, 271–72, 327, 341–42, 374–75

  Shawn, Eric, 75–76

  Sheehan, Michael, 323, 325, 330

  Shields, Mark, 280

  shoe bomber, 157n

  Shor, David, 103, 328, 353 partner, Russ Schriefer, ol,Pa

  Shrum, Bob, 187

  Shultz, Ed, 272

  “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours,” 356

  Silver, Nate, 174, 328, 353, 366

  Simas, David, 234, 236, 245, 248, 306, 320

  Simmons, Harold, 292

  Simon, Roger, 143

  Simon, William, 73

  Simpson, Alan, 57, 127, 166, 375

  Simpson-Bowles Commission, 56, 57–59, 127, 163, 165, 291, 375

  Simpson-Mazzoli Act, 273

  Singer, Paul, 242

  Sister Souljah, 211

  Situation Room, 149–53, 343

  60 Minutes, 3, 7, 199

  60 Plus, 24

  Slaby, Michael, 99, 103

  slavery, 240

  small businesses, 293

  Smathers, George, 291

  Smiley, Tavis, 272

  Smith, Gerald L. K. to the outside world.00 d, 34

  Smoot, Julianna, 94, 106

  Snowe, Olympia, 53, 124

  Snyder, Rick, 300

  Social Darwinism, 304

  social networking, 244–45

  social safety net, x, 163, 164, 314, 317, 323

  Social Security, 57, 168, 313, 314, 315, 316, 318, 325, 376

  Bush’s plan to privatize, 163–64, 316

  creation of, 249

  Perry’s criticism of, 185

  as untouched in Ryan’s budget, 163–64

  soft money, 199, 203

  Solyndra, 43, 283

  Soptic, Joe, 283–84

  Soros, George, 88, 192, 197–98

  Sotomayor, Sonia, 61, 279

  “Souls to the Polls,” 79, 299, 300, 341, 346, 362

  South Africa, 199

  South Bend, Ind., 75

  South Carolina, 120n, 188

  Southern Strategy, 41, 183

  South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 304

  Souza, Pete, 130

  Soviet Union, 315

  Sperling, Gene, 135, 294

  Spero, Aryeh, 37

  Spielberg, Steven, 83

  Square Deal, 49

  Stahl, Lesley, 3

  Stalin, Josef, 193, 315

  Standard & Poor’s, 171, 172

  “Stand Your Ground” legislation, 74, 299

 

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