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Veto brinkmanship between congressional Republicans and President Barack Obama was virtually absent in his first six years in office, but it's about to unleash itself on Washington.

Until now, controversial Republican-backed legislation rarely reached the president's desk because Senate Democrats blocked it. Starting in January, however, Republicans will control both the House and Senate, and Obama may have to decide more often whether to sign or veto GOP-crafted bills.

Obama gave lawmakers an early taste of veto politics recently when he forced congressional leaders to drop a proposed package of tax breaks that were popular with many Republican constituents. Some Democrats did support the plan, but liberals and the White House said it tilted too heavily toward corporations, not lower-income workers.

The White House also has promised to veto any bills restricting the president's major changes to immigration policies, setting up likely showdowns early next year.

Obama's threats present the type of bind that Republicans may face repeatedly in the next two years. They can agree to many or all of the changes he demands in legislation, or they can let him use his veto and hope Americans will blame him more than them.

It's a gamble, especially with critical spending bills Congress soon must address. Some Republicans want to amend these must-pass bills to thwart Obama's bid to protect millions of immigrants, now in the country illegally, from deportation.

Assuming Obama keeps his veto promise, Republican lawmakers would have to decide whether to drop their demands or let parts of the federal government close for lack of money. GOP leaders say there will be no shutdowns, but they have yet to explain how they can force Obama to back off on immigration.

The 2013 partial government shutdown occurred under similar partisan circumstances. Polls show the public blamed congressional Republicans more than the Democratic president.

It's unclear how often Obama will face a veto decision. Even in the minority, Democratic senators can use the filibuster, the name for unlimited debate, to block many measures that break strictly along party lines.

But some proposals, such as building the Keystone XL pipeline, enjoy significant bipartisan support. They might attract enough Democratic backing to reach 60 Senate votes, overcoming a filibuster and sending the measure to Obama.

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Obama, GOP-Led Congress Prepare for Veto Showdowns

President Barack Obama is prescribing time and vigilance to tackle problems as entrenched in American society as racism and bias.

He also is urging patience, saying progress usually comes in small steps.

In an interview with BET, the president described his conversation with a group of young civil rights activists, including a leader of protests in Ferguson, Missouri, he hosted last week in the Oval Office.

Obama said he told them that "this is something that is deeply rooted in our society, it's deeply rooted in our history."

America has made gains, and that "gives us hope" of making more progress, he said.

"We can't equate what is happening now to what was happening 50 years ago," Obama said, "and if you talk to your parents, grandparents, uncles, they'll tell you that things are better, not good in some places, but better."

Obama said he is advising young people to be persistent because "typically progress is in steps, it's in increments."

In dealing with something "as deeply rooted as racism or bias in any society, you've got to have vigilance but you have to recognize that it's going to take some time and you just have to be steady so that you don't give up when you don't get all the way there," Obama said.

The full interview is set to air Monday night. A video excerpt was released Sunday.

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Obama: Racism, Bias in US Will Take Time to Tackle

REX Features President Barack Obama makes a statement at the daily briefing in the White House briefing room.

President Obama on Sunday sought to calm tensions in the wake of racially charged protests in New York and Ferguson, Mo., saying the nation has made progress on race relations but emphasizing that the distrust between minority communities and law enforcement will not be solved overnight.

This is something thats deeply rooted in our society, thats deeply rooted in our history, Obama said in an interview on the cable network BET.

The president was making his first extended remarks on the subject since a New York grand jury decided not to indict a white police officer in the choke-hold death of an unarmed African American man in July. That announcement sparked massive protests just two weeks after a grand jury in Ferguson cleared a white officer in the shooting death of an unarmed black teen, which also resulted in angry demonstrations in that community.

Its important to recognize that as painful as these incidents are, we cant equate what is happening now to what happened 50 years ago, Obama said. If you talk to your parents, your grandparents, theyll tell you things are better. Not good in some cases, but better. The reason its important to understand that progress has been made is that it then gives us hope we can make even more progress.

The deaths of 43-year-old Eric Garner in New York and 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson have frayed civic bonds in those communities and presented a challenge for the Obama administration, which has sought to mount a federal response to the growing crisis. The Justice Department announced civil rights investigations in both cases, and Obama has called for new resources including body cameras for police officers.

Yet the images of protests on the streets have also posed a personal test for the nations first African American president who had so directly addressed his own racial heritage in an autobiography and the nations painful legacy during a much heralded race speech during his 2008 campaign.

If Obamas presidency seemed to carry a unique burden in terms of race relations, rarely since assuming office has he offered a personal or emotional response to match the moment. Last week, in the wake of the New York grand jurys verdict, it was New York Mayor Bill de Blasio who offered the most poignant reaction.

De Blasio referred to a profound and lasting history of racism and confided that he and his wife Chirlane McCray, who is black, have spoken to their 17-year-old biracial son Dante about the dangers he may face in potential encounters with police.

We are dealing with centuries of racism that have brought us to this day, the mayor said. That is how profound the crisis is. And that is how fundamental the task at hand is, to turn from that history and to make a change that is profound and lasting.

Link:
Obama urges persistence in confronting deep roots of racism

President Barack Obama, who had medical tests Saturday after complaining of a sore throat, is suffering from acid reflux, the presidents physician said.

The presidents symptoms are consistent with soft tissue inflammation related to acid reflux and will be treated accordingly, Obamas doctor, Navy Capt. Ronny Jackson, said in a statement.

Acid reflux is a condition in which the stomach contents flow back up from the stomach into the esophagus, causing such symptoms as heartburn and sore throat.

Obama, 53, went to Walter Reed military hospital for a fiber optic exam of his throat and since swelling was detected, doctors decided to perform a CT scan as well, Jackson said.

The CT scan was conducted this afternoon purely as a matter of convenience for the presidents schedule. The CT scan was normal, Jackson added.

Jackson said he recommended Obama go to Walter Reed for the tests after the president complained of suffering from a sore throat over the past couple of weeks.

Jackson did not give any cause for Obamas case of the illness. There are many risk factors for acid reflux, including smoking, use of alcohol and hiatal hernia, according to the US National Library of Medicine. Most people respond to lifestyle changes and medicines, although many patients need to continue on medication to control their symptoms.

Obama had his annual physical exam in June and was given a clean bill of health by Jackson, who noted in a medical report that daily exercise, healthy eating and a tobacco-free lifestyle had helped the president stay in great shape. The president is a former smoker.

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Obama sent to hospital after complaining of sore throat

President Barack Obama nominated Ashton Carter to be the next secretary of defense
President Barack Obama nominated Ashton Carter to be the next secretary of defense.

By: FOX10 News - WALA

Originally posted here:
President Barack Obama nominated Ashton Carter to be the next secretary of defense - Video