The Washington Post 20100411

A2

The Nation

Politics & The Nation

Hispanics skeptical Obama will deliver on immigration overhaul .....................................................A3 Steele urges GOP to not be distracted..............................................A3 Quake hit Chile as U.S. attempted to remove nuclear material.....A6 Obama leads summit effort to secure nuclear materials ...............A6 Four miners’ bodies found, grim recovery begins ..........................A9 Replacing Stevens not just a matter of ideology ...........................A10

The World

New Kyrgyz leaders ponder fate of deposed president.................A12 In Turkey, military’s power over secular democracy slips............A12 For young Japanese, U.S. degrees lose lure....................................A15 Kissinger canceled anti-assassination warning, cable shows......A16

Opinion

Dana Milbank

A census sign that the Tea Party is less than it seems ...............A17

Ray Takeyh Topic A

A link to break: Iran and Mideast peace talks ...........................A17

Replacing Justice Stevens............................................................A17

David S. Broder

Without higher taxes, the national debt will be crushing........A19

Guests to be interviewed Sunday on major television talk shows:

TALK SHOWS

(R).

FOX NEWS SUNDAY (WTTG), 9 a.m.:

Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman

(I-Conn.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.); and Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.). STATE OF THE UNION (CNN), 9 a.m.: Mississippi Gov. Haley

Barbour (R); and David Simon

and Wendell Pierce of the new HBO program “Treme.” THIS WEEK (ABC, WJLA), 10 a.m.: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and former New

York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani

NEWSMAKERS (C-SPAN), 10 a.m.: Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.). FACE THE NATION (CBS, WUSA), 10:30 a.m.: Clinton and Gates. MEET THE PRESS (NBC, WRC), 10:30 a.m.: Clinton, Gates and

Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.).

WASHINGTON WATCH (TV One), 11 a.m.: Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.), Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter (D), the Rev. Al Sharpton,

Bishop Audrey F. Bronson of

Sanctuary Church of the Open Door in Philadelphia and the Rev.

Herbert H. Lusk II of Greater

Exodus Baptist Church in Philadelphia.

KLMNO

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Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour was a key figure at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, urging the GOP not to look to 2012.

he Southern Republican Leadership Conference has become known in recent years as an early testing ground for would-be presidential candi- dates, a place to make an impres- sion on party activists and the media. But there is a far different message coming out of New Or- leans this weekend: 2012 can wait. A host of potential candidates trooped through the ballroom of the Hilton Hotel during the three-day gathering — Sarah Pa- lin being the most prominent, al- though not necessarily the best received — but the gathering had none of the feel of four years ago in Memphis. In 2006, buffeted by growing

T

dissatisfaction with President George W. Bush and heading toward midterm elections in which they ultimately lost control of the House and Senate, Repub- licans were eager to jump ahead to 2008. Every major potential candidate made an appearance, and all the hallway conversations revolved around a nomination battle far off into the future. This year, the roughly 3,000 ac- tivists from across the South have their eyes on 2010, as do the poli- ticians who may seek the nomi- nation in two years. With Presi- dent Obama and the Democrats weakened, the energy and enthu- siasm on display throughout the weekend reflect optimism among Republicans that, after drubbings in 2006 and 2008, a genuine turnaround may be on the hori- zon — if they don’t get distracted or divided. Mississippi Gov. Haley Bar-

bour, a young party staff member in his home state when the SRLC was born 40 years ago, delivered that message at a breakfast for Southern GOP chairmen and members of the Republican Na- tional Committee that was hosted by the Republican Governors As- sociation. Quoting Fred Smith, the found- er and chairman of FedEx, Bar- bour told the group: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. The main thing is

For GOP activists and hopefuls, no time like the present

new orleans

THE SUNDAY TAKE

Dan Balz

winning in 2010. . . . Then we’ll worry about 2012.” Like many conference speakers this weekend, Barbour could have his eye on a presidential campaign in two years. But he asked the organizers of the presi- dential straw poll not to put his name on the ballot. “I’m trying to practice what I preach,” he said. “I didn’t think we ought to have a [straw poll] ballot.”

Barbour understands how meaningless such early straw polls are — the winner in 2006 was then-Sen. Bill Frist of Tennes- see, who eventually decided not even to run for president. Bar- bour also understands how em- barrassing it can be to perform badly, especially in your home re- gion. As a former national party chairman at the time of the GOP’s 1994 victory, Barbour knows that the best thing he can do as a pro- spective candidate is to help Re- publicans maximize the party’s gains in 2010. He is taking every opportunity to do so.

Barbour, the chairman of the

GOP governors group, is moving deftly to fill the vacuum left by RNC Chairman Michael Steele, who is under fire and on the de- fensive after a series of gaffes and missteps by his committee. The breakfast Barbour hosted

Saturday was a not-so-subtle way to establish the governors group as central to the party’s rebuild- ing hopes, and to make himself one of its leading voices in shap- ing both the message and strat- egy for 2010.

Republicans are determined to

reverse the policies of the Obama administration. That makes win- ning control of the House or Sen- ate the party’s highest priority this year. But Barbour reminded

the breakfast audience that not only did governors help rebuild the party in the 1990s but also that there is a greater chance of winning congressional races if there is a strong incumbent GOP governor or winning gubernatori- al candidate on the ballot. Barbour had another message when he spoke later on Saturday: Republicans could squander their opportunities if they do not remain united. He said the party should make room for tea party activists and keep them in the conservative movement. “The Democrats’ fondest hope is to see tea-party or other con- servatives split off and have a third party and split the conser- vative [vote],” he said. He added: “Please leave here unified and stay that way through November and beyond.” The list of prospective 2012 candidates who appeared in New Orleans included, in addition to Barbour and Palin, former House speaker Newt Gingrich, Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former senator Rick Santorum (Pa.) and Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.), a presidential candi- date in 2008. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty,

who stayed in the state to wel- come home National Guard sol- diers returning from Iraq, spoke by video. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and for- mer Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, two of the three final- ists for the 2008 GOP nomina- tion, skipped the New Orleans gathering. Palin was clearly the biggest

draw and got an enthusiastic re- sponse. Whether she will try to convert her celebrity status into being a candidate or choose to play kingmaker to another candi-

R

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SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2010

date in 2012 isn’t clear yet. She should not be underestimated as a force within the party, but the weekend showed that she isn’t the only Republican who can ap- peal both to tea party activists and GOP rank-and-file. Perry, who has said he is not in- terested in running for president and faces a competitive reelec- tion in Texas, spoke several hours after Palin and received a recep- tion that was easily the equal of hers. His message, which blended Texas-centric pride and tradition- al Republican doctrine with a strong dose of tea-party-inspired rhetoric attacking Washington, seemed ready-made for conserva- tive audiences in 2010. Gingrich attacked Obama in the strongest terms possible and urged Republicans to become “the party of yes” if they are to re- gain the confidence of the Ameri- can people. Asked about his plans for 2012, Gingrich said he would decide early next year, but he ech- oed Barbour by saying, “Let’s all get out and campaign this year to win this year’s election.” None of these possible presi- dential candidates — those who came to New Orleans and those who didn’t — can know at this point what kind of shape Obama will be in when 2012 rolls around. Their prospects will be deter- mined significantly by what hap- pens inNovember. But the absence of 2012 buzz in

New Orleans underscores the sin- gular focus for a party eager to re- turn to power. There is also a rec- ognition that any perceived fail- ures in November could make 2012 even more difficult. Clarke Reed, who served for years as the RNCmember from Mississippi and who founded the Southern Republican Leadership Conference 40 years ago, said the meeting this weekend has re- stored the group to its original purpose. Four years ago, he said, the organization got infatuated with presidential politics and straw polls. Now, he said, “It’s back to the

grass roots.” That’s why 2012 can wait.

balzd@washpost.com

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President Obama quietly breached years of protocol Satur- day morning by leaving the White

House without the press. About two hours before report- ers were supposed to be in posi- tion to leave with the president, Obama left the grounds of the White House. Members of the

press were told that he was at- tending a soccer game of one of his daughters in Northwest Washington. The White House press corps traditionally travels with the

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president anywhere he goes, in- side and outside the country, to report on the president’s activ- ities for the benefit of informing the public and for historical rec- ord. After Obama left, a press aide hastily gathered members of the news media who happened to be at the White House early or work- ing on other matters. They rushed to a van and left the White House to catch up with the presi- dent. Too late. By the time the press

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didn’t have a chance to see him or his vehicle to verify his presence at any location.

Although nobody outside the White House or the press may have noticed, Obama broke years of tradition. The small press “pool” that ac- companies the president had been told to gather at the White House at 11:30 a.m. He left about 9:20 a.m. Asked what happened, White

House spokesman Josh Earnest said: “The president decided this morning to attend his daughter’s soccer game. The pool was as- sembled as soon as possible to be there as well.” Obama eventually left the White House again Saturday for a round of golf. This time, the press was with him. Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 | Page 8 | Page 9 | Page 10 | Page 11 | Page 12 | Page 13 | Page 14 | Page 15 | Page 16 | Page 17 | Page 18 | Page 19 | Page 20 | Page 21 | Page 22 | Page 23 | Page 24 | Page 25 | Page 26 | Page 27 | Page 28 | Page 29 | Page 30 | Page 31 | Page 32 | Page 33 | Page 34 | Page 35 | Page 36 | Page 37 | Page 38 | Page 39 | Page 40 | Page 41 | Page 42 | Page 43 | Page 44 | Page 45 | Page 46 | Page 47 | Page 48 | Page 49 | Page 50 | Page 51 | Page 52 | Page 53 | Page 54 | Page 55 | Page 56 | Page 57 | Page 58 | Page 59 | Page 60 | Page 61 | Page 62 | Page 63 | Page 64 | Page 65 | Page 66 | Page 67 | Page 68 | Page 69 | Page 70 | Page 71 | Page 72 | Page 73 | Page 74 | Page 75 | Page 76 | Page 77 | Page 78 | Page 79 | Page 80 | Page 81 | Page 82 | Page 83 | Page 84 | Page 85 | Page 86 | Page 87 | Page 88 | Page 89 | Page 90 | Page 91 | Page 92 | Page 93 | Page 94 | Page 95 | Page 96 | Page 97 | Page 98 | Page 99 | Page 100 | Page 101 | Page 102 | Page 103 | Page 104 | Page 105 | Page 106 | Page 107 | Page 108 | Page 109 | Page 110 | Page 111 | Page 112 | Page 113 | Page 114 | Page 115 | Page 116 | Page 117 | Page 118 | Page 119 | Page 120 | Page 121 | Page 122 | Page 123 | Page 124 | Page 125 | Page 126 | Page 127 | Page 128 | Page 129 | Page 130 | Page 131 | Page 132 | Page 133 | Page 134 | Page 135 | Page 136 | Page 137 | Page 138 | Page 139 | Page 140 | Page 141 | Page 142 | Page 143 | Page 144 | Page 145 | Page 146 | Page 147 | Page 148 | Page 149 | Page 150 | Page 151 | Page 152 | Page 153 | Page 154 | Page 155 | Page 156 | Page 157 | Page 158 | Page 159 | Page 160 | Page 161 | Page 162 | Page 163 | Page 164 | Page 165 | Page 166 | Page 167 | Page 168 | Page 169 | Page 170 | Page 171 | Page 172 | Page 173 | Page 174 | Page 175 | Page 176 | Page 177 | Page 178 | Page 179 | Page 180 | Page 181 | Page 182 | Page 183 | Page 184