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The Morning Grind / Political Hot Topics |
Bush's vision, Kerry's criticism and the politics of religion
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 VIDEO |
 CNN's Jeff Greenfield on the anatomy of a Kerry nonstory.
 CNN's Suzanne Malveaux on Bush's talks with a private attorney.
 CNN's Alessio Vinci on Bush's controversial trip to Europe.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Check out the links below to hot political stories around the country this morning.
MIDDLE EAST VISION: President Bush vowed Wednesday to spread freedom and democracy to Middle East nations in order to help stabilize the region and eradicate terrorism. Comparing the terrorism war to the Second World War at the Air Force Academy's commencement, Bush also vowed to aggressively root out terrorists and the countries that sponsor or hide them.The Denver Post: Bush vows 'offensive'
FOCUS ON THE BASE: Bush visited with Focus on the Family head James Dobson for about 30 minutes Wednesday morning before addressing graduating seniors at the Air Force Academy. Dobson did not disclose what he and the president discussed in a private meeting room at the Air Force Academy.The Rocky Mountain News: Focus leader Dobson, Bush meet
KERRY SEES DRAFT: John Kerry said Wednesday that President Bush's failure to recruit international assistance in Iraq has caused a "back-door draft'' for U.S. reservists who have had their overseas duties unexpectedly extended. Kerry criticized the conduct of the war in tough language after a panel discussion on bioterrorism before a crowd of about 300 students, academics and political supporters at the University of South Florida.The Tampa Tribune: Kerry denounces Bush, calls policy 'back-door draft'
RESTORATION: Saying Bush has weakened the country abroad and at home, Kerry told a Kansas City campaign rally of about 3,000 on Wednesday night that this presidential election is about restoring America.The Kansas City Star: At KC rally, Kerry says coming election is about restoring America
HITTING UP THE CHURCHES: The Bush campaign is seeking to enlist thousands of religious congregations around the country in distributing campaign information and registering voters, according to an e-mail message sent to many members of the clergy and others in Pennsylvania. Liberal groups charged that the effort invited violations of the separation of church and state and jeopardized the tax-exempt status of churches that cooperated. Some socially conservative church leaders also said they would advise pastors against participating in such a partisan effort.The New York Times: Bush campaign seeks help from thousands of congregations
THE CHURCH GAP: Forget the gender gap. The "religion gap" is bigger, more powerful and growing. The divide isn't between Catholics and Protestants, Jews and Gentiles. Instead, on one side are those of many faiths who go to services, well, religiously: Catholics who attend Mass without fail, evangelical Christians and mainline Protestants who show up for church rain or shine, some Orthodox Jews. On the other side are those who attend religious services only occasionally or never.USA Today: Churchgoing closely tied to voting patterns
POLITICS OF RELIGION: Kerry is getting pulled, sometimes reluctantly, into the national debate over abortion as result of recent court action, church politics and some pressure from Democrats outside of his campaign. The Massachusetts Democrat, who throughout his 30-plus years in public life has tried to balance his personal opposition to abortion with public support for a woman's right to have one, rarely talks about the issue on the campaign trail -- unless he is forced to. Kerry's reluctance to discuss abortion is as much personal as political, reflecting the Democratic presidential candidate's uneasiness in talking about religious views and divisive church issues, aides say.The Washington Post: Events forcing abortion issue on Kerry
CHENEY RIPS KERRY: The Patriot Act has made America safer, Vice President Dick Cheney said Tuesday in a Kansas City campaign stop. Kerry, he said, would strip the law of its counterterrorism muscle. In a subdued delivery but with aggressive rhetoric, Cheney accused Kerry of flip-flopping because the presumptive Democratic nominee wants to revise the Patriot Act.The Kansas City Star: Cheney extols Patriot Act, rips Kerry
BUSH'S LAWYER: Bush has had "discussions" with a private attorney in connection with a federal grand jury investigation into who leaked the identity of a CIA operative, a White House spokeswoman said Wednesday. Bush would seek advice from Washington attorney Jim Sharp and retain him if the president is called to testify before the grand jury, said spokeswoman Claire Buchan.CNN: Bush consults private attorney over CIA leak probe
VEEPSTAKES: John Edwards' schedule looks a lot like the travels of a man chasing higher office, with stops in political battlegrounds such as Ohio, Minnesota and, soon, Florida. No one doubts Edwards would leap at the chance to be Kerry's running mate, if offered. Still, Edwards elides the question when he is asked, offering a stock answer that even he calls a "nonanswer."The Los Angeles Times: Edwards looking out for No. 2?
CHANGE OF VENUE: Democratic National Convention officials are planning a last-minute change of venue for some of the media covering the event after a building set aside for press and broadcasters proved unsuitable and too expensive to rehabilitate. DNC communications director Peggy Wilhide said a Causeway Street building that was to house about half of the convention media needed extensive construction that was unlikely to be finished on time, and that two nearby buildings "in move-in condition" became available Friday.The Associated Press: Democratic convention planners eye new space for convention media
SIGHTS ON SOROS: Republicans launched an attack on billionaire financier George Soros, mocking him as the "Lord of the Democrats" and outlining a plan to rip his "out-of-the-mainstream" views. In a memo e-mailed to GOP congressmen and staffers, the Republican National Committee encouraged using floor speeches and other opportunities to blast Soros, who has given millions of dollars to various groups to help defeat Bush.The New York Post: GOP has Soros in its sights
SPEAKER PELOSI? A pair of special election wins in strong Republican states, combined with Bush's skidding national popularity, has Democratic leaders giddy over the once-unthinkable possibility of taking back Congress in November.The San Francisco Chronicle: Pelosi pulls bandwagon for recapturing Congress
NO BENEFITS: Sen. Mark Dayton, a Democrat from Minnesota, who says members of Congress should have no better prescription drug coverage than America's seniors, has dropped his benefits for the next two years, his office said Wednesday. Dayton made the request in a letter to the Office of Personnel Management last week, asking that his coverage be eliminated until the nation's elderly begin receiving drug benefits on January 1, 2006. He asked that on that date, his maximum benefits be scaled back by nearly 30 percent to match the new Medicare package.The Minneapolis Star Tribune: Dayton gives up his own prescription benefits
