Free Republic

In an off-the-record meeting with journalists on Tuesday, Obama said that he did not watch enough cable news to fully recognize the extent of people's fears, sources with knowledge of the meeting told CNN. That characterization of Obama's remarks was included in a New York Times article, but later removed while the article was being edited for the print edition. The president's claim has drawn fierce criticism from conservatives, who see it as evidence that Obama is out of touch with national sentiment about the threat of terrorism. "An American president needs to consume more panel debates to properly assess...

Pointing to double-digit unemployment rates among African Americans and Hispanics, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R.-Minn.) said on Friday that President Barack Obama “has failed” both these communities. “This president has failed the Hispanic community. He has failed the African-American community,” said Bachmann. “He has failed us all when it comes to jobs.” Bachmann, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination for 2012, made the remarks at the “Republican Leadership Conference” held in New Orleans over the weekend. Other Republican presidential contenders—including Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and Herman Cain—also spoke at the event, as did Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who...