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Sean Lengell

Sean Lengell was a staff writer for The Washington Times.

Articles by Sean Lengell

"I see little that gives me any faith in terms of the Republican candidates for the presidency and vice presidency that would indicate a direction that I think the country ought to go in." - Former Republican Senator Lowell Weicker, who became independent after leaving Capitol Hill. (Associated Press)

‘Extremists’ chase some Republicans toward Obama

While the vast majority of Republican voters are likely to support Mitt Romney for president, some say they will back President Obama because of the GOP push to the political right. Published September 3, 2012

Actor/Director Clint Eastwood speaks on behalf of Mitt Romney at the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

Clint Eastwood adds Hollywood glitter to GOP gathering

The worst-kept secret of the Republican National Convention was revealed Thursday evening, when Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood took the stage to lend his magnetism and distinctively gravelly voice on behalf of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Published August 30, 2012

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley boasted Tuesday that airplanes at Boeing’s new plant in her state are made by “6,000 nonunion employees.” (Associated Press)

GOP brought together by anti-union rhetoric

Union bashing has been a unifying theme at this year's Republican National Convention, as few topics have generated louder, longer and more robust cheers and applause during keynote speeches. Published August 30, 2012

Gabriella Wyatt, of Aurora, Ill., shows off her elephant logo at the Republican National Convention at the Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. on Wednesday, August 29, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/ The Washington Times)

Delegates differ, but unify behind Romney

As Mitt Romney formally emerges from the Republican National Convention this week as the party's presidential nominee, many delegates on Wednesday cited his pro-businesses experience as their main attraction to the former Massachusetts governor. Published August 29, 2012

Tea party favorite Ted Cruz easily defeated Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in July’s runoff primary election for U.S. Senate. “He’s one of us,” said Julie McCarty, a convention delegate. (Associated Press)

Cruz ascending in GOP

Tea party favorite Ted Cruz took another big step Tuesday toward solidifying his image as one of the fastest rising stars in the GOP, delivering a prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention after his stunning Senate primary win last month. Published August 28, 2012

Apps take you to conventions

Not going to the Republican or Democratic party conventions but want to stay on top of the latest happenings from Tampa and Charlotte? There's an app — rather many apps — for that. Published August 27, 2012

Ted Yoho (Associated Press)

In tea party vs. tea party race, Stearns loses primary

At first glance, Rep. Cliff Stearns of Florida seemed to have his conservative credentials lined up ahead of Tuesday's Republican primary. He was endorsed by two tea party favorites – former GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann and vice presidential hopeful Rep. Paul Ryan – and belongs to the House Tea Party Caucus. Published August 15, 2012

A coal miner cheers as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, speaks during an event at the American Energy Corporation in Beallsville, Ohio, on Tuesday. The United Mine Workers of America has yet to make a decision about endorsing President Obama. (Associated Press)

Mine workers union holds off giving its endorsement to Obama

The nation's largest coal miners union has yet to make an endorsement for the upcoming presidential election after giving President Obama its full and early support four years ago -- hinting it may sit out the race. Published August 14, 2012

Ralph Metcalfe helped the U.S. win the 400-meter relay in Berlin in 1936 with a new world-record time of 39.8 seconds. The members of the team — (from left) Jesse Owens, Metcalfe, Foy Draper and Frank Wykoff — delivered a message to Adolf Hitler. Metcalfe finished second in the 100-meter dash behind Owens. (Associated Press)

From the Olympics to Congress

From Mitt Romney to President Obama to House Speaker John A. Boehner, plenty of political figures have weighed in on the Olympics the last two weeks, cheering on American athletes in public displays of patriotism. Yet, on a few rare occasions in congressional history, the Olympian and lawmaker were one in the same. Published August 12, 2012

**FILE** AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka

Labor chief Trumka vows stronger ground game for elections

The nation's largest labor federation says it is ready to unleash a new and improved political program ahead of the November elections, with expanded outreach and more volunteers than past elections. Published August 9, 2012

**FILE** Sen. Mark Kirk, Illinois Republican (Associated Press)

Senators ask China to crack down on fake U.S. driver’s licenses

A bipartisan quartet of senators has called on the Chinese government to investigate companies in that nation that are producing high-quality counterfeit American driver's licenses, saying the practice is a serious national security threat to the United States. Published August 7, 2012

**FILE** Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus (Associated Press)

‘Dirty liar’ and pressure for taxes escalate war of words

The war of words over Mitt Romney's taxes amped up Sunday, as Republicans lashed out at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and accused him of lying about his claim that the presumed Republican presidential candidate hasn't paid any taxes in the past 10 years. Published August 5, 2012

**FILE** Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Republican (Associated Press/The Amarillo Globe News)

Cruz: Tea party ‘overwhelmingly’ behind Romney

Ted Cruz, one of tea party's latest and brightest stars, said Sunday the movement that helped propel him to victory in last week's runoff for the Texas Republican Senate nomination is here to stay as a major political force. Published August 5, 2012

Drought aid package clears House as it recesses

The House on Thursday passed an emergency disaster-relief package for ranchers and certain farmers hit by one of the worst droughts in decades, but the Senate did not take up the measure before lawmakers left for their annual August recess. Published August 2, 2012

Ted Cruz thanks his wife, Heidi, in front of a cheering crowd after he defeated Republican rival, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, in a runoff election Tuesday for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by the retiring Kay Bailey Hutchison. (Houston Chronicle/Johnny Hanson via Associated Press)

Tea party basks in Cruz’s win in Texas

Ted Cruz's stunning 14-percentage-point victory over Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in Tuesday's runoff for the Texas Republican Senate nomination gives the tea party explosive momentum heading into the remaining primaries nationwide and the November general elections. Published August 1, 2012

Former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, once considered a long-shot underdog for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, defeated Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the party’s Tuesday primary runoff, and the reason appears to be his strong support from state tea-party conservatives. It’s a sign of the movement’s growing national clout. (Associated Press)

Tea party candidate wins in Texas GOP runoff

Tea party favorite Ted Cruz, once considered a long shot to win the Texas Republican Senate nomination, beat Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in a bitterly contested and expensive two-man runoff election Tuesday. Published July 31, 2012

Judge Robert E. Bacharach was nominated by President Obama for a seat on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Votes to break a Republican-led filibuster in the Senate fell short of the 60 required. (Associated Press)

Filibuster blocks Obama’s court appointee

Senate Republican leaders on Monday delivered a major blow to President Obama's ability to fill high-level federal judicial openings, making good on a threat to block votes on circuit court nominations until next year. Published July 30, 2012

The Club for Growth Action has spent about $5.5 million to try to push tea party insurgent Ted Cruz to victory. The Texas Conservatives Fund, which backs Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, has doled out $5.2 million to attack the tea party favorite. (Associated Press)

Big bucks roll in for GOP Senate primary in Texas

One of the most expensive and bitter intraparty political battles in Texas history is almost over, as Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and tea party insurgent Ted Cruz face off Tuesday in a GOP runoff election to make the ballot for the state's open Senate seat. Published July 29, 2012

President Obama meets with members of his cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Thursday, July, 26, 2012. From left are, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Secreatry of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, the president and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Obama ratchets up heat on House to OK Senate tax bill

President Obama is using all the weapons in the White House arsenal to pressure Republicans on taxes this week, giving his Cabinet marching orders to amplify his tax-fairness message in the coming days, while House GOP said it would allow a full vote on the Senate-passed tax plan. Published July 26, 2012

Vice President Joe Biden, in his Constitutional role as president of the Senate, arrives at the Capitol to provide the tie-breaking vote, if needed, on a vote to extend broad tax cuts that will otherwise expire in January, in Washington, Wednesday, July 25, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Wealthy left out of Bush-era tax cut renewal

Embracing President Obama's plan to extend only some of the Bush-era tax cuts, Senate Democrats on Wednesday passed a bill that would mean stable income tax rates for most Americans but a sizable increase for the wealthiest. Published July 25, 2012