Seth McLaughlin
Articles by Seth McLaughlin
Former NYC Mayor Guiliani: Christie showed leadership that Obama administration lacks
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Friday that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's decisive response to the George Washington Bridge controversy offers a stark contrast to the way the Obama administration has handled scandals. Published January 10, 2014
Christie fires aides, apologizes for traffic jam in scramble to salvage his reputation
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Thursday he's not a bully and denied knowing about his aides' decision to exact retribution on a Democratic city mayor by creating traffic problems, saying he learned of the plan only a day earlier. Published January 9, 2014
McCain, Graham call for more U.S. leadership in Iraq
GOP Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina say that the Obama administration moved too hastily out of Iraq and are calling on the White House and Congress to do more to make sure that al Qaeda-linked extremists do not get a foothold in the Middle Eastern nation. Published January 9, 2014
Sen. Marco Rubio: Marriage is key to eradicating poverty
Sen. Marco Rubio said Thursday that marriage is a key component of reducing the chances of child poverty, but said there is not enough evidence to determine whether the same is true of children being raised by married same-sex couples. Published January 9, 2014
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie to address ‘bridge-gate’ for the first time publicly Thursday
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is scheduled to speak publicly for the first time about his administration's involvement in orchestrating a traffic jam at the base of the George Washington Bridge, which led to allegations that his office was trying to punish a local mayor who refused to endorse him. Published January 9, 2014
N.J. Gov. Christie ‘outraged’ at bridge scandal, says he just learned of aides’ behavior
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Wednesday he was "outraged" after learning — he said for the first time — that his administration purposely caused a traffic jam that clogged streets in a town at the foot of the George Washington Bridge into New York City as political payback against a mayor refuse to endorse him for re-election. Published January 8, 2014
Escaped prisoner turns himself in to get out of cold
The "polar vortex" apparently is putting a deep freeze on crime — at least in Kentucky. Published January 7, 2014
Tea party groups push back against proposed IRS rule changes
Tea party groups are rallying their troops for a fight over the new rules the IRS is carving out on how to regulate tax-exempt groups that participate in political activities. Published January 7, 2014
Dennis Rodman calls North Korean leader Kim Jong-un his friend
Former basketball star Dennis Rodman defended his decision to travel to North Korea with several other former NBA players to take part in a game on the birthday of Kim Jong-un, the country's leader, saying it is "all about the game." Published January 7, 2014
Liz Cheney abandoned her GOP primary challenge citing health issues in family
Liz Cheney abandoned her GOP primary challenge to Wyoming Sen. Michael B. Enzi on Monday, a move that underscores the long odds facing challengers looking to unseat longtime Republican incumbents this year. Published January 6, 2014
D.C. is the gayest city in America: LGBT magazine
Washington D.C. is the gayest city in the nation — thanks in part to some of the "hunky young pols" on the right. Published January 6, 2014
Marco Rubio looks to regain his luster after immigration stance tarnishes his year
Sen. Marco Rubio began 2013 as the talk of the town, riding high in 2016 presidential polls and spearheading Republican efforts to woo the Hispanic voting bloc that helped power President Obama to a second term. Published December 31, 2013
Gay-marriage test case drags on as others take plunge
More than three years after the Iowa Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of same-sex marriage, supporters of the decision say predictions of disaster have not been borne out, while gay-marriage opponents say they continue to lose ground in the fight because "finger-in-the-wind" Republicans have abandoned the cause. Published December 26, 2013
Tea party targets conservative Sen. Pat Roberts
Pat Roberts has amassed one of the most conservative records in the Senate, so it was a surprise to many analysts this year when a Republican primary challenger vowed to run to the three-term senator's right. Published December 25, 2013
GOP civil war rages in Iowa as Ron Paul supporter fights establishment
The same rift between insurgent Republicans and old-line party establishment figures that is rattling Washington is also playing out in states such as Iowa, where open warfare has broken out between veteran GOP operatives and the state party chairman, an ally of former Rep. Ron Paul of Texas. Published December 24, 2013
McConnell to oppose Obama’s IRS pick Koskinen
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Thursday that he will oppose President Obama's pick to be the next head of the scandal-plagued IRS because of the recent rule change Senate Democrats muscled through regarding the confirmation of presidential nominees and because of the ongoing investigation into the additional scrutiny the Internal Revenue Service gave to conservative groups. Published December 19, 2013
House, Senate GOP differ in approach to support of budget deal
While most House Republicans backed the new budget deal, Senate Republicans balked — underscoring the tricky election-year politics that face the GOP as it tries to show it can govern in Washington, while facing angry base voters back home. Published December 18, 2013
Dr. Ben Carson disavows efforts at presidential draft
Looking to cash in on Dr. Ben Carson's ballooning popularity among conservatives, some independent groups are soliciting his growing fan-base for money — all without the doctor's permission. Published December 13, 2013
GOP hopes taking shutdown off the table with budget deal will pay dividends
By clearing the decks of the bipartisan budget deal, some political observers say, the GOP establishment is banking on the idea that giving up ground in the spending battle now will pay off over the long run by allowing Republicans to avoid getting punished for another government shutdown. Published December 12, 2013
House budget bargain faces Senate filibuster; Republicans line up to oppose
Overcoming vocal opposition from both ends of the spectrum, the House of Representatives easily passed a bipartisan budget proposal that aims to prevent another government shutdown for the next two years, clearing the way for it to be approved by the Senate and quickly signed into law by President Obama. Published December 12, 2013
