Stephen Dinan
Articles by Stephen Dinan
Obama ups ante on Afghans, Pakistanis
Sen. Barack Obama on Sunday prodded Afghanistan and Pakistan to combat al Qaeda and Taliban forces by basing operations in those nations, using a campaign-season trip to Afghanistan to bolster his leadership credentials. Published July 21, 2008
‘Whiners’ get to Gramm; he exits McCain camp
Former Sen. Phil Gramm stepped down as a co-chairman of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign, saying he had become a distraction after drawing criticism for calling America a "nation of whiners" last week. Published July 19, 2008
McCain ad targets Obama inaction on NATO panel
Sen. John McCain's campaign on Friday announced its first negative campaign ad of the general election that accuses Sen. Barack Obama of failing to do his duty on a subcommittee overseeing NATO, which leads war operations in Afghanistan. Published July 19, 2008
McCain’s Straight Talk spins wheels
From signature issues such as immigration and climate change to tax cuts, Sen. John McCain sometimes just seems lost as to his own record and his stance on hot-button social issues. Published July 18, 2008
Hispanic leaders eager to ‘referee debate’
The president of the nation's largest Hispanic rights organization says the group will serve as referee for the immigration debate and back it up with what members expect will be record Hispanic voter turnout in November. Published July 16, 2008
McCain asks for trust from Hispanics
Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Monday denounced those in his party he said have injected "insults" into the immigration debate but refused to back away from his new enforcement-first approach to the issue. Published July 15, 2008
Obama: Hispanics are critical to election
Sen. Barack Obama received a rock-star welcome Sunday from the nation's largest Hispanic rights group, telling them they are the critical swing group in November's presidential election and promising a renewed effort to pass an immigration bill during his first year in office. Published July 14, 2008
Hispanics seek voter bloc too big to ignore
After decades of punching beneath their political weight, National Council of La Raza and its allies vow to boost Hispanic voter participation by reducing the gap between those eligible versus number who turn out on Election Day. Published July 13, 2008
Hispanics seek McCain’s reassurance
When McCain speaks to the nation's largest Hispanic rights group this weekend, he will face an audience confused about his immigration position and looking for the same champion with whom they have worked for two decades. Published July 11, 2008
Latin America trip stirs Chavez debate
John McCain finished a three-day campaign trip to Latin America to mine the politics of free trade and foreign policy, but Republicans say the real vote mother lode may lie in the politics of a country he didn't visit — Venezuela. Published July 4, 2008
McCain shakes up staff
Sen. John McCain tweaked his campaign Wednesday by elevating aide Steve Schmidt to oversee day-to-day operations, in a move to give his presidential bid the stability and direction that many in his party feared were lacking. Published July 3, 2008
Obama vows to establish own faith office
Sen. Barack Obama promised Tuesday to embrace, but revamp, President Bush's faith-based initiative, in a move to the center as he courts religious voters but one that risks offending liberal voters who opposed the creation as a First Amendment encroachment. Published July 2, 2008
Obama defends his, McCain’s patriotism
Sen. Barack Obama said Monday that he won't tolerate people challenging his patriotism or his rival's military service, and Sen. John McCain announced a "truth squad" to combat attacks on his Vietnam service. Published July 1, 2008
McCain veers from record to woo Hispanics
Sen. John McCain told a Hispanic group Saturday that passing an immigration bill to legalize illegal immigrants is "my top priority, yesterday, today and tomorrow," but mischaracterized his own voting record on the issue. Published June 29, 2008
Cheney aide denies giving carte blanche
He came, they saw, and nobody learned much of anything - David Addington, chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, skated through three hours of committee testimony Thursday without revealing much other than disputing reports of his vast influence on the war on terror. Published June 27, 2008
House moves to cut back secrecy
Two bills that would make the Homeland Security Department more transparent are poised to pass in Congress, in light of a tide of secrecy that has swept the government since Sept. 11, 2001. Published June 26, 2008
Obama stands firm; McCain rides wave for energy solutions
Polls released this month are finding that voters in Florida support drilling and will reward a candidate who embraces it. Published June 25, 2008
Nader slams Democrats for continued ‘00 grudge
Ralph Nader says that Democratic leaders, angry about the 2000 election, should stop scapegoating him and face their own failings. Published June 24, 2008
McCain sidetracked by aide’s terror gaffe
An old-fashioned political blunder threw Sen. John McCain off message Monday, distracting from a well-planned effort to drive home his advantage on energy policy. Published June 24, 2008
McCain rips Obama trade views as a retreat
Sen. John McCain on Friday accused Sen. Barack Obama of "retreating behind protectionist walls," using a trip to Canada to blast his Democratic presidential rival for insisting on changing free trade agreements. Published June 21, 2008
