Politics

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** FILE ** In this Friday, Feb. 3, 2012, file photo released by an official website of the Iranian supreme leader's office, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves to the worshippers, in front of a portrait of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini, before he delivers his Friday prayers sermon, at the Tehran University campus, Iran. (AP Photo/Office of the Supreme Leader, File)

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"What the United States needs now is a policy that finds that middle path. ... A foreign policy that is reluctant, restrained by constitutional checks and balances but does not appease," said Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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House Speaker John A. Boehner says the looming sequesters and resulting budget cuts would be like "taking a meat ax to our government." Eager to buy time and avoid economic pain, President Obama urged Congress to pass targeted measures. (Associated Press)

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Singer Tony Bennett, at a star-studded event on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, called on Congress to act on President Obama’s legislation to curb gun violence. (Associated Press)

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President Obama watches as his Interior Secretary nominee Sally Jewell, a former CEO of REI Inc., gets a kiss from outgoing Secretary Kenneth L. Salazar on Wednesday. The announcement was made in the White House State Dining Room. (Associated Press)

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Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will testify to a Senate panel that hopes to get satisfactory answers Thursday to questions about the deadly attack in Benghazi, Libya. (Associated Press)

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"I agreed to hold a public roundtable, in effect a hearing, and it will be open to the public," said Phil Mendelson, D.C. Council chairman. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Democrats were pleased that a proposal to redraw state Senate districts died. House Minority Leader David J. Toscano, Charlottesville Democrat, (left) shakes hands with House Speaker William J. Howell, Stafford Republican, after Mr. Howell declared the redistricting bill was improper and should not be considered. (Richmond Times-Dispatch via Associated Press)

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Maryland state Sen. Nancy Jacobs, a Republican, holds up a gun target she shot as she speaks during a pro-gun-rights rally against a proposal by Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley that would ban so-called assault weapons and require residents to obtain a license before purchasing handguns, at Lawyers Park in front of the Statehouse in Annapolis on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A man who did not want to give his name wears a flag with an assault riffle on it and the words, "Come and Take It" at a pro-gun rights rally at Lawyers Park in front of the Maryland State House, Annapolis, Md., Wednesday, February 6, 2013. Maryland Mayor Martin O'Malley is set to testify at a Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing that are discussing a number of proposed gun bills. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley testifies at a Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing to urge state lawmakers to pass legislation requiring residents to obtain a license before purchasing a handgun, ban assault weapons, limit magazine capacities to 10 rounds and require prospective gun buyers to complete a safety course and pay a $100 application fee, Annapolis, Md., Wednesday, February 6, 2013. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley testifies at a Judicial Proceedings Committee hearing to urge state lawmakers to pass legislation requiring residents to obtain a license before purchasing a handgun, ban assault weapons, limit magazine capacities to 10 rounds and require prospective gun buyers to complete a safety course and pay a $100 application fee, Annapolis, Md., Wednesday, February 6, 2013. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)