White House

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President Obama and the first family light the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse south of the White House, Washington, D.C., Thursday, December 6, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Conservative lawmakers and interest groups have said House Speaker John A. Boehner's offer of $800 billion in tax increases abandoned core Republican principles and earned no credit from a White House that has insisted on even bigger tax hikes. (Associated Press)

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“We oppose all unilateral actions, including settlement activity and housing construction, as they complicate efforts to resume direct, bilateral negotiations and risk prejudging the outcome of those negotiations and this including building in the so called E1 area.” — White House press secretary Jay Carney (Associated Press)

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White House spokesman Jay Carney speaks during his daily news briefing at the White House in Washington on Dec. 3, 2012. (Associated Press)

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President Obama walks on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington on Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, before boarding the Marine One helicopter en route to Andrews Air Force Base in suburban Maryland and then on to Hatfield, Pa., to speak at the Rodon Group manufacturing facility. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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** FILE ** President Barack Obama makes an opening statement during his news conference, Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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White House press secretary Jay Carney holds up a copy of the President's Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction during his daily news briefing at the White House in Washington on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, as President Obama was having a private lunch with former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney arrives at the White House in Washington on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, for a private luncheon with President Obama. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)