Obama and the Minister  —  In a sermon delivered at Howard University, Barack Obama's longtime minister, friend and adviser blamed America for starting the AIDS virus, training professional killers, importing drugs and creating a racist society that would never elect a black candidate president.

A Free-Spirited Wanderer Who Set Obama's Path  —  In the capsule version of the Barack Obama story, his mother is simply the white woman from Kansas.  The phrase comes coupled alliteratively to its counterpart, the black father from Kenya.  On the campaign trail, he has called her his “single mom.”

Petraeus: Iraqi Leaders Not Making ‘Sufficient Progress’  —  Iraqi leaders have failed to take advantage of a reduction in violence to make adequate progress toward resolving their political differences, Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said Thursday.

Betting the Bank  —  Four years ago, an academic economist named Ben Bernanke co-authored a technical paper that could have been titled “Things the Federal Reserve Might Try if It's Desperate” — although that may not have been obvious from its actual title, “Monetary Policy Alternatives at the Zero Bound: An Empirical Investigation.”

Obama's True Beliefs  —  Derb: I am coming to believe that Barack Obama is one of the greatest con artists we've seen.  His entire campaign has been about “coming together,” a post-racial consensus, etc.  Any mention of his middle name was immediately condemned as ignorant fear-mongering.

Obama Lists His Earmarks, Asking Clinton for Hers  —  Senator Barack Obama on Thursday released a list of $740 million in earmarked spending requests that he had made over the last three years, and his campaign challenged Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to do the same.

Saddam supported at least two al-Qaeda groups: Pentagon Update: What it means  —  Earlier this week, the Pentagon announced that an investigation into over 600,000 documents captured at the end of the invasion of Iraq showed no operational links to al-Qaeda — or at least, that's how the media reported it.

Dems zero in on June 3 primary  —  Key Michigan Democrats were negotiating feverishly toward breaking the impasse with the national Democratic Party over the state's 156 national convention delegates.  —  The most promising compromise on the table was a June 3 do-over primary.

Rare closed session changes few minds on FISA  —  A rare closed session of the House to discuss electronic surveillance legislation failed to change many minds Thursday night, as many lawmakers emerged from the closed-door meeting entrenched in their positions on the controversial measure.

Schools fear that forced marriages poster campaign will upset parents  —  Schools in areas feared to have high rates of forced marriage are refusing to display posters on the issue because they are too hard-hitting, according to a government report.  —  Headteachers are unwilling to put …

Obama works to convert in Pennsylvania  —  FAIRLESS HILLS, Pa. — Nearly a month before voters go to the polls, Sen. Barack Obama will get an early clue about his chances against Pennsylvania's prohibitive favorite, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.  —  In the days after the March 24 voter registration deadline …

Sen. Ensign paints a grim picture for GOP in November  —  The Senate Republican campaign committee's motto from early on in the 2008 cycle has been “Two Seats” — the net gain it needs in November to retake the majority.  —  But a resigned National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) …

Ventura: Will he or won't he?  —  To hear Jesse Ventura tell it, he's either out to become president or an expatriate.  —  In the opening to his fourth book, due out April 1, the former wrestler and governor of Minnesota writes: “As I begin to write this book, I'm facing probably …

Clinton role in health program disputed  —  Hillary Clinton headed to the Senate floor yesterday as all three major candidates returned to the chamber for key budget votes.  A10.  (Susan Walsh/Associated Press)  —  WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton, who has frequently described herself …

Getting the Politics of the Press Right: Walter Pincus Rips into Newsroom Neutrality  —  “The important thing is to show integrity— not to be a neuter, politically.  Having good facts that hold up is a bigger advantage than claiming to reflect all sides equally well.”