memeorandum: Panetta: US combat in Afghanistan to end next year (Robert Burns/Associated Press)

5:45 PM ET, February 1, 2012

Top Items:

Vanscottcnn / CNN:

Mitt Romney: middle income Americans are focus, not very poor — After winning the Florida primary, GOP presidential nominee hopeful Mitt Romney explains to CNN anchor Soledad O'Brien that he is focused on a particular portion of the American population in his campaign.

Rachel Weiner / Washington Post:

Romney, citing safety net, says he's ‘not concerned about the very poor’ — In an interview with CNN Wednesday morning that should have been a Florida victory lap, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney made a fumble that could give rivals an attack ad sound bite.

Discussion: Firedoglake, Slate, ABCNEWS, Outside the Beltway, National Review, Hot Air, Campaign 2012, USCatholic.org, Hullabaloo, The Reaction, Shakesville, GOP 12, Connecting.the.Dots, Wake up America, Alas, a Blog and Daily Kos

Jonah Goldberg / National Review:

What is Wrong With This Guy? — Congratulations to Mitt Romney for his big win last night. It was a win that, Romney supporters hoped, would help bury concerns about his ability to seal the deal to do what it takes. But I'm not so sure. If you're a straight-laced grown-up with money to burn …

Discussion: Ross Douthat, Business Insider, RedState, Pundit & Pundette and Political Insider

Alicia M. Cohn / The Hill:

Romney glitter-bombed in Minnesota, calls it ‘confetti’ — An activist sprinkled Mitt Romney with glitter as the GOP presidential candidate walked on stage at a grassroots rally on Wednesday. — Other glitter bomb incidents have been motivated by gay rights activists.

Discussion: CNN and Althouse

Noreen Malone / New York Magazine:

Now We Know Who's Giving to Super PACs — Mitt Romney. — Mitt Romney gets a lot of campaign contributions from other wealthy people. That's the main takeaway from today's campaign-finance disclosures, which reveal who, exactly, is giving all that money to the mysterious super PACs …

Discussion: The Politico, New York Times and Tablet Magazine

Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:

Why Romney Is ‘Not Concerned’ About the Poor — For Pete's sake — you're running for office! — Mitt Romney has been implying, for a while, that he doesn't really care about the poor. Last night, he took the unfortunate step of actually saying so:

Discussion: msnbc.com, The Daily Dish, GOP 12 and Saint Petersblog

Mackenzie Weinger / The Politico:
Mitt Romney: 'I'm not concerned about the very poor'

Discussion: CNN and Jared Bernstein

Alex Seitz-Wald / ThinkProgress:
Romney: 'I'm Not Concerned With The Very Poor'

Discussion: Harry's Place and Feministing

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
The Morning Plum — * Romney: “I'm not concerned about the very poor” …

Discussion: NationalJournal.com, New York Times, Balloon Juice, RedState, The Maddow Blog and Eschaton

New York Times:
Campaign Finance Reports Show ‘Super PAC’ Donors

Discussion: Washington Monthly, msnbc.com, Guardian, Daily Kos, Pensito Review, The Daily Dish, ThinkProgress, Wall Street Journal, DealBook and The Caucus

Washington Post:
Super PACs helping Republican candidates close in on Obama

Discussion: The New Republic, Guardian, The Democratic Daily, New York Times, Prairie Weather, The Page and ThinkProgress

John McCormack / Weekly Standard:
Mitt Romney: “I'm not concerned about the very poor.”

Discussion: The Caucus, National Review and Business Insider

Zach Carter / The Huffington Post:

‘Gasland’ Journalists Arrested At Hearing By Order Of House Republicans (UPDATES) … House GOP , Environment , Gop , Politics , Republicans , Video , Brad Miller , First Amendment , Josh Fox , Arrest , Documentary , Fracking , Gasland , Hearing , Journalist , Politics News

Discussion: Firedoglake, Mediaite, Guardian, ANIMAL, Suburban Guerrilla, The Raw Story, FishbowlDC and Daily Kos, more at Mediagazer »

Talia Buford / The Politico:

Josh Fox led away in handcuffs from hearing — Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Josh Fox was led away in handcuffs from a House Science Committee hearing Wednesday morning after refusing to pack up his camera. — Fox was led out by Capitol Police shortly after 10 a.m., before the hearing could be gaveled into order.

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Taylor Marsh and Grist

Steve Benen / msnbc.com:

The GOP's ongoing turnout problem — There can be little doubt that Mitt Romney dominated in Florida's Republican presidential primary, but there were a few tidbits in the exit polls that stood out, including this one: — This has to be discouraging for the former governor and his campaign.

Discussion: Prairie Weather and The Reality-Based Community

Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Romney Wins, but Turnout Lags

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Washington Monthly, The Moderate Voice, southernstudies.org, Wonkette and blogs.telegraph.co.uk

Peter Hamby / CNN:
February Republican primary cheat sheet

Discussion: The Maddow Blog

Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Florida fight rattles GOP leaders

Discussion: Daily Kos and US Politics

New York Times:
News Analysis: Romney's Negative Campaign in Florida Could Have Political Costs

Discussion: Washington Examiner, The Caucus, NewsBusters.org blogs, Washington Wire and Wall Street Journal

Laura Bassett / The Huffington Post:

Susan G. Komen Loses Support After Planned Parenthood Decision … Video , Susan G. Komen , Susan G. Komen For The Cure , Komen , Komen For The Cure , Komen Planned Parenthood , Planned Parenthood Breast Exams , Planned Parenthood Susan g Komen , Susan g Koman Planned Parenthood , Susan g Komen Planned Parenthood , Politics News

Discussion: ThinkProgress, TBogg, Democracy in America, The Maddow Blog, US Politics, Firedoglake and NPR

Pete Kasperowicz / The Hill:
House Dem abandons Susan G. Komen after Planned Parenthood decision

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Jezebel and Weasel Zippers

Shari Roan / Los Angeles Times:
Komen breast cancer charity severs ties with Planned Parenthood

Discussion: Associated Press, New York Times, The Atlantic Online, Colorlines, Campaign 2012, Wizbang and Crooked Timber

Laura Bassett / The Huffington Post:
Komen Cuts Planned Parenthood Grants Months After Arrival Of New VP, Who Is Abortion Foe

Discussion: UrbanGrounds, The Moderate Voice, Hot Air, Feministing, Washington Post, skippy the bush kangaroo, DISSENTING JUSTICE, Feministe, Pirate's Cove, Gothamist and Comments from Left Field

Amanda Marcotte / Slate:
Susan B. Komen's Act of Cowardice

Discussion: Right Wing Watch, TBogg, ThinkProgress, Daily Kos, pandagon.net, Pharyngula, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Taylor Marsh, National Review and Planned Parenthood

Elisabeth Bumiller / New York Times:

Panetta Sets End to Afghan Combat Role for U.S. in '13 — BRUSSELS — In a major milestone toward ending a decade of war in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said on Wednesday that American forces would step back from a combat role there as early as mid-2013 …

Discussion: Washington Post, Business Insider, Outside the Beltway, Daily Kos, Reuters and Danger Room

Nick Paton Walsh / CNN:
Secret NATO Taliban report revives Pakistan fears

Discussion: Atlas Shrugs and Jihad Watch

Glen Johnson / Boston Globe:

Mitt Romney heads to Minnesota amid talk of Michele Bachmann endorsement — TAMPA, Fla. - Mitt Romney is carrying a full head of steam after winning the Florida primary, but the Republican presidential contender isn't headed first today for Nevada or Maine, the next two states to vote.

Discussion: The Politico, Outside the Beltway, Washington Monthly, The Page, ABCNEWS and Joe. My. God.

ABCNEWS: Michele Bachmann Calls Mitt Romney Endorsement Rumors ‘Completely False’

New York Times:
Romney Wins Big in Florida Primary

Theodore B. Olson / Wall Street Journal:

Obama's Enemies List — David and Charles Koch have been the targets of a campaign of vituperation and assault, choreographed from the very top. — How would you feel if aides to the president of the United States singled you out by name for attack, and if you were featured prominently …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Ricochet Conversations Feed, Sister Toldjah, Booman Tribune, No More Mister Nice Blog, Campaign 2012, The Right Scoop, Maggie's Farm, Instapundit and Atlas Shrugs

Conn Carroll / Campaign 2012:

Gallup state numbers predict huge Obama loss — Gallup released their annual state-by-state presidential approval numbers yesterday, and the results should have 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue very worried. If President Obama carries only those states where he had a net positive approval rating in 2011 …

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, Rush Limbaugh, Scared Monkeys, Shot in the Dark, Don Surber, Weasel Zippers, Hyscience, ABCNEWS, Gallup and National Review

Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Obama money advantage disappearing

Discussion: 2012 Decoded

Alison Gendar / NY Daily News:

Anthony Weiner used campaign money to hire private investigators to chase down his lie about crotch-shot tweet, financial statements reveal — Weiner hired T&M while in full spin mode over controversy that eventually led to his resignation — Infamous photo that Anthony Weiner tweeted.

Discussion: Jammie Wearing Fools, The Hill, The Gateway Pundit, The Daily Caller, Runnin' Scared and UrbanGrounds

Shelby Grad / L.A. NOW:

‘Soul Train’ creator Don Cornelius dead in apparent suicide — “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius was found dead at his Sherman Oaks on home Wednesday morning. — Law enforcement sources said police arrived at Cornelius' home around 4 a.m. He apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, The Informer, Nation Now, New York Times, Booman Tribune and THEROOT.COM

Igor Volsky / ThinkProgress:

Gay Activists Glitter Bomb Romney, He Calls It ‘Confetti’ To Celebrate Florida Victory — Mitt Romney was “glitter bombed” by an advocate protesting the former governor's flimsy record on equality for gay and lesbian Americans as he took the stage at a campaign event in Eagan, Minnesota this afternoon.

Discussion: BuzzFeed, ABCNEWS, The Raw Story, Mediaite and Towleroad News #gay