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By Jordan Fabian - 09/07/10 12:31 PM ET


"It would take a real stretch to think I caused the problems with the economy," Reid said Tuesday.



Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday expressed confidence in his prospects for reelection and said that voters should not blame him for economic woes in his state and around the country.



In a wide-ranging interview with ABC News that aired on an afternoon webcast, Reid said that he has worked hard as majority leader to create jobs and should not be held accountable for Nevada and the nation's continuing economic woes.

"It would take a real stretch to think I caused the problems with the economy, and that's what she is trying to do," Reid said referencing his GOP opponent, Sharron Angle. "You know that I have nothing to do with those unemployment figures, in fact I have worked hard to change them ... I think it is my job to create jobs.

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By Jordan Fabian - 09/07/10 11:37 AM ET


Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), one of two Muslims serving in Congress, recently claimed that opposition to the planned Lower Manhattan mosque is not led by 9/11 families, but by birthers and religious bigots.



In an interview with BBC Radio that aired Monday, Ellison sought to undermine opponents of the proposed Islamic center to be built two blocks from the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"The fact is that the real driver of this thing is not 9/11 families," he said. "The people who are leading the anti-mosque effort ... are people who openly proclaim that Barack Obama is not a citizen. The real organizers of this thing are people who are just proponents of religious bigotry. Nothing more, nothing less."
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The Minnesota lawmaker referenced a controversy over a similar proposed facility in Tennessee and a planned Quran burning to be held by a radical church group in Florida this weekend, saying they are "emblematic of the larger issue" of anti-Muslim attitudes in the U.S.

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By Dan Balz and Jon Cohen
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, September 7, 2010; 12:04 AM


Republicans are heading into the final weeks of the midterm campaign with the political climate highly in their favor, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Americans are increasingly frustrated by a lack of economic progress, deeply dissatisfied with the federal government and critical of President Obama's leadership.



For the first time in more than four years, Republicans run about evenly with Democrats on the basic question of which party they trust to handle the nation's biggest problems. Among registered voters, 40 percent say they have more confidence in Democrats and 38 percent say they have more trust in Republicans. Three months ago, Democrats had a 12-point advantage.



On the economy, 43 percent of voters side with Republicans when it comes to dealing with financial problems, while 39 percent favor Democrats. (Fifteen percent say they trust neither party more.) Although not a significant lead for Republicans, this marks the first time they have had any numerical edge on the economy dating to 2002. In recent years, Democrats have typically held double-digit advantages on the issue.



The principal obstacles to GOP electoral hopes continue to be doubts that Republicans have a clear plan for the country should they win control of the House or Senate in November. But overall, the poll shows that the party has made big gains in the public's estimation since earlier this year.

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By RACHEL D'ORO Associated Press Writer
ANCHORAGE, Alaska September 6, 2010 (AP)

The Republican candidate who defeated U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski in Alaska's primary election has been cited with failing to exercise due care to avoid a recent three-car collision.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=11571039

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Workers in N.Y. Strike over $1.50-an-Hour Pay Cut and Pension Freeze as Parent Co. Dr. Pepper-Snapple Enjoys Record Profits

WILLIAMSON, N.Y., Sept. 6, 2010

Companies typically ask for labor concessions when they're losing money. But Mott's parent company, Dr. Pepper-Snapple -is making record profits of more than half a billion dollars a year. Yet workers are being asked to take a $1.50-an-hour wage cut - and a pension freeze.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/...html?tag=stack

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By JULIAN E. BARNES And MATTHEW ROSENBERG
The Wall Street Journal

KABUL—The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said the planned burning of Qurans on Sept. 11 by a Florida church could put the lives of American troops in danger and damage the war effort.

"It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort," Gen. Petraeus said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. "It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems. Not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."

Hundreds of Afghans attended a demonstration in Kabul on Monday to protest the plans of Florida pastor Terry Jones, who has said he will burn the Quran on Sept. 11.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

read the entire story here--> http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...753093116.html

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