Romney's wooing of female vote hits early snag - The Washington Times

		Thursday, April 12, 2012 Today's Top Stories
Romney's wooing of female vote hits early snag With the general election campaign unofficially under way, Mitt Romney's effort to win back female voters got off to a rocky start Wednesday when his campaign was stumped temporarily over whether he supports the 3-year-old Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. After weeks of national protests, Zimmerman charged in Florida A Florida prosecutor charged George Zimmerman with second-degree murder Wednesday in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin after weeks of protests demanding his arrest. Capitals relish role as underdogs Phrases such as "generationally great" permeate the Washington Capitals' organization. Don't try to talk to owner Ted Leonsis or general manager George McPhee about the window to win a Stanley Cup shutting any time soon, even though this core of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Alexander Semin and Mike Green has yet to get beyond the second round of the playoffs. Prince William County freed from voting act's constraints Prince William County this week became the largest local jurisdiction in the nation to be released from the requirements of a historic federal law ensuring fair treatment for minorities at the polls. Excess McCain campaign cash goes to charity The dormant 2008 presidential apparatus of John McCain this year transferred nearly $9 million in old donations to an educational charity run by three major political supporters that bears the Arizona senator's name, filings showed Tuesday. Social conservatives looking for a reason to love Romney Social conservatives who backed Rick Santorum's presidential campaign said his supporters will get behind Mitt Romney, but warned that the presumptive Republican nominee still has a lot more to do if he wants those activists to man phone banks and knock on doors in the drive to win in November. Obama evokes Reagan in touting Buffett rule President Obama surrounded himself with wealthy taxpayers and invoked the name of Ronald Reagan Wednesday as he made another pitch for Congress to raise taxes on people with incomes of more than $1 million. U.S., U.N. urge Sudan, South Sudan to stop fighting The Obama administration and the United Nations on Wednesday urged the governments of Sudan and South Sudan to halt the fighting that has pushed the two nations to the brink of an all-out war. Apple fixed e-book prices, Feds report The Obama administration has stepped into a heated battle for supremacy in the digital book industry, accusing tech giant Apple of scheming with publishers to fix prices. Inside the Beltway: Newt Gingrich: 'Last conservative standing' Despite a hair-raising week, Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich now bills himself as "the last conservative standing," touting a crowded agenda that defies gleeful coverage claiming that he's out of money and low on voter favorability. Ex-military chiefs concerned about automatic spending cuts Retired military chiefs say they expect automatic budget cuts will force the Defense Department to reduce its spending by $500 billion over the next 10 years, in addition to the nearly $500 billion the Pentagon already has sliced from its budget. Special session surely ahead for Maryland legislators Ever since the Maryland General Assembly adjourned at midnight Monday without approving a set of tax and revenue increases, the question in political circles has been not if, but when, lawmakers will be called back to the State House to pass the legislation. North Korea seen playing up a crisis North Korea appears determined to launch a rocket this week, despite the prospect of losing nearly 250,000 tons of U.S. food aid, receiving new U.N. sanctions and embarrassing its only major ally, China. Calif. prison panel denies Manson's bid for parole A California prison panel has denied parole to mass murderer Charles Manson parole in his 12th bid for freedom. Syria says it will stop fighting by U.N. deadline Syria on Wednesday promised to stop fighting in time for Thursday's deadline for a cease-fire brokered by special envoy Kofi Annan but reserved the right to respond to any aggression, a hedge against any end in the fighting that has convulsed the nation for more than a year. Strong Indonesian earthquakes cause panic but not tsunami Two massive earthquakes triggered back-to-back tsunami warnings for Indonesia on Wednesday, sending panicked residents fleeing to high ground in cars and on the backs of motorcycles. No deadly waves or serious damage resulted, and a watch for much of the Indian Ocean was lifted after a few hours. Commentary MILLER: Have gun, will travel Law-abiding gun owners can run into serious trouble when on the move. Venturing into firearm-unfriendly states creates confusion about what individuals need to do to abide by a confusing maze of regulations. Congress should act to prevent honest citizens from winding up behind bars because police are misinformed. EDITORIAL: Obama's man crush on Reagan President Obama has developed a serious case of man love for Ronald Reagan. He just can't stop talking about him. As longtime friends of Dutch, we have to tell the president: He's just not that into you. DECKER: Romney's race to lose The Republican nomination and the presidency are now Mitt Romney's to lose. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum pulling out of the primary race on Tuesday removed the last major speed bump slowing down Mr. Romney's quest to be his party's standard-bearer. MCKINLEY AND FITTON: Bernanke's fairy tale recession story for kids It's an oldie but a goodie for our Federal Reserve chairman. In one of his recent lectures at George Washington University (GWU), Ben S. Bernanke made the self-congratulatory assertion that the "forceful policy response" led by the Federal Reserve in 2008 helped avoid a more serious economic downturn. MCCONCHIE AND HARNED: Obamacare abortion mandate withers The Department of Health and Human Services has set in motion the Obamacare abortion premium mandate, a provision that permits insurance plans that cover abortions to participate in state exchanges and requires all enrollees in those plans - even those with religious and moral objections to abortion - to pay a separate monthly premium to cover abortions. Other Recent Articles Petrino, mistress exchanged 100s of calls, texts Writer William Boyd to pen next 007 novel Marlins' Ozzie Guillen apologizes over Castro flap CDC: Nearly 1 in 4 babies born to unwed cohabitors Lucas empire strikes back in Calif. studio battle Scott, Wallace headline new Hall of Fame nominees Sony to cut 10,000 jobs, turn around TV business Experts sleuth out what killed Puget Sound orca Bears agree to 1-year extension with Briggs Workers building WCup stadium remain on strike Serena Williams on US Fed Cup team; Venus is not Love suffers mild concussion after blow to head 'Marley' to stream on Facebook while in theaters Australian Masters back at Kingston Heath Actor, pioneer of Mexican telenovela, dies at 78		Most Read Stories EDITORIAL: Obama's Brazilian model Romney's wooing of female vote hits early snag MCCONCHIE AND HARNED: Obamacare abortion mandate withers MCKINLEY AND FITTON: Bernanke's fairy tale recession story for kids Obama likely to find Americas summit less friendly EDITORIAL: Holder's Black Panther blind spot EDITORIAL: Obama's man crush on Reagan After weeks of national protests, Zimmerman charged in Florida CLANCY: Why Obamacare is doomed - all of it Inside China: Murder, Xi wrote Latest from WT Communities Independent Social Contributors A President for the People Energy and the environment: An inseparable pair A rational foreign policy solution for Afghanistan The Tygrrrr Express Ron Paul supporters and anti-Semitism Rick Santorum bows out of Presidential race After Hours at The Brew Lounge The roots of German Beer at Victory Brewing Company in Pennsylvania Kosher beer is perfect for more than just Passover Citizen Warrior Civilian couple honors children of fallen warriors; helps families heal Senator Schumer's petition to reunite Marine Corporal Leavey and Sgt. 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