Obama Political News FIX

LOOKING BACK AT TODAY.
President Obama signed two bills -- on defense-acquisition reform and credit card reform -- into law.

In addition, the president gave the commencement address at the U.S. Naval Academy's graduation ceremony, where he repeated his argument from yesterday on national security. "As Americans, we reject the false choice between our security and our ideals. We can and we must and we will protect both."

Also at the ceremony, Obama congratulated and embraced John McCain's son, John Sidney McCain IV, who became the fourth McCain to graduate from the Naval Academy. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/05/22/1941088.aspx

Subbing for conservative radio host Bill Bennett, RNC Chairman Michael Steele seemed to suggest that Barack Obama won the Democratic nomination and the presidential contest because he's black -- and because the media didn't vet him due to the color of his skin. "He was not vetted, because the press fell in love with the black man running for the office." http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/05/22/1941290.aspx

Conservatives praised Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) in what appears to be his victory in his budget standoff with the Dem-controlled legislature. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/05/22/1941342.aspx

In the cover story of the latest issue of National Journal, Ron Brownstein reported on the Republican Party's increasingly geographic isolation to the South -- and the potential political problem that poses for the party. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/05/22/1941005.aspx

Liberty University, the school in Virginia founded by the late Jerry Falwell, expelled the Democratic Party club on the campus, saying that the national Democratic Party's views contradict the university's mission. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/05/22/1941175.aspx

And don't miss First Read's Week Ahead. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/05/22/1941475.aspx
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