Obama, Nancy Pelosi And Harry Reid Joining OFA Meeting

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By KEN THOMAS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is meeting Monday with his most loyal supporters to discuss ways to promote his agenda on issues like immigration reform and the economy as lawmakers prepare to return home for their annual summer break.

Obama was being joined by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California at a meeting of Organizing for Action, a super political action committee formed from the president's 2012 re-election campaign.

The meeting comes ahead of Congress' annual August recess, when many lawmakers return to their districts and hold town hall meetings with constituents. It was during the same period in 2009 that many tea party activists rallied against Obama's health care proposal, which the White House is now working to implement.

Democrats are trying to build momentum on issues like immigration reform, which cleared the Senate but faces an uncertain future in the House; expanded background checks for certain firearm purchases, which are stalled in Congress; and measures to curb climate change, which the president outlined last month.

Obama also plans a series of economic speeches beginning this week that will be aimed at building support ahead of upcoming budget deadlines this fall and the potential for another fight with Republicans over the nation's borrowing limit.

Organizing for Action, which is run by former White House and campaign aides, has tried to build public pressure on members of Congress to enact the president's second-term agenda. The group raised more than $8 million between April and June.

Attendees at an "Action August" summit were receiving an update from Reid and Pelosi at the meeting, along with news from Cecile Richards of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, which has been active in opposing sweeping new abortion restrictions in Texas.

Obama was scheduled to speak at the summit and then at a dinner for the organization later in the evening.

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Nancy Pelosi Booed, Heckled Over Edward Snowden, NSA Comments At Netroots Nation 2013

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SAN JOSE, Calif. -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) drew vocal backlash Saturday for her answers to questions about National Security Agency data surveillance and whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Speaking at a gathering of progressive activists at Netroots Nation, Pelosi weighed in on recent controversy over domestic spying, claiming it was unfair to label this President George W. Bush's "fourth term." She argued that Democrats had brought increased oversight to the NSA programs by giving Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Courts -- or FISA courts -- a role in the process.

As she spoke about the need to "balance" privacy and security, a man stood and yelled, "it's not a balance, it makes us less safe." The man continued to decry "secret courts," and staffers began to escort him from the room.

Pelosi said it was fine for him to stay, but the man was eventually ejected. On the way out, some members of the audience began to shout at the staffers to "leave him alone."

The conversation then shifted to Snowden, who on Friday was charged with espionage over his leaking of classified documents to media outlets.

Pelosi said that Snowden "did violate the law in terms of releasing those documents," a remark that elicited boos and yells throughout the ballroom. One man screamed, "You suck!"

Earlier this month, Pelosi said she thought Snowden should be prosecuted for his role in the leaks.

As the discussion continued Saturday, Pelosi faced an impromptu question from an attendee who said we shouldn't be outsourcing national security. The California Democrat said she agreed, drawing applause.

While Pelosi eventually won the crowd over, she faced a number of aggressive questions on issues such as immigration reform and drones as she departed the venue.

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