Barack Obama's America is in some ways "almost like looking" at Vladimir Putin's Russia, says the number two House of Representative Republican.

Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor Thursday told the Associated Press in an interview that the administration's actions in its efforts to rescue ailing American auto companies invite the similarities with the Russian Prime Minister.

"They said, 'Set aside the rule of law, let's strip secured creditors, bondholders, of their rights. Take them away outside of the bankruptcy process and give them to the political cronies and the auto workers' unions," Cantor said.

He added, "It's almost like looking at Putin's Russia. You want to reward your political friends at the expense of the certainty of law?"

Democrats were quick to fire back. "It's no wonder that recent polling shows that one-third of Republicans hold an unfavorable view of their own partym" said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

"Republicans should stop the name-calling, roll up their sleeves and start working with the president and congressional Democrats to turn the economy around," he said.

To read the AP story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090612/ap_on_go_co/us_cantor_obama

President Barack Obama will travel to Russia, Italy and Ghana this July, the White House announced Saturday.

From the White House release:

The President is scheduled to travel to Moscow, Russia, July 6 to 8 at the invitation of President Medvedev. The summit meeting will provide an opportunity for the United States and the Russian Federation to deepen engagement on reducing nuclear weapons, cooperating on non-proliferation, exploring ways to cooperate on missile defense, addressing mutual threats and security challenges, and expanding the ties between American and Russian society and business.

The President will then attend the G-8 Summit in L’Aquila, Italy, from July 8 to 10. The Summit and related meetings with world leaders from emerging and African economies will provide an opportunity for the United States to engage with its partners on a broad range of issues. The President will also chair a meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate while at L’Aquila.

The President and Mrs. Obama will visit Accra, Ghana, from July 10 to 11. While in Ghana, the President will discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues with Ghanaian President Mills. The President and Mrs. Obama look forward to strengthening the U.S. relationship with one of our most trusted partners in sub-Saharan Africa, and to highlighting the critical role that sound governance and civil society play in promoting lasting development.

President Barack Obama said today he’s accepted an invitation from Russian President Medvedev to visit

Moscow in July. He announced the trip after meeting with Medvedev in London.  

After a meeting in London, President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev issues the following statement:

"Regarding Negotiations on Further Reductions in Strategic Offensive Arms
The President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, and the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitriy A. Medvedev, noted that the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START Treaty), which expires in December 2009, has completely fulfilled its intended purpose and that the maximum levels for strategic offensive arms recorded in the Treaty were reached long ago. They have therefore decided to move further along the path of reducing and limiting strategic offensive arms in accordance with U.S. and Russian obligations under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
The Presidents decided to begin bilateral intergovernmental negotiations to work out a new, comprehensive, legally binding agreement on reducing and limiting strategic offensive arms to replace the START Treaty. The United States and the Russian Federation intend to conclude this agreement before the Treaty expires in December. In this connection, they instructed their delegations at the negotiations to proceed on basis of the following:
- The subject of the new agreement will be the reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms;
- In the future agreement the Parties will seek to record levels of reductions in strategic offensive arms that will be lower than those in the 2002 Moscow Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions, which is currently in effect;
- The new agreement will mutually enhance the security of the Parties and predictability and stability in strategic offensive forces, and will include effective verification measures drawn from the experience of the Parties in implementing the START Treaty."