Operation Reach B.L.A.C.K.

President Obama's Weekly Address (1/28/12)

2012-01-28T13:39:00.000-05:00

President Obama talks economic blueprint and D.C. obstruction

Reclaiming the major theme from his State of the Union Address on Tuesday, President Obama discussed his "blueprint for an economy built to last." The President mentioned his multi-state tour across the country in which he talked to citizens about his plans - proposals, which President Obama says have received a majority support. However, a concern people have, President Obama said, is inaction in Washington, D.C.:

"This week, I took that blueprint across the country, and what I saw was people who work hard and believe in each other. They believe in the America that's within our reach. But they're not sure that the right thing will get done in Washington this year, or next year, or the year after that. And frankly, when you look at some of the things that go on in this town, who could blame them for being a little cynical?"

Keeping in line with the topic of political inaction, President Obama made reference to one senator's boycott effort in response to newly-appointed head of the consumer watchdog agency, Richard Cordray, as an example of D.C. obstruction:

"Just two days ago, a senator promised to obstruct every single American I appoint to a judgeship or a public service position -- unless I fire the consumer watchdog I put in place to protect the American people from financial schemes or malpractice.

For the most part, it's not that this senator thinks these nominees are unqualified. In fact, all of the judicial nominees being blocked have bipartisan support. And almost 90% have unanimous support from the Judiciary Committee.

Instead, one of the senator's aides told reporters that the senator plans to, and I'm quoting here, 'delay and slow the process in order to get the President's attention.'

Well, this isn't about me. We weren't sent here to wage perpetual political campaigns against each other. We were sent here to serve the American people. And they deserve better than gridlock and games. One senator gumming up the whole works for the entire country is certainly not what our founding fathers envisioned.

The truth is, neither party has been blameless in tactics like these. But it's time for both parties to put an end to them."

Lack of cooperation from Congress remains an important topic for the President who offered the following steps to address, not only the issue of obstruction, but also outside influences:

"I'm asking Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, to stop this kind of behavior by passing a rule that allows all judicial and public service nominations a simple up-or-down vote within 90 days.

We should also stem the corrosive influence of money in politics. The House and Senate should send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress, and I will sign it immediately. They should limit any elected official from owning stocks in industries they impact. And they should make sure people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress can't lobby Congress, and vice versa."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (1/21/12)

2012-01-21T07:18:00.002-05:00

Strengthening the tourist industry and taking steps where Congress has dragged its feet

The focus of President Obama's Weekly Address began with a discussion of the tourist industry, attracting visitors from around the world to America's highlight destinations. Earlier this week, the President made a stop at none other than Disney World (above) to promote his plan to bring more visitors to the United States. In his weekly address, President Obama outlined the steps he'll take to increase tourism:

"Frequent travelers who pass an extensive background check will be able to scan their passports and fingerprints and skip the long lines at immigration at more airports. We're going to expand the number of countries where visitors can get pre-cleared by Homeland Security so they don't need a tourist visa. And we're going to speed up visa processing for countries with growing middle classes that can afford to visit America -- countries like China and Brazil."

President Obama categorized his attempts to attract tourism alongside a list of other decisions he has made in recent months to help stimulate the economy - steps that the President characterizes as being made despite Congress dragging its feet:

"Too often over the last few months, we've seen Congress drag its feet and refuse to take steps we know will help strengthen our economy. That's why this is the latest in a series of actions I've taken on my own to help our economy keep growing, creating jobs, and restoring security for middle-class families.

In September, we decided to stop waiting for Congress to fix No Child Left Behind and give states the flexibility they need to help our kids meet higher standards. We made sure that small businesses that have contracts with the federal government can get paid faster so they can start hiring more people. We made it easier for veterans to get jobs and put their skills to work. We took steps to help families whose home values have fallen to refinance their mortgages and save up to thousands of dollars a year. We sped up the loan process for companies that want to rebuild our roads and bridges -- putting construction workers back on the job. And I appointed Richard Cordray to be America's consumer watchdog and protect working Americans from the worst abuses of the financial industry."

Citing the need to do even more, President Obama turned his attention towards Tuesday's State of the Union Address, saying he will lay out his blueprint where everyone can help rebuild the economy.

"On Tuesday evening, I'll deliver my State of the Union Address, where I'll lay out my blueprint for actions we need to take together -- not just me or Congress, but every American -- to rebuild an economy where hard work and responsibility are rewarded. An economy that's built to last."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (1/14/12)

2012-01-14T09:35:00.003-05:00

"Insourcing" jobs here at home

President Obama dedicated this week's address to "insourcing" jobs here at home. Following a forum on the subject this past week, the President laid out his plan:

"This week, I invited executives from businesses that are insourcing jobs to a forum at the White House. These are CEOs who take pride in hiring people here in America, not just because it's increasingly the right thing to do for their bottom line, but also because it's the right thing to do for their workers and for our communities and for our country.

I told those CEOs what I'll tell any business leader: ask yourself what you can do to bring more jobs back to the country that made your success possible. And I'll make sure that you've got a government that does everything in its power to help you succeed.

That's why, in the next few weeks, I will put forward new tax proposals that reward companies that choose to do the right thing by bringing jobs home and investing in America -- and will eliminate tax breaks for companies that move jobs overseas."

Here is the video from this week's forum:

The President also discussed his plans to streamline government services - a plan President Obama feels will help small businesses:

"These changes will make it easier for small business owners to get the loans and support they need to sell their products around the world. For example, instead of forcing small business owners to navigate the six departments and agencies in the federal that focus on business and trade, we'll have one department. One place where entrepreneurs can go from the day they come up an idea and need a patent, to the day they start building a warehouse, to the day they're ready to ship their products overseas.

And in the meantime, we're creating a new website -- BusinessUSA -- that will serve as a one-stop shop with information for businesses small and large that want to start selling their stuff around the world."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (1/7/12)

2012-01-07T08:07:00.000-05:00

Welcomed jobs numbers welcome in the new year

On the heels of positive economic news for the nation's jobs numbers, President Obama used this week's address to highlight some of the gains that have been made:

"We just learned that our economy added 212,000 private sector jobs in December. After losing more than 8 million jobs in the recession, we've added more than 3 million private sector jobs over the past 22 months. And we're starting 2012 with manufacturing on the rise and the American auto industry on the mend."

Yet, President Obama also noted that the work is not over, announcing an upcoming forum named "Insourcing American Jobs" dedicated to "bringing jobs back home."

The President also mentioned recently appointed consumer watchdog, Richard Cordray:

"Richard's job is simple: to look out for you. Every day, his sole mission is to protect consumers from potential abuses by the financial industry and to make sure that you've got all the transparent information you need to make the important financial decisions in your lives.

I nominated Richard for this job last summer. And yet, Republicans in the Senate kept blocking his confirmation -- not because they objected to him, but because they wanted to weaken his agency. That made no sense. Every day we waited was a day you and consumers all across the country were at greater financial risk."

To close out his weekly address, President Obama delivered his New Year's Resolution:

"So this year, I'm going to keep doing whatever it takes to move this economy forward and to make sure that middle class families regain the security they've lost over the past decade. That's my New Year's resolutin to all of you."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (12/31/11)

2011-12-31T06:50:00.002-05:00

Looking back on 2011 and ahead to 2012

Wishing a happy New Year, President Obama used this week's address to both look back at the year gone by, and look forward to 2012. Recapping some of the year's bigger moments, the President made references to the end of the Iraq War, efforts made in foreign events such as natural disasters and protests in the Middle East, the death of Osama bin Laden, and hope for better economic times ahead that saw improving jobs numbers as the year came to a close:

"The last year has been a time of great challenge and great progress for our country. We ended one war and began to wind down another. We dealt a crippling blow to al Qaeda and made America more secure. We stood by our friends and allies around the world through natural disasters and revolutions. And we began to see signs of economic recovery here at home, even as too many Americans are still struggling to get ahead.

There's no doubt that 2012 will bring even more change. And as we head into the new Year, I'm hopeful that we have what it takes to face that change and come out even stronger to grow our economy, create more jobs, and strengthen the middle class."

Looking towards the future, President Obama encouraged the idea of civic engagement in 2012, praising recent efforts to pressure Congress:

"I'm hopeful because of what we saw right before Christmas, when Members of Congress came together to prevent a tax hike for 160 million Americans -- saving a typical family about $40 in every paycheck. They also made sure Americans looking for work won't see their unemployment insurance cut off. And I expect Congress to finish the job by extending these provisions throght the end of 2012.

It was good to see members of Congress do the right thing for millions of working Americans. But it was only possible because you added your voices to the debate. Through email and Twitter and over the phone, you let your representatives know what was at stake. Your lives. Your families. Your well-being. You had the courage to believe that your voices could make a difference. And at the end of the day, they made all the difference.

So more than anything else, you are the ones who make me hopeful about 2012."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (12/24/11)

2011-12-24T06:30:00.000-05:00

Our President and First Lady of the United States give a holiday greeting and show appreciation for the troops and their families

President Obama's Weekly Address (12/17/11)

2011-12-17T07:37:00.002-05:00

The end of the Iraq war and rebuilding at home

In this week's address, President Obama discussed U.S. troops leaving Iraq:

"On Thursday, the colors our Armed Forces fought under in Iraq were formally cased in a ceremony in Baghdad before beginning their journey back home. Our troops are now preparing to make their final march across the border and out of the country. Iraq's future will be in the hands of its own people. Our war there will be over."

The President also talked about the opportunity to rebuild at home:

"After years of rebuilding Iraq, it's time to enlist our veterans and all our people in the work of rebuilding America.

Folks like my grandfather came back from World War II to form the backbone of the largest middle class in history. And today's generation of veterans -- the 9/11 Generation of veterans -- is armed with the skills, discipline, and leadership to attack the defining challenge of our time: rebuilding an economy where hard work pays off, responsibility is rewarded, and anyone can make it if they try."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (12/10/11)

2011-12-10T07:51:00.000-05:00

President Obama talks fairness and consumer protection

The President discussed issues of fairness and consumer protection this week, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which recently saw former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray's nomination to head the watchdog agency blocked by Congress. Aiming criticism at Republicans, the President championed the Consumer Protection Agency as a means to achieve fairness for people who are vulnerable to unfair practices:

"Do Republicans in Congress think our financial crisis was caused by too much oversight of mortgage lenders or debt collectors? Of course not. And every day America has to wait for a new consumer protection watchdog is another day that dishonest businesses can target and take advantage of students, seniors, and service members.

So I refuse to take 'no' for an answer. Financial institutions have plenty of high-powered lawyers and lobbyists looking out for them. It's time consumers had someone on their side."

President Obama also reiterated his push for Congress to extend the payroll tax. As for a holiday message to lawmakers in Washington? The President had one simple request - Don't be a Grinch:

"Congress cannot end the year by taking money out of the pockets of working Americans. Now is not the time for playing politics. Now is the time to do what's right for the American people.

No one should go home for the holidays until we get this done. So tell your Members of Congress, don't be a Grinch. Tell them to do the right thing for you and for our economy."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (12/3/11)

2011-12-03T08:35:00.002-05:00

President Obama talks jobs numbers and the payroll tax

In this week's address President Obama welcomed news that saw the creation of 140,000 private sector jobs in November and a drop in the unemployment rate to 8.6%. Citing now as a time to "step on the gas, not slam on the breaks," to create jobs and grow the economy, President Obama focused attention on Republicans who have voted "No" on a host of his jobs proposals. Included in his criticism of Republican lawmakers was the issue of the payroll tax cut and how its expiration could adversely impact middle class families.

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (11/24/11): Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T08:15:00.000-05:00

The President of the United States expresses appreciation for our men and women in uniform and offers a message of unity on Thanksgiving:

President Obama's Weekly Address (11/19/11)

2011-11-19T05:54:00.002-05:00

This week, President Obama discussed his trip to the Asian Pacific and trade deals he hopes will open new markets and increase U.S. exports. The President expects that these deals could support as many as 130,000 U.S. jobs and have the potential to increase U.S. exports by up to $39 billion:

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (11/12/11)

2011-11-12T08:58:00.002-05:00

"...As well as they've served us"

President Obama dedicated this week's address to discussing the importance of thanking our veterans. But, more than showing gratitude, the President stressed the need to create an environment that serves our men and women in the armed forces as well as they've served us.

With troops scheduled to come home from Iraq, President Obama focused on the challenges that lay ahead, and the need to strengthen support for those who have sacrificed on behalf of the country:

"Today, more than 850,000 veterans remain unemployed. And too many are struggling to find a job worthy of their talents and their experience.

That's not right. We ask these men and women to leave their families and their jobs and risk their lives to fight for our country. The last thing they should have to do is fight for a job when they get home.

To give our veterans the opportunities they've earned, I've directed the federal government to lead by example - and already, we've hired 120,000 veterans. We've also challenged private companies to hire or train 100,000 post-9/11 veterans or their spouses by the end of 2013. So far, many patriotic companies have answered the call, hiring more than 16,000 Americans. And yesterday, thanks to the hard work of Michelle and Dr. Jill Biden, companies announced their commitment to train or hire 125,000 more over the next two years."

Citing the need to do more, President Obama returned to the topic of his American Jobs Act, expressing gratitude that Congress passed two portions of his bill that are focused on the nation's men and women in uniform:

"That's why, as part of the American Jobs Act, I called on Congress to pass a Returning Heroes Tax Credit, which would give businesses a tax break for each unemployed veteran they hire; and a Wounded Warriors Tax Credit, which would give businesses a tax break for hiring an unemployed veteran with a disability related to their service in uniform.

These proposals will go a long way towards putting our veterans back to work. And on Thursday, I was pleased to see the Senate put partisanship aside and came together to pass these tax credits."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

Weekly Address (Vice President Biden)

2011-11-05T09:35:00.000-04:00

Vice President Biden fills in for this week's address

Vice President Biden stepped in for President Obama to deliver this week's address. In addition to highlighting presidential executive orders on student loans and home refinancing, Vice President Biden also discussed the need to act now on jobs, continuing to pressure Republican lawmakers who have voted against the President's jobs proposals in recent weeks:

"The President and I believe we have to act now. That's why we've introduced the jobs bill which independent validators said would create 2 million new jobs.

Although 51 senators voted for that jobs bill, our Republican colleagues in the Senate used a procedural requirement that requires it to have 60 votes, so it failed.

And since then we've taken every important piece of the jobs bill and demanded that we have a separate vote. But our Republican colleagues in the Senate have voted unanimously to vote down each and every part so far: to restore 400,000 jobs for teachers, police officers, firefighters, putting them back in classrooms, on the streets and in the fire houses.

And then on Thursday, they unanimously voted down the second part of our program: to rebuild our crumbling roads and bridges, which would have created more than 400,000 good paying jobs."

Vice President Biden's address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (10/29/11)

2011-10-29T08:58:00.003-04:00

On jobs and economy, President Obama says he'll act where Congress has failed

In this week's address, President Obama listed steps Congress could take right now - steps the President argues will improve the economy:

"Right now, Congress can pass a set of common-sense jobs proposals that independent economists tell us will boost the economy right away. Proposals that will put more teachers, veterans, construction workers and first responders back on the job. Proposals that will cut taxes for virtually every middle class family and small business in America."

The President also continued a theme pressuring a Congress with extremely low approval ratings, and argued that he will act where Congress has failed:

"The truth is, we can no longer wait for Congress to do its job. The middle-class families who have been struggling for years are tired of waiting. They need help now. So where Congress won't act, I will."

Speaking of actions he's taking, President Obama laid out the following:

"This week, we announced a new policy that will help families whose home values have fallen to refinance their mortgages and save thousands of dollars. We're making it easier for veterans to get jobs putting their skills to work in hospitals and community health centers. We reformed the student loan process so more young people can get out of debt faster. And we're going to keep announcing more changes like these on a regular basis."

Still, President Obama reminded everyone that these moves are not a replacement for what should be Congressional action on behalf of the American people. President Obama concluded his message by, once again, urging the people to "make their voices heard" and contact their representatives to demand action on jobs.

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (10/22/11)

2011-10-22T09:11:00.001-04:00

Bringing our troops home, turning the page, and moving forward

Capping a historic week in foreign policy, President Obama turned to the American people in his weekly address to discuss the impact of Moammar Qadhafi's death and the impending end to the Iraq War by the end of this year:

"I was proud to announce that -- as promised -- the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of this year. And in Libya, the death of Moammar Qadhafi showed that our role in protecting the Libyan people, and helping them break free from a tyrant, was the right thing to do."

Recalling a theme from his 2008 presidential campaign, President Obama argued that the ability to draw down troops from Iraq allowed the nation to better focus its efforts on Afghanistan:

"These successes are part of a larger story. After a decade of war, we're turning the page and moving forward, with strength and with confidence. The drawdown in Iraq allowed us to refocus on Afghanistan and achieve major victories against al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. As we remove the last of our troops from Iraq, we're beginning to bring our troops home from Afghanistan.

To put this in perspective, when I took office, roughly 180,000 troops were deployed in these wars. By the end of this year that number will be cut in half, and an increasing number of our troops will continue come home."

President Obama did not forget about the issues facing Americans at home either. He concluded his weekly address with a discussion on jobs and the need for Congress to pass his American Jobs Act:

"Now the nation we need to build is our own. We have to tackle this challenge with the same urgency and the same unity that our troops brought to their fight. That's why we have to do everything in our power to get our economy moving again. That's why I'm calling on Congress to pass the American Jobs Act, so we can rebuild our country -- our schools, our roads, our bridges -- and put our veterans, construction workers, teachers, cops and firefighters back to work."

President Obama's weekly address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (10/15/11)

2011-10-15T06:04:00.001-04:00

President Obama praises trade agreements, keeps pressing Congress on jobs

Days after the Senate blocked his American Jobs Act, President Obama made it clear that he has not given up the fight. Though pleased with support of recent trade agreements, the President quickly pivoted to the pressing matter of job creation in the United States. Targeting his message directly at Congressional Republicans, President Obama expressed his disappointment:

"Independent economists say that this jobs bill would give the economy a jumpstart and lead to nearly two million new jobs. Every idea in the jobs bill is the kind of idea both parties have supported in the past.

The majority of the American people support the proposals in this jobs bill. And they want action from their elected leaders to create jobs and restore some security for the middle class right now. You deserve to see your hard work and responsibility rewarded -- and you certainly deserve to see it reflected in the folks you send to Washington."

President Obama continued the push, announcing plans to make House Republicans vote on specifics of the bill, and face questions from their constituents if they vote against them:

"Next week, I'm urging Members of Congress to vote on putting hundreds of thousands of teachers back in the classroom, cops back on the streets, and firefighters back on the job.

And if they vote "no" on that, they'll have to tell you why. They'll have to tell you why teachers in your community don't deserve a paycheck again. They'll have to tell your kids why they don't deserve to have their teacher back. They'll have to tell you why they're against commonsense proposals that would help families and strengthen our communities right now and in the long term.

In the coming weeks, we'll have them vote on the other parts of the jobs bill -- putting construction workers back on the job rebuilding our roads and bridges; providing tax cuts for small businesses that hire our veterans; making sure that middle-class families don't see a tax hike next year and that the unemployed and our out-of-work youth have a chance to get back in the workforce and earn their piece of the American Dream."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (10/8/11)

2011-10-08T08:52:00.002-04:00

President Obama asks the people to tell Senate to pass the American Jobs Act

With word coming that the Senate plans to vote on his jobs bill next week, President Obama gave one more pitch to garner support for the American Jobs Act in his weekly address. Reminding everyone of the bill's bipartisan appeal, President Obama once again challenged any Senator who would withhold support to explain to constituents their reasons for voting against the American Jobs Act. President Obama also urged that Americans call their senators to let their voices be heard and tell them to pass this bill:

"There are too many people hurting in this country for us to simply do nothing. The economy is too fragile for us to let politics get in the way of action. The people who represent you in Washington have a responsibility to do what is best for you -- not what's best for their party or what's going to help them win an election that's more than a year away. So I need you to keep making your voices heard in Washington. I need you to remind these folks who they work for. And I need you to tell your senators to do the right thing by passing this jobs bill right away."

President Obama's weekly address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (10/1/11)

2011-10-01T08:03:00.000-04:00

President to Congress: Get your act together and pass this jobs bill

In his weekly address the President continued to pressure Congress to pass the American Jobs Act. Quite bluntly, President Obama addressed inaction by leaders in Washington saying, "It's time for Congress to get its act together and to pass this jobs bill so I can sign it into law."

The address focused its attention on Republican inaction in Congress, challenging Republican legislators to articulate how they could possibly be against a bill that, the President argues, will help so many people:

"Are they against putting teachers and police officers and firefighters back on the job? Are they against hiring construction workers to rebuild our roads and bridges and schools? Are they against giving tax cuts to virtually every worker and small business in America?

Economists from across the political spectrum have said that this jobs bill would boost the economy and spur hiring. Why would you be against that? Especially at a time when so many Americans are struggling and out of work."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

CBC's petty politics and the need to "Press On"

2011-09-28T19:09:00.008-04:00

It seemed as though the former head of the Congressional Black Caucus, Representative Maxine Waters, rushed to the nearest television camera she could find. What was so important? Apparently, Ms. Waters was concerned about the use of "curious" language.

Of course, the story does not end there - though, perhaps Ms. Waters and the CBC could have saved face if it did. For at least then it would have been possible for the casual viewer to mistake Ms. Waters' campaign against "curious" language as a pushback against something a little more important than bedroom slippers - yes . . . bedroom slippers. The slippers discussion was made during an MSNBC interview (here), but you can see the video of Representative Waters' CBS interview, here.

If Ms. Waters ended her thought at some nebulous precaution against "curious" language, perhaps a person watching his or her morning news program would have assumed she was speaking out against the "curious" words of the Republican presidential candidates. A viewer might have thought she was speaking of a GOP hopeful who seems comfortable with letting a man die for lack of health insurance, or even the "curious" behavior of a partisan GOP debate crowd that cheers executions and boos a member of our armed forces who happens to be gay.

Unfortunately for Ms. Waters and the CBC, there's a long list of worthier topics to be concerned with before even beginning to think about the how the President chose to deliver his address last Saturday. If Ms. Waters' penchant for finding the microphone resulted in more talk about the American Jobs Act and less scrutiny over every syllable of President Obama's speech, maybe her recent television campaign would not have proven so petty.

But make no mistake about it, this contrived debate over bedroom slippers and the President's alleged tone at a CBC event is just that . . . petty.

To be honest, this is not surprising. After all, it was Ms. Waters who pleaded that she and the CBC be "unleashed" to confront President Obama on matters so near and dear to the Black community. Well, at least that's been the CBC talking point for the past month.

Yet, when you listen closely, you'll hear a noticeably passive aggressive subtext to the words of some in the CBC - a subtext, which leads many to question the reasons behind the very odd response to President Obama's speech. Even more, the media stepped in to misrepresent the President's words. Suddenly a pep rally urging CBC support, morphed into an all out attack on the Black community.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The good part about that video - an admirable job by Rachel Maddow to push back against the media narrative. The unfortunate part about that video - the CBC's defensive posture. Representative Barbara Lee showed some support for the President and his policies. However, it seemed that the main purpose for her appearance was to conduct a bit of CBC damage control.

Typical of beltway culture, the CBC's focus on the President's tone or "curious" language does little more than provide an excuse (however temporary) for inaction. Sure, President Obama did everything the CBC asked him to do. He gave a fiery speech recognizing the plight of Black America in a down economy. He pledged his commitment to fight on their behalf. He promoted the jobs bill that the CBC and Democrats asked him to create (forget the fact that it's not the President's job to create legislation).

He did it all. But for not.

The President's crime? He had the audacity to talk about bedroom slippers. He had the gall to ask a room full of legislators to stop complaining and work with him to make the change they claim they want to see.

And it is important to not let critics put words in the President's mouth. The President never said the CBC is lazy or a do-nothing branch of Congress. In fact, during that same speech, President Obama praised the work of members in the room. He recognized the sacrifices of those who worked during the civil rights movement. Far from disrespectful, the President's appeal was simply a request that some in the room remember to focus their energy in a more productive manner. But, apparently even that was too much for the CBC to handle. Oh, the irony, when asked to stop complaining, the CBC stood tall and marched right to the media to . . . complain.

If the CBC had chosen to be adults about the situation, it could have used the President's speech as momentum to accomplish the goals it cares about. The CBC could have said, "Hot damn! Fired up and ready to go! Let's do this." It could have taken the soundbites of President Obama listing the benefits of the American Jobs Act and found every possible television camera and microphone on cable, Internet, and radio news to push the jobs bill.

And what if the CBC did not agree with the President's plan? Can anyone honestly argue that Ms. Waters' criticism was policy based? Seriously? Bedroom slippers? And what of the President's tone - this subjective belief by some that the President holds his own people in contempt? What is the policy criticism behind that? Is the CBC willing to go all Kanye and suggest that President Obama doesn't care about Black people? Probably not. Why? Because such an outlandish claim would expose this whole "debate" for how childish it truly is.

Let's be clear, the CBC is vulnerable to charges that it helped sustain this media narrative. A foolish headline claiming "Obama tells blacks to stop complaining" would not have any legs if the CBC had not gone along for the ride.

This petty politics allowed the CBC to work a strawman argument against the President. It constructed an alternate universe where the big, bad President started picking on the poor, innocent CBC. And in its defense against something the President did not say, the CBC helped push the unfounded idea that the President was a bully.

Ms. Waters claimed that she could not imagine President Obama speaking to any other interest group (e.g., Gays, Hispanics, Jewish, etc.) the way he spoke to the CBC. It's a claim that lacks merit because those very groups - Gay rights activists, the Hispanic and Jewish communities - have themselves had moments where they expressed offense at something the President did or did not say (this is not to discuss of the credibility of such claims from those communities, but to acknowledge that such criticisms do exist).

This implication by some in the CBC and the media that President Obama is scared to offend other groups, but takes liberty to disrespect the Black community is itself offensive. And such claims of a target on the CBC and racial exclusivity ring hollow considering that the Left is still sore with allegations of disrespect following Robert Gibbs' "Professional Left" remark and Wall Street types expressed displeasure when the President referred to bankers as "fat-cats" (side note - I don't have a problem with either of these characterizations).

Both instances involve communities that are heavily (although not exclusively) White and middle to upper-middle class (or even wealthy). The President is not singling out the CBC any more than he has singled out the handwringing Left. And he has not addressed the CBC as part of the problem whereas he rightfully argued and continues to argue that Wall Street needs to do more to create jobs and the wealthy need to pay a fairer share in the tax code.

Now, this is not to argue whether or not the President could or should have been tougher on one group or the other. However, it is to say that many groups have a habit of overreacting to very reasonable statements from this President. Many groups seize upon opportunities to distort this President's words to either gain political advantages or simply change the subject. It's a practice in hyperbole that often pays off in our 24-hour news cycle. Bottom line: Everyone takes their turn claiming the President has wronged them or thrown them under the bus. It is simply the cycle of petty politics. The CBC is not unique.

And those who swear that he is not tough on Republicans must have forgotten the fact that President Obama took on an entire hall full of House GOP members a couple of years back to defend health care reform. Yes, in case you forgot, it was one Democratic President against what was at the time roughly 175 Republican lawmakers . . . by himself . . . literally on GOP turf. Seems clear that the facts prove the conventional beltway wisdom wrong. President Obama is not afraid of confrontation. He just doesn't revel in it as a substitute for action.

And that's where we are at right now. It's the deadly cycle of petty politics that too often grips the Black community and stifles forward progress. But let's be clear, this type of politics has nothing to do with the President. On the contrary, President Obama is currently campaigning all over the country to garner support for the American Jobs Act. The President is putting his money where his mouth is. And while the CBC prides itself on several jobs fairs it has hosted in the past month, don't expect much acknowledgment of the fact that the President and White House have also hosted countless national dialogues on jobs and the economy during his time in office, including a recent forum with Black media, town-hall events, and numerous stops throughout the country to push an actual piece of legislation that he created (even though, once again, it's not his job to write legislation).

Funny thing, unlike some in the CBC, President Obama has not used his push for jobs as a plea to be "unleashed" on anybody.

The CBC could have been mature enough to realize that, in all likelihood, the President was not calling the entire Caucus a bunch of complainers. Merely, the CBC could have shown enough humility to acknowledge the fact that there were most certainly some in that room that needed a little kick in the pants - some who have used the majority of their precious air time to complain about what the President has or has not done rather than explain (or even offer) their own solutions to the problem with the votes to pass Congress. Perhaps, in a better world, the CBC could have stopped for one moment to recognize that issue spotting, while important, is NOT a substitute for policy.

But, this is the real world where the media substitutes petty politics for actual policy on a daily basis. What petty politics, you ask? The petty politics that, when given the chance to comment on the President's invitation to "press on," instead chooses to talk about bedroom slippers.

It would be funny if were not so sad. However, there has been a concerted push to distort a CBC address by the President into an attack on Black America. Do not fall for it.

So here is a bit of advice for the CBC. Be mindful of who speaks on your behalf and how that message is received. When your response to a motivational speech is to obsess over tone and slippers, you come off as being more concerned with simply having your chance to bash the President than actually working with him to get things done. My guess is you have members that are not being heard. My guess is you have members that are more than willing to "press on." It is time we start hearing from them.

My advice for the rest of us? The next time you see a member of the Congressional Black Caucus talk about bedroom slippers, change the channel.

President Obama's Weekly Address (9/24/11)

2011-09-24T06:34:00.001-04:00

With economy in mind, President announces changes to No Child Left Behind

In his weekly address, President Obama tied the need for education reform to his ongoing push for jobs through the American Jobs Act. Beyond hoping to add tens of thousands of teachers to the classrooms through the jobs bill, the President argued that education is an important factor to building a strong economy moving forward:

"Education is an essential part of this economic agenda. It is an undeniable fact that countries who out-educate us today will out-compete us tomorrow. Businesses will hire wherever the highly-skilled and highly trained workers are located."

With this in mind, President Obama quickly transitioned to the topic of education reform, noting the shortcomings he's seen in No Child Left Behind:

"While the goals behind No Child Left Behind were admirable, experience has taught us that the law has some serious flaws that are hurting our children instead of helping them. Teachers are being forced to teach to the test, while subjects like history and science are being squeezed out. And in order to avoid having their schools labeled as failures, some states lowered their standards in a race to the bottom."

Citing failure of Congressional action, the President put forth actions he is taking to reform the educational system - a move that the President says will give more flexibility.

President Obama's Weekly Address:

Read it for yourself: Full text of the American Jobs Act

2011-09-17T14:34:00.000-04:00

American Jobs Act

View more documents from White House

President Obama's Weekly Address (9/17/11)

2011-09-17T06:38:00.000-04:00

President Obama calls on Congress to pass the American Jobs Act

The President used his weekly address to further promote his jobs bill, The American Jobs Act. Calling on Congressional leaders to put country before party and pass this bill, the President gave an outline of what the American Jobs Act entails:

"It's a jobs bill that does two simple things: put more people back to work, and more money back in the pockets of people who are working.

This jobs bill puts construction workers back to work rebuilding our roads and bridges and modernizing our schools.

This jobs bill puts teachers back in the classroom, and keeps cops and firefighters on our streets.

This jobs bill gives tax credits to companies that hire our veterans, because if you sign up to fight for our country, the last thing you should have to do is fight for a job when you come home.

This jobs bill connects the long-term unemployed to temporary work to keep their skills sharp while they look for a job, and it gives hundreds of thousands of young people the hope of a job next summer.

This jobs bill cuts taxes for every small business owner in America. It cuts them even more for small business owners that hire new workers and raise workers' salaries. And it cuts taxes for every working family in America so that you'll have more money in your pockets, and businesses know they'll have more customers to buy what they sell."

You can read the American Jobs Act at the White House website, here.

President Obama's Weekly Address:

A moment for Pac . . . "More than just a rap musician"

2011-09-13T20:39:00.001-04:00

"My mission is to be more than just a rap musician - the elevation of today's generation if I can make 'em listen." - Tupac Shakur, Unconditional Love

A powerful line from one of my favorite 2Pac songs . . .

Every generation has its fair share of moments - moments in popular culture that shock the system, causing our once youthful sense of invincibility to begin to fade. Speaking for myself, I can look back and say that the death of Tupac Shakur was definitely one of those moments.

The shock of September 13, 1996 still lingers to this day.

For all of his talents and shortcomings. . . for all of his contradictions and lyrical brilliance . . . Tupac Shakur was most definitely "more than just a rap musician."

RIP 2Pac. Damn, I can't believe it's been 15 years . . .

The case of Troy Davis. Is the state of Georgia about to execute an innocent man?

2011-09-12T20:54:00.001-04:00

On his show Politics Nation, MSNBC's Al Sharpton discussed the Troy Davis case and concerns raised in a case that some feel will result in the death of an innocent man. Mr. Davis was convicted for the 1989 killing of police officer Mark Allen MacPhail. As the following clip demonstrates, questions and doubts surrounding the credibility of witness testimony has led some to believe that executing Mr. Davis would be a tragic injustice.

Rev. Al Sharpton sat down with former Georgia Republican Congressman Bob Barr to discuss the situation. Ironically, Barr, a man who supports the death penalty, nevertheless lends his voice to those who fear Georgia may be preparing to execute an innocent man. Troy Davis is scheduled to be executed on September 21st.

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What are your thoughts?

President Obama's Weekly Address (9/10/11)

2011-09-10T06:42:00.000-04:00

Reflecting on September 11th, President Obama praises American resilience

Nearing the tenth anniversary of September 11, President Obama listed the steps that are being taken to keep Americans safe and praised the resilience of America in his weakly address. The President also took time to remember the ordinary men and women who gave their lives to help others that day, and recognized the new generation of young men and women who have stepped up to keep America safe:

"Ten years ago, ordinary Americans showed us the true meaning of courage when they rushed up those stairwells, into those flames, into that cockpit. In the decade since, a new generation has stepped forward to serve and keep us safe. In their memory, in their name, we will never waver. We will protect the country we love and pass it safer, stronger and more prosperous to the next generation."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

In jobs speech, President Obama puts the people first

2011-09-09T13:38:00.004-04:00

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

The contrasts could not have been clearer. A day after eight GOP presidential hopefuls took the stage in Wednesday's Republican debate, President Obama had his turn to address the American people. Long story short, the President delivered twice the leadership of his GOP rivals in half the time. And in doing so, perhaps the President reminded America of what sets him apart from most others in Washington. In a world of political calculations and gamesmanship, the President still puts the people first.

While the GOP spent Wednesday night rehashing its talking points and constructing an alternate universe for a partisan crowd at the Reagan Presidential Library, President Obama spoke to America - Democrats, Republicans, and Independents - in the self-proclaimed "People's House" of Congress. It is a move that does not get enough credit in today's cynical political environment. This was not a "play it safe" kind of moment. Unlike those eight Republicans, the President did not speak in front of a friendly audience. Quite the contrary, speaking in the House of Representatives was more of an away game for a man who has seen Congress attempt to block his every move.

Far from a partisan crowd, the President practically stepped into the belly of the beast. The 2010 Elections still fresh in memory, Republican Tea-Party members ever so prominent, President Obama could have settled for the friendly confines of his Oval Office. But he did not. A speech of this magnitude for a problem this big could not be confined to the four walls of the White House. No, putting the people first required that the President speak in the "People's House."

The President could not rely on cheap applause from a room that was majority Republican. Indeed, certain lines dealing with tax cuts for the wealthy received outright derision from the Republican side of the aisle. Other proposals for matters such as infrastructure and labor rights were met with stone faces. But this speech wasn't for the suits in peanut gallery so much as it was a message for the millions of Americans watching on television. President Obama's message: Despite all of the craziness you see around me, I stand with you.

Nor was it sufficient for the President to toe his own party line . . . or perhaps, better put, "line in the sand." Surely some will protest that President Obama's speech was not the red meat, "base" fodder that progressive Democrats demanded. The President did not attempt to lay all of the blame at the Republicans feet (although it would have been warranted). Neither did President Obama use his prime-time appearance to present a wish-list of every Democratic platform that had absolutely no chance of passing Congress. However, in the spirit of leadership that makes this man exactly who he is, the President carved a path through pragmatic determinism that is all too lacking from our political officials.

Others would more correctly note that, despite its bipartisan appeal, there was plenty of red meat for the base to chew on. However, as suggested by some reactions, the "red meat" was not meant to define the speech. And probably by design. In the aftermath of the President's address, MSNBC's Chris Matthews marveled at the fact that President Obama talked infrastructure without really uttering the word "infrastructure." President Obama talked stimulus without falling prey to the word police of a media trained to see "stimulus" as a dirty word.

And still, President Obama succeeded in presenting a Democratic vision for the future that is likely more persuasive than had he pounded his fist and pointed fingers. The President stood up for workers rights, used many of the GOP's arguments against itself, and gave an impassioned defense for the role of government.

But still, President Obama defined the night by doing what so many regardless of party fail to do. He led.

The President did not fall back on the soundbite culture of a 24-hour news cycle. Certain critics from the Left demanded he "take it to the Republicans" or present a bill for the sake of politics alone. Instead, President Obama presented a bill that it seems he felt could actually get by Congress. And in addition to this welcomed pragmatism, President Obama vowed to take the American Jobs Act around the country to the American people. The Pyrrhic victory of tone over substance may be unavoidable. But rather than take cover behind the constant partisan back-and-forth, the President made it clear: He'll do what's necessary, but he'd rather spend his time working.

In other words . . . President Obama did NOT take the easy way out.

Oh, how easy it would have been to give a partisan speech, throw up his hands in disgust and say "See 'ya at the ballot box next November." But the President did not do that. Why? Well, in the President's own words from Thursday's speech. . .

"This past week, reporters have been asking, 'What will this speech mean for the President? What will it mean for Congress? How will it affect their polls, and the next election? But the millions of Americans who are watching right now, they don't care about politics. They have real life concerns. (emphasis added)

Bingo.

Some get it, many more do not. There is a time and place for politics. But, more importantly, there is a time and place for governance. Most politicians understand the former all too well. It is the latter where so many are lost. President Obama made it clear, he will campaign hard, but he will campaign with a purpose. The opportunity is there. Congress has a chance to accept the President's challenge to govern. The question is: Will they take it?

The fact is, we live in an environment with a 24-hour cable news cycle. We have to fill that time somehow. Too often, mainstream media chooses to fill that space with the hot air of partisan bickering. It perpetuates that space through false equivalency and petty controversies. This unhealthy mindset that politics is a game and "principle" trumps results, forgets the fact that real people's lives are at stake. It produces gridlock and feeds the cynicism that exists throughout our political discourse. Thankfully, we have a President that does not fall victim to this approach.

The issue is not whether President Obama will have to embark on a partisan campaign on behalf of the American people. The reality of an obstructionist GOP in a do-nothing Congress makes the President's campaign a near certainty.

But, stop for one moment to appreciate what transpired Thursday night. President Obama presented a strong and rational jobs plan that correctly anticipates the political realities of a divided Washington. Keeping with his pragmatic approach to leadership, the President will attempt to achieve what he can, when he can for the American people.

But frustration over the stalemate in our nation's capitol will only come to an end when we, the American voters, make the conscious decision to end the gridlock. It will come to an end when voters decidedly give a President enough votes in Congress to defeat the obstructionists. Not a moment sooner. That's the question for 2012: Who wants it?

But that's NOT the question now. The question for right now is simple: What can Washington do? It is not as sexy a question, but it is the question nonetheless. And fortunately we have a President who is willing to forsake the easy political points in his attempt to actually try and tackle that question.

We may look towards 2012. But, in the meantime? Well, in the meantime, we've got mouths to feed, mortgages to pay, and rent that's due. Bravado for a purpose, whether false or sincere, means nothing if the votes aren't there to pass it. Political pissing matches come and go, but the people continue to suffer.

Thankfully, our President understands this truth. Despite attacks from the Right AND Left, from figures with bigger mouths but lesser accomplishments, President Obama understands that the people come before politics.

As he said in his speech Thursday night,

"The next election is 14 months away. And the people who sent us here -- the people who hired us to work for them -- they don't have the luxury of waiting 14 months."

Translation: President Obama has decided that he will not waste your time. He chooses to work, instead.

That is admirable. Even more, that is exactly the kind of leadership we need as a country. Pardon, that is exactly the kind of leadership we have as a country. And perhaps voters will begin to realize this in time to turn their anger in the right direction as the spotlight shines brighter and brighter on those who choose to stand in the way of progress, and the lazy journalism that gives them cover. Contrary to the conventional wisdom of the pundit class, this President - President Obama - is NOT your problem.

Consider that the next time you see a Republican obstruct progress on the grounds of "principle." Consider that the next time you hear a Democrat offer the moon without a plan (or the votes) to get there. The symbolic politics of the perpetual beltway shouting match is nothing new, and has yielded few tangible results.

This does not mean that we lower our sites from grander expectations, or bottle our passions. Even with this new jobs proposal, people will ask question. But it does mean that there is a value to that which is possible. And, in a world that cherishes the false bravado of career politicians who promise everything except that which they can actually deliver, maybe it is time we as a country begin to appreciate the sincere actions of modest politicians who work to get what they can. . . those politicians who put the people first.

You'd be surprised how far it can get you.

President Obama's Weekly Address (9/3/11)

2011-09-03T06:47:00.001-04:00

With jobs in mind, President Obama urges extension of transportation bill

Following a poor showing in the monthly jobs report, which yielded zero net job growth and an unchanged 9.1% unemployment rate in August, President Obama urged Congressional action on yet another piece of legislation with an impact on American jobs: the transportation bill.

The President warned that failure to extend the bill would result in the loss of thousands of construction jobs:

"At the end of September, if Congress doesn't act, funding for our roads and bridges will expire. This would put a stop to highway construction, bridge repair, mass transit systems and other important projects that keep our country moving quickly and safely. And it would affect thousands of construction workers and their families who depend on the jobs created by these projects to make ends meet."

President Obama, who is asking for immediate action once Congress returns from its break next week, laid out the consequences of failing to extend the transportation bill:

"Allowing this bill to expire would be a disaster for our infrastructure and our economy. Right away, over 4,000 workers would b furloughed without pay. If it's delayed for just 10 days, we will lose nearly $1 billion in highway funding that we can never get back. And if we wait even longer, almost one million workers could be in danger of losing their jobs over the next year.

These are serious consequences and the pain will be felt all across the country. In Virginia, 19,000 jobs are at risk, in Minnesota, more than 12,000; and in Florida, over 35,000 people could be out of work if Congress doesn't act."

President Obama's Weekly Address

On his birthday, a flashback post to remember Michael Jackson

2011-08-29T09:10:00.000-04:00

In honor of the King's birthday, I've decided to re-post a piece I wrote a year ago. Michael Jackson would have turned 53 today. Enjoy . . .

Previously posted on Jack and Jill Politics at the one-year anniversary Michael Jackson's death:

Remembering MJ . . . One year later

You cannot fake it . . .

No, you cannot fake it. You cannot imitate it. Do not even try to understand it. . .

Just feel.

One year later, let the music lead you. . .those memories. . . whether tears or laughter, just know that those feelings he inspired through his music . . . those feelings are real. They need no script. They need no prompting or justification. Do not apologize for them. Do not try to comprehend. . .

Just feel.

Some occasions ask us to be humble enough to. . .

Feel.

He is gone. But the measure of this man was his gift to make us. . .

Feel.

The joy. The pain. The good times and bad. His was our serenade. It is a rare gift to have and he did it better than anyone we have ever seen.

What a gift. To make us dance. To have us rejoice. If but for a few short minutes, his gift was to make us lose our inhibitions long enough to enjoy life just a little bit more. To make a fool of ourselves while trying to copy his dance moves (who cares if you had no rhythm). To lose our voices from hours of singing his greatest hits (who cares if you could not hold a tune). But for those few precious minutes, you could lose yourself in the beat. Memorize the lyrics. And maybe . . . just maybe . . .

Feel.

Because you cannot fake it. Nor can you fake the mark he has left still one year to the day of his passing. No, all you can do is . . .

Feel.

Let that be your remembrance. The next time life allows you to let go. . . the next time no one is looking. . . pop in one of his classics. Try to sing that high note you never thought you could hit. Try that spin one more time. Sing those words you never got the chance to say.

And, if you have not done so already, maybe say - Thank You - to a musical genius who gave everything he had to make you . . .

Feel.

He has earned as much.

Thanks Michael.

President Obama's Weekly Address (8/27/11)

2011-08-27T10:05:00.001-04:00

President Obama asks Americans to remember unity in lead up to 10th anniversary of 9/11

President Obama used this week's address to reflect upon the spirit of unity felt in the days after September 11, 2001:

"In just two weeks, we'll come together, as a nation, to mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. We'll remember the innocent lives we lost. We'll stand with the families who loved them. We'll honor the heroic first responders who rushed to the scene and saved so many. And we'll pay tribute to our troops and military families, and all those who have served over the past ten years, to keep us safe and strong.

We'll also recall how the worst terrorist attack in American history brought out the best in the American people. How Americans lined up to give blood. How volunteers drove across the country to lend a hand. How schoolchildren donated their savings. How communities, faith groups and businesses collected food and clothing.

We were united, and the outpouring of generosity and compassion reminded us that in times of challenge, we Americans move forward together, as one people."

The President also asked that Americans take time out to help those in need on this 10th anniversary. People who are interested in giving back to their communities can find opportunities at Serve.gov.

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (8/20/11)

2011-08-20T07:40:00.001-04:00

President says partisanship stands in the way of action

Repeating his message from the past several weeks, President Obama focused his weekly address on the need for Washington to get beyond partisan politics to "put country ahead of party." President Obama restated his policy goals of cutting the payroll tax, engaging international trade, investing in infrastructure, and creating initiatives for companies to hire US veterans returning from overseas. As for accomplishing these goals, the President maintained his position that Washington politics is the only threat to such action:

"These are commonsense ideas -- ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans. The only thing holding them back is politics. The only thing preventing us from passing these bills is the refusal by some in Congress to put country ahead of party. That's the problem we have right now. That's what's holding this country back. That's what we have to change."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (8/13/11)

2011-08-13T08:25:00.001-04:00

President urges the people to speak up, says Americans deserve better from their elected officials

The President admonished political partisanship as he discussed Washington's need to put the American people first in this week's address. President Obama repeated last week's call to action on several policies aimed at creating jobs and strengthening the economy. As mentioned last week, that list consists of extending the payroll tax, investing in infrastructure, assisting entrepreneurs by cutting red tape, engaging international trade deals, and creating incentives for businesses to hire veterans coming home from overseas. The President said he plans to list more policies in the coming weeks and pledged his commitment to continue working to produce jobs for the American people.

However, refocusing his attention on partisan gridlock in Washington, President Obama gave his opinion on the state of American politics today. To put it bluntly, the President thinks the American people deserve better. Referencing the need to act on his list of policy initiatives, the President had the following to say about our nation's politics:

"These are all things we can do right now. So let's do them. And over the coming weeks, I'll put forward more proposals to help our businesses hire and create jobs, and I won't stop until every American who wants a job can find one.

But we can't let partisan brinksmanship get in our way -- the idea that making it through the next election is more important than making things right. That's what's holding us back -- the fact that some in Congress would rather see their opponents lose than see America win.

So you've got a right to be frustrated. I know I am. Because you deserve better. And I don't think it's too much for you to expect that the people you send to this town start delivering for you."

President Obama continued his criticism of elected officials, urging the American people to speak up and let their voices be heard:

"Members of Congress are at home in their districts right now. And if you agree with me -- whether you're a Democrat or a Republican or not much of a fan of either -- let them know.

If you've had it with gridlock, and you want them to pass stalled bills that will help our economy right now -- let them know.

If you refuse to settle for a politics where scoring points is more important than solving problems; if you believe it's time to put country before party and the interests of our children before our own, then let them know.

And maybe they'll get back to Washington ready to compromise, ready to create jobs, ready to get our fiscal house in order -- ready to do what you sent them here to do."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (8/6/11)

2011-08-06T07:24:00.001-04:00

President outlines steps forward on revamping the economy

On the heels of a week that saw a steep drop in the stock market coupled with slight improvement in jobs numbers, but a controversial downgrade in the Standard and Poor's U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA+, President Obama used his address to set a list of policy goals that hope to improve America's situation moving forward. The President was focused on job creation.

Among other proposals involving U.S. trade and assisting entrepreneurialship, the President spoke of extending tax cuts for middle and working class families, creating business incentives for hiring veterans, extending unemployment benefits for millions of Americans, and investing in U.S. infrastructure:

"We need to extend tax cuts for working and middle-class families so you have more money in your paychecks next year. That would help millions of people to make ends meet. And that extra money for expenses means businesses will have more customers and will be in a better position to hire.

Yesterday, I proposed a new tax credit for companies that hire veterans who are looking for work after serving their country. We've got a lot of honorable and skilled people returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and companies that could benefit from their abilities. Let's put them together.

We need to make sure that millions of workers who are still pounding the pavement looking for jobs are not denied unemployment benefits to carry them through hard times.

We've got to cut red tape that stops too many inventors and entrepreneurs from quickly turning new ideas into thriving businesses, which holds back our whole economy.

It's time Congress passed a set of trade deals that would help displaced workers looking for new jobs and that would allow our businesses to sell more products in countries in Asia and South America -- products stamped with three words -- Made in America.

And we ought to give more opportunities to all those construction workers who lost their jobs when the housing boom went bust. We could put them to work right now by giving loans to companies that want to repair our roads and bridges and airports, helping to rebuild America."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (7/30/11)

2011-07-30T08:19:00.000-04:00

The President's message to Washington: "We need to get our house in order"

Days before Tuesday's August 2nd deadline to raise the nation's debt ceiling, President Obama took to this week's address with a very simple message: Washington needs to get its house in order.

The way to do this, according to the President, is to accept a bipartisan deal that, in President Obama's words, ". . . must have the support of both parties that were sent here to represent the American people -- not just one faction of one party." Keeping this week's events in mind, it seems reasonable to assume that President Obama was speaking towards the Tea Party faction of the Republican party.

On Friday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) passed his version of a debt-ceiling compromise after cutting a deal to appease Tea Party Republicans by including a provision that would add a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution. Before this deal to gain Tea Party support, Speaker Boehner's plan faced opposition from within his own party as well as a promise from Senate Democrats that the bill would be dead on arrival if it ever passed the House.

Speaker Boehner's plan passed the House by a vote of 218 to 210, but opposition from Senate Democrats and the President remained. Indeed, Boehner's bill was dead on arrival in the Senate. On MSNBC's The Ed Show, Joy-Ann Reid of The Grio took a look at the Democratic response:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

In his weekly address, President Obama argued that both parties are not too far apart on budget cuts, tax and entitlement reform. But the President made it very clear, failure to act on the debt ceiling will have serious consequences for the American people and America's financial reputation:

"The parties are not that far apart here. We're in rough agreement on how much spending we need to cut to reduce our deficit. And we agree on a process to tackle tax reform and entitlement reform. There are plenty of ways out of this mess. But there is very little time.

We need to reach a compromise by Tuesday so that our country will have the ability to pay its bills on time -- bills like Social Security checks, veterans' benefits, and contracts we've signed with thousands of American businesses. If we don't, for the first time ever, we could lose our country's AAA credit rating. Not because we didn't have the capacity to pay our bills -- we do -- but because we didn't have a AAA political system to match it. And make no mistake -- for those who reflexively oppose tax increases on anybody, a lower credit rating could be a tax increase on everybody -- we'd all pay higher interest rates on mortgages, car loans, and credit cards.

That would be inexcusable, and entirely self-inflicted by Washington."

President Obama closed his address by reading a letter he received from a woman named Kelly Smith. The letter asked Washington to get its house in order. President Obama agreed:

"Here in Washington, we need to get our house in order. And I have to say, Democrats in Congress and some Senate Republicans have been listening and have shown themselves willing to make compromises to solve this crisis. Now all of us -- including Republicans in the House of Representatives -- need to demonstrate the same kind of responsibility that the American people show every day. The time for putting party first is over. The time for compromise on behalf of he American people is now."

The President's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (7/16/11)

2011-07-16T07:10:00.000-04:00

President calls for balanced fiscal approach, urges policy before politics

In his weekly address, the President restated the belief he's shared in multiple press conferences over the past few weeks: that tackling the deficit will require a balanced approach where both parties make hard decisions for the greater good.

For Democrats the President discussed domestic spending cuts, however, when it came to Republicans, President Obama remained focused on the need to put corporate tax loopholes and tax cuts for the wealthy on the table.

President Obama made it clear that it is not right to fix the nation's economic problems on the backs of Americans who need the most assistance:

"The truth is, you can't solve our deficit without cutting spending. But you also can't solve it without asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share - or without taking on loopholes that give special interests and big corporations tax breaks that middle-class Americans don't get.

It's pretty simple. I don't think oil companies should keep getting special tax breaks when they're making tens of billions in profits. I don't think hedge fund managers should pay taxes at a lower rate than their secretaries. And I don't think it's fair to ask nothing of someone like me when the average family has seen their income decline over the past decade - and when many of you are just trying to stretch every dollar as far as it will go.

We shouldn't put the burden of deficit reduction on the backs of folks who've already borne the brunt of the recession. It's not reasonable and it's not right. If we're going to ask seniors, or students, or middle-class Americans to sacrifice, then we have to ask corporations and the wealthiest Americans to share in that sacrifice."

President Obama's Weekly Address

President Obama's Weekly Address (7/9/11)

2011-07-09T08:11:00.002-04:00

President urges bipartisanship heading into weekend meeting on the deficit

Heading into this weekend's meeting with Democrats and Republicans, President Obama urged bipartisanship in addressing the deficit, not political gamesmanship. The President outlined his approach to fixing the nation's issues:

"Now, there are obviously real differences in approach. I believe we need a balanced approach. That means taking on spending in our domestic programs and our defense programs. It means addressing the challenges in programs like Medicare so we can strengthen those programs and protect them for future generations. And it means taking on spending in the tax code - spending on tax breaks and deductions for the wealthiest Americans."

Still, knowing that both parties disagree on the way forward, President Obama urged leaders in Washington to put aside their political differences and work on behalf of the American people who elected them to lead. Getting the nation's fiscal house in order, the President argued, will allow Washington to focus its attention on the pressing issue of creating jobs:

"With a recovery that's still fragile and isn't producing all the jobs we need, the last thing we can afford is the usual partisan game-playing in Washington. By getting our fiscal house in order, Congress will be in a stronger position to focus on some of the job-creating measures I've already proposed - like putting people to work rebuilding America's infrastructure, or reforming our patent system so that our innovators and entrepreneurs have a greater incentive to generate new products or making college more affordable for families. And businesses that may be holding back because the uncertainty surrounding the possibility of a default by the United States government will have greater confidence to invest and create jobs."

President Obama's Weekly Address

President Obama's Weekly Address (7/2/11)

2011-07-02T08:37:00.002-04:00

President Obama restates priorities on the deficit, says tax-cuts for the wealthy should be on the table

The President reiterated his stance on taxes in this week's address. When it comes to tackling the deficit, President Obama made it clear that tax-cuts for the wealthy should be on the table:

"And nothing can be off-limits, including spending in the tax code - particularly the loopholes that benefit very few individuals and corporations.

Now, it would be nice if we could keep every tax break - but we can't afford them. Because if we choose to keep those tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires, or for hedge fund managers and corporate jet owners, or for oil and gas companies pulling in huge profits without our help, then we'll have to make even deeper cuts somewhere else. We've got to say to a student, you don't get a college scholarship. We have to say to a medical researcher, you can't do that cancer research. We might have to tell seniors, you have to pay more for your Medicare.

That isn't right and it isn't smart. We've got to cut the deficit, but we can do that while making investments in education and research and technology that actually create jobs."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (6/25/11)

2011-06-25T08:36:00.000-04:00

President Obama talks new AMP initiative for manufacturing

Transitioning from his speech on withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, the President used this week's address to refocus the task of building the American economy and creating jobs,

"After a decade of conflict, we're finally bringing these wars to a responsible end.

That's in the best interest of America's security. And it's also in the best interest of America's economy. Even though we've turned our economy in the right direction over the past couple of years, many Americans are still hurting, and now is the time to focus on nation building here at home."

Earlier this week, President Obama stopped by Pittsburgh, PA to announce the launch of a new initiative called AMP (Advanced Manufacturing Partnership). President Obama described AMP as a partnership that will combine leaders from business, academia, science and technology to spur innovation and development in manufacturing. In its launch on Friday, President Obama promoted AMP as a vehicle to build a "renaissance in American manufacturing" and ensure that America leads the way in building the technology that will create the jobs and innovation of tomorrow.

The President continued his discussion of AMP in this week's address:

"It's a partnership that brings our federal government together with some of America's most brilliant minds and some of America's most innovative companies and manufacturers.

Their mission is to come up with a way to get ideas from the drawing board to the manufacturing floor to the market place as swiftly as possible, which will help create quality jobs, and make our businesses more competitive. But they also have a broader mission. It's to renew the promise of American manufacturing. To help make sure America remains in this century what we were in the last - a country that makes things. A country that out-builds and out-innovates the rest of the world."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (6/18/11)

2011-06-18T09:35:00.000-04:00

President Obama wishing a happy Fathers' Day to all the dads

(I know you've probably seen this before, but this is one of my favorite commercials)

The President reflects on his life growing up, the challenges of being a good father, and even talks about a new job he picked up recently - assistant coach for Sasha's basketball team:

"On Sundays, we'd get the team together to practice, and a couple of times, I'd help coach the games. And it was great fun - even if Sasha rolled her eyes occasionally when her dad voiced his displeasure with the refs.

But I was so proud watching her run up and down the court, seeing her learn and improve and gain confidence. And I was hopeful that in the years to come, she'd look back on experiences like these as the ones that helped define her as a person - and as a parent herself.

In the end, that's what being a parent is all about - those precious moments with our children that fill us with pride and excitement for their future; the chances we have to set an example or offer a piece of advice; the opportunities to just be there and show them that we love them. That's something worth remembering this Father's Day, and every day."

To see what the White House is doing to help dads foster a stronger relationship with their children and families, visit Fatherhood.gov.

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (6/11/11)

2011-06-11T09:23:00.000-04:00

President announces manufacturing initiative to strengthen job force through community colleges

Addressing concerns over the economy, President Obama focused this week's address on a new partnership involving the private sector and community colleges aimed at strengthening the workforce. Still, speaking to economic concerns, the President first reminded everyone that the US just came through "the worst recession since the Great Depression" and cautioned that it will take time to completely turn things around:

"We've just come through the worst recession since the Great Depression. And, while our economy as a whole has been growing and adding private sector jobs, too many folks are still struggling to get back on their feet. I wish I could tell you there was a quick fix to our economic problems, but the truth is we didn't get into this mess over night, and we won't get out of it over night. It's going to take time."

Moving forward, the President discussed a new partnership between the private sector and community colleges that will provide students with a chance to hone their skills in the manufacturing sector, a move the President says could help prospective employees stand out to future employers:

"On Wednesday, I announced commitments by the private sector, colleges, and the National Association of Manufacturers that will make it possible for 500,000 community college students to get a manufacturing credential that has the industry's stamp of approval. If you're a company that's hiring, you'll know that anyone who has this degree has the skills you're looking for. If you're a student considering community college, you'll know that your diploma will give you a leg up in the job market."

Here is the video of that announcement:

The President also took time to remind viewers of other plans regarding the economy such as improvements in education to produce more graduates and investments in clean energy to spur job creation - two topics that have garnered repeated attention in past installments of the President's Weekly Address. President Obama stated:

"We know that a quality education is a prerequisite for success, so we're challenging states and school districts to improve teaching and learning, and making it a national goal to once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020.

We know that more and more jobs are being created in the clean energy sector. So we're investing in wind power, solar power, and bio fuels that will make us less dependent on foreign oil and clean up our planet for our children."

These are steps we know will make a difference in people's lives, not just twenty years from now or ten years from now, but now and in the months to come."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (6/4/11)

2011-06-04T09:28:00.001-04:00

President talks auto industry, addresses economic "bumps on the road to recovery"

In this week's address, President Obama discussed manufacturing jobs in the auto industry. Speaking from a Chrysler auto plant in Toledo, OH, President Obama hailed the recent success of Chysler's ability to repay its federal loans, and discussed how jobs are coming back to the industry now that the major auto companies are regaining traction on the economic front:

"Today, each of the Big Three automakers - Chrysler, GM, and Ford - is turning a profit for the first time since 2004. Chrysler has repaid every dime and more of what it owes American taxpayers for their support during my presidency - and it repaid that money six years ahead of schedule. And this week, we reached a deal to sell our remaining stake. And that means soon, Chrysler will be 100% in private hands.

Most importantly, all three American automakers are now adding shifts and creating jobs at the strongest rate since the 1990s. Chrysler has added a second shift at the Jefferson North plant in Detroit that I visited last year. GM is adding a third shift at its Hamtramck plant for the first time ever. And GM plans to hire back all of the workers they had laid off during the recession"

However, although news in the auto industry has been positive as of late, the President did acknowledged certain "bumps on the road to recovery" that the U.S. has experienced in other aspects of the economy:

"Now, we've got a ways to go. Even though our economy has created more than two million private sector jobs over the past 15 months and continues to grow, we're facing some tough headwinds. Lately, it's high gas prices, the earthquake in Japan, and unease about the European fiscal situation. That's going to happen from time to time. There are going to be bumps on the road to recovery."

Still, President Obama restated his belief in the American spirit and insisted that things will continue to make a turn for the better,

"We're a people who don't give up - who do big things, who shape our own destiny. And I'm absolutely confident that if we hold on to that spirit, our best days are still ahead of us."

As for concerns over "bumps on the road," the monthly jobs numbers for May, which saw an unemployment rate at 9.1%, served as a topic of discussion for White House officials on Friday. White House Economic Adviser, Austan Goolsbee, discussed the numbers with CNN's Eliot Spitzer, and cautioned against using one month of jobs numbers to characterize the entire economic recovery.

President Obama's Weekly Address:

Vice President Biden gives Weekly Address (5/28/11)

2011-05-28T07:27:00.000-04:00

Vice President Biden filled in for the President this week to discuss the news that Chrysler repaid its auto-loans from the federal government:

"When President Obama and I came into office we faced an auto industry on the brink of extinction - total collapse. At the time, many people thought that the President should just let GM and Chrysler go under. They didn't think the automobile industry was essential to America's future. The President disagreed."

Vice President Biden continued,

"But, because of what we did, the automobile industry is rising again. Manufacturing is coming back, and our economy is recovering and is gaining traction."

In a final note, the Vice President took time to acknowledge this Memorial Day Weekend. Keeping our troops in mind, Vice President Biden encouraged Americans to remember the families of those serving overseas:

"Let them know you know the sacrifice they're making. Engage in, my wife would say, a single act of kindness. Maybe invite them to your barbecue this weekend. Mow their lawn. . . Make it known that you appreciate they're sacrifice, and you're willing to lend a hand."

Vice President Biden:

President Obama's Weekly Address (5/21/11)

2011-05-21T08:16:00.000-04:00

President talks education, pushes Congress to replace No Child Left Behind

Earlier this week, President Obama gave the commencement speech at Booker T. Washington High School (above) in Memphis, TN, winners of the Administration's Race to the Top Commencement Challenge to prepare youth for college and career. The announcement was made back on May 10.

via Whitehouse.gov:

Booker T. Washington High School’s graduation rate went from 55% in 2007 to 81.6% in 2010. The school has taken steps such as establishing separate freshmen academies for boys and girls to help students adjust to the school culture and creating an atmosphere where teachers take personal interest in seeing students take pride in their schoolwork. Students can now take AP classes, learn about engineering through robotics competitions, and earn college credits.

Seeing Booker T. Washington High as an example of setting the right course in education, President Obama used this week's address to stress the need for reform in our nation's schools:

"We need to encourage this kind of change all across America. We need to reward the reforms that are driven not by Washington, but by principals and teachers and parents. That's how we'll make progress in education -- not from the top down, but from the bottom up."

Citing the importance of flexibility and community involvement in education reform, President Obama tauted his Administration's Race to the Top initiative and urged Congress to replace No Child Left Behind:

"Our challenge now is to allow all 50 states to benefit from the success of Race to the Top. We need to promote reform that gets results while encouraging communities to figure out what's best for their kids. That's why it's so important that Congress replace No Child Left Behind this year -- so schools have that flexibility."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama speaks on North Africa and the Middle East

2011-05-19T11:38:00.003-04:00

Update: Here's the speech in its entirety, followed by a question and answer period.

President Obama's Weekly Address (5/14/11)

2011-05-14T09:25:00.001-04:00

President talks three-pronged approach to energy concerns

Keeping with a theme that has lasted for several weeks, President Obama once again used his weekly address to discuss energy concerns. The President laid out a three-pronged approach to the issue consisting of 1) addressing fraud and manipulation in the markets; 2) expanding domestic oil production; and 3) ending taxpayer subsidies to oil and gas companies.

President Obama stated that the issue of consumer protections and anti-fraud measures will be taken up by a task force led by Attorney General Eric Holder:

"First, we should make sure that no one is taking advantage of consumers at the pump. That's why we've launched a task force led by the Attorney General that has one job: rooting out cases of fraud or manipulation in the markets that might affect gas prices, including any illegal activity by traders and speculators."

Keeping safety and environmental standards in mind, the President noted that his plan for domestic oil production includes measures in the mid and south Atlantic as well as lease sales in Alaska and the Gulf Coast:

"Last year, America's oil production reached its highest level since 2003. But I believe that we should continue to expand oil production in America - even as we increase safety and environmental standards.

To do this, I'm directing the Department of Interior to conduct annual lease sales in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve, while respecting sensitive areas, and to speed up the evaluation of oil and gas resources in the mid and south Atlantic. We plan to lease new areas in the Gulf of Mexico as well, and work to create new incentives for industry to develop their unused leases both on and offshore.

We're also taking steps to give companies time to meet higher safety standards when it comes to exploration and drilling. That's why my Administration is extending drilling leases in areas of the Gulf that were impacted by the temporary moratorium, as well as certain areas off the coast of Alaska. And to streamline that permitting process, I'm establishing a new team to coordinate work on Alaska drilling permits.

However, despite his willingness to expand domestic oil production, the President also continued his stance against tax subsidies for oil companies and pushed for investments in alternative energy as a long term solution. Simply put, President Obama argued that such subsidies just don't make any sense and urged Congress to take action on ending these subsidies in a vote next week:

"The American people shouldn't be subsidizing oil companies at a time when they're making near-record profits. As a nation, we should be investing in the clean, renewable sources of energy that are the ultimate solution to high gas prices."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (5/7/11)

2011-05-07T09:16:00.001-04:00

In this week's address, President Obama stressed the need for continued investments in clean energy as a source for jobs and a strengthened economy. The answer to our energy concerns, the President continued, requires both a short term and long term approach. However, President Obama made it clear that he believes that long term solutions focused on clean energy are the only way to truly reduce our dependence on oil:

"In the short term, we're doing everything we can to boost safe and responsible oil production here at home - in fact, last year, American oil production reached its highest level since 2003.

But over the long term, the only way we can avoid being held hostage to the ups and downs of oil prices is if we reduce our dependence on oil. That means investing in clean alternative sources of energy, like advanced biofuels and natural gas. And that means making cars and trucks and buses that use less oil.

Other countries know this, and they're going all in to invest in clean energy technologies and clean energy jobs. I don't want other countries to win the competition for these technologies and these jobs. I want America to win that competition. I want America to win the future."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

Getting bin Laden . . . This picture's worth a thousand words

2011-05-04T04:30:00.000-04:00

When I first saw this picture I took one look at President Obama, Secretary Clinton, and Vice President Biden and thought . . .

Thank God they're in the room.

Admittedly partisan in this renewed sense of unity, but I'm just keepin' it real. Not saying Republicans didn't care, but I voted Team Obama for a reason. This picture pretty much says it all.

Anyway, CNN asked the question. I'll throw it you. What were your first thoughts when you saw this picture?

Give the Pres his Props!

2011-05-01T23:43:00.001-04:00

Bin Laden is Dead. Shy of curing Cancer, what else do haters want from this man? We have a truly historic President, in more ways than one.

Politics aside. This moment in history. . .

Just wow. Speechless.

BREAKING NEWS. . . CNN reports: Osama Bin Laden Dead.

2011-05-01T22:53:00.001-04:00

This night in history. Mainstream media reports that the United States has confirmed it has the body of Osama Bin Laden.

He is dead.

President Obama's Weekly Address (4/30/11)

2011-04-30T09:02:00.000-04:00

President on oil subsidies: "These tax giveaways aren't right. They aren't smart. And we need to end them."

In his weekly address, President Obama continued his push to end taxpayer subsidies for oil companies:

"In some places, gas is now more than $4 a gallon, meaning that you could be paying upwards of $50 or $60 to fill up you tank.

Of course, while rising gas prices mean real pain for our families at the pump, they also mean bigger profits for oil companies. This week, the largest oil companies announced that they'd made more than $25 billion in the first few months of 2011 - up about 30% from last year.

Now, I don't have any problem with any company or industry being rewarded for their success. The incentive of healthy profits is what fuels entrepreneurialism and helps drive our economy forward. But I do have a problem with unwarranted taxpayer subsidies that we've been handing out to oil and gas companies - to the tune of $4 billion a year. When oil companies are making huge profits already, and you're struggling at the pump, and we're scouring the federal budget for spending we can afford to do without, these tax giveaways aren't right. They aren't smart. And we need to end them."

The president reiterated that he is not against domestic oil production, but once again made it clear that he strongly believes in protecting investments in developing clean energy.

President Obama's Weekly Address:

A Daily Show dodge, racism is racism, not "opportunism"

2011-04-29T22:35:00.002-04:00

The Daily Show - Longformers - Scared Old People
Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

When discussing birtherism, when can we call racism, racism? When is it ok?

Well, let's just ask The Daily Show. According to them, birtherism has more to do with scaring old people than painting a Black President as the perpetual "other" and denying him the place of his birth.

On Thursday, The Daily Show tackled the birther issue for the second night in a row. And when the topic of racism came into play, host Jon Stewart turned towards his trusty "Senior Black Correspondent," Larry Wilmore, to make sense of it all.

Wilmore's thesis: It's not racism, it's opportunism.

The sketch proceeds to suggest that the birther movement isn't about bigotry. No, instead it's about seizing the opportunity to scare old people. Respectfully, this premise misses the mark when discussing race and politics.

Implicit in all of this is a familiar argument that often comes from Democratic and Liberal circles when denying issues of race and this President. The dodge I speak of is the claim that President Obama faces so much hostility, not because of race, but because he's a Democrat.

However, when you think about it, this argument runs the risk of legitimizing the hate speech we've seen over the past few years. It seeks to explain away this vitriol as being little more than disagreement based on policy (i.e., Democrat vs Republican, Liberal vs. Conservative). If it were only that innocent. Ironically, this approach holds similarities to the very type of it's not him, it's the policy excuse of convenience in conservative media. It's an excuse that often lacks consistency and credibility.

Wilmore's response to questions of racism: "Were you alive in the 90s?"

This question is a dodge. It seeks to draw parallels, using any similarity as a one-size-fits-all explanation for the hatred many have shown this President. It's almost as if to say, Hey, they gave Clinton hell and he was a white guy. Or, more cynically, it strikes me as saying Watch it, if it happened to the White man, you can't cry racism.

Sorry, but whether they intended it that way or not, I've got to give The Daily Show an "L" for this one.

Now, let me be clear. I understand that we are talking about social and political satire. It has not escaped me that these are comedians seeking to make light of a very dark subject. So my point is not to judge The Daily Show, Jon Stewart or Larry Wilmore as somehow defending birthers. I recognize that The Daily Show has done great work in the past, shedding light on a host of issues the mainstream media chooses to ignore. I get that.

To be truthful, if anything, this Daily Show sketch has served more as a springing board for this piece on race in politics than the actual target of my disdain. But still, satire or not, the sketch presumably seeks to make a point. And that point - opportunism over racism - is, in my opinion, a dodge we've seen far to often when it comes to race and politics.

To answer our "Black Correspondent's" question, yes, I was alive in the 90s. Admittedly, I was only beginning high school back in '95, but the 90s was a hotbed for racial and social unrest. And it was during this time when I, and presumably millions of other people my age, experienced our introductions into the political and social discourse.

And you know what I remember?

I remember a president who was the subject of many smears in his own right. But, with that being said, I also remember that, despite these smears, the Democratic Party (and yes, most progressives) had Clinton's back the entire time - which is more than I can say for the support shown for President Obama right now (just start at the 2008 primaries and work your way forward).

But, one thing I don't remember about the 90s is anyone asking to see President Clinton's birth certificate. And to the extent some fringe-type might have ever tried, I certainly don't remember a sustained cultural movement, legitimized by a mainstream media's undying infatuation with race-baitors.

There were accusations of unAmerican values back during the 1992 Presidential campaign. You can read more about this here: Anatomy of a Smear. But even those smears were levied at alleged activity by then candidate Clinton, not at some innate quality such as his birth.

And while we're at it, I also don't remember self-described revolutionaries armed with loaded assault rifles standing outside of presidential events. But, can we call that racism?

But, no need to go back to the 90s for race-baiting politics, does anyone remember 2008?

Because I remember a certain presidential candidate, her husband (you know, the former President), and surrogates employing some of the same psst. . . you know he's black, right? strategies that we see today.

You remember, don't you? It was something along the lines of . . .

Obama can't win the white vote.

Obama was raised in a Madrassa.

Of course Obama won South Carolina, look at Jesse Jackson.

Remember what happened to Robert Kennedy? (WTF???? I mean still, WTF)

That list goes on and on.

So no, the Clinton dodge does not apply. Not all political smears are created equal. Some things are best judged on their own merits.

So since the 90s doesn't work, it looks like we have to dig deep. . . real deep into our nation's history for even more false equivalency. Enter President Chester A. Arthur.

Really, now? Seriously? We gotta go all the way back to the 1800s for this?

The Daily Show noted that our 21st President faced a birther issue of his own. History shows President Arthur faced rumors that he was actually born in Canada. Crazy, huh?

But there are differences between Presidents Arthur and Obama that are worth noting. Mainly, as reported in an AP story two years ago, President Arthur never showed documentation of his birth when pressed to do so. Indeed, the AP story says that Arthur's home state, Vermont, didn't even keep track of such records until long after his birth.

On the contrary, President Obama has now revealed his birth certificate, not once, but twice. And yet, despite the overwhelming evidence, it's still not enough for his critics.

And why is this?

Well, black people have been screaming this for years.

uh hmm. . .

say it with me. . .

in unison. . .

sing it if you'd like. . .

It's not about the birth certificate.

It never was and never will be about the birth certificate. That's because it's about racism. That's,

R-A-C-I-S-M, racism.

And in a world where racism reinvents itself like a virus, we've traded in our blatant bigotry of generations gone by for a more subtle type of intolerance.

It is a type of racism that is flexible enough to fit a variety of boogeymen. Realize that our failure to deal with race in substantial terms, our nation's weak attempt to deodorize the funk of intolerance and hatred expressed through modern day politics, has yielded a foul fragrance. And this fragrance is only so useful as it successfully masks the even greater stench of our nation's dirty past. It is the "other." Our political "Secret" if you will. . . you know, strong enough for all minorities, but still made for "the Blacks".

So it should come as no surprise that even the most racist KKK member is not dumb enough to shout "NIGGER" when given the spotlight of prime time cable news. But he will go on and on about how the President isn't one of us. He'll go on and on about how we need to take our country back or how this President pals around with terrorists or doesn't see America the way you and I do.

And unlike President Bill Clinton, unlike President Chester A. Arthur, President Obama cannot escape his critics. For as the former saw politics as their tickets to hatred, the latter, our Black President, need no more than to show the color of his skin.

THAT is the difference.

President Clinton can and has traversed some of the most racist parts this country has to offer. And guess what. . . 15-20 years after his presidency, a noticeable amount of those good ole' boys are more than willing to let "Bubba" back into the pack.

It's different when discussing race.

So I guess I'll end where I began. I'll ask the same question: When can we call racism, racism?

We've made a lot of progress, but we've still got a long ways to go. If birtherism doesn't qualify as racism then tell me, what does?

It has come to this? President presents long form birth certificate, media should be ashamed

2011-04-27T12:56:00.000-04:00

Seriously, it has come to this?

A man. . . a grown man. . . the leader of the free world asked to ease the concerns brought forth by a natioanl media that cannot (or will not) distinguish between real news and a witch hunt.

Seriously?

President Obama realeased further proof of his US Citizenship, presumably to a room of deaf ears otherwise known as our national media.

Really?

This is the high standard of journalism we've come to expect from our media? Scandal, controversy, contrarianism and media narratives have replaced that oh so important thing we used to care about. . .

Wait, what did we call it . . .

Oh yeah, it was called "Inforamtion."

But, here's the money quote - President Obama:

"But two weeks ago, when the Republican House had put forward a budget that will have huge consequences potentially to the country, and when I gave a speech about my budget and how I felt that we needed to invest in education and infrastructure and making sure that we had a strong safety net for our seniors even as we were closing the deficit, during that entire week the dominant news story wasn't about these huge, monumental choices that we're going to have to make as a nation. It was about my birth certificate. And that was true on most of the news outlets that were represented here."

Note to America: This president has endured attacks from the Right and Left. He has suffered willful ignorance from critics who have ignored his accomplishments, twisted his words and exaggerated his shortcomings.

He has been called everything but a child of God and, in two short years, has been portrayed as anything but what he truly is . . .

A man, worthy of the respect and dignity of his own words and reputation.

Instead, people have sought to attack the very foundation of his existence . . . his birth. And the sad part in all of this? It's become par for the course. Not because President Obama has never answered his critics. Not because the President has never released information. Not because the President has allowed others to shape the debate.

It's because there never should have been a "debate" in the first place. It was never a real story to begin with.

One of the main reasons why President Obama came out with today's long form birth certificate is because the media. . . our "Fourth Estate" has routinely dignified ignorance with a response. It has repeatedly given platform after platform to every fringe element of society who is all too willing to go on television and preach hate.

Pure, unmitigated hate. The birther argument has long boiled down to one simple claim. . . He's not one of us.

Because that's the only force that could drive such lunacy. That is the only thing, which would allow purportedly sane people to deny a man his place of birth.

Perhaps the hope is too far-fetched, but it would be a service to this country if the media collectively hung its head for just one moment of shame. It would be otherwordly to see the Fourth Estate apologize to the nation for wasting its time. The hate and misinformation is bad enough without the media legitimizing it with precious air time.

Unfortunately, however, the sneaking suspicion is that this latest act of good faith by the President will only be met with further questions and doubts from a profession that should know better.

Hey media . . . Shame on you.

President Obama's Weekly Address (4/23/11)

2011-04-23T08:46:00.000-04:00

President talks gas prices

What to do about the cost of gas? President Obama tackled this issue in his weekly address, touching a ray of subjects from oil production in the United States to investments in clean energy alternatives. The President listed several steps his administration is taking to address concerns. Those steps include:

- Safe and responsible oil production at home

- The creation of a task force by Attorney General Eric Holder, focused on finding fraud and manipulation in the oil markets

- Ending $4 billion in tax subsidies given each year to oil companies

- Investing in clean, renewable energy - a step that includes the Administration's Green Fleet Partnership

As for the national debate about the budget, President Obama argued that investments in clean energy must be protected:

"I've proposed a balanced approach that cuts spending while still investing in things like education and clean energy that are so critical to creating jobs and opportunities for the middle class. It's a simple idea: we need to live within our means while at the same time investing in our future.

That's why I so strongly disagree with a proposal in Congress that cuts our investments in clean energy by 70%. Yes, we've go to get rid of wasteful spending - and make no mistake, we're going through every line of the budget scouring for savings. But we can do that without sacrificing our future. We can do that while still investing in the technologies that will create jobs and allow the United States to lead the world in new industries."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (4/16/11)

2011-04-16T07:30:00.000-04:00

President Obama discusses deficit: "we don't have to sacrifice the America we believe in"

On the heels of Wednesday's deficit speech, President Obama continued to promote his plan in today's Weekly Address while repeating his opposition to the Republican plan offered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI):

"Now, one plan put forward by some Republicans in the House of Representatives aims to reduce our deficit by $4 trillion over the next 10 years. But while I think their goal is worthy, I believe their vision is wrong for America.

It's a vision that says at a time when other nations are hustling to out-compete us for the jobs and businesses of tomorrow, we have to make drastic cuts in education, infrastructure, and clean energy - the very investments we need to win that competition and get those good jobs. It's a vision that says that in order to reduce the deficit, we have to end Medicare as we know it, and make cuts to Medicaid that would leave millions of seniors, poor children, and Americans with disabilities without the care they need.

But even as this plan proposes these drastic cuts, it would also give $1 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthiest 2% of Americans - an extra $200,000 for every millionaire and billionaire in the country.

I don't think that's right. I don't think it's right to ask seniors to pay thousands more for health care, or ask students to postpone college, just so we don't have to ask those who have prospered so much in this land of opportunity to give back a little more."

By contrast, the President said that his plan would take a balanced approach - proposing a plan that aims to reduce the deficit by $4 tillion by cutting the defense budget, addressing health costs, reforming the tax code, and ending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans:

"We'll build on the savings we made from last week's bipartisan budget agreement, while protecting the job-creating investments that are critical to our future.

We'll find additional savings in our defense budget. Over the last two years, the Secretary of Defense has taken on wasteful spending that does nothing to protect our troops or our nation, saving $400 billion in current and future spending. I believe we can do that again.

We'll reduce health care spending, and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid through common-sense reforms that will get rid of wasteful subsidies and increase in efficiency.

We'll reduce spending in our tax code with tax reform that's fair and simple - so that the amount of taxes you pay doesn't depend on how clever an accountant you can afford.

And we should end the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, too. Because people like me don't need another tax cut."

For more information on the President's plan, visit WhiteHouse.gov.

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's speech on the deficit strikes the right tone

2011-04-13T15:13:00.001-04:00

That's how I'd characterize today's speech by the President. It was an excellent framing of the issue at hand. The President was clear to acknowledge the need for some reforms, but more importantly stressed that America can not make such sacrifices at the expense of its own identity. In other words, yeah we could cut the deficit on the backs of the elderly and poor like the Republicans propose, but that's not who we are. Simple and straight to the point. Loved it.

The President made it very clear that he would not sacrifice investments in our nation's future. He pledged continued investments in science, infrastructure and education. And, despite fears to the contrary, the President did not accept Republican talking points by any means when it came to matters of Social Security and Medicare. This was not an austerity speech.

There are some details that will obviously have to be worked out, but President Obama was strong in his stance that we cannot forsake the social contract we have with our elderly and the poor.

As for his approach, the President basically said we've got to tackle the major challenges posed by matters such as Defense, Medicare and Social Security. Of those three, President Obama pretty much guaranteed large cuts in the Defense budget, and promised to address health care costs by building upon the base that was already established under the Affordable Care Act that was passed last year. I don't recall hearing the President propose any unsettling changes to Social Security at this moment either.

The President did a superb job of outlining just how we got into our current predicament:

Even more, the President reinserted the issue of tax-cuts for the wealthy and gave a seriously strong rebuke of the plan recently unveiled by Rep. Paul Ryan.

All in all, the President did the damn thing on this deficit reduction speech. Of course, seeing as how I found it to be incredibly logical and fair-minded, I'm sure that pundits from both the Left and Right are ready to call the President everything but a child of God. I hope I'm wrong.

Here's to hoping we don't here the following:

Pundit on the Left - the President is a sellout who caved.

Pundit on the Right - the President is a socialist, Marxist in search of a redistribution of wealth.

Just remember, there's a reason they're called the fringe. Think for yourselves. . . Don't let them waste your time.

Someone tell Dr. West that Rev. Al was right

2011-04-13T10:39:00.001-04:00

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There's been a lot of back and forth over the latest spat between Dr. Cornel West and Rev. Al Sharpton over the weekend.

Long story short, Dr. West challenged Rev. Al to be more critical of the Obama Administration, and even said he worried Sharpton might be manipulated by the White House (well, isn't that a tad passive aggressive).

But, this isn't about President Obama. This isn't about the plight of Black America, or speaking truth to power. No, on a basic level, this is about territory. In other words, who ranks where in the pecking order of "black leadership."

For his part, Rev. Sharpton stated what should've been obvious to everyone in the room, namely the fact that all of these problems (and you can make a long list) that impact the black community existed long before President Obama got into office. But what wasn't said is even more important. Not only have these problems existed before President Obama got into office, but they'll continue to exist long after he's gone. President Obama is not the issue. However, even more than territory, the real issue is the failure of black leadership to capture the enthusiasm of the 2008 Presidential Election to cultivate a sustained movement.

And therein lies the paradox.

If the purpose of the discussion is to teach the past. . . if the purpose is to inform the present, then Dr. West has a point. He articulated the vice that still grips the black community from the prison industrial complex to unemployment. He spoke with passion. There's just one problem with Dr. West's approach, however. The larger discussion of the status of Black America must be forward thinking.

Indeed, the focus of the MSNBC special was supposed to be the "black agenda." Thus, the title denotes some type of a plan. It implies a plan of action. . . note, I said "plan" and "action."

In the context of government a "plan" is most often associated with some type of legislative agenda, whilst "action" is best described as voting. Dr. West's problem in this clip is that, rather than act to enforce a plan, he simply restates the problem. He articulated the issues, but did not propose a solution. Instead, he acted as if the solutions are already there, but the President just doesn't want to act (this was a topic of discussion on a recent edition of "Blacking it Up" with Elon James White).

What good is it to regurgitate a laundry list of social ills without a realistic plan of action? Yes, President Obama could speak more about the prison industrial complex. The point being . . . ? I mean, by that logic, the President could speak more about teen pregnancy and HIV. The President could speak more about drug abuse and mental health. The President could speak more about a host of topics, not because he doesn't care, but simply because these problems exist. In other words, there will always be a market for complaints so long as social ills exist in our communities.

However, to imply a motive, to assume silence is acquiescence, is disingenuous. This President has chosen to tackle the large issues as best as he can. That he hasn't spent more time on the prison industrial complex cannot be attributed to indifference any more than one could argue that immigration reform has not been tackled because the President hates Mexicans. Maybe. . . just maybe there's only so much a President can do in his first term in office.

Therefore, the responsibility to lead on issues that are not at the forefront of the national dialogue rests with us. Yes, WE the people. Laying everything at the feet of the President is a cop-out. Again, restating the issue is not action.

So let's talk about action. "Action" as it relates to policy is all about votes. You either have the votes or you don't. In fact, it's really pointless to discuss policy without an honest assessment of the vote-count. So, for example, the public option sounds nice, but Democrats never had the votes. Critics from the Left refuse to acknowledge this point because it completely undercuts their argument. It completely dismisses their premise that the solutions would be realized but for an alleged lack of leadership by President Obama.

And this has been the dividing line amongst the Democratic Party since the beginning of President Obama's first term in office. Whereas the line of demarcation had been liberal vs. conservative, the dividing line now rests between theory and pragmatism. The division represents those who wish to build off of what can and has been done versus those who wallow in the pity of that which has not been accomplished.

To take a spiritual approach to the subject, it's the constant fight to resist the temptations of self-pity. It's been said that the devil makes you focus on what isn't, rather than work towards the possibility of what might be. Well, it's the same in politics. When you are tasked with the responsibility to create change, the easy way out is always the option to throw up one's hands in despair over what hasn't been accomplished. After all, it's much easier than working. . . note, I said "working,". . . towards the possible.

And Dr. West and the rest of Obama's critics from the Left will continue to fail in their arguments unless and until they come to grips with the realities of governing. It's a numbers game. Plain and simple. And, over the past few years, to continuously suggest that more progressive actions have not been taken for anything less than a lack of votes is . . . well. . . damn offensive. To claim some unsubstantiated insight into the man's innermost thoughts is a useless exercise. As much as some of us might wish otherwise, none of us are inside the President's head.

Trust me, a President Kucinich or President Howard Dean, would be stuck in the same predicament as President Obama. I don't care how much you use the bully pulpit, it won't make a Tea-Party Republican from a safe district, or a Conservadem from a red district change their votes. So you can either rejoice in the political theater that is the 24-hour news cycle or work to get what you can when you can get it. I choose the latter. I can not, and will not, put faith in a leader who won't settle for anything shy of that which he or she can not obtain. It makes no sense and I will not waste my time.

This constant and aggressive dismissal of any and all progress made under this President only works to demobilize the public. Focusing on what you don't have at the expense of what you have accomplished can never be a recipe for success. It's like smacking your momma for buying discount "Air Jacksons" from the shoe store when you asked for a pair of Air Jordans. Nevermind the fact that you didn't have shoes last week, it's the style that counts. Right?

Instead of coming up with a long term plan, a strategy to get those Jordans, you complain about the plight you're in. I mean, you could save your allowance. You could cut your neighbor's grass and save money that way. You could could hope they go on sale or put them on lay-away. But, rather than be proactive, you sit back and give a long dissertation on the state of wack sneakers. You hold your breath and stomp your feet. You demand a response - why didn't momma get me that $200 pair of sneakers? And when the answer is clear as day, you refuse to accept the obvious . . . she didn't have the money.

There is no conspiracy to deprive you of your right to floss in front of your friends on the first day of school. She's not begrudging you your swag. She just didn't have the money to buy the shoes you wanted. And to the extent that she did have a couple of extra dollars, forgive her if she used that capital to save some of the more basic needs that you already had - you know, like clean underwear and a fresh pack of tube socks.

Well, the answer to a lot of the Left's complaints is just as clear. . . we don't have the votes. We never had the votes in Congress to get everything we wanted, and the 2010 elections made things twice as hard. Did we come close to having the votes? Absolutely. But, close doesn't count. And when you have to rely on Conservadems from red states to enact progressive policies. . . well, we shouldn't be surprised that some hopes fall a little short.

And, as was the case with those Air Jordans you never got, the President and pragmatic liberals are not concerned with brand names and style points. We could care less about the pundit class and their constant bickering over subjects that have no purpose other than to fill a 24-hour news cycle. Nope, at the end of the day, we just want to make sure your feet are covered. We can always work to make things better so long as we fight to preserve what we have.

When the Tea-Party/Republicans hold an insurmountable vote lead in the House. . . when they have the power to "shut it down," you're damn right the President's going to make a compromise. He's going to save what he can while trying to avoid sacrificing the gains we've already made. It's that simple.

Dr. West is wrong because it appears he thinks we make progress by restating our plight. It's as if he thinks things haven't changed because people just don't know how bad it really is in the real world. It's an assumption that the masses are sleep-walking rather than down-trodden. It attributes our circumstances to a lack of fight, rather than a lack of resources. Sorry, but you don't need a PhD to graduate from the school of hard knocks. Life kicks your ass whether you choose to theorize the subject or not.

However, what we need is an ability to bring theory down to practice. We don't need lectures, we need ideas. We need policy ideas. . . strike that. . . we need pragmatic, realistic policy ideas that have the votes in Congress. And, to the extent that we don't have those votes, we need people like Dr. West to put their intellect to better use by galvanizing new voters and finding fresh candidates to run in the general and mid-term elections.

It's a daunting task. It's filled with anxiety and uncertainty. And like President Obama, you won't get credit for the good while you're blamed for the bad. Leadership is a thankless job. But, some of President Obama's more vocal critics should listen to what Rev. Sharpton had to say . . . "If you scared, say ya scared" and we can work from there. If you don't have the answers then say so. There's no crime in that. The offense comes when you attack the imperfections of other people's plans when you really don't have a plan of your own. So, say what you've got to say. Criticize if you must. After all, we might benefit from your ideas if you're willing to put them in action. But don't work to dismiss, ignore, or undermine the progress that has already been made.

And whatever you do, make sure you bring something to the table with you. Understand that what you want, and what you can get, ain't always the same thing. And learn to appreciate the first steps towards realizing the dream, however modest or trivial you might think they are. Above all else, please use your energy and effort to cultivate the ideas of your brothers and sisters rather than tear them down. If you've got the resources to help, say so. If you've got the experience to lead, show it. But do not . . . I repeat do not dismiss the actions of another just because you think they're imperfect.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Rev. Al isn't stopping Cornel West, Tavis Smiley or anyone else from acting to better their communities. No one's been censored, in fact, Dr. West and Tavis Smiley seem to have no trouble accessing the microphone as frequently as Rev. Al. No one's stopping them.

So, someone please tell Dr. West that Rev. Al was right. Someone please tell him that the plight of Black America does not exist for lack of understanding the problems, but for lack of creating real-life solutions. They exist for lack of encouraging others to give their ideas. They exist because we've trivialized action to being no more than passion and a catch phrase.

And as for the main reason why Brotha West is wrong . . .

All of those problems. . . all of the social ills that he so eloquently ran off in his debate with Rev. Sharpton . . .

They'll still be there when President Obama finishes his second term in 2016. They will still be there. They were there before he arrived, and they'll be there after he's gone. You had bare feet before your Air Jacksons and you'll have bare feet after they've worn away. The challenge isn't understanding the plight, it's what are you going to do about it. What are WE going to do about it?

You may disagree with the approach. But, until you can come up with something better, don't step on someone else's shoes for trying.

President Obama's Weekly Address (4/9/11)

2011-04-10T10:08:00.000-04:00

Leaders strike budget deal, avoid government shutdown

Late friday night, leaders in Washington avoided a government shutdown by reaching an agreement on the budget for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year. In their reactions, Senate Leader Harry Reid and Speaker John Boehner stated that a temporary measure will avoid a government shutdown for the near future while longterm agreement is completed by next week. Here's a breakdown of the deal:

In his weekly address, President Obama discussed the significance of the deal:

"This is good news for the American people. It means that small businesses can get the loans they need, our families can get the mortgages they applied for, folks can visit our national museums and parks, and hundreds of thousands of Americans will get their paychecks on time - including our brave men and women in uniform. This is an agreement to invest in our country's future while making the largest annual spending cut in our history."

The President stressed that some of these cuts would be "painful" as programs people rely on will be cut back and certain infrastructure projects will be delayed. However, President Obama urged that a tightening of the budget is necessary for the future:

"And beginning to live within our measn is the only way to protect the investments that will help America compete for new jobs - investments inour kids' education and student loans; in clean energy and life-saving medical research.

Reducing spending while still investing in the future is just common sense. That's what families do in tough times. They sacrifice where they can, even if it's hard, to afford what's really important."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (2/19/11)

2011-02-19T08:27:00.000-05:00

Winning the Future: Investing in education to compete in the global market

photo © 2008 Obama-Biden Transition Project | more info (via: Wylio)
President Obama dedicated this week's address to the intertwined issues of education and global competition for jobs in the 21st Century. Speaking from the Intel campus in Oregon, the President stressed how the jobs of tomorrow are being provided by companies like Intel who are looking for workers with background educations in math and science. The fact that America has fallen behind other countries in such fields, President Obama argued, is cause for concern and all the more reason why the United States should invest in education to win the future:

"Companies like Intel are proving that we can compete - that, instead of just being a nation that buys what's overseas, we can make things in America and sell them around the globe. Winning this competition depends on the ingenuity and creativity of our private sector, which was on display in my visit today. But, it's also going to depend on what we do as a nation to make America the best place on earth to do business.

Over the next ten years, nearly half of all new jobs will require education beyond high school - many requiring proficiency in math and science. And yet today we've fallen behind in math and in science and in graduation rates. As a result, companies like Intel struggle to hire American workers with the skills that fit their needs. If we want to win the global competition for new jobs and industries, we've got to win the global competition to educate our people. We've got to have the best trained, best skilled workforce in the world. That's how we'll ensure that the next Intel, the next Google, or the next Microsoft is created in America and hires American workers."

With that being said, the President lauded his administration's efforts in education, highlighting such initiatives as America's Race to the Top, making college more affordable, and connecting graduates with businesses looking for their skills. Looking towards America's youth and innovative spirit, President Obama was confident that America can succeed:

"The truth is we have everything that we need to compete - bold entrepreneurs, bright new ideas, and world class colleges and universities. Most of all, we have young people just brimming with promise and ready to help us succeed. All we have to do is tap that potential."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (2/12/11)

2011-02-13T14:39:00.000-05:00

President previews new budget

The President discussed his anticipated fiscal budget as a call for Washington to live within its means. President Obama asserted that his budget will call for, among other matters, sacrifices in spending on programs that he cares deeply about, but would ultimately reduce the deficit moving forward:

"My budget freezes annual domestic spending for the next five years - even on programs I care deeply about - which will reduce the deficit by more than $400 billion over the next decade. This freeze will bring this type of spending to it's lowest level as a share of the economy since Dwight Eisenhower was president."

photo © 2007 zack Mccarthy | more info (via: Wylio)
The Weekly Address also focused on the need to cut wasteful spending and included a reiteration of the President's pledge to veto any bill that has earmarks. However, despite an attention to spending cuts, the President made it clear that investments in research, infrastructure, and education are investments that are worth keeping:

"I'm proposing that we invest in what will do the most to grow the economy in the years to come. This means job-creating investments in roads, high-speed rail, and broadband. This means cutting-edge research that holds the promise of creating countless jobs and whole new industries, like clean energy and biotechnology. And it means improving our schools and making college more affordable - to give every young person the chance to fulfill his or her potential, and receive the job training they need to succeed."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (2/5/11)

2011-02-05T15:01:00.000-05:00

President discusses "mutual responsibilities" between government and business ahead of visit to U.S. Chamber of Commerce

The President welcomed Friday's dip in the unemployment rate (now down to 9.0%) as he continued his "Winning the Future" message in this week's address. And, though the President remains focused on ways to incentivize job growth and innovation, he also made it clear that America's relationship with business should be a two way street. It's a message he plans to deliver to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this week:

"If we make America the best place to do business, businesses should make their mark here in America. They should set up shop here, and hire our workers, and pay decent wages, and invest in the future of this nation. That's their obligation. And that's the message I'll be bringing to American business leaders at the Chamber of Commerce on Monday - that government and businesses have mutual responsibilities; and that if we fulfill these obligations together, it benefits us all. Our workers will succeed. Our nation will prosper. And America will win the future in this century just like we did in the last."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (1/29/11)

2011-01-29T07:50:00.000-05:00

Winning the Future

Reiterating several key themes from the State of the Union Address, President Obama, once again, focused this week's remarks on winning the future by out-competing other nations. The building blocks for success, as laid out by the President, are to reinvest in education and infrastructure, cut wasteful spending, and out-innovate our competitors. Particularly, President Obama restated his goal for innovation in energy, calling for 80% of electricity to come from clean energy by the year 2035.

photo © 2010 Steve Jurvetson | more info (via: Wylio)
President Obama's case for winning the future:

"We'll win the future by being the best place on Earth to do business. That's what we're called to do at this moment. And in my state of the union, I talked about how we get there.

It starts by making sure that every single child can get a good education and every American can afford college or career training. Because that's what will help light the spark in the minds of innovators - and ensure that our people have the skills to work for innovative companies.

We also need to make sure that America can move goods and information as fast as any of our competitors, whether on the road or online. Because good infrastructure helps our businesses sell their products and services faster and cheaper.

We have to reform our government and cut wasteful spending, so that we eliminate what we don't need to pay for the investments we need to grow, like education and medical research."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (1/22/11)

2011-01-22T15:41:00.000-05:00

President talks global economy, says United States can "out-compete" any other nation

photo © 2011 The U.S. Army | more info (via: Wylio)
Following last week's meetings with President Hu of China, President Obama opened his weekly remarks by discussing a new deal to increase exports to China by $45 billion. According to the President, the deal will increase China's investment in the United States and support 235,000 American jobs. As noted in his address, the President has also met with leaders from South Korea and India in recent months to strike deals regarding the global market that seek to have an impact on jobs in the United States:

"That goal is why I fought so hard to negotiate a new and better trade deal with South Korea - a deal with unprecedented support from business and labor - that will support more than 70,000 American jobs. And that's why I traveled to India last fall to help pave the way for $10 billion in new deals for American businesses and more than 50,000 new American jobs."

The Global Economy was a subject of discussion at Friday's visit to a General Electric plant in Schenectady, NY. It was during this meeting where the President introduced GE CEO Jeff Immelt to chair the Council on Jobs and Competitiveness:

In his weekly address, the President noted that the Council on Jobs and Competitiveness is tasked with growing jobs through investing in business in the United States. The goal, according to President Obama, is to find ways to increase hiring, educate workers to compete in the 21st century, and attract businesses from around the globe. President Obama made it clear that he believes the United States can "out-compete" other nations in the global market if the effort is there:

"We're living in a new and challenging time, in which technology has made competition easier and fiercer than ever before. Countries around the world are upping their game and giving their workers and companies every advantage possible. That shouldn't discourage us. Because I know we can win that competition. I know we can out-compete any other nation on Earth. We just have to make sure we're doing everything we can to unlock the productivity of American workers, unleash the ingenuity of American businesses, and harness the dynamism of America's economy."

The President's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (1/15/11)

2011-01-15T12:21:00.000-05:00

President Obama: "Worthy of those who sent us here to serve"

Echoing his remarks from this week's memorial service in Tuscon, Arizona, President Obama had a similar message for leaders in Washington regarding our national discourse. In his Weekly Address, the President asks political leaders to move forward, mindful of what is really important. Noting the common cause shared in the wake of last week's shootings, the President encouraged leaders in Washington to work together, understanding that some things are bigger than politics:

"So as business resumes, I look forward to working together in that same spirit of common cause with members of Congress from both parties - because before we are Democrats or Republicans, we are Americans."

The President noted that the times and challenges we face require that we move forward. However, the events of Tuscon, the President observed, "reminded us of who we really are - and how much we depend on one another." For the President, it is a matter of carrying on with the goal of meeting our challenges in a way that is "worthy of those who sent us here to serve."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (1/8/11)

2011-01-08T10:19:00.000-05:00

President touts recent tax compromise, discusses benefits and incentives for businesses employees and families

In his Weekly Address, the President listed some of the benefits he argues are now being realised as a result of the agreement that was struck on taxes in December. President Obama has been forthright in claiming early success from the compromise, pointing to welcomed improvements on the economic front. Though he acknowledges that there is a long way to go, President Obama argues that the nation has shown signs of a positive economic trend.

The President opened his weekly remarks by discussing recent jobs numbers showing a dip in the unemployment rate from 9.8% to 9.4%:

"Last month, our economy added more than 100,000 private sector jobs and the unemployment rate fell sharply. This follows encouraging economic news from increased auto sales to continued expansion of our manufacturing sector.

Now, we know that these numbers can bounce around from month to month. But the trend is clear. We saw 12 straight months of private sector job growth - the first time that's been true since 2006. The economy added 1.3 million jobs last year. And each quarter was stronger than the last, which means the pace of hiring is picking up."

Improving jobs numbers took center stage at an appearance by President Obama on Friday during a stop by the Thompson Creek Manufacturing company in Landover, MD. It was there where President Obama announced two new selections to join his economic team. Gene Sperling was appointed to be the new director of the National Economic Council and Heather Higginbottom was nominated as deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget:

President Obama credits last month's tax compromise with strengthening the nation's economic prospects, highlighting recent success due to the energy tax credit for companies as well as listing several additional incentives and benefits for businesses, workers and American families:

"In fact, 155 million workers will see larger paychecks this month as a result of this tax cut. 12 million families will also benefit from a $1,000 child tax credit and an expanded Earned Income Tax Credit. Eight million students and families will continue to benefit from a $2,500 tuition tax credit to make college more affordable. And millions of entrepreneurs in big cities and small towns across the country will benefit not only from the business expensing plan I mentioned, but from additional tax cuts that will spur research and development.

Independent experts have concluded that, taken together, this package of tax cuts will significantly accelerate the pace of our economic recovery, spurring additional jobs and growth."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (1/1/11)

2011-01-01T09:18:00.002-05:00

President Obama wishes a Happy New Year, looks forward to the year ahead

President Obama used this week's address to extended a New Year's Message to the American people. However, while millions of Americans pledge to eat healthier and exericse more at the start of the new year, the President stated that his New Year's resolution is to grow the economy, create jobs and strengthen the middle class. In doing so, the President hopes to sustain what he recognizes as ". . . a few months of economic news that suggests our recovery is gaining traction."

Boosting the nation's economy in the long run, President Obama said, will require a necessary forsight to plan ahead, not just for this year, but for years to come. With the 2010 Elections ushering in a new group of legislators and a Republican-controled House of Representatives, the President noted that the responsibility and accountability moving forward will fall on both parties to help the American people.

Looking towards the future, President Obama outlined some of the important questions facing the nation as it heads into the new year of 2011:

"Still, even as we work to boost our economy in the short-term, it's time to make some serious decisions about how to keep our economy strong, growing, and competitive in the long run. We have to look ahead - not just to this year, but to the next 10 years, and the next 20 years.

Where will new innovations come from? How will we attract the companies of tomorrow to set up shop and create jobs in our communities? What will it take to get those jobs? What will it take to out-compete other countries around the world? What will it take to see the American Dream come true for our children and grandchildren?"

The President's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (12/25/10)

2010-12-25T11:00:00.000-05:00

The President and First Lady of the United States wishing you a Merry Christmas

Remembering our troops and spreading a little holiday cheer, the President and First Lady offer Season's Greetings from our nation's First Family:

Yes Ed, the President was right

2010-12-22T22:01:00.000-05:00

Everyone loves a winning streak. . .

1. DADT repeal
2. Tax Bill (middle-class tax cut, unemployment benefits extension)
3. New START Treaty
4. 9/11 First Responders Bill

Just to name a few.

This President swallowed a bitter pill with the tax cuts bill to get the job done on a host of other issues. If he had listened to his angry critics on the Left, we would not be where we are today.

Where would we be?

We would still be fighting an ideological battle over tax cuts while Republicans continued to run out the clock on this lame-duck session of Congress. That means no New START Treaty . . . No DADT repeal. . . perhaps no 9/11 health bill.

And here's the kicker. Given the fact that Republicans are set to take the House anyways, we'd probably be preparing ourselves for a tax compromise that looks exactly like the one President Obama got a couple of weeks ago.

The President did his job. Rather than engage in political theater to please the base, President Obama did one better. . . he looked out for the best interests of the American people. And, in doing so, this President took a much-needed pragmatic approach to problem-solving. Yes, sometimes it's better to yank the band-aid clear off the wound rather than agonize over the slow peel. The pain is inevitable anyways. Might as well get it over with.

This President salvaged a 13 month extension of unemployment benefits. He salvaged the end of DADT. He salvaged the New START Treaty. In other words, when his critics wanted him to "fight" the President took the road less traveled in American politics. . .

He actually got stuff done.

He swallowed his pride; took an honest assessment of the political realities that lay ahead; and took action.

Too bad we're so accustomed to our perverse politics where loud mouths get credit for. . . being loud. We call it passion. We call it "principle." Sorry, but unless you've got the votes in Congress, I call it a waste of time. In the least, it's political chest-thumping for the sake of ego. Sorry, but that won't put food on the table.

The President hasn't gotten nearly as much credit as he deserves for this impressive list of victories. Some begrudgingly give the President his props before quickly moving to the next ready-made gripe. Others try to ignore the President entirely, instead focusing their attention on Congress or "activists" (as if anything gets done without the President's signature). Still, others shamefully try to rewrite history . . . you know, the whole "Well it was really Joe Lieberman all along" dodge.

However, there have been a few who have given President Obama the credit he deserves. Does it make up for the constant stream of hand-wringing and "Obama threw us under the bus" self-defeatist attitude? Absolutely not. However, if sincere, these mea culpas can be a good start.

To her credit, Rachel Maddow has applauded the President's efforts on more than one occasion this week. And now, it might be time to add another name to the list of "My bad, Mr. President" political pundits.

I give you Mr. Ed Schultz:

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The money quote:

"But, when it comes time to the rubber meeting the road and being strong on the issues, just remember folks - had it not been for the tenacity of this White House; had it not been for the focus and the drive and the determination of the President of the United States - none of this would have gotten done.

And I can say with conviction here tonight, maybe I was wrong on this tax cut issue. These are a lot of victories. But, then again, that's why the President's in Air Force One and I fly a Cessna 206."

Call it integrity. Call it political opportunism. Call it introspection. Call it CYA.

Some are big enough to admit when they're wrong. Others are quick to jump on the bandwagon when the President has a good week. Only time will tell which is which. Either way, President Obama has made more than a few of his critics admit that he might have been right all along.

My guess. . . some of these "fans" will be slamming the President by the State of the Union Address.

But I'll enjoy this for as long as it lasts.

DADT is D.E.A.D.!

2010-12-18T17:03:00.004-05:00

Rejoice. . . and give the President his props!

Yes, in that particular order.

Seriously, a heartfelt congrats to all our GLBT brothas and sistas out there. A long time coming, indeed. A victory well deserved.

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Side note: Just to be on the safe side. . . contrary to Ms. Brewer saying "Go ahead... Ask. Tell.", it might be prudent to hold off on the "telling" at least until the signing ceremony is complete.

So where do we go from here? I've got an idea. . .

1. Celebrate this historic moment (this is the most important thing to do);
2. Give props where props are due (a lot of people did the right thing and fought the good fight);
3. Acknowledge that maybe. . . just maybe, President Obama isn't an enemy of the GLBT community after all (he's taken a lot of hell over DADT, but he did the damn thing and got it done);
4. Dismiss the haters that will never be pleased with what this President accomplishes on their behalf;
5. Start working on the next phase of full equality for our GLBT brothas and sistas.

Seriously. I would love to write a scathing "How do you like me now?!?!" critique of the President's harshest critics on this Don't Ask Don't Tell issue. But why waste my time? Haters are gonna hate. And, at the end of the day, the President's work on the behalf of ungrateful critics is nothing new. . . just ask all those Republicans that repeatedly vote against their own interests.

So, first, rejoice. But, second, give the President his damn props. It's the right thing to do.

I personally liked this exchange on MSNBC this afternoon:

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The money quote?

Rachel Maddow: ". . .this is the President's victory. This is something about which the President took a lot of criticism; a lot of abuse; um, a lot of skepticism from his most, otherwise most loyal supporters on this.

But, this is an issue on which the President did not waiver. He continually insisted that this was possible, that it would get done. It, in fact, was not possible for the President to do this through executive action. This is someting that had to happen legislatively if it was really going to happen in a definitive way.

The President did not waiver. He did work on the Senate to get this [to] happen. He insisted that it was possible against a lot of people, including me, who said it was not possible.

This is a difficult promise kept. It's not just a promise kept, it's one that was hard to keep; that cost a lot of political capital, and a lot of work. And this is the President's victory today, and his base will reward him for it."

Thank you Ms. Maddow, we shall see.

So, again, where do we go from here?

One suggestion moving forward: Coalition politics.

I'm guessing most advocacy groups will continue the fight for marriage equality. But, I'd encourage those groups to also give serious commitment to issues like workplace discrimination, which could facilitate a stronger coalition with other groups that face a common obstacle.

But, that's for the future. For now, the overwhelming vibe from this moment is one of joy. And rightfully so. I'm very happy for our GLBT family. I'm just as happy for this country.

America got just a little bit better today. We're all the better for it.

Congrats!

President Obama's Weekly Address (12/18/10)

2010-12-18T07:51:00.001-05:00

President discusses tax bill and New Start Treaty

In his weekly address, President Obama praised the recently passed tax bill and encouraged Congress to ratify the New START Treaty.

Citing the entirety of the tax bill as an economic boost, President Obama listed some of the benefits Americans will experience:

"Instead of a New Years Day tax hike on the vast majority of Americans, two million Americans who've lost their jobs through no fault of their own will now know with certainty that they won't lose their emergency unemployment insurance at the end of the month. Eight million college students who'd otherwise face a tuition hike next semester will continue having access to the American Opportunity Tax Credit. 12 million families with 24 million children will benefit from extensions of the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. And millions of entrepreneurs who've been waiting to invest in their businesses will receive new tax incentives to help them expand, buy new equipment, or make upgrades, freeing up money to hire new workers."

However, the President quickly pivoted to another very important subject, the New START Treaty. The nuclear arms agreement between the United States and Russia has yet to be ratified by the Senate, leading to further criticisms of partisan bickering and political sparring matches. In his weekly address, the President argued that national security is bigger and more important than political gamesmanship:

"Without a new treaty, we'll risk turning back the progress we've made in our relationship with Russia, which is essential to enforce strong sanctions against Iran, secure vulnerable nuclear materials from terrorists, and resupply our troops in Afghanistan. And we'll risk undermining American leadership not only on nuclear proliferation, but a host of other challenges around the world. Ratifying a treaty like START isn't about winning a victory for an administration or a political party. It's about the safety and security of the United States of America."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (12/11/10)

2010-12-11T08:58:00.001-05:00

President Obama talks tax debate

This week, the President outlined aspects of the proposed tax agreement that he feels will benefit the middle class and help strengthen the economy. Addressing concerns from congressional Democrats, President Obama reiterated his motivation for carrying on with the proposed deal despite concerns over tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans:

"Now, I recognize that many of my friends in my own party are uncomfortable with some of what's in this agreement, in particular the temporary tax cuts for the wealthy. I share their concerns. I don't like those tax cuts either. It's clear that over the long run, if we're serious about balancing the budget, we can't continue to afford these tax breaks for the wealthiest taxpayers - especially when we know that cutting the deficit is going to demand sacrifice from everyone. That's the reality.

But at the same time, we can't allow the middle class in this country to be caught in the political crossfire of Washington. People want us to find solutions, not score points. And I will not allow middle class families to be treated like pawns on a chessboard."

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has a been a leading voice of opposition, using yesterday as a chance to issue a preemptive filibuster-like presentation on the floor of the Senate. Senator Sanders literally spoke from day to night, but here are his beginning remarks:

Democrats opposed to this agreement are now tasked with the responsibility of finding a better alternative that has enough votes to pass the House and Senate. With the Bush Tax Cuts set to expire at the end of this year, the issue appears to be whether critics can devise a better plan that, not only protects the middle class and extends unemployment benefits, but also strips away unwanted concessions (i.e., tax cuts for the wealthy and concerns regarding the Estate Tax). Supporters of the current agreement doubt such a better plan is possible. Furthermore, supporters suggest that, if this debate persists beyond December 31st, the question remains whether it is realistic to believe Democrats could get a better deal next year when Republicans take control of the House of Representatives.

Supporters of the compromise argue that political realities belie claims of a better solution. They further argue that, with little time remaining in the lame-duck session of Congress, coupled with several high-profile issues yet to be settled (such as the New START Treaty and the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell), legislators must take swift action to avoid the potential for a stalemate. Failure to come up with a viable alternative, supporters argue, amounts to little more than political theatre.

Former president, Bill Clinton, met with President Obama yesterday to discuss the tax issue and address the press:

President Clinton discussed a difference between his troubles in 1994 and the issue facing President Obama today:

"The story line is how we worked with the Republicans and all that. But you know, we played political Kabuki for a year, had two government shutdowns; we can't afford that now. The only reason we could do that is that the deficit was already coming down in a time when interest rates were the problem and the economy was coming back - people just didn't feel it in '94.

We can't afford that. We have got to pull together and both sides are gonna have to eat some things they don't like because we cannot afford to have the kind of impasse that we had last time over a long period of time. We - we don't want to slip back into a recession. We gotta keep this thing going and accelerate its pace. I think this [the current agreement] is the best available option."

And now, President Obama's Weekly Address:

Talkin' tax cuts. . .

2010-12-09T18:08:00.003-05:00

The White House breaks it down.

Randi Rhodes just mentioned this on her show. Here's a discussion of the agreement announced this week by the President.

Take a look:

The Double Standard: This President can't punch back

2010-12-09T15:37:00.003-05:00

Yes, if you've watched cable news or read the blogs lately, that seems to be the rule for this President. The Left can bash President Obama all day, every day, but the President can't hit back. And if he does. . . if he even thinks of defending himself or his record, he is cast as an abuser.

This is very much in line with the Left's main weapon of defense: victim politics.

Speak your mind, but claim the victim before your opponent has a chance to speak his. Very predictable.

Now, keep in mind, when I speak of the "Left" I am referring to high profile figures such as politicians, pundits and media. I'm not necessarily referring to ordinary people (who knows what an individual's circumstances might be). However, it's high time we realize that President Obama is undermined just as much, if not more so, by unfair criticism from his own camp than from that of Republicans. Republicans are direct in their hatred. Progressive critics, on the other hand, have mastered an art of the passive aggressive.

The Left has held no punches when it comes to this President. A quick Google search and a look at Cable news will show that President Obama has been called even worse by his so called allies. He’s been called weak. People have attacked his manhood. People have questioned his motives and character. Ed Schultz once floated the idea of sitting out the mid-term elections. Keith Olbermann attacked the President in his Special Comment this week. He didn’t hold any punches.

If they don’t hold punches, why should the President?

This Administration, this President has been called far worse than the equivalent of the “Professional Left.” And let’s stop with the scary black man crap taking place on the left as well. Based on some of the responses you’d think the President literally pimp-slapped every progressive radio and TV host and blogger. He’s got thick skin, it’s time they get some as well. I mean, really, “Professional Left” and “Purist” is nothing compared to the things I’ve read or heard about this President from the Left. Stop trying to make him your enemy and consider the fact that he’s digging us out of a hole we’ve been sitting in for the last 30 years.

And if pundits and politicians want to slap the President on national TV, I feel no sympathy when they get the same treatment in return.

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Umm. . . What about the people?

2010-12-09T15:24:00.000-05:00

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Just some thoughts on the circular firing squad re: tax cuts. This is addressed to the progressive community in general. Some of this has been said before and is currently being discussed now, but it's worth putting it out there.

I’m getting really sick and tired of acting like there are two valid sides to this debate. I have my concerns as well, but one side of this debate is based almost entirely in political gamesmanship while the other is based on the argument that we send our leaders to Washington to actually get things done.

This is NOT The West Wing. Not every issue gets a witty and romantic solution. Sometimes, you just have to do your job. The President’s JOB is to look out for the welfare of the American people, not score political points against Republicans.

Why not reshape the debate. The White House has coined Republicans as the “Do Nothing Party.” Well, that implies that Democrats are the “Do Something Party.” What does that mean? It means that, when faced with the choice of politics or policy, we choose policy. When faced with the choice of focusing on the people or dancing for the pundits, we choose the PEOPLE.

I’m the last to say I know everything about this tax debate. I'm not an expert on tax policy. But I have noticed this: It’s been shown by the likes of Chris Matthews and Lawrence O’Donnell. It’s been shouted by Randi Rhodes, Stephanie Miller and Hal Sparks. Critics of this plan can’t answer the following question: What about the People?

They’ll give a ton of advice on how to “toughen up” or “grow a spine” but they can’t give a valid, practical plan that gets 60 votes in the Senate. The end. Period.

Give me a better plan that has the votes and I’m all ears. But until that happens, these pundits seem as though they could care less about what happens to the POOR (forget the middle class for a second, I’m talking about the poor).

Unless and until critics can come up with a better plan that gets 218 votes in the House and 60 votes in the Senate, this is not a debate for me. It’s frickin’ Christmas. People -- REAL PEOPLE -- are relying on these benefits to LIVE. Forget a Christmas present . . . A lot of these people need these benefits to eat.

Let’s keep it real. Do you hate Republicans more than you love the poor? Weigh the options. Would you rather beat Conservatives than help those in need?

The President was right. This is not an academic exercise. This is not theatrics. This is real life.

We saw this with the public option debate. Ten years ago, President Clinton was begging for a patient’s Bill of Rights. We screamed about 45,000 deaths per year for lack of access to health care. But just because we didn’t get the public option (a provision which, by the way, probably 90% of the critics wouldn’t even qualify for) we had purists advocate that we kill the bill. I’m sorry, but what happened to the 45,000 deaths we were trying to prevent? Why not feel proud of the fact that we expanded access for over 30 million people and made law the very patients’ Bill of Rights that Clinton never got.

It’s time we embrace the fact that Democrats can be the party of Responsibility. For all of its faults, Democrats have the opportunity to embrace the fact that their party might be the ONLY responsible party when it comes for looking out for the people.

Well, it’s that time again. Time to look out for the American people, NOT our bruised egos.

The clock is ticking. Time is short. And if we want to also pass the repeal of DADT, pass the Dream Act (which seems unlikely) and authorize the New Start Treaty, we don’t have weeks to waste on political theater.

Hey critics on the left: This President is doing the best he can with what he’s got. You wanted more, well you should have given him more to work with. You want him to speak up. Funny, but there was a time when people said the President was being over-exposed. You want an inspirational speech. That’s funny too -- a lot of his critics mocked his message of hope from the beginning (See the Primary fight he had with Secretary Clinton).

You want him to take it to the Republicans? I remember this Administration picked a fight with Rush Limbaugh when they got into office. In fact, they tried to make him the face of the Republican Party. Where were you? I remember this administration picked a fight with Fox News last year (basically saying Fox News is not news). Where were you? He gave numerous speeches pushing for Health Reform (including a pep-speech to both chambers of Dems the night before they voted). Where were you? I saw this President lose his voice campaigning for Democratic politicians during the midterms. Where were you? I remember him laying the political smack down on Republicans at their retreat last February. He was the only Democrat in the room and faced each of them in unfriendly territory. Where were you?

The President has a message problem, really? This President has a weekly Youtube address, Twitter account, Facebook page, Organizing for America . . . The list goes on and on. Where the hell are you? How can critics continue to pretend that he does not get his message out. Hell, the real problem is the fact that President Obama is often the only person out in front of the cameras. He’s on the TV every day. There comes a time when such criticism of his message is little more than willful ignorance. He’s talking alright . . . Maybe he’s just not saying what you want him to say.

Please, be honest. How many times has a cable host overlooked (or ignored) one of the President’s accomplishments to talk about Sarah Palin? Let’s keep it real, how much of our discourse is simply a RESPONSE to conservative talking points rather than a proactive (even better, informational) talking point of our own. Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Ed Schultz and all of progressive radio can’t complain about the President’s message machine. . . HELLO, they have their own frickin’ talk shows. They decide what they want to talk about and for how long. They are the ones who had the choice of dedicating an entire segment towards educating the public or an entire segment that talks about Christine O’Donnell. Some do a better job of educating the public than others. But let’s be honest. A lot of the MSNBC line-up is little more than a direct response to whatever crazy thing Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh said that day. The rest is dedicated to regurgitating headlines from sites like Huffington Post. Is this news? I don’t think so. It's more like an echo chamber. This means that they are not driving the message either.

There are a lot of things this President does that don’t get covered by progressive media. And he does have an outreach -- in fact it’s better than any president I’ve seen in my lifetime. He takes advantage of social media and the Internet. President Clinton didn’t have this type of outreach to the American people. Presidents LBJ and FDR didn’t have to face the 24-hour Cable News cycle. None of them had to deal with blogs and comments from every part of the Internet whose sole focus is to highlight the President’s shortcomings and distort his message.

Whatever. To be honest, I did a quick experiment last night and flipped between MSNBC and Fox News. Both had the same message: The President is a loser.

That should tell us something. Either this President is one of the worst we’ve ever had or maybe, just maybe . . . The pundits are wrong. Maybe Rachel Maddow’s wrong when she warns the President is on the verge of becoming irrelevant and is currently a punch line (i.e., a joke) of a leader. Maybe Olbermann, for all of his passion is wrong. Maybe Ed Schultz is wrong.

Maybe. . . Just maybe. . . The guy who got things done is not irrelevant. Maybe the guy who got health care done is not irrelevant. Maybe a guy who, in just two years, has a list of accomplishments as long as this President in the face of an obstructionist Republican party and noncommittal Democratic party is the furthest thing from irrelevant or weak. Think about it. He could leave office tomorrow and our problems would still be here. The problem lies with the career politicians in the House and Senate. Focus your attention on them for once.

My feeling is this. A lot of these pundits don’t speak for me. I agree with a lot of what they say from time to time, but they don’t speak for me. The “base” does not necessarily take offense at the President just because Keith Olbermann or Ed Schultz didn’t like what he had to say that day. Websites and TV Pundits do not a base make. It’s PEOPLE. And these pundits don’t speak for me. I think it’s ok for Stephanie Miller or Randi Rhodes or Chris Matthews or Lawrence O’Donnell to disagree with them on a given issue.

The Left keeps talking about systemic change. Well, I’ve got news for you. . . It takes more than one election and two years to get it done. It takes some compromise and, yes, even a couple of bitter pills and turned cheeks along the way to get it done. Pay closer attention to the Civil Rights Movement. It was nonviolent. It, in many respects, was built on the premise of delayed gratification and small steps, turned cheeks and compromise.

So, you want to see revolutionary change? Forget primarying the President.. . Find a way to take back the House of Representatives in 2012. Find a way to register millions upon millions of new voters. Find a way to educate your communities and engage them so that come election time we can finally see the real American majority take over, rather than pretending that Joe the Plumber is the only valuable constituent. Find a way to get 70 Democrats in the Senate instead of having to rely on the likes of Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson to break a filibuster.

And for crying out loud. STOP with the damn circular firing squad.

President Obama's Weekly Address (11/20/10)

2010-11-20T22:45:00.003-05:00

President to Senate: Ratify New START Treaty

This week, President Obama made another push for ratification of the New START Treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) that he signed with President Medvedev back in April 8th of this year. Here's a quick recap of what the Treaty entails as well as the politics involved:

The President used this weeks address to both answer the Treaty's critics, and argue that its ratification is a matter of national security:

"Over the last several months, several questions have been asked about New START, and we have answered every single one. Some have asked whether it will limit our missile defense - it will not. Some, including Senator Jon Kyl, have asked that we modernize our nuclear infrastructure for the 21st century - we are doing so, and plan to invest at least $85 billion in that effort over the next ten years - a significant increase from the Bush Administration. Finally, some make no argument against the Treaty - they just ask for more time. But remember this: it has already been 11 months since we've had inspectors in Russia, and every day that goes by without ratification is a day that we lose confidence in our understanding of Russia's nuclear weapons.

If the Senate doesn't act this year - after six months, 18 hearings, and nearly a thousand questions answered - it would have to start over from scratch in January. The choice is clear: a failure to ratify new START would be a dangerous gamble with America's national security, setting back our understanding of Russia's nuclear weapons, as well as our leadership in the world. That is not what the American people sent us to Washington to do."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (11/13/10)

2010-11-15T12:11:00.002-05:00

This week the President discussed his foreign trip to Asia and efforts at home to reduce the federal deficit. President Obama stated that he took this trip to open new markets to help U.S. exports:

"The economic battle for these markets is fierce, and we're up against strong competitors. But as I've said many times, America doesn't play for second place. The future we're fighting for isn't as the world's largest importer, consuming products made elsewhere, but as the world's largest manufacturer of ideas and goods sold around the world.

Opening new markets will not only help America's businesses create new jobs for American workers. It will also help us reduce our deficits - because the single greatest tool for getting our fiscal house in order is robust economic growth."

As for the deficit, the President made quick mention of the three-year budget freeze that he submitted to Congress (he had proposed a freeze back in January, 2010), and advocated for limitations to earmarks as a way to reduce unnecessary spending.

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (11/06/10)

2010-11-06T18:44:00.000-04:00

President Obama sets priorities on tax-cuts

Perhaps the largest issue to face Congress during its lame-duck session will be that of tax-cuts. The tax-cuts previously set by President Bush are set to expire at the end of the year. The question, however, is whether Congress should extend those tax-cuts slated for America's top 2%.

Republicans have made it clear that they wish to extend all of the Bush tax-cuts, including those for the wealthiest Americans. However, the President and Democrats have argued that extending the Bush tax-cuts for the wealthiest Americans would add hundreds of billions of dollars to the nation's fiscal hole. Instead, Democrats have proposed that Congress let the Bush tax-cuts expire for those above the threshold of $250,000 per year. Democrats further point to what they see as a lack of preparedness and/or sincerity on the part of Republicans to offset tax-cuts for the wealthiest Americans with meaningful spending cuts in other areas of the national budget.

This week, President Obama used his address to lay out his priorities as far as tax-cuts are concerned. During a press conference earlier this week, the President made it clear that his top priority is to ensure that taxes don't go up on middle class families - a statement that some see as a sign that he is willing to negotiate. This week the President further addressed that issue by reiterating his opposition to permanently extending the Bush tax-cuts for America's wealthiest citizens - a move that he says will cost an additional $700 billion:

"But at a time when we're going to ask folks across the board to make such difficult sacrifices, I don't see how we can afford to borrow an additional $700 billion from other countries to make all the Bush tax cuts permanent, even for the wealthiest 2% of Americans. We'd be digging ourselves into an even deeper fiscal hole and passing the burden on to our children.

I recognize that both parties are going to have to work together and compromise to get something done here. But I want to make my priorities clear from the start. One: middle class families need permanent tax relief. And two: I believe we can't afford to borrow and spend another $700 billion on permanent tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (10/30/10)

2010-11-06T18:37:00.001-04:00

The President set a list of policies that he feels legislators should be able to agree on, regardless of party. Such policies listed by the President were: continued tax relief for middle-class families; allowing businesses to defer taxes on the equipment they buy next year; and increasing, as well as making permanent, the Research and Experimentation tax credit. The President also reiterated his belief that a strong economy is linked to investments in education, infrastructure, and clean energy.

Finally, regardless of the outcome of Tuesday's elections, the President stressed a need for legislators to act in the best interest of the American people, not in the partisan interests of party politics.

The President's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (10/23/10)

2010-10-23T09:51:00.001-04:00

President says Republicans would repeal Wall Street and Consumer Reforms

Less than two weeks before the 2010 elections President Obama warned that, if elected to power, Republicans would repeal certain laws focused on consumer protection and Wall Street Reform. Once again, the President used his weekly address to argue that we can't afford to take a step backward:

"Recently, one of the Republican leaders in the Senate said that, if Republicans take charge of Congress, repeal would be one of the first orders of business. And he joins the top Republican in the House, who actually called for the law to be repealed even before it passed.

I think that would be a terrible mistake. Our economy depends on a financial system in which everyone competes on a level playing field and everyone is held to the same rules - whether you're a big bank, a small business owner, or a family looking to buy a house or open a credit card. And as we saw, without sound oversight and common sense protections for consumers, the whole economy is put in jeopardy. That doesn't serve Main Street, that doesn't serve Wall Street; that doesn't serve anyone.

And that's why I think it's so important that we not take this country backward - that we don't go back to the broken system we had before. We've got to keep moving forward."

As for the threat to repeal Wall Street Reform, the President may have been referring to a PBS NewsHour interview done by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in late September of this year. Here is a video of that interview (question on repeal at around the 7 minute mark):

You can read the accompanying article at PBS' The Rundown here.

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine responded to Senator Cornyn shortly thereafter.

via PRNewswire-USNewswire:

"Yesterday, in an interview with the PBS News Hour, Senator John Cornyn, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, declared his party's intent to "pretty quickly" undertake efforts to repeal Wall Street reform and health insurance reform if they win control of Congress. In response, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine issued the following statement:

'Senator Cornyn is not the first Republican to call for the repeal of Wall Street reform and health insurance reform, but I grow more concerned for our country's future every time I hear another Republican leader pledging to do away with critical legislation that guarantees, among other things, that American taxpayers will never again be left to bail big banks out of a mess that the banks created.

There is a rapidly growing rank of Republicans who show themselves to be hopelessly out of touch with middle-class Americans' concerns – for their families, their finances, and their future.'" (SOURCE Democratic National Committee)

You can read the rest of that statement here.

President Obama's Weekly Address:

He loves her hair

2010-10-21T07:49:00.001-04:00

Some background on the inspiring "I Love My Hair" song from Sesame Street. Turns out, it all stems from a father's love for his daughter:

via NPR:

"Joey Mazzarino, the head writer of Sesame Street, is also a Muppeteer who wrote the song for his daughter. Mazzarino is Italian. He and his wife adopted their 5-year-old daughter, Segi, from Ethiopia when she was a year old."

You can read the rest here.

In Unison

2010-10-18T21:34:00.002-04:00

CNN's iReport made this cool video bringing dozens of choirs together from all over. . .

President Obama's Weekly Address (10/16/10)

2010-10-16T17:24:00.001-04:00

President draws contrast with Republicans on jobs at home vs. overseas

President Obama used this week's address to draw a sharp contrast between his policies and those of the Republicans on corporate tax breaks. President Obama argued that tax breaks should be directed at driving job growth here at home rather than encouraging companies to create jobs overseas. However, President Obama warned that Republicans have a history of supporting the opposite by voting for tax breaks that encourage companies to create jobs out of the country:

"Over the last four years alone, Republicans in the House voted eleven times to continue rewarding corporations that create jobs and profits overseas - a policy that costs tax payers billions of dollars every year. That doesn't make a lot of sense. It doesn't make sense for American workers, American businesses, or America's economy."

In contrast, the President offered the recent Jobs Bill as a better fit for our economy:

"It eliminated the capital gains taxes for key investments in small businesses. It increased the deduction to defray the cost of starting a company. And it's freeing up credit for folks who need it. In fact, in just the first two weeks since i signed the bill, thousands of business owners have been able to get new loans through the SBA."

In addition to the recently passed Jobs Bill, the President explained that he wants to close the tax loopholes that support businesses that create jobs overseas instead of here in the United States. Instead, as an attempt to spur job growth at home, the President wants to give businesses a tax break that would allow them to write off all new equipment that they purchase next year. President Obama also stated that he wants to make the Research and Experimentation tax credit permanent as well as give a tax cut for clean energy manufacturing that takes place in this country.

The President's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (10/9/10)

2010-10-09T07:44:00.001-04:00

The President: Strengthening education, an "economic imperative"

President Obama addressed the issue of education this week, tying it to the country's economic prospects as Americans fight for jobs in an increasingly global economy:

"At a time when most of the new jobs being created will require some kind of higher education; when countries that out-educate us today will outcompete us tomorrow, giving our kids the best education possible is an economic imperative."

The President listed several initiatives such as Skills for America's Future, eliminating the middle-man of subsidies to banks for student loans, and America's Race to the Top program. However, President Obama also argued that Republicans in Congress would have cut education by 20%:

"And yet, if Republicans in Congress had their way, we'd have had a harder time meeting that goal. We'd have had a harder time offering our kids the best education possible. Because they'd have cut education by 20% - cuts that would reduce financial aid for eight million students; cuts that would leave our great and undervalued community colleges without the resources they need to prepare our graduates for the jobs of the future."

Though he acknowledged the need to make tough decisions regarding our national deficit, the President argued that such concerns should not be used as an excuse to cut funding for education:

"Now, it's true that when it comes to our budget, we have real challenges to meet. And if we're serious about getting our fiscal house in order, we'll need to make some tough choices. I'm prepared to make those choices. But what I'm not prepared to do is to shortchange our children's education. What I'm not prepared to do is undercut their economic future, your economic future, or the economic future of the United States of America. Nothing would be more detrimental to our prospects for success than cutting back on education. It would consign America to second place in our fiercely competitive global economy. But China and India aren't playing for second. South Korea and Germany - they aren't playing for second. They're playing for first - and so should the United States of America."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (10/2/10)

2010-10-02T08:01:00.001-04:00

President touts initiatives on solar power and clean energy

This week, President Obama discussed the importance that solar power and clean energy will have on our economy. Claiming a historic commitment to clean energy, the President outlined a vision where new initiatives can account for hundreds of thousands of jobs by 2012. As the President noted, one such project is already underway:

"For example, I want to share with you one new development, made possible by the clean energy incentives that we've launched. This month, in the Mojave Desert, a company called BrightSource plans to break ground on a revolutionary new type of solar power plant. It's going to put about a thousand people to work building a state-of-the-art facility. And when it's complete, it will turn sunlight into the energy that will power up to 140,000 homes - the largest such plant in the world. Not in China. Not in India. But in California. With projects like this one, and others across this country, we are staking our claim to continued leadership in the new global economy."

President Obama also tied this issue to the upcoming November elections, warning that a Republican takeover threatens an end to many of the initiatives that are already set in motion:

"In fact, in the Pledge they recently released, the Republican leadership is promising to scrap all the incentives for clean energy projects, including those currently underway - even with all the jobs and potential that they hold. This doesn't make sense for our economy. It doesn't make sense for Americans who are looking for jobs. And it doesn't make sense for our future. To go backwards and scrap these plans means handing the competitive edge to China and other nations."

And here is President Obama's Weekly Address:

Cable News Narrative + Reality = MEDIA FAIL

2010-09-29T09:17:00.001-04:00

Yes, when it comes to this Obama Administration, our media has a very simple objective: it can either ignore its successes, diminish its effect or distort the President's message. Expect such manipulation following the President's successful rally yesterday at the University of Wisconsin.

See, the media can't stray too far away from its pet narratives of this 2010 Election season. What's the narrative? Well, it goes a little something like this:

The President has lost touch with his base. He has reverted to "hippie-punching" to shift blame away from himself and onto the poor defenseless progressive community. This "progressive community" is unquestionably represented in full by self-proclaimed "progressive" blogs and Internet media that speak for the entire Democratic base, despite any evidence to the contrary. Therefore, if the President has a problem with the netroots, he must have a problem with his base.

That's the meme in a nutshell. It doesn't make sense (the base is far bigger than the netroots), but don't let that throw you.

So, when a supposedly unpopular president holds a rally in a mid-west swing state with a disenchanted base, we should expect crickets, right? I mean, if he's done nothing but "hippie-punch" then surely his base would have no reason to turn out for more verbal abuse (by the way, I guess Obama's base self-identifies as . . . um . . . hippies?). Sure, the President would get a crowd (after all, he is the President) but it wouldn't be anything to brag about. It wouldn't be anything like he had during the presidential campaign.

So let me do the media math:

Supposedly disappointing, do-nothing President
+
Midwest state that can't even decide if it wants to re-elect progressive saint, Senator Russ Feingold
+
Allegedly depressed "hippie-punched" base electorate

= Embarrassingly low turnout for the President last night, right????

WRONG!

Try 26,000 strong. How's that enthusiasm gap going?

Yes, cable news narrative + reality = MEDIA FAIL.

But hey, there's always time for the backup plan: Ignore, Diminish or Distort.

Don't worry, it's coming.

President Obama's Weekly Address (9/25/10)

2010-09-25T11:02:00.000-04:00

President Obama on Republican policy: "It's an echo of a disastrous decade we can't afford to relive."

Framing this election as a crossroads on the future of our economy, President Obama made sure to list the progress we've already made while still acknowledging that not all news is good news if you are unemployed:

"This week, the economists who officially decide when recessions start and end declared the recession of 2008 to be over. But if you're one of the millions of Americans who lost your home, your job, or your savings as a consequence of the recession, this news is of little comfort or value.

Yes, the economy is growing instead of shrinking, as it was in 2008 and the beginning of 2009. We're gaining private sector jobs each month instead of losing 800,000, as we did the month I took office. But we have to keep pushing to promote growth that will generate the jobs we need, and repair the terrible damage the recession has done."

In response, the President mentioned the following additional proposals to address the economy:

Accelerated tax breaks for businesses who buy equipment now;
A permanent research and development tax break to promote innovation by American companies; and
A new initiative focused on rebuilding American roads, rails, and runways.

President Obama contrasted his proposals with those of the Republican party. In short, the President argued that Americans simply can't afford to go back to Republican control:

"Now, the Republicans who want to take over Congress offered their own ideas the other day. Many were the very same policies that led to the economic crisis in the first place, which isn't surprising, since many of their leaders were among the architects of that failed policy. It's grounded in the same worn out philosophy: cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires; cut the rules for Wall Street and the special interests; and cut the middle class loose to fend for itself. That's not a prescription for a better future. It's an echo of a disastrous decade we can't afford to relive."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

Putting a face on poverty

2010-09-19T09:25:00.000-04:00

"I would like everyone to understand that it's not just hitting the very poor poor, it hits everybody. Even someone that's out like me - that's working and trying hard to take care of their family - and I'm not talking about just any family. My kids are great kids, but it hits us hard, harder. So, I want them to see a face on how this economy is affecting us." - Joyce Washington, Single Mother

It's unfortunate that the "poor" makes for terrible politics in our national discourse. Politicians and the media frame the debate in a way that cuts poverty almost completely out of the picture. You have the wealthy, and then you have the "middle class."

Well, in actuality, you have the "middle class," the "working class," the "working poor" and the poor. We allow ourselves to ignore poverty because it's easy to pathologize. In our short-sightedness we point the finger at the poor and say, "It is your fault that you are in this predicament."

It's as if we've come to believe our own hype. It's as if we've come to believe that an education and solid work ethic is all you need to get by these days. Such qualities count for a lot. But, at the end of they day, there are still a great deal of obstacles that are beyond one's control. Like when your company downsizes you out of a stable job. Or when a family member falls ill and hospital bills drain all resources and savings. Or when you've obtained multiple degrees, but no one is hiring.

There's a lot to gain from incorporating poverty into our national discussions on the economy. It's not sexy. The poor can't rely on the sympathy of others. The poor have no "boot-strappers" benefit so often afforded to the "middle class."

But consider this . . . the middle class is shrinking. And when that happens you are left with only two options. You are either a member of the haves, or you're a member of the have-nots. It's as simple as that.

And, in a day and age where some of us wish to qualify annual incomes of $200,000 as "middle class"? Well, all I can say is that the majority of us are much closer to the Joyce Washingtons, Tanisha Phillips and Ann Valdezes of the world than we'd like to admit.

Remember that this November.

President Obama's Weekly Address (9/18/10)

2010-09-18T09:39:00.000-04:00

This election, President warns voters to beware the Republican corporate power grab

The election season is in full swing. And with that comes a host of new political ads to persuade the voter before the midterms. However, there's one big difference between this year and elections past: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 50.

For a refresher, take a look at these remarks made by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, earlier this year:

In his address, President Obama noted that legislative efforts to address Citizens United have stalled in Congress. Warning voters of the impact, the President directed his frustration at Republicans for saying "no" to legislation that would allow for greater transparency in campaign advertising:

"Now, the special interests want to take Congress back, and return to the days when lobbyists wrote the laws. And a partisan minority in Congress is hoping their defense of these special interests and the status quo will be rewarded with a flood of negative ads against their opponents. It's a power grab, pure and simple."

Now, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case allowing increased corporate and union influence in campaign advertising will get its first real test run this Fall. And with this knowledge comes an added responsibility on behalf of the voter to scrutinize what comes on the television and over the radio.

The President has already addressed Citizens United numerous times, but he used this week's address to remind Americans of one important fact: Regardless of outside influences, Americans still possess the ultimate authority - the power of the vote. President Obama made it clear:

"What's clear is that Congress has a responsibility to act. But the truth is, any law will probably come too late to prevent the damage that's already been done this election season. And that's why, any time you see an attack ad by one of these shadowy groups, you should ask yourself, who is paying for this ad? Is it the health insurance lobby? The oil industry? The credit card companies?

More than that, you can make sure that the tens of millions of dollars spent on misleading ads don't drown out your voice. Because no matter how many ads they run - no matter how many elections they try to buy - the power to determine the fate of this country doesn't lie in their hands. It lies in yours. It's up to all of us to defend that most basic American principle of a government of, by, and for the people. What's at stake is not just an election. It's our democracy itself."

The President's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (9/11/10)

2010-09-11T19:33:00.000-04:00

On this ninth anniversary, the President pays tribute to the victims of 9/11.

"We mourn with the husbands and wives, the children and parents, friends and loved ones. We think about the milestones that have passed over the course of nine years - births and christenings, weddings and graduations - all with an empty chair.

On this day, we also honor those who died so that others might live: the firefighters and first responders who climbed the stairs of two burning towers; the passengers who stormed a cockpit; and the men and women who have, in the years since, borne the uniform of this country and given their lives so that our children could grow up in a safer world. In acts of courage and decency, they defended a simple precept: I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper."

President Obama's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (8/28/10)

2010-08-28T14:14:00.005-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

Troop Withdrawal from Iraq and Caring for our Veterans

First, a quick recap of the President's withdrawal plan as laid out in February, 2009. Take a look at the following video from TalkingPointsMemo:

This week, President Obama addressed the troop withdrawal:

As a candidate for this office, I pledged I would end this war. As President, that's what I'm doing. I brought home more than 90,000 troops since I took office. We have closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of bases. In many parts of the country, Iraqis have already taken the lead for security. In the months ahead, our troops will continue to support and train Iraqi forces, partner with Iraqis in counterterrorism missions, and protect our civilians and military efforts. But the bottom line is this: the war is ending. Like any sovereign, independent nation, Iraq is free to chart its own course. And by the end of next year, all of our troops will be home."

President Obama also discussed a list of initiatives directed at assisting our veterans when they come home:

"We're building a 21st century VA, modernizing and expanding VA hospitals and health care, and adapting care to better meet the unique needs of female veterans. We're creating a single electronic health record that our troops and veterans can keep for life. We're breaking the claims backlog and reforming the process with new paperless systems. And we're building new wounded warrior facilities through the Department of Defense."

And regarding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:

"We're directing significant resources to treatment, hiring more mental health professionals, and making major investments in awareness, outreach, and suicide prevention."

The President's Weekly Address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (06/12/10)

2010-06-12T09:44:00.004-04:00

The President addresses the issue of Medicare reimbursements for doctors and presses the Senate for an "Up-or-Down" vote to prevent pending pay cuts -- an issue the President warns could affect the quality of health care for senior citizens.

Speaking of the need for Congressional action, the President cautioned,

"If they don't act, doctors will see a 21% cut in their Medicare payments this week. This week, doctors will start receiving these lower reimbursements from the Medicare program. That could lead them to stop participating in the Medicare program. And that could lead seniors to lose their doctors."

President Obama's Weekly Address (06/05/10)

2010-06-12T09:43:00.001-04:00

The President delivered this week's address directly from the shores of the Gulf Coast. He stressed his commitment to the people of that area and acknowledged the frustration and uncertainty that has been felt. The President noted,

"Often families have been here for generations, earning a living, and making a life, that's tied to the water - that's tied to the magnificent coasts and the natural bounty of this place. Here, this spill has not just damaged livelihoods. It's upended whole communities. And the fury people feel is not just about the money they've lost. They've been through tough times before. It's about the wrenching recognition that this time their lives may never be the same. These folks work hard. They meet their responsibilities. But now because of a manmade catastrophe - one that's not their fault and beyond their control - their lives have been thrown into turmoil. It's brutally unfair. It's wrong. And what I told these men and women - and what I have said since the beginning of this disaster - is that I'm going to stand with the people of the Gulf Coast until they are made whole."

President Obama also listed the various responses that have been made to address the oil spill. In what he called the "largest response to an environmental disaster of its kind in the history of the country," President Obama stated that the following initiatives have already taken place:

17,000 National Guard troops have been sent to the area.
Over 20,000 people are currently working to protect and clean the coastlines.
Hundreds of top scientists and engineers from all over the world have been convened to address the situation.
19,000 vessels have been sent to assist with the cleanup efforts.
Over 4.3 million feet of boom has been sent to the coast. 2.9 million feet of boom is still available.
And 17 staging areas have been set up to defend sensitive shorelines.

The President also assured the public that efforts are currently being made to recoup some of the financial devastation that has been visited upon the area because of the spill. According to this week's address, BP has been ordered to pay economic injury claims and has already received a preliminary bill for $69 million to repay taxpayers for some of the expenses that have already taken place. The President also stated that the Small Business Administration is currently doing its part, approving loans and allowing deferments to existing repayment plans.

Finally, President Obama said that new standards for offshore drilling are currently being put in place and reiterated the creation of a bipartisan commission to examine the cause of the oil spill. President Obama made it clear,

"If laws are inadequate - laws will be changed. If oversight was lacking - it will be strengthened. And if laws were broken - those responsible will be brought to justice."

Here's this week's video address:

President Obama's Weekly Address (05/29/10)

2010-05-30T08:54:00.000-04:00

The President delivers a message to remember our fallen soldiers this Memorial Day Weekend:

Black men share "Kiyama" Pledge

2010-05-30T08:52:00.000-04:00

Don't fall for the lies. . . there are a lot of good black men out there. And they continue to uplift their communities and care for their families.

A group of African-American men are taking a public stand to be better fathers and husbands. They are fighting the negative stereotypes and instilling faith in themselves to uplift their families and communities.

New Haven Independent:

by Allen Appel

Know that the world is not run by people who wear their pants at their knees. Know when to say please and thank you. Don’t let black women raise your children alone. Refuse to be consumed by the myths of black inferiority or white superiority. Oh—and don’t litter.

Forty black men gathered Saturday to pledge to follow that creed.

The event took place at the student center auditorium of Southern Connecticut State University.

It was the the first public taking of the Kiyama Pledge, created by local activist and criminal defense attorney Michael Jefferson.

You can read more about this community initiative here.

Kids know color too . . .

2010-05-25T01:04:00.000-04:00

Self-definition and self-affirmation? Perhaps easier said than done. But, we've gotta start somewhere. We've seen this story before.

Columnist Leonard Pitts asks the question. Is there an answer?

Fort Worth Star Telegram:

A few months ago, a white teacher brought a black girl up to me as I was preparing to give a speech. The teacher wanted me to talk to her. She doesn't think she is beautiful, said the teacher, because she is dark. I asked the girl if this was true and in a soft voice, with eyes averted, she said it was.

And man, what do you say to that? How do you explain the psychology of self-loathing and the futility of judging oneself by someone else's beauty standards, and the cumulative psychological weight of 400 years of being told you are not good enough and the need to embrace and love and value yourself just as you are?

President Obama's Weekly Address (05/22/10)

2010-05-22T08:55:00.001-04:00

The President addressed the BP Oil Spill in this week's video. Among the topics were steps the Government has taken to fix the problem, holding the oil industry and Washington accountable, and the formation of a Commission to examine the disaster and consider ways to prevent similar events from happening in the future:

A further look at the wealth gap

2010-05-20T08:48:00.000-04:00

Seattle Times Columnist Jerry Large delves further into the recent study out of Brandeis University that finds the wealth gap between black and white families has quadrupled since the 1980s. Reach B.L.A.C.K. covered the story, which you can read about here.

via The Seattle Times:

By Jerry Large

The most common culprits are public policies — such as investment and inheritance taxes that favor families that already have money — and discrimination in housing, credit and labor markets, according to the IASP analysis.

White men with prison records are more likely to be hired than black men with clean records.

Black college graduates are twice as likely to be jobless as white graduates.

Hispanic and black families are much more likely to get high-cost home mortgages than white families in the same income group.

The Answer? Better yet, the questions: Where should we target our collective influence to address this problem? Is it a state or federal matter? Is this a legal or political concern? Who are the power players in this equation and what have they been doing or not doing about the issue?

Let's work together. . .