Week Thirteen

National Scene    4/21 – 4/28/09

By Linnie Frank Bailey

As the Administration completes the first one hundred days, the President continues his campaign promise of bringing change, common sense, and competence to Washington.  Addressing middle-class concerns such as improving credit card practices, and access to student loans, Obama kept up his pace which included meeting with a world leader, as well as students at a Southeast D.C. High School.  The President added another item to his packed agenda with concerns rising over the Swine Flu outbreak.  He assured the public that he is personally monitoring the possible spread of the disease, and that his Administration will make every effort to keep Americans healthy.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act – “Connecting Deeds to Needs”

Students from the SEED school in Washington, DC were excited to see entertainer Usher at their school, however their most enthusiastic applause was for their President, Barack Obama.  The school of mostly African-American students, located in the Southeast section of the city, is a campus and dormitory for college-bound teenagers which includes public service as a key part of its curriculum.  The President—joined by former President Bill Clinton, Congressional leaders, and community activists—addressed the students after a rousing introduction from Senator Edward Kennedy.

Obama announced a major call to community service prior to signing the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, stating:  “We need your service, right now, at this moment in history….I’m asking you to stand up and play your part.  I’m asking you to help change history’s course.  Put your shoulder up against the wheel.  And if you do, I promise you – your life will be richer, our country will be stronger, and someday, years from now, you may remember it as the moment when your own story and the American story converged, when they came together, and we met the challenges of our new century.” 

Encouraging Americans who wish to serve their community to sign up on the website Serve.gov, the President said now is the time to “connect deeds to needs.”

Obama meets King Abdullah of Jordan

The President held a one-on-one meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan in the Personal Dining Room at the White House, followed by an expanded meeting in the Oval Office. King Abdullah, the first Arab leader to meet Obama in the White House, offered “warm thanks on behalf of many Arabs and Muslims who really had an outstanding response to the President's outreach to the Muslim Arab world.”

First Lady Michelle Obama hosted Abdullah’s wife—Queen Rania in the Yellow Oval Room in the White House Residence.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Obama Returns to Iowa on Earth Day

The Obama Administration celebrated Earth Day with the President in Iowa laying out his vision for creating a new clean energy economy, including independence from foreign oil, reduced pollution of our air and water, and finally addressing climate change. Meanwhile, African-American “Green” activist, Van Jones, who serves the Administration as Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on the Council on Environmental Quality, released a video describing an emerging green economy.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

The President Remembers the Holocaust

President Obama spoke at a Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony, asking, “How do we ensure that ‘never again’ isn't an empty slogan, or merely an aspiration, but also a call to action?” He went on to say, “ I believe we start by doing what we are doing today -- by bearing witness, by fighting the silence that is evil's greatest co-conspirator.”

The President Versus The Credit Card Industry

The President joined the fray over reported abuses by credit card lenders by bringing in

representatives from the credit card industry to discuss the need for greater consumer protections and fairer practices.

The Administration released the following statistics which illustrate the problem:

• Almost half of American families currently carry a balance, and for those families the average balance was $7,300 (in 2007 the median was around $3,000).
• Penalty fees on credit cards are around $15 billion annually, an estimated 10 percent of total credit card industry revenue.
• Approximately one-fifth of those carrying credit card debt pay an interest rate above 20 percent.

After acknowledging that neither credit cards nor credit card companies are inherently bad, President Obama made clear “some new lines in the sand needed to be drawn.” These include:

• Protections that ban unfair rate increases and forbid abusive fees and penalties.  “The days of any time, any reason rate hikes and late fee traps have to end.”
• All the forms and statements that credit card companies send out have to be written in plain language and be in plain sight.  “No more fine print, no more confusing terms and conditions.  We want clarity and transparency from here on out.”
• Allow consumers to comparison shop for cards without being afraid that they're going to be taken advantage of.  “It's important to require firms to make all their contract terms easily accessible online in a fashion that allows people to shop for the best deal for their needs.”

The President ended the session by calling for more accountability in the system with “effective oversight and more effective enforcement so that people who are issuing credit cards but violate law, they will feel the full weight of the law.”

Take Your Child to Work Day at the White House

First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated Take Your Child to Work Day with about 150 children of executive office employees. After welcoming the group, the First Lady answered questions on life in the White House and then grouped the children with volunteers for a tour—including stops at the South Lawn garden and throughout the West Wing. Other activities for participants included a mock swearing-in ceremony and a chat with Secret Service agents.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Increasing Access to College

President Obama spoke at the White House Diplomatic Room with Stephanie Stevenson, an African-American junior at the University of Maryland. After an introduction by Stevenson, who is also a first-generation college student and struggling with the cost of school, Obama took the podium to discuss his efforts to make college more affordable.

Obama started off by repeating his view that the future of America’s economy depends on the quality of our education. “America cannot lead in the 21st century unless we have the best educated, most competitive workforce in the world,” he said as he discussed ways to fund programs that increase college enrollment  Obama is calling for eliminating fees in the federal student loan program by cutting out banks and private lenders as middlemen. Obama said he knows he will face a battle from the banking interests “who have reaped a windfall from these subsidies” however, he will “fight for Stephanie, and other American students and their families.”

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Sojourner Truth Statue Unveiled

The National Congress of Black Women fought for over a decade to get a statue of Sojourner Truth, abolitionist and woman's rights activist, in the U.S. Capitol Building. The project (originally started by their late president, Dr. C. Delores Tucker) became reality at an unveiling ceremony at the Capitol Visitors Center's Emancipation Hall. Guests for the event included the First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who years ago co-sponsored legislation with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee to bring the statue to the Capitol. 

Remarking on the 10 years it took to place the statue in the hall, Representative Lee remembered C. Delores Tucker’s determination, stating, “She must have had this exact time in mind. Who could have imagined that the presidency would be held by Barack Obama, and that the First Lady would be here today?”

Added Secretary Clinton, “What a wonderful day, when Sojourner Truth takes her rightful place alongside the heroes who have helped shape America.”  She briefly recounted the story of Sojourner Truth, born a slave and without the ability to read or write, but who rose to become a well-respected leader for the causes of abolition and woman's suffrage, counting Presidents Lincoln and Grant among her associates.

“Dr. Tucker's driving force for this was that she didn't want children to come to the Capitol and not be told the truth, that African-American women were not involved in the suffrage moment,” said Representative Lee.

During the ceremony, actress Cicely Tyson gave a powerful reading of Sojourner Truth’s most famous speech, “Ain’t I A Woman?”   The hall was filled to capacity with visitors who witnessed this historic event.

Week Twelve

Presidential Archive    4/15 – 4/21/09

By Linnie Frank Bailey

“Teabaggers”, most of whom will benefit from the President’s tax cuts, held protest rallies across the country on tax day, as the President’s economic stimulus money continued to boost state and local coffers. Also this week, President Obama, representing the United States at the Summit of the Americas, reminded leaders: “I didn't come here to debate the past -- I came here to deal with the future.”  While signaling a break from the approach of the past, Obama made clear his support of Democratic ideals and common purpose.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Tax Cuts and Tea Parties

As many Americans rushed to meet the April 15^th deadline for filing their 2008 taxes, critics of the President held rallies across the country protesting his fiscal policies. These GOP-led events were called ‘tea parties’ in reference to the protests over taxation many years ago that led to the Revolutionary War and the founding of our country.  Meanwhile, President Obama used Tax Day in America to highlight his administration’s tax relief for working families, stating:  “I know that April 15th isn't exactly everyone's favorite date on the calendar. But it is an important opportunity for those of us in Washington to consider our responsibilities to the people who sent us here and who pay the bills.”

Addressing those who practice divisive politics, Obama continued:  “For too long, we've seen taxes used as a wedge to scare people into supporting policies that actually increased the burden on working people instead of helping them live their dreams.”  He reinforced his campaign pledge that “families that earn less than $250,000 a year will not see their taxes increase by a single dime. We've given tax relief to the Americans who need it and the workers who have earned it.”

Thursday, April 16, 2009

High-Speed Rail in America

Rail trips between Los Angeles and San Francisco, or from Anaheim to Las Vegas, may get a lot faster in the coming years if President Obama has his way.  Citing France as an example, and stating that his vision for high-speed rail is not “some fanciful, pie-in-the-sky vision of the future,” the President described the possibility of “whisking through towns at speeds over 100 miles an hour, walking only a few steps to public transportation, and ending up just blocks from your destination.  Imagine what a great project that would be to rebuild America.”

Obama in Mexico

The President arrived in Mexico, where he met with President Felipe Calderon. The two men discussed their upcoming trip to the Summit of Americas and US-Mexico economic and border concerns.

 

Obama in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago,

President Obama attended the Summit of the Americas where he met with leaders from the Americas (North, Central, and South) and the Caribbean, to discuss shared concerns—particularly the global economy and erasing poverty.  Signaling a change in approach from past administrations, the President told the leaders they faced a clear choice: “We can overcome our shared challenges with a sense of common purpose, or we can stay mired in the old debates of the past. For the sake of all our people, we must choose the future.”  In an op-ed column by the President that appeared in 15 newspapers across the Americas, Obama stated his intention to increase U.S. partnerships with Latin America and the Caribbean.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Torture Documents Released

The President directed the U.S. Justice Department to release C.I.A. memos describing interrogation techniques used in secret overseas prisons, including waterboarding, forced nudity, keeping detainees awake for more than 10 days straight, and putting them in boxes with insects. President Obama banned such interrogation techniques in a February executive order and in defending the release of the documents stated: “Withholding these memos would only serve to deny facts that have been in the public domain for some time.”  While assuring that the C.I.A. operatives involved will not be prosecuted, the President reminded Americans, “This is a time for reflection, not retribution. We have been through a dark and painful chapter in our history. But at a time of great challenges and disturbing disunity, nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past.”

Simplifiying FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which contains well over 100 questions on income, assets, family characteristics, personal characteristics, and other items—will get a major overhaul by the Obama Administration.  Calling the complicated form “another obstacle to federal student aid” and citing statistics that well over one million students who could qualify for aid went without it because of the form, the administration has begun efforts to simplify the financial aid application process.

Monday, April 20, 2009

First Cabinet Meeting

The President held his first cabinet meeting, and used the occasion to remind his cabinet members of the importance of cutting waste and streamlining their departments.  Obama praised the work done thus far, but reiterated: “There are a host of efficiencies that can be gained without increasing our personnel or our budget, but rather decreasing the amount of money that's spent on unnecessary things…. And in the next few weeks we expect to cut at least 100 current programs in the federal budget so that we can free up those dollars in order to put them to use for critical areas like health care, education, energy, our foreign policy apparatus, which is so important.” The President expects $100 million in cuts within ninety days.

Week Eleven

Presidential Archive    4/9 – 4/14/09

By Linnie Frank Bailey

Upon completion of a successful trip abroad, President Obama recognized the 2000^th project approved under his Recovery Act.  From road construction projects, to child disease prevention programs, the stimulus money makes it way across the country.  The President gave a major economic speech to the nation this week, and quoting Scripture, reminded Americans we must build our financial house “upon the rock.”

Thursday, April 9, 2009

The Obama’s Host Seder Dinner

The Obama family hosted a Seder dinner in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House in recognition of the Jewish holiday of Passover. Friends and White House staff and their families joined in the sit down dinner which included traditional foods such as matzo and bitter herbs, and featured a reading from Jewish religious text. It is believed to be the first time the White House has had a Seder hosted by a U.S. President.

A 21st-century VA

Days after visiting our troops in Iraq, the President announced needed changes for VA Health Centers.  Saying the time is now to give our veterans “the care they were promised and the benefits they have earned,” Obama announced the creation of a “unified lifetime electronic health record” for members of the armed services that will contain their administrative and medical information – “from the day they first enlist to the day that they are laid to rest.” The President signaled a newfound cooperation between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veteran Affairs to better address the needs of service members and veterans, stating as a goal:  “When a member of the Armed Forces separates from the military, he or she will no longer have to walk paperwork from a DOD duty station to a local VA health center; their electronic records will transition along with them and remain with them forever.”

Monday, April 13, 2009

Bo, The First Dog, Arrives

The Obama girls—Sasha and Malia—finally got that puppy their father promised them during his Presidential campaign.  Bo, a 6-month-old male Portuguese water dog was given to the family as a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy. It is reported that Bo is actually related to Kennedy's own two pooches. The name Bo is for Michelle Obama’s late dad who was reported to be a fan of musician Bo Diddley. The national obsession with the First Dog is sure to continue!

The White House Easter Egg Roll

There was double-dutch jump roping at the White House on Easter Monday, along with egg hunts and fun and games as the First Family hosted the annual White House Easter Egg Hunt.  Thousands of lucky children, whose families had signed up online, joined the Obama’s, along with performers  Fergie and Ziggy Marley.

Lifting Restrictions on Cubans

In a statement that was announced in English and Spanish, President Obama signaled an  increased flow of information and humanitarian items to the Cuban people, and a lifting of  restrictions on family travel and money transfers between Americans and their relatives in Cuba. He stressed however, the need for the Cuban government to embrace Democratic values.

Under Obama's plan, Americans would be able to make unlimited trips to visit relatives in Cuba and provide unrestricted financial aid to family members there. The administration will also begin issuing licenses for companies to provide cellular telephone and television to the island, and it will allow Cuban-Americans to pay for relatives on the island to get these services, officials said.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Obama Approves Use of Force Against Somali Pirates

In what is being called his first national security test, President Obama directed the use of necessary military force in the rescue of American Captain Richard Phillips who had been held hostage for five days.  Phillip’s ship, which contained humanitarian aide items, had been hijacked by Somali pirates.  With approval from their Commander-in-Chief, Navy Seal snipers shot the hijackers and the Captain was rescued.

Build Upon the Rock

In a major economic address, held at Georgetown University, President Obama—quoting from the Sermon on the Mount—told Americans we must build our financial foundation as the man who built his house “on the rock,” not on shifting sand. The President began by saying, “I want to step back for a moment and explain our strategy as clearly as I can. This is going to be prose, not hope.”  He continued by describing his actions to date while cautioning that the road ahead may still contain pitfalls.

President Obama concluded: “I want every American to know that each action we take and each policy we pursue is driven by a larger vision of America’s future – a future where sustained economic growth creates good jobs and rising incomes; a future where prosperity is fueled not by excessive debt, or reckless speculation, or fleeting profit, but is instead built by skilled, productive workers; by sound investments that will spread opportunity at home and allow this nation to lead the world in the technologies, innovations, and discoveries that will shape the 21st century.  That is the America I see.”

Week Ten

Presidential Archive    4/1 – 4/7/09

By Linnie Frank Bailey

“Yes We Can!” became a world-wide chant as President Obama took his message across the shores. The President and First Lady left America this week to meet with world leaders overseas.  The successful trip included a visit with Queen Elizabeth and a speech to a Muslim audience in Turkey.  Mrs. Obama made headlines of her own as pundits saluted her fashion choices and her inspirational visit with London school girls. The President  concluded his trip with a surprise visit to Iraq to thank the troops.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

President Begins London Visit With Morning Meetings

Prior to the G-20 summit of world leaders to address the financial climate, President Obama met with world leaders including—British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and Chinese President Hu Jintao. 

President Obama and Brown held a joint press conference in which the President stated:  “Ours is not an alliance of convenience; it is a partnership of purpose. It's a partnership that at times of challenge is resilient and at times of change is constant.”  The Prime Minister told President Obama, “Your first 70 days in office have changed America, and you've changed America's relationship with the world.”

While meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, the President suggested a shift in prior foreign policy by discussing the need for a new arms control treaty. At the request of the Russian President, Obama agreed to visit Moscow in the summer to further arms-control talks. Chinese President Hu Jintao also invited Obama to visit his country and agreed to start an economic dialogue with the U.S.

First Lady Michelle Obama joined the Prime Minister’s wife Sarah Brown for a tour of a cancer treatment center.

The Obama’s Meet the Queen

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were greeted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace in London.  Thousands gathered in front of Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of the first couple. The President and First Lady presented Queen Elizabeth with an iPod of video footage from her 2007 visit to America, along with a rare songbook signed by composer Richard Rodgers. In return, the Queen and Prince Philip gave them a signed portrait of themselves. Afterward, the royal couple held a reception for all the world leaders and the Queen made headlines by extending her arm in a “hug” of Michelle Obama who reciprocated.  It was a rare expression of affection from the royal highness.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Obama at the G-20

While protestors outside clashed with London police, world leaders, including President Obama, met to discuss solutions to the economic crisis gripping most nations.  The President, who said he was there “to listen and learn” took a leadership role at the summit and later held a press conference in which he stated the next steps, include: creating a united international front to create jobs and stimulate the global economy, helping emerging economies stay afloat, and encouraging trade. Obama also insisted there be an international effort to reform financial regulatory systems.

First Lady Makes Surprise Visit to London School

In an emotional visit to students in a poorer part of London, Mrs. Obama told 100 female students at Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School: “If you want to know the reason why I am standing here, it's because of education. I never cut class. I loved getting A's, I liked being smart. ... I thought being smart is cooler than anything in the world.” She encouraged the appreciative girls to follow their own dreams.

House and Senate Pass Budget

While President Obama represented American financial interests at the G-20 in London, members of the House and Senate passed his Fiscal Year 2010 Budget with few modifications.  In the House of Representatives, the Budget – which the President insists will bring economic stimulus and relief to American taxpayers—received not a single Republican vote.

McCain Wants Pardon of Jack Johnson

Former Republican Presidential candidate, John McCain announced his support of a presidential pardon for the nation’s first Black heavyweight boxing champion—Jack Johnson. Johnson, who was immortalized by actor James Earl Jones in the movie The Great White Hope, was wrongly convicted in 1913 for transporting a White woman (who became his wife) across state lines for immoral purposes.  McCain made a similar request to President Bush in 2005.

Friday, April 3, 2009

On to France and Germany

In France, the Obama’s were greeted by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Surkozy. Later, President Obama told nearly four thousand students gathered in a town hall in the Rhenus Sports Arena in Strasbourg, France: “This is our generation. This is our time. And I am confident that we can meet any challenge as long as we are together.”

In Germany, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were welcomed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband, professor Joachim Sauer. During a NATO summit the President spoke of his concerns on the situation in Afghanistan and solicited world support to rid terrorism.

Monday, April 6, 2009

20,000 in Prague to See Obama

Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd of over 20,000 that gathered outside a castle in Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, President Obama acknowledged, “Few people would have predicted that someone like me would one day become the President of the United States. Few people would have predicted that an American President would one day be permitted to speak to an audience like this in Prague.”

Later, Obama addressed a missile launch by North Korea saying, “Rules must be binding, violations must be punished. Words must mean something. The world must stand together to prevent the spread of these weapons. Now is the time for a strong international response.”  The U.N. Security Council met for a three-hour emergency session to discuss possible sanctions against North Korea, however a decision was not made. U.N. Ambassador, and the first African-American female in the role—Susan Rice, represented the United States at the meeting.

The President Visits Turkey

President Obama visited the country of Turkey, which he calls a “critical ally” in addressing the problems in that part of the world. Obama spoke to the majority-Muslim population in a speech to the Turkish Grand National Assembly and acknowledged the positive contributions of Muslims in America and worldwide. He even referenced that he himself once lived in a Muslim nation. The President concluded his visit with a tour of an ancient mosque and a town hall with students in Istanbul. Many Turks lined the streets in support of the new American President.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

President Obama Surprises Troops in Iraq

President Obama’s overseas trip took a surprise turn today, when he made an unannounced visit to Iraq. Landing in the capital city of Baghdad, the President met with Iraqi leaders and American commanders and troops. At Camp Victory, the heavily fortified American base, the President told hundreds of cheering soldiers: “You have given Iraq the opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country. That is an extraordinary