Week Twenty-Six

National Scene 7/22-7/28/2009

By Linnie Frank Bailey

Repeating his mantra —“We can get this done. We don't shirk from a challenge,” the President continued to beat the drum for health care reform this week with a prime time news conference and town hall meetings. Hoping for significant progress on a health care reform bill before Congress breaks for a month-long summer vacation, the President had to settle for assurances from Democratic leaders that they will indeed deliver a health care reform bill this fall.

The President’s full court press for health care reform was somewhat side-tracked this week when his comments on the arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, prompted a flurry of news stories on Obama’s statement in which he said the Cambridge police had acted “stupidly.” The President later suggested he could have used different words, and invited both the Professor and the arresting officer for a ‘beer’ at the White House to clear the air. They each accepted the President’s offer.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Obama Meets With Prime Minister of Iraq

As American troops deploy from the Iraq war, President Obama met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to discuss the future role of the United States in Iraq. In a Rose Garden press conference after their meeting, the President described the transition in which all U.S. troops withdrew from Iraqi cities, and transferred power to Iraq’s security forces. Saying the action was “an important step forward,” Obama stressed the importance of the endeavor, “This transition was part of our security agreement, and should send an unmistakable signal that we will keep our commitments with the sovereign Iraqi government. As I said before, we seek no bases in Iraq, nor do we make any claim on Iraq’s territory or resources. Going forward, we will continue to provide training and support for Iraqi security forces that are capable and nonsectarian. We'll move forward with our strategy to responsibly remove all American combat brigades from Iraq by the end of next August, and to fulfill our commitment to remove all American troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.”

The Iraq War, began by the Bush Administration in 2002, had deeply divided both Americans and International supporters of the U.S. Although combat is winding down, Obama made it clear that battles remain: “As we move forward, Prime Minister Maliki and I have no doubt that there will be some tough days ahead. There will be attacks on Iraqi security forces and the American troops supporting them. There are still those in Iraq who would murder innocent men, women and children. There are still those who want to foment sectarian conflict. But make no mistake: Those efforts will fail.”

Press Conference on Health Care

The President brought his health care reform message to prime time, seeking to answer questions and calm the concerns of Americans. Addressing the importance of reform the President stated the following:

“This is not just about the 47 million Americans who don't have any health insurance at all. Reform is about every American who has ever feared that they may lose their coverage if they become too sick, or lose their job, or change their job. It's about every small business that has been forced to lay off employees or cut back on their coverage because it became too expensive. And it's about the fact that the biggest driving force behind our federal deficit is the skyrocketing cost of Medicare and Medicaid.

So let me be clear: If we do not control these costs, we will not be able to control our deficit. If we do not reform health care, your premiums and out-of-pocket costs will continue to skyrocket. If we don't act, 14,000 Americans will continue to lose their health insurance every single day. These are the consequences of inaction. These are the stakes of the debate that we're having right now.”

Obama pointedly described his passion for immediate health care reform by reminding Americans:

“This isn't about me. I have great health insurance, and so does every member of Congress. This debate is about the letters I read when I sit in the Oval Office every day, and the stories I hear at town hall meetings. This is about the woman in Colorado who paid $700 a month to her insurance company only to find out that they wouldn't pay a dime for her cancer treatment -- who had to use up her retirement funds to save her own life. This is about the middle-class college graduate from Maryland whose health insurance expired when he changed jobs and woke up from the emergency surgery that he required with $10,000 worth of debt. This is about every family, every business, and every taxpayer who continues to shoulder the burden of a problem that Washington has failed to solve for decades.”

Thursday, July 23, 2009

President on the Road for Health Care Reform – Too much, Too soon?

The President traveled to Ohio today, where he visited the renowned Cleveland Clinic and held a town hall at Shaker Heights High School. He responded to critics who accuse him of ‘too much, too soon,’ saying, “Whenever I hear people say that it’s happening too soon, I think that’s a little odd. We've been talking about health care reform since the days of Harry Truman. How could it be too soon? I don't think it’s too soon for the families who've seen their premiums rise faster than wages year after year. It’s not too soon for the businesses forced to drop coverage or shed workers because of mounting health care expenses. It’s not too soon for taxpayers asked to close widening deficits that stem from rising health care costs -- costs that threaten to leave our children with a mountain of debt. Reform may be coming too soon for some in Washington, but it's not soon enough for the American people. We can get this done. We don't shirk from a challenge.”

Friday, July 24, 2009

President signals "Race to the Top" for Education

Saying “for too long we have simply talked about the problems of our education system,” President Obama signaled the start of what the Administration calls “The Race to the Top.” The goal is to improve K-12 education, including improving the quality of education and reducing drop-out rates. In comments at the White House, the President ‘dropped the starting flag’ by saying, “The race starts today. I'm issuing a challenge to our nation's governors, to school boards and principals and teachers, to businesses and non-for-profits, to parents and students: if you set and enforce rigorous and challenging standards and assessments; if you put outstanding teachers at the front of the classroom; if you turn around failing schools -- your state can win a Race to the Top grant that will not only help students out-compete workers around the world, but let them fulfill their God-given potential.”

Monday, July 27, 2009

U.S. – China Blueprint for the Future

President Obama addressed the opening session of the first U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. The President, in his trademark manner, presented his vision for the future by first looking at the historical context of the relationship between America and China:

“One hundred years ago -- in the early days of the 20th century -- it was clear that there were momentous choices to be made -- choices about the borders of nations and the rights of human beings. But in Woodrow Wilson's day, no one could have foreseen the arc of history that led to a wall coming down in Berlin, nor could they have imagined the conflict and upheaval that characterized the years in between. For people everywhere -- from Boston to Beijing -- the 20th century was a time of great progress, but that progress also came with a great price.

Today, we look out on the horizon of a new century. And as we launch this dialogue, it's important for us to reflect upon the questions that will shape the 21st century. Will growth be stalled by events like our current financial crisis, or will we cooperate to create balanced and sustainable growth, lifting more people out of poverty and creating a broader prosperity around the world? Will the need for energy breed competition and climate change, or will we build partnerships to produce clean power and to protect our planet? Will nuclear weapons spread unchecked, or will we forge a new consensus to use this power for only peaceful purposes? Will extremists be able to stir conflict and division, or will we unite on behalf of our shared security? Will nations and peoples define themselves solely by their differences, or can we find common ground necessary to meet our common challenges, and to respect the dignity of every human being?

We can't predict with certainty what the future will bring, but we can be certain about the issues that will define our times. And we also know this: The relationship between the United States and China will shape the 21st century, which makes it as important as any bilateral relationship in the world. That really must underpin our partnership. That is the responsibility that together we bear.”

Week Twenty-Five

National Scene 7/14-7/21/2009

By Linnie Frank Bailey

The President turned up the heat on Congress this week to stress the importance of passing health care reform legislation this year. He even took a swipe at one of his Republican critics who suggested being against health care is a way to “get” Obama. The President reminded critics, “this is not about me, it is about the American people” and the need to fix a broken health care system.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

The American Graduation Initiative

Speaking at Macomb Community College in Michigan, President Obama announced an initiative to strengthen our nation’s community colleges, and called for five million additional graduates by 2020. Stating a desire to build on the strength of the nation’s community colleges, and “ensure that we’re educating and preparing our people for the new jobs of the 21st century,” the President rolled out the American Graduation Initiative, which includes:

• Creating the Community College Challenge Fund – a public-private partnership to create career pathways where workers can earn new credentials and build basic skills; expand course offerings and offer dual enrollment with high schools and universities; improve remedial and adult education programs; and, offer students comprehensive, personalized services to help them plan their careers and stay in school;
• Funding Innovative Strategies to Promote College Completion;
• Modernizing Community College Facilities, and
• Creating a New Online Skills Laboratory for community college students.

The President and the “Say Hey” Kid

President Barack Obama met with baseball legend Willie Mays aboard Air Force One. The President gave Mays a “lift” to St. Louis for the All-Star game in which Obama threw out the first pitch. During their meeting, Mays talked about how proud he was to see Obama get elected. Obama in turn thanked Mays saying, “It was because of you and Jackie [Robinson] that we were able to get so far. Your spirit, your attitude, the way you played the game – that changed a lot of people’s attitudes...and here we are on Air Force One. That’s alright!”

Friday, July 17, 2009

Celebrating 100 Years of the NAACP

Over 4000 people at the New York Hilton hotel witnessed the country’s first African-American President address the nation’s oldest civil-rights organization on their 100 year anniversary. Surrounded by many of the leaders who had led the fight the past few decades, Obama delivered a fiery speech that honored their legacy while calling for African-Americans to take ownership of their own future, saying: “Our kids can’t all aspire to be LeBron or Lil Wayne. I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers -- doctors and teachers -- not just ballers and rappers. I want them aspiring to be a Supreme Court Justice. I want them aspiring to be the President of the United States of America.”

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

The President Talks Nuts-and-Bolts on Health Care

Stating, “the status quo is unacceptable” the President expressed his determination to pass health care reform despite fierce opposition from Republicans and special interests. He again outlined his plan stressing, “We must reform health care now to bring down costs, while expanding coverage and providing choice.” Obama defined his plan as:

• Extending coverage and choices for all Americans, “including those with pre-existing conditions.”
• Making sure Americans “won't lose your health care if you change jobs, if you lose your job, or if you start a business.  And you won’t lose your insurance if you get sick.”
• Emphasizing prevention and wellness.
• Limiting out-of-pocket expenses.
• And, promoting choice so that “Americans will be able to compare the price and quality of different plans, and pick the plan that they want. If you like your current plan, you will be able to keep it.  Let me repeat that:  If you like your plan, you’ll be able to keep it.”

Obama says a public option is needed to “keep insurance companies honest” and provide the competition necessary to make coverage affordable.

White House Music Series: Salute to Country Music

The President and Mrs. Obama continued the White House Music Series by hosting Country Music stars in a concert. The event included performances by Country stars, Charley Pride, Brad Paisley, Alison Krause, and Union Station. First Daughters Malia and Sasha joined their parents for the concert. Earlier in the day, over 120 middle and high school students from across the country learned about the craft of songwriting and the genres of country music including bluegrass, honky-tonk and rockabilly.

Week Twenty-Four

National Scene 7/8-7/14/2009

By Linnie Frank Bailey

Barack Hussein Obama – President of the United States, stood at the “Door of No Return” in Ghana this past week. The infamous “door” was where millions of captured Africans last saw their homeland before they were sent into slavery. Although the President himself is not descended from slaves, his wife and daughters are, and as an American of African descent he surely understood the symbolism of his visit.

Through Obama’s visit, African-Americans struggling with the ravages of this country’s economic downturn, were reminded of the fortitude of both those who survived the journey from Africa, and their descendants.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Where is the Stimulus Money?

Various members of the Administration, including Vice President Joe Biden, are meeting with citizens in person and online to identify the use of Recovery Act stimulus funds. The White House maintains a website with Recovery Act information: www.recovery.gov. For the state of California, stimulus fund spending information can be found at : www.recovery.ca.gov.

Some local highlights of recently announced Recovery Act projects include:

• In Riverside, stimulus funds are being used to provide summer jobs to over 4000 disadvantaged young people ages 14 through 24.
• In Corona, funds are being used to save 300 employee jobs, including school counselors and high school librarians.
• Temecula was able to drop planned furlough days for over 2800 school employees because of stimulus funds.
• Stimulus money is funding meals for elderly Inland residents.
• Transportation and water reclamation projects are being funded in the Inland area.

Critics of the Administration, including most Inland Republicans, continue to denounce the stimulus bill as not helping economic conditions.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

President Attends G-8 in Italy

President Barack Obama arrived in Italy for a summit of the Group of Eight (G-8) industrial nations. The meeting took place in L’Aquila, a region of Italy struck by an earthquake in April. Leaders, including Obama, toured the damaged area. The G-8 representatives continued their discussion on ways to combat the global recession and stop Iran’s nuclear proliferation. Obama presided over a side meeting of the major economies with a focus on global climate issues.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Obama Has Audience With Pope

President Barack Obama, his family, and some senior members of the Administration met with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. The President met privately with Pope Benedict and was then joined by the first lady. L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican’s daily newspaper, has given Obama favorable reviews despite disagreements on abortion and stem-cell research. In a break from tradition, Pope Benedict had sent Obama a personal note of congratulations the day after his election and rearranged his schedule to meet with the President following the current G-8 Summit.

U.S. President Online in Africa

In preparation for his first trip as President to sub-Saharan Africa, the Administration collected questions and comments from over 75 African countries via text messaging, Twitter, Facebook, and newspapers. Similar to the way online town halls are conducted in America, the Administration selected journalists in Africa to field questions for the President from the many that were received. The African journalists included:

• Ms. Angela Quintal of Independent Newspapers in South Africa,
• Mr. Mamadou Thior of Radio Television Senegal (RTS), and
• Mr. Peter Kimani of The Standard in Kenya.

President Obama was also interviewed by AllAfrica.com prior to his trip.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Obama Reminds Ghana “Yes We Can!”

Stating, “I have the blood of Africa within me,” President Obama addressed the Ghanaian parliament and President John Atta Mills in Accra, Ghana. Obama, who was warmly greeted by masses of people in Ghana, stated that “despite the progress across Africa that has been made in the latter half of the 20th century and the early 21st, much of Africa’s promise has not been fulfilled.”

In his trademark approach, Obama gave a speech that was part tough love (“Good governance is the key to development…that’s the change that can unlock Africa’s potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans.”) part history lesson, (“Disease and conflict have ravaged parts of the African continent. In many places, the hope of my father’s generation gave way to cynicism, even despair.”) and, part inspiration (“For just as it is important to emerge from the control of other nations, it is even more important to build one’s own nation.”)

The President concluded his speech at the Accra International Conference Center by reminding Ghanaians:

“Here is what you must know: The world will be what you make of it. You have the power to hold your leaders accountable, and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can conquer disease and end conflicts and make change from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes you can .”

Full Circle -- Obama Stands at “Door of No Return”

Following his speech in Accra, the President and first family traveled to Ghana’s Atlantic coast to visit the fort in which men, women, and children were housed in barbaric conditions before being sent on a treacherous journey into slavery. Built in the 1600s, Cape Coast Castle served as Britain’s West Africa headquarters for the trans-Atlantic slave trade, which saw millions of shackled Africans exported to Europe, the Caribbean, and the Americas.

The Obama’s toured the castle including the infamous “Door of No Return” which was the last stop for Africans as they left their home continent. In brief comments the President noted that a church was housed above the dungeons that held the prisoners. He also implied the fort should be a source of hope as well as repository of painful memories saying, “It reminds us that as bad as history can be, it’s always possible to overcome.”

Monday, July 13, 2009

Alabama Physician Nominated for U.S. Surgeon General

President Obama announced his nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin. Dr. Benjamin is an Alabama family physician, who runs the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic, which provides care to people regardless of their financial situation. The clinic was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, however Benjamin, who founded the clinic in 1990, fought to rebuild it. In 2002, Dr. Benjamin became president of the Alabama State Medical Association, making her the first African American woman to head a state medical society. Among her other honors: she served as Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States, and as the Associate Dean for Rural Health at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine.  She was also the first African-American woman and physician under 40 to be elected to the American Medical Association Board of Trustees. She received the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights in 1998.

Benjamin, 52, attended Xavier University in New Orleans and was in the second class of Morehouse School of Medicine. She received her MD degree from the University of Alabama Birmingham, and an MBA from Tulane University. In announcing the nomination, the President highlighted Dr. Benjamin’s dedication to the community, saying “Even though she could have left the state to make more money as a specialist or as a doctor in a wealthier community, Regina Benjamin returned to Alabama and opened a small clinic in Bayou La Batre.”

Rebuilding Urban Communities

In a day-long discussion hosted by The White House Office of Urban Affairs and the Domestic Policy Council policy experts were joined by the President and members of the Administration to discuss the changing landscape in urban communities across the country. The roundtable discussions included what currently works in these environments, as well as how the federal government can be a more effective partner with community leaders.

The President, drawing on his own experience as a community organizer, spoke on some of the challenges facing urban communities today, saying: “What is clear is we’re going to need to do more than just help our cities weather the current economic storm. We’ve got to figure out ways to rebuild them on a newer, firmer, stronger foundation for our future. And that requires new strategies for our cities and metropolitan areas that focus on advancing opportunity through competitive, sustainable, and inclusive growth.”

Obama didn’t just look at the nation’s inner cities, but added, “Even as we’ve seen many of our central cities continuing to grow in recent years, we’ve seen their suburbs and exurbs grow roughly twice as fast -- that spreads homes and jobs and businesses to a broader geographic area. And this transformation is creating new pressures and problems, of course, but it’s also opening up new opportunities, because it’s not just our cities that are hotbeds of innovation anymore, it’s our growing metropolitan areas.”

The President outlined some specific goals, including:

· “Taking a hard look at how Washington helps or hinders our cities and metro areas -- from infrastructure to transportation; from housing to energy; from sustainable development to education. And we’re going to make sure federal policies aren’t hostile to good ideas or best practices on the local levels. We’re going to put an end to throwing money at what doesn’t work -- and we’re going to start investing in what does work and make sure that we’re encouraging that.

· Investments in innovative and proven strategies. The first, Promise Neighborhoods, is modeled on Geoffrey Canada’s successful Harlem Children’s Zone. It’s an all-encompassing, all-hands-on-deck effort that’s turning around the lives of New York City’s children, block by block. And what we want to do is to make grants available for communities in other cities to jumpstart their own neighborhood-level interventions that change the odds for our kids.

· The second proposal we call Choice Neighborhoods -- focuses on new ideas for housing in our cities by recognizing that different communities need different solutions. So instead of isolated and monolithic public housing projects that too often trap residents in a cycle of poverty and isolate them further, we want to invest in proven strategies that actually transform communities and enhance opportunity for residents and businesses alike.”

Sotomayor Faces Senate

The Senate Judiciary Committee began confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor. In her opening statement, Judge Sotomayor addressed the Senators saying, “In the past month, many Senators have asked me about my judicial philosophy. It is simple: fidelity to the law. The task of a judge is not to make the law -- it is to apply the law. And it is clear, I believe, that my record in two courts reflects my rigorous commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to its terms; interpreting statutes according to their terms and Congress's intent; and hewing faithfully to precedents established by the Supreme Court and my Circuit Court. In each case I have heard, I have applied the law to the facts at hand.”

Week Twenty-Three

National Scene 7/1-7/7/2009

By Linnie Frank Bailey

After celebrating the nation’s birthday with military families at the White House, the Obama family left the country for a trip to Russia, Italy and Ghana. In what will be one of the most moving experiences for people of African descent the world over—in Ghana on Friday, President Barack Obama will visit the Cape Coast Castle, where enslaved Africans were once held before being loaded into ships and traded in the Americas and Caribbean.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Online Town Hall Meeting

President Obama held an “online town hall” in which he took questions submitted online, as well as from the live audience, at Northern Virginia Community College. The topic was healthcare and the President reiterated his determination to pass a health care reform bill this year. He heard health care stories and answered questions as he described the Senate’s progress on a plan, “that will hold down costs, improve patient care and ensure that you will not lose your coverage if you lose your job, change your job, or have a pre-existing medical condition.” Obama has stated he wants the health care reform bill on his desk by October 1, 2009.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Green Jobs for a New Economy

Touting a new economy, with energy related jobs as a main pillar—President Obama met with a group of leaders from both large and small energy firms to discuss job creation and long-term plans. In describing Administration plans to grow the economy, Obama stated, “I'm pleased to say that we’ve achieved more in the past few months to create a new clean energy economy than we had achieved in many decades before. The recovery plan will double our country's supply of renewable energy, and is already creating new clean energy jobs.”

The President praised the innovation that is taking place in the energy industry and stressed the importance of continuing the path, saying, “The American people I believe want us to make the right choice….for at every juncture in our history, we’ve chosen to seize big opportunities -- rather than fear big challenges. We've chosen to take responsibility. We've chosen to honor the sacrifices of those who came before us -- and fulfill our obligations to generations to come. That's what we’re going to do this time, as well.”

Saturday, July 4, 2009

The First Family Celebrates the Nation’s Birthday

President Obama and the First Family celebrated their first 4th of July as residents of the White House. Their special guests were military families who gathered at picnic tables and on blankets on the South Lawn to meet the President and enjoy a special concert to honor our troops. The USO sponsored event featured Jimmy Fallon, Michelle Branch and the Foo Fighters. The evening’s festivities closed with fireworks over the National Mall.

In remarks before the concert, the President thanked the troops and their families and pledged as President, “This Fourth of July, I renew my pledge to each and every one of you -- that for as long as I have that immeasurable honor, you will always have the equipment and support you need to get the job done. Your families will always be a priority of Michelle’s and mine, and remain on our hearts and on our minds. And when our service members do return home, it will be to an America that always welcomes them home with the care that they were promised.”

Monday, July 6, 2009

The Obamas in Russia

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, along with their daughters Malia and Sasha, were greeted by Russian President Medvedev and Mrs. Medvedev at the Kremlin in Moscow. President Obama described his meetings with Russian leaders as a chance to push ‘the reset’ button in U.S.-Russian relations. In a joint press conference with President Medvedev, Obama summed up their meeting by saying, “President Medvedev and I agreed that the relationship between Russia and the United States has suffered from a sense of drift. We resolved to reset U.S.-Russian relations, so that we can cooperate more effectively in areas of common interest.”

As a result of the meeting, President Obama and the Russian leader agreed in principle to reduce their permitted nuclear arsenals by nearly a third to try to ease tensions between the former Cold War rival nations. The tentative nuclear accord is intended to serve as a follow-up to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which is set to expire Dec. 5. START was signed in 1991, just five months after the collapse of the Soviet Union and nearly a decade after it was first proposed by President Reagan.

President Obama met with Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin the following day. Putin had been Russia's president--until he handpicked Medvedev to replace him.