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.