Week Twenty-Seven

National Scene 7/29 – 8/4/2009

By Linnie Frank Bailey

Six months into his first term, President Obama continues to move the country forward by leading the charge for economic and health care reform. He has adeptly handled distractions, such as the “Gates Arrest Affair,” while fighting a loud chorus of critics who have shown they will resort to outright lies (denying Obama’s birthplace), to diminish the President of the United States. Even in the face of an American success—the large number of Americans trading in cars through the “Cash for Clunkers” program—the critics find fault with Obama. Economic indicators however, show signs of hope that the country is moving past the recession Obama inherited when he became President.

President Obama celebrated his 48^th Birthday on August 4, 2009.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

“What Health Care Reform Means To Me”

At a town-hall meeting in Raleigh, North Carolina, the President addressed health care reform by summarizing what an Obama supported health reform initiative contains. This includes: (from Whitehouse.gov)

• No Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions
• Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
• No Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays
• Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
• No Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care
• Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
• No Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill
• Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
• No Gender Discrimination
• Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
• No Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage
• Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
• Extended Coverage for Young Adults
• Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
• Guaranteed Insurance Renewal
• Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Eclectic Group Nominated for Medal of Freedom

The President announced the 16 recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor. This year’s recipients include:

· Nancy Goodman Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s leading breast cancer grassroots organization.

· Pedro José Greer, Jr., the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Florida International University School of Medicine and founder of Camillus Health Concern, an agency that provides medical care to over 10,000 homeless and low-income patients each year in Miami.

· Stephen Hawking, an internationally-recognized theoretical physicist, who suffers from the motor neuronal disease ALS.

· Jack Kemp, former U.S. Congressman, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and Republican Nominee for Vice President in 1996. (He died in May, 2009)

· Sen. Edward Kennedy, long-serving Senator from Massachusetts.

· Billie Jean King, former tennis player, who champions gender equality.

· Rev. Joseph Lowery, who co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Dr. Martin Luther King.

· Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow, the last living Plains Indian war chief, and author of works on Native American history and culture.

· Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official from a major city in the United States. He was elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. (He died in 1978)

· Sandra Day O’Connor, a Supreme Court Justice from 1981 until her retirement in 2006. She was the first woman ever to sit on the Supreme Court.

· Sidney Poitier, the first African American to be nominated and win a Best Actor Academy Award.

· Chita Rivera, an actress, singer and dancer, who was the first Hispanic to receive the Kennedy Center Honor.

· Mary Robinson, the first female President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

· Janet Davison Rowley, M.D., who discovered the first consistent chromosome translocation in a human cancer.

· Desmond Tutu, an Anglican Archbishop and a leading anti-apartheid activist in South Africa.

· Muhammad Yunus, a global leader in anti-poverty efforts who pioneered the use of "micro-loans" to provide credit to poor individuals.

The “Beer Summit”

Diffusing tensions, as well as the media frenzy that ensued following the President’s comments on the arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Gates—Obama and Vice President Joe Biden sat down with Gates and arresting officer Sergeant James Crowley for a beer in the Rose Garden of the White House.

Friday, July 31, 2009

“This Too Shall Pass”

In his weekly address to the nation, President Obama reminded Americans of the progress the Administration is making in turning the economy back to positive footing. Describing the Recovery Act as, “helping to put the brakes on this recession,”  the President continued to stress the need to weather the storm. He acknowledged the challenges facing the country, saying: “Every day, I hear from Americans who are feeling firsthand the pain of this recession; these are folks who share their stories with me in letters and at town hall meetings; folks who remain in my mind and on my agenda each and every day. I know that there are countless families and businesses struggling to just hang on until this storm passes. But I also know that if we do the things we know we must, this storm will pass. And it will yield to a brighter day.”

Monday, August 3, 2009

First Lady Welcomes Home USNS Comfort and USS Eisenhower

First Lady Michelle Obama, traveled to Norfolk, Virginia to welcome the safe return of the United States Naval Ship Comfort and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. The crew of the USNS Comfort provided aid during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and most recently, provided medical care to countries in the Caribbean, Latin America, and South America. The USS Eisenhower supported missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Mrs. Obama saluted the crews and their families on their outstanding service and devotion to their country.

The President Hosts the Amir of Kuwait

The President met with His Highness Shaykh Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah, the Amir of Kuwait in the Oval Office.  The two leaders discussed strengthening U.S.-Kuwaiti relations during their meeting, with Obama concluding: “Kuwait and the United States enjoy very strong bilateral relations. We are looking to make those relations even stronger. Kuwait has been an outstanding host for the United States Armed Forces during its operations in Iraq. And as we transition our operations in Iraq, it's important for us to emphasize not only our gratitude to Kuwait, but also our ongoing commitment to Kuwait's security.”