Week Thirty-Three

National Scene 9/15 – 9/22/2009

By Linnie Frank Bailey

The President, who has stayed above the fray over perceived racial attacks against him, addressed the issue head-on in a quip during an appearance on the David Letterman Show. “It's important to realize that I was actually black before the election,” Obama pointed out to Dave. “That tells you a lot, I think, about where the country is at.”

This week, Obama continued the push for health care reform and prepared for an upcoming appearance before the Untied Nations.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

President Obama spends Day with America’s Workers

The President began the day at a GM plant in Ohio. He acknowledged the economic downturn that has hit this community hard; however, he called on the workers to maintain their fighting spirit, saying, “We've still got a long way to go. But there is little debate that the decisions we've made and the steps we've taken helped stop our economic freefall. In some places, they've helped us turn the corner. Home sales are up; business investment is starting to stabilize. For the first time in 18 months, we're actually seeing growth in American manufacturing, instead of decline.

Addressing thousands of GM workers, the President restated his commitment to full employment in America, telling the workers: “It's going to take some time to achieve a complete recovery. But I want you all to know, I will not rest until anybody who's looking for a job can find one -- and I'm not talking about just any job, but good jobs that give every American decent wages and decent benefits and a fair shot at the American Dream. That's what I'm fighting for every single day.

After leaving Ohio, Obama traveled to Pittsburgh, PA to talk to workers at the AFL-CIO Convention. The supportive crowd heard the President’s plan for health insurance coverage for all Americans.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

President Barack Obama has proclaimed Hispanic Heritage Month to be celebrated from September 15th to October 15th. The President’s proclamation states: “The story of Hispanics in America is the story of America itself. The Hispanic community's values -- love of family, a deep and abiding faith, and a strong work ethic -- are America's values. Hispanics bring together the rich traditions of communities with centuries-old roots in America and the energy and drive of recent immigrants. Many have taken great risks to begin a new life in the hopes of achieving a better future for themselves and their families. Hispanics have served with honor and distinction in every conflict since the Revolutionary War, and they have made invaluable contributions through their service to our country. They lead corporations and not-for-profits, and social movements and places of learning. They serve in government at every level from school boards to statehouses, and from city councils to Congress. And for the first time in our Nation's history, a Latina is seated among the nine Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States.”

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Obamas Support Chicago for 2016 Olympics

The President and First Lady took time out from their busy schedules to lobby on behalf of their home city – Chicago – to host the 2016 Olympics. In lauding the city, the President said, “I love Washington, D.C. And our house here is a little bigger than the one we got in Chicago. But I've called Chicago home for nearly 25 years. It's a city of broad shoulders and big hearts and bold dreams.” Michelle Obama, who will travel to Copenhagen to meet with Olympics decision-makers, added, “I cannot think of a better city to host the 2016 Games than my hometown. I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago.”

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Health Care Reform and College Students - Why They Will Need It!

The President addressed students at the University of Maryland in College Park, reminding them of their part in the battle for health care reform. Citing statistics on the lack of health insurance coverage among young adults, Obama told the students, “One in three young adults who don't have health insurance live one accident or one illness away from bankruptcy. Nearly half of these young people have trouble paying their medical bills. Nearly 40 percent are in debt because of them. I mean, think about adding the debt you already have for college -- on top of that, another $10,000 or $20,000 or $30,000 or $50,000 worth of debt because you get sick.”

A New Approach to Missile Defense

Acting upon recommendations from the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Administration signaled a new approach to missile defense that is designed to provide a quicker response, and greater defense against attacks, than prior missile defense programs.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Celebrating Rosh Hashanah

President Obama signaled the start of the Jewish New Year - Rosh Hashanah - stating, “This sacred time provides not just an opportunity for individual renewal and reconciliation, but for families, communities and even nations to heal old divisions, seek new understandings, and come together to build a better world for our children and grandchildren. At the dawn of this New Year, let us rededicate ourselves to that work. Let us reject the impulse to harden ourselves to others’ suffering, and instead make a habit of empathy – of recognizing ourselves in each other and extending our compassion to those in need. Let us resist prejudice, intolerance, and indifference in whatever forms they may take -- let us stand up strongly to the scourge of anti-Semitism, which is still prevalent in far too many corners of our world.”

Administration Launches Spanish-Language Volunteer Site

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Obama Administration launched a site Servir.gov, to encourage and support Hispanic volunteer service. According to Whitehouse.gov, the site will allow users to:

--Find A Volunteer Opportunity:  Visitors can enter their zip code and interests to find local volunteer opportunities from a database of more than 250,000 opportunities across the country
--Register A Project: Organizations or individuals looking to recruit volunteers for their efforts can post their volunteer opportunities (in English or Spanish)
--Plan A Project: To help individuals plan their own projects with their friends, family, or neighbors, easy-to-use toolkits in Spanish are available on projects such as organizing a book drive, creating a community garden, or conducting a home energy audit.  Spanish translation provided by AARP.
--Share A Story:  Visitors are invited to share how they are making a difference through service.

The English version is Serve.gov;

The First Lady Visits Farmers Market

Michelle Obama shopped at a new farmer’s market located near the White House, telling visitors to the Freshfarm Market, “Farmers' markets are a simple but major ingredient in solving access issues in many communities. And for those who think that fresh fruits and vegetables are out of their reach financially….I want to reinforce the fact that this market and other farmers' markets around the city participate in the WIC program, the SNAP program, the Double Dollar program, and the Seniors benefits program. And each SNAP and WIC dollar equals two dollars at a farmers' market to purchase fresh produce. So that's something -- and we want to get that word out as well.”

The First Lady Takes On Health Care Reform

Speaking to women’s health advocates, the First Lady reminded the audience that health care reform is very much a woman’s issue because women across the United States are “being crushed by the current structure of our health care.” Mrs. Obama spoke of her husband’s plan for health care reform and the need for passage of the legislation.