President Obama Statement Passing of Jack Murtha

February 8th, 2010

Michelle and I were deeply saddened today to hear about the passing of Congressman John Murtha. Jack was a devoted husband, a loving father and a steadfast advocate for the people of Pennsylvania for nearly 40 years. His passion for service was born during his decorated career in the United States Marine Corps, and he went on to earn the distinction of being the first Vietnam War combat veteran elected to Congress. Jack’s tough-as-nails reputation carried over to Congress, where he became a respected voice on issues of national security. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife of nearly 55 years, Joyce, their three children, and the entire Murtha family.

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Obama Roots For Saints At White House Superbowl Party

February 7th, 2010

Even the President has joined Who Dat Nation, rooting for the team that most of America has adopted as their own. “I guess I’m rooting a little bit for the Saints as the underdog partly just because when I think of what’s happened in New Orleans over the last several years and how much that team means to them,” Obama said earlier this week.

The President sat down with Katie Couric during a pre-game interview and discussed health care, the deficit and other pressing issues, but also took a few minutes to talk football and acknowledge that he wished he could sign an Executive Order mandating a close game. Acknowledging that the Colts are favored, he also said he had a “soft spot in his heart for New Orleans”. He had high praise for Drew Brees who he had gotten to know during the filming of a promotional commercial for kids and sports. He is “a class act, a terrific guy” who has a “wonderful family”. The “Colts have to be favored”, he continued, but he also admitted he might have a bit of an axe to grind as it was the Colts who beat his Bears several years ago.

White House Superbowl Party Guest List:

Members of Congress:
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA)
Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA)
Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)
Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN)
Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT)

Cabinet Members:
Secretary Shaun Donovan
Secretary Arne Duncan
Attorney General Eric Holder
Administrator Lisa Jackson
Secretary Janet Napolitano
Ambassador Susan Rice
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary Eric Shinseki
Secretary Tom Vilsack

The Vice President and his family are spending the weekend in Beaver Creek Colorado.

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Obama DNC Winter Meeting 2010 Full Text Youtube

February 6th, 2010

Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you, DNC. Everybody have a seat — have a seat. Thank you. Oh, it is good to see you — good to be among friends so committed to the future of this party and this country that they’re willing to brave a blizzard. (Laughter.) Snowmageddon here in D.C. (Laughter.) I noticed somebody had “Californians for Obama” and I was thinking — (applause) — you guys are not used to this. (Laughter.)

I’ve got some special thanks to the folks here. First of all I want to thank Eleanor Holmes Norton for fighting the good fight here in Read the rest of this entry »

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White House Daily Roundup 2/5/10

February 6th, 2010

PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS

Arkansas Disaster Declaration

President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of New Jersey and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by a snowstorm during the period of December 19-20, 2010.

Administration Appointments:

Chuck Close, Member, President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

Fred Goldring, Member, President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

Sheila Johnson, Member, President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

Pamela Joyner, Member, President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

Jhumpa Lahiri, Member, President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

Ken Solomon, Member, President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities

No Nominations Sent To The Senate

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President Obama National Prayer Breakfast Full Text Youtube

February 5th, 2010

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you very much. Please be seated.

Thank you so much. Heads of state, Cabinet members, my outstanding Vice President, members of Congress, religious leaders, distinguished guests, Admiral Mullen — it’s good to see all of you. Let me begin by acknowledging the co-chairs of this breakfast, Senators Isakson and Klobuchar, who embody the sense of fellowship at the heart of this gathering. They’re two of my favorite senators. Let me also acknowledge the director of my faith-based office, Joshua DuBois, who is here. Where’s Joshua? He’s out there somewhere. He’s doing great work. (Applause.)

I want to commend Secretary Hillary Clinton on her outstanding remarks, and her outstanding leadership at the State Department. She’s doing good every day. (Applause.) I’m especially pleased to see my dear friend, Prime Minister Zapatero, and I want him to relay America’s greetings to the people of Spain. And Johnny, you are right, I’m deeply blessed, and I thank God every day for being married to Michelle Obama. (Applause.)

I’m privileged to join you once again, as my predecessors have for over half a century. Like them, I come here to speak about the ways my faith informs who I am — as a President, and as a person. But I’m also here for the same reason that all of you are, for we all share a recognition — one as old as time — that a willingness to believe, an openness to grace, a commitment to prayer can bring sustenance to our lives.

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Obama DNC Reception OFA Internet Q&A Transcript Full Text

February 5th, 2010

THE PRESIDENT: “Hello, everybody! Thank you. Well — AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yes we can!

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. It is wonderful to see so many good friends. First of all, I want to thank Michele for the wonderful introduction and great story that she told. I want to thank Tim Kaine, who has been not only an outstanding leader for us but one of the best governors Virginia has ever had. Give Tim Kaine a big round of applause. (Applause.)

I understand we’ve got thousands of people online, so I just want to say to all the folks online, thank you for joining us. We appreciate it. And I want all of you to know right off the bat how much I appreciate what each and every one of you has done — not just for me but for the country.

Many of you were on the front lines in our campaign — some of you from the very beginning, making phone calls and knocking on doors and trudging through the frozen fields of Iowa. (Applause.) You didn’t know the snow was moving this way. (Laughter.)

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Obama DNC Dinner Natl Museum Women in the Arts Full Text

February 5th, 2010

Hello, everybody! Thank you! Thank you! Please, everybody, have a seat. Especially Tom McMullen and Dikembe Mutombo. (Laughter.) Every time I stand next to them I look like a little kid. (Laughter.)

I want to thank three people who are just extraordinarily important to the project of rebuilding our country and have just been great friends of mine, great friends of the Democratic Party. You already heard from one — please give it up for Governor Tim Kaine. (Applause.) Our DNC finance chair, Jane Stetson, who’s racking up a lot of frequent flier miles. (Applause.) And Andy Tobias, our DNC treasurer — hey, Andy. (Applause.)

It is great to see all of you here tonight, wonderful to see so many good friends, many of you who were there from the beginning of this campaign. And I want you to all know that I appreciate everything that you’ve done — not just for the campaign, but also what you’ve done for the country and what you’ve done for the party.

Many of you were invested in this campaign at the very beginning when nobody could pronounce my name. (Laughter.) And you’d tell your friends, there’s this young guy, I really think he’s got something. “What’s his name?” Barack Obama? (Laughter.) Yeah. So you had to confront a lot of skepticism, a lot of confusion. Some of you were involved in a campaign for the first time, and some of you got involved for the very first time in a very long time — because you believed that we were in a defining moment in our history and that your voice could make a difference.

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White House Daily Roundup 2/4/10

February 4th, 2010

PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS

Arkansas Disaster Declaration

President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of North Carolina and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding during the period of December 23, 2009 - January 2, 2010. 

Administration Appointments:

Council of Governors, To Work with Homeland Security and Defense
Governor James H. Douglas, Co-Chair, Council of Governors
Governor Chris Gregoire, Co-Chair, Council of Governors
Governor Janice K. Brewer, Member, Council of Governors
Governor Luis G. Fortuño, Member, Council of Governors
Governor Brad Henry, Member, Council of Governors
Governor Robert F. McDonnell, Member, Council of Governors
Governor Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon, Member, Council of Governors
Governor Martin O’Malley, Member, Council of Governors
Governor Beverly Eaves Perdue, Member, Council of Governors
Governor M. Michael Rounds, Member, Council of Governors

Nominations Sent To The Senate:

Daryl J. Boness, of Maine, to be a Member of the Marine Mammal Commission for a term expiring May 13, 2013. (Reappointment)

Larry Robinson, of Hawaii, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, vice William J. Brennan, resigned.
Myles Watts, Member of the Board of Directors, Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation

Elizabeth Erny Foote: Nominee for the United States District Court, Western District of Louisiana

Mark A. Goldsmith: Nominee for the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

Mark A. Goldsmith: Nominee for the United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

Josephine Staton Tucker: Nominee for the United States District Court, Central District of California

David Fein, US Attorney District of Columbia

Timothy Purdon, US Attorney North Dakota

Scott Parker: Nominee for United States Marshal, Eastern District of North Carolina
Clifton Massanelli: Nominee for United States Marshal, Eastern District of Arkansas

Gerald S. Holt: Nominee for United States Marshal, Western District of Virginia

Kerry Forestal: Nominee for United States Marshal, Southern District of Indiana

Loren Carl: Nominee for United States Marshal, Eastern District of Kentucky

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White House Daily Roundup 2/3/10

February 3rd, 2010

PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS

LETTER TO CONGRESS Advising of
Removal of North Koreas As Sponsor of Terrorism

In part: “I am providing a classified report prepared by my Administration. This report includes information on our examination of the conduct of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) from June 26, 2008, through November 16, 2009, and concludes that the DPRK does not meet the statutory criteria to again be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism.”

INDIA NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS AGREEMENT

No. 2010-04

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE

I hereby determine and certify that:

1. The Agreement between the Government of India and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards to Civilian Nuclear Facilities, as approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on August 1, 2008 (the “Safeguards Agreement”), has entered into force; and

2. The Government of India has filed a declaration of facilities pursuant to paragraph 13 of the Safeguards Agreement that is not materially inconsistent with the facilities and schedule described in paragraph 14 of the Separation Plan presented in the national parliament of India on May 11, 2006, taking into account the later initiation of safeguards than was anticipated in the Separation Plan. You are authorized and directed to publish this determination in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA

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President Obama Governors Energy Meeting

February 3rd, 2010

President Obama today announced a series of steps his Administration is taking as part of its comprehensive energy strategy.

At a meeting with a bipartisan group of governors from around the country, the President laid out three measures that will work in concert to boost biofuels production. Obama said they will be implementing the long-term renewable fuels standard of 36 billion gallons by 2022, reported a new proposal to increase the conversion of biomass to bioenergy, and unveiled a strategy to advance the development and commercialization of a sustainable biofuels industry.

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