Newsmotion - Inside the White House

Weekly Wrap Up: “What Our Families Deserve”

feed — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:08:28 +0000

Weekly Wrap Up: “What Our Families Deserve”

Fri, 05/17/2013

Obama Cares: On the Friday before Mother’s Day, President Obama explained how the Affordable Care Act is helping women. For example, the law prevents insurance companies from charging women more than men and requires insurance companies to cover preventive services like mammograms free of charge.

Thanks to the women in this room and people all across the country, we worked really hard -- and it’s now been more than three years since Congress passed the Affordable Care Act and I signed it into law. It’s been nearly a year since the Supreme Court upheld the law under the Constitution. And, by the way, six months ago, the American people went to the polls and decided to keep going in this direction. So the law is here to stay.

The President asked Americans to learn the facts about the Affordable Care Act and the wide array of benefits the law is already providing. You can visit WhiteHouse.gov/HealthReform and HealthCare.gov to see what the law does for your family.

Make sure you know what the actual facts are, because you stand to benefit if you’re not already benefiting from this thing. Don’t let people confuse you. Don’t let them run the okiedoke on you. Don’t be bamboozled.

The nearly 85% of Americans who have health insurance are already benefiting from the Affordable Care Act. Now the White House is asking Americans from across the country to speak now in support of health care reform. Lend your name, share your story, and be part of making the law a success here.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/17/weekly-wrap-what-our-families-deserve

West Wing Week: 05/17/13 or “We the Geeks”

feed — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

West Wing Week: 05/17/13 or “We the Geeks”

Fri, 05/17/2013

This week, the President honored fallen officers and top cops, spoke on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, invited both the Prime Minister of England and of Turkey to the White House, and kicked off a new Google hangout series on science and technology.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/16/west-wing-week-051713-or-we-geeks

First Lady Michelle Obama Delivers the Commencement Address at Eastern Kentucky University

feed — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:06:32 +0000

First Lady Michelle Obama Delivers the Commencement Address at Eastern Kentucky University

Sun, 05/12/2013

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during the Eastern Kentucky University commencement at the EKU Alumni Coliseum in Richmond, Ky., May 11, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

First Lady Michelle Obama yesterday celebrated a new class of graduates from Eastern Kentucky University.

"You all went through so much to make it to this day -- the highs and the lows, the triumphs, the challenges, the celebrations, the devastations -- and I'm not just talking about your love lives, either," the First Lady told the graduates. "I'm talking about all those papers you poured your heart into; all those caffeine-fueled all-nighters; those moments of anxiety as you set out on your own, looking to find new friends you clicked with and a new community to call your own."

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/12/first-lady-michelle-obama-delivers-com...

President Obama Celebrates a New Group of TOP COPS

feed — Sat, 11 May 2013 18:19:12 +0000

President Obama Celebrates a New Group of TOP COPS

Sat, 05/11/2013

President Barack Obama honors the 2013 National Association of Police Organizations TOP COPS award winners during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Saturday, May 11, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today President Obama welcomed a group of the nation's best police officers to the White House to celebrate their service and heroism.

"We don't always get that opportunity to stand and applaud the men and women who keep us safe," he said from the East Room. "But they're out there, hundreds of thousands of you, patrolling our streets every single day. And we know that when we need you most, you’ll be ready to dash into danger, to protect our lives even if it means putting your lives on the line. That's what these folks are all about."

The President celebrated more than 40 law enforcement officials -- including Lieutenant Brian Murphy, who was one of First Lady Michelle Obama's guests at the State of the Union earlier this year. Lt. Murphy was the first officer on the scene in response to the shooting at the Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin last August.

"He fought back until help arrived and ordered his fellow officers, who are here today, to protect the safety of the Americans worshiping inside -- even though he was lying there bleeding from 12 bullet wounds," President Obama said. "When he was asked how he did it, he said, 'That’s just the way we’re made.'"

The TOP COPS are chosen by the National Association of Police Organizations each year after being nominated by their colleagues for noteworthy service.

Read President Obama's full remarks here.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/11/president-obama-celebrates-new-group-t...

West Wing Week: 05/10/13 or “I Dare You to Do Better”

feed — Fri, 10 May 2013 04:00:23 +0000

West Wing Week: 05/10/13 or “I Dare You to Do Better”

Fri, 05/10/2013

This week, the President made his fourth trip to Mexico, continued on to Costa Rica, spoke to the graduating class of 2013 at The Ohio State University, hosted the new President of South Korea, discussed hurricane preparedness, and kicked off a series of Middle Class Jobs & Opportunity Tour in the Lone Star State.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/10/west-wing-week-051013-or-i-dare-you-do...

Here's What President Obama Told the Class of 2013 at The Ohio State University

feed — Mon, 06 May 2013 19:36:48 +0000

Here's What President Obama Told the Class of 2013 at The Ohio State University

Mon, 05/06/2013

President Barack Obama delivers the commencement address during The Ohio State University commencement at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, May 5, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

The Ohio State University is an institution that dedicates itself to “Education for Citizenship” -- the Buckeye motto emblazoned on the school seal.

So when President Obama spoke to the Class of 2013 at the school's graduation, citizenship was his theme.

"As citizens, we understand that it’s not about what America can do for us," he said. "It’s about what can be done by us, together, through the hard and frustrating but absolutely necessary work of self-government. And, Class of 2013, you have to be involved in that process."

The President made a pitch for civic connection -- for participation in public life, for engagement in national debates, for community service. He pointed to those who stand up in moments of crisis -- running toward the damage inflicted by the bombs in Boston to care for survivors, helping neighbors dig out from Hurricane Sandy last fall -- as examples.

"We've seen courage and compassion, a sense of civic duty, and a recognition we are not a collection of strangers; we are bound to one another by a set of ideals and laws and commitments, and a deep devotion to this country that we love," he said. "And that's what citizenship is."

Above all, he urged survivors to break through the cycle of cynicism that too often cripples progress in this country.

"Only you can make sure the democracy you inherit is as good as we know it can be," President Obama told the graduates. "But it requires your dedicated, and informed, and engaged citizenship. And that citizenship is a harder, higher road to take, but it leads to a better place."

Read the full remarks. Or watch the video:

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/06/heres-what-president-obama-told-class-...

West Wing Week: 05/03/13 or “Nobody Does It Better”

feed — Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 +0000

West Wing Week: 05/03/13 or “Nobody Does It Better”

Fri, 05/03/2013

This week, President Obama spoke at the Planned Parenthood conference and the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, met with the King of Jordan, made five personnel announcements, celebrated the sciences and the Joining Forces Initiative, and embarked on a trip to Mexico and Costa Rica.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/05/02/west-wing-week-050313-or-nobody-does-i...

Watch: President Obama at the 2013 White House Correspondents' Dinner

feed — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:13:01 +0000

Watch: President Obama at the 2013 White House Correspondents' Dinner

Sun, 04/28/2013

President Barack Obama delivers remarks during the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., April 27, 2013. First Lady Michelle Obama attended the dinner with the President. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

President Obama last night joined Conan O'Brien onstage at the Washington Hilton for the annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, and gave his fifth address to the organization of journalists who cover the White House. In his remarks, the President poked at himself, as well as some of the news organizations and politicians in the room. He also showed a spoof promo for Steven Spielberg's followup to "LIncoln," a biopic called "Obama."

But while everyone had a good laugh during the speech, President Obama closed his speech on a more serious note, reminding the audience of the important role the media plays in American society, especially during times of crisis like the Boston Marathon bombings and the explosion that killed so many first responders in West, Texas.

You can watch the entire speech below or on YouTube:

Speech Slides

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/28/watch-president-obama-2013-white-house...

Weekly Wrap Up: "What You Do Matters"

feed — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 21:50:43 +0000

Weekly Wrap Up: "What You Do Matters"

Fri, 04/26/2013

Watch the West Wing Week here.

White House Science Fair: On Tuesday, President Obama welcomed our country’s youngest scientists and innovators for the 3rd Annual White House Science Fair. More than 100 students from more than 40 states joined the President for the all-day celebration. The President toured the fair and even hopped on a bicycle-powered, emergency water-sanitation station developed by high-school students Payton Karr and Kiona Elliott of Oakland Park, Florida.

The President launched the White House Science Fair in 2009 as way to help encourage science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. In December of 2012 the Administration announced a goal of one million new STEM graduates in the next decade, and the President’s plan works for educational opportunities and support for women and underrepresented minorities.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/26/weekly-wrap-what-you-do-matters

West Wing Week: 04/26/13 or “This Stuff’s Really Cool”

feed — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:44:48 +0000

West Wing Week: 04/26/13 or “This Stuff’s Really Cool”

Thu, 04/25/2013

This week, the Vice President traveled to Boston for a memorial for Officer Collier, and the President memorialized the victims of the West Texas explosion. The President also hosted the Amir of Qatar, the Teacher of the Year, the 3rd White House Science Fair, and visited Dallas with the First Lady for the dedication of the George W. Bush Presidential Center.

Story URL:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/04/25/west-wing-week-042613-or-stuff-s-reall...