White House Week in Review

Call for Action: On Monday, President Obama traveled to Connecticut to assure Newtown families and all Americans he has not forgotten about that community’s tragedy. The President urged Americans to press Congress to vote on gun legislation:

And now they’re going to start denying your families a vote when the cameras are off and when the lobbyists have worked what they do? You deserve better than that. You deserve a vote.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SH5UFbVqgg

On January 16, President Obama issued 23 executive actions to help reduce gun violence, and called on Congress to pass laws that would help keep guns out of the wrong hands and make our schools safer. The President and Vice President have worked for common-sense measures to protect our children and our communities. Both have spoken with families of gun violence, mayors, law enforcement officers, community leaders and Americans across the country.

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Below is the video of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address on February 12, 2013.  The speech lasts one hour.

Rand Paul, Senator from Kentucky, gave a Tea Party response to President Obama’s State of the Union Address.

“I speak to you tonight from Washington, D.C. The state of our economy is tenuous but our people remain the greatest example of freedom and prosperity the world has ever known.

People say America is exceptional. I agree, but it’s not the complexion of our skin or the twists in our DNA that make us unique. America is exceptional because we were founded upon the notion that everyone should be free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.

For the first time in history, men and women were guaranteed a chance to succeed based NOT on who your parents were but on your own initiative and desire to work.
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Marco Rubio, Senator from Florida, gave a response to President Obama’s State of the Union Address.  Rubio gave his speech in Spanish and in English.

“Good evening. I’m Marco Rubio. I’m blessed to represent Florida in the United States Senate. Let me begin by congratulating President Obama on the start of his second term. Tonight, I have the honor of responding to his State of the Union address on behalf of my fellow Republicans. And I am especially honored to be addressing our brave men and women serving in the armed forces and in diplomatic posts around the world. You may be thousands of miles away, but you are always in our prayers.

The State of the Union address is always a reminder of how unique America is. For much of human history, most people were trapped in stagnant societies, where a tiny minority always stayed on top, and no one else even had a chance.

But America is exceptional because we believe that every life, at every stage, is precious, and that everyone everywhere has a God-given right to go as far as their talents and hard work will take them.
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Are you tired of the political campaigns this year?  They’ve been going on since forever it seems.  The ads on TV and on the radio are often extreme, difficult to watch, and not at all entertaining.  It’s enough to make a person cry.

If you haven’t seen the recent short video of Abigael Evans of Colorado, here’s your chance.  Her mother, Elizabeth, shot the video when she and her daughter arrived at a grocery store.  They had just heard another political ad on a public radio station and it was just too much for Abigael.

By the way, NPR made an apology to the girl and gave her an NPR politics pin, which reportedly cheered her up.  It’s almost over.

This week on American Radio Journal: Adam Tragone has an Off the Cuff wrap-up of the Presidential, U.S. Senate and U.S. House races with Human Events Political Editor and White House correspondent John Gizzi; Lowman Henry gets the Real Story about what issues will top the agenda when congress returns to work from Andy Roth of the Club for Growth; And, Colin Hanna of Let Freedom Ring, USA has an American Radio Journal commentary on White House stonewalling over Bengazi.

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Founded in 1993, the mission of the Lincoln Institute is: “To promote the ideals of free market economics, individual liberty, and limited government through the conduct of public opinion research and related educational programs.”

The Lincoln Institute accepts no government money and is completely funded by philanthropic grant making foundations, corporations, and individuals.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Here are the transcript and the video from the Hempstead, New York  Presidential Debate between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney. Candy Crowley of CNN was the moderator. This was the third of four total debates. The running time is about an hour and a half.

“CANDY CROWLEY: Good evening from Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. I’m Candy Crowley from CNN’s State of the Union. We are here for the second presidential debate, a town hall sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

The Gallup Organization chose 82 uncommitted voters from the New York area. Their questions will drive the night. My goal is to give the conversation direction and to ensure questions get answered.

The questions are known to me and my team only. Neither the commission nor the candidates have seen them. I hope to get to as many questions as possible. And because I am the optimistic sort, I’m sure the candidates will oblige by keeping their answers concise and on point. Each candidate has as much as two minutes to respond to a common question, and there will be a two-minute follow-up.

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Here are the transcript and the video from the Danville, Kentucky, Vice Presidential Debate between Vice President Joe Biden and Representative Paul Ryan. Martha Raddatz was the moderator. This was the second of four total debates. The running time is about an hour and a half.

“MARTHA RADDATZ, MODERATOR: Good evening, and welcome to the first and only vice presidential debate of 2012, sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. I’m Martha Raddatz of ABC News, and I am honored to moderate this debate between two men who have dedicated much of their lives to public service.

Tonight’s debate is divided between domestic and foreign policy issues. And I’m going to move back and forth between foreign and domestic, since that is what a vice president or president would have to do. We will have nine different segments. At the beginning of each segment, I will ask both candidates a question, and they will each have two minutes to answer. Then I will encourage a discussion between the candidates with follow-up questions.

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Here are the transcript and the video from the Denver, Colorado Presidential Debate between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney.  Jim Lehrer of PBS was the moderator.  This was the first of three Presidential debates.  The running time is about an hour and a half.

“MR. LEHRER:  Good evening from the Magness Arena at the University of Denver, in Denver, Colorado.  I’m Jim Lehrer of the PBS News Hour, and I welcome you to the first of the 2012 Presidential Debates between President Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee.

This debate and the next three — two presidential, one vice presidential — are sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates.  Tonight’s 90 minutes will be about domestic issues and will follow a format designed by the Commission.  There will be six roughly 15-minute segments, with 2-minute answers for the first question, then open discussion for the remainder of each segment.

Thousands of people offered suggestions on segment subjects or questions via the Internet and other means.  But I made the final selections.  And for the record, they were not submitted for approval to the Commission or the candidates.

The segments, as I announced in advance, will be three on the economy, and one each on health care, the role of government, and governing, with an emphasis throughout on differences, specifics, and choices.  Both candidates will also have 2-minute closing statements.

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Vice President Joe Biden spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.  The transcript of his speech is below.

“My fellow Democrats, and my favorite Democrat.

Michelle Obama spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.  The transcript of her speech is below.  The YouTube clip of her speech is incomplete because YouTube pulled the entire video due to copyright reasons.

“Thank you so much, Elaine…we are so grateful for your family’s service and sacrifice…and we will always have your back.

Over the past few years as First Lady, I have had the extraordinary privilege of traveling all across this country. And everywhere I’ve gone, in the people I’ve met, and the stories I’ve heard, I have seen the very best of the American spirit.

I have seen it in the incredible kindness and warmth that people have shown me and my family, especially our girls.

I’ve seen it in teachers in a near-bankrupt school district who vowed to keep teaching without pay.

I’ve seen it in people who become heroes at a moment’s notice, diving into harm’s way to save others…flying across the country to put out a fire…driving for hours to bail out a flooded town.

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Former President Bill Clinton spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C.  The full text of his speech is below.

“We’re here to nominate a President, and I’ve got one in mind.

I want to nominate a man whose own life has known its fair share of adversity and uncertainty. A man who ran for President to change the course of an already weak economy and then just six weeks before the election, saw it suffer the biggest collapse since the Great Depression. A man who stopped the slide into depression and put us on the long road to recovery, knowing all the while that no matter how many jobs were created and saved, there were still millions more waiting, trying to feed their children and keep their hopes alive.

I want to nominate a man cool on the outside but burning for America on the inside. A man who believes we can build a new American Dream economy driven by innovation and creativity, education and cooperation. A man who had the good sense to marry Michelle Obama.

I want Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States and I proudly nominate him as the standard bearer of the Democratic Party.

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The following video explains why the current proposed federal budget is a deep concern.  The deficit is too big to be able to balance the budget quickly.  It can be balanced only after numerous years of progress.

Simple arithmetic is used here so it is presented in an easily understood manner.

You can easily find the tables mentioned on the Whitehouse.gov site, among other places.  Here is a link to tables S-1 through S-15 from Whitehouse.gov.

Governor Mitt Romney delivered the keynote address to the 2012 Republican National Convention. August 30, 2012 in Tampa, Fl.

“Mr. Chairman, delegates. I accept your nomination for President of the United States of America.

I do so with humility, deeply moved by the trust you have placed in me. It is a great honor. It is an even greater responsibility.

Tonight I am asking you to join me to walk together to a better future. By my side, I have chosen a man with a big heart from a small town. He represents the best of America, a man who will always make us proud – my friend and America’s next Vice President, Paul Ryan.

In the days ahead, you will get to know Paul and Janna better. But last night America got to see what I saw in Paul Ryan – a strong and caring leader who is down to earth and confident in the challenge this moment demands.

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Ann Romney, wife of Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, addressed the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fl.

“Hello!  What a welcome.
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Thank you.  And thank you, Luce.
I cannot wait to see what we are going to all do together.
This is going to be so exciting!
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Just so you all know, the hurricane has hit landfall and I
think we should take this moment and recognize that fellow
Americans are in its path and just hope and pray that all remain
safe and no life is lost and no property is lost.  So we should
all be thankful for this great country and grateful for our
first responders and all that keep us safe in this wonderful
country.
(APPLAUSE)
Well, I want to talk to you tonight not about politics and
not about party.  And while there are many important issues that
we will hear discussed in this convention and throughout this
campaign tonight, I want to talk to you from my heart about our
hearts.
(APPLAUSE)

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Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan delivered the keynote address to the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL.

“Mr. Chairman, delegates, and fellow citizens: I am honored by the support of this convention for vice president of the United States.

I accept the duty to help lead our nation out of a jobs crisis and back to prosperity – and I know we can do this.

I accept the calling of my generation to give our children the America that was given to us, with opportunity for the young and security for the old – and I know that we are ready.

Our nominee is sure ready. His whole life has prepared him for this moment – to meet serious challenges in a serious way, without excuses and idle words. After four years of getting the run-around, America needs a turnaround, and the man for the job is Governor Mitt Romney.

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Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice addressed the 2012 Republican National Convention. August 29, 2012 in Tampa, Florida.

“Good evening. Distinguished delegates, fellow Republicans, fellow Americans.

We gather here at a time of significance and challenge. This young century has been a difficult one. I will never forget the bright September day, standing at my desk in the White House, when my young assistant said that a plane had hit the World Trade Center — and then a second one — and a third, the Pentagon. And then the news of a fourth, driven into the ground by brave citizens that died so that many others would live. From that day on our sense of vulnerability and our understanding of security would be altered forever.

Then in 2008 the global financial and economic crisis stunned us and still reverberates as unemployment, economic uncertainty and failed policies cast a pall over the American recovery so desperately needed at home and abroad.

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie delivered Tuesday night’s keynote address to the 2012 Republican National Convention. August 28, 2012

“This stage and this moment are very improbable for me.

A New Jersey Republican delivering the keynote address to our national convention, from a state with 700,000 more Democrats than Republicans.

A New Jersey Republican stands before you tonight.

Proud of my party, proud of my state and proud of my country.

I am the son of an Irish father and a Sicilian mother.

My Dad, who I am blessed to have with me here tonight, is gregarious, outgoing and loveable.

My Mom, who I lost eight years ago, was the enforcer. She made sure we all knew who set the rules.
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Today, the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act ensures hard-working, middle class families will get the security they deserve and protects every American from the worst insurance company abuses. The Court has issued a clear and final ruling on this law.

For a comprehensive overview of the Affordable Care Act, visit WhiteHouse.gov/HealthReform and HealthCare.gov.

Let’s take a look at what today’s ruling means for the middle class:

• Insurance companies no longer have unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny you coverage, or charge women more than men.
• Soon, no American will ever again be denied care or charged more due to a pre-existing condition, like cancer or even asthma.
• Preventive care will still be covered free of charge by insurance companies–including mammograms for women and wellness visits for seniors.
• By August, millions of Americans will receive a rebate because their insurance company spent too much of their premium on administrative costs or CEO bonuses.
• 5.3 million seniors will continue to save $600 a year on their prescription drugs.
• Efforts to strengthen and protect Medicare by cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse will remain in place.
• 6.6 million young adults will still be able to stay on their family’s plan until they’re 26.

A major impact of the Court’s decision is the 129 million people with pre-existing conditions and millions of middle class families who will have the security of affordable health coverage.

We should also remember that under today’s ruling, having health insurance is and will continue to be a choice. If you can’t afford insurance or you’re a small business that wants to provide affordable insurance to your employees, you’ll get tax credits that make coverage affordable. But if you can afford insurance and you choose not to purchase it, the taxpayers will no longer subsidize your care for free.

Given today’s ruling, it’s now time to focus on implementing this law in a smart and non-bureaucratic way that works for the middle class.