Weekly Address: The President’s Plan to Create Jobs and Cut the Deficit
President Obama tells the American people about the budget he is sending to Congress, which makes the tough choices required to grow our economy and shrink our deficits.
President Obama tells the American people about the budget he is sending to Congress, which makes the tough choices required to grow our economy and shrink our deficits.
In Case You Missed It….
Here’s a quick glimpse at what happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov:
Remembering a Legend: On Tuesday, the First Lady hosted 80 high school and college students for a showing of “42,” the biopic of Jackie Robinson — the first African-American baseball player to play major league baseball.
“Jackie and Rachel Robinson’s story reminds us how much hard work it takes to move a country forward,” said the First Lady. “It reminds us how much struggle is required to make real progress and change.”
Prime Minister of Singapore Visits: On Tuesday, President Obama welcomed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore to the White House. The President thanked Singapore for being a strong economic and military partner in the Asia-Pacific region. The President also praised Singapore for providing “a steady vision of how countries in the Pacific region can cooperate effectively.”
BRAIN Initiative Challenge: On Tuesday, the President introduced the “BRAIN” Initiative, an ambitious new research plan to accelerate our understanding of the human mind and find new ways to treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.
Through investments in research and development like the BRAIN initiative, we can lay a national foundation to spur innovation, job creation, and economic growth. The project is one of the Administration’s “grand challenges” in science and technology, which will call upon companies, research universities, foundations, and philanthropists to ensure America continues “to lead the world in the next frontiers of human understanding.” The President is very excited about the project and is confident America will lead the way in innovation:
Ideas are what power our economy. It’s what sets us apart… When we invest in the best ideas before anybody else does, our businesses and our workers can make the best products and deliver the best services before anybody else.
While more work remains to be done, today’s employment report provides further evidence that the U.S. economy is continuing to recover from the worst downturn since the Great Depression. It is critical that we continue the policies that are helping to build an economy that creates jobs and works for the middle class as we dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession that began in December 2007.
Today’s report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that private sector businesses added 95,000 jobs last month. Total non-farm payroll employment rose by 88,000 jobs in March.The February and March employment numbers were revised up by a total of 61,000 jobs. The economy has now added private sector jobs every month for 37 straight months, and a total of nearly 6.5 million jobs has been added over that period.
The household survey showed that the unemployment rate fell from 7.7 percent in February to 7.6 percent in March, the lowest since December 2008. The labor force participation rate decreased by 0.2 percentage point to 63.3 percent in March
Denis McDonough and Gene Sperling
April 05, 2013
03:30 PM EDT
With the Iraq War over and the war in Afghanistan drawing to a close, the Administration has undertaken an unprecedented effort to help our veterans and military spouses find employment and build their careers. Today, the overall unemployment rate for veterans remains below the national rate at 7.1 percent. But for veterans of the post-9/11 generation, many returning to the civilian workforce at a time when our economy, while making progress, is still healing from the Great Recession, too many American heroes are struggling to find work. This is a critical economic challenge that requires our long-term focus, especially as in the coming years over one million service members will be hanging up their uniforms and transitioning back to civilian life.
In August 2011, President Obama visited the Washington Navy Yard to outline his comprehensive plan to ensure that all of America’s veterans have the support they need and deserve when they leave the military, look for a job, and enter the civilian workforce. This plan included a total redesign of the military’s transition program to ensure every service member is “career-ready”; a challenge to the private sector to hire and train veterans; increased access for veterans to intensive reemployment services; and new online tools to boost veteran employment.
A signature component of his plan was a series of significant, new tax credits aimed at getting veterans back to work. In the American Jobs Act the President proposed three new veterans hiring tax credits that greatly expanded the number of veterans eligible to be hired with tax credits. Recognizing the specific imperative of helping veterans dealing with long-term employment, the President proposed in the American Jobs Acttax credits that for the first time offered tax relief at least two times larger than current veterans tax relief for those veterans that have been pounding the streets for over six months looking for work. This includes the Returning Heroes Tax Credit, which provides an incentive of up to $5,600 for firms to hire long-term unemployed veterans, and the Wounded Warrior Tax Credit, which provides firms with up to $9,600 for hiring long-term unemployed veterans with service-connected disabilities.
The President’s tax credits were passed with full bi-partisan support by Congress and signed into law by the President in November 2011 as part of the VOW to Hire Heroes Act, and were extended through the end of 2013 by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.
First Lady Michelle Obama joins school children from across the country to plant the White House Kitchen Garden for the fifth year in a row. This year, Mrs. Obama invited children from schools that have made exceptional improvements to school lunches through implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, in addition to Harriet Tubman and Bancroft Elementary Schools in Washington, DC which have been active participants in the White House Kitchen Garden.
In Case You Missed It…
Here are some of the top stories from the White House blog:
The Employment Situation in March
Today’s report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that private sector businesses added 95,000 jobs last month. The economy has now added private sector jobs every month for 37 straight months, and a total of nearly 6.5 million jobs have been added over that period.
Being Biden Vol. 4: Vital Voices
In the fourth installment of “Being Biden,” the Vice President tells the story behind a photo taken with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton backstage at the Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards.
While more work remains to be done, today’s employment report provides further evidence that the U.S. economy is continuing to recover from the worst downturn since the Great Depression. It is critical that we continue the policies that are helping to build an economy that creates jobs and works for the middle class as we dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession that began in December 2007.
Today’s report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that private sector businesses added 95,000 jobs last month. Total non-farm payroll employment rose by 88,000 jobs in March.The February and March employment numbers were revised up by a total of 61,000 jobs. The economy has now added private sector jobs every month for 37 straight months, and a total of nearly 6.5 million jobs has been added over that period.
The household survey showed that the unemployment rate fell from 7.7 percent in February to 7.6 percent in March, the lowest since December 2008. The labor force participation rate decreased by 0.2 percentage point to 63.3 percent in March.
On the first weekend in June, civic activists, technology experts, and entrepreneurs around the country will gather together for the National Day of Civic Hacking. By combining their expertise with new technologies and publicly released data, participants hope to build tools that help others in their own neighborhoods and across the United States.
It’s a great cause and we’re excited to take part. On June 1, we’ll welcome developers and tech experts to the White House for our second hackathon.
The last time we did this, it was a huge success. We hosted 21 participants who built apps and visualizations based on the new API for We the People — the White House petition system. The White House development team drew on feedback from the hackthaon to improve the API and is adding code from its projects to a software development kit (SDK).
For the National Day of Civic Hacking, participants will focus on producing full, production ready apps and visualization tools that will be featured on the We the People website and made available under an open source license.
West Wing Week: 04/05/13 or “The Scientist-in-Chief”
Uploaded on Apr 5, 2013
This week, the President spoke on the importance of investing in infrastructure at Port Miami, and on reducing gun violence while at the Denver Police Academy. He hosted the Prime Minister of Singapore and Kid President, unveiled the BRAIN initiative, and rolled, read, and relaxed with some of the thousands of visitors to the 135th annual White House Easter Egg Roll.
Friday, March 29th
The President traveled to the Port Miami tunnel project on Dodge Island, the result of three years of work by 500 employees and more than 6,000 sub-contractors and vendors.
Monday, April 1st
Thousands gathered on the South Lawn of the White House to celebrate the Easter Egg Roll with the first family and many other special guests.
The White House released an April Fools video featuring Kid President who was on hand to help celebrate the Easter Egg Roll.
Tuesday, April 2nd
The President unveiled the “BRAIN” Initiative–short for Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies.
The First Lady welcomed 80 high school and college students from across the country to take part in an interactive student workshop with the cast and crew of the film 42.
The President hosted Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore to the White House, to discuss our strong economic and security ties and the ways that this strategic partnership can ensure the continued peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.
Wednesday, April 3rd
The President traveled to the Denver Police Academy where he joined a roundtable meeting and discussed initiatives to reduce gun violence.
Thursday, April 4th
The First Lady joined school children from across the country to plant the White House Kitchen Garden for the fifth year in a row.
Women’s History Month might be over, but President Obama’s efforts to support women and girls continue all year. So, yesterday, we welcomed a group of remarkable young women to the White House as part of the ANNpower/ Vital Voices Leadership Forum.
These two organizations support the empowerment of women and girls both here and around the world. High school sophomores and juniors from around the country came to the White House to hear from a panel of White House staffers who shared their professional experiences and career paths, talking about different ways they followed their passions.
This stop at the White House was part of a three-day tour in Washington DC for the students, who also took part in leadership training, meeting with women leaders, such as former Secretary State Hillary Clinton, and visiting the monuments.
Our hope is that these young women will take what they’ve learned here and become leaders in their own communities. We’re looking forward to seeing what they accomplish.
Valerie Jarrett is a Senior Advisor to President Obama and Chair of the Council on Women and Girls.
Today, President Obama unveiled the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative, which aims to help researchers find new ways to treat, cure, and even prevent brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.
The First Family today welcomed more than 30,000 guests to the South Lawn for the 135th annual White House Easter Egg Roll. This year’s theme, “Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You” was inspired by Let’s Move!, and the day’s fun included numerous opportunities for the young guests to get moving, from the traditional Egg Roll to the Eggtivity Zone, an obstacle course where players and coaches from professional sports teams taught kids how to play sports and showed them easy, fun ways to stay active and fit.
After being introduced to the crowd from the Blue Room Balcony by “Kid President” Robbie Novak, President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia and Sasha headed over to cheer on some of the youngest visitors as they raced down the Lawn in the Egg Roll. The President and Bo then made their way to the Storytime Stage where he gave a dramatic reading of “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”, calling it “one of my favorite books.” Next up for the President was a drop by at the White House basketball court, where he joined some of the Washington Wizards in throwing the ball around with kids.
First Lady Michelle Obama speaks alongside actors Harrison Ford and Chadwick Boseman as she welcomes high school and college students from across the country for a workshop with the cast and crew of the film 42
Film Workshop for Students: 42
Published on Apr 2, 2013
Following a welcome from First Lady Michelle Obama, 80 high school and college students from across the country participate in an interactive student workshop with the cast and crew of the film “42.”
MRS. OBAMA: Welcome to the White House. (Laughter.) It’s nice. Let’s do this. (Applause.) I know sometimes it’s hard to know how are you supposed to act in the White House. (Laughter.) Everybody is sitting with their — just loosen up, loosen up. It’s okay. You all are here. You’re just going to talk. I can tell you all talk a lot. (Laughter.) So you’re just going to talk a little more right here in the White House. We are honored to have you. Welcome, welcome.
Let me start today by thanking Paulette for moderating today’s workshop. Paulette is the new Director of the Office of Public Engagement right here in the White House, and we’re glad to have her on our team. I want to give her a round of applause — Paulette. (Applause.)
I want to thank Harrison Ford — I’ve wanted to say that for a while. (Laughter.) Harrison Ford. So you think you trip because I’m here? I’m tripping out — (laughter) — because he’s here. And look at this stage — Mr. Harrison Ford, Chadwick Boseman — he’s as cute as he was in the movie. (Laughter.) Just admit it. (Applause.) Outstanding — as well as Brian Helgeland, who is here as well. You’re going to hear from them.
And I want to thank all of you young people here, because I want to make sure I know who’s here. We have students from Gaithersburg, Maryland — who are you, where are you? (Applause.) Maryland in the house. Alexandria, Virginia. (Applause.) You guys are here. We’ve got some D.C. kids. (Applause.) Of course you all are the loudest ones. (Laughter.) It’s okay. We’ve got students from the Animo Jackie Robinson Charter High School in Los Angeles — where are our L.A. kids? (Applause.) There you go. You can be louder. (Laughter.) It’s okay, you all traveled.
But I want to make sure that you all know how welcome you are here in this house, because the truth is we do these things — we make sure that we do these workshops so that you all know that this is your house, too. So we want you to make yourselves at home. We want you to feel good and relaxed and learn and ask questions, okay?
And finally, I saved the best for last. I want to pay special thanks to a woman that I am totally in awe of. And I’m not going to get emotional. I’m going to say that now, because I can tend to get emotional. But she’s a woman of strength, of courage, conviction; a woman who paved the way for me, but she paved the way for millions of Americans all across this country. We have with us Mrs. Rachel Robinson. (Applause.)
And this is what a beautiful woman looks like. She is a proud 90-years-old, and I’m telling you that because she told me she’s proud of it. (Laughter.) And I told her she wouldn’t have to tell anybody how old she was because she doesn’t look a day over 40 (laughter) — beautiful, and smart, and gifted, and graceful. So we are just so thrilled to have everyone here.
Now, the President and I, we watched this movie over the weekend. It was just us, because our girls were away. And they are definitely going to watch this movie. We think that everybody in this country needs to watch this movie. And I can say with all sincerity that it was truly powerful for us. I don’t know about you, but we walked away from that just visibly, physically moved by the experience of the movie, of the story.
And it wasn’t simply the wonderful performances, because the performances were brilliant — brilliant. I mean, I’m no movie critic, but you all are pretty good. (Laughter.) And it wasn’t the wonderful screenwriting or the directing. It was the raw emotion that it just makes you feel after the experience. I mean, watching anyone go through what Jackie and Rachel Robinson did — the outright discrimination they encountered at every turn, from the fans in the stadium to the airport receptionist, even from some of his own teammates. And you’re left just asking yourselves, how on Earth did they live through that? How did they do it? How did they endure the taunts and the bigotry for all of that time?
And while so many in this country still face clear challenges, they still exist today. I was struck by how far removed that way of life seems today. I mean, there’s work to be done, but things have changed. Major League Baseball is fully integrated. You can’t imagine the baseball league not being integrated. There are no more “Whites Only” signs posted anywhere in this country. Although it still happens, it is far less acceptable for someone to yell out a racial slur while you’re walking down the street — it still happens, but not tolerated. That kind of prejudice is simply just not something that can happen in the light of day today.
And then on the other hand, for us to be able to sit in the same room as Rachel Robinson — do you all understand? We are here with Rachel Robinson — (applause) — the woman who lived through that life whose memories and perspectives will forever be shaped by those experiences. Her presence here today makes us realize just how connected we are to that part of our history. It is very real and very tangible. In the end, I can’t help but marvel at just how far we’ve come over the course of this woman’s life. But it also remind us how far we have to go, how much more work we have to do.
Jackie and Rachel Robinson’s story reminds us how muc hard work it takes to move a country forward. It reminds us how much struggle is required to make real progress and change.
So as you reflect on this story, not just today, but I hope you keep thinking about it for the rest of your life, I want you to think about how much strength it took day in and day out for Rachel and Jackie Robinson and for thousands of other people just like them all across this country to keep pressing ahead, even though some folks wouldn’t even treat them like they were human beings. They just kept pressing ahead.
It would have been easy for them to get mad, because I know I was mad just watching the movie. It would have been easy for them to get mad or to give up. But instead, they made hate — they met hatred with decency. I want you all to keep that in mind — they met hatred with decency. And, more importantly, they gave their absolute very best every single day — do you hear — they gave their best every single day.
From the time they were young people just like all of you, they worked hard to prepare themselves for greatness so that when the opportunity came their way, they were ready for that greatness. This would have been a totally different story had they not been prepared, had they not trained themselves, had they not educated themselves.
Yes, Jackie Robinson certainly was a tremendous athlete, but he was so much more than that. He bravely served in our Armed Forces. He attended college at UCLA. He competed as hard as he could at everything he did so that his gifts wouldn’t go to waste. And Rachel Robinson was in every way his equal, ladies — in every way his equal. She made her education a priority. She worked hard in school. She eventually became a nurse.
So Jackie and Rachel Robinson weren’t destined for greatness — they prepared themselves for greatness, which meant that they could make a difference outside of baseball, as well. And that is the only thing that is important for you to understand. You can be great in your profession, you can earn a lot of money, you can be famous, but the question is what are you doing for others.
After he retired, Jackie Robinson became a leader in the Civil Rights Movement working with Dr. King, the NAACP. He helped to start a bank to help other minorities start their own small businesses and to own their own homes. And after his death, Mrs. Robinson carried on that legacy by starting the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which has provided college scholarships and training and career opportunities for more than 1,400 underserved students. In fact, I know that we have a few Jackie Robinson scholars here today who are studying at Howard, and Georgetown, and Yale, and Brown, and even my alma mater, Princeton — righteous. (Laughter.)
And I have seen the quality of these scholars firsthand because one of my personal assistants, little Kristin Jones, was a Jackie Robinson scholar in 2003. And I was couldn’t be more impressed by the work that she has done and the young woman that she has become — very proud of you. And more than anything else, that is Jackie Robinson’s legacy — opening up a whole new world of opportunities to young people like Kristin and every single one of you here today.
And that’s why it was so important for me to have all of you here for this event. We intentionally did this. Now, we’re going to have a screening for a bunch of fancy people somewhere later on down the line, but we wanted to be here with you. Because this isn’t just about watching a wonderful movie about an important moment in history, this is about helping all of you believe that you can write your own history.
And I can’t say this enough to enough young people — you might not be able to hit a ball like Jackie Robinson, but you can get your education. In fact, you must get your education and demand more of yourself every single day. You have to do that, and you have to pick up yourself when somebody knocks you down — because you will get knocked down. But to do all of that, you have to put the work in. That’s all I have to say.
All of this is about hard work. And you have to be willing to face any obstacle you might encounter along the way. That’s what Jackie and Rachel Robinson did, and the same could be said for all the folks on this stage, quite frankly.
Before he became an actor, Harrison Ford had to overcome a crippling fear of speaking in front of an audience. So he’s terrified right now. (Laughter.) And it took Chadwick 10 years of hard work before landing his first starring role. So this stuff doesn’t come easy. And then Brian sits down to create a script, and that means hundreds of hours of writing and rewriting, painful doubting and rewriting — (laughter) — oh, you can see the pain — before he comes up with a finished product. And that’s really the secret.
And I want all young people to understand — what does it take? What does it take? What’s the secret? The secret is that no one comes out a finished product. None of us are finished products. There is no magic that makes someone an actor or a director or a doctor or a lawyer or a President or First Lady. There is no magic. That is the one thing I want you all to understand. If you gain nothing from this movie or any of our lives, there is no magic. It takes grit. It takes determination and a whole lot of hard work. And as you know in the movie, it takes guts.
So as you think about the obstacles you face in your own life, as you hear someone telling you that you’re not good enough, or that you don’t belong, I want you to think about how Jackie Robinson got up and played after he got spiked in the leg. I want you think about that. I want you to think about how Rachel Robinson is still working to make this world a better place at 90 years old. She’s still not stopping. You can rest a little bit. (Laughter.)
And then I want you all to put your heart and soul into everything you do — every single thing you do. Can you promise me that? There is no exception to that rule. Everything you do, you have to do 120 percent. And you all are capable of doing that. Everyone is capable of doing that. And that’s going to start right now.
Your first test of how passionate you’re going to be is right here today. Because I want you all to take full advantage of what we have for you. I want you to ask questions. I don’t want you to hesitate. I don’t want you to be shy. Because the first step in greatness is just using your voice, just knowing that whatever question, whatever thought, whatever ideas that you have have meaning and relevance in the world, and you will not hesitate to make your voices heard.
Take advantage of these folks. Make sure you understand and ask questions and push and drive. And when you leave here I want you to promise me that you’re going to keep doing that every single day, no matter what you want to become in life; that that is how you’re going to lead your life — with greatness, with focus, with drive, determination. And when you do that, and I know you will, you will be something great.
Don’t know what it is. I still don’t know what I’m going to do with my life. But you will be something great. You all have everything it takes to make that happen, and it is an honor for me to be here with you guys.
Have fun. I got to go work. But I’m going to get a report on what’s been going on here today, so talk and ask questions. Thank you, guys. (Applause.)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Michelle Obama said Tuesday that a new movie chronicling Jackie Robinson’s rise through Major League Baseball, including the racial discrimination he endured while breaking the sport’s color barrier in the 1940s, left her and the president “visibly, physically moved” after they saw it over the weekend.
The film, “42,” also left the couple wondering “how on Earth did (the Robinsons) live through that. How did they do it? How did they endure the taunts and the bigotry for all of that time?” she said.
Mrs. Obama commented at a workshop for a group of high school and college students who saw the movie in the White House theater. Some of the students attend a Los Angeles charter school named for Robinson and others are undergraduate scholars in a program that bears the baseball great’s name.
The students also participated in a question-and-answer session with Robinson’s widow, Rachel, and members of the cast and crew, including Chadwick Boseman, who plays Robinson, Harrison Ford, who stars as former Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey, and screenwriter Brian Helgeland.
President Barack Obama was holding a separate screening of “42″ for the cast and crew later Tuesday.
Mrs. Obama said everyone should see the movie, which opens nationwide April 12.
“I can say with all sincerity that it was truly powerful for us,” she said. “We walked away from that just visibly, physically moved by the experience of the movie, of the story,” and the “raw emotion” they felt afterward.
The first lady added that she was also “struck by how far removed that way of life seems today,” noting how times have changed despite progress still to be made toward eliminating racial discrimination.
“You can’t imagine the baseball league not being integrated. There are no more “Whites Only” signs posted anywhere in this country. Although it still happens, it is far less acceptable for someone to yell out a racial slur while you’re walking down the street,” she told the students. “That kind of prejudice is simply just not something that can happen in the light of day today.”
After several years in the Negro Baseball League, Robinson broke his sport’s color barrier in 1946 to become the first black Major League Baseball player, batting for the Brooklyn Dodgers. His number was 42.
Barack Obama broke a similar barrier by winning election in 2008 as the first black U.S. president.
Echoing her husband, Mrs. Obama said the Jackie and Rachel Robinson story is a reminder of the amount of hard work it takes to move a country forward.
“It reminds you how much struggle is required to make real progress and change,” she said.
Today, President Obama unveiled the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative, which aims to help researchers find new ways to treat, cure, and even prevent brain disorders — such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.
Dr. Francis Collins, the Director of the National Institutes of Health, highlights the BRAIN Initiative. The BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) initiative is a new proposal by President Obama for a new, bold research effort to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and advance the President’s vision for creating jobs and building a thriving middle class by investing in research and development. Learn more athttp://WH.gov
BRAIN Initiative Challenges Researchers to Unlock Mysteries of Human Mind
Today at the White House, President Obama unveiled the “BRAIN” Initiative—a bold new research effort to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and uncover new ways to treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders like Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury.
The BRAIN Initiative — short for Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies — builds on the President’s State of the Union call for historic investments in research and development to fuel the innovation, job creation, and economic growth that together create a thriving middle class.
President Obama Speaks on the BRAIN Initiative and American Innovation
Published on Apr 2, 2013
President Obama unveils a bold new research initiative designed to revolutionize our understanding of the human brain, and discusses the importance of investing in American innovation to create jobs and strengthen our economy. April 2, 2013.
President Barack Obama stands on the South Portico of the White House with daughters Malia and Sasha, right, as First Lady Michelle Obama welcomes visitors to the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll, April 1, 2013. The Easter Bunny and “Kid President” Robby Novak, stand at left. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Highlights of the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll
Published on Apr 2, 2013
Check out the best of the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll including interviews with NASCAR’s Danica Patrick, the NFL’s Anquan Boldin and Performing Artist Austin Mahone.
2013 White House Easter Egg Roll: The First Lady Reads to Kids
Published on Apr 1, 2013
First Lady Michelle Obama reads “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”, written by Judi Barrett, at the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll. The first daughters also participate, reading “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” written by Bill Martin. April 1, 2013.
2013 White House Easter Egg Roll: President Obama Reads to Kids
Published on Apr 1, 2013
President Obama reads “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom”, written by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, at the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll.
2013 White House Easter Egg Roll: Play with Your Food with First Lady Michelle Obama
Published on Apr 1, 2013
First Lady Michelle Obama is joined by chef Anne Burrell and TV personality Al Roker at a Play with Your Food session at the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll. April 1, 2013.
In Case You Missed It
Here are some of the top stories from the White House blog:
From the Archives: Play Ball, Mr. President!
Our national pastime and our Nation’s leaders have shared a unique relationship for some 150 years. Presidents throwing out first pitches or hosting World Series winners at the White House are familiar images from each baseball season.
Weekly Address: President Obama Offers Easter and Passover Greetings President Obama uses his weekly address to mark a sacred time for the millions of Americans celebrating Easter and Passover, and he calls on everyone to use this time to reflect on the common values we share as a nation.
Today’s Schedule
All times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
7:30 AM: The Vice President hosts breakfast meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry.
9:55 AM: The President delivers remarks on the BRAIN Initiative.
10:30 AM: The President and the Vice President receive the Presidential Daily Briefing.
11:15 AM: The President meets with senior advisors.
12:30 PM: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney.
2:10 PM: The President holds a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore; the Vice President attends.
3:00 PM: The Vice President meets with Prime Minister Lee at the White House.
4:30 PM: The President and the Vice Presdent meet with Secretary of Defense Hagel.
5:35 PM: The President hosts cast and crew members of the movie 42 for a screening at the White House.
8:45 PM: The Vice President delivers remarks at the 2013 Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards.
The Gun Reform/Gun Control Battle Marches On…..
Did Republicans Mean What They Said On Background Checks?
Published on Apr 1, 2013
Republican senators said they wanted background checks.
Thats this years April Fools Day gift from the TeaTardedRepubliCANTS. Our April Fools Day Gift to “Them” comes on “NO”vember 4th, 2014.
President Obama, first lady Michelle deliver remarks before kicking off White House festivities.
Today, the President and First Lady will host more than 30,000 people from all 50 states on the South Lawn of the White House for the 135th annual Easter Egg Roll.
Watch Live and Follow Online: The 2013 Easter Egg Roll
Today, the President and First Lady will host more than 30,000 people from all 50 states on the South Lawn of the White House for the 135th annual Easter Egg Roll. The curated live stream (above) is new this year, and features historic facts about egg rolls past and will highlight select events throughout the day.
Check out the complete Easter Egg Roll line-up, and go to WH.gov/live to watch additional live streams, including a feed from the Storytime Stage, where this year’s readers include NASCAR’s Danica Patrick, Minnesota Viking Adrian Peterson, Elmo, Abby, Gordon and Rosita from Sesame Street, the full cast of Super Sprowtz, The Wanted, and actress Quvenzhané Wallis, or you can tune in to the Rocking Egg Roll Stage to see performances from Jordin Sparks, Austin Mahone, Coco Jones, Sesame Street, and The Wanted. You can also watch cooking demonstrations of healthy family favorites from top chefs at the Play with Your Food station, and of course you can follow all the day’s action on social media using the hashtag #EasterEggRoll or on Storify.
In Case You Missed It
Here are some of the top stories from the White House blog:
Weekly Address: President Obama Offers Easter and Passover Greetings
President Obama uses his weekly address to mark a sacred time for the millions of Americans celebrating Easter and Passover, and he calls on everyone to use this time to reflect on the common values we share as a nation.
9:30 AM: The President and receives the Presidential Daily Briefing.
10:30 AM: The First Family attends the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll.
A Special Message From the President
Published on Apr 1, 2013
April 1, 2013 – The White House releases a special video message from the President. Learn more at http://wh.gov
12:30 PM: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney.
Speeches and Remarks
April 01, 2013
Remarks by the President and First Lady at the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll
South Lawn
10:48 A.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: This is Jessica Sanchez, everybody! Give her a big round of applause. (Applause.) Kid President — give Kid President a big round of applause. (Applause.) The Easter Bunny is here. Give the Easter Bunny a big round of applause. (Applause.)
It is wonderful to see all of you. And I just want to say welcome. You guys brought the great weather. It was a little shaky this morning, but all of you did a great job sending a message upstairs, and now we’ve got beautiful weather.
And I now want to introduce the star of the Obama family, my wife, the First Lady, Michelle Obama. (Applause.)
MRS. OBAMA: Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Kid President, Robbie Novak. Isn’t he wonderful? (Applause.) Robbie, we’re so proud to have you here. You have been so inspiring. I can’t imagine that there’s anyone who hasn’t seen your video, right? You make us all want to work hard and be better. That’s right. So you’re going to spend a little time in the Oval Office just fixing things up for this President, aren’t you? All right, well, it’s good to have you here.
And it’s great to have everyone here this morning. We are so excited. The Easter Egg Roll is the biggest event that we have here on the South Lawn of the White House each year. Today we’re going to have more than 30,000 people who will pass through this yard in celebration of nutrition and health and activity. And we could not do this if it were not for all of our wonderful volunteers, our staff, all of the terrific performers and athletes who have taken time out of their lives and their busy days to make this important. So we need to give all of them a round of applause for all their hard work. (Applause.) Yes, indeed!
So today, we want you to have a great time. We want you to run around. We want you to go over and see the White House Garden. We want you to learn about making tasty, healthy food. We’re going to come down and do some Easter egg roll. We’re going to read some stories. But overall, we want you guys to have a good time and keep moving and be healthy. And, kids, eat your vegetables, okay?
All right, you all, take care. We’ll see you down there. Bye-bye. Thank you. (Applause.)
Man OH Man Are This President & First Lady Always On The Move. Updates & News From Barack's Blog: Barack's Naval... fb.me/2mm1w7MDkStill A MilitantNegro 2 hours ago
Man OH Man Are This President & First Lady Always On The Move. Updates & News From Barack's Blog: Barack's Naval... fb.me/NDAp3VBsStill A MilitantNegro 2 hours ago
Jueseppi B.
