Politics. On Point.

Romney, who sings America the Beautiful during a campaign speech, also likes Sweden; at least he likes his money there.  Romney - the $200 million dollar man - is so rich he doesn't want the American people to know just how rich he really is and hides much of his undisclosed assets in offshore bank accounts in countries like Sweden. Why would someone have a Swiss bank account?  According to this site people most likely to have a Swiss bank account are those "who don't want other people to know about their money".  The site adds that "unless you're a criminal, it's highly unlikely anyone can ever find out about your account". Romney has yet to release his tax records of the last few years, and quite frankly says he has no plans to do so, lending more questions by Americans about what Romney is hiding. Research shows that Romney joins more than half of the world's wealthiest individuals who house more than $32 trillion dollars in of

Health care law gives women control over their care, offers free preventive services to 47 million women Forty-seven million women are getting greater control over their health care and access to eight new prevention-related health care services without paying more out of their own pocket beginning Aug. 1, 2012, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today. Previously some insurance companies did not cover these preventive services for women at all under their health plans, while some women had to pay deductibles or copays for the care they needed to stay healthy. The new rules in the health care law requiring coverage of these services take effect at the next renewal date – on or after Aug. 1, 2012—for most health insurance plans. For the first time ever, women will have access to even more life-saving preventive care free of charge. According to a new HHS report also released today, approximately 47 million women are in health plans that must cover

"If the election were held today, I think it would be close, but I think we'd win. And we now have 99 days left. If I can say that every day for the next 99 days, then we'll be able to embark on the next phase of this journey."  -  President Obama As the election is indeed less than a few months away, First Lady Michelle is doing her part to help her husband's campaign, and she's fired up, and ready to go. Fresh off her Olympic visit in London, she now gears up to embark upon a multi-state campaign speaking tour. See below for official schedule, which begins tomorrow, August 1, 2012. First Lady Obama's 2012 campaign appearances heating up. UPCOMING GUIDANCE FOR FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA Wednesday, August 1st , 2012 Greensboro, NC – First Lady Michelle Obama will speak to grassroots supporters at a campaign event in Greensboro, North Carolina. Raleigh, NC * 6:25 PM ET - First Lady Michelle Obama will deliver remarks at a campai

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney is taking President Obama's "You didn't build your business" remark to heart. Today, the Romney camp announced their 'Built By Us' merchandise collection. The collection is in response to the president speaking at a firehouse in Roanoke, VA where he said successful businesses owners didn't create their success by themselves. "Somewhere along the line someone gave you some help...   Someone created this unbelievable American system that allowed you to thrive." Mitt Romney's 'Built By Us' merchandise collection. Republicans took one line from the president's speech - "You didn't build it" (heard at the 1:45 mark in the video) - and used it to add fuel to their  already boiling over culdron of misstated texts and misunderstandings of the president's policies. From the Romney web site: "Mitt Romney understands success is not the result of government, it is the r

House and Senate at odds over extending Bush era tax cuts. To put it simply, the rich don't want their way of life compromised - ever.  And they definitely don't want an increase in taxes. What American does? "The United States Senate voted to give one hundred percent of Americans, everyone in this country, a tax cut', said minority speaker Nancy Pelosi during her remarks to the media this week."  She called the day, "a great day". That day is about to be clouded by Republicans who don't share that sentiment. Republicans want to continue enjoying tax cuts for themselves and the rich, many of whom live in wealthy neighborhoods like Great Falls, Virginia where the average home is valued at more than $1M. One of scores of mansion-like homes in Great Falls, VA.  Photo/CD Brown. Republicans plan to obstruct any legislation that would allow tax breaks for the average American until tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans are extended. Signs in

In a conference call to the media members this afternoon (where she began by remembering the victims of the Aurora, Colorado movie massacre), First Lady Michelle Obama laid out the plans for her visit as head of the Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games.  ** UPDATE **  See pictures of the First Lady in London. "I am beyond proud to lead the Olympic delegation.  It's a dream come true", she exclaimed.  The first lady recounted watching the Olympics when she was growing up saying she "watched and cheered" for the US athletes. As head of the Olympic Delegation Mrs. Obama will get to meet first hand with 2012 US Olympic teams and athletes.  She will also visit the U.S. Olympic Training Facility at University of East London. "Being an Olympian is about pushing yourself, and believing in yourself, and refusing to give up", Mrs. Obama said. The First Lady is working to turn the inspiration of the Olympic and

The White House is responding to the tragic event that happened at a movie theatre in Aurora, Colorado where a gunman, 24-year old James Holmes, shot up the theatre during the midnight showing of the latest Batman movie.   Twelve people were killed and scores of others wounded. Tom Sullivan embraces family members on July 20 while searching frantically for his son Alex, who was celebrating his 27th birthday at the movie theater.  Photo: Barry Gutierrez/AP. Said Vice President Biden, "Jill and I were shocked to learn of the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado this morning. The reason this is so deeply felt by all Americans is that, but for the grace of God, the victims could have been any one of our children, in any one of our towns. It is every parent’s worst nightmare to receive ‘that phone call’ and to sit by their child’s bedside, praying. We know what it’s like to wait and wonder and the helplessness a parent feels at this moment. Our hearts go out to each and every person wh

President Obama has long been campaigning to create jobs in America.  He's fought to bring back manufacturing jobs and put construction workers back on the jobs.  While the 2012 election campaign videos shows that his opponent, Mitt Romney, sent thousands of jobs overseas via Bain Capital, and while several radio shows try to paint President Obama as a jobs killer, today Congress announced passage of Bring Jobs Home Act. Photo/ CD Brown. STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY S. 3364 – Bring Jobs Home Act (Sen. Stabenow, D-MI, and 13 cosponsors) The Administration strongly supports Senate passage of S. 3364, a bill that would encourage companies to invest in the United States and bring jobs back while preventing companies from receiving tax breaks for shipping jobs overseas. The Nation's tax code does too little to encourage job creation and investment in the United States while allowing firms to benefit from incentives to locate production and jobs overseas.  This bil

African-American and Hispanic Borrowers Who Qualified for Loans and Were Charged Higher Fees or Rates or Were Improperly Placed into Subprime Loans Are Eligible for Compensation The Department of Justice today filed the second largest fair lending settlement in the department’s history to resolve allegations that Wells Fargo Bank, the largest residential home mortgage originator in the United States, engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination against qualified African-American and Hispanic borrowers in its mortgage lending from 2004 through 2009. The settlement provides $125 million in compensation for wholesale borrowers who were steered into subprime mortgages or who paid higher fees and rates than white borrowersbecause of their race or national origin.  Wells Fargo will also provide $50 million in direct down payment assistance to borrowers in communities around the country where the department identified large numbers of discrimination victims and which were hard hit b

Via the White House Press Office. 500 rail industry companies to hire over 5,000 veterans in 2012. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and CEO Ed Hamberger and Joining Forces Executive Director Brad Cooper announced that the railroad industry will hire more than 5,000 veterans in 2012. Five hundred companies and organizations including freight, inter-city passenger and commuter railroads, as well as rail supply companies represented by AAR are making today’s significant commitment. “As a result of their service, veterans have the right skills and training for successful careers in transportation,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. “Helping our veterans find work strengthening America’s transportation system is a commitment we are proud to fulfill.” The rail industry joins the First Lady and Dr. Biden’s Joining Forces initiative launched last year to bring Americans together to recognize, honor and take action t

The autopsy report shows that Mary Richardson Kennedy, 52, had several drugs in her system during her successful suicide attempt in May of this year. Kennedy committed suicide at the family's Mount Kisco estate in Westchester County, New York after learning that her three children would be taken away from her. ( We're wondering : Why would anyone committ suicide if they knew their kids would be taken away?) Kennedy also struggled in the past with alcohol addiction and several DUI charges, all of which were reduced or dropped altogether due to her Kennedy prowess. The drugs found in her system were trazodone , desmethylvenlafaxine and venlafaxine .  The drug trio are said to be commonly, regularly  prescribed medications approved by the FDA for treating depression.

What better day than July 4th, Independence Day, to become a bonafide U.S. citizen? To twenty-four U.S. active duty service men and women, today is one to be proud of. President Obama looks at active duty military as they take the oath of citizenship.  Photo/CD Brown. "With this ceremony today, and ceremonies like it across our country, we affirm another truth", said President Obama.  "Our American journey, our success, would simply not be possible without the generations of immigrants who have come to our shores from every corner of the globe.  We say it so often, we sometimes forget what it means: we are a nation of immigrants."  Oluwatosin K Akinduro, a native of Nigeria has been living in the US for twenty-two years since the age of six. He currently serves in the Army National Guard.  Today upgrades his status from permanent resident to U.S. Citizen. "Today is a big day for me", Akinduro said.  "It's another monumental moment in m