Politics. On Point.

President Obama Repeals The Don't Ask, Dont Tell" Law.   Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, conduct a press briefing at the Pentagon discussing the public release of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Comprehensive Working Group report on Nov. 30, 2010. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley  In a statement today, President Obama comments on  DOD's Don't Ask, Don't Tell  Report As Commander in Chief, I have pledged to repeal the “ don’t ask, don’t tell ” law because it weakens our national security, diminishes our military readiness, and violates fundamental American principles of fairness and equality by preventing patriotic Americans who are gay from serving openly in our armed forces. At the same time, as Commander in Chief, I am committed to ensuring that we understand the implications of this transition, and maintain good order and discipli...

For America's Black farmers the tenth time is the charm. African American farmers will finally receive the $1.15 billion owed to them that was settled out of court over 11 years ago in a case that involved discrimination on the part of the U.S. Agricultural Department. Under a federal judge's terms, dated in 1999, qualified farmers could receive $50,000 each to settle the claims of racial bias. John Boyd, farmer and founder of the web site BlackFarmers.org , has been in the forefront of this battle, having been on many TV and radio shows, and on Capitol Hill (see our coverage here ) to bring the plight of America's Black farmers to the national stage. Boyd called the historic announcement "vindication and justice". "This case was about justice for Black farmers who waited for so very long."   Boyd pointed out that many African American farmers died and others lost land waiting for Congress, (specifically Tom...

The Thanksgiving break is over and President Obama says "it's time to get back to work."  Two days after he pardons Apple the Thanksgiving turkey, has a run in with the elbow of Rey Decerega, director of programs for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute in a pick up basketball game at the Department of Interior, the President is rolling up his sleeves, and making waves. After the midterm elections that saw the Republicans regain control of the House, the president promised to  meet with both political parties in a lame duck session to discuss ways to move the country forward.  Most noticeably, the president plans to address growing the economy, securing the American people from the ongoing threat of terrorism, Bush-era tax cuts, and the ratification of the New START treaty. With Congress convening this week, the president will meet Tuesday with bipartisan Congressional leadership that include the likes of both Democrats and Republicans.   Sc...

Earlier today, President Obama visited the Chrysler Indiana Transmission Plant in Kokomo, Indiana. With money given to the auto industry last year, many are seeing what could be the fruit from the Obama administration's "anti-recession" bail out. There were more than 461,000 automobile-related job losses before President Obama took office. ''And now you see the result, said the president. "An old industry adapting to a whole new era, competing again, leading again, and most importantly, hiring again. Hiring again." Just last week GM announced its initial public offering of its stock.   The auto manufacturing raised its shares from 365 million to 478 million. "General Motors’ initial public offering (IPO) marks a major milestone in the turnaround of not just an iconic company but the entire American auto industry", said Obama. "Through the IPO, the government will cut its stake in GM by nearly half, continuing our disciplined co...

You've probably seen the video of a young boy being put through what the TSA says is them "just doing their job" to secure America.  The boy is practically stripped search (and left with his dignity on the floor) as he and his dad prepare to take flight. Some call it disturbing (we do too), and a total invasion of privacy.  TSA calls it protecting Americans from possible terrorist attacks.    What George Orville wrote about in Nineteen Eighty-Four , about a society that Orwell describes as everyone being under complete surveillance by the authorities, mainly by telescreens, is a system on the brink of violating our civil liberties.  (Or guilty of crossing the line altogether). Oddly enough the society of which Orville writes is called  Airstrip One .   The White House has responded on this issue and has said the following:  TSA searches woman before flight. Has the TSA gone too far? Press Secretary Robert Gibbs:  " W...

Photo/CBS. Vice President Joe Biden wrote an op-ed piece for the New York Times, published this weekend.   The piece discusses what Congress and the current administration must do to ensure a stabe, self-reliant nation for Iraq. Biden writes that in the six visits he's made the country's police and soldiers have made progress. "Iraq today is far safer and more stable than at any time since the outbreak of war in 2003", writes Biden. "In recent months, using their own intelligence, Iraqi forces have killed or captured dozens of senior leaders of Al Qaeda in Iraq and other terrorist groups. The weekly tally of violent incidents throughout Iraq has dropped to about 160, from nearly 1,600 in 2007." Notwithstanding those accomplishments Biden notes that more needs to be done and calls on Congress to  "fulfill the budget requests to support America’s continued engagement, including our broader diplomatic presence, a modernization plan for the Iraqi s...

Kristina Schake joins the staff as Special Assistant to the President and Communications Director to the First Lady. She will start in the East Wing in December, 2010. “I’m thrilled to welcome Kristina to the team. Kristina brings a wealth of expertise that I know will make her a tremendous asset in the East Wing,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “Kristina has done extensive work throughout her career on child nutrition and community health issues, and that paired with her experience as part of a military family will bring invaluable insight to our work on childhood obesity and our efforts to support military families. I look forward to working with Kristina on these efforts and more in the months and years ahead.” Kristina Schake is co-founder and principal of Griffin Schake , a California-based public affairs and strategic communications firm. She is a seasoned expert in helping major foundations, non-profit organizations and civic leaders bring about critical social change throu...

This Friday, November 19th, at 10:30 AM, Vice President Biden will hold a Middle Class Task Force event to announce new initiatives to help middle class and low income families secure their legal rights. Following the Vice President’s remarks, there will be a series of panel discussions on these initiatives. Panel participants will include Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis; Larry Tribe, Senior Counselor for Access to Justice at the Department of Justice; senior administration officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Housing and Urban Development; and representatives from the legal advocacy community. Attorney General Eric Holder will make remarks at the conclusion of the program. The event will also be streamed live on www.whitehouse.gov/live .

George Herbert Walker Bush is one of fifteen award recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom award. The Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. Bush was the 41st President of the United States. Prior to that, he was Vice President in the Reagan Administration, Director of Central Intelligence, Chief of the U.S. Liaison’s Office to the People’s Republic of China, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and a Member of the House of Representatives from the 7th District of Texas. He served in the Navy during World War II. President Bush and President Clinton worked together to encourage aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004. Other named recipients include Boston Celtics' Bill Russell , Congressman ...

President Obama made remarks yesterday celebrating Veteran's Day at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in Seoul Korea, as he and the First Lady continue their G-20 Summit tour of Asia. On Veteran's Day, (and back home) Vice President Biden will host a Veteran's Day breakfast at the White House and will visit Arlington National Cemetery where he will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at 11AM. (See here ). The Vice President will then deliver remarks at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. The President will participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in Seoul, South Korea. and will later attend the official G-20 welcome reception and dinner at the National Museum of Korea. The President's remarks, to a seemingly rousing crowd, in Seoul is below.    We are so proud to have with us U.S. and Republic of Korea vets of the Korean War who are here. And we are greatly honored by their presenc...

At a Middle Class Task Force event today, Vice President Biden announced a series of federal actions designed to lay the groundwork for a strong, self-sustaining home energy efficiency retrofit industry. These actions include a new Home Energy Score program that will help homeowners make cost-effective decisions about home energy improvements and a new retrofit financing program called PowerSaver. The Vice President was joined by Nancy Sutley , Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ); Steven Chu , Secretary of Energy (DOE); Hilda Solis , Secretary of Labor (DOL); and Shaun Donovan , Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). “The initiatives announced today are putting the Recovery Through Retrofit report’s recommendations into action – giving American families the tools they need to invest in home energy upgrades,” said Vice President Biden. “Together, these programs will grow the home retrofit industry and help middle class families save money and ener...

On Saturday, the President and the First Lady will land in Mumbai, India.  Later in the afternoon, the President and the First Lady will view the 26/11 memorial at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel. The President will then deliver remarks commemorating the 26/11 attacks. The President and the First Lady will then visit the Mani Bhavan Ghandi Museum. The President and First Lady (arms covered) arrive in India. The President will then meet with entrepreneurs at the Trident Nariman Point Hotel. The President will then meet with CEO’s from India and the United States. Participants include Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathana (Workers and Peasants Strength Union - MKSS), Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS), Janaagraha a Bangalore-based NGO The Hunger Project (THP), and ASER the creator of the Annual Status of Education Report, which surveys literacy in 570 districts and 700,000 children of India with citizen participation. Other participants include PRS Legislative Research (PR...

 "After what I'm sure was a long night for a lot of you -- and needless to say it was for me -- I can tell you that some election nights are more fun than others.  Some are exhilarating; some are humbling.  But every election, regardless of who wins and who loses, is a reminder that in our democracy, power rests not with those of us in elected office, but with the people we have the privilege to serve."   - President Barack Obama The GOP has regained controlled of the House in an over whelming victory. President Obama, in a White House East Room statement yesterday, said of the GOP win that he looks forward to working with both parties to move the country forward. "And I told John Boehner and Mitch McConnell last night I am very eager to sit down with members of both parties and figure out how we can move forward together", said Obama. President Obama plans to invite Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi to the White House for meeting later this month. A...

Pooler describes mood on the eve of elections. On the eve of mid-term elections that are widely predicted to deal a serious setback to his party, President Obama is hunkered down in the West Wing of the White House today. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says President Obama's schedule of closed meetings throughout the day will include some time to tape radio interviews set to air on election day throughout the country. Tonight, the president plans to make phone calls to boost the morale ofactivists and other party organizers in key battleground states, includingFlorida, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and his native Hawaii. More CNN's What's At Stake