Politics. On Point.

Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain discusses the sexual harrassment allegations, touts his 9-9-9 plan, and more today at the National Press Club.

The White House released the results of the president's medical exam today. The physical examination was performed last week by Dr. Jeff Kuhlman, a Navy captain and the Physician to the President. Other specialists assisted in their areas of expertise. Dr. Kuhlman recommends the President's next physical take place in December 2012. View the exam results here .

Tonight (a rainy, sogging, Saturday night) President and Mrs. Obama will welcome local children to trick-or-treat at the North Portico of the White House.  The Portico will be lit orange for the occasion. The trick-or-treaters are elementary students from local schools in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas as well as children from the Boys and Girls Club of America and children from military families. Here's a video of the making of Halloween at the White House 2011, and video of the actual Halloween festivities, complete with First Grand Mother, Mrs. Robinson,  here . Per the White House, the following tricks and/or treats will be the order of the evening. TRICKS The White House and the surrounding grounds will be decorated in celebration of Halloween. As the trick-or-treaters make their way across the North Lawn to the North Portico they will be entertained by the Marine Band playing Halloween music and spooked by in-costume actors from Washi...

After many years of waiting, America's African American farmers will finally receive the compensation they have fought so long to receive. Federal judge Paul Friedman approved the $1.2 billion settlement for African American farmers late Thursday, calling it "fair, reasonable, and adequate". 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 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". Boyd pointed out that many African American farmers died and others lost land waiting for Congress, (specifically Tom Coburn ) to make a decision on the case. Senator Harry Reid, along with other members of Congres...

UPCOMING GUIDANCE Saturday, October 29 * White House – On Saturday evening, the President and the First Lady will welcome local children and children of military families to trick-or-treat at the North Portico of the White House. There will be a pool spray on the North Portico at the beginning of this event. Monday, October 31  – Mrs. Obama will welcome Caroline Kennedy , representatives of other First Families and members of the White House Historical Association for a reception in honor of the organization’s 50th Anniversary. The White House Historical Association, chartered in 1961 with First Lady Jackie Kennedy’s ready approval, is a nonprofit historical and educational organization that plays a vital role in preserving the White House and recording its unique history. To enhance the understanding and appreciation of the President’s home, the White House Historical Association has published and distributed more than eight million books, as well as videos and other educat...

Ending his three-day, cross-country tour where he spoke on the administration's efforts to lower student college loan payments, President Obama also continues with his plan to outline steps to help businesses create jobs. Through two Presidential Memoranda issued today, the Obama Administration will take steps to speed up the transfer of federal research and development from the laboratory to the marketplace, and it will create BusinessUSA, a one-stop, central online platform where small businesses and businesses of all sizes that want to begin or increase exporting can access information about available federal programs without having to waste time navigating the federal bureaucracy.  These announcements are part of a series of executive actions to put Americans back to work and strengthen the economy because we can’t wait for Congressional Republicans to act. “With too many families struggling and too many businesses fighting to keep their doors open, we can’t wait for C...

President Reaffirms Committment to Bring Troops Home by Year's End (Full text of speech from James Brady Briefing Room)  THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon, everybody.  As a candidate for President, I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end -- for the sake of our national security and to strengthen American leadership around the world.  After taking office, I announced a new strategy that would end our combat mission in Iraq and remove all of our troops by the end of 2011.      As Commander-in-Chief, ensuring the success of this strategy has been one of my highest national security priorities.  Last year, I announced the end to our combat mission in Iraq.  And to date, we’ve removed more than 100,000 troops.  Iraqis have taken full responsibility for their country’s security. A few hours ago I spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki.  I reaffirmed that the United States keeps its commitments.  He spoke o...

President Obama welcomed to the White House 13 recipients of the 2011 Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation’s second-highest civilian honor. Nearly 6,000 public nominations were submitted “This year’s recipients of the Citizens Medal come from different backgrounds, but they share a commitment to a cause greater than themselves,” said President Obama. The Citizens Medal was established in 1969 to recognize American citizens who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.  Like last year, President Obama is recognizing Americans this year whose work has had a significant impact on their communities but may not have garnered national attention.  In May, the President called on members of the public to nominate people in their lives who have performed exemplary deeds of service outside of their regular jobs, including individuals: Who have a demonstrated commitment to service in their own community or in communities farther fr...

"One of the longest serving dictators is no more", said President Obama on the death of Moammar Qaddafi today in a White House rose garden speech. "This is a momentous day in the history of Libya."  In March of this year the president, delivering remarks to the Nation on Libya at the National Defense University in Washington said, "For more than four decades, the Libyan people have been ruled by a tyrant – Moammar Qaddafi. He has denied his people freedom, exploited their wealth, murdered opponents at home and abroad, and terrorized innocent people around the world – including Americans who were killed by Libyan agents." The president authorized military action to stop the killing and enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1973. In a March, 2011 Weekly Address, President Obama said the mission in Libya " is succeeding ". Noting that Qaddafi called the people of Libya 'rats', the president, upon learning  that the Libyan leader ...

Attendees Speak on the Signficance of the Day President Obama spoke during Saturday's momentous dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Dedication on the National Mall. "For this day, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s return to the National Mall.  In this place, he will stand for all time, among monuments to those who fathered this nation and those who defended it; a black preacher with no official rank or title who somehow gave voice to our deepest dreams and our most lasting ideals, a man who stirred our conscience and thereby helped make our union more perfect. And Dr. King would be the first to remind us that this memorial is not for him alone.  The movement of which he was a part depended on an entire generation of leaders.  Many are here today, and for their service and their sacrifice, we owe them our everlasting gratitude.  This is a monument to your collective achievement." The president placed signed copies of his Inauguration s...

The First Lady's Joining Forces Tour Wednesday, October 19, 2011 First Lady Michelle Obama will join President Obama at an event at Joint Base Langley – Eustis in Hampton, Virginia where they will discuss the importance of hiring American veterans. As part of her Joining Forces initiative, the First Lady will announce a major private sector commitment to hire veterans and military spouses. * St. Louis, Missouri: First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden will travel to Game One of the World Series to recognize Major League Baseball’s (MLB) outstanding support of America's veterans and military families as part of their Joining Forces initiative. The game will encourage Americans to support Joining Forces and MLB’s Welcome Back Veterans program to recognize and serve veterans, service members and their families. Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden will join representatives from MLB and the St. Louis Cardinals including Hall of Famer and Army veteran Red Schoendienst in hosting a mil...

I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed today's White House Fall Garden Tour. Not only did the weather cooperate, (unlike the weather for last week's Korean State Visit), the grounds were meticulously manicured and flowers were freshly planted, seemingly for the occasion.  Fall hues of purple, orange, yellow and white permeated the Rose and Jacqueline Kennedy gardens of roses and chrysanthemums. First Lady Michelle Obama's vegetable garden was brimming with heart-healthy, good-for-you, vegetable products including red chili peppers, budding egg plant, onion, tomato and delightful garden herbs. Our tour guide, 'Will', was very accommodating, allowing us to take lots of pictures as he ushered us around the grounds where about 8-10 members of the media got an exclusive, first peek of the garden and the fall foliage.  Also along the way were several photographs of former U.S. presidents that were placed at various points along the route indi...

Just as Congress approved the  World Trade Agreement (WTA), which the president plans to sign later this week, President Obama joined Republic of Korea president, Lee Myung-bak, today during a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House were President Obama  where President Obama said the WTA  is "a win for both our countries". President Obama sits with President Lee in the Oval Office.  Photo/CD Brown. "For our farmers and ranchers here in the United States, it will increase exports of agricultural products", said Obama.  "From aerospace to electronics, it will increase American manufacturing exports, including those produced by our small businesses.  It will open Korea’s lucrative services market, and I’m very pleased that it will help level the playing field for American automakers." In summing up the benefits of the WTA, President Obama explained that it "will boost American exports by up to $11 billion and support some 70,00...

The White House will open its gardens and grounds to visitors on Saturday, October 15th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m., and on Sunday, October 16th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Visitors can view the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden and the South Lawn of the White House. The Kitchen Garden will once again be accessible to tour guests. The Garden Tours are free and open to the public; however, a ticket is required for all attendees (including small children). The National Park Service will distribute free, timed tickets at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion located at 15th and E Streets on each tour day beginning at 8:00 a.m. Tickets will be distributed -- one ticket per person -- on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note the following items are not allowed on the White House grounds: ·         Food and Beverages of any kind ·         Duffel Bags/Suitcases/Backpacks ·    ...

Administration's Announcement of 14 Infrastructure Projects to be Expedited Through Permitting and Environmental Review Process The Obama Administration announced the selection of 14 infrastructure projects around the country that will be expedited through permitting and environmental review processes, an important next step in the Administration’s efforts to improve the efficiency of federal reviews needed to help job-creating infrastructure projects move as quickly as possible from the drawing board to completion.  This announcement comes as a result of the Presidential Memorandum President Obama issued in late August at the recommendation of his Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. Through the Presidential Memorandum, the President directed agencies to expedite environmental reviews and permit decisions for a selection of high priority infrastructure projects that will create a significant number of jobs, have already identified necessary funding, and where the significant s...

People around the world continue to send their condolences to the man some say changed their world forever. As you know, the Apple inventor, creator, pioneer, and entrepreneur (as listed on his death certificate) passed last week at the age of 56 due to pancreatic cancer. We thought President Obama's statement on the passing of Jobs was also creative, especially these remarks: "The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve’s success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented." Jobs' fans leave creative artwork to remember him. Steve Jobs' life is set to be brought to the big screen after Sony Pictures bought the film rights to his biography. The studio behind the Facebook film 'The Social Network' has reportedly paid around $1 million to base the movie on the forthcoming authorized biography of the late Apple co-founder. Today, shares of Apple stock soared 19 points...

Awards Purple Heart medals During his nearly three hour visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesday, Maryland today, President Obama met with 38 wounded service members – 21 Soldiers, 13 marines, 2 Sailors and 2 Airmen.  (Names not readily identified). OccupyDC protestor in front of Dept of Commerce building last week with message opposing the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Photo/CD Brown. Thirty-five of the service members were injured in Afghanistan and 3 were injured in Iraq.  While at the hospital, the President awarded 4 purple hearts .  Since the war began some ten years ago 46,542 service members have been wounded in connection with Afghan and Iraqi wars. Through last Thursday, the number of wounded by war zone in Afghanistan  is now 14,342.   In Iraq, 31,921 .  In the Middle East (Op. New Dawn), 279,  the Pentagon reports. It is safe to say, yet again, let's end this war....

"You never know where this game of sports takes us", said Richard Dent speaking to the media after President Obama honored the 1985 Super Bowl champions at the White House. After the Bears won Super Bowl XX, their chance to celebrate at the White House during Ronald Reagan's tenure was interrupted when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded.   Mike Ditka (l) and Buddy Ryan (far right) show off the official Presidential Chicago Bears jersey.  Perhaps his most favorite athletic jersey yet.  Photo/CD Brown. It would take 25 years, and a president from Chicago, to bring the storied team together to commemorate their historic feat. "So, the moment for the Bears to visit the White House was postponed and the years went by.  But shortly after I took office, someone at the NFL realized, hey, there’s a Bears fan living in the White House", said President Obama. The president went on to mention two members of the 1985 team who passed, Wa...