Politics. On Point.

Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts: ·        Camila A. Alire – Member, National Council on the Humanities ·        Ramón Saldívar –Member, National Council on the Humanities President Obama said, “I am confident that these outstanding individuals will greatly serve the American people in their new roles and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.” President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts: Dr. Camila A. Alire, Nominee for Member, National Council on the Humanities Dr. Camila A. Alireis Dean Emerita at both the University of New Mexico and Colorado State University. She is also professor of practice in the Managerial Leadership Ph.D. program within Simmons College’s School of Library and Information Science since 2007 and as an adjunct prof...

DC Ward 8 Councilmember Marion Barry : “As a member of the Committee on Health, I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act. Barry, who has struggled with his own healthcare issues said, “The Affordable Care Act expands health care coverage for low-income populations across the country such as Ward 8, which suffers from the g reatest health disparity in the city due to lack of health care coverage, resources and poverty. Ward 8 residents and other low-income communities dis-proportionately suffer from diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Our children deserve better. Our parents deserve better. Our seniors deserve better. “In upholding the Affordable Care Act, the U.S. Supreme Court chose to put families first–protecting the lives of thousands of Washingtonians and millions of Americans. As the chairman of the Committee on Aging and Community Affairs, it makes my heart proud that the price of prescription drugs wil...

" Our Supreme Court has spoken " -  Sen Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-NV) The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision today, upheld the entire  healthcare provision put forth by President Obama, with Chief Justice John Roberts providing the decisive vote.  Ironically, then Sen Barack Obama, Joe Biden & Sen Harry Reid voted against Roberts for Chief Justice.  All three men, today, couldn't be happier about the ruling. President Obama, remarking from the East Room said, the court "reaffirmed a fundamental principle that here in America, in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no illness or accident should lead to any family’s financial ruin." The Affordable Care Act, under the Obama presidency, Ten Things You Now Get To Keep: "If you’re one of the more than 250 million Americans who already have health insurance, you will keep your health insurance", said the president.  Explaining the existing plan the president continued his remarks saying, ...

The Obama Administration awards “Vets to Cops” hiring grants as part of Veterans Job Corps initiative. The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) today announced funding awards to over 220 cities and counties, aimed at creating or saving approximately 800 law enforcement positions.  The grants will fund over 600 new law enforcement positions and save an additional 200 positions recently lost or in jeopardy of being cut due to local budget cuts.  All new law enforcement positions funded in the COPS 2012 Hiring Program must be filled by recent military veterans who have served at least 180 days since September 11, 2001.  In his State of the Union Address, President Obama called for a new Veterans Jobs Corps initiative to help put veterans back to work on a range of projects that leverage skills developed in the military, including first responder jobs. In February, the President announced that preference for this year’s COPS and S...

Here are items we're following at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Today Vice President Biden hosted an event to launch a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) at the White House. The Vice President was joined by Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, White House Advisor on Violence Against Women Lynn Rosenthal, Jimmy Rollins of the Philadelphia Phillies, David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays and Andy Katz of ESPN.  Featured in the PSA are David Beckham, and Eli Manning the President, the Vice President, and other professional athletes and role models who deliver the message that dating violence is unacceptable.  The PSA, 1 is 2 Many, which also includes New York Knick standout Jeremy Lin, Evan Longoria, David Beckham, and Joe Torre will air on various television networks and online platforms this summer. Click here to view it.   First Lady Michelle Obama spoke at the Creative Arts Center in Pueblo, Colorado today at a campaign event where ...

You've read what speaker Nancy Pelosi said about Congress holding Attorney General Eric Holder in comtempt for not releasing requested documents to the House Oversight Committee. And you've heard what House Speaker John Boehner had to say . Attorney General Eric Holder talks to reporters on the Hill. Now, read what members of heads of several Congressional caucuses have to say. Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II   - Congressional Black Caucus "This is a sad day in the history of the United States Congress. Today, we see the great lengths to which some of my colleagues will go in an attempt to discredit the Attorney General--a member of President Obama's Administration--as we near the 2012 election. For over 15 months, Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice has cooperated with the Committee’s inquiry.  The Obama Administration is now rightfully asserting executive privilege over the narrow subset of documents that remain at issue--the same process...

Congress kept the heat on Attorney General Eric Holder for several months, asking Holder to make available several thousand pages of documents pertaining to the Department of Justice's Fast and Furious program which alleges several US firearms have made their way to Mexican drug cartels. Holder has made several appearances in front of the House Oversight Committee over the past year to explain the program and most notably answer questions about any cover up and wrongdoing within the program. Said Holder of the allegations, "From the beginning, Chairman Issa and certain members of the Committee have made unsubstantiated allegations first, then scrambled for facts to try to justify them later. That might make for good political theater, but it does little to uncover the truth or address the problems associated with this operation and prior ones dating back to the previous Administration." Today, President Obama execute...

First Lady Michelle Obama gave the commencement address at her brother's school where he coaches men's basketball, Oregon State. We caught up with Mrs. Obama's brother, Craig Robinson, before she became First Lady Obama, back in 2008 during her brother's team's visit to a local DC university. Click here . First Lady Obama, with her remarks at Oregon State, including the audience's laughter and applause, are below.  THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady __________________________________________________________                      For Immediate Release                              June 17, 2012 REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT Reser Stadium Corvallis, Oregon 4:53 P.M. PDT MR...

Democracy Now has reaction from Latinos on President Obama's latest effort to shield the Latino population from being deported from U.S. soil. The report also has a Washington Post reporter speaking out, actually coming out, about his illegal status and also working and going to school in the United States. Watch below as Representative Luis Gutierrez, head of the Latino Democractic Caucus  speaks on the subject of immigration.  Gutierrez represents a district in Chicago the hometown of the president where the city has shown an increase of Black on Black crime this year. Last weekend nearly 8 people were killed , and scores of others wounded in a deadly display of random gunfire across the city. While many Latinos take to the street to celebrate what many see as a victory for the Latin American community, the African American community, again, take to the streets to have their concerns addressed, protesting in New York against the city's...

Mending our nation’s immigration policy, to make it more fair, more efficient, and more just. President Barack Obama gave US workers a slap in the face today when he announced that illegal immigrants will be able to stay legally in America and find work. Work, that for millions of Americans who are here legally, can't find. This is the president's latest gift to the Latina community. Throughout his presidency he has consistently pandered to the demands Latinas.  He's spoken at several events featuring Latinos such as the Forum On American Latino Heritage, and the Congressio​nal Hispanic Caucus Institute 34th Annual Awards Gala. Speaking in July of 2011 to the National Council of La Raza  the president made remarks about having many Latinos working in his Cabinet.  "Right off the bat, I should thank you because I have poached quite a few of your alumni to work in my administration .  They're all doing outstanding work.  Raul...

President Obama met with Phillipino president Benigno Aquino yesterday in the Oval Office where the two discussed US-Phillipines issues. The official remarks, made available by the White House press office, are below. PRESIDENT OBAMA :  It is a great pleasure to welcome President Aquino to the Oval Office and to the White House. I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with him, most recently during my Asia trip, when we met most recently in Bali. And at that time, we discussed how important the U.S.-Philippine relationship was, the historic ties, the 60 years of a mutual defense treaty, the extraordinary links between Filipino-Americans that have brought our two countries so closely together.  And we pledged to work on a whole host of issues that would continue to strengthen and deepen the relationship for the 21st century. We talked about how we could work on security issues, on economic issues, on people-to-people exchanges, and on a whole host of region...

The New York Giants descended upon the White House today, their coveted Super Bowl trophy in tow, to be honored by President Obama for winning Super Bowl XLVI after defeating the New England Patriots 21-17. It would be their second White House visit since winning Super Bowl XLII in 2008. President Obama receives an autographed football and jersey from the New York Giants.  Photo/CD Brown. "Everyone played a key role", said head coach Tom Coughlin of his team that scratched to make it to the playoffs.   "Our special teams, our offensive team, and our defensive team, doing their job.  Each having their own motive, but playing in harmony for the good of everyone." "Wouldn't it be good if Congress did the same thing?", asked Coughlin to the applause of the president and the jeering attendees. Their second Super Bowl win solidifying their quarterback, Eli Manning, as a top rated NFL quarterback, contrary to what sport...

DC council Chairman Kwame Brown who last week, speaking at the memorial service for the city’s godfather of Go-Go, Chuck Brown, warned new residents moving to the District of Columbia who may not like the Go-Go genre to "get over it", may find himself not being able to ‘get over’ facing allegations of bank fraud and campaign fund misuse. Brown, who has served the residents of the District of Columbia since 2004, came under fire last year when an investigation revealed he spent funds excessively upgrading the city owned Lincoln Navigator SUV he now drives. Brown reportedly inflated his income by thousands of dollars in order to secure funding for a home and a motor boat. Early Tuesday Brown stated he would not step down from his council post, and admitted no wrongdoing; but by  late Wednesday, Brown formally submitted his resignation, at the advice of legal counsel.   A hearing will be held next week where plans to find a replacement for the city’s second h...