Tag Archives: State of the Union

Calls for Calm in Egypt / Obama’s Agenda / When Trust is a Must

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The U.S. calls for calm in unrest-torn Egypt and urges governments in the Middle East and North Africa to engage with protesters. Obama’s newly minted agenda for 2011 America will require the backing of Congress. Financial companies need the public’s trust.

Close-up of Secretary Clinton

Democracy in Egypt
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton urges an orderly and peaceful transition to democratic and economic reforms in Egypt, but also acknowledges that it will take considerable time. In a series of television news interviews, Clinton, above, said that violence, looting or criminal acts will not move the political process forward in a productive way that will be satisfying for the Egyptian people.

U.S. Calls for Calm in Egypt
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The Obama administration calls on the Egyptian government to restrain its security personnel and on anti-government protesters to express themselves peacefully as it continues to monitor the country through its fourth consecutive day of political unrest. “These protests underscore that there are deep grievances within Egyptian society, and the Egyptian government needs to understand that violence will not make these grievances go away,” says Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

U.S. Urges Engagement with Mideast Protesters
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The Obama administration urges governments in the Middle East and North Africa to “actively respond” to the concerns of younger populations who are voicing their protests in the streets. 

Obama’s Agenda Need Support on Capitol Hill
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In his State of the Union President Obama called for new investments in education, infrastructure and technology, among other items, but his plans will go nowhere without backing on Capitol Hill. Spending and other economic issues will likely dominate the first few months of the new Congress, two former representatives tell participants in a U.S. Department of State digital video conference.

Companies Bank on Trust
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Reports of excessive executive compensations, greed, irresponsible risk-taking and a lack of transparency have amounted to the greatest challenge to financial companies’ credibility in years. It has also been a wake-up call to companies in all sectors.

Obama Answers YouTube Questions

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President Obama spent 40 minutes yesterday afternoon answering questions from the public on his State of the Union address submitted via YouTube.  According to Steve Grove, YouTube’s director of news and politics who used the questions to interview Obama, Americans submitted over 140,000 questions and cast over 1 million votes for which questions the President should answer. 

YouTube users submitted questions on substantive policy issues ranging from job creation for veterans and recent college graduates, to specifics on how the United States will pay for his State of the Union proposals for investment, to foreign policy and drug control policy.

During a rapid-fire round called “Get To Know Your President,” Obama answered more personal questions, including what the best and worst parts of his job are. 

“The best part of being President,” Obama said, “is every once in a while you do something that you know has a direct impact on somebody,” citing a woman who had been able to get her cancer treatment and keep her house because of health care reform.  “Toughest thing about being president is the bubble. I can’t go for a walk. I can’t go to the corner coffee shop. I can’t leave the house and not shave and have my sweats on. That is something that I don’t think I’ll ever get used to.”  

The president also discussed his most memorable college class, gave a shout-out to some of his favorite scientists, and joked about Valentine’s Day plans with his wife. 

Watch President Obama’s YouTube interview.

Obama’s Energy Agenda / Mideast Protests / Rebuilding Haiti

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President Obama outlined a bold energy agenda in his State of Union address. The U.S. urges governments in the Middle East to engage with protesters. The Afghan parliament opens in Kabul. We’ve got a report on how financial institutions must polish their public images. Many U.S. cities are hosting Iranian film festivals this winter. And, finally, another look at photo galleries on the rebuilding effort in Haiti.

Obama’s Energy Agenda
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President Obama sees a future in which Americans will drive electric vehicles and get their power from wind, solar, biomass, natural gas and nuclear plants. In his State of the Union address, Obama called for heavy investment in clean energy to help the United States transition to a stronger and more sustainable economy.

Winning the Future with Renewable Energy
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President Obama speaks about how innovation and investment in clean energy technology can help protect the environment while creating new jobs and growing the economy. 

U.S. Urges Engagement with Mideast Protesters
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The Obama administration urges governments in the Middle East and North Africa to “actively respond” to the concerns of younger populations who are voicing their protests in the streets. 

Afghan Parliament Opened
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The Afghan parliament opened on January 26 in Kabul, and the Obama administration calls this “a significant milestone” for the country’s democracy and its people. The United States “joins the Afghan people in celebrating today’s achievement and we encourage the Afghans to begin an inclusive dialogue on electoral reform,” says National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer.

In Business, Reputation Matters
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Many companies know they need to maintain a good reputation to do or improve business, but rarely have they faced the kind of reputational challenges as financial and related industries do today, experts say.

Iranian Film Festivals in U.S.
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Several U.S. cities are holding Iranian film festivals this winter, allowing Americans to see what Iranian filmmakers have to say about their country.

A young boy at a shelter in HaitiPhoto Gallery: Rebuilding Haiti, One Year Later
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One year after a 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti, the United States continues its commitment to help the Haitian people build back better. Housing remains a critical issue, and USAID has partnered with several organizations to build transitional shelters. Explore this photo gallery about the rebuilding process. At right, a young boy peeks in at his mother in their newly constructed transitional shelter in Carrefour, Haiti.

Obama and the Snowstorm

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This morning, Washington is digging out from a winter storm that hit yesterday evening, covering the region in 8-12 inches of snow. The storm even affected President Obama’s return from a day trip to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, yesterday. 

Obama was in Wisconsin to discuss the policies he laid out in his State of the Union address on Tuesday night and stress the need for investment in clean energy.  On the production floor of Orion Energy Systems, a local firm that specializes in solar energy and energy-efficient technologies, Obama addressed workers and highlighted an unexpected tie-in to his speech the night before where he challenged the American people to seize a new “Sputnik moment” to spur innovation and development. 

“It was right here, almost 50 years ago — I couldn’t have made this up.  It wasn’t until I was on my way here that I found out that a chunk of metal came crashing down to the Earth right here…It turns out that it was part of a satellite called Sputnik that landed right here, and that set the Space Race into motion.  So I want to say to you today that it is here, more than 50 years later, that the race for the 21st century will be won.”

Obama toured Orion Energy and two other renewable energy factories in Wisconsin before departing ahead of schedule in an attempt to beat the snow storm hitting the East Coast of the United States.  Like many other D.C. commuters attempting to get home last night, however, Obama got stuck in traffic trying to get from Andrews Air Force Base, where the President’s plane lands, to the White House.  A trip that usually takes only 20 minutes took over an hour because the White House and police chose not to close streets for the President’s motorcade, which would have diverted resources from handling the snow emergency.

Read the full text of Obama’s speech on the American economy from Manitowoc.

Violence in Egypt / 21st Century Challenges / Global Action on Counterfeits

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The United States urges security forces and protestors in Egypt to shun violence. In his State of the Union address, President Obama discussed how America can meet 21st century challenges. Watch mothers and daughters in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan share their dreams and aspirations. And U.S. officials vow to crack down on intellectual property infringements.

Protestors in Cairo, EgyptU.S. Calls for Calm in Egypt
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The United States is urging both security forces and protestors to shun violence as discontent over corruption, poverty, and government reductions in subsidies continues in Egypt. “As we monitor the situation in Egypt, we urge all parties to refrain from using violence, and expect the Egyptian authorities to respond to any protests peacefully,” says White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. At right, protestors take to the streets in Cairo.

Facing 21st Century Challenges
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In the annual State of the Union address, President Obama urged American lawmakers to support innovative research and educational opportunities as a means of maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness and ensuring its progress in the 21st century.

“Dreams for My Mother, Dreams for My Daughter”
Explore the videos and interviews in “Dreams for My Mother, Dreams for My Daughter,” a project by America.gov and the U.S. embassies in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in which pairs of mothers and daughters took turns interviewing each other about their dreams and aspirations.

Counterfeit watchesGlobal Action on Counterfeits
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U.S. officials vow to pursue broader international cooperation in the fight against intellectual property theft. More and more countries are recognizing the importance of stopping IP infringements, especially counterfeiting that puts public health at risk, like trafficking in bogus drugs. At right, counterfeit watches that were seized in Philadelphia.

President Obama: “We Are Poised for Progress”

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President Obama delivered his second official State of the Union address to the nation last night, telling Americans the worst of the economic downturn is over, making now the time to rebuild and reinvest.

State of the Union speeches are generally heavy on domestic priorities.  It’s the president’s opportunity to tell Americans what initiatives he wants the country to undertake, and what goals he wants the country to achieve.   In his speech, President Obama focused largely on education, innovation, and fiscal responsibility.  He reminded Americans that they “do big things,” and are “poised for progress.”

He set goals for the United States, including:

-  By 2035, 80 percent of America’s electricity will come from clean energy sources 

-  By the end of the decade, have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world

-  Within 25 years, give 80 percent of Americans access to high-speed rail 

-  Lower the corporate tax rate without adding to our deficit

But along with the upbeat outlook and talk of past and future American success, President Obama also acknowledged the difficult realities facing Americans in the 21st Century.  “The world has changed,” he said, “And for many, the change has been painful.”  He spoke of changes in manufacturing needs, technology, and global competition, all of which have left some Americans feeling as though “the rules have been changed in the middle of the game.”  He added, “They’re right.  The rules have changed”

The speech focused on domestic issues, but it was not without reference to foreign policy and foreign events.  The president touched on shrinking safe havens for al Qaeda in Pakistan, the New START treaty between the U.S. and Russia, cooperation among nations to place tougher sanctions on Iran, U.S. involvement in NATO, as well as recent democratic movements in south Sudan and Tunisia.  He also announced he will travel to Brazil, Chile, and El Salvador this March. 

Despite the changes and the challenges Americans have seen and are facing, President Obama was optimistic about the future of the United States.  He assured Americans that the United States is not in decline as many have predicted, but that the country’s talented citizens, free society, and democratic traditions will ensure a strong future.  He ended his speech with the traditional declaration: “The State of our Union is strong.”

The State of the Union / U.S., Mexico Action on Cross-Border Crime / Mothers and Daughters

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President Obama updates the nation on the State of the Union. The U.S. and Mexico talk tough on cross-border crime. Finance leaders expect this year’s G20 and G8 summits to focus on world food price and currency stability. Learn about a unique and environmentally-friendly use for old cooking oil. And finally, watch mothers and daughters in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan share their dreams and aspirations.


Obama Offers Plan to Meet 21st Century Challenges
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In the annual State of the Union address, President Obama urges American lawmakers to support innovative research and educational opportunities as a means of maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness and ensuring its progress in the 21st century. Obama referred to dramatic educational and research advances in countries like China and India, and said that he would ask Congress to fund programs in clean energy technology, biomedical research and information technology to help strengthen U.S. security, protect the environment and create new jobs in the United States.

U.S., Mexico to Take Steps on Border Crime
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa say the United States and Mexico are taking “decisive steps” to combat cross-border organized crime. The two leaders made remarks to the press after meeting in Guanajuato, Mexico.

Preparing for the G20
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The Group of 20 (G20) major industrial and emerging-market nations are expected to focus on world food price and currency stability during summits in 2011, finance leaders say at preliminary meetings in Paris.

The Power of Cooking Grease
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Chula Vista, a green California town near the Mexican border, recently contracted with a company that collects cooking grease from area restaurants and converts it into a 20-percent-grade biodiesel fuel known as B20. In recent months, the federal government has supported several similar projects around the country.

A mother and daughter in Afghanistan“Dreams for My Mother, Dreams for My Daughter”
Explore the videos and interviews in “Dreams for My Mother, Dreams for My Daughter,” a project by America.gov and the U.S. embassies in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in which pairs of mothers and daughters took turns interviewing each other about their dreams and aspirations. At left, Arezoo Ghanem in Afghanistan responds to a question from her mother, Maleke Ghanem, right, about her dreams for herself and for her country.

Obama’s State of the Union Speech to Get “Enhanced” Online

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For over 200 years, presidents of the United States have delivered a State of the Union speech to Congress and the American people.  This year, that tradition will receive a 21st Century makeover when the White House offers Americans the chance to watch an “Enhanced State of the Union” online.

The State of the Union speech is an annual opportunity to talk about where the country is economically, socially, and in terms of foreign policy, and give the president a chance to lay out his plans for the country’s future.  The new enhanced speech, which can be viewed on the official White House website, will include not just President Obama’s words, but also charts, facts, statistics, and resources that will appear next to live video of the speech and serve to reinforce the president’s key points.

Immediately after the speech, Senior White House officials will answer questions about President Obama’s policies, which the public can submit online ahead of tonight’s event.  In the days after the speech, officials will continue to answer questions from the public in a variety of online events, including a Twitter interview with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

President Obama himself will answer questions in a live YouTube interview from the White House.

Obama Condemns Moscow Attack / The Transition in Tunisia / A Landmark Turns Green

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President Obama strongly condemns the deadly terror attack in Moscow. The U.S. supports a peaceful transition in Tunisia and Tunisian Americans are keeping a close eye on developments in their homeland. The State of the Union address is more than just a speech. Learn which New York City landmark has gone green.

Obama Condemns “Outrageous” Moscow Attack
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President Obama strongly condemns the bombing of Moscow’s busiest airport, calling the deadly attack an “outrageous act of terrorism against the Russian people….I want to express the solidarity of the American people with the Russian people in the aftermath of this premeditated attack against innocent civilians,” Obama says in a statement.

U.S. Backs Peaceful Tunisia Transition
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The Obama administration supports Tunisia’s democratic transition following the ouster of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley says.

Tunisian Americans Upbeat
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Many of the estimated 14,000 Tunisian Americans are celebrating the fall of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and say they are doing what they can to bolster the emerging democracy in their homeland. Tunisian Americans are watching events unfold in their native country with memories of a painful past tempered by a hopeful vision of its future.

A Speech Rich in History
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When President Obama addresses leaders of the U.S. federal government on January 25 he will be fulfilling a constitutional obligation and following a long-standing tradition of American presidents.

A Green Empire State Building
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New York’s Empire State Building, which has 102 floors to heat and cool, is one of America’s biggest “green building” success stories. After a two-year, $20-million building retrofit that cut the building’s energy consumption by 38 percent, property managers recently signed a contract to purchase all electricity for the building from a company that offers only renewable energy.

Balance of Power

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As young students, one of Americans’ first lessons on democracy is about balance of powers. We learn that the United States government is made up of legislative, executive and judicial branches, each with its own unique powers.

But as an older student of democracy (and really, aren’t we always students of democracy?) you realize that maintaining that balance is not easy. The lines of power get blurred all the time.

And when you try to determine what is appropriate behavior among the members of each branch, things get really tricky.

For example, the judicial branch, headed by our Supreme Court, has the authority to rule on the constitutionality of a law. But can the president publicly state that he thinks the court made the wrong decision? Well, during his State of the Union address in January, President Obama said basically that about a court ruling. Six of the court’s members were in attendance, and as the president spoke, one justice appeared to mouth the words, “not true.”

Chief Justice John RobertsJohn Roberts, chief justice of the court, recently spoke about that incident, saying that criticizing the court in that forum is “very troubling.” The State of the Union is an event filled with decorum and standards of behavior that require the court members in attendance to remain quiet, and not a fair venue to air concerns, the justice argued.

But Roberts also clearly stated that criticizing the court in itself is not wrong. “First of all, anybody can criticize the Supreme Court without any qualm,” he said. Going one step further, he said, “some people, I think, have an obligation to criticize what we do, given their office, if they think we’ve done something wrong.”

Do you agree with Roberts’ comments?