A message from President Obama

A message from the POTUS...



This weekend, our family will join millions of others in celebrating America. We will enjoy the glow of fireworks, the taste of barbeque, and the company of good friends. As we all celebrate this weekend, let's also remember the remarkable story that led to this day.

Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, our nation was born when a courageous group of patriots pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the proposition that all of us were created equal.

Our country began as a unique experiment in liberty -- a bold, evolving quest to achieve a more perfect union. And in every generation, another courageous group of patriots has taken us one step closer to fully realizing the dream our founders enshrined on that great day.

Today, all Americans have a hard-fought birthright to a freedom which enables each of us, no matter our views or background, to help set our nation's course. America's greatness has always depended on her citizens embracing that freedom -- and fulfilling the duty that comes with it.

As free people, we must each take the challenges and opportunities that face this nation as our own. As long as some Americans still must struggle, none of us can be fully content. And as America comes ever closer to achieving the perfect Union our founders dreamed, that triumph -- that pride -- belongs to all of us.

So today is a day to reflect on our independence, and the sacrifice of our troops standing in harm's way to preserve and protect it. It is a day to celebrate all that America is. And today is a time to aspire toward all we can still become.

With very best wishes,

President Barack Obama

July 4th, 2009

P.S. -- Our nation's birthday is also an ideal time to consider serving in your local community. You can find many great ideas for service opportunities near you at http://www.serve.gov.

Obama eats veal and foie gras? Seriously?

by: Drew Wilson

"I think how we treat our animals reflects how we treat each other. It's very important that we have a president who is mindful of the cruelty that is perpetrated on animals."

Those are the words that Barack Obama said when he was asked a question about animal rights at one of his campaign stops during election season. I'm not going to get into the PETA/Fly-swatting issue, but I will say that there have been a lot of misunderstandings about that silly issue. With the recent news of Obama and his family eating veal in New York and foie gras in France, do we need to re-evaluate the president's stance on animals? Veal and foie gras are two products of some of the most extreme forms of animal abuse in factory farming. A number of countries have already banned the production of veal or foie gras and some American states have recently begun to follow suit.

Foie gras (also called pâté) is nothing but fatten duck liver. It's produced by repetitively force-feeding ducks shortly before they are slaughtered. A metal tube is pushed down the birds' throats and grains are forced into their stomaches. It's a cruel practice that is already on its way out. Over 100 restaurants in the United States have removed the dish from their menu because it is inherently cruel. Obama's home city, Chicago, even banned the sale of it, although they later repealed that ban.

Veal is a milky-colored, tender meat produced from baby cows. When it comes to cruel farm practices, veal is notorious. New-born calves who are discarded by the dairy industry are confined in crates only slightly larger than their bodies. With no room to turn around and an iron-deficient diet, the calves do not get any exercise, they develop no muscles mass, and become anemic. California just recently banned use of veal crates by popular vote, Maine followed suit shortly thereafter, and Massachusetts is now likely to see the next victory.

The tide is clearly turning. Veal and foie gras are so cruel that chefs and politicians are banning them, so why hasn't President Obama taking notice? What can we do to get his attention?

Walmart Supports Reform... ???

Walmart Supports Health Care Reform and Employer Mandate

by: Ann Pietrangelo

In a letter addressed to President Obama, Walmart Stores states its support for health care reform "not just to improve the health of all Americans, but also to remove the burden that is crushing America’s businesses and hampering our competitiveness in the global economy." The letter went on to say,

"We are for an employer mandate which is fair and broad in its coverage, but any alternative to an employer mandate should not create barriers to hiring entry level employees. We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to develop a requirement that is both sensible and equitable... Support for a mandate also requires the strongest possible commitment to rein in health care costs."

Walmart has taken on health issues before, with its $4 prescription drug plan, and its in-store clinics, but has taken a lot of heat in recent years over employee benefits. The largest private employer in the United States, just slightly more than half of its workforce is covered by employer-based medical insurance. (According to its website, 94 percent of Walmart’s employees are covered by some type of medical insurance.)

Large corporations have not exactly been lining up to support employer mandates, complaining that such action would force them to cut jobs and/or lower wages.

While the letter makes no firm commitment regarding health care coverage for its employees, it does reflect the heated atmosphere surrounding health care reform, and the belief/fear that there is no stopping the juggernaut. It is clearly in the best interests of Walmart to not only support reform, but to try to help shape it.

"As health care reform enters the next phase, we came together at this point in the debate to add our combined voices to the momentum building behind reform. We believe the time for comprehensive reform is now. The present system is not sustainable. The status quo is not an option. We applaud the bipartisan efforts in Congress to craft and pass legislation." - Leslie Dach, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Government Relations, Walmart.

Does Walmart really care about the health benefits of its employees, or is it just looking out for its bottom line... does it even matter?

Read the letter to President Obama in its entirety here. The letter was signed by John Podesta, President & CEO of Center for American Progress; Andrew L. Stern, President of Service Employees International Union; and Mike Duke, President & CEO of Walmart Stores, Inc.

What Did Obama Say To The Duck...? (video)

Is The Food Killing Us...???

DiscussionsView Results

"Still Thriving and Excelling Long After Helen Keller"

Posted by Kareem Dale

Another day at the White House, another chance for President Obama to make history for people with disabilities. And, he did just that.

On Friday, June 26, 2009, President Barack Obama became one of the very few sitting American Presidents to personally greet and welcome persons who are deaf-blind to the White House Oval Office.

(President Barack Obama meets with a group from the Helen Keller National Center in the Oval Office
June 26, 2009. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

The group featured five young adults (Crystal Morales, Kelvin Crosby, Virginia Jordan, Divya Goel, and Jason Corning) affiliated with the Helen Keller National Center ("HKNC") including a musician with two CDs to her credit, a surfer and aspiring field goal kicker, a Cum Laude graduate who wants to start a school, an aspiring restaurant manager, and a winner of the Wisconsin Council for Exceptional Children "Yes I Can" award for Advocacy and Independent Living. Two staff members and 3 volunteers from the HKNC also joined the young adults.

They were in D.C. to celebrate Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week. This year’s theme for the week was Deaf-Blindness Didn’t Stop with Helen Keller. The focus of the week was to demonstrate that successful deaf-blind persons are still thriving and excelling long after Helen Keller.

The week culminated with their visit to the White House. They visited the White House in the morning, where they received a tour of the public residence. From hanging out in the First Lady’s East Reception Room, to playing the same piano played by Stevie Wonder, to visiting the China Room, the tour was a major hit with the young adults. They returned in the afternoon for the icing on the already incredibly rich cake to take a photo with the President in the Oval Office. The President congratulated the young adults on their accomplishments and reminded them that we remain committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

This visit was not and should not be viewed as a sympathetic thing for the President to do. Rather, it reflects this President’s commitment to, and understanding of, the desire for all people with disabilities to be fully integrated into society. These young adults are proof that if provided with the necessary supports and services, people with disabilities can and will achieve anything they desire. Recognizing Deaf-Blind Awareness Week by inviting these young adults to the White House further solidifies the extraordinary commitment of this entire administration to all people with disabilities.

Kareem Dale is Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy.