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Fighting Foo on the Fourth: Your Live-Stream Schedule

Barack Obama's White House Presidential Office (D) posted a Blog Post on July 3, 2009 | 4:28 pm - Original Item - Comments (View)
Jimmy Fallon will emcee a special concert featuring the Foo Fighters and Michelle Branch on Saturday, July 4th, 2009 from the South Lawn of the White House. We'll be providing the exclusive live video at whitehouse.gov/live beginning with President Obama's opening remarks at 7pm EDT.

The concert, put on by the USO honoring the hundreds of service members and their families who will be in attendance, will begin at 8:10 pm ET, followed by fireworks over the National Mall at approximately 9:10pm.


(Photo credit Steve Garfield)

Open Thread: Life-Size

Barack Obama's White House Campaign Office (D) posted a Blog Post on July 3, 2009 | 2:52 pm - Original Item - Comments (View)
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Lady Liberty's Crown Opens on 4th of July

Barack Obama's White House Presidential Office (D) posted a Blog Post on July 3, 2009 | 12:00 pm - Original Item - Comments (View)

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will officially reopen the crown of the Statue of Liberty to the public on July 4, 2009.  About 20 lucky visitors will be among the first to climb the 354 steps to the crown on Saturday morning, but thanks to the power of technology, everyone can join in the celebration.  The public can view photos of the day’s events on Flickr and follow Lady Liberty on Twitter.  

July 4th marks the first time visitors can tour the crown since it was closed following the 9/11 attacks.  About 240 visitors per day will be able to tour the crown, but you can visit the Statue of Liberty anytime from home by taking the new Statue of Liberty National Monument virtual tour
 

 
Katelyn Sabochik is the Director of New Media for the U.S. Department of the Interior

WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Obama Celebrates Independence Day and the American Spirit

Barack Obama's White House Presidential Office (D) posted a Press Release on July 3, 2009 | 11:59 am - Original Item - Comments (View)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________________
EMBARGOED UNTIL 6:00 AM ET, SATURDAY, July 4, 2009

WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Obama Celebrates Independence Day
and the American Spirit
 

WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Barack Obama celebrated the unyielding American spirit that has defined our past and will lead us into the future.  Even as we face daunting challenges - two wars, a deep recession, skyrocketing health care costs, and a dependence on foreign oil, we have always overcome long odds and faced down our trials.  We must remember and renew that spirit as we confront and meet our current challenges. 
 
The full audio of the address is HERE. The video can be viewed online at www.whitehouse.gov. 

 

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
July 4, 2009
 

Hello and Happy Fourth of July, everybody. This weekend is a time to get together with family and friends, kick back, and enjoy a little time off. And I hope that’s exactly what all of you do. But I also want to take a moment today to reflect on what I believe is the meaning of this distinctly American holiday.
 
Today, we are called to remember not only the day our country was born – we are also called to remember the indomitable spirit of the first American citizens who made that day possible.
 
We are called to remember how unlikely it was that our American experiment would succeed at all; that a small band of patriots would declare independence from a powerful empire; and that they would form, in the new world, what the old world had never known – a government of, by, and for the people.
 
That unyielding spirit is what defines us as Americans. It is what led generations of pioneers to blaze a westward trail.
 
It is what led my grandparents’ generation to persevere in the face of a Depression and triumph in the face of tyranny.
 
It is what led generations of American workers to build an industrial economy unrivalled around the world.
 
It is what has always led us, as a people, not to wilt or cower at a difficult moment, but to face down any trial and rise to any challenge, understanding that each of us has a hand in writing America’s destiny.
 
That is the spirit we are called to show once more. We are facing an array of challenges on a scale unseen in our time. We are waging two wars. We are battling a deep recession. And our economy – and our nation itself – are endangered by festering problems we have kicked down the road for far too long: spiraling health care costs; inadequate schools; and a dependence on foreign oil.
 
Meeting these extraordinary challenges will require an extraordinary effort on the part of every American. And that is an effort we cannot defer any longer.
 
Now is the time to lay a new foundation for growth and prosperity. Now is the time to revamp our education system, demand more from teachers, parents, and students alike, and build schools that prepare every child in America to outcompete any worker in the world.
 
Now is the time to reform an unsustainable health care system that is imposing crushing costs on families, businesses, large and small, and state and federal budgets. We need to protect what works, fix what’s broken, and bring down costs for all Americans. No more talk. No more delay. Health care reform must happen this year.
 
And now is the time to meet our energy challenge – one of the greatest challenges we have ever confronted as a people or as a planet. For the sake of our economy and our children, we must build on the historic bill passed by the House of Representatives, and make clean energy the profitable kind of energy so that we can end our dependence on foreign oil and reclaim America’s future.
 
These are some of the challenges that our generation has been called to meet. And yet, there are those who would have us try what has already failed; who would defend the status quo. They argue that our health care system is fine the way it is and that a clean energy economy can wait. They say we are trying to do too much, that we are moving too quickly, and that we all ought to just take a deep breath and scale back our goals.
 
These naysayers have short memories.  They forget that we, as a people, did not get here by standing pat in a time of change. We did not get here by doing what was easy. That is not how a cluster of 13 colonies became the United States of America.
 
We are not a people who fear the future. We are a people who make it. And on this July 4th, we need to summon that spirit once more. We need to summon the same spirit that inhabited Independence Hall two hundred and thirty-three years ago today.
 
That is how this generation of Americans will make its mark on history. That is how we will make the most of this extraordinary moment. And that is how we will write the next chapter in the great American story. Thank you, and Happy Fourth of July.
 
###
 

Message from David Plouffe: "It's a go"

Barack Obama's White House Campaign Office (D) posted a Blog Post on July 2, 2009 | 9:33 pm - Original Item - Comments (View)
From David Plouffe:Earlier in the week, we asked if you thought we should put the experiences of real American families on the air and online to show why we need heath care reform. The overwhelming answer? Yes.Thanks to your support, we were able to spring into action and share with America the very personal reasons why we cannot afford to miss this one chance to finally reform our health care sys Read More...

Jobs and Energy Innovation

Barack Obama's White House Presidential Office (D) posted a Blog Post on July 2, 2009 | 6:40 pm - Original Item - Comments (View)
Viewing this video requires Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. Download the free player.


download .mp4 (91.0 MB)  | read the transcript


The President met with a group of innovative energy leaders today to discuss job creation and long-term plans for strengthening the industry which will play a key role in America’s economic future. CEOs from both small and large energy companies shared their own ideas about how to increase productivity through innovation and technology. Finding new ways of producing, saving, and distributing energy is not only good for our energy independence, but also presents opportunities to create millions of jobs for Americans.
In his remarks, the President explained that energy is one of the main pillars in our new economic foundation, which is why the administration has put it at the forefront of the recovery effort:
I'm pleased to say that we've achieved more in the past few months to create a new clean energy economy than we had achieved in many decades before.  The recovery plan will double our country's supply of renewable energy, and is already creating new clean energy jobs.  Thanks to a remarkable partnership between automakers, autoworkers, environmental advocates, and states, we also set in motion a new national policy to increase gas mileage and decrease carbon pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in this country, which is going to save us 1.8 billion barrels of oil.
And last Friday, the House of Representatives passed an extraordinary piece of legislation that would make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy in America.  It will reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  It will prevent the worst consequences of climate change.  And above all, it holds the promise of millions of new jobs -- jobs, by the way, that can't be outsourced.  
The CEOs standing behind me know a lot about these kinds of companies.  These are folks whose companies are helping to lead the transformation towards a clean energy future.  Even as we face tough economic times, even as we continue to lose jobs, the CEOs here told me that they're looking to hire new people, in some cases to double or even triple in size over the next few years.  They are making money and they are helping their customers save money on the energy front. 
So these companies are vivid examples of the kind of future we can create, but it's now up to the Senate to continue the work that was begun in the House to forge this more prosperous future. We're going to need to set aside the posturing and the politics  -- and when we put aside the old ideological debates, then our choice is clear.  It's a choice between slow decline and renewed prosperity.  It's a choice between the past and the future. 
The American people I believe want us to make the right choice, and I'm confident that the Senate will.  For at every juncture in our history, we've chosen to seize big opportunities -- rather than fear big challenges.  We've chosen to take responsibility.  We've chosen to honor the sacrifices of those who came before us -- and fulfill our obligations to generations to come.  That's what we're going to do this time, as well.
The President went on to praise the innovation that is now taking place, from LED lighting to waterproof, long-lasting concrete. He added that although the economy continues to struggle, these are advances that will help us succeed both now and well into the future. "We always meet the challenges by moving forward," he said.
 
The President shakes hands with Secretary Chu
(President Barack Obama shakes hands with Energy Secretary Steven Chu following remarks about innovation
in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Thursday, July 2, 2009, following his meeting with business leaders. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is second from left.  Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Jobs and Energy Innovation

Barack Obama's White House Presidential Office (D) posted a Blog Post on July 2, 2009 | 6:40 pm - Original Item - Comments (View)

download .mp4 (91.0 MB)  | read the transcript


The President met with a group of innovative energy leaders today to discuss job creation and long-term plans for strengthening the industry which will play a key role in America’s economic future. CEOs from both small and large energy companies shared their own ideas about how to increase productivity through innovation and technology. Finding new ways of producing, saving, and distributing energy is not only good for our energy independence, but also presents opportunities to create millions of jobs for Americans.
In his remarks, the President explained that energy is one of the main pillars in our new economic foundation, which is why the administration has put it at the forefront of the recovery effort:
I'm pleased to say that we've achieved more in the past few months to create a new clean energy economy than we had achieved in many decades before.  The recovery plan will double our country's supply of renewable energy, and is already creating new clean energy jobs.  Thanks to a remarkable partnership between automakers, autoworkers, environmental advocates, and states, we also set in motion a new national policy to increase gas mileage and decrease carbon pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in this country, which is going to save us 1.8 billion barrels of oil.
And last Friday, the House of Representatives passed an extraordinary piece of legislation that would make renewable energy the profitable kind of energy in America.  It will reduce our dependence on foreign oil.  It will prevent the worst consequences of climate change.  And above all, it holds the promise of millions of new jobs -- jobs, by the way, that can't be outsourced.  
The CEOs standing behind me know a lot about these kinds of companies.  These are folks whose companies are helping to lead the transformation towards a clean energy future.  Even as we face tough economic times, even as we continue to lose jobs, the CEOs here told me that they're looking to hire new people, in some cases to double or even triple in size over the next few years.  They are making money and they are helping their customers save money on the energy front. 
So these companies are vivid examples of the kind of future we can create, but it's now up to the Senate to continue the work that was begun in the House to forge this more prosperous future. We're going to need to set aside the posturing and the politics  -- and when we put aside the old ideological debates, then our choice is clear.  It's a choice between slow decline and renewed prosperity.  It's a choice between the past and the future. 
The American people I believe want us to make the right choice, and I'm confident that the Senate will.  For at every juncture in our history, we've chosen to seize big opportunities -- rather than fear big challenges.  We've chosen to take responsibility.  We've chosen to honor the sacrifices of those who came before us -- and fulfill our obligations to generations to come.  That's what we're going to do this time, as well.
The President went on to praise the innovation that is now taking place, from LED lighting to waterproof, long-lasting concrete. He added that although the economy continues to struggle, these are advances that will help us succeed both now and well into the future. "We always meet the challenges by moving forward," he said.
 
The President shakes hands with Secretary Chu
(President Barack Obama shakes hands with Energy Secretary Steven Chu following remarks about innovation
in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Thursday, July 2, 2009, following his meeting with business leaders. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is second from left.  Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

A Surprise Visit to Iraq

Barack Obama's White House Presidential Office (D) posted a Blog Post on July 2, 2009 | 6:07 pm - Original Item - Comments (View)
Vice President Biden landed at Camp Victory, Iraq today to visit U.S. troops and to meet with Iraqi leaders. This is Vice President Biden’s second trip to Iraq this year and his first as Vice President.


(Vice President Joe Biden arrives at Camp Victory, Iraq, on an unannounced visit to the country,
Thursday, July 2, 2009. Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)


(Vice President Joe Biden greets Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari at Camp Victory, Iraq, on an
unannounced visit to the country, Thursday, July 2, 2009. Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)


(Vice President Joe Biden greets U.S. General Ray Odierno, at Camp Victory, Iraq, on an unannounced visit to
the country, Thursday, July 2, 2009. Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

A Surprise Visit to Iraq

Barack Obama's White House Presidential Office (D) posted a Blog Post on July 2, 2009 | 6:07 pm - Original Item - Comments (View)
Vice President Biden landed at Camp Victory, Iraq today to visit U.S. troops and to meet with Iraqi leaders. This is Vice President Biden’s second trip to Iraq this year and his first as Vice President.


Vice President Joe Biden arrives at Camp Victory, Iraq, on an unannounced visit to the country,
Thursday, July 2, 2009. Official White House Photo by David Lienemann


Vice President Joe Biden greets U.S. Ambassador Hill, at Camp Victory, Iraq, on an unannounced visit to the
country, Thursday, July 2, 2009. Official White House Photo by David Lienemann


Vice President Joe Biden greets U.S. General Ray Odierno, at Camp Victory, Iraq, on an unannounced visit to
the country, Thursday, July 2, 2009. Official White House Photo by David Lienemann

7/2/09: White House Press Briefing

Barack Obama's White House Presidential Office (D) posted a Video (YouTube) on July 2, 2009 | 5:47 pm - Original Item - Comments (View)
White House Press Briefings are conducted most weekdays from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room in the West Wing. (public domain)
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