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class="clear-block block block-nodeblock "> <div class="content"><p class="menu-feature-title"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/disclosures/visitor-records?utm_source=wh&utm_medium=tout&utm_campaign=menu">A Commitment to Transparency</a></p> <p>Browse White House visitor logs</p> <p><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/disclosures/visitor-records?utm_source=wh&utm_medium=tout&utm_campaign=menu"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/files/images/tout/menu/menu_visitor_records.jpg" alt="President Obama greets White House visitors"/></a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> </li> <li id="nav-issues" class="first-level"> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues" class="first-level"><span>Issues</span></a> <div class="topnav-dd-outer topnav-dd-outer-three-col topnav-dd-outer-featured topnav-dd-outer-three-col-featured"><div class="topnav-dd-inner clearfix"> <ul class="three-col clearfix"> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/civil-rights">Civil Rights</a> <ul class="topnav-dd-inner-sub"> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/civil-rights/it-gets-better">It Gets Better</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/defense">Defense</a> <ul class="topnav-dd-inner-sub"> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/defense/afghanistan">The Way Forward in Afghanistan</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/disabilities">Disabilities</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy">Economy</a> <ul class="topnav-dd-inner-sub"> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/wallstreetreform">Financial Reform</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy/innovation">Innovation</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/startup-america">Startup America</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education">Education</a> <ul class="topnav-dd-inner-sub"> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/educate-innovate">Educate to Innovate</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/higher-education">Higher Education</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/commencement">Race to the Top Commencement Challenge</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/energy">Energy & Environment</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="three-col clearfix"> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/21stcenturygov">Ethics</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/family">Family</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/fiscal">Fiscal Responsibility</a> <ul class="topnav-dd-inner-sub"> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/fiscal/excess-property-map">Excess Federal Properties Interactive Map</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy">Foreign Policy</a> <ul class="topnav-dd-inner-sub"> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/japan-earthquake-tsunami">Japan Earthquake and Tsunami</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/president-s-trip-asia-2010">Trip to Asia 2010</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/haiti-earthquake">Haiti Earthquake</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/presidents-speech-cairo-a-new-beginning">Speech in Cairo</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform">Health Care</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/homeland-security">Homeland Security</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/fixing-immigration-system-america-s-21st-century-economy">Immigration</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/poverty">Poverty</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/rural">Rural</a> <ul class="topnav-dd-inner-sub"> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/rural/state-fair-tour">State Fair Tour</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul class="three-col clearfix"> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/seniors-and-social-security">Seniors & Social Security</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/service">Service</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/taxes">Taxes</a> <ul class="topnav-dd-inner-sub"> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/taxes/tax-receipt">Tax Receipt</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/taxes/tax-cuts">Tax Cuts, Unemployment Insurance and Jobs</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/taxes/tax-cut-calculator">Tax Cut Calculator</a></li> </ul> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/technology">Technology</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/urban-policy">Urban Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/veterans">Veterans</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/women">Women</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/additional-issues">Additional Issues</a> </li> </ul> <div id="nav-issues-feature" class="topnav-feature"> <div class="cp_tile "> <div id="block-nodeblock-43315" class="clear-block block block-nodeblock "> <div class="content"><p class="menu-feature-title"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/fiscal/excess-property-map?utm_source=wh&utm_medium=tout&utm_campaign=menu">Excess Federal Properties</a></p> <p>Explore the interactive map</p> <p><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/fiscal/excess-property-map?utm_source=wh&utm_medium=tout&utm_campaign=menu"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/files/images/tout/menu/menu_excess_map.jpg" alt="Excess Property Map"/></a></p> <hr/> <p class="menu-feature-title"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/taxes/tax-receipt?utm_source=wh&utm_medium=tout&utm_campaign=menu">Your Federal Taxpayer Receipt</a></p> <p>How your tax dollars are spent</p> <p><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/taxes/tax-receipt?utm_source=wh&utm_medium=tout&utm_campaign=menu"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/files/images/tout/menu/featured_tax_receipt.jpg" alt="Interactive Tax Receipt"/></a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> </li> <li id="nav-the-admin" class="first-level"> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration" class="first-level"><span>The Administration</span></a> <div class="topnav-dd-outer topnav-dd-outer-three-col topnav-dd-outer-featured topnav-dd-outer-three-col-featured"><div class="topnav-dd-inner clearfix"> <div id="nav-the-admin-feature" class="topnav-feature"> <div class="cp_tile "> <div id="block-nodeblock-43303" class="clear-block block block-nodeblock "> <div class="content"><p class="menu-feature-title"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/citizensmedal?utm_source=wh&utm_medium=tout&utm_campaign=menu">Presidential Citizens Medal</a></p> <p>See the 2010 award winners</p> <p><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/citizensmedal?utm_source=wh&utm_medium=tout&utm_campaign=menu"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/files/images/tout/menu/menu_citizens_medal.jpg" alt="The Presidential Citizens Medal"/></a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <ul class="three-col clearfix"> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/president-obama">President Barack Obama</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/vice-president-biden">Vice President Joe Biden</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama">First Lady Michelle Obama</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/jill-biden">Dr. Jill Biden</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/cabinet">The Cabinet</a> <ul class="topnav-dd-inner-sub"> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/2010-Cabinet-Reports">2010 Video Reports</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul class="three-col clearfix"> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/staff">White House Staff</a> <ul class="topnav-dd-inner-sub"> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/staff/bill-daley">Chief of Staff Bill Daley</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/staff/nancy-ann-deparle">Deputy Chief of Staff Nancy-Ann DeParle</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/staff/alyssa-mastromonaco">Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa Mastromonaco</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/staff/pete-rouse">Counselor to the President Peter Rouse</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/staff/valerie-jarrett">Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <ul class="three-col clearfix"> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop">Executive Office of the President</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/other-advisory-boards">Other Advisory Boards</a> </li> </ul> </div></div> </li> <li id="nav-the-wh" class="first-level"> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/about" class="first-level"><span>About the White House</span></a> <div class="topnav-dd-outer topnav-dd-outer-three-col topnav-dd-outer-featured topnav-dd-outer-three-col-featured"><div class="topnav-dd-inner clearfix"> <div id="nav-the-wh-feature" class="topnav-feature"> <div class="cp_tile "> <div 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page-container"> <div id="control"> <div id="wh-admin-bar-region" class="clearfix"> <div class="tabs clearfix"></div> </div> </div> <div id="blog" class="extend-page body-text clearfix clear"> <div class="view view-blog view-id-blog view-display-id-page_1 view-dom-id-1" id="content"> <div class="top-subscribe clearfix"> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/feed/blog/white-house" alt="Blog Feed">Subscribe</a> </div> <h1>The White House Blog</h1> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul class="entry-list"> <li class="views-row views-row-1 views-row-odd views-row-first first"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/if-you-want-be-leader-then-you-got-lead-0">If You Want to be a Leader, Then You Got to Lead</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/author-detail/475">Colleen Curtis</a></span> on July 22, 2011 at 9:30 PM EDT</div> <p><div class="embed"> <div id="media-embed-detail" class="clearfix"> <div id="video-wrapper"> <div class="swftools-wrapper wijering4-mediaplayer"><div id="swfobject2-id-13113865232" class="swftools swfobject2"> <video controls="controls" width="560" height="315" poster="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/rss_thumb/audio-video/video_thumbnail/potus-evening-hd-2.jpg" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/2011/July/072211_DeficitNegotiations.mp4"> <p>To view this content, please download the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/">Adobe Flash Player</a></p> </video> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> swfobject.embedSWF("https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf", "swfobject2-id-13113865232", "560", "355", "7", "", { "config": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/xml/video/60913/config.xml", "path_to_player": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf", "path_to_plugins": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/modules/wh_multimedia/wh_jwplayer/plugins", "share_url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/07/22/president-obama-speaks-deficit-negotiations", "shareTitle": "President Obama Speaks on Deficit Negotiations", "width": "560", "height": "355" }, { "swliveconnect": "default", "play": "false", "loop": "false", "menu": "false", "quality": "best", "scale": "showall", "align": "l", "salign": "tl", "wmode": "opaque", "bgcolor": "#FFFFFF", "version": "7", "allowfullscreen": "true", "allowscriptaccess": "sameDomain", "width": 560, "height": 355, "base": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/", "src": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf" }, { "id": "swf13113865232" }); </script> <ul class="wijering4-accessible-hidden"> <li><a href="javascript:document.getElementById('swf13113865232').sendEvent('PLAY');">Play/pause</a></li> <li><a href="javascript:document.getElementById('swf13113865232').sendEvent('MUTE');">Mute/unmute</a></li> <li><a href="javascript:document.getElementById('swf13113865232').sendEvent('STOP');">Rewind and stop</a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div id="video-info"> <div class="caption" property="dc:description"> Download Video: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/2011/July/072211_DeficitNegotiations.mp4" rel="enclosure">mp4</a> (297MB) | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/2011/July/072211_DeficitNegotiations.mp3" rel="enclosure">mp3</a> (29MB) </div> </div> </div> </div> <p> Tonight, the President held a press conference to provide an update on the ongoing budget negotiations to get our fiscal house in order and reduce our nation’s deficit to help our economy grow.  Unfortunately, Speaker Boehner walked away from these negotiations as they worked towards a big deficit and debt reduction package.</p> <p> Tomorrow at the White House, the President will meet with members of both parties, including Leader Reid, Leader McConnell, Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi, to continue to hammer out a deal to ensure that Congress acts to reduce our deficit and prevent America from defaulting on its obligations. </p> <p> Here are a few highlights from tonight’s press conference:</p> <p>  <strong>What the President Offered </strong></p> <blockquote><p> So let me reiterate what we were offering... we were calling for modifications to entitlement programs, would have saved just as much over the 10-year window.  In other words, this was an extraordinarily fair deal.  If it was unbalanced, it was unbalanced in the direction of not enough revenue.</p> <p> But in the interest of being serious about deficit reduction, I was willing to take a lot of heat from my party -- and I spoke to Democratic leaders yesterday, and although they didn’t sign off on a plan, they were willing to engage in serious negotiations, despite a lot of heat from a lot of interest groups around the country, in order to make sure that we actually dealt with this problem. </p> <p> It is hard to understand why Speaker Boehner would walk away from this kind of deal.  And, frankly, if you look at commentary out there, there are a lot of Republicans that are puzzled as to why it couldn’t get done.  In fact, there are a lot of Republican voters out there who are puzzled as to why it couldn’t get done. Because the fact of the matter is the vast majority of the American people believe we should have a balanced approach.</p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Shifting the Burden </strong></p> <blockquote><p> Now, if you do not have any revenues, as the most recent Republican plan that’s been put forward both in the House and the Senate proposed, if you have no revenues at all, what that means is more of a burden on seniors, more drastic cuts to education, more drastic cuts to research, a bigger burden on services that are going to middle-class families all across the country.  And it essentially asks nothing of corporate jet owners, it asks nothing of oil and gas companies, it asks nothing from folks like me who’ve done extremely well and can afford to do a little bit more.</p> <p> In other words, if you don’t have revenues, the entire thing ends up being tilted on the backs of the poor and middle-class families.  And the majority of Americans don’t agree on that approach.</p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Can they Say Yes to Anything? </strong></p> <blockquote><p> And I think that one of the questions that the Republican Party is going to have to ask itself is can they say yes to anything?  Can they say yes to anything?  I mean, keep in mind it’s the Republican Party that has said that the single most important thing facing our country is deficits and debts.  We’ve now put forward a package that would significantly cut deficits and debt.  It would be the biggest debt reduction package that we’ve seen in a very long time. </p> <p> And it’s accomplished without raising individual tax rates. It’s accomplished in a way that’s compatible with the “no tax” pledge that a whole bunch of these folks signed on to -- because we were mindful that they had boxed themselves in and we tried to find a way for them to generate revenues in a way that did not put them in a bad spot. </p> <p> And so the question is, what can you say yes to?  Now, if their only answer is what they’ve presented, which is a package that would effectively require massive cuts to Social Security, to Medicare, to domestic spending, with no revenues whatsoever, not asking anything from the wealthiest in this country or corporations that have been making record profits -- if that’s their only answer, then it’s going to be pretty difficult for us to figure out where to go.  Because the fact of the matter is that’s what the American people are looking for, is some compromise, some willingness to put partisanship aside, some willingness to ignore talk radio or ignore activists in our respective bases, and do the right thing.</p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>Will Social Security Checks Go Out? </strong></p> <blockquote><p> Well, when it comes to all the checks, not just Social Security -- veterans, people with disabilities -- about 70 million checks are sent out each month -- if we default then we’re going to have to make adjustments.  And I’m already consulting with Secretary Geithner in terms of what the consequences would be. </p> <p> We should not even be in that kind of scenario.  And if Congress -- and in particular, the House Republicans -- are not willing to make sure that we avoid default, then I think it’s fair to say that they would have to take responsibility for whatever problems arise in those payments.  Because, let me repeat, I’m not interested in finger-pointing and I’m not interested in blame, but I just want the facts to speak for themselves. </p> <p> We have put forward a plan that is more generous to Republican concerns than a bipartisan plan that was supported by a number of Republican senators, including at least one that is in Republican leadership in the Senate.  Now, I’ll leave it up to the American people to make a determination as to how fair that is.  And if the leadership cannot come to an agreement in terms of how we move forward, then I think they will hold all of us accountable.</p> <p> But that shouldn’t even be an option.  That should not be an option.  I’m getting letters from people who write me and say, at the end of every month I have to skip meals.  Senior citizens on Social Security who are just hanging on by a thread.  Folks who have severe disabilities who are desperate every single month to try to figure out how they’re going to make ends meet.  But it’s not just those folks.  You’ve got business contractors who are providing services to the federal government, who have to wonder are they going to be able to get paid and what does that do in terms of their payrolls. </p> <p>  You’ve got just a huge number of people who, in one way or another, interact with the federal government.  And even if you don’t, even if you’re not a recipient of Social Security, even if you don’t get veterans’ benefits or disabilities, imagine what that does to the economy when suddenly 70 million checks are put at risk.  I mean, if you’re a business out there, that is not going to be good for economic growth.  And that’s the number one concern of the American people.</p> <p>  So we’ve got to get it done.  It is not an option not to do it.</p> </blockquote> <p> <strong>If You Want To Be a Leader, Then You Got To Lead </strong></p> <blockquote><p> The hard part is actually dealing with the underlying debt and deficits, and doing it in a way that’s fair.  That’s all the American people are looking for -- some fairness.  I can’t tell you how many letters and emails I get, including from Republican voters, who say, look, we know that neither party is blameless when it comes to how this deft and deficit developed -- there’s been a lot of blame to spread around -- but we sure hope you don’t just balance the budget on the backs of seniors.  We sure hope that we’re not slashing our commitment to make sure kids can go to college.  We sure hope that we’re not suddenly throwing a bunch of poor kids off the Medicaid rolls so they can’t get basic preventative services that keep them out of the emergency room.  That’s all they’re looking for, is some fairness. </p> <p> Now, what you’re going to hear, I suspect, is, well, if you -- if the Senate is prepared to pass the cap, cut and balance bill, the Republican plan, then somehow we can solve this problem -- that’s serious debt reduction.  It turns out, actually, that the plan that Speaker Boehner and I were talking about was comparable in terms of deficit reduction.  The difference was that we didn’t put all the burden on the people who are least able to protect themselves, who don’t have lobbyists in this town, who don’t have lawyers working on the tax code for them -- working stiffs out there, ordinary folks who are struggling every day.  And they know they’re getting a raw deal, and they’re mad at everybody about it.  They’re mad at Democrats and they’re mad at Republicans, because they know somehow, no matter how hard they work, they don’t seem to be able to keep up.  And what they’re looking for is somebody who’s willing to look out for them.  That’s all they’re looking for.</p> <p> And for us not to be keeping those folks in mind every single day when we’re up here, for us to be more worried about what some funder says, or some talk radio show host says, or what some columnist says, or what pledge we signed back when we were trying to run, or worrying about having a primary fight -- for us to be thinking in those terms instead of thinking about those folks is inexcusable. </p> <p> I mean, the American people are just desperate for folks who are willing to put aside politics just for a minute and try to get some stuff done.</p> <p> So when Norah asked or somebody else asked why was I willing to go along with a deal that wasn’t optimal from my perspective, it was because even if I didn’t think the deal was perfect, at least it would show that this place is serious, that we’re willing to take on our responsibilities even when it’s tough, that we’re willing to step up even when the folks who helped get us elected may disagree. </p> <p>  And at some point, I think if you want to be a leader, then you got to lead. </p> </blockquote> <p>  </p> <p> See more about <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://edit.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy">Economy</a></p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p></p> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy">Economy</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-2 views-row-even"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/president-obama-meets-umd-student-body-president">President Obama Meets with UMD Student Body President</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author">Kalpen Modi</span> on July 22, 2011 at 7:58 PM EDT</div> <p><div class="embed"> <div class="clearfix" id="node-embed-image-detail"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/embedded_img_full/image/image_file/potus_kx_univmd_072211.jpg" alt="President Obama with University of Maryland student body president Kaiyi Xie" title="President Obama with University of Maryland student body president Kaiyi Xie" class="imagecache imagecache-embedded_img_full" width="560" height="315"/> <p> President Obama with Kaiyi Xie, student body president of the University of Maryland. The President had a town hall meeting on College Point campus. July 22, 2011. </p> </div></div> <p> This morning President Obama held a town hall at the University of Maryland. Before taking the stage, he briefly met with Kaiyi Xie, the Student Body President of UMD, and one of 120 college and university student body presidents who signed a joint letter to President Obama, Speaker Boehner, Leader Reid, Leader McConnell, and Leader Pelosi, regarding the debt ceiling. After President Obama read the letter (which asked for a bipartisan, rational approach to the dire challenges of defaulting on our debt), he met with Mr. Xie to thank him on behalf of all 120- signees from 40 states, representing 1.8 million students, for such an eloquent statement.</p> <p> Here are some excerpts from the town hall, in the President’s own words:</p> <blockquote><p> Now, here’s the thing, though -- and this is what the argument is about -- we can’t just close our deficit with spending cuts alone, because if we take that route it means that seniors would have to pay a lot more for Medicare, or students would have to pay a lot more for student loans. So if we only did it with cuts, if we did not get any revenue to help close this gap between how much money is coming in and how much money is going out, then a lot of ordinary people would be hurt and the country as a whole would be hurt.  And that doesn’t make any sense.  It’s not fair. </p> <p>  And it’s why I’ve said if we’re going to reduce our deficit, then the wealthiest Americans and the biggest corporations should do their part as well.  Before we stop funding clean energy research, let’s ask oil companies and corporate jet owners to give up the tax breaks that other companies don’t get.  I mean, these are special tax breaks.  Before we ask college students to pay more for their education, let’s ask hedge fund managers to stop paying taxes that are lower on their rates than their secretaries. </p> </blockquote> <p></p></p> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy">Economy</a>, <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education">Education</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-3 views-row-odd"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/nation-s-mayors-urge-congress-raise-debt-ceiling">Nation’s Mayors Urge Congress to Raise the Debt Ceiling</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author">Antonio Villaraigosa</span> on July 22, 2011 at 7:21 PM EDT</div> <p><p> With ten days left before the looming Congressional deadline to raise the debt ceiling, I am hosting a gathering of fifty of the nation’s mayors in Los Angeles over the next two days, to urge Congress to reach an agreement on the debt limit to prevent default and ask them to invest in job creating programs.<br/>  <br/> Default will have an immediate and catastrophic impact on our cities, the implications are global, and economists agree. A credit downgrade will plunge us into a deep, double-dip recession. We urge Congressional leaders to act now.<br/>  <br/> The Congressional Research Service has estimated that if the debt ceiling is not increased, “the federal government would have to eliminate all spending on discretionary programs.”  That means every federal payment to cities will stop, either immediately or shortly after default. The cuts would eliminate support for critical local programs including housing and community development, CDBG, COPS, Homeland Security, job training, and transportation infrastructure. This would have a crippling effect on our cities and on our people.<br/>  <br/> Additionally, local governments would also be prevented from issuing tax-exempt bonds. And cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security would take billions more out of local economies.<br/>  <br/> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/14/mayors-call-balanced-approach-debt-negotiations">Mayors understand</a> that raising the debt ceiling isn't a partisan issue. The debt ceiling was raised 17 times under President Reagan, 4 times under President Clinton, 7 times under President George W. Bush, and has been raised 3 times under President Obama.</p></p> <div class="more-from"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/nation-s-mayors-urge-congress-raise-debt-ceiling">read the rest</a></div> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy">Economy</a>, <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/fiscal">Fiscal Responsibility</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-4 views-row-even"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/president-obama-our-hearts-go-out-people-norway">President Obama: Our Hearts Go Out to the People of Norway</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/author-detail/271">Tom Miller</a></span> on July 22, 2011 at 5:50 PM EDT</div> <p><script type="text/javascript">var params = { allowscriptaccess: "always", allowfullscreen: "true", wmode:"transparent"}; swfobject.embedSWF("https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ikdHsoyoH14&hl=en&fs=1&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&start=172", "flashcontent-2825_", "560", "340", "8", null, {}, params); </script><div id="flashcontent-2825_"> Viewing this video requires Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/">Download</a> the free player. <p>  </p></div> <div>  </div> <div> <p> President Obama today extended his personal condolences to the people of Norway and said the terror attacks in Oslo are a reminder that the entire world must work together to prevent future attacks</p> <blockquote><p> I wanted to personally extend my condolences to the people of Norway. And it's a reminder that the entire international community has a stake in preventing this kind of terror from occurring.  And so we have to work cooperatively together both on intelligence and in terms of prevention of these kinds of horrible attacks. </p> <p> I remember fondly my visit to Oslo and how warmly the people of Norway treated me. And so our hearts go out to them, and we'll provide any support we can to them as they investigate these occurrences.</p> </blockquote> <p> The President made the remarks during a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/07/22/remarks-president-obama-and-prime-minister-key-new-zealand">press briefing </a>with Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand.</p> </div></p> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/asia">Foreign Policy</a>, <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/homeland-security">Homeland Security</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-5 views-row-odd"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/getting-dont-ask-dont-tell-done">Getting "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Done</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/author-detail/98">Katelyn Sabochik</a></span> on July 22, 2011 at 5:49 PM EDT</div> <p><div class="embed"> <div class="clearfix" id="node-embed-image-detail"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/embedded_img_full/image/image_file/potus_dadt.jpg" alt="DADT Certification" title="DADT Certification" class="imagecache imagecache-embedded_img_full" width="560" height="373"/> <p> President Barack Obama signs the certification stating the statutory requirements for repeal of DADT (Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell) have been met, in the Oval Office, July 22, 2011. Pictured, from left, are: Brian Bond, Deputy Director of Public Liaison; Kathleen Hartnett, Associate Counsel to the President; Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta; Kathryn Ruemmler, Counsel to the President; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen; and Vice President Joe Biden. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) July 22, 2011. </p> </div></div> <p> Today, President Obama signed a certification ending the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for good beginning September 20, 2011. The President <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/12/22/president-signs-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell-out-many-we-are-one">signed the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"</a> into law last December.</p> <p> The President sent the email below to individuals and organizations who worked hard to make this victory possible. </p></p> <div class="more-from"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/getting-dont-ask-dont-tell-done">read the rest</a></div> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/civil-rights">Civil Rights</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-6 views-row-even"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/president-obama-im-willing-sign-plan-includes-tough-choices">President Obama: I'm Willing to Sign a Plan That Includes Tough Choices</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/author-detail/475">Colleen Curtis</a></span> on July 22, 2011 at 2:24 PM EDT</div> <p><div class="embed"> <div id="media-embed-detail" class="clearfix"> <div id="video-wrapper"> <div class="swftools-wrapper wijering4-mediaplayer"><div id="swfobject2-id-13113865244" class="swftools swfobject2"> <video controls="controls" width="560" height="315" poster="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/rss_thumb/audio-video/video_thumbnail/p072211ck-0009-2.jpg" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/2011/July/072211_CollegeParkMD.mp4"> <p>To view this content, please download the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/">Adobe Flash Player</a></p> </video> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> swfobject.embedSWF("https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf", "swfobject2-id-13113865244", "560", "355", "7", "", { "config": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/xml/video/60853/config.xml", "path_to_player": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf", "path_to_plugins": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/modules/wh_multimedia/wh_jwplayer/plugins", "share_url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/07/22/president-obama-speaks-town-hall-meeting-university-maryland", "shareTitle": "President Obama Speaks to Town Hall Meeting at University of Maryland", "width": "560", "height": "355" }, { "swliveconnect": "default", "play": "false", "loop": "false", "menu": "false", "quality": "best", "scale": "showall", "align": "l", "salign": "tl", "wmode": "opaque", "bgcolor": "#FFFFFF", "version": "7", "allowfullscreen": "true", "allowscriptaccess": "sameDomain", "width": 560, "height": 355, "base": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/", "src": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf" }, { "id": "swf13113865244" }); </script> <ul class="wijering4-accessible-hidden"> <li><a href="javascript:document.getElementById('swf13113865244').sendEvent('PLAY');">Play/pause</a></li> <li><a href="javascript:document.getElementById('swf13113865244').sendEvent('MUTE');">Mute/unmute</a></li> <li><a href="javascript:document.getElementById('swf13113865244').sendEvent('STOP');">Rewind and stop</a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div id="video-info"> <div class="caption" property="dc:description"> Download Video: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/2011/July/072211_CollegeParkMD.mp4" rel="enclosure">mp4</a> (609MB) | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/2011/July/072211_CollegeParkMD.mp3" rel="enclosure">mp3</a> (58MB) </div> </div> </div> </div> <p> President Obama told a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/07/22/remarks-president-university-maryland-town-hall">town hall meeting </a>today at the University of Maryland that he won’t be satisfied “until every American who wants a job can find one, and until workers are getting paychecks that actually pay the bills, until families don’t have to choose between buying groceries and buying medicine, between sending their kids to college and being able to retire in some dignity and some respect. “</p> <p> Addressing the ongoing deficit negotiations, he told the crowd of students, parents and teachers “this is actually a debate about you and everybody else in America and the choices that we face.” </p></p> <div class="more-from"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/president-obama-im-willing-sign-plan-includes-tough-choices">read the rest</a></div> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy">Economy</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-7 views-row-odd"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/watch-live-monday-releasing-strategy-combat-transnational-organized-crime">Watch Live Monday: Releasing the Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/author-detail/475">Colleen Curtis</a></span> on July 22, 2011 at 1:33 PM EDT</div> <p><p> Join us at the White House for an event to launch the Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime on Monday, July 25 at 11:00am.  This new strategy seeks to build, balance, and integrate the tools of American power to combat the threats from transnational organized crime to our national and international security.  The strategy also seeks to disrupt and dismantle transnational illicit networks and converging threats — and to urge our partners around the world to do the same. </p> <p> We will have a number of senior U.S. officials on hand to speak about the strategy and how we will carry it out, including:</p> <p> John Brennan, Assistant to the President for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security<br/> U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder<br/> Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano<br/> Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William J. Burns<br/> Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen<br/> USAID Deputy Administrator Don Steinberg<br/> Office of National Drug Control Policy Director R. Gil Kerlikowske</p> <p> <strong>Tune in at </strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://wh.gov/live">http://wh.gov/live</a> starting at 11:00am on Monday</p></p> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/asia">Foreign Policy</a>, <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/homeland-security">Homeland Security</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-8 views-row-even"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/what-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-means-latinos">What The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Means for Latinos</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author">Stephanie Valencia</span> on July 22, 2011 at 12:06 PM EDT</div> <p><p> The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) officially opened for business this week.</p> <p> At last week’s White House Hispanic Policy Conference, we had several fascinating conversations with Latino leaders about what the CFPB means for Latino families in particular.</p> <p> For the first time, all Americans will have an agency with the primary mission to look out for consumers in the financial marketplace.  The CFPB, created by last year’s Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, will be a cop on the beat to enforce the laws on credit cards, mortgages, student loans, payday loans, and other kinds of financial products and services.</p></p> <div class="more-from"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/what-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-means-latinos">read the rest</a></div> <div class="sub-links"> </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-9 views-row-odd"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/weekly-wrap-seize-opportunity">Weekly Wrap Up: Seize the Opportunity</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/author-detail/284">Rohan Siddhanti</a></span> on July 22, 2011 at 11:13 AM EDT</div> <p><p> Your quick look at happened this week on WhiteHouse.gov</p> <p> <div class="clearfix" id="node-embed-image-detail"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/embedded_img_full/image/image_file/p071811lj-0083.jpg" alt="President Obama Nominates Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau" title="President Obama Nominates Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray as Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau" class="imagecache imagecache-embedded_img_full" width="560" height="332"/> <p> President Barack Obama announces the nomination of former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray, right, as the first director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) during a statement in the Rose Garden of the White House, July 18, 2011. At left is Elizabeth Warren, interim director of the CFPB. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) </p> </div></p> <p> Deficit Talks: President Obama believes the current debt crisis offers a chance "to do something big and meaningful" and in an <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/21/president-obama-go-big-debt-deal">editorial he wrote</a> for USA Today, he urges leaders "to seize the opportunity."  The President <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/19/president-obama-deficit-talks-were-11th-hour">stressed the urgency </a>of the looming deadline in a press conference where he repeated his commitment to solving the issue through shared sacrifice. At a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/president-obama-im-willing-sign-plan-includes-tough-choices">University of Maryland town hall</a>, he told the crowd he was willing to make tough choices.   </p> <p></p></p> <div class="more-from"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/weekly-wrap-seize-opportunity">read the rest</a></div> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/civil-rights">Civil Rights</a>, , <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy">Economy</a>, <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/family">Family</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-10 views-row-even"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/22/west-wing-week-72111-or-two-minute-warning">West Wing Week: 7/21/11 or "Two Minute Warning"</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/author-detail/475">Colleen Curtis</a></span> on July 22, 2011 at 12:01 AM EDT</div> <p><p> Welcome to the West Wing Week, your guide to everything that's happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. This week, President Obama welcomed a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/15/president-obama-meets-civil-rights-icon-ruby-bridges">civil rights icon</a>, placed a call to the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/21/safe-shuttle-landing-marks-end-one-era-ushers-exciting-new-frontier">international space station</a>, made an <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/18/president-obama-nominates-richard-cordray-lead-consumer-financial-protection-bureau">important personnel announcement </a>and hosted a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/18/staying-competitive-through-education-president-and-american-business-leaders-announ">roundtable focused on education</a> with business leaders. But throughout he remained focused on finding a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/19/president-obama-deficit-talks-were-11th-hour">balanced solution to deficit reduction</a>. That's July 15th-21st, or "Two Minute Warning."</p> <script type="text/javascript">var params = { allowscriptaccess: "always", allowfullscreen: "true", wmode:"transparent"}; swfobject.embedSWF("https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/IhsiINOBb3E&hl=en&fs=1&showinfo=0&showsearch=0", "flashcontent-2825_", "560", "340", "8", null, {}, params); </script><div id="flashcontent-2825_"> Viewing this video requires Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/">Download</a> the free player.</div></p> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/civil-rights">Civil Rights</a>, <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy">Economy</a>, <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education">Education</a>, <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/additional-issues">Additional Issues</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-11 views-row-odd"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/21/join-twitter-interview-development-and-aid-one-campaign">Join a Twitter Interview on Development and Aid with the ONE Campaign</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/author-detail/45">Kori Schulman</a></span> on July 21, 2011 at 7:35 PM EDT</div> <p><p> Join @<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/https://twitter.com/#!/ONECampaign">ONECampaign </a>and @<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/https://twitter.com/#!/whitehouse">WhiteHouse</a> for a Twitter interview on development and aid on Friday, July 22nd at 11:30 AM EDT. Gayle Smith, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Development and Democracy for the National Security Staff, is taking your questions on topics ranging from the White House’s <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/06/15/renewed-commitment-global-vaccines-and-immunizations-will-save-lives">GAVI vaccines pledge</a> to the latest issues on foreign aid, global health and international development. </p> <p> Here’s how you can participate:</p> <ul> <li> Submit your questions via Twitter to @<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://twitter.com/#!/ONECampaign">ONECampaign</a></li> <li> Follow @<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://twitter.com/#!/ONECampaign">WhiteHouse</a> for Gayle's answers to your questions</li> </ul> <p> Don't miss the live Twitter interview with the ONE Campaign and Gayle Smith on <strong>Friday, July 22nd at 11:30 AM EDT</strong>.</p></p> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/poverty">Poverty</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-12 views-row-even"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/21/first-lady-michelle-obama-joins-military-families-harry-potter-screening">First Lady Michelle Obama Joins Military Families for Harry Potter Screening</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/author-detail/97">Nikki Sutton</a></span> on July 21, 2011 at 7:08 PM EDT</div> <p><p> This morning, First Lady Michelle Obama was at the Naval Air Station Oceana Aerotheater in Virginia Beach, Virginia with military families for a screening of Warner Brothers' <em>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two</em>. The screening is part of the <em>Joining Forces Movie</em> <em>Series</em>, where some of our country’s biggest movie studios are offering special screenings for military families at bases all across America. President Obama kicked off the <em>Joining Forces Movie Series </em>with a <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/06/15/strong-fathers-strong-families">screening of Disney’s <em>Cars 2</em></a> at the White House last month. Here is what some of the participants had to say about the event:</p> <div class="embed"> <div id="media-embed-detail" class="clearfix"> <div id="video-wrapper"> <div class="swftools-wrapper wijering4-mediaplayer"><div id="swfobject2-id-13113865257" class="swftools swfobject2"> <video controls="controls" width="560" height="315" poster="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/rss_thumb/audio-video/video_thumbnail/cars2fegan_thumb.jpg" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/2011/July/072111_Dads_Fegan.mp4"> <p>To view this content, please download the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/">Adobe Flash Player</a></p> </video> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> swfobject.embedSWF("https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf", "swfobject2-id-13113865257", "560", "355", "7", "", { "config": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/xml/video/60109/config.xml", "path_to_player": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf", "path_to_plugins": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/modules/wh_multimedia/wh_jwplayer/plugins", "share_url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/07/21/fathers-day-military-dads-part-1", "shareTitle": "Fathers Day with Military Dads (Part 1)", "width": "560", "height": "355" }, { "swliveconnect": "default", "play": "false", "loop": "false", "menu": "false", "quality": "best", "scale": "showall", "align": "l", "salign": "tl", "wmode": "opaque", "bgcolor": "#FFFFFF", "version": "7", "allowfullscreen": "true", "allowscriptaccess": "sameDomain", "width": 560, "height": 355, "base": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/", "src": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf" }, { "id": "swf13113865257" }); </script> <ul class="wijering4-accessible-hidden"> <li><a href="javascript:document.getElementById('swf13113865257').sendEvent('PLAY');">Play/pause</a></li> <li><a href="javascript:document.getElementById('swf13113865257').sendEvent('MUTE');">Mute/unmute</a></li> <li><a href="javascript:document.getElementById('swf13113865257').sendEvent('STOP');">Rewind and stop</a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div id="video-info"> <div class="caption" property="dc:description"> Download Video: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/2011/July/072111_Dads_Fegan.mp4" rel="enclosure">mp4</a> (16.8MB) </div> </div> </div> </div></p> <div class="includes-video"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/21/first-lady-michelle-obama-joins-military-families-harry-potter-screening">Includes Video</a></div> <div class="more-from"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/21/first-lady-michelle-obama-joins-military-families-harry-potter-screening">read the rest</a></div> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/family">Family</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-13 views-row-odd"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/21/key-airport-projects-across-country-jeopardy-unless-congress-passes-faa-bill">Key Airport Projects Across the Country in Jeopardy Unless Congress Passes an FAA bill</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author">Secretary Ray LaHood </span> on July 21, 2011 at 6:49 PM EDT</div> <p><p> <em>Editor's Note: This blog post is cross-posted from the FastLane, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://fastlane.dot.gov/2011/07/key-airport-projects-across-the-country-in-jeopardy-unless-congress-passes-an-faa-bill.html">the official blog of the Department of Transportation</a></em></p> <p> Tomorrow night, the FAA reauthorization bill is set to expire.  And without swift action from Congress to pass an extension, the Federal Aviation Administration will be unable to move forward on important airport construction projects and thousands of FAA employees across the country will be immediately furloughed.</p> <p> Congress needs to do its work.  If they can’t pass a bill,  new construction projects won’t begin.  And construction workers will suffer.  </p></p> <div class="more-from"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/21/key-airport-projects-across-country-jeopardy-unless-congress-passes-faa-bill">read the rest</a></div> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy">Economy</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-14 views-row-even"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/21/president-obama-go-big-debt-deal">President Obama: Go 'Big' on Debt Deal</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/author-detail/475">Colleen Curtis</a></span> on July 21, 2011 at 6:19 PM EDT</div> <p><p> President Obama believes that the current debt crisis gives us "an opportunity to do something big and meaningful." </p> <p> In <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2011-07-21-obama-debt-ceiling-debate_n.htm">an editorial in USA Today</a>, the President writes that we now have "the chance to put our economy on stronger footing, restore a sense of fairness in our country, and secure a better future for our children. I want to seize that opportunity, and ask Americans of both parties and no party to join me in that effort." </p> <p> He also writes that the American people expect both parties to come together and solve the problem. "Every day, families are figuring out how to stretch their paychecks a little further, sacrifice what they can't afford, and budget only for what's truly important. It's time for Washington to do the same."</p></p> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy">Economy</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-15 views-row-odd"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/21/continuing-commitment-supporting-religious-freedom">A Continuing Commitment to Supporting Religious Freedom</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author">Ben Rhodes</span> on July 21, 2011 at 5:19 PM EDT</div> <p><div class="embed"> <div class="clearfix" id="node-embed-image-detail"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/embedded_img_full/image/image_file/5943380655_043bc22ebc_b.jpg" alt="President Obama meets with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama" title="President Obama meets with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama" class="imagecache imagecache-embedded_img_full" width="560" height="374"/> <p> President Barack Obama meets with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama in the Map Room of the White House. July 16, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) </p> </div></div> <p> The United States has a long-standing commitment to supporting religious freedom around the globe. That commitment is rooted in our own values and experience as a nation, which dates back to our Founding. It is also rooted in our belief that the freedom of religion is a universal right that should be respected everywhere. To that end, the United States government continues to speak out for right of people to practice their religion in all parts of the world.</p> <p> On Saturday, July 16, President Obama and Secretary Clinton each met with different world religious leaders and were able to underscore the Administration’s commitment. Secretary Clinton met in Istanbul with the Ecumenical Patriarch, His All Holiness Bartholomew I, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Trakatellis of America, and Father Alexander Karloutsos. Secretary Clinton discussed the Obama Administration's commitment to religious freedom, including the importance of reopening the Halki Seminary. Meanwhile, the President met with His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama in the White House. The President reiterated his strong and enduring support for Tibet’s unique religious traditions, and called for the protection of human rights of Tibetans in China, including religious freedom.</p> <p> <em>Ben Rhodes is the Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communication</em></p></p> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/foreign-policy/asia">Foreign Policy</a>, <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/additional-issues">Additional Issues</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-16 views-row-even"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/21/one-year-later-what-wall-street-reform-means-you">One Year Later: What Wall Street Reform Means for You</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/author-detail/98">Katelyn Sabochik</a></span> on July 21, 2011 at 3:42 PM EDT</div> <p><p> One year ago today, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/07/21/president-obama-signs-wall-street-reform-no-easy-task">President Obama signed the Wall Street Reform bill into law</a>.</p> <p> This groundbreaking law does three important things. First, it brings to an end taxpayer funded bailouts -- so taxpayers will never again be left paying the bill if a big bank fails. Second, it stops the reckless risk-taking by Wall Street that put consumers in jeopardy and led to the economic crisis. And third, this law puts in place the strongest consumer protections in history.</p> <p> Here’s a quick video we put together last year to explain it:</p> <p> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444if_/http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/adJe32G8wys" width="560"></iframe></p></p> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about , <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy">Economy</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-17 views-row-odd"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/21/safe-shuttle-landing-marks-end-one-era-ushers-exciting-new-frontier">Safe Shuttle Landing Marks End of One Era, Ushers in Exciting New Frontier</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/author-detail/475">Colleen Curtis</a></span> on July 21, 2011 at 9:21 AM EDT</div> <p><p><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OmUid7c50zo?version=3&showinfo=0&hl=en_US"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"/><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="340" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444oe_/http://www.youtube.com/v/OmUid7c50zo?version=3&showinfo=0&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560"></embed></object></p> <p> When the space shuttle Atlantis <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts135/multimedia/gallery/landing.html">safely touched down</a> at 5:57 this morning at Kennedy Space Center, it marked the end of one era of American space exploration. In a call from the White House to Commander Chris Ferguson and the crew of the mission on July 15, President Obama praised the work of the thousands of men and women who "have poured their hearts and souls into America's space shuttle program over the last three decades. I want to say thank you, you've helped our country lead the space age and you continue to inspire us"</p> <p> The President spoke to the influence NASA has had on the American psyche, noting the shuttle and the space station are "a unique part of our history," one that  "embodies our sense of adventure, exploration and courage." </p> <p> He also looked to the future, saying that while this mission marked the final flight of the space shuttle program, it "ushers in an exciting new era to push the frontiers of space exploration and human space flight" even further, with the eventual goal of "ultimately sending humans to Mars." </p></p> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/additional-issues">Additional Issues</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-18 views-row-even"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/20/first-lady-michelle-obama-announces-commitments-expand-access-healthy-affordable-foo">First Lady Michelle Obama Announces Commitments to Expand Access to Healthy, Affordable Food</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/author-detail/97">Nikki Sutton</a></span> on July 20, 2011 at 6:24 PM EDT</div> <p><div class="embed"> <div id="media-embed-detail" class="clearfix"> <div id="video-wrapper"> <div class="swftools-wrapper wijering4-mediaplayer"><div id="swfobject2-id-13113865279" class="swftools swfobject2"> <video controls="controls" width="560" height="315" poster="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/imagecache/rss_thumb/audio-video/video_thumbnail/p072011lj-0250-2.jpg" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444im_/http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/2011/July/072011_FLOTUS.mp4"> <p>To view this content, please download the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/">Adobe Flash Player</a></p> </video> </div> <script type="text/javascript"> swfobject.embedSWF("https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf", "swfobject2-id-13113865279", "560", "355", "7", "", { "config": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/xml/video/59917/config.xml", "path_to_player": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf", "path_to_plugins": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/modules/wh_multimedia/wh_jwplayer/plugins", "share_url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/07/20/bringing-healthy-affordable-food-underserved-communities", "shareTitle": "Bringing Healthy, Affordable Food to Underserved Communities", "width": "560", "height": "355" }, { "swliveconnect": "default", "play": "false", "loop": "false", "menu": "false", "quality": "best", "scale": "showall", "align": "l", "salign": "tl", "wmode": "opaque", "bgcolor": "#FFFFFF", "version": "7", "allowfullscreen": "true", "allowscriptaccess": "sameDomain", "width": 560, "height": 355, "base": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/", "src": "https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf" }, { "id": "swf13113865279" }); </script> <ul class="wijering4-accessible-hidden"> <li><a href="javascript:document.getElementById('swf13113865279').sendEvent('PLAY');">Play/pause</a></li> <li><a href="javascript:document.getElementById('swf13113865279').sendEvent('MUTE');">Mute/unmute</a></li> <li><a href="javascript:document.getElementById('swf13113865279').sendEvent('STOP');">Rewind and stop</a></li> </ul></div> </div> <div id="video-info"> <div class="caption" property="dc:description"> <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/12/13/president-obama-signs-healthy-hunger-free-kids-act-2010-law">Read the Transcript</a>  |  Download Video: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/2011/July/072011_FLOTUS.mp4" rel="enclosure">mp4</a> (347MB) | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/2011/July/072011_FLOTUS.mp3" rel="enclosure">mp3</a> (33MB) </div> </div> </div> </div> <p> Today, First Lady Michelle Obama <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/07/20/first-lady-michelle-obama-announces-nationwide-commitments-provide-milli">announced</a> nationwide commitments from major food retailers to open or expand over 1,500 stores to help provide healthy, affordable food to millions of people in areas that do not currently have easy access to fresh, nutritious food. Across the country, 23.5 million Americans – including 6.5 million children – live in underserved communities that do not have readily available fresh foods for reasonable prices.</p></p> <div class="includes-video"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/20/first-lady-michelle-obama-announces-commitments-expand-access-healthy-affordable-foo">Includes Video</a></div> <div class="more-from"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/20/first-lady-michelle-obama-announces-commitments-expand-access-healthy-affordable-foo">read the rest</a></div> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about </div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-19 views-row-odd"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/20/investing-jobs-tomorrow">Investing in the Jobs of Tomorrow</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author">Martha Johnson</span> on July 20, 2011 at 3:32 PM EDT</div> <p><p> <em>Cross-posted with <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://gsablogs.gsa.gov/gsablog/2011/07/20/an-investment-in-our-nation%E2%80%99s-future/">The GSA Blog</a></em></p> <p> Last week I saw firsthand two groundbreaking clean energy projects – the Midwest’s largest rooftop solar panel array at GSA’s <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/102206">Major General Emmett J. Bean Federal Center</a> in Indianapolis and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://cms.bsu.edu/About/Geothermal.aspx">the country’s largest geothermal project</a> at Ball State University.  These two Indiana projects are creating jobs that will form the backbone of our nation’s 21<sup>st</sup> century economy while providing useful information that will inform decision-making nationwide.</p> <p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100000">GSA</a> has invested in solar power technology to cut operating costs at federal buildings across the country, but what makes the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110723020444/http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/212761">Bean Center’s solar array</a> special is its sheer size with over 6,000 panels, as well as the building’s solar test lab.  The lab will test how four different solar technologies perform under diverse Midwestern weather conditions.  The rooftop installation created over 100 high paying green collar jobs, and the data collected at the test lab will be widely shared to foster continued growth in the solar industry.</p></p> <div class="more-from"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/20/investing-jobs-tomorrow">read the rest</a></div> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy/innovation">Innovations</a>, <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/economy">Economy</a>, <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/node/145">Energy & Environment</a></div> </li> <li class="views-row views-row-20 views-row-even views-row-last"><h3><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/20/shutting-down-duplicative-data-centers">Shutting Down Duplicative Data Centers</a></h3> <div class="post-info">Posted by <span class="author">Jeffrey Zients</span> on July 20, 2011 at 11:37 AM EDT</div> <p><p> Just as our cell phones and computers have gotten progressively more efficient over the past decade, so too have data servers. However, the government has not taken advantage of the increasing efficiency of data storage. Rather than follow the private sector's lead of shrinking the size and number of the facilities used to house the computers that store their data, agencies have gone in the opposite direction.</p> <p> Between 1998 and 2010, the Federal government quadrupled the number of data centers we operate.  Moreover, on average these centers have been using only 27 percent of their computer power even though taxpayers are footing the bill for the entire infrastructure, real estate and energy costs. The need for backup power supplies, environmental controls (air conditioning, fire suppression, etc.) and special security devices mean that data centers can consume 200 times as much electricity as standard office spaces.</p> <p> While such inefficiency is unacceptable at anytime, cracking down on waste is particularly important in these challenging budgetary times. By shrinking our data center footprint we will save taxpayer dollars, cutting costs for infrastructure, real estate and energy. At the same time, moving to a more nimble 21st century model will strengthen our security and the ability to deliver services for less.</p></p> <div class="more-from"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/20/shutting-down-duplicative-data-centers">read the rest</a></div> <div class="sub-links">Learn more about <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/ethics">Ethics</a>, <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/fiscal">Fiscal Responsibility</a>, <a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/technology">Technology</a></div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div id="paging"> <div class="item-list"><ul class="pager"><li class="pager-current first">1</li> <li class="pager-item"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog?page=1" class=" active" title="Go to page 2">2</a></li> <li class="pager-item"><a href="/web/20110723020444/http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog?page=2" class=" active" title="Go to 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