By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Feb. 8, 2010 – The winter wonderland that hit the nation’s capital didn’t keep President Obama from braving what he called “snowmageddon,” to deliver a forceful and at times defiant speech before the Democratic National Committee Saturday morning.

The president touched on his first year in office and his agenda for job creation, health care reform and abolishing “don’t ask don’t tell.”  Acknowledging stumbles he pledged to move forward.

“Now is the time to do everything in our power to keep the American dream alive for the next generation,” he said before a packed crowd at the Capital Hilton.

He reassured his party leaders he’s still keeping his top policy issues in the forefront, telling the crowd, “So just in case there’s any confusion out there, let me be clear.  I am not going to walk away from health insurance reform. I’m not going to walk away from the American people.  I’m not going to walk away on this challenge.  I’m not going to walk away on any challenge.  We’re moving forward.”

“Sometimes we may be moving forward against the prevailing winds. Sometimes it may be against a blizzard. But we’re going to live up to our responsibility to lead,” he said.

The president’s message also included reaching across the aisle and changing the tone the Washington, which brought low mumbles of laughter from some of the audience. “We need to change the way we work with the other party as well.  Now, I’m proud to be a Democrat.  I’m proud to be a leader of this great party.  But I also know that we can’t solve all of our problems alone.  So we need to extend our hands to the other side — we’ve been working on it — because if we’re going to change the ways of Washington, we’re going to have to change its tone.”

For the first time since becoming president the unemployment number didn’t increase in January falling below 10 percent.  “Look, when unemployment is 9.7 percent, when we are still digging ourselves out of an extraordinary recession -– people are going to be frustrated. 

 And they’re going to be looking to the party in power to try to fix it.  And when you’ve got another party that says, we don’t want to do anything about it –- of course people are going to be frustrated,” he said.

To end some of the frustration the president has extended an invitation to Republicans to meet on Feb. 25 for a half-day televised  health care summit.  “Now is not the time for sitting on the sidelines, or blocking progress, or pointing figures, or assigning blame.  Now is not the time to do just what’s right for your party or your poll numbers.  Now is the time to do what’s right for the country.”

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Feb. 5, 2010 – President Obama was able to add a few million to the coffers of the Democratic Party Thursday night with appearances at two fundraisers in the nation’s capitol.

Chairman of the Democratic National Committee former Gov. Tim Kaine (D – Va.) introduced the president to a loud cheering crowd at the Capitol Hilton Hotel, his first stop of the night.  The president used the opportunity to highlight his accomplishments in year one and talked about this being the time when “change gets hard” because of special interests and bitterness in Washington.

Chairwomen of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) was spotted in the crowd along with her colleague from Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schult (D).  Keeping his agenda front and center for the lawmakers, Obama urged Congress to get busy on the jobs bill and health care. He also encouraged Democrats and Republicans to sit down and “make a decision.” But reiterated a jobs package is the most urgent matter now.
The audiences of about 700 was pumped to hear from the party’s leader and were excitable, shouting “we believe in you” and “thank God you’re here.” One woman shouted, “We need campaign finance reform,” Obama said back, “I heard you the first time, sister.”

 
For those who wanted to be there but just couldn’t the DNC broadcast the event on the Internet.  After taking a few questions the president headed for his second fundraise at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
The  “ask” for the second fundraiser was $30,400 per couple, steeper than the Hilton event where tickets were between $100 -$1,000 per person.   About 140 people were attending, including one standup and stand out supporter,  Dikembe Mutombo, the 7′2″ former NBA Houston Rocket. who is also working to raise money to build hospitals in the Congo.

According to a DNC official the two events attended by the president raised $2 – $3 million. 

With mid-term election taking place in November, do you plan to contribute to a candidate or political party?

Artistic director for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Judith Jamison and Dr. Jill Biden at the Vice President's residence in N.W. Washington.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Poltical Analyst

Feb. 2, 2010 – Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden opened their home Tuesday night to welcome The Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre to Washington. About 100 guests filled the residence to meet the acclaimed artistic director Judith Jamison and her company of dancers.

How did this evening come about? 

Dr. Biden enjoyed their performance at The Kennedy Center so much in 2009 she followed up with a visit last summer to the Alvin Ailey Dance School in New York.  She met the company dancers, visited classes and attended a student rehearsal – and that’s when the invite was extended.    “I said, ‘When you come to Washington, you must come to our home. So thank you for fulfilling my dream by coming here tonight and being with us.”

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is performing at the Kennedy Center Feb 2 -7 in celebration of Jamison’s 20th anniversary with the organization.

The vice president admitted he wasn’t always a fan of the ballet, drawing laughter from those gathered) but after seeing the athleticism of a Mikhail Baryshnikov performance with Dr. Biden years ago, he has since been an admirer of dance.

 He acknowledged the contribution the dance company to the world of art and foreign relations.  And how fitting they were here to mark the beginning of Black History Month. “You’re a cultural institution, a source of joy the world over and, honestly, one of our greatest national exports.”

The company began performing in 1958 in New York under the leadership and creative direction of famed dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey.  The troop has performed for 23 million people in 48 states and 71 countries. 

Jamison thanked the vice president and Dr. Biden and told guest crowed into the foyer and the living areas left and right; although Alvin Ailey left the world physically 20 years ago, his spirit lives on through the company and his mission-to bring dance to people from all walks of life.

 ”The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will bring what America is; something strong – something powerful- something full of love and energy and ever-spiraling upward,” Jamison pledged.

The energy in the room quickly captured 14 year-old dancer Chyneka Prince. Prince has been studying ballet for six years and along with 20 of her fellow dance students from the Duke Ellington School of Arts was overwhelmed with excitement.  

“I am loving it,” Prince told me as she mingled the reception and waited for a chance to meet Dr. Biden and Jamison.  “When I get older I will look back on tonight and say, it’s was an honor to be here.”

President Obama with his economic team unvails his 2011 budget proposals.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Feb. 1, 2010 – The president released his budget priorities acknowledging, “It’s a budget that reflects the serious challenges facing the country,” a tone he maintained throughout his remarks as he pledged to get the budget away from deficit spending.

“I think it’s very important to understand:  We won’t be able to bring down this deficit overnight, given that the recovery is still taking hold and families across the country still need help.  We will continue, for example, to do what it takes to create jobs,” he said.

Along with a $100 billion jobs package the president said, he is proposing “to include new tax cuts for people who invest in small businesses, tax credits for small businesses that hire new workers, investments that will create jobs repairing roads and bridges, and tax breaks for retrofitting homes to save energy.”

Education is also getting a boost.  The president is proposing the Education Department get a six percent increase for public education and to increase the Pell Grant for needy students seeking higher education.  

And there are increases in investments in clean energy, investments in scientific research and those industries on the cutting edge of creating jobs for future.

With the country facing a $1.27 trillion deficit, the president announced the creation of a bipartisan commission to find ways to curb government spending.

“We simply cannot continue to spend as if deficits don’t have consequences, as if waste doesn’t matter, as if the hard-earned tax dollars of the American people can be treated like Monopoly money, as if we can ignore this challenge for another generation.  We can’t,” Obama said.

Now that the president has unveiled his budget the ball is in Congress’s court.  They hold the legislative  purse strings and will  now be challenged to find ways to cut some programs, raise some taxes and slowly bring down the deficit.

For more details and a line-by-line look at the 2011 budget, go to www.budget.gov.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Feb. 1, 2010 – Monday President Obama will unveil his 2011 budget proposal which is expected to call for a three year freeze on domestic programs, increase spending on education and cut the $1.6 trillion deficit.

The New York Times is reporting Obama’s budget is expected to cost $3.8 trillion. The projected savings from the freeze would be an estimated $250 billion. It’s not clear where other savings would be derived. 

While speculation on just what will be red lined, the president has indicated no cuts will be made in the Pentagon’s budget, Social Security or Medicare and Medicaid. 

Obama gave several hints to the priorities in his budget during his State of Union address Wednesday, but the devil is in the details and he will address the country’s fiscal status around 10:45 a.m. EST followed with the release of his spending blueprint.

The fiscal year for the 2011 budget begin Oct. 1, 2010 and ends September 30, 2011.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Jan. 28, 2010 – President Barack Obama delivered his first State of the Union address to the American people Wednesday and highlighted his priorities in 2010: jobs, jobs and jobs.  But he also called upon his colleagues and critics to get busy with a legislative agenda that will deliver health care reform, financial reform, renewable clean energy and increased funding for education.

The speech was one of the longest the president has given since taking office –lasting more than an hour.  I counted interruptions for applause more than 60 times.  Black lawmakers were quick to react to the president’s call to action, and while most applauded his agenda, he got mixed reviews on his proposal for a three-year budget freeze:       

House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.)

 ”President Obama struck the hopeful themes tonight that resonated in his campaign.  The American people want security restored.  Over the past decade, middle class families have seen their financial security eroded through job losses and declining wages, plummeting retirement accounts and skyrocketing health care costs, declining home values and rising costs of  tuition.  They are demanding our help, and this Administration and Democratic Congress are answering their call.   Our unified goals are jobs, more jobs, and even more jobs.

“President Obama has laid out an agenda that will turn the despair of the first dismal decade of the 21st century into an era of restored prosperity for both the middle class and our country.  The Congress supports his vision to build wealth in the middle class, create new home-grown, American owned economies in our country, and rebuild relationships abroad.  We have taken bold steps and laid a foundation toward accomplishing these goals during 2009, and with this renewed commitment, I believe we will make greater strides toward realizing more stability and security in the near future.”

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus

“His bold decision to stay the course on issues such as comprehensive immigration reform, energy independence and education reform is exactly the kind of ambition we need during these trying times.

“As the President stated tonight the most paramount of these issues is jobs. So, we must address this issue head on. With unemployment at record levels – particularly in communities of color, we must put in place concrete solutions that will help generate sustainable job creation. The utilization of small, minority and women-owned businesses will be critical to overall job growth – and the President’s proposals reflect that fact.

“I agree with President Obama that we must address the deficit that he inherited, but I disagree over how we should do it. Instead of freezing non-defense discretionary spending, we need to focus on bloated unnecessary Pentagon spending and cost savings for ending the wars which have already cost us over $1 Trillion.

“Many of my colleagues and I are concerned about the impact of this freeze on jobs and the economy. At this critical time we should be doing more direct government investment to create more job opportunities.”

Rep. John Lewis, (D-Ga.)

“He said we have to be more than concerned about the next election.  We have to look out for the next generation.  This is not the time for campaigning and rhetoric; it is time to get down to the business of governing.  I was glad that he had strong words for the Senate, which has not been able to move on good opportunities to bring the kind of change Americans are seeking.  The House has done its part by responding to many of the people’s needs with legislative action.  We are hoping the Senate can finish the job.

“President Obama issued a mandate on jobs, education, the middle class, small business, war and nuclear disarmament, fiscal responsibility, as well as health care.  He affirmed that members of Congress must come together and get the work of the people done.  And I believe his words and his proposals give us a platform to unify and begin to work on and pass some of the legislative ideas the President presented tonight.”

 By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Jan. 27, 2010 – There is one clue the president won’t be just talking terror threats, budget freezes and health care reform Wednesday night during his first State of the Union address.  The president has invited Anita Maltbia from Kansas City, who runs an agency that knows what it means to be “green.”

Maltbia is the director of  The Green Impact Zone, an organization that transforms long-neglected urban city blocks in the heart of Kansas City.  The initiative was spearheaded by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) with the help of money from the federal stimulus package.   Maltbia was named director in July, and so far have been awarded Housing and Urban Development Neighborhood Stabilization programs, Smart Grid funds and Weatherization grants which has leveraged $1.5 million in municipal funding and $24 million in private capitol.

The organization is already seeing the impact the stimulus is having on creating community partnerships. “Capacity building and sustainability is absolutely our goal – this is the way we’ll need to operate in the future,” Maltbia told me.  Through a community council Maltbia said they have gained “great support” for the work they are doing. 

The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act has made it possible for Maltbia to conduct training,  hold community meetings, manage financial investments in the project, and share with the community how they can prepare and create green jobs of the future.  But more importantly she wants to see stimulus dollars stimulate job creation and urban development.  Kansas City has more than 50 percent of its residents earning income below the poverty level, so jobs are high on the priority list. 

The White House said Maltbia and The Green Impact Zone reflect the president’s new approach to urban policy; creating smart local plans that include all the elements needed give a city the tools they need to create housing, transportation, energy efficiency, and jobs. 

Training for these jobs is already underway Maltbia told me; young people are learning “concrete finishing, we’re in partnership with the community college teaching customer service skills, we’re a [U.S.] Census Center where they can apply for census jobs, and we are part of the Smart Grid energy technology partnership with the local energy company.”  

While stimulus spending has brought good news to Kansas City, questions abound about which line items will be facing budget freezes in the 2011 budget.   That’s what reporters wanted to know during a conference call Tuesday with Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget Rob Nabors.  Nabors couldn’t reveal details of what would be hit by the freeze – he told us we would get more details on Monday. What he would say is there would be no impact on Medicare, Medicaid, Homeland Security and money impacting military readiness.  “There will be some budgets that may be cut, other may be increased – it’s not an across the board cut,” he said.

That was pretty much the same message delivered during the daily briefing with White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.  “We are investing in what we believe is important to invest in.  We’re cutting in programs that we think have outlived their usefulness and that need to be cut.  Again, that’s what a family does; that’s what the government should begin to do, and under this proposal that’s what they will do.”

The president’s speech will air live at 9:00 p.m., E.S.T. on BET, CENTRIC, and BET.com.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Jan. 26, 2010 – President Obama will propose a domestic spending freeze Wednesday starting in 2011 and lasting three years with a projected savings of $250 billion by 2020. 

The details will be outlined in his first State of the Union address more specifics in February when he unveils his second budget to Congress.   The president has been faced with criticism for spending during his first year in office leading to the increase of the national debt.   A freeze would be an alternative to an outright budget cut, but would deliver savings and cut spending. In 2009 the U.S. Government ran a record 1.4 trillion budget deficit.

But a budget freeze isn’t’ the only change the president is proposing, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said on Monday, the president will address several issues during his address to the nation, including: “How to get our economy back on a firmer foundation, and how do we create an atmosphere in the private sector that lends itself to more hiring; what do we do to put our government back on firmer footing with the middle class, and along with that, what ideas do we have for changing the way Washington works so that people in this country feel like the middle class is getting as fair a shake as the special interests.”

In recent years presidents have invited guest to attend the State of the Union with interesting stories that are often woven into the speech.  Gibbs told reporters at the briefing Monday a list of guest wasn’t confirmed just yet.   As for the overall message of the speech, the president and his speech writers are still crafting the details.  Gibbs did share what he thought would be the overall objective of the speech, “I think he’ll provide people with an update on  where we’ve come from [and] how much we have yet to do to get our economy back on track, to restore our image in the world — a host of the things that he talked about last year.”

What issues or concerns would you like to hear the president address during the State of Union speech?

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Jan. 25, 2010 – The president and vice president teamed up to send a message to the middle class; “We’re going to keep fighting to renew the American Dream and keep it alive — not just in our time, but for all time.”

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden addressed a meeting of the White House’s Task Force on Middle Class Families and discussed proposals that will deliver tax credits, student loans, retirement accounts and financial support for care givers. 

  The task force members include Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius,  Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Education Secretary Arne Duncan,  Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag, Council of Economic Advisers Chair Christina Romer, National Economic Council Director Larry Summers and Domestic Policy Council director Melody Barnes.

Biden opened the meeting saying the task force is following through on the promises of the campaign to help the middle class, “And the President — and you and I — have long believed that you can’t have a strong America without a growing middle class.  It’s that simple.  It’s that basic.  And right now, the middle class is nowhere near as strong as it needs to be.”

Next month the Middle Class Task Force is expected to give their year-end report to the president. Monday they offered a preview of items in the report the president will be included in his upcoming budget and may be highlighted in his State of the Union address.  They include;

 
• Double the credit for middle class families with incomes up to $85,000 and increase the credit for nearly every family making under $115,000.

• Increase in funding for child care and the Child Care and Development Fund to serve an additional 235,000 children in America.

• More support for caregivers by providing counseling, training, help with transportation, and temporary respite care when they just need a break or they have to work — which most all of them do.
 
• A proposal to ensure that Federal Student Loan payments for overburdened borrowers are never more than 10 percent of their income.
 
• Making better access to retirement plans at work, to match retirement savings for middle class Americans so they can save more, and to strengthen and update the 401(k) regulations so that they can save with greater confidence.
The president told the task force his administration would continue to fight for “what matters to middle class families.”

 “An education that gives our kids a chance in life; new, clean energy economy that generates the good jobs of the future; meaningful financial reform that protect consumers; and health reform that prohibits the worst practices of the insurance industry and restores some stability and peace of mind for middle class families,” he said.

A lot of what the president has proposed will require legislative action by Congress.  The  president closed his remarks with a promise to continue to work to rebuild the economy, create job growth and the create long-term security for the middle class which received a standing ovation.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Jan. 21, 2010 – The president and first lady announced the expansion of the White House’s mentoring program. The program will be expanded to include 20 young men to the 20 young ladies selected for the program initiated in November 2009 under the leadership of Mrs. Obama.

The East Room announcement Thursday introduced the mentors and their mentee and expanded the year long program to include young men. The forty young folks from across the United States will have a White House staffer as their mentor, attend one workshop a month, and participate in field trips in the nation’s capital.
    
 
First lady Michelle Obama told the children, “People are doing this because they want to be a part of your lives, they want to hear about your hopes and dreams and your passions and your struggles.  They are here because they believe in your potential and they want to share some of the lessons that they’ve learned.”

That’s exactly what Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff for senior advisor Valerie Jarrett told me about his high mentors: the Obamas.  “They have always been about giving back and I’ve personally benefited from it.”

 Strautmanis has been tapped to coordinate the program and its partnerships with other departments in the White House. “I wouldn’t be here today if they hadn’t been there for me,” he told me.  I first met Strautmanis when he came to Washington with Sen. Obama and served as the freshman senator’s chief of staff. A native of Chicago and an attorney Strautmanis started his legal career as at Sidley, Austin law firm in Chicago where he met the Obamas.

The president acknowledged the challenges facing young people today during his remarks – and reflected on his youth.  “Fewer young people are growing up in homes with two parents.  I’m one of those people who didn’t grow up with two parents in a household.  Parents are working longer hours and they’ve got less time to spend with their kids.  And many young people don’t have the advantage of living in those tight-knit neighborhoods that many of us who are older grew up in, where people looked out for each other, and for each other’s children,” he said. 

The White House Men/Boys Mentoring Program has also managed to snag the support of corporate sponsors, national non-profits and the U.S. Government is also stepping up and launching the serve.gov/mentor Website for federal employees to volunteer their time.

“It’s tough being a young person out there these days, “Statautmanis said.  “We’ll bring them [mentee] to the White House and expose them to different perspectives, new careers, how the federal government works and introduce them to cultural opportunities in D.C.

All of this for what the first lady summed up as a promise.  “The only thing that we ask in return, and we said this to the girls, is that when this is all over, that you give back, that you do the same for someone else.  That’s the only thing we ask of you.  Because the beauty of being a mentor is that anyone can do it at any age,” she told the mentees.

The message was clear from the first couple, anything is possible. Mrs. Obama told the mentee,  “Each of us has the ability to move beyond the circumstances that we were born into.  That’s really the story of both me and the president, that through hard work and perseverance, that you can actually choose the life that you want to live — it’s your choice.”