By Pamela Gentry, Senior Poltical Analyst

March 9, 2010 – President Barack Obama brought back his winning style and formula from the campaign; he delivered the same reasons to reform health care but with a level of  intensity he hasn’t demonstrated since the 2008 campaign.  

The banter with the audience at Arcadia University in Pennsylvania sounded more like a pep rally than a policy speech.  “How many people would like a proposal that holds insurance companies more accountable? How many people would like to give Americans the same insurance choices that members of Congress get?  And how many would like a proposal that brings down costs for everyone? That’s our proposal.  And it is paid for, and it’s a proposal whose time has come,” the president said.

He took shots at the insurance companies, his Republican critics and the Washington political climate charging every decision being hampered by the priority of folks to be re-elected. Admitting health reform won’t be easy; the president said that can’t be a deterrent.  “It is hard.  That’s because health care is complicated.  Health care is a hard issue.  It’s easily misrepresented.  It’s easily misunderstood,” he insisted.

Another effective tool the president used during his campaign was mobilizing the youth, Black voters and women. He called on those wanting to see change to join in and help spread the word. “It’s time to make a decision.  The time for talk is over.  We need to see where people stand.  And we need all of you to help us win that vote.  So I need you to knock on doors.  Talk to your neighbors.  Pick up the phone.  When you hear an argument by the water cooler and somebody is saying this or that about it, say, no, no, no, no, hold on a second.  And we need you to make your voices heard all the way in Washington, D.C.”

This could be the rally cry the president needed but hadn’t exercised.  It also could be the first indication the he’s ready to take on the 2010 midterm election skeptic who fear health care reform could torpedo their chance for  re-election.  

But if re-election is a concern, it looks like Black vote will be showing up at the polls in November.  A recent poll by the nonpartisan Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found Black voters were watching midterm elections closely and 74 – 80 percent surveyed said they were “very likely to vote” in the upcoming elections.

The poll sampled 500 Blacks in Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas and South Carolina, states which have Senates races in the fall.  David Bositis, a expert on Black voter turnout and researcher at the Joint Center said there is still a great deal of enthusiasm surrounding Obama’s presidency. “I think the Obama election and the fact that there is an African-American president is something of a game-changer,” he said.

Bositis is right, Black voters have invested in Obama’s success and if they are called to action, they will respond.  The president’s speech Monday could bring the folks at the grass roots level to the forefront of this policy issue that has suffered several stops-and-starts in recent months. 

Obama warned his detractors. “So let me remind everybody: Those of us in public office were not sent to Washington to do what’s easy.  We weren’t sent there because of the big fancy title.”  Adding, “We weren’t sent there just so everybody can say how wonderful we are.  We were sent there to do what was hard. We were sent there to take on the tough issues.  We were sent there to solve the big challenges.  And that’s why we’re there.” 

 Sounds like he’s fired up and ready to go!

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Poltical Analyst

March 4, 2010—Presdent Barack Obama held meetings Wednesday with several stake holders in complicated process in hopes of moving heath care reform from the halls of Congress to Pennsylvania Avenue and to his desk for signature.  

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the president wants to reach out to those who might still have concerns or questions. “I think the president will spend a considerable amount of time with lawmakers and the public, explaining the benefits of the legislation that will be considered, why it’s important to do, and why we can’t walk away now from health care reform.”

Member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) were among those who met with the president face-to-face to discuss where they go from here. 

Following the meeting Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said, “In my comments to the president, I reiterated the CBC’s priorities to ensure the inclusion of provisions to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities.  I also raised my longstanding support for a single-payer system, and discussed a public option and Medicare expansion as important and realistic alternatives to controlling costs and extending health coverage to millions of uninsured Americans.

Black lawmakers have been staunch supporters of a public option – but the provision wasn’t included in the Senate bill and the president has said as long as his primary objections of access to care, cost control and competition are met he would forgo the public option. 

 “The meeting was productive, and we remain committed to working together to moving a health care reform bill the president can sign this year,” Lee said.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

March 1, 2010 –  President Barack Obama plans to roll out plans to help slow the roll on drop out rates by American teens and entice more students to pursue college. 

How does he plan to do this?

Monday he will announce a national effort that will focus on targeting low performing schools, drop-out prevention strategies and preparing more students for the rigors of college.

U.S. Department of  Education Secretary Arne Duncan told a round table of African-American journalist Wednesday, the drop out rate among African-Americans is alarming.  “Education is the new civil right – equal opportunity and equality are suppose to be the great equalizer,” Duncan said.

President Barack Obama and U.S. Dept. of Education Sec. Arne Duncan.

“If we’re talking real equality we need to change,” Duncan insisted. 

American is faced with about 7,000 students deciding to drop out each day, that’s nearly 1.2 million students a year. Fifty percent of those students are African-American.   The Obama administration contends that’s a loss to our nation of $319 billion in potential earnings these students will never earn because they are dropouts. Duncan agreed, “Education is our [America’s] way to a better economy.”

The plight of students without a high school education is often tragic, they are unable sometimes to make a living wage and end up in low paying, unskilled jobs without growth potential.

  In March of 2009, the president said, “Just 2,000 high schools in cities like Detroit, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia produce over 50% of America’s dropouts.  Let us all make turning around our schools our collective responsibility as Americans.”                                                                                                                                   

Turning these schools around will be no small task.  The president’s plan will require the additional funding he requested in the 2011 budget. Education was one of the few line items in the budget to see a six percent increase in funding,  a great deal tied to several proposed interventions.

The Obama Administration is committing $3.5 billion to help transform low-performing schools; the Department of Education’s School Turnaround Grants would be awarded to support interventions for 5,000 of the worst schools in the nations; and an additional $900 million would go toward School Turnaround Grants to increase the number of schools that can improve.

Most of the incentives will depend on the 2011 budget funding levels.

Do you think the president is on the right track to help drop out?

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Politcal Analyst

Feb. 18, 2010 – Black farmers have finally reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture that will pay $1.25 billion to settle claims by African-American farmers who historically discriminated against in farm loan programs.

While the Agriculture Department has agreed to pay, the money for the settlement will require appropriation by Congress.  Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “USDA has made it a top priority to ensure all farmers are treated fairly and equally,” in a statement following the announcement. “The agreement reached today is an important milestone in putting these discriminatory claims behind us for good.”

President Obama praised the agreement in a statement released by the White House.  “My Administration is dedicated to ensuring that federal agencies treat all our citizens fairly, and the settlement in the Pigford case reflects that commitment.  I applaud Secretary Vilsack for his efforts to modernize operations at the USDA, as well as the work of the Justice Department in bringing these long-ignored claims of African American farmers to a rightful conclusion.  I look forward to a swift resolution to this issue, so that the families affected can move on with their lives.”

The claims will be handled by a non-judicial claims process and individual farmers can seek damage awards and debt relief.  This will end a long and somethime bitter battle between the farmers and USDA for those who filed their first claims in 1999. 

U.S. Attoney General Eric Holder said, The farmers “can move forward and have their claims heard – with the federal government standing not as an adversary, but as a partner.”

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Feb. 15, 2010 – Democratic Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh announced to President Obama on President’s Day he will not seek re-election to a third term in November because,   “The people’s business is not getting done.” 

Bayh said, “There is much too much partisanship and not enough progress,” he said during his formal announcement in Indianapolis. “All of this and much more has led me to believe that there are better ways to serve my fellow citizens.”

His announcement to retire comes somewhat as a surprise, but he was looking at a tough re-election campaign.  Bayh has enjoyed being one of the most popular centrist members of the party and was even considered a vice presidential pick during the 2008 campaign. 

But he hasn’t been able to sway his colleagues in the Senate and his resignation is clearly a sign of disenchantment and the lack of influence on his fellow Democrats.

Tuesday President Obama released a statement on B ayh’s departure:
“For more than two decades, Evan Bayh has devoted his career and his life to serving his fellow Hoosiers.  During that time, he has fought tirelessly for Indiana’s working families, reaching across the aisle on issues ranging from job creation and economic growth to fiscal responsibility and national security.  I look forward to continuing to work with him on these critical challenges throughout the rest of the year.  Michelle and I thank Senator Bayh for his leadership and service and wish him and his family all the best in their future endeavors.”

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Feb. 12, 2010 – What is going on, could it be the barometric pressure from the recent nor’easters?  First, I hear former President Bill Clinton is undergoing heart surgery for blocked arteries and just hours later my heart stops when Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) announced he will not seek re-election.

Clinton was hospitalized after complaining of chest pains.  His doctors scheduled the 63 year-old president for surgery and inserted two stents to open a clogged artery.  Since the earthquake last month in Haiti Clinton’s has been working relatively around the clock helping the relief efforts.

President Barack Obama called Clinton Thursday night to wish him a speedy recovery. 

I bet Clinton and Obama will be placing a call to Kennedy next to find out what’s going on. The 42 year-old congressmen elected in 2000 made a shocking announcedment Thursday when he said,  “I will not be a candidate for reelection this year.”

Kennedy has prepared a video where he explains a variety of reasons he is deciding to leave office.  “We all know how difficult the last few years have been,” Kennedy begins his remarks. “Rhode Island families have struggled,” citing the same struggles the entire country has experienced: the bad economy and mortgage foreclosures.

But the death of his father Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) has taken its toll on the congressman.  “Illness took the life of my most cherished mentor and confidant, my ultimate source of spirit and strength,” he said.

Kennedy’s exit from office will mark the end of an era in American politics and the U.S. Capitol will be without a Kennedy in the House; that will be the first time since 1947.

Who do you think will be the next political family to impact American politics?   

From left, NACCP chief executive Benjamin Todd Jealous, Rev. Al Sharpton of the National Action Network and National Urban League president Marc Morial, speak to members of the media outside the West Wing of the White House following their meeting with President Barack Obama in Washington. (AP Photo)

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Analyst

Feb. 11, 2010 – African-American leaders braved the Washington blizzard to meet with President Obama Wednesday to discuss the economy and getting people back to work.

Civil rights leaders Benjamin T. Jealous, president of the NAACP,  Marc H. Morial, president of the National Urban League, and the Reverend Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network met for a little more than an hour with the president in the Oval Office. 

The discussion focused on the challenges facing the poor, the unemployed and communities struggling during to get on their feet in this economic climate.  The topics ranged inclusive of everyone feeling the pinch – not just concerning African-Americans.

“ In these times, it didn’t make sense to talk about race-based initiatives,” Mr. Jealous told reporters after the meeting. “It made more sense to target poor areas.”

 “When you’re on the ground, the poor black community is the same as the poor white community,” Jealous said.

With the historic snow storm shutting the city down the president’s meeting with civil rights leaders was one of the only White House with guest.  Weather was also the reason Dr. Dorothy I. Height, Chairwoman, National Council of Negro Women, was unable to attend.

The leaders wanted to talk about what could be done to woo Republican leaders to support and pass a jobs bill.   Sharpton said he has reached out to Republican National Committee chairman, Michael Steele and asked the same question.

 The president is proposing in the 2011 budget to use the money paid back from the bank bailout loans to create a $30 billion jobs package that would provide loans to small business and stimulate job creation.

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?

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.