AP: President Barack Obama followed through Friday night on his longtime plan to take his two daughters to see the new monument to Martin Luther King Jr. on the National Mall.
Two days before Obama is to speak at the dedication of the memorial to the civil rights pioneer, the president, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha made an unannounced visit to the site.
….. At a ground-breaking ceremony for the memorial five years ago, Obama, then a senator from Illinois, spoke about what it would be like to bring his daughters to see it.
“I know that one of my daughters will ask, perhaps my youngest, will ask, “Daddy, why is this monument here? What did this man do?” Obama said.
…… he said when the monument was complete, he would tell his daughters “that this man gave his life serving others. I will tell them that this man tried to love somebody. I will tell them that because he did these things, they live today with the freedom God intended, their citizenship unquestioned, their dreams unbounded.”
The Obama Diary 
May God bless the memories of a great work. Thank you for your courage Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.
I’ll never forget him, or the day he was lost to us.
Yes, JO’B. Me, too.
I’m seriously considering jumping in the car and heading to DC for tomorrow’s jobs march and Sunday’s dedication.
Go for it, Alycee! I would if I could!
Oh I hope you do go Alycee.. then tell us all about it 🙂 please
We took a youth group to see the Memorial yesterday. It was absolutely breath taking & LONG over due. If you can make it, I encourage you to go.
Are you close? Why not?
No…we came to DC from TN just to see the Memorial.
It is so emotional for me to hear about president Obama at MLK memorial I’m already tearing up and I haven’t seen a picture yet!
Good for them, and a great idea! The girls get the chance to appreciate the monument with their parents and to enjoy a conversation and ‘private’ reactions without too many cameras watching their every move! In the midst of giving so much to the country, I respect the fact that President & Mrs. Obama never neglect giving as much to their daughters. Tho I sometimes feel sad that they don’t have complete freedom of movement, those girls are soooo fortunate!
They probably have more freedom than we think. Just like Mrs Obama is about to go to Target, I am sure the girls go to the movies with friends, parties, visit with friends, etc., For the most part the press only follows them when they are with their parents. I can see 1st Grannie taking the girls shopping and no one would know them. I know the SS are close by but very conspicuous.
Each time I see a pic of this monument I tear up!
Wow. That must have been really personal for them. This weekend is going to be incredibly emotional. The first African-American President dedicating a memorial to Martin Luther King Jr. a pioneer, a visionary, a leader, a legend, and an all around phenomenal human being and kind soul.
Oh my, I can’t wait to see the pictures.
we may have to wait very long for photos of this visit
‘President Barack Obama followed through Friday night on his longtime plan to take his two daughters to see the new monument to Martin Luther King Jr.’
And there, IMO, you have the essence of this president – he ‘followed through on his longtime plan’! A promise made and kept. President Obama is a man of his word to family, friends, AND country! {Oops! And to opponents 😉 } I can’t think of a promise he has made that he hasn’t fulfilled, if it has at all been in his power to do so. Modelling integrity for all of us. Man, I wish I could clone him and add one like him to my own life! 😆
The thought of President Obama, FLOTUS, Sasha and Malia visiting the Martin Luther King Memorial together just makes me want to weep like a baby. I am overcome with emotion just imagining this amazing family sharing such a wonderful moment together. And of course there won’t be a dry eye in the house at the dedication. I know President Obama will make a powerful speech. I can’t believe how lucky I am to have this beautiful human being as my president. He’s just good inside.
WORD.
I loved this commercial Chevy did for the original unveiling that was scheduled in August.
The Table of Brotherhood
wow Donna, that was something, thank you for posting it. Its going to be an emotional day… a very very long overdue memorial.
I love it too. Wish my grandson could have flown down this weekend; I love sharing these type of experiences with him.
If no one else has posted – here’s an article from today’s Washington Post about another fine outcome from our President’s health care reform act: The title says “More doctors, nurses signing up to aid underserved areas”
“As a result of stimulus spending and increased funding through the 2010 health-care law, the number of clinicans participating in a federal program to expand access to care in underserved communities has nearly tripled in the past three years……”
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/more-doctors-nurses-participate-in-program-that-helps-communities-with-little-health-care-service/2011/10/13/gIQADBrRiL_story.html
I confess I haven’t had time to read about the admin. dropping the long term care insurance program.
*******VERY important and need your help. I posted this info on the last thread but only got one response — good direction, but would like more folks thoughts/suggestions.
I received an email today with the following link: http://www.YouTube.com/watch_popup?v=HcBaSP31Be8&vg=medium. Title of email was: THIS WILL KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF. It is about the ACA…..filled with lots of CAPS and words like WILL, MUST, etc. Gives (supposed) pages, sections and lines of requirements/regulations in the ACA.
globalcitizenlinda suggested I contact PO’s Campaign Headquarters and the WH. Would love any other suggestions. Thanks!
Wow, what a pile of Teabagger lies and crap!!! I notice most of the other videos on the channel are the usual ‘Hate Muslims!’ bile. Oh boy, these people……..
What should I do about responding to person who sent it? Typically with these emails, I find links/facts, do ‘reply all’ and respond. Feel like that needs to be done with this, BUT I don’t know how to get that info.
tnmtngirl, Based on your post, I assume that by the “government plan” they are referring to the Affordable Care Act. Well, here is a PDF document of the ACA. And as you can see, if you look at the pages mentioned in the YouTube video – and they have absolutely nothing to do with the outlandish claims made in that video. For example, the first “claim” in video states that on “page 22” the government will force audits of private insurers. Totally False. Page 22 of the ACA talks about giving patients the worth of the premiums paid and that patients should receive rebates from insurers when the value of services received is assessed to be less than the premiums they paid in a given year.
The Youtube video says that on “page 29” the government will “ration care” and place limits of how much care people can receive with $5000 per individual, $10000 per family. Again, page 29 of the ACA deals with management of electronic transactions and data in a manner that will reduce clerical errors and burdens of paperwork. There is nothing on page 29 that deals with rationing of care or dollar limits.
The Youtube video says that on “page 30, section 123” , but there is no section 123 on page 30 of the ACA. In fact, there is NO section 123 ANYWHERE in the ACA. The sections start at sec.1001 and end at sec.10909.
Here is the HHS.gov (Health & Human Services) Website on the Affordable Care Act, and here
I’m posting a
Sorry this was an incomplete post…I hit the “post comment” by accident before I was done.
Anyway, here is the HHS website
http://www.hhs.gov/opa/affordable-care-act/
And here is a detailed pdf of the Affordable Act which you can find on the HHS website. You can verify the accuracy of every outlandish claim made in the youtube video by simply going through the this pdf.
Click to access ppacacon.pdf
Wow hopefruit, thank you for doing this, you are alway researching and presenting the facts- I really appreciate this.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! You are truly awesome……..we already knew that!!!!!!!!!!!
Special WaPo section on the King Memorial – http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/specialreports/MLKmemorial
This is MLK last speech, and every time I see it, I tear up.
You felt from his speech that night, he knew his destiny was near.
Thank you for this vivid reminder. The air was definitely thick with awareness of his vulnerability. So much had happened. Tears flowing.
I look at that MLK video and even still today those words get to you. bjw2 I agree with you, I look at him in that video and you can sense he knew something was going to happen to him. It’s still powerful.
A very beautiful story. Thanks for the post Chipsticks 🙂
Here are the pictures:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132×8703634
My bad…
They’re beautiful photos Jovie, but they’re from the President’s visit to the Martin Luther King Charter School in New Orleans in 2009.
It seems like this was a private visit tonight, so there might not be any photos (until Pete Souza’s are released) – but will keep checking.
Oh nooooooooooooo 😦 😦 😦 😦 I believe in miracles. Crossing my fingers
great story.
President Obama’s remark to Ed Henry of Fox News on Thursday that, “I didn’t know you were the spokesperson for Mitt Romney” set off heated discussions this week around the White House briefing room.
Henry declined comment on the matter. But reporters were left wondering — is this how the administration is going to respond to criticism from Republican opponents going forward — by casting aspersions on journalists who ask questions?
The White House has tangled with Fox News before, and Henry has had some past, briefing room contretemps with White House press secretary Jay Carney.
Henry, called on at a press conference Thursday, asked Obama to respond to a quote from Romney challenging his credentials on foreign policy in the wake of the Iranian assassination plot. That’s when the president asked Henry if he was Romney’s spokesperson.
On Friday, CNBC’s John Harwood, who also writes for The New York Times, sat down with White House chief of staff Bill Daley, and — in the course of asking a lot of other things — inquired about the flare-up with Henry.
“I want to ask you about the thinking within the White House,” Harwood said to Daley, according to a transcript of the interview. “Yesterday at a press conference one of my colleagues asked the president to respond to something Mitt Romney said. The president said, ‘I didn’t realize you were a spokesman for Mitt Romney.’ Is the White House — you feeling — the president feeling under siege from events right now?”
Daley responded with a lengthy answer about the economy and the middle class. Harwood pressed him, “Why would the president respond that way to a reporter, though?”
“I don’t think it was a colleague from your network,” Daley said, “but a colleague from another network.”
He added, “And — sometimes as you — I know it may surprise people, some people that there are certain people in the media who do seem at times to carry the water for certain — piece of the political spectrum.”
“He added, “And — sometimes as you — I know it may surprise people, some people that there are certain people in the media who do seem at times to carry the water for certain — piece of the political spectrum.”
Great response!
Great answer from Daley. And I still love what the President told Mr. Ed.
I love the fact that the WH has decided not to take these sorry reporters B.S. anymore.You come in there and you treat the President with respect. The question about Iran was a fair question, but the part about what Willard the flip flop Romney said was not call for and Mr. Ed thought the President was going to just take his B.S. Bravo Mr. President
Boooooooooooooooooooo Hooooooooooooooooo now little wimpy fake journalists are playing the victim card. Screw them.
Ed “Cheshire Cat” Henry and the rest of the jackals ask questions like that all the time in the daily briefings with Jay Carney. They are constantly carrying water for the GOP. There are many times when I just imagine Speaker Boehner sitting in the front row asking the same question that flows from Jake “The Snarl” Tapper’s mouth.
There is nothing that resembles journalism at the briefings. There is an obsession with “process”. Why did you do this, why didn’t you do that, when did you, but last week you said, did the president call the GOP leadership – they say they have not received any calls. Te rest of the questions are dripping with sarcasm, snark and gotcha.
Jay Carney is a terrific press secretary and he has the patience of Job. Different jackals will ask the same question over and over again and Jay just has to keep repeating himself. They are nosy gossip columnists looking for dirt and controversy. The talking points start at Fox and they are brought straight to the briefing room.
FOX and Politico—–they all take their marching orders from those two entities. It’s really disturbing. It is not an objective press.
I warned my Facebook friends yesterday that the beltway media would rally to Henry’s defense. They are a strong brotherhood. Their questions everyday to our Jay are exactly the same. They ALL carry the water for the Republicans. Look for them to get even nastier with Jay and the President over the next week or so. They talk about him like a dog and sit there and let Republicans lie and never contest their comments and when the President calls one of them out on their obvious agenda they all rally in support of their “colleague”. It’s Just Sickening!
Then we need to hit their nutworks back hard. Maybe they think it’s OK but we do not. Maybe we need to write and complain to the sponsors that we won’t buy their crap if they keep these crappy so-called republican journalists.
Yeah and it’s funny how when they get slapped back they run for the fainting couch and smelling salts, acting like they are victims.
They can dish it but sure as hell can’t take it. It’s like they think the president is someone to be punked. Fuck the press.
PBO has already told all to them that if they keep messing with him, he’ll destroy them, but they refuse to listen. Ed Henry got exactly what he deserved. The press conference was not intended to be an opportunity to ask stupid questions about what PBO thinks about what Romney said about Iran. President Lee is head of state of South Korea. A focused journalist would have asked a question related to the new trade deal or U.S./South Korean relations. Henry got his azzzz handed to him by PBO, was ridiculed by laughter from the other members of the press, and was embarrassed in front of an international audience. IMHO, PBO has tolerated more abuse from them than I would have put up with had I been POTUS. I would have landed hundreds of verbal knockout punches against them before now.
Will you just look at that marvelous statue? OMG, it’s so righteous and pristine and so STRONG. It generates HOPE. I wonder how Sasha and Malia felt seeing it with their father, who could explain to them with love, admiration and honor what it portrays and the context for so much history. MOVED.
For those hoping to get to glimpse some photos of the First Family to the M. L. K memorial tonight, it was not a public event. We may only get to see them in history or from Peter Souza releases. Below is part of a news report indicating that the pool reporters were NOT given access:
WASHINGTON – (AP) — President Barack Obama followed through Friday night on his longtime plan to take his two daughters to see the new monument to Martin Luther King Jr. on the National Mall.
Two days before Obama is to speak at the dedication of the memorial to the civil rights pioneer, the president, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha made an unannounced visit to the site. Reporters were held in vans on a service road and could not see the Obamas as they viewed the memorial.
source:
http://www.newsday.com/news/first-family-visits-new-mlk-memorial-1.3244747
😦 😦 😦 😦 😦 but I understand they need some moments alone
Good I think it’s nice for them to have a private moment every now and then, and the press ought to understand it some time.
If only it was so that for PBO and his family, “their citizenship unquestioned.” For all the whining about how candidates are being treated, I will never ever forget how PBO and his family have been treated since he announced his candidacy. I will never forget it. Can they imagine what it’s like to have their citizenship questioned and denied? No, they cannot.
I won’t forget it either, I will hold a grudge always on the treatment this President has received~always.
I will too, sherijr.
I’m glad there are no photos.
ME 2!!!!
This is a special and moving moment in their lives; they deserve their privacy.
“The patter of (protesters’) feet as they walked through Jim Crow barriers in the great stride toward freedom is the thunder of the marching men of Joshua. And the world rocks beneath their tread. My people, my people, listen, listen, the battle is in our hands.”
Martin Luther King Jr. 1929-1968
Civil Rights Activist and Nobel Laureate
May the homage raise millions of voices with a thunderous ,”We Will March On”
May the homage move millions of feet to steady their beat of “We Move With Purpose Continiously.”
We hear you, Dr. King, We are the people, and We are listening. Hear our Voices Dr. King, Hear Our Voices,
We Come to pay our respect to you on this day and each going forward.”HZ
As much as I would have loved a photo, I’m glad they didnt … we all know how some would label it “opportunistic”. #crybabycaucus
The right wing nuts and Ed Henry would call it a photo op.
I am so looking forward till the dedication Sunday.
I wonder whether FLOTUS and the girls will be there.
This is going to be a very emotional weekend. Three very vivid memories for me are when JFK was shot, the when MLK was shot and then Bobby Kennedy was shot. I sure wish I could be there to march for jobs on Saturday and then be at the dedication. I grew up in middle Kansas in a very small town. I really relate to the first part of Stanley Ann’s life story. The Kansas part. I was never as interested in adventure as Stanley Ann was.
I sure hope someone in the TOD family is there this weekend to give us live reports.
I believe that it was Linda and others that were participating on an earlier thread about PBO’s putting 100 troops into Africa. Reading this helped me open my eyes and understand what an important decision this was..
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2011/10/what-is-lra-and-why-are-we-sending.html
Friends, Please see my post just above the video of MLK’s last speech. I need your advice.
globalcitizenlinda, Thanks again for your suggestion. I just realized that I can take it with me tomorrow. I am canvassing for our Dem candidate for state senate. She is chair of the Knox County Dems AND she worked (a lot) on the Obama Campaign. In fact, his people have assisted her in how to go about her campaign…..has run numbers for her, etc. Hopefully, she can get in touch with someone QUICKLY!!!!!!1
I just posted a comment and just realized I had just gotten my laptop back from being worked on and I hadn’t filled out my name.
This weekend is going to be very emotional for my. I have very vivid memories of when JFK was shot, of when MLK was shot and when Bobby Kennedy was shot. I wish I could be there for the march and the dedication.
I sure hope someone in the TOD family will be there and will give us live reports.
Just rescued your comment from pending mtmarilyn! We’ll be here on Sunday, it will be an extraordinary, emotional day.
Thank you! You are the best.
Business groups call Cain’s 9-9-9 plan a job killer.
Called a job killer at worst or a detail-free slogan at best, Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 tax plan is getting tepid-to-awful reviews from some of the nation’s most-influential business groups.
The National Retail Federation strongly opposes the Republican presidential candidate’s plan because it would institute a first-ever national sales tax of 9 percent that, the federation says, will dampen consumer spending.
“This will hurt demand and slow the economic recovery,” the federation’s tax policy expert, Rachelle Bernstein, said. “You definitely do not want to do this.”
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/10/14/127254/business-groups-call-cains-9-9.html
I rarely remember where I was or what I was doing when an important event happens. I remember what I was doing during the Challenger explosion,PBO’s election night,September 11th….and I remember the day that MLK was shot.I remember that day, vividly, because at the time, our family lived in St Thomas….and both my parents were crying at the same time, upon hearing the news of his death.I am so thrilled that this magnificent statue has been beautifully carved and erected to honor this great man and all he stood for…all he strived for.On my bucket list, to be sure….and I’m glad that the First Family could have that quiet time to go to that place and honor his message and his greatness.
With too few hands to pick the apples in Washington state, Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire says the farm labor shortage has prompted a crisis.
In the Wenatchee Valley east of the Cascade Mountains, apple growers have posted their help-wanted signs across the countryside. And for the first time in years, growers in the state have launched a radio campaign, offering pay of $120 to $150 a day, but there have been few takers, much to the governor’s regret.
“We’re not getting anybody to take a bite on these jobs, so we don’t have anybody to do these jobs,” she said Thursday night.
While much of the talk on Capitol Hill is tough, with opponents of illegal immigration vowing to seal the borders, Gregoire said Congress should instead focus on a way to get more foreign workers to help with harvesting in her state, the nation’s top producer of apples.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/10/14/127288/gov-gregoire-to-congress-help.html
Damn. $120-$150 a day?
I’d do that job. I’d have my son out there too.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s last speech – “I Have Been to the Mountaintop” is so apt for our times when the economic message he propagated couldn’t resonate more than now. Listen to a rare audio of the full speech of some 43 minutes:
Here’ the link:
Luckily, the President told Geitner no. Apparently, the EU wanted America to fund the IMF, and help them bail out Europe.
Can you imagine what the Media and the Republicans would have said?