FLOTUS Presents The Roots Picnic

Bliss

The 4th

This is my form of patriotism: pic.twitter.com/w1bRopSSPC

— Broderick (@BroderickGreer) July 4, 2017

Before you celebrate the Fourth, I do think it is important to read Frederick Douglass' July 4th oration. https://t.co/ZufgCzUYMQ pic.twitter.com/OoufvUlTGd

— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) July 4, 2017

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https://twitter.com/jonfavs/status/882243487785037824

The ghost of Frederick Douglass came down & said enjoying your ribs today isn't mutually exclusive from critiquing America. You can do both.

— Clint Smith (@ClintSmithIII) July 4, 2017

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It shouldn't have to be said at this point but critiquing this country doesn't prevent one frm loving it. It's how you know the love is real

— Clint Smith (@ClintSmithIII) July 4, 2017

https://twitter.com/PeteSouza/status/882212979273588737

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https://twitter.com/PeteSouza/status/882259247681155073

July 4, 2011 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Lhwv1Z3MnS

— shauna (@goldengateblond) July 4, 2017

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President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama always had a picnic for military families every year on July 4th. pic.twitter.com/nlH7D7Yd4F

— meta (@metaquest) July 4, 2017

Happy Independence Day! pic.twitter.com/Swft0ooCzD

— The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) July 4, 2017

A Friday Smile

Barack Obama with babies will get you all in your feels pic.twitter.com/6S4I1Gg72g

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) June 16, 2017

Early Bird Chat

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All Times Eastern

10:15AM: President Obama meets with the Dalai Lama

12:30PM: Daily Briefing with Press Secretary Josh Earnest

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First Lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey speak at the White House Summit on the United State of Women

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President Barack Obama speaks on the Orlando shooting at the Treasury Department while Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper look on. President Obama rebuked Donald Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States

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President Barack Obama speaks during the White House Summit on the United State Of Women

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The Dreaded Picnic…..

President Barack Obama attends a picnic for members of Congress on the South Lawn of the White House. The annual summer event was revived this year after being pushed back and then canceled last summer

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Rise and Shine

The First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, visits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, September 17,2014

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Today (all times Eastern)

10:45: The President participates in an Ambassador Credentialing Ceremony

12:30: White House press briefing

2:0: The President meets with President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine

3:55: Attends a DNC fundraiser, Washington DC

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President Obama runs up the steps of the First Lady’s plane before she took off for a flight at JAFB, Md. pic.twitter.com/V4YatFDLqg

— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) September 17, 2014

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 The First Lady at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis yesterday:

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More video here

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President Obama arrives for the White House Congressional picnic in a ‘let’s get this over with’ kind of way. #Wise pic.twitter.com/zMlySCShBV

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) September 17, 2014

PBO was happier with Bella there back in the day … haha 🙂 @TheObamaDiary pic.twitter.com/WjYNFkxxNo

— sfpelosi (@sfpelosi) September 18, 2014

Holy smokes @sfpelosi, that was the Baby Whisperer day! http://t.co/LVgPG58VHH

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) September 18, 2014

John Boehner and Rand Paul having a swell time at the White House Congressional Picnic pic.twitter.com/4s9z1JAL4g

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) September 17, 2014

Mark Sanford chatting with his friends at the White House Congressional Picnic. pic.twitter.com/Ynp64TukDo

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) September 17, 2014

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MoooOOOooorning again! I’m frankly overwhelmed by the excited reaction to my stick people – fear not, there will be more later.

Rise and Shine

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Paul Krugman (NYT): So the Supreme Court – defying many expectations – upheld the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare …. this a big victory for President Obama … But the real winners are ordinary Americans – people like you.

How many people are we talking about? You might say 30 million, the number of additional people the Congressional Budget Office says will have health insurance thanks to Obamacare. But that vastly understates the true number of winners because millions of other Americans — including many who oppose the act — would have been at risk of being one of those 30 million.

…. In short, unless you belong to that tiny class of wealthy Americans who are insulated and isolated from the realities of most people’s lives, the winners from that Supreme Court decision are your friends, your relatives, the people you work with — and, very likely, you. For almost all of us stand to benefit from making America a kinder and more decent society.

…. the law that the Supreme Court upheld is an act of human decency that is also fiscally responsible. It’s not perfect, by a long shot … but it’s still a big step toward a better – and by that I mean morally better – society.

Which brings us to the nature of the people who tried to kill health reform – and who will, of course, continue their efforts despite this unexpected defeat …. what was and is really striking about the anti-reformers is their cruelty …. it has long been obvious that the opposition’s goal is simply to kill reform, never mind the human consequences. We should all be thankful that, for the moment at least, that effort has failed.

…. The cruelty and ruthlessness that made this court decision such a nail-biter aren’t going away.

But, for now, let’s celebrate. This was a big day, a victory for due process, decency and the American people.

Full article here

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Cagle

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Greg Sargent: Romney supported a tax increase, remember? GOP strategists are predicting that by calling the mandate a “massive tax increase,” they’ll be able to win over independents in battleground states. Perhaps, but as noted above, they may also be alienated by the drive for full repeal. Either way, this is made even more absurd by the fact that Romney supported precisely the same tax increase as Governor of Massachusetts.

Washington Post: …. “The most effective argument for Romney is that this is a massive tax increase that will impact hardworking Americans,” said GOP strategist Ron Bonjean…..

Romney’s history, however, may make it difficult for him to capi­tal­ize on that argument.

The health-care system that he put into place as Massachusetts governor – which was a model for the federal law – included a mandate with a similar penalty for noncompliance.

At the time, Romney also denied that it was a tax, preferring instead to refer to it as a “fee” or an “incentive.”

More here

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Today:

10:25: President Obama departs the White House

12:55: Arrives in Colorado Springs

4:45: Departs Colorado Springs

8:05: Arrives at the White House

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TOD Fundraisers:

a4alice * Alycee * BWD * CollegeKay * Cookemom * DonnaDem4Obama

Hgerhard * HZ * Judith Fardig * Mae Who Love Our CIC

Marlz * Meta * Pamela *prettyfoot58 * proudmemberofglobalzero * Theo67 * The Obama Diary

(If you’d like to have your fundraiser added to the list, let me know in the comments)

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Morning everyone 😉

Picnic Pics

President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama arrive at the Congressional picnic at the White House, June 27

Attorney General Eric Holder with Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Sen. Patrick Leahy

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This and That

My fave pic from last year’s picnic …. love the look she gave Rusty, I hope she’s President one day 😉

7:0 President Obama speaks at a picnic for Members of Congress (it’s over)

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President Barack Obama talks with senior advisors before a phone call with President François Hollande of France in the Oval Office, June 27, 2012. Pictured, from left, are Larry Pfeiffer, Director of Operations, the Situation Room; Mike Froman, Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics; Caroline Atkinson, Special Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs; National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling; Elizabeth “Liz” Sherwood-Randall, Senior Director for European Affairs; and Chief of Staff Jack Lew. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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Cagle

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