This and That

President Obama departs the White House en route to Charlotte, September 5

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All times ET:

2:45: President Obama arrives in Charlotte (live streaming – thanks JER)

5:0 – 6:0: Antonio Villaraigosa * Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie * Presentation of Colors * Pledge of Allegiance * National Anthem: Branford Marsalis * Luis V. Gutierrez * Diana DeGette * John A. Pérez * Thomas M. Menino * Judy Chu * Steve Westly * An Economy Built to Last Video: Small Business * John Larson * Ken Myers

6:0 – 7:0: Richard Trumka * Steve Israel * Patty Murray * Pedro R. Pierluisi * An Economy Build to Last Video: Energy * Tom Steyer * Charles Schumer * Karen Bass * Al Green (Member of the US House of Representatives, Texas) Emanuel Cleaver, II * Dannel Malloy

7:0 – 8:0: Denise Juneau * Nancy Pelosi * Tom Vilsack * Barbara Mikulski * Arne Duncan * Progress for People Video: Education * Johanny Adames * Jim Hunt * Remarks and Video Presentation in Memoriam presented by Harvey B. Gantt * Live Performance: Jessica Sanchez

8:0 – 9:0: Stronger Together Video: Women’s Health * Elizabeth Ann “Libby” Bruce * Cecile Richards * Steny Hoyer * Barney Frank * American Heroes Video: Veterans * Ed Meagher * General Eric Shinseki * Michael Nutter * John Hickenlooper * Sister Simone Campbell * Jack Markell

9:0 – 10:0: Karen Mills * Progress for People Video: Small Business * Bill Butcher * Kamala D. Harris * Stronger Together Video: Immigration * Benita Veliz * Cristina Saralegui * Sandra Fluke * Austin Ligon * An Economy Build to Last Video: Auto-Industry * Karen Eusanio * Bob King * Randy Johnson, Cindy Hewitt, and David Foster (Former Employees at companies controlled by Romney’s Bain Capital) * Chris Van Hollen

10:0 – 11:0: Jim Sinegal * Elizabeth Warren * Antonio Villaraigosa * Bill Clinton * Benediction: Rabbi David Wolpe

Detailed schedule here

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NY Mag

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John Heilemann: The opening session of the Democratic National Convention was designed to be, in effect, coalition night, with a lineup of speakers reflecting the assemblage of voting blocs that constitute Barack Obama’s base. Representing Hispanics, there would be San Antonio mayor and keynoter Julian Castro and congressman Xavier Becerra; representing African-Americans, Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick, Newark mayor Cory Booker, and Charlotte mayor Anthony Foxx; and representing women, HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius, congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth, and Lilly Ledbetter. And then there would be Michelle Obama….

As it unfolded, coalition night was successful as such and in many other respects. But what it will be — and should be — remembered for was the First Lady’s speech, which I can say without risk of exaggeration was one of the most extraordinary convention turns I have witnessed in more than two decades in this racket.

Full post here

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Michelle Obama speaks at the Human Rights Campaign luncheon in Charlotte, September 5

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TPM

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Duncan Wolfe for Obama for America

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Mary Seymore wears a tiny hat that reads “No Friggin’ Big Hats!” during day one of the Democratic National Convention

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wednesday

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11:0 The First Lady tours the United States Secret Service headquarters in Washington, D.C. She will also deliver remarks

3:0 The First Lady visits Bancroft and Tubman Elementary Schools

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wednesday

wednesday

wednesday

Thursday: The president is scheduled to travel to Martha’s Vineyard.

johannesburg, wednesday (live updates)

Children from a nearby creche hold placards as they wait for U.S. first lady Michelle Obama before a wreath-laying ceremony at the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto, June 22

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A choir sings before U.S. first lady Michelle Obama speaks at Regina Mundi Church and addresses the Young African Women Leaders Forum in a Soweto township

BBC: Introducing the first lady, Mr Mandela’s wife, Graca Michel, spoke of the symbolism of her visit.

“You may have been a toddler when the 1976 uprising took place. Now, in your adulthood, you come to us and you connect that history, and to say the triumphs of yesterday have to be the triumphs of today,” she said.

“Regina Mundi’s name in Latin means queen of the world. And we welcome you as a daughter of African heritage, and we can call you ‘the queen of our world.'”

Reuters: First Lady Michelle Obama urged young Africans to fight for women’s rights and battle the stigma of AIDS, using her husband’s “yes, we can” campaign slogan to motivate youth across the continent.

….her speech to a group of young women and men at Regina Mundi Church, which played a role in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement, touched on race, discrimination, democracy, and development.

Obama drew on the leaders of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and the civil rights movement in the United States as an example for the younger generation to follow.

“It is because of them that we are able to gather here today…It is because of them that I stand before you as First Lady of the United States of America,” she said to applause. “That is the legacy of the independence generation, the freedom generation. And all of you – the young people of this continent – you are the heirs of that blood, sweat, sacrifice, and love.”

Obama appeared visibly moved when the audience stood and sang an impromptu serenade as she approached the podium. Placing her hands over her heart, she thanked the crowd and seemed to choke back tears.

She spoke passionately about women’s rights, saying the young leaders should ensure that women were no longer “second class citizens” and that girls were educated in schools. “You can be the generation that stands up and says that violence against women in any form, in any place, including the home – especially the home – that isn’t just a women’s rights violation. It’s a human rights violation,” she said.

“You can be the generation that ends HIV/AIDS in our time, the generation that fights not just the disease, but the stigma of the disease, the generation that teaches the world that HIV is fully preventable and treatable, and should never be a source of shame,” she said to applause.

Mrs Obama, who was introduced by Graca Machel, Nelson Mandela’s wife, used her husband’s famous campaign slogan to urge the audience to follow through on the issues she addressed. “If anyone ever tells you that you shouldn’t or you can’t, then I want you to say with one voice – the voice of a generation – you tell them, ‘yes, we can.”

Michelle Obama embraces Baleka Mbete, who has promoted equality and development in South Africa, with Graca Machel, wife of Nelson Mandela

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Michelle Obama talks with Antoinette Sithole, sister of Hector Pieterson, before laying a wreath at the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto. Hector Pietersen became a symbol of the apartheid struggle in South Africa when he was killed by police during the 1976 student uprising in Soweto. Read more about Hector here

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….. at a ‘breakout’ session at the Young African Youth Leaders Forum in Johannesburg

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…. with children after participating in a community service project at Vhuthilo Community Center in Soweto

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Videos from yesterday:

london, wednesday

Text of address

President Obama and British PM David Cameron wave to the media outside 10 Downing St prior to their meeting

All times US Eastern

4:50 AM (9:50 AM UK time) President Obama holds a bilateral meeting with PM Cameron

5:05 AM (10:05 UK) President Obama holds a bilateral meeting with Deputy PM Nick Clegg

5:35 AM (10:35 UK) President Obama holds an expanded bilateral meeting with PM Cameron

6:30 AM (11:30 UK) President Obama and PM Cameron attend an event hosted by Mrs. Cameron and Michelle Obama to honor military families, U.S. and U.K. service members and veterans

7:35 AM (12:35 UK) President Obama and PM Cameron hold a joint press conference

10:30 AM (3:30 UK) President Obama delivers remarks to the U.K. Parliament

11:55 AM (4:55 UK) President Obama holds an U.S. Embassy meet and greet

3:30 PM (8:30 UK) President Obama and Michelle Obama hold a dinner in honor of the Queen at the residence of the American ambassador in London

Live here

…with British Deputy PM Nick Clegg

The morning after, President Obama seemed a little confused as to why the British national anthem started playing before he was done speaking at a state dinner. Obama was overheard admitting to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg that things didn’t go exactly as he had hoped at Buckingham Palace.

“I thought that it was like out of the movies, where …” Obama began, as Clegg suggested, “There’s a crescendo?”

“… a soundtrack that kind of comes in,” Obama continued, smiling.

“With your voiceover?” Clegg asked, laughing in front of a pool of reporters.

Michelle Obama and Samantha Cameron serve food at a barbecue for British and American service members and veterans at Downing Street

President Obama arrives for a news conference to be held with PM David Cameron at Lancaster House in London

Live here

Tom Hanks with his wife Rita Wilson arrive to hear US President Obama’s address in Westminster Hall

President Obama, escorted by John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, and Helen Hayman, Lord Speaker of the House of Lords, walks into Westminster Hall to address members of both Houses of Parliament

hey, hugs!

First Lady Michelle Obama visits students at Ballou High School in Washington, March 30

Politic365: First Lady Michelle Obama and some of the most powerful women across a variety of endeavors will fan out this week across Washington, D.C. area schools to promote mentoring for young people.

On Wednesday, March 30, Mrs. Obama and 22 guest mentors will split up to visit six high schools in Greater Washington. At each location, some of the featured women will participate in a Q&A session and share their personal and career experiences with students. The school-based events area open to all students, but will have a specific focus on mentoring for young women.

Later in the evening, the First Lady will host the guest mentors and 120 additional students for dinner and a program in the East Room of the White House.

See here for the list of guest mentors for Wednesday’s events

Actress Hilary Swank, actress Anna Deveare Smith and Israeli violinist Miri Ben-Ari pose with students at Eastern High School in Washington. Swank joined the prominent women to promote, along with US First Lady Michelle Obama, mentoring by successful women as part of Women’s History Month at the White House.