The 1600 Report

Soccer stars at the White House

lesajansen — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:49:46 +0000

There was some serious star power in the East Room of the White House Tuesday and it had nothing to do with politics. The Major League Soccer champion Los Angeles Galaxy including star players David Beckham, forward Robbie Keane, midfielder Landon Donovan and their team mates were honored by President Obama and dozens of young soccer fans invited to the White House.

Calling them the "Miami Heat of soccer" the president commended the team for their success.

"[T]ogether you pulled off one of the toughest feats in team sports: You lived up to the hype. You combined star power, hard work; it paid off."

The president poked a little fun at David Beckham telling the 36 year old, "I said half his teammates could be his kids."

"We're getting old, David. Although you're holding up better than me," the president laughingly told Beckham.

But he thanked the team for agreeing to stay and talk with children invited to the White House to meet the players.

"As a soccer dad, I know you've inspired a lot of kids. And today you're giving them an experience that they will never forget," the president told them.

After the East Room event, the players joined Michelle Obama and about 60 children invited for the event in the State Dining Room as part of a Let's Move program, the first lady's initiative to instill healthy eating habits in children.

Mrs. Obama said she hoped to hold a soccer clinic outside on the White House lawn but rain forced them inside. She told the kids about the importance of sports and remaining active.

"[W]e want to show kids just like you that there are all kinds of ways to be active, and that being active is also a whole lot of fun. So a lot of what we do while there are soccer drills and things like that going on, we're doing a lot of playing around and laughing, and realizing that that's what being healthy is about. It's not always work; most of the time it's a lot of fun."

She left admonishing the children to "eat your vegetables."

A sentiment that was echoed by star soccer player Beckham who when asked by one child was his favorite food is he hesitated only briefly and answered, carrots!

The first family is worth how much?

Alexander Mooney — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:20:02 +0000

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) - The White House released documents Tuesday that show President Barack Obama and the first family hold assets valued at between $2.6 million and $8.3 million.

The disclosure forms, required by the Ethics in Government Act, show the president's largest asset, by far, is U.S. debt in the form of Treasury notes and bills. In total, the president has between $1.6 million and $6.3 million invested in Treasury debt.

The first family reported a few other large assets, including a JPMorgan Chase checking account that holds between $500,000 and $1 million and a set of 529 college savings plans.

Full story

POTUS's schedule for Tuesday, May 15, 2012

beckybcnn — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:22:59 +0000

President Obama is back at the White House on this rainy Tuesday, holding several meetings alongside Vice President Biden. This morning, he'll make a quick trip up to Capitol Hill to make remarks at the annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service, a ceremony honoring law enforcement who were killed in the line of duty in the previous year. He'll also host the Major League Soccer champs, the LA Galaxy in the East Room and then the First Lady and the Galaxy will participate in a Let's Move soccer clinic in the State Dining Room (the event was moved inside due to the weather.) But don't forget, President Obama's appearance on the View will appear this morning where he apparently takes a pop quiz.

EDT

9:30AM Pool Call Time

9:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the Presidential Daily Briefing

Oval Office (Closed Press)

10:55AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at the National Peace Officers Memorial Service

U.S. Capitol Building (Open to Pre-Credentialed Media)

2:15PM THE PRESIDENT welcomes Major League Soccer champions, the LA Galaxy, to the White House

East Room (Open Press)

3:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of the Treasury Geithner

Oval Office (Closed Press)

4:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Secretary of Defense Panetta

Oval Office (Closed Press)

5:30PM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with the Combatant Commanders

Cabinet Room (Closed Press)

7:00PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY host a dinner for the Combatant Commanders and spouses at the White House; THE VICE PRESIDENT also attends

Blue Room (Closed Press)

Briefing Schedule

12:30PM Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jay Carney

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POTUS weighs in on DOMA and JP Morgan Chase

lesajansen — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:42:07 +0000

Washington (CNN)-Less than a week after President Barack Obama made history by endorsing same-sex marriage, the president would not commit to fighting to have the Defense of Marriage Act, commonly known as DOMA, be repealed. In an interview on ABC's "The View" Mr. Obama reiterated his administration's decision to stop defending the law in the courts. "My justice department has said to the courts we don’t think the defense of marriage act is constitutional this is something that historically had been determined at the state level, and part of my believing ultimately that civil unions weren’t sufficient." But pressed further if he would fight to repeal DOMA, Mr. Obama would only say, "Congress is clearly on notice that I think it’s a bad idea."

And in the wake of the stunning news that JP Morgan Chase lost $2 billion dollars in risky derivatives trading, Mr. Obama called the bank's CEO one of the nation's smartest bankers but also pressed the need for Wall Street reform.

"First of all JP Morgan is one of the best managed banks there is. Jamie Dimon the head of it is one of the best banker’s we’ve got and they still lost two billion dollars and counting precisely because they were making bets in these derivative markets." he said.

"This is why we passed Wall Street reform. This is the best or one of the best managed banks. You can have a bank that isn’t as strong isn’t as profitable and we might have had to step in and that’s exactly why Wall Street reform is so important."

Obama to graduates: "Fight for a seat at the head of the table!"

lesajansen — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:39:33 +0000

In a speech tailored to target issues close to the hearts of a key voter demographic- women, President Barack Obama Monday encouraged the 2012 graduating class at the all-female Barnard College in New York to shape their destiny.

"After decades of slow, steady, extraordinary progress, you are now poised to make this the century where women shape not only their own destiny but the destiny of this nation and of this world," Mr. Obama said in his first commencement address of the season.

"Don't just get involved, fight for your seat at the table," he told the 600 graduates. "Better yet, fight for a seat at the head of the table."

Less than a week after declaring his support for same-sex marriage, Mr. Obama touched only briefly on the hot button issue.

“If you are ready to fight for that brilliant, radically simple idea of America that no matter who you are or what you look like, no matter who you love or what God you worship, you can still pursue your own happiness, I will join you every step of the way,” the president told the graduates.

Mr. Obama received the Barnard Medal of Distinction. Among the other recipients of the medal Monday was gay rights advocate Evan Wolfson, founder and president of Freedom to Marry. Wolfson had been outspoken in urging the president to endorse marriage equality.

The president spoke before a welcoming audience as some students chanted "Yes we can," as he took the stage according to a pool report.

Barnard is the sister school to the president's alma mater, Columbia University.

Mr. Obama acknowledged a still struggling economy facing today's graduates saying, "This recession has been more brutal, the job losses steeper. Politics seems nastier. Congress more gridlocked than ever."

He also noted what he called "unique challenges" to women in this economy like equal pay for equal work and balancing work and family.

And he delivered a swipe to Wall Street saying, "Some folks in the financial world have not exactly been model corporate citizens."

But he then struck a note of optimism counseling, "as tough as things have been, I am convinced you are tougher. I've seen your passion and I've seen your service."

"And that defiant, can-do spirit is what runs through the veins of American history. It's the lifeblood of all our progress. And it is that spirit which we need your generation to embrace and rekindle right now," he said.

Obama-Putin scheduling conflicts

beckybcnn — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:21:51 +0000

Although the White House has said they have a "mutual commitment" to strengthening the relationship between the U.S and Russia, neither leader will visit the other on their turf in the summits that each country is hosting in the next several months.

The White House confirmed on Monday that President Obama will not be attending the APEC summit in Russia in November.

This after a phone conversation last week, where President Putin told Obama he wouldn't be able to attend the upcoming G8 Summit at Camp David because he was still forming his government and getting settled back into the role of Russian president. President Obama said he understood and looked forward to meeting with former President and current Prime Minister Dimitri Medvedev during the summit.

The two leaders will eventually meet at the G20 summit in Mexico in June and have their first face-to-face meeting since Putin was elected president for the second time. They previously met in 2009 when Putin was the prime minister and Obama visited Moscow to sign a preliminary agreement for nuclear arms reduction along-side of then-President Medvedev.

But the White House says not to read anything into the scheduling no-shows.

"The fact of the matter is we have a comprehensive relationship with Russia that's built on working together in areas where we agree and that has borne significant successes, that approach, and then be very clear about where we disagree but not letting those disagreements undermine the overall relationship," Carney told reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to New York City for the Barnard College commencement. "And that was true under President Medvedev when Vladimir Putin was prime minister, and it will continue to be true now that Mr. Putin has returned to the presidency and Mr. Medvedev is now prime minister."

POTUS's schedule for Monday, May 14, 2012: Big Apple

beckybcnn — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:00:27 +0000

President Obama heads up to New York City to start out his week. The first thing on his agenda is speaking at the commencement for Barnard College. While there, he'll receive the school's top honor, the Barnard Medal of Distinction. Another recipient of the medal is Evan Wolfson, a longtime advocate for gay rights and same-sex marriage. So the topic will likely find its way once again to the forefront of issues today. Later this evening, Obama will remain in the Big Apple long enough to raise more money for his campaign in two fundraisers. According to a democratic source, the first is targeting the LGBT community and will be hosted by singer Ricky Martin. There will be about 200 people in attendance and tickets start out at $5000. The second event is at a private residence with about 60 people attending. Tickets for that dinner are the election standard $35,800.

For the full schedule, click below.

9:35AM THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Joint Base Andrews

South Lawn (Open Press)

9:50AM THE PRESIDENT departs Joint Base Andrews en route New York City

Out-of-Town Travel Pool Coverage

10:45AM THE PRESIDENT arrives New York City

John F. Kennedy International Airport (Open Press)

1:10PM THE PRESIDENT delivers the commencement address

Barnard College (Pooled Press)

3:00PM THE PRESIDENT tapes an appearance on “The View”

ABC Studios (Stills Only Photo Spray)

5:05PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a campaign event

Rubin Museum of Art (Pooled Press)

6:50PM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks at a campaign event

Private Residence (Print Pool for Remarks Only)

8:30PM THE PRESIDENT departs New York City en route Joint Base Andrews

John F. Kennedy International Airport (Open Press)

9:25PM THE PRESIDENT arrives Joint Base Andrews

Out-of-Town Travel Pool Coverage

9:40PM THE PRESIDENT arrives the White House

South Lawn (Open Press)

Briefing Schedule

Press Secretary Jay Carney will gaggle aboard Air Force One

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Obama pays house visit to Reno couple

staciacnn — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:12:47 +0000

RENO, Nevada (CNN) –- It’s not every day the President of the United States shows up on your doorstep but that was the case for Paul and Val Keller at their Reno, Nevada, home on Friday.

The reason for the president's visit was to highlight problems with mortgage refinancing and to urge Congress to do more to help homeowners. Many families, like the Kellers, are struggling to refinance their home because they owe more than their home is worth. The Kellers purchased their $168,000 home fourteen years ago, yet now it is only worth $100,000.

In October of 2011, Val Keller heard the president announce new measures aimed at helping underwater homeowners and decided to call her bank and ask about the regulations. Their mortgage was refinanced within 90 days.

President Obama congratulated the Kellers for saving nearly $3000 a year but said that Congress needs to expand the number of people eligible for assistance.

“The pool of folks who can refinance right now, when their homes are underwater, is still too small,” the president said. “But in order to expand that opportunity - we want to include everybody; people whose mortgages aren't government-backed. And in order to do that, we've got to have Congress move.”

Home refinancing is part of the Obama administration’s “To-do list,” initiatives the president wants to see pushed through Congress. He urged Americans to press their member of Congress to pass legislation to cut through the red tape in the mortgage market.

“Nag them until they actually get it done. We need to keep moving this country forward. Send them an email. Tweet them. Write them a letter if you’re old-fashioned like me,” Obama said.

The White House says that since October, applications for refinancing have increased by 50% nationwide and 230% in Nevada. The housing crisis has hit the state particularly hard. Nevada led the nation in the number of foreclosures for several years, until Arizona recently took the top spot.

But critics say the president's visit is nothing more than a political stunt.

“While that's a neat symbol for the Kellers to have the president visit their house, when you look at success of those policies regarding what's going on with foreclosure in Nevada and down on the ground that sort of stuff, we are still in critical condition with housing in Nevada,” said Rep. Mark Amodei, who represents the Reno area.

Meanwhile, Mitt Romney’s campaign organized a conference call with Amodei and Nevada Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki to discuss the president’s visit to Reno with reporters.

“The president's policies are not doing things to help our economy here and I appreciate the president coming to town and sitting down in the living room with the Kellers but it's not going to solve our problems,” Krolicki said.

Obama's same sex support brings in the campaign cash

staciacnn — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:06:16 +0000

It's been a bonanza money week for the Obama campaign. A Democratic source tells CNN the campaign raised $2 million dollars in donations in the 24 hours following the President's announcement he personally support's same-sex marriage.

On Friday, the president left on a campaign swing to Seattle and Los Angeles to pick up even more donations. The president dropped into Seattle where he collected roughly $3 million at two events. But the big haul came at the star-studded George Clooney blockbuster, where a Democratic official tells CNN, the reelection effort brought in $15 million.

As Romney fought for delegates, Obama team was lying in wait

adamatcnn — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:07:46 +0000

(CNN) - With Mitt Romney's victories in the April 24 Republican primaries, a new phase of the campaign began at Obama re-election headquarters in Chicago. After a year spent hiring staff and building an organization, Obama for America finally had what it had been waiting for: an opponent.

"The monologue is over," Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said the day after Romney's conclusive five-state primary sweep. "Now Romney has to put his record and his agenda up against the president's, and we look forward to that debate. The general election might just be starting, but we've been at this for more than a year in Chicago."

This year of preparation certainly gave the Obama campaign a head start on building up a national organization, but it also allowed the campaign leadership to map out a message for the early weeks of the general election.

The map has included a campaign kickoff just days after the one-year anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death, a huge push by the president on the issue of student loans and an aggressive attempt to define Romney as out of touch with the struggles of middle-class Americans.

Even the president's recent announcement that he now supports same-sex marriage appears to have been scheduled as a part of the campaign's rollout. Senior advisers to the president say Obama was always planning to announce his new position before the Democratic convention in September, probably at a time when his Democratic base needed energizing.

For the full story click here.