Hailing the holidays as "a season of giving and renewal," and calling the ongoing famine from the drought in the Horn of Africa "heartbreaking," President Obama today announced $113 million in emergency relief aid to provide "urgently needed food, health, shelter, water and assistance needs" to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. It follows the government's previous expenditure of $870 million for relief purposes.
"The heartbreaking accounts of lives lost and of those struggling to survive remind us of our common humanity and the need to reach out to people in need," President Obama said. He noted that the famine comes "amid the worst drought the region has seen in 60 years." The latest United Nations data of the impact of the famine show that between 50,000 and 100,000 people may have died across the Horn of Africa since April, with more than half of these children under the age of five.
The US emergency relief funding is in addition to the federal government's work to retool the agriculture economy in the Horn of Africa, through the U.S. Agency for International Development's Feed the Future campaign, the President said.
"Even as we help to meet the emergency needs of the people of this region, we are also investing in their long-term food security," President Obama said.
The President urged Americans to get involved with relief efforts through USAID's social media FWD Campaign.
"To learn more about how you can get involved, please visit http://action.usaid.gov/," he said.
Today's official White House Photo of the Day is an image of President Obama taken on Wednesday afternoon with First Dog Bo, when the duodropped by a Pet Smart store in Alexandria, VA. The President bought Bo a huge bone, wrapped in a rawhide red ribbon, and a bag of Chew-bacca treats. Total cost: $41 dollars. The President paid with a $50 bill at the register. The White House is currently running a social media campaign, asking Americans what $40 cut from their paychecks means, in an effort to inspire outrage over the US House stonewalling the payroll tax cut. For the social media campaign, the White House "asked Americans what losing that $40 dollars would mean to them," and claims that "more than 30,000 people across the country submitted responses on WhiteHouse.gov." The campaign is also going on on Twitter, with the hashtag #40Dollars. Here's an infographic the White House created of the responses:
Former Social Secretary Julianna Smoot: "my job is done"... President Obama's second White House Social Secretary, Julianna Smoot, left 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue House in March of this year to become his Deputy Campaign Manager. She sent heady news via e-mail to re-election supporters today, as she unveiled the seating chart, above, for OFA's fundraiser "Dinner with Barack and Michelle."
Three lucky winners and their guests will dine with the President and First Lady Obama at an unspecified date and place, and Smoot dubbed the seating arrangement her easiest assignment ever.
"I've put a lot of dinners together for the President and Mrs. Obama," Smoot wrote. "Sometimes they've been for foreign dignitaries and heads of state. Sometimes they've included governors, artists, and musicians. The seating can get pretty complicated, but I have to say, this one was easy."
"So really, my job's done," she added.
Smoot asks for a minimum $3 donation. Her e-mail followed one earlier in the day from Reggie Love, President Obama's longtime personal aide. Love urged donors to "Get on that here," which translated into English, means make a donation to enter the contest.
"Dinner with Barack and Michelle" is the President's third time raffling himself off as a dinner date. He dined with the four winners of the first dinner contest in October at The Liberty Tavern, but has yet to dine with the four winners of the second contest. OFA this week released a new video of the Eater in Chief talking about the first dinner, which followed five previously released videos. The current contest closes on December 31.
Smoot's subject heading for her e-mail was "Where do you want to sit?"
The text:
XXXX --
I just saw the seating chart for Dinner with Barack and Michelle, and I thought you should see it, too.
The President and First Lady are right here. Where do you want to sit?
Take a look, then donate $3 or whatever you can to be automatically entered for a chance to win.
I've put a lot of dinners together for the President and Mrs. Obama.
Sometimes they've been for foreign dignitaries and heads of state. Sometimes they've included governors, artists, and musicians. The seating can get pretty complicated, but I have to say, this one was easy.
One table, six guests, and the President and First Lady.
So really, my job's done. The only thing that's missing is who the guests will be.
Click here to give $3 or whatever you can and be automatically entered for a chance for you and a guest to have dinner with the President and First Lady:
"Significant amount of work done" in creating stronger food safety standards, improving surveillance, and reducing response time to foodborne disease outbreaks, Secretaries say... President Obama established the Federal Food Safety Working Group (FSWG) in 2009 in the midst of a massive Salmonella outbreak in peanut butter. It is co-chaired by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and coordinates interagency food safety efforts between USDA, CDC, HHS, and FDA. Today, Vilsack and Sebelius unveiled the Food Safety Working Group Progress Report {PDF}, which details the government's efforts to make America's food supply safer. It comes at the end of a year that had record levels for food recalls and foodborne illnesses. "We're well on our way to building a modern food safety system," Sebelius said on a national conference call with reporters this afternoon.
"There has been a significant amount of work done," Vilsack said. "We're making progress."
The Secretaries touted the implementation of elements of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, signed into law by President Obama in January of 2011 (a summary of the legislation is here). The release of the Report today is also designed to urge consumers to practice better food safety protocols at home during the holidays, by following four steps designed to mitigate the spread of foodborne disease. America's foodborne disease outbreaks and recalls are not the result of the carelessness of home cooks, it should be noted.
The Progress Report "shows that this Administration has delivered substantial results in the area of food safety. These include stricter standards to prevent contamination of food with dangerous bacteria, stronger surveillance to detect contamination problems earlier, and more rapid response to illness outbreaks," Vilsack and Sebelius wrote in a post on the White House blog titled "Food Safety This Holiday Season."
Just to name a few of 2011's historic food safety problems: This summer's 28-state Listeria in cantaloupe outbreak was the most deadly outbreak of foodborne illness in the United States in 100 years, with a death toll of 30 people. Cargill's two separate recalls of more than 36.2 million pounds of ground turkey for Salmonella contamination, produced between February 20 and August 2, 2011, was the largest in US history. The company managed to retrieve just 2 million pounds of the tainted meat, which was buried in a landfill. Recalls of tainted foods remain voluntary, with no criminal penalties for failures to retrieve potentially deadly food products.
Currently, there's a Class 1 (you could die) recall of an undesignated amount of ground beef from Hannaford Supermarkets, with 16 people in seven states confirmed to be infected with an antibiotic-resistant strain of Salmonella Typhimurium.
Here's the HHS press release accompanying the Progress Report:
In preparation for the holiday season, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today issued a progress report highlighting the accomplishments and strategies of President Obama’s Food Safety Working Group (FSWG) combined with useful information for consumers on safe food handling. The interagency group, chaired by Sebelius and Vilsack, was established in 2009 to advise the President on how to strengthen the U.S. food safety system for the 21st century through a coordinated federal agency approach.
“As families across the country share in this holiday season, it is important to reiterate our commitment to protecting the food supply and our desire to remain vigilant to protect the American people,” said Secretary Vilsack. “We have taken a number of steps to improve the safety of America’s meat and poultry supply in recent years and the President’s Food Safety Working Group has proven to be a vital component to our work.”
“When we gather around our holiday tables, we shouldn’t ever have to worry about the safety of our food,” said Secretary Sebelius. “We have the safest food supply in the world, but we can always do more to protect consumers. The best way to ensure food safety is by building prevention into our food safety system, and we will take another step in that direction when the FDA Food and Drug Administration issues proposed rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act.”
Using a three dimensional approach of prevention, surveillance and response, the FSWG has provided for increased coordination and collaboration between the federal agencies responsible for food safety enforcement. FSWG member departments and agencies share information and experience about all aspects of food safety which strengthens the scientific and technical infrastructure to support a modern food safety system.
By clarifying responsibilities and improving accountability, the FSWG has already made great strides to strengthen the nation’s food safety system. For instance, the FDA implemented the Egg Safety Rule in 2010, which is expected to prevent 79,000 illnesses associated with eating raw or undercooked eggs and save $1 billion each year. In addition, the FDA, in partnership with USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, established a Produce Safety Alliance at Cornell University to develop educational and training materials for growers of all sizes. And just this week, the FDA announced the creation of the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) to develop training courses and materials on preventing food contamination for both people and animals during production.
The report also highlights CDC’s most comprehensive estimates of foodborne illness since 1999. CDC provided another important piece to the interagency group’s efforts by making sure that policies aimed at reducing infections work. Its June Vital Signs report pointed to success in reducing E. coli by almost half. Moving forward, CDC’s seven FoodCORE sites are aggressively conducting outbreak investigations in partnership with public health laboratories and environmental health specialists.
The FSWG report released today also chronicles efforts made over the three years by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to safeguard the food supply and provide consumers with clear information about the foods they purchase. FSIS set new standards for poultry establishments which may prevent as many as 25,000 foodborne illnesses annually. Further, the Department announced a zero tolerance policy for six additional strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) which will launch in 2012 and a new “test and hold” policy that requires facilities to hold product until microbiological testing can determine it is safe to release into commerce.
The FSWG’s accomplishments to date represent efforts toward a stronger food safety system that will deliver greater value, better prevent illnesses, and more effectively promote the well-being of the American people. The FSWG also focused on consumer education by creating a centralized information source at FoodSafety.gov. The site offers information on ways to prevent foodborne illness, current food recalls, and how to keep food safe, especially around the holidays.
Building on those achievements, the FSWG will continue to strengthen the food safety system through increased prevention, enhanced surveillance, and faster response.
The FSWG also plans to continue its efforts to improve food safety by collaborating more with state and local health and agriculture agencies, and food producers, as well as providing education to consumers. Fostering outreach and maintaining strong partnerships at the state and local levels will further sustain and enhance our food system. ##
*Photo of President Obama eating a peach at a Kroger supermarket in Bristol, Va. was taken on July 29, 2009 by Pete Souza/White House
Love is in love with the dinner contest: "Get on that here"... President Obama's closest personal aide, "body man" Reggie Love, is leaving the White House before the end of the year. Today Love sent his very first fundraising e-mail for the 2012 campaign, touting the "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" contest. Love, 30, has spent four years with Mr. Obama, and his wide array of very intimate duties included Presidential food wrangling on the road, as well as dining with his boss--which is the point of his e-mail: "I've also eaten many, many meals with him," he writes. Thus Love is in love with the dinner contest, he says.
"I kind of love this "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" contest. You all have to do this," Love wrote. "Get on that here."
The subject line for the e-mail is also "You All Have To Do This." The faux homeboy vernacular is pretty goofy, given that Love is exiting Mr. Obama's orbit to finish a graduate degree at an Ivy League university. And typically "You All" is spelled "Y'all," isn't it? The goofiness can be credited to whichever OFA staffer wrote the e-mail, of course.
And the goofiness factor gets even higher as the e-mail touts the exclusivity of dining with Barack and Michelle.
"I know that dinner with Barack and Michelle is something that usually only happens with the girls, and no one else," Love/the OFA staffer wrote.
"You should know this practically never happens."
Just to point out the silliness of that statement, the guest lists for 2011's three State Dinners collectively had about 700 people, all of whom dined with Barack and Michelle. A couple hundred more people dined with Barack and Michelle at the President's 50th birthday party. And then there was the APEC Leaders Dinner, the Return State Dinner, the Bipartisan Dinner for Congressional leadership, the US Combatant Commanders dinner, and the Governors Dinner, which add a couple thousand more names to the list of people who have dined with Barack and Michelle, just this year.
Of course, those aren't the kind of intimate dinners OFA is promoting in its effort to woo "Everyday Americans" to drop cash into campaign coffers. Inviting guests to dine with the President at the White House would probably raise far more money, but that's off limits under federal election rules.
"Dinner with Barack and Michelle" is the President's third time raffling himself off as a dinner date. He dined with the four winners of the first dinner contest in October at The Liberty Tavern, but has yet to dine with the four winners of the second contest. OFA this week released a new video of the Eater in Chief talking about the first dinner, which followed five previously released videos. The current contest closes on December 31.
Three winners will each be allowed to bring one guest to the dinner, and they will all have to sign documents agreeing to be used in campaign materials.The assigned retail value of the prize package has jumped from $1,075 for the first dinner to $1,600 for the current dinner. It is taxable to the winners, and includes airfare and a one-night hotel stay.
The text of Love's e-mail:
XXXX --
You may know me as the tall guy who followed Barack everywhere he went.
As the President's body man for the last four years, it's been my privilege to help him with whatever he needs: making sure he's on time, finding some food when we're on the road, or playing a quick game of basketball (he won, mostly).
Of course, this also means I've also eaten many, many meals with him.
So first of all, I just want to say thanks for supporting the Obamas and being part of this campaign. It means a lot, not only to the President, but to all of us who've worked by his side.
Two: I kind of love this "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" contest. You all have to do this.
Get on that here.
You should know this practically never happens.
While Barack wants to do these dinners throughout his campaign, I know that dinner with Barack and Michelle is something that usually only happens with the girls, and no one else.
The fact that this dinner is with the two of them should tell you how much it matters to them to know that you have their backs out there.
I wouldn't let this one get away.
Donate $3 or whatever you can today to automatically be entered to win a spot at dinner for you and a guest:
"From our family to the Jewish Community around the world, Chag Sameach"... Hanukkah begins tonight at sundown, and President Obama today sent out a holiday greeting on behalf of the First Family, offering "warmest wishes to all those celebrating Hanukkah around the world." Joined by First Lady Obama, the President hosted the annual White House Hanukkah reception in advance of the holiday, on Thursday, Dec. 8. The White House today released a new video, showing the kitchen being koshered for the reception, which had more than 550 guests. (Above: The President and Mrs. Obama at the reception)
President Obama's Hanukkah greeting:
"Michelle and I send our warmest wishes to all those celebrating Hanukkah around the world.
This Hanukkah season we remember the powerful story of a band of believers who rose up and freed their people, only to discover that the oil left in their desecrated temple – which should have been enough for only one night – ended up lasting for eight.
It’s a timeless story of right over might and faith over doubt – one that has given hope to Jewish people everywhere for over 2,000 years. And tonight, as families and friends come together to light the menorah, it is a story that reminds us to count our blessings, to honor the sacrifices of our ancestors, and to believe that through faith and determination, we can work together to build a brighter, better world for generations to come.
From our family to the Jewish Community around the world, Chag Sameach."
How the White House serves holiday delights at "the highest level of Jewish observance"... Hanukkah begins tonight at sundown, and President Obama today issued a holiday greeting to the global Jewish community, offering "warmest wishes" from the First Family, and wishing all "Chag Sameach." The President hosted the annual White House Hanukkah reception on Thursday, Dec. 8th, and the kosher menu offered to more than 550 guests was very different from the menu served at all other Presidential holiday receptions. The White House kitchen had to be specially cleaned--koshered--for the event. Washington, DC's Rabbi Levi Shemtov was charged with overseeing the process, and in a new White House video, he explains how it was done, joined by Executive Chef Cris Comerford. (Above: The Rabbi in the kitchen, mid-koshering)
"For me, as an American Jew, it is a distinct honor to oversee the kosherizing of the most important kitchen in the country," the Rabbi says. "The guests...will have White House-level fare, but it will be at the highest level of kosher observance."
The Presidential Hanukkah menu featured lamb chops, Roulade of chicken breast, potato pancakes, smoked salmon, sushi rolls, and an array of sweet treats (full menu is below), in contrast to the ham, shrimp and other non-kosher menu items offered at the rest of the Presidential holiday receptions.
"All of our surfaces have been cleaned, and boiled, and wrapped in saran wrap and aluminum foil and...protected," says Comerford onscreen.
This year's Hanukkah reception was the largest of the Administration. The President was joined by Mrs. Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Dr. Jill Biden as he welcomed his guests. After, the President and Mrs. Obama decamped to the Diplomatic Reception Room to take photos with their visitors, while the party went on upstairs in the Grand Foyer, and the guests enjoyed the kosher buffet.
2011 Hanukkah Reception Menu
Roulade of Chicken Breast Fresh Thyme Sauce Arugula and Fresh Artichokes Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Filet of Beef Au Jus Caramelized Pearl Onions Shiitake Mushrooms
Pine Nut Herb Crusted Lamb Chops Mango and Mission Fig Chutney
Homemade Potato with Scallion Pancakes Apple Sauce
New images from President Obama's socio-politcal events in Hawaii, Australia, New Hampshire... The White House has posted a new Flickr set for November, covering President Obama's busy month. It includes three previously unpublished photos with behind-the-scenes images from some of the President's dining adventures, taken by his official photographer, Pete Souza. None of the images focus on food, of course, but rather on the event being recorded. In the photo above, President Obama sits with First Lady Obama and leaders of Asia Pacific nations at the dinner for APEC Leaders at the Hale Koa Hotel on Waikiki Beach, on Nov. 12. The Leaders and spouses dining with the First Couple were not identified.
The menu was created by acclaimed Honolulu chef Alan Wong, who dished all the details to Obama Foodorama. The entree, Twice Cooked Soy Braised Short Ribs with Ko Choo Jang Sauce, is the President's favorite, according to Wong, who has served the President the dish each time he's visited the chef's eponymous restaurant during Christmas vacations in Hawaii. Wong is expecting a Presidential visit this year...if Mr. Obama ever makes it to Hawaii.
In the photo, above, Mr. Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard toast during the Parliamentary Dinner in his honor at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Nov. 16. The trip to Australia was the first of the Administration. The three-course menu for a guest list of hundreds, including Cabinet Ministers and Australian luminaries, starred regional favorites: Pan-fried Jewfish, lamb, and a pavlova with wattleseed. The White House previously released a different photo of the President and Gillard toasting.
Also new is the photo, above, snapped when the Presidnt stopped by Julien's Corner Kitchen in Manchester, New Hampshire, to have a 20-minute "lunch" with the Corkery family on November 22. The President sat with Chris Corkery and his wife Kathy, and their two sons, Andrew and Nicholas, before giving a speech at the local high school about middle class tax cuts.
Mr. Corkery introduced the President at Central High School, where he was greeted by an audience of more than 1,200 as he warned Congress that failing to act on tax cuts "will hurt middle-class Americans." Almost a month later, President Obama is still issuing the same warning.
"This campaign and this presidency is not just about me," says Mr. Obama in sixth video about his October dinner with four donors... President Obama's willingness to raffle himself off as a dinner date to raise funds for his 2012 re-election effort is one of the top White House food stories of 2011. On Monday morning, OFA released a new video clip of the President speaking about having dinner with four campaign donors in October at The Liberty Tavern, as he fulfilled his first meal commitment for the three different "Dinner with Barack" contests. OFA previously released five video clips from the first dinner. (Above: The President in the new video, looking very gray)
Having dinner with supporters "helps motivate me," the President says in the new video.
The four people the President dined with in October are so enthusiastic about Mr. Obama that one, Casey Helbling, a tech entrepreneur from Minnesota, named one of his children "Maxwell Barack."
"They've got their own struggles, they've got their own challenges, and yet they're still out there working on the campaign, working on the issues, trying to get their Congressmen to vote...that reminds me that this campaign and this presidency is not just about me," President Obama says in the video.
First Lady Michelle Obama has been added to the current contest, "Dinner with Barack and Michelle." Entries close on Dec. 31. Three winners will each be allowed to bring one guest. They will all have to sign documents agreeing to be used in campaign materials.
"In this previously unreleased clip, President Obama talks about why dinners with supporters mean a lot to him," OFA wrote. "After you've watched, make a donation to be automatically entered for your chance to attend the next dinner...We'll cover your airfare and the meal—all you have to bring is your story and your ideas."
The assigned retail value of the prize package has jumped from $1,075 for the first dinner to $1,600 for the current dinner. It is taxable to the winners.
President Obama has yet to dine with the winners of the second dinner sweepstakes. ##
"His words will echo through the ages," says President Obama... President Obama issued a statment today saying he is "deeply saddened" at the death of Vaclav Havel, a dissident playwright who led the peaceful "Velvet Revolution" in the Republic of Czechoslovakia, which toppled four decades of Communist repression in 1989. Havel, who died early on Sunday at 75, afterwards became his country's first democratically elected president. President Obama today hailed Havel as an "inspiration" to himself and millions around the world. He met with Havel during a trip to Prague in 2009, where they stood together in Hradcany Square, a flashpoint for the Velvet Revolution. (President Obama and Havel during a bilateral at the European Union Summit in Prague in 2009)
President Obama said Havel, who led hundreds of thousands of Czechs in peaceful protest, helped "unleash tides of history that led to a united and democratic Europe." During the revolution, Havel's slogan was "truth and love will overcome lies and hatred."
"Vaclav Havel was a friend to America and to all who strive for freedom and dignity, and his words will echo through the ages," President Obama said.
Havel died at his weekend house in the northern Czech Republic with his wife Dagmar and a nun who cared for him, according to a spokesman. He had long suffered from respiratory illness, and had battled cancer.
President Obama's statement:
I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing today of Vaclav Havel, a playwright and prisoner of conscience who became President of Czechoslovakia and of the Czech Republic. Having encountered many setbacks, Havel lived with a spirit of hope, which he defined as “the ability to work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed.” His peaceful resistance shook the foundations of an empire, exposed the emptiness of a repressive ideology, and proved that moral leadership is more powerful than any weapon. He played a seminal role in the Velvet Revolution that won his people their freedom and inspired generations to reach for self-determination and dignity in all parts of the world. He also embodied the aspirations of half a continent that had been cut off by the Iron Curtain, and helped unleash tides of history that led to a united and democratic Europe.
Like millions around the world, I was inspired by his words and leadership, and was humbled to stand with the Czech people in a free and vibrant Hradcany Square as President. We extend our condolences to President Havel’s family and all those in the Czech Republic and around the world who remain inspired by his example. Vaclav Havel was a friend to America and to all who strive for freedom and dignity, and his words will echo through the ages.
### Photo by Pete Souza/White House, taken at a bilateral meeting April 5, 2009, with Havel during the European Union Summit at the Prague Congress Center in Prague, Czech Republic.
Welcome home: President, First Lady greet troops returning from the war in Iraq... President Obama and First Lady Obama visited with more than 3,000 troops at Fort Bragg in North Carolina today, to mark the end of the war in Iraq, a campaign pledge Mr. Obama made in 2008. Fort Bragg is home to the Airborne and Special Operations Forces. (Above: The President during his remarks)
The First Lady introduced President Obama, and they addressed the members of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, recently redeployed from Iraq. Several hundred military families were also in attendance for the speech in a hangar at Pope Army Field. The White House holiday celebration this year honors the military with the "Shine, Give, Share" decor theme. Mrs. Obama leads the Joining Forces campaign with Dr. Jill Biden.
The transcript:
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary ___________________________________
For Immediate Release December 14, 2011
Remarks by the President and First Lady on the End of the War in Iraq
Fort Bragg, North Carolina
11:52 A.M. EST
MRS. OBAMA: Hello, everyone! I get to start you all off. I want to begin by thanking General Anderson for that introduction, but more importantly for his leadership here at Fort Bragg. I can’t tell you what a pleasure and an honor it is to be back here. I have so many wonderful memories of this place.
A couple of years ago, I came here on my very first official trip as First Lady. And I spent some -- a great time with some of the amazing military spouses, and I visited again this summer to help to put on the finishing touches on an amazing new home for a veteran and her family. So when I heard that I had the opportunity to come back and to be a part of welcoming you all home, to say I was excited was an understatement.
And I have to tell you that when I look out at this crowd, I am simply overwhelmed. I am overwhelmed and proud, because I know the level of strength and commitment that you all display every single day. Whenever this country calls, you all are the ones who answer, no matter the circumstance, no matter the danger, no matter the sacrifice.
And I know that you do this not just as soldiers, not just as patriots, but as fathers and mothers, as brothers and sisters, as sons and daughters. And I know that while your children and your spouses and your parents and siblings might not wear uniforms, they serve right alongside you.
AUDIENCE: Hooah! (Applause.)
MRS. OBAMA: I know that your sacrifice is their sacrifice, too. So when I think of all that you do and all that your families do, I am so proud and so grateful. But more importantly, I’m inspired. But like so many Americans, I never feel like I can fully convey just how thankful I am, because words just don’t seem to be enough.
And that’s why I have been working so hard, along with Jill Biden, on a campaign that we call Joining Forces. It’s a campaign that we hope goes beyond words. It’s a campaign that is about action. It’s about rallying all Americans to give you the honor, the appreciation and the support that you have all earned. And I don’t have to tell you that this hasn’t been a difficult campaign. We haven’t had to do much convincing because American have been lining up to show their appreciation for you and your families in very concrete and meaningful ways.
Businesses are hiring tens of thousands of veterans and military spouses. Schools all across the country and PTAs are reaching out to our military children. And individuals are serving their neighbors and their communities all over this country in your honor.
So I want you to know that this nation’s support doesn’t end as this war ends. Not by a long shot. We’re going to keep on doing this. We have so much more work to do. We’re going to keep finding new ways to serve all of you as well as you have served us. And the man leading the way is standing right here. (Applause.) He is fighting for you and your families every single day. He’s helped more than half a million veterans and military family members go to college through the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. (Applause.)
He’s taken unprecedented steps to improve mental health care. He’s cut taxes for businesses that hire a veteran or a wounded warrior. And he has kept his promise to responsibly bring you home from Iraq.
So please join me in welcoming someone who’s your strongest advocate, someone who shows his support for our military not only in words, but in deeds, my husband, our President, and your Commander-in-Chief, Barack Obama. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody! (Applause.) Hello, Fort Bragg! All the way!
AUDIENCE: Airborne!
THE PRESIDENT: Now, I’m sure you realize why I don’t like following Michelle Obama. (Laughter.) She’s pretty good. And it is true, I am a little biased, but let me just say it: Michelle, you are a remarkable First Lady. You are a great advocate for military families. (Applause.) And you’re cute. (Applause.) I’m just saying -- gentlemen, that’s your goal: to marry up. (Laughter.) Punch above your weight.
Fort Bragg, we’re here to mark a historic moment in the life of our country and our military. For nearly nine years, our nation has been at war in Iraq. And you -- the incredible men and women of Fort Bragg -- have been there every step of the way, serving with honor, sacrificing greatly, from the first waves of the invasion to some of the last troops to come home. So, as your Commander-in-Chief, and on behalf of a grateful nation, I’m proud to finally say these two words, and I know your families agree: Welcome home! (Applause.) Welcome home. Welcome home. (Applause.) Welcome home.
It is great to be here at Fort Bragg -- home of the Airborne and Special Operations Forces. I want to thank General Anderson and all your outstanding leaders for welcoming us here today, including General Dave Rodriguez, General John Mulholland. And I want to give a shout-out to your outstanding senior enlisted leaders, including Command Sergeant Major Roger Howard, Darrin Bohn, Parry Baer. And give a big round of applause to the Ground Forces Band. (Applause.)
We’ve got a lot of folks in the house today. We’ve got the 18th Airborne Corps -- the Sky Dragons. (Applause.) We’ve got the legendary, All-American 82nd Airborne Division. (Applause.) We’ve got America’s quiet professionals -- our Special Operations Forces. (Applause.) From Pope Field, we’ve got Air Force. (Applause.) And I do believe we’ve got some Navy and Marine Corps here, too.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Yes! (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: And though they’re not here with us today, we send our thoughts and prayers to General Helmick, Sergeant Major Rice and all the folks from the 18th Airborne and Bragg who are bringing our troops back from Iraq. (Applause.) We honor everyone from the 82nd Airborne and Bragg serving and succeeding in Afghanistan, and General Votel and those serving around the world.
And let me just say, one of the most humbling moments I’ve had as President was when I presented our nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, to the parents of one of those patriots from Fort Bragg who gave his life in Afghanistan -- Staff Sergeant Robert Miller.
I want to salute Ginny Rodriguez, Miriam Mulholland, Linda Anderson, Melissa Helmick, Michelle Votel and all the inspiring military families here today. We honor your service as well. (Applause.)
And finally, I want to acknowledge your neighbors and friends who help keep your -- this outstanding operation going, all who help to keep you Army Strong, and that includes Representatives Mike McIntyre, and Dave Price, and Heath Shuler, and Governor Bev Perdue. I know Bev is so proud to have done so much for our military families. So give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)
Today, I’ve come to speak to you about the end of the war in Iraq. Over the last few months, the final work of leaving Iraq has been done. Dozens of bases with American names that housed thousands of American troops have been closed down or turned over to the Iraqis. Thousands of tons of equipment have been packed up and shipped out. Tomorrow, the colors of United States Forces-Iraq -- the colors you fought under -- will be formally cased in a ceremony in Baghdad. Then they’ll begin their journey across an ocean, back home.
Over the last three years, nearly 150,000 U.S. troops have left Iraq. And over the next few days, a small group of American soldiers will begin the final march out of that country. Some of them are on their way back to Fort Bragg. As General Helmick said, “They know that the last tactical road march out of Iraq will be a symbol, and they’re going to be a part of history.”
As your Commander-in-Chief, I can tell you that it will indeed be a part of history. Those last American troops will move south on desert sands, and then they will cross the border out of Iraq with their heads held high. One of the most extraordinary chapters in the history of the American military will come to an end. Iraq’s future will be in the hands of its people. America’s war in Iraq will be over.
AUDIENCE: Hooah!
THE PRESIDENT: Now, we knew this day would come. We’ve known it for some time. But still, there is something profound about the end of a war that has lasted so long.
Now, nine years ago, American troops were preparing to deploy to the Persian Gulf and the possibility that they would be sent to war. Many of you were in grade school. I was a state senator. Many of the leaders now governing Iraq -- including the Prime Minister -- were living in exile. And since then, our efforts in Iraq have taken many twists and turns. It was a source of great controversy here at home, with patriots on both sides of the debate. But there was one constant -- there was one constant: your patriotism, your commitment to fulfill your mission, your abiding commitment to one another. That was constant. That did not change. That did not waiver.
It’s harder to end a war than begin one. Indeed, everything that American troops have done in Iraq -– all the fighting and all the dying, the bleeding and the building, and the training and the partnering -– all of it has led to this moment of success. Now, Iraq is not a perfect place. It has many challenges ahead. But we’re leaving behind a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq, with a representative government that was elected by its people. We’re building a new partnership between our nations. And we are ending a war not with a final battle, but with a final march toward home.
This is an extraordinary achievement, nearly nine years in the making. And today, we remember everything that you did to make it possible.
We remember the early days -– the American units that streaked across the sands and skies of Iraq; the battles from Karbala to Baghdad, American troops breaking the back of a brutal dictator in less than a month.
We remember the grind of the insurgency -– the roadside bombs, the sniper fire, the suicide attacks. From the “triangle of death” to the fight for Ramadi; from Mosul in the north to Basra in the south -– your will proved stronger than the terror of those who tried to break it.
We remember the specter of sectarian violence -– al Qaeda’s attacks on mosques and pilgrims, militias that carried out campaigns of intimidation and campaigns of assassination. And in the face of ancient divisions, you stood firm to help those Iraqis who put their faith in the future.
We remember the surge and we remember the Awakening -– when the abyss of chaos turned toward the promise of reconciliation. By battling and building block by block in Baghdad, by bringing tribes into the fold and partnering with the Iraqi army and police, you helped turn the tide toward peace.
And we remember the end of our combat mission and the emergence of a new dawn -– the precision of our efforts against al Qaeda in Iraq, the professionalism of the training of Iraqi security forces, and the steady drawdown of our forces. In handing over responsibility to the Iraqis, you preserved the gains of the last four years and made this day possible.
Just last month, some of you -- members of the Falcon Brigade --
AUDIENCE: Hooah!
THE PRESIDENT: -- turned over the Anbar Operations Center to the Iraqis in the type of ceremony that has become commonplace over these last several months. In an area that was once the heart of the insurgency, a combination of fighting and training, politics and partnership brought the promise of peace. And here’s what the local Iraqi deputy governor said: “This is all because of the U.S. forces’ hard work and sacrifice.”
That’s in the words of an Iraqi. Hard work and sacrifice. Those words only begin to describe the costs of this war and the courage of the men and women who fought it.
We know too well the heavy cost of this war. More than 1.5 million Americans have served in Iraq -- 1.5 million. Over 30,000 Americans have been wounded, and those are only the wounds that show. Nearly 4,500 Americans made the ultimate sacrifice -- including 202 fallen heroes from here at Fort Bragg -- 202. So today, we pause to say a prayer for all those families who have lost their loved ones, for they are part of our broader American family. We grieve with them.
We also know that these numbers don’t tell the full story of the Iraq war -– not even close. Our civilians have represented our country with skill and bravery. Our troops have served tour after tour of duty, with precious little dwell time in between. Our Guard and Reserve units stepped up with unprecedented service. You’ve endured dangerous foot patrols and you’ve endured the pain of seeing your friends and comrades fall. You’ve had to be more than soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen –- you’ve also had to be diplomats and development workers and trainers and peacemakers. Through all this, you have shown why the United States military is the finest fighting force in the history of the world.
AUDIENCE: Hooah! (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: As Michelle mentioned, we also know that the burden of war is borne by your families. In countless base communities like Bragg, folks have come together in the absence of a loved one. As the Mayor of Fayetteville put it, “War is not a political word here. War is where our friends and neighbors go.” So there have been missed birthday parties and graduations. There are bills to pay and jobs that have to be juggled while picking up the kids. For every soldier that goes on patrol, there are the husbands and the wives, the mothers, the fathers, the sons, the daughters praying that they come back.
So today, as we mark the end of the war, let us acknowledge, let us give a heartfelt round of applause for every military family that has carried that load over the last nine years. You too have the thanks of a grateful nation. (Applause.)
Part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who fought it. It’s not enough to honor you with words. Words are cheap. We must do it with deeds. You stood up for America; America needs to stand up for you.
AUDIENCE: Hooah!
THE PRESIDENT: That’s why, as your Commander-in Chief, I am committed to making sure that you get the care and the benefits and the opportunities that you’ve earned. For those of you who remain in uniform, we will do whatever it takes to ensure the health of our force –- including your families. We will keep faith with you.
We will help our wounded warriors heal, and we will stand by those who’ve suffered the unseen wounds of war. And make no mistake -- as we go forward as a nation, we are going to keep America’s armed forces the strongest fighting force the world has ever seen. That will not stop.
AUDIENCE: Hooah! (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: That will not stop. But our commitment doesn’t end when you take off the uniform. You’re the finest that our nation has to offer. And after years of rebuilding Iraq, we want to enlist our veterans in the work of rebuilding America. That’s why we’re committed to doing everything we can to extend more opportunities to those who have served.
That includes the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, so that you and your families can get the education that allows you to live out your dreams. That includes a national effort to put our veterans to work. We’ve worked with Congress to pass a tax credit so that companies have the incentive to hire vets. And Michelle has worked with the private sector to get commitments to create 100,000 jobs for those who’ve served.
AUDIENCE: Hooah!
THE PRESIDENT: And by the way, we’re doing this not just because it’s the right thing to do by you –- we’re doing it because it’s the right thing to do for America. Folks like my grandfather came back from World War II to form the backbone of this country’s middle class. For our post-9/11 veterans -– with your skill, with your discipline, with your leadership, I am confident that the story of your service to America is just beginning.
But there’s something else that we owe you. As Americans, we have a responsibility to learn from your service. I’m thinking of an example -- Lieutenant Alvin Shell, who was based here at Fort Bragg. A few years ago, on a supply route outside Baghdad, he and his team were engulfed by flames from an RPG attack. Covered with gasoline, he ran into the fire to help his fellow soldiers, and then led them two miles back to Camp Victory where he finally collapsed, covered with burns. When they told him he was a hero, Alvin disagreed. “I’m not a hero,” he said. “A hero is a sandwich. “ (Laughter.) “I’m a paratrooper.”
AUDIENCE: Hooah!
THE PRESIDENT: We could do well to learn from Alvin. This country needs to learn from you. Folks in Washington need to learn from you.
AUDIENCE: Hooah!
THE PRESIDENT: Policymakers and historians will continue to analyze the strategic lessons of Iraq -- that’s important to do. Our commanders will incorporate the hard-won lessons into future military campaigns -- that’s important to do. But the most important lesson that we can take from you is not about military strategy –- it’s a lesson about our national character.
For all of the challenges that our nation faces, you remind us that there’s nothing we Americans can’t do when we stick together.
AUDIENCE: Hooah!
THE PRESIDENT: For all the disagreements that we face, you remind us there’s something bigger than our differences, something that makes us one nation and one people regardless of color, regardless of creed, regardless of what part of the country we come from, regardless of what backgrounds we come out of. You remind us we’re one nation.
And that’s why the United States military is the most respected institution in our land because you never forget that. You can’t afford to forget it. If you forget it, somebody dies. If you forget it, a mission fails. So you don’t forget it. You have each other’s backs. That’s why you, the 9/11 Generation, has earned your place in history.
Because of you -- because you sacrificed so much for a people that you had never met, Iraqis have a chance to forge their own destiny. That’s part of what makes us special as Americans. Unlike the old empires, we don’t make these sacrifices for territory or for resources. We do it because it’s right. There can be no fuller expression of America’s support for self-determination than our leaving Iraq to its people. That says something about who we are.
Because of you, in Afghanistan we’ve broken the momentum of the Taliban. Because of you, we’ve begun a transition to the Afghans that will allow us to bring our troops home from there. And around the globe, as we draw down in Iraq, we have gone after al Qaeda so that terrorists who threaten America will have no safe haven, and Osama bin Laden will never again walk the face of this Earth.
AUDIENCE: Hooah! (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: So here’s what I want you to know, and here’s what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of you, we are ending these wars in a way that will make America stronger and the world more secure. Because of you.
That success was never guaranteed. And let us never forget the source of American leadership: our commitment to the values that are written into our founding documents, and a unique willingness among nations to pay a great price for the progress of human freedom and dignity. This is who we are. That’s what we do as Americans, together.
The war in Iraq will soon belong to history. Your service belongs to the ages. Never forget that you are part of an unbroken line of heroes spanning two centuries –- from the colonists who overthrew an empire, to your grandparents and parents who faced down fascism and communism, to you –- men and women who fought for the same principles in Fallujah and Kandahar, and delivered justice to those who attacked us on 9/11.
Looking back on the war that saved our union, a great American, Oliver Wendell Holmes, once paid tribute to those who served. “In our youth,” he said, “our hearts were touched with fire. It was given to us to learn at the outset that life is a profound and passionate thing.”
All of you here today have lived through the fires of war. You will be remembered for it. You will be honored for it -- always. You have done something profound with your lives. When this nation went to war, you signed up to serve. When times were tough, you kept fighting. When there was no end in sight, you found light in the darkness.
And years from now, your legacy will endure in the names of your fallen comrades etched on headstones at Arlington, and the quiet memorials across our country; in the whispered words of admiration as you march in parades, and in the freedom of our children and our grandchildren. And in the quiet of night, you will recall that your heart was once touched by fire. You will know that you answered when your country called; you served a cause greater than yourselves; you helped forge a just and lasting peace with Iraq, and among all nations.
I could not be prouder of you, and America could not be prouder of you.
God bless you all, God bless your families, and God bless the United States of America. (Applause.)
END 12:26 P.M. EST ##
North Carolina Congressmen Mike McIntyre, David Price and Heath Shuler accompanied the President on Air Force One to Ft. Bragg and attended his speech and flew back with him.
Enter to win "a once-in-a-lifetime experience"... The newest e-mail from OFA for the "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" campaign fundraiser was sent today by Julianna Smoot, former White House Social Secretary and now Deputy Campaign Manager. The contest closes Dec. 31; three winners will be selected, and each can bring a guest. The President will be bringing his wife, who has been added to the contest to inspire donations.
"Tell us who you would bring if you won -- and why," Smoot wrote. "I hope you'll put your name in the running to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with someone you care about."
OFA most recently sent an e-mail to potential donors from Wendi Smith, one of the winners of the first dinner sweepstakes, who called her meal with the Eater in Chief "one of the most significant experiences of my life." Smith dined with the President in October at The Liberty Tavern in Virginia, fulfilling the first dinner contest obligation. The President has nt yet dined with winners of the second sweepstakes.
The subject heading for Smoot's e-mail was "Your guest for Dinner with President Obama" (sic).
The text:
XXXXX --
Have you been thinking about who you'd bring to the next Dinner with Barack?
President Obama will be bringing Michelle to the dinner he's having with grassroots supporters like you. The best part? If you join them, you have a chance to bring a loved one along, too.
Tell us who you would bring if you won -- and why.
Maybe it's your spouse, your aunt who volunteers a few times every month, or your niece who's about to vote for the first time in 2012.
Whoever you choose, this dinner isn't just a chance for you both to meet the President and the First Lady, it's a chance to share a special meal -- to ask the questions you've been dying to ask, and tell the stories you think they need to hear.
I hope you'll put your name in the running to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with someone you care about.
Let us know who you'd bring and why you want them to meet the President and the First Lady:
http://my.barackobama.com/Your-Guest
Thanks,
Julianna
Julianna Smoot Deputy Campaign Manager Obama for America ###
President welcomes Jewish leaders to celebrate the festival of lights with a Kosher menu that includes sushi rolls... President Obama confirmed his Administration's "unshakable commitment" to the security of Israel as he welcomed more than 550 guests, including Administration officials and Members of Congress, to a Hanukkah reception on Thursday evening. The party was already under way when the President, joined by First Lady Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Dr. Jill Biden, arrived at 6:10 PM. It featured a strictly Kosher menu and the U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra performing "A Tribute to Jewish-American Composers."
"We never need an excuse for a good party," President Obama joked, as he admitted that the White House was "jumping the gun" for a holiday that begins on December 20th. "We do have to be careful that your kids don’t start thinking Hanukkah lasts twenty nights instead of eight."
It was the largest Hanukkah reception the First Couple has hosted, and the final one before the 2012 election. Candidate Obama recieved 78% of the Jewish vote in 2008, according to exit polls. Mrs. Obama smiled and waved to guests in the crowd as her husband spoke. Her hair down, she was clad in a sleeveless dress in a shade of metallic blue that is featured on the flag of Israel, with multiple ropes of matching beads around here neck as a complement.
The guests, packed tightly into the Grand Foyer, held their cameras and cell phones aloft as they stood between lit Christmas trees and green garlands tied with shining ribbons. They'd also been entertained by the West Point Jewish Chapel Cadet Choir.
The guests... His comment about supporting Israel was the President's only political remark; he spent the rest of his time at the podium smiling broadly. Guests included Members of Congress, top Administration officials, and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
"We are thrilled to see her," President Obama said. "She's one of my favorites. I have a soft spot for her."
He also gave a shout out to Michael Oren, Israel's Ambassador to the US, and to Jarrod Bernstein, the newly minted Director of Jewish Outreach. See below for a list of invited Members of Congress.
The President briefly told the story of the battle of the Maccabees and the oil lamp.
"This Hanukkah season, we remember a story so powerful that we know it by heart...even us Gentiles," he said to laughter. "A story of right over might, faith over doubt, a story about a band of believers who rose up and freed their people."
President Obama said the Hanukkah story is a reminder that "miracles come in all sizes," and the holiday season is a time to "recognize the miracles in our own lives."
"This is also time to be grateful for our friendships, both with each other and between our nations, and that of course includes our unshakable support and commitment to the security of the nation of Israel," President Obama said, to applause.
A Kosher menu...with sushi rolls The reception had a buffet of Jewish holiday specialties--as well as sushi rolls, which were also served last year. The kitchen was Koshered for the event, and the menu was prepared under the strict rabbinical supervision of Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Lubavitch Center of Washington (Chabad), in cooperation with the Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington, according to the White House. The Meat was Glatt Kosher - Chassidishe Shechitah. All baked goods were Pas Yisroel; all wines were Mevushal. The foods were prepared Lemihadrin with a Mashgiach Temidi.
2011 Hanukkah Reception Menu
Roulade of Chicken Breast Fresh Thyme Sauce Arugula and Fresh Artichokes Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Filet of Beef Au Jus Caramelized Pearl Onions Shiitake Mushrooms
Pine Nut Herb Crusted Lamb Chops Mango and Mission Fig Chutney
Homemade Potato with Scallion Pancakes Apple Sauce
Congressional guest list... Members of Congress invited to intend included 8 Senators and 21 Representatives from the US House.
The Senate: Sens. Barbara Boxer; Dianne Feinstein; Frank Lautenberg; Carl Levin; Joe Lieberman; Bernie Sanders; Chuck Schumer.
US House: Reps. Shelley Berkley; Howard Berman; David Cicilline; Steve Cohen; Susan Davis; Ted Deutch; Eliot Engel; Bob Filner; Steve Israel; Sandy Levin; Nita Lowey; Jerrold Nadler; Jared Polis; Steve Rothman; Jan Schakowsky; Adam Schiff; Allyson Schwartz; Brad Sherman; Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Henry Waxman; and John Yarmuth.
The menorah... The menorah for the reception was lent by The Jewish Museum, New York and is dedicated to General Joseph T. McNarney, who served as the Commander in Chief of United States Forces in the European Theatre from November 1945 to March 1947. It was created in a displaced persons’ camp after World War II, the White House said. (Above: A long view of the reception)
The President's Hanukkah receptions in 2009 and 2010 included candle lighting ceremonies, but there was no ceremony this evening, because the reception did not coincide with the actual dates of Hanukkah.
This year, the White House released a special collection of Passover recipes created by acclaimed American chefs, including Joan Nathan. Some of the recipes are perfect for Hanukkah celebrations, too. (Above: the President speaks with a guest after his remarks)
Check the sidebar for all White House recipes.
*Photos by AP/Pool; reverse view photo by Pete Souza/White House
President Obama welcomed more than 550 guests for the annual White House Hanukkah reception on Thursday evening. It was held in the Grand Foyer, and featured a fully Kosher menu. Full details are here.
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _________________________________
For Immediate Release December 8, 2011
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT HANUKKAH RECEPTION
Grand Foyer
6:10 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Well, good evening, everybody. Welcome to the White House. Thank you all for joining us tonight to celebrate Hanukkah -- even if we're doing it a little bit early. (Laughter.)
I want to start by recognizing a few folks who are here. The ambassador to the United States from Israel, Michael Oren, is in the house. (Applause.)
We are honored to be joined by one of the justices of the Supreme Court, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is here. (Applause.) We are thrilled to see her. She's one of my favorites, I got to -- (laughter.) I've got a soft spot for Justice Ginsburg.
And we’ve got more than a few members of Congress here and members of my administration in the house, including our new Director of Jewish Outreach, Jarrod Bernstein is here. Where's Jarrod? (Applause.) Hey, Jarrod.
I also want to thank the West Point Jewish Chapel Cadet Choir –- (applause) -- the Voice of Tradition -– for their wonderful performance, but more importantly, for their extraordinary service to our country.
And I want to thank all the rabbis and lay leaders who have come far and wide to be here with us today.
Now, as I said, we’re jumping the gun just a little bit. The way I see it, we’re just extending the holiday spirit. We're stretching it out. (Laughter.) But we do have to be careful that your kids don’t start thinking Hanukkah lasts 20 nights instead of eight. (Laughter.) That will cause some problems.
This Hanukkah season we remember a story so powerful that we all know it by heart -- even us Gentiles. It’s a story of right over might, of faith over doubt. Of a band of believers who rose up and freed their people and discovered that the oil left in their desecrated temple –- which should have lasted only one night –- ended up lasting eight.
It’s a timeless story. And for 2,000 years, it has given hope to Jews everywhere who are struggling. And today, it reminds us that miracles come in all shapes and sizes. Because to most people, the miracle of Hanukkah would have looked like nothing more than a simple flame, but the believers in the temple knew it was something else. They knew it was something special.
This year, we have to recognize the miracles in our own lives. Let’s honor the sacrifices our ancestors made so that we might be here today. Let’s think about those who are spending this holiday far away from home -– including members of our military who guard our freedom around the world. Let’s extend a hand to those who are in need, and allow the value of tikkun olam to guide our work this holiday season.
This is also a time to be grateful for our friendships, both with each other and between our nations. And that includes, of course, our unshakeable support and commitment to the security of the nation of Israel. (Applause.)
So while it is not yet Hanukkah, let’s give thanks for our blessings, for being together to celebrate this wonderful holiday season. And we never need an excuse for a good party. (Laughter.) So we are going to see all of you in a second downstairs --
MRS. OBAMA: Aren't we in the Blue Room?
THE PRESIDENT: Or wherever we are. (Laughter.) I think we're downstairs. We are downstairs in the Map Room. So as I look around, I see a whole bunch of good friends. We can't wait to give you a hug and a kiss and wish you a happy holiday. The guys with whiskers, I won't give you a kiss. (Laughter.)
There's no way to connect President Obama to the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But led by a story from 9 News Now, many media entities are posting the Asian-inspired lunch menu being offered today at Sidwell Friends, the school attended by Obama daughters Malia and Sasha, and somehow trying to lay credit for an "inappropriate" moment at the doorstep of the White House. (Above: The screengrab from the story)
Using the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor--one of the darkest days in the nation's history--in an attempt to criticize the President is a tragic example of the kind of unbridled media lunacy that Mr. Obama and his family are assaulted with on a daily basis. The 9 News Now story has been a headline on Drudge Report all day ("Sasha and Malia Obama's School Opts For Japanese Food"). Washington Post's gossip columnists queried Sidwell, and an official said the lunch menu is "completely coincidenntal." But the Post's headline, all the same, is "Sidwell Friends's surprising Pear Harbor Day menu." And the Post posted the photo, above, of Sidwell's menu. As can be seen from Sidwell's menu [PDF], the cafeteria serves a wide variety of cuisines.
From the story:
"A school rep told us this was just a fluke — not a meal intended to commemorate the 1941 Japanese attack on U.S. forces: The contractor that prepares school lunches randomly assigned an Asian menu to Dec. 7, and the subcontractor that prints the calendars automatically marked Wednesday at Pearl Harbor Day. “It was completely coincidental,” said Ellis Turner, associate head of the school."
Hailing the holidays as "a season of giving and renewal," and calling the ongoing famine from the drought in the Horn of Africa "heartbreaking," President Obama today announced $113 million in emergency relief aid to provide "urgently needed food, health, shelter, water and assistance needs" to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. It follows the government's previous expenditure of $870 million for relief purposes.
