Recently in Barack Obama Category

WASHINGTON--President Obama, reacting Thursday afternoon to the murders at Ft. Hood, said the shootings were "horrific."

"As some of you might have heard, there has been a tragic shooting at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. We don't yet know all the details at this moment; we will share them as we get them. What we do know is that a number of American soldiers have been killed, and even more have been wounded in a horrific outburst of violence.

"My immediate thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and with the families of the fallen, and with those who live and serve at Fort Hood. These are men and women who have made the selfless and courageous decision to risk and at times give their lives to protect the rest of us on a daily basis. It's difficult enough when we lose these brave Americans in battles overseas. It is horrifying that they should come under fire at an Army base on American soil."

The economic meltdown impacting almost all of us highlights the need for individual financial literacy. While the U.S. regulatory system failed, people also got themselves into jams by agreeing to mortgage terms that set them up for financial failure.

First Lady Michelle Obama, in launching her mentoring program on Monday, said one goal is to coach young women on financial literacy.

Studies show students especially lack basic financial skills.

Noteworthy: The President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy is only getting around to having it's first meeting under the Obama administration today. The last meeting was under former President Bush, on Jan. 6, 2009. The council was created on Jan. 22, 2008.

Today will be its eighth meeting.

Chicago Sun-Times writer Mary Houlihan profiles Chicago fifth grader Lorenzo Rivera, a break out star in HBO's "By the People" documentary on the Obama presidential campaign, where he is featured making canvassing calls. Read Houlihan's Sun-Times article here.

Houlihan: "Lorenzo Rivera may be only 11 years old, but he knows more about politics than many adults.

The Chicago fifth-grader proves just how much in the new documentary "By the People: The Election of Barack Obama," where he is filmed making campaign calls on Obama's behalf in 2008.

In the movie, debuting at 8 p.m. Tuesday on HBO, filmmakers Amy Rice and Alicia Sams capture Lorenzo, only 9 at the time, handling a call to a confused voter with a calm and grace belying his young age.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi released on Thursday the 1,990-page House Democrats' health reform legislation, which includes the controversial government sponsored health plan that has come to be called a public option. It would mandate everyone to buy health insurance and ban insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. Read the bill here.

The bill is expected to go to the House floor next week and is not expected to get any Republican votes.

If the House approves the bill, it will have to be melded with the Senate version--where everything can change--and return to the chamber for a final vote.

WASHINGTON--President Obama, pondering sending more troops to Afghanistan, helicoptered to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware near midnight on Wednesday to witness the return of the bodies of 18 soldiers. Obama returned to the White House a 4:45 a.m. Thursday morning.

Click for the pool reports.

WASHINGTON--A 1,000 pound pumpkin has been delivered to the Obama White House and on Sunday volunteers were painting pumpkins. On Saturday night, the Obama's host their first Halloween party. And, as my Sun-Times colleague Hedy Weiss reports, Chicago's Redmoon Theater company has been asked to perform. Members of the troupe will see Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Friday.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Roland Burris is critical of the compromise health plan Senate leaders crafted to allow states to opt out of a government-sponsored "public option" insurance plan. With Burris' vote potentially crucial, I've learned that the Obama White House will be paying attention to him for the first time today, dispatching the health "czar" to his Senate office.

What is certain about the presidency of Barack Obama--whether one term or two--is that there will be an Obama presidential library some place in the United States. Given that Chicago is Obama's adopted home town, where First Lady Michelle was born and the city where he launched his political career, it is hard to imagine that the library won't be in Chicago.

AP photo by Susan Walsh

My Sun-Times colleague Abdon Pallasch reports on Michelle Malkin slamming President Obama while in Chicago; read his article here.

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, sit for a family portrait in the Green Room of the White House, Sept. 1, 2009. (Official White House Photo)

Photo by Annie Leibovitz/Released by White House Photo Office

THE PRESIDENT: Terrence Scott. What do you have to say?

Q I have to say, why do people hate you and why -- they supposed to love you, and God is love and --

THE PRESIDENT: That's what I'm talking about. (Laughter and applause.) Come on. That's what I'm talking about. Terrence, I appreciate that. What grade are you in?

Q Fourth.

THE PRESIDENT: You're in fourth grade? Well, now, first of all, I did get elected President, so not everybody hates me, now. I don't want you to -- (laughter.) I got a whole lot of votes. I want to make sure everybody understands. But you know, what is true is if you were watching TV lately, it seems like everybody is just getting mad all the time. And, you know, I think that you've got to take it with a grain of salt. Some of it is just what's called politics, where once one party wins then the other party kind of gets -- feels like it needs to poke you a little bit to keep you on your toes. And so you shouldn't take it too seriously.

And then sometimes -- as I said before, people just -- I think they're worried about their own lives. A lot of people are losing their jobs right now. A lot of people are losing their health care or they've lost their homes to foreclosure. And they're feeling frustrated. And when you're President of the United States, you know, you've got to deal with all of that. That's exactly right. And, you know, you get some of the credit when things go good; and when things are going tough, then you're going to get some of the blame and that's part of the job.

But, you know, I'm a pretty tough guy. Are you a tough guy? You look like you're pretty tough. And so you've just got to keep on going even when folks are criticizing you. Because as long as you know that you're doing it for other people. All right? (Applause.) So thank you. You're a fine young man. I appreciate you. (Applause.) Give Terrence a big round of applause.

COMMITMENT 'UNWAVERING' | Acknowledges gay activists' impatience with him

WASHINGTON -- President Obama -- confronting gay critics who expected his administration to have done more by now on gay rights issues -- said Saturday night he understands their impatience with him and vowed to deliver on his pledges, including ending the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Updated...
WASHINGTON--"Saturday Night Live" grappled with real life--President Obama's surprise win of the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday--as cast member Fred Armisen played the president as the luckiest man in the world--who is not George Bush.

Armisen as Obama: "This came without warning, I didn't even get a call as due to the time difference in Norway, the Nobel people didn't want to wake me up. I wish they had, I could have said to Hillary Clinton, 'Hey, remember that 3 a.m. call you were so worried about? It happened. Nobel Peace Prize.'

"Now this prize..is giving annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to world peace. Jimmy Carter won it for decades of trying to find solutions to international conflicts.

"Al Gore won it for his years of educating U.S about climate change.

"And us?

"Well, I won it for not being George Bush.

"To be perfectly honest, this award was a complete surprise as I have only not been George W. Bush for nine months. But I am deeply honored none the less."

The skit goes on to have Obama winning a $70 million jackpot in a powerball lottery--with the first lottery ticket he ever bought.

WASHINGTON--President Obama--confronting gay critics who expected his administration to have done more by now to assure progress on gay rights issues--said Saturday night he understands their impatience with him but vowed to deliver on his pledges.

"My commitment to you is unwavering," Obama told the Human Rights Campaign dinner, putting the gay rights stuggle in the context of the greater civil rights movement. The speech came the night before a gay rights march in Washington and after the House voted on Friday to expand the definition of hate crimes to include gay, lesbian and transgender people.

"I will not waver in ending discrimination in all its forms," Obama said.

He pledged to end the military "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, noting that legislation to do so is pending in Congress.

"We should not be punishing patriotic Americans who have stepped forward to serve this country. We should be celebrating their willingness to show such courage and selflessness on behalf of their fellow citizens, especially when we are fighting two wars," Obama said to sustained cheers.

"I will end Don't Ask, Don't Tell, that's my commitment."

Last Saturday, NBC's Saturday Night Live mocked President Obama's lack of accomplishment in a hilarious skit. Now that Obama has been "saddled" with a premature Nobel Peace Prize, what will SNL do tonight?