NC.BarackObama.com
CALL THE HOLY SPIRIT...TO World Is the word to change the fate of humanity...TO Congress The question is where conscience and we lost 8 years In the past... TO my people For Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy...To the far-right party Hear me... You are like a master of darkness in the film Harry Potter Spread lies and rumors contamination of people's minds And trying to incite murder Is the invisible hand from outside the country want to dismantle the nation May Why does not it make sense to be an American And behaves in this way Do you hate change, eliminating the old system of health care You hate to become a country free from poverty, unemployment, crime and the laws and corrupt minds black And to eliminate the economic crisis you and your likes Making the economic crisis You are hard line against reform Supports corruption rejected change Because it does not serve your own behalf Era of change Yun nation from the pressure of special interests...sir.Congress You are alone you can decide Just remember in the past 8 years The price was Dearly Is the future Where your conscience The direction of this nation Instead of unite and triumph powers To eliminate the challenges No wasted time and effort in something that does not work Because it is a common destiny Think of others before thinking of yourself There is a story about happiness The young man went to one of the wise men looking for happiness Directed the wise man and the young man To a house where two Room Special food Stood on the threshold of the first room There in the room table By all classes of eating But the people sit at the table body with weak And sad As long spoons do not reach the mouth The Second Chamber Such as the first room The difference here is That people are happy and healthy Why Every one of them is developing a food In the mouth of the other As long spoons can not eat alone...my people Do not give up to that dark cloud For Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy Achieved the dream of these And became the reality is reflected in President Obama Is a victory On prevent the spirit of change in the past It is a victory we offer To the spirit struggle Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy... Do not listen to the far-right party that he is tampering with the fate of the nation He did not have nothing to offer you He does not feel your The master of darkness Can not help you Because he is impotent And what is waiting for the dark Gives you only a lie away from the right Attempts to remove of President Obama the removal dream Should try to remove the Holy Spirit first about your way To try to remove 307,465,000 American my people Are 50 states Can not change or remove it It is the will of God It is the will of the nation It's my will In order to hug the mother angels forever mom OPRHA Surrender my life book does not exist Although not follow the news I do not have a TV only know the news from the Internet network Such CNN NYTimes The Huffington Post abc Now I hate humans are very adept at killing and wars, lying, and theft of public funds I can not find news of that man won the war against poverty or global warming or AIDS, human rights People become more stupid because he surrendered to selfishness and havens of life Just a simple example Is the message received from friends...
look
http://my.barackobama.com/BidenSeniors
If you are having trouble watching the video try this link:http://fusewashington.org/page/s/1033videosgbPlease share this video with your friends. Everyone needs a laugh--and a warning about I-1033.We also wanted to welcome you to Fuse. Fuse is a 100,000 person progressive network dedicated to giving people a stronger voice in government. We help you make a difference by making your voice heard on the most important issues when the decisions are being made. You can count on us for progressive common sense and timely information about your best chances to build a better future for our state.When you open your mail-in ballot this month, be sure to vote NO on I-1033! Doing so is no laughing matter. Thanks,Aaron and the entire team at Fuse1 Click here for a list of frequently asked questions about I-1033: http://www.fusewashington.org/page/-/Initiative%201033%20FAQ.pdf There is also a fact sheet pasted into the email below.2 State OFM report: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/initiatives/i-1033_fiscal_impact.pdf3 After adopting a similar TABOR initiative, Colorado fell from 35th to 49th among the 50 states in state and local spending for K-12 education as a share of personal income. Colorado trailed far behind seven neighboring states in job growth after the 2001 recession. It did so much damage to the state's economy that in 2005, Coloradans voted to suspend the law.
I-1033 Fact sheet:Times are tough enough - but Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033 would make them worse.I-1033 is a proven failure: • After TABOR was passed, Colorado’s proportion of low-income children without health insurance doubled. In other states, more kids were getting health insurance. • After TABOR passed, Colorado’s funding for education dropped to 49th in the nation. • Colorado couldn’t afford to buy students vaccines to protect against diseases like whooping cough. I-1033 will replace our tradition of local control. • I-1033 would force the same one-size fits all formula on every city and county in the state, regardless of their different needs and priorities. • The non-partisan Office of Financial Management released a study showing that over the next five years I-1033 would take away $2.8 billion that cities and counties use to help keep our communities healthy, clean and safe. I-1033 will worsen our health care crisis and damage our schools • 35,000 low-income people are losing health insurance, but Eyman’s TABOR plan will make our health care crisis more severe by locking in cuts to Basic Health, nursing homes, adult-day and in-home care. • We’ve slashed school funding by $1.5 billion and as many as 3,000 teachers and education employees are facing layoffs because of the recession. But I-1033 would take even more resources away from Washington’s classrooms – and Washington’s kids. I-1033 makes it harder to dig out of the recession – just as things are starting to get better. • The non-partisan Office of Financial Management released a study showing that I-1033 will cut revenues for health, education and other services by $5.9 billion over five years. • I-1033 would lock in billions of dollars in recession-era cuts to education and health care. • I-1033 will force even deeper cuts and delay our state’s economic recovery. Leave the pen and see what you do...
HOLY SPIRIT
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2009
President Obama Extends Gulf Coast Rebuilding Office, Pushes for Improved Long-Term Recovery Following Catastrophic Disasters
White House Also Announces President Obama to visit Gulf Coast in Mid-October
Washington, D.C. – Signaling his continued commitment to Katrina-Rita recovery, President Barack Obama announced he will visit the Gulf Coast in mid-October and see first-hand the progress in the region. President Obama also today signed an Executive Order extending the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Gulf Coast Recovery and Rebuilding for six months. The Office of the Gulf Coordinator was first established November 1, 2005.
Since taking office eight months ago, the Obama Administration has worked hard to provide residents of the Gulf Coast with the tools that they need to recover from the hurricanes, and to rebuild their lives and communities. The Administration is deeply committed to serving the needs of Gulf Coast residents by cutting through the bureaucratic red tape that has delayed assistance and improving coordination among federal agencies and with state and local partners. As a result, more than $1 billion in public assistance projects that had been stuck for years have been obligated since the start of the Administration, including fire and police stations, health clinics, libraries, and university buildings. In addition, thousands of individuals who had been trapped in temporary disaster housing are on the road to self-sufficiency. The Recovery Act is providing significant resources to the Gulf, providing support to communities and individuals while also supporting the region’s infrastructure and creating and saving jobs in critical areas like education and law enforcement.
In addition, President Obama is taking steps to improve disaster recovery efforts across the country. A six-month effort led by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan will examine lessons learned during previous catastrophic disaster recovery efforts, areas for improved collaboration between federal agencies and between the federal government and state and local governments and stakeholders. The effort also will review federal disaster recovery programs for efficacy and review methods to build capacity within state, local and tribal governments as well as within the non-profit, faith-based and private sector.
More details on President Obama’s trip, including credentialing instructions, will be released as they become available.
*Executive Order attached*
###
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release September 29, 2009
PRESS BRIEFING BY
PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
1:11 P.M. EDT
MR. GIBBS: Mr. Elliott, take us away.
Q Thanks, Robert. On the principals' meeting today, what's the actual goal, what does the President want to come away with in this discussion on Afghanistan? I know we're not at a point where we're making decisions. What are we making in this meeting?
MR. GIBBS: Well, the meeting the President will be in actually has been rescheduled until tomorrow. The principals will meet to get ready -- continue to get ready for that meeting. As I understand it, General Petraeus and General McChrystal will participate in the meeting that's had this afternoon.
Q Is this the first conversation the President had with McChrystal since receiving his report?
MR. GIBBS: I don't believe that they've spoken since the report has been given. Understanding for a little context, the President receives a memo every week from General McChrystal, as he does from General Odierno, on -- an update on how things are going in either Afghanistan or Iraq, respectively. Inputs also come from the diplomatic side. As well as each of those memos, the President meets, as he is today, regularly with the chain of command, including the two top people on that chain of command, Defense Secretary Bob Gates and Joint Chiefs Chair Admiral Mullen, both of whom will be a the White House today.
Q So what's he looking for from this meeting?
MR. GIBBS: Well, again, this is the beginning of a reassessing of where we are. I think this will be -- as we've said, this will take place over the course of several meetings and a number of weeks, as we look at where we are, what's happened in the intervening months since the President made a decision in March. And I think as you heard the Secretary General of NATO, a key ally obviously in our mission, is to evaluate this from a strategic perspective and then have a discussion later about resources, which is what the President intends to do.
Q Are the principals offering him options to consider?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I don't think we're at that point yet. I think we're going to go through the McChrystal assessment and go through additional ideas, and go from there.
Q Now, Iran is saying that they will not discuss this new nuclear plant tomorrow.
MR. GIBBS: They may not, but we will.
Q That was -- I was going to ask -- you're going to bring it up. What do you think about this approach that they're taking?
MR. GIBBS: Well, what is undeniable is that a plant is in -- a plant was constructed in violation of their obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, something they've signed with the IAEA, as well as U.N. Security Council resolutions. We will demand that IAEA inspectors have unfettered access to the facility, to personnel, to documents surrounding the facility. There's no doubt this is in violation of their own obligations to which they're a party.
I think it will show the world, and I think the onus is on the Iranians to show the world, that the program that they have is for -- is a peaceful program to create energy, rather than a secret program for nuclear weapons. I think if you're -- if the Iranians are unwilling to discuss something that should have been reported to the IAEA years ago, I think that's quite telling. But again, I don't want to prejudge. I'll let them do their own talking.
Yes, sir.
Q The President today in the Oval Office with NATO Secretary General said that he defined the mission in Afghanistan as dismantling, disrupting, destroying the al Qaeda network, and effectively working with the Afghan government to provide the security necessary for that country. What -- how would you define "effectively working with the Afghan government to provide the security necessary for their country"? Can you explain more what he means by that?
MR. GIBBS: Well, look, I think you've got -- I think, as you've seen in places around the world, we've -- while we can help the security environment in the short term, there has to be a training mission for police and security forces that that country can use to secure their own territory, because we cannot stay there forever. Eventually the functions of security and the functions of policing are going to have to be assumed by the Afghans. So obviously some robust training mission has to happen.
Q That's what you mean by -- just kind of open-ended concept of --
MR. GIBBS: Yes.
Q -- they need to be able to arm themselves and protect themselves?
MR. GIBBS: They have to be able to secure their own physical territory.
Q But that's obviously not the case right now.
MR. GIBBS: And that's why -- that's part of what the President talked about in March and part of what is in -- obviously in the assessment from General McChrystal.
Q One other question is that retired General Gration is quoted in The Washington Post today, making comments about U.S. policy towards Sudan that include suggestions that his goal is to normalize relations with Sudan, and there were a lot of other comments that have alarmed groups whose existence is to object to the genocide in Darfur. Did you guys have a reaction to that comment?
MR. GIBBS: Well, just -- my reaction is more to the story. The policy is being worked on. There are no announcements of a new policy. Obviously, our policy would not include that unless there were significant change on the ground in Khartoum.
Q Isn't there a danger for the President that he may be perceived as weak or indecisive as this policy or strategy review session drags on, fueled by the perception that many in his own party are against increasing the numbers of troops in the war?
MR. GIBBS: When you say "drags on" -- I mean, Secretary Gates said this weekend it took three months in the previous White House to discuss a policy on a surge of troops in Iraq. Did anybody -- was there a suggestion by those then that the President was dragging this assessment on?
Q You all have made a point of saying that there is no time limit on this.
MR. GIBBS: Right, because the President wants to get the policy right. If the policy takes time to get right, then that's what the President intends to do. I think he owes that to the men and women in uniform that are there; he owes that to the men and women in uniform that could go; and he owes that to each and every American.
Q Sure, but meanwhile, there's probably what you could describe accurately as a rising tide of sentiment against further engagement in Afghanistan, and much of it is on his own party.
MR. GIBBS: The President isn't going to make a political decision. The President is going to make the decision that he feels is in the best interest of the United States' national security. The President is happy to hear the back-and-forth from both sides on this, but is going to take his time to decide what is right for the American people.
Q When you talk about the President wants to hear the back-and-forth, where does it stand now? Does the President -- is it the sense that the President does not want to send in more troops, but he needs to see the evidence and want to be convinced that there really is a need for that?
MR. GIBBS: The President is in the process of doing exactly what he said he would do after the elections, and that is assess where we are.
Again, you heard Secretary Gates this weekend discuss that General McChrystal, who's been there for a couple of months, saw through his assessment on the ground a situation that had deteriorated more rapidly than people had expected. You have the ambiguity of the Afghan election -- all of which has to be taken into account. The President is simply taking this into account and demonstrating, again, as I said, what he would do in March in assessing this policy.
Q And as he does that, what are his concerns about sending in more troops?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I have not heard him talk specifically, and I wouldn't get into if I had, what his concerns are right now. I think obviously the President wants to ensure that we have a well-defined mission, that we all understand that we can't be there forever. As Jake mentioned, the President reiterated that the strategy -- we have to have a strategy that dismantles, disrupts, and destroys al Qaeda and its extremist allies; builds up the security and policing forces of the Afghans; and doesn't allow safe havens in Afghanistan where terrorists can plot again to blow up buildings or planes in this country.
Q Does the United States believe Iran was trying -- is trying to acquire a nuclear weapon?
MR. GIBBS: I think that there is -- their reticence now for a second time to live up to its international obligations put the onus on the Iranians to tell the world and to demonstrate visibly for the world that their program -- that their -- that they have a peaceful nuclear program designed for power and energy, rather than a secret program to develop a nuclear weapon. That is a question that only the Iranians can answer to the satisfactory nature of the world community.
Q The U.S. government isn't prepared to say that they know the Iranians are --
MR. GIBBS: Well, I'm not going to get into --
Q -- that there seems to be some dispute between intelligence agencies around the world.
MR. GIBBS: And I'm not going to get into discussing intelligence here.
Q On the IAEA, does the U.S. government believe they've gotten enough information that they need from them about what they've done in Iran previously? Have they gotten a full -- have they gotten full cooperation from the IAEA -- the U.S. government -- in getting everything they need?
MR. GIBBS: I'd have to check with somebody as to the exact nature. Again, the onus is on the Iranians to provide full, unfettered access to Qom, to documents, to live up to the international obligations that they've signed. This facility should have been reported to the IAEA at a point in which a decision was made to begin constructing. That has long since passed. The Iranians are going to get a chance to account for the world and be transparent about their program and its intent.
Q On the hikers, the news -- the news that the Swiss government is going to -- or the Iranians are going to give the Swiss government some access to the hikers, do you guys see this as some sort of -- is it viewed within the talks are going to take place in Geneva, some sort of attempt by them --
MR. GIBBS: Our government has always viewed that the hikers should be released and we don't conflate the two issues.
Q Do you believe there should be no connection?
MR. GIBBS: There isn't any connection and there shouldn't be. The hikers should be released.
Q Robert, was Rasmussen speaking for the President when he said today in the Oval Office, "We will stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes"?
MR. GIBBS: Obviously, I'm not going to get into parsing the words of --
Q It's pretty straightforward.
MR. GIBBS: I understand, I just don't currently hold the position of his spokesperson.
Q Well, does the President agree with that?
MR. GIBBS: I think the President believes that we have to do -- we have to, as I said earlier, disrupt, dismantle and destroy al Qaeda, prevent it from having a safe haven that would allow it to plan the type of activities that we saw happen in September of 2001 in this country.
Q And that is the objective for which the U.S. will stay in Afghanistan, as long as it takes?
MR. GIBBS: That is the objective of our U.S. policy toward Afghanistan.
Q Back to Iran, in terms of sanctions, there's been some reporting on insurance and targeting insurance and reinsurance. What else is the administration considering?
MR. GIBBS: I'm not going to get into what happens a few steps down the road, except I think you’ve heard the President be very forceful about what the Iranians could face in the event that they don't live up to their obligations. Our focus right now, though, is on Thursday's meeting and hoping that they will live up to those obligations and tell the world.
Q The administration is considering sanctions? I mean, you guys are working on this, this isn’t all just premature talk?
MR. GIBBS: No, we're working on it. It's just me talking about it is premature.
Q Could you talk a little more generally then about the need for targeted sanctions as opposed to --
MR. GIBBS: Look, without -- I hate to get into conjecture. Obviously I think what is most important in any step that is taken next in the event that the Iranians don't live up to their obligations is that we do this with the entire international community working together. I think we're at a point through the President's policy of engagement where we're not having a debate about whether or not we should be confronting the Iranians face to face, but instead we've put the onus on the Iranians to discuss their intentions and their program with the world. And we brought our allies, particularly in the P5-plus-1, I think up to a point in which that's all possible.
Q Russia's deputy foreign minister says Iran's missile tests shouldn’t be used to generate international support for sanctions. Do you agree with that?
MR. GIBBS: Well, Wendell, as I just said yesterday, obviously though the exercises by the Iranians were part of preplanned military activities, I don't think anybody thought that that was a helpful thing heading into serious talks where the onus and responsibility is on them.
Q Senator Kyl also has criticized the decision to go forward with the talks. He says --
MR. GIBBS: We tried that. (Laughter.) We had that policy for six years. It resulted in a whole lot of nothing. The President, through engagement, is at a point in which we are about to confront face-to-face on behalf of the world the intention of the Iranians and their nuclear program. And we'll give them the opportunity to state for the world and to demonstrate through its actions, not just its words, its responsibilities. I think we could go back to what we had for six years, which I think amounted to exceedingly little progress in dealing with the Iranians after it was -- almost seven years after it was known that they had built a massive uranium enrichment plant in the Natanz.
Q When is the ongoing Sudan review likely to be completed? And will you announce --
MR. GIBBS: Yes, we -- I know there's a principal committee's meeting today that many will be at. I assume they'll come to some series of recommendations that will be presented ultimately to the President.
Q It's a different meeting than the Afghan meeting?
Q Will Bono be by? Will Bono be by? Serious question.
MR. GIBBS: I don't think he's participating in the principals committee meeting.
Q Will he be consulted on this?
MR. GIBBS: Not that I'm aware of, no.
Q -- The Edge?
Q Will he be cleared into the White House compound today at all?
MR. GIBBS: Not that I'm aware of. I now see we've veered from Iran to U2.
Q Larry Mullen? (Laughter.)
Q Can we go back to Sudan?
MR. GIBBS: One more. Just go ahead, get it all out. Come on. (Laughter.) Let's go ahead.
Q Got to leave them wanting more.
MR. GIBBS: All right.
Q So you were saying?
MR. GIBBS: I'm sorry. Before I was so rudely interrupted with tonight's playlist -- look, the principals committee will meet; they'll eventually have recommendations for the President as part of an ongoing review of our Sudan policy. And when we have a policy to announce, we'll do that.
Q Any kind of approximation of how long this could take?
MR. GIBBS: Not that I've been given. But I can double-check.
Q And on tomorrow's Afghanistan meeting, who all will be in the meeting with the President?
MR. GIBBS: Let me see if I can do some of this off the top of my head. I'll try to get it -- we'll certainly get you a more complete list for those that actually attend the meeting. I know that the Vice President will be there, the Secretary of State will be there, the Secretary of Defense will be there, the Chair of the Joint Chiefs will be there, Ambassador Holbrooke will be there, General Petraeus and General McChrystal --
Q McChrystal will personally be there?
MR. GIBBS: No, I think -- what I was going to say is, I'm not sure if one or both of those is by teleconference. But we'll certainly get that. I'm trying to think if I've left anybody out.
Q Lute?
Q Jones?
MR. GIBBS: I'm sorry, of course General Jones will be there and General Lute will be there as well.
Q What was the last name?
MR. GIBBS: General Lute.
Q Sit Room?
MR. GIBBS: Yes. Yes. No pool. (Laughter.)
Q You mentioned the memos that the President gets every week from General McChrystal and General Odierno. Is there a reason why the President hasn't actually spoken with President -- with General McChrystal, except for the one time, since June? President Bush obviously spoke with his commanders every week. Is there a reason why this President --
MR. GIBBS: I think the President has -- receives tremendous input from the commanders on the ground; receives input from regional commanders like General Petraeus at Central; talks and meets weekly with, as I said, the Chair of the Joint Chiefs, or the Vice Chair if Admiral Mullen is traveling; and meets weekly with the head of that chain of command, Secretary Gates, often.
Q How does the President view General McChrystal at this point? Arguably the General put him in a political box. Is there a feeling that --
MR. GIBBS: No, the President is intent on getting the decision that has to be made right, focusing our effort and our resources on ensuring that we have the best strategy possible. Understand, Peter, that the President signed off on putting General McChrystal where he is.
Q Does he regret it?
MR. GIBBS: No, not at all.
Q Robert, going on to health care, with the Finance Committee meeting today, and just kind of a "where we are" question. They're going to be having votes today and obviously through the week. Are you expecting -- A, are you expecting a finished product soon in the next few days? And is that going to be the key that unlocks things?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think obviously whether it is the end of this week or whether this bleeds into next week, I can't say for sure. I know the Finance Committee is making progress going through a series of amendments. But I expect in the new few days that the Finance Committee will finish its work. I think at that point you'll have five different committees that will have -- all of whom have some series of jurisdiction over -- purview over health care. Obviously both sides will then have to reconcile different proposals before they go to the floor fairly quickly.
Q But I guess what I'm getting at is you've been putting a lot of emphasis on the Finance Committee in the last few weeks. Is that going to be the definitive version of the legislation? Is that going to be the thing that unlocks things?
MR. GIBBS: Well, again, I think -- just on the Senate side, obviously there's a process of the Finance Committee that will then have to be reconciled with the HELP Committee bill that passed out earlier this summer. That process will merge that legislation together just as the committees in the House will merge their bill together, and then it will go through.
Q But it's really just incremental, then. I mean, you spoke of it yesterday as being in a better place, which sounded fairly definitive.
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think the Finance Committee is in a better place. I think they're going through and -- I mean, I was asked this question in relation to what the President said about the Olympics several weeks ago. At that point, we didn't have a chairman's mark, we didn't have a committee that was meeting, we didn't have amendments that were being debated, we didn't have votes taking place. Obviously all of that happening with the last committee of jurisdiction means we're making progress on health care.
Q Robert, can I follow on that?
Q Last week everybody from Rahm, the Vice President, they all said they anticipate a bill before the Thanksgiving recess. Is that still operative? And what do they mean? Do they mean out of the House and Senate, or out of conference?
MR. GIBBS: I'd have to check. Because we were on the road so much last week, I have not talked with Rahm or Peter exactly on their statements. But I think it's our hope that this is a process that can be wrapped up by then.
Margaret.
Q Thank you. On Iran, from a technical standpoint, can you talk a little bit more about what the U.S. vision is, going into Geneva? Are we going to be on our own, or in conjunction with any of our allies, presenting on paper some sort of specific demands or proposals for Iran? Or will it be more of a verbal thing? How long is the U.S. prepared to let the talks go on if one meeting doesn't cut it?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I would hesitate to prejudge the second question.
In terms of the first, I think this is a lot less about what we and the P5-plus-1 have to do; this is a lot more about what the Iranians have to do. I think there's a -- even before Friday's acknowledgment by the Iranians several years belatedly that they had a facility at Qom, there's a pending question about their nuclear program. That program -- that question only got more important with Friday's disclosure. And the onus and the responsibility are clearly on them.
Q From a standpoint of leverage or strategery -- (laughter) -- how do you prod them into that place --
MR. GIBBS: I love how like a "Saturday Night Live" word was just entered into the lexicon of our -- (laughter.) I'm going to curse in a minute, if that's cool. (Laughter.)
Q So the onus is on Iran, but how does the U.S. approach that? Again, can you answer specifically, will there be something on paper that's given to the Iranians, and will the U.S. demands be joint with other countries or --
MR. GIBBS: Let me check on the protocol of whether something is going to be -- I know that Bill Burns, who has worked on this issue for quite some time and was part of the meeting I think it was last June or July -- that occurred in the previous administration in the P5-plus-1 with Iran will be in charge of it for the United States.
Peter.
Q Robert, on the Olympics, the President is going to be meeting privately, I guess, with some IOC members in Copenhagen. What will his message be? Will he be making the case for Chicago or asking them to vote for Chicago?
MR. GIBBS: Absolutely. I think the President, again, sees the opportunity to push strongly on the international stage America's bid for the Olympics. He will obviously have a part in the Chicago presentation, but I think believes that it's important for him to talk directly with voting members of the IOC and make the strong case for the American side.
Q Your response to Chairman Steele's criticism about the President going to Copenhagen?
MR. GIBBS: Who's he rooting for? (Laughter.) Is he hoping to hop a plane to Brazil and catch the Olympics in Rio? (Laughter.) Maybe it's Madrid.
Q Why is the President leaving before the decision is announced? Why isn't he going to stick around for a couple hours?
MR. GIBBS: To get back to do more work.
Q Robert, just on Iran, how important, if sanctions are required, would cooperation of the Russians and Chinese be? And can you talk about what your level of confidence is that they'll be with the United States on this?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I wouldn't get, in all honestly, a lot more ahead of what you heard, for instance, President Medvedev say last week after meeting with the President, that we certainly hope that Iran fulfills its obligation and its responsibility. If it doesn't, we'll then look at next steps. And I think what he said is timely.
April.
Q Robert, two questions. One, on Iran, how does gasoline factor into these conversations?
MR. GIBBS: I'm not going to get -- just like I did with Hans, I'm not going to get ahead of getting into -- surmised specifics about sanctions.
Q But is gasoline something that this administration -- could it be part of -- could it be one of the options on the table?
MR. GIBBS: See previous answer.
Q Okay.
Q Ask Tommy on Saturday. (Laughter.)
MR. GIBBS: Right. Or call Tommy.
Q Next question. The U.S. Census Bureau came out with a new study saying household income declined across all groups, but at sharper percentages for middle-income and the poor. Middle-income America is the group that really is affecting these polls, the President's approval ratings. Could you talk to me about how this White House sees that?
MR. GIBBS: Talk about how we see --
Q The report -- how the White House sees the report as middle-income Americans are the ones who really affect the approval ratings of the President, up or down?
MR. GIBBS: I've got to tell you, April, there's not a lot of time spent correlating Census Bureau income data with approval rating polling data. We're focused on getting a policy right to turn the economy around. Obviously the President -- we saw a little more than a year ago an economic catastrophe that had been building for quite some time, with millions of jobs lost. That obviously has affected household income. It's not something we spend a lot of time, though, on --
Q But some pollsters say that it is directly linked -- the middle-income pocketbook is directly linked and that your approval ratings will go up or down if they see their savings --
MR. GIBBS: I'll let pollsters smarter than me address that.
Q Robert, when you talk about Afghanistan, the one thing that I don't hear in the strategy is defeat of the Taliban. Is defeat of the Taliban something that we must do there?
MR. GIBBS: Obviously when I talk about al Qaeda and its extremist allies, that's what we're talking about.
Q Defeating the Taliban as well?
Yes, ma'am.
Q As far as the middle class issue, it's been recently recorded that more and more middle-income people are reverting to public health clinics because they've lost their jobs, they've lost their insurance. The House bill has recommended an additional $38 billion. I just wondered does the administration in any way see this as another option to a public option? I mean, you've got clinic staff that are on salary. They don't really practice defensive medicine.
MR. GIBBS: Well, look, I think what you're pointing out, with the drop of income, we've seen an increase in the number of uninsured based on where the economy is going -- the best way to deal with that problem is bring the cost of health care down and provide an accessible and affordable route for those that don't currently have health care or have lost their health care to purchase something more stable, so that they don't, like millions of Americans, go bankrupt if they get sick. I think that's what underpins the President's entire push for comprehensive health care reform.
Q With the focus on Iran this week and the G20 and the U.N. last week, is the White House losing control of its health care message? There hasn't been anything about health care?
MR. GIBBS: No.
David.
Q Let me ask another health care question. Progressive policy advocates are complaining that the White House is not working with them to develop what would be a strong trigger. They see Olympia Snowe's idea of a trigger and her plan as being rather weak. And they're complaining that there's nothing coming from the White House on an alternative trigger that would be stronger, robust, that might be a compromise position with House Democrats. Your response?
MR. GIBBS: David, I have to admit I haven't seen that. I will go ask Nancy-Ann and others about that. Obviously, I think you've heard the President on any number of occasions discuss the strong need for choice and competition robustly to be in this bill; that without it we're not going to have what needs to happen to bring down health care costs and provide accessibility. I haven't seen the direct criticism. I'll check.
Yes.
Q With the White House already weighing in on local elections, state elections in Colorado, Virginia and New York, is there going to be a lot more of this as 2010 gets closer? Is this going to be a standard procedure for the White House to get involved in local races?
MR. GIBBS: Well, when you say "local races" you mean --
Q Well, I mean congressional and gubernatorial.
MR. GIBBS: Right. I think the President will be an active participant in the elections in 2010. I don't think there's any doubt about that.
Q Well, how significant is the White House role going to be in these elections?
MR. GIBBS: Well, I think we have a significant interest in how they turn out. I think the President will put -- we've got a long way before that -- put our best case forward in 2010, and support candidates that share his vision for long-term sustainable economic growth.
Q Over the weekend former President Clinton came out for support of same-sex marriage, and he called his previous position against it "untenable." What does the President think about that?
MR. GIBBS: I have not talked to him and -- I did not see President Clinton's comments and I haven't talked directly to him about it.
Q On Afghanistan and on Iran, there's a question that's been floating around really since the Vietnam War. If a significant majority of the American people continuously say they are opposed to build up involvement in Afghanistan, is the President obligated to listen to the American people or go on his own?
MR. GIBBS: Well, look, I've talked about this a little in the past. I think the President clearly is going to make a decision that he believes is in the best interest of the national security of this country. At a point in which the final decision gets made, he'll explain directly to the American people what that decision is and why he thinks it's the best one.
Q Will public opinion polls play any role in his --
Q At this point, is there --
Q -- that strong statement you made, we're about to confront on behalf of the world, do you include military confrontation?
MR. GIBBS: I think the President and Secretary Gates both said that it would be a mistake to take any option off the table.
Sam.
Q Yes, sorry if I'm late to the game on this, but is the White House concerned at all about the scaling back of the proposed consumer financial protection agency away from what it envisioned when it was introduced? And what kind of steps is the administration willing to take to make sure it's kept intact?
MR. GIBBS: This is a big concern of the President's and a big concern of the administration. I think we have seen what happens, whether it's credit card companies, mortgage companies; we now see it more in stories covering the charges for bank overdrafts and the amount of money that that costs of the American people each year; that the American people deserve an advocate on their behalf dealing with these entities. The President believes that strongly and believes that at the end of the day, we'll have a strong consumer finance protection agency working on behalf of the American people --
Q Is he willing not to sign a bill if he thinks it's too weak?
MR. GIBBS: The President would not sign any bill that he thought was too weak.
Q On the defense spending bill now before the Senate, do you feel like that's free enough of earmarks to avoid a veto?
MR. GIBBS: Well, look, I know that some of the most egregious spending on behalf of the administration was and is addressed. We've talked in here about the F-22. We've talked about the alternative engine program for the F-35. We've talked about a series of presidential helicopters that the President did not believe was necessary. And we want to see that most of all addressed in this bill. I have not talked specifically with Legislative Affairs about the other stuff.
Q Is that a veto threat, then, if the consumer financial protection agency --
MR. GIBBS: The President will fight for and fight against anybody in the special interests who don't see it as an important part of financial regulatory reform.
Q Will he veto a bill without that included?
MR. GIBBS: I'm sorry?
Q Will he veto a bill that doesn't include it?
MR. GIBBS: We're confident that it will be in a final bill that he's able to sign.
Q And what about a veto threat on the defense authorization? If you guys see too many earmarks in this, will you veto that?
MR. GIBBS: I'll ask Legislative Affairs. Again, I think the largest earmarks that we wanted to be addressed -- the presidential helicopter and the two airplanes -- are first and foremost on our mind.
Thanks, guys.
END 1:47 P.M. EDT
#111-09/29/2009
call the holy spirit...Osama bin Alladen...Recent letter to symbolize several things Especially when concerned with bin Alladen to the Palestinian conflict and Israel The purpose of this concern is to bring volunteers to terrorism Any incitement of Muslim peoples to me this issue Exploit the situation to clean its image crimes Why did not care previously Now he needs a new generation of terrorists Sad thing now is to try to enter some Jews to Jerusalem this mosque, causing the war Dinh All of which help Osama to reach its destination Propagation of the black Control of the minds angry easily...
Must control the anger Jews
CALL THE HOLY SPIRIT...TO U.S.A...TO Congress...TO Glenn Beck...TO Mayor Bud Norris the mayor of Mount Vernon...
Do you forget Jesus said Why earn a man if he gains the whole world And loses his Himself... We do not accept hatred and selfishness among us sir Glenn Beck Is the residue of the past in your life Last made you Look at everything Consideration Very bad you Love seeing people make mistakes The problem is that of walking on the road to the right is wrong for you Which goes in through the black And which cuts Link to the nation As did you follow In Congress When he said that a person is boycotting the speech of President Obama You are a liar Why, because I felt the success of the process of change and everyone supported We want to make up for the past 8 years and prosperity the nation to the highest of progress and development in everything and the beginning of human rights reform health care system President Obama is the dream of America that has been achieved Is the result of a great effort by the Americans who are jealous On their countries Nation, the country heaven earth and You are Like you is not fit to be his key to Mount Vernon It's a crime against the city You are the holder of the mental Imprison ideas Astray The time of racism Trying to make President Obama a racist against the white race America is not black and white America is the spirit of one And proved that when he was chosen Obama to be president of the country Tell me when you meet the audience and asks a question the interest of the country Is the will be answer You are a liar Or spreads rumors and black thoughts I feel compassion for who listens to you You are playing to people's lives And do not love your country... Mayor Bud Norris thank you! Because you will hand over the key to the likes of Glenn Beck Christ was crucified in order to atone for sins And you live in the sins of the past are not yours...You have to starts again because remorse Does not benefit you Before losing the love of people... HOLY SPIRIT Daughter of Ms.OPRAH WINFRY Mother Angels
Thank you must donate in order to become a member I am if I have the money will not wait for one request that I donate I'm not a human being ordinary As some of you say my Suffering is written Is that adorn those messages and make them unpopular when people Ordinary people Are prevented from entering the school life Study
Everything is available to have Receive certificates of high In the field of study And senior positions But, unfortunately, can not even shake the smaller twigs I am unlike thoseHOLY SPIRITDaughter of Ms.OPRAH WINFRY Mother Angels
call the holy spirit...TO sir Senator Jeff Bingaman...We need a new law in education...The right to protect the future... Knowledge is light ignorance shame...Science is the water of life for all nations... In the past I Failure in the study because of the problems the family atmosphere in the home does not allow me to focus Sometimes deliberately I fail study, it is kind of protest There is no one go to him to get out of this cycle if they were aware of the problems in the school family that uses a source of ridicule rather than help The State does not care for these problems, although it incurred the losses, instead of looking for and find solutions Such a situation to protect the future which is tomorrow for the nation There are many reasons why people leave school before Pokerschool Social conditions, poverty, family problems, divorce, father and mother But can overcome these problems by providing a physical component and the human element Provide support for the poor range that enables them to complete the study, such as scholarships And the creation of Competitions That motivate students to succeed To give special lectures for parents to increase awareness and responsibility Or to impose a tax on those who have not completed secondary education Do not forget The human factor specialist in the field of science of human development Is the science of self-development and character building, which are discussed all the issues of life and how to discover and acquire the skills development and self-development, and applications in life and business Can say that the human development dimensions The first is concerned with the level of human growth in various stages of life to the development of human capabilities, its potential physical, mental, psychological, social, skill, spiritual .... The second dimension is that the human development process related to the investment of resources, inputs and economic activities that generate wealth and production of human capacity development through support for the development of structures and institutional structures that allow participation and use of various capacities in all people The educational structure needs To this article Basic Summarized in the form of curriculum Incentive for students can be resorted to solve the problems In order to continue and overcome my obstacles in life this see the books in this science Which gives me power to continue... When I found the opportunity to study in another city and stay away from the house I am relieved And I was hard-working very well First in class But the joy is not complete Obtained divorce between my mother and father And to reject all of them bear the cost of the study because the study in a private school my Brother my sister Do not sell your future and leave the study is the lifeboat in this life treacherous It does not offend yourself and leave the school you are very lucky If you have everything And parents are working hard to provide everything for you to become the best Do not miss the opportunity Endeavored endeavored endeavored nation needs you...
HOLY SPIRIT Daughter of Ms.OPRAH WINFRY Mother Angels...
CALL THE HOLY SPIRIT...TO Republican Party...TO Mr.Michael Steele... For my people who live at the mercy of the economic crisis...
Why forget history It attests to the humanitarian work Struggling for equality and equal opportunities and to maintain the cohesion of the family By refusing Enactment of the law that contribute to the disintegration of society, such as gay marriage.Republicans refuse to raise taxes on American citizens and low income.The party was credited with the adoption of policies that led to the liberation of African-Americans from slavery, as the idea of founding the party emerged from the liberation of slaves in the nineteenth century In the book a success story of Dr. Condoleezza Reyes Said the writer Antonia The story of father Condi involvement In the Republican Party This was during the period Excellence Racism John Rice went to the Democratic Party to participate in the election, but one of them asked him to guess how many grains of beans in a bottle, if the will to participate in the elections And went to the Republican Party, which opened the door, without distinction Because it belongs to the nation It does not matter the difference in color...What is important is you are an American...Suffered a great loss because of the administration of President George W. Bush, accompanied by wars and destruction and economic crises of the United States and the world.Start anew without the stand in the way of change because it is for you To contribute to the legislation and the issuance And Law Reform Contributed to this reform of the health care system We need a new system due to aftershocks from the economic crisis that caused damage to the community You are the soul of society that serves the public interest You ended the era of slavery Ended the suffering of the nation in health care Your support to change It does not support the special interests For he cause of the disaster Economic crisis For my people who need it in the future Support Change ... HOLY SPIRITDaughter of Ms OPRAH WINFRY Mother Angels
Thus the history books on your book
CALL THE HOLY SPIRIT...For my people who live at the mercy of the economic crisis...
Yes Those who reject the new plan for the health care system This is something that contributes to increasing economic and social situation worse In order to contribute to the elimination of the economic crisis We need a new plan for the health care system we need to support President Obama that he change...
HOLY SPIRITDaughter of Ms OPRAH WINFRY Mother Angels
CALL THE HOLY SPIRIT...TO spirit Senator Ted Kennedy...TO U.S.A...Annihilate the body and the spirit remains...my people Do not forget your share of the inheritance...
I will not tell you goodbye Annihilate the body and the spirit remains Because your soul is still Sponsor, caring my people march Through the grant , which grant virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well-being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts. His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives -- in seniors who know new dignity; in families that know new opportunity; in children who know education's promise; and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just, including me. In the United States Senate, I can think of no one who engendered greater respect or affection from members of both sides of the aisle. His seriousness of purpose was perpetually matched by humility, warmth and good cheer. He battled passionately on the Senate floor for the causes that he held dear, and yet still maintained warm friendships across party lines. And that's one reason he became not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy Kennedy family loyalty, and sacrifice for the sake of others the individual merits This is one of their comparative When other little thing Is a school Where History left the door open for the future For you my people This is the legacy Functioning in the same way Think of others before thinking of yourself So he was doing Senator Ted Kennedy...You live in the heart And the mind step by step In order to complete the mission in the future You and Guide And the Spirit hugged 50 stars Why goodbye...HOLY SPIRITDaughter of Ms.OPRAH WINFRY Mother Angels
CALL THE HOLY SPIRIT... TO Sri Lankan government...TO Congress...TO the United Nations...TO Court of International Justice...TO World...For the my people...Ask for mercy...The Sri Lankan government Where is the democracy When you stand against the will of the my people Living in fear of torture and executions, abductions and sexual violence Are you a political Policy is will be a Skillful In the treatment of others Call you to liberate the civilians from the nightmare of civil war And violations of civil rights Leave my people out of the camp Is just a child Before you lose people's support in the future And move Support Others Tamil Tigers...
Mr. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
bloody civil war ended 3 months ago, yet right now almost 300,000 civilians are being held captive inside military-run internment camps that operate like prisons. Trapped between the Sri Lankan Army and rebel Tamil Tigers during the final months of combat, they've been interned behind barbed wire with no government plan for setting them free or returning them home When you visit a cemetery to the humanitarian And opened the door to a scene in itself Rights Is no longer a human being At least 50,000 of the detainees are children Weapon in the human To win battles and the pressure on the world Weapon Is patent plucking out Hands of the game And put handcuff Place game Although he did not understand how to play after the manner of adult And to make the walls of the house with barbed wire Not to learn Fee tomorrow Is this enough Became world drive United Nations No longer subject to the authority UN Subject only if he wanted money...Mr. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Where is the Covenant for the Protection of Human Humanity hideousness The duty of the Organization, as I learned in school... Madam Court of International Justice Do I have to adjourn for you LAWSUIT To be fair my people The re-consideration and dignity of humanity You are justice in this world The humanitarian aspect gives you the right to sue The oppressed in this country Can not speak Punishment Who speaks Torture, rape murder kidnapping...
Sir Congress You are led the United World to learn from you World laws influence your The Sri Lankan government Needs to learn how to give the civil rights of mankind hear your voice strong Your Voice...HOLY SPIRIT Daughter of Ms.OPRAH WINFRY Mother Angels
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am excited to let you know that I have arrived in Charlotte, NC as the new Regional Field Director for Organizing for America. I arrive in the midst of a historic health care debate and I can tell by the chatter in the streets that you are as fired up about health care change as I am! I want you to know that I am here to support you in your efforts to bring about the change that we all seek. I hope to help provide structure and direction to our movement so that we in Charlotte are working together as a strong and cohesive team. I want to urge you to join me for a brief informative meeting and Q & A session so that I can reveal to you much of the future that will be a part of OFA in Charlotte but also to hear from you about your concerns. Please sign up and join me at one of the following meeting opportunities next week! 1) Wednesday, August 26, 2009. Independence Library
6000 conference dr Charlotte, NC 28212
7:00 - 8:30 PM http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpffht 2) Thursday, August 27, 2009 Freedom Regional Library
1230 Alleghany Street Charlotte, NC 28208 7:00 - 8:30 PM http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpffhr
For questions or concerns please email me at brownk@dnc.org Sincerely, Kevin Brown Regional Field Director Organizing for America
By Franklin Katunda
Washington DC -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was asked a very central question on US economic interests in Central Africa at a forum in Kinshasa, DR Congo. Unfortunately, an inquiry most Congolese have called insightful in regards to the US-Congo relations got “lost in translation”. Not only, had it lost its significance in the media coverage, but worst, given their slacking pleasure not to look into news tips and details, US media networks condensed it into another Clinton’s “saut d’humeur” sound bite.
A “key” question stolen by just another “sound bite”
This was, indeed, a very momentous question ever asked to a top US official in public by a citizen of Congo about the US-Congo relationship: China’s government economic engagement in the DR Congo, in the light of what the US-Congo cooperation should had been. The question was put out of context by a staffer who (apparently) did not understand the Congo’s accent of the student who spoke the French language, and provided a bad translation to Madam Secretary.
First, it is a shame for the State Department to recruit a language poorly-skilled staff to the highest US diplomatic affairs’ cabinet, regretfully. Than the media coverage of the forum was curtailed in the frenzy that always worships and longs for the Clinton buzz. Newscasters focused more on what they think Madam Secretary wanted to convey to Africans on her abilities vs. former president Clinton to bring about a new era in US-Congo relationships.
Result: The “I’m the Secretary of State, not my husband” was headlined on front pages of newspapers and 30 seconds “sound bite” played all day on every American TV network. The Daily News and the New York Post and others quickly “Xeroxed” the AP breaking news for their morning (August 11th) cover page. American listeners and viewers were unfairly fed with a sound bite played on almost every network, even though US journalists recognized the incident turns out to be a wrong translation of what the student’s question really meant. Interesting, business TV channels such as CNN-Money, CNBC and others Bloomberg News should have had interest in covering the story but all seem to have missed the ball… Or simply did not elaborate on another China’s gain over the US in the world’s business competition we have been losing at every inch of the way.
The release of the recorded-translation clearly casts a (female) voice translating the question by University of Kinshasa’s student (a young man), and it reads: (about the China and Congo’s relationships…)”What does Mr. Clinton think through the mouth of Mrs. Clinton, and what does Mutombo think about?” instead of translating: “What does Mr. President think through the mouth of Mrs. Clinton, and what does Mutombo think about?” The real argument here that one can make sense out of is to just think this: What if the incident played good for the US diplomat who happened lucky to not even dodge the question? Students from all over the world like President Obama, and students in Congo understand their aspirations in regards to the current US Administration. Any reference to Bill Clinton to reflect on China-Congo relationships won’t even cross their minds a beat, given the former president’s background on the Great Lakes conflict since the 90s.What strikes me, as I write this opinion piece here, is that the media did not extensively comment on Madam Secretary’s response, even after a clarification was made about the true meaning of the question.
Just as many Americans have not learned any consistent news on Congo’s fate in past decades. Meanwhile, China has gain significant economic interests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan, as reported several informed-organizations. The US has been on the side lines, had timidly and sometimes just rhetorically referred to their will to “work with” these war-torn nations in order to help them recover, instead they did not effectively engage them economically.
The US government failed, to a large extent, to support them with conflict resolution during the invasion of the Eastern Congo region, the horrific mass killings in both Sudan’s Darfur region and Congo while complaining, for more than a decade, about the violence borne of sequences of civil unrests. America talked “human rights” when it comes to consequences of the war (rape and violence on civilians) but did too little when it comes to put pressure on the governments of Congo and Sudan, while China did none of these things and would never even refer to the observance of human rights when they strike a business deal. In facts, it’s not a secret to anyone that China, still a totalitarian regime, has made huge progress in economic development and diplomacy although a “red” regime. China seats on the UN Security Council without being questioned too much on plans it has to protecting and respecting the rights of its own citizens.
A call to US Media to factually and objectively report on African Affairs
A Huffington Post website writer critiqued the lack of depth in facts by US media coverage of the Congo’s conflict that required 17,000 UN peacekeepers to intervene, and yet unsuccessfully pacified. Georgianne Nienaber wrote that we (reporters) “owe Africa the same kind of attention to detail and accuracy in reporting. There is a certain sloppiness that happens in reports from Africa, and we can all do better”, she said.
A few newspapers like the NYT which report on DR Congo every other 6 weeks, sometimes with just a few short articles lost in pages 6 or 10; reporters negligently write without really attracting US scholars and citizens’ curiosity on the Congo’s crisis when, ironically, this war has been called the “worst armed conflict involving many countries since the World War II”. Radio, TV commentators and producers turn away from citizens’ calls and emails when contacted to speak out and to contribute in news analysis about the Congo during their show casts.
I personally was a guest-contributor on US-African Affairs with Voice of America (VOA) in Washington DC, and I sat down on a radio/web-TV panel that debated on the post-Congo’s 2006 presidential elections. My opinions on the topic, as always, were so pointed and my account of facts very challenging versus the scripted version they had. It’s safe to say that they did not align with the producers’ talking points on the DRC crisis, and (reason why) I never got invited again, despite my calls, emails and offers to contribute in months that followed. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and reporter Lisa Ling for the Oprah Show played a praised but risky role when reporting stories of rape, violence and genocide in the Eastern Congo during the Bush Administration.
Anderson went with President Obama to Ghana to report on the history at slave trade site, but Anderson’s CNN remained silent on Hillary Clinton’s trip to the DR Congo… No special report, not even a press correspondent was seen to be on Clinton’s plane to Congo… Why? MSNBC only played that sound bite over a “lost in translation” question, without reporting or calling for a news analysis on the question and the town hall’s highlights. Chief foreign affairs correspondent Andrea Mitchell invited on three shows in two days following Monday’s forum just elaborated on what may have gone wrong with the secretary of state as a person.
What a shame to reap a worst news spotlight with such unfairness in journalism, when so many human rights advocates, bloggers, Congolese and American scholars in US, activists like Kambale Musavuli of Friends of the Congo, Jean Kamba, Abraham Luakabuanga, John Pendergast or my-self; book writers, freelance photographers and even lawmakers like former GA Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney worked hard and took risks of their careers, calling for years for an exclusive spotlight on Congo since the war started?
Recent developments on the ground
The bigger Congo’s picture here is that investigative journalists in US still ignore the magnitude of the civil unrest and violence between militias, and more the illicit exploitation of minerals in Congo’s conflict zones. A recent government “launch of the operation Kimia II in the DR Congo has seen a spike in the number of sexual assaults against the women of the Kivu’s”, wrote in an editorial, Scott Morgan, web-editor of the “Confused Eagle.” One key problem, he wrote, is that the “FARDC (Government of the Democratic Congo’s Armed Forces) is not able to sustain combat operations against the Rwanda’s FDLR.
As part of the Peace Accord, the Government in Kinshasa has instructed its army (FARDC) to integrate some of the former Militia Groups into the Regular Armed Forces. The FDLR have had bases in the region since they were driven out of Rwanda, after the horrific genocide of 1994.” The FDLR (Hutu Rwandans) “have a tactical advantage of knowing the terrain” in the Kivu provinces compared to the Congolese government forces, writes Morgan.
A columnist in LA Times, Helen Winternitz, said that the Eastern region of Congo has been set by civil wars for a decade, a horrifying symptom of breakdowns through the entire government. The undisciplined Congolese army and the various militias combating the FDLR use rape as a weapon of war. As many as 200,000 women and girls have been raped, some men mutilated to the point of death in what is described as the world's worst episode in mass killing and sexual violence.
Meanwhile, on an unprecedented twist since August 1998, Rwanda and Congo’s heads of state orchestrated a quick meeting in Goma, Kivu to normalize their diplomatic relations (under US’ recommendations?) … What do the two leaders discuss when they met in Goma, days before Clinton’s trip in Congo? Not much consistent is known about. The Tutsi General Laurent Nkunda (a Rwandan-born rebel), who terrorized the Kivu’s civilian population under Congo’s “laid up” President Kabila’s watch (his accomplice), was arrested a few days before the inauguration of Barack Obama, after he benefited with an impressive military logistic support from Rwandan President Paul Kagame (his mastermind). So many unreported happenings, news stories out there…
Congolese Bloggers and Web-news critiqued some of Hillary Clinton sayings
Although Mrs. Clinton was overwhelmingly welcomed in Kinshasa, Congo’s capital city, the Agence France Press (AFP) reports that she faced “some tough questions from students.” Questions from students at a forum in Kinshasa were worth being reported in western media, and of course only a few European and Congolese local newspapers commented on.
The American public and even some high government officials don’t know the history and the recent happenings in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), and if the conventional media won’t help with the matter, perhaps “citizen journalism” took over with tools like i-report, twitter, you tube, facebook, hundreds of Congolese news websites and many other independent blogs are beginning to help build networks of African news sharing in US. I’m not sure this can fight the coalition of powerful press agencies like the well-known AP, Reuters, AFP, Belga, Xinhua… But it’s been making a whole difference in shaping the public opinion.Signs of progress in social networking being noticed in Congo; residents of Kinshasa by-passed some of these traditional media who either report for either side of the story and just missed the point.
One web-twitter present at the forum (August 10th at 8:39 AM our time) wrote: “Town Hall ended a short while ago, that was pretty exciting, seeing HRC, Fox News, Secret Service and Mutombo in one room.” Another person twitted on Clinton’s address to Congolese students, reporting what she said at that very moment: “I came here to talk to you students before anyone in your government; I expect more transparency from your government” US News media would not broadcast even on a 30 seconds sound bite that: “A student told Clinton, to applause from the crowd, that underdevelopment (of DR Congo) stemmed from a long history of Western exploitation in the resource-rich nation, once notoriously the private fiefdom of Belgium's King Leopold II…”, as reported the AFP here.
Digging deep on the forum’s aftermath, one of the US top diplomat’s answers to Congolese created an outrage in many circles in Kinshasa; when Mrs. Clinton refused to “look back to the past”, saying she (the US) wants to “work with people who are seeking for a good future, not those who refer to the past.” An online blogger for hinterland wrote an open-letter back to Clinton saying: “This one sentence from your answers to the forum in Kinshasa is very saddening, and brings wordiness among the Congolese people, which is still traumatized by a 13 years-long war.
Your country, the US, wrote Roger Puati, wants to work with the Congolese people while suggesting that we live by your way of thinking: Never refer to the past… Meaning forget the humiliation we have endured for 10 years and even more for the past 50 years?” An expert on Central African Affairs and author of “East along the Equator”, Helen Winternitz writes in an Op-ed that “When Congo emerged from the vicious colonial rule of Belgium; the United States empowered and, as a Cold War tactic, supported Mobutu Sese Seko. Utilizing the dictator was considered a legitimate tool by American policymakers who did not worry about the long-term consequences. Mobutu fathered the corrupt and dysfunctional mode of governing that now plagues the country.
”Another Congolese appalled by Clinton’s remarks, Jean-Pierre Mbelu writes on a French/Flemish language website Congoforum.be: “In our faces, Mrs. Clinton asks us (Congolese) to turn the page on a past that holds more than 5 millions of lost lives ! “What about this? Secretary Clinton calls for trials on soldiers who raped in war zones without referring to their foreign chief-allies, past US administration’s officials and multinationals involved in secretly supporting or carrying out the invasion in the DR Congo to be tried as well or called on for their wrong deeds… Is that how the US will work with us?”
What if anything the Department of State should learn from this?
“Obama, who took an interest in Congo when he was in the Senate, has inherited the moral responsibility to make amends and help the Congolese build a government that actually works on their behalf”, says in an Op-Ed, Winternitz. The Senate bill S. 2125 from the 109th US Congress on the Democratic Republic of Congo happened to be the only foreign policy, Mr. Barack Obama (then US Senator) initiated with a bi-partisan support from twelve other US Democrat and Republican Senators. In the light of that 2006 congressional law signed by George Bush, the Obama administration cannot afford lose its “own” message.
Madame Secretary Clinton should be commended for meeting with students “before” meeting Congo’s officials (good move); she is to be saluted for clearly “voicing up” ( government officials including President Kabila) on the resolutions that borne from the last spring US Senate hearing on the DR Congo. A key message was to stop and prosecute the rape, used as weaponin conflict zones. This is the 111th congress senate hearing on Congo/Sudan where (as I reported earlier in Spring) California Senator Barbara Boxer (D) and the audience could not resist a heart breaking to the horrific account of scenes of rape and violence by among many, Mrs. Chouchou Namegabe, a Kivu-based Journalist and Activist.
In an open letter to Sec. Clinton, another Congolese US-based website’s owner urges, on the post Congo’s trip, the US to be practical if “work with” Congo is what they want, and get all rapists be tried in criminal courts. He proposes Clinton’s cabinet to “… send DNA technical experts to DRC to help collect DNA samples from former militias and soldiers who fought in the east of Congo and from children born out of rapes. By matching the DNA samples of children and militias in a DNA data center, wrote the web-writer, the paternity of these fatherless children will clearly be established.”
Editor Sylvester Ngoma believes that “… The criminals will then be excluded from the national army and brought to justice. Even new victims will be able to report to these data centers for DNA collection to help catch rape criminals. This approach will have several positive effects. Some soldiers will leave the national army on their own just by knowing that their DNA will be collected and kept in a data center. The parliament will need to pass a law mandating all soldiers who fought in the east of the country to comply to the "DNA as a Rape Deterrence Plan" (from Congovision)At the end of the dayHaving say all that, Secretary Hillary Clinton still needs to carefully do an unscripted facts check on Congo since the Rwanda genocide of 1994, and attentively review the history about the after 1997 invasion of the DR Congo by Rwandan and Ugandan militias (when Bill Clinton was President).
The State Department’s African Affairs division must sincerely determine what the public opinion in regards to the US responsibility in the conflict is, and then apply President Obama’s own policy. The Congo Senate Bill (as they call it) will empower Secretary Clinton to pressure on President Joseph Kabila’s governance style. Only the S2125 bill would help them to measure up the progress in security and the observance of human rights towards the people of Congo, and then she can finally masterfully avoid alienate, frustrate the Congolese people, but would preach the message of “Hope”, accompanied with an engaging economic and bi-lateral cooperation the US failed in the past 8 years.
It has to be known that above and beyond the differences of cultures, languages and the issue of proximity, Congo shares a common history with the US, citing the past “Cold War” as an illustration; Congo (ex-Zaire) has gone out of the way to contribute through the generosity of its people, the use of its territory militarily, its strategic resources, minerals and intelligence to strengthen US national security and preserve its interests not only in the Continental Africa, but here at home and around the world.
Fifty years since Congo’s independence, and considering the potential level of cooperation both countries can still develop, our commitment at Congoboston.com to write ( please read: to accurately translate) the opinion of the Congolese people from their French heritage to English, and into the American mainstream media, I strongly hope that today’s message of “Hope” to Congo will NOT be lost in translation again.
An Opinion Editorial by Franklin Katunda, in Washington DC
Franklin is a freelance web-writer; chief-editor for Congoboston.com. Barack Obama surrogate, expert in US politics and foreign Affairs, he actively worked for 2 years within the presidential campaign and is member of OFA, Organizing for America.
© August 18th 2009, Congoboston.com
call the holy spirit...TO Congress...TO Good people...Thank you Senator urges Burma And others... For the my people...
Continued to support The spirit of humanity Aung San Suu Kyi I ask all of you to do He was part of a humanitarian Not to fail to provide support and assistance Why Your world listens You say Have the right Do justice to the oppressed And granted to justice and freedom You are leading the United I am very proud of this initiative is good I hope that everything will continue to bid on the same level of internal and external to the country Health care...Referendum 71...That good faith Love the direction that humanity Love the direction this country His being brought up on this earth It is history, I learned You say thank you for the 50 Star... I was sad, but this gesture Stand Up my Sorrow I feel comfortable, the spirit of humanity to exist in the world thank you...
HOLY SPIRITDaughter of Ms.OPRAH WINFRY Mother Angels
call the holy spirit...TO U.S.A...TO Congress...For the My people...I hear the voice of truth...past Door Open to know the truth...You are made of the future ....
In the past, were not important Not thinking of you When it sees you Paint on your page Black clouds He tells you Do not be afraid that the rain Irrigate planting for Tomorrow But the cloud mask Truth Put your right Blown by the wind Wind mere Lied Movement of the victim's hope for tomorrow Result stolen future Economic crisis When asked about the solution During the elections Response was Distorted The life of President Obama Rumors and lying Lost time Without having the solution But President Obama to do the contrary, the Accompanied of good people Sailed in the flood of Noah's Ark Although the wave is very high Everyone knows the difficulty of it and he carried a heavy Group continued to work and are accompanied by The apportionment of shared dream of your worries and your thoughts Chose the captain The Holy Spirit in the inner you Your guide to the OBAMA ... Now to complete the road to change Is something you have the right Health care Is mere the beginning Completed road Stay away from the black cloud Good to see tomorrow... 8ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses. Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26. Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick. Learn more and get details: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/ 8 common myths about health insurance reform Reform will stop "rationing" - not increase it: It’s a myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies. We can’t afford reform: It's the status quo we can't afford. It’s a myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the President has identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs; ending big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with such steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long term, reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a fiscal crisis. Reform would encourage "euthanasia": It does not. It’s a malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. For seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about end-of life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private consultations for those who want help with these personal and difficult family decisions. Vets' health care is safe and sound: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President's budget significantly expands coverage under the VA, extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously excluded. The VA Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible veterans. Reform will benefit small business - not burden it: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to help them pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average. Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It’s myth that Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of Medicare, ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare "doughnut" hole to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors. You can keep your own insurance: It’s myth that reform will force you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them. No, government will not do anything with your bank account: It is an absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts. Health insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and more convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose. Just like paying a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or by a direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they will be easier to understand. The choice is up to you – and the same rules of privacy will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people make. Learn more and get details: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/faq 8 Reasons We Need Health Insurance Reform Now Coverage Denied to Millions: A recent national survey estimated that 12.6 million non-elderly adults – 36 percent of those who tried to purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance market – were in fact discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition in the previous three years or dropped from coverage when they became seriously ill. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/denied_coverage/index.html Less Care for More Costs: With each passing year, Americans are paying more for health care coverage. Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times faster than wages. In 2008, the average premium for a family plan purchased through an employer was $12,680, nearly the annual earnings of a full-time minimum wage job. Americans pay more than ever for health insurance, but get less coverage. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hiddencosts/index.html Roadblocks to Care for Women: Women’s reproductive health requires more regular contact with health care providers, including yearly pap smears, mammograms, and obstetric care. Women are also more likely to report fair or poor health than men (9.5% versus 9.0%). While rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are similar to men, women are twice as likely to suffer from headaches and are more likely to experience joint, back or neck pain. These chronic conditions often require regular and frequent treatment and follow-up care. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/women/index.html Hard Times in the Heartland: Throughout rural America, there are nearly 50 million people who face challenges in accessing health care. The past several decades have consistently shown higher rates of poverty, mortality, uninsurance, and limited access to a primary health care provider in rural areas. With the recent economic downturn, there is potential for an increase in many of the health disparities and access concerns that are already elevated in rural communities. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hardtimes Small Businesses Struggle to Provide Health Coverage: Nearly one-third of the uninsured – 13 million people – are employees of firms with less than 100 workers. From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. Much of this decline stems from small business. The percentage of small businesses offering coverage dropped from 68% to 59%, while large firms held stable at 99%. About a third of such workers in firms with fewer than 50 employees obtain insurance through a spouse. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/helpbottomline The Tragedies are Personal: Half of all personal bankruptcies are at least partly the result of medical expenses. The typical elderly couple may have to save nearly $300,000 to pay for health costs not covered by Medicare alone. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction Diminishing Access to Care: From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. An estimated 87 million people - one in every three Americans under the age of 65 - were uninsured at some point in 2007 and 2008. More than 80% of the uninsured are in working families. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction/diminishing/index.html The Trends are Troubling: Without reform, health care costs will continue to skyrocket unabated, putting unbearable strain on families, businesses, and state and federal government budgets. Perhaps the most visible sign of the need for health care reform is the 46 million Americans currently without health insurance - projections suggest that this number will rise to about 72 million in 2040 in the absence of reform. Learn more: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/assets/documents/CEA_Health_Care_Report.pdf Continue with the same strength and the will to achieve the right And support those who support you are Like President Obama... First Lady Michele Obama... Senator Jeff Bingaman ... Master Bill White... Senator JeFF Bingaman ... Catholic Democrats ... Sen. Maria Cantwell ...Jason Carter, Democrats Work ...Blog.AIDS.gov...Washington Families Referendum 71 ...Organizing for America OFA... You support the spirit of humanity Aung San Suu Kyi Support each of the sacrifice for you Does not support those who support the private interest Do not support companies Stolen money You have the right Long list Follow the truth and continues to bring about change ... lift Pens lift and paper Dried... HOLY SPIRIT Daughter of Ms. OPRAH WINFRY Mother Angels
call the holy spirit...TO World...TO Humanity...TO Myanmar...TO Sr. Gen. Than Shwe...TO Gen. Thein Sein...TO Military Council...TO Union of Myanmar... For the MY people... We need a spirit of humanity Aung San Suu Kyi...YES YES YES For Happiness lies in living harmoniously disciplined Do not forget you Who wrote this Why Because the history of the country a great You are in the past, I was fighting for freedom flag of the country And the slogan of the country Decorated with the stars You are the stars But there is a missing star Because he loves freedom She in Prison The spirit of humanity in prisonLived on this earth Of the Irrawaddy River, taught how to drink the meaning of freedomThis is something to make it in the summit And the world be proud of it The world is waiting to be proven who you are Walking through the new route Change the way It is an opportunity We and the world need a spirit of humanity Aung San Suu Kyi YES YES YES Give support and guidance Make it part of the Military Council YES Give the opportunity For the public interest Let him participate in the governance Leadership in humanitarian And guidance you We need a spirit of humanity Do not forget We are one spirit Despite the different color the language of religion We can live with us Because the spirit of humanity uniting hearts This is something that makes us distinctive in the world These steps make the world process moral support and material You write a new page For the my people World calls For the conduct in this way For freedom, which taught me For the soul of humanity and the world we needYou are not forgotten You love freedom...HOLY SPIRIT
Daughter of Ms.OPRAH WINFRY Mother Angels
call the holy spirit...TO U.S.A...TO Congress...For the My people...Health care( my right) and Referendum 71 (BALANCE)...Health care( my right)... It is impossible that things remain the same Why Reason It enacted the life...Why wave in the sea In order to prevent corruption of the water Wave Move and change of life at sea...Why oppose reform Because of the economic crisis Make the plight of the grant Objection Sign of the deficit Or you would prefer interest Your Special Your support For the benefit of your nation is your support to the country's future The intention is good to the nation from support the idea of Special Your If it does not support the right of the people Think of the future You Do you feel sad when they see a queue of people to obtain food Free Your responsibility to this country to protect the nation from these things Say no This is not the solution Give alternative Health care system reform Do you know what the problem You refuse to change Always in the evolution of life you have to keep pace with development Economic crisis curse And I consider the blessing Why Which defines existent Poverty Discovered defect laws Hear the sound of suffering View of things You refuse to see by So the economy is subject to the nature of the environment Opportunity for the formation of the green community Does not know poverty Something to protect human life in the future Of all the risks for everyone to adjust to life today Soldiers of science The Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental...Please tell me what about the future Learn to live a new way Protect the natural environment is always victorious, even on the economy and politics For the my people Call you make to support the reform, the new holiday gift is a token of love change the direction of this nation and the country The way you Long Now we must start I tire of you the writing and thinking and research It hard for me Although each I sacrifice And people say you give me my rights... Referendum 71 (BALANCE)... If the balance will be disturbed And lost the equilibrium of life become corrupt Life goes on between two Women and men In order to continue life And continue to the Offspring of human In the universe and to maintain a presence Life to the need of women and men God makes life on this basis A male and a female But why split Law to protect all the civil rights of all Only need to introduce change for the benefit of all Change is to accept the existence of the defect and repair People are born, and They white paper However, the environment and society Is that paper makes Lose color White No one is born an example of sexual But to sustain life must be reformed, this defect without ignore this category I am against this defect But it is a duty towards the community to think the solution in order to maintain the moral and spiritual values to future generations...
And tell me nation must continue and make our voices heard To continue in the same ways in which to make the change to win the presidential election We need to struggle in all cases the same zeal And you as well as contributing to building the country's municipal councils Because it is in Central Heard by the world Where your voice...
Daughter of Ms.OPRAH WINFRY Mother of Angels
