Today: President Obama Heads To Chicago For 50th Birthday Fundraisers

Campaign support is the birthday gift the President wants most, says OFA's Jeremy Bird...Birthday House Parties scheduled across US...
Despite the protracted debt battle, the White House has had President Obama's 50th Birthday Bash campaign fundraiser on his official schedule since Friday. The President will arrive in Chicago at 6:00 PM this evening for a big party at the Aragon Entertainment Center on the Northside, with dinner and performances by Chicago natives Jennifer Hudson, Herbie Hancock and OK GO.

Ticket prices range from $50 per person to $35,800 per couple. At the start of the festivities, at 7:00 PM, the President will speak via video conference at more than 1,000 Obama for America Birthday House Parties for supporters that are being held across the US, and deliver two more sets of remarks during the evening. The President will return to the White House tonight, and there will be a private Rose Garden birthday party on Thursday to celebrate his milestone.

No other details of the party, first reported Chicago Sun-Times' Lynn Sweet, have been released.

"Wednesday also happens to be the day before the President's 50th birthday -- and our work to build this campaign through this kind of solid grassroots organizing is the sort of gift he'll appreciate most," Jeremy Bird, National Field Director for OFA, said in an email inviting supporters to attend the Birthday House Parties.

The Aragon...
At the Aragon, op donors, at $35,800 per couple, get dinner and seating in either the left or right balcony level for the concert, and a reception and private briefing at Obama Campaign HQ in the Prudential building. $10,000 gets a souvenir photo with President Obama at a reception and preferred seating at the concert. For $1,000, donors gets seated in a "premium section" with a "hosted bar." A general admission ticket, to stand on the floor, is $200.

The events are a benefit for the Obama Victory Fund 2012, a joint Obama 2012 re-election campaign/Democratic National Committee fund.

The President spent his 49th birthday in Chicago minus his family: First Lady Obama was on vacation in Spain with daughter Sasha, and Malia was at summer camp. He dined at graham elliot resturant with Oprah Winfrey and her pal Gayle King, as well as hometown confidantes Eric Whittaker and Marty Nesbitt. There was a private birthday BBQ at the White House on August 8th, after Mrs. Obama and Sasha returned from Spain, which featured Gulf Shrimp; the White House was beginning a big campaign to support the Gulf seafood industry, following the BP oil spill. (Above: The President waves to a cheering crowd as he leaves his birthday dinner)

*Reuters photo

read more "Today: President Obama Heads To Chicago For 50th Birthday Fundraisers"

President Obama Signs Debt-Limit Bill Into Law

"An important first step..."
Shortly after the Senate gave final approval to S. 365, the “Budget Control Act of 2011” with a vote of 74 to 26, President Obama signed the bill in a closed press non-ceremony in the Oval Office. Earlier in the day, the President made a statement in the Rose Garden; the transcript and video are below. (Above: The President signs the bill)

The House approved the legislation on Monday, and President Obama called the first round of spending cuts in the package “an important first step” in forcing the government to create a more balanced framework. (Above: The President signing the legislation)

“This compromise requires that both parties work together on a larger plan to cut the deficit,” President Obama said. “And since you can’t close the deficit with just spending cuts, we’ll need a balanced approach where everything is on the table.”

The hard-won legislation "provides for authority to increase the public debt limit by between $2.1 trillion and $2.4 trillion; establishes discretionary spending limits for FYs 2012-2021; requires the House and Senate to each vote on passage of a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution; and establishes a congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction."

The President gave Congressional leaders ten days to select the twelve "Super Committee" members, and they have until Thanksgiving to set up a framework. The text of the Budget Control Act of 2011 IS HERE.

The President's Rose Garden statement:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________

For Immediate Release
August 2, 2011

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT

Rose Garden

1:06 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody. Congress has now approved a compromise to reduce the deficit and avert a default that would have devastated our economy. It was a long and contentious debate. And I want to thank the American people for keeping up the pressure on their elected officials to put politics aside and work together for the good of the country.

This compromise guarantees more than $2 trillion in deficit reduction. It’s an important first step to ensuring that as a nation we live within our means. Yet it also allows us to keep making key investments in things like education and research that lead to new jobs, and assures that we’re not cutting too abruptly while the economy is still fragile.

This is, however, just the first step. This compromise requires that both parties work together on a larger plan to cut the deficit, which is important for the long-term health of our economy. And since you can’t close the deficit with just spending cuts, we’ll need a balanced approach where everything is on the table. Yes, that means making some adjustments to protect health care programs like Medicare so they’re there for future generations. It also means reforming our tax code so that the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations pay their fair share. And it means getting rid of taxpayer subsidies to oil and gas companies, and tax loopholes that help billionaires pay a lower tax rate than teachers and nurses.

I’ve said it before; I will say it again: We can’t balance the budget on the backs of the very people who have borne the biggest brunt of this recession. We can’t make it tougher for young people to go to college, or ask seniors to pay more for health care, or ask scientists to give up on promising medical research because we couldn’t close a tax shelter for the most fortunate among us. Everyone is going to have to chip in. It’s only fair. That’s the principle I’ll be fighting for during the next phase of this process.

And in the coming months, I’ll continue also to fight for what the American people care most about: new jobs, higher wages and faster economic growth. While Washington has been absorbed in this debate about deficits, people across the country are asking what we can do to help the father looking for work. What are we going to do for the single mom who’s seen her hours cut back at the hospital? What are we going to do to make it easier for businesses to put up that “now hiring” sign?

That’s part of the reason that people are so frustrated with what’s been going on in this town. In the last few months, the economy has already had to absorb an earthquake in Japan, the economic headwinds coming from Europe, the Arab Spring and the [rise] in oil prices -- all of which have been very challenging for the recovery. But these are things we couldn’t control. Our economy didn’t need Washington to come along with a manufactured crisis to make things worse. That was in our hands. It’s pretty likely that the uncertainty surrounding the raising of the debt ceiling -- for both businesses and consumers -- has been unsettling, and just one more impediment to the full recovery that we need. And it was something that we could have avoided entirely.

So, voters may have chosen divided government, but they sure didn’t vote for dysfunctional government. They want us to solve problems. They want us to get this economy growing and adding jobs. And while deficit reduction is part of that agenda, it is not the whole agenda. Growing the economy isn’t just about cutting spending; it’s not about rolling back regulations that protect our air and our water and keep our people safe. That’s not how we’re going to get past this recession. We’re going to have to do more than that.

And that’s why, when Congress gets back from recess, I will urge them to immediately take some steps -- bipartisan, common-sense steps -- that will make a difference; that will create a climate where businesses can hire, where folks have more money in their pockets to spend, where people who are out of work can find good jobs.

We need to begin by extending tax cuts for middle-class families so that you have more money in your paychecks next year. If you’ve got more money in your paycheck, you’re more likely to spend it. And that means small businesses and medium-sized businesses and large businesses will all have more customers. That means they’ll be in a better position to hire.

And while we’re at it, we need to make sure that millions of workers who are still pounding the pavement looking for jobs to support their families are not denied needed unemployment benefits.

Through patent reform, we can cut the red tape that stops too many inventors and entrepreneurs from quickly turning new ideas into thriving businesses -- which holds our whole economy back. And I want Congress to pass a set of trade deals -- deals we’ve already negotiated -- that would help displaced workers looking for new jobs and would allow our businesses to sell more products in countries in Asia and South America, products that are stamped with the words “Made in America.”

We also need to give more opportunities to all those construction workers out there who lost their jobs when the housing boom went bust. We could put them to work right now, by giving loans to private companies that want to repair our roads and our bridges and our airports, rebuilding our infrastructure. We have workers who need jobs and a country that needs rebuilding; an infrastructure bank would help us put them together.

And while we’re on the topic of infrastructure, there’s another stalemate in Congress right now involving our aviation industry which has stalled airport construction projects all around the country and put the jobs of tens of thousands of construction workers and others at risk -– because of politics. It’s another Washington-inflicted wound on America, and Congress needs to break that impasse now –- hopefully before the Senate adjourns -– so these folks can get back to work.

So these are some things that we could be doing right now. There’s no reason for Congress not to send me those bills so I can sign them into law right away as soon as they get back from recess. Both parties share power in Washington, and both parties need to take responsibility for improving this economy. It’s not a Democratic responsibility or a Republican responsibility; it is our collective responsibility as Americans. And I’ll be discussing additional ideas in the weeks ahead to help companies hire, invest and expand.

So, we’ve seen in the past few days that Washington has the ability to focus when there’s a timer ticking down, and when there’s a looming disaster. It shouldn’t take the risk of default -– the risk of economic catastrophe -– to get folks in this town to work together and do their jobs.

Because there’s already a quiet crisis going on in the lives of a lot of families, in a lot of communities, all across the country. They’re looking for work, and they have been for a while; or they’re making do with fewer hours or fewer customers; or they’re just trying to make ends meet. That ought to compel Washington to cooperate. That ought to compel Washington to compromise, and it ought to compel Washington to act. That ought to be enough to get all of us in this town to do the jobs we were sent here to do. We’ve got to do everything in our power to grow this economy and put America back to work. That’s what I intend to do, and I’m looking forward to working with Congress to make it happen.

Thanks very much, everybody.

END 1:14 P.M. EDT

*Photo by Pete Souza/White House

read more "President Obama Signs Debt-Limit Bill Into Law"

The Perfect Moment For Jell-Obama Shots?

As the debt "food fight" ends, "His Jello-Ness" is looking less wobbly; gelatin artist Matt Micari has the perfect recipe to calm America after weeks of default hysteria...
The Republican National Committee awarded President Obama the title "His Jello-Ness" during the protracted debt deal drama, after House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) complained that negotiating with the White House was like "dealing with Jell-O." But now that the Washington-created crisis has entered its final hours, with the deal the President announced on Sunday approved by the House on Monday and today heading for the Senate, perhaps Americans will soon be celebrating, rather than tweeting things like #fuckyouwashington. Gelatin artist Matt Micari's recipe for Salted Caramel Jell-Obama shots is a unique if ironic way for citizens to mark the fact that the financial universe has been saved from apocalypse, especially because President Obama used a number of memorable foodisms during the Congressional theatrics. Interestingly, Micari unveiled his recipe in June in New York, before the debt war of words began, to accompany his Jell-Obama bust, above, created for the Gowanus Jell-O Mold Competition. The jiggly art was in homage to the President, unlike the GOP's use of Jell-O.

The debt battle was "not the usual food fight between Democrats and Republicans," the President declared on July 22nd, in a moment of understatement. That came after he'd admonished Congressional leaders to "start talking turkey" on July 19th. Before that, the President announced on July 11th that time was running out, and it was time to "eat our peas" and do the hard work of creating a long-term budget deal. (Above: The President talks turkey)

"Eat your own peas!" was rapidly adopted by Tea Party activists, and became a popular phrase on Twitter and elsewhere. The word "damn" was frequently inserted in front of "peas." The debt deal that Americans will have to live with has now been assailed as "A Sugar-Coated Satan Sandwich," among other unsavory foods.

If celebrating seems like a bit over the top after weeks of Lawmakers Behaving Badly, Micari's Jell-Obama shots, which contain two kinds of liqueur, are at least an easy way to forget the extended nightmare. The Jell-Obama recipe is simple (click the image for a large view):

Perhaps if the shots had been freely available to Congressional Leaders during meetings at the White House and on Capitol Hill, the debt negotiations would have been far less tense. That's Micari's theory about Jell-O shots, anyway; they're perfect "ice breakers," he told Obama Foodorama. The final debt deal was actually "forged over" Chinese food, the New York Times claims.

The youth vote loved Jell-Obama...
A resident of Boston, Micari, 39, is a science teacher who worked on President Obama's 2008 Campaign. His Jell-Obama tableau for the Gowanus competition also included mini Jell-O White Houses, stars, and Obama birther mugs. Micari's entry didn't win any prizes, but it was wildly popular with the hipsters who were on hand to view and then eat the dazzling Jell-O art wiggling in Lower Manhattan. That's good news for the President: Those hipsters represent the under-30 youth vote that is crucial for his re-election campaign, which OFA has dubbed "Gen44." It remains to be seen how much Obama disenchantment was caused among voters, young and old, by July's debt hysteria. (Micari, above, during the contest)

The salted caramel flavor was chosen for his gelatin art, Micari said, because he'd read that these are among the President's favorite sweet treats. True: The East Wing still gifts White House guests with boxes of salted chocolate caramels from Fran's Chocolates, an artisan chocolate maker in Seattle, Washington. Micari is now going to work for the President's 2012 re-election campaign, and his next Jell-Obama homage is for First Lady Obama: Micari is planning a replica of Mrs. Obama's White House Kitchen Garden, created from savory, herb-infused Jell-O, he said.

*The photos here are by Raphael Brion, editor in chief of Eater.com, with thanks for bringing the Jell-O competition and Micari to ObFo's attention. Eater covers the entire competition here. Photo of President Obama by Pete Souza/White House.

read more "The Perfect Moment For Jell-Obama Shots?"

Videos: Kass Keynotes Obesity Conference

White House Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass gave the keynote address at the 6th Biennial Childhood Obesity Conference held in San Diego, California, in June. The conference is the largest in the nation of its kind, and videos of his remarks have just been posted online, in two sections. Kass spoke about Let's Move!, MyPlate, and the crucial role food companies must play in order for First Lady Obama's campaign to be successful. Kass also noted during the audience Q & A that the White House will not support a ban on soda in the battle to end childhood obesity.

“This issue is not caused by one drink,” Kass said. “It’s about a much broader food landscape.”

The conference was sponsored by The California Department of Public Health, the University of California, Berkeley, The California Endowment, Kaiser Permanente health care group, and Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Center for Weight and Health.

Kass, part 1:



Kass, part 2:

read more "Videos: Kass Keynotes Obesity Conference"

Federal Food Stamps In Fast Food Joints

The more than 44 million Americans who now receive federal SNAP benefits, also known as Food Stamps, are allowed to use these at restaurants in some US states, including fast food restaurants. California is just one state in which SNAP beneficiaries can get meals at eateries that include Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Jack in the Box, and KFC. Called the Restaurant Meals Program, the project was launched in 2004. The Los Angeles Times reports growing concern among local officials about SNAP beneficiaries making unhealthy food choices, because USDA, which is responsible for SNAP and all other federal nutrition programs, does not monitor which restaurants are allowed to accept SNAP benefits. In Los Angeles County, fast food joints account for 83% of the vendors who accept Food Stamps in the Restaurant Meals Program, according to the Times.

read more "Federal Food Stamps In Fast Food Joints"

President Obama's Debt Deal As "Satan Sandwich"

The bipartisan "food fight" leads to unsavory metaphors...
The protracted debt battle was "not the usual food fight between Democrats and Republicans," President Obama declared on July 22nd, before announcing a compromise framework on Sunday night, which still needs to be approved by Congress. It saves the US from economic apocalypse by raising the US debt ceiling in two steps while slashing $1 trillion in spending now and $1.5 trillion in the future, but it's now getting big play as a foodie deal with the devil. Or a sandwich filled with excrement, depending on who's doing the criticizing.

"This deal is a sugar-coated satan sandwich," Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (Missouri-5) tweeted on Monday morning. "If you lift the bun, you will not like what you see."

Cleaver further explained his metaphor when speaking to ABC News and assailing possible cuts to entitlement programs.

“This is a Satan sandwich. There’s no question about it,” Cleaver said. “Because there’s nothing inside this sandwich that the major religions of the world will say deals with protection for the poor, the widows, the children. It’s not in here.”

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) seemed to agree, later telling ABC News that the Satan Sandwich comes with "a side of Satan Fries."



ABC liked the idea of a "Sugar-Coated Satan Sandwich" so much that it snooped out the origins of the phrase: It refers to a red velvet variation on the Southern Moon Pie, made with red devil’s food cake and marshmallow filling. ABC even posted a link to the recipe.

Debt deal as "Grand Crap Sandwich"...
Cleaver is not the only one likening the deal to bad food: Politico notes that journalists have assailed the deal as an unsavory sandwich, too:

“It's a shit sandwich no matter how you look at it. And it's a shit sandwich in at least two very specific ways,” wrote Mother Jones’s Kevin Drum.

Media Matters’s Oliver Willis agreed: “I am saying it’s legit to call a poop sandwich what it is,” he tweeted on Sunday. Willis also tweeted that “even tho obama's sammiches are way less poopy than the gop's creations, we shouldnt be eating poop sandwiches at all! #nopoop.”

Willis posted an article on Monday morning titled “The Grand Crap Sandwich.”

*ABC video; AP photo

read more "President Obama's Debt Deal As "Satan Sandwich""

Obama Sends Ramadan Greetings To Muslims

President calls on international community to send famine aid to Somalia and Horn of Africa...
President Obama wished the 1.6 billion Muslims across the globe today "Ramadan Kareem," in a statement issued for the start of the holiest month on the Islamic calendar. He hailed Ramadan as "a festive time that is anticipated for months by Muslims everywhere." The Christian President hosted iftar dinners at the White House in 2009 and 2010, neither of which were attended by First Lady Obama.
At last year's event in the State Dining Room, the President created a massive media stir when during his formal remarks he weighed in on whether or not a Mosque should be built at Ground Zero. (Above: President Obama speaking at the 2010 iftar dinner)

"I look forward to again hosting an iftar dinner here at the White House," President Obama said.

On a more serious note, the President today called Ramadan a time for "deep reflection and sacrifice," and challenged the international community to intervene to end the growing famine in eastern Africa.

"The heartbreaking accounts of lost lives and the images of families and children in Somalia and the Horn of Africa struggling to survive remind us of our common humanity and compel us to act," President Obama said. "Now is the time for nations and peoples to come together to avert an even worse catastrophe by offering support and assistance to on-going relief efforts."

Last Friday, after meeting with African leaders at the White House, the President said that the famine has not received enough attention and that it will require "an international response."

"Africa will have to be a partner in making sure that tens of thousands of people do not starve to death," the President said. His meeting with President Boni Yayi of Benin, President Alpha Condé of Guinea, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, and President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d’Ivoire, was to discuss economic development and the building of strong democratic institutions.

The President's full Ramadan greeting:

As Ramadan begins, Michelle and I would like to send our best wishes to Muslim communities in the United States and around the world. Ramadan is a festive time that is anticipated for months by Muslims everywhere. Families and communities share the happiness of gathering together for iftar and prayers. Bazaars light up the night in many cities from Rabat to Jakarta. And here in the United States, Muslim Americans share Ramadan traditions with their neighbors, fellow students, and co-workers.

For so many Muslims around the world, Ramadan is also a time of deep reflection and sacrifice. As in other faiths, fasting is used to increase spirituality, discipline, and consciousness of God's mercy. It is also a reminder of the importance of reaching out to those less fortunate. The heartbreaking accounts of lost lives and the images of families and children in Somalia and the Horn of Africa struggling to survive remind us of our common humanity and compel us to act. Now is the time for nations and peoples to come together to avert an even worse catastrophe by offering support and assistance to on-going relief efforts.

Times like this remind us of the lesson of all great faiths, including Islam -- that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. In that spirit, I wish Muslims around the world a blessed month, and I look forward to again hosting an iftar dinner here at the White House. Ramadan Kareem.

##

*Photo by Pete Souza/White House

read more "Obama Sends Ramadan Greetings To Muslims"