Tag Archives: civil rights

Weekly Address: Make 2015 the Year for Quality, Affordable Health Insurance


 

In this week’s address, the Vice President wished Americans a Happy New Year, and asked that as we make resolutions to get healthier in 2015, we take the time to sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Millions of people have already signed up for quality, affordable health care under the law, and there is still time to secure the peace of mind that comes with getting covered.

From now until February 15, you can sign up by logging on to HealthCare.gov; by speaking to someone on the phone through the 24/7 call center at 1-800-318-2596, where you can get assistance in 150 languages; or by going in person to an enrollment event in your community.

Watch the Vice President’s Weekly Address here.

Watch the Vice President's address here.

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West Wing Week: “That Zingy Sting”

At the end of each “West Wing Week” episode, the White House videographers insert a funny snippet of content — which they call a “sting.” To ring in 2015, they put together an entertaining compilation of stings, for those of you who might not have made it to the very end of each episode last year.

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Inspiration for Our Future: The White House Internship Program

Applications are now being accepted for the Summer 2015 White House Internship Program. Deepankar Gagneja, a former intern who worked in the Office of Management and Administration in the fall of 2014, recently wrote about his own internship experience.

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Tumblr’s Top 10 Favorite GIF Series from the White House in 2014

To recap our last year on Tumblr, we tallied up the number of notes — the Tumblr equivalent of “likes” — on each of the GIFs we created in 2014. Here, in order, are the top 10 GIF moments on our Tumblr in 2014, decided by Tumblr users themselves.

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I served my country for more than 26 years. Now I won’t even get a flag for my coffin


Secretary of the Army John McHugh: Review an innocent soldier’s wrongful conviction

Kenneth Pinkela
Otisville, New York

Signature missing: Racism in YOUR House


Arisha Michelle Hatch, ColorOfChange.org

Rep Steve Scalise thinks if he stops talking about it, people will forget that in 2002 he went to a white supremacist conference to pander for votes.

In a press conference with House GOP leadership yesterday, Scalise simply referred reporters back to his previous statement saying, “I think that’s where the story ends.” Unfortunately, that’s not true. In it he claims to have shown up to speak about a tax plan that didn’t even have its first committee hearing until 10 days after the conference.1

Speaker Boehner is continuing to make excuses for Scalise rather than stand up to racism in his own caucus, hoping the story will just go away. With your voice, we can keep the story alive and demand that the GOP confront hatred in their ranks.

YES-I demand Republicans disavow white supremacy and strip Steve Scalise of his leadership position.

Thanks,

Arisha

1. “How I busted Steve Scalise: Inside a GOP political scandal — and its ongoing coverup” Salon, 1-6-14
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/4526?t=3&akid=4029.1174326.hYbNXr

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The #3 Republican in the House has admitted to associating with white supremacists.

Boehner and Scalise

Demand Speaker John Boehner disavow white supremacy and strip Majority Whip Steve Scalise of his leadership position.

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Weekly Address: America Is Leading the World In this week’s address, the President reiterated the forceful and optimistic message of American leadership that he delivered in his speech before the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week. America is leading the world against the most pressing challenges, including the fight to degrade and destroy ISIL, the effort to stop the Ebola epidemic, and the movement to confront the threat from climate change.

The world looks to America and its commitment to freedom in the face of uncertainty, and as the President said, it will continue to do so for generations to come.

Click here to watch this week’s Weekly Address.

Watch: President Obama delivers the weekly address.

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President Obama on Climate Change: “We Have to Answer the Call”On Tuesday, at the U.N. Climate Summit, the President highlighted the ambitious clean energy investments and carbon emission reductions the United States has made. And while we’ve stepped up to act on climate change, President Obama made it clear that it’s time for our global partners to stand up too, because “no nation is immune to climate change.”

We have to answer the call. We know what we have to do to avoid irreparable harm. We have to cut carbon pollution in our own countries to prevent the worst effects of climate change. We have to adapt to the impacts that, unfortunately, we can no longer avoid. And we have to work together as a global community to tackle this global threat before it is too late.

Check out the chart below and see why we can’t wait to act on climate change:

Learn more about It's On Us.

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“We Choose Hope Over Fear”

On Wednesday, the President addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York City to discuss matters that demand the urgent attention of our global partners.

During his address, he called on the U.N. to join the United States and reject the cancer of violent extremism. Here’s what the President asked of the international community:

  • Degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL.
  • We must bring the world together, especially the Muslim community, to reject the ideologies of terrorists, intolerance, and extremism.
  • We must address the cycle of conflict that creates the conditions terrorist prey upon.
  • We must ensure that Arab and Muslim Nations focus on the extraordinary potential of their people.

“We choose hope over fear,” the President said. “We see the future not as something out of our control, but as something we can shape for the better through concerted and collective effort.”

Watch the President's remarks at UNGA.

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Attorney General Eric Holder: “The People’s Lawyer”

On Thursday afternoon, speaking from the State Dining Room, the President announced that Eric Holder will be resigning from his current position as U.S. Attorney General. He applauded Holder’s passion and commitment to the American justice system and detailed the work he’s accomplished during his six-year tenure.

During his remarks, the President emphasized the superb job that Holder has done:

I chose him to serve as Attorney General because he believes, as I do, that justice is not just an abstract theory. It’s a living and breathing principle. It’s about how our laws interact with our daily lives. It’s about whether we can make an honest living, whether we can provide for our families; whether we feel safe in our own communities and welcomed in our own country; whether the words that the Founders set to paper 238 years ago apply to every single one of us and not just some.

President Obama announces Eric Holder's resignation.

President Barack Obama hugs Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., after statements announcing Holder’s resignation, in the State Dining Room of the White House, Sept. 25, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Holder will continue to serve as Attorney General until the President nominates his successor, and the successor is approved by the Senate.

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As always, to see even more of this week’s events, watch the latest West Wing Week.

Día de Reyes: A Time for Friends, Feasts, and Food Safety


rice and chicken

Celebrated in January … Some on the 5th , 6th and or the 10th

Nothing brings people together like the Holidays, or Navidades for Spanish speakers.  Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day) would not be complete without some excellent eats. Many Hispanic-Americans have a favorite dish during this special season – from lechón topasteles to tamales to atole.

Nothing brings a party down like poor food safety though. No one wants to be down for the count during this time of the year–think of all the parties that will be missed! And you don’t want to be responsible for getting your guests sick either

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