Tag Archives: obama

Weekly Address: Helping Protect Our Kids by Reducing Gun Violence


Three months after the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, President Obama says that the Senate has taken important steps forward to help protect our kids by reducing gun violence. The American people made their voices heard, and the Senate made progress to make it harder for criminals and people with serious mental illnesses to get guns, to crack down on anyone trying to funnel guns to criminals, and to reinstate and strengthen a ban on the sale of military-style assault weapons. Each of these ideas deserves a vote.

Take a Peek at the President’s Trip


President Barack Obama is greeted by Israeli President Shimon Peres and members of Hora, a local children's dance troupe, upon his arrival at the President's residence in Jerusalem, March 20, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama is greeted by Israeli President Shimon Peres and members of Hora, a local children’s dance troupe, upon his arrival at the President’s residence in Jerusalem, March 20, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

It’s President Obama’s second day in the Middle East, during the first foreign trip of his second term. While in the region, he’s met with both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, and today he addressed the Israeli people from Jerusalem, where he spoke about the future of the region: “That is where peace begins – not just in the plans of leaders, but in the hearts of people.”

See photos and videos from President Obama’s trip to the Middle East.

In Case You Missed It

Here are some of the top stories from the White House blog:

President Obama Tells Israeli People: The U.S Is Proud to Be “Your Strongest Ally and Your Greatest Friend” The first stop on President Obama’s trip to the Middle East marks the first time the President has visited Israel since taking office, and comes as its citizens celebrate the 65th anniversary of a free and independent State of Israel.

Reaffirming the Incredible Bond Between the United States and Ireland President Obama holds a bilateral meeting with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny at the White House before heading to the Capitol for a St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon.

Health Care Law 3rd Anniversary: Paying for Quality Saves Health Care Dollars On the third anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius lays out some of the ways in which the health reform has lowered costs.

President Obama and OFA


President Obama talked about you the other day — and I wanted to make sure you heard all the good things he had to say:

“What we want is to make sure that the voices of the people who put me here continue to be heard — that they’re not just heard during election time, that they’re not just heard in terms of dollar solicitations, that we are helping to build or sustain a network of citizens who have a voice in the most critical debates that are going to be taking place over the next year, year and a half, and if it works, potentially beyond.”

Pretty exciting stuff, right? That’s our mission at Organizing for Action — and you’re making it happen.

Check out this video of President Obama’s speech at last week’s Founder’s Summit and say you’re standing with the President for the work ahead:

President Obama on why OFA matters.

When President Obama talked about the work we’re doing, he made it clear: It’s not about electing anyone, and it’s not about gearing up for the next elections.

It’s about the governing part of our movement — after the polls close, and when the real job of passing legislation that represents our principles and values begins.

Already, your work as part of Organizing for Action has begun to turn heads.

In a nutshell, it meant the hundreds of events across the country to make sure Congress knows we’re serious about reducing gun violence.

It’s thousands of people, many who hadn’t ever used Twitter before, getting online and tweeting their representatives to make their voices heard.

It’s the more than 500,000 people who have added their names to tell Congress to reduce the deficit and pass a budget that doesn’t hurt the middle class.

It’s the more than 1 million OFA supporters who have already taken action as part of this organization — yes, more than 1 million.

And it’s the more than 400 Action Planning Sessions that folks are holding across the country this week and next to plan our actions for the next few months ahead.

I want to share one last line from President Obama’s speech that really drives home the work we’re doing:

“I’ve always said that I am representing people, and that change comes about because people are activated, people are involved. People shape the agenda. People determine the framework for debate. People let their members of Congress know what is that they believe. And when those voices are heard, you can’t stop it. That’s when change happens.”

You’re part of it,

Watch the rest of President Obama’s remarks, and say you’re in for Organizing for Action’s work today:

Thank you,

Jon

Jon Carson
Executive Director
Organizing for Action

President Obama Speaks on American Energy


 
President Obama discusses the need to continue investing in American-made energy to help create jobs while further reducing our dependence on oil, better protecting consumers from spikes in gas prices, and reducing pollution. March 15, 2013.

Weekly Address: Time to Create the Energy Security Trust


Weekly Address: Time to Create the Energy Security Trust
President Obama discusses the need to harness American energy in order to reduce our dependence on oil and make the United States a magnet for new jobs. He highlights his all-of-the-above approach to American energy — including a proposal to establish an Energy Security Trust, which invests in research that will help shift our cars and trucks off of oil.