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JAN 24 -- At an event to announce some 50 proposals to help service members and their families, President Obama called support for military families not just a moral obligation but a matter of national security.
The series of recommendations reach across numerous federal agencies and the president noted that 16 members of his Cabinet had committed their departments to making military families one of their highest priorities.
The proposals aim to expand career and education options for military families, address homelessness and mental health and protect families from predatory lending. Some of the initiatives are already underway.
"We aren't simply reaffirming our commitment to military families we are upping our game," the president told the crowd gathered in the East Room. "One percent of Americans may be fighting our wars, 100 percent of Americans need to be supporting our troops and their families."
Among the guests in attendance were Attorney General Eric Holder, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, White House Domestic Policy Adviser Melody Barnes and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
Dr. Jill Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama spoke briefly before the president's remarks. Along with nutrition and exercise, military families have been a main focus of the first lady's over the past two years.
"For me and for Jill, this isn't about just understanding your concerns," the first lady said. "It's about addressing your concerns. It's about telling your stories throughout the country, but more importantly, giving you a voice with decision-makers."
The recommendations to address some of the critical needs of military families are included in the final report of the Presidential Study Directive-9 (PSD-9), "Strengthening our Military Families: Meeting America's Commitment."
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At an event to announce some 50 proposals to help service members and their families, President Obama called support for military families not just a moral obligation but a matter of national security.
Oha god, there he does again setting up socialist programs for a self interest group.
The problem I have with this is. . .
Seems to me I've heard that song before.
Like last year, when he said the same thing.
And, in his first speech as president, when he claimed that it would be the First Lady's mission.
Neither was true. Does he think that just because the media conveniently does not report this stuff, everyone else forgets it?
It is so inspiring (sarcasm) to read the right's comments above; conservatives are quick to send our troops to war without asking questions but object when President Obama points out that supporting those troops sent to fight wars is not just a moral obligation but a national security one. Your partisan politics is showing.
President Obama and democrats passed legislation for Veteran's benefits in 2009; they tried earlier but Pres Bush said he would veto it--the same president who chose to send troops to fight an unnecessary war found it unnecessary to support those fighting his wars. Pathetic.
I would add that both the First Lady and Dr. Biden has done a great deal in this effort and the media has reported it.
@ no joe ~ and would you be against it, if he followed through? Or are you just carping?
I remember that George W. Bush vowed to send us to Mars. Whatever happened to that?
no joe, no bo, nj
"The problem I have with this is. . .
We KNOW what the problem you have with this is....
"At an event to announce some 50 proposals to help service members and their families, President Obama called support for military families..."
....It's those two words between 'families' and 'called'.
Jody,
More American service members died last year ALONE due to hostile action in Afghanistan under Obama than were lost in 87 months under Bush. (Something else the media hasn't reported either, no joe?)
And for what? Obama doesn't even talk about winning the war anymore. It took him a YEAR to come up with a plan, all while losses DOUBLED the previous yearly record! 65% on losses have been under Obama. AND WE ARE NOT WINNING ANYTHING! Needless sacrifice. Bush at least was resolved to win - again Obama doesn't even mention winning anymore! Why the sacrifice if he doesn't plan on winning?
Are the sacrifices nothing more than political capital to show he is not clueless on defense?
The troops just want to know that we have the will to win, that their sacrifice is not in vain.
Use them as must Mr. President, but do waste their lives - and never, never use them as political props for your wife.
Bob- explain what 'win' looks like, so we will know when we have won.
That is pretty much my point drive-by.
Obama is the President, Commander in Chief and the one that needs to decide what he is doing and what it will look like when it is time to pull out.
He (not bob, or anyone else) owes the troops that much, ....... first and foremost.
Bob-90210 says Bush was @least resolved to WIN. What was IT that he WON, A Daum Pistol for his Library at the cost of 1 trillion & counting, over 4000 American lives lost. Countless American lives shattered, Countless Iraqi lives Lost. A world economy in Shreds.
O yeah, Bush was Resolved allright. To Defend His Daddy's honor, at the cost of the Screwing e 1.
You GD chickenHawks!
Bush, 85ew6okj/;lKdruxerdg/lkcfjue4o;5ui34m5rt;ml/dfgo8drufg.me4rt5me4t5jpiogr.lm,dflij5e.k HIM
I think we all know what a win is Drive By. You buddy are a huge winner. Gettin' paid to post around here. That sir is a win. Well played. Keep up the paid posts.
And yes, I am hugely jealous.
And to go back to the topic - like bob said, Obama is the man. He can pull them out any time he chooses.
“(Something else the media hasn't reported either, no joe?)”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/by-us-deaths-as-of-today_b_683441.html
President Bush and none of our commanders in the Middle East or in the pentagon could tell us what a victory or win looked like either.
Yes Bush sucked - we got that memo. We also got the Obama is way better memo. So why is he doing exactly what Bush did?
So, what are we all going to watch come 8:00? I just hope Larry doesn't wilt under the pressure. Anyone think Comcast will expect better that sub 1,000,000 viewership?
Jeff- Are you serious? Military families are a self-interest group?
I guess you were unaware of the fact that all of our military members are volunteers who are serving their country - quite unselfishly and in many cases giving that "last full measure of devotion.'
And here you sit, calling them a self-interest group.
Shame on you Jeff! You should take a stroll through Arlington National Cemtery and take a look around.
I figure you must be either spectacularly ignorant or callously critical of those who pay the price for your freedom.
Either way, it must really suck to be you.
Dennis,
Your link is for total deaths through August 16, 2011, which includes accidents, sickness, etc. My reference was deaths due to hostile action. Under Bush in 87 months - 412; under Obama 2010 alone - 440. (Another 266 under Obama in 2009 and another 17 so far this month/year.)
Bush defined what Iraq would look like and we got there. Afghanistan escalated as Bush became a lame duck and Obama came into office. Different deal now. And as your link stated - It's Obama's war.
Rick,
I still see you are still wantoningly insulting the intelligence of the good people of Kentucky by posting ignorant stuff and linking Ky to that crap.
I would like to know what the proposed aid is, I like that word "proposed".
Rick,
You know what a win is? Keeping the media out of the war so idiots like Olbermann and the rest of MSNBC Generals tell the American people how F-ed we are fighting the war. I liked it back in 2004-5 when if someone was filming us, you lit them up. Too bad the ROE changed. Take the camera away and let us conduct business and then you will know what a win is. People like you judge us and then the support is gone.
Bob, I want to know how exactly where you pulled that figure of 412 deaths in 87 months? Exactly how was that data filtered, because it is complete BS. Is that just Afghanistan, cause Bush dropped the ball in Afghanistan, while he was screwing around spreading freedom and oil contracts in Iraq. Now we are doing a surge in Afghanistan, but 440 just in 2010? WTF? There is no win, unless you go in and kill everybody, the Russian tried that 20 years ago and failed. Its not worth it, the country has no value to anyone except a bunch of religious zealots and dirt merchants. F it let em have it.
Tom Strange
Jeff- Are you serious? Military families are a self-interest group?
Of course Not, i was refering to the stance the repuiblicans took for the first responders, they called them a special interest group. man my uncle who was a grunt in vietman and would kill me if i ever though that.
First thing he should do is apologize to Veterans for this, get an apology out of China too and ban Lang Lang from ever coming back.
Chinese Pianist Plays Propaganda Tune at White House
US humiliated in eyes of Chinese by song used to inspire anti-Americanism
(don't think I can post links yet, you need to copy & paste)
Eye Opener
This same sentiment is circulating throughout military e-mail accounts.
http://www.examiner.com/conservative-in-spokane/anti-american-propaganda-tune-played-at-white-house-by-chinese-pianist
A SONG is the best you can do?
I'll see that and raise you George W. Bush kissing the Saudi King and holding his hand in public, AFTER hijackers of Saudi origin ... need I go on?
Why would he apologize to the Veterans for a pianist's actions? I hate to break the news to you but in the broad scheme of political diplomacy and the global economy, a song does not make any difference. Hu Jintao, on the other hand, was forced to answer questions from the media--which was likely quite humiliating for him since he answers to no one in China, lease of all journalists asking tough questions.
"Chinese Pianist Plays Propaganda Tune at White House"
Maybe it was just a "chinese exceptionalism" piece.
See, folks, how other countries come off when visiting another country, and trying to push THEIR point of view? I wonder if it would be like OUR guys visiting THEIR country, and telling them- in fornt of all their citizens and dignitaires- how their human rights program sucks.
Good point, Drive-by.
So according to Drive By, Americans are Jackals, and it's totally not ok to point out to China that they suck at human rights.
insightful Drive By.
Didn't say we were jackals. Said what's good for the right hand is good for the left.
Nothing more, nothing less. YOU, however, are free to read into it what you wish.
Neat, huh?
Not very neat - that you advocate against any americans referencing China's human rights policies, while in China, because that might offend China. But then again they censor their media so if a tree falls in the woods....
...and if a leftie says something and Spanky isn't around to hear it, is the leftie still wrong?
DBO – I’ll give that a “10”
Still won't let me put the link in (why so restrictive NewsVine?). Google the article title "Chinese Pianist Plays Propaganda Tune at White House".
Not that we'll ever see an apology from the CCP.
You can't post links if you're new to the site. If you've been posting for a long time, send an e-mail to Newsvine to report the problem. Others have had similar problems.
The service members will need this support since there are no jobs for them to return to. I think the first thing we can do is to pay them to overhaul the broken laser beam Obama has been using to focus on jobs the past few years.
Too many of these servicepeople already received a signing bonus just to join. Giving them even more is a travesty of shame. Many of these people only joined to avoid the job market. I've got no sympathy for them. Let their famillies go get jobs to support themselves and quit expecting the taxpayer to prop you up.
...and nobody has ever done anything to help you. I can certainly see why; you are simply not worthy of anything except for disgust.
Bethcat,
A signing bonus? Well let's see, when I joined in 1988 I was making under 1000.00 a month. I served 20 years and retired in 2008. I turned down 100K to retire, so not all do it for the money. Without getting ugly, I would say this to you, when you see a person in uniform, go up to them and say Thank You.
Rocco -
'Stalled in the Senate' has subverted that focus.
If I read the article correctly, the song is widely viewed as propaganda in China. As most here have little or no understanding of or ability to speak Chinese who really cares? And nowhere does it say he sang any lyrics. Think they ever hear "Born in the USA" over there?
Good idea. Military needs support especially after disability.