Obama calls to fight human trafficking

After his speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Obama today addressed the Clinton Global Initiative’s annual meeting, where he called for an end to human trafficking.

The president also unveiled new initiatives aimed at combatting the practice -- which the administration says impacts more than 20 million people around the world.

Reuters, Getty Images

In the final push in the 2012 presidential election, candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama make their last appeals to voters.

“It ought to concern every person,” Obama said, “because it is a debasement of our common humanity. It ought to concern every community because it tears at our social fabric. It ought to concern every business because it distorts markets. It ought to concern every nation because it endangers public health and fuels violence and organized crime."

Among the initiatives announced today:
-- prohibiting federal contractors from engaging in specific trafficking-related activities
-- establishing a process to better identify industries that have a history of human trafficking
-- improving training measures aimed at cracking down on the practice.

“Human trafficking is not a business model; it is a crime, and we are going to stop it,” the president told the CGI crowd.

The president, who addressed the crowd a few hours after Mitt Romney did, also talked about new efforts to help victims of human trafficking, and he implored the crowd to follow suit, calling on business leaders, faith leaders, and individual citizens to get educated and join the fight against trafficking.

In a more emotional moment, Obama shared the real-life stories of a few women who survived the “unspeakable horror” -- including Sheila White, a Bronx woman.

“Fleeing an abusive home, [Sheila] fell in with a guy who said he'd protect her. Instead, he sold her -- just 15 years old, 15 -- to men who raped her and beat her and burned her with irons. And finally, after years, with the help of a nonprofit led by other survivors, she found the courage to break free and get the services she needed. Sheila earned her GED.  Today she is a powerful, fierce advocate who helped to pass a new anti-trafficking law right here in New York.” 

The audience cheered and applauded as Sheila and several other survivors stood to be recognized. 

The president ended his speech on a hopeful note -- and with a direct message to those who are still victims. “We hear you. We insist on your dignity. And we share your belief that if just given the chance you will forge a life equal to your talents and worthy of your dreams.”

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The only reason Obama is talking about this is because he can't talk about anything else like:

jobs and the economy.

Terrorist attack in Benghazi.

23 million people out of work.

6 trillion more debt in 4 years.

15% to 21% unployment.

800 billion dollars he stole from the American tax Payers for his gone green fraud.

All Obama does is distract away from the fact that he is a failure and he doesn't have a clue and he will be gone on Nov. 6, 2012.

  • 3 votes
Reply#54 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 2:56 AM EDT

OBAMA LIES.

Let's face the facts and the truth. Obama has done the job of an incompetent in the areas of domestic policy, foreign policy and leadership. There's nothing left. What does he do to combat this horrible record. HE LIES> MOST OF HIS COMMERCIALS ARE LIES> Don't believe me, hear it from Obama. On the interview on 60 minutes , not aired of course, but on the internet part, he was asked about the lack of truthfulness of his ads. He didn't deny it. HE said politics is tough and the goal is to win. This is not what I want in a president and incompetent and a liar. This joke is the leader of the free world

  • 2 votes
Reply#55 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:10 AM EDT

"Cope and Chance"

  • 1 vote
Reply#56 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:35 AM EDT

The S.O.B. just legalized human trafficking with his ridiculous Executive Order regarding our nations borders.

  • 2 votes
Reply#57 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:37 AM EDT

I just can't see how Romney supporters are going to get anyone to vote for Romney, how can you go on trying (keyword trying) to insult potential voters and get them to turn around and vote for your man. All you people do is put down Obama but never offer anything that R and R will do for you. Where will you be on Nov 7 if Romney wins and you have children of kindergarden age, or a relative that has had heart surgery and won't be able to be insured. Or worse yet you have to go chasing after the cheapest health insurance provider like you do now for car insurance. You will only get what you pay for and if you don't have the means.....well you know what the alternative is.

  • 1 vote
Reply#58 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 9:02 AM EDT

If Romney is elected I am going to hang my American flag up on my front porch.If Obama wins we will all be very very sorry as a nation.

  • 1 vote
#58.1 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:03 PM EDT
Reply

I believe Obama has too much on his plate to be an effective president. Each speech seems tailored to highlight a particular segment of the population or a new program.

Trying to be a "man for all seasons" only succeeds in reducing overall effectiveness.

Complicate the situation with campaigning and we are left with a president torn between winning election and governing the country.

Obama is "fiddlin' while the economy sinks.

  • 1 vote
Reply#59 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 9:58 AM EDT

He does have too much on his plate. The View, Letterman, Pimp with a Limp....sounds more like his toughest decision is figuring out which foreign leader to snub.

  • 1 vote
#59.1 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:22 AM EDT
Reply

President Bush Announces Initiatives to Combat Human Trafficking at the National Training Conference on Human Trafficking

July 16, 2004

On Friday, July 16, 2004, President George W. Bush announced that the United States Department of State had identified the final $25 million to meet the pledge funds that will support anti-trafficking programs in Brazil and Cambodia and India and Indonesia and Mexico, Moldova, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania. In September 2003, President Bush had pledged $50 million dollars in a speech at the United Nations to support these efforts.
President Bush’s Remarks were made at the first National Training Conference on Combating Human Trafficking in Tampa, Florida.

I applaud his efforts but he is not unique in taking on this issue.

  • 1 vote
Reply#60 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 10:56 AM EDT

GEE, I wonder if Odumbo considers All of the illegal immigrants as human trafficing! He is so confused on all issues, that he has no idea what he is talking about at any time. This IDIOT has to be "FLUSHED" from the system! TOTALLY WORTHLESS!

  • 1 vote
Reply#61 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:16 AM EDT

Nothing like addressing the important issues, after all human trafficing has got to be something like 23rd on the list.

  • 1 vote
Reply#62 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:18 AM EDT

Unless you're a twelve year old virgin being sold off to the highest bidder.

  • 2 votes
#62.1 - Thu Sep 27, 2012 12:58 PM EDT
Reply

It’s hard to understand what human trafficking feels like without connecting to the experience of one person. This graphic novel provides some insight into what it was like for one boy:

    Reply#63 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:30 AM EDT

    It's hard to grasp the problem of human trafficking without connecting to the experience of the individuals. The graphic novel STOWAWAY by comics artist Josh Neufeld, published by the Atavist illustrates the journey of one young boy.

      Reply#64 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 11:32 AM EDT

      Obama is a lying, racist punk. He's an incompetent who is the product of affirmative action. If he wasn't black he would have not made it past Hillary Clinton.

      • 2 votes
      Reply#65 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 12:54 PM EDT

      Mr.President,just when people had me convinced you don't do enough-I have a TON of Black Box evidence at ICC already-I even had an old ambulance converted to undercover out where the Guatemalan war criminal was in Moreno Valley,ca-so many cover-ups,treasonous police,tow companies owned by people classified as terrorists by U.S.military police-(I am Violet 66-Hawk police patrol-Wright Brothers close blood relative)-these people are attacking our military and UN Troops,Peace corp troops,Vatican crews,undercover military crews sooooo bad-Romney ,who acquired what he has with fraud in internationally illegal equip. has treasonous thugs and terrorists in the Massachusetts,San Bernardino,Ca Colonies achieves working to sabotage U.S. Citizens,and ruin our accurate records-I have been working with Salt Lake FBI for over a yr,we need you to sue Romney at ICC-he is having our crews robbed,IDs falsified and killed-with frauds using our ID,school records,official undercover vehicles,clothes,jewelry(they try to trick space cameras with look a likes with heirloom jewlery,falsified DNA (hair plugs in one)-and so on-please sue him,ICC has the evidence of him illegally using my family's(wright brothers) Holiday system at March AFB-he's using fraud in Chev.,Bell and also D.O.T.Wright Commercial Vehicles-and he sells to enemy's-please sue him!!!!!

        Reply#66 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 12:58 PM EDT

        Never let a crisis go to waste!

        Human trafficking turns into government expansion for leftist.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#67 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 1:59 PM EDT

        I think this topic and argument is something that has many facets and is not something that outsiders have any understanding of, as we went into Iraq and started criticizing Hussein and lead to his punishment, Hussein ran Iraq without terrorist, or violent outbreaks, but again we only see things Black & White and the gray area seems to be where America stops being a leader and starts being fascist. the people in areas where there is little or no opportunity feed their families doing things that we in America call horrific, yet read Craig's list and you will find prostitution here in America, we get distracted and we go off the save the world when we ignore the issues in our own backyard, am I in support of human trafficking, if the alternative is starvation and death, after watching children starving in Ethiopia, and other African countries, do you moralize and think death better, I will hear the answer some day, when I confront the gates, and they say yes life of any sort is better then no life,

          Reply#68 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 3:38 PM EDT

          This is great sir, but can you PLEASE stay focused on creating jobs and finding solutions to the unemployment problem???? Focus Obama, FOCUS!!!!! Go abroad and court corporations to relocate here and offer tax cuts to them like the female president of Malawi is courting European companies....do SOMETHING!!!!!!!!! ANYTHING!!!!!

          • 1 vote
          Reply#69 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 3:49 PM EDT

          At the same time Obama supports the trafficking in human stupidity because that is what got the moron elected.

            Reply#70 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 3:59 PM EDT

            so does that mean that obama will oust the muslim brotherhood for their slave running in afraica or his ties to black panthers who have close ties to muslim brotherhood ? Will he denounce al mansur as a black panther with ties to the brotherhood, the same al mansur who raised money for obama and harvard, the same one who introduced obama to the saudi prince who got sutton to write a letter to harvad friends to get obama into harvard ? if not who cares what obama has to say because it is all piss in the wind.

            • 1 vote
            Reply#71 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:02 PM EDT
            Comment author avatarJoe Lindavia Facebook

            That is only a part of it! Let's talk and act against human body parts trafficking, where you find most of doctors, business-people, and officials involved! Our first duty is to be faithful to our Master Jesus Christ, we must first correct ourselves before doing anything. please visit this website to follow up: World Evangelization One.

              Reply#72 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 5:37 PM EDT

              President Obama should have thought of that when he allowed illegal immigration to flourish.He should have thought about that when he allows companies to stay in business that hire illegals because they are humans who are the result of human trafficking. Obama is all talk and no action.He speaks with a forked tongue.

              • 1 vote
              Reply#73 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 5:58 PM EDT

              Yes the great Nobel Peace Prize Winner who is dividing America. The man who hasn’t been to Church since he left The Rev. Wrights Trinity United Church of Christ ( Obama’s favorite charity)after following faithfully for 20 years.

              In 2006 Obama took a trip to Kenya and voiced his support for his fellow tribesman (Kenyan Luo tribe) and political ally his cousin Raila Odinga.

              Odinga supporters are the people that are burning Christians alive, trapped inside churches! Most of Odinga's fanatical followers are radical Islamists who have pushed for Islamic Sharia Law.

              Yeah I get the chills just listening to Obama.

              • 3 votes
              Reply#74 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:22 PM EDT

              I have a dream...

                Reply#75 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:31 PM EDT

                american embassies around the world are burning, americans are being murdered, iran is about to get nuke material, israel is begging for a meet and obama goes on the view, campaigns in vegas, laughs it up with the obnoxious letterman...ROMNEY/RYAN !!!!!!!

                • 2 votes
                Reply#76 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:49 PM EDT

                The President will endorse every single bleeding heart issue if it will get him a vote.

                Next up, he's going to complain about folks that diss mothers.

                After that, it's going to be humane treatment for pets.

                The list is never-ending.

                Hey, Mr. President, how about the millions that are unemployed?

                "Say what?"

                • 1 vote
                Reply#77 - Wed Sep 26, 2012 8:14 PM EDT

                Exactly.

                You can bet that he has now locked in the eleven-year-old Cambodian prostitute vote.

                • 2 votes
                #77.1 - Thu Sep 27, 2012 1:04 PM EDT
                Reply
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