Archive for the ‘Obama’ Category

Obama ramps up administration's response to Ferguson violence

President Obama ramped up his administrations response to the violence in Ferguson, Mo., saying Tuesday he had instructed top officials to hold regional meetings aimed at improving relations between police and distrustful communities.

Speaking at a rally in Chicago, Obama said Atty. Gen.Eric H. Holder Jr.would bring together state and local officials and religious and community leaders next week to talk about specific steps to improve race relations.

Obama said his administration would work on constructive solutions to what he described as frustrations rooted in some hard truths. But he condemned protesters who have reacted with violent outbursts to the police shooting of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old unarmed black man, and a grand jury's decision not to indict the white officer who killed him, Darren Wilson.

Dont take the short-term, easy route and just engage in destructive behavior. Take the long-term, hard, but lasting route of working with me and governors, state officials to bring about some real change, Obama said. And to those who think that what happened in Ferguson is an excuse for violence, I do not have any sympathy for that. I have no sympathy at all for destroying your own communities.

Those who are prepared to work constructively, your president will work with you, he said.

Obama made his comments at the beginning of a speech intended to promote his new immigration policy. But his remarks showed that attention at the White House remained on the St. Louis suburb that was rattled anew Monday with news that Officer Wilson would face no state charges.

Holder, too, commented Tuesday, saying he and Obama had discussed criminal justice initiatives and "the need to bring our people together."

He added that two federal investigations into the Aug. 9 shooting remained ongoing and would be "thorough and conducted in a timely manner.

Holder said he was disappointed in Mondays violence, particularly because Browns father had chosen heartfelt words about how he wanted his son's memory to be honored," and had discouraged violence.

Other administration officials have been monitoring the situation in Ferguson and other major cities that saw protests Monday.

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Obama ramps up administration's response to Ferguson violence

Obama Immigration Speech Interrupted by Protesters in Chicago

Immigration rights protesters disrupted President Barack Obama as he delivered a speech promoting his action to defer deportations for some 5 million undocumented workers in the U.S.

As Obama told a crowd at Chicagos Copernicus Community Center that his administration would focus on deporting criminals rather than families, a woman in the crowd began accusing him of breaking up families and chanting Not one more. Stop deportations. She was joined by at least three other people, stopping Obamas speech.

I heard you, Obama said, I heard you.

The president said he went as far as he could go using executive authority last week to give some relief to undocumented immigrants with family ties in the U.S. Revamping the immigration system, he said, must be done by Congress.

Though I understand why you might have yelled at me a month ago -- although I disagree with some of your characterizations -- it doesnt make much sense to yell at me right now when were making changes, he said. Diverting from his speech, he rebutted their arguments and told them to get the facts.

It was the second time since Obama began promoting his action on immigration that he was interrupted by hecklers who said he hasnt gone far enough and object to the record number of deportations, 2 million, since he took office.

At the same time, Obama re-ignited a long-simmering battle with Republicans over how to change immigration laws to deal with the estimated 11.4 million people in the U.S. illegally.

Obama, backed by cheers from the crowd, regained control and told the protesters to be respectful of everybody whos here.

The White House is enlisting the support of religious and community leaders to build support for his plan and to use their influence to coax undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and enroll in his program by spring to avoid deportation.

To emphasize that the issue is one that reaches beyond the Hispanic community, Obama met before his address with a group of community leaders with family roots in Poland, Latin America, Ireland, China and Nigeria.

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Obama Immigration Speech Interrupted by Protesters in Chicago

President Obama Forces Chuck Hagel to Resign – Video


President Obama Forces Chuck Hagel to Resign
While President Barack Obama #39;s approval ratings continue to drop, so do the number of people in President Obama #39;s Cabinet. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is stepping down from his position...

By: NextNewsNetwork

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President Obama Forces Chuck Hagel to Resign - Video

Who Will Sing at President Obama`s 2nd Inauguration? World News Instant Inde – Video


Who Will Sing at President Obama`s 2nd Inauguration? World News Instant Inde
Diane Sawyer reveals the top stories that have people buzzing this week.

By: bc news HD

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Who Will Sing at President Obama`s 2nd Inauguration? World News Instant Inde - Video

Obama honors 19 recipients with Presidential Medal of Freedom – Video


Obama honors 19 recipients with Presidential Medal of Freedom
President Obama honors 19 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House including Ethel Kennedy, Meryl Streep, Marlo Thomas, Stevie Wonder and Isabel Allende.

By: Washington Post

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Obama honors 19 recipients with Presidential Medal of Freedom - Video