It’s not often one gets the opportunity to meet with a close, long-term friend of a sitting US President, a US Ambassador or one of the finest legal minds around. So when I was offered the chance to interview US Ambassador to Australia Jeffrey Bleich just before he addressed the Media 140 conference in Canberra earlier this week, it was an experience well worth savouring.

Having known President Barack Hussein Obama since attempting to recruit him as a Clerk to the US Appellate Court from Harvard Law School, Ambassador Bleich has an insight on one of the most powerful men in the world that not many people have. When asked about how he first met the future President, the Ambassador responded with a genuine level of fondness in his voice for a time that would have been considerably less stressful for the both of them. This is important as it shows the level of humanity behind politics, that the public often either isn’t exposed to by the media or refuses to acknowledge.

With even the Ambassador himself admitting that during his youth he thought that Diplomats only drank beverages on verandahs in foreign locations, it’s evident that not many people are familiar with ins and outs of diplomatic service. Not only does the Ambassador have to be the US representative to the Australian Government, he also has to keep himself apprised of the well-being of all Americans whom are currently residing within Australia, business negotiations which are taking place between various multi-national organisations that might influence the Australian-US relationship and the perspectives of the President on various issues. It is due to this the Ambassador argued, that Diplomats will retain their status as extremely important people, as reassuring factors in foreign affairs such as a firm handshake, direct eye-contact and confident body language can’t be reproduced by electronic means.

Ambassador Bleich also offered a key insight into American politics and the unique role that the media plays during US elections. Unlike the US, Australia requires all of it’s citizens of voting age to participate in State and Federal elections. That means that everyone has to vote in Australian elections, whether they are disenfranchised with the political climate or not.

In saying that there are things that the United States could learn from Australia’s use of Compulsory Voting, the Ambassador inadvertently touched upon the role that the media has upon the US electoral system. Under the “Voluntary Voting” system, the Public can easily become disenfranchised with an incumbent Politician and refuse to vote if a given media outlet within their electorate decides not to report on the Politician’s accomplishments. Like-wise, the public can quickly become enfranchised with a politician if the media only reports upon their accomplishments. This in turn could create a situation where a media outlet and the advertisers that support them can directly influence the result of an election, by manipulating their audience to support a specific type of candidate.

By briefly stating his interest in studying Australia’s electoral system, it is also evident that the Ambassador is interested in learning from Australia’s democratic experience. Given that democracy always needs to be nurtured if it is going to survive, both Conservatives and Progressives within the United States and Australia alike would benefit from the insight that Academics with “Real-World” knowledge such as Ambassador Bleich have to offer.

In closing, I asked the Ambassador if he could define his position as an Ice Cream flavour. Needless to say, I doubt that the US State Department has ever been described as a Banana Split, with sauce covering Vanilla Ice cream, on top of a layer of Rocky Road and Fudge.

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During the Media 140 conference in Canberra this week, I had the privilege of hearing US Ambassador to Australia Jeffrey Bleich, give a lecture on the impact of Social Media on the 2008 US Presidential Campaign. Given the Ambassador’s role as a key organiser of the “Obama for America” movement , his close friendship of over 20 years with President Obama, not to mention his previous position of Special Legal Advisor to the President in the Obama Administration, it was a non-partisan lecture on campaign politics that was well worth attending.

Note: Podcast of Ambassador Bleich’s speech and all “Media 140 Canberra” panels available here

With the media being dominated by organisations like Fox News on the right, the Gay media on the left, as well as NBC, CBS, CNN and ABC somewhere in-between, it is evident that there is a healthy range of voices present within the United States. By highlighting the pros and cons of the conventional media, as well as those of social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and online Bloggers, Ambassador Bleich was able to describe how Obama was able to use both forms of media to their utmost advantage during the campaign. By calling upon his experience as a Community Organiser, Bleich stated that Obama was able to rally those around him to accomplish feats using Social Media that seasoned Campaign Strategists on all sides of politics had previously thought impossible.

This in turn explains why the Obama Campaign used Social Media so heavily during the lead-up to the 2008 Presidential Election. Unlike in previous campaigns, social media gave the Democrats the opportunity to counter many of the stories that were being released by conservative elements of the campaign, while championing the stories that were promoting their cause. This not only strengthened support for Obama within the Democratic base, but also provided an open-resource for any swinging Independents who were interested in fact checking stories before they went to the Polls. In contrast, the McCain-Palin campaign had relatively few interests in online media, culminating in McCain saying that he doesn’t even know how to turn a computer on.

In a strange twist of fate, Ambassador Bleich then highlighted the emergence of Social Media as being one of the key reasons as to why some Democrats are now disenfranchised with the Obama administration in the lead-up to the Congressional Mid-term Elections. To paraphrase the Ambassador: The 2008 Democratic Presidential campaign had a “High School Friendship” effect upon the Democratic base and various Independents. Just as High School friends drift apart over time, so do some relationships in politics. While such political relationships are easy to maintain in a campaign, it’s harder to do so once in government.

No-where is this fact more evident than in the Democratic faction of the Lesbian and Gay Community. Even though President Obama promoted LGBT personnel into key positions within the US Government, while also helping pass an amendment to the Hate Crimes Act, he has experienced a drop in popularity amongst LGBT activists. Due to the “Glass Half Empty” mentality that’s rampant within parts of the Gay community, this is to be expected given the fact that their agenda hasn’t been fulfilled within the short span of two years. This has been particularly evident within prominent Gay blogs such as Pam’s House Blend, AmericaBlog and Towleroad, as well as Gay rights organisations such as SLDN, Servicemembers United and GetEqual over the issue of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”.   As a result, many of the President’s victories on issues surrounding Transgender rights and Equal Opportunity within civilian Federal organisations have either been ignored, or criticised as only being enough to promote fund-raising.

Ambassador Bleich also stated that while some people may act abusively online, the fact that there are others there to challenge such behaviour from all sides of politics equals things out. In an effort to protect the President for the 2012 Campaign, maybe this more than anything explains why the Obama Administration have rarely challenged their critics, or had interviews with members of the LGBT media who would otherwise force them to do so.

___________________________

Kate Doak is a Postgraduate student at the University of New England, Australia. Since 2004 she’s changed career paths twice, genders once and has developed a major interest in radio. These days, Kate mostly focuses on Modern History and International Politics.

It all started because I wanted to finish my tuna sandwich in peace. My friend Meredyth had been waiting for me to get out of the briefing so we could go visit the Freer Gallery of the Smithsonian, because we wanted to see Asian art. I’d had a sandwich in my backpack that I’d intended to eat before the briefing – no such luck. After it let out at around 2:15 PM, I left the White House and met up with her in Lafayette Park, where we sat on a bench facing H Street and talked while I ate my long-overdue lunch. We threw bits of tuna-soaked bread to the squirrels. It was a good time.

And then we heard shouting from behind us. Protesters, we figured – nothing new. We figured we’d walk by on our way down to the Mall, see what the fuss was about. And then we saw the three men were carrying signs with pictures of unborn babies on them, and we heard the words Jesus and Obamacare, and decided we couldn’t pass this up. We had to talk to these guys.

I’ll admit it – talking to religious fundamentalists is really fun for me. I like to understand how people think, especially when – as in the case of religious fundamentalism of any stripe – I find it mind-boggling and difficult to understand. “These are the babies Obamacare will kill!” the main man was shouting, holding the sign and a Cabbage Patch Kid in a tub full of stage blood. “Obamacare will use your money to kill these babies! Jesus loves all babies!” Another man by the fence was holding up a characteristically-smiling cardboard cutout of the president, festooned with a plastic chain with skulls dangling from it and a devil-horns headband attached. I found the sequined headband to be in odd taste, but this isn’t really the month for costume shopping. “Hi!” I said, walking up to them, and smiling. “I just want you to know, it’s possible that I wouldn’t be existing right now, since my mom was single and not sure she wanted me after all.  I’m glad she didn’t…”

“Well, that’s great,” the heckler said, smiling back at me.

“…but I’m also glad that she had a choice in the matter, that she decided to keep me around. I don’t think anyone should legislate that.” (For the record, I don’t like abortion overmuch because I abhor the destruction of potential, but I think it should be accessible – a necessary evil, if you will.) The cardboard cutout, leaning against the fence, blew over. The third guy took over holding the cutout from then on, near a young boy, who I later found out was the heckler’s son.

“Yeah, and we were wondering what specifically you’re against in the bill…looks like something to do with abortions, yeah?”

He proceeded to tell us how our tax dollars would go to fund abortions with the “Obamacare” bill, occasionally breaking stride to continue shouting his message at passersby as we waited. We asked him questions about how he viewed abortion in cases of rape or incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger. He replied that the morality was up to God, and that adoption was always a viable option if the women didn’t want to keep their rape babies around as a constant reminder. I agreed with him about the virtues of adoption, as my cousin was adopted at birth, but disagreed that we should be denying women, especially in low-income areas, the choice to terminate the unwanted pregnancy. Meredyth asked him if he had any adopted children. He replied that he did not, but he and his wife wanted to – but the child had to be younger than his son and daughter because he didn’t want them to possibly present a bad influence. The Secret Service waved them down the road, since the signs were getting in the way of tourists’ pictures. We obligingly moved.

Then the inevitable question came. “Have you read the Bible?” he asked us. Meredyth replied that she’d started with the Book of Ezekiel and decided against continuing. “I’m in the process of it,” I said. There were approving nods from the two men taking to us. I waited a beat. “I’m also reading the Koran on my own.”

Simultaneous hissing intake of breath from both men. I turned to Meredyth. “Every freaking time,” I said. This happens every time I talk to people whose protests involve religion in some way. Williamsburg, where I go to school, aside from being Virginia’s prime retirement spot, is also a hotbed of Christian fundamentalists. We have a guy come on campus every week with a big sign naming who precisely is going to hell. Approving nods and encouraging smiles when I mention I’m reading the Bible – hisses of fear for my soul when I mention that I’ve also been reading the Koran. Never mind that I read both as literature and not as religious texts. The conversation soon turned to religious extremism. “The vast majority of Muslims are great people,” I said. “I have a lot of Muslim friends. I know an Iraqi guy – nicest person you could ever meet, always willing to help.”

“Scott Roeder’s not the prime example of Christianity, is he?” Meredyth added. “Nor Pat Robertson, right?”

“Christians don’t blow themselves up.”

“Not all Muslims think that the suicide bombers, the extremists, are right. Suicide is, in Islam, one of the greatest sins you can commit. Doubly so if you murder innocents in the process. That’s not martyrdom.” You get your crazies in all religions, we elaborated, especially in theocracies, when the information people have is controlled tightly and bent to the will of the government. It was around this point that the son, who his father had proudly told me preached at abortion clinics and got women to change their minds, began walking around and shouting about the kingdom of God for roughly ten minutes.

Meredyth and I realized that we had about two hours until the museum closed, and we still had to walk there. We said our goodbyes (they said they’d pray for us – a nice gesture, albeit insinuating we need spiritual improvement), shook hands, and said goodbye as civil people do. I asked the father if he’d mind if I shook his son’s hand. He didn’t mind at all. So when the little kid was done shouting, I bent over and shook his hand. “I think it’s great you’re so passionate about something you believe in at your age,” I said.

“Thank you,” he said. He was hoarse from shouting.

“Have a good afternoon!” We waved and began to leave. We were wondering why it was so quiet…and then the heckler-to-be began shouting again and waving the bloodied Cabbage Patch Kid at a middle school group that was looking at the People’s House. That, we thought, went a little bit too far. The kids hadn’t asked for that.

When we came back later in the evening, after the museum had closed, they were gone. We thought that was the end of it all. Then this afternoon, the heckler popped up on my TV.

If you’re reading this, Mr. Heckler, it was very nice to meet you, and we quite enjoyed our conversation. I’m glad that you’re exercising your First Amendment right, even if I disagree with you about some things, because that’s the hallmark of a healthy democracy. I wish you luck in your future endeavors, and not getting tackled by the Secret Service. You’re a lot more sane than many of the protesters, religious and not, I’ve met at the White House. Especially the “Obama is a sekrit Kenyandonesian mooooslim” ones. I don’t know what their issue is.

Video of the event today, including the heckler moment (h/t Taylor Marsh):

During President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress last night, delivered over the din of Republican obstruction, he spent 7 paragraphs speaking about the need for a public health insurance option, and included one in the White House’s reform plan.  What did the Associated Press take away from all of this?

Analysis: Obama willing to deep-six public option

This analysis seems to spring from these two sentences:

For example — for example, some have suggested that the public option go into effect only in those markets where insurance companies are not providing affordable policies. Others have proposed a co-op or another non-profit entity to administer the plan. These are all constructive ideas worth exploring.

So, two sentences placating the GOP’s and Blue Dogs’ macaroni art constitutes a repudiation of the public option?

Read the rest at Mediaite

I would argue that 45% is an awfully large number to believe in a health care Sasquatch, but even granting that, the President’s effectiveness at combating myths is cold comfort if the Democrats in congress don’t get the message.  I asked Gibbs what happens to the next health care provision to become the subject of an urban legend:

TC:  On health care, you were talking about Chuck’s poll earlier, that — I mean, the good news that most Americans no longer believe in death panels. But the fact remains that Section 1233 was taken out of the House bill. So what can you do to reassure voters that the same fate won’t befall other provisions of the bill if some rumor like the death panels gets started about the public option?

MR. GIBBS: I don’t — I’m not following the thesis of your — the section that’s been pulled out.

TC:Section 1233 about the end-of-life care.

MR. GIBBS: It’s been?

TC: There was a report earlier this week that it’s been dropped.

MR. GIBBS: Well –

TC: Is that not true?

MR. GIBBS: This is in a Senate Finance Committee bill that nobody has seen? Look, what I’m saying is, I think the President is going out there and explaining what those provisions are and what they’re not — regardless of whether they’re in what section of what bill at what time, I think it’s something that the President has been focused on doing and correcting the record. I think it has more to do with a sustained dialogue in dealing with the misrepresentations as it has whether or not a provision may or may not have been dropped.

While I’m happy to credit the President with quelling some of the “death panel” nonsense, I would be more comforted if he could lend some of his, shall we say, fortitude to his panicky congressional standard-bearers.

About an hour after the ceremony concluded, Billie Jean King herself came down to visit the briefing room, and consented to answer a few short questions. “I want to give everyone who made my medal possible a piece of it, but I wouldn’t have enough pieces!” she said to the press as she turned the medal over, revealing the engraved name on the back: Billie Jean Moffitt King. “I don’t deserve it, though. Harvey Milk deserved it,” she added. “This is the first time, I think, the LGBT community has really been honored by the White House.”

As she talked to the cluster of reporters that had gathered around her, she mentioned part of her conversation with the President, who told her that Michelle Obama is “a very good athlete.” When what she had accomplished for women’s rights was brought up, she gently set the record straight. “When a woman does something for people, you [the media] present it as doing something for women. [...] We’re helping both genders because both genders affect people.”

King was honored to have been present among the other luminaries who were presented with the award, including Stephen Hawking and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. “It doesn’t matter what their background is or where they came from, but the one unifying thing is that everyone there wanted to help people.”

(As she was leaving, she shook the hands of the reporters who had gathered to ask questions and take notes. She shook my hand and asked me my name and who I worked for, so I gave her the URL of Daily Dose. If you’re reading this, Ms. King…hi! And thank you for stopping by and double thanks for checking out the site!)

About ten minutes after King left, the Rev. Joseph Lowery came in to give an interview to BET. Another cluster of reporters gathered around him and the BET crew. “I haven’t done nearly as much as I should have,” he said of his achievements that led to his being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. “None of us has. [...] We still have a mighty long way to go,” on race relations, as well. “We’re not post-racial,” he said, adding that Cambridge cop Crowley just “doesn’t get it.”

Though Rev. Lowery was also honored by being in President Obama’s first class of Presidential Medal of Freedom honorees, he missed one person from the crowd. “I wish my dad could have been here. [...] I believe he was looking over the Curtain of Glory and saw his boy getting this award from the President of the United States.”

Those who received awards today were Nancy Goodman Brinker, Pedro José Greer Jr., Stephen Hawking, Jack Kemp (posthumous, accepted by his wife Joanne), Ted Kennedy (accepted by his daughter Kara), Billie Jean King, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Joseph Medicine Crow, Harvey Milk (posthumous, accepted by his nephew Stuart Milk), Sandra Day O’Connor, Sidney Poitier, Chita Rivera, Mary Robinson, Janet Davison Rowley, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Muhammad Yunus.

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT THE MEDAL OF FREEDOM CEREMONY
 
East Room
 
 
3:07 P.M. EDT
 
 
THE PRESIDENT:  There are many honors and privileges bestowed on the occupant of this house, but few mean as much to me as the chance to award America’s highest civilian medal to the recipients that are here today.  This is a chance for me — and for the United States of America — to say thank you to some of the finest citizens of this country, and of all countries.
 
The men and women we honor today have led very different lives and pursued very different careers.  They’re pioneers in science and medicine.  They’re gifted artists and indomitable athletes.  They have made their mark in the courtroom, in the community, and in Congress.  And what unites them is a belief — that most — forgive me to those of you who are not Americans — but what we consider to be that most American of beliefs — that our lives are what we make of them; that no barriers of race, gender, or physical infirmity can restrain the human spirit; and that the truest test of a person’s life is what we do for one another.
 
The recipients of the Medal of Freedom did not set out to win this or any other award.  They did not set out in pursuit of glory or fame or riches.  Rather, they set out, guided by passion, committed to hard work, aided by persistence, often with few advantages but the gifts, grace, and good name God gave them. 
 
So, let them stand as an example here in the United States  — and around the world — of what we can achieve in our own lives.  Let them stand as an example of the difference we can make in the lives of others.  Let each of their stories stand as an example of a life well lived.
 
One of the last things Suzy Komen did before she passed away was ask her sister Nancy to make her a promise.  Nancy promised her she would prevent other families battling breast cancer from hurting the way theirs had.  What began with $200 and a list of friends has become a global Race for the Cure, a campaign that has eased the pain and saved the lives of millions around the world.  In the months after her sister’s death, Nancy lay awake at night, thinking about the promise she had made and wondering whether one person could really make a difference.  Nancy’s life is the answer.
 
While an intern at Miami’s Jackson Memorial, Dr. Pedro José Greer came across a patient in a coma without a known name or address — a homeless man, found by firefighters, suffering from tuberculosis.  In the days that followed, the physician Little Havana knows as Dr. Joe searched for clues about the patient’s life in the squalor under Miami’s highways.  Deciding that Miami’s homeless deserved better, Dr. Greer founded Camillus Health Concern, a clinic that now offers care to over 4,000 poor and homeless patients.  It’s a life that might be distilled into a question Dr. Greer asks all of us:  “If we don’t fight injustice, who will?”
 
Professor Stephen Hawking was a brilliant man and a mediocre student — (laughter) — when he lost his balance and tumbled down a flight of stairs.  Diagnosed with a rare disease and told he had just a few years to live, he chose to live with new purpose.  And happily, in the four decades since, he has become one of the world’s leading scientists.  His work in theoretical physics — which I will not attempt to explain further here — (laughter) — has advanced our understanding of the universe.  His popular books have advanced the cause of science itself.  From his wheelchair, he’s led us on a journey to the farthest and strangest reaches of the cosmos.  In so doing, he has stirred our imagination and shown us the power of the human spirit here on Earth.
 
Told he was too small to play college football, Jack Kemp became a pro quarterback.  Cut by four teams, he led the Buffalo Bills to two championships.  Football, he once said, gave him a good sense of perspective about politics:  He’d “already been booed, cheered, cut, sold, [and traded].”  (Laughter.)  Makes me feel better.  (Laughter.)  A conservative thinker, a Republican leader, and a defender of civil rights, he was that rare patriot who put country over party, never forgetting what he learned on the gridiron — that it takes each of us doing our part, and all of us working together, to achieve a common goal.  It’s a life from which we can all draw lessons, Democrat and Republican alike.
 
After purchasing an $8 racket with money earned from chores, 11-year-old Billie Jean declared a goal to be the number one tennis player in the world.  Yet, what we honor are not simply her 12 Grand Slam titles, 101 doubles titles, and 67 singles titles — pretty good, Billie Jean — (laughter) — we honor what she calls “all the off-the-court stuff” — what she did to broaden the reach of the game, to change how women athletes and women everywhere view themselves, and to give everyone — regardless of gender or sexual orientation — including my two daughters — a chance to compete both on the court and in life.  As Billie Jean once said, we should “never, ever underestimate the human spirit.”  Nor should we underestimate Billie Jean King’s spirit.
 
Born and raised in Jim Crow Alabama, preaching in his blood, the Reverend Joseph Lowery is a giant of the Moses generation of civil rights leaders.  It was just King, Lowery, and a few others, huddled in Montgomery, who laid the groundwork for the bus boycott and the movement that was to follow.  A founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Lowery was later asked to serve as President.  He agreed to serve for one year, but wound up serving, as he puts it, for 20 one-year terms.  (Laughter.)  Throughout his life, some have called him crazy.  But one of my favorite sermons that I heard Dr. Lowery once deliver, he said:  There’s good crazy and there’s bad crazy — (laughter) — and sometimes you need a little bit of that good crazy to make the world a better place.
 
Born just a generation past the Battle of the Little Big Horn, a grandson of a scout for General Custer himself, Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow was the first member of his tribe to attend college and earn a Master’s.  Before completing his PhD, he left to serve in World War II.  Wearing war paint beneath his uniform, and a sacred feather beneath his helmet, Joseph Medicine Crow completed the four battlefield deeds that made him the last Crow war chief.  Historian, educator, and patriot — a good man, a bacheitche in Crow — Dr. Medicine Crow’s life reflects not only the warrior spirit of the Crow people, but America’s highest ideals.
 
     His name was Harvey Milk, and he was here to recruit us — all of us — to join a movement and change a nation.  For much of his early life, he had silenced himself.  In the prime of his life, he was silenced by the act of another.  But in the brief time in which he spoke — and ran and led — his voice stirred the aspirations of millions of people.  He would become, after several attempts, one of the first openly gay Americans elected to public office.  And his message of hope — hope unashamed, hope unafraid — could not ever be silenced.  It was Harvey who said it best:  “You gotta give ‘em hope.”
 
     When a young Sandra Day graduated from Stanford Law School near the top of her class — in two years instead of the usual three — she was offered just one job in the private sector.  Her prospective employer asked her how well she typed and told her there might be work for her as a legal secretary.  Now, I cannot know how she would have fared as a legal secretary — (laughter) — but she made a mighty fine justice of the United States Supreme Court.  (Laughter and applause.)  A judge and Arizona legislator, cancer survivor, child of the Texas plains, Sandra Day O’Connor is like the pilgrim in the poem she sometime quotes who has forged a new trail and built a bridge behind her for all young women to follow.
 
It’s been said that Sidney Poitier does not make movies, he makes milestones — milestones of artistic excellence; milestones of America’s progress.  On screen and behind the camera, in films such as The Defiant Ones, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, Uptown Saturday Night, Lilies of the Field — for which he became the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor — Poitier not only entertained, but enlightened, shifting attitudes, broadening hearts, revealing the power of the silver screen to bring us closer together.  The child of Bahamian tomato farmers, Poitier once called his driving purpose to make himself a better person.  He did — and he made us all a little bit better along the way.
 
Dolores Conchita Figueroa del Rivero — (applause) — knows the adversity that comes with a difficult name.  (Laughter.)  I can relate.  (Laughter.)  Known to the world by the name that has lit up Broadway marquees, Chita Rivera’s career had an improbable start.  Accompanying a nervous classmate on an audition, she decided to audition herself, and impressed the choreographer, Jerome Robbins, who would make her famous as Anita in West Side Story.  Sassy, electric — that rare performer who can sing, dance, and act — Chita Rivera revealed that still rarer ability to overcome when she recovered from a car accident that shattered her leg.  She ended up retaking the stage, won a Tony for Kiss of the Spider Woman.  And like her unforgettable Anita, Chita Rivera has shown that life can indeed be bright in America.
 
The only girl in a family of four brothers, Mary Robinson learned early on what it takes to make sure all voices are heard. As a crusader for women and those without a voice in Ireland, Mary Robinson was the first woman elected President of Ireland, before being appointed U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.  When she traveled abroad as President, she would place a light in her window that would draw people of Irish descent to pass by below.  Today, as an advocate for the hungry and the hunted, the forgotten and the ignored, Mary Robinson has not only shone a light on human suffering, but illuminated a better future for our world.
 
After graduating from the University of Chicago School of Medicine in 1948, Janet Rowley got married, and gave birth to four sons, making medicine a hobby and making family her priority.  It was not until she was almost 40 that she took up serious medical research, and not until almost a decade later that she discovered, hunched over her dining room table, examining small photos of chromosomes, that leukemia cells are notable for changes in their genetics — a discovery that showed cancer is genetic, and transformed how we fight the disease.  All of us have been touched in some way by cancer, including my family — and so we can all be thankful that what began as a hobby became a life’s work for Janet.
 
The glint in the eye and the lilt in the voice are familiar to us all.  But the signature quality of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, says Nelson Mandela, is a readiness to take unpopular stands without fear.  Perhaps that explains what led the Arch, as he’s known, to preach amid tear gas and police dogs, rallying a people against apartheid.  And later, when a free South Africa needed a heart big enough to forgive its sins, Archbishop Desmond Tutu was called to serve once more — as chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.  Tribune of the downtrodden, voice of the oppressed, cantor of our conscience, Desmond Tutu possesses that sense of generosity, that spirit of unity, that essence of humanity that South Africans know simply as Ubuntu.
 
Thirty-five years ago, a young economics professor at a university in Bangladesh was struck by the disconnect between the theories he was teaching in class and the reality of the famine outside.  So, determined to help, Mohammed Yunus left the classroom for a village, and discovered that just $27 would free dozens of artisans, vendors, and rickshaw pullers from debt.  Offering himself as a guarantor, he withdrew a loan, paid off their debts, and founded Grameen Bank — a bank that has disbursed over $8 billion, lifting millions of people from poverty with microloans.  Mohammed Yunus was just trying to help a village, but he somehow managed to change the world.
 
There’s a story Ted Kennedy sometimes tells.  It’s about a boy who sees an old man tossing starfish stranded by a receding tide back into the sea.  “There are so many,” asks the boy, “what difference can your efforts possibly make?”  The old man studies the starfish in his hand and tosses it to safety, saying:  “It makes a difference to that one.”  For nearly half a century, Ted Kennedy has been walking that beach, making a difference for that soldier fighting for freedom, that refugee looking for a way home, that senior searching for dignity, that worker striving for opportunity, that student aspiring to college, that family reaching for the American Dream.  The life of Senator Edward M. Kennedy has made a difference for us all.
 
These are the 2009 recipients of the Medal of Freedom.  At a moment when cynicism and doubt too often prevail, when our obligations to one another are too often forgotten, when the road ahead can seem too long or hard to tread, these extraordinary men and women — these agents of change — remind us that excellence is not beyond our abilities, that hope lies around the corner, and that justice can still be won in the forgotten corners of this world.  They remind us that we each have it within our powers to fulfill dreams, to advance the dreams of others, and to remake the world for our children. 
 
And it is now my distinct and extraordinary honor to ask each of them to come forward to receive their award, as a military aide reads their citation.  (Applause.)
 
     MILITARY AIDE:  Drawing strength from tragedy, Nancy Goodman Brinker has transformed the nation’s approach to breast cancer.  When her sister was diagnosed in 1977, most breast cancer victims knew relatively little about the disease and suffered from popular stigmas.  Nancy G. Brinker promised to challenge these norms.  She founded Susan G. Komen for the Cure in honor of her sister, and today, the organization supports research and community awareness programs across the United States and around the world.  Nancy G. Brinker’s unique passion and determination have been a blessing to all those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. 
 
(The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)
 
Pedro José Greer Jr.  (Applause.)
 
Dr. Pedro José “Joe” Greer Jr. has devoted his career to improving medical services for the uninsured.  A native of Miami, he followed his passion for helping others to medical school and founded the Camillus Health Concern (CHC) in 1984 as a medical intern.  Today, CHC treats thousands of homeless patients a year, serving as a model clinic for the poor, and inspiring physicians everywhere to work with indigent populations.  Dr. Greer’s tremendous contributions to the South Florida community, and our nation as a whole, stand as a shining example of the difference one person can make in the lives of many. 
 
(The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)
 
Stephen Hawking.  (Applause.)
 
Persistent in his pursuit of knowledge, Stephen Hawking has unlocked new pathways of discovery and inspired people around the world.  He has dedicated his life to exploring the fundamental laws that govern the universe, and he has contributed to some of the greatest scientific discoveries of our time.  His work has stirred the imagination of experts and lay persons alike.  Living with a disability and possessing an uncommon ease of spirit, Stephen Hawking’s attitude and achievements inspire hope, intellectual curiosity, and respect for the tremendous power of science.
 
(The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)
 
Joanne Kemp, accepting on behalf of her husband, Jack French Kemp.  (Applause.)
 
A statesman and a sports icon, Jack French Kemp advocated for his beliefs with an unwavering integrity and intellectual honesty.  On the football field, he earned the respect and admiration of his teammates for his judgment and leadership.  As a public servant, he placed country before party, and ideas before ideology.  Jack Kemp saw bridges where others saw divisions, and his legacy serves as a shining example for all those who strive to challenge conventional wisdom, stay true to themselves, and better our nation.
 
(The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)
 
Kara Kennedy, accepting on behalf of her father, Edward M. Kennedy.  (Applause.)
 
For more than four decades, Senator Edward M. Kennedy has boldly fought for equal opportunity, fairness, and justice for all Americans.  In his tireless quest for a more perfect Union, Senator Kennedy has reformed our schools, strengthened our civil rights, helped seniors and working families, lifted up the poor, and worked to ensure that every American has access to quality and affordable health care.  With volumes of laws bearing his name and countless lives touched by his extraordinary passion, Senator Kennedy has accumulated several lifetimes’ worth of achievements.  The United States proudly recognizes this righteous citizen, devout public servant, and giant among men.
 
(The medal is presented.)  (Applause.) 
 
Billie Jean Moffitt King.  (Applause.)
 
Through her example and advocacy, Billie Jean Moffitt King has advanced the struggle for greater gender equality around the world.  In an age of male-dominated sports, her pioneering journey took her from Long Beach, California, to the lawns of All England Club and the International Tennis Hall of Fame.  Her athletic acumen is matched only by her unwavering defense of equal rights.  With Billie Jean King pushing us, the road ahead will be smoother for women, the future will be brighter for LGBT Americans, and our nation’s commitment to equality will be stronger for all.
 
(The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)
 
Reverend Joseph E. Lowery.  (Applause.)
 
Reverend Joseph E. Lowery has marched through life with faith and purpose, carrying with him the legacy of a movement that touched America’s conscience and changed its history.  At the forefront of the major civil rights events of our time — from the Montgomery bus boycott to protests against apartheid — he has served as a tireless beacon for nonviolence and social justice.  As a pastor and civil rights advocate, he co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and championed the cause of peace and freedom around the world.  The United States proudly honors this outstanding leader. 
 
(The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)
 
Joseph Medicine Crow.  (Applause.)
 
As a warrior and living legend, history flows through Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow — High Bird.  Born on a reservation and raised by traditional grandparents, he became the first member of his tribe to earn a Master’s degree.  For his valiant service in World War II, he was awarded the status of Crow War Chief, and his renowned studies of the first Americans and contributions to cultural and historical preservation have been critical to our understanding of America’s history.  Joe Medicine Crow is a symbol of strength and survival, and the United States honors him for his dedication to this country and to all Native Americans. 
 
(The medal is presented.)  (Applause.) 
 
Stuart Milk accepting on behalf of his uncle, Harvey Bernard Milk.  (Applause.) 
 
Harvey Bernard Milk dedicated his life to shattering boundaries and challenging assumptions.  As one of the first openly gay elected officials in this country, he changed the landscape of opportunity for the nation’s gay community.  Throughout his life, he fought discrimination with visionary courage and conviction.  Before his tragic death in 1978, he wisely noted, “Hope will never be silent,” and called upon Americans to stay true to the guiding principles of equality and justice for all.  Harvey Milk’s voice will forever echo in the hearts of all those who carry forward his timeless message. 
 
     (The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)
 
     Sandra Day O’Connor.  (Applause.) 
 
Sandra Day O’Connor has paved the way for millions of women to achieve their dreams.  Completing law school in just two years, she graduated third in her class at a time when women rarely entered the legal profession.  With grace and humor, tenacity and intelligence, she rose to become the first woman on the United States Supreme Court.  Her historic 25-term tenure on the Court was defined by her integrity and independence, and she has earned the nation’s lasting gratitude for her invaluable contributions to history and the law. 
 
     (The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)
 
     Sidney Poitier.  (Applause.) 
 
Ambassador and actor, Sidney Poitier has left an indelible mark on American culture.  Rising from the tomato farms of the Bahamas, his talent led him to Broadway, Hollywood, and global acclaim.  In front of black and white audiences struggling to right the nation’s moral compass, Sidney Poitier brought us the common tragedy of racism, the inspiring possibility of reconciliation, and the simple joys of everyday life.  Ultimately, the man would mirror the character, and both would advance the nation’s dialogue on race and respect.
 
     (The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)  
 
     Chita Rivera.  (Applause.) 
 
From stage to screen, Chita Rivera has captured America’s imagination with her magnetic presence and radiant voice.  Over a career that has spanned a half-century, she has received numerous accolades for her performances, including two Tony Awards, six additional Tony nominations, and the Kennedy Center Honors Award.  As fearless as “Anita” in West Side Story, and as self-reliant as “Aurora” in Kiss of the Spider Woman, she has broken barriers under Broadway’s lights and inspired a generation of women to follow in her remarkable footsteps.  The United States honors Chita Rivera for her lifetime of achievement as one of America’s great artists. 
 
(The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)
 
Mary Robinson.  (Applause.) 
 
For Mary Robinson, the fight to end discrimination and suffering is an urgent moral imperative.  She has been a trail-blazing crusader for women’s rights in Ireland and a forceful advocate for equality and human rights around the world.  Whether courageously visiting conflict-stricken regions, or working to inject concern for human rights into business and economic development, Mary Robinson continues this important work today, urging citizens and nations to make common cause for justice.
 
(The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)
 
Janet Davison Rowley.  (Applause.) 
 
Dr. Janet Davison Rowley was the first scientist to identify a chromosomal translocation as the cause of leukemia and other cancers — considered among the most important medical breakthroughs of the past century.  After enrolling at the University of Chicago at age 15, she went on to challenge the conventional medical wisdom about the cause of cancer in the 1970s, which had placed little emphasis on chromosomal abnormalities.  Her work has proven enormously influential to researchers worldwide who have used her discovery to identify genes that cause fatal cancers and to develop targeted therapies that have revolutionized cancer care.  The United States honors this distinguished scientist for advancing genetic research and the understanding of our most devastating diseases.
 
(The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)
 
Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu.  (Applause.) 
 
With unflagging devotion to justice, indomitable optimism, and an unmistakable sense of humor, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu has stirred the world’s conscience for decades.  As a man of the cloth, he has drawn the respect and admiration of a diverse congregation.  He helped lead South Africa through a turning point in modern history, and with an unshakable humility and firm commitment to our common humanity, he helped heal wounds and lay the foundation for a new nation.  Desmond Tutu continues to give voice to the voiceless and bring hope to those who thirst for freedom.
 
(The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)
 
Muhammad Yunus.  (Applause.) 
 
With his belief in the self-reliance of all people, Professor Muhammad Yunus has altered the face of finance and entrepreneurship.  As an academic, he struggled with pervading economic theories and their effects on the people of his native Bangladesh.  Yearning for a new way of lifting people out of poverty, he revolutionized banking to allow low-income borrowers access to credit.  In the process, he has enabled citizens of the world’s poorest countries to create profitable businesses, support their families, and help build sustainable communities.  In doing so, Muhammad Yunus has unleashed new avenues of creativity and inspired millions worldwide to imagine their own potential. 
 
(The medal is presented.)  (Applause.)
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Before we break up, why don’t we all give an extraordinary round of applause to these remarkable men and women.  (Applause.) 
 
Thank you very much for joining us, everyone.  Thank you very much.  
 
                                       END                3:44 P.M. EDT

In June, I wrote a story that raised big questions about the value of the government’s $80 billion deal with Big Pharma, and wondered if the deal came with the trade-off of killing legislation that would enable the government to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical compannies for lower prices.  Such a trade-off would be indefensible.

That week, I took extraordinary steps to determine if this was the case.  I spoke personally with a White House Deputy Press Secretary twice, followed by multiple emails.  I also spoke, personally, to the press official for the Senate Finance Committee, followed by multiple emails.  There was no doubt as to what I was asking.  I never got a response from either of them.

That Thursday, I asked Gibbs about it at a daily briefing:

Q Thank you, Robert. I have two quick ones on health care. The first one, in the speeches about the $80 billion deal with the pharmaceutical companies, I haven’t heard anything about negotiating price — Medicare negotiating price with the pharmaceutical industry. I wanted to know if that was one of the tradeoffs for getting this $80 billion was that we’re not going to pursue that now.

MR. GIBBS: Well, look, again, the structure of part of that agreement was to use a portion of that $80 billion to pay up to — for the pharmaceutical industry to pay up to 50 percent of the cost for a name brand drug for a senior that falls between the point at which Medicare Part D stops providing help, and when catastrophic coverage — I think it is $6,500, a little bit more than $6,500 — level kicks in. So filling in that — what’s commonly known as — ironically, in health care — the doughnut hole, about — that up to 50 percent of the name brand — the price for that name brand drug would be paid for, and I think that provides a hefty discount that will bear appreciable benefits for seniors all over the country.

Q Has there been an agreement not to pursue a Medicare –

MR. GIBBS: I don’t know the answer.

Q I’m talking about S. 330.

MR. GIBBS: What was that?

Q Senate bill 330?

MR. GIBBS: You’re 330 bills ahead of me on that. (Laughter.) I will check on it.

Of course, now, the New York Times reports that the White House confirms that the deal did include an agreement to kill price negotiation laws:

In response, the industry successfully demanded that the White House explicitly acknowledge for the first time that it had committed to protect drug makers from bearing further costs in the overhaul. The Obama administration had never spelled out the details of the agreement….A deputy White House chief of staff, Jim Messina, confirmed Mr. Tauzin’s account of the deal in an e-mail message on Wednesday night.

“The president encouraged this approach,” Mr. Messina wrote. “He wanted to bring all the parties to the table to discuss health insurance reform.”

This is deeply disturbing on many levels.  If Gibbs didn’t know about this provision after the deal was made, then it stands to reason that the President didn’t know, either.  With the Senate Finance Committe stonewalling me about it, one could conclude that they kept the President in the dark about it until it was already a fait accompli.

The other possibility is that Robert Gibbs was left in the dark, a frightening prospect for a White House reporter, and for any American.

Beneath it all is the fact that the government dealt away our right to negotiate lower drug prices (just like any other large customer), and they did it for peanuts.  This is a disgrace.

I emailed Gibbs and his deputy for an explanation, and am awaiting a reply.

Update: Jake Tapper asked Gibbs about the discrepancy at today’s White House Press Briefing.

TAPPER:  Can I just ask a quick follow up?  In June you were asked about the deal and whether or not the deal with PhRMA implied that the White House signed off on no other legislation, such as allowing Medicare to renegotiate with PhRMA.  And you said you didn’t know the answer to that. Was it because you personally didn’t know or because the Senate Finance Committee hadn’t informed the White House of that aspect of the deal?

GIBBS:  You’re asking me to recall why I didn’t remember something in June.  I — I — that I don’t know the answer to. Obviously, the agreement that we have is — is in the confines of health insurance reform that’s being worked on right now.

MR. GIBBS: Just a couple of quick announcements before we get started…Senate Democrats will come down to the White House tomorrow and have lunch here with the President.

Q All of them?

MR. GIBBS: All of them.

Q Open press?

MR. GIBBS: Unclear.

Q But we’re all invited to the lunch?

MR. GIBBS: You didn’t get your invite?

Q Is beer being served? (Laughter.)

Q Why are they –

MR. GIBBS: To continue to talk about the priorities that they have, talk about what has been accomplished in the first six-and-a-half months of the administration, and to talk about our priorities.

Yeah, I’m sure there won’t be any particular topic.

In an unprecedented coup, Daily Dose has obtained video of Rahm Emanuel’s remarks at tomorrow’s luncheon. 

When I took this picture, I had no idea it would be the sum total of content that I’d have to show for my trip to DC.  As it turns out, the briefing was canceled, and the other events were pooled press only.

See, I noted the above snack in the vending machine here, and I am a sucker for this kind of cross-branding.  You know, when one company makes something it doesn’t usually make, like Starburst candy canes, or Starbucks shotgun pellets.  I had to try them, knowing in advance that they would disappoint.

In fairness to Burger King, I do have daily access to the best french toast ever, so maybe I’m not the best judge.

The briefing was pretty well uneventful save for the Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy, Judith McHale, making a surprise guest appearance to tell the Press Corps about the public diplomacy and outreach efforts in Ghana and throughout the rest of Africa for President Obama’s visit. Efforts included providing microgrants to small theaters in Sierra Leone to show the speech for free, receiving 250,000 questions for the President via SMS/text message and email, and answering some of those questions in a podcast, which was dubbed into French, Swahili, Portuguese, and Arabic, and then taken to broadcast at radio stations via bicycle. I don’t know, I thought that was kind of cool. Nice to see we’re not solely relying on new technology to get the message out to the developing world.

The Rose Garden event was where the buzz of the day really lay, and ensured that at least 80% of questions during the briefing were on the subject of healthcare. I got some video of the ten-minute speech, but ended up behind people (as usual) so the video is not very good – luckily, I have the transcript. Enjoy!

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                              July 15, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

ON HEALTH CARE REFORM

Rose Garden

1:11 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, everybody.  Good afternoon.  I am pleased to be joined by not only some of my former colleagues and outstanding legislators, but also by nurses.  And I think I’ve said this before — I really like nurses.  (Laughter.)  And so to have them here today on behalf of such a critical issue at a critical time is extraordinary.

Let me introduce a few of them.  We’ve got Becky Patton, who’s the President of the American Nurses Association here.  Raise your hand, Becky.  We have Dr. Mary Wakefield, who’s a nurse and happens to be the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration at HHS, our highest-ranking nurse in the administration.  We’ve got Keisha Walker, an RN, currently a senior research nurse at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health.  We have Dr. Rebecca Wiseman, nurse and assistant professor of adult health at the University of Maryland School of Nursing.  And I’m also joined by Representative Johnson, Representative Capps, Representative McCarthy, Chairman George Miller, and my friend Chris Dodd.

I am very pleased to be joined today by the representatives from the American Nurses Association on behalf of 2.9 million registered nurses in America — men and women who know as well as anyone the urgent need for health reform.

Now, as I said before, I have a longstanding bias towards nurses.  When Sasha, our younger daughter, was diagnosed with a dangerous case of meningitis when she was just three months old, we were terrified.  And we were appreciative of the doctors, but it was the nurses who walked us through the entire process to make sure that Sasha was okay.

When both my daughters were born, the obstetrician was one of our best friends, but we saw her for about 10 minutes in each delivery.  The rest of the time what we saw were nurses who did an incredible amount of work in not only taking care of Michelle but also caring for a nervous husband and then later for a couple of fat little babies.

So I know how important nurses are, and the nation does too.  Nurses aren’t in health care to get rich.  Last I checked, they’re in it to care for all of us, from the time they bring a new life into this world to the moment they ease the pain of those who pass from it.  If it weren’t for nurses, many Americans in underserved and rural areas would have no access to health care at all.

And that’s why it’s safe to say that few understand why we have to pass reform as intimately as our nation’s nurses.  They see firsthand the heartbreaking costs of our health care crisis.  They hear the same stories that I’ve heard across this country — of treatment deferred or coverage denied by insurance companies; of insurance premiums and prescriptions that are so expensive they consume a family’s entire budget; of Americans forced to use the emergency room for something as simple as a sore throat just because they can’t afford to see a doctor.

And they understand that this is a problem that we can no longer defer.  We can’t kick the can down the road any longer.  Deferring reform is nothing more than defending the status quo — and those who would oppose our efforts should take a hard look at just what it is that they’re defending.  Over the last decade, health insurance premiums have risen three times faster than wages.  Deductibles and out-of-pocket costs are skyrocketing.  And every single day we wait to act, thousands of Americans lose their insurance, some turning to nurses in emergency rooms as their only recourse.

So make no mistake, the status quo on health care is not an option for the United States of America.  It’s threatening the financial stability of families, of businesses, and of government.  It’s unsustainable, and it has to change.

I know a lot of Americans who are satisfied with their health care right now are wondering what reform would mean for them, so let me be clear:  If you like your doctor or health care provider, you can keep them.  If you like your health care plan, you can keep that too.

But here’s what else reform will mean for you — and this is for people who have health insurance:  You will save money.  If you lose your job, change your job, or start a new business, you’ll still be able to find quality health insurance that you can afford.  If you have a preexisting medical condition, no insurance company will be able to deny you coverage.  You won’t have to worry about being priced out of the market.  You won’t have to worry about one illness leading your family into financial ruin.  That’s what reform means, not just for the uninsured but for the people who have health insurance right now.

The naysayers and the cynics still doubt that we can do this.  But it wasn’t too long ago that those same naysayers doubted that we’d be able to make real progress on health care reform.  And thanks to the work of key committees in Congress, we’re now closer to the goal of health reform than we have ever been.

Yesterday, the House introduced its health reform proposal.  Today, thanks to the unyielding passion and inspiration of our friend Ted Kennedy, and to the bold leadership of Senator Chris Dodd, the Senate HELP Committee reached a major milestone by passing a similarly strong proposal for health reform.  It’s a plan that was debated for more than 50 hours and that, by the way, includes 160 Republican amendments — a hopeful sign of bipartisan support for the final product, if people are serious about bipartisanship.

Both proposals will take what’s best about our system today and make it the basis for our system tomorrow — reducing costs, raising quality, and ensuring fair treatment of consumers by the insurance industry.  Both include a health insurance exchange, a marketplace that will allow families and small businesses to compare prices, services, and the quality, so they can choose the plan that best suits their needs.  And among the choices available would be a public health insurance option that would make health care more affordable by increasing competition, providing more choices, and keeping insurance companies honest.  Both proposals will offer stability and security to Americans who have coverage today, and affordable options to those who don’t.

This progress should make us hopeful, but it can’t make us complacent.  It should instead provide the urgency for both the House and the Senate to finish their critical work on health reform before the August recess.

America’s nurses need us to succeed, not just on behalf of the patients that they sometimes speak for.  If we invest in prevention, nurses won’t have to treat diseases or complications that could have been avoided.  If we modernize health records, we’ll streamline the paperwork that can take up more than one-third of the average nurse’s day, freeing them to spend more time with their patients.  If we make their jobs a little bit easier, we can attract and train the young nurses we need to make up a nursing shortage that’s only getting worse.  Nurses do their part every time they check another healthy patient out of the hospital.  It’s now time for us to do our part.

I just want to be clear:  We are going to get this done.  Becky and I were talking in the Oval Office.  Becky just pointed out, we need to buck up people a little bit here.  (Laughter.)  And that’s what nurses do all the time — they buck up patients, sometimes they buck up some young resident who doesn’t quite know what they’re doing.  (Laughter.)  You look at Becky, you can tell she knows what she’s doing.  And what she’s saying is it’s time for us to buck up — Congress, this administration, the entire federal government — to be clear that we’ve got to get this done.

Our nurses are on board.  The American people are on board.  It’s now up to us.  We can do what we’ve done for so long and defer tough decisions for another day — or we can step up and meet our responsibilities.  In other words, we can lead.  We can look beyond the next news cycle and the next election to the next generation, and come together to build a system that works not just for these nurses, but for the patients they care for; for doctors and hospitals; for families and businesses — and for our very future as a nation.

I’m confident it’s going to get done because we’ve got a great team behind us.  And we are going to be continually talking about this for the next two to three weeks until we’ve got a bill off the Senate and we’ve got a bill out of the House.  Then we’ll deserve a few weeks’ rest before we come back and finally get a bill done so we can sign it right here in the Rose Garden.

Thank you, everybody.

END           1:21 P.M. EDT