The number of people applying for jobless benefits tumbled to the lowest level in 8 years: http://t.co/1pKhByUtkk pic.twitter.com/gKvoIAahu2
— MarketWatch (@MarketWatch) July 24, 2014
President Obama signs executive order banning LGBT discrimination by federal contractors
This morning, President Obama signed an executive order banning discrimination in the workplace against LGBT employees of the federal government and federal contractors.
The executive order adds sexual orientation and gender identity to an existing executive order that already protects employees of federal contractors based on race, religion, color, sex or national origin.
The amended executive order is comprised of two components. The first makes it illegal to fire or harass employees of federal contractors based on sexual orientation or gender identity. That provision will not go into effect until next year.
The second component bans discrimination against transgender employees of the federal government. This becomes effective immediately.
“America’s federal contracts should not subsidize discrimination against the American people,” Obama said during remarks at the White House just before signing the order. “I’m going to do what I can with the authority I have to act.”
There are approximately 28 million employees of contractors who work with the federal government.
Watch below as President Obama signs executive orders banning discrimination against LGBT employees in the federal workplace.
President Obama pays tribute to AIDS researchers killed on downed Malaysia Airlines flight
As I reported earlier, over 100 HIV/AIDS researchers on their way to the 2014 World AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia, died on the Malaysia Airlines flight shot down yesterday.
President Obama mentioned them and their contributions today in a press conference.
Let me close by making one additional comment. On board Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17, there were apparently nearly 100 researchers and advocates traveling to an international conference in Australia dedicated to combating AIDS/HIV. These were men and women who had dedicated their own lives to saving the lives of others and they were taken from us in a senseless act of violence.
In this world today, we shouldn’t forget that in the midst of conflict and killing, there are people like these — people who are focused on what can be built rather than what can be destroyed; people who are focused on how they can help people that they’ve never met; people who define themselves not by what makes them different from other people but by the humanity that we hold in common.
It’s important for us to lift them up and to affirm their lives. And it’s time for us to heed their example.
(via transcript)
US economy hits longest stretch of positive job growth on record
Remember – according to conservatives President Obama is “supposed” to be bad for the business sector…?
This is the first time job growth has been above 200,000 for five straight months since September 1999 through January 2000. Let’s see now, who was president then? Let me think….
Imagine if the Republicans actually worked WITH the President? Things that make you go “hmm…”
Go to Business Insider for more details on the jobs record this month.
President Obama asks “Are you gay?” Cashier replies “Only when I’m having sex”
Super-cool moment for 32-year-old cashier Daniel Webb in Austin last Thursday.
Working at Franklin Barbecue, Webb and co-workers kept hearing rumors that the President might be stopping by the restaurant. Now, who really believes stuff like that?
Until – the President of the United States walks in.
Here’s how it went down via Buzzfeed:
“[They] frisked everybody, which was kind of my favorite part,” Webb recalled in an interview with BuzzFeed Saturday night. “Then he just showed up.”
Webb, who is also a comedian and retired musician, wasn’t about to miss his opportunity to say whatever he wanted to a sitting president. So, after he had introduced himself and the president was signing a reportedly $300 bill, he slammed his hand on the counter.
“Equal rights for gay people!” he exclaimed.
Obama reacted without missing a beat. “Are you gay?”
Taken aback by the directness of the question, he said, Webb responded, “Only when I’m having sex!”
The president laughed, then, realizing there was a group of children near the two, said, “Not in front of the kids!”
The two men bumped fists and that was that.
Afterwards, Webb had this to say: “As a comedian, it was cool to have a moment where I was making a sitting president laugh — over something that might be considered inappropriate is a bonus.”
President Obama to House Republicans: “You’re going to sue me for doing my job?”
Last night in Austin, Texas, President Obama laid into Washington Republicans who have announced their intention to sue him over his use of executive orders.
As many have noted, President Bush issued more than 100 more executive orders during his administration than Obama has. And Obama has done so in light of the overwhelming inactivity of Congress.
Read this excerpt from his remarks last night:
“Now, here’s where it gets interesting. There are a number of Republicans, including a number in the Texas delegation, who are mad at me for taking these actions. They actually plan to sue me. Now, I don’t know which things they find most offensive — me helping to create jobs, or me raising wages, or me easing the student loan burdens, or me making sure women can find out whether they’re getting paid the same as men for doing the same job. I don’t know which of these actions really bug them.
The truth is, even with all the actions I’ve taken this year, I’m issuing executive orders at the lowest rate in more than 100 years. So it’s not clear how it is that Republicans didn’t seem to mind when President Bush took more executive actions than I did. Maybe it’s just me they don’t like. I don’t know. Maybe there’s some principle out there that I haven’t discerned, that I haven’t figure out. You hear some of them — ‘sue him,’ ‘impeach him.’ Really? Really? For what? You’re going to sue me for doing my job? Okay.
I mean, think about that. You’re going to use taxpayer money to sue me for doing my job — while you don’t do your job.
There’s a great movie called ‘The Departed’ — a little violent for kids. But there’s a scene in the movie where Mark Wahlberg — they’re on a stakeout and somehow the guy loses the guy that they’re tracking. And Wahlberg is all upset and yelling at the guy. And the guy looks up and he says, ‘Well, who are you?’ And Wahlberg says, ‘I’m the guy doing my job. You must be the other guy.’ Sometimes, I feel like saying to these guys, ‘I’m the guy doing my job, you must be the other guy.’
So rather than wage another political stunt that wastes time, wastes taxpayers’ money, I’ve got a better idea: Do something. If you’re mad at me for helping people on my own, let’s team up. Let’s pass some bills. Let’s help America together.”
Watch the clip below.
Caption this photo – Gov. Rick Perry and President Obama
Texas Gov. Rick Perry in upper left hand – giving you boo-boo face.
And President Obama laughing.
Btw – note that there is a “name tent” in front of the President??? Really?
Captions, please… 🙂
John Boehner can’t even explain why House GOP wants to “sue” the President
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| Speaker of the House John Boehner |
In an uneven and poorly ghostwritten Op-Ed for CNN, Speaker of the House John Boehner tries and fails to explain why House Republicans plan to sue President Obama for his “lawlessness” – i.e. his use of executive orders to get the work of the people done.
After calling President Obama’s use of executive orders “egregious in quantity,” Boehner forgets to mention that President George W. Bush issued 291 executive orders versus Obama’s total of 182. Hard to be excessive when the “other guy” signed a whole lot more, Mr. Boehner. As a matter of fact, most modern-day presidents have issued more executive orders than Mr. Obama.
And the House Speaker says that the President’s policies have hurt the US economy. Another difficult charge to make just a day or so after the June jobs report showed over 288,000 new jobs created last month, and unemployment falling to five year lows. This is “hurting the economy?” Imagine what Boehner thinks about the stock market which has doubled under President Obama. Oh, the horror!
Even Erick Erickson of the conservative blog RedState sees through the smoke and mirrors, and advises House Republicans to get to work instead of waste taxpayer money on a frivolous “lawsuit:”
John Boehner’s lawsuit is nothing more than political theater and a further Republican waste of taxpayer dollars. If the Republican leaders in the House are too chicken to use their constitutional powers to rein in the President, they should just call it a day and go home.
Worst Socialist President Ever
The AP is reporting the Dow Jones Industrial Average is currently trading above 17,000 for the first time after the latest strong jobs report.
US employers hired 288,000 new employees dropping unemployment to 6.1% – the lowest since September 2008.
Once again, this proves that President Obama is the worst Socialist ever.
With a stock market that has more than doubled, two wars ending bringing our men and women in uniform home, plus the end of DADT, DOMA and millions now enjoying health insurance, it’s easy to see why the far-right might call him the “worst President ever.”
If you lived in Bizarro-land…
Thanks Obama!
President Obama surprises LGBT White House reception guests with gender identity executive order
Today, as President and Michelle Obama welcomed notable LGBT media figures to the White House to celebrate Pride Month, the President surprised many during his remarks by announcing a NEW executive order banning discrimination by federal contractors on the basis of not only sexual orientation, but gender identity as well.
See below from White House transcript:
“We’ve still got a little more work to do. I’ve repeatedly called on Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Right now, there are more states that let same-sex couples get married than there are states who prohibit discrimination against their LGBT workers. We have laws that say Americans can’t be fired on the basis of the color of their skin or their religion, or because they have a disability. But every day, millions of Americans go to work worried that they could lose their job -– not because of anything they’ve done — (baby cries) — I know, it’s terrible — (laughter) — but because of who they are. It’s upsetting. It is wrong.
“The majority of Fortune 500 companies already have nondiscrimination policies to protect their employees because it’s the right thing to do and because many say it helps to retain and attract the best talent. And I agree. So if Congress won’t act, I will. I have directed my staff to prepare an executive order for my signature that prohibits discrimination by federal contractors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. (Applause.)
“And I’ve asked my staff to prepare a second executive order so that federal employees –- who are already protected on the basis of sexual orientation –- will now formally be protected from discrimination based on gender identity as well. (Applause.)
“So we’ve got a lot to be proud of, but obviously we can’t grow complacent. We’ve got to defend the progress that we’ve made. We’ve got to keep on reaching out to LGBT Americans who are vulnerable and alone, and need our support –- whether it’s teenagers in rough situations to seniors who are struggling to find housing and care. (Baby cries.) I know, it’s tough. (Laughter.)”
You can watch his speech in the video below. You may need to move to the 15:00 mark.