by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
Today marks President Obama’s 100th day in office and Democrats congratulated Obama but also took the chance to grade Republicans.
“Someone asked me what mark would I give the president in his first 100 days, I definitely give the president an A,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) also praised the president saying, “President Obama’s leadership has been like that of a world class chef. He is able to keep all these different, complicated, intricate issues cooking at once, giving steady attention to each without letting any of them boil over and so far the American people have
liked what he is serving up.”
During the conference both Democrats and Republicans were voting on the budget blueprint and Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that with the president’s support and signature, good things will come.
“We’re creating and saving millions of jobs for those who face a losing paycheck in the time when they need one the most. With his help we guaranteed equal pay for millions of American workers and guaranteed healthcare for millions of American children. With his leadership we’re cutting taxes for hard working families, we’re investing in affordable healthcare, clean energy and education, and we’re punishing the predators who take advantage of those desperate just to hold on to their homes,” said Reid.
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) called the Obama administration’s first 100 days a “model of forceful, coordinated action” and said that Obama has worked with Congress to meet challenges “together.”
“We have not yet seen as positive of a response as all of us would like but all of us including the president, will continue to be reaching across that aisle…. The Republican party by contrast unfortunately has continued to live down to its reputation as the party of no,” said Hoyer.
Reid also expressed his disappointment in the Republicans saying that it would have been good for the country if they had chosen to work with the Democrats and said that Democrats will continue to “extend an open hand across the aisle.”
“We still reserve Republicans a seat at the table. We want together, Democrats and Republicans, to put the jobless back to work, and make sure that those who need care the most can afford to stay healthy. We want to work not as partisans but as partners to preserve the American dream, but what will endure will define this Congress and this presidency is how we will choose to write the next story, the next part of the story of our recovery, of our prosperity and our security,” said Reid.
Schumer said that President Obama has given confidence back to America and that his 100th day doesn’t mark the end to his momentum.
“The president is smart, active, moderate and caring, just what the country needs…. He’s placed this country on the right track and we all look forward to working with him and our colleagues to continue to move the country forward,” concluded Schumer.
by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
Today on Capitol Hill experts gathered to talk about the future relationship between Iran and the United States and expressed their recommendations to the Obama administration.
This morning, the Middle East Policy Council, an organization that provides political analysis of issues involving the greater Middle East, held a discussion on the prospects of engagement between Iran and the United States.
Kenneth Katzman, a Middle East specialist at the Congressional Research Service and author of “Warriors of Islam: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard” said that Iran envisions a Middle East free of what Iran believes is domination by the United States and Israel.
“Iran’s goal, it’s honored policy goal, the assessment of many, is to fundamentally restructure the Middle East by reducing U.S. influence in the region and weakening Israel to the furthest extent possible,” said Katzman.
Thomas Pickering, the former Undersecretary of State and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and the Russian Federation said that the future of our relationship with Iran will not depend on a totally accurate reading of Iranian internal politics because that remains something of a crapshoot.
“Watch as much as what is done, as what is said,” said Pickering.
Pickering said that the objective for the U.S. and Iran ought to be to seek a normal relationship over a period of time.
“A relationship that involves not just embassies and ambassadors but an ability for people on all sides to meet, talk with, know and work with each other…. We have a lot at stake and Iran has a lot at stake,” said Pickering.
Trita Parsi, the President of the National Iranian American Council and author of “Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran and the United States” said that in order for the U.S. to improve relations with Iran there needs to be a change in atmosphere and said that the speeches and comments made by President Obama are creating just that and injecting trust.
But Parsi said that giving a deadline of diplomacy to Iran will only militarize the atmosphere, and that will not be successful.
“The more the atmosphere gets militarized, the more difficult it will be for the Obama administration to be able to pursue its path of diplomacy,” said Parsi.
The Obama administration is no different than its predecessor when it comes to providing intelligence and military aid to Israel, an action that continues to hamper positive U.S. relations with other Middle East countries. That is the opinion of representatives of the Council For the National Interest, which conducted a public hearing to discuss the implications of current U.S. military aid to countries in the Middle East.
“The Obama administration has shipped replacement munitions that were used up in Gaza, very high-tech missiles and that sort of thing, to Israel in an emergency effort just about 10-days ago,” said Eugene Bird, President for the Council of National Interest. “I think this reflects that the Obama administration – with regard to the re-supply of Israel – is no different than the Bush administration.”
Some speakers suggested the United States should re-evaluate its unconditional support of Israel, especially within the current political identity.
“We do not sell arms to Israel, we give arms to Israel,” said Edward Peck, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and deputy director of President Reagan’s terrorism task force. Additionally, the Israeli government decides how it wants to utilize the resources and funds given by the U.S. “There is no purchase involved, which is a nice thing. It’s a blank check, and, as you know, that blank check is delivered on the first day of the fiscal year, October 1st, and the Israeli’s can then earn interest on this money while they decide how to spend it… (This) is not necessarily in our interests,” Peck said.
Bird estimates that over the next 10-years the U.S. will give Israel $30 billion to Israel and “that there will be 150,000 more Jewish colonists on the West Bank during that period… The American taxpayer, over the years and in the future, will be paying about $200,000 for each colonist that is placed on Arab land and which destroys the chances for a two-state solution.”
Israeli peace activist, journalist and writer, Uri Avnery said, “I think American arms to Israel should be conditioned…so that the peace agreement will be signed between Israel and the Palestinian people, hopefully a Palestinian unity government including both Fatah and Hamas – I would (expect such results) by the end of 2009 or the middle of 2010 not later.”
Some say that the Middle East is an issue of which Americans remain uninformed and that American politicians view the subject as a killer of constituent support.
Peck blamed said that the lack of information available was a result of the pro-Israel lobby. “They don’t allow anyone else to talk….We’ve been silenced. We are not allowed to criticize Israel. You’re instantly an anti-Semite if you do, He said. “In Israel you are allowed to criticize Israel government policy…but you cannot do it here without provoking a fire-stone.”
Minister Counsellor and Head of the Political Section for the Embassy of China, Weilin Kuang discussed “China’s Development and its Role in the World,” today at a Humanity Peace and Security meeting for the Korean Peninsula Issues in Washington D.C.
Weilin Kuang said in his opening remarks: “Over the last 30 years the economic progress China has made is truly remarkable…over 200 million Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty.”
However, despite China’s progress in the economic market, Kuang noted some challenges facing China: “Although we are the third largest economy in the world our GEP is behind the 100th largest economy in the world.”
Talking about the current economic crisis, Kuang said: “China is faced with very serious economic difficulties and challenges.”
Talking about China’s relations with the world, Kuang said: “After 30 years of reform China’s relations with the world has changed. China needs the world, and the world needs China.”
Kuang stated that maintaining and building on external relations is vitally important to help China get through this economically demanding period.
Speaking of hope for China, Kuang said: “I am confident that a rising, confident and more prosperous China will make positive contributions to the world…China hopes to increase its economic growth by 8 per cent this year and I am very hopeful.”
In regard to US-China relations, with the new Obama administration, he said: “We hope to see a continuation of these two dialogues…we have put our ideas to the US side, now its their turn, the ball is in their court…I am confident a formula can be formed to allow these two dialogues to continue…it is up to the United States to make a position.”
“We have seen positive signs from President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton…I hope more can be done to move forward and expand talks…face-to-face talks could be very helpful to help express mutual understanding,” he concluded.
President and CEO of Democracy 21, Fred Wertheimer gave a talk today at the Washington Foreign Media Center to discuss “Ethics in the Obama Administration – Are Washington’ Rules Changing?”
According to Democracy 21, they are a non-profit and nonpartisan organization which aims to provide the public with information on campaigns and campaign financing. Democracy 21 wants to ensure campaign financing laws are adhered to and modernized.
Talking specifically about Obama, Wertheimer commented on how the
President had been a a key figure while in the Senate by fighting for ethical reform.
Wertheimer said: “We have a new President who comes from a different culture in terms of his own career with a long track record on government integrity reform issues. In the state where he comes from there are two strands of politicians. There is one strand that creates the scandals, of which have led to four governors being indicted and many other problems. There is another reform strand, that goes back to Senator John Douglas…and now Senator Obama.”
President Obama has a long track record on these issues. It did not start on his first day of office,” Wertheimer added.
However, Wertheimer noted that recent set-backs in Obama’s new administration may have led critics to question the President’s performance on ethic related matters.
Speaking specifically about the Daschle nomination withdrawl, Wertheimer said: “Senator Daschle from my personal experience’s of dealing with him, was a terrific public servant for many years in the Congress and I had during the time I worked with him the highest regard for him. He kind of, was a product of the rules of Washington. This kind of Washington culture, he fell into like others have, and he got caught up in this clash, between what has been a normal Washington culture, which Washington accepts, and a set of circumstances created by Obama’s campaign which led to expectations of a change in this culture. He got caught in the middle of that.”
Wertheimer said: “It is an interesting question, whether Washington can change. What we are seeing here is a potential clash between a culture that has developed in recent decades, in Washington, which is a lobbyist special interest, money and politics culture.”
Campaign 21 is a supporter of the Executive Reform legislation that prohibits former serving members from becoming lobbyist after serving their term. The legislation also tackles, what Wertheimer described as the “reverse revolving door” scenario where lobbyist enter the Executive Branch.
Fred Wertheimer, President and CEO of Democracy 21 discusses the need for “strong rules to stop the use of public officials misusing their office for personal gain.”
Sergio Bendixen, President of Bendixen and Associates; Dr Cynthia McClintock, Professor of political science and international affairs, and director of the Latin America and Hemispheric Studies Program at George Washington University, Eric Farnsworth, Vice-president of the Council of Americas and Ray Walser, senior policy analyst for Latin America in The Heritage Foundation’s Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy studies, gave testimonies today before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.
The witnesses created a lot of attention, with people lining up outside to hear the testimonies on “U.S. Policy Toward Latin America in 2009 and Beyond”.
Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), said: “You can tell by the way the room is filled today the interest in the Western Hemisphere”.
Subcommittee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-NY) opened the hearing by welcoming Congressman Connie Mack (R-FL) as the committee’s new Ranking Member and then outlined some positive steps he would like the Obama administration to pursue.
“First and foremost, I believe that President Obama’s participation in April’s Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago would send an extremely positive message to the heads of the state from Latin America, to the Caribbean. Second, as Chairman Berman moves forward with foreign aid reform and the Obama administration prepares its FY 2010 budget, it is essential that we increase funding for countries in the Western Hemisphere…Third, cooperation between the US and Brazil significantly expanded during the Bush Administration. This relationship needs to be further deepened under President Obama…Fourth, we must continue to support our friends in Mexico through the Merida Initiative…Fifth, I would urge President Obama to focus on Ecuador and Paraguay…and sixth, we must continue to support disaster recovery efforts in Haiti”, Engel said.
Chairman Engel then went on to discuss the attacks in a synagogue in Caracus, Venezuela.
“On Monday, I sent a letter, along with 19 of my colleagues, to President Chavez urging him to end the bullying and harassment of the Jewish community in Venezuela and to extend the community the robust protection it deserves in light of the threats it faces. The Venezuelan government must quickly change its tune with regard to the country’s Jewish community”.
Dr McClintock said: “In Lationobarometer surveys between 2000 and 2005, approval ratings of the United States fell by more than 20 points in Ecuador, Chile, Brazil and Bolivia; more than 30 points in Mexico and Uruguay; and more than 40 points in Argentina, Paraguay, and Venezuela”.
Ray Walser commented on America’s dependence on the oil industry, with Congressman Ron Klein (D-FL) backing up his argument and stated that America needs to stop “buying oil from a country {Venezuela} that is hostile to our interests”.
The committee also discussed the American economy and its ability to assist Latin American countries. Sergio Bendixen said: “We need to be realistic. Not only about what our friends want but what Latin America wants…we have economic limitations”.
Other issues the committee discussed were the desires from the Obama administration, the April 2009 summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, human rights in Cuba, immigration, drugs control and free trade.
Eric Farnsworth suggested in his testimony that Brazil and Mexico should be allowed to join the G8. “Listening to Latin America is important…the rest of the hemisphere also has good ideas”.
Chairman Engel said: “We cannot ignore our own backyard”.
The committee hearing ended after 120 minutes as Congress was called to vote.
In a conference call today, Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack set out the key areas the American people can expect the USDA to focus on, under the new Obama administration.
The top priorities he identified included promoting a sustainable, safe, sufficient and nutritious food supply for all Americans and people around the world. He further stated that combating childhood obesity, enhanced healthy nutrition, and supporting research in the health care debate would be a key focus. Vilsack also announced that the USDA will work on achieving Obama’s target to eliminate child hunger by 2015.
Vilsack identified that another key area the USDA will be working on under the new administration would be research development in additional bio-fuels. The USDA will support the survival of the bio-fuel industry whilst promoting policies that will speed up the development of second and third generation feedstocks for these bio-fuels and in turn increase the potential to secure America’s energy security and independence. He will lead the USDA in it’s efforts to adopt management practices that promote and provide clean air, clean water and wildlife habitat. The USDA aim to support the profitability of farmers and ranchers, developing markets that reward them for carbon sequestration and eliminating greenhouse gases.
Vilsack concluded by stating that: “We have some serious challenges and many opportunities to pursue here at the USDA. I am looking forward to working with the dedicated employees of the USDA and all the departments to fulfill President Obama’s desire of effecting change, promoting a stronger, more vibrant and more economically viable royal America”.
Congressman Charlie Melancon tells Former Congressman Bob Ney he is “proud of America” and what he thinks will happen after the inauguration at Radio Row on January 19, 2009 (02:01).
