On this, the 12^th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, I remember my sister-in-law’s fight with the disease. Tragically, she did not win that fight – she left behind a devastated husband and five-year old daughter. But it is in her memory, and the memory of all the friends and loved ones we have lost, that we vow to keep working toward the day when HIV/AIDS is history.

This past December, on World AIDS Day, President Obama spoke about the United States’ commitment to ending HIV/AIDS. In a speech at George Washington University, he told the audience, “Make no mistake, we are going to win this fight.  But the fight is not over … not by a long shot.” 

Sadly, this is especially true in the African-American community. Black Americans represent 12 percent of the U.S. population, but they account for 44 percent of new HIV infections. Among young black gay men alone, infections have increased by nearly 50 percent in just three years, and black women account for the largest share of HIV infections among women. We each must do our part by getting tested regularly, and by educating those in our community about what they can do to help end the epidemic.

President Obama is committed to doing his part as well. In 2010, he released the nation’s first comprehensive HIV/AIDS plan. Together with Secretary Clinton, he has helped assemble a coalition of governments, healthcare professionals, and service providers. They have set a goal that would have been unthinkable just a few decades ago: an AIDS-free generation, in which virtually all children are born HIV-free, and prevention tools help them stay HIV-free throughout their lives.

We will not achieve this goal overnight. But we know that we must keep making progress, each and every day. For our communities and our families, the stakes are simply too high for us to be satisfied with anything less.

So today, we do more than commemorate those we have lost. We rededicate ourselves to the work ahead. Because even when it comes to an epidemic as devastating as HIV/AIDS, we have the chance to write our own destiny. As President Obama  said in December, “We can end this pandemic.  We can beat this disease.  We can win this fight.” 

For more information about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and this Administration’s efforts to fight HIV/AIDS in the Black community, visit www.aids.gov.

article courtesy of TheWhiteHouse.gov

At the National Prayer Breakfast, President Obama gave a speech where he described how his faith as a Christian informs his thinking as a leader.

And he talked about the importance of our shared set of values as Americans:

We can’t leave our values at the door. If we leave our values at the door, we abandon much of the moral glue that has held our nation together for centuries, and allowed us to become somewhat more perfect a union. Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Jane Addams, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, Abraham Heschel — the majority of great reformers in American history did their work not just because it was sound policy, or they had done good analysis, or understood how to exercise good politics, but because their faith and their values dictated it, and called for bold action — sometimes in the face of indifference, sometimes in the face of resistance.

This is no different today for millions of Americans, and it’s certainly not for me.

article courtesy of TheWhiteHouse.org

While reaching out to supporters through one of the latest high-tech means, President Obama expanded his social media experience by holding a Google+ video chat room interview Monday afternoon.

In an election year, it’s probably not good politics to talk about what you look forward to doing after your time in the White House, but that’s exactly what President Obama did when asked about the frustrations of living in the security bubble.

“It’s the toughest thing about being president. Look, this is the greatest job on Earth, and it’s such an honor to serve, but it is true sometimes, you get a little stir crazy,” he said “One of the things I look forward to after I’ve had this extraordinary honor is just taking a walk or waking up on Saturday morning, not shaving and going to the local Starbucks and not having to worry about it.”

The president was also asked to sing and dance, (which he refused) to say hello to one of the questioners’ young children, and from an Obama impersonator a question about the impact of comedy sketches on the election.

“I don’t know if any of this stuff affects an election, but I know that it makes our country stronger that you can make fun of the president — or anybody — and everybody can get a laugh,” President Obama said. “And that also makes sure to remind me that I work for you guys.”

Most of the forum, which came in the form of live video connections and video YouTube questions, focused on the economy.

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article courtesy of CNN.com/The WhiteHouse,gov

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Always seeking to take the high road, President Obama downplayed his supposed tense encounter with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer who was photographed pointing her finger in his face, saying the incident is “a classic example of things getting blown out of proportion.”

RELATED: Video: Brewer Tells How Her Finger got in Obama’s Face

Speaking with ABC “World News” anchor Diane Sawyer in an interview to air Thursday evening, the president mocked the media’s obsession with the story.

“I’m usually accused of not being intense enough, right? Too relaxed?” he said, according to the network’s account.

RELATED: Video: Arizona’s Gov Brewer, President Obama and the Finger

He seemed to blame Brewer for feeding the frenzy, saying that it is “always good publicity for a Republican if they’re in an argument with me.”

Read/learn more at LA Times.

article courtesy of Eurweb.com

Tomorrow, President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address. He will lay out his vision for a nation where hard work and responsibility are rewarded, where everyone does their fair share, and where everyone is held accountable for their actions. Starting immediately after the speech, the White House will be using social media and other online resources to answer questions from the American public and respond to your ideas about rebuilding America.

The President is committed to creating a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. That’s why President Obama and more than twenty-five members of his administration will be responding to your questions about the speech all week and talking about the issues that matter most to you (check out the full schedule here).

And, in the first completely-virtual interview from the White House, President Obama will answer questions that have been submitted by Americans from across the country via YouTube. The virtual event with the President will happen through Google+ Hangouts, a live multi-person video chat.

On Monday, January 30, the President will join a special Google+ Hangout from the West Wing. He’ll be answering several of the most popular questions that have been submitted through YouTube, and some of the people who submitted questions will even be invited to join the President in the Hangout and take part in the live conversation.

Do you have a question for President Obama? Here’s how you can participate:

• Starting today through January 28th, you can visit the White House YouTube channel to submit your questions and vote on your favorites.
• Tomorrow, watch the State of the Union live at 9:00 p.m. EST on YouTube.com/whitehouse or on WhiteHouse.gov/sotu

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article courtesy of TheWhiteHouse.gov

Soul singer Barack Obama, er, President Barack Obama, whose soulful version of Al Green‘s “Let’s Stay Together,” is now available for download on his campaign website.

The prez crooned a few bars of the soulful classic during a fundraiser at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre this past Thursday.

“Those guys thought I wouldn’t do it,” Obama said to the audience about his handlers. And then he told them: “I told you I was going to do it!”

article courtesy of Eurweb.com

President Barack Obama held a fundraiser Thursday night at the historic Apollo Theater in Harlem.

After taking the podium, Mr. Obama seemed to get caught up in the moment. He broke out into song, singing the opening line of the hit “Let’s Stay Together” by Rev. Al Green.

“I…I’m…soooo in love with you,” Mr. Obama sang.

The song was a message to the crowd of “Let’s Stay Together.” They went absolutely crazy with loud cheers. Later, Mr. Obama showed more appreciated for soul singer Rev. Al Green.

“Don’t worry Rev, I cannot sing like you, but I just wanted to show my appreciation,” the president said.

The event was his fourth campaign event of the night in New York City. It was filled with music performances including one by soul singer Green earlier in the night.

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article courtesy of Newsnet5.com

On Monday night, President Barack Obama reminded many why they fell in love with him when he took part in a tribute for former “Golden Girl” Betty White.

SEE ALSO: The Case Against Liberal Despair

Sitting in the Oval Office, President Obama writes a congratulatory note to White:

Dear Betty,
You look so fantastic and full of energy, I can’t believe you’re 90 years old. In fact, I don’t believe it. That’s why I’m writing to ask if you will be willing to produce a copy of your long-form birth certificate. Thanks. Happy birthday, no matter how old you are.

Shortly afterward, “Golden Girls” music cuts on and the President is seen putting a framed picture of White on his desk and then gently rocking out to the theme music. Check out the hilarious video here:

article courtesy of Newsone.com

Beyoncé and her mother Tina Knowles are participating in the “Runway to Win” campaign, in which a number of celebrities and fashion icons are tapped to design T-shirts and other items for President Obama’s re-election campaign. The effort was spearheaded by Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who wrangled a number of her friends and fashion world peers to design shirts, tote bags, scarves and bracelets for the Obama campaign. In addition to Beyoncé, Diddy, Russell Simmons, Rachel Roy, Marc Jacobs, Diane Von Furstenberg, and many others are also designing items for the campaign.

Beyoncé’s effort, designed in conjunction with her mother, Tina Knowles, is a $45 white T-shirt with the phrases “yes we can,” “words do inspire” and “transform a nation together,” randomly scattered across the front in different fonts. The sale will kick off on the President’s official site on February 7th.

article courtesy of GospelConnoisseur.com

It looks as though the Obamas are grappling with the growing pains of their two young daughters, Sasha, 8, and Malia, 13.

Despite being the offspring of the most powerful man in the free world, Malia and Sasha seem to be determined to remain as normal as possible.

First Lady Michelle Obama talked frankly with Gayle King on CBS’ “This Morning” and revealed that, like any children, her two daughters find their parents ‘not cool’.

Mrs. Obama said that her daughters ‘cringe’ whenever she attempts to sing and dance and that the girls are embarrassed whenever their parents visit their school.

“Because—especially the president—because when he comes for a parent-teacher conference, it’s a motorcade,” said Mrs. Obama.

Pausing, Mrs. Obama added, “The other day, Malia was like, ‘Oh no, is dad coming?  Is he bringing all those cars?  Really, it’s like the other day, I think they almost  hit my teacher.”

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article courtesy of Eurweb.com