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Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden help Launch Service Nation Initiative
November 11, 2009 6:22 PM
From Whitney Ksiazek:
“One of the greatest privileges that I have as first lady is the chance to meet with veterans, and to meet with service members, and their families all across America,” said the first lady to a crowded auditorium on Veterans Day at the George Washington University as part of the Mission Serve event.
She was introduced by Dr. Jill Biden, who shared her personal connection to the cause and to the day because of her own son Beau’s service in the military.
The two women came together to help launch Service Nation's new civilian-military initiative, Mission Serve. The first lady said it was a privilege to share the stage with one of her role models, Alma Powell, the recipient of the events award.
Mrs. Obama got the crowd excited by mentioning her challenge to the GW community to meet the goal of 100,000 community service hours in exchange for her to speak at commencement in May, she enthusiastically reported that the university has already completed over 19,000 hours.
The first lady said she was in awe of the sacrifices that servicemen and women, as well as their families, make for their country. She also mentioned the courage and grace that she witnessed from them after the Ft. Hood tragedy.
“They want to make their entire life a tour of duty,” Mrs. Obama said, adding that their commitment does not end when they return to civilian life. She said that their skills are needed at home to turn around failing schools or to help rebuild communities, which is the mission of Service Nation’s new military-civilian initiative.
In her remarks she applauded the administration for the largest percent increase in the Veterans Administration budget in 30 years. She also mentioned the importance of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act that the President signed into law this year as well as his executive order to step up efforts to hire veterans throughout the federal government.
In closing, she reminded the audience that supporting the military and military families required more than just good government.
“It also requires good citizenship," she said.
FLOTUS Fashion Watch: Mrs. Obama wore Gray slacks with a belted white-and-gray-patterned blouse.
-Whitney Ksiazek
November 11, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (34)
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Wow, what a lot of crazy far right comments here!
How can helping out a soldier or his family be compared to communism? Maybe if someone is confused they should look up the actual definition of communism.
Helping one another is what most major religions teach, isn't it? Are far-righters religious, ever? Maybe they should look up the word, hypocrisy.
I think it is wonderful that our First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden are doing so much to keep our military and their families on our minds. We all owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude. If we each did some small thing for them, it would make a big difference.
Posted by: Lydia | Nov 13, 2009 8:04:04 AM
Posted by: old1 | Nov 12, 2009 2:37:39 PM posted: “America is being raped! Get it in gear and help us save our America from this Communist coup! Wake up America!”
Well, “old1” I’m not sure how “old” you actually are, but from what I recall, promoting citizenship is far from a “Communist Coup”.
Did you ever participate in the Peace Corps, or the volunteer fire department, or help teach a child to read? How in any twisted concept could volunteering be “bad” for our country?
Isn’t this what Americans of all political stripes would like to see – hiring veterans, helping kids and communities?
Posted by: CenterOne | Nov 12, 2009 3:22:28 PM
Posted by: VeryPainfulTruth | Nov 12, 2009 2:42:19 AM posted “Obama is very much like Hitler, from the brown shirts to those creepy brainwashing stunts of children.”
In 1989 GHW Bush said a call to community service is “…timeless: duty, sacrifice, commitment, and a patriotism that finds its expression in taking part and pitching in.”
Was this also somehow related to Hitler and creepy brainwashing? Seriously, where did you pick up such blind hatred for our country? It’s really bad for your health.
Posted by: CenterOne | Nov 12, 2009 3:06:29 PM
Stop begging and get off your lazy fanny and go back to school so you can get a real job that pays you real money!
Exit, stage right.
Posted by: ConScripted | Nov 12, 2009 9:25:35 AM
Nice. You're going to have teabots (the real ones) cheering you on and quoting you soon. Your "mmm mmm mmm, ABC (All Barack Channel)" post was a masterpiece (though, next time you could also throw in Mao, czars, something stupid about Van Jones, something not quite right about the Constitution but self-righteous all the same, and maybe you could call liberals "yokels"... you know, if you want to make sure you get the part-- though I'm fairly certain you're "in". Oh! wait, now call me out for not doing something or another that you always do, and try to insinuate that I'm someone else and I get paid for posting here.)
Posted by: Allycat 521 | Nov 12, 2009 10:21:14 AM
We need real jobs,you know the kind that pays you real money that is earned by doing real work,not community organizing.
Posted by: Johnny L | Nov 12, 2009 8:41:38 AM
Pfftt, funny how Obama is getting in GOOD with GWU, now. That's where Hasan was listed as a Homeland Security Task Force attendee....talk about transparent!
Posted by: Obamacornlies | Nov 12, 2009 8:22:14 AM
It got me this great job lying on the abc forum where I have been assigned to push a radical agenda and make nonsensical arguments with no logic or truth whatsoever.
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I get paid so much and the right wingers are so easy to take care of, cause they are generally not that smart and only get their talking points from the same source - and can't really think for themselves.
Posted by: tierra | Nov 12, 2009 5:28:44 AM
Posted by: ConScripted | Nov 12, 2009 3:30:29 AM
Can Glenn Beck take his salary with him to hell?
Posted by: tierra | Nov 12, 2009 4:36:38 AM
Hitler needed his own personal volunteer army
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More fear mongering and Nazi nonsense from the extremist right . ..
Posted by: tierra | Nov 12, 2009 4:32:10 AM
Obama is very much like Hitler, from the brown shirts to those creepy brainwashing stunts of children. Even Bush wasn't this bad or Nazi like nor did he kill the constitution like Obama is trying. Impeach Obama..and then try him for treason.
Posted by: VeryPainfulTruth | Nov 12, 2009 2:42:19 AM
maybe we can use those 'enhanced interrogation'
techniques on old Scooter Libby, to get some accuracy and truth about what really went on with Cheney, Bush and the whole Iraq fiasco... according to republicans, it's no big deal, we use that stuff on our troops, right?
Posted by: Whoa | Nov 12, 2009 2:41:47 AM
Adolf obama's brown shirts are being launched.
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Another right wing extremist using fear mongering and Nazi imagery . . . creepy
Posted by: tierra | Nov 12, 2009 2:32:07 AM
I say start impeach and then treason and theivery trials.
Posted by: VeryPainfulTruth
sounds like you're making the case to get around to Bush & Cheney and the rest of the neo-con crime family for their criminal malfeasance, dereliction of duty, and crimes against the people and constitution of the USA.
Posted by: Whoa | Nov 12, 2009 2:32:06 AM
6 Billion is the cost just for the next 4 years and the whole point of this nightmare is to serve lib focus groups slush fund and army. I am a very tired of the Obama's/soros' power grabs and stents to still taxpayer money. I say start impeach and then treason and theivery trials.
Posted by: VeryPainfulTruth | Nov 12, 2009 2:27:53 AM
making sure that the criminals are given jobs in these government programs.
Posted by: VeryPainfulTruth
you need to check the substantial number of criminal indictments and successful prosecutions of the Bush administration over the last 8 years...
I know , you're like former AG Gonzales, 'I don't remember recalling that I didn't remember' (paraphrased)
Posted by: Whoa | Nov 12, 2009 2:24:40 AM
Ahhhh.....Adolf obama's brown shirts are being launched. BTW, Obama's group of clowns is also talking of making sure that the criminals are given jobs in these government programs. Any of you goofy bot supporters wondering why Obama needs a personal "civilian" army yet?
Posted by: VeryPainfulTruth | Nov 12, 2009 2:17:08 AM
he's yet to release his birth certificate,
Posted by: Tate
I thought Halloween was over, looks like the Orly Taitz costume is still being worn....
Posted by: PO'd | Nov 12, 2009 1:10:47 AM
I hope it is not the ACORN type organization. Why Jill Biden is on the list? I think it will not look good if MO is the only organizer, the community organizer.
Acorn is smelling bad so we need to change it with another name: Serving the country initiative. It sounds better, ah?
Posted by: talk from sf | Nov 12, 2009 1:10:29 AM
Palin was vilified for mentioning her son Track too much during the campaign.
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No she wasn't . . .
Posted by: tierra | Nov 12, 2009 12:01:58 AM
"who shared her personal connection to the cause and to the day because of her own son Beau’s service in the military."
While I commend Beau for serving, how many more times will the press mention it? It's all I've heard all day long. Palin was vilified for mentioning her son Track too much during the campaign.
Posted by: Mr. Magoo (the real one) | Nov 11, 2009 10:21:47 PM
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