Obama and Bush 41 Honor Tradition of Service in America
EmailABC News' Rachel Martin and Matthew Jaffe report:
Presidents past and present came together today to tout the importance of public service, as President Obama attended the 20th anniversary celebration of former President George H.W. Bush's Points of Light Institute; an organization Bush established to encourage volunteerism around the country.
The presidents were full of kind words for one another: President Bush said he was proud to welcome President Obama to Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, adding, “I salute the president for his leadership on this issue.”
The crowd cheered as President Obama jogged on stage and gave a “Howdy Aggies” greeting.
Obama started off by recognizing Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who was present on stage. Gates served as president of Texas A&M before assuming his role as Secretary of Defense under the previous George W. Bush administration.
But Obama spent much of his time praising President Bush for his lifetime of service. He said the 41st president was the first to establish a White House office dedicated solely to promoting national service.
“This man, whose vision of service we celebrate today, and [his] life of service is an inspiration to all of us,” Obama said.
Obama recalled when Bush partnered with former President Clinton in support of the victims of the 2005 tsunami that ravaged Asia.
"At first, aides were suspicious," Obama said. "They were convinced that the other guy was using their guy to burnish their reputation."
But he added that certain moments are “beyond politics” and “call on us to stop the back-and-forth and embrace a common purpose that is bigger than our differences.”
Deep in the heart of Texas — and no doubt aware of the 100-or-so “tea party” protesters rallying outside the event against big government — the president discussed how public service can pick up where government leaves off.
“The need for action always exceeds the limits of government,” he said.
Because of this, he noted, it is imperative that citizens realize volunteerism is crucial to the country.
“Service isn’t separate or secondary to our national priorities,” he said. “It’s integral.”
"We've been doing everything we can to get people involved," President Obama said of his administration, such as tripling the size of the AmeriCorps community service program and launching the "United We Serve" campaign.
The president also highlighted the Edward M. Kennedy Service Act, which he signed last month.
After the service forum, President Obama, former President Bush and Secretary Gates visited the school's dining hall to speak to the university's ROTC corps of cadets. The president shook hands with the cadets and was presented with a t-shirt from one cadet.
He told the group, "Your commander-in-chief draws inspiration from you."
- Rachel Martin and Matthew Jaffe
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Who is Barack Obama and how do we know he is being straight with us?
The little episode in his memior, Dreams of My Father, where he meets the Iranian with the glass eye is too Homer-like for Obama to come up with.
The Bomber William Ayers uses a similar episode in his memior, Fugitive Days.
Both borrowed from Homer and his book Odyssey. Actually, only Ayers borrowed as he wrote both books.
Posted by: Colonel Rebel | October 16, 2009, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm
“Both borrowed from Homer and his book Odyssey. Actually, only Ayers borrowed as he wrote both books.”
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The right really does seem to have nothing to offer but smear tactics . . . repeatedly.
Posted by: julieterra | October 16, 2009, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
With all the talk of community service why did we not see Obama congratulate the winners of the MLB All Star Game. He was with the National League, American League, broadcasters booth and tried to throw a ball. Not once did we see him congratulate the 30 winners. The MLB preshow was based on community service and he could not spare a minute to talk to these outstanding people. A little hypocritical in my opinion.
With everything that needs to be done in this country where does he find the time to go around talking about community service. People loosing their homes and jobs and we hear talk about community service.
Posted by: El | October 16, 2009, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
You can not have bipartism participation
with Democrat’s when its their way or no way!!! Where was their loyality to our troops and America during G.W. Bush’s terms in office during the war in Iraq? Did the Democrat party volinteer to unite American’s to win the war in Iraq? NO!!! Thousands of troops died while the Democrat’s were encouraging Americans to protest the war. Durbin, Martha, Harka. These men volinteered to call our troops MURDERS!!!!Did Obama volinteer to support the war in Iraq as a good citizen? NO! HE SPOKE OUT AGAINST OUR TROOPS AND THE WAR!!!! BUSH 1, you are wrong to have invited Obama to speek at TEXAS A&M University.
Posted by: John Demeter | October 16, 2009, 9:54 pm 9:54 pm
“You can not have bipartism participation
with Democrat’s when its their way or no way!!!”
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More nonsense. Many, many Democrats supported the first war in Iraq under Bush senior.
It is not the duty of a patriot to blindly support EVERYTHING the government says. Loyalty to ‘our troops’ does not mean blindly supporting the government whether you believe the government to be right or wrong.
Posted by: julieterra | October 16, 2009, 10:36 pm 10:36 pm
so according to julieterra the republicans are doing their patriotic duty by not blindly following Obaba like most dems do, I’ll agree with that!
Posted by: notanobamafan | October 16, 2009, 11:05 pm 11:05 pm
“so according to julieterra the republicans are doing their patriotic duty by not blindly following Obaba like most dems do, I’ll agree with that!”
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All we see from the Republicans and the right are smear campaigns, not policies, no programs . .. just smear campaigns.
Pathetic.
Posted by: julieterra | October 16, 2009, 11:35 pm 11:35 pm
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I am deeply troubled by this president and the future of America.
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We have a president who’s mentors were associated with the Weather Undergound and “not God Bless America but God D*amn American.” He puts into high-level positions radical socialists, communists, Castro supporters, Mao supporters, NAMBLA supporters, ACT-UP radicals and worse.
And, since the president does not believe in individual responsibility but a super nanny-state, of course his desire is to lead us down socialism and wealth redistribution. And he’s laying the groundwork of extreme disunity and conflict between the classes – rich vs. poor; conservative vs. liberal; socialist vs. capitalist; volunteers vs. corporatations.
Posted by: N Waff | October 17, 2009, 12:15 am 12:15 am
“I am deeply troubled by this president and the future of America.”
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Exactly what the majority of Americans felt about the last Republican presidency under Bush, Cheney and that lot.
As it turns out, whether coincidental or not, the country was almost destroyed under their hands, and was deeply, deeply divided – not in theory, but in reality.
Your imaginings of America with your descriptions of the President are blind to what ALREADY happened under the Republicans, even after a time as vital and uniting as 9/11.
President Obama is working towards a fairly traditional America built around commerce and volunteerism, personal excellence and the common good.
How is it Republicans have forgotten the role volunteer organisations have traditionally performed in the nation?
How is it Republicans have resorted only to smear tactics against the Democrats and demonizing President Obama?
Where are the policies and the programs?
Why only smear tactics?
Posted by: julieterra | October 17, 2009, 12:34 am 12:34 am
I think history will be a little warped by the time Mr. Obama is done. There will be people who are willing to put him in the Top Ten list of Presidents and there will be truth seekers who will put him in the bottom three of the list.
Posted by: young_voter | October 17, 2009, 1:58 am 1:58 am
Even Carter was better than these two. Well, maybe not….
$46 trillion in outstanding gov. obligations and counting. Nearly half a million in federal debt per househould in the US…and rapidly moooooving ooonnnn uppp.
Mmm, mmm, mmmm
Posted by: A. Lincoln | October 17, 2009, 2:35 am 2:35 am
Why only smear tactics?
Posted by: julieterra | Oct 17, 2009 12:34:52 AM
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Cuz it’s all they have that isn’t completely irrelevant in present times?
I saw a funny clip of Congressman Grayson on Real Time with Bill Maher. I’m paraphrasing, but he had a good line about the Republican notion of health care reform is making sure that a citizen can carry a concealed weapon into the hospital, or a doctor’s office.
Too funny. He cracks me up.
They also talk about nanny states, not realizing (or hiding) how their policies set up just that– for corporations and the wealthy, at the expense of the middle class, time and time again. (Yes, N. Waffle, I’m looking at you!)
Anyway, I thought it was nice that 41 and 44 got together to talk about service and volunteerism, and that President Obama offered up a rather powerful homage Friday to George H.W. Bush, crediting him with inspiring so many Americans to improve their communities and calling Bush’s words, works and entire life an inspiration.
Posted by: Alyson | October 17, 2009, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
amazing how republicans and the ‘far right’ fringe seemed to have developed a mysterious and dangerous medical condition manifested by an 8 year memory loss.
fortunately, there are free Dem clinics to help you with this profound malaise. while Dems disagree with your inane policies, Dems will not refuse to care for you when your ill, no matter how sick you and your policies become.
Posted by: Oh Yeah | October 17, 2009, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm
I remember a couple of weeks ago, ABC trying to stir up contraversy about “the Obama administration trying to recruit artists to support its agenda”.
Remember that “Obama administration agenda” was really trying to promote volunteerism and good health and the importance of education.
The fact that the only Republicans who have come out in favor of education, or health, or education are those who are no longer in office, seems to have been missed by the press. This isn’t of any interest at all?
How can you say that they were “trying to support the administrations agenda” without noting the corrolary to that – that Republicans are against good health, against good education, and against helping the community?
Posted by: Flash Override | October 18, 2009, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm
“He puts into high-level positions radical socialists, communists, Castro supporters, Mao supporters, NAMBLA supporters, ACT-UP radicals and worse.”
ACT-UP?
Right wingers are still angry about AIDs activists from 2 decades ago?
Posted by: Ryan C | October 19, 2009, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm