Posts tagged Obama
GRADUATION FAB! Kerry Washington Gives Commencement Address At Her Alma Mater GWU + President Obama Tells Morehouse College During Commencement Speech, “Racism Is No Excuse For Not Excelling”
May 19th
Today was full of college graduation commencement speeches from two of everyone’s fave YBFers. Kerry Washington headed back to her alma mater of George Washington University in Washington, DC. And President Obama became the first sitting President to give a commencement speech in the stage of Georgia since the 1930′s. And he made it memorable.
Checkout pics and video inside…
After graduating from GWU with a degree in Theater back in 1998, the "Scandal" star brought her new found Hollywood power back to her alma mater this morning to deliver the commencement address. She tweeted this AM:
So honored and truly humbled to be giving the commencement address this morning at George Washington University
Oh, and we can now call her Dr. Washington. Before her speech, Kerry received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the University!
She was spotted talking to graduates and students afterwards around campus. And from what we hear, she had everyone star struck. Here’s video of her receiving her Honorary Doctorate and her 20 minute commencement speech to the graduates:
And down in Atlanta today, the pouring rain didn’t stop President Obama from making his way to the prestigious HBCU Morehouse College to deliver the commencement address:
He was seen fixing his tie (swag on 1000) after receiving an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University. Nice!
He gave an amazing speech (as usual) that lasted 30 minutes telling the graduates of the all-male college that racism is no excuse for not excelling.
"As a young man, Sometimes I wrote off my own failings as just another example of the world trying to keep a black man down, but one of the things you’ve learned over the last four years is that there’s no longer any room for excuses."
Preach! Check out video below:
Congrats to all the 2013 Graduates!!
Photos: @GWPeterK’s Twiter, therealkpike’s Twitter, iamblessed’s tumblr, Keshia Mae Jeantel
PRETTY POLITICKING: First Lady Michelle Obama Rocks Prabal Gurung For White House Mother’s Day Tea & Meeting With Prince Harry
May 11th
First Lady Michelle Obama was pretty in waterprints yesterday at the White House as she hosted women in the military, their children, their mothers and some military spouses at the annual Mother’s Day Tea. And all the ladies got an extra cute surprise–Prince Harry!
Pics inside from the tea…
Rocking a printed satin Prabal Gurung cocktail dress, our fabulous First Lady hosted women of service for the annual White House Mother’s Day Tea. And even though it’s a repeat from her 2012 appearance on "Live! With Kelly & Michael", we’re adoring the look once again:
And we’re also adoring that ridiculously cute Prince Harry. The British Royal popped up to surprise all the ladies at the tea as he’s traveling around thanking military service people for their work. First Mom Michelle said inside the stateroom yesterday alongside Dr. Jill Biden:
"For the past few years, [Prince Harry] has focused on honoring the sacrifice and service of our veterans and military families, especially now that the war in Afghanistan is drawing to a close."
The perfect look to kick off Mother’s Day Weekend. Loves it!
A FIRST LOOK: “The Butler” (Trailer) + FIRST LADY Michelle Obama KAEPERNICKS With The San Francisco 49ers Star QB
May 9th
The official trailer for the highly anticipated film "The Butler" starring Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey and Terrence Howard has been released. Watch the clip inside and see our real First Lady Michelle Obama posing with NFL superstar Colin Kaepernick inside….
For months, we’ve been hyping up the new Lee Daniels-directed film "The Butler". Shot on location in New Orleans, we’ve seen shots of every one from Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey to Jesse Williams and Cuba Gooding Jr. shooting scenes for the movie. The all-star cast helps tell the true story of Eugene Allen (played by Forest Whitaker), who served under eight presidents during his 1952-1986 stint as the White House butler. And in the midst of the story line, we get to see Terrence makeout and do some THINGS with Oprah!
The Weinstein Company releases the film on October 18th and we have a first look at the trailer:
In other White House news….
Our fabulous First Lady Michelle Obama had a photo-op with cutie San Francsico 49ers superstar and 2013 Super Bowl contender Colin Kaepernick yesterday. Colin, who’s become a sports phenomenon with "Kaepernicking" where he kisses his own "guns" posed with the First Lady as she joined in and "Kaepernicked" her own famous guns. He tweeted, "I got the opportunity to meet one of the greatest women in the world, the first lady @first_Obama and even got her #Kaepernicking".
FYI, Colin plays a big role with the First Lady’s "Let’s Move" campaign where he travels around the country promoting physical fitness.
Photo via Instagram
DJ Khaled Thanks President Obama For His Shout Out
May 3rd
President Obama has always been transparent about his affinity for hip-hop, but there was no more brazen display of his passion for the culture than when he entered Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner to DJ Khaled’s 2010 anthem “All I Do Is Win.” For Khaled, that moment was certainly a milestone. Hear Khaled’s reaction in the video above or read the full story at MTV News.
President Obama Rehashes Fight To Close Guantanamo Bay [VIDEO]
May 1st
President Obama has been busy with a host of pressing issues since the start of his second term, but he hasn’t forgotten about the situation at Guantanamo Bay. The commander in chief has rehashed the discussion to close the prison, amid protests from some 166 inmates.
During an address Tuesday (April 30), Obama reiterated that the detention center “needs to be closed .” Administrative policy sites that no new inmates are to enter the prison, yet 86 remain– even though they have been cleared for release.
From TIME reports:
For months now, men have been starving themselves in Guantanamo Bay to get the attention of the American people. And for weeks these men, prisoners of the War on Terror, many of whom have been cleared for release, have had the attention of the White House, which is filled with officials, including the President, who sympathize with the prisoners’ plight.
“It’s not sustainable,” President Obama said Tuesday, breaking his silence about the protest against his own government. “I mean, the notion that we’re going to continue to keep over 100 individuals in a no-man’s land in perpetuity.”
Obama repeated a position he has long held: The detention facility needs to be closed, with the prisoners either transferred to third countries if they do not present a threat or to the United States for adjudication. “This is a lingering, you know, problem that is not going to get better,” he said. “It’s going to get worse. It’s going to fester.”
During his 2008 presidential run, Obama vowed to close the prison within his first term, but has had trouble getting Congress on board. According to Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), bipartisan opposition remains because the president “has offered no alternative plan regarding the detainees there, nor a plan for future terrorist captures.”
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Photo: Saul Loeb
Malia Obama — VIP At Rihanna’s D.C. Concert
Apr 30th
And this is how the First Daughters ball out. Malia Obama rolled to Rihanna‘s Diamonds World Tour when it stopped in Washington D.C. tonight (Monday). Check out how she partied it up in VIP on a school night….
The 14-year-old daughter of President Obama–who turns 15 July 4th–lived out most teenaged girls’ dream Monday. Malia took some time away from her private school studies and made her way to the Verizon Center to watch Rihanna "pour it up" on stage.
We’re told the eldest Obama girl spent the whole concert dancing and having the time of her life with her friends in their own little world above the concert goers. Hey, we all have a lil ratchet in us.
The gorge teen, dressed in cutoff shorts, a white tee and a plaid button down, may have been singing and dancing along to every song, but don’t expect for her to copy Rih Rih’s serious tattoo behavior anytime soon.
Papa Obama said in a recent interview with NBC that he and First Lady Michelle have a plan to prevent their girls from getting inked:
“Michelle and I have used the strategy when it comes to things like tattoos – what we’ve said to the girls is, ‘If you guys ever decide you’re going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will get the same exact tattoo in the same place. And we’ll go on YouTube and show it off as a family tattoo. And our thinking is that might dissuade them from thinking that somehow that’s a good way to rebel.”
Ha. Gotta love it….
Photo: Instagram
Jay-Z, DJ Khaled Get Love From Obama At White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Apr 29th
By Maurice Bobb
DJ Khaled’s victorious anthem, “All I Do Is Win,” has gone from basketball arenas to football stadiums worldwide, but this past Saturday (April 27), it went all the way to the White House. Khaled’s chart-topping single from his fourth studio album, Victory, played as President Obama made his way to the podium for his first second-term White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
“How do you like my new entrance music?” the POTUS asked the sea of writers and celebrities, which include Steven Spielberg and recent Oscar winner Daniel Day Lewis. “Rush Limbaugh warned you about this – second term, baby. We’re changing things around here.”
The president went on to say that his advisors were a little worried about his new rap entrance music, suggesting that he instead keep things traditional and start with some jokes at his own expense. Of course, one of those jokes included a hilarious nod to the controversy over Jay-Z and Beyonce’s recent trip to Cuba.
“This whole controversy about Jay-Z going to Cuba, it’s unbelievable,” Obama quipped. “I’ve got 99 problems and now Jay Z’s one.”
As most of the audience burst into laughter, the leader of the free world took a moment to fill in the blanks for the non-rap fans in the house.
“That’s another rap reference, just thought I’d let you know,” he joked. President Obama went on to tease host Conan O’Brien, make light of his back and forth with Congress, likening his battles over the Sequester to being “trapped in a Taylor Swift album” and how his time in office has really aged him thus far.
“These days I look in the mirror and I admit: I’m not the strapping young Muslim socialist I used to be,” he said.
President Obama: “I Have 99 Problems and Now Jay-Z Is One”
Apr 28th
President Barack Obama held his first second-term White House Correspondents’ Dinner this weekend. His speech was accompanied with some surprising pop-culture references, such as his new entrance music: DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win.” Regarding the controversy surrounding Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s recent trip to Cuba, Obama commented,
“It’s unbelievable. I’ve got 99 problems and now Jay Z’s one.”
Further “name-drops” include Steven Spielberg and Daniel Day Lewis, who were in the audience, applauding their work on Lincoln, as well as a behind-the-scenes trailer for Spielberg’s new project, Obama, featuring Day Lewis as the president and Tracy Morgan as Joe Biden. Watch it all above.
President Obama Talks Jay-Z, Enters to ‘All I Do Is Win’ at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Apr 28th
President Obama brought plenty of jokes and a couple hip-hop references at the 2013 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner on Saturday in Washington, D.C. The commander-in-chief entered to the official Presidential Anthem “Hail to the Chief” before switching it up to DJ Khaled’s rap anthem “All I Do Is Win.”
“How do you like my new entrance music?” he asked the star-studded crowd, which included John Legend and Katy Perry. “Rush Limbaugh warned you about this—second term, baby. We’re changing things around here a little bit.”
He also addressed Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s controversial trip to Cuba.
“So, yes, maybe I have lost a step. But some things are beyond my control,” said Obama. “For example, this whole controversy about Jaz-Z going to Cuba—it’s unbelievable. I’ve got 99 problems and now Jay-Z is one.”
Watch Obama earn laughs from the crowd below.
President Obama Enters to “All I Do Is Win” + Full Speech
Obama Talks Jay-Z’s Cuba Trip
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