Inhofe Welcomes New General
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a frequent visitor to Afghanistan, praised U.S. Army Gen. David McKiernan, who was replaced as the top commander in Afghanistan by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
Inhofe also welcomed Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal to the post, as well as Lt. Gen. David M. Rodriguez, who will be McChrystal’s deputy.
“General McKiernan is a combat proven warrior – a man who epitomizes the words honor and integrity,” Inhofe said.
“I had the great privilege to meet with General McKiernan in Afghanistan last December and again this past month. He has always demonstrated a clear understanding of what was needed to succeed in Afghanistan and he continually pressed for additional troops in order to achieve that success. He also oversaw the initial troop increases under the Bush administration and the current increase in U.S. troops ordered by President Obama.
“I also want to warmly welcome both Lieutenant General Stanley McChrystal and Lieutenant General David M. Rodriguez to their new posts. They are two of the most qualified generals in the Army, and are extremely respected across the services. I am confident in their leadership styles and their expertise to successfully execute the mission in Afghanistan.”
Obama Takes Shots at Cheney, Limbaugh
President Barack Obama’s remarks at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday included some jabs at Republicans and members of his own staff, as well as some more serious reflections on troubles in the newspaper industry:
“Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Good evening. You know, I had an entire speech prepared for this wonderful occasion, but now that I’m here I think I’m going to try something a little different. Tonight I want to speak from the heart. I’m going to speak off the cuff. (Teleprompters rise.) (Laughter and applause.)
“Good evening. (Laughter.) Pause for laughter. (Laughter.) Wait a minute, this may not be working as well as I — (laughter.) Let me try that again.
“Good evening, everybody. (Applause.) I would like to welcome you all to the 10-day anniversary of my first 100 days. (Laughter.) I am Barack Obama. Most of you covered me. All of you voted for me. (Laughter and applause.) Apologies to the Fox table. (Laughter.) They’re — where are they? I have to confess I really did not want to be here tonight, but I knew I had to come — just one more problem that I’ve inherited from George W. Bush. (Laughter.)
“But now that I’m here, it’s great to be here. It’s great to see all of you. Michelle Obama is here, the First Lady of the United States. (Applause.) Hasn’t she been an outstanding First Lady? (Applause.) She’s even begun to bridge the differences that have divided us for so long, because no matter which party you belong to we can all agree that Michelle has the right to bare arms. (Laughter and applause.)
“Now Sasha and Malia aren’t here tonight because they’re grounded. You can’t just take Air Force One on a joy ride to Manhattan. (Laughter.) I don’t care whose kids you are. (Laughter.) We’ve been setting some ground rules here. They’re starting to get a little carried away.
“Now, speaking — when I think about children obviously I think about Michelle and it reminds me that tomorrow is Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers in the audience. (Applause.) I do have to say, though, that this is a tough holiday for Rahm Emanuel because he’s not used to saying the word “day” after “mother.” (Laughter.) That’s true. (Laughter.)
“David Axelrod is here. You know, David and I have been together for a long time. I can still remember — I got to sort of — I tear up a little bit when I think back to that day that I called Ax so many years ago and said, you and I can do wonderful things together. And he said to me the same thing that partners all across America are saying to one another right now: Let’s go to Iowa and make it official. (Laughter and applause.)
“Michael Steele is in the house tonight. (Applause.) Or as he would say, “in the heezy.” (Laughter.) What’s up? (Laughter.) Where is Michael? Michael, for the last time, the Republican Party does not qualify for a bailout. (Laughter.) Rush Limbaugh does not count as a troubled asset, I’m sorry. (Laughter.)
“Dick Cheney was supposed to be here but he is very busy working on his memoirs, tentatively titled, “How to Shoot Friends and Interrogate People.” (Laughter.)
“You know, it’s been a whirlwind of activity these first hundred days. We’ve enacted a major economic recovery package, we passed a budget, we forged a new path in Iraq, and no President in history has ever named three Commerce Secretaries this quickly. (Laughter.) Which reminds me, if Judd Gregg is here, your business cards are ready now. (Laughter.)
“On top of that, I’ve also reversed the ban on stem cell research, signed an expansion — (applause) — signed an expansion of the children’s health insurance. Just last week, Car and Driver named me auto executive of the year. (Laughter.) Something I’m very proud of.
“We’ve also begun to change the culture in Washington. We’ve even made the White House a place where people can learn and can grow. Just recently, Larry Summers asked if he could chair the White House Council on Women and Girls. (Laughter.) And I do appreciate that Larry is here tonight because it is seven hours past his bedtime. (Laughter.) Gibbs liked that one. (Laughter.)
“In the last hundred days, we’ve also grown the Democratic Party by infusing it with new energy and bringing in fresh, young faces like Arlen Specter. (Laughter.) Now, Joe Biden rightly deserves a lot of credit for convincing Arlen to make the switch, but Secretary Clinton actually had a lot to do with it too. One day she just pulled him aside and she said, Arlen, you know what I always say — “if you can’t beat them, join them.” (Laughter.)
“Which brings me to another thing that’s changed in this new, warmer, fuzzier White House, and that’s my relationship with Hillary. You know, we had been rivals during the campaign, but these days we could not be closer. In fact, the second she got back from Mexico she pulled into a hug and gave me a big kiss. (Laughter.) Told me I’d better get down there myself. (Laughter.) Which I really appreciated. I mean, it was — it was nice. (Laughter.)
“And of course we’ve also begun to change America’s image in the world. We talked about this during this campaign and we’re starting to execute. We’ve renewed alliances with important partners and friends. If you look on the screen there, there I am with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso. There I am with Gordon Brown.
“But as I said during the campaign, we can’t just talk to our friends. As hard as it is, we also have to talk to our enemies, and I’ve begun to do exactly that. Take a look at the monitor there. (Laughter.) Now, let me be clear, just because he handed me a copy of Peter Pan does not mean that I’m going to read it — (laughter) — but it’s good diplomatic practice to just accept these gifts.
“All this change hasn’t been easy. Change never is. So I’ve cut the tension by bringing a new friend to the White House. He’s warm, he’s cuddly, loyal, enthusiastic. You just have to keep him on a tight leash. Every once in a while he goes charging off in the wrong direction and gets himself into trouble. But enough about Joe Biden. (Laughter.)
“All in all, we’re proud of the change we’ve brought to Washington in these first hundred days but we’ve got a lot of work left to do, as all of you know. So I’d like to talk a little bit about what my administration plans to achieve in the next hundred days.
“During the second hundred days, we will design, build and open a library dedicated to my first hundred days. (Laughter.) It’s going to be big, folks. (Laughter.) In the next hundred days, I will learn to go off the prompter and Joe Biden will learn to stay on the prompter. (Laughter.)
“In the next hundred days, our bipartisan outreach will be so successful that even John Boehner will consider becoming a Democrat. After all, we have a lot in common. He is a person of color. (Laughter.) Although not a color that appears in the natural world. (Laughter.) What’s up, John? (Laughter.)
“In the next hundred days, I will meet with a leader who rules over millions with an iron fist, who owns the airwaves and uses his power to crush all who would challenge his authority at the ballot box. It’s good to see you, Mayor Bloomberg. (Laughter.)
“In the next hundred days, we will housetrain our dog, Bo, because the last thing Tim Geithner needs is someone else treating him like a fire hydrant. (Laughter.) In the next hundred days, I will strongly consider losing my cool. (Laughter.)
“Finally, I believe that my next hundred days will be so successful I will be able to complete them in 72 days. (Laughter.) And on the 73rd day, I will rest. (Laughter.)
“I just — I want to end by saying a few words about the men and women in this room whose job it is to inform the public and pursue the truth. You know, we meet tonight at a moment of extraordinary challenge for this nation and for the world, but it’s also a time of real hardship for the field of journalism. And like so many other businesses in this global age, you’ve seen sweeping changes and technology and communications that lead to a sense of uncertainty and anxiety about what the future will hold.
“Across the country, there are extraordinary, hardworking journalists who have lost their jobs in recent days, recent weeks, recent months. And I know that each newspaper and media outlet is wrestling with how to respond to these changes, and some are struggling simply to stay open. And it won’t be easy. Not every ending will be a happy one.
“But it’s also true that your ultimate success as an industry is essential to the success of our democracy. It’s what makes this thing work. You know, Thomas Jefferson once said that if he had the choice between a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, he would not hesitate to choose the latter.
“Clearly, Thomas Jefferson never had cable news to contend with — (laughter) — but his central point remains: A government without newspapers, a government without a tough and vibrant media of all sorts, is not an option for the United States of America. (Applause.)
“So I may not — I may not agree with everything you write or report. I may even complain, or more likely Gibbs will complain, from time to time about how you do your jobs, but I do so with the knowledge that when you are at your best, then you help me be at my best. You help all of us who serve at the pleasure of the American people do our jobs better by holding us accountable, by demanding honesty, by preventing us from taking shortcuts and falling into easy political games that people are so desperately weary of.
“And that kind of reporting is worth preserving — not just for your sake, but for the public’s. We count on you to help us make sense of a complex world and tell the stories of our lives the way they happen, and we look for you for truth, even if it’s always an approximation, even if — (laughter.)
“This is a season of renewal and reinvention. That is what government must learn to do, that’s what businesses must learn to do, and that’s what journalism is in the process of doing. And when I look out at this room and think about the dedicated men and women whose questions I’ve answered over the last few years, I know that for all the challenges this industry faces, it’s not short on talent or creativity or passion or commitment. It’s not short of young people who are eager to break news or the not-so-young who still manage to ask the tough ones time and time again. These qualities alone will not solve all your problems, but they certainly prove that the problems are worth solving. And that is a good place as any to begin.
“So I offer you my thanks, I offer you my support, and I look forward to working with you and answering to you and the American people as we seek a more perfect union in the months and years ahead.
“Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you.” (Applause.)
Obama Mentions Oklahoma Letter
In remarks today about educational aid for the unemployed, President Barack Obama mentioned a letter he got from an Oklahoma veteran:
“This morning, we learned that our economy lost another 539,000 jobs in the month of April. While it’s somewhat encouraging that this number is lower than it’s been in each of the past six months, it is a sobering toll. The unemployment rate is at its highest point in twenty-five years. It underscores the point that we’re still in the midst of a recession that was years in the making and will be months or even years in the unmaking; and we should expect further job losses in the months to come.
“Although we have a long way to go before we can put this recession behind us, the gears of our economic engine are slowly beginning to turn. Consumer spending and home sales are stabilizing, and construction spending is up for the first time in six months. Step by step, we are making progress.
“Of course, that’s no solace to those who have lost their jobs, or to the small business owners whose hearts break at letting long-time employees go. It’s no relief for those who continue to send out resume after resume, then wait for a call. It’s of little comfort to the families who wake up wondering how they’re going to pay their bills, stay in their homes, or put food on the table – the Americans I’ve met in towns across this country, or whose letters I read at night.
“They’re letters of struggle but also of service to others. They’re stories of heartbreak, but also of hope. It’s the story of the small business owner in California who wrote that as long as her employees depend on her, “I will not give up.” The veteran in Oklahoma, who wrote, “We’ve all got a long way to go. But we’ll stick together and get through this.” And the mother in Michigan who wrote that she and her husband can’t make ends meet, but as long as they have their jobs, they’ll work 24 hours a day to send their children to college. She ended her letter by saying, “I’m not writing to tell you about my troubles – I’m writing to please ask you to act quickly to help all the people like me.”
“Such hard-working Americans are why I ran for President. They are the reason we have been working swiftly and aggressively across all fronts to turn this economy around; to jumpstart spending and hiring and create jobs where we can with steps like the Recovery Act. Because of this plan, cops are still on the beat and teachers are still in the classroom; shovels are breaking ground and cranes dot the sky; and new life has been breathed into private companies like Sharon Arnold’s. And already, 95 percent of working Americans are seeing the tax cut we promised show up in their paychecks.
“We’re moving forward because now is not a time for small plans. It’s not a time to pause, to be passive, or to wait around for our problems to fix themselves. Now is the time to put in place a New Foundation for growth – to rebuild our economy, retrain our workforce, and reequip the American people. And now is the time to change unemployment from a period of “wait and see” to a chance for our workers to train and to seek the next opportunity – so when that new and better day does come around, our people, our industry, and our entire country are ready to make the most of it.
“Now, if we want to come out of this recession stronger than before, we need to make sure our workforce is better prepared than ever before. Right now, someone who doesn’t have a college degree is more than twice as likely to be unemployed as someone who does. And so many of the Americans who have lost their jobs can’t find new ones because they simply don’t have the skills and training they need for the jobs they want.
“In a twenty-first century economy where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, education is the single best bet we can make – not just for our individual success; but for the success of our nation as a whole. The average college graduate earns 80 percent more than those who stopped after high school. So if we want to help people not only get back on their feet today, but prosper tomorrow; we need to take a rigorous new approach to higher education and technical training. That starts by changing senseless rules that discourage displaced workers from getting the education and training they need to find and fill the jobs of the future.
“Today, I’m announcing new steps we are taking to do exactly that – to give people across America who have lost their jobs the chance to go back to school today to get retrained for the jobs and industries of tomorrow.
“The idea here is to fundamentally change our approach to unemployment in this country, so that it’s no longer just a time to look for a new job, but to prepare yourself for a better job. That’s what our unemployment system should be – not a safety net, but a stepping stone to a new future. It should offer folks educational opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have, giving them the measurable and differentiated skills they need to not just get through these hard times – but to get ahead when the economy comes back.
“That’s what Maureen Pike did. She lost her job as a physician’s receptionist, but she didn’t lose hope. She took it as an opportunity to upgrade her skills and earn an associate’s degree in nursing from a community college – and today, she works as a registered nurse.
“The only reason she could afford to do that while supporting her children was because the state of Maine allowed her to keep her unemployment benefits and study with help from a Pell Grant. Pell Grants cover tuition at almost every community college in the country, and unemployment benefits can help those studying to gain new skills to support their families at the same time.
“But today, far too many Americans are denied that opportunity. Say an unemployed factory worker wants to upgrade his skills to become a mechanic or technician, for example. In many states, that worker might lose temporary financial support if he enrolls in a training program. To make matters worse, unemployment might mean he can’t afford higher education, and he likely won’t qualify for federal help simply because he may have made a decent salary a year ago.
“Well, that doesn’t make much sense for our economy or our country. So we’re going to change it.
“First, we’ll open new doors to higher education and job training programs to recently laid-off workers who are receiving unemployment benefits. And if those displaced workers need help paying for their education, they should get it – that’s why the next step is to make it easier for them to receive Pell Grants. I’ve asked my Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, and my Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis, to work closely with states and our institutions of higher education and encourage them not only to allow these changes, but inform all workers receiving unemployment benefits of the training programs and financial support open to them. And together, the Department of Education and the Department of Labor have created a new website – Opportunity.gov – to help workers discover and take advantage of these opportunities.
“Together, these changes will increase access to education and opportunity for hundreds of thousands of workers who’ve been stung by this recession – people just like Maureen. And like her, many may take advantage of one of America’s underappreciated assets – our community colleges. These schools offer practical education and technical training, and they’re increasingly important centers of learning where Americans can prepare for the jobs of the future. That’s why I am asking Dr. Jill Biden – a community college professor who’s devoted her life to education – to lead a national effort to raise awareness about what we’re doing to open the doors to our community colleges.
“So this is a good start. But it is only a start. These steps are just a short-term down payment on our larger goal of ensuring that all Americans get the skills and education they need to succeed in today’s economy. To that end, I’ve also asked every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. It can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship; but whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And we will back you up with the support necessary to do that and to meet the new goal that I’ve set: by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.
“And in the weeks to come, I will lay out a fundamental rethinking of our job training, vocational education, and community college programs. It’s time to move beyond the idea that we need several different programs to address several different problems – we need one comprehensive policy that addresses our comprehensive challenges.
“That’s how we will open doors of opportunity and lay a New Foundation for our economic growth – by investing in our citizens. That’s how we have always emerged from tough times stronger than ever before – because of the hard work, determination and ingenuity of the American people. And I am confident that if we summon that spirit once again, we will get through this; we will see our nation recover; and together, we will put America on the path to shared and lasting prosperity.”
Watts and the BCS
Politico has a story today about J.C. Watts representing the Bowl Championship Series as a lobbyist.
Not exactly a new gig. Watts, the former Oklahoma congressman and former Sooner quarterback, was hired by the BCS back in 2003 when the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the controversial football bowl system.
Oddly, I didn’t see Watts at the House hearing on Friday about the BCS. He has been spending a lot of time in Oklahoma in the last few weeks.
McClendon to Speak at Press Club
UPDATE: According to the press club, this luncheon has been postponed.
Aubrey McClendon, CEO of Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy, is scheduled to speak at a National Press Club luncheon on May 18.
McClendon will be the second big name from Oklahoma City to speak at the club in recent weeks. Country singer Toby Keith headlined a press club luncheon three weeks ago.
Inhofe, Top Aide on TMZ
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, and his chief of staff, Ryan Thompson, are “featured” on the web site TMZ.
Obama and the Media
A new study from the Center for Media and Public Affairs says President Barack Obama has received more favorable early coverage than his immediate two predecessors.
Here’s the press release:
The media have given President Obama more coverage than George W. Bush and Bill Clinton combined and more positive coverage than either received at this point in their presidencies, according to a new study by researchers at George Mason and Chapman Universities. But the study also finds that Mr. Obama’s positive media image hasn’t precluded heavy criticism of his policies.
This research was conducted jointly by researchers at George Mason University in Fairfax VA and Chapman University in Orange CA, and coordinated by the Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA). It covers all news about Barack Obama’s presidency that appeared on the ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox evening newscasts (the first half hour of Fox News Channel’s “Special Report”) as well as front page stories in the New York Times, during the first 50 days of his term in office (January 20 through March 10). We examined all evaluations made by reporters and non-partisan sources, i.e., those not affiliated with either political party. For additional information on our methodology see http://cmpa.com/about_methods.htm
During his first 50 days in office, the three broadcast network evening news shows devoted 1021 stories lasting 27 hours 44 minutes to Barack Obama’s presidency. The daily average of seven stories and over 11 minutes of airtime represents about half of the entire newscasts. By contrast, at this point in their presidencies George W. Bush had received 7 hours 42 minutes and Bill Clinton garnered 15 hours 2 minutes of coverage, for a combined total airtime five hours less than Mr. Obama’s.
The networks varied in their attention to the Obama administration. CBS led the coverage with 365 stories and 10 hours 46 minutes of airtime, followed by NBC with 327 stories and 9 hours 38 minutes, and ABC with 329 stories and 7 hours 20 minutes. Thus, CBS has given more coverage to the Obama administration than all three networks combined gave to the first 50 days of George W. Bush’s presidency.
In addition, the first half hour of Fox News “Special Report” (which most closely resembles the broadcast network newscasts) devoted 10 hours 24 minutes to the Obama administration, nearly as much airtime as CBS gave him. And the New York Times devoted 115 front-page stories running 3385 column inches, the equivalent of over 28 full pages of text, to the Obama presidency.
Mr. Obama has received not only more press but also better press than his immediate predecessors. On the ABC, CBS, and NBC evening news, fifty-eight percent of all evaluations of the president and his policies have been favorable, and 42 percent were unfavorable. CMPA’s previous studies of network news found that George W. Bush received only 33 percent positive evaluations by sources and reporters during the first 50 days of his administration in 2001, and Bill Clinton received only 44 percent positive evaluations during his first ten weeks (70 days) in office in 1993. (As noted above, these figures are based on judgments by reporters and sources not affiliated with either political party.)
The three networks have evaluated Mr. Obama very similarly – 57% positive comments on ABC, 58% positive on CBS, and 61% positive on NBC. But he fared far better in New York Times stories, where nearly three out of four evaluative comments (73%) by sources and reporters were favorable. And he fared far worse on Fox News, where only one out of eight such comments (13%) were favorable. Examples:
Positive Example: “I was blown away by President Obama’s grasp of the subject. How he connected the dots. How he answered the questions without any script.” — George Stephanopoulos, ABC, March 5
Positive Example: “President Obama has done more in one week to reduce oil dependence and global warming than George Bush did in eight years.” — Environmentalist, New York Times, Jan. 26
Negative Example: “The [employment] numbers the Obama administration is throwing around are absolutely inaccurate… a gross exaggeration.” — Economist, Fox, Feb. 20
While Mr. Obama’s personal qualities and leadership abilities have drawn mostly praise from the mainstream media, his policies have not fared so well. On the broadcast networks fewer than two out of five evaluative soundbites (39%) praised his policies and proposals. ABC’s policy coverage was relatively balanced (48% positive), while source and reporter comments ran over two to one negative at both CBS (32% positive) and NBC (31% positive).
TV news coverage of the president’s economic policies, which focused mainly on the economic stimulus and the various proposed and enacted industry bailouts, garnered support from only 37% of evaluative soundbites. He fared better on domestic issues other than the economy, where praise for his health care proposals and new stem cell research policy brought balanced coverage overall (50% positive). But only one out of four comments (24%) praised his foreign policy decisions, including the war on terror.
Negative Example: “The Obama administration is paying too much money to the wrong people.” – Economist, CBS, March 20
The New York Times policy coverage, while less positive than its personal coverage of Mr. Obama, was about evenly divided between praise and criticism (48% positive). Although similar to the broadcast networks in its treatment of economic policy (40% positive), the Times portrayed other domestic policy areas relatively favorably (60% positive), and its 39% positive coverage of foreign policy domains was still more favorable than the networks’ 24% positive coverage.
Positive Example: Mr. Obama’s actions “reaffirmed American values and are a ray of light after eight long, dark years.” – ACLU executive, New York Times, Jan. 22
By contrast, Fox News coverage was even more negative toward Mr. Obama’s policies than the Times was positive. Only one out of twelve evaluative soundbites (8%) praised any of the president’s policies, including six percent positive judgments on the economic matters, seven percent on other domestic issues, and 17% on foreign affairs.
Negative Example: “It’s easy to spend someone else’s money…. It’s not only irresponsible, it’s unethical.” President, Peterson Foundation, Fox, February 20
Across all outlets, the ten most frequently debated issues were: 1. Economic stimulus — 287 stories; 2. Industry bailouts – 114 stories; 3. Budget/deficit – 74 stories; 4. Terrorism — 64 stories; 5. Healthcare – 61 stories; 6. Taxes – 45 stories; 7. Economic conditions – 38 stories; 8. Afghanistan – 31 stories; 9. Defense – 16 stories; 10. Iraq – 12 stories.
CMPA is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization which is affiliated with George Mason University. It has monitored every presidential election since 1988 using the same methodology, in which trained coders tally mentions of candidates and issues and evaluations of candidates. For CMPA findings on the 2008 elections: http://cmpa.com/Studies/Election08/election08.htm
Inhofe and Geithner
In a speech on the Senate floor last week, Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, said he has stopped blaming former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson for the financial bail-out that has kept AIG and some big banks awash in federal funds. Inhofe said he now blames current Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who was the head of the New York branch of the Federal Reserve Bank when the bail-out was proposed and approved.
This story in the New York Times shows how close Geithner was with some of the major players in New York’s world of finance.
Obama Greets Gators
President Barack Obama hosted the national champs at the White House today. I post this for motivational purposes:
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
TO THE 2008 FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPION
FLORIDA GATORS
East Room
3:50 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: All right. Well, this is not The Swamp that you’re used to, but D.C. is built on a swamp, so welcome to Washington, D.C., and welcome back to the White House. I know at least that the — some of the upperclassmen have been here before. Congratulations on the national champions — being the national champions for the second time in three years. That’s outstanding. And they deserve a big round of applause, so give them a — (applause.)
I want to congratulate everybody who makes this program run — from the assistants to the trainers, from the students to the ticket takers, all of you should be very, very proud. And I should mention, by the way, there are a whole bunch of members of Congress who are here from Florida who are very proud. And so — and they brag about you in Congress all the time.
I want to thank Coach Urban Meyer, his wife Shelley, and their family for being here. I was just mentioning, as we were walking down, there’s something about Coach Meyer’s teams, they just have a lot of heart. And that’s a reflection of coaching values that talk about character and integrity, and not just winning. And so we are very appreciative of the work that you’ve done, Coach. That’s also why it’s so easy to tell that these guys have operated like one big family. And that comes across on and off the field.
I do have to give a special shout-out to Marcus Gilbert. Where’s Marcus? (Laughter.) There he is. Marcus, I’ve got a soft spot for this guy, because his dad, Jeff, was the first Secret Service agent on my detail, almost two years ago. He was with me for most of the campaign; he is a great friend of mine — and there he is back there. So that’s Marcus’s pop right here. We always tried to figure out how Marcus got so big — (laughter) — because Jeff is not that big and his wife is even smaller.
People forget now, but this team was not ranked number one until the end of the season. That’s perseverance. And that’s thanks to the tone the Coach sets. He trains these guys for “competitive excellence,” as he calls it, on and off the field. And in sports, as in life, your number may be called just once — oh, who’s phone is that? (Laughter.) Is that one of the player’s phones? ‘Fess up. (Laughter.) All right. Coach is going to talk to you after — (laughter) — about not turning off your phone.
In sports as in life — I was going to say your number may just be called once, but I didn’t mean it literally. (Laughter.) And Coach makes sure that you’re — they’re ready when that happens.
I understand that a lot of times reporters ask Coach Meyer, what did you say to the team at halftime? But what I’ve heard is he doesn’t usually have to say too much because the leaders of this team step up and say what needs to be said. So there are guys like Percy and Brandon and Louis Murphy, and — I understand there are a couple of comedians here, the 300-pound Pouncey Twins. Where are they? (Laughter.) Right there? (Laughter.) All right.
And then of course there’s — there’s the quarterback — where’s Tebow at?
MR. TEBOW: Right here.
THE PRESIDENT: There he is, over there — Heisman Trophy winner. That’s what I’m talking about. (Laughter.) Everybody is going to get a handshake afterwards, just relax. (Laughter.) Tim is an inspiration to so many — a guy whose true strength comes not from the gym, but from his faith. He says he puts faith, family, and academics above football. And that’s incredible when you think about what he’s done on the field: first sophomore ever to win the Heisman Trophy, in a season in which he personally scored more touchdowns than 87 entire teams in Division I-A football.
I remember watching the upset when you guys lost to Ole Miss. I was actually doing a debate in Ole Miss right before the game and I remember Tim apologizing — watching him on TV apologizing to Gators fans and laying down a challenge to himself, making an commitment, a promise that in fact they were going to push as hard as he — they could and he was going to personally take it upon himself to make sure that you never see a team play harder than we will the rest of the season.
You know, that’s the kind of leadership that you want to see from all our young people — taking responsibility, challenging yourself and others, rising to the moment. You didn’t promise that the Gators would win every game the rest of the way, but it’s a testament to his leadership that they did because he said we’ll always play hard.
Now, he’ll be the first to tell you he didn’t do any of this alone. Everybody stepped up. So there are guys like wide receiver David Nelson — where’s David? There we go — (laughter) — who went into Coach Meyer’s office after Tim’s promise and said he wouldn’t do — he would do anything for this team, then upped his play all year, ended up catching the clinching touchdown.
What Coach Meyer and all of these guys also understand is being a champion doesn’t stop when you leave the field. They’ve committed themselves to 400 hours each year in service to others, mentoring at-risk youth, showing them that — those youth that if they put their hearts into it, they, too, can succeed. They play with children in pediatric units, help kids learn to read, promote fitness and physical activity, and so much more.
And all of this makes the Gainesville community that much stronger, and makes Florida that much stronger, it makes our country stronger. And I know that the guys behind me get a lot of it — a lot out of it in return.
Now, last point I would make. I don’t want to stir up controversy. You guys are the national champions — I’m not backing off the fact we need a playoff system. But I have every confidence that you guys could have beat anybody else. And so we’ll see how that plays itself out.
I noticed they got all quiet after that. (Laughter.) But you know, I’m one of those politicians — I don’t just tell you what you want to hear, I tell you what you need to hear. (Laughter.)
I know final exams start this weekend, so I don’t want to keep you any longer. You guys are going to have to hit the books. But I just want to say good luck to those who are going to be back next year, to those of you who are moving on the wider stage. Congratulations to all of you for a national championship that I know that you are extremely proud of. And I look forward to continuing to enjoy watching all of you next fall.
So thank you very much, everybody. Give it up for the Gators. (Applause.)
Stimulus Money for National Parks
Considering some of the eye-popping numbers that have been associated with the $787 billion stimulus bill, the money allotted for national parks in Oklahoma seems downright modest.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced $750 million worth of projects, and Oklahoma will get $592,000 of that.
The Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Sulphur will receive $551,000 to repair restrooms, trails and a nature center.
The Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, near Cheyenne, will receive $41,000 to replace the fence along the park’s boundary.
