President Barack Obama shakes hands with 2012 National Medal of Arts recipient Allen Toussaint for his contributions as a composer, producer, and performer, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House
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Broadway World: Earlier today, President Barack Obama presented the National Medal of Arts in conjunction with the National Humanities Medals. The medals were presented by the President during an East Room ceremony at the White House. The National Medal of Arts is a White House initiative managed by the National Endowment for the Arts. Each year, the NEA organizes and oversees the National Medal of Arts nomination process and notifies the artists of their selection to receive a medal, the nation’s highest honor for artistic excellence.
More here
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First Lady Michelle Obama applauds award recipients after President Barack Obama awarded the 2012 National Medals of Art and National Humanities Medals
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President Barack Obama hugs screenwriter Tony Kushner before awarding him the 2012 National Medal of Arts
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President Barack Obama awards the 2012 National Medal of Arts to author Ernest Gaines
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal to American actress, playwright, and professor, Anna Deavere Smith
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CBS News: President Barack Obama says 24 recipients of national medals for contributions in the fields of the arts and humanities are being recognized for their talent and creating works that will last for American life. At a ceremony Wednesday in the East Room of the White House, Obama awarded the medals to 23 singers, dancers, poets, producers, playwrights, scholars and others, and one organization.
“We celebrate people like our honorees here today,” the president said in his remarks, “not just because of their talent, but they create something new. They create a new space, and that becomes a lasting contribution to American life and that’s true for all of these honorees. Together, the men and women with us today have helped us appreciate individual talent…they’ve also helped us to bridge our differences, to recognize all the things we share as Americans — whether it’s arts, humanities or sports.”
More here
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President Barack Obama (R) presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal to political scientist and professor Robert Putnam
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal to novelist Marilynne Robinson
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal to author Joan Didion
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Chloe Sommers: What does President Barack Obama think George Lucas, Marilynne Robinson and Joan Didion all have in common? Aside from the fact they’re among this year’s recipients of the National Medal of Arts and Humanities, the president proclaimed Wednesday, “They are all teachers.” Obama and 24 ‘teachers’, also known as some of America’s most influential artists and writers, gathered in Washington for the 2012 National Medal of Arts and the National Medal of Humanities Awards.
As Obama looked across the East Room of the White House, he described what he saw: “At first glance this is a pretty diverse group, we’ve got incredible singers and dancers, we have poets and producers, musicians, playwrights, scholars, they come from all across the country, all around the world and yet for all their differences today’s honorees have one thing in common and that is they are teachers; whether they realize it or not. They have taught us about ourselves and our world.” Among the honorees, even the president seemed at times to be star struck. ”Frankly, this is just fun for me because I feel like I know you all because I’ve enjoyed your performances; your writings have fundamentally changed me. I think for the better,” he said.
More here
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal to National Humanities Medal to writer Frank Deford
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Medal of Arts to Joan Myers Brown for her contributions as a dancer, choreographer, and artistic director of the Philadelphia Dance Company
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President Barack Obama chats with George Lucas before awarding him the 2012 National Medal of Arts for his contributions to American cinema
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Medal of Arts to Elaine May for her contributions to American comedy
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Medal of Arts to Laurie Olin for his contributions as a preeminent landscape architect
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Medal of Arts to Ellsworth Kelly for his contributions as a painter, sculptor, and printmaker
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal to Australian-American author Jill Ker Conway
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal to University of Richmond President Edward L. Ayers
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal to Canadian and American historian Natalie Zemon Davis
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal to Camilo Jose Vergara
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal to former Poet Laureate of the United States Kay Ryan
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Medal of Arts to the Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) President and CEO Jenny Bilfield during a ceremony
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal for President Emeritus of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation William G. Bowen
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Humanities Medal to Robert B. Silvers
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Medal of Arts to Renee Fleming for her contributions to American music
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Medal of Arts to Herb Alpert for his varied contributions to music and the fine arts
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President Barack Obama presents a 2012 National Medal of Arts to Lin Arison for her contributions as a philanthropist and arts education advocate
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President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama leave the East Room of the White House following a ceremony to present the 2012 National Medals of Arts and National Humanities Medals
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White House.gov
These events are so special!
w00t! way to go Judith!
Thank you!
Congrats!
Congrats on #1, Judith!
As an OFA member, wanted to be sure you saw this resource from yesterday:
Oh thank you so much Arapaho415! I will make use of that resource!
Did previous presidents do this kind of recognition for arts and humanities?
LOL! If they did, no one cared or watched…
They did amk. If you are like me the previous Presidents and First Ladies did alot of things I didn’t pay any attention too.
Exactly, anniebella!
I remember someone saying something about some people Bush and Clinton had given some of these awards too.
Yes, they did. But today’s First Couple are much, much better at it than most! (The JFKs were great at it, too.)
Tony Kushner looks totally blissed out as he hugs the President!
I was noticing that same thing!
Just commented that it was the best pic because he’s doing something I would definitely do if I ever met him.
Tony Kushner loves, admires and “gets” PBO from a political standpoint. Check out PBS for the interview that he did with Charlie Rose when he was out promoting Lincoln or the interview that was featured on Democracy Now, 5/10/2025 when Kushner was asked about his reaction to the president’s statement of support for marriage equality. I do not know how to provide a link, so I do not need anyone to chastise me; Goggle is my friend.
UT, thanks for posting. Saw the honorees enter then my wireless went out
You’re welcome. So sorry that happened. I posted the video of the event so you can catch up now.
Thanks, will view when I return fr mtg.
Thank you so much UT for posting the video for some of us who miss these events. The entire ceremony was exquisite! It’s events like this, where the President’s warmth and genuine love for people, that most Americans never get to see because of the mainstream media filters. That’s why media pundits think that they can get away by manufacturing a false meme that President Obama is an aloof arrogant man who does not relate well with people. Tell that to those medal recipients who seemed very much at ease and appreciative of the President’s warm embraces.
Really? Where was the GOP during the Bush/Cheney Administrations? I guess you can’t trust shrub and darth vader either…..
Herb Alpert looks well.
Off to council mtg. BTW, WP tells me I’m posting to fast…
House turns away proposals to cut nuclear maintenance
By Pete Kasperowicz
The House on Wednesday rejected a series of proposals to cut funding for maintaining the nuclear stockpile in the 2014 energy and water spending bill.
The House debated these amendments late Tuesday night, but was finally able to vote on them Wednesday afternoon just before breaking so Republicans can meet to discuss immigration.
-/
Everything this President wants done, they say no to.
Gorgeous photos UT, missed the event today so thank you sooooooooooo much, legend!!
You’re welcome. Anytime Chiparoo!
Yes, muchas gracias, ut! I couldn’t watch this in real time and it’s one of my favorite events of the year, so thanks for following up with the vid.
Awwww! You two are soooo nice, reminds me of this quote: “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”
― Henry James
Just sayin’ but George Zimmerman had better not get away with this……
he is wearing the guilt he refuses to feel all over his body
Oh so well put, Luna!
It’s been a very rocky trial to say the least. Closing arguments tomorrow and the jury will probably go into deliberation on Friday. They’re sequestered so they may deliberate through the weekend.
I can’t even watch any of the trial footage anymore. What they’re doing to the memory of this 17 year old is nauseating. A bunch of racists and gun-happy idiots who don’t value life at all. This child won’t be able to even graduate from high school - and yet, we’re supposed to feel he somehow deserved to die because he got in the path of a racist, violent, wannabe-cop while coming home from a jaunt to the store for snacks? I guess he was just supposed to lie there and die and not fight back, even while we’re hearing of child abductions on a daily basis?
My faith in some parts of humanity has been severely shaken by this trial. Surely, good has to overcome evil. What kind of message is this going to give to young people of color all over this country if this confessed killer gets away with murder? I’m sick just thinking of it. My heart goes out to his poor parents - not only have they had to bury a child, but they’ve had to listen to racists malign that child’s character every single day.
Yes this is awful, but I think America has been here before. Remember the Rodney King trial? Unfortunately, i have no doubt that Zimmerman will walk. Hope that people don’t riot in response to the verdict. Just stay cool and pray for his parents, who must be hurting so badly at how their son has been demonized.
Yep….I was in Los Angeles, CA and I remember how it was another all white jury that believed the cops over the video. Rodney King threw himself at those battons and kept falling down…..that’s how he got those bruises. If he just stopped instead of making the police chase him he caused his own beating like Trayvon caused his own death by not submitting to some creepy guy wannabe cop following him.
In honor of Herb Alpert. Ah, memories.
Another favorite of mine
Thanks for the pictures, UT. I love Herb Alpert. I use to have so many of his albums. Lost all my albums in one of my moves. Now I am ready to find the songs again. Thanks Yardarm for getting me started.
This one for sure right?
“Memories” Indeed! Thanks, Yardarm for sharing this. I love Herb Alpert! He still looks trim and fit. Time for me to diet and exercise as my doctor keeps telling me.
Get busy then!
One of my fav’rite Herb Alpert albums is a rare gem in which he teamed up with African trumpeter Hugh Masekela.
This is my favorite but the song was written by Stevie Wonder…..can you tell…..?
That’s a real fun and vibrant Album, hopefruit! Now I know why I love you so much: First your incredible writing and fearlessness in standing up for what you believe in, and now you exquisite taste in music.
Noticed a lot of Obama/Bush coziness lately…..
Bush 41 has always been on friendly terms with PBO. This is not new. He has visited the WH several times since PBO took office. There have even been pics of him and PBO chatting during one or more of his visits.
And W and PBO seem to be on good terms, and I heard Michelle say she just loved Laura Bush. (at their joint appearance in Africa)
Heard that too. Well, it’s a small club they’re in. they learn to get along and find genuine enjoyment in each other’s company. Not many people have lived through the trials they have had to live through. Good for them I say.
FLOTUS was being nice, respectful., that’s it.
Either way, it’s a small club. It would be nice to think that the presidency has allowed these few men and women to transcend politics and just appreciate each other as the last of the few who have survived trial by fire.
Oh course I’m just giving my opinion. They (POTUS and FLOTUS tries to be respectful of everyone).
Plus Laura and the Bush girls were very nice to them during the transition. The kind words of advice the Bush girls gave the Obama girls was very touching about not getting upset about the mean things they’ll hear about their dad because he is the dad they know.
Ok, I’m doing a night owl chat, and you can all guess what it will be about.
land lines…teehee
No, and not for long!
Snowflake?
No snowflake, but it freaking rained in L.A. today. In July.
Wishing it would rain here…
Where? I in the San Gabriel Valley area no raid here just very cloudy and muggy all day. Maybe we’ll rain tonight?
In Inglewood it rained.
ah!
alcoholic beverages. please.
Not after the July 4 I had. Ugh.
Poetry?
close!
There’s nothing close to poetry. Except life!
Latin Jazz, with great musicians from Cuba and Brazil. Or, the caribbean influences in JAZZ (especially from Cuba).
This is horrific, once again—-9 yr. old shot in head as he sat in an SUV at 3:30 a.m.——-but what is a 9 yr. old doing in a SUV at 3:30a.m.???
http://www.abc17news.com/missouri-news/9-year-old-critically-hurt-in-St-Louis-shooting/-/18421156/20915472/-/3qkhfv/-/index.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Favorite picture is with PBO and Tony Kushner. Best thing I’ve seen all day. It’s exactly what I would do if I were to ever meet him. Hold on to him like I’d never let go.
I’ll believe it when I see it!
Nope. I’ll believe it when the boneless dems actually do something with it.
No shit. Not believing it until I see it and also not expecting it.
Right here with you both. Yawning and moving on until I see some results.
I agree with every single one of you all. We shall see what Reid and the Dems do. Reid was a idiot to trust McConnell about anything.
And so do I-agree with all of you. Dems have zero backbone and Harry Reid is a weak, weak leader.
I delete email messages from Harry Reid because he is really “F” ing up this President’s agenda playing footsie with McConnell who’s a liar and can’t be trusted. Turtle lips has been blocking everything this president wants since day one and Harry is too afraid to stand up to him.
Why do you hate Sen. Reid so much? Isn’t he your fellow Democrat who helped President Obama win those incredible legislative successes in his first two years? I am sorry, but I really get tired of the way Sen. Reid is treated here. I bet you, if Republicans take over the Senate you will be glad that Democrats can still filibuster to stop obnoxious legislations. Now, I know there are people here who are absolutely certain that as soon as Republicans take over the Senate they will get rid of the filibuster. You all may be right, but I am not persuaded. Even if Republicans gain the majority in the Senate, there is no guarantee that they will always be a majority. They too will know that once the filibuster is gone, the minority party in the Senate will be forever marginalized. I share the frustration about how the GOP has abused the filibuster. But I hope we all realize that (following the metaphor of the nuclear option) once you drop a nuclear bomb on your enemies chances are the contamination, from radiation, would probably end up severely affecting you people.
I am probably a lone voice here who is still very uncomfortable about doing away with the filibuster. I of course understand how beneficial it would be for my beloved President’s remaining 31/2 years in office. But I am uncomfortable because I am absolutely certain that the Democrats will not always be in a majority in the Senate. Instead of fixating on ending the filibuster, I would rather focus on doing everything possible so that Democrats can win 60+ senate seats and totally marginalize the GOP.
Finally, I think Majority Leader, Sen. Harry Reid, is a man of integrity. He is also a good Democrat who has consistently backed President Obama. It’s very easy for many of us, sitting behind our computers or whatever other devices we use, to derisively question his integrity, his courage and his leadership skills; sometimes using terms Republicans use against him. But when all is said and done, the fact is his colleagues in the Senate chose him as their leader. At the same time, many of his colleagues are quite full of themselves, and come from different regions of the country, that they are not that easy to mold into one team to work in total uniformity. Until you are able to walk in Majority leader’s shoes, (i.e.you are the majority leader and you can show me how you can do his job better than he can), I just won’t take your bashing of Leader seriously. My plea is that people here at TOD would stop ridiculing and denigrating the Senate Majority Leader.
If you think long-term, as Sen Reid must as Majority leader, as well as some of his colleagues who knew exactly how it felt when they were in a minority, then being very reluctant and careful about doing away with the filibuster entirely is not totally without merit.
That is EXCELLENT!
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2013/07/a-coordinated-democratic-strategy-to.html#more
“So what is going to happen in 2014? Will the angry white southern vote be mobilized to vote for the Republicans? Of course they will. But will the broad demographic coalition that put the country’s first black president into office twice also be mobilized? Democrats sure are trying to make sure that they are. They are trying to systematically, on one issue after another, showing us who’s trying to make progress (Democrats), who’s standing in the way of progress (Republicans), who’s trying to expand rights (Democrats) and who’s trying to take your rights away (Republicans).”
anyone else trying to get on the policy briefing call? I keep getting buffering - music cuts in then dies
POTUS looking real good for a man of 35!
Ps- no autocorrect. PBO looks young and yummie!
gray hair only makes him sexier. Post -presidency? Model for Men’s Vogue and GQ Magazine! 
He does look really good. If I saw him on the street, I wouldn’t guess he was 51 at all. Not that 51 is old, it’s not. It’s just that he looks more like someone in his early 40s.
Okay?! Plus, I think he’s like Sean Connery: he gets sexier and better looking with age.
POTUS is 35,
turn that 35 around to 53 and subtract 1. POTUS will be 52 in August, but I am sorry to say I don’t remember the date.
But hell no 50 isn’t old, neither is 51, 52, 53, 54, 55. Specially if you’ve taken care of yourself.
This is about arts and humanities?! You mean them intellectual types?! Shouldn’t they be hissing and booing at that ‘Dicta-ter Obama because “civil liberties and such?!”
Ok blog tyrants, my night owl post is ready to go. I’ll wait until this one gets a little busier.
Fox pushes piles and piles of..something, something..!!
https://twitter.com/Yardarm756DD/status/355120806784798720
Kaboom!!
Finally catching up with So You Think You Can Dance! I already have a favorite couple. I wonder if they made it to week 3 (I’m on week 1) Anyone else watching the new season?
Haven’t watched this in years, but I remember it used to be good. Glad to see it’s still going strong.
Another good routine from the first episode with top 20.
I try not to miss an episode. I love this show.
I am still a fan. My favorites so far, are Fiction (I think he spells it another way) and Jasmine Johnson.
Only competition shows I watch SYTYCD & America’s Got Talent!
Especially love this year’s dancers. Not a slouch in the bunch. Crushed me that Jade was injured and out of the competition.
I”m on 2nd LIVE ep now. I think I read something about an injured dancer, but dang, I liked Jade too. He was WAYYYY short though…lol
Oh no. I’m sorry. Hope I didn’t spoil it for you. [I'm an idiot!] So sorry!
AMK! You are such a gentle man!
Photobomb!
That friend is me. LOL. Cute kitties!
ha!
Hey, watch it Buster! I AM that friend!
Good evening Friends. I always get excited when the the President and First Lady pays tribute to the Arts & Humanities. I’m familiar with most of the honorees, but there’s this one guy “George Lucas” who’s got me stumped. What’s his deal? Anybody know who he is? ;-D
I was kind of surprised to see that Ellsworth Kelly is still alive!
Star Trek, I believe.
Ha ha!
Girl, you gotta watch that mixing of your Star Trek & Star Wars references.
I will forgive that type of fauxpas — other more “militant” ones out there would have a fit!
Dudette, I have a close friend who is a sound mixer on major films and he sometimes works at Skywalker Ranch. He gave me a pass to go up there once to have lunch with him and it’s crazy AWESOME. But you would not believe the security involved. Cameras on you at all times and staff have to meet you at every juncture to give you clearance. TOP SECRET, LOLz!!
I can’t blame ‘em though. Aside from the overzealous fans, they probably have to deal with so people trying to steal their stuff figuratively & literally.
No cameras allowed!!
Yeah, I had the distinct feeling it was all about intellectual property. But still, it was really something!!
That being said… did you get any pictures?
Did Edward Snowden decide where his new home will be?
No, he has his pals at MSNBC working feverishly on his behalf, trying to rehabilitate his image to pressure PBO or the DOJ into accepting him back in the US with dropped charges….
New post: http://theobamadiary.com/2013/07/10/night-owl-chat-national-medal-of-arts-and-humanities/
Oh dear, (as in damn it) - had a snail mail letter in my mailbox today from none other than friggin’ Boner.. Asking me to fill out his “State of the Nation” survey. As much as I would like to fill it in with all the GOP FAIL, I will return it to sender as Unsolicited Junk Mail. I guess they have my mailing address, which is not a good thing. Please surround me with Light ~ for a number of reasons!
http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=PBO
Mighty Pamela - this is how bad the Repubs are at microtargeting. When I get one of those, I always take my name off but fill out their despicable surveys and mail it back if it’s postage paid. Anything to cost them $ and waste their time!
Did the west coasters (especially the Bay area) see this from yesterday)?
California, the most populous state with the most thriving tech industry on the planet cannot afford a reporter at the state capital.
We need ideas for the right way to fund the daily-grind type of reporting that is so important to democracy (corporate dollars get spent on the horserace speculation that is now considered “news.”)