21
Sep
15

President Obama: Changing The Face Of Government For The Better

obama_hope_progress_change1

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Juliet Eilperin: Obama Has Vastly Changed The Face Of The Federal Bureaucracy

Friday afternoon announcements in Washington are usually aimed at attracting as little attention as possible, but last Friday was different. President Obama’s decision to nominate Eric Fanning — an openly gay man — to head a branch of the military which only four years ago did not allow gays and lesbians to serve openly, was both historic and attention-grabbing. And it underscored an often-overlooked feature of the Obama presidency: Obama has presided over the most demographically diverse administration in history, according to a new analysis of his top appointments. The majority of top policy appointments within the executive branch are held by women and minorities for the first time in history. The shifts are significant enough, experts say, that they may have forever transformed the face of government. The Obama White House, by contrast, has established specific programs to boost diversity among appointees.

The Presidential Personnel Office targets historically black colleges and universities, as well as minority-serving institutions, as part of a new campus recruitment program. It has a liaison to identify candidates by working with leaders from underrepresented groups, including those who are LGBT or have disabilities. The impact of Obama’s diversity efforts could reverberate for decades in people such as Michael Blake, a son of Jamaican immigrants who was homeless as a child but worked on Obama’s two presidential campaigns and in the White House as associate director of public engagement. Last year, Blake won election to the New York State Assembly, with the help of a lot of other Obama alumni, including Marlon Marshall, who is now Hillary Rodham Clinton’s director of state campaigns and political engagement. Blake’s campaign slogan was about his transformation: “No House to the White House.” Obama, Blake said, has helped create a new network of people of color now climbing the ranks of government. “He did that,” Blake said. “He grew that.”

More here

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140 Responses to “President Obama: Changing The Face Of Government For The Better”


  1. 1 0388jojothecat
    September 21, 2025 at 3:33 pm

    FURST?

  2. 7 Nerdy Wonka
    September 21, 2025 at 3:38 pm

  3. 8 0388jojothecat
    September 21, 2025 at 3:39 pm

    Yippeeeeee….this is a Birthday “Furst” since it’s coming up real soon. Thank you Nerdy Wonka (don’t know why I’ve been calling you Wonkette, sorry about that). President Obama has changed the political landscape for many people who never got involved before are now more involved than ever. We really need people to step up and vote regularly and to pay attention not to let our country go to the highest bidder. If we allow our government to be run by and for billionaires then this will no longer be the United States.

    Really odd is that last week AA presidential candidate Ben Carson was the number 2 front runner for the GOP while the number # front runner was endorsed by the KKK and people who feel minorities are taking everything away from them…..these are bizarre times.

    • 9 jackiegrumbacher
      September 21, 2025 at 4:26 pm

      Jojo, be sure to tell us when your birthday is. Happy Birthday in advance if I miss it. What the President is doing to increase political involvement across the country and promote diversity in as many arenas as he can largely goes under the radar because the media purposely ignores it. The media does, however, promote the Trumps and Carsons of the world and gives lots of coverage to the haters and the paranoid. That’s why you can sometimes get the impression that there are more hateful people in this country than decent ones, but I honestly don’t think that’s the case.

  4. 10 jazziz2
    September 21, 2025 at 3:47 pm

    Great thread, Nerdy! Thank you!

    The appropriate response to the “Muslim” haterade…

  5. 14 4morefor44
    September 21, 2025 at 3:55 pm

    remember that stupid hatchet job in the n.y. times by annie lowery (ezra klein’s wife) a year or so ago? she was suggesting president obama has a women problem. it was unreal. and lil’ ezra was going around defending it as if it was a reasonable proposition. amazing…”the news” attempts to diminish or take everything, literally everything away from president obama that he accomplishes. of course, he keep holding steady and just gets stuff done, at a historic pace.

  6. 15 Allison
    September 21, 2025 at 4:01 pm

    Cry me a river….

    • 16 COS
      September 21, 2025 at 4:08 pm

      So the Koch boys pet is not ready for the big stage. :) He thought he could get elected by touting his ability to take on unions and teachers. I am still trying to understand why he was re-elected during that recall election.

      • 17 jackiegrumbacher
        September 21, 2025 at 4:35 pm

        COS, I think in the case of the recall, it was who counted the votes that determined who won, not who cast those votes. Wouldn’t surprise me to find out that some county totals were rigged. Also, the Dems put up a very weak candidate.

      • 18 0388jojothecat
        September 21, 2025 at 4:36 pm

        I spent many weekends calling for the WI recall and people telling me they were going to kick him out and they did not bother to vote that dumb jerk out of office. I would never do that again. They keep putting Republicans in office while their state is dead last in job creation, a huge budget deficit and their pristine educational history is being trashed.

    • 19 jackiegrumbacher
      September 21, 2025 at 4:33 pm

      Allison, I think Walker stepping out of the race is cause for a small celebration because he’s proof that even the Koch Brothers billions can’t put lipstick on any old pig. The brothers thought that their money entitled them to shove anyone down our throats, no matter how unqualified. Trouble is they don’t particularly want him back in Wisconsin, so maybe the brothers will give him cushy job as an errand boy. After all, that’s what he was intended to be if he made the White House.

  7. September 21, 2025 at 4:09 pm

    • 21 COS
      September 21, 2025 at 4:21 pm

      Meta, this is such a self inflicted mess. I wonder if Debbie’s stubbornness is affecting donations?

      • 22 meta
        September 21, 2025 at 4:36 pm

        Well, when you see the reports from fundraising this year, I have to think YES.

      • 23 jackiegrumbacher
        September 21, 2025 at 4:37 pm

        Well, COS, it certainly affected my donations. I won’t give to the DNC until that lady walks out the door. Any e-mails or messages from her get deleted immediately.

        • 24 sjterrid
          September 21, 2025 at 5:22 pm

          I stopped giving to the DNC this year, too, when I kept on getting all the Ready For Hillary emails from all the Democratic groups. Now I tend to give to individual candidates, OFA, and Draft Biden.

  8. 25 meta
    September 21, 2025 at 4:11 pm

    Walker is holding a presser this afternoon. Rumor is he’ll be dropping out.

  9. 36 Ladyhawke
    September 21, 2025 at 4:21 pm

    Why I Still Think Fiorina Was a Terrible CEO

    By By JEFFREY SONNENFELD

    ——————————————-

    And I have to point out the obvious: If the board was wrong, the employees wrong, and the shareholders wrong—as Fiorina maintains—why in 10 years has she never been offered another public company to run?

    Now, Fiorina wants to run the country. I am a firm believer in second chances. Just because Fiorina failed at an early career does not preclude her from becoming a good leader later. But I do know, having written a book on how great leaders rebound after career disasters, that to overcome failure is to admit to it and learn from it. During the debate, instead of addressing the facts and taking on my professional observations, Fiorina decided to shoot the messenger. What she failed to see is that this behavior—sidestepping accountability by resorting to demagoguery and deflection—is exactly why she failed as a leader the last time.

    ——————————————

    http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/09/carly-fiorina-ceo-jeffrey-sonnenfeld-2016-213163

  10. 37 vcprezofan2
    September 21, 2025 at 4:24 pm

    Congrats, Jojo!

    Thanks, NerdyW. Over his term this president has definitely delivered on change we can believe in!

    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Delivering on Broadband Opportunity:
    September 21, 2025 AT 2:48 PM ET BY JEFFREY ZIENTS
    ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
    Summary: Over the past several months, the Administration has doubled down on efforts to connect more Americans with high-speed broadband. Here’s where that work stands:
    ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

    Internet Adoption in United States by County, 2013

    Over the past six years, under President Obama’s leadership the United States has expanded broadband access, bringing millions of people online and creating significant new economic, educational and social opportunities.

    Since the President took office, investments from the Federal government have helped deploy or upgrade more than 110,000 miles of network infrastructure, and more than 45 million additional Americans have adopted broadband Internet. And as a country we’ve made high-speed wireless coverage available to 98% of Americans. Over the past several months, the Administration has doubled down on these efforts. In July, we launched the new ConnectHOME program in twenty-seven cities and one tribal nation to help bring Internet to more than 275,000 low-income households.

    …………………………………… ///

    https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/09/21/new-steps-deliver-high-speed-broadband-across-united-states

  11. 39 No Child Left Behind
    September 21, 2025 at 4:40 pm

    Scott Walker suspends presidential campaign

    Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker suspended his presidential campaign Monday, effectively ending a once-promising GOP presidential bid that tumbled from top-tier status over the summer.

  12. 43 AxelFoley
    September 21, 2025 at 4:47 pm

    But I was told by some in “progressive” circles that Barack Obama didn’t care about nor do anything for women, gays, and minorities.

    Could I have been told wrong?

  13. 44 jazziz2
    September 21, 2025 at 4:50 pm

    LOL!

    • 45 No Child Left Behind
      September 21, 2025 at 5:06 pm

      Jeb Bush looks like a tall fool! Nothing more. I almost had pity on him when he asked of THE DONALD to apologize to his wife for whatever the buffoon had said before. Wow! I am beginning to develop the profile of those voting for these clowns.

  14. 46 jazziz2
    September 21, 2025 at 5:07 pm

  15. 47 No Child Left Behind
    September 21, 2025 at 5:09 pm

    • 49 Nena20409
      September 21, 2025 at 5:35 pm

      Karma Never fails to deliver the Right amount of Justice ;)
      I wrote here that Scott Walker would fizzle out like Tim Pawlenty, the former Gov of MN….who was bested by Michele Bachmann in 2011. Walker and Pawlenty both won elections by Luck. Walker won 2010, 2012……before the Presidential elections and in 2014 when Dems traditionally lagged behind in turnout. Pawlenty won in 2 elections with 3 in the field both times…..2 Dems running against Pawleny both Times.

  16. 50 vcprezofan2
    September 21, 2025 at 5:10 pm

    To actually lead the country forward you got to have realism, but you also have to have some optimism. [Snippet from a June 2007 interview with Senator Obama]

    It’s always great [to me] to look back at the President’s positions in the light of his actions and accomplishments in office. Somehow I always end up grinning with pride AND with oodles of respect. /sigh of nostalgia/

  17. 51 No Child Left Behind
    September 21, 2025 at 5:11 pm

    • 52 COS
      September 21, 2025 at 5:17 pm

      Carly is branding herself as a big fat liar early on, and it is going to follow her like it did Mitt Romney. Just wait until the ads start airing. She is a nasty liar.

  18. 53 No Child Left Behind
    September 21, 2025 at 5:16 pm

    CORRECTION: The wrong man all the time.

  19. 54 0388jojothecat
    September 21, 2025 at 5:34 pm

    Seems like they are falling like flies, Perry, Walker, next Carson, Carly, AnnRandy, Chrispy, Santorium, Graham then Trump. I think the last standing GOP candidates by December will be Rubicon, Bushed, and Kashi

  20. 55 No Child Left Behind
    September 21, 2025 at 5:36 pm

    The Council of Religion (something, something) is calling for Ben Carlson to drop out of the presidential race. That is if Ben Carlson’s campaign had any viability at all. This man should have remained in the operating rooms, unless it was noticed a deficiency in his brain which resulted in him being retired.

  21. 56 No Child Left Behind
    September 21, 2025 at 5:38 pm

    Love it!

  22. 57 Nena20409
    September 21, 2025 at 5:38 pm

    Excellent Post, NW.
    Anne Crowley and Jodi Kantor can go directly to Blazes along with Ruth Marcus.
    Hope and Change.
    #FORWARD!

  23. 59 Don
    September 21, 2025 at 5:39 pm

    Now that Scott Walker has dropped out of the Presidential race, he now has more time to train to fight isis.

  24. 60 No Child Left Behind
    September 21, 2025 at 5:39 pm

  25. 65 Nena20409
    September 21, 2025 at 5:39 pm

    Congrats Jojothecat on your Au :star:

  26. 67 JER
    September 21, 2025 at 5:42 pm

  27. 68 Nena20409
    September 21, 2025 at 5:43 pm

  28. 69 donna dem 4 obama
    September 21, 2025 at 5:43 pm

    I got a clean bill of health today. Yippee!!! I can breathe now! ;)

    Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support. I cannot begin to tell you what a relief this is.

  29. 86 Nena20409
    September 21, 2025 at 5:51 pm

  30. 87 Nena20409
    September 21, 2025 at 6:00 pm

  31. 91 JER
    September 21, 2025 at 6:03 pm

    6:00 p.m. LIVE

    Secretary Kerry, Vice President Biden, Secretary Pritzker, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, and Indian Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman deliver remarks at the U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue Summit Reception at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium, in Washington, D.C.

    http://defensetv.tv/#/7075/live-events and http://www.state.gov/

    • 92 JER
      September 21, 2025 at 6:22 pm

      WATCH LIVE: Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry attend US-India business council event.
      http://www.msnbc.com/shift/watch/live-biden-and-kerry-on-us-india-relations-529512515531

  32. 93 Nena20409
    September 21, 2025 at 6:06 pm

    Folks, Scottie is BEING Called to depart…….shocked…..I wonder by whom?
    The guy is an arse.

  33. 94 Vicki
    September 21, 2025 at 6:09 pm

    Rubio is the other Koch backed candidate. Let’s see how he does.
    Also, tonight Steven Colbert’s Hunger Games segment may mark Scott’s passing in the sky. Wait, no. The taping is probably over. That segment more like tomorrow night.

    • 95 busbus
      September 21, 2025 at 7:28 pm

      Don’t forget Chris Christie. Remember his secret two hour meeting in New York with Charles Koch a few years ago? From that meeting, Charles Koch invited him to be the keynote speaker at their upcoming closed-secret meeting/conference. Charles Koch bragged that Christie was his kind of person. I can’t remember his exact words. Anyway, the Kochs sent their private plane to picked-up Christie. Christie’s keynote speech did not disappoint and the Kochs were over the moon. I’ve always tied Walker and Christie together as the Koch brothers’ puppets.

      I thought that Rubio had some other millionaire or billionaire backing him. Probably a part of the Koch regime.

  34. 96 Nena20409
    September 21, 2025 at 6:10 pm

  35. 98 Nena20409
    September 21, 2025 at 6:12 pm

    :lol: :roll: :lol: :roll:

  36. 102 prettyfoot58
    September 21, 2025 at 6:25 pm

  37. 103 JER
    September 21, 2025 at 6:51 pm

    LIVE NOW: Vice President Biden Speaks at the U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue Reception
    Washington, DC Click here ► ► http://www.state.gov/ or http://www.msnbc.com/shift/watch/live-biden-and-kerry-on-us-india-relations-529512515531 or http://defensetv.tv/#/7075/live-events

  38. 104 hopefruit2
    September 21, 2025 at 6:52 pm

    Brother Mark can be useful at times.

  39. 107 Nena20409
    September 21, 2025 at 7:05 pm

  40. 108 Nena20409
    September 21, 2025 at 7:07 pm

  41. 109 Nena20409
    September 21, 2025 at 7:08 pm

  42. 112 Nena20409
    September 21, 2025 at 7:10 pm

  43. 113 No Child Left Behind
    September 21, 2025 at 7:16 pm

    Anything goes!

  44. 114 meta
    September 21, 2025 at 7:18 pm

    I love this guy.

  45. 119 No Child Left Behind
    September 21, 2025 at 7:19 pm

  46. 121 No Child Left Behind
    September 21, 2025 at 7:25 pm

  47. 122 jacquelineoboomer
    September 21, 2025 at 7:28 pm

    • 123 jacquelineoboomer
      September 21, 2025 at 7:38 pm

      Chris Matthews had the priest who interviewed Vice President Biden on his show tonight. Within just a few minutes, Matthews called the priest’s insight “new meat,” and also asked him if he got any kind of feeling about whether Joe will run or not like, as Chris more or less put it, “like what ran up my leg about President Obama.”

      Chris really needs to go home and sit on his lawn! Hope somebody keeps him away from the Pope. Ha! :)

    • 124 meta
      September 21, 2025 at 7:40 pm

      I highly recommend watching this interview. He speaks so openly and frankly about his faith and his values and his current thinking about his family and running for the presidency. He’s so top notch, light years ahead of all the other candidates.

  48. 127 prettyfoot58
    September 21, 2025 at 7:31 pm

  49. 128 Vicki
    September 21, 2025 at 7:49 pm

    There are rumblings that HRC is already attacking both Bernie and VPB. Leaks about VPOTUS’ Senate votes. Anita Hill.
    Bernie’s positions from 40 years ago.

    My strong belief is that BS and VPB should continue to ignore HRC. Give her nothing to rail and weep about. Ignore entirely. Carly has demonstrated that attacking a woman candidate is likely to backfire unpleasantly.

    When put on the spot, “The former SOS can speak for herself” always works.

  50. 129 prettyfoot58
    September 21, 2025 at 7:50 pm

    Notorious

  51. 130 meta
    September 21, 2025 at 7:53 pm

    Reminder!

    • 131 meta
      September 21, 2025 at 7:54 pm

      • 132 meta
        September 21, 2025 at 7:55 pm

      • 133 meta
        September 21, 2025 at 7:55 pm

      • 134 meta
        September 21, 2025 at 7:56 pm

  52. 136 meta
    September 21, 2025 at 8:02 pm

  53. 140 jacquelineoboomer
    September 21, 2025 at 8:08 pm

    That’s funny, anti-Muslim Dr. Ben Carson, because I would not advocate that we put YOU in charge of this nation, either.


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